VOL. 62, No. 4
Obama II January 24 - 30, 2013
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins greets NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown. (Photo by Warren Roseborough)
www.tsdmemphis.com
75 Cents
MLK Day 2013 yields reflections, resolve Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kelley Evans
As the nation celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, the Memphis Grizzlies battled – and lost to – the Indiana Pacers. It was just a game – something that Lionel Hollins, the fiercely competitive head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies always tries to keep in perspective, even when the game is part of the Grizzlies annual salute to Dr. King and his legacy. “It is definitely a thrill, honor and privilege to be able to play on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and all that it means,” said Hollins. “The life of Martin Luther King Jr. is a big part of why we’re doing what we do; why we live and how we live as AfricanAmericans in general…. “As much as I love to compete and win, I keep it in perspective that it is a game,” said Hollins. “What he did – gave his life – we’re not giving our life out there for anything. We lost, but we didn’t lose our life. We’ll be able to fight again on Wednesday.” The Grizzlies 11th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day game tipped off at noon. By that time, many Memphis-area residents already had observed – or were in the midst of programs and events observing – the national salute. Some made early morning treks to the National Civil Rights Museum, which encompasses the old hotel site where Dr. King was killed on April 4, 1968. Others were involved in service projects dedicated to fulfilling the spirit of brotherhood embodied by Dr. King. And at places such as Monumental Baptist Church, civil rights veterans and community warriors were acknowledged for “giving back” without ever seeking personal reward. The Grizzlies honored three sports legends – NBA Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Patrick Ewing and NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown – during the annual tribute to Dr. King. They were recipients of the Eighth Annual National Civil Rights Sports Legacy Awards presented by FedEx. The award pays tribute to athletes who have made significant contributions to civil and human rights and who have laid the foundation for future leaders through their careers in sports in the spirit of Dr. King. Before players even arrived for work, fans were lined up for the Sports Legacy Symposium presented SEE MLK ON PAGE 2
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
H- 4 7o - L - 3 1o A.M. Sho wers
H- 4 7o - L - 3 4o Mostl y Cl o udy
H- 5 1o - L - 4 9o Cl o udy
REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Friday H-53 L-32 H-41 L-26 H-63 L-41
Saturday H-51 L-38 H-41 L-27 H-57 L-45
Sunday H-55 L-51 H-47 L-42 H-64 L-49
President Barack Obama waves from his limo, offering Inaugural Parade watchers at this site the only glimpse most would get of him after waiting for hours in chilly temperatures. (Photo by Christopher Hope)
From Memphis to DC and beyond, the day delivers Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Christopher Hope
INSIDE Obama calls America to action at Inaugural. See Page 12. Priceless reflections on female empowerment. See Entertainment, page 8.
WASHINGTON – Washington, D.C. wore a morning chill as an estimated one million people gathered to be a part of the 2013 Presidential inauguration and parade on Monday. I was among them, layered with the necessary clothing to keep warm. I drew very little comfort from the fact that the temperature was twice as high as it had been for the historic first inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009. The metro transportation system, city streets and security check points were congested with spectators eager for the day’s events – all a part of Obama II. There were no big displays of frustration with the process of getting through security checkpoints that had six lanes per block with thousands at each entry point. Those carrying big bags and folding chairs had two choices – leave them or take them back to the car and get back in line. To no surprise, there was a nice collection of goodies at the gates. Once inside, you could feel the excitement and adrenaline as peo-
President Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president (2nd term). (Pool photo)
ple rushed to position themselves to get a view of the 44th president on the parade route. Music played over loud speakers, helping to ease the eight-hour wait along. Yes, eight, long, standing hours of waiting. The music featured a variety of music artists, with Stevie Wonder SEE OBAMA ON PAGE 12
- INSIDE -
Stellar Awards shine on amid business, music and praise
• Ida B. Well’s name doesn’t belong in the Forrest Park mess. See Opinion, page 4. • Isaac Hayes is ‘Unsung.’ See Community, page 11. • Tigers’ win blunts troubling pattern. See Sports, page 10.
Real Times News Service
by Tony Jones
The 2013 Annual Stellar Awards will be remembered as a zenith event in the growth of the gospel music industry. From inception to exit strategy, the show was terrifically executed in true glitterati style. This year’s 28th edition unfolded on Saturday (Jan. 19) and was broadcast live for the first time from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, a fitting choice. In the same way that the country music industry has become its own arena-filling powerhouse genre, gospel has grown into a commercial powerhouse, with marketing rivaling the best of the R&B and hiphop markets – sans the vulgarity. More than 140 markets signed on
Mary Mary and Kirk Franklin (Chevrolet courtesy photo)
and streamed the Stellars live on the web. That interest meshed, of course, with commentary on industry and fan blogs, Facebook pages, tweets and email support. Co-hosting with fellow industry leader Kirk Franklin, sibling duo Mary Mary’s five award-winning moments were among the night’s highlights on stage. Marvin Sapp’s aptly titled “I Win” equaled their
total as the big statuette garnerers for the night. Special awards were given to Kurt Carr, as the recipient of the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award, and to Bishop T.D. Jakes, who received the Thomas Dorsey Notable Achievement Award (sponsored by Chevrolet). SEE STELLAR ON PAGE 2
Mr. Chuck
• ‘Mr. Chuck’ had a way with children. See Community, page 11.
