8 29 2012

VOL. 61, No. 34

August 23 - 29, 2012

www.tsdmemphis.com

75 Cents

John Ford: Who knows what’s ahead?

Free from prison, former state senator projects ʻgreat thingsʼ Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell It has been five years since the Tennessee Waltz investigation swept up state and local officials and their associates in a federal sting. Bribery charges were handed down, along with prison sentences for caught-on-tape participants. Then-State Sen. John Ford was among them.

That was then. This is now.

A released from prison and juJohn bilant Ford was whisked into a Ford waiting car to take him to the Diersen Charities halfway house in South Memphis where he stayed this week, preparing for a return to his residence next week.

Ford, now 70, wore a huge grin when he told media that “great things” were ahead for him.

Grayer, with a few more lines and wrinkles, Ford was, nonetheless, hopeful and optimistic. He reported to prison on April 28, 2008 following his

Best in Black: Final updates

SEE FORD ON PAGE 2

STREET BUZZ

“Iʼm glad to see Senator Ford back home, myself. Thatʼs just me. Heʼs paid for his actions, and I believe he deserves another chance. Anybody deserves another chance. We all need forgiveness at one time or another. And Iʼll tell you something else. I hope he runs for office again. I believe he will be a better elected official because heʼs learned some valuable lessons. Iʼve always voted for him, and I would vote for him again.

– Charles J. Simpson, South Memphis

“Itʼs not that I wish any misfortune on John Ford. I believe that he has a future in some area, but politics should not be it. My personal feeling is that I would not vote for him again. I have supported him in past state races, but I donʼt think I would again. Now, thatʼs just the way I feel right now. If he runs for office and I hear him speak, I may change my mind. But the arrogance was just too much, in my opinion.

Maybe heʼs a different person. I would just have to see. But the way I feel now, he would not get my vote.

– Sharon F. Harris, Midtown Memphis

“I saw Mr. Ford Monday on the news. I know an experience like that would change anybody. We can all relate because we have loved ones or people we know who have been incarcerated. Some of us have been guilty but never got caught. So we can all be compassionate. I wish Mr. Ford well. I believe, as he said, there are ʻgreat thingsʼ ahead for him. And I believe he will do well, whatever enterprise he pursues. Would I vote for him if he ran for office? Yes, I would. Public office is what he knows best. I think he should re-enter politics.

– Pauline McConnell, Hickory Hill

besmith@tri-statedefender.com

by Bernal E. Smith II

Greetings TSD family! We are rounding the bases and headed home towards the Grand Finale of the 2012 Best in Black Awards Memphis. The TSD staff and I are overwhelmed by the showing of Bernal E. support and exSmith II citement in the community about the contest and the awards show on Aug. 30.

I want to thank each of you that nominated, voted and have or will purchase a ticket to attend the black tie/black carpet awards show affair.

Here is our last update before the event: Nominations: Our nomination process opened up on July 20 and ended on July 31. We received over 280 nominations across the 45 categories that we have this year. To those who wanted to nominate someone or be nominated, 2013 will be here before you know it. Mark your calendars and bookmark the website, bestinblackawards.com for updates.

Voting: All voting ended at midnight Aug. 16. From Aug. 2 to Aug. 16, we had exactly 93,267 votes, with over 3,000 people registered on the site! After getting past a few initial technical difficulties voting went very smoothly and briskly. We had hoped to reach 50,000 votes online by the end of voting, and nearly doubled that goal. Thanks to you, Memphis!

Results: We have contacted the top three vote getters in each category are now publishing the list. (See page 16.)

You guys responded and the results are final, with results to be announced on Aug. 30. We know that there are a few surprises and upsets, especially considering the mid-term results! Remember, this is a popularity contest with the winners determined solely by way of the popular online vote.

Casting call: We held a great casting call for the big opening number and got over 20 Memphis area dancers to respond for what will be an incredible opening to the BIB Awards Show.

Hosts: Clear Channel Radio has come on board as a promotional sponSEE BEST ON PAGE 8

MEMPHIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY

H- 9 4o - L - 6 9o P a r tl y C l oud y

SATURDAY

H- 9 1o - L - 7 1o P a r tl y C l ou dy

REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS

Friday H-94 L-71 H-92 L-68 H-91 L-69

SUNDAY

H- 9 1o - L - 7 3o Partl y Cl o udy

Saturday H-85 L-71 H-90 L-68 H-88 L-69

Sunday H-93 L-72 H-90 L-70 H-91 L-69

The Rev. Jesse Jackson used a Wednesday press conference to voice his support for Teresa Carter as she pursues justice for her son, Chavis Carter, who died from a gunshot wound while in the custody of Jonesboro, Ark. Police. Also pictured, the Carter family attorney, Benjamin Irwin of the Cochran Firm. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

Jonesboro ‘mystery’ shooting warrants vigilance Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Tony Jones

Did one horrid, painful moment of ultimate despair drive 21-year-old Chavis Carter to take a gun and end his own life while handcuffed in the backseat of a Jonesboro, Ark. police cruiser?

That is the painful question that has gripped the African-American community for several weeks now as the awful truth sinks in of another young African-American man’s

life cut short during an encounter with police.

The ultimate answer may be in the hands of the U.S. Justice Department. At a press conference Wednesday morning (Aug. 22) at Monumental Baptist Church in South Memphis, the Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition called upon the Justice Department to investigate Carter’s death. Carter, who was arrested July 29 in Jonesboro, fatally shot himself while handcuffed in the back of a police car, according to Jonesboro police.

“I’m shock proof,” Jackson told The New

Tri-State Defender after the press conference, alluding to the many dire circumstances he has had to address.

“But this is a mystery that is very disturbing and must be solved. I’ve been handcuffed before and I don’t see how it could happen.

And just as with Emmett Till, Trayvon Martin and now Chavis Carter, we must have a fully transparent process to find the truth because we will accept nothing less than full justice.”

SEE SHOOTING ON PAGE 2

- INSIDE -

For some, $300 for ‘King’ James’ shoe is a step too far

• Dump biden talk is just that: talk. See Opinion, page 4.

• Whalum files lawsuit. See Community, page 9.

Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Kelvin Cowans

We have finally reached the point of no return. The fact that NBA mega-star LeBron James and Nike have even proposed that we spend $300 on a pair of tennis shoes has revealed that much.

It’s as if there is a conversation going on behind closed doors that has nothing to do with the reality of our world.

Or, does it?

Can we truly blame James – the larger than life superstar of the NBA Champions Miami Heat – for trying to capitalize on our lack of financial education? After all, many of us do pray that he wins his basketball games.

So if we pray for that, then shouldn’t we want him to be as well equipped as he can on the basketball court to win.

He’s simply saying that he needs to wear shoes that cost $300 to do so and that you should wear them as well to do your best.

On the other hand, if you don’t buy into the hype of LeBron and Nike’s latest get-richer scheme, then there may be hope for our collective financial literacy.

Wisdom says to most people that there is no way that some of us will pay $300 for a pair of tennis shoes by “King James.” Why? For one, that kind of money can be

Nike expects to debut the LeBron X Nike Plus, this fall. On Tuesday (Aug. 21) National Urban League president and CEO Marc H. Morial asked Nike to abandon plans to release a $315 basketball shoe, imploring parents not to spend scarce resources on an empty status symbol. A Nike spokesman has said the reported price is “inaccurate” and that the main version of the shoe would be significantly lower.

spent on at least ten pairs of shoes at the right place.

Number two, there is a Bible out there that actually helps some change the thought patterns that directly affect their life ventures, producing very positive outcomes in their personal and professional lives. Those people SEE SHOE ON PAGE 8

Jordin Sparks

• ‘Sparkle’: A movie for every woman. See Entertainment, page 12.

• Coach Tim Thompson: Better not bitter. See Sports, page 15.

Page 2

FORD

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

2007 bribery conviction in Memphis.

“I haven’t spoken with him since we picked him up,” said Edgar Miller, chief of opera-

SHOOTING

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

A Justice Department official met with the Carter family and interested citizens last Tuesday (Aug. 14) to hear community concerns.

Adding to the widespread disgust many in the African American community feel over the mystery surrounding Carter’s death has been the “ugly” manner (as termed at the press conference Wednesday) in which information continues to trickle from Jonesboro police. The uneasiness escalated after the department seemed to rush a video to the Internet depicting how police say Carter could have maneuvered to kill himself while shackled in the back of a police car.

This week, Jonesboro police released a toxicology report reflecting that Carter had trace amounts of several drugs in his system. Officers reportedly found marijuana on Carter as well. A white powder substance and a scale for weighing drugs reportedly were also found in the vehicle.

Carter was not the driver of the car. The men he was traveling with were released and have not been identified.

Carter was held on a warrant that had been previously issued for his arrest.

Police said they have located a man alleging that he texted Carter with a request to bring him a gun shortly before Carter was arrested, and that Carter was somehow involved in a deal involving four ounces of marijuana.

They also assert that blood splatter was found on Carter’s hands and in the patrol car.

Community activists wonder why that information is com-

NEWS

Tri-State Defender

August 23 - 29, 2012

tions at N.J. Ford and Sons.

“But he was understandably glad to be back home, and we were happy to see him back.”

Ford was housed in the federal correctional facility in Yazoo City, Miss., approximately 181 miles from Memphis.

ing in bits and pieces and not in a full report.

At the press conference We d n e s day, the Carter family atChavis t o r n e y, Carter Benjamin Irwin of the Cochran Firm, said it was strange that the two other men Chavis Carter had been traveling with had been released.

“The video carries a lot of key information that we are concerned about,” Irwin said.

“No matter what they report, he died while in police custody and they had a duty to protect him.”

Careful not to accuse anyone of wrongdoing, Irwin said, “When you see and hear Chavis on that tape, at least what has been released of it, you hear him talking, and he sounds bright and energetic. It in no way supports the theory that he was suicidal for even one moment.”

