from the publisher
The Ballot and the Bullhorn! A CALL TO ACTION:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PUBLISHER Jermaine D. Harper, MBA
A
ccording to the Washington Post, 522 people have been shot by police to date in 2016, a pace similar to last year’s, and gun violence continues to take a grisly toll. The cameras that now are everywhere have begun to expose to America the reality that people of color have known all too well. As news and images of the senseless deaths of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Jordan Davis, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Freddie Grey and countless others killed by law enforcement, continues to increase. The Urban Voice is determined to encourage meaningful dialogue that galvanizes change and provides readers with a platform to have their voices heard and amplified. While there is no easy answer on how to address or solve the systemic issues of race and justice across our community, we’re committed to bringing these conversations and testimonials of social change to light through platforms like social media and digital platforms. We SEE you. We FEEL you. We HEAR You. We GOT you. Too many days lately we wake up to heart-breaking news about the tragic shooting of yet another black man at the hands of law
enforcement in America. From Mike Brown and Freddie Gray to Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, no family should have to endure the tragedy of their loved ones becoming a damn (#) hashtag. Yet far too often, black men in America are at risk of becoming a statistic at the hands of the very officers that have sworn to protect and serve them. Now, with the senseless killing of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge last month, things have reached a boiling point and it’s time for everyone to channel their emotions towards a solution. Gavin Long (who was Black), the now deceased shooter in Baton Rouge, was no hero. He was a criminal, nothing more! So, therefore we must demand justice for the cowards that shoot police officers, as well as demand justice for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. As people of good conscience we must come together and demand change. It’s time to demand that Congress debate Gun Violence in America. In 1956, W.E.B. Du Bois was so grieved by his political options that he decided not to vote. He said, “I shall not go to the polls. I have not registered. I believe that democracy has so far disappeared in the United States that no ‘two evils’ exist.
UrbanV ice CULTURE NEWS POLITICS
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There is but one evil party with two names, and it will be elected despite all I can do or say.” For years, black folks have been told that our vote is our voice. Well, I disagree. My vote is not my voice. My voice is my voice. If I march, if I shout, if I engage in civil disobedience, if I write a facebook post and, yes, if I choose to vote, I am engaging in the democratic process. While our hearts are broken, we must remain focused on holding our elected officials accountable by showing up at the polls on Election Day and voicing our outrage through our votes. In addition, we must all recognize the importance of getting involved in the political process at the local level, where community policing may or may not be working, and as a community, figure out how we can partner with law enforcement to save lives.” Call the DA, call the sheriff, Call the chief of police, Call you city council person, Call your county commissioner, Call the mayor, your state representative and tell them how you feel about things. They work for you and not the other way around. The world needs strong leaders. From the President of the United States to church pastors to line leaders in
elementary schools, all serve a unique purpose: to guide and direct individuals and groups in the proper direction. Leaders are also tasked with being responsible for the outcome – whether good or bad – of their decisions. Our community leaders make a profound impact on each of us. As a community, we should rally around our leaders and help encourage them to make the best possible decisions, which affect our family, friends and future generations. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen. Voting is very important -certainly locally at the local level. While much attention is paid to who will be the president of the United States, there should be as much attention paid to who will be one’s state congressional representative, school board representative and city council person. Voting matters—but I do not think that voting is our only, or even our loudest, voice in a democracy. So, let’s begin to really engage and shout from the rooftops when things are not
working. Let them hear from you when the economic system does not include people that look like you. In closing, I’ll leave you with these words from Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., where he stated that We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters, if not, we will perish as fools”. Do more than VOTE. And once you Vote, use your VOICE. Be Heard! Until Next Month,
- JD Harper
URBAN VOICE NEWSMAGAZINE No. 27 ·AUG 2016 · Year 2 · PUBLISHER Everything Urban GRAPHIC DESIGN BROOKY MEDIA GROUP SUBSCRIPTIONS $18.00/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
AUGUST 2016 Volume 2/Issue 5
CONTENTS
theurbanvoice.org
VOLS’ Todd Kelly Jr. to Wear No. 24 to Honor Zaevion Dobson
THE FAMILY OF ZAEVION DOBSON REPRESENTED LONDSDALE WELL AT THE 2016 ESPEY AWARDS There wasn’t a dry eye in the room during the presentation of the annual Arthur Ashe Award for Courage during the 2016 ESPY Awards. Zaevion’s mother, Zenobia, and brothers, Zackelyn and Markastin, took the stage after a powerful tribute video about the tragedy. After accepting the award on behalf of her son, Zenobia launched into a powerful speech about gun violence that had nearly every A-list athlete — from Aaron Rodgers to Shaquille O’Neal — listening with tears in their eyes.
