3 6 2012

VOL. 61, No. 10

One Section/Inserts

March 1 - 6, 2012

www.tristatedefender.com

75 Cents

U.S. Treasury ‘redirect’ will put the hurt on child support debtors Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Looking good…

For many non-custodial parents laboring under huge child support debts, prospects for a bright economic future are bleak, and grow bleaker by the day.

An Arlington resident, who asked not to be identified, is a non-custodial parent of four children. Because of delinquent child support issues, this father likely will lose his only

“Once that order to seize funds is passed down, there is no more negotiating. Uncle Sam is going to win every time.”

Fred Hardeman, vice-president Regions Bank, Poplar Avenue

source of income – a disability check – next March.

“From the time I started receiving disability back in 2002, it’s been a struggle just to make ends meet, let alone try to start catching up on my

child support,” he said. “This last delinquent support statement I received from Shelby County put me at nearly $20,000 behind on my child support. I know I could be arrested at any time.

“Now I’ve come to find out that next year, my disability check will be sent to my bank account electronically and then taken to pay my child support. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Title IV. D,” as it is called, requires states to take aggressive measures to collect delinquent child support payment. Last year, individual states were given the authorSEE SUPPORT ON PAGE 2

Memphis-area viewers of “The 84th Academy Awards” still are raving over the short, colored and natural hairstyle sported by ʻThe Helpʼsʼ Viola Davis. See Entertainment, page 14. (Photo

by Bryan Crowe/A.M.P.A.S.)

Voter IDs: the ‘hanging chads’ of 2012 Special to the Tri-State Defender From New America Media

WASHINGTON – A gathering of activists, journalists and voting rights advocates met recently to discuss the growing number of states that have adopted what many see as discriminatory voter registration laws. Such policies, they argue, do more to limit rather than expand democracy, threatening to disenfranchise millions in the lead up to the November elections.

Citizen journalist Faye Anderson was among those gathered at the Feb. symposium, hosted by the Center for American Progress. Recalling the controversy over determining the intent of voters who may have incompletely punched paper ballots during the 2000 presidential race, she voiced the likelihood that voter photo IDs will become “the hanging chads of the 2012 election.”

Describing herself as a “chief evangelist” for the Cost of Freedom Project, a grass-roots voting rights initiative, Anderson called for national organizations, community activists and individuals to harness technology and social media to educate voters about how to comply with the new laws.

Pleasure shared…

Ruby Wilson – the “queen of Beale St.” – drew Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell Jr., celebrities such as Bobby “Blue” Bland, family and a host of friends to B.B. Kingʼs on Beale St. for her birthday celebration on Wednesday (Feb. 29) night.

(Photos by Tyrone P. Easley. Visit www. tristatedefender .com for more party images.)

SEE VOTE ON PAGE 2

- INSIDE -

• Redistricting – What is really going on?. See Opinion, page 4.

• AFSCME union wants ‘in’ on school merger process. See Community, page 11.

• Acts announced for 2012 Beale Street Music Festival.

See Entertainment, page 15.

• Champ shoes fit the Tigers!

See Sports, page 18.

MEMPHIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

H- 7 6o - L - 4 4o Storms W in d

H- 5 7o - L - 3 7o Mo st l y Sun ny

H- 5 3o - L - 4 0o Partl y Cl o udy

REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS

Friday H-81 L-43 H-73 L-44 H-82 L-53

Saturday H-60 L-37 H-57 L-33 H-61 L-39

Sunday H-58 L-41 H-47 L-31 H-61 L-40

TSD seeks nominations for 2012 Women Of Excellence

Each spring for the past four years, The New Tri-State Defender has selected – from among hundreds of well-deserving nominees – 50 outstanding African-American women from the Greater Memphis community to be honored for their remarkable civic contributions and career achievements.

Once again, it is time for the community to nominate another group of outstanding Women of Excellence!

The New Tri-State Defender encourages its readers and the entire Greater Memphis community to help us identify the 50 deserving African-American women for the 2012 class of WOE. Once the nomination period ends, a special selection committee will choose the honorees for this year. Those exceptional women will be honored at the 5th Annual Tri-State Defender Women of Excellence Spring ‘High Tea’ Reception.

The selection committee is seeking nominations of Women of Excellence who have displayed exceptional courage, unwavering

E W

WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE

Mayors step out on faith to end homelessness

(For more information, call 901523-1818) (For nomination form, see page 10, or visit www.tristate defender.com.)

Can one church or congregation end homelessness for one family?

The answer would seem to be, “Yes!” A fresh test of the question will soon be played out in Greater Memphis.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell Jr., in collaboration with the Community Alliance for the Homeless, are asking local churches and congregations to join a faith-based partnership to end homelessness. As part of the initiative, each of the churches or congregations would be asked to end homelessness for one family.

“During this term, my administration is narrowly focused on four priorities, including growing prosperity and opportunity for all, not just

conviction and extraordinary grace.

Each candidate must be a local African-American woman executive, business owner or community leader. Each woman should possess demonstrated success within her field of endeavor, be a positive role model whose contributions encourage others, and be active in community service or organizational involvement.

Forms should be mailed to The New Tri-State Defender, Women of Excellence, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38103; email: editorial@tri-statedefender.com.

All nominations must be received

by March 23 at 5 p.m.

This year’s gala celebration will be held on April 27.

Churches, congregations asked to solve problem for one family

some,” said Wharton. “As we work to put families on the path to permanent housing, we want to make sure that our limited resources are put to their best use. With the Faith-Based Partnership to End Homelessness, we truly will be one congregation, one family.”

Luttrell said the Faith-Based Partnership is unique in that it specifically addresses family homelessness.

“Hopefully, through the FaithBased Partnership, vital community resources can be stretched further to reach more families than ever before,” said Luttrell.

Each participating faith-based partner will provide a team of mentors for their adopted family. The mentors will help the families with financial literacy, parenting, relationship building, and overall community support.

Faith-based partners will also be SEE HOMELESS ON PAGE 2

NEWS

Page 2

VOTE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

The Freedom Project is currently developing mobile phone apps to inform voters about the ID requirements in the states where they reside.

According to Nicole AustinHillery, D.C. Counsel and Director of the Washington, D.C. Office of the Brennan Center for Justice, the dramatic change since before 2011, when only Georgia and Indiana required a voter photo ID, will “seriously impact the next presidential election.”

Austin-Hillery estimated that as many as five million Americans – mostly elderly, young and minorities – may be impeded from voting in November and that the states where more restrictive voting measures have been enacted represent 60 percent of the votes of the Electoral College.

“Nine states will not allow you to vote without a voter ID,” Austin-Hillery said, noting that at least 15 states have sought to tighten voting ID laws. Other barriers being erected include: the elimination of early voter periods; shortening the time during which absentee ballots can be filed; and curtailing ways in which voter registration drives can be conducted. Historically, registration drives have been a primary tool for registering minority and young voters.

Though only 11 percent of Americans currently lack a photo ID, Austin-Hillery explained that the percentages

HOMELESS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

asked for a $2,000 sponsorship to the program; those funds will be used for emergency rental assistance for homeless families and program delivery.

“Our local congregations are called upon each and every day to help with overdue utilities, hotel stays, and delinquent rental debt, and they answer those calls with generosity and kindness,” said Katie Kitchin, the executive director of the Community Alliance for the Homeless.

“This initiative will move us from a case-by-case Band-Aid approach to a more systematic way of helping those who need it most.”

The Faith-Based Partnership to End Homelessness will provide training and professional support to each of the mentoring teams, and will seek to connect each family with the community resources they may need.

The Mayors’ Action Plan to End Homelessness was introduced in January 2011. Wharton and Luttrell designated The Community Alliance for the Homeless for the responsibility of implementing the plan.

Project Homeless Connect, the first event associated with the mayors’ plan, was held last September. It included more than 900 homeless participants and over 1,000 volunteers. Hundreds applied for housing and disability, 2100 meals were served, 200 food stamp applications were processed, and 300 medical and dental screenings were completed.

Tri-State Defender

March 1 - 6, 2012

Voter ID lift

Shelby County Commissioner Henri E. Brooks has a partnership with local churches to provide round-trip transportation to Drivers License Centers for persons needing to get state-issued photo ID cards on Saturday (March 3) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call or 901-857-6443.

rise when viewed through different lenses. For example, 18 percent of Americans over 65 lack a photo ID as well as 25 percent of African Americans.

Women whose last names may have been changed due to marriage will be disproportionately impacted as compared to men.

“Thirty four percent of women lack proof of citizenship that has that current legal name,” she said.

College students studying in states other than their own will be affected as well. Erica Maye, Communications Specialist at The Advancement Project, noted that though many students, if they have not registered to vote when they turned 18 years old in high school, register in college and receive IDs there. However, many college IDs do not list addresses and under many new voter registration laws, a photo ID must include an address.

“One way I think we can mitigate these effects is by using some of the on-line tools

SUPPORT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

ity to freeze the bank accounts of those who owe back child support. Money can be taken from those accounts at will.

The U.S. Treasury recently determined that beginning March 2013, it would no longer give individuals the option of receiving a paper check for Social Security, disability and veteran’s benefits. That money will be electronically transmitted into a bank account, and then “redirected” to the state to pay down on child support arrears.

Thousands of non-custodial parents in the West Tennessee region will be affected by the Treasury Department’s new electronic payment policy. Nationwide, some 275,000 could lose access to their entire monthly incomes, according to a recent article by the Associated Press.

Tennessee is among the states that now require photo voter identification before casting a ballot. (Courtesy photo)

that we know young voters have been to a lot,” Maye said, referring to such sites as “Facebook, Twitter, and even YouTube.” Maye also encourages the proliferation of online educational videos to enable students to determine the steps they need to take to be in compliance with new voting laws.

Data cited in the Brennan Center’s report, “Voting Changes in 2012,” show that, with one exception, the states that recently passed restrictive voter ID laws now boast Republican-controlled state legislatures. A number of these states have experienced a growing immigrant presence and several, like Texas, have

“I always wished I could do more for my children,” said the Arlington resident. “I was incarcerated for much of their growing up. But now that they are grown, I wouldn’t think the government would do something this drastic. It makes no sense.”

‘Studying the options’

According to Fred Hardeman, vice-president of Regions Bank on Poplar Avenue, all banks must adhere to the guidelines of Title IV. D. There is no alternative once the levy against an account has been issued.

“Although we understand the distress that a levy against a person’s account may cause, the bank has no choice in the matter,” said Hardeman.

“Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been redirected back to the government for back taxes, delinquent student loans, and now, back child support.

“I would advise anyone fac-

sought to contain the potential voting impact of the Latino voting age population through redistricting initiatives or, like Alabama and Arizona, have enacted harsh anti-immigrant legislation.

“It’s not surprising,” said Eric Rodriquez, “where you see the overlap of states where there’s anti-immigrant legislation, you also see a lot of issues related to voter fraud, targeting immigrants, citizenship requirements, proof of ID requirements, et cetera.”

Rodriquez, who serves as Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, National Council of La Raza, said immigrants often become scapegoats during pe-

ing the prospect of having their entire monthly income taken by the government to contact Shelby County Child Support Services and try to work something out prior to March of next year when all payments will be received electronically,” said Hardeman.

“Once that order to seize funds is passed down, there is no more negotiating. Uncle Sam is going to win every time.”

‘The big payback’

Attorney Steve Wilson, of the Steve Wilson Firm and one of the city’s most active family attorneys, explained that the law is relatively simple in this matter.

“Any state who wants to continue getting federal assistance for welfare and food service programs must agree to collect arrears as aggressively as possible,” said Wilson. “While the money is no longer being directed to the

riods of transition. “The Latino community is on the cusp of really becoming more influential in critical states and elections.”

He said the fear and concern generated within those states by those who have traditionally held power is being given voice on the national stage, in part, by the meteoric rise of the Super PACs, which allow an unlimited flow of money into issue advocacy campaigns during an election cycle.

Money also has long played a key role in state politics.

Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of ColorofChange.org, said he plans to use the influence and reach of his organization to tar-

custodial parents or the children, it is being used to repay the government for taxpayer welfare dollars, which were used to support youngsters growing up.”

Most of these bills are decades old, reflecting the fees and interest accumulated over the years.

‘Who can live for years off of nothing?’

“Very few people, especially in this economy, can survive without income over the next four or five years,” said Hardeman. “It’s almost impossible to live off of no money at all, even with a broad network of family support.

Legal services may be able to help mediate some mutually acceptable solution to past due child support payments, said Hardeman.

“There must be some mechanisms in place to assist those who will be affected. A meet-

get the corporate money that supports the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an organization that develops model state legislation and was especially instrumental in sponsoring government-issued voter ID laws.

“ColorofChange, about three months ago, launched our campaign against voter suppression,” Robinson said. His organization, which claims 800,000 members as the largest on-line African-American political advocacy group, is initially targeting 12 of ALEC’s corporate contributors. Through letters, phone calls and discussions with those 12, “none of the corporations will be able to say they didn’t know what they were supporting,” he said.

“We will hold these corporations accountable for the idea that they can’t come for black folks’ money during the day and take away our vote at night.” In essence, the campaign will tie specific corporate brands to voter suppression.

While the panelists noted that voter ID laws proposed in states covered by the Voting Rights Act may be rescinded by the U.S. Department of Justice, to rely on the speed of the federal government to act or on future changes in the composition of state legislatures to refine now existing laws is to put democracy at risk in November.

