6 26 2013

VOL. 62, No. 25

June 20 - 26, 2013

www.tsdmemphis.com

75 Cents

Tightening the budget The Memphis City Council makes some tough decisions besmith@tri-statedefender.com

by Bernal E. Smith, II

A close up of the statue of Frederick Douglass reflects the intensity and integrity consistent with the way he lived and fought for justice and equality.

(Photo from www.fdfi.org)

Tuesday night in a marathon budget session, the Memphis City Council took on some of the tough decisions necessary to right the fiscal ship of the city. Facing scrutiny and not so veiled threats from the State Comptroller’s Office along with pressure from employees, (particularly public safety officers) to restore previously reduced pay, this Council

finds itself in a bed of thorns with few roses.

Many city employees packed the chambers to watch the proverbial sausage being made. Facing significant debt, declining property values and property ownership (taxpayers), increasing costs, and seemingly higher demands on and for city services, this process can’t help but be a nasty one.

The need for new revenue without raising either the local sales tax or the property tax rate is the magic trick

this council has been attempting to master. It is obvious that there is little support overall for any significant increase in the burden on tax payers, but with such a large gap to fill, they appear to be attempting to pull a rabbit out of the hat by increasing the number of traffic cameras and adding speeding cameras (one measure that did pass). In a City where 50% of the drivers are uninsured and there exists an overall 30% poverty rate, it seems that putting more pressure on drivers might not be the safest thing to do,

practically or theoretically. Realistically, it will probably create more unlicensed, uninsured drivers and more unemployment for those that decide not to drive “dirty,” while creating long term receivables or uncollectable receivables on the city’s books.

In the meantime, public transportation continues to be reduced to unacceptable levels for a sprawling city the size of Memphis.

Additionally, EDGE (Economic SEE BUDGET ON PAGE 2

On Frederick Douglass: No progress without struggle The Grio

by Rep. Charles B. Rangel The unveiling of the Frederick Douglass statue in Emancipation Hall commemorates how far we have come as a nation. As a civil rights pioneer, Douglass dedicated his life for equality in the United States and the abolition of slavery.

This statue will remain a testament to his heroic efforts from a former slave to a great American writer and orator. On this Juneteenth, we must remember the struggles that shaped our country into what it is today. We must also recognize that there is still work to be done, and continue to stand for liberty as those like Frederick Douglass.

Fredrick Douglass was persistent in his efforts to fight for equality before and after the end of slavery. He tried to escape from slavery two times before finally succeeding. As a former slave he was not taken seriously as an orator or a writer, but his talent overcame the obstacles. He was the epitome of the American spirit and is one of my greatest inspirations.

Douglass worked closely with President Abraham Lincoln to help organize the emancipation of slaves throughout the South. Due in part to its geographic location, Texas was the last region to be informed of the emancipation. Major General Gordon Granger and his Union troops landed in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to announce that the Civil War was over. On this day, slaves in Texas were finally freed — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed that was supposed to end slavery. For an additional two years, lives of some 250,000 Americans were stolen. In many ways, Juneteenth is the day that marks the abolition of slavery in America and remains a significant date in U.S. history.

Frederick Douglass knew that the struggle for equality was far from being over. He believed that since African-American men were fighting in the American Civil War, they deserved the right to vote. Douglass once stated, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Douglass worked for the suffrage of black freemen and had the courage to publicly condemn President Lincoln who did not endorse the issue.

Like Douglass we have to realize a perpetual battle for equality is ahead of us. Lincoln may have called for the SEE DOUGLASS ON PAGE 2

MEMPHIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Memphis Gun Down workers, Raphael Strong (left) and Xavier Johnson (right) with Memphis Mayor AC Wharton Jr. (center) at the Celebrity Pop-Up Event at Pine Hill Community Center and Golf Course.

Enough Is Enough!

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Nona N. Allen

With each passing day, the local news features story after story about gun crimes in our city. Memphis Mayor, A.C. Wharton Jr. and his latest initiative, Memphis Gun Down are saying, “Enough is Enough!”

The Memphis Gun Down program is a five pronged approach to fight gun violence and make the streets of Memphis safer for all citizens. Suppression, community mobilization, youth opportunities, intervention, and organizational change and development are the steps this plan is taking to curb Memphis violence. The ultimate goal of Memphis Gun

Down is to decrease gun violence by 10% city-wide and by 20% in South Memphis and Frayser.

A highlight of this innovative initiative is the Safe Summer plan to be realized through Summer Night Lights. Research shows that youth engage in violent and criminal activities more during the summer months. Modeled after a similar successful program in Los Angeles, California, Summer Night Lights runs from June through August.

Memphis Gun Down Safe Summer events provide positive, youth centered activities during peak violence times. Safety at each activity will be maintained by MPD and the 901 BLOC Squad. The events include Celebrity Pop-Ups, Midnight Basketball tournaments,

and Summer Night Lights.

Celebrity Pop-Ups

The program hosted its first Celebrity PopUp event on June 14th at Pine Hill Community Center and Golf Course. The mayor addressed the crowd and stressed the importance of engaging young people in activities that they will enjoy and creating a safe environment for them. Future Celebrity Pop-Up Events will be at Ed Rice Community Center (July 12th), Westwood Community Center (July 19th), and Hollywood Community CenSEE GUNS ON PAGE 2

- INSIDE -

Selection of jurors in Zimmerman trial can make or break defense

• Are African Americans concerned about government spying? See Opinion, page 4.

• Sesame Street tackles taboo topic of incarceration.

See Opinion, page 5.

News One

by Eric Guster H- 9 3o - L - 7 2o P a r tl y C l oud y

H- 9 2o - L - 7 2o P a r tl y C l ou dy

REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS

Friday H-94 L-73 H-90 L-69 H-92 L-70

H- 9 0o - L - 7 3o Partl y Cl o udy

Saturday H-90 L-73 H-89 L-70 H-89 L-70

Sunday H-91 L-73 H-87 L-70 H-88 L-70

This is the second week of George Zimmerman‘s murder trial for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

The lawyers will continue jury selection through this week and will begin with opening statements once the jury is selected. A key difference in this trial compared to others across the country is that, with the exception of capital murder cases, Florida requires only six jurors for criminal trials. Most jurisdictions and states require 12 jurors for all felony criminal trials, which is a far cry from the six in Florida. In addition to the six jurors, there will be four alternates

Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of slain teen Trayvon Martin, with their attorney Benjamin Crump, watch potential jurors arrive in the courtroom during the 2nd round of jury selection in Seminole circuit court on the 8th day of his trial, in Sanford, Fla., Wednesday. (Photo: Joe Burbank/pool)

chosen to hear Zimmerman’s trial.

Picking a Jury

As jury selection continues, both sides continue to have a difficult job ahead of them in determining whether jurors are being truthful

about their beliefs, biases, or fears.

Some jurors may be afraid to render a decision based upon the evidence because of the potential of violence when a verdict is reached. Jurors in high-profile cases face extra scrutiny SEE TRIAL ON PAGE 2

• Learn from steppingstone job before leaving. See Religion, page 7.

• The Elements (EWF) in the Garden. See Entertainment, page 8.

• “Good Blue” interviews Memphis Police Deputy Directory Anthony Berryhill.

See Community, page 11.

• Juneteenth: Celebration in the park. See Community, page 12.

NEWS

Page 2

DOUGLASS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

end of slavery, but slavery continued. The Civil Rights Movement may have ended in the 1960s, but we continue to strive for civil rights and equality. Unfortunately discrimination in many forms still exists in our country. Though the battle for equality is continuous, we do have the power to make a more perfect union. This is evident with the recent Supreme Court ruling that outlawed voter identification requirements in Arizona. It is apparent with the ongoing fight for gay marriage. The struggle still continues and we must act together.

I admire that our country has the ability to recognize its faults and work towards progress. Having attended a high school that proudly bears his name, I have dedicated my life to continue the legacy of Frederick Douglass and many

Frederick Douglass (Photo: Library of Congress)

others who followed in his footsteps. I marched from Selma to Montgomery alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because I believed segregation was unjust.

As a Congressman, I stood

up to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Supporting legislation that will advance civil rights is important to me because I believe in a tolerant America with equal opportunity for all — regardless of race, color, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

Frederick Douglass symbolizes how a courageous individual can sculpt the conscience of our country. The government may implement change, but it is the people who ignite it. It is the people who embrace it. It is the people who reinforce our liberties. The power is in education, voting, expressing individual ideas, and taking proactive role in shaping the country. I challenge everyone in America on this Juneteenth, to utilize their rights and continue to work for a more equal and free nation.

(Rep. Charles B. Rangel, representing Upper Manhattan and part of the Bronx, has served in Congress since 1971.)

George Zimmerman's father, Robert Zimmerman, Sr., listens to answers from prospective jurors during voir dire questioning in Seminole circuit court on the eighth day of his son's trial, in Sanford, Fla., Wednesday.

(Photo: Joe Burbank/pool)

TRIAL

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

due to the nature of the case and the national attention that the case has received. These jurors, even though they are only identified by their juror numbers, have the potential to be revealed to the public. The fears that they have may prevent them from rendering a fair and honest decision in a case such as this.