KANDY KASTLE DAYCARE CELEBRATES 42 YEARS
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Chattanooga’s Kandy Kastle Daycare centers have been recognized for 42 years of child care services. Diane Mason started Kandy Kastle in the basement of her parent’s home in 1974. By 1997, Kandy Kastle was the largest privately owned day care in Tennessee.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE OR SAVING SOULS? CHATTANOOGA PASTOR SPEAKS ON THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH HISTORICALLY, not just the Black Church, but Christianity as a whole has struggled with holding on to its faith and being on the right side of social justice issues. During the Civil Rights Movement, many civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth, came from up out of the pulpit and into the streets leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Selma, and other historical accounts of social justice. This month, the Urban Voice spoke with Pastor Timothy Careathers, of the Westside Baptist Church, about his calling and his perspectiveon “What is the Role of the Church: Saving Souls or Social
Justice?”
TOP BLACK-OWNED BANKS, CREDIT UNIONS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE SOUTH
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There were 21 black-owned banks in America with approximately $4.7 billion in assets in 2013, according to HBCU Money. But times have changed: There were 54 such banks in 1994, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation reports.
HAMILTON COUNTY MINORITY HEALTH FAIR: AUGUST- 20TH
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Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the SETHC Foundation would like to invite you to participate in the 14th Annual Minority Health Fair, Saturday, August 20th at the Eastgate Town Center. Time 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
URBANVOICE 2016 | 3
COVER STORY
Social Justice or Saving Souls? Chattanooga Pastor Speaks on the Role of the Church
have historically relied on the church for a call to action. This time, many of our social justice leaders are young people that don’t come from the pulpit and have taken to the streets on their own while the church’s call appears to be silent. This month, the Urban Voice spoke with Pastor Timothy Careathers, of the Westside Baptist Church, about his calling, community engagement and “What is the Role of the Church: Saving Souls or Social Justice?”
Interview: Pastor, Timothy Careathers: Westside Baptist Church
Unlike in the past, the Black Church as a whole has been reluctant to weigh in on social justice issues, and while many are asking the Church, “Where are you?”, Pastor Timothy Careathers has answered, “We’re right here with you.”
ABOUT US WRITTEN BY: LYNN COLE & JD Harper HISTORICALLY, not just the Black Church, but Christianity as a whole has struggled with holding on to its faith and being on the right side of social justice issues. For example, the Quakers, a religious group that was founded in the late 1600s and largely known for its belief in the equality of all men, didn’t take a formal stance against slavery until the late 1800s when Protestant Evangelicals begin to use Christianity to make a case for slavery and justify slaves’ obedience to slave owners. Prior to that, the Quakers formally acknowledged that the institution of slavery was a direct contradiction to their beliefs, but found that it was “so weighty that we think it not expedient for us to meddle with it here”. Also, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), created in 1845, drafted bylaws that allowed member churches
to worship God and support the institution of slavery, and did not offer a formal apology for its sanction of the institution until 1995. Lastly, denominations such as the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), the first African American formal Christian church founded in the United States, exists because neither the state (government) nor the Church welcomed Blacks and allowed to them to worship freely. It was out of this experience – the need to create a spiritual and religious space just for Black Folks, that the institution of the Black Church was born. Through this experience and throughout African American culture, the Black Church has been the bedrock of protest, resistance, social, and political change. In the early years, gospel hymns were filled with references to freedom and the church was often the meeting place for upheaval and revolts
against the status quo. During the Civil Rights Movement, many civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth, came from up out of the pulpit and into the streets leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Selma, and other historical accounts of social justice. Most recently, Jeremiah Wright, the Obamas’ former pastor, gave America a front pew seat of the controversial political and ideological thoughts of some sects of the Black Church. Today, in the year 2016, America has found herself, once again locked in a turmoil of conflict over social justice. #blacklivesmatter. #bluelivesmatter. #alllivesmatters. #sayhername. #imwithher #trump2016. With the resurgence of all these racial, political, and social tensions, Black people would
CAREATHERS was born and raised in Chattanooga’s inner city. He spent his childhood between the City View Apartments and a modest house in the Orchard Knob neighborhood right across the street from the Carver Recreation Center. “We were poor, but I didn’t know that until I was about thirty-years old”, said Careathers. “I grew up in a house full of women (his mother, two older sisters, and his grandmother), and it was from these women that I learned about faith. Careathers said that his father, Curtis Careathers, was present, but sporadic due to a struggle with alcoholism. “My dad was in and out, but his love for me was evident”, said Careathers. Careathers recalled that during his childhood, his dad always made a point to be around when it mattered. “It was almost like he was saying, I have this disease, but I’m here.” Careathers baptized his father and to this day, the two have a tight bond. The senior Careathers is a member of Westside Baptist, and makes the drive from Nashville to Chattanooga every Sunday to hear is son preach.
