10 8 2014

VOL. 63, No. 39

www.tsdmemphis.com

October 2 - 8, 2014

75 Cents

Sweetie Pie’s ‘Ms. Robbie’ delivers the personal touch

What’s up with Memphis youth?

by Brittney Gathen

Citizens demanding stronger punishment for youth offenders

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

St. Louis soul food restaurant owner Robbie “Ms. Robbie” Montgomery is seeking Memphians’ support for her latest business venture – a Beale Street location for her St. Louis-based Sweetie Pie’s restaurant.

Montgomery brought her palpable energy to Beale Street last Thursday (Sept. 25th) as she checked on the progress of the Sweetie Pie’s set to open soon at 349 Beale St. It was clear that she is excited about joining the Memphis community via her restaurant.

“It’s an honor to be in Memphis on Beale Street,” Montgomery said. “I’m meeting a lot of challenges. I’ve got a lot of restaurants here I’ve got to compete with, but I’m hoping my food is just as good.”

For Montgomery, opening and operating the new restaurant is going to be a true family affair that will require the support of the Memphis community.

“This is a family operation, and we can’t do it without each other. It takes all of us to make this work, and (it’s going to take) the city of Memphis,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery decided to open up a Memphis location after being offered the opportunity to move to Beale Street.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to bring my food down here.

When I come to Memphis, I always enjoy it, and I’m glad to be a part of it,” she said.

Montgomery said her son, Tim Norman, would be very active in overseeing the restaurant’s new location.

“Tim will be 200 percent involved because he’s going to move down here,” said Montgomery.

“I’m just going to come and make sure he’s doing what he’s supposed to do.”

Montgomery said her sisters would also come down to check on the establishment.

The former “Ikette”(a backup singer for Ike and Tina Turner) and star of the Oprah Winfrey Network reality series “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” learned how to cook her mother’s classic soul food dishes by working alongside her in their St. Louis kitchen. After a lung condition ended her singing career in 1979, she returned to St. Louis from California and worked as a dialysis technician. She would soon trade a health care career for a career in the culinary field. In 1996, with help from her son, Sweetie Pie’s was born.

Montgomery is pleased with the reaction she’s already getting from the Memphis community.

“I want to thank Memphis for opening their arms to me,” she told The New Tri-State Defender during an impromptu interview on Beale Street.

“It seems like everybody’s waiting on me, and I can hardly wait to get here. So, stay hungry and wait on me!”

MEMPHIS WEEKEND FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

H-78o - L-50o H-72o - L-53o H-80o - L-59o Partly Cloudy Sunny Sunny REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS

Friday H-79 L-49 H-75 L-48 H-81 L-55

Saturday H-76 L-54 H-67 L-44 H-77 L-51

Sunday H-83 L-59 H-74 L-54 H-83 L-59

by Tony Jones Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Another weekend with a frightfully dangerous incident powered by unruly youths has area residents amping up the call for a crackdown on the perpetrators of such law-breaking behavior.

A 46-year-old mother and her 9year-old daughter were swept up in an eruption of out-of-control youths following a football game at Central High School last Friday night (Sept.

26th). Sharon Mourning and her daughter were trapped in their car as dozens of youths jumped on, kicked and stomped the vehicle.

Juvenile summonses were issued to three African-American males – all 17 – following the frightening mob confrontation. Police also report that a 51-year-old male attempting to scare the youths away from Mourning’s car by repeatedly blowing his horn was also attacked.

And at the same time, a 17-year-old was being sought among the crowd for violently hitting a 16-year-old in the face. It was later learned that the suspect was already being detained as part of the mob crowd.

A fourth assault later erupted at the same location, resulting in a 55-yearold male being assaulted by 5-6 youths identified as “black males.”

The juggernaut of the most recent public outcry began at 2 on the morn-

ing of Saturday, Sept. 27th. A woman identifying herself as Sharon Eddins (later identified as Sharon Mourning) sent out a chilling Facebook report about how she and her daughter had been mobbed by a group of kids following a football game at Central High School.

After appearing on television news, Mourning later called in to WDIA’s popular Janice Fullilove talk show. Many callers volunteered that Mourning would have been perfectly within her rights if she had run over a couple of the wild children in trying to get to safety. Others chimed in that if Mourning had a gun she would have been justified in shooting at a couple of them to protect her daughter.

“Thank God I didn’t have my guns with me,” she had stated on her original Facebook post.

Meanwhile, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. has talked with Shelby County Schools Supt. Dorsey Hopson about the possibility of canceling sports games scheduled for evening hours.

A frightening preamble to Friday’s mob attack occurred less than a month ago when a more violent youth group flashed into instant violence on the parking lot of the Kroger store at the Poplar Plaza Shopping Center in East Memphis. A video of the incident sent out via social media produced shockwaves that still is producing reverberations.

Mayors report progress in support of Obama’s ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ thrust Recent incidents of youth violence won’t deter local effort, says Wharton Robbie “Ms. Robbie” Montgomery (front), owner of the Sweetie Pie's restaurant planned for Beale Street, and her sister Linda Montgomery were in Memphis and on Beale Street last week to prepare for the opening. (Photo: Warren Roseborough)

Freedom Award honorees – a trio of barrier breakers who advanced freedom

by Karanja A. Ajanaku kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com

“Breaking Barriers, Advancing Freedom” will be the theme that links Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Robert (Bob) Parris Moses and Frank E. Robinson on Dec. 2nd and forever link them to Memphis and the National Civil Rights Museum.

With Beverly Robertson, the museum’s high-energy (and retiring) president doing the honor, the three were announced as the 2014 Freedom Award honorees on Tuesday. This year’s presentation will be Dec. 2nd at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, with the traditional Gala Dinner later at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

Hunter-Gault, a highly acclaimed global civil rights journalist, is the International Freedom Award honoree; Moses is an award-winning educator and civil rights movement organizer and now the National Freedom Award honoree; and Robinson, who blazed trails in Major League Baseball as a player and manager, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Robertson brought the kind of energy to the announcement that has

Beverly Robertson

Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Robert (Bob) Parris Moses

Frank E. Robinson

marked her long run as the Museum’s president.

“I am so excited to just have an SEE HONOREES ON PAGE 2

by Karanja A. Ajanaku kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com

Back in February when President Barack Obama took the wraps off of the administration’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative he made it clear that he would be looking to “build a broad coalition of backers.”

Mayors of U.S. Cities were envisioned as key coalition members in the effort to arrest the slide and nurture the growth of boys and young men of color – a segment of the country described as too often facing “disproportionate challenges and obstacles to success.” This week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors released the findings of a survey on mayors’ efforts to promote and implement the goals the president set out.

The survey report compiled information provided by 15 cities whose mayors are on the Conference’s My Brother’s Keeper Task Force. It was released during the group’s Fall Leadership Meeting in Sacramento, the home city of the group’s president, Mayor Kevin Johnson.

“It is clear that opportunity has lagged behind for young men of color in this country,” said Johnson. “I am proud that the nation’s mayors have responded to the President’s call and have already been acting in communities across the country to change the long-term outlook for many of our young people.”

According to the survey’s findings: In every survey city the mayor is playing a leadership role relating to My Brother’s Keeper (MBK).

In 80 percent of the cities, the mayor has designated someone in city government, most frequently an official in the mayor’s office, to spearhead its MBK efforts.

In all but one of the cities the mayor has undertaken activities to educate the public about the challenges facing

young men and boys of color.

In all but two of the cities the mayor has undertaken activities to encourage the involvement of business leaders, community groups, faith leaders and the public at large in MBK efforts.

In 60 percent of the cities, the mayor has convened a local task force or group representative of different sectors in the city to plan for and implement city efforts relating to MBK. In 80 percent of the cities, the mayor has undertaken efforts within city government to focus on and work toward MBK’s goals.

The cities represented by USCM My Brother’s Keeper Task Force members are: Birmingham, Ala., Philadelphia, Pa., Sacramento, Calif., Baltimore, Md., Atlanta, Boston, Bridgeport, Conn., Columbia, S.C., Compton, Calif., Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Mo., Minneapolis, Minn., New Orleans and Tacoma, Wash.

Although not a task force member, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. is part of the USCM, which is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more.

In a written response to an inquiry from The New Tri-State Defender, Wharton said his administration has been in frequent conversation with the White House leaders on the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.

“We have named our local effort Inspiring Young Men of Color. In keeping with the national initiative we are focused on Education, Employment, Health and Justice for these young men. We’ve engaged local leaders in each of these domains,” wrote Wharton.

“This work is especially timely in light of the recent high profile incidences of violence involving our youth. While it is troubling, we are SEE PROGRESS ON PAGE 2

Memphis’ saving grace:

What’s Happening Myron?

Growing commerce and wealth among African Americans

Tyler Perry stirs feedback as ‘dad’ and studio mogul

Ford Nelson Honors Celebration A salute to a WDIA living legend

See Opinion, page 4

See Entertainment, page 10

See Community, page 14

Page 2

Tri-State Defender

October 2 - 8, 2014

NEWS “People in Memphis don’t often get the opportunity to bring such iconic figures who have made history and who still are making history even today. In fact, all of us have an opportunity to make history just like them.”

PROGRESS CONTINUED FROM FRONT not deterred and will continue to work with these young men through initiatives like our Literacy Is Free Expression (LIFE) program, which re-connects the disconnected and gets them interested and ready to learn again,” Wharton added.

“Together, the City, parents, faith-based and charitable organizations and businesses will continue creating opportunities and better outcomes for youth, particularly young men of color.”

A summary of the USCM findings was presented by Task Force Co-Chair Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who, along with Birmingham Mayor William Bell, was tapped

by President Johnson to lead the Task Force after establishing the subgroup within the organization this past June.

“As an African American male who grew up in Philadelphia, I am intimately familiar with the challenges that young men of color experience during the course of their lives,” said Nutter. “I know this initiative has the potential to completely change the direction of many lives that may be headed down a less-desirable path….”

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said her city’s efforts are broad and range from ensuring the neediest kids are enrolled in pre-K, to expanding summer programs to reach more of the most vulnerable, to creating work-based learning opportunities and internships for disconnected youth. Everything, she said, is “focused on the same outcome – making sure that young people have the opportunity to succeed and give back to the community that nurtured them.”

Other survey findings:

Beverly Robertson was a walking encyclopedia of information about the 2014 Freedom Award honorees that were announced on Tuesday. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

HONOREES CONTINUED FROM FRONT opportunity to be in the presence of people who have made history, people who have opened doors for me. People who have opened doors for others, giving us an opportunity to just step through it, if

we are prepared to do that,” said Robertson.

The event is a highlight for her every year, said Robertson.

“People in Memphis don’t often get the opportunity to bring such iconic figures who have made history and who still are making history even today. In fact, all of us have an opportunity to make

history just like them,” she said.

“Come and be inspired, come and live vicariously through listening to the stories that they will share.”

• Freedom Award Activities on Tuesday, Dec. 2, include: • Public Forum, Temple of Deliverance (369 G.E. Patterson), 10 a.m.

• Award Ceremony, Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6:30 p.m.

• Gala Dinner, Memphis Cook Center, 8 p.m.

The Public Forum is free and open to the public. For ticket information about the other events, visit www.civilrightsmuseum.org or call 901526-1813.

• Sixty percent of the cities described efforts underway or planned to launch a public-private campaign to actively recruit mentors for youth and improve the quality of mentoring programs.

• Eighty percent described efforts underway or planned to make the status and progress of boys and young men of color and other populations more visible by improving data collection and transparency.

• Eighty percent described efforts to support locally driven efforts that are more comprehensive – addressing the educational, physical, social and emotional needs of young people – and that span multiple life stages from cradle-tocollege.