Other jurors may hide their biases and racist views in an effort to get on the jury for various reasons, including rendering a verdict based upon what they believe already regardless of what the evidence is. With cases of this magnitude, some potential jurors want to be a part of the process in order to obtain book deals or gain income and fame because of their involvement with the trial.

Juror Sequestration

Circuit Judge Debra Nelson, the judge presiding over the Zimmerman case, stated that she will sequester jurors during the trial. This is a fantastic decision because it will prevent outside influences from coming in to the jury’s decision of a verdict. The jurors will not have access to news, Internet, Twitter, and other information

Tri-State Defender

June 20 - 26, 2013

GUNS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

ter (August 2nd). All of these events run from 4 pm - 6 pm.

There will be some awesome “celebrity” entertainment.

Stay tuned for more details on who the celebrities will be.

Midnight Basketball

Beginning Saturday, June 22nd, the Memphis Gun Down program, in conjunction with the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Athletic Ministries (MAM) will host Midnight Basketball at the MAM Grizzlies Center located at 2107 Ball Road. This summer tournament series will feature FREE 5 on 5 Double Elimination tournaments for males ages 16 - 20.

Individuals, teams, and fans in the stands are invited to participate. Registration is available online at www.memphisgundown.org.

All registered individuals and teams must arrive by 6:45 p.m. Additionally, the evening will feature video games, aerobics, and other activities to get the whole family involved. Free healthy snacks will also be provided. Other

BUDGET

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

sources that could taint their deliberations.

Unfortunately, the Zimmerman defense team struck an early low blow by releasing photos showing Trayvon smoking as well as other photos — allegedly from Trayvon’s phone — that showed a gun and a fight that Trayvon allegedly recorded.

In releasing the fight to the public, Zimmerman’s team attempted to attack Trayvon’s character and show as many negative images of him to influence the jury’s decision. Afterward, the defense backed away from their claim that the fight was instigated by Trayvon or that he was involved in the fight, but the intended damage was already done.

One example of how this information can taint a potential juror’s mind is when Juror E81 stated during jury selection last week that Martin was “smoking pot, getting involved with guns, and learning how to street fight.” Obviously, the defense team was successful in getting information that was not properly offered as evidence through court proceedings to jurors.

When a jury is sequestered, all information that they receive to make a decision in the verdict is supposed to only happen during the course of the trial. The judge will have mo-

tion hearings outside of the presence of the jury in reference to what evidence can be presented. Due to sequestration, there is no chance of them watching or reading news reports about what evidence they are prevented from seeing, thus eliminating that outside information from influencing their decisions.

But sequestration isn’t foolproof.

I have been involved in hundreds of trials and cannot count the number of times jurors have admitted researching something on the Internet, reading information about the case in the paper, or doing their independent research, which is forbidden for jurors to do. Effective sequestration will help give this case the best chance of a fair verdict.

(Eric L. Welch Guster is founder and managing attorney of Guster Law Firm in Birmingham, Ala., handling criminal and civil matters, catastrophic injuries, criminal defense, and civil rights litigation. Mr. Guster has become a go-to lawyer for the New York Times, NewsOne, NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, Black America Web, and various radio programs about various court issues and high-profile cases.)

Development Growth Engine) and its predecessors representing the city and county, manages to keep giving away millions of dollars in tax revenue to large, profitable, private, and/or public corporations through the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) program with every threat to pull out or promise to expand. With all the studies that have been done, it would seem the study that would make most sense is a comprehensive evaluation of the ROI (Return on Investment) of past PILOTs and an overall cost benefit analysis of continuing to grant companies tax breaks for PROM-

Mayor AC Wharton Jr. introduces the Memphis Gun Down initiative to the community at Pine Hill Community Center.

dates for the Midnight Basketball Summer Series are: June 29th, July 13th, July 20th, July 27th and August 3rd. The fun lasts from 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm each night.

Summer Night Lights

Ed Rice Community Center & Park will be the Friday night hang-out spot for the summer! On July 12th, MGD will kick-off the first in a series of Summer Night Lights (SNL) events. SNL will feature a big screen movie viewISED capital investment and job creation.

At the end of the day, there exist tremendous challenges for this council to figure out.

It is going to take great leadership and extraordinary collaboration from the Administration and the Council to fix this one. Other than failing to pass a budget, the Council did pass some measures, all of which may be revisited at next Tuesday’s meeting. Here is a re-cap of what was done at this past Tuesday’s (6/18/2013) meeting:

Recap of the Votes

• Voted to restore $225,000 to the Memphis Music Commission • Voted to cut $250,000

ing, basketball, games, a free cook-out on the lawn, and fun for the entire family! The dates other dates for the SNL events are July 19th, July 26th and August 2nd. This summer proves to be a fun-filled way that we, as a city, can take positive steps to prevent gun violence. For more information, please visit www. memphisgundown.org.

(Nona Allen is an educator and a free-lance writer and can be reached at creativitee.unlimited@gmail.com.) from EDGE (Economic Development Growth Engine) • Amendment passed eliminating 400 city jobs. One hundred through layoffs and 300 through attrition – where positions of resigned and retired workers are not replaced.

• Voted 8-2, passing the addition of up to 150 speed cameras to school zones/neighborhoods • Passed the addition of 15 new red light cameras • Failed - The measure to return 4.6% of pay (previously cut) to city workers • Failed - A measure by Councilman Flynn to increase the property tax rate to cover all short falls • June 25, 2012 Council will reconvene to vote on an acceptable budget

Tri-State Defender

June 20 - 26, 2013

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John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)

The Mid-Southʼs Best Alternative Newspaper

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OPINION

Tri-State Defender

June 20 - 26, 2013

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

Are African Americans concerned about government spying?

The Grio

By David A. Love

The current spying controversy at the National Security Agency has caught many Americans off guard and has conjured up images of Big Brother. The NSA has secretly collected the private phone calls and internet data of its citizens, allowing the federal agency to monitor people who were not suspected of any unlawful activity.

Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who leaked information on the secret surveillance programs, is now a fugitive in hiding in Hong Kong.

And yet, while civil liberties advocates may find this type of surveillance illegal, an unconstitutional invasion of privacy and even grounds to sue the government, AfricanAmericans may not necessarily react with as much outrage.

Decades under the microscope

It gets complicated. The black community has decades of experience being monitored, so this type of surveillance is nothing new. Given the long history of being spied upon, many blacks already assume they are being monitored by the government.

Yet, a new poll from Pew Research Center and the Washington Post suggests that blacks may have forgotten about all those years of surveillance.

According to the Pew survey, 56 percent of people believe the NSA tracking of telephone calls is an acceptable way to fight terrorism. That includes 53 percent of whites, 62 percent of blacks and 63 percent of nonwhites in general.

Further, 45 percent of Americans believe the government should intrude even further into our internet activity in order to prevent terrorist attacks, while 52 percent disagree.

Meanwhile, 55 percent of blacks believe the feds should go the extra mile if such a move would thwart terrorism. And when asked if it is more important for the government to investigate threats if it intrudes on privacy, or not intrude even if it limits the government’s ability to investigate threats, 62 percent voted for investigating threats. While 60 percent of whites and 67 percent of nonwhites approved of investigations, 75 percent of blacks approved.

African-Americans are no strangers to surveillance, as their activities were highly regulated through the slave codes, laws which controlled both slaves and free blacks.

The slave patrols, consisting of white slaveholding and non-slaveholding men, were designed to prevent slave rebellions. The patrols were ordered to stop the slaves they found on the road, compel the slaves to produce a pass, and have them prove they were not breaking the law. Slave patrols often descended upon areas where slaves congregated, and could enter plantations without a warrant and search slave quarters for weapons, books, runaways or stolen property.

Tuskegee is just the tip of the iceberg

Between 1932 and 1972, the U.S. Public Health Service conducted experiments on 399 black men infected with syphilis in Macon County, Alabama in the infamous Tuskegee experiment. 201 men who had not contracted the disease were used as a control group. The government treated the men as human guinea pigs by studying the effects of the disease yet failing to treat them with penicillin, never telling them they even had the disease, and allowing them to die. A class action suit in 1973 on behalf of the men and their families resulted in a $9 million settlement.

Tragic chapters such as Tuskegee have been cited as a reason why

African-Americans distrust the medical establishment and are hesitant to participate in clinical research. One study found that 67 percent of black parents distrusted the medical profession, compared to half of white parents.

For years, the federal government monitored black civil rights leaders. As early as 1917, federal agents kept tabs on Marcus Garvey and his speeches, fearing his power of his black nationalist movement. Beginning in 1919, FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover became fixated on Garvey, calling him a “notorious negro agitator” and using black informants to monitor the leader and dig up damaging information on him and his Universal Negro Improvement Association, the largest black organization in history.

Using the first black FBI agent, Hoover ruined Garvey’s Black Star Line, a shipping line operating throughout the African Diaspora, and ultimately sent Garvey to prison after a politically-motivated prosecution for mail fraud.

