45 years later – now what?
VOL. 62, No. 14
April 4 - 10, 2013
www.tsdmemphis.com
75 Cents
TSD selects 2013 Women of Excellence Gala set for April 27
As arduous tasks go, selecting only 50 honorees for the 6th annual presentation of The New Tri-State Defender’s Women of Excellence ranks right up there. The selections now have been made and the list of honorees for 2013 is complete, with the Women of Excellence (WOE) Champagne Brunch and Awards Celebration set for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 27 at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, 750 Cherry Road. “We had another phenomenal response from the community this year with over 100 nominations,” said Bernal E. Smith II, President/Publisher of The New Tri-State Defender. “We also had a hard time narrowing it down because each and every one was deserving of the honor in her own right, but ultimately we were able to select a tremendously impressive group of women of which we are very proud.” Peers, family, friends and community leaders will salute the honorees. They were chosen based upon the following criteria: “African-American woman executive, business owner, community or non-profit leader, proven success within her profession/industry, positive role model whose contributions encourage others and highly active in community service or organizational involvement leading to positive impact on the lives of others.” Over the past five years, the TSD has honored over 250 outstanding African-American professionals and community leaders distinguished by their civic contributions and career achievements. The 2013 Women of Excellence SEE WOMEN ON PAGE 5
- INSIDE -
• ‘Brain Awareness Night’ packs food for thought. See Opinion, page 4. • Tax time – A reminder of the basics. See Business, page 6. • COGIC Service of Installation Memphis bound. See Religion, page 7 • Bluff City Reign makes ABA’s elite eight round. See Sports, page 9. • Harrison Ford: The ‘42’ interview. See Entertainment, page 10. • People’s Conference provides venue to counter racism. See Community, page 13
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
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H- 7 0o - L - 5 4o P a r tl y C l ou dy
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REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Friday H-68 L-48 H-65 L-43 H-69 L-43
Saturday H-74 L-55 H-71 L-52 H-77 L-50
Sunday H-71 L-60 H-72 L-57 H-77 L-57
This picture of a pensive Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was taken at Mason Temple about two weeks before he died in Memphis on April 4, 1968. (Photo: Mark Stansbury)
A view of 1968 Memphis 45 years after Dr. King COMMENTARY Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kathryn I. Bowers Johanna Puno Hester, president of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, addresses the crowd at Mason Temple for the 45th Year Commemoration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers. She was part of a panel discussion that included (l-r) Karen Finney, Van Jones, Rep. Steve Cohen, Terry OʼNeill and Benjamin Todd Jealous. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)
Memphis center stage as world reflects on Dr. King kajanaku@tri-statedefender.com
by Karanja A. Ajanaku A billing for the evening read: “Mountaintop Speech Commemoration.” It was a summons to gather back at Mason Temple, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his last oration – often simply called “The Mountaintop Speech” – on April 3, 1968. Forty-five years had elapsed since Dr. King gave the prophetic speech that eerily seemed to foreshadow his death. That came the next evening after he was felled by an assassin’s bullet while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. So the Memphis-area community – joined by numerous others from various places around the nation – showed up Wednesday night. They answered the call amplified by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, the union that long has represented Memphis’s sanitation workers, the group that Dr. King died supporting. It was the night before the day, with those upfront including Dr. King’s son, Martin Luther King III, and AFSCME President Lee Saun-
Elmore Nickleberry, one of the surviving sanitation workers from the historic strike, holds a replica of what now is an official Memphis street sign.
ders, the first African American to lead the union as president. A panel discussion on economic and racial justice featured moderator Karen Finney of MSNBC, Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis, Benjamin
Todd Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, Van Jones, president and co-founder of Rebuild the Dream, Terry O’Neill, president of SEE KING ON PAGE 2
Where were you in 1967 and on April 4, 1968? We must not ever forget our history, and if you are young, then put the stress on this notion: “We must learn of history.” Many of our leading ministers – both black reverends and white reverends – were maced downtown in 1967 while supporting the strike by sanitation workers. Even at that time we had some New video of people who tried James Earl Ray to do what was shows booking right and just for and trial. See all the people. page 3. The Memphis sanitation work- End the war on ers were an inte- drugs now. See grated group. page 4. There were some white workers who drove the trucks and supervised the black workers. The black workers could not go into the sanitation barn where the white workers ate lunch. They had to stay outside in the rain on rainy days and sometimes they would take shelter in the trucks to eat their lunch and keep the rain off. The sanitation movement really got started with this scenario: a black man was sitting in a truck to eat his lunch when someone accidentally turned the motor on and he was crushed to death. Because the job had no benefits, his wife was forced to seek help from others to bury him. The leaders had meetings every day, demanding better working conditions. It was more about conditions and benefits than money. That’s why the “I AM A MAN” signs you see today. This is what sparked the beginning of the Memphis Sanitation SEE 1968 ON PAGE 3
Magic Johnson supports son ‘in every way’
Achieve! Town Hall probes school choice, collaboration
Magic Johnson loves his kids, no matter whom his kids choose to love. The 53-year-old basketball legend and co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers said as much to TMZ after the celebrity website posted a video of Johnson’s son, Earvin Johnson III, out in Los Angeles with his reported boyfriend. The video depicts 20-year-old Earvin, who goes by E.J., walking along Sunset Boulevard hand-inhand with an unidentified gentleman. E.J., a New York University student who’s one of Johnson’s three kids, didn’t discuss his sexuality or his companion in the video, whom TMZ refers to as his boyfriend. Instead, he chatted about the Dodgers and the Los Angeles Lakers. Nevertheless, Magic Johnson told the website that he and his wife Cookie stand behind their son 100
Some see school choice as a new arrival. Others see it as old as education itself. The extremes suggest the need for dialogue and that’s what the Achieve! Town Hall delivered at The Magnet in the Soulsville community on Saturday, March 30. Hosted by The New Tri-State Defender, in partnership with New America Media, the forum featured a panel of school leaders, educators and advocates. They were guided through a discussion moderated by TSD President/Publisher, Bernal E. Smith II. The panelists were: Kevin Woods, commissioner, Shelby County Board of Education; David Hill, director of Academic Operations, Diocese of Memphis Catholic Schools; Ginger Spickler, communications coordinator, Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust (MOST); James Alexander, director, Memphis Acad-
kajanaku@tri-statedefender.com
CNN
by Karanja A. Ajanaku
Earvin ʻMagicʼ Johnson speaks to CNNʼs Piers Morgan about living with HIV for 20 years. (Photo: CNN)
percent. “Cookie and I love E.J. and support him in every way,” he said. “We’re very proud of him.” Johnson’s remark has reverberated through the sports world and beyond, particularly in light of recent events. Former NFL player Kwame Harris recently confirmed SEE MAGIC ON PAGE 5
emy of Health Sciences Charter School; and Keith Williams, president of the Memphis Education Association. Choice is here, said Smith, setting up the framework for the discussion. “We (The New Tri-State Defender) want to make sure that all parents are well informed and ready to take full advantage of opportunities that exist to increase their child’s potential.” It was the MEA’s Williams who noted that choice is as old as education. “Not all schools are great schools, he said. “Public schools have the responsibility to make all schools great.” Asked how might we develop better resources and tools for parents, Spickler noted the Achieve! School Choice Guide, which debuted at the town hall session. The resource publication was produced by the TSD through the partnership with New America Media and was funded, in part, by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. SEE ACHIEVE ON PAGE 5
NEWS
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April 4 - 10, 2013
KING
Tri-State Defender
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the National Organization for Women and Johanna Puno Hester, president of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance.. The panel covered much ground and yielded comments such as this: Van Jones said the progress of the black middle class was built on two movements – the civil rights movement and the labor movement. We live in historic times, said Rep. Cohen, noting that although it will be tough, it is possible to win back a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. The tides of change and public sentiment are against Republican strategies of creating fear and hate with gays and guns. They (Republicans) can no longer use those issues to drive the vote, he said. Jealous said organized people can beat organized money every time, but they must be together. In his keynote speech, Saunders reminded the crowd that Dr. King stood shoulder to shoulder with the sanitation workers, even though some of his advisers had wanted him to stay away from what they considered a losing proposition. “He knew the workers’ struggle was his struggle,” said Saunders, drawing a chorus of audible agreement. “That night he told them what it meant to stand up, to stand up for your rights,” said Saunders, painting a fresh picture of Dr. King as man with faith. Dr. King, he said, spoke of the connectedness and responsibility of the individuals in Mason Temple that night. Connecting then to now, Saunders spoke of the need to support workers in today’s struggles. “As the president of the largest union in the American labor movement, this is not just a Memphis fight,” he said. “This is all of our fight. … We will continue to stand and make our voices heard.” The commemoration of the 45th year since Dr. King’s assassination culminates on April 4, with myriad activities planned in Memphis and throughout the nation. In Memphis, that was to include an early morning march from AFSCME Local 1733 (485 Beale Street) to the National Civil Rights Museum, which encompasses the old motel where Dr. King died, with an AFSCME Labor Union rally to follow in the museum courtyard. Dr. King was shot at 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 1968, and 45 years later to that day, a com-
Martin Luther King III (center) with Arlene Holt Baker, AFL-CIO executive vice president, and Lee Saunders, AFSCME president. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)
Organized people can beat organized money every time, if they are together, said Benjamin Todd Jealous. memorative program was scheduled, including the placement of a memorial wreath.
