VOL. 63, No. 14
April 3 - 9, 2014
www.tsdmemphis.com
75 Cents
What’s the holdup with the Southbrook Mall? The New Tri-State Defender selects 2014 Women of Excellence Champagne Brunch & Awards Presentation on April 26th besmith@tri-statedefender.com
by Bernal E. Smith II
The New Tri-State Defender’s “Women of Excellence” will be acknowledged and honored by their peers, family, friends and community leaders in a grand Champagne Brunch and Awards Presentation on Saturday, April 26th at 10 a.m. at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, 750 Cherry Rd. The annual event will celebrate and honor 50 African-American women who motivate and inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements, and personal contribution to the community through service. Over the past seven years, The TSD has honored 300-plus outstanding African American professionals and community leaders. “We had another phenomenal response from the community this year with over 110 nominations. It is always a challenge narrowing down the selection because each of these women is deserving of the honor. We think we have selected a tremendously impressive group of women of whom we are very proud,” said TSD President/Publisher Bernal E. Smith II. “We again will be incorporating new elements into the 2014 edition of WOE, which should make it our best yet! This spring celebration gives us the chance to say thank you to those who have been consistently committed to the highest principles of servant leadership and positively touching the lives of others.” The strength and commitment those selected demonstrate each day is part of the “unique fabric of talent and SEE WOMEN ON PAGE 5
- INSIDE -
• April’s significance & the truth about Lincoln. See Opinion, page 4. • The 19th Annual Sisterhood Outreach Summit & Showcase postponed. See page 5. • The Neelys come back home with 3rd blockbuster cookbook. See Entertainment, page 8. • 80 years of service for AKA graduate chapter. See Community, page 10. • The power of the written word. See Focus: All About Youth, page 12.
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
H- 6 4o - L - 4 3o P a r tl y C l oud y
H- 6 2o - L - 4 4o Mostl y Cl o udy
H- 6 8o - L - 5 2o Sh owers
REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Friday H-65 L-42 H-70 L-41 H-77 L-47
Saturday H-63 L-43 H-60 L-40 H-70 L-51
Sunday H-65 L-48 H-69 L-54 H-66 L-56
Renovation plans await final decision on funding request Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Tony Jones
The proposed plan to renovate Southbrook Mall was delayed for another two weeks at the Memphis City Council meeting on Tuesday (April 1st) and the management team for the mall’s owners, Southbrook Properties, took the development in stride. The team’s spirits were bolstered earlier in the day during a probing session by the council’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) that seemed to point toward a decision that eventually would be in the group’s favor.
“I’m happy. We all are. We have to be,” said Southbrook Properties Chairman Willie Harper, who huddled outside of City Hall with team members Cherry Davis, Jerry Johnson, consultant Greg Grant and mall tenant Coleman Thompson. Southbrook Properties is requesting $1.5 million from the city to begin the first phase of returning the 40-plus-year-old mall to viability. The money is needed for: roof costs, $412,550; HVAC costs, $497,873; and other costs, $589,577. Grant said Southbrook Properties “is not just begging the city for money to go into business.”
“The owners have invested $500,000 in improvements to date to bring the building up to code. An additional $1.5 million is ready to be allocated, if the city’s funding comes in for needed final repairs, ventilation system, infrastructure and code requirements. We have more than 100 applications on file for space.” The council has agreed to provide the funds, but the allocation will not be finalized until the council approves the minutes of the meeting agreeing to the funding. The economic development committee met Tuesday morning to decide whether to recommend acceptance of the pending minutes. Members of the committee continually noted that Southbrook Properties has been trying for two years to get the deal closed and receive the
Southbrook Mall tenant Coleman Thompson (standing) has the ear of City Chief Administrative Officer George Little at a meeting of the City Councilʼs Economic Development Committee. (Photo: Tony Jones)
funding. The company says the funding is “absolutely necessary” for the project to move forward. SEE MALL ON PAGE 2
A Mitchell moment…
A gym packed with present and former parents, students, teachers, principals, athletes, elected officials, community supporters and more turned out for the celebration of Mitchell High Schoolʼs first state basketball championship last Saturday. (Photo: George Tillman Jr.)
NUL STATE OF BLACK AMERICA:
Museum’s facelift work reflects diversity
‘One Nation Underemployed’ 38th annual report pinpoints growing income inequality
Grand reopening activities begin Friday Special to The New Tri-State Defender
NNPA News Service
by George E. Curry
by Twana Coleman
As Memphians head to the National Civil Rights Museum for grand reopening activities on Friday and Saturday, they can be assured that the renovation represents true diversity, with a conscious effort having been to reflect a high-degree of minority participation in the $28 million project. That’s the sentiment of museum officials and from a number of those selected to participate in the facelift of the museum, which opened in 1991. To begin with, several minorities participated in the 24-member National Scholar Review Committee. The committee was responsible for the interpretive plan development and review of the exhibits content. Primary advisory scholars included Dr. Stephanie Shaw, Dr. Hassan Kwame Jefferies, Dr. Earnestine Jenkins and Daniel Kiel, JD. Museum officials said a national call for presentations was extended
Termed a labor of love, the renovated National Civil Rights Museum is ready for a grand reopening. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley) to exhibit designers and contractors a year prior to being selected. Remodeling commenced in its first phase during the spring of 2011 and continued in increments until its most recent completion. Howard + Revis, based in Washington, D.C., was the primary design contractor. Fifty percent of minority participants contributed to the project in 2011 and forty-five percent in 2012, dividing the workload between 23 local companies. According to documents provided, the total valued more than $4 million. “Minority contractors were encouraged to bid the highest percentage. Twenty percent seemed to be the market average for bidding so we wanted them to strive for at least 35 percent, and they exceeded that,” said Tracy Lauritzen Wright, director of Administration and Special
Projects. Locally owned and operated Self + Tucker Architects led the multimillion dollar architectural upgrades by designing the building, expanding of the lobby, designing the new event room and creating space for the exhibits. Twenty-five workers and six registered architects were on hand for the job. Juan Self and Jimmie Tucker are the founding principles of STA. “I would rate the entire experience an A+. I’m more than satisfied and elated with the outcome of this project,” said Juan Self. The awardwinning, mid-sized company had prior experience working with the museum. Native American, family-owned SEE MUSEUM ON PAGE 5
WASHINGTON – The wealth gap between African Americans and whites has expanded in recent years and is not likely to narrow without significant reductions in black unemployment and changes in a system that favors the wealthy over poor and middle class Americans, according the National Urban League’s 38th annual State of Black America report titled, “One Nation Underemployed: Jobs Rebuild America.” The report was to be released Thursday (April 3rd) at a news conference at the National Press Club in the nation’s capital. In a statement accompanying the report, Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, said: “The 2014 State of Black America and corresponding Equality Index indicate that while each state and city has its own economic recovery story to tell, the consistent refrain is that there is an urgent and growing disparSEE INEQUALITY ON PAGE 3
NEWS
Page 2
MALL
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
An initial request for the funding was turned down because it was judged that Southbrook’s plans did not provide enough public benefit to qualify for part of a grant that is funding the upgrading of Elvis Presley Blvd. The mayor’s office also suggested turning the mall into a town center but the owners balked at that idea. For some, the future of the pending mall allocation is part of a bigger picture, which came into play during the EDC meeting. Before the mall discussion began, a prevailing wage issue was tabled when it was learned that information from state and city sources had not been updated and that no coordinated effort had been made to include minority- and women-owned businesses. “This is exactly why minority and women are always left out,” said EDC chairperson Wanda Halbert, who observed that noone from the mayor’s office was in attendance. She dispatched word to the mayor’s office that the committee needed someone from the office to attend. “This is exactly what I’m talking about,” said Halbert. “They knew this meeting was occurring. Someone from the administration should have been here.” Shortly after, Chief Administrative Officer George Little came in to represent the administration, emphasizing that Robert Lipscomb, director of Housing and Community Development, was heading the project for the city. “Well how come he isn’t here then,” Halbert retorted. “This administration keeps passing the buck.” In March, the property owners sent a “Memorandum of Understanding” to the EDC. It includes an assertion that Lipscomb misrepresented the cost of the project to the council, putting it from $17 million to $20 million. Told of the assertion in the
Tri-State Defender
April 3 - 9, 2014
Members of the Southbrook Properties team outside of City Hall after action on a pending funding proposal was delayed for two weeks. (Photo: Tony Jones) memorandum, Lipscomb said, “We have got to quit demonizing people in this city. We submitted a facility assessment stating that it would cost $16 to $18 million if you replaced it. But the report also stated that it was perfectly viable to renovate it, which would be around $6 million dollars. The report is on file. Nothing new. “You also have to be very aware that this is the third time around for that building,” said Lipscomb. “My only con-
cern is to challenge them to think higher so we can make this facility the best we can to keep people shopping in Memphis. All the tags you see in Southhaven are from Memphis.” Before the EDC meeting, Halbert said she was “very disappointed in the administration’s response due to the fact that it appears that certain demographics can come to the city and request funding from the city and get it easily, while
others cannot, as is the case here. So I do not understand what has been so difficult about trying to renovate the Southbrook Mall. “We’ve seen a constant stream of private-public projects that come through the council and get funding with the mayor’s support,” she added. “This is not looking right about what they are doing and I don’t understand why it always has to be that way for black business concerns.
“We gave Pinnacle $3 million and we knew they were going to leave. And it has never been properly reported to us what it was used for. They talk about the space-age aerotropolis but cannot figure out how to engage the majority population to generate a dollar from Frayser to Whitehaven. Something’s not right about this.” During the EDC meeting, Councilman Joe Brown told Little that, “What the mayor needs to understand, and I have told him this before, is that all the citizens want to share in the tax (generated) wealth and it is their right to do so. We give to everybody else, why not Whitehaven. We are never going to have ‘One Memphis’ if all the citizens don’t share in the tax wealth.” Cherry Davis, Southbrook Properties’ building and grounds manager, said in an interview that it comes down to this: “We were first told that we needed to satisfy public benefit. We’ve done that, even coming up with an innovation I think would be very beneficial for this area, a night court that would service the needs of this neighborhood and other proposed public services, performing arts center. We have done surveys to find out what people think they need here and responded. “Whitehaven is a strong, family-based working class community and we feel this
mall would be reflective of the African-American economic base, which is considered one of the strongest income demographics in the state.” The engineers report has been properly responded to, said Davis. “We think we have met every criterion that has been brought before us.” Grant said the mall could be an economic incubator. “A nice family-based shopping center is our goal. A great place to stop, shop and eat before and after church, young families to fulfill their needs, jazz, older citizens…” Southbrook Properties Chairman Harper pointed out that he has been in business 31 years (as owner of A & A Bail Bonds) and said the mall team is strong and experienced. “It’s simply a fact that Whitehaven does not exist just for Graceland, we deserve something in Whitehaven too. I live in Whitehaven. … I won’t say that people try to bring Whitehaven down, but for me it’s about making a difference here. It should not have to be so difficult.” The March memorandum includes this point of reference: “The way we have been treated is an injustice to the Southbrook Mall project, disrespectful to the right thinking Council Members and an insult to the Black community…we would like to be approved and bring this long running matter to a close.”
