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January 23-29, 2008
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Vol. 12 Issue 51
TEXAS’ Widest Circulated and Read Newspaper with a Black Perspective
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Obama on chamber’s menu
Kirbyjon Caldwell preaches politics at AACCGH’s luncheon
BUD JOHNSON
African-American News&Issues
“Obama ain’t our Black’’
PAGE 2
Inner-Beauty
Scholarship
Pageant
seeks
participants
MARVIN D. CLOUD
African-American News&Issues
DALLAS- The recent Martin
Luther King Jr. celebration, reminded us of his words in his worldfamous “I Have A Dream,” speech.
Although King dreamed of a world
where “my four little children will
one day live in a nation where they
See PAGEANT page 3
Although the nation has been
served a steady diet of Sen. Barack
Obama (since he revealed his decision to seek the office of president
of the United States of America
on Feb. 10, 2007, standing before
the Old State Capitol building in
Springfield, Illinois), the “Lunch
Bunch” at the African-American
Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston’s Jan. 10 business network luncheon was delighted
when Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell
put him on their menu. “Not only
is the Obama campaign historical,
it’s also history-making,” Windsor Village Church’s senior pastor
explained. “Regardless who you’re
going to vote for, you can not deny
the fact that it is a history making
moment.”
Reaction from the capacity
audience attending the monthly luncheon (normally held each
first Thursday of the month at
the Beulah Ann Shepard Building, 6112 Wheatley, suggested
that Caldwell’s remarks resonated. However, Caldwell, tonguein-cheek, launched into his topic
saying, “Here’s the part you might
not like. But since I got the mike
I’m going to say it anyway. At the
risk of sounding like a preacher
... whenever you have…let’s say
a blessing-- for instance--on the
move ... you can rest assured that
a messing on the blessing is not far
behind.” Caldwell, nationally recognized for his relationship with
President George W. Bush, then
revisited Team Obama’s strategy to overcome his racist adversary’s strategy that has historically rendered Black politicians
unelectable.
“What I want to do is share with
you my perspective of the Barack
Obama campaign and what the
Chamber and Black businesses in
general can learn from the campaign,” he continued. “The key ini-
tiative that any successful business
must have is strategy. You can
dream and vision and revision all
you want to, but at some point the
rubber has to hit the road.” After
interjecting the historical aspects
of Obama’s bid for the presidency, the éclat pastor explained
that Obama’s opponent’s strategy is to first attack his ethnicity.
Using humor to make his point,
he touched on the ridiculous double-barrel indictment that he’s too
Black for White bigots (see Editorial), but not Black enough for
“Black Power” pretenders. The
very engaging pulpiteer brought
the house down using facial
expressions to enhance the quip,
“Black enough for what?”
Levity aside, Caldwell’s appearance delighted the Lunch Bunch,
that was able to break bread with
his entourage that included his
iconic 85-year-old father, a living historian and urban legend
in his own right. (FYI: Booker
T. Caldwell was one of the first
Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell likens
Senator Barack Obama’s campaign
to that of successful business owners.
Photo by Roger Jackson
Black tailors to own his own shop
in Houston, Texas.) In fact, the
See OBAMA page 3
H-E-B leads the way in children’s health & fitness
MARVIN D. CLOUD
African-American News&Issues
Keisha Howard, founder of
P.E.A.R.L. Girls.
If you
HISTORY don’t
k now
your
p a st ,
you
don’t
k now
your
24/7/365 f uture
BLACK
Proud to sponsor
BLACK HISTORY EVERYDAY
Quote of the Week
“Women, if the soul of
the nation is to be saved,
I believe that you must
become its soul.”
-Coretta Scott King
HOUSTON – “Many American children and adolescents do
not exercise enough because physical education requirements are
lax, they ride to school instead of
walking or bicycling, they spend
major amounts of time on television and the Internet, and competitive team sports exclude the
less athletically talented. American children and adolescents often
aren’t active enough in their leisure
time because they spend a great
deal of time with electronic media
and lack opportunities for outdoor
free play. Free play is a time children need for their physical and
social development. Many parents
deprive their children of free play
by scheduling them in an endSee CHILDREN’S HEALTH page 3
If there was irony in the fact
that a recent complimentary Black
History Memoriam featured a
lady whose funeral date was one
day after her birthday, it certainly
must be noted when one is born,
died and memorized in the same
month. Thus, Shirley Ann’s Black
Arts & Kollectibles Showroom
(see ad on page two) proudly sponsors a tribute to Groveton Adams,
whose long and productive life was
celebrated on January 23, 2007
at Ross Mortuary Chapel, 3618
Lyons Avenue. Rev. Rory Murphy, of Pure Light Baptist Church,
officiated the order of service and
active pallbearers were: Kenneth
Moffett, Donald Hensley, James
Moffett, Alton Louis and Gregory Brown.
