TOP HBCUS FORM EPIC 2016 HONDA BATTLE OF THE BANDS LINEUP
UrbanVoice CULTURE NEWS POLITICS
NOVEMBER 2015
UUNIK ACADEMY’s “ALL BLACK AFFAIR” FEATURING ALVIN GARRETT
Hyksos Temple Celebrates with Charity Events
Honoring Illustrious Potentate Lee “Sonny” Mosley, Jr.
KAPPA IOTA CHAPTER OF OMEGA PSI PHI 70TH ANNIVERSARY & AWARDS CEREMONY
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER TICKETS ON SALE!
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KNOXVILLE WINS $25,000 KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION GRANT
5
THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
“The Attitude of Gratitude” Daryl W. Arnold Senior Pastor Overcoming Believers Church
EXCLUSIVE ANTONIO “TONY”
KNOX
More Than Gold Boots & Purple Regalia 40TH GRAND BASILEUS OMEGA PSI PHI
Stage your own Fibervention &
YOU BOTH GET $50
If you’re an EPB Fiber Optics customer who knows someone still suffering from lackluster Internet and TV, refer them for an EPB Fibervention. If they make the switch to EPB you both get a $50 credit on your bill. Visit EPBfibervention.com for details. * Must complete a qualifying referral form on EPBfibervention.com. EPB Fiber Optics customers and the new customers they refer each receive a $50 credit on their next bill following installation of the new customer.
NATIONAL NEWS brief
JPMorgan Chase Launches Loan Fund For African American-Owned Small Businesses The National African American Small Business Loan Fund will increase economic opportunity for small businesses that lack access to credit and primarily serve low-income communities in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles ll NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-VEDC and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have announced a new lending program for African American-owned small businesses in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The National African American Small Business Loan Fund will boost economic opportunity for minority-owned businesses in these cities and help them serve low-income communities by providing them with greater access to capital, technical assistance and financial consulting. JPMorgan Chase Foundation has contributed a $3 million grant to help VEDC reach its goal of creating a $30 million loan fund. Facilitated by VEDC, a California 501(c)3 Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), this new Fund will provide financing for businesses across all industries. By providing the initial $3 million grant to seed the Fund, JPMorgan Chase is helping VEDC support small businesses that are a critical source of jobs and economic
opportunity in their neighborhoods, but may be credit-impaired and unable to qualify for traditional capital. Without access to sustainable financing, these businesses may miss a growth opportunity or risk closing their operations.
assistance and establish a loan loss reserve. This reserve will allow VEDC to expand its lending criteria to New York, Chicago and Los Angeles small businesses that traditionally did not qualify for a loan.
“As a direct small business lender and a leading Intermediary of SBA loan programs, VEDC has a 39-year track record of providing business services to small businesses in low-and middle-income communities and especially in communities of color,” said Robert Barragan, President and CEO, VEDC, in a released statement. “Approximately 20% of our existing portfolio serves the African American community. With JPMorgan Chase’s seed funding we look forward to helping more small businesses in our effort to further narrow the lending gap.”
“African American small business owners have identified flexible capital as a critical resource for growth, but they face a shortage of this kind of support,” said Janis Bowdler, Head of Community Development for Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase. “CDFIs like VEDC provide small businesses with the consulting and financing they need to grow their operations and often serve as a bridge to traditional bank loans down the road. We’re proud to partner with VEDC on this new fund, which will increase access to the capital and assistance that African American entrepreneurs need most.”
The JPMorgan Chase grant will allow the National African American Small Business Loan Fund to provide loans and technical
Businesses receiving financing will be able to use the capital to expand, finance equipment, address short-term cash flow
needs and provide contractor lines of credit. The Fund will also provide small business loan recipients with technical assistance such as networking, marketing, business plan development and financial consulting. Eligible small businesses must be majorityowned by African Americans. “We know that mission lenders hold the key in providing a sustainable source of capital to minority borrowers and those that have been left out of the economic mainstream,” said Grady Hedgespeth, Director of U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Economic Opportunity. This new fund complements the recently launched Detroit Minority Business Loan Fund- a $6.5 million loan fund for Detroit’s minority-owned small businesses – announced last month by Detroit Development Fund, JPMorgan Chase and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Detroit is the fourth largest U.S. city for the number of minority-owned businesses.
Eight Top HBCUs Form Epic 2016 Honda Battle of the Bands Lineup
ll TORRANCE, Calif., PRNewswire/ -- The votes are in and the lineup is set. Students, alumni and fans from America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have helped select eight top marching bands to perform at the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase, on January 30, 2016 in Atlanta. For this 14th installment, talented student musicians will once again dazzle an expected capacity crowd at the Georgia Dome, with a unique display of showmanship, instrumental performances and carefully curated choreography. The 2016 lineup consists of new and familiar HBCUs, including firsttime participant, Lincoln University
(PA) and eleven-time participant, Bethune-Cookman University. •
• • •
•
Alabama A&M University, Marching Maroon & White (Southwestern Athletic Conference) Alcorn State University, Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite (Southwestern Athletic Bethune Cookman University, Marching Wildcats (MidEastern Athletic Conference) Jackson State University, Sonic Boom of the South (Southeastern Athletic Conference) Lincoln University (PA), Orange Crush Roaring Lions (Central Intercollegiate Athletic
• •
•
Association) Prairie View A&M University, Marching Storm (Southwest Athletic Conference) South Carolina State University, Marching „101” (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Tennessee State University, Aristocrat of Bands (Ohio Valley Conference)
The eight bands were selected through a process that included online fan voting, as well as feedback from band directors, HBCU presidents and American Honda representatives. In addition to a $20,000 grant from Honda to support their music education
programs, each participating HBCU will receive travel and accommodations to the Invitational Showcase in Atlanta. „Honda Battle of the Bands is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that helps HBCU student musicians showcase their talent and discover their greatness, both on and off the field,” said Steve Morikawa, Vice President, Corporate Community Relations, American Honda. „Honda is proud to have a longstanding relationship with America’s HBCUs, and is honored that many students consider this event a highlight of their collegiate experience.”
Group and individual tickets to the Invitational Showcase are going fast and available for purchase on the official HBOB website, starting at only $10. Fans can follow each band’s #RoadToTheHonda journey on official Honda Battle of the Bands social media channels and join the conversation using #HBOB. For more information on the 2016 Honda Battle of the Bands, visit hondaBattleoftheBands.com. HondaBattleoftheBands.com.
