2 27 2013

VOL. 62, No. 8

February 21 - 27, 2013

www.tsdmemphis.com

75 Cents

The Urban Child Institute, WLOK form outreach partnership

KKK countdown to what?

COMMENTARY

While the KKK stands for Ku Klux Klan, the letters actually are an acronym representing standstill and decline.

The group’s hooded history is the saga of a group of American citizens who occupy a “hall of shame” that is home to far too many whose beliefs fly in the face of the “ideal” of the

One of the leading child advocacy organization’s in Shelby County and one of the oldest locally-owned radio stations in the Mid-South are joining forces to take their messages to the Tarrin streets, literally.

McGhee The Urban Child Institute recently formed a new partnership with WLOK to increase awareness for best practices to promote optimal brain development in young children from birth to age three.

The shared commitment from both partners is to ensure that more parents have access to information and resources that will help to position their child for academic and career success.

Each month, WLOK will select a different pre-k, head-start, or early childcare provider located in Memphis and Shelby County to visit and gift with materials produced by The Urban Child Institute (TUCI). The materials are to help WLOK and TUCI build upon their respective efforts to help children develop the foundational tools needed to succeed in school and later in life.

Each provider will then share the materials received with parents and or caregivers of the children being served in their facility.

“We believe that in order to truly advance education and economic conditions in Shelby County, greater emphasis must be placed on early childhood development,” said Katy Spurlock, TUCI’s director of Education and Dissemination.

“This new partnership with WLOK allows us the opportunity to engage in more direct community outreach to parents, and build strategic alliances with providers who also understand the significant impact that quality early care has on one’s life.”

Research shows that the first three years are the most influential in predicting future outcomes. During this timeframe, everything that a child experiences will shape her mental foundation for learning as the brain will SEE CHILD ON PAGE 2

- INSIDE -

• The pimping of Wikipedia.

See Opinion, page 4.

• 13th Amendment gets official OK in Mississippi. See Nation, page 5.

COMMENTARY Kajanaku@tri-statedefender.com

by Karanja A. Ajanaku

country.

Now, a KKK countdown is on.

Klan members have applied to rally in Downtown Memphis on March 30. That intention has stirred an array of emotions and has appointed and elected officials engaged in a variety of activities associated with the possibility – indeed the likelihood – of the gathering.

One City Council member has pushed for new police protection guidelines that would include barring the group from wearing masks and saddling them with the expense of

additional police protection.

Another is cautioning about the Council landing on the wrong side of free-speech protection and all the nogood that can come from that.

The new head of the Memphis Branch NAACP says the group should just be ignored – something that certainly didn’t happen during a previous Klan visit in January 1998.

Police hauled out tear gas in that instance, using it on those protesting the Klan’s presence. When the smoke cleared, about two-dozen were arrested, windows were shattered and

‘I’m sorry I let everybody down’ Jesse Jackson Jr., wife plead guilty to campaign-funds abuse

by Carol Cratty and Tom Cohen CNN

WASHINGTON – With moist eyes and soft voices, former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife pleaded guilty to federal charges on Wednesday related to years of using campaign funds for personal ex-

penses that included purchases of Michael Jackson memorabilia and a Rolex watch.

“Guilty, your honor,” Jackson responded to U.S. District Judge Robert Wilkins while dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief after he looked back at family members in the courtroom, including his father, civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

“I used monies that should have been used for campaign purposes,” Jackson, 47, acknowledged to the judge. When Wilkins asked if Jackson realized that the guilty plea meant giving up the right to a trial, he responded: “I have no interest in wasting the taxpayers’ time or money.”

Wilkins set sentencing for June 28, when Jackson could face up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

At a separate hearing later on Wednesday, former Chicago Alder-

• BlueCross to offer diversity scholarships. See Health, page 14.

MEMPHIS WEEKEND

H- 5 4o - L - 3 2o A .M . C l o u d s

H- 4 8o - L - 3 3o S unn y

H- 6 0o - L - 4 8o S unn y

REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS

Friday H-53 L-30 H-64 L-38 H-66 L-43

Saturday H-53 L-32 H-54 L-31 H-62 L-40

Sunday H-62 L-46 H-58 L-39 H-69 L-54

SEE JACKSON ON PAGE 3

Services set for Judge W. Otis Higgs Jr.

• Oscar predictions. See Entertainment, page 12.

SUNDAY

man Sandra Stevens Jackson, 49, also pleaded guilty in a quavering voice to one count of filing false tax returns in connection with the misuse of her husband’s campaign funds.

The charge involved a failure to declare more than $600,000 in income from 2005 to 2011. The total came from campaign funds.

She wept openly after returning to the defense table. Wilkins set her sentencing for July 1, when she could receive up to three years in prison

LEGACY:

• Detox and speak up, says Lenten speaker Rev. Moss.

See Religion, page 10.

SATURDAY

SEE KKK ON PAGE 3

“Guilty, your honor,” said former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. during a hearing Wednesday on charges that he misused campaign funds. He spoke briefly to reporters after leaving court in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: CNN)

• Dressed to impress. See Business, page 7.

FRIDAY

Memphis winced.

Oh yeah, the Klan was protesting national Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This time they’re mad about the Council’s Feb. 5th renaming of the three Confederate-themed downtown parks – Confederate Park, Nathan Bedford Forrest Park and Jefferson Davis Park – to Memphis Park, Health Sciences Park and Mississippi River Park. Of course, the old Forrest Park is where you find the grave of Nathan Bedford Forrest – post-Civil

‘Official’ times two…

A new “official” portrait reflecting First Lady Michelle Obamaʼs new bangs now hangs in the Green Room of the White House. What changes do you see from the “official” portrait of 2009?

(White House photos: Joyce N. Boghosian, 2009; Chuck Kennedy, 2013.)

Homegoing services will be Friday for Shelby County Criminal Court Judge W. Otis Higgs Jr., who died last week (Feb.15) after working earlier in the day before going home ill.

He was 75.

Judge Higgs was rushed by ambulance to Baptist East following a collapse at his home in East Memphis.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, with W. Otis services to follow Higgs Jr. at 3:30. Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 23) at Calvary Cemetery.

History will note Mr. Higgs as the first African American to serve as sheriff in Shelby County.

Trailblazer, public servant, role model are among the images that are being recalled about Mr. Higgs, who SEE HIGGS ON PAGE 2

NEWS

Page 2

CHILD

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

grow to reach 80 percent of adult size.

In their Pre-K Readiness Begins at Birth parenting guide, The Urban Child Institute offers a road map of steps to take to encourage language and speech; nurture creative thinking ability and independence; and cultivate emotional and social skills such as problem solving, self-control and self-confidence. The guide, in addition to other materials that each center director will be given to distribute to parents, also outlines signs of healthy brain development to watch for along the way.

For gospel station WLOK, whose programming is directed primarily to the African American community, the partnership with TUCI is an integral component to accomplish a long-held goal that all broadcast engines maintain – to keep its listeners informed.

Historically, radio has been viewed as a primary vehicle to disseminate news and information to the masses, and its influence and staying power is undeniable.

For decades, WLOK has been regarded as a respected source for entertainment and news in Memphis, and has also established itself as a trusted voice in addressing social and civil challenges. Today, President and CEO Art Gilliam remains committed to using his platform and airwaves to shift attitudes for the greater good of the Mid-South community.

As changes in the local education landscape become more prevalent, Gilliam believes it’s important to not lose sight of the common goal shared by parents, educators, government leaders and community residents.

“No matter who you are, what you do, or where you live, everyone wants the best for their kids,” he said. “So let’s start talking about basic things we can all do to produce ideal outcomes for our children and our entire city.

“By partnering with The Urban Child Institute, our goal is to let parents know that there

Tri-State Defender

February 21 - 27, 2013

Sheila Smith, WLOK radio host; Charlotte Burgess, owner/director, Victory Preschool; and a Victory Preschool student in a shirt that reads “Talk to me.” (Courtesy photo)

are ways to stack the odds in your child’s favor, and sometimes it just requires willingness to learn about and try a different approach.”

Often, new parents and working parents with good intentions simply do not have the time to research best practices to promote optimal brain development.

And for various reasons that may range from low income to lack of knowledge, parents in many cases parents do not have access to available information and resources that can improve their child’s upbringing and potential for success.

As a result, some parents will

adopt techniques and practices that might seem harmless, but are in fact setting the scene for their child to endure developmental delays and social problems that can persist throughout childhood and adulthood.

This is the pattern that The Urban Child Institute and WLOK are working to circumvent. Through their visits to area preschool, head-start, and early childcare centers, the partners want to ensure that the informational and instructional tools that are proven to be effective in producing ideal outcomes for babies ages zero to three get into the hands of those who need them.

Earlier this month, WLOK radio host Sheila Smith visited Victory Preschool, a new provider that opened its facility in August 2012. It was the first stop on a growing list of scheduled visits.

“Initially, I had some reservations when we were contacted,” said Victory’s owner and director, Charlotte Burgess.

“Being a private center, we get a lot of calls from people trying to sell their information and services. I had not heard of The Urban Child Institute, but after getting background information from Sheila, I realized that their mission aligned with ours. “ Victory Preschool uses a Christian-based curriculum that incorporates a combination of play and learn for kindergarten preparation. The concept is similar to The Urban Child Institute’s “Touch, Talk, Read, Play” initiative, a campaign to educate parents and caregivers on small things that they can do to nurture brain development in young children; things that will have a big impact on learning ability and social adaptability.

Burgess plans to include the literature provided by The Urban Child Institute in her students’ “Friday Folders” – a packet of information that she sends home each week for parents to stay actively engaged in their child’s development and progress.

“I think the partnership between The Urban Child Institute and WLOK is great, and something that is needed,” Burgess said.

“The more information and resources that we can offer our parents, the better off our kids will be.”

To build a better educated workforce, a feat that will in turn create stronger communities and improve our economy in Shelby County, no one organization, corporation, or government entity should be expected to bear the brunt of the work alone.

Cross-sector collaboration is vital to maximize impact, particularly in confronting social and economic challenges such as poverty and crime – two persistent obstacles in Memphis that research shows stems from the education level of the city’s adult population.

There are several transformative community change initiatives currently underway to improve educational outcomes across Shelby County. If they are to prove successful, synergy among business, government, non-profit and faith-based leaders must exist.

Expanding support for early childhood development is an area that is rich in opportunities to make a lasting impact for future generations, and all parties involved will reap the benefits.

