VOL. 63, No. 15
www.tsdmemphis.com
April 10 - 16, 2014
For rape victims awaiting justice, legislative vote is huge Special to the New Tri-State Defender
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Thousands of women in Memphis and Shelby County felt “someone was finally paying attention to them” when the Tennessee House of Representatives voted unanimously Monday evening to drop the statute of limitations on rape cases. The measure had passed the Senate 31-0 last month, and the House vote was its last big hurdle. On Wednesday, the bill went to Gov. Bill Haslam after the Senate concurred with a House amendment. “Monday’s vote in the state legislature was great news for those of us who have been waiting years for prosecution,” said Linda, a 38-year-old U.S. Postal Service employee, wife, mother of two, and a woman who once was raped. “ I’ve watched the clock tick down for the past five years and wondered if I would ever have my day in court. I felt relieved when I heard that there is no longer a statute of limitations in Tennessee. But, like so many other victims, I am still waiting.” The statute of limitations has been eight years on rape and 15 years on aggravated rape. Once the bill is signed into the law, any number of years may pass before prosecution begins for a rapist, as long as the victim reported the assault within three years of its occurrence. The news is a game-changer for the more than 12,000 victims in Memphis and Shelby County who are waiting for their rape kits to be tested. Some of the first ones to be logged were reported rapes from the 1980’s. The new law would mean that prosecution is still possible, even for 30-year-old cases. A celebration rally Tuesday evening facilitated by the Memphis Area Women’s Council marked the passing of the bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) and Rep. Joe Towns Jr. (D-Memphis). Many more who did not attend the rally also celebrated its passing. One was a 22-year-old college student whose rape kit is among those backlogged.
Atty. Gen. Eric Holder
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen
Rev. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr.
Federal monitors called for as early voting nears Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Tony Jones
Federal election monitors for the May 6th election? The Rev. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr. is pushing a request to the U.S. Department of Justice and Ninth District Congressman Steve Cohen is using his access to Atty. Gen. Eric Holder to press the case. Meanwhile, Shelby County Election Commission Chairman Robert Meyers said Wednesday that election monitors would be freely welcomed, if ordered. The timing backdrop for all the maneuvering is early voting, which kicks off April 16th. Cohen, a member of the House Judiciary Committee and ranking member of its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, on Tuesday urged Holder to provide the federal monitors for the upcoming elections in Shelby County. “Despite an election riddled with errors that was set aside by court order, no changes have been made at the Shelby County Election Commission,” said Cohen in a statement issued after he took advan-
April 16 is start of early voting tage of Holder’s appearance at a Judiciary Committee hearing. “As I have highlighted on numerous occasions, the Commission has demonstrated a troubling pattern of incompetence over the years – and something must change. I urge the Department of Justice to do everything in its power, including sending monitors to ensure the fairness of our elections, to protect the voters of Shelby County.” In response to Cohen’s query during the Judical Committee hearing, Holder acknowledged that his office had received letters, was reviewing the requests and that he would look at anything else Cohen had to provide. On Wednesday, Meyers said he had not seen the letters, adding that, “I can assure
you we have no objections with the Department of Justice monitoring any of the upcoming elections. I would like to point out that we went through the 2013 elections without any minor or serious election issues, but nonetheless, to meet our goal of complete transparency, if DOJ feels it is warranted we will welcome the process.” Cohen’s letter to Holder was dated April 2nd. In it, he noted that Whalum had written to Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Jocelyn Samuels expressing concerns about the upcoming election. He also noted that Whalum had “successfully sued the Election Commission after an election riddled with errors that the court set aside. Given that no changes have occurred at the Commission despite many documented errors over the last several years, he requests that the Department of Justice examine and monitor the Commission in advance of the upcoming elections. I hope that you will give his request all due consideration.” In his letter to Samuels, also dated April 2nd, Whalum made reference to the Chancery Court suit he filed and won after
NNPA News Service
by Freddie Allen
- INSIDE -
• MSO looks to score unity with ‘Rebirth of the Dream.’ See Entertainment, page 9. • Grizzlies come back on the Heat. See Sports, page 13.
When friends meet…
The Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian, one the civil rights movementʼs main strategists, greets Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) amid a sea of well-wishers at the April 4th Foundationʼs 14th Annual Commemorative Awards at the Peabody Hotel. Vivian received the groupʼs “I Am A Man Award.” See related photos on Community, page 11. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Ford ‘advocate’ scores big for Memphis kids Special to the New Tri-State Defender
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Marc Gasol vs LeBron James
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
H- 7 4o - L - 5 5o P a r tl y C l oud y
SATURDAY
H- 7 7o - L - 5 8o P a r tl y C l ou dy
REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Friday H-76 L-57 H-74 L-52 H-77 L-53
SUNDAY
H- 7 8o - L - 5 4o Most ly Clo ud y
Saturday H-75 L-60 H-77 L-56 H-77 L-56
Sunday H-76 L-51 H-79 L-55 H-81 L-60
SEE MONITORS ON PAGE 3
African-American children rank last on milestone index
SEE RAPE ON PAGE 2
• Memphian chosen Morehouse College student body president. See Opinion, page 4.
75 Cents
“I’m not a politician holding an elected office, and I’m not a candidate in any of the upcoming elections this year. I’m just an average citizen of Memphis advocating for the city I love,” said Kemba Ford, daughter of former Tennessee State Senator John Ford. But there was nothing “average” about the gift that Ford attained for the city’s children. The Herbal Life Family Foundation in Los Angeles trucked nearly 40,000 personal hygiene and skin care products into Memphis in late March, an in-kind donation worth more than $300,000 to benefit families in need. The generous donation was divided between two local charities: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis and The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis. “Herbalife operates a huge distribution center here in Memphis, and I felt it just makes sense for us to build a partnership of philanthropy,” said Ford. “Robyn Browning, executive director of the Herbalife Family Foundation, has been a friend and
Kemba Ford
mentor of mine for a number of years. She has heard me talk about our children and the great need here. Herbalife wanted to help. So you can imagine that I was thrilled when Robin called about making the do-
nation.” Ford took several weeks to carefully assess non-profit organizations and other charitable efforts to determine where the products could best be used. “I believe that advocacy and philanthropy are facilitated by divine favor. God gives a person the power of influence. That influence should always be used in the interest of assisting others,” said Ford. “To whom much is given, much is truly required.” Charles Griffin, vice president of operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, said the
products would be “well used” by the Clubs’ teens. “Our goal is to help boost our members’ confidence in their abilities, and taking pride in their personal appearance is a big part of that,” Griffin said. “We are so grateful for companies like Herbalife that step up and make a difference in communities with kids who need access to living a healthy and active lifestyle. This gift, facilitated by Kemba, will go a long way in achieving that end.” Ford came bearing a truckload of gifts the last week of March for the nearly 4,000 members. The Boys & Girls Clubs will use them – lotions and cleansers – as part of the healthy lifestyles program. Youngsters learn how to take care of their bodies and make healthy life choices, said Griffin. The Women’s Foundation received the other half of the donation, an organization Ford felt was equally worthy. “The Women’s Foundation has made millions of dollars in grant money to programs that assist women SEE FORD ON PAGE 2
WASHINGTON – Despite great progress that grew out of the civil rights movement, “a web of stubborn obstacles remains” that prevents children of color, especially AfricanAmerican children, from reaching their full potential, according to a recent report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “Differences in opportunity are evident from the earliest years of a child’s life. Too often, children of color grow up in environments where they experience high levels of poverty and violence,” the report stated. “Such circumstances derail healthy development and lead to significant psychological and physiological trauma.” The report titled, “Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children,” featured the foundation’s new “National Race for Results Index” that tracked 12 key milestones, including fourth grade reading proficiency, birth weight, the share of children who live in two-parent families and the proportion of children living in poverty. African-American children scored a 345 on the new index, the lowest among all children and 359 points lower than their white peers. Asian and Pacific Islander children scored the highest on the index with 776. African Americans scored below the national average on every Race for Results Index Indicator except for “children ages 3 to 5 enrolled in nursery school, preschool or kindergarten” and “children who live with a householder who has at least a high school diploma.” African-American children scored 63 percent on the preschool/kindergarten measure compared to the national average of 60 percent and tied the national average for children living with a high school graduate at 85 percent. SEE MILESTONE ON PAGE 3
Wade Henderson deplores “structural racism” that hampers African-American children (Photo: NNPA /Freddie Allen)
NEWS
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CONTINUED FROM FRONT
in becoming economically stable as they work to provide for their children,” said Ford. “Although there are many exceptional organizations doing incredible work, I felt that the Women’s Foundation would also be an excellent avenue for distributing the products.” Robyn Browning said Herbalife is interested in building a greater partnership with the city of Memphis. “We already have a major distribution center there in Memphis, and we want to grow our relationship even more, beyond the business aspect,” said Browning. “We think it is important to help create a sense of community and friendship with the people of Memphis, and we were delighted that our products would be put to such great use.” Both Ford and Browning said the in-kind donations would be ongoing. Herbalife is a global nutrition company that manufactures and distributes healthy living products for weight management and personal care through independent distributors in more than 90 countries.
Profile: Who is Kemba Ford?
Kemba Ford was born in 1974, the year her father, John Ford, became a Tennessee senator, and her uncle, Harold Ford Sr., became the first African-American congressman from the state of Tennessee. The stunning beauty is a commercial actress best remembered for her role as a pediatric nurse in the 2005 comedy, County General. But her big-screen success never dampened her desire to return home to Memphis to “be a public servant, whether that means within a political framework or not.” Ford ran for Memphis City Council in District 7 in 2011, a seat formerly held by Barbara Swearengen-Ware. She also vied for the Tennessee House District 91 seat in a 2013 special election to fill the post left vacant after the passing of Speaker Pro Tempore Lois DeBerry.