URBAN VOICE MAGAZINE 2015 | 3
4
NOVEMBER 2015
AUGUST
I
EAST TENNESSEE EDITION
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Pastor daryl arnold, Overcoming believers church
letter from the
Watch the Rhetoric!
CHAIRMAN/PUBLISHER Jermaine D. Harper, MBA
“Honey it’s so easy to talk a good game. What we need are folks who will do something!” – Maxine Waters, Congresswoman
have a confession to make. I love politics. So you better believe that I have had a front row seat for the 2016 Presidential Primary debates and I have to admit that candidates from both sides of the aisle have said the right things in response to some of the questions and had me thinking “Hmmm he or she just might be a contender for my vote”. But it wasn’t until the DEM Presidential Primary debate when the predictable “Do Black Lives Matter” question came up that something hit me. That something was a direct response to the candidates’ answers - one candidate emphatically said “Yes, Black Lives Matter”, but their explanation as to why made it quite clear that they still don’t get it. However, while I was pursing my lips at the answer, many of my friends on social media were giving the candidate dap, thumbs up, and clapping hands emojis … just for saying those four words. That was when it hit me that we better pay more attention to the actions and motives of the men and women fighting for our votes than we do the words that are coming out of their mouths. It hit me that we must cast our votes based on where the candidates stand on the issues, not on rhetoric.
to see you do, not because you mean it or you want to, but simply because you want the other person to respond in a certain way. Basically, rhetoric is just talk with no substance or results. Political rhetoric is the code words / actions of politicians hustlin’ for votes.
What is rhetoric? The formal definition of rhetoric is language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.
• “New Urban Living” has become a code phrase for the gentrification and displacement of mostly black, brown, and poor people. Why? There is nothing new about living in urban areas. However there is something new about who is moving in and who is moving out of our cities’ urban cores.
But if I were talking to my younger brothers and sisters on the streets the definition of rhetoric would be “spitting game” and if I were talking to some old school brothers and sisters the definition of rhetoric would be “talking jive”. So basically, rhetoric is telling someone what you think they want to hear or doing something that you think the person wants
pinterest pinterest/groups/urbanvoicemag
Political rhetoric can be hard to catch because it sounds good and comes at us as fragmented bits and pieces in the form of sound bites on the news and picket signs in our yards. Let me give you some examples of common political rhetoric: • “Getting Tough on Crime” has become a code phrase for locking up black, brown, and poor people. A 2015 report from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, called What Caused the Crime Decline? found that increasing incarceration is not the answer to decreasing crime. In fact the report found that since 1990, incarceration has nearly doubled, adding 1.1 million people behind bars, but that this growth in incarceration was only responsible for approximately 5 percent of the drop in crime in the 1990s and that since then increases in incarceration have had essentially zero effect on crime.
• “A Rising Tide will Lift All Boats” has become a code phrase for not pushing any policies that will directly increase the economic strength of low income segments of the population.
4 | URBAN VOICE NeWSMAGAZINE 2015
• “Country First” has become a code phase for let’s maintain the status quo. • “State’s Rights” has become a code phrase for the right of states to resist federal mandates. • “Illegal Alien” has become a code phrase about Latinos that is now couched in seemingly race neutral language that has been harnessed to cause fear and get voters to support conservative policies. • “Change We Can Believe In” has become a code phase to rally the “have-nots” living in marginalized communities to support certain candidates or policies because supposedly the quality of life for the “have-nots” would be different and better under the leadership of those certain candidates or by pushing forward certain policies. Politicians have been pushing political rhetoric for a long time and trying to get our votes “by any means necessary”. Take for example, the 1992 Presidential race when Bill Clinton appeared on the Arsenio Hall Show wearing sunglasses and playing the saxophone. Political historians agree that that one move had a huge impact on Clinton’s win of the Black vote and have had Black people in love with the Clintons since - despite the fact that it was the policies of the Clinton administration that imposed harsh sentencing laws that have resulted in much of the mass incarceration among Blacks that we see today. Fast forward to 2015, and Hillary has pulled out an old trick from the Clinton bag of goodies – appearing on the Ellen Show doing “The Whip and Nae Nae” as an appeal to Black voters. Please forgive me. I’m not just ranting on the Clintons or democratic politicians, nor am I just speaking about efforts to
court the Black vote. Politicians from all political parties court votes. They court the Black vote. They court the Latino vote. They court the elderly vote. They court the LGBT vote. They court the youth vote. They show up at churches, mosques, temples, bar-b-ques, fish frys, demonstration marches, and bar mitzvahs - anything to get our votes. It is time that we demand more than just showing up. It is time that we demand more than just saying the right words. If the candidate is a former or current mayor or governor, we need to look at the policies that are coming out of their executive offices. If the candidate is a former or current senator, representative, council person or commissioner, we need to look at the voting records of these politicians as our representatives in state and national legislative bodies. We need to look at the drafted and approved budgets of these politicians and analyze where they spend money, because as the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “budgets are moral documents”. We need to determine if our lives have gotten any better since these politicians went into office. People! --We cannot continue to fall for the okey doke. We cannot continue to allow politicians to engage in symbolic and patronizing strategies to win our votes. The time has come that we as the electorate, as the body of politics, start demanding that politicians back up their game. It’s time for us to demand that they “Don’t Just Talk About It, but Be About It!” Until Next Month,
- J.D. Harper
Website
theurbanvoice.org
urbanV ice News + Politics + Business + Entertainment + Culture
Publisher Jermaine D. Harper, MBA Email: jd.urbanvoice@gmail.com CONTRIBUTORS Brian Archie Darryl Arnold Lauren Victoria Burke Kenneth Chilton, PhD Lynn Cole Sharetta T. Smith, JD/MBA Elenora Woods, DDS Reginald Jenkins Jamal Eric Watson ADVERTISING Email: ads.urbanvoice@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHY BA Photography, Brian Archie Rick Crank, Rick Crank Photography, Raleigh, NC (919) 961-6082- Cover WEBSITE: www.theurbanvoice.org COPYRIGHT All material appearing in Urban Voice Newsmagazine is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. Urban Voice Newsmagazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editor.
