VOL. 62, No. 50
www.tsdmemphis.com
December 19 - 25, 2013
75 Cents
Police ‘misconduct’ challenged Two October incidents trigger calls for change
Special to the New Tri-State Defender
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Jeramey Anderson became Mississippiʼs youngest legislator at 22. (Facebook)
Tulane student youngest member of Miss. House of Representatives The Root
by Stephen A. Crockett Jr.
As a sophomore at Moss Point High School in Mississippi, Jeramey Anderson became interested in politics and it’s a good thing considering those years in high school prepped him to become Mississippi’s youngest legislator at 22. Anderson is a senior at Tulane University’s Gulf Coast campus in Biloxi where he studies homeland security and public relations and will have to juggle his legislative duties with his studies. “I’m going to do what needs to be done,” he said. “The people of this district come first and I will manage the two.” After graduating from Moss Point in 2010, Anderson attended Pearl River Community College on a soccer scholarship. At Pearl River, Anderson would earn an associate de“I’m going to gree in criminal justice, AP redo what needs to be ports. Anderson dedone...The feated former Point people of this Moss Mayor Aneice district come Liddell with first and I will nearly 61 percent the vote on manage the of Tuesday to win the District 110 two.” seat vacated by Billy Broomfield, the Associated Press reports. His biggest issue to take on once in office: education. “We focus too highly on standardized testing,” he said. “We teach students to memorize the answers to specific questions and ideas, but what we don’t teach them is how is they got those answers. We need to get back to the foundation of understanding why things are what they are.” One of the biggest challenges facing Anderson once in office will be learning to navigate the mostly Republican state legislature as a freshmen Democrat, AP reports. But Anderson welcomes the challenge with the support of the people and his dean at Tulane who is going to allow Anderson to take online courses to fulfill his degree requirements. “My goal is to bring all these concerns together and all these solutions together and sort out the best way to fix the problems we’re facing,” he said. “My vote is going to be the vote of my constituents, not myself.”
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
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H- 7 1o - L - 5 9o H- 7 3o - L - 5 5o H- 6 1o - L - 3 2o Scattered T-Storms Heavy T-St orms Partl y Cl o udy REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Friday H-71 L-58 H-61 L-59 H-74 L-63
Saturday H-71 L-51 H-67 L-61 H-76 L-59
Sunday H-59 L-32 H-66 L-35 H-71 L-38
Their numbers were few, but spirits were high as Memphis United Coalition members took to the streets Tuesday (Dec. 17) to protest what Mid-South Peace and Justice Center Organizing Director Brad Watkins called “a disturbing trend of harassment and misconduct among Memphis police officers.” “The homeless and groups of young African Americans are being singled out by law enforcement for arrests, illegal searches for no cause and other forms of misconduct in the community,” Watkins said. A related gathering took root early that afternoon at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Fourth Street downtown. Homeless advocates and a legal representative conducted workshops where attendees were given some direct advice. They were told that citizens have the right to record or photograph any incident involving themselves or others when trying to document civil rights violations or illegal actions by law enforcement. “MPD (Memphis Police Department) said there is no official policy in place that allows citizens to record police actions,” Watkins told The New Tri-State Defender during an interview. “But the office of Mayor AC Wharton (Jr.) said that city policy does allow individuals to photograph or video any questionable incident by anyone, including police officers.” Two troubling instances of what
Members of the Memphis United Coalition say the police are singling out the homeless and groups of young African Americans for arrests, illegal searches and other forms of what they see as misconduct. Their dissatisfaction drove them to march and then protest in front of City Hall on Tuesday. (Courtesy photo)
witnesses have labeled police misconduct and abuse of power occurred in October within a few days of each other: one involved about 50 African-American young people and the other involved a homeless man. As videos and stories of similar incidences were shared through social media and other sources, more people from the same groups began to come forward and share similar experiences. “This started a series of important conversations, and Memphis United SEE POLICE ON PAGE 3
ANALYSIS
Congress doesnʼt seem to care
Looking for a Job?
The Root
by Charles D. Ellison Lawmakers are in a knot over everything from the Affordable Care Act to finding a rare congressional kumbaya moment for a budget deal. But perhaps you haven’t noticed – it seems as if the last thing anyone in Washington, D.C. to talk Politicians wants about is employare busy at- ment. That’s fairly tacking the strange, considerpresident’s ing it’s still rather health care rough out there as far as job markets plan. go. The general public feels the same way. Not that this should be a preferred pathway to quality living, but one suspects that if given a choice, most individuals would naturally gravitate to being employed over having health care. The latter typically gets prioritized once you make sure you have the ability to
Job seekers take a break during a Chicago job fair in 2010. (Photo: Scott Olson/Ge tty Images) clothe, feed and house yourself. A recent United Technologies-National Journal poll discovered the obvious: Most Americans, 3-to-1, would rather Congress get to the business of boosting job growth. A
majority in a later UT-NJ poll engaged in a bit of wishful thinking, with 56 percent confident that Washington would pass a jobs creation bill. On average, more than 64 percent
of respondents to a YouGov poll said everyone in Washington – White House, Republicans and Democrats – should be doing more about the jobs situation. Still, Congress seems more obsessed with balancing budgets, eliminating deficits and fixing broken websites than creating jobs. As congressional midterms start shaping up, strategists in both parties are telling candidates to focus on “Obamacare” pros and cons. Just what we need: another long political year with little said or done about job prospects, but more annoying reruns about the health care law. It doesn’t help, of course, that partisans have somehow hyped themselves into a false sense of security about the unemployment situation. Both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill use the latest decrease in the unemployment rate to justify the respective spin for that day – and they are also heinously using it to ignore the plight of the long-term unemSEE JOB ON PAGE 2
As funky as lawmakers allow…
The 37th National Black Caucus of State Legislators annual conference at The Peabody last week had some seriously funky moments courtesy of world-class entertainment by Memphisʼ own Larry Dodson and James Alexander, better known as the Bar-Kays. See related story and photos, page 2. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
NEWS
Page 2
NBCSL draws youth seeking lawmaking skills
JOBS
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Aisling Maki
Mathieu White and Tamaira Ballard were among the Memphis high school students who targeted the Youth Congress Day Luncheon as the place to be last week to gain first-hand experience in lawmaking. The luncheon (Dec. 11), which had students taking on the roles of state senators and representatives, was coordinated by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, w h i c h hosted its 37th annual Legislative Conference at T h e Peabody last week. T h e Mathieu four-day White conference, whose theme was “Progress: Moving Our States Forward Through Policy Action,” centered on presentations and discussions addressing current legislative issues in our community. There were mock government sessions, a speech by motivational speaker Dr. Dennis Rahiim, and an address and performance by Grammy Awardwinning artist CeCe Winans. White and Ballard are social media team members for Memphis Gun Down, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s initiative to reduce gun violence. The evidence-based plan is built around five core prongs: suppression, community mobilization, youth opportunities, intervention, and organizational change and development. White and Ballard participated in Youth Congress Day to increase their knowledge of
Tri-State Defender
December 19 - 25, 2013
Tamaira Ballard and other student participants were split into two groups: senators and representatives. After being sworn in, they elected speakers and chairmen and began focusing on the mock bills up for votes. (Photo: courtesy) the legislative process, build their confidence, and better advocate for the cause of ending youth gun violence. “I would love to be an activist, helping people in the community,” Ballard said. “They were talking about the fact that a lot of people who’ve held offices started as volunteers, promoting good things in the community.” Student participants were split into two groups: senators
and representatives. After being sworn in, they elected speakers and chairmen and began focusing on the bills up for votes. The mock legislation focused on issues such as texting and driving, bullying in schools and garnishing parents’ wages based on their children’s’ academic performances. “It made me want to become more involved and more politically aware,” White said. “De-
cisions are being made by our elected officials, but some of us don’t even know what’s going on – only that a new law has passed and we’re expected to follow it. Our understanding is usually the bare minimum. “This experience reminded me that regular citizens are allowed to sit in on House and Senate meetings to hear firsthand about what’s going on. It should be more open and easier for people to do that.”
ployed as a way to justify passage of a two-year budget deal. Faithful Democrats eager to spin away from any focus on that pesky health care website happily latched on to recent Bureau of Labor Statistic numbers. Who knew you could celebrate a 7 percent jobless rate? Apparently you can now, especially if “it’s the lowest in five years!” But folks inside the Beltway echo chamber forgot to tell the rest of the weary public about that, particularly the 1.3 million or more soon to lose long-term unemployment benefits. Stingy Republicans are only concerned with keeping the deficit and debt under control. Thus, any hint or sign that unemployment is lower now than it was four years ago means it’s time to stop helping the unemployed altogether. Jobless benefits, complained Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) last week, “ … do a disservice to workers, causing them to become part of this perpetually unemployed group.” Neither side offers much hope for the massive 42 percent of the population that’s either unemployed or underemployed. Once the real numbers behind the numbers are crunched, it’s a completely different story: The official rate billboarded on Bureau of Labor Statistics and White House press releases might show 7 percent, but few dare venture
into the dungeon of a much more depressing reality, such as what the St. Louis Federal Reserve calls the EMRATIO, the Civilian Employment-Population Ratio. In 2000, nearly 65 percent of the entire U.S. population over the age of 15 was employed; now, only 58 percent of the population is unemployed (see for yourself). Party-pooping economist John Williams – who specializes in clowning government statistics – will also show you the difference between the federal government’s preferred “U3” model versus its keep-ithundred “U6.” In essence, the 7 percent only shows those still reporting in to the government that they’re unemployed. It’s not counting those who are underemployed or just had enough after months or even years of finding no gig. Not that Congress is doing anything about that by holding weekly hearings on the Affordable Care Act implementation. Maybe President Obama’s low approval numbers are telling us something else. Maybe folks are just tired of Congress constantly talking about him when they should be talking about us.
(Charles D. Ellison is a veteran political strategist and frequent contributor to The Root. He is also Washington correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune and chief political correspondent for Uptown magazine. You can reach him via Twitter.)