NEWS
Page 2
Tri-State Defender
January 24 - 30, 2013
MLK
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
T.D. Jakes and his daughter
Stellar Award winner Pastor Charles Jenkins (Chevrolet courtesy photos)
Sean Pennington (Photo by Tony Jones Ink!)
STELLAR
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Unless they decided to give away free Corvettes (the new C7 is the talk of the industry), Chevrolet couldn’t have chosen a better weekend to highlight their diversity outreach. The Stellars coincided with First Lady Michelle Obama’s birthday and led into President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, which was held on Dr. Martin Luther King Day.
The real action
The Stellar Awards are the polished face for a revenue-driven industry. The real action is behind the scenes, where deals are discussed, doors opened and where upcoming talents network the showcases, seminars and confabs in their push to become to become “the next…” Following Friday’s daylong pre-show activities, Terrance Zachary, the president for the recently established indie label NuJeru Music Group, said the BMI luncheon is always the highlight for him. “It’s where you can let your hair down and just get caught up with everybody,” he said. Zachary’s out to write his own success story after a rewarding experience with industry major Bow Tie World Music (based in Nashville) and its main act, Wess Morgan. “I was with Bow Tie World from 2010 to 2012. I worked with a ton of artists there, Wess of course being the best known. Billboard voted us one of the top ten labels in 2010 and 2011 and I’m praying to be half as successful on my own,” said Zachary. “Working with Wess taught me a lot, seeing the work that was done in him getting to where he is now, and remaining humble along the way.”
When the break comes
Detroit’s Tabitha Goodman, part of the artists’ support team, had myriad duties during the Stellar Awards weekend, including chaperoning the schedule of the Chrysler Corporation Choir, now known throughout the nation after being featuring in several commercials for the company. The choir was featured at several pre-show events. In between, she explained her own networking goal. “What I’m trying to do, and what I tell others like me that are here to do the same, is brand yourself to be ready when the break comes,” said Goodman. “For instance, the main person I’m trying to connect with is one of the top radio charters in the industry, who places a lot of music on the air. She has 38 Stellar nominations, represents
Hallelujah FM 97.5 deejay Tracy Bethea and associates arrive for the Stellars. (Photo by Tony Jones Ink!)
all of the artists nominated for Song of the Year and seven Grammys just this year. Just getting her ear would be a major plus.”
‘Here with God’s people’
The closing highlight of the pre-show day was a service led by industry legend Pastor Hezekiah Walker, who presented the award to New Artist of the Year LeAndria Johnson. Heading back to his hotel room afterwards to rest up for the big day, Walker’s representative, Sean Pennington, offered insight from his decade-plus work managing a major industry figure via his company Flipside Entertainment (which also represents the Wess Morgan). “Pastor Walker was really excited to present the New Artist award because he loves to see young people succeed in any endeavor, praise God,” said Pennington. “I like being here to see people that may not be winners out front yet but are winners at heart be made known to the world, and to get to know others with similar interests. Just the opportunity to be here with God’s people doing good is a win.”
‘Step up our game’
In entertainment, crunch time is called “Day Of,” and nearly every conversation kicks off with “It’s Day Of,
so…” For the Stellars, “Day Of” presented several optional events, the most important being a conference for radio media. Totally thronged, a perfect example of smart marketing was the currently unknown and New Yorkbased Livre, who had a full display on the event floor, positioning them to appear like a major. Another smart thing they did was to have door hanger flyers made and placed on room doors at the hotels where the industry players were staying. “We just work hard,” manager Craig Towns said. “We planned everything this year around the Stellars. We’ve been here several times now and knew we had to step up our game.” After the radio meet, all on board repaired to the hotels to breathe and change for the night. As the crowd thronged in, Michael Adrian Davis, air personality for the Memphis gospel arm of the powerful Clear Channel Group, summed it all up. “It’s the industry Grammys, and because it’s now a live broadcast, it makes it even more important,” said Davis. “But it’s really higher than that because of the message of the music. Praising God is always most important.” (Tony Jones reported this story for Real Times News Services’ Memphis outlet, The New Tri-State Defender.)
by the Hyde Family Foundation. The symposium featured the honorees, who shared personal stories and experiences about their contributions to civil and human rights. Before taking the stage, each spoke at a media session. Brown, 76, said he knew the importance of being in Memphis. “Memphis is going to always be known based on Dr. King and consciousness of the civil rights movement,” said Brown, who many consider the greatest runner of all time. “You have media that is here today because corporate America and the Memphis Grizzlies have the consciousness of recognizing this particular day and doing something about it, which is fantastic. It’s great to be here and to be recognized for some of my work.” In the 60’s, Brown helped create the Negro Industrial Economic Union to support black-owned businesses. In the 80’s, he started the AmerI-Can program, a national program and movement to empower individuals to take charge of their lives and achieve their full potential. He envisioned Amer-I-Can Foundation as a way to not only stop the violence, but to teach troubled people self-pride and personal responsibility.
Elgin Baylor
Patrick Ewing
Ewing explained that he’d left the presidential inauguration to fly to Memphis for the King Day ceremony. “I’m blessed to be here and I’m honored to receive this award,” said Ewing, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. “All the things that Dr. King fought for is here. We’ve come a long way but we still have a long way to go.” Baylor, one of the best allaround players in basketball history, played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers (now the Los Angeles Lakers). As an African-American player who lived and played during the time of segregation, Baylor has seen and overcome his share of injustices and he drew upon those experiences in his reflections.