• Two-thirds of the cities described efforts in support of “Entering school ready to learn, including efforts relating to increasing access to high-quality pre-K education and eliminating suspensions and expulsions in preschool and other early learning settings.”

• Two-thirds described efforts in support of “Reading at grade level by third grade.”

• Sixty-four percent described efforts in support of “Graduating from high school ready for college and career.”

• Two-thirds described efforts in support of “Completing postsecondary education or training.”

• Eighty percent described efforts in support of “Successfully entering the workforce, including efforts relating to increase awareness about youth summer employment and use of pre-apprenticeships as good entry-level jobs.”

• Seventy-three percent described efforts in support of “Reducing violence and providing a second chance.”

Tri-State Defender

Page 3

October 2 - 8, 2014

OPINION

The Foreclosure Crisis Economic Violence Shatters the 'Dream' for Millions

by Martin Luther King III Last year, my family and I were honored to join millions around the world in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the landmark "March on Washington." Beyond the powerful exhortation against racism of my father's "I Have a Dream" speech, however, the organizers were demanding economic justice, along with civil rights, for African Americans and all who were being shut out of the 'American Dream.'

Today, the disproportionate impact of the foreclosure crisis in communities of color - 17 foreclosures per 1,000 homes in minority zip codes as opposed to 10 per 1,000 in white communities - underscores the collateral damage of the greedfueled push to force struggling families of all ethnicities to forfeit their own pieces of the 'Dream.'

My father spent a lifetime working to combat the destructive trifecta of poverty, racism, and violence. In our view, the growing dissolution of homeownership, the primary opportunity for building net wealth for hard-working Americans, constitutes nothing less than "economic violence" being perpetrated against the most financially vulnerable constituency.

In the context of the foreclosure crisis as violence against homeowners, it occurred to me that the six steps for nonviolent social change that my father used in many of his most successful campaigns could be applied to launch an inclusive movement to address and resolve the issues surrounding forced foreclosures.

Nonviolence is a time-honored process with the following phases: (1) Information Gathering; (2) Education; (3) Personal Commitment; (4) Discussion/Negotiation; (5) Direct Action; and (6) Reconciliation. The objective is simply to defeat injustice, not an opponent, through reasoned

and non-hostile compromise.

And that is our mission.

In January 2013, we participated in a national community outreach effort sponsored by the Independent Foreclosure Review (IFR), an entity established by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve and the Office of Thrift Supervision to assist in providing remediation for affected homeowners. Although nearly eight million persons were reached directly and indirectly through churches across the country, we were shocked to learn that the IFR was abruptly terminated before it could even begin to help a single borrower.

Since the beginning of the housing crisis, some 4.9 million homeowners are in foreclosure and 1.9 million families continue to struggle to stay current on their mortgages, with a large percentage of them "under water."

With so much suffering and homeownership at its lowest level in two decades it is particularly abhorrent that certain powerful hedge funds and insurance conglomerates are pushing hard for more foreclosures rather than sustainable resolutions that would allow families to keep their homes. This pro-foreclosure campaign seeks to unravel the mortgage principal reduction objectives in federal remediation settlements and block the use of loan modifications as a tool to restore stability in communities.

The real eye-opener is that it is a $9.4 trillion problem affecting some 9 million citizens in the United States. And the growing erosion of wealth and equity is bankrupting minority and other disadvantaged citizens whose aspirations for homeownership are being jeopardized by huge corporate financial institutions whose callous indifference to the plight of struggling families is reprehensible.

Unfortunately, there is still a

widespread misperception that the devastating subprime scandal is behind us. But Beyond Broke, a report prepared by the Washington-based Center for Global Policy Solutions, thoroughly analyzes the systemic roots of the economic disparities manifested in the continuing housing crisis.

With homeownership remaining the "key driver of wealth," the far-reaching adverse consequences of foreclosure are inevitable. We have recently reached out to Attorney General Eric Holder and urged his intervention to counter the aggressive pro-foreclosure campaign that is seriously and disproportionately undermining the stability of minority communities and exacerbating neighborhood blight. (The full text of my letter to Mr. Holder appears on my website http://www.mlk3.com).

We are reminded that the Civil Rights Act of 1968 Title VIII of which was also known as the Fair Housing Act and prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex (and as amended) handicap and family status - was passed on April 11, 1968.

President Johnson rallied support for the bill as a fitting tribute to my father's legacy, exactly one week after he was taken from us.

Today, some 46 years later, there is still much more work to be done.

But the stakes are even higher now. After generations of hardship and hard work to pursue the better life promised by the 'American Dream,' disadvantaged communities are now headed toward certain bankruptcy with the loss of their most significant net wealth asset - homeownership.

Policymakers, regulators and fiduciaries overseeing the mortgage market simply cannot allow that to happen when so many have sacrificed so much to open the door to that 'Dream.'Â

Martin Luther King III

Page 4

Tri-State Defender

October 2 - 8, 2014

OPINION John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)

The Mid-South’s Best Alternative Newspaper

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

The face of school choice

FLASHBACK: 2013

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Memphis’ saving grace: Growing commerce and wealth among African Americans I tend to be bent towards positivity and optimism in just about everything and certainly as it relates to my city, Memphis, Tenn. It’s where I was born and the place that meta-physically birthed me to become the man I am today. Despite challenges, bumps, lumps and bruises along the way it remains the city I love. No matter where I visit or how many issues seem to arise here I remain bullish on the beautiful city on the bluff.

Yet, current trends reveal a fragile city at a crossroads. The path that has led Memphis to this point is marked by a rough and rugged pavement, including population decline, growing poverty, a shrinking tax base, a rapidly changing but still struggling public education system, increased unemployment (with nearly as many layoff announcements as new jobs being created), and increased crime.

Then there is the issue of race – the 8,000-pound gorilla that sits in most rooms throughout the Mid-South; the beast that could become the strongest asset for taking the city forward or the wild animal that tears it apart. If you are one of those thinking that the mere discussion of the race issue is a problem or creates issues or simply shouldn’t be discussed, stop reading here and go back to the corners and confines of your comfortably closed-mind.

The aforementioned issues are not the foundational tools with which to paint the rosiest picture of a city with a bright future. Still, I believe the solution lies within and has been overlooked, ignored and out right rejected in some instances. That solution is focusing on the growth of minority- and women-owned business and, more specifically, African-American owned businesses and enterprises as a PRIMARY economic development strategy for Memphis and Shelby County.

It is time that the collective leadership of this community admits its failures, recognize our strengths and have the courage to stop playing it safe and become a leader in the nation for real change.

Let me paint a picture of our current situation and demonstrate why this strategy is clearly a key to changing the fortunes of Memphis and, if not adopted, will ultimately be its demise.

For the past two years Memphis has been declared one of the nation’s poorest cities and the poorest large metropolitan city in the country, according to research and census data analysis by University of Memphis researcher Dr. Elena Delavega. Going back a few years, the 2011 Census Bureau American Communities Survey report showed that the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had 1 and 5 residents living at or below the national poverty line. That means that the eight-county MSA, including counties in Northwest Mississippi and Eastern Arkansas, is one of the poorest in the nation as well.

Now position those facts with these.

According to the 2010 Census, the Memphis MSA has the second largest percentage of African Americans (45.7 percent) of any MSA in the country, with only Jackson, Miss. having more (47.7 percent). That makes Greater Memphis the second most “chocolate” region of the country.

According to Dr. Delavega’s report, poverty in Memphis looks like this: • Overall rate - 27.7 percent.

• Child poverty – 45.7 percent.

• People over age 65 – 11.6 percent.

• African Americans – 33.5 percent.

• Latinos – 47 percent.

• Non-Hispanic whites – 9.8 percent.

“The poor in Memphis tend to be minorities,” said Dr. Delavega. “The poverty rates for blacks and Latino are higher than the overall poverty rate, and poverty rates for minorities are higher in every age category than poverty rates for non-Hispanic whites. Moreover, poverty rates for non-Hispanic whites are lower in Memphis and Shelby County than in Tennessee as a whole or the United States in every age category.”

This painting gets more vivid when considering a Richard Florida story on city-lab.com. According to that article, Memphis also has the dubious distinction of being the city with the highest level of segregation between wealthy ($200,000 a year or more in income) and the poor (MPI index). Many factors go into calculating the index, yet clearly on an anecdotal level it rings true and demonstrates the continued challenges that the city faces in attempting to develop and implement solutions that yield the greatest results for the greatest portion of the population.

Florida explains the challenges that manifest in communities where those conditions exist.

“The choices of the advantaged are in many ways a driving force behind eco-

nomic segregation in America,” he writes.

“The wealthy have the resources to colonize the very best neighborhoods and to wall themselves off from the rest of the population. And because of the resources Bernal E. and the influence Smith II they can bring to bear, the wealthy are able to mobilize disproportionate shares of community resources for their own neighborhoods. This allows them to invest in better schools, better parks and all manner of services and amenities, leaving fewer public and private resources to flow to less advantaged areas and populations.”

Sounds eerily like inner city Memphis versus outer, urban versus suburban, inside the 240 loop versus outside.

Connect more of the dots and the picture sharpens. Consider this: The 33.5 percent of African Americans living in poverty in Memphis actually represents 131,321 people compared with 27,926 whites and 10,907 Hispanics. Clearly poverty overwhelmingly impacts African Americans in Memphis and relates back to all the factors given earlier.

Yet it is not simply an African-American issue. Thus goes the African-American community, thus goes Memphis, Shelby County and all the surrounding communities. It behooves smart leaders, business people and concerned parties to adopt strategies that fix the problem rather than exacerbating it.

As I’ve said before, a system of economic apartheid has been allowed to thrive in Memphis and the only way out of it is to grow black-owned enterprises through more aggressive policies and intentional efforts in both the public and private sectors.

In last week’s TSD, we published an article by Jim Covington that chronicled the outward migration of people – both blacks and whites – from Memphis and Shelby County. The numbers revealed that whites have had a mass exodus from Memphis, going from a population of 333,789 in 1980 to 190,120 in 2010, while the African-American population has grown from 307,302 in 1980 to 409,687 in 2010. Digging deeper, the numbers show that even upwardly mobile African Americans are beginning to give up on the city and head for greener pastures. That is a troubling trend for Memphis.

Many lament the possibility of Memphis becoming the next Detroit. Generally – and for various reasons – I say that’s doubtful, although it is possible considering all the factors that I’ve shared.

A declining population leads to a shrinking tax base (not to mention the impact of depressed real estate values), that leads to decreased ability of the city/county to fund police, fire and education, that leads to increased crime and perceptions of a lack of safety, that combined with less than desired public education options leads more people to leave and few people to choose to move to the community. Ultimately, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy unless unique, aggressive and out-of-the-box solutions are adopted to change the tide.

The way to turn things around is to refocus economic development resources, policies and efforts into supporting and growing strong, dynamic businesses owned by and joint-ventured with African Americans. African Americanowned businesses typically employ more African Americans, are more forgiving of those with criminal pasts or other issues, and generally invest more to improve those individuals over time a clear win for a city with Memphis’ demographics.

It is not the large companies but the small and medium-sized companies that employ more people collectively and are better positioned to create more taxpayers. More taxpayers increase the tax base to adequately fund police, fire, education and other critical community needs.

More people working have more disposable income to support amenities, recreation and reduce crime creating safer, cleaner communities. Now what could be wrong with that vision of the city?

A group of concerned African-American business owners, myself included, are taking the lead to work with a diverse group of elected and business officials to make this vision happen. We are developing implementable solutions that optimistically will be adopted in both the public and private sectors to bring about equity and greater access to the opportunities that exist here while growing the pie for everyone. In my estimation this city’s future depends on it.

It’s much bigger than basketball!

