November 20 - 26, 2014
VOL. 63, No. 46
www.tsdmemphis.com
75 Cents
Funding on the way for Southbrook Mall renovation
by Tony Jones
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
A grant earmarked to assist in reviving the once-thriving Southbrook Mall in Whitehaven was set to be announced today (Nov. 20th) in City Hall by Mayor AC Wharton Jr. Full details were not available at The New Tri-State Defender’s Wednesday print deadline time. However, Public Information Officer Dewanna Lofton said the grant would provide $2.1 million in funding to the mall’s owners – Southbrook Corporation – for muchneeded repairs to the roof, lighting and heating and air conditioning infrastructure. The funding marks the first positive
$2.1 million grant set for unveiling
news for the facility, which will be renamed Southbrook Towne Cener, for quite some time. Once buzzing with a multi-plex movie theatre, hot boutiques and consistent foot traffic, the facility has long been dormant. Though she did not have details in advance of the announcement, Southbrook Corporation’s Board Vice Chairman Cherry Davis said board members were excited and optimistic about the news. After forming their non-profit corporation and winnowing down several facility studies, market surveys and renovation plans, Southbrook Properties made several unsuccessful applications for funding
Robert Lipscomb
Cherry Davis
to the Memphis City Council. Extensive meetings kept the process alive, leading up to this week’s announcement.
“What had to occur is that we had to have a meeting of the minds to come together as a group to create fresh thinking and define our goals,” said Davis. “Our first request was for $1.5 million but we found out that our project did not qualify for the particular funding stream as it was structured. But this is expected to be what we really need to move forward. No more guessing, no more speculation.” Davis said Southbrook’s board is looking at more than “just a retail facility. (Our) goal is to create something that will last. We had to understand what we were qualified for and where potential funding was available.”
She credits Memphis Housing and Community Development Director Robert Lipscomb as a great energizer. Lipscomb credits Wharton’s full commitment to the process. “We have been meeting for months with the goal to create the highest and best use of that facility for the people of Whitehaven. They deserve the best we can achieve and that is our goal,” Lipscomb said. “Another important aspect is that this is just a first step and there are potentially more to come in the future. Whitehaven has a lot of upsides that have not been maximized. That’s why we wanted something really nice to go with Graceland and let the people in Whitehaven know they are really important. And that includes Southland Mall as well. There’s great potential here we intend to tap.”
As grand jury decision looms, St. Louis-area churches offer safe spaces Clergy train in ‘de-escalation’
The shopper’s guide to a happy, costeffective holiday by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to the New Tri-State Defender
OK, let’s face it. We’ve all done the max-out-every-credit-line approach to holiday shopping. After the New Year, we spent the next 10 months paying off the balances. Then, it’s back on that holiday crazy train for the next year. Gift cards can be great, except that doling them out to all the grandchildren, nieces, and nephews can get pricey. And quite frankly, that $20 gift card to Macy’s won’t go very far for your 21-year-old grandson. He’ll still have to add another $20 of his own money to get a keychain he likes. The truth is that we, consumers, are in a power struggle with the merchants and shopkeepers. They woo us out of our hard-earned money and credit worth for what is purported to be the lowest prices for the highest-quality goods. It’s easy to be caught up in the whirlwind rapture of searching for the perfect gift for everyone we love. We can moan all day about how Christmas has been commercialized, and that people forget that the birth of Christ is “the reason for the season.” But who doesn’t love to receive a gift, or watch the face of a loved one opening a package of that thing for which they have wished the hardest? Alas, a solution that fits everyone’s budget, no matter how meager. Take full advantage of the virtual bonanza of bargains and specials being paraded in television ads, store mailers, discount coupons and competitor-match offers. The amount of savings we glean SEE GUIDE ON PAGE 2
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
H-50o - L-54o
H-59o - L-53o
Showers
REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Showers
SUNDAY
H-68o - L-51o
Scattered Storms
Friday Saturday Sunday H-52 L-44 H-59 L-54 H-69 L-48 H-48 L-38 H-59 L-49 H-66 L-55 H-66 L-52 H-70 L-58 H-73 L-58
by Kenya Vaughn, Bridjes O’Neil and Sandra Jordan NNPA News Service
Churches throughout the St. Louis region will offer “safe spaces” following the grand jury’s decision on whether to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. Clergy are among those who are readying the community for what many are expecting to be a nonindictment of Wilson for the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown Jr. on August 9 – and the unrest that is also expected to ensue. “The churches will have food available if people need to come in off the street and find respite,” said Rev. Renita Lampkin, pastor of St. John AME Church in St. Charles, Missouri. “There will be people who will provide comfort and offer a sense of community.” Four African Methodist Episcopal (AME) churches will serve as safe havens, including St. Luke’sElmwood Park, St. James, St. Paul and St. Peters. The Metropolitan Congregations United Clergy Caucus and
Rev. Osagyefo Sekou trained peaceful protestors in non-violent civil disobedience on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at Greater St. Mark Family Church in Ferguson, Mo. (Photos: Lawrence Bryant / St. Louis American) Metropolitan Clergy Coalition announced that their confirmed safe spaces include Christ Church Cathedral, Washington Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Samaritan UMC, First Congregational Church of St. Louis, Webster Groves Christian Church, Epiphany UCC and Central Reform Congregation. The coalition will also host a prayer service and freedom rally the day of the grand jury announcement, which could be as soon as this Friday, Nov. 21. The prayer service and rally will be held at 7 p.m. on the day
of the announcement at West Side Missionary Baptist Church, 2677 Dunn Rd. AME clergy urged people to stock up on medication, food, water, working flashlights, batteries and to keep vehicles filled with fuel in case access to basic services and necessities are interrupted due to unrest. MCU clergy issued a “moral summons” at a press conference last Friday (Nov. 14) at Central Reform Congregation, reiterating that they stood in solidarity with protestors in the fight for justice for Michael
Brown Jr. “In the wake of the killing of Michael Brown and the violence that has followed, we concerned clergy of St. Louis feel called to consecrate the streets of St. Louis as safe places for all our citizens – and in particular our black and brown children,” said Rev. Dietra Wise Baker, pastor of Liberation Christian Church and cochair of the MCU Clergy Caucus. Wise Baker vowed that clergy will be seen and heard in the event of continued unrest. For more than a month, interfaith clergy leaders from across the St. Louis region have been planning and undergoing “de-escalation training.” Rev. Shaun Jones of Mt. Zion Baptist Church-Christian Complex would not discuss details, but said a nonviolent day of action is being planned in Clayton. Greater St. Mark Family Church has been one of the locations for nonviolent direct action trainings hosted by the Don’t Shoot Coalition, which represents 50 advocacy organizations. “If you feel like the police need to know when to get ready, don’t you think the community needs to know when to get ready?” said Michael McPhearson, Don’t Shoot Coalition co-chair and executive director of SEE DECISION ON PAGE 2
When law and mentoring intersect
Career Reception event was a bridge builder
“moving to Memphis or moving back to Memphis and doing work for the county or the city. What struck me is that they didn’t seem as interested in doing private sector work,” she said. “I thought a lot of young professionals were leaving (the Memphis area), a mass exodus of young professionals. I have heard that. But in terms of these law students, I didn’t get a sense of that at all. The people who spoke here, the leaders of the community, said this is one of the best places to work, and I agree with that.”