The players reflect
“It was an unbelievable cast of guys honored today that we all are able to look up to. They are all idols in my eyes. It was
just phenomenal to look up and see those guys on the floor before the game.” – Mike Conley, Grizzlies “Obviously this is my first time playing on Martin Luther King Day in Memphis, which brings even more meaning to me, especially since this is the city he was assassinated at. It’s an honor to be able to play on this day. He was a great man who did a lot for us, especially the black community.” – Wayne Ellington, Grizzlies “This is the time where people have an opportunity to reflect on certain sacrifices that Dr. Martin Luther King made and his example of leadership and courage. It is something that rings true today in our society. What we do does not hold a can of water to what someone like him and others have accomplished in their lives. We try to keep that in perspective and understand that every opportunity we have to pay homage to an ancestor.” – David West, Pacers “It is the best spot to be for a holiday like this. It was a great ceremony to open the game. It is definitely a pleasure to be a part of.” –Paul George, Pacers
NOTE: The Grizzlies were back at work Wednesday night defending home court at the FedExForum against the Los Angeles Lakers.
NEWS
Tri-State Defender
Page 3
January 24 - 30, 2013
Susan Taylor to issue call for mentors Keynote speaker for Memphis CARES
Mentors, mentees and their supporters will celebrate mentoring in Memphis at the Memphis Education Association Building at 126 Flicker St., on Saturday. The event will mark the 5th anniversary of the Memphis CARES Mentoring Movement. In addition to the presentation of mentoring awards, Susan Taylor, the founder of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, will deliver a call to action on behalf of mentoring for the community’s children. Mayor AC Wharton Jr. and his wife, attorney Ruby Wharton, are scheduled for the program, which also will feature the participation of Calvin Anderson, senior vice president and chief of staff, Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Tennessee, and Kym Clark, Morning News anchor and WMC-TV5. The Memphis Cares Mentoring Movement was established in 2007 when Sheila FlemmingSusan Hunter, founder Taylor and president of The Black Rose Foundation for Children sought Taylor’s assistance from the national organization, then located in Atlanta with a half dozen affiliates. Today there are 60 affiliates. “Mentoring is all about caring,” says Tayor. “It’s caring enough to commit just one hour a week to advise and help a vulnerable young person. I
hope Memphians will increase their commitment by coming out to the celebration so they can volunteer to be mentors.” Willie Brooks, chairman of the Board of Directors of Memphis CARES, said this year the local group will use the celebration event to, in part “share information about the relationship of gun violence among young people and the absence of mentors in their lives.” Each year the organization focuses recruitment activities on areas where there is high need. In 2013, the recruitment will be focused on the Memphis CARES Advance to 18 Mentoring Program, which focuses on foster children 13 to 18 years old, that is coordinated by South Memphis Alliance. The annual awards include four categories of recognition: institution, individual, corporate and a couple.
The nominees for the Imani (Faith) Mentoring Award include: Charjean Elementary School – “I Am Charjean Mentoring Program”; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Memphis Alumni Chapter – “Guide Right ProgramKappa Days of Caring”; and Memphis Public Library and Information Center – “Real Men Read Volunteers” The nominees for the Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) Mentoring Award are: Virgie Banks (FII, Project AWARE Mentoring Program); Whitney Brown (MIFA College Offers Opportunities for Life (COOL) Program); Charlotte Harris (FII, Project AWARE Mentoring Program); Mento Harris – Partners in Alliance Needing Others (P.I.A.N.O.); Joseph M. Long – (Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Memphis Alumni ChapterLeadership League of Memphis); Lori Love (Memphis City Schools CON-
NECT Program); A.L. Nance (FII, Project AWARE Mentoring Program); Howard Strelsin (MIFA COOL Program); C. Joy Turner (MIFA COOL Program); and Jeremiah Watson (Repairing The Breach Mentoring Program) The nominees for the Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) Corporate Mentoring Award are ServiceMaster, Inc. and Nike, Inc. And, the nominees for the Mayor AC and Attorney Ruby Wharton Mentoring Award are Marvin Mims and Nathaniel Landau – Memphis City Schools CONNECT Program; and Matthew and Nina Thornton – Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association. The free event is sponsored by Memphis CARES, the African American Network at FedEx, the Mayor’s Office Gun Violence Prevention Project and The Black Rose Foundation for Children.
