The Houston Defender

1 day ago | defendernetwork.com | Aswad Walker

If you haven't seen the 2006 movie Idiocracy, don't worry; you're living it. The movie shows a nation whose citizens are so dumbed down that they fall for any nonsense, challenge learned scholars with BS opinions and create a society that is literally killing itself with its own ignorance. We're seeing this Idiocracy in action as Texas has joined Florida and Ohio in seeking to give gubernatorially appointed boards the power to control university curriculum and eliminate degree programs.

2 days ago | defendernetwork.com | Reshonda Tate

If you have spent even five minutes on TikTok lately, chances are Ms Shirley has graced your screen. The 4-year-old phenom-whose real name is Mariah-has the kind of rhythm that makes people sit up and pay attention. From the line dance classic "Boots on the Ground" to her now-signature facial expressions, she has captivated tens of thousands. At first glance, it is easy to smile and double-tap. But behind the giggles and shares is a growing controversy that deserves a deeper look.

2 days ago | defendernetwork.com | Aswad Walker

Are Blacks for or against gun ownership? Both. And it's complicated... or maybe it's not. To some, Hu Sani Sallah-Wilson doesn't fit the media image of the typical gun enthusiast, i.e., white, male, MAGA-leaning, outspoken and often anti-Black. Though definitely male, Sallah-Wilson is progressive in his worldview, humble and soft-spoken and unapologetically pro-Black. And he has no problem letting you know that he's a proud gun owner.

5 days ago | defendernetwork.com | Aswad Walker

There are two schools of thought regarding African Americans' concerns about international issues. One is that Black people are too focused on "domestic" issues to pay attention to events around the globe. Two, Black people in the U.S. today, like past giants (W. E. B. Du Bois, Paul Robeson, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and others), are more aware of global issues than some social scientists think, and recognize how those issues impact their lives in America.

5 days ago | defendernetwork.com | Aswad Walker

The Texas House recently passed Senate Bill 10, a measure requiring all state public schools to display the 10 Commandments in every classroom. When Gov. Greg Abbott finally signs this bill into law, it will go into effect on Sept. 1. Surely, this course of events will provoke a court challenge as a potential violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. You know, all that legal separation of church and state stuff.