Houston Defender: September 15, 2011

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NEWSTALK

BARBARA JORDAN

HARRIS COUNTY

Stamp unveiled

P3 LOCAL

Combating teen pregnancy

KIPP

Students reading 1 million words

P7

 PAGE 8

SPORTS

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M Bounces back to edge TSU

P14 CHAG’S PLACE

Artist Sam Turner hosted a new exhibit of paintings.

P16

Viola Davis

looks at career Actress Viola Davis can be seen in the hit film, “The Help,” which explores the unspoken tensions between well-todo white women and their AfricanAmerican maids. Davis has enjoyed an illustrious background on the stage and TV as well. She offers insight into her career and her role as Aibileen, a housekeeper who experiences joy and pain.  PAGE 11

Pres. Obama

pushes jobs act President Barack Obama has proposed a bold American Jobs Act designed to get the unemployed back to work and the economy moving. His plan includes extending unemployment insurance, extending and the expanding the payroll tax cut and preventing numerous teacher layoffs. Many of the president’s proposals would specifically help Black America.  PAGE 4

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In The Book Corner

Editorial cartoons

News & Opinion President Barack Obama’s Strategic Leadership for Jobs

Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant

Who’s Afraid of PostBlackness?

What It Means to Be Black Now

by Touré

Foreword by Michael Eric Dyson “We’re in a post-Black era when our identity options are limitless.

And there’s no going back...

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis

Living

Question of the Week

Score a Tailgate Touchdown Are you ready for some football? The best thing about football, besides watching the game of course, is tailgating with delicious food and tasty drinks.

Is President Obama doing a good job?

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newstalk

Barbara Jordan

localbriefs

stamp unveiled The late Houston Congresswoman Barbara Jordan will be remembered during activities surrounding the unveiling of a postage stamp in her honor.

Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs hosts a “Women for Barbara Breakfast” at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at the Hilton Americas Hotel, 1600 Lamar.

Special guests will include Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain civil rights leader Med-

FEMA assistance available for those hit by wildfires

gar Evers; Luci Baines Johnson Turpin, daughter of former President Lyndon B. Johnson; Lisa P. Jackson, EPA administrator, and Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. House of Representatives.

Members of Barbara Jordan’s family will also attend.

At 11 a.m. Friday, the stamp unveiling takes place in the Granville Sawyer Auditorium on the TSU campus.

For more information call (713) 313-6840.

Texas residents and business owners who sustained losses due to wildfires can begin applying for FEMA funding.

President Barack Obama recently signed a Texas disaster declaration and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in Bastrop County and other areas hardest hit by the blazes. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs. Texans can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Bike to Build

Habitat For Humanity hosts green fundraiser

By ASWAD WALKer Defender

H

ouston Habitat for Humanity is hosting Bike to Build, an event that allows local residents the opportunity to support the organization’s green efforts. Those efforts will provide significant energy savings to recipients of Habitat for Humanity homes.

The family-friendly ride takes place Saturday, Sept. 24, at 8:30 a.m. at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney in Downtown Houston. It is sponsored by BG Group.

Bike to Build is co-chaired

by State Sen. Rodney Ellis and State Rep. Carol Alvarado, and is expected to bring together more than 800 teams, cyclists and supporters excited about raising funds for affordable housing.

For homeowner Abdimalik Abu, the generosity of the orga-

nization is paying long-term benefits well beyond the initial gift of a home. Abu lives in a Houston Habitat home built by sponsors and volunteers and purchased by the Abu family in 2010.

His house features the same green building materials used in all habitat homes – energy efficient windows, insulation, air conditioning units, water heaters, appliances, roofing materials and paint – and also includes a 10-panel solar array for electricity and a solar-powered water heater.

As a result, Abu’s monthly electricity bill provides him an average savings of $150 per bill compared to the energy costs of his friends.

“Every day we see the transformation made possible by affordable housing,” said Algenita Scott Davis, Houston Habitat executive director. “Green building

3

allows us to increase affordability for our hard working family partners, and also provides a benefit to the community as a whole.”

Houston Habitat has been able to increase its community impact due to a commitment to energy efficiency and green living made possible by individual donors and sponsors such as Green Mountain Energy.

“Green Mountain is proud to partner with a fine organization like Houston Habitat for Humanity that helps provide housing to low-income people,” said Mark Lamping, company vice president of sales.

“Donating solar hot water heaters like this one for the Abu family through the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club helps us give back to the communities where our customers live, work, shop and play.”

Continued on Page 6

TSU awarded $4.8 million for new research center The National Science Foundation announced an award of $4,887,004 over five years to Texas Southern University to support its proposed Center for Research on Complex Networks. The mission of the center is to conduct innovative and multidisciplinary research in the area of complex networks.

Research will be integrated with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education programs.

The center will financially support a minimum of 15 undergraduate and graduate students, providing them the opportunity to work with faculty on the cutting edge of research and development. The center’s multiple disciplinary team is comprised of 14 world-class faculty scholars.

United Way kicks off campaign to make a difference The United Way of Greater Houston recently launched its 2011-12 Community Campaign by inspiring supporters to do something extraordinary for Houston.

More than 1,500 campaign leaders, volunteers and donors gathered at Minute Maid Park to celebrate the start of the annual campaign. This year’s goal is $77 million. The organization has served the Houston area for nearly 90 years, and focuses on children and youth, families and neighborhoods, seniors and those rebuilding their lives. “What we do now determines the future,” said Anna Babin, the organization’s president and CEO. “And, United Way is here for families who need us...”

