Houston Defender: August 5, 2010

August 5 – 11, 2010 | FREE

Volume 79 Number 41

www.defendernetwork.com

Legislation hopes to end crack cocaine sentencing disparities.

Congress passes fair sentencing act SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS

The House of Representatives passed the Fair Sentencing Act (S.1789) to restore fairness to Federal cocaine sentencing. The legislation, which matches a measure passed in March by the Senate, is aimed at reducing the current sentencing disparity of those convicted of possession of crack cocaine versus powder cocaine and eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing.

In a released statement, the NAACP expressed support for the legislation calling the current sentencing practices “racially discriminating.”

It is legislation that many have thought to be long overdue.

“Because of the mandatory minimum jail sentence for those convicted of possession of five grams of crack

Literacy Reading influences your quality of life DEFENDER NEWS SERVICE

I

t’s a statistic that still leaves many people in awe: One in three adults cannot read this sentence, according to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This high rate of illiteracy comes with a high cost.

United Ways of Texas report $9.6 billion in costs for dropouts alone in Texas. In Harris County, 21 percent of adults were classified as illiterate in 2009 after performing poorly while reading basic materials such as newspaper articles, brochures, etc.

For Marlon Smith, the issues are more than one man can handle. As Re-entry Manager for InnerChange Freedom Initiative, Smith works with ex-offenders, helping them get back to work and family life after being in prison. Most of the Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

★LITERACY, Page 8

★FAIR SENTENCING, Page 4

Rangel, Waters fight ethics charges Sherrod plans to sue Breitbart

BY NNPA STAFF

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – As U. S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) prepares to fight 13 ethics charges, U. S. Rep. Maxine Waters, another leading member of the Congressional Black Caucus, has also come under scrutiny.

Reportedly, Waters (D-Calif.) has decided to go to trial rather than be sanctioned for allegedly improperly influencing the receipt of $12 million in bailout funds by the Massachusetts-based OneUnited Bank, where her husband owns stock.

Formal charges against Waters by the House Ethics Committee will reportedly be announced this week.

Charges against Rangel involve reporting of income on his financial disclosure forms as well as alleged fund-raising violations. ★ETHICS, Page 4

SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

(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 February 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. Members of the caucus discussed the economic stimulus package at the press conference.

(NNPA) - Shirley Sherrod, the recently fired director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development office in Georgia, has said she will sue blogger Andrew Breitbart, who used an excerpt of a speech she made to the NAACP out of context and called it racist along with cable news network Fox News.

In a video posted on CNN.com, Sherrod announced that she intended to sue Breitbart and said while the blogger has not apologized, she Shirley also does not want an apology from Sherrod him. “He had to know that he was targeting me, not whether he was also trying to target the NAACP, he had to know that he was targeting

INTERVIEW

One-on-One with a Billionaire

By Kam Williams CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila Crump Johnson is the only African-American female to enjoy ownership in three professional sports teams: the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals. Furthermore, as CEO of Salamander Hospitality, a company she founded in 2005, Ms. Johnson oversees a growing portfolio of luxury properties, including Woodlands Inn, in Summerville, SC, which is one of only a handful of properties to receive both a prestigious Forbes Five Star rating and a AAA Five Diamond rating for lodging and dining.

In 2007, she acquired Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort. Set on 900 acres, this 72-hole Florida getaway hosts the PGA Tour’s annual Transitions Championship and the LPGA Legends Tour Open Championship. The company

is also building the eagerly-anticipated Salamander Resort & Spa, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in charming Middleburg, VA. In addition, Johnson is a partner in ProJet Aviation, a company specializing in aviation consulting, aircraft acquisitions, management, and charter services based in Winchester, VA. And she is a partner in Mistral, a maker of fine bath, body and home products.

Ms. Johnson has long been a powerful influence in the entertainment industry as a founding partner of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and, most recently, as a film producer. In partnership with other investors, her first film, Kicking It, premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

She executive produced her second film, A Powerful Noise, which premiered at the 2008 TriBeCa Film Festival in New York, as well as her third film, She Is The Matador. ★BILLIONAIRESS, Page 2

Click on Defendernetwork.com Weekend

Weekend

Monday

Joseph Phillips

Relationships

Marian Wright Edelman

Clarity and the New Black Panther Party

Dating Out of Your Range

Listening to Shirley Sherrod

★SHERROD, Page 4

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Billionairess

continued from page 1 In 2006, she was named global ambassador for CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting poverty worldwide by empowering women since they are in a pivotal position to help their communities escape poverty.

“Sheila’s I Am Powerful Challenge” was instrumental in raising funds for this important work.

A fervent supporter of the arts and education, she was recently appointed by Barack Obama to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and serves as Chair of the Board of Governors of Parsons The New School for Design in New York. She sits on the boards of Americans for the Arts, the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Tiger Woods Foundation, the University of Virginia Curry School of Education, Howard University, the University of Illinois Foundation, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

An accomplished violinist, Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Illinois, as well as honorary degrees from numerous other institutions. Johnson, who lives in Middleburg, VA, is a mother of two, and remarried to the Honorable William T. Newman, Jr. Here, she talks about her new film, The Other City, an expose’ about the HIV/AIDS crisis in Washington, DC, which premiered at the 2010 TriBeCa Film Festival.

Kam Williams: Hi, Ms. Johnson, it’s an honor to speak with you.

Sheila Johnson: Thanks, Kam, how are you?

KW: Fine thanks. I saw The Other City and loved it. What is it about HIV/AIDS that prompted you to produce the film?

SJ: I really wanted to do this film in order to ignite the discussion, and to reeducate. What has been happening, that is so wrong right now is that AIDS has disappeared from the radar screen. It’s no longer a celebrity-driven cause anymore, so I wanted to bring it back to the people. I also wanted to give dignity to the victims now suffering with AIDS, so that people can see not only that the disease hasn’t gone away, but is spreading at an alarming rate and disproportionately affecting African-American women. So, I think we need to get out and start educating young people, and especially the Black churches need to be talking about it from the pulpit. And we, as a society, need to stop

Sheila Johnson, ex-wife of former BET owner Bob Johnson, made her money in real estate, entertainment and business. hiding behind the stigma in order to be able to give the disease the platform we need to start the reeducation process and halt the increase in the transmission rate.

KW: What was the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about the epidemic?

SJ: How it has increasingly become a heterosexual disease. The thing I wished the movie had emphasized more was how many married women we now have coming down with it.

Their husbands are bringing it home to them. I had three women come up to me and say that the only sin they committed in life was getting married. That’s very sad. The other surprising thing we’re finding is that AIDS is hitting at a younger age, as young as 13 among gay males.

KW: Urban Prep, an African-American male charter high school in Chicago has a 100 percent college acceptance rate, and it’s aiming for a 100 percent college graduation rate. Do you think we might accomplish a 100 percent success rate in the fight against AIDS, if we adopted this same attitude for a given population?

