Houston Defender: November 10, 2011

H.S. ZONE HOUSTON AREA’S TOP HIGH SCHOOLS READY FOR PLAYOFFS

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Houston’s Leading Black Information Source Volume 81 | Number 2

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NATIONAL

HERMAN CAIN

can’t get lies straight

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OPINION ENTERTAINMENT

SAMUEL L. JACKSON discusses Broadway play

P9 SPORTS

Going off the air...

why?

JOE FRAZIER dead at age 67

P11 CHAG’S PLACE

John Guess Jr., Tina Knowles, Melanie Lawson at HMAAC gala

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 PAGE 6

Sylvester Turner

calls meeting

State Rep. Sylvester Turner is concerned about the future of Booker T. Washington High School. He is calling for a meeting on Nov. 17 so students, parents, alumni and community members can send a message. Turner said it’s important that those who care about the school attend “and voice their concern now while something can be done.”

 PAGE 3

Conrad Murray awaits sentencing

His six-week trial is over, and Dr. Conrad Murray must now wait for sentencing, which is set for Nov. 29. Murray, a cardiologist who operated clinics in Houston and Las Vegas, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. It took a Los Angeles jury less than nine hours of deliberation to decide the case.

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10 | 2011

elections

Nov. 8 election results:

Four Black candidates headed for runoff

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By MARILyN MARSHALL Defender

here will be four African-American City Council candidates in the Dec. 10 runoff election, and two of them will face each other.

In the District B race to replace Jarvis Johnson, Alvin Byrd will go against another Black candidate, Jerry Davis.

Byrd received 25% of the vote in the Nov. 8 general election and Davis received 24%. Six other candidates were in the race.

Dr. Franklin Jones, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Texas Southern University, Alvin Byrd said the Byrd-Davis race will largely be determined by their ability to mobilize voters in District B. “Each will have the opportunity to represent themselves as a consensus candidate emerging from the large field,” he said.

At-Large Position 5 incumbent Jolanda Jones, who received 39% of the vote, Jerry Davis will face Jack Christie (33%) in the runoff. A second Black candidate, Laurie Robinson, received 19% of the vote.

Franklin Jones gave his impression of that runoff race.

“Jolanda has to remain an aggressive campaigner and an energetic force to her base,” he said.

“She has to find a way Andrew Burks to exploit the endorsement of Christie by Bill White and get the Black community to raise questions about the quality and quantity of support for her candidacy

by Black leaders against the conservative Christie.

“Christie has his solid west side and conservative support and would benefit from a reduced turnout among minority and progres- Jolanda Jones sive voters,” Jones said.

At-Large Position 2 candidate Andrew Burks (17%) faces Kristi Thibaut (15%) in the runoff.

“Burks and Thibaut are two Democrats appealing to the same group of voters,” Jones said. “Thibaut will probably have more organi-

zational and financial support.

“Burks has to expand his traditional base of support which has allowed him to advance to the runoff in his last two elections.”

Jones said overall, there were no real surprises in the election.

“The closest may have been the relatively low percent of the votes [50.8%] Mayor Annise Parker received against minor candidates,” he said. “The voters gave a lukewarm endorsement.”

“The mayor was hurt by her positions on the drainage fee and the red light cameras,” Jones added.

“And voters generally appeared not to be overwhelmed by her first term.”

Other election results follow:

City Council

District D Councilmember Wanda Adams retained her seat, defeating one opponent with 81% of the vote.

In newly formed District K, Larry Green won with 67% of the vote. One of his challengers, African American Pat Frazier, received 25%.

Incumbent C.O. “Brad” Bradford held on to his AtLarge Position 4 seat, defeating his opponent with 68% of the vote.

“The most interesting thing will be watching how Green and Bradford react to what they surely perceive as a vulnerable Mayor Parker,” Jones said.

Houston Community College System

A new face on the HCCS trustee board will be Carroll Robinson (55%), who defeated Jew Don Boney (44%) for the District IV position.

District IX incumbent Chris Oliver (62%) defeated challenger Wendell Robbins (38%).

Houston ISD

HISD Board President Paula Harris (66%), who represents District IV, defeated challenger Davetta Daniels (34%).

North Forest ISD

In the Position 2 race, incumbent Charles H. Taylor (53%) defeated challenger Jerome Joseph (47%).

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Booker T. Washington High

Turner calls meeting to save school

F

By ASWAD WALKER Houston Defender earful of the potential closing of Houston’s historic Booker T. Washington High School (BTW), State Rep. Sylvester Turner has called a special community meeting to address his concern over the future of the school.

Turner cites several reasons why he believes BTW could be a nominee for closure, including a recent drop in rating from “Academically Acceptable” to “Academically Unacceptable.”

There are also lingering key maintenance issues, along with discontinued academic and extracurricular programs, a declining enrollment and a marked investment

by HISD in the two high schools closest to BTW—Reagan and Waltrip.

“I am deeply concerned that the present state of Booker T. Washington, if left unaddressed and unprioritized, may leave the school vulnerable for the future,” said Turner.

“It is important that the students, alumni, parents and community of Booker T. Washington High School attend this meeting and voice their concern now while something can be done.”

The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at the high school, 119 E. 39th St. Turner listed other signs the school could be in trouble.

“Within last year the school’s cosmetology and home economics programs have been shut down, and the band program—a program especially at Black schools that represents a major part of the heart of the program—has been reduced to just seven or eight students. They are pumping in music at halftime.