Shortly after the press conference, Teresa Carter, Chavis Carter’s mother, took Jackson’s hand as he led her to a private room for solitude and prayer.

Kareem Ali, the organizer of the press conference and several community prayer vigils, stood watch in the hallway, along with Jackson’s chief aide, Bishop Victor, and Joseph B. Kyles, an officer of the local Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

After the break, the next scheduled stop was Jonesboro to visit the site of Chavis Carter’s death and another community prayer.

Carter family supporters pledged to continue to employ

Edmund Ford, proprietor of E.H. Ford Mortuary and brother of the former senator, said the family was “obviously elated to have him home.”

“I don’t really want to make a statement, per se, but we are all very thankful that John is back home,” he said. “He will

be coming back home in a few days, and obviously, he’ll have no trouble getting a job. Next week, he’ll probably be giving interviews.

“But for now, we should let what he has already said speak for him when he said that great things are ahead for him and

that he has a story to tell. None of us can tell that story for him.

He will speak for himself,” said Ford. “I guess the most important thing is to look ahead and leave all that has happened back there in the past.”

When Ford was told that some of the former state sena-

tor’s one-constituents expressed loyalty and hoped he returns to politics, Ford laughed and remarked, “I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear that.

Yes, he will sure love to hear that. Who knows what lies ahead for him? We’ll all just have to wait and see.”

“No matter what they report, he died while in police custody and they had a duty to protect him.”

Benjamin Irwin

public protests as they seek answers for questions they said are yet to be addressed, including an allegation in a document listing 19 of the family’s concerns. That particular concern referenced an allegation – by the driver of the car on the night Carter was arrested – that a white powder substance found in the vehicle belonged to the driver’s mother.

Ali introduced the list on Monday (Aug. 20) at a public vigil at the National Civil Rights Museum. Before the vigil began, he spoke of other concerns that have not been addressed.

“There was no independent autopsy done, there have been no results of ballistics tests for powder on the hands of Chavis or the officers, and the mother didn’t even get to see her son until four days after the incident,” Ali said. “She told me that she stayed in a prayerful state because she could not believe that it was her son.”

Chavis Carter’s uncle, Lacharlos Winters, 31, said he and his nephew were very close. If Carter was seriously involved in the drug world, as his confidant and “go to” guy Winters believed he would have known.

During the vigil’s memorial portion, he told the crowd that “When you talked to him he was not like what you would be seeing,” said Winters during the memorial portion of the vigil. “He had made mistakes, typical teenage mistakes, but he was beginning to grow up and starting to look toward the future.

“I believe he would have

Chavis Carterʼs mother, Teresa Carter, accepts a supportive hug outside the National Civil Rights Museum, where a vigil was held for her son on Monday (Aug. 20).

At right is Chavis Carterʼs grandmother, Anne Carter Williams. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

“I don’t know a young black man that didn’t spend some time in the streets, but we were growing up. It wasn’t the life we chose, it was the hand we were given. I’ve never seen a good hand dealt to a black man except on TV, and this ain’t ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.’” Laryan Bowen

been a veterinarian. He liked bugs. He had the image, wanting to be cool like everybody else, but we knew he was geek squad.”

Carter’s best friend, 21year-old Laryan Bowen, said he and Carter became members of different gangs in their teens, but had grown away from it.

“He was a Gangster, I was a Vice Lord, two different sides of the streets, but none of that really mattered to us, colors,” said Bowen. “The last four days of his life, I bet you out of 365 days in a year we were together 250 of them, just having fun. I’m not saying we were perfect, but as far as the streets, we were trying to stay away from them.

“I don’t know a young black man that didn’t spend some time in the streets, but we were growing up. It wasn’t the life we chose, it was the hand we were given. I’ve never seen a good hand dealt to a black man except on TV, and this ain’t ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.’” The Rev. Kia Grandberry of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church triggered a passionate ovation with her

closing prayer at the vigil.

“We ask that You commission people to do more than just pray, to put feet to movement. Let this prayer lead to a process. Let the process lead to progress. Let us be restless to create progress in our communities. Let us be restless when young men feel like they don’t have anything positive to do with their time. Let us be restless when we see more young black men in prison than we see in colleges.

“Let us be restless to not be comfortable to just be living.

Let us break outside of the box and quit accepting poor things from our society and poor things from ourselves.”

The family’s suffering, she said, had served to draw “us together to remind us that something has to be done…”

OPINION

Tri-State Defender

Page 3

August 23 - 29, 2012

Pre-K is prerequisite for student, community success Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Tarrin McGhee

Around the world, a quality education is viewed as the golden ticket to a bright future.

Local achievement rates Tarrin reveal an McGhee urgent need to ensure that more students are being adequately prepared to cash in.

Last week, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) reported that the city of Memphis is leading the state with the highest number of low performing schools.

Figures released by the TDOE last year show that a mere 4 percent of Memphis City Schools students, 20 percent of Shelby County School students, and only 10 percent of students state-wide are meeting college readiness benchmarks.

And on the 2011 National Assessment of Education Progress (a nationwide assessment of what America’s students know and can do in various subject areas), Tennessee falls in the bottom 10 of all 50 states with a ranking of 46th.

Over the past few years, the need to improve academic achievement has remained at the forefront of the legislative agenda for government leaders across the state, particularly in Memphis and Shelby County.

However, the current condition of America’s public school system and its detrimental effects on the state of the economy paints a dismal picture and raises the question: what – if anything – can be done to truly improve student success?

New, innovative approaches to increase academic performance, test scores, graduation, and college attainment are taking shape across our community, sparking local and national interest and debate on issues surrounding best practices to improve education quality for students.

The Urban Child Institute believes that the first step is to adopt a proactive approach that begins with supporting policy changes focusing on early childhood development.

Currently, less than 50 percent of all students in Shelby County are meeting kindergarten readiness benchmarks.

School readiness is a key indicator of future success.

Research shows that long before they enter Kindergarten, children build critical cognitive, emotional and social skills that influence their inschool development and overall academic performance.

Enrolling in Pre-k or Head Start is proven to be an effective way to aid in the development of those skills.

According to The Urban Child Institute, 67 percent of children who enroll in PreKindergarten are school ready by the age of 5, compared to only 28 percent of children who are not enrolled.

Yet, despite local and nationwide studies that highlight the positive impact of Pre-K and Head Start, not all children are granted access.

Family income level and socioeconomic status often dictate whether or not the option to enroll is readily available.

However, if everything goes according to plan, that will soon change for children in Shelby County.

On Aug. 3, the Transition Planning Commission (TPC) released its final version of the plan to guide the merger of Memphis and Shelby County schools, set to take effect in the 2013-14 school-year.

Ensuring universal access to Pre-K for all 4 year olds is at the top of the list of recommendations to meet educational priorities for the unified district.

The TPC recommends expanding the program to include 2,500 additional slots that will be added over the course of the next 5 years.

The new investment would add $3 million yearly to the total operating budget for Shelby County Unified Schools.

The Urban Child Institute firmly believes that expanding Pre-K is necessary to strengthen public education, and more importantly, is a wise investment in our children and in the future our community.

For example, studies by The

Urban Child Institute and early childhood development experts nationwide conclude that children enrolled in Pre-K are likely to outperform their peers in college and career, and are less likely to require social support or to engage in criminal activity.

As a result, beyond the individual benefits it provides, PreK can also significantly impact the poverty, unemployment

and crime rates that affect a community’s bottom line.

The economic vitality of a city depends greatly on the educational achievement and attainment levels of its citizenry.

In order to reverse the negative trends that persist in Memphis and Shelby County, parents, residents and government leaders must do more to ensure that students are starting out on the right track.

Over the next 12 months, using the transition plan as a guide, the Shelby County Unified School Board will continue working to determine the next steps to move forward with the schools merger.

On Monday (Aug. 20), board members hosted their final community meeting (in a series held over the past 2 weeks) to gather public input and feedback on the plan to

create a unified school system that will meet the academic needs of all students.

The Urban Child Institute’s research and data on how to promote and protect the health and well-being of young children in Shelby County fully support the TPC’s recommendation for universal Pre-K. By breaking down the first barrier to educational achievement, the investment will yield

impressive returns for students and for the (Greater Memphis) community.

(The New Tri-State Defender has partnered with The Urban Child Institute to make sure every child has the best chance for optimal brain development during the critical first three years of each child’s life. This is one in a series of stories and columns in our campaign.)

Page 4

OPINION

Tri-State Defender

August 23 - 29, 2012

John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)

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

The Mid-Southʼs Best Alternative Newspaper

A Real Times Newspaper

Condoleezza Rice

Condi Rice blazes trail at Augusta

by Deron Snyder

Vice President Joe Biden arrives for a meeting with President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon in the Oval Office. (White House photo by Pete Souza)

Dump biden talk is just that: talk New America Media

by Earl Ofari Hutchinson Hillary Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines turned faux rapper when he thumped out a rhythmic message to the press vehemently denying that there have been any meetings, back room deals, or nervous talk at the White House about dumping Joe Biden and replacing him with Hillary.

Reines had to move quickly to squelch the incessant media chatter about a Biden exit for two simple reasons. One it’s not going to happen.

Even if Hillary hadn’t repeatedly and vehemently said it wasn’t going to happen, history has shown presidents almost never dump their VPs in the midst of their reelection bid. Only one president in the past seven decades has switched VP’s in midstream. That was FDR in 1944 when he dumped VP Henry Wallace under pressure because of Wallace’s much too pronounced leftist politics and utterances. Harry Truman got the replacement nod and the rest is history.

The only other VP that bowed out of an administration in midstream was Spiro Agnew in 1973. He was President Nixon and the GOP’s sacrificial lamb. He faced a criminal indictment on bribery charges and resigned as part of a plea deal to avoid a prison stint.

