VOL. 63, No. 16
www.tsdmemphis.com
April 24 - 30, 2014
75 Cents
POLITICS 2014
Early voting setup branded ‘voter suppression’ Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Tony Jones The New Tri-State Defender’s Women of Excellence Champagne Brunch and Awards Presentation unfolds at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, 750 Cherry Rd. The 2014 WOE class is featured in this edition’s special section.
‘Oldest African-American living in Elaine, Ark.’ is a world-class woman of excellence
Registered voters interested in casting their ballots as soon as possible for the May 6th primary elections can call 901-401-0599 to get a free ride to the Shelby County Election Commission’s downtown office at 157 Poplar, the only site for early voting until satellite locations become available citywide on April 25th. Sponsored by the Diedre Malone for Shelby County Mayor campaign, the shuttle van was announced at a press conference held Monday by retiring County Commissioner Henri Brooks, who blasted the Shelby County Election Commission’s setup
ʻUnfoundedʼ says Election Commission
for early voting. Supported by Malone in her complaint, Brooks, who is running against Ken Moody to become the Democratic Party nominee for Shelby County Juvenile Henri Court Clerk, told Brooks The New Tri State Defender following the press conference that, “This a clear cut, manipulative game
of voter suppression. They couldn’t have chosen a worse location.” Early voting kicked off April 16th. After a two-week run only at the downtown location, early voting will be open at satelRobert lite sites for one Myers week. That setup, said Brooks, “is clearly aimed at cutting down on access for African-Ameri-
can voters, especially senior citizens. They like to get in and get out early before the crowds. There’s very little free parking in that area period, and if you have to pay to park, which you will, that equates to a poll tax. “This is another example of voter suppression by Republicans working behind the scenes,” said Brooks. “Ray Charles could see what they’re doing.” Brooks’ complaint was spurred by calls from several senior citizens. “I got a voicemail from my cousin, who had gone to Bellevue Baptist Church to vote and was totally upset. ‘I know they’re not stupid enough to just keep it downtown,’ she told me. SEE VOTING ON PAGE 2
Special birthday salute for dedicated mother of 17 Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Wiley Henry
She has lived more than the Bible’s promise of three scores and 10. In fact, Sarah Jackson Bobo, born April 28, 1924, in Hookpur, Ark., is poised to celebrate yet another milestone. On Sarah Sunday, April 27th, her children Jackson Bobo will help celebrate her 90th birthday at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel at 185 Union Ave. “My mother has lived almost a century,” said Derome Bobo Sr., the 11th of his mother’s 17 children and chairperson of the Sarah Jackson Bobo birthday gala. She birthed five daughters and 12 sons. One of them, Sgt. Edward Lee Bobo, was killed in August 1967 while serving his last tour of duty in the Vietnam War. He was scheduled for discharge that year in SEE BOBO ON PAGE 3
- INSIDE -
• Minister Farrakhan is no terrorist. See Opinion, page 4. • Say hello to the Juneteenth Urban Music Festival. See Community, page 11. • Tony Allen in high gear as Grizz grind on. See Sports, page 12.
Chris OʼConnerʼs mentors begged him not to open an animation studio here in Memphis. ʻThere is no market here,ʼ they said. To OʼConner, ʻno marketʼ meant limitless possibilities. (Courtesy photo)
Animator’s dream morphs into a business in motion Special to the New Tri-State Defender
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell He was just a kid, much like any other kid growing up in Memphis – except for a couple of things. Chris O’Conner was being raised by a single father, Donald O’Conner. Yes, that Don O’Conner. The director of Memphis’ own Watoto De Afrika Performing Arts Academy. Watoto De Afrika (Swahili for “Children of Africa”) created the perfect backdrop for Chris O’Conner growing up to even think that the Memphis was due its first animation studio. “I always knew I could never be a 9-to-5 guy,” he said. “If I was on someone else’s job, I would always want to do things my way. Prodigi Arts is what I’ve wanted to do my whole life. When I was a kid, I loved comic books and cartoons. I loved the art of storytelling.”
This still shot reflects The Regional One Health Logo as it evolves on the Prodigy Arts animation that was featured during the recent MED Night Gala.
Almost no one would be surprised that the son of Dona;d O’Conner envisioned himself growing up to be a creative animator. In Chris’ mind, his destiny had been set long before his animation studio opened. The Prodigi Arts website touts: “…Prodigi Arts exists to create visual content that connects brands
with their audiences and helps them accomplish their marketing and entertainment objectives through unbridled creativity and imagination. We accomplish these aims through the techniques of animation, image design, live action and motion design wherever they are needed, in whatever form they take.” Translation?
Besides video production and image design, Prodigi Arts makes logos, branding characters and company insignias move about, dance, or come to life. It’s a novel concept in Memphis, even in the Mid-South. Prodigi Arts is an eclectic mix of artistry, technology and aesthetic innovation.
What it produces
“Large companies, like FedEx, outsource their animation projects to places like California because there are hundreds of animation studios in California,” said Chris. “My mentors begged me not to open an animation studio here in Memphis. ‘There is no market here,’ they said. But I felt that ‘no market’ meant limitless possibilities. To me, I felt that Memphis offered tremenSEE DREAM ON PAGE 2
County government ‘movers’ convene in Shelby County Tony Allen
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
H- 8 2o - L - 6 0o Su nny
H- 8 5o - L - 6 5o P a r tl y C l ou dy
H- 7 9o - L - 6 6o T-Sorms
REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Friday H-83 L-61 H-80 L-53 H-84 L-62
Special to the New Tri-State Defender
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Saturday H-84 L-66 H-82 L-59 H-86 L-64
Sunday H-78 L-67 H-77 L-59 H-85 L-68
Hundreds of county officials from all over the country are gathering this week in Shelby County for the 30th Annual Economic Development Conference of the National Organization of Black Justin County Officials Ford (NOBCO). And from all indications, said the host commissioner, all eyes are on Memphis. “I am so very proud to have our city on display,” said Shelby County Commissioner Justin Ford. “Memphis is not a dangerous place. Memphis is a beautiful city with gracious, hospitable people. That was my cen-
NOBCO – AT A GLANCE • The National Organization of Black County Officials was established in 1982. • NOBCO acts as an information clearinghouse and works to educate, train, and assist government officials in carrying out their charges. • Current program areas of focus include, but are not limited to, economic and community development, and environmental justice issues. • From the organization’s website: “NOBCO serves more than 3,000 black elected and appointed county officials in 50 states. Black county officials share responsibility for the promotion and maintenance of our Nation’s public and private forests. As local decision-makers, the policies that black county officials enact can either support or detract from a community’s attempts to create a sustainable economy and sustainable environment.” • Most conventioneers will be staying at the Gold Strike Resort in Tunica County, Miss. this week.
tral message when I made the case to have the convention come here.” Wednesday kicked off scheduled activities with a guided bus tour of Shelby County. “Some of the members were on their way to see Slavehaven,” said Ford. “They had already been treated to some of our other sights, and so
many expressed amazement at all our city has to offer.” NOBCO serves more than 3,000 African-American elected and appointed county officials in 50 states The annual conference is a magnet for high-profile people of influence, with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, HUD Secretary Shaun
Donovan, and Fifth District Missouri Congressman and former Congressional Black Caucus Chair Emanuel Cleaver II all slotted to take part. Derek Albert, President of Albert & Associates and chairman of the NOBCO Business Roundtable, said the theme of the conference is, “The Grass is Greener where you water it.” The objective, he said, is to figure out how to water the grass. “One of the reasons we bring these guys in is so that we can understand how to participate in that (opportunities),” said Albert. Undersecretaries and different administrators from Washington, D.C. will detail how to get involved with the opportunities available and provide direct contacts, he said. Ford’s journey to his post as this year’s host official began about a year ago when he was serving as chairman of the General Government Committee. SEE ʻMOVERSʼ ON PAGE 3
NEWS
Page 2
Tri-State Defender
April 24 - 30, 2014
VOTING
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
I also went to several churches and many people did not know downtown was the only place you could vote early.” Via email, the media spokesperson for Congressman Steve Cohen, said, “The congressman wishes that the election commission had opened more early voting locations.” Election Commission Chairman Robert Meyers said it’s all a bunch of noise over nothing. “I think the criticism is unfounded,” said Meyers. “We are complying with state law. We will have 21 sites up for six days when the satellite locations come on board. That will allow us to be able to accommodate 120,000 voters, if the need is necessary.” Tennessee’s early voting stipulation requires that at least one voting location be available 20 days before the election, to be closed 5 days before the final day of voting. “We are only expecting 250 voters per day per site,” said Meyers. “Looking back four years ago, we had right at 30,000 voters in the last election cycle. We only expect about 10 percent of the voters to vote in this primary election.” The commission’s spokesperson, Suzanne Thompson, said that at $2,000 per day, costs prohibit all locations from being open during the early voting period and that the commission is going above the letter of the law by making the satellite locations available. “Nobody is trying to keep anyone from voting,” she told the media. Meanwhile, U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder has not yet said whether the Justice Department will honor requests to assign federal monitors for the upcoming elections. The Rev. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr., who also is seeking the Democratic Party nomination in the race for Shelby County Mayor, has made a formal request for such intervention. Cohen also is pressing the case.
The Prodigy Arts team: (left to right) Travis Fowler, Crickett King, Martin Englert, Chris Oʼ Conner Amber Huang and Joshua Colfer. (Courtesy photo)
DREAM
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
dous opportunity. There was a void to fill, and I was determined to fill it.” Now, the team of six boasts an impressive client list, which includes Regional One Health (formerly The MED), Leadership Memphis, Autozone, the Memphis Business Journal,
and the City of Memphis. O’Conner and his team want to put Memphis on the creativity map, what Walt Disney did with Orlando, Fla. In less than five years, Prodigi Arts seems well on its way.
What’s his motivation…
“I actually started work in my dorm room at MTSU (Middle Tennessee State Univer-
sity),” said O’Conner. “I took small animation jobs while I was working on my degree in animation. I graduated in 2006, and all graduates were applying for jobs with Disney and Pixar. I knew that wasn’t for me. “I wanted to tell stories as an animator,” he said. “I wanted to produce and direct films. Disney employs thousands of animators. After 30 years, I
might have moved up enough to head up a project. That was just not an option for me. Ever…” O’Conner, a little kid with big dreams, was educated in the Memphis City Schools system. He attended Springdale Elementary, Snowden Middle, and Central High School, graduating in the class of 2002. “It’s been great doing busi-
ness here in Memphis. Some fantastic people have given us a chance to work on their projects. Robert Lipscomb with the city, and two ladies with Regional One Health helped us get that job: Tammie Ritchie and Laticia Towns,” he said. “We’re excited about what’s next. Looking for bigger and better in our future. We’re going to go out and get it.”
NEWS
Tri-State Defender
Sarah Jackson Bobo – the backbone for her children, grandchildren and extended family – continues to demonstrate a commitment to excellence that has stood the test of time. BOBO
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
October. “She’s the oldest remaining member of the family and, I believe, the oldest African-American living in Elaine, Ark. She only has cousins left, and she’s the oldest of them all,” said Bobo, operations manager for the Memphis Postal Service. In 10 years, Ms. Bobo will be ranked a centenarian and eligible for the Smuckers birthday salute with the “Today’s Show” Willard Scott. Until then, the proclamations and citations that she’s received from the U.S. Postal Service and the following luminaries will suffice: President Barack Obama, William “Bill” Jefferson Clinton and Hillary Rodman Clinton, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, Arkansas State Sen. Stephanie Flowers, and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. Ms. Bobo is unaware of the slated birthday gala in her honor or the attention she’s receiving. She lives alone in Elaine, about 90 miles from Memphis, and continues to live life to the fullest without assistance from her children. “She has a memory like a book and walks without a cane,” her son said. “She washes her own clothes and takes care of her house. She’s self-sufficient.” Ms. Bobo was still driving at age 88, Bobo remembers, and would still be driving her vehicle if her children hadn’t taken the keys. She has glaucoma and her eyesight is quickly growing dim. Ms. Bobo lost her husband, Leroy Bobo Sr., when she was 56 years old; he was 60 and the father of 14 of her 17 children. They were together for 36 years. She never remarried. The years, however, seemed to multiply, but the matriarch remained strong in character and the family pillar, her son said. She is the grandmother of 61 grandchildren, the great-grandmother of 142 and the great-great grandmother of 20. “She is kind, gentle, understanding and has stood the test of time being the back bone for her children, grandchildren and extended family,” Bobo said. He recalled stories his mother often would tell about times when life was a little unbearable for her and the family in the segregated South when Jim Crow reigned.