Tri-State Defender
INEQUALITY
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
ity between the few who are reaping the rewards of economic recovery and the majority who are still reeling from aftershocks of the Great Recession.” While “too big to fail” corporations went into the bail-out emergency room and recovered to break earnings and stock market records, most Americans have been left in ICU with multiple diagnoses of unemployment, underemployment, home losses and foreclosures, low or no savings and retirement accounts, credit denials, and cuts in education and school funding,” said Morial. “We must work to restore the very essence of 20th century America – the possibility of upward mobility for all – with a focus on meaningful solutions to these pressing challenges, including job creation and training, and ensuring that Americans are paid livable wages for the work they do.” The 2014 Equality Index is a yardstick used to measure how well African Americans are doing relative to whites. In computing the Equality Index, 30 percent of the final score is based on economics while health and education each gets 25 percent and social justice and civic engagement each receives 10 percent on a 100 percent scale. Explaining the Equality Index, the authors say: “That means rather than having a whole pie (100 percent), which would mean full equality with whites in, 2014, African Americans (with an index of 71.2 percent) are missing about 29 percent of the pie.” In other words, the larger the Equality Index, the closer African Americans are to reaching parity with whites. The Equality Index has declined from 73 percent in 2006 to 72.1 percent in 2010 to 71.2 percent in 2014. However, scholars caution that the overall figure might reflect progress in some areas and re-
NEWS
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April 3 - 9, 2014
trenchment in others. Relative to last year’s Black Equality Index: • Civic Engagement index improved from 99.9 percent to 104.7 percent; • Economics dipped slightly, from 56.3 percent to 55.5 percent; • Social justice declined barely from 56.9 percent to 56.8 percent; • Health (76.8 percent) and education (76.8 percent) remained unchanged;
The report also found: • Black median household income ($33,764) is about 60 percent of whites ($56,565), down from 62 percent before the recession; • The poverty index for blacks compared to whites is 29 percent – 28.1 percent of blacks live in poverty vs. 11 percent of whites; • Black-white unemployment equality is 50 percent or 2:1 and • When it comes to wealth, blacks ($6,314) have only a 6 percent Equality Index when compared with whites ($110,500). Unlike African Americans, Hispanics saw their Equality Index with whites increase slightly, from 74.6 percent in 2013 to 75.8 percent in 2014, which was 4.6 percent higher than African Americans. In a chapter titled, “Policies of Exclusion Perpetuate the Racial Wealth Gap,” Thomas M. Shapiro wrote: “The dramatic and widening gap in household wealth along racial lines in the United States reflects policies and institutional practices that create different opportunities for whites and African Americans. Personal ambition and behavioral choices are but a small part of the equation.” Shapiro wrote, “In gross terms, the difference in median wealth between America’s white and African American households has grown stunningly large. The wealth gap almost tripled from 1984 to 2009, increasing from $85,000 to $236,500. The median net worth of white households in
“Though the black unemployment rate briefly and narrowly dipped below 12 percent for the first time since 2008 at the end of last year, 42 percent of black unemployed workers are long-term unemployed and 28 percent have been jobless for at least a year.” Valerie Rawlston
Marc Morial at last summerʼs national convention. (National Urban League Photo by Lawrence Jenkins)
the study grew to $265,000 over the 25-year period compared with just $28,500 for the black households.” He said five factors account for two-thirds of the proportional increase in the racial wealth gap: number of years of home ownership, average family income, employment stability, college education and financial support and inheritance. According to Shapiro, home ownership accounts for 27 per-
cent of the growth in the racial wealth gap. He said reasons home equity rises dramatically faster for whites include: • White families buy homes and start acquiring equity eight years earlier than black families because they are more likely to receive family assistance or an inheritance for down payments; • A larger up-front payment by white homeowners lower interest rates; • Residential segregation
places an artificial ceiling on home equity in non-white neighborhoods and • The home ownership rate for white families is 28 percent higher than rates for blacks. “Hard evidence shows in stark terms that it is not just the last recession and implosion of the housing market that contributed to the widening racial wealth disparities,” Shapiro wrote. “Past policies of exclusion, such as discriminatory mortgage lending, which continues today, ensure that certain groups reap a greater share of what America has to offer while others are left out.” No one expects the wealth gap to narrow without some improvement in black unemployment. Valerie Rawlston Wilson, an economist in the National Urban League’s Washington bureau, noted in her introduction to the report: “More than one-third of unemployed workers have been out of work for six months or longer and one in four has been jobless for a year or longer. Though the unemployment rate declined by 1.2 percentage points from January to December 2013 – the largest decline over a single year since the recovery began – labor force participation also reached a 35-year low in December. This downward trend in labor force participation raises concerns about underutilization of America’s labor capacity, or underemployment.” She explained, “If we factored in the number of people who want and are available for work (but are not actively looking for a job) along with the number of unemployed workers actively looking for a job, and those who are working part-time out of necessity (but
would prefer full-time work), the actual rate of underemployment was 13.1 percent at the end of 2013, nearly double the official unemployment rate.” And things are even worse for African Americans, Wilson said. “Though the black unemployment rate briefly and narrowly dipped below 12 percent for the first time since 2008 at the end of last year, 42 percent of black unemployed workers are long-term unemployed and 28 percent have been jobless for at least a year. The rate of underemployment for African Americans was 20.5 percent, compared to 11.8 percent for white workers and 18.4 percent for Hispanic workers.” For the first time, the State of Black America provides an Equality Index for 77 major metropolitan areas. The report provided charts for black-white income equality and unemployment equality. Summarizing the discussion on income inequality, Morial said, “An Oxfam report released in January confirmed what the Urban League Movement has posited for the last few years: in the U.S., where the gap between rich and poor has grown at a faster rate than any other developed country, the richest one percent of Americans have received 95 percent of the wealth created since 2009 – after the economic crisis – while the bottom 90 percent of Americans have become poorer.” Morial explained, “When we overlay that with the disproportionate impact of unemployment on African Americans and other people of color, as well as the impact of the twin terrors of racial income and wealth gaps, we see an even direr situation.”
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OPINION
Tri-State Defender
April 3 - 9, 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
New law would let residents vote on annexation
JUST SAYING ...
April’s significance & the truth about Lincoln
The month of April: Jackie Robinson, born; Paul Robeson, born; Maya Angelou, born; Coretta Scott King, born’ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Murdered! Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Robin Brown
The month of April is very significant to the discussion of the brutal economic servitude and so-called emancipation of black people in America. For centuries, whites had indulged in directing and controlling the fate of the masses of blacks from birth to death. Then one fateful day, April 11th, 1861, a triggering mechanism was fired that would ultimately prove to be the beginning of the end for America’s inhuman practice of enslaving black men, women and children. The Civil War began. And on April 9th, 1865 – almost four years to the date it began – the “War Between the States ended. Numerous organized efforts by enslaved blacks and pro emancipation whites (John Brown, etc.) had failed to overcome the tyrannical rule and mass repression of the helpless people. Many of the organized efforts to free themselves failed due to frightened and insecure blacks. Hoping to gain favor with their master, they often revealed the plans. Of course, those who dared to organize these revolts suffered the most extreme measures of punishment and suffering, including hangings. The betrayals are just one example of the effectiveness of the powerful, overwhelming social engineering done to the minds of enslaved black people. Today, many of their descendants still exhibit evidence of the effectiveness of that social engineering. Some 200,000 African-American men fought for their freedom in America’s bloodiest war. Initially denied a chance to fight, these men demonstrated outstanding enthusiasm, courage and bravery. Over 37,000 lost their lives. Often overlooked are the many African-American women who also sacrificed and made significant contributions in the struggle. They served as spies, cooks, nurses and servants mostly. However, there were a few documented cases where AfricanAmerican women disguised themselves and joined the men in battle. Most of us remember being taught from standard textbooks that the purpose of the war was to end the brutal and shameful practice of slavery. In reality it began as an economic and political war. The initial struggle represented the industrial north versus the mostly agricultural south and its increasing wealth due to hundreds of years of free forced slave labor. One conflict was the effort by the southern states to increase their political strength in Congress. Frustrated southerners, weary of what they saw as the north meddling in their affairs, began to call for secession. South Carolina seceded in December of 1860. And on April 12th, 1861 they fired on Fort Sumter in what is considered the first shots that began the Civil War. Ending slavery became a by-product of the deadly conflict caused by a strong and consistent campaign by black leaders and white abolitionists in the north. The bloody 4-year conflict left over 600,000 dead on the battlefield. Many of those fighting on the side of the north were no different from those who fought to preserve slavery. Investments and the purchase of goods and products produced by slaves were very lucrative for businesses in northern states. Hence,
there was considerable support for slavery by the industrial north. And although blacks were technically free, there was widespread discrimination and segregation in the north before and after the war. One can understand the omission of certain information while trying to keep the union together in an atmosphere of extreme bitterness and hate. But when the blanks are filled in and the myths are debunked a different picture is exposed of some of the people we have been exalted and revered for so long; in particular, President Abraham Lincoln. The most pressing issue for President Lincoln was always to keep the union together. He never wavered from his goal to do whatever was necessary to accomplish that objective. This thesis is clearly delineated by the distinguished author and former Ebony Magazine senior editor Lerone Bennett Jr. After reading this book you may have a totally different perspective of Lincoln, taught as the liberal “great emancipator” in standard American history textbooks. The title of the book is very revealing, “Forced Into Glory/Abraham Lincoln’s White Dream.” Bennett exposes the atrocious politics of the Civil War in which enslaved black people became human pawns in a deadly game for wealth and power. The book reveals Lincoln as a staunch white supremacist who often used the N word; and emancipation was not on his radar. Bennett says if Lincoln had his way millions of whites in the twentieth century would have been in “Gone With the Wind” instead of watching it. From his inauguration in 1860 Lincoln labored over what to do with black people. One of his earlier ideas was to send them out of the country. One of his most preposterous ideas was gradual emancipation that would be done over 100 years, and slave owners would be compensated for their “property.” His schedule would have resulted in people such as Martin Luther King Jr., Oprah Winfrey, Jesse Jackson, Muhammad Ali and countless other outstanding black people being born into slavery. “Forced Into Glory” is a must read for history buffs. No, a must read for everyone! It created enormous controversy when it was released. And it still does. I’m not writing this as a message to foster division or hate. But I do believe we are all better served when we personally explore the truth and facts about people and events that helped shape our lives. After all, despite his true feelings about enslaved black people, the grueling war and continued pressure from both black and white people, President Lincoln did make compelling and necessary decisions to end the war. Let’s never forget, there were many white Americans who were on the front line, and many paid with their lives in the struggle to rid this nation of the brutal slave industry. And many good people remain committed to help force America to ensure life, liberty and equal opportunity for all people regardless of race, creed, religion, personal belief or lifestyle. The present day fight for freedom and equality is ongoing. Without struggle the system has shown little evidence of significant change. Therefore, we must all join and support the movement for control and direction of our fate….just saying….
(Robin Brown is a veteran, awardwinning journalist, who also has experience in public relations, marketing and advertising and government relations. He has served as media director for several political campaigns. An actor/playwright, can be contacted at 901-728-4768.)
FACEBOOK FAN OF THE WEEK Victoria Lane
Victoria Lane is this weekʼs TSD Facebook Fan of the Week! A native Memphian, who graduated from Messick High School, Victoria currently works for Nação Capoeira Memphis. She enjoys football, especially Tennessee Titans, and she loves to listen to gospel music. Thanks Victoria Lane for excelling in Memphis and for being a part of the TSD Facebook family!