SJ: I think that we really could stop this disease, if we seriously educate our young people, starting in junior high, and continue delivering the message in high schools and across college campuses. I really do. Meanwhile, scientists and doctors are still working on finding a cure, and some say they’re getting closer and closer.

Between education and research, we can stop

it.

KW: I know that in addition to your enormous accomplishments in business and philanthropy you are a virtuoso violinist. Do you still find time to play?

SJ: I don’t. I’m very ashamed about that. My mother’s on me all the time about that, and so, is my husband. He always says, “You’re such a great violinist. Why don’t you keep playing?” I guess what has happened is that between raising a family and trying to keep businesses afloat I just do not have the time to practice, because I’m such a perfectionist. I suppose I could make the time, even if I sat down for just an hour every day, but I’ve lost the discipline of practice.

KW: Who has been your role model along your journey? Who or what has been your source of inspiration in life?

SJ: I’d have to say there have been many, many people. Basically, educators have been my role models. There are two teachers in particular, from high school and college, who I stay in touch with and talk to on about a monthly basis. And as I’ve gotten older, there have been more and more people I’ve met in life who’ve become role models. Four years ago, I remarried, and my husband is one of the most inspiring men I’ve ever met. He’s a Chief Judge, and I just love to watch him on the bench to observe how he tries to find a silver lining in the most hardened of criminals in

order to give them a second chance. Another person I admire is the President of the University of Illinois, Joe White, who I think is brilliant. He’s always giving me terrific advice on different issues. I am lucky to have a lot of extraordinary friends who really do help me including, of course, my mother, who’s living with me now. She was there from the beginning, and even at the age of 87, she’s still constantly pushing me forward, encouraging me with, “You can do it!” and “Don’t give up!”

KW: What would you like to accomplish that you haven’t already?

SJ: I’m in the third act of my life with this hospitality company, Salamander. The one thing I really want to do is to continue to build this resort that I’ve been working on in Middleburg, Virginia. My goal is to get it finished and open. It’s been a seven-year battle for me, because I very naively built south of the Mason-Dixon Line. I didn’t realize that there was still this much racial tension in the country.

I was very naïve about it. Racism smacked me right in the face while doing this project, but I did not want to lose this war.

KW: So, I guess the rumors I’ve heard about what you’ve encountered are true.

SJ: It was unbelievable… the death threats… you have no idea.

KW: Did you regret endorsing Republican Bob McDonnell for Governor of Virginia, given that after he won the election he issued a proclamation declaring April Confederate History Month?

SJ: Yep, I think I’ve been thrown under the bus. It was quite an embarrassment. My husband had warned me, too. The one thing I learned from this experience is that I will never get involved in politics again on either side.

I’m declaring myself an independent. I was just shocked. A group of us, including the President of Hampton University plan to meet with the Governor soon to discuss it.

KW: Since you’re a former media executive, what do you think about Comcast’s move to buy a controlling stake in NBC/Universal—good move or bad move from NBC’s perspective?

SJ: Well, I will tell you that not only print, but all media are struggling right now. These are business decisions that only the people running the company can really answer. Those on the outside shouldn’t be too judgmental about these mergers. There are reasons why they’re happening, and it’s really for the survival of the ★BILLIONAIRESS, Page 3

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Billionairess

continued from page 2 market.

KW: What most informs your spirituality?

SJ: I have always been a strong Christian? Growing up, I never missed church. I’m not as good about going right now, because I’m always travelling so much.

But I pray every day… before I get out of bed…and when I go to bed at night. I have a very strong spiritual core.

KW: What advice would you give a young lady who seeks the level of success you’ve attained?

SJ: Stay humble. Don’t ever, ever take anything for granted in life. Don’t assume anything. It’s is very important to have love and passion for whatever you do.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

SJ: [Chuckles] I wish someone would ask me to be an ambassador someday.

KW: Are you ever afraid?

SJ: Yes, there are times when I’m afraid. Just building that hotel in Middleburg made me fearful on many different levels.

Sometimes, I get anxious. One of my biggest problems is that I tend to get very impatient, especially during this recession. I’m a little bit afraid about the economy, because it really does affect everyone, and you just don’t know what’s going to happen.

KW: Are you happy?

SJ: I am very happy. I have reached a point in my life where I feel safe for the first time. In my personal life, I have lots of friends, and I’ve learned to be comfortable with myself, and I don’t feel the need to prove anything. I’m following my passion, and I wake up every day wanting to do more.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

SJ: Oh, I see a woman that is aging gracefully, who’s happy, and seems to be at peace with herself.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

SJ: To recover from this recession and have my hotel opened.

KW: How do you want to be remembered?

SJ: As a woman who was always generous, not only with her pocketbook, but with her heart.

KW: Well, thank you for being so generous with your time, thoughts and feelings here. I really appreciate it.

SJ: You are so welcome.

VOLUME 79 • NUMBER 41 AUGUST 5 – 11, 2010 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Editor Von Jiles Associate Editor ReShonda Billingsley Art Director Cale Carter Columnist Yvette Chargois Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Webmaster Corneleon Block The Houston Defender Newspaper published

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Recovery Act benefits Houston Congressman Al Green welcomes Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Shaun Donovan along with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, as they toured the construction site for Kennedy Village, a new affordable housing development that is currently being built using $7.8 million from American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). This project is employing 37 people and will provide 108 affordable homes.

Thanks to funds from the Recovery Act, HUD is making a $13.6 billion investment to build and rehabilitate homes nationwide and this is just one of the tens of thousands of projects that are getting underway. The Recovery Act is benefiting Texas and proof of it is the fact that it has generated 225,000 jobs in our state, said the Congressman.

He added it is estimated that, by the end of 2010, ARRA will have created 3.5 million jobs.

Joining the HUD Sec. and Congresspersons at the Kennedy Village are City of Houston Director of Housing and Community Development James Noteware, CityCouncilwoman Jolanda Jones, and Houston Housing Authority board chairman David Mincberg.

COMMENTARY

If it sounds like racism and acts like racism…

By Danny J. Bakewell Sr. CHAIRMAN OF NNPA

This is America, but you wouldn’t think so in light of recent events wherein two high-profile, long serving African American congressman have come under attack. They are being dragged through the mud in a rush to judgment regarding alleged ethics violations. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) are the accused.

Rep. Rangel has been found guilty by a House ethics subcommittee of violating ethics rules and will face trial within the next couple of months. He has been under investigation since 2008 due to allegedly using

his House position for financial benefit. Rep. Waters is also under the microscope of the House ethics subcommittee for allegedly using her congressional authority in a meeting with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on behalf of OneUnited bank, in which her husband owns $250,000 in stock.