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April 24 - 30, 2014
“When she was a younger woman, there was a boy who supposedly liked a white woman. My mother smuggled him back to his parents, driving him to his parents’ home in another small town outside Elaine. Back in those days, you didn’t mess with white girls. “She had another experience with a white man. He thought my mother couldn’t read or write,” said Bobo, retelling the story about an abusive white man whom his mother worked for in the cotton fields. “She worked for 75 cents a day and they paid by the pound. He tried to cheat her. But my mother was strong and vibrant. She stood up to men and women.”
Strength and courage…
Ms. Bobo’s parents, the late Robert and Grover Kelly Jackson, worked as sharecroppers on the Green and Demoret plantations. She joined them in the fields after withdrawing from Elaine Industrial School. She was a ninthgrader then and would soon marry at the age of 16. After giving birth to twins – one would survive – Ms. Bobo moved to Chicago determined to be successful so she could support her siblings (one sister and three brothers) by supporting her parents. She worked in a box factory
and lived with her great aunt. One year later, she moved back to Elaine and birthed another child. On May 28, 1944, she married Leroy Bobo Sr. The children kept coming. She raised them to be independent and successful. Several have earned college degrees and are successful entrepreneurs, managers and high-ranking officials in various government agencies. When the children were young, Ms. Bobo worked various jobs – as a field worker and maid – starting each morning at 4 a.m. She also worked in the home cooking, washing, ironing and cleaning, often ending her “day” at midnight. Living in Elaine in the 1940s was challenging, Bobo remembers his mother telling him. Everything was segregated – blacks living on one side of town, whites on the other. Long before school integration found its way to Elaine, black parents were permitted to sign a parental consent form for their children to attend Elaine’s all-white middle and high schools. Bobo said his mother, although apprehensive, gave permission for three of her children to attend those schools. Her own educational pursuit had been cut short due to the daily grind and the need to eke out a living. In 1965, Ms. Bobo drove a school bus for Elaine Industrial School (renamed the Elaine School System) and continued to work as maid. She also became a study hall instructor for grades 9th through 12th. While working, Ms. Bobo opted to get her high school diploma, having relayed to her children that a good education was the key to success. She set the example by enrolling in Phillips County Community College at night. She retired from the school system after 39 years. Tragedy struck in August 1967. That’s when her son, Sgt. Edward Lee Bobo, was killed in Vietnam. Two other sons were serving active duty in the United States Army during this time. One of them was sent to Vietnam immediately after the funeral. In honor of her son’s sacrifice, Ms. Bobo was given the Purple Heart. On Sunday, her remaining children – and a few dignitaries who admire her strength and courage – will pour out their heart with a special birthday salute arranged to acknowledge her excellence and to simply say, thanks.
Hundreds of county officials from all over the country are gathering this week in Shelby County... ʻMOVERSʼ
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
“I went to Detroit in May where last year’s NOBCO conference was being held. Just to see the impact this meeting had on the city. Five to six hundred county officials all over the nation who made this country’s local governments work. I knew we had to get the conference here.” Before Commissioner Ford left Detroit, it was all but settled that the city of Baton Rouge in Louisiana would be hosting the 2014 event. “I said, ‘Please bring the conference to Memphis next year.’ But I was told they would bring the conference year after next because Baton Rouge had already left a Before check for Commis2014. I came on back sioner Ford home, but I didn’t give left Detroit, up. I begged it was all and pleaded but settled with them to let Memphis that the city host the next of Baton convention.” Rouge in Ford promised that if Louisiana Memphis got would be the opportunity to host in hosting the 2014, that 2014 event. “We would lay it all out” for conventioneers. “Today, these officials found out that I wasn’t just talking. I felt so good Wednesday when some members were telling us how thought provoking and intimate their experience has already been. And this is just Wednesday, the first day of the conference. We want to make a lasting impression on these officials.” Noting that people have for years compared Memphis to Atlanta, Ford said on Tuesday he went to DeKalb County (Georgia) officials and asked them, “‘What is Atlanta doing that we are not doing for our children.’ They had the same questions for me. I would say the competitive edge Atlanta
once had over Memphis is gone. We’ve come a long, long way since the ’90s.” Ford said pulling everything together has been a “wonderful bi-partisan effort.” County Commissioner Terry Roland, a prominent Republican, treated NOBCO guests to a luncheon during their tour of Shelby County. The conference stretches through Sunday. Attendees will not only exchange information about securing government grant money to support community initiatives, they also will be privy to panel discussions designed to tackle tough urban concerns such as juvenile delinquency and soaring dropout rates among AfricanAmerican teens. Thursday will feature an emphasis on students, with a visit planned to the Stax Museum and Soulsville Academy, where students will perform for the visiting dignitaries. Later, Ed Stanton III, U.S. Atty. for the Western District of Tennessee, will make a presentation on Internet awareness and safety. Friday’s schedule will feature a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum as well as a panel discussion about “Smart Juvenile Justice.” The panel will include Judge Joe Brown; Shelby County Commissioner Henri Brooks; Dr. Willie W. Herenton, former Memphis Mayor and now charter school operator; Judge Tarik Sugarmon; and former Shelby County Commissioner Julian Bolton. “Ya’ll are not the only ones dealing with it,” Albert said, referring to issues involving the administering of juvenile justice. Saturday is a business day when officials will be attending various meetings and workshops to enhance leadership and effective governance. Sunday will be headlined by an 8:30 a.m. prayer breakfast with keynote speaker, the Rev. Robert J. Williams Jr., co-pastor of St. Paul Church in Prince Georges County, Md. Closing remarks will be delivered by Councilwoman Aralanda Williams of Terrebonne Parish, La.
Page 4
OPINION
Tri-State Defender
April 24 - 30, 2014
John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)
The Mid-Southʼs Best Alternative Newspaper
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• Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher • Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor
Amnesty for illegals can’t be defended
FLASHBACK: 2007
Minister Farrakhan is no terrorist NNPA News Service
by Richard B. Muhammad
The news cycle April 14th was filled with reports of the murders of three people in Overland Park, Kansas. That these killings occurred during a time of religious observation, the Jewish celebration of Passover, and the killer may have targeted victims for their religious faith or presumed faith makes the loss of life even more reprehensible. That a grandfather and his grandson could be shot down in the streets says something about the sickness of this society, the prevalence and continued cancer of hatred and an unhealthy and deadly obsession with guns and solving problems or disputes with violence. Such activity is woven into the history of this nation and America cannot deny that her history is bathed in blood and oppression from the slaughter of the Native peoples to the April 13th killing of Dr. William Lewis Corporon and his 14year-old grandson, Reat Griffin Underwood. In the midst of this horrible reality, the Southern Poverty Law Center, some Jewish leaders and organizations were speaking the name Louis Farrakhan alongside false charges of hate speech and trying to link the Nation of Islam minister to a climate or in the same philosophical universe as a man whose history is apparently tied to hate groups. Their attempts to malign the Minister are beyond insulting and outside the bounds of any commitment to truth and any respect for the truth. Minister Farrakhan’s name must never be mentioned in the same breath as wicked murderers who exist among Caucasian people or accused killers like Frazier Glenn Cross, of Aurora, Mo., charged with first-degree murder after attacks at a Jewish community center and a Jewish retirement complex. His name must never be mentioned alongside anyone who takes life unjustly and anyone who foments violence and death. Minister Farrakhan has never been arrested for spitting on a sidewalk, let alone physically assaulting anyone. He is far above such cheap charges and such vicious, malicious and vociferous lies. The Minister speaks the truth and has spoken against Jewish misdeeds and organizations in relationship to the status of blacks in this country and inordinate involvement in black affairs and control of black organizations and individuals. For more than 30 years, he has called for dialogue to resolve this conflict. Neither he, nor any of his followers, has been arrested in 30 years for threatening, hurting, harming or denying one Jewish person the right to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness. Yet, wicked demons attempt to impugn his character and slander his name as families and a community
suffers because of the unjustified taking of lives. This is not the history of Louis Farrakhan, this is not the spirit of Louis Farrakhan, this is not the way of Louis Farrakhan. This violence Richard B. is the product of Muhammad America and her twisted psyche and mentality that Louis Farrakhan has warned of and has offered a medicine to heal. Instead of taking the medicine and getting into therapy, these wicked ones denounce the doctor and attempt to blame the doctor for the illness. The Associated Press reported the accused shooter and killer as 73year-old Frazier Glenn Cross, of Aurora, Mo. “At around 1 p.m. a gunman shot two people in the parking lot behind the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City. He then drove a few blocks away to a Jewish retirement community, Village Shalom, and gunned down a woman or girl there. … Officers arrested him in an elementary school parking lot a short time later.” According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, this same man founded the Carolina Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and was its “grand dragon” in the 1980s. The Army veteran and retired truck driver later founded another white supremacist group, the White Patriot Party, the center said. Miller was the subject of a nationwide manhunt in 1987 for violating the terms of his bond while appealing a North Carolina conviction for operating a paramilitary camp. The search ended after federal agents found Miller and three other men in an Ozark mobile home, which was filled with hand grenades, automatic weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition. AP said Miller tried running for U.S. House in 2006 and the U.S. Senate in 2010, espousing a white power platform each time. Nothing in this man’s history, life or activity connects him to Minister Farrakhan, despite the New York Times assertion that he was a socalled fan. More likely, Miller was a “fan” of the extremist Tea Party, right wing Republicans, hardcore gun enthusiasts and anti-government groups. Absent of any evidence, the white media feels it’s OK to malign Minister Farrakhan’s good name. But we will not accept their lies. The killing of innocents is America’s history and America’s legacy and we will never allow her nor Jewish groups to assign such infamy to a noble man and a noble name. (NNPA guest columnist Richard B. Muhammad is editor in chief of The Final Call Newspaper, which is published by the Nation of Islam.)
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Tri-State Defender Platform
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Mental illness is our dirty little secret
I’m tired, my sisterfriend says. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on. As I hear her I have a couple of choices. One is to tell her to get with her pastor and pray; the other is to tell her to get real with her illness. Running her to her pastor takes her to a familiar place. Pushing her to help takes her out of her comfort zone. When my beloved brothers and sisters share that they are stymied in the way they live their lives, I don’t mind praying and encouraging spiritual counsel, but I do mind ignoring the medicinal help that could assist my sisterfriend. So my sister is sighing her pain, and I am wondering what to do. There are few that will hear a black woman in a black community, strumming her pain, questioning her faith. According to the National Associations of Mental Health more than 4 percent of African Americans have considered suicide. Most of them are African-American women. Mental health is our nation’s dirty little secret, and if it is whispered in the nation at large, it is a silent scream in the African-American community. We are afraid, ashamed, frightened to own up to it, using our own lingo (s’kerd, shamed) to wrap ourselves around the fear that goes with “coming out” on mental illness. So we are silent, even when we loose a warrior. Karyn Washington was a 22-year-old Morgan State University sister who committed suicide, last week. This young and brilliant one turned her pain into power when she created a website, “for brown girls” (forbrowngirls.com) that lifted up and affirmed our brown skin girls. Karyn was a colored girl whose mental issues were apparently so severe that she chose to take her own life while affirming those of others. From all accounts Karyn experienced depression. How many feel it and don’t say it? How many nod and just don’t mean it? How many exhale, inhale and really reach out to a brother or a sister to listen, have a cup of tea, take a walk, or just reach out and touch? The poet Paul Laurence Dunbar wrote, “We wear the mask that grins and lies that hides our cheeks and shades our eyes.” Many in our nation, especially African Americans, wear the mask. When we peek/speak/tweet from behind the mask we realize, yet if we were real, we would have to acknowledge in the words of Paul Lawrence Dunbar that to make a poet black and bid her sing is to challenge her and her two realities. In the words of Sister Maya, “I know why the caged bird sings.” I chose to focus on this because in one scant week I have spoken to African-American women who have experienced depression or feel
shackled by other mental health issues. They walk like they hold the world in their hands; sway like they are hearing drums from another continent, yet cry behind closed doors, like they have the Julianne weight of the Malveaux world on their shoulders. They are sad, ground down, depressed, and we play off their pain, trivialize it, instead of responding to it. We are losing too much genius when we play off the scourge of mental illness. We decide that it is their problem, not the problem of a nation that would inflict, rather than attempt to fix, mental illness. For all the care the Affordable Care Act has offered, we must ask if it has offered enough to combat mental illness, We in the African-American community have paid more and received less to be perceived as “normal” members of society. Despite injustices in Scottsboro, Groveland and other vile places in our nation, we have been expected to show up, with amazing dignity, ignoring the massacre of our sons or daughters with well-modulated emotion. Too many of us fear or fail to speak our pain. Poverty and mental health are correlated, yet the poorest of us see our pain as “par for the course” and we don’t speak about it. Whether African Americans are wealthy or financially challenged, mental health is elusive for some. And faith without works is dead, which means fall on those knees if it comforts you, then run to the doctor who may help you with medication and therapy. Baby girl Karyn Washington inspired this column, and as I thought of her, others kept reminding me of their own pain and the ways it has been ignored. If you don’t get it, read from Terrie Williams’ “Black Pain.” And if you get it/read it, remind folks that this is not a sympathy issue, this is a public policy issue. So weep sister soldier, brother warrior. Those who bear the scars of mental illness have often fought longer, harder, and with the chemical imbalance that makes them feel it all so much more intensely. Mental health is not an embarrassment; it is a national health issue. It is a silent killer that we have yet to acknowledge. (Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.)