Buy black: An economic empowerment strategy
Margarita “Maggie” Anderson wants to transform “Buy Black” from a leftover 1960s slogan to a modern economic empowerment strategy. And because she has lived it, there is no person better qualified to lead the charge. Anderson and her family spent all of 2009 purchasing goods and services exclusively from black merchants. She is author of a book cataloguing her experience titled, “Our Black Year.” She also authored an essay in the State of Black America report issued Thursday by the National Urban League titled, “Facts vs. Fiction: Buying Black as an Economic Empowerment Strategy.” Like the farmer trying to get his mule’s attention, Anderson whacks us across the head in the National Urban League report with two disturbing facts. Fact #1: “…Most of the products and services African Americans consume – black media and entertainment, black dating websites, black hair and skin care, black toys, and black fashion – are neither produced nor distributed by black-owned firms. Behind this consumption are billions of dollars in business contracts, business growth, advertising revenue, entrepreneurial opportunity and economic empowerment that, while driven by black consumer spending, are not empowering the black community.” Ouch! Fact #2: “In practice, self-help economics seems to be more proactively and effectively leveraged by other ethnic groups. For example, in Asian communities, a dollar circulates among the community’s banks, retailers, and business professionals for up to 28 days before it is spent outside of the community. In the Jewish community, the circulation period is 19 days; in the white AngloSaxon Protestant (WASP) community, it’s 17 days; and in the Hispanic community, it’s 7 days. Yet, in the Black community, the dollar lives only six hours before it leaves the community.” Enough, I feel ya! Anderson says we have not harnessed our $1 trillion a year spending power because our civic and religious leaders, unlike Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., are unwilling to exhort our community to “Buy Black.” In his last speech, Dr. King said: “…We’ve gotten to strengthen our Black institutions. I call upon you to take your money out of the (White) banks downtown and deposit your money in Tri-State Bank. We want a bank-in movement in Memphis… We have six or seven Black insurance companies in Memphis. Take out your insurance there. We want to have an ‘insurance-in.’” He explained: “We begin the process of building a greater economic base. And at the same time, we are putting pressure where it really hurts.” Anderson wrote, “While ‘buying Black’ is at least as old as Emancipation, ‘buying Black’ has not been a highlight of the modern, post-Civil Rights era struggle for economic empowerment, much less a noticeable movement or public approach embraced by our community’s institutions, professional and civic organizations, universities, or churches.”
George E. Curry
The rich irony is that our business organizations are demanding that federal and local governments award at least 10 percent of public contracts to black businesses, yet we won’t spend 10 percent of our outlays with those same busi-
nesses. “According to the landmark Northwestern University’s Kellogg Business School study based on The Empowerment Experiment, out of close to $1 trillion in Black spending power, maybe 3 percent of that goes to Black professionals, suppliers and firms,” Anderson wrote. “But if Black households with annual income of $75,000 or more –middle and upper income African Americans – were to increase spending with Black professionals and firms from 3 percent to just 10 percent, we could create close to 1,000,000 jobs.” She explained, “This 10 percent includes direct spending with local Black-owned businesses, as well as indirect spending through the support of Black vendors, agents, dealers and franchises of mainstream firms. The new jobs would be created from the money we already have and currently spend – no government program and no corporate social responsibility outlay necessary.” Some African Americans, especially those who like to romanticize about black life under Jim Crow, like to say blacks were more willing to support black businesses in the past because of segregation. But like goods in a whiteowned store, Anderson isn’t buying. “Segregation did not compel the ingenuity, intelligence, and investment that created those businesses (North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, Black Wall Street, Madam C.J. Walker’s hair products) nor did unjust laws force Black people to believe in each other,” Anderson stated. “To accept that the viability of a consumer-driven economic empowerment strategy depends on segregation or oppression of a community is to fall prey to the notion that the Black community must be forced into greatness…On the contrary, I believe we can bring back the economic empowerment that sustained the Black community before and until integration.” To do that, however, we need to leverage modern-day technology. “It is now easier than ever before to learn about, mobilize, seek and support Black-owned businesses,” Anderson wrote. “Therefore, technology enables us to involve consumers in an economic empowerment strategy by educating, inspiring and facilitating their practice of selfhelp economics.” Now, does she have your attention?
(George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He can be reached via www.georgecurry.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.)
If you’ve ever had to buy clothes for your kids, you know how fast they can grow. You’ve probably had to buy shoes or pants that were just a little too big. “You’ll grow into Sen. Reginald it,” you told them. Tate Cities are kind of like that. They can grow outside their city limits, and it’s become a hot topic in the General Assembly in Nashville. It affects everything from how much you pay in taxes and what kind of services you get from the city. As our Shelby County cities grow, their mayors and councils have a pretty good idea about where they’ll grow within Shelby County. They write up growth plans and maps that spell that out which “reserve” areas they plan to bring into the city limits. With everything at stake, it gets a lot more complicated than buying your kid bigger pants. Consider the pipes that bring your water and move out sewer waste, and the roads you take to the store. Some were paid for by the cities, and some by the county. At the lines between the city and county is where we have issues. Even though the city limits separate the cities from the county, a lot of growth just outside the city can cause a problem. A lot of people living just outside the city limits still puts a strain on city resources right at the line, and so cities will look to those growth areas to annex for new money in the form of property taxes. Some of those residents who would be annexed see it differently. They have been paying taxes at a certain level, don’t want to pay more, and don’t see a benefit to paying more to the city, especially when they already pay taxes to the county. This has become an issue not just in Memphis, but across the entire state. We voted on legislation last year that put annexations on hold until May of this year. Last Monday we voted for another piece of legislation that would let residents vote on whether they want to be annexed into a city. The legislation passed earlier in the state Senate, and on Wednesday in the House. If signed into law, you would get to vote whether your house becomes part of a city. That could impact a couple of proposed annexations here in Shelby County. Lakeland in northeast rural Shelby County has looked at bringing in roughly 3,000 residents into that city, and Memphis has looked at annexing at least 3,500 residents from Southwind-Windyke. Some residents are working to stop the annexations, while those cities hope to deliver city services to that area and pay for it with new tax revenue. With so much at stake when cities grow, for the both cities and the people who might be annexed, it looks like everyone will have a chance to vote.
(State Sen. Reginald Tate represents part of Shelby County in the General Assembly. He serves as vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee.)
Tri-State Defender Platform
1. Racial prejudice worldwide must be destroyed. 2. Racially unrestricted membership in all jobs, public and private. 3. Equal employment opportunities on all jobs, public and private. 4. True representation in all U.S. police forces. 5. Complete cessation of all school segregation. 6. Federal intervention to protect civil rights in all instances where civil rights compliance at the state level breaks down
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SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mail subscriptions to the Tri-State Defender are available upon request. One Year, $30.00; Two Years, $55.00. Domestic subscriptions must be addressed to: Subscriptions, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. Delivery may take one week. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. TELEPHONE: (901) 523-1818. Fax: (901) 578-5037. E-MAIL: Editorial e-mail (press releases, news, letters to editor, etc.): editorial@tristatedefender.com; Display advertising email (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): advertising@tri-statedefender.com; Classified advertising e-mail (ads, advertising price requests, etc.): classifieds@tristatedefender.com; Subscription/Circulation e-mail (subscriptions, subscription price requests, etc.): subscriptions@tristatedefender.com. The Tri-State Defender (USPS 780-220) is published weekly by Tri-State Defender Publishing Co., 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38103. Second Class postage paid at Memphis, TN.
NEWS
Tri-State Defender
April 3 - 9, 2014
The 19th Annual Sisterhood Outreach Summit & Showcase postponed Litigation against former employees cited for decision
The 19th Annual Sisterhood Outreach Summit & Showcase sponsored by Grace Magazine and typically held in June has been postponed. “We regret any disappointment created by the postponement of the Sisterhood Showcase,” said Christina Stevison, owner and publisher of Grace Magazine, in a released statement. “The Showcase has a rich legacy and reputation for being one of the Mid-South’s favorite events. Unfortunately, due to litigation filed against former employees Toni Harvey, the magazine’s former editor-in-chief, and Chris Boyd, former operations director, Grace Magazine will not be able to produce a Showcase in June 2014. “For over 18 years, the Sisterhood Showcase has become known for exemplifying high program standards and we will absolutely do nothing less!” Stevison became publisher of Grace Magazine last year after the passing of her mother, Tina L. Birchett, founder of Grace Magazine and the Sisterhood Showcase. Stevison had not been reached for comment at Wednesday’s deadline. TSD President and Publisher, Bernal E. Smith II, met Monday with Boyd and Harvey to dis-
MUSEUM
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Flintco Construction Solutions was one of the primary contractors. Flintco was acquired by American Heritage in 2013. Jackson Person and Associates, another local, minorityowned business founded by John Jackson III and the late Walter Person Jr., opened their landscape architecture and urban planning firm more than 20 years ago. JPA was selected through the design process to work on the project. The company’s primary role included the exterior design of the grounds, plaza, park, landscape, irrigation, site furnishings, exhibit design, and detailing site elements. Visitors can expect to see: • A new lobby housing the 7,000-pound bronze signature statue, Movement to Overcome; • Close to 20 new exhibits, including references to the Montgomery Bus Boycott; Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education desegregation rul-
cuss a new magazine project that they are working on. At the time, neither had been served nor were they aware of any pending litigation involving them. They did acknowledge the split with Stevison. “We simply had a difference in philosophy in how to do business,” said Harvey. “It is not our intention to harm her, the magazine or the event. In fact we want her to succeed.” Boyd and Harvey noted that they had begun a process of transitioning relationships and contacts directly to Stevison to allow her to move forward without them. They encouraged Smith to reach out to Stevison to possibly assist with the Grace Magazine publication and the Sisterhood Showcase event. Smith had indicated some months ago a willingness to assist with the ongoing transition and growth of both Grace and the Sisterhood Showcase. On Tuesday morning, Harvey said neither she nor Boyd had yet been served with any legal papers and that they knew nothing of any of the allegations Stevison mentioned in the news release announcing the Showcase’s postponement. “To this point we have not been served and simply can’t comment on the allegations as we don’t know what they are,” said Harvey. “Once we do we, will consult our legal counsel, Ricky Wilkins, and take things from there.”
Grand reopening
The National Civil Rights Museum will tie the historic passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to its grand reopening via a forum of national leaders, historians, scholars and civil rights activists on Friday, April 4th from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Following the forum, there will be a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was shot to death on the balcony of the Lorraine on April 4th, 1968. Saturday, April 5th is Community Day, which kicks off with the Freedom Forward Parade at 9:30 a.m. Twenty-plus organizations and schools will march from the Memphis Cook Convention Center along Second Street to the National Civil Rights Museum. Following the parade is Breaking of the Chains, the museum’s official opening ceremony. It begins at 11 a.m., with entertainment on the Freedom Forward Main Stage from noon until 7 p.m. The events are free to the public. Admission to the museum will be discounted from $15 to $5 for the weekend.
ing; the integration of Little Rock Central High School; The March on Washington; and the March from Selma; • Interactive exhibits; • And a conference room that could be used for private community events. “I think everyone working on
the project felt great to be tremendously involved. It was a labor of love because there are so many human stories…black and white,” said Tracy Revis, founding principal of Howard + Revis Design Services. “There are so many lessons to be learned from this.”
WOMEN
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
character that make Memphis a great city,” said Smith. “I am glad that we at The New TriState Defender can take the lead in acknowledging their contributions to the growth and betterment of our community.” The 2014 Women of Excellence will be celebrated amidst food, inspiration, fashion and entertainment. The morning will feature performances by musical and spoken word artists, along with other special guest performances and a special guest speaker to be announced next week. Ticket and table reservations are first come, first serve. The event has had overwhelming attendance in the past and requires immediate arrangements to secure tickets.