It is important that our elected officials, those to whom we give our public trust, be ethically sound, but in this current spate of accusations, there is something fishy in the proverbial Denmark! As of 2010, there are presently 42 African American members in the 111th U.S. Congress - 41 in the House of Representatives (39 representatives and 2 non-voting delegates) and one

in the Senate. The fact is that African Americans represent only 10% of the Congress, and 19% (8) are under investigation! This raises the question as to whether or not Black lawmakers face more scrutiny over allegations of wrongdoing than their White counterparts. We conclude that if it sounds like racism and acts like racism, then it probably is racism! In America, we need to presume innocence until proven guilty, and we need not be led to judgment.

Congressman Rangel and Congressman Waters are valuable members of the African American community who have fought valiantly for our community. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), therefore, urges you to

stand behind them. We want them to know that we are there for them; that all 200+ NNPA publishers throughout America stand solidly behind them, and urge them to continue on the course and stay strong. Black publishers are on the way with pen in hand!

History has shown that Black people make no progress in America without a struggle for what is right and good for the Black community.

Many people want to call this situation something other than what it is, but it is racism at the core. It is daunting, but not surprising that this is the case, but Rep. Rangel and Rep. Waters are far too valuable to our community to give up without a fight!

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AUGUST 5 – 11, 2010 | DEFENDER

Fair sentencing continued from page 1

Andrew Breitbart

Sherrod

continued from page 1 me” she stated.

Answering questions at a panel discussion entitled “Context and Consequences: Conversation with Shirley Sherrod” during the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual convention July 29, Sherrod said, “I knew it was racism and no one had to tell me that.”

After the media frenzy about racism that ensued after the release of the video excerpt, Sherrod stated that she now knows “how the media can and should work in helping to get the truth out.”

When asked if she would accept a new position with the USDA, Sherrod said that she had not and was far from being able to do that. “I haven’t had a chance to read it” she said, “The offer still says draft. I need to ask them what does that mean. I have many other questions and from what I know about that part of the department, the Office of Advocacy and Outreach, I don’t think they have even budgeted the money to operate that part of the program. So I have many, many questions before I can make a decision.”

cocaine or more, people of color are being put in prisons at much higher rates than their Caucasian counterparts, and the judges have no discretion to mitigate the sentence for first-time or nonviolent offenders or special circumstances.” said Benjamin Jealous, CEO and president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “This is the first time Congress has moved to reduce any mandatory minimum sentence, regardless of how racially discriminatory they may be.”

Under the current sentencing guidelines, conviction on a charge of possession of five grams of crack cocaine draws a mandatory prison term of five years and possession of 10 grams draws a mandatory 10-year prison sentence. The sentencing threshold for possession of powder cocaine is 100 times higher.

Under the bill that passed Congress, a five-year prison term would be triggered by conviction of possession of 280 grams of crack cocaine.

If enacted, the bill would also

Blacks are disproportionately sentenced for drug related crimes more than their white counterparts because of mandatory minimum sentencing. increase penalties for major drug traffickers and violent acts committed during trafficking. An increased emphasis is to be placed on a defendant’s role and certain other factors associated with the offense, such as knowingly selling a controlled substance to a minor, involvement in importation into

the United States, bribing or attempting to bribe law enforcement officials and using others through coercion, friendship or affection to sell, transport, or store a controlled substance.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder also expressed his support of the bill’s passage stating that the bill “will go a

Ethics

continued from page 1

Charles Rangel

The investigations have been blasted by pundits as racially disparate.

Black leaders, including political scientist Dr. Ron Walters, U. S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif) — chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Danny Bakewell, chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, have warned against rushing to judgment.

“Of course, we know that one of the most important principles of America’s democracy is due process, that a person is innocent of any charges until all the facts are in and that person is either proven guilty or acquitted of the charges,” says Bakewell in an op-ed posted this week by the NNPA News Service. “This due process must be respected in the ethics charges against Mr. Rangel.

He has admitted some mistakes, but we need not rush to judgment as was in the flagrant case

long way toward ensuring that our sentencing laws are tough, consistent, and fair.”

The bill will not retroactively address those already serving sentences for crack cocaine possession.

President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming weeks.

involving Shirley Sherrod,” Bakewell wrote.

Rangel was an NNPA “Legacy of Excellence” Award recipient at the organization’s annual convention, held in New York in June.

Lee said in a statement, “All Americans are entitled to a fair and due process, and that right extends to Congressman Rangel as well. Any rush to judgment to short-circuit the ongoing review of Congressman Rangel by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct will do a disservice to the well established processes of the House of Representatives.”

Walters says the Black members are suspiciously going through the full process while white lawmakers are getting off the hook.

“Well, you get it; if you have the money of Senator Jane Harmon or the power of John Murtha, very little will happen to you,” he said.

“I’m not defending Black members of Congress who violate ethics rules, but as long as whites are exonerated, so should Blacks.”

SPORTS

AUGUST 5 – 11, 2010 | DEFENDER

Texans Defense Improving, looking

Max Edison

on Sports

Glover Quin

Glenn Retires with Class After a career that spanned 15 years in the NFL, Houstonian Aaron Glenn, signed a one day contract that allowed him to retire as a Houston Texan. The threetime Pro Bowl cornerback played for five NFL teams from 1994-2008, including the first three Texans seasons, from 2002-04.

Glenn was selected by the Texans with the third pick of the Expansion Draft on February 18, 2002. He and former Houston teammate DT Gary Walker became the first expansion Pro Bowlers since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger named to the NFL’s annual allstar game in 2002. He also earned trips to the Pro Bowl in 1997 and 1998 with the New York Jets, becoming the franchise’s first Pro Bowl cornerback.

The former Aldine Nimitz star’s time as a Texan was short but highlight-filled. In addition to making the Pro Bowl in 2002, Glenn was named All-Pro by Pro Football Weekly in 2002, the 2002 Texans Player of the Year, the 2003 Ed Block Courage Award and is tied for second all-time among Texans with 11

5

forward to playoffs

Zac Diles

By Max Edison DEFENDER

Amobi Okoye

Bernard Pollard

★EDISON, Page 6 Photo: Houston Texans

A week into the 2010 training camp, optimism for the best Texan season in their nine-year history is running high. The ever-present talk on the lips of veteran players is that this is the most talented group the franchise has ever had.

One key to the continuing equation that can make this a playoff year is the continued evolution of the defense.

Heading into his second year as defensive coordinator, Frank Bush has sought to create an identity of a tough, aggressive, opportunistic defense. A defense that is not afraid of passing the first lick! So far in this year’s training camp, Bush is pleased with what he sees.

“We’re (defense) coming along, pretty close to right on schedule,” Bush observed. “Bernard Pollard has brought such a presence. He’s helped create an aggressive style, which is what we were looking for. DeMeco (Ryans) has stepped his game up and Cushing (Brian) is doing his thing, playing real

aggressive, so those guys are coming around. Rookies Earl Mitchell (DT, 6’3” 300 lbs.) and Darryl Sharpton (LB, 5’11” 244 lbs.), are coming around, so I like where we are right now.”

