[Black History Month Program presented by the Office of the Controller]
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I KNOW IT'S BLUSTERY OUT THERE.
THE WALK FROM WHEREVER YOU PARKED WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE TREACHEROUS, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU, OUR HONOREES FOR COMING.
WE APPRECIATE THE LAYERS THAT YOU PUT ON THIS MORNING, SO THANK YOU.
I WANNA THANK CHRIS HOLLINS IN THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE FOR HAVING ME.
I'LL BE YOUR MC FOR THIS BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM.
I'M THE HOST OF CHATTING WITH CHELSEA ON FOX 26 WEEKDAYS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT 1230.
ALSO RERUNS AT MIDNIGHT FOR UNIT NIGHT OWLS.
SO I JUST WANNA START OFF BY SAYING TODAY IS A CELEBRATION OF BLACK HOUSTONIANS, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
AND NO MATTER THE POLITICAL CLIMATE, NO MATTER THE SOCIAL TURMOIL OR RELIGIOUS CONFLICT THAT MAY BE TAKING PLACE, BEING BLACK WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
BLACK DESCENDANTS ARE, UH, ARE WE'RE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES WHO NEVER GAVE UP, RIGHT? EVEN IN THE FACE OF UNIMAGINABLE SUFFERING, DISPLACEMENT, DEHUMANIZATION, OUR ANCESTORS FOUGHT FOR SURVIVAL, DIGNITY, AND FREEDOM.
AND IT'S A FIGHT WE CONTINUE TODAY.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN STEAL OUR JOY OR OUR MAGIC.
OKAY? WE'RE GONNA START THIS CELEBRATION OFF WITH A PRAYER.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND BRING UP REVEREND, DR. ALEXANDER EM JOHNSON.
GOD OF OUR WEARY YEARS, GOD OF OUR SILENT TEARS, THOU HAS BROUGHT US THUS FAR ON THE WAY.
A WHO HAS BYE BY MIGHT LED US INTO THE FIGHT.
KEEP US FOREVER IN THY PATH, WE PRAY.
WE COME THIS DAY THANKING YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY, A HISTORY OF RESILIENCE AND FORTITUDE.
FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE TRAILBLAZERS, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR ANCESTORS.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO UPLIFT THESE HONOREES AND WE PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS OVER THEM.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AT AMID THIS CLIMATE, WE CAN STILL ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE EXCELLENCE THAT IS BLACK HISTORY.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE AND CONTROLLER HOLS.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE PUT THIS EVENT TOGETHER.
HAVE YOUR WAY AND BE GLORIFIED IS OUR PRAYER.
GIVE TO US THE SPIRIT OF OUR ANCESTORS, SPIRIT OF HOPE AND FAITH, SPIRIT OF, UH, WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND ENSURE THAT ALL HAVE A BETTER FUTURE AS A CONSEQUENCE THEREOF.
HAVE YOUR WAY AND BE GLORIFIED.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR VICTORY FOR OUR PEOPLE.
ALL RIGHT, I FEEL THE SPIRIT AFTER THAT.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A EXCELLENT PROGRAM FOR YOU TODAY FROM MY ALMA MATER.
THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY CHOIR IS HERE.
THE TSU CHOIR IS LED BY ASHTON DENZEL JONES, A DISTINGUISHED LYRIC BARITONE AND CHORAL CONDUCTOR FROM TULSA, OKLAHOMA.
HIS IMPRESSIVE CAREER INCLUDES PERFORMANCES AT RENOWNED VENUES WORLDWIDE, SUCH AS THE LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO AND THE VARNER OPERA ACADEMY IN BULGARIA.
HE HAS PORTRAYED NOTABLE CHARACTERS LIKE DR.
GREG AND DOUGLAS MORRIS GALLANTRY AND MAO IN MOZART'S.
DON GIOVANNI JONES HAS ALSO SHOWCASED HIS SKILLS AS A SOLOIST WITH ORCHESTRAS, INCLUDING THE FOX VALLEY SYM SYMPHONY OR ORCHESTRA, TULSA SIGNATURE SYMPHONY AND ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
HIS LEADERSHIP ROLES INCLUDES SERVING AS THE ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE KOGI KOGI CAN'T EVEN TALK, UH, CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.
AS A DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES AT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY, JONES HOLDS A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN VOCAL PERFORMANCE FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, A MASTER OF MUSIC AND CLASSICAL VOICE FROM THE MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC, AND IS COMPLETING A DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS AND VOCAL PERFORMANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI CONSERVATORY FOR MUSIC AND DANCE.
OKAY, ARE Y'ALL READY TO HEAR THESE BEAUTIFUL VOICES? ALL RIGHT, I'LL HAND IT OVER
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TO LET THEM HAVE THE, AS THE US MARCH ON.LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE TSU CHOIR.
NOW, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE SITTING THERE SAYING, THAT WAS JUST NOT ENOUGH.
WE WILL HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN LATER IN THE PROGRAM.
OKAY, JUST HOLD TIGHT
I WANNA GO AHEAD AND BRING UP CAITLYN VAULT, THE T-S-U-S-G-A PRESIDENT CAITLYN VAULT IS A STUDENT LEADER, PHILANTHROPIST AND ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE.
SHE'S CURRENTLY A SENIOR AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY BY WAY OF DALLAS, TEXAS, WHERE IT IS VERY COLD RIGHT NOW, MAJORING IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WITH A MINOR IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES.
SHE EXPECTS TO GRADUATE SOON AT THE AGE OF 20, THEN PURSUE A MASTER'S IN, UH, MAJORING IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WITH A MINOR IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES.
UM, THEN PURSUE A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND EVENTUALLY HER JURIS DOCTORATE.
CAITLIN IS A BARBARA JORDAN, MICKEY LELAND SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOUR PLUS ONE SCHOLAR.
THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS HER TO EARN HER BS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND BEGIN HER MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CONCURRENTLY.
HER PASSIONS INCLUDE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND USING HER TALENT TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND MENTORSHIP RESOURCES WITHIN HER COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS KAITLYN BT AND I HUMBLY SERVE AS THE 77TH STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FOR THE DISTINGUISHED TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
IT IS MY HONOR AND MY PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, AND IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE MR. CHRISTOPHER HOLLANDS ESQUIRE.
CHRISTOPHER HOLLINS IS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WHO HAS SERVED AS THE HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER SINCE JANUARY OF 2024.
AS THE INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE NATION'S FOURTH LARGEST CITY COMPTROLLER HOLLINS PROVIDES OVERSIGHT OF A BUDGET EXCEEDING $6 BILLION, AND MANAGES THE CITY'S 6 BILLION INVESTMENT AND THE 14 BILLION DEBT PORTFOLIOS.
HOLLINS IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND RESULT-DRIVEN OPERATIONS USING HIS OFFICE'S AUDITING AUTHORITY TO BRING NEW IDEAS AND BEST PRACTICES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ITS DEPARTMENTS RESULTING IN COST SAVINGS AND HIGHER STANDARD OF SERVICE TO HOUSTON RESIDENTS.
PRIOR TO HIS SERVICE, AS CITY CONTROLLER HOLLANDS LED THE 2020 ELECTIONS EFFORT IN HARRIS COUNTY AS COUNTY CLERK GAINING NATIONAL ACCLAIM FOR PROTECTING AND EXPANDING VOTER RIGHTS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR 2.5 MILLION HOUSTON AREA VOTERS LED BY THE EYE POPPING RECORD VOTER TURNOUT.
DESPITE THE ONGOING GLOBAL PANDEMIC, HOLLANDS HOLDS A BACHELOR'S OF ARTS WITH FIVE BETA KAPPA HONORS FROM MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, A HISTORICALLY BACKED UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE, AND COMPLETED A JOINT PROGRAM WITH YALE LAW
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AND HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL EARNING BOTH HIS JURIS DOCTORATE AND MASTER'S OF BUSINESS DEGREES.HE IS A PROUD MEMBER OF OMEGA SCI-FI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.
HOLLINS IS ADMITTED TO THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS AND FEDERAL COURTS OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS BEFORE BEING ELECTED AS HU HOUSTON CITY COMPTROLLER.
HE WAS THE PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY AT HOLLANDS LAW GROUP.
HOLLAND SPENT THE BULK OF HIS CAREER AS A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT WITH MCKINSEY AND COMPANY WHERE HE WAS DEDICATED TO HELPING LARGE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TRANSFORM THEIR OPERATIONS TO BETTER ACHIEVE THEIR MISSIONS AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE THAT THEY ENTRUSTED TO SERVE.
HOLLINS AND HIS WIFE MORGAN LIVE IN HOUSTON'S THIRD WARD WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS VIVIAN AND THEIR SON GEORGE.
THE HOLLINS FAMILY ATTENDS WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME CHRISTOPHER HOLLINS ESQUIRE.