Lawrence Turner, Jerone Austin and Robert Hensley, Jr. were
honorary pallbearers for Groveton,
who was the fifth child born to
Levi and Tora Adams on January 10, 1925 in Jasper, Texas, a
small hamlet off U.S. highways 96
and 190, State Highway 63, and
Sandy Creek in north central Jasper County. Although Jasper is
From the left: Garnet F. Coleman, Texas State Representative, Judy Anderson Texas Collaborative Marketing
Manager for Kraft Foods, Marian Davenport President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters, James Harris Director,
Supplier Diversity for H-E-B, Kelva Kelly Account Business Manager, for Colgate-Palmolive and Terry Williams
Vice President, East Urban Region for H-E-B .
Groveton adams
January 10, 1925-January 14, 2007
best known for a brutal hate crime
that shocked the nation, historically in 1844, Jasper became the
county seat of Jasper County that’s
situated in the Deep East Texas sub
region, 110 miles (180 km) northeast of Houston. The area was settled around 1824 by John R. Bevel.
Thirty families occupied the settlement as early as 1830, when it
was known as Snow River or Bevil’s Settlement after Bevil, one of
the earliest European-American
settlers. In 1835 it was renamed
for William Jasper.
Jasper was a hero of the American Revolution who was killed
attempting to plant the American
colors at the storming of Savannah in 1779. During the Civil War
the town housed a Confederate
quartermaster depot. Antebellum
educational institutions included the Jasper Male and Female
High School, which operated until
1878, when it became the Southeast Texas Male and Female College, and Jasper Collegiate Institute, which operated from 1851
until 1874. With the arrival of the
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway early in the twentieth century,
Jasper grew into a center for the
manufacture of timber products.
Lumber from two sawmills, with
a daily capacity of 125,000 board
feet (295 m), goods from basket
and stave factories, logs, ties, poles,
and pulpwood were shipped in
200 cars per month.
History notwithstanding,
Groveton was reared in Jasper and
attended school there. Afterwards,
he attended a local trade school.
Upon reaching maturity, he enlist-
ed in the military and retired after
25 years of service. Meanwhile, he
was united in holy matrimony to
Clementine Rackmore, who preceded him in death after 53 years.
They owned and operated Adams
Community Residential Facility in
Washington, DC (an adjunct of St.
Elizabeth’s Hospital) for over 15
years. They moved to Dale City,
Virginia in 1967.
He was a faithful member of
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church where he sang with the
Male Chorus and choir. He was a
prayer leader in the senior Bible
class and served in many other
areas of the church until moving
to Houston six months before his
death. He passed from this life on
January 14, 2007. Left in God’s
care is his son, Ricky Adams of
Keyser West, Virginia; two sisters,
Doris Moffett and Alpha Hensley; one brother, Willie Adams of
Houston; two sisters-in-law, Martillo Adams and Elayne Adams;
and a host of nieces, and nephews, and many family members.
Adams’s interment was at Houston National Cemetery.
TX-1
COMMUNITY & PEOPLE
OBAMA -from Page 1
Chamber’s founder and chairman
Roy Douglas Malonson seized an
opportunity to pay tribute to the
pioneering Fifth Ward entrepreneur, affectionately called “Pop
Caldwell,” who also tailored Malonson’s trademark overalls.
Meanwhile, Caldwell’s spiritual energy was infectious and even
the personal introduction session
was energized. Especially, when
Rev. Robert Gilmore regaled the
Lunch Bunch. Later, City Councilmember Peter Brown’s passion
created a pregnant pause.
Catch-22 aside, Caldwell was
at his diplomatic best when he
answered Brown’s question,
“Don’t you think that an Obama
victory would bring White people
and Black people together?” For
sure, the audience was Waiting to
Exhale, until a political answer rescued a gospel preacher that know’s
Jesus the Christ’s story all too well
to believe Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr’s dream will become a reality
in this millennium. On the other
hand, a wide diversity of ethnicities had no problem networking
at the luncheon underwritten by
Reliant Energy and Amegy Bank.
Table sponsors were CenterPoint
Energy, Windsor Village Church,
African-American News&Issues,
North Harris College, Shirley Ann
Black Art & Kollectibles Showroom and Houston Community
College System.