(This story reflects reporting by Bernal E. Smith II and Warren Roseborough)
Rep. Steve Cohen expressed his belief that Democrats can regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
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NEWS
Tri-State Defender
April 4 - 10, 2013
1968
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CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Movement in 1967. The Rev. James “Jim” Lawson, Jesse Epps, the Rev. H. Ralph Jackson and other leaders had meetings every day. The late Minerva Johnican (who later served on the County Commission, the City Council and Criminal Court Clerk), got involved and assisted the leaders in trying to bring about a change for the sanitation workers. They formed a group called COME “Citizens On the Move for Equality.” COME’s goal was to get better working conditions and better pay for the workers and end the strike. Johnican was elected to serve on the Board of Directors, the only woman. At that time in the black and white communities, women were only allowed to do certain jobs, such as counting the money from the rallies or writing letters and other jobs women were “expected” to do. The meetings went on for some time and it just got to a point where everyone got angry and said that we have got to have better benefits, better pay and better working conditions for the sanitation workers. COME soon won the community over to support the movement. Rev. Lawson, who had been a student of Dr. Martin Luther King, went with King to visit Mohandas K. Gandhi, the Indian leader known for his adherence to nonviolence in pursuit of social and political change. Lawson had helped write the non-violent procedures for the United States and the Civil Rights Movement and he wanted to bring in Dr King. The COME Board of Directors subsequently decided to ask Dr. King to come to Memphis to support the sanitation workers. This was not a move that was blessed by some of the Memphis black leadership. Some prominent officials in the Memphis Branch NAACP didn’t particularly
Minerva J. Johnican (right) with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and an unidentified woman about two weeks before he was killed in 1968. Johnican served on the COME Board of Directors, the group that invited Dr. King to Memphis. (Photo: Courtesy of Kathryn Bowers) like Dr. King. A rivalry was going on between the national NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) that Dr. King helped found. To keep the peace in Memphis, COME decided to invite the NAACP’s national president, Roy Wilkins, an older, conservative and not quite the dynamic figure as Dr. King. There was a large crowd at Mason Temple when Wilkins spoke, but he was unable to rally the people. COME decided to go back to the original plan and invite Dr. King to Memphis to support the sani-
tation workers, despite lingering local objections. Dr. King came and at that first meeting at Mason Temple, it was standing room only. Blacks and whites sitting together, standing together, praying together and crying and smiling together – all under one roof. It was unbelievable. Nothing like this had ever happened in Memphis, Tennessee. After that rally, Dr. King came back to Memphis several times. He would sit around in meetings at the Lorraine Motel, in churches and other places in the city to dis-
cuss the next plan of action. On April 4, 1968, Dr. King was gunned down on the balcony of the Lorraine, with the nation quickly turning its spotlight on Memphis in way that still marks the city. An outsider had come in and given his life so that we might have unity, hope, peace and equality. Forty-five years later, the troubling question is this: “Where are we today?”
(Kathryn Bowers is a former Tennessee state legislator. She can be reached at REPBOW@aol.com)King in 1968
After being extradited from London, James Earl Ray is read his rights before exiting a plane. He entered the Shelby County Jail wearing a bullet-proof vest. Once in the jail, he was made to strip for an exam. These images are part of a video recorded by police in 1968 and just made available by the Shelby County Registerʼs Office. Watch the video at http://register. shelby.tn.us.
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John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)
The Mid-Southʼs Best Alternative Newspaper
A Real Times Newspaper
OPINION
Tri-State Defender
April 4 - 10, 2013
• Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher • Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor
FLASHBACK: 2006
‘Brain Awareness Night’ packs food for thought
(The New Tri-State Defender has partnered with The Urban Child Institute to make sure every child has the best chance for optimal brain development during the critical first three years of each child’s life. This is one in a series of stories and columns in our campaign.)
Each year, The Urban Child Institute’s annual Brain Awareness Night event brings renowned experts, researchers, and thought leaders to Memphis to discuss best practices to promote optimal brain development in young children. This year, the healthy eating focus provided attendees an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how brain functions associated with food selection and consumption intersect, and a glimpse into how subsequent mental and physical responses to certain foods are triggered. The message was timely as a 2012 CNN news report revealed that Memphis has the highest obesity rate in the United States. Making national headlines for topping various “worst of” lists has unfortunately become a common occurrence as our city continues to grapple with public health concerns such as poverty, crime, infant mortality and obesity. So common in fact, that when news breaks, the reaction from local residents can sometimes be nil or underwhelming. But the staggering obesity rate that led to Memphis being labeled the “fattest city in America” is nothing to yawn at. Any statistic that poorly portrays the collective wellbeing of a community begs the need for devoted attention. According to the Gallup Well-Being Index – an assessment that generates statistics on overall wellbeing, diabetes, obesity, frequent exercise, frequent produce consumption, city optimism, and the uninsured in cities across America – 30.4 percent of Memphis metropolitan area residents are obese. And childhood obesity rates are steadily rising around the country. Fortunately, local government and grassroots leaders are stepping forward to help reverse this negative trend. Healthy living is gaining popularity in the Mid-South With the emergence of efforts such as Move It Memphis, renewed energy on promoting outdoor physical activity through use of the city’s parks and green spaces, and the expanded presence of farmer’s markets and community gardens. Additionally, various organizations such as The Urban Child Institute are issuing a wakeup call for residents who have concluded that certain societal ills like widespread obesity are merely the result of cultural trends or geographic locale. The Brain Awareness Night presenters offered insight into how parents and caregivers can ensure children adopt healthy eating habits early on – a proactive approach to help reduce childhood and adult obesity rates over time. “Humans are opportunistic eaters, and taste is the primary driver of eating behavior,” said Dr. John D. Boughter, Jr., associate professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. In his presentation entitled “How Tricking the Brain’s Taste System During Development May Lead to Obesity,” Boughter described how the sense of taste engages parts of the brain involved in eating and reward, and how dysfunction in these vital systems may occur. “Sweetness is a taste that causes dopamine release in brain reward circuits,” Boughter explained. “It’s important to think about what young children are given (to eat), and how to mold and develop their food preference…taste preference can change as you grow older, but eating habits are formed very early in development.” As learned behavior goes, children acquire different lifestyle habits (whether positive or negative) from
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
adults and peers. The same rule applies to developing eating habits that promote or hinder good health. Parents and caregivers must make conscious decisions about their child’s food Tarrin intake, paying McGhee special attention to the types of foods offered regularly for daily consumption or as rewards for good behavior. For example, processed foods such as cookies, potato chips, and even many juices and cereals are extremely high in sugar and salt contents that cause diabetes, high blood pressure and ultimately obesity. In many households, these foods are frequently given to children for breakfast, as snacks or to deter bad behavior. By replacing unhealthy options with healthier selections, parents can help their child develop a taste preference for foods that nourish the body and the brain as they progress into adolescence and adulthood. According to Boughter, research suggests that the brain can be trained to favor the good over the bad, and outcomes depend heavily on practice and perspective. In her presentation on branding and the brain, Dr. Amanda S. Bruce, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, further outlined this concept and the huge roles that food marketing and advertising play in dietary patterns. “Ten billion dollars is spent per year in the United States by companies to market their products to children,” Bruce said. \“Why? Because building brand recognition and loyalty is key, and companies know the importance of starting early.” Limiting screen media (TVs, computers, smart phones, tablets) access is another way to help children develop healthy eating habits. According to Bruce, 98 percent of television food advertisements that kids see are for unhealthy foods. She also noted that half of three-monthold infants in the United States watch television regularly, and 90 percent of children tune in regularly by the age of two. On average, obese children eat more branded foods. What these statistics reveal about the relationship between food marketing, early brain development and obesity is the power that mass media has to not only alter our outlook and perception, but also our reality. Bruce’s latest pioneering research used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to map how children’s brains react to fast food logos and it yielded troubling findings. “You can wrap carrot sticks in McDonald’s paper and kids will believe they taste better,” Bruce said jokingly. “Some kids recognize the golden arches before the ABCs.” Bruce, of course, realizes, as do a majority of adults, that childhood obesity and its consequences are no laughing matter. Research shows that children who are obese are more likely to endure bullying, discrimination, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. Individually or combined, these consequences can negatively affect academic performance and social adjustment, and also lead to serious behavioral and health challenges in adulthood. In today’s microwave/instant-gratification society, it’s easy to understand how and why food preference and selection is largely determined by options that are readily available, top-of mind, and easy to prepare. Although challenging yourself and your loved ones to shift focus from what’s good and fast to what’s good for you may prove to be more difficult, the effort will produce more favorable outcomes for both children and adults, and for our entire community. DISTRIBUTION: Tri-State Defender is available at newsstands, street sales, store vendors, mail subscription and honor boxes throughout the Greater Memphis area. No person may, without prior written permission of the Tri-State Defender, reprint any part of or duplicate by electronic device any portion without written permission. Copyright 2013 by Tri-State Defender Publishing, Inc. Permission to Publisher, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. Back copies can be obtained by calling the Tri-State Defender at (901) 523-1818, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
End the war on drugs now
On April 4, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stepped to the podium of the Riverside Church in New York to vigorously proclaim his opposition to the War in Vietnam. It was one of the most powerful orations among numerous remarkable speeches delivered during his brief but extraordinary life. In articulating a persuasive moral and practical framework for his stance, Dr. King said: “… I knew America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued to draw men and skills and money like some demonic destructive suction tube. So, I was increasingly compelled to see the war as an enemy of the poor and attack it as such.” Equally disturbing for King was the disproportionate impact of the war not only on the poor but specifically young black men. He went on to say: “We were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them 8,000 miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in Southwest Georgia and East Harlem.” Dr. King’s decision to visibly and vocally oppose the war in Vietnam was no doubt complicated by the fact that the war was being promoted, prosecuted and defended by Lyndon Baines Johnson, the president who had courageously responded to Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery March by working for and signing the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965. President Johnson was viewed as a friend of civil rights and social programs favorable to poor and working people. Nonetheless, King saw the Vietnam War as an ill-conceived and immoral war that would ultimately undermine the quest for social, economic and racial justice. Therefore, principle and conscience demanded that he not be silent even in opposition to a president who had signed milestone civil rights legislation. It is in that same spirit, that on April 4, 2013, a group of social justice, drug and criminal justice policy reform advocates will intensify the demand for an end to the “War on Drugs” and mass incarceration and call on President Obama to invest resources to revitalize America’s “dark ghettos.” Just as Dr. King saw the war in Vietnam as wasting massive resources on an ill- conceived and immoral war, drug and criminal justice reform analysts, experts and advocates have concluded that the “War on Drugs” is a flawed strategy complete with a contemporary “demonic suction tube,” which has wasted billions of dollars that could and should have been used to invest in distressed urban communities. Equally distressing, as Michelle Alexander brilliantly documents in her classic book “The New Jim Crow,” the “War on Drugs” is a
racially-biased policy/strategy targeting and disproportionately devastating black and brown communities. As the brothers and sisters in the “hood” say, “the ‘War on Drugs’ is a war on us.” Ron How else can Daniels we make sense of the fact that African Americans make up an estimated 15 percent of drug users, but account for 27 percent of those arrested on drug charges, 59 percent of those convicted and 74 percent of all drug offenders sentenced to prison. The “War on Drugs,” policing, criminalization and mass incarceration have become substitutes for social, economic and racial justice in America’s dark ghettos. The damages to our communities have been devastating – and it must end. As we gather in Dr. King’s memory on April 4 this year, our charge must be to call on President Obama to exercise leadership by proclaiming to the nation that it is time to end the “War on Drugs” and treat the crisis of drugs as a public health rather than criminal justice issue – a dramatic paradigm shift which, at a minimum, will lead to decriminalization of marijuana, increased funding for drug education and treatment, and a national dialogue on the desirability and feasibility of regulating and taxing drugs. It is time for President Barack Obama to have the audacity to declare a state of emergency in urban inner-city areas, where millions of black people are suffering and struggle to survive. It is a moral and political crisis that demands direct, targeted economic and social policies and programs to create wholesome, sustainable communities. The president and the nation have reacted as if there is no face to the millions who are suffering in the “dark ghettos” of this land. These millions do have a face and it is overwhelmingly black. On April 4, we will honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his opposition to the Vietnam War and his call for an Economic Bill of Rights. We hope President Obama and the nation will heed our call and the walls of ignorance, indifference, hostility, blatant and benign neglect, racial bias and injustice will come tumbling down, clearing the way for the rescue and revitalization of the urban inner-city neighborhoods/ communities in this country. (Ron Daniels is president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century and Distinguished Lecturer at York College City University of New York.)