Page 4
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Don’t put Ida B. Wells’ name in that park mess
Being a life long Memphian, I have passed Forrest Park and the huge statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest on Union Avenue hundreds of times without stopping. Why would I stop? Since when has the history of a man riding on a horse ever meant anything good for an African American? Neither was I prompted to entertain the revelation of the horse’s rider, and this despite the local news media’s recent swarm to the statue. The other day I was caught midchannel flipping as I came across a direct descendant of Mr. Forrest speaking of how he was upset that someone had moved the statue’s marker from the park. Still, nothing registered. I flipped on. Later, I learned that City Councilman Myron Lowery had proposed that we place a marker of Ida B. Wells in this same park to calm tensions related to the presence of the Forrest statue. And there my mind went, registering an alert that sounded like a large commercial vehicle when it’s in reverse – beep, beep, beep. Yeah, let’s go back because I knew of Ida. B. Wells; a terror with her pencil for racial injustice to say the least. So after much research I found out that – among other titles – Nathan Bedford Forrest was The Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Now I am sure that Mr. Lowery has to be privy to the background of both parties mentioned. How else could he make the suggestion? Of course, the proposal makes no sense. That bothers me, as it seems to me that many of our elected officials – for the most part – don’t directly reflect how we really are. Think about it. Divorce, removing membership from a church, a new car, shady family members, lazy lawn care specialist, beauticians that talk too much, barbers that cut too slow, or deacons that pray too long – Memphians will remove or replace you. So why is right, good or not entertaining wrong so hard for our leaders to do once they get behind the desk. I’m not even thinking about why the marker was moved, who cares? I’m looking at the root of the issue and that is this: What public officials allowed the park and statue to exist in the first place. It is a beaming symbol of hate. Yet it passed the sniff test amongst “city leaders.” Let’s peep in on Mr. Forrest’s life on April 12, 1864. Here’s what digging unearthed: General Forrest led his Confederate forces in the attack and capture of Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River in Henning, Tenn. Over 300 African American Union Troops were killed in the battle. A controversy arose about whether Forrest conducted or condoned a massacre of African Americans who had surrendered there. Many Southern Newspapers (Remember we’re talking 1864 Southern newspapers) stated that, “General Forrest BEGGED them to surrender but they did not.” Other sources say those statements were contradicted by Union survivors. In one instance, a contraction is attributed to a Confederate soldier named Achilles Clark, a sol-
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
OPINION
Tri-State Defender
January 24 - 30, 2013
dier with the 20th Tennessee cavalry. In a letter to his sister after the battle, Clark reportedly wrote this: “The slaughter was awful. Words cannot describe the scene. The poor deluded, neKelvin groes would run Cowans up to our men, fall on their knees and with uplifted hands scream for mercy but were ordered back to their feet and then shot down. I and others tried to stop the butchery and at one time had partially succeeded but General Forrest ordered them shot down like dogs and the carnage continued. Finally our men became sick from all of the blood and the firing ceased.” Now consider this about Ida B. Wells-Barnett: Born into slavery, she was an African-American journalist and newspaper editor and an early leader in the civil rights movement. She hated lynching and documented it, detailing its use use to control or punish blacks who competed with whites. She was active in the women’s rights and the women’s suffrage movement, establishing several notable women’s organizations. In her writings and lectures, it’s said that Wells-Barnett was highly sophisticated in making arguments that prevented people from dismissing her claims as biased or untrue. She lectured nationally and internationally. A college graduate of Fisk University, she was hired in Woodstock for the Shelby County school system in 1883. When she was 24 she wrote this: “I will not begin at this late day by doing what my soul abhors; sugaring men, weak deceitful creatures, with flattery to retain them as escorts or to gratify a revenge.” With just these few examples in mind, I can’t see where Councilman Lowery got the idea to make parkmates of Nathan Bedford Forrest and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. From which spring do ideas such as this from our city leaders burst through. It’s this kind of reasoning that led to things such as the surrendering of the Memphis School Board, the long vacancy of the Pyramid, a defunct Mid-South Coliseum and the destruction of Liberty Land A rewritten adage seems appropriate here: “We won’t be able to see Ida B. Wells because of the Forrest.” In preparation for this commentary, I stopped by the park, where I encountered the Rev. Andrew Singleton, pastor of Perfecting Life Church of God in Christ. I’ll let him sum things up. “When I was a college student I had to write a paper on Nathan Bedford Forrest and he was a horrible man,” said Singleton. “So today I brought my kids (ages 5, 2, 1) to this statue so that I can show them that there are good and bad people in this world and the bad one’s don’t deserve statues.”
(You can reach Kelvin Cowans at (www.kelvincowans@hotmail.com.) DISTRIBUTION: Tri-State Defender is available at newsstands, street sales, store vendors, mail subscription and honor boxes throughout the Greater Memphis area. No person may, without prior written permission of the Tri-State Defender, reprint any part of or duplicate by electronic device any portion without written permission. Copyright 2013 by Tri-State Defender Publishing, Inc. Permission to Publisher, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. Back copies can be obtained by calling the Tri-State Defender at (901) 523-1818, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
How can teachers be effective in a system that doesn’t value them?
