1 29 2014

VOL. 63, No. 4

January 23 - 29, 2014

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Conduit Global taps Memphis for new call center operations

New guidelines address school discipline disparities

kajanaku@tri-statedefender.com

NNPA News Service

by Jazelle Hunt

by Karanja A. Ajanaku

WASHINGTON – In the 2011-12 school year, black students without disabilities were more than three times as likely to be expelled or suspended as their white counterparts, according to data from the Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC).

During the 2009-10 school year, black students made up 32 percent of students without disabilities arrested – despite the fact that black students, with and without disabilities, only make up 16 percent of the school population.

Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have decided to do something about those disparities. They recently unveiled a school discipline guidance package to assist schools in putting a stop to statistics like these.

The guidance package also is tied to President Obama’s “Now is the Time” proposal to reduce gun violence.

The school discipline guidelines are divided into five components. The Dear Colleague letter explains how schools can craft discipline protocols that don’t discriminate against students or infringe on civil rights.

The Guiding Principles document offers best practices for effective discipline standards and improved school climate. Finally, there are the Directory of Federal School Climate and Discipline Resources, and the state-by-state Compendium of School Discipline Laws and Regulations. The package also includes an overview of the Supportive School Discipline Initiative, the collaborative effort between the Department of Education and Justice Department that produced the guidelines.

Although the package offers 101 pages of information plus an online legislation database, much of the focus has been on the eight-page Dear Colleague letter. Critics assert that it calls for schools to dole out discipline in proportion to demographics, pointing to the “disparate impact” section of the letter, which begins this way: “Schools also violate Federal law when they evenhandedly implement facially neutral policies and practices that, although not adopted with the intent to discriminate, nonetheless have an unjustified effect of discriminating against students on the basis of race. The resulting discriminatory effect is commonly referred to as “disparate impact.”

The Dear Colleague letter comes as a direct response to the disproportionate discipline among black, brown, disabled, LGBTQ, and special education students, as compared to white students without disabilities. According to CRDC data for the 2011-12 school year, black students are 15 percent of the population, yet they make up 35 percent of students suspended

City Councilman Wanda Halbert sat on the front row Wednesday morning as Gov. Bill Haslam, Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell Jr. took the lead in welcoming Conduit Global to the Memphis area. Like most others gathered in the FedExForum lobby, she had been told little more than there would be a “big announcement.”

By all accounts, a new call center, 1000 new jobs and an $8 million investment in building and infrastructure improvements to Goodlett Farms Office Park property in Shelby County adds up to a “big announcement.”

Halbert was among numerous public officials who “Memphians meshed with ecodevelopare con- nomic ment proponents, tributing far business types and more than others on hand for first public deany other the tails about Concitizens for duit’s move to Memphis. all of the Greater She was among the economic few who openly development placed the “excitnews – which investments ing” she immediately that are en- shared via her page – tering into Facebook within the context our city.” of an ongoing local struggle with unemployment and underemployment.

“You know what, when you look at the demographics of Memphis, the majority of the citizens are African Americans and/or living as impoverished citizens who definitely need these jobs,” said Halbert, who is the Council’s liaison to EDGE (Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County).

“Memphians are contributing far more than any other citizens for all of the economic development investments that are entering into our city.

We definitely want them to benefit first and foremost because they are the number one contributors to those opportunities coming.”

Conduit Global is one of the world’s largest independent, fully-integrated business process outsourc“They are ing companies. It going to has operations in Europe, North begin imme- America, Asia and diately filling Africa, with more 7,000 employ300 posi- than ees in 9 countries. tions on Haslam was the their way to first to share that company plans 1000. …In the to begin hiring imfact, people mediately. are going can apply to “They begin immedionline begin- ately filling 300 positions on their way ning 1000. …In fact, today….” to people can apply online beginning today….You can see they are serious about getting to work right away,” said Haslam.

Conduit has tentacles in several areas, including telecommunications, health care, financial services and technology. Bryce Hayes, Conduit’s president, said he once lived in the Memphis area – Cordova, Bartlett, Millington – back in the ’90s. Memphis, he said, was “an obvious place for us to do business.”

“As a global call center BPO company, our focus is to try and find regions where we can attract talent. It was very clear to us that the Memphis area can help us meet those goals. We were looking for strong technology, we were looking for infrastructure

Bryce Hayes (l), president of Conduit Global, said Memphis has the key elements his company determined were needed to help the company meet its goals. Also pictured (l-r): Gov. Bill Haslam, Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell Jr. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

Nissan, FedEx Express set U.S. test for all-electric vehicle

WASHINGTON, D.C. – FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., and Nissan announced Wednesday (Jan. 22) at the Washington Auto Show that the two companies will begin testing the Nissan e-NV200, a 100 percent electric compact cargo vehicle, under “real world conditions” in Washington, D.C. The test marks the first time the vehicle will be running in North America. FedEx Express and Nissan have conducted similar e-NV200 tests with fleets in Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Brazil.

FedEx and Nissan have made clear their commitments to reducing the environmental impact of their operations worldwide.

Rotating the Nissan e-NV200 into the delivery fleet is part of the FedEx EarthSmart program, a global sustainability platform designed to guide the company’s environmental commitment in the communities where it operates. FedEx Express currently has 167 electric vehicles and 365 hybrid electric vehicles in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and China, including the units that will be deployed in Brazil starting in January.

The Nissan e-NV200, a 100 percent electric compact cargo vehicle, will be tested in Washington, D.C. as part of a collaboration between Nissan and FedEx Express.

(Courtesy photo)

By the end of this fiscal year (May 31, 2014), the company plans to increase these numbers to 222 and 393, respectively. From 2005 to 2012, the introduction of this type of vehicle in the fleet enabled the company to save nearly 2.4 million liters of fuel.

For Nissan, the effort aligns with its “Blue Citizenship” corporate so-

cial responsibility program. The program has a focus on increasing the number of vehicles that emit no greenhouse gases by exploring additional vehicle segments where its leading electric vehicle technology may be applied.

SEE TEST ON PAGE 3

KING DAY CHEER

SEE DISPARITIES ON PAGE 3

MEMPHIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

H- 3 4o - L - 2 6o Su nny

H- 5 1o - L - 2 8o S unn y

H- 5 6o - L - 3 1o S unn y

REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS

Friday H-41 L-28 H-33 L-24 H-39 L-27

Saturday H-56 L-29 H-46 L-25 H-54 L-30

Sunday H-60 L-32 H-50 L-28 H-60 L-36

Your honor…

Dr. Willie W. Herenton, no stranger to the limelight himself, kneels good-naturedly before the Rev. Dr. Samuel “Billy” Kyles, who received a special tribute during the 45th Annual Celebration of The Life & Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Kyleʼs Monumental Baptist Church on Monday (Jan. 20). (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley). See more King Day coverage on pages 10-11, 13 and 14.

SEE HIRING ON PAGE 2

NEWS

Page 2 HIRING

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

and we were looking for employees.”

Hayes emphasized that Conduit “will be hiring rapidly. We will be hiring quickly. I certainly would encourage any and all to come and join us as we continue to grow.”

The company, he said, is looking for everything from those who can answer phones, agents…to IT specialists, to workforce analysts, to supervisors, center director, …a wide range of positions. Literally everything that we hire will be local.”

Training and skill sets needed? Agents, Hayes said, would need at least a highschool diploma, noting that college always helps.

“When we start talking about IT and supervisory positions we are talking about college graduates and those who can bring the professional skill set.”

Mark Herbison, Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce senior vice president of Economic Development, introduced Wharton and Luttrell as the quarterbacks of the local team effort to land opportunities such as Conduit.

“This is a win not merely for this particular city, but for this entire region. These are the knowledge jobs that we hear so much about,” said Wharton, noting the importance of a coordinated approach to telling “the world that we can compete, nationally and globally….”

Luttrell made reference to the community’s assets, including a wide range of people who “are willing to reach out, generous people who love to get involved.”

Bill Hagerty, Tennessee’s Economic and Community Development commissioner, said the Conduit Global announcement “underscores one important thing: that’s the momentum that our state is enjoying right now. That momentum was recognized just last week when Tennessee was named the economic development state of the year.”

Tennessee, said Hagerty, is the

Tri-State Defender

January 23 - 29, 2014

Bill Hagerty (left), Tennesseeʼs Economic and Community Development commissioner, said a compressed time window marked the effort that led to the Conduit Global announcement on Wednesday. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku) “most competitive state in the nation right now.” He referenced Tennessee as a right-to-work state, a favorable regulatory climate and great logistics, adding that Haslam’s “great leadership” was a major factor.

Said Haslam: “In Tennessee, we know that jobs are created when people put capital at risk.

And in Tennessee we know

that we are a great place for investment. …We are going to continue to focus on things that make Tennessee a great place to work.

“It’s important for us on the state level to have great local partners and I can tell you, as someone who had a local job and now a state job, that Memphis and Shelby County

are doing all the right things to attract investment here and we are pleased to be your partner.”

NOTE: Interested applicants are encouraged to apply online immediately at http://www.conduitglobal.com/careers/. Conduit also will host a job fair in February, with details to come.

Target customers urged to take advantage of free credit monitoring

Tennessee Atty. Gene. Bob Cooper is urging all Tennessee residents who shop at Target stores to take advantage of one year of free credit monitoring being offered by the retail company in the wake of the massive data breach announced last month.

“I strongly encourage any Target customers to take advantage of this offer, regardless of whether they’ve identified suspicious activity in their personal accounts,” said Cooper. “Additionally, consumers should take the proactive steps of monitoring their bank account activity, and changing their PIN numbers and passwords.”

Last month, Target reported a data breach in which the payment card information of approximately 40 million customers had been obtained by hackers. The stolen information included credit and debit card data and PIN (personal identification data) numbers. On Jan. 10th, Target revealed that the hackers also stole a second batch of data that included names, mailing addresses, phone numbers or email addresses for up to 70 million people.

Target is offering one year of free credit monitoring not only to those customers who had information compromised in the data breach but to all U.S. instore Target customers. Consumers can register for free

credit monitoring at creditmonitoring.target.com. Target’s website provides answers to frequently asked questions concerning the credit monitoring at: https://corporate.target.com/about/payment-card-is sue/credit-monitoringFAQ.aspx.