UH, PRESIDENT VOL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR WORDS.
WE COULD REALLY USE YOU AS PRESIDENT OF SOMETHING ELSE RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT WE, WE ARE HERE FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU HERE TODAY TO YOUR CITY HALL AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UH, THIS MONTH, AS YOU KNOW, IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO REFLECT ON THE RICH LEGACY ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS.
AND SO, AGAIN, I WANNA WELCOME YOU.
I WANNA BE THE FIRST TO WELCOME YOU TO YOUR CITY HALL TO ENGAGE TODAY IN THIS CELEBRATION, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS.
BEFORE I DIVE INTO THAT, CAN WE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR MISTRESS OF CEREMONY, MISS CHELSEA EDWARDS HIGH TOWER HURRICANE AND TSU ALUM.
AND ALSO, UH, THANK YOU TO THE REVEREND DR. ALEXANDER EM JOHNSON FROM WILLER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, FOR PRAYING US IN.
WE CONTINUE, UH, TO PRAY AND UPLIFT DR.
UH, WE HAVE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE HOUSE.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST RECOGNIZE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY CHRISTIAN MENIFEE AS HE STILL IN THE BUILDING.
WE HAVE OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SEAN TIER SHERIFF, A GONZALEZ, OUR NEW TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, MR. NET RAMIREZ, UH, C CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER IS HERE, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE STAFF OF COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVAN SHABA.
AND THEN MY DEAR FRIEND, JUDGE LILLIAN ALEXANDER IS PRESENT.
AND THEN THE MOST SPECIAL GUESTS, IN MY OPINION, MY MOM AND DAD, GEORGE AND CHRISTIE HOLLANDS.
CAN Y'ALL STAND IN ME RECOGNIZE? AND MY AUNT HATTIE AND UNCLE DAVID ARE HERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENCE.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS A PERIOD OF REFLECTION WHERE WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ANCESTORS WHO BUILT THIS COUNTRY WHILE ENDURING UNIMAGINABLE BRUTALITY.
AND THROUGH IT ALL, KEPT THE FAITH.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZED THE TRAILBLAZERS WHO FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM, EQUALITY, JUSTICE AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL OF US.
AND THEN WE REFLECT ON THE PRESENT, CELEBRATING INFLUENTIAL VOICES AND COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS WHO CONTINUE TO LIFT US UP.
ALL OF THIS REMINDS US OF THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE, THE POWER OF MARCHING ON TILL VICTORY IS ONE, AND THE POWER OF BRINGING LIGHT TO A WORLD THAT CAN ALL TOO OFTEN FEEL CLOUDED IN DARKNESS.
WHILE WE GATHER TODAY IN CELEBRATION OF THE STRIVES THAT WE HAVE MADE, WE MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH WORK REMAINS.
WE IN THIS ROOM ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A FUTURE THAT IS MORE INCLUSIVE, A FUTURE THAT IS MORE SUSTAINABLE, MORE RICH, AND MORE EQUITABLE.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE EVERY ONE OF YOU TODAY, WHETHER YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, A COMMUNITY LEADER, A TEACHER, A BUSINESS OWNER, OR AN ENGAGED CITIZEN, TO ACTIVELY HELP MOLD THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY BY INVESTING IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM YOU'RE HEARING FROM TODAY,
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BY ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT CENTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITY.AND BY HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO A SHARED VISION, WE CAN MAKE A REAL AND LASTING IMPACT.
I HOPE THAT TODAY'S PROGRAM WILL LEAVE YOU INSPIRED BY SONG AND BY SPOKEN WORD, AS WELL AS BY THE CONTRIBUTION AND SPIRIT AND VISION OF OUR HONOREES.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL WELCOME BACK OUR MC TO TAKE US TO THE REST OF OUR PROGRAM.
GOT A SHOUT OUT FOR HIGHTOWER.
SO WE WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER,
SO YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT MAGIC I WAS TALKING ABOUT? THIS NEXT PERFORMER CERTAINLY HAS IT.
MONTOYA MURRAY IS THE FIRST EVER TWO TIME WINNER OF THE FOLEY EN LARDNER MLK ORATORY COMPETITION FOR 2024 AND 2025.
GIVE HER SOME, GIVE HER SOME FOR THAT
SHE IS CURRENTLY A FIFTH GRADER AT BLACK SHEAR ELEMENTARY.
SHE IS SUPPORTED BY A STRONG VILLAGE, INCLUDING HER MOTHER, ETTE MURRAY AND SPEECH COACH RHONDA MILLER GLEN.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT UP FOR MONTOYA MURRAY.
GOOD MORNING AND GOOD MORNING CONTROLLER HOLLAND
GOD BLESS AMERICA LAND THAT I LOVE.
STAND BESIDE HER AND GUIDE HER THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS FROM ABOVE.
GOD, PLEASE BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME.
WE STAND TODAY IN A NATION SATURATED WITH IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND BRAVERY.
DR. KING ONCE SAID, IN AMERICA, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE DAILY THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
HE WOULD BE SO PROUD OF HOW FAR WE HAVE COME FROM SEGREGATION TO INTEGRATION, FROM RACISM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO LIVING AS A BROTHERHOOD.
HOWEVER, DR. KING ACKNOWLEDGED IN SPEECH THE OTHER AMERICA, THE REALITY IS THERE ARE TWO AMERICAS, ONE FLOOR SHAVER PROSPERITY, THE OTHER PLAGUED BY POVERTY AND INEQUALITY.
THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, WHAT WOULD DR. KING TELL US ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CITIZENS AND LEADERS IN AMERICA TODAY? DR. KING WOULD REMIND US THAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO KEEP AMERICA'S HEART TO BE STRONG AND IN HARMONY WITH GOD, TO CREATE THE SOCIETY ROOTED INEQUALITY.
LET'S BE SHARE MOMENTS FROM MY OWN LIFE THAT BRINGS THIS IDEA TO LIGHT.
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL IN 2019, AT THE END OF MY KINDERGARTEN YEAR, WE PERFORMED SING A SONG BY EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE.
IF YOU ARE DOWN AND OUT, SING A SONG AND IT'LL MAKE YOUR DAY.
AT THAT TIME, AMERICA'S HARD TO BEAT, TO STEADY.
THE NATION'S HEARTBEATS RACED WITH PANIC.
AS OVER 1.2 MILLION LIVES WERE LOST, AND THE RHYTHM OF AMERICA WEAKENED.
SENDING US TO OUR KNEES CRYING.
DR. KING, A DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE KEPT THE RHYTHM OF THE HEARTS BEATS OF AMERICA ALIVE.
HE WOULD TELL US THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR NATION'S.
HES BEATS LOST THE RHYTHM, CAUSING US TO NEED BYPASS SURGERY IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
WE MUST STABILIZE THE HEARTBEATS OF OUR NATION.
BUT SHORTLY AFTER THE STARTS OF COVID, AMERICA CHOSE TO BYPASS JUSTICE AFTER THE MURDERS OF GEORGE FLOYD BREONNA TAYLOR AND AH, MAUD AUBREY.
ON JANUARY 6TH AT THE INSURRECTION, WE BYPASSED PEACE.
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THE 2024 ELECTION, RUDE COMMERCIALS FEATURED CANDIDATES LASHING OUTSIDE THE OTHER SIDE, CAUSING AMERICA TO BYPASS RIGHTEOUSNESS.JUST LIKE THE HEART TO NEED SURGERY.
WHEN IT IS DAMAGED OR WEAK, THE HEART BEATS OF AMERICA REQUIRES CAMERON, IT'S OUTTA SYNC, FILLED WITH HATEFUL RHETORIC.
DR. KING ENVISION IN AMERICA WHERE JUSTICE FLOWS LIKE A MIGHTY RIVER, ENSURING EQUALITY FOR ALL HE DREAM OF NATION, WHERE INNOCENT IMMIGRANTS FLEE, PAIN AND SORROW, COULD FIND HOPE LEGALLY AND WITH DIGNITY.
TODAY, FACED WITH THE CHALLENGES OF DIVISION AND DESPAIR.
WHEN INNOCENT CHILDREN ARE DOWN AT SCHOOL, DR. KING WOULD CRY OUT, IS IN THE ROOM NEEDS C BECAUSE THE C CALL ON GOD TO UPHOLD JUSTICE, JUST AS A SURGEON MUST CAREFULLY RESTART THE HEARTS AFTER SURGERY, AMERICA MUST ACTIVELY WORK TO RESTART ITS COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE.
P PROMOTES PEACE AMONG ALL PEOPLE IN A WORLD FRACTURE BY DIVISION.
DR. KING WOULD IMPLORE US TO BUILD BRIDGES, NOT WALLS.
HE WOULD SAY, CHOOSE FAITH AND FAMILY OVER AND FORTUNE.
