Houston Black History Makers by Houston Forward Times

VOL. 54 No. 8

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Houston Black History Makers:

Those who paved the way

Bl ack History Month Special Edition

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Houston Black History Makers

Herbert J Provost:

Provost Studios Inc. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950): The Man behind the Celebration of ‘Black History Month’ as we know it today.

Those who Paved the way By: Jeffrey L. Boney

Associate Editor Many of the contributions of Black people here in the United States of America have added so much foundational value to this country and all over the world. Whether as slaves or as a free people, Blacks have been a primary catalyst behind elevating America to a position of prominence and respect around the world. Although the contributions of many Blacks never appeared in most traditional American textbooks or historical archives, we at the Houston Forward Times (HFT) believe it is our responsibility to highlight and remind our readers about the

many contributions of Black celebrate as Black History Houstonians, so that they will Month. never be denied their proper Carter G. Woodson place in the history books. devoted the majority of his It is with that premise that life to historical research during Black History Month, and working to preserve the the HFT, a community media history of African Americans outlet that has never missed in this country. Woodson a week of print in its 54-year accumulated a collection of rich history, highlight many thousands of artifacts and of our Houston Black History publications because he Makers by honoring them felt that the contributions in our annual Black History of African Americans in Month Special Edition. this country were being In 1926, Carter G. overlooked, ignored and even Woodson pioneered the suppressed by the writers celebration of “Negro History of history textbooks and the Week”, which he designated teachers who use them. for the second week in Black History Month February, to coincide with cannot be properly celebrated marking the birthdays of in America if proper credit President Abraham Lincoln isn’t given to the many Black and African American Americans, who endured abolitionist Frederick countless socioeconomic Douglass. After “Negro disparities and risks associated History Week” became widely with their desire to become accepted, it was extended to shining examples of what a full month; which we nowT:8.5”Black leadership should be.

The HFT salutes these Houston Black History Makers and we are honored to share their contributions to the world. These “heroes” and “sheroes” continue to be a beacon of light to show us how they were able to use their talent and influence to pave the way for other African Americans who have since gone on to experience success in areas of business, politics, education and more. These Black Houston History Makers are but a few of the many foundation builders who the HFT has chosen to highlight this year because of their contributions to the city of Houston and to the world. All of these Houston icons should be celebrated for their unwavering resilience, business savvy and dedication to building communities in the midst of tumultuous times.

Herbert Joseph Provost, founder of Provost Studios, in 1948. The firm is Texas’ Leading Professional Photographers. He served as the official Photographer for the National NAACP in the South during the 50’s and 60’s. He is noted for the documentary movie he made of the famous case and trail of Smith vs. Alwright. He also served as the Official Photographer for the Ebony Magazine for the Texas region. • A pioneer in the school picture business, he was the official photographer for over three hundred Black high schools in Texas and Louisiana; ten Black Colleges/ Universities in Texas and Louisiana As an outstanding Black Businessman, he received a host of business, community service and leadership awards. Provost, a believer in giving back to his community and school, gave his time, skills and efforts to Houston’s only HBCU, historic Texas Southern University as Tennis Coach. He brought twelve National, fourteen Southwestern Athletic Conference, eight National Association Inter-Collegiate Association, and eight District Championship to TSU. He produced eleven All Americans and graduated 23 players and six became Tennis Professionals. In 1978, his championship tennis team represented the United States in Nigeria. He was SWAC “Coach of the Year” for three consecutive years, then two years later, again SWAC “Coach of the Year”, A National NAIA “Coach of the Year”. He was the only Black Coach on the National Collegiate Athletic Association “NCAA) and served as the chairman of the tennis committee, and singularly responsible for sensitizing that body. He was a board member of the National American Tennis Association (ATA). He was inducted into the SWAC HALL of FAME, Provost established the Annual Invitational Bayou Ben Tennis Classic and conducted it for over twenty-six years. The Classic was a community project which highlighted “Black Tennis Players from all America.” He conducted the first National American Tennis Association Junior Program on the campus of TSU with visiting Tennis Pro, Arthur Ashe.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS • Texas Professional Photographers – Member • The National Professional Photographers – Member • National Association of Market Developers – Publicity Director • NAACP – Member • YMCA – Member • Texas Southern University National Alumni & ExStudents Association – Life Member • American Tennis Association – Board Member • Houston Business & Professional Men – Publicity Director • Bayou Bend Tennis Academy – President • National Business League • Our Mother of Mercy Parish – Active Member • United States Navy – Honorable Discharge

Arthur Burtis Chambers:

County Constable

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Arthur Burtis Chambers was born on Feb. 18, 1914, in Grimes County. After attending public schools there, he moved to Houston and worked for Hughes Tool Co. He later moved to New York City, where friends encouraged him to pursue police work. In Philadelphia in the 1950s, Chambers became a special investigator for the sheriff’s department

From left: Leanna Archer, Beverly Johnson, Roland Parrish, Gladys Knight, Dr. Steve Perry, Kenny Williams, and Charles Orgbon III.