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15 | 2011

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national

U.S.briefs

Analysis:

Obama proposes

bold jobs act

By George E. Curry TheDefendersOnline.com

P

resident Obama discarded his carefully-crafted image of compromiser-in-chief last week by proposing a surprisingly bold American Jobs Act that calls for nearly $500 billion in federal spending and tax cuts to jolt the sagging U.S. economy.

Instead of waiting for Congress to initiate legislation, as he has often done in the past, Obama took the initiative, saying Congress should “pass this bill” eight times. He used the word “pass” a total of 18 times and said if the House and Senate fails to act, he will take this case to the public.

In a tough, plain-spoken speech to a joint session of Congress, the president said: “The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities.

The question is whether we’ll meet ours. The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy.”

Republican leaders appear to be enjoying the political circus too much to voluntarily disembark from the Washington merry-go-round.

They made it clear

that while they support some of President Obama’s proposals, such as rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, he is not likely to get anywhere near the $447 billion spending that he is requesting.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a floor speech hours before Obama’s address: “Now, in a two-party system like ours, it shouldn’t be surprising that there would be two very different points of view about how to solve this particular crisis.

What is surprising is the president’s apparent determination to apply the same government-driven policies that have already failed.

“The definition of insanity, as Albert Einstein once famously put it, is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. Frankly, I can’t think of a better description of anyone who thinks the solution to this problem is another stimulus. The first stimulus didn’t do it. Why would another one?”

The political gulf was on display when President Obama’s speech was interrupted 51 times by applause. Most of the time, only Democrats were standing to cheer the president while stone-faced Republicans remained seated, only occasionally joining their Democratic colleagues in applause.

The American Jobs Act would, among other things: • Extend unemployment insurance for 5 million Americans looking for work; • Extend and expand the payroll tax cut, providing $1,500 to the typical family; • Prevent up to 280,000 teacher layoffs; • Modernize at least 35,000 schools;

• Allow more Americans to refinance their mortgages at near 4 percent interest rates; • Provide a $4,000 credit to employers hiring the long-term unemployed; • Give employers tax credits ranging from $5,600 to $9,600 for hiring returning veterans and • Build or repair highways, roads, railways and aviation facilities.

While not specifically mentioning the disproportionate impact the economic downturn has had on AfricanAmericans, many of the president’s proposals, if adopted, would help Black America.

His plan to assist public employees, for example, would help Blacks because African-Americans are 30 percent more likely than other workers to be employed in the public sector, according to a research brief by the University of California-Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education titled, “Black Worker and the Public Sector.”

President Obama’s reference to unions should not be viewed in a vacuum. The Center also noted that in 1999, Black union members earned about 32 percent more than their nonunion counterparts; the comparative rate for Whites was approximately 15 percent.

Any help for homeowners under water, a disproportionate number of whom are Black, would also help. The wealth gap between Blacks and Whites has widened during this economic crisis, in part, because Blacks are more likely to accumulate their wealth through home ownership rather than a combination of investments and owning their residence.

President Obama said too many Americans need immediate help.

“But know this: The next election is 14 months away. And people who sent us here – the people who hired us to work for them – they don’t have the luxury of waiting 14 months.

Some of them are living week to week, paycheck to paycheck, even day to day,” he said. “They need help, and they need it now.”

MLK Memorial dedication date rescheduled for Oct. 16 A new dedication date of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial has been set after Hurricane Irene forced organizers to postpone the event in August, days before 250,000 people were expected to attend.

Memorial executive architect Ed Jackson Jr. told the Associated Press it will now be dedicated on Sunday, Oct. 16, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Oct. 16 will also be the 16th anniversary of the Million Man March, held in 1995 to galvanize Black men. President Barack Obama had been slated to speak in August and is now scheduled for the new date, Jackson said.

NAACP condemns execution of Georgia’s Troy Davis The NAACP is condemning the scheduled execution of Troy Davis on Sept. 21. The organization believes there is too much doubt surrounding the conviction of Davis, whose accusers recanted their testimony against him. “After reviewing the evidence, I am convinced that Troy Davis is an innocent man,” said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “It is appalling to me that with so much doubt surrounding this case, Mr. Davis is set to be executed...” Davis is accused in the 1989 murder of police officer Mark Allen MacPhail who worked as a part-time security guard. There is no physical evidence connecting Davis to the crime.

One in four African-American households going hungry Data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that 25.1 percent of African-American households suffered from food insecurity in 2010.

Among households with children, the figure is higher, nearly one in three. The figures remain higher than the general population and more than double those of non-Hispanic white households. Nearly one in four African-Americans currently participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps). The hunger problem would be worse if were not for such safety-net programs. Across the board, hunger and poverty within Hispanic and Black communities is disproportionately higher than that of white communities.

VOLUME 80 • NUMBER • 45 WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Advertising/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler 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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Habitat for Humanity... Continued from page 3 Abu, a father of four, appreciates the savings made even more critical during

these challenging economic times. Bike to Build will add to the organization’s environmentally friendly impact so that other Houston Habitat clients can enjoy the same savings as Abu. “We are truly looking forward to uniting the community for a fun event

and a great cause,” said Davis. “Bike to Build is a chance for corporations, families and teams to join together and directly impact the lives of hard-working Houston families.”