CHOOSE PRINCIPLES OVER POLITICAL PARTIES.
VOTES FOR CHARACTER OVER COLOR.
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS MORE THAN THE LIKES.
I STOPPED BY TO TELL YOU ON MY WAY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT DR. KING WOULD SAY, AMERICA, YOU'VE MADE IT THIS FAR.
SEE, Y'ALL THOUGHT SHE WAS DONE.
I'M DOING CPR ON STAGE RIGHT NOW.
MS. MURRAY, YOU ARE IMPRESSIVE.
ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HER MOTHER AND HER COACH AS WELL.
IT JUST, IT BRINGS SO MUCH HOPE TO THE YEARS AHEAD WHEN WE SEE OUR YOUTH, UH, JUST DOING SO WELL AND, AND GRASPING THESE CONCEPTS ALREADY.
ALL RIGHT, ONCE YOU'RE DONE DABBING, WE CAN CONTINUE.
WE HAVE, UH, MANY COMMUNITY AWARDS TO PRESENT, AND AUBREY ACTUALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, GOES WAY BACK WITH CHRIS AS WELL.
COMMUNITY IS A WORD THAT CELEBRATES THE RICHNESS OF OUR SOCIETY, HONORING OUR COLLECTIVE ONENESS.
IN EVERY COMMUNITY, THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO GIVE A LITTLE EXTRA TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF ALL OF US.
MANY TIMES THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE HEROES, CHAMPIONS, OR TRAILBLAZERS WHO USE THEIR UNIQUE GIFTS TO BENEFIT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS.
TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR SOME COMMUNITY HEROES, COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AND COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZERS.
OUR COMMUNITY HERO, PASTOR TIFFANY, TIER TARN, KNOWN, KNOWN AS A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY LEADER, PASTOR TIFFANY TARRANT, STRIVES TO DEVELOP THE FAITH OF BELIEVERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
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SHE IS A COUNSELOR.TO THOSE IN NEED OF A LISTENING EAR, A VISIONARY FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING THE BLURRY LINES OF LIFE, A TRUSTED ADVISOR TO THOSE WHO ARE ENTRUSTED WITH DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY.
SHE IS THE CALM IN THE MIDST OF TORRENTIAL REIGNS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, A HERO, A COMMUNITY HERO.
IN AN AGE WHERE REALITY, TELEVISION AND REALITY ARE DIFFICULT TO DIFFERENTIATE, PASTOR TERRANCE STANDS AS A BEACON OF AUTHENTICITY.
JOHN'S DOWNTOWN SUPPORTS THE LEAST OF US TO EMPOWER THE BEST IN US.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS, WE RECOGNIZE PASTOR TIFFANY TARREN AS A COMMUNITY HERO.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANNA THANK, UM, OUR CITY CONTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLINS, FOR THIS, UM, FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AND THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I STAND HERE ACCEPTING THIS AWARD AS THE, UH, SENIOR PASTOR AT ST.
JOHN'S, ON BEHALF OF THEM, ON BEHALF OF OUR PASTOR EMERITUS RUDY AND JUANITA RASMUS.
AND SO MY JOURNEY IS SO UNIQUE THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THE CHURCH THAT I WALKED IN WHEN I WAS JUST SEVEN YEARS OLD.
AND SO, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO SERVE A VILLAGE THAT HELPED MOLD ME, SHAPE ME, AND RAISE ME INTO THE WOMAN THAT I AM TODAY.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT MY JOURNEY IS A TESTAMENT OF A QUOTE THAT NELSON MANDELA SAID, THAT OUR YOUTH OF TODAY ARE OUR FUTURE LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I DO NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED TO BE HERE AS A BLACK WOMAN.
UH, I APPROACH 40, SO I'M STILL GONNA SAY AS A YOUNG, UH, BLACK WOMAN AS I TURNED 40 THIS YEAR.
AND SO MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL OF YOU IS TO UPLIFT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, MENTOR THEM, UM, ENCOURAGE THEM, WALK WITH THEM ALONG THEIR JOURNEY, THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US, THE TALENTS.
UM, IF IT STAYS WITH US, THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY FORWARD.
AND SO I'M GRATEFUL AGAIN FOR PASTOR RUDY AND JUANITA FOR THEIR LEGACY OF 31 YEARS.
SO WHAT A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR IT IS.
NOT TO JUST HONOR THEM, BUT THE ANCESTORS BEFORE ME.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR.
I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE GIFTS, YOU HAVE TALENT, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING IN YOU.
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS.
LET'S CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN LOVE AND IN SERVICE, AND TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL VALUABLE.
WE ARE ALL LOVED, AND WE ARE ALL SEEN.
AND SO I WILL CONCLUDE WITH THIS JUST TO REMIND US THAT LOVE IS IN THE ROOM.
SOMETHING WE DO EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT ST.
JOHN'S IS TO TURN TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SAY, I LOVE YOU.
AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
AND REAL BRIEFLY, IF YOU HAVE A WHITE JEEP CHEROKEE, UH, PLEASE SEE THE INDIVIDUALS THERE TO ADDRESS YOUR CAR.
UH, SO IF YOU HAVE A WHITE JEEP CHEROKEE, IF YOU COULD GO ADDRESS THAT BEFORE YOU ARE NOT HAPPY LEAVING HERE.
IN MY DAYS AS A FORMER PRINCIPAL, I OFTEN RECITED THE WORDS OF THE LATE RITA PEARSON, WHO MANY IN THE EDUCATION WORLD WOULD CONSIDER A SUPER EDUCATOR.
IN HER TED TALK, HER INFAMOUS TED TALK, SHE WOULD SAY, EVERY CHILD NEEDS A CHAMPION.
I EXPAND THOSE SENTIMENTS TO SAY EVERYONE NEEDS A CHAMPION.
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THOUGH WE OFTEN ASSOCIATE CHAMPIONS WITH SPORTS, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ACTUALLY EXCEED FAR BEYOND THE FIELD, THE COURT.YES, CJ STROUD HAS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED SOME GREAT THINGS WITH THE HOUSTON TEXANS WINNING OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AND LEADING HIS TEAM TO THE PLAYOFFS.
SO
PARTICULARLY THOUGH THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF INCARCERATION ON FAMILIES THROUGH THE CJ STROUD FOUNDATION, HE AND HIS MOTHER, KIMBERLY STROUD, PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR SINGLE MOTHERS, CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
THEIR PHILANTHROPY STRETCHES FROM GREATER HOUSTON TO HIS HOME STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS.
WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE CJ STROUD AND THE CJ STROUD FOUNDATION AS OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE A VIDEO AND THEN I WILL WELCOME TO THE STAGE MS. KIMBERLY STROUD.
UH, CJ STROUD HERE, QUARTERBACK OF THE HOUSTON TEXANS.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY I'M SUPER GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AWARD.
UM, AND IT JUST MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.
I LOVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, AND I HOPE I'VE BEEN REPRESENTING IT WELL.
UM, AND I HOPE TO BE HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYBODY WHO I'VE ENCOUNTERED WITH, UM, FROM BEING AT GAMES, TO BEING AT RESTAURANTS, JUST WALKING IN THE STREET.
UM, AND EVERYBODY'S BEEN SO NICE TO ME SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
UM, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO BE HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND I'M PRAYING FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S AT THIS AWARD CEREMONY.
GOD BLESS YOU GUYS, AND LET'S KEEP GOING.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL BE JOINED BY, UH, KIMBERLY STROUD, AND ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE WE HAVE CJ'S BROTHER AS WELL.
TO, TO THE CITY CONTROLLER, MR. HOLLANDS, AND TO ALL THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND HONORED, UM, TO BE HERE TODAY TO RECEIVE THIS RECOGNITION FROM THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEART.
UH, WE DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY.
UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN SO INSPIRATIONAL, SO AMAZING, SUCH A BLESSING, AND IT'S BEEN SUCH A BLESSING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THIS CITY AND BE WELCOME WITH OPEN ARMS, UM, FROM THE MOMENT WE GOT HERE.
AND I GOT TO SAY, YOUR FOOD IS AMAZING,
I'VE HAD A BIT TOO MUCH OF IT, BUT IT'S AMAZING.
THE CJ CHILD FOUNDATION WAS FOUNDED IN HOPE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
CJ WAS INTERVIEWED BY A REPORTER AND THE REPORTER ASKED HIM, IF YOU BECOME AN NFL PLAYER, WHO DO YOU WANNA HELP? CJ REPLIED BOLDLY, I WANNA HELP MY MOM START THE SINGLE MOMS ASSOCIATION.
I WANNA HELP ALL THE SINGLE MOMS LIKE MINE, WHO WORK HARD TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
WHEN I APPROACHED CJ ABOUT STARTING HIS FOUNDATION AND NAMING IT AFTER HIMSELF, HE, HIS HUMILITY SHONE THROUGH.
