Urban Voice_August 2017 Edition

NAACP says Missouri is unsafe for minorities. Why?

UrbanVoice Culture News Politics

CHATTANOOGA + KNOXVILLE + ATLANTA

AUGUST 2017

Be Empowered!

e Black, Gray and Gay: The Perils of Aging LGBTQ People of Color Ar

new HUD Southeast Regional Administrator NAMED

DENISE Cleveland-Leggett

Warren Mackey Named To NACo Board Of Directors

Berke Names David Roddy As New Chattanooga Police Chief

Jack Daniel’s wants you to know about Nearis Green, the slave behind the world’s best-selling whiskey

Power of Information.

The Last Word

>>>

Jack Daniel’s wants you to know about Nearis Green, the slave behind the world’s best-selling whiskey<<< “I’ll drink to that”

This month, I wanted to give a shout out to Nathan “Uncle Nearest” Green and Jay Z. For years, visitors to Tennessee’s Jack Daniel’s distillery have gotten a version of history that goes down as smooth as a good whiskey: In the 1850s, a preacher and distiller by the name of Dan Call recognized potential in young Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel and taught him how to run a still.

His name was Nearis Green, but everyone who knew him called him Uncle Nearis. There is a good chance you have never heard of him. But you have heard of his protege, Jasper Daniel — or, at least, the whiskey that bears his nickname, Jack.

But, as the bestselling whiskey maker approaches its 150th anniversary, The New York Times reports that the brand is revisiting history and embracing a more accurate historical account, in which Daniel was an apprentice to Nearis Green, one of Call’s slaves.New York Times best-selling author Fawn Weaver says she discovered the story of Green from an article published by The New York Times that moved her to dig more into his history.

That’s when she learned that Green was not the only African American involved in the process of distilling Jack Daniel’s whiskey. In fact, generations of Green’s descendants worked together with the Daniel family to make the iconic whiskey decades later. Some of Green’s offspring still work in the whiskey industry today.

Now, Weaver will dedicate a book, memorial park, street naming, and museum to pay tribute to Green’s legacy.

She also plans to set up a college

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scholarship fund for his descendants.

“When Fawn contacted us, we were excited to hear that someone was bringing to light all of this information about our family,” said Mitchell Green, a relative of Green, in a statement. “Until now, only our family and a small community were aware of the impact our ancestor had on the Tennessee whiskey industry.”

According to a press release, Weaver and her husband have purchased the farm where the original Jack Daniel’s Distillery was located and have set up The Nearest Green Foundation to ensure that Green’s story “will never again be forgotten.”

“Already in the works are artifacts being placed on permanent loan to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.; plans for a museum in Lynchburg dedicated to the history of Tennessee whiskey; the renaming of a street to Nearest Green Way; the Nearest Green Memorial Park in Lynchburg; a book scheduled for completion this year; an improvement project at Highview Cemetery in Lynchburg, where Green is believed to have been buried; and a scholarship fund to benefit his direct

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descendants. The scholarship’s first recipients are Matthew McGilberry and Marcus Butler, both attending college this fall,” reads the press release.

“To correct the record, Weaver has written a new foreword and preface for Jack Daniel’s official biography, “Jack Daniel’s Legacy,” which will be republished this month in honor of the 50th anniversary of its original release.”

To top it off, Weaver will release a handcrafted, ultra-premium Tennessee whiskey called Uncle Nearest 1856 later this month.

“When I met with the descendants of George Green, the son most known for helping his father, Nearest, and Jack Daniel in the whiskey business, I asked them what they thought was the best way to honor Nearest, said Fawn. “Their response was, ‘No one owes us anything. We know that. But putting his name on a bottle, letting people know what he did, would be great.’”

Jay-Z’s Powerful (and Controversial) Money and Business Lessons From ‘4:44’From fake Instagram millionaires to poor credit, Jay-Z keeps it 100%. 4:44 is raw, intimate, educational, and uplifting all at the same time. In 36 captivating minutes, Jay-Z has managed to record what is

sure to become known as one of his most important albums.

The album starts with “Kill Jay Z” and ends with “Legacy,” a verbal will. This is no mistake. Throughout the album, the listener is treated to quite a journey.

Financial Planning—HOV Style The next track is “The Story Of O.J.,” which is the antithesis of his 1998 single “Money, Cash, H**s,” from the album Vol 2…Hard Knock Life. Instead of bubbling “hard in the double R,” financial planning takes center stage: “You wanna know what’s more important than throwin’ away money at a strip club? Credit.”

– From “The Story Of O.J.” Pay attention to the last line; Jay offers to give you a million dollars worth of games for $9.99, which also happens to be the price of a subscription to TIDAL, his new digital entertainment platform.

Stay tuned. Be encouraged. And #StayWoke.

Until Next month,

J D Harper

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Memphis Craig Fitzhugh to run for governor of Tennessee, setting up contested Democratic primary

Rep. Marc Gravitt Running For Hamilton County ll State Rep. Marc Gravitt announced Monday that he plans to run in the May 1, 2018 GOP primary for Hamilton County Register of Deeds, following the retirement of six-term incumbent Pam Hurst.

Rep. Gravitt said, “Serving the people of Hamilton County using the business experience I’ve obtained for more than 25 years is a true privilege.

We continue to see at every level of government that when elected leaders come from a business background,

Registration Now Open for Inaugural ‘Give A Day’ Knoxville Mayors’ Week of Service: Sept. 2 – Sept 8, 2017 ll Craig Fitzhugh, the Democratic leader in the Tennessee House of Representatives, says he’s running for governor of Tennessee in 2018, setting up a long-anticipated head-to-head race with former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean for the Democratic nomination.

Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, announced his candidacy in an interview with the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee from his home in rural Lauderdale County, calling it the “right thing to do” and important that Democrats have a spirited primary.