There will be a post-ride party at Discovery Green featuring live entertainment, games and activities for kids and adults. Other event sponsors include Sysco

Corporation, Sun& Ski, REI, Primeway Federal Credit Union, BikeHouston and Bayou City Outdoors.

The $25 per rider registration fee includes a T-shirt, breakfast and snacks throughout the day. The $25 fee is available online through Sept. 14. Onsite registration the day of the race will cost $35.

Participants are encouraged to register in teams. Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. All riders are required to wear helmets, and encouraged to carry

I.D.s, emergency contact information and a cell phone. SAG support will be available along the route.

Houston Habitat is also offering sponsorships for the ride, including tent setups and goodie bag inserts. For information visit www.houstonhabitat.org/bike or call Kathryn Smith at 713-627-8777 (email, stourtellot@aol.com). For more information about becoming a sponsor, contact Holly Myers at 713-671-9993, x241 (email, hmyers@houstonhabitat.org).

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, TX (METRO) Public Hearing for FY2012 Operating & Capital Budgets The Public Hearing for METRO’s FY2012 Operating & Capital Budgets will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2011, at 9:00 am in the METRO Board Room on the 2nd Floor at 1900 Main Street in Houston, TX. METRO’s FY2012 Operating & Capital Budgets will be available for public review beginning September 15, 2011 at METRO headquarters at 1900 Main Street on the 14th Floor by contacting Rosa Diaz at 713-739-4918.

Also, you are urged to visit METRO’s website www.ridemetro.org to view the document and make comments.

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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15 | 2011 | DEFENDER

KIPP students reading 1 million words

By ASWAD WALKER Defender

KIPP Spirit Middle School, located in Sunnyside, is kicking off its second annual Million Word Challenge with a goal of having all students collectively read 1 million words over the course of the 20112012 school year.

Mike Feinberg, the co-creator of KIPP, is excited for the students.

“The is the second year that the school has taken on this Million Word Challenge, which means each student has to read a book a week,” said Feinberg. “But they successfully did it last year, and they are fired up for this year.”

Each grade level kicks off the challenge in its own unique way. KIPP Spirit 8th graders recently held a “Snuggle Up with a Book” event where they brought pajamas sleeping bags, and read the night away,” Feinberg said.

KIPP Spirit College Prep opened in 2006. Daphane Carter is the school leader.

Spirit’s student population is 80 percent African-American, 20 percent Hispanic, and 93 percent low income, all usual predictors of poor TAKS test scores.

However, there is nothing “usual,” status quo or mediocre about KIPP Spirit.

Far from distracting students from their regular coursework, or hindering their ability to prepare for the annual state-mandated tests, the Million Word Challenge enhanced student performance all the way around, making a powerful statement against the notion that teachers have to spend

the majority of their time teaching to the test.

“The oldest kids, the 8th graders, had 100 percent passage on the TAKS. Sixty percent of those received commended

status. That’s unheard of,” Feinberg said.

“It shows that when the kids are that good you’ve got to have a love for what you’re doing; not a love for worksheets but a love for read-

ing books. With that, when they see those tests, they know they can achieve.”

Students at KIPP Spirit Middle School plan to read one million words.

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DEFENDER| |WEEK WEEKOF OFSEPTEMBER APRIL 28 | 201 DEFENDER 15 | 2011 1

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Teen Health Clinic Ser Educational

HARRIS COUNTY Combating teen pregnancy

O

By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender

fficials in County Commissioner El Franco Lee’s Precinct One are working overtime to lower the number of teenage pregnancies and help more people gain access to health care in Harris County.

Through collaboration with the Baylor College of Medicine, they have designed the Northeast Adolescent Program (NEAP) to assist in providing adolescents with free information, education, and referral services within their own communities.

They’re also taking their quest to area schools, setting up teen clinics at Robert E. Lee and Chavez high schools. Five other clinics are housed throughout the community.

Tackling the problem

baby. That journey in terms of birth is one of the most significant journeys the baby will take,” Smith said.

“We find that it’s an investment into the community and the family to make sure good maternity care is provided.”

Long-term results

If prenatal care starts now, Smith says, it’ll carry over to when the teens become adults.

“We provide care before, during, and after delivery, then we provide a medical home for those children until they are 23. We have a place where they can get counseling,” Smith said.

“Maternity is a very significant issue. Only 70 percent of women get early prenatal care, which reduces and prevents a large number of preventable diseases as well as conditions.

“So, if a young girl is pregnant and you care about her health and the health of the baby, it is so important to provide those services.

Oftentimes, schools provide the only access these kids have to prenatal care.”

The care provided at the teen clinics is first-rate, Smith says, and equals that given to patients in the private sector. All clinic doctors are on the Baylor College of Medicine faculty, and many have appointments at St. Luke’s, Texas Children’s and other area hospitals.

Smith says their focus is not just on mothers – they try to make sure they’re reaching the fathers as well.

The clinic stresses partner participation in prenatal care. The dads-to-be attend clinic appointments with their wives or girlfriends, and even take their partners’ blood pressure and measure the size of the growing fetus.

The program was actually created by Precinct One in November 1989, in conjunction with the Harris County Hospital District, the Harris County Health Department, the Houston and Aldine Independent School Districts and the Baylor Teen Clinic.

