Houston Style Magazine Vol 32 No 17 by Houston Style Magazine (HSM)

Houston Style Magazine April 22 – April 28, 2021

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989

Volume 32 | Number 17

H BLACK LOVE on OWN Now Friday’s at 9pm H BLACK CELEBRITY PROMINENT

Complimentary

COUPLES

Jesse Jackson

Republicans Posture As The Party Of Working Class People

Dr. Christine Galib

H GUILTY ON ALL 3 COUNTS H

The Ion Launches New Aerospace Innovation Accelerator Program

…IN THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, JR.

STAY HOME H WORK SAFE CORONAVIRUS – US NUMBERS: Cases: 32,636,832 Deaths: 583,798

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Mayor, Community Leaders Speak-Out

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Apple Launches New Cool Products

Falyn M. Davis

How To Prepare Your Finaces To Buy Your First Home

STYLE HAUTE SHOTS

N E W S | C O M M E N TA R I E S | S P O R T S | H E A LT H | E N T E R TA I N M E N T Support Black Owned Businesses

Week of April 19, 2021

17. Hartman Community Center, 9311 E Ave P, 77012 | Walk-up | Nose self-swab | April 20-24: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | No appointment required. 18. Houston Community College – Southeast Campus, 6815 Rustic, St., 77087 | Drive-thru | Healthcare nasal swab | Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | No appointment required. 19. Aramco Services Company, 9009 West Loop South, 77096 | Drive-thru | Nose self-swab | Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Tuesday, Thursday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Call 832-393-4220 for access code. 20. Houston Community College – South Campus, 1990 Airport Blvd, 77051 | Drive-thru | Healthcare nasal swab | Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Appointment not required but available via covidtest.tdem.texas.gov. 21. Hiram Clark Multi-Service Center, 3810 W. Fuqua St., 77045 | Drive-thru |Nose self-swab | April 19-24: 8 a.m. – 3 Rev: 04/19/21 6:30 a.m. p.m. | Call 832-393-4220 for an access code. COVID-19 Call Center: 832-393-4220 houstonhealth.org

April 22 – April 28, 2021

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Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez lisa@stylemagazine.com Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com Sports Editor Brian Barefield

NATIONAL WRITERS

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris #MASKUP! call the family of George Floyd after a jury found the murderer – Derek Chauvin GUILTY on all three charges. MINORITY PRINT MEDIA, LLC, D.B.A. PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com

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©2021 Houston Style Magazine, a Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Company. All Right Reserved. Reproduction in whole or within part without permission is prohibited. Houston Style Magazine has a 2019 Audit by Circulation Verification Council (CVC). Houston Style Magazine is a member of the Texas Publishers Association (TPA), Texas Community Newspaper Association (TCNA), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Independent Free Paper of America (IFPA), Association of Free Community Papers (AFCP) and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP). National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. (NAHP, Inc.), Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Latin Women’s Initiative (LWI), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and Supporters of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)

President – Joe Biden H V.P. Kamala Harris

GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT www.BuildBackBetter.gov

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April 22 – April 28, 2021

COMMENTARY

Republicans Posture As The Party Of Working People By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

he debate over Joe Biden’s $2 trillion American Infrastructure Plan is heating up – and getting more and more unhinged. Republicans are railing against the president for asking for too much. They promise a filibuster against the bill unless there is a bipartisan agreement – on their terms. So, what are those terms?

corporations. They want working people to pick up the tab, not the corporations or the rich. Reversing even a portion of their tax boon for corporations is a “non-starter.” Instead, they want to raise the gas tax and slap “user fees” – tolls for bridges and road, higher taxes on transit fares – on working people.

They want to do less. They have struggled to agree among themselves on a bill somewhere between one-fourth and one-third the size of the Biden plan. You decide a fair price for your car is $10,000. They offer $2,500, or they’ll block any sale. You’d treat that as an insult, not a good-faith offer. They want to ignore the pressing needs of the present and the future. Dealing with the growing catastrophe of the extreme weather caused by climate change, they say, is part of a “liberal wish list.” Speed the transition to electric cars, subsidize solar panels and energy efficient housing, increase resiliency of ports, buildings, roads – all scorned as extremism. They demand that the spending be “paid for,” even though they had no problem passing a massive tax cut for the rich and corporations without concern for the deficit. But they reject Biden’s plan to pay for the spending by raising taxes on the rich and the

They oppose the “liberal wish list” in this bill or in any other. That wish list includes not just climate, but investment in longterm care for the elderly, in childcare facilities and schools, in removing the highways designed purposefully to isolate the poor and African Americans into ghettos. They oppose any effort to help workers organize into unions that might lift their wages and protect their rights at work. Bipartisanship on Republican terms means a bill far smaller than the size of our problems, that fails to address pressing needs, and that sends the tab to those who can least afford it, as opposed to those who have been making out like bandits. Bipartisanship on these terms would leave us in a country with an outmoded and inefficient infrastructure, in denial about the climate crisis, with the worst support for children and parents of any advanced industrial country, with even more extreme inequality and racial division.