The partnership between The Urban Child Institute and WLOK offers an example of a proactive approach to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

“We are not waiting for them to come to us,” said Gilliam.

“We just want to reach these kids wherever they are.”

HIGGS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

became sheriff for 82 days in 1990 after the suicide of then-Sheriff Jack Owens.

On three occasions, Mr. Higgs sought to become mayor of Memphis, coming up short in each instance.

From 1970 to 1975, he served as Division 4 Criminal Court judge. In 1998, he was elected criminal court judge.

In Memphis in the early ’90s, a runoff provision was a feature of citywide races.

That provision eventually was junked, with Mr. Higgs playing a key role as attorney. That maneuver is credited with having paved the way for Dr. Willie W. Herenton becoming the first African American elected mayor of Memphis.

An ordained minister, Mr. Higgs leaves his loving wife, Diane Bradley Higgs; daughter, Stephanie (Larry) Redd; son, Chris Higgs; stepsons, Jesse (Shundra) Bradley, James (Keisha) Bradley; siblings, Dora Smith, Tony (Teresa) James, Betty Hughes and William James. He also leaves 5 grandchildren: Calon Gibbs, LaRynz, Kathryn and Jaydon Redd and Ariana Bradley.

Anthony Funeral Home (870-735-8680) has charge.

Tri-State Defender

JACKSON

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

and a maximum $250,000 fine.

Wednesday’s hearings completed the fall of the once politically powerful Chicago couple. Jesse Jackson Jr., a Democrat, won re-election to Congress last year despite personal problems, including a mood disorder that caused him to drop out of sight for months during the campaign.

That coincided with the investigation of campaign fund irregularities dating back several years.

Jackson resigned a few weeks after the election, while his wife resigned her position as alderman in January.

Prosecutors said the former congressman betrayed the public trust.

“The guilty plea today is so tragic because it represents such wasted potential. Jesse Jackson Jr. had the ability and the talent to be the voice of a new generation, but he squandered that talent. He exchanged that instead to satisfy his personal whims and extravagant lifestyle,” U.S. Atty.

Ronald C. Machen Jr. said at a news conference.

As he left the courthouse following his wife’s hearing, Jackson said to reporters: “I’m sorry I let everybody down.”

At his morning hearing, the former legislator responded to standard legal questions about his soundness of mind by acknowledging his treatment by a psychiatrist.

KKK

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

War Klan leader and a lieutenant general for the Confederacy.

The decision on the pending rally application falls to Police Director Toney Armstrong, who has said he mostly is concerned about the carrying of weapons, noting that he also sees the KKK masks as an issue.

Mayor AC Wharton Jr.,

NEWS

Page 3

February 21 - 27, 2013

The treatment was not for alcohol or drug abuse, Jackson said, adding that he had a beer on Tuesday night but “I have never been more clear in my life than I am now.”

“I fully understand the consequences of my actions,” he said.

His wife’s lawyer later told reporters that her decision to plead guilty was influenced in part by her husband’s “mental and health issues.”

The plea showed that Sandra Jackson admits “she’d made some mistakes in judgment regarding expenditures in campaign contributions,” said the lawyer, Dan Webb.

“She saw this as a chance to accept full responsibility for the conduct she engaged in,” he added.

Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and false statements.

Wilkins noted that prosecutors and defense attorneys said sentencing guidelines indicated an appropriate term of 46 to 57 months in prison and a fine of between $10,000 and $100,000.

However, Wilkins said he was not bound by sentencing guidelines, telling Jackson: “The bottom line is, I don’t know what sentence you’re going to get and you don’t know what sentence you’re going to get.”

Jackson’s lawyer, Reid Weingarten, told reporters after the hearing that he would mount a strong legal case for a fair sentence, noting his client

The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. had little comment after Wednesdayʼs hearings for his son, former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., telling reporters, “not today.” (Photo credit: CNN)

is the father of two young children and has the health problems mentioned in court.

“It turns out that Jesse has serious health issues,” Weingarten said. “... We are going to talk about them extensively with the court and those health issues are directly related to his present predicament. That is not an excuse. That is just a fact. And Jesse has turned a corner there as well.”

Last week, prosecutors filed charges against the couple in separate criminal documents used when parties strike plea agreements.

The documents say the former congressman misused about $750,000 in campaign funds from August 2005

through approximately July 2012.

According to court documents, Jackson’s campaign credit cards were used for $582,772 in personal expenditures. Jackson’s purchases included a gold-plated men’s Rolex watch costing more than $43,000 and almost $10,000 in children’s furniture.

As part of the plea agreement, Jackson will have to forfeit the $750,000 in improperly used funds and assorted memorabilia that prosecutors said he bought with campaign cash.

The items include two hats belonging to the late singer Michael Jackson costing more than $8,000; a $5,000 football signed by U.S. presidents; and

memorabilia involving the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and martial artist Bruce Lee. Other expenses incurred using the campaign credit card were a five-day stay at Martha’s Vineyard Holistic Retreat in 2008 for $5,687.75, and a $4,272.78 charge in 2006 for on-board cruise expenses to Navigator of the Sea, according to court documents.

Jackson issued a statement through his attorneys on Friday that said, in part: “I offer no excuses for my conduct and I fully accept my responsibility for the improper decisions and mistakes I have made.”

Jackson’s wife is not mentioned by name in the docu-

ment outlining misuse of campaign funds.

But there are references to her as “Co-Conspirator 1,” a former consultant and later the manager of Jackson’s re-election campaign. According to the court documents, “Co-Conspirator 1” bought $5,150 worth of fur capes and parkas and had them shipped from Beverly Hills, Calif., to Washington.

Jesse Jackson Jr. had represented 2nd Congressional District in Illinois since 1995. His name came up during the investigation of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, linked to allegations that Blagojevich attempted to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he became president.

No charges were filed against Jackson, but the House Ethics Committee decided to look into whether Jackson or an associate offered to raise a large amount of money for Blagojevich in exchange for Jackson getting the Senate seat.

Jackson dropped out of sight last spring and his office later said he was being treated at the Mayo Clinic for a mood disorder, depression and gastrointestinal problems. He was re-elected in November but resigned a few weeks later.

His father recently said his son was “taking his medication and handling his challenges.”

The elder Jackson had no comment after Wednesday’s hearings, telling reporters, “not today.”

meanwhile, is calling on the citizens of Memphis to “just go about our business.” He’s floated the notion of a celebration of tolerance and diversity, thinking it will speak volumes more than the amplified whimper of the Klan gatherers.

There is plenty of history to make the case for the value of those occupying superior moral ground not allowing themselves to be turned from their principles. They stick to them. And they don’t needlessly expose themselves because those of unlike mind

decide to make a public show of their position.

Meanwhile, a 7-member committee authorized by a City Council resolution to review the issues involved in the naming of the three downtown parks now has its members. It will be chaired by Councilmen Bill Boyd and Harold Collins.

The committee includes Memphis Branch NAACP President Norman, also senior pastor of First Baptist Broad; Jimmy Ogle, president of the Shelby County Historical Commission; Larry Smith,

deputy director of Parks & Neighborhoods for the City of Memphis; Michael Robinson, chairman of African & African American Studies, LeMoyne Owen College; and Dr. Douglas Cupples, longtime professor, Department of History, University of Memphis.

Councilman Jim Strickland offered up the resolution that led to the committee. And it’s worth noting that committee member Norman, the NAACP head, already has said he wouldn’t have bothered with the renaming of the parks.

In his email noting the naming of the committee, Councilman Boyd wrote, “This is a good representative assembly of Memphians who are capable of providing a reasonable solution for recommendation to the Memphis City Council.”

Is there a committee or committees in Memphis’ future to arrest the senseless killing and other indications – many of them economic – that Memphis in many ways still is limping along since the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. here 45 years ago this April.

If the Klan rally, or even the idea of it, moves the city an inch closer to coalescing around an idea that can galvanize the bulk of the city in a more positive manner toward resolution of our most pressing social issues, then thank goodness for them.

Meanwhile, if you go to the rally, stay at home, or attend a more positive-themed gathering elsewhere, think before you speak or do.

And, be prepared to be held accountable.

Page 4

OPINION

Tri-State Defender

February 21 - 27, 2013

John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)

The Mid-Southʼs Best Alternative Newspaper

A Real Times Newspaper

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

“Do you want to use your tax money to educate more people who can’t get jobs in anthropology? I don’t.”

– Florida Gov. Rick Scott

Governors should stop bashing liberal arts

(CNN) – It seems everyone knows a college degree is important but few have a plan to keep it affordable.

Just this past academic year, tuition went up twice as fast as inflation and the cost of textbooks rose faster than tuition. Meanwhile, The New York Times recently reported that “wages have fallen to a record low as a share of America’s gross domestic product.”

As a result, the average 2011 graduate left school with $26,600 in student loan debt, helping to push the country’s total student loan debt past $1 trillion.

Combine that with an unemployment rate for recent college graduates of 8.9 percent, and you see the impetus behind the First World question du jour – “Is college really worth it?” That’s a question that is easily answered by the 23 percent unemployment rate for folks without a bachelor’s.

Still, the threat of leaving school with crippling loan payments does bring up a more valid question: Should students continue to take out huge loans to pursue majors that don’t have a clear path to paying that loan back? In other words, a job?

In an ironic showing of big government, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, both conservatives, decided to introduce plans in which state institutions charge less for STEM degrees (science, technology, engineering and math) than liberal arts degrees.

“We’re spending a lot of money on education, and when you look at the results, it’s not great,” Scott told a crowd in Tallahassee in 2011. “Do you want to use your tax money to educate more people who can’t get jobs in anthropology? I don’t.”

That’s a pretty good zinger but it doesn’t pass the smell test.

First of all – to borrow language from the GOP script – I don’t think the government should be picking winners and losers. And state officials massaging tuition costs to lure students away from fields they don’t approve of does just that.

There is a difference between an education and training. Just because the vocational outcome between the two might be different doesn’t mean it’s government’s role to assign its value to society.

Not to mention the initial outcomes are not always black and white.

For example, recent college grads with a degree in architecture have a 13.9 percent unemployment rate, while English literature majors had a 9.2 percent rate, according to a study conducted by Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workplace. The report also found that communication majors had a lower unemployment rate than mechanical engineers and computer science majors. Recent information technology majors had a nearly 12 percent rate.

Instead of coercing students into certain fields by saddling liberal arts with higher costs, Scott, Perry and others should concentrate on providing families with all the information they need to make informed decisions.

