Houston Defender: June 09, 2011

NATIONAL Black women at greater risk of death from childbirth ACCORDING TO THE CDC P4

Houston’s Leading Black Information Source Volume 80 | Number 32

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WEEK OF JUNE 9, 2011 | FREE

NEWSTALK

GOV. RICK Perry Declares Day of Prayer and Fasting

P3 ENTERTAINMENT

Actor Bow Wow Is all grown up

P5 SPORTS Kevin McHale New Rocket head coach

P10 H.S. ZONE Girls’ softball Grows rapidly in Texas

P11

After 30 years

AIDS

becomes a

‘Black disease’ H Page 6

Pres. Obama says end AIDS

Rihanna causes uproar

In response to the 30th anniversary of the first diagnosed case of AIDS, President Barack Obama called for a recommitment to “ending this pandemic –in this country and around the world.” The administration said it’s doing its part by implementing a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy, which includes providing a roadmap for reducing new infections and improving care for those living with the disease.

H Page

The new video for Rihanna’s song “Man Down” has created quite a stir. In the video, Rihanna portrays a victim of sexual assault who gets retribution on her attacker by gunning him down in a train station. Members of one parents’ group complained that the singer should approach domestic violence differently, especially in light of her own muchpublicized domestic assault case.

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011

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In The Book Corner

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CARTOON of the week RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch

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The Central Park Five: A Chronicle of a City Wilding

by Sarah Burns Knopf

In 1990 …. sent to prison for a combination of rape, sexual assault and attempted murder of a female jogger named Trisha Meili in Central Park..

Question of the Week

Automotive highlight

Is President Barack Obama handling the economy well?

Chag’s Place on vacation

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News & Opinion Remembering Dr. Benjamin E. Mays’ Legacy Marian Edelman

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WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011 | DEFENDER

Criminal justice bills passed in regular session • The House and Senate unanimously approved House Bill 215, which requires police departments to adopt written guidelines for how they conduct eyewitness identification procedures.

Mistaken eyewitness identification is the leading cause of wrongful conviction nationwide and was a factor in 38 of the 45 Texas exonerations based on DNA testing. The bill heads to Gov. Rick Perry, who indicated he would sign it.

• The legislature also approved House Bill 417, relating to claims for compensation for wrongful conviction. This provision addresses the case of Anthony Graves, who was denied compensation by the State Comptroller’s Office because the order releasing him did not contain the words “actual innocence.” The bill also provides exonorees with access to health insurance through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

• Senate Bill 122 provides greater access to post-conviction DNA testing in cases where the evidence was not previously subjected to DNA testing or could benefit from newer testing techniques. Both SB 122 and HB 215 were recommendations from the Timothy Cole Advisory Panel on Wrongful Convictions.

• After some wrangling between the Senate and House of Representatives, Senate Bill 377 passed in its original form by a vote of 132 to 14 in the House, with two present not voting.

This bill expands the scope of the death penalty by making the murder of a child who is less than 10 years of age a capital offense.

Aswad Walker

newstalk

Analysis:

Texas budget set up to fail

By Aswad Walker Defender

The Texas House of Representatives recently voted in support of a budget viewed by opponents as a disappointment to all Texans. The final report of House Bill 1 that emerged after back door discussions resulted in a bill that cuts $15.2 billion or 8.1 percent from the state’s budget.

The final deal was reached after House and Senate Republicans negotiated behind closed doors, and came back with a proposal that slashed billions from public education, and confirmed the worst fears of parents, students and teachers.

“The select members involved in actual negotiations on the budget ‘deal’ chose to short-circuit what should have been a fully vetted and transparent process, taking too many options off of the table way before negotiations ever began,” said State Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-Fort Bend County, District 27).

“Their response that this is the best they could come up with does not bode well for our underrepresented citizens [children and seniors], and should not be acceptable to the people of Texas.”

The funding appropriated for public education is $5 billion short of the request made by the Texas Education Agency, fails to account for the growth in our student population, and cuts funding for pre-kindergarten and early childhood education.

The budget reduces funding for higher education, while at the same time reducing financial aid, creating what Reynolds and others consider a “lose-lose situation” for Texas students seeking to achieve the dream of a college education.

Should the state move forward with the budget, it is projected that Texas will run out of money by sometime in early 2013, and will be forced to take even more drastic decisions to make up for the mishaps those in charge have adopted.