NEWS
Tri-State Defender
December 19 - 25, 2013
POLICE
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CONTINUED FROM FRONT
reconvened and this whole engagement of exploring solutions came about,” said Watkins. “A number of community groups came together to articulate the demands communicated in the letter delivered to officials on Tuesday. “We must begin having conversations with our elected officials and with law enforcement. This is only the first of a number of steps we are taking to bring this about.” Letters of demand were delivered to the offices of the mayor, the police director, the Shelby County District Attorney General and members of the city council. “We want to improve the lines of communication between the police and community, particularly where young African Americans and the homeless are concerned,” Watkins said. The five-page letter called for sensitivity training for police officers regarding issues concerning the two groups. One section of the document deals with a person’s right to make a record of an incident involving law enforcement. It read: “When we exercise our First Amendment rights by attempting to record these encounters involving misconduct or brutality, we are told that our actions are illegal, and we are stopped from doing so. Officers are misusing general laws to arrest people who disobey unjust orders to put their cameras away, violating our right to self-protection. Insensitivity, lack of training, and poor judgment of individuals on the police force have resulted in wrongful arrests, direct violations of civil rights, bogus charges, and an overall disconnect between the citizens of Memphis and the police force...” Following the session at St. Patrick’s, Memphis United marched down Fourth toward Beale Street, moved west on Beale, and then north toward City Hall, where the demand letters were delivered by event organizers. “Memphis United is a coalition that first came together to offer a peaceful alternative to the Ku Klux Klan rally in
According to members of the Memphis United Coalition, conversations are needed with elected officials and law enforcement to address unfair and illegal treatment of the homeless and young African Americans. (Courtesy photo)
“Memphis United is a coalition that first came together to offer a peaceful alternative to the Ku Klux Klan rally in March of this year at the Health Sciences Park.” March of this year at the Health Sciences Park. We set up workshops and family-oriented activities to bring people of all races and communities together to have a conversation about race. More than 1,000 people attended our daylong event although it was cold and rainy. It was a huge success,” Watkins said. Homeless advocates feel it is important to raise public awareness of what some have even called “random police brutality,” said Minister Jim Brown of H.O.P.E. (Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality.” “...The search and violation
of a homeless man was caught on video. But this happens all the time, every day. Law enforcement must be trained to be sensitive on issues regarding the homeless. Police officers are insensitive to them. H.O.P.E. gives them a voice. Their rights must be protected like anyone else’s rights...” Neither Mayor Wharton nor MPD Director Toney Armstrong had provided any public response to the Memphis United Coalition’s letter by press time. Vince Higgins of the Shelby County District Attorney’s office was asked whether police prosecutions were viable possibilities. “In cases where civil rights violations are alleged, the U.S. Attorney’s office (for the Western District of Tennessee) would be involved. Those types of cases would not come to this office in the event they should rise to the level of prosecution,” he said. Edward L. Stanton III is the U.S. Atty. for this district and his office declined to comment on the matter.
For some members of the Memphis United Coalition, the solution to what they perceive as police mistreatment includes a “Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board with real teeth.”
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OPINION
Tri-State Defender
December 19 - 25, 2013
• Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher • Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor
Obama-Harvey sit-down was right thing to do theGrio
by Zerlina Maxwell
How to stop the killing of all our children The Root
by Jeff Johnson
Early last week I found myself on a flight to Atlanta so that I could stand in solidarity, as a father, with the parents of a murdered son. Like the few hundred others who gathered outside the Georgia state Capitol on a chilly Wednesday morning, I believed that I was seeking justice for the yet-to-be-explained killing of young Kendrick Johnson. As soon as I arrived at the Capitol grounds, I was told that the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rev. Joseph Lowery and Michael Eric Dyson would not be in attendance. It may have been the weather and it may have been the memorialization of Nelson Mandela, but whatever the reason, it was better that they were not there. Before you call me a hater or begin to say that I have some commentary on any one of these men’s leadership, let me stop you. I have respect for and have been shown support by each of them. My assertion speaks to how often the personalities of our most committed block out the voices of the people. Before we go there, it is important (for those who don’t know) to have a sense of who Kendrick was and what happened to him. A 17-year-old student-athlete at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga., Kendrick was found dead inside a rolled-up wrestling mat in the school gym on Jan. 11, 2012. As if his death were not bad enough, the ensuing investigation and handling of the young man’s remains are the making of a true horror story for the Johnson family. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted the initial autopsy, ruling the death an accident. But the family questioned the ruling, suggested foul play, exhumed the body and had a second autopsy performed. The pathologist hired by the Johnson family not only concluded that Kendrick was killed by blunt-force trauma but also said he discovered that many of the teen’s internal organs were missing and that his body cavity had been filled with newspaper. Video footage retrieved from the school also contradicts the initial investigation report that Kendrick was in the gym alone at the time of his “accidental” death. Many in the small Georgia town believe there was a cover-up, while others believe that a proper investigation was done and Kendrick’s death was a tragic accident. Kendrick’s parents, however, believe that they are fighting local law enforcement, which refused to conduct a legitimate investigation; the funeral home, against which they filed a complaint for the handling of Kendrick’s remains; and even the U.S. district attorney, who seems unwilling to bring charges as swiftly as the family believes the existing evidence warrants. But this is a family willing to fight. They stand on a corner in Valdosta nearly every day with a sign asking for justice in the death of their son. But justice in America comes through politics and the courts. The Johnson family came to the steps of the Georgia Capitol for a rally that will hopefully pressure Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to push for a coroner’s inquest. Such an investigation could bring additional evidence and action more quickly than the year or more it will take for the feds to
come back with something. While the activists, local lawmakers, family members and supporters spoke from the podium We d n e s d a y morning, I saw an elderly woman with a Kendrick sign in the audiJohnson ence. It asked how she was supposed to talk to her grandson in a way that would protect him long enough to become a father or a grandfather before falling victim to the violence that plagues our communities. That sign spoke to me more than any speech during the rally And that is why it is often important to make sure we hear the voices of the unfamous. The words of Kendrick’s parents, proclaiming, “We refused to let them get away with it,” spoke to the resilience of everyday people who didn’t sign up to be activists but who are symbols for social justice. I listened to the words of students from Spelman and Morehouse colleges as they represented the next generation of leadership. I also heard from local officials who are on the ground daily serving the very people the rally was addressing. We need the support of nationally recognized voices because they attract necessary attention, but too often those voices (both intentionally and unintentionally) drown out the voices that most need to be heard and validated. I celebrate those with large voices who bring attention to the issues that the country and world are forgetting (many of them the men I mentioned). But I also celebrate the small but committed group of local activists, citizens, parents and civil servants who said, “I am going to show up and stay no matter who gives a speech.” And it was the unspoken words expressed through the elderly woman’s sign that were the real reason I was there on my own dime and didn’t look to do any press while there. I have two sons I want to see live to be fathers and grandfathers. I was there because there was nothing that made Kendrick different from my boys. I could be the parent on the corner asking for justice for my Myles or Malcolm. I pray that we don’t have to have another rally or vigil for the loss of our babies from any kind of violence. I am as tired of black-on-black crime as I am the class- and race-driven violence our babies face on a daily basis. But I realize that we have to start seeing every child as our own children before tragedy strikes in order to let those who want to bring violence to our babies know that our children do not stand alone. As we push for justice for Kendrick and peace for his family, let’s all of us spend some time trying to see the children around us as ours. I know how hard that can be in a time and place where community is now just a neighborhood and where fear has created mistrust. But wouldn’t it make more sense for me to stand in solidarity with the parents where I live, seeing their babies as my babies now, so that we don’t have to wait for a tragedy to say, “I am Leon Ford, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant or Kendrick Johnson.” There is an African proverb that says, “I am because we are.” Let’s live it.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mail subscriptions to the Tri-State Defender are available upon request. One Year, $30.00; Two Years, $55.00. Domestic subscriptions must be addressed to: Subscriptions, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. Delivery may take one week. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. GENERAL INFORMATION: Any and all inquiries can be made in writing, by calling (901) 523-1818 or by e-mail. TELEPHONE: Editorial and Administration: (901) 523-1818. Display Advertising (901) 523-1818. Classified Advertising (901) 523-1818. Fax: (901) 578-5037. E-MAIL: Editorial e-mail (press releases, news, letters to editor, etc.): editorial@tristatedefender.com; Display advertising e-mail (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): advertising@tri-statedefender.com; Classified advertising e-mail (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): classifieds@tri-statedefender.com; Subscription/Circulation e-mail (subscriptions, subscription price requests, etc.): subscriptions@tri-statedefender.com; Production e-mail (technical questions/specs, etc.): production@tri-statedefender.com. The Tri-State Defender (USPS 780-220) is published weekly by Tri-State Defender Publishing Co., 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38103. Second Class postage paid at Memphis, TN.
Tri-State Defender Platform
1. Racial prejudice worldwide must be destroyed. 2. Racially unrestricted membership in all jobs, public and private. 3. Equal employment opportunities on all jobs, public and private. 4. True representation in all U.S. police forces. 5. Complete cessation of all school segregation. 6. Federal intervention to protect civil rights in all instances where civil rights compliance at the state level breaks down
DISTRIBUTION: Tri-State Defender is available at newsstands, street sales, store vendors, mail subscription and honor boxes throughout the Greater Memphis area. No person may, without prior written permission of the Tri-State Defender, reprint any part of or duplicate by electronic device any portion without written permission. Copyright 2013 by Tri-State Defender Publishing, Inc. Permission to Publisher, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. Back copies can be obtained by calling the Tri-State Defender at (901) 523-1818, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Jesse Jackson attends funeral and burial of Nelson Mandela. (Photo: NNPA/ George E. Curry)
Rev. Jesse Jackson almost missed Mandela’s funeral NNPA News Service
by George E. Curry PRETORIA, South Africa – Jesse Jackson left the Southern Sun Hotel in downtown Pretoria shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday, expecting it would take less than two hours to fly 541 miles to Qunu, where funeral services were being held for former South African President Nelson Mandela. The first indication that it would take longer came when Jackson and his delegation arrived at the Waterkloof Air Force Base. “Are you sure we’re in the right place?” he asked his driver. “This doesn’t look right.” It didn’t look right because Jackson had attended a ceremony at the air base on Saturday, just before Mandela’s remains were flown to Qunu for burial. But the previous ceremonies were in another section of this base, which accounted for Jackson’s unThe first indi- familiarity. The group was cation that it greeted by Brig. would take Gen. Marthie a courtly longer came Visser, white South when Jack- African with a son and his thick accent; she eager to delegation ar- was make sure Jackrived at the son got on the plane. Waterkloof right The next plane Air Force out, she told him, would carry Base. Deputy President Kgakma Petrus Motlanthe, Constitutional Court (Supreme Court) Justice Mogoeng Kourakis and former President Thabo Mbeki. She walked Jackson over to a desk where the two quickly examined a printout of the manifest and Jackson’s name was nowhere in sight. That set off a flurry of calls by Jackson; his youngest son Yusef; Monica Morgan, a Detroit photographer, and James Gomez, his Director of International Affairs, who was still in the hotel. Frantic calls were placed to the trip’s local organizer by the younger Jackson and Gomez. And the organizer made a round of calls to high-ranking African National Congress (ANC) officials. After Visser escorted Jackson and his companions to Lounge #3, an area used by VIPs, it was learned that an ANC official had not confirmed with the military the landing of a private plane that was supposed to carry Jackson and his party to Qunu. Unable to land, the plane was parked at another airport. Visser called her superiors to get permission for Jackson and his delegation to tag along with Deputy President Motlanthe’s party. By this time, Chief Justice Kourakis walked into the lounge. He greeted Jackson warmly and the two exchanged laughter for about 15 minutes. However, when it was time for Kourakis to leave, he waved good-bye to Jackson and boarded the aircraft.
