Houston Defender: December 13, 2018

FEATURE

BLACKS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN STREAM OF HOLIDAY MOVIES P6

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Volume 88 | Number 8 DECEMBER 13, 2018 |FREE

NEWSTALK SYLVESTER TURNER wants to help underperforming schools

P2 NATIONAL KAREN BASS puts impeachment talks on hold

Dr. Austin Lane

P4

TSU, PVAMU PRESIDENTS Missouri City elects discuss issues, future plans

FIRST BLACK MAYOR H PAGE 8

Spike Lee gets Globe nom The award-winning producer/ director is among a slew of African-Americans who dominated when the nominations were recently handed down for the Golden Globes. Find out who else is up for the coveted award.

H PAGE 5

H.S. SPORTS DEVON ACHANE

among players to watch at Ft. Bend Marshall

P15 TOP EVENTS

XFL returns to Texas

The XFL returns to action in roughly 14 months and this time the league will feature two franchises in football hungry Texas. Houston and Dallas will both field franchises as the league reboots.

H PAGE 14

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Shachella James and Councilmember Dwight Boykins at the District D. Tree lighting celebration.

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DEFENDER | DECEMBER 13 | 2018

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newstalk

Underperforming HISD

schools could get help Defender News Services

Mayor Sylvester Turner has appointed the initial board members of a new non-profit organization that may submit a vulnerable schools improvement plan to HISD to avoid a district takeover by the Texas Education Agency.

The non-profit, the Coalition for Educational Excellence and Equity in Houston (CEEE in Houston), plans to propose a collaboration with HISD to administer potentially 15 schools, including “improvementrequired” schools and related feeder schools, in certain neighborhoods.

It would rely on state per-student funding and private contributions to the non-profit.

“When our schools perform better and we retain local control over them, we prevent our children from failing, we prevent ourselves from failing our children, Mayor Sylvester Turner we improve our future as a city, and we control our own fate as a community,” Turner said.

He said the non-profit’s objective is to help students in underperforming schools in HISD through a model that fits within the district structure by providing additional resources and extensive instruction to those schools while HISD focuses on the remaining schools.

“This is not a fight with HISD or anyone else,” Turner said. “It is an offer of support for HISD to consider. The option is solely theirs to accept or reject.”

The Houston non-profit was registered by Juliet Stipeche, director of the Mayor’s Office of Education and former president of the HISD board. She serves as a non-voting member of the CEEE in Houston board of directors.

The first voting members have provided leadership in community projects serving youth: energy executive Corbin J. Robertson Jr., business executive Trinidad “Trini” Vasquez-Mendenhall and business executive Stephanie D. NellonsPaige. Turner plans to add six more board members.

“The model we chose is not a charter school concept,” Turner added. “Rather it mirrors the model used by former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for the Los Angeles Unified School District – a model that attracted the support of philanthropists that gave tens of millions of dollars to urban, underperforming schools, achieving positive results.

“We offer a similar model to HISD for the benefit of our children. It would keep the schools open but provide them with additional support at a level that makes a positive difference.”

State law allows the state to take over an entire district when some of its schools remain in the improve-required category. To potentially avoid a takeover of all the district’s 284 schools, the HISD board of trustees must first submit an improvement plan to TEA by Feb. 4.

An Obamacare billboard is unveiled by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, John Robinson of the Houston Area Urban League and Stephen L. Williams, director of the Houston Health Department.

Billboards promotes Dec. 15 deadline Defender News Services

A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation found there is a 9.2 percent drop in Obamacare – also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – enrollment this year, prompting officials in Houston to initiate the billboard campaign to make people aware of enrollment and the deadline.

The report noted that nearly 60 percent of Americans who would benefit from ACA enrollment were unaware of the deadline.

Reductions to the federal ACA advertising budget combined with a shortened sign-up period have been cited as significant factors contributing to the decline in enrollment, underscoring the need for local public service campaigns.

“This billboard campaign serves a critical need in our community by letting people know that affordable health care is available through Obamacare, but you need to sign up as soon as possible,” said Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “Your health is too important.”

Stephen L. Williams, director of Houston Health Department, said Enroll Gulf Coast has numerous agencies around the county ready to assist people for free and in person with their marketplace applications.

Residents in need of enrollment assistance can call 832-3935423 or visit enrollgulfcoast.com Sign up for Obamacare directly by visiting healthcare.gov or calling 1-800-318-2596.

localbriefs MICHELLE OBAMA IS BRINGING HER BOOK TOUR TO HOUSTON’S Toyota Center on March 2, 2019. After a 12-event arena tour in 2018, Live Nation and Crown Publishing announced 21 dates in 2019 for “Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama.” Attendees will hear the former first lady’s reflections on the experiences and events, both public and private, that have shaped her, from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her years in the White House. Tickets go on sale on Dec. 15 at 10 a.m……..A GROWING NUMBER OF

STUDENTS ARE LEAVING the Houston-area school district where 10 people were killed in a mass shooting in May. Attendance figures reportedly show enrollment at the Santa Fe district has dropped by more than 4 percent this year. About 200 fewer students are attending the rural suburban district’s schools this year compared to the 2017-2018 school year. Half of the loss comes from the high school where authorities say a 17-year-old student killed 10 people. The district’s enrollment decrease isn’t an anomaly, as many other schools victimized by shootings have experienced similar exoduses. The Santa Fe district is also dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey……

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNVERSITY IS OFFERING its first ever winter mini-mester courses. Interested students can earn semester credit hours by taking a three-week “mini” semester in December and January in a variety of subjects that will allow students to accelerate their pathway toward graduation. The mini-mester classes begin Monday, Dec. 17, and run through Monday, Jan. 7, with class holidays on Tuesday, Dec. 25, and Tuesday, Jan. 1.