Perry declares Day of Prayer and Fasting Defender News Services

Gov. Rick Perry has proclaimed Saturday, Aug. 6, as a Day of Prayer and Fasting to seek God’s guidance and wisdom in addressing the challenges that face the nation.

Perry has invited governors across the country to join him on that day to participate in The Response, a nondenominational, apolitical, Christian prayer meeting hosted by the American Family Association. It takes place at Reliant Stadium.

He also urged fellow governors to issue similar proclamations encouraging their constituents to pray that day for unity and righteousness.

“Given the trials that beset our nation and world, from the global economic downturn to natural disasters, the lingering danger of terrorism

and continued debasement of our culture, I believe it is time to convene the leaders from each of our United States in a day of prayer and fasting, like that described in the book of Joel,” Perry said.

“I urge all Americans of faith to pray on that day for the healing of our country, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of enduring values as our guiding force.”

In a letter to “fellow Americans,” Perry said: “I sincerely hope you’ll join me in Houston on August 6th and take your place in Reliant Stadium with praying people asking God’s forgiveness, wisdom and provision for our state and nation. There is hope for America. It lies in heaven, and we will find it on our knees.”

Perry asked one of the leading anti-gay groups, the American Family Association to sponsor the event resulting in heated rebukes from the Anti-Defamation League, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

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localbriefs Yates principal resigns after five months The Houston Independent School District will have to find another principal for Yates High School. Samuel Coleman has resigned after just five months on the job. Coleman came to Houston from San Diego’s school district, where HISD Superintendent Terry Grier used to work.

Grier said that Yates is a challenging assignment, and it just didn’t work out for Coleman.

HPD reviews LaBelle altercation at airport Houston Police Department officials said they have initiated a review of the circumstances of a March 11 altercation at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in which a local West Point cadet allegedly suffered a concussion at the hands of soul diva Patti LaBelle’s bodyguards. Security video filmed outside the airport’s Terminal C showed two men and a woman, members of LaBelle’s staff, pushing and hitting 23-year-old Richard King, who had flown to Houston on spring break. In a lawsuit filed against LaBelle, King contends he was assaulted by three staffers while talking on his cellphone in the terminal’s passenger pickup area. Houston police quoted LaBelle limousine driver Zuri Edwards, 37, as saying that a verbally abusive King punched him in the face when he was asked to move away from the singer’s vehicle.

Houston #1 city for affordable business A recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Partnership for New York City puts Houston at the top of an international list of the most affordable cities to do business. The report based its findings on finance, commerce and culture.

A strong combination of factors make Houston appealing for business, including low real estate costs, high purchasing power and low business travel expenses.

Los Angeles was ranked number two, followed by Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Berlin, Sydney, Johannesburg, Santiago and Stockholm.

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011

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national

U.S.briefs

Black women at greater risk of

death from childbirth

By Marjorie Valbrun America’s Wire

High rates of obesity, high blood pressure and inadequate prenatal care cause death from childbirth more often for African-Americans in the United States than for whites and other ethnic groups.

Nationally, Blacks have a fourtimes greater risk of pregnancyrelated death than whites – a rate of 36.1 per 100,000 live births compared with 9.6 for whites and 8.5 for Hispanics, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Black-white gap persists for a variety of socio-economic reasons, including education and income levels, access to and quality of health care, and lifestyle and diet.

Improved health care could reduce the maternal death rate by 40 percent to 50 percent, according to CDC estimates, but medical attention has been focused more often on reducing infant mortality during the past decades.

Maternal mortality rates have

been rising in the United States since the mid-1990s. By 2007, the Black maternal mortality rate had jumped to 28.4, roughly three times the rates among whites and Hispanics at 10.5 and 8.9 respectively.

“When we look at some of the factors associated with maternal mortality, most of the underlying factors tend to be dominant in the African-American community, and it is manifested in the health disparities that affect our population,” says Dr. Kerry M. Lewis, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Howard University’s College of Medicine and chief of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Lewis, who specializes in highrisk pregnancies, says the mortality rate reflects lack of access to specialized health care that integrates comprehensive skills and technology.

Too often, he says, patients are treated by family practitioners, nurse midwives, general obstetricians and gynecologists instead of specialists trained in high-risk pregnancies and medical problems that can cause complications during birth.