Tri-State Defender
April 10 - 16, 2014
Boys, girls to take Oath of Abstinence at Pinky Promise annual event
The formal oath ceremony will conclude with a ring presentation and waltz dance
Rose Jackson Flenorl
RAPE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Janese was a 16-year-old junior at Central High School when four men assaulted and raped her after offering her a ride home from a club. She was underage and had no business in a nightclub. But “just about everybody” had fake IDs to get into clubs and buy liquor. Janese always felt that she was to blame for the attack, since her parents thought she was out with her friends. The harrowing, physical examination that followed “was like being raped all over
Vicki M. Johnson again,” said Janese. “I knew it hurt my mother to have to go through that. I’ve never gotten over the guilt I felt about lying to my parents and getting myself into that situation. I don’t know that I would really remember how those guys looked. It was dark, but we had hope that the fluids taken from my body would identify them. It’s been hard to move on from there, but I’ve tried. I’m thankful for the law being passed. It gives me some hope, but I wonder if my rape kit will ever be tested.” Janese and others have good reason to wonder. The Memphis Police Department has re-
Boys and girls from throughout the MidSouth will participate in the 2nd PROMISE BALL Black Tie Oath Ceremony & Ring Presentation presented by Pinky Promise International on April 13th at 5 p.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Middle school and high school participants, grades 6-12, will receive a charge to remain abstinent from sexual and substance abuse behaviors. The formal oath ceremony will conclude with a ring presentation and waltz dance. Rose Jackson Flenorl, manager of Social Responsibility at FedEx Corporation, is the keynote speaker. Pinky Promise International, an organization that promotes abstinence, faith and career focused mentorship, was founded by Vicki M. vealed that not only have thousands of rape kits been stored away, but that some $5.5 million is needed to have those backlogged kits tested. This will take an estimated five years, official sources say. “What you have is the systemic victimization of these women by the criminal justice system, not only here in Memphis, but all over this country,” said Memphis attorney Robert Spence, who presently represents three rape victims caught in the backlog. “You can imagine how they felt, submitting themselves to a demeaning and embarrassing examination because they wanted
Johnson in 2012 after hearing Dr. Maya Angelou deliver a speech entitled “A Rainbow In My Cloud” at the Memphis Canon Center for the Performing Arts. CEO Johnson will present The Dr. Maya Angelou’s Rainbow Award to honorees selected for their commitment “to make a difference in the lives of others.” The 2014 Rainbow Award recipients are Bernal E. Smith II, president/publisher of The New Tri-State Defender, Billy Hicks Jr., CEO and president of Hicks Convention Services and Special Events Inc.; and the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences. For reservations, visit www.pinkypromiseinternational.org. For more information, call 901-483-4955 or emailing vmjohnson@pinkypromiseinternational.org.
to see some measure of justice, but then they learn that their rape kits have been thrown in storage somewhere and locked away,” said Spence. “Prosecutions in their cases can help them move on in their lives, and we want these kits tested and those who assaulted and brutalized them brought to justice.” Mayor A C Wharton Jr. has asked the Memphis City Council for $2 million to address the backlog, and Councilman Myron Lowery has proposed another $1 million. As for the remainder of the money, Mayor Wharton said simply that, “the city would find the money.” Former U.S. Atty. Veronica
Coleman-Davis was appointed by Wharton in mid-February to head up an investigation into the backlog. She expects that her work with police officials and other staff members will take approximately two months to complete. Repeated calls to the MPD Public Information Office were still unanswered by press time. Among cities reporting rape kit backlogs, Memphis had the largest in the country. Detroit has 11,000 untested kits, and the entire state of Texas has 16,000. However, only 17 states have mandated by law that inventory be taken of rape kit backlogs.
Tri-State Defender
MILESTONE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
“For African-American children the gap between where they are and where they should be continues to reflect a level of structural inequality that is difficult to eradicate,” said Wade Henderson, the president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “Without a focused effort generated both by the private sector and the government we won’t really have a meaningful response to the problems.” Those problems, some decades old, were often perpetuated and institutionalized by the federal government and deeply rooted in American society.
MONITORS
NEWS
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April 10 - 16, 2014
Following the Great Depression, as the Federal Housing Administration acted to lift white families out of poverty by encouraging home ownership and providing FHAbacked loans, the agency blocked African-American families from those same opportunities through a process known as “redlining.” When African-American veterans returned home from World War II, they continued to face discrimination from the federal government that would have lasting negative impacts on homeownership and wealth in the African-American community. “While white veterans used the G.I. Bill to great advantage, discriminatory practices systematized through government structures often prevented non-
whites from accessing G.I. Bill benefits, either for college or to obtain mortgages,” stated the report. The report explained: “People of color whose valor helped defeat fascism abroad were being denied pillars of the American Dream by racist processes and practices at home.” The vestiges of structural racism that deprived AfricanAmerican families of the American Dream, continues to plague the African-American community today. African-American children scored below their white counterparts in every measure related to family resources and below the national average on three out of four measures related to family resources. Those measures included: de-
laying childbearing until adulthood, living in a household with a person who has at least a high school diploma, living in a two-parent family and living in a family with income at or above 200 percent of the poverty line. The report noted that institutional discrimination continues to plague the South, where most African-Americans still live. Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina earned the lowest marks for African Americans on the index. “Obviously demographics are not destiny,” said Henderson. “On the other hand, the demographic trends pointed out in this report are likely to create a reality for the American economy, that without the interventions that we’ve
talked, about will reduce us all to something less than what we want as a nation and that’s the motivation I hope will encourage the investments that we need.” And those investments will become even more important as the labor force becomes more diverse and the nation’s economy becomes more dependent on the contributions of people of color. According to the Race for Results report, “If the United States had closed the racial achievement gap and AfricanAmerican and Latino student performance had caught up with white students by 1998, the gross domestic product in 2008 would have been up to $525 billion higher.” The Annie E. Casey Foundation report made a number
of recommendations, including collecting more data and using it to develop targeted programs and investments for the children with the most need and expanding programs that have proven track records. The report also recommended connecting communities of color to new jobs and opportunities. During the panel discussion on the report, Angela Glover Blackwell, founder and CEO of Policy Link, said that she hopes the report will get the nation’s attention. “We know what works,” said Blackwell, “We know how to make (early childhood education) available to all children. What we lack is the political and public will to demand it and to make it so.”
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
he “lost” a school board election in August 2012. Noting that the ruling in his favor is on appeal, Whalum said the DOJ’s intervention was crucial because “we are on the precipice of one of the largest primary elections in the history” of Shelby County. Whalum’s letter detailed that the state Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Local Government, State of Tennessee Division of Investigations, and Tennessee Secretary of State DiRobert vision of Elections all reviewed the Meyers August 2012 elections. He noted their finding of a troubling pattern of errors that led to an election “so fraught with error and poor judgment as to have caused the state to conclude the Shelby County Election Commission lacks the ability to conduct elections without significant inaccuracies.” Whalum also pointed out two other “red flag” developments – that the Commission has a history of such problems and that there have been no changes in personnel. “In other words,” Whalum wrote, “the leadership responsible for the myriad negative findings is still in charge.” Meyers said the Commission understands the concerns that have led to the call for monitoring. “I believe we have resolved all of those issues,” he said. “Most of them are related to redistricting and, again, the 2013 elections are reflective of that.” Cohen is seeking reelection and is on the May 6th ballot trying to capture the Democratic Party nomination once again. Whalum is on the ballot as a Democratic Party candidate for mayor of Shelby County. (This story includes a TSD staff report.)
Praiseworthy…
The special guests who made it to Memphis on Monday (April 7th) for “Mother” Frances Kelleyʼs celebration of 80 years of “life, love and Godʼs blessings” included Church of God In Christ Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake. Kelley is COGICʼs director of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry and president of the Womenʼs International Prayer Team. The celebration was held at Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Page 4
John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)
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OPINION
Tri-State Defender
April 10 - 16, 2014
• Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher • Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor
Memphian chosen Morehouse College student body president
The audacity of voting
I love voting. Every time I go into the booth, I see little girl me, pigtails and all, plaid skirt, white blouse and green sweater, part of my Catholic school uniform. Most of my relatives were Democrats, though my grandmother voted Republican a time or two because “Lincoln freed the slaves.” In 1960, I had the privilege of pulling the lever to elect John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the candidate that the nuns at Immaculate Conception Elementary School rhapsodized over. On the way back from the polls, my mom told me that Negroes (as we were called then) didn’t always get to vote, and she shared facts about grandfather clauses and poll taxes. I’ll never forget that moment, which may have sown the seeds of my activism. Indeed, when I went to school the next day, and the nun asked if everyone’s parent had voted, I took the opportunity to share that Negroes did not always get to vote. I was sent home with a note at the end of the day, and got an admonition from my mom about keeping my big mouth shut. I guess I didn’t learn my lesson. I guess everyone doesn’t like voting as much as I do. Only a quarter of those eligible to vote in the District of Columbia did so. Some blamed the earliness of the primary (only Illinois had an earlier date, on March 26, and some states have primary elections as late as September); others spoke of the inclement weather the weekend before the election as affecting voter turnout. But when I am reminded that Fannie Lou Hamer was almost beat to death because she registered voters, and Medgar Evers was killed because he worked to secure voting rights for black people, I am infuriated by those who take a pass on voting. How does a little snow on Sunday keep you from going to the polls on Tuesday? The fact is that too many African Americans play into enemy hands whenever they fail to vote. Now the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law (www…lawyerscommitt.org) has produced a “Map of Shame” that highlights more than a dozen states that engage in voter suppression, either by requiring picture ID, consolidating polling places so that people have to travel further to vote, or passing other restrictions on voting. Unsurprisingly, most of these
states are in the South, but Northern states such as Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania have also made it more difficult for voters. North Carolina is so bad that the Rev. William Barber, Julianne head of the state Malveaux NAACP, has been leading hundreds outside the state capitol weekly for “Moral Mondays” design to draw attention to the immorality of voter suppression. In a recent decision, the Supreme Court has now made it easier to purchase votes on First Amendment grounds, with the amount that the wealthy can give increasing exponentially. In McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the court ruled that the limit on contributions is unconstitutional. McCutcheon is not shy about explaining why he wants to spend more money. He wants to ensure that the law embraces conservative principles. It is interesting that the McCutcheon decision comes in time to influence this election cycle. With this decision, the Supreme Court has made it easier to purchase an election. With limits on PAC money lifted, the court has created a well-funded monster. There is more than one way to suppress the vote, and this court is determined to silence citizens any way they can. They have nullified a key section of the Voting Rights Act. They’ve made it possible to pour money into campaigns. In many ways they have attempted to shut people up, or at least skew the playing field in favor of the wealthy. The Rev. Jesse Jackson says that the hands that picked peaches can also pick presidents. We can’t pick anything if we don’t get to the polls. Voter suppression and well-funded opponents are obstacles to voting. Still, we impose some of the obstacles on ourselves.
(NNPA Columnist Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.based economist and writer.)
Race, values & elections
Recent Supreme Court decisions on voting rights and political contributions have rescued the Republican Party from the brink of political oblivion and instead threaten to permanently undermine the very fabric of American democracy. The court’s 5-4 decision last week in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission eliminated the aggregate cap on individual campaign donations. The ruling promises to, in the words of dissenting Justice Stephen Breyer, “open a floodgate” that will engulf American politics on an unprecedented scale. Ending limits on political contributions to federal candidates means that the court has willfully amplified the already powerful voices of the rich campaign donor class. Chief Justice John Roberts countered Breyer with the reasoning that the decades-old limit on individual donations represented a 1st amendment violation of free speech. From this perspective a dollar in campaign contributions has the equivalent power of $100,000, a notion that is absurd. The court’s decision should be read in tandem with last year’s Shelby v. Holder case, which curtailed the Voting Rights Act and has inspired a spree of Republican-initiated voter restriction laws across the nation. The impact of this decision is to abet Republicans in their efforts to put up sometimes insurmountable roadblocks for African Americans, Latinos and the poor to exercise their voting rights. Less than two years after President Barack Obama’s re-election, the GOP – backed by these two SCOTUS decisions – is flexing its muscles after forecasters predicted the party’s impending electoral doom. Obama’s victory was marked by history-making shifts in both voter turnout and the actual make-up of the American electorate. African Americans, for the first time in history, turned out at a larger rate than whites. And the importance of this shift – despite the GOP’s likely success in maintaining congressional power in 2014 – is that the White House is likely to be held by Democrats in 2016, in part due to demographic shifts that made the nation younger, more multicultural and multiethnic, and, relatively, more
progressive in political orientation. But something happened on the way to this vision of a more liberated future. The Supreme Court has saved Republicans, and is effectively usPeniel E. ing race and class Joseph to do it. The Shelby decision is especially abhorrent since it assaults the most vulnerable of our citizens in a naked effort to quash their political voices. Grassroots conservatives, Tea Party activists and mainstream Republicans received the court’s message loud and clear, launching or amplifying a false narrative that the nation risked widespread voter fraud unless restrictive ID laws were erected. But their new voter restrictions are actually designed to prevent black folks from voting, especially where they provided crucial electoral margins in the past two election cycles for president. And Republican governors and state legislatures have exacerbated voter suppression strategies by curtailing or eliminating early voting in states that went blue in 2008 and 2012. Allowing wealthy oligarchs even more voice through virtually unlimited campaign contributions compounds the discrimination happening at the grassroots level. The Republican Party, rather than fighting for increased voting rights for all and limiting the corrupting influence of money in American politics, embraces voter restrictions that fly in the face of Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a beloved community and benefits from a sprawling financial network whose special interests focus more on profits than people. Race, yet again, stands at the core of these political developments. Yet our inability to openly discuss institutional racism’s continued persistence in all facets of American society means that we ignore its ability to shape our national politics. (Peniel E. Joseph is a contributing editor to The Root. Follow him on Twitter.)