HE SAID, MOM, I WANT TO HELP OTHERS.
I NEVER WANT IT TO BE ABOUT ME.
PLEASE NAME IT SOMETHING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FAMILY.
I SAID, CJ, YOUR FAITH, YOUR HARD WORK, YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR HEART AND LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE IS WHAT INSPIRES SO MANY.
YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO ENSURE THAT YOUR NEED, YOUR NAME NEEDS MEANS SOMETHING POSITIVE AND GIVES HOPE.
HE THEN AGREED TO LET ME USE HIS NAME, AND WE NAMED IT THE CJ'S JOB FOUNDATION.
HE'S A TRUE HUMANITARIAN WITH A PASSION AND A HEART TO HELP ANYONE IN NEED.
I ALWAYS WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW THE HUMAN, AMAZING SIDE OF MY SON, BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.
THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT HONOR.
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LASTLY, OUR COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER.WHEN YOU THINK OF A COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER, ONE NAME IMMEDIATELY COMES TO MIND.
HE HAS SEEN IT ALL, BEEN IT ALL AND DONE IT ALL.
FROM SERVING IN THE MILITARY TO SHAPING EDUCATION AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, AS A COLLEGE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AS HOUSTON ISD SUPERINTENDENT, AS THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.
AS THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF HIS ALMA MATER, JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY.
DR. PAGE IS SYNONYMOUS WITH ACTION.
COMMITTED TO ENSURING NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND.
HIS LEGACY IN EDUCATION IS ONE OF TRANSFORMATION AND INNOVATION SHAPING POLICY THAT CONTINUES TO IMPACT PUBLIC EDUCATION.
TODAY, HIS CAREER EXEMPLIFIES THE POWER OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN DRIVING MEANINGFUL CHANGE.
IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS UNSELFISH AND UNTIRING COMMITMENT TO THIS CITY THAT WE CELEBRATE HIM AS A COMMUNITY.
TRAILBLAZER, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, SECRETARY PAGE COULD NOT BE WITH HI WITH US TODAY, BUT WE HAVE SOMEONE JUST AS GRAY, HIS WIFE, UH, STEPHANIE LEN'S PAGE, WHO WILL BE ACCEPTING ON HIS BEHALF.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, UH, THE GREAT TRUSTEE, I MEAN REGENT, EXCUSE ME, REGENT AT THE TEXAS, UH, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, UH, STEPHANIE NELLY'S PAGE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT MY HUSBAND WAS TRYING TO GET HERE AS EARLY AS EIGHT 30 THIS MORNING.
HE WAS ATTEMPTING, 'CAUSE HE WANTED TO BE HERE ONE, JUST TO SEE ALL OF YOU.
AND SO HE HAD HIS REMARKS ALL TOGETHER AND I AM JUST GOING TO READ HIS REMARKS, UM, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU ALL.
UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU, CITY CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLANDS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS HONOREES, MS. MURRAY, BABY GIRL
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY DEEPLY HUMBLED TO BE RECOGNIZED ALONGSIDE SO MANY REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO UPLIFTING OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS AWARD IS NOT MERELY A RECOGNITION OF MY JOURNEY.
IT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF COUNTLESS TRAILBLAZERS WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR BLACK AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR TO ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES IN HOUSTON AND BEYOND.
AT ALMOST 92 YEARS OLD, THAT'S HIM.
I TOLD Y'ALL I'M READING HIS REMARKS.
MY HEART SWELLS WITH PRIDE AS I REFLECT ON MY ROOTS.
AND GROWING UP IN MONTICELLO, MISSISSIPPI, I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ME.
THEIR RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION INSPIRED ME TO ADVOCATE FOR FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF THAT NO CHILD SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND.
EDUCATION IS THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS DOORS, AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, I HAVE TRAVELED ACROSS THIS GREAT NATION AS A COACH AND SHARING
[00:40:01]
THE MESSAGE.THE EDUCATION IS NOT JUST A PRIVILEGE, IT IS A RIGHT.
AS A FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN US SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, I'VE SEEN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF EDUCATION.
I'VE WITNESSED HOW IT CAN LIFT FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY, EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS, AND STRENGTHEN ENTIRE COMMUNITIES.
MY JOURNEY HAS BEEN GUIDED BY A SIMPLE, YET PROFOUND PRINCIPLE FROM THAT GREAT BOOK THE BIBLE, MICAH SIX, EIGHT, WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU? TO ACT JUSTLY, TO LOVE, MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.
AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, LET US REMEMBER THAT OUR HISTORY IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE STRUGGLES WE HAVE FACED.
IT IS ALSO ABOUT THE VICTORIES WE HAVE ACHIEVED.
IT IS ABOUT YOU, THE HONOREES WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT YOU MAY NEVER SEE.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THIS OMEGA MAN FOR RECOGNIZING THIS SIGMA MAN
TOGETHER, LET US COMMIT TO FOSTERING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY CHILD CAN DREAM BIG AND ACHIEVE THOSE DREAMS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE IT STARTS.
THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE PURE EMBODIMENT OF COMMUNITY, SERVING AS HEROES, CHAMPIONS AND TRAILBLAZERS.
THEIR DEDICATION, COMPASSION, AND LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO INSPIRE THOSE WHO ARE AROUND THEM EVERY DAY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEIR IMPACT GROW EVEN FURTHER.
THEIR WORK REMINDS US THAT THE STRENGTH OF A COMMUNITY LIES IN THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO UPLIFTED.
AND BECAUSE OF THEM, THE FUTURE REMAINS BRIGHT.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THEM NOT JUST FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, BUT WHAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO IN THE YEARS TO COME.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR COMMUNITY AWARD RECIPIENTS.
IF YOU WATCH CHATTING WITH CHELSEA, YOU KNOW, UH, I LOVE SECONDS FOR EVERYTHING
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A PERFORMANCE BY THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY THEATER DEPARTMENT LED BY ROSARITA RODRIGUEZ AS THE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE PERFORMING PORTIONS OF THE COLOR PURPLE AND WAIT.
WE HAVE A SURPRISE PERFORMANCE BY THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY DEBATE TEAM AS WELL.
THE INTERNATIONAL RENOWNED DEBATE TEAM LED BY THE, UH, ORGANIZED BY THE LATE DR. THOMAS FREEMAN.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE TSU CHOIR.
TSU THEATER AND TSU DEBATE TEAM.
HI, MY NAME IS ASHTON JONES AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF, UH, BEING DIRECTOR OF CHOIRS HERE AT TSU.
UM, I'VE GOTTA GET USED TO SAYING DOCTOR I DEFENDED YESTERDAY.
IT'S REALLY A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AT MY ALMA MATER DOING THIS KIND OF WORK.
UM, WE HAVE A, A NICE PROGRAM FOR YOU ALL TODAY, OR AT LEAST, UH, OUR SINGING PORTION.
ALL OF OUR MUSIC ARE BY AFRICAN AMERICAN COMPOSERS.
WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH A PIECE CALLED A PRAYER BY, UM, KEN BURTON.
BUT THE TEXT IS BY THE GREAT LATE PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR, WHO WAS AN AMERICAN POET AND NOVELIST.
[00:45:01]
THAT HE WROTE THIS IN THE, I GUESS WITH THE MIND OF WHAT AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE FACING AT THAT TIME.AND I'D LIKE TO READ FOR YOU THE POETRY BEFORE WE SING IT.
OH LORD, THE HARD ONE MILES HAVE WORN MY STUMBLING FEET.
OH, SOOTHE ME WITH THY SMILES AND MAKE MY LIFE COMPLETE.
THE THORNS WERE THICK AND KEEN WHERE I TREMBLING TROD THE WAY WAS LONG BETWEEN MY WOUNDED FEET AND GOD, WHERE HEALING WATERS FLOW DO THOU MY FOOTSTEPS LEAD.
AND I BELIEVE CONSIDERING THE TIME THAT, UH, PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR WAS BORN, 1872, DYING 1906, JUST AFTER THE EMANCIPATION AND PROCLAMATION THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, FREED AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE.
SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH A PRAYER JUST, OH, AH, THERE WE GO.
UM, OUR NEXT SELECTION IS ENTITLED, KNOWN DO LATIN TEXT COMES FROM PSALM ONE 15 AND ONE, AND I'M GONNA TEACH YOU THE TRANSLATION RIGHT QUICK.
SO JUST DO A LITTLE REPEAT AFTER ME.
THIS IS KNOWN OBESE DOMINEE BY, UH, ARRANGED BY ROSENE POWELL, AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE COMPOSER.
[00:50:09]
NO, NO.DON'T MEAN THAT TO ALL THE GLORY.
DON'T MEAN THAT TO ALL THE GLORY LORD.
NEXT, UH, UM, OUR NEXT SELECTION IS ENTITLED, GIVE ME A CLEAN HEART.