His entry presents a contrast to Dean, an urban mayor, and an alternative for Democrats critical of Dean’s businessfriendly politics and support of charter schools.

It could also mean the state’s first seriously contested gubernatorial Democratic primary election in several cycles. On the Republican side, five viable Republican contenders are seeking the GOP nomination in the race to replace Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.

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ll Registration is now open for volunteer projects connected to Give a Day Knoxville, a new communitywide volunteer initiative that kicks off Sept. 2 and runs through Sept. 8.

Powered by Volunteer East Tennessee, members of the greater Knoxville community can visit VolunteerETN. org/GiveADay to browse available volunteer opportunities and sign up for one of the many projects hosted by local organizations. The site can also be used to record new projects or acts of kindness completed throughout the event.

Give a Day Knoxville aligns with United Way of Greater Knoxville’s annual giving campaign and encourages everyone in the community to give back by volunteering, donating to United Way, or even sharing a simple act of kindness.

“As Mayor, I am impressed again and again by the depth of generosity and compassion I see demonstrated across our city,” says Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero. “Give a Day Knoxville is a great chance to highlight our volunteer spirit and encourage our friends, neighbors and coworkers to join in!”

Denise ClevelandLeggett named HUD Southeast Regional Administrator U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today named Denise Cleveland-Leggett to serve as HUD’s Region IV Regional Administrator. As the Regional Administrator, she will work from HUD’s Atlanta Regional Office and lead HUD’s Southeast operation in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“I’ve known Denise Leggett for many years and have been very impressed with her ability to get things done,” said Secretary Carson. “She has a keen interest in housing and a brilliant mind.”

“I am looking forward to working with Secretary Carson and our stakeholders and partners to innovatively accomplish HUD’s mission to create strong, sustainable, and inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all,” said ClevelandLeggett. “This is a tremendous honor and opportunity to strengthen the communities

and families we serve, and ensure they have a path toward achieving their American Dream.”

Prior to her appointment as Region IV Regional Administrator, Cleveland-Leggett spent more than thirty years of combined and extensive legal experience in the public and private sectors, and was actively involved as a business and community leader in Atlanta. An accomplished corporate lawyer, she represented various healthcare clients in transactional and regulatory matters, including hospital acquisitions, hospital and physician contract negotiations, and clinical integrations. She also assisted in resolving and defending matters regarding antitrust and employment law, including cases of discrimination.

Additionally, Cleveland-Leggett served on the Georgia Commission for Women, Georgia State Ethics Commission, State Personnel Oversight Commission, and Council for the Hearing Impaired Legal Clinic, Co-Counsel. She has additionally served on several non-profit boards, and was appointed board chair of Literacy Action, Inc., which seeks to remedy Adult Literacy.

Cleveland-Leggett is a member of the American Bar Association, American Health Lawyers Association, American Health Lawyers Association, Georgia State

Travel Blogger, Cultured Black Pearl, Empowers Women of Color to Travel Abroad — Bridges Diversity Gap in Travel & Tourism Sector

ll New York, NY — Cultured Black Pearl (CulturedBlackPearl.com) is a travel and lifestyle blog featuring musings from abroad by a woman of color. The digital platform encourages and inspires women, especially those from the African diaspora to travel.

Cultured Black Pearl produces trustworthy content, shares resources, and connects travelers to brands and destinations interested in diverse consumers. Her travel blog teaches women how to travel seamlessly at home

and beyond borders. Having traveled to more than 70 countries as a solo female traveler, Cultured Black Pearl is rising as a key travel influencer with first-hand knowledge of destination travel.

While the travel and tourism industry continue to ignore the buying power of the black community, which spends an estimated $60 billion annually on travel, platforms like Cultured Black Pearl emerge. Women of color make up the largest demographic of travel, yet are painstakingly overlooked in the travel and tourism sector. The industry focus continues to revolve around white consumers and millennials who “quit their jobs” to travel the world.

Many travel experts encouraging travelers to quit jobs and trek the globe lack transparency and honesty around what it truly takes to travel affordably and with longevity. They also fail to provide authentic experiences not just those customized exclusively for the white consumer.

Through engaging and clear dialogue,

Cultured Black Pearl readership has grown steadily with more than 70,000 dedicated readers relying on her travel advice and insight as a seasoned solo female traveler.

“There’s a false perception black consumers desire the same experiences while traveling which simply isn’t true,” says Cultured Black Pearl. “Tourism boards, hotels, and destinations alike are blatant with their lack of interest for the black consumer. From simple things like amenities and products in your hotel room to the welcome or lack thereof, to working together. In too many cases ignoring cultural fit and fostering a disheartening environment is the norm.”

As a marketing and finance executive who gave up a lucrative career spanning more than twenty-years, Cultured Black Pearl has led corporations and brands to success. Developing diversity and inclusion programs, strategic marketing initiatives, and increasing visibility and awareness for luxury and emerging brands are a few ways she works with partners interested in growing business and

embracing diversity.

To jumpstart wanderlust, Cultured Black Pearl is offering travel vouchers to select subscribers of her travel blog for a 3-day/2-night promotional getaway.

About Cultured Black Pearl Cultured Black Pearl features solo female travel and lifestyle perspectives from around the world by a woman of color. She aims to fill the diversity void in travel & tourism and highlights safety and ease of travel abroad. Authentic cultural experiences, travel tips, and GPS-enabled travel guides can be found on her travel blog. For more details and to follow her travel journey, visit www. culturedblackpearl.com

Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Launches New Law Firm with National Scope Ben Crump Law will seek justice for wronged individuals and further the cause of social justice with national network of lawyers

ll TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With the aim of more effective activism to promote individual and social justice in America, renowned civil rights advocate and attorney Ben Crump this week launched a new law firm with a nationwide

network of top lawyers. Well known for his work representing the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Corey Jones, Tamir Rice and others, Crump said the new firm will have the scale to seek justice for individuals across the nation and broadly extend his advocacy for social justice causes.