After seeing the two interact, I was convinced that we would be boarding the plane shortly. It turned out that I was both right and wrong. Gen. Visser escorted us to steps at the back of the plane, where we waited on the ground for her to board and get permission for us to enter. “I have some terrible news,” she told Jackson. “The security people say you were not cleared for this flight and you can’t board.” Jackson asked her to speak directly to Deputy President Motlanthe and when she returned, the answer was the same – we couldn’t go. “May I speak directly with the deputy president?” Jackson asked. Jackson did and when Visser returned, she flashed a thumbs up signal, meaning we, too, could board. When we entered, Jackson was sitting near Justice Koudrakis. His son, Yusef; Mogan and I quickly found seats. I had taken two sips of orange juice when the general reappeared. “I am afraid I have more bad news,” she said, apologetically. “My general said no one can travel on this plane who has not been cleared. I am so sorry.” Tired and embarrassed, we all departed, feeling this might be our only chance to reach Qunu by 9 a.m. At 6:15 a.m., Yusef walked over to me and said, “It looks like the window of opportunity is closing.” I replied, “It’s not closing, it’s closed – and locked tight.” Or, so I thought. Amid all the frantic calls, Zweli Mkhize, the ANC Treasurer-General, whom we had met earlier in the week, called Minister of Defense Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngakula and told her to fix the problem. “He said, ‘We don’t want all the bad press we would get if Rev. Jackson isn’t able to get to the funeral,’” a person familiar with the conversation relayed to me. About 6: 30 a.m. – two and a half hours before the main segment of the funeral was scheduled to begin – we finally got some good news: The Air Force was dispatching an 8-seater Falcon 50 jet to take us to Qunu. Gen. Visser was ordered to accompany us and there would be a military escort waiting for us on the other end of the flight. At 7:08 a.m., it was wheels up. We landed, were greeted by our military escort and had our own private police motorcade to the funeral. We entered the dome-like structure at 9:05 a.m., just as funeral proceedings were getting underway. All I could do was shake my head in disbelief. That’s yet another reason to keep hope alive. (George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He can be reached via www.georgecurry.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.)
FACEBOOK FAN OF THE WEEK Name: Michael Harris
Michael Harris is this weekʼs Facebook Fan of the Week! A Memphis native, Michael graduated from Southside High School, received a Political Science degree from Fisk University and his MBA from Drake University. He now works for the Harris Law Firm. Michael lives by the quote, “We can always change without improving, but we can never improve without change.” Thanks Michael for excelling in Memphis and for being a part of the TSD Facebook family!
If you start with the premise that there is nothing President Obama can do to make the White House Press Corps happy, then it makes sense that an interview with comedian and talk show host Steve Harvey would cause controversy in the beltway. The interview with Harvey is seen as a “softball” interview with a friendly audience now that the media has declared Obama’s second term practically over as his approval ratings struggle. Perhaps if those same beltway media types didn’t write trivial columns about “selfies” the president would take them more seriously. Steve Harvey isn’t really that unusual a choice for an interview. Maybe the beltway was too distracted by the health care website nonsense to realize that the date is creeping closer to the first deadline for healthcare reform. Blacks and Latinos have the highest rate of uninsured. The president taking the time to talk to his base of supporters, while at the same time reminding the folks who need healthcare the most, that they can sign up on a now-functional website and get coverage starting in a few weeks. And yes, talking about family and the holidays can’t hurt either. But that’s never the way the beltway likes to analyze issues. President Obama’s approval ratings go down. His presidency is over, until it isn’t. The web site isn’t working and Obamacare is a irreparable disaster, until it isn’t. One of the characteristics of covering PresiThe interview dent Obama is he’s boring. with Harvey that His approval ratis seen as a ings overall have pretty “softball” in- remained consistent with a terview with big dip in recent a friendly au- months after the overnment dience now gshutdown and website that the me- the dia has de- glitches. And it’s not clared Oba- like previous ma’s second presidents didn’t a friendly interm practi- do terview from cally over... time to time. President Bush did his share of softball interviews during his two terms as president. And it’s also not like the serious beltway media doesn’t also dabble in their share of softball or irrelevant questions from time to time. At a press briefing to announce gun safety legislation, the White House reporters failed to ask a single question about guns, instead only asked about the coming fiscal cliff. The president should and will do hard-hitting interviews before the end of his second term. What is beneficial to him and people of color who make up Steve Harvey’s audience is an interview with the president being a human being and reminding them to sign up for Obamacare. Sometimes an interview that humanizes the always under the microscope president is important. Every interview doesn’t need to be Walter Cronkite. But let’s say President Obama gets his interview mojo back and decides to take on a “hard-hitting” interview. Perhaps the media can ask him to expand his remarks about income inequality being the “defining challenge of our time.” Americans really need to hear from the president on the latest NSA revelations where a federal judge called the collection of domestic phone records “unconstitutional.” Americans definitely need to hear more from the president about the nuclear deal with Iran. And that interview will happen, but an interview that allows the president to speak directly to his community is important, too. (Follow Zerlina Maxwell on Twitter at @ZerlinaMaxwell.) SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mail subscriptions to the Tri-State Defender are available upon request. One Year, $30.00; Two Years, $55.00. Domestic subscriptions must be addressed to: Subscriptions, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. Delivery may take one week. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. GENERAL INFORMATION: Any and all inquiries can be made in writing, by calling (901) 523-1818 or by e-mail. TELEPHONE: Editorial and Administration: (901) 523-1818. Display Advertising (901) 523-1818. Classified Advertising (901) 523-1818. Fax: (901) 578-5037. E-MAIL: Editorial e-mail (press releases, news, letters to editor, etc.): editorial@tristatedefender.com; Display advertising email (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): advertising@tri-statedefender.com; Classified advertising e-mail (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): classifieds@tristatedefender.com; Subscription/Circulation e-mail (subscriptions, subscription price requests, etc.): subscriptions@tristatedefender.com; Production e-mail (technical questions/specs, etc.): production@tri-statedefender.com. The Tri-State Defender (USPS 780-220) is published weekly by Tri-State Defender Publishing Co., 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38103. Second Class postage paid at Memphis, TN.
Tri-State Defender
OPINION
December 19 - 25, 2013
Is Don Lemon the new Clarence Thomas? theGrio
by Delano Squires
Don Lemon’s unsolicited social commentary this year on the things holding back the black community and the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy earned him a level of contempt typically directed at the Supreme Court’s lone black justice. Lemon’s critics, much like Thomas’, question his understanding of the issues facing African-Americans. The CNN anchor’s focus on sagging pants and littering was as disturbing to them as Justice Thomas comparing affirmative action to Jim Crow or siding with the majority in striking down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. Lemon could have focused on mass incarceration, urban school closures, or one of the other important issues facing communities of color. His decision not to do so earned him a stern rebuke from Russell Simmons, theGrio’s Goldie Taylor and others who questioned his motives and found his analysis to be woefully inadequate. Despite the criticism he received, Don Lemon isn’t alone in his analysis of the things holding African-Americans back. A 2010 Pew report found that 52 percent of AfricanAmericans believe blacks who cannot get ahead are mainly responsible for their situation, while only 34 percent cited racial discrimination as the main reason. The study found that this view was markedly different fifteen years prior, when almost 60 percent of blacks saw discrimination as the main factor holding African-Americans back. Conversations about the roles individual choice and discrimination play in black life are common at family gatherings, barbershops, and in other safe communal spaces. Hearing the same
conversation play out on cable news stations that rarely give the subject matter the time and depth of analysis it Don deserves is Lemon a bit different. Don Lemon should have known that attempting to untangle the effects of hundreds of years of systematic oppression and discrimination on black culture couldn’t be done in a five-minute segment using talking points borrowed from Bill O’Reilly. He unwittingly allowed himself to be lumped in with a small set of conservative commentators that are readily available to criticize black culture without any substantive critique of structural inequality. Often rewarded with recurring appearances on Fox News, they use every opportunity to describe African-Americans as victims—not of institutional racism, but of a liberal agenda intended to keep blacks dependent on the government. Putting this subset of professional instigators aside, Don Lemon’s “Clarence Thomas” treatment should make us question whether AfricanAmerican thought leaders have the space for honest conversations about the issues facing our community. I have found myself on more than one occasion feeling frustrated with a panel of progressive professors and pundits unwilling to grapple with the intersection of policy and culture. For example, it is impossible to have an honest conversation about the impact of father absence in the black community by only focusing on public policy. To leave out the impact of
shifting norms regarding marriage, cohabitation, and child rearing—including on a national level—is to do a disservice to people truly interested in bringing about change. The decisions we make, regardless of our race or ethnicity, are impacted as much by our values, upbringing, lived experiences, gender and racial norms, pop culture, and media as they are by the decisions of lawmakers. Black thought leaders shouldn’t shy away from addressing the complexities of the issues facing our community just because they make some people uncomfortable. Public scorn aside, Don Lemon seems to have bounced back from the controversy surrounding his comments. His track record doesn’t suggest he is a person who uses inflammatory rhetoric to intentionally anger African-American audiences and he recently landed his own CNN program at 11 P.M. My concern is that the personal attacks on public figures that express certain views will have a chilling effect on black sociopolitical discourse. Everyone that offers an honest critique of black culture is not a self-loathing sellout. There’s no reason a person can’t be critical of both policy and culture. Constructive conversations are possible when people have the right motives, present the facts, offer a comprehensive analysis, and employ a tone that reflects both the importance of the issues being dissected and a respect for the people being discussed. Yes, we should hold our elected officials accountable for policies that disproportionately impact people of color, but that doesn’t mean we can’t also talk about things we can do now to improve conditions in our own communities. Just because we aren’t the source of our problems doesn’t mean we can’t be a source of our own solutions.
