#NNPA BlackPress

“Cruel, Racist And Classist”: Protesters Stage “Read-In” At HISD Board Meeting

The board of managers for the Houston Independent School District weathered another stormy meeting on Aug. 10. Protests started even before the meeting began. At the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center that evening, community members staged a “read-in” in protest of HISD’s recent policy change on libraries. (Recently, the Forward Times reported that 28 […]
The post “Cruel, Racist And Classist”: Protesters Stage “Read-In” At HISD Board Meeting first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

August 16, 2023

Forward Times Staff

The board of managers for the Houston Independent School District weathered another stormy meeting on Aug. 10. Protests started even before the meeting began. At the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center that evening, community members staged a “read-in” in protest of HISD’s recent policy change on libraries. (Recently, the Forward Times reported that 28 schools in superintendent Mike Miles’ “New Education System” would dismiss librarians and turn libraries into “team centers,” where misbehaving students would be sent to view lessons virtually.)

Beginning at 4:30 pm, protesters gathered in the lobby, sat down, and began reading. They sprawled across the floor with novels, nonfiction and poetry books. Once the meeting began at 5:30, they took their protest inside. In fact, the first person to speak before the board brought up the library policy – though she also spoke out on the board’s proposal to have public meetings without the presence of an attorney.

Ruth Hoffman-Lack came to the mic with a warning. “First of all, I’m not an attorney and I’m not giving legal advice. But I strongly recommend that you do speak to an attorney regarding the proposal to send disruptive students to centers, even if it’s for ‘time out,’ as Mr. Miles described last week.

As I understand it, the policy violates the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or IDEA. It’s very clear that students enrolled in special education must receive services in the least restrictive environment possible. Removing a student from the classroom, even to a center where the student can watch the classroom on Zoom, is placing the child in a more restrictive environment. The only legal way to remove a child, even for time out, is to write it into the behavior intervention plan. So, you definitely need to have your attorney at all of your meetings because this—”

The bell rang, concluding her comments after one minute. Her mic was cut. But the second speaker, Ann Eagleton, picked up right where she left off. “I have a concern that you’re being penny wise and pound foolish,” she told the board. “Please be thoughtful. You’re new here. You don’t even know why you might need an attorney. Hold off making this policy change.”

Sim Kern riled up the crowd with an impassioned speech about Miles’ proposal to make sweeping changes to magnet programs.

“Both of my children attend public schools with magnet programs in Houston’s East End,” she said. “A magnet program can be the soul of a school. It attracts teachers and students who are passionate about what they’re studying. To deny this type of program only to those schools in the poorest neighborhoods is cruel, racist, and classist.” She continued, her voice rising: “We know the STAAR test measures one thing, more than any other metric: socioeconomic status. And therefore, by stripping NES schools of magnet programs, libraries and teachers who are invested in staying there long-term, you are punishing children for being born poor. You are saying: no music, no fine arts, no engineering or robotics or even—”

Though she was cut off after one minute, Kern continued to speak, her voice audible even away from the mic. Houston Federation of Teachers president Jackie Anderson came forward shortly afterward to speak out against a proposal of hiring uncertified teachers to fill vacancies. She said it would “paint a poor picture” of HISD and wouldn’t produce better outcomes for children: “Research shows that non-certified teachers and administrators have low retention rates.

We have been notified of people walking in off the street, simply breathing, leaving out with hiring offer letters — with no background check,” Anderson alleged. “You are demeaning the profession.”

Later, one speaker delivered a heartbreaking message. “I’m Ashley Prince, a certified educator, mother to five and children’s book author, with 15 years of educational experience,” she began. “I’m here today because I was offered a letter for hire by an NES-aligned campus and received a message that something had stopped my eligibility process. I came to Hattie Mae White Center and learned that I was terminated in 2017 by the board for performance, upon a leave I took in regards to the untimely passing of my then-12-year-old daughter.”

Prince claimed her termination letter was fraudulently signed. But before she could fully detail her plight, the bell rang, and she was dismissed, with her concerns unaddressed.

Houston NAACP President Bishop James Dixon also spoke. “In the 5th grade of Helms Elementary,” he said, “a librarian put in my hand a book on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I can say to you that if it had not been for that librarian and that book, I would not be standing here tonight. That book gave me a conviction of compassion to become a humanitarian for the rest of my life…There are many more James Dixons in many more classrooms who need libraries,” he continued, adding: “If you take a book out of a child’s hand, you take a future out of a child’s life.”

Angela Ravin-Anderson, a reverend at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, delivered three white boxes filled with nearly 2,000 signed letters from her congregation — all in opposition to the library change. She said her church was concerned about a “separate and unequal learning environment” for Black and brown children. “There is no research that supports the closing of libraries,” she said. “We know that literacy will help derail the pre-K to prison pipeline.” She presented the letters to the board, drawing rapt, sustained applause.

When Mike Miles arrived and began his presentation, members of the audience turned their backs to him. They held books and signs before the cameras.

The post “Cruel, Racist And Classist”: Protesters Stage “Read-In” At HISD Board Meeting appeared first on Forward Times.

The post “Cruel, Racist And Classist”: Protesters Stage “Read-In” At HISD Board Meeting first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Forward Times Staff

Posts by Forward Times Staff

Up Next

The 80’s effect

Don't Miss

BARC Calls on Community to Help with Stray Animals

Forward Times Staff

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.
How to use the channel:

Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

Live talk show “AutoNetwork Reports” — Thursdays 3:00 PM ET.
AutoNetwork.com
CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

admin

Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

admin

Posts by admin

#NNPA BlackPress

OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

admin

A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

Excerpt:

Photo Captions:

Website Tags and SEO Keywords:

Twitter (X) Tags and Handles: