Houston Defender: February 11, 2021

Dating during the Pandemic Tips for couples looking for love on lockdown

NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

NICOLE HEASTON

CEDRIC RICHMOND

The talented singer hopes to expose more African Americans to opera.

The White House Sr. Advisor details what the administration has in store for Blacks.

Volume 90, issue 15 February 11, 2021

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DN On Point

FIT & FINE Chantel McNeil Age: 29 Occupation: Nursing Education: Undergrad-Prairie View A&M University/ Graduate-The University of Texas- Houston Medical Center Major: Nursing Motto: Change your perception of things and you will change your reality.

“I’m motivated by how well I feel daily.”

Tiffany Cross, host of MSNBC’s The Cross Connection, interviews a hostile Anthony Scaramucci.

Message From the Associate Editor

DRAMA QUEENS

Apparently, the first week of February is now officially Drama Queen Week, because these divas have been in these streets full force. And no, I’m not talking about Gorilla Glue Girl (Tessica Brown) or Super Bowl Sign Language Guy (Warren Aswad Walker Snipe), whose performance, by the way, was far better than the game itself. I’m referring to the parade of crocodile tear-shedding “alpha” males serving as poster children for white male fragility.

GOP-voting West Virginia Senator, Democrat Joe Manchin went into full adolescent temper tantrum mode when U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris had the “audacity” to address West Virginians about COVID concerns without first getting Manchin’s “permission.” Yes, you read that right. Not to be outdone, Anthony Scaramucci, one-time official mouthpiece of former reality TV star Donald Trump, had the nerve to catch an attitude when MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross dared question his attempts to distance himself from his “Team Trump” past.

But Manchin and the “Mooch” took a backseat to Republican lawmakers during 45’s second impeachment trial. As they were outed for supporting Trump’s insurrection call, these drama queens cried that they’re the most persecuted demographic in American history. Mm-hm.

WORTHY VIEWING IG: @chantelrenee_ Facebook: Chantel Renee Website: www.chantelscreations. com Read more on Friday about Chantel at defendernetwork.com If you are Fit & Fine email: fitnfine@defendernetwork.com

Other emerging dramas, however, are worth watching, with Judas and the Black Messiah, Lupin, and Malcolm & Marie being just a few of the movies and shows showcasing Black excellence.

But the real drama isn’t on screens big or small, but rather daily life. Case in point: the battle for a $15/hour minimum wage. One side contends, such a “raise” will reduce the number of Americans living in poverty and put money in people’s pockets to help boost the economy. The other side argues a $15/hour minimum wage will put many small businesses out of business. That drama deserves our attention.

Moreover, we’re waiting with bated breath to see if efforts led by NAACP Houston, Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Congressman Al Green to have the state replace offensive

Warren “Wawa” Snipe performed the national anthem in American Sign Language at Super Bowl 55, and won over fans in the process. Photo courtesy of NFL / YouTube.

names like Baytown’s Negrohead Lake bring forth those changes and more.

Then, there’s news that TSU alumna and longtime HPD officer, Assistance Chief Sheryl Victorian, will become Waco’s first Black and first female police chief. Black women doing their thing—that’s the kind of drama we’re here for.

IN THIS WEEK’S DEFENDER

• Speaking of drama, Defender Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Billingsley shares six tips for pandemic dating.

• Pro/College Sports Editor Terrance Harris spotlights TSU & PVAMU flexing their basketball season flexibility.

• Look to your left and check out this week’s Defender Fit & Fine entry, Chantel McNeil.

ON THE WEB

• JP Morgan Chase’s program supports diversity, equity and inclusion entrepreneurs.

• Lawmakers push for mental health days for kids amid pandemic.

• More abuse victims of ex-officer who killed George Floyd speak out.

February 11, 2021 |

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DN News

LaTanya Fix has been hired by the Greater Houston Partnership to address racial inequities in the City of Houston.

George Floyd tribute includes street mural at Jack Yates HS Defender News Service

Hundred lined up at TSU after word got out about the university dispensing vaccines.

Baylor St. Luke’s hosts COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Texas Southern University Defender News Service

TSU is partnering with Baylor St. Luke’s to provide vaccines in the communities surrounding the university. The vaccination clinic is not open to the public. But an erroneous tweet started circulating about the available vaccines and people started showing up. Officials want to be clear: people must sign up for an appointment to get the vaccine.