We applaud the few that inspire the many. For this year’s 365Black® Award recipients, each day is exceptional. They stand for greatness and bow with selessness. Through their dedication and service, they inspire a world of change. We’re proud to honor them all for staying Deeply Rooted in the Community,® 365 days a year. To learn more about this year’s honorees, go to 365Black.com.

A.B. Chambers, was the first African-American constable in Harris County, Texas. Chambers served nearly 27 years as Precinct 7 Constable before returning back to private life. His tenure included a joint effort in 1995 with the Houston Independent School District to reduce absenteeism in the schools. Chambers’ office also worked with HISD in 1997, tightening traffic enforcement in school zones. . He later attended various schools, including Sam Houston State University, Huston-Tillotson College and Southwest Law Enforcement Academy. Chambers was precinct chairman in Precinct 392 from 1971 to 1973. He also was a deputy constable in Harris County Precinct 2 before being appointed constable of Precinct 7, on the county’s south side, in 1973. He was a past president of the Texas Peace Officers Association and of the Houston Professional Men’s Business League. A. B. Chambers was 94 at the time of his death, his survivors included his wife Mae Pace Chambers, a daughter, Emma Jean McLeon of Houston; and two sons, Arthur Ray Chambers of Fort Worth and Nolan Douglas of Houston. Another son, Van Pace, preceded him in death.

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Jew Don Boney, Sr. (1928–1979) Dr. Jew Don Boney, Sr., educator, higher education and public school administrator, businessman, and civic leader, was born on March 28, 1928, in Calvert, Texas. His parents were David and Gladys (Nelson) Boney, and he had no siblings. Wright Boney was his paternal grandfather. Boney attended elementary schools in Oklahoma and Texas and graduated from Aycock High School in May 1944. He entered Prairie View Normal and Industrial College (now Prairie View A&M University) in September 1944 and participated in the ROTC on campus. He earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural education in May 1948 and taught vocational agriculture in Texas schools from 1948 to 1955. He was director of testing for the Port Arthur Independent School District from 1959 to 1964.

J. Don Boney, Sr.:

Administrator

Dr. Boney engaged in graduate studies in educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and earned his master’s degree in 1957. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1964. His doctoral dissertation was titled “A Study of the Use of Intelligence, Aptitude, and Ability Measures in Predicting the Scholastic Achievement of Negro Students in Secondary School.” On April 7, 1950, Dr. Boney married Clara Bernice Payne whom he had met while in school at Prairie View. His wife worked as a public school teacher for more than forty years. They had a son, Jew Don Boney, Jr., who became an ordained Baptist minister, civil rights activist, Houston city council member, and mayor pro-tem for Houston where he served with the city’s first African-American mayor Lee P. Brown. From 1964 to 1967 Dr. Boney was an associate professor of education at the University of Illinois, and he was an associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Houston from 1967 to 1969; he was also associate dean of graduate studies at the University of Houston’s College of Education from 1970 to 1971. From 1971 to 1972 he served as acting general superintendent of the Houston Independent School District; he was the first African American to ever serve in that capacity. From 1973 to 1975 he was president of the Houston Community College System. Boney served on Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby’s Special Committee on Human Services Delivery. He had also authored articles for The Journal of Negro Education. From 1975 until the time of his death, Dr. Boney was chancellor of the University of Houston-Downtown and a leading candidate for appointment as chancellor of the University of Houston System. He served on the Board of Directors of Entex, Inc.; Riverside National Bank; the Better Business Bureau for Metropolitan Houston, Inc.; and other corporate boards.

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Dr. Boney died of a heart attack on August 27, 1979 in Houston and buried in the Forest Park Cemetery. He was fifty two years old. Dr. Boney’s Scholarly Writings • “Some Dynamics of Disadvantaged Students in Learning Situations”, J. Don Boney, The Journal of Negro Education, Vol. 36, No. 3, The Higher Education of Negro Americans: Prospects and Programs (Summer, 1967), pp. 315-19. • “An Analysis of the Participation of Racially Integrated Guidance Groups of Culturally Different Children in Elementary School”, J. Don Boney, Charleta Dunn, Thomas Bass, The Journal of Negro Education, Vol. 40, No. 4 (Autumn, 1971), pp. 390-93.

Being first is never easy. There are no rules, no predecessors. Only belief. Courage and pride. In 1919, Oscar Micheaux did just that with his release of “The Homesteaders” – making him the first African-American director – literally changing the face of cinema. His dreams of recognition and acceptance helped pave the way for independent film directors like Ava DuVernay – who, in 2012, became the first African-American woman to receive a Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival. XFINITY® CelebrateBlackTV.com salutes the fearless spirit of African-American entertainment pioneers past and present. See their stories and some of the best in black entertainment at CelebrateBlackTV.com. Where Black History is always on.