“Enrollment has dropped from over 1,000 to under 900,” noted Turner, who points to recent decisions by HISD as the rea-

son for the school’s downturn.

“Booker T. Washington had a principal who was there for close to 40 years. Since his retirement there have been two State Rep other principals within last two Sylvester Turner years. HISD removed Mark Mordel in September of last year, to move him to administration.

They said, because he was doing an exemplary job at Booker T. “I voiced my concerns right then and there. He had been there for only a year, and he was moving the program along. I questioned why HISD would move someone at the beginning of a school year when he was doing a good job,” said Turner.

Since then, Lashonda Bilbo-Irvin, an assistant principal, was promoted to lead the school.

“I voiced my concerns because I had seen this happen three other times in my district,” recalled Turner. “Schools that were exemplary and then experienced a change in top leadership saw their academic status dropped.”

Voiced concerns

Turner said he has repeatedly voiced his concerns about HISD’s commitment to BTW. “I am calling this emergency meeting because I am concerned whether or not Booker T. Washington is going to be around next year and the years after that, and whether or not it’s going to meet the academic and extra-curricular needs of its students so they are able to compete with students from other high schools here and around the state of Texas,” said Turner.

A HISD representative could not be reached for comment.

Turner added that he submitted a list of maintenance issues that needed to be addressed after he walked the school before the

last legislative session. Turner asserts that HISD promised him they would rectify the maintenance issues, but upon Turner’s return from Austin, he found the same issues still lingering.

Turner believes BTW students, parents and alumni should be concerned over what he interprets as HISD systematically ignoring the school.

“This is not something I’ve just started speaking about; I’ve been saying this for the past two years. During my last conversation with Aaron Spence [chief officer in charge of overseeing high school improvements], I told him I have lost all confidence in the administration to respond to these issues,” said Turner.

Turner believes the potential closing of BTW is merely foreshadowing for other historic and Black high schools.

“Those who say this won’t happen to Washington, I want to point them to North Forest. And if you’re a student or alumni of Yates or Worthing, please take note. I believe as one goes others will follow. ‘ Turner says the meeting he is hosting is to make sure the community is aware of the school current status compared to where it was, and to send some messages.

“We’re saying to HISD, ‘You’re not putting forth an adequate effort to make sure BTW student academic and extracurricular needs are being met, and thus you’re systematically working against the interest of these students.’

“To the community, we’re saying, ‘Unless we step up and demand proper attention now, Booker T. Washington will end up a museum in our community. It’s just that simple. People will ask, ‘why didn’t ya’ll alert the people?’ I’m doing it now while something can be done to turn it around.”

BTW community meeting

Thursday, Nov. 17 6:30 p.m.

Booker T. Washington High School 119 E. 39th St.

localbriefs THE HEALTH OF HOUSTONIANS is cause for concern. A survey by the Institute for Health Policy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found that on average, 20 percent of area residents are in fair or poor health.

Nationwide, the figure is just below 10 percent. The survey also found that 30 percent of area residents have high blood pressure, compared to the state average of 28 percent. Thirty-two percent of area adults are obese, compared to the state average of 29 percent………HISD SUPT. TERRY GRIER, who has been undergoing his annual evaluation, did

not meet district goals set for student achievement in 16 out of 24 categories. According to Texas Watchdog, Grier and his team hoped to decrease the achievement gap in passing state-standardized tests among African-American, Hispanic and white students by 3 percent. The gap shrunk, but by only 1 percent between African-Americans and white students and between Hispanic and white students. Overall, however, the student attendence rate is up and the overall four-year high school completion rate is on the rise for all racial and ethnic groups……..DUANE BUCK, the Texas

death row inmate seeking a retrial because racerelated testimony, has been denied an appeal by the U.S. Supreme Court. Buck, who is Black, was convicted of killing two people and shooting a third in 1995. During the sentencing phase of his trial, a psychologist testified that Blacks and Hispanics are more likely than whites to commit future crimes……..OPRAH WINFREY and her close friend Tyler Perry were spotted in the congregation of Lakewood Church. Winfrey came to Houston to interview Lakewood Pastor Joel Osteen for “Oprah’s Lifeclass,” which airs on her network.

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10 | 2011

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national

U.S.briefs

Cain can’t keep his lies straight

By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. – Genesis 4:8

I

Taylor Jones, Politicalcartoons.com

n Biblical times, Cain slew Abel. Today, another Cain – Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain – can’t put to death the allegations by at least three women that he sexually harassed them in the late 1990s during his tenure as president of the National Restaurant Association.

Cain’s shifting and contradictory explanations are part of a larger pattern of what FactCheck.org calls “a proven ability to spread outrageously false information – such as accusing Planned Parenthood of ‘genocide’ and concentrating abortion clinics in black neighborhoods.”

Cain has mismanaged the sexual harassment claims from the beginning.

Politico reported on Oct. 30: “During Herman Cain’s tenure as the head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, at least two female employees complained to colleagues and senior association officials about inappropriate behavior by Cain, ultimately leaving their jobs at the trade group, multiple sources confirm…”

The Web site reported, “…They signed agreements with the restaurant group that gave them financial payouts to leave the association. The agreements also included language that bars the women from talking about their departure.”

Cain said in a speech at the National Press Club on Oct. 31 that he was “unaware of any settlement” with women who had accused him of sexual harassment. Later, on that same day, he gave a different answer in an interview with Greta Van Susteren on Fox News.