In later years, Hoover would employ the techniques he used against Garvey to neutralize civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, and groups such as the Black Panther Party. Under his secret COINTELPRO (counterintelligence) program, Hoover monitored and disrupted domestic groups and social movements the FBI claimed were threats to national security.

In his directives, Hoover singled out so-called “hate-type organizations” such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Congress of Racial Equality and the Nation of Islam. “Prevent the rise of a ‘messiah’ who could unify and electrify the militant black nationalist movement,” Hoover directed his agents.

“Malcolm X might have been such a ‘messiah’… Martin Luther King, Stokely Carmichael, and [Nation of Islam leader] Elijah Muhammed [sic] all aspire to this position.”

Hoover tracked Dr. King constantly—at times reportedly in compromising situations—and called him the “most dangerous and effective Negro leader in the country.”

Memories of MOVE

On May 13, 1985, following a standoff, a Philadelphia police helicopter dropped a bomb on the house on Osage Avenue occupied by the black “radical” group known as MOVE. Police reportedly fired on MOVE members as they escaped the burning home. Ramona Africa, one of the two survivors of the bombing, claims the bombing was retaliation for a 1978 standoff with police, after which nine MOVE members were arrested and imprisoned for the death of a police officer. According to Temple University journalism professor Linn Washington—then a reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune—police had erected a starvation blockade around the MOVE house in the weeks leading to the standoff, and destroyed the MOVE compound and all evidence with it, only hours after the arrests.

The 1985 bombing—which killed 11 people, including 5 children and destroyed an entire neighborhood of 61 row homes in West Philadelphia— marked the first such attack on U.S. citizens by government authorities.

The survivors and victims’ families received $5.5 million in compensation from the city of Philadelphia.

Finally, African-Americans and Latinos are monitored through stopand-frisk policies that civil rights groups say are unfair and based on race. The Center for Constitutional Rights filed Floyd v. City of New York, a class action lawsuit against the NYPD alleging an unconstitutional practice of racial profiling and stop-and-frisks almost exclusively in communities of color.

(Follow David A. Love on Twitter at @davidalove)

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The ‘Colored entrance’ to White-owned businesses NNPA

by Harry C. Alford For the most part, corporate America employees are satisfied with their careers. There is usually a chart to review in terms of responsibility. Is the employee moving up the “ladder” and heading towards more executive responsibility? That is correlated with salary. The greater the responsibility, the greater the pay and the less tolerance for any era or bad judgment. If one reaches as far up the ladder as he or she can, then they will ultimately seek new employment that offers more opportunity or capitulate to the end of their improvement and sit there until retirement.

There are many divisions within a major corporation. Engineering, Manufacturing, Logistics, Marketing, Sales, Legal, IT, Human Resources, Procurement, Research/Development, Security and Maintenance are some of the major divisions. Each of these divisions is usually managed by a vice president, director, chairman or president. They report to the President/CEO or Chairman/CEO. Somewhere in this maze of divisions is a particular occupation sometimes known as Manager of Minority Procurement or Diversity Procurement or some other form that reflects on a minority procurement program that the company alleges it has. The person they pick will generally have less than a successful tenure under his/her belt.

Their past with the corporation is usually lackluster and their future is considered to be vague or doomed to failure. This is the prototype of who they want to represent them as Black-owned businesses and other minorities seeking to do business are directed to his or her office. It’s the colored entrance while Whiteowned firms head to the procure-

ment division where the real deals are done.

The Black rep reminds one of that great novel, “The Spook who sat by the Door” by Sam Greenlee.

This individual has little Harry C. power and no Alford respect among members of the corporation. If a crisis arises that involves the corporation’s record on minority business, the company will refer the matter to someone high up in the procurement division.

We had an issue with the Chrysler Corporation. They were building a new plant in Kokomo, Ind. The state legislature gave them $8 million in cash to acquire the needed land.

They had the nerve to refuse any appointments by Black construction managers. One of our members even had their FEDEX package containing the Statement of Qualifications refused for acceptance. They wouldn’t even accept it. He complained to us and we went to war.

After a scathing op-ed in many NNPA newspapers and the threat of defaulting on the $8 million given to the company by the state, they began to panic. Chrysler sent four vice presidents to my office. The minority business guy wasn’t even in the loop. They made peace by awarding the plant to one of our members.

One of the vice presidents ran their foundation. As an apologetic gesture, they sent a handsome grant to us. I felt like Rev. Jesse Jackson.

A lot of these corporations will demand that you, a Black person, should go through that colored door and never approach the main door. One of our members formed an engineering consulting company made up of two

homegrown Blacks, an African and a Caribbean. The four of them developed a great staff and started winning a lot of contracts at this one particular Fortune 10 corporation. Eventually, members of the corporation suggested that they get certified as a minority business. They said they would rather not as they were winning contracts in a straight up competitive way. Then the corporation demanded it. So they did and by doing so they now had to go through that colored door. Predictably, their business started drying up and within a year they were out of business.

There is a big stigma placed on certified minorities within the majority of major corporations. I remember talking with the minority business guy for Enron (before their demise). He broke into tears as he said his career is at a “dead end sitting in this damn office.” He said he was an outcast and when he walks down a hall everyone frowns at him.

“If I come up to them to discuss minority firms they say they don’t have time and then I catch all this hell from people like you.”

There are a few corporations that are exceptions to the above. They don’t move by one office and one person with little staff. They move by a committee of some of their best “up and coming” executives. Management expertise is applied and sincerity is evident. Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, Comcast and Penn Gaming quickly come to my mind as great examples of commitment in diversifying their procurement choices. There are a few others but that’s about it. And, by the way, a corporation having a Black CEO has so far made no difference in the attitude of minority procurement.

(Harry C. Alford is the co-founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®. Website: www.nationalbcc.org. Email: halford@nationalbcc.org.)

Turning ‘Baby Daddies’ Into Fathers

Richmond Pulse / New America Media

Last week, grateful sons and daughters were hitting retailers around the country in search of that perfect gift for dad – a tie, some socks, a Hallmark card, or maybe just a hug. But for a growing number of youth Father’s Day can be tough, bringing up memories of hard times with dad, or other times when he just wasn’t around at all.

The number of children in the U.S. living apart from their fathers has more than doubled over the last 50 years, from 11 percent to 27 percent, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center.

While there are certainly a number of reasons for the increase, it is also certain that when the pressures and responsibilities of fatherhood get to be too much, some men simply choose to leave, to dip in and out of their children’s lives like a recurring dream or nightmare. We even have a special name for the guys who skip out on their fatherly duties – sometimes, “father” is just too personal a title.

We call them, “baby-daddies.”

The term baby-daddy has its roots in Jamaica, and the Oxford-English

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.

Dictionary defines a baby-daddy as “the father of a woman’s child, who is not her husband or (in most cases) her current or exclusive partner.”

Shahad Wright is the director of youth and family programs at the YMCA in South Richmond, California. Together with Leland Johnson (the dean at Making Waves Academy, a Richmond charter school), Wright runs a workshop there called the 24-7 Dad Program, designed to help men stick with fatherhood.

The program achieves this by redefining the role of fathers in the modern household; challenging the notion that baby daddies can’t also be fathers. An emphasis is put on not running from their responsibilities to their child, to their child’s mother, and on examining their relationships (or lack thereof) with their own fathers in the process.

The fathers he works with, says Wright, want to be active in their kid’s lives in big and positive ways.

The program, he adds, gives them the tools to be just that.

“You want to make sure that there is a balance (of) not only being a disciplinarian but also being somebody that cares and really gets in5. 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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volved in their educational path, not just be a cheerleader for sports,” explains Wright.

Being raised by a single parent, the absence of a father figure is something that Wright knows and cares about deeply. And having a son of his own really drove home for Wright how difficult being a father can be.

“It’s like trying to do something you have never seen before, when everyone says it’s suppose to come natural.”

One of the most important roles a father can play, says Wright, is that of teacher to their children. And a father can’t do that, he says, without spending time with them.

“Don’t miss a moment. No matter what the situation was or is, your children are a reflection of you.”

Wright loves to see fathers return to the program with fresh memories of time well spent with their kids.

“I look at dads now that went through the program. They have pictures with their kids, going fishing on trips. Those moments when a kids can say, ‘That’s my dad” – those are the moments you don’t want to miss out on.”

without prior written permission of the Tri-State Defender, reprint any part of or duplicate by electronic device any portion. Copyright 2013

by Tri-State Defender Publishing, Inc. Permission to Publisher, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. Back copies can be obtained by calling the Tri-State Defender at (901) 523-1818, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Tri-State Defender

OPINION

June 20 - 26, 2013

Sesame Street tackles taboo topic of incarceration Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Nona Allen

Sesame Street has been a staple in the lives of children throughout the United States.

This show crossed color lines and evaporated economic barriers. No matter where in the country the child was located, they were bound to be familiar with Sesame Street. I remember learning a lot from this show. For example, I learned to count in Spanish by watching Luis, Bob, Gordon, and David sing about the number five. Since its debut in 1969, Sesame Street has been a teacher of academia and of life.

Sesame Street is used to taking on the tough topics.