URBANVOICE 2016 | 5
NATIONAL NEWSBRIEF
2016 Nielsen Report: Black Buying Power Has Reached Tipping Point, But How Will Black America Leverage it to Create Wealth?
ll A new report from Nielsen, “The Increasingly Affluent, Educated and Diverse,” explores the “untold story” of African-American consumers, particularly Black households earning $75,000 or more per year. According to the report, Black people in this segment are growing faster in size and influence than whites in all income groups above $60,000. And as AfricanAmerican incomes increase, their spending surpasses that of the total population in areas such as insurance policies, pensions and retirement savings. “These larger incomes are attributed to a number of factors, including youthfulness, immigration, advanced
educational attainment and increased digital acumen. As these factors change AfricanAmericans’ decisions as brand loyalists and ambassadors, savvy marketers are taking notice,” according to Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, Senior Vice President U.S. Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement, and Saul Rosenberg, Chief Content Officer at Nielsen. It is projected that by 2060, the Black population will increase from 45.7 million to 74.5 million, with 17.9 percent of the U.S. population. From 2000 to 2014, the rate of African-American population growth was more than double the white rate of 8.2 percent, and 35 percent faster than the U.S. population as a whole. According to Nielsen, the “youthfulness and vitality” among Black consumers are being driven by a diverse influx of immigrants, who make up one in 11 African-Americans, or 8.7 percent. Further, there has been substantial education growth among Blacks, with high school graduation rates exceeding 70 percent,
outpacing the growth for all students nationwide. As corporate America and the business community vie for the patronage of the African-American community, Black dollars must serve as leverage. Black consumers must use their resources wisely — reward friends and punish foes accordingly, support Black-owned business and those brands who are in sync with our interests, values and aspirations. People and forces outside of our community want our business, but many will do little to nothing for it, or more importantly, for us, with no investments in our community and no jobs for Black people. Consider that companies spend $75 billion a year on advertising, but only three percent of that goes to Black publications, Black TV and radio stations and the casting of Black actors, as PearsonMcNeil told Marketplace. And yet, Black folks don’t have jobs because they are creating so many jobs for other communities. For all of this wealth, we don’t feel wealthy because we are sending all of
our money outside the Black community. As Dr. Boyce Watkins noted we need to harness that wealth. He said that with over $1 trillion, one can buy: 1,000 NFL teams; 3,000 predominantly white universities; the annual budget of 1.4 million charter schools across the nation; pay the tuition at Howard University for 50 million students for an entire year; buy 854,000 community centers; purchase NBC, ESPN and CBS and still have $1 trillion left over. “When you look at Black unemployment, you see that Black unemployment is typically twice as high as white unemployment,” Watkins said. “Ask yourself this: Why is it that we give away $1.1 trillion in spending power when that $1.1 trillion could, according to most economists, create 12.2 million jobs in the Black community?” He added: “So, the point of all of this, the reason I’m telling you all of this, is because you have to understand one important, fundamental fact. Your money is your power, and you cannot give your power away.”
BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ Presents The 2nd Annual BLACK GIRLS LEAD™ Conference To Empower Girls From Around The World To Lead, Innovate And Serve University in New York City.
ll NEW YORK, July 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BLACK GIRLS ROCK! has announced their 2nd annual BLACK GIRLS LEAD conference to take place July 28-July 31, 2016 at Barnard College of Columbia 6 | URBAN VOICE 2016
The conference will host 125 young women ages 13-17 from 82 cities across four countries including the United States, Canada, the Bahamas and South Africa. The conference will include over 20 panels, workshops and masterclasses with award winning educators, journalists, entertainers, computer scientists, politicians and motivational speakers. Over the four days, BLACK GIRLS LEAD will also foster sisterhood, wellness and
cultural enrichment through team building activities and creative exercises. BLACK GIRLS LEAD, in its second year, grew out of a BLACK GIRLS ROCK! two week long overnight camp that began in 2011 with 30 participants. The camp has since transformed into a four-day intensive able to accommodate four times its original camp size. Each year the leadership program has continued to grow and expand on its mission to provide life
skills, self-empowerment and sisterhood to young Black women from around the world who can go on to instill the same skills in their communities. This year’s 125 participants were chosen from an application pool of over 500 young women from across five continents.