Page 5
BUSINESS
Page 6
Tri-State Defender
December 19 - 25, 2013
ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY
There is a right way and a wrong way to close, dissolve or wind down the business. Simply walking away will leave a lot of open doors that need to be closed permanently. Although it is never pleasant to shut down, sometimes you close a door so that another may open. If the business is not working and it cannot be saved, dissolve it and regroup. Bob Johnson of BET started and closed several businesses before hitting it big and becoming a billionaire. Not bad for regrouping, huh? The goal of closing a business systematically is to close it quickly in a cost effective manner. So, the big question is: How do we properly close a business?
Dissolve the structure
Whether you are operating as a corporation, limited liability company (LLC) or partnership, the vote and decision to close should be recorded in the meeting’s minutes. After the vote to dissolve the business structure, the appropriate paperwork should be filed with the Secretary of State’s
How to close the business
o f f i c e where the entity was created. Take extra care to follow the instructions completely in an effort to limit liability Carlee any McCullough for debts that may accrue after the dissolution of the company.
Pay off debts
If the business has debts, they must be paid prior to distributing any remaining money to shareholders, members or partners.
Close tax accounts
Notify IRS that the business has closed by closing your Employer Identification Number (EIN). File the final federal and state tax return if applicable. Let the taxing agency know that this is the final return. Do not forget to make sure the
payroll withholding taxes have been paid to date as well. This will also help to limit any personal liability for those fees.
Cancel licenses and/or permits
Reach out to your local county where the original business license or permit was issued and cancel them. The cancellation of the license and permit will eliminate future assessed fees and taxes by notifying the county agencies that the business is no longer operational.
Notify suppliers, service providers
When possible, notify your suppliers that the business is closing. If there are any outstanding bills, make an attempt to pay them, if the money is available. But if the money is not available, this will let them know to stop collection efforts. Also remember that if a personal guarantee was provided for any of the debt or bills, the supplier may still pursue that individual personally even though the business has been dissolved.
Additionally once the suppliers are notified of the impending closure, they may deny credit and convert the business to cash payments. When the suppliers are treated fairly, they will be more willing to work with you in the future with another business. Try not to burn the bridges because the supplier may be needed again. The service providers would include utility companies, telephone companies, payroll processing companies, insurance companies, etc. Remember that some service providers required deposits and that may be forthcoming to the closing business. Therefore the service provider may need a forwarding address for those deposits.
Notify clients and customers
It is imperative to notify clients and customers, especially if they are dependent on or expecting services or products. If orders cannot be completed or fulfilled, any deposits or unearned revenue should be returned if possible. By notifying them of the business clo-
sure, the clients can take the appropriate steps to find a replacement. The client will appreciate the notice and may be willing to do business with you again because of the honorable and respectful way they were treated in spite of the closure.
Notify employees
The earlier that the employees are notified the better off all will be. At the very least, a two-week notice is warranted. Remember that the employees have families that depend on the frequency of the wages coming into the household. When there is the possibility of disruption, the employees need to know so that they can plan accordingly. There is the risk that employees will leave when they are still needed. But there is no ethical way to avoid notice. Just like with the clients and customers, when the employees are treated with respect, there may be the opportunity to rehire them with the new venture.
Bank accounts/ credit cards
Do not forget to close the
bank accounts and credit cards in order to eliminate additional fees. But only close the account when all deposits and credits have been received and all payments and checks have cleared.
Landlord
Read the lease carefully and adhere to the clauses. Give the landlord notice, which is usually 30 days. Be mindful of the terms of the lease and whether there is personal liability for the remaining lease term, if any. If at all possible, negotiate with the landlord, if there is still time on the lease. The landlord may have a duty to mitigate by looking for a new tenant. However, there is nothing that states that the closing business cannot help find a replacement tenant. Remember, while this door may be closing today, another may open tomorrow. (Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, TN 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)
MONEY MATTERS
Financial planning for launching a small business Are you considering making the transition from the role of employee to small business owner in this evolving economy? Start by strategizing and prioritizing your financial planning responsibilities. With the collective guidance of a qualified tax adviser and Certified Financial PlannerTM professional from the Financial Planning Association, you can assemble a wellorganized system of tracking what you spend to produce income. In addition, you can sensibly save money by learning more about eligible tax deductions you should take for your self-employed business. Apply the following pointers and perspectives to efficiently develop and manage your new business:
As a small firm owner, you are accountable for the accurate and timely filing of all taxes owed on income and employment taxes for your workers. Use financial management software, such as Quicken or Quickbooks, to help you with implementing an ongoing system that captures income and expenses. Remember to document all cash transactions and stash receipts in an identified file folder or in labeled envelopes (marked with the month and year). Paying additional taxes and being able to claim tax deductions are both new challenges and opportunities for you as a self-employed business owner. Make sure that you file quarterly federal and state estimated taxes. Further, if you
have employees, you will need to withhold taxes from each paycheck they receive and make timely payments Charles Sims Jr., CFP to the IRS and the proper state authorities. Verify that you also send payments to cover Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and any other mandated local payroll taxes withheld from your paychecks. How can Paying addi- you optiplan tional taxes mally for taxes and being while proable to claim t e c t i n g busitax deduc- your ness and tions are p e r s o n a l s s e t s both new aagainst pochallenges tential liaand opportu- b i l i t y ? onsult nities for you Cwith a seaas a self-em- soned ator ployed busi- torney tax profesness owner. sional specializing in risk management to figure out the type of entity (i.e. Subchapter S Corporation, C Corporation, Limited Liability Company, etc.) that would be most appropriate for your business activity and financial situation. Do not commingle business income with your personal
spending. Open a separate banking account in the name of your business and obtain an accompanying Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN). Establish credit now with this EIN in your business name apart from your own personal credit. What types of retirement plans are available for you to allocate a substantial portion of your net income on an annual basis? Realize that you have a diverse array of choices for tax-deferred savings of self-employed earnings contingent on your needs. You can decide to significantly fund a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP-IRA) plan or Keogh plan up until the taxfiling deadline and deduct these contributions on your personal income tax return. Alternatively, depending on your level of self-employment income and tolerance for administration expense, you can set up a Solo 401(k) plan or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE IRA) with the total funding amount comprised of employer and employee contributions. Be certain you understand the rules and penalties that apply to taking your money out of these plans early. Can your children set up a Roth IRA to contribute wages from a job and begin saving for retirement? Employ your kids and encourage them to fund a Roth IRA with their earned income. Keep organized records of earnings, including a log of the dates and hours your children work. With health insurance, you can elect to continue your ex-
isting Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage from your previous employer’s plan for as long as possible (up to 18 months, or more in some states). Be cognizant that you can deduct 100 percent of your health insurance premiums up to your self-employed business’ net profit. Recog-
nize that this deductibility is not permitted if you are eligible for health care coverage through other means, such as your spouse’s employer. For family members who work for your small business, you may be able to deduct full medical premiums, including some long-term care insurance. Reap fulfilling professional
rewards and achieve lifelong dreams by utilizing these beneficial tips to launch a successful small business. (Charles Sims Jr. is president/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.co m.)
RELIGION
Tri-State Defender
December 19 - 25, 2013
RELIGION BRIEFS
NELSON MANDELA
Page 7
St. John annual cantata on Dec. 22
St. John Baptist Church at 640 Vance Ave. will present its 24th Annual Christmas Cantata, “Son of the Highest,” by Dick Bolks on Dec. 22 beginning at 4 p.m. The event is sponsored by the New Era Club, where Velton R. McDonald is president. St. John Community Chorale performs under the direction of Rosetta H. Peterson, with David A. Caudill at the organ, Joy M. Plunkett on the piano, and Stan A. Bell and his son, Micah, narrating. This year’s cantata features singers from 16 area churches with 10 denominations represented. The chorale welcomes the newly-elected pastor of St. John, the Rev. Henry L. Key. Soloists are Diane M. Johnson, Alexus D. Lewis, Terrance Walker, Naomi W. Moody, Emma J. Ballard and Jessionna Wilkins, understudy. For more information, contact Joyce Springfield-Collins at 901-785-3350; e-mail jscol4333@aol.com or Vanessa Gray at the church at 901-5251092. BRIEFLY: Due to inclement weather, the Timeless Christmas Benefit Concert featuring Personal Praise has been rescheduled to Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. at Lake Grove Missionary Baptist Church at 265 Leath St. The Silent Auction will begin at 2 p.m. BRIEFLY: Lily of the Valley Missionary Baptist Church, located in North Memphis near Chelsea and Firestone, will host a Christmas Dinner event on Dec., 21 from 2-6 p.m. ”For more information, contact Jackie Bougard at 901-352-1338 or email lilyofthevalleymbc@gmail.com. Visit www.facebook.com/lotvmbc; Online donations: www.you caring.com/lotvdinner.) BRIEFLY: The Church Health Center is taking orders for Christmas cards (including both honorarium and memorial cards). This year’s card features a print by local artist John Robinette. To send cards to the people on your list and support the work of the Center, call 901-272-7170or visit churchhealthcenter.org. BRIEFLY: Apostle Adam Davis and Word on the Move International is hosting a conference called “Apostles and Prophets, The Glory Revealed” for clergy and aspiring clergy from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16-17 at Rita’s on the Square at 500 West Broadway in West Memphis, Ark. The conference is free, with registration required. To register, visit Eventbrite.com and search for the conference. For more information, call 870394-4596 or go to Facebook and type in the conference name.
Mandela tribute...
After the death of Nelson Mandela, the revered former South African president and anti-apartheid icon, heads of state from around the globe paid their respects with various tributes. So did the staff at R.S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home, 374 Vance Ave. They mourned Mandela as well with a photographic display of the iconic leader, a bookmark and commemorative registry for the Memphis community to sign. Mandela spent 27 years in prison before becoming South Africaʼs first black president. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
Metropolitan powers NAACP 2013 Teenager of the Year
The Teenager of the Year was the recipient of a scholarship from the NAACP, electronic gifts and gift cards.
Representing Metropolitan Baptist Church, Glenn Vaulx III was recently crowned the 35th NAACP Teenager of the year at the annual coronation program. Vaulx, the son of Glenn Vaulx Jr. and Kimmie Vaulx and a junior at Central High School, led the field of contestants with the highest NAACP membership report in the history of the contest. The Rev. Reginald Porter Sr., pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, was on hand to congratulate Glenn, along with a host of family and friends. The first runner-up was D’Lauren Falkner, representing St. Augustine Catholic Church. She is the daughter of Sheila Branch and Reginald Falkner and is a senior at Memphis Catholic High School. The second runner-up, representing Greater Middle Baptist Church, was Maliah Mayweather. Maliah, the daughter of Robin Mayweather, was not able to attend the program because of her school basketball schedule.