AND ALSO, BEFORE I DO THAT, LET ME DO RECOGNIZE MISS DIAMOND WHO HAD THAT SMALL SOLO, BUT IT WAS A SOLO.
DIAMOND CRUISE, ALL THE WAY FROM NEW YORK, RIGHT? YES.
UM, OUR NEXT PIECE IS AN ARRANGED HYMN BY STACEY GIBBS, UH, TEXT BY MARGARET PLEASANT, THE ROAD.
AND OUR SOLOIST IS MISS JASMINE SINCLAIR.
SO I'M GONNA PASS THIS TO YOU.
[00:55:46]
FOR THE SO GIMME A MY MIND.UM, BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO THE THEATER DEPARTMENT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA SING IN NEO SPIRITUAL, UH, BY THE TITLE OF YOU MUST HAVE THAT TRUE RELIGION ARRANGED, UH, BY THE GREAT ROLAND CARTER.
AND, UM, THANK YOU ALSO SOLOIST.
LET ME RECOGNIZE, UH, MISS YANI STEVENSON SOPRANO FOR THIS NEXT PIECE.
MUST HAVE THE TRUE MUST, MUST HAVE YOU SO CONFRONTED YOU MUST HAVE THE TRUE RELIGION.
YOU MUST HAVE YOU SO COMFORT THAT YOU MUST HAVE THAT'S TRUE RELIGION.
YOU CAN THERE YOU YOU, I'VE BEEN WAY DOWN TO THE RIVER OF YOU THERE.
WHERE HAVE YOU EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN? I'VE BEEN WAY DOWN TO THE RIVER WITH GOD FROST.
YOU MUST HAVE THE TRUE RELIGION.
YOU MUST HAVE YOU, SO YOU MUST HAVE RELIGION WHERE YOU GOD CROSS.
[01:00:01]
THAT TRUE RELIGION.YOU MUST HAVE YOU, SO YOU MUST HAVE THAT TRUE RELIGION OF YOU.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? GOOD CHRISTIAN.
WHAT? OH, GIMME THE, IS GOD TRUE RELIGION? TRUE TO RELIGION, TO RELIGION, TO RELIGION, TO RELIGION, TO RELIGION TO RELIGION TO RELIGION TO RELIGION TO RELIGION TO RELIGION TO RELIGION TO RELIGION TO RELIGION TO RELIGION.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE DR. RODRIGUEZ AND DEPARTMENT OF THEATER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THIS MORNING, UH, FOR BEING INVITED INTO THIS SPACE.
SO I AM ROSA RODRIGUEZ GONZALES, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THEATER AND INTERIM CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
AND WE TAGGED ALONG WITH THE TSU CHOIR.
SOME OF OUR THEATER MAJORS ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHOIR.
UH, SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING A MUSICAL THEATER CLASS.
AND WE THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO REMEMBER OUR LAST SHOW OF THE SEASON 2024 SEASON.
UH, WAS THE COLOR PURPLE? AND WE HAVE THREE SONGS FROM THE SHOW.
THE FIRST ONE IS CISE CURSE, PERFORMED BY KENYA ROLANDS.
AND THE SECOND SONG IS, I'M HERE AND WILL BE PERFORMED BY NAIMA ROGERS EVANS.
AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE OUT WITH A REPRISE OF THE COLOR PURPLE.
AND SOME OF MY MUSICAL THEATER STUDENTS WILL JOIN THE CHOIR, BUT THE ENTIRE CHOIR WILL RETURN TO CLOSE IT OUT.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU JOIN US IN THAT FINAL SELECTION.
NOBODY TO PUT UP WITH, NOBODY TO MESS WITH ME, NOBODY
[01:05:01]
TO PUSH ME AROUND.NOBODY EXPECTS SOMETHING OF ME.
NOBODY TO TELL ME WHO I AM OR WHO I I GOT PLENTY TO BLAME.
GETTY SAVED MY FIRST WIFE GOT KILLED ONCE SHE RUN AWAY.
ONLY WOMAN I LOVE WON'T LIE IN MY BED.
BLACK MAN'S LIFE CAN GET ANY WORKS LEST HE WAS IT AWAY UNDER MISS'S.
TELL ME HOW A MAN TO GOOD WHEN ALL HE KNOWS HIS BAD.
WHAT? RIGHT? HE GOTTA BE HAPPY.
HIS MAMA DIED IN HIS ARMS. SOMEBODY TELL ME HOW HE KEEP FIND SO MUCH GOOD FROM SO MUCH BAD HIS WIFE COME BACK, HIS BUSINESS FIGHT.
EVERYONE SAY, AND FOR ALL THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH, THEY DO.
JUST, I SAY PEOPLE MIND AHEAD OF ME.
AIN'T GONNA BE NOTHING I SAY GOING BE SOMETHING I DO.
MAYBE HELP US WELCOME NAIMA ROGERS, ED EVANS TO THE STAGE.
[01:10:46]
I AM GOING TAKE A DEEP GONNA HOLD HEAD UP.AND FOR OUR FINAL SONG, THE COLOR PURPLE, LED BY EVAN LEE, UH, AND ALSO MUSICAL THEATER STUDENTS.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THE COLOR PURPLE IS A STORY ABOUT LOVE, ABOUT HOPE, AND ABOUT RESILIENCE.
SO WE HOPE THAT THROUGHOUT THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH THAT ONLY YOU FEEL THAT, BUT THROUGHOUT THIS PERFORMANCE, YOU FEEL THAT AS WELL.
AND I CAME INTO THIS WORLD WITH GOD.
AND WHEN I FINALLY LOOKED INSIDE,
[01:15:02]
I FOUND IT JUST AS CLOSE THAT SHUTS HEARTBEAT MAKES MY HEART.I DON'T THINK US FEEL OLD AT ALL.
I THINK THIS IS THE YOUNGEST US EVER.
YOU ALL HAVE TO, UH, UH, GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT SURPRISE PERFORMANCE BY THE TSU DEBATE TEAM.
BUT FIRST WE WANNA GO AHEAD AND DO OUR LEGACY AWARDS.
WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WE HAVE LOST, WHO HAVE MANAGED TO LEAVE AN IMPACT THROUGH THEIR WORK, THROUGH THEIR PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, THROUGH THEIR WORDS TO ALL OF US TO HELP UPLIFT AND BUILD US ALL.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND BRING BACK AUBREY, WHO ALSO REALLY LIKES THE COLOR PURPLE
TODAY I AM PLEASURED TO BE ABLE TO, TO HONOR THREE GREAT HOUSTONIANS.
TODAY WE GRA WE GATHER TO HONOR THE LIVES AND LEGACIES OF THREE GREAT AMERICANS, THREE GREAT HOUSTONIANS WHOSE DEDICATION TO JUSTICE, EQUALITY, AND DEMOCRACY HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR CITY AND OUR NATION.
AS I REFLECT ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS, I'M REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF LANGSTON HUGHES, LET AMERICA BE THE DREAM THAT DREAMERS DREAM.
LET IT BE THE STRONG LAND OF LOVE.
WHENEVER KINGS CONVENE NOR TYRANT SCHEME THAT ANY MAN BE CRUSHED BY ONE ABOVE, OH, LET THAT LAND BE A LAND
[01:20:01]
WHERE LIBERTY IS CROWNED BY NO FALSE PATRIOTIC REEF.BUT OPPORTUNITY IS REAL AND LIFE IS FREE, AND EQUALITY IS IN THE AIR WE BREATHE.
EACH OF THESE HONOREES DEDICATED THEIR LIFE'S WORK TO ENSURING EQUALITY AND JUSTICE WERE INDEED THE HEIR THAT WE BREATHE.
FIRST, JUDGE ANNETTA BERNIE, A PROUD GRADUATE, A PROUD GRADUATE OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND THE THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW JUDGE BERNIE'S LEGACY IS ONE OF EXCELLENCE AND UNWAVERING SERVICE APPOINTED BY THE LATE GOVERNOR AND RICHARDS TO SERVE ON THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS.
SHE LATER CHAIRED THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUT MOST NOTABLY HER TENURE AS THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE WHERE SHE ADVOCATE, EXCUSE ME, ADVOCATED TIRELESSLY FOR THE RESIDENTS IN OUR GREAT CITY AND COUNTED SHE WAS AND REMAINS A GIANT OF JUSTICE WHERE HER IMPACT WILL BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS TODAY.
THAT LEGACY OF SERVICE CONTINUES THROUGH HER DAUGHTER, JUDGE SHARON BERNIE, WHO CARRIES FORWARD THE TORCH OF JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY AT THIS TIME, IF JUST SHARON, BERNIE WOULD JOIN ME TO THE STAGE.
UM, MY, I WANNA THANK THE CONTROLLER AND THANK ALL OF YOU.