For more information about BLACK GIRLS ROCK! and BLACK GIRLS LEAD visit www.blackgirlsrock.org. For Twitter and Instagram use handle: @BlackGirlsRock + hashtags: #BlackGirlsRock
Vols safety Todd Kelly Jr. switches number to honor Zaevion Dobson KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee safety Todd Kelly Jr. is switching his uniform number from 6 to 24 this season to honor Zaevion Dobson, a Knoxville high school football player who was shot to death last year while shielding two girls from gunfire. Kelly is from Knoxville and says he had known Dobson since elementary school. “I felt like it was my duty just to represent him,” Kelly said after Monday’s practice. “It’s nothing about me. It’s all about him. I’m just trying to represent him any way I possibly can.” Dobson wore No. 24 at Fulton High School. The 15-year-old sophomore died Dec. 17 while protecting friends from a shooting. Knoxville police said the girls shielded by Dobson were unhurt. In the days after Dobson’s death, President Barack Obama sent a tweet praising the teen’s actions. Dobson received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs last month. Defensive back Darrell Miller wore No. 24 for Tennessee last season. Miller agreed to change his number to 15, allowing Kelly to take over No. 24.
Kandy Kastle Daycare Celebrates 43 Years of Service in Chattanooga
Staff Reporter CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – It was once licensed to provide childcare to 1200 students. Today, Chattanooga’s Kandy Kastle Daycare centers were recognized by city and county officials for 42 years of child care service.
“When you see a child that doesn’t feel good about themselves and don’t project, you know there’s work to do and I realized there was work to do and that’s how Kandy Kastle started,” says Diane Mason. She started Kandy Kastle in the basement of her parent’s home in 1974. Diane Mason convinced her mother, Ophelia
Leslie to quit her job at Orange Grove to corne in with her in this new business venture. lnitially, it was real rough, because it was the worst time of the year for daycare enrollrnent. They struggled with four children for the first two rnonths of their existence. They ended their first year with twelve students and three full time ernployees, including Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Ophelia. After her second successful year in business, Mrs. Mason decided to expand her business and her parents’ home to allow her to serve more farnilies. ln September 1979, she took $15,000.00 and added three rnore rooms to her parents’ horne. That addition allowed her to increase her licensed capacity frorn twelve students to thirty-five. She reached her new capacity limit of thirty-five within in a matter of months. She was also able to add three more employees to the payroll. Two of those were her father, Marion Leslie and her then teenage son, Eric Boyd. They were employed to help with the maintenance and janitorial areas of the business. Also in 1979, Diane met and fell in love with Gerald A. Mason, who had recently moved to Chattanooga to work for TVA as
BlueCross BlueShield Awards $10,000 in Diversity Scholarships The diversity scholarship program was launched to help address the growing need for a qualified and more inclusive workforce to deliver health care in Tennessee. The scholarships are presented in partnership with the Memphis chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) and recognize achievements in The BlueCross BlueShield of academics, community service Tennessee Health Foundation and leadership. will award $10,000 scholarships on Monday to three outstandThe presentation ceremony ing minority college students will be held at BlueCross who are pursuing degrees in the BlueShield of Tennessee health care field.
corporate headquarters. The ceremony will be held in the Community Room at BlueCross corporate headquarters, 1 Cameron Hill Circle in Chattanooga on Monday from 12:30-1 p.m.
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a rnanager in the Office of Power. By 1980 Gerald and Diane were married and created a blended family. By 1997, it was the largest privately owned day care in Tennessee. ln 1983, Mrs. Mason used her background in childcare and Mr. Mason’s background in planning to expand her business again and in December 1983, the day care was moved from Belle Vista lo 1416 McCallie Avenue. Community officials honored the Masons at a ceremony this week. “We can trust people with our cars, we can trust people with our houses, or let them borrow our clothes, or whatever – but trusting them with our kids – right Pastor? – now that’s a whole different thing…For people to trust somebody for 42 years, you’ve got to have a heck of a reputation. You’ve got to have people like you and people that think you do a great job. And that’s exactly what’s happened with the Mason’s,” said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. County Commissioner Greg Beck also spoke: “To the Masons, for 42 years of serving and preparing our community” “In so many ways, in my view, the Masons have been great contributors to the community and
we thank you for it,” added Council Member Yusuf Hakeem. The Masons took a break from childcare in 2001 but opened a new Kandy Kastle in 2008. Now former Kandy Kastle students bring their kids to the daycare. “I feel that we have worked and we have because we see so many of our children successful and we’re working on the next generation to be the same!” says Diane Mason. “If you start early, you can lead them to a good, good life.” Her husband, Gerald Mason adds, “We’ve got 229 students now. The community has always supported everything we’ve done and we’re proud of what Chattanooga has offered us.” Through the years, the family business has served over five thousand students and employed more than six hundred people. “The whole family – we’re all part of this. And I really am really proud of the family affair,” says Diane Mason. Today, Kandy Kastle continues its legacy on North Tuxedo Avenue.