As usual, the Chamber members did an outstanding job of
coordinating the event thanks to
Judge Oswald Scott, who welcomed the Lunch Bunch at the
behest of Robert LeDay who introduced the speaker. Rev. Lisa Berry
Dockery, host of KCOH (1430
AM) radio’s Saturday Person-toPerson talk show (10-12a.m.) and
minister at Windsor Village, set
the tone of the festive occasion
when she blessed the delicious
cuisine catered by Lacy’s Restaurant. The event was thoroughly
enjoyed by a Lunch Bunch sharing
sponsored tables that included:
Darryl Williams, Al Scarborough,
Phillip McKnight, Floyd LeBlanc,
Thurman Hicks, Irv White, Wilbert Howard Jr., Carolyn Richards,
Willie Lane, Toni Williams, Mary
Strawder, Millicent Haynes and J.
Otis Mitchell at Windsor Village
MBC’s two tables.
As always, Houston Community College Systems table was
well represented by Dr. Margaret
Ford, Sheron Bruno, Dr. Abe Bryant, Patsy Flowers, Jackie Howard, James Smith, Victor Vegg and
Jason Wilson; Mike Adams, Gayle
Bolden, Veronica Guillory, Janette
Hammond, Susan Lewis, Steve
Gipson, Scott Burke and Harold Warner CenterPoint Energy);
Debra Harper, Dr. Vivian Lilly, Dr.
Ann Swint, Dr. Bennie Lambert,
Shannon Lee, Sherry Banks and
Tina Lowery (North Harris College); Chantee Kazeem, Katrina
Dowdell, Kathryn Franklin, Sylvia Teague, Jeannie Tatum, Alberta Herrion and Gayle McCloud
(Community in Schools); Elizabeth Brock, Charlene Johnson,
Wendi Bluett, Sarah Valle, Paul
Richardson, Rob Porras and Tracy
Jones was guest of Reliant Energy.
H-E-B.’s table was shared by
Linetta Birney, Donnell Phillips, Larry Paton, Obediah Lewis,
Tasha Boulen, Beatrice Mitchell, Art Thomas and Mayphous
Collins; and Almal Nickleberry,
Brian Stoker, Shirley Penn, Diane
Maben, Morgan Stewart, Matthew Dent and John Hernandez
represented Amegy Bank; Atty.
Rieck Baumann, a GOP representative and NAACP board member, shared a table with Utopia
Lastrap, Andrew Nunley III, Darwyn Daniels, Rose Howard, Carla
Hamilton and Leonard Powers,
III; Dominique Fransan and Ce
Ce Mathews of Triumph Hospital
shared a table with David Jones,
Carol Smith, Deirdre Dickson,
Juliette Wiltz, Rita Andrews, Cynthia Nickerson and Mary Martin.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson
Lee was presented by Anita James,
who shared a table with Carolyn
Richards, Gene Stubbson (local
author and businessman), Lakeesha Posley, LaQuita Joubert, Carol
Lazard, Michael Williams and
Morris Fountain. HFD’s Al Bennett shared a table with Chamber
seniors Oveta Hunter and Marlise
Armstrong.
The Chamber’s first business
networking luncheon on 2008
closed on a high note, insofar as
prizes were won by ticket holders
and awards were bestowed upon
the speaker, and his father. To
RSVP for the Thursday, Febuary
7, 2008 luncheon, call (713) 6927003. The speaker for the event
will be Jim McInvale, (Mattress
Mac), local philanthropist and
owner of Gallery Furniture.
PAGEANT -from Page 1
will not be judged by the color of
their skin but by the content of
their character.” The word “character” resonated with Keisha Howard, a Certified Children and Teen’s
Etiquette Instructor, and the found-
er of P.E.A.R.L. (Poised Elegant
and Responsible Leaders) Girls, a
program that encompasses principles that focus on more than just
manners and personal appearance,
but instills values that will affect a
young girl’s future and influence
her lifestyle.
Her dream is to teach young
girls are taught how to develop into
independent, respectful, and motivated ladies. The P.E.A.R.L. program is based upon her years of
experience in training girls and
teaching modeling and etiquette
programs with such diverse groups
as: the Barbizon School of Modeling, The Martin Luther King, Jr.
Learning Center after-school program, the Doris Miller YMCA, the
Young Girls Growing Into Womanhood Organization, the Richland Mall, Waco High School, the
City of Waco Youth Enrichment
Department, the Richardson Boys
and Girls Club, and the Vision of
All-Stars Organization.
Although manners have become
more relaxed over the last 50 years,
and today’s standard of etiquette
is rooted in treating everyone with
the same degree of kindness and
consideration, it consists mostly of
common sense. However, the way
young girls are often portrayed and
projected in the media—video vixens, money grabbing, hootchies—is
in diametrically opposed to common sense. This was proven to be
true to a great degree to Howard
while working as an elementary
school Social Worker.