Early on last season, the defense appeared to be unsure of their assignments; making a big play on one down and giving up a big play the next. Bush as the leader of the unit was quick to accept the blame for the inconsistency.

“Part of that was coaching. I tried to give them a little bit too much and it was more than they could handle. We backed off and they played better and as they moved forward we gave them more. Right now we’re in the same process. We make sure we keep it simple, keep it sound, let them run around and hit and learn the defense and then we’ll add some more to it. I’m happy with where they are, but we have to get a lot better.”

Count outside linebacker Zac ★TEXAN DEFENSE, Page 6

Darrell Ardison

on H.S. Sports The Yates Lions traveling boys’ basketball road show has one more stop left on its championship itinerary. Only this time instead of facing stiff competition, the Lions will be the guests of royalty.

After winning two national prep tournaments in Hawaii and Alabama and collecting their second straight Class 4A state title to finish ranked No. 1 nationally by five major high school polls, the Lions have been invited to visit the White House and President Barack Obama.

Yates head coach Greg Wise said the trip will take place sometime in September, but an exact date has yet to be determined. School begins on Aug. 23rd.

The Lions completed the 2009-2010 season with a sparkling 34-0 ledger while establishing national records for single-season scoring average (116.2 points per game) and consecutive 100-point games (15). The Lions also set the state’s single-game scoring record (170) and won by an average of 50.7 points last season.

Over the past two seasons Yates has accumulated 58 consecutive victories dating back to the 2008-2009 season.

Texas High School Athletes Pass All Drug Tests No cheaters were found in the latest round of steroids ★ARDISON, Page 6

Giant step brings Baseball back to the city

By Darrell K. Ardison DEFENDER

It is a thing of beauty to all baseball coaches at Houston’s inner city high schools.

The Houston Astros Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy located at Sylvester Turner Park in the Acres Homes community consists of four wellmanicured diamonds complete with lights, dugouts with benches and bleachers for fans on both sides of the field.

While baseball diamonds were commonplace in Houston’s African-American communities during the 1960s and 1970s, they are currently non-existent. The once-flourishing Southeast Houston Little League program shut down shortly after the turn of the century.

No longer does the Smokey Jasper Little League program in northeast Houston boast the gaudy numbers (nearly 300 kids) that it routinely possessed in past years.

Right now youth baseball is largely absent in the African-American communities not only in Houston, but around the U.S. With black players making up only 10 percent of the populace in Major League Baseball these days, a similar facility to the one opened earlier this year in Acres Homes was built by MLB in Compton, Calif. several years ago.

The prevailing thought was to bring baseball back to the inner

“I’m getting kids that aren’t big enough to play football, aren’t quick enough or jump well enough to play basketball and aren’t fast enough to run track,” he said. “Then they want to play soccer and baseball at the same time, so you lose practice time with them.

“Whereas you used to get kids that were students of the game, you rarely see that anymore,” he said. “They don’t watch much baseball on television or listen to games on the radio like we did when we were growing up. That means they miss out on learning Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner strategy and how to make the Park in Houston's Acres Homes community. instinctive plays.”

Yet the coach still hadn’t gotten city neighborhoods pastime.” to the most important reason why and reverse this Both Major black kids must play baseball at a disturbing L e a g u e young age in order to be successtrend.

The Baseball-affli- ful when they get older. complex at ated organiza“You can’t teach a 14- or 15Sylvester tions have year-old kid that is playing organTurner Park baseball pro- ized baseball for the first time not could be a step grams in place to be afraid of the ball,” he said. in the right direcfor boys and softball “It’s just not going to happen. tion. for girls.

They have to overcome their fear It provides an opportunity A local high school base- of the ball when they are seven, for kids, whose parents may not ball coach, who requested eight or even younger in tee-ball. be able to afford sending their kids anonymity, informed the Houston “When the ball is hit hard to play on select teams on the Defender that African-American toward one of my players, they other side of the city, a great facil- youth receiving instruction begin- aren’t trying to catch it, they’re ity to receive first-class instruction ning at the age of seven is critical trying to get out of the way,” he and hone their skills. to the success of high school base- said. “They’ll never admit to Houston’s Reviving Baseball in ball teams in the inner city. being afraid of the ball, but you Inner Cities program (RBI) is The coach went on to say that of can see it in their body language. another organization with hopes his 15 varsity players last season, “It was hard for me to underof getting inner-city youth only two had any Little League ★BASEBALL, Page 6 involved in America’s “favorite experience.

SPORTS

6

Baseball

continued from page 5 stand at first because I played eight years of organized baseball before I reached the high school level. But what it comes down to is the first law of perseverance. If in the back of their minds, they figure the chances of the ball hitting them is greater than the chances of them catching the ball, they get out of harm’s way,” he said.

The Astros currently have two African American players from the Houston area that benefited from the RBI program. Both Michael Bourn (Aldine Nimitz) and Jason Bourgeois (Forest Brook) are listed as Houston RBI alumni.

Bourn was on the field last month when the National League recorded its first victory in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game since 1996.

Tampa Bay leftfielder Carl Crawford (Jeff Davis) is also a Houston RBI alum and was selected the All-Star Game’s Most Valuable

Player following the 2009 event. He was selected a starter for the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim, Calif.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman James Loney (Elkins) and Arizona centerfielder Chris Young (Bellaire) played Houston RBI ball.

Young caught the final out in the 2010 MLB AllStar Game and participated in the Home Run Derby a day earlier.

Sean Washington, a 2010 Bellaire graduate and first-team all-district outfielder, earned a baseball scholarship to Texas A&M Corpus Christi. He’s a big fan of youth baseball.

“That’s where some of my better coaching came from,” he said. “It just helps develop your game.”

In addition to providing instruction in both baseball and softball, these programs offer SAT and college prep tutoring.

For information on the Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy, e-mail Daryl Wade at dwade@astros.com.

Texans Defense continued from page 5

Diles as a witness to the difference a year has made.

“We have the same nucleus of guys and that’s key,” Diles said.

“We know our spots, our positions and where we need to be and that helps you play faster, when you know exactly what you’re supposed to be doing, it helps you be more aggressive. We’ve definitely bought into Frank’s philosophy and we’re just trying to take it to the next level.

“To have a successful season, to have a successful defense, we all have to be on the same page,” Diles continued. “Last year, early on, we were all trying to do too much. Throughout the season we settled down, started trusting each other and everything just became easier.”

The poster child for the Frank Bush defensive philosophy is the ultra- aggressive strong safety Bernard Pollard. Pollard, like Bush, has been able to track the progress of the unit and understands what must happen for them to improve.