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His Legacy Set the Stage for Future Filmmakers.

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Dr. John B. Coleman:

Physician/Businessman James H. Jemison Jr.:

Franklin Beauty School

James H. Jemison (better known as J.H. Jemison) got his start in the hair business in the 1920’s after working in the industry and obtaining his Cosmetology license in Illinois. Obtaining that license, along with effectively learning the business of hair, allowed Jemison to master the art of managing and growing the business further. The school became wellknown for its extensive training administered by qualified trainers, such as Jemison himself. Because competition in the hair business was greater in Chicago, Jemison decided to relocate Franklin Beauty School and his family to Houston, Texas, in order to take advantage of a new 1935 Texas code that required beauticians to complete one thousand hours of instruction at a licensed beauty school and pass a state written and practical test. Jemison knew that this was a grand opportunity for business growth after doing his research and uncovering that there was not only minimal competition in Houston, but that Houston had garnered a storied reputation for having the largest African-American community in the Southwestern region. After the move, Franklin Beauty School became one of the first private Cosmetology schools to be licensed in the State of Texas in 1935. Franklin Beauty School focused on recruiting and selecting students who had demonstrated the necessary aptitude and ability to

compete and succeed in the field. Many of the students were often referred by previous graduates from the school or by influential individuals who had received services from students at the school. J.H. Jemison helped raise the mainstream value of African-American beauticians in Houston by organizing the CityWide Beauticians Association. Before the City-Wide Beauticians Association, AfricanAmerican beauticians were only licensed to style “Black” hair. Through the organization, Jemison was able to assemble beauticians to support actions to improve the earnings of beauticians and helped adopt resolutions that were forwarded to the Texas Cosmetology board. These resolutions brought forth changes that had an overwhelming impact on both the beauty industry and on behalf of all AfricanAmerican hair stylists in Texas. Jemison was a naturalborn leader and was actively involved in politics; aggressively advocating against illegal discrimination laws and Jim Crow. Jemison worked with the local NAACP and the Negro Chamber of Commerce to help eradicate unfair Jim Crow laws and to help recruit youth into the NAACP. In 1952, Jemison chaired the building campaign committee for the Bagby Street branch of the YMCA and through his relationship with the Caucasian community and its leaders, he helped facilitate the end of segregation at all YMCA and YWCA facilities in Houston.

In 1977, Dr. John B. Coleman, a Houston, Texas physician, became the first African-American appointed to the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. An advocate of higher education, Dr. Coleman was a staunch supporter of Prairie View A&M University and was instrumental in Prairie View receiving a share of the Permanent University Fund, which had previously only been distributed to Texas A&M at College Station, and the University of Texas at Austin. In recognition of his long service to the Texas A&M University System Board and support for higher education at traditionally Black Universities in Texas, the Board of Regents voted on July 22, 1988 to name Prairie View’s “new” five-story Library in honor of Dr. John B. Coleman. Dr. Coleman cut the ribbon to the new Library bearing his name before hundreds of guests at Prairie View A&M University, on November 13, 1988. On that occasion, Coleman was honored during a homecoming convocation for his contributions to Prairie View, Texas A&M, and to higher education. A portrait of Coleman was commissioned to be hung inside the main foyer of the Library. Texas State Senator Craig Washington, a 1966 Prairie View graduate, praised the work of Coleman as he gave the convocation address, and stated: “We know without your leadership, Prairie View would not be what it is today.” Other dignitaries applauding Coleman, included Dr. Percy Pierre, then President of Prairie View, former regent Joe Richardson, and A&M chancellor Perry Adkisson. In his remarks of appreciation, Coleman stated: “I am here to pledge to you I intend to contribute the rest of my life to higher education and this institution in particular.” A graduate of Jack Yates High School in Houston, Fisk University in Nashville, TN, and Howard University School of Medicine. After medical school, Dr. Coleman returned to Houston and entered private practice in 1962. He eventually became Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Riverside General Hospital. During his long career. Dr. Coleman was a force in Houston politics, and served as; Chair of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Houston Division. • Owner and President of the Cullen Women’s Center, • President of Almeda Square Medical Group, and • President and Board Chair of KCOH in Houston. • Advisory Board member for the Texas A&M School of Medicine, • The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, • Texas Southern University, • Huston-Tillotson College • The Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators. • A member of the Board of Directors of Entex Gas, Inc., the • Greater Houston Partnership, the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce, the • South Central YMCA, and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. • Texas A&M Board of Regents nominated by Governor Dolph Brisco Dr Coleman’s contributions to the City of Houston were so widespread that the City of Houston, the State of Texas and Fisk University saluted him with a special celebration at the Shamrock Hotel in 1981. Dr. Coleman’s feeling was that the A&M Board of Regents The steering committee included community, political and business leaders from throughout the city and state. His life was dedicated to serving the Houston community through his many leadership roles as physician, public servant, and humanitarian.