The vaccination effort will concentrate on people described as “super seniors,” meaning 75 and older, other at-risk populations and ethnic minorities who meet the state’s guidelines for the vaccine.

People who qualify to receive the vaccine under the current guidelines can join the St. Luke’s waiting list at stlukeshealth.org. Those who sign up and are qualified to receive the vaccine will be contacted about making an appointment According to state guidelines, people in the following groups are eligible to get vaccinated now.

Phase 1A: Front-line healthcare workers and residents at long-term care facilities Phase 1B: People 65+ or people 16+ with a health condition that increases risk of severe COVID19 illness, including but not limited to: • Cancer • Chronic kidney disease

• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) • Down Syndrome • Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies • Organ transplantation • Obesity • Pregnancy • Sickle cell disease • Type 2 diabetes

New $1 mil Comcast grant to go to 100 minority-owned Houston businesses

A street mural honoring George Floyd has been unveiled along two blocks of the street that passes in front of Jack Yates High School, where Floyd was a student.

Floyd’s death last year in Minneapolis after being pinned to the ground under a white officer’s knee helped spark summer-long protests against police brutality.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner George called the mural “another public Floyd statement that the life and death of George Floyd is not in vain.”

The mural spells out “Black Lives Matter” with Floyd’s high school football jersey and the school mascot at either end.

The mural was commissioned

by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Houston Society for Change and a non-profit social activMayor ism organization formed by Floyd’s Sylvester Turner former high school football teammates called 88 C.H.U.M.P.

Part of the mural by Third Ward native Jonah Elijah in honor of Black History Month and George Floyd in front of Jack Yates High School.

Defender News Service

Minority-owned small businesses in Houston will soon be able to apply for up to $10,000 as part of a larger $1 million grant program from Comcast.

The grant — called Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment, or RISE — was set up through a $5 million investment fund from Comcast to provide support for Black, indigenous, and minority-owned local businesses. Houston was one of five cities in the U.S. awarded $1 million of that fund, which will go to 100 local businesses.

“Many of our businesses, small businesses and businesses of color, have been hard hit due to this pandemic,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

To qualify, a business must have been in operation for three years in the Harris-Fort Bend County area, supporting up to 25 employees. Houston-area businesses can begin applying for the $10,000 grant on March 1, through the Comcast RISE website. The application process runs through March 14, and the grants will be awarded in May. Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Atlanta were also picked for the grant program. Along with Houston, the five cities

VOLUME 90 - NUMBER 15 - FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Businesses can apply for the grants at www.comcastrise.com.

were among the hardest hit by a sharp decline in commercial spending due to the coronavirus pandemic, Turner said.

Since the start of the pandemic, small businesses in Houston and across the country have struggled to stay afloat, with many business owners having reduced, delayed, or otherwise chosen not to make payments related to their business, according to research from JP Morgan. The city also pointed to research that showed Black, indigenous and other people of color were among the most impacted.

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

Creative Director Michael Grant

Photographers Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2020 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288

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DN News

Gusta Booker, founder and pastor emeritus of Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church in South Park, died Feb. 3 at age 77.

‘Biden is a friend to Blacks’ White House advisor Cedric Richmond lays out Biden plan Defender News Service

In the first of what is expected to become additional subsequent White House briefings with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), White House Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Cedric Richmond, detailed what the administration has already recently done and what it plans to do in the future to ensure racial justice, accessibility and equity for Black America.

One of the initial areas the Biden-Harris administration plans to focus on is immediate enactment of the $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan. Given the disproportionately deadly impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black America, the anticipated passage of the American Rescue Plan will bring much needed relief to African American families, businesses and communities across the nation.

“Let past actions give you an inference on how serious the President is on racial equity,” stated Senior Advisor and Director Richmond, the former Congressional Black Caucus Chair. “On the first day in office, the President signed an executive order holding every department accountable. We are absolutely dead serious about racial equity.

He said he would make it a priority through

Cedric Richmond. -NNPA

the whole of government, and we will monitor and move the ball.”