Crack cocaine offenders could gain early releases Attorney General Eric Holder recently gave his support to a proposal that could result in the early release of thousands of federal crack cocaine prisoners. In testimony before the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Holder said his experience as a federal prosecutor and judge “compelled” him to seek to reduce disparities between crack offenders and powder cocaine offenders.The proposal would make retroactive last year’s Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the disparities in sentencing between powder and crack cocaine offenses. Nearly 12,000 people are currently serving federal crack sentences under the old laws.

Bernice King says departure not related to settlement Rev. Bernice King said her decision to step down as an elder at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church has nothing to do with the recent settlement between Bishop Eddie Long and the four young men who accused him of sexual misconduct. The youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she told Praise 102.5 FM that she intends to start her own ministry.

King said she discussed her plans with Long in April and received his blessing. She thanked the congregation for being with her through the deaths of her mother and sister and a legal battle with her brother.

Research finds Black colleges pay off for students New research from Morehouse College economist Gregory N. Price and two fellow economists from Howard University, William Spriggs and Omari H. Swinton, finds graduates of HBCUs do better in the labor market long term than non-HBCU grads. Their report, “The Relative Returns to Graduating from a Historically Black College/University,” considered the benefits of earning a baccalaureate degree from an HBCU. “Our results lend support to the idea that HBCUs continue to have a compelling educational justification, as the labor market outcomes of their graduates are superior to what they would have been had they graduated from a non-HBCU,” their article said.

Obama recommits to fighting AIDS Defender News Services

In response to the 30th anniversary of the first diagnosed case of AIDS, the Obama administration is rededicating itself to halting the deadly disease.

“We pause to mark the 30 years we have been fighting HIV/AIDS.” said President Barack Obama. “As we remember people in our own lives we have lost and stand by those living with HIV/ AIDS, we must also rededicate ourselves to finally ending this pandemic – in this country and around the world.”

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of

Health and Human Services, said the battle is not over.

“As long as the AIDS virus threatens the health and lives of people here and around the globe, our work will continue to connect people to treatment, educate them about how to protect themselves, battle discrimination, and to keep the country focused on our collective fight against this pandemic,” Sebelius said.

Last year, the administration released and is now implementing a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that provides a roadmap for reducing new

infections, improving care and health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS, and reducing the health disparities that have characterized the epidemic.

The White House said that under Obama’s leadership, it has increased domestic HIV/AIDS funding to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and HIV prevention.

Internationally, the administration’s Global Health Initiative is attempting to build on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) by expanding access to treatment, prevention and care for those in need around the world.

VOLUME 80 • NUMBER • 321 JUNE 9 - JUNE 15, 2011

Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Editor Von Jiles Associate Editors Reshonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila

Columnist Yvette Chargois Sport Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Webmaster Corneleon Block

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender audited By Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2011 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011 DEFENDER

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entertainment

what’sup

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H Court rejects Snipes’ attempt to overturn conviction

The Supreme Court has turned down the latest attempt by Wesley Snipes to get his conviction and prison sentence on tax charges overturned, reports the Associated Press. The high court refused to hear an appeal from Snipes, convicted in 2008 on three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file income tax returns. Snipes began a three-year term in a federal minimum security prison in December. He wanted his trial held in New York City, where he says he lived, but the government brought charges against him in Florida, where Snipes held a driver’s license. The lower courts refused to let him have an evidentiary hearing on this issue.

H Lauryn Hill confirms pregnancy at Detroit concert

After weeks of rumors, Lauryn Hill has revealed she is indeed pregnant with her sixth child, but she’s keeping quiet on the identity of the father.

The former Fugees singer – who already has five children – is believed to be in her second trimester and will give birth later this year. Two months ago, she told the audience at one of her shows: “I keep having these children. I don’t know if I’m the most fertile woman in America.” Since 1998, she lived in both the Caribbean and an upmarket hotel in Miami but in August 2008, it was reported she was living with her mother and children in her hometown of South Orange, N.J.

H Snoop Dogg pitching rap version of ‘American Idol’

Snoop Dogg has been pitching TV networks on an “American Idol” style program that would search for the next hip-hop star, the New York Post reports. “I’m looking for a deal from a network to find America’s hottest ‘hood artists’,” the paper quoted Snoop Dogg as saying. Oxygen, Bravo and NBC aren’t interested, but E! and MTV are reportedly showing some interest, according to the paper. Snoop says his dream panel of judges would include an old-school legend and Jay-Z, whose reps denied that the mogul had any involvement.