They took on the issues of diversity, divorce, death, and hunger. Recently, the CTW (Children’s Television Workshop) decided to take on one of its most controversial topics to date – incarceration. A new Muppet, Alex who is a part of the Sesame Street workshop, has a father who is in jail. The Pew Charitable

Trusts reports that one in 28 children has a parent who is currently incarcerated. This, according to Pew, is more than the number of children with a parent who is currently deployed with the military.

Although Alex is not a part of the regular cast of Muppets, he will be a part of an online toolkit to help kids and parents deal with this issue. The group has already begun their quest for help and healing. On Father’s Day 2013, the group from CTW made a visit to parents and children at Riker’s Island in New York.

This is an important issue because this is the reality that we face in our schools today; just look at the results of the Pew research. This is especially relevant to those who teach in urban areas, although this is changing. People in suburban areas are also faced with crime which can result incidences of incarceration. The face of the jailed parent is also changing. Alex’s dad is incarcerated, but many of the video clips in the toolkit interview children whose mothers are in

prison.

I applaud Sesame Street for tackling such a taboo topic. I can remember going to work and encountering children who were dealing with a parent or a family member who had been arrested and some who were doing hard time.

My heart ached for the child, but I did not feel that I had the skills to address that issue. I feel I would have been able to better help my students if I had this toolkit.

As an educational community and as society as a whole, we must be willing to address the difficult issues. We must be open to discussing the thing that no one wants to talk about. If we do not address the social and psychological issues our students face, we cannot effectively educate them. Kudos to Sesame Street for continuing to be a leader in the development of the whole child!

(For more information see www.sesamestreet.org/parents /topicsandactivities/toolkits/ incarceration.)

Allen West: Women in combat are threat to ‘American warrior culture’ thegrio.com

by Lilly Workneh In a recent Facebook post, former Republican congressman Allen West explained why he believes women do not belong in military units.

West expressed his disapproval towards President Obama and the Defense Department for approving a policy allowing women to fill thousands of combat jobs in the military.

The news was announced on the heels of the Congressional hearings on the increasing number of sexual assault cases in the military.

West considers the debate “hypocritical,” arguing that the same individuals who “are up in arms” over the issue should

not also believe women have a place in combat scenarios.

“I find it completely hypocritical for ev er yo ne Allen to be up in West arms about military sexual assault, but then want to cast women into high stress small unit combat elements,” West writes in his post.

West makes it clear that he does not believe women are capable of achieving the same physical strength as men to be able to defend themselves in combat.

However, the policy — which will allow women to begin training as Army Rangers in 2015 — requires men and women to meet the same physical and mental standards to qualify for any front-line positions.

Still, West goes on to write: “The objective is obvious: destroy the last bastions of American warrior culture all for the advancement of a misguided vision of fairness and equality. There is no equality in close combat. The goal is simple: you physically overpower the enemy and kill them. Don’t tell me about technology, war is about fighting and fighting is about killing, mano y mano.”

(Follow Lilly @Lilly_Works)

Workneh

Page 5

Page 6

BUSINESS

June 20 - 26, 2013

ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

African American Music Month

What does it take to win in the music business these days?

It is pretty common knowledge that the music industry has morphed since the days of Motown. While the model has changed from just ten years ago, the number of artists eager to enter the business has not declined over time.

New technology for producing beats allows almost anyone to make a record, thereby diluting and congesting the field. So the dedicated have to distinguish themselves from the pack. Do you ever wonder how some folks made it big in the business with “little” talent, while those that sing like Whitney Houston never make it?

Do you have what it takes to make it in the business? Ask yourself a series of questions: Is this my passion? Can I make a living with music? Do I want this to be my business? If the answer is yes, then you have to approach this industry as a business.

Whether a win in the music business is signing to a major deal, signing to an independent label, or starting your own label, the foundation to accomplish either is the same. There are a number of factors that come into play.

Passion, hustle, timing, relationships, money, and knowledge are a few of the factors that begin to separate the pack.

Passion

In order to commit the time and energy to this business in a way that will garner success, music has to be your passion. If being around it and performing it makes you happy, then this could very well be your passion. The most successful people eat, drink and sleep the business in an effort to win at this game. The time dedicated to your craft must be so great, that if it is not your passion you will grow to hate it.

Hustle

Studio sessions, writing, social media, promoting, marketing and performing are just a few of the things that a successful artist must do to move forward. No one should be able to outwork you promoting yourself. Do not be afraid to work you and your product. The hustle and the drive is what can easily separate those that are the most successful in this business. The hustlers are always working and always on the cutting edge of creating their own opportunities. Think about Beyonce as an example. She is always hustling and working whether it be with music, clothes, fragrances or movies.

Timing

Sometimes simply being PREPARED and in the right place at right time makes the difference between making it in the industry or not. But showing up unprepared or without your music or a business card with how to access the sound is unacceptable.

Carlee McCullough You never know whose path you may cross. So if you are always hustling, you are always prepared for when the timing is right.

Relationships

The beauty of Memphis is that we are one or two degrees of separation from anyone that we are trying to reach. So maximize relationships by broadening your circle and not hesitating to ask for an introduction to someone you would like to know. Chances are someone within reach has a contact. But do not use the relationship card if you are not ready and prepared for introduction.

Money

Regardless of the industry, money always helps. But there never seems to be enough of it to get everything done. Money is also a factor which separates the crowd. Studio time, tracks, engineers, manufacturing and promotion all cost money. So when money is not abundant, it is imperative that you make it up with hustle and creativity.

Knowledge

Current information is the key in the music business because things change so rapidly.

Staying abreast of trends, topics and people is a must. Just as a doctor or a lawyer must remain up-to-date with the changes in their field of expertise, artists are no different. Remember this is a business, and you want to make a living at it so always be in a state of learning.

Memphis is ready for the next big thing.

Join us next week as we take stock of our up and coming artists as well as some of our longtime favorites. Remember we must support our artists if they are ever going to make it big.

MONEY MATTERS

Independent insurance agents vs. captive insurance agents: What’s the difference?

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Charles Sims, Jr., CFP Let’s face it — shopping for insurance is generally a dreaded and time consuming task.

It is not exactly fun, and although it only takes about 15 minutes to get a preliminary rate – that’s only the rate from one company. How many agents do you want to call, and how many blocks of 15-30 minutes do you want to take out of your life?

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to call one agent and have them shop your insurance policies around for you without it costing you any money or time away from your family?

That’s the difference between a Captive Insurance AGENT and a Multi-Carrier Insurance BROKER (sometimes known as a multi-carrier independent agent or agency). A captive agent can only write for ONE carrier such as John Hancock and New York Life Career Agents, Allstate, State Farm, Nationwide to name a few, which means you have to call each and every one of those carriers if you want a rate from each and every one!

Now an Insurance Broker on the other hand writes for MULTIPLE carriers saving you time and maybe money! When you work with an Insurance Broker, you give them your information once time, they in turn, enter it into their

system just like a captive, one carrier agent does, but the difference is the broker will then receive rates from multiple carriers!

If you are working with a single company captive agent, you are stuck to only using that company’s products which may or may not be the best fit for you.

When working with a broCharles Sims, Jr., CFP ker, you are less restricted because they are able to offer many more carriers, many more products, many more types of insurance and of course, many more price points.

So an insurance brokers job is to seek out and find the best product for your needs.

When it comes time to shop your policies around in the future to be sure you are receiving the best value, all you have to do is call your broker and tell them to do so. If you’re with a captive agent, there isn’t anything to shop around because they only have one product to offer.

(Charles Sims, Jr., is president/CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancial Group.com.)

Tri-State Defender

RELIGION

Tri-State Defender

Page 7

June 20 - 26, 2013

LIVING THE LIFE I LOVE

Learn from steppingstone job before leaving

Dear Lucy: The title of your column is “Living the Life You Love.”

Well, I’m not exactly loving my life right now. I feel like I am struggling every day just to go to a job I don’t like, working with people I don’t like, doing work I don’t like. I have been searching for a new job for months with no success. I want to just go home and get on welfare or something!

—GoingHome Dear Going Home: In every significant position or job that I have ever had I maintained a single commitment to myself: “If I woke up 3 mornings in a row and did not want to go, it was time to stop going.”

This happened to me once in a really high paying position. I did not hate the people or the work. I just knew it was not what I wanted to spend my precious time doing anymore. This was not my employer’s problem. It

was mine! After experiencing my 3 mornings of revelation, I told my employer that I would be leaving. It took me two years to leave because I had significant responsibilities and tasks to complete.

Lucy So here are Shaw some things to consider: 1. Time is indeed precious and should be handled as the marvelous jewel that it is. Wherever we find ourselves is our best training ground.

Have you used your time in this work sufficiently to learn whatever it is your soul took you there to learn?

Sometimes we let our personality get in the way of what our soul wants to

teach and bless us with!

2. If there is something that this experience is trying to teach you, what could it be? Are you listening? Are you paying attention?

3. There are some jobs that are not significant, but are instead, steppingstones. But either way, if you have not decided for learning or growing you will simply step from this job into one where the same lesson will be waiting for you. You will also leave behind a less than favorable impression of yourself.