(Mayor A C Wharton Jr. recently ordered gyms at community centers to stay open late night. It was a move envisioned as a means to help keep young people off the streets and out of trouble – either as victims of crime or as perpetrators. Maybe, said Wharton, the city’s action would stimulate churches to follow suit with their gyms.)

With all due respect to Mayor (A C) Wharton (Jr.), a good man, and his staff of professionals, we don’t need more basketball. Not every child plays basketball, and the NBA has dominated the hearts and minds of young urban men for the past three decades, giving the false hope that even an untalented boy can earn millions for throwing an orange ball through a hoop.

Our children, boys in particular, need immediate work skills. They need a realistic sense of history, so they will know where their generation fits into the scheme of things, including the rise of crack dealing, unplanned pregnancies, chronic unemployment and a host of miseries that have been a part of their communities since the 1970’s. The reality of their lives prevent “awareness” of what’s really happening around them, and limit their access to qualities such as public decorum, integrity, and new skills that will make them better men. Those are aspects of life that basketball simply cannot deliver.

What about tennis and golf, track & field, motor sports and cycling, and other “team” involvement, if we choose to simply narrow our focus to just keeping them busy. The more realistic – and useful – option has to involve boys learning to build and repair and grow into jobs that actually pay them a few dollars.

Carpenters, roofers, craftsmen, tradesmen, cement masons and even retired men of skill would come when called, if a “system” and method of delivery was in place. These men, unfortunately, rely on elected officials and educational institutions to do this work, but “shop classes” and vocational training for young men have been systematically dismantled over the past two decades, leaving millions of young

men with no options for employment or entrepreneurship as they approach their mid-twenties.

“Leaders” in this city, and other places, can no longer segregate themselves, addressing only Tony in their what’s Nichelson job descriptions. they’re Either “leaders” or they’re not. “Leaders” should show leadership, and address the issues of “livability” and the quality of life for the 100,000 children here who wake up every day with no answers of how to really help their mothers and their siblings.

Leaders and elected officials on the City Council, the County Commission and the School Board can no longer side-step the task of helping misguided children with remedies to a daily dilemma that is solidly encased in poverty, ignorance and mild depression. Officials who asked for our votes have to realize that nothing good is going to happen for these children any time soon without a solid re-connection to middle schools, high schools, alternative schools and Juvenile Court.

“Turfism” exists, and elected officials are extremely hesitant to reach into other areas. This is not to suggest that particular officials are not doing their jobs, but too often, that’s exactly the case. Earning a nice salary and keeping a prominent job is the priority, not saving the lives and existence of 100,000 young Memphians who will eventually become 100,000 older, non-tax paying Memphians.

The issues of youth violence, youth unemployment, “Thug-Life,” and a 70 percent poverty rate for children in Memphis falls on all of us.

Until we bring legitimate early work skills and early career exposure to deserving young men and women, we will see thousands more of them drift aimlessly into their mid-twenties unskilled, unaware, crime-prone, and hating life as we know it.

It’s much bigger than basketball.

Eric Holder’s legacy: No coward on race

by George E. Curry NNPA Columnist

After being confirmed as the nation’s first African American U.S. attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr. wasted little time putting everyone on notice that he would not tip-toe around the volatile subject of race.

“Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards,” Holder declared in a speech at the Justice Department.

There was the predictable uproar on the right and President Obama, while not repudiating his new appointee, told the New York Times, “I think it’s fair to say that if I had been advising my attorney general, we would have used different language.”

And that’s precisely the point. Holder was courageous in directly taking on the issue of race while Obama, in the words of Georgetown University Professor Michael Eric Dyson, “runs from race like a Black man runs from a cop.”

Holder’s deeds, not his words, are what made him such an exceptional attorney general.

He fought for criminal-justice reform … He favored a 2010 law that eliminated the sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine.

And he led a successful effort to reduce prison sentences for low-level, non-violent drug offenders.

Arguably his most lasting imprint was in the area of voting rights. When the Supreme Court struck down a key section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act,

Holder said the ruling could not be used for the wholesale disenfranchisement of people of color. He sued Texas over its voter ID law and challenged North Carolina in court over its law to restrict early voting and same-day registration.

Holder … (supported) same-sex marriage and (refused) to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, which holds that marriage is strictly between a woman and a man.

There were some disappointments as well.

He supported the FBI’s right to track U.S. citizens without obtaining a warrant. He also approved of the National Security Agency’s authority to collect millions of phone records of Americans not accused of any crime In his zeal to plug national security leaks, the Justice Department obtained the phone records of journalists performing their jobs. …

Republicans highlighted the failure of Operation Fast and Furious, an Arizona-based Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) project to track weapons purchased by Mexican drug cartels….

When Holder, citing executive privilege, refused to turn over certain Fast and Furious records to Congress, the House held him in contempt, the first for a sitting cabinet member….

Conservatives have pilloried Holder for being so aggressive on civil rights.

But he has not backed down for one simple reason – he is no coward.

(George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA).

These are excepts from his latest column.)

A little more than 10 years ago, a young woman named Denisha was part of a vicious cycle. Her mother dropped out of school, her uncle had dropped out of school and her brother would go Kevin on to drop out of Chavous school. At an early age, Denisha was already showing signs of trouble – getting into fights, being sent home from school. These were all signs that she would become part of a cycle many of us know too well.

But, that cycle was broken when Denisha’s grandmother enrolled her in a private school with more structure, more attention paid to individual students, and mentors to lead her along a new path.

Denisha’s educational opportunity was made a reality as a result of an educational choice program in Florida, one of more than 42 programs across the country in 19 states. Today, she’s not only one of the few from her family to graduate high school, but she’s the very first family member to ever graduate from college.

“If it weren’t for the scholarship or for the school, you would probably meet me on a corner with a baby trying to make ends-meet,” said Denisha.

But, Denisha’s story is but one of literally hundreds of thousands of stories taking place right now in classrooms across the country. Sadly too many parents do not realize there are literally millions of opportunities available to send their child to a private school of their choice. Programs designed to help low-income families and children trapped in underperforming schools.

In Louisiana, Kodie, a student who described himself as being lost in his zoned school, did not have the attention he needed. When Kodie received a scholarship through Louisiana’s educational choice program his attitude towards school and his education completely changed and he is now thriving.

“The teacher can actually go oneon-one … That feeling of passing a grade is just really good, to know you won’t be held back,” said Kodie.

When I served on the DC City Council, like many parents, I was initially hesitant to support charter schools or school choice. I was raised to trust the traditional public school system, but I met too many families who were left hopeless because their children were zoned to failing schools and these families lacked the financial means to move or send their children to private school. That’s when I realized we have to do more because no child should be denied the right to attend a quality school of their parents’ choice.

We have seen the emerging success of school choice in Washington, D.C. where its opportunity scholarship program has a graduation rate of about 90 percent – compared to 50 percent in D.C. Public Schools.

While there is success, we cannot rest until every parent across the country is empowered with a wide array of quality educational options for their children, ensuring their success throughout their education and beyond (Kevin P. Chavous, Executive Counsel for the American Federation for Children.)

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Tri-State Defender

Page 5

October 2 - 8, 2014

NAtiONAL

Obama: Let’s finish the unfinished work

by George Curry NNPA News Service

WASHINGTON – Though the U.S. has made tremendous progress since the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, there is plenty of unfinished work to be done in order to make the nation a more perfect union, President Barack Obama says.

“Our high school graduation rate is at a record high, the dropout rate is falling, more young people are earning college degrees than ever before,” Obama told those attending Saturday night’s Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner. “Last year, the number of children living in poverty fell by 1.4 million – the largest decline since 1966. Since I took office, the overall crime rate and the overall incarceration rate has gone down by about 10 percent. That’s the first time they’ve declined at the same time in more than 40 years.

Fewer folks in jail. Crime still going down.

“But our work is not done when too many children live in crumbling neighborhoods, cycling through substandard schools, traumatized by daily violence. Our work is not done when working Americans of all races have seen their wages and incomes stagnate, even as corporate profits soar; when African-American unemployment is still twice as high as white unemployment; when income inequality, on the rise for decades, continues to hold back hardworking communities, especially communities of color. We’ve got unfinished work.”

Speaking just days after Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., the administration’s point man on race, submitted his resignation, Obama spoke more directly about race than perhaps anytime since he has been in office.

In past CBC appearances, Obama was sometimes viewed as lecturing CBC members about personal responsibility while failing to do the same to white audiences. In his speech before the CBC dinner Saturday night, Obama dropped his reluctance to speak boldly about the racial atmosphere in America. “… We still have to close these opportunity gaps,” he said. “And we have to close the justice gap – how justice is applied, but also how it is perceived, how it is experienced.

Eric Holder understands this.

That’s what we saw in Ferguson this summer, when Michael Brown was killed and a community was divided. We know that the unrest continues. And Eric spent some time with the residents and police of Ferguson, and the Department of Justice has indicated that its civil rights investigation is ongoing.

“Now, I won’t comment on the investigation. I know that Michael’s family is here tonight. I know that nothing any of us can say can ease the grief of losing a child so soon.

But the anger and the emotion that followed his death awakened our nation once again to the reality that people in this room have long understood, which is, in too many communities around the country, a gulf of mistrust exists between local residents and law enforcement.”

Obama spoke to the everyday experiences of being a black man in America.

“Too many young men of color feel targeted by law enforcement, guilty of walking while black, or driving while black, judged by stereotypes that fuel fear and resentment and hopelessness. We know that, statistically, in everything from enforcing drug policy to applying the death penalty to pulling people over, there are significant racial disparities. That’s just the statistics.

One recent poll showed that the majority of Americans think the criminal justice system doesn’t treat people of all races equally. Think about that. That’s not just blacks, not just Latinos or Asians or Native Americans saying things may not be unfair. That’s most Americans.”

It is unclear what poll the president was referencing.

Most polls show a majority of whites feel the criminal justice system is colorblind. For example, a Pew Research Center survey last year found that 70 percent of blacks feel they are treated less fairly than whites in their dealings with police.

Only 37 percent of whites said they think blacks are treated less fairly by police.

The mistreatment of African Americans harms whites as well as blacks, the president said.

“And that has a corrosive effect – not just on the black community; it has a corrosive effect on America,” Obama said. “It harms the communities that need law enforcement the most. It makes folks who are victimized by crime and need strong policing reluctant to go to the police because they may not trust them. And the worst part of it is it scars the hearts of our children. It scars the hearts of the white kids who grow unnecessarily fearful of somebody who doesn’t look like them. It stains the heart of black children who feel as if no matter what he does, he will always be under suspicion. That is not the society we want. It’s not the society that our children deserve.

Whether you’re black or white, you don’t want that for America.”

Three countries – Russia, Iran and Egypt – have cited America’s mistreatment of African Americans as evidence of U.S. hypocrisy on human rights.

Obama retorted, “…As I said this week at the United Nations, America is special not because we’re perfect; America is special because we work to address our problems, to make our union more perfect (a reference to the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution).

We fight for more justice. We fight to cure what ails us. We fight for our ideals, and we’re willing to criticize ourselves when we fall short.

“And we address our differ-

ences in the open space of democracy – with respect for the rule of law; with a place for people of every race and religion; and with an unyielding belief that people who love their country can change it,” said Obama.

“That’s what makes us special – not because we don’t have problems, but because we work to fix them. And we will continue to work to fix this.”

Agency Owner The Brassell Ins. Agy.Inc. 1255-A Lynnfield Rd Suite 111 Memphis, TN 38119

At the CBC dinner, President Obama said, “But our work is not done when too many children live in crumbling neighborhoods, cycling through substandard schools, traumatized by daily violence.”