FACEBOOK FAN OF THE WEEK Name: Chris Burns
Chris Burns is this weekʼs TSD Facebook Fan of the Week! He is a Memphis native, who graduated from Hillcrest High School and received his degree from San Diego State University. Burns is a published author and writer, and he also owns ARCH, an athletic and casual footwear and apparel company. His favorite quote is from Bonz Malone: “If you need 5 cent donʼt ask for 3, ask for 10.” Burns enjoys sports, especially the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Dreams, and he loves to listen to music by artists such as De La Soul and Daley. Thanks Chris Burns for excelling in Memphis and for being a part of the TSD Facebook family!
I am totally perplexed by Republicans who a d v o c a t e amnesty for those who entered the U.S. illegally. We Republicans are supposed to be the party of law and order, a party Raynard that stands on Jackson clearly defined principles. Let’s cut through the pompous rhetoric: The issue of amnesty is only about cheap labor. All the other arguments are merely background noise. With the national unemployment rate just under eight percent, how can you argue that illegals are doing jobs that Americans refuse to do? With all the unemployed engineers (partly because of the shutdown of NASA’s Space Shuttle program), how do you justify increasing the number of H-1B visas? The special visa allows companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations for up to six years. How can six years still be considered temporary? How do you explain to a kid in Virginia that he or she has to pay out-of-state tuition to attend the University of Maryland while a student in the country illegally is allowed to pay in-state tuition? Why should someone in the country illegally be able to obtain a benefit that even an American citizen can’t have? Aren’t these Republicans supporting discrimination against American citizens in their lust of the Hispanic voter? Linking amnesty to winning the Hispanic vote is not a winning or sensible strategy. One has nothing to do with the other. There is no unanimity within the Hispanic community on the issue of amnesty, therefore why are some operatives linking this issue to the future of the Republican Party? One can be against amnesty without being mean and nasty. But to equate supporting amnesty as a prerequisite to proving that you are not mean and hateful is an insult to our intelligence. As if this weren’t bad enough, can someone please explain to me the logic of any black person supporting amnesty when the black unemployment rate is in double digits? We can have honest disagreements on the issue of amnesty; but please don’t give me the perverted reasoning supporters of amnesty have been using: “It’s an act of love,” “they are only looking for a better life,” “it’s not their fault.” But these same proponents who want to justify ignoring the law based on some irrational, emotional tick refuse to apply the same empathy towards “Pookie” and “LaQueesha,” who represent inner city America. When “Pookie” gets arrested for carrying a recreational amount of crack and gets sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 20 years for a first time, non-violent offense, where are these Republican thespians advocating for an empathetic approach to law enforcement? When a black woman in Florida fires a warning shot in the air to stop an abusive former husband from beating her and gets 20 years mandatory minimum, where are the Republican voices of empathy? If we are going to claim to be a nation of laws, then we can’t allow emotion to cause the unequal distribution of justice to continue. If your basis for giving amnesty to illegals is “their intent” – they only want to make a better life; then how can you not apply the same logic to “Pookie” and “LaQueesha?” Can you not make the same argument that they only want to make a better life for themselves and their families? Pro-amnesty Republicans sound like a bunch of liberals when they refuse to advocate for the enforcement of current immigration law because they claim to know the “intent” of the lawbreaker. These same pro amnesty members of the House and Senate have been relentless in accusing President Obama for not being trustworthy on health care (“you can keep your own doctor”), but are willing to work with and trust him on the enforcement side of the immigration debate. If you can’t trust Obama on healthcare, how can you trust him on immigration? (NNPA columnist Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a Washington, D.C.-based public relations/government affairs firm. He can be reached via www.raynardjackson.com. Follow him on Twitter at raynard1223.)
NEWS
Tri-State Defender
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April 24 - 30, 2014
BRIEFS & THINGS Hamilton High Class of ’74 gears up for 40th reunion
Coach Shirley McCray with some of her former Lanier football players. Sitting to the left is Joseph Nelson, remembered as Lanierʼs “well-respected band teacher.” (Photo: Julius Carr)
Scores of Hamilton High School Alumni will converge on the city for more than just a Memorial Day outing with their families. A three-day, event-filled reunion is planned, including a day of golf, a memorial service, and a group tour of the newly reopened National Civil Rights Museum. Friday, May 23rd opens reunion activities with registration and welcome reception at the Marriott Hotel East, 5795 Poplar Avenue. The all-white, semi-formal dance affair ends at midnight. On Saturday, May 24th, Pine Hills Golf Course will host a 7 a.m. tee time for golfers. From 1-2:30 p.m., a special Memorial Service will honor classmates who have passed on. New Friendship Baptist Church, 1497 Gold Avenue, is the setting. A formal dinner and dance will cap off the night from 7 p.m. until midnight, at Marriott East. Sunday, May 25th, a brunch is scheduled at the National Civil Rights Museum, with a group tour following. Reunion festivities culminate with an “8 p.m.-until” party for classmates only, dressed in the souvenir T-shirt. This last event is slated for Metro 67, located at 67 Madison Avenue, in downtown Memphis. It’s still not too late to get in on the fun. To register for reunion events, or for additional information, contact Rose HillJohnson at: rohill05@aol.com; or Erlene Carter, erlcrt5@aol.com, (901) 233-2768.
Lanier alumni pictured from left: Jocelin Keglar, Greg Price, Keithon Robinson, Pamela CampbellLott, and Nate Turner. (Photo: Julius Carr)
Farewell to the Lion’s Den Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Jocelin Keglar
Lanier Middle School is closing due to low enrollment in June. Upon hearing about the final decision to close what was known as Lanier Jr. High School in the 1980’s, alumni Keithon Robinson (’85), Greg Price (’86), Pamela CampbellLott (’85), Nate Turner (’83) and Jocelin Keglar (’84) organized a Farewell to the Lion’s Den Party and Group Picture Day to reunite all alumni. As the word spread through Facebook, middle school friends were excited about see-
ing some of the people with whom they had shared an important transition. Lanier has never been a failing school and always provided a well-rounded education for students. Alumni met their well-respected band teacher, Joseph Nelson, who took many students to band competitions to visit historical black college in the southern states. His discipline, tough love and willingness to expose us to colleges – by taking us to perform in band parades – planted a stayacademically-focused seed in the band members, majorettes and flag girls. Coach Shirley McCray shared with alumni her book,
“Coach McCray.” She is the first woman coach to coach an all-male football team at Lanier. Many of her former players joined her on stage as she spoke, thanking her for her tough love and dedication to the team during those middle school years of football. The Lions also paid respect to classmates who are no longer here. An alumni committee has been birthed to support our middle school. We encourage more Lanier Lions to join us in future events. The plans for Lanier’s student body transition has not been completed. (Jocelin Keglar is an alumni
City begins new parking ticket process May 1st Ignoring parking tickets will be expensive
Three months after installing new electronic parking meters and expanding parking opportunities downtown and in the medical district, city officials are putting in place a new process for enforcing regulations, and issuing tickets for violations that carry fines averaging about $21. The cost for illegal parking can rise to as much as $246 for violators who don’t pay timely. All fines are due within 15 days of the date the parking ticket is issued. If violators do nothing, a judgment will be issued which is enforceable for up to 10 years. “It is important for drivers, particularly those who work and frequent downtown, to be aware that if the ticket is not paid within 15 days, the cost could go up significantly,” said Teresa Jones, Chief City Prosecutor. “While everyone is entitled to their day in court, if a judge finds you guilty, fees and penalties may include: a $50 fine, $135 court cost, $1 state tax and $20-$40 in late fees. Also, your vehicle could be immobilized or impounded.” Late last year, the City installed 485 new single space battery-powered – solar charged parking meters and 135 kiosk for multiple spaces,
expanding the number of parking spaces available downtown from about 1,210 metered spaces to more than 1,500 onstreet parking spaces. Parking fees and enforcement times remained the same at $1 per hour from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, Monday thru Friday. There is a minimum payment of 50 cents for the first 30 minutes. The modern parking meters allow drivers to pay with a credit/debit card or coins only. The new meters do not make change or issue refunds. The
new multi-space kiosks use “pay and display” technology. Users follow prompts on the terminal to purchase the amount of desired time up to a maximum of two hours, starting at 30 minutes. A receipt is printed for display on the parked vehicle’s curbside dashboard. The single space meters work just like the current meters, except they not only accept coins, but, now will also accept credit/debit cards. The new kiosks and meters are as easy to use as modern gas pumps or ATM’s. “This new technology allowed the City to add more parking spaces,” Jones said. “The new meters are more customer- friendly and efficient and we’ve made it really easy for drivers to pay for parking. The meters provide citizens a printed receipt for proof of payment should they want to challenge a parking ticket.” Police officers ticket drivers for violations that include: overtime parking, parking in restricted zones, blocking fire lanes or plugs, blocking traffic, splitting meters, and parking in no parking, loading or handicapped zones. Citizens who have questions about parking tickets can call the City Court Clerk at 901636-3450 or City Prosecutor at 901-636-3479.
from the class of ’84. Photographer Julius Carr is an alumni from the class of ’79.)
Bluff City Medical Society’s H.E.A.L. Program launches
The Bluff City Medical Society officially launches its H.E.A.L. (Healthy Eating and Living) Program at noon Saturday (April 26th) at New Directions Christian Church at 6120 Winchester Rd.
The H.E.A.L. Program features 11 Bluff City Medical Society physicians who volunteered to be “Medical Liaisons” for their personal churches. They will be working over the next year with the “Facilitator” health workers at their respective churches to challenge and encourage healthy life styles among the members for fitness and good lives. There will be intra- and interchurch competition. All of the church pastors, church facilitators, Bluff City Liaisons and Executive Committee are invited for the launch. For more information, contact Dr. Beverly WilliamsCleaves at 901-569-9568. BRIEFLY: Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins will deliver the commencement address to Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Class of 2014 on May 3rd at 10:30 a.m. at the Landers Center in Southaven, Miss. BRIEFLY: A free “Community Conversation” with acclaimed journalist Douglas Blackmon, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of “Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II,” is set for Thursday (April 24th) at 7 p.m. at the Theater on the Christian Brothers University campus. The Memphis office of the international educational nonprofit Facing History and Ourselves will present the program in partnership with The Allstate Foundation. Seating is limited. For reservations, visit www.facinghistory.org/communityconversations or call 901-452-1776, x221. BRIEFLY: The inaugural Health in the Hood Wellness Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday (April 25th) on the campus of The LeMoyne-Owen College, 807 Walker Ave. RSVP for seminars and luncheon: http://hhwellnessfestival.eventbrite.co m; For more information: HHWellnesFestival@loc.edu or call 901-435-1445.