Presidents don’t change VP’s especially in the middle of a tough reelection battle for obvious reasons. No incumbent has ever won or lost the White House based on the politics, ideology, or personality of their VP. They do not have that kind of power or authority. VP’s serve at the pleasure of the president and do his bidding; no more, no less. A switch of VP’s in the midst of an election would signal utter desperation, campaign chaos, and panic. This would be the near political kiss of death for a president.

The other reason is Biden. He is and will remain on the ticket for precisely the reason that he was picked

by President Obama in the first place.

He is a hard hitting, policy knowledgeable advisor and point man. The supposed gaffes that he has made are anything but that. They are wellscripted, thought through political set pieces carefully designed to convey a serious and politically enhancing policy stance by Obama.

Take the two blurts that got him in supposedly hot water. The first was on gay marriage. Biden was roundly slammed for getting out ahead of Obama in endorsing gay marriage.

This supposedly forced Obama to follow suit before he was ready. But gay advocacy groups are integral to Obama’s reelection drive. They proReaders weigh www.tsdmemphis.com

vide enthusiasm, growing vote numbers and major funding. The price for firming up their support was a fullthroated endorsement of gay marriage. Anything short of that, including a further delay on endorsing it, would have been politically risky for the president. Biden just said and did what Obama had to do.

The same is true of Biden’s “chains” quip. The slave-skewed imagery was simply dramatic reaffirmation of the Obama campaign’s center hit piece against Romney. And that’s that a GOP White House will tank the economy, and wreak untold economic misery on the poor and minorities.

This has and will be repeated incessantly by Obama and every other Democrat all the way up to November 6. It will almost certainly be repeated in even harsher terms than Biden could muster.

Then there’s race. It’s a volatile minefield that can explode in a presidential election even when it appears not to. This was the case in Obama’s White House win in 2008.

A Harvard researcher found that race cost Obama 3 to 5 percentage points of the popular vote in the 2008 election. If race had not been a negative factor in the election, Obama’s win over GOP presidential foe John McCain would have been a walkover in the popular vote. The even more troubling thing is that the loss of white support came largely from many conservative white Democrats, who simply stayed home rather than vote for Obama. In an AP-Yahoo poll, one-third of white Democrats said they had negative views of blacks. More than 40 percent of them said they would not back Obama.

Biden can play a big role here.

He’s from a border state. He is a solid fighter in the trenches, and hails from a blue collar background. He can and will be an important bridge to try and keep conservative blue collar white Democrats from straying from the fold. He’ll keep hammering hard with them that despite their racial reservations about Obama, the threat of a Romney-Ryan hack up of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and labor protections pose a far greater danger. He will not use polite language to make that point, nor will he be expected to.

Biden’s active appearances at black and Latino gatherings, his rough language, and his policy expertise are a huge plus for Obama in a down and dirty campaign. Any talk about dumping Biden is just that, talk. The likelihood is even that won’t last much longer.

(Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author, political analyst and host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFKRadio and the Pacifica Network.)

WEB POSTS in

on

‘Writing new chapters’ in Southern Baptist history Edition: Aug. 16-22, 2012

(Dr. Sybill C. Mitchell interviews Dr. Fred Luter, the first African American elected president of the Southern Baptist Conference, during an appearance at Bellevue Baptist Church.)

POST: Pastor Luter is an awesome man of God. He has a heart for all people. He loves his wife, kids and family, but most of all he loves God. I will keep him in my prayers!

– Michelle Mondy Woods

Family’s need, faith and candor yield home-makeover support Edition: Aug. 16-22, 2012

(Bernadette Shinault-Davis tells the story of Kenneth and Yolanda Rogers, the beneficiaries of a home makeover and more from an effort spearheaded by Believers Unite!

Worldwide Church.)

POST: Praise God, for people like The Beliievers Unite Worldwide Church and Business Leaders in the community, God gets Glory out of this and the parishoners will be truly blessed. What a beautiful story. – Pinkie Greer

My crime: wanting a good education for my girls

As a parent, what lengths would you take to ensure that your child had an opportunity to achieve the American Dream?

If you love your child as much as I love my two daughters, the limits to your sacrifice are endless.

Marian Wright Edelman once said, “Education is a precondition to survival in America today.” I believe this to be true. Despite my family’s socio-economic status, I knew that a quality education would blaze a trail to a better life for my daughters and allow them to reach their God-given potential.

I am an ex-felon. However, I did not burglarize or assault anyone. I did not rape or steal. I was convicted for falsifying records about my residency so that my daughters could attend a safer, higher-performing suburban school.

Sadly, wanting the best for my children earned me nine days in prison, 80 hours of community service, and two years of probation.

Each night I spent in my jail cell, I prayed for my daughters and spent countless hours thinking about other parents and guardians like me. Parents that were helpless – recognizing that their child deserved a better education than what was being provided, but no rational options to attain it. I thought about families like mine, who did not have room in their tight budgets to pay for private education, nor afford the high property values of suburban districts.

What are they to do?

My nightmare was further evidence that education is the civil rights issue of our generation. And, like most rights, our country’s most vulnerable communities are left behind.

In an effort to help families avoid the fate that befell to me, I founded the Ohio Parents Union, an organization tasked with empowering parents throughout the state and providing families with resources to effectively advocate for the rights of their children. No longer should parents with children trapped in failing schools be left without rational options.

One of the solutions my organization strongly supports to aid this issue is a parent trigger.

Parent trigger allows a majority of parents to mobilize together and sign a petition to turn around a persistently low-achieving public school. In addition, it provides families with leverage where they otherwise do not have it by increasing pressure on districts and others in charge of failing schools. By granting this power to parents, low-performing schools can now be held accountable to the needs of the students, families, and communities they serve.

Think about it.

It is natural for parents to put the interests of their children above in-

Kelley Williams-Bolar

terests of the school system. Moreover, the more power parents can exercise over their children’s education, the more likely our cities will be to construct education systems that put our students first.

Despite aggressive efforts to intimidate parents, four states – including my home state of Ohio – have passed comprehensive parent trigger legislation. Many others are have considered, or currently in the process of considering this revolutionary idea.

The concept of parent trigger has even inspired an upcoming film, “Won’t Back Down,” starring Viola Davis. The film – scheduled for release September 28 – portrays a single mother that organizes parents to take control of their children’s failing school over strong union opposition.

I strongly encourage parents, teachers and school administrators to watch the movie.

Though the film was scripted in Hollywood with make-believe characters, real parents across this country are faced with this harsh reality every day. For those parents, please keep your head up and continue fighting the good fight. There is no reason we should have to gamble with the academic outcomes of our children.

I was handcuffed, portrayed as a villain, and called a criminal by our justice system for doing what I could to guarantee my children had access to a quality education, and a chance to have a better life than I had. Like many of you, I am not rich. However, the greatest legacy or inheritance we could ever leave our children is a fair shot to achieve the impossible.

I encourage parents across the country to learn your rights, and visit the websites of StudentsFirst (www.studentsfirst.org), and the Black Alliance for Educational Options (www.baeo.org) to educate yourselves on this issue.

In addition, I urge parents to press elected officials to pursue parent trigger legislation in your communities.

Politicians, I urge you to listen to our voices.

Our kids should not be trapped in failing schools with no way out. This needs to change now. Our future is way too important to wait.

(Kelley Williams-Bolar is a NNPA guest columnist.)

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Condoleezza Rice doesn’t mind being among the best in her field, and she hasn’t been shy about being first, either, whether it was the first African-American woman to serve as national security adviser, secretary of state or Stanford University provost.

Now she can add another precedent to her list: the first AfricanAmerican woman to become a member at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters.

“I have visited Augusta National on several occasions and look forward to playing golf, renewing friendships and forming new ones through this very special opportunity,” Rice said Monday (Aug. 20) in a statement released by the club.

She joins South Carolina financier Darla Moore as the revered club’s first female members.

This is no small step for Augusta National, which opened in 1932 and seemingly has been stuck there ever since. The club didn’t have a black member until 1990, but there’s no shortage of black waiters, black bartenders and black caddies. It’s among the nation’s most exclusive organizations, believed to have about 300 members, all of them accomplished, connected and wealthy.

Part of me wants to congratulate the club for leaving its antebellum roots behind. Another part wants to ask, “What took so damn long?” A decade has passed since Martha Burk, of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, began pushing Augusta National to include female members. Burk’s urging led to a famous quote from then-club Chairman Hootie Johnson: “There may well come a day when women will be invited to join our membership, but that timetable will be ours, and not at the point of a bayonet.”

Though there was no movement during the past 10 years, the issue arose in April when Virginia Rometty became IBM’s chief executive.

The company’s previous four CEOs were given club membership; Rometty was not.

Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne deflected questions about women as potential members four months ago, but he called Monday “a joyous occasion” in announcing that Rice and Moore had accepted invitations to join.

“These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf, and both are well-known and respected by our membership,” Payne said in a statement. “It will be a proud moment when we present Condoleezza and Darla their green jackets when the club opens this fall. This is a significant and positive time in our club’s history, and on behalf of our membership, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome them and all of our new members into the Augusta National family.’

Rice, 57, is best known for her work in government and academia (she’s currently a professor of political economy at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business), but she has mentioned her love of sports on many occasions, especially football. She dreams about becoming the NFL commissioner one day, and she stars in a new marketing blitz for female NFL fans. She took up golf seven years ago and went at it with a passion, as she does everything else.

Now, as a golf fan who is about to gain entrance to Augusta National, Rice seems more focused on the game than on her gender or historical significance. “I have long admired the important role Augusta National has played in the traditions and history of golf,” she said. “I also have an immense respect for the Masters tournament and its commitment to grow the game of golf, particularly with youth, here in the United States and throughout the world.”

It took the club a long time, but it couldn’t have made a better choice.

Not only does Rice meet all of the criteria for membership, but she’s also a veteran trailblazer.

(Special to New America Media via The Root, where Deron Snyder’s Loose Ball column appears regularly. Follow him on Twitter and reach him at BlackDoor Ventures, Inc.)