The Teacher Effectiveness Initiative has become the most recent attempt and buzz word for the privatization and corporate takeover of public education. The broader question that remains unanswered and unaddressed is school-wide and community effectiveness! Those who are in control and who have the financial backing will maintain they have no control over the system and the conditions under which our students live; they have identified and targeted teachers as the single most important and crucial element in the public school system. Therein, everything that is wrong with public education is addressed by blaming teachers. The term “Teacher Effectiveness” sounds great and is great; however, how effective can a teacher become within an ineffective system that does not value teachers nor listen to the voice and concerns of teachers. Teachers do not make the rules; teachers do not decide the curriculum; teachers do not establish educational policy/laws; teachers do not support the over reliance on testing students; teachers clearly do not support Tennessee’s added-value model (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System) as a means of codifying students nor teachers. We believe that if given the opportunity, adequate community, school administrative and parent support, we could improve student achievement and the quality of life for all children. Under the banner of “Teacher Effectiveness” and Race to the Top, our teacher evaluation model has included TVAAS as 35 percent of every teacher’s evaluation, with an additional 15 percent as student
achievement; this places student data as 50 percent of every teacher’s evaluation. The real issue is what is TVAAS? What we know is that it is not a scientifiKeith O. cally acceptable Williams algorithm or standard for measuring student growth or teacher impact because it is a projection growth model reeked with flaws and discrepancies that no one has analyzed properly. We believe that the most effective way to measure a teacher’s impact on student achievement is to assess students with pretests and post-tests as is the practice in Florida and New York. Further, if the purpose of an evaluation system is to improve teachers, it must contain quality and timely feedback, professionally developed growth plans, adequate support and competent and varied observers. The esteemed Transition Planning Commission, along with the Transition Steering Committee and Gates operatives, have recommended and support gutting incentives for teachers to pursue and receive additional pay for advanced degrees. According to the MET (Measure of Effective Teaching) study commissioned by Gates, there is no correlation between the student achievement of teachers with advance training and those with minimum qualifications. Again, this is a brainless concept that would only allow the district to
restrict teacher salaries at the peril of undermining this profession and decreasing student effectiveness. The findings of the MET project are suspect at best! You must know that initially, teachers were compensated to participate in this study. It does not address the various methods of added value used in the seven districts. It does not identify the demographics of each district’s population used in the study. It does not address leadership effectiveness and the quality of the observers. It does not reference professional development for teachers. It contains no validity to its findings, its weighting of multiple-measures or its finding that student data should count up to 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation. The only MET findings that I am in total concert with are the importance of multiple measures and the validity of content knowledge for teaching. The MET report states, “Teachers shouldn’t be asked to expend effort to improve something that doesn’t help them achieve better outcomes for their students. If a measure is to be included in formal evaluation, then it should be shown that teachers who perform better on that measure are generally more effective in improving student outcomes.” The content knowledge tests studied by the MET project did not pass their validity test because the teachers who performed better on the test were not substantively more effective in improving student achievement.
(Keith O. Williams is president of the Memphis Education Association.)
My life is a testament to Rep. DeBerry
In 1978 a New Jersey-born and California-raised kid landed in Tennessee. I was a deceitful, recovering heroin addict and a school dropout, thief and former childhood runaway when I met The Honorable Lois M. DeBerry in Crossville, Tenn. at the Annual Legislative Retreat of The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators. Rep. DeBerry transformed this stranger through increased exposure and raised expectations. She invited me to join her at public and private meetings with leaders in Tennessee and across America. Folks were not reluctant to say, “You ain’t from around here!” Or ask, “Who are you?” “How did you get here?” Rep. DeBerry encouraged me to stay in school, register to vote, study issues and dare to dream. Intensely mission-focused and purpose-driven, she believed in me. I took her support and encouragement to heart. I was a student at the University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville then. I registered to vote and began registering people to vote. Knoxville’s unjust electoral system led me to help establish Citizens for Fair District Representation. I joined The Afro-American Student Liberation Force to ask The UT Board of Trustees to divest itself of its holdings in corporations doing business in South Africa. In 1979, three students were arrested for protesting. In 1980, eighteen students were also arrested. During
this struggle, two UT administrators nearly died – one had a heart attack, the other collapsed. Rep. DeBerry happened to be in Knoxville and saw us on the evening news. David Along with C. Mills Reps. Clarence Robinson of Chattanooga and Harper Brewer of Memphis, Rep. DeBerry came to campus that night and brought us dinner. Around midnight, she summoned UT Rep. Lois M. K n o x v i l l e Chancellor Jack DeBerry Reese to a meeting. The issues went unresolved, yet Chancellor Reese honored Rep. DeBerry’s request: respect our right to protest for right, guarantee our safety, and restore power and water. I witnessed Rep. DeBerry’s strong and active faith speaking to power on our behalf, and our nation’s most cherished ideals and principles. Years later, I was elected to political office. I also led a statewide voter registration effort that paced
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the nation registering new voters. Today, I am the father and husband of five children and seven grandchildren. Rep. DeBerry is The Founder of The Annual Legislative Retreat (1975); Founding Member of The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (1977); President Emeritus of The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (1999); Speaker ProTempore Emeritus of The Tennessee General Assembly (2011); and chairman of the board of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, which is comprised of every major state legislative leader in America. On Jan. 8, 2013, Speaker ProTempore Emeritus DeBerry was sworn in for her 20th term: she is the longest serving Speaker Pro-Tempore in Tennessee; the longest-serving member in The 108th Tennessee House of Representatives, and the longest-serving woman in the Tennessee General Assembly’s history. Speaker DeBerry is a devoted public servant known all over the world – especially among the powerful. Less well known is that a foundation of her call to serve is her dedication and devotion to young people. I keep her picture on my desk. Every day I thank God that Madame Chairman, Speaker and President DeBerry entered my life when I was lost, confused, rejected and abused. (David C. Mills is associate director, State Policy and Legislative Affairs, Vanderbilt University.)