“This is not a new safari for Cedric Richmond,” said NNPA Chairman Emeritus Danny Bakewell, Sr., in a passionate statement about the responsibility of the federal government departments and agencies to advertise with the Black Press.

“He (Richmond) knows the Black Press, he’s engaged with the Black Press and always supported the Black Press. So, we are really in good hands, and he knows the pain the

Black Press has consistently suffered over the many years despite our good work.”

“You have a friend, an advocate, and I know the need and role the Black Press plays in communities, especially in this fragile time. We are going to need your help,” Harris said.

Among the other priorities Richmond addressed: • Responding to a national Black Agenda supporting the HR 40 Reparations Bill • DC Statehood

• Healthcare • Economic development opportunities • Black-owned businesses • Homeownership • Completing a more accurate count of the U.S. Census • Public education • Support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) See the briefing in its entirety on the Black Press of America’s primary Facebook page at Facebook.com/BlackPressUSA.

GOP states weigh limits on how race and slavery are taught Associated Press

Complaining about what he called indoctrination in schools, former President Donald Trump created a commission that promoted “patriotic” education and played down America’s role in slavery. Though he’s out of the White House and the commission has disbanded, the cause hasn’t died. Lawmakers in Republican states are now pressing for similar action.

Proposals in Arkansas, Iowa and Mississippi would prohibit schools from using an award-winning New York Times series, the “1619 Project,” that focused on slavery’s legacy. Georgia colleges and universities have been quizzed about whether they’re teaching about white privilege or oppression. And GOP governors are backing overhauls of civic education that mirror Trump’s abandoned initiatives.

Republicans behind the latest moves say they’re countering left-wing attempts in K-12 schools and higher education to indoctrinate rather than teach students. Teachers, civil rights leaders and policymakers are fighting back, saying students will suffer if states brush over crucial parts of the nation’s history.

The proposals primarily target The New York Times’ “1619 Project,” which examined slavery and its consequences as the central thread of U.S. history. The project

Jerome Jones learns about the First African Landing at Fort Monroe, VA. Jonathon Gruenke/ The Daily Press via AP

was published in 2019, the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans. The project was also turned into a popular podcast and materials were developed for schools to use.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, who won a Pulitzer Prize for the

lead essay in the project, called it a work of journalism that wasn’t intended to replace what’s being taught in schools.

Born and raised in Iowa, one of the states looking to prohibit the project’s use, Hannah-Jones said it’s clear the project is being used to whip up political fears.

“It’s one thing to not like a particular piece of journalism, it’s another thing to seek to prohibit its teaching,” she said.

The Pulitzer Center, which partnered with the Times to develop 1619 Project lesson plans, said it’s heard from more than 3,800 K-12 teachers and nearly 1,000 college educators who planned to use them.

After taking office, President Joe Biden revoked the report submitted by the commission Trump formed in response to the 1619 Project. Widely mocked by historians as political propaganda, Trump’s 1776 Commission glorified the country’s founders and played down the role of slavery.

In Texas, where academics have long clashed with the state’s GOP-controlled education board on controversies that include lessons exploring the influence Moses had on the Founding Fathers, Gov. Greg Abbott recently told lawmakers that students must learn “what it means to be an American and what it means to be a Texan.” But Abbott hasn’t elaborated on what changes he may seek.

February 11, 2021 |

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DN InFocus

LET THE PEOPLE BE HEARD

6 Dating Tips

C

ReShonda Tate Billingsley

OVID-19 has enhanced our need for social connection while making it more difficult to do so.

But even in lockdown, people are still looking for love. Many single Americans have been more intentional about whom they date, are having deeper conversations, and are spending more quality time with new partners.

“We are hard-wired to connect with other people. It is in our DNA to connect. Research has shown that the single most important factor for people who live the longest was connections to other people: families, friends, and community,” said Jennifer Berman, MD, MS, a specialist in female sexual medicine.

Even with the vaccine, the pandemic and subsequent safety measures aren’t going away anytime soon. That’s why Berman encourages people to figure out how to safely date.

Here are 6 tips to date during the Coronavirus crisis.

1. Have the “COVID talk” When you first start dating someone new, you usually consider their hobbies, common interests and politics to figure out if you’re a good match. Now, there’s a new level of compatibility added in: the approach to COVID19 safety. Ask questions from the start. Are they around a lot of people? What are the restrictions at their job? Do they go to restaurants, clubs (gasp) and other public spaces?