OPINION

Tri-State Defender

Page 5

August 23 - 29, 2012

And you thought Ryan had a bad budget plan Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has been carefully trying to put some distance between him and running mate Paul Ryan’s radical budget proposal but he has a major problem – his plan would make even deeper cuts than the Ryan plan.

A careful analysis of Romney’s plan by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) observed: “Governor Mitt Romney’s proposals to cap total federal spending, boost defense spending, cut taxes, and balance the budget would require extraordinarily large cuts in other programs, both entitlements and discretionary programs.

“For the most part, Governor Romney has not outlined cuts in specific programs. But if policymakers exempted Social Security from the cuts, as Romney has suggested, and cut Medicare, Medicaid, and all other entitlement and discretionary programs by the same percentage – to meet Romney’s spending cap, defense spending target, and balanced budget requirement – then non-defense programs other than Social Security would have to be cut 29 percent in 2016 and 59 percent in 2022.”

That would shred the social net

that Romney claims to support.

“Governor Romney’s cuts would be substantially deeper than those required under the austere Housepassed budget plan authored by Budget CommitGeorge tee Chairman E. Curry Paul Ryan (RWisc.). Over the 2014-22 period, Romney would require cuts in programs other than Social Security and defense of $7 trillion to $10 trillion, compared with a little over $5 trillion under the Ryan budget,” the analysis pointed out.

As I wrote in this space last week, another Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report stated, “Combined, the Bush and Ryan tax cuts would provide an annual windfall of nearly $400,000 apiece, on average, to people with incomes over $1 million. By combining large budget cuts (and tax increases) that disproportionately harm lower-income Americans with big tax cuts that disproportionately help those at the top of the income

FLASHBACK: 2009

scale, the Ryan budget would significantly worsen inequality and increase poverty and hardship (and reduce opportunity as well, through deep cuts in programs such as Pell Grants to help low-income students afford college).”

And Romney’s budget proposal is worse than that.

In an interview with CNN on Feb. 1, Romney said: “I’m in this race because I care about Americans. I’m not concerned about the very poor.

We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I’ll fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich; they’re doing just fine. I’m concerned about the very heart of America, the 90 percent, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling.”

Rather than fixing the safety net for the poor, Romney’s budget proposal would rip it into pieces.

A May 21 updated analysis by CBPP revealed, “The cuts that would be required under the Romney budget proposals in programs such as veterans’ disability compensation, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for poor elderly and disabled individuals, SNAP (formerly food stamps), and child nutrition programs would move millions of households below the poverty line or drive them deeper into poverty.

“The cuts in Medicare and Medicaid would make health insurance unaffordable (or unavailable) to tens of millions of people. The cuts in nondefense discretionary programs – a spending category that covers a wide variety of public services such as elementary and secondary education, law enforcement, veterans’ health care, environmental protection, and biomedical research – would come on top of the deep cuts in this part of the budget that are already in law due to the discretionary funding caps established in last year’s Budget Control Act (BCA).”

During the campaign, Romney has listed several key proposals that would affect federal spending, taxes and the deficit: Reduce federal spending to 20 percent of GDP by the end of first term and cap it at that level.

Increase “core defense spending” – roughly 93 percent of defense spending – at 4 percent of GDP. Extend the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts and other tax cuts set to expire, reduce income tax rates by another 20 percent, making the top tax rate 28 percent; eliminate the estate tax; reduce the corporate income tax and Balance the budget.

“Although Governor Romney has not proposed specific Medicare policies, it would be virtually impossible to achieve his budgetary objectives while sparing Medicare from substantial cuts. If Medicare as well as Social Security were protected, all other programs – including Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, education, environmental protection, transportation, and SSI – would have to be cut by an average of 40 percent in 2016 and 57 percent in 2022, just to limit federal spending to 20 percent of GDP,” the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities stated. “If the budget also had to be balanced, all government programs other than defense, Social Security, and Medicare would have to be nearly eliminated: six out of every seven dollars going for them would disappear.”

And you thought the Ryan budget plan was bad.

(George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service and editorial director of Heart & Soul magazine. He can be reached through www.georgecurry.com, or you can follow him at www.twitter.com/ currygeorge.)

A VIEW FROM THE RIGHT

NATION / WORLD

Page 6

Tri-State Defender

August 23 - 29, 2012

In Chicago, mixed reviews for Nation of Islam as crime-fighters NNPA News Service

by J. Coyden Palmer CHICAGO – Three weeks after the Nation of Islam sent dozens of men into some of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods to help quell violence, the reaction to their presence has been mixed from organizations that have been on the front lines of fighting crime in Chicago for years.

Organizations such as Ceasefire and longtime independent community activist Andrew Holmes welcome the NOI presence. But other organizations, such as the Willie Williams Youth Foundation, and dozens of residents were not impressed.

For two Mondays in a row, Nation of Islam men dressed in their traditional suits and bow ties, dispersed throughout violence-plagued Chicago neighborhoods – first in Auburn-Gresham, then South Shore. They formed a human wall of protection and according to Chicago police there were no incidents of violence in those areas on that day.

They also passed out copies of the Nation of Islam’s newspaper, “The Final Call,” and DVDs titled, “Justifiable Homicide: Black Youth in Peril.” They also went door to

door and spoke with residents.

Although some did not open their doors, many spoke with NOI members through the windows.

Willie Williams Jr. lost his son, Willie Williams III, to a senseless act of violence outside a local movie theatre on April 1, 2006. Since then, he has been committed to action against violence in Chicago.

He started a youth foundation that bears his son’s name. Recently, Williams had to have both of his kidneys replaced after doctors discovered cancer. Now cancer free, he is anxious to get back to the work of running the foundation, but has serious reservations about Farrakhan’s role in stopping violence in Chicago.

“You have to start by going to the gang members on their turf and engaging in constructive conversation with them,” Williams said. “You can’t just come in and pass out literature and hope the presence of your celebrity will bring about a change. I’m so tired of organizations and people saying that if they had a certain amount of money they would do this or that; it’s a lot of people out here with resources who are just flaunting it.”

Much of the consternation that Williams and other critics have with the NOI is they

have yet to lay out a transparent long-term plan, which they say is vital to any program’s success. The NOI has not released its plans to the media and Farrakhan would not take questions from the press even when he was out on the streets with his followers last month.

“I didn’t hear any concrete solutions to the problems. I didn’t hear or see them talking about implementing a security plan for these neighborhoods,” said Dave Jackson, who lives in the South Shore community, the second neighborhood NOI members visited earlier this month. “They were mostly talking to people about how black people need to unify, learn their history and have love for one another. I think that’s good and all, but a rallying message is not what we need right now. So to me it seemed like they were just trying to recruit people to the Nation.”

Tio Hardiman, the Illinois director for Ceasefire, applauds Minister Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam for stepping into the fray.

“We need all hands on deck,” Hardiman said.

“Everybody needs to play a role because a lot of organizations cannot reach everybody.

The Nation of Islam may be able to reach a certain segment of the population. We

need black leaders to champion the cause right now.”

Hardiman is hoping Farrakhan’s depth of knowledge on the history of AfricanAmerican people will help educate “the cowards who are out here killing children.”

“There is an internal fight that these young brothers don’t really understand. We have to bring them the right information to help them liberate their minds,” Hardiman said. “It’s the mindset that has to change.

Black youth are killing each other in record numbers because they do not know who they are and what they represent. Everything that they represent is false because nobody is winning in regards to how they have been raised or how they have been taught. Many of them have been taught the wrong information.”

Holmes, who works closely with the police department and residents of the community as an unofficial conduit, said he has yet to be contacted by anyone from the Nation about collaborating on events to stop the violence, adding that he believes unifying all of the community organizations will be an important step. He also said the way members of the Nation address Black men on the street in a dignified, respectful way goes a long way.

Nation of Islam members on point as Minister Louis Farrakhan talks to residents in a South Side neighborhood about curbing shootings and other violence.

(Courtesy photo) Still, the most powerful weapon the community has is good parenting because then there is no need for people to have to be linked to any specific organization, he said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy support the NOI’s efforts.

“They have decided, the Nation of Islam, to help protect (the) community and that’s an important ingredient like all the other aspects of protecting a neighborhood,” Emanuel said. “You cannot get there on just one piece of an anti-crime strategy.”

In the 1990’s the Nation of Islam Security Agency Inc. was awarded a $4.3 million contract to patrol 16 public housing units in Baltimore, Md. The same agency was also awarded contracts in 10 other U.S. cities,

including Chicago, by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Those contracts came under heavy congressional scrutiny and eventually HUD canceled them for “contract bidding irregularities” and questions about how the NOI Security Agency won the bid. It also faced scrutiny from federal agencies for racial and gender preference in hiring and from the IRS for failure to withhold taxes from employees. However, HUD officials maintained the cancellation was not based on job performance, which had great reviews in Washington D.C. public housing, but not so good reviews in other cities, according to HUD. (Special to the NNPA from the Chicago Crusader)

Labor chiefs denounce South African mining massacre Disturbing images of guntoting police firing point blank at striking miners shocked South Africans and others around the world. Thirty-four workers fell dead in the melee – the worst case of postapartheid state-sponsored violence since 1994.

The Marikana massacre, named after the UK-based Lonmin platinum mining complex, was denounced by labor leaders, including U.S.

labor chief Richard Trumka.

“Once again, mineworkers who produce so much wealth under often dangerous daily working conditions have paid the highest price – their lives – in a completely avoidable industrial conflict,” said Trumka, a former mineworker and now AFL-CIO president. “We call on the South African government to take immediate action to address the brutality.”

Tony Maher, head of Aus-

tralia’s miners’ union added: “Lonmin sowed the seeds of industrial relations by bypassing established collective bargaining processes and now threatening to sack 3,000 striking workers.”

Lonmin’s past safety record at Marikana was deplorable, Maher said, with six fatalities occurring in the first seven months of 2011.