Edith Irby Jones:

Physician/ Administrator

“I was inspired to become a doctor with the death of my sister. I felt that if I had been a physician or if there had been other physicians who would have been available, or if we had money adequately - which may not be true - that this physician would have come to us more frequently and that she would not have died.”

In 1948, nine years before the “Little Rock Nine” integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, Edith Irby Jones became the first black student to attend racially mixed classes in the South, and the first black student to attend the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. Her enrollment in a previously segregated southern medical school made news headlines across the nation. Although Edith Irby had been accepted to attend classes at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, she was not allowed to use the same dining, lodging, or bathroom facilities as other students. The daughter of a sharecropper and a domestic worker, Edith Irby was used to hardship. When she was five, she could not walk for eighteen months due to illness. When she was eight, her father died in a riding accident. Later, she lost a sister and other members of her family to typhoid. Like many of her contemporaries, Edith Irby Jones was denied equal access to educational opportunities from childhood. But her abilities and talents were nurtured and supported by her family and the larger African-American community, leading her to believe that “you can do anything you want to do.” A high school teacher helped her get a scholarship to the historically black Knoxville College in Tennessee. After high school, African Americans in Little Rock and across Arkansas contributed to her medical school fund with dimes and quarters. High school alumni helped pay for her medical school tuition, while a similar effort sponsored by the black newspaper, the Arkansas State-Press, paid for her living expenses. Even the medical

school’s custodial staff supported her— placing a vase of fresh flowers on her table in the adjoining—and segregated—staff dining room every day. Jones, in turn, worked to help others, spending many nights traveling the state to help enlist members into the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Jones recalled later that, while some white women in her class became good friends, her strongest support in medical school came from her husband, Professor James B. Jones, whom she met and married while she was a second-year medical student. After receiving her M.D. in 1952, Jones practiced in her home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, for six years. But she and her husband moved to Houston when the racial climate became sharply polarized. By then they had had two children, but Dr. Jones was determined to complete a residency in internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals. The school welcomed her, but the hospital to which she was assigned segregated her and limited her patient rosters. She completed the last months of her residency at Freedman’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 1962, she set up a private practice in inner city Houston. Throughout her career Dr. Jones has passionately and steadfastly committed herself to social betterment, the poor, and her community. In 1985 she became president of the National Medical Association, established for black doctors who were not allowed to join the American Medical Association. Dr. Edith Irby Jones was the first woman to be elected president of the National Medical Association. She has also been active in the American Medical Women’s Association and Planned Parenthood, as well as other groups. In 1991 she sponsored the establishment of a medical clinic in Haiti. Edith Jones has received numerous awards and citations, most notably from the city of Houston and the State of Texas. In 1986 Houston honored her with Edith Irby Jones Day, in 1988 she was named American Society of Medicine Internist of the Year, and in 1998 the ambulatory center at the former Southeast Memorial Hospital was named in her honor. In 1985, during her inaugural address as president of the National Medical Association, Jones stated: “We give little when we give only our material possessions. It is when we give of ourselves that we truly give—the long challenging hours with patients who can pay and those who cannot pay, the agony of sharing the hurts of families with the death of loved ones, the observations of dehumanizing effects of seeing the jobless, the crushed ambitions, and the sharing when all we have to hold on to is the ‘being within’ to inspire the young to take up our role. We have the comfort of knowing that our work is not to make a living but to make a life, not just for ourselves or a select few, but life with its fullness for all, and especially providing the access to health care, which is our special charge.” After 61 years of service to the community, Dr. Jones retired from her private practice on July 15, 2013. Though Dr. Jones is not actively practicing, her passion to serve the community helped birth the Edith Irby jones Wellness Retreat Center in 2009. Today the center is managed by Myra L. Romain, the daughter of Dr. Edith Irby Jones.