According to a transcript of the program, Cain said, “The one [complaining employee] that I am familiar with worked in the Washington office. And I can’t even remember her name because she had not been a long-term employee. But I do remember the formal allegations she made in terms of sexual harassment.”

When asked about the settlement, Cain replied: “Maybe three months’ salary or something like that, just vaguely trying to recall it.”

The next day, in an interview with Robin Meade on CNN,

Cain changed the payoff amount to “somewhere in the vicinity of three to six months.”

According to the New York Times, it was even larger. On Nov. 2, the newspaper, citing three unnamed sources with “direct knowledge” of the case, said the women were given a year’s salary to leave the trade association.

In his interview with Van Susteren, Cain said that he was having difficulty recalling all the details of the alleged sexual harassment incident because it was 12 years ago. However, in a story published Nov. 2 on Forbes magazine’s online site, Cain said he had shared the sexual harassment allegations with a consultant he used in his failed 2004 U.S. Senate campaign in Georgia.

The Politico story also noted, “Cain, who has been married to his wife Gloria for 43 years, did tell at least one campaign staffer this year about the possibility that claims of sexual harassment could surface, according to the aide.”

The candidate who likes to lecture people about personal responsibility has chosen to play the blame game. He told Van Susteren, “I have no idea who’s egging this on, who’s on this witch hunt...”

And there was this exchange on CNN: MEADE: So you feel this is a smear campaign?

From whom, do you think?

CAIN: I absolutely believe that this is an intended smear campaign using these two cases – like I said, I’m not even aware of the second one. It’s a smear campaign.

When they cannot – MEADE: By whom? Do you know by whom?

CAIN: We don’t know. We have no idea.

Later in the program, Cain blamed “the innuendoes from all the news reports that haven’t been presenting the facts.”

In the Forbes interview, Cain shifted the blame from the media to Curt Anderson, a former Cain consultant now working for Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s presidential bid. After Anderson denied the charge, Cain’s backed away from his allegation.

That is not the only example of Cain flip-flopping. He was interviewed Oct. 19 on CNN by Piers Morgan. After Cain said he is opposed to abortion under all circumstances, Morgan pressed the GOP presidential candidate.

MORGAN: But you’ve had children, grandchildren. If one of your female children, grandchildren, was raped, you would honestly want her to bring up that baby as her own?

Continued on Page 8

Obama gets good news about unemployment, approval President Barack Obama received some positive news. First, unemployment dropped from 9.1 percent to 9 percent, its lowest in six months. Though a small decrease, it gave the president a boost as joblessness continues to plague the country. The unemployment rate declined for Blacks, from 16 percent in September to 15.1 percent in October.

Second, nearly half of Americans said they approved of the job he is doing. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 49 percent of Americans approve of Obama’s work as president, up from 47 percent in an October poll.

His disapproval rating held steady at 50 percent.

Clinton believes Obama, Democrats made some mistakes In his new book, former President Bill Clinton says President Obama and the Democrats are partly to blame for the country’s current “mess.” In “Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy,” Clinton writes that Obama and his Democratic allies should have raised the federal debt ceiling in the first two years of the president’s term, when Democrats still had a majority in Congress. Clinton said his party also failed to develop an effective national campaign message during the midterm elections of 2010. Clinton, however, is most critical of the Republican Party and its unrelenting “antigovernment ideology.”

Pediatrics group endorses routine HIV testing of teens The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for individuals as young as 13 to undergo testing for HIV in areas where the disease is particularly prevalent, and for all at-risk teens to be tested regularly.

In the current issue of Pediatrics, the organization’s official journal, the group suggested that in areas where the HIV occurs in more than 0.1 percent of the population, everyone from age 13 to 64 should be regularly tested as part of routine medical examinations. In populations with less prevalence of the disease, all teenagers engaging in sex or with other risk factors should be routinely tested.

VOLUME 81 • NUMBER • 2 WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10, 2011

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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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DEFENDER | WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10 | 2011

coverpage

“We’ve assembled an A-list journalists whose mission is to and let people make up their

Going off the air...

WHY?

By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEy Defender

H

ouston’s gospel music station, Praise 92.1FM, will soon be off the air.

Beginning the week of Nov. 14, listeners will find an all-news format instead.

Station officials say it is a decision that did not come easy, but one that was dictated by declining ratings and falling revenue.

“We’ve given it five years, but financially can’t make it work,” said Doug Abernethy, general manager of Radio One, the company that owns Praise 92.1, along with Majic 102 and 97.9, The Boxx.

“When you’re talking ratings and revenue in a market that is down significantly over the last five years, it hurt us financially. Given the new paradigm of rating measurements, we have to look at the best way to run our business. We’re in the business of revenue”

No other choice

Abernethy says they gave Praise as long as they could. But at the end of the day, it was all about ratings. The station ranked 21st in the market in the most recent monthly Arbitron ratings for persons 12-plus with a weekly cumulative audience of 368,400.

And quite frankly, Abernethy said, Praise was handicapping their growth with Majic 102.

“What we did when we launched Praise was shifted Majic’s audience over to Praise, so you had a lot of duplication between the two,” Abernethy

said.

“So you compress the ratings on Majic to grow the Praise station and for the past five years, its not really generated any kind of revenue. With Praise going away, Majic’s audience will grow, leading to more ratings dominance, which leads to financial growth.”