In the next month, Kwasi Enin must make a tough decision: Which of the eight Ivy League universities should he attend this fall?
Acceptance by eight Ivies doesn’t remove race stigma You would think that news of a high school student from a family of African immigrants getting accepted into all eight Ivy League universities would be met with universal celebration. If George you thought that, Curry think again. First the news: In the next month, Kwasi Enin must make a tough decision: Which of the eight Ivy League universities should he attend this fall? A first-generation American from Shirley, N.Y., the 17-year-old violist and aspiring physician applied to all eight, from Brown to Yale. The responses began rolling in over the past few months, and by late last week when he opened an e-mail from Harvard, he found he’d been accepted to every one. School district officials provided scanned copies of acceptance letters from all eight Monday. Yale confirmed that it was holding a spot for Enin. The feat is extremely rare, say college counselors – few students even apply to all eight, because each seeks different qualities in their freshman class. Almost none are invited to attend them all. The Ivy League colleges are among the nation’s most elite. Comments posted on the news website reddit leave little doubt that even with all of Enin’s accomplishments, many people will never see beyond his race. The comments show appalling ignorance not only about race in the United States, but about the college admission process itself. A person with the sign-in name of Hairlesswalkingchimp wrote, “I’m gonna get real with you reddit; no matter how pissed this makes you it doesn’t change the fact that he would not have had this absurd success if he was a white kid.” A writer identifying himself as Jetusan asked, “Are you just as pissed that 30% of admissions at Harvard are legacies? How many are less qualified white people, I wonder?” That’s a point most critics miss. Universities, including Harvard and Yale, admit a certain number of students in each class based on whether a parent attended the Ivy League institution. They call them “Legacy Admissions” and that’s how George W. Bush got admitted into Yale, following in the footsteps of his father and his father’s father. Other students are admitted because a parent made a major donation to the university. “I am surprised that no one has
mentioned that for the seven other schools he chooses not to attend, 7 students will be chosen from the schools respective wait list, and let’s be realistic, odds are they are white.” Overlooked in some of the posts is the fact that college admissions deans try to construct a balanced class, not robotically picking applicants based on grades and SAT scores. “Ivy Leagues don’t want well rounded applicants, they want a well rounded class,” wrote house_music_420. “It’s much easier to get in if you do something out of the ordinary and are really good at it instead of being pretty good at many things. I’ve talked to college admissions people and they all say that they are trying to build a well rounded class. “For example 10 people from my high school applied to Stanford and the only one who got in had a 3.5 GPA (lowest of the 10) and a 2030 SAT (lowest of the 10) and he was in my class struggling mightily.” Comeonreally8 wrote, “I am an admissions interviewer for one of the top ivies and I see a HUGE number of minority applicants with top grades, great SATs, and great leadership in their extracurriculars and they are rejected just as often as the non-minority applicants. So everyone saying ‘OMG IT’S ONLY BECAUSE HE’S BLACK’ calm down, being a minority is not some free pass to get into college. It is still incredibly challenging and rare to get into the top ivies. This kid sounds brilliant and I wish him all the success.” Wrote retop56: “This comment section is nothing short of hilarious. Yes, schools look for diversity in admissions, but it seems like a lot of people really think he did nothing except check a box that he’s black and waltz into 8 Ivys.” One person wrote, “There are 1000s of spots for white students to get in but when they fail to do so, they blame it on the 50 black students that they let in every year.” A white writer, JadeChaosTheory, noted: “Just by being white we have a ton of advantages in general – minorities need the boosts where they can get it.” He explained, “He (Enin) could graduate college with flying colors and still struggle to find a job/move up in the workplace because casual racism is a real and prevalent thing and there is an innate fear of people of color in positions of power.”
(George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service. He can be reached via www.georgecurry.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.)
FACEBOOK FAN OF THE WEEK Name: James Hall
James Hall is this weekʼs Facebook Fan of the Week! He is a Memphis native who received his degree from Lane College. Hall is currently selfemployed in the marketing & sales industry. He lives by a quote from Napoleon Hill: “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Hall enjoys sports, especially the Tennessee Titans and the Memphis Grizzlies, and he loves to listen to music by artists such as Keith Sweat and Stevie Wonder. Thanks James Hall for excelling in Memphis and for being a part of the TSD Facebook family!
When I stepped onto the campus of Morehouse College at the end of my junior year of high school in Memphis, I was faced with many of the challenges that plague the typical teenager Michael T. seeking guidance Gatewood II on their post-secondary destination: nervousness, excitement and an insatiable sense of curiosity. I wanted to go to a place that not only fed my mind, but also developed me into a whole person; a man who would leave with a heightened awareness of the world and with a burning desire to change it for the better. In high school, I was exposed to Morehouse Men who were doing great things in the community. They stood for something larger than themselves and they embodied the term “servant‘I am humbled leader”. I entered by the oppor- Morehouse as a in the tunity, excit- freshman fall of 2011. Dured about the ing the week of possibilities New Student rientation and driven by O “NSO” – a weekthe trust that long orientation incoming my brothers for freshmen – I rehave placed alized that Morehouse was the in me.’ place for me and that by the end of this journey, I would be a changed man. I vividly recall freshman year sitting in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Crown Forum listening to former Morehouse College president, Robert M. Franklin, Jr., speaking about leadership and dedication. Paraphrasing German politician and author, Goethe, President Franklin told us that “at the moment of your commitment, the universe conspires for your success.” Those words have stuck with me since that day and it was that day that I vowed to work to make Morehouse a better place. Starting my freshman year, I was afforded that opportunity. Having been elected as Junior Board Trustee, I was able to serve on the College’s Board of Trustees and represent the interest of my brothers. Serving on the Board for two years afforded me an unprecedented opportunity to serve my brothers and proved to be a firm foundation and training grounds for what was to become. Just over a week ago, I was elected as the President of the Student Body for the 2014-2015 academic year. I am humbled by the opportunity, excited about the possibilities and driven by the trust that my brothers have placed in me to fulfill this most noble duty – to give back to a place that has given me so much. There is a quote by theologian and “Morehouse Man” Howard W. Thurman that all students at Morehouse learn upon entrance. It reads: “Over the heads of her students, Morehouse holds a crown that she challenges them to grow tall enough to wear.” I hope that I will be able to grow tall enough to wear that proverbial crown. (Michael T. Gatewood II graduated from Germantown High School, where he was in the International Baccalaureate Program. He also participated in the NAACP Youth Council, Youth United Way and the Leadership Academy with the Links, Inc.) SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mail subscriptions to the Tri-State Defender are available upon request. One Year, $30.00; Two Years, $55.00. Domestic subscriptions must be addressed to: Subscriptions, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. Delivery may take one week. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. GENERAL INFORMATION: Any and all inquiries can be made in writing, by calling (901) 523-1818 or by e-mail. TELEPHONE: Editorial and Administration: (901) 523-1818. Display Advertising (901) 523-1818. Classified Advertising (901) 523-1818. Fax: (901) 578-5037. E-MAIL: Editorial e-mail (press releases, news, letters to editor, etc.): editorial@tristatedefender.com; Display advertising email (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): advertising@tri-statedefender.com; Classified advertising e-mail (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): classifieds@tristatedefender.com; Subscription/Circulation e-mail (subscriptions, subscription price requests, etc.): subscriptions@tristatedefender.com; Production e-mail (technical questions/specs, etc.): production@tri-statedefender.com. The Tri-State Defender (USPS 780-220) is published weekly by Tri-State Defender Publishing Co., 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38103. Second Class postage paid at Memphis, TN.
NEWS
Tri-State Defender
Page 5
April 10 - 16, 2014
Jasmine Guy set for Women’s Foundation Tribute Luncheon With a longstanding penchant for service, Guy is also the spokesperson for the I Am Not Yours! Campaign, a vehicle to assist organizations in the fight against child sex trafficking.
Jasmine Guy
Jasmine Guy, whose acting career spans television, theater and film, is headed to Memphis to keynote the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis’ 2014 Annual Tribute Luncheon on April 24th. “In addition to being a talented dancer and star of the stage and screen, she champions causes that support the safety and rights of women and girls everywhere,” said Ruby Bright, executive director/CAO of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM). Many recognize Guy as Whitley Gilbert on the “Cosby Show” spinoff “A Different World.” She won six consecutive NAACP Image Awards for her portrayal of the pretentious but funny southern belle. Guy’s most recent role, recurring as Grams on the popular series “Vampire Diaries,” can be seen on the CW Network. With a longstanding penchant for service, Guy is also the spokesperson for the I Am Not Yours! Campaign, a vehicle to
The Legends Award Reception pays tribute to women whose work embodies the mission of the Women’s Foundation. assist organizations in the fight against child sex trafficking. Guy sent word that she know the WFGM “does great work in helping to fund programs that help make financial stability possible for women and their families living below the poverty level.” That, she said, was reason enough to be excited about attending the Tribute Luncheon on April 24th. The WFGM Annual Tribute Luncheon is one of three events that make up the Annual Tribute Luncheon and Symposium during the month of April. The month begins with the Legends Awards Reception next Thursday (April 17th) at the Columns of One Commerce Square (40 S. Main) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On
April 24th, the Annual Tribute Luncheon with Guy is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and the Youth Leadership Forum will be immediately after from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center (255 N. Main). The Legends Award Reception pays tribute to women whose work embodies the mission of the Women’s Foundation and whose visionary and innovative work is paramount in their specialized areas of outreach. The 2014 Legends Awards honorees are Nancy Bogatin, Dr. Erma Clanton, Frances Dancy Hooks, Mary Shainberg and Modeane Thompson. The Legends Awards recipients will be honored through one-of-a-kind works of art and prose created in their honor and set to be unveiled for the first time at the Legends Award Reception. All proceeds from the Annual Tribute Luncheon & Symposium benefit the annual grant-making of the Foundation. For more information, visit www.wfgm.org or call 901-578-9346.