MANY WHO ARE FRIENDS AND BEEN FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, MY MOTHER WOULD BE SO, SO HAPPY AND PROUD TODAY.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT SHE REALLY LOVED THAT ARE HERE.
ONE, IF YOU KNEW HER, YOU KNOW, SHE LOVED BLACK HISTORY AND ALTHOUGH SHE WORE PENS WITH THE SLAVE SHIPS AND EVERYTHING, SHE ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT BLACK PEOPLE, WE HAD A HISTORY LONG BEFORE SLAVERY, LONG BEFORE MARTIN LUTHER KING AND MARCHES IN HER LIFETIME.
BUT WE HAVE A HISTORY OF KINGS AND QUEENS AND SHE TRAVELED.
WE TRAVELED TOGETHER, UH, MANY, MANY PLACES AND TO SEE THIS HISTORY AND TO HONOR AND TO JUST REMEMBER, UM, THINGS AND TO FIND OUT NEW THINGS.
THE SECOND THING THAT SHE REALLY LOVED IS THAT IF YOU KNEW HER, YOU KNOW, SHE LOVED BLACK PEOPLE AND SHE LOVED BLACK PEOPLE IN HOUSTON.
SHE LOVED ERICA AND SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
SHE LOVED, UH, THE PEOPLE HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND MANY TIMES WHEN WE WOULD TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD, NO MATTER WHERE WE WERE, AND SEEING THE PEOPLE THERE, IF IT WAS AFRICA OR THE CARIBBEAN OR WHEREVER WE WERE, SHE WOULD ALWAYS COMPARE 'EM TO BLACK PEOPLE IN HOUSTON.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HONORING US THIS WAY.
AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE CONGRESSWOMAN
[01:25:02]
SOME PEOPLE DEFINE WORDS, BUT SHEILA JACKSON LEE WAS THE DEFINITION OF REPRESENTATION, PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRAILBLAZING LEADERSHIP.BORN IN QUEENS, NEW YORK, SHE QUICKLY REALIZED THAT HER CALLING EXTENDED BEYOND THE EMPIRE STATE, TEXAS BECAME THE STAGE OF HER LIFE'S WORK WHERE SHE SERVED AS A MUNICIPAL JUDGE, A CITY COUNCILWOMAN, AND ULTIMATELY AS THE BELOVED CONGRESSWOMAN FOR THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
HER PASSING LEFT A VOID IN THE HALLS OF POWER, BUT HER LEGACY OF SERVICE ENDURES IN HER CHILDREN.
THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE OF THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OVERWHELMINGLY ENTRUSTED HER LEGACY IN THE HANDS OF HER DAUGHTER, CONGRESSWOMAN ERICA LEE CARTER, TO CONTINUE HER WORK ALONGSIDE HER BROTHER JASON LEE, WHO SERVES AS A SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO.
THEY ENSURE THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S LIFELONG MISSION OF JUSTICE, ADVOCACY AND SERVICE CONTINUES TO SHINE THROUGH EVERY DAY.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO WELCOME TO THE STAGE CONGRESSWOMAN ERICA LEE CARTER AND MR. WOMACK, UH, WHO WILL BE ACCEPTING ON HER BEHALF.
OKAY, I MAY BE WRONG, I WAS MAKING SURE I WASN'T WRONG.
I TRY TO FOLLOW WHAT I THOUGHT MY NOTES WERE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK HER EXTENDED FAMILY, UNCLE GERALD WOMACK, JUDY, HE, LINDA BROWN, MY DEAR FRIEND, DANIEL KEYS BEST AND WHEELER EVERYWHERE, WHO ALWAYS LOVED HER SO MUCH, UH, FOR BEING HERE.
UH, TODAY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY FATHER, DR.
ELWIN LEE, AND MY BROTHER JASON.
BUT I WANNA SAY WHY THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS SO IMPORTANT.
THE FIRST WOMAN, MAYOR, JUDGE, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER APPOINTED HER TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT IN 87.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THE LEGENDARY ROBINSON, JUDSON ROBINSON, WHO WAS THE FIRST BLACK MAN ON CITY COUNCIL, MY MOTHER, ALONG WITH BEVERLY CLARK, WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO WIN AT LARGE CITYWIDE.
WE HAD ONLY BEEN ABLE TO WIN IN DISTRICTS UNTIL THEY WON IN 1989, AND SHE WORKED ON HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND WITH THE AIDS COMMUNITY AND SO MANY COMMUNITIES PROPELLING HER ON TO, UH, CONGRESS.
AND AS THEY SAY, THE REST WAS HISTORY.
I WORE SOMETHING TO SYMBOLIZE WHAT MY MOTHER MEANS.
IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I WORE BLACK FOR THE PEOPLE.
SHE WAS UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK NO MATTER WHO SHE ALWAYS WORKED FOR.
SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT HELPED BLACK PEOPLE AS WELL.
I WORE RED, ONE OF HER FAVORITE COLORS, REPRESENTED NOT ONLY THE BLOODSHED TO ENSURE WE HAD THE FREEDOMS THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT TO PROTECT TODAY.
BUT OF COURSE, HER PASSION AND HER LOVE FOR ALL THINGS THAT SHE DID WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE.
AND I WORE WHITE THAT WE STILL HAVE A SHINING LIGHT.
SHE ALWAYS LET HER LIGHT SHINE.
SHE NEVER HID IT UNDER A BUSH.
AND MY BROTHER
AND SHE WOULD TELL ME TO TELL YOU, IT IS NOT TIME TO SIT DOWN.
IT IS TIME TO STAND UP FOR WHEN THEY SILENCE ONE OF US, THEY SILENCE ALL OF US.
SO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.
A MAN SENT BY THE LORD TO DO A MIGHTY WORK.
REVEREND WILLIAM LAWSON STOOD AS THE CONSCIENCE OF HOUSTON
[01:30:01]
DURING THE MOST CHALLENGING MOMENTS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.A CLOSE FRIEND OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
A GREAT MOREHOUSE MAN, UH, REVEREND LAWSON WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS ICON WHOSE COURAGE AND UNWAVERING FAITH MADE HIM AN ARCHITECT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THIS CITY.
HIS INFLUENCE EXTENDS FAR BEYOND HOUSTON, HELPING TO LIBERATE OPPRESS PEOPLE GLOBALLY.
WILLER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH REMAINS THE CORNERSTONE OF HIS LEGACY, BUT THE WORLD WAS BLESSED TO SHARE IN HIS WISDOM AND LEADERSHIP.
ALONGSIDE HIS BELOVED WIFE AUDREY, HE RAISED THREE DYNAMIC DAUGHTERS, MELANIE, CHERYL, AND ROXANNE, WHO CONTINUE THE LEGACIES OF SERVICE AND EXCELLENCE.
THEIR PARENTS SO BEAUTIFULLY EXEMPLIFY THROUGH THEM AND THEIR COUNTLESS LIVES, EXCUSE ME, THROUGH THEM, THEY CONTINUE TO TOUCH COUNTLESS LIVES.
AND THE LEGACY OF REVEREND WILLIAM LAWSON WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE STAGE MELANIE ROXANNE AND CHERYL LAWSON, REPRESENTING THE LAWSON FAMILY.
GO JUST A I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO GO WITHOUT NOTES.
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
ON BEHALF OF THE LAWSON FAMILY, POSTHUMOUS AND PRESENT, WE ARE PLEASED TO ACCEPT THIS WONDERFUL HONOR.
DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, MUCH IS ALREADY KNOWN, UH, AND CAN BE GOOGLED OR WIKIPEDIA ABOUT BILL LAWSON AND WHAT HE DID AND THE PEOPLE, AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS HE AFFECTED DURING HIS LIFETIME.
SO I'LL ONLY GIVE A GLANCING VIEW ABOUT ALL OF THAT.
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH SHAPED COMMUNITY CENTER, CIVIL RIGHTS UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WALL, WHICH IS WILLIAM ALEXANDER LAWSON, INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
SAY THAT SIX TIMES REALLY FAST.
THIS IS BY NO MEANS AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, BUT IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
HE TOUCHED EACH OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES AND CREATED SOMETHING BETTER FOR ALL OF US.
THE THREE AMIGOS, THAT'S A WHOLE STUDY ALL BY ITSELF.
A JEWISH RABBI, A CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP, AND A BAPTIST PREACHER.
YES, IT COULD BE THE START OF A REALLY BAD JOKE.
RABBI SAM CARF, ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH FIZA, REVEREND WILLIAM LAWSON, THIS TRIO OF RELIGIOUS HEAVYWEIGHTS CAME TOGETHER TO FIGHT TO RIGHT THE WRONGS OF A LOT OF THINGS IN HOUSTON.
POVERTY, RACISM, INEQUALITY, HOMELESSNESS, A PUBLIC DEFENDER.
THEIR FIGHT WAS FOR EVERY COMMUNITY, EACH OF US.