The free credit monitoring will be offered through Experian’s ProtectMyID, and the service provides a copy of a credit report, daily credit monitoring, identity theft insurance (except where prohibited by law) and access to personalized assistance from a fraud resolution agent.

Target has provided the following information for consumers looking to take advantage of this program: • Consumers who shopped in U.S. stores may request an activation code by entering their name and email address at creditmonitoring.target.com before April 23.

• Consumers will then receive an email from Target within 72 hours that will include the unique activation code and instructions on how to register the code.

• Consumers will have until April 30,to register their code.

• Emails collected during the process of creating activation codes will only be used for the purpose of sending an activation code to enroll in free credit monitoring.

Consumers with questions are encouraged to visit target.com/databreach or to contact Target directly at 866-852-8680.

Tri-State Defender DISPARITIES

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

once, 44 percent of those suspended more than once, and 36 percent of students expelled.

Further, black and Latino students make up more than half of all students turned over to law-enforcement or involved in school-related arrests. As a result, there’s a growing phenomenon of school incidences that become run-ins with the law, tarnishing students’ legal records. According to Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), it should rarely, if ever, come to that.

“We have struggled, as an association and as a profession, with some things being said about the school-to-prison pipeline. A majority of the officers I deal with have never put a student in jail,” he says.

“That does not mean there aren’t arrest problems in certain areas, I don’t deny that.

But we as an association strive to make sure matters of school discipline don’t become criminal issues. We want to deescalate those incidents.”

Canady retired from the Hoover, Ala. police department in 2011 after a 25-year career, the last 12 of which were spent as the commander of the School Services Division. He asserts that the trend of in-school arrests is the result of poorly trained law enforcement personnel, misunderstandings about the role of police officers in schools, and a lack of relationship building between students, officers, and administrators.

“In the past there have been times when an administrator tries to encourage me to arrest a student,” Canady shares, “And I have to explain to them that there’s not criminal infraction to warrant arrest, and also I have the discretion in that area. I don’t always have to arrest someone.”

NASRO’s primary message when training officers is that school discipline is not only outside their purview, but also counterproductive to their mission. Instead, a school resource officer’s responsibilities are to keep unauthorized people off the property, keep drugs and

NEWS

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January 23 - 29, 2014 weapons out of schools, and foster positive connections with students and staff on behalf of all law enforcement.

According to Canady, the need for federal guidelines is warranted because professionals on all sides of the issue are ill-prepared for their jobs.

Bernard Hamilton, president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators, agrees.

“Teachers have their hands tied behind their backs with no tools in their tool kit to actually work with kids,” says Hamilton, who has served as a bus driver, teacher, counselor, principal, coach, superintendent, interim superintendent, college professor, and associate commissioner of education in his 35-year career. “There’s not enough professional development – not just ten hours and check a box, but meaningful development that models strategies and checks on the teachers’ understanding.”

He goes on to stress that this professional development should include diversity training as well as behavioral management skills. Additionally, most teachers-in-training do not have requirements that speak to inclusion, or bridging cultural gaps. In the wake of such training, many teachers and/or administrators fall back on discipline.

“I do think we need some (guidelines), especially when schools are getting federal money for students. If you get to a situation when kids have to be removed, that’s the extreme…. But there’s a gamut of referral situations,” Hamilton says. “A lot of kids are not out of school, but are sitting in the hallway, the cafeteria, the principal’s office when they should be in the classroom.”

The other portions of the guidelines address the need for building positive and supportive school environments and keeping students within these environments, even when discipline is needed. The Guiding Principles resource draws from research and best practices to provide a set of actions a school can take to improve its climate.

The Directory of Federal School Climate and Discipline Resources offers brief explanations and links to those best practices. And the law Com-

pendium and accompanying database allow schools to check if their plans are comparable to those of other states’, and in line with federal law.

Harry Lawson Jr., associate director for the Human and Civil Rights Department of the National Education Association, believes that the guidelines will jog the necessary work.

“It’s a really good start to help guide the discussion about what’s in place currently, and what we will be able to put in place. But we still have a lot of work to do on the back end.”

He’s referring to the concern that the package doesn’t get to the nitty-gritty of how to implement them – especially where finances are concerned. Will the necessary professional development come from federal or state funding? How will schools hire new support staff to make sure counselor-to-student ratios are compliant? Will schools have to pull resources from other areas to follow these guidelines?

These are all concerns that Lawson believes will be raised.

NEA members are being encouraged to view the package as an opportunity to properly collect and analyze data on their discipline practices, identify problem areas, and then collaborate with school community stakeholders to devise a plan of attack.

Because education governance is shared between states and the federal government, these guidelines are only suggestions, not mandates. Still, there’s anticipation that they may not sit well in some districts.

“It’s going to be a mixed bag reaction, and it depends on where a school or district has been on the spectrum in terms of discipline,” Lawson says.

“But if (schools) have not been paying attention, or if (they) have challenges and don’t know it, (they) might have a negative response. There are always districts that think they don’t have a problem.”

Hamilton agrees.

“Most systems are pretty confident in what they do, and don’t seem concerned about federal suggestions. But hopefully (the guidelines) are implemented. If students get to stay in classrooms longer, they have better results for learning.”

Listen up ‘Dems’…

TEST

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

FedEx will deploy the Nissan e-NV200 in the Washington D.C. area, where it will undergo field tests that subject it to the routine requirements of a delivery vehicle. The results will be used to help determine the viability of using an electric vehicle in this role in the U.S. Nissan e-NV200 is scheduled to begin mass production later this year in Europe.

“As a global fleet operator serving 220 countries and territories worldwide, FedEx is committed to improving the efficiency of its vehicles as part of our EarthSmart initiatives,” said Mitch Jackson, vice president of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, FedEx Corporation.

“We are pleased to continue our work with Nissan and bring the e-NV200 into test in North America.”

Erik Gottfried, Nissan director of Electric Vehicle Sales and Marketing, said Nissan is eager to work with FedEx and other companies “to put the eNV200 through its paces to continue to build awareness of the capability of electric vehi-

Bryan C. Carson, chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party, prepares the way for Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who was the keynote speaker during the Kennedy Day Dinner held at Bridges last Saturday (Jan. 18th). The theme was “The Year of The Woman.”

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley) cles and to evaluate how well it meets the needs of the commercial consumer. …

“We’d also like to explore clever uses of EVs in work environments where carbon emissions of gas-powered vehicles make them impractical or impossible to use.”

Nissan’s second global all-electric vehicle

Following Nissan LEAF, eNV200 will be the second EV that Nissan markets globally.

The all-electric compact cargo vehicle strengthens Nissan’s leadership in zero emission mobility, say company officials.

Here is Nissan’s take on the e-NV200: The 100 percent electric model offers the same versatility, functionality and roominess as its gasoline-powered sibling. The e-NV200 delivers unique, emission-free and quiet performance” thanks to a powertrain based on Nissan LEAF and the same advanced lithium-ion battery.

It emits no carbon dioxide, compared to approximately 140 g of CO2/km emitted by gas-powered engines in a sim-

ilar vehicle.

The e-NV200 can be charged up to 80 percent of its full capacity in less than 30 minutes when equipped with a quick charge port and using a fast charger.

With front-wheel drive, the e-NV200 provides rapid and smooth acceleration and excellent handling with a high degree of maneuverability. The electric vehicle delivers immediate torque, which benefits acceleration with a heavy payload from a dead stop.

The e-NV200 offers the low cost of ownership that EVs such as LEAF boast—based on fewer maintenance requirements and the reduced cost of charging versus fueling.

The smart positioning of the battery ensures a larger cargo area, and the vehicle maintains a low load floor, key considerations for light commercial vehicles.

According to FedEx, initiatives such as this have allowed the company to “quickly progress towards its goal of increasing the fuel efficiency of its fleet, which the company revised in the beginning 2013 by increasing its initial improvement target from 20 percent to 30 percent by 2020.”

Page 4

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OPINION

Tri-State Defender

January 23 - 29, 2014

• Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher • Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor

FLASHBACK 2006

Richard Sherman answers questions after defeating the San Francisco 49ers.

(Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Seahawks’ Richard Sherman is not a thug; Stop calling him one The Root

by Stephen A. Crockett Jr. There was a moment in the NFL version of the Hatfields and McCoys that could have ended the blood feud.

It came at the end of the game Sunday (June 18th), after Seattle’s Richard Sherman batted a pass intended for San Francisco 49er Michael Crabtree into the arms of a teammate, causing an interception that would seal the victory for the Seahawks, sending them to the Super Bowl.

Sherman walked over to Crabtree with his arm extended as a show of come-togetherness but Crabtree pushed the defender’s helmet hard.

So goes the way of the most heated and hated rivalry in sports today.

It was this emotion, that shunning of sportsmanship, that was still ringing in the 24-year-old’s helmet when he walked off the field and onto national television to call Crabtree “sorry” and he would later add “mediocre.”

It was the face of Sherman and his dark skin and flailing dreads that had some people take to Twitter to call Sherman a “thug” and a “n—ger.”

From behind a computer keyboard and a 140-character-limit wielded by the hands of the ignorant, a 24-yearold Stanford graduate was assaulted with arguably some of the most troubling words in the American lexicon.

This is the battle and the passion and the ugliness of American history played out in violent sport, rolled into a sound bite and then released into the Internet-mosphere. It is a Twittersized snapshot of the trouble that white America has with an outspoken black athlete. It was a moment that captured both the hate that the Seahawks and 49ers have for one another on the field and, more importantly, the deep-rooted hate some feel when a black man speaks freely about his legacy.

During the interview Sherman told Erin Andrews: “I’m the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that’s the result you gonna get. Don’t you ever talk about me ... Don’t you open your mouth about the best or I’m gonna shut it for you real quick.”

Sherman’s behavior and verbiage was succinct and efficient but it wasn’t even remotely “thuggish.” He didn’t speak in slang, he wasn’t punctuating the air with gang signs, he didn’t use vulgarity. In fact, he didn’t do anything even remotely aggressive. If anything, his loud and egotistical rant was much more WWE than NWA. It was typical-football-Sherman, which has never been, nor will ever be, what is expected. The Twitter response was more telling about how far we haven’t come as a nation, on the heels of the birthday of a man who dreamed more for us.