Ben Crump Law PLLC, will focus on civil rights, employment law, personal injury, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice and wrongful death cases, as well as mass torts and class actions. View a short biographical video here.

With offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Tallahassee, Ben Crump Law has established an affiliation with the Morgan & Morgan law firm to create linkages with some of the top lawyers in the country, allowing the firm to handle cases anywhere in the country as part of the Ben Crump Law network.

People of color are disproportionately

affected by environmental racism, discriminatory practices and lack of access to quality schools and the internet — causes that all may be addressed by uniting the interests of many plaintiffs, Crump said.

Crump will host TVOne’s “Evidence of Innocence,” which is based on wrongfully convicted citizens who have been exonerated by clear evidence. He also will lead the investigation on A&E’s upcoming documentary series “Who Killed Tupac?” and can be seen on the new film “Marshall,” set to release October 13.

A distinguished civil rights advocate, Crump has been honored with the Henry Latimer Diversity Award, The Florida Association of Fundraising Professionals, Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year, National Newspaper Publishers Association Newsmaker of the Year, and The Root 100 Top Black Influencers.

Crump also has served as president of the

National Bar Association. He has been recognized by Ebony magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans and has received the National Civil Rights Museum’s Freedom Award, the American Association for Justice Johnnie Cochran Award, the NAACP Thurgood Marshall Award, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Martin Luther King Servant Leader Award.

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PHEN Expands National Educational Outreach with Its 2017 Prostate Health Symposiums

ll Quincy, MA — With twelve symposiums in nine states completed from April through June, and another 13 scheduled through November, the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) is taking its educational efforts to greater heights. The Fifth Annual Symposia is a series of partnerships between churches and PHEN throughout the country. “The symposiums are a cornerstone of our efforts to increase knowledge and awareness for black men who have the highest prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates of all men in the United States,” says Thomas A. Farrington, PHEN president and founder.

The symposiums are structured for healthy men at high risk for prostate cancer, prostate cancer survivors, caregivers, and family members. Educational topics include: screening and early detection, treatment options, managing treatment side effects, advanced prostate cancer, and the importance of faith when facing cancer, each symposium is free and open to the public and includes breakfast or lunch.

Feedback from attendees has been overwhelming positive. Ninety (90) percent of those who completed the symposium evaluation form said they were satisfied with the program topics, the physician faculty and the survivor and caregiver speakers who served as panelists.

For the 2017 symposiums, PHEN includes a clinical trials

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educational segment to address the need to increase African American participation in prostate cancer clinical trials, and it is making a big impact. 94% of attendees completing evaluations said they better understood clinical trials following the presentation; 84 percent developed a better understanding of the potential benefits and risks; and 62% indicated that they would now consider participating in a clinical trial.

“The symposium’s gathering of physicians, survivors, the wellinformed, the casually curious and those desperately seeking answers made for a rich exchange of knowledge, experience and feelings. For me, a powerful highlight was the candid witness of the survivors and their spouses,” said Rev. Ellis I. Washington, Pastor of St. Paul AME Church, Cambridge, MA. The remaining symposiums in 2017 will be held in Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; Irvine, CA; Long Island, NY; Miami, FL; Milwaukee, WI; Nashville, TN; Newport News, VA; Oakland, CA; Queens, NY; and Rock Hill, SC. For more information, visit www. prostatehealthed.org About PHEN The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) is the leading prostate cancer patient education and advocacy organization addressing the needs of African Americans.

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Kiwanis Club Of Chattanooga Rallies Community To Build Trail And Fitness Stations At Chattanooga’s Howard High Chattanooga, TN— The Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga has been working with The Howard School for a year to create a fitness trail to benefit the school and surrounding community. The efforts will culminate on Saturday with the completion of a 1.5-mile trail and 14 fitness stations at the school.

Last fall, Howard chartered a Kiwanis Key Club, a student-led organization that teaches leadership through service to others. “Since we were establishing a partnership with the students, it was only natural to look to Howard as the site of our club’s next project,” said Leigh Todd, Kiwanis Club president. “We sat down with students, coaches, administrators and JROTC leaders to figure out what kind of fitness structures would most benefit the students. Once completed, the trail and fitness stations will enhance the training facilities for all of Howard’s students and athletic teams, as well as provide exercise opportunities for others in the community,” Leigh Todd continued.

“The design also includes picnic tables, benches, water stations and a children’s station.”

The fitness equipment has been provided by GameTime, a subsidiary of PlayCore. Construction of the trail began on July 22 and is expected to be completed this month.

During construction, additional in-kind contributions and volunteer groups have been provided by Stowers Machinery, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Chattanooga Bakery, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 175, Ironworkers Local 704, Chattanooga Track Club. In addition, PlayCore’s employees have dedicated their annual Day of Caring to the final installation date.

To learn more about the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga, please visit www. kiwanishchatt.org

Black, Hispanic publishers push for long awaited report on federal ad spending

ll The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is set to begin work on a report detailing advertising spending by federal agencies -particularly as it pertains to Black and Latino media companies.

“After several senators joined our request, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Shumer, GAO sent us an update in February saying that the request would take about six months of work,” said Benjamin Fritsch, a spokesman for Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), who first called for the report during a press conference with National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) members and representatives of the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP).

The GAO is a government agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services for Congress.

Charles Young, the managing director of public affairs for the GAO acknowledged that the request for a new report was formally received in February.

“Staffing was not expected to be freed up from existing work for several months and we now expect to begin the work in August or September,” Young said.

In March 2016, Norton called on the office to issue a report on federal advertising contracts and subcontracts with minority-owned newspapers and media companies.

Norton said that the federal government serves as the largest advertiser in the country, and it’s important that news outlets and media companies owned or published by individuals of color with a primary mission to serve communities of color have the same opportunities as other media outlets, especially as African-Americans and Hispanic Americans continue to grow in number in the United States.