Memphis first stop on ‘Recalibrate Your Reality’ series
The National Black MBA Association® 2014 Regional Symposiums will kickoff this week with a Memphis launch. The multi-city tour, which targets professionals, will discuss the innovative trends within the workplace, along with a changing global workforce that “sometimes requires one to recalibrate their professional and personal realities.” The tour theme is “The Art of Leadership – Recalibrate Your Reality: Practical Steps from the NBMBAA®.” The symposium will share the latest industry practices, insights, cutting-edge resources and tools from some of today’s leading experts. Smith and oth-
ers will discuss strategic and practical ways to advance within and outside of the workplace. T h e Memphis Judy launch is Smith Thursday. It will be hosted in partnership with FedEx Corporation at the FedEx Institute of Technology, University of Memphis, 365 Innovation Drive. “The regional symposiums
were designed as an opportunity to extend our organizational mission to people across the country and shed light on our partnerships with some of the most recognized global brands and employers. It’s a pre-cursor to our annual NBMBAA® Conference and Exposition, where over 10,000 of the world’s best talent and rising leaders will convene on Sept. 16-20 in Atlanta, Ga.,” said Jesse Tyson, President and CEO, NBMBAA®. “Our year-round programming and engagement activities are intentional in objectives designed to foster advancement, provide forward-thinking solutions and
impact the lives of others through development. We’ve assembled the best minds to attract the best minds. In these sessions, we will collectively and respectively challenge one another to think beyond theories, recognize opportunities and chart new paths.” The day will also feature thought leader panels and networking opportunities with local, regional and national business leaders and employers, such as Gina F. Adams, Corporate Vice President, Government Affairs FedEx Corporation; Orlando Ashford, President of Talent Business Segment, Mercer; Dr. Atira Charles CEO, Think Actuality,
LLC & Assistant Professor of Management, Florida A&M University; Leslie Coleman, Global Human Resources Leader with Cargill, Inc., and Michael Hyter, Senior Partner & Managing Director, Korn/Ferry International. Crisis Management Expert Judy Smith will keynote the regional events. She is the inspiration for “Scandal,” which revolves around the life and work of a professional fixer. Smith serves as co-executive producer of the project and provides insight and technical expertise on crisis management issues. The NBMBAA® Southeast Regional Symposium is spon-
sored by FedEx Corporation and Cargill, Inc. Established in 1970, the NBMBAA® has 46 chapters, 28 collegiate chapters, a membership base of more than 9,000 and more than 300 corporate partners. For more information visit, www.nbmbaa.org.
(Follow NBMBAA® on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nbmbaahq and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nbmbaaHQ for daily updates.Also, follow the event using the official hashtag, #regionalnbmbaa. To learn more about the NBMBAA® or the 36th Annual NBMBAA® Conference & Exposition, visit www.nbmbaa.org.)
LENS & LINES
Bar-Kays do what they do at 50th anniversary show Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Warren Roseborough
The highly-anticipated Bar-Kays Minglewood Hall concert last Friday night (April 4th) vibed off the observation of the group’s 50th anniversary. Memphis’ own packed the Midtown venue, electrifying the crowd with pure funk, occasional ballads and memorable duets. Mixing the old school with the new, the Bar-Kays came out singing their hit song “Anticipation” and it was a non-stop jam for the next twoplus hours, with dancers and wardrobe changes galore. At one point, James Alexander took one side of the crowd and Larry Dodson took the other as they competed to see who could make the most noise. During the after party, they signed autographs and seemingly took photos with everyone in the building. If James Brown was the hardest working man in show business, then arguably the Bar-Kays is the hardest working group in show business. Friday night, they made one proud to be a Memphian.
Larry Dodson performing a duet with Shirley Brown. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)
Larry Dodson and James Alexander of the Bar-Kays performing at Minglewood.
BUSINESS
Page 6
Tri-State Defender
April 10 - 16, 2014
ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY
Madam C.J. Walker, Johnson Products, Pro-line and SoftSheen are all companies that have benefited greatly by providing products for black hair. These entities lead the way for other firms to profit from the industry as well. Corporations such as L’Oreal and Pantene seized the opportunity to expand their business into the market by leveraging their financial strength and distribution network. Many of the smaller black-owned companies were acquired by the major corporations and positioned as divisions. In last week’s column detailing HINO (Hair Industry Night Out), state Rep. Antonio Parkinson pointed observed that there is a natural movement going on outside of hair care; more and more people want to be closer to nature and anything that has to do with lifestyle or healthcare. As women increasingly move toward embracing their natural hair and leave behind damaging processing and/or chemicals, styles are ranging from natural curls to locks and
The business of natural hair
p r e s s ing/flat iron to afros. Feeling liberated, m a n y women now wonder why they waited so long Carlee McCullough to embrace their natural hair. Along with this movement come myriad business opportunities.
Natural hair care products
A part of the natural hair care industry includes the sale of products. Traditionally the black hair care industry has been driven by sales of relaxers, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, etc. With the growth of the industry, sales of relaxers have experienced decreases since 2008.
Transitioning products
Transitioning products is one of the greatest areas of growth in the natural hair care market. These products are used for that time in between the use of relaxers and the growth of the natural hair. Instead of cutting the chemically straightened hair completely off, the transitioning products assist in moving from one stage to the other. Businesses such as Carol’s Daughter manufacture and distribute transitioning products. Websites such as www.TransitioningMovement .com help women move from relaxed to natural hair.
Wigs & weaves
Although wigs and weaves are not natural, they are being used during the transitional period. The result is increased demand for these products. African-American women like to have versatile looks with their hair. Thus during the transitional phase, wigs
and weaves have become a huge part of the transition because their use prevents manipulation of the hair and prevents hair breakage. Sales of wigs and weaves are up despite the increase in the natural hair care industry.
Social media
With the assistance of social media, natural hair care products have experienced accelerated growth. Websites, blogs, YouTube, online forums and showcases all provide platforms for consumers as well as hair care professionals to share their experiences, stories and products. These forums helped startups and professionals develop their products with immediate feedback.
Competition
As the large corporations enter the industry, the originators and pioneers of the trend have to be creative in remaining relevant and competitive. With the majors Pantene and
L’Oreal targeting the natural hair market, the small companies have to lean on social media and grass roots to compete. However, the smaller companies do have one thing working in their favor…authenticity. Consumers are educated and well informed about their hair products and what works for their hair. The major corporations lack authenticity and credibility as it pertains to natural hair care. Major companies enter the African-American hair care market in one of three ways: adding ingredients that are readily identifiable to African Americans, starting new divisions with product lines that have an emphasis on the African-American market, and/or purchasing existing smaller companies that have excelled in the African-American hair care market. Companies such as Bonner Brothers that traditionally have had a strong hold on the relaxer market are now developing their own natural hair care lines. While the purists or
naturalistas of the natural hair care market raise an eyebrow to these companies, it has not prevented companies that currently sell relaxers from entering into the natural hair care market.
DIY
Do It Yourself or DIY is popular in the home repair business. But DIY also has a growing popularity in the natural hair care business. Specially made-at-home recipes of shampoo and conditioners have made the natural hair care market more than a quick fix. Participation means a total life style change as it relates to hair care. Many of the smaller companies were birthed from a home recipe of a natural hair care product or remedy that grew from the kitchen to the store shelves. (Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, TN 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)
MONEY MATTERS
Mainstay Gary Shorb to focus on role as CEO
Ugwueke named new president of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare After serving more than a year as executive vice president and chief operating officer, the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare board has approved Michael Ugwueke as president and COO of its parent company Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, as well as president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Memphis Hospitals (MHMH). MHMH is the entity that includes the five Memphis hospitals licensed as one, including Methodist Germantown Hospital, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Methodist
N o r t h Hospital, Methodist S o u t h Hospital a n d Methodist University Hospital. The move, effective May 1, is Michael designed Ugwueke to help MLH become “a stronger integrated system to best serve our patients.” Reporting directly to MLH
CEO Gary Shorb, Ugwueke will be responsible for operat i o n s across the system.
“Since being proGary moted to Shorb chief operating officer for MLH in January of 2013, Michael has led our adult facilities through a challenging healthcare envi-
ronment with a clear sense of purpose to provide the highest quality care to our patients and their families,” said Shorb. “We originally selected Michael for the COO role because of his passion for patient- and family-centered care, his ability to build strong bonds with physicians, his commitment to excellent clinical quality and his dedication to community wellness. These are exactly the qualities that will make him an outstanding President/COO. “I personally feel energized
by the responsibilities of navigating through changing times, and I can think of no one I’d rather have by my side than Michael,” added Shorb. “My commitment to MLH is rooted in a deep personal connection to our mission and our strong culture. Knowing that Michael shares that strong commitment makes me extremely confident about what we can accomplish together.” MLH is an eight-hospital system that also includes a home health agency, ambu-
latory surgery centers, outpatient facilities, hospice residence and physician practices serving the Memphis and Mid-South area. The Memphis hospitals are licensed as one and with 1,765 licensed beds and about 60,000 inpatient admissions, it is the third largest hospital in the country. With 11,000 associates, Methodist is the second largest private employer in Memphis.
(For more information visit www.methodisthealth.org.)
Teens learn to plan brighter financial futures Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Aisling Maki
In recognition of promoting diversity…
Dr. Kennard Brown (left), executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has received the Healthcare Education Award from the Nashville-based Council on Workforce Innovation. The statewide award, presented at the recent 2014 Healthcare Diversity Forum in Nashville, recognized Dr. Brownʼs efforts in promoting diversity in health care education. Also pictured: state Rep. G. A. Hardaway. (Courtesy photo)
About 100 students from Memphis high schools such as Booker T. Washington, Melrose and White Station spent Saturday (April 5th) preparing for their financial futures. The Planning Your Dreams Summit was held at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis Technical Training Center, where the teens focused on improving their understanding of financial terms and learning how to budget and manage their income. The summit was hosted by The RISE Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers Memphians by improving their financial literacy skills. The teens who participated are members of the RISE Foundation’s Goal Card program, an
incentivebased program that requires goal setting and improvements in grades, conduct and attendance. Lyrette The proBrown g r a m serves students in grades 5-12. Each resides in ZIP code 38126, which has a high concentration of low-income families. Participants learn to set and achieve academic, financial and life goals, and have been shown to outperform their peers, with 100 percent continuing on to higher education. The summit covered the fi-
nancial literacy skills prospective college students need to make good choices about financing their educations. “I learned some things about financial literacy that will help me throughout life,” said Lyrette Brown, a sophomore at Melrose High School. “Honestly, I thought it would be boring, but I actually had a good time. Hopefully, I will continue to succeed, and one day help someone the way the folks at RISE have helped me.” Teens took a realistic look at the projected income for their desired future careers and compared it with the cost of their desired lifestyles to see whether the two aligned. “We feel it’s imperative for students, especially our high school juniors and seniors, to be more aware of what to expect when it comes to their personal finances,” said Ricco
Mitchell, RISE Fountain Senior Coordinator. “They’ll learn how to better handle financial decisions as they matriculate into post-secondary education, the work force and adulthood in general.” Agenda topics included information from the Council for Economic Education, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee Health Science Center and University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The students received gift bags filled with goodies and valuable financial information made possible by sponsors and collaborating partners First Tennessee Bank; International Paper; Nike; University of Memphis’ Fogelman School of Business & Economics; and Franklin Coaches & Tours. This was the third year for the Planning Your Dreams Summit.