Ironically, among Lonmin’s non-voting executive directors is the former secretary of the

Africa National Congress, now billionaire, Cyril Ramaphosa.

As strike talks broke down and violence loomed, ANC leader Jacob Zuma, Ramaphosa and others were out of town.

An effort to browbeat the workers back to their jobs was called off when only a quarter of the work force showed up on Monday (Aug. 20).

Flags will be lowered to half-mast and an official day for nationwide memorial ser-

vices will be held on Thursday.

Meanwhile, former ANC youth leader Julius Malema, at a miners rally, denounced Pres.

Zuma for his late arrival to the incident. Zuma has presided over the “massacre of the people of South Africa,” Malema charged. “How can he call on people to mourn those he has killed? He must step down.”

(Source: Global Information Network)

Women praying at mining site, where 34 workers were killed by police. (GIN photo)

Tri-State Defender

BIZ BITS Internet Essentials rolls into year two

Comcast is out to increase enrollment in the Internet Essentials program that is entering year two of a thrust to help connect low-income families to the Internet.

The program’s transition into its second year was marked by a highprofile event held this week (Aug. 23) at Soulsville Charter School, 926 East McLemore Ave. Nearly 100,000 families or 400,000 lowincome Americans are enrolled in the Internet Essentials initiative.

Comcast aims to involve the community, local government officials, educators and parents in the enrollment effort.

The goal of Internet Essentials is to help get more American families online and help close the digital divide. The program helps provide Internet connections for low-income families with children who receive a free or reduced price school lunch as part of their enrollment in the National School Lunch Program.

Research underlying the program identifies three of the main barriers to broadband adoption: 1) a lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful; 2) the cost of a home computer and 3) the cost of Internet service.

The Comcast event dovetailed with a special ceremony to brand the new computer lab at the Soulsville Charter School, which was financially supported by the Comcast Foundation.

MMBC Economic Development Forum

The Mid-South Minority Business Council Continuum (MMBC) will host the 2012 Economic Development Forum Aug. 27-29 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

The forum’s overall theme is “The Continuum Begins: The Evolution Towards Market Efficiency in the Macroeconomic Environment.”

Myriad healthcare leaders will discuss the future of healthcare and the potential impact on minority economic development during the CEO/Presidents Roundtable on

BUSINESS

Page 7

August 23 - 29, 2012

Aug. 29, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Other seminars include: The Power of Diversity & Inclusion in a Changing Economy; The New Normal: Developing Staying Power – Through Solutions & Efficiencies; Emerging Markets: Capturing the $ of the New Consumer; and 2GMBE: Developing a New State of Mind for Business Growth.

To register and for schedule information, visit www.mmbc-memphis.org or call 901-525-6512.

What would you do if told to evacuate?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency made 99 major disaster declarations in 2011, the most mega catastrophes declared since 1953. What is even more concerning is what citizens are doing – or not doing – in the wake of an approaching catastrophe.

A new survey from Allstate shows more than one-in-four (27 percent) Americans say they would ignore evacuation orders and wait until absolutely necessary before leaving their home or seeking shelter in the event of an imminent natural disaster.

According to the Allstate survey, the elevated level of disasters and property damage have not been a call to action for many. Not only are people willing to take their chances with an approaching catastrophe, they may not be as prepared as they should be.

Nearly half (46 percent) of survey respondents say they have not thought about or even discussed an evacuation plan or meeting place away from the home for their family.

The majority of Americans (62 percent) also say they have not prepared an emergency kit. Fifty-six percent of homeowners and renters say they have not made a home inventory list of their personal belongings.

The study was based on telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 residents with homeowners or renter’s insurance, age 18 years and older across the United States. Interviews were conducted May 16-17 and 19.

The survey was conducted by FTI Consulting for Allstate.

MONEY MATTERS

The benefits of giving

A recent study using data from 136 countries suggests that spending money for the benefit of others promotes a feeling of happiness in the giver. This may not be surprising to the many people who donate to charity. Almost three-fourths of charitable giving in the United States comes from individuals.

Charitable contributions could also help ease your tax burden; therefore, it’s important to keep appropriate records and follow IRS guidelines. Here are some tips that could help you derive tax benefits as you provide help to others.

Qualified organization. Make sure that the charity is a qualified charitable organization under IRS rules. Not all charitable organizations are able to use all possible gifts, so it’s a good idea to check before you give. The type of organization you select can also affect the tax benefits you receive.

Records. Keep written records for all cash and noncash contributions.

Cash contributions of $250 or more require a specific written statement from the organization or an appropriate bank or payroll deduction record.

Documentation for noncash contributions deCharles pends on the Sims Jr., CFP amount of the deduction, with progressively more rigorous requirements at thresholds of $250, $500, $5,000, and $500,000.

Contributions from which you benefit. If you receive a benefit as part of your contribution, such as a “gift” or a dinner, you must deduct the fair market value of the benefit from your charitable contribution.

Volunteering. Although you cannot deduct the value of your time or services, you can deduct un-reim-

bursed, out-of-pocket expenses for the benefit of a charitable organization, such as supplies for a fundraiser. You may also deduct vehicle expenses directly related to serving a charitable organization, using actual expenses or a 2012 rate of 14¢ per mile. You need specific documentation for un-reimbursed expenses of $250 or more.

IRS rules for charitable contributions can be complex, and these are only basic guidelines. Before you take any specific action, be sure to consult with your tax professional.

(Charles Sims Jr. is President/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group.

Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.com.

The information in this article is not intended to be tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor.)

ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

$11 million FDIC settlement to benefit 60,000 college students Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Charlene Crowell

As millions of college students return to campus, a recent settlement by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) may become a financial blessing to students and their parents. An estimated 60,000 students are expected to share $11 million in restitution from two financial firms – Higher One Holdings, Inc. and Bancorp Bank.

According to FDIC, beginning in July 2008, the firms charged multiple nonsufficient fund (NSF) fees from a single merchant transaction.

By allowing student accounts to remain overdrawn for long periods of time, the firms were able to collect more NSF fees while also charging more fees for subsequent deposits to student accounts.

Most importantly, these practices exposed an often hidden role that financial institutions have on college campuses. As student monies were eaten up by these fees, the remaining available funds diminished the availability of monies intended for tuition and other student expenses.

FDIC held that Bancorp Bank, based in Wilmington, Del. was responsible to ensure that Higher One operated the OneAccount program in compliance with all applicable laws. Unfair or deceptive acts or practices are violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act. According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Higher One has card agreements with 520 campuses that enroll 4.3 million students. Commenting on the settlement announcement, Rich Williams, higher education advocate for U.S. PIRG said, “We commend the FDIC for holding Higher One accountable. Student aid should not be a piggy bank for banks to dip into especially when their practices are unfair or deceptive.”

In May, U.S. PIRG released The Campus Debit Card Trap, a report that found banks and financial firms now control or influence federal financial aid disbursement to more than 9 million students by linking checking accounts and prepaid debit cards to student IDs and providing financial aid disbursement services. According to the report, students can pay significant fees that are charged against their student aid, including per-swipe fees of 50 cents, inactivity fees of $10 or more after six months and overdraft fees of up to $38. Financial institutions use aggressive marketing to maximize these fees, the report found.

The FDIC settlement will also

require the two firms to pay a combined $282,000 in civil penalties.

In addition, should Higher One fail to fully repay the $11 million in restitution, Bancorp Bank will be fiCharlene nancially reCrowell sponsible for restitution payment. Higher One expects to pay credits on current and charged-off accounts. Closed accounts are expected to be paid by check.

Additionally, the settlement orders multiple changes to practices by the two financial firms.

Higher One has agreed to: Not charge NSF fees to accounts that have been in a continuous negative balance for more than 60 days; Not charge more than three NSF fees on any single day to a single account; Not charge more than one NSF fee with respect to a single automated clearing house transaction that is returned unpaid within any 21-day period; Refrain from misleading or deceptive representations or omissions in its marketing materials and/or disclosures; and Institute a sound compliance management system.

Similarly, Bancorp Bank is now required to: Correct all violations; Significantly increase its management of third-party risk; Increase board oversight of all compliance matters; and Improve its compliance management system.

In the aftermath of the Great Depression, Congress created the FDIC in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation’s banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at 7,309 banks and savings associations across the country.

Today, a series of recent enforcement actions in financial services are giving hope to consumers: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s recent $140 million action against Capital One, the Department of Justice’s $175 million action against Wells Fargo and the newest FDIC $11 million settlement signal that regulators are heeding the concerns of consumers.

(Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at: Charlene.crowell@ responsiblelending.org.)

Felecia Bean (left) attends to details at The New Tri-State Defenderʼs Women of Excellence gala held earlier this year. (Photo by Warren Roseborough)

Family Business:

Felecia Bean and family cater to please

Recently, I was fortunate to serve as legal counsel for a movie called “N-Secure” that was filmed in Memphis. Daily on the set, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks were provided to the crew courtesy of Felecia Bean Catering. And it was wonderful!

Omelets prepared on demand, fresh seasoned fruit – the choices were incredible. As a full-service caterer, Bean can do it all. Her background is as impressive as her food presentation.

From overseeing meals at convention centers to servicing the Congressional Black Caucus, she is a stellar professional with an eye for detail.

Although the business has been a husband-and-wife team enterprise, Bean and her husband are now gearing up for a transition to the next generation, their son, Frederick Bean Jr. This is what most family businesses strive for – “the successful transition of a successful business.”

While it is always a roll of the dice on whether children will be interested in taking over the business, after years of hard work and training, it appears that Felecia Bean Catering is on the right track.

Carlee McCullough: Tell us about your family.

Felecia Bean: My husband is an employee of Coca Cola Bottling Company here in Memphis. He is my biggest supporter. When it comes to the Catering Business he has learned so much over the years that if I have two (2) engagements at the same time, he is Felecia Bean Catering at the other event. We have two sons, and one of them, Frederick Bean Jr. has said for years that he wants to take over the business one

Carlee McCullough

Felecia Bean

day. We had a hard long talk at the end of his spring semester at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn. He encouraged us that he knows how to grow the business and that we should allow him too.