“We believe that this request is particularly timely, because GAO will be conducting an audit of spending by federal agencies on public relations and advertising,” Norton said.

The agency found that just five percent of the $4.3 billion available for advertising campaigns went to minority-owned businesses. Several aides to the lawmakers did note that journalists, who work for Black- and Hispanic-owned media outlets must do a better job of keeping the issue on the pages of their newspapers.

Dorothy Leavell, the new chairwoman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has vowed to do just that and she said she’s grateful to Norton.

“We are extremely appreciative of Congresswoman Norton for taking the initiative on this,” said Leavell, who is also the publisher of the Crusader Newspaper Group. Leavell added that the wait for the GAO report has been long enough.

Berke Names David Roddy As New Police Chief ll Mayor Andy Berke on Friday morning announced that he has selected acting Chief David Roddy as the new Chattanooga police chief.

A five-person search committee named by the mayor chose acting Chief Roddy, Assistant Chief Edwin McPherson, and Captain Todd Chamberlain of the Los Angeles Police Department as finalists.

Mayor Berke said he had sought someone “worthy of the people who do this’ and who would “help inspire these officers.”

He noted he had been second in command to former Chief Fred Fletcher for the past three years.

The mayor said Chief Roddy leads by example, understands that the job is about community and safety and not just about catching people, understands that it is important to pay attention to victims and not just perpetrators, and he has organizational know how.

He said he had been integral in reorganizing the department and in improving the police pay system.

Mayor Berke said, “There were extraordinarily gifted candidates that I had to choose from.”

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County branch of the NAACP had recommended that Assistant Chief Edwin McPherson be named police chief.

Georgia among 21 states stuck at $7.25 minimum wage ll On the eighth anniversary of the last increase in the federal minimum wage, a new analysis shows that Congressional Democrats’ legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024 would deliver an outsized

share of pay increases to workers in states with the lowest minimum wages, including more than 20 million workers in the 21 states whose minimum wages are still stuck at the federal minimum of $7.25.

In each of seven of

the 21 states at $7.25 (Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia), more than 1 million workers would see their hourly pay increase by raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024.

Warren Mackey Named To NACo Board Of Directors

Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey has been named to the National Association of Board of Directors as an at-large member for a one-year term. Dr. Mackey’s appointment was made by new NACo President Roy Charles Brooks, a Tarrant County, Tx. commissioner, on the final day of NACo’s Annual Conference in Franklin County. Dr. Mackey has been active previously with NACo as a member of its Health Steering Committee.

“I am extremely proud and made humble by this appointment to serve on this board that represents 3,069 counties throughout this nation.

The central focus of NACo is to advance the interests of the counties before the federal government and the state governments. As a result of some changes that I made while president of the statewide Tennessee County Commission Association, the TCCA put my name forward to serve on the National Association of Counties Board of Directors,” Dr. Mackey said.

In his service on this board there are three primary issues that Dr. Mackey said that he will be focused on. According to Dr. Mackey, in Tennessee the low test schools, the poor condition of many school buildings, and the low wages received by educators mandates that as he serve on this board that he will do everything that he can to get the federal and the state governments to provide more funding for public schools. A second major interest that he will have is to protect the money that the states receive in regards to the Pilot program.

And the third major concern that he will be pushing is to get the state and federal governments to find more money to improve the health of Tennesseans and others throughout this wonderful country.

“The NACo board of directors provides strategic direction for the organization and advice on budgets and administrative matters. NACo is in a pivotal position right now because both the federal and the state governments are pushing more and more responsibilities down to the local governments largely without adequate resources,” officials said.

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SUMMER music festivalS 2017 AUGUST Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Leadership Conference 8/2/17-8/6/17; Cincinnati, OH; National Sales Network Convention 8/2/17-8/4/17, Chicago, IL; 8/3/17-8/7/17; Toronto, Canada; Satchmo Summerfest 8/3/17-8/6/17; New Orleans, LA; Women Who Jam SESAC Showcase 8/06/17; Los Angeles, CA; 8/9/17-8/13/17 National Association of Black Journalists Annual Convention 8/9/17-8/13/17; New Orleans, LA; http://www.nabj.org

SEPTEMBER South Florida Women Of Color Conference 9/8/17-9/10/17; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Marthaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vineyard Jazz & Blues SummerFest 9/01/17-9/03/17; Oaks Bluff, MA; Monterey Jazz Festival 9/15/17-9/17/17; Monterey, CA; Michigan BluesFest 9/15/17-9/16/17; Lansing, MI; African American Street Festival 9/22/17-9/24/17; Nashville, TN; http://aacanashville.org

OCTOBER Black Enterprise TechConnext Summit 10/09/17-10/10/17, FL; http://www.blackenterprise.com Action Icon Awards 10/22/17; Los Angeles, CA; http://actioniconawards.com Taste of Soul Festival 10/21/17; Los Angeles, CA, http://www.tasteofsoulla.org Arizona Jazz Festival TBD; Litchfield Park, AZ http://arizonajazzfestival.com

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Summer Fun! Are You Ready for a Road Trip? Check out these Cool Places to relax and release.

WORDS: Lynn Cole PHOTO: Steven Tyler Summer17 has arrived, and there is no better time than now to pack a bag, hop in your ride, and join the 79 percent of Americans who are, according to the American Automobile Association, planning to hit the highway this summer. Whether it’s a girlfriends’ get away, some time with the fellas outside of the man cave, or a quick trip planned especially for two, we have you covered.

Check out these hot vacation spots that are sure to add some sizzle to your life this summer.