Rihanna’s new video

causes uproar

By AFRO Staff

Pop star Rihanna’s new video for the song “Man Down” created quite a stir after it recently debuted on BET‘s “106 & Park.” The violent images in the video have caused some to ask for it to be banned.

In the video, Rihanna portrays a victim of sexual assault who gets retribution on her attacker by gunning him down in a train station. Members of the Parents Television Council (PTC) complained that the singer, a victim of a highly publicized domestic assault, should approach domestic violence

differently.

“Rihanna’s personal story and status as a celebrity superstar provided a golden opportunity for the singer to send an important message to female victims of rape and domestic violence,” Melissa Henson, director of communications and public education for the PTC, said in a statement.

“Instead of telling victims they should seek help, Rihanna released a music video that gives retaliation in the form of premeditated murder the imprimatur of acceptability.”

Rihanna used a Twitter posting to defend herself . She says she’s an artist

and her expression should not be muted.

“I’m a 23-year-old rock star with NO KIDS! What’s up with everybody wantin me to be a parent? I’m just a girl, I can only be your/our voice!” she said. “Cuz we all know how difficult/ embarrassing it is to communicate touchy subject matters to anyone especially our parents! And this is why! Cuz we turn the other cheek! U can’t hide your kids from society, or they’ll never learn how to adapt! This is the REAL WORLD!” BET defended it’s airing of the video, saying it fit within the network’s guidelines for decency.

Actor Bow Wow is all grown up

By Kam Williams

It was clear from an early age that Shad “Bow Wow” Moss was destined for the spotlight. At just five, he was discovered

by Snoop Dogg and featured on the rap icon’s groundbreaking “Doggystyle” album.

He is now 24.

Last year, he starred in the hit motion picture “Lottery Ticket,” and he also enjoyed a recurring role on the HBO hit series “Entourage.” Here, the rapper and actor formerly known as Lil’ Bow Wow talks about playing Byron in “Madea’s Big Happy Family.”

KW: What interested you in “Madea’s Big Happy Family?”

BW: What interested me was the opportunity to work with Tyler [Perry], which had always been an objective of mine because of his being a top Hollywood director. I remember walking up to him at a Janet Jackson concert and going like, “Yo, man, you gotta put me in one of your movies,” as if he’d be crazy if he didn’t.

KW: What was it like working with him?

BW: It was dope! I had a lot of fun working with him. He’s a hard worker. And he works extremely fast, which is how I like

to operate.

KW: What would you say is the movie’s message?

BW: That tomorrow is never promised and that family is very important. So, make sure you tell your family you love them each and every day because you don’t know when it might be your last opportunity.

KW: Perry has a knack for crafting morality plays which touch folks deeply.

BW: Most definitely. He does a terrific job with those dramatic moments. I think it comes from his own life experiences and from making it after everything he had to overcome.

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011

coverpage

After 30 years, AIDS becomes a

‘Black disease’

By George E. Curry Special to the NNPA from thedefendersonline.com

W

hen AIDS was first detected 30 years ago, it was considered a white, gay man’s disease. In fact, it was known as GRID – gay-related immune deficiency.

Although African-Americans represent only 12.6 percent of the U.S. population, Blacks now represent almost half of all new HIV infections and nearly 50 percent of AIDS-related deaths.

What was once thought to be a “gay” disease has clearly become a “Black” disease.

June 5th marked the 30th anniversary of the first public identification of AIDS. To commemorate the anniversary, the Black AIDS Institute recently released a report titled, “30 Years is Enuf: The History of the AIDS Epidemic in Black America.”

The report is a comprehensive review of the past three decades, chronicling missed opportunities, failed government actions, a medical community that was slow to react, African-Americans who underestimated the scope of the disease in their community and dedicated community activists forcing health officials to tackle what would later become known as AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), the final stage of HIV. “From the epidemic’s earliest days, it was apparent that Black Americans were disproportionately affected by the epidemic,” Phill Wilson, founder and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute, wrote in the introduction to the report.

“Yet, the epidemic in its early years was consistently portrayed as a problem for white gay men. Neither our national leaders, nor Black America itself, responded as they should have to the clear signs of an emerging health crisis among Black people.”

Initially, medical experts were baffled by the new disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in its June 5, 1981 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: “In the period October 1980-May 1981, 5 young men, all active homosexuals, were treated for biopsy-confirmed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia at 3 different hospitals in Los Angeles, California. Two of the patients died.

All five had laboratory-confirmed previous or current cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and candida mucosal infection…”

“The fact that these patients were all homosexuals suggests an association between some aspect of a homosexual lifestyle or disease acquired through sexual contact and Pneumocystis pneumonia in this population.”

HIV identified

It would take another three years to identify HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Epidemiologists determined that HIV could be transmitted by men having sex with men, heterosexual couples, from infected women to their newborns, blood transfusions, and through contaminated needles.

Since June of 1981, 1.7 million people in the United States have been infected with HIV, including 600,000 who have died.

An estimated 1.1 million people live with HIV/AIDS today, including 500,000 African-Americans.

Although early attention was understandably focused on white, gay men, there was sufficient evidence – often ignored – that Blacks were disproportionately affected.

“One of the enduring myths of the epidemic is that

AIDS almost exclusively affected white gay early years,” the institute report states. “In portionate effect on Black America from th ing just 12% of the U.S. population, Black all cases reported in 1981-1983.”

It continued: “Outside sub-Saharan A have HIV prevalence as high as the conserv burden in Black Am America its own cou largest number of pe levels of infection riv Africa.”

The first drug a Drug Administration The Black AIDS Institute AZT, or zidovudine. antiretroviral drugs, has made a series of were developed in th recommendations to end the discovered that by co of drugs, they could l AIDS epidemic in Black America. process.

They include: The combinatio Highly Active Antire “Black America n Make major investments ment breakthroughs of HIV education in Black whites,” the Black AI evidence indicates th communities. in HIV-related medic n Increase AIDS funding. widened in the HAA

Ending the AIDS epidemic

n Eliminate HIV treatment waiting lists. n Introduce new prevention tools. n Undertake a major marketing campaign to promote HIV testing and treatment. n Persuade every Black institution to implement an AIDS strategy.

Increase in awa

Over the years, in unexpected ways. actor Rock Hudson i and dramatically inc institute report noted “A similar effec diagnosis in 1988 of t

defendernetwork.com • Serving t

y men in the U.S. during the n reality, AIDS had a disprohe very beginning. Representpeople accounted for 26% of

Africa, only four countries vative estimates of the HIV merica. Indeed, were Black untry, it would have the 16th eople living with HIV, with valing numerous countries in

approved by the Food and n to treat HIV infection was But a more effective class of , called protease inhibitors, he mid-1990s. Researchers ombining multiple classes limit the viral replication

on treatment was called etroviral Therapy (HAART). a has benefited from treats but not to the same extent as AIDS study observed. “Indeed, hat Black-white disparities cal outcomes have actually ART era…”

areness

public awareness increased “The AIDS-related death of in 1985 shocked the country creased AIDS awareness,” the d. ct resulted from the AIDS tennis great Arthur Ashe, one

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of only two men to win a Grand Slam tournament. Before his death in 1993, Ashe established a private foundation to fight AIDS. “Public awareness of the AIDS crisis, especially in Black communities, underwent a sea change in 1991, when basketball great Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson announced that he had tested HIV-positive.

After his announcement, HIV testing rates in Black communities skyrocketed, as many Black Americans awoke to the reality that AIDS was not only a problem for gay men.”

By then, however, AIDS had ravaged Black America. The proof is in the numbers.

Although African-Americans represent 12.6 percent of the U.S. (13.6 percent when you include those who identify with more than one race), Blacks: • Account for 45 percent of new HIV infections • Represent 46 percent of people living with HIV • Represent 48 percent of all new AIDS diagnoses • Account for 57 percent of all HIV-related deaths Figures for some groups are even more staggering. Black women, for example, account for 61 percent of the HIV infections among women, nearly 15 times larger than the rate for white women. Blacks aged 13-19 are only 17 percent of U.S. teenagers, they represent 68 percent of all new AIDS diagnoses among teens.

According to a five-city survey, 46 percent of gay and bisexual men were infected with HIV, compared to 21 percent of white men and 17 percent of Hispanics.

Thanks to President Obama, the United States has put into place its first national AIDS strategy. Its vision: “The United States will become a place where HIV infections are rare and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic circumstance, will have unfettered access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination.”