Trinity Gibson came in as the third runner-up, representing Olivet Fellowship Baptist Church. She is the daughter of Olivet’s pastor, the Rev. Eugene Gibson, and Nicole Gibson. Greenwood CME Church was represented by Ross Anderson, the fourth runner-up. He is the son of Ricky and Regina Anderson. All contestants received prizes donated by Memphis area businesses. The Teenager of the Year was the recipient of a scholarship from the NAACP, electronic gifts and gift cards. Other contestants were: McKenzie Walker, Castalia Baptist Church; Ivy Arnold, Brown Baptist Church; Joshua Johnson, First Baptist Church Broad Ave.; Paige Porter, Mt. Olive CME Cathedral Church; Stephen Means, First Baptist Church Lauderdale; Brandon Davis, St. Andrew AME Church; Roosevelt Jackson, Mt. Nebo Baptist Church; Gabrielle Taylor, Trinity CME Church; and Cache’ Truitt, representing The Healing Cathedral.
The NAACP Teenager of the Year winners are (l-r): Ross Anderson, Glenn Vaulx III (2013 Teenager of the Year); Dʼ Lauren Falkner; and Trinity Gibson. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-
METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor
767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126
ASSOCIATE MINISTERS
901-946-4095 fax 948-8311
Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
SUNDAY Sunday School .....................8:30 am Morning Worship Service ....10:00am
WEDNESDAY Bible Study .........................10:30 am Mid-Day Prayer Meeting .....12 noon Evening Prayer Meeting........7:00pm
FRIDAY Cable Channel 17 ............... 8:00pm
Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. —Matthew 7: 1-2
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. —Phillipians 4:13
ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, December 19 - 25, 2013, Page 8
WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON? Beyoncé sho knows how to make news, don’t she?
Out of nowhere I started hearing about this new self-titled Beyoncé album. Everyone kept asking me, “Myron Have you heard it?” I dashed to my computer to see if any of it was Myron on YouTube. I Mays had to see what the hoopla was all about. I stumbled across a video for one of the new songs, “Drunk in Love” featuring her husband Jay-Z. I also discover that although the album is in stores this week, she released it online last week and it moved a staggering 80,000 copies in 3 hours…yes, 3 hours. As I type these very words, it has already sold over 500,000 copies and has debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. While listening I discovered that this wasn’t your ordinary Beyoncé. (Lol). So far, I’ve been getting mixed reviews. There are diehard fans who feel that she didn’t have to take her talent in such an explicit direction. Then there are some who are feeling this new album. Yes, the content is a little over the top and you get to hear things you really didn’t expect to hear from Beyoncé. But remember, it’s all entertainment. And Beyoncé has been nothing if not entertaining for years. If you’re curious and wanna give it a listen, it’s everywhere now…unless you’re looking for it at your local Target stores. Target has decided not to carry the new album. Not because of its content, but because she chose to release the album online first. “While there are many aspects that contribute to our approach and we have appreciated partnering with Beyoncé in the past, we are primarily focused on offering CDs that will be available in a physical format at the same time as all other formats,” says Target spokesperson Erica Julkowski. “At this time, Target will not be carrying Beyoncé’s new self-titled album ‘Beyonce.’” I’m sure she’s not losing any sleep behind that decision considering that Target is the fifth largest music retailer behind I-Tunes, Walmart, Best Buy and Amazon. And to put it in perspective, I-Tunes owns about 75 percent of the digital music market, which makes perfectly good business sense why she would release it online first. Wouldn’t you agree?
Countdown to a Merry Christmas
You do know that this is the last full week to complete your Christmas shopping, right? I’m sure there is a guy somewhere sweating icicles right now because he has no clue what to buy his sweetheart for Christmas. As always, I’m here to help. According to my research, as well as my living on earth for the past 40 years, I have found that women are really big on fashion. I mean really big. So big to the point that fashion not only includes clothes, shoes and accessories, it also includes cell phones, accessories and other electronics too. It might not be a bad idea to learn her size and surprise her with something sexy to wear. If you are a little impaired when it comes figuring that out, just imagine her in something that you’d like to see her in and let that be your guide. I f you’re still somewhat impaired, you might want to take the safe route and consider a gift card to her favorite store. Then when she goes, she might take you along. But while you’re there, it might not be a bad idea to pay attention. Then, if all else fails, cash is always king, right? However, at least put it in a nice envelope or something. True, it’s the thought that counts, but it only counts as much as the thought you put into it.
Beyoncé a feminist icon?
Beyoncé quietly released her self-titled “visual album” leading to the singerʼs best first-week numbers during her career. (Photo: Facebook)
Is
New album reignites debate between black and white feminists
theGrio
by Donovan X. Ramsey First lady Michelle Obama has described Beyoncé as a “role model who kids everywhere can look up to.” Oprah Winfrey called her the “pre-eminent mistress of the universe.” Despite counting two of the most influential women in the world as fans, Beyoncé still has her detractors – particularly within the feminist community. And it seems, when it comes to the question of whether or not Beyoncé is a feminist role model, the dividing line is often one of race between her detractors and supporters. Last Friday (Dec. 13) morning, Beyoncé quietly released her selftitled “visual album,” leading to the singer’s best first-week numbers during her career. Beyoncé, which is available exclusively on iTunes for the time being, reportedly sold 617,213 copies in the U.S. iTunes Store and 828,773 internationally in its first few days. It broke the record for first-week digital sales of an album in the United States, and is set to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. Despite this rapt reception, almost immediately after the debut of her fifth studio album, the debate over Beyoncé as a feminist figure was reignited.
The controversy
As much as fans loved it, reviews also rolled in blasting Beyoncé for its overly sexual lyrics and images. Simultaneously, others – including MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry – heralded it as a “feminist manifesto.” Does Harris-Perry see the singer differently because she is also a black woman? “Beyoncé has been making feminist moves without having to call herself a feminist. I think black women in particular have always recognized that,” image activist Michaela angela Davis told theGrio. “It seems like she’s on her own terms. You don’t get the feeling that she’s being manipulated by someone else’s fantasy of her and that’s an important part of her appeal to many women.” Analyses such as those of Davis and Harris-Perry compete with heavy criticisms of Beyoncé in mainstream feminist circles. In fact, when the singer appeared on the cover of Ms. magazine – a feminist mainstay – in 2012 under the headline “Beyoncé’s Fierce Feminism,” the publication received so much backlash, it inspired an article on their site about the ways white feminists lack solidarity with black women. At the root of the debate over whether Beyoncé is a feminist is a much deeper question of how to define feminism. “What does it mean to be a feminist? Who gets to be one? And what does it take to be one? Who gets to decide who is a feminist and who isn’t?” asked writer Lauren Rankin in response to the Ms. backlash. “These questions, while perhaps important in theory, are almost always a means of excluding and demonizing those who don’t fit the white, liberal feminist narrative of what makes a woman a feminist.”
How white, mainstream feminists see Beyoncé
In a piece titled “Why White Feminists Are Mad At Beyoncé, Julia Sonenshein, editor at theGloss.com, explored the many critiques
Read on!
The What’s Happening Myron Book Club convenes this Saturday (Dec. 21st) from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at The Grindz Coffee & Tea located at 8195 Dexter Road, Suite 104 in Cordova. Local author and Divine Magazine publisher Megan Mottley will be the local featured author and we’re reading “The Family Business” by Carl Weber. I’ll have great door prizes and more. You’re invited!
(Got an event you’d like for me to cover or attend, email me at myron@whatshappeningmyron.com.)
“While there is certainly room for criticism, and major figures like Beyoncé should be criticized, these particular conversations tend to approach any analysis from a very white point of view, and don’t consider how the themes of sexuality, wealth, and confidence differ across communities.” Beyoncé’s supporters seem to be in agreement that there is a need
Almost immediately after the debut of her fifth studio album, the debate over Beyoncé as a feminist figure was reignited. (Video screen capture)
leveled at the singer in reviews shortly after the debut of her album. She shared her take on why so many white women have difficultly stomaching Beyoncé’s version of empowerment. “White feminists tend to critique Beyoncé first and foremost for the way she uses her sexuality as a tool. White feminists also tend to criticize her attitude towards wealth and materialism, along with her bravado and confidence,” Sonenshein told theGrio.
Mainstream feminists and women of color sometimes see Beyoncé very differently. (Video screen capture)
for change in the feminist movement. In fact, women of color are coming to the forefront, demanding to have their issues and interests represented. “This is one of the ways that the old rift between white and black feminists plays out,” said Davis. “White feminists have had a good run of defining the movement, but we’re tired of those old standards. Like women, feminists come in lots of different shapes, sizes and types.”
Beyoncé’s definition of feminism
One track on the new album, “Flawless,” is a remix of Beyoncé’s “Bow Down,” a song heavily criticized for its use of the word “b***h” when it leaked earlier this year. Perhaps in reaction to accusations that using the b-word is the antithesis of the “girl power” ethos the superstar tends to tout, “Flawless” features a sample from a presentation by renowned Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Titled, “We Should All Be Feminists,” in the talk portion sampled for the song, Adichie defines a feminist broadly as, “(a) person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.” This is a wide definition that can include many forms of feminism – including a feminism that is body-positive, sexy, and proud of wealth accumulation. And it appears that Beyoncé herself has such an open definition of feminism. In 2010, she told the U.K.’s Daily Mail: “I think I am a feminist in a way. It’s not something I consciously decided I was going to be; perhaps it’s because I grew up in a singing group with other women, and that was so helpful to me. It kept me out of so much trouble and out of bad relationships. My friendships with my girls are just so much a part of me that there are things I am never going to do that would upset that bond. I never want to betray that friendship because I love being a woman and I love being a friend to other women.” Three years later, at the start of her controversially-titled “Mrs. Carter” world tour – because the name seemed to define her by her husband – Beyoncé told British Vogue: “I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything? I’m just a woman, and I love being a woman.”
Will mainstream open up to Beyoncé’s brand?
Widening what it means to be a feminist is something mainstream leaders of this political group will need to do if it truly wants to speak to all women, including women of color. This means accepting that for many of these women, Beyoncé is their icon. “People are starting to understand that insular, mainstream white feminism that excludes any other oppressed group – (such as) women of color (or) transwomen – isn’t sustainable or effective, so it’s in the interest of white feminists to learn about the ‘sisterhood’ they claim to represent,” Sonenshein said. (Follow Donovan X. Ramsey at @iDXR.)