While there may be many in the community who claimed to listen to Praise on a regular basis, the numbers didn’t reflect that.

“When we launched, Arbitron had a method by diary where people wrote down what they listened to and we saw tremendous growth and we saw a way to hone the urban African- American market,” he said.

“But then they switched to Personal People Meter, or PPM and we saw a huge rating decline and still to this day, our ratings are down 33 percent.”

Abernethy says sustaining three urban stations is a challenge in and of itself. It’s especially challenging in markets with less than 25 percent African-American populations. Houston’s Black population is 17 percent.

Despite some reports, Abernethy said no African-American Radio One employees will lose their jobs. In fact, he says, shifting formats was also one of the ways they felt they could avoid laying off people.

“I’d much rather keep people employed and still serve our target audience that this company was built on,” he said. “So far, we’ve retained every single employee. We’ve either employed them to Majic or The Boxx or they’ve expressed an interest in the news station. My job is to protect all employ-

ees. We’ve tried to find a way where we can find a home to everyone.”

A different approach

Using the on air moniker “News 92 FM,” the

24-hour news and information station will be fortified by the world-wide resources of ABC News Radio and Associated Press Platinum and will be populated with the voices of some of Houston’s most well known and award-winning radio and television personalities.

“Our review of Houston’s broadcast landscape told us that those listeners interested in local news as well as national news were being poorly served,” says Abernethy, “so we decided to make a commitment to delivering the news in a dependable fashion.

“People want to hear about news as it happens, and they shouldn’t have to wait until their radio station ‘catches up.’ We’ll deliver the news as it unfolds.”

Ed Shane, founder and president of the Houston-based Shane Media Services, is serving as project manager on the format flip from gospel music to all news.

“We’re going to give people the facts without

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7

of broadcast report the news r own minds.” the biased opinions that dominate so-called news stations,” offers Shane. “We’ve assembled an A-list of broadcast journalists whose mission is to report the news and let people make up their own minds.”

Shane says that the programming team, led by veteran news director Denise Bishop, will deliver an appealing blend of local, regional and national news along with topical information and the traffic and weather updates that are essential to Houston listeners.

Longtime Houston radio news anchors J.P. Pritchard, Lana Hughes and Mike Barajas and veteran sportscaster Craig Roberts are among a group of veteran Houston journalists who will return to the airwaves on the all-news station on KROI (92.1 FM).

Barajas, who left KRIV (Channel 26) in mid-January, and Roberts, the former KPRC (Channel 2) sports director who has hosted talk shows on several stations, are among the other familiar names on the roster.

“We believe there is a huge appetite for full-service news in Houston,” said Abernethy. “News happens 24-7, and we’re offering an opportunity where people will not have to wait to get the news. This is a viable business. It’s expensive to operate, but it can be a great revenue producer, too.”

Other staff members will include former KHOU (Channel 11) reporter Carolyn Campbell, former Channel 26 reporters Patti Shieh and Matt Sampsell, former KIAH (Channel 39) sports director Jorge Vargas, KIKK (650 AM) and KSEV (700 AM) business anchor/reporter Brent Clanton, former KTRH reporters Bonnie Petrie and Scott Braddock, former KLOL (101.1 FM) newscasters Laurie Kendrick and Martha Martinez, veteran traffic reporter Lanny Griffith, former KLDE (107.5 FM) host Kevin Charles and meteorologist Joe Sobe

Show staples

Many of those hearing the news about the station immediately ask about staples of Praise 92.1, most notably “The Yolanda Adams Morning Show.” Abernethy says they will continue taping the intellectual property of Praise, and will move content over to the HD stations.

“You’ll be able to hear her show in Houston,” he said. “We’ll tape the intellectual property of Praise and move it over to KMJQ, Majic 102’s HD channel where you can get an HD radio and listen to it. HD radios are not in every household but just as HD went through transitions, eventually analog will be a thing of the past. ”We’re working with a company right now to purchase HD radios to give away on Majic. And we’re working with Best Buy to offer discount with HD radios. People that still want the station can download a mobile app and we’ll continue to stream. Yolanda Adams in 39 markets will continue on without any interruptions.”

he Houston area for over 80 years

Community reacts to Praise format change

F

or the past five years, Houston radio listeners looking for spiritual upliftment have been able to get their fill with Praise 92.1FM. But listeners hoping to find their daily praise will soon find news replacing their favorite spot on the dial.

Radio One, the company that owns Praise 92.1, along with Majic 102 and 97.9, The Boxx, has announced that they are shifting the station’s format from gospel music to 24 hour news – news Rev. Bill Lawson that has caught many lovers of the station by surprise.

“I really and truly am heartbroken. My job is very stressful and listening to Praise every morning on my way to work gave me the motivation I needed to face my day,” says longtime fan Dionne Blacknell.

But no one is more surprised – and disappointed – than some community leaders, who had hoped station officials would have found a way to keep the station afloat.

“It says a lot about the Black community when a very popular gospel radio station that really fed many Quanell X spirits, minds and souls with gospel music is now going to be losing that format,” said activist Quanell X. One prominent minister gave his views on the format change.

“They are far more interested in profit than in service,” said Rev. William A. Lawson, pastor emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. “I don’t think they care. It’s a question of ratings and money. Their chief concern is not listenership. It is advertising. Buying time.”

Station officials admit that’s exactly what the shift is about – and add that they were left with little choice. Ratings were consistently falling and in fact, were currently down 33 percent.