During his State of the Union Address, President Obama announced he was launching The College Scoreboard, a website that consolidates costs, student loan debt and other finanLZ cial variables for Granderson each school to help families get “the most bang for your educational buck.”

The information is useful but far from complete, according to Pauline Abernathy, vice president of The Institute for College Access and Success. “They don’t tell you what percentage of the students at the school borrowed,” Abernathy told me. “So you can report a default rate at a particular school, but if you don’t put that rate in context, it can be misleading.

“Also, the median debt number includes those that graduated and students that dropped out. So schools with high drop out rates and high borrowing rates come out looking far worse than what they actually may be.”

Still, Abernathy credited the administration for giving parents a tool to help them make better decisions.

The next step should be incorporating research on which majors offer the best opportunities for jobs, so if someone’s daughter or son wants a degree that doesn’t train for a specific job, they can see what they are getting into in the long term.

Parents can joke about liberal art majors and kids coming back home after college, but it’s an infringement on civil liberties for government to strong-arm students into technical degrees by artificially manipulating costs.

Any official who’s concerned about higher education in this country should address the skyrocketing costs, not demonize degrees they don’t appreciate. That’s for parents like me to do.

I was standing in a long Starbucks line recently and decided to strike up a conversation with a college student who said something rather interesting.

“What’s your major?” I asked.

“TV,” she said.

The student went on to tell me that part of her focus was studying the history of television programming. I kept smiling and nodding at the appropriate time all the while thinking, “I sure hope her parents are rich.”

Normally I don’t believe anybody should be telling folks what to study.

But even I must admit the thought of kids borrowing tens of thousands to get a degree in “30 Rock” may require some intervention.

(LZ Granderson, who writes a weekly column for CNN.com is a senior writer and columnist for ESPN the Magazine and ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter: @locs_n_laughs.)

Your letters to the editor are welcome. For verification, please include your name, address and telephone number.

Mail to: In The Mail, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale St., Ste. 200, Memphis, TN 38103 E-mail: inthemail@tri-statedefender.com Maximum length: 300 words (subject to editing for clarity)

The pimping of Wikipedia

Contributing to the webʼs decline

From the late 1990s and in to the following decade, the World Wide Web was a bastion of free expression. If entertaining or informative content was created, it found an audience. The cost to produce, publish, and reach an audience online was within the reach of almost anyone.

As a result, many mission-driven individuals and organizations launched a tremendous number of websites dedicated to a wide variety of subjects that were previously not covered by the mainstream media.

Subjects that had the potential for broad appeal, but were previously overlooked by large corporations, were being published online by smaller entities with a better understanding of the audience.

Today, there is more reason for concern than excitement about the Web. One reason is the pimping of Wikipedia.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, launched 12 years ago, hosts more than 24 million articles, and seems like a perfect example of the best of what the Web has to offer. It is independent, and advertisement free.

Content is created by volunteers motivated only by the desire to share information. Wikipedia is multilingual, multinational, and receives financial support through contributions.

Over the past few years, Wikipedia began dominating the search results on Google. It is not that Wikipedia does not deserve to rank high on many queries, but Wikipedia’s articles rank in the top 3 on virtually any subject one might run a search. As a result, Wikipedia is ranked sixth in the world based upon traffic as reported by Alexa, a Web information provider.

A website’s traffic volume is more a function of its ranking in a Google search result than the quality of its content.

To support that statement, we can run a Google search on the name of the New York Times best-selling author Eric Jerome Dickey and review the results. On the upper-right-hand side of the Google search results page, Eric’s name, photograph and biographical information is prominently displayed. The short biography is from Wikipedia and serves as a perfect way to introduce some of Eric’s many novels. Click on any of the books and more Google pages will be shown where one may purchase Dickey’s eBooks from Google without ever leaving Google. Google now intercepts visitors who they would have previous-

ly sent to other websites.

The 4th search result is Amazon.com.

If one followed the Amazon link, and clicked Eric’s biography, Eric Jerome Dickey’s “Shopping-Enabled” Troy Johnson, Wikipedia page AALBC.com would be found. founder and This page conwebmaster tains all of the information from Eric Jerome Dickey’s Wikipedia.org page, but on Amazon all of his novels now hyperlinked directly to an Amazon page allowing you to immediately and easily purchase that particular novel.

The ninth result is Dickey’s Facebook Fan Page. On Facebook, one will also find an Eric Jerome Dickey Page, which is his Wikipedia.org page copied directly into a page on Facebook. The Facebook page, copied from Wikipedia, has almost 18 times as many Facebook “Likes” than Official Facebook Fan page, which Eric Jerome Dickey created himself.

The third result for Eric Jerome Dickey is Wikipedia.org.

As discussed, this is not surprising.

However, given the fact that the Wikipedia page is merely a 400word bio and a list of his published novels; one could easily make a reasonable argument that many results returned in the Eric Jerome Dickey Google search should rank ahead of Wikipedia.org, based solely on the quality, depth and originality of the page’s content. The AALBC.com page (http://bit.ly/ericjd) is just one example.

Reviewing the remaining results, we would see many more links to Google’s dynamically generated pages, each page describing and selling just one of Eric’s books.

Amazon pages dominate as well.

Dickey is just one example. Any prominent author will yield similar results. Is the web searcher better served seeing these redundant results from just a few large corporations?

We’ve seen the following: (1) Google contributes substantially to Wikipedia’s global ranking by returning Wikipedia very high in search results; (2) Google uses Wikipedia’s content directly on their search results page to sell their eBooks; (3) Content from Wikipedia, which was created by unpaid volunteers, is used by Amazon, Facebook, and Google for commercial purposes; and

IN THE MAIL

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IN THE MAIL

Rap artists, Emmett Till and the disconnect As the first to establish Emmett Louis Till as catalyst of the Civil Rights Movement in my 1988 Ford Doctoral Dissertation (University of Iowa), and author of 3 Till books, I feel compelled to speak out on the unfortunate violation of Emmett’s legacy.

Obviously these young rap star artists do not know the whole story of the victimization of the 14-yearold youth whose senseless, brutal lynching on August 28, 1955 catapulted us into the Movement, indelibly impacting American culture forever.

Because they did not live up to

their responsibility as informers for the younger generation, soon to inherit future leadership, due to a lack of knowledge or insensitivity, it is all the more urgent that more visual representation on this historical case be brought to the public so that we can better understand and appreciate the facts and sacrifices surrounding the quest for racial equity and human parity in today’s society, which sadly seems to be regressing in many ways.

Clenora Hudson-Weems, PhD. Professor/author/theorist/ producer/film writer

(4) all of these websites are on the very first page of the Google search results, using Wikipedia’s content, and profiting wildly as a result.

The problem is much more profound than the subjective rankings of different websites or the exploitation of Wikipedia for monetary gain.

The biggest problem in this entire scenario is that the smaller websites that actually create much of the richness and uniqueness of the Web are increasingly buried so deep in the search results they are rendered invisible. The opinions, critical reviews, interviews, articles and video created by independent sources are being outranked by a few corporate websites that are reusing Wikipedia’s content.

The cost and effort required to be discovered online is hurting independent websites. As a result, many websites have shut down. Some entities engage in search engine optimization, utilizing social media, or are investing more in advertising to help drive traffic to their websites.

For independent websites where resources are often limited, these efforts merely redirect money, time, and energy away from content creation. This redirection of resources ends up contributing to the reduction of quantity and often the quality of what gets published.

Our collective experiences on the World Wide Web are diminished when only a handful of websites dominate the search results. When those websites reuse the same content over and over, the ability to find new or different information on a variety of websites is made more difficult.

There is still great independent content available being created online, but if the ability to be discovered is no longer a function of quality of content quality and more a function of one’s advertising budget or placement on Wikipedia, Facebook, Google or Amazon, it is not clear how much longer these independent websites can survive.

(For the more detailed analysis with links to example, visit: http://bit.ly/pimpwiki.

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 reprint or duplicate by electronic device any portion without prior 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.

Tri-State Defender

NATION

February 21 - 27, 2013

This undated publicity photo released by DreamWorks and Twentieth Century Fox shows, Daniel Day-Lewis, center rear, as Abraham Lincoln, in a scene from the film, “Lincoln.” (AP photo/DreamWorks, Twentieth Century Fox, David James)

13th Amendment gets official OK in Mississippi The Grio

by Carrie Healey

After 148 years, Mississippi has finally ratified the 13th Amendment, which bans slavery.

Dr. Ranjan Batra, associate professor of neurobiology and anatomical sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, saw Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed film “Lincoln” last November and

was moved to search into Mississippi’s past, according to the “Clarion Ledger.”

The 13th Amendment received the three-fourth’s vote it needed to pass from Congress in January 1864.

In the following years, the states that voted against ratifying the amendment took measures to pass it.

While researching, Batra noted an asterisk beside Mississippi that represented the state

having ratified the amendment in 1995, but it was never made official by a U.S. archivist.

Drawing inspiration from Lincoln, Batra contacted the office of Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann.

Hosemann agreed to file the paperwork, and the ratification became official on February 7, 2013.

(Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.)

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NATION

February 21 - 27, 2013

President Barack Obama had an active backdrop of Hyde Park Academy students, who were fully aware of their proximity to the “leader of the free world.” (Photo: Worsom Robinson/Real Times News Service/Chicago Defender)

Deadly echo: teen shot hours after sister attends Obama speech CNN

by Carma Hassan

Hours after her younger sister stood behind President Barack Obama during his gun violence speech last week, an Illinois teen died when a bullet found her in a North Chicago alley.

Two people were being questioned Monday as police worked to piece together the final moments of 18-year-old Janay McFarlane, who left behind a 3-month-old son.

McFarlane’s younger sister, 14-year-old Destini Warren, was among a group of high school students standing behind Obama when he spoke in Chicago on Friday. Obama cited gun violence that killed 443 people in the city last year as one reason why children need community wide support to help them believe they can improve their lives through education and hard work.

North Chicago shooting victim Janay McFarlane and her infant son.

Before the night had passed, McFarlane was dead and her family was plunged into mourning.

“I felt like someone took a knife and stabbed me in my heart and took a piece of my heart that I will never, ever in my life get back,” Angela Blakely, McFarlane’s mother, said Monday in an interview with CNN affiliate WLS. “This just echoes what the

president had said Friday... we have to get handguns off the street,” North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. told CNN on Monday.

“We have more shootings than other communities and it’s too much,” he said. “Any time you have gunfire, it’s too much.”