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‘My Republican Party’ has learned a lesson
Several of my readers of have questioned why I am writing positive articles about my Republican Party. The simple answer is that they deserve it. In the past, I have been very critical of my Raynard party because Jackson they have ignored the black community, disrespected our current president with incendiary language, and strayed away from our core principles and values. Since last November’s elections, my party has seemed to have reflected on what happened during last year’s elections and have been open to positive criticism on how to best learn from the past. So, it’s not so much that my writing has changed as the facts have changed. Current party chair Reince Priebus has begun to change the makeup of the party by beginning to hire minorities throughout the Republican National Committee (RNC). My writings have reflected my support for some of these changes and a continued willingness to work with the party to help it get back on track. People need to remember that Priebus and the RNC are not policymaking entities. Rather, they are responsible for the execution of the principles advocated by the members of the RNC board and GOP members of Congress. The Congressional side of this equation leaves a lot to be desired, but one person on the Congressional side who really understands this issue is House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. I was happy to receive a phone call from Cantor two weeks ago to discuss some of his recent activities to engage with the minority community, specifically the black community. I have known Cantor for many years and we have always enjoyed stimulating, honest conversations. Last month, Cantor accepted the opportunity to go with civil rights icon and fellow Congressman John Lewis to attend the annual march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. Cantor grew up in segregated Richmond, Va. during the 60s. Somehow the hatred of blacks in the 60s didn’t seep into him and his family. I hope Cantor will let me put together a town hall meeting with him to give him a forum to share with the public his reflections from Selma. He brought his son along with him and there is a fascinating event that happened as a result of this trip, but I will let Cantor share that story. What is fascinating and embarrassing at the same time is that Cantor has come to understand that education is the civil rights of the 21st century for the black community; not homosexual marriage as claimed by Al Sharpton, Ben Jealous and Marc Morial. I find it astonishing that a white, southern Congressman is more in tune with my community than the media-appointed black leaders. Cantor is working through a series of policy issues that I hope will lead to legislation that will benefit the black community. Cantor is a man that deserves, at a minimum, more engagement from within the black community and I plan on working with him to make that happen. As Ronald Reagan once said, “My 80 percent friend is not my 20 percent enemy.” It’s not necessary for you to agree with everything Cantor believes in or accept the party that he represents. But if he is trying to create a better future for us and our kids, why would you not support and work with him? If you agree with the media-appointed black leaders that homosexuality is the new civil rights, then continue to support them. However, if you believe that the new civil rights is education, then please reach out to Congressman Cantor and let’s help create a better future together. Cantor has shown the Republicans in the House a pathway to the black vote. The question is, will they follow his example? Cantor is doing his part by reaching out to the black community, now will we return the favor? I await my community’s response. (Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a Washington, D.C.based public relations/government affairs firm. He can be reached via www.raynardjackson.com. Follow him on Twitter at raynard1223.)
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IN THE MAIL
Tri-State Defender
MAGIC
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
he was gay in an interview with CNN, hoping his acknowledgement would help other athletes be open about their sexuality. That’s a tough battle in an era where there aren’t any openly gay “Of course athletes cur- Magic is suprently playing portive of and in any of the four major loves his son, male profes- Why should anysional sports. one be surTo that end, prised? What I Johnson’s un- can’t tolerate is conditional support of his a lack of tolerson is being ance.” seen as anKobe Bryant other opportunity for the legend to promote acceptance, and it turns out he’s not alone in that effort. NBA star Kobe Bryant told TMZ that he not only wasn’t surprised by Johnson’s remarks about E.J., but that he appreciates his openness. “Of course Magic is supportive of and loves his son,” Bryant said. “Why should anyone be surprised? What I can’t tolerate is a lack of tolerance.”
WOMEN
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
will be celebrated amidst food, inspiration, fashion and entertainment. Rodney Dunigan, news anchor for ABC24, will serve as Master of Ceremony and will guide a morning filled with performances by the critically acclaimed band Prosody, along with other special guest performances and a special guest speaker to be announced later. Ticket and table reservations are first come, first serve. “We are extremely excited about this opportunity to recognize and honor such a distinguished and deserving group of women,” said Smith. “We will be incorporating new elements into the 2013 edition of WOE, which should make it our best yet! This spring celebration gives us the chance to say ‘thank you’ to those who have been consistently committed to the highest principles of servant leadership and positively touching the lives of others.”
NEWS
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April 4 - 10, 2013
ACHIEVE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
“The Guide is something Memphis has needed…use this as a first-step tool,” said Spickler, adding that an unused tool is not helpful. “You have to take it and show people how to use.” The ACHIEVE! School Choice Guide displays achievement data available for each school included. Publishers hope the data on proficiency and graduation rates will help parents make
more informed choices, instead of making a selection without knowledge of overall student performance. Hill said it was important to recognize that school choice is one of the tools and “is not the answer.” Even when the goal of “all great schools” is met, there will still be the need for choice “because kids are different,” he said. Woods spoke of the need to provide different choices to improve education across the district. He talked about the necessity of making public schools better and issued a caution
against demonizing teachers. Parents, said Alexander, want good schools, a commonality he noticed at a recent charter school fair. It’s important that we all work as community toward that goal, he said. Parents across the spectrum love their children and want what’s best for them,” said Hill. “It’s really important to use whatever vehicles that are possible to expand access to information.” As for school performance, Williams stressed that performance relies heavily on levels of engagement.
“High performing schools have high quality instruction and engaged students, and parents,” he said. “Parents don’t have to be degree holders to seek and want a quality education for their children.” The wide-ranging discussion was brought back to center near its conclusion by a parent who, noting that “our kids can’t wait,” said, “This is really all about children.”
(Tarrin McGhee contributed to this story.)
The Achieve! Town Hall was a first step in an effort to bridge the gap between those facing decisions about school choice and the information they need to make good decisions. It included a panel discussion that probed issues related to school choice. (Photos: Shirley Jackson)
WOE 2013 Honorees
Frances Anderson, Affiliate Broker, Crye-Leike Realtors Tracy Bethea, Asst. Program Director/Music Director, 95.7 Hallelujah FM/Clear Channel Gwen Bonner, Chief Operating Officer, St. Francis Hospital Bartlett Cynthia Bowen, Employment Director, Star Placement Specialists Mary Bright, Officer of Contract Compliance, City of Memphis Marilyn Brooks, Teacher/Freshman Dean, Trezevant High School Peggy Brown, Owner, Peggy’s Healthy Home Cooking Kerri Campbell, Project Manager, Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team Chermale Casem, Chief Operating Officer, Seedco Dr. Menthia P. Clark, Principal, Memphis Business Academy Gerrie Currie, Hope Federal Credit Union Cynthia Daniels, President, Memphis Urban League Young Professionals Yolanda Draine, Sr. VP Human Re-
sources, First South Credit Union Michelle Fifer, APN/CRNA, Medical Anesthesia Group/Morgan Cares Sheila Floyd, Co-Pastor, The Pursuit of God Church Telisa Franklin, Television Host, MUTV1/Juneteenth Donzaleigh Frazier, IT Specialist, U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development Mary Freeman, Director – Government Relations, Baptist Hospital Janeen Gordon, Weekend Anchor/On-Air Personality, WMCTV5/103.5 WRBO Rosalyn Gray, VP & Sr. Investment Officer, First Tennessee Bank Tiffanie Grier, Career Placement Director, Boys & Girls Club of Memphis Veora Harris, Agent, Shelter Insurance Cynthia Hazell-Cutchin, Director, FedEx Forum and Media Marketing, Memphis Grizzlies TJ Jefferson, Owner, Fresh Touch Publicity Catherine Johnson, Retired Educator, Memphis City Schools, Pilgrim
Rest Baptist Church Kela Jones, Development Manager, Memphis Urban League Selena Jones, IT Specialist, IRS Gail Kerr-Moore, Finance Supervisor, Shelby County Government Virzola Law, Associate Pastor, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church Dr. Tommie Matthews, Associate Pastor/Author, Morning Star Church Dr. Brenda Partee Morris, Anesthesiologist Ella Mosby, Pastor & Founder, The Word in Life Christian Church Carla Norton, Minister, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church Crystal Oliver, Managing DirectorHR Svcs., FedEx Express Elle Perry, Coordinator, The Teen Appeal Ayoka Pond, Director of Public Research, Baptist Memorial Health Care Angela Rixter-Kelley, Owner/Instructor, The Tea Room Charm & Finishing School Cynthia Sharp, Account Executive, ABC24/CW30 Dorothy Jean Smith, Office Manager, Robert J. Smith, MD
Nicky Sparrow, Director of Sales, Clear Channel Radio Dorchelle Spence, VP Public Relations and Communications, Riverfront Development Corp. Sugar Stallings, Radio Show Host, AM990-KWAM CBS Talk Radio Pearl Street, Philanthropist Faye Stroud, President, Owner & Creative Director, STROUDMark Photography Tish Towns, V.P. of Government Relations/Public Policy, The Regional Medical Center Sabrina Ward, Chief Partnership Officer, Greater Alternative Surplus Solution Kesha Whitaker, Communications and Development Mgr., Women’s Foundation of Memphis Regenna Williams, Administrator, BNI Home Health Agency Rosalind Withers, President/Board Chairman, Withers Collection Museum Gallery
BUSINESS
Page 6
Tri-State Defender
April 4 - 10, 2013
ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY
Tax time – A reminder of the basics by Carlee McCullough
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Carlee McCullough
We are quickly coming upon the deadline that many Americans not receiving a refund truly despise – April 15, the last day to file individual
tax returns. With Benjamin Franklin’s admonition in mind – “…nothing is certain but death and taxes” – and serving as point of reference, here are some basics to help out those who have not yet done their tax duty.