QUICK TRIPS ESPECIALLY FOR TWO Baby let’s cruise, away from here Don’t be confused, the way is clear And if you want it you got it forever This is not a one night stand Let the music take your mind Ooh just release and you will find You’re gonna fly away, glad your goin’ my way I love it when we’re cruising together The music is played for love, Cruising is made for love I love it when we’re cruising together Cruise, Smokey Robinson If you are like me and in your forties, you understand that dating in this new millennium is well ... different. Careers, side-hustles, civic duties, and family obligations all compete for time and make an every-now-and-then-again romantic getaway with your significant other critical to having and maintaining a healthy relationship. Whether you crave for a fastpaced sexy adventure or quiet time alone to connect and regroup, here are a couple of places to check out.

Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast, Durham, North Carolina www.moreheadmanor.com Staying at a bed and breakfast can be the perfect home-away-from-home vacation. Normally, the bed and breakfast is a restored home that offers guests a level of intimacy and comfort that you can’t find in a hotel. If you are looking for a romantic get-a-way, some down time, or just need to unplug, a couple night’s stay at Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast might just be what you need.

Just a little over six hours from Southeast Tennessee, Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast is located within walking distance to downtown Durham, North Carolina. The 8000 sq. ft Colonial Revival

Style home has four spacious bedrooms, each with their own private bathroom. As one of the few African American owned bed and breakfast businesses in the United States, Morehead Manor markets itself as “A place where elegance, excitement, and hospitality meet”. The owners, Daniel and Monica Edwards, serve a full breakfast every morning and cater to their guests with complimentary beverages and homemade desserts.

Red Mile, Lexington, Kentucky www.redmileky.com If adventure and excitement is what your relationship needs, there is nothing like a high stakes night betting at the harness track to get both partner’s heart pumping. Never heard of a harness track? Think of the chariot races of ancient Rome as shown in movies like Ben-Hur or Sparta. For a full night of wins and losses, music, excitement, and of course drinks, try the Red Mile located just 200 miles from Southeast Tennessee in Lexington, Kentucky. In operation since 1875, the Red Mile is the second oldest harness track in the world. At the Red Mile guests can watch and wager on the live track or while dining in the Red Mile Clubhouse.

The track also periodically offers event promotions, including a $1.99 steak night.

GIRLFRIEND GET-A-WAYS I’m outta here, no turning back In a baby blue Cadillac. Just when I was stalling, I heard an angel calling.This is your life, you can go anywhere. You gotta grab the wheel and own it and drive it like you stole it -Drive it Like you Stole It, Sing Street While romantic get-a-ways are crucial, sometimes you just have to steal some time for yourself and get away with the girls.

Yes, it can be tough to put the effort into maintaining the bonds of sisterhood. But spending time with our sistahs is crucial to our sanity. I mean who else can relate to the highs and lows of womanhood and share a laugh and a few tears over a glass a wine? Besides, a quick trip to remember what it’s like to have fun without all your other responsibilities is good for the soul.

For the ultimate girlfriends’ get-a-way, check out these highly recommended suggestions.

Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery, Dahlonega, GA www.threesistersvineyard.com If a glass of wine and good conversation pair well during impromptu girlfriend visits, why not head to wine country. While you

are at it, forget about Napa Valley, take a ride on Georgia’s country roads, and explore the quaint North Georgia town of Dahlonega – home of Three Sisters Vineyards and Winery. Three Sisters Vineyards and Winery located just a little over 100 miles southeast of Tennessee, has almost 10,000 premium vines, featuring Cabernet Franc, Pinot Blanc, Touriga Nacional, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Cynthiana grapes. Named after the Three Sisters Mountain range, Three Sisters Vineyards and Winery features 184 acres of North Georgia beauty. Tastings are offered year round and guests can enjoy a glass of wine on the rock wall patio while listing to acoustic folk and bluegrass or jazz performed by local artists. The best thing about Three Sisters? You can might take home more than just memories, but also a few bottles of your favorite wines.

Jekyll Island Club Hotel www.jekyllclub.com If the beach is what you crave, you and your girls should whisk away to the pristine shores of Jekyll Island, a gorgeous state park in Jekyll Island, Georgia. The Jekyll Island Club Hotel was named by Southern Living as the best hotel in Georgia, and will open a new ocean front edition this month.

The new accommodations will feature 40 oversized suites with bedrooms, living rooms, and balconies offering the perfect spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of island living. For a themed vacation – check out the islands pre-packaged “girlfriend geta-ways” where you can choose from a yoga retreat, murder mystery weekend, or wildlife adventures, just to name a few.

MANCATIONS Everyday in the week I’m in a different city. If I stay too long people try to pull me down. They talk about me like a dog Talkin’ about the clothes I wear But they don’t realize they’re the ones who’s square.Hey! And that’s why You can’t hold me down. I don’t want to be down I gotta move on. Ah. Stone free to do what I please. Stone free to ride the breeze. Stone free I can’t stay. I got to got to got to get away right now -Stone Free, Jimi Hendrix Hey fellas! Think Weekend at Bernies or Hangover and it becomes apparent soon that more and more men are getting away from family, work and other duties for trips with the fellas, and I’m not just talking about bachelor party vacations either.

Literally the man cave has hit the road as

men realize that “me time” isn’t only for women, and give in to the human need to, in Jimi’s words – get away right now. Men, it’s been rough out here on y’all lately, listen to this sister’s advice and take advantage of “mancations” to deepen your male friendships, teach each other new skills, or challenge each other into adrenalinecharged activities.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail www.kybourbontrail.com Nothing says manhood like a stout cigar and glass of bourbon, especially Kentucky bourbon. Kentucky bourbon, with its rich and storied history dating back two centuries, is the perfect backdrop for a time with the boys for relaxing and savoring the experience of the open road. The 3 day tour takes you through the heart of Kentucky in Bluegrass Country. On the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the fellas can tour legendary distilleries and taste the booze. Maker’s Mark, Heaven Hill, Woodford Reserve, and Jim Bean are all a stone’s throw from each other off the scenic trail. Fellas, you can even take classes to learn how to cook with all of that bourbon. It might also be fun to check out the Louisville Slugger Museum or the Muhammad Ali Center while you are in the area.