(Posted to New America Media by Khalil Abdullah)

ing of minds is necessary, and there should be some measure of advocacy in place for these parents.”

Once the policy takes affect next March, there may be very little recourse for those thousands in Shelby County alone who will be affected, said Hardeman.

“Many of them are men, and many of them are black men. You can’t help but feel compassion for what they are experiencing. But Regions Bank and every other bank ordered by the government to attach an account must comply.

There is no other option.”

(For additional information and assistance with child support issues, call the Shelby County Support Services Division at 901-432-6700.)

(Resources for advocacy regarding child support and visitation issues are available through Dads Against Discrimination (DAD) of Tennessee. Send email to: Richard@tndads.org.)

OPINION

Tri-State Defender

Page 3

March 1 - 6, 2012

February is done, so are we through celebrating?

NNPA News Service

by Linda Tarrant-Reid

When February ended, I thought to myself that’s it, the end of Black Hist o r y Month?

No more corporate Linda TarrantcommerReid cials on TV acknowledging the contributions of our African American legends.

No more documentaries focused on the struggle and the successes we gained in our fight for equality.

No more articles in newspapers, print and digital, telling of little known stories about the black experience in America.

No more sales, workshops, book signings or cooking demos at stores who experience an increase in their bottom line by marketing a month long celebration of black folks.

I thought to myself, that can’t be, we must expand the brand of Black History Month and make it every day, every month and all year round!

After all, African Americans are a founding people in America; we’ve been here from the beginning. Why not include our history in American history, on each and every page.

We were at Jamestown, Va., in 1619, the first permanent British colony. We were the “20. and Odd Negroes” hijacked by privateers from a Portuguese slave ship on its way to Veracruz, Mexico that detoured to Jamestown and sold its human cargo to the English colonists instead. We built that colony and became free citizens of Virginia after a time. We owned land, raised cattle, settled our disputes in court and raised our families.

One African family, the Anthony Johnson Family, eventually acquired 800 acres after they were freed, around 1625, from their indentured servitude (working as servants for no pay, then after a period of time receiving freedom and a parcel of land). The family prospered in Virginia’s Northampton County and later in Somerset County, Md., where they moved in 1665.

Even after we were enslaved in the cruel institution of “chattel slavery” by the 1660s, we were still survivors. We learned to read and write, although it was forbidden by the white slave masters; we created our own worship services off in the woods undetected from the plantation overseers; and we invented tools and equipment, like using a comb to clean cotton, a process attributed to an enslaved gentleman named Sam, and not Eli Whitney the publicly acknowledged white inventor of the cotton gin.

We fought in all of America’s wars whether enslaved or free beginning with the American Revolution up to today, including conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first martyr of the American Revolution was black sailor Crispus Attucks who was killed in 1770 in the Boston Massacre. Black militia fought at the Battles of Lexington and Concord and at Bunker Hill in Massachusetts.

Enslaved blacks fought in Westchester County in the Battle of Pines Bridge in Yorktown and in Virginia at the Battle of Great Bridge against British Lord Dunmore’s Ethiopian Troops, who were recruited by the British and offered their freedom for fighting on the British side.

One black American who contributed mightily to the freedom of America from the British was Caesar Tarrant. An enslaved person from Hampton, Va, Tarrant was commissioned as a boat pilot by the Virginia State Navy. He successfully defeated British ships attempting to provide supplies to their troops. Because of his heroism and effectiveness during battle, Tarrant received his freedom and his family was given 2,667 acres in the Virginia Military District in southeastern Ohio in recognition of their father’s service to the Virginia Navy.

There are countless stories about brave African Americans who laid down their lives for this country and we should celebrate them, along with the

other brave soldiers, on July 4th and Memorial Day, by name. Our children need to be reminded, often, of the sacrifices their ancestors made to create a life here in America for them.

Although slavery was abolished by the end of the Civil War, African Americans were still not free. The next battle was fought in the courts.

African Americans had been defined as 3/5 of a person in

the U.S. Constitution, which was ratified in 1789. We had a lot to undo. Through legislation, we were enslaved yet again, beginning with the Supreme Court Decision in Plessy v. Ferguson of 1896, which created “separate, but equal facilities for whites and blacks.”

It would take 58 years to begin dismantling the laws that had re-enslaved African Americans. Brown v. Board of

Education, 1954 was the landmark Supreme Court decision that made it illegal to have separate public schools for black children and white children. More legislation followed that made it illegal to discriminate against African Americans at the polls, on transportation systems, in public accommodations, in the rental or purchase of housing and in employment.

As you can see, there is so

much history about the African American experience that is invisible to many people and that’s why we must not confine Black History to the shortest month of the year, February, which occasionally is extended to 29 days in a leap year.

New Jersey is one state that has successfully integrated African American history into the curriculum K-12.

In the meantime, it is up to us to provide our children with

the information that is their legacy.

(Linda Tarrant-Reid is an author, historian and photographer. Visit her blog at, www.discoverblackus.com.

Send your comments to Linda Tarrant-Reid, c/o The Westchester County Press, P.O. Box 152, White Plains, NY 10602.)

Special to the NNPA from The Westchester County Press

Page 4

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OPINION

Tri-State Defender

March 1 - 6, 2012

WEB POSTS

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

From our online readers at www.tristatedefender.com

Did the Tea Party help shut down Thaddeus Matthews?

Edition: Feb. 23-29, 2012

Redistricting – What is really going on?

We have arrived at that time where, once every 10 years, the Census results in the creation of new boundaries from which we select our elected representatives. Because of changing demographics, this process, called redistricting, takes a finite number of elected positions and redraws the area that will be represented by each representative.

The 435 United States Congressional districts are re-drawn to reflect the increase in the nation’s population and to, as much as possible, equally distribute citizens among those districts. In Tennessee, the 33 State Senate seats and the 99 State House seats are redrawn to reflect the equal allocation of citizens to each seat. In the City of Memphis and in Shelby County, the 13-member City Council and the 13-member County Commission each have their districts redrawn to reflect the changes in the demographics over the last 10 years in this community.

The questions that we, African Americans, must ask are: Who draws the lines? How are these lines being drawn?

With the exception of the U.S. Congress, almost all re-districting is done by the legislative body that is to be re-districted. (In most cases, Congressional districts are drawn by state legislatures; however, in some states “so-called bi-partisan independent commissions” draw the districts.) Put another way, the legislators draw their own districts. And since we have elected these representatives, technically then, these new districts reflect the will of the people. But do they really?

Members of legislative bodies, whether federal, state, county or city, are elected based upon their appeal to the voters of their districts and the presumed commonality of interest they share. This commonality is derived from characteristics, including political philosophy (evidenced by political party), quality of life class and race. People elect representatives who they believe are like them, and the elected representatives usually see themselves as being like the people who elected them. Thus, it is only natural for those entrusted with redrawing districts to try to draw districts that produce representatives who are like them and the citizens they represent.

This means that Democrats draw districts to get more Democrats; Republicans draw to get more Republicans; Liberals draw to get more Liberals; and Conservatives draw to get more Conservatives. In our Tennessee, Shelby County and Memphis environment, it also means that blacks try to get more blacks and whites try to get more whites. This occurs not only as it relates to increasing the number of representatives who are like them, but it also applies to ensuring that the representative’s own district becomes more demographically like him/her. Since majority rules, whatever group is in the majority is going to try to entrench itself and expand. Unfortunately, what is done is not always “fair”.

Years of mistreatment of and unfairness to blacks in the South resulted in the disenfranchisement of blacks when it came to voting participation and to representation on political bodies. Prior to 1964 and the election of the late A. W. Willis as state representative from Memphis, there were no African Americans in the Tennessee State Legislature and there had not been any since Reconstruction. As recently as 2011, there were only 17 black members of the Tennessee legislature, less than the 22 that the statewide 17 percent black population would dictate. Additionally, partisan politics has resulted in at least one of the incumbents being redrawn into a district where they will face another black incumbent.

This would appear to be an obvious dilution of black representation.

Likewise, in 1967, when the new Mayor-Council form of government was implemented for the City, there were three original black City Councilmen (out of 13), even though Memphis was 35-to-40 percent black. It stayed that way until 1991 when two African Americans were elected At-Large (from the whole City) at the same time that Dr. Willie W. Herenton became the first African American elected mayor. The City, although majority black, had only 6 black members on the 13-member City Council because of the dilution caused by AtLarge Voting.

After a lawsuit, which challenged the “fairness” of At-Large voting, the City Council (of which I was a member at that time in 1993) voted, over the objections of many in the black community (inShep cluding me), to Wilbun replace that system with a multimember, “Super District” arrangement instead of a single-member plan. That plan divided the City into half, with half becoming a black multi-member district and the other half becoming a similar white district, each having three Councilpersons.

The result? The White district was large enough to insulate it from demographic changes that should have increased the number of blacks on the Council and this “Super District” plan virtually institutionalized the number of white Council members at 6. Memphis is today about 67 percent black and might have had as many as 9 black members instead of 7 if it had single member districts.

As the Shelby County Commission presently debates various redistricting plans, the question now is this: How many seats should African Americans have on the 13-member body and how should all districts be drawn?

In 1994, I was part of the last expansion of the County Commission from 11 to 13 members. The late Dr. James Ford and I were added to two multi-member districts to reflect the increase in the black population of the County. Now the County Commission is debating whether to keep multi-member (two- or three-member) districts or to adopt a new single-member district plan. Generally, government that is closest to the people is preferable and smaller districts have this result. The County Commission’s multi-member districts would include 200,000-plus residents while single-member districts would have 70,000. Simple math says single-member districts are best.

Just because you have a singlemember district does not mean that the district will be drawn “fairly”. Indeed, incumbents tend to draw districts that protect them, political parties draw districts that protect and increase their numbers, and unfortunately, racial groups draw districts that maintain or increase their numbers (especially here in Memphis and Shelby County where racial block voting is so prevalent).

Another consideration is that redistricting takes place once every 10 years, after the Census. To ensure that our legislative bodies accurately reflect our community’s needs, we need to maximize black representation. Similarly, the Census always has a significant undercount of blacks and Hispanics. Instead of Memphis being 64 percent black in 2010, it was really 67 percent or more black. When they say that Shelby County was 52.1 percent black and 40 percent white in 2012, I know that Shelby County’s actual black population was closer to 55 percent.

As we draw lines for districts at the state, county and city levels, our population in this community has gotten “blacker” between the 2010 Census and today (2012). Thus, if blacks made up 55 percent of the County in 2010, that would equate to 7-plus of the 13 County Commission seats.

And if whites made up 40 percent of the County, then that equates to 5 County Commission seats. The 13th and final seat would be a “toss-up” seat. It should be slightly “majority black” since, based on population, the black population would be entitled to a “portion of a seat” given that seats can’t be split and the number of blacks has increased since the 2010 Census.

So there you have it. The present re-districting debate at the County Commission has all the above elements. This is why it is taking so long and has been so contentious. A final vote on a re-districting plan will probably take place in the next two weeks. One thing is for sure: re-districting will not be of the people, by the people and for the people until we, the people, get involved.

(Guest columnist Shep Wilbun is a former Shelby County Commissioner and Memphis City Councilman.)

Merger reactions prove racism and growth don’t mix

The situation regarding the consolidation of Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools has turned into one of the uglier chapters in the history of Memphis. The resistance from the suburban communities of Collierville, Bartlett, Germantown and Millington to working together to consolidate the schools is nothing more than racial intolerance and a lack of understanding.

In January, Southern Educational Strategies, LLC returned with the results of a study on whether it was feasible for the Town of Collierville to establish its own municipal school district. The conservative educational consulting firm had been commissioned to do the study back in September. It concluded that Public Chapter 1 of the 2011 Acts of Tennessee had revived the power of municipalities such as Collierville to create municipal school districts.

Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner, other town officials and residents also were told that a Collierville municipal district would have the legal authority to receive the transfer and control of school facilities that exist now within its boundaries, and for no cost.

Tennessee Senate Majority Leader, Mark Norris, a Republican who represents the Collierville community, authored the legislation that Southern Educational Strategies relied upon in its study. Subsequently, other suburban mayors – Keith McDonald of Bartlett, Sharon Goldsworthy of Germantown, and even the embattled and now former Mayor of Millington, Richard Hodges – have all explored the idea of forming their own school systems.

School unity is both a nationwide and statewide trend. In Tennessee, 12 city school districts have merged with their county schools in the past

few decades.

Memphis is the only urban school district in the state that continues to be separate from its county district.

Each school merger scenario is different, and there is ample Brian academic reClay search to show that school merger is not just about education. There are studies that show significant savings in administrative costs, but fewer savings elsewhere. Such studies also suggest an “optimum size” for school districts that is lower than the current size of Memphis City Schools. So, if we do merge systems, we should move to a system with four to five area school districts, each with a little over 30,000 students, run by a superintendent but overseen by a unified school board and a school chancellor.

The suburban communities are exemplifying racial intolerance and a basic desire not to be a part of any larger community. Since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. here in Memphis in 1968, many civic, clergy and political leaders have worked tirelessly to heal the city’s racial divide. Ninth Congressional District Rep. Steve Cohen and Mayor A C Wharton Jr. have designed programs and initiatives to address the need for racial healing.