Importance of filing on time
When you owe taxes to the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), it is imperative that you file and pay on time or you may be subject to penalties and interest on the amount due. However, if you have a refund coming, there is no penalty for filing late.
Types of penalties
Failure to file Penalty: This penalty is calculated based on the time from deadline of the tax return due, which may include extensions to the date the return is actually filed. The penalty is 5 percent for each month the tax return is late, up to a total maximum penalty of 25 percent of the tax due as shown on the tax return filed. Failure to pay penalty: This penalty is calculated based on the amount of tax you owe as shown on the tax return filed. The penalty is 0.5 percent for each month the tax is not paid in full. Unfortunately, there is no cap or maximum limit to this failure to pay penalty, which is calculated from the original filing deadline of
April 15 until the full balance due is paid.
Interest
Interest is calculated based on the taxes that are due. Interest rates change every three months. Currently, the IRS interest rate for underpayment of tax is now about 4 percent per year.
Filing late
With all of the penalties at the disposal of the IRS, it is better to file on time. However, if the lateness simply cannot be avoided, at least file an extension to potentially avoid or reduce the failure to file penalty. You still may be subject to failure to pay penalty and interest, but it will still be worth it to avoid the potential of up to a 25 percent penalty.
Payment options
To avoid all interest and penalties, it may be more eco-
nomical to borrow the money to pay from family and friends, draw on a home equity loan or even look to a credit card as an option. While a few of these options may have interest, they are probably far less than 25 percent.
Installment plan
If all else fails and you just cannot come up with the necessary funds to pay the IRS the taxes due, an installment payment plan may be able to be negotiated. First, you must complete Form 9465, which is the Installment Agreement Request. Attach it to the income tax return. You should include the amount you propose to pay each month and the dates of the month the payments will be made. The IRS will notify you if this Installment Agreement Request has been approved. There is a fee of about $45 for establishing an agreement. Remember, interest may continue to accrue until the balance is paid in full.
No money compromise
If the amount you owe the IRS is so great that you may never be able to pay it, the IRS may accept less than what is owed through the Offer In Compromise Program. You must complete Form 656 – Offer In Compromise and Form 433A – Collection Information Statement. Submit both of these forms to the IRS, along with the $150 application fee. Additionally you must provide a personal financial statement, which includes all of your assets, debts, income and the amount you can pay immediately in an effort to settle this debt. Before this settlement offer is granted, the IRS will evaluate your current financial picture and future income capacity. If the IRS believes that they will be unable to collect the full amount owed, they may accept the offer. However, the odds are not favorable that your settlement offer will be granted. Remember, this program is for those taxpayers that are in sever financial dis-
tress – not those that have the money and are just seeking to pay less than what is owed.
Pay agreements on time or else
If you have successfully obtained an installment plan or an Offer In Compromise Agreement, you must pay all of your federal tax bills on time for the next five years or until the amount agreed upon is paid in full, whichever is longer. If you fail to pay or default on the terms of the Offer in Compromise Agreement, all of your taxes forgiven will be due in full. Additionally, the IRS may file a lien on any assets that you have in an effort to guarantee payment. So if you remember nothing else, do not just ignore your taxes. File on time and make payment arrangements. (Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, TN 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)
MONEY MATTERS
Estate planning tools you need to know about by Charles Sims Jr., CFP
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
What key estate planning tools should you know about? Here’s a list to get you started. Wills and trusts are two of the most popular estate planning tools. Both allow you to spell out how you would like your property to be distributed, but they also go far beyond that. Just about everyone needs a will. Besides enabling you to determine the distribution of your property, a will gives you the opportunity to nominate your executor and guardians for your minor children. If you fail to make such designations through your will, the decisions will probably be left to the courts. Bear in mind that property distributed through your will is subject to probate, which can be a timeconsuming and costly process. Trusts differ from wills in that they are actual legal entities. Like a will, trusts spell out how you want your property distributed. Trusts let you customize the distribution of your estate with the added advantages of property management and probate avoidance. Wills and trusts are not mutually exclusive. While not everyone with a will needs a trust, all those with trusts should have a will as well. Incapacity poses almost as
much of a threat to your financial well-being as death does. Fort u n a t e l y, there are tools that can help you cope Charles Sims Jr., CFP with this threat. A durable power of attorney is a legal agreement that avoids the need for a conservatorship and enables you to designate who will make your legal and financial decisions if you become incapacitated. Unlike the standard power of attorney, durable powers remain valid if you become incapacitated. Similar to the durable power of attorney, a health care proxy is a document in which you designate someone to make your health care decisions for you if you are incapacitated. The person you designate can generally make decisions regarding medical facilities, medical treatments, surgery, and a variety of other health care issues. Much like the durable power of attorney, the health care proxy involves some important decisions. Take the utmost care when choosing who will make them. A related document, the living will, also known as a directive to physicians or a
health care directive, spells out the kinds of life-sustaining treatment you will permit in the event of your incapacity. The directive creates an agreement between you and the attending physician. The decision for or against life support is one that only you can make. That makes the living will a valuable estate planning tool. And you may use a living will in conjunction with a durable health care power of attorney. Bear in mind that laws governing the recognition and treatment of living wills may vary from state to state.
Estate planning tip
Keep all your important financial and legal information in a central file for your executor. Be sure to include: • letters of last instructions • medical records • bank/brokerage statements • income and gift tax returns • insurance policies • titles and deeds • will and trust documents
(Charles Sims Jr., CFP, is President/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.)
NAWBO session to spotlight women CEOs and LGW disparity study
A panel of businesswomen will share their successes and challenges when they discuss “How to Get the Job Done as a Woman CEO” at the National Association of Women Business Owners Memphis’ monthly luncheon on Tuesday, April 9, at Chickasaw Country Club. Following that group, a Memphis Light Gas & Water representative will present the results of a study that examined MLG&W’s use of women-and minority-owned businesses. Speakers at the NAWBO Memphis event will include Kim Heathcott of Clarion Security, Gwen Christensen of Builders’ Floors and Interiors,
and Deidre Malone of The Carter Malone Group. Heathcott, president-elect of NAWBO, owns Clarion Security, a provider of armed and unarmed security guards in the Mid-South. Christensen owns Builders’ Floors & Interiors, which installs floor covering for builders, contractors, real estate agents and other commercial and residential clients. Malone was a former Shelby County Commission before starting The Carter Malone Group, a public relations agency. Registration will begin at 11:15 a.m., with lunch running from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $25 for NAWBO members, $30 for non-mem-
bers and $35 for on-site registration. Chickasaw Country Club is located at 3395 Galloway Ave. Other upcoming NAWBO events include a May 14 luncheon at which Lori TurnerWilson, co-founder of RedRover, will discuss marketing and a members-only coffee on May 21 with Amy Weirich, Shelby County’s first female district attorney. To confirm reservations, visit www.NAWBOMemphis .org or email NitaBlack@ MAPMomentum.com. One of 80 U.S. chapters, NAWBO Memphis’ mission is to propel women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide.
Jamila Webb (Photo by Shirley Jackson)
TSD welcomes Jamila Webb to its sales and marketing team As the new Account Executive and Business Consultant for The New Tri-State Defender, Jamila Webb will work with businesses, organizations and individuals to develop and execute marketing solutions. to print advertising, special event sponsorship and Internet exposure (TSD’s website, Digital Daily and Email blasts). With an extensive back-
ground in sales and marketing, Webb’s goals include working with clients to achieve brand recognition and increased customer traffic. Her TSD toolbox will include print advertising, special event sponsorship and Internet exposure (TSD’s website, Digital Daily and email blasts). “Businesses cannot afford not to advertise if they want to expose their products or ser-
vices and increase their brand recognition. It makes no sense to throw a party and not invite anyone, so why would you open a business and not tell the world?” said Webb. “I will help businesses find customized, affordable and effective marketing solutions.” To learn more about the marketing solutions that TSD can provide, contact Webb at 901.- 23-1818 or jwebb@tristatedefender.com.
RELIGION
Tri-State Defender
Page 7
April 4 - 10, 2013
COGIC Service of Installation Memphis bound
The Church Of God In Christ General Assembly will host the Service of Installation for Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. and COGIC’s General Board and officers on Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m. The high-profile historic event will be held at Temple of Deliverance COGIC, 369 G. E. Patterson Ave. Over 4,000 people from
Memphis, the Mid-South and various points around the world, are expected to attend. The service will kick off the church’s three-day business meeting at Mason Temple, world headquarters for the 6.5 million-member Pentecostal denomination. Several Memphians will be installed on a national level. They are:
Elder Charles H. Mason Patterson, pastor of Pentecostal Temple Institutional COGIC, who will be installed as national treasurer. He is the son of the late Bishop J. O. Patterson Jr. and the great-grandson of COGIC founder Bishop Charles H. Mason. Bishop Brandon B. Porter, pastor of Greater Community Temple COGIC, who will be in-
stalled as a member of the General Board. Elder David Hall Jr., son of Bishop David A. Hall Sr., who will be installed as a trustee board member, along with Georgia Lowe, wife of Bishop Samuel L. Lowe. Supervisor Geraldine E. Miller is the Adjutant of Consecration. “This is going to be a spectacular ecumenical community
event,” said Bishop Hall Sr., chairman of the Service of Installation. “We have received overwhelming support from the civic, political, religious and business community. Memphis is our world headquarters.” Dr. Alanzo Johnson, former professor of Religion at the University of South Carolina, will be the key note speaker.
Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr.
‘Planes’ of movement explored via Healthy Church Challenge Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Wiley Henry
Katie Banks grimaced as she pushed up and down against the padded gymnasium wall at Streets MinistriesNorth in the Grahamwood community. After a few minutes into the workout, she’d worked up a little sweat. “I’m glad I got some Advil in my purse,” she said. The expression on Veronica Mitchell’s face was just as telling after stretching her upper body, jogging across the floor, and shuffling from side to side to keep her legs and hips from stiffening. A few minutes into the workout, she called out a familiar name to give her strength. “Jesus!” Mario Myles, a fitness trainer with Memphis-based BIOMechaniks, heard Banks and Mitchell’s outcry. “You guys are working hard. Don’t stop. You’ll feel a lot better if you don’t stop,” he assured them during an upbeat workout on March 23. Banks and Mitchell are among more than 700 individ-
uals from 47 churches competing to lose weight in the second annual Healthy Church Challenge 100-day weight loss competition. “I need to get in shape and lose weight before I get my second hip replacement,” said Mitchell, a member of Mt. Olive CME Church. “The doctor wants me to lose 30-40 pounds,” she said. “He’s already done my left hip replacement. Now he needs to do the right hip. I was going to start something on my own, but this is a good starting point.” Presented by BlueCross® BlueShield® of Tennessee, the Challenge is designed to address health problems through area faith-based organizations and create a healthier place to live, work and play in Memphis, Shelby County and West Tennessee. The winning teams 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.
Banks is concerned about her blood pressure. Although winning a prize would be nice after losing the weight, she said nevertheless, “I know if I start working out, my blood pressure will go down and I won’t have to start taking medication.” Myles said most people like Banks and Mitchell – if they work out at all – are accustomed only to linear movements rather than lateral. “Women in particular need a range of motion when they get older,” he said. The hour and a half workout was based on three planes that the body uses for movement: sagittal (vertical), transverse (horizontal), and frontal (side to side). “Working in all three helps with the hip’s range of motion and balance,” Myles said. “My goal is to lose at least 20 pounds,” said Mitchell. “But if not, I’ll keep going.” Melvin Elliott limped slightly during the workout, but kept the pace nonetheless. He has a bum knee that’s giving him problems. “My exercising has nothing to do with weight,” said Elliott, 66, a member of Brown
Baptist Missionary Baptist Church. “I have a bum knee. I guess it has something to do with old age.”
Children’s workout
While the adults were working out in the gymnasium, the children of some of the participants were working out in a small room during a special youth workshop presented by the City of Memphis. “I decided to work out because of my weight,” said Terrika Banks, the 13-year-old daughter of Katie Banks. A 7th-grader at Highland Oaks Middle School, Terrika said she needs to lose the weight. Terrika is not alone in her struggle to lose weight. According to the Children’s Health Crisis, which launched a series of seven documentaries in 2009 on the state of children’s health in Tennessee, 20.6 percent of children in the state were obese. It was the sixth highest rate in the nation and now rising to epidemic proportions. “The city has a vested interest in families being healthy,” said Nika Jackson, manager, Office of Community Affairs, Division
Darlene Richardson, an instructor with Healthy Kids and Teens, a group that combats childhood obesity, leads a few children in a light exercise of walking and stretching. (Photo: Wiley Henry/The Carter Malone Group) of Parks and Neighborhoods. “We want families to eat healthy and get out and get moving.” The children were also challenged by Amanda Wittenberg to make better food choices to avoid becoming obese as adults. “About 90 percent of overweight children will become overweight as adults,” said Wittenberg, a senior at the University of Memphis studying to become a dietitian. “If we can stop the trend now, they’d more likely be healthy as adults.” The city of Memphis is a community partner with the
Let’s Move! initiative that First Lady Michelle Obama launched in 2010. Let’s Move! also uses MyPlate, the new USDA regulated portion allotment replacing the food pyramid, to combat obesity. “We always look for ways to partner with organizations such as the Healthy Church Challenge,” Jackson said.
(For more information on the Healthy Church Challenge, call 901-278-0881 or visit Facebook.com/The Healthy Church Challenge.) (Wiley Henry is with The Carter Malone Group.)
Our turn…
At Pentecostal Temple Institutional Church of God in Christ, ʻResurrection Sundayʼ was an opportunity for these little ones to reflect their church training. They sang “No Greater Love” with great feeling. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Giving voice to Good Friday…
Baritone Willie Cage sings “Father, Forgive Them” during the 20th annual presentation of ʻThe Seven Last Words of Christʼ under the direction of Rosetta H. Peterson at St. John Baptist Church, 640 Vance, last Friday (March 29). (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-
METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor
767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126
ASSOCIATE MINISTERS
901-946-4095 fax 948-8311
Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
—Revelation 1:8
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
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
— Proverbs 1:7
Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter
ST. ANDREW A.M.E. CHURCH
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. —Ecclesiastes 9:11
867 SOUTH PARKWAY EAST Memphis, TN 38106
(901) 948-3441
Early Morning..........7:45 AM Church School..........9:45 AM Morning Worship......11:00 AM Bible Study For Youth and Adults Tuesday - 7:00 PM “Spirit, Soul, and Body!” AM 1070 WDIA Sundays, 10:00-10:30 AM
TV Cable Access Broadcast Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Channel 17 Website:www.saintandrewamec.org Child Care Center (901) 948-6441 Monday-Friday 6 AM- 5:30 PM Emergency Food Pantry & Clothes Closet Wednesday 6 PM-8 PM
Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, Pastor Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Pastor
“Ministering to Memphis-Spirit, Soul and Body”
Page 8
RELIGION
April 4 - 10, 2013
Holy Week Revival‌
Evangelist Karen Johnson has help in bringing to life a biblical story during Holy Week Revival at Pentecostal Temple Institutional Church of God in Christ on March 27. On Friday, the Deborah Mason Patterson Memorial Choir was in high gear. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
LEGACY: Dorothy L. Parrish
Dorothy L. Parrish was working at Baptist Memorial Hospital when she became interested in the health care industry. Eventually that interest evolved into a passion, driving her to form Parrish Care Home. For 25 years, Mrs. Parrish’s passion-rooted care home focused on providing a loving and caring environment for the elderly. Mrs. Parrish died March 25. She would have celebrated her 90th birthday on Thursday (April 4). Mrs. Parrish, the daughter of Edward and Mary Perry, was born in Fayetteville, N. Car. After her family moved to Memphis, she graduated from Manassas High School and attended Tennessee State University, serving as an instructor in the Millington education system for a number of years. In 1951, she married Alex Parrish, whose military career led to them living in various areas of the U.S. and in Europe. Their 42-year union yielded four children, including a daughter Jacqueline, and a son, Joel A. Parrish, who are deceased. A devoted member of St. Andrew AME Church, Mrs. Parrish was a member of the Elmer Martin Singers. She enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of the Altrussa and
t h e Melange bridge clubs. M r s . Parrish leaves her daughter, Mary Ann e t t e (McKinney) Boyd Dorothy L. of MidParrish lothian, Texas; her son, Alex (Pam) Parrish of Detroit; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Ann Parrish (widow of Joel A. Parrish) of Mem-
phis; five grandchildren: Cydney Madlock, Red Oak, Texas; Christopher Boyd, Detroit,; Cory Boyd, DeSoto, Texas; Malcolm Parrish, Atlanta; and Michael Parrish, Detroit; one great-granddaughter, Kyla Phillips, Red Oak, Texas; four sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law; and a host of other family and friends. A homegoing service for Mrs. Parrish was held Monday at St. Andrew, with burial the next day at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery E. H. Ford Mortuary had charge.
Tri-State Defender
SPORTS
Tri-State Defender
Page 9
April 4 - 10, 2012
The crowd celebrates after Mike Conley scored the winning basket. (Photos by Warren Roseborough)
Mike Conley’s ‘fan wagon’ is in full growth mode Leads Grizz to win No. 50
Bluff City Reign makes ABA’s elite eight round
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kelley Evans
It’s difficult – maybe even impossible – to discern any difference in the outward attitude of Grizzlies starting point guard Mike Conley now that folks who once doubted him are making room on his fan wagon. During a talk show interview this week after the Conley-led Grizzlies outlasted Western Conference powerhouse San Antonio, the host graciously ate crow, acknowledging that he had been wrong about Conley not being able to fill Memphis’ point-guard needs. Conley played along, jokingly commenting that few things in the world could be more gratifying than the host’s turnabout regarding him. In an April Fools Day game at FedExForum on Monday, all jokes were put aside for a seriously-played basketball game. One of the most-respected coaches in the league, Gregg Popovich, was in town, along with a battle-tested San Antonio team that played without key players Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard. Conley led the Grizzlies to an intensely fought 92-90 victory. It was his night. So what did Conley do? Everything he had to do, including hitting a game-tying three pointer with 30.7 seconds left to play. What else? He then wove his way through the lane and to the basket. With a little more than six seconds left to play, Conley snaked past San Antonio’s Danny Green for a game-winning layup. The shot was Conley’s second game-winner of his career. At the end of the night, Conley, who leads the NBA in steals with 164, had tallied 23 points for the Grizzlies. Guard Jerryd Bayless finished with 17 points off the bench, followed by Marc Gasol with 13. “We actually had run the play similar to that a few plays before and I was open again,” Conley said of the game-tying three pointer. “I told JB (Jerryd Bayless), ‘If you get a chance, if you don’t have a good look driving, I’m going to be out at
Pictured (l-r) Leroy Watson Jr., Sidney Adkins, Marvin Grandberry, William Bedford, Deon Lawson, Winston Banks and Benjamin Richardson. (Photo: George Tillman Jr.)
