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Turner Sworn In for Second Term
Sylvester Turner officially began his second term as mayor for the city of Houston when he, City Controller Chris Brown, and Houston City Council were sworn in on January 2, 2020, before a packed house at the Wortham Theater. Mayor Turner won the honor of continuing to lead Houston after defeating opponent Tony Buzbee in the run-off election.
What to Expect at the Polls
With predictions of this election having extremely high voter turnout Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins and his office are making sure everything is in order before election day. The goal is to make sure that every voter can have the accessibility, safety, and convenience to vote their way.
Chris Hollins: Defender of the Right to Vote
Proper preparation warrants productive possibilities. When Chris Hollins assumed the office of Harris County Clerk, after a 3-2 party vote of the Harris County Commissioners Court, he had three priorities in mind. His goal was to ensure that every resident of Harris County, regardless of party, race, creed, religion, or area of town in which they live, could vote in a safe, peaceful and convenient manner. Having shattered all previous Harris County voting turnout records, Hollins has blown even his own mind with Election 2020.
Are You Registered to Vote?
My vote won’t count. I missed the deadline. The process is too hard. What are these statements? Excuses used by Americans as reasons why they don’t vote. And there are more than that with regards to black and brown people faced with lack of transportation, voter IDs laws, distrust of the system, and a lack of education of the process. However, I am of the belief that for every excuse there is a solution to resolve it. Stop thinking you won’t be heard.
Are You Registered to Vote?
My vote won’t count. I missed the deadline. The process is too hard. What are these statements? Excuses used by Americans as reasons why they don’t vote. And there are more than that with regards to black and brown people faced with lack of transportation, voter IDs laws, distrust of the system, and a lack of education of the process. However, I am of the belief that for every excuse there is a solution to resolve it.
Kedrick Brown: From TV Screens to Classroom Dreams
Versatile Actor and Educator Set to Shine on ABC's 'The Rookie'
Prepare to be enthralled as Kedrick Brown, the dynamic actor celebrated for his compelling performances on hit TV series such as 'The Chosen,' 'New Amsterdam,' and 'Black Lightning,' graces the small screen once more. On April 9, 2024, Brown will captivate audiences with his unparalleled talent in a guest appearance on the acclaimed ABC TV show 'The Rookie.'
Texas Southern Cheerleaders Make History As the First HBCU to Win the NCAA National NCA Cheer Competition Title in 75 Years
TS, TS, TS, TSU, U,U, U, I thought you knew! If you didn’t know, now you do. The Texas Southern University (TSU) cheerleaders have put Texas Southern University and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) on the map as the first HBCU to win the 2023 NCAA collegiate National Cheer Association Championship title. In NCA’s 75-year history, no HBCU has ever won the national cheer competition.
JSU Art Students Shine in Real-World Collaboration with Visit JXN for JXN Restaurant Rebranding!
Exciting news from Jackson State University (JSU) and Visit Jackson as they team up to empower local restaurants in Jackson, Mississippi, through a dynamic collaboration with JSU’s Department of Art. At a recent press conference on March 1, three talented JSU graphic design students unveiled their stunning work—new logos, signage, and marketing materials—for three beloved "City with Soul" restaurants.
Don’t Waste Your Right to Vote
American men have always had the right to vote. Even though some women were able to vote starting in 1869 in a few states, females didn’t officially get the right to vote across the U.S. until 1919 with the passage of the 19th amendment. African Americans, who were once thought of as property and not people, wouldn’t get certain rights until the passage of the 14th and 15th amendments.
Train a Child, Reach a Parent, Represent Well
Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Either today’s generations missed a lesson or two or never learned it all but the lesson of knowing how to represent yourself well publically has been lost. Gone are the rules for wearing what is right.
Why We Still Love Michelle Obama
Former First Lady Michelle Obama grabbed us by the heart the minute she stepped on to the national stage. She became a role model for little girls and grown women too. Her presence just commands a certain type of respect when she enters any room. Her words gripped you right from the start and don’t let go until she is finished speaking. Her style is impeccable. Add on her love for Barack Obama and she has the full package. Here are just a few reasons we are still in love with Michelle Obama.