The suburban communities are sending a horrible message of intolerance to our community. This type of behavior begs the question: “When will racism stop?” We will not grow as a city until racial intolerance stops!

FACEBOOK FAN OF THE WEEK Mary Ann Clay

Mary Ann Clay is a graduate of Tennessee State University and a proud 1962 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School.

Thanks Ms. Clay for all the “likes” and for the always interesting and positive comments on our page.

Keep posting and keep reading your TSD!!

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Tri-State Defender Platform

1. Racial prejudice worldwide must be destroyed.

2. Racially unrestricted membership in all jobs, public and private.

3. Equal employment opportunities on all jobs, public and private.

4. True representation in all U.S. police forces.

5. Complete cessation of all school segregation.

6. Federal intervention to protect civil rights in all instances where civil rights compliance at the state level breaks down

DISTRIBUTION: Tri-State Defender is available at newsstands, street sales, store vendors, mail subscription and honor boxes throughout the Greater Memphis area. No person may, without prior written permission of the Tri-State Defender, reprint any part of or duplicate by electronic device any portion without written permission. Copyright 2012 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.

(Popular talk show host Thaddeus Matthews has been taken off the air by Pollack Broadcasting, which owns the signal that Matthews’ station, WPLX, broadcasts on.

Interviews The Thaddeus New Tri-State Matthews Defender conducted with both Matthews and owner William Pollack indicate that a highly emotional courtroom battle may be looming.

Both are claiming breach of contract, with Matthews staking claim to the constitutional right to free speech, while Pollack emphasizes that the situation is a matter of showing him the money. They both cite a figure of $87,000 owed by Matthews to Pollack, and that a payment system had been worked out.)

POST: Glad he’s gone.

POST: Bring him back, please.

He’s all we have to listen to everyday. (Rep.) Cohen, help us POST: This was a very good article that broke down what is going on. I hope that Mr. Matthews wins and returns back on radio.

POST: Matthews is great at his job, I pray he wins.

POST: I think it’s a shame that we as black people here in this great city of Memphis are still waiting for others to open doors for us. We should have our own radio station and our on air space. Just because others (got) and we don’t (got) is no reason not to have. Black people are some of the hardest praying people I know, and we know God is not a respecter of persons (Eph.6:8,9). If they (got) their on station, and before people say that they (got) money and we ain’t (got) money, God is our (Equalizer); and with careful planning and thought we can have to, what so ever – radio station, better learning situation for kids, etc. Pray and then (Workkkkkk).

POST: This was the only allBlues radio station we had! I admit, he did get a little too vulgar sometimes, but no need to cancel him altogether. Let him come back with stipulations, if he will approve of it.

POST: … He is very ghetto and raw. How can you help a community when you are not a good example of a black man? He does have the 1st Amendment right. (Bill) O’Reilly is still on the television.

POST: Thaddeus is your everyday common street hustler...just like “dem boyz” he promoted from “Mo Money Taxes.” What a debacle!

Selling dreams! Thaddeus is a court jester. He’s a comedian...and not even good one at that...just like “dem boyz” he promoted from “Mo Money Taxes.” Let’s get serious here for a moment! Don’t get it “twisted.” Thaddeus is mad because his primary revenue stream has been cut. That is all! Thaddeus’ style of shock-jock broadcasting was his downfall. His in your face, curse you out & cut you off, this is my radio station (liar) brand of comedy is old and tired. Thaddeus created a facade that had his listeners thinking that he owned a radio station. Pollack showed us who owned the radio station...He who owns the transmitter, tower, and the license. What did Thaddeus own? Thaddeus is now left with all that he owned: Bills, Equipment, and with his God given right to throw “F-bombs”, “MF’ers” and “Suck My D...”comments freely on the unregulated Internet. Sure...Thaddeus will be back! And Yes, many of you will follow him wherever he goes. Birds of a feather flock together!

POST: He got what was coming to him. The way he talks about our black preachers! It a shame.

POST: 1. Thaddeus Matthews hasn’t been paying his bills; 2. He expresses profanity, obscene commentary, and bigotry on the public airwaves (prohibited by FCC regulation); and 3. He is the worst representation the black community could ever possibly have in a civilized society. THAT is why Thaddeus Matthews is no longer on the airwaves and deserves to NEVER be on the airwaves again. Now, go look up his criminal record in the Shelby County court system, and learn something about his “character” or lack thereof.

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)

IN THE MAIL

NATION

Tri-State Defender

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March 1 - 6, 2012

ANALYSIS

Where did GOP blacks go?

NNPA News Service

by Charles D. Ellison It’s a question that comes up every time you hit the home page of the Republican National Committee’s website: Where are all the black Republicans?

Only a year after celebrating the last days of its first African-American chair, the RNC is fairly light on AfricanAmerican faces these days.

What was once, especially during the ’90s, a fairly aggressive photo-op promotional strategy strung together by a small network of die-hard black political consultants, former elected officials and partisans, is all but dead.

While it did little in the way of yielding any results comparable to Democratic counterparts, there was a sense – leading up to the election of Michael Steele as party chair – that some progress had been made in mending the often bitter relationship between African Americans and the Republican Party.

Now, as a bloody Republican primary carries on, the GOP appears smitten with the Latino vote. Presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are bending over backwards, and breaking the bank, to connect with Latinos – looking for every conceivable angle to attract skeptical brown voters turned off by a wave of anti-immigration sentiments. And the RNC happily trotted out a director of Latino Outreach in January, eagerly announcing the move in a gritty effort to snatch Hispanic voters away from Democrats in what observers expect to be a grueling November election.

“The RNC will place staff on the ground across the country to coordinate the GOP’s Hispanic effort as part of a program to make sure Barack Obama is a one-term president,” said RNC Chair Reince Preibus when introducing Betinna Inclan as the point person for Republican Latino strategy. “Latinos play an integral role in our communities, and the Republican Party believes it is essential to involve Latinos at every level of our Party’s efforts in 2012.”

Meanwhile, the move angered a number of black Republicans who were already feeling left out in the cold following the abrupt downfall and forced removal of Steele in 2011.

“You have no blacks on staff at the Republican National Committee – or any of its other committees – and there are no blacks on staff of any of the presidential campaigns,” snorts longtime black Republican strategist and marketing expert Raynard Jackson. “But maybe after a few more electoral losses you will awaken to the most loyal customer you have ever had.”

Most politically active and prominent black Republicans are not as vocal about their displeasure with the GOP’s intense focus on the Latino vote.

Most are quiet, some out of fear they might anger RNC bosses who are already stressed trying to keep a fractured party intact. But many are seething over what they view as a combination of betrayal and intrusion, a knife in the back from a Republican Party that was theirs from its Abraham Lincoln beginnings.

However, a source tells the Philadelphia Tribune that focus could shift back to black outreach as the Romney campaign prepares to hire a senior advisor for that exact purpose.

While the source would not give details on the timing of an announcement, it was clear the embattled former Massachusetts governor is thinking ahead to the general election.

“We’re finalizing the details,” said the source. “But, we’re not completely there, yet.”

In terms of the black vote, much of it has to do with pure numbers – only 10 percent of African-American voters, on average, vote Republican during any given presidential or congressional mid-term cycle.

The only Republican in the 21st century to slightly defy that trend was President Bush in 2004 when he won just over 11 percent of the black vote against Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

In statewide races, Republicans tend to garner 15 percent of the black vote on average.

In 2006, then Lt. Gov. Michael Steele was able to capture more than 20 percent of the black vote in Maryland’s U.S. Senate race – but that was still very negligible for a black candidate with extensive local roots and who never shied away from his blackness.

Many Republican strategists and candidates alike are quick to attribute those dismal ratings to black dismissiveness.

“It’s hard. We get called ‘racists,’ but we’re expected to go out and do outreach with these people,” complains one veteran white GOP campaign expert who wanted to speak off the record. Visibly angered by the question, the senior aide to numerous Republican campaigns accused black voters of “setting unfair expectations.”

Hence, Republican insiders point to the math in recent primaries. For example, only two percent of black voters in South Carolina are registered Republicans. To make it worse, only one percent of South Carolina primary voters in January were black – and that was in an “open primary” where voters of all partisan

stripes can vote. In Florida, it was the same: only one percent. And, in Iowa (where there are sizeable pockets of African Americans living in such cities as Des Moines), black votes didn’t even register on a significant scale.

The problem is two-fold.

The Republican Party’s southern strategy in the 1960s alienated black voters in the race for southern white and segregationist votes. This has led to the prevailing image of a political party either constantly attacking major black policy priorities, or serving as the face of institutionalized political racism. But there is also the problem of African Americans refusing to force the two major political parties to compete for their voters. Most are fiercely loyal to the Democratic Party to the point where such affiliations are based more on personal considerations than political interests.

In contrast, Latino voters only lean 60 percent Democrat on average. In key primary states like Florida and Arizona, they represent 12 percent of the Republican primary electorate – a significant presence that warrants the at-

tention of campaign strategists battling for every vote they can get. And a recent Cooperative Congressional Election Survey found 14 percent identified as Republican and a significant bloc, 19 percent, identified as “Independent.”

It’s that 19 percent that gives Republicans reason to believe they can compete for Latino votes in the general election against Barack Obama, despite recent anti-immigration rhetoric and legislation. The survey also found Latinos are more inclined to vote by race than party. With scores more Latino Republican elected officials than Black, Republican elected officials (there are no black, Republican elected officials under the age of 40), the GOP figures it has a better chance chasing after brown votes than black ones.

Political strategist and former congressional candidate Princella Smith argues that because African Americans vote “lopsidedly Democrat – 80 percent to 90 percent of the time,” the Republican Party fails to see any prospect of a return on the investment.

Ron Thomas, a black Re-

If Americans take time to think about what they truly believe, they will find out they are conservatives, Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., said during his address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. (Photo courtesy of CPAC) publican and former senior advisor to Rep. Michelle Bachmann’s, R-Minn., failed presidential bid, agrees, quickly arguing that the GOP’s enthusiastic focus on Latino voters should be something for black Republicans and African Americans in general to worry about.

“I have a bottom line philosophy: You have to have

tensions on both sides of the aisle. We’re the only culture where we don’t make the political parties compete for our vote,” said Thomas. “Until we decide as a people that we’re going to do that, we’re going to stay in the same situation we’re in right now.”

(Special to the NNPA for the Philadelphia Tribune)

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March 1 - 6, 2012

Tri-State Defender

BUSINESS

Tri-State Defender

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March 1 - 6, 2012

ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

Women’s History Month: Free from bondage

With Women’s History Month as the backdrop, join us throughout March as we highlight the challenges and successes of women, many of them female entrepreneurs.

Elizabeth Key set the bar high. She was born out of wedlock to an enslaved black mother and a free white settler. In 1636, Key’s father transferred ownership of her to another white settler for the term of nine years. At the end of the nine-year term, Key was to obtain her freedom from bondage. However, instead of obtaining her freedom as originally contracted, Key’s ownership was later transferred to a justice of the peace.

Upon this owner’s death in 1655, Key, through her attorney, petitioned the court for her freedom. Having served 19 years instead of the originally contracted nine, she was granted her release. But as with the judicial system today, an appeal was inevitable. A higher court overturned the decision, deeming Key a slave.

Not to be deterred, swayed or convinced otherwise, Key, again through her attorney, petitioned the General Assembly, which appointed a com-

mittee to review the i s s u e .

Eventually, Key gained her freedom.

Key’s t e n a c i t y, determination and will to Carlee McCullough fight in the 1 6 0 0 s speak to how long the fight has been going on. The assistance she received from the attorney that took on this case to right a definite wrong is a shining example that at some point in time, we all need to join in on a justified fight for what is right.

For Key, freedom was her business. Here are some of the many elevating lessons that can be learned from Key’s sojourn:

Free from bondage

Key was determined to win her freedom. She knew she deserved it and she fully understood what the original agreement dictated. While we are free – in the sense that we are not “owned” by a master, many of us still have self-im-

posed shackles. Bondage is not necessarily physical today; it is mental.

Be courageous

When told no, Key was not to be deterred. As business owners, we cannot be afraid of criticism or rejection. Ultimately, we will hear more of “no” than of “yes.” We must not be dissuaded, choosing instead to keep our eyes on the prize. Our goal is to build wealth, and we must keep moving.

Be deliberate in our fight

Unquestionably, Key was smart and prepared for her fight. Too frequently, however, some with the determination to fight choose to battle everyone over everything.

This leads to distraction from what is important. We must plan our paths so that we can walk our walk.

Be a visionary

To achieve your goal, you have to visualize it, and it does not matter if the goal does not appear to be practicable. Truly successful people are vision-

MONEY MATTERS

Leaving your home out of the retirement equation

Plummeting prices and increased borrowing cut U.S. home equity by more than 60 percent during the Great Recession. Although the recession officially ended in June 2009, home prices have not recovered.

In this type of market, it’s not surprising that many homeowners who borrowed against their home equity have found themselves owing more than their homes are worth.

Homeowners with a second mortgage are more than twice as likely to be “underwater” than are homeowners with only a first mortgage.

The good news is that housing values typically recover from downturns. But no matter which way the market heads, it’s probably not a good idea to count on the value of your home to help fund your retirement.

Potential risks of downsizing

Although moving to a less expensive home could be appropriate for some people, the falling market of the last few years demonstrates that you may not always be able to sell your current home at the price

you exp e c t .