NEWS
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April 24 - 30, 2014
Tri-State Defender
AFRICA IN APRIL
State Rep. G. A. Hardaway Jr., and Dr. David and Yvonne Acey, the force behind Africa In April, took the lead in this yearʼs cultural awareness festival parade saluting the Republic of Burkina Faso – also referred to as “Land of upright prople” or “Land of honest people.” The country is located in West Africa. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
The Africa In April parade included a number of participants – like these little “ladies,” who waved to passersby and strutted proudly before the cameraman. (Photo: Shirley Jackson)
‘You have to get in touch with your roots’ Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Brittney Gathen
The 2014 event honored the West African country of Burkina Faso. Africa in April, which is run by Dr. David L. Acey and his wife, Yvonne B. Acey, annually honors different African cultures.
The event even appealed to those who weren’t from the Memphis community.
A vintage auto provides the backdrop for this parade moment. (Photo: Shirley Jackson)
he smell of mouth-watering food filled the air, vendors selling a variety of products from incense to jewelry to African Shea Butter lined the area and music blared as a healthy flow of people busily bustled about, stopping to browse the merchandise and sample the food. This was the template scene for the Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival, which kicked off April 16th and stretched through the following Sunday. On this – day three – the focus at Robert R. Church Park in Downtown Memphis was on children and senior citizens Day. The 2014 event honored the West African country of Burkina Faso. Africa in April, which is run by Dr. David L. Acey and his wife, Yvonne B. Acey, annually honors different African cultures. And the cultural exposure that it brings to Memphis is important, according to one of the vendors present at the event. “It’s important because it exposes the city and community to African culture, especially those who haven’t been taught it, (and because) positive African culture is omitted from public education,” vendor Kwasi said. He sat behind a table covered in Tshirts bearing phrases such as “I Love Being a Black Woman” and “Strong Black Man” and images of figures such as the Obamas. The event even appealed to those who weren’t from the Memphis community. Tyler Williams, a California native who lives in Little Rock, heard about the event from a waitress at the Hard Rock Café and decided to check it out while she was in Memphis. “I think it’s important so people from the community can be exposed to the diversity,” Williams said. For attendee Darius Nelson, the appeal of Africa in April could be found in the cultural connection it brought. He said it’s important to have cultural events such as Africa in April because, “You can get in touch with your roots. You have to get in touch with your roots.” Africa in April also appealed to those in the mood to shop, such as Nelson’s fiancé , Amanda Chaney, who admitted that she was attracted to the event because she wanted “to buy stuff.” The festival hosted a variety of vendors selling sundresses, T-shirts, jewelry and more. Although attendee Bria Green enjoyed the things that were available for purchase, she also appreciated the opportunity to be exposed to another culture. “(I came here) to see what another culture was like,” Green said.
T
Dr. David and Yvonne Acey are “all shook up” when bluesman Bobby Rushʼs dancers make their move on the couple on the entertainment stage in Robert R. Church Park, home of Africa In April. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
During each day of the festival, a throng sauntered along the path of vendors selling a variety of products from incense to jewelry to African Shea Butter. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Bluesman Bobby Rush, known for his “funky” soul music, leaps across the stage during a wow performance Saturday evening (April 19th). (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Ekpe Abioto, clad in colorful African attire and noted for his motivational music and programs for children, creates music effortlessly using a shakere beaddraped gourd during the Africa In April parade. (Photo: Shirley Jackson)
BUSINESS
Tri-State Defender
Page 7
April 24 - 30, 2014
ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY
The beautiful May flowers nurtured by April showers are usually accompanied by overgrown grass and weeds. With very little upfront investment, a lucrative business can be created for landscaping residential and commercial properties. Many men have flashbacks of their younger days when their parents demanded they mow the lawn. Equipped with little more than a push mower and a rake, the teens went to work on the lawn. The more industrious teens became entrepreneurs, mowing more than just their parent’s home. They made contact with the neighbors and began their summer jobs tending to the lawns in the neighborhood. With a standard of expertise above the norm, lawn care now is a thriving business. Whether the business is independently started as a sole proprietorship or a franchise is purchased, there is money to be made in the industry. The benefit of an independently started business is that the profits are not shared and
The business of landscaping
the entrepreneur is free to make his or her own rules. The benefit of a franchised business is that most of the docCarlee McCullough u m e n t s needed to begin the business have already been created by the franchisor. Depending on the geographic region, marketing may also be included in the monthly fees.
Industry categories
Landscaping is the category that increases curb appeal. The landscaper may suggest to the property owner items that would better the appearance of the landscape. The suggestions may include shrubbery, mulch, flowers, plants and/or trees. Vision, creativity and some knowl-
edge of plants are requirements. Lawn care is the maintenance of the existing lawn and entails mowing, trimming, edging, mulching and leaf removal in the fall (which is typically an extra charge). Sod installation, hydro seeding, weeding, fertilizer and pest control application are additional services that can be offered for a premium.
Expertise
Quality service is a must if you want to charge a client for services and reap repeat business. So become skillful at mowing, pruning, edging and trimming. Self-performing entrepreneurs who do the work without a riding more should be physically fit and capable of pushing, bending, lifting and walking the lawns. As a sole proprietorship, the owner may also be responsible for advertising, contracting and billing. However, if help is available in and out of the field, the operation would run more smoothly.
Tools of the trade
When starting off small a push mower will do but be prepared for manual labor. If funds allow, a riding mower is always advantageous and worth the investment. An edger is needed for small spaces and to give a manicured look to the lawn. Safety goggles and ear plugs should be worn as protection. A leaf blower and rake are also key tools of the trade.
Funding
Since the cost of entry is relatively low, most entrepreneurs self-finance the business with savings, credit cards and/or a small loan from family and friends. After the initial investment for equipment, the ongoing cost is simply maintenance of the equipment. Any other expenses should be built into the estimate provided to the client and later billed.
Benefits
The owner of a landscaping business typically controls his/her own schedule. Revenue is dependent on the size and amount of homes or businesses serviced. If self-performing, the business owner will get plenty of exercise and fresh air.
Drawbacks
One of the major drawbacks to a lawn care business is that it is seasonal. In this region, from March to around October the business is booming. After October, business is slow but the leaf removal business should be in full action. So word to the wise is save money during peak season for the slow months. Discipline is also required because the owner has total freedom and flexibility to work as much or as little as desired. The likelihood of a problem situation unfolds if the owner is easily distracted
or not self-motivated.
Pricing
The easiest way to establish pricing in the community is to contact potential competitors and determine their price for a particular service. An alternative is to reach out to family and friends and inquire about what they currently pay or would be willing to pay for the service. While you have the family and friends on the phone, ask for their business. Whether to establish pricing that is below, matching or at a premium when compared to competitors is one that the business owner will have to determine once the information has been obtained. Provide a quality, reliable service and pricing should not be an issue. (Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, TN 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)
MONEY MATTERS When the latest bull market for U.S. stocks reached the five-year mark on March 10, 2014, only five bulls had lasted longer. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index posted a gain of 177 percent for the fiveyear period. The current bull followed on the heels of the Great Recession and the worst stock market decline since the 1929 stock market crash. The most recent bear market began in October 2007; the S&P 500 fell 57 percent before hitting the bottom on March 9, 2009. In typical fashion, investors who sold stocks during the downturn may not have participated fully in some of the subsequent bull market gains. A recent Morningstar study found that emotional trading practices had a negative effect
Looking beyond the bull market
on investment returns over the last decade. For the 10year period ending December 31, 2013, investor Charles Sims dollars returned an Jr., CFP average of 2.5 percentage points per year less than the average mutual fund’s performance, largely because people have a tendency to buy high and sell low. Looking back A bull market is often defined as a period in which asset prices rise 20 percent or more without a drop of 20 percent in between. A price decline of 20
percent is called a bear market. Most of Wall Street’s worst bear markets have been caused by recessions, but history shows each bull and bear market to be different. The longest and most profitable bull market began in late 1987 and lasted until the tech bubble burst in 2000, posting a 582 percent gain. During one rough period from late April to early October 2011, the S&P 500 lost 19.4 percent based on closing prices. However, the index actually dropped below the 20 percent threshold for a short time during the trading day on October 3. Some people believe this resulted in a momentary bear and the beginning of a new bull market. There have been a total of 12 bull markets since the end
of World War II (including the current one). Half of those lasted five years, and only three made it to a sixth year. Room to run? The terms “bull” and “bear” are also used to describe the positive or negative outlook of individual investors. Some bearish investors believe central bank policies have helped sustain the bull market, and that stocks could suffer as the Fed cuts back on monetary stimulus. Moreover, price increases have outpaced earnings growth, making stocks more expensive relative to corporate profits. The S&P 500 traded at about 16 times earnings over the past year, which is about twice the level five years ago.7= On the positive side of this perpetual argument, bulls point
out that the stock market has been rising from generational lows and could climb further if economic growth picks up speed. Stock prices generally reflect economic conditions and the financial performance of individual companies. Volatility resumes The S&P 500 posted a 32 percent total return for 2013, the largest in 16 years. Thus far in 2014, the stock market has been bumpier. The S&P 500 index experienced 11 market swings of 1 percent or more through mid-March. By and large, these sell-offs and relief rallies were in response to news about monetary policy, the Ukrainian conflict, and signs of economic weakness in China and other fragile economies. Even professionals have a
difficult time predicting market turning points, so investors may hinder themselves by changing course based on current events or recent performance. Though it may be human nature to be wary of stocks during a bear market, a long bull market might tempt investors to invest too aggressively. For this reason, you might want to pay less attention to the market’s ups and downs and stick with a longterm strategy based on your time horizon, risk tolerance, and financial goals. (Charles Sims Jr. is president/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.co m.)
Open house beckons children and parents to Kamp KSI Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Alisha Tillery
Inside Kairos Services, double doors opened, and children ran excitedly to a large table set up with green and gold pawns. Rather than video games and iPads, these children are excited about chess, just one of the disciplines taught during Kamp KSI. Kairos, a nonprofit that works to help people become self-sufficient through employment, hosted an open house for the camp, which is in its second year. The camp for children ages 6-12 teaches an array of disciplines to foster critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. Herbert Lester, executive director, says the goal is to prepare
children to be globally competent, which will help them secure jobs and become model citizens. “The United States has fallen in academics compared to other countries. Our children must learn skills and competencies to compete with students from across the globe,” Lester says. “Kamp KSI equips our campers to think critically, problem solve creatively and work collaboratively through fun activities that children enjoy.” Sixty openings are available for children from all areas in the city. Camp runs May 27 – August 1. During open house, parents received information about the camp, including testimonials from former campers and instructors on
what to expect with this year’s experience. Chuck O’Bannon, videographer and former on-air personality, is eager to share videography skills with campers. Last year, they documented their time in the camp on camera, interviewing Kairos staff and community leaders. In addition, campers will receive golf lessons onsite, learning to putt and drive the ball. Golf is not only a top sport, but teaches several life skills, including patience, decision-making and integrity. Weekly, they will practice at a local golf facility, sponsored by the City of Memphis. Miriam Romero, who teaches English as a Second
Language, will be teaching Spanish during the camp. “I’m excited to be teaching campers Spanish,” she says. “Learning a Second Language is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” As parent Melody Scott talked with Kairos staff, her seven year-old son was learning the fundamentals of chess. She says prior to attending the open house, he wasn’t interested in the game. “He likes everything,” she says, “The golf, chess – just some of the educational aspects. I want him to retain some of that. I’m excited.” (For more information on Kamp KSI or to register online, visit www.kairosmemphis.org.)