Tri-State Defender
April 10 - 16, 2014
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RELIGION
Page 8
Tri-State Defender
April 10 - 16, 2014
Breaking The Cycle Boys Symposium a no-nonsense good time Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Tony Jones
Minister Adrian Johnson drives a really cool car. Pimped up in sparkling green paint, squatting on dubs (street language for the 20-inch wheels that make the cars ride high in the air), Johnson’s ride fits right in with what’s called “D-Boy smooth” on the streets, but with a hard-to-ignore difference. The word “Because “Jesus” is they know emblazoned I’m telling across the side of the the truth... car in bright I was facing gold script. Posted up 35 years to at the Break- life when I ing The Cywas cle Boys saved.” Symposium last Saturday (April 5th) at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church on Stage Road in Cordova, Johnson’s “whip” perfectly symbolized the church’s mission to reach out to youths and speak to them – in plain but impactful ways – of how temptations can ruin their ambitions. Several hundred were in attendance, some transported by bus by Memphis Police Department, a sponsor. Highlighted by the appearance of Memphis basketball legend Penny Hardaway and
keynoter Antwone Fisher, speaker, author and screenwriter, the symposium concluded with a powerful lecture and slide show by gang intervention specialist Terrell “TJ” Johnson. Chronicled by The New Tri State Defender in June 2007 in an article terming him the “Gangster of Gospel,” some may scoff at the anointing of oil Johnson placed on those he addressed directly. Still, his presentation had a very real and visible impact. “Because they know I’m telling the truth,” Johnson explains. “I was facing 35 years to life when I was saved.” His organization is called the Wake Up Youth Foundation. From gasps to needed moments of humor and encouragement, Johnson “don’t play.” He mixes preaching with street lessons backed up with a slide show showing kids the risk they are taking with their lives if they become gang affiliated. “This one is 15. He was found in a ditch where his brothers in the gang dumped him. This next one shows you another young man murdered by his own gang before they went and shot up his mother’s home. See this young lady? Her boyfriend murdered her and stuffed her in a garbage can. That’s the chance you are taking with your lives when you run these streets,” said
Several hundred were in attendance for the Breaking The Cycle Boys Symposium that included a presentation by Pastor Terrell “TJ” Johnson, a gang intervention specialist. (Photo: Tony Jones INK!)
Johnson narrating through several slides. A particularly telling moment came when one slide panel displayed the word “saggin.” “Now, reverse that word and think about it,” Johnson told them. “Quit falling for these mind games the streets put on you.” Assembling the crowd up front, Johnson walked through, giving personal messages to many. As he addressed this one and that one, Terri Lawrence, who was taking pictures, pointed out a young man who was visibly disturbed. The minister
Minister Adrian Johnsonʼs ride fits right in with whatʼs called “D-Boy smooth” on the streets, but with a hard-to-ignore difference – the word “Jesus” emblazoned across the side in bright gold script. (Photo: Tony Jones INK!)
LIVING THE LIFE I LOVE
RELIGION BRIEFS
BRIEFLY: Holy Week Services will be held Sunday (April 13th) through Friday at 7 p.m. at Castalia Baptist Church, 1540 Castalia St. A different preacher will be proclaiming one of the words spoken by Christ from the cross each day. Castalia’s Easter Pageant will be April 20th at 10 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Randolph Meade Walker is the host pastor. BRIEFLY: Eureka TrueVine Baptist Church will host the grand opening of its new Worship Center at 3510 Millbranch on April 13th at 3 p.m. The guest speaker will be Judge Joe Brown, who will be introduced by Judge Tarik Sugarmon. The theme is “Crossing Over the Jordan, Into the Promised Land.” The Watoto Memphis Tour Ensemble under the direction of Donald O’Connor will be special guests. The host pastor is Frederick De’ Wayne Tappan. For more information, call 901-281-1415 or 901277-5990; email fdtappan@gmail.com. BRIEFLY: The Rev. David Anderson from Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church will be the special guest when the Key Club of Whitehaven along with the Kiwanis of Whitehaven host the Spring “Be Kind” Program in the Whitehaven High School auditorium beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday April 16th.
grabbed him and spoke with him, bringing the young man to tears as he acknowledged that he was having gang-related problems. Standing by his car afterward, Johnson told the young man’s story. “His brother is a big gang member in a major set. For him to be here and to see how it affected him is why we have to keep doing this. It gave him the courage to step forth and ask for help.” Nicholas Bouey brought his 11-year-old son, Nicholas, and nephews, Orien, 13, and Jacoby Franklin, 1. Asked about the presentation, Orien said, “It was a little explicit, but…that’s life.” Saying he is an “A-B” level student, he says that so far he has not been approached by anyone in a gang. The elder Bouey said he was glad he brought the boys. “Letting them see (what gang life could lead to) for themselves was a very positive experience, because they’re not going to listen to the parents,” he said. “I’ve had experiences in my past that I don’t want them to know about and to let them see it as it really is keeps them from thinking that just because I made mistakes and come through it they can do the same thing. I think it is something kids that may be caught up need to see.”
When things get unbearably rough, make a plan to get going Dear Lucy: I work for a company where I get to see a lot of what really goes on because my job is at a low level in the organization. People assume that I am not paying attention because of my status. But I do. What I see is a lot of backbiting, meanness, lying, frustration and little respect for the customer, the boss or each other. I try to be a pleasant team player. My efforts don’t really matter. I need my job but enough is enough. I am feeling tainted by all the negativity. What can I do to stay in the saddle? – Rough Rider Dear Rough Rider: Sounds to me like everybody is having a rough ride! Here are some things to consider. If this has been going on longer than three years, chances are it will not change without a drastic change in leadership. You don’t control that. Sometimes, no matter how pleasant we may be, a spirit of anger and resentment when anchored, will not be pulled up by one person’s attempts to be nice. You don’t control
that. I imagine that most of those people who remain in this environment somehow believe like you that they have no choice or control. Lack of choice and Lucy control breeds Shaw contempt. You don’t control that. (Except in yourself). I could go on and on. But you get the drift, right? The big question is this: “Truthfully, What do you control?” You can control your own emotional response (not reaction) to what is going on. Stick to the facts. Nobody cares how you “feel” in that camp. You are at a decision crossroad and the decision must not be emotional. An emotional decision will cause you to snap one day and quit without thinking. Sometimes this really “feels” good but it does not pay the
bills. On the other hand, it hurts at a deep spiritual level to “prostitute” ourselves on behalf of our rent, car payment and eating! It helps to acknowledge with honesty why you continue to stay. However, stay only as long as it takes to develop and work your exit PLAN. Your pain is not so much because of your environment at work. It is your need to survive and the lack of joy while you do it that hurts. Survival is not nearly as nice as thriving. When we are thriving, we are feeding the soul, mind and body. You are responsible for your own loving and kind behavior wherever you go. You will never be responsible for how others behave. You are also responsible for putting your entire trust in God as the Source of your Supply...not the job and not those people. You are responsible for maintaining a personal state of continuous praise and thanksgiving. God is the author of your peace. Stop looking at your job and the people there for your peace. You have one half of the equation right. That’s the half where you behave
PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-
METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor
767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126
ASSOCIATE MINISTERS
901-946-4095 fax 948-8311
Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
SUNDAY Sunday School .....................8:30 am Morning Worship Service ....10:00am
WEDNESDAY Bible Study .........................10:30 am Mid-Day Prayer Meeting .....12 noon Evening Prayer Meeting........7:00pm
FRIDAY Cable Channel 17 ............... 8:00pm
Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
– Psalm 55:22
A new church plant
“Where love & Joy is at the top of the list” 1000 Cherry Rd., Memphis, TN 38117
Ch u r ch o f C hr is t Temporary Location: Harding School of Theology (W.B. West Auditorium) Friends & Family Day – April 27 Bible Study: 9:00 a.m. Worship: 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. 901-730-0984
J.M. Crusoe Minister
courageously and kindly in an unhappy place. Now get busy on the second half. Do the best job possible while you ask God for another place to spread joy. Stay alert for any available free classes or opportunities to upgrade your skills. Maybe the call is for you to leave. But leave on your terms and be prepared to take even more to offer the next employer. Sometimes we won’t get off the horse until the ride gets too rough. I have found that pain is just a way for God to get my attention so that I can get a blessing. Blessings, Lucy
(Check out Lucy Shaw’s website at http://www.heartworks4u.com. Send your questions to lucy@heartworks4u.com.) (For help with the feelings that get in the way of prayer and peace of mind, get Lucy’s new book, “BE NOT ANXIOUS.” Order it directly from her at 901-907-0260 or go to her web site www.heartworks4u.com.)
Attend the Church of your choice
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. —Phillipians 4:13
ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, April 10 - 16, 2014, Page 9
Toni Green
Have soul, will travel! Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Brittney Gathen
Toni Green is a living proof that the soul of Memphis music still travels well. In Poretta Terme, Italy, excitement already is mounting for the 27th Porretta Soul Festival, which will be a tribute to Otis Redding. The festival will take place July 17-20 in Rufus Thomas Park. Green, who has been performing at the festival since 2005, graces the cover of the poster promoting the festival for the first time. She recalls crying for a week after getting that news. “It’s still blowing my mind,” said Green. “To have me on the cover was overwhelming.” Green is no stranger to music or Europe. Over the course of her musical career, she has had the opportunity to open up for artists such as the Bar-Kays, the S.O.S. Band, and Con-funk-shun, and has previously performed in France. “People don’t get the opportunity to even see the thousands of people whom I play for over there…it’s just something to behold,” Green said. For Green, Italy provides an embracing environment that stands apart from her other experiences. “Italy is such a warm, wonderful place of people who love our music, know our music better than we do, and they embrace us. The embracing part is they love people like Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, James Carr, James Govan. They have embraced our music for years. They know more about our history, who our moms and dads were. They seem to embrace us more than they do in the United States and what a pity. We don’t get the same kind of embracing over here,” said Green. “Even though Beale Street plays our music, Beale Street doesn’t appreciate us like they do. We’ve become a tourist thing for here, but over there, we’ve become so embraced, they know who you are.” In addition to Green, the Porretta Soul Festival will also feature artists such as Muscle Shoals All Star Band, Bonnie Bramlet, Jimmy “Wet Willie” Hall, Donnie Fritts, Carla “Kozmic Mama” Russell, Jerry Jones & Chilly Bill Rankin, Vaneese Thomas, Charles “Wigg” Walker, Guitar Shorty, Frank Bey and Anthony Paule Band, and Osaka Monaurail.
Memphis Symphony Orchestra music director Mei-Ann Chen will be at the helm during the “Rebirth of the Dream” concert on May 16th at the Cannon Center. (Courtesy photo)
MSO looks to score unity with ‘Rebirth of the Dream’ Joyce Blackmon, featured among Mei-Ann Chenʼs Circle of Friends in a video discussion of “Rebirth of the Dream,” recalls a night of fright, anger and frustration after Dr. Kingʼs death.
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kirstin Cheers
When cacophonic harmonies and tragic memories dance together in Memphis, they create the stage of epic proportion. On May 16th, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO) will celebrate one of the world’s greatest revolutionaries with melodic strands of harmony. “Rebirth of the Dream” was inspired by the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The MSO is out to use the power of music to revitalize the history, pains and victories surrounding Dr. King. The ultimate goal is to unite individuals and communities. Mei-Ann Chen, music director of the MSO, migrated to the United States when she was 16. Daphene Shortly after, she would McFerren hear Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. “I heard this perfect speech that stayed with me,” said Chen in an online interview. “In a way I came to this country to fulfill my dream, but I knew it must be a bigger dream, a bigger calling, to coincide with my own dream.” As she prepares to lead the orchestra on May 16th, Chen is supported by a group of 150 diverse women known as Mei-Ann’s Circle of Friends (MACF). The philanthropy circle is locked into the idea of providing an enhanced opportunity to explore the life of of Dr. King beyond school history programs and the pages of textbooks. MACF raised the revenue to commission Paul Brantley to write the composition or score of “Rebirth.” As the event draws near, 14 non-profit organizations – known as the “Dream Keeper Collaborators” – have committed to support the MSO by building awareness and momentum in their respective communities. The support aligns with the collective mission to continue Dr. King’s work through promoting social justice and action, “Our mission is ‘teaching, studying, and
Lillian Hammond recalls that her interest in Dr. King started right out of college, thanks in part to her pastor, the Rev. Jim Lawson, who invited Dr. King to Memphis in April 1968. Mary McDaniel: “The Dream Project has the potential for changing so many lives. It also has a great opportunity to help us connect, one to the other and actually start the healing process.”
promoting civil rights and social change,’” said Daphene McFerren, executive director of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis. “We interact with not only students on campus, but with the community-at-large.
