Houston Leaders Try to Save Historic Site
Black leaders in Houston, walking in the footsteps of three former slaves, are trying to raise enough funds to save the city’s storied Emancipation Park. They are hoping to come up with about $2 million for improvements to the fitness trail, a children’s water park, new tennis courts and a public amphitheatre. The money would also allow for additional staff to keep the park maintained. Roughly 137 years ago, two Black preachers and a local politician, all former slaves, raised $800 – an impressive sum at the time – for 10 acres that ultimately became Texas’ first and only city park for Black people for more than two decades. As crime and neglect have chipped away at the park, city leaders are determined to restore it to a place of historic pride. Dorris Ellis, president of the nonprofit Friends of Emancipation Park Board and publisher of The Houston Sun newspaper, said that the goal is to make it a destination place once more.  “We want it to be a masterpiece,” she told The Houston Chronicle. “We have a wonderful vision. … We’re planning for 50 years, 100 years down the road,” she said. A historically protected landmark, the park opened in 1872 when pastors Jack Yates and Elias Dibble and political leader Richard Allen raised $800 to acquire the land at an interest rate 6-percent higher than White citizens were charged, Ellis said. “The park was the site of Houston’s first Juneteenth celebration and was donated to the city in 1916,” the Chronicle reports. “When Houston segregated its parks in 1922, Emancipation Park was the only facility open to Blacks.”

 
NAACP Chastises the ACC
Defying the NAACP’s boycott against South Carolina – imposed because the state continues to fly the rebel flag on statehouse grounds – the Atlantic Coast Conference awarded its future baseball contracts to the state. ACC leaders agreed last week on Myrtle Beach, S.C., as the tournament site from 2011 to 2013. In a resolution issued Saturday, the century-old civil rights group said that the ACC’s action plan was devoid of dignity, decency and respect.

 Black preachers in Houston are seeking ways to deal with the epidemic of youth violence in their communities, The Houston Chronicle reports. “We’re going to scream from the rooftop” until the politicians respond, said the Rev. Robert Jefferson, pastor of Cullen Missionary Baptist Church. Jefferson, who’s over special projects for Houston Ministers Against Crime, was speaking at news conference convened a day after Police Chief Harold Hurtt pleaded with area churches, schools, businesses and other groups to help him come up with a way to curtail the regularity of Black men killing one another. According to the Chronicle, the number of young Black men murdered in Houston jumped from 42 to 129 during the study period. “Success doesn’t just happen,” Hurtt said. “It takes a lot of work and concerted effort.” The Chronicle also cites a national study released last month, which found a 13-percent increase in the number of Black suspects in Houston homicides between 2000-01 and 2006-07. That was the largest percentage increase among 28 U.S. cities, according to the study by Northeastern University criminologists James Fox and Marc Swatt.

Alleged cop perps: “Swallow this. You’re going to see Jesus.” At least three Houston cops have been taken off patrol duty after they were accused of beating the dad of Green Bay receiver Donald Driver. Marvin Driver Jr., 56, was allegedly struck in the throat and forced to swallow a pill last week after he was arrested for outstanding traffic tickets. Officers Bacilio Guzman, Gilberto Cruz and M. Marin were all re-assigned to administrative work, pending an investigation, says Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt: “We take allegations such as these very seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and be transparent in our findings, whatever the conclusion.”  Hospital officials say the alleged victim was struck with a blunt object and had a bruised abdomen, possibly from a knee. A family spokesman says the alleged victim reported that cops forced a pill into his mouth and said, “Swallow this. You’re going to see Jesus.” Driver was in good condition, but connected to a ventilator. Donald Driver recently re-joined the Packers after being at his father’s bedside.

Stephon Marbury sits out seven-player New York loss. Depending on whom you believe, Stephon Marbury either turned down a half-hour of playing time this past weekend, or was benched again. Marbury, who’s been on New York’s inactive list all season, says he taped his ankles to suit up versus Milwaukee, but Coach Mike D’Antoni claims the guard chose the bench. Following a three-player trade that left the Knicks with just seven players, D’Antoni says he told Marbury that 30 to 35 minutes of action was available in what would’ve been Marbury’s first appearance. “When the trades went down this afternoon, I said, ‘Look Steph, one of the principals are gone, Jamal Crawford…Are you ready to go?’” D’Antoni recalls. But Marbury, the coach claims, said he wasn’t comfortable and took his usual spot on the bench. Counters Marbury: “The only thing I’m at liberty to say is that I was told that they were moving forward, and I’m not the person who chooses who plays or doesn’t.” The Knicks went on to lose versus Milwaukee after avoiding a near-forfeit because of the short roster.

Curfew is called in Houston.