(Photo: Roy Lewis/NNPA)

Office 901-683-3130/Fax 901-685-3337 NediaBrassell@Allstate.com 24-Hour Customer Service

Page 6

October 2 - 8, 2014

national

Jordan Davis killer convicted of 1st-degree murder Jury deliberates only 5-plus hours in retrial of ‘loud music’ case (The Root) – There is finally justice for 17-year old Jordan Davis, the young man gunned down by Michael Dunn after a verbal dispute over loud music in a Jacksonville, Fla., gas station in November 2012.

Dunn was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder by a jury of eight men and four women who deliberated just five-and-a-half hours.

A different jury in February failed to convict Dunn on the murder charge, only finding him guilty on three counts of attempted murder for firing into the SUV at Davis' three friends. That jury deadlocked on the killing of Davis, some

apparently believing Dunn’s claim that t h e teenager w a s threatening him.

At the end of the first trial Michael the state Dunn prosecutor quickly announced plans to retry the 47year-old Dunn, much to the relief of the young man’s parents, Ron Davis and Lucy McBath. They had expressed tremendous frustration with the original verdict and had stress-

fully endured weeks of testimony in the second trial. That testimony included Dunn's insistence that he feared for his life, according to WJXT. “I see the young man lean down, I see his shoulders, and he comes up with something in his hands,” Dunn said. “And he bangs it on the door and says ‘Yes, I’m going to (expletive) kill you.’”

“I saw the barrel of a gun,” Dunn testified. “I was petrified. I shot because my life was being threatened. I was defending myself.”

There was no gun and this jury apparently didn’t believe his story. Dunn is now facing a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

Tri-State Defender

Tri-State Defender

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October 2 - 8, 2014

BUSINESS MONEY MATTERS

SELF ENTREPRENEUR

Be careful about cashing out

Mary Nelson sets goal for ‘butterlicious cookies’

Since the recession, Americans have been keeping their jobs longer. In 2012, the average tenure for U.S. workers was 4.6 years, up from 3.7 years in 2002. Even so, there’s a good chance you may move on to a new job in the not-too-distant future, and when you do you could face a decision about how to handle any funds you have accumu- Charles Sims lated in your employer-sponJr., CMFC, sored retirement plan.

LUTCF Typically, you have four choices, depending on the situation: • Leave the funds in your former employer’s plan (if allowed) • Roll the funds over to a new employer’s plan, if your new employer has a retirement plan and allows a rollover • Roll the funds over to an IRA • Take all or part of the funds as a cash distribution Preserving tax-deferred savings Although each has advantages and disadvantages, the first three approaches generally preserve the tax-advantaged status of your retirement assets and offer the potential for continued tax-deferred growth.

Consider, however, that if you receive a check payable to you from your former employer’s plan, 20 percent will be withheld for federal income taxes. You have 60 days from the date of the check to roll over the entire distribution — including the tax withheld — to an IRA or a new employer-sponsored plan; otherwise, amounts not rolled over will be considered a taxable distribution.

The fourth choice — a cash distribution — can be problematic. Although a quick infusion of cash may be appealing, it would be wise to proceed with caution before using a distribution for non–tax-advantaged purposes. Such a disbursement would be taxable as income, could be subject to a 10 percent early-withdrawal penalty, and might push you into a higher tax bracket. Moreover, by depleting your retirement account early, you might come up short when it’s time to retire.

Fortunately, cashing out has become less common, perhaps due to a greater understanding of the potential consequences (see chart). Younger people are more likely than older workers to “take the money and run.” This is a disturbing trend, because younger people may have the most to gain by keeping their tax-deferred savings working for them over the long term. To use one hypothetical example, a 30-year-old who cashes out $16,000 could lose nearly $500 in monthly retirement income if he or she retired at age 67 and lived to age 93.

Withdrawal rules Distributions from tax-deferred retirement plans [such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans] are taxed as ordinary income. Early withdrawals taken prior to age 59½ may be subject to a 10 percent federal income tax penalty, with certain exceptions such as the plan participant’s death, disability, or attainment of age 55 or older in the year of separation from service. (The age 55 exception does not apply to IRAs, annuity contracts, or modified endowment contracts.) You could also avoid the 10 percent penalty by taking a series of substantially equal periodic payments, based on life expectancy, that continue for at least five years or until age 59½, whichever occurs later.

Separation from employment can be a stressful event, but it might offer you an opportunity to take control of any assets in your former employer’s plan. Be sure you understand the options so you can make an appropriate decision for your situation.

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor.

The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.

(Charles Sims Jr., CMFC, LUTCF, is President/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.com.)

After tweaking a recipe for butter cookies 10 years ago, Mary Nelson is now fulfilling orders for customers throughout Memphis and Shelby County.

Here, she’s rolling out a tray of butter cookies for package and delivery. (Photo: Wiley Henry)

by Wiley Henry whenry@tsdmemphis.com

Mary Nelson calls her cookie baking business “Mary’s Homemade Butterlicious Cookies.” Butterlicious is an apt description for the sweet, savory, butter-flavored cookies that she launched from her home 10 years ago with a recipe from her niece.

“If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t be called ‘The Cookie Lady.’ The butter cookies started with her,” said Nelson, who tweaked the recipe to enhance the flavor of the cookie to make it her own delectable treat.

Then she tested the market by allowing potential customers to sample her growing product line: strawberry, chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, German chocolate, red velvet, lemon, lemon butter, lemon berry, Snickerdoodles, and peanut butter rice crispy treats with a dribble of chocolate.

“Butter cookies are my specialty, my No. 1 seller,” she said.

Nelson started getting repeat orders for her cookies about five years ago. “I get teary-eyed when they want to order again,” she said.

“I’m amazed. I’m in awe of what God is doing.”

She makes repeated deliveries to Antonia’s Full Glamour Salon in the Hickory Hill community, where several loyal customers can’t seem to get enough of her cookies. Many of them, she said, convince others to purchase a batch or more.

“They say, ‘Man, you got to get these cookies.’”

Like a politician stumping for votes, Nelson canvases the community for customers. She also uses social media. “Before I go into a place of business, I talk to the own-

er to make sure it’s OK,” she said.

“Reno, my son’s barber, says it’s OK and encourages people to try my cookies.”

Nelson loves baking cookies.

However, the love of baking isn’t enough. “What got me into it was my way of getting out of debt. I have to provide for my son,” said Nelson, who was married to Robert Nelson Jr.’s father when she first started baking cookies.

Divorced for two years, Nelson uses the money from her cookie sales to supplement her income as a dental lab technician. Her son, now 10 years old, gives her a helping hand sometimes when he gets home from STAR Academy, a charter school at Golden Gate Cathedral.

“He has a lot of wisdom for his age,” she said. “He keeps me going.”

Nelson works fulltime at her day job and fills cookie orders when

she returns home in the afternoon.

“I cut the oven off at midnight depending on what I have to accomplish,” she said. “One time I stayed up all night.”

The cookie business is not yet self-sustaining. But the goal, she said, is to come off the job and bake cookies fulltime. “It is my desire to do this on my own…to own my own business. That’s what I want to do. It’s an avenue to bless people – and my cookies will do that.”

Baking cookies was not Nelson’s first career choice, however.

After graduating from Hillcrest High School in 1986, she studied cosmetology, but failed the state board twice. Then she got a job at Big Lots on Winchester to pay her bills.

Still searching for a career, Nelson enrolled at Tennessee Technology Center of Memphis and completed six months of an 18-month course, which enabled her to obtain

her current job. Later on she took a course from financial author, radio host and motivational speaker Dave Ramsey, “so I can get out of debt.”

Nelson is farther along in business than when she first started baking cookies. A large hanging calendar is filled with orders for various days of the month, and she continues to write in others. Although baking is her forte, she gives her mother kudos for her culinary skills.

“I always wanted to cook like my mom,” said Nelson, who has three sisters and a brother. “I tried to get her to open up a restaurant; she wouldn’t.”

Right now Nelson is focused on establishing her own business, “Mary’s Homemade Butterlicious Cookies.”

(For more information, contact Mary Nelson at 901-288-9694.)

ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

One funeral at a time Unfortunately this month I experienced the death of my mother. As her only child I had the responsibility of preparing her “home going.” As someone who never attended funerals, I was absolutely clueless regarding the process and procedures. But with the help of a great funeral home taking me by the hand, what could have been disastrous was made to be more than beautiful.

During my planning and grieving, I was surprised by the many businesses that participated during the various phases of the farewell to Anne McCullough.

A wise person once said that all living things must die. Still, most people do not prepare for what is inevitable. And while entrepreneurs profit from the natural fact of death, those who deliver services that help families deal with the roller coaster of emotions surrounding death are a cut above.

A number of decisions have to be made to adequately prepare for a funeral. The forward-thinking person who documents her/his wishes makes it far easier for the family and friends to make that happen.

homes that help the family throughout the journey.

The funeral home is connected to myriad choices, including which casket to purchase, what clothes Carlee to put on the McCullough beloved and the selection of a cemetery. This is also the place where most money will be exchanged. Funeral home operators assist in the processing of insurance to be used towards the funeral, as well as placing announcements and obituaries in newspapers Caskets The price of caskets can go from low to high to extremely high, depending on the taste and budget of the family. Caskets range from wood to metal, with a wide array of colors. The inside of the coffins can be personalized.

Cemetery plot

Funeral home One of the first decisions is which funeral home will receive the deceased and start the entire process. Memphis is fortunate in that it has some wonderful funeral

Many elderly planned accordingly with the ownership of plots for their burials. Although a few cemeteries in the area have been in the news for a host of bad behaviors and practices, the vast

Anne McCullough

majority of cemeteries perform professionally.

Most cemeteries are well maintained and groomed to perfection.

Loved ones are logged and easily located.

Flowers Similar to weddings, funerals are known for the flower arrangements. From the spray on the casket and the many deliveries of arrangements between the funeral home, church and the burial site, some florists have centered their business model based on funerals. Although most funeral homes have their preferred providers, it is acceptable if the family has another preference.

Programs & printing The program is an opportunity for the family to create the final keepsake portraying their loved one for family and friends. The program usually has photos of the deceased at various stages of life with different people of importance in their lives. Additionally, the obituary is included with a

summary of the loved one’s life and a listing of family members.

After the design and layout of the program, a printer services the order with the predetermined number of copies. Between the program designer and the printer, funerals can be a lucrative source of income for those entrepreneurs.

Limousines Funeral homes typically use their own limousines and obtain motorcycle escorts, with the costs typically built into the overall cost of funeral home services.

Repast or reception Immediately after the burial, a repast or reception may be held for family and friends. When held at a residence or a facility, guests frequently will bring food and beverages. Usually, many family members and friends have not seen each other in ages and the occasion provides the opportunity for them to socialize and reminisce. An option for food and beverages is to use the services of a caterer. From the purchase of prepared food to the use of a caterer, the reception/repast is another business opportunity.

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

RELIGION Tri-State Defender, Thursday, October 2 - 8, 2014, Page 8

RELIGION BRIEFS ‘It’s Time for A Change’ at Hollywood Community Center A community event entitled “It’s Time for A Change” will take place Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Hollywood Community Center, 1560 North Hollywood, from noon until 2 p.m.

Prophet Gerald Coleman, who is hosting the event, will share his gift of prophecy with those in attendance who’re “looking for a special anointing from God.” He is the pastor of Faith Keepers Ministries International Church, 3362 Jewell Rd., in the Raleigh community.

For more information, call 901-372-2009.

‘Empowerment Center’ slates medical fest for 38108 zip code area The “Community Fun, Food, and All Things Medical Fest” will take place Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Charity Outreach Ministries Empowerment Center, 2218 Eldridge at Springdale, in the North Memphis community.