Basically, you’re trying to assess your risk of getting sick if you start a relationship.

2. Connect virtually As tempting as it may be to immediately hook up in person, during a pandemic, it’s best to connect virtually first. Plan date nights, cook together, watch movies together, or just have long conversations over a coffee or cocktails. Berman says taking it slow is actually leading to more intentional and deeper conversations with potential partners because they are putting in effort.

We asked readers to weigh in on how they’re dating during the pandemic.

Jeffrey J Young Did “virtual” dinner and movie for a first date. Had Uber eats deliver the same meal to her place and to mine.

We ate together while on zoom. Then we watched the Movie “The 24” on Amazon prime, while on speaker phone. Of course no good night kiss.

But we are in a relationship now. So Covid really didn’t prevent anything!

during the pandemic

Nneka Long It’s a pandemic, but you still must live your life. People are afraid to meet others online. I say expand your mind and be open to online dating. I met my boo on Tik Tok. He dropped me a message, and we’d been going strong for the past five months.

Lois Paxton We try to think of innovative date nights. We had just met when the pandemic hit. I was worried if we’d be able to continue to build since his mom is high-risk and he’s VERY careful. We’ve done retro date nights, where we dress like the 80s, floor picnics…and yes, Facetime sex.

Ronenia Jenkins Dating is even worse than before!

Mad that the pandemic didn’t bring a whole new species of men! All you have to do to is talk and video chat and they can’t even do that yet they complain that women just want a free meal.

Cynthia Tanner-Clark Husband and I have special candlelight dinners on occasion . We celebrated our 11th anniversary taking several virtual trips visiting countries we want to actually visit.

PANDEMIC DATING LINGO People dating during the pandemic have been forced to adjust to a new normal, that includes getting up-to-date on a whole new lingo. We’ve pulled together some of the most popular.

3. Set expectations about meeting up Once the virtual meetings have gone well and you’ve mutually decided that it’s time to meet in person, set some ground rules on how you will interact first. It can be very problematic if you go into the first meeting with very different expectations. After all, if you are thinking “stay at least six feet apart at all times” and the other person is thinking “have

wild unbridled sex,” things may be quite awkward when you finally do meet. It is possible to still meet up with your quarantine boo. If you’re brave enough to venture out, instead of crowded bars, consider outside dates, picnics in the park. If you do head to dinner, opt for places that have outdoor seating.

4. Choose a date location where you can socially distance

ZOMBIE-ING - A cold form of ghosting ZUMPING - Getting dumped over a Zoom call CORONA-ZONED - When a physical relationship with someone is put off because one or both people don’t want to catch or spread the virus, with the couple opting to keep the relationship socially distanced

When it comes to COVID-19 coronavirus risk, remember the key factors are the length of time that you are exposed to the virus and the amount of virus that’s present. Assume that the other person may be infected, and choose a venue that can reduce both the amount and time that you are exposed. Outside is better than inside.

Well-ventilated is better than not. Emptier is better than packed. Of course, this doesn’t

LOCKBLOCKING - Cancelling or rescheduling a date if lockdown rules and restrictions ruin plans for a date

QUARANTINE BAE - Dating exclusively during the pandemic

ON-NOMI - Drinking together online

QUARANTIONSHIP - A relationship that started during lockdown and developed virtually

FODA - Fear of dating again, usually used by people who have been ‘out of the game’ since the pandemic began

SMUGSOLATION - Flaunting a flourishing relationship all over social media during this difficult time

mean choose an alleyway, a vacant lot, or a cargo ship to meet. Balance danger from the virus with danger from everything else. Be creative when choosing a venue. Sure, lunch, dinner, a movie, or a show are the traditional venues. But maybe a walk in the park will make it easier to maintain social distancing.

5. Plan for sex Planning for sex doesn’t mean sending an

Outlook or Google calendar invitation that says “Sex 7 pm EST to 7:05 pm EST” and asks the respondent to click “Yes, No, or Maybe.”

Instead, it means that you should decide how much trust should be earned before taking that next step.