Honorees
Takeisha Berry-Brooks, Owner, Natural Hair Consultant | A Natural Affair Beauty Lounge Joy Bowen, VP: Treasury Management Sales Officer | First Tennessee Bank Erika Cain, CEO | Erika Cain & Company Grace Ann Campbell, Properties Coordinator | Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Karen Camper, State Representative | Tennessee General Assembly Lexie Carter, Radio Personality | Music Instructor Shirley Cobbins, VP External Relations | Universal Commercial Real Estate Co. Barbara Cooper, State Representative | Tennessee General Assembly Alice Davis, Assistant Director | Lester Community Ashley Dean-Parson, Owner | Dean of Fashion Mary Dortch Smith, Retired Preschool Specialist | Sam’s Video Productions Phyllis M. Fickling, Shelby County Government | Mayor’s Office Mimi Fifer, CEO/Founder | The Mid-Town Divas, Pink Dolls & Dance Mom Erma Foster, Owner | Erma Foster’s Child Care & Tutoring Center Doretha Franklin, Administrative Laboratory Director | St. Francis Hospital Janice Fullilove, Councilwoman | Memphis City Council Briggette Green, President of Business Operations | Top Cat Masonry Contractors, LLC Audrey Gregory, Chief Operating Officer | St. Francis Hospital Sheila Guerrero | Multimedia & Journalist Karen Harrell, VP Early Childhood Services | Porter-Leath Evelyn Harris, Interim Principal | Houston High School
Page 5
Mary Hines, PATH Coordinator | Family & Children’s Service Florence Howard, Event Planning, PR, Marketing, Training | SSCOMM, Inc. Janas Jackson, Diversity & Affinity Groups Advisor | FedEx Express Bev Johnson, Host | “The Bev Johnson Show” WDIA AM 1070 Vicki Johnson, Executive Director | Pinky Promise International Nicole Jones, Business Manager | LeBonheur Pediatrics Audrey P. Jones, Project Manager/Business Systems Analyst | AutoZone Corporation Sherila Jones-Tuggle, Managing Partner | Jones & Tuggle, PLLC Yolanda Kight, Owner | Kight Law Firm, PLLC Life Oasis & Counseling Center Terica Lamb, President & CEO/Community Outreach | Tutal Control Logistic/Shelby Co. Trustee Carla McAdory, Administrative Assistant | Verizon Wireless Marlene McGhee, Principal Broker, ABR, GRI | Eagle Lane Realty Alfunsia Merriwether, Manager, Family & Community Partnerships | Shelby County Headstart Monice Moore-Hagler, Partner/Attorney | Hagler, Bruce, Turner, PLLC Raygene Paige |Independent Program Development Professional Shayna Rattler, CEO Founder | Supplier Diversity Academy Lea Ester Redmond-Terrell, Community & Legislative Affairs | Shelby County Sheriff Offices Carolyn Rudley, Director/Teacher | Muhammad University of Islam Elaine Sanford, Executive Director | HER Faith Ministries | Young Sanford Marketing & Media Tonja Sessley-Baymon, President & CEO | Memphis Urban League Regina Smith, Quality Assurance Supervisor | The Coca-Cola Company Bianca J. Sweeten, MD | Pediatrician | Comprehensive Medical Associates Debrah Thompson-Reid, CEO/Founder | Sassie Seniors of Memphis Vequita Todd-Barnes | United Housing, Inc. Carolyn Wade-Blackett, Judge | Shelby County Criminal Court Tracee Walls, Education Program Advisor | FedEx Lucille White, Retired Nurse/Home Maker | Caregiver Jeani Williams, IBO ACN | Intern Facilitator/UT Knoxville Velma Williams, RN (Retired) | Veterans Administration Medical Center (For more information and updates, visit www.tsdmemphis.com.)
BUSINESS
Page 6
Tri-State Defender
April 3 - 9, 2014
ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY
Exploring the roots of HINO
From being the founder of the Block Party for Peace to the Community Baby Shower, Antonio Parkinson, State Rep. for District 98, is about “making a difference.” Now he is poised to make a huge impact in the health and beauty industry with HINO, his latest venture.
Carlee McCullough: Please tell us about yourself. Antonio Parkinson: I grew up in a single parent household. My mother was...well, still is a stylist. As a child we watched her go through cosmetology school and then helped her to build a business in the cosmetology industry. From that seed was birthed my entrepreneurial spirit and currently I am the owner of a marketing company, Black Market Strategies. CM: What does HINO stand for? AP: HINO...is Hair Industry Night Out!
CM: What type of clientele does HINO attract? AP: HINO draws health and beauty industry professionals and consumers. The core demographic is women ages 25 to 44. It is a diverse crowd, with most being small business owners or contractors to small businesses.
CM: What sparked the idea for HINO? AP: My partner, Elnora Wharwood of the Beyond Beauty Group, and I saw a need for the creation of a recurring vehicle that would allow for a social gathering where ideas could be shared, networking could take place while increasing brand, product and consumer traffic to the businesses that participate. A shared acquaintance had the same idea and the events were pulled together and the idea was birthed. CM: How can people get involved with HINO? AP: People can get involved by sponsoring or set-
Networking in the health and beauty business
Carlee McCullough
ting up a vendor booth at the next H I N O event … or, simply come out and enjoy the HINO experience.
C M : What is the next step for HINO? AP: From the beginning we set HINO up for expansion into other markets. We are currently pulling the Nashville team together to launch into that market by the summer and then into Chattanooga. The ultimate goal is to create a statewide HINO conference and trade show.
Trenyce of “American Idol” interviewing HINO cofounder Elnora Wharwood of The Beyond Beauty Group. (Courtesy photo)
CM: What are the necessary elements that go into a successful business? AP: A good business plan, a good marketing strategy, hard work and dedication.
CM: What emerging trends do you see in the hair industry? AP: NATURAL HAIR...Natural Hair...natural hair... Natural hair is giving people the flexibility to grow their hair in a healthy manner while being able to add weave, wigs, etc. for a different look without sacrificing their health and the health of the hair. Of course in my other life as the state representative, I passed the laws in regards to the creation of free standing natural hair care schools and apprenticeships in our state.
CM: As a business advocate, what is the greatest reward? AP: The greatest reward for me is to see a business become successful, create additional jobs and spawn other businesses. CM: What is most chal-
Antonio Parkinson, cofounder of HINO, being interviewed by HINO Red Carpet hostess Alondra Hunt. (Courtesy photo)
lenging as a business owner and advocate? AP: The most challenging is convincing aspiring business owners to understand the importance of marketing their businesses. You can have all the talent in the world, but if no one knows how to connect to that talent, it is fruitless and wasted. CM: At the end of the day, who inspires Mr. Parkinson? Who are your mentors in all of your fields of expertise? AP: I’m inspired by lots of people. My mother, who told me to read that Word every day is a big inspiration to me. By watch-
ing her story, living in it, seeing her (us) going from being homeless to me being in the State House, her becoming a stylist/business owner and getting her degree in nursing at 62 years of age... I learned to never give up. I’m also inspired by CEOs, my pastor Sammie Holloway and even the underdogs that take on challenges every day and are trying to change their lot in life. Finally, those individuals that tell me what I can’t do, motivate me. I remember being homeless and my aunts refusing to give me and my brother a place to stay. I was also told by one of those aunts
that I was going to be the worse child that my mother had and I would end up in jail. It may have looked like that at the time, but those curses were just the motivation that I needed to fuel my blessings. I still pull from those words that were spoken over my life at that time when additional fuel is needed today. Now I’m one of the most successful people in my family. I thank God for them and everyone else who has helped me along the way. CM: When is the next HINO event? AP: The next HINO experience is April 20th at Onix 412
South Main Street at 6 .pm.
(For more information about HINO, visit www.facebook.com/HINOexp erience or contact Black Market Strategies at 901-3799101 or by email at info@BlackMarketStrategies.co m. Follow on Twitter and IG and YouTube @HINOexperience. Take a look inside of the #HINOexperience at http://youtu.be/fVpiYlcs06Y.) (Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, TN 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)
MONEY MATTERS
In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court settled a case between a widow and her deceased husband’s former wife regarding who would receive the man’s federal employee insurance benefits. The judges ruled in favor of the first wife, even though the couple had been divorced for more than 10 years when he died, because she was still the designated beneficiary on his policy. Some people may not be aware that the assets in most bank accounts, retirement plans, and insurance policies convey directly to the people named on the beneficiary
Cleaning up your financial records forms, even if they are different from the people named in their wills or trusts. Others simply forget to Charles Sims Jr., CFP make the appropriate changes in writing. If your beneficiary forms are out of date – and your intentions somehow become a matter of dispute – a state
and/or federal laws or the administrator’s plan documents could ultimately determine who receives your assets.
A common oversight
It’s generally a good idea to review your beneficiary designations annually, and to inform your financial professional when there are changes in your life that could affect your choices, such as the birth of a child, the illness or death of a family member, marriage, divorce, and especially remarriage. It’s fairly easy to update your beneficiaries. You can simply file a new beneficiary designa-
tion form with the appropriate financial institution or insurance company. Here are a few other things to consider when naming new beneficiaries. Many laws favor spouses, so be careful when you intend to name someone other than your spouse as a beneficiary. Don’t name minor-age children without making arrangements for a guardian or trustee to control the assets until the beneficiary is old enough to manage them. Request an acknowledged copy of each new or updated beneficiary form from the financial institution or your fi-
nancial professional (or print a copy if filed electronically) and store them with your other important documents.
Keep or toss
It’s not unusual for people to have several file drawers or even many boxes full of old financial records. However, the more unnecessary items you have, the harder it can be to find critical papers when you actually need them. If you want to rid your home of unnecessary paper clutter, it could be worth the effort to sort through your
files. There are several important reasons to keep specific records for future reference: to back up information on tax returns, as evidence of an ongoing contractual agreement, or for proof that you made (or are entitled to) a major payment. To help protect your privacy and your identity, make sure to shred financial documents before throwing them away. (Charles Sims Jr. is president/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.co m.)