“My vision is make it great in 38108,” said the Rev. Charlotte Y. Cobb, pastor of the Empowerment Center. There will be health screenings, a kid zone, great fun, prizes, live music, and more. The event starts at 10 a.m. until.

For more information, contact Charlotte Y. Cobb at (901) 258-6463.

Calvary COGIC celebrates its church anniversary Calvary Church of God in Christ is celebrating its anniversary Friday through Sunday, Oct. 3-5. The theme is “Fit for the Faith...88 and Great.”

On Friday at 6:30 p.m., there will be a a workshop entitled “Financial Freedom: From the Cradle to the Grave.”

On Saturday at 6:30 p.m., the 1st Annual Walk with The Lord 5K Mile Walk-A-Thon will commence in historic Douglass Park.

At 2 p.m. that evening, the church will host its annual picnic on church grounds.

Finally, on Sunday, at 2:30 p.m., the church will observe its anniversary.

The church is located at 1532 Ellington St. Superintendent Earlie Nickols Jr. is the pastor.

Pastor Emery Moss (l), Pastor Danny Holliday, and Evangelist Janet Boynes listen during the Thomas More Law Center press conference

Thomas More Law Center details strategy to defend traditional marriage ANN ARBOR, Mich., (PRNewswire-USNewswire) – The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national, nonprofit public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Mich., has developed a national legal strategy to combat recent federal court rulings that overturn state laws defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

In a press conference last week (Sept. 23rd), Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, disclosed that a legal team has been formed to file friend-of-thecourt briefs (amicus briefs) on behalf of a Coalition of African-American pastors and Christian leaders. The legal team consists of the Law Center's senior trial counsel, Erin Mersino, and co-counsels William R. Wagner and John S. Kane of Lansing, Mich.

Thompson explained, “In its briefs, the Law Center reflects the voice of a majority of African-Americans that discrimination because of one's sexual preference is not the same thing as racial discrimination and that tradition and morality should not be discarded as a basis of the law; as the pro-homosexual judges have done in their opinions.”

Several pastors representing the African-American community spoke at the press conference, including Bishop Samuel Smith, and Pastors Danny Holliday and Emery Moss. Evangelist Janet Boynes, a former lesbian and a member of the group, also spoke. In eloquent and at times fiery words, they all defended the definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Thus far, the Thomas More Law Center has filed two am-

icus briefs on behalf of the coalition involving petitions for review in the US Supreme Court: Herbert v. Kitchen, an appeal of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals decision overturning Utah's law defining traditional marriage and Rainey v. Bostic, an appeal of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decision overturning Virginia's law defining traditional marriage.

Additionally, the Thomas More Law Center has filed an amicus brief in Deboer v. Snyder, an appeal of a Detroit federal court decision overturning Michigan's law on traditional marriage. That case is awaiting a ruling from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Bishop Samuel Smith, of the Apostolic World Christian Fellowship consisting of 25, 000 churches worldwide and representing over 5 million laity, stated: “Every once in a

while, the homosexual agenda makes an effort to redefine morality, but history tells us that every culture that has embraced a homosexual culture has suffered decadence, depravity, and decline.”

The Rev. Danny Holliday, pastor of Victory Baptist exclaimed, “We all know that the 14th Amendment was made because Black folk were considered as property. Gays have never been considered as property.”

Evangelist Janet Boynes, a former lesbian and member of the coalition, related from her own experience. “There is no substitution for the role of a father and a mother,” she said.

“I know this to be true. I was in a homosexual lifestyle with a woman who had two children and I tried to fulfill the role of a dad. As time went on, I realized that I wasn't equipped nor built to be a daddy.”

The Rev. Emery Moss, of Strictly Biblical, said, “The American Revolution had taxation without representation and we're going to have marriage legislation without representation. It's un-American and all Americans should stand up against it.”

Thompson commented, “The Law Center will continue to file amicus briefs in several significant cases concerning the definition of marriage in order to convey the unique voice of the African-American Christian community on this issue that’s crucial to the survival of our families, culture and nation.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America's Judeo-Christian heritage and moral values. It is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit at www.thomasmore.org.

Eric Ovid Donaldson’s pubic speaking skills lead to international acclaim He was one of only nine finalists in the competition representing nearly 300,000 members in more than 120 countries Special to The New Tri-State Defender

“I tried to keep my cool as they were preparing to announce the winner of the semifinals, but when I heard my name, I must have jumped toward the ceiling twice before I regained my composure and walked to the stage,” said the Rev. Eric Ovid Donaldson, pastor of Unity Christian Church, reflecting on his trip to Malaysia to compete for the World Championship of Public Speaking.

Donaldson was one of only nine finalists in the competition representing nearly 300,000 members in more than 120 countries. More than 30,000 contestants competed around the world, and less than 100 advanced to the international competition.

“You could say this is the American Idol of public speaking, but it’s far more international in its reach,” Donaldson said.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations.

Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., the organization’s membership exceeds 292,000 in more than 14,350 clubs in 122 countries.

Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience. Donaldson is a part of the Unity Toastmasters Club, which holds its meetings weekly at the church.

“The funny thing about all of this is that I am the shy, quiet, gentle soul of my family,” he said. “Up to the age of 45, I would open my mouth and people would say, ‘Speak up, we can’t hear you.’

That’s why I keep asking the question, ‘How did I become the preacher? How did I become one of the top speakers in the world?’ Then I realized that I was asking the wrong

The Rev. Eric Ovid Donaldson (right) and the Rev. Kevin Ross in Malaysia.

The Rev. Eric Ovid Donaldson, pastor of Unity Christian Church, plays basketball with the children during the church’s annual community picnic on Sept. 28. (Courtesy photos) question; not how, but why?”

Donaldson always looks for the opportunities his success brings.

While others might look at his newfound notoriety as an opportunity to launch a public speaking and

coaching career, he is developing further plans.

“I look forward to getting my message of healing and hope to the world, no doubt! I am dedicated to the discovery, development and

perfect unfolding of our divine purpose and potential. I want to see everyone do well, but I also want to encourage everyone to do good in the world” That became evident as Donaldson and one of his ministerial colleagues, the Rev. Kevin Ross, senior minister of Unity of Sacramento, collected “A Trunk Full of Love,” cards, letters of prayers, and condolences that they took with them to offer to families and friends of those bereaved by the two ill-fated Malaysia Airline flights MH370 and MH17.

Following Spirit, they had no idea who to give the cards to other than drop them off at the ticket counter at the airport, which was closed upon their early morning arrival into the country. However, on the way to the hotel, they discovered that the Malaysian government declared a National Day of Mourning on the day some of the remains from MH17 would be returned.

Donaldson and his colleagues returned to the airport that day and stood for 3 hours with the mourners – pilots, flight attendants, ticket agents, grounds crews and others –

as ambulances carrying the bodies passed in procession.

After introducing themselves, Ross and Donaldson passed out all the cards that were collected from their churches and friends to those in attendance. The people were extremely appreciative of the gesture.

The intention was not meant as a religious act, as much as a gesture of global friendship and compassion.

“Winning my semifinal round and finding myself in the finals of Toastmasters International's World Championship of Public Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a life-changing experience – but so was this,” Donaldson said.

“It dawned on me that this trip was about so much more than competing. It was about connecting. It was about compassion. For me, it was about ministering through my words and my actions. That’s the ‘why’ of it all.”

Upon his return home, the Memphis City Council honored Donaldson with a proclamation for his success in making the finals of Toastmasters International’s World Championship of Public Speaking.

This accomplishment is big.

“Eight of us in the finals didn’t win, but the impact we all can have in our communities is tremendous,” said Donaldson, noting that his life has changed. “My prayer is no longer what has happened, but what can happen from here.”

He wants to see others have as much a “horizon expanding experience – especially our youth, and others, who may be gentle souls with something to say – like me.”

Unity Christian Church is located at 3345 McCorkle Rd. The Rev. Eric Ovid Donaldson may be reached at (901) 654-5634. Unity Toastmasters meet every Thursday from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. You can follow Donaldson on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rev.donaldson or www.twitter.com/EricOvidDonalds.

Tri-State Defender

Page 9

October 2 - 8, 2014

RELIGION

Orlando Matthews, longtime activist and proponent of reparations, dies

by Wiley Henry whenry@tsdmemphis.com

In a story in The New Tri-State Defender in May, Orlando Matthews talked about the atrocities against African Americans during the slave trade and spoke on the issue as a facilitator during a two-day conference and community town hall meeting in Nashville on “Debt Relief & Reparations for HBCUs” Matthews had been advocating for reparations for a number of years and weighed in on the discussion

around H.R.40, a reparations bill that was first introduced in Congress by U.S. Rep. John Conyers (DMich.)

A community activist and musician, Matthews continued to Orlando fight until his Matthews health failed. He died Sept. 25th at Methodist University Hospital.

Matthews served as the Minister of Information for the African American Political Action Committee (AAPAC). Founded by his brother, songwriter/performer El Espada Timothy Lee Matthews, Matthews spread his message across the nation and the world.

He also served as a NGO delegate to the World Conference Against Racism in Durban South Africa in 2001.

As a musician, Matthews performed under the name “Reparation Man.” His last performance was April 12th at the Juke Joint Festival

in Clarksdale, Miss.

Matthews’ loved ones remember him best. “Orlando epitomized courage, something that we all need in this country as a people,” said Timothy Lee Matthews. “He was a voice crying in the wilderness.”

He found his purpose in life and tried to live it, Matthews added.

“He challenged all of us to keep reparations alive and on the front burner.”

Carolyn Matthews described her brother-in-law as a foghorn warning African-Americans of the dangers

that are often overlooked. “He was constantly sending out the alarm,” she said. “He had a short, gritty wit and humor about him, but lived loudly.”

He was an enigma, she added.

A tribute to Matthews includes a wake at Morning View Baptist Church, 1626 Carnegie St., from 4 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, followed by a memorial service from 5:30 -7 p.m.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, Oct. 4th at 1 p.m. at New Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Hernando, Miss.

ANNUAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION AT MT. VERNON

Standing from left: Martel Jones, Phyllis Thomas, Christine Wells, Barbara Farmer, Dr. James Netters, senior pastor of Mr. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood, Loie Watkins, the Rev. M. Watkins, the Rev. Hattie Thompson, Michelle Holman and Rosemary Winters. Seated is Mother Ruthie Davis. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley) The women of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood, 620 Parkrose Ave., celebrated “Women’s Emphasis Month Sunday, Sept. 28.

Led by co-chairs Loie Watkins and Michelle Holman, the women’s ministry furthered its goal of establishing relationships – not only with Jesus Christ, but with each other.

The women’s ministry also empasized the value of women teaming together to promote a greater awareness of medical challenges, social issues and service to the community.

The month of September started with “Red” Sunday.

The women were resplendent in red attire to promote Heart Awareness. Second Sunday was ladies in “Pink” promoting cancer awareness. And on the fourth Sunday, the women chose grey

Loie Watkins (left), chairperson of Mt. Vernon Baptist ChurchWestwood’s Annual Women’s Day Celebration, and cochair Michelle Holman, show off their hats during the women’s day luncheon.

and fuchsia as thei annual day hallmark colors.

The month also included a Chat & Chew, Meet & Greet Fellowship, prayer and praise, donations to Lifeblood and a luncheon for the seniors at Westwood Manor.

During the Women’s Revival, Evangelist Ruby Holland delivered a message of “Hope, Restoration, Revitalization, Renewal and Sisterhood.”

Dr. Cozette Garrett followed with a message of her own during the women’s “Annual Day.” Following Sunday morning service, the women were treated to a “Women in Hats” luncheon. And then merit awards were presented in four areas: Service, Leadership, Christian Education and Living Legend.

PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHESMETROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor 767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126

901-946-4095 fax 948-8311

ASSOCIATE MINISTERS 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

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

– Psalm 55:22

Attend the Church of your choice

ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, October 2 - 8, 2014, Page 10

WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry stirs feedback as ‘dad’ and studio mogul

by Myron Mays Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Tyler Perry is always in the news. Whether it’s the latest box office feature or a brand new television show, the guy is everywhere. The latest news regards him becoming a dad!

There has been Myron quite a bit of posMays itive feedback and some that is, well, not so. Of course, the not-so positive is tethered to the point that he is not married.

Let’s be realistic, the guy really doesn’t owe us anything when it comes to what we feel is a moral issue. Tyler Perry is an actor, playwright and filmmaker. All we should expect from him is his product. And if we’re not fans, we shouldn’t expect anything.

Like Perry’s decision or not, it’s his decision and who are we to judge? When it all boils down, you can’t take away from what this guy is really here to do. Sometimes we get so caught up in the hype that we totally overlook what’s really important.

Did you know that he is about to embark on one of the biggest projects that Hollywood has ever encountered? And it has nothing to do with Madea?

Check this out: There’s a military base located near Atlanta that was formerly used by the U.S. Army for its forces and reserve commands. It hasn’t been in use since 2011. Guess who has been trying to purchase this property? You guessed it, Tyler?

And why would Tyler Perry want to purchase an abandoned Army base? He is planning to build 16 movie studios and a film production facility on the 330-acre property, making it the new headquarters for his Tyler Perry Studios.

Perry has come a long ways since the stage plays, right? This is a guy who was unsuccessful in what he does…on more than one occasion.

This is a guy who has had to sleep in his car…on more than one occasion.

I’m pretty sure he has felt like giving up…on more than one occasion. You really gotta respect the man’s drive and determination. If there’s traffic on the expressway, I’m ready to turn around and go back home.

Despite the upside to Perry’s plans, many residents oppose them, saying selling the property to Perry would derail years of work by community members who favor a master, mixed-use plan. There is even grumbling about the $30 million price, with Perry’s critics saying the price is too low.

Here’s What’s Happening Three great concerts are coming to the area this month: On Saturday, Oct. 11th Ginuwine is headlining the Ladies Choice Tour, which includes 112 and Lyfe Jennings at the Orpheum.

Also Oct. 11th, Stevie Wonder will be performing at the Cannon Center.

And on Oct. 25th, R. Kelly –the King of R&B – is heded to the BankcorpSouth Arena in Tupelo.

You can get tickets to all three shows at all Ticketmaster outlets.

This should be enough soul to take you through the end of the year. But you know there will be more to come.

(Got an event you’d like for me to cover or attend? Email me at Myron@whatshappeningmyron.com.)

Dr. Earnestine Jenkins (left), associate professor of art history at the University of Memphis, and Celeste-Marie Bernier, the Dorothy K. Hohenberg Chair of Excellence in Art History at the university, shows her book, “Images of America: African Americans in Memphis,” to inquisitive guests during the authors’ book signing at the 99th Annual Association for the Study of African American Life and History Convention at the Peabody Hotel. (Photos: Wiley Henry)

Circuit Court Judge D’Army Bailey, the author of “The Education of a Black Radical: A Southern Civil Rights Activist’s Journey, 19591964” and “Mine Eyes Have Seen: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Final Journey,” gives curious readers a glimpse of what’s inside his book.

Authors –and their works – speak to ASALH mission

by Wiley Henry whenry@tsdmemphis.com

Toussaint Louverture, Nathaniel Turner, Sengbe Pieh, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman are familiar iconic symbols of heroism whose struggle in the United States, Africa and the Caribbean helped to change the status quo of their day: racism and slavery.

Celeste-Marie Bernier, the Dorothy K. Hohenberg Chair of Excellence in Art History at the University of Memphis, traces the lives and histories of these six men and women in her book, “Characters of Blood: Black Heroism in the Transatlantic Imagination.”

Currently on leave as professor of African American Studies at the University of Nottingham, UK, Bernier was among dozens of authors showcasing their literary works at the 99th Annual Association for the Study of African American Life and History Convention (ASALH).

The four-day convention at the Peabody Hotel, Sept. 24-28, drew a smorgasbord of authors locally and nationally, including Circuit Court Judge D’Army Bailey, who autographed copies of his books, “The Education of a Black Radical: A Southern Civil Rights Activist’s Journey, 1959-1964” and “Mine Eyes Have Seen: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Final Journey.”

Although the theme of ASALH was “Civil Rights in America,” the number of authors and their scholarly works were particularly broad-based, noteworthy, and coincided with the bevy of academics, government officials, community leaders and activists in attendance.

The struggle for civil rights and the residual effects of slavery were duly noted in many of the authors’ works and also among the vendors who stocked their booths with artifacts, art, African clothing, and educational material that was reflective of ASALH’s mission.

The mission is “to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community.”

People aren’t telling the story…

Bernier’s work is representative of ASALH’s mission. She researches and writes extensively about racism, inequalities and slavery from the vantage point of a white Briton. There is very little difference between racism, inequalities and slavery in the United States, she said, and racism, inequalities and slavery in Great Britain.

“The big issue in Britain is empire and maniacal, aristocratic inequalities,” Bernier explained. “Growing up there as a kid I learned about slavery through people trading…and slavery was a word that was never used. So we have forces of amnesia that are still very powerful.

“Currently, governmental practices are to remove references to black British history in favor of mythologizing a white Briton,” she said, “because, it suits current ideas around immigration and conservative policies and racists practices.

“One of the most powerful experiences has been understanding black British histories and how fascinated black British performers and musicians are with African American histories. So many of them will ask me questions about what I know about African American life and culture.”

Bernier’s assorted transatlantic experiences and scholarship drew her to Memphis and, of course, the ASALH convention.

“One of the most powerful things about being in Memphis is teaching courses and research that I do about slavery… (The) city very much has a long history, and a powerful history, not only in terms of social, political, legal issues about slavery, but also music, art, photography.

“I grew up in a French, Canadian, Irish community. When my mom was dying, she wanted to read Harry Jacob. She didn’t want to read the great white British classics,” Bernier said. “So that notion of understanding poverty and class and nationhood, I was very careful to let people know how I came to this story, why I’m interested, and what it is that I’m trying to do.”

People aren’t telling the story, she said.

‘Repositories of ongoing history…’

During a mid-day luncheon at the convention, Bailey – lawyer, judge, civil rights activist, actor and author – relayed his experiences growing up in Memphis, participating in the sit-in movement in Louisiana, becoming a black radical and birthing the National Civil Rights Museum While “The Education of a Black Radical” encapsulates Bailey’s collective experiences in the civil rights movement in the ‘60s, the book “Mine Eyes Have Seen” is mostly pictorial. Both books, however, trace the author’s journey during that turbulent era.

An avid reader, Bailey also has a penchant for writing. The world he grew up in and the struggle to overcome the vestiges of Jim Crow laws and the racist practices of its perpetrators is now fodder for his books and lectures.

Bailey is telling his own story, which made him the man he is today. And he is not willing to yield that narrative to someone else.

The ASALH convention was important to him for that reason, he said, and also because it served as a disseminator of “information about black life, history and culture.”

“These things are about connections and getting to know people and people getting to know you,” said Bailey. “It’s a chance to talk to people who’re interested in works of history and stories about struggles.”

The written word is important and books can be “repositories of ongoing history,” Bailey said. For this reason, the authors book signing and the various panel discussions was the underpinning for the ASALH convention.

“There’s a different breed of people who buy books…hold them…and read the pages,” Bailey said. “It’s more than what the information is in it. It’s an experience when you make the commitment to read a book. The important thing is understanding how the written word can be used to communicate.”

Tri-State Defender

Page 11

October 2 - 8, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam’s Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

Alfre Woodard and Annabelle Wallis, who plays the pregnant wife of an unborn daughter.

(Courtesy photo)

by Kam Williams Special to The New Tri-State Defender

For movies opening Oct. 3, 2014 BIG BUDGET FILMS “Annabelle” (R for terror and disturbing violence) Harrowing prequel to The Conjuring revolving around a husband (Ward Horton) who comes to regret buying a cursed antique doll for his pregnant wife (Annabelle Wallis) and unborn daughter. With Alfre Woodard, Eric Ladin and Brian Howe.

“Gone Girl” (R for profanity, a scene of gruesome violence, graphic sexuality and frontal nudity) Screen adaptation of the Gillian Flynn best-seller of the same name about a man (Ben Affleck) who becomes the prime suspect in the mysterious disappearance of the wife (Roasmund Pike) that vanished on their 5th anniversary. Cast includes Tyler Perry, Neil Patrick Harris and Sela Ward.

“The Good Lie” (PG-13 for mature themes, violence, drug use and brief profanity) Factbased drama recounting the tireless efforts of a headstrong employment counselor (Reese Witherspoon) on behalf of several Lost Boys, Sudanese refugees from ethnic cleansing seeking to resettle in Kansas. With Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal and Kuoth Wiel.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS “Bang Bang!” (Unrated) Bollywood remake of Knight and Day (2010), the Tom Cruise/Cameron Diaz action comedy about a woman (Katrina Kaif) headed to a wedding who ends up on the run from a team of assassins after unwittingly befriending the handsome spy (Hrithik Roshan) she meets at the airport. Support cast includes Danny Denzongpa, Jaaved Jaffrey and Jimmy Shergill.

(In Hindi with subtitles) “The Blue Room” (Unrated) Crime thriller set in a country hotel where a married Frenchman (Mathieu Amalric) finds himself trapped in a passionate affair with a very desperate mistress (Stephanie Cleau). With Lea Drucker, Laurent Poitrenaux and Serge Bozon. (In French with subtitles) “The Decent One” (Unrated) Revisionist documentary promoting Hitler henchman/Nazi Gestapo chief Heinrich Himmler as a sensitive family man as revealed by his letters, diary, photo albums and home movies. (In English and German with subtitles) “Drive Hard” (Unrated) Action comedy about a retired racecar driver (Thomas Jane) who finds himself pressed into service at gunpoint as the getaway driver for a crook (John

Cusack) pulling off a multimillion-dollar heist. Featuring Zoe Ventoura, Christopher Morris and Yesse Spence.

“Fishing without Nets” (R for profanity, violence, drug use and sexual images) High seas drama about a Somali pirate (Abdikani Muktar) who changes his mind about participating in a hijacking conspiracy while in the midst of holding a French oil tanker for ransom. With Eric Gordon, Abdiwali Farrah and Idil Ibrahim. (In Somali with subtitles) “A Good Marriage” (R for violence, sexuality, profanity and disturbing images) Screen adaptation of the Stephen King short story about a woman (Joan Allen) forced to reevaluate her 25-year marriage after discovering her husband’s (Anthony LaPaglia) deep, dark secret. Featuring Stephen Lang, Will Rogers and Theo Stockman.

“The Hero of Color City” (G) CGI animated adventure about a rainbow coalition of crayons which bands together to rid their multi-hued kingdom of a malicious monster (Owen Wilson) bent on world domination.

Voice cast includes Christina Ricci, Sean Astin, Rosie Perez, Craig Ferguson and Wayne Brady.

“Inner Demons” (Unrated) Tawdry tale of demonic possession about a devoutly religious couple (Colleen McGrann and Christopher Parker) who decide to allow a reality-TV show to record the intervention they stage for their daughter (Lars Vosburgh) in need of an exorcism after the 16 year-old straight-A student becomes addicted to heroin. With Kate Whitney, Morgan McClellan and Brian Flaherty.

“Keep on Keepin’ On” (Unrated) Reverential biopic about 93 year-old jazz legend Clark Terry, trumpeter and flugelhorn pioneer who played with everyone from Duke Ellington to Count Basie to Dizzy Gillespie to Quincy Jones.