As a collaborator, we have helped discuss and been engaged in activities to help create community awareness.” Calling the legacy and vision of Dr. King central to the civil rights movement, McFerren hopes the “Rebirth of the Dream” event will represent the diversity of Memphis, bringing together people from different backgrounds who can collectively enjoy the composition. In addition, she wants people to walk away with their own personal “callto-action.” “One of the things we have been talking about is giving people some concrete action as a result of this activity,” McFerren says. “It is important that after this event people will leave this with some promise they can keep themselves to give to someone or something in their community that would create a power of improvement.” Another prominent “Collaborator” is the Metropolitan In-Faith Association (MIFA). The organization, which was founded by a diverse group of church and lay leaders after the death of Dr. King, provides financial and community support to senior citizens and families affected by high-impact conditions. “This vision truly embodies the spirit and legacy of Dr. King’s work in the community,” Sally Jones Heinz, MIFA executive director, says. “MIFA is delighted to be a Dream Keeper Collaborator as we embrace Memphis history and unity through the Rebirth of the Dream concert.” Roland Valliere, president and CEO of the MSO, says with the recent opening of the revitalized National Civil Rights Museum, “Rebirth of the Dream” could spark a muchneeded uptick in the sense of pride in Memphis. The concert will incorporate a Dream Gospel Chorus assembled by Leo Davis of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. It will be composed of singers from various churches throughout Memphis and feature a solo performance by Grammy Award nominee and Stax Music Academy Director, Justin Merrick. “Rebirth of the Dream” premiers on May 16th at 7:30 p.m. at the Cannon Center in Downtown Memphis. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.rebirthofthedream.com.
‘Uniform Justice’ makes an impact Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Jennifer Sharp
A haunting refrain of, “hold on,” fills the theater. The lyrics, sung by a trio, warn the audience of what is to come: a story of strife, fear, choices and consequences. The play is “Uniform Justice,” written by New York playwright, Chukwuma Obasi, as part of a unique conflict resolution project, a partnership between Hattiloo Theatre and TE’A (Theater, Engagement & Action) at Intersections International and the Memphis Police Department’s Community Outreach Program. It’s sponsored by Memphis Gun Down, Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s youth gun violence reduction initiative. Hundreds of attendees of all ages, including community organizations and church groups, filled the house for each of the five, free shows held at Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Union Avenue Campus theatre. Mayor Wharton attended one of the performances and spent time with the cast. Hattiloo actors portrayed characters that would be easily recognizable on the streets of Memphis. The story begins with three young males on prom night as they discuss future plans. One is headed off to college as an athlete, another is content to stay in Memphis and become a rapper, and the third wants to stay home with the goal of making a difference. The audience follows them as one college
dream fizzles and a rap career wanes, all while a plan to become a Memphis Police Officer is realized. The script weaves rhythm and song with powerful messages about retaliatory violence and the life or death consequences that come with many choices. The discussion about bypassing law enforcement to handle feuds transitioned from the stage into the theater seats as audience members, cast members and organizers participated in an open forum after each performance. Obasi says those conversations were an important part of the play.
Audience members, cast members and organizers participated in an open forum after each performance of ʻUniform Justice.ʼ (Courtesy photo)
“A piece like this, which speaks directly to the community,” he said, “warranted an opportunity for the entire audience to share this post-show kind of conversation that people like to have.” During the discussions, the participants brought up a number of topics and a few commonalities surfaced. While many cite a reluctance to report crimes due to the fear of retaliatory violence, others suggested that law enforcement cultivate relationships in their communities. The responses came as a welcomed surprise to Vieve Price, founding director of In-
sight Initiatives, who also facilitated the forums. “I think the facilitated conversations were important in that they proved that people care, and that they want to engage and talk about these issues with each other,” she said. Law enforcement officers who attended also found the play to be an important conversation starter. “The play really accurately shows what officers see on the street and these conversations need to continue to happen,” said Wylie Green, a Shelby County Correctional Officer. It’s possible that these discussions can continue as organizers are exploring ways to extend the life of “Uniform Justice,” taking the play to area schools, churches and community organizations. While Price and Obasi return to New York, they are confident that “Uniform Justice” will continue to grow. “One of the beauties, among many, of working with the Hattiloo Theatre was the commitment on their part to keep ‘Uniform Justice’ as a permanent piece in their repertoire,” Price said. The hope is that the anguish of a grandmother fighting to keep her grandson off the street, the frustration of a police officer trying to protect and serve and the dangerous choices made by desperate men wary of law enforcement will make a powerful impact.
(Special to The New Tri-State Defender from Kingdom Quality Communications.)
ENTERTAINMENT
Page 10
Tri-State Defender
April 10 - 16, 2014
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 11, 2014
The Root
by Stephen A. Crockett Jr.
BIG BUDGET FILMS
“Draft Day” (PG-13 for brief profanity and sexual references) Kevin Costner stars in this gridiron saga as the Cleveland Browns’ general manager determined to turn the franchise around after 13 years of bad luck with the help of this year’s #1 draft pick. Ensemble includes Jennifer Garner, Terry Crews, Frank Langella, Sam Elliott, Chadwick Boseman, Denis Leary, Ellen Burstyn, Rosanna Arquette and Sean “Puffy” Combs. “Oculus” (R for terror, violence, disturbing images and brief profanity) Supernatural thriller about a woman’s (Karen Gillan) effort to exonerate her brother (Brenton Thwaites) of their father’s (Rory Cochrane) killing by proving that the perpetrator was actually an evil spirit that had inhabited their home. With Katee Sackhoff, James Lafferty and Garrett Ryan. “The Railway Man” (R for disturbing violence) Fact-based tale recounting the attempt by a former POW (Colin Firth), with the help of his wife (Nicole Kidman), to track down the Japanese officer who had tortured him during World War II. Co-starring Stellan Skarsgard, Jeremy Irvine and Tanroh Ishida.
“Rio 2” (G) Animated adventure finds Blu the macaw (Jesse Eisenberg) and his brood on an expedition to the rainforest where he’s confronted by his revenge-minded nemesis, Nigel the cockatoo (Jemaine Clement), and company. Voice cast includes Anne Hathaway, Bruno Mars, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Mann, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Leslie Mann and will.i.am.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
“A Fragile Trust” (Unrated) Ethics expose about Jayson Blair, the disgraced New York Times reporter who was dismissed after being caught plagiarizing many of his stories.
“Cuban Fury” (R for profanity and sexual references) Romantic comedy about a oncepromising dance prodigy (Nick Frost) who makes the most of a second chance at glory when he enters a salsa competition with his new boss (Rashida Jones) as his partner. With Chris O’Dowd, Rory Kinnear and Olivia Colman.
“Dancing in Jaffa” (Unrated) Peace outreach documentary about legendary Pierre Dulaine’s attempt to transcend Middle East
Rapper 50 Cent ordered to pay $16 million in headphone settlement
Sean “Puffy” Combs plays Chris Crawford, sports agent to top prospect Bo Callahan (played by Josh Pence) in Ivan Reitmanʻs upcoming sports film, ʻDraft Day.ʼ
tensions by teaching ballroom dancing to a mixed group of Israeli and Palestinian 11 year-olds. (In Hebrew, Arabic and English with subtitles)
Sheridan) with an abusive, alcoholic father (Gary Poulter). Featuring Ronnie Gene Blevins, Adriene Mishler and Heather Kafka.
“Hateship Loveship” (R for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Dysfunctional family drama about a conniving teen (Hailee Steinfeld) who manipulates her grandfather’s (Nick Nolte) nurse (Kristen Wiig) into a romantic relationship with her estranged father (Guy Pearce). Cast includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, Christine Lahti and Sami Gayle.
“Perfect Sisters” (Unrated) Matricide mystery revolving around a couple of teenagers (Abigail Breslin and Georgie Henley) who hatch a plan to murder their alcoholic mother (Mira Sorvino) after getting fed up with years of abuse. With Spencer Breslin, Jeffrey Ballard and Zoe Belkin.
“Hank and Asha” (Unrated) Long-distance romantic romp about a student from India (Mahira Kakkar) living in Europe and a lonely guy in the U.S. (Andrew Pastides) whose love blossoms via video exchanges over the internet. With Emmanuel Baptiste, Robyn Kerr and Brian Patrick Murphy.
“Jesus People” (Unrated) Faith-based mockumentary about a terminally-ill minister (Joel McCrary) who decides to start a Christian rock band in order to wean his wayward teenage son (Chris Fennessey) off gangsta rap music. With Octavia Spencer, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Catherine Reitman. “Joe” (R for violence, profanity, disturbing themes and graphic sexuality) Nicolas Cage plays the title character in this tale of redemption as an ex-con who serves as an unlikely role model for a troubled 15 year-old (Tye
“Only Lovers Left Alive” (R for profanity and brief nudity) Romantic fantasy revolving around the undying love between a couple of vampires (Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton) who have been married for centuries. Support cast includes Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt and Jeffrey Wright. (In English, French and Arabic with subtitles)
Looks like 50 Cent is going to have to fork over $16 million. That’s because the rapper turned mogul was supposed to produce a line of headphones with Sleek Audio but reportedly snagged design secrets from the Florida company and used them to create his own headphones, the Miami Herald reports. According to a recently unsealed court documents viewed by the Miami Herald, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, has been ordered to pay $11.6 million in damages for misappropriation of trade secrets, unjust enrichment and breach of confidentiality; and $4.4 million in legal fees and expenses. The amount of the award had been kept confidential. After seeing the success of Dr. Dre’s “Beats by Dre” headphones, 50 Cent and Sleek Audio teamed up in 2011 to create and market a line of over-the-ear wireless headphones to be called “Sleek by 50.” The Herald says that the rapper and the audio company split ways without ever making or marketing any headphones. The Herald reports that an arbitrator ruled that 50 Cent stole designs from Sleek Audio headphones to make his own lines, “Street by 50” and “Synch by 50.” A federal court in Miami agreed with the arbitration and awarded Sleek Audio $16 million, an amount that 50 Cent tried desperately to keep sealed, according to the Herald.
“Thomas Keating: A Rising Tide of Silence” (Unrated) Poignant portrait paying tribute to a Trappist monk turned influential author of 30+ books sharing a unique brand of Eastern-influenced Catholicism. “Unthinkable: An Airline Captain’s Story” (Unrated) Murder mystery about a commercial jet pilot (Randall Paul) found dead with a single bullet in his head the day after his political conspiracy theory was called crazy by the government. With Dennis Fitzpatrick, Michael Biesanz, Drew Barrios and Jerry Bell, Jr.