Transaction fees and movexing penses could also leave you with substantially less cash Charles than you Sims Jr. were anticipating.

It might be more realistic to view downsizing or moving to a different area as a personal choice rather than a way to pay for retirement. If you place too much emphasis on your home equity in your retirement strategy, it could lead you to underestimate how much you may need to save for a comfortable retirement.

Shifting into reverse

A reverse mortgage may allow homeowners age 62 and older to borrow against the value of their homes. They don’t have to pay back the loans during their lifetimes for as long as they continue living in them. This strategy may be appropriate for some retirees,

but it also involves substantial fees – and the amount you can borrow is typically much less than the actual value of the home. Because a reverse mortgage loan must be paid back after you stop living in the home for one year or more, it’s likely that either you or your heirs may eventually be forced to sell it, risking exposure to the uncertainties of the housing market.

Your home might have substantial value, but it also provides shelter and may have sentimental value. You may be in a stronger position to make decisions about your home if you leave it out of the retirement equation.

(Charles Sims Jr., CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, is President/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.co m. The information in this article is not intended to be tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor.)

Electrolux: On-track with local commitment

Electrolux has awarded more than $72 million of the $80 million construction contract associated with the new cooking products manufacturing facility to be built in Memphis.

With less than 10 percent of the remaining dollars yet to-be awarded, Electrolux says it is well on-track to meet commitments to the local and minority and women-owned business communities.

“These results continue to underscore the Electrolux and Yates commitment to Memphis and Shelby County,” said Project Director Jacob Burroughs of Electrolux Major Appliances, North America.

“We are working with Mayors (AC) Wharton (Jr.) and (Mark H.) Luttrell (Jr.)to ensure our investment in Memphis is responsive to the needs of the community. We look forward to working with the city, county and state in the years to come.”

Wharton said he was pleased with Electrolux’s progress given that the bulk of local spending is going to Shelby County companies and with $24 million already awarded to minority- or women-owned businesses.

“As the project continues to

move forward, I’m confident we’ll hear more good news for local companies, local residents, and the local economy,” said Wharton.

“We’re encouraged many locally-owned small businesses will be part of the Electrolux operations plan.

Strengthening the business economy in Shelby County continues to be our top priority,” said Shelby County Mayor Luttrell.

Construction of the plant continues on-schedule with full manufacturing operations expected in 2014.

Current economic impact

Electrolux intends to spend more than 50 percent of the $80 million construction contract locally, with Shelby County expected to receive the vast majority of contract dollars.

To-date, $72 million of the $80 million construction contract has been awarded.

Of the $72 million awarded thus far, 89 percent (nearly $64 million) was awarded to local companies, the vast majority to companies in Shelby County.

Also, 33 percent of the $72

million awarded, or $24 million, was awarded to local minority and women-owned businesses.

Minority and womenowned companies awarded contracts are (contracts awarded since January 17, 2012 are in bold): • CDA, Inc. (located in Shelby County) • MIG Construction Services (located in Memphis MSA) • MJ Construction/Sidle Construction Joint Venture (located in Shelby County) • SMS Contractors (located in Shelby County) • South Memphis Fence (located in Shelby County) • Interior Focus Inc. (located in Shelby County) • Waterproofing System Inc. (located in Shelby County) • Three Point Graphics (located in Shelby County) • Metal Products Co. (located in Shelby County) • Gipson Mechanical (located in Shelby County) • Shelby Electric with A1 Electric/Allied Electric (located in Shelby County) • Brighter Days and Nites (located in Shelby County) • Medford Roofing (located in Shelby County) • Dannix Painting (located in Memphis MSA)

aries that are creative thinkers and doers. A woman of mixed race in the 1600s seeking and obtaining her freedom can only be called a visionary.

Pace, pace, pace

Success is a marathon. As

business owners, frequently we have to serve as the salesperson, accountant, promoter and janitor. It is imperative that we pace ourselves for the journey. Having a plan is the first step in winning the marathon. Create a detailed plan on how to achieve the

goal and check off the accomplishments as they are achieved.

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

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BUSINESS

Tri-State Defender

March 1 - 6, 2012

Keisha Gilliam says she has shaken up her life for the better with the Body by Vi program that includes meal replacement shakes and supplements. (Photo by Sonya Young)

For some, weight-loss program passes ‘piece of success’ test Money-making feature drawing a crowd

Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Sonya Young

The sluggish economy moved 37-year-old Keisha Gilliam to look for ways to bring extra money into her household. About a month ago, her pastor told her of a new venture that was bringing him great success.

Gilliam was invited to attend a convention for Body by Vi, a weight-loss program, with her pastor, Bishop Brandon Porter, as his personal assistant.

“I was really stressed about my finances and I asked God to send me an opportunity,” Gilliam said. “Body by Vi was the answer to my prayers.”

The Body by Vi program includes meal replacement shakes and supplements. Additionally, participants can build a home business selling the products and recruiting new sellers. With a minimum investment of $49, a participant can potentially earn up to 20 percent of product revenue, signing bonuses, shares of the company, and even a late model BMW for personal use.

With every person she brings in, Gilliam said she can earn up to $100, plus residual income and a portion of the proceeds from products she sells on her personal web site provided by the company. After two weeks in the business, Gilliam had recruited three people. Once she has recruited six people, and they each have recruited three, Body by Vi will hand her the keys to a 2008 or later BMW. Porter’s BMW was parked outside.

“Bishop earned his Beemer in six days,” Gilliam beamed.

The mom of three added that besides the perks of being an independent distributor, Body by Vi wants its distributors to become living endorsements.

“You get enough products when you join to use yourself,” Gilliam said. “My husband lost ten pounds in just a couple of weeks and I feel reenergized.”

Body by Vi is a product of Visalus Science, a health and wellness company launched in 2005 with the goal of promoting Life, Health and Prosperity worldwide. According to the company website, its mission is to “improve world health, combat obesity . . . and ensure Prosperity” for its members. Just the things he wants for his congregation, Porter said.

During a Body by Vi Challenge Party held Monday (Feb 27) in the fellowship hall of his church, Greater Community Temple East, Porter shared his passion for the business and its products. He told those gathered that not only had he lost 13 pounds, he was no longer suffering from symp-

toms of high blood pressure.

Porter said his biggest motivation is to help his congregation get healthy and earn money.

“You’re working for yourself,” he told the crowd, “but you’re not in it by yourself.”

One by one, church members came forward with testimonials about how the shakes had “changed my life” by alleviating old pains and symptoms.

Porter was introduced to the business by health and wellness coach Norma Darby when they bumped into each other in California. Porter told her that he wanted to lose 30 pounds. She shared with him how he could lose weight and help his congregation.

Darby told The New TriState Defender that she discovered Body by Vi after losing her parents and sister to cancer. Not wanting to see others sick and dying from disease, she entered a fast during Lent 2011 asking God for something “that was going to help his people.” His answer, she said, was the Body by Vi program.

After learning about the weight loss shakes and the business, Darby said she was so passionate about the product she instantly joined. A year later, she said she feels 20 years younger, has recruited seven doctors, and helped 15 people put BMWs in their driveways.

Sound like a multi-level marketing scam?

TSD checked with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and found that Visalus Science is accredited and has an “A” rating. There have been 23 complaints filed with the company since 2007, all of which have been resolved, according to the BBB. Are the products safe to take?

While Body by Vi hasn’t been approved by the FDA, the product information sheet shows a long list of vitamins and natural ingredients, including daily value percentages.

Porter said he wouldn’t bring an opportunity to his congregation that wasn’t legitimate.

“We’ve seen people get off of diabetes and blood pressure medicine,” he shared. “We have several members already making money. I wouldn’t lead my sheep to something poisonous,” adding that he uses the products himself and has seen improvements in his own health.

As far as it being just another get-rich-quick scheme, Darby said, for her, it’s not about the money.

“I didn’t focus on the money,” Darby confessed, “I focused on who needs this product.”

Gilliam now helps her church members get signed on and navigate their way through the program. Excited about the possibilities, Gilliam adds that she would like to see the African-American com-

munity take advantage of the very lucrative business.

“At the convention, there were so many people sharing success stories,” she said, “making tons of money. But very few were our people. I’d love to see the black community in Memphis get a piece of the success.”

(For more information, visit www.kegilliam.bodybyvi.com or call 901.864.3002.

As with any diet program, consult your doctor before starting.)

ADVERTORIAL

Walgreens Celebrates Diversity All Year Long!

The origin of the celebration of Black History Month comes to us from the 1920s when many history books did not capture the contributions of African American people. Today, with so many accomplishments by African Americans, one month to showcase, recognize and celebrate those influences just isn’t enough.

In fact, African American achievements shouldn’t only be considered history of “the past” because they are excelling “every day” in so many ways. For instance, African American entrepreneurs are creating and manufacturing innovative products that meet everyday consumer needs. What better way to celebrate the accomplishments of African American vendors and suppliers than by purchasing their products?

Walgreens celebrating African American heritage is a year-long event. The Community Corner Program, which is in its third year, showcases products produced by African American and other minority-owned businesses.

One item that will surely come in handy is the African American Resource Guide and Calendar, produced by the Danielle Ashley Group and distributed nationally throughout Walgreens. Each month, the African American Resource Guide and Calendar features a full-page photo and bio of an outstanding African American, past or present. The guide is filled with useful

facts that are categorized to give users fingertip access to various important dates, historical figures and extraordinary accomplishments in African American history. Once you experience this Resource Guide, you will agree it is priceless and the cost is only $ 6.95.

Another outstanding African American history maker that is celebrated year after year is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A great way to celebrate his legacy is by purchasing the Dr. MLK Jr. Coin Charm Bracelet. The bracelet is made of genuine crystal beads and displays a charm coin with Dr. King’s image and a portion of the “I Have a Dream” speech. This collectable makes a beautiful keepsake; it is produced by Cerese D, a certified minority business in Atlanta.

Limited supplies of the bracelets are available for purchase at select Walgreens for only $19.99.

To find the location of a store carrying the calendar and bracelet, please write Walgreens – There is a way to celebrate Diversity and Wellness.

Tri-State Defender

March 1 - 6, 2012

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COMMUNITY

March 1 - 6, 2012

FedExForum to get hairy The Mid South Cosmetology & Barber Association will present its 2nd Annual Hair Show on Saturday (March 3) at the main concourse of the FedExForum.

The association, which is dedicated to advancing the professional structure, community outreach and economic opportunity for licensed cosmetologists and barbers, is promising a “bigger and flashier� show than the wellreceived 2011 debut.

The show will feature pregame classes, informational seminars and meet-and-greets

with industry pros and educators. A halftime runway show will feature the winners of the most creative stylist categories.

In Tennessee, the cosmetology industry generates a multi-billion dollar bottom line.

Doors to the public will open at noon.

Tickets are $25 (includes Grizzlies game), with a $1,000 grand prize to top stylist/free expo and classes. For more info, contact Shadonna Perry at 205-1475 or visit www.lovehairand basketball.com

Shadonna Perry is the founder of the Mid-South Cosmetology & Barber Association. (Courtesy photo)

Tri-State Defender

COMMUNITY

Tri-State Defender

BRIEFS & THINGS Mississippi charity names Sandra Burke new executive director

The Board of Trustees of American Prostate Cancer Research Fund has appointed Sandra H. Burke as executive director of the charity fund and Mega Bucks Bingo, the charity’s primary fundraiser.

Dr. Arthur Levy, chairman of the charity fund’s Board of Trustees and an emergency room doctor, said that Burke, a seasoned nonprofit executive and community activist, was the board’s unaniSandra mous choice folH. Burke lowing an extensive search.

“Sandra is a veteran at education and fundraising, with long ties with the Mississippi community. With nearly four decades of proven leadership, she has the right mix of experience, skills, passion, and vision for leading the mission of the American Prostate Cancer Research Fund,” said Levy. “And like many of us, her own family has been touched by prostate cancer.”

Burke, a native of Memphis, said her father, Walter Wayne Hill, died from prostate cancer, but she did not learn that s until after he died. “I was devastated. He’d never said a word. I am certain we could have had more time together if his cancer would have been detected earlier,” said Burke.

“I am committed to deepening community partnerships, and maximizing the social, cultural, and intellectual resources we have in Mississippi to help educate communities about prostate cancer and support those who are dedicated to finding new treatments and a cure to save lives.”

Burke has deep community ties in Memphis, where she previously served as the president and CEO of Girls Inc. of Memphis. Her many awards include being named a 2008 Tri-State Defender Woman of Excellence.

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March 1 - 6, 2012

AFSCME union wants ‘in’ on school merger process Tri-State Defender staff

Employee and union participation should be an essential component of the process to merge Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools.

That conclusion and amplifications of that theme are key elements in a position paper released last Monday (Feb. 27) by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 1733. Union leaders said their “white paper” drew upon lessons learned from school mergers around the country.

Declaring its union’s members ready to contribute to the success of the unified schools, Local 1733 asserts that, “Our union offers unique capabilities that can bring valuable ideas and perspectives to the merger process. For these reasons, we recommend that the School Board include AFSCME and represented employees at all levels during the implementation process.”

Union President Chad Johnson and other union members and representatives presented the position paper during a press conference at the union’s headquarters at 485 Beale St. They used the session, in part, to humanize the union, introducing members who work in myriad capacities in MCS. AFSCME members have a holistic stake in the merger process, according to the Local 1733.