Turner Requests the Shut Down of the Republican Convention
Mayor Sylvester Turner, in his quest to reduce the spread of COVID-19, has requested that the Texas Republican Convention scheduled in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention for July 16-18th be shut down.
Celebrating the Newest Honorary Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.®
Delta Sigma Theta Welcomes New Members Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Debra Lee, Rashida Jones, Ambassador Bonnie Denise Jenkins, Channing Dungey, Tamika Catchings, and Phyllis Newhouse
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated® announced their newest Honorary Members during the sorority's 56th National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ladies now proud to represent crimson and cream are Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Debra Lee, Rashida Jones, Ambassador Bonnie Denise Jenkins, Channing Dungey, Tamika Catchings, and Phyllis Newhouse.
Ryan Destiny: The Rise of a Star
Lee Daniels has struck television gold again with his newest series airing on Fox, Star. Just knowing that it was a Lee Daniels’ project was enough to generate excitement of its release. Adding the star power of Queen Latifah and Benjamin Bratt made it one of most anticipated shows of the season. As teasers came out, Daniels’ fans were quick to compare it to another hit Empire. One look at the first episode of Star and one quickly understood that music and family were the only things the two shows had in common.
Most Stylish Houstonians of 2019
Houstonians are known throughout the world for their generosity and how they help their fellow man in a disaster. Rarely seen are the philanthropic efforts of Houstonians who just see a need and provide a solution. Those that excel professionally while still giving back in extraordinary ways are who we call most stylish.
Protecting the Safety and Rights of Voters
A safe, secure, efficient, accessible, and fair voting process for every registered voter has always been the goal of Chris Hollins since he was appointed as Harris County Clerk. His office is committed to inclusivity because he believes the “right to vote is fundamental to what it means to be free and have a voice in our democracy.” With that in mind, Hollins has proposed mailing applications to vote by mail to all registered voters that are 65 years old and up regardless if they requested the application or not. Republicans have a big problem with that and have filed two lawsuits to put a stop to it.
Is There A Black Doctor in the House?
Where are all the Black doctors? They are hard to find. On average, about 5.7% of all the doctors in the US are Black according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Although enrollment of African Americans in medical school is on the rise, 5.7% is still low when considering that there are 66.1% of active physicians with a US Doctor of Medicine degree.Where are all the Black doctors? They are hard to find. On average, about 5.7% of all the doctors in the US are Black according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Although enrollment of African Americans in medical school is on the rise, 5.7% is still low when considering that there are 66.1% of active physicians with a US Doctor of Medicine degree. Looking back at the history of Blacks in medicine, it's easy to see why the numbers are so low. However, new data suggests that more black doctors are needed now than ever, and for some, it could mean the difference between life and death. On average, when put in a crowd of a diverse population with no identifying connections, a person will gravitate toward those of their own race. It's a natural behavior because people are more at ease with who or what they know. Generally, being of the same race is an easy commonality to draw towards. This same kind of thinking works in medicine as well. According to studies, Black Americans who have black doctors have more trust in them, practice preventative care, and ultimately live longer lives. "I think we as blacks relate more to people who look like us. Often, we have unspoken similar backgrounds that bring us to a common place of understanding when we have difficulties in our quests for higher education," said Dr. Creaque Charles, Pharm. D. at an accredited HBCU school of pharmacy. How to Improve Representation of African Americans in Medicine? The answer to that question lies in the problems that Blacks have with medicine. To understand the concerns, one must go way back in history to when enslaved men and women were forcibly brought over on ships to America. Those men and women were treated less than humans and stacked on top of each other like property. On that journey, they had to exist in deplorable conditions that were filled with human fecal matter, urine, and other forms of human waste. This resulted in them becoming gravely ill, and some died. None received medical care. The feeling continued when slave owners subjected their Black female slaves to forced sterilization to stop reproduction. Women were also exploited for their bodies to produce more strong slave labor. These women did not also receive any medical care. When the truth about an unethical experiment with Tuskegee men and Syphilis (dubbed the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis) came to light in 1972, prejudices grew.vDuring the era of the Civil War, Blacks were "doomed to extinction" by the medical community of the time, which thought the mental, moral, and physical deterioration of Blacks would send them to an early grave. The