“As AIDS enters its fourth decade, there could be no more fitting tribute to the hundreds of thousands who have perished from this disease in the U.S. than to demonstrate that we have learned a lesson or two over the last 30 years,” Phill Wilson wrote in the institute report.

“In 2011, we have an extraordinary new opportunity to conquer AIDS. Only bold wise action will get us where we need to go.”

the Houston area for over 80 years

“The epidemic in its early years was consistently portrayed as a problem for white gay men.

Neither our national leaders, nor Black America itself, responded as they should have to the clear signs of an emerging health crisis among Black people.”

Phill Wilson, founder and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011 | defendernetwork.com

Houston Leadership for Tomorrow sending off 2011 graduates

Conveying of certificates during the reception: From left to right George Postolos, CEO of The Postolos Group and HLT Chair Barbara Paige – HLT Executive Director The HLT Class of 2012

By Aswad Walker Defender

Nearly 300 people joined Houston Leadership for Tomorrow (HLT) during its 3rd annual Showcase of Leadership Awards Ceremony and Reception held in the Shell Auditorium of McNair Hall on the campus of Rice University. The event was part celebration, part send-off, as the organization’s graduating Class of 2011 showcased the life-changing impact of their year-long HLT experience while also announcing the litany of universities participants will be attending this fall.

HLT is the local high school affiliate of the Management Leadership for Tomorrow organization featured on CNN’s Black in America II, and headed by John Rice, brother of current U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice.

Destinations of HLT’s 2011 graduates include Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, Emory and Howard as well as the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Texas, Texas A&M and Rice. Attendees also had the opportunity to welcome HLT’s incoming Class of 2012, students heading into their senior year of high school.

Alfred McQuirter, a soon-to-be-graduate from Cypress Creek High School, will be attending the prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

“HLT taught be so much about how to be a leader and how to organize my time that I am ready for the challenges that lie ahead in college,” said McQuirter.

“I’ve seen big changes in my son since joining, HLT; changes in his leadership abilities, his determination and in his confidence,” said Alfred’s mother, Lakiva McQuirter.

Stephen Klineberg, a Rice University professor, presented a portion of the Kinder Houston Area Survey that demonstrates the need to harness the talent of Houston’s increasingly dominant minority Continued on page 9

Alfred McQuirter and Gonzalo Sequeira, both of Cypress Creek High School , are graduates.

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                                                                

                 



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  

 

 

                                                         

 

                                                                                              

                            

                                              

        

           

                       

                       



The University of Texas Health Science Center is seeking

Healthy Male Volunteers to participate in research studies involving EEGs, MRIs, or computer tasks. This is not a job however, Monetary compensation for your participation, weekend and evening appointments are available.

Volunteers must be 38-50 years old, healthy with no previous medical or psychological conditions. Risks involved in the studies are risks associated with MRI scans and EEGs.

Please call

713-486-2635

defendernetwork.com | WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011 DEFENDER

9

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Winnie Mandela insulted by movie

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Defender News Services

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, is not a fan of the film chronicling her life.

The film, titled “Winnie,” stars awardwinning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson. It has sparked controversy because an American was cast in the role rather than a South African actor, and because Mandela sought to impede the film’s production.

“I have absolutely nothing against Jennifer, but I have everything against the movie itself,” Mandela told CNN. “I am still alive, and I think that it is a total disrespect to come to South Africa, make a movie about my struggle, and call that movie some translation of a romantic life of Winnie Mandela,” she said.

Director Darrell Roodt described the film as “the ultimate women’s movie” and “an amazing love story.” Mandela, however, does not agree.

“I think it is an insult,” she said. “I don’t know what would be romantic in our bitter struggle.”

Hudson never met with Mandela, but a rep for the actress told CNN that it wasn’t because Hudson didn’t want to. The singer, most recently cast in the “Three Stooges,” would have loved to meet the activist, her rep said, but the producers thought she shouldn’t.

Houston leadership...

Continued from page 8

population. Klineberg’s keynote remarks were in part a challenge to HLT graduates to bring their post-college education and skills back to Houston.

Each HLT graduate participated in presentations to family, friends, and other onlookers highlighting their field trips, mentor relationships, community service and other college prep activities and exposures, Participants served food at Houston’s Bread of Life Inc.’s Homeless Ministry, witnessed an open heart surgery, formed mock record labels under the guidance of Music World Entertainment’s CEO, Mathew Knowles, visited the Federal Reserve of Dallas’ Houston Branch, and participated in mock college interviews.