Students have a variety of course options, including online and in person. For more information and to register for these and other Spring 2019 courses at TSU, visit www.tsu. edu/information-for/mytsuweb.

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DECEMBER 13 | 2018 | DEFENDER

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DEFENDER | DECEMBER 13 | 2018

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national

U.S.briefs

New CBC chair:

Impeaching Trump will not be on top of caucus agenda

T

Defender News Services

he calls to impeach President Donald Trump appear to be put on hold, after the new Congressional Black Caucus chair said impeachement is not a priority.

With the latest evidence from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe and with House Democrats soon taking control of committees directly involved with investigating the president, some incoming committee chairs have talked about the pos- California Congresswoman Karen Bass sibility of impeachment. to women who allegedly had sexual affairs with Trump in violaBut going after Trump in 2019 was not a priority of the tion of campaign laws. Mueller’s filing also revealed previously Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the group’s newly elected unreported contacts between Trump associates and Kremlin chair Rep. Karen Bass said. representatives seeking to help the Republican nominee secure “Impeachment is not going to be top on our agenda,” the victory.

California congresswoman said. “It doesn’t mean it’s not going “There’s a very real prospect that on the day Donald Trump to happen. But at this point in time, we really think that some of leaves office, the Justice Department may indict him, that he may the things our community needs are way more important than us be the first president in quite some time to face the real prospect going after impeachment now.” of jail time,” California Rep. Adam Schiff, who’s expected to Bass’ comments came ahead of an Associated Press report chair the House intelligence committee in January, said. that Democrats were toning down their aggressive rhetoric about Still, many Democrats were cautious. For one thing, while impeaching Trump. At least immediately. they will control the House, Democrats will need Republicans’ Mueller’s office recently released findings from its invessupport in the Senate to remove Trump. That could be a long way tigation of Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, including off given how partisan members of Congress have been under damning allegations that Trump was “at the center of a massive Trump. There was also concern about a political backlash similar fraud,” New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, the incoming chairman of to what happened to Republicans when they tried to remove the House Judiciary Committee, recently told the AP. President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s.

Cohen admitted to overseeing illegal hush money payments

Virginia city seeks healing after conviction Associated Press

Civil rights activists in Charlottesville, Va. say they hope the first-degree-murder conviction of a man who drove into a group of counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally in 2017 will help with healing their violence-scarred community.

In convicting James Alex Fields Jr. of first-degree murder, a state jury rejected defense arguments that the 21-yearold defendant had acted in self-defense during a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017. Jurors also convicted Fields of eight other charges.

The jury recommended a sentence of 419 years plus life

for the neo-Nazi, who amazingly pleaded not guilty of his crimes on the basis of self defense.

During trial, jurors heard that Fields drove to Virginia from his home in Maumee, Ohio, to support the white nationalists. As a large group of counter-protesters marched through Charlottesville singing and laughing, he stopped his car, backed up, then sped into the crowd, according to testimony from witnesses and video surveillance shown to jurors.

Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal, was killed, and nearly three dozen others were injured. The trial featured emotional testimony from survivors who described devastating injuries and long, complicated recoveries.

A WOMAN WHO WAS 16 WHEN SHE KILLED a Nashville man who solicited her for sex must serve at least 51 years in prison before she’s eligible for release, according to the Tennessee Supreme Court. In a recent ruling, the court said defendants like Cyntoia Brown, who are convicted of first-degree murder committed after July 1, 1995, and sentenced to life imprisonment, can’t become eligible for release from prison before serving more than five decades. Brown, who was convicted of killing a 43-year-old man in 2004 when he took her to his house for sex. Brown has said she killed him after she feared he would kill her.........ATTORNEYS FOR THE FAMILY OF EMANTIC “E.J.” BRADFORD appeared to make some promising strides behind the scenes as authorities continue to investigate the police shooting that killed the Army veteran in Alabama on Thanksgiving night.