4. How are you seeing yourself and how are you seeing others? Hate is a pretty strong word. Would you consider taking a moment to write down at least five things that you can be grateful for in this job? Maybe it’s just good to have some money vs. no money. Maybe it’s good to be depended upon and to be dependable.

Maybe you don’t hate ALL of the

people there. What is it about the one person you do like that you can imitate or that helps get you through the day? Since you hate the job and the people so much, maybe you can be grateful that they haven’t fired you.

Why? If you really hate them, believe me it is no secret! Nothing speeds up success like gratitude for what you already have. It is hard to be grateful and hateful at the same time. Try it.

5. Every single day, try to find something that you can learn and love. That is not as hard as it may seem. As you take an inventory of what you are good at and work to be better at it, you may soon find that you get noticed at work. Do you see yourself as a winner? Do you see yourself as valuable? Make yourself indispensable right where you are by being a cheerful giver of the service you are paid to provide. Pretty soon,

someone will notice and a door will be opened for you to be cheerful someplace else.

Decide right now that you are NOT struggling with anything. It is just a decision. The decision you make will be the one you keep. Decide to be blessed. “Blessed is he that waiteth patiently…”

Lucy

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

(For help with the feelings that get in the way of prayer and peace of mind, get Lucy’s new book, “BE NOT ANXIOUS.” Order it directly from her at 901-907-0260 or go to her web site www.heartworks4u.com.)

Sancti-fried...

Several ladies of Pentecostal Church of God in Christ prepare to serve guests at the churchʼs Menʼs Month fish fry fellowship. Dr. J.O. Patterson, III, brother of the churchʼs pastor, C.H. Mason Patterson, Sr., serves as a “chief chef” during the annual fellowship.

Fatherly love...

Joseph Golden and his daughter Simone share a sweet Fatherʼs Day moment following services at Saint Andrew A.M.E. Church on Sunday.

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

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

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

— Proverbs 1:7

—Ecclesiastes 9:11

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

(901) 948-3441

Early Morning..........7:45 AM Church School..........9:45 AM Morning Worship......11:00 AM Bible Study For Youth and Adults Tuesday - 7:00 PM “Spirit, Soul, and Body!”

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

TV Cable Access Broadcast Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Channel 17 Website:www.saintandrewamec.org Child Care Center (901) 948-6441 Monday-Friday 6 AM- 5:30 PM Emergency Food Pantry & Clothes Closet Wednesday 6 PM-8 PM

Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, Pastor Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Pastor

“Ministering to Memphis-Spirit, Soul and Body”

ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, June 20 - 26, 2013, Page 8

WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?

Ochocinco

Chad Johnson, the guy formerly known as C h a d Ochocinco has managed to find himself back in the news lately.

Unfortunately for him it’s not Myron all good news.

Mays According to TMZ, the guy has been on a quest to get his child support payments lowered as he claims to make only $3,000 per month, but still has to unload about $16,525 a month in child support. He also claims he has to pay about $9,063.24 in mortgage payments, $2,500 for food, $2,650 for car expenses, $3,500 for clothes, $250 for grooming, $5,000 for entertainment and another $1,000 for something. Between all that, some other various expenses, and the child support Johnson claims he is spending $45,982.76…per month that is.

Also, he was back in court last week because he failed to meet with his probation officer for three straight months. This was not a good move considering the judge was actually close to sealing a deal that would have kept him out of jail. Come on Chad…really?

He then was given 30 days in jail when he disrespected the judge by slapping his attorney, a guy, on the butt in court. He was released after only serving a week of his sentence. The judge felt that he “failed to appreciate the gift of probation” after pleading no contest to battery in the altercation last August with then wife Evelyn Lozada, which resulted in her receiving injuries that required serious medical attention.

She promptly filed for divorce.

Meanwhile, pictures of Lozada’s lacerated forehead have surfaced. This adds a little more depth to the story because the majority of us didn’t realize to what extent her injuries actually were.

Now, the public is discovering the swollen bloody, gash she suffered during the incident.

A day after his release from custody, he took to ABC’s “Good Morning America” to apologize again for his actions. He mentioned that was hoping he would get another chance to make an NFL team “so the abuse of his ex-wife and subsequent jail time aren’t the last things fans remember about the wide receiver’s career.”

You’d think with all of the troubles this guy has been going through, he wouldn’t do anything else to purposely add to it. I mean, it’s hard to get into the NFL just based off of your talents alone.

But when you’re kicked out of the NFL for your actions, it’s even harder to get back in. Just ask your friend Terrell Owens, I’m sure he’ll tell you. I’m sure he probably has. What I’m not sure of is if he will ever bounce back from this, but these pictures are certainly not gonna help his cause, neither are his recent actions.

Here’s What’s Happening

Mark your calendars and get ready. This weekend is gonna be monumental. Why so you might ask? Because its Ultimate Family Reunion weekend. Not my own, but that of the radio station which I just so happen to be employed by. It’s the 103.5 WRBO Ultimate Family Reunion at Mud Island Park. It happens on Saturday June 22nd starting at 3:00pm. These events are always fun, there’s non-stop entertainment from beginning to end. This year, Michell’e will be the headlining performer. Also, you can catch such local performers as Karen Brown, Devin Crutcher and more. Most of all, the event is absolutely FREE. So load up the family and come on down and have a great time. Then take the kids back home and join us for the official after party later that night at the Hard Rock Café on Beale Street.

Admission for this event is only $10 and Michell’e will be hanging out with us as well.

Next week, it’s South Main Trolley Night. I’ll have details on that and more, so stay tuned. Until then, that’s what’s happening!

(Got an event you’d like for me to cover or attend? Email me at Myron@whatshappening myron.com)

Verdine White (left), Ralph Johnson, and Phillip Bailey the original members of Earth Wind & Fire performing Boogie Wonderland at the Memphis Botanic Garden. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)

The Elements (EWF) in the Garden The New Tri-State Defender

by Warren Roseborough The Elements of the Universe returned to Memphis on Saturday night at the Botanic Garden. If you didn’t know, the Elements of which I am referring to are none other than Earth, Wind and Fire (EWF), one of music’s most successful R&B groups from the seventies and eighties. Memphis is the birthplace and childhood home of EWF member and founder, Maurice White, who retired from touring with the band in the midnineties largely due to his diagnosis and complications with Parkinson disease. Despite not touring, he remains a big part of the band behind the scenes — producing and composing, and certainly remains in the hearts and minds of the group members and audiences alike. Phillip Bailey now sings the lead on most of the songs that Maurice once led while still holding down his famously high falsettos.

The band took the stage on Saturday night, opening with one of their monster hits, Boogie Wonderland. Later in the show, the band spoke fondly about Memphis being the home of their former lead singer and founder, White who grew up in South Memphis in the Foote Homes Housing Project.

The band settled into a major jam session playing hit after hit, In the Stone, Shining Star, Reasons, Got to Get You Into My Life, and many more. This sold out concert had nearly the entire crowd dancing and singing throughout the night demonstrating the magic they’ve always shown in their live performances. The legendary band is celebrating 41 years in the music industry and although they’ve downsized the touring group over the years, they still have that powerful horn section that makes their sound so unique.

Before the concert I interviewed Deano Orr (an International Paper executive and TSD Men of Excellence Award winner) and his wife LaSheka. Obviously a fairly young couple, I asked them what did they know about Earth Wind & Fire? LaSheka said that she is a second generation EWF fan. She loves their up tempo music. Her mom, aunts, and other relatives always listened to the group. Their music was always a presence at their family gatherings and cookouts. She is also a graduate of Winston Salem State, a historically black college, whose band plays a lot of EWF music.

Earth Wind & Fire performing at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

Deano Orr (left) watches his wife Lasheka text a family member to let them know they are at the Earth Wind & Fire Concert.

Deano said with a big smile, “My wife made me a big EWF fan!”

EWF did not disappoint, Memphis got a

treat and I am sure the couple had a fantastic time along with the other concert goers with The Elements in the Garden!

Lil Wayne: ‘It was never my intention to desecrate the flag’ The Grio

by Lilly Workneh

Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne created a firestorm on social media after a video for the rapper’s new single “God Bless Amerika” leaked and it showed images of him stepping on the American flag.

The behind the scenes footage led numerous commenters to question Wayne’s patriotism and ridicule his rap skills.

“God Bless America but you have the flag on the ground and stepping all over it? Smh…I’ll be looking forward to Magna Carta Holy Grail…Wayne dropped off a long

time [ago] anyway,” one commenter wrote.

For his part, Lil Wayne denies that any disrespect was intentional.

In a post he published to Facebook Tuesday morning, the rapper wrote: It was never my intention to desecrate the flag of the United States of America. I was shooting a video for a song off my album entitled “God Bless Amerika”. The clip that surfaced on the Internet was a camera trick clip that revealed that behind the American Flag was the Hoods of America. In the final edit of the video you will see the flag fall to reveal what is behind it but will never see it on the ground.

In most people eyes including my own who were raised in that environment, the Hood is the only America they know and the only America I knew growing up. I was fortunate from my God giving talents to escape the Hood and see the other beautiful places this country has to offer but most people who are born in that environment don’t get that chance. That’s their view of their America. That was Dwayne M Carter from Hollygrove New Orleans view of America. That’s who I’m speaking for in this song.”