by Karanja A. Ajanaku kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com
The second annual Career Reception for law students – hosted by the City of Memphis’s Law Division – served as the intersection of interests that Carl Carter and J.B. Smiley Jr. brought to City Hall last week. Carter, who was there on the lookout for International paper, where he is the associate general counsel, was also on hand to represent the Tennessee Bar Association, where he serves on the board of governors and represents the eighth district. Smiley, a Memphis native, is a law student at William H. Barnes School of Law in Little Rock. “Those of us who are professionals and who have been blessed to be successful, we need to reach back, pull up, help out, push forward or what have you,” said Carter within earshot of a nodding and missionoriented Smiley. “I wanted to do my best to come back home and network with professionals in the community that I want to practice in,” said Smiley. The lawyer and the would-be lawyer both rated the gathering a success. Last year the participating students came from the University of Mississippi and the University of Memphis. This year, Vanderbilt, the Nashville School of Law and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock also sent students. Deputy City Attorney Regina Morrison Newman said nearly every local government law office,
Don’t fall for the misconception
With experience at several government-level offices, Assistant County Atty. Marlinee Iverson has learned the value of “new blood” that brings in “unique perspectives, different perspectives.” (Courtesy photo) many of Memphis’ large and small Iverson was there to inform and to be law firms, and corporations such as alert for “new blood,” which she said International Paper and TruGreen, is important to government offices. sent representatives to speak to the “I am really committed to Shelby students about career opportunities County and the city. I’ve worked in a and internships. Also represented lot of the offices here. I’ve worked for were Memphis Area Legal Services, the DA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Counsel on Call, Memphis Bar We really want to get a thriving Association, National Bar Association group of attorneys. The young ones and members of the local judiciary, just out of law school have something including Circuit Court Judges Jerry to offer because they have unique Stokes and Gina Higgins. perspectives, different perspectives,” “The annual reception furthers said Iverson. the goals of the administration of “We’re going to get new blood Memphis Mayor AC Wharton Jr. to in that challenges us maybe on offer opportunities to youth and to old patterns and get us to look at make Memphis the City of Choice things differently, resolve problems in which to live, work and recreate,” differently. That’s why I think a said Newman. “We look forward to program like this, where we get to growing this event in future years.” meet students who are just graduating and encourage them to apply for ‘New blood’ offices like ours, helps us.” Iverson said she encountered a lot Assistant County Atty. Marlinee of students who were interested in
Some 30 years ago, Carter was a law student. He knows the “tremendous benefit” derived when there is a function that serves as a networking opportunity for law students who will be graduating or law students looking for some employment to start connecting with potential employers. “It is no secret that the jobs prospects are not what they used to be, but what I tell people is that with a little extra effort making some connections, events like this provide a tremendous benefit because they create the opportunity for you,” said Carter. “I commend the mayor and the City of Memphis’ Chief Counsel Herman Morris.” A native Memphian, Carter attended Morehouse College and the University of Virginia School of Law. “I was fortunate enough to be able to return to Memphis right after law school to clerk for the Honorable Odell Horton Jr. Clerking for Judge Horton, being here working downtown in the federal building was a tremendous experience.” SEE LAW ON PAGE 3
November 20 - 26, 2014
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NEWS
GUIDE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT this season will depend solely on the time and thought we invest in price shopping and intentional, nonimpulsive buying. No matter what is budgeted for holiday shopping, we can all come out big winners in the merchant wars. Below is a guide for the smart shopper this holiday season. Brick and mortar The infamous Black Friday has spread its pervasive influence over the week prior to its arrival. In other words, the week leading up to the day when we’re supposed to be reflecting on how thankful we all are has been invaded with pre-Black Friday sales, early Black Friday discount announcements, and all manner of “specials” and “bargains” designed to lure us to plunging into the holiday shopping melee earlier than planned. The usual suspects are the bigname stores, which are running preBlack Friday sales beginning Friday, Nov. 21st. Walmart is not only jumpstarting the holiday shopping season early with a pre-Black Friday sale, it is offering to match any competitor’s Black Friday prices that happen to be lower than its own. Big-ticket items such as electronics and jewelry make it the place to shop this season. This is huge for consumers. No matter what competitors are offering to sell their merchandise for on Black Friday next week, Walmart challenges shoppers to bring in any ad specials from their competitors, and they will match those prices, beginning this Friday. This means no buyer’s remorse next week when some item will be available for lower than you buy from Walmart this week. Specialty shops and boutiques are also grabbing for more market share this season. Catherine’s – Shop for the plussize woman this Friday. Additional discounts will apply during the preBlack Friday sale this week. Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, and Ross – From household goods to clothing for the whole family, markdowns leading up to Black Friday next week make all three stores worth a look this weekend. Burlington Coat Factory – Offering so much more than just coats. Holiday wear, shoes for the whole family and reduced costume
jewelry make this the place to find dresses and outfits for all the holiday parties. Coats of every kind for every member of the family are half the price of any other store. Faux fur coat styles are favorites for women. Hit “The Factory” this weekend. Victoria’s Secret – Find pretty little “intimates” for sisters, moms, cousins and girlfriends with buy-oneget-half-off and other coupon offers this year. The ads will be “leaked” prior to Black Friday, along with downloadable coupons for Angel Collection bras and panties. Milano’s Men’s Fashions – Men’s wear on sale at great prices, but look for fine men’s watches at unheard of savings on Black Friday. Great gifts for the men you love. Stein Mart – Quality items being offered on Black Friday at discount store prices make this a must-stop for the wise shopper: 24K jewelry under $10; ladies’ coats, 50 percent off; and 50 percent off holiday decorations. Hickory Farms, Honey-Baked Ham, Holiday Ham – Black Friday sales on gift baskets and packages are always welcome during the holidays. Shipping options are also available for loved ones far away. Take note! Next week’s Black Friday shopping guide will focus on taking advantage of huge savings on unique gift ideas online. Theater packages, spa gift sets, wine memberships, the gift of travel, smoke shop items for the pipe smoker, and giving the gift of barbeque, just to name a few. It’s the holidays. Don’t get soaked this shopping season. Here’s to happy bargain-hunting!
The New Tri-State Defender
A diverse group of peaceful protesters received training in non-violent civil disobedience on Nov. 11 at Greater St. Mark Family Church in Ferguson, Mo. (Courtesy photo)
DECISION
CONTINUED FROM FRONT Veterans For Peace. As he cited a continued lack of transparency on behalf of “the system” with respect to the Michael Brown Jr. case, McPhearson was one of the teachers who stood in the middle of a learning circle with a diameter that spread across the entire gymnasium of the Greater St. Mark Church early on the afternoon of Nov. 8. More than 150 protesters attended the training session to gain insight on
how to maintain peace and calm with emotions on high. “The key to all of this is that we have to be organized and prepared – if we are not organized and prepared, we will suffer defeat and be divided,” protestor and organizer Lisa Fithian. McPhearson spoke specifically to the older people in the group. “Trust young people that they know what they’re doing,” McPhearson said. “When you’re out there – especially when you haven’t been out there on a regular basis – and you see the young people really giving the police hell, don’t feel like you need
to do something. The young people are not as out of control as you think they are.” They practiced trust exercises and peaceful tactics to not only maintain calm but also protect each other on the front line of protests, when they face off with police – and agitators (both external and internal). “Do not rely on law enforcement to help you in this moment,” McPherson warned. “Because the reason we’re at this moment is because of law enforcement.” (Special to the NNPA from the St. Louis American.)
