The number of amazing, fascinating, and impactful Black men and women that we get to meet, interview, and highlight in our profile stories never ceases to astound the editorial staff of The Defender. Our readers gain insight into the diverse range of skill, creativity, and brilliance that Texas has to offer from these articles, which appear in our print editions and on our website (www.DefenderNetwork.com). These ten 2024 profiles are very noteworthy.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett: A rising star in Congress
Few people have risen as quickly and aggressively as U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the busy hallways of the US Capitol, where history is being written all the time. Crockett, who represents Texas’ 30th Congressional District in the Dallas area, has emerged as a significant voice in Congress due to her keen legal knowledge, unshakable dedication to social justice, and daring attitude to addressing some of the most important issues facing the country.
Creative talent Isaac Yowman reflects on artistic journey
Isaac Yowman is a highly regarded creative genius in Houston’s cinema and hip-hop communities. Yowman is a multi-hyphenated, Grammy-nominated filmmaker and creative director who owns IYO Agency, one of Houston’s leading multimedia companies. Houston is where Yowman’s journey began. He started by creating music, a love that had captivated him since childhood. Having graduated from Full Sail University with a dual degree in audio engineering and entertainment business, Yowman’s path changed when he realized he had an insatiable curiosity about movies, television, and design. Since then, the world has changed.
At 102, Juanita Williams still ushers in spirit at Wesley AME
Juanita Williams is two years into her second century of serving God and the community at the age of 102. Since 1956, Williams has served on the Usher Board of the historic Wesley Chapel AME Church, which he joined in the early 1940s. 68 years of assisting in the invocation of the Holy Spirit. She continues to usher every first and second Sunday while on duty. Regarding her role, she remarked, “I enjoy meeting people.” Numerous new, amiable persons are introduced to you.
Anthony Antoine makes impact as Fox 26 anchor
Over the past two months, if you’ve occurred to watch Fox 26 News, you might have noticed a new face on the screen: Anthony Antoine, a brother who works as an anchor. Indeed, newsrooms in the United States are getting more diverse. Even in 2024, however, seeing a Black guy at the anchor desk is still uncommon. But more than just keeping a seat in place, Antoine is doing so for the sake of culture. This Houston transplant, who was born in Trinidad and grew up in New Jersey, traveled to Richmond, Virginia, and Champaign, Illinois, for professional work before finding his true voice. Now that he has, he is utilizing it to tell tales that are important to us.
Ashley Lazarre navigates activism, academia in style
Ashley Lazarre is a storyteller and content creator from Houston who is a tireless advocate for Black women’s empowerment and global justice. This dynamo, who was born in Haiti, adds a whole new vibe to the nexus of activism, academia, and fashion. Lazarre, a Ph.D. candidate studying Global Inclusion & Social Development at the University of Massachusetts Boston, is doing much more than just shattering stereotypes—she is rewriting the rules!
Charles O Neal is serious about Black business
A meeting with Charles O. Neal quickly reveals that he is passionate about Black entrepreneurship. O Neal is the chair of the board of directors for the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., an umbrella group of regional Black chambers of commerce, which has 175 chambers in 42 states. Being the leader of one significant group that supports Black businesses wasn’t enough for O Neal because of his intense desire for doing so. In Texas, which has led the country in Black women-owned business formation for almost 20 years, he also serves as president of the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce (TAAACC). Do what you want to do, Black dude.
Dr. Jennifer Hatchett Stover and Counseling in Color
Licensed professional counselor Dr. Jennifer Hatchett Stover is here for the culture, ensuring that Black people, particularly young people, receive the mental health care they require for the persistent traumas that Black people experience. Hatchett Stover, a licensed yoga instructor, trained school counselor, and nationally certified counselor, uses her own experiences overcoming trauma to guide her.
Houston musician Mofe becomes viral internet sensation
There is variation in the Afrobeats sound. There are numerous subcategories for it. Mofe, 24, is the source of the unusual sound that Houston is hearing. This Nigerian artist, who is located in H-Town, has become a global sensation thanks to his distinctive fusion of alternative and Afrobeats music. Mofe’s ascension is anything but typical, though, as his popular song Prince of Egypt, which he co-wrote with TikTok sensation Hugo Hilaire, has gone viral.
June Deadrick first Black woman to chair bowl game
June Deadrick, V.P. of Community Relations at CenterPoint Energy, grew up in the small Texas town of Palacios, where she fell in love with sports after witnessing the beauty of football on Friday nights. Since then, she has risen to prominence in the sports industry. She continues to shatter the glass ceiling as the first African American woman to chair a postseason collegiate bowl game in the country (Texas Bowl). The College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship was held in Houston on January 8, 2024, and she oversaw the host committee for the event.
6-year-old Chandler Hughes joins Mensa s elite high IQ society
As the school day draws to a close, pupils dash through The Imani School’s hallways to meet their parents in the main office. Chandler Hughes, six, sits grinning broadly, wearing preppy clothes, and he has a lively gait. Although he is just considered a child by his peers, he has already made a lasting impression on the world of intellectual excellence as one of the youngest members of the esteemed Mensa high-IQ group.All of our profiles are available at www.DefenderNetwork.com in one place.
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