They reportedly met with the law enforcement group overseeing the investigation, one day after being shown a portion of the surveillance video footage of the 21-year-old Black man being killed by police as officers responded to a shooting at a local mall. The two top prosecutors involved with the investigation are AfricanAmericans and invited Bradford’s family lawyers to see the video. Details of the video were not immediately available, but at least one civil rights organization was demanding an independent investigation as well as a criminal probe by federal authorities……..SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL’S RELUCTANCE to hold a vote on a popular criminal justice bill has angered top Republican senators and created an unusual rift with a longtime GOP ally, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

Grassley has spent years working to build a coalition around the bill and is pushing for a yearend vote. Grassley says more than two-thirds of the Senate supports it. McConnell is refusing to bring the legislation forward in a standoff that’s dividing the Republican majority and putting President Donald Trump on the spot.

VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 8 DECEMBER 13, 2018 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler

Strategic Alliance Manager

Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Photographers

Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison

Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Max Edison Jodie B. Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is 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 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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DECEMBER 13 | 2018 | DEFENDER

entertainment

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Black films get Golden Globe nominations

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Defender News Services

lack films are receiving major recognition at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards, which will air Jan. 6 on NBC. Black actors, actresses and directors were dominant when the nominations were recently handed down.

Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” secured four nominations and “Green Book,” starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen, secured a total of five nods.

The mega-blockbuster “Black Panther” racked up three nominations, along with Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

“Black Panther” was nominated for Best Motion Picture-Drama, making it the first comic book turned movie to ever secure a spot in the category. Supporters say the movie’s nomination may be a shoe-in for a coveted Oscar nomination.

The movie was also nominated for Best Original Score and in the category of Best Original Song for “All the Stars” performed by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” and the long-awaited adaptation of James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk” landed nods in the Best Motion Picture-Drama category. “Green Book” was nominated for Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy.

In the Best Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama category, John David Washington secured a nomination for his lead role in “BlacKkKlansman.” Lee also was nominated for Best Director-Motion Picture, marking the second time he’s secured a nomination since 1989’s “Do the Right Thing.” Ali was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for his work in “Green Book.”

Barry Jenkins secured a nod for Best Original Screenplay, while actress Regina King was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for her role in “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

Creator Ryan Murphy’s summer FX hit “Pose” was also nominated in the Best Television Series-Drama category. The series’ breakout star Billy Porter secured a nomination in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series-Drama.

“Atlanta” creator Donald Glover secured a nod for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series-Comedy or Musical.

Thandie Newton was nominated for her role on HBO’s “Westworld” in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.

Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” was nominated in the Best Motion Picture-Drama category.

Regina King was nominated for her supporting role in “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

Lee was nominated for Best DirectorMotion Picture as well.

“Black Panther” was nominated for Best Motion Picture-Drama,

what’sup Actor and comedian KEVIN HART has stepped down as host of the 2019 Academy Awards amid criticism over his history of homophobic comments and jokes. Hart said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asked him to apologize for some old tweets, but said he refused to do so because he has addressed the issue several times in the past and did not want to become a distraction to the event……..TYLER PERRY is playing Santa for families living in Atlanta. The Hollywood mogul donated a whopping $430,000 to two local Wal-Marts to pay off both stores’ layaway bills. Perry said he wanted for his act of charity to

be anonymous, but given that “nothing can stay secret,” he felt the need to announce his good deed on social media……..VIOLA DAVIS recently gave a rousing speech about leadership and authenticity to a well-heeled crowd of Hollywood power players at the Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment breakfast. Davis, who was being honored with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, said that she doesn’t always come to mind when she thinks of the idea of leadership –Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. does – but that she is trying through her production company to embrace women of color as they really are. Davis said

she and her husband, actor JULIUS TENNON (a native of Austin), started JuVee Productions because she was tired of celebrating movies that didn’t feature Black women……..OPRAH WINFREY is once again topping Forbes’ list of most powerful female entertainers. The media mogul garnered the No. 1 spot, and BEYONCÉ wasn’t too far behind at No. 6. “Scandal” creator SHONDA RHIMES made the cut at No. 12 (a little slow for the highest-paid showrunner in Tinseltown), and SERENA WILLIAMS landed at No. 14. PRIYANKA CHOPRA rounded out the list at No. 16.

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Blacks lead in stream of Christmas movies Defender News Services

The Hallmark Channel has been criticized for years for their lack of on-screen diversity. This year, the network met the criticism head-on with 36 new holiday movies, and for the first time ever Black actors are taking on lead roles in these family-friendly romances.

While regular network primetime programming tends to take a hiatus during the holiday season, it’s Hallmark Channel’s time to shine. Their holiday movies are so popular, they begin airing Christmas movies Oct. 26 and wrap up Jan. 1.

“When viewers kept telling us by virtue of the ratings that they wanted more [Christmas], it was a natural to extend the time that we were programming for them,” said Michelle Vicary, the executive vice president of programming and network publicity for Crown Media and Family Networks.

Hallmark Channel isn’t the only network airing holiday fare.

Lifetime is jumping in the game with “Every Day is Christmas” starring Toni Braxton and Tatyana Ali of “The Fresh Prince of BelAir.” She also stars in “Christmas Everlasting” opposite Dondre T. Whitfield, Dennis Haysbert and Patti LaBelle.

Tia Mowry-Hardrict of “Sister Sister” also appears on both the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime with new movies this season. She stars in Lifetime’s “My Christmas Inn” and “A Gingerbread Romance” on Hallmark Channel.