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Hobart Taylor, Jr., attorney and civil servant, was born in Texarkana, Texas, in 1920 to Hobart Taylor, Sr., and wife Charlotte Taylor. His father, businessman and civil rights activist Hobart Taylor, Sr., was the son of former slave and real estate owner Jack Taylor of Wharton. Hobart Taylor, Jr., grew up in privileged settings in Texas and Atlanta, where his father worked in the insurance business before forming a profitable taxicab company, the H&T Taxi Co.. By 1930 the family relocated to Houston—and bought a home on Live Oak and Holman streets in the Third Ward. Like other upper-class African-American children, Taylor was sheltered to an extent from racial discrimination. After graduating from Jack Yates High School, he entered Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College (now Prairie View A&M University) and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in 1937. He then received his master’s degree from Howard University in 1939 before going on to the University of Michigan Law School, where he graduated with his LLB and JD degrees in 1943. He also became the first black editor for the Michigan Law Review. Admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1944, he worked as an aide to Raymond W. Starr, the chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court for the next year. He spent a few years in private practice before working briefly as a Wayne County prosecutor in the city of Detroit. He eventually left the prosecutor’s office in 1950. While in Detroit, Taylor and his family lived in the upscale Boston-Edison neighborhood on the city’s Westside. Active in the city’s civic affairs, he remained in the area through the early 1960s. Hobart Taylor, Sr., one of the most influential men in Houston, contributed to Lyndon B. Johnson’s United States Senate race in 1948. A friendship developed between Taylor and Johnson. In 1960 the Taylors contributed money to Johnson’s 1960 presidential race. President John F. Kennedy appointed Hobart Taylor, Jr., to serve in his administration as a special counsel to the newly-formed Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC). The EEOC became a government agency that investigated acts of racism or other acts of discrimination, deemed illegal as a general practice in the United States workforce. To facilitate the ultimate departure of discriminatory practices among employees, President Kennedy and special counsel Taylor devised a program that would make discrimination difficult to execute. Under a new plan Taylor named “Affirmative Action,” the government would support the use of measures designed to put an end to racial discrimination as well as other forms of prejudice based on gender bias, color, and national origin. Johnson went further by signing into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which explicitly stated the federal government would “prevent” acts of bias against groups. The Johnson Administration also created Executive Order 11246—Affirmative Action as a mandate that formulated nondiscriminatory policies designed to prevent practices of exclusion in the workplace. Johnson retained Taylor as director of the Export-Import World Bank. The bank, created during Franklin Roosevelt’s first administration in 1934, provided government-backed credit, financing, and insurance coverage for United States exports. In this capacity, the Texas native kept up with the various trade commodities leaving the U.S. for countries abroad, ensuring the safe delivery, financing, and insuring of these goods. Following his service to the Johnson Administration, he sat on a number of corporate boards during the 1970s. Taylor married twice. He first married Lynette Robins with whom he had two sons, Albert and Hobart III. He later married Carol Angermeir. Hobart Taylor, Jr., died in 1981 at the age of sixty after he lost his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

Hobart Taylor Jr.:

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One history. Countless heroes.

Carl Walker Jr.:

Judge

Carl Walker Jr., was born on May 13, 1924 in Marlin, Falls County Texas. He attended and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1942. Following graduation, he was drafted to serve in the US Army Air force in 1943 during World War II. He was honorably discharged March 16, 1946 at the rank of Sergeant. In September of 1946, he enrolled at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1950. He followed that up with a Masters in Economics in 1952 and a Doctor of Jurist Prudence in 1955 from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He served in an interim capacity as the first African American U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. He was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney in 1961, by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, becoming the first African American to hold that position from the South. He was a member of the Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church and was Chairman of the Trustee Board from 1960. He was appointed as the State Judge of the 185th Criminal District Court from 1987 until 1994. Throughout his career he was known as a tireless civic leader within the community and an even-handed jurist amongst his peers. He was recognized by his peers for his

professionalism and the highest quality of work, receiving two awards of merit from the Selective Service System, a Lawyers Title Award for Excellence, and an Outstanding Performance Rating from the U.S. Department of Justice. His civic involvement reflected a deep concern for Youth and, indeed, an abiding concern for the whole fabric of our society. In addition to serving as Board Chairman of the South Central Branch YMCA, he also served on the Boards of the Metropolitan YMCA, Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Houston Chapter Planned Parenthood, and United Way of Texas Gulf Coast, Houston Chapter American Red Cross, Harris County Community Action Association, and Texas Southern University Ex-Student’s Association. His ever-widening community commitment saw him in the role of President of the Harris County Council of Organizations and of the Houston Business and Professional Men’s Club, and a member of the Rotary Club of Houston, the Houston Bicentennial Commission, and the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee, Region IV. Judge Carl Walker Jr. died on July12, 2002.

Celebrating our nation’s promise and progress. Black history isn’t just words on a page. It echoes in the footsteps of civil rights marchers. It comes to life with the words of great leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And it continues to ripple through generations, changing us all for the better. Wells Fargo honors Black history, which is American history. Wells Fargo is proud to present The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey — Where Art and History Intersect. This nationally touring exhibition helps share the often untold story of African American achievements and contributions to American history. Join us in our celebration and visit wellsfargo.com/kinseycollection to learn more.

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Early Life and Education Jackson Lee graduated from Jamaica High School in Queens, New York and later earned her B. A. degree in political science with honors from Yale University, followed by a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. Following her graduation, she moved to Houston with her husband, Dr. Elwyn C. Lee, and began her professional career as an oil & gas industry attorney.