NOVEMBER • NUMBER 14 • GET YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TODAY! • EAST TENNESSEE EDITION <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<
#14
Hykos Temple No. 123 to host Charity Weekend: Potentate Lee “Sonny” Mosley, Jr.
featured must read in this issue
Column:
Columnist: Pastor Daryl Arnold Talks about “The Attitude of Gratitude”
<<<<<<
THE KAPPA IOTACHAPTER OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY TO HOST
“BALLIN” OUT OF CONTROL: BLACK PEOPLE’S ADDICTION TO to CONSUMPTION!
MORE THAN GOLD BOOTS & PURPLE REGALIA
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Guest Commentary Reginald Jenkins, Executive Director, UUNIK Academy, Inc.
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Dorothy Grisham to receive the 2015 Omega Psi Phi Citizen of the Year Award
“My Body My Future” Open House at Walter P. Taylor Homes
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06 <<<<<<Announcement
KNOXVILLE WINS $25,000 ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANT IN KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION CONTEST <<<<<<Announcement
A Night to Remember
2016: Featuring CONFUNKSHUN With Special Guest Midnight URBAN VOICE NEWSMAGAZINE No. 12-NOVEMEBER 2015 · Year 1 · PUBLISHER Everything Urban GRAPHIC DESIGN BROOKY MEDIA GROUP SUBSCRIPTIONS $24.00/YR. Mail Subscription Cards and Payment to 300 Ben Hur, Knoxville, Tn 37915. WEBSITE www.theurbanvoice.org ADVERTISING Email Ads.urbanvoice@gmail.com SUBMISSIONS Email submissions.urbanvoice@gmail.com PRESS RELEASES Email PR.urbanvoice@gmail.com. EVENTS Email events.urbanvoice@gmail.com
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KNOXVILLE
EAST TENNESSEE EDITION
“My Body My Future” Open House at Walter P. Taylor Homes
(KCHD), and Smoke- Free Knoxville.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS llKNOXVILLE, TN-- Knox Adolescent Partners in Prevention Initiative (KAPPI) recently hosted an open house on October 8th with over 150 attendees for the “My Body My Future” Club House at Walter P. Taylor Homes. Co-sponsors for the event included Five Points Up, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, Girl Talk, Inc., Kids Central TN, the Knox County Health Department
The Club House is an apartment made available by Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) and the Boys & Girls Club at Walter P. Taylor Homes. The program, targeting girls ages 3rd through 8th grade, has regular meetings to discuss healthy relationships, self-esteem, physical and dental health, and social media. KAPPI coalition members and KCHD staff share the information through fun activities. The girls involved with the program are
selected through the Boys & Girls Club located at Walter P. Taylor Homes. The girls decorated the apartment to make it their own space. The Open House event provided an opportunity for them to display their club house to family, friends and the community at-large. The girls greeted everyone and gave them a tour of the club house and sold craft items they made during the summer. After touring the clubhouse, attendees visited the Walter P. Taylor Boys and Girls Club for food and fun. Austin East
High School Culinary Arts Department provided food and Austin East High School Audio Visual Department played music. University of Tennessee College of Nursing students took blood pressure, and even taught the young people how listen through stethoscopes. For more information about KAPPI and/ or the “My Body My Future” program, please contact Cynthia Hudson at 865-215-5178 or Cynthia.Hudson@ knoxcounty.org.
KNOXVILLE WINS $25,000 ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANT IN KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION CONTEST to the City of Knoxville through its Recipes for Growth City Challenge contest. The funding will help Knoxville start-up companies more easily partner with local entrepreneurship support organizations, such as Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, the Knoxville Chamber, Tech 2020, the Tennessee Small Business Development Center and others.
llThe Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has
awarded a $25,000 grant
„I’m thrilled that the Kauffman Foundation and the judges who are experts on entrepreneurship found our proposal worthy of funding,” said Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero.
“I want to thank Jim Biggs, Jonathan Sexton and the team at Knoxville Entrepreneur Center for developing both the concept and the pitch. The Kauffman Foundation is highly respected for its global leadership in promoting entrepreneurship, and we are honored to be recognized by them.” The City will use the funds to build a software platform that will help entrepreneurs easily navigate the network of local support organizations, then quickly find and tap into resources they need, said Briggs, executive director of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, 17 Market Square.
The support organizations will share a database on start-up companies to better collaborate in delivering comprehensive services. The entrepreneurs will be able to visit a website or download an app. After inputting some basic information about their business and what they need, they’ll be guided to local entrepreneur experts at the support organizations. These local experts will answer questions, offer advice and provide successful models to emulate as they walk the entrepreneurs step by step through the process of launching or expanding their business.
“This is needed,” Biggs said. “There is a broad variety of organizations eager to help entrepreneurs, and they have slightly different skills, programming and approaches. “This grant will ensure that entrepreneurs can know these organizations’ specific strengths, their focuses and expertise, and where they should start. Right now, there’s no single place where an entrepreneur can go to see the full spectrum of available resources.”
REGIONAL NEWS
7
Hykos Temple No. 123 to host Charity Weekend: Potentate Lee “Sonny” Mosley, Jr. to be Honored ll On Saturday November 21, 2015, Hyksos Temple No. 123 will celebrate its 11thAnnual Charity Ball Honoring Our Illustrious Potentate Lee “Sonny” Mosley Jr. This formal affair will be held at the Chattanooga Convention Center located at 1150 Carter Street starting Illustrious Potentate Lee”Sonny” Mosley, Jr. at 8 o’clock p.m. Table rounds of ten can be reserved for a donation of $500.00 and individual seating at $50.00. On Friday November 20th, the charity weekend will commence with our “Can Goods & Cocktails 8” Pre-Gala at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center located at 200 East M. L. King Boulevard. A donation of (5) five can goods or $10 per person gains you admission to this fun-filled charitable event. The Prince Hall Shriners national charitable focus is aimed toward three primary programs. The “big three” are the American Diabetes Association, Student Aid Grants, and Shriners As Mentors Program (S.A.M.). In addition to supporting the national endeavors, Hyksos Temple No. 123 has a local focus targeting Chattanooga and surrounding communities. Locally we foster the Reuben Strickland Memorial Scholarship, T. C. Thompson Children’s Hospital, Chattanooga Scenic City Sickle Cell Corporation, Chattanooga Food Bank, N. A. A. C. P., Boys Leadership Summit, and several youth groups.
CHATTANOOGA NEWS
THE KAPPA IOTACHAPTER OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY TO HOST PURPLE & GOLD SCHOLARSHIP BALL music for the evening.