AND FOR THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY GRATEFUL.
THEY SHOWED HOUSTON THE DIFFERENT FAITHS COULD COME TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.
WHEN THESE THREE WOULD SHOW UP
[01:35:01]
AT A GOVERNMENT MEETING OR A COURTROOM, CHANGES HAPPENED AND WRONGS WERE RIGHTED.THEY SERVED AS THE MORAL COMPASS FOR HOUSTON.
ALL THREE NOW DECEASED, BUT THEIR WORKS WILL LIVE ON INTO PERPETUITY.
I CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT REVEREND LAWSON, THOUGH WITHOUT HIS HELPMATE OF OVER 60 YEARS.
THEY WERE A TAG TEAM, A DYNAMIC DUO, A COLLABORATIVE COUPLE.
HE DIDN'T DO MANY THINGS WITHOUT HER COUNSEL.
HE WAS THE VISIONARY AND SHE WAS THE IMPLEMENTER.
HE WAS THE CREATIVE AND SHE WAS HIS MUSE.
HE SET THE RULES AND SHE WAS THE ENFORCER.
THOSE WHO KNEW EITHER MAMA OR DADDY, SURELY HAVE THEIR OWN STORIES OF HOW THEY WERE TOUCHED BY SOMETHING EITHER OF THEM DID OR SAID, OR HOW THEIR LIVES WERE IMPACTED.
DID THAT EXPERIENCE YOU HAD WITH THEM CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT HOW OR WHO YOU ARE TODAY? WHILE REVEREND AND MRS. LAWSON LEFT A GREAT LEGACY TO THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS, THEY LEFT AN EVEN GREATER LEGACY TO THEIR CHILDREN.
FOR ME IT IS LOVE, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, FAITH, EMPATHY, BENEVOLENCE, JOY, HONESTY, COMPASSION, DEDICATION, JUSTICE, GENEROSITY, TRUSTWORTHINESS, GOODWILL, WHAT IS IT FOR YOU? THANK YOU.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THESE EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUALS, JUDGE BERNIE, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, REVEREND LAWSON, NOT ONLY FOR WHAT THEY DID, BUT FOR WHO THEY WERE.
THEIR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, SERVICE AND HUMANITY HAS SHAPED HOUSTON INTO A CITY OF STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE.
THEIR LIVES WERE DEDICATED TO ENSURING EQUALITY AND JUSTICE WERE NOT JUST WORDS, BUT A LIVED REALITY.
THEIR LEGACIES WILL ENDURE IN THEIR FAMILIES, IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND IN EACH OF US WHO BREATHE THE AIR OF FREEDOM THAT THEY FOUGHT SO HARD TO PURIFY.
WE HONOR THEM TODAY, TOMORROW, AND ALWAYS AT THIS TIME, I WANNA BRING TO THE STAGE DR.
GLORIA BAPTIST ROBERTS TO INTRODUCE THE PHENOMENAL TSU DEBATE TEAM, OF WHICH I HAD THE PLEASURE OF, OF, OF SEEING PART OF THIS, UM, AT THE CONTROL, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM.
SO YOU'RE IN FOR A PHENOMENAL TREAT.
THE TSU DEBATE TEAM BLACK EXCELLENCE REFERS TO A HIGH LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT, SUCCESS OR ABILITY DEMONSTRATED BY AN INDIVIDUAL BLACK PERSON OR BY BLACK PEOPLE.
THE TERM IS OFTEN USED TO HIGHLIGHT AND CELEBRATE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF SUCH ACHIEVEMENTS AND ABILITIES.
THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO CELEBRATE BLACK LEGACY AND LEADERSHIP.
SAID, A GENUINE LEADER IS NOT A SEARCHER OF CONSENSUS, BUT A MOTOR OF CONSENSUS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID, CHANGE WILL NOT COME IF WE WAIT FOR SOME OTHER PERSON OR SOME OTHER TIME.
WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
AND TODAY IS A GREAT TIME TO HONOR OUR BLACK LEADERS WHO HAVE HELPED TO SHAPE OUR NATION AND THE DEMOCRATIC VALUES WE HOLD.
WE KNOW TOO OFTEN THE REALITIES OF LEADING WHILE BLEEDING.
[01:40:01]
WE HAVE BEEN WEARY.WE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WARRIORS.
WE HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED, YET WE HAVE BEEN OVERCOMERS.
HOWEVER LONG, HOWEVER LONG THE NIGHT WILL BREAK.
DAWN WILL BREAK, BREAK, THE DAWN WILL BREAK FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THE DAWN WILL BREAK FOR VOTING RIGHTS.
THE DAWN WILL BREAK FOR EDUCATION.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS SUCH AS THE LATE JUDGE, THE TTA, BERNIE, THE CONGRESSWOMAN, SHEILA JACKSON LEE, AND REVEREND WILLIAM LAWSON HAVE CONSISTENTLY SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THESE ISSUES.
OVERALL, AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS REMAIN VIGILANT AND VOCAL DRAWING ON HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES THAT ADDRESS AND CHALLENGE CONTEMPORARY POLICIES THAT THEY BELIEVE PERPETUATE RACIAL INJUSTICE.
WE, MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY DEBATE TEAM WILL MAKE THE CHANGE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
WE, WE, MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY DEBATE TEAM WILL MAKE THE CHANGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, FOR HISTORY HAS ALREADY ENGRAVED HER NAME.
GENERATIONS WILL KNOW HER NAME, SHEILA JACKSON, SHEILA JACKSON.
YOU'LL KNOW THE WARRIOR UNAFRAID TO SPEAK UNAPOLOGETIC TRUTH.
YOU'LL KNOW THE GLADIATOR SEASONED IN FAITH IN A WAR TO SAVE DEMOCRACY.
THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY DEBATE TEAM IS PROUD TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, DIRECTED BY HEAD COACH DR.
GLORIA BAPTIST ROBERTS, BASED ON A POEM WRITTEN BY THOMAS MILON RENOWNED POET, PLAYWRIGHT AND TSU PROFESSOR OF THEATER ENTITLED GENERATIONS WILL KNOW NAME, HER NAME, HER LEGACY IS ARCHIVED, AND COURAGE HISTORY WILL SALUTE THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN ON HER RECORD, ON HER BATTLE SCARS AND HER FOOTPRINTS OF THE FREEDOM ROAD.
WHEN THE CONGRESSWOMAN SPOKE WORDS, WORDS SPAWNED ACTION, INJUSTICE, TREMBLED HISTORY HAS WRITTEN HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY, A WOMAN OF DIGNITY, HER DISSERTATION ACTION WARNING.
DO NOT CROSS HER KNOW THAT
KNOW THAT SHE WAS THE DEFENDER OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN TO CONTROL THEIR OWN BODIES.
SHEILA INTRODUCED HR 8 5 2 5, THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE AND POLICING ACT.
SHEILA VOTED FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE MATTHEW SHEPHERD AND JAMES BY HATE CRIME PREVENTION ACT.
SHEILA VOTED FOR EQUALITY ACT, WHICH EXPANDED THE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 TO BAN DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.
HER LEGACY HAS NO SPACE FOR REGRET OR NOSTALGIA, BUT ONLY ACTION.
SHEILA JACKSON LEE JACKSON LEE.
THAT'S WHAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM TEXAS WOULD SAY TODAY.
GENERATIONS WILL KNOW HER NAME.
BOY, I KEEP TELLING YOU THAT IF NOT CUT TO THE RIGHT, WHEN YOU SEE THE QUARTERBACK PUMP HIS ARM, THERE IS NO WAY YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT TO THE FOOTBALLING TIME.
THAT IS HIS JOB TO HIT YOUR MARK ON TIME.
IT'S ALSO HIS JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BALL FALLS RIGHT INTO YOUR HANDS.
BUT HE CAN'T DO HIS JOB UNLESS YOU DO YOURS.
AND REMEMBER TO HIT THE CORNER STICK, HIT THE HARD CUT RIGHTS.
AND IF YOU AS GOOD AS YOUR DADDY WAS, THEN THE BALL SHOULD BE READY AND RUN ON YOU.
BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE WAS PLAYING BALL WITH MARCUS.
AND AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED, THINGS ARE JUST DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, I HEAR PARENTS SAY THAT THEY WOULD GIVE THEIR LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND I WOULD
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TOO.GIVE MY LIFE FOR JUST ONE MORE SECOND WITH MY SON.
ACCORDING TO THE HARVARD CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE STILL SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE OFFICERS THAN OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.
WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY DO WE LET SYSTEMIC ISSUES STILL PERSIST, ALLOWING POLICE BRUTALITY TO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR? IN HER BOOK, CHRISSY THOMAS SHOWS US THE STRUGGLE THAT MINORITY PARENTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH AS THEIR CHILD BECAUSE ANOTHER NAME PUTS INTO THIS EVER GROWING BOOK.