Richard Sherman is brash, bold and brutal, all traits that make him one of the best cover corners in the NFL and make people in white America uncomfortable. So while Muhammad Ali is celebrated now as one of the nation’s greatest icons, he was hated then for the same trashtalking that helped make him legend.

America has always been comfort-

able with the humble, wide-eyed, “awe-shucks” athlete from a small town who is in a permanent state of bewilderment about his own abilities and who always defers to his team or his coach.

But an athlete who is fully aware of his abilities, who doesn’t shy away from criticism, who adores not only the spotlight but relishes it is a newer breed in the sport, and it is time for historically buttoned-up institutions like the National Football League and its hordes of fans to make room for them.

Look, Richard Sherman grew up in the gangsta capital of Compton, Calif., and I am sure he can point out a thug with ease. I am also positive that thugs don’t star in both football and track and field while having the second highest GPA of their graduating class. But that was Sherman, who broke records in both sports while attending Dominguez High School and also made sure to stay firmly grounded in the classroom.

He still considers the day he signed a national letter of intent to play football at the Stanford University as one of the proudest moments of his life.

“It was unbelievable,” Sherman told the Federal Way Mirror about the signing. “It was a great accomplishment for me and my family. It was a great symbol for people from where I’m from.”

What fans forgot Sunday is that hate is a part of the history of sports, which is rooted in rivalries and trashtalk. The hate that happened on Twitter is a deep hate that continues to divide the country.

Think about this: A 24-year-old fifth-round draft pick had just made the biggest play of his career to send his team to the Super Bowl, and right before he walked on-camera his bitter rival (who allegedly tried to fight Sherman at a charity event last year) punched him in the helmet. What happened next was real and raw, but it never veered into the land of vile, menacing or thuggish.

“To those who would call me a thug or worse because I show passion on a football field—don’t judge a person’s character by what they do between the lines,” Sherman wrote in a column posted on mmqb.com.

“Judge a man by what he does off the field, what he does for his community, what he does for his family.”

Sherman frequently talks with high school students about making good decisions in life, and recently launched Blanket Coverage, The Richard Sherman Family Foundation, which helps kids get school supplies and clothes.

“But people find it easy to take shots on Twitter, and to use racial slurs and bullying language far worse than what you’ll see from me. It’s sad and somewhat unbelievable to me that the world is still this way, but it is.”

If being a thug means being salutatorian of your high school with a 4.2 GPA and 1,400 SAT scores, graduating from Stanford, delivering on your promise of greatness and showing no ability to humble-brag – then the black community could use more thugs like Richard Sherman.

(Stephen A. Crockett Jr. is an associate editor at The Root. Follow him on Twitter.)

FACEBOOK FAN OF THE WEEK Name: Melanie Shaw

Melanie Shaw is this weekʼs Facebook Fan of the Week!

She is a Memphis native, who graduated from Hillcrest High School and received her degree from The LeMoyne-Owen College.

A San Francisco 49erʼs fan, Melanie enjoys music from R. Kelly and movies such as “CrazySexyCool:The TLC Story.”

Thanks Melanie for excelling in Memphis and for being a part of the TSD Facebook family!

‘If I dated black girls…’

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Last Friday, I gave the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech at the University of North Alabama in Florence. I was glowingly introduced by my niece, Rachel Gandy, who is a senior at UNA. I told the audience that having grown up in segregated Tuscaloosa, Ala., how satisfying it was to see “the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners” sit in the same classrooms, if not at the table of brotherhood. I didn’t use those exact words, but they got the point: revolutionary changes have taken place in my home state since the 1960s and the South in general. So many changes, in fact, that public schools in the Deep South are more desegregated than any other region in the nation.

During my visit, I met a young White male – who shall remain nameless – who works in the same campus office as my niece, spoke fondly of Rachel, and recounted with glee their study together last summer in Costa Rico.

After my speech, when I was doing my usual Friday afternoon radio segment with the Rev. Al Sharpton, I was told that this young man said, “If I dated black girls – I tell Rachel this all of the time – she would be at the top of the list.”

I am sure he meant that as a compliment – it wasn’t.

First, it’s presumptuous to think that Rachel, who is smart and beautiful inside and out, would want to date him. Second, for all the talk about racial progress, there are large segments of our society who make decisions based on race and nothing else.

Whites do it. Blacks do it. Latinos do it. And so do Asians.

After I got over the shock of the young man’s comment – well, I still haven’t gotten over it, as you can see – I thought back to a 2010 Pew Research Center study that found that a record 14.6 percent of all new marriages in the United States in 2008 were between spouses of a different race or ethnicity from one another.

That’s more than double the percentage for 1980.

Interestingly, rates more than doubled among whites and nearly tripled among blacks. But for both Hispanics and Asians, rates were nearly identical in 2008 and 1980.

For me, there was another story within the story: “When whites, Hispanics and Asians decide to marry

Tri-State Defender Platform

1. Racial prejudice worldwide must be destroyed.

2. Racially unrestricted membership in all jobs, public and private.

3. Equal employment opportunities on all jobs, public and private.

4. True representation in all U.S. police forces.

5. Complete cessation of all school segregation.

6. Federal intervention to protect civil rights in all instances where civil rights compliance at the state level breaks down

outside their group, AfricanAmericans rank last in their choice of mates.”

It’s easy to dismiss the kooks such as former Louisiana Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell who resigned under George E. pressure in 2009 Curry after he refused to perform a marriage between a white woman and a black man.

But things are supposed to be different with this so-called “postracial” generation. My niece is an honor student, was in the university’s homecoming court, is charming and beautiful. Yet, the young man at UNA couldn’t see beyond her color: “If I dated black girls….”

Fortunately, Rachel’s love life is not dependent on whether this young man dates “black girls.” There are plenty of African American and every other kind of men vying for her attention. It’s the idea that this fellow got to know my niece as a person yet found her unqualified to date solely because of her race is what galls me.

While growing up in Alabama, I was told that part of the problem was that blacks and whites had not been allowed to interact under Jim Crow, not even in sports. However, when those barriers came down, or so the thinking went, racial prejudice would vanish and people would be judged as individuals, not as part of a supposedly superior or inferior race.

In three decades, there will be no majority race in the U.S., according to the Census Bureau. And that means that all racial and ethnic groups will need to learn to step outside their comfort zone to interact as equals with those who don’t look like them.

In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. King said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Obviously that day has not arrived.

Until it does, it’s incumbent upon all of us to make sure that it doesn’t just remain a distant dream.

(George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He can be reached via www.georgecurry.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.)

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Is Secretary Gates disloyal to Obama?

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates isn’t the first political appointee to analyze the work of an administration he served, even if that administration remains in power. In 1999, while President Julianne Bill Clinton was Malveaux still in office, longtime staffer and confidant, George Stephanopoulos wrote of his disenchantment with his political mentor after the Monica Lewinsky story broke.

Stephanopoulos’ memoir was achingly personal because even as it offered a look at the way the Clinton White House worked and a bird’s eye view of the 1992 campaign, it also offered a look at a man’s inner life, and the emotional turmoil he experienced as he struggled to reconcile the Bill Clinton he admired with a Clinton he, perhaps, reviled.

At the time, many marveled at the perceived disloyalty of Stephanopoulos. Shouldn’t he have waited until the Clintons had left the White House? What did the Clintons think?

How would this frank disloyalty play out? Fifteen years later, President Clinton is sitting on top of the world with his Global Initiative, Hillary Rodham Clinton is the leading contender for the 2016 presidential nomination, and George Stephanopoulos is front and center at ABC News.

Now Robert Gates has written a tellall about his time as Secretary of Defense, titled “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War.” Many hoped that he would write something as personally searching as George Stephanopoulos did. Instead, he’s got fingers to point, axes to grind, bridges to burn, even as the Obama administration continues to deal with issues that Gates had the opportunity to weigh in on while he served as Secretary of Defense.

“Duty” is pointedly critical of nearly everyone – Congress, Vice President Biden, President Obama, the National Security Council staff, the White House staff, you name it. People have focused on the hits the Obama administration took from Gates’ poison pen, and many have raised the question about his lack of loyalty to the Obama administration. From my perspective, Gates was disloyal to himself and to our nation, not to president Obama personally.

If he felt as strongly as he says he did, that the Obama administration should have made different defense decisions, why didn’t he say so? He talks about biting his tongue while in the White House. Why? So he could loosen it up when he got out. Had Gates been loyal to those who he pledged to serve, he would have immersed himself in the work of being Defense Secretary instead of describing himself as both contemptuous and bored. It’s that question of loyalty that plagues me with Gates, more so than Stephanopoulos. Does truth trump loyalty? When?

I think of these men when I think of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his unwavering loyalty to social and economic justice. He didn’t care that his opposition to the War in Vietnam was seen as disloyal to a president who responded to Dr. King’s activism on poverty issues by creating a war on poverty.

King didn’t care that his opposition to Vietnam got him uninvited to some of the venues where he had been quite sought. He could have waited until “later” to write and talk about what would have happened. Somehow he knew, though, that there was no later, and so he wrote a book, “Why We Can’t Wait” (1964). It is perhaps unfair to compare the moral fiber of Stephanopoulos and Gates to that of Dr. King, but one cannot help note that Stephanopoulos and Gates have been criticized for being disloyal to presidents. What about principle?

There is such a thing as misplaced loyalty, as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s aide Bridget Ann Kelly is about to find out. Kelly is said to have been the mastermind behind the several-day shut down of lanes on the George Washington Bridge during peak traffic hours to cause a little retaliatory confusion for Fort Lee, N.J., whose mayor did not support Christie’s re-election. Christie says he doesn’t know anything about the bridge scandal, but that his loyal (and now resigned) aide did this on her own.

Really? Not without a nudge from above? Kelly may value loyalty to one man over her commitment to serve the people of New Jersey (or just Chris Christie), which is not unusual. Just disappointing.

Both Kelly and Gates should ponder King in the aftermath of the King holiday. King talked about what it meant to be unpopular because of political decision, and declared himself a drum major for justice. Bridget Kelly, Robert Gates, George Stephanopoulos, what are you drum majors for?

(NNPA columnist Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.based economist and writer. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.)

Tri-State Defender

Expecting Christian behavior from Christians

I have been delaying writing this column for more than a year, but in light of recent developments, I have finally decided to address the issue of Christianity and celebrity.