“This year’s class was truly outstanding,” said Barbara Paige, HLT’s executive director. “Their energy, intellect, the way they worked together and soaked it all in, was truly amazing.”

For more information on how to volunteer with, financially support or enroll in Houston Leadership for Tomorrow call 713.357.9616, email bpaige@houstonleaders.org or visit www.houstonleaders.org.

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011

defendernetwork.com

sports

Hall of Famer Kevin McHale trades in a microphone to coach again.

Rockets make it official

Kevin McHale named new head coach

By Max Edison Defender

Somewhere in the traditional wedding vows is the line “for better or worse.”

If you’re a Rockets fan now is the time to repeat that line and swallow hard.

After a monthlong search that saw general manager Daryl Morey whittle the selection process to three coaches – Boston assistant Lawrence Frank, Dallas assistant Dwane Casey and former Minnesota GM Kevin McHale – all Rockets owner Les Alexander (right) presents Kevin McHale (left) as the team’s new head coach. three boasting sub.500 career records, McHale has emerged as of Fame player, with three championships the new Rockets head coach. under his belt as a Boston Celtic, brings McHale a dominant Hall a less than stellar 39-55 record as a head

Kevin McHale

coach.

Needless to say Rockets owner Leslie Alexander feels like McHale is the man to take the team back to the playoffs.

“We think Kevin McHale is the perfect fit for this team at this time,” Alexander said. “The league has gotten so much better at how they prepare for each game. You have to have somebody who is a great leader, a great communicator, that understands how to use his staff and the players at all times and will take input and will work with people to make us a great team.”

“Obviously he’s been a great player in this league, a top 50 Hall of Famer,” Alexander continued. “He understands the game perfectly, is a very smart guy, which is something we always require in this organization.”

For McHale, who has spent the past two seasons as a television analyst for NBA TV and TNT, coaching again was always something he

had a passion for. He shares his frustration that his coaching stints were always situations where he had to take over teams after failed coaches.

“Being away from it for a couple of years, I started really formulating exactly how I would do it from start to finish if I had another chance,” McHale explained. “Always taking over in the middle of the year was very frustrating because you never feel like you had enough time to implement what you really wanted to do and you’re always trying to make do with what the other coach had and trying to modify it.

“It was just very very different and I always said you know what; I don’t want to do that anymore.

I want to be able to start out, having training camp, be with the guys, get a chance to know, get a chance to grow and get a chance to implement the things I feel are very important.”

McHale also defends his actual lack of coaching experience with the fact that he has over 30 years of combined basketball experience.

“I’ve been around the game my whole life,” he said. “I was always one of those guys who was drawing up plays at the end of games. I was always very interactive with the first coaches we had at Minnesota when I was there with Flip Sanders, my old college roommate. We’d go over plays and go over play calls, go over end of games. I was very very involved in that.”

For McHale, who has yet to assemble a coaching staff, the goal for the Rockets is simple and straightforward.

“Our goal is to make the playoffs next year,” McHale said. “That’s going to fall on me to do it and if it doesn’t get done it will be on me. We should make the playoffs next year, that’s what I feel.

“I’m excited about it. I see a lot of players here that can really play at a high level on the offensive end. There’s no doubt we got to get better defensively. I’m just excited to be here and about this team and our opportunity. ”

defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years

WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011 DEFENDER

defendernetwork.com

h.s.zone

sportsbriefs

Girls’ softball

grows rapidly in Texas

By Darrell K. Ardison Defender

AUSTIN – Sheila Henderson has witnessed the growth of girls’ high school softball in Texas since its inception as a University Interscholastic League sanctioned event in 1993.

Class 5A was the only conference to compete for a state championship that first year. Pasadena Dobie defeated Tomball 1-0 in an all-Houston area title game.

Two years later (1995), conferences 2A, 3A and 4A joined 5A in participating at the state level. Conference 1A was added to the state softball tournaThe Woodlands reigns as Class 5A state softball champions. ment in 2001.

Almost 20 years later, the number of schools in Texas competing in girls’ softball has increased by nearly 500 percent with more than 1,000 schools. The number of student participants has grown by Paige McDuffee, 5A MVP. almost 750 percent with federamore than 31,000 student-athletes playing tion of Sheila Henderson, UIL Assistant the game in the Lone Star State. state High Athletic Director and state “I don’t think it was ever a matter softball tournament director.