Dorothy Grisham, Omega Psi Phi Citizen of the Year Honoree ll The Kappa Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi is celebrating 70 Years of Service in Chattanooga with a Purple & Gold Scholarship Ball. On Saturday November 14, 2015, The Kappa Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi will celebrate its Annual Achievement Ball and commemorate the 70th Chapter Anniversary. This formal affair will be held at the Imperial Ballroom of the Chattanooga Choo-Choo located at 1400 Market Street starting at 6:30 p.m. Table of eight (8) can be reserved for a donation of $400.00 and individual seating at $50.00. The Purple & Gold Celebration/ Benefit Ball is open to the public and ticket sales will raise funds for the Omega Psi Phi College Scholarship Fund. The event will feature dinner, dancing and an awards presentation. The DayBreak Band will provide live
A Night to Remember 2016: Featuring CONFUNKSHUN With Special Guest Midnight Star Tickets on Sale- Nov 10th
Achievement Week is an national program of Omega Psi Phi observed each November and designed to recognize those individuals at the local and international levels who have contributed to community uplift. Traditionally, various programs are conducted throughout the week culminating with an achievement event. Omega Psi Phi remains committed to providing community service & scholarship. The Kappa Iota chapter was founded In the fall of 1945, with the following charter members: Brother William J. Davenport, Brother Thirkield E. Cravens, Sr., Brother T. R. Gaston, Brother T. D. Upshaw, Brother B. W. Harrington, Brother Dr. J. 0. Young, Brother Marvin Harris, Brother Bernard E. Burke, Sr., and Brother T. E. Rhue. This year’s award recipients include: Brother Floyd Eaves, Brother Rev. Paul McDaniel & Brother Sullivan Ruff, Jr. Also the 2015 Citizen of the Year award will go to Dorothy Grisham and the 2015 Omega Man of the Year award will go to Brother Gary James. Please make all checks payable to the Pearl Group. Should you have any questions, please contact Gary James at (423) 899-7911.
ll A Night to Remember announced this year’s entertainment for the 2016 Gala. Headlining this year’s event will be the R&B Funk Band, ConFunkShun with special guests, Midnight Star. A Night to Remember is taking it back to old school R&B and Funk for their 29th annual gala. Opening the show will be Midnight Star, a popular band from the 80’s. Known for some of their dance songs that reached the top 10 on the music charts such as “Freak-a-Zoid”, “No Parking on the Dance Floor” and “Wet My Whistle”, Midnight Star will have everyone out of their seats and dancing. ConFunkShun is known for their memorable melodies, inventive horn arrangements and guitar grooves. Founded by lead singer, Michael Cooper, the group scored chart topping hits on the U.S. Billboard R&B singles chart including „Ffun” (#1), „Shake and Dance with Me” (#5), „Chase Me” (#4). ConFunkShun will close out the show and make this one spectacular evening of entertainment. The show begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Mary’s Lounge, by phone at 266-8658 and online at www. anighttoremember.org. A limited number of tickets will be available for $35. Other tickets will be available for $50, $75 and $100 per seat. Corporate sponsorships are available by calling 463-0687. In 28 years, A Night to Remember has raised over $4 million for Chattanooga’s youth. Some of the past grant recipients include; Ballet Tennessee, Boys Leadership Summit, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 100 Black Men of Chattanooga, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy and Boys Scouts of America.
URBAN VOICE MAGAZINE 2015 | 7
events HUNTSVILLE
State University Jacksonville, AL
NOVEMBER 15 Alabama A&M Women’s Basketball vs. Murray State Elmore Gymnasium | 3pm
NOVEMBER 27 Keith Sweat Von Braun Center | 8pm
NOVEMBER 18 Alabama A&M Women’s Basketball vs. Southeast Missouri State Elmore Gymnasium | 7pm NOVEMBER 19 Alabama Men’s Basketball vs. Southeast Missouri State Elmore Gymnasium | 7pm NOVEMBER 23 Alabama A&M Men’s Basketball vs. Oakwood University Elmore Gymnasium | 7pm NOVEMBER 24 Alabama A&M Women’s Basketball vs. Belmont University Elmore Gymnasium | 7pm NOVEMBER 24 Alabama A&M Men’s Basketball at Jacksonville
NOVEMBER 28 Alabama A&M Football vs. Texas Southern Louis Crews Stadium | 1pm
ATLANTA NOVEMBER 12 Dianne Reeves Cobb Energy Theatre | 8pm NOVEMBER 14 Kevin Gates The Tabernacle | 9pm NOVEMBER 20 Kindred The Family Soul Center State Theater | 9pm NOVEMBER 21 J Anthony Brown, Michael Colyar, Don DC Curry Hosted by KDubb Macon City Auditorium (Macon, GA) | 8pm
e brothers of K A P PA I OTA C H A P T E R O F OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. I N PA RT N E R S H I P W I T H T H E P E A R L G R O U P, I N C .
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invite you to a special evening of Dinner & Dancing as we celebrate our
th
th
C H A P T E R
A N N I V E R S A RY
PURPLE & GOLD SCHOLARSHIP BALL C H A P T E R
A N N I V E R S A RY
SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER + SPECIAL RECOGNITION & AWARDS For ticket reservations & more information contact Gary James at (423) 899-7911 or gjames6412@aol.com
SATURDAY THE 14TH OF NOVEMBER
STARTING AT 7:00 PM AT THE
CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOO IMPERIAL BALL ROOM
ATTIRE: SEMI-FORMAL
8 | URBAN VOICE NeWSMAGAZINE 2015
$50
The Going Out Guide in East Tennessee UPGRADE YOUR SOCIAL CALENDAR Tis the season for…laughs, music and everything in between. Keeping you
in-the-know about the essentials for the good life.