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BUSINESS
Tri-State Defender
Allied Health Sciences open house at UTHSC
Gina Neely, the co-host of “Down Home with the Neelyʼs,” recalled how she and her husband, Pat, rose from owning and operating a local barbeque restaurant to co-hosting a cooking show that ranks the highest in the history of the Food Networkʼs “In the Kitchen.” (Photo by Wiley Henry)
Panel shares secrets to owning, operating a successful business Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Wiley Henry
A woman attending a business symposium at Bethlehem Baptist Church wanted to know how she and her husband could prosper their small family-owned business in the Hollywood community in North Memphis, although neither one has been paid a salary in five years. Natasha Donerson, CEO of Success Unlimited, a coaching and consulting firm serving businesses throughout the world, took the question and asked the woman about location, number of employees, how long she and her husband had been in business, their product, and whether they’d consider moving. “I like the community we’re in,” the woman replied. She also pointed out that the business wasn’t profitable enough to pay the two a salary. “It’s good that we have another source of income.” Donerson, one of six panelists offering business tips and strategies, also provided direction, consultation and technical support to more than 50 new and upcoming business owners attending (on Jan. 12) the first of three business symposiums called “Controlling How The Cookie Crumbles: Educating and Empowering Entrepreneurs.” A second symposium was held Wednesday night at Bloomfield Full Gospel Baptist Church and a third is set for Breath of Life Christian Center on Feb. 9.
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January 24 - 30, 2013
Sponsored by The Carter Malone Group, other top-notch entrepreneurs and business owners on the panel included Nita Black, president/CEO of MAP Momentum; Alandas Dobbins, director of the Memphis Office of Resources and Enterprise (MORE); Cynthia Norwood, managing director of alt.Consulting; and Deidre Malone, president/CEO of The Carter Malone Group. Gina Neely, the co-host of “Down Home with the Neely’s,” which debuted in 2008 on the Food Network channel, was the featured speaker. Just as perky as she is on TV with her husband Pat, Neely recalled how they rose from owning and operating a local barbeque restaurant to co-hosting a cooking show that ranks the highest in the history of the Food Network’s “In the Kitchen.” “You never know who’s looking at you, because the opportunity may not arise again,” said Neely, noting that it was just by happenstance that the Food Network called and asked the Neelys if they’d consider hosting a cooking show. Neely said they parlayed that initial opportunity into a careerbooster that elevated their celebrity as well as spinoff opportunities, such as a three-book deal, the opening of Neely’s Barbecue Parlor in New York, the release of a cookware line on QVC in March, and the firstever celebrity face to be associated with the George Foreman Grill, “Look like a Knockout Challenge.” Neely packaged her message of transitioning from one level
of business to reaching a plateau that has exceeded her wildest imagination. She added that it was her inquisitiveness, ability to negotiate, and the outside-the-box thinking that propelled her and her husband. The panelists offered various ways to achieve business success. “You have to have a healthy balance and be strategic,” Donerson explained. One must develop a business plan and work from a solid foundation, Black told the inspiring business owners and entrepreneurs. Networking is just as important too, she said. “There are a plethora of resources,” said Dobbins, giving participants a synopsis of MORE’s mission. The playing field, however, has not always been level for women over the years, she said. Launching a business without capital is very difficult to do, Norwood said, noting that alt.Consulting, which she manages in Memphis, is a non-traditional lender that provides cash-strapped businesses with small, affordable loans. After a thoroughly executed business plan is implemented and the business is infused with capital, Malone said it is vitally important to market the business using earned media – news releases, Constant Contact, op-eds, etc. – and social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogging, etc. A website is also vital to business success, Malone said. “If you don’t have a website, you won’t be taken seriously.”
For college-age students, the thought of looking for a job in this economy is almost scary. But for college students with degrees in health care fields, employment opportunities remain strong. On Feb. 22, the College of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) is hosting an open house for prospective students from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The college is searching for prospective students with required college-level prerequisites for its next classes in dental hygiene, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cytotechnology, histotechnology, medical technology, and health informatics and information management. Located on the sixth floor of the 930 Madison Avenue building, the open house will provide information to individuals interested in learning more about educational programs for careers in allied health. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. These category descriptions help amplify the opportunities: Dental hygienists provide preventive and therapeutic services for the control of oral diseases. Physician assistants support physicians and patients in offices, clinics and many other health care settings. Physical and occupational therapists provide the majority of rehabilitation services to patients. Cytotechnologists, histotechnologists and medical technologists prepare lab samples and monitor clinical laboratory tests. Health information management professionals are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality of patient
records, as well as being kept abreast of reimbursement rules and regulations. During the open house, prospective students will have the opportunity to talk with UTHSC Allied Health Sciences faculty and students, tour teaching labs, and meet with representatives from the financial aid and admissions departments. College-level prerequisite coursework is required prior to admission for all UTHSC Allied Health Sciences pro-
grams.
(For more information about a career in an allied health profession, visit the: www.uthsc.edu/allied. To R.S.V.P. for the open house or for more information, call 901-448-5581 or e-mail ahcareers@uthsc.edu. Interested parties may also contact Justin R. Casey, coordinator of administration in the UTHSC College of Allied Health Sciences, at 901-4481654.)
BUSINESS
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Tri-State Defender
January 24 - 30, 2013
LIVING WELL 101
Tips for a modern resume by Delores Dean, Ph.D.
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Economic downturn and declining job forecasts can paint a dismal picture of the future. A resume must paint a better picture in five areas to showcase an applicant as the ideal candidate. The modern resume tells an interesting and quality story about a person’s life experiences through its appearance and by highlighting professional objectives, academics, leadership skills and special talents.
Appearance
Warning: your resume must grab an employer’s attention without being offensive. Start by using quality resume paper with simple colors like white or beige. Today, most resumes are sent electronically. Scanning a document printed on colored paper can make it difficult to read if the employer prints a hard copy (on a black ink only printer). Avoid fancy boxes and other decorative symbols that distract the reader. Use an appealing layout that is neat with an easy-to-read font.