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
The American Basketball Association (ABA) is alive and well, with over 90 teams scattered throughout North America. It is only logical that one of the original ABA cities, Memphis, should have a franchise. The Bluff City Reign, representing Memphis, are in the 2013 ABA playoffs and looking to take full advantage of the opportunity. The Reign went 26-6 during the 2011-’12 campaign, but lost in the first round of the postseason to the Chicago Fire. This year, the team suffered through a tough regular season campaign but has ignited under the leadership of the new head coach, former Memphis State star Sidney Adkins. The Reign upset the Conway Cyclones and the Gulf Coast Flash to roar unexpectedly into the ABA Elite Eight.
They have done so behind Adkins’ fiery style, a stingy pressure defense, and AllStar point guard Maurice Mickens. Mickens has two 50-plua point games this season, including a 57-point performance in the Reign’s last contest. On the road in Biloxi, Miss., the Reign went up 8-3 before the home team reeled off 17 points in a row. The 20-8 deficit steadily grew until the Reign were down 8356, a daunting 27-point deficit, in the third quarter. Behind Mickens, the Reign roared back to force a tie before prevailing, 135-128, in overtime. Guard Mario Rhodes added 22 points, and center Deon Lawson chipped in with 17 points, and teamhighs of 15 rebounds and four blocks. Team captain Andreus Lee managed nine points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. The Reign’s current active roster includes:
Cordero Bowen, Devon Buckley, Marvin Grandberry, Frank Henderson, Deon Lawson, Andreus Lee, Maurice Mickens, Mario Rhodes, Michael Watson and Justin Williams. All of them except for Bowen attended high school in Memphis, and many played collegiate ball at either The LeMoyne-Owen College or Southwest Tennessee Community College for two or more years. The administrative staff includes owner Reggi Golden Sr., vice president of Operations William Bedford (who helped lead then-Memphis State to the Final Four in 1985), General Manager Winston Banks, and Director of Basketball Operations Benjamin Richardson. Leroy Watson Jr. is assistant coach/media liaison. (Bluff City Reign Media Liaison Leroy Watson Jr. contributed to this story.)
Memphisʼ Mike Conley scores the winning basket on Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs.
the top of the key waiting on you.’ He found me and delivered the ball perfect. It was just routine, try to concentrate and knock it down.” “They hit the biggest shot,” the Spurs’ Popovich said. “We might have hit some shots but (Mike) Conley hit the biggest shot of the game, (and) they deserve credit for that.” From Popovich’s vantage point, Conley becomes a better player every year. “He is more confident. He has expanded (his) game. He did a great job. I thought our guys played hard and competed well. We moved the ball and shared the ball.” Spurs guard Tony Parker led all scorers with 25 points, followed by Tiago Splitter with 13. The Grizzlies, who are in a neck-in-neck tussle with the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers for third place
in the Western Conference, knew the importance of the win. In the second half, Memphis was down by 11 points and trailed until Conley’s three-pointer. Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins said Conley, who is averaging 17 points, 7 assists and 2 steals, has shown growth. “He’s much stronger, much more mature, knows how to pace himself a little better,” Hollins said. “He made the big three, then he made the lay-up to win the game. That was huge for us.” NOTE: Fifty marks the number of wins the Grizzlies now have this season after defeating the Spurs, the team that holds the number one spot in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies faced off against the Portland Trailblazers on the road on Wednesday (April 3).
Down with the champs…
The Southwind High School boys basketball team and coaches with Mayor AC Wharton Jr. after the City Council adopted a resolution congratulating them on their state championship season. (Photo: George Tillman Jr.)
ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, April 4 - 10, 2013, Page 10
WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?
Tyler Perry has done it again!
This weekend. I got a chance to catch Tyler Perry’s latest film, “ Te m p t a t i o n : Confessions of a Marriage C o u n s e l o r. ” Looks like I wasn’t the only one. It turned Myron out to be a pretMays ty big hit at the box office. Despite coming in at number 3, it still managed to pull in about $22 million, roughly $2 million dollars more than it took to make the film. If it continues to do this well, it will be the highest grossing film he has produced or directed that he did not star in. That’s good considering that his highest grossing films are usually the ones where he as Madea. In this round, Perry didn’t deviate too far from his formula. He included an unspoken message in the movie, as he always does, although it did not come off as preachy like most of his films. However, he did travel a couple of paths he is not used to traveling in his films. There was a noticeable presence of language that you are not used to hearing in any of Perry’s movies. Also, there was a little bit of “almost” nudity. You’ll have to see the film for yourself to get a feel for what I’m sayng. It’s not really a bad thing, actually. It really shows his growth as a writer, producer and director. People do use that type of language you know? Many of Perry’s films have been stage plays at some point, which is why I tend to not catch any of them. Not that I don’t like them, I just don’t want to think of the play while I’m watching the film. Interestingly, none of the people I talked to who have seen the play felt that the movie and the play mirrored each other. I guess that was a good thing for the moviegoer considering there was really nothing predictable in the film. “Temptation” treats you to so many plot twists and surprises. It kept me wondering what was coming next. These are the types of things that will make Perry one of the greatest filmmakers of our time. Yes, I said it. I can’t wait to see how Perry will have progressed in the next ten years. When he first started doing stage plays you never would have thought that he would ever start doing movies. Now he’s doing them very well. In a few years, I predict that he will be doing them even better. If you haven’t seen the movie, you might want to check it out. And guys, I must tell you…just when you think you’re not gonna like this film, a couple of things occur that will change your mind. Anyone who sees Temptation will likely recommend it to someone else. It’s really just that good.
Take notes
If you wanna do something great for the kids, “Sesame Street Live” is always a great idea when it comes to town. This Friday and Saturday (April 5-6), you can catch the show at the FedExForum. And don’t worry about the ages of the kids. I think I was a fourth grader when I last went. And for the grown people, this Sunday night Comedians Sommore, Earthquake and Bruce Bruce make their way to the Landers Center as the Royal Comedy Tour comes calling. Each of these funny folks could do an entire show on their own, so you know you’re gonna get an overdose of funny with them all being on the same show. You can get tickets to both of these shows through all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com. The Africa In April, International Festival will be here in a couple of weeks and it’s about more than just stocking up on shea butter and other products. It’s about “cultural awareness” and we’ll chat about all of that and more on next week. Until then…that’s what’s happening!
(Got an event you’d like for me to cover or attend, email me at Myron @whatshappeningmyron.com.)
Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey in “42.” (Photo: D. Stevens/ Warner Brothers)
Harrison Ford: The ‘42’ interview Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kam Williams
Born in Chicago on July 13, 1942, Harrison Ford was a late bloomer who only developed an interest in acting during his senior year of college. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as carpenter for almost a decade while struggling trying to launch his showbiz career. He was finally discovered in 1973 while installing cabinets in the home of George Lucas. The director cast him in “American Graffiti,” which in turn, led to his landing the iconic character Hans Solo in “Star Wars,” and the rest, as they say, is cinematic history. Here, the Oscar-nominated thespian (for “Witness”) talks about his latest outing opposite Chad Boseman as Brooklyn Dodgers’ general manager Branch Rickey in “42,” a biopic about Jackie Robinson’s breaking the color barrier in baseball. Kam Williams: Hi Mr. Ford, thanks so much for the interview. I’m very honored to have this opportunity to speak with you. Harrison Ford: That’s kind of you to say, Kam.
Chadwick Boseman (left) as Jackie Robinson and Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey in “42.” (Photo: D. Stevens/Warners Brothers) hometown, Montreal. What does his legacy mean to you?” HF: This is a country (that) has always proclaimed itself to be founded on and to be pursuing high ideals. I believe that the racial injustice which existed such a short time ago probably would have persisted longer if the color barrier had not been broken in baseball, since the civil rights movement might not have blossomed when it did, had it not been preceded by Jackie Robinson’s joining the Dodgers. You have to remember that baseball really was the American pastime in the Forties, not football, basketball or any other sport. Baseball was a metaphor for America, both here and in terms of how it was understood by the rest of the world. So, the legacy of Jackie Robinson and the part he played in this very important chapter of our history is very compelling and very meaningful to me personally.
KW: Why did you decide to play Branch Rickey? HF: First of all, I read what I thought was an amazing script with very high standards, telling an important story with a character for me to play who was colorful and dramatic and different from any I’d ever played before, and with a director (Brian Helgeland) I admired who had written this wonderful script. So, I had a multitude of reasons to want to do this character.
I also saw this project as an opportunity to fully ascend to the rank of the noble calling of character actor. I thought that I could best serve the film by not bringing any of the audience’s history with Harrison Ford into the scene. So, I did everything I could to create a character that truly resembled and was attendant to the real-life Branch Rickey.
KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: “You’ve earned some much-deserved acclaim for playing serialized fantasy figures – thank you big time for Hans Solo and Indiana Jones. How different is the preparation for doing a one-shot biopic of an historical figure?” HF: The truth is… the job’s always the same. It involves helping to tell the story and creating an alloy between character and story that serves the film. And it also involves creating behavior that brings the information in every scene to life, and investing emotionally in the communication of those ideas.
KW: Gil Cretney asks: “Will Hans Solo be in JJ. Abram’s upcoming ‘Star Wars” sequel?’” HF: I think you’ll have to ask somebody else that question. I’m not ready to commit or talk about that at this time.
KW: Kate Newell asks: “How did it feel shooting on location at some of those venerable, old baseball stadiums?” HF: To tell you the truth, I didn’t pay much notice because in many cases the stadiums were recreated through computer graphics after the fact. We really only had the first ten rows, and the rest was added during post-production. The places where we shot were not historical or so impressive. But given that this film takes place over sixty years ago, it’s amazing how much different the world was
back then. It’s seen so many changes in a relatively short period of time.
KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: “I am honored to ask you a question because I have admired your work since I was a child. Jackie Robinson is special to me because his minor league career began in my
KW: My father took a photo of me with Jackie when I was a kid in the Fifties, and I kept that picture on my bureau my entire childhood. HF: Cool!
