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East Texas News
I once heard Texas
Governor Ann Richards describe President Bush as a man who was "born on
third base and thought he hit a triple". I also heard a comedian once
describe our current President, as a man dancing in a bar with hairy crooked
legs, wearing short pants. The comedian went on to say that from where he
was sitting in the bar, he could tell that the man was trying very hard and
putting a lot of effort into his dancing routine. However, he said it was
very obvious from way across the room, that something wasn't right with that
man. In my mind those two comical hypothetical parables amply describe the
man called by U.S. Senator Byrd "the weakest President in 50 years". When
you look at Bush and his administration one can clearly see that there are
many volatile issues being dealt with by them. On some of those issues, like
the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism, its quite obvious that Bush and
his people are putting a lot of effort and resources into winning those
wars. But a closer examination of how they are really handling these
situations will reveal "chinks in the armor" of his administration, that has
America operating like a defective nation. While I am a guy who voted for
Rev. AI Sharpton in the Democratic primaries, I will cast my vote for John
Kerry in November, because I know Kerry or any of the democratic candidates
who ran would have been better than Bush. The bottom line is, we have a rich
spoiled man sitting in the White house who doesn't have a clue about how to
properly run a country. He certainly didn't know how to run Texas when he
was Governor. In my mind the only "House" President Bush should be in is
"Home on the Range" , at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. When that day comes,
we will all get a break from a defective President, that everyone knows
something is wrong with. Rev. Reginald Marshall of Tyler is a 1980 graduate
of Kennard High and a former basketball player for Texas College in Tyler.
Rev. Marshall has been married to the former Eddie Mae Ware, a Crockett
native for 20 years. They have five girls and three grandchildren. I asked
Rev. Reginald about the current racial unrest that is going on in the Tyler
Independent School District, involving TISD's (white) Superintendent, Dr.
David Simmons's attack on Tyler's Black community. Rev. Reginald shook his
head in dismay, and said, “he had been living in Tyler since 1980. Things
have changed on the racial front since the early 80's, but there is still a
lot of racism in Tyler," he said. Rev. Reginald said for one, you have a
"divided city", North and South Tyler. The whole city is divided along
racial lines, it's the same way with the schools. He went on to say that
John Tyler High is a Black school and Robert E. Lee High is a white school,
that use to be named the Rebels and had a confederate flag as their symbol
before changing the name to the raiders later up in the years.
He emphasized that some of the racist symbols have disappeared from around
Tyler in the last 20 something years, but racism is still in people's minds.
It affects the Black community of Tyler in many negative ways. Rev. Reginald
pointed to Tyler's judicial system and cited a recent example of how racism
is a problem in Tyler. He said the White lady in Tyler who recently killed
two of her three sons by beating them in the heads with rocks and seriously
injuring the third boy, was found to be insane and sentenced to a mental
institution by a Tyler Judge and jury. Rev. Marshall said a short while back
there was a Black woman in Tyler with mental problems who put her baby in a
tub of scalding hot water. The Black lady only scaled the baby's feet and
the Tyler judicial system gave her 15 to 50 years in prison. He said it's
time for a change in the schools and the law enforcement system in Tyler.
Rev. Marshall offered this solution to TISD's racial problem. I think we
need to get rid of people like Dr. David Simmons and replace people like him
with qualified Black people. There are enough of them around who can do
executive jobs, we just need to use them. Rev. Marshall offers this advice
to young people. Acquire an education, follow through on the education,
because you're your own person, it's your direction. Nobody makes your final
choices but you. Strive for excellence. Debbie "Little Debbie" Washington
Littleton of Lufkin, a late 70's graduate of Crockett High was all smiles
when she told me about their new church in Lufkin. Debbie and husband, Rev.
C.E. Littleton, a native of Tennessee, are the pastor and wife of the Light
of Life Assembly Baptist Church of Lufkin. She is the daughter of Verdie B.
and St. Thomas, "Jr." Washington of Crockett. She is also the mother of
former Crockett sports standouts Wadell and Kevin Smith. Debbie and Rev.
Littleton have been at their new church for four months. She says she really
enjoys living in Lufkin. She added the people are really friendly. Debbie
says she is inviting all of her friends to come and visit with them. Dr.
Lanthia Fisher of Crockett spoke at one of Debbie's Church's recent Black
History programs. Debbie says Dr. Fisher, who works for the Crockett ISD
gave a great speech on Black History and cultural awareness. I asked Debbie
about the young people in their church and what advice did she have for
today's youth. Debbie said before we go any further she would like to
acknowledge her two grand kids, Jamiya Nicole and Destiny Smith. She said
the young people in their church are active in all phases of the church. The
praise dance team made up of young church members who do a wonderful job of
praising God through spiritual dancing and expressions are just one of the
activities that youngsters are involved in at the Light of Life Assembly
Baptist Church of Lufkin. Her advice for youngsters is for them to put God
first in their lives.
Crockett lost a good man when Deacon Robell "Brother" Allen recently passed
away at 93. Brother Allen had 9 children, 25 grandchildren, 23 great
grandchildren, and 10 great, great, grandchildren. Brother Allen who liked
to be called, "Mojo", was a fixture around Crockett. He was a friend to
everyone. Brother Allen, who lived in the Cooper Settlement area of Porter
Springs, outside of Crockett was the "village weatherman" as well as a hard
working family man and faithful Deacon at his church, Union Prairie Baptist
Church of Crockett. Rev. Joe L. Ards, Rev. Dennis Gainous, Rev. Derrick
Bowens, Rev. H. Stroman, Rev. Joe Granberry, Marcello Cobbs, Stephanie
Bryant, and Rev. S.R. Dominique, Pastor of Union Prairie Baptist Church
participated in the funeral processions. High fives go out to former
Crockett High all state running back Brandon Warfield, who recently signed a
free agent contract to play football for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL.
Brandon played for the University of Utah Utes last year and led them in
rushing.
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