Sheila Jackson Lee:

Congresswoman

The 18th Congressional District of Texas, centered in Houston which is the energy capital of the world, has been lauded as one of the most historic and diverse congressional districts in the country . The district was previously represented by

iconic public servants like Barbara Jordan and George “Mickey” Leland as well as Attorney Craig Washington. Currently, it is represented by the influential voice of Sheila Jackson Lee, who is serving her 10th term (20 years). Prior to being initially

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sworn-in as the fourth congressional representative for the congressional district in January, 1995, Jackson Lee began demonstrating her leadership abilities and passion to help others at an early age.

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▲“Unveiling of historic bust of abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Sojourner Truth in U. S. Capitol Rotunda, April, 2009.”

“Freedom should never be taken for granted.” ▲ Still marching to protect our voting rights.

“Our rich history continues....”

Re-elect

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Paid for by the Sheila Jackson Lee Re-Elect Campaign.

Political Career Jackson Lee had a passion for being a public servant. After running for local judicial positions, she was appointed as a municipal judge by former Mayor Kathy Whitmire where she served for three years prior to being elected to City Council. In January, 1994, she ran for the historic 18th Congressional seat against the incumbent and won both the Democratic Primary and the General Election with 73% of the votes. During Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s tenure in Congress, she has served on various House Committees including: Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security and Judiciary. In the 110th and 111th Congress, Congresswoman Jackson Lee served as Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection. As Chairwoman, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a leader in support of enhanced technology, better intelligence, increased airplane cargo inspections, increased security for railroads and implementation of the 9/11 Commission report. She currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection. Congresswoman Jackson Lee is also a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee where she is a leader on Bullying Prevention. She was the lead sponsor of the Bullying Prevention & Intervention Act of 2011 and and is leading the fight once again with her current bill, H.R. 5770, with support from producers Harvey Weinstein and Lee Hirsch - producers of the film ‘Bully’. She also led the fight for passage of the Fair Sentencing Act and this year garnered unanimous support to amend the 2012 Defense Authorization Bill that creates a day of honor for the return of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. She has authored several immigration bills, such as H.R. 750, the “Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act”, which sets forth a comprehensive and humane solution to the immigration problem, introduced legislation to enhance federal enforcement of hate crimes with H.R. 254, the David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act, played a significant role in the renewal and reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, and contributed an amendment to the NASA reauthorization bill that will ensure equal access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to NASA’s education programs. In addition, Congresswoman Jackson Lee launched the Dr. Mae C. Jemison Grant Program to work with

institutions serving minorities to bring more women of color into the field of space and aeronautics. The Congresswoman has served in several leadership positions including: Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus; Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; Chair of the Texas Democratic Delegation; CoChair of the Congressional Children’s Caucus; Co-Chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus; Co-Chair of the Congressional Afghanistan Caucus; and former Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus. Congresswoman Jackson Lee has also received numerous honors during her career in public service including the U.S. Dream Academy Legacy Award, the National Bankers Association Foundation Excellence Award, the Martin Luther King National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. Champion of Courage Award, the Livingstone College Doctor of Humane Letters, the National Association of Negro Business Sojourner Truth Meritorious Service Award, the Award for Policy at the 16th Annual Phillip Burton Immigration & Civil Rights Awards, the Drum

Major Award for Public Service by the Revelation Urban Development Institute, the National Minority Quality Forum Lifetime Achievement Award and the Houston Community College Joyce M. Reynolds award just to name a few. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to Science, the National Technical Association (NTA) of Scientists and Engineers honored the Congresswoman with its Top Women in the Sciences Award. She was also awarded the “Legislator of the Year” by the National Mental Health Association for her outstanding work on mental health legislation. Congresswoman Jackson Lee has been hailed by Ebony magazine as one of the “100 Most Fascinating Black Women”, Congressional Quarterly named her as one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress and U.S. News and World Report named her as one of the 10 most influential legislators in the House of Representatives. She was also named by the Houston Chronicle as one of the most influential and prolific legislators on Capitol Hill. She will continue to be “the voice of reason” as she addresses the needs of the people.

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Bl ack History Month Special Edition

Dr. Thomas F. Freeman:

The Great Debater Dr. Freeman was born in 1919 in Richmond, Virginia, where he also spent his childhood and attended college. Freeman left Virginia temporarily to serve a nine month contract at Houston’s Texas Southern University in 1949. Almost 64 years later, Dr. Freeman is still a professor and debate coach at TSU, still on campus six days a week, and has helped multiple generations of young Texan AfricanAmerican students find their voice and rise to new heights of scholarly achievement. Dr. Thomas Freeman, Distinguished Professor of Forensics, received a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia; a Bachelor of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, Massachusetts; and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. He engaged in post doctoral studies in 1963 at the University of Vienna, Austria, Vienna. Freeman pursued interinstitutional studies in 1973 at the Universities of Liberia, Lagos, and Ghana and at Forbay College, in Africa. Freeman is esteemed for achievements resulting from his educational astuteness, administrative leadership, and spiritual guidance. His scholarly expertise runs the gamut of higher education. Therefore, he has established permanence in a constantly changing academic environment. For example,