L a s t year, actress Meagan Good created a controversy when she wore an extremely revealing Raynard blue dress Jackson at the “BET M u s i c Awards” show. The dress was low cut and she was wearing no bra. Let’s just say, her “twins” were have a moving experience and were filled with excitement, if you get my drift.

I must admit, she looked exceedingly gorgeous in the dress. I have always viewed her as one of the few actresses in Hollywood who carried herself like a lady. I often tell girls, “You are a woman because of your age (18 or 21, depending on the state), but you are a lady because of your behavior.” Meagan is definitely a lady in my eyes.

BET asked Good to present the award for best gospel artist during the show, so I assume she wanted to get attention for her outfit, which is pretty common in Hollywood and attention she did get. Meagan has always professed her Christianity in public and had recently married Devon Franklin, a Sony Pictures executive and Seventh Day Adventist pastor.

Her attire set off a firestorm of criticism on social media, with many saying her dress was inappropriate for someone who claimed to be a Christian, married to a preacher, and presenting a gospel award.

Good went to her Instagram to respond, “…I’m not any less holy because the dress I wore – I may not be who people think I should be – but I’m morphing into exactly who God wants me to be… My excuse is never ‘I’m going to do me’ and I don’t feel that I need to make an excuse or defend or what I wore... I know I have a responsibility – and I’m working daily to fulfill the full potential of all God has created me to be…”

A similar controversy is brewing about Christine Vest. She is a wanna-be gospel singer who recently had a baby by Dwight Howard, center for the Houston Rockets of the N.B.A. Her only claim to fame is getting pregnant

by Howard. Howard is rumored to have up to five children by five women over six years (no one really seems to know the real number). So much for his Christianity.

People have been calling her out for having a kid out of wedlock while calling herself a gospel singer. As with Good, Vest didn’t take too kindly to the criticism and lashed out at her critics. She vented on her Instagram, “I’m sorry, but I just have to address all the…people…that consider “having a child out of wedlock” a “sin.” Having fornication is the sin, people. FORNICATION…If you want to rebuke me for fornicating, thanks, but I have repented already.”

Allow me to proffer some unsolicited advice and counsel to Good, Howard, and Vest as a fellow Christian and graduate of Oral Roberts University.

If you publicly profess to be a Christian, then people automatically and rightfully expect you to comport yourself in a certain manner. It has nothing to do with judging you or about degrees of sin (fornication vs. lying, etc.).

Proclaiming to be a Christian used to conjure up a lot of very positive images – trustworthy, loving, caring, modest, etc. Now we have gangsta Christian rap music, we have Christian punk rockers, and Christian nude models, etc. It’s hard to distinguish Christians from sinners.

Mrs. Good, how do you justify appearing in public in a dress where everyone can see your twins in a state of arousal?

Mr. Howard, how do you justify all these babies outside of marriage? Ms. Vest, how do you justify being a gospel singer and having sex without a condom if you just want to keep it strictly on the health tip?

In a way, they are paying you all a compliment because the public’s reaction to your behavior is a testament to how the world used to view Christians and Christianity. They expected certain behavior that was beyond reproach.

Each of your reaction show

OPINION

Page 5

January 23 - 29, 2014 how far Christians and Christianity has fallen from the standards of the past.

Meagan, “Let not then your good be evil spoken of (Romans 14:6);” Dwight, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of

death (Proverbs 14:12);” Christine, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:12).”

Meagan, yes, you have a right to wear whatever you

choose, but remember you have a responsibility to represent the best of Christendom.

Or, as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put

away childish things.”

Dwight you came into the NBA talking about being a witness for Christ to your teammates; maybe now it’s time for someone to be a witness to you.

Christine, I don’t think people are trying to judge you rather

than to remind you that just because you feel you can doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

Each of you injected your Christianity into the public arena, therefore is it not reasonable for them to expect you to live up to what it means to be a Christian?

BUSINESS

Page 6

Tri-State Defender

January 23 - 29, 2014

ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

The business of romance – a ‘HiHeelz’ approach

There are many excuses for why the sizzle has dwindled in a relationship, such as: “I’m too busy working and I’m tired!”

“We have kids now!”

“I have gained too much weight to be sexy!”

“We have been married for 20 years, they know how I feel!”

“I gave them some money to go shopping!”

No matter the excuse, the solution is Dennette SmithRoss of HiHeelz Concierge Service.

Whatever the excuse has been, I have stumbled upon the solution... Dennette SmithRoss of HiHeelz Concierge Service.

A problem solver, SmithRoss is equipped with confidentiality agreements and she is all about her business. With a client list that has included religious professionals and professional athletes, she knows how to keep a secret.

Smith-Ross’s services are valuable to and much needed by folks that want to make a difference in their relationships but just do not have the time or the skill. She brings your idea to life no matter how big or small.

And, she handles her business without the slightest bit of judgment.

Carlee McCullough: Where are you from and what brought you to Memphis?

Dennette Smith-Ross: I’m from LA and moved to Mem-

phis because I have family and friends here and wanted to slow down and enjoy life.

C M : How did you come a b o u t starting HiHeelz Concierge.

D S R : With HiH e e l z Concierge Service, I didn’t just start a business, I Dennette Smith-Ross created a whole new category. I decided to fuse my love of romance with my enterprising nature to provide what I call “The HiHeelzExperience” to individuals who require a certain level of quality, distinction and most of all, discretion. And oh yes, there is a confidentiality agreement so your secrets are safe with me.

With HiHeelz Concierge you can have your cake and eat it too! I am affectionately dubbed a “Hopeless Romantic” and I feel that people talk about being romantic and showing love. But, to me, that’s such a misunderstood Carlee McCullough

your ordinary and extraordinary doors with the best in personalized, professional concierge service.

Romantic staging in your home or hotel, personalized shopping, restaurant reservations, hotel reservations, get away weekends, discreet getaways, exotic automobile rentals, limousines and car service, romantic dinners, specialty gift and delivery, discreet gifts and delivery, floral services for anniversary/birthdays and the list goes on. If you can imagine it…

CM: Who is your ideal client?

DSR: My ideal client is a person with a serious sense of adventure, a wide-open imagination and a risk taker.

topic. What I do is bring together my love for LOVE as well as my strengths to produce, envision and enhance lives in a way that is an unexpected and effective form of “Showing LOVE the right way marketing.” I am not just doing business, but creating a movement.

CM: How did you come up with the name of your company?

DSR: I came up with the moniker “HiHeelz Concierge” while shopping, planning and

organizing a romantic weekend for a friend and his wife.

She still does not know he didn’t put it all together, so he gets all the kudos still today.

While planning the weekend I thought, “I love to do these things so why not do it for others who don’t have the time” or the ‘know how’ but want to stay on track of their love lives and keep their spouses, girlfriends, or boyfriends happy and not let the ‘small things’ slip through the cracks.”

CM: What were the prima-

ry factors you considered before starting your company?

DSR: I considered whether a need, market and/or demand existed for my knowledge and expertise.

CM: Tell us about the services you offer?

DSR: Whatever your need, if you can imagine it, HiHeelz Concierge Service can make it happen and with that being said, did I mention that there is a confidentiality agreement? Your secrets are always safe with me. Let us unlock

CM: As a business owner, what has been your greatest challenge?

DSR: There are many challenges and responsibilities to deal with, but getting enough traffic is the biggest! I really have to use a variety of methods and do it consistently to create and maintain momentum.

Next Week: Part 2.

(Contact info: 323-5785764; or email hiheelzconcierge@gmail.com.)

(Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, Tn. 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)

MONEY MATTERS One decision that almost every business should revisit from time to time is whether its current organizational structure is meeting its needs.

The difference between personal and business tax rates is just one factor that may influence that decision.

Federal tax rate increases in 2013 could affect some of the 30 million business owners who include business profits on their personal income tax returns. The top individual tax rate, which affects single filers with taxable incomes exceeding $400,000 and joint filers with incomes exceeding $450,000, rose to 39.6 percent in 2013 from 35 percent in 2012. For comparison’s sake, the top corporate tax rate remained unchanged at 35 percent.

Corporations are separate legal entities from their owners, which is why shareholders generally cannot be held liable for S and C Corp debts.

S Corporation vs. C Corporation Tax treatment

Both S and C corporations must file annual tax returns, but they are taxed very differently. S corp profits and Charles losses are Sims Jr., CFP “ p a s s e d through” to the owners, who are taxed at personal income tax rates, even if profits are later reinvested in the business to pay for new employees or equipment.

C corporations could be subject to corporate income tax at both the federal and state levels, but they may be able to deduct the salaries and bonuses of owners and employees as business expenses. Initial corporate income tax rates may be lower in some cases than those paid by

individual owners, who might benefit by allowing the business to retain some of the profits.

Any dividends distributed to C corp shareholders are paid from the corporation’s after-tax profits and are taxable to the recipients, creating the potential for double taxation.

Ready to grow, or sell

Larger and fast-growing companies are commonly organized as C corps because this business structure allows for multiple classes of stock and an unrestricted number of shareholders. S corps, on the other hand, are limited to one class of stock and no more than 100 shareholders.

A company that switches from an S to a C corp must remain a C corp for at least five years.3 This may be a key consideration for owners who anticipate a sale in the near future, because the double taxation situation may also apply when a business is sold.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

— Steve Jobs

(Charles Sims Jr. is president/ CEO of The Sims Finan-

cial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit

www.SimsFinancialGroup.co m.)

ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, January 23 - 29, 2014, Page 7

E-BRIEFS Special benefit Jan. 26th for Memphis Black Arts Alliance

Come out and show your support for the Memphis Black Arts Alliance at the All-Star Jazz-A-F!RE Benefit Concert on Sunday (Jan. 26) from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Memphis Sounds at the EconoLodge, 22 N. Third.

All-Stars performers will include Ruby Wilson, Chris Ward, Ken Farmer, Ekpe Abioto, Kevin Sandford, Levi Frazier, Frank Phillips and Pamela Byrd.

On Jan. 1st, MBAA suspended operations until March 31st to contemplate the future of the 30-year-old cultural arts organization. If you’re interested in seeing the organization continue, make plans to attend the special benefit. Admission is $25 for couples and $15 for singles.