Professional objective
There is a tendency for applicants to write broad objective statements to avoid making themselves less marketable to
serve in different capacities. The assumption is that being specific about your interests communicates limited ambition or a narrow job focus. Yet, “seeking employment in a position that allows for personal growth and professional development…” is so broad that it becomes meaningless. Such a statement can communicate that an applicant is unsure of themselves and their career goals. Keep it simple, succinct, and specific enough that the objective fits the position description. This means this part of your resume will change with each position. Also, remember to use words that are used in the profession you are applying.
Academic
Recent college graduates should include the degree, university and dates in the next section. Be sure to note your grade point average (GPA) if above a 3.00; employers often equate GPAs with how serious you will be about a job. List academic honorary awards or society memberships. Also include any notable achievements that indicate significant brainpower, which many employers look for during the hiring process.
Leadership
Corporate recruiters are seeking individuals who have demonstrated leadership skills. High school students
A resume that showcases an applicant as the ideal candidate is a key tool at job fairs. (Photo: CNN/Paul Vercammen)
can include leadership positions like the captain of the football team or president of the National Honor Society. College students should join and list clubs and activities related to their degree or the job position. Professionals should list committee chair work or civic work. Be sure to state your responsibilities and duties along with positive results. For example, the statement “Implemented form for reporting daily tasks with 100 percent increase in staff production” makes your leadership capabilities sound exciting and beneficial.
MONEY MATTERS
A backup plan for the unexpected As people work longer, they often carry major financial responsibilities, such as mortgages and college loans, into their later y e a r s . Someone who has high medical expenses or a spouse who no longer Charles Sims Jr., CFP works may have to shoulder a heavier load than a younger person. If you’re still working, have you considered what might happen if you were suddenly unable to earn a paycheck as the result of an illness or injury? Would you have to dip into your retirement savings to pay bills? Could you afford your medical expenses if you lost your income?
Although most people would prefer not to think about the possibility of being disabled, the odds might surprise you. A 50-year-old has a 36 percent chance of experiencing at least one long-term disability (lasting 90 days or more) before age 65. Nine out of 10 disabilities are caused by common illnesses and health conditions such as back problems rather than by injuries.
Replacing your income
If an illness or injury resulted in your being unable to work, an individual disability income insurance policy could help replace a percentage of your income, up to the policy limits. Benefits may be paid for a specified number of years or until you reach retirement age. Some policies pay benefits if you cannot work in your current occupation; others
might pay only if you cannot work in any type of job. If you pay the premiums yourself with after-tax dollars, benefits are usually free of income tax. Your employer may offer long-term disability coverage, but group plans typically don’t replace as large a percentage of income as an individual plan could. Benefits from employer-paid plans are taxable to the employee if the employer paid the premiums. Of course, if you change jobs, you might lose your subsidized employer-based coverage. A loss of income could alter your options for retirement. An appropriate individual disability insurance policy may help protect you and your family during a difficult time. (Charles Sims Jr. is president/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit w w w. S i m s F i n a n c i a l Group.com.)
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Special talents
This section provides an extra opportunity for you to shine above your peers. List any awards, licensures, certifications, memberships, computer skills, special recognitions, presentations, foreign languages, world travels and/or publications – to name a few.
Interviewing tips
Now that your resume is a masterpiece in five areas, it is time to prepare for the interview. The job interviewing process begins once you sub-
mit your resume for a position. The three aspects of a successful interview are: know the company, know yourself and communicate effectively. Employers are impressed when you come to an interview knowing the company history, products/services, clientele, size of organization and recent achievements. But it is extremely important to know where your position, if hired, fits and functions within the organization. Be ready to discuss how you have turned your professional weaknesses into positive strengths.
Lastly, communication is key. Be sure to use normal professional tones and to speak loudly enough to be heard. This is not the time to be shy. It is a time for making a good impression. Start by implementing these tips at the next career expo that comes to town.
(Delores Dean, Ph.D., is the director of the Career Center at Florida A&M University. Join Dean on Jan. 31 during a live Twitter chat for help with resumes and interviewing. Follow @ FAMU_LivingWell.)
RELIGION
Tri-State Defender
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January 24 - 30, 2013
LIVING THE LIFE I LOVE
Live in the light, flip the switch! Dear Lucy: I have been trying for the longest time to let go of some things that I did in the past. I am ashamed of them and just can’t stop thinking about how stupid I was. I feel like I am always walking in the dark because I am so ashamed. Please help me with this. There must be a bigger, better answer than what I’ve been doing. – In the dark
Janie Newbold, shown here with her daughter, Cynthia Newbold, personifies what the faith-based Stellar Awards are really all about: the beauty and value of the everyday individual. (Photo by Tony Jones INK!)