distrust of the medical community continues to this day as some doctors of other races may have prior biological beliefs about Blacks that can result in doctors thinking Blacks have a high tolerance for pain, so they may undertreat them for pain. Incidents like the above led some Blacks to believe that they receive better treatment than their own because they know the point of view from which they are coming. They understand it. "When people look at me and they can see themselves in me, that commonality serves as the foundation for a bond of trust," said Dr. Robbyn Traylor, chief medical officer of an urgent medical care clinic, who knows that any doctor can be excellent no matter their race. "There is a level of comfort that is understood and that can remain unspoken when brown and Black patients are treated by brown and Black doctors." A CNN article dives further into the issue of why there is not a surge of Black doctors. Those reasons include factors like the race being excluded from medicine, systematic racism, institutional racism, not being exposed to STEM or STEM careers as a child, and a lack of Black doctors as mentors are among the top reasons. History supports this when looking at the first Black person to earn a medical degree. Dr. James McCune Smith had to go all the way to Scotland to receive his degree in 1837 from the University of Glasgow. Dr. Traylor was fortunate as a child to be heavily exposed to the life of a Black doctor as both of her parents worked in the medical field. She was often at their heels as a child while they worked at one of the best trauma centers in the Texas Medical Center. "I was lucky enough to grow up in a community of people who made me believe that I had the intellect and attitude for medicine." Diversity Matters Diversity Matters After Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington enacted bans on affirmative action, the diversity of the medical schools in those states dropped by a third. Before Black students were wholeheartedly welcomed at these schools in the 1800s and 1900s, they had a choice of seven medical schools, according to research by the Duke University Medical Center Library and Archives. Now only two remain: Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Black students are more likely to attend black medical schools to seek out those who look like them and have proven that their dreams are achievable. Future Black doctors want to attend schools where they don’t have to feel as if they don’t belong. They want to go to schools where they are encouraged to do well, and those who are instructors and mentors truly believe that THEY can do well. Dr. Tamiya Sam, who is a registered pharmacist and holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, knows that whether it is medical, pharmacy, dental, or nurse practitioner school, having a Black mentor matters. "The face of pharmacy is increasingly non-Black. I believe if there were more hands on and dedicated Black pharmacists who truly mentored Black pharmacy students, it would have a higher impact on their completion because they would serve as someone who has been there and genuinely wants to help them succeed." Rosa Terrance, DNP, APRN, GNP-C, agrees with Dr. Sam. "Mentorship absolutely matters and is influential in producing more providers of color. At all times, I make sure of two things: 1) I have a mentor who looks like me, and 2) I am acting as a mentor to someone else. There is a degree of comfort and trust that is birthed out of just being present with someone of your likeness in an otherwise underrepresented space." The Next Generation of Doctors African Americans have a responsibility to expose our children to all the world can offer them. African Americans have a responsibility as a race to step up and be mentors for brown and black children in all fields, not just the medical field. To improve race relations, Blacks must educate our non-Black counterparts. A change must come, and it must start now with each of us.
What to Watch in 2021
Leave all the events of 2020 in 2020. Don’t look back. Just look forward and push toward to the future of 2021. This is the year where we all will transform in one way or another. Our world will also change with us. This is why we must keep our eyes on the ones leading change. Take a look at a few things and people to keep a lookout for in 2021.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated - Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter Kicks Off 90th Anniversary Celebration
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated have been caretakers of their community. In the Houston area, the members of the Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter have been addressing the needs and issues of their surrounding area for 90 years making lasting impacts that affect the lives of individuals and families. Now the ladies are celebrating the legacy of their sisterhood and their service to Houston with a four-month celebration of activities leading to the grand finale, the 90th Anniversary Gala on December 15th.
Census 2020: Yes, I’m In
In the wake of seeing if we have a temperature with a prolonged cough, trying to find water and supplies and ensuring we are wearing masks in public, something may have slipped your mind, the 2020 Census. Earlier this month residents across the country received an invitation to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census. It is the population count that occurs every 10 years that counts every living person in the country.
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