Quanell says he and others even took their concerns to Doug Abernethy, general manager for Radio One.

“When we sat down with the GM of Radio One, we did realize that we had to come to a painful reality that the format of gospel music was not making the station money and if the station continued to go the same format it would’ve bankrupted Praise,” he said.

Quanell believes the community could have helped.

“They should’ve come to the people and explained that if you want to keep this format in place, if you love the format, if you’re benefitting from it, we need you to be part of the solution in keeping the format at this station,” he said. “Unfortunately, no one came to the people to inform them that the station was in trouble.”

Quanell says he thinks station officials underestimated the power of the Black voice.

“They should’ve come to the community – and its not so much the listeners, it’s the advertising dollars – and said they were not living up to the level of sacrifice that the radio company was making to give them their gospel format.

“I think it would’ve been better to inform the community, then let the community be involved in helping the station become more profitable so that you could either keep the format or let the community be aware that at least the station did come to the people and explained to the people why they needed to do what they needed to do…

“That never took place so if there’s a loss, it’s in the people not being properly communicated to as to the severity of the problem.”

“I would hope that they would’ve recognized the listenership of Praise 92.1,” added Lawson. “Since Majic 102 and 92.1 have similar formats, they could have at least kept a strongly gospel format. Not sure how they would have done that, but it could have been done.”

RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEy

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10 | 2011 | defendernetwork.com

Dr. Conrad Murray awaits sentencing

Cain Can’t Keep..

Continued from page 4

CAIN: …No, it comes down to it’s not the government’s role, or anybody else’s role to make that decision. Secondly, if you look at the statistical incidents, you’re not talking that big a number. So what I’m saying is it ultimately gets down to a choice that that family or that mother has to make. Not me as president, not some politician, not a bureaucrat. It gets down to that family. And whatever they decide, they decide. I shouldn’t have to tell them what decision to make for such a sensitive issue.

But in an Oct. 30 interview on “Meet the Press” with Bob Schieffer, Cain took adopted a different position.

CAIN: … I am pro-life from conception, period. I was – that piece that was pulled out was taken totally out of context when we were talking about – SCHIEFFER: Okay, so in other words – you don’t – would not ever believe in abortion if rape, incest or the health of the mother was involved.

CAIN: Correct. That’s my position.

As we have seen, Cain’s position changes frequently, sometimes within the same day. Maybe contradicting himself or outright lying is the curse of Cain.

Defender News Services

Now that he has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, Dr. Conrad Murray must wait for his sentencing set for Nov. 29.

The verdict followed about nine hours of jury deliberations in the Los Angeles County courthouse.

Judge Michael Pastor, who will decide Murray’s sentence, denied bail for the physician, saying

that “public safety demands that he be remanded” to jail.

The lightest sentence that Murray could receive is probation, since he has no prior criminal record. He could be sentenced to as much as four years in a state prison.

Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50. He was preparing for his “This Is It” comeback tour.

Murray served as Jackson’s personal physician, and gave him the surgical

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anesthetic propofol to help him sleep at night.

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Jackson’s death was caused by “acute propofol intoxication” in combination with two sedatives.

Murray operated clinics in Houston and Las Vegas.

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WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10 | 2011 | DEFENDER

entertainment

9

Samuel L. Jackson

discusses Broadway debut

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to NNPA from New York Amsterdam News

“

The Mountaintop” opened recently at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on West 45th Street. Later, at a gala on West 42nd Street, it was exciting being in an energized atmosphere where champagne was flowing, music was playing and a buzz charged the entire room.

That buzz went to new heights when the first of the play’s two stars entered the room – Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He co-stars with Angela Bassett in this original play by Katori Hall, which is directed by Kenny Leon.

Jackson was glad to do a one-on-one interview with the Amsterdam News. We sat on a couch and he was incredibly friendly and charming. He shared his feelings about this play, which marks his Broadway debut.

AmNews: Why did you decide to make your Broadway debut in this piece? How did you hear about the script?

Jackson: I didn’t want to do a remake of any play I’d been in or seen. I wanted to do something that was fresh. I just happened to be in the car with Kenny when they called him about this play. I said, ‘Oh, that’s that play about Martin Luther King they were doing at the West End. I’ve never had a chance to see it, but let me read it when you get it.’

He emailed a copy to me and I read it. I said, ‘So, are you going to do this play?’ He said he hadn’t made up his mind yet.

I said, ‘Well, you keep trying to get me to do a play – if you do this play, then I’ll do it.’ He said, ‘For real?’

It was a fresh play. Even though it had won the Olivier Award in London, it hadn’t been done in America and I wanted to be part of the American debut and do something that was meaningful. I thought it was a pretty meaningful piece of work.

AmNews: How does it feel to play Dr. King? You do it

with such an obvious respect.

Jackson: I’m trying to present a man who’s different from that icon we know – we don’t know this guy. He’s not making a speech and he’s not leading a march. He’s not doing any of that stuff. He’s just come from making a great speech, he doesn’t feel well, he closes the door, lets his shoulders down and lets all the air out and says, ‘Here I am, I want a cigarette, I’m tired, I’m lonely, I’m a little scared.’

I just wanted to present him as a man and as those men who were my grandfather, my uncle, those men who taught me at Morehouse, those Southern preachers and those sedate – as only we know Morehouse ‘Negroes’ can be – but with a genuine heart.