“Left Behind” (PG-13 for violence, peril, mature themes and brief drug use) Remake of the post-apocalyptic thriller from 2000 based on the Tim LaHaye sci-fi novel of the same name about the plight of a small group of survivors in the wake of the sudden disappearance of millions of people. Hey, where’d everybody go? Starring Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Nicky Whelan and Cassi Thomson.

“The Liberator” (R for violence, grisly images, sexuality and nudity) Edgar Ramirez plays the title character in this historical biopic about Simon Bolivar, the military leader who, in the early 19th Century, mounted over a hundred battles against the Spanish Empire all over South America. With Erich Wildpret, Maria Valverde and Juana Acosta.

(In Spanish, English and French with subtitles) “Men, Women & Children” (R for profanity and pervasive graphic sexuality) Comingof-age dramedy following a group of teens dealing with the ways in which the internet affects their relationships, self-image, communication and love lives. Ensemble cast includes Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Emma Thompson, J.K. Simmons, Dennis Haysbert, Rosemarie DeWitt, Judy Greer and Ansel Eigort.

“Nas: Time Is Illmatic” (Unrated) Reverential biopic about gangsta rapper and sworn Jay-Z adversary Nas. Featuring appearances

by Alicia Keys, Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Swizz Beatz and Fab 5 Freddy.

“The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin” (Unrated) International banking is the subject of this documentary chronicling the burgeoning popularity of the crypto-currency called Bitcoin.

“The Supreme Price” (Unrated) Female empowerment documentary about women’s ongoing fight for equal rights in Nigeria in the face of an oppressive culture that is both misogynistic and corrupt.

‘Take one’ Weekend beckons filmmakers and creative types Local filmmakers and creative types have been extended an Oct. 10-12th invitation to hook up for a “crazy, challenging, and exciting weekend of non-stop filmmaking” dubbed “Take One.” The event will be FuelFilm’s latest iteration of its “48Hr Film Launch” and reflects a partnership with MEMFIX: EDGE – a one-day, community-driven effort to imagine an invigorated Edge District, roughly defined as the area within a quarter-mile radius of the Marshall Avenue/Monroe Avenue intersection.

MEMFix events have been used throughout Memphis to temporarily activate streets, blocks, and neighborhoods. The goal is “creating vibrancy and demonstrating new possibilities for our communities” FuelFilm’s Matt Bieckert and David Merrill said via a news release that novices and experienced filmmakers and actors will have the opportunity of collaborating on one of five film projects, using equipment and locations provided by FuelFilm.

“We’re really excited about our partnership with MEMFix: Edge because the Edge District is such a vibrant community with so many incredible stories. Stories we’d love to see on film! That’s why we’re encouraging participants to keep their concepts Edge-local,” said Bieckert and Merrill Those needing inspiration can visit Kudzu (603 Monroe) every Monday night at 5:45 p.m. until “Take One” Weekend to hear historians and history buffs share some of their tales about Edge district.

Because the Edge District is historically known as a place where things are made – music, beer, guitars, art, food – the MEMFix celebration is designed to promote that same spirit. Livable Memphis and its various community partners are working with local businesses, residents and other stakeholders in the Edge to develop temporary re-designs of Marshall Avenue and activation of various vacant storefronts. All the while there will be presentations of live music, mobile food and retail, and other programs and activities representing the potential of the area to visitors from Memphis and beyond.

MEMFix: Edge will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. To sign up, visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/takeone-weekend-filming-in-the-edge-tickets10165859359?aff=estw.

Page 12

Tri-State Defender

October 2 - 8, 2014

CLASSIFIEDS Legal Notices REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS OF THE RIVERFRONT PARKING GARAGE 35 MONROE AVENUE The Memphis and Shelby County Parking Authority, (dba) Downtown Parking Authority, is seeking proposals for management of the RIVERFRONT Parking Garage located at 35 Monroe Avenue in downtown Memphis.

Copies of the Request for Proposal may be downloaded at www.downtownmemphiscommission.com DEADLINE for responses to this request for proposal should be received no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 31, 2014 and submitted to: Downtown Parking Authority C/O Jerome Rubin 114 N. Main Street Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 575-0540 Phone

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF CONSTRUCTION BIDS TO BE RECEIVED OCTOBER 24, 2014 Sealed Bids will be received by the CITY OF GERMANTOWN, at their offices in GERMANTOWN, until 10:00 A.M., OCTOBER 24, 2014 and publicly opened and read at 1930 GERMANTOWN ROAD SOUTH at that hour.

GERMANTOWN GREENWAY TRAIL 1.463 MILE TRAIL ALONG WOLF RIVER BOULEVARD FROM APPROXIMATELY KIMBROUGH RD. TO CAMERON BROWN PARK P.E. NO. 79954-1535-54 PIN NO. 101615.00 PROPOSAL CONTRACTS WILL BE ISSUED UNTIL THE TIME SET FOR OPENING BIDS A Prime Contractor must prequalify with the Department of Transportation in accordance with Section 54-5-117 of the “Tennessee Code Annotated” and Tennessee Department of Transportation

TRI-STATE DEFENDER CLASSIFIEDS 203 Beale Street, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38103 PH (901) 523-1818 FAX (901) 578-5037 HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm DEADLINES: Display ads Monday 5 p.m.

Classified ads Monday 5 p.m.

RATES: Standard rates: $9.50 per line for 1 column ad.

Rates are non-commissionable and are quoted at the net rate. No refund for early cancellation.

For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@tri-

statedefender.com BEER PERMITS Flat Rate $30 GENERAL INFORMATION: Some categories require prepayment. All ads subject to credit approval. Tri-State Defender reserves the right to correctly classify and edit all copy, or to reject or cancel any ad at any time. Only standard abbreviations accepted. Copy change during ordered schedule constitutes new ad & new charges. Deadlines for cancellation are identical to placement deadlines. Rates subject to change.

ADJUSTMENTS: PLEASE check your ad the first day it appears. Call 901-523-1818 if an error occurs. We can only offer in-house credit and NO REFUNDS are issued.

TRI-STATE DEFENDER assumes no financial responsibility for errors nor for copy omission. Direct any classified billing iinquiries to 901-523-1818.

President/Chief Executive Officer - United Way of the Mid-South (UWMS) UWMS seeks a proven, successful, and credible leader to serve as its President/Chief Executive Officer. Founded in 1923, UWMS has been a highly valued leader in improving the quality of life for Mid-Southerners. Qualifications required to lead the organization into the future include significant experience as Chief Executive or senior executive, preferably in an organization with an emphasis on revenue generation and a commitment to operational excellence and results. A Bachelor’s degree is also required and postgraduate studies are desired. Competitive salary and excellent benefits. A complete job description/candidate profile can be found on our website at www.uwmidsouth.org. Send resume and cover letter to match criteria to: Executive Search Committee P.O. Box 750730 Memphis, TN 38175-0730 United Way of the Mid-South is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Rule 1680-5-3 prequalification of contractors before biddable proposals will be furnished.

has been set for this project and must be met or exceeded.

The CITY OF GERMANTOWN hereby notifies all bidders that a 10% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal

The CITY OF GERMANTOWN hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvan-

taged 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.

The CITY OF GERMANTOWN is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

Telephone 901-757-7200 The CITY OF GERMANTOWN hereby notifies all bidders that a mandatory prebid meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., October 15, 2014 at the Economic and Community Development Bldg, 1920 South Germantown Road.

THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED Bidding documents plans and specifications are available on CD or DVD for a non-refundable fee of $25.00. Contact Ms. Lisa Piefer, CITY OF GERMANTOWN Purchasing Director (901-7577288).

PUBLIC NOTICE THE MEMPHIS URBAN AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION In compliance with federal regulations 23 CFR 450, the Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is updating its Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. This plan, which serves a component of the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan, will contain policies, goals, and objectives for the coordinated development of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in the Memphis MPO study area.

The public is hereby given notice that the Memphis MPO will hold a public meeting to provide information on the plan update and data analysis results, as well as to solicit input from the public on the draft Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan document. The meeting will be held as follows:

October 7, 2014 – 5:30 Pm – Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111 The public is hereby given further notice that the draft Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan will be available for review starting on October 7, 2014 from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, in the offices of the Memphis and Shelby County Department of Regional Services located at 125 N. Main Street, Room 450, Memphis, TN 38103 or for download from the Internet at: www.memphismpo.org. The English and Spanish language copies are also available for public review in the library systems of Memphis, Shelby County, and Fayette County, Tennessee, DeSoto County, Mississippi, and Marshall County, Mississippi.

Written public comments on the 2014 Update to the Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan will be accepted from October 7, 2014 to November 7, 2014. Comments may be submitted to Pragati Srivastava, Department of Regional Services, 125 N. Main Street, Room 450, Memphis, TN 38134 or via email to Pragati.Srivastava@memphistn.gov. The Memphis MPO Transportation Policy Board (TPB) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, November 20, 2014, at 1:30 PM, at the UT Health Science Center, Student Alumni Building, 800 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, 38103 to accept oral comments and take action on the proposed items.

It is the policy of the Memphis Urban Area MPO not to discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin or disability in its hiring or employment practices, or in its admissions to or operations of its program, services, or activities. All inquiries for Title VI and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or for persons with disabilities that require aids or services to participate either in the review of these documents or at the hearing may contact Mitchell Lloyd at 901-576-7146, fax (901) 576-7272; or email Mitchell.Lloyd@memphistn.gov to make accessibility arrangements no less than five days prior to the meetings.

This notice is funded (in part) under an agreement with the State of TN and MS, Departments of Transportation.

Atty. Andre’ C. Wharton earns National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 selection The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 has selected Andre’ C. Wharton of The Wharton Law Firm for inclusion into its Top 40 Trial Lawyers, an honor given to a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field.

Membership in the exclusive organization is by invitation only, and is limited to the top 40 attorneys in each state or region who have demonstrated excellence and have achieved outstanding results in their careers in either civil plaintiff or criminal defense law.

Buzzing on Beale...

The high-energy house band of B.B. King’s Blues Club on Beale Street, the King Beez, was honored with a brass note on Sept. 30th for years of performing. The band serves as ambassadors of Memphis soul and blues and has entertained countless tourists from around the world in the 20 years of playing at the western anchor of the Beale Street entertainment district. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

Andre’ C. Wharton

The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 is a professional organization comprised of premier trial lawyers who have demonstrated “exceptional qualifications in their area of the law, specifically criminal defense or civil plaintiff law.”

The selection process is based on a multi-phase process, which includes peer nominations combined with third party research.

Tri-State Defender

Page 13

October 2 - 8, 2014

COMMUNITY BRIEFS & THINGS Tri-State Bank nets $355,000 Bank Enterprise Award Tri-State Bank of Memphis will receive a FY2014 Bank Enterprise Award (BEA) of $355,000 from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) of the U.S. Treasury. According to the CDFI Fund, the award is recognition for providing affordable home mortgage loans, affordable housing development loans, and small business loans in low-income and distressed communities.

Jesse H. Turner Jr., president and CEO of Tri-State Bank of Memphis, said, “We are grateful for this award, which is a tribute to the efforts of our board, our staff, and our stakeholders to help meet the economic needs of our community at a still difficult time for so many.”

Tri-State Bank, one of 69 FDIC-insured depository institutions receiving the award, is a certified CDFI. The bank has received the maximum award and will reinvest it in distressed communities. With the award, the Tri-State Bank has now received a BEA Award in 5 of the last 6 years bringing the total received to $1.7 million.

Tri-State Bank of Memphis, the secondoldest, independent bank in Memphis, was founded in 1946 by the late Dr. J.E. Walker and his son, the late A. Maceo Walker. It serves individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, and churches and has resources of $134 million with three locations.