April 22 – April 28, 2021

Vice President – Kamala Harris Not surprisingly, Biden’s bill is popular with a vast majority of Americans. The individual items in his bill, including those that Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell scorns, are even more popular. Inside the beltway, politicians are debating the definition of infrastructure. Americans are concerned with getting the help they need. Modern roads, clean water systems, advanced broadband, affordable mass transit – all are vital sinews for a healthy economy. Affordable daycare and long-term care for the elderly are essential for families with working parents. Generating millions of jobs by kickstarting the transition to a green economy is a matter of national security – and of common sense. In the wake of Donald Trump, mod-

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ern-day Republicans posture as the party of working people. They must hope that working people who vote for them don’t discover that Republicans want to tax them rather than tax the rich or corporations, oppose investing in daycare for their children or long-term care for their parents, and resolutely want to shortchange investing in the future. No wonder Republican rhetoric has grown so extreme. They can’t defend their position; they can only distract from it.

Follow him on at: Twitter @RevJJackson Share this story online at:

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April 22 – April 28, 2021

The Verdict, The Nation, Us

By Dr. John Warren – San Diego Voice & Viewpoint / www.StyleMagazine.com

he conviction of Derek Chauvin on all three counts in the death of George Floyd represents a much- needed breeze of change, but it is neither the storm or whirlwind needed to correct the malignant, cancerous attitude of law enforcement against not only Black men and women and people of color, but a society which says it’s alright to be judge, jury and executioner of those having contact with police in particular. The prosecution and its witnesses in the trial made it clear that the issue is not police training, nor is it about anything other than treating people with the respect and dignity the police would expect if they were in the shoes of those who have become

their victims. We know that crime does exist, that there are people who must be apprehended and not all can be done without use of force; but those selected to wear a badge and gun must know the difference and must no longer be able to hide behind such legal myths as “qualified immunity” which has excused so much of what so many police officers should be held accountable for. The verdict is a good start, but let’s not think it solves our problems. In the midst of celebrating, let us keep our eyes on the national war before us which finds Republican legislators at the Congressional and State legislative levels mounting a relentless battle for “voter suppression.” They are attempting to do to people of color what Derek Chauvin did to George Floyd. Their knee is being placed on our ‘neck of democracy’ and we cannot breathe without fighting back. Let’s identify not only those Republican legislators in each state pushing such legislation, but mount people to run against them. At the same time, let us withhold our dollars from those corporations

The Ion Launches Aerospace Innovation Accelerator To Empower BIPOC Entrepreneurs With Partners NASA and DivInc, The Ion Is Creating New Pathways For Houston’s Economic Resilience and Expanding Access To Careers In Aerospace! By ww.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

Dr. Jan E. Odegard – Executive Director Operations at The Ion

Dr. Christine Galib – Senior Director of Programs at The Ion

he Ion, Houston’s new innovation hub, today announced the launch of its Aerospace Innovation Accelerator for Minority Business Enterprises (AIA for MBEs). The AIA for MBEs develops Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) owned businesses tackling aerospace-related challenges. Throughout the 12-week program, the four selected participants - Axialnics Systems Inc., Boozed Beverages LLC, NANCo Aero, and Stratos Perception LLC - will further develop their innovations, grow their businesses, and strengthen relationships with a broad range of individual mentors, corporate partners, and stakeholder networks. The accelerator’s programming is made possible by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency. The AIA for MBEs is part of The Ion’s Aerospace Innovation Hub, which focuses on aerospace innovation through networking and outreach events and education and training. The Hub is supported by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and strategic partner DivInc, which transforms the existing tech entrepreneur ecosystem into a more authentically inclusive

environment. “Aerospace contains a myriad of dimensions and by demystifying the industry in the form of the AIA for MBEs, we are able to build a more inclusive innovation ecosystem,” said Dr. Christine Galib, Senior Director of Programs at The Ion. “It’s our goal to not only support participants to be successful, but to open the playing field for other minority business enterprises hoping to enter the space.”

April 22 – April 28, 2021

Meet the Entrepreneurs Changing Aerospace The selected startups are posed to tackle aerospace-related challenges, ranging from an aircraft that mitigates airport congestion, to a contactless cocktail vending machine, to an AI solution that monitors multiphase flow. The four startups selected for the AIA for MBEs are as follows: Axialnics Systems Inc., led by Vincent Mbuvi, is an aerospace technology platform developing a Disc-wing Rotor Aircraft Concept, which takes-off as a helicopter, carries as much payload as an airplane

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Dr. John E. Warren – Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint who refuse to stand up and speak out with their dollars against those very elected officials they have funded for so long. There are still more trials to come. Let’s stay vigilant, for the struggle continues…

www.SDVoice.info

www.StyleMagazine.com and flies just as fast beyond the range of typical helicopters. The innovation solves runway inefficiencies and enhances military efficiency. Boozed Beverages LLC, led by Damyanna Cooke and Jim Luu, specializes in intelligent vending in the liquor industry. The company provides a contactless, AI-driven cocktail making and dispensing vending machine, for locations such as weddings and events, sporting venues, festivals, restaurants, and nightclubs and lounges. NANCo Aero, led by Shern Peters, provides urban air vehicles and drones to commercial, small business, government, and nonprofit organizations. It is working to develop the first Hybrid Personal Air Vehicle capable of transporting a family over the city of Houston. Stratos Perception LLC, led by Rube Williams, develops artificial intelligence solutions for space systems to benefit human productivity, safety, and enterprise. It is also developing an intelligent transducer, a tool that can monitor and control multiphase flow, for use in space such as lunar water extraction and waste processing. “The Aerospace Innovation Hub came from the idea that the aerospace industry is well-known in Houston but for many people, particularly underrepresented communities, there have been barriers in entering the aerospace industry,” said Dr. Jan E. Odegard, Executive Director of The Ion. “By offering mentorship, introduction to capital and training opportunities, with significant backing from Microsoft, The Ion is working to remove the barriers.” The AIA for MBEs will have a physical presence in The Ion when the building opens its doors later this year. The Ion is designed to be the epicenter of Houston’s innovation ecosystem and bring together Houston’s entrepreneurial, corporate, investors and academic communities into collaborative spaces and programs. The AIA for MBEs were introduced at its inaugural cohort during a virtual launch party on April 21 at 12:00 pm CST. with shared amenities. For more information, please visit:

www.IonHouston.com www.StyleMagazine.com

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Offer requires enrollment in both automatic payments and paperless billing. Must enroll within 30 days of placing the order. Without enrollment, the monthly service charge automatically increases by $10. The automatic payment and paperless billing discount is for a period of 12 months and will appear on the bill within 30 days of enrolling. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are subsequently canceled during the 12-month term, or if services are reduced to Limited Basic only, the $10 monthly discount will be removed automatically. Offer ends 6/30/21. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Performance Starter+ Internet service. Early termination fee applies if all Xfinity services (except Xfinity Mobile) are canceled during the agreement term. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after agreement term. After agreement term, regular rates apply. Comcast’s service charge for Performance Starter+ is $50/mo. (subj. to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. Xfinity xFi available to Xfinity Internet customers with compatible Xfinity Gateway. All devices must be returned when service ends. Mobile: Xfinity Mobile requires residential post-pay Xfinity Internet. Line limitations may apply. Actual savings vary and are not guaranteed. Xfinity Mobile utilizes the highest ranked network from RootMetrics® 2H 2020 US report. WiFi networks not tested. Results may vary. Award is not endorsement. Call for restrictions and complete details. NPA235465-0003

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April 22 – April 28, 2021

4/12/21 2:59 PM

Mayor Turner’s Statement On ExxonMobil’s Carbon Capture and Storage Project By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

Sylvester Turner – Mayor The City of Houston, Texas

his week, ExxonMobil announced a $100 billion Carbon Capture and Storage project. The following statement is from Houston Mayor – Sylvester Turner. + “As we celebrate Earth Day and the one-year anniversary of the Houston Climate Action Plan, I am pleased to see ExxonMobil’s commitment to reducing the Houston area’s industrial carbon dioxide emissions. Our Climate Action Plan is about partnership. The energy industry is a key

partner. We have always said that the Climate Action Plan is not about moving Houston away from the energy industry but about moving the energy industry forward. ExxonMobil’s announcement to create a carbon capture Innovation zone in the Houston area is an example of the energy industry moving forward. + “Our region is home to some of the largest carbon emitters in the country, and we all have a responsibility and role to play in decarbonization. We all recognize

that to stop climate change, we need to reach the Paris Agreement goal of carbon neutrality sooner and cut our emissions in half by 2030. + “The City of Houston is doing our part by using 100% clean, renewable energy and reducing emissions in our building, waste, and transportation systems. But we will all reach our goals faster when the energy industry itself commits to investing in innovative technologies such as battery storage, carbon capture, and clean hydrogen – and

Why Derek Chauvin Was Convicted, When So Many Other Police Are Not W

By Eric Levenson www.CNN.com / www.StyleMagazine.com

hen police officers kill a person, they are rarely charged with a crime. It’s even more rare for a jury to convict an officer for murder or manslaughter. So, what made Derek Chauvin’s case different? From the beginning, the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, has stood on its own – uniquely disturbing police killing – in a sea of disturbing police killings. It was captured in clear and intimate video by bystanders and the officers’ body cameras. It lasted over 9 minutes rather than a few seconds. Police officials across the country came together to denounce his actions as excessive. And making it all the more upsetting was Chauvin’s impassive facial expressions and body language throughout. Combined, these factors spurred people across the world to pour into the streets in protest and frustration, and they spurred accomplished lawyers and renowned medical experts to link up with Minnesota prosecutors on the case.

April 22 – April 28, 2021

bringing these technologies to scale. + “This proposal by ExxonMobil is the type of bold ambition and investment we will need to meet our climate goals and protect our communities from climate change. ExxonMobil’s proposal represents a significant step forward for the energy industry, and I hope it brings more companies to the table to help Houston lead a global energy transition.”

www.ExxonMobil.com

Photograph by Omer Messinger / Sipa / AP

George Floyd

And in the courtroom, prosecutors repeatedly high- walked jurors through it, moment by moment. lighted these four factors to convince a jury to convict The video’s enduring power to shock was no Chauvin of two counts of murder and one count of more evident than during the testimony of Charles manslaughter. Here’s a closer look at how they did so. McMillian. The 61-year-old bystander broke down in tears while testifying after a clip of the video was played for him. The Bystander Video “I feel helpless,” he said through sobs. “I don’t The case against Chauvin starts and ends have a mama either. I understand him.” with Darnella Frazier’s bystander video showing Throughout the trial, the prosecution’s message was Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck and back as the concise and video-focused: “Believe your eyes.” “This case is exactly what you thought when 46-year-old Black man pleaded for his life and called you saw it first, when you saw that video. It is exactly for his “mama.” that. You can believe your eyes,” prosecuting attorThe prosecution called 38 witnesses in their case against Chauvin, but the focal point of it all was ney Steve Schleicher said in closing arguments. “It’s exactly what you believed. It’s exactly what you saw the video. It was played for the jury in its entirety during with your eyes. It’s exactly what you knew, what you opening statements, and then it was played again and felt in your gut. It’s what you now know in your heart. again and again. The prosecution played composite This wasn’t policing. This was murder.” videos that combined Frazier’s footage with that from police body cameras, and they played clips of the video for witnesses, police experts and medical experts who

[ CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ]

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“Murder Trial of George Floyd, WEEK THREE”

The 9 Minutes and 29 Seconds Most police killings are shootings -- split-second decisions with fatal consequences. Juries have long been wary of second-guessing a police officer’s rapid decision made under difficult circumstances. But, Chauvin’s kneeling on Floyd’s neck took place over 9 minutes and 29 seconds in all, which prosecuting attorney Jerry Blackwell called the “three most important numbers in this case.” He broke down the timing of Chauvin’s kneeling into three sections: 4 minutes and 45 seconds as Floyd cried out that he couldn’t breathe; 53 seconds as Floyd had anoxic seizures due to low oxygen; and 3 minutes and 51 seconds as Floyd was non-responsive. “This case is not about split-second decision-making,” Blackwell said in opening statements. Aware of the power of that 9:29 figure, defense attorney Eric Nelson tried to shift the focus onto other evidence and Floyd›s actions beforehand in which he resisted police attempts to get him into the squad car. “It’s not the proper analysis because the 9 minutes and 29 seconds ignores the previous 16 minutes and 59 seconds. It completely disregards it,” Nelson said.

Chauvin’s Face and Body Language Prosecutors leaned into Chauvin’s particularly disturbing facial expressions and body language while kneeling on Floyd.

Dozens of times in court, prosecutors showed witnesses and jurors “Exhibit 17” -- a still image of Chauvin on Floyd’s neck taken from Frazier’s bystander video. In the image, Chauvin has a disinterested look on his face, his sunglasses sit on top of his head, and his hand rests in his pocket. He appears altogether unconcerned with the desperation and agony just below him. “You saw the photo, you saw the body language,” Schleicher said in closing arguments. “You can learn a lot about someone by looking at their body language.” Chauvin’s defense tried to counter this point in cross-examination of Minneapolis Police Sgt. Ker Yang, the crisis intervention training coordinator. Yang said that officers are trained to appear confident, stay calm and avoid staring or eye contact. Yet the prosecution returned to the image again and again. In closing arguments, they showed jurors a close-up of Chauvin’s face, only to then zoom out to show Floyd’s pained face pinned below him. The contrast was clear. “This wasn’t the face of fear or concern or worry,” Blackwell said of Chauvin.

Police testimony against him Chauvin’s actions didn’t just infuriate the public -- they drew condemnation from within his own ranks and led to a stunning piercing of the so-called “blue wall” of silence.

George Perry Floyd, Jr. was an African-American man killed during

an arrest after a store clerk alleged he had passed a counterfeit $20 bill in Minneapolis. Derek Chauvin, 1 of 4 former police officers who

arrived on the scene, knelt on Floyd’s neck for a period initially reported

to be 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Updated to: 9 mins and 29 seconds. www.StyleMagazine.com

The Minneapolis Police Department fired Chauvin and the three fellow officers who helped restrain Floyd a day after his death. And in court, a series of police training experts and supervisors testified against him, including several who knew Chauvin personally. In particular, Chief Medaria Arradondo thoroughly rejected Chauvin’s actions and use of force as contrary to department policy. “Once there was no longer any resistance and clearly, when Mr. Floyd was no longer responsive and even motionless, to continue to apply that level of force to a person prone-out, handcuffed behind their back -- that in no way shape or form is anything that is by policy,” the police chief told the jury. “It is not part of our training, and it is certainly not part of our ethics or our values.” In addition, Chauvin’s immediate supervisor criticized Chauvin’s use of force, and the department’s top homicide detective said kneeling on Floyd was “totally unnecessary.” During jury selection, the jurors generally expressed some support for police. Because of these intra-police criticisms, prosecutors were able to tell the jury that convicting Chauvin was a way to show that support. “This is not an anti-police prosecution. It is a pro-police prosecution,” Schleicher said in closing arguments. “There is nothing worse for good police than bad police.” In the end, even the nation’s largest police union praised the trial as fair. “Our system of justice has worked as it should, with the prosecutors and defense presenting their evidence to the jury, which then deliberated and delivered a verdict,” the Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement. “The trial was fair and due process was served.”

www.CNN.com www.StyleMagazine.com April 22 – April 28, 2021

COMMUNITY LEADER

Derek Chauvin Was Convicted of M

Count #1 – Second-Degree Unintenti Count #2 – Third-Degree Mu Count #3 – Second-Degree Mans

By Francis Page, Jr and Jo-Carolyn Goode / www

Former U.S. President Barack Obama This week, a jury in Minneapolis did the right thing. For almost a year, George Floyd’s death under the knee of a police officer has reverberated around the world — inspiring murals and marches, sparking conversations in living rooms and new legislation. But a more basic question has always remained: would justice be done? In this case, at least, we have our answer. But if we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that true justice is about much more than a single verdict in a single trial. True justice requires that we come to terms with the fact that Black Americans are treated differently, every day. It requires us to recognize that millions of our friends, family, and fellow citizens live in fear that their next encounter with law enforcement could be their last. And it requires us to do the sometimes thankless, often difficult, but always necessary work of making the America we know more like the America we believe in. Michelle and I send our prayers to the Floyd family, in the hopes that they may find peace. And we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all those who are committed to guaranteeing every American the full measure of justice that George and so many others have been denied. U.S. President Joe Biden This week’s verdict is a step forward. I just spoke with the Governor of Minnesota, who thanked me for the close work with his team.