6. Avoid the ex For some people, the pandemic has presented an additional layer of emotional

confusion. Since it’s so difficult to meet new people, several people are opting for the ex, thinking it’s better to navigate pandemic safety with someone you already trust? Berman says it’s not a good idea to reignite a relationship that previously ended. Restarting things with an ex could potentially lead to mixed expectations about the relationship this time around or could negatively affect the progress you’ve both made since the breakup.

Stephanie Scott Curtis The interview or get-to-know you phase of dating is extended during these Covid times. I honestly think it saved a lot of time & gas money.

Every man ain’t worth coming out of pajama pants & risking a deadly virus.

I actually reconnected with a Soror’s cousin & after both of us got negative Covid tests, we had our magical first date We’re living happily ever after in our little quarantine bubble.

AJ Gore Reconnected with someone I met online a few years ago. We have gone out a few times for a meal and entertainment but generally pick up food to go. Watch movies and tv shows together.

Averia Ava Lilley Chatted with a few off a few apps... still got men just asking for sex even in a pandemic smh. Had ended a relationship a little over a year and we’ve started back communicating so we’ll see. Guess stick with what you know.

8 | February 11, 2021 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Black History Camp Logan Houston

‘Riot’ remembered ASWAD WALKER

In 2017, the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Houston riot of 1917 with six days of activities designed to tell the story of this not so known part of Houston’s history.

Yet, four years later, the story of Camp Logan is still unknown by many.

The riot, also known as the Camp Logan mutiny, involved soldiers from the all-Black 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry, who were housed at an Army training camp at a site now primarily occupied by Memorial Park.

On Aug. 23, 1917, Black soldiers from Camp Logan, incited by police violence earlier that day, armed themselves and marched into town. When the riot ended, four soldiers and 15 white civilians were dead. Numerous Black soldiers were eventually hung or received life sentences as punishment.

HCC Professor Angela Holder, curator of the 2017 Camp Logan exhibit displayed during the museum’s commemoration, lost a great uncle as a result of the riot.

“My grandmother’s older brother Jesse [Ball] Moore was hanged without an appeal as being a participant in the riot,” Holder said. “The family didn’t know where his remains were until 1987 when I found them with the help of the book ‘A Night of Violence: the Houston Riot of 1917’ by UH Professor Robert Haynes.”

Upon learning the story of Camp Logan from her great aunt (the sister of Moore), Holder, at age six, became determined to “find” her great uncle.

“My uncle and those other 12 men executed first did not have their cases reviewed, though no white citizens could identify them,” she said. “Thirteen court marshals, no appeals for clemency. They were hung.”

Six others were hung that December, and roughly 60 of the 24th Infantrymen received life sentences.

“It wasn’t one of the best moments in our country’s history,” Holder said. “Young men serving our country were being maligned and mistreated, given no respect. Even if you didn’t want to respect the Black population as a whole, would it not have been enough to look at them differently for serving in the military? But no. This event was an embarrassment.”

Dr. Chad Williams, chair of Brandeis University’s African American Studies Department, was another participating scholar in the 2017 commemoration event. Williams’ professional focus – World War I era and African-American soldiers and veterans – put Camp Logan on his radar early. He

Houston Press article on the Camp Logan ‘Riot’

believes there are specific reasons why its story hasn’t been actively taught.

“America, and the South in particular, suffers from an acute form of historical amnesia when it comes to incidents that do not fit an imagined narrative of racial cohesion and progress,” Williams said. “This is especially true in the case of Black armed resistance.”

He emphasized that the Houston rebellion represented white Southerners’ worst fears – armed Black men violently retaliating against Jim Crow racism, a reality that ran counter to Houston’s image as a city representing the racial conflict-free “New South.”

Holder believes the more the Camp Logan story is told, the greater the chance that the Camp Logan soldiers who were executed or imprisoned will receive a post-humus pardon.

Williams asserts the more the public knows about Camp Logan, the brighter the spotlight will shine on continued injustices facing African-Americans, and thus inspire future action.

“The threat of racist violence, whether at the hand of white vigilantes or by police officers, is a reality that African-Americans and other people of color face on a daily basis,” said Williams. “This same reality sparked the Houston rebellion.”