“There’s certain talent that our audience really connects with around the holidays,” said Meghan Hooper, a senior vice president at Lifetime. “We like bringing back some of the same performers like Tatyana Ali that viewers grew up with on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.’ They now see her on our air year after year. It’s leaning into that comfort and nostalgia.”

Netflix has also followed suit with its own original holiday movies.

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DEFENDER | DECEMBER 13 | 2018

A NE

YO nabs h

By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender

S Racial makeup White Black Asian Hispanic

2000 44.3% 38.3% 10.6% 10.9%

Population

About Ford

•Hometown: Native of Missouri City • Education: Dulles High School; Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Houston; Masters of Architecture, Prairie View A&M University • Experience: Urban planning manager with 20 years experience in planning, land development, community development and architectural design • Memberships: Three Missouri City committees – Community Development, Communication and Infrastructure; American Institute of Architects; American Planning Association; and National Recreation Parks Association

Year

Missouri City

1980

24,484

1990

36,176

2000

52,913

2010

67,358

ince its inception, Missouri City has had 10 mayors – all white males. But it’s a new day in the “Show Me” city as the first female and first African-American prepares to take the helm on Dec. 17.

Yolanda Ford defeated incumbent mayor Allen Owen in a Dec. 8 runoff election. Ford has served as a member of the City Council for District A since 2013. Owen held the position of mayor since 1994.

Ford will take charge of a city with a majority African-American population. Blacks now comprise 44 percent of the population, compared to 38 percent in 2000.

A recent joint report of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research and the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas found that the Houston metropolitan area is the most racially/ethnically diverse large metropolitan area in the 2015 and Missouri City is one of the area’s top two most nation, 31.1% racially/ethnically diverse cities.

44.0% As the city continues to become more diverse, Ford wants to be a leader for all.

16.5% 15%“I am so proud that the residents of Missouri City have elected me as their mayor,” she said. “After having served on the City Council for the past five years, and as a lifelong resident, I am deeply invested in the well-being FortCity Bend and growth of Missouri and County I look forward to working with citizens, the City Council and others toward its better133,200 ment.”

She began her228,390 work as a public servant when she became only the fourth woman in the history of Missouri City elected to City354,452 Council position. With her background in community development, 585,375land acquisition and leader-

ship, Ford issues suc opportun communi The and her p Defe person of for a cha Yola improved novative. what he w residents Defe What wil Ford increasing major cor strategies Defe disparitie Missouri address?

Ford encourag ment eco and entre dressing t Defe Ford that offers safe neigh

Residents’ income

Residents' income

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Source:

defendernetwork.com • Serving t

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EW DAY IN MISSOURI CITY

OLANDA FORD historic mayoral win

d ran a grassroots mayoral campaign based on key ch as increasing city revenue, building economic nity, creating redevelopment incentives, promoting nity safety and addressing aging infrastructure. e Defender talked with Ford about her historic win plans for the future. ender: Missouri City has never had a female or f color at the helm. Why do you think voters opted ange? anda Ford: Residents were asking for a more d Missouri City and leadership that was more in. The incumbent had 30-plus years to show citizens was capable of providing to our city and I believe finally decided that it was time for new ideas. ender: The city faces an array of challenges. ll be your top three areas of focus as mayor? d: The top priorities that I will focus on will be g city revenue, encouraging redevelopment along rridors and implementing economic development s for small businesses and entrepreneurs. ender: There has been some concern voiced about es in the “old” Missouri City and the “newer” i City. Is this something your administration will ? d: Absolutely! Two of my top priorities are to ge redevelopment along major corridors and impleonomic development strategies for small businesses epreneurs. These priorities are directly tied to adthe neglected development in the old Missouri City. ender: What are your long-term goals for the city? d: My vision is to create a culturally diverse city s destination venues, a strong commercial base and hborhoods.

Racial makeup

2000 2015

White

44.3%

31.1%

lack

38.3%

44.0%

sian

10.6%

16.5%

ispanic 10.9%

: City of Missouri City

15%

Former mayors • R. A. Stallings (1957–1959) • S. G. Deatherage (1959-1967) • Thomas P. Grant (1967-1971) • Vernon Williamson (1971-1973) • Glenn Jackson (1973-1975) • Leo Poye (1975-1977) • Jerry Motley (1977-1978) • Ken Valka (1978-1979) • John Knox (1979-1994) • Allen Owen (1994-2018)

the Houston area for over 85 years

Five facts

• Missouri City is located 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston in northeast Fort Bend County and southwest Harris County. It was incorporated on March 13, 1956, and a mayor and five city councilmen were elected.

• Its history dates back to 1890, when R. M. Cash and L. E. Luckle, two Houston real estate investors, bought four square miles of land southwest of Houston.

• Missouri City officially registered as a city in Texas in 1894.

• The first families to settle at the site came from the area of Arlington, Texas.

• Willowridge High School brought the city its first football state championship in December 1982 going 15-0 that year.

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10 DEFENDER | DECEMBER 13 | 2018 defendernetwork.com

health

A Defender and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Alliance

Sleep deprivation impairs health

BY OLETHIA CHISOLM, M.D.

R

esearch suggests that more than 20 million Americans have some form of sleep apnea and many aren’t aware of it. A new study, the Jackson Heart Sleep Study, seems to support this. The study indicates that sleep apnea, a serious medical condition with serious Olethia Chisolm, M.D. complications, although common among black Americans, is seldom diagnosed.

Study investigators found that 24 percent of the study participants had moderate or severe sleep apnea, but only 5 percent had been diagnosed by a doctor.

Ongoing sleep deprivation can compromise your mental, as well as physical, health and well-being.

Lack of sleep can lead to daytime drowsiness that increases your risk for having driving accidents.

A consistently late bedtime is one cause of sleep deprivation. Other factors include emotional stress, poor diet, excessive alcohol, or caffeine consumption, and physical problems such as sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea. In many cases, a bed partner may be the one noticing the changes during sleep as well as witness times of not breathing. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include: • Gasping for air during sleep • Awakening with a dry mouth • Morning headache • Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia) • Excessive daytime sleepiness • Difficulty paying attention while awake.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. This occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax, causing the airway to narrow or close when breathing in. You might snort, choke, or gasp. This pattern can repeat itself five to 30 times or more each hour, all night, impairing your ability to reach the deep, restful phases of sleep.

How sleep apnea affects health

Untreated sleep apnea may have severe consequences. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels

that occur during sleep apnea increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. Obstructive sleep apnea might also increase the risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke, and abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. If you have heart disease, multiple episodes of low blood oxygen can lead to sudden death.

Sleep apnea increases the risk of developing insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. It also raises the risk of metabolic syndrome, a disorder that includes high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and an increased waist circumference.

Talk to your doctor about sleep problems. You may be referred to a sleep center, like the KelseySeybold Sleep Center, for an evaluation. Mild cases of sleep apnea may be treatable with recommended lifestyle changes, such as losing weight. Moderate to severe cases may require the use of certain devices, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help open a blocked airway as you sleep.

Dr. Chisolm is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician. She currently is accepting new patients at Kelsey-Seybold’s Meyerland Plaza Clinic. To schedule an appointment, call 713-442-0000.

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DECEMBER 13 | 2018 | DEFENDER

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Celebrate seven days of Kwanzaa Dec. 26-Jan. 1 Defender News Services

When Christmas comes to an end, Kwanzaa celebrations begin. Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African holiday celebrating family, community and culture. It is held annually Dec. 26-Jan. 1, and was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulena Karenga, a California professor of African Studies, activist and author.

“As an African-American and PanAfrican holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world African community, Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense,” Karenga said.

He stresses that Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, and was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday.

Each day of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to a principle.

In Houston and the surrounding area, Kwanzaa activities are sponsored by various organizations. Here is this year’s list of sponsors and activities: WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26 – Umoja (Unity) – Greater Houston Area Kwanzaa Planning Committee, Third Ward Multi-Service Center, 3611 Ennis. Market opens at 5 p.m.;

ceremony is at 7 p.m. Contact: 713-521-0629.

THURSDAY, DEC. 27 – Kujichagulia (Self-determination) – National Black United Front-Houston, Shrine of the

Black Madonna Cultural Center, 5309 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. African marketplace opens at 2 p.m.; ceremony is at 7 p.m. Contact: 832-422-7806.

FRIDAY, DEC. 28 – Ujima (Collective work & respon-

sibility) – EEDC and Project Row Houses, 2521 Holman St. Celebration is at 1 p.m. Contact: 713-585-5318. Also, Karamu Feast, SHAPE Community Center, 3903 Almeda. Market opens at 5 p.m.; celebration is at 6 p.m. Contact: 713-521-0641.

SATURDAY, DEC. 29 – Ujamaa (Cooperative economics) – Nia Cultural Center-Old Central Cultural Center, 2627 Ave. M in Galveston. Market opens at 4 p.m.; ceremony is at 7 p.m. Contact: 409-457-8955 or niacultural.org. Also, Muhammad Mosque 45/Houston LOC/MUI, SHAPE Community Center, 3903 Almeda. Market opens at 5 p.m.; celebration is at 7 p.m. Contact: 713-398-2681.

SUNDAY, DEC. 30 – Nia (Purpose) – SEHAH Youth & Fitness Center, 5110 MLK Blvd. Market opens at 5 p.m.; ceremony is at 7 p.m. Contact: 713-747-0271 or www.sehah. org.

MONDAY, DEC. 31 – Kuumba (Creativity) – SHAPE Community Center, 3815 Live Oak. Market opens at 5 p.m.; ceremony is at 8 p.m. Contact: 713-521-0641.

TUESDAY, JAN. 1 – Imani (Faith) – Shrine of the Black Madonna, 5309 MLK Blvd. Market opens at 5 p.m.; ceremony is at 7 p.m. Contact: 832-408-1071.