“Coming into this year’s training camp we’ve done a great job of learning the system,” Pollard explained. “Understanding what Frank wants, understanding that it’s a must that we show up every Sunday, a must that we practice our butts off, a must that we create turnovers and stop the run. We come in this year knowing what we’re capable of on defense. We understand our defense. We know we’ve got to come out here and put a 100 percent in. If not, it’s not going to translate on Sundays.”

In order for the defense to continue to improve, they must overcome a youthful pair of cornerbacks in the secondary. Gone is veteran mainstay Dunta Robinson. Currently, second-year surprise Glover Quin is manning one side and first round (20th overall) selection Kareem Jackson has been penciled in as the other starter.

Eugene Wilson, who battled an injury-plagued 2009, hopes to be healthy and productive in 2010 at the free safety position. Early season free agent acquisition Bernard Pollard has rapidly emerged as a leader on the defense from his strong safety position. Yet if the secondary is to avoid being the Achilles heel of the defense,

Edison

continued from page 5 interceptions. Glenn started all 43 games he played in as a Texan and still holds team records from an outstanding performance at Pittsburgh on December 8, 2002 when he returned two interceptions a combined 135 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-6 win against the Steelers, also earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in the process.

Glenn spent his first eight pro seasons with the Jets, who selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. Glenn played for Dallas in 2005 and 2006, before going on to one-year stints with Jacksonville (2007) and New Orleans (2008).

For his career, Glenn totaled 41 career interceptions, six of which were returned for touchdowns, 560 interception return yards and 165 passes defensed.

Glenn held a press conference last week to coincide with his announcement and in true

Ardison

continued from page 5 tests administered to high school athletes in Texas.

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) recently announced results of tests for the spring semester of the 2009-2010 school year.

More than 3,308 boys and girls were tested last semester and all of the student athletes were clean. About 50,000 tests have been administered since February of 2008 and only 20 confirmed cases have come back positive.

The program was created in 2007 with a $3 million annual budget. Last May, state officials reduced the program budget to $750,000.

Discussions Continue About Possible 6a Conference The final decision on how many classifications the University Interscholastic League (UIL) will have for the

2012 bi-annual reclassification and realignment will be released in January 2011 according to UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt.

UIL director of athletics Cliff Odenwald and Breithaupt contend a sixth classification would provide more balance.

Currently in Class A. 382 schools play basketball, while football is split into six-man and 11-man. There are 229 Class 2A schools. 190 in 3A,

Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park in Houston's Acres Homes community could produce the baseball greats of tomorrow.

the young corners must play beyond their years of experience. A fact Frank Bush acknowledged.

“We are a work in progress. We have a young guy back there in Jackson (Kareem, 5’10” 197 lbs.), who is learning under fire.

He’s coming along in the process; making plays and getting better every day. On the other side, G. Q. (Glover Quin) is doing an excellent job for us, using his brain and really helping to bring the kid (Jackson) along. Bernard (Pollard) and Eugene ( Wilson) are back there ball hawking and helping out the young corners. We’ve got to get better every day, but so far they’re (secondary) progressing nicely.”

Second year cornerback Glover Quin stays focused and relatively unfazed by the hoopla surrounding the questions about a youthful corner tandem.

“I don’t really pay much attention to how young I am or things like that,” admitted GQ. “I do know that I’m only in my second year, but just like everybody else, you’re a professional football player. Just because you’re a second-year guy or a rookie, the veterans may know some things that you don’t know, but you still have the ability to play the game. I don’t try and look so much into the fact that we’re so young, but being that we are so young, we do need to take in from our vets more, we do need to study more and watch more film to try and speed up the learning curve.”

Count Pollard as one who is confident that depth at the corner position will offset any apprehension about the youthful pair.

“I don’t think a lot of people understand what we have at the cornerback position,” number 31 shared. “(Defensive backs) Coach (David) Gibbs said it best: we have competition at cornerback this year. We have a lot of guys. You’ve got (CB) Jacques Reeves. You’ve got (CB) Fred Bennett. You’ve got so many guys that are here that people haven’t realized and people are playing their tails off.”

The interior of the defensive line is another area of the unit that has to improve for the group to go to the next level

Aaron Glenn fashion, it was an event that displayed class and character. Unlike other so called “decision” events, this really had substance. Glenn appeared with Texan owner Bob McNair and GM Rick Smith. His immediate family, mother, father and siblings were all in attendance.

Also in the audience was Glenn’s former A & M coach R.C. Slocum and a host of well wishers.

The event featured audio tributes from Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, former Texan head coach Dom Capers, Patriot head coach Bill Belichick and Miami Dolphin Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Bill Parcells.

The reoccurring theme that everyone who spoke about Glenn was that as great a player as he was on the field, he was an even better person off the field. Already totally immersed in his multiple business interest, Aaron Glenn is a great example of what the city can produce. Continued success in all that you do #31.

246 in 4A and 245 in 5A. ETC. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is hoping to name an athletic director before school begins on Aug. 23rd. Forty-four applicants have inquired about the job. Former AD Daryl Wade resigned from the position on July 9 to take a job with the Astros as their Urban Youth Academy director.

CLASSIFIED MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY will be accepting Request for Proposal for the following:

MHMRA DUMPSTER SERVICES Specifications may be secured from MHMRA, Harris County, Purchasing Department located at 7011 Southwest Freeway, Suite 100 in Houston, Texas 77074, Telephone number, 713-970-7300, and/or via MHMRA website www.mhmraharris.org beginning Monday, August 09, 2010. The Request for Proposal (RFP) must be submitted to Purchasing Department, Suite 100, 7011 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by, Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 10:00 a.m. in a sealed envelope marked "RFP - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2010, 10 A.M – “MHMRA DUMPSTER SERVICES”. Any questions pertaining to this RFP should be addressed in writing to Joycie Sheba, Buyer II / Sharon Brauner, Buyer III via fax (713) 970-7682 or email questions to joycie.sheba@mhmraharris.org, cc: sharon.brauner@mhmraharris.org. MHMRA reserves the rights to reject any and/or all offers it deems to be in its best interests, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

AUGUST 5 – 11, 2010 | DEFENDER

and Bush is pleased with what he has seen to date.

“Right now they’re starting to show themselves (interior of Dline). Amobi (Okoye) has done an excellent job for us since he’s lost some weight and taken a new attitude. Earl Mitchell is really pushing Amobi and doing some good stuff. Shaun Cody is doing a nice job. The guy that’s really having a solid camp is Frank Okam. He’s doing a real good job for us. He’s got a few technique things to work out, but to his credit he’s stepped up and performed well so far.”

So the inevitable question lingers, is this a playoff caliber defense? Certainly the players think so.

“We definitely have a playoff caliber defense,” Pollard opined.

“Everybody has taken upon themselves to make sure that they’re doing what they have to do to make sure the other 10 guys are ready. We hold everybody accountable. It’s all about understanding our defense. It’s all about running our defense better than our opponents run their offense, then nobody can beat us.”

Defensive end Antonio Smith concurs with Pollard.