“The teen clinics are a tremendous asset for the communities in which they serve,” said Commissioner Lee. “The program has given us a valuable tool in the fight to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, low-birth weight babies and sexually transmitted diseases.

“With the help of our partners, we have been able to use this innovative approach that involves taking the free services to the communities that otherwise wouldn’t have medical and social services.”

Males and females between the ages of 13-23 years who need social support and one-on-one help participate in the program. They undergo an educational component, Defender News Services which focuses on abstinence-based A new survey of 1,500 Black youth ages 13-21 finds that and comprehensive approaches to they experience considerable pressure to have sex. teen pregnancy and STD prevenEssence Magazine and the National Campaign to Prevent tion.

Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy recently released the survey.

They also discuss social Of those who have had sex, 47 percent of those 13-21 said they have been pressured to go further than they wanted issues, which allow pregnant to. The results are featured in the October issue of Essence. adolescents to receive individual When it comes to sex, pregnancy, and contraception, the case management and referrals as survey reveals that the intentions of Black youth don’t always needed. match their actions.

Program director Peggy Smith Even though more than 90 percent of Black youth say it says a large component of the prois important to avoid a pregnancy at this point in their lives, 67 percent have had sex without contraception, 45 percent gram is prenatal care for pregnant report using birth control inconsistently, and 20 percent say teens. they will likely have unprotected sex with someone in the next “One of the main reasons that three months. we emphasize quality prenatal care The reasons for not using contraception vary. Black in the first trimester is because this females who have had unprotected sex have done so because their partner doesn’t want them to use contraception or they is a great investment in not only “haven’t gotten pregnant so far.” the health of the mother, but the

• Abstinence-based and comprehensive approaches pregnancy and STD prevention • Both after-school and school-day components • Information given in small group or class discussions

Social

• Pregnant adolescents receive individual case management and referrals as needed • Males can get social support and case management • Males can learn about the emotional/ legal aspects of fatherhood

“We discovered long ago that if you want to improve the health of women, especially poor women, you need to work with their male partners,” says Smith.

Smith says she understands some people may have reserva tions about tackling an issue such as this, but it’s an issue that ha to be addressed. And their clinics stress involvement from the parents of the teens.

“We think contraception is also an important component, but the data from sexually transmitted and HIV infection tells us kids are fairly sexually active. If the school communities are comfortable with contraceptive access, with parental consent, then those are services that are important.

“Adolescents cannot come to our clinic without parental consent, so the parents are involved and it’s probably the only first time parents have been involved in terms of addressing these issues.”

For many teens who have gone through the clinic, taking part has been a life-saving endeavor.

“I think everyone should go through the program if they don’t have someone to talk to because they’re really good help, they’re real easy to talk to and very understanding,” said one 18-year-old teen.

For more information, visit www.teenhealthclinic.org, or call 281-847-3901.

Black youth report pressure to have sex

Some also said it doesn’t matter whether you use protec-

tion of not – when it’s “your time” to get pregnant, you will.

Respondents overwhelmingly believe that the TV shows and movies they watch paint a negative picture of Black youth. More than 70 percent believe that the media sends the message that Black females’ most important quality is their sex appeal.

Sixty-six percent of Black males said that sex is a “big deal,” and 73 percent would rather be in a relationship with no sex than have sex with no relationship.

The teen pregnancy rate among African-American youth has actually plummeted 44 percent since 1990, and the teen birth rate has dropped 47 percent since 1991.

“The truly extraordinary declines in too-early pregnancy and parenthood among African-American youth should be recognized and celebrated as one of the nation’s great success stories of the past two decades,” said Sarah Brown, CEO of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

“Still, the rate of teen pregnancy remains disproportionately high among African-American youth suggesting that the nation needs to explore more targeted and innovative approaches that will help.”

defendernetwork.com • Serving th

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rvices

s to teen

aas

he Houston area for over 80 years

An NEAP participant looks over material. Photo by Michael Fontaine

Peggy Smith is program director of the Northeast Adolescent Program Photo by Michael Fontaine

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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15 | 2011 | DEFENDER

entertainment

11

Viola Davis

reaches new acting heights

A

graduate of the Juilliard School, Viola Davis built an exceptional background in theater productions and has continued to perform on the stage throughout her television and film career.

Making her featurefilm debut in 1996 as a nurse in “The Substance of Fire,” she followed that up with several TV movies and guest-star appearances on dramatic series like “Law & Order” and “NYPD Blue.”

She went on to play another nurse in ”City of Angels,” a hospital drama with a predominately African-American cast that didn’t last long on CBS. She began collaborating with Steven Soderbergh for “Out of Sight,” and went on to star in two of the director’s Viola Davis currently stars in “The Help.” subsequent films, “Traffic” and “Solaris.” women and their African-American In 2001, she appeared in “Kate maids. and Leopold” as well as in Oprah KW: What message do you want Winfrey’s television presentation of people to take away from “The Amy & Isabelle. The following year, Help” she landed parts in both “Far From VD: That anything can be Heaven” and in Denzel Washington’s achieved with a good, healthy dose directorial debut, “Antwone Fisher.” of courage. These ordinary people However, in 2008 she made the who are just kind of going about most of a modest but critical role as their lives are transformed into hethe mother in John Patrick Shanley’s roes because they have the courage screen adaptation of his awardto put their voices out there. I think winning play, “Doubt.” Although her that’s a powerful message in this screen time was minimal, she gartime of political strife. nered an Academy Award nominaKW: How did you approach tion in the Best Supporting Actress your role and the material in such category. a way that it manages to stand out Here, she talks about her latest from other civil rights era films? outing as Aibileen in “The Help,” VD: Well, I made a choice to which explores the unspoken tenhumanize this woman beyond her sions simmering just below the uniform is what I did. I made a surface between well-to-do white

choice to explore Aibileen fully: her joys, her grief at losing her son, her journey in finding a purpose in life, because when you meet her, she has basically died to herself after losing her child. So, that’s what I did. I created a human being. That’s not what you usually see in a maid. You see the woman cooking in the kitchen or taking care of a child, and she comes up, says her one line, and then she goes back into the kitchen. So, I made a choice to use my craft to create a character.