First Tennessee announces small business contest First Tennessee Bank is hosting a customer service contest for state businesses and will award thousands of dollars to the winners. “Customer service is a top priority with First Tennessee, so we are thrilled to be able to recognize small businesses in Tennessee that have the same passion for serving others,” Chattanooga market President Jeff Jackson said in a prepared statement. The grand prizewinner will receive $10,000, the first prizewinner will receive $5,000, and the second prizewinner will
receive $2,500. Small business owners throughout First Tennessee bank markets, including Chattanooga, can nominate between now and Aug. 21. Following the nomination period, businesses are encouraged to ask local customers to vote for them, according to a news release. The public voting period will run from Aug. 2 to Sept. 6, and organizers will announce winners shortly after that. Email questions@FTBcontest. com with any questions.
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Social. ATLANTA
AUGUST 7 Raekwon, Ghostface Killah Center Stage Theatre | 9pm AUGUST 13 Johnny Gill, Zapp, and special guests Wolf Creek Amphitheater | 7pm AUGUST 20 Morris Day and the Time, Midnight Star, Rose Royce and Brick Wolf Creek Amphitheater | 6:30pm AUGUST 19-20 Atlanta Underground Film Festival http://www.auff.org AUGUST 25 Jill Scott Chastain Park Amphitheater | 7pm AUGUST 25-26 Drake, Future Philips Arena | 6:30pm AUGUST 27 Blackstreet, Joe, & Eric Benet Wolf Creek Amphitheater | 6:30pm AUGUST 27 Chrisette Michele The Tabernacle | 8pm SEPTEMBER 8 Bad Boy Family Reunion Puff Daddy, Faith Evans, Lil Kim, Mase,Total, Carl Thomas, The Lox, French Montana, 112 Philips Arena | 8pm
events NASHVILLE AUGUST 14 Drake, Future Bridgestone Arena | 6:30pm AUGUST 26 DMX, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Nashville Municipal Auditorium | 7:00pm SEPTEMBER 3 John Merritt Football Classic Tennessee State vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff http://www.merrittclassic.com SEPTEMBER 11 Boyz II Men with the Nashville Symphony Ascend Amphitheatre | 7:30pm SEPTEMBER 18 Bad Boy Family Reunion: Puff Daddy, Faith Evans, Lil Kim, Mase,112, Total, Carl Thomas, The Lox, French Montana Bridgestone Arena | 8pm SEPTEMBER 24 Kanye West Bridgestone Arena | 8pm OCTOBER 2 Beyoncé - The Formation World Tour Nissan Stadium | 7:30pm
BIRMINGHAM
AUGUST 12 Smokey Robinson Wind Creek Casino | 8pm SEPTEMBER 10 Kem, KeKe Wyatt BJCC Concert Hall | 8pm
SEPTEMBER 10 Atlanta Smooth Music Festival http://www.smoothjazzgrooves.com/ atlanta-smooth-music-festival-current/
SEPTEMBER 16 R. Kelly BJCC Arena | 8pm
SEPTEMBER 12 Kanye West Philips Arena | 8pm
OCTOBER 1 Mystikal, Juvenile, Trick Daddy, Bun B,8ball & MJG, Pastor Troy BJCC Concert Hall | 8pm OCTOBER 5 Leon Bridges Alabama Theatre | 8pm
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OCTOBER 29 75th Magic City Classsic Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State Legion Field | 2:30pm
MONEY
#BankBlack -- Top Black-Owned Banks, Credit Unions and Other Financial Institutions in the South www.oneunitedbank.com
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he #BankBlack revolution has already began. Thousands of African Americans across the country are transferring their money to Black-owned banks that invest in urban The African comAmercian muniConsumer Market: ties $1.2 Trillion in and Buying Power businesses. Initiated by several celebrities like Solange and rapper Killer Mike, the initiative is in response to years of police brutality, discrimination, and other racial problems that have long existed in America. African Americans collectively have an annual buying power of almost $1 trillion dollars, and so the idea is to circulate and re-circulate Black dollars within Black communities. If you are interested in opening an account at a Black-owned, FDIC-insured bank, here’s the complete list below according to FederalReserve.gov: ALABAMA #1 - Alamerica Bank: This bank in Birmingham, Alabama provides a unique banking experience for underserved communities. Their staff of experienced bankers is committed to providing quality and personalized service, offering a full array of banking services, from deposit accounts to loans. #2 - Commonwealth National 10 | URBAN VOICE 2016
Bank: At this bank in Mobile, Alabama, they believe that your business is unique and so your bank should be too. They offer free online banking with no minimum daily balance required, and a variety of business accounts designed to help you maximize your banking experience.