And I also just spoke with George Floyd’s family again -- a remarkable family of extraordinary courage. Nothing can ever bring their brother, their father back. But this can be a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America. Let’s also be clear that such a verdict is also much too rare. For so many people, it seems like it took a unique and extraordinary convergence of factors: a brave young woman with a smartphone camera; a crowd that was traumatized -- traumatized witnesses; a murder that lasts almost 10 minutes in broad daylight for, ultimately, the whole world to see; officers standing up and testifying against a fellow officer instead of just closing ranks, which should be commended; a jury who heard the evidence, carried out their civic duty in the midst of an extraordinary moment, under extraordinary pressure. For so many, it feels like it took all of that for the judicial system to deliver a just -- just basic accountability. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris Today, we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it cannot take away the pain. A measure of justice isn’t the same as equal justice. This verdict brings us a step closer. And, the fact is, we still have work to do. We still must reform the system. Last summer, together with Senator Cory Booker and Representative Karen Bass, I introduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This bill would hold law enforcement accountable and help build trust between law enforcement and our communities. This

April 22 – April 28, 2021

bill is part of George Floyd’s legacy. Black men are fathers and brothers and sons and uncles and grandfathers and friends and neighbors. Their lives must be valued in our education system, in our healthcare system, in our housing system, in our economic system, in our criminal justice system, in our nation. Full stop. Because of smartphones, so many Americans have now seen the racial injustice that Black Americans have known for generations -- the racial injustice that we have fought for generations; that my parents protested in the 1960s; that millions of us, Americans of every race, protested last summer. We are all a part of George Floyd’s legacy, and our job now is to honor it and to honor him. U.S. Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee My God that we serve! We prayed for JUSTICE! America needs to heal, and we all have come together now! We got JUSTICE for you Big Floyd! Say his name #GeorgeFloyd Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo As George Floyd’s hometown, the people of Harris County continue to feel his loss deep in our hearts. His family, his neighbors, his classmates, and his community will never forget his death and what it represents. While the justice system served its purpose today, there’s much more work to be done toward a smarter and fairer criminal justice system. George Floyd’s legacy will be with us every step of the way.

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Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis Following today’s verdict in the Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd, Commissioner Rodney Ellis issued the following statement: “For decades, our criminal legal system has failed to acknowledge the killings of Black and Brown people as crimes, declaring those responsible are innocent of any wrongdoing. Today, that changed. “Derek Chauvin, the man whose knee stayed on George Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes, who took George Floyd’s life, has been declared guilty on all charges. “This verdict is important because Derek Chauvin ended George Floyd’s life, and it is about time that we recognized the murders of Black people at the hands of the police as the crimes that they are. Make no mistake - real justice looks like George Floyd being able to go home to his daughter, but I hope that this verdict brings George Floyd’s family and loved ones, who have been fighting for justice in the courts, some peace. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner This week, Mayor Sylvester Turner paused along with the rest of the nation to watch as the jury returned three guilty verdicts in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted in the murder of Houston native George Floyd. “Let me say that justice has been served. The Floyd family has waited almost a year for this verdict. But they will experience the loss of their loved one, George, for the rest of their

RS SPEAK-OUT!

Murdering George Floyd

ional Murder – GUILTY urder – GUILTY slaughter – GUILTY

w.StyleMagazine.com

lives,” said Mayor Turner. My prayers go out to the George Floyd family. I talked with them this morning, and so my prayers go out to everyone one of them. And in addition to that, my prayers go out to this country because there is a lot of pain, a lot of hurt, frustration, and division.” “The jury has spoken, but it is time for this country to reach deep down and find a way to move forward. Because as we deal with issues on multiple levels, we need the community and law enforcement to work hand in hand in the best interest of the people we serve. It is a time to be reflective and ask what we can do to make our city better, our country better, and find ways to work together,’ said Mayor Turner. Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee “I must admit that like many other Black Americans, after decades of seeing cases like George Floyd’s murder end without accountability or justice, I expected history to repeat itself, and for Derek Chauvin to escape justice. The jury finding Chauvin guilty on all three counts marks progress, but we must keep fighting until we are no longer shocked to see a jury convict someone who murdered a person on video for the world to see. The problem is systemic, and the solution will require convictions like today’s becoming the norm, not the exception.” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg

Justice is a process and these jurors

showed tremendous courage in reaching a just verdict. Millions saw the video, which we all found devastating. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of George Floyd, a Houston son whose murder is a defining moment in American criminal justice. President Southern Poverty Law Center Margaret Huang “The killing of George Floyd was an appalling act of police violence that shocked and horrified millions of Americans and led to protests globally calling for racial justice and police accountability. We’ve all seen the sickening video of Derek Chauvin with his knee on George Floyd’s neck. Today’s verdict is an acknowledgement that police officers cannot get away with murder, but we still have a long way to go to achieve the justice demanded by so many protesters in the last year.” Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David “Today, humanity won over indifference. This verdict will not bring George Floyd back, but it does hold one officer accountable for the killing of one Black person. George Floyd’s story has inspired a movement around the world for racial justice. While we welcome exercising police accountability as a crucial step towards dismantling abusive, discriminatory policing, we also know that there is more work to be done to protect all Black lives. We should take a solemn moment to grieve with the Floyd family, as we pursue the systemic

change necessary to end police killings of Black people and to remove the structures that support white supremacy from our society once and for all.” Executive Director of PFLAG National Brian K. Bond “A small step was taken with today’s guilty verdict, but the sad truth is that nothing will ever return George Floyd safely to his family or to make it possible for him to hug his child Gianna. This verdict is validation of the deep-rooted problem of systemic racism, but far from justice served. There is so much more work to be done. It only starts with this national conversation that has finally been elevated around policing and racism in this country--and it is incumbent upon all of us to be engaged. “

build a better future for all of us. President The Executive Leadership Council Michael C. Hyter “The brutal killing of George Floyd will stand as a glaring example of the wholesale reform of criminal justice and full inclusion that is still needed in all aspects of society. The Executive Leadership Council and our entire membership community stand in solidarity with the Floyd family, and all families whose loved ones have been senselessly killed, along with citizens around the world, in working constructively towards a more just society where everyone is treated the same regardless of their skin color.”

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka “We are relieved the jury delivered justice for George Floyd’s family. Interim Superintendent of H.I.S.D. Floyd’s murder shocked our collective Dr. Lathan Statement conscience and sparked a movement On this day, we say his name: George for change that has inspired America Floyd. His face is seared into our mem- over the past year. While this verdict is ory, and his final words have pierced welcome news, the work of dismantling our hearts. His image is emblazoned systemic racism and white supremacy is on murals from all over the world to just beginning. As members of our comJack Yates High School, his alma mater. munities and representatives of union An HISD alum awakened not only the public safety professionals, the labor moral consciousness of a nation, but the movement has a unique role to play in world. That is George Floyd’s legacy – changing this culture of policing.” and now a part of HISD’s history. But “We are hard at work developour future can be different by shifting ing a public safety blueprint for change, the dialogue on social justice in our and we look forward to using our expecountry. rience and influence to heal this nation As the Interim Superintendent through liberty and justice for all.” of Houston ISD, I take that responsibility very seriously and strive to achieve educational equity in our communities. I firmly believe students will take the lessons they learn in our classrooms and

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April 22 – April 28, 2021

All-New Air-Tag and New 24” iMac Featuring Stunning Design In A Spectrum Of Vibrant Colors, M1 Chip and 4.5K Retina Display and A New iPhone 12 and A Mini In Stunning Purple By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

pple this week introduced AirTag, a small and elegantly designed accessory that helps keep track of and find the items that matter most with Apple’s Find My app. Whether attached to a handbag, keys, backpack, or other items, AirTag taps into the vast, global Find My network1 and can help locate a lost item, all while keeping location data private and anonymous with end-to-end encryption. AirTag can be purchased in one and four packs for just $29 and $99, respectively, and will be available beginning Friday, April 30 The new finish complements the beautiful flat-edge design of iPhone 12, which features an advanced dual-camera system, Super Retina XDR display with the Ceramic Shield front cover, A14 Bionic, and 5G Apple also unveiled an all-new stunning purple finish for iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. This new color beautifully accentuates the flat aluminum edges of iPhone 12, which are perfectly color-matched to the precision-milled back glass. Both models feature an advanced dual-camera system that delivers powerful computational photography features and the highest-quality video in a smartphone, with expansive edge-to-edge Super Retina XDR displays with OLED for a brighter, more immersive viewing experience, and the Ceramic Shield

front cover, providing the biggest jump in durability ever on iPhone. The Apple-designed A14 Bionic — the fastest chip in a smartphone — powers every experience on iPhone 12 while efficiently managing battery life. iPhone 12 models also bring the best 5G experience, and introduce high-powered wireless charging with MagSafe and a new ecosystem of accessories that easily attach to iPhone. iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini in purple will be available for preorder beginning Friday, April 23, with availability beginning Friday, April 30. Customers can also complement their iPhone with a new MagSafe Leather Case or Leather Sleeve in Deep Violet, a Silicone Case in Capri Blue, Pistachio, Cantaloupe, or Amethyst, or a Leather Wallet in Arizona, all available to order beginning today. The new iMac offers powerful performance in a design that’s just 11.5 millimeters thin, with a striking side profile that practically disappears. Available in an array of vibrant colors to match a user’s personal style and brighten any space, iMac features a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels, 500 nits of brightness, and over a billion colors, delivering a brilliant and vivid viewing experience. The new iMac also includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, stu-

dio-quality mics, and a six-speaker sound system — the best camera and audio ever in a Mac. Also, Touch ID comes to iMac for the first time, making it easier than ever to securely log in, make purchases with Apple Pay, or switch user profiles with the touch of a finger. Combining the power and performance of M1 and macOS Big Sur, apps launch with blazing speed, everyday tasks feel incredibly fast and fluid, and demanding workloads like editing 4K video and working with huge images are faster than ever. The new iMac joins the incredible family of Mac models powered by M1, including MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, marking another step forward in Apple’s transition to Apple silicon. iMac is the most personal, powerful, capable, and fun it has ever been, and customers can order it beginning Friday, April 30. iMac will be available in the second half of May. “M1 is a gigantic leap forward for the Mac, and today we’re excited to introduce the all-new iMac, the first Mac designed around the breakthrough M1 chip,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With its striking design in seven stunning colors, its immersive 4.5K Retina display, the best camera, mics, and speakers ever in a Mac, and Touch ID, combined with the amazing performance of M1 and the power of macOS Big Sur, the new iMac takes everything people love about iMac to an entirely new level.” The powerful 8-core CPU in M1 features the fastest CPU core in low-power silicon.3 And the 8-core GPU features the fastest integrated graphics in a personal computer.4 When combined with its high efficiency, unified memory architecture, and the 16-core Apple Neural Engine, the new iMac delivers powerful performance when compared to standard models of the 21.5-inch iMac, including: · Up to 85 percent faster CPU