RELIGION
Tri-State Defender
Page 7
April 3 - 9, 2014
Rev. Holmes takes a stand NNPA News Service
by Freddie Allen WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Rev. R.B. Holmes, a civil rights leader and pastor of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Fla., is heading up a task force of 40 ministers to undertake a 12point action plan to revitalize the black community, taking on issues ranging from the repeal of controversial “Stand Your Ground” laws to supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Holmes made the announcement here last week at a news conference at the National Press Club. “In our 12 Point Action Plan, we will take the leadership to save our boys and girls, to build schools in our own neighborhoods, to repeal and repair ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws across America, to support historically Black colleges and universities, and the importance of business ownership and the significance of marriage and the family,” said Holmes. He said the action plan also includes evangelism, renewable energy and preservation, restoring voting rights for exoffenders, social justice, advocating for veterans, health care support and increasing the minimum wage. Holmes also announced plans to run for president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., “the nation’s oldest and largest African
American religious convention with an estimated membership of 7.5 million,” according to the group’s website. The election is Sept. 4. “In a time when it seems more popular to be a celebrity than a servant, we stand behind Dr. Holmes with great expectations,” said the Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, pastor of the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore. “Jesus gave the clear indication that if you want to be great all you have to do is serve.” Noting that the black church has always been on the front line, giving a voice to the voiceless, Bryant said something has to be done to repeal “Stand Your Ground laws” that basically empower a person to use deadly force if they merely perceive that their life is in danger. “We hoped that government would do it, but they have not. We hoped that legislators would do it, but they would not. Whenever there has been real change in America it has always been under the leadership of a preacher,” said Bryant. The so-called “Stand Your Ground” laws have been enacted in nearly two dozen states and research has shown that the laws disproportionately affects blacks. Parents of high-profile children personally affected by Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” laws were at the press conference. Sybrina Fulton, the mother
Rev. R.B. Holmes outlines 12-point action plan. (Photo: NNPA/Freddie Allen) of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed Florida teenager shot and killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in Sanford, Fla., in 2012, applauded the work of the new task force. “It’s bringing the conversation to the table. A lot of people don’t want to talk about it, because it’s an uncomfortable subject, but we need to bring it to the table, we need to talk about it, so that we can resolve these issues,” she said. Phyllis Giles, mother of Michael Giles, said that the role that the “Stand Your Ground” law plays in court cases is unfair and often car-
ries racial undertones. In 2010, Michael Giles, a 26-year-old active duty United States airman, went to a Tallahassee nightclub with some friends. When a brawl broke out at the club, Giles was separated from his friends. Giles had a concealed weapons permit for a gun he had in his car. As he searched the raucous crowd for his friends, someone punched Giles in the face knocking him to the ground. Giles pulled out his gun and fired, striking his attacker in the leg. Giles, who served two tours in the Middle East and didn’t have a criminal record, was
arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder. The married father of three was convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He is serving a mandatory 20-year sentence. Phyllis Giles said black ministers should lead the charge against disparities associated with the “Stand Your Ground” law. It starts in the church and it will end in the church and God will bring it all together, said Giles. Ron Davis, the father of Jordan Davis, the Jacksonville, Fla., teen who was shot and killed by Michael Dunn, a white computer programmer who ob-
jected to the volume of music playing in the SUV carrying Davis and his friends in November 2012, said when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. andother pastors stood up in the 1960s, it really made a difference. “People forget that these were pastors getting their heads busted for better civil rights, so we need the pastors on the front line again.” A bill slowly working its way through the Florida state legislature seeks to clearly define who can use the “Stand Your Ground” defense and would also allow law enforcement to set policies governing neighborhood watch groups.
RELIGION BRIEFS Eureka TrueVine plans Worship Center opening
Eureka TrueVine Baptist Church will host the grand opening of its new Worship Center at 3510 Millbranch on April 13th at 3 p.m. The guest speaker will be Judge Joe Brown and he will be introduced by Judge Tarik Sugarmon. The theme is “Crossing Over the Jordan, Into the Promised Land.” The Watoto Memphis Tour Ensemble under the direction of Donald O’Connor will be spe-
cial guests. R.S.V.P. by April 8th. The host pastor is Frederick De’ Wayne Tappan. For more information, call 901-281-1415 or 901-277-5990; email fdtappan@gmail.com.
BRIEFLY: First Cumberland Presbyterian Church’s Branch Out Spring Music Festival will be held April 5th at 8161 Germantown Rd. in Olive Branch, Miss. The free festival is set to run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.
DEADLINE
Deadline for all religion articles is Monday, 5 p.m. Send items to Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale St., Suite 200; Memphis, TN 38103, Email items to editorial@tri-statedefender.com. C a l l (901) 523-1818 for details.
All about teachers…
Thousands of educators across Memphis and Shelby County were honored Sunday (March 30th) at the annual Celebration of Teachers event coordinated by Shepherding the Next Generation, a national group of pastors and ministry leaders advocating for improvements in education. At 100-plus local churches, participating pastors preached on the value of the teaching profession and presented teachers with special gifts. (Courtesy photo)
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. Cruso Minister
Attend the Church of your choice
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. —Phillipians 4:13
ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, April 3 - 9, 2014, Page 8
WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?
Remembering Marvin Gaye
Twenty years ago this week R&B music suffered a great loss as singer Marvin Gaye was killed by his father in April of 1984. Never has one artist had such a profound influence on R&B Myron music and the Mays other artists who created it. Amazingly, when I hear Marvin’s music today, it still strikes a chord. Not only with me, but with a lot of us. It’s totally mind-blowing that “What’s Going On” has the same meaning and impact for me as if it was written today. Although years pass and time changes, things really remain the same. News flash: the world was not perfect back in 1971. The issues of that day have not been resolved. There’s still mothers crying and senseless killings all over our country. Somewhere in the world there are still senseless wars in progress as we speak. But it took a special person to be able to put those kinds of issues in the form of a song and create something that would make a person really pay attention some 30 years later. But let’s get back to influence. When I think of Marvin Gaye, I can’t help but think of R. Kelly. If we had to look for the closest thing Marvin to Marvin Gaye Gaye in today’s music, it would have to be Kelly. The similarities are even there. In terms of longevity, I remember R. Kelly hitting the scene in 1992. Over a 20-year span, popular music changed a lot…as did R&B. R. Kelly has been able to stay relevant in a field of music that has changed at least three times since he began his career. “Stubborn Kind of Fellow,” released in 1962, was Marvin’s first charted R&B hit (No. 8). It was over 20-plus years later when 1984’s “Sexual Healing” reached No. 1. Imagine how much music changed from 1962 to 1984. Amazing huh? Marvin experienced his share of personal and family issues and so has R. Kelly. Could those issues be the driving force behind the music? Could the genius in their music be a byproduct of their personal demons? Could there be a link between good music and personal issues? Of course there is. We all have things we go through as regular people, however, it just so happens that these two individuals could turn to music to channel their pain into. As a result, we have had timeless music to help us through the pain we have to deal with. This is true even noting that Marvin’s issues eventually led to his untimely death. I remember the first time I heard the song “Sanctified Lady,” which was released about a year after Marvin had been fatally shot. I think it was the first song I had ever heard that had to bleep out a word. Fast forward to 2014 and most of anything you hear on the radio has lyrics that you can’t listen to on traditional radio. And when those songs are played, the explicit words are dubbed out. R Kelly makes a lot of those songs these days, doesn’t he? Bobby Brown threw around the term “King of R&B” for years. I always disagreed of course. I felt that if anyone should have had the title around that time it should have been Luther Vandross. However, after Luther’s run wound down, I would’ve considered it to be R. Kelly. He has been for a while and probably still can reasonably be considered so today. And if you would like to argue the fact, just look at the stats of longevity and record sales. The guy has it. Still, my props go to the man I consider not only the first “King of R&B” but the one who laid the blueprint for the genre. And that’s none other than Marvin Gaye. (Got an event you’d like for me to cover or attend, email me at Myron@whatshappeningmyron.com)
Culinary creators and kitchen wizards Pat and Gina Neely will kick off the April 8th release of “Back Home With the Neelys” here in Memphis where their story begins. (Courtesy photo)
The Neelys come back home with 3rd blockbuster cookbook Special to the New Tri-State Defender
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell They met in the 1980’s at Melrose High School, star-crossed sweethearts who lost touch after graduation. A 10-year class reunion, marriage in 1994, a thriving family barbeque business in Memphis – 20 years later, America gets to come “Back Home With the Neelys.” “We know our home folk in Memphis will really get a kick out of this third book,” said Patrick Neely, one half of the superstar cooking couple in their own Food Network Show. “Gina and I tell stories about our grandparents, stories we can all relate to. Along with our recipes are the stories we can remember growing up, memories on my grandfather’s back porch over there in Orange Mound. Those are our roots. Those are our beginnings, and we want to always remember them.” Culinary creators and kitchen wizards Pat and Gina Neely put artistic twists on downhome Southern classic dishes in this new book, a recipe for success that put their first cookbook on the New York Times Best Sellers list. “Today, we are more health-conscious about our food, but little has changed about those good, old Southern dishes that have been passed down through the generations,” said Neely. “We could never have known that our business would take us this far. “When we first opened more than 30 years ago with my two brothers, all I wanted to do was provide for my family, serve good food, and maintain a good quality of service. But God has a plan for each of us, and He helps us take advantage of opportunities put before us. It’s great to be in a position to encourage others.” Neely believes the “real story” of the
Neelys is not where their cooking prowess has taken them, but where they actually began. “I remember just about every weekend, my grandfather would go back to ‘the country’ where their relatives lived,” said Neely. “Our folks moved over in Binghampton and Orange Mound, but they would go back out to ‘the country,’ in Cordova and Eads. They grew huge vegetable gardens. Vegetables went straight from the garden to the pots in that small kitchen. That’s how they lived. It was a way of life. My grandfather would come back with a trunk full of every kind of vegetable you could name, and loads of meat he would put in the deep freezer. That lasted three or four weeks. He would head back out to the country then. “Although we lived in Whitehaven, I loved going to Orange Mound with my grandparents. That was back in the day when Orange Mound was Orange Mound. That was our community. We always loved Melrose, my brothers and I. My father had attended Melrose, and we wanted to go to. For us, there was no other high school in the city but Melrose.” The Neelys will kick off the April 8th release of “Back Home With the Neelys” here in Memphis where their story begins. “There will be three book signings in Memphis because we wanted to begin our book tour with our home folks,” said Neely. “We are really excited about this book because we tell so many stories about our heritage and where we came from. Gina and I always love signing books and taking pictures with those who have supported us over the years. “But more important than that is the tremendous opportunity to encourage young people. There are kids in the inner city or wherever with one parent or no parents – maybe being raised by their grandparents.
They need to know that it doesn’t matter about your beginning. God has a plan that can take you very far if we are willing to live by His way and do what is right.” Readers and Food Network fans can look forward to grilling and smoking secrets as well as baking and pickling recipes. “All our grandmothers used to pickle. My grandmother would keep a jar of hot pickles on the table. When my grandfather would sit down to eat his dinner, no matter what it was, he would pour some of those pickles and that juice all over everything. Not a lot of people really pickle anymore. We want to bring that back.” The Neelys share 105 recipes in this new cookbook, including Small Batch Strawberry Jam (best when eaten with Mama Daisy’s Buttermilk and Cream Biscuits), Bourbon French Toast, Crunchy Fried Okra, Grilled Succotash, Skillet Roasted Chicken, and Mama Rena’s Brunswick Stew. Upcoming book tour appearances include: “The Today Show,” “The View,” “The Queen Latifa Show,” and “The Steve Harvey Show.” Fans can contact the Neelys through their Facebook page, Down Home With the Neelys, and the Food Network will list the date and times of scheduled appearances.
3 Memphis book-signings:
Tuesday, April 8th: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. – Barnes & Noble Memphis, signing, 2774 N. Germantown Parkway; On-site contact: Kendra Plischke-Van Zile, 901-386-2468. Saturday, April 26th: Noon-2 p.m. – Sam’s Club Memphis Store signing #6260, 8480 Hwy. 64, Bartlett. Saturday, May 3rd: 10 a.m.-noon – Kroger Delta Store, signing, 430 S. Mendenhall.