CHATTANOOGA Christy’s Sports Bar 3469 Brainerd Road (423) 702-8137 Mary's Lounge 2125 McCallie Ave (423) 493-0246 Glass Street Lounge 2208 Glass Street (423) 622-3579 T Roy’s 2300 Glass Street (423) 629-8908 Chocolate City Lounge 27 W 19th Street (423) 534-4411 Jay's Bar 1914 Wilder Street (423) 710-2045 The Elks Lodge 1211 Doods Ave (423) 629-5831 KNOXVILLE Whispers Banquet Hall & Social Lounge 2658 E. Magnolia Ave (865) 964-9294 The Elks Lodge #160 3919 Holston Drive (865) 522-6611 Jarmans BBQ & Lounge 3229 E. Maganolia Ave (865) 227-5326 URBAN VOICE | Tennessee Newsmagazine | November 2015. | Everything Urban URBAN VOICE MAGAZINE 2015 | 9
ANTONIO “TON
40TH GRAND BAS
U
Unless you are a legacy member, your first introduction to a Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO) probably happened at some point during your college years. Yes, you would see members of the Divine Nine in class or on the yard, but nothing was like running into all of them together at a house party. If you don’t remember, let us take you back. It’s the last ten minutes before the party is about to shut down and the DJ puts on George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog”. And here they come from all over the house. Some are standing stoically. Others are on their hands and knees. A few are jumping towards the ceiling while barking and pulling on their dog collars as their unofficial anthem pours out of the speakers. No need to run. These dogs don’t bite. Although they are sometimes called Que Dogs, Da BRuhz, Ques, or the Sons of Blood & Thunder, these MEN are not dogs at all. These MEN are members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, and they are more than just gold boots and purple regalia.
by Lynn Cole & JD Harper
photo by Rick Crank
MORE tHAN
GOLD BOOTS & PURPLE
REGALIA
''Friendship Is Essential to the Soul'' 10 | URBAN VOICE NeWSMAGAZINE 2015
The MEN of Omega Psi Phi come from a century old pedigree of well-educated, character men. Men that faced resistance from a university that feared the political threat that a secret organization of young black males might pose to the white administration, came together on November 17, 1911, and became the first international Black Greek Letter Fraternity founded on the campus of an HBCU - Howard University. Even then, the founders, Oscar James Cooper, Frank Coleman, Dr. Ernest Everett Just, and Edgar Love, were told that the fraternity could not incorporate and must remain local. However, at the risk of expulsion, Alpha Chapter charter member Cooper and other members of the chapter traveled to Pennsylvania and formed the Beta Chapter on the campus of Lincoln University on February 6, 1914. Since, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has grown into an international service organization for predominantly black, college educated men. This month we chatted with Antonio “Tony” Knox, Sr., the 40th International President of Omega Psi Phi. Knox holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management and Economics from North Carolina State University and serves as a Deputy Administrator with the North Carolina Credit Union Division. A member of Omega Psi Phi since 1978 when he became a charter member of the North Carolina State University Kappa Lambda Chapter, Knox has been involved in fraternity activities at the local, regional, and national level for more than thirty-five years. Check out what Knox had to say about the character of a man, his legacy as International President and Omega Psi Phi, Incorporated. UV: In four sentences or less describe the role of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.? AK: The role of Omega Psi Phi is to make life better for those in our communities. UV: What is an Omega Man? AK: An Omega Man stands up for what is right. He is an example in his community of what a man should be. He uses his talents and skills for the betterment of his community.
NY” KNOX
SILEUS
OYI
UV: In a YouTube video, Dr. Andrew Ray, the 39th Grand Basileus talks about Omega Psi Phi being founded on the “Character of a Man”. What did Dr. Ray mean about the “Character of a Man” and what sets Omega Psi Phi apart from other fraternities?
Omega is making a difference in communities in a way that the founders would be proud of.
insurance under the Affordable Care Act during open enrolment, which starts on November 1.
UV: What advice will you give to the next Grand Basileus?
AK: We were friends first – Friendship is Essential to the Soul. Our founders looked at the character of the men before them and selected the first members of Omega Psi Phi. We must continue to select and judge potential members based on what they are willing to do to support the community. If a man can live out our cardinal principles of MANHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, PERSEVERANCE, and UPLIFT, then that is the man that we are looking for. This fraternity is not about us. That is why we have to look at the character of the men that we bring into Omega.
AK: We are One – We are all Omegas. When we work together, when we are united, we can do all things. That is the message I want to deliver.
UV: Omega Psi Phi has been heavily involved in voter engagement and participation at the national level, what would you say to local chapters that may not get as involved out of fear that they may put their 501(c)(3) status in jeopardy?
UV: Why does Omega Psi Phi remain such an integral part of your life? AK: I have been blessed to recognize that life is not about me, but instead about other people. I have always been involved with the community. I have always wanted to help. Omega gives me the opportunity to work with men that also see that community involvement is part of what they are meant to do. UV: Was becoming president of the national organization something you had longed to do? AK: When I pledged back in 1978, I promised to give all I could for Omega. The brothers of Omega saw something in me and began to push me. They pushed me to serve in a number of positions in the 6th District, and then pushed me again to leadership on the national level. The brothers have always given me support. I do everything I can to insure that I don’t let the brothers down. UV: Do you have a room at your home where you display fraternity paraphernalia? AK: Yes, and many awards – all of which I am most appreciative. My wife says that she is getting a little tired of moving stuff here and there. I am going to have to have an additional room or something because I like for people to see all of it when they visit my home. UV: When your term as International President is over, what do you want your legacy to be? AK: Number One: My work was not in vain. Number Two: Fathers are having an impact in the home. Number Three: Omega has continued to make financial contributions to St. Judes. Number Four:
UV: Earlier this month Comedian, talk show host, and member of Omega Psi Phi, Ricky Smiley spoke out against hazing. Smiley commented that the fraternity has had to use funds to defend law suits that could have been put to better use fighting social justice issues and that some members of the fraternity “dis” fraternity members that don’t go through a hazing process. What do you say to those that believe that a person isn’t a real “frat” if they haven’t been hazed? AK: I would say to that Brother that he is behind the times. Regardless of being told about how things used to be when a person wanted to become a member of a fraternity, we have to be about the time of today and do what is right under the law. There is no honor in putting yourself and the fraternity in the position to harm someone else or to be sued. UV: What are some of the initiatives that are being accomplished under your leadership? AK: (1) There are a number of Brothers that are doing an outstanding job working with the National Fatherhood Initiative that was actually started under Bro. Ray. Omega men are making sure that young males have opportunities for success and that there is a father or other male presence in the home. (2) Last year, the fraternity made a commitment to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The fraternity set a goal to raise $25,000, and actually raised $40,000. The goal this year is to raise $75,000. St. Jude does a wonderful job fighting childhood cancer and other terminal illnesses that affect children. They are saving 80% to 90% of the patients they serve. I didn’t know it until I visited one of the facilities, but about 40% of their patients are African American. (3) Omega has partnered with the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) to launch Brother, You’re On My Mind: Changing the National Dialogue Regarding Mental Health Among African American Men, an initiative to help start conversations about mental health. (4) We made a commitment to contribute $1 million dollars to the Smithsonian, and have made the first $250,000 installment. (5) We are working with other members of the Divine Nine to provide financial assistance to HBCUs. (6) We are pushing for black men that don’t have health insurance to sign up for health
AK: We can still be a voice. We can still stand and give direction about how to come to solutions to the problems that are occurring in our communities. We must be involved. Although we cannot say certain things or endorse a particular candidate, we can still get involved. We can help get people to the polls. We can educate voters about the candidates. We can point out statistics about which candidates help and support programs and policies that benefit our communities. We don’t have to tell the people how to vote. We can just give the people the information and let them choose. UV: What are the top three challenges facing Black America and what can Omega do to address them? AK: (1) Black men are not being valued and they don’t get the respect they need. Omega men have always been a source of protection in our communities. We have to model manhood and look out for the lost. We can’t be all that we can until all Black men are respected and young Black men are afforded the opportunity to live to their full potential. (2) Mentorship: No one can teach a Black boy how to become a Black man, except a Black man. There is an Omega calling to teach young men and give them the tools to be successful. (3) Voter Education Registration and Mobilization. We know that Omega men are a political force to be reckoned with. We lead and hold prominent positions in a number of different cities, and have used that influence to host rallies, parades, talk shows, and other tools to empower voters. However, even though when history is written the naysayers will have to be kind about the policies that have come out of the Obama administration because they have been good for America, his presidency has been challenging because we did not go to the polls during midterm elections. Omega has shown that we understand how it needs to be done with our Voter Education, Registration, and Mobilization program, but we have to make sure that we get citizens to the polls. UV: What is your favorite scripture? AK: Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.