“Not only will our livelihoods be impacted, but most of us have chil-

AFSCME Local 1733 President Chad Johnson and union representatives say the process of merging city and county schools should include wider public participation and more diverse points of view. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

dren in the school system, and the success of this merger will affect our children’s education and future,” the union says in its released document.

“We are committed to the merger’s success. We need it to succeed, as do the students, families, and the community of which we are a part.”

Pressing the case for union participation, union officials called upon the transition team charged with

moving the merger forward to involve AFSCME at all levels. One area specifically identified was the School Nutrition Program Integration plan.

“Union and front-line worker involvement is critical to this process, as we can provide key details and ‘straight scoop’ on how MCS’s nutrition program operates in a way that complements management’s

big-picture view,” the union writes.

While Memphis and Shelby County have put in a place an “organized process, demonstrating their concern for a successful merger,” the union says, some stakeholders – notably school support employees – remain locked out.

“More can be done to make the process inclusive,” according to union representatives.

Pamela Marshall to speak at NAWBO March event

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) – Memphis March meeting will feature Pamela Marshall, executive eirector of MAAG (Memphis Area Association of Governments), as the speaker for the networking event.

Marshall will speak on “Turning No into Yes! Funding for WomenOwned Businesses.” The meeting will be held March 13 at The Crescent Club at 6075 Poplar Ave., Suite 909, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The event cost is $10 for NAWBO members and $15 for non-members.

It is open to the public and to register go online to http://nawbomemphis.org. Or for more information, contact Natasha Bowen at 901-328-8842.

As the executive director of MAAG, Marshall’s responsibilities include managing a policy board of local elected officials in five counties (Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale) in Tennessee as well as Crittenden County in Arkansas and DeSoto County in Mississippi. She works with state and federal officials on programs and operations funding while influencing positive change for MAAG’s service communities.

BRIEFLY: Walking Into A New Life presents “Teens, Technology & Trafficking,” an educational event designed to acquaint and educate the community on the dangers teens and young adults face with Internet predators and provide a deeper look into human trafficking. The event will be held March 3 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The Church Health Center, 1115 Union Avenue. Admission is free. Space is limited space. RSVP by contacting Joyce Parkinson at 901466-6182 or email, info@wianl.org.

BRIEFLY: The City of Memphis’ Ambassadors Program is taking applications. Interested parties must be entering the 10th, 11th or 12th grade in the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. Applications can be completed at www.cityofmemphis.org until March 16th. Applicants will be ranked March 22nd, and interviews will occur in April.

BRIEFLY: The Heal the Hood Foundation of Memphis (HTH) will host the HTH “Game Changer” Advocate & Humanitarian Award during the 4th Annual “Living the Dream Telethon” on April 14 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hickory Ridge Mall. To find out about the award categories and/or nominate a “Game Changer,” contact Roshunda Buchanan, Team Coordinator at 901-489-2386 or email Roshunda.Buchanan @yahoo.com to receive a 2011-12 nomination form.

BRIEFLY: The Memphis Saints will host 16U Boys Tryouts from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday (March 3) at First Assembly Christian School Gym at 8650 Walnut Grove Rd. in Cordova. Registration is $10.

Man of merit…

City Councilman Myron Lowery was the 2012 Service of Honor honoree during an African-American History Month celebration at New Macedonia Baptist Church, where Bishop K.D. Johnson is the host pastor. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

Bishop Vashti McKenzie farewell to highlight AME Mid-Year Convocation

The Thirteenth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church will hold its Mid-Year Convocation March 22-24 at St. Andrew AME Church, 867 South Parkway East. This year’s conference will be an opportunity for church members, friends and well-wishers to bid Bishop Vashti McKenzie farewell as she is being reassigned.

For the past eight years, Bishop McKenzie has served as presiding prelate of the 13th Episcopal District, encompassing the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. Her new assignment will be announced at the AMEC General Conference this June in Nashville.

Bishop McKenzie, then pastor of

Payne Memorial AME Church in Baltimore, became the first elected and consecrated female bishop in the 200-year-old AME Church in 2000. First ordained in 1984, she is the wife of Bishop Vashti supervisor Stan McKenzie McKenzie, a mother, author and national chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her previous assignment was the 18th Episcopal District in southeast Africa.

An Appreciation Luncheon in honor of Bishop McKenzie will be held March 23, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Memphis Marriott East. A ticketed event, the luncheon will be followed by an evening concert at the church.

The concert, free and open to the public, will feature award-winning gospel singer Lady Tramaine Hawkins, with preaching by Dr. William Watley and Rev. William Watley Jr. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew AME on South Parkway.

Another national figure participating in the conference is Evangelist Jackie McCullough who will preach on March 22, with the service slated for 7 p.m. at St. Andrew.

Among the tributes, expressions

of gratitude and community greetings offered at the luncheon will be a digital keepsake of letters from elected officials, district members, friends, and her churches throughout the district and counterparts across the nation. To place a letter or ad in the digital Book of Memories and Thank You, contact Mamie Hamler at 423-432-8302 or mamiehandler@comcast.net.

For luncheon tickets and information, contact Gwen Fugh Dillihunt at 901-626-6070 or gdillihu@ aol.com.

For more information on the schedule for the Mid-Year Convocation, call St. Andrew AME Church at 901-948-3441.

Human Rights Commission selects new deputy director

Sabrina Hooper has joined the Tennessee Human Rights Commission as the deputy director.

At the THRC, her duties will include working closely with the executive director to fulfill the mission of the Commission. She will specifically be responsible for managing the agency’s enforcement program and monitoring the EEOC and HUD contracts. Hooper graduated from Murray State University in Murray, Ky., with a master’s degree in Public Administration.

“We are pleased to have Sabrina’s expertise and knowledge in civil

rights compliance, investigations and enforcement on our staff. She will be an excellent addition as we strive to fulfill our mission for the people of Tennessee,” said Executive Director Beverly Watts.

For the last three years, she has worked as Director/ADA Coordinator-Office of Equal Opportunity for Murray State. In that capacity, she was responsible to the University President for all aspects of the University’s compliance with federal/state laws, regulations and university polices/procedures regarding Affirmative Action and Equal Op-

portunity. She also served on the President’s Cabinet where policies, procedures and general institutional operational issues were discussed and managed. She was appointed by the President to act as the institutional representative with the Council on Post-Secondary Education/Committee on Equal Opportunities.

The Commission is an independent state agency responsible for enforcing the Tennessee Human Rights Act and the Tennessee Disability Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, nation-

al origin, gender, age (40 and over), creed, religion, disability and retaliation in housing, employment and public accommodations.

Sabrina To report disHooper crimination or to receive additional information about the agency, call: 1-800-251-3589 or visit the agency’s website at www.tn.gov/humanrights.

RELIGION

Page 12

Tri-State Defender

March 1 - 6, 2012

LIVING THE LIFE I LOVE

‘Taking the weight off!’

This month, I am doing two public seminars. One on March 17 titled “I don’t want to try to lose weight and fail again!” On Mar 31, I will do a seminar titled, “If only I could get out of this debt…”

Of course, if you are interested in either of these, you can call my office at (901) 907-0260 and register. They are priced just right. And whatever it costs, is it time we stopped asking our pocketbooks for permission to become whole?

Now, that’s another topic in itself!

Both of these seminar topics are “WEIGHTY” subjects.

I recently read that the Memphis City Council had its budget retreat and the headlines were, “Memphis sinking in debt, city council hears.” They went on to report that the last slide in Director Robert Lipscomb’s presentation about the Memphis economy had a picture of the Titanic sinking into the ocean. That conjures up a very powerful mental picture of imminent danger, failure and catastrophe.

This may also be the picture you are conjuring up every day about your own debt, health, relationships, work, spiritual stagnation or whatever happens to be your “weighty” burden of the day. As soon as you begin to feel just a little bit calm, you turn on the TV, read the news or talk to a friend who reminds you of the weights of the world! Everywhere we turn there is a reminder of the collective burdens we seem to carry as individuals and as a city and nation.

Weighty issues have a few things in common. First of all, they have a way of making us feel helpless, guilty and somehow to blame for the situation we are in.

Secondly, when we try to fix them and it doesn’t work, we feel stupid, not smart or

good enough and ashamed. Third, all of this negative emotion around our inability to get the weight off (literally and figuratively) can cause us to simply become STUCK and choose to remain STUCK! We give up.

Lucy Finally, all of the Shaw negativity coming from within us and around us just makes it almost impossible to think about the issues with clarity.

We lose all perspective and hope. We forget that somewhere there is somebody who doesn’t have this problem that we have and they are no smarter, richer, or special than us. We also begin to filter all of the information that comes to us through the eyeshades of despair, anger, helplessness and jealousy.

And then there is the bigger tragedy where we stop learning or even asking the question, “What positive thing should I be learning in this?” And finally, we tend to close our fists and stop doing the very thing that would help us the most…we stop GIVING. We don’t give our money, our time, or our talents because our every thought is one of scarcity. We begin to believe there is not enough to go around!

So, what I am going to do for the month of March is talk about “Taking the Weight Off!” It won’t matter if your weight or burden is fat, bills, bad relationships, no job or a bad job, no relationship with God, no church, or whatever. When the weight is on, it is all the

same! It’s all about making a decision to get your power back.

Being made whole starts with one question. Jesus frequently asked it or remarked on it when he performed what seemed to be a miracle. “Are you willing to be made whole?”

No matter how long you have been sick, crippled or under the weight of this burden, are you willing to get out from under it? Are you tired of waiting to be rescued? Have you become addicted to just talking about it and being pitiful? He never really asked them to DO anything significant. He simply asked them to first change their minds...To want, to truly desire to be whole.

It could just be that you have fallen into a way of thinking about the burden that does not take you on the path to freedom. Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”

In the articles this month, I will challenge you to do something differently; to think differently if you want to have different results.

Willing to be made whole, Lucy

(Check out Lucy Shaw’s website at http://www.heartworks4u.com. You may send your questions to her by U.S. mail to: Heartworks4U, LLC; 4646 Poplar Ave. Ste 201, Memphis, TN 38117 or by e-mail to lucy@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 901-9070260 or go to her web site www.heartworks4u.com.)

‘The Healthy Church Challenge’ 100-day weight loss competition Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee is presenting “The Healthy Church Challenge,” a 100-day weight loss competition for churches in West Tennessee.

The kick-off event is March 10 at Southwest Tennessee Community College. The focus is on weight loss, healthy eating and healthy lifestyles.

Winners of the Challenge will receive prizes that will benefit their churches and health ministries. The grand prize is a $5,000 certificate for fitness equipment, and nutritional counseling. There will also be an individual prize awarded to the person who loses the most weight overall.

Memphis and Shelby County has ranked in the bottom 10 percent of some studies as it relates to health, healthy eating, exercise, healthy living, life-altering disease management and prevention. The 100-day Healthy Church Challenge is designed to address these problems through area faith-based organizations and create a healthier place to live, work and play in Memphis, Shelby County and West Tennessee.

“We’re at a critical juncture in West Tennessee where so many lives are being affected because of their unhealthy eating habits and sedentary

lifestyles,” said Calvin Anderson, senior vice president and chief of staff at Blue Cross.

“This is an opportunity for those who may be grappling with weight issues to join the challenge and lose those unwanted pounds.”

The Healthy Church Challenge is open to all churches in West Tennessee and limited to 100 participants per church.

Internationally renowned fitness expert Donna Richardson Joyner will participate in the Challenge as an inspirational motivator and coach.

The 100-Day competition will also include a range of ongoing activities to keep participants motivated to achieve their health goals: • Kick-Off - 1st Weight-In – March 10 • Donna Richardson Joyner Exercise Session – March 24 • Weight-In – April 7 • Weight-In – May 5 • Weight-In – June 9 • Obesity Summit – June 16 • Finale Event –June 17 Along with BlueCross, the “Challenge” is sponsored by Baptist Healthcare, News Channel 3, Hallelujah 95.7 FM, Tri-State Defender, and the Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival.

For more information, call (901) 278-0881 or visit Facebook.com/The Healthy Church Challenge.

Three-generation salute set for the Rev. Kenneth T. Whalum of Olivet The New Olivet Baptist Church at 3084 Southern Avenue will celebrate the life and legacy of the late Rev. Kenneth T. Whalum on March 25 at 6 p.m.

In addition to filling the role of Pastor of Olivet Baptist Church, Mr. Whalum was a two-time Memphis city councilman, director of personnel for the United States Postal Service and a father of three. He will be celebrated with vocals, instrumentals and spoken word by three generations of Whalum men.

Admission is $10 for adults (18 and older), and free for children (under 18).

For more information, call 901-4547777.

Rev. Kenneth T. Whalum

‘Love Day Appreciation’ service set for Keel Ave.

History makers…

The Rev. Dr. L. LaSimba Gray Jr. and New Sardis Baptist Church recently bestowed Living Legends awards upon the Rev. Dr. Harvey Branch, Bishop Edward Lynn Brown, Thomas Burrell, Clarence Carr, Alisha Coleman-Kiner, Tyrone P. Easley, Gene Austin Fentress, Clyde Hopkins, Raphael McInnis, Sarah M. McVay, the Rev. Dr. Harry Moore, Johnny B. Moore Jr., Melvin (Mel) B. Shaw, James B. Toles, J.B. Trotter and Daniel Ward. (Photo courtesy of Tyrone P. Easley).