School of whether the girls could do this or not,” Associasaid Henderson, UIL assistant athletic tions, which governs UIL softball. Three director and State Softball Tournament additional feet were added between the director for the past two years. “I believe pitching rubber and home plate. In a game the girls could have done this all along. that had been dominated by defense and They finally got the opportunity in 1993 pitching for the past 19 years, the rule was and every year since they’ve gotten better added in an effort to create a better baland better.” ance between offense and defense.

A capacity crowd of nearly 1,500 “By changing the rule, it allowed fans descended upon McCombs Field on the hitters to put the ball into play more the campus of the University of Texas consistently,” Henderson said. “We’ve for the Class 5A title game between The seen that throughout the tournament. The Woodlands and Northside O’Connor. defense has been more active on the field.

This is the first year playing under “It’s also a stamina test for the a new rule mandated by the National

11

Three Houston-area schools claim softball titles Four Houston area schools advanced to the 2011 girls’ state softball tournament and three came home with state championships. Santa Fe scored late and often to secure the school’s first state championship in any major sport with a 10-3 victory over Forney in the Class 4A state title game. Ciara Sunseri’s three-run double in the fourth inning gave the Lady Indians the lead for good and she was named the 4A MVP. Danbury won the school’s second state softball title with a 9-1 victory over Nacogdoches Central Heights. Kaylee Garner was named Class 2A MVP after striking out 15 batters in six innings. The Woodlands won the 5A title. Note: Texas is second only to California in numbers of both school (1,059) and student participation (31,468) amongst state associations that offer girls’ softball as a sanctioned sport.

NBA great Lenny Wilkens receives Daly award

pitcher as well,” said Henderson, a former high school coach and athletic administrator in Austin ISD prior to joining the UIL in 2009. “With the transitioning back in distance, as the game goes on that extra three feet makes a little bit of difference for some of them. It comes down to maintaining stamina for seven innings and it wears on some of them.”

The Woodlands came into the 5A state tournament ranked No. 1 nationally by ESPN Rise Magazine.

The Lady Highlanders defeated defending state champion Pearland (6-0) in the state semifinals and held off O’Connor 7-5 in the 5A championship game.

Junior left-handed pitcher Paige McDuffee went the distance in both games and was named the title game Most Valuable Player. McDuffee struck out the final hitter with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. McDuffee also had two hits in the contest as she celebrated her 17th birthday.

“I was confident that we were going to pull out the victory,” McDuffee said.

“We just had to concentrate and get it done.”

The NBA recently announced that Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens is the recipient of the Association’s Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for 2011.

One of only three Hall of Famers enshrined as both player and coach, Wilkens ranks second all-time in wins and first in games coached. He is the only NBA legend listed among both the all-time Top 50 NBA players and the all-time Top-10 NBA Coaches. “I’m deeply grateful to my NBA peers for honoring me with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Wilkens. “Chuck was a great coach, but more important a great friend and I’m thrilled to accept this award.” The National Basketball Coaches Association award commemorates the memory of Hall of Famer Chuck Daly, who during an outstanding NBA coaching career set a standard of integrity, competitive excellence and tireless promotion of basketball.

Astros select outfielder George Springer No. 1 The Houston Astros have selected UConn outfielder George Springer with their first pick in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, the 11th pick overall. Springer, a junior, was named the 2011 Big East Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection for the 2011 All-Big East First Team. He currently leads the conference in RBI, while ranking fifth in hitting. Springer has hit at least .337 in his three seasons at Connecticut and throughout his career has also been named to the 2010 All-Big East Second Team, was the 2009 Big East Rookie of the Year and a 2009 Silver Slugger All-American. “We’re very pleased,” Astro Director of Scouting Bobby Heck said. “Throughout the year, he was a priority guy for us. He’s very athletic, he’s strong, he’s big and we think he has a chance to steal bases and hit home runs. As for his makeup, our reports say he’s off the charts – intelligence, solid family background, good teammate, good academics and the great combination of speed and power.”

Join Darrell Ardison and Max Edison for the “Daily Blog” in high school, college and pro sports.

12

DEFENDER | WEEK OF JUNE 9 | 2011 | defendernetwork.com

Neil Patrick Harris

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