(Follow Lilly Workneh @Lilly _Works)

ENTERTAINMENT

Tri-State Defender

Page 9

June 20 - 26, 2013

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam’s Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

Special to the New Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

For movies opening June 21, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS

“Monsters University” (G) Disney animated adventure, a prequel set about a decade before the events of Monsters, Inc., finds polar opposite Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) pledging the same fraternity and majoring in scaring. Voice cast includes Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Sean Hayes and Bobby Moynihan.

“World War Z” (PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and frightening horror fare) Screen adaptation of Max Brooks’ apocalyptic novel about a globetrotting, United Nations investigator (Brad Pitt) who rises to the occasion in the face of a zombie pandemic that’s toppling governments and threatening humanity with extinction. With Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, David Morse, Matthew Fox and Fana Mokoena.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

“The Attack” (R for profanity, violence and brief sexuality) Middle East drama, set in Tel Aviv, revolving around a celebrated Arab surgeon (Ali Suliman) who discovers a shocking secret about his wife (Reymond Ansallem) in the wake of a terrorist bombing. With Evgenia Dodena (In Arabic and Hebrew with subtitles)

Mireille Enos (left) is Karin Lane, Fana Mokeona is Thierry Umutoni and Brad Pitt is Gerry Lane in “World War Z.” (Photo: Jaap Buitendijk/Paramount Pictures) sexuality and drug use) Romantic road romp about a couple of young lovers (Josh Henderson and Haley Webb) who travel from California to Texas to file a false claim for a dead friend’s inheritance. With Beau Bridges, Aidan Quinn and Jordan Bridges (Beau’s son).

“The Bling Ring” (R for profanity, sexual references, drug use and underage alcohol consumption) Sofia Coppola co-wrote and directed this true tale about a gang of computer-savvy teenagers who embark on a crime spree burglarizing the homes of Hollywood stars by using the internet to monitor the celebrities’ whereabouts. Featuring Emma Watson, Katie Chang, Leslie Mann and Israel Broussard.

“This Is Martin Bonner” (Unrated) Paul Eenhoorn stars as the title character of this unlikely-buddies drama about a newcomer to Reno, Nevada who forges a friendship with a recent parolee (Richmond Arquette) he helps while volunteering at a non-profit charity. With Sam Buchanan, Robert Longstreet and Demtrius Grosse.

“Downloaded” (Unrated) Build a better mousetrap documentary exploring the impact that the downloading revolution has had on fans, recording artists and the music industry.

With appearances by rocker Henry Rollins, producer Chris Blackwell and attorney Lawrence Lessig.

“A Hijacking” (R for profanity) Hostage drama about the tension which unfolds when a gang of Somali pirates demands a multimillion dollar ransom after commandeering a cargo ship on the high seas. Starring Pilou Asbaek, Soren Malling and Dar Salim. (In Danish, Swedish and English with subtitles)

“Maniac” (Unrated) Grisly remake of the 1980 horror flick about a psychotic serial killer (Elijah Wood) who scalps his victims and uses

“Three Worlds” (Unrated) Good Samaritan drama about the effort of a hit-and-run accident witness (Clotilde Hesme) to inform the victim’s (Rasha Bukvic) widow (Arta Dobroshi) of the identity of the drunk driver (Raphael Personnaz). Ensemble includes Reda Kateb, Alban Aumard and Adele Haenel. (In French with subtitles)

their hair to cover the heads of mannequins in his shop. Support cast includes America Olivo, Nora Arnezeder and Liane Balaban.

“Rushlights” (R for violence, profanity,

“Unfinished Song” (PG-13 for crude gestures and sexual references) Bittersweet British dramedy about a grumpy, grieving widower (Terence Stamp) who gets a new lease on life after taking his recently-deceased wife’s (Vanessa Redgrave) place in the church choir. Support cast includes Gemma Arterton, Christopher Eccleston and Anne Reid.

HOROSCOPES

June 20-26, 2013

ARIES Anybody may occasionally have a week when their energy feels low. Your natural good health will see you through a possible down time if you just go with the flow and let yourself relax. Rest if you have the chance and you’ll feel like your wonderful self in no time flat!

TAURUS You are the center of attention this week and while you’ll be very busy you’ll love every moment. Enjoy your time in the spotlight! You may want to indulge yourself with some emotional theatrics this week.

Add up the costs and benefits before acting out. If you can afford it go for it! If not count to ten and smile, smile smile!

GEMINI Stay flexible this week especially where a partner is concerned. While they may be moody there’s no need for you to join them in their attitude unless you really, really want to! Stay positive and go with the good vibrations that surround you.

CANCER Ding-dong! Destiny is at the door. Let it in and enjoy the change of pace. You’ll be happy to make a few adjustments for this most welcome guest. Follow through on instincts and hunches!

LEO Stay on course with your current decisions and dreams . You may doubt your progress this week but you really are moving toward a better tomorrow with your determined attitude.

VIRGO You feel great ! Your shining spirit attracts many seekers this week so let your best wisest self answer questions that are put to you by those who want advice. You’ll smooth over a sticky situation at work with ease.

LIBRA Busy week. You’ll want to get up with the birdies and you may even want to whistle a happy little tune. You’ll be very much in demand for your expertise and positive attitude. Way to go!

SCORPIO Happiness arrives and sits on your shoulder like a bright butterfly this week. A relationship can make significant progress if you stay open to love. Keep your evening free for romance in a social setting.

SAGITTARIUS Take charge of a project at work and get it finished up. It’s been languishing on someone else’s shoulders and desk for way too long. A sensible outlook will get you far this week.

CAPRICORN You may find yourself faced with many distractions this week but you’ll sail through and accomplish much if you stay focused on each task and take them one at a time. You know you can do it this evening.

AQUARIUS Creativity is favored and yours is especially favored with some project that you’ve been working especially hard on. For the next few days watch for a romance that will bring special gifts.

PISCES Your new ideas combine well with your will and skill. You get a lot done at work this week. Be soft and forceful. Make time for family life tonight. Your rewards come from those who are related to you by blood.

Source: NNPA News Service

Page 10

Employment

ServiceMaster Facilities Maintenance is now hiring for general cleaners, supervisors, and floor technicians. Must be able to pass a background check and drug test.

Please call to schedule an appointment to complete an application. (901) 795-5515

Legal notices

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

PUBLIC BID OPENING - DUE FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 AT 2:30 PM SEALED BID #SBI-000220 WARD ROAD BANK REPAIR PROJECT A voluntary pre-bid conference will be held on Friday, June 28, 2013 at 9:00 AM, at the office of the Shelby County Roads and Engineering Building Conference Room, 6449 Haley Road, Memphis, TN 38134.

A public bid opening will be held July 12, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. in the office of the Administrator of Purchasing, located at, Vasco A. Smith Jr., Administration Building, 160 North Main Street, Suite 550, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

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

This project is funded by Community Development Block Grant funds. Shelby County encourages participation from Section 3, WBE, MBE, and LOSB Contractors under this solicitation.

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

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE Shelby County, City of Memphis, and Shelby Farms Park Conservancy is seeking public input for the Shelby Farms Greenline Extension (Ped/Bike Trail) From Shelby Farms Park to the old Cordova Train Depot Location: Shelby Farms Visitor Center, 500 North Pine Lake Dr., Memphis, TN 38134 Date and Time: Tuesday, July 16th at 6:00 P.M.

CLASSIFIEDS

Tri-State Defender

June 20 - 16, 2013

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

DEADLINES; Display ads Monday 5 p.m.

Classified ads Monday 5 p.m.

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

IMPROVEMENTS FOR REMOVAL OR DEMOLITION Sealed bids will be received by the State of Tennessee, Department of Transportation, for the removal or demolition of building(s) and/or other improvement(s) located on projects listed below. Said bids will be opened by the State of Tennessee Right of Way Office, 300 Benchmark Place, Jackson, TN 38301 on July 10, 2013 (Wednesday) at 10:00 AM. The Successful Bidder will be required to remove the improvements on or before October 11, 2013 Sealed bids may be mailed or delivered in person to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Right of Way Office, 300 Benchmark Place, Jackson, TN 38301, Attention: La Jeana Dodd, Transportation Specialist II, Acting, on or before 10:00 AM, July 10, 2013. PLEASE MARK ENVELOPE “SEALED BID-DO NOT OPEN”.

Sealed bids shall be accompanied by a certified/cashiers check or bid bond in the minimum amount of $250.00 per tract.

Each bid (per tract) should be placed on a separate bid form. Bidding is not open to State Employees or their agents. Bidders must comply with Tennessee State laws governing licensing of Contractors.

State Project 24092-2203-14, Federal Project NHE-460(2), PIN # 101607.00, Fayette County—Proposed State Route 460(U.S. 64), Somerville Beltway from State Route 15 (U.S. 64), West of Somerville (Near Jones Creek) to State Route 15(U.S. 64), East of Somerville (Near Bennetts Creek) (THE STATE OF TENNESSEE HAS HAD THESE TRACTS TESTED FOR ASBESTOS AND ONLY ACM THAT CONTAINED GREATER THAN 1% ASBESTOS WERE ABATED.) The National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants does not require abatement of material that contains less than 1% asbestos prior to demolition. OSHA considers materials with any amount of asbestos as a po-

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ADJUSTMENTS; PLEASE check your ad the first day it appears. Call 901-523-1818 if an error occurs. We can only offer in-house credit and NO REFUNDS are issued.