Public safety and law enforcement officials, attempting to avert the kind of chaos that followed Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, said Sunday that nobody would be allowed in the streets of Houston between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. until Saturday morning. The announcement came a day after Hurricane Ike steamrolled the Texas Gulf Coast, leaving more than 2 million people without power and hundreds with flooded homes. Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt said that the curfew is “for purposes of public safety. We are asking people to not be out in the streets either in vehicles or on foot unless you have to, in the case of an emergency,” he said. Rescue missions continued throughout Sunday as helicopters saved victims stranded on rooftops and treetops, and boats and big-wheel vehicles slugged through neighborhoods searching for survivors. “Where we see people, we’re picking them up,” Jack Colley, director of the Texas division of emergency management, told CNN. U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Bill Diehl told MSNBC that his branch used 16 helicopters and rescued 31 stranded individuals. His work continued through the night. “We will be doing this probably for the next week or more. We hope it doesn’t turn into a recovery,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Marlow in Orange County, told CNN. In his county, “more than 300 people had to be rescued from flooded homes. He said that was only ‘a drop in the bucket’ compared with the number still stranded.”

Ex-husband of Atlanta mayor dies. David McCoy Franklin, the ex-husband of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin who was a trusted adviser of former Mayor Maynard Jackson, died Sunday, according to a death notice issued by Murray Brothers Funeral Home in Atlanta . He was 65. No cause of death has been disclosed. Franklin had suffered a long illness, Angelo Fuster, former spokesman for Jackson , told The Associated Press. Fuster said that Franklin ’s political smarts were “quite valued,” AP reports.

Blacks are the target of choice for Taser-wielding Houston Police

Life can be shocking if you’re Black and life in Houston . A new study released Monday revealed that Houston Police officers have used their Tasers on African-American suspects more than any other group of people. Read more at BET.com/News.

Philly cops nab third suspect in cold-blooded murder. Philadelphia Police have netted a third suspect in connection with the slaying of a 78-year-old Korean War vet who was shot in the face last week by thugs who attempted to rob him outside a Veterans of Foreign Wars post. The murder of the “sweet and gentle man,” as neighbors described him, shocked the community and the police, which launched an intense investigation into the homicide. Last Thursday detectives arrested two 18-year-olds, Karl Jarmon and Terrell Bennett. Their alleged accomplice, 15-year-old Gary Autrey, is now under arrest, according to homicide Lt. Mel Williams. The trio is being held without bail, charged with murder, conspiracy and weapons charges, police said. “We are satisfied that we took these predators off the streets and we made an arrest in a timely manner, and we were able to give the family closure,” said Lt. Williams. “It’s a tragedy whenever people prey on the old.” Enor Williams had been married to Connie Williams nearly 40 years and, according to The Philadelphia Daily News, was a devoted volunteer at the post. “I hate that [the murder] was the last thing that happened to him,” his 59-year-old widow told the newspaper. “I knew they would find him,” she said of the suspected gunman. “I don’t know how, but I did.” *

Janet Jackson will unveil lingerie line

Singer Janet Jackson has already exposed at least one part of her body to the world. Now she wants to dress down fans and other ladies who may get some sexy inspiration from her new line of lingerie. The Pleasure Principle line, named after one of Jackson’s earlier hit songs, will go retail in the United States later this year. Stores in Australia and elsewhere will also sell the intimate apparel. Pleasure Principle clothing will reportedly be sold for under $40. Wardrobe malfunction components not included.

Bobby Brown hit with over $90,000 in fees.

One of the most high-profile divorces in R&B music’s history carried a high price tag. The end of singer Bobby Brown’s marriage to pop diva Whitney Houston reportedly left him with a debt of $90,217 in unpaid legal fees. Lawyers who represented Brown have filed suit to collect on the tab. Earlier this year, word of Brown’s plans for a tell-all book that included dirty details of his marriage to Houston went public. The book is said to be on hold.

DMX pushes “This Life of Mine.”

Could there be a method to rapper DMX’s legal madness? Seems that some of the currently jailed performer’s recent antics, including over a half-dozen arrests since the spring, have provided material for a new reality show. Previously broadcast on BET, “DMX: Soul of a Man” followed the star in his day-to-day trek from his home in Phoenix to road appearances and beyond. Now the rapper, who faces charges ranging from drug possession to identity fraud, says he has a second reality series in the works. “In many ways, my life has been an open book,” X tells AllHipHop.com. “I haven’t always been the one writing the story. With this show, however, people will get to see and hear with their own eyes and ears what really goes on in my life, and I think they’ll come to understand me a little bit better with each episode.” The new show’s working title is “DMX: This Life of Mine.” Multiple networks have reportedly expressed their interest.

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