(Also see #11 - Liberty Bank, which has branch locations in Tuskegee and Montgomery, AL.) FLORIDA #3 - Axiom Bank: Headquartered in Central Florida with branches throughout the Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa areas, this federallychartered community bank serves the financial needs of its customers through a wide range of financial products. GEORGIA #4 - Carver State Bank: Established in 1927 in Savannah, Georgia, this Black-owned bank has has remained a financial services leader for all sectors of the Savannah community throughout its 85 years and is the only bank in the area with an outstanding Community Reinvestment Act Rating. #5 - Citizens Trust Bank: Since their beginning in 1921, this Atlanta, GA-based bank has responded to market shifts by expanding their electronic platform while still providing the personal touch service that makes them unique to their customers. Thanks to an online #BankBlack social media campaign in July 2016, more than 8,000 new accounts were opened at their branch in just one week. KENTUCKY: #6 - Metro Bank: Based in Louisville, Kentucky, this Blackowned bank works to provide opportunity where before there was none - whether it is their in-
volvement in a multi-million dollar New Markets Tax Credit project, or a start-up business loan to an entrepreneur providing a muchneeded service in an underserved neighborhood. MISSISSIPPI: (See #11 - Liberty Bank, which has branch locations in Jackson, MS.) NORTH CAROLINA: #7 - Mechanics & Farmers Bank: Founded in 1907, this bank is the 2nd oldest minority-owned bank in the United States. They have branches in Winston-Salem, Durham, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte, and most of their deposits are recycled back into urban communities. SOUTH CAROLINA: #8 - South Carolina Community Bank: Based in Columbia, SC, this Black-controlled bank offers a select range of high priority personalized products and services to traditionally underserved communities, including small to medium sized businesses, TENNESSEE: #9 - Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company: With branch locations in Nashville and Memphis, TN, this community bank provides friendly and personal service to both individuals and small businesses. They are an equal opportunity employer with 32 full-time employees, 3 convenient offices and approximately $100 million in total assets. #10 - Tri-State Bank of Memphis: With three branch locations throughout the Memphis area, this a community bank has proudly served the urban community. for over 65 years and have a history of leadership, concern and commitment.
St. Paul AME Church to Celebrate 127th Anniversary St. .Paul AME Church, located at 2514 Williams St., will celebrate its 127th anniversary on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 13-14. There will be free food, activities and speakers on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 3-7 p.m. as the church works to heal the community.
and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from American Baptist Theological Seminary. Additionally, from Scarritt College at Vanderbilt Divinity School Rev. Keesee received a Master of Religious Education. He also matriculated at Lexington Theological Seminary in the Doctorate of Ministry program. Rev. Keesee has received honorary doctorate degrees from ON SUNDAY, AUG. Shorter College, Little Rock, Arkansas and Payne 14, THE GUEST Theological Seminary, Wilberforce Ohio.
Presenters Include: Linda Murray Bullard - LSMB Business Solutions Father 2 the SPEAKER AT THE Fatherless Donna Elle Rev. Keesee is a prolific 11 A.M. SERVICE writer and has published On Sunday, Aug. 14, the guest many books. His ministerial WILL BE REV. speaker at the 11 gifts have always blessed a.m. service will the communities where he ROBERT KESEE. served ecumenical circles be Rev. Robert Kesee. and African Methodism. He Robert Edward has traveled in the interKeesee’s pastorate has blessed the est of African Methodism throughout 13th Episcopal District as a builder, a the United States, the Caribbean and leader in the acquisition of real estate Africa. Our trusted friend has brought and as a connectional leader. glory to God as the recipient of various honors including the Governor’s Born in Clarksville, Tenn., his famOutstanding Tennessean Award, ily spiritually nurtured him among Outstanding Community Leader the loving family and friends of Award, Murfreesboro, Rutherford Martin Chapel AME Church. There County Tennessee Leadership he accepted Jesus the Christ as his Award, Outstanding Community Lord and Savior at the young age Service Award Nashville, Tennessee, of nine. As a devoted teacher in the Distinguished Citizen and Key to Metro-Nashville School System his the City, Chattanooga among many earnest desire was to serve God and others. Humanity. He therefore, accepted the call to preach while a member of Lee Presiding Elder Keesee retired in Chapel AME Church, Nashville, under 2012. He is a member of Prince Hall the pastorate of the late Rev. James Masons Lodge #51, is a life member Boyd. of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Urban League-Chattanooga, The young man prepared himself Tennessee Chapter. Rev. Keesee is for God’s work both theologically married to Gladys Mae Allen Keesee and academically by receiving a and they are the proud parents of Bachelor and Master of Arts degree three children, two grandchildren and from Tennessee State University three great grandchildren.