LAUNCHING SOON
MEMPHIS’ PREMIER UPSCALE URBAN SOCIAL DIGEST
The New Tri-State Defender
NEWS
November 20 - 26, 2014
Carl Carter and a team of representatives from International Paper attended the Career Reception for law students to give and to get. (Courtesy photos)
LAW
CONTINUED FROM FRONT Carter attended Overton High School, which is known for its performing arts emphasis. “That’s what is so fantastic about the law. There is no specific major,” said Carter, who shared that he has a daughter interested in attending a higher-education institution to perhaps become something “like the director of nursing for a hospital.” “I said, ‘You know what? I want you to go on and become the director of nursing because you probably ultimately (are) going to become a lawyer and be practicing in the medical malpractice area.’ I was an accounting major in undergrad. “The misconception is that you need to major in political science, you need to be an English major,” said Carter. “The study of law is open to anyone with an undergraduate degree who is willing and who wants to take their seat at the table and do what is needed to graduate and take the bar exam.” ‘I want to be a lawyer’ Smiley went to Bolton High School, played basketball throughout college and got
J.B. Smiley Jr. says he wants to be a lawyer. He already has shown that he is willing to pay the price. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku) to his senior year and said, “I think I want to go to law school.” The challenges included not knowing any lawyers or what he needed to do. He reasoned upon the need for a double major, hustling with a heavy course load his senior year so that he could have the double major of criminal justice and sociology. The seed, he said upon reflection, was planted at an early age. “When I was 10 years old I was playing basketball and the
coach was helping different individuals in the community, giving them clothes, fatherly advice….I was very inquisitive at that age so I’m asking a lot of questions. I said, ‘How are you able to help everybody?’ He said, ‘Well, I am not able to help everybody but I do my best to.’ I (asked), ‘What do you do?’ He said, ‘I’m a lawyer.’ “So the seed was planted at the age of 10,” said Smiley. “I played basketball in college and (eventually) said, “I want to be a lawyer.”
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November 20 - 26, 2014
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OPINION
John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951-1997)
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The New Tri-State Defender
What will you find during Medicare Open Enrollment?
FLASHBACK: 2006
Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor
Emerging: School choice as go-to issue for African-American voters
With each election, political experts can look at various voting patterns by certain groups to determine which issues are important to those groups. For instance, among African-American voters, it is clear that issues such as jobs, quality housing, affordable health care and education consistently are the most significant. As it relates to education, more and more African-American voters are embracing educational choice and are voting for candidates who identify themselves as school choice supporters. Nowhere is that more evident than in the recent governor’s race in Florida. Republican Gov. Rick Scott was elected in 2010 with just 6 percent of the African-American vote. During his first term, he did not do much to improve his standing among Florida’s African-American electorate – other than steadfastly support the highly popular Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program. Under this program, which serves mostly low income African American and Hispanic students, 70,000 kids are able to attend a quality private school, which is often far better than the traditional public school in their neighborhood. While Gov. Scott was in the midst of campaigning for re-election against former Gov. Charlie Crist, labor unions filed a lawsuit to dismantle the program. Democrat Crist, who once supported the program, supported the unions attempt to shut down the program. In October, the Rev. H. K. Matthews, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, publicly pleaded with Crist to denounce the effort. And Rev. Matthews made his arguments in terms that harkened the civil rights struggles of the 1960s. “The truth is that wealthy children have always had choices, whether to neighborhoods with favored public schools or private schools that only money can buy,” Matthews wrote in an op-ed. “The union cries foul when that privilege is extended to those of meager financial means.”
Matthews was joined by a coalition of black ministers in the state. The scholarship program became a huge issue in the Florida governor’s race. When the votes were counted, Kevin P. not only did Chavous Gov. Scott get re-elected, he also doubled his level of African-American support from 6 percent in 2010 to 12 percent in 2014. That increase gave him the margin he needed to beat former Gov. Crist. Over the years, poll after poll has shown that African American and Hispanic citizens support all forms of educational choice. Indeed, with the school dropout rates in those communities hovering around 50 percent and with the achievement gap between kids of color and their white counterparts remaining virtually unchanged, parents are clamoring for as many quality options as they can get – including publicly funded scholarships to allow their kids to go to good private schools. In the past, we have seen those parents support Democrats such as New Jersey’s Cory Booker, California’s Diane Feinstein and a host of state and local Democrats around the nation who have bucked the teachers unions by putting their kids first and supporting educational choice. Florida’s recent governor’s race shows us, however, that those same parents are willing to vote for candidates who embrace those quality choice options, be they Democrat or Republican. As we move closer to the 2016 presidential race, Democrats would be wise to learn from Florida - and join the parents that they serve. (Kevin Chavous is senior advisor and executive counsel for the American Federation for Children and co-founder of Democrats for Education Reform.)
Mr. President…Take the gloves off and use your bully pulpit! I have been having some very candid and honest discussions lately with a few of my friends and colleagues mostly about the election we lost, why we lost, who is responsible, and what needs to happen next time around. There are a variety of reasons why we got “shellacked” and one might assume that at the top of the list would be that two-thirds of the voting population did not care to show up at the polls, right? But that’s not how most of the politically astute are seeing it. Maybe we lost because people just don’t care anymore after nothing getting done in Congress for so long. But that’s not it either, according to the folks I exchange with in heated (not at each other) dialogue. The verbal exchanges we engage in are balanced, intellectual, and very emotional because we hate losing to “them.” If we are going to ever win again we have to go back to the most basic of principles that made us strong as a party to begin with such as loyalty, strength, unity, liberal idealism based on social justice, and our historic platform. Once that is restored and renewed, we need to learn to fight again possibly like the Republicans, Conservatives and Tea Party have learned to do…bare-knuckled. I think we all agreed that the Democratic Party looks like a bunch of timid little wimps this time that got slapped around by a bunch of brutal bullies and didn’t even try or bother to fight back. The apparent fearfulness of Democrats to even put up a fight to represent us lately, and the cowardice that exists among so many of our party has wrecked our perceptions for sure. Who wants to even bother to go out and vote for a bunch of losers? We watched in utter amazement as the Repubs consistently served up red meat to their folks. All we got from most Dems was more like “pink slime,” you know, that stuff that’s not really meat at all, but some hodge-podge of meat byproducts typically used as an additive to hamburger…disgusting. Well, we want our red meat and we want it now! Give us our protein and we will give them our vote. I don’t even have the space to give an exhaustive list of everything that went wrong, but here’s what we think needs to happen in a nutshell, and it begins with our commander in chief:
Mr. Obama needs to use his bully pulpit for all to see on his way out. He needs to start smacking “them” around and not think twice about it. He knows that he must restore Rev. Rodney faith and trust for his party, so Beard he needs to get out in front of everything, fight them with the gloves off, and make good on everything he can. We’ll support that at the ballot box. We also agreed that Mr. Obama should talk as crazy to them as they do to our president, tell them off and call them what they are…pure racists who only care about the one percent, greedy warmongers, womendominating misogynists, and just a bunch of crazy old white men mostly, who deserve to be put down without another moment’s delay. When our president stops withholding what needs to be said, the two-thirds will stop withholding their votes. Here’s another imperative. Mr. Obama should just go on and sign the immigration bill right now and not wait, veto the XL Pipeline the minute it hits his desk, and then dare “them” to impeach him because they won’t do their jobs. Every opportunity he takes to make them look like buffoons, he should, and never shrink back from “them.” His stock will go up with us; the voting box will reflect our gratitude nicely. He then needs to call out all of the “disloyals” in his own party and read them the riot act openly, and let them know that this last election was a disgrace. He needs to tell them it’s high time that they put up or shut up, or step off so we could put new blood into that tired, old, weak system that failed us already. When the President stands his ground, we will stand it with him. Go ahead Mr. President and fight them...bare-knuckled, and use your bully pulpit. That’s what we need. We’ll show up next time. Tell me what you think. (The Rev. Rodney Beard is pastor of The Living Word Community Church in Nashville. Contact him at pastorbeard@comcast.net.)