AmNews: What do you think of the timing of this play; do the generations here now need to see this side of this famous civil rights leader?

Jackson: It would be interesting if a lot of young people could see it and understand that kind of fame. That he wasn’t just a speech, he was an ideal. He was an ideal that made people want to kill him – that made people love him.

That was a price he paid that would be greater than any price they’ll ever pay for being who they are. There’s an ideal that allows them to be who they are today that wasn’t always present.

AmNews: What impression of Dr. King do you want to leave with the audience?

Jackson: He was a man who had a very clear understanding of his mortality. Even though he was standing up for us and fighting all the battles for us in a very real kind of way, it was never his intention to die fighting those battles.

AmNews: You and Ms. Bassett maintain such a high energy on stage, how did you come to play off each other so well?

Jackson: We have a great level of comfort with each other and there’s a great level of trust.

wants to take a break from entertaining so she can start a family with her husband, actor Josh Duhamel.

Ashanti has been touring with the group for the past month, and insiders say she fits in perfectly. Ashanti has sold more than 30 million albums since her selftitled debut album in 2002……..GARY DOURDAN, best known for his former role on television’s “CSI,” was recently arrested and held on $50,000 bail for allegedly breaking his ex-girlfriend’s nose.

Dourdan had a run-in with the law before. In 2008, Palm Springs police arrested him for possession of narcotics and dangerous drugs. He pled guilty and entered a treatment program……..CHRIS ROCK & DAVE CHAPELLE might plan a tour together. Rock

tweeted a HumorMillMag report saying it “Could Happen.” Chappelle hasn’t made many appearances since leaving his Comedy Central TV show in 2006.

Rock stays busy with films and stand-up comedy routines……... LIL KIM is finding success in the beauty business. The rapper just launched another salon with business partner and cousin Katrise Jones in Charlotte, N.C. The establishment is called Salon Se Swa, and is located in four other cities: Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Rocky Mount. Lil Kim bounced back after a 2005 prison sentence for lying to a jury about her friends’ involvement in a shooting. In 2009 she competed on “Dancing With the Stars.”

what’sup QUEEN LATIFAH will host a syndicated talk show in 2013. The announcement was made by Sony Pictures TV, which will team with Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment and Overbrook Entertainment, co-founded by Will Smith. Latifah, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith are among the show’s producers. The three superstars have a long history together. Latifah’s first TV role was on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” starring Will. She also appeared with Jada in the girl bank robber film, “Set if Off.” Latifah previously hosted her talk show from 1999 to 2001……..

ASHANTI fans are asking will she or won’t she? The Grammy Award-winner is rumored to be replacing Fergie in the Black Eyed Peas. Fergie reportedly

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10

DEFENDER | WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10 | 2011

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sports

Former PV star Spears becomes a

Cleveland Brown

I

By MAX EDISON Defender

t’s a story that would make a Hollywood script writer do back flips.

A young man from Montgomery, Texas, misses his entire high school senior season due to injury. He walks on to a collegiate program not known for winning and is asked to change positions.

That program goes on to win a conference championship, its first in over 50 years. That same player goes undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft, but somehow amazingly makes an NFL roster.

All we need to do now is figure out who’s tall enough to cast as the leading man and decide what to wear to the Oscars.

That’s the plot to the Quinton Spears story.

The scenario is even a bit unbelievable to Spears, a 6’4”, 235-pound linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, who’s living his dream.

“Sometimes I find myself daydreaming like how improbable is this,” said Spears, a former Prairie View A&M star. “Coming from where I came from, going through some of my situations and going to a small HBCU.” Spears explained his situation coming out of high school.

“I wasn’t recruited at all out of Montgomery. I didn’t play a single game my senior year when I got injured in our first scrimmage in preseason. My junior year I got a few letters of interest,

but nothing at all as a senior.

“I’m glad I was moved to defense. I embraced it. I told Coach Northern [former PV defensive coordinator, now head coach] I’m grateful and glad he moved me to defense. The position [defensive end] really came natural and I’m just happy everything worked out the way that it did.”

Spears is also quick to acknowledge the coaching he received at PV that helped him develop his immense talent.

“Hats off to Coach [Henry] Frazier and Coach [Heishma] Northern for their hard work and training,” Spears said.

“Coach Northern is one of the best defensive coordinators I’ve been around. You know he knows what he’s talking about. He made everything so simple and easy to understand. Being around him and the other coaches at Prairie View made it possible for me to make this transition successfully.”

Spears not only played defense at Prairie View, he excelled. He was a two time All-SWAC performer and a second team AllAmerican.

He led the Panthers to a SWAC championship. Still the NFL 2011 Draft came and went, yet Spears’ name was not called. Spears signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins and excelled in the preseason.

The Dolphins had planned to # 90 Spears, living the NFL dream, despite the odds.

Undrafted out of PV, #90 Quinton Spears is a Cleveland Brown.

waive Spears at the final cut date and resign him to the practice squad. The Browns, who had done their homework during the preseason, snapped him off the waiver wire and he has been on their 53-man roster all year, active for every game.

For all the success Spears ultimately achieved collegiately, he would have to be a little apprehensive about the next level, the NFL. Playing against bigger name college talent and experienced NFL players would be a serious challenge, or would it?

“I was a little apprehensive about probably just going against some of the older guys, some of the vets and some of these guys coming from bigger schools,” he said.