Dark And Lovely Partners With CurlyNikki To Reveal What Happens When Good Hair Goes Bad ll NEW ORLEANS, July 1, 2016 / PRNewswire/ -- Dark and Lovely, the brand that has catered to the beauty needs of African American women for over 40 years, has partnered with natural hair expert and best-selling author, Nikki Walton of CurlyNikki.com, on the release of her new electronic book, When Good Hair Goes Bad: Tips and Tricks for Restoring Your Gorgeous, Healthy, Natural Hair. Available as a free download beginning today exclusively at www. DarkandLovely.com/NikkiWalton, this groundbreaking partnership is a long-term effort to provide consumers with free access to the most upto-date and objective information for the maintenance and care of natural hair. Through the coupling of a digital product and nationwide retail partnerships, this collaboration is pioneering digital distribution and reflects the changing patterns in how consumers get their information. „We worked with CurlyNikki for the
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launch of our Dark and Lovely Au Naturale #CurlPower campaign in 2013 and it was a huge success; so it was a no-brainer for us to collaborate again,” says Michelle Ryan SVP Marketing, L’Oreal Multi-Cultural Beauty Division. „With the instant success of Walton’s first book, Dark and Lovely deemed partnering with Walton on her follow up as great way to increase awareness and educate women with naturally curly textures on how to maintain the health of their hair by taking the guesswork out of styling and care.” For those seeking hair tips, When Good Hair Goes Bad is an easy to read e-book that provides responses to all of your natural hair questions from hair color and protective styles to straightening gorgeous curly locks. „Women across the world have requested my advice on how to truly manage their natural hair. I am thrilled to work with Dark and Lovely to help share my experience and expertise in
an attainable way,” says When Good Hair Goes Bad author Nikki Walton. „I wanted my second book to be easy for people to get their hands on and Dark and Lovely is the driving force for making this happen.” „Dark and Lovely has a full portfolio of products—whether you are natural, love to color your hair or wear a smooth style—that take the guesswork out of styling your hair,” says Ifeoma Fejokwu, Senior Brand Manager, Dark and Lovely. „The Au Naturale line manages shrinkage, locks in moisture and reduces breakage, which are all benefits that are needed when managing natural hair.” When Good Hair Goes Bad: Tips and Tricks for Restoring Your Gorgeous, Healthy, Natural Hair is now available for free exclusively at www. DarkandLovely.com/NikkiWalton. For more information, follow Dark and Lovely on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
URBAN VOICE WELCOMES ANGEL MOORE
.......feature story continued ON HIS CALLING Q. Tell us about your Calling? I have always been enamored with preachers. During my early childhood, I attended Orchard Knob Baptist Church and growing up, I would imitate the pastor, Pastor Harold K. Lester. He had that enthusiastic black preacher style and I would mock him a lot. Other people used to say to me, ‘You look like a preacher’. During my elementary years I was always picked to read the scripture or to pray. By the time I attended middle school (Hixson Middle School) I was no longer interested in preaching, but I still had an inward burden to aid people that were hurting. I didn’t hear an audible voice of God telling me to go preach. Instead, I had a dream. In that dream I was floating around my mother’s house and there was a preacher (myself) following and chasing me all around the house. I kept trying to get away from the preacher, hiding and locking the doors, but he kept chasing me. At the end of the dream, the preacher and I embraced. That was the year 1999, and I woke up from that dream knowing that that was “the call to preach”. The next Sunday I had a discussion with my pastor at the time, Pastor Willie Paul of Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church her in Chattanooga, about me being called to the ministry. Pastor Paul, at first, ignored me for the most part, until I came back to him again and he later confirmed that he wanted to be sure that I was sure. I
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preached my first sermon in March of 2000. I was twenty-two years old. Q. What was it like being a young preacher? I struggled with a lot of questions. How should I behave? What music should I listen to? What will people think if they knew I still had certain struggles? What do I laugh at? I loved God and I loved people. I loved preparing for and preaching sermons? But I had to figure out how do I carry the weight of my call, demonstrate the love of Christ, and still be Tim. Q. How did you become the pastor at Westside Baptist? Westside Baptist had been without a pastor for about two years, after the passing of Pastor Tolbert. Pastor Willie Paul would teach bible study on Monday nights. I was student at American Baptist College in Nashville, and would fill in for Pastor Paul teaching bible study. Then, the members started asking me to fill in on Sunday mornings. At the time, I wasn’t looking to pastor a church. My plan was to graduate college and become part of the ministry staff at Greater Grace Temple in Nashville, TN so I was just glad to receive the $200 per week that Westside was paying me to fill in on Sundays. After filling in for about 2-1/2 months, I went to Pastor Paul and told him that I was enjoying preaching at Westside on Sundays, but that the drive
was beginning to wear on my car, and I was having difficulty preparing to preach every week and keep up with my studies. Pastor Paul told me not to quit, but to go back to Westside the next Sunday with a resume. I did, and the church asked me and I accepted as pastor of Westside. ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Q. Why did you decide to step outside of the walls of the Church (beyond, feeding folks, revivals, giving away old stuff)? I found my voice when I was a student at American Baptist Bible College, and there began to ask the question of myself and further students – What is the gospel if it isn’t social? Then, I began to understand that there really is no separation between the social aspect of ministry and the spiritual aspect of ministry. ON PARTNERING WITH NATION OF ISLAM Q. You recently announced a partnership with the Nation of Islam – Heaven on Hughes project. Tell us about that. I first met Brother Kevin Muhammad, Nation of Islam Minister, here in the [Alton Park] neighborhood. We have different faiths, but I had always felt his heart and his passion for this community. Earlier this year, a young man, Javorius Eagle,
was killed by police and Kevin was very instrumental in working with the family, and our relationship was strengthened as we worked together to raise money for Eagle’s funeral. We began talking about a vision for the community. I found out that we have some of the same passions for this community, and I had the choice to deny it and stay away from Brother Muhammad and the Nation of Islam or to figure out our commonality and how we could connect to help this community. Before you knew it, it was like I had become friends with a Muslim overnight. The Heaven on Hughes Project is an example of how two people, with the help of numerous community partners, put aside their differences and locked arms in an effort to get what needs to be done in this community. The vision is for the house to serve as a community haven, so to speak. There are plans to house a conflict resolution center, a program that will feed and give clothing to the community, nutrition and fitness education, and counseling, mentoring, and tutoring programs. Q. Any funny looks? -- a Baptist preacher, partnering with the Nation of Islam? My biggest fear was about how my congregation would respond to my partnering with the Nation of Islam.