There will also be children’s celebrations held. For a complete schedule visit www.shape.org. For more information on Kwanzaa visit www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org

T:9.75”

T:6.5”

This holiday, give more than just gifts.

Loving. Caring. And sharing with family and friends.

That’s what it’s all about. Happy holidays from AARP.® Go to aarp.org/blackcommunity Real Possibilities is a trademark of AARP®

12 DEFENDER | DECEMBER 13 | 2018 defendernetwork.com

Family-owned businesses need succession plan Defender News Services

When developing a succession plan for your family-owned business, you must make many decisions. Should you sell or gift your business? Should you structure your plan to go into effect during your lifetime, or at your death? Should you transfer your ownership interest to family members, co-owners, employees, or an outside party?

The key is to pick the best plan for your circumstances and objectives, and to seek help from financial and legal advisers to carry out this plan.

Amegy Bank has a long history of working with family businesses and has the expertise, tools and resources needed to address the specific circumstances and opportunities that come into play for family-owned business clients in the succession planning process.

SELLING YOUR BUSINESS

• Selling your business outright – You can sell your business outright, now, at your retirement, at your death, or anytime in between.

The sale proceeds can be used to maintain your lifestyle, or to pay estate taxes and other final expenses. As long as the price is at least equal to the full fair market value of the business, the sale will not be subject to gift taxes.

• Transferring your business with a buy-sell agreement – A buy-sell is a legally binding contract that establishes when, to whom, and at what price you can sell your interest in a business. A typical buy-sell allows the business itself or any co-owners the opportunity to purchase your interest in the business at a predetermined price.

This can help avoid future adverse consequences (such as disruption of operations) that might result in the event of your sudden incapacity or death. A buy-sell can also minimize the possibility that your familyowned business will fall into the hands of outsiders.

PRIVATE ANNUITY

With a private annuity, you transfer your ownership interest in the business to family members or another party (the buyer). The buyer in turn makes a promise to make periodic payments to you for the rest of your life (a single life annuity) or for your life and the life of a second person (a joint and survivor annuity). Because a private annuity is a sale and not a gift, it allows you to remove assets from your estate without incurring gift or estate taxes.

GIFTING YOUR BUSINESS If you’re like many business owners, you’d prefer to have

your children inherit the result of all your years of hard work and success. Of course, you can bequeath your business in your will, but transferring your business during your lifetime has many additional personal and tax benefits.

By gifting the business over time, you can hand over the reins gradually as your offspring become better able to control and manage the business on their own, and you can minimize gift and estate taxes.

• Gifting your business using trusts –

You can make gifts outright or use a trust. You can even structure a trust so that you keep control of the business for as long as you want. You can establish a revocable trust, which will bypass probate and allow you to change your mind and end the trust, or an irrevocable trust, which can provide you with income for a specified period of time and move your business out of your estate at a discount.

• Gifting your business using a family limited partnership – You can transfer your

business interest using another entity, such as a family limited partnership (FLP). You (and your spouse) can be the general partners, retaining control of the business itself and receiving income from the business, while your children can be limited partners. By transferring the business to an FLP, you may be able to use valuation discounts and substantially reduce the value of the business for tax purposes by making annual gifts to the limited partners.

To learn more visit www.amegybank.com.

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Deltas honor NASA Black women leaders Defender News Services

The Houston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. with One Delta Plaza Educational Center (ODPEC) recently honored four NASA African-American women leaders at the 17th Annual Jazz Soirée Scholarship Fundraiser.

The theme – “Harlem Renaissance: All That Jazz” – provided the historical musical framework to celebrate four pioneering STEM leaders and local “Hidden Figures” serving at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. The event raised tens of thousands of dollars for scholarships to be awarded in early 2019 to high-achieving, college-bound students.

The NASA honorees receiving the Geraldine Pittman Woods Award for Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) were: Vanessa Wyche, Johnson Space Center deputy director; Annette Moore, Space Center chief information officer; Debra L. Johnson, Space Center director of the Office of Procurement; and Donna Blackshear-

Reynolds, chief of the Spaceflight Operations Resources Office in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Wyche, Moore and Johnson are members of Delta Sigma Theta. Blackshear-Reynolds is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Houston musicians Joe Carmouche and Lloyd Hughes immersed attendees in the smooth sounds of jazz. In addition to live entertainment, the affair included dinner, dancing a silent auction and vendors.

There were 22 celebrity waiters each contributing $1,000 or more whose generosity will enhance the more than $120,000 awarded by the Houston Alumnae Chapter this academic year.

Angela Sterling, Tonja Jackson and Gwendolyn Drumgoole served as the jazz soirée co-chairs.

The soirée supports Houston Alumnae Chapter community service programs.

The fundraising partnership also allows ODPEC to support its programs and projects.

DECEMBER 13 | 2018 | DEFENDER

ELVES GOT NOTHING ON US.

2018 ESCAPE From left are: ODPEC Board Chair Audrey Gassama, honorees Vanessa Wyche, Annette Moore, Debra L. Johnson and Donna Blackshear-Reynolds, Houston Alumnae Chapter President Tina Marie Jones-Green.