The North Chicago Police Department and investigators with the Lake County State’s attorney’s office said community members led them to the two people being questioned Monday. The two might have knowledge about the homicide, authorities said.

Janay McFarlane’s father said that despite gun violence in the community, his daughter’s death by gunfire came as a shock.

“You never think that it will be your child,” Herbert McFarlane told WLS Monday.

“This is the hardest day for me in my life.”

Police reach out to dead man’s mom on Facebook CNN

by Doug Gross

An Atlanta-area woman is angry after she says police used a little-known messaging feature on Facebook to contact her after her son was killed.

Anna Lamb-Creasey says it took several weeks to find a message from Clayton County police telling her to call them.

The news was that her son, 30year-old Rickie Lamb, had died after being hit by a car January 24.

Even after finding the message, she initially ignored it.

Lamb-Creasey says the message came from a Facebook account under the name “Misty Hancock” that featured an image of Atlanta rapper T.I. as its profile picture.

“I’m like, OK. ... I’m thinking it’s just fake,” LambCreasey told CNN affiliate WSB-TV. On Facebook, users can message other users who are not their friends. But those messages show up not in their inboxes but in an “Other” folder that many users don’t know to look for.

Clayton County police told WSB they had tried reaching Lamb’s family in more conventional ways, including visiting several physical addresses.

Police told the station Monday that they were investigating why the message was sent from what appears to be a personal account instead of an official one.

The family finally contacted police on Valentine’s Day when Lamb-Creasey’s daugh-

ter, who received a similar message, called them.

A tearful Lamb-Creasey said she’s furious at the department.

“They told me that they did the best that they can do. But I’m not sure about that,” she said. “If they can track a criminal down, they couldn’t track me down? They could have done better. I’ve been on my job 13 years. They could have found me.”

Tri-State Defender

BUSINESS

Tri-State Defender

Page 7

February 21 - 27, 2013

ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

Colleges find a new way to get grads hired

Dressed to impress Part II

Carlee McCullough

CNNMoney

by Jon Marcus Reginald French, Stephon Coleman and Thomas Nolan share more than a fraternal tie. The three members of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity also are linked by their commitments to polished business looks that contribute to their business-world

success.

French is a technology firm owner, recipient of the 2012 Kappa Man of the Year award, and a philanthropist who has worked diligently with Kappa Alpha Psi and St. Jude on Sunday of Hope. Coleman is an executive with FedEx. Nolan is an artist, firefighter, and most notably a culinary artist.

This is Part II of their “On Our Way To Wealthy” interview

Carlee McCullough: Mr. French, congratulations. I saw where you won Kappa Man of the Year 2012.

Tell us about the Sunday of Hope.

Reginald French: Thank you.

Kappa Alpha Psi has a partnership with St. Jude called Sunday of Hope, where we raise money for the kids of St. Jude. Since the development of the partnership, we have raised over $2 million, and I chair the local initiative. This is one of the greatest community service projects I have ever participated in.

Reginald French (left) and Stephon Coleman (Photo by Shirley Jackson) CM: What are some basic items a man should have in his wardrobe?

RF: A blue, black, and gray suit.

Black laced-up shoes, white shirt, blazer, khakis, cuff links, and a pair of jeans.

SC: Some of the basic items a man should have in his wardrobe are: a blue blazer, white shirts, black belt, black shoes, brown belt and brown shoes.

TN: Some basic items that all men should have in their wardrobe consist of at least three suits – tuxedo, blue or black suit, pinstripe grey suit; a sports coat that can be worn with jeans or khakis; two belts, black and brown; two pair of shoes, black and brown; several shirts, white and blue; solid ties and stripe ties; a pair of nice jeans; a pair khakis; top coa and white handkerchief.

CM: What has been your approach to fashion in the business world?

RF: The suit is the basic building block for professionalism. It’s timeless, ever adaptable, and always the appropriate uniform. I am a fan of Armani, Canali, and Zegna suits. But I also have suits by my tailor, Troy Watson.

Stephon Coleman: My approach has been to always look the part, with traditional colors as a foundation, while keeping in mind the continuous change in the modern style.

Thomas Nolan: My approach to fashion in the business world has been to always look fresh, dress modern and professionally.

CM: How do you stay current and maintain age-appropriate attire?

RF: For the most part, I stick with two-button suits. They create a more fluid shape. You’ll never go wrong wearing a two-button suit with a fairly narrow lapel. It’s both classic and completely modern.

SC: I try to stay current by listening to the professionals in the business.

My suit salesmen and tailor will always tell me the new fashion trends. I stay age-appropriate by first staying traditional and then tapering the traditional look to the modern style.

TN: I stay on the scene dressed in bright, non-boring colors. I keep my attire energetic, modern and vibrant.

Whatever colors you’re wearing reflect your mood and swagger. By that some people have natural flavor and swagger. When it comes to dressing you have to dress for your body type.

Being a visual artist gives me a different insight on fashion and an intellectual approach to maintaining age-appropriate attire.

CM: What are some of the latest

Thomas Nolan (Courtesy photo)

trends with business attire?

RF: A three-piece suit. The threepiece suit announces itself loudly and clearly. While wearing one, I opt for a relatively subdued shirt and tie to provide balance.

SC: The latest trend with business attire has not changed. Rather, the modern style trend has changed to be more business-attire like, a clean and simple look with more of a tapered-fit suit. The modern trend on shoes is more of a business look with wing tips, oxfords, and cap toe shoes. These are all apart of traditional business attire.

TN: Men are wearing stripe on stripes a lot, with bold colorful handkerchiefs.

CM: Closing words?

RF: Even if you are not the boss, dress like one in the hopes that one day you will become one.

SC: One of the simplest, economical, and timeless ways for a man to dress is with a traditional business standard. This consists of blue, black, and gray suits, with some pin stripes and a tuxedo. Staying with these colors, replacing them when the styles changes, and having your suits tailored, will always keep you on point. Always buy shoes with leather soles. It is more economical to replace the heel and sole.

TN: Just be comfortable in your own shell and the exterior will project what is on the interior.

(Contact information: Stephon Coleman: stephoncoleman1@ aol.com; Reginald French: Reginald@thefatherhoodfoundation.com; Thomas Nolan: Nolansgallery@hotmail.com) (Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, TN 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)

NEW YORK – A handful of colleges think they’ve found the secret to closing the gap between the types of graduates they’re turning out and the types of workers employers are looking for: spiders.

Not the hairy, creepy kind, but rather artificial-intelligence spiders that crawl through search engines and read thousands of online “help wanted” ads to check on the job market in real time – instead of two years after the fact, which is how long the federal government can take to report on labor trends.

The technology is helping colleges and universities quickly add and update academic programs so their graduates can land real-world jobs.

And, at the same time, eliminate programs that leave students in debt with skills employers don’t want.

So far the use of the technology is limited, but it’s likely to increase as colleges and universities face growing pressure to help drive economic recovery and justify the cost of higher education.

“It’s not just good enough anymore to educate a student,” said Elaine Gaertner, director of the California community-college system’s Economic and Workforce Development Centers of Excellence, which use spidering technology. “You have to educate him with a purpose.”

That’s often hard to do when a college is relying on federal labor data, which can be years out of date.

“It’s like looking in the rearview mirror,” said John Dorrer, a program director at Boston-based advocacy group, Jobs for the Future.

“We’re training people for jobs that don’t exist, and not training people for jobs that do.”

Employers say that’s why, in a time of persistent unemployment – only two-thirds of recent graduates were employed six months after graduation – there are 3.6 million jobs sitting empty nationwide.

The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that 600,000 manufacturing jobs remain unfilled because companies can’t find skilled applicants. And 93 percent of IT employers say they’re having trouble attracting qualified employees, according to the Computing Technology Industry Association.

Yet 72 percent of educators believe they’re doing a good job of preparing students for the workforce, while only 45 percent of graduates and 42 percent of employers think so, a McKinsey & Co. survey found.

That disconnect could soon change.

Universities where graduates are having trouble getting jobs risk losing business, while those that are nimble and responsive stand to gain, said Matthew Sigelman, CEO of Burning Glass Technologies, which provides spidering services to colleges.

“Schools that can make sure their graduates do well are seeing a meteoric rise in their standing,” he said.

One of those is Boston’s Northeastern University, which employs an “experiential learning” approach that requires undergraduates to work in real-world settings for up to 18 months. More than half go on to full-time jobs in those places, and more than 90 percent are employed or in graduate school within nine months of earning their degrees.

Northeastern has also been using

spidering technology for more than three years as it expands to satellite campuses in Seattle and Charlotte N.C., where real-time “help wanted” listings have revealed high demand for workers with training in finance, taxation, and project management (Charlotte) and science and technology (Seattle), but a dearth of qualified workers.

At its Boston campus, Northeastern has been mining data to find out who is hiring and for what jobs, then seeking out the top employers to find out what type of graduates they need, said Sean Gallagher, senior strategist and market-development officer.

Like most other schools, Northeastern previously used state and federal government labor data.

“The inflection point, from my perspective, was the economic downturn in 2008. After that, you could see that these forecasts were entirely out of date,” said Gallagher.

The intense focus on preparing students for the workplace has driven a 46 percent increase in applications to Northeastern over the last five years.

Based on real-time labor-market information, the Lone Star College System in Houston will close three programs next fall, in aviation management, hospitality management and computer support.

The community college found that employers prefer four-year to two-year degrees in the first two cases, and were outsourcing work in the third in order to lower labor costs. But the school is adding programs to train oil and gas drillers and CT-scan technicians, for which there is burgeoning demand.

Cabrillo College near Santa Cruz, Calif. thought its program in medical assisting was doing well – until spidering technology showed there wasn’t much hiring going on and a survey of recent graduates confirmed that fewer than 30 percent had found jobs in the field.

So the college raised the program’s standards to a level employers needed, making it more rigorous and adding further instruction in English-language skills and math.

“We didn’t pay a great deal of attention to this data while the economy was growing and unemployment was low – but when the recession began, it became clear that we could no longer assume that program completion would result in employment,” said Rock Pfotenhauer, a dean at Cabrillo.

Employers’ demands have shifted so quickly that Archana Mani found her master’s degree in information systems, which she earned in 2001, insufficient to get a job after she took a break to raise her children.

So she enrolled at Oakland Community College near Detroit, which had discovered through spidering technology an urgent need for programmers who could build and test new software applications.

“I can see that demand, now that I’m at work,” said Mani, who completed the program and got a position with a quickly expanding branch of Hewlett-Packard in Pontiac, Mich. “They are looking to fill a lot of jobs.”