Williams added that the Camp Logan story “offers an important reminder about the fraught history of Black military service, the oftentimes hypocritical nature of American democracy, and the fact that if pushed too far, Black people will fight back.”

24th Infantry, 3rd Battalion, 1917. Photo courtesy of NAACP.

Camp Logan entrance circa 1917

Court Martial of 64 members of the 24th Infantry. Trial started November 1, 1917.

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE

Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a (G) Winery Permit by Infuse Wine Bar LLC dba Infuse Wine Bar LLC, to be located at 4801 Woodway Drive, Suite 300 East, Houston, Harris County, TX 77056. Officers of said corporation are Krystal Spencer-Owner.

The Houston Independent School District located in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center at 4400 West 18th Street Houston, Texas 77092 will accept proposals, until the stated date and time deadlines, in the Board Services Office, Level C1 Project 21-01-05 In/After School Community Outreach Program– with a deadline of 10:00 a.m. on March 9, 2021. The Pre-Proposal Conference for this project will be virtual at the above stated address on February 24, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

The solicitation for bids is available on the HISD web-site at www.houstonisd.org. To access, go to . The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or, to accept the proposal that is most advantageous to the District.

February 11, 2021 |

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WE STAND BEHIND THE VACCINE Here’s why our experts support the COVID-19 vaccine:

TESTED

TRUSTED

EFFECTIVE

There has been thorough testing and rigorous external review. Previous research and new technology allowed the vaccine to be developed faster, yet still follow the standard FDA process for emergency review before approval.

Most side effects are minimal, like other vaccines — including sore arms, muscle aches and fever. These flu-like symptoms indicate that the vaccine is doing its job — helping your body develop immunity to the virus. Other side effects are rare.

Current evidence indicates the vaccine is safe and up to 95% effective. COVID-19 can be fatal or debilitating. The risks of experiencing serious symptoms or being hospitalized from the disease are far greater than the risks associated with getting the vaccine.

Many different organizations across Greater Houston are providing vaccines as quickly as they can get them. We encourage you to get the first vaccine available to you when it is your turn according to the state’s prioritization plan. Visit houstonmethodist.org/vaccine for the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines. #ProtectedTogether

10 | February 11, 2021 |

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DN Sports

Prairie View’s Cam Mack was selected SWAC Men’s Basketball Impact Player of the Week after averaging 19.5 points and 11 rebounds in wins over Alabama A&M and Alabama State.

TSU men’s basketball forward Chris Baldwin converted a tip-in basket with less than a second remaining to give the Tigers a 77-75 win over UT-Rio Grande Valley of the WAC.

Sports Briefs WOOD’S INJURED ANKLE UPDATE Rockets center Christian Wood’s injured right ankle is not as bad as originally feared.

An MRI revealed Wood suffered an ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis, according to the team. Things looked bad last week when the Rockets breakout star had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair against Memphis.

Longtime SWAC rivals TSU and PVAMU are both having to display flexibility to make it through this pandemic-marred season.

Tyrez Montague

FLEXIBILITY: NAME OF GAME FOR TSU AND PRAIRIE VIEW

By Terrance Harris

As a respected coach who has been around college basketball for years, Texas Southern men’s coach Johnny Jones has developed a huge network.

That network came in handy when the Tigers’ men’s and women’s games against rival Prairie View were suddenly postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test on the Panthers’ end. Jones was talking with an assistant coach at UT Rio Grande Valley who use to be an assistant coach of his when the subject came up of both programs unexpectedly being off for the weekend.

The conversation led to a couple of more, and next thing you know 24 hours later the Vaqueros were on the road to TSU for an unscheduled game. Being fluid and flexible has become a necessity while trying to compete during the uncertainty of a Pandemic.

“There is obviously no manual out there and we’ve had the ability of reaching out to each other and supporting each other through this and bouncing ideas off of each other, as well,” Jones said. “So, that has certainly helped, and that has actually been a positive in a way because your network gives you an opportunity to deal during these times, as well.”

Scheduling has been challenging on all level of sports since COVID-19 put much of the planet on caution a year ago. It has certainly been a fluid situation in the SWAC where both TSU and Prairie View have had to deal with a lot of uncertainty in not just scheduling games but sometimes even being able to hold practices this season.