An Omega Man stands up for what is right. He is an example in his community of what a man should be. He uses his talents and skills for the betterment of his community.
URBAN VOICE MAGAZINE 2015 | 11
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salute to men of omega psi phi
NOTABLE MEN OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY... You still want this stuff though
Lorean Mayes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; john.doe@tltimes.xom
#1 ROBERT C. WEAVER
#2 ROY WILKINS
#3 STEVE MCNAIR
#4 VERNON JORDAN
#5 ERNEST E. JUST
Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Executive Director of NAACP, Civil Rights Activist, Minister
Total Yardage Record Holder - Alcorn State University, Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans).
Noted Attorney and Former Executive Director of the National Urban League.
Founder. Was a pioneering African-American biologist, academic and science writer
#6 CHARELS F. BOLDEN
#7 COL. CHARLES YOUNG
#8 STEVE HARVEY
#9 DAVID SATCHER
#10 BENJAMIN E. MAYS
Comedian, Talk Show and Game show host. And ward winning Author.
Surgeon General of the United States.
Presidential advisor, author, mentor to MLK. Sixth president of Morehouse College, 1940-1967
Retired US Marine and former Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Third Black West Point Graduate, Col. US Army, Buffalo Soldier
#11 JESSE JACKSON
#12 BAYARD RUSTIN
#13 RICKEY SMILEY
#14 MICHAEL JORDAN
#15 DOUGLAS WILDER
Founder of the Rainbow/ PUSH Coalition, Civil Rights Activist, Democratic Presidential Nominee, Minister
Leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, pacifism and non-violence, and gay rights.
Comedian and Talk show host.
Hall Of Fame professional basketball player. Owner of the National Basketball Association Charlotte Hornets
Governor of Virginia
“BALLIN” OUT OF CONTROL: BLACK PEOPLE’S ADDICTION TO CONSUMPTION! COMMENTARY ll In schools of Business Administration and college in general, Black people are trained excessively in the psychology and economics of Corporate America/Wall Street. We put extreme value in working for the enrichment of others so long we can purchase (i.e. finance) material goods or services such as expensive cars, clothes, expensive trips/ vacations, attend sporting events, and consume expensive goods (cigars, liquor/alcohol, food).
In fact, most of us are unaware that today’s American economy is defined by consumerism (i.e. how much we spend or don’t spend), not by what we produce. Too often, I often hear that the Black collective spend over 1 TRILLION dollars in the U.S. Also, I hear that our collective, consumption dollars represent our spending power. For me, power is not what a collective spend, but what a collective produce. Spending money doesn’t make one a powerful entity, creating an economic vehicle (i.e. business or investment opportunity) makes it so. But because so many of us are financially illiterate, especially when it comes to wealth, we continue to engage in financial suicide. We have been programmed to despise opportunities that can financially enrich us due to the fact that it may appear below our social status. Opportunities like opening a restaurant, convenient store, laundry mat, auto mechanic shop, plumbing, or a shoeshine business are frowned upon by those who possess degrees (especially advanced degrees). While foreigners, many of who do not possess a degree, but have mastered what Blacks buy, take up these businesses and grow rich. If one looks at
Shop Talk
5 THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUTouptatie
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GEORGIA’S JUSTIFICATION FOR ALL WHITE JURY IN DEALTH PENALTY CASE QUESTIONED In 1987, Timothy Foster was convicted by an all White jury in Rome, Ga., and sentenced to death for the murder of an elderly white woman. During the trial the prosecution used all his strikes (the right to get rid of potential jurors without stating a reason) and eliminated all of the qualified prospective jurors who were Black. Foster was sentenced to death by the all-White jury. The last 30 years, Foster’s lawyers have been arguing that his conviction should be overturned because the State of Georgia was wrong in picking an all White jury. On every appeal Georgia presented a laundry list of reasons other than race as to why all the black jurors were excluded – including the potential juror’s age (a 34-year old black woman was excluded because she was “too close in age to Foster”) and that one potential jurors son had been convicted of stealing hubcaps. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Foster case, and (judging from the Justices comments) it appears that Georgia may have ran out of reasons.