(This story – one in a series about workforce development and higher education – was produced

by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, nonpartisan education-news outlet based at Teachers College, Columbia University.)

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February 21 - 27, 2013

Tri-State Defender

COMMUNITY

Tri-State Defender

Page 9

February 21 - 27, 2013

Cohen and the difficult decision CNN

by Ashley Killough

Congressman Steve Cohen of Memphis said the decision to publicly acknowledge he had a daughter he didn’t know about until three years ago was difficult for both of them.

In an interview with CNN’s “The Situation Room” on Friday, Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat, described how an Internet search for a former romantic interest led him to discover the woman has a daughter. She bears a striking resemblance to him.

“My staff people looked at her pictures and they said, ‘I think she’s your daughter,’” Cohen told CNN’s Kate Bolduan.

The issue was forced into the open by a series of tweets

between father and daughter during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.

The daughter, Victoria Brink, 24, tweeted that she saw him on television during the speech. He responded on Twitter with “ilu,” short for “I love you.”

Cohen later deleted the tweet after realizing it was public rather than sent privately.

He tweeted, then deleted, again, saying: “Nice to know you were watchin SOTU(state of the union). Happy Valentines beautiful girl. ilu.”

The tweets were archived online by Sunlight Foundation’s “Politwoops,” which stores deleted tweets from politicians.

The curious tweets between the two set off questions among some in the media and

his constituents.

Following questions raised about a possible romantic relationship with Brink, a Texas State University student who also posed as a swimsuit model, the 63-year-old bachelor went public Thursday with the news that she was his daughter.

Cohen said the secrecy was to prevent Brink’s father – the man who raised her – from feeling hurt.

“I couldn’t say anything without her permission and that would involve her father, and we couldn’t do that until we felt like it was necessary,” he told CNN. Brink’s father was unaware of Cohen, although the congressman has brought Brink to Washington and the two have spent time in Memphis together, including a trip to Graceland.

The situation this week, Cohen said, was highlighted by Republicans. “ T h e National Republican ConVictoria gressional Brink campaign committee, the Tennessee Republican Party, were comparing me to Anthony Weiner, which was absurd to start with,” he said.

Weiner, the former New York congressman, resigned from office in 2011 when his online communications with several women were revealed after he posted a public tweet.

“They were making it out

iTEEN REPORT

Oratorical contest speaks to the value of education Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Who says that young children don’t know the importance of an education?

Recently, the Memphis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. held its 16th annual Oratorical Contest at Colonial Middle School with 34 fifth-graders from different schools throughout the Memphis area. While performing my job as the MC, I heard some very remarkable speeches from the participants.

They all spoke on this topic: “Though the odds may be stacked against the youth of today, education is the key.”

The students came to the stage and gave their best efforts before a crowd that included family and friends. The Deltas on hand includ-

In your honor…

University of Memphis alumni and author Summer Owens received the University of Memphis chapter of the NAACP Young Alumni Freedom Award at the Freedom Ball and Mahogany Awards Gala presented by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in the University Center ballroom last Friday (Feb. 15). Pictured (l-r): Corey Tomlin, vice president, NAACP at the U of M, Summer Owens, the Rev. Bartholomew Orr, Beverly Robertson, and Mikail Phillips, president, NAACP at the U of M. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

ed the President of Memphis Alumnae, Dr. Charlotte Freeman.

An even harder job than performing in the contest was judging to find the winner. In the end, the Deidra judges – Stan Shores Bell, educator and radio personality; Wilima Sueing, retired educator; Reginald Porter, school board representative; and state Rep. Reginald Tate – reached consensus.

The overall winner was Tearriya Tynes from Germanshire Elementary.

I spoke with Tearriya, who told me that her mother helped to get her speech ready by talking with sever-

like it was something that was perverted and it was disgusting to her, I’m sure, and hurtful to her and I didn’t like it either,” Cohen said.

Brink’s mother is Texas criminal defense attorney Cynthia White Sinatra, who was once married to Frank Sinatra Jr. – the son of the legendary singer. Brink’s mother

also ran unsuccessfully against then-Rep. Ron Paul in a 2006 Republican primary.

Cohen has said that he regrets not being there for Brink’s childhood, but thinks fondly of how their relationship has grown over the three years since they first met – a “wonderful moment that I’ll never forget,” he said.

Juneteenth scrutiny at African American history program

Deltas and winners (l-r): Delta Cynthia Payne; second-place winner Melaysia Fitzgearld, Whitehaven; first-place winner Tearriya Tynes, Germanshire; third-place winner Anjel Echols, Snowden; and Dr. Charlotte Freeman, president, Memphis Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. (Courtesy photo)

Deidra Shores

Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis. (Photo: CNN/John King USA)

al family members and friends to gather what they knew about the importance of education.

Delta Cynthia Payne, principal of Alcy Elementary School, was the committee chair for the contest. She expressed her appreciation to all the attendees, including several principals of competing students and the sorors who helped make the event a success.

The first place winner received $150. Second place was awarded $100, with $50 to the third-place finisher.

But there were so many outstanding speeches and I witnessed several other students, who didn’t place, receiving monetary donations from audience members and judges!

So it seems that not only do these students know the importance of education, they now have a fresh experience with the fact that education also pays!

Juneteenth is an AfricanAmerican celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States and is observed on June 19. It generally is linked to that month and day in 1865 and is associated with the enslaved in Galveston, Texas celebrating their freedom after learning that the Emancipation Proclamation had freed them two years earlier.

In observance of African American History Month, the New Juneteenth Committee hopes to separate fact from fiction as it commemorates the 20th Anniversary of Juneteenth in Memphis and the 150 Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation on Friday, Feb. 22, at Impact Baptist Church, 3759 Watkins Ave. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m.

“This is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Juneteenth here in Memphis,” said Glynn Johns Reed, coordinator of the New Juneteenth Committee and founder and former executive director of Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival.

“Juneteenth is not just a festival, it’s a historic holiday,” said Glynn Johns Reed, coordinator of the New Juneteenth Committee and founder and former executive director of the Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival. “Therefore, we need to clarify what Juneteenth stands for and set the record straight.”

Karanja A, Ajanaku, execu-

tive editor of The New TriState Defender, will facilitate a panel discussion on the Juneteenth controversy. The panelists include Wiley Henry, senior account services specialist and senior writer for The Carter Malone Group; Telisa Franklin, executive director of the Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival; Ekpe Abioto, a musician, recording artist, social entrepreneur, and artistic director of GENIUS UNLIMITED; and Elaine Turner, coowner of Heritage Tours of Memphis.

The program will include remarks by Turner on the 150 Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, a short presentation on the 20th Anniversary of Juneteenth, a short skit on the Emancipation Proclamation, a film on the New Juneteenth, and a Black History exhibit followed by the panel discussion.

The 20th annual Juneteenth celebration will also continue on Beale Street with a jazz concert on June 21.

“This is an opportunity to bring awareness to jazz in the Memphis community,” said Reed. “The blues is a force here, but the rich, eclectic sound of jazz is just as significant in the African-American community.”

The African-American history program is sponsored by Black Pages New Orleans, Impact Baptist Church, The New Tri-State Defender, Juneteenth Jazz, and Heritage Tours of Memphis.

BRIEFS & THINGS Are the Paralympic Games in Memphis’ 2024 future?

The United States Olympic Committee is considering a bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Memphis is among the cities being gauged for interest.

A letter this week to Mayor AC Wharton Jr. said the committee is checking with U.S. cities “that may have the ability to host an event with the scope and scale of the Olympic Games.” That includes those with previously expressed interest in bidding, as well as the cities in the largest 25 U.S. markets.

Based on expected International Olympic Committee deadlines, the U.S. Olympic Committee has 2-plus years to decide whether to submit a bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

“Our objective in this process is to identify a partner city that can work with us to present a compelling bid to the IOC and that has the right alignment of political, business and community leadership,” the letter to Wharton reads.

The staging of the Games is a huge undertaking for any city, with operating budgets in excess of $3 billion, not including costs associated with venue construction and other infrastructure. Among the many requirements are: 45,000 hotel rooms, an Olympic Village that sleeps 16,500 and has a 5000-person dining hall, operations space for over 15,000 media and broadcasters, an international airport that can handle

thousands of international travelers per day, public transportation service to venues, roadway closures to allow exclusive use for Games-related transportation, and a workforce of up to 200,000.

Miss Black Memphis Pageant History displayed at City Hall

A pictorial display of the history of the Miss Black Memphis Pageant is on display in the Hall of Mayors at Memphis City Hall, 125 North Main Street, through Feb. 28.

The display of “black beauty and social networking” is available for viewing from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The showing is a Black History Month event.

The Miss Black Memphis Pageant began in 1968 by a group called The Invaders, which was led by Lance “Sweet Wine” Watson. The first pageant was held at Club Paradise and was sponsored

by Newton Ford and Sunbeam Mitchell. Dorothy Cox-Marshall was the first crowned Miss Black Memphis.

In 1969, Bernard Roberson became owner of the pageant and promoted it until 1982 when Muhammad Ziyad took over as president and CEO. He hosted his first pageant in the Grand Ballroom of the Peabody Hotel.

Erica Taylor is Miss Black Memphis 2013.

For more information, contact Muhammad Ziyad at 901690-9044 or email mhziy@aol.com,

RELIGION

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Tri-State Defender

February 21 - 27, 2013

LIVING THE LIFE I LOVE

Mean selftalk not fit for a ‘queen’ Dear Lucy: I attended the Women of Excellence Workshop on “Visioning” that you presented last week. Thank you so much. I certainly intend to be a “queen in 2013.” I wish it had been a full-day seminar. I got lots of information to work with but I just have one question. Can you just say some more for me and anybody else about how to not give up on my dream and stay motivated?

– A Queen in 2013 The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago during a meet-and-greet opportunity after his Lenten address at Calvary on Feb. 15. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

Detox, purify and speak up, says Lenten speaker Rev. Moss

by Karanja A. Ajanaku

kajanaku@tri-state defender.com

The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago completed his two-day speaking engagement as the kick-off for the Lenten Speaking Series at Calvary Church downtown last Friday (Feb. 15).

Moss spoke on “Purification.” He drew his text from the third chapter of Malachi.

Here’s an excerpted version of the text: “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me....For he will be like a

refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap...”