KW: You were quoted as saying it is a painful certainty that

you will never see a contemporary Black woman on screen as layered and complex as you. Do you expect someday to be in a position to green-light just such a story someday?

VD: Oh, absolutely. My husband [Julius Tennon] and I started a production company. We’ve already optioned a book and some scripts to do exactly that, to create more complicated, multi-faceted roles for African Americans, especially African-American females. I think it’s important. Cicely Tyson was my Continued on Page 12

open happiness

™

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Viola Davis... Continued from page 11 one of the people I’ve always wanted to emulate in pursuing that dream was Meryl Streep, in terms of the different types of roles she’s been able to play and the number of different stories she’s been able to tell.

I know very few Black actors who’ve been given the opportunity to do that. I want to do what she does.

I want to span different genres. I want to be able to transform. I want to be able to be sexy, and funny, and quirky, and all the other things that I am. And I feel that the best way that I can achieve that is by producing.

KW: One article said that even though you are dark-skinned you have succeeded as an actress in Hollywood. How do you feel about a comment like that?

VD: I really appreciate that comment. I’ve always seen myself for who I am, which is a lot of things. So, I guess that when I walk into a room, I bring all those things to a role, and I’ve always just simply seen myself as an actor. And I believe that it serves me well to just think in terms of my craft. If hypothetically, I saw myself only as a sex symbol, or as some other limited stereotype, I think I would feel like a complete failure. I’ve been to acting school and I think that at the end of the day, when you just focus on the work and you’re comfortable with who you are, that at some point someone’s going to recognize your talent and give you an opportunity. And after that, there’s a domino effect. I’ve always believed that, and never wanted to be anything other than who I am.

what’sup  Lil Wayne has record-setting

sales with new album ‘Tha Carter IV’ Rapper Lil Wayne’s latest hit is a big one. His album, “Tha Carter IV,” sold more than 964,000 copies following its Aug. 29 release after Wayne’s closing performance on MTV’s Video Music Awards. It also broke iTunes’ record for the most album downloads in a week. In addition, it had the most sales for any hip-hop album since Wayne’s “Tha Carter III” in 2007. Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter Jr., grew up in New Orleans.

He wrote his first rap song at age eight, and at age nine, joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label. He said he dropped the “D” in his name because, “I’m a junior and my father is living and he’s not in my life and he’s never been in my life.”

 Michael Jackson’s lawyer

disagrees with Jermaine’s escape story

Jermaine Jackson recently revealed that his family secretly arranged to fly Michael Jackson out of the country if he was found guilty of child molestation in 2005. Jermaine said a private jet financed by a friend was on standby to whisk his late brother off to Bahrain, a small island state in the Middle East. Michael’s former criminal lawyer, however, said it couldn’t have

happened. Tom Mesereau told TMZ that if Michael had been convicted, law enforcement planned to immediately take him into custody by helicopter to prison in Lompoc, CA. Jermaine told the Times Magazine that Michael didn’t know about the plan, but would have “done it in a heartbeat” because “why should he go to jail for something he didn’t do?” Bahrain doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S.

 Master P heads to

bankruptcy court over film compensation dispute

Is Percy “Master P” Miller a victim of the economy? The rapper and entertainment mogul claims that he doesn’t have the money to pay crew members from the film, “Uncle P,” a 2003 production starring Master P and comedians Cheech Marin and Ken Jeong. A judge mandated that Master P compensate the crew $240,000 after they sued him for nonpayment. Master P ignored the order and the same crew brought suit in Los Angeles bankruptcy court. The founder of No Limit Records, Master P compiled an estimated $660-million fortune at the height of his career. He has become known for his philanthropic efforts, and he and his son, entertainer Romeo, created a basketball camp for inner-city youth in high-crime areas. Master P also worked to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

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U.S. Justice Department attacked for fighting discriminatory lending

By CHArLeNe CroWeLL NNPA Columnist Usually when government is criticized, it’s because someone is dissatisfied with a lack of effective performance. But for the U.S. Department of Justice, recent high-profile criticism is due to a series of effective actions.

A member of the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board recently publicly criticized DOJ’s Civil Rights Division for “intimidating banks” into lending to borrowers of color at below-market rates – a charge that is simply untrue.

The piece ignores facts that the newspaper has reported: the rise of reckless lending during the housing bubble, and the fact that more than 60 percent of borrowers who received subprime loans had credit scores high enough to have qualified for standard conventional loans.

The Justice Department did not let the charges go unanswered.

Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division responded with a letter to the Journal that said in part, “All qualified home buyers should have access to sustainable credit without being subject to illegal discrimination. The Justice Department will unapologetically continue to ensure they can do so.”