Dear in the Dark: I don’t know what you’ve been doing but I guess it’s not working, huh? I guess I could talk about depression, shame, guilt and unforgiveness. But that covers a lot of territory and you can read about them in my book, “Be Not Anxious.” Guilt never shows up without shame. We feel stupid and ashamed that we were stupid and then we feel guilty for having been so stupid. This goes on long enough and we become the victim of our own thinking. Guilt is a way of blaming ourselves. It lets us criticize, judge and condemn ourselves until there just seems to be no way out. Be-
ing a victim just t a k e s away all of the joy of living. And that’s pretty dark! Sometimes we become Lucy victims Shaw living in the dark by blaming others. That’s when anything that goes wrong in our lives is always someone else’s fault and never our own. Whatever we cannot get, have or become, we blame someone or something outside ourselves. With blame we have so many people and events to not forgive. With guilt we can’t forgive ourselves. Either way we end up wandering around in the darkness of misery and victim hood. The space in this article doesn’t leave room to talk through forgiveness. And I do know that letting go of guilt and blame can be long hard work. So, why don’t we by-
pass all of that and just decide to start all over. Imagine how great life could be if you could just turn the light on in the room and start fresh? Have you ever noticed how one little light bulb just dissolves all the darkness in the room? It seems magical. I think that we can do the same things in the dark rooms of the mind. How? All it takes is deciding to discipline your thoughts in such a way that no matter what you see, hear or feel, you will choose a positive thought over a negative one. Just one positive thought that you consciously hold onto can be like the lighted candle in the dark places in your life. Let go of the negative ideas and expectations of gloom and doom and soon all of the negative people and events will disappear from your life. Let go of the guilt, shame, blame and unforgiveness without really trying. Simply turn the lights on with positive, loving thoughts that don’t blame you or anyone else. Make a commitment to do
this, one thought at a time and notice how even your body will begin to relax with each positive thought. Jesus said that He was the Light of the world. We read that Jesus was one of the most positive beings to ever live on this earth. He always lived in the Light. We can too. Flip the switch!
Lucy (You can watch Lucy on Channel 17 (Comcast) every Thursday at 10:30 am. (Send your questions to her by U.S. mail to: Heartworks4U, LLC; 4646 Poplar Ave. Ste 201, Memphis, TN 38117 or by email to lucy@heartworks4u.comThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Get your free gift at http://www.heartworks4u.co m/)
(For help with the feelings that get in the way of prayer and peace of mind, get Lucy’s new book, “BE NOT ANXIOUS.” Order it directly from her at 901-907-0260 or from her website.)
Audience shines too at Stellar Awards
NASHVILLE – Decked out from head to toes, Janie Newbold ventured to the Stellar Gospel Music Awards to celebrate her birthday – a surprise gift arranged by her daughter, Cynthia Newbold, who flew in from Anchorage, Alaska as the candle on the cake. “I will be 77 years old on the 27th of this month,” Newbold proudly reports. “I had no idea I would be here today. My baby came to visit me for a month for my birthday present, but she never told be about this. When she told me. I just couldn’t believe it!” A resident of Jessup, Ga., Newbold was a vocalist throughout her life, though, “not really professionally, but I could hum some,” she reminisces with a sly smile. Some of today’s contemporary music gets a thumb up from Newbold, when she
can understand what they’re saying. “Some of them take the words and throw in stuff that’s not supposed to be there and it messes the message up for me,” she said. “You can tell I’m from the old school, but we could sing back then. We could take a good hymn, switch it around and make it mean something. I just love it.” Listing, “Lee Williams and the Williams Brothers,” among her favorites, she says she truly is endeared by Mahalia Jackson and reaches in herself to sing “Here’s my sunshine,” Newbold beams when her daughter – “my sunshine” – gracefully flows into the pictureAn Alaskan state employee, she beamed with her mother for their snapshot and they happily headed to the venue arm in arm.
DEADLINE
Deadline for all religion articles is Monday, 5 p.m. Send items to Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale St., Suite 200; Memphis, TN 38103, Email items to editorial@tri-statedefender.com. Call (901) 523-1818 for details.
A tea party with benefits…
The 55th International Tea benefiting The LeMoyne-Owen College featured plenty of food, with churches linking their offerings to different countries. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)
PRAISE CONNECT -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
TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST
672 So. Lauderdale 38126 P.O. Box 314 Memphis, Tn 38101 Phone (General) 774-1572 Pastor: 775-0740 Secretary: 775-1909
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
WEEKLY SERVICES
Sunday Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Night YPWW 5:00 p.m. Night Service 6:00 p.m. Tuesday Night Prayer 6:00 p.m. Bible Study 7:15 p.m. Wednesday Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. Friday Morning Prayer 9:00 a.m. Night Service 7:30 p.m. BROADCASTS 9:30 a.m. Sunday WDIA - 1070 AM
No Telecast Service
Dr. David Allen Hall Pastor
— Proverbs 1:7
“The Founder’s Church”
First Pastor: Senior Bishop C.H. Mason
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. —Revelation 1:8
ST. ANDREW A.M.E. CHURCH
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. —Ecclesiastes 3:1
867 SOUTH PARKWAY EAST Memphis, TN 38106
(901) 948-3441
Early Morning..........7:45 AM Church School..........9:45 AM Morning Worship......11:00 AM Bible Study For Youth and Adults Tuesday - 7:00 PM “Spirit, Soul, and Body!” AM 1070 WDIA Sundays, 10:00-10:30 AM
TV Cable Access Broadcast Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Channel 17 Website:www.saintandrewamec.org
Child Care Center (901) 948-6441 Monday-Friday 6 AM- 5:30 PM Emergency Food Pantry Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, Pastor & Clothes Closet Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Co-Pastor Wednesday 6 PM-8 PM
“Ministering to Memphis-Spirit, Soul and Body”