Checkmate!! A child makes his first try at chess taught by Knights of the Roundtable Chess Club. (Courtesy photo)
RELIGION
Page 8
Tri-State Defender
April 24 - 30, 2014
A celebration of legacy…
The Rev. Dr. L. LaSimba Gray Jr. pours a libation in honor of hair designer Birteal Taylor Benson, whose Birtealʼs Salon evolved into one of the premier shops in Memphis. Mrs. Benson – aka ʻMomma Birtealʼ – passed April 14th. She was 94. The homegoing service was held at Monumental Baptist Church, her longtime church home. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Faith, education and hard work yield promising future for Joshua Hawkins Special to the Tri-State Defender
by Julia Griggs
Joshua Hawkins, an outstanding student and athlete at Memphis University School, looks forward to a promising future. The 18-year-old high school senior has been accepted at four elite Ivy League Colleges – Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Brown. If he doesn’t choose from that quartet, Vanderbilt University and the University of Michigan also want him. Representing the fourth generation of the Church of God in Christ, Hawkins is the son of Temple of Deliverance COGIC Pastor Milton R. Hawkins and first lady Catherine C. Hawkins. With a GPA of 4.8, SAT score of 2130 and an ACT score of 34, Joshua would be an inviting candidate to attend any institution of higher learning. His academic prowess is complemented by his involvement in school and church activities. Consider this partial list: President of the MUS Diversity and Tolerance Club; MUS Ambassador; Emmanuel Basketball Team; MUS Mock Trial; MUS Peer Tutor; Civic Service Organization; TOD Music Production; and GE Patterson Summer Camp counselor. During an interview with The New Tri-State Defender, Joshua gave props to Memphis University School, calling it “a challenging high school with many of the best teachers in the city. The academic vigor is what sets Memphis University School apart from many other schools in Memphis.” Well-prepared for the next level of learning, Joshua said, “I chose these colleges because of their academics resources, research opportunities and good student-teacher ratio. I am not sure what my major will be, however, I’m geared toward philosophy and economics because of my religious back-
Representing the fourth generation of the Church of God in Christ, stellar-student Joshua Hawkins is the son of Temple of Deliverance COGIC Pastor Milton R. Hawkins and first lady Catherine C. Hawkins. (Courtesy photo)
ground and my love for math.” Focus, discipline and time management are required in getting an education and a professional career, said Joshua, who readily acknowledges his network of support. “My mother and father have been one hundred percent behind me in all of my athletic and academic endeavors, pushing me to do my best. My mother has been the key to my educational success. I admire my dad because he is the
perfect example of a man that is God fearing, humble and faithful to his church and his family,” said Joshua. Pastor Hawkins said it’s crucial for parents and guardians to invest in their children, take time with them and push church, salvation and education. “It is very important to put Christ first and not neglect the education aspect of the children,” he said. “Our churches can offer after-school programs, tutoring, education day, and promote education within the rights of the church. Education is the pathway to a better future. God and education is what we teach here at Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ.” Brian K. Smith, MUS college counselor, said the college counseling program at MUS is intense and begins the moment a student matriculates to the school. “As college counselors, we are involved in every facet of a student’s life at the school from selecting courses to their involvement in extracurricular activities. Joshua is that extraordinary young man who understands when it is appropriate to have fun and when it is time to buckle down and complete the task placed in front of him,” Smith said. “Joshua has met those challenges with great aplomb. Having enrolled in the most rigorous of courses from the very beginning, his consistent college preparatory track makes him one of the most impressive students at our school. Academically, Joshua is more than a solid ‘A; student.” By self-description, Joshua is a very religion person. Church, he said, taught him to “put God first. High school has taught me there are challenges you face everyday, but there are ways to overcome them. “I believe there is nothing I can’t achieve in my life.”
LIVING THE LIFE I LOVE
Take ownership of your pride and unforgiveness button Dear Lucy: I divorced my husband ten years ago. We have one child and now he is seventeen. His father has never paid child support and I have never done anything about it because I can usually handle everything myself. However, when I really need his help and ask, he knows how to push my buttons, make me mad and I walk away angry and empty handed. He has never done anything for our son willingly and makes me feel guilty for asking by telling me about the last time he gave me money. Now, my son doesn’t even want to ask for anything. Senior year is coming up and I can really use the help. How can I get different results? – Buttons Dear Buttons: Our emotions can work for or against us. Could it be that one of the buttons he pushes is the one called pride and unforgiveness? These two states can make us very emotional. First there is the pride that made you think you didn’t need or want his help so you decided not to legally enforce his responsibility to provide support for his child. Second, when we wallow in unforgiveness, it’s hard to be civil. And here is something about forgiveness that we need to remember. To forgive a person does not mean that we let them go free. It means that we let ourselves go free. We become free enough to think rationally and without cloudy emotions. What would be rational? Rational would be your knowing that it is your husband’s responsibility to care for his child and when you don’t enforce it, your child loses, not you. Your child deserves to live comfortably and not have to see you angry, overworked or whining about his sorry dad. So many women think that being able to get by without that man’s support is a show of strength or showing him that you don’t need him. This is not about you. It is about holding him accountable by law. It is about supporting your child’s opportunities beyond the bare necessities. When you go to your ex-
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
Attend the Church of your choice
husband for money and come away empty handed repeatedly, what does that say about you? It makes you feel stupid and Lucy ineffecShaw tive. So, here is an idea. Before going, be real clear about your intentions. Your intention is to come away with what you need for your child. That means that any other conversation is extraneous. Whatever he says to you, smile sweetly and agree. “Yes, you did give me $$ last year and that’s great. Today, we need...” No emotion. Stay on track. There is a bible verse that says, “Agree with thine adversary when thou art in the way.” Stick to your purpose. Take low to rise high. The last thing he expects is for you to be agreeable. The whole point of pushing your buttons is to make you get mad and leave empty handed. This new strategy may not work the first time, but eventually it will and immediately you will feel better about yourself! Many so-called deadbeat dads are deadbeat because we let them be so. The child or children should always be at the center of the dialogue and decisions. Leave your emotional baggage behind! If you never get a penny, you will know you tried to do what’s best for your child and allow that man to participate financially in the care. 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.)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. —Phillipians 4:13
ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, April 24 - 30, 2014, Page 9
ArtsMemphis presents Stax to the Max For the fourth year in row, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music is taking it to the streets with ArtsMemphis Presents Stax to the Max, the annual all-day, outdoor, free music and arts festival. This year’s event takes place Saturday (April 26th) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The rain date is Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The festival, held behind the Stax Museum, features all-day live music, arts performances, merchandise vendors, nonprofit booths, food trucks, children’s activities, health screenings by University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and more. Last year’s event drew approximately 8,000 attendees despite have been delayed a day due to inclement weather. The festival was founded to engage the surrounding Soulsville, USA community and bring others from around the city and the world to the community. It will be a celebration of Memphis jazz, blues, R&B, and soul with acts, including Swing Time Explosion, Daddy Mack Blues Band, The Bo-Keys featuring John Nemeth and Percy Wiggins, Toni Green, and Stax Records legends William Bell, the Mad Lads, and the Temprees. This year’s special guest is Sam Moore of the soul royalty duo Sam & Dave, who will debut a new song, “They Killed a King,” which was released April 4th, the 46th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in Memphis. Moore will perform with the Stax Music Academy. Also of special interest is the longawaited grand opening that day of the Memphis Slim’s Collaboratory across College Street from the Stax Museum at the original site of the home of famed bluesman Memphis Slim. The public/private venture involves Memphis’ Community LIFT, LeMoyne-Owen College Community Development Corporation (CDC), the University of Memphis’ Memphis Music Magnate project, and other stakeholders. The mission of Memphis Slim’s Collaboratory is to artistically engage the community through resources in music, the related music industry, and other artistic endeavors. A number of elements will be incorporated into Memphis Slim’s Collaboratory, but the focal point will be a state of the art recording studio and rehearsal space. The Collaboratory will be open for public tours throughout the day. “One of the key reasons for the founding of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Stax Music Academy was to help revitalize the Soulsville, USA community,” said Tim Sampson, Stax Museum communications director. “So much has changed since the Soulsville Foundation began its work in 1998 that we hope everyone will come out to see this sheer vibrancy taking place.” Stax to the Max is sponsored by ArtsMemphis, The Commercial Appeal, and Clear Channel Radio Group Memphis. (For more information, contact Tim Sampson at 901-485-8735 or tim.sampson@soulsvillefoundation. org.)
You gotta see Taraji! The ʻFrom the Roughʼ interview
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kam Williams
Taraji P. Henson talks about her new film, “From The Rough,” an inspirational biopic where she portrays Catana Starks, the African-American trailblazer who became the first female to coach an NCAA Division1 men’s team when she accepted the reins of the golf squad at Tennessee State University. Kam Williams: Hi Taraji, thanks for the interview. Taraji P. Henson: Oh, no worries, Kam.
KW: What interested you in this film? TPH: Well, first of all, I’d never seen a movie about a female coach before, outside of that Goldie Hawn comedy from years ago, “Wildcats.” And I had certainly never seen an African-American woman portrayed this way in a drama. That was the first thing that interested me. Then, when I read the script, I went, “Wow! What an amazing story!” She had all the odds stacked against her, yet she and her team won. And it was all because of the tenacity and belief and passion that she instilled in her players.
KW: I had never heard of Catana Starks before seeing this film. Why do you think she’s so unheralded? TPH: Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe, because she didn’t coach at an Ivy League or big name school, but at an historically-black university. That’s another reason why I did the film. I felt the world needed to know about this woman, which is what we’re trying to do now.
Taraji P. Henson
KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: “Are you an athletic person? In other words, what are the similarities and differences between you and Catana Starks?” TPH: (Chuckles) I’m not really an athlete, though I’m quite capable of playing one on TV or film. (LOL) I’ve been to the driving range, and I do have good handeye coordination, but that’s about it. I’m not going to try to play basketball.
AT A GLANCE
Name: Taraji P. Henson Born: Washington, D.C. Residence: Los Angeles Education: Howard University Family: Son, Marcel Awards & honors: Academy Award nomination, Best Supporting Actress, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Emmy-nominee (2011), Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries, “Taken From Me” (Lifetime). Television credits: Detective Joss Carter, CBS crime drama “Person Of Interest”; Series regular, “Boston Legal”; Recurring role, “Eli Stone.” Movie credits: “Think Like A Man,” “Think Like A Man, Too.” “Larry Crowne,” “The Karate Kid,” “Date Night,” “I Can Do Bad All By Myself,” “Peep World,” “The Good Doctor,” “Something New,” “Not Easily Broken,” “Hurricane Season,” “The Family That Preys.” “Smokinʼ Aces,” “Once Fallen,” “Talk to Me,” “Hustle & Flow,” “Baby Boy,” “Four Brothers.” Passion: Helping disabled and less fortunate children.
KW: Patricia also asks: “What does Catana Starks mean to you and how did you prepare for the role?” TPH: She means the world to me, because she proved that you can accomplish anything in life as long as you believe, have faith and work hard. How did I prepare for the role? I spent a lot of time at the driving range and talking to Dr. Starks before filming. Because she wasn’t a recognizable figure, I wasn’t worried about walking or sounding like her, I just wanted to bring her essence to life. And that’s all she was concerned about too. KW: Has she seen the film? What did she think of it? TPH: Yes she has, and I think she’s quite happy about it.
KW: Patricia closes by saying: “I really enjoyed your performance and your character, Lauren, in “Think like a Man.” I can’t wait to see “Think like a Man Too” this summer. Is there anything you can share about the sequel without spoiling it? TPH: We go to Vegas, and one of the couples is getting married, but I can’t say who it is. It is hilarious! Some people say it’s funnier than the first one. But you be the judge, Patricia.
KW: Environmental activist Grace Sinden says: “You’ve had a successful career in movies and television. What aspect of your work has given you the greatest satisfaction?” TPH: What gives me the greatest satisfaction is the number of people I can affect with my gift, with what I do. That’s the most important thing to me, more important than
any trophy or award. . KW: Grace has a follow-up. “Do you want your son to have a life in show business?” TPH: I want him to find his own passion, whatever that is. I just want him to be happy and successful in whatever he decides to do. KW: Robin Beckham of PittsburghUrbanMedia says: “It was recently reported that Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan are making a sequel to “Karate Kid.” Will you be rejoining the cast as Jaden’s mother? TPH: I hope so, if that rumor’s true.
KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: “I’m really sorry you got killed off on the TV show “Person of Interest.” You work with ease in movies, music and TV. Which of these media is your favorite and how does it best show your talents?” TPH: I would have to say movies are my favorite. I love doing TV, too, but it’s always rush, rush, rush. With a feature film, those moments and scenes get a chance to breathe, because you don’t have to accomplish as much in one day.