“I think we are good enough to do it,” Smith said. “You’ve just got to have consistency. We have got to keep working on that and build a standard for ourselves that we can’t accept less than fifty to seventy-five yards (rushing). Those are the goals you set.

You might not make it, but if you get anywhere around there, you will be one of the top five defenses in the league.”

Of course Coach Bush, ever the cautious coach, chooses to view things slightly more conservatively.

“We have our goals in the back of our mind, but right now we’re just a defense in camp trying to get better. We’ve got to get to those things. Right now we’ve just got to get to the next practice and be good in it and then so on and so forth.”

7

AUGUST 5 – 11, 2010 | DEFENDER

Alphas boycott State of Arizona Fraternity upholds its legacy of service

By Jason Lewis SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE LOS ANGELES SENTINEL

(NNPA) - The 104-year-old Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was to hold its General Convention in Phoenix, Ariz. recently, but it was held in Las Vegas instead.

When Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the state’s immigration bill (SB 1070) into law in late April, Alpha Phi Alpha felt the need to take a stand for justice as it has for more than a century.

“The questions of a person’s immigration status may have presented some harm and danger to some of us who would convene in the city of Phoenix and in the state of Arizona,” said Herman “Skip” Mason, General President of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Alpha Phi Alpha is historically Black, and was the first integrated fraternity in the nation’s history and additionally includes Hispanics, along with other races and ethnicities, among the 200,000 members initiated in its 100+ year history.

The decision to move the convention was extremely difficult due to the apparent financial ramifications. It would cost thousands of dollars to break certain contracts in The City of Phoenix alone. Mason said that cost did contribute to the discussion, but the board of directors believed that the cost would not be the sole driving force.

“The Board of Directors voted to move the convention out of Phoenix,” Mason said. “I met with our Director of Conventions and General Counsel and asked for a

review of our contractual obligations with the hotel and other entities. I called our board members to get a sense of their thoughts about a possible move.

Then late one evening I picked up two books. The first was The Bible, and the second, The History of Alpha Phi Alpha, to explore how man has dealt with conflict and crisis during challenging times. I could hear the voices of Alpha Brothers W.E.B. Du Bois, Paul Robeson, Thurgood Marshall, Jesse Owens, and Martin Luther King Jr., men who stood up in a time of change. And we voted to move.”

Mason went on to say, “We’d either advance forward as one of the leading fraternities and organizations of African American men, or we would move backward. And we know that Alpha men take no backward steps.”

The fraternity’s General Counsel is currently in negotiations for restructuring certain contractual agreements with entities in the City of Phoenix.

After this decision went public, other organizations followed Alpha Phi Alpha’s lead. The National Urban League immediately pulled Phoenix from consideration for its 2012 conference. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio VIllaraigosa supported a boycott of Arizona. The Boston City Council voted to pull investments from the state of Arizona. The Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota banned all city-funded travel to Arizona. Oakland city council members voted to boycott Arizona businesses.

Major League Baseball is under pressure to take the 2011 All-Star Game out of Phoenix, much like the National Football League did in 1993 when Arizona refused to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday. Both the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee are being pressed to remove Phoenix from consideration as sites for their 2012 national conventions.

Whether the Alpha convention was to be in held in Phoenix under racial turmoil or under the bright lights of Las Vegas, the work of the fraternity needed to be completed.

High profile members of the fraternity, including Ambassador Andrew Young, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott from Virginia, and Senator Roland W. Burris from Illinois gave inspiring

speeches during the event in Las Vegas.

One of the most inspiring moments was a video shown to the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha, depicting the nearly completed, 30-foot tall statue of Brother Martin Luther King, anticipated to stand on the National Mall in Washington D.C. The King Memorial site is a four-acre plot on the north east corner of the Tidal Basin within the precinct of the Jefferson Memorial and north of the memorial to President Roosevelt.

The approved site creates a visual “line of leadership” from the Lincoln Memorial, where King gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech, to the Jefferson Memorial.

The King Memorial is dear to the hearts of every member of Alpha Phi Alpha, not only because King was initiated into the fraternity, but also because Alpha Phi Alpha has spearheaded this project.

Past General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Harry E. Johnson serves as the President and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation.

The project will cost $120 million, of which the foundation has already raised $107 million. The memorial will be dedicated on August 28, 2011.

“Brothers, you all are going to be so proud next year when we dedicate this memorial to the first man of peace, the first man of color, and to the only Alpha man who will be standing on the Mall,” Johnson said.

Alpha Phi Alpha is not only busy in Washington D.C., but also in Haiti, where a number of brothers traveled to lend their support after the devastating earthquake earlier this year.

The fraternity could have just sent contributions to some of the charity organizations, but Mason did not feel like that was enough.

He felt the need for brothers to travel there and lend helping hands.

“Why?” Mason asked. “Because of the line in the poem ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,’ by Brother Freeman Montague Jr. that I often quote: ‘There is nothing in this whole wide world, we wouldn’t do for one another.’”

Brother Joseph Gambrell, M.D. from Beta Psi Lambda Chapter (Los Angeles), and Mu Sigma Lambda Chapter (Culver City Baldwin Hills), was one of the brothers who made the trip to help down in Haiti.

“I had the opportunity to be in Haiti 19 days after the earthquake,” Gambrell said. “The search and rescue and emergency medical services had been rendered but the capital was far from healed. Collapsed buildings still held undiscovered and unrecovered bodies.”

The fraternity’s efforts in Haiti are far from over. Several members who are architects and contractors will return to an unfinished school to complete renderings and cost out what it will take to finish an architecturally sound and efficient school and clinic, to be named The Alpha Academy and Clinic in Haiti.

8

AUGUST 5 – 11, 2010 | DEFENDER

Literacy

Literacy Event

continued from page 1 inmates that Smith works with dropped out of school around eighth or ninth grade and are headed toward a life of poverty.

“What I recognize is that many of them are not functionally illiterate. They can read but not on a level that allows them to take on jobs that would give them upward mobility,” Smith said. “This keeps them at the level of poverty. They are trapped in a poverty cycle because they are not able to work independently or functionally.”

This “cycle of poverty” is passed on to children, Smith added, especially in Black families. He associated some of the issue with slavery, explaining how Blacks are commonly taught physical labor versus mental labor. As a result of this, he said, Blacks fall behind in a society that is more focused on technology and science and less focused on physical labor, which was a predominant force during slavery.

“We can equate these issues from generational illiteracy to generational property,” he said. “You can equate poverty and illiteracy as well as poverty and incarceration.”

While Smith said his program has helped about 95 percent of its clients earn a G.E.D. or high school diploma and a few clients have gone on to college while incarcerated, some of the solution to literacy advancement starts in homes.