Memphis Black Arts Alliance is taxdeductible, 501(c)3 arts-based community development organization founded in 1982. For more information, email mbaafirehouse@gmail.com.

Donations may be sent to Memphis Black Arts Alliance, P.O. Box 40854, Memphis, TN 38174.

MJG to share the real deal at Stax Fresh Trax

Record Deal or Record Steal?

Super Star or Mega Scar? The wheels, deals and power appeal of the music industry are as attractive as ever, Everybody wants to be down! In an era of beats, MJG rhymes, autotuned vocalists and music makin’ machines...what’s a “real” artist to do?

On Feb. 5th, MJG of the world-famous rap duo 8-Ball & MJG will stop

by Stax Fresh Trax and spill the beans at the Stax Museum of American Soul at 926 East McLemore. Listen to MJG’s journey and learn how to develop your own career path.

MJG will preview his solo project.

Also, six more Memphis musicians with “new” music will entertain the Stax Fresh Trax listening audience.

Hear new tracks from Lex Luthor, 40 Short, JL, T-Mack, Porcelen Chalet and Dennis Lewis Free admission, 6 p.m.

Death of 3-year-old cancer patient spurs Unique Steppers

The Unique Steppers of Memphis will have a Dancing Through Heart Times event in memory of 3-year-old cancer patient Jashiah Davis from 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday (Jan. 24th) at The Inc. at 1675 Barcrest Rd. The infant Davis passed away on Dec. 27th after a two-month battle with cancer. All money raised will go to the family to offset medical and final arrangement expenses.

There will be stepping music and dancing, as well as stepping lessons and food concessions. Entry: $10 at the door. All donations of $20 or more will include two free dance lessons.

The Unique Steppers of Memphis was started in 2010 as a social group to teach and enjoy stepping and stepping music. Now they are leveraging the popularity of the art form to support various projects in the community.

For more information, contact: Kenneth Madden at (901) 237-1823.

Collage Winter Concert Feb. 1

Collage presents the 2014 version of “RISE” on Feb. 1st at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 2nd at 2:30 p.m. at the Buckman Performing & Fine Arts Center.

“RISE” includes a world premiere ballet by Keith Lee, the first AfricanAmerican male soloist with New York’s famed American Ballet Theatre and founder of the Dance Theatre of Lynchburg. Lee has choreographed for numerous companies, including American Ballet Theatre, Washington Ballet, Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and Memphis Concert Ballet.

The program also spotlights “Dawn,” choreographed by Kevin Iega Jeff, one of the Julliard School’s 100 Outstanding Alumni. Collage premiered “Dawn” during last year’s presentation of “RISE.” Choreography by Artistic Director Kevin Thomas and a tribute to Nelson Mandela choreographed by Arla Scott of Washington D.C. will roundsout the program.

Described as family friendly, ‘RISE’ runs approximately 90 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.

Tickets are $25 ($20 for patrons 35 years of age and younger. For more info or to inquire about group discounts, call 901-800-1873.

Pete Pranica (left), play-by-play TV announcer for the Memphis Grizzlies, and Grizz players (l-r) Mike Conley, Tony Allen and Quincy Pondexter, urge those participating in the auction to increase their bids at Staxtacular 2014. The proceeds benefit the Stax Music Academy. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)

Staxtacular 2014 – ʻSuit Up And Playʼ

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kelley Evans

One thing is for certain. The Memphis Grizzlies have formed great partnerships in the Memphis community. And with one particular affiliation, a special bond has been established.

The Stax Music Academy has not been the same since the Memphis Grizzlies teamed up with the Soulsville Foundation to host one of the largest fundraising events of the year. Just one week after the Grizz Gala, local movers and shakers gathered on Saturday at the Stax Museum for the 10th Annual Staxtacular event. The evening’s theme was “Suit Up and Play.”

The hosts of the night were Grizz Players Mike Conley, Tony Allen and Quincy Pondexter. Joining them were newcomers Tayshaun Prince, Courtney Lee, James Johnson and Jamaal Franklin, who experienced their first Staxtacular and were more than proud to take part in the festivities.

“Obviously this is my first time so I wasn’t aware of how it was going to be run,” Prince said. “But the one thing I do know is whenever we do something with the Memphis Grizzlies as far as out in the community it’s always to raise money for a good cause.”

Suited for the night, the players came ready to do their part. Fans snapped photos with the players and talked about their favorite plays during games.

Staxtacular 2014, presented by SunTrust, is the largest fund-raiser of the year for Stax Music Academy. Since its inception in 2004, Staxtacular has continued to grow and has raised close to $1,000,000. Last year’s Staxtacular saw record-breaking attendance, with almost 550 guests, and surpassed all previous records in money raised. The event raised approximately $135,000 from sponsorships, ticket sales, and online, silent and live auctions.

“Tonight’s event is great,” Pondexter said. “It’s great to see how much it grows every year. It’s great to be a part of it. I’m really fortunate. I think we’re making great progress and Stax Academy is growing.”

A sell-out a week in advance, some were turned away at the door.

However. those in attendance enjoyed a night of blues and basketball as they mingled, danced and chatted with their favorite players.

Head coach Dave Joerger recalled a time seven years ago when the Grizzlies were 22-game winners. He emphasized the need at the time to get players into the community to show their loyalty to the city and to the fans.

“We drafted very well as far as character people,” Joerger said.

“And now the winning has gotten better every single year and we’ve maintained that in the community. It’s really important that we keep doing that. It’s not a presence, it’s a relationship within the community.

“There are a lot of things the guys do that nobody knows about.

Of course this is more public. I think as a community we’re very giving. I’m really proud to be a part of this community and I’m proud of our guys.”

Throughout the rich history of the museum was a “World Tour” buffet ranging from sushi to dessert. Fans and players swooned to the sounds of the Bo-Keys with Percy Wiggins. Grizzlies announcer Pete Pranica led a live auction, where one guest won a golf package with Tony Allen as the caddy.

“It’s a great cause and I’m happy to be a part of it,” Allen said.

“We’ve got a lot of good faces from the city in town to support it.

What better place to do this than here.”

In addition to the live auction, there was a silent auction that began online on Jan. 2. Bidders were also able to access the new mobile bidding feature, which allowed the bidding process to be conducted on personal mobile devices.

The Stax Music Academy is a unique learning center that inspires young people and enhances their academic, cognitive, performance, and leadership skills by utilizing music with a strong focus on the rich legacy and tradition of Stax Records. Since its founding in 2000, it has served more than 3,000 young people, many of them at risk. Students have performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Folklife Festival and many other venues, including performances in Italy, Australia, and Germany. Since 2008, every high school student enrolled in the Stax Music Academy has gone to college.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

“It’s a huge honor to be a part of Staxtacular again and being able to do something for such a good cause. The academy is doing quite well and it represents Memphis well.”

– Mike Conley

“It’s been good being here and being a Memphis Grizzly. This community is known as a little community but for Grizzlies it’s real big to try to bring it up and lift its spirits. I feel like we all grit and grind together and not just us on the court but as a city together.”

– Jamaal Franklin “Mike (Conley) told me he hosted it a couple of times and it’s a big event. I’m happy I’m here for the first time to get to witness it myself and hopefully I stay with the Grizzlies and come enjoy it a lot more years.”

– James Johnson

“I’m enjoying the fans. I got a chance to mingle with a lot of great fans and people that support us. I think fundraising is always a good thing especially if it’s for a good cause.” – Courtney Lee

Stax Music Academy students performing at Staxtacular at the Stax Museum.

ENTERTAINMENT

Tri-State Defender

Page 8

January 23 - 29, 2014

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam’s Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

Ann Dowd and James Earl Jones in "Gimme Shelter" (Courtesy of Roadside Attractions)

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

For movies opening January 24, 2014

BIG BUDGET FILMS

“I, Frankenstein” (PG-13 for intense fantasy and pervasive violence) Adaptation of Mary Shelley’s monster classic re-imagined as a dystopian tale revolving around a reanimated corpse (Aaron Eckhart) caught up in a clash between demons and gargoyles. Cast includes Bill Nighy, Miranda Otto and Yvonne Strahovski.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

“Aatsinki: The Story of Arctic Cowboys” (Unrated) Lapland documentary chronicling a year-in-the-life of a family of reindeer herders. (In Finnish with subtitles)

“Enemies Closer” (R for sexuality, drug use, profanity and graphic violence) Action thriller about an ex-Navy SEAL (Tom Everett Scott) who joins forces with his mortal enemy (Orlando Jones) in order to avoid the clutches of a ruthless drug cartel searching for a missing shipment. With Jean-Claude Van Damme, Linzey Cocker and Zahary Baharov. (In Eng-

lish and French with subtitles)

“Gimme Shelter” (PG-13 for violence, profanity, drug use and mature themes) Coming-of-age drama about a troubled runaway (Vanessa Hudgens) who escapes her abusive mother (Rosario Dawson) to search for the long-lost father she’s never known (Brendan Fraser) only to end up pregnant in a homeless shelter. With James Earl Jones, Dascha Polanco and Stephanie Szostak.

“Knights of Badassdom” (R for violence, sexuality, drug use and pervasive profanity) Horror comedy about a motley group of liveaction role play gamers’ fight for survival after inadvertently summoning a demon from the depths of Hell. Co-starring Peter Dinklage, Steve Zahn and Summer Glau.

“Life Is Strange” (Unrated) Post-World War II documentary examining the struggle for self-identity experienced by Jewish survivors displaced by the Holocaust.

“Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America” (Unrated) Reverential biopic examining the enduring legacy of Mercedes Sosa (1935-2009), aka La Negra (“The Black One”), the Argentine folk singer who pioneered a progressive brand of music that in-

spired political upheavals in Portugal, Spain and South America. Featuring Milton Nascimento, Elba Bustelo and Luz Casenave. (In Spanish with subtitles)

“Run & Jump” (Unrated) Family drama, set in County Kerry, Ireland, about an anxious housewife’s (Maxine Peake) effort to rehabilitate her 38 year-old husband (Edward MacLiam) after a debilitating stroke with the help of a reassuring American doctor (Will Forte). With Sharon Horgan, Clare Barrett and Ciara Gallagher.