KW: Documentary filmmaker/professor and author Hisani Dubose says: “Not many African-American actors have the juice to greenlight a project.” She’s wondering whether you are in a position to get a project that you like greenlighted? TPH: I’m getting there. Hopefully, the success of “From the Rough” will help, because you first have to prove that you’re bankable at the box office, before you can greenlight anything. So, I hope to have that kind of leverage after this film. … KW: The Anthony Mackie question: “Is SEE TARAJI ON PAGE 10
Memphis grad at home at the ‘front of house’ Former Central High student hooks up with Janelle Monae
(PRWEB) – Amanda Davis, a 2010 graduate of SAE Institute Atlanta’s Audio Technology Program, will be the front of house engineer for the U.K. concerts of Grammy-nominated vocalist Janelle Monae, which will take place in May ’14 in Birmingham, London, and Manchester. “My touring schedule with Janelle will fill up around 150 days this year, and I’m excited to be a part of her concerts in England,” says Amanda. “She’s really popular there, and she was nominated for a Brit Award as Best International Female Solo Artist, so I’m sure that the turnout will be huge and the shows will be a fantastic experience.” A native of Memphis, Davis loved all genres of music growing up and was especially drawn to classical. As a student at Memphis’ Central High School, she performed with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra chorus, toured Europe with the Sounds of America Chorus and Band, and won the “Outstanding Vocal Student” award from the Memphis City Schools system. After earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music with a focus on Vocal Performance from Roosevelt University in Chicago in 2008, Davis decided that she wanted to focus
her career aspirations on music recording and production. “I looked at a university in Florida and
Amanda Davis, a 2010 graduate of SAE Institute Atlantaʼs Audio Technology Program, will be the front of house engineer for the U.K. concerts of Grammynominated vocalist Janelle Monae. (Photo: PRWEB)
some local programs in Chicago, but SAE’s school in Atlanta was affordable, it offered the curriculum that I was looking for, and it
was the best choice for my life situation at the time,” says Davis. “I enrolled in 2010 and graduated with a Diploma in the Audio Technology Program at the top of my class. I would definitely recommend SAE to women who are interested in pursuing a career in music production, recording, and engineering.” The campus directors at SAE Atlanta were so impressed by Davis’ skills that they hired her immediately as their first female instructor, specializing in Music Theory. After two years at SAE, she went on to work as a Sound Technician for Carnival Cruise Lines and the front of house engineer for Peachtree Presbyterian Church (the largest Presbyterian Church in the nation), where she still contributes her talents today. In the fall of 2013, Davis was recruited by Wondaland Arts Society to be Janelle Monae’s official front of house engineer for her international concert appearances. Openings for FOH gigs are very competitive, and learning on the job will need to happen before you’re totally ready to handle things on your own, but don’t be intimidated,” says Davis, who pitches the need “to be prepared, be persistent and be ready to hustle.”
ENTERTAINMENT
Page 10
Tri-State Defender
April 24 - 30, 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 25, 2014
BIG BUDGET FILMS
“Brick Mansions” (PG-13 for profanity, sexual menacing, gunplay, drug use and pervasive violence) Remake of the French actionthriller District B-13, now set in a dystopian, walled-in Detroit, and starring the late Paul Walker as a detective determined to rid the city of a drug kingpin (RZA) in league with corrupt cops. With David Belle, Carlo Rota, Catalina Denis, Ayisha Issa and Gouchy Boy.
TARAJI
“The Other Woman” (PG-13 for profanity, sexual references and mature themes) Romantic comedy revolving around the wife (Leslie Mann) of a shameless womanizer (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) who befriends his two mistresses (Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton) before hatching a plan with them to even the score. With Nicki Minaj, Don Johnson and Tatlor Kinney.
“The Quiet Ones” (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, mature themes, smoking, and scenes of intense violence and terror) Supernatural thriller, set in the Seventies, about an Oxford University professor (Jared Harris) heading a team of student researchers which unwittingly unleashes demonic forces while experimenting on a woman (Olivia Cooke) possessed by a Poltergeist. Cast includes Sam Claflin, Erin Richards and Rory Fleck-Byrne. “Walking with the Enemy” (Unrated) Fact-based World War II saga, set in Hungary during Nazi occupation, about a young Jewish man (Jonas Armstrong) who, with the help of his girlfriend (Hannah Tointon), masqueraded as an SS officer in order to find his family. With Ben Kingsley, Simon Dutton and William Hope.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
“Blue Ruin” (R for profanity and graphic violence) Macabre thriller about a beach bum (Macon Blair) who returns to his hometown to carry out an act of vengeance only to botch the assassination attempt and end up having to defend his suddenly-imperiled family. With Devin Ratray, Amy Hargeaves and Eve Plumb. “For No Good Reason” (R for profanity, drug content and sexual images) Reverential documentary about Ralph Steadman, the British cartoonist best known for his collaborations with the late, gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Featuring file footage plus appearances by Johnny Depp, Terry Gilliam and Jann Wenner.
“From the Rough” (PG for mature themes
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
there anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?” TPH: Yes, visit Africa. I haven’t done that yet.
Gouchy Boy stars as K2 and RZA stars as Tremaine in Relativity Media's “Brick Mansions,” a Remake of the French action-thriller District B-13. (Courtesy photo)
and mild epithets) Taraji P. Henson stars in this biopic about Catana Starks, the AfricanAmerican trailblazer who made history in the mid-Eighties by becoming head coach of Tennessee State’s golf team. With Letoya Luckett, Tom Felton and the late Michael Clarke Duncan.
“Gambit” (PG-13 for suggestive material, partial nudity and a rude gesture) Crime comedy about an art curator (Colin Firth) who conspires with a Texas rodeo queen (Cameron Diaz) to trick his abusive, filthy-rich boss (Alan Rickman) into buying a fake Monet. Cast includes Stanley Tucci, Cloris Leachman and Togo Igawa. (In English and Japanese with subtitles) “The German Doctor” (PG-13 for mature themes and brief nudity) True tale, set in Patagonia in 1960, about an Argentinean family who had no idea it was living with Nazi fugitive Josef Mengele (Alex Brendemuhl), the wanted war criminal known as the Angel of Death. Co-starring Natalia Oreiro, Diego Peretti and Florencia Bado.
“Jeune et Jolie” (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama about a 17 year-old virgin (Marine Vacth) who turns to prostitution after being deflowered by a German boy (Lucas Prisor) she meets while on vacation with her parents (Frederic Pierrot and Geraldine Pailhas) in the south of France. With Charlotte Rampling,
Nathalie Richard and Akela Sari. (In French with subtitles)
“Last Passenger” (R for profanity) Suspense thriller about the struggle for survival by passengers on a hijacked, London commuter train whose emergency brake doesn’t work. Starring Dougray Scott, Kara Tointon and Iddo Goldberg. “Locke” (R for pervasive profanity) Distracted driving drama, set in England, about a construction foreman (Tom Hardy) whose life is irreversibly altered by a series of phone calls he receives while driving from Birmingham to London. With Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson and Andrew Scott.
“The Machine” (R for violence and profanity) Sci-fi thriller about a couple of Artificial Intelligence researchers (Caity Lotz and Toby Stephens) who successfully implant a human brain in a robot only to have it turned into a weapon by the British military which had funded their experiment. Featuring Sam Hazeldine, Denis Lawson and Pooneh Hajimohammadi.
“Tanzania: A Journey Within” (Unrated) Road documentary chronicling a vacation shared by a couple of University of Miami grads, one, an African returning to his humble roots, the other, an American debutante visiting the continent for the first time.
KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: “What is your favorite charity?” TPH: A charity that my best friend since 7th grade started called Art Creates Life. (http://www.artcreateslife.org/) She raises money to take inner-city children to Africa. Isn’t that crazy? I donate and I support that organization, but I’ve never been to Africa myself. I’ve sent a lot of kids there, though. … KW: The Viola Davis question: “What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?” TPH: I’m pretty much the same. I’m consistent. There aren’t two me’s. There is only one me. I can only be myself, and that’s who I always am whether I’m at home or on the carpet. KW: Thanks again for the time, Taraji. I really appreciate it. Good luck with the film. TPH: Thank you so much, Kam.
(To see a trailer for “From the Rough,” visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKYfKidQn OQ)
Taraji P. Henson stars in FROM THE ROUGH as “Coach Catana Starks.”
COMMUNITY
Tri-State Defender
Page 11
April 24 - 30, 2014
Say hello to the Juneteenth Urban Music Festival Out: The annual Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival. In: Juneteenth Urban Music Festival. Yes, the long-running Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival is getting a makeover. After a 21-year run in Historic Douglass Park in North Memphis, the board of directors has changed the festival’s name. The location is changing too, with Robert R. Church Park on Beale Street in Downtown Memphis now the new venue. According to Executive Director Telisa Franklin, the
n a m e change and the new location are m o v e s made to increase the events appeal, retool it as an urban music festival, Telisa a n d Franklin strengthen its brand. The festival was founded by Glenn Johns Reed as a Mem-
phis-area celebration of the freedom of African-Americans from slavery. In 2012, Reed tapped Franklin as her successor. The new Juneteenth Urban Music Festival will run June
13th through June 15th. “We are excited about the growth and changes and invite you to join us Father’s Day weekend at the Festival,” Franklin said in a release an-
nouncing the changes. The entertainment component of the Festival will feature: gospel artist Kevin Davidson and UCICC, rap artist Grind Hard for V, R & B girl group Karma, pop artist Evarocitta, neo soul artist Migel Alexis, hip hop artist Twilyte, R & B artist Lou Angel, and gospel artist Carla Tolbert Taylor. “We will still have the original kids zone and promote health and wellness in the community, plus we are adding to this year festival
Southland Mall welcomes Discount Wigs 3
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Twana Coleman
Dozens were in attendance on Friday (April 18th) for the ribbon cutting ceremony at Discount Wigs 3 in the Southland Mall. (Photo: Twana Coleman)
(For more information, contact Telisa Franklin at 901281-6337 or by email at juneteenthmemphis@gmail.com.) Katie Fay, a waitress at Brother Juniperʼs restaurant near the University of Memphis campus, takes the order of June Mangum and others in the Braille User Support Group using a Braille menu. Seated clockwise next to Mangum are Janikquea Journey, Rickey Murrell, Magalena Mathis, Wayne Rooks, Josh Thompson and Gene E. La Master Jr. (Photo: Wiley Henry)
The combination hair salon and beauty supply now occupies the 12,000 square foot space that once housed Piccadilly Restaurant
Perusing the selections on a beauty supply isle, Bianca Ward noted that it was the first time she ever had seen a beauty shop inside of a mall. “I love the idea because people come to the mall to buy clothes, so you can come and get an outfit and get your hair done,” said Ward. “I’m here today looking for some hair, accessories and a stylist.” Dozens were in attendance last Friday (April 18th) for the ribbon cutting ceremony at Discount Wigs 3 in the Southland Mall. The Grand Opening for the combination hair salon and beauty supply store followed on Saturday at 9 a.m. in the 12,000 square foot space that once housed Piccadilly Restaurant is the new home. The “3” in Discount Wigs represents the third location, with two other locations at 4685 American Way and 3249 Austin Peay. Speakers during the ribbon cutting included Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell Jr., City Councilman Harold Collins, Hazel Moore, a Whitehaven business community representative, and Congressman Steve Cohen. “It’s important for this community and for this mall to prosper,” said Cohen. “I’m here in particular for John Park (the owner). He is a great success story having come from South Korea and made a lot of success here in Memphis with his businesses.” Having reached out to Cohen for help to obtain U.S. citizenship after several denied attempts 14 years ago, owner Park went on to obtain a master’s degree from Mississippi State University and launched his retail business. Quoting American author and political activist, Helen Keller, who overcame deafness and blindness, Park said, “The most pathetic person is someone who has sight but no vision.” Park, who currently employs over sixty employees and gets his hair routinely cut by one of his stylists, said, “We have been able to grow and add value to the city of Memphis.” Potential customers and current staff walked and mingled throughout the large, bright space, with a single row of 23 styling chairs on one side and on the other, rows and rows of hair essential products. All the staff members were dressed in black. Beaming, Dockreletta Boyd, who works at the American Way location said, “This location is out of my way, but I wish I could come to this store. It’s so pretty and big.” The Oakhaven High School marching band and the Memphis Star Steppers entertained the crowd with musical and dance performances. “It is so important that Southland Mall, the business anchor in Whitehaven, keep bringing in wig stores, restaurants or clothing stores,” said Michael Rixter, vice president/general manager for Southland Mall. “If something were to happen here and Southland Mall goes dark like Piccadilly went dark, people who live in Whitehaven’s property taxes would escalate immediately that same year.”
lineup,” said Franklin. Those additions include a poetry slam and a showcase featuring majorettes, drummers, cheerleaders and steppers as part of “The Ultimate Juneteenth Showdown.” As usual, there will be vendors with plenty of food and wares! The Juneteenth Urban Music Festival is free and open to the public.