CM: So you made the transition to your son? How did you do that?

FB: Yes. He gave us an 18-month transition plan that guides him to full ownership of the company. The plan was so comprehensive that I had to laugh and pinch myself at the same time. He has brought new customers that we have never seen, including a great deal of young brides and young professional organizations.

CM: How is it going so far?

FB: I am extremely pleased with how the transition is going. We do have professional differences when it comes to technique, style and execution.

CM: What is your son’s background?

FB: Fredrick Jr. is going to be a student at Lecole’ Culinaire in January of 2013. I am sure he will also continue to keep us as members of

the Memphis Restaurant Association, NACE, and the many local community organizations that keep us first and foremost in the Memphis community.

CM: What is Fredrick doing differently to make a difference?

FB: Fredrick’s big asset is that he does a great deal of tastings. I did not do many tastings for customers, but this seems to do very well for him.

He has a huge following with those Free Chocolate Covered Strawberries. When you are a new customer and he has opportunity to meet with you about your upcoming event he brings you fresh Strawberries. Brides love this. Holiday planners cannot wait until the event to have more. Although we have professional differences, he still gains customers in his own way.

CM: What has been your greatest reward in the catering business?

FB: Our greatest reward has been that we all get a chance to grow and learn together. There is extra satisfaction in knowing that our customers are pleased with their event.

This is the cherry on top at the end of the day. We are still living in the city that we really love, with great company name recognition.

CM: What is the next step for your company?

FB: The next step will be the full natural transition of the company to my son.

CM: After the transition, what’s next for Felecia Bean?

FB: I am working closer with my parents, who own Bean and Prince Contractors, Inc. As they age they are seeking a more laid-back and traveled life. I want to make it easier for them with succession planning.

CM: Have the sacrifices been worth it?

FB: Sacrifices for your business are always worth it as long as you do not sacrifice the love of your family.

CM: Any closing remarks or advice?

FB: Stay true to yourself and deliver your reputation.

(For additional information about Felecia Bean Catering visit www.feleciabeancatering.com.)

Page 8

BEST

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

sor and as part of that relationship, the Early Morning Praise Team, led by Michael Adrian Davis along with Eileen and Sherry will be hosting the 2012 Best In Black Awards. They make a great team, are fantastic communicators and bigtime funny.

Entertainment: A stellar line up of talented artist will be performing. The Mid-South area’s best DJs, dancers, singers and poets will grace the stage to perform their BEST for you. The show will also include a tribute performance to the 40th Anniversary of Wattstax.

Tickets: Tickets went on sale Aug. 10 at The New TriState Defender offices, however all tickets are now available for sale at ticketmaster.com and at all Ticketmaster locations. A

SHOE

NEWS

limited number of VIP Reception and Preferred tickets are on sale at our office, 203 Beale St., Ste. 200. The price of these tickets are $55 (orchestra seating) and $45.00(parterre). General admission, mezzanine and lower balcony tickets are $35.

General admission/upper balcony tickets are $30.

Only a limited numbers of tickets are available for purchase at the TSD office. Tickets purchased through ticketmaster.com will include additional processing fees. The first 400 people to buy tickets for this event will get a sixmonth home subscription to The New Tri-State Defender.

Sponsorships and ads: Special sponsorship offers to include presenting roles at the event, print ads and electronic ads are available. Congratulatory ads for nominees or for others seeking to market their businesses in the show’s program or post-event special edi-

“I wonder does LeBron understand the violence CONTINUED FROM FRONT that he is creating in the wouldn’t even spend $300 on community for the that “King James Version,” so unprivileged kid’s who can’t LeBron is completely out of afford that shoe but will luck with them. Equivalent – seek to get them by any I’d say – to how he felt about winning an NBA Champi- means necessary?”

Steven Hardrick onship with the Cleveland

Cavaliers.

Pastor Steven Hardrick of Life Change -N- Ministry said it’s ridiculous that anybody is trying to charge somebody $300 for a pair of tennis shoes that will probably go out of style next month.

“As a pastor, I wonder does he realize that kids that love him probably can’t afford these shoes. Could he afford those shoes when he was a child?

How soon we forget where we come from,” said Hardrick.

NEWSPAPER LOCATIONS

“ My six-year -son plays in a basketball league and he’s going to be just fine without those shoes. He already has a pretty nice jump shot by the way. I wonder does LeBron understand the violence that he is creating in the community for the unprivileged kid’s who can’t afford that shoe but will seek to get them by any means necessary?”

August 23 - 29, 2012

tion are also available. Contact our sales team at 901-5231818 or at advertising@tristatedefender.com.

Volunteers: We have a few select volunteer opportunities available for the event and leading up to the event. Call Nina Johnson at 901-679-8545 if you are interested in being a volunteer/TSD Ambassador.

It is time for you to get your best and most glamorous outfits together to walk the black carpet and share in one of Memphis’ BEST celebrations ever. Make sure you get your tickets this week. You don’t want to be the one hearing about it; you want to be the one talking, tweeting and posting in Facebook about it because you were there!

We will make a few additional announcements as we go forward this week. Thanks for being a part of the TSD family and the 2012 Best in Black Awards!

Cliff Stockton Jr., who is involved with outreach ministry Life Change -N- Ministry, said, “We could stretch out $300 over some month’s on food that we serve.”

Amanda Nicholson, a Nashville mother of four adult children, said $300 is far too much for a pair of shoes.

“I hope for the parents of today that they are able to make the right decision on this matter,” said Nicholson. “For me, when I was raising my kids, I never would’ve considered that at all. He’s putting far too much pressure on the parents.”

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

Tri-State Defender

COMMUNITY

Tri-State Defender

Page 9

August 23 - 29, 2012

Whalum files lawsuit, poses question:

‘Is Memphis better than this?’

Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Within 60 days, Chancellor Kenny W. Armstrong is expected to issue a ruling that will reverberate throughout District 4 and quite possibly beyond.

Armstrong finds himself in that pivotal position after veteran school board member the Rev. Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr. filed suit Wednesday (Aug. 22) challenging the results of the Aug. 2 election. Republican Kevin Woods squeaked out a narrow victory (108 votes) over Whalum, according to results certified on Monday.

The Chancery Court clock is now ticking on Whalum’s request that he be declared the District 4 winner. Or that the election is decertified, with the District 4 results tossed out, making room for a new district election.

“This is unprecedented in Shelby County political history,” Whalum

told The New Tri-State Defender on Wednesday. “Not in recent memory has there been a candidate suing the election commission. The result will serve as a legal precedent either way.

And we all have a part to play in this process. Elections must be impartial and fair.”

About 3,000 early votes could not be counted because they were incorrect; among those was the vote of Whalum’s wife, Sheila Whalum, the couple has said. Some ballots reportedly had Woods’ name appearing unopposed in the 4th District of the Unified School Board. Also, suburban voters did not have a municipal schools referendum on the ballot.

“We are asking anyone who received irregular ballots or were refused the opportunity to vote in their own district during early voting or on election day, or were given a ballot with only my opponent’s name on it – any of these experiences should be reported to attorney Robert Spence at

901-312-9160 as soon as possible or they can sign an affidavit in support of the suit,” said Whalum.

“Ultimately, this matter begs the question – regardless of legal outcome – ‘Is Memphis better than this?’”

Woods moving forward

When Whalum announced plans to ask for a recount, Kevin Woods was visiting District 4 schools, welcoming students back on their first day.

When news reports showed the Whalums filing suit Wednesday morning, Woods was meeting with community designees, he said, to “strengthen our corporate and nonprofit partnerships with public schools.”

“My thoughts are that I should continue to focus on why I sought the appointment and eventually won the election,” said Woods.

Dance Festival & Kids Expo

Like you mean it…

The Memphis Dance Festival & Kids Expo held Saturday (Aug. 18) at Robert R. Church Park downtown featured dance studios and groups that were passionate about the art of dance. (Photos by Tyrone P. Easley)

Eat, drink and be merry…

The festival/ expo presented by Incredible Pizza was a kid-friendly outing that also yielded back packs and school supplies for the earliest of attendees.

BRIDGES welcomes Mayor Cory Booker

BRIDGES’ 90th anniversary celebration will include a visit by Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, N.J., who will speak during a lunch event on Oct. 25 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

As leader of New Jersey’s largest city since 2006, Booker and his administration have worked Cory to set a national Booker standard for urban transformation by marshaling the city’s resources to achieve security, economic abundance and an environment

You gotta friend…

The fun included a chance to make new friends, even masked ones. The festival was designed to get kids moving toward a healthier and more active lifestyle.

deemed nurturing and empowering for all individuals and families.

Under Booker’s leadership, the Newark Police Department has undergone radical transformation, and reduced crime by more than 40 percent. The city recently committed to a $40 million transformation of city parks and playgrounds through a public/private partnership.

The theme of Booker’s address will be “Leadership in Action.” Tickets are $75 each and space is limited.

Reserve your table or seat today! For more information, call 901-452-5600 or email info@bridgesusa.org.

Midnight Classic Bike Tour set for Aug. 25

Meritan’s 13th Annual Midnight Classic Bike Tour, a 17-mile noncompetitive bike ride through the streets of Memphis, will be held Sat-

BRIEFS & THINGS

urday (Aug. 25) at Poplar Plaza Shopping Center, Poplar and Highland.

The event begins with a Lunar Festival at 10 p.m. with music and bike vendors who will help registered bike riders on their way. Police and volunteers will man the route.

The bike ride is open to all ages.

Following the tour, concessions from Central Bar B Q, Gibson’s Donuts and Fat Tire Beer will be served to registered cyclists.

Registration is $35 for adults and $20 for children, students and military personnel with current identification. For more information, visit www.midnightclassicbiketour.org or contact Elise Bone at Meritan at 901766-0613.