She couldn’t help but notice that
un-ladylike mannerisms were prev-
Roy Douglas Malonson-Chairman
Shirley Ann Malonson-Pres./CEO
Bud Johnson-Mgr. Editor Emeritus
Marvin D. Cloud-Production Mgr.
Lisa Smith - Production Assistant
Jesse Simon - Photojournalist
Mario Salas-Cont. Writer
Oswald J. Scott -Cont. Writer
Roger Jackson-Photographer
Fred Smith-Advertising/Sales
James Johnson-Distribution
Allen Carlton-Distribution
David Johnson-Distribution
• Advertising: 713-692-1178
• Houston: 713-692-1892
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• General: [email protected]
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African-American News &Issues is published by African-American News &Issues, Inc., 6130 Wheatley Street
Houston, Texas 77091, 713.692.1892.
The entire contents of the paper are copyrighted by African-American News &Issues, Inc. All rights reserved.
Material in this publication may not be reproduced
in any form without the expressed written consent of
the publisher.
African-American News &Issues assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and
other material, unless accompanied by a self-address
stamped envelope.
African-American News &Issues is not responsible for
any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions
expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the publisher.
Letters to the editor should include name, address and
daytime phone number (name & city will be printed).
See PHOTOS page 5
African-American News&Issues • Texas • January 23-29, 2008 • 3
ANALYSIS -from Page 2
country that imposes its views on
the rest of the world through force
and that is why we were attacked
on 9/11/01. Simply stated – It’s our
own fault….She also believes that
getting ahead in America should
not just come from hard work, but
through entitlements.
Those who work hard to earn
money and go the extra mile for
their families should not be burdened with higher taxes to pay for
more social programs for those who
earn less-or- REDISTRIBUTION
OF WEALTH. Another term for
this notion is SOCIALISM…Do
not fall for Hillary’s new stance on
current topics. Her current lean to
the right of center is no more than a
transparent ploy to make her seem
less of an ULTRA-LIBERAL and
more of a traditional American for
her upcoming bid for her husband’s
old job.- Anybodybuthillary.net.)
I’m not campaigning for Obama,
or Hillary. But I’m politically savvy
enough to realize it would be impossible for a Republican candidate to
beat Hillary if she had the female
and Black vote. In addition, common sense tells me the only Democrat opponent that could possibly
beat Hillary had to out “Black” the
wife of a former “Black president”
and negate her power base.
I would love to see a Black president in the White House during my
lifetime. But, as a publisher I must
tell it like it is, rather than how I
want it to be. Accordingly, I must
say to those who haven’t figured
UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND
and
present
Anita Baker
Chris Isaak
Diana Ross
Hill Harper
Aretha Franklin
Ne-Yo
Joss Stone
Stevie Wonder
Chanté Moore
Kenny Lattimore
John Legend
Shemar Moore
Yolanda Adams
and many more.
Special Award to
NANCY WILSON
Sunday, January 27, 2008
KTXH-TV My 20
8:30 P.M.
uncf.org
out why the media is promoting a
Hillary against Obama winner take
all political wresting match. It’s
The Black Vote Stupid!
CHILDREN’S HEALTH -from Page 1
less round of organized activities.
The new report Physical Activity
Trends: Business and Policy Implications, 2007 Edition, documents
the sad but true facts stated earlier.
The report was put together by The
Consilience Group, LLC, on the
future of fitness and sports commissioned by SBRnet, a Princeton,
New Jersey sports market research
firm (http://www.sbrnet.com).
In response to these trends as
they pertain to children, H-E-B,
Kraft Foods and Colgate-Palmolive are encouraging health and fitness education. Recently, 20 Houston youth from Big Brothers and
Big Sisters were selected as winners
in a photography contest hosted by
the three entities. The contest was
designed to help the children capture photos that reflected an active
and healthy lifestyle.
State Representative Garnet
Coleman, (District 147) presented the winners with an honorable
plaque on January 8 at the H-E-B
Gulfgate store, 3111 Woodridge.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is honored
to be involved in this effort,” said
Marian Davenport, president and
CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Participation in the 2008 H-EB Health and Fitness Journal photography contest has allowed the
youth involved in our program to
express themselves creatively while
helping to raise awareness of health
and fitness in their local community.”
H-E-B, Kraft Food and ColgatePalmolive sponsored a series of
photography seminars for youth
ages eight to 12 from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. During the
seminars, the youth learned how
to share their views of the world
through photography. Each participant was also given a digital camera.