ENTERTAINMENT
Tri-State Defender
Page 9
December 19 - 25, 2013
OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam’s Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
Hip hop recording artist, songwriter and producer Kanye West, struggling with actor Will Ferrell over a hockey stick, makes a cameo in the upcoming “Anchorman 2” feature film. He was spotted on set in Atlanta with a number of other notable figures. (Courtesy photo)
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kam Williams
For movies opening Dec. 20, 2013
BIG BUDGET FILMS
“American Hustle” (R for sexuality, pervasive profanity and brief violence) David O. Russell wrote and directed this crime drama about a couple of con artists (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) forced by an overzealous FBI agent (Bradley Cooper) to infiltrate a New Jersey underworld inhabited by mobsters protected by a crooked, big city mayor (Jeremy Renner). Support cast includes Jennifer Lawrence, Louis C.K. and Michael Pena.
“Anchorman 2” (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, crude humor, drug use and comic violence) Will Ferrell reprises the title role as the oafish broadcaster in this sequel which finds his former news team reuniting in New York to work for a 24-hour cable network. Returning cast members include Steve Carell, Vince Vaughn, Paul Rudd, Good, David Koechner, Luke Wilson, Chris Parnell, Fred Willard and narrator Bill Kurtis, as well as new additions Greg Kinnear, James Marsden, Harrison Ford, Kristen Wiig, Meagan Good and Christina Applegate, and featuring cameos by Will Smith, Jim Carrey, Kanye West, Amy Poehler, Nicole Kidman, Drake, Tina Fey, John C.
Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen and Kirsten Dunst.
“Her” (R for profanity, sexuality and brief nudity) Oscar-nominee Spike Jonze (for Being John Malkovich) directed this romance drama revolving around a lonely letter writer (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with the voice (Scarlett Johansson) on his computer’s operating system. With Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Bill Hader and Olivia Wilde. “Saving Mr. Banks” (PG-13 for mature themes and unsettling images) Period piece recounting Walt Disney’s (Tom Hanks) bending over backwards to secure the film rights to Mary Poppins from P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson), the overprotective author of the beloved children’s book. With Paul Giamatti, Colin Farrell, Rachel Griffiths, Ruth Wilson and Jason Schwartzman.
“Walking with Dinosaurs 3D” (PG for peril, action and rude humor) Prehistoric animated epic, set 70 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period, chronicling the lives of a trio of dinos (Justin Long, Tiya Sircar and Skyler Stone) from infancy to adulthood. Narrated by John Leguizamo, with additional voicework by Mary Mouser, Clay Savage and Katie Silverman.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
“All the Light in the Sky” (Unrated) Char-
acter-driven drama directed by Joe Swanberg about an aging actress (Jane Adams) forced to reassess her career prospects when her freshfaced, aspiring niece (Sophia Takal) arrives in Malibu for a weekend stay. With Kent Osborne, Larry Fessenden and Ti West. “Dhoom 3” (Unrated) Third installment in the Bollywood action series finds crimefighter Jai (Abhishek Bachchan) and sidekick Ali (Uday Chopra) matching wits with a new pair of worthy adversaries (Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif). With Jackie Shroff, Diana Penty and Don Kress. (In Hindi, English, Tamil and Telugu with subtitles)
“The Past” (PG-13 for mature themes and brief profanity) Fractured family drama about a Persian man (Ali Mosaffa) who returns to Paris from Iran four years after abandoning his family there only to find his French wife (Berenice Bejo) dating an Arab (Tahar Rahim). With Pauline Burlet, Elyes Aguis and Jeanne Jestin. (In French and Persian with subtitles)
“The Selfish Giant” (Unrated) Adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s cautionary, coming-of-age tale of the same name about a couple of ambitious teenagers (Conner Chapman and Shaun Thomas) whose ill-advised association with a crooked junk dealer (Sean Gilder) leads to tragic consequences. Support cast includes Lorraine Ashbourne, Ian Burfield and Steve Evets.
HOROSCOPES
Dec. 19-25, 2013
ARIES Move slowly concerning relationships this week. People are a little edgy and they don’t know exactly where you are coming from. Make full explanations. Don’t assume that they know what’s on your mind. Most of all, stay positive no matter what. TAURUS Exercise will work off some of your excess energy this week. Take a walk and remember that your world is made up of many beautiful parts. The part you are focusing on so intently this week is not your entire world. Proceed accordingly! GEMINI This week is a good week to dump any extra baggage that has been pulling you down. You have too much potential to throw away and waste your time on issues that will amount to nothing. Stay focused on your goals. Meet and spend time with people who will be able to help you reach them. CANCER This is a good week for exercising that clever mind of yours. Luck will be with you in all endeavors you start. Luck is with you always because positive outlook attracts positive vibrations. LEO Your careless ways with money are going to be apparent this week. Financial mistakes you’ve made in the past will be especially painful. Don’t conceal the pain from yourself. It is a warning that you should take steps to prevent future financial crisis. VIRGO Take advantage of the great weather and spend time outdoors enjoying and relaxing with Mother Nature. Learn a new sport, and spend time with family and friends. Don’t take travel matters into your own hands. Seek a professional who will be able to plan a wonderful vacation for you without breaking your bank. Cook up some goodies for your loved ones. LIBRA Everything seems to be moving along in a very pleasant way this week. Friends are helpful, family is supportive, even the sun seems to be shining just for you! Enjoy this harmony and count your blessings. Finish a task at work. SCORPIO The bond that you established with your spiritual side works well in your relationship with a special person. Speak of the reality of the intangible qualities of life. Your lover will understand. Keep attention on the financial matters you’ve been dealing with. SAGITTARIUS If you need some time to yourself this week, take it. You’ll be doing yourself an act of kindness. Since you do so much for others, why not treat yourself as well as you treat them? Your world is the way you are living. Live with love. CAPRICORN Remember that exercise is a wonderful tension-reliever if things get too intense this week. A walk over your lunch hour could make all the difference in how you feel this afternoon. Love yourself and reward yourself with perfect health and happiness. AQUARIUS You’ve done some of your own love homework. Hopefully you’ve had an opportunity to learn a new way of seeing the world and in that way you’ve found a way of loving that is more natural for you. The combination of sexiness and joyful focus can create you a wonderful love experience. PISCES If you want to keep your positive outlook intact, avoid gossip and those who might want to just cry the blues for no good reason. You’ll be happiest this week if you keep busy and keep your opinions to yourself. However, good advice is available from an older female relative. Source: NNPA News Service
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New drug could save millions of lives
Hepatitis C could be completely wiped out in the majority of todayʼs patients NNPA News Service
A new drug is on the horizon that scientists say will save millions of lives. If approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, it may be here before 2013 comes to a close. Dr. Parvez Mantry, medical director of the Hepatobiliary Tumor Program at Methodist Dallas Medical, said that an investigational new medicine called sofosbuvir has shown encouraging results in fighting hepatitis C. A disease that was a death sentence to many a generation ago could now be completely wiped out in the majority of today’s patients. Discovered in 1992, but most likely around for much longer, hepatitis C causes severe liver damage in those who are infected; that number is estimated to be around 3 million people in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. It causes more deaths than HIV/AIDS and is the leading cause of liver cancer, as stated in a media release about sofosbuvir. “When this virus was discovered, there were no directly acting agents that would kill the virus,” Mantry said. Treatments came with many side effects and only had a 40 to 50 percent cure rate. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex has a large number of hepatitis C patients. “Specificly certain communities that we see in Dallas, and other communities that we see in Dallas which have a disproportionately rate of hepatitis C, is African Americans,” Mantry said. “And all over the country hepatitis C has a disproportionate impact on African Americans because, as compared to the general
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Grammy Award winner Natalie Cole, who was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2008, is one of thousands of African Americans living with the disease. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
by Michael McGee
December 19 - 25, 2013
population, they are twice as likely to be infected with chronic hepatitis C.” Mantry also said that past treatments had been less successful with African Americans as opposed to Caucasian Americans. “… and therefore the burden of untreated disease in this community is much higher.” The doctor believes there will be a shift in those statistics soon. Gilead Sciences submitted a New Drug Application in April 2013 and was granted priority review. In October an expert panel of the FDA voted unanimously to support the approval of sofosbuvir for chronic hepatitis C. Sofosbuvir was also granted a Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA. This will all be considered by the FDA as the agency completes its review of the medication. “We expect that the new drug for hepatitis C will be in the market within the next month,” Mantry said. “It may even be sooner …” He deemed the drug to be a medical game-changer. A “miracle” is what Victoria Martinez of San Antonio called it. Martinez, 57, was a hepatitis C patient who recently went through a research trial of sofosbuvir at The Liver Institute. “Men, women; they just don’t like to go to the doctor. Especially like me; I was healthy,” she said. “There was nothing wrong with me.” Despite her sense of wellness, Martinez was silently suffering from hepatitis C. When she was diagnosed with the virus in 2009 it chilled her; several years before the same disease took the life of her mother. (Special to the NNPA from The Dallas Examiner)
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The Aging Commission of the Mid-South, Inc., the area agency on aging and disability (AAAD), for PSA 9 which includes the City of Memphis, and Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby and Tipton Counties in West Tennessee is soliciting proposals from public, private, non-profit and profit-making organizations to provide year round supportive and nutritional services to older adults and adults with disabilities in our geographic area. Program funding to providers selected will begin July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015. Grant period may be extended for additional years. Funds will be available under the Older Americans Act and/or from the State of Tennessee. These funds are not intended for capital expenditures. The Aging Commission of the Mid-South, Inc. reserves the right to negotiate additional contracts under this RFP in subsequent years of the procurement cycle.
Any proposal submitted must address our planning and service area and; must serve persons 60 years of age and older, and adults with disabilities and; abide by all State, Federal and Local regulations, policies and procedures as promulgated under the Older Americans Act. For certain designated services, as specifically outlined in the RFP, preference will be given to organizations which can provide such service throughout the geographic area. This request for proposals is authorized by the Older Americans Act, as amended in 2000. In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Part 74 and the Tennessee Commission on Aging Policies and Procedures, this notice constitutes
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Interested applicants should request a RFP Fact Sheet by contacting Elaine Graf at egraf@agingcommission.org or Aging Commission of the Mid-South, 2670 Union Avenue Extended, Suite 1000, Memphis, TN 38112. Letters of Interest are due by January 3, 2014. The DEADLINE for submitting and accepting completed proposals is January 30, 2014 at 4 pm CST. Due to competitive nature, deadlines may not be extended. NOTICE TO BIDDER(S)
Sealed bids will be received by the Shelby County Government in the Department of Housing, 1075 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38134 until 9:30 a.m. on December 31, 2013 as shown below: MULTIPLE AND ENTIRELY DIFFERENT REHABILITATION JOBS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS BID NOTICE. BIDDER(S) MAY ELECT TO BID ON ANY OR ALL OF THE JOBS IN THE NOTICE. SEALED BID SBI-000237 DUE: Tuesday December 31, 2013
Rehabilitation of Owner-Occupied Housing Units throughout Shelby County some of which may require the use of lead based paint safe work practices and techniques; and
Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Jobs. Detailed specifications for items above may be obtained in the Shelby County Department of Housing at the aforementioned address. All bids will be opened and publicly read by the Shelby County Government at the time mentioned above at the Department of Housing, 1075 Mullins Sta-
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As a condition precedent to bidding, each bidder must apply and qualify for a Vendor Number and Equal Opportunity Compliance Eligibility Number prior to the submitting your response. Your EOC number must be displayed on the outside of your envelope for each bid submission.