BRIEFLY: HealthSpring, a leading Medicare Advantage plan, will hold auditions Aug. 25-26 from noon to 6 p.m. at The Loose Goose, 8014 Club Centre Drive in Cordova, for

“I cannot be side-tracked by things out of my control. If what we teach our children is true – that work equals results – then we expected to win on election night. Therefore, my thoughts and focus continue to be on how we can improve education in Shelby County.”

Woods expressed confidence that his victory is sure, recount or no recount.

We outworked our opponent by going straight to the voters for support, not other elected officials,” said Woods. “We branded a message of more work and less talk. So I stand confident that more people voted for me on August 2nd than my opponent, and I expect those results to stand.”

Whalum has also raised questions about the more than $150,000 pumped into local elections by the national organization, Stand For Children. The group bankrolled some seven candidates, including Woods.

“Like in most jobs, work gets no-

Rev. Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr.

Kevin Woods

ticed, and those who are not working eventually get exposed,” said Woods. “I came to the board with no political backing, only the desire to work hard on behalf of the teachers, parents, and students of East Memphis and Hickory Hill.

Those who believe that Memphis’ best days are still to come got behind me.

“No matter what, I am proud to have the support of such a strong child advocacy organization like Stand For Children,” said Woods. “I would encourage more parents and community activists to join this organization.”

Armstrong’s ruling notwithstanding, Whalum will retain his seat on the unified school board until 2013.

Team of feds served Memphis’ youth violence prevention strategy

Memphis’ “comprehensive youth violence prevention and reduction strategy” includes a string of initiatives that has Mayor AC Wharton Jr. drawing upon fire-fighting tips this week.

“When there’s a fire in the kitchen, you don’t point the fire extinguisher at the flames on the ceiling or the walls,” said Wharton, who highlighted the city’s strategy on Wednesday during a visit to Memphis by a team of federal officials.

“You aim at the grease below that’s feeding the fire,” said Wharton. “You aim at the base. That’s how you put the fire out….With these initiatives, we are aiming at the base.”

Federal officials from the White House and the Departments of Justice, Department of Education, Corporation of National Community Service, Housing and Urban Development, and Labor are in Memphis this week meeting with Wharton and local leaders on Memphis’s efforts to implement its comprehensive youth violence prevention and reduction strategy.

What’s in the strategy?

According to Memphis officials, more resources and funding recently have been allocated in highcrime areas such as Frayser and Northaven to address blight and neighborhood deterioration. The additional funding will support a campaign between local government and community leaders to fund revitalization strategies – demolitions, home improvements and reuse of abandoned buildings. The infusion of funds in the Frayser and Northaven communities are designed to provide a safe environment for children before an act of crime or criminal behavior occurs.

Memphis is one of six cities participating in the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention launched

by President Obama in 2010. The cities are using multi-disciplinary partnerships, balanced approaches and data-driven strategies to engage youth and to reduce violence.

Memphis’s youth violence plan is a component of Operation: Safe Community 2012-2016 Goal #5 Reduce Youth Violence. Supported by public and private partnerships, the goal highlights 13 enforcement, suppression, intervention and re-entry strategies. The strategies are aligned with several public safety initiatives including the Memphis the fifth annual Silver Stars talent competition. Musicians, singers and dancers age 60 and up are invited to compete for a chance to win the top prize of $5,000 and perform onstage at the Ryman Auditorium during the Silver Stars finals in Nashville this October. For more information or to register to audition, visit www.hssilverstars.com or call Billy Block at 615-665-8772.

BRIEFLY: Ballet On Wheels Dance School and Company is hosting their annual Dance Open House on Sept. 8 and Sept. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm at Hutchison School. For more information, call 901-870-4348 or visit www.balletonwheels.org BRIEFLY: The Whitehaven Class of 1992 will hold its 20th year reunion Sept. 27-30. For more information, call Lisa Johnson at 312608-9910 or Robin Mathews at 901949-2891. Information also available

Police Department’s Community Outreach Program, Community LIFT, and the Shelby County Defending Childhood Initiative (DCI).

The federal team’s five-day visit to Memphis was crafted scheduled to include “The Fatherhood Connection,” a round table discussion on local fatherhood initiatives and their community. Also on tap was a symposium on youth re-entry, moderated by Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole Chairman Charles Traughber, and visits and observations of several DCI partner organizations, including the Memphis Child Advocacy Center and Family Safety Center.

The mix also includes the “United by Faith” Police & Clergy Conference, emphasizing effective communication, relationship-building and coordinated collaboration between police and clergy.

The federal partners in the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention are the Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

In addition to Memphis, the other participating cities include Boston, Chicago, Detroit; Salinas, Calif., and San Jose, Calif. The cities were selected based on need, geographic diversity, as well as willingness and capacity to undertake the comprehensive efforts that are the hallmark of the forum.

City officials say Memphis has demonstrated its commitment to reducing youth violence over the long run by investing significant amounts of time and energy to plan and implement strategic and datadriven strategies.

Wharton and Bill Gibbons, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner and Operation: Safe Community Chair, first presented Memphis’s comprehensive strategy to address youth violence and gang activity at the Summit on Preventing Youth Violence, April 4-5, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

(More details about the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention and summaries of the city plans are available at: www.findyouthinfo.gov or http://operationsafecommunity. org/theplan.)

via whitehavenclassof92@ gmail.com.

Visit w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / g r o u p s / WHSCO92.

BRIEFLY: The Bridges Into Health Workshop: Strategies to Reduce Inequities and Improve Health Outcomes will be held Sept 21 to examine the link between poverty, poor health and rising health care costs.

And what can be done about it. The workshop ($50) will take place in the Saint Francis Hospital Longinotti Auditorium, located at 5959 Park Ave. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop will run from 9 a.m. –to 3 p.m. The sponsors are Healthy Memphis Common Table and the Assisi Foundation. For more information, contact Healthy Memphis Common Table Project Manager Connie Binkowitz at connie.binkowitz@healthymemphis.org or 901-800-5108.

Visit www.healthymemphis.org.

RELIGION

Page 10

Tri-State Defender

August 23 - 29, 2012

RELIGION BRIEFS Families Matter Conference at Brown Missionary Baptist

Do you desire to be stronger as a family unit?

Or, do you have rebellious, out-of-control children? Do you want to prevent risky behaviors that lead to teen pregnancy, drug addiction, school dropouts, etc.?

Are you transitioning due to divorce, breakup, uniting into a blended family? Or, are you dealing with the loss of a home, job, family member? Is your family experiencing any form of brokenness or desire to be strengthened?

At Brown Missionary Baptist Church, the thought is that solutions are available for all families, and that’s the reasoning behind the Families Matter Conference on August 24-25 at the church at 980 Stateline Road East in Southaven, Miss.

The family conference is for families in Southaven, Memphis, Olive Branch, Horn Lake and the surrounding areas. Dinner, breakfast, lunch, vendors/exhibits, workshops, games and all activities are free.

The church or community organization with the most families represented will be recognized. The host pastor is the Rev. Bartholomew Orr. For more information, call 901-573-4374.

Women’s Day takes center stage at Progressive MBC

The theme will be “Fill My Cup Lord” during the Annual Women’s Day celebration at Progressive Missionary Baptist, 394 Vance Ave., on Sunday (Aug. 26).

The Rev. Dr. James B. Collins, the host pastor, will speak during the 11 a.m. service. Alicia Norman, the first lady of First Baptist-Broad St. Church, will speak during the 3:30 p.m. observance.

The co-chairpersons are Lisa James and Rosanna Stepney.

Castalia Baptist to note anniversary No. 96

Castalia Baptist Church, 1540 Castalia St., will observe its 96th Church Anniversary Celebration with two services on Sunday, Aug. 26.

At the 8 a.m. service, the guest speaker will be the Rev. J.L. Van Buren, pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Dr. Randolph Meade Walker, the pastor of Castalia Baptist Church, will speaker during the 11 a.m. service.

The anniversary celebration chairpersons are Eula Boulton and Carolyn Turman.

BRIEFLY: Ross Road Church of Christ, 920 Ross Rd., is the venue set for the 4th Annual Back to School Charity Weekend Awards Ceremony & Silent Auction on Friday (Aug.) 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

BRIEFLY: The Rev. Anthony Henderson, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, will be the evangelist during Summer Revival, 7:30 nightly on Aug. 27-31 at Castalia Baptist Church, 1540 Castalia St., where the Rev. Dr. Randolph Meade Walker is host pastor.

Joy, joy, joy!...

“Serving God With A Spirit Of Excellence” was the theme as Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, 229 South Danny Thomas Boulevard, celebrated the first pastoral anniversary of Elder Charles H.M. Patterson Jr. and his wife, LaShaundra C. Patterson, during services at the church last Sunday (Aug. 19). (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

Waller Awards reward ‘Christian Excellence’ Four scholarships and two namesake awards were conveyed during the annual event in salute to the “Christian Excellence” of the late Rev. Eugene Waller and his wife, Aurelia Waller.

The observance was hosted by The Missionary Society of Cummings Street Baptist Church, with Ada Westbrooks serving as president and Carrie Grant as president emeritus.

The 2010 Eugene Waller Faithfulness Award was bestowed upon deacon Fred Johnson, with the Virtuous Woman Award going to Norma L. Ford. Each is designed to spotlight an individual who exemplifies “Christian principles, personal integrity and loyalty to the customs and traditions that

support the Cummings Street Baptist Church family.”

The Rev. Eugene Waller served Cummings Street as pastor for over three decades and was affectionately dubbed by colleagues as the “Prince of Preachers” for his ability for storytelling to clarify a Biblical message.

The Eugene Waller Scholarship Program recipients for 2012 are: Charles Clark, who will attend the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) this fall and major in sociology. His aspiration is to be a high school social studies teacher.

Evan Robinson, who will attend Campbellsville University this fall, wants to become a physical therapist.