For more information, contact Carolyn Walker at 901-525-0384.

Hepatitis C research Nets $50,000 grant Patricia MatthewsJuarez, PhD, co-director of the Research Center on Health Disparities, Equity, and the Exposome and professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has rePatricia ceived a $50,000 grant Matthewsto conduct a provider Juarez, PhD. education and community awareness program about the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the African-American community.

The one-year grant is from Gilead Sciences, Inc. The award will be used to support a project titled, “Test, Listen, Cure" (TLC) Hepatitis C Community Awareness Campaign.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012 data shows that African-Americans had the highest mortality rates from HCV in the United States from 2004 to 2008, at 6.5 to 7.8 deaths per 100,000 persons. AfricanAmericans died from HCV 74.6 percent more often than did whites based on their representation in the overall population (Armstrong 2006).

To address HCV in the Mid-South and to implement the project, Dr. MatthewsJuarez and her research team will recruit and train 300 health care providers from Memphis and the surrounding areas (Northern Mississippi and East Arkansas).

Gilead Sciences is a California-based biopharmaceutical company that “discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need.”

BRIEFLY: Dress for Success Memphis will host its 5th Annual Little Black Dress Event on Thursday (Oct. 2nd), from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

Advanced tickets are $50 and $60 at the door. The event will feature a fashion show and the soulful sounds of Joyce Cobb. Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development to help women thrive in work and in life. For tickets and more information contact Sandra Burke @ 901-363-3100 or visit eventbrite.

BRIEFLY: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will take to the streets of Memphis, rolling into town with its Blue of TennesseeSM mobile consumer information center on Oct. 4th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Healing Cathedral Christian Church, 4523 Elvis Presley Blvd. in Whitehaven.

BRIEFLY: On Sunday (Oct. 5th) Strictly Vettes of Memphis and the Mid-South Camaro Club will host the “Wigs for Breast Cancer” All Ladies Car Show on the lawns of the Memphis Pink Palace Museum located at 3050 Central Avenue.

Proceeds will benefit The Wings Cancer Foundation, a local non-profit whose purpose is to “meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of cancer patients and their families.” “Get in the pink” by donating new stylish wigs to assist recipients/patients and donate a $15 registration fee to participate in the car show. Cash donations will also be accepted. The day’s activities will run from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. and will include music and awards for the various classes of cars. For more information: contact Lisa McPherson at 901-3348805, or Maurice Woodard at 901-4139684.

BRIEFLY: The UCan 5th Annual Swing for Success Golf Scramble to benefit UCAN’s anti-bullying program is set for Oct. 10th at Glen Eagle Golf Course.

Registration for the 4-person scramble begins at noon, with a 1 p.m. shotgun start.

Cost: $240 per team, including lunch, goody bag & winner’s trophy. For more information: 901-262-8642; visit www.ucanofmemphis.org.

Appeals court ruling against Whalum may not be the end

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to the New Tri-State Defender

It was three years ago that school board election results were posted in District 4. For thenchallenger Kevin Woods, it looked like victory with a 290vote edge.

For the incumbent, Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr., it looked like an election fraught with voter irregularities and questionable policy by the Shelby County Election Commission.

Whalum’s challenge to those election results was proceeding

favorably until Tuesday’s ruling handed down by Appeals Court Judge Steven Stafford. The ruling reversed Chancellor Kenny Armstrong’s c o n t e n t i o n Dr. Kenneth T. that redisWhalum Jr. tricting implemented just prior to elections denied District 4 voters from voting in the race. His ruling had come in re-

Kevin Woods

sponse to a l a w s u i t Whalum filed over the certified election results.

Chancellor Armstrong concurred with the contention that 186 people who voted in that race actually lived in another dis-

trict.

This week, however, Judge Stafford ruled that even with the

186 votes in question, Woods still had a 104 margin of victory. Still, he concluded that because of the redistricting issues Whalum has grounds to pursue his case.

But will he?

“I’ll read the order tomorrow, and then decide whether or not we will appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court,” Whalum said late Wednesday night. “I won’t make a statement, though, until I call a press conference to address the matter.”

Board member Woods called the ruling “vindication for those volunteers who worked tirelessly on the campaign.”

The Ford Nelson Honors Celebration “This is one I will never, never forget,” said Ford Nelson, the focal point of The Ford Nelson Honors Celebration held last Saturday (Sept. 27th).

Ford Nelson – a living legend of the Memphis airwaves and the community at large – stepped into the sanctuary of Berean Missionary Baptist Church with his arms spread wide. It was a spontaneous reaction to the first glimpse of what awaited him.

A longtime fixture on 1070 WDIA, Nelson was the focal point of The Ford Nelson Honors Celebration held at the church last Saturday. The event paying homage to Nelson was hosted by WDIA’s Bev Johnson, Mark Stansbury and Mel DeBerry.

Tributes flowed throughout the evening from a stream of special surprise guests. Powerful musical salutes were stirringly delivered by an array of local talent that included Perfection, The Jubilee Hummingbirds, the Memphis Chapter of GMWA Choir, Billy Rivers & The Angelic Voices of Faith, The Southern Sons and Deborah Manning Thomas.

“It’s a great honor, one I have never experienced before in all these 64 years at WDIA,” said Nelson. “This stands out above all others. This is one I will never, never forget.”

Ford, who started out at WDIA in 1950, told The New Tri-State Defender that radio has changed, especially from a technology standpoint. But, he said, “The hearts and souls of people have never changed. They are the greatest people in the world.

“Nat D. Williams used to say – our first African-American announcer on WDIA – that our listeners are the greatest people in the world. And that holds true today.”

Tributes to iconic radio personality Ford Nelson flowed throughout an evening of celebration at Berean Missionary Baptist Church (Photos: George Tillman Jr.)

Fall Break – a time for creative childcare options

by Alisha Tillery Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Fall Break for Shelby County Schools is around the corner, and Kairos Services is prepared to provide parents with a unique opportunity for their children. The nonprofit that specializes in job training and development is offering its innovative camp, Kamp KSI, during Fall Break, Oct. 6-10th.

Kamp KSI will offer nontraditional activities for children ages 712 to build their competency skills, including golfing, videography and chess. Such activities, according to Kamp KSI, help children think critically and collaborate with others. When competency skills are strengthened early on, children’s ability to obtain jobs and develop financial sustainability increases, according to a national study.

After two years in operation, the camp has delivered signs of a success, serving children from diverse areas across the city. Kairos Services is offering the camp during extended school breaks to serve parents who want their children to spend the time away from school in an enriching environment “As we continue to work to help families become self-sufficient and increase working wages, we know that children’s education is the foundation,” said Herbert Lester, executive director. “We are hosting Kamp KSI during Fall Break to ensure that enrichment is ongoing, even when school isn’t in session."

Kamp KSI also includes meals for campers for $85. For more information or to register for Kamp KSI, visit www.kairosmemphis.org.

Videography is among the nontraditional activities Kamp KSI will offer for children ages 712 during Fall Break, Oct. 610th. (Courtesy photo)

SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, October 2 - 8, 2014, Page 14

GRIZZ TRACK

2014 Media Day! Media Day for the Memphis Grizzlies unfolded inside the FedExForum on Monday.

With several new faces added to a team that made the playoffs last year, the Grizzlies are focused on

getting back to the Western Conference Finals – and beyond.

Memphis fans have come to rely on the Grizzlies core of Mike Conley, Zach Randolph and Marc

Mike Conley

Zach Randolph

Gasol.

Newcomers such as veteran Vince Carter are fueling expectations that the 2014-15 Grizzlies will have what it takes to go deep into the playoffs.

Vince Carter (Photos: Kelley Evans)

Memphis effort not nearly enough to stop Ole Miss

by Anthony Sain Special to The New Tri-State Defender

In a football game that was a lot closer than it’s final score (24-3), the University of Memphis Tigers got a gauge of the gap between where they are and upper-level SEC competition.

The Tigers’ trip to Oxford produced a 7-3 affair with the highly-ranked Ole Miss Rebels that extended into the

fourth quarter. Memphis was down by only four points until the 13:04 mark in the last quarter when the Rebels’ Andrew Fletcher connected on a 19-yard field goal to stretch lead to a touchdown.

The Rebels dominated in all statistical categories, amassing 426 total yards compared to only 102 for Memphis. Ole Miss had several miscues that could have allowed Memphis many opportunities to score, if

the Tigers could have executed offensively.

They couldn’t.

The Rebels had four turnovers on the night, including a fumbled punt, as well as two interceptions and a fumble by Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace. Against the Tigers scrappy defense, Wallace was careless with the ball to say the least.

The key moment that sealed the Tigers’ fate for the night

was probably a drive around the nine-minute mark of the third quarter. Memphis had the ball and was driving when a bobbled pass was intercepted by Trae Elston, who returned it 47 yards to the Memphis 33 yard line. The Tigers had momentum on their side before that interception and had just recovered an Ole Miss fumble, starting the drive on the Ole Miss 30 yard line.

Much criticism was directed at Memphis’ oh-so-evident lack of creativity against the Rebels. Many in Tiger Nation thought the Tigers needed to pass the ball down field more against the Rebels. Instead, there were so many painful outside run attempts that netted minimal yards.

The Tigers were only able to total 23 yards rushing the ball as the Ole Miss defensive line popped the Tigers all

night long. Not only was the running game shut down, there was precious little time for Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch to get off his passes.

Ole Miss scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to finally break the game open. That included a touchdown with 1:18 left in the game that didn’t set well many Memphis fans, who thought it smacked of unsportsmanship.

Next – Memphis at Cincinnati: The Four P.A.W.S. Possibilities: Memphis has a chance to bounce back against conference foe Cincinnati and not only gain its first conference victory but also keep the momentum that has led many to believe the Tigers have the potential to win the American Athletic Conference this season. It’s also a possibility that if Memphis

Doroland Dorceus, the starting running back and leader rusher for Memphis, is helped off the field after injuring his leg. He did not return to the game.

(Photos: Warren Roseborough)

Ryan Coleman of the Memphis Tigers makes a horse collar tackle on I'Tavious Mathers of Ole Miss, which resulted in a penalty.

loses the game Saturday the Tigers’ momentum – as far as fan perception is concerned – would swing in the opposite direction. With a record of 2-2, this is a pivotal matchup.

Assumptions: You can assume that the Tigers offense will look a lot better against Cincinnati this week as

opposed to how it looked last Saturday against Ole Miss.

Cincinnati ranks 108th in the nation in points allowed at nearly 36 per game. That’s a far cry from the Rebels defense that overwhelmed the outmatched the Tigers.

Weaknesses: The Tigers running attack could possibly suffer

Saturday after tailback and team leading rusher Doroland Dorceus suffered a season ending ACL injury against Ole Miss. Dorceus, who had 237 yards and four touchdowns so far this season, was easily the Tigers most physical running back and losing him could make what had previously been a strength become a weak-

ness. Let’s see if senior Brandon Hayes, promising freshman Jarvis Cooper and possibly Sam Craft are able to fill the.

Strengths: The Tigers’ playmaking and ball-hawking defense again proved to be a major strength.

Even though Memphis surrendered a few big plays to

Ole Miss’ talented receiving corps, the Tigers held the Rebels at bay for most of the game, forcing several turnovers on the night. Let’s see if the Tigers defense, lead

by Bobby McCain and Tank James, is able to continue a strong season and key a win on the road against the Bearcats.

Charles Harris of the Tigers makes a touchdown-saving tackle on Quincy Adbeyejo of Ole Miss.

Tevin Jones of the Memphis Tigers makes a nice catch over Kendarius Webster of Ole Miss to put his team in scoring position.