Freeman’s resilience is apparent from his years of tenure at Texas Southern University (TSU), where he has been a Professor of Philosophy since 1949. Other academic posts he has held include being a lecturer in the Religion Department at Rice University, 1972-1994, and an adjunct Professor of Speech at Houston Community College, 1980-1997. Freeman’s work with students is not limited to traditional classroom instruction. Working with extracurricular activities, particularly the Texas Southern University Debate Team, he has established a professional reputation that has brought him international acclaim as Coach of the TSU debate Team. He has expended myriad efforts to provide his award-winning students with unparalleled global experiences. Resolutions from the City of Houston, the Texas House of Representatives, and the Texas State Senate noted Freeman’s expert leadership of the Debate Team that won three International Championships, the first in London, England, 1992, the second in Munich, Germany, 1994, and the third in Rome, Italy, 2002. Freeman has distinguished himself as an administrator at Texas Southern University. In 1966-1968, he was an Assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; 1968-1973, Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and 1973, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. His administrative skills yielded

him several directorships: the TSU Weekend College, 1973-1980; the TSU Model Cities Training Center, 1970-1973; and the Potential Unlimited, HUD Youth Involvement Project, 1972-1974. Additionally, he served as Head of the Department of Philosophy, 1949-1959. Freeman’s talents as a spiritual guide are respected in the higher education community and the community at large. This evaluation is substantiated by religious responsibilities he has efficiently performed, including being a Professor at Virginia Union University, where he taught Practical Theology and English; a Stahley Christian Scholar Lecturer at St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia; the Minister of Pleasant St. Baptist Church, Westerly, Rhode Island; Associate Minister of Monumental Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois; and presently Minister of Mt. Horem Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, where he has provided spiritual guidance since 1951. In March 2001, the Mayor’s Proclamation gave recognition to Mt. Horem’s Silver Anniversary and to Freeman’s outstanding civic leadership. Freeman is not just known for his leadership abilities; he is internationally recognized for his oratorical skills. He has been the keynote speaker for many rites of passage events and educational, social, religious, and civic occasions. Some of the significant offices that Freeman has held include President of Southern Intercollegiate Forensic Conference; Regional Director, National President, and Historian of Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society. Additionally, he has served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Churches and on the Board of Directors for the New Haven Home for the Aged. He holds memberships in several organizations. Included among them are American Philosophical Association, Southern Speech Association, National Education Association, Association of Higher Education, National Association of University Chaplains, National Association of Community School and Continuing Education, and National Baptist Convention. In all areas where Freeman has provided services, he has been honored by being selected as a recipient of a distinguished

“it should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank account, that drives our democracy.” – President Barack Obama

award and/or recognition. He received the Doctor of Humane Letters from Eastern Massachusetts University, 1980 and 2000; American Performance Theatre Award, 1992; Houston Urban League, Margaret Ross Barnett leadership Award, 1992; TSU’s International recognition Award, 1992; Martin Luther King Drum Major Award, 1995; Educator of the Year Award presented in 1995 by the Black Caucus of the Texas Legislature; Houston Trail Blaze for the Negro Heritage Foundation, 2000; Trail Blaze Award from Houston Community College Systems, 2003; and Doctor of Divinity from Bishop King Theological Seminary, 2002. Freeman is cited in both educational and civic publications, such as The Directory of American Scholars, Who’s Who in American Education, Men of Achievement Throughout the World, International Directory of Biography, Who’s Who in Texas Today, and Who’s Who in Religion. Last year, Freeman received recognition from the university community and the Community at large for the superb leadership he provided as Chairman of the University Fiftieth-Year Anniversary Committee, which was responsible for monitoring all program activities throughout the year.

It’s Black HIstory MontH! Let’s celebrate together the achievements of African Americans in Houston and America — and reflect on the important work that still lies ahead.

I InvIte all HoustonIans to join President Barack Obama’s call to Congress to support bipartisan efforts to strengthen the Voting Rights Act. No person should be denied the right to vote.

contact your member of Congress or sign the NAACP Petition to Congress at: www.naacp.org/page/s/vra-no-voting-rights.

Warm regards,

Mayor Annise Parker

Pol. adv. annise Parker CamPaign

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Bl ack History Month Special Edition moved to Houston, where he became the president of the Mack H. Hannah Life Insurance Company, founded the Gulf Western Mortgage Company, and the Standard Savings and Loan Association, and became director of the Homestead Bank. Educational institutions also prospered under Hannah’s direction. He served for over thirtyone years as a trustee of Bishop College. He held the office of Regent of Texas Southern University, and the University of Houston. Hannah had the honor of being the only person in Texas to have served as Chairman of the Board of Regents of two Texas Institutions of higher learning. In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Hannah as Consul to the Republic of Liberia, a post he held for over 42 years. In 1966, he attended the Subregional Meeting on Economic cooperation in Niamey, Nigeria, as the personal representative of President Johnson. Hannah received numerous other honors and citations. Texas Southern University conferred the honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree on him in 1974.