50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson (Photo: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
COMMUNITY
Tri-State Defender
Page 11
April 10 - 16, 2014
BRIEFS & THINGS
THE MANASSAS LEGACY
Beale Street: An update
The April 2014 Beale Street Operations Plan and a letter from Mayor A C Wharton Jr. was delivered to members of the Memphis City Council on Tuesday (April 1st), with Wharton expected to soon propose an ordinance creating a Beale Street Board. The board would be comprised of five to seven members to be nominated by the mayor and approved by the council. It would include representatives from the Beale Street Merchants Association, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC), a City Councilmember, and at least one citizen member. According to information from Wharton’s office, the board’s first business will be to develop and issue a Request for Qualifications followed by a Request for Proposals to manage operations and further develop the entertainment district. DMC will continue its role as interim manager of Beale Street through the rest of 2014. If all goes according to plan, the Beale Street Board would have a manager/developer selected and ramping up by early 2015.
Rep. Cohen sets diabetes awareness and prevention event for April 12th
Congressman Steve Cohen will host the second event of his “Building a Healthier Memphis” series on wellness in the Ninth District on Saturday (April 12th) at the Church Health Center Wellness. The event, which is set for 10 a.m. to noon, will focus on how the Memphis community can work together to stem the rising tide of diabetes diagnoses in the city. It will feature a number of experts, including Dr. Ann Albright, the United States Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Director of Diabetes Translation. Information will be provided on how Memphis families can take advantage of provisions of the President’s Affordable Care Act. RSVP to Congressman Cohen’s Memphis office by calling 901544-4131.
The Manassas Alumni Associationʼs 21st Annual Unity Brunch was held last Saturday (April 5th) at the Holiday InnUniversity of Memphis. The speaker was Dr. Coby V. Smith (right) of the Class of 1964, who received this plague of recognition from James F. Thompson, president of the Manassas Alumni Association and the Class of 1958.
Jazz musician Emerson Able Jr. (second from right) was the 2014 Gold & Blue Award Recipient. Also pictured (l-r): Palmer Mosby, master of ceremony, Class of 1958; Thompson; Able, Class of 1948; and William “Bill” Hurd, Class of 1965. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
Museum’s grand day stirs smiles, laughter and tears
Teen Appeal Retrospective and Art Show on April 16th
The Teen Appeal will host a Retrospective and Art Show showcasing nearly 20 years of student journalism, as well as new pieces from current staff members next week. The show will take place from 4-8 p.m. on April 1, at Crosstown Arts, 430 N. Cleveland St. The free event will include a comprehensive retrospective of student pieces from the last 17 years. “The students have written about a large variety of subjects including teen domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, suicide, immigrant issues. They even interviewed former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city,” said Teen Appeal coordinator Elle Perry. “On the lighter side, it’s a lot of fun to look back at music and fashion trends.” Teen Appeal students will have the chance to show off their non-journalism work, including photography, painting, poetry, and fiction/playwriting at the event. “We only use non-fiction journalism for the paper, so this event gives our students a chance to show off their other skills,” said. The event also overlaps with Teen Appeal recruitment for next school year. The newspaper, written by and for Shelby County School high school students, is looking for students who will be in grades 9-12 to write, take photos, and create editorial illustrations. The goal is to have at least one student representing each SCS high school.
Planned Parenthood and Get Yourself Tested Month
April is National STD Awareness Month, and Planned Parenthood, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and MTV, is raising awareness of the need for STD testing with a public information campaign called “GYT: Get Yourself Tested.” By the time they reach age 25, half of all young people have contracted a sexually transmitted infection. Many of the most common STDs cause no symptoms, so routine testing is the best way to detect and treat infections early, before they cause lasting health problems, including infertility. Planned Parenthood’s health center at 2430 Poplar Avenue is offering opportunities for free testing and a low-cost treatment day for two of the most common sexually transmitted infections: gonorrhea and chlamydia. Free Testing Day – April 16 – from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: free gonorrhea and chlamydia testing (first 50 clients); Halfprice Treatment Day – April 30 – from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., half-price treatment for sexually transmitted infections (cost based on income level); Free HIV Testing at 2430 Poplar every day during health center hours. Also, free testing at a number of weekly outreach testing sites. For more information visit: http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/about/; http://www.plannedparenthood.org/memp his/.
“The Breaking of the Chains” ceremony included this moment. (George Tillman Jr.) Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Twana Coleman
Mulberry Street was overflowing with hundreds of people as they gathered to witness the Breaking of the Chains grand reopening ceremony of the newly renovated National Civil Rights Museum on Saturday April 5th. Reflecting myriad differences and a common appreciation for the significance of the event, they stood shoulder to shoulder on the day after the 46th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination at the Lorraine Hotel. They already had been stirred by the Freedom Forward Parade that began at the Cook Convention Center and proceeded along Second Street to the museum than incorporates the old hotel. Audible laughter could be heard as journalist, actor, director and producer, Tavis Smiley, jokingly said twice that he wanted the ceremony to move as swiftly as possible, so as to not prolong seeing the inside of the newly renovated center, “I can’t come to Memphis without coming by here to pay homage to the person I regard as one of the greatest Americans this country has ever seen,” said Smiley, the master of ceremonies. Retired CME Bishop E. Lynn Brown delivered the opening prayer. “Dear God, we would be remiss if we didn’t thank you for the man who gave his life on this sacred spot in this city. The man who left a legacy, unshakeable faith and a dream given by you,” said Brown. The ceremony, which lasted a bit more than
The grand reopening ceremony, which lasted a bit more than an hour, was accented with speeches, reflections and crowd-pleasing performances. (George Tillman Jr.)
hour, was accented with speeches, reflections and performances. A sign language interpreter was on stage for hearing impaired. Children, parents and other adults and seniors listened intently to each speaker, taking pictures and video recording. Periodically, there were shouts of “Yes!” Amen! Glory be thy name.” Mayor A C Wharton Jr. made reference to the first day of the Grand Opening festivities the day before. “It may not have been ‘Good Friday,’ but it was a good Friday,” he said. Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell Jr. said, “This is indeed a memorial of a sacred
place. I remember taking the time to bring my children here and showing them the trials and tribulations that took place. Now, I’m looking to bring my grandchildren here someday.” As singer Cortney Richardson performed a soulful rendition of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up,” 72-year-old Bertha Lester, visibly tearful, cried out, “Yes Lord.” “It brings back memories. I was born and reared in Mississippi, and I know what it’s like to chop cotton and pick cotton and having the mister come around, riding the horses and carts to see if we were doing it right,” said Lester, relying upon her cane for support. “Simply put, we’ve come a long way and today just moved me to tears. While 74-year-old Georgia “Queen Akua” King, a museum volunteer, had visited the site numerous times over the years, Ruthie V. Whisnant was having her first experience. “It has been a learning experience,” Whisnant. “I was a teenager sitting in the living room with my parents when we learned what happened (to Dr. King). Now 58 years old, me and a group of others drove here from Jackson, Tenn. to be witness(es) for this ourselves.” Whistant and the crowd heard attorney D’Army Bailey’s account of how the Lorraine Motel is still standing today. “This area was decayed and the Lorraine Motel was rundown and we were struggling to keep the doors open,” said Bailey. The motel was foreclosed in 1982. Bailey decided to try and save it. Requesting the assistance of Chuck Scruggs, the general manager SEE MUSEUM ON PAGE 12
RECONCILIATION, REAFFIRMATION, RENEWAL
Acacia Salatti, President Obamaʼs appointee as acting director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accepts the April 4th Foundationʼs “Open Door Award” from Corbin Carpenter during the 14th Annual Commemorative Awards at The Peabody last Friday.
Bobby Seale, founder of the Black Panther Party, was a special speaker at the 14th Annual Commemorative Awards at The Peabody last Friday. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
COMMUNITY
Page 12
Tri-State Defender
April 10 - 16, 2014
‘Fellows’ progress through Orita Rites of Passage Special to The New Tri-State Defender
‘A Soul Celebration’
The MED Night performances included a stellar show by Shirley Alton Reeves, once the lead singer of The Shirelles. (Photo: Shirley Jackson)
MED Night:
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Carlissa Shaw, Esq.
Regional One Health held its annual fundraising gala at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday night (April 5th) to raise money and awareness for the former Regional Medical Center at Memphis (the MED). The premiere event, dubbed “MED Night: A Soul Celebration,” benefits The MED Foundation and featured, as always, an all-star cast of soulful musicians and entertainers who’d topped the charts in their heyday and remain today as influential as they were during the days of vinyl records. The sold-out event attracted a gala audience of men and women who listened intently and moved their bodies to the melodious music of the New Ballet Ensemble and the captivating performances by Shirley Alton Reeves, once the lead singer of The Shirelles, Dennis Edwards and The Temptations Revue, and Kool & The Gang. “This year’s fundraising goal was $4 million,” said Tammie Ritchey, CRFE, Vice-President of Development and Foundation Executive Director. That goal has been exceeded, she added. Regional One Health is the new name of the Shelby County Health Care Corp., which had done business as The MED for 30 years. The acute care hospital and its entities now fall under the umbrella of Regional One Health. “We came up with a new vision to become a premier academic medical center,” said Dr. Reginald W. Coopwood, President and CEO of Regional One Health. “This renewed the staff to heights never seen. We have to be invested in the mind, body and soul of each individual that we treat.” Coopwood said the flourishing academic medical center is where miracles happen each and every day. The investment, he added, goes much further than healing those without insurance or those who’ve experienced extreme trauma. The room was filled with donors and community leaders. Coopwood gave the audience a peek of the new vision for the hospital and shed light on how everybody could play a part in that vision. “In order to achieve this vision, we have to have unity,” he said. “What Memphis is missing that other major cities its size have is an academic med-
Dennis Edwards and The Temptations Revue helped entertain the sold-out crowd at the annual MED Night celebration. (Photo: Shirley Jackson)
Reginald W. Coopwood, President and CEO of Regional One Health, pictured here with his wife, Erica, told the crowd that he envisions a flourishing academic medical center evolving in Memphis. (Photo: Shirley Jackson)
ical center, where research is done to best understand and treat illnesses.” To achieve this, Coopwood said, “We
have to have unity so that no one in this community seeks to have health care provided elsewhere. Think about the economic impact of that and the intellectual capital that a research hospital brings to our city.” The hospital has provided inpatient and outpatient services since 1983, the year the Shelby County Health Care Corp. adopted the name Regional Medical Center. One of its patients, admitted to Regional One Health after a golf car accident, has been impressed with the hospital’s services. “They put so much time in each patient,” said Stewart Nichols, a student at Hutchinson High School who’d suffered second- and third-degree acid burns following the accident. “They do so much. The people who work there are invested and deserve for the community to invest in them.” Although the purpose of the fundraiser was to raise funds for the hospital, Captain Henry Nixon, VicePresident of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, said, “Regional One Health is becoming the hospital of choice and at the same time the hospital that reaches out to the community atlarge.”