Keel Avenue Baptist Church at 778 North Bellevue Blvd. will host the 18th Love Day Appreciation for its pastor, the Rev. Robert C. Jones, and his wife, Twylia Jones, on Sunday (March 4).

At 10 a.m., the guests will be the Rev. James Morgan and New Mt. Zion Baptist Church of West Memphis.

The 3 p.m. guests will be the Rev. Frank Ray Sr. and New Salem Baptist Church.

PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-

Greenwood Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 3311 Kimball Ave. Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 744-7531 (901) 744-7664

Clarence Kelby Heath Wednesday Pastor

Noon - 1 p.m.

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126

9 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

901-946-4095 fax 948-8311

(901) 948-3441

Early Morning..........7:45 AM Church School..........9:45 AM Morning Worship......11:00 AM

Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews

Bible Study For Youth and Adults Tuesday - 7:00 PM “Spirit, Soul, and Body!”

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

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

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

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 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

ST. ANDREW A.M.E. CHURCH 867 SOUTH PARKWAY EAST Memphis, TN 38106

Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor

ASSOCIATE MINISTERS

Worship Services

Sunday Sunday School Worship Service

METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH

Dr. David Allen Hall Pastor

“The Founder’s Church”

First Pastor: Senior Bishop C.H. Mason

THE BLVD Ea s t 6745 Wol f Ri v e r B oule v a r d @ Ki r by Pa r k wa y ( i n t he Cl a rk Ope r a Me mphi s Ce nte r ) Me mp h i s T N 3 8 1 2 0

Dr. Frank A. Thomas Senior Servant

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”

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

— Proverbs 1:7

Tri-State Defender

NEWS

March 1 - 6, 2012

LEGACY: Dr. Willie E. Lindsey Jr.

Dr. Willie E. Lindsey Jr. was a beacon of light and inspiration in the educational realm of Memphis. He died Saturday, February 25, at Methodist University Hospital.

The son of Willie E. Lindsey and Ruby Summerise Lindsey, many knew him simply as “Lindsey.” His education roots extend to Booker T. Washington High School, where he was a graduate of the Class of 1948.

He chose to attend Arkansas M&N College, earning a bachelor of science degree. Later, he added a master of science degree from Tennessee State University, an ED.D from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and a Ph.D. from the University of Delaware.

Dr. Lindsey held a number of positions in Memphis City Schools. He was a teacher of mathematics at Melrose High School, and a guidance counselor at Overton High School before becoming an assistant principal at Hamilton High School, the position from which he retired from public education.

The Memphis community benefited greatly from the roles of responsibility he took on. He was a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and former President of Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter.

His affiliations also included Chelsea Masonic Lodge #324 Free and accepted Mason, Royal Arch Mason, Knights Temple and Temple #54, Shrine Order. He was a founding member of UAPB/AM&N National

Alumni Association.

Dr. Lindsey was a dedicated member of St. John Baptist Church on Vance Ave., where he served on the deacon and trustee boards, and also served as the church treasurer.

A proud United States Army veteran, Dr. Lindsey leaves his loving wife, Dorothy Mallory Lindsey; Dr. Willie E. seven sisters, Margaret Lindsey Jr. Lindsey Robinson, Ruby J. Johnson, Agnes L. Williams, Memphis, Mildred (Jimmy) Turner, Philadelphia, Pa., Sylvia L. Lindsey, Arlington, Texas, Roberta (Jobie) Smith, Clarksville, Tenn., and Joann (David) Jones, Nashville; one son, Ronnie (Wanda) Lindsey, Stone Mountain, Ga.; one daughter, Regina (Sanford) Morris, Memphis; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation is Friday (March 2) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mason and Shriner services will be at 5:30 p.m., with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Omega Services at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday at noon.

All services will be held at St. John Baptist Church at 640 Vance Ave., with burial in Forest Hill Midtown Cemetery. E. H. Ford Mortuary has charge.

OBITUARIES

LOISTINE OWENS, 55 – DOD: 2/22/12; Funeral services were February 28 at R. S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home, 374 Vance Ave. OSCAR B. FORMAN, 76 – DOD: 2/24/12; Funeral services: Saturday, March 3 at 10 a.m. – R. S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home, 374 Vance Ave.

CAROL SAILS BYRD, 61 – DOD: 2/24/12; Funeral services: Saturday, March 3 at noon – Riverside MBC, 3560

S. Third St.

TARIO GRAHAM, 21 – DOD: 2/26/12; Funeral Services: Monday, March 5 at 7 p.m. – Greater St. Thomas MBC, 4655 Apple Cove.

Information provided by:

R. S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home 374 Vance Avenue Memphis, TN 38126 901-526-3264

Please join the Tri-State Defender Fan Page on Facebook

Page 13

ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, March 1 - 6, 2012, Page 14

WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?

So, who’s gonna play Whitney?

Two weeks ago, the big news was the passing of Whitney Houston.

Now, Clive Davis – Houston’s legendary producer and longtime mentor – and others are scrambling to get a Whitney Houston movie done. This week, the big news involves this question: Who is gonna portray her in an upcoming movie?

Myron Many names – Mays some well known, some not as much – are floating around. Consider these possibilities: Megan Goode, Jennifer Hudson, Brandy and Rihanna. Willow Smith has even been mentioned as a possible choice to portray Whitney as a child, with Tyrese being a possibility for playing Bobby Brown. Really?

Frankly, I think I know who should get the Whitney part. I’d go so far as to say I not only know who should get it, I think I know who they will eventually choose. Yep, it’s Jennifer Hudson.

It seems as though each time Hudson’s name comes up a chorus kicks in saying she would not be good for the part. But think about it. She can act. She can sing. She is already connected with Davis. I think she’s talented enough to pull it off. A few weeks ago, however, Megan Goode told E! Online that she was the frontrunner for the role. According to Goode, she and Whitney actually spoke to each other about the role before Whitney died.

Let’s say Whitney was still alive today and had a say in who would portray her. Who do you think Whitney Houston would choose? I think she would choose Jennifer Hudson.

I know that a lot of people still don’t think that Hudson was a good choice to perform the tribute to Whitney on the Grammy Awards a couple of weeks ago. I’m trying to figure out why so many are so hard on Jennifer.

What’s up with that?

We will see what happens in the next few days. No matter who lands the part, one thing is for certain – I will be in someone’s theatre watching it.

In other Whitney Houston news, it looks like her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, is doing a little bit better. There are reports that she is back home in Atlanta and doing well. Also, Whitney’s gravesite is being monitored by security officers 24 hours a day to prevent anyone from stealing any mementos or valuables. Sounds a little farfetched, I know, but then again, people will do anything these days.

Bartlett Comedy Spot

Come and laugh at Kool Bubba Ice, one of the silliest comics in the country. You’ve seen him on BET and “Def Comedy Jam” on HBO. You can see him this weekend at the Bartlett Comedy Spot. Two big shows each night at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Hosted by Funnyman Prescott, come get a lot of laughs for $10. The Bartlett Comedy Spot is located at 5709 Raleigh La Grange at Sycamore View. Call 901-590-3620 for more details.

Soni D Ol’ School Mix Live at Senses

Cool DJ Soni D presents “The Soni D Ol’ School Drive Live.” It’s a “Day Into Night Party” for the mature adult. Come mix and mingle with Memphis’ Elite movers & shakers.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Come early and get your groove on to the favorites you hear every day on “The Ol’ School Drive @ 5.”

Eric Massey Daytime Birthday Party

How many people would have a birthday party in the daytime? My good friend Eric Massey would. Join him March 10th at the Ice Bar located at 4202 Hacks Cross Road.

Doors open at 3...yes, 3 p.m., and admission is absolutely free. And get this...the after party will be at the Zodiac Lounge at 6235 Mt. Moriah Avenue and the doors open at 9.

See you at Throw-Down Thursday at Cotton Bowl Lanes! Go to the website for more details. Until then, that’s what’s happening!

(Is there an event you would like for me to cover or attend? Send me an email at Myron@ whatshappeningmyron.com.)

Viola Davis came up short in her bid to win an Oscar for her performance in “The Help.” Her decision to wear her hair short and natural was a winner. Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, are interviewed by Robin Roberts before the 84th Annual Academy Awards. (Photo by Bryan Crowe/A.M.P.A.S.)

Viola’s ‘this is me’ Oscar night Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Pearl Walker-Ali The black hair care industry is a nearly billion-dollar business, and for black women, a lot of them just aren’t comfortable with their nappy hair. Natural black hair just isn’t attractive to many black folk. How powerful an image was it for black women and girls Pearl Walker- around the world to see Ali one of the best actresses of our generation on the red carpet just happy to be nappy.

Viola Davis shunned her usual wigs and wore her hair short, colored and natural to the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 26), after taking the advice of her husband, Julius Tennon.

“He said, ‘If you want to wear it for your career, that’s fine, but in your life wear your hair. Step into who you are!’ It’s a very powerful statement.”

Tennon reportedly thought she was stunning with natural hair on the cover and in a photo spread in the Los Angeles Times magazine earlier this month. And on Oscar night, Tennon thought his wife looked lovely, and younger too, with the short crop, reddish hue and emerald green Vera Wang gown.

His position was paramount because so many women are held hostage to relaxers to satisfy the desires of their significant other.

Innerlightradio.com, based out of Los Angeles, conducted a live discussion Tuesday evening on the significance of Davis wearing her natural hair to the Oscars. The discussion featured comedian Daryl Mooney (son of Paul Mooney) and actress/director Tann Moore.

“As a Black man, I loved the fact that

“I think she wanted to be a Nubian queen to show she was a free black woman and not the maid stereotype.”

Daryl Mooney

Viola Davis in 2008 (Courtesy photo)

her husband – a black man – told her to wear her hair natural because he thought she looked better, prettier and younger….That was a big huge statement for black men and women across the board,” said Mooney.

“I think she wanted to be a Nubian queen to show she was a free black woman and not the maid stereotype.”

Moore said, “I don’t know if she set out to make a point, but I actually thought about that…her hair said that you can be beautiful naturally. For me, it’s that it is beautiful to be who you are and remove the façade and all of the extra stuff and be exactly who you are….I think she carried it very well. She was regal and elegant.”

Davis’ “black mocha skin” made a statement too,” said Moore.

“Here in Black Hollywood we can be silly…the lighter the better, but here is this Nubian deep mocha queen, on the front row at the Oscars being nominated with the likes of a Meryl Streep. I hope that younger and older women will look at Viola and say, ‘We have come a long way, and she was very inspiring!!!’”

Davis had a total look that did not go unnoticed. Kendra Young, a pharmacist who works out five times a week said, “I think she was gorgeous, and her body was banging!”

TaKeisha Berry-Brooks, owner of A Natural Affair Beauty Lounge, viewed the 84th Academy Awards.

“Viola was beautiful for the Oscars. I loved her hair color, and the way her brows accented the color, said Berry-Brooks. “It was a graceful look.”

Gigi Hill, loctician at Legacy Locks and Natural Styles, said, “Viola’s ‘this is me’ appearance during that star studded event will cause not only natural beauty awareness, but inspire strength and self love for black women who really are still under the mask.”

(Pearl Walker-Ali is the owner of Legacy Locks & Natural Styles. To reach her, call 901-289-6909.)

Viola Davis in 2010 (Photo by Joella Marano)

ENTERTAINMENT

Tri-State Defender

Page 15

March 1 - 6, 2012

Acts announced for 2012 Beale Street Music Festival Memphis in May announced the line-up for 2012 Beale Street Music Festival that includes over 65 musical acts scheduled to appear downtown at Tom Lee Park May 4-6.

Now in its 36th year, Beale Street Music Festival has long been known for its eclectic lineups, which include varied music genres and performers, and it continues to be evident in 2012. Headliners for this year’s event include internationally acclaimed artists such as Jane’s Addiction, My Morning Jacket, Florence + the Machine, Wiz Khalifa, Evanescence, Primus, Girl Talk, Pitbull, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, and Anthony Hamilton.

First time artists for the 2012 Beale Street Music Festival include the hot Indie-rock female Florence + The Machine, Evanescence,

and hot alt-rock group My Morning Jacket. It also marks the first appearance by highly acclaimed Jane’s Addiction, Miami- flavored pop rapper Pitbull, Primus, dance mixer Girl Talk, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Wiz Khalifa, Black Stone Cherry, The Head and the Heart, The Civil Wars, Dr. Dog, Black Lips, Big K.R.I.T. Childish Gambino, and Lupe Fiasco to name a few. In all, nearly half the artists performing are first-timers at the festival.

The FedEx Blues Tent celebrates the soul of the Delta this year with veteran performers such as Johnny Winter, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Bernard Allison, Charlie Musselwhite, Duke Robillard, Larry McCray, and The Nighthawks. The contemporary blues scene is well represented by Gary Clark Jr., and

Memphis’ rich blues legacy is showcased with The Bo-Keys, Will Tucker, Valerie June, Robert “Wolfman” Belfour and Victor Wainwright.

The line-up of performers from Memphis or with Memphis roots continues to tout the city’s musical heritage and always resonates well with the visitors who attend the festival from around the world. Two Memphis Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees are featured on the lineup, Jerry Lee Lewis and Al Green. Memphis is well represented in all genres from rap to rock to soul and the blues. Among this year’s Memphis performers, rap giants Three 6 Mafia and Yo Gotti as well as crowd favorites North Mississippi Allstars, Memphis rockers Prosevere, hipsters Zoogma, and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.