KW: Well, thanks again for the interview, Mr. Ford. HF: It was my pleasure, Kam. (To see a trailer for 42, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9RHq dZDCF0) Jackie Robinson shakes the hand of a young Kam Williams. (Photo: Courtesy of Kam Williams)
ENTERTAINMENT
Tri-State Defender
Page 11
April 4 - 10, 2013
OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam’s Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kam Williams
For movies opening April 5, 2013
BIG BUDGET FILMS
“Evil Dead” (R for profanity, sexuality, graphic violence and gratuitous gore) Grisly remake of the Sam Raimi horror classic revolving around five friends who unwittingly arouse a dormant demon they stumble upon while vacationing at a cabin in the woods. Ensemble cast featuring Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas and Elizabeth Blackmore.
“Jurassic Park” (PG-13 for intense sci-fi terror) 3D re-release of Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Michael Crichton’s best seller about man-eating dinosaur clones running amok at a prehistoric theme park located on a tropical isle. Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Samuel L. Jackson.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
“6 Souls” (Unrated) Supernatural crime thriller about a recently-widowed, forensic psychologist (Julianne Moore) who becomes concerned about her family’s safety after discovering that all but one of a patient’s (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) multiple personalities resemble victims of unsolved murders. With Brooklyn Proulx, Frances Conroy and Jeffrey DeMunn.
“The Brass Teapot” (R for sexuality, profanity, violence and drug use) Juno Temple
and Michael Angarano co-star in this adaptation of the comic book series of the same name about a cash-strapped couple that steals an antique which proceeds to reward them with money whenever they hurt themselves or others. Co-starring Alexis Beidel, Alia Shawkat and Matt Walsh.
“The Company You Keep” (R for profanity) Political thriller about a former Sixties radical (Robert Redford), still wanted for murder, who becomes desperate to clear his name before his identity is revealed by an investigative journalist (Shia LeBeouf) on the verge of blowing his cover. A-list ensemble includes Academy Award-winners Susan Sarandon, Chris Cooper, Julie Christie and director/star Redford, Oscar-nominees Terrence Howard, Anna Kendrick, Stanley Tucci, Nick Nolte and Richard Jenkins, as well as Sam Elliott, Brendan Gleeson and opera prodigy Jackie Evancho. “Down the Shore” (R for profanity and drug use) Romance drama set on the Jersey shore, where the lives of three friends since childhood start to unravel after a dark secret from the past is revealed. Starring James Gandolfini, Famke Janssen and Maria Dizzia. “Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal” (Unrated) Dylan Smith handles the title role in this horror comedy about a once-successful artist (Thure Lindhardt) with painter’s block whose career is revitalized after he is befriended by a cannibal who walks in his sleep. With Alain Goulem, Paul Braunstein and Stephen McHattie. “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners” (Unrated) Reverential biopic about Angela
Davis chronicling why the controversial socialist professor-turned-black radical became a fugitive after landing on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list. “Lucky Bastard” (NC-17 for explicit sexuality) Found footage horror flick about a fan (Jay Paulson) who comes to regret answering an adult website’s invitation to have sex with his favorite porn star (Betsy Rue). With Don McManus, Chris Wylde and Catherine Annette.
“No Place on Earth” (PG-13 for mature themes and violent images) World War II documentary recounting the ordeal of five Jewish families who survived the Holocaust by hiding in caves in the Ukraine. “Simon Killer” (Unrated) Romance drama about a just-dumped college grad (Brady Corbet) who moves from the U.S. to Paris where sleeping with a prostitute (Mati Diop) leads to blackmail and betrayal. With Alex Desjoux, Marc Gaviard and Alexandra Neil. (In French and English with subtitles)
“Trance” (R for profanity, sexuality, violence, graphic nudity and grisly images) UK crime thriller, directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle (for Slumdog Millionaire), about an auctioneer with amnesia (James McAvoy) who hires a hypnotist (Rosario Dawson) for help remembering where he hid the priceless painting he stole to pay off a debt owed to a ruthless mobster (Vincent Cassel). Featuring Danny Sapani, Matt Cross and Wahab Sheikh. “Upstream Color” (Unrated) Surreal sci-fi saga about a man (Shane Carruth) and a woman (Amy Seimetz) who are drawn together before becoming entangled in the lifecycle of an ageless organism. With Andrew Sensenig, Thiago Martins and Frank Mosley.
HOROSCOPES
April 4-10, 2013
ARIES You may feel an extra burst of energy this week. This is a good time for you wrap up any miscellaneous details on a project that you’ve been working on. Your vibrations are very conducive towards general well-being that you’ll want to extend to friends and family. TAURUS Any nervous energy you may be feeling can be dispelled with some physical activity. You are doing just fine, so take long walks or try a yoga class and leave your worries behind you. GEMINI A conflict may arise, but you can handle it. Let your life be shaped by the choices you make, not through choices made by others. You’re a very independent sign, and you may be feeling downright feisty this week! Act with love. CANCER Love gets you back on an even keel, and you feel balance and much appreciation for all of the blessings in your life. Your creativity is soaring; let some of your wilder ideas free and watch them fly! LEO This week your thoughtfulness and generosity is very evident among those close to you. Do something adventurous, and surprise & impress your lover. Try to sneak away at lunchtime together and enjoy each other’s company. Stay happy! VIRGO Exercise your social skills in a new and inventive way at work. Make yourself noticed in a positive way. Buy a new scent or wear that daring red item that you’ve been too shy to put on! Try to resolve the conflict between two of your friends, but you might have to let them go through the motions of anger, and stay out of it. LIBRA Nobody expects the world from you, but a little more effort would be appreciated. Let go of the grudge that you’ve been harboring and start living again! You’ll feel much more lighthearted and free when you forgive and forget about the past. SCORPIO This week you will feel like you’re on top of the world when you finish completing the project that you’ve been working feverishly on. Take some time off and splurge on a vacation spot that has been tantalizing you! SAGITTARIUS This week is a good week for remembering that without the help of your colleagues it would be impossible for you to expedite the tasks that need to be done. Thank them ahead of time. Thank them graciously and celebrate with them. CAPRICORN Little by little you will come to realize that you are too good to be second choice. This week don’t even think about why your recent romance failed. It wasn’t meant to be. There are many more fish in the sea ready for you to hook them. Go for it! AQUARIUS Offer a shoulder to cry on to someone you know that has been going through some difficulty. They need a friend right now. Listen and don’t speak. Your sensitivity and compassion will mean a lot right now. PISCES If you need some time to yourself this week, take it. You’ll be doing yourself an act of kindness. Since you do so much for others, why not treat yourself as well as you treat them? Your world is the way you are living. Live with love. Source: NNPA News Service
Page 12
HEALTH
CHEF TIMOTHY
Don’t be misled, know your fats by Chef Timothy Moore Ph.D, N.M.D, C.N. Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Have you ever wondered what would be the best cooking oil to use considering that there are several brands to choose from on the store shelves? Whatever the brand, most of the cooking oils are loaded with fats. The problem is there is a misunderstanding about what is considered good fat verses bad fat. The proof is in the mirror. When you eat unhealthy fats, you can expect a change in your appearance. The pounds will begin to add up and your body – if you over indulge to the point of becoming a glutton – will increase in size and your waistline will expand. Certain fats can cause health problems. There are monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, trans fats, and saturated fats. To the layperson, it’s hard to distinguish between good fats and bad fats. Even butter, which some believe has no fat in it at all, is in fact 100 percent fat. Fat also is in all nuts and seeds, which are beneficial to the body in so many ways. Too much fat in your diet can cause obesity and diabetes. Look at it like this: If you look at the calorie content of seeds and nuts, you’ll understand why losing weight with them is nearly impossible. Information about fats is controversial and often misleading. It’s difficult to understand which ones are good for you and which ones are harmful. For example, saturated fat and butter are fats that are always solid at room temperature. They’re most often used in whole milk and dairy and made from an animal source. They should always be avoided, if possible. Polyunsaturated fat often is
pitched as a healthy fat that is needed to promote a healthy heart. This is a gross misinterpretation. For example, we do need omega-3, which is a type of polyunsaturated fat, but we can get that from other sources. PolyunsatuDr. Timothy rated fat in liqMoore uid form remains that way at room temperature and even when it’s chilled. One example is corn oil. If you want this kind of fat in your diet, you can get it by eating corn. You also can get a healthy source of polyunsaturated fat
from fruits, vegetables and nuts. The majority of women tend to load up on polyunsaturated fat at the salad bar. For example, 4 ounces of salad dressing equals 8 tablespoons. And if 1 tablespoon equals 120 calories, that equates to 960 calories from the salad dressing alone. Just in case you weren’t told, olive oil is in fact a monounsaturated fat and considered to be a good fat. One cup of olive oil, for example, is loaded with 4,000 calories. In today’s society, it is used on everything from salad dressings to baking,
and as a coating agent. Whether you were informed or not before reading his column, you now know that good fats are very heavy in calories. This is one of the reasons that the majority of our society is obese. So, next time you reach for olive oil, think about the calories that you will be consuming. You may be surprised to know there is a man-made fat – hydro generated fat. This fat is used in butter, margarine, biscuits, cakes and frozen meals. When you’re thinking you are eating healthy, most likely you’re really not. I’m sure you’ve read food labels that say no trans fat is added. This is most misleading because of the legal limits set that the FDA sets on the percentage of allowed trans fats. It can equal to zero or .05 percent. When you are eating something that says there is no trans fat, think again. Cookies, crackers, cakes, piecrust, pizza dough and candy are just some of the food items that are loaded with trans fat. To be safe, just prepare your own food so that it won’t be an issue. I know you want to live a better and healthier life, but remember that oil is oil and fat is fat no matter the source. Take time to distinguish between what is good and healthy for you, and what is considered bad. (Dr. Timothy Moore teaches nutrition, heart disease and diabetes reversal through a plant-based lifestyle. He is a professional speaker, international wellness coach and personal plant-based chef. He is the author of “47 Tips To Reverse Your Diabetes.” He can be reached by email at cheftimothy@cheftimothymoore.com, visit him at www.cheftimothymoore.com or follow him at www.twitter.com/cheftimmoore.)