A shout-out to the athletes you don’t read about It seems like we’ve been hearing these classic, “Hi, Mom,” shotouts from college and professional athletes forever. They look straight into the television cameras on the sidelines after a big play and let it fly. But as a proud father of two teenage sons who have participated in multiple sports, I would feel some kind of way if I didn’t get an acknowledgment on camera along with my wife. I have to remind myself that a large number of black athletes have never had a father around to acknowledge. According to recent statistics, 68 percent of African-American children are born to single mother households. That number is down from 71 percent a decade ago, but it remains much higher than the 43 percent of Latino, 26 percent of white and 11 percent of Asian-American families. That’s more than two-thirds of African-American athletes born with no fathers around before they ever join a football, basketball or baseball team. More than half of these families will live in poverty with deficient educations. So in 2014, the new sports family has become a blessing and savior for many of these fatherless kids, with more coaches accepting positions as surrogate fathers and role models. Hundreds of kids have even begun to move in with coaches or surrogate families ala the movie, “The Blind Side,” including Jeremy Maclin, the Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver out of Missouri, who inspired me to write this article. While being reared as the youngest of three sons in a bleak area of St. Louis, Maclin’s mother, Cleo, made the tough and faithful decision to allow her youngest boy to move in with his Pee Wee football coach Jeff Parres and his family for high school. Years later, Maclin has now started a Mother’s Day Miracles foundation, where he pledges to award young athletes who are the products of single-mother homes an opportunity to give their mother’s something special for the hard work that they’ve done to guide them without fathers. Maclin chose the first five Philadelphia-area, academically accomplished boys aged 12 or older in May with loaded gift packages that included the surprise of flower bouquets, a free spa visit, dinner certificates, self-designed collages and of course family tickets to the Eagles games. Maclin said that he had always wanted to thank his own mother for the hard but necessary sacrifice she was forced to make to allow him the opportunity to succeed. Out of thousands of AfricanAmerican athletes who are now able
FLASHBACK: 2006
to tell similar single-mother household stories of success and survival, Maclin’s p r o a c t i v e generosity reminds me of one of my favorite all-time running backs, Warrick Dunne Omar and his story. Tyree Born and reared in Baton Rouge, La. as the oldest of five, when Dunne’s mother, Betty Smother, a former police officer and security guard, was killed by two armed robbers just two days after his 18th birthday. The determined young athlete and Florida State recruit pledged not only to rear his four younger siblings, but to help as many single-mothers as possible to afford a home for their families, while kickstarting Homes For The Holidays. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers community initiatives, the NFL charities and Aaron’s Inc. to assist economically disadvantaged single parent families, Dunne has now helped to provide down payments for homes to hard-working single mothers in more than 100 families for 14 years in the states of Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas and New Jersey. He has also started Betty’s Hope foundation in the name of his later mother to help empower youth to manage the grief of losing or living without family members, while using education, tools and resources to improve and enhance their lives for the future. With the hard work of raising his own younger siblings, Dunne has not yet settled down with a wife and kids of his own, nor has Jeremy Maclin. However, when or if they ever do to decide to start new families of their own, I can imagine – like the lessons learned from many other professional athletes who have seen the light and have broken the chain of fatherless families – that their kids would be inspired to give a classic shout-out to their dads as well. They deserve a “Hi, Dad” for hard work and guidance that real father’s and community men are blessed to provide to the everyday lives of their own children and the children of others. (NNPA columnist Omar Tyree is a New York Times bestselling author, an NAACP Image Award winner for Outstanding Fiction and a professional journalist @ www. OmarTyree.com.)
Your health needs change from year to year. And, your health plan may change the benefits and costs each year too. That’s why it’s important to review your Medicare choices each fall. Compare your current plan to new options and see if you can lower some costs or to find a plan that better suit your needs. Open Enrollment is the one time of year when ALL people with Medicare can see what new benefits Medicare has to offer and make changes to their coverage. Whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll still have the same benefits and security you have now: • Certain preventive benefits – including cancer screenings – are available at no cost to you when provided by qualified and participating health professionals. The annual wellness visit lets you sit down with your doctor and discuss your health care needs and the best ways to stay healthy. • Medicare will notify you about plan performance and use its online Plan Finder to encourage enrollment in quality plans. • In 2015, if you reach the “donut hole” in Medicare’s prescription drug benefit, you’ll get a 55 percent discount on covered brand name drugs and see increased savings on generic drugs. It’s worth it to take the time to review and compare, but you don’t have to do it alone. Medicare is available to help. • Visit Medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare your current coverage with all of the options that are available in your area, and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change. • Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227) 24-hours a day/7 days a week to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. • Review the Medicare & You 2015 handbook. It’s mailed to people with Medicare in September. • If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get Extra Help paying your prescription drug coverage costs. For more information, visit socialsecurity. gov/i1020 or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. • Get one-on-one help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Visit Medicare.gov/contacts or call 1-800-MEDICARE to get the phone number. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Obama, the Internet and U.S. schools President Barack Obama called on local school officials Wednesday to help meet his goal of bringing high-speed Internet to virtually every American student within a few years to help them compete with counterparts in countries who already use technology to help them learn. His quotes included: • “One of the things that we also need to do is to yank our schools into the 21st century when it comes to technology.” •“So we’re going to have to step up our game if we’re going to make sure that every child in America can go as far as their dreams and talents will take them.” • “I’ve said before, in a country where we expect free Wi-Fi with our coffee…the least we can do is expect that our schools are properly wired.” Source: AP SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mailed subscriptions to The New Tri-State Defender are available upon request. One Year, $30.00; Two Years, $55.00. Request can be emailed to subscriptions@tsdmemphis.com or mailed to Subscriptions, The New Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN, 38103. Delivery may take one week. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The New Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN, 38103 GENERAL INFORMATION: Any and all inquiries may be submitted in writing by calling (901) 523-1818 or by email. TELEPHONE: Editorial, administration, display advertising, classified advertising: (901) 5231818. Fax: (901) 578-5037. EMAIL: Editorial(pressrelease,news, letters to the editor, etc.): editorial@ tsdmemphis.com; Display advertising (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): advertising@tsdmemphis.com; Classified advertising (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): classifieds@ tsdmemphis.com; Subscriptions/ Circulation (subscriptions, subscription price requests, etc.): subscriptions@ tsdmemphis.com; Production (technical questions/specs, etc.): production@tsdmemphis.com The New Tri-State Defender (USPS 780-220) is published weekly by Best Media Properties, Inc., 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38103. Second-class postage paid in Memphis, TN.