As a condition precedent to being awarded jobs involving Lead Based Paint, contractors must be certified through EPA as an RRP contractor and/or show proof of application to EPA for said certification and be certified through the State of Tennessee as a Lead Based Paint Firm. Proof of licensing at time of bid submission is required by the Shelby County Department of Housing. The label, which is attached to the specifications shall be completely filled out and attached to the bid submission envelope. You must display your current E.O.C. Eligibility Number or your Locally Owned Small Business (LOSB) Number on the outside of your envelope and a copy of all licenses and insurance policies must be included in your submitted bid package. Unless the label is completely filled out and your current E.O.C. Eligibility Number is noted thereon your bid may be returned to you unopened. Should your label be lost or misplaced, please note the appropriate information in the lower left-hand corner of your envelope. The Department of Housing encourages participation from WBE, MBE, LOSB, and Section 3 Contractors under these rehabilitation programs. The Shelby County Government reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informalities therein. By order of
MARK H. LUTTRELL, JR., MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
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BRIEFS & THINGS
Officer April Colbert
Nominations open for Memphis Cares Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the Memphis Cares 2014 Mentoring Awards, with the deadline for applications and letters of nomination set for Dec. 23. All forms and letters should be sent to Willie Brooks at memphis@caresmentoring.org. The recipients of the awards will be announced at the Sixth Anniversary and Awards Program of Memphis Cares on Jan. 25th at the Memphis Education Association, beginning at 10 a.m. Nominations are being accepted for: • The AC and Ruby Wharton Mentoring Award, which was established by the Black Rose Foundation for Children and Memphis Cares Mentoring Movement to honor the Whartons – Mayor AC Wharton Jr. and his wife, attorney Ruby Wharton – for their efforts to support young people. The award is intended to recognize couples and/or two people who have worked together over at least three years to mentor young people. • Ujamaa Mentoring Award – Presented to a company that has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring and made outstanding contributions on behalf of children for at least one year. •The Imani Mentoring Award – For churches, organizations and/or other institutions that have demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring Memphis-area children for one year or more. • Ujima Mentoring Award – Presented to individuals that have made outstanding contributions through mentoring for at least one year. For more information, email memphis@caresmentoring.org or call Willie Brooks at 901-844-3608.
Roby Williams receives MLGW Sparkle Award
Black Business Association of Memphis President and CEO Roby S. Williams received the Sparkle Award at the recent Memphis Light Gas & Water Annual Supplier Appreciation Reception. The Annual Supplier Appreciation Reception gave local Roby S. suppliers, vendors and Williams contractors the opportunity to network with procurement professionals from MLGW and the City of Memphis. The event is an initiative of MLGW’s Supplier Diversity Department. Williams has served on MLGW’s Diversity Council since its inception. “I’m overwhelmed!” said Williams. “(When) you are recognized by the persons who are the leaders in the field of diversity and expanding the circle of opportunity such that it includes all of the people, this is an extremely meaningful recognition for me and our team at the BBA.” Jozelle Booker, MLGW manager of Procurement and Contracts, said originally the Sparkle Award was only given to an employee of MLGW. “While the nominations were coming in, the Supplier Diversity Department was discussing the input from our External Advisory Council and almost at the same time everyone said the very first Sparkle should be Roby Williams of with the BBA! And that’s because of the advice, insight and leadership Roby has shown. Whenever there’s an event where you’re talking about minority economic development in this city, he is always there.” The MLGW Supplier Diversity Program gives certified business owners the opportunity to partner with the utility in a buyer-seller relationship. The Board of Directors recently approved enhancements designed to boost economic development for minority-owned, womenowned as well as local small businesses. Those changes go into effect Jan. 1, 2014.
Art for Life’s Sake Benefit Concert set for Dec. 21
Songstress Tanisha Ward will be the guest artist as Art for Life’s Sake (AFLS) presents the Frosty the Snowman Holiday Benefit Concert on Saturday (Dec. 21) at 6 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 4459 Willow Road. The benefit is $10 Tanisha for adults and student Ward tickets (grades 7-12) are $5. Proceeds go to scholarships for Memphis area students in AFLS programs. Ward, a native Memphian and graduate of the University of Memphis/ Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, released her first solo album entitled “A Taste of Me,” in the summer of 2011. This past summer, she made her musical theater debut at Playhouse on the Square as the church soloist in “The Color Purple; The Musical About Love.” To purchase tickets, go to www.gctcomeplay.org or call 901-9373023. Seating is general admission. AFLS has provided arts access and musical exposure for mainly at-risk children and youth for two decades. For more information on AFLS, go to www.artforlifessake.org.
Page 11
December 19 - 25, 2013
ed and broadcast that the Southside of Chicago isn’t safe for police officers to live in, let alone citizens. Officer Colbert: No, it was not a lifelong thing. Once living here, I ran into several officers that gave me tickets for speeding, but it was the way they gave them to me. It was like they had excellent customer service. One guy was like, “I’m going to give you this ticket because you broke the law and you going to have to pay $200, but I’m doing it because I want you to be safe.” I responded thank you. Later I felt so stupid for saying that, but deep down inside I truly felt like he came at me from a place of caring because of his tone and approach. Prior to becoming a police officer, I was a flight attendant and after that I worked with the mentally ill. Then I was a personal trainer. These all fall under customer service. So in a unique way I could relate to him.
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kelvin Cowans
(Just as a neighborhood should not be judged by the actions of a few bad apples, neither should law enforcement agencies. In partnership with the new Community Police Relations Project, The New Tri-State Defender’s “Good Blue” column spotlights law enforcement officers who do it right. This week’s focus is on Officer April Colbert of the Memphis Police Department.)
Officer April Colbert, a member of the Memphis Police Department Airways Station since 2011, is soft-spoken yet fiercely determined to bring people together. Born on Chicago’s Southside, she moved to Memphis at age 13 with her mother, brother and sister. Hers is not a story of a youngster who grew up wanting to become a police officer. An East High School graduate (1998), Colbert said her journey to the police force was inspired by a strange exchange between her and a Memphis police officer who had just given her a $200-plus speeding ticket. I recently caught up with Officer Colbert at a coffee shop off Walnut Grove and Tillman for this “Good Blue” conversation. Kelvin Cowans: What brought you to start working hand and hand with CPR Memphis (Community and Police Relations)? Were you assigned, did someone pull your arm or did you simply answer the call of what you thought was needed? Officer April Colbert: It was something that kind of fell in my lap. When I became the Neighborhood Watch leader at Airways Station, I went to a farmer’s market that they had just opened up on Mississippi and Parkway. I met a lady there who had been working with the community and she told me about it. She was so excited and her enthusiasm is what brought me aboard. The very first time I attended a meeting I was very excited to be a part of something that was helping the community in that fashion.” KC: How important is community and police relations? Let’s get real, you are indeed the police, the law is the law and if citizens don’t follow it, you simply can take us to jail, period. True?
Officer Colbert: That’s a harsh way to put it. You have to understand that policing is also people being able to interact with people. We all start the day out the same as the community, taking showers, putting clothes on, getting breakfast and there are no titles at that point.
KC: How do you deal with people that don’t get that? Officer Colbert: The same way I deal with everybody and that is I try to put myself in their shoes. I know that everybody is not right and everybody don’t know how to talk to people. This kind of job will indeed show us what we don’t do good to communicate. And communicating well eliminates a lot of things. I try to make people feel like I would want to feel. KC: What made you want to become a police officer? Did the fact that you grew up in the Southside of Chicago tilt the scale to where you felt this way? It’s well document-
KC: Through research I came across something awesomely unnoticed in Memphis media. Could you expound on an accolade you were given for a blood drive you initiated. Officer Colbert: Yes, in June of 2012 I headed up an effort in which we had an “I Bleed Blue” Blood Drive at our Airways Station to help officers who get hurt out in the streets while doing their jobs and also those diagnosed with illnesses that require surgery. We had over 100 participants and I look for us to continue to do this bi-annually, if not every year.
KC: I notice that you have on a Santa Clause hat that reads, “I’ve Been a Bad Girl.” I’m at a lost of words because legally speaking that is impossible for you. Officer Colbert: This was a gag gift from my friends, who never get a chance to trick me because I’m always aware of what they’re trying to do when we’re all just messing around. It’s just a hat. I’ve been pretty good and I’m looking forward to a relaxing Christmas, watching movies and listening to some Mary Mary. I like that song they have titled “Go Get It.” It’s been a blessed year for me and I’m thankful for God’s favor and like a lot of people say, “Favor ain’t fair.” KC: Truth! (Kelvin Cowans can be reached at kelvincowans@hotmail.com.)