I had been preaching and teaching about activism and how God is no respecter of person, and the congregation said, ‘Well, Pastor, you have been preaching about this anyway’, and gave me their full support. I didn’t know it at the time, but God was already equipping our church for where we were going in ministry. I know that my view of God is more progressive than that of others. However, God used Malcom [X] and Martin [Luther King, Jr.]. I believe that only insecure believers are intimated by people of different faiths that are comfortable with what they believe. What can people do to support this movement/effort? We are accepting donations in the form of materials and contract labor. We also have a gofundme page set up for monetary donations at gofundme/heavenonhughes. THE PEOPLE’S STATE OF THE CITY Q. You were in attendance at the Peoples’ State of the City (Brother Kevin Muhmn hammed’s rebuttal address to Chattanooga City Council in response to Mayor Andy Berke’s most recent State of the City address), and you formally requested a response from the city council. Share your thoughts about that experience? Why do you think the Chattanooga city council didn’t listen? I heard Mayor Berke’s address and I felt like he had a bird’s eye view of the state of Chattanooga, and so I was there in support of Bro. Kevin. I think that city council missed the point because they were more concerned about how Bro. Kevin’s response had come across than they were with the heart of the message. I felt that whether the council agreed with
Bro. Kevin’s rebuttal address or not, it was a perspective that should have been taken into account. So the next week, I went back to city council and requested a formal response. I was asking the members of city council – ‘What do you think about what this man just told you? You have our votes, now be our voice’. Rather than a response, I heard complaints about dislike about Bro. Kevin’s language and the manner in which he addressed the council, but nothing about what he said about THIS perspective on the state of Chattanooga. Shortly after Bro. Kevin’s address, the council and Mayor Berke spoke very loudly with a city budget that did not reflect a direct response to “the People’s” request – people that are poor, and not politically connected. When that happened, it became clear to me that my people couldn’t look to our local government leaders for help, and that we, the community leaders, had to do it ourselves. I was very hurt. I was thinking, these are our council people, and how can they look into the eyes of oppressed people and DO NOTHING? On the Church and the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement Q. Are we experiencing a resurge of the Civil Rights Movement? If so, what is the church’s response to the new movement? I do believe that we are experiencing a resurgence of the Civil Rights Movement, and I don’t believe that the Church, as a whole, has been involved for a couple of reasons. (1) We [the Church] has become cynical towards having passion for others. (2) We [the Church] think that things
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are better, and we are cynical towards marches and protests, because we feel that that time [in history] has passed where marches and protests were necessary. (3) We [the Church] have drawn a strong line of demarcation between the spiritual and the social.
I don’t believe that there is a line between the spiritual and the social. Jesus talks about the social responsibly of the church in the 25th Chapter of the Book of Matthew. This parable illustrates the marriage of spirituality and social engagement. 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did
for me.’41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” People don’t JUST want their souls saved. They [people] are also asking ‘What about my humanity?’ Everyone in humanity deserves respect and justice. I believe that Jesus died to redeem our humanity. GOING FORWARD Q.What would you say to other churches that want to become more involved with social justice issues? How do we keep social justice in the forefront? First, we have to understand that hoping that things will get better is right, but first we have to acknowledge that things ain’t right. Second, we cannot be afraid to tackle these issues out a fear of being targeted or ostracized by our colleagues. Third, we have to come together for dialogue and to develop a strategy to address exactly how we are going to address these problems.
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