The Beale Street Music Festival also welcomes 5-time Grammy winner Buddy Guy, and popular rockers Bush, The Cult, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

Memphis in May’s honored country for 2012, The Philippines, is represented by the Filipino alternative rock band Sponge Cola.

The festival opens to the public at 5:00 P.M on Friday, May 4. Gates open at 1 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets for the May 4-6 event are now on sale at TicketMaster, www.ticketmaster.com. A three-day pass is available for $75 through April 22. Daily tickets are $32.50 in advance and $40 day of show.

The complete line-up of the 2012 Beale Street Music Festival is available on-line at www.memphisinmay.org/musicfestival.

The Lula Washington Dance Theatre…

Lula Washington choreographed and The Lula Washington Dance Theatre starred as the Nʼavi aliens in the blockbuster movie “Avatar.” The company will perform at the Buckman Arts Center at St. Maryʼs School, 60 Perkins Extended, beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday (March 2). Tickets are $25, with discounts available for students and seniors. For more information, call 901-5371483.

HOROSCOPES

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam’s Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

For movies opening March 2, 2012

BIG BUDGET FILMS

“The Lorax” (PG for mild epithets) Danny DeVito stars as the title character in this animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic about an idealistic 12 year-old (Zac Efron), raised in an artificial reality, who searches for a real tree in order to impress the girl of his dreams (Taylor Swift). Voice cast includes Betty White, Ed Helms and Rob Riggie.

“Project X” (R for nudity, drug and alcohol abuse, mayhem, recklessness and pervasive profanity, sexuality, and crude humor) Raunchy teensploit revolving around three high school seniors (Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper and Jonathan Daniel Brown) who throw a wild house party that spirals totally out of control. With Alexis Knapp, Kirby Bliss Blanton and Dax Flame.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

“Art Is… The Permanent Revolution” (Unrated) Agitprop documentary examining how printmakers, including Rembrandt, Goya and Picasso, have influenced the political landscape over the ages via graphic depictions of the human condition.

“Being Flynn” (R sexuality, drug use, pervasive profanity and brief nudity) Robert De Niro and Paul Dano co-star in this dysfunctional family dramedy about a young man

mourning the loss of his mother (Julianne Moore) who is surprised to find his long-lost father living in a homeless center. With Olivia Thirlby, Lili Taylor and Dale Dickey.

road documentary issuing an urgent call for reason in this age of political polarization.

Featuring appearances by Eleanor Clift, Pat Buchanan and Tennessee Congressman Jim Cooper.

“Boy” (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama, set in New Zealand in 1984, about an 11 year-old Michael Jackson fan (James Rolleston) who belatedly bonds with his absentee father (Taika Waititi) when the Prodigal hoodlum returns to town to unearth a buried treasure. With Moerangi Tihore, Cherilee Martin and Haze Reweti.

“The Snowtown Murders” (Unrated) Fact-based crime thriller, set in 1999, about an impressionable 16 year-old (Lucas Pittaway) who is recruited by his mother’s (Louise Harvey) vigilante boyfriend (Daniel Henshall) to participate in a grisly killing spree around Adelaide, Australia. Cast includes Bob Adriaens, Matthew Howard and Anthony Groves.

“Black Butterflies” (Unrated) bittersweet biopic, set in South Africa in the Sixties, recounting the ill-fated arc of a defiant, antiApartheid poet (Carice van Houten) who found herself at odds with her father (Rutger Hauer) serving as the racist regime’s Minister of Censorship. Supporting cast includes Liam Cunningham, Grant Swanby and Graham Clarke.

“Heist: Who Stole the American Dream?” (Unrated) The haves vs. the havenots documentary chronicling the carefullyorchestrated dismantling of the U.S. middleclass by the corporatocracy with the help of politicians and lobbyists.

“Let the Bullets Fly” (Unrated) Action comedy, set in China in the Twenties, about a notorious crime boss (Wen Jiang) who poses as the newly-appointed mayor of a provincial town until he meets his match in a local mobster (Chow Yun-Fat). With Carina Lau, Kun Chen and You Ge. (In Mandarin and Cantonese with subtitles) “Patriocracy” (Unrated) Middle-of-the-

“The Salt of Life” (Unrated) Midlife crisis comedy about an aging guy (Gianni Di Gregorio) neglected by his wife (Elisabetta Piccolomini) who decides to find out whether he’s still attractive by flirting with neighborhood ladies. With Valeria De Franciscis, Alfonso Santagata and Valeria Cavalli. (In Italian with subtitles)

“Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie” (R for crude humor, graphic nudity, drug use, slapstick violence, and pervasive profanity and sexuality) Coarse comedy about a couple of guys (Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim) indebted to mobsters who try to revitalize a bankrupt mall as a way of repaying the loan they lost investing in a film that failed. With John C. Reilly, Will Ferrell and Mark Cuban.

“The Woods” (Unrated) Back-to-nature comedy about a bunch of young bohemians who retreat to the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with hopes of creating a utopian society.

Cast includes Toby David, Justin Phillips and Nicola Persky.

March 1-7, 2012

ARIES An unexpected errand may lead to an encounter with a person who will have an influence on your future. Keep your bright eyes alert to unusual possibilities and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised at the end of the week.

TAURUS A cozy week is yours for the asking. Relax and spend some time unwinding from your busy week. Family or close friends will want to join you in your relaxation. Your place is the natural spot for gathering people together.

GEMINI There is a vibration this week that urges people to reveal secrets. Your usually strong loyalty to a friend or co-worker may be weakened if you engage in any idle chatter. Stick to the facts this week and you’ll be fine!

CANCER Stop sometime this week and take a quick inventory of how right your instincts have been recently. If you are like most, the count is probably high! This is an excellent week to simply smile when people offer advice. You know what’s best for you, so trust your instincts and do that.

LEO One of your gifts is that you have an ability to think big! Picture your future on a canvas as big as the sky. Take some small measure this week toward that future, and rejoice. Make sure that positive vibrations surround you during the week.

VIRGO If you brought your work home with you this weekend, you’ll have trouble relaxing. A moment of quiet time with yourself will bring you back to your center. Your work really can wait!

Rest is important to a busy one like yourself.

LIBRA Everyone needs appreciation in his or her life. Take some time out this week to seek those whom you really appreciate, and let them know what they mean to you. Appreciate yourself, while you’re at it!

SCORPIO You’re in the mood for adventure. If a short trip isn’t possible, spend some time exploring a subject that interests you so that you feel as if your mind has traveled someplace new. Armchair traveling with a good book will help still your restlessness.

SAGITTARIUS This week is like a present! Observe it and enjoy it! The vibes are perfect for a long lunch with a friend, for a long walk in the park, or just for watching the sunrise. Be aware of the beauty that surrounds you this week.

CAPRICORN Balance is an important skill. If you’ve been working too hard, the urge to play is going to be nearly irresistible this week. However, if you’ve been playing too hard, it’s a terrific week to restore some order to your work. Keep smiling!

AQUARIUS Your energy level is marvelous, and you are probably getting a great deal of work done in an unusually facile manner. Bless your lucky stars, and stay on track. Expect to hear from a friend this week.

PISCES A little space from your current love interest seems to be in order. Use a brief time-out to remember the unique and wonderful personality traits of the person you love. Don’t forget to tell her or him of your love! Keep your heart open.

SOURCE: NNPA News Service

Page 16

ENTERTAINMENT

March 1 - 6, 2012

Superstar Debbie Allen is in good company with the U of M Dance Team. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

Debbie Allen shares ‘a little piece of myself’ Special to the Tri-State Defender

Luctrica A. Lewis

Actress, dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen is the personification of busy and engaged. Last Thursday night (Feb. 23), Allen’s energy and resolve were on display at the University of Memphis during “An Evening with Debbie Allen.”

Allen, who rocketed to stardom in 1980 in the Broadway revival of “West Side Story,” shared her testimonial of facing hardships and tough times in her life. It was part of the U of M’s celebration of African-American History Month, which focused on the theme, “Black Women in American History: Passionate, Powerful, and Proud.”

“When you find your purpose, you find your way to really live life,” Allen said.

“I am so happy with who I am, I’m happy with what I do. I don’t have enough hours in the day, but it’s a joy to be here with you, to share this time, and hopefully give you a little piece of myself.”

Allen said she was hopeful that those in attendance at the Rose Theatre would “see a part of you reflecting in me that will give you the strength to be.”

Linda Hall, the U of M’s Multicultural Affairs coordinator, said, “There has been so much buzzing around campus after Debbie Allen’s speech.”

The U of M Dance Team rendered a dance tribute to Allen. Clearly impressed, Allen decided to offer two U of M students scholarships to her studio in Los Angeles.

“Overall, we hope to educate the Memphis community through the contributions of black and overall American History, said Hall.”

BOOK REVIEW

The largely untold story of an ‘open-minded white man’ Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

“This book is a portrait of a once-controversial figure… a white man with a passion for blackness… (who) played a crucial role in helping the Harlem Renaissance… come to understand itself… Carl Van Vechten has been viewed with suspicion… (as) a racial voyeur and sexual predator, an acolyte of primitivism who misused his black artist friends and pushed them to make art that fulfilled his belief in racial stereotypes…

“While his early interest in blackness was certainly inspired by sexual desire and his fascination with what he perceived as black primitivism, these features were not what sustained his interest… More important (was) his conviction that blackness was a central feature of Americanness…

“Van Vechten’s enthusiasm for blacks may have catapulted many careers, but at what cost to the racial integrity of those artists, and to the Harlem Renaissance as a whole? My ambition in this book is to enlarge that question into… a tale about the messy realities of race, and the complicated tangle of black and white.”

Excerpted from the Introduction (pgs. 1-2)

Despite having majored in African-American Literature as an undergrad, I don’t recall having ever encountered the name Carl Van Vechten (18801964) over the course of my studies. For this reason, I owe a debt of gratitude to Emily Bernard for filling in a critical gap with this new biography about a pioneering writer/critic/photographer and tireless advocate of African American culture.

For, this open-minded white man hailing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa came to play a pivotal role in New York City in the promotion of black artists during the period in the Twenties and Thirties which later came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance. For instance, Carl is credited with introducing Langston Hughes to the editor at Knopf who would publish the aspiring poet’s first book.

According to author Bernard, a professor of English at the University of Ver-

mont, Van Vechten played a similar role in launching the career of Paul Robeson when he arranged for the actor/singer’s debut professional concert, which took place in a theater in Greenwich Village.

Ethel Waters, another one of his discoveries, appreciated the fact that he wasn’t afflicted with all the “mental pains and psychic aches” of most of the white folks she’d encountered.

To the contrary, Carl was a bon vivant who took to and immersed himself into black culture with abandon, even writing a very controversial novel entitled “Nigger Heaven.” Apparently, because he not only hung out in Harlem with brothers and sisters, but routinely invited them downtown for dinner and to attend integrated parties, he felt entitled to use the N-word, almost as if he were almost black himself.

Still, the blowback about the book’s title leveled the literary equivalent of the color line-crossing inquiry: Can white men sing the blues? Apparently, Carl emerged from the ordeal with flying colors, even if his contributions were by-and-large overlooked by

“Carl Van Vechten & the Harlem Renaissance: A Portrait in Black & White”

By Emily Bernard Yale University Press Hardcover, $30.00 372 pages, Illustrated

history.

Today, the snub has been more than righted by Professor Bernard with this posthumous tribute to a prescient patron of the arts who recognized the richness of AfricanAmerican culture at a time when most Caucasians couldn’t even see blacks as equals.

Tri-State Defender

HEALTH

Tri-State Defender

CLASSIFIEDS

March 1 - 6, 2012

CHEF TIMOTHY

Message to thin people: illness and disease has your number too

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

In weeks past, I’ve dealt with obesity and the need for those grappling with this problem to eat more fruit, vegetables and exercise in order to maintain good health. But it occurred to me that naturally thin people have to eat a good diet as well – and exercise, of course – to keep from succumbing to some of the same ailments and debilitating diseases that afflict the obese.

You may not know it, but some thin people have poor eating habits just like overweight people. They cram down junk food and continue about their daily lives as if they’re impervious to sickness and diseases.

They sit on their derrières and lapse into sedentary lifestyles without thinking about the grave repercussions of lethargy. In essence, they, too, are susceptible to sickness and diseases: high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, cancer and diabetes.

For example, there’s a myth that only obese people, or “fat people,” develop diabetes. But would you believe that skinny people could become diabetic as well? They are rarely mentioned in the media or in scientific literature because obesity is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes. And just because they’re thin, they automatically assume that they can’t become diabetic. But remember, one in three type 2 diabetics go undiagnosed, according to medical experts.

So what causes type 2 diabetes in skinny people in the first place?

Whether you’re extremely thin or morbidly obese, the causes of type 2 diabetes in skinny people are similar to the causes of type 2 diabetes in obese people: genetics, fatty liver, inflammation, autoimmunity and stress. You don’t have to be a glutton or scoff down food to develop type 2 diabetes.