THE FOLLOWING PROSE INTERPRETATION IS DEDICATED TO MY BEST FRIEND.
I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR NAME IN THIS BOOK, IMPACT STATEMENTS BY CHRISSY THOMAS, PEOPLE WONDER WHY ONE OF THE MANY STEREOTYPES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN IS ANGER
WOULDN'T YOU BE ANGRY IF DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER WERE MADE BEFORE SOMEONE EVEN SAID HELLO? OR BECAUSE OF THESE DECISIONS, THEY DON'T EVEN SPEAK.
I MEAN, WE ARE BLACK MEN AND WE ARE FEAR BY MANY.
BUT MARCUS, MARCUS, ON THE OTHER HAND, DOES NOT LIVE IN FEAR.
I MEAN, THE BOY WALKS DOWN THE STREET LIKE THE BLOCK IS NAMED AFTER HIM.
HE DOESN'T THINK SOMEONE'S STANDING AROUND THE CORNER COULD BE SOMEONE WAITING TO HURT HIM.
EVERYTHING I TAUGHT HIM WAS TO GET HIM TO UNDERSTAND.
IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE LIKE HE'S IN DANGER BECAUSE THEN HE'LL NEVER LET HIS GUARD DOWN.
HE'LL NEVER BE WALKING THE PARK LATE AT NIGHT THINKING HE'S SAFE BECAUSE HE'S NOT.
I TAUGHT MY SON THE RULES OF GETTING PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER.
I TOLD HIM TO IMMEDIATELY LET THE WINDOW DOWN AND KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.
I TOLD HIM TO HAVE MULTIPLE COPIES OF HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE, PROOF OF INSURANCE, AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS.
CLIP FOR EASY ACCESS, ASKED TO NOT MAKE ANYONE NERVOUS.
SMILE
THEY MAY THINK WE LESS INTIMIDATING THAT WAY.
AND IF YOU GET A TICKET, SMILE, SAY THANK YOU, WAIT FROM THEM TO PULL AWAY.
AND THEN OLI, THEN ARE YOU ALLOWED TO CRY, SCREAM, AND BREATHE SAFELY.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILD? HOW MANY OF YOU FEELING NECESSARY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION OVER AND OVER AGAIN? YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA BE A FATHER.
I JUST WANNA BE A FATHER WHO HAPPENS TO BE BLACK, WHO HAPPENS TO HAVE A SON THAT IS BLACK.
AND I WANNA RAISE HIM TO BE A GOOD PERSON.
NOT JUST ANY GOOD BLACK PERSON, BUT A GOOD PERSON.
I NEVER ASKED TO BECOME A SPEAKER BECAUSE ANYTIME I STAND IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, I AM FORCED TO RELIVE THAT DAY.
JUST A FATHER BEING A FATHER, THROWING AROUND THE FOOTBALL WITH HIS SON IN A HOT SUMMER AFTERNOON.
AND HE SAYS, HEY POP, I'M GONNA RUN INSIDE.
GET SOME WATER RIGHT QUICK NOW I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
AND WHEN I GET BACK YOUR ARM, BETTER BE READY.
OH MAN, YOU REALLY THE NERVE OF THIS BOY, BOY.
I REMEMBER STARING AT HIM BEFORE HE WALKED INTO THE APARTMENT BUILDING.
THE LAST TIME WE SAW EACH OTHER, WE WERE SMILING AT EACH OTHER.
THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN HIS HANDS, THAT HE JUST PUT HIS HANDS IN THE AIR.
OUT OF EVERYTHING THAT I TAUGHT MARCUS, I DIDN'T TEACH HIM THAT IT WAS A WATER BOTTLE.
THAT'S WHERE MY SON AND IN HIS HANDS WHEN THEY SHOT HIM, A STRAIGHT A STUDENTS NEVER BEEN IN NO TROUBLE, NEVER BEEN ASSIGNED AT THEIR DETENTION.
AND NO GUN, AIN'T NO KNIFE THAT NOTHING THAT COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR A WEAPON.
BUT YOU SHOT MY SON 16 TIMES BECAUSE OF A WATER BOTTLE.
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AND THEN YOU TELL ME TO MAKE A VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT BECAUSE MY SON NEVER GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.WHO WILL ALWAYS SPEAK FOR HIM? HIS NAME WAS, MY NAME IS MARCUS WESLEY.
I'M A 13-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE AT RAYVILLE DEAL HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW, I WAS GONNA BE THE STAR RECEIVER ON MY FOOTBALL TEAM THIS YEAR IN THE, I USED TO LAUGH AT MY DAD WHO TOLD ME HOW HARD IT WAS TO BE A BLACK MAN IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW.
I GUESS IT WASN'T GONNA HAPPEN TO ME, YOU KNOW? BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE GOALS I HAD WHEN I WAS LIVING.
I WAS GONNA BE THE BEST MARKETING MANAGER ANYONE HAD EVER SEEN.
I WAS GONNA BE A HUSBAND, A LOVER, A FATHER.
AND THE ONE THING I WANTED MORE IS THE SAME THING.
REMEMBER WHAT WE SAID? WE WAS GONNA PUT YOU IN FOOTBALL.
HE WAS RUNNING AROUND THE ROOM.
LIKE I SAID, WE GO TO DISNEYLAND AND YOU KNOW, I STILL CAN'T FORGIVE MYSELF FOR ME LETTING THEM KILL YOU.
I, I SPOKE AT THE HEARING TODAY,
WELL, SO MUCH TALENT WE'VE SEEN TODAY, I'M BLOWN AWAY.
THANK YOU TO TSU DEBATE TEAM CHOIR THEATER TEAM.
THANK YOU TO MS. MURRAY
UM, THIS HAS JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING THANK YOU TO OUR AWARD RECIPIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR SHOWING UP.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AS YOUR MC.
UH, WE HOPE THIS PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT YOU SOME, SOME JOY, SOME PRIDE RESTORED YOUR MAGIC, AND, UH, GIVING YOU A REASON TO KEEP PUSHING AND CELEBRATING BEING BLACK UNAPOLOGETICALLY.
I WANNA GO AHEAD AND BRING BACK, UH, CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS FOR FINAL REMARKS.
AGAIN, CHELSEA, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO TSU CHOIR THEATER AND DEBATE.
MS. MURRAY, WOULD YOU COME JOIN ME ON THE STAGE REALLY QUICKLY AND CAN WE ALSO BE JOINED BY DR. JONES AND DR. RODRIGUEZ GONZALEZ.
UH, FOR EACH OF THEM WE JUST HAVE A CERTIFICATE ACKNOWLEDGING, UH, THEIR GREATNESS AND THEIR PRESENCE HERE TODAY.
YOU WANNA TAKE THIS? THANK YOU RIGHT HERE FOR ME.
UH, NOT UNTO US, OH LORD, BUT TO THY NAME BE THE GLORY.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR JOINING US HERE AT CITY HALL TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
WE KNOW THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY, AND WHILE SOME MAY LOOK TO ELIMINATE OUR HISTORY FROM SCHOOLS, FROM BOOKS, FROM CIVIC MEMORY, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE HISTORY, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE HISTORY TO OUR HISTORY MAKERS THAT WE HONOR TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LIFELONG COMMITMENTS TO POSITIVE CHANGE, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND TO THE FAMILIES OF
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OUR SAINTS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO GLORY, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHARED SACRIFICE TO OUR PERFORMERS.AGAIN, THE CHOIR, THE THEATER DEPARTMENT, UH, THE DEBATE TEAM, AND MS. MURRAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR POWERFUL PERFORMANCES.
AND I ALSO WANNA DO A LAST ROUND OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
UH, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS JOINED US.
UH, IS SHE STILL HERE? THERE SHE IS.
CAN WE ACKNOWLEDGE HER? JUSTIN ROBINSON II, UH, FORMER MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL AND CURRENT CEO OF HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE DARNELL JOSEPH, JARED MORGAN, AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM A HUNDRED BLACK MEN.
CAN THEY STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED AS WE CONCLUDE THE FORMAL PROGRAM? KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE END.
THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN TO KEEP BUILDING A, A LIVING LEGACY THAT SHAPES OUR CITY, OUR NATION, AND OUR FUTURE TO KEEP LEARNING, TO KEEP UPLIFTING ONE ANOTHER, TO CARRY FORWARD THE SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE, EXCELLENCE, AND PROGRESS THAT DEFINES BLACK HISTORY.
NOT JUST TODAY, BUT EVERY DAY.
UH, WE WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US FOR A MOMENT OF FELLOWSHIP HERE AFTER THE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE REFRESHMENTS OVER THERE.
IT'S NOT LUNCH, IT'S REFRESHMENTS.
I JUST WANNA
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN SOON HERE IN YOUR CITY HALL.