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East Texas News

  The recent shocking photos of American soldiers torturing and humiliating Iraqi prisoners, has once again put the spotlight on President (The King) and his "war hawk" administration. Those graphic photos, which in my mind say more about the mentality of the people running this war and their ineptness, than the low ranking soldiers who perpetrated those sick acts. With that said, I think the upside to this tragedy are the true patriots who have emerged from this fiasco. Especially the young U.S. soldier who reported this abuse and the people who finally took action against those atrocities. That soldier and the others are heroes for doing the right thing, despite the consequences they may face. I guarantee you that those soldiers in the photos were following a chain of command, they knew it was wrong but they were following orders.

Maybe the heroic actions of the young soldier will inspire others to do the same thing and stand up against wickedness in high places, occurring in other vital areas of our government.
If we had enough "whistle blowers" we probably could get the real reasons that we are actually in Iraq, and what's really going on over there. Mistreatment of people is not suppose to be something that is associated with America's image. Torturing and strong arming people is something that other evil people and empires do. We (Americans) are too civilized to do something that horrible. Well, the world is getting to know what Black people have known for hundreds of years--that torture and humiliation of people has been part of American culture from day one.

The Black community of Tyler recently sent a message to Tyler Independent School District's Superintendent, Dr. David Simmons, that they are not going to put up with his "racial shenanigans." The Tyler Black community recently organized a three day Black student boycott of the Tyler Independent School District, that left TISD school officials scratching their heads, wondering where were the Black students. According to Rev. Reginald Marshall of Tyler, the Black students were at Tyler's Black churches which opened up to keep the students off the streets, while the boycott was going on. Rev. Marshall said Tyler community leaders like John Johnson and many of Tyler's Black ministers along with concerned Black parents made the boycott a success. He went on to say that Dr. Simmons who is white, has been trying to replace Black educators in the TISD since he got to Tyler two years ago.


Rev. Marshall said he kept his kids away form school as did his brother Ricky Marshall and his uncle Freddy Marshall who also have children in the TISD. I asked Rev. Marshall, a graduate of Kennard High and Texas College in Tyler, did he think the boycott would stop Dr. Simmons from trying to remove longtime popular African American principal Dr. Aubrey Todd from his position at John Tyler High? He quickly added that the boycott was just one tactics they plan to use to get justice for the Black community.

Congratulations go out to Rev. and Sis. Oscar Henderson of Crockett, Pastor and wife of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Sis. Earlie Groves of Crockett who attended said Rev. Henderson, a native of Galveston has done a great job at Friendship since he became the pastor three years ago. Rev. Winston Spencer, pastor of New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church was the guest speaker. Dr. Lanthia Fisher served as mistress of ceremony. Others on the program were Sis. Jackie Reagan’s, Sis. Betty Hubbard, Sis. Mae Bell Daniels, Bro. W.L. Tillis, Bro. Luther Randolph, and Sis. Barbara Berry. From what I've heard, Rev. Henderson is continuing that great legacy of preaching and teaching at Friendship Baptist, that his predecessor the late great Rev. Dr. T.W. Berry left there.
High fives go out to Crockett City Council woman Margaret Burnett, for her dedication to not only her constituents, but to the youth of Crockett. I recently got to talk to Councilwoman Burnettt about her work outside of her city council duties. "I am the executive director of a HOD sponsored youth program that operates out of Prince Hall Manor on MLK Jr. Blvd. In Crockett, she said. Mrs. Burnett invited me to the kids and staff party for their youth, out reach ministry, held at the beautiful new Holiday Inn Express on Loop 304 in Crockett. There I had the pleasure of reuniting with Pastor Robert Dixon Jr. of Houston, his wife Anita and his mother Mrs. Lurlean Dixon.

Rev. Dixon is the director of Partners In Power Inc. and Outreach ministry program from the First Baptist Church of Greens Bayou, Houston. The Dixon’s and Mrs. Burnett work hand in hand with their staff to help the kids become the best that they can be, at the Prince Hall Recreation Center. One of the prize products are an energetic dance, praise, stomp team called the Prince Hall Steppers. I got to watch those very talented kids, doing some really creative and artistic dance moves at their party. I asked Rev. Dixon, who I had the pleasure of meeting several months ago about their outreach youth ministry. He described the program as a ministry that meets the specific needs of the community.

Rev. Dixon, who calls his parents and whole family his role models, says it brings his heart much joy to have an opportunity to mold and change lives. He added that the full youth program consists of more than the dance team, it's based on a tutoring, mentoring and computer literacy program. Rev. Dixon said he came to East Texas, because of the needs of the youth of this area and added that "he will be here as long as the Lord sees fit".
Anita Dixon of Houston is the wife of Rev. Dixon, a member and a lady committed to the youth. She describes her work with the youth as a gift God gave her to help mold, structure and touch kids lives to help them become important parts of society. Areia "Pebbles" Bacon of Crockett was one of the hard working youth instructors of the Prince Hall Steppers that I spoke with. Pebbles is a native of Dallas and a 90's graduate of Dallas Lincoln High School.. She is married to former Crockett High standout football player Lonnie Charles Bacon and they have two children--Lonnie Bacon Jr. and Devaunte Bacon. Pebbles and family are members of Bethel Baptist Church of Crockett under the pastorate of Minister Earl Harris. Pebbles said she enjoys working with kids and wants to give the kids of the program an opportunity to participate in different things and see some different places. She said the Prince Hall Steppers are scheduled to participate in dance competitions in Dallas, Houston and other cities.

Yolanda Lockhart of Crockett was another dedicated youth Dance instructor for the Prince Hall Steppers that I got to speak with. Yolanda, who was a dance and youth director for the Groves Educational Foundation and the Crockett Boys and Girls Club, says she love to work with the kids. Yolanda has two daughters in the Prince Hall Steppers. Shemetria Landry, Sis. Lurlean Dixon, Sis. Earlie Groves and Sis. Lonnie Ree Strange made up to rest of the staff and volunteers on hand. Sis. Lurlean Dixon, Rev.

Dixon's mother is an intelligent, dedicated Christian lady who is over the mission department at her church. Sis. Dixon, who is the matriarch of the Dixon's Family, says she has done a lot of outreach ministry, and really loves to work with the kids in East Texas. This column is dedicated to the late Willie Lee Baker Sr., of Crockett who recently passed away. Willie Lee Baker Sr. was a 1960's Ralph Bunche High Alumni and the father of four sons and two step daughters. He was the brother of Izeletta Baker Williams of Galveston, formerly of Crockett. Mr. Baker's nephew Otis William of Galveston described his Uncle as a good man who will be greatly missed.