All-New Apple Air-Tag

April 22 – April 28, 2021

performance, so users can export their favorite video project in iMovie faster than ever, easily work with massive 100-megapixel photos in Lightroom, and compile new apps in Xcode in a fraction of the time. · Up to 2x faster GPU performance for certain apps like Affinity Photo and

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iMac offers the best camera, mics, and speakers ever in a Mac, and Touch ID for the first time Photoshop, and up to 50 percent faster than the most powerful discrete graphics in the fastest 21.5-inch iMac, allowing users to render edits in real time or add complex filters to their photos in a snap. · The ability to edit up to five streams of 4K footage, or one stream of 8K footage,5 without dropping a frame in Final Cut Pro. · Up to 3x faster machine learning in apps that leverage the 16-core Neural Engine in M1.6

Best Camera, Mics, and Speakers Ever in a Mac iMac features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera — the best ever in a Mac — which delivers high-quality video and great performance in low light. iMac also takes advantage of the image signal processor in the M1 chip and the Neural Engine, enhancing camera image quality with better noise reduction, greater dynamic range, and improved auto exposure and white balance. So whether connecting with family or on a video call while working from home, users will always look their best. To complement the camera, the new iMac features a studio-quality three-microphone array for clearer calls and voice recordings, the best ever in a Mac. www.Apple.com www.StyleMagazine.com

BLACK LOVE Returns For 5th Season: Friday, May 14 • 9PM

This Season Celebrates Prominent Couples in the Black Community -- Keith David and Wife Dionne, Chance and Tabitha Brown, Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis, Kenny Lattimore and Faith Jenkins, Ledisi and Husband Ron Young, Tank and Zena Foster By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

prah Winfrey Network announced this week the fifth season of its popular and ground-breaking four-time NAACP nominated docu-series “Black Love” will premiere on Friday, May 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. “Black Love” makes its return to Friday nights where it will join OWN’s dating series “Ready to Love.” During its previous run on Fridays, the series which celebrates love stories from the Black community, was ranked #1 in its time slot across all cable with African American W25-54. “Black Love,” created by husband-and-wife filmmakers Codie and Tommy Oliver continues to present real, honest, emotional, and transparent love stories from some of the most successful people in business and entertainment as well as everyday couples. The new season will feature Chance and Tabitha Brown, R&B singer Kenny Lattimore and Judge Faith Jenkins, Grammy winner Ledisi and husband Ron Young, Singer/Songwriter Tank and Zena Foster, “Greenleaf” actor Keith David and his wife Dionne, Stylist Jason Bolden and interior designer Adair Curtis, plus others who will discuss topics from early days of marriage to navigating finances, religious differences, parenting, and the unexpected twists that are part of every couples’ journey. Each episode of “Black Love,” seeks to answer the burning question, “What does it take to make a marriage work?” The Olivers first launched the show as newlyweds and with each new season of “Black Love,” they continue to increase representation and create transparency around marriage in the Black community. The Olivers have now been married for six years and are raising three sons under five years

old. As their marriage and family have quickly evolved, the show’s exploration of marital topics and themes have also deepened. Click here for a sneak peek of “Black Love” Season 5: www.Oprah.com/BlackLoveSeason5Promo About Confluential Films Confluential Content is a media company founded by Tommy Oliver. It is the home of Confluential Films and Black Love Productions and is devoted to championing projects that are inclusive and celebrate our shared human experience. Past projects include the HBO documentary 40 Years a Prisoner, Sundance award-winning film Kinyarwanda, Sony thriller The Perfect Guy, acclaimed indie film 1982, and Black Love on OWN. About OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey’s heart and creative instincts inform the brand and the magnetism of the channel. OWN is a leading destination for a premium scripted and unscripted programming from today’s most innovative storytellers. OWN connects with its audience wherever they are, inspiring conversation among a global community of like-minded viewers on social media and beyond. Launched on January 1, 2011, OWN is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery, Inc.

www.OPRAH.com

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April 22 – April 28, 2021

MACY’S BACKSTAGE: Opens New Locations In Houston Area Macy’s will open 47 Backstage stores nationwide in 2021,

including two Macy’s locations within Macy’s Deerbrook and Macy’s Almeda stores – Offering Off Prices