If a player, coach or staff member tests positive for the coronavirus it could mean that person or multiple people or even the entire team can be shutdown for 10 to 14 days or possibly longer depending on contract tracing protocols.

TSU says it tests its student-athletes, coaches and staff three times per week while Prairie View has testing for close contact sports like basketball and football anywhere from three to four times per week.

“That’s the hardest part of dealing with this Pandemic is you just don’t know,” said TSU athletic director Kevin Granger. “You can come in Tuesday and test and be okay. Then you come back Thursday and test and two people got it.

And when those two test positive after you just tested Tuesday and you are mixing them all together thinking everything is alright, but before you know it, them two got it and they have

mixed with three others. It’s a fluid situation.”

To see how challenging it has been this season is to simply look at the standings for SWAC men’s and women’s basketball and see the uneven number of games teams have played.

As of Monday, the Panthers men were at the top of the standings at 6-0 in league play and 7-4 overall, while the Tigers were 5-2 and 3-2.

Alabama State had played the most league games with a 3-7 mark.

On the women’s side, TSU and Prairie View have both played just five SWAC games while Alabama State holds an 8-1 record in league play.

The SWAC and its schools are currently trying to reschedule some of the postponements in order for teams to qualify for postseason tournaments, but in the likely event that the amount of games remains uneven then it will be decided by a weighted system.

“The good thing is being in it for a number of years and having a good staff, we’ve learned to manage,” Jones said. “The biggest thing is we have learned to improvise and adapt and overcome.

So that has been the main thing for us is keeping our focus and try to control the controllable.

And those things we don’t have control over, we move on.”

TSU OPPONENT COACH DIES A day after UT Rio Grande Valley loss to TSU in a non-conference game, the Vaqueros coach Lew Hill died in his sleep on Sunday.

Hill was 55.

PV WOMEN’S BOWLING TEAM WINS SWAC TITLE The No. 14-ranked Prairie View A&M women’s bowling team put together an undefeated day of play during the final stage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Bowling Round-Up to claim its fourth regular season championship in five seasons. The Lady Panthers had three bowlers in the top five of the individual standings for the following average pinfall: Crystal Cline (195.05; 2nd), Cheyenne Washington (194.71; 3rd) and Patricia Rosales (182.30; 4th).

February 11, 2021 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports A STAR IN THE MAKING

Madison Guard Crystal Hayes

By Jodie B. Jiles

Madison High School 6’4” sophomore guard Crystal Hayes can ball. Though Hayes may look like your prototypical frontcourt center at tip-off, she sets up the offense and shoots from the perimeter better than most point guards.

After the unfortunate death of Hayes’ father in 2016, she has been inspired to play for more than just a “W” on the season record. She plays for something bigger than herself.

Hayes’ aspirations of being the next Kevin Durant is ambitious, but if you don’t believe how

can you truly achieve. And moving in the direction she is going, developing her skills and using her height and length to her advantage on both sides of the floor, I wouldn’t doubt her game that is already beyond her years.

With a 16-3 overall record this season, Hayes has Madison primed to be a team to watch in the fast-approaching playoffs.

The Defender spoke with Hayes after her recent 84-2 victory over Milby to discuss her playing style, offensive and defensive presence and inspirations.

STYLE OF PLAY

“I just try to play like Kevin Durant.”

INSIDE GAME

“I want to play inside more and use my height to my advantage, go up strong and work on my ball handling skills under pressure.”

DEFENSIVE PRESENCE

“I am just blocking shots and getting the ball.”

INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE ON SHOES

“My dad passed in 2016 and I really play the game through him.”

MOVING FORWARD

“We just have to rebound, secure the ball and take care of the ball even with all the pressure and everyone out here yelling and stuff. We just need to learn how to take control of the game.”

Hayes receives inspiration from her father who passed in 2016, playing for more than just the game of basketball. Jimmie Agisson

ABOUT CRYSTAL HAYES

Commitment Status: Undecided Players She Studies: Kevin Durant and Sheryl Swoopes Hobbies: Riding horses and trail riding Favorite Artist: Youngboy and Lil Baby Shoutouts: My mom, the Madison basketball team and my AAU team.