Memphis ranks among worst U.S. cities for allergy sufferers CNN
by Jacque Wilson
Things aren’t looking good for people with allergies in Tennessee. Not only is the pollen apocalypse on its way, three of the state’s major cities made the Asthma and Allergy Foundation’s annual list of the 10 worst places for spring allergy sufferers. These so-called allergy capitals are ranked based on pollen levels, use of allergy medications and the number of board-certified allergists in the areas, according to a foundation statement. Everyone in the United States can expect their allergies to be worse this year, thanks to an unusually wet winter, the foundation says. “Severe weather patterns can bring higher temperatures, higher pollen levels and increased exposure to mold, resulting in spring allergies that can peak stronger and last longer,” Dr. Bill Berger, a California allergist, said in the statement. Here are the top 10 worst allergy
cities for 2013: 1. Jackson, Miss. 2. Knoxville, Tenn. 3. Chattanooga, Tenn. 4. McAllen, Texas 5. Louisville, Ky. 6. Wichita, Kansas 7. Dayton, Ohio
CLASSIFIEDS
Tri-State Defender
April 4 - 10, 2013
8. Memphis 9. Oklahoma City, Okla. 10. Baton Rouge, La. Residents in Springfield, Mass.; Buffalo, N.Y.; and Grand Rapids, Mich., may face more severe cases than they have in years past. These cities all jumped at least 10 spots up on the list from the spring of 2012. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation also releases a list every year of the worst cities for fall allergy sufferers. The spring allergy capitals are based on tree pollen counts, while the fall cities are ranked on ragweed pollen counts from September through November of the previous years. Many of the cities on the fall list are on the spring list, but there are a few differences. 1. Louisville, Ky. 2. Wichita, Kansas 3. Knoxville, Tenn. 4. Jackson, Miss. 5. McAllen, Texas 6. Dayton, Ohio 7. Oklahoma City, Okla. 8. Memphis 9. Madison, Wisc. 10. Baton Rouge, La.
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Tri-State Defender
Page 13
April 4 - 10, 2013
Cooper-Jones town hall seeking grassroots leaders for education Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Tony Jones
District 86 State Rep. Barbara Cooper says a town hall meeting set for Saturday (April 6) will be a step toward creating a commission to help better address education needs in economically deprived and disadvantaged communities. The town hall session will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Teaching and Learning Academy, 2485 Union Ave. The entity envisioned is called the Commission on Ed-
ucation Prevention and Behavior Modification for the City of Memphis and Shelby County. With economically deprived and disadvantaged communities in mind, the idea is to create “an effective grassroots base” to help Memphis and Shelby County better meet education needs. The town hall represents the combined effort of the 12th Annual Cooper-Jones Initiative, the Memphis Area Association of Governments (MAAG) and the Super Learning Class. “We want to spark debate,
progressive thoughts and contingency plans as the realities of charter schools and vouchers encroach on Local Education Districts (referred to commonly as School Districts),” said Cooper in a release about the event. “The issues of education and social behavior are weighing heavily on the hearts and minds of many who genuinely want young people to develop skills that would lead to safe and prosperous lifestyles that contribute to wholesome citizenry,” Cooper continued.
Cooper and the late Rep. Ulysses Jones spearheaded the founding of the Cooper-Jones Initiative, which is dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Initiative seeks to identify, address and platform systems that would improve access to better education tools, techniques and services for interested citizens in underserved areas. “We’ve been able to help a lot of people over the years,” said Cooper. A key component of the annual push, Dr. Clifford Black, created the Super Learning
lege of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. He is to provide insight “on the role of social workers as first respondents to community social ills.” MAAG Executive Director Pam Marshall noted the merit in Cooper’s efforts to encourage citizens to play an active role in finding solutions to issues that directly impact their quality of life. “I believe this forum will encourage dialogue and perhaps create an environment for new leaders to emerge,” said Marshall.
The Soulsville Charter School Class of 2013 is college accepted Ku Klux Klan at a glance….
The long-awaited Ku Klux Klan rally took place in downtown Memphis on Saturday (March 30), with security far out-numbering Klansmen, who were kept behind a fence and quite a distance from protesters. The rally was in protest of the renaming of three Confederatethemed city parks. (Photos: Kelvin Cowans)
People’s Conference provides venue to counter racism by Karanja A. Ajanaku
kajanaku@tri-statedefender.com
The People’s Conference on Race & Equality was envisioned as “a place where people could take constructive action against racism” and about 1,000 people showed up for the cause. The event unfolded at the Fairgrounds on Saturday (March 30), with attendees undaunted by the wet conditions. It was organized by Memphis United, a collaborative of groups and individuals. Jacob Flowers of the MidSouth Peace & Justice Center said the event went as well as it could given the day’s conditions. “It hasn’t been the left of the city, it hasn’t been the activists. It’s been the community…mother’s, daughters, families,” he said. “When hate enters your city, the community has to figure out what the response is going to be to that,” said Flowers. “This response is one that says, ‘we are not going to ignore you (the KKK) coming into our town …we are also not going to buy into your tactics of violence, hate.’” We can’t pretend, said Flowers, that racism is only present in Memphis when the Klan comes around. “This isn’t the end for us (the collaborative). We’ve got a follow-up meeting April 12 at 5:30 p.m. at First Congregational church.” Sammy Bowen, 49, and his wife, Deborah, brought their two sons (3 and 5) to the Peace Conference. “I wanted them to get out and interact with people, all kinds of people, and let them know there is a whole lot of good going on besides the bad
Class that will be part of Saturday’s panel. “We developed the mission of The Cooper/Jones Initiative to address the fact that too often children of our culture were too often grouped into categories that weren’t true, saying they had Attention Deficit Disorder and other tags,” said Black. “So we developed a plan to teach them how to teach themselves and it has worked well and consistently.” The central address will be delivered by Dr. James P. Adams Jr., dean of the Col-
At The Soulsville Charter School, the shared focus is on preparing the students for success in college and beyond. Acceptance letters – dozens of them – help build the case for mission accomplished. This year, each senior in the graduating class has just such a letter. It’s the second consecutive year that every senior has been accepted to college, all of them to four-year programs. The details show many of the students headed to some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country, and many with substantial scholarships. “Each of the school’s classrooms is themed around a college or university and on most mornings this time of year, we announce college acceptance letters over the intercom,” said NeShante Brown, executive director of The Soulsville Charter School (TSCS). “This generates a buzz among the students and faculty and is exciting and encouraging to the younger students who will be graduating in years to come.” Last year, TSCS had its first-ever graduation, with all 51 seniors accepted to college. Many had been in the sixth grade in 2005, when the school was founded, and many of them were years behind in academic achievement at that time. The combined amount of scholarships and grants among the class was more than $3.8 million. The graduation day was featured in a live segment from the school on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” with ESPN analyst Digger Phelps, who referred to TSCS as “an American success story.” The 100 percent acceptance rate was achieved last year in May. This year, it happened in February.
This list of schools to which TSCS students have been accepted this year are Rhodes College, Wesleyan University, Wake Forest University, Tufts University, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Barnard College, Morehouse College, Carleton College, Sewanee: The University of the South, Centre College, University of Virginia, and Rice University, with many more colleges yet to notify students. Stephani Brownlee received a $250,000 scholarship to Brown University as a winner of the Questbridge National College Match. Calvin McGowan was one of only a few Memphis City Schools students to receive a prestigious National Achievement Scholarship. Three young men have also received full tuition scholarships to Morehouse. This year, there are 37 graduating seniors. The school’s college counselors are working feverishly to surpass last year’s $3.8 million scholarship mark, even though the class is smaller. An announcement about scholarships will be made on April 27th, during Stax to the Max, the Stax Museum’s allday, outdoor, free arts and music festival. TSCS’s College and Alumni Support team for 2012-13 includes three counselors (two full-time and one-part time), plus a parttime coordinator, who is focused on current TSCS students and the alumni that the office is charged with follow-up throughout their college years.
(For more information, contact Tim Sampson, Soulsville Foundation communications director, at 901485-8735, or visit www. thesoulsvillecharterschool.org.)
White House makes room for Soulsville Charter School and Stax Music Academy The Peopleʼs Conference included several panel discussions designed to foster community conversations. (Photos by Shirley Jackson)
This young boy enjoyed painting, one of the activities available at the fairgrounds on Saturday. they see,” said Bowen. He gave no thought to going downtown to observe and/or protest the Klan rally that trig-
gered the conference. “This is more important,” said Bowen. “Although you have to
stand up for your people, and you do have to do that, people generally have a lot in common,” he said.
The Soulsville Charter School and the Stax Music Academy will be well represented in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday (April 9) for the educational programming aspect of “In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul.” Two students – Adrian Williams and Stephani Brownlee – will be in attendance, along with First Lady Michelle Obama, Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, and the artists who will perform that evening for the PBS special to be aired April 16 on WKNO-TV/Channel 10. Brownlee and Williams attend The Soulsville Charter School and the Stax Music Academy. Brownlee, a senior, has received a $250,000 scholarship to Brown University. Williams has received a full financial aid scholarship to Rhodes College, Connecticut College, and Bates College. Stax Museum Director Lisa Allen and Justin Merrick, Stax Music Academy’s vocal coach and operations manager, will also attend, with Allen also invited to the evening performance. “In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul” is a PBS music special
taped in the East Room of the White House. President Obama and Mrs. Obama will host the event, which will honor “the memorable soul sounds from the mid- to late1960s that came from Memphis, Tennessee and legendary labels like Stax-Volt Records that featured artists such as Al Green, Mavis Staples, Carla Thomas, Otis Redding and many more…” The all-star concert will include performances by Alabama Shakes, William Bell, Steve Cropper, Ben Harper, Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, Joshua Ledet, Sam Moore, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples and Justin Timberlake, with Booker T. Jones as music director and bandleader. “We are pleased to support ‘In Performance at the White House’ and celebrate the cultural influence of Memphis Soul on the American music landscape,” said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. “Through public media that informs, educates, inspires, and entertains, we are delighted to bring this unique part of our country’s heritage to the local communities we serve.”
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April 4 - 10, 2013
Tri-State Defender