2018 EXPLORER

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Come to Lone Star College-North Harris. We’ll help you achieve your goals, whether you’re looking for a college degree or skills training for a new career.

Spring classes begin January 14!

For more information visit LoneStar.edu/Register.

2018 F-150

VISIT BUYFORDNOW.COM FOR DETAIL S

13

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DEFENDER | DECEMBER 13 | 2018

Sports

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XFL:

Football ‘reimagined’ comes to Houston

T

By MAX EDISON Defender

he XFL returns to action in roughly 14 months – February 2020 – and this time the league will feature two franchises in football-hungry Texas.

Houston and Dallas will both field franchises as the league reboots. They will join the eight-team league that will feature franchises in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Seattle, New York, Tampa Bay and Washington, D.C. The league initially appeared for one season in 2001. This time the league promises to be new and improved under the leadership of a familiar face, Oliver Luck, who will serve as the commissioner and CEO. The franchise announcements were made recently by Luck at a press conference held at MetLife Stadium, which included representatives from all eight markets.

“After months of research and consideration, we’re thrilled

to announce the cities and venues of the XFL’s eight inaugural teams,” said Luck. “We are committed to being ingrained in the local community and extremely fortunate that our teams will have world-class facilities to call home.”

Football is America’s favorite sport boasting over 85 million fans but the traditional season is considered too short by some. Seeing a tremendous opportunity to fill the void, Vince McMahon, XFL founder and chairman, announced earlier this year the launch of the league, which he is personally funding.

McMahon wants to develop the XFL with the same commitment and resolve that he demonstrated building WWE into a global media and sports entertainment powerhouse.

The XFL promises to deliver “authentic, high-energy” football for the whole family at an affordable price, and said it will offer fast-paced games with fewer play stoppages and simpler rules.

The league will launch with 45-man active rosters and a

10-week regular season schedule with a postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game. The XFL will also establish a health, wellness and safety program that it said meets the needs of today’s athletes.

In addition, the XFL will embrace the latest on and offfield technology, providing live game coverage, content and real-time engagement across multiple platforms, giving fans greater access than ever before.

“We will build strong grassroots relationships with local organizations in our host cities through social responsibility partnerships, and the XFL will enjoy the support of WWE’s many extraordinary resources and promotional capabilities,” said the league.

XFL Houston will call TDECU Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston home. UH Vice President of Athletics Chris Pezman was encouraged to partner with Luck, the former CEO of the Houston Sports Authority.

For more information visit XFL.com.

Post-season awards flow for Cougar Ed Oliver

By MAX EDISON Defender

Ed Oliver’s UH Cougars will face Army in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22 at 2:30 p.m. in Fort Worth, though the defensive star won’t be playing. The game will air on ESPN.

Now that the college football season has concluded it’s time for post-season honors. No one nationally will receive more accolades than University of Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver, the Cougars’ first three-time All-American in program history.

The talented junior has already announced his intention to enter the 2019 NFL draft. He was recently named an All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. It’s the second consecutive year he has been a first-team member.

In addition, the Houston native, who played high school ball at Westfield, earned All-America honors from the Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation for the third consecutive year.

Oliver, a consensus All-American in 2017, was the first underclassman in the history of the Outland Trophy to win the award as a sophomore.

Throughout his career at UH, Oliver, who is 6-feet-3 and 292 pounds, has been a one-man wrecking crew. He led all defensive linemen in the American

Oliver’s numbers

• First player in UH history to earn first-team all-conference honors three times.

• No. 5 nationally and No. 2 in the American with an average of 1.81 tackles for loss per game this season.

• Led all defensive linemen in the American with an average of 6.75 tackles per game.

• Led Houston defensive linemen with 54 tackles on the year.

• Compiled 14.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in only eight games. Also had two pass breakups, one forced fumble and nine quarterback hurries.

• With 54 career tackles for loss, finished third on the UH career tackles-for-loss chart and was 12 away from the Houston career record.

with an average of 6.75 tackles per game, despite playing in only eight games. He is projected as a top-five pick in the upcoming draft.

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DECEMBER 13 | 2018 | DEFENDER

HS sports

15

Area teams to watch in

football playoffs

By JODIE B. JILES Defender

Photos by JIMMIE AGGISON

With only two weeks remaining in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Texas football playoffs, these are the remaining Houston area teams that are still alive:

FT. BEND MARSHALL

Area: Missouri City Division & record: Class 5A Division II, 13-0 Head coach: James Williams Offensive players to watch: Junior athlete Devon Achane, junior quarterback Malik Hornsby, senior wide receiver Korey King, senior wide receiver Dalevon Campbell, senior running back Jerry Davis Defensive players to watch: Senior defensive back Antonio Brooks, junior defensive end Frank Miller, junior cornerback Avery Helm Special teams players to watch: Junior athlete Devon Achane, senior wide receiver Korey King Background: Marshall added HISD transfer quarterback Hornsby from Austin High School to the offense this past offseason, giving the Buffs an extra sparkplug for an already explosive offense led by Achane.