After you get into the flow of it and you begin to compete, you realize you can play with these guys, any day of the week. It’s not much different than where you came from. It’s all about gaining your confidence that you can play with these guys on this level. Once you have that confidence then the sky’s the limit.”

Spears believes that confidence is the primary intangible that leads to success.

“I believe that confidence is 80 percent of what it takes to make it on this level,” Spears continued.

“There are guys out there that have more ability than everyone else, but they’re not confident in themselves.

As a result they can’t do what they need to do.

“There’s another guy that may have a little less talent, but is confident in what they can do with their ability and they will be the one who goes out and make a play. I think confidence has everything to do with me making it this far.”

15th Annual Scholarship Gala Benefiting TSU School of Communication Students

Live Music & Great Food • Sat. Dec. 17th • 8pm – 12am • George R. Brown Convention Center

presents

Choice Members $50.00-Non-Members $75.00 Reserve your tickets at 713.313.7291

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h.s.zone Let the high school

playoffs begin

school in Texas. undefeated our freshman year and we

by DARRELL K. ARDISON “They (Katy) are a great team to said we wanted to do it on the varsity Defender play,” said Cinco Ranch coach Don level. We got it done for the seniors.” ill the greater Houston Clayton. “It’s good for getting ready for With Friendswood’s 35-34 victory area produce a state the playoffs because it’s an emotional over Texas City in week 10, Manvel championship high and high-spirited game. Most everywill compete in the Class 4A Divischool football team in thing else in the playoffs almost pales sion II state playoff bracket and face 2011?

El Campo in the first round. Dawson Perhaps the best chances reside to to it. It’s like a playoff game.”

Madison, 6-4, can expect a heavy heads into the playoffs on a two-game the west, south and northwest of downdose of the Tigers’ rushing attack that losing streak and must face Lamar Contown Houston in the communities of amassed 390 yards in the regularsolidated in the Division I bracket.

Katy, Manvel, Cypress and Brenham. season finale against Cinco Ranch and “We’re unselfish, but we’re not Katy opens the postseason fresh accounted for all five touchdowns. that unselfish,” said Manvel head coach off an anti-climactic 38-7 victory Kirk Martin, referring to not over District 19-5A rival wanting to share the title with Cinco Ranch to clinch the Dawson and La Marque. “We outright district chamabsolutely wanted that title for pionship and complete ourselves because it’s important the sixth perfect regular to us to be 10-0 and undefeated season (10-0) in the past district champs. That’s been the nine years. goal since August.”

The Tigers’ defense, Cy-Fair dumped Jersey which hasn’t allowed Village 59-14 to complete a 10-0 any points in the third regular season, including 9-0 in quarter all season, held the rugged District 17-5A. Bobcats’ normally high-powered running back John Jacob rushed Cinco Ranch offense to for 157 yards and scored three minus-16 yards rushing touchdowns in the victory. yards and totaled two Brenham improved to 10-0 interceptions and five on the season with a 28-3 home quarterback sacks. victory over Stratford. Kiartel With a sold-out Claridy had touchdown runs of crowd at Rhodes Stadium, 11 and three yards in the win.

Katy appeared primed Booker T. Washington for their first 16-0 season quarterback John Gibbs made since the 2007 state chamsure his team advanced into the pionship team. postseason with momentum as “When you’ve got Washington quarterback John Gibbs led the Eagles into the he rushed for three touchdowns community support like we 2011 high school football playoffs. and tossed a 21-yard TD pass to have, the kids don’t want to Devin Smith in the Eagles’ 45-6 let them down,” said Katy After a scoreless first quarter, victory over Furr in week 10 head coach Gary Joseph. “They realize Katy reeled off 28 unanswered points

Washington takes on how important it is.” in the second quarter to seize control of Sharpstown in the first round of the 4A This comes on the heels of losing the contest. playoffs. more than three-quarters of the letterMadison is coming off a 42-34

Deer Park and Dobie came men from the 2010 Katy squad that setback to Bellaire. into their week 10 showdown with idenbattled eventual Class 5A Division I Manvel clinched a 10-0 regular tical 4-0 district ledgers and the District state champion Pearland down to the season and the District 24-4A title with 22-5A championship hanging in the balwire in the Region III-5A title game. a 44-21 victory over Pearland Dawson. ance. Yet four turnovers would prove to The Tigers will begin their quest It’s the school’s first outright champibe Dobie’s undoing as Deer Park sealed for another state title run Friday night onship in football. its first district championship since 1995 in mid-town Houston as the Tigers “This is the greatest feeling I’ve with a 41-16 win at Pasadena Memorial take on Houston Madison at Butler ever had,” said Manvel defensive Stadium.

Stadium. Kickoff for the 5A Division end Taiwan Johnson. “Going 10-0 in

Both schools advanced to II Region III bi-district game is set for varsity football is something that many the first round of the Texas high school 7 p.m. teams don’t ever get to do. We went football state playoffs.

Katy is the top-ranked Class 5A

W

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10 | 2011 DEFENDER

11

sportsbriefs Yates’ Arthur Lockett leads area Class 4A in rushing Jack Yates High School running back Arthur Lockett toppled the 1,600-yard rushing mark in his team’s regular-season finale against Houston Austin to finish as the Houston area’s Class 4A rushing leader. Lockett tallied 246 yards on just 12 carries and added TD runs of 76 and 69 yards to help the Lions win 47-14 and advance into the playoffs for the 35th consecutive season. The Yates junior tailback finished the regular season with 1,634 rushing yards to outdistance runner-up Tim Wright of La Marque (1,365). Lockett also played linebacker against Austin and recorded the game’s first tackle. Yates will take on District 22-4A champion Kashmere in the first round of the playoffs.