Moss referred to the movie “Flight” and the flawed-pilot character Whip Whitaker played by Denzel Washington. Whip, he said, was “a high-functioning” addict – the drug of choice being alcohol.

Blessed yet broken, said Moss of Whip, pointing out that Denzel/Whip had to go through a process of detoxification on the way to purification.

“The ‘Church’ is called to purify herself,” said Moss, noting that there is so much for church folks to speak up about.

“We are called to speak up for those that are broken, to speak up for those that are poor, to speak for the widow and to speak for the orphan,” Moss said in his characteristic, rapid-fire cadence.

“And when we speak up, there will be a transformation, not only in our church, not only in our neighborhoods, but also in our nation.

God is calling people to prophetic purification.”

There is a great need, said Moss, “to speak up and open your mouth and let people know that you do not have to get through your experience by yourself.”

Moss, who holds full dual

RELIGION BRIEFS

‘Women Who Preach’ at St. Andrew A.M.E.

St. Andrew A.M.E. Church is hosting “Women Who Preach” on Thursday and Friday (Feb. 21-22) beginning at 7 each evening at the church at 867 S. Parkway East.

The “progressive, prophetic women preachers” who will deliver messages are: • Thursday – The Rev. Ivy Hudson, pastor, St. John A.M.E. Church;

• Friday – The Rev. Gina Stewart, pastor, Christ Missionary Baptist Church.

St. Andrew’s Music and Dance Ministries will be featured, along with special guest choirs and soloists from around the city. Free childcare will be available each evening.

The host pastors are the Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson and the Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson. For more information, call 901-948-3441. Visit

www.saintandrewamec.org.

Keel Avenue Baptist celebrates 19 years

Keel Avenue Baptist Church, at 778 N. Bellevue, is celebrating its 19th anniversary with a series of services.

On Sunday (Feb. 24) at 10 a.m., the guest speaker will be The Rev. Arthur Jackson III of Antioch Baptist Church in Miami, Fla..

On March 3, there will be

ordinations in the United Church of Christ and the Progressive National Baptist Convention, has degrees from Morehouse College, Yale Divinity School and Chicago Theological Seminary.

His publications include “Redemption in a Red Light District” and “The Gospel Re-Mix: How to Reach the Hip Hop Generation.”

Trinity is the one-time church home of Barack Obama prior to his election as president. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose sermons were heavily scrutinized during then-Sen. Obama’s first presidential bid, is pastor emeritus at Trinity. two services. The Rev. James Morgan of New Mt. Zion Baptist Church in West Memphis will speak at the 10 a.m. service. The Rev. Dr. Frank E. Ray will speak during the 3 p.m. service. The Rev. Robert E. Jones of Hill Chapel Baptist Church spoke last Sunday (Feb, 17).

The host pastor is the Rev. Robert C. Jones Jr. For more information, call 901-2786408. Visit www.keelavenue.org.

Dear Queen: Thanks for a very important question. I had a wonderful time presenting the workshop. When we make plans and create a new set of expectations for how we want to live our lives, we also need a few new skills to replace the old ways of being and doing.

One of the biggest challenges we face is keeping to Paul’s admonishment: “for we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.”

In other words, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to success with our dreams comes when we look and listen to others whose gifts and talents and motives may be different from ours. We set ourselves up to either compete or compare our progress to theirs. When our results don’t match theirs, we enter what is called “comparison despair.”

One of my favorite writers, Wallace Wattles, says that the key to success or riches is the ability to let go of the need to compete. That can be a hard one to let go of in a society like ours where every day we pay obscene amounts of money to people to entertain us with competition. Or where people routinely get fired for not winning the contract, the sale, the boss’s favor or whatever. We are taught to compete early. Kindergarteners learn early to compete at soccer or little league. Competition is the way that capitalism works.

No wonder we work so hard comparing ourselves to others.

In families, we compete to see which ones will succeed or not. Sometimes our success

PRAISE CONNECT

gets hijacked because of criticism from family members or our unwillingness to break the rules of f a m i l y .

Lucy But still, Shaw the key is in not looking to the left or right...keeping your eyes focused on your desire, your motive and taking one step at a time.

There is something called “The Law of Gender.” That law simply states that it takes as long as it takes...period. We plant a seed and then we do the things required to see it grow. We water, feed, love it and expect it to grow. Perhaps we can also remember that what we are seeing is just all the stuff that happens while our dream is happening. It’s not good or bad...it’s just process.

When we get stuck, just ask, “What would I do now if I didn’t think I was stuck?”

Then take that step and do it.

Pretend that you are not stuck!

Most of all, be kind to yourself. Let go of any mean selftalk. Make a commitment to speak kindly to yourself and hold onto the end picture. Remember how it will feel and put on your big girl shoes and walk around in them until they fit!

From another Queen, Lucy

(You can watch Lucy on Channel 17 (Comcast) every Thursday at 10:30 am. (Send your questions to her by U.S. mail to: Heartworks4U, LLC; 4646 Poplar Ave. Ste 201, Memphis, TN 38117 or by email to lucy@heartworks4u.com. Get your free gift at http://www. heartworks4u.com/)

(For help with the feelings that get in the way of prayer and peace of mind, get Lucy’s new book, “BE NOT ANXIOUS.” Order it directly from her at 901-907-0260 or from her website.)

-A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-

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

767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126

ASSOCIATE MINISTERS

901-946-4095 fax 948-8311

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

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

WEDNESDAY Bible Study .........................10:30 am Mid-Day Prayer Meeting .....12 noon Evening Prayer Meeting........7:00pm FRIDAY Cable Channel 17 ............... 8:00pm

Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter

TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST

672 So. Lauderdale 38126 P.O. Box 314 Memphis, Tn 38101 Phone (General) 774-1572 Pastor: 775-0740 Secretary: 775-1909

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

WEEKLY SERVICES

Sunday Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Night YPWW 5:00 p.m.

Night Service 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday Night Prayer 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m.

Friday Morning Prayer 9:00 a.m.

Night Service 7:30 p.m.

BROADCASTS 9:30 a.m. Sunday WDIA - 1070 AM

No Telecast Service

Dr. David Allen Hall Pastor

— Proverbs 1:7

“The Founder’s Church”

First Pastor: Senior Bishop C.H. Mason

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

—Revelation 1:8

ST. ANDREW A.M.E. CHURCH

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

—Ecclesiastes 3:1

867 SOUTH PARKWAY EAST Memphis, TN 38106

(901) 948-3441

Early Morning..........7:45 AM Church School..........9:45 AM Morning Worship......11:00 AM Bible Study For Youth and Adults Tuesday - 7:00 PM “Spirit, Soul, and Body!”

AM 1070 WDIA Sundays, 10:00-10:30 AM

TV Cable Access Broadcast Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Channel 17 Website:www.saintandrewamec.org

Child Care Center (901) 948-6441 Monday-Friday 6 AM- 5:30 PM Emergency Food Pantry Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, Pastor & Clothes Closet Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Co-Pastor Wednesday 6 PM-8 PM

“Ministering to Memphis-Spirit, Soul and Body”

Tri-State Defender

RELIGION

February 21 - 27, 2013

This image is part of a weekly series that “The Root” is presenting in conjunction with the Image of the Black in Western Art Archive at Harvard Universityʼs W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. It reflects Abba Moses swimming across the Nile. Vitae Patrum, fol. 54v. Italy, 14th century, parchment. (Vatican)

‘St. Moses the Black’ in medieval art The Root

The life course of Abba Moses (or St. Moses the Black) runs the gamut from the utter degradation of sin to the exemplary life of a saint.

He lived in Egypt during the fourth century, first as a recalcitrant servant, then as a notorious brigand and murderer, and finally as a holy man who inspired his fellow monks with his hard-won sanctity.

Here (in the image) he is seen in the first phase of his life, swimming across the Nile River with stolen sheep.

Because he was black, his story illuminates both the actual situation of race and the symbolic concept of blackness in their uneasy state of co-existence during the medieval period.

According to one account, while he was attending a council in his religious community of Scetis, certain elders loudly asked, “Why does this black man come among us?” The account states that this rebuke was made as a test, since his proclivity for violence before his conversion was well-known among the monks.

His response: “I was grieved, but I kept my silence.”

In another incident, Moses is being ordained into the priesthood. According to the story, the presiding archbishop observed as Moses was vested, “See, Abba Moses, now you are entirely white.”

Moses replied, “It is true of the outside, but what about Him who sees the inside?”

Both men thus engage with

the common medieval trope of black-white polarity to express the absolute contrast of sin and virtue respectively.

This remarkable manuscript is attributed by many scholars to a scriptorium in Sicily during the 14th century. The cosmopolitan culture created there by Frederick the Great in the previous century was fragile and imperfect, but its aftermath may yet have permitted the sympathetic depiction of a black man as an example of Europe’s most cherished spiritual ideals.

Sociologically, the case of Abba Moses is also a revealing summation of the medieval period’s abiding obsessions: the black, the Other, the sinner, the dangerous.

(Text: Sheldon Cheek)

Page 11

ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, February 21 - 27, 2013, Page 12

WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?

It’s like father like daughter with Lalah

I usually don’t like to write about concerts after the fact because it tends to trigger regrets for those who missed it.

However, if I follow that line of thought who am I to tell about the great time I had this past Sunday night at the Will Downing and Lalah Hathaway concert?

Myron Local entertainer – Mays and good friend – Karen Brown rocked the crowd as she belted out some of our favorite songs with her special spin on them.

I ask myself quite often, “Why doesn’t the entire world know who Karen is?” She is immensely talented.

I’m not saying this because she’s my friend and she is from my city. I’m saying it because it is true. She has the stage presence and the vocal chops to match. I would love to one day tune in to the Grammys and see Karen doing her thing on a national stage.

Now, on to Lalah Hathaway. If this girl ain’t her daddy’s baby, my name ain’t Myron. She was made to sing.

It’s quite obvious that Hathaway’s father, the late great Donnie Hathaway, has influenced her style and delivery. During a part of the show that left me speechless, that point became abundantly clear. It was the very eerie performance of “A Song for You,” which was a big hit for her father back in 1971.

As I closed my eyes and listened closely to her voice, I felt as if I was at a Donnie Hathaway concert and he was singing the song himself. I think even he would have been blown away by the way his daughter sang that song.

Then Will Downing took the stage.

While it was my second time catching Downing in concert, it took a while to get used to seeing a different version of him. As you might recall, he had been ill for a short while and was somewhat smaller than he was before. The health challenge, however, had no visible effect whatsoever on his performance.