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tential exposure hazard. The demolition contractor is subject to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 even if all asbestos materials are less than 1%. Details available in the Region 4 Right-of-Way Office, Mrs. La Jeana Dodd, Transportation Specialist II, Acting, at (731) 935-0121.

Tract, Address and Description of Improvement 16) 11865 S. MAIN ST; 1262ʼ FRAME RESIDENCE, 270ʼ FRAME GARAGE, WOODEN FENCING, LAMP POST & SWING SET FRAME 17) 11845 S. MAIN ST; 1993ʼ FRAME RESIDENCE, ABOVE-GROUND POOL & DECK, & WOODEN & WIRE FENCING 18) 11825 S. MAIN ST; 934ʼ BRICK RESIDENCE 19) 11815 S. MAIN ST; 2,242ʼ BRICK RESIDENCE & 80ʼ METAL SHED 21) 11635 S. MAIN ST; 918ʼ FRAME RESIDENCE & 600ʼ FRAME STORAGE 28) 103 KAY LANE; 1320ʼ FRAME RESIDENCE & 133ʼ FRAME SHED w/ 42ʼ ADDITION & CHAIN LINK FENCING w/ GATES 29) 11910 S. MAIN ST; 1037ʼ FRAME RESIDENCE & METAL SHED 30) 11890 S. MAIN ST; 1474ʼ BRICK RESIDENCE, 400ʼ METAL GARAGE & 382ʼ METAL CARPORT, GAME HANGER, UTILITY COUNTER w/ SINK & WOODEN FENCING w/ GATES 31) 11870 S. MAIN ST; 1438ʼ BRICK RESIDENCE 32) 11850 S. MAIN ST; 1185ʼ BRICK RESIDENCE AND 2 CLOTHES LINE POST 33) 11820/11790 S. MAIN ST 1203ʼ FRAME RESIDENCE, 166ʼ FRAME GARAGE & 60ʼ METAL SHED/1707ʼ METAL COMM. BLDG, 441ʼ CANOPY & CHAIN LINK FENCING w/ 4 GATES 35) 11750 S. MAIN ST; 3327ʼ BRICK COMM. (CHURCH) BLDG & SPOTLIGHT 36) 11710 S. MAIN ST; 2414ʼ BRICK RESIDENCE, 1025ʼ BRICK RESIDENCE & METAL/FRAME SIGN The Successful Bidder will be required

to post a $2,500.00 performance deposit per tract and other documents verifying the coverage of adequate insurance by the close of the fifth working day following notification that such bid is considered acceptable and the “best bid” received. A contract for removal of improvements will be executed at this time.

The State does not warrant, or guarantee, the condition, quality, moveability, amount of salvage materials or any other matters pertaining to the buildings and/or other improvements. The State of Tennessee, Department of Transportation, does not make any representation as to the presence or absence of hazardous materials in any of the structures listed for bid.

It is the responsibility of the successful bidder to comply with all Local, State, and Federal regulations regarding demolition and/or removal of hazardous materials whatever the nature and source.

• Any burning by Buyer on State of Tennessee property is prohibited and WILL result in loss of performance deposit.

• After removal is completed, each tract must be leveled, seeded and strawed.

The successful bidder agrees to hold harmless the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee Department of Transportation from any and all claims, sanctions, fines and penalties of any kind from whatever source.

The building is to be removed to ground level and all debris removed from this tract.

All swimming pools, basements, and storm houses are to be filled to ground level with non-decaying material as proved by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

All concrete slabs must be broken up and removed from the tract unless otherwise approved by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Sites must be leveled, seeded, and strawed. It is understood that failure to comply with the terms and conditions stated herein will constitute a waiver of any right to any payment for any work done on this removal; and a waiver of any right to any part or materials of or from the buildings or other improvements included in this offer.

The Performance Deposit is required to ensure completion of the Agreement and will be refunded after removal is completed in accordance with requirements outlined in the preceding paragraphs. Payment of the performance deposit is to be made by certified/cashiers check or performance bond at the time the Agreement for Removal is executed. FAILURE BY THE PURCHASER TO COMPLETELY REMOVE SAID IMPROVEMENTS TO GROUND LEVEL AND REMOVE ALL DEBRIS RESULTING FROM SAID REMOVAL WITHIN SPECIFIED TIME PERIOD WILL CONSTITUTE FORFEITURE OF THE PERFORMANCE DEPOSIT. NO PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF THE AGREEMENT. The successful bidder must comply with the requirements of Public Acts of 2006, Chapter Number 878, of the state of Tennessee, addressing the use of illegal immigrants in the performance of any contract to supply goods or services to the state of Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and bidders will not be discriminated against on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex or disability in consideration for an award.”

The State of Tennessee, Department of Transportation, reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

For additional information, please contact: Mrs. La Jeana Dodd, Transportation Specialist II, Acting, at (731) 935-0121.

ALL INTERESTED BIDDERS The Shelby County Board of Education (Unified School District) will accept written bids for Bank Deposit Pickup for the 20132014 School Year.

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

Thank you for your interest and responses.

Jacqueline Saunders, Director Memphis City Schools – Procurement Services

I, Lawrence King, on June 11,2013 declare this NOTICE to any person, individual, or being that has CLAIMS or LIABILITIES against ( Estate Known As Monza Trust) along with any attachments or interests in said properties: 3474 Fox Meadows, 2883 Emmet, 6039 Rosewind, 5112 Ginger, 6228 Scarletcrest, 5423 Kindlecreek, 5407 Riverdale, 7226 Woodshire, 7355 Woodshire, 5484 Chinkapin Oak, 7126 Country Oak, and 5995 Seminary are hereby notice to come forward and make public any such CLAIMS or LIABILITIES within 30 days of first notice, after which time any and all said claims shall be null and void. Send claims to P.O.Box 40723, Memphis, TN 38174.

NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS DUE: MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013 AT 4:00 PM Shelby County Government, Tennessee, an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer, seeks to retain the services of an engineering consulting firm to provide professional services for the provision of construction, engineering and inspection services for the: “FITE ROAD AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT” (RFQ# 13-006-91) By order of MARK H. LUTTRELL, JR, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

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June 20 - 26, 2013

Independent Style Market opens in the Broad Ave. Arts District “A Creative Entrepreneurial Community Center”. . . that’s how Tonya Tate, Director of Indie Style Market styles the new venture designed to promote the economic opportunities of creative entrepreneurism and promote the indie product design community of the Mid-South.

Consumer product design is a broad field that covers everything from apparel and accessories to home goods and furniture. The mid-south is known for our food, music, and art but we also have a lot to offer in terms of unique products that you use every day and Indie Style Market (ISM) exists to tell the story of these products and their makers to the world.

In addition to retail storefront from which to sell their products, ISM offers indie designers workshops to help them with various aspects of

running a creative product business such as taking Quality Product Photos, Launching an Etsy shop, and Marketing your brand using Social Media.

ISM also offers the community the opportunity to learn a variety of making skills that they can use to make their own unique creations. There are classes on designing objects with Precious Metal Clay and Reproducing a Favorite Garment. Of particular interest to fledgling fashion designers, Project Wardrobe, a six week workshop where designs participate in design challenges each week. At the end of the workshop, each user takes away a custom wardrobe of 6 new outfits!

Indie Style Market is the latest venture from the Memphis Mélange Etsy Team who brought you MemShop at Overton Square. MEMShop creates partnerships that acti-

RISE helps Memphis woman achieve college career dreams KQ Communications

by Aisling Maki,

Memphian Shaneka “Duke” Graham has overcome the formidable odds stacked against her to graduate from Lane College with her bachelor’s degree in business in just three years instead of the standard four. On Sunday, June 23, Graham, who was salutatorian of Northside High School’s Class of 2010, will receive her degree in the gymnasium of her college in Jackson, Tennessee.

It has been a long road for the young mother, who was raised in Memphis’ Dixie Homes public housing project, where she shared a twobedroom apartment with her seven siblings and their disabled parents. “Where I come from has always been my stepping stone to do better in life,” Graham said.

“The circumstances back then have made me value the way I live today.”

Graham’s roadmap out of poverty included consistent encouragement from her parents, as well as guidance and mentoring from the Memphis-based RISE Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers low-income Memphians to transform their financial wellbeing.

Graham participated in RISE’s Goal Card Program, which gives students in grades 5-12 the knowledge and tools to achieve their academic and life goals. Students are rewarded with incentives based on grades, conduct and attendance, earning and redeeming points for prizes, such as games, school supplies and small electronics. Program participants during the 20112012 school year saw a 30 percent overall improvement in their grade point averages.