“Families have to turn off the television and start reading to their children — begin to inspire them to read,” Smith said. “We have let go of the responsibility of interaction, which most of the time that interaction would tend to include reading or some other form of literacy learning. If we were to turn off the TV for just one hour, we would be surprised of the impact we would have on our children in regards to literacy and education.”

Brian and Rolanda Watson are among those who understand the importance of knowing how to read and write on a functional level. Having spent most of their lives reading the same book (the Bible) over and over again, they realized the power of literacy. When they needed help in their marriage, they read the Bible. When they needed help financially, they read it. Whenever they were

WHO:

Gateway Community Church

WHAT:

2010 Project PRESS Block Party (Food, Clothing, Entertainment, Finances, Fitness, Education Workshops and Information)

WHERE:

Crestmont Park, 5200 Selinsky

WHEN:

August 14, Noon to 5pm

For more info call 713-643-0422 or visit www.thegatecc.org/projectpress.

Look for Project Press on Facebook. challenged, they read it even more. They continue to read and even teach from it today as the Bible shaped their entire lives so much that they are both ministers and co-founders of Gateway Community Church and its outreach component Project PRESS (People Reaching Excellence, Striving and Succeeding).

The Watsons want to share their love and literacy and hope an annual free block party sponsored by Project PRESS will help them do that. The party, which will be held on August 14 from noon to 5pm at Crestmont Park (5200 Selinsky), will be aimed at promoting literacy. Attendees can also pick up food, clothing, financial resources, and educational materials, while enjoying empowerment workshops and entertainment.

“The Block Party is an opportunity for our church family and others to reach out to the community. It’s about being the church – not just having church,” Brian said. “It’s amazing to see how this event has grown over the years, and we believe that it’s only going to get bigger – and better! It’s all about showing people the love of Jesus.”

This year, Project PRESS aims to offer services that cater to the total well-being of individuals in an effort to increase functional

literacy. Representatives from various businesses, churches and organizations will be present to discuss spiritual, financial, emotional and physical wellness.

“I have supported Project PRESS personally for a few years,” said Lekesha Barnett, founder of HER Call Ministries. “It’s such a tangible and credible way to touch lives with practical and spiritual resources. I believe it is an outstanding example of genuine community ministry that makes a difference.”

The focus on literacy stems from stats that link illiteracy with increased crime, poverty and health issues, to name a few. A recent Defender article, N.D. Kalu, Football to Business, touched on this matter as Kalu commented on the importance of education: “African-American kids here [in America] have been brainwashed that the only way to make it here is as a rapper, athlete or some type of entertainer. In Nigeria, the emphasis is education as the way to better yourself, and they respect their minds. Here in America, African- Americans don’t respect their minds. They think doing your school work and being respectful is ‘acting’ white!

For whatever reason, education here is looked at as negative.”

The Watson’s aren’t the only ones tackling

the issue head-on. Jazmyn Davison hopes to address illiteracy and other issues in young minority males aged 13-17 through her program, Project Prince of Peace (PPOP). Davis is hoping to catch young males before they end up in jail where Smith may have to work with them. Davison’s program focuses on the development reading, writing and critical thinking skills by reinforcing the need for effective communication.

“Not knowing how to make sense doesn’t make sense,” Davison said. “We believe that opening lines of communication through literacy techniques such as journal writing will help young men to communicate and think through many of the thoughts that ultimately influence their behavior. By helping them make sense of situations and circumstances in everyday life, we can affect how they live.

In the long run, this simple technique has the ability to decrease crime rates, narrow health disparities, close education gaps and boost the economy.”

Manaoh McClendon, Executive Director for My Harvest Field, agrees. McClendon teaches how to invest and save money through multiple financial programs and products. When people become more literate, they also become wealthier, he said.

“The more financially literate you become the better life you can experience,” McClendon said. “You become a better wife, better husband, better Christian, better parent, better member of your community and better you will be as a contributor to our society.”

McClendon said a common misconception of money is that someone must have a lot of money in order to create a financial plan. He said he will share information on how budgeting can help save money during the block party.

“Every day, every penny you make should be managed,” he added. “If you put a little away, that money adds up.”

For the past eight years, Project PRESS has brought community and social service resources to one of the most impoverished communities of Houston; the event attracts an average of 500-600 attendees yearly.

9

AUGUST 5 – 11, 2010 | DEFENDER

Obama needs race staff in the White House

By Hazel Trice Edney NNPA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – The administration of President Barack Obama is missing a key element that has proven a detriment to America’s growth since he has been in office. That element is a staff presence to deal with the rancorous issues related to race in America.

That is the sentiment of at least three seasoned civil rights warriors who say the cases of former Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod; the advent of racial elements within the Tea Party Express; the uprising following the Oakland, Calif. subway shooting trial of Oscar Grant; and the Arizona racial profiling and immigration protests are among daily issues that graphically illustrate a dire need for White House intervention. Some even say the President is “skittish” or “timid” on race and has neglected the need for policies and procedures that could help quell controversies or abate them in advance.

“In general, I think that if they had developed in the administration, a better and more comprehensive way of dealing with racial matters, they would have handled this differently,” says Barbara Arnwine, executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. She was talking about the forced Sherrod resignation as it relates to the overall handling of race matters by this White House. “I think that they’re skittish. They continue to be too skittish on issues that directly implicate race relations, racial interactions, racial intolerance, racial conflict. They have not figured out how to handle those matters well. That’s why they continue to stumble on these matters.”

Arnwine continues, “I think the fact that they have no veteran civil rights expert in the administration, that’s a problem. They have Black people. They have other people of color, but they really don’t have a person who really knows the civil rights community well, who understands our history, our role, our aspirations. They have people with some experience, but they’re not in those roles.”

Former Tennessee Circuit Court Judge and civil rights activist D’Army Bailey agrees.

“The lesson here is that we have to keep pressures on the White House. We cannot take for granted that just because we have an African-American president that the sensitivity is going to be there,” says Bailey, founder of the National Civil Rights Museum in the old Memphis’ Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968. He is also author of a new book, The Education of a Black Radical, which chronicles his own civil rights history.

“I know that in the Oval Office, there is a bust of Dr. King. I have no concern about this president’s Blackness. But, his timidity when it comes to the tough issues of race, that does concern me,” D’Army says. “And, apparently, some of those people who he has as his key advisors in the White House are not people who’ve got that steely resolve to stand up when the going gets tough and to stand up for the principles of Blackness – not as a racial matter – but as a fairness to Black people and fight for us.”

Bailey adds, “Every person of an ethnic group who comes into a position of leadership anywhere in the world, carries with them, necessari-

Barbara Arnwine

D’Army Bailey

ly the unique feelings, aspirations and interests of that ethnic group and ought not to run from it or be fairer than thou with regards to the issues of serving that people.”

President Obama has spoken strongly on race. Even last week during the National Urban League 100th Anniversary Conference, he spoke strongly on the Sherrod case, receiving applause when he said, “The full story she was trying to tell –- a story about overcoming our own biases and recognizing ourselves in folks who, on the surface, seem different -– is exactly the kind of story we need to hear in America.”