Should we lower our expectations for ‘Xscape’? theGrio
by Javier E. David For the second time since his tragic demise, Michael Jackson is returning from the hereafter. Not in the literal sense, of course. Michael’s latest revival is that time-honored tradition, prized by record companies and estates driven by family feuds over cash, if not debt (for the record, Jackson’s Herculean personal debts were in fact paid off more than a year ago). The King of Pop will come back to us via “Xscape,” his latest posthumous release – or, according to The Rolling Stone’s hair-splitting definition, “the first posthumous album of new music.” Depending on who you ask and how they define a new album, “Xscape” will be Jackson’s third musical effort released in the wake of his death. Executive producer and music legend L.A. Reid, who literally raided Michael’s music vaults to curate songs where his vocals were completed, will partner with hip-hop wunderkind Timbaland and a host of other artists to give the new music a “fresh, contemporary sound.” All things considered, you can’t knock Reid’s hustle. Music released after a star has gone home to glory is becoming increasingly commonplace: after all, Tupac released seven platinum albums after he died in 1996. Other deceased stars, like Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, The Notorious B.I.G., Amy Winehouse and Aaliyah had far more modest musical caches.
Nevertheless, they remain as iconic as ever with their fan bases, and their legacies are as potent as they’ve ever been. In the decade preceding his untimely demise, Michael Jackson was more famous for being famous (and seemingly endless controversies) than for his talents. Anything that keeps his music alive should be a good thing. Yet whether fans can realistically expect more from “Xscape” than they received from “Michael” (or, for that matter, “This is It”) is very much an open question. The latter had the benefit of arriving in the fall of
2009, when the world was still shell-shocked over Jackson’s death and public interest in him remained high. “Michael,” however, arrived more than a year later, when the curiosity had waned substantially. The album’s performance told the story: sales were tepid and critics were borderline brutal. The coming release of “Xscape” underscores the conundrum facing record companies and artist’s estates: there’s a real business advantage to pushing out a dead star’s albums – especially in the immediate wake of his or her death. Morbid though it may be, “This is It” received unquestionable ballast from the shocking circumstances surrounding Jackson departing this mortal coil. That said, and factoring in the diminishing returns of Michael’s sales, the public may not want to expect much. “Xscape” may carry the baggage of having arrived too late to capitalize on the surprisingly booming business of being Michael Jackson, which in many ways has proven more lucrative in death than in life. Jackson’s estate has reaped a windfall since 2009, but not necessarily because of album sales: Rolling Stone notes that the Cirque de Soliel has paid tens of millions to license MJ’s music at its shows. The composition of the revenues pouring into the estate’s coffers reflects the downward slope of Jackson’s career. In many ways, the music from his early solo years holds more promise than anything that might be strip-mined from his unreleased catalogues.
ENTERTAINMENT
Tri-State Defender
Page 9
April 3 - 9, 2014
OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam’s Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
Cast includes Danny Trejo, Luis Guzman and Treat Williams.
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kam Williams
“Island of Lemurs: Madagascar” (G) Morgan Freeman narrates this endangered species documentary, shot in IMAX 3D, offering a spectacular peek at lemurs’ struggle to survive as civilization continues to encroach on their natural habitat.
For movies opening April 4, 2014
BIG BUDGET FILMS
“Afflicted” (R for profanity and gory violence) Horror flick revolving around a couple of BFFS (Clif Prowse and Derek Lee) whose vacation of a lifetime far from home morphs into a neverending nightmare when one becomes infected with a mysterious disease which slowly starts to consume his entire being. Co-starring Baya Rehaz.
“Jinn” (PG-13 for terror and intense violence) Supernatural thriller about newlyweds (Dominic Rains and Serinda Swan) whose quiet, suburban life is turned upside-down soon after the husband starts receiving cryptic messages about a curse that has afflicted his family for generations. Co-starring Ray Park, William Atherton and Faran Tahir.
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (PG-13 for gunplay, pervasive action and intense violence) Cold War Era sequel pits the Marvel Comics superhero (Chris Evans) against a new nemesis, a Russian assassin (Sebastian Stan) wreaking havoc around Washington, DC. Cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie and series creator Stan Lee.
“Dom Hemingway” (R for nudity, sexuality, violence, drug use and pervasive profanity) Jude Law plays the titular character of this crime comedy as a just-paroled safe cracker who’s determined to collect a bonus from his mob boss (Demian Bichir) for not snitching on him while behind bars. With Richard E. Grant, Emilia Grant and Kerry Condon.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
“10 Rules for Sleeping Around” (R for crude humor, sexuality, nudity, profanity and drug use) Screwball comedy revolving around the attempt by an adventurous couple (Jesse Bradford and Virginia Williams) in an open marriage to keep their sex life fresh and exciting long past the honeymoon. Supporting cast includes Chris Marquette, Bill Bellamy, Michael McKean and Wendi McLendon-Covey.
“Alan Partridge” (R for profanity, nudity and brief violence) Steve Coogan handles the titular role in this kidnap drama as a radio DJ whose help is enlisted by the police as a negotiator when a disgruntled colleague (Coml Meany) holds fellow staff members hostage with a shotgun. Featuring Felicity Montagu, Simon Greenall and Darren Boyd.
“Alien Abduction” (Unrated) UFO adventure inspired by a family’s real-life ordeal while vacationing on Brown Mountain in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest. Costarring Katherin Sigismund, Corey Eid, Jillian Clare and Riley Polanski. “Being Ginger” (Unrated) Scott Harris directed and stars in this documentary about a redhead’s struggle to regain his confidence as
“Les Infideles” (Unrated) A series of short films revolving around the theme of infidelity. Starring Jean Dujardin, Charles Gerard, Dolly Golden and Julie Nicolet. (In French with subtitles)
Samuel L. Jackson stars as Nick Fury in this Cold War-era sequel to Marvel Comicsʼ “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” Cast includes the series creator, Stan Lee.
an adult after being bullied as kid because of the color of his hair.
“Flex Is Kings” (Unrated) Brooklyn-based documentary featuring flex dancers and showcasing the underground scene on the mean streets of East New York where proponents choreograph their unorthodox steps.
“The Galapagos Affair” (Unrated) Paradise lost documentary about the rapid decay of the Galapagos Islands since being settled in the Thirties by pleasure seekers with different definitions of utopia. Featuring voiceover commentary by Cate Blanchett, Diane Kruger and Connie Nielsen. “Goodbye World” (Unrated) Apocalyptic dramedy about a couple (Adrian Grenier and Kerry Bishe) raising a daughter (Mckenna Grace) in the lap of luxury whose life is upended when friends descend on their idyllic oasis after a computer virus triggers the collapse of civilization. With Gaby Hoffman, Ben McKenzie and Mark Webber.
“In the Blood” (R for profanity and graphic violence) Vigilante thriller about a woman trained to kill (Gina Carano) who decides to take the law into her own hands after her husband (Cam Gigandet) is suddenly kidnapped while on their honeymoon in the Caribbean.
“Nymphomaniac: Part Two” (Unrated) Racy sequel finds frustrated heroine (Charlotte Gainsbourg) seeking sadomasochistic liaisons to revitalize her sex drive when she loses all sensation in her numb nether regions. With Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman and Willem Dafoe.
“On the Other Side of the Tracks” (R for profanity, sexuality, nudity and violence) Buddy cop comedy about a couple of mismatched partners (Omar Sy and Laurent Lafitte) assigned to crack a murder case. Cast includes Sabrina Ouazani, Lionel Abelanski and Youssef Hajdi. (In French with subtitles)
“The Retrieval” (R for violence) Unlikelybuddies saga, set during the Civil War, about the friendship forged between a 13 year-old orphan (Ashton Sanders) and the fugitive slave (Tishuan Scott) he’s been hired to escort back to the South. With Keston John, Christine Horn and Bill Oberst, Jr. “Under the Skin” (R for violence, profanity, sexuality and graphic nudity) Sci-fi thriller, set in Scotland, about an attractive alien (Scarlett Johansson) with a van who picks up hitchhikers in order to seduce them before harvesting their organs. Cast includes Paul Brannigan, Jessica Mance and Adam Pearson. “The Unknown Known” (Unrated) Donald Rumsfeld is on Oscar-winner Errol Morris’ (for The Fog of War) hot seat for the duration of this telling tete-a-tete during which the former Secretary of Defense defends the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
“Watermark” (PG for smoking) H2O documentary examining how water has shaped humanity.
BOOK REVIEW
‘The Myth of Race, The Reality of Racism’ Special to The new Tri-State Defender
by Kam Williams
The Genome Project has proven scientifically that there’s only one race, the human race. But despite definitive proof that race is purely a fabrication of man’s imagination, racism continues to persist. That confounding conundrum is the subject of “The Myth of Race, The Reality of Racism,” a collection of enlightening essays by Mahmoud El-Kati. Professor El-Kati, a distinguished lecturer in History at Macalester University, makes the most of this opportunity to trace the derivation of the word “race” back to 1570 before chronicling the subsequent evolution of racism into an oppressive political and cultural ideology employed by Europeans to rationalize the exploitation and marginalization of so-called “inferior races.” Defining racism as “prejudice plus power,” the author sees it as “largely an institutional phenomenon” based on “aggression, domination and greed.” However, he warns that it can also be observed on the individual level in a variety of everyday social “habits, nuances and traits,” like in a condescending look or a halfhearted handshake. Nevertheless determined to eradicate the false notion of “race,” Professor El-Kati assails it as a superstition no less ridiculous than the belief in witches that once led to innocent women being burned at the stake. For, he would argue that it is patently farcical to associate a host of negative stereotypes with black skin ranging from criminality to laziness. The book comes equipped with viable solutions for the problem, too, as it suggests we not only create a new vocabulary, but condemn racist institutions and become actively involved in overhauling society. After all, as in Ralph Ginsburg’s encyclopedic study “!00 Years of Lynchings,” until relatively recently, “no white person had ever received the death sentence for taking the life of a black person in the whole history of capital punishment in the United States.” An insightful tome repositioning America in the Age of Obama as less a post-racial utopia than a work in progress in terms of dignity for all and the demise of white supremacy.
From the introduction
“From today’s perspective in a mediasoaked world all too familiar with the genomic footprints of human DNA and the tracings of the double-helix back to an African origin, it has become considerably easier to accept the notion that, like nations, ‘races’ are what Benedict Anderson calls ‘imagined communities’ – social constructs, fabrications made in history by historical forces, and which acquire meaning only in relation to identifiable others. “But it is also easy to forget that just 20 years ago, the explanatory power of race had not yet been deconstructed thoroughly enough to prevent the best-selling publication of… Charles Murray’s “The Bell Curve,” wherein the ancient logics of racial inferiority and domination were reconfigured in full display, with all the illusory trappings of authoritative social science.” – Professor John S. Wright (page 2)
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COMMUNITY April 3 - 9, 2014
80 years of service for AKA graduate chapter
A number of crowning moments were shared last Saturday during the 80th anniversary of the chartering of the Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
(Just as a neighborhood should not be judged by the actions of a few bad apples, neither should law enforcement agencies. In partnership with the new Community Police Relations Project, The New Tri-State Defender’s “Good Blue” column spotlights law enforcement officers who do it right. This week’s focus is on Major Anthony W. Rudolph of the Memphis Police Department.)
During an event with security at its most heightened point, this week’s Good Blue officer was cool as the other side of the pillow. It was the NCAA Men’s Basketball South Regional Championship at the FedExForum and nearby Beale Street was in full swing. Basketball fans packed Handy Park before the championship game between Florida University and Dayton University. Children ran in all four directions. All the while, Memphis Police Department Major Anthony W. Rudolph took it all in with the trained eye of a 21-year veteran. “I started out as a PST Officer. PST stands for Police Service Technician. We’re the guys that show up first at traffic accidents and things of that nature. We check on the parties involved and make sure everyone is OK and try to get the traffic back going as soon as possible,” said Rudolph, who graduated from Christian Brothers University with a Bachelor’s of Psychology degree. I asked how long he worked in that position. “I worked PST close to a year and a half and I learned a lot during that time. It wasn’t long after that when I’d moved on to patrolman and then undercover. In fact, it was during undercover when I met my wife, Karen.” Hold on now, I said. “I saw that smile when you said Karen. Come on give up the goods.” “Oh for sure, I love her,” said Rudolph. “I just remembered how we initially met and it was funny. You see when I was doing undercover we needed a young lady under 21 but not over 18 to buy alcohol at problem locations where they sell alcohol to under age people.”