“Promoting health and fitness
education among today’s youth is a
key priority for H-E-B as a company,” said Winell Herron, group vice
president, public affairs and diversity for H-E-B. “This program is a
great way to encourage children to
lead an active lifestyle.”
There were 100 entries, and the
winning photos will be published in
the 2008 Health and Fitness Journal. The 80-page Health and Fitness Journal will consist of recipes,
health, nutrition and fitness information and will allow readers to
record fitness and dietary goals and
accomplishments. The publication
will be available free at Houston
area H-E-B stores with the purchase of participating Kraft or
Colgate-Palmolive products. The
stores have an initiative in 2008 to
support health and fitness educa-
tion throughout Texas. ©2008 UNCF
“This program is a great way for
youth to become actively involved
in raising awareness of health and
fitness education in their local
community,” said Judy Anderson,
Collaborate Marketing Manager—Texas Region for Kraft Foods.
“Along with H-E-B and ColgatePalmolive, Kraft is also dedicated to
promoting health and nutrition in
a way that allows youth to express
themselves creatively.”
The winners, all from Houston,
were: Trachelle Whitsey, Chezley
Whelchel, Delayzha L. Sweet, Jayvier A. Green, Jovante X. Rodriguez,
Christina Cochran, Dominique
Walker, Destinee Guerrero, Megan
Martin, Ayanna Magee, Shanell
Moore, Lovelyne Dorsaint, Daizy
Orozco, Shawn Avery Robertson,
Christian Blount, Lydarius Robbins, MarQuis Small, Markeshia
Cannon, Gabrielle Botello, and
Ashley Hill.
“It is indeed a privilege for Colgate-Palmolive to offer Texas families and youth easily-accessible information on healthy living
and eating,” said Market Development Manager, Colgate-Palmolive
Wanda Young. “We’re committed
to working with these young people, and educating them on making
healthy choices for themselves and
their families.”
alent not only in the lunchroom,
but also in the classroom. She
also was surprised by some of the
girl’s lack of self-esteem, personal hygiene, and respect for themselves and others. Recent videos
on YouTube concerning teenage
girls actions in school might have
caused an uproar nationwide, but it
came as no surprise to her.
But there are two kinds of people in the world: talkers and doers.
After thinking about the situation,
she decided to host an experimental
etiquette after-school program to
introduce the girls to proper decorum. Word began to get around
as girls who were normally introverted, developed self-confidence,
appreciation for their appearance
and table etiquette. Soon, parents
were thanking her for transforming
their daughters’ “social” improvement. The success of this experimental after-school program called
“A Class Act”, was the inspiration
behind the development of the
P.E.A.R.L. Girls organization.
“Whether they are carrying a
backpack or a briefcase, P.E.A.R.L.
Girls is dedicated to making sure
that our client’s manners not only
enable them to feel comfortable
in any social setting, but leave a
lasting impression with whomever
or whatever their professional and
social future holds for them. Our
girls are future Presidents, CEO’s,
ambassadors, producers, managers,
teachers, entrepreneurs, and much,
much more,” stated Howard. She
pointed out that P.E.A.R.L. Girls is
not just another etiquette school,
modeling club, or charm school.
“Our goal is to make sure that girls:
Believe in themselves; Possess social
elegance; Love who they are; Know
where they are going.”
None of this is new to Howard, an educator and active community volunteer. Growing up in
central Texas, courtesy and respect
were not only expected, but were
continuously enforced. At a young
age, she began her professional
training and competed in several
scholarship pageants. She attended the Barbizon School of Modeling (where she later was employed
as an instructor) and the University
of North Texas while continuing to
model professionally.
She has been nominated for the
Cambridge Who’s Who of America’s Professional and Executive
Women award, is a member of
the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Inc., the Dallas Junior Chamber of
Commerce, and the Dallas Urban
League Young Professionals. She
believes that becoming a P.E.A.R.L.
Girl starts from within. Therefore
her programs are designed to develop their inner-beauty, which inturn positively translate to their
outward beauty.
This led to the founding of the
Inner-Beauty Scholarship Pageant.
The pageant seeks Dallas Independent School District (D.I.S.D.) students as participants and give them
the opportunity to win scholarship
money for college. To enter, contestants must meet certain basic
requirements and agree to abide by
all the rules of the competition.
Applications for the pageant
which will be held Saturday, May
10, 2008, are due by Monday, February 11, 2008. Applications are
being accepted online at www.ourpearlsgirls.org. For more information, call (972)795-5577.
TX-3