In addition to his great baritone voice, the guy has quite a sense of humor as well and it fit the vibe of the show quite nicely. Between songs, he kept us engaged and well entertained. During his set, he mentioned that he has released around 16 albums throughout his career.

And he is showing no signs of slowing down.

With another great weekend in the can, it’s time to get going on the next one. The party never ends. Here’s what’s happening…

Bobby Rush

This Friday (Feb. 22), journey back from the birth of the Blues to its globalization with living blues legends Bobby Rush as he reveals his remarkable life story through his music. It takes place at Chowtime Restaurant, 4207 Hacks Cross Road at 9:30 p.m.

For more information, visit redwhiteandbluesjam.com.

The Black Expo

Make plans to attend the Black Expo this Saturday (Feb. 23) from 10 am to 6 p.m. at the Cook Convention Center. This year’s event will feature special guest Lamman Rucker of Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns.”

Visit blackexpomemphis.com or call 888927-1176 for more info.

Book Club

Join us this Saturday (Feb. 23) at Evergreen Grill, 1545 Overton Park, for the next Book Club meeting. We will be continuing the Reverend Curtis Black series by Kimberla Lawson Roby. We will be discussing the second book in the series called “Too Much of a Good Thing.” There’s gonna be great food and great door prizes as usual, so come on out and join us. It starts at 4 p.m.

‘Many Thousands Gone’

Combining a stirring score of Negro spirituals with declamation and dance, the play “Many Thousands Gone” offers a depiction of the struggles to adapt and survive on Southern slave plantations. It returns this weekend at Abundant Grace Fellowship, 1574 E. Shelby Drive. For show times and to purchase tickets visit www.ManyThousandGone.org or call 901789-GRACE (4722). Discount tickets are available for groups of 12 or more.

Parting shot

As soon as I get some rest and get back at it, I’ll be sure to fill you in on all of the great things happening this next weekend. Until then, that’s what’s happening!

(Got an event you’d like for me to cover or attend, email me at Myron@whats happeningmyron.com)

Oscar predictions 2013 Who will win, who deserves to win, who was snubbed?

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

“Lincoln” opened the awards season as the odds-on favorite to win the Academy Award for Best Picture by virtue of its landing the most nominations. But the snub of Ben Affleck in the Best Director category made his movie, “Argo,” the sentimental favorite of the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild, and the momentum of that sympathy vote is likely to carry over to Oscar night.

While “Lincoln” won’t take home the top prize, it will nevertheless win the most awards (5), followed by “Les Miserables” (3), and then by a number of films taking 2 apiece: “Argo,” “Silver Linings Play-

Best Picture:

Will Win: “Argo” Deserves to Win: “Zero Dark Thirty” Overlooked: “Looper”

Best Director:

book,” “Life of Pi,” “Skyfall” and “Django Unchained.” A quintet of Oscars sans Best Picture won’t exactly be a sweep, but it’s a far better fate than that of “Zero Dark Thirty,” whose hopes were torpedoed by political blowback even before it had a chance to open in theaters.

Besides forecasting the winners below, I also indicate which among the nominees in the major categories are actually the most deserving. And because some great performances are invariably snubbed by the Academy, I also point out a few I feel were overlooked entirely.

The 85th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, February 24th at 7 p.m. CT, and will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane.

Linings Playbook”) Deserves to Win: Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”) Overlooked: Rachel Weisz (“The Deep Blue Sea”) and Ann Dowd (“Compliance”)

Will Win: Steven Spielberg (“Lincoln”) Deserves to Win: David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook”) Overlooked: Kathryn Bigelow (“Zero Dark Thirty”), Ben Affleck (“Argo”) and Quentin Tarantino (“Django Unchained”)

Best Supporting Actor:

Best Actor:

Best Supporting Actress:

Will Win: Daniel Day Lewis (“Lincoln”) Deserves to Win: Daniel Day Lewis (“Lincoln”) Overlooked: John Hawkes (“The Sessions”) and Suraj Sharma (“Life of Pi”)

Best Actress:

Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver

Will Win: Tommy Lee Jones (“Lincoln”) Deserves to Win: Christoph Waltz (“Django Unchained”) Overlooked: Leonardo DiCaprio (“Django Unchained”) and Matthew McConaughey (“Magic Mike”) Will Win: Ann Hathaway (“Les Miserables”) Deserves to Win: Helen Hunt (“The Sessions”) Overlooked: Emily Blunt (“Looper”)

Best Original Screenplay:

Will Win: Quentin Tarantino (“Django Unchained”) Deserves to Win: Mark Boal (“Zero

Dark Thirty”) Overlooked: Rian Johnson (“Looper”)

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Will Win: Tony Kushner (“Lincoln”) Deserves to Win: David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook”) Overlooked: Ben Lewin (“The Sessions”)

Predictions for Secondary Categories

Animated Feature: “Brave” Foreign Language Film: “Amour” Documentary Feature: “Searching for Sugarman” Cinematography: “Life of Pi” Costume Design: “Anna Karenina” Production Design: “Les Miserables” Film Editing: “Argo” Makeup and Hairstyling: “The Hobbit” Original Score: “Lincoln” Original Song: “Skyfall” Sound Editing: “Zero Dark Thirty” Sound Mixing: “Les Miserables” Visual Effects: “Life of Pi” Preparations continue for the The Oscars® for outstanding film achievements of 2012 which will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 24,, at the Dolby Theatre and televised live by the ABC Television Network.

(Photo by Darren Decker / ©A.M.P.A.S.)

ENTERTAINMENT

Tri-State Defender

Page 13

February 21 - 27, 2013

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam’s Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

Dwayne Johnson (left), Darnell Trotter, Michael Williams, J.D. Pardo and Fernandez Osvaldo in “Snitch.” (Photo by Steve Dietl/Summit Entertainment) Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

For movies opening Feb. 22, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS

“Dark Skies” (PG-13 for violence, sexuality, drug use and pervasive terror) Haunted house horror flick about a happy family (Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goyo and Kadan Rockett) whose serene, suburban home life is irreversibly affected by the arrival of a deadly, demonic force. Co-starring J.K. Simmons, L.J. Benet and Annie Thurman.

“Snitch” (PG-13 for violence and drug use) Action thriller about a desperate father’s (Dwayne Johnson) infiltration of a drug cartel for the DEA in order to help his framed teenage son (James Allen McCune) avoid a ten-year prison sentence. With Susan Sarandon, Benjamin Bratt, Barry Pepper and Harold Perrineau.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

“11 Flowers” (Unrated) Coming-of-age

drama, set in rural China in the Seventies, revolving around a mischievous, 11 year-old boy (Wenqing Liu) whose fate becomes intertwined with that of a murder suspect (Zizi Wang) he finds hiding from police along a riverbank. With Ni Yan, Ni Yen and Jinchun Wang. (In Mandarin with subtitles) “Bless Me, Ultima” (PG-13 for violence and sexual references) Screen adaptation of Rudolfo Anaya’s haunting novel, set in New Mexico during World War II, about a mysterious medicine woman (Miriam Colon) who teaches a 6 year-old boy (Luke Ganalon) about the spirit world and about the battle between good and evil brewing in their tiny town. Supporting cast includes Benito Martinez, Dolores Heredia and Castulo Guerra.

“Inescapable” (Unrated) Abduction drama, set in Syria, about a Canadian immigrant (Alexander Siddiq) who returns to Damascus for the first time in a quarter century to search for his suddenly-missing daughter (Jay Anstey). With Joshua Jackson, Marisa Tomei and Oded Fehr. (In English and Arabic with subtitles) “Kai Po Che!” (Unrated) Disney-produced, Bollywood adaptation of “The 3 Mis-

takes of My Life,” Chetan Bhagat’s best-selling novel, set in Ahmedabad at the turn of the millennium, about three BFFs (Amit Sadh, Raj Kumar Yadav and Sushant Singh Rajput) who start a business with the hope of finding fame and fortune. Featuring Amrita Puri. (In Hindi with subtitles)

“One Life” (Unrated) Ambitious eco-documentary, narrated by Daniel Craig, examining the life cycles of a menagerie of animals all over the planet.

“Red Flag” (Unrated) Alex Karpovsky wrote, directed and stars in this road comedy about a fledgling filmmaker who embarks on a promotional tour of his latest film with a reluctant pal (Onur Tukel) after being dumped by his marriage-minded, longtime girlfriend (Caroline White). With Dustin Guy Defa, Keith Poulson and Jennifer Prediger.

“Rubberneck” (Unrated) Alex Karpovsky wrote, directed and stars in this stalker thriller as a scientist who becomes increasingly infatuated with a co-worker (Jaime Ray Newman) after they share a one-night stand, despite the fact that she’s clearly no longer interested.

With Dennis Staroselsky, Amanda Good Hennessey and Andrew Horowitz.

HOROSCOPES

Feb. 21–27, 2013

ARIES You’ll have lots of contact with folks you wanted to hear from this week. Your telephone is your best tool, and you’ll enjoy talking and listening to many supportive and loving friends. A letter may arrive with an invitation.

TAURUS You are too kind this week and it’s a wonderful thing. By doing things for others without thought of a reward, you’re racking up beneficial vibrations for your future! Take personal pleasure in what you do for others this week.

GEMINI Exercise prudence this week in your handling of personal funds. Let your mind wander into the future and you’ll receive the happy answer that you are looking for. Time shared with a partner tonight will be very enjoyable.

CANCER Work with a partner or colleagues goes exceptionally well this week. You receive praise for a job well done! Feel free to change your mind regarding a personal issue. News from a distance arrives.

LEO You are a superstar at work. Efficiency seems to be your middle name. As you go your charming way, don’t forget to delegate tasks with a smile.

VIRGO A relationship may be heating up. Make sure you know what you want, then go ahead. Minor challenges on the home front are easily dealt with.

LIBRA You make important progress at work this week by seizing the initiative and letting your leadership abilities shine. What you do makes things better for everyone around you, so rock steady. Meetings and conversations go especially well.

SCORPIO Pay attention to the details in your big bright beautiful picture this week. You’ll handle everything that comes up if you keep your focus sharp. A grand social event is in store for the week.

SAGITTARIUS Things are going your way in wonderful ways this week. Happy news may arrive from a distance, and on the home front, a romantic question may be answered. Friends are glad to be with you. All in all, a very pleasant week!

Enjoy!

CAPRICORN Your social life gives big rewards during the week. However, give attention to e-mail contacts. Don’t be afraid as your mental horizon expands into new areas.

