FORTH WORTH- Leaders of Fort Worth’s SCLC, NAACP and LULAC joined forces with the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service to develop a memorandum of agreement to form a civil/human rights coalition.
The purpose of the coalition is to support each other’s initiatives and those of other likeminded organizations.
The coalition will address alleged discriminatory actions against minorities in Forth Worth. The organizations assert discrimination is still very much alive in the metroplex and hope that by combining forces, they will improve race relations between minority communities, school districts, and law enforcement in Tarrant County.

“This is a new day and a new way. We will not rest, we will not sway, we will not tire until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. Our ultimate desire and goal is to find ‘meaningful ways’ to work together to solve our common concerns and issues,” said Pastor Kyev Tatum, president of the Fort Worth SCLC.

According to leaders, this is an unprecedented coalition and the details are still being worked out. Each organization will continue to operate independently, but leaders are confident that this historic union will strengthen their ability to aggressively address issues of discrimination in Fort Worth and help to bridge the gap currently existing within minority populations.

On most days of the week, but especially on the weekend, there is probably no other place, with the exception of the church where you can find such a variety of instruction, conversation and role models for people of all ages as our neighborhood beauty and barber shops. Recent plays, movies and books have portrayed the impact on society that beauty and barber shops play in shaping the lives of our community.

One of the ties that bind us is our hair. Amid the politics, religion, sports and current events, the latest do’s are being put together. It is also true that many of these establishments are networking havens, where one can buy on the spot items ranging from clothing to freshly baked foods from vendors who wouldn’t end their rounds without stopping by.

Yet it is easy to forget that these staples of the community are actually enterprises that allow barbers and beauticians to ply a trade that can keep someone gainfully employed for an entire career. Many owners have been in business for 40 or more years, which is a testament to what someone can do if they would only learn a trade.

Photo by Jesse Simon: Essie Wynn (Barber), Steve Harrison (in chair) and Hexser Holliday at Sam Gayle’s Barber Shop.

FT. WORTH- Currently, Pastor Kyev Tatum, president of the Fort Worth SCLC, is leading the charge amid cries of wrongful death in the matter of Michael Patrick Jacobs, Jr., 24. According to reports, on April 18, 2009, Jacobs, who suffered from bi-polar disorder, had stopped taking his medication because it was making him ill. As is common for individuals with mental health issues, he began having difficulties within the home of his parents in southeast Fort Worth.
They placed a call to 911 around 10:30 a.m., alerting them of his condition and requesting MedStar ambulance transport him to John Peter Smith Hospital. But his parents did not receive the kind of help they were seeking.

Officers subdue suspects in  a typical arrest scene using tasers.
The Ft. Worth Medical Examiner’s report states that despite the
fact that officers observed that Michael Patrick Jacobs, Jr., was
unresponsive and had stopped breathing, after tasering him for
54 seconds, they failed to render aid by performing CPR, which
may have saved the victim’s life.

Senior citizens who participate in
social programs such as the ones
available at the Northeast Multi-
Service facility, located at 9720
Spaulding, enjoy longer, healthier
lives. Participants here are social-
izing, while enjoying a nutritious
meal following a lively game of
dominoes.
                 Photo by Jesse Simon


Booker T. Washington, founder of the Tuskegee Institute of Learning, told Blacks and Whites on the heals of slavery about a ship lost at sea for many days. Suddenly sighting a friendly vessel, they sent from their mast the signal: “Water, water. We die of thirst.”

The Harris County Homeowner Disaster Recovery Program (HDRP) has received more than 600 applications from Harris County homeowners whose homes were damaged as a result of Hurricane Ike.  The program, which launched in October, provides money to repair, reconstruct, and/or elevate homes that qualify.

DALLAS- Curtis King of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters is tired of his patrons getting the boot. King has been working with Dallas City Councilmember Tennell Atkins to address the allegations against Parking Company of America regarding the practice of booting “non-paying” customers. According to TBAAL officials, at least twice a week visitors who patronize the theater return to their cars only to find a “boot” on their vehicle.

For many African-Americans, excessive, long-term

stress is often a major contributing factor in the

development or exacerbation of many serious health

conditions and illnesses such as anxiety, depression,

high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, diabetes,

ulcers, and infertility.
No matter how much they earn or where they live,

stress is a burden that seems to weigh down far too

many African Americans. The hazardous level of

stress faced by African Americans is keeping their

bodies constantly on edge causing their health and

mental wellness to be at risk. This Black History Month,

wellness advocates, Mental Health America of Greater

Houston and the Houston Wellness Association are

encouraging African Americans to take better care of

their health by managing their stress—in their personal

lives and at work.

No matter how much they earn or where they live, stress is a burden that seems to weigh down far too many African Americans. The hazardous level of stress faced by African Americans is keeping their bodies constantly on edge causing their health and mental wellness to be at risk.  This Black History Month, wellness advocates, Mental Health America of Greater Houston and the Houston Wellness Association are encouraging African Americans to take better care of their health by managing their stress—in their personal lives and at work. 

 

“Stress is a normal response and the body’s way of protecting you,” said Betsy Schwartz, president and CEO of Mental Health America of Greater Houston. “When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert.”

 

According to Schwartz, not all stress is harmful to your health.  A little stress motivates and helps you to meet challenges, but prolonged stress can stop being helpful and can start causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life.

(Back to forward) Neiya U. Valley, Detrick Williams, Robert Powers and
Lavoy Powers develop their skills at the Finnigan Park  Community Center.
Photo by Jesse Simon

Back in the day, there didn’t appear to be much opportunity in the Fifth Ward, located east of downtown Houston, but it produced a lot of great people like the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and the late CongressmanMickey Leland.

Many young people gathered at Finnigan Park, donated by Annette Finnigan during the Depression. Due to segregation, the only park available for Blacks was Emancipation Park.

In time, the Finnigan Park Project was developed making it a multi-purpose community center.
Located at 4900 Providence Street in the Fifth Ward, also known as Da’ Nickel, the kids would shoot some ball, ride bikes and hang out with their friends. Many of them dreamed of making it big in sports and the park gave them a place to show their skill and improve their talent. Others retreated to the world of music and made a name for themselves in that arena such as Arnett Cobb, Milton Larkin, and Illinois Jacquet—to the modern day rap group Geto Boys. It is also the original home for the jazz fusion group Joe Sample and the Crusaders.
The old saying, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop,” rang true throughout the area and although many kids got into trouble,  it would have been the case for many more if it wasn’t for Finnigan Park.It offered hope and outlets for constructive activity and it still does. Today, all ages can go to the park and build their computer skills, take line dancing, ABE/GED classes and courses through Houston Community College and more.

HOUSTON– My Fellow Man Alliance along with Avi-Star Airport Parking will continue their two-month outreach endeavor, “Heating Houston’s Homeless.” The outreach, which kicked-off on Jan. 9, occurs between 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. every other Saturday, during the months of February.
The idea is to provide homeless Houstonians with items to assist them in keeping warm during the coldest months of the year. The Alliance and Avi-Star Airport Parking are challenging the community to get involved.

Photo: Positive Images of Black Males    

I grew up around men who were always working on something. Cars mostly, but they dabbled in repairing lawn mowers, washing machines, TV sets, radios and much more. Radios you ask? Yes radios. Not a solid state radio like we have today, but a radio that used vacuum tubes. Vacuum tubes looked similar to a light bulb, except the glass casing was clear and the bulb’s glow was orange rather than white. If a bulb went out, we just walked down to the local corner store and found a replacement tube with the same number or its alternate.