Miami Beach Sometimes, all a man needs is warm weather, eye candy from all cultures, clubs that close at 5am, boats, jet skis and bikinis. Miami is just the place to find all seven. While there, stay at the Z Ocean Hotel. The hotel’s developer, Gene Grabarnick, built this hotel to include all the things a man would want on a vacation with his boys, including a concierge to usher guests to the hottest clubs and an in-house bar with hand-rolled cigars The Z Ocean Hotel, once known as the Regent South Beach, consists of 80 suites.

A whopping 27 of them are located on the rooftop terrace, and the designers of this hotel, Ronald Molko and Gene Grabarnick, wanted it that way so as many people as possible could get a great view of all that Miami Beach has to offer. This hotel is truly the ideal place to stay for guests looking for glamour and luxury. The amenities offered include butler services, elegant penthouse rooms, a full spa, luxury car rentals that includes brands like Porsche, Lamborghini and Bentley, as well as a fleet of Mercedes Benz house cars.

COVER STORY

Black, Gray and Gay: The Perils of Aging LGBTQ People of Color

b y Chandra Thomas Whitfield WASHINGTON, D.C.--Cecelia Hayden Smith, 72, knows exactly how she wants to live out the remainder of her golden years: lounging lazily on the porch of a cozy house tucked along a quiet, treelined street in Washington, D.C. She’d greet her partner each morning with a homemade country breakfast, and their afternoons and evenings would be filled with lively games of Spades and Bid Whist with a dozen or so housemates — all fellow LGBTQ elders.

“I’ve already picked out my rocking chair,” the retired substance-abuse counselor quipped. “Just call me ‘Mama C,’ and make sure my room is in the front, so I can always see everything going on, and I’m happy.”

For now, her dream is in stark contrast of her reality. She and her partner of 30 years, a 78-year-old woman whose names she prefers not to mention, have had health challenges, forcing them to live on a fixed budget in pricey Washington, D.C. They can only afford to live in a crumbling six-bedroom townhome, which they share with three middle-aged and older straight and lesbian women. After the basics, much of their income is spent on health care and, often, an ever-growing list of repairs for the house, which has been in her partner’s family for more than six decades.

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Hayden Smith and her partner are among the estimated 2.7 million adults age 50 and older in the U.S. who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) — about 1.1 million are 65 and older. Approximately 20 percent of LGBTQ older adults are people of color, a number expected to double by 2050.

A Triple Threat?

Although economic, social, physical and mental health disparities are high among all LGBTQ older adults, the complexities of race, age, sexual orientation and gender identity are especially challenging for many black LGBTQ elders. Advocates say public policy changes, such as the Trump administration’s promised repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which in its most recent version includes deep cuts to Medicaid, will make their predicament worse.

“We’ve got LGBTQ [status] and age, so we really have two oppressions against us,” explained Imani Woody, PhD, age 65, an African American lesbian and LGBTQ activist in Washington, D.C. “And when you put race and gender on top of that, it just gets harder. It gets to a point where you wake up and say, ‘Which fight am I going to fight today?’”

The sparse research available on this

embattled group reveals chronic levels of discrimination, poverty, social isolation and physical and mental health disparities.

One-third of LGBTQ older adults live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, including 40 percent of African American LGBTQ older adults, according to one groundbreaking report co-authored by Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), the nation’s oldest and largest advocacy group for LGBTQ elders, and LGBTQ think-tank Movement Advancement Project (MAP) released in May. Advocates attribute the economic disparities of black LGBTQ elders to longstanding race, age and LGBTQ discrimination, which have been exacerbated by a lack of equal protection under the law and social stigma.

Neglect and isolation are especially prevalent when their peers — the only support network many of them have due to family rejection — die off or age themselves, as research shows older LGBTQ adults are less likely to be partnered or married or to have children to depend on as caregivers.

Root Causes

“African Americans reported the highest levels of lifetime LGBTQ-related discrimination, and both African Americans and Latinos reported lower levels of

household income, education, affirmation of their identities and social support compared to non-Hispanic white LGBTQ older adults,” said Karen FredriksenGoldsen, PhD, lead researcher on the “Aging With Pride: National Health, Aging and Sexuality/Gender Study.”

Although not focused exclusively on elders of color, her study, the largest ever nationally on LGBTQ older adults, found a common bond among African American and Hispanic LGBTQ older adults.

Fredriksen-Goldsen explained that both groups “reported higher levels of spirituality than non-Hispanic whites, and spirituality was found to be associated with their well-being. The findings indicate distinct challenges and resilience among LGBTQ older adults of color.”

In addition, a 2014 SAGE report found African American LGBTQ older adults were four times more likely than their Hispanic and white counterparts — 26 percent versus 8 percent — to consider people from their churches or faith groups as part of their support systems.

Jenna McDavid, of the Diverse Elders Coalition, said this information provides a great opportunity: “Exploring more ways for faith communities to be inclusive could be monumental for so many elders in need of support,” she said.

Discrimination and Isolation While many advocates say the legalization of same-sex marriage has been helpful to the well-being of LGBTQ elders, many who have not married still struggle to receive the financial and family protections afforded to unmarried, different-sex couples – especially after their partner dies or suffers a chronic illness.

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are especially problematic for black LGBTQ elders, according to Kenneth Mitchell, 62, a black gay man living in New Orleans. “The fear of abuse and discrimination [is so strong that many] end up going back into the closet,” he said.

“People need to be able to be their true selves; being fearful and stressed impacts your quality of life and your physical and mental health,” added Mitchell, who serves as a board member for New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE).

Cedric Burgess, 65, a black gay man in Washington D.C., agreed that a fear of backlash and discrimination pushes many to retreat. “It’s not the same as being a young gay person; there’s less to do, and many of our peers have died from the AIDS epidemic,” he said. “One of the biggest concerns is isolation and suicide. People need people to talk to.”