Boys and girls from throughout the MidSouth will participate in the 2nd PROMISE BALL Black Tie Oath Ceremony & Ring Presentation presented by Pinky Promise International on April 13th at 5 p.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Middle school and high school participants, grades 6-12, will receive a charge to remain abstinent from sexual and substance abuse behaviors. The formal oath ceremony will conclude with a ring presentation and waltz dance. Rose Jackson Flenorl, manager of Social Responsibility at FedEx Corporation, is the keynote speaker. Pinky Promise International, an organization that promotes abstinence, faith and career focused mentorship, was founded by Vicki M. Johnson in 2012 after hearing Dr. Maya Angelou deliver a speech entitled “A Rainbow In My Cloud” at the Memphis Canon Center for the Performing Arts. CEO Johnson will present The Dr. Maya Angelou’s Rainbow Award to honorees selected for their commitment “to make a difference in the lives of others.” The 2014 Rainbow Award recipients are Bernal E. Smith II, president/publisher of The New Tri-State Defender, Billy Hicks Jr., CEO and president of Hicks Convention Services and Special Events Inc.; and the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences. For reservations, visit www.pinkypromise international.org. For more information, call 901-483-4955 or emailing vmjohnson@ pinkypromiseinternational.org.
Hooks Institute gala to salute Beverly Robertson and the ’60’s era Chapter Charter Day provided an opportunity for reflection, tributes and recognition, camaraderie and fun.
A highlight of the Chapter Charter Day festivities was the unveiling of the Beta Epsilon Omega Chapterʼs new history book, “The Beta Epsilon Omega Story: A Profile of Timeless Service,” edited by Gloria Tuggle. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley) of the Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha,” said Rose Jackson Flenorl, who chaired the event. “Memphis is a better place because of the significant contributions of hundreds of AKA women over the past 80 years.”
Chapter Charter Day co-chairs were Pamela Shields and Sara Flowers-Dent. Stephanie Greer serves as the chapter’s first vice president and Teleesa Payne Mason is the 2nd vice president.
G ☺ ☺ D BLUE
Major Anthony W. Rudolph by Kelvin Cowans
BRIEFS & THINGS Boys, girls to take Oath of Abstinence at Pinky Promise annual event
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
The Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. observed the 80th anniversary of the Memphis graduate chapter’s chartering last Saturday (March 29th). Approximately 200 members wearing the sorority’s signature colors of pink and green were on hand for the ceremony, which featured inspirational words from fellow AKA member the Rev. Rosalyn Nichols, the keynote speaker of the program held at Middle Baptist ChurchWhitehaven. Nichols’s message centered on the theme of “What Motivates a Woman.” She drew parallels to how women of AKA share what is precious to them to help others, much like the woman described in the Gospel of Mark who poured expensive perfumed oil on Jesus from her alabaster jar. “Rev. Nichols’ words were not only inspirational, but motivational,” said Cynthia Bryant Welch, chapter president. “She captured the essence of what our sorority is all about – service to others.” Welch, who is the 40th president of the chapter, paid tribute to past presidents. One highlight was an interview via Skype with Alma Roulhac Booth, who was the 7th chapter president (194648). Booth now lives in Pennsylvania with her son and daughter-in-law. Members of the audience sang Happy Birthday to Booth, who will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 15, 2014. The event also included recognition of 15 sorority members who have achieved “Silver” status, meaning they’ve been AKAs for 25 years. One member, Beverly Williams-Cleaves, was recognized for reaching “Golden” status, or 50 years of membership. Dr. WilliamsCleaves is a Memphis endocrinologist. A highlight of the Chapter Charter Day festivities was the unveiling of the chapter’s new history book, “The Beta Epsilon Omega Story: A Profile of Timeless Service,” edited by Gloria Tuggle. The book spotlights the many service programs, youth development, scholarship initiatives and chapter accomplishments over the past eight decades. Since 1934, chapter service activities have ranged from the Mississippi Health Project in the 1930s to education, cultural arts, civil rights, women’s rights, voter registration, economics, the Black family and global issues. Beta Epsilon Omega was founded by eight college educated African-American women who wanted to recreate the positive and uplifting experiences they enjoyed when they were initiated into the sorority in college. The chapter was charted on March 24th, 1934 becoming the first graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha in Memphis and the 55th AKA graduate chapter nationwide. The chapter grew quickly, from 13 members in 1934 (eight charter members and five initiates) to more than 450 currently. The growth has expanded to include intergenerational groups – new college graduates, members celebrating 25, 50 and 75 year milestones and even to family legacies of mothers, daughters and granddaughters. “It’s an honor to pay tribute to the founders
Tri-State Defender
“So your wife was the mole?” “Yeah, she was the mole,” said Rudolph. “I mean, she wasn’t my wife at the time but that’s how we met, and that was way back in 1996 and we’ve been best friends every since. We actually married in 2009 and we have three beautiful kids.” I wondered if it was hard to have a family as a police officer. “You are a policeman and the truth is any day can be your last day. That truth can be a mountain to a potential love interest,” I said probingly. “True, but like I said, she was on the force as well and so we understood each other and what we did for a living,” said Rudolph. “Honestly, Karen is an excellent mother and on top of that she’s the kind of person that motivates you and makes you better at what you do, and I’m thankful for that.” Rudolph said he tries to incorporate his family into as many things as he can on the job. Recently, the F.B.I. invited the MPD to its National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and Rudolph was selected to go. “So me and my family went there together and while I took this 11-week course we had a chance to get out and see a lot of sights together,” he said. “I studied very important things such as managing skills, media relations, stress, forensics and leadership while having the comfort of my family being there.” The topics covered come in pretty handy in Rudolph’s line of work. “Yes, as an officer we see many of the people in our community on very bad days for them,” he said. “Sometimes we show up and maybe one of their relatives has overdosed or some may have even died in a car wreck. It’s at those times that we’re basically being a comforter, bringing consolation and making the situation as calm as we can keep it because we can’t change it. “We have to allow medical personnel to come in and do their jobs while (we are) tending to grieving relatives. So no, this job is not all about taking someone to jail,” said Rudolph. “Where do you get the strength and dare I say nerve?” Rudolph did not hesitate. “In my faith,” he said. “I’m currently study-
Major Anthony W. Rudolph with Florida fans who poured into Downtown Memphis to support the top-ranked Gators during the NCAA Menʼs Basketball South Regional Championship at the FedExForum. (Photo: Kelvin Cowans) ing in the diaconate program of The Catholic Diocese of Memphis to become a deacon. The service of that position and my studying of it go hand and hand for me in what I do as an officer because it’s all service with compassion. “I try to find a way to be of service to someone every day. That’s just how I am. If all goes well, I will receive The Sacrament of Holy Order around June of 2016.” I told Maj. Rudolph that I was going to say a few words and that I wanted him to respond with the first thing that came into his mind. No pausing. Football. “Ole Miss University” Community. “Family” Love. “Compassion for others.” Service. “Giving of self.” Peanut Butter. “Jelly.” (Kelvin Cowans can be reached at kelvincowans@hotmail.com.)
The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change, located at the University of Memphis, will host the Join Hands for Change Gala: The Civil Rights Movement’s Influence on Music, Fashion and Culture on April 26th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Hotel Memphis, 2625 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Part entertainment and part education, the gala will include music, dancing and dining, as well as multimedia presentations to walk guests through the 1960s. Program participants include Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell Jr. The Hooks Institute’s honoree for the evening will be Beverly Robertson, president of the National Civil Rights Museum. The setting will be an opportunity for the community to celebrate Robertson’s leadership and vision as she ends her tenure as museum president. The American Civil Rights Movement not only challenged legal segregation and demanded equality, but also contributed to transforming the nation’s music, fashion and cultural landscape. Accordingly, guests at the Join Hands for Change Gala are encouraged to don their 1960’s best, from dashikis and afros to black leather jackets and berets to peace signs and colorful flower child dresses. For more information, visit www.memphis.edu/benhooks.
Bridge Builders CHANGE students to present their SCS student Congress policy work In D.C.
Four Bridge Builders Change students will be in Washington, D.C. April 9-12 to serve as presenters at Monumental, the 25th Annual National Service Learning Conference. The CHANGE students will present their youth-led policy work that recently led to the creation of a student congress within Shelby County Schools (SCS). The conference, convened by the National Youth Leadership Council, brings together youth and adults from across the country and around the world for three and a half days of learning, inspiration, and connection. The CHANGE students making the trip are: Paris Byrd, senior, Central High School; Corrinne McClure, senior, White Station High School; Bryan Redmond, senior, City University School; Logan Ruthling, senior, Christian Brothers High School Bridge Builders CHANGE students began working with other youth oriented organizations on the idea of a student congress in 2011. Their work eventually led the Shelby County Transition Planning Commission (TPC) to include it among recommendations to the unified Shelby County Board of Education.
BRIEFLY: Dr. C.T. Vivian, the 2014 recipient of the April 4th Foundation’s “I am A Man Award” will conduct a Town Hall meeting with the students of White Station Middle School, located at 5465 Mason Road, on Friday from noon to 1:30 p.m. The Foundation’s 14th annual fundraising banquet Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Peabody Hotel. For more information, contact attorney Charles E. Carpenter, banquet chairman, at 901-523-7788. BRIEFLY: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Neuroscience Institute hosts a symposium titled, “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Clinical and Neurobiological Features,” from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the UTHSC General Education Building, 8 South Dunlap, Room A204, on April 24th. Keynote speakers: Kerry J. Ressler, MD, PhD, Emory University School of Medicine; Jeffrey J. Bazarian, MD, MPH, University of Rochester Medical Center. The free event is open to the general public, health care workers and researchers. Registration is required. Lunch will be provided. Register at: http://www.uthsc.edu/neuroscience/symposi a.php.
