Opal Lee, the indefatigable 97-year-old activist known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” will soon add another prestigious honor to her legacy of advocacy for civil rights. Southern Methodist University (SMU) will present Lee with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during its May 11 commencement ceremony. “Having Ms. Lee join us at commencement and share her work through a symposium is a signal honor for our University,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said in a released statement. “Her life’s work is most deserving of this recognition, and our students will be inspired by her.” Lee ..read more

After countless hours of hard work and endless days of execution, Elkins senior Sydney Freeman is now headed to the UIL State track meet for both the shot put and discussion. Freeman qualified for the UIL State meet by throwing 142-10 in the discus and 44-10 in the shot put. “It feels amazing to have this opportunity. I feel blessed,” said Freeman. Unlike other track enthusiasts, Freeman had a delayed entry into the world of track and field. It wasn’t until the 8th grade, during her time at Fort Settlement Middle School in Missouri City, Texas, that she began participating. Initially, Freeman ..read more

My dad, an octogenarian now, has thrown at me and my little sister sayings, phrases, gems of wisdom and words of warning since we’ve known this dude – i.e. our entire lives. “Don’t piss in my face and tell me it’s raining.” “Sh*t, or get off the pot.” “Straighten up and fly right. Straighten up and stay right. Straighten up and fly right. Cool down, papa, don’t you blow your top.” That last one, he delivered to us by singing (which he does supremely) that old, old-school Nat King Cole classic. Oh, how I wish the folk at Rainbow PUSH had received decades of CW’s verbal instruction. How do I kn ..read more

Though roughly 45 million Americans combined are burdened with $1.7 trillion in student loan debt, Blacks carry a disproportionately heavy percentage of that load. The ongoing impact of generational and current structural racism, the historically and purposefully generated inequitable distribution of wealth, a labor market that still punishes applicants with “Black-sounding” names and soaring tuition costs place burdens upon Black borrowers that college students of other races rarely if ever have to face. So, how does that debt impact Black students, financially and beyond? And what about the ..read more

Houston’s Black poets are keeping the art form alive. The city’s current Poet Laureate, Aris Kian Brown is seen here (middle) in April 2023, between Poet Laureate Emeritus, Emanuelee “Outspoken” Bean and Necole S. Irvin, director of Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs to her left, and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Public Library Director, Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson to her right. Credit: Mayor’s Office. Long before the classic movie “Love Jones” initiated a “re-birth” of Blackfolk’s appreciation for poetry and the modern-day spoken word movement, our people used the rhyme and rhyt ..read more

When an unwelcome sickness or ailment creeps up, your home becomes both a sanctuary and a battlefield in the fight against sickness. Yet, recent research conducted by MDLIVE, an Evernorth company and leading virtual care provider, suggests many U.S. workers may be unknowingly engaging in activities that are hindering their recovery process. “It’s easy to overlook the subtle ways in which our sick day habits can impede our path to wellness, especially when we’re distracted by our daily responsibilities or the physical symptoms of sickness,” notes Dr. Vontrelle Roundtree, Associate Chief Medica ..read more

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A conservative backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts is rapidly gaining traction across the United States, with officials in about one-third of states now taking action to restrict such initiatives. The latest move came in Tennessee, where the Republican governor signed legislation prohibiting financial institutions from considering a customer’s participation in DEI training or social justice programming. Similarly, Kansas recently barred using DEI statements in student admissions, financial aid or employment decisions at public colleges. In Iowa, lawmakers approved a ..read more

All April, jazz enthusiasts around the nation celebrate National Jazz Appreciation Month, a time dedicated to honoring the rich heritage and history of this American art form. From its humble beginnings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to its evolution into a global phenomenon, jazz is a genre born out of Black culture. Rooted in the blues and inspired by the vibrant sounds of the Deep South, jazz-inspired new methods and styles, pushing the boundaries of musical expression and innovation. From ragtime rhythms to bebop’s improvisational brilliance, jazz captivated audiences with its ..read more

Dr. Robert Bullard, the namesake of Texas Southern University’s (TSU) Bullard Center for Environmental & Climate Justice, could have been anywhere on the planet for Earth Day 2024 (April 22). As the “Father of the Environmental Justice Movement,” Bullard is rarely on TSU’s Third Ward, Houston campus because he is constantly in demand to share his environmental justice insights with a world facing nonstop ecological assaults. But he chose to stay home this Earth Day. And for good reason. “We are grateful to the EPA for selecting this multifaceted project as part of the Inflation Reduction ..read more