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any major cities where Blacks reside, one will see various ethnic groups around the world who own businesses except Black people. And the sad fact is that many of them have very little respect for their consumer base, Black people. Many of us are caught up in ‘flossing’ and ‘balling out’ that we have locked our children and ourselves in an eternal cycle of debt and despair. Blacks spend billions upon billions in entertainment and socializing. Majority of our national organizations spend hundreds of millions of dollars having conventions yet none of our meetings and conventions address the lack of wealth that our collective possess. In fact, many of our national conventions are sponsored by White Corporate America. I always state that if Fortune 500 collectively decide that they will not sponsor another Black convention or event, 95% of our organizations will close it’s doors the next day. We can never be economic force until we learn to crawl, walk, and run for ourselves, economically speaking. No other ethnic group is this economically dependent as Black people. What many of us don’t realize is that our actions or inability to see the Big Picture will curse the next 5 generations of Black people (if we even make it that far).
Many of today’s issues that plague Black people; incarceration, family dysfunction, health disparities, miseducation/ high school drop out, and crime; could be solved by creating more cooperative economic initiatives. But in order for this to happen, more of us have to become financial literate, become debt free, and relearn how to invest in each other. Our ancestors have shown us time and time again that we can do it. Booker T Washington once stated, “ At the bottom of education, at the bottom of politics, even at the bottom of religion, there must be for our race, economic independence.” We must rediscover this theme in order for our people to survive and prosper in the 21st century.
Knoxville area. A professional speaker, author, and educational consultant, Reggie is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a minor in Statistics. Although his degree is in Math and Statistics, Reggie learned early that his passion is educating youth and training effective leaders. Reggie continues to educate himself in the areas of wealth creation, youth development, spirituality, health, history, and family development. Reginald Jenkins has been happily married to Kamesha Bowen-Jenkins for the past 19 years. Website: www.uunikacademy.org
Reginald Jenkins is the founder and executive director of UUNIK Academy, Inc. UUNIK (pronounced “unique”) is a rites of passage program dedicated to the holistic development of African-American male youth, ages 10-15, in the Knoxville area. In 2003, Reggie founded UUNIK Academy as an effort to develop African American male youth into respectful and respectable African American men. Reggie has worked in the Knox County School System as well as worked and volunteered for many youth programs in the
OFFICERS LOSE BADGES OVER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
A year-long investigation of law enforcement by The Associated Press has revealed that about 1,000 officers lost their badges in a six year period for sexual misconduct. To measure the problem, the AP obtained records from 41 states on police decertification, an administrative process in which an officer’s law enforcement license is revoked.
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TENNESSEE STATESMEN, FRED THOMPSON SUCCUMBS TO CANCER
Longtime Tennessean, actor, attorney, and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson passed away on Nov. 1.
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PRESIDENT OBAMA TO ANNOUNCE EXECUTIVE ACTION TO BAN THE BOX. On November 9, President Obama is expected to announce a number of measures to assist convicted felons with reentry, including a federal “ban the box” measure that will prohibit all federal employers from asking job applicants if they have ever been convicted of a crime. According to a White House press release, the Obama Administration “has consistently taken steps to make our criminal justice system fairer and more effective and to address the vicious cycle of poverty, criminality, and incarceration that traps too many Americans and weakens too many communities.”
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11 CPD Officers Quit VRI. Las month, eleven out of the 12 officers that were a part of the Chattanooga Police Department’s Street Crimes Response Team requested to be transferred out of the unit. According to an article in the Times Free Press, the Street Crimes Response Team is a key component of Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI) – a key Burke Administration program that began just two years ago in the fall of 2013 under the advice of The National Network for Safe Communities.
URBAN VOICE MAGAZINE 2015 | 13
KEEP THE FAITH
What Does the Word Say? The Word of God says that, “In God we move, live, and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)
“The attitude of gratitude” by Daryl Arnold • Senior Pastor, Overcoming Believers Church, Knoxville, TN
14 | URBAN VOICE NeWSMAGAZINE 2015
ll Last month I began teaching a sermon series to my Church on, “God in the Old Testament.” The purpose of the series was to educate my congregation on the reality that God has been showing Himself to be faithful to His people from Genesis to Revelation. He has cared for, covered and has come to His children’s rescue from Adam in the garden to John on the Isle of Patmos. I don’t think that anyone reading this article that has any reverence for spirituality will not admit that God has proven Himself to be faithful. The problem is that our memories are often times so short when it comes to his goodness. We pray for a car and God gives it to us and then we complain that we have to put gas in it. We pray for a house and then complain that we have to keep the grass cut. We pray for God to give us a spouse and then wish that He would take them back. Why? Because we have been raised in a culture of entitlement that leads to perpetual complaining. America is by far one of the riches and financially prosperous countries in the World. Yet, it can also be one of the most arrogant, prideful, and ungrateful places on Earth. You don’t realize the level of selfishness and greed that we have as a Westerner until you leave the country and experience a new culture. Last year I was in Kenya on a mission’s trip. We were taken to the slums of inner city Kenya where the poorest of the poor lived. I literally watched little children drink from ditches where goats and wild chickens had urinated. I held the babies of parents who had died of AIDS and were left to raise themselves. I visited a family of 5 whose homes were no bigger than the walk-in closet at my house; that was simply made of mud, cardboard boxes, and rotten plywood. Yet when they took me to their church one would think that they lived in mansions, drove luxury automobiles and dined at elaborate restaurants. I had never in my life seen such exuberant and energetic worship. I had never seen such a wonderful expression of gratitude for God’s grace towards His people. Truth be told; I was both encouraged and convicted at the same time. I was encouraged by the level of thanksgiving they gave to the Lord despite the limited resources they were given, and I was convicted when I thought of how selfish and unappreciative I had become. Here they were giving God all of the Glory with tattered clothes, diseased bodies and
empty bellies, and there I was with brand name shoes on my feet, a tailor-made pair of pants on my behind, and more money in my pocket than a family would make in a year. Yet I still had an attitude of entitlement.