He has also received rousing standing ovations at the NAACP’s centennial conference in New York and at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference last year. At these functions, he speaks almost predominately on issues from a race perspective.

Some disagree that President Obama should take leadership in dealing with America’s race issues.

Among those is Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree, founding and executive director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice.

“I don’t think it’s as important for the president to lead us in these discussions as it is for us to address

Charles Ogletree

Ron Walters

some of these issues personally,” says Ogletree, who just last year, represented Black Harvard Professor Skip Gates in his run-in with a white Cambridge police officer. The public debacle ended with a so-called “beer summit” at the White House.”

With African-American representatives from every segment of “an increasingly divisive society,” Ogletree says, “at some point we need to realize that this movement starts from the bottom up.”

He adds that Blacks who are economically able should personally concentrate on helping others. This must happen outside the White House, he said.

We have to have our own new Black renaissance movement,” Ogletree says. “And we have to be much more focused on unity of us all.”

But, Dr. Ron Walters, a political analyst and racial politics expert, says because of the gravity of the race issue in America and the fact that the problem is prone to grow, the issue must be dealt with by the White House.

“There needs to be, in the White House structure, someone with credibility to handle outreach to the Black community. I’m talking about the staff. He’s given that to Valerie Jarrett. But, nobody knows who Valerie Jarrett is,” Walters says.

“The second thing is that his staff needs to respect race as a dynamic issue in American society and culture and politics that will confront them at every step of the way. This is not a side issue. It is the most dynamic issue in American society and he is Black, which means his approach to it has to have the same respect as other issues” with staffing and experts.

Arnwine, who has participated in issues meetings at the White House, says the President is never there.

“So, that means that everything we say; everything we try to communicate is getting filtered by somebody else’s voice to him,” Arnwine said. Clinton was different in that he would often show up and even disagree with his staff and side with civil rights leaders, she described.

Instead, she says, the Obama administration has “a lot of people who believe that it is their duty to protect the president. I think that’s one of the problems – that they’ve insolated him. … Therefore you get this interaction where nobody can tell you what they’re going to do.

They can’t commit to anything.”

Notwithstanding the need for a person or staff on race, Bailey says, there are other steps Obama can take to at least connect more with the Black community.

“He has to work harder to avoid the isolation of the White House and connect with the hard-felt sentiments of the people in the streets,” Bailey says. “Just like he’s vacationed in Florida and in the Gulf to show his empathy, he’s got to come off the vineyard and get out into the community and feel those people too and relax and vacation.”

10

CHAG’S PLACE………It is with great pride to inform you that Ms. Chag is celebrating 22 years as the People Editor for the Defender Media Group. During this time, “Chag’s Place” has chronicled Houston’s Black social and professional lifestyles. It has been my pleasure to feature your event in the column and highlight the positive aspects of what we do as a people. I encourage you to visit our website at www.defendernetwork.com where the “Event of the Week” is available for your review. Keep the invitations coming and Ms. Chag will keep attending. Thank you!......STREET OLYMPICS……..In 1986, Harris County Precinct One Commissioner El Franco Lee realized the potential in the street games that Harris County children play during their summer break. By adding structure, he believed the games could give children fun and educational experience in leadership and competition and offer youth the chance to develop important educational, recreational and social skills to be used year-round. With 200 boys and girls, he launched the Street Olympics, and Olympic style summer games program. This year, an estimated 5,000 kids will participate and compete in the Final Games to be held at Reliant Arena. The Street Olympics has grown from a recreational summer program to an organization with four major components that address the various needs of our youth. One of the showcase events is the Aquatics Program that teaches discipline, leadership and teamwork skills through the sport of swimming.

Recently, about 250 boys and girls ages 6-18 competed in “Splashdown,” an exciting swim meet for the youth who participated in the free Learn-to-Swim sessions. Under the leadership of Swim Coach Johnnie Means and Director John Beaudion, all of them were rewarded for their accomplishments.

Some of the young swimmers included Toshairra Miller, Madison Green, Mya Kemper, Annashi Alfaro, Breanna Ho, Victoria Briones, Jada Menifee, Olivia Gonzalez, Angel Munoz and Keshean Mitchell. The event was held at the Harris County Aquatics Center, a 22,000-squarefoot indoor pool with eight 25-yard competitive swimming lanes and three practice/training lanes, located at 2727 El Camino.

Congratulations!...........CHAG’S BOOKSHELF…….The Higher Dimension Church’s D-Spot Community Center located at 9745 Bissonnet is one of Houston’s best kept secrets. The Thirst No More Bookstore, hosted their very first “Ladies Night Out” for women in the Southwest community. The featured author was Nickcole Byrd, an educator, women’s conference speaker, radio show host, TV show host, producer and Life Success Coach.

Both shows are venues that coach and ignite women toward purpose. Real Women Real Life is seen both locally and online with a network subscriber base of over 700,000 subscribers. Store manager, Trina Gray introduced Nickcole and she kicked off the evening with a motivating success empowerment session followed by a book signing.

Her new book, titled The Purple Book of Success evangelizes the message that a woman finding her unique purpose is the key to her success. Spotted at the event were Tara Robinson, Taelor Robinson, Giovanna Arthurs, Toni McKeenzie, Tiffany McKeenzie, Ashlie Jackson, Evelyn Jones, Michelle Gould and Delaina Allen, to name a few. Great Event!........KUDOS…….

Chairman Carroll G. Robinson was recently appointed to the Environmental Justice Network (EJN) of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, D.C. The ENJ is a dynamic collection of scholars, advocates, policymakers, community leaders and others working to achieve environmental justice. In close collaboration with the Joint Center’s Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change (CEAC), this Network will ultimately shape and define the discourse regarding environmental justice and identify effective solutions to compel policy action at the federal, state and local levels.

Carroll is an associate professor at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University.

Continued Success!................. Have a great week and remember to watch CROSSROADS on Channel 13 Sunday morning with Melanie Lawson for your event covered by Ms. Chag. Also check out our website at defendernetwork.com to view the “Event of the Week.”…..From Chag’s Place to your place, Ciao Darling!

AUGUST 5 – 11, 2010 | DEFENDER

Angel Munoz and Khesan Mitchell

Annaki Alfaro, Mya Kemper, Madison Green and Toshairra Miller

Breanna Ho, Victoria Briones, Jada Menifee and Olivia Gonzalez

Author Nickcole Byrd and Trina Gray

Commissioner El Franco Lee and John Beaudion

Leanna Taylor, Ida Dill and Lalita Dixon

Tara Robinson, Taelor Robinson, Giovanna Arthurs, Toni McKeenzie and Tiffany McKeenzie

Ashlie Jackson, Evelyn Jones, Michelle Gould and Delaina Allen

Author Nickcole Byrd