www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

www.MacysBackstage.com

acy’s will open its off-price store, Macy’s Backstage, at Macy’s Deerbrook and Macy’s BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND Almeda locations this May, joining three store-within-store locations in the Houston market. Macy’s Backstage offers fashion-loving customers another way to shop at their favorite store by BACKED BY A providing a store-within-store shopping YEAR-ROUND experience specifically designed for the savvy and cost-conscious shopper who enjoys finding on-trend fashion at GUARANTEE a great price and shops often. With so many ways to shop, from Macy’s app or macys.com to visiting your local Macy’s for inspiration or enjoying EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER! contact-free curbside pick-up, scoring the best deals and must-have trends for spring has never been easier. OFF OFF The new Macy’s Backstage SENIORS & YOUR ENTIRE locations will have more than 12,000 MILITARY! PURCHASE * square feet of dedicated retail space on WE INSTALL the first level inside the full-line Macy’s YEAR-ROUND! stores, delivering a constantly changing TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS ONLY! assortment of on-trend merchandise and encouraging customers to return to find new treasures. The wide selection includes fresh product from both new NATIO E FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1 and renowned brands in apparel for 1 Promo Code: 285 men, women and children, as well as TT ER GUA 1 Subject to credit approval. Call for details. toys, housewares, home office, home textiles and décor, cosmetics, hair and CALL US TODAY FOR nail care, personal protective equipment A FREE ESTIMATE (PPE), pet accessories, kid’s shoes, deMon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST signer handbags, activewear and more. Customers can currently expect to find trends like must-have denim, backpacks, *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Oﬀer valid at time of estimate only The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# seasonal looks, home office décor, face 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# masks and hand sanitizer. C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114 “As Macy’s expands its assort-

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ment from off-price to luxury, we are thrilled to bring Macy’s Backstage into the local community, giving our customers access to the fullness of the Macy’s brand,” said Michael Hersh, Macy’s vice president of off-price. “Our Backstage customers can express their personal style through our rotating assortment of on-trend merchandise at great value in a broad range of categories from home décor to the latest fashion.” Shoppers can earn and redeem Star Rewards and use their Macy’s credit card at Backstage locations, creating a seamless experience for those shopping at both Macy’s full-line and Backstage stores. Customers will be inspired to “pin, snap and share” their looks using #macysbackstage and tagging @macysbackstage. The complete list of Backstage stores opening in the Houston area in May include:

1-888-338-6679

TX (Grand opening • May 15, 2021)

Store hours and additional information are available at:

www.MacysBackstage.com

April 22 – April 28, 2021

www.StyleMagazine.com

who can get a covid vaccine now how many people have gotten the covid vaccine is the covid vaccine safe how to sign up for the covid vaccine Covid Vaccine how many are fully vaccinated for covid are the covid vaccines safe what is the covid vaccine rollout plan when can I get the covid vaccine

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April 22 – April 28, 2021

2021

APRIL IS DIVERSITY AWARNESS MONTH

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H 2021 Social Media Haute Shots + Around Town H

Mass Shooting In America In The Past 30-Days

Some People. . .

SJL Leading The Charge For Justice

…Still Saying…I DO

RIP Danté Wright

Happy Birthday Judge Claresse Yates

Judy, Dr Ruth & Janice

Mayor Sylvester Turner Has To Be The Hardest Working Mayor in Houston, TX History. . .

I Want To Be Alive!

April 22 – April 28, 2021

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April 22 – April 28, 2021

2021

DEREK CHAUVIN FOUND GUILTY ON ALL 3 COUNTS www.StyleMagazine.com

H George Floyd’s Murderer Was Found Guilty + Around Town H Who Was George Floyd?

George Perry Floyd Jr. was an African-American man killed during an arrest after a store clerk alleged he had passed a counterfeit $20 bill in Minneapolis. Derek Chauvin, one of four police officers who arrived on the scene, knelt on Floyd’s neck and back for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. Wikipedia

Murderer - Derek Chauvin ushered Straight to Jail

Born: October 14, 1973 In Fayetteville, NC Murdered: May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, MN Height: 6’ 04”

Philonise Floyd (brother)

RIP - George Floyd

April 22 – April 28, 2021

RIP – George Floyd with daughter – Gianna Floyd, 7 October, 14 1973 – May 25, 2020

RIP - George Floyd

Derek Chauvin – Guilty On All Counts

Rev Al Sharpton and Floyd Family

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The Open House: With Realtor Falyn Davis

The Home Buyers ‘Roadtrip’ To Buying Your Home

By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

elcome back to The Open House. Oftentimes I get questioned about the home buying

process. Is it long? Is it difficult? Should I wait? Well, this week, I will break down the actual home buying process for you. You’re invited to the Home Buyers Road Trip, so sit back, relax and enjoy the ride! The first stop on our road trip is to find an agent. You need a skilled professional that you trust and you’re comfortable working with guiding you through the process. The next stop is the financials. Determine what you can afford by getting your credit checked and getting pre-approved for a loan. Next, the search begins! Start looking online and touring different homes until you find the perfect home for you. Once you find the perfect home, put in an initial offer! Make sure to submit a strong offer so you can stand

Falyn M. Davis

FOR SALE: 5711 North Ossineke Dr., Spring, TX 77386 out to the seller. Congrats - your offer was accepted! Now set up an inspection and appraisal to be done on the home. Once those are done, talk with your realtor on how and what you can negotiate with the seller. Remember, everything is negotiable until the day you sign the papers! It’s almost time! Call the mov-

ers and schedule your move. The last stop is a celebration. Attend the closing meeting, sign the papers and get your keys! You’re a homeowner - woohoo! You can use this roadmap as a quick look into the home buying process. If you have any questions, reach out to me! I’d love to assist you.

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Cell Phone: 832-396-6276 Email: FalynMDavis@gmail.com Social Media: @FalynDavis

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April 22 – April 28, 2021

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April 22 – April 28, 2021