Putting Braille on the menu Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Wiley Henry
Fourteen people gathered on a Friday morning in March for breakfast at the nationally acclaimed Brother Juniper’s restaurant near the University of Memphis campus. While it is not unusual for a group to spend time together over a meal, it was apparent on this day that some individuals in the group were either totally blind, visually impaired or disabled in other ways. “This is our Braille User Support Group, one of our outreach initiatives,” said Dr. Lavonnie Perry Clayborn, research assistant professor and director of Mid-South Access Center for Technology, a non-profit assistive technology resource center located in Patterson Hall in room 119 on the U of M campus. Mid-South ACT is a division of the Center for Rehabilitation and Employment Research (CRER), a member of the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA), and a partner with Advanced Multimedia Devices – a Partnership for Excellence Program. It was founded in 1998 and provides resources for teachers, clinicians, parents with children who have disabilities, and individuals with disabilities. “We’re trying to get individuals who are not familiar with Braille to get interested in it,” said Clayborn, who has headed the resource center since 2003. “We also want to partner with local businesses to make their restaurant menus available in Braille for the blind and those individuals with low vision.” According to the National Federation for the Blind, it was estimated in 2011 that 6,636,900 American adults age 16 and older reported having a visual disability. Of that number, 3,665,200 were women and 2,971,600 were men. There were 183,900 in the state of Tennessee alone. The data was derived from various sources such as the National Center for
Health Statistics, the United States Bureau of the Census, and a 2011 National Health Interview Survey. It is the latest representative sample of individuals reporting that they had trouble seeing, that they wore glasses or contacts, or were blind and unable to see at all. Those who are a part of the Braille User Support Group hope their lives are made a little easier once they learn to use Braille. The group meets the third Friday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mid-South ACT office. The meeting is facilitated by an experienced Braille user who demonstrates how individuals can use Braille in their daily lives and provides tips for learning the embossed (or raised dots) tactile writing system. June Mangum, totally blind since he was 12 years old, has demonstrated the use of Braille at the group’s monthly meeting and facilitated the breakfast meeting as well. He volunteers his time trying to encourage individuals to become more interested in using Braille in the community. He’s also trying to convince businesses, particularly restaurants, to use Braille for individuals with low vision or totally blind. “People with low vision or totally blind can function a lot better if they are using Braille,” said Mangum, who has been teaching Braille at the Braille User Support Group meeting for a few months now. He also is a rehab instructor for the state of Tennessee, teaching Braille for more than 16 years. “The rate of Braille usage has been down over the years,” said Mangum, explaining the way Braille works. “It’s a maximum of six (raised) dots to form the alphabets. For most people, it doesn’t take long. It’s not as complicated as it seems.” The Braille system also includes symbols to represent punctuation, mathematics and scientific characters, music, computer notation, and foreign languages. According to a report released by the National Federation for
the Blind in 2009, fewer than 10 percent of the legally blind people in the United States read Braille. The objective, said Clayborn, is to convince restaurants to use at least one Braille menu that the Braille User Support Group will provide. The menu would look like blank pages without photographs and text and bound together in book form. The number of pages depends on what’s on the menu. If restaurants are interested, Clayborn said the Braille User Support Group would take their existing menu and convert it into Braille. “Braille menus are not provided in most restaurants. We will provide one menu for the restaurant preferably in a Word document.” Janikquea Journey is ecstatic about using a Braille menu in restaurants. She’s known about the tactile writing system since she was a kid and gives Mangum his props for demonstrating during the breakfast meeting how Braille can be used. “He came around and showed everybody what it felt like,” she said. “He demonstrated for people who couldn’t use Braille at that level how to use it. Everybody got a chance to have hands-on experience with a Braille menu.” Journey has had some difficulty with food selections at restaurants. A friend or family member, she said, has had to read the menu to her so she could make her selection. She’s had to depend on their eyes to get what she wants. “They’d have to go through sections of the menu to figure out what I want. When they do read the menu, some waitresses don’t know disability etiquette and will ask the person reading the menu what they want. They need to ask me what I want.” She said the wait staff doesn’t know any better when serving the visually impaired or individuals who’re totally blind. “They have to be patient with people.”
Links drive home point about bone marrow need The River City (TN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated recently put the spotlight on transplant donations at The LeMoyne Owen College. Students and the community at large turned out for The River City (TN) Chapter’s “Be The Match” Bone Marrow Drive held on the front lawn of Memphis’ only HBCU. More than 100 people attended the community event (April 12th) and 41 signed up to be tested as possible matches for people needing an organ, tissue or blood donor. Radio station KJMS V101.1 provided live remote coverage and encouraged listeners to join in the event. With African Americans
More than 100 people attended the community event (April 12th) and 41 signed up to be tested as possible matches... having a greater than average need for transplants, the “Be The Match” Bone Marrow Drive was the perfect opportunity to reach a large segment of the community and student population. LeMoyne freshman DeMarcus Little signed up for the registry, which he said proved to be very easy with a simple swab of the cheek of his mouth. “I had a friend who needed to have a bone marrow transplant but couldn’t actually get one. I thought I would come
out here and register and actually help other people who may need that transplant,” said Little. Carla Stotts-Hills, president of The River City (TN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, said there is a great need for donors in the African-American community. “It is important for us to consider organ donation and talk to our families because similar genetics can lead to more successful transplants,” says Stotts-Hills. “By registering African-Americans here
on the campus of LeMoyne Owen College, we have a chance to genetically be matched.” In addition to donor testing, the Sickle Cell Foundation also conducted Sickle Cell screenings during the drive. The American Red Cross distributed blood drive information. Awards were given to the Greek Letter organizations with the most participants at the “Be The Match” Bone Marrow Drive. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated tied for first place. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated won 2nd place.
River City (TN) Link members register The LeMoyneOwen College basketball players for bone marrow screening. Seated: Marilyn Evan, Patrice Myers; President Carla Stotts Hills-standing (Photo: Angela Myers)
SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, April 24 - 30, 2014, Page 12
Titans 2014 schedule opens at Kansas City Includes Monday Night game against Pittsburgh
The Tennessee Titans open the 2014 season at Kansas City on Sept. 7, and they will be featured on Monday Night Football against long-time rival Pittsburgh at LP Field on Nov. 17. Tennessee opens its home schedule on Sept. 14 against Dallas. The TiKen Whisenhunt tans also will appear in a Thursday night primetime contest at Jacksonville on Dec. 18. “As always with an NFL schedule, you never know what you are going to get. There are a number of things to like, but obviously we have a tough start with three of the first four on the road and three of them playoff teams from last year. It will give us a chance to find out a lot about our football team. The good thing is that maybe it will create a sense of urgency with our team in the offseason workouts and training camp. We know what faces us and we must come together as a team and create those bonds,” said head coach Ken Whisenhunt. “It is interesting how the schedule is put together with three of four on the road and three of four at home, alternating through the year. The bye falls at a good point to get some guys healthy and having enough game tape during the first eight games to sort through and study before the final eight games.” Whisenhunt said he likes the Thursday night game late in the season. “The goal is to have that last game in the season mean something and the Thursday night game gives you a chance to heal up a bit and get in extra work before the finale and hopefully going into the playoffs. All of the noon starts will give us a chance to get into a routine and I like routines.” Titans fans will get a Monday Night game and Whisenhunt said he was excited about that development. “Those games create a great deal of energy and excitement in a town and I am looking forward to seeing the atmosphere for that game.” The Titans schedule features home games against Dallas, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, the New York Giants, the New York Jets, Jacksonville, Houston and Indianapolis. Tennessee will travel to Kansas City, Cincinnati, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Houston, Jacksonville and Indianapolis. For the first time, flexible scheduling may be applied in Weeks 5-10. During that period, flexible scheduling can be used by the NFL in no more than two weeks by shifting a Sunday afternoon game into primetime and moving the Sunday night game to an afternoon start time. Also, for the first time, a select number of games are being “cross-flexed,” moving between CBS and FOX to bring potentially under-distributed games to wider audiences. “Flexible scheduling” will be used in Weeks 11-17 as it has been in recent years. In Weeks 11-16, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights. A flexible scheduling move would be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to December 28. The NFL schedule does not list a Sunday night game in Week 17, but an afternoon game with playoff implications will be moved to that time slot. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and gives “surprise” teams a chance to play their way into primetime.
The Titans 2014 schedule contains several interesting stories:
• The schedule features five games against 2013 playoff teams: Indianapolis (twice), Cincinnati, Kansas City and Philadelphia. Three of those games will fall in the first four weeks of the season. • The Titans and Steelers will play each other for the seventh consecutive season. • The Titans and Jets meet for the seventh time in the last nine years. • The Titans will make their first regular season trips to Philadelphia and Washington since 2006. • Dallas and the New York Giants make only their third trips to Tennessee and first since 2006. • The Titans open the season on the road for the eighth time in the 16-year “Titans” era. • The Titans return to Monday Night Football after a one-season absence. The last MNF game was against the Jets in 2012. Source: www.titansonline.com
After Tuesdayʼs thriller in OKC, Tony Allen heaped praise on his teammates, who fed off his energy in the 111-105 OT victory.
Mike Conley (right) and Zach Randolph came up big in Game 2 as Memphis knotted the series at 1-1.
‘Grit and Grind’ still fresh game plan for Grizz Playoffs shift to FedExForum, where Memphis grinds best The New Tri-State Defender
When the Memphis Grizzlies take the floor of the FedExForum on Thursday night, the buzz from the Game 2 victory in Oklahoma City will have given way to the delirium of hosting Game 3 knotted at a game apiece. The Game 2 overtime win was a battle that few could argue was not an instant classic. And the bulk of those who would proffer such a position most likely live in Oklahoma and live and die with Kevin Durant and the OKC Thunder. In the Bluff City, however, there is no doubt. The 111-105 victory was monstrously rewarding and oh, so unforgettable, at least for Grizz fans. The Memphis players, however, don’t have the luxury of dwelling on a memory. You can’t beat super-All Star Durant with a memory. For several agonizing minutes, there was serious doubt that there would even be such a memory. The Thunder reached deep into their bag of winning ways and pulled out an incredible – many still don’t believe it – four-point play courtesy of Durant that seemed to signal that they could not be stopped in their comeback bid. But OKC doesn’t have the “Grindfather” known as Tony Allen, Zach “Z-bo” Randolph,
Memphis will need a healthy dose of Tony Allenʼs “Grindfather” energy as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in games two and three of the firstround of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs. (Photo: Warren Roseborough) Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Mike Miller and a host of other cast members, including newcomer Beno Udrih …., who was, well, incredible as the backup point guard on a team for which he only has played two games. Sure Durant went crazy, again,
but he had to really work to get there, thanks to a team-defense that was powered by Allen. “All I could do was stay alert on Kevin Durant for each 24 seconds (of the shot) clock,” said Allen in a postgame interview. (Ninety percent of the offense is
ran through him.) Conley said “KD” is going to do what he does, adding that you don’t see many take the challenge the way Allen does.”Tony makes it tough on him every night and that’s all you can ask for.” For Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger, it was Playoffs victory number one as the Memphis head coach. Asked about Allen, he said, “His heart is so big. His motor is so big. And you add to that the elements of the toughness he has and the experience he has and the work ethic…” Allen said a team such as OKC is going to score and, “We just got to be ready to weather the storm and play our style of basketball. That’s grit and grind.” So it’s on to Game 3. The 10086 thumping the Grizz took in Game 1 has been soothed by the second game’s heroics. And the FedExForum, aka the “Grindhouse,” is where the Grizzlies have won 14 straight games. Game 3 is set to tip at 7 p.m. and will be televised on TNT. Presented by First Tennessee and Toyota, there will be a “Believe Memphis” Yellow Playoff Growl Towel for every fan in attendance. Game 4 on Saturday is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. and will be presented by FedEx. And yes, there will be more of the growl towels. Television coverage will be on ESPN.