Next game: vs. Calallen, Dec. 14, Dub Farris Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

SHADOW CREEK

Area: Pearland Division & record: Class 5A Division I, 13-0 Head coach: Brad Butler Offensive players to watch: Senior quarterback Jamarian George, senior wide receiver Kealon Jackson, senior running back Marquez Huland, senior wide receiver Ashton O’Conner.

Defensive players to watch: Junior defensive end Alec Bryant Special teams players to watch: Senior wide receiver Kealon Jackson, senior wide receiver Ashton O’Conner Background: Shadow Creek was established in 2016. For the first two seasons the school played an independent schedule. This season is Shadow Creek’s first year in the UIL. HISD offseason transfer wide receiver Jackson (Bellaire) and track star/wide receiver O’Conner (Lamar) give Shadow Creek an added punch to their special team’s unit.

Next game: vs. Wagner, Dec. 15, NRG Stadium, 6 p.m.

NORTH SHORE

Area: East End Division & record: Class 6A Division I, 13-0 Head coach: John Kay Offensive players to watch: Junior running back Zach Evans, sophomore quarterback Dematrius Davis Jr., sophomore wide receiver Shadrach Banks, junior left tackle Damieon George Defensive players to watch: Senior defensive end Tony Bradford Jr., senior defensive tackle Jordan Revels, junior middle linebacker Corey Flagg Jr., senior cornerback Dorian Stewart Special teams players to watch: Sophomore wide receiver Shadrach Banks Background: North Shore has been recognized as one of the top two teams in the state since week one of the regular season. North Shore is stacked on both sides of the line of scrimmage with D-1 talent and has beaten every team faced by a substantial margin.

Next game: vs. Lake Travis, Dec. 15, NRG Stadium, 2 p.m. www.DefenderNetwork.com See game highlights of playoff teams

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16

DEFENDER | DECEMBER 13 | 2018

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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com

topevents

VERIZON 5G EXPERIENCE LAB EVENT……..Verizon’s national tour of 5G become polished advocates for criminal justice reform. Attendees included program Experience Lab events recently made a stop in Houston to the excitement of many graduates Steven Holloway, Margarita Luna, Roderick McNeely, Kirsten Ricketts, who were curious to see the 5G innovations and tech products that are on the horizon for Danny Sneed, Sybil Sybille and Damion Walker. Also on hand were class instructor being available to the general public. Verizon’s Seth Hachmeister presided over the event Professor Serbino Sandifer-Walker, Professor Marcia Johnson (director, URRC), Terri that attracted techies, academics, entrepreneurs, gamers and more, who were challenged Burke (director, ACLU Texas), Luckett Johnson, Dione Friends, Sharon Watkins to imagine how the tech showcased could be integrated into their not-too-distant future Jones, Jasmine Gershanov, Reggie Smith and others……..DWIGHT BOYKINS’ operations. Attendees included Melinda Spaulding, Kristal 5th ANNUAL HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING & KWANZAA Palmer, Defender CEO Sonny Messiah-Jiles, Dr. Reagan CELEBRATION……..Houston City Councilmember Dwight Defender TOP EVENTS Boykins played host to his fifth annual Holiday Tree Lighting & Flowers, Erica and Desion Hubbard, Darryl Carter, Orlando More photos on defendernetwork.com Montan, Yashica Washington, Adrianne Walker, Amari Kwanzaa Celebration. The Third Ward-centered event featured Walker, Lanny and Kirby Smith and scores more…….. numerous food trucks, children-friendly activities, fireworks, ice INAUGURAL SMART JUSTICE SPEAKERS’ BUREAU skating, a fashion show by Melodrama Boutique and entertainment GRADUATION……..The Texas Southern University Anthony Graves Smart Justice galore, including New Cupid, the Houston Boys Choir, Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers Speakers Bureau, a collaboration between TSU’s Urban Research and Resource and more. Attendees included Jackie Adams, Helen Eli Muhammad, Kandi Eastman Center, ACLU Texas and Texas Death Row Exoneree #138 Anthony Graves, held a (Majic 102), Christian Stevenson Winn, Derrick Decatur, Amari Walker, Italo graduation ceremony for its inaugural class. Graduates, seven individuals impacted by Johnson, Deloyd Parker, Donna Franklin (KTSU), Tamika Woods, Kenny Ortega, the criminal justice system, participated in a 12-week course designed to train them to Elmer Angel, Ron Jemison Jr., Alberta Sinnette, Sherri Juniel and countless others.

Orlando Montan, Darryl Carter, Seth Hachmeister

Marcia Johnson, Kirsten Ricketts, Serbino Sandifer-Walker

Shachella James, Councilmember Dwight Boykins

Kristal Palmer, Melinda Spaulding

Speakers Bureau Participants and Organizers

Italo Johnson, Tamika Woods, Amari Walker

Desion Hubbard, Erica Hubbard

Anthony Graves, Terri Burke

Alberta Sinnette, Sherri Juniel

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