Although Graham is not the first Goal Card Program participant to attend college, she is the first who, throughout her college experience, continued to forward news about her grades and progress to the RISE Foundation. RISE president

Shaneka “Duke” Graham

and CEO, Linda Williams says Graham is “a perfect example of how Goal Card nurtures and creates positive habits for young people that continue long after they leave our program. Goal Card changes the attitudes of young people from ‘I could never achieve success’ to ‘Yes, I can and I will be successful.’ We’ve used Shaneka to connect with other Goal Card students on the Lane College Campus and we’ve had her return and share her experience with students who are still in the program.”

Graham now plans to enroll in graduate school at Henderson, Tennessee’s Freed-Hardeman University in January of 2014. Her other goals include becoming a Certified Public Accountant and eventually launching her own business. “Sometimes dreams can easily be deterred and they sometimes seem too hard to accomplish,” Shaneka said. “But in life, I have learned nothing comes easy.

So in order to make things a reality, one must stay focused and work hard. I do not want to just work for somebody— I want to build something and become my own boss.

Therefore, I set becoming an entrepreneur as a goal to keep striving for.”

Shaneka is tremendously grateful to the RISE Foundation for giving her the tools to accomplish her educational and financial goals, and she plans to pay it forward in the future by mentoring high school-age girls.

Boot Camp for Dads Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kelly D. Price

The 3rd Annual Boot Camp for Dads was a great success. I saw one after the other engaged in a great conversation about fatherhood and what it means to be a father. Both young and old — men talked about their idea of this fatherhood thing. One thing is true —we all know we have to do a better job of saving our children.

During the Locker Room Chat session, Reginald White, Michael Adrian Davis, and Rev. Hermon Jackson all asked the same questions — where do we go from here? How do we make a plan from here? Where do we take this knowledge that has been given to us? We present it here, at the Train-

ing Camp for Dads!

The highlight of the day was Elliot Perry; he talked about the need for men to stand up, roll up our sleeves and go to work rebuilding our families. Statistics say we [African American men] have poor family and home values, but we need to start identifying what we are going to do about it. We know the problem. Now let’s fix it!

The Boot Camp for Dads was a perfect lead into Father’s Day weekend. I looked at the faces of the fathers and sons that attend the boot camp. They looked as if the sun had come from behind and cloud and was shining in their faces. As we departed the camp I felt that the dads will be a more informed and ready to take up the task of helping our community.

vate vacant storefronts, incubate new retail opportunities and showcase the unique personality of individual neighborhoods. Indie Style Market is located at 2487 Broad Ave and they are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 11am to 8pm Fridays and Saturdays. In addition to ISM, three additional MEMShop businesses launched this past June: Five In One Social Club, 2535 Broad Ave., a creative teaching facility with a studio practice and “Made in Memphis” retail store; NJ Woods Gallery & Design, 2563 Broad Ave., an art gallery with works by flagship artist NJ Woods, also offering graphic design services; and My Heavenly Creations , 2593 Broad Ave., offering handcrafted soaps, candles and body products..

There are a few spaces left for additional indie designers

Shoppers peruse the selections at the Indie Style Market. to sell their work in the shop, apply at www.indiestyle market.net.

“Memphis is quickly becoming a hotbed for entrepreneurship and Indie Style Market will add another slice to

the entrepreneurship pie by combining the tech aspect of running an online retail business with the creative aspect of designing unique products that will be in demand worldwide.” said Tonya Tate, ISM

☺☺D BLUE G☺

Director.

The mission of ISM is to be a catalyst in building a thriving indie product design community in the Mid- South by providing information, education, and opportunity.

Deputy Director Anthony Berryhill Special to The New Tri-State Defender

By Kelvin Cowans

Kelvin Cowans takes readers inside the lives of Memphis and Shelby County Law Enforcement officers.

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 and its “Good Blue” column are here to share in-depth and inspiring commentary on a weekly basis with the community. Our goal is for the community to see that the only difference between them and good police officers is the Law. This week’s focus is on Deputy Directory Anthony Berryhill.

Memphis Police Department Deputy Director Anthony Berryhill has 29 years of experience as a police officer. A graduate of Carver High School Class of 1977, this former three sport athlete had a future of college sports on his radar. Yes, long before he thought anything about someone breaking a speed limit, he was traveling at a pretty fast pace himself. “Basketball, football and track,” he proudly said while raring back in his chair and piercing his eye’s across the City of Memphis skyline. From that point on I forgot that I was in his 12th floor office because his conversation, equivalent to a glass of water, made me feel like we were on a park bench down in Handy Park on Beale Street.

Kelvin Cowans: Do you have any opinions about the ownership group of the Memphis Grizzlies not resigning Lionel Hollins?

Anthony Berryhill: Oh yeah, we all have an opinion on that one. I wouldn’t have fired him, but again, I don’t truly understand the workings behind the scene. But from what we all can see, with every year under his leadership, we continued to get better and better. Still, we all will continue to support them because this our city and this is our team. Being a former athlete, I’m just offering my opinion. I played sports back when I was in high school, and I was pretty good. But right around my junior year, I began to get the big head and left it alone altogether. In fact, I started working and making good money for my age. I began looking at what other options I had as well, and it wasn’t long after I graduated that I told my mom that I was joining the army. So one thing lead to another. Everyone has their own lives to live and different perspectives.

KC: Were you born and raised in Memphis?

AB: Yes I was. I was raised in South Memphis. I was one of eight children. We were poor but thanks to good parents, we didn’t know it. I’m very thankful for that. My mom was a great mother, and my father worked three jobs sometimes so that we wouldn’t go on public assistance.

KC: You mentioned that you joined the Army. What brought you back to Memphis? Usually when people join the armed forces, by the time they settle down, they’re up in age and somewhere near a beach.

AB: You’re close. I spent 7 years in the military after taking a Military Police position in Miami, Florida . I worked that job for a while, but I didn’t want to re-enlist for 20 years. So I ended up coming back

Deputy Director Anthony Berryhill (Photo: Kelvin Cowans)

home to Memphis and joining the MPD here. That’s how that translated. I’ve been doing it now for 29 years, and here I am. A few more years and I will be headed out to pasture — literally! As you can see I have horses all around my office walls. I love to ride horses, and I’m going out to pasture with them. Myself and other officers from different states, we head out and enjoy the trails at least three or four times a year. It’s very relaxing.

KC: Get out of here. TV? For real?

AB: Yeah, I was an actor for this company called Beale Street Repertory for Black Performing Arts. We did plays and things like that. Me and my wife Toni — but this was before she became my wife, her name was Toni Williams back then. I even won this contest one time and got paid cash and a spot on a commercial for you guys company, The TriState Defender. It was a part for a young kid mail carrier, and I won it and did the commercial. I was on a bike in the commercial, and I rolled into the scene and was telling people about how I was making money to deliver The Tri-State Defender Newspaper. It was cool.

share that I always remembered where I came from — that I always took time to talk to whoever wanted to talk to me or explain something to me. For example, the other day there was a young lady who was definitely homeless, whom I could tell was mentally challenged. She was standing out on a corner. It was hot, and she was upset about something. I took the time to get out of my car and just talk with her. She soon calmed down, and it wasn’t because of what I said. It was because I listened. I let her talk. After about ten minutes she felt better because she simply wanted someone to listen to what she had to say and how she felt about a situation. This is how I have always tried to be. I see other officers doing the same type of things, and the public should know these stories, many stories. One of my favorites was when some officers got together to give away turkeys during Thanksgiving, and one lady in the crowd said that she couldn’t receive a turkey because she didn’t have a refrigerator. So those officers put together money out of their own pockets and bought her a refrigerator and gave her a turkey too. So I’m just saying [that] we do a lot of good out there and I’m glad that someone is now going to report it. We are just like you guys. We laugh, we cry, and we have good and bad days, just like you.

KC: What’s going to be your legacy in the community?

AB: I would hope that they would talk about me in two capacities — that I knew my job and that I was fair, that I inspired people to be better, and that I trained them properly for what they were doing and where they were headed. I also hope that the people in the community will

(Kelvin Cowans can be reached at kelvincowans@hotmail.com.)

KC: Tell me something that alot of people don’t know about you?

AB: Hmmmm, I was once an actor.

KC: You know I’m going to check right?

AB: Gone check it. I’m telling you now.

The very first Community Police Relations Forum is Saturday June 22, 2013.

Sign In: 11:30am - Event: 122pm Inside Union Grove Church at 2285 Frayser Blvd.

For more information contact Melissa Miller-Monie, Organizing Coordinator (901) 725-4990 or email her at melissa@midsouth peace.org.

Page 12

The weather was great for enjoying a day filled with open stage performances.

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

COMMUNITY June 20 - 26, 2013

Tri-State Defender

Juneteenth celebration

Glynn Johns Reed (left), who founded Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival 20 years ago, shares a moment in the spotlight with Dr. Willie Herenton, the keynote speaker, and Telisa Franklin, the festival's current executive director. (Photo: Wiley Henry)

There was much more than food, games and entertainment in the park. Approximately 50 people from the group The Biggest Loser - Memphis, participated in a literacy walk around the park. The group also donated books to help increase the literacy rate among African-American children. (Photo: Wiley Henry)

Young singing Eddie Stark Jr. performs on the open stage. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)