The New Tri-State Defender
November 20 - 26, 2014
Page 5
OPINION
SCLC president joins forces with Gorbachev in peace effort by Sherrel Wheeler Stewart Special to the NNPA
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is poised for a major role in bringing international peace and equality with the recent signing of a historic proclamation with world leaders in Berlin. Charles Steele Jr., president of the Atlantabased organization, presented the proclamation and secured support during a summit in Berlin Nov. 8-9 commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. Steele, who was the only American participating in that summit, also met with former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who agreed to serve as the international chairman of the SCLC’s Global Roundtable on Peace, an initiative that expands the international work Dr. Martin Luther King launched before his death. The international link with the SCLC and world leaders focused on solutions to global conflicts again shows how much the organization is still held in esteem around the world, said Steele. He arrived for the summit just before thousands began commemorating the historic events at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate that changed the world. “Just five hours before his assassination in Memphis in 1968, Dr. King told one of his lieutenants, [current SCLC board chairman] Dr. Bernard Lafayette, ‘Now is the time to internationalize and institutionalize the SCLC and the Civil Rights Movement all over the world. We must go international,’” Steele said. “The relationships the SCLC has established with world leaders, this proclamation and the Nonviolence Conflict Initiative are all a part of the dream of Dr. King.” As chairman of the SCLC initiative, Gorbachev will serve as a major adviser, providing SCLC with more access to leading policy leaders who can help the organization fulfill its mission in eradicating poverty and achieving peaceful resolutions. Dr. King, president and a founding member of the SCLC,
SCLC President Charles Steele with former Soviet President Gorbachev at the Symposium of the New Policy Forum in Berlin. They are standing in front of the SCLC banner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to Berlin 50 years ago. (Photo: Dieter Bölke) had already made a significant impact on Berlin in a visit at the height of the American Civil Rights Movement in September 1964. His trip occurred 30 years after his father, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., known as “Daddy King,” travelled to Berlin with a delegation of Atlanta pastors to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Baptist congregations in Germany. It was also during the 1934 trip that the elder King decided to change his name and his son’s name from Michael to Martin after the 16th century German theologian Martin Luther, who initiated the Protestant Reformation. The impact of Dr. King’s visit still resonates in Germany and many people there credit the iconic leader for being one of the heroes behind the scenes who helped bring an end to the Cold War and the wall coming down on November 9, 1989. Twenty-five years after the end of the Cold War, the leaders gathered in Berlin confirmed by signing the SCLC’s proclamation that international conflicts can best be resolved through nonviolent peaceful solutions.
The proclamation also calls leaders to work toward help for the poor and suffering, social justice and equity, stewardship of the planet, defense of global human rights, and economic equality and education. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and former President Mikhail Gorbachev are two of my greatest heroes,” Steele said. “I told him the SCLC is interested in addressing poverty and human rights around the world, and he is interested in collaborating with us – the organization cofounded by Dr. King.” About 25 leaders – former ambassadors, foreign ministers, renowned policy advisers – assembled for the summit at Allianz Forum and signed the proclamation. “Mr. Gorbachev said: There should never be another crisis on the global community stage that we have to use war and violence in order to solve our problems. The only way to solve our problems is through peace and nonviolence.” Prior to signing the proclamation, Gorbachev thanked the summit
participants, including Steele and leaders from throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and North America and said: “The discussion we have had today shows that there are many ideas. The urgency we see here requires immediate attention.” Martin Lees, former
Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and secretary-general of the Club of Rome, called the summit significant and indicated it could be the start of major changes in the way Europe and the world addresses issues. “You have people here from
all over the world drawing on their expertise and wisdom. They are looking at today’s world and basically saying we are in trouble. We have to mobilize our forces and get together to build a better world,” Lees said in an interview following the close of the summit on November 9. “Everyone has been saying that Europe has been looking inside for several decades. Now the world problems are so acute. I hope the leaders will wake up and see the scale of the problems and start acting to do something about it,” said Lees, who chaired one of the summit sessions. He said President Gorbachev would soon meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to continue the discussion. Anastasia Poliakova, the North America Coordinator for The Gorbachev Foundation, said President Gorbachev has devoted much of his career to bringing peace and eradicating poverty, so the association with the SCLC is a good match. “Poverty is one of the biggest challenges we face right now. Social issues are still very, relevant all over the world,” she said. “Mr. Gorbachev is committed to using his name and his influence to inspire, inform and educate the global community in support of Dr. King’s ideas and support of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Dr. Steele in moving forward – connecting people together who are of the same mind.”
Page 6
November 20 - 26, 2014
LEGACY
Timothy Lee ‘El Espada’ Matthews
‘New Atlanta’s founding father’ Herman J. Russell dies
“Russell was also a visionary as well as a NNPA News Service ‘silent partner’ in the most transformative movement of ATLANTA – Herman J. the last century in America and Russell, who found the nation’s was continually involved in most influential African- shaping the cultural, political American construction and and economic landscape of property management company Atlanta. The entire nation is in southwest Atlanta, died Nov. indebted to Herman J. Russell 15, following a brief illness. He for the vision of hope and was 83. progress he had for Atlanta Along with being an and the country. He was an inimitable and distinctive unforgettable philanthropist, business leader and icon, a wise corporate citizen, a who created H.J. Russell & shrewd businessman and Company, Russell was also my dear friend. He made an a formidable community and indelible mark on the city of civic leader. Atlanta and the nation – and He recently released his he will be deeply missed.” autobiography, “Building Rev. Bernice A. King, chief Atlanta: How I Broke Through executive officer of The King Segregation to Launch a Business Center, said, “It is with great Empire,” and assisted local and sadness and heavy hearts that national political leaders, and the King Center acknowledges office seekers financially. the passing of one of Atlanta’s “H. J. Russell was a man of extraordinary civic leaders and means – but his conscience entrepreneurs, Mr. Herman and his values were always J. Russell. He served with greater than his wealth,” Jesse dedication and distinction as Jackson Sr. noted last weekend a former King Center board via Twitter. member, and he was a beloved He was the first African- personal friend and supporter American member of what of both my father, Dr. Martin was then called the Atlanta Luther King Jr., and my Chamber of Commerce and an mother, Mrs. Coretta Scott inaugural member of the board King. I will always remember of directors of the Martin with fondness the times that Luther King Jr. Center for I spent in his family home Social Change, Inc. (The King playing with his children. Center). The world and Atlanta have Russell also was active indeed lost a remarkable on other community and individual and humanitarian. corporate boards. He retired Mr. Russell will be sorely in 2003 from his company and missed by many, but he leaves was in demand as a speaker at behind an exceptional legacy business classes and various of community concern and corporate settings. corporate social responsibility In 1960, Russell founded that will be continued through The Atlanta Inquirer, a the outstanding work of his member of the National children.” Newspaper Publishers John Eaves, AtlantaAssociation (NNPA), along Fulton County Board of with Atlanta University Commissioners chairman, student leaders Julian Bond, said, “It is with great regret Charlayne (Hunter) Gault, and immense sadness that Charles Black, Lonnie King I’ve learned of the passing of Jr., Johnny Parham, Marian an Atlanta icon, Herman J. Wright, Jesse Hill Jr., Dr. Russell. He was not just a local Clinton E. Warner, Gladys businessman, but a visionary Powell, Hilda Wilson, and and one of the men who built others. Atlanta as we know it today. Russell was there during He left his indelible mark on the height of the Civil Rights our city’s skyline as one of the Movement, when Dr. Martin developers who constructed Luther King Jr. was very some of our region’s iconic active. He would later assist structures.” with inaugural funding of Eaves said, “The most The King Center, as well as important part of Russell’s a myriad of other Atlanta legacy is what we don’t see in institutions. that he built himself up from “He made his transition in the bottom to ultimately serve a peaceful way,” said his son, as a role model for so many Michael Russell, who serves Atlantans of all races. His as CEO of his father’s firm. legacy in our region is well “We know he’s at rest. established, and while Atlanta “He was elated and proud has lost a builder, developer of the fact that he was able to and philanthropist, I have lost share his legacy with others a dear friend. It is a loss that I and, most importantly, his and so many others share.” grandchildren,” his son said. The wake is Friday, Nov. 21 “Herman Russell had a major at 6 pm. at Ebenezer Baptist impact on many of us, and he Church on Auburn Ave. in lived a great life.” northeast Atlanta. Herman Russell was known The Life and Celebration nationwide for his formidable service for Herman J. Russell business knowledge and will take place Saturday, acumen. He had received Nov. 22, at 11 a.m. at Saint many plaudits since his death. Philips A.M.E Church on U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D- Candler Road, also in Atlanta. Ga.) said, “Herman J. Russell Interment will follow at the was one of the founding Southview Cemetery. fathers of the new Atlanta. He Aside from his son, Michael was a powerbroker who helped Russell, Russell leaves to transform not just the skyline cherish his memory his wife, of one of the country’s greatest Sylvia Russell; another son, cities, but helped redeem the Jerome; a daughter, Donata; soul of America. Russell was several grandchildren, and a tower of strength who used a host of other relatives and his sharp mind and business admirers. know-how to become a major (Special to the NNPA from player in Atlanta’s business The Atlanta Inquirer.) community.