There are a series of verifiable and appropriate reasons why the Civil Rights Division is so hard at work.

Had the Journal editorial board been familiar with the considerable body of research on foreclosures, it might have learned how communities of color were targeted and financially abused – particularly in mortgage lending.

The research developed by the Center for Responsible Lending spans several years and offered early warnings about foreclosures and a 2010 report that showed how Black and Brown communities lost $350 billion in wealth through foreclosures.

I suspect that the victims of predatory mortgage lending are less concerned about editorial rhetoric than they are with more urgent concerns like financially piecing together lives hit hard by foreclosures; the shortage of adequate and affordable rental housing for former homeowners; or their former neighbors who now owe more than the homes are worth.

Neighborhoods hard hit by foreclosures have suffered an equity drain on the single most important investment most people make in a lifetime – their home.

Here’s hoping that DOJ’s Civil Rights Division keeps up the good fight.

MED Week focuses on business growth Defender News Services

Entrepreneurship will take center stage during the 29th annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week conference in Washington, D.C. It takes place Sept. 27-30 at the Marriott Wardman Park, and is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.

MED Week celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding minority entrepreneurs and leaders and provides a platform for MWBES to learn about business growth strategies while taking advantage of networking opportunities.

The theme for this year’s event is “Emerging Industries & Markets: A Blueprint for Success.”

The focus will be on assisting minority small businesses expand their operations and establish a presence in the global marketplace while helping them weather the current economic climate in the U.S. The conference will include workshops on access to SBA’s lending programs, access to federal contracts through the Small Business Jobs Act, growing your business through social media and access to government contracts through federal mentorprotegé program.

There will also be a business expo and tradeshow and a Small Business Town Hall to discuss the Small Business Jobs Act. SBA will present its Administrator’s

Leadership award which recognizes the recipient’s tireless efforts and unwavering commitment on behalf of the nation’s minority small business community and the award for the 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year.

In addition, one of 10 small business owners from around the country will be selected as the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year.

“Minority businesses are a phenomenal asset to the U.S. economy in a variety of sectors, from manufacturing to hospitality services and everything in between,” said MBDA National Director David Hinson.

“These firms create good paying jobs and boost economic growth in America’s communities. The businesses recognized through the MED Week awards program represent just a few of our nation’s brightest and most innovative minority enterprises.”

SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills expects a successful conference.

“We are happy to partner with MBDA on this year’s MED Week event to bring together accomplished minority small business owners, respected business leaders, federal agencies and top Fortune 100 companies to provide a lively, interactive framework for small businesses to learn critical tips on how to gain access to capital and federal contracts, how to expand their businesses and take their businesses global,” she said.

For more information on MED Week or to register for the conference visit www. medweek.gov.

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15 | 2011

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sports

PV running back #22 Jermaine Waddy gains tough yardage against TSU

Prairie View A&M edges by TSU

By MAX EDISON Defender

Every now and then a moment or event in sports serves as a perfect metaphor that can actually inspire people in these difficult economic times.

Such an event occurred last weekend when Prairie View A&M staged one of the most improbable comebacks in recent college memory, defeating Texas Southern on a last-second field goal, 37-34.

To put this in the proper perspective, PV was soundly defeated and embarrassed by Bethune Cookman in Orlando on national TV the previous week 63-14.

Against Texas Southern, the defending SWAC champions, the Panthers overcame a 14-point deficit midway in the fourth quarter and eventually kicked a winning field goal in the waning seconds of the game to complete the remarkable comeback.

A quick glance at the final statistics showed a game dominated by TSU every place except on the scoreboard.

That’s what makes the Panthers rise off the canvass against Texas Southern such an inspirational early season story. The Panthers had been knocked out the previous week and were hit with multiple haymakers by TSU, but they kept getting up and they kept fighting back.

A funny thing happened in the midst of the Panthers fighting. They decided they would not only hit back, but actually strike back harder.

Elated to have his first win as a rookie head coach at PV, Heishma Northern was all

smiles after the contest.

“You’ve got to take your hat off to those kids,” a joyful Northern said after the game. “They could have easily tucked their tails. [TSU] was running the ball, running the ball, throwing the ball, doing basically whatever they wanted to do. We just kept on fighting.

We said it was going to be tough. I told our guys keep throwing punches back and sooner or later you’ll get that knockout blow.”

“I know one thing; we got some guys who will fight,” Northern continued. As a coach that’s all you can ask for; guys that keep on fighting hard no matter what the score is.”

Senior All-American Panther cornerback Moses Ellis was also proud of the resiliency of his young teammates.

“We got down, but we kept fighting, we never held our heads down,” Ellis said. “It shows we have good character on this team. The fact that we never gave up, even though we faced some adversity,

showed that we weren’t going to quit.

“We knew this was going to be a tough game. We knew people would look at how we played a week ago and sell us short. We knew the coaches had put together a great game plan; we just had to follow it.

We’re a young team in some positions, but we work hard and we know that hard work pays off,” Ellis said.

Ellis was also quick to give accolades to redshirt freshman quarterback Jerry Lovelocke, who started the first game of his college career.

“I was proud of how Jerry hung in there,” Ellis said. “This was his first start and TSU has a great defense. He kept bouncing back and made big plays when we needed them. I have been watching him for the past year and he’s a hard worker in practice.”