La Porte’s Whitely wins Ford Tough Player Award La Porte running back/defensive back Keith Whitely was recently named the state’s Class 5A Built Ford Tough Player of the Week following his team’s 24-20 upset victory of state-ranked Port Arthur Memorial. The junior rushed for 201 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns and returned a 29-yard interception for a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ win. Whitely came back to record TD runs of 19, 20 and 30 yards in La Porte’s 38-20 victory over Beaumont West Brook to seal the Bulldogs’ first outright district championship in 18 years. Whitely has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 13 touchdowns while intercepting three balls on defense.

Heavyweight boxing legend Joe Frazier passes at 67 Former heavyweight champion Smokin’ Joe Frazier succumbed to liver cancer on Nov. 7 at the age of 67. Born in Beaufort, S.C., on Jan 12, 1944, Frazier took up boxing at an early age.

He won an Olympic gold medal in 1964. He won the title in 1970 stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round. Three epic fights will forever link him with Muhammad Ali. He defeated Ali in the first fight billed “the Fight of the Joe Frazier Century” in 1971, becoming the first man to defeat Ali. He lost the latter two. “Joe Frazier should be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time and a real man,” promoter Bob Arum said. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Frazier family. R.I.P. Smokin’ Joe.

Houston Dynamo headed to the MLS Championship For the third time in the last six years the Houston Dynamo have moved to the championship game in the MLS. Houston will play the winner of Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on Nov. 20 in the MLS Cup final. The Dynamo defeated Kansas City 2-0 recently to become the Eastern Conference champs. The team also earned a spot in the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League. “Three months ago, I don’t think a lot of people thought that we were going to be here at the end or even close to it,” coach Dominic Kinnear told his players afterward. “To all those people who did [doubt], just always remind them that on Nov. 20 there’s a game and we’re involved. And if you want to watch it and be proud of us and hopefully get back on our good sides, please do.”

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DEFENDER | WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10 | 2011

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For Event Coverage...visit

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Forde McWilliams and Sandra Goins

Seba and Anthony Suber

Mom-To-Be Ashley Boutte’

chag’splace

Gala Chairs Sharon Owens, Winell Herron and Gina Carroll

John Guess, Jr., Tina Knowles and Melanie Lawson

Ashley Boutte’ and Crystal Stephens

Andre’ Guichard, Danny Simmons and John Guess, Jr.

Honorary Chairs Lauren Anderson and Tina Knowles

Brittney Broussard, Ashley Boutte’, Crystal Stephens and Yvette Crain

STEPPIN’ OUT.....Houston Museum of African American focus on the indisputable fact that while our experience Culture (HMAAC) recently hosted their 2011 gala at The is a unique one, it has been impacted by numerous races, Ensemble Theatre. The festive evening was chaired by ethnicities and genders. In the mix were Carolyn and John Gina Carroll, Winell Herron and Sharon Owens and this Guess, III, Annette and Arthur Bracey, Audrey and Bill year’s honorary chairs were Lauren Lawson, Doug Owens, Regina Drake, Join Yvette Chargois Anderson, Tina Knowles and Regina Andre’ Guichard, Danny Simmons, Rogers. Featured program participants Doug Herron, Cornelia Scott, Karen Events of the Week included Jack Yates High School Daniels, Loren E’leece, Ronnie Amadi, More photos on defendernetwork.com Drum Line and members of The Phoenix Hamilton, Sandra Goins, Forde See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s Crossroads Ensemble Theatre Young Performers McWilliams, and Seba and Anthony with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 11 a.m. who delighted the audience of over Suber. We salute Melanie Lawson, 200 folks. HMAAC’s mission is to board president, and John Guess, Jr., collect, conserve, interpret, and exhibit the culture of Africans CEO, for putting HMAAC on the map. Congratulations and continued success!......THE STORK CLUB......While and African American in Houston, the state of Texas, and the African Diaspora for current and future generations. The awaiting the arrival of her fifth great-grandchild, Ms. Chag museum informs and includes not only people of color, hosted a baby shower at her home for granddaughter, Ashley Boutte’. Attendees included grandmother, Dana Chargois, but people of all colors. Their programs and exhibitions

sister Brittney Broussard, and a host of relatives and friends to include, Deanise Jagnanan, Kathy Victorian, Jeanette Sigue, Dr. Leah White, Carolyn Guidry, Crystal Stephens, Donna Turner, Veronica Chargois, Yvette Crain, and Monica Labrie, to name a few. Lots of love, gifts and fellowship!.......WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES.....

Seven similar, selfless, scintillating, stimulating, sexy, scrupulous, sagacious, and spontaneous couples shared their October anniversaries in a special way at Sweetwater Country Club in Sugar Land. Each couple celebrated from 12-49 years of marriage bliss and they are: Jessie and Stanley Reid, Jannifer and Cleveland Woodson, Brenda and Roland Powell, Anita and Bill Cheatham, Mable and Mose Austin, Bessye and Franklin Clark and Sonja and Garfield Norris. God bless y’all with many more years of togetherness!.........From Chag’s Place to your place, have a blessed week!

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