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

Kashmere Forward Samyra Thomas

By Jodie B. Jiles

Kashmere Samyra Thomas with 2020-21 District Championship trophy. Jimmie Agisson

Though basketball is called a game, Kashmere junior Samyra Thomas is not playing when she is on the court. Whether it is snagging a rebound off the glass or going for a loose ball, she will make you feel her presence in the game.

Currently Thomas’ attitude and approach to the game has led Kashmere

to winning their 4A Region III District 23 title this season with a 10-1 district record.

The Defender spoke with Thomas after Kashmere received their district trophy to discuss he approach, keys to success this season and more. Visit www.defendernetwork.com for the full story.

12 | February 11, 2021 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Entertainment

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., hosts “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” exploring the Black church on Houston Public Media Feb. 16, 17.

Nicole Heaston sings Houston Grand Opera celebrates Black voices with new concert ReShonda Tate Billingsley

When the Houston Grand Opera’s “Giving Voice” was presented last year, performers were greeted with a standing ovation. Now, as the performance goes viral, fans will have to show their love from their living rooms.

HGO partnered with Marquee TV to broadcast the performance. According to the website, “viewers around the world will be able to transport themselves to a front-row seat and stream exclusive Houston Grand Opera Digital content worldwide through Marquee TV, an on-demand streaming platform dedicated to global arts and culture.”

Co-host Nicole Heaston talked with the Defender about Blacks in opera and what viewers can expect.

Houston Grand Opera’s “Giving Voice” will stream through Feb. 21. -Lynn Lane

Defender: How did you start working with the Houston Grand Opera?

Nicole Heaston: When I was in my last year of my master’s degree at Cincinnati, the next step was either to do an artist in residence, go for your doctorate or try out for studio programs. I tried out for Houston and they liked what I was giving them. I came down and it felt like such a good fit. And so I started there at the Houston opera studio program in 1995.

awareness about opera?

Heaston: Yes, I’m a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. And so last year, we reached out to them and, and really tried to get as many Black faces in the audience for them to see that we’re here. And it was an electric audience. Everyone was just so excited. You know, we just felt that energy coming from the audience and so wanting to do it again this year. And the only thing missing was the energy of the audience.

Defender: What is it you enjoy most about performing? The joy of signing, the compassion in the words, the fans?

Heaston: All of it. Music has always been a very strong part of my life. It’s something that triggers memories for me. My father grew up playing a lot of music in the house. And so I always identify with that. I love being someone else. And the fact that I can sing and dress up and become a different character and bring people joy is more than I could ask for.

Defender: What do you say to those who have preconceived notions about opera?

Heaston: I would say you really do need to give it a chance because every time I’ve brought someone to an opera, who’s never been there before, they’re always shocked. People think because it’s in another language, that’s going to be a barrier, but there’s translations.

And also it’s our job as professionals to make you understand what we’re saying. Even if you don’t understand the language, you should be able to tell it in our actions and our body language.

If you’re willing to go and see ‘Wicked’ or a Tyler Perry play or anything that’s in the theater, this is the exact same thing, but it’s just in a different language. It’s still about human emotions. It’s still our reality. And sometimes fantasy. And so many people when they come to see it, they’re like, “Oh, I had no idea.”

Defender: What is it like to perform with so many other artists of color?

Heaston: A lot of the times we never get a chance to perform with each other. We all know each other, we all are good friends, but we never get a chance to sing together.

A lot of the times when I go to a job, I’m usually like the only Black person. So it was nice to do it. We wanted to do a concert and we wanted to do it for audiences that not necessarily see themselves on the stage all the time.

Defender: Do you believe in the importance of outreach to the Black community in raising

This year’s concert will run via stream until Feb. 21, and features several of the most renowned African American opera singers in

the country, including tenor Larry Brownlee and soprano Heaston as co-hosts and performers. Joining them are baritone Donnie Ray Albert, tenor Frederick Ballentine, mezzo-soprano and HGO Studio alumna Zoie Reams, and soprano Karen Slack, as well as four current HGO Studio artists: baritone Blake Denson, bass Cory McGee, soprano Raven McMillon, and bass-baritone Nicholas Newton. Kevin J. Miller, assistant conductor with HGO, accompanies them on piano.

The concert is free and is available. For more information, visit houstongrandopera.org.

Nicole Heaston