High blood sugar is typically the culprit that precedes the development of type 2 diabetes. If high blood sugar is allowed to persist, the next stages could be nerve damage, retinal changes, and early signs of kidney deterioration. So it doesn’t matter if a person is thin or obese, high blood sugar has to be reined in to keep the former and latter from developing type 2 diabetes.

You might be surprised also to discover that skinny people – just like the obese – face the same high risk of colon cancer. This fact emerged from a long-term Singapore Chinese Health Study involving more than 50,000 participants, The Straits Times of Singapore reported. The study was funded by the United States National Cancer Institute.

The study found that those with a body-mass index (BMI) of 21.5 to 24.4, only 89 out of 100,000 had colon cancer. But the number of

Dr. Timothy Moore

You might be surprised also to discover that skinny people – just like the obese – face the same high risk of colon cancer.

cases went up to 103 when those with BMIs were 18.5 to 21.4 and 24.5 to 27.4.

And the number of cancer cases climbed higher to 119 among those with BMIs of 18.5 or less.

The research team included members from the University of Minnesota and was led by Koh Woon Puay, a researcher at the National University of Singapore and the principal investigator. “We are trying to understand how this is biologically plausible,” Puay told The

Straits Times.

The research team suggested that the high risk of colon cancer in underweight people could be the result of “oxidative DNA stress,” or mild inflammations, that damages the immune system and allows cancer cells to proliferate. The researchers studied rectal cancer as well and found the results to be similar.

When it comes to heart health, a study that appeared in an issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine used government surveys from 1999 to 2004 to determine if weight was a telltale sign or risk factor for heart problems. You’d be surprised at the findings.

There are risk factors in all weight categories, the study pointed out. The survey was conducted on 5,440 people age 20 and over, and included lab tests, height and weight measurements. About 51 percent of overweight adults – some 36 million people nationwide – were considered healthy based on normal levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.

But then on the flip side of the survey, about a fourth of thin adults in the recommended weight range – about 16 million – were at risk for heart problems. So the experts concluded that a person’s waist size could be an accurate way of determining someone’s health risks. In my opinion, it all boils down to eating a good diet and getting plenty of exercise.

(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 can be reached by email at cheftimothy@cheftimothymoore.com or visit him on the Web sites at www.cheftimothymoore.com or www.twitter.com/cheftimmoore.)

Ryan White Program to address HIV/ AIDS in the Mid-South

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the Ryan White Program are sponsoring “HIV/AIDS Network 2012: Responding to Challenges in the Mid-South” – a two-day conference, which will address HIV/AIDS issues in this area.

The March 8-9 conference will be held on the main campus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Roughly 100 to 150 health care professionals, social service providers, program administrators, and community partners are expected to attend during the course of two days.

The conference targets HIV medical and support service providers, clients and the community at large, offering education on issues related to HIV care, early detection, and treatment options.

“The Memphis Ryan White Program is confident that the information provided during these two days will continue to strengthen the network of medical and support services available to people living with HIV, as well as empower those living

with and affected by HIV,” said Dorcas Young, program manager for the Ryan White Program.

“It is going to take the different segments of community partnering together to successfully address issues surrounding HIV. We are hopeful that these two days will energize us all around this goal.”

The setting will be the UTHSC Student-Alumni Center at 800 Madison Ave. Here are the time frames: March 8: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; March 9: 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Conference registration is $35; on-site registration will be available. Scholarship opportunities will be offered for people living with HIV to cover the cost of attendance.

For more information, contact Jamie Russell-Bell, Tennessee AIDS and Education Training Center, at 901-218-0693, email: Jamie.russell.bell@gmail.com; or Victoria Harris, director of Education at the Comprehensive Care Center at 615321-9556, ext.

251; email: victoria.harris@vanderbilt.edu

Legal notices

ALL INTERESTED BIDDERS The Board of Education of the Memphis City Schools District will accept written bids for the Capleville Property Building Demolition.

Visit our website for additional information: www.mcsk12.net/departments.asp, Procurement Services link, click on Bids & RFPs. Questions concerning bids should be addressed to Procurement Services at (901) 416-5376.

Thank you for supporting Memphis City Schools.

Jacqueline Saunders, Director Memphis City Schools – Procurement Services NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS DUE: FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012 AT 4:00 PM Shelby County Government, Tennessee, an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer, seeks to retain the services of one or more engineering consulting firms to provide professional services related to the following: SHELBY FARMS GREENLINE EXTENSION SHELBY COUNTY ROADS & ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT (RFQ# 12-002-36) By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL, JR, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS DUE: FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012 AT 4:00 PM Shelby County Government, Tennessee, an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer, seeks to retain the services of one or more engineering consulting firms to provide professional services related to the following: CONGESTION MITIGATION AIR QUALITY (CMAQ) PROGRAM SHELBY COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT (RFQ# 12-002-37) By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL, JR, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT PUBLIC NOTICE: Notice of Solicitation of Public Comment for the Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement and Intent to File Determination of Section 4(f) de minimis Use Related to Shelby Farms Park and Kirby Parkway, Shelby County, Tennessee The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is issuing a public notice for the solicitation of comments concerning the Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement for Kirby Parkway in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee; the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) signed the document on January 30, 2012.

TDOT is also issuing a public notice of their intent to file a Determination of Section 4(f) de minimis Use Related to Shelby Farms Park and Kirby Parkway. The proposed pathway of Kirby Parkway through Shelby Farms Park does not directly or constructively use any of the features and attributes that would qualify Shelby Farms Park for protection under Section 4(f).

The alignment of Kirby Parkway has been designed for the express purpose of minimizing any impacts to any features or attributes that qualify Shelby Farms Park for protection under Section 4(f), and development of Kirby Parkway is anticipated to enhance access to the park. There will be few interruptions to park use during construction. This notice is in accordance with CFR 774.3(b)(i), requiring “public notice prior to the official(s) with jurisdiction over the Section 4(f) resource concurring in writing that the project will not adversely affect the activities, features, or attributes that make the property eligible for Section 4(f) protection and the official Determination of Section 4(f) de minimis by the Federal Highway Administration.”

Copies of the SFEIS are available for public viewing at the Shelby Farms Park Visitor Center (500 North Pine Lake Drive), Memphis-Shelby County Public Library and Information Center (3030 Poplar Avenue), Memphis-Shelby County Public Library Cordova Branch (8457 Trinity Road), and University of Memphis Library-Government Publications Department (University of Memphis, 126 Ned R. McWherter Library).

For additional information, contact: Joe W. Matlock Project Manager Tennessee Department of Transportation 615-741-5365 Joe.Matlock@tn.gov Written statements should be submitted within 30 days after publication of this public notice to: Project Comments: Kirby Parkway Tennessee Department of Transportation Suite 700, James K. Polk Building 505 Deaderick Street Nashville, TN 37243-0332 TDOT.comments@tn.gov TDOT is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, color, disability, or national origin.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS State P.I.N. #108837.00, Federal No. STP-EN-2400 (31) Town of Somerville, TN (Owner) Separate sealed bids for will be received by the Town of Somerville at the office of the Town of Somerville, City Hall, 13085 No. Main Street, Somerville, TN 38068 until 11:00 A.M. local time, March, 28, 2012, and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud.

The Information for Bidders, Form of Bid, Form of Contract, Plans, Specifications, and Forms of Bid Bond, Performance and Payment Bond, and other contract

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

DEADLINES; Display ads Monday 5 p.m.

Classified ads Monday 5 p.m.

RATES: Rates are non-commissionable and are quoted at the net rate. All rates are flat rates. No refund for early cancellation.

For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@tristatedefender.com BEER PERMITS Flat Rate $30

documents may be examined at the following: Hethcoat & Davis, Inc. (Brentwood) Town of Somerville Nashville Minority Business Center Dodge Plan Room (Nashville TN) Project Scope includes: demolition of existing sidewalks; installation of new sidewalks; pavement replacements, traffic control, electrical conduit, erosion control, landscaping, and related appurtenances & materials..

Copies of the Contract Documents may be obtained at the office of Hethcoat & Davis, Inc. located at 278 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Brentwood TN 37027, 615-5774300 upon payment of $150 for each set (non-refundable). Checks for contract documents should be made payable to Hethcoat & Davis, Inc. Failure to pay the plan deposit and obtaining Contract Documents from locations other than Hethcoat & Davis, Inc. will result in Bidder not being considered and Bid will not be accepted.

The Owner reserves the right to waive any informality or to reject any or all bids.

Each bidder must deposit with his bid, security in the amount, form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bidders.

Attention of bidders is particularly called to the requirements as to conditions of employment to be observed and minimum wage rates to be paid under the contract.

The Town of Somerville in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, non-discrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

Only contractors that have been prequalified by TDOT can submit a bid. Subcontractors must also be pre-qualified by TDOT. No bidder may withdraw his bid within 60 days after the actual date of the opening thereof.

Archer Western is seeking participation from qualified DBE and Non-DBE subcontractors for the Memphis Airport Terminal Apron Reconstruction Project. All Subcontractor/Supplier quotes are due before March 22nd, 2012. Fax quotes to: (404) 495-8701 referencing project name and scope of work- The scope of work generally consists of all services necessary for the reconstruction of the aircraft apron surrounding passenger terminal Concourses A, B and C at Memphis International Airport in 5 primary phases over an approximate three (3) year period. The Project includes the demolition and new construction of approximately 350,000 SY of airfield concrete pavement and base material. The project will also include partial and/or full replacement of underground utilities including hydrant fueling, storm drainage, sanitary sewer and water lines, underdrains, relocation of passenger boarding bridges, traffic signal modification, and other miscellaneous work to complete the project. All other work specified herein and/or indicated on the drawings. Please call 404-495-8700 with any questions.

Plans and Specs are available at the following link: https://sharepoint.walshgroup .com/jobsites/georgia/regional/bids/ default.aspx Username: awgasubs@awgasubs.com Password: Archer1!

Quotes will be evaluated on scope, price, experience, financial condition, and other pertinent factors. EOEM/F NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) Interested parties must download the solicitation directly from the Countyʼs website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. Please visit the Countyʼs website at www.shelbycountytn .gov. At the top of the home page, click on the links “Department”, “P” for the Purchasing Department and “Bids” to locate the name of the described RFP below.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DUE MARCH 30, 2012 AT 4:00 PM RFP #12-001-33 – Renovations, Vasco A. Smith Jr., Administration Building, 160 North Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103 Pre-Bid Conference: A mandatory prebid conference will be held at 9:00 A.M., Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at the following location: Vasco A. Smith Jr., Administration Building, 160 North Main Street, First Floor

Page 17

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All ads subject to credit approval. TriState Defender reserves the right to correctly classify and edit all copy, or to reject or cancel any ad at any time.

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Copy change during ordered schedule constitutes new ad & new charges.

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Lobby, Commission Chamber, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

Plans & Specification: Copies of the project manual and drawings must be obtained from ARC (Formally Rapid Print) located at 5701 Quince Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38119 for a $500.00 non-refundable deposit.

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

THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL, JR., SHELBY COUNTY MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) Interested parties must download the solicitation directly from the Countyʼs website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. Please visit the Countyʼs website at www.shelbycountytn .gov. All solicitations are listed under “Purchasing Bids.”

PUBLIC BID OPENING - DUE MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2012 AT 2:30 PM SEALED BID #SBI-000148 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROJECT A voluntary pre-bid conference will be held on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 9:00 AM, at the office of the Shelby County Roads and Engineering Building Conference Room, 6449 Haley Road, Memphis, TN 38134.

A public bid opening will be held March 30, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. in the office of the Administrator of Purchasing, located at, Vasco A. Smith Jr., Administration Building, 160 North Main Street, Suite 550, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

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

THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL, JR., SHELBY COUNTY MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Miscellaneous

PUBLIC AUCTION OF MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOL SURPLUS ITEMS SALES BEGINS AT 9:00 AM SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012 Vehicles, furniture and equipment will be on display and may be inspected on Friday, March 2, 2012 from 9:00 A. M. to 3:00 P. M. Memphis City Schools Mallory Warehouse, 1384-A Farmville.

VEHICLES Pickups Trucks, Utility Trucks, Cargo Vans CLASSROOM/OFFICE FURNITURE/EQUIPMENT Stack Chairs, Metal Stools, Classroom Furniture Computer Tables, File Cabinets, Office Chairs,Office Furniture, Bookcases,, 32” Color TVs MISCELLANEOUS: Wood Lathes, Auto Shop Equipment, Drill Press, Table Saws, Cosmetology Equipment, Upright/Electronic Piano, Cafeteria Tables, Misc. Cafeteria Equipment, Sewing Machines, Work Tables Forklifts, Welders, Milling Machines, Sanding Machines ***** MANY OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS ***** TERMS OF SALE AND REMOVAL OF ITEMS There is no warranty and no guarantees as to quality. All items to be sold “as is where is”.

Purchase price must be paid immediately. Methods of payment are: Cash or Cashier Check, only.

ALL SALES ARE FINAL! All items purchased should be removed on the day of sale. Memphis City Schools will not be responsible for any items not removed by bidder(s) after the auction.

For more information, contact Robert Braden, 901.416.2830 or 901.416.4116 Auctioneer: Keith Moore, American Auction Company, TN License #4309 & #5179 731.645.4121 or 731.610.1458 www.american auctioncoinc.net

Real estate

The Greenwood CME Church has lease space available for schools, day care, or office use. Please contact 901-744-7531 for an appointment.

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