“Stranger by the Lake” (Unrated) Sexplicit homoerotic thriller revolving around a couple (Pierre Deladonchamps and Christophe Paou) enjoying a passionate, summertime affair at a secluded lakeshore in southern France who suddenly find themselves the prime suspects in the murder of an acquaintance (Francois Renaud Labarthe) also frequenting the popular, gay pickup spot. With Mathieu Vervisch, Gilbert Traina and Jerome Chappatte. (In French with subtitles)

“Visitors” (Unrated) Dialogue-free documentary, shot in black & white by Godfrey Reggio (Koyaanisqatsi) and scored by Philip Glass, insinuating that humanity has become increasingly mesmerized by technology.

HOROSCOPES

Jan. 23–29, 2014

ARIES At work, some matters have been on hold but now you will get the green light. Continue to work as diligently as you have been in the pass to ensure success. Have faith that your plans are on target.

TAURUS A message this week may necessitate travel on your part, and you may feel obligated to do something you don’t want to. Let the energy flow past you and do what you think is best.

Who you are is who you are – be glad about it!

GEMINI Use better judgment with regard to financial matters. Stop rationalizing. Money is important.

Do something about the fact that you might find yourself broke more often than you wish. Continuing to deny it will delay doing something about it.

CANCER This week make your spiritual interest pay off in cash. Enough of goodness for goodness sake.

You’ve got bills to pay. People expect generosity from a big hearted person like you. Ask them for something in return or they’ll drain you.

LEO Compromise to get what you want this week.

You’ll want to meet others half-way, and in the long run, you’ll get what you want anyway. You can afford to be gracious and giving. Do it with all your heart and soul.

VIRGO Money matters may seem a little unstable this week; postpone a shopping trip. On the plus side, however, your friends are unusually supportive and wonderful. You’ll enjoy conversations and being with another, especially after dark!

LIBRA Personal goals are important to you this week, and you’ll want to budget some time to spend on formulating plans for your brilliant future. Something that happens without your knowledge is going to prove to be a huge benefit. Enjoy your lucky streak!

SCORPIO Your straight-up attitude is going to come in handy this week. Plain talk is favored; keep it simple so others will understand where youre coming from. You’ll get a lot done if you stick to a plan this week.

SAGITTARIUS This is a good week to think about long-term plans. Your mind is clear and your vision of things to come will be lighted by your razorsharp instincts. All week long be careful not to sound too sarcastic when you tell people stuff that you know and they don’t.

CAPRICORN The clever way you think could expose you to an experience for you unlike any you’ve had recently. Move forward. Get into it. Don’t doubt your ability to handle it. Don’t let your mind get crowded with too much useless information.

Love is simpler than you think.

AQUARIUS If someone has told you that you are more mental than emotional, believe them. This week especially your mind will be working a mile a minute to make sure that what you feel is good for you to feel. Cover the mental processes with an emotional facade, but keep thinking about what is best.

PISCES Usually you’re not much for gambling. You like to investigate and make sure before you make your move. This week you are lucky.

Move on impulse. Follow your heart. Pay close attention to the love needs of your mate this week. The needs of children call.

Source: NNPA News Service

RELIGION

Tri-State Defender

New Cardinals from Africa and Haiti to help Pope serve the poor

(NNPA) – In a further step away from old traditions at the Va t i c a n , Pope Francis has named his first batch of cardiCardinal n a l s , Chibly choosing Langlois 19 men from Asia, Africa, the Philippines and Latin America, including the developing nations of Haiti and Burkina Faso.

The selection affirms Pope Francis’ belief that the church must pay more attention to the poor. His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, had chosen cardinals mostly from Western countries.

Sixteen of the appointees are younger than 80, and are eligible to elect the next pope.

They also serve as advisors to the Pontiff as he re-shapes the institution.

With his selections, the Pope rebalances the Euro-centered representation of countries by cardinals. The Philippines, for example, had just one cardinal representing about 75 million Catholics while the U.S., with roughly the same number of Catholics, had 11. Latin American, with 400 million Catholics and growing, had just 15 voting age cardinals, while Europe, where church attendance is falling sharply, had 57.

Among the newly appointed Cardinals is Chibly Langlois, the Bishop of Les Cayes and the first Haitian Cardinal in history. Cardinal Langlois held several leadership positions in La Vallee, Jacmel, taught pastoral theology, and continues to serve the diocese of Fort Liberte.

Newly appointed Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa of the Ivory Coast was ordained in 1971 and appointed Bishop of Gagnoa by John Paul II in 2001.

He places great importance on ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. Mgr. Kutwa is also a music composer.

Finally from Burkina Faso, the Archbishop of Ouagadougou, Philippe Nakellentuba Ouédraogo, was ordained in 1973 and appointed Bishop in 1996 of Ouahigouya, a diocese with both a men’s and women’s contemplative monastery.

In 2010, Ouédraogo was called by Benedict XVI to lead the Archdiocese of Ouagadougou, where he stood out for the work he did in one of Africa’s poorest countries.

(Special to the NNPA from the New York Amsterdam News)

Page 9

January 23 - 29, 2014

Grammy Award-winning artist Edwin Hawkins at the ʻAscap Presents: Morning Gloryʼ breakfast reception in Nashville, where he was presented with the Gospel Icon Award. (Photos: ASCAP/ Picture Group)

The crowd experienced myriad moments of spiritual joy at the ʻAscap Presents: Morning Gloryʼ breakfast reception in Nashville.

‘ASCAP Presents: Morning Glory’

Breakfast reception a Stellar Awards prelude

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) honored some of gospel music’s most prestigious names at the 5th annual ASCAP Presents: Morning Glory breakfast reception in Nashville at The Hutton Hotel last Saturday (Jan. 18th).

The breakfast, which is one of the premiere events leading up to the 29th annual Stellar Awards, honored Grammy Awardwinning artist Edwin Hawkins with the Gospel Icon Award, Tye Tribbett and Warryn Campbell with the newly-established

Tea–licious…

The Fifty-Sixth International Tea benefiting The LeMoyne-Owen College was held Sunday (Jan. 19th) at the Alma C. Hanson Student Center. The event was established to empower Baptist churches to raise money for the college and has expanded to include other faith organizations. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

Spirit of Song Award, as well as recognized other 2014 Stellar Awards nominees.

Hosted by Pastor Marquis Boone of Fresh Start Church (Duluth, Ga.), the breakfast also featured special performances by gospel powerhouse Tasha Cobbs, Grammy-nominated producer Chuck Harmony, and recording artists Jonathan McReynolds & Livre.

Media partners for the event were Aspire TV and UP TV.

Installation service…

Choir members from New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist, Hopewell Missionary Baptist and Grace Missionary Baptist churches combined to rock the house during the installation service of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association last Sunday (Jan. 19th) evening. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

Leadership…

All for LOC…

The Rev. Dr. Luther Williams (second from left) was installed as president and the Rev. Dr. Carl Greer (second from right) became vice president during installation services for the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association at the groupʼs headquarters at 591 East McLemore.

PRAISE CONNECT

Greater Galatian Missionary Baptist Church participated in this yearʼs International Tea, chosing China as its focus for the annual event benefiting The LeMoyne-Owen College.

-A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-

METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor

767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126

ASSOCIATE MINISTERS

901-946-4095 fax 948-8311

Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

SUNDAY Sunday School .....................8:30 am Morning Worship Service ....10:00am

WEDNESDAY Bible Study .........................10:30 am Mid-Day Prayer Meeting .....12 noon Evening Prayer Meeting........7:00pm

FRIDAY Cable Channel 17 ............... 8:00pm

Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

—Matthew 7: 1-2

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

—Phillipians 4:13

Page 10

Tri-State Defender

January 23 - 29, 2014

Page 11

January 23 - 29, 2014

Reflections of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday T

Gospel artist Rance Allen belts out a song during the MLK Commemorative Celebration at Mason Temple COGIC.

Kellogg workers helped fill Cane Creek Baptist Church during SCLC Memphis observation of Dr. King Day.

Beverly Robertson was one of several recipients of the “2014 Be the Dream MLK Legacy Awards” presented to her by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. Robertson is accompanied by her husband Howard Robertson.

Mayor A C Wharton Jr. encouraged all Memphians to “Be the Dream” during services honoring the legacy of Dr. King at historic Mason Temple Church of God in Christ, including these women, who proudly wore their Tʼshirts promoting the mayorʼs initiative, “Memphis Gun Down,” to end gun violence on the streets of Memphis.

he life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated across the United States on Monday, Jan. 20, the day Congress designated a federal holiday. The iconic civil rights leader would have turned 85 years old.

In Memphis, thousands participated in a number of commemorative events, including “Be the Dream Commemorative Celebration” at Mason Temple COGIC, Rainbow-PUSH Coalitionʼs 45th Annual Celebration of “The Life & Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” at Monumental Baptist Church, and SCLC Memphisʼs commemoration honoring Dr. King at Cane Creek Baptist Church.

Several Memphians were honored as well for their service and sacrifice, which embodies the work of Dr. King, including a special tribute to Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles, executive director of Rainbow-PUSH Memphis and one of Dr. Kingʼs closest allies; and Beverly Robertson, executive director of the National Civil Rights Museum, formerly the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was gunned down on April 4, 1968.

This photo page is a reflection of those events honoring one of this countryʼs greatest freedom fighters.

Photos: Tyrone P. Easley

The Rev. Dwight Montgomery, president of SCLC Memphis, delivers remarks during an MLK commemorative program at Cane Creek Baptist Church. Speakers included State Rep. John J. DeBerry (left), District Attorney Amy Weirich, Congressman Steve Cohen, Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell Jr., Memphs Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Mark Russell, general manager of The Commercial Appeal.

Enjoying the SCLC commemorative program at Cane Creek Baptist Church were Dr. David A. Hall (left), pastor of historic Temple Church of God in Christ; Bishop Edward H. Stephens Jr., pastor of Golden Gate Cathedral; and Roger Lawrence, president of Republic Services.

Honorees at the MLK Day Weekend observation sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, inc. Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter.

Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr., president of Rainbow-PUSH Coalition Memphis, shares the spotlight with “Legacy Award” honoree Beverly Robertson, executive director of the National Civil Rights Museum, and the Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles during a RainbowPUSH Coalition celebration honoring Dr. King at Monumental Baptist Church.

These community leaders were honored at the MLK Commemorative Celebration at Mason Temple COGIC.