MUSEUM
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
The notables at the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum included some who participated in the 1968 Sanitation Workers strike. (George Tillman Jr.)
of WDIA, and then owner of the motel, Walter L. Bailey, an effort was started to secure funds. WDIA staff members, Mark Stansbury, A.C. Williams and Catherine Johnson joined in the efforts, as well, Bailey said. After a long struggle, $85,000 was raised. “It was not enough as we went into foreclosure on the courthouse steps Dec. 13, 1982. I went to the auction and standing on the steps with me was A.W. Willis, Jesse Turner of TriState Bank, Chuck Scruggs and Paul Shapiro of Lucky Heart cosmetics… “Standing on the steps of the court A.W. Willis came over to me and said Tri-State Bank offered to give $50,000 if I could get some guarantors. Jim Smith (of the American Federation of State, County
The Shelby County (TN) Chapter, The Links Incorporated, a service-oriented group of women representing varied backgrounds and professional expertise, presented its 2014 Orita Rites of Passage at First Baptist Church Broad on Sunday, April 6th. The Orita is a ritual that originated in African culture and signalled the crossroads, maturity, loyalty and readiness of a young man ready to assume the responsibilities of manhood. This year’s theme – “Connecting the Dots…and Bridging the Gaps from High School to Success” – benefited The Leadership Academy, a long-term, 22-year program focused on empowering, elevating and enlightening African-American males from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The ceremony, officiated by the Rev. Keith Norman, the church’s senior pastor, was the culminating activity for the participants of the Leadership Academy. He challenged the Fellows to make their ancestors proud by succeeding against any odds in today’s challenging society. The senior Fellows this year were: Dean Beckford, Dexter Bounds, Tommy Davis, George Dowery, Remington Harris, Randi Griffin, Jordan Littlejohn, Malik Luckett, Justin Mack, and Austin Merriweather. Father Dr. Neal Beckford, one of several representatives throughout the program who challenged the young men, gave the father’s challenge to the Fellows. He encouraged them to “dream dreams that bring joy, happiness, success and personal satisfaction – dreams that make us proud beyond our wildest expectations.” Fellow Jordan Littlejohn reminded his fellow brothers of the challenges they will face after graduation and related the knowledge they have gained in the academy as a source of strength when dealing with those challenges. The community challenge came from Atty. Ricky Wilkins, who challenged the Fellows to have an attitude of excellence. The Leadership Academy’s mission is to equip the participants with a broader perspective and understanding of those non-academic influences that contribute to their total self-development and success. The new thrust has a design aimed at the more relevant needs of young African-American men. Link Lillian Brown had the original vision for the Leadership Academy program and Link Lois Gilder chaired the first ceremony. The seven-month program is comprised of five components: life skills workshops, community service, mentoring, cultural enrichment activities, and a rite of passage ceremony. The life skills workshops, facilitated by a faculty of dedicated AfricanAmerican male professionals in the community, are held once a month for three hours. The Fellows enjoyed many enrichment activities throughout the program including the Father/Son Brunch (hosted by The LeMoyne-Owen College), a Mother’s Mixer, and a night at the FedExForum for a Memphis Tigers game (hosted by the Hyde Family Foundations). The Fellows also participated in two community service projects this year. They provided can goods to stock the Mid-South Food Bank, and they worked together to sanitize toys used by patients at the Ronald McDonald House, which also served as the location of their monthly life skills workshops. The senior Fellows also participated in the annual civil rights tour, which exposed them to historic places focusing on the roots of African Americans, the civil rights movement, and today’s on-going movement. This year’s tour took the young men to Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuskegee, and Atlanta. They were given the opportunity to examine their world through another lens, detailing the struggle of the thousands of African Americans who lived and died for equality and all of the rights they currently enjoy. The tour provided opportunities for the young men to reflect on the ongoing fight today and showed how African Americans – most importantly young African-American males – are in danger each and every day because of the color of their skin. The parents of the Fellows were recognized along with the Leadership Academy Chairs, Ritche Bowden and Lauryce Graves-McIver; Orita Chair Zynthia Howse; Chapter President Ruby Bright; Vice President Dara Davis; and the membership of the Shelby County (TN) Chapter of The Links, Inc.
The 2014 Orita Rites of Passage ceremony included this crossroads moment. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley) and Municipal Employees, Local 1733) and Paul Shapiro donated $25,000 each. … “We bought the motel on the court house steps for $144,000.” Radio personality Aisha Raison of MCS 88.5 recited an original poem, “The Breaking of the Chains.” Congressman Steve Cohen said a letter of recognition would be forthcoming from President Obama “as he was not able to make it, but I’m hoping he will be here before the summer is over.” National Civil Rights Museum President, Beverly Robertson, spoke to the still swelling crowd as the time neared for the breaking of the chains. Retiring after serving 17 years, Robertson said, “It has been a journey but I have gained strength sufficient for the journey.” Robinson noted the list of stellar leaders that have been honored at the museum, including the late Nelson Man-
dela, the upgrading of the staff, the multi-million dollar renovation and endowment campaign and more. “I think that I’ve had my season, and it’s time for someone else to have a season. And so I step out with a little (hesitance) but a lot of joy because of what we’ve accomplished.” After a closing prayer, the long chain linked in front of the entryway of the museum was broken as white doves were simultaneously released. As visitors waited in line for entrance into the museum, they danced, sang along and fellowshipped while listening to the funky and soulful sounds of the Bar-Kays. Other performers included The LeMoyne-Owen College Gospel Choir, several musical artists, spoken work artists, and several dance teams.
(For visitation plans, business hours and more, visit: www.civilrightsmusuem.org.)
SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, April 10 - 16, 2014, Page 13
GRIZZ TRACK The game was intense, but Memphis fans breathed a sigh of relief after their home-boys – the Memphis Grizzlies – surged ahead of LeBron Jamesʼ Miami Heat by 12 points with less than a minute to go in the 4th quarter at
the FedEx Forum on Wednesday night (April 9th). The Heat led by as much as 10 points in the second quarter, but the Grizz chipped away at the lead and eventually wrested control of the game from the “King” himself,
Zach Randolph of the Grizzlies shoots and scores over Shane Battier of the Heat.
LeBron James of the Miami Heat goes in for a fast break dunk as Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies watches James take flight.
PUBLIC NOTICE SHELBY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING 5-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 15
The Shelby County Department of Housing (SCDH) has prepared a draft of the Federal 5-Year Consolidated Plan for Shelby County Fiscal Years 2015 – 2019 and the Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 15 (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015). The 5-Year Consolidated Plan addresses the proposed use of funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development during Federal Fiscal Years 2014 -2018. This document is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and describes activities proposed by the Shelby County Housing Department (SCDH) and members of the Urban County to address housing and community development needs; especially needs located in low-to-moderate income areas of Shelby County outside the City of Memphis. These activities will take place in unincorporated Shelby County and within the municipal boundaries of Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington. At this time Shelby County anticipates receiving $1,065,000.00 in CDBG funds, $299,203.00 in HOME Grant funds, and $67,320.00 in local match funds during Fiscal Year 15 (the first year of the 5-Year Consolidated Plan). During FY 15, SCDH also anticipates receiving approximately $10,000.00 in CDBG Program income and $5,000.00 in HOME Program Income.
The following table summarizes expenditures proposed in the Annual Plan for Shelby County Fiscal Year 15 which runs from July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015.
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Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid.
SEALED BID DUE MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014 AT 2:30 PM SAND & GRAVEL
(SB# I000263) (MC# 459)
By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL JR., MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
SCDH will hold Public Hearings from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the following dates: April 15, 2014 at Bartlett City Hall, 6400 Stage Road, Bartlett, TN 38134; and April 22, 2014 at the Shelby County Department of Housing located in the Peggy Edmiston Administration Building, 1075 Mullins Station Road, Room W-263, Memphis, Tennessee 38134. Individuals attending the April 22 meeting should enter through the Department of Housingʼs main entrance located at the center door on the west side of the building. If you plan to attend either of these hearings and have special needs, please contact the Department of Housing at (901) 222-7610 and we will work to accommodate you.
For those unable to attend the public hearings, written comments or suggestions will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. on April 30, 2014. Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Scott Walkup; Shelby County Department of Housing, 1075 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38134. SCDH will respond to written comments within five working days of their receipt. For more information, please contact the Department of Housing at 901-222-7600 or TTY at 901- 222-2301. Para mas información en Español, por favor llame al 901-222-4289.
The Shelby County Department of Housing does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or provision of services.
Mark H. Luttrell, Jr. Shelby County Mayor
Equal opportunity/equal access provider.
Legal Notices
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000265, for Ready Mix Concrete. Information regarding this Bid is located on the Countyʼs website at www.shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the links “Department”, “P” for the Purchasing Department and “Bids” to locate the name of the described Bid below.
SEALED BID DUE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014AT 2:30 PM READY MIX CONCRETE (SB# I000265) By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL, JR., MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOTICE TO BIDDERS
ATTEST: Jim Vazquez, Administrator Department of Housing
In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce. County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids. There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to “Vendors” block at top • Click “Register Now” box • Click on “Mercury Commerce Vendor Registration” line • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit
If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246. If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce. County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids. There is no
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The SCDH 5-Year Consolidated Plan and the Annual Action Plan for July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 will also be available for public review from April 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015 at the Shelby County Department of Housing, 1075 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38134 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additionally, the documents will be available at the following library branches in Shelby County: Benjamin Hooks Central Library, Arlington Library, Bartlett Library, Collierville Library, Germantown Library and Millington Library.
who could not hide his disappointment. Zach Randolph finished with 25 points and Mike Conley tossed in 26 to send the Miami Heat packing. The score: 107-102. The victory was the Grizzʼs 12th straight home win.
Tony Allen (left) of the Grizzlies and Zach Randolph try to stop LeBron James of the Heat from scoring. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)
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GENERAL INFORMATION: Some categories require prepayment. All ads subject to credit approval. Tri-State Defender reserves the right to correctly classify and edit all copy, or to reject or cancel any ad at any time. Only standard abbreviations accepted. Copy change during ordered schedule constitutes new ad & new charges. Deadlines for cancellation are identical to placement deadlines. Rates subject to change. ADJUSTMENTS: PLEASE check your ad the first day it appears. Call 901-523-1818 if an error occurs. We can only offer in-house credit and NO REFUNDS are issued. TRI-STATE DEFENDER assumes no financial responsibility for errors nor for copy omission. Direct any classified billing iinquiries to 901-523-1818. charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register:
• Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to “Vendors” block at top • Click “Register Now” box • Click on “Mercury Commerce Vendor Registration” line • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit
If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246. If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid. SEALED BID DUE MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014 AT 2:30 PM LIMESTONE PRODUCTS
(SB# I000262) (MC# 458)
By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL JR., MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY
GOVERNMENT LEGAL NOTICE
TO FURNISHERS OF LABOR AND MATERIALS TO WHITE CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATES FOR
SITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PEGGY EDMISTON ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, PHASE 4 CONTRACT NUMBER CA1315971
Notice is hereby given that SHELBY COUNTY is preparing to make settlement with WHITE CONSTRUCTION & ASSOCIATES, INC. for necessary and related work for the construction of SITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PEGGY EDMISTON ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, PHASE 4
All persons holding claims against the Contractor, WHITE CONSTRUCTION & ASSOCIATES, INC. , or their agents for materials or labor entering into the construction of this project must file itemized notice of such claim (two copies) with the original copy sworn to before a Notary Public. This notice to be received at the office of Clifton Davis., Administrator of Purchasing, Suite 900, 160 North Mid-America Mall, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, on or before April 28, 2014 in order to obtain the advantages afforded to claimants by legal statute. Respectfully submitted,
Clifton Davis Administrator of Purchasing Shelby County Government
Auto for Sale
I Walter Gipson have possession of a white 99 " Ford Econoline van, vin 1FMRE11W6XHB94199. Partiesinterestedinvehiclecontactmecertifiedmail at 4489 MillstreamApt 2, Memphis 38116. Return receipt requested within 10 days.
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April 10 - 16, 2014
Tri-State Defender