AQUARIUS Your relationships can receive a big boost from a trip that beckons. Business is also highlighted. Your strong mental energy is sustained through the week. Work it out by talking it out.

PISCES Your vibes are calling to you this week to think fondly of all the love you are now giving and have given. Love itself makes you a better you. So act the fool and love with all your big sunny self. If things get stressful repeat your magic word to yourself: LOVE! Source: NNPA News Source

HEALTH

Page 14

CHEF TIMOTHY

Healthy-eating path easier to find than youth fountain

by Chef Timothy Moore Ph.D, N.M.D, C.N. Special to The New Tri-State Defender

During my extensive travel around the country, I’ve met some interesting people. Many of them were inquisitive about their health. But to my surprise, the discussion oftentimes centered on their search for the elusive “fountain of youth.”

Conclusion? People will go to great lengths to try to slow down the aging process.

Breaking news: There is no such thing as the magical “fountain of youth.”

Medical experts cannot slow the aging process. They, too, are susceptible to the natural aging process and cannot avoid the withering of time. Nor are the doctors and experts in the healthcare field immune to ill health.

Most Americans suffer from some kind of illness. Some are grappling with one or more debilitating diseases. While some diseases cannot be reversed, others could be arrested with proper nutrition.

Eating healthy is the key to health and wellness. With the right diet and a lifestyle change, those who are bound by their eating habits will feel a lot better and gradually return to optimum health. It’s a journey that first starts in the mind before the

body can be healed.

Are you currently on a journey to good health? If you are, maintain your enthusiasm.

If not, make sure your spirit is willing and that you’re doing what is necessary to achieve good health. ApDr. Timothy proach it like boot camp, even Moore if it’s regimented. Also, make sure you surround yourself with like-minded individuals. This will provide an atmosphere of encouragement and support.

Food is not the real enemy, as we have been led to believe. Processed foods, however, are culprits. They’re packed with excessive calories, salt, sugar and chemicals that destroy the body. They’re also loaded with misleading nutritional information. We all must learn to eat the proper nutrients, if we want to live.

If we’re not receiving the required nutrients, we become nutritionally deficient. We also stress out, deprive ourselves of sleep, and don’t get the right amount of required rest. If we don’t get enough

CLASSIFIEDS

Tri-State Defender

February 21 - 27, 2013

sleep, we can cause oxidative damage to our bodies, which quickens the aging process. We must learn to relax, eat healthy, exercise, drink plenty of water and change our lifestyle.

The bottom line is this: focus on being – and remaining – healthy, with a sound mind and body. It won’t be easy, but it certainly is doable.

You’ll need will power and a commitment to live to achieve optimum health. A little encouragement goes a long way too.

We can try all the newfangled diet programs to change our appearance and body, but until we accept the person inside, we’ll forever chase the elusive diet with little success. However, if we keep our bodies in shape, there will be no need to search for the fountain of youth.

Just do it one day at a time and the results will follow. And, do it after you start eating the right foods.

(Dr. Timothy Moore teaches nutrition, heart disease and diabetes reversal through a plant-based lifestyle. He is a professional speaker, wellness coach and personal plant-based chef. He is the author of “47 Tips To Reverse Your Diabetes.” He can be reached by email at cheftimothy@cheftimothymoore.com, visit him at www.cheftimothymoore.com or follow him at www.twitter.com/cheftimmoore.)

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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 Station Road Memphis, TN 38134, (901) 2227600.

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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 Jim Vazquez, Administrator

Tobacco smoke: 7 remedies for protecting your heart & lungs Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Dr. Mary Simmons

Typically, the harmful effects of tobacco smoke are associated with diseases and conditions that affect the lungs. Hidden behind the tobacco cloud are dangers lurking for the human heart as well.

It is possible to defeat these preventable diseases and live a healthier, normal, and productive life once tobacco use is removed from the equation. The most obvious solution to avoid heart and lung diseases caused by tobacco use is to quite smoking altogether.

If you are having trouble quitting,

however, there are other ways to wean yourself off this deadly habit.

Such remedies include: 1) Use a nicotine patch or chewing gum.

2) Talk to an expert.

Dr. Mary 3) Join a Simmons smoking cessation class.

4) Gradually reduce the amount of tobacco used daily.

5) Participate in a support group.

6) Eliminate underlying causes

that motivate your tobacco use.

7) Replace the urge to smoke with a healthier habit, like regular exercise.

Before National American Hearth Month is over, take the challenge to help yourself or a loved one to protect their heart and lungs against the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.

(Mary Simmons, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor/Director in the Division of Cardiopulmonary Sciences at the School of Allied Health Sciences at Florida A&M University. Join Simmons on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. for a live Twitter chat for expert advice on tobacco use and heart disease. Follow @ FAMU_LivingWell.)

THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW

BlueCross to offer diversity scholarships

Three $5,000 awards for health care majors

The health care industry is changing. That change not only brings increased access to insurance to populations never covered before, but also a greater need for a qualified, diverse workforce to deliver that care.

To address this need for more inclusion in the health care setting, the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust, in collaboration with the Memphis chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE), is offering a $5,000 college scholar-

ship to three Tennessee minority students.

According to BlueCross’ Health Institute’s white paper on health care reform and its impacts on minority populations in Tennessee, major findings suggest that AfricanAmericans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, as well as other Pacific Islanders, remain underrepresented in medicine relative to their numbers in the U.S. population and populations in specific states, regions and localities.

In addition, the Association of American Medical Colleges reported in a 2010 study that in Tennessee, out of a total of 411 graduates from med-

ical school, 254 were white (62 percent), 97 were African American (24 percent), six were Hispanic (1.4 percent), two were American Indian or Alaska Native (0.4 percent), 42 were Asian (10 percent), one was other non-Hispanic or Latino race (0. 2 percent) and nine were self-identified as foreign (2 percent).

(For more information, contact Mary Danielson, APR, at 423-5357694.)

Tri-State Defender Classifieds get results!

SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, february 21 - 27, 2013, Page 15

Zbo and the Grizz back at it Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kelley Evans

Memphis power forward Zach Randolph turned in a workman-like 17 points and 18 rebounds on Wednesday in Toronto as the Grizzlies downed former Grizz star Rudy Gay and the Raptors 90 to 82.

The victory meant back-toback wins for Randolph and Memphis coming out of the All-Star Game break and followed Tuesday’s 105-91 romp over the Pistons in Detroit.

While his teammates had a non-playing break, Randolph (aka Zbo) was making his second NBA All-Star appearance in Houston, Texas.

“It’s been a g o o d break but it was a lot of work we had to do during the weekend,” Randolph said after the All-Star Zach game on Randolph S u n d a y.

His West team defeated the East in a 143-138 victory at Toyota Center.

“It’s back to work now. It’s the real season – the real half.

This is where it counts,” said Randolph, who played 13 minutes and finished with six points and five rebounds.

“Everybody was cheering each other on. It was great. It was definitely competitive.”

The West squad was coached by San Antonio Spurs head Coach Gregg Popovich, “He puts you in the right spots to succeed. He’s demanding,” said Randolph.

“You see why he’s one of the best coaches in this game…I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”

The All-Star game was a reunion of sorts for Randolph, who hooked with former teammates David Lee and LaMarcus Aldridge.

“David and LaMarcus – it’s great to come back and play with those guys and see how those guys matured as players.”

Asked if anything was different from his first All-Star appearance, Randolph said, “The first time you’re a little nervous. It’s just more settled.”

National and international media quizzed Randolph on an array of topics: The trade of Rudy Gay (he misses Gay but the team is still a playoff contender); Trade rumors about him (he wants to remain in Memphis and bring the city a championship); Living in Memphis (he will always be a Memphian); What he will give up for Lent (candy); If he liked the All-Star entertainment, specifically an artist by the name of Key$ha (he looked at me because he had no idea of this artist and I had no answer); And, if teammate Marc Gasol should have been in the All-Star lineup (definitely).

All-Star Weekend included a day of community service through NBA Cares, with Randolph in the mix. Projects included five home refurbishments, the construction of a new playground, and food sorting and packaging to support needy Houston residents.

“I had a chance to go work on some stuff at a playground right in the Fifth Ward,” Randolph said. “It was great helping out. Anytime you can give back, it’s special. So it was a great thing.”

NOTES: In the contest against the Raptors, Grizz starting guard Mike Conley had 17 points and six assists, followed by Tony Allen with 14 points.

Gay scored 13 for the Raptors.

The Grizzlies face the Orlando Magic at FedExForum on Friday.

For more on Randolph’s All-Star Game experience, see his post-game interview at www.tsdmemphis.com.

Jonathan Burroughs-Cookʼs second-half defense helped the Roadrunners come out on top. (Photos by Christopher Hope)

Sweet Revenge!

Ridgeway nets 15-AAA crown

The Southwind Jaguars’ gym was filled with screaming, foot-stomping fans for Tuesday night’s District 15-AAA matchup between No. 1 Ridgeway and No. 2 Southwind.

The game was a rematch of a Feb. 8 contest that ended with Southwind defending its home court with a 82-70 victory. We owe them because they beat us last time we played them,” said Robert Miller.

The first half was disastrous for Ridgeway. Numerous turnovers had head coach Wes Henning shaking his head.Amazingly, the Roadrunners only trailed 28-23 at the break.

Opening the second half, both teams came out showing a great display of 3-ball shooting. At one point, the teams swapped three-point shots on four consecutive trips down the floor.

The crowd seemed evenly split between the two schools.

As one team made a three, a section of the gym would yell, “WHOOP” as the ball popped the nets. When the other team matched that made basket with its own 3-ball, another section of the gym went, “WHOOP!” It was a pretty amazing thing to witness fans that much into the game.

Ridgeway went on an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter, taking control en route to a 69-55 victory.

Up next for Ridgeway is a home game against Hamilton Friday in the first round of the Region 8 tournament.

by Christopher Hope

Ridgeway and Southwind – familiar foes – thrilled fans in a rematch of a game played Feb. 8. Southwind took that one, with Ridgeway emerging the victor on Tuesday night.

Unblemished Tigers…

The University of Memphisʼ D.J. Stephens blocks the shot of Danuel House of the Houston Cougars (left). The Tigers won 81 to 74 for their 17th straight victory.

Stephens recorded a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds). Geron Johnson of the Tigers makes a steal against Brandon Morris. The Tigers now are 12-0 in CUSA. (Photos by Warren Roseborough)

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February 21 - 27, 2013

Tri-State Defender