The Panthers face conference opponents for the next two weeks. They host the Golden Lions of Arkansas Pine Bluff and then Mississippi Valley on the “Hill” at Blackshear Field. Kick-off is at 6 p.m.

Hard work, character, overcoming adversity and resiliency are key elements that can guide all of us through these uncertain times. Thanks Panthers for a three-hour refresher lesson.

PV All-American #6 Moses Ellis forces a fumble

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h.s.zone High school games of the week

promise excitement

coach Mark Byrd has two bonafide playmakers in running back Benjamin Catalon and wide receiver Deante Gray. Offensive Entering the lineman Germain Ifedi (6fourth week of the foot-5, 330 pounds) is one 2011 high school of the state’s finest. football season, several HUMBLE vs. questions have already DOBIE, Sept. 16, Pasabeen answered. dena Veterans Memorial Pearland will not Stadium, 7 p.m. go undefeated for the Dobie outgained second season in a row. high-powered DickinMemorial lowered son 374 to 181 in total “The Boomer” on the yardage, but three costly Oilers last week in a High school football teams from throughout the Houston area are gearing up for fumbles led to the Long17-14 Mustangs’ victory. important district games. horns’ demise in a 21-14 setMemorial senior running back. Head coach Jim Phillips will try to get his team back on track back Justin “Boomer” White rushed for 135 yards on 29 carries and with quarterback Blake Jackson and running back Andrew Robinson caught four passes for an additional 74 yards to notch the Mustangs leading the charge. Humble has one of the most fierce defensive lines first win in eight tries against Pearland.

Katy, Klein Collins, The Woodlands, Cypress Creek, Westfield, in the area led by Paul Boyette Jr. and Zorrell Ezell.The Wildcats held opponents to 10 points or less in six of their 14 games last year Klein Forest, Brenham, Dawson, Angleton and North Shore are and want to build on their regional quarterfinal appearance. all still good and harboring state championship aspirations. These BEAUMONT WEST BROOK vs. KATY, Sept. 17, Rhodes schools have yet to lose in 2011.

Stadium, 6 p.m.

Hightower, Friendswood, Eisenhower, Yates and Lamar have In a battle of titans, West Brook eased past Eisenhower 27-21 stumbled out of the starting blocks, but don’t count them out just yet. on Percy Johnson’s seven-yard TD run in overtime. Now the Bruins There’s an excellent chance that all of them will eventually qualify will venture into one of the most intimidating venues in the Lone for the playoffs.

In what shaped up to be the year of the quarterback in the Hous- Star State to face unbeaten Katy. The Tigers are loaded with star power, including Brooks Haack, Adam Taylor, Jordan Thompson, Bo ton area, has seen the emergence of some outstanding running backs Brown, Brandon Ebrecht and Matt Dimon. including Jerry Bynum of Elsik and Trey Williams of Dekaney.

YATES vs. WHEATLEY, Sept. 17, Delmar Stadium, 6 p.m.

The demise of Houston Madison in the wake of retired head Both of these schools were preseason picks to win their respeccoach Ray Seals was greatly exaggerated. The Marlins have won tive district championships. Despite only one victory between them two games in a row under first-year head coach Pat Reinecke and in 2011, they probably still will emerge as district champs. Yates are off this week preparing to open district play Sept. 23 against Sam comes in 0-3 after yielding 28 unanswered points in a 28-7 setback to Houston.

Madison. Wheatley has fallen on hard times after opening the season Here’s a closer look at some of this week’s top matchups: with a decisive victory over Galveston Ball.

ELSIK vs. ANGLETON, Sept. 16, Crump Stadium, 7 p.m.

Fort Bend Marshall dealt Elsik a loss last week as quarterback Allan Osemwegie passed for 131 yards and three touchdowns in the Buffalos’ 22-15 victory. Elsik running back Jerry Bynum was limited to 96 yards on 24 carries and no touchdowns against Marshall after pummeling Clear Lake for 290 yards on 16 carries and four touchdowns a week earlier. Rams’ quarterback Dominique Barnett had two rushing touchdowns against Marshall. This was supposed  to have been an adjustment season at Angleton High School where  first-year head coach Ryan Roark is installing his winged-T offense        from Needville. A 35-27 victory over perennial Class 4A powerhouse           Dayton last week improves Angleton to 3-0 on the season.                 WESTSIDE vs. DEER PARK, Sept. 16, Abshier Stadium, 7            p.m.            Deer Park’s Zane Gonzalez kicked two fourth-quarter field                       goals to lead his team past Clear Creek 26-21 and improve to 2-0 on  the season. Head coach Chris Massey was a little concerned about his              inexperienced offensive and defensive lines coming into the season.               Three consecutive victories to open the 2011 season have eased those             fears and Massey credits the play of quarterback Austin Rainer for   settling down several first-year starters. Rainer completed 17 of 32   passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games.        Westside pummeled Katy Taylor 59-23 to improve to 2-0. Head 

By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

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sportsbriefs Summer Creek ahead of schedule with two wins During Summer Creek’s inaugural varsity season last year, head coach Brian Ford evaluated his raw personnel and shuffled players at different positions as the Bulldogs finished with a 3-7 record. The experiment has apparently paid off. The quarterback position is settled and Summer Creek has victories over Sam Rayburn and Magnolia to start the 2011 season. Last year, Greg Hogan and Aaron Sharp alternated at quarterback. Sharp has been nearly flawless so far completing 34 of 38 passes for 410 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Hogan has settled in at wide receiver with eight receptions for 123 yards and a TD. Following a bye week, Summer Creek will spring back into action this week against South Houston.