LEGACY
O
Curtis Lee Braxton aka Captain Curtis Lee
n Saturday (Dec. 21st), an array of government officials, industry officials and local and national recording artists are expected to help the family of Curtis Lee Braxton say farewell to the man many knew as an accomplished performer, recording artist, band director, voice-over artist and radio personality. Known as Captain Curtis Lee, Mr. Braxton died Dec. 11 after a brief illness. He was 69. Services for Mr. Lee will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Greater Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church located at 1072 South Wellington. The wake will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday at Superior Funeral Home’s south location at 460 E. McLemore. With a passion for music and performing that emerged early, Mr. Braxton developed a love for classic soul and blues. He put his passion into action, leaving home at 14 to pursue his musical aspirations. In New York City, he linked up with three other male vocalists, forming the original lineup of doowop singing group The Drifters. Branching off to pursue solo efforts, Mr. Braxton became an opening act for the “Godfather of Soul,” James Brown. He secured titles as band director and studio vocal producer for various major recording artists. His band directing efforts opened the door for him to display his abilities as a concert MC extraordinaire. On Memphis radio, Mr. Braxton was known for taking listeners on a fantastic voyage daily via the airwaves, becoming affectionately loved as Captain Curtis Lee. He began his career in radio in 1974 at 1340 AM WLOK prior to the station’s format switch to gospel. He served as the station’s chief production executive and top rated on-air host. From 1990 to 1992, he served as operations manager and staff announcer at WNWZ-FM. Later, he was the production manager at Urban AC KRNB MAGIC 101.1 (now Urban AC KJMS V101.1) from 1992 until 1996. He functioned in the capacity of production director once again at KXHT Hot 107.1 in 1997. “The Captain” landed on the runway for the inaugural flight of the Blues Cruise at AM 1070 WDIA in 1997. While at WDIA, he set a record for the highest ratings in Memphis radio, gaining a 22 share while at WDIA. At Soul Classics 103.5 WRBO, he secured an 11 share on the Saturday morning blues block. During his tenure as a radio announcer, the Captain broke the careers of numerous blues and southern soul recording artists. His proudest moment came when he was able to co-produce and be the first to break the initial radio hit of his wife, recording artist Miz B. The single was titled “My Name Is $$$.” The Blues Cruise took off for its last on-air flight in 2011 at WPLX AM 1180. The Captain served as the host of the Beale Street
Captain Curtis Lee Summer Block party in 2012. He is also credited as a great voiceover artist, as he was the voice of Greg’s Store for Men, Bert’s, Marty’s, and various other brands. He is survived by his wife of 30 plus years, Mary Braxton, and his mother-in-law, Dorothy Mae Swafford; and eight in-laws, whom he affectionately considered his sisters and brothers: Bill (Josie) Sanders, Shirley Taylor, Lefty Sanders, Dwayne (Clara) Sanders, Deborah Jamison, Aserlean Dotson, and Timothy Sanders. He leaves nine children: Mona Campbell of Massachusetts, Curtis Pettis (Rasheda), Daniel Braxton, Jody Pettis (Jennifer), Ruby Marion (Robert), Tammy Pettis, Bridgette Cole, Dorothy Thomas and his baby girl, Katherine Latrice Braxton, all of Memphis. He also leaves three godsons: Darnell Moses and Cliff and Juan Macklin; one goddaughter, Rachel Diggs, and two nephews, whom he considered sons, the Rev, Willie J. Jamison Jr., and Darius Jamison. He leaves behind 14 grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other in-laws, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Centree Day.
On Memphis radio, Mr. Braxton was known for taking listeners on a fantastic voyage daily via the airwaves, becoming affectionately loved as Captain Curtis Lee.
SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, December 19 - 25, 2013, Page 12
Tigers lose but play well against Florida State’s Gators Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by J.R. Moorhead
Under pressure. The expectations of the True Blue Nation are always high. When Memphis comes into a season with a top five recruiting class, the fans are just that more enamored. Yet to the outside world, the Tigers haven’t been relevant on the national stage for years. It seems that every year the early buzz fizzles with a quickness. That probably hurts some feelings, but the truth always does. Winning C-USA championships didn’t really carry much weight, and why should it when Memphis followed them up with early exits from the “big dance.” When the Tigers joined a new conference, the True Blue fans looked at it as a platform for Memphis to get more exposure. And the tough out-of-conWinning C- f e r e n c e a m e s USA cham- gwould be a pionships gage for the potendidn’t really true tial of the carry much team. weight, and However, Memwhy should when phis fell to it when O k l a h o m a earlier Memphis State this year, followed those fans them up w e r e rought with early bback to realiThe exits from ty. had the “big Tigers room to imdance.” prove, lots of it. Then the Tigers rebounded to beat the Cowboys a couple of games later and re-legitimize themselves by winning the Old Spice Classic. That momentum rolled into the latest test, as the No. 15 Tigers took the court opposite the No. 16 Florida Gators during the Jimmy V Classic. Florida led by double digits and controlled the pace for most of the first half, but Memphis rallied and trailed by only three (41-38) at halftime. It appeared the Tigers were determined to avoid being embarrassed again on national TV. The game remained close and Memphis had a chance to tie or win on its final possession of the game. A contested lay-up after a one-on-one drive by Joe Jackson didn’t find the net and the Tigers came up just short (77-75). It was a tough loss, but an impressive showing. Many questioned Memphis’ credibility and this game showed that the Tigers can compete with the nation’s top teams. The Gators of the SEC will be a tournament team and Memphis took them to the wire. It’s a but an Almost win- loss, encouraging ning games sign. In the few isn’t what last years, the the fans Tigers have found it difwant. ficult to beat or even stay close with teams of Florida’s caliber (other than OSU earlier this season). While the way Memphis played bodes well for the future, more challenges loom on the horizon. A tough AAC schedule, which includes home-and-home series against Louisville, UConn, Cincinnati and Temple, as well as a matchup with Gonzaga will test the Tigers. Almost winning games isn’t what the fans want. Still, it has to be inspiring for the True Blue Nation to see Memphis going punch for punch with a serious contender. This year, the Tigers might lose a few more games during the regular season than they did when they were cruising through the C-USA, but they will be more prepared for the NCAA tournament. Playing better competition does have its advantages and Memphis looks to reap those benefits.
Memphisʼ Jarryd Bayless, starting for Mike Conley, scored 13 points and brought plenty of hustle, but it just wasnʼt enough to over the Lakers. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)
The defense of John Leuer (left) and Zach Randolph of the Grizzlies causes Pau Gasol to lose the ball. With his brother – defensive player of year Marc Gasol – out with an injury, the former Grizzlies center mostly proved too much for Memphis to handle.
Reeling Grizzlies go down to Lakers Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kelley Evans
It was another almost-doesn’tcount finish on Tuesday night (Dec. 17) at the FedExForum as the Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 96-92. The loss was the fourth in a row for the reeling Grizzlies. Entering the contest, the two teams had similar records (Grizzlies 10-13, Lakers 11-13) and plenty of injuries. Memphis played without starting point guard Mike Conley (thigh), AllStar center Marc Gasol (knee) and forward Quincy Pondexter (foot). The Lakers were missing point guards Steve Nash (back), Steve Blake (elbow) and Jordan Farmar (hamstring). Although the Lakers had injuries of their own, they took note of a Grizz team trying to make a go of it without major playmakers. “Mike’s a great point guard and obviously we know what Marc can do,” said Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. “Those two guys (Conley and Gasol) were badly, badly missed.” Bryant, filling in as the Lakers point guard, scored 21 points in 32 minutes, marking the most minutes played and one of his highest scoring games since returning from a torn Achilles tendon. Former Grizz and current Lakers center Pau Gasol said he told his brother (Marc Gasol_ to “just
Kobe Bryant scores over Tashaun Prince and Jamaal Franklin of the Grizzlies. be patient.” “He (Marc Gasol) hasn’t really been out for this long because of an injury,” Gasol said. “He is energetic, antsy and active. He needs to be patient. Not playing is hard for him because he wants to be out there with his team and playing. It’s tough when you are out and hurt and your team struggles at the same time. So, hopefully he will be back whenever the time is right for him so he can help the team get
Carson Palmer threw for 231 yards and a touchdown leading the Arizona Cardinals to a victory in overtime over the Titans after blowing a big lead. (Photos: Christopher Hope)
back on track.” Nick Young came off the L.A. bench with 18 points. “They’re a different team obviously without their main two players, players that they need,” Young said. “It sucks for them but we needed the win.” Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Tony Allen scored 16 points and racked seven rebounds. Jarryd Bayless, starting for Conley,
scored 13 points, tying Jon Leuer’s point total off the bench. “We are just trying to move the ball and dribble it less,” Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger said of playing without Conley. “We want to move it and try to get it into Zach Randolph.” The Grizzlies had another slow start but picked up the pace in the fourth quarter. Mike Miller hit a three-pointer to bring the Grizzlies within three (43-40) with 5:52 left in the half. By halftime the Lakers were up by five (52-47), with Bryant’s 14 points leading all scorers. The fourth quarter began tied 67-67. Randolph hit a lay-up and put the Grizzlies up by two. Young scored a jumper to knot another tie. Los Angeles went on a 15-4 run early in the period, which led to an 11-point lead. Memphis closed the gap, cutting the lead to three points (88-85). Bryant hit a long three-pointer with 2:39 on the clock, giving his team a six-point advantage. The Grizzlies got no closer. “They hit shots, they got threes,” Randolph said. “We didn’t get stops when we needed to. That was the game.” NOTE: The Grizzlies were in Dallas Wednesday night (Dec. 18), where their losing streak reached five games with a 105-91 loss to the Mavericks. For coverage, visit www.tsdmemphis.com.
Chris Johnson of the Titans avoids defenders en route to a firstquarter touchdown reception from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Arizona pulled out a 37-34 victory in overtime.
Overtime can’t save Titans Loss to Cardinals is fifth straight at home
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Christopher Hope
Only a few thousand fans remained at LP Field in Nashville when the hometown Titans stormed back from a deficit that was 17points deep in the final quarter. It seemed most had thrown in the towel on Tennessee (5-9) and its season. Trailing 34-17 with 6:13 remaining, the Titans scored 17 unanswered points to tie the game with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals ended all hopes of a Tennessee final victory celebration by kicking a field goal in overtime for a 37-34 win. Titans quarterback Ryan Fitz-
patrick threw for 402 yards. Two of his four touchdowns went to Michael Preston in Tennessee’s late rally. With two receivers deactivated for violating team rules, Fitzpatrick found Preston with a 10-yard TD pass with 3:12 to play. It was the first touchdown of Preston’s NFL career. The Titans recovered an onside kick when Jackie Battle knocked the ball away from Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald with 44 seconds left. With 10 seconds remaining, Fitzpatrick connected with Preston on a 10-yard TD. The first possession of overtime went to the Titans, but Fitzpatrick’s attempted pass to Preston
was intercepted by Antoine Cason, his second pick of the game. A few plays later, the Cardinals kicked the winning field goal. “They picked on the wrong guy one too many times, twice too many times, said Arizona coach Bruce Arians. “Antoine has been waiting his turn. It’s great to see him make those plays. Huge plays, especially a touchdown.” “When I intercepted the ball, what was going through my mind was score,” said Cason of his interception in overtime. “Score, just get the game over with right now, we don’t want to give them any more chances, especially at home. So, for me, I knew that gave us
momentum, that gave us a lot of confidence, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They went down and did exactly what they needed to do to put us in position to win the game.” Titans tight end Delanie Walker said, “When I lose any game, it rips my heart out. I don’t like losing. …But this one is tough.” Head coach Mike Munchak said the Titans seem to find a different way to lose games that they have a great chance of winning. “The guys fought. They believed we would win this game,” said Munchak. “But we haven’t been able to come back and finish it. It’s unfortunate.”