Gratitude acknowledges to us, and others, that we did not acquire any of our success on our own. When we openly appreciate God for what He has done for us it reminds us that we are absolutely helpless without His assistance in our lives. The other week my family was in Chattanooga to see our mother. On the way back I realized that I didn’t have any gas. I pulled over at a gas station and began to pump the gas. My 6-year-old son said to me, “Daddy I need to pump the gas.” I said, “Timbreland I got this.” He said, “Daddy I’ve got to pump the gas or we are not going to get there.” I allowed him to get out of his car seat and pump the gas. This little guy actually thought that the only reason we made it to our destiny was because he got us there. It sounds hilarious but it’s just as hilarious to God when we think that we are the reason for our own success. Our careers, our families, our business’s, our degrees, our homes, and all of our accomplishments are direct results of God’s Goodness! The only reason we have accomplished any of these endeavors is because God has temporarily let us out of our car seats and allowed us to pump the gas. The Word of God says that, “In God we move, live, and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) That simply means that we will never move forward without God’s presence. All of our efforts are subject to death and destruction without Gods presence, and we have no real existence without the presence of God. Gratitude extinguishes the burning desire of pride that makes us think that we are better than others because of our own personal accomplishments. You see when we know that we are significantly weak and broken people with a plethora of limitations; we tend not to be so judgmental and arrogant in respect to others. Someone may be saying, “I’m
not judgmental.” Well let’s define that word before you come to that conclusion. To be JUDGMENTAL is to: „Be a JUDGE in your own MIND.” If you have ever felt as though you had the right or the authority to determine whether a person is right or wrong based upon your own personal preferences, standards, or measuring stick you have become your own personal judge. Yes, without a black robe, a bailiff, or a gavel, you have become a judge in your own mind. I’ve learned over the years that with my daily faults, failures, and yielded temptations, I don’t have the credentials to judge anyone other than myself. So I have given up on trying to be Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, and Judge Mabel. I’ve decided to leave that up to God! I like the way that the Apostle Paul puts it, „I AM WHAT I AM BY THE GRACE OF GOD”. The old church Mother, perhaps, had no seminary training but her theology sure was right when she sang her song, “IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE LORD ON MY SIDE, TELL ME WHERE WOULD I BE, WHERE WOULD I BE?” Last but certainly not least, gratitude positions us to be recipients of the Greater Gifts of God. It is utterly ridiculous for us to ask God to bless us when we haven’t even said thank you for the last blessing that He has given us. What an insult that is to the God of the universe for His own creation to treat Him as if He were Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. He is so much more than that! He is our Father who loves to give good gifts to His children and every father loves to hear his children say, “THANK YOU!” My kids know the best way to block a blessing from their dad is to have an attitude of entitlement, and a lack of appreciation. They also know that the easiest way to get into my pocket is to climb in my lap and kiss me. So, this Thanksgiving Season, as you gather together as a family and sit around the table for food, fellowship, and fun; don’t forget to tell the Father thank you. Thank Him for His gifts of life, strength, and health. Thank Him for daily provision and divine protection from the storms of this world. Thank Him for the people in your life that He has given you to love and be loved by. Thank Him that He has never left you nor forsaken you. This Thanksgiving, simply climb up in your heavenly Fathers lap and shower Him with kisses of worship and adoration. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18)
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: DEAR OLE KNOXVILLE COLLEGE OPINION
ll So it has been another year and another Knoxville College (KC) Homecoming has come and gone. As usual we came, we partied and showed out hard. Those of us that are Greek had fun catching up, chanting, and particpating in impromptu stepping. We had a great time on the yard reuniting with classmates & friends over food, libations, TV’s hooked up to watch other college football games, loud laughter and the occasional teasing. But through all the fun & laughter several questions kept popping up in my head. Questions like NOW WHAT? WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WHAT ABOUT DEAR OLE KC? Everyone I talk to has fond memories about KC - even those
people who have never entered a classroom have great stories to tell of their time on „The Hill”. Folks remember the parties, the football teams of the past, how as a kid they came to KC as participants in the Upward Bound program, but those conversations quickly turn to how sad it is to see the college in its present shape. During homecoming the Board of Trustees held a meeting. They called the meeting a „Commitment Conference”. The funny thing is that everyone there were the same people that I have seen every single year. There were no new faces. There were no new commitments. I don’t doubt the love, obligation & of course the corimmitment of those in attendance at the Trustees meeting. I do doubt those that were on the yard during the meeting. I do doubt those who never or rarely give of their TIME, TALENTS or TITHES to KC. How can we come, party ,and not give back to the institution that educated most of us? During the meeting people wrote checks for what they could, but who was missing? No Greeks gave a check. No Greek chapters presented any gifts of financial support. There were also no other Black organizations that gave - not the Masons, not the Shriners, not the Elks, not the Links, not the Boule - none of them at all and
I’m sure there are KC alumni in these organizations. This year the Board of Trustees, to my surprise, did something different than what they’ve done in years - they gave an informative financial account of the college. I must admit, it isn’t pretty at all. Matter of fact it is down right terrible. One thing I do know is that if everyone that came back this year for homecoming gave responsibly we could have put a dent in the debt. The Board shocked me again and did something else different this year - they pleaded and begged for help. They asked for people to consider being on the board. They pleaded for volunteers to help on campus. They humbled themselves and begged for any amount of money anyone could spare. But is it to late? Has the board waited to long? Have the alumni given up hope of a college reopened? My answer is YES to all those questions. Why: The Board took too long and missed out on several opportunities to ask for help for the situation. The board also took too long to answer questions asked by alumni. The alumni have given up. At least it appears as so due to the dismal number of alumni that
showed up at the „committment meeting”. The only ones that seem to care are the faithful few that show up at all the meetings - these folks have given without reservation but they alone can not keep a college going. There are many, many alumni who have given NOTHING. These are the ones you can find every year on the yard cooking out and restocking the coolers. They will not give to KC but they will pay to go to all the parties. There are also alumni that have abandoned the college, haven’t been back in years, and have become modestly successful but think they made it on there own merit. YES the alumni have given up or better yet we have failed our institution. We have continued to wait for someone else to come and bail KC out. IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN. Kceans must realize that we are on an island by ourselves; we are the only ones that will save our college. Everyone else is watching & hoping we fail & we are doing exactly what they think, absolutely nothing. IT IS TOO LATE! So let this letter be a farewell message and NOT a plea for help. Thank you KC for taking a country boy from Paducah, KY and giving him an education.
Thank you KC for hanging in there as long as you could, even when we let you down by not supporting you in any way. Thank you KC for putting on a smile even when you were crying inside because you knew the end was near. Thank you KC for keeping us alumni & friends together & giving us a home to come back to every year. Thank you KC for being an HBCU, despite what the majority think ,your children have touched the world and made differences every day in someone’s life. Thank you KC for fighting the good fight of maintaining your relevance and staying alive as long as you could without full support from alumni, friends & the greater Knoxville community. Thank you Knoxville College, Thank you, thank you, thank you.......... Deep in my Heart, Dear Ole KC.....Let There Be............... H. Frank Shanklin, Knoxville College, Class, 94. President C.O.O Shanklin Carpet and Flooring