To that end, groups around the country such as NOAGE, SAGE and GRIOT Circle, a nonprofit focused on the needs of older LGBTQ people of color, host regular social events to engage LGBTQ elders.

NOAGE also provides free training for senior service providers in the New Orleans area on how to deliver culturally competent health care, adding that many service providers don’t realize LGBTQ discrimination is illegal in federally funded facilities.

One way the advocate is trying to do so is by making that cozy retirement house Hayden Smith dreams of a reality. She’s currently raising money to transform her childhood home into Mary’s House, an affordable, independent living home for LGBTQ elders in Washington, D.C. The plans call for 15 efficiency units, a “stone wall” on the grounds commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Inn Riots and a yellow brick road — a nod to days past when gay men would clandestinely identify each other by asking, “Are you a friend of Dorothy?”

Hayden Smith and Cedric Burgess are ambassadors for Mary’s House, which they both eventually hope to call home for themselves and fellow LGBTQ elders of color for many years to come.

“It’s tough out there, but at least at Mary’s House they’ll have a family and a place to call home,” Woody said.

Chandra Thomas Whitfield wrote this article NBCBLK, the NBC network’s African American-focused, with support from the Journalism in Aging Fellows program of New America Media and the Gerontological Society of America with sponsorship from The Commonwealth Fund.

Mary’s House In the nation’s capital, Imani Woody is trying to do her part to help LGBTQ elders.

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STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

Black Women Will Rise Despite Unequal Treatment

Dr. Shelton Goode Named MARTA’s Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority has hired Dr. Shelton Goode as executive director of diversity and inclusion. Goode, who started work at MARTA in June, most recently served as director of diversity and inclusion at Oshkosh Corporation, and brings more than 20 years of human resource and business development experience to the agency.

“Dr. Goode has a proven track record of leading diversity and inclusion programs for major companies while creating robust training and successful outreach programs within global organizations,” said MARTA GM/ CEO Keith Parker. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Goode to MARTA as we actively work to expand our diversity and inclusion initiatives.”

In Goode’s new role at MARTA he will implement diversity and inclusion strategies and equal employment opportunity programs. Additionally, he will work collaboratively with key stakeholders, businesses, customers and employees to ensure equitable and nondiscriminatory practices are upheld.

“My hope is that by working with MARTA’s executive leadership team we can raise the diversity and inclusion bar, not only for our organization but for the entire metropolitan business community,” said Goode. “By applying

PUBLISHER Urban impact, inc.

EDITOR in chief jd harper jd.urbanvoice@gmail.com market manager chattanooga chuck beard ADVERTISING ads.urbanvoice@gmail.com account executive/ contributor Samantha Rajapakse

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best known actions and programs, we will help create a more inclusive environment for current and potential employees, customers, communities, businesses, and stakeholders to develop an environment that will encourage all of us to bring our greatest talents, perspectives, and experiences to the workplace.”

A decorated Air Force veteran, Goode has worked in various human resources and diversity roles with Georgia Power, Alabama Power and PPL Services Corporation. In addition to his work in the area of diversity, inclusion and human resources, Goode has also authored three books and served as an adjunct professor at Georgia Military College and Troy University.

Goode, who received his bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State University, master’s degree from Troy University and doctorate from the University of Alabama, was awarded the 2012 Trailblazer Award by the National Association of African Americans in Human Recourses and the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Technology Association of Georgia. In 2016, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native was named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential African Americans in Wisconsin” by Madison 365.

Market manager los angeles brian archie legal consultant sharetta t. smith chief photographer b. archie photography Digital director Jonathan Gray contributor Alexandra Anderson

ll (TriceEdneyWire.com) - Lots of women’s organizations commemorate Equal Pay Day, which this year was April 5. It meant that women, in general, would have had to work all of 2016, and until April 5, 2017, to earn the same amount of money that a man earned in 2016. Few will recognize July 31, 2017, which is the day by which African American women will have to work to earn the same money a man earned last year – seven extra months! A Latina woman will work until October, or nearly 10 extra months, to earn the same money a man earned.

I wonder about our “women’s coalitions” when majority women’s organizations, like the National Organization for Women, are silent for Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. Does it matter to them? Maybe not. It matters when they want to present a multiracial, multicultural “united front” at a Women’s March, but less so at other times. The lesson, Black women, is a lesson some sisters raised in 1991, when Anita Hill testified in the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. People had all kind of explanations for Hill’s testimony, most of them woefully wrong and viewed through a lens, darkly. Led by feminists Elsa Barkley Brown, Deborah King and Barbara Ransby, more than 1500 women raised enough money to pay for an ad in the New York Times on November 17, 1991. The ad, titled “African American Women in Defense of Ourselves” (AAWIDO), reminded Black women that no

one should speak for us, except us. No one can be relied on to defend us, except us. And no one can be depended on to celebrate us, but us. No one can lead advocacy for our equal pay, but us.

I’m not dismissing our allies – “woke” men of color, especially Black men, “woke” white women and other women of color. I’m just saying we can’t count on everybody to be woke. Evidence – was there an equal amount of noise on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day? And in the Reign of Ignorance, there is likely to be even less noise, as the House Appropriations Committee has actually proposed defunding a program that collects salary data from employers. Without the data, we won’t know the extent of pay discrimination.

We know plenty now. We know that Black women earn 63 cents for every dollar paid to white men, compared to the 80 cents white women earn. We know that Black women in Louisiana earn the least compared to white men, about 48 cents on the dollar! In comparison, Black women in Missouri, Tennessee, Maryland and Pennsylvania earn 68 cents for every dollar a white man earns. Whatever we earn, it ain’t equal.

What we don’t know is how women fare inside some organizations. And you can’t dismantle pay discrimination without having the details of it.