by John B. Smith Sr.
by Wiley Henry
whenry@tsdmemphis.com
“El Espada is a fascinating thinker and fine writer who has a unique gift of bringing to life characters whom we come to know and love. This grand highlighting of the rich humanity of everyday people is powerful and poignant.” Dr. Cornel West’s Timothy endorsement of Lee Matthews Timothy Lee Matthews’ book, “The Purple Tiger,” is also a reflection of the man whom others have touted for his writing ability – not just as El Espada, Matthews’ pseudonym, but as a gentle, unassuming personality who possessed inordinate skills and talent in other areas. Aside from writing, Matthews was an educator, songwriter, novelist, performing artist, certified paralegal, community activist, and actor whose stage credits included “Ain’t Nothing but the Blues,” “Aida,” “Marry Christmas” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” He also released two CDs – “Songs for the Greats” and “Mistic Blues.” Matthews recently finished another book, a memoir entitled “Confessions of a Proletarian.” The book is unpublished due to Matthews’ death on Nov. 14 at Methodist University Hospital. He’d suffered a stroke on Oct. 31. He was 66. Writing and music fueled Matthews’ creative spirit. He had works published in “Kulture Kritic,” “Jewels Magazine,” “Chicken Bones,” and “Homespun Images: An Anthology of Black Memphis Writers.” A song he co-wrote, “I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home,” catapulted him in the blues genre. After earning his Bachelors of Arts in creative writing from Vermont College’s Norwich University and a Masters of Fine Art from Fairfield University in Connecticut, Matthews opted to teach English at Wooddale and Raleigh-Egypt high schools. When he died, Matthews’ family and friends still were mourning the loss of Matthews’ brother, Orlando Matthews, whom they eulogized Oct. 4 in Hernando, Miss., after he suffered a stroke. Maurice Walker, who befriended Matthews at Lincoln Elementary School, described him as “a good brother and solid citizen” and good for the liberation movement in Memphis. “We grew up in Memphis where racism was the law of the land. In adulthood, we dedicated our lives to making life a little better for others,” said Walker, a resident of Dallas. “He was very focused, sharp and intelligent.” Cornelius Chambers met Matthews in Los Angeles in 1991, where he’d spent three years “in search of stardom.” “We were roommates for about two years,” said Chambers, an entrepreneur. “He was into music and introduced me to the underground music scene. He was always writing plays…anything entertainment.” Matthews was bodacious, too, he said, and recalls an experience he’d never forget. “We were at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, Calif., and El Espada got up on stage and did one of his blues numbers. I didn’t know if I should be embarrassed, but they gave him respect. He always believed he was a star.” Matthews was a star in his son’s eyes. Edward Matthews III said his father taught him the pros and cons of being a black man in America. “He didn’t sugarcoat anything. He would give it to you straight. A lot of my friends would reach out to him for advice. “He was my best friend, motivator, mover and shaker. I’m proud to carry on his legacy. He will be remembered through his music, writing and his memoir,” said Matthews, founder of Independent Artists Media Group in New York of which his father was a board member. Another son, Tracy Matthews, followed his father’s lead as a filmmaker and schoolteacher. “While I worked at ABC News at night, I taught school during the day in New York,” he said. “He was my best friend. He gave me good instructions and I’m going to miss him dearly.” Timothy and Carolyn Matthews were married 34 years. “He was very perceptive of the most mundane situations to the most complex situations of life,” Carolyn Matthews said. “He saw irony in a situation and found it amusing.” For example, while recovering in the hospital, Carolyn Matthews said her husband had texted his “mentee” a message that he’d had a stroke on Halloween. The Matthews were a creative team. “He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. He always rooted for me,” she said. “He never displayed envy or jealousy of someone’s ideology. If it were a spark of brilliance, he would applaud it. He would encourage it.” The visitation is Friday, Nov. 21, from 5-7 p.m., at Christian Funeral Directors, 2615 Overton Crossing St. The body will lie in state from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 22, followed by the funeral at Morning View Baptist Church, 1626 Carnegie St. The interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery, 824 South Dudley St.
The New Tri-State Defender
The homegoing service for Mrs. Mamie Collins, the widow of the Rev. James Collins Sr., was held last Friday (Nov. 14) at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 394 Vance Ave.
Mrs. Mamie Collins was the mother of six children, including three sons who became ministers.
Pallbearers complete the solemn walk out of Progressive Missionary Baptist after funeral services for the late Mrs. Mamie Collins. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
The Ford Family
The Ford family mourned the loss of former state Rep. Emmitt Ford during funeral services at New Sardis Baptist Church on Monday, Nov. 17. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
Family and friends mourn the loss of former state Rep. Emmitt Ford
The Rev. La Simba Gray Jr., pastor of New Sardis Baptist Church, delivered the eulogy.
Former state Rep. Emmitt Ford was eulogized Monday, Nov. 17, at New Sardis Baptist Church, 7734 E. Holmes Rd. Ford, a member of the politically prominent Ford family, was elected to the state Legislature in 1974 and served until 1981. He left behind one daughter, Patricia Lipford; two sons, Emmitt Ford Jr. and Jerry Ford; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ford also left behind four sisters, six brothers and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A friend, state Rep. John DeBerry, said Ford “gave a whole lot to the city of Memphis.”