Mack Henry Hannah, Jr.: Mack Henry Hannah, Jr., born in Brenham, Texas, moved to Port Arthur with his parents when he was eleven. He was born into an enterprising family. His grandmother Lottie Brown had become the first Juneteenth Queen on June 19, 1869, and his parents were themselves pioneers in settling Port Arthur. His father, “Daddy Mack,” was a colorful character who was associated with many business ventures in the early days of the city - saloons, a barbershop, poolhalls, a restaurant, a drug store, and in 1920 the Hannah Funeral Home, which still operates in Port Arthur today. His son Mack Jr. became one of the nation’s outstanding citizens. He graduated from Lincoln High School and Bishop College, where he became that school’s first All America football player. He worked as a physical education teacher at Lincoln High School then later joined the Orange Casket Company, becoming their first black salesman. In 1937, he purchased the Joseph A. Porter Casket Company in New Orleans, Louisiana. During World War II, Hannah was employed by the nation’s first synthetic rubber plant, built in Port Neches. He ran the housing and food concession, taking care of over 6,000 workers. Mack Hannah then

Hattie Mae Whiting-White:

Public Office Pinoneer

Hattie Mae Whiting-White, the first black elected to public office in Houston in the twentieth century, was the daughter of David Wendell and Hattie Gooden Whiting, born in Huntsville, Texas. She was six when they moved to Houston, and entered public schools, where she graduated valedictorian from Booker T. Washington High School. She then attended Houston Colored Junior College (the forerunner to Texas Southern University) and graduated with honors from Prairie View State Normal Industrial College (now Prairie View A&M University) in 1936. After teaching at Cameron, Jasper, and Prairie View, she returned to Houston and she married Charles E. White, an Optometrist, and settled as a housewife and the mother of five children. It was in the early 1950s White began to take an active role in civic affairs. She served as president of the William Miller Junior High School PTA and became the first black member of the Metropolitan Council of the Houston YWCA and sat on the board of the In 1968, he was awarded the honorary Houston Association for Better Schools. After Doctor of Laws Degree from Bishop College. she appeared on local television as an advocate Hannah was also appointed to serve as of school desegregation in 1956, blacks and a member of the Humanitarian, community liberal whites encouraged her to become a and land developer, banker, financier, and candidate for the school board of the Houston diplomat; Hannah left a concrete mark on Port Independent School District. Arthur by developing three subdivisions: White entered the race in 1958 and Hannah Estates, Hannah Gardens, and Sunset defeated her two white opponents. Her victory Gardens. He will long be remembered in prompted a gasoline-soaked cross burning on Houston and Port Arthur for his service to his T:13 in her lawn and car windshield splintered by air community and his nation.

Businessman/Educator

rifle pellets. Undeterred, White became one of the most controversial members of the board and generally the lone voice and only vote supporting desegregation and other progressive policies. In 1964 she easily won reelection. During her third term, beginning in 1964, she was part of a liberal coalition that included Gertrude Barnstone and Asberry B. Butler, the second African American elected to the Houston School Board. White served on the school board for nine years as an outspoken and often controversial critic of the conservative majority that dominated the board during this period. She constantly pressured the board to implement an effective desegregation plan to accept federal funds for education, and to improve the quality of education in the district’s schools. In 1967 she was defeated in her efforts to win another term in a campaign dominated by charges that she advocated busing to achieve racial balance in Houston’s schools. Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the Texas Legislature in 1968, White retired from active politics. Although White achieved few of her objectives, she did help convince the district to accept federal funds, and she witnessed some improvement in the status of black employees in the district and kept the people of Houston informed about the issues before the board. Most importantly, her election in 1958 demonstrated that blacks could win political office in Houston and helped promote increased political activity among the city’s minorities. Hattie Mae White fought for desegregation and racial equality while serving on the Houston school board. Hattie Mae White earned a spot in history by becoming the first black elected to public office in Texas since Reconstruction.

Here’s to tUrNING GreAt CHALLeNGes INto GreAter oPPortUNItY For eVerYoNe.

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Step by step, America has made important strides toward becoming a more inclusive society. One where everyone has a voice and equal access to opportunity.

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At Prudential, that’s an ideal we continue to aspire to every day.

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It’s an ideal that helps drive our organization with the diverse perspectives and talents of our employees, some of whom you see here. It’s reflected in the solutions we create, and in the work we do in our communities.

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And it’s an ideal that drives an understanding of the needs of our markets – and innovations tied to those needs.

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All to help people meet the financial challenges they face today and tomorrow.

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