COMMUNITY
Tri-State Defender
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April 3 - 9, 2014
Miss Germanshire 2014…
City Of Memphis launches 30 Day Car-Free Challenge
Throughout April, the City of Memphis will host a 30 Day CarFree Challenge encouraging residents to park their cars at home and get around the city using any number of alternative transportation options. Any Memphis resident can register to take part in the challenge, for any amount of time. Commitments to being car-free can range from one day to 30 days, depending on an individual’s ability and resources. Prize drawings will be made each week from the pool of residents registered in the challenge. “We know that an increasing number of residents are choosing to live in Memphis and get to the store, to work, to school, and to other places without a car.” said Mayor A C Wharton Jr. “We also know that reduced automobile use leads to improved air quality, reduced traffic congestion, and a reduction in the public costs of road infrastructure, parking, and health care. This challenge will helps us to showcase these possibilities in a fun and safe way.” In 2012, Bicycling magazine named Memphis the “Most Improved City for Cycling” after naming it to the “worst” list in both 2008 and 2010. Also, in 2013, Memphis became the 500th city in the nation to pass a Complete Streets Policy insuring that as future projects are delivered, the needs of persons using bicycles, transit, or pedestrian means of transportation are equally considered in design decisions along with automobiles. A spotlight will be shown on 18 Memphis residents that will be park-
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Interested parties must download the solicitation directly from the Countyʼs website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. Please visit the Countyʼs website at www.shelbycountytn.gov. All solicitations are listed under “Purchasing Bids.” DUE APRIL 17, 2014 AT 2:30 PM
SEALED BID #SBI-000258 BIOMEDICAL WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES
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ing their cars for the entire month of April, and using a variety of alternatives, including bicycling, walking, public transportation and carpooling. The residents were outfitted with “Car-Free Survival Kits” containing common items needed to make car-free living convenient and easy. These “model citizens” will be sharing their experiences, both the good and the bad, through daily blogs kept on the challenge’s website, www.carfreememphis.com. “We’re hearing more stories from residents that are making short trips without their cars,” says Kyle Wagenschutz, Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator for the City of Memphis. “However, these stories are often shared with a backstory of how long it took to gather the information and muster the courage to leave the car at home for the first time. Our ‘model citizens’ will be a great resource for understanding what barriers the city still needs to overcome to make traveling without a car more efficient and convenient.” Anyone can register to take part in the challenge by visiting http://www.carfreememphis.com. Registration is free and all ages are welcome to participate. The website contains a number of helpful links and resources for commuters looking to leave their cars at home as well as information on how employers can make it easier to encourage their employees to travel car-free. Information will also be available on the City’s Bike/Ped Facebook page, www.facebook. com/BikePedMemphis.
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DaZauria Hassell was crowned the first Miss Germanshire Elementary Queen on March 21st. The granddaughter of Darryl and Debra Taylor and the greatgranddaughter of Nathan and Janet Morgan, she is a 5th grader in Tonique Grayʼs class. Multi-talented, DaZauria desires to become either the first female president of the USA or a doctor. Sheʼs a member of Anointed Temple of Praise and a member of the Praise Dancers at Eureka True Vine Baptist Church. (Courtesy photo)
It takes a team…
Team building was the topic of a business seminar titled “The Team” at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library last Saturday (March 29th). The event was hosted by the McCullough Law PLLC and the Memphis Nile. (Photo: Shirley Jackson)
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By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL JR., MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOTICE TO BIDDERS
In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce. County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who
wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids. There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register:
• Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to “Vendors” block at top • Click “Register Now” box • Click on “Mercury Commerce Vendor Registration” line • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit
If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246. If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid. SEALED BID DUE MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014 AT 2:30 PM PRECAST CONCRETE CHANNEL SLABS (SB# I000261) (MC# 457)
By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL JR., MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Heat & Frost Insulators – Local #90: Applications for Apprenticeship Program will be issued on Wednesdays Only, 1pm to 4pm, beginning on 5/7/14 and ending on 6/7/14, at 1807 A Bartlett Rd. / Memphis, TN 38134. Minimum Requirements: * At least 18 years of age. *High School Graduate / GED / * Birth Certificate / *Valid Driverʼs License / *SS Card. *$40.00 Drug Testing Fee / $33.00 Work Key Testing Fee / Cash or Money Order only (Testing Fees are NON –REFUNDABLE) Must pass both to be eligible for an interview. This is construction work that involves on
the job training for Commercial & Industrial type insulation and is a 4 year program that requires 144 hrs of annual night classes. EOE Program LEGAL NOTICE
TO FURNISHERS OF LABOR AND MATERIALS TO WHITE CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATES FOR
SITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PEGGY EDMISTON ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, PHASE 4 CONTRACT NUMBER CA1315971
Notice is hereby given that SHELBY COUNTY is preparing to make settlement with WHITE CONSTRUCTION & ASSOCIATES, INC. for necessary and related work for the construction of SITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PEGGY EDMISTON ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, PHASE 4
All persons holding claims against the Contractor, WHITE CONSTRUCTION & ASSOCIATES, INC. , or their agents for materials or labor entering into the construction of this project must file itemized notice of such claim (two copies) with the original copy sworn to before a Notary Public. This notice to be received at the office of Clifton Davis., Administrator of Purchasing, Suite 900, 160 North Mid-America Mall, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, on or before April 28, 2014 in order to obtain the advantages afforded to claimants by legal statute. Respectfully submitted,
Clifton Davis Administrator of Purchasing Shelby County Government
Page 12
FOCUS: ALL ABOUT YOUTH
Tri-State Defender
April 3 - 9, 2014
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Do The Write Thing
Desiree Winns of Schilling Farms Middle School and Chase Woodard of Cordova Middle School were named ambassadors at the annual “Do the Write Thing Challenge” banquet at Hope Presbyterian Church on March 27th. They will participate in the DTWT Challenge National
Recognition Ceremony in Washington D.C. in June. Students from 17 Shelby County Schools submitted 880-plus essays that focused on ways to reduce violence and ways students can make commitments to help break the cycle of violence in homes, schools and neighborhoods.
‘When the world stopped spinning’
‘Why Not Me’ by Chase Woodard 7th grade, Cordova Middle School.
by Desiree Winns 8th grade, Schilling Farms Middle School
I was ten years old when the world stopped spinning. Up until then, my own bubble had given me enough reason to believe that I was invincible. My life was untroubled by any of the dinner discussions where the trials and tribulations of the real world were concerned, and the stories from the news of crime and hate were simply stories that seemed too unreal to happen in real life. My own world revolved around best friend bracelets and happy birthday balloons, ice cream cones and cheerleader chants kept to pace by a jump rope slapping the pavement. For that small interval of time between fifth and sixth grade, my life was absolutely perfect.
But on May 23, 2010, my perfect bubble suddenly popped and my perfect life was no more. The cumbersome weight of the real world came rushing in without warning, heavier than words spoken by my parents and Brian Williams on Nightly News, and it had stung me harder than a slap, hitting me right where love lives. Parris Williams, my older brother, was twenty-three years old when he was shot and killed by his neighbor. My mother’s belly was ripe with child, six months into a pregnancy that had more bad days than good and that fateful Monday morning had been the ultimate pinnacle of bad. Many victims of violence today are even younger than Parris. In 2010, 4,828 people ages 10-24 were victims of homicide and average of 13 each day. Homicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 15-24 years old. Among homicide victims ages 10-24
Be a good man, do the right thing. These word constantly ring, Inside my head, where confusion lies That’s not what I see. Men on the news that look like me, committing acts of violence constantly. Young brother not in school, Breaking the law and every rule. Disrespecting the property of others, Selling drugs to the single mothers. But that’s what I hear, Breaking news stories every day, Man down, glass shattered, bullet fray.
Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich, who chairs the Memphisarea Do the Write Thing initiative, with ambassadors Desiree Winns and Chase Woodard. (Courtesy photo) years old in 2010, 82% were killed with a firearm. However, not all cases of youth violence are attributed with murder. In 2010, youth were equally likely to experience serious violent crime-rape or sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault.
Many people believe that the common cause is the misdirected upbringing of youth in areas unfitted for raising children where poverty is a major issue and problems are solved with violence and crime but I do not believe that is always the case. It may be a result of internal turmoil that may force the youth to think there is no other way to solve the issue. I believe that was the case when the 17 year old decided to take my brother’s life. Youth violence has been on a steady rise this year, with the tragic school
shootings and the recent Boston Marathon bombing that both killed and injured innocent people. If we do not do something to help youth better themselves before it is too late, our country’s crime rate could become increasingly worse. To help our youth, we could pay more attention to those who claim to be mentally ill. We could also give refuge to those in unstable households. We could teach more lessons in school about selfrespect and respect towards others and as kids we can encourage each other instead of bringing them down. We can also speak out against others that bully, and give comfort to those that are bullied. I believe if we do these things then we can make our country a better place and give hope to the future generations to come. NOTE: Title by The TSD
I’m young, but I know right from wrong, I’m young and it won’t be long before someone looks up to me, and I want them to definitely see, a young man with his head held high, a young man whose goals exceed the word try.
Because when violence in committed, there’s no doubt, there’s a clear limit on role models for boys like me, so now I say it distinctly. I will be a great man, Helping those along the way… that’s my plan. Quality education, job skills, Families thriving; paying bills. Paying it forward, watch and see, No more I, now us and we. Tunnel vision opened wide, Violent mentality turns to pride.
Somebody has to do it, So the next young man can’t help but see Somebody he looks like and admires, Somebody who set his goals higher, To be a great man of Integrity, Somebody has to do it, why not me?
Poet Warriors
The Poet Warriors Project is a Teach For America student writing and empowerment initiative started by a TFA corps member in her Mississippi classroom in 2012. This year, the program exists in 20 TFA regions and this is the first year for Memphis. Students in Stephanie Fox’s class-
room at Power Center Academy authored the poems presented here. Through the project’s curriculum, students embrace the freedom poetry offers while learning technique and studying poets who have created change through their writing.
‘Only Our Witness’ ‘Only In My Place’
‘25 Days’
Two shots rang at 3am One body fell to the gravel Near the bed of roses
25 days 25 days ’till them cell doors open But for good now No more vile tastes of invisible Caviar No more shower brawls No more counting Talia C. the days on the Williams cinders No more having to keep an eye open at night Watching for wandering eyes For wandering hands
by Devin Foster
Blood poured out of the body Similar to the Devin color of the Foster roses The body was taken away, the suspect questioned Besides the suspect The only other witness alive were the roses
Later, a man cut picked them out He thought they didn’t belong These roses were now dead And eventually, would be thrown away 6 feet under They had no voice, to object his claim Therefore, the case went his way But still, there were those roses One shade lighter, two shades darker The color was a deciding factor I’m sure that if the roses had to ability to speak or even to whisper Justice, would’ve been served.
by Jakiyra Withers
In my place, I imagine, think, and achieve. In my place, I think that you can’t succeed if you don’t believe. In my place, I write, speak, Jakiyra and sometimes I Withers shout. But never, not in my place, do I believe in doubt. My place is a place breathing with hope. Negativity is just another thing that my place has the ability to cope. My place is filled with bright greens, blues, and yellows. My place is also very serene but I like to think of it as mellow. My place gives off this naturally positive bond that’s real. Only in my place, will you receive this amazing feel. My place provides happiness with a passion. My place is heaven on Earth with no attraction. No one has ever been to a place like mines. Although my place has its ups and downs it continues to shine.
by Talia C. Williams
25 days 25 days ’till them goodbyes are shared To the companions he contrived To the foes he loathed Them 25 days ‘Till the yearn for the secret exchange of Cigarettes no longer exist
25 days 25 days ’till the consciousness of that Body 6 feet under no longer Reminiscence on his psyched mind 25 days ’till he packs his stuff ‘Till he takes his first breath of humanity As a reborn man 25 days ’till the sun Grins down on his bare skin ‘Till those barbed wire gates pose behind him 25 days ’till freedom greets him At his next destination 25 days ’till my uncle’s a free man
‘So Called Father Figure’ by Journi Prewitt
Yelling and arguing From the room below My clothes being thrown From the front door onto the lawn Taking my prize Journi possession Prewitt Multiple times in 6 months Taking every penny my mother go Wasting it pointlessly Cheating when you’re married Have a beautiful family You knew what you had but never thought you’ll lose it Ran away from your problems to cause more My mothers bleeding on the inside Crying on the out We realize the things you took away You ask why I am the way I am today Well, my so called father figure Was never there anyway There’s this mystery That’s inside of me But my so-called father figure will never know Most people say I will forgive Well maybe I will but, I’ll never forget That my so-called father figure has things to Regret