Herman J. Russell (Photo from Facebook)
Herman J. Russell (left) at a book party with Mayor Kasim Reed. (Photo by Horace Henry/Atlanta Inquirer).
November 20 - 26, 2014
The New Tri-State Defender
Page 7
NATIONAL
The 5 best states for African-American people by Danielle C. Belton The Root
America isn’t an easy country. If you fall down, you’ll mostly get a lot of people trying not to make eye contact with you as you panhandle on the street. The fall can be even harsher if you’re African American—when your time on the street probably came with a stint in prison. But it’s not all doom and gloom for every African-American person in America. In fact, quite a few of us are doing pretty awesome despite a little problem like “institutionalized racism.” Why are many African Americans doing better? It could come down to one word. Location. Location. Location. We took a look at the worst states for African-American people, so by popular demand, I put on my research hat again to find the best states for African-American people. While some may be shocked to learn of any stateside safe haven, there are some—as long as you like either living in the extremes or elbowing your way through AfricanAmerican college grads as they sip mimosas at white parties in the Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. Hawaii Hawaii has a lot of things going for it. It’s a gorgeous tropical paradise. Shockingly, marijuana isn’t legal (except on a limited basis for medical use), despite the fact that everyone seems unnaturally chill all the time. It’s also the home state of President Barack Obama, and once you look at its statistics on race, you can see why Hawaii was the first state to produce the nation’s first African-American president. The most racially diverse
state in the union, Hawaii is ranked by the Ann E. Casey Foundation as the best state for raising African-American children. The foundation based its ranking on a statistical study of socioeconomic status, access to education and home life. Hawaii’s incarceration rate for African-American people is astronomically lower than the national average. With Wisconsin – one of the worst states for African Americans – locking up African Americans to the tune of 4,416 for every 100,000 African-American people, Hawaii is much more proportional, imprisoning 851 for every 100,000 AfricanAmerican Hawaiians. The national average for AfricanAmerican imprisonment is 2,290 per 100,000. No wonder the president, who’s written about some youthful indiscretions involving pot, managed to toke it and not end up with a record, unlike so many other young AfricanAmerican men throughout the United States. Obama grew up in the right state at the right time. Also, African-American people in Hawaii? They’re not broke. The state has the highest African-American household income at $66,629.
It’s not all doom and gloom for every African American. Why are many African Americans doing better? It could come down to one word – location. (Photo: Thinkstock) Americans with bachelor’s average income is $57,907) wealthiest African-American degrees or higher also has sun, and live in some of the communities in the country surf and Hollywood. When not being home to all your favorite (or most hated, depending on your taste) reality shows that don’t take place in Atlanta, California also holds the title as the second-most-diverse state in the U.S.
Alaska
Maryland
I told you, you’d have to like living in the extremes. We go from the tropics to the tundra: Alaska is a surprising place to find that you may fare better than most. Up in the frozen north, African Americans boast average earnings of $51,780 per year, and the state of winter wonderlands is also the fourth-best place to raise an African-American child, according to the Casey Foundation study.
Although Maryland catches a lot of grief for being the setting for “The Wire,” the reality for a lot of AfricanAmerican Marylanders is less Stringer Bell and more George Jefferson. Maryland boasts the country’s highest rates of African-American homeownership and of African Americans holding advanced degrees. Twenty-six percent of African-American Marylanders have a bachelor’s degree or higher. African Americans in Maryland also make a lot more money than African-American people in other states (the
California The state with the fourthhighest number of African
– including Friendly, Bowie, Fort Washington, Mitchellville and Kettering – where the median income is between $89,500 and $110,000. It has the fifth-highest graduation rate for African-American high schoolers and ranks as the sixth-best place to raise your African-American child. New Hampshire
With a median AfricanAmerican household income of $46,818, New Hampshire looks like a great place to live. The high school graduation rate is 76 percent for AfricanAmerican students – the fifth highest in the nation – and New Hampshire also ranks second, behind Hawaii, as the best place to raise an AfricanAmerican child.
(Danielle C. Belton is a Washington, D.C.-based satirist and blogger. Follow her on Twitter.)
November 20 - 26, 2014
Page 8
The New Tri-State Defender
BUSINESS
ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY
Loan modification
While t h e economy for some is on the upswing, others are still suffering. Part of the s u ff e r i n g includes Carlee t h e McCullough inability to pay bills on time. The most important bill outside of the automobile is the mortgage. We all need a roof over our head. However, the roof can be seriously jeopardized when the mortgage is late. Aside from bankruptcy, options exist that can prevent foreclosure for failure to pay the mortgage in a timely fashion. Loan modification is a viable option that may be available.
the expectation is that the continued return even through a modification will be greater than the proceeds received as a result of a foreclosure sale. Additionally, the state and federal government may provide incentives for the lenders to offer modifications.
Mortgage company discretion
Although the mortgage companies often look for the applicants requesting the loan modification to have experienced some sort of financial difficulty such as the loss of a job or missing payments, there is still the expectation that the applicant is still able to pay a mortgage. In most circumstances, the applicant will not be allowed
Under very few circumstances is the mortgage company obligated to approve a modification. Modifications are made solely at the discretion of the lender. The lender may be motivated to adjust the current mortgage because
Types of modification Modifications can take on various forms. The modification can be a reduction in the interest rate or going from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate. Sometimes it can consist of a reduction in the principal amount owed or a reduction in penalties or late fees. At other times the modification can extend the loan term, which frequently results in a lower monthly mortgage payment. Financial hardship
to remain in the property without some form of established monthly payment approved by the mortgage company. Loan modification companies Unfortunately, many loan modification companies have been found to have unscrupulous behavior in an effort to gain profits. Many have been known to make guarantees of modification or saving your home when they have no way to guarantee a result. While the process can be complete without the services of a third party, there are some free services that can assist as well as some law firms that concentrate in the area of loan modifications. They can help guide you through the process and ensure that your submission is completed properly. Document Submission Upon a request, the mortgage company will forward to the applicant a loan modification packet. The homeowner will need to submit copies of paychecks, income and expenses, as well as other documents to
determine the eligibility of the applicant. There will probably be a tax return release form, which gives the lender the authority to obtain the returns directly from the Internal Revenue Service. This packet needs to be completed in full and returned to the mortgage company for consideration. Ideally, the applicant will have all documents submitted at the same time due to the fact that the mortgage companies receive an overwhelming amount of documents daily. When the requested documents are not submitted at the same time, it may delay the process. Partial submissions are usually not processed in a timely fashion. After submission, it is best to follow up frequently with the mortgage company to check on the status of the application. Applicants may be asked to submit additional documents even if a completed file has already been sent. Do not get irritated or lose your calm, simply resubmit the requested documents and continue to follow up. (HAMP) The Federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) was
created to provide standard loan modification guidelines to serve as industry standard practices for lenders when analyzing modification applicants. Well over 100 lenders have signed up to participate in the HAMP. Some homeowners may be eligible for HAMP if the following is met: 1) The mortgage was obtained prior to Jan. 1, 2009. 2) The mortgage is delinquent or may be at risk of falling behind. 3) The property is habitable. 4) The mortgage is less than $729,750. 5) The applicant has not been convicted of a crime related to real estate within 10 years. Keep My Tennessee Home For those situations where the homeowner has lost his or her job or is underemployed, Keep My Tennessee Home is a program administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) that lends a hand. According to the website www.KeepMyTNHome.org, the program will provide the homeowners’ payments on
their mortgage and mortgage related expenses such as property taxes, homeowners insurance, homeowner association dues that have accumulated during the period of unemployment. The maximum assistance available is $40,000 over a 36-month period. The funds are sent directly to the lender. If the applicant does not have access to the Internet, they may call 1-855-890-8073 for assistance. The best part of the Keep My Tennessee Home program is that the loan has 0 percent interest. It is forgivable at a rate of 20 percent per year. Last but not least, if you keep your home for 5 years, the loan does not have to be paid back at all. A few of the criteria to be eligible include household income of less than $92,680 and a total unpaid principal balance on the first mortgage of $275,000 or less. In sum, even in dire circumstances, programs are available to aid.
(Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, TN 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol. com.)
MONEY MATTERS
A 2014 U.S. tax c o u r t r u l i n g related to IRA rollovers caught I R A owners a n d experts by Charles Sims surprise. Jr., CMFC, In the LUTCF case of Bobrow v. Commissioner, the court’s new interpretation of a key rule contradicts the position that the IRS has taken for the last 20 years and that was clearly stated in IRS Publication 590. There are two ways to move money from one IRA to another without losing the taxdeferred status of the funds
IRS flips on rollover rules
or incurring the 10 percent federal income tax penalty for early withdrawals: a direct transfer and a rollover. A trustee-to-trustee (direct) transfer is when money is moved directly from one custodian to another; the funds never touch the owner’s hands. There is no limit on the number of direct transfers that can be made because they are not considered distributions or rollover contributions. With a rollover, the IRA owner receives a distribution and must deposit the funds in a different IRA within 60 days. When a 60-day rollover is executed, the taxpayer cannot conduct another one for 365 days (with certain exceptions). Once is enough The tax court ruling has
taxes plus the 10 percent earlywithdrawal penalty for those younger than 59½. And when an IRA owner contributes more than allowed by law in a given year, whether by exceeding the contribution limit or making more than one 60-day rollover, a 6 percent excise tax penalty is assessed for each year the excess contribution remains in the account.
resulted in a significant change in how the IRS plans to implement the longstanding “once per year” rule going forward. In the past, the rule was applied separately to each IRA, so an investor who owned multiple IRAs might be allowed more than one rollover in a 12-month period. Now, to comply with the court’s decision, the IRS
plans to apply the rule on an aggregate basis. Starting in January 2015, a taxpayer can perform only one 60-day tax-free rollover each year, regardless of how many IRAs are owned. The clock starts ticking on the day the IRA distribution is received. Each additional 60-day rollover would be considered a taxable distribution, which is subject to ordinary income
Who could be affected The new guidelines are apparently meant to keep IRA owners from repeatedly using rollovers to give themselves short-term loans — taking withdrawals and using the money as they wish, then returning it to a different IRA within 60 days. People who hold assets in bank IRAs backed by
certificates of deposit (CDs) may also run into problems, specifically bank customers who cash out when CDs mature and physically take the check to a different bank to buy new ones. A simple way to avoid a potentially costly mistake and keep your retirement savings intact is to use a trustee-totrustee transfer when moving funds between IRAs. Also keep in mind that the onceper-year rule does not apply to rollovers made from or to an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401(k), nor does it apply to conversions of traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs. (Charles Sims Jr., CMFC, LUTCF, is President/CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.com.)
The New Tri-State Defender
November 20 - 26, 2014
Page 9
RELIGION
Tennessee Baptist Convention elects its first African-American president Dr. Michael Ellis Sr. received a unanimous vote to lead the 140-year convention
Dr. Michael Ellis Sr. and his wife Angela Ellis.
by Wiley Henry
whenry@tsdmemphis.com
A spirit of humility swept over Dr. Michael Ellis Sr. after he was elected the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s first African-American president in its 140-year history. He’d also served as the convention’s first African-American vicepresident three years ago. “I am grateful and blessed all at the same time and humbled that we have a Tennessee Baptist Convention that is inclusive,” said Dr. Ellis, pastor of Impact Baptist
Church at 835 Whitney Ave., a church plant of the Bellevue Baptist congregation, which he organized in 2006. The unanimous vote of more than 940 “messengers” representing hundreds of Southern Baptist churches from across the state was a turning point that catapulted the convention into the 21st century as an inclusive body of believers. The annual meeting – or Summit – was held Nov. 1012 in Brentwood, Tenn., at Brentwood Baptist Church. The convention rotates each year around the state. The vote drew a standing ovation for
Dr. Ellis, who believes he was chosen to lead the convention based on his qualifications. He will serve a one-year term. Two years earlier, the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, elected its first African-American president, the Rev. Fred Luter Jr., pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. Dr. Ellis succeeds Dr. Fred Shackelford, senior pastor of Ellendale Baptist Church in Bartlett, as president. He was quoted as saying Dr. Ellis’ election was “long overdue”
and that he has what it takes to lead the convention. Dr. Ellis said the conventioneers were looking for the best-qualified person, “and God put me in the path to receive the nomination.” The newly elected president said he would love to be a connector “to connect our convention with others who believe what we believe.” He also intends to move expeditiously to implement the vision of Dr. Randy C. Davis, the convention’s executive director-treasurer. “I’m going to stay focus on his vision for the convention, such as planting churches and
reaching the lost for Christ,” said Dr. Ellis, 54, a U.S. Navy veteran and the father of six children. He and his wife, Angela Ellis, are uniquely positioned in ministry. “We are in a unique situation,” Dr. Ellis said. “My wife has been elected president of the Baptist Ministers’ Wives Guild of Memphis and Vicinity Inc. She will serve a fouryear term. We’re in a unique position to create a spirit of unity in the body of Christ.” He said he wants the city of Memphis and the state of Tennessee to “shine” across the country.
Pastoral celebration...
‘Sing, Preacher, Preach...’
The Rev. James L. Netters, the senior pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood, celebrated 58 years in ministry during a Friday night (Nov. 14) worship service entitled “Sing, Preacher, Preach.” The celebration continued Sunday (Nov. 16) following morning service. His escort for the evening was Nedia Brassell. Mayor A C Wharton Jr. also attended the anniversary celebration. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
Celebrating with the Rev. James L. Netter’s 58 pastoral anniversary were the Rev. Wade Bryant, the newly-elected pastor of Monumental Baptist Church; the Rev. Ella Mosby; the Rev. Hattie Thompson; Netters; Evangelist Wanderlyn Ball; the Rev. Roger Brown, pastor of Greater White Stone; the Rev. Melvin D. Watkins Jr., co-pastor of Mt. Vernon; and the Rev. Steven Turner, pastor of Pentacostal Baptist Church.
Benefit fundraiser...
Benefit concert...
Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell Jr. was the keynote speaker at the Sixth Annual Benefit Program for Zion Community Project, Inc.’s fundraising dinner Thursday (Nov. 6) at Rhodes College. Joining the mayor for a snapshot were Bishop E. Lynn Brown, Bishop Henry M. William Sr., Luttrell, and Bishop William Graves.
The Memphis Ice Breakers gave a free concert recently to benefit Unity Christian Church, 3345 McCorkle Rd., where the Rev. Eric Ovid Donaldson is senior minister.