COMMENTARY
‘Hurricane’ Carter went to the mat for the wrongfully accused
A victim of an unfair trial with corrupt prosecutors, Hurricane Carter knew firsthand about the plight of the wrongly accused, spending 19 years behind bars. theGrio
by David A. Love With the death of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, we have lost a great fighter in the ring and a powerful advocate for the wrongfully convicted. In many ways, he helped open the eyes of many to the injustices of a system that far too often throws innocent people behind bars. Carter knew firsthand about the plight of the wrongly accused because he had spent 19 years behind bars for crimes he did not commit. He and co-defendant John Artis were charged with a triple murder at the Lafayette Grill in Paterson, New Jersey in 1966. There was little physical evidence in the case, and the so-called eyewitnesses who testified against them were two convicted felons. And Carter and Artis maintained their innocence and passed a lie detector test. However, an allwhite jury found them guilty. Carter was sentenced to three life sentences. A victim of an unfair trial with corrupt prosecutors who originally sought the death penalty, Hurricane Carter was released after two decades in prison, including time in solitary confinement. A federal judge found that the prosecution of his case was “predicated upon an appeal to racism rather than reason, and concealment rather than disclosure.” Specifically, “the jury was permitted to draw inferences of guilt based solely upon the race” of the defendants, according to the judge. I first met Mr. Carter in 1999 in New York, when I was working as
Hurricane Carter
a human rights activist. What struck me most about the man was the power of his spirit and the positivity he exuded, despite all that had had happened in his life. Moreover, he was part of the solution to a systemic problem. At the time he was the executive director of the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC), a nonprofit organization based in Toronto. We were at the United Nations for a special screening of his biopic The Hurricane, which starred Denzel Washington— who was nominated for an Oscar and was also present at the event. The film was inspired by the 1975 autobiography Carter had written while on lockdown, The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender to #45472.
Back then, the issue of the wrongfully convicted was not on the radar screen for many Americans, including the black community. Too often, we assume the prisons are filled with “those bad people” and everyone is guilty of the crimes for which they were convicted. The criminal justice system is there to protect us, we have always assumed. Lock ‘em up and throw away the key, with no questions asked by society. This is business as usual in America, the world’s largest jailer. And yet, Carter has helped to give innocence a human face, and make the public realize that he was not an aberration, and that the problem of sending the innocent to prison is real and far more widespread than people have
cared to believe or to understand. The National Registry of Exonerations lists every known exoneration in the U.S. since 1989, which stands at around 1,351 cases. Not surprisingly, the majority of those exonerated are people of color, including 46 percent black, 11 percent Latino, and 2 percent Native American or Asian. This means 41 percent of exonerated Americans are white. According to the National Registry, the contributing factors leading to wrongful convictions include perjury and false accusation (56 percent of cases), official misconduct (46 percent), mistaken witness identification (37 percent), false or misleading forensic evidence (22 percent) and false confessions (12 percent). Thanks to the work of the Innocence Project, the Innocence Network and others, innocent men and women are being released from prison, including 314 through DNA testing. To the end, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter fought for the wrongfully convicted as he had once fought in the ring, with the type of passion that earned him his boxing nickname. In February, Carter wrote an op-ed in the New York Daily News with his dying wish: He asked the new Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, also a black man, to release David McCallum, a man who has been in prison for murder charges since 1985, the year Carter became a free man. Thank you, Hurricane, for opening our eyes. Raised in this country to believe the system works for everyone, and accepting it without question, we simply did not know any better.
Tri-State Defender
CLASSIFIEDS
REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS Legal Notice MSCAA Project No. 13-1370-01 to provide Concourse Modernization – Design
Statements of Qualifications for furnishing Concourse Modernization – Design, as hereinafter set forth, will be received by Staff Services Division, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA), 3505 Tchulahoma Road, Memphis, Tennessee, 38118, until 2:00 PM local time on Thursday, June 5, 2014. Use the above address for all means of delivery. A complete Information Package with submittal instructions, additional data, selection criteria and response format may be found on our website (www.mscaa.com) on or after April 21, 2014. The scope of work generally consists of the architectural and engineering design of improvements at Memphis International Airport, including, but not limited to, building expansion and retrofit, in support of the Concourse Modernization program (general information regarding the program is available at http://www.flymemphis.com). Major phases include Programming, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bid Assistance, and Construction Phase Support Services. Work efforts may include airport and terminal planning, geotechnical investigation, site surveying, architectural design, structural and seismic design, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design, seismic retrofit design to existing facility (approximately 330,000 square feet), cost estimating, construction scheduling, and any other efforts as required.
All Respondents are hereby notified that all updates, addenda and additional information, if any, shall be posted to the MSCAA website and Respondents are responsible for checking the MSCAA website up to the time of the proposal submission deadline.
The MSCAA hereby notifies that it will review and award contracts in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4a and Title 49, Part 26, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act. MSCAA further notifies all Bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, creed, religion, sexual orientation or disability in its hiring and
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employment practices, or in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services and activities. The DBE participation goal for this contract is 28% in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents. This project is Federal Grant Funded. Therefore, the only participation that will be counted toward meeting this goal will be participation by certified DBEs, the owners of which have been certified as having a personal net worth less than $1.32 million.
This project might be funded with Federal and/or state grants. A Notice to Proceed for Design will be issued once funding is established. The MSCAA reserves the right to reject any and all responses in whole or in part to this solicitation, and is under no obligation to award this project to any of the firms or teams of firms responding to this request. MEMPHIS-SHELBY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY By Scott A. Brockman, A.A.E., President & CEO NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENTS BEING ACCEPTED
The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) hereby gives notice that comments will be accepted from the public on proposed changes on fixed-route bus service until 3:30 p.m., April 25, 2014. No changes to MATAplus or Trolley service or fares are being proposed. The proposed changes are as follows: PROPOSED FIXED-ROUTE BUS
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8 Chelsea – Route changes for weekday Saturday and Sunday. Outbound: From the William Hudson Transit Center (WHTC), right on A.W. Willis, left on Third, right on Chelsea, left on Warford to end of the line. Inbound: From Warford, right on Mount Olive, right on Sunset, right on Chelsea, left on Third, right on Shadyac, right into the WHTC. 9 New Allen - Route changes for Week-
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Legal Notices
Hip Hop Union and The Black Press of America build on bond
The National Newspaper Publishers Association – The Black Press of America – and the Hip Hop Union have joined forces to eliminate the communication barriers that have plagued Black America for years. The collaboration underpins the countdown to “The Greatest Mix” celebrating the Core DJ’s 10th Anniversary Conference on May 3rd at the Holiday Inn Miami Beach, Fla. The NNPA is a federation of approximately 200 AfricanAmerican newspapers. The Hip Hop Union is a governing body of businesses and entrepreneurs and the largest DJ coalition in the world. ‘The Greatest Mix’ Luncheon will bring together generations that have often stood on separate sides of the table when it comes to Hip Hop. For the first time in history, all parties have agreed to level the playing field and work together for the betterment of Black America. ‘The Greatest Mix’ Luncheon will be moderated by George Curry, Editor-in-Chief of NNPA News Service. It seeks to capture the essence of how the power of Hip Hop and the power of the Black Press can improve circumstances in the areas of politics, economics and positive images in the media.
Early voting for the May 6th Shelby County Democratic and Republican Primary Elections runs through May 1st.
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April 24 - 30, 2014
“Hip Hop often carries a stereotypical stigma of misogyny, violence and ignorance, which unfortunately sometimes is true,” said Jineea Butler, president of the Hip Hop Union. Her Hip Hop column is syndicated by the NNPA. “What gets lost in translation is why people continue to gravitate and support the culture despite the downsides. This collaboration with the NNPA will connect the dots to the places that Hip Hop does not explore because we do not have the guidance,” said Butler. “This is an opportunity for us to learn from each other and build on our strengths and eliminate our weaknesses as a collective unit,” said NNPA Chairman Cloves Campbell. “We have represented the black voice in America for over 187 years and we want to continue to magnify our mission and work more closely with the Hip Hop Community by featuring more articles and ads that speak directly to Hip Hop Citizens.” Manny “Maddog” Ayala, an original Core DJ, said joining forces is monumental on many levels. “As DJs our platform influences what the masses hear; as the Black Press they influence what the masses think,” said
Ayala. “What better combination of forces to help move and influence the NEXT generation of not only consumers but future leaders. I’m proud to be part of the template of this historic venture.” “The Road to the Core” Song Submission Contest is one way in which the NNPA has begun to connect with the Hip Hop Community. “Knowing that so many young aspiring artists are seeking an outlet for their music and often can’t find one, we want to provide an arena where we are helping uplift the culture and expanding the opportunities,” said Campbell. Hip Hop and R&B Artists can still submit their music for the Road to the Core Song Submission Contest to be listened to and voted on by top Core DJ’s during the 10th Anniversary Conference May 2nd - May 5th. Winners will be announced after the conference and winners will be chosen to perform at the next Core DJ Conference in August. Log on to www.hiphopunion.org for contest rules, prizes and details. (To register for the Core DJs Worldwide 10th Anniversary Conference, go to www.coredjsworldwide.com.)
day. Southbound: From Kerwin, left on New Allen/Warford, left on Chelsea, left on National, right on Orchi, right on Jackson, left on National, left on Macon, right on Highland, left on Park, right on Getwell, right on America Way into the America Way Transit Center. Northbound: From the America Way Transit Center, right on America Way, left on Getwell, left on Park, right on Highland, left on Macon, right on National, right on Jackson, left on Orchi, left on National, right on Chelsea, right on Warford/New Allen, right on Old Raleigh Millington, right Addington, right Kerwin to the end of the line.
12 Florida – Route changes for Weekday and Saturday, Outbound: From the WHTC, right on Shadyac, right on Third St., right on Jackson, left on Front, right on Georgia, left on Florida, right on South Parkway, left on Swift, left on Person, right on Kansas, left on Belz, right on Florida, regular route to the end of the line. Inbound: Regular route to Florida, left on Belz, right on Kansas, left on Person, right on Swift, right on South Parkway, left on Florida, right regular to the WHTC.
32 East Parkway – Route changes for Weekday and Saturday, Northbound: From the Airways Transit Center, right on Airways, right on Brooks, right on Directors Row, left on Airways, right on Democrat, right onto ramp for Airways North/East Parkway, right on Central, left on Hollywood, right on Frayser, left on Redcoat to the end of the line. Southbound: From Redcoat, left on Frayser, left on Hollywood, right on Central, left on East Parkway/Airways, right into Airways Transit Center to the end of the line.
57 Park – Route change for Weekday, Saturday and Sunday. Inbound trip from the end of the lines, St. Francis or Kirby Parkway regular route to Lamar, right on Lamar, left on Bellevue, right on McLemore, right on Wellington/ Danny Thomas, left on Alabama, right on Lauderdale, right on Third, left on Shadyac into the WHTC. Outbound: From the WHTC, right on A.W. Willis, right on Third, left on Lauderdale, left on Alabama, right on Danny Thomas/Wellington, left on McLemore, left on Bellevue, right on Lamar, continue regular route to both ends of the lines at St. Francis or Kirby Parkway. PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF ALL GAME SHUTTLES
MATA proposes to eliminate the following game shuttles for the 2014 – 2015 season: University of Memphis Basketball; Memphis Grizzlies; Southern Heritage Classic; and Auto Zone Liberty Bowl.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting MATA at 901-722-7171 or publiccomments@matatransit.com. Written comments can be submitted until 3:30 p.m. on April 25, 2014 and can be mailed to 1370 Levee Road, Memphis, TN 38103; e-mailed to publiccomments@matatransit.com; or faxed to 901-722-7123. MATAʼs Board of Commissioners will review and consider the comments and address the service changes at the April 28, 2014 Board meeting. If approved, the proposed service changes will be effective on June 1, 2014. Thomas D. Fox Interim General Manager
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Tri-State Defender