State Rep. GA Hardaway presents an award to the Rev. Dr. Samuel “Billy” Kyles as State Rep. Barbara Cooper shows her appreciation for the civil rights icon.

Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles, accompanied by his wife Aurelia Kyles, was honored during Rainbow-PUSH Coalition Memphisʼ celebration honoring Dr. King at Monumental Baptist Church. WLOKʼs H. A. Gilliam, accompanied by his wife Dorrit, was one of the speakers.

Mayor A C Wharton Jr. gives remarks at the MLK Commemorative Celebration at Mason Temple COGIC.

Dr. James Netters, pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, is congratulated by former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton on receiving the “2014 Be the Dream MLK Legacy Award.”

Among the honorees of the “2014 Be the Dream MLK Legacy Awards” are civil rights activist Fred Davis (left), Aurelia Kyles, Father Don Mowery, former executive director of Youth Service Memphis; Dr. James Netters; National Civil Rights Museum president Beverly Robertson; Russell Sugarmon, judge and founder of the Shelby County Democratic Club; and Jocelyn Wurzburg, attorney and author of Tennesseeʼs Fair Employment Practices Law.

At Monumental Baptist Church, several speakers and attendees -- including State Rep. Ramesh Akbari (center) and State Rep. Barbara Cooper (right) -- listen intently as the life and legacy of Dr. King is celebrated during services sponsored by Rainbow-PUSH Coalition.

State Rep. Ramesh Akbari gives remarks during a Rainbow-PUSH Coalition cele- City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove speaks at the SCLC Memphis service at Cane Creek Baptist Church. bration honoring Dr. King at Monumental Baptist Church.

The Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles, pastor of Monumental Baptist Church and executive director of Rainbow-PUSH Memphis, took time out following the commemorative services honoring Dr. King to shake a young admirerʼs hand.

Notables at the SCLC Memphis tribute at Cane Creek Baptist Church.

CLASSIFIEDS

Page 12

January 23 - 29, 2014

Sealed bids will be received at the Office of the City of Memphis Purchasing Agent, Room 354, City Hall, 125 N. Main, Memphis, TN 38103, until 2:00 PM CT, Friday, February 14, 2014, for furnishing the City of Memphis with the following:

FOR THE DIVISION OF: PUBLIC WORKS City of Memphis RFQ # 3219 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF: PW04066 (SRTS Sidewalk Replacement for Rozelle Elem. on Roland and Willett Streets, Walker and Felix Avenues) Federal Project No.: SRTS-9409 (154) State PIN: 112320.00

Location(s): Roads adjacent to Rozelle Elem. School State Project No: 79LPLM – F3-209

1. The Prime Contractor and all Sub Contractors must pre-qualify with the Department of Transportation in accordance with Section 54-5-117 of the “Tennessee Code Annotated” and Tennessee Department of Transportation Rule 1680-5-3 prequalification of contractors before biddable proposals will be furnished.

2. The City of Memphis hereby notifies all bidders that a 40% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal has been set for this project and must be met or exceeded. All contractors identified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) must be on the Tennessee Uniform Certification Program (TNUCP) List at the time of the bid opening.

3. The City of Memphis hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation, and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex or disability in consideration for an award.

4. The City of Memphis is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drugfree with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service. For additional information contact Mary Bright, (901) 576-6553, City of Memphis, Contract Compliance Office, 125 N. Main St, Memphis, TN 38103 5. “Certification by each bidder must be made with respect to nondiscrimination in employment.”

6. A Bid Bond is required.

7. All bids must include, on the outside of the bid envelope, the name of the project, the bid due date and the bid opening

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Page 13

January 23 - 29, 2014

BRIEFS & THINGS NAACP Board Chair Brock to speak at AKA Event

Roslyn Brock, who made history in February 2010 when she was unanimously elected as the 14th Chairman of the NAACP, will deliver the keynote address at the Founders’ Day celebration of the Beta Epsilon Omega Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. The event takes place at Roslyn 3 p.m. Feb. 9th at First Brock Baptist Church-Broad, where the pastor is the Rev. Keith Norman, president of the Memphis Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Brock is the youngest person and fourth woman to hold the position of NAACP chairman.

A 30-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Brock was initiated into the Alpha Eta Chapter at Virginia Union University in the fall of 1984.

“We are so pleased and proud to have Roslyn visit Memphis and share this special time with the community,” said Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter President Cynthia BryantWelch.

Alpha Kappa Alpha is the nation’s first black sorority, founded in 1908. Beta Epsilon Omega was chartered in 1934 and has approximately 400 active members.

UTHSC Pharmacy dean nets 2014 Research Achievement Award

Dr. Marie ChisholmBurns, dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), is on a mission to “make a difference” in the lives and health of others through research, writing, clinical care and teaching.

Her efforts have been Dr. Marie recognized by the AmeriChisholmcan Pharmacists AssociaBurns tion (APhA), which has awarded her its 2014 Research Achievement Award.

“I am really passionate about what I do,” Dr. Chisholm-Burns said. “I like helping people accomplish their goals, and I like influencing and making a difference.”

Her numerous awards are “icing on the cake,” she said. “I certainly appreciate the recognition, but what makes me feel good is making a difference in individual lives. It also makes me feel good when people recognize that we’re making a difference.”

The APhA Research Achievement Award, which will be given in March at the APhA annual meeting, was established to recognize outstanding achievement in any of the pharmaceutical sciences. This year, for the first time in several years, it recognizes the clinical sciences.

Dr. Chisholm-Burns, who was appointed dean of the UTHSC College of Pharmacy in 2011, was nominated by colleagues at UTHSC, the University of Houston, the University of Arizona and the University of South Carolina. Prior to coming to UTHSC, she was professor and head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

KQ Communications grows; two new hires

Kingdom Quality Communications, a Vox Award-winning firm specializing in public relations, marketing and graphic art, has two new hires.

Yolanda Baptist-Green joins KQ Communications as an account executive, managing various clients in the areas of public relations, marketing and project management. She previously worked as an independent public relations consultant. Her resume includes work with local government agencies and several nonprofits, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as writing for publications such as The Commercial Appeal.

Baptist-Green holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Memphis, where she was inducted into the Pinnacle Honor Society. She is active in the community, volunteering as an adult tutor at Literacy Mid-South and as a radio personality at U92 FM. Christian Tate has been hired as staff web designer. She holds a B.S. in computer science and a B.S. in business administration (management information systems) from The University of Tennessee at Martin, where she joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Christian has worked for seven years as a web designer and consultant with Anointed Design and her portfolio includes developing websites for churches and businesses.

BRIEFLY: Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and his wife, attorney Ruby Wharton, are seeking nominations for the Ruby R. Wharton Award to honor exceptional women who have made outstanding contributions to the Memphis area.

The awards will be presented during the Twelfth Annual Tea and Talk at the Top on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Nomination forms available at www.memphistn.gov.

Deadline is 4 p.m. Jan. 24.

BRIEFLY: The Coordinator’s and Team Reception for Bowlin’ on the River, the Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon, will be from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6th at the DoubleTree by Hilton Memphis Downtown, 185 Union Ave. All coordinators and team captains RSVP by Jan. 31st! Reception sponsor: International Paper; Bowl-A-Thon sponsors: First Tennessee, Power & Tel.

The rear of the store is where the work begins, said Jackson, who checks with certified technicians James George (left) and Austin Vineyard on the progress theyʼre making on repairing a couple of customersʼ computers.

(Photos: Wiley Henry)

Computer store survives rough economy with a ‘smile and hug’ Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Wiley Henry

Tony Maurice Jackson was 22 when he landed a job as a technician at Arlington Computers, LLC in Arlington, Tenn. The year was 2007. Within a few months, the owner, Michael McDonald, offered Jackson a partnership.

Jackson had been looking for a job and possibly a career, but McDonald’s offer fueled his desire to become an entrepreneur. So when a friendship between Jackson and McDonald became evident, Jackson convinced McDonald that he could help grow the business.

The economy was tanking and three other computer stores in the area were forced to close their doors. But Arlington Computers was increasing its customer base and its nearest competitor, also located in Arlington, continued selling software, designing apps and developing websites.

McDonald would soon grow tired of holding the business together, Jackson said. “Mike and I had agreed that the computer business was changing. He wanted to kick back, but I wanted to take the company in a different direction.”

So, in 2012, Jackson bought out McDonald’s interest and continued steering Arlington Computers through the rough economy, Now, at age 29, Jackson and three certified technicians are poised to take Arlington Computers to another level. It is the go-to place for computer sales, in-store and onsite computer and laptop repairs, he said, including virus removal, data recovery and LCD screen repair.

The company even repairs phones and I-pads.

The customer base, Jackson estimates, is at least 75 percent residential and 25 percent business. Many are repeat customers he knows by name.

“We greet them with a hug and a smile,” he said.

Offering what he terms quality service and affordable prices, Jackson says, “We really do care about our customers. …We have a friendly customer-business relationship. And as long as our customers support us, we’ll definitely support our customers.”

Customers who live and work in Arlington file steadily through the doors. Just as many come from other cities throughout Shelby County, and as far away as Earle, Ark., said

Harry Spore, owner of SPM Real Estate in Arlington, Tenn., is a frequent customer at Arlington Computers and a friend of the storeʼs owner, Tony Maurice Jackson.

Jackson.

He’s also repairing computers remotely for a number of customers in the military.

“Our reputation is spreading,” he said. “And that’s because we are always willing to go the extra mile to serve and help people. It’s about integrity. It’s about trust. And we have a lot of both to go around. That’s why we’re succeeding.”

Community relations…

Jackson is endeared in the Arlington community of nearly 12,000 residents. With a thriving business environment that supports the city’s tax base, it is located approximately 20 miles from Memphis.

First opened in 2006, Arlington Computers is located in Arlington Shops at 11613 Hwy. 70 and Airline Rd. The store is stocked with computer products and robust signage is evident inside and above the façade. A computer mascot named “Harry” beckons customers inside.

Jackson gives back to the community. He’s awarded his customers with tickets to the circus, monster truck shows and basketball games at FedExForum featuring the University of Memphis, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Harlem Globetrotters.

“Back in the day we had a sign up to promote the business. But now we’re going all the way with TV advertising to increase traffic,” Jackson said. “It’s one of the ways we stay visible and on the minds of people.”