Ch. 57 to air Thursday high school football games Channel 57 will continue airing its series of Thursday Night High School Football Showdowns on Sept. 22 when Klein meets Klein Forest in an important District 13-5A match-up at Klein Memorial Stadium.

Former Hightower head coach Shane Hallmark is in his second year at Klein after leading the Bearkats into the playoffs as the fourth-place qualifier.

Graduation hit the Bearkats hard and getting back into the playoffs in year two won’t be easy. Klein Forest quarterback Matt Davis has started the season with a bang after undergoing season-ending knee surgery last year. Davis has verbally committed to Texas A&M.

Volleyball notes: The Woodlands team confident The Woodlands advanced to the Class 5A state volleyball finals last season with Katie Messing and Stacey DiFrancesco leading the charge. Both graduated and many felt the Lady Highlanders would be rebuilding this year. With 20 victories in 23 matches, The Woodlands has relied on 10 players back from the state team, including Maddie Slater and Courtney Eckenrode. Head coach Leslie Madison says that despite a recent loss to district rival Kingwood, the Lady Highlanders feel they can play with anybody now.

Former PV defensive star Spears a Cleveland Brown Quinton Spears (6’4” 234 lbs.), a three-time All-SWAC performer and a member of the 2009 SWAC championship team at Prairie View, is now a Cleveland Brown. Spears came to PV as a walk-on wide receiver, but was subsequently moved to the defensive side of the ball as a defensive end. The rookie linebacker from Montgomery, TX, was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as a free agent. He was waived by the Dolphins as the last player cut before the regular season began. The Dolphins had hoped to resign Spears for their practice squad, but he was picked up by the Browns and signed to their 53 man roster. He will wear No. 90.

Cougars get commitments from basketball players Coach James Dickey and the Houston Cougars basketball team recently received verbal commitments from two of the states top roundballers.

Danuel House (Hightower, 6’6’ 185 lbs.) and Danrad “Chicken” Knowles (Homeschool Christian, 6’10” 180 lbs.) have announced they will play their college ball at UH in 2012.

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15 | 2011

For Event Coverage...visit

defendernetwork.com

Dr. Kidada Gilbert-Lewis and Dr. Valdesha Ball

Dr. Antoinette Christophe and Iysha Batts

Amanda Flores and Errol Hughes

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chag’splace

Dr. Sharonda Taylor and Dr. Felicia Griggs

Dr. Wanda Mott and Dr. Sherri Simpson

Dr. Michael Adams, Dr. Antionette Christophe, Councilman C. O. Bradford, C. Ray Nagin, Dr. Franklin Jones and Dr. Helen TaylorGreene

Artist Sam Turner

TWENTY YEARS OF SISTERHOOD AND Some of the attendees included the president, Dr. Sherri EXCELLENCE……..The Mary Susan Moore Medical Simpson, Drs. Regina Bailey, Valdesha Ball, Kidada Society (MSMMS), formerly the Association of Black Gilbert-Lewis, Charolette Akor, Sharonda Taylor, Women Physicians, was Felicia Griggs, Marian Bonner, Anna established in 1991 by Dr. Viltz, Angelica Higgins, Latanya Love and Join Yvette Chargois Wanda Mott, Dr. Shelia Owens Ebony Beaudoin, to name a few. Continued Events of the Week and other visionary Black success!.......THE STATUS OF NEW More photos on defendernetwork.com women physicians in Houston.

ORLEANIANS IN HOUSTON…..

See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s Crossroads It was renamed in honor of The Honorable C. Ray Nagin, former Mayor with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 11 a.m.

Dr. Mary Susan Moore, the of New Orleans, hosted a conference on first Black female physician in “Quality of Life” issues at Texas Southern Texas. MSMMS is a non-profit organization created to University’s Mickey Leland Center. The two-day event was fulfill several critical needs for Black women physicians co-sponsored by the African American Leadership Project in the Houston area. Over 80 members attended the of New Orleans, S.H.A.P.E. Community Center and the annual medical student/resident/fellow luncheon at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs. Its fabulous home of Dr. Mott. It was quite impressive to purpose was to provide an opportunity to assess the quality see all these beautiful Black women physicians together. of life of Orleanians residing in Houston and to explore

The Honorable C. Ray Nagin and Jew Don Boney

Artists Reginald and Rhonda Adams

forming a New Orleans Network. Ray Nagin is currently president/CEO of CRN Initiatives and is the best-selling author of “Katrina’s Secrets: Storms after the Storm,” which takes readers on a front-row, behind the scenes journey on how New Orleans overcame unimaginable devastation, race and class conflicts to be in a booming recovery. The best to you!.......CREATIVE ……….Artists Reginald C. Adams, Rhonda Radford-Adams, Denise Bates, Amanda Flores, Omar Omar Perez and Sam Turner hosted a new mixed media paintings exhibit benefiting the Rotary International’s End Polio Now Campaign and the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston. The event was attended by Cherry Meekins, Michael Gatlin, Roslene West, Alton Cooper, Karen Anne Vinson, Sarita Dean, Eddie Armstrong III, Roxanne and Dr. Gary Radford and Dr. Reagan Flowers.

Fabulous!........From Chag’s Place to your place, have a blessed week!

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