Under President Obama, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission established requirements to provide pay transparency. Businesses with more than 100 employees were required to start releasing salary data in March 2018. Of course, those who want to sweep pay discrimination under the rug argued that it would cost too much to collect the data. And now, the Republican Congress says that no resources may be used to collect this very necessary data. It reminds me of the old folks who used to say, “you don’t miss what

you can’t measure”. But we can measure the pay inequity, and we can see it in the quality of women’s lives. We might not be able to point a finger at one company or another (Republicans are also likely to make class action lawsuits more challenging), but we have enough aggregate data to know that there is pervasive gender discrimination in the workplace, and that Black women shoulder an extra burden because of the intersection between race and gender.

Not only do African American women earn less, but we also catch more shade because of our skin color, because of who we are and what we represent. Former First Lady Michelle Obama has spoken out, though very gently, about the racism she experienced while in office. At a recent gathering in Colorado, she spoke about the many “cuts” she experienced, and told the Denver Post that „The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut,” referring to comments about her looks, and especially those that referred to her as “an ape”. She said she was dismayed in „Knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who won’t see me for what I am because of my skin color.”

Black women endure unequal pay, disrespectful treatment (consider the treatment of Senator Kamala Harris, or Congresswomen Maxine Waters), police beatings, and more. And yet we are still here. And yet, “when they go low, we go high”.

And yet, like air, we rise.

Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Founder of Economic Education. Her podcast, “It’s Personal with Dr. J” is available on iTunes. Her latest book “Are We Better Off: Race, Obama and public policy is available via amazon.com

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MEETING NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHATTANOOGA AREA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND THE CHATTANOOGA PARKING AUTHORITY Take notice pursuant to Chapter 442, Tennessee Public Acts of 1974, the Sunshine Law, that the regular board meeting of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority and the Chattanooga Parking Authority will convene and meet in regular open session on Thursday morning, August 17, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., in the Board Room, 1617-B Wilcox Boulevard, Second Floor, Chattanooga, Tennessee, where and at which time and place said Board of Directors will transact such public business as may lawfully come before it.

E. Stephen Jett Chairman CARTA Board of Directors

PUBLIC NOTICE AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT2018 AGENCY PLANCHATTANOOGAHOUSING AUTHORITYThe Chattanooga Housing Authority (CHA) announces the availability of its Five-Year and 2018 Annual Agency Plan for public inspection and comment as of 4:00 PM EDT, Friday, August 4, 2017, at the CHA Central Office at 801 North Holtzclaw Avenue, and on the CHA website at www.chahousing.org.Copies of the Plan will also be available for review at all CHA development offices, the Office of the Mayor of Chattanooga, the City of Chattanooga Office of Economic & Community Development, and the Bicentennial Library. A public hearing will be held with CHA’s Board of Commissioners on September 20, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the CHA’s Central Office located at 801 North Holtzclaw Avenue, Chattanooga, TN. Upon adoption by the CHA Board of Commissioners, the Agency Plan will serve as a business plan for all facets of CHA operations and policy.For additional information, please contact the CHA at 752-4862. Persons requiring assistance due to special needs or language barriers should provide one week’s notice by contacting the Chattanooga Housing Authority at (423) 752-4893, TN Relay Services number 711.CHATTANOOGAHOUSING AUTHORITYBy: /s/ Elizabeth F. McCrightExecutive DirectorEQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERDated: August 1, 201720170802 INVITATION TO BID Legal NoticeBids will be received by the City of Chattanooga Purchasing Department, 101 East 11th Street, Suite G-13, City Hall, Chattanooga, Tennessee, untilDate: July 12, 2017Time: 2:00 PMRequisition: R155257At that time Bids will be received for:Blanket Contract for Sig Sauer P220 PistolsBid documents may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Department. Call 423642-7230.The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, waive any informalities in the bids received, and to accept any proposal that, in its opinion, may be for the best interest of the City.The City of Chattanooga will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods and services on the basis of race, color, or national origin.City of ChattanoogaWilliam Tucker, Buyercjenkins@chattanooga.gov

INVITATION TO BID Sealed Bids in duplicate will be received by the City of Chattanooga Purchasing Dept., 101 E. 11th St., Suite G-13, Chattanooga, TN, 37402, until August 15, 2017, at 2:00 pm, e.s.t. R#158215/ BID #304838At that time, Bids will be opened and publicly read for:Twelve (12) month Blanket Contract for Printing, Folding, Stuffing, and Mailing of Sewer Bills and Shut-Off Notice Hang Tags with the option to renew for two additional twelve (12) month terms upon mutual agreementFor bid forms and specifications go to: www.chattanooga. gov. Under Popular Links, click on Bid Solicitations. The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, to waive any informalities in the bids received, and to accept any bid that, in its opinion, may be for the best interest of the City.The City of Chattanooga will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods and services on the basis of race, color, or natural origin.City of ChattanoogaDeidre Keylon, Buyerdmkeylon@chattanooga. govPhone (423) 643-7231Fax (423) 643724420170804 MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly meeting of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission will be held on Monday, August 14, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. in The County Commission Room of the Courthouse, Fourth Floor, Room 402, located at 625 Georgia Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402 John Bridger Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission Aug. 4, 2017 Mmr18300

MEETING NOTICE The Hamilton County Health & Safety Board will meet on Thursday, August 17, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. in the Hamilton County Mayor’s Conference Room.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF MEETINGOF THE CITY OF CHATTANOOGA AUDIT COMMITTEETake notice, pursuant to Chapter 442, Tennessee Public Acts of 1974, the Sunshine Law, and amendments thereto, and Private Act of 1911, Chapter 10, Section 14, as amended, that the City of Chattanooga’s Audit Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 1:30 PM (EST) in the J.B. Collins Conference Room of the City Council Building, located at 1000 Lindsay Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402.Nicole S. GwynClerk of the CouncilThis 2nd day of August 2017.20170802

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