Visibility, he pointed out, is the key to staying afloat during a sluggish economy. “We are more visible now than we’ve ever been. We’re using social media as well and getting more involved in the community.

“Even though we’re making headway in the community in terms of visibility, we are looking forward to increasing our bottom line,” he said. “We want to make money of course, but it’s good business sense to keep the customer happy.”

What’s next for Jackson?

“I would like to retire at 40 and leave a legacy for my family,” said Jackson, an avid churchman who married the former Monica Rutherford in 2007. They have a 7-month-old son named Brennan.

“Of course, I’ll always be doing something after retiring.”

(Arlington Computers, LLC opens MondayFriday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The telephone number is 901-867-9262. The website address is www.arlingtontncomputers.com.)

Army-vet Easley saluted at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday Supper 2014

Tyrone P. Easley, a United States Army veteran, was honored for his local, regional and national service to the country at the 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday Supper.

Easley was tapped for the salute by Beta Epsilon Omega, Beta Tau (LeMoyne-Owen College), Epsilon Epsilon (The University of Memphis) and Mu Epsilon (Christian Brothers University) chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA).

A renowned humanitarian, photographer, entrepreneur and CEO of “The Photo Group,” Easley served in the Army from 1972 to 1974.

He was a SP4 Orderly Room Clerk.

The MLK Sunday Supper program opened with the Presentation of Colors by the Middle Baptist-Whitehaven Boy Scouts Troop 345.

Hostesses for the event were the Emerging Young Leaders, an AKA 6th through 8th grade leadership development program sponsored

by Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter.

During the program, special recognition was given to veterans from the five military branches (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine and Coast Guard), Prisoners of War, and others who served. Members of the sorority donated coats, hats and gloves to the Memphis VA Medical Center supporting the Global Leadership Through Timeless Service Economic Security Initiative.

Attendees and veterans received information from presenters on economic security.

The presenters were: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Clinton Vaughn Jr.; The University of Memphis-Veterans Resource Center, Joy Rogers Stout; Shelby

Pictured (l-r) are members of Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter – Paula Carr Jackson (MLK Sunday Supper co-chairman), Lashell M. Vaughn (MLK Sunday Supper chairman). Also pictured (l-r): Mayor AC Wharton Jr., Tyrone P. Easley (honoree), Cynthia Bryant-Welch (President), Stephanie Greer (1st vice president/program chairman), and Auta Boykins (program co-chairman). (Courtesy photo)

County Government Veterans Services, Joseph Kyles (Vietnam Army Veteran); the Memphis VA Medical Center, Vera Baskin Jones; and the American Legion/Boys Town, Major Nancy Byrd Harper (retired United States Army).

The Beta Epsilon Omega and Epsilon Epsilon (The University of Memphis) Chapters presented financial sponsorships to the American Legion for two young persons to participate in the annual summer signature project, Boys State/Girls State.

SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, January 23 - 29, 2014, Page 14

‘R&R on Sports’ brings ‘new views’to sports radio

T h e sports-radio landscape in the Memphis area has expanded with the debut of “R&R on Sports,” a Larry sports enRobinson tertainm e n t show that airs every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. o n WMFSFM, 92.9 ESPN. T h e one-hour Howard sports Robertson magazine show is co-hosted by Larry Robinson and Howard Robertson from whose common last name initial the show’s name derived.

Robinson is principal and managing partner of Lasting Perceptions, Inc., a marketing and branding firm with strong sports ties, including work with NBA-TV. Robertson is president/CEO of TRUST Marketing and the Spotset Radio Network. TRUST is one of Memphis’ largest public relations agencies and Robertson is a 40-year broadcast advertising veteran.

The show’s concept is pitched as unique in the sports radio landscape both locally and nationally.

“Two southern, AfricanAmerican men of different generations hosting a sports show doesn’t currently exist…anywhere,” said Larry Robinson, who conceived the program.

“We will offer definitive takes and often differing perspectives on the sports topics of the day.”

In a segment called Iconversation, Robinson and Robertson will also interview important sports athletes and personalities past and present.

Sports Byline USA, a San Francisco-based sports talk network with over 200 affiliates coast to coast, has linked up with the new show. Beginning in February, Sports Byline will broadcast the weekly program on its affiliates in a key Saturday time period.

“Memphis has historically led the way for innovative radio programming nationally,” said Robertson. “We will continue that proud tradition with this new style of sports programming.”

Ed Davis of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots over Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Grizzlies came up short, losing to the Pelicans 95-92.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Sports Legacy Award Symposium held at the FedExForum featured Legacy Award recipients (l-r) Jo Jo White, Dikembe Mutumbo and Bernard King. The moderator was the Grizzliesʼ play-by-play announcer Pete Pranica. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)

Dikembe Mutombo holds up his trophy after receiving the National Civil Rights Sports Legacy Award at halftime of the MLK game between the Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans at the FedExForum on Monday (Jan. 20th).

Grizzlies build on tradition with

MLK Celebration Day

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kelley Evans

The Grizzlies migrated to the Bluff City 12 years ago, intertwining the franchise’s history with the rich southern roots of Memphis. Each year since, the Grizzlies have hosted Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day at the FedExForum, honoring icons for their contributions to civil and human rights.

On Monday (Jan. 20), three more individuals were honored during an afternoon wrapped around the Grizzlies confrontation with the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Grizzlies hosted the 2014 event along with the National Civil Rights Museum, the City of Memphis and Shelby County. NBA Hall of Famer Bernard King and former NBA star JoJo White were presented with Ninth Annual National Civil Rights Sports Legacy Awards, courtesy of FedEx. Former NBA stalwart Dikembe Mutombo, a 2007 honoree who could not attend that year’s presentation because of bad weather and a canceled, also was on Bernard King waves to the crowd after hand to receive his tribute. receiving the National Civil Rights The day began with the Sports Legacy Award at halftime of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day MLK game between the Grizzlies and High School Classic, pre- the New Orleans Pelicans at the sented by C-Spire, with FedExForum on Monday (Jan. 20th).

Whitehaven High School and Ensworth High School from Nashville battling on the FedExForum court.

King, Mutombo and White also joined the Grizzlies’ television play-byplay analyst Pete Pranica for the annual Sports Legacy Symposium, presented by the Hyde Family Foundation. The three shared their stories and experiences dealing with racism and diversity in the NBA. The free symposium was held in the Coventry Health Care Practice Facility.

King said he was nine years old and a wedding reception when Dr. King was killed.

“My first memories would be certainly the ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ when

Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies scores over Jeff Withey of the Pelicans.

I was six years old,” King recalled. “The impact he’s had on this nation as a whole has inspired my life. I always believed through the teachings of my parents that anything was possible. That’s the foundation that was laid for me.

“But then when you look at the larger picture in terms of the larger world around you, the larger community around you, the larger culture around you and all that represents you, you realize that there are tremendous challenges you’re going to face. I faced those challenges…”

One of the most explosive scorers in his era, King poured in more than 19,000 points during his 14-year career and was a four-time NBA All-Star, as well as a two-time All-NBA first team member during his career.

White played for 12 seasons in the NBA, including a 10-year stint with the Boston Celtics in which he was a large part of two NBA Championship teams, and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1976. He was named to the NBA AllStar team in seven consecutive seasons (1971-1977).

One of the greatest post defenders in the history of the NBA, Mutombo sustained an 18-year NBA caFormer NBA star and Boston Celtics reer before retiring in 2009. great JoJo White talking about his civ- He was an eight-time Allil rights experiences during the Martin Star, as well as a four-time Luther King Jr. Day Sports Legacy NBA Defensive Player of the Award Symposium held at the FedEx- Year and a three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team Forum. member. A well-known humanitarian, Mutombo started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997.

“Dr. King continued to remind all of us the things that we need to do to be free,” Mutombo said, calling his award “a great honor. I’m very happy and very pleased just for the fact that I’ve been recognized and given a chance to receive the Dr. Martin Luther King award here in Memphis where he was killed.”

Following the symposium, the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award Ceremony began right before game tipoff. Country music legend Charley Pride sang the National Anthem and later performed during halftime.

James Johnson of the Grizzlies drives by former Memphis Tigers start Tyreke Evans of the Pelicans.

Pelicans ‘out-D’ Grizzlies

Special to the New Tri-State Defender

by Kelley Evans

With the FedExForum buzzing with energy from MLK Day events and the New Orleans Pelicans weighted by an eight-game losing streak, the Grizzlies laid an egg, dropping a 95-92 decision at the FedExForum on Monday (Jan. 20th).

It was the fourth straight

victory for the Pelicans over the Grizzlies Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies with 23 points and a game-high 20 rebounds, his first 20-20 game since December of 2012. Courtney Lee pitched in 19 points.

“We just have to keep playing,” Randolph said. “We have to get stops. Our defense was horrible tonight.”

The Grizzlies had a problem defending former Memphis

Tigers star Tyreke Evans at the rim. The Pelicans outscored the Grizzlies in the paint 4036 and led by as many as 10 points. Lee led all scorers by halftime with 10 points, finishing with 19 points. Marc Gasol pitched in 14.

In the third quarter, the match-up between Pelicans big man Anthony Davis and Randolph emerged as the two went toe-to-toe. Davis led all scorers, scoring 21 of his 27

points in the second half.

The Grizzlies have been known for late fourth-quarter presses that lead to victory but the pesky Pelicans would not bow down. Memphis committed 18 turnovers to the Pelicans’ 10. And while the Grizzlies came within two points (93-91) late, they could not catch the Pelicans.

“We are not going to play better until we play harder,”

said Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger. “We have to play harder, we have to run harder, we have to screen harder and we have to defend harder from the first minute of the game. We cannot try and wait until there are five or six minutes left in the game and try to go like crazy.”

The Pelicans’ Eric Gordon credited New Orleans’ defense.

Tayshaun Prince of the Grizzlies (left) and Courtney Lee defend Eric Gordon of the Pelicans as he drives to the basket. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)

“We knew they always go down to Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Randolph had a big game. They both did, but they both didn’t’ take over the game like that usually do. We just played really good defense.”

NOTE: The Grizzlies will play the Houston Rockets on Friday (Jan. 24th) in Houston and on Saturday at the FedExForum.