Norma L. Ford is the winner of this yearʼs Virtuous Woman Award. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley) Ashley T. McFerrin, a Tennessee State University student majoring in psychology and communications.

PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

—John 13:34

METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH ASSOCIATE MINISTERS

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

Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor

767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126

901-946-4095 fax 948-8311

(901) 948-3441

Early Morning..........7:45 AM Church School..........9:45 AM Morning Worship......11:00 AM

Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews

Bible Study For Youth and Adults Tuesday - 7:00 PM “Spirit, Soul, and Body!”

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

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

TV Cable Access Broadcast Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Channel 17 Website:www.saintandrewamec.org

Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter

THE BLVD Ea s t 6745 Wol f Ri v e r B oule v a r d @ Ki r by Pa r k wa y ( i n t he Cl a rk Ope r a Me mphi s Ce nte r ) Me mp h i s T N 3 8 1 2 0

Dr. Frank A. Thomas Senior Servant

TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST

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

WEEKLY SERVICES

Sunday Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Night YPWW 5:00 p.m.

Night Service 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday Night Prayer 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m.

Friday Morning Prayer 9:00 a.m.

Night Service 7:30 p.m.

No Telecast Service

— Proverbs 1:7

Dr. David Allen Hall Pastor

“The Founder’s Church”

First Pastor: Senior Bishop C.H. Mason

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

—Ecclesiastes 3:1

Greenwood Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 3311 Kimball Ave. Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 744-7531 (901) 744-7664

Worship Services Sunday Sunday School Worship Service

Clarence Kelby Heath Wednesday Pastor

Noon - 1 p.m.

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Child Care Center (901) 948-6441 Monday-Friday 6 AM- 5:30 PM Emergency Food Pantry Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, Pastor & Clothes Closet Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Co-Pastor Wednesday 6 PM-8 PM

“Ministering to Memphis-Spirit, Soul and Body”

672 So. Lauderdale 38126 P.O. Box 314 Memphis, Tn 38101 Phone (General) 774-1572 Pastor: 775-0740 Secretary: 775-1909

BROADCASTS 9:30 a.m. Sunday WDIA - 1070 AM

Cell Waller III, who will attend the University of the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) this fall and major in sports management.

9 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

—Revelation 1:8

Tri-State Defender

RELIGION

Let me tell you a story…

August 23 - 29, 2012

The Rev. Issac Slack (left) of Senatobia, Miss., drew upon Matthew 21:12-17 for his sermon, “When Jesus Went To Church,” during a service at Cornerstone Baptist Church (Memphis) last Sunday (Aug. 19). The service makes way for a 77th birthday celebration on Aug. 26 for the host pastor, the Rev. Eugene Henson (right).

(Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

Page 11

ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, August 23 - 29, 2012, Page 12

WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?

FILM REVIEW

Daytime TV talk: more Steve and ‘less’ Wendy

I look forward to the day when I get that call from Hollywood saying, “Myron. We’d like to give you your own daytime talk show! We would also like to pay you a truckload of money to do it!” However, Myron until that time Mays comes, I guess I will settle for checking out the daytime TV talk show hosts who have already gotten that call.

I’m especially excited about the new Steve Harvey daytime show simply titled “Steve Harvey.” In addition to his morning radio show and his hosting duties on “Family Feud,” Harvey is about to conquer daytime television as well. His new show will focus on real topics such as marriage, family, dating, finance and workplace issues.

And, of course, he will address these topics as only Harvey knows.

That means it will have no choice but to be funny.

The show will premiere locally Sept. 4, on Fox 13, WHBQ weekdays at noon. I guess I will have to set my DVR. Meanwhile, “The Wendy Williams Show” will be getting a makeover this season, with some big changes to her set design. And if you liked the “Hot Topics” segment, it will be extended to a whopping 18 minutes.

We can also expect to see her in full High Definition. Even her wardrobe will be changing just a bit.

Williams, who quips that she is ten times thinner these days from hitting the gym, will be wearing more pencil skirts and blue jeans, along with her signature wigs.

The current season of her show starts on Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. on Fox 13 WHBQ as well. I won’t have to set my DVR for this one. The show repeats each night on BET.

Universoul Circus

The Universoul Circus returns to Memphis on Aug. 28 through Sept. 3 at the Hickory Ridge Mall. If you’re familiar with the Universoul Circus, you know that this particular circus is like no other. Bicycle girls, motorcycle daredevils and contortionists are just a few of the acts you’ll see, along with elephants, tigers and even trick dogs. Get your tickets now at all Ticket master outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or at www.Universoulcircus.com.

Unique Dating Mixer

The Unique Dating Mixer returns on Aug. 28 at Memphis Sounds Lounge located at 22 North Third.

This is a great opportunity to mix, mingle and meet other professional singles while enjoying great music, food, drinks and Facebook-style Q&A discussions. Admission is $10 and starts at 7 p.m. Hosted by me, Myron Mays.

Grown and Sexxy Fridays

Showtime Entertainment presents Grown and Sexxy Fridays, featuring Jerome Chism and The M-Town Band, one of the hottest bands in the city. Hosted by Comedian Stephon Smith every Friday at Soul’lucions Restaurant & Lounge, 2926 Lamar Ave. Suite 101. Doors open at 7 p.m,, show starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. For more info, contact Stephon Smith of Showtime Entertainment at 901-493-0336.

Bartlett Comedy Spot

You’ve seen him on “Def Comedy Jam,” “Next Friday” with Ice Cube and various comedy tours across the country, now comedian Don “DC” Curry will be at the Bartlett Comedy Spot on Sept. 21-22 for four big shows. Show times are at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Tickets are $25. Call 901-5903620 for more information.

Also, don’t forget each and every Sunday night at 8, Comedian Rob Love presents “Open Mic Poetry and Comedy Night.” Enjoy the bar.

Kitchen is open late as well. Tell a friend, bring a friend! Admission is free. The Bartlett Comedy Spot is located at 5709 Raleigh Lagrange.

(If you have an even you’d like for me to cover or attend, email me at Myron@whatshappeningmyron.com)

Tika Sumpter, Carmen Ejogo and Jordin Sparks in “Sparkle” (Photo by Alicia Gbur/Sony Pictures)

‘Sparkle’ sizzles as Whitney Houston’s cinematic farewell Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

Emma Anderson (Whitney Houston) didn’t want her daughters to follow in her footsteps by having babies as teenagers while squandering their future in the futile pursuit of celebrity and bad boys who wouldn’t treat them like ladies. That’s why the overprotective single-mom feels fortunate to be able to raise them in a middle-class suburb of Detroit where she keeps them on the straight and narrow path via a steady diet of Christianity and high expectations.

All three siblings have inherited the ability to sing from their mother, a blessing they put to good use for the Lord in the church choir every Sunday. However, each girl also has her own distinctive personality yearning to express itself.

Brainy Dolores (Tika Sumpter) has her mind set on attending Meharry School of Medicine. Self-effacing Sparkle (Jordin Sparks) is a gifted composer who’s too shy to perform any of her heartfelt ballads in public.

But seductive Sister (Carmen Ejogo) is just the opposite, being a confident extrovert who craves the limelight and the attention of men.

Consequently, it’s no surprise that Sister might rebel and run away from home, rather than abide by her mother’s restrictive house rules. She’s only been back in town for two months, but already has a couple of suitors competing for her hand, Levi (Omari Hardwick), a penniless, perfect gentleman, and Satin (Mike Epps), a flashy, silky smooth operator.

Given Sister’s materialistic nature, it’s easy to guess that that she would opt to entertain the overtures of the latter, a misogynist with a dark side yet to reveal itself.

Meanwhile, Sparkle starts dating Stix (Derek Luke) who encourages the talented sisters to form a trio and take a shot at superstardom.

So unfolds “Sparkle,” a modern morality play with a sobering message made all the more telling by serving as Whitney Houston’s cinematic farewell. Several of the late pop diva’s lines in the movie induce goose bumps, such as when she matter of factly asks, “Was my life not enough of a caution-

Blues legend Clarence Carter performing at the 10th Annual Tri-State Blues Festival at the Landers Center in Desoto County, Miss. on Saturday (Aug. 18). (Photos by Warren Roseborough)

Excellent (3.5 stars) Rated PG-13 for violence, profanity, drug use, smoking, mature themes and domestic abuse.

Running time: 116 minutes Distributor: Sony Pictures

ary tale for you?”

The film features standout performances by Whitney and Carmen Ejogo, with Derek Luke and Mike Epps appearing at their best as well.

Jordin Sparks certainly holds her own when called upon to sing, but she comes across in this big screen debut as not quite ready to handle a title role, at least acting-wise.

Written and directed by the husband-wife team of Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, respectively, “Sparkle” is very loosely based on the 1976 musical of the same name, with the point of departure, the timeline, plot developments, and the score being tweaked for the overhaul, and all for the better. A mustsee, between Whitney’s sentimental Swan Song and Carmen’s coming out party.

‘Sparkle’: A movie for every woman Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Stephanie Gatewood Resilience, domestic violence, shattered dreams and the reality of life are all elements from the movie “Sparkle,” starring Whitney Houston and co-starring Jordin Sparks. And as the film enjoys its run on the big screen, many communities are dealing daily with those elements in real life and real time.

The character Sparkle, played by Jordin Sparks, is insecure, talented and badly wants to gain the approval of her single parent mother, Emma Anderson (Whitney Houston). Sparkle looks up to her older sister, who eventually is overcome by substance abuse, domestic violence and the greater need for acceptance; seeking love in all of the wrong places.

Emma (Houston) – her dreams of becoming an entertainer shattered – is forced to live in the world as a single parent, raising three girls. As a mother, I can identify with Houston’s Emma. As a daughter, I can identify with the young women who think they have the worst mother on earth, until one day it becomes clear that Mom always knows best.

Carmen Ejogo has the role of Sister, who seeks a change from a struggling lifestyle.

She settles on a man with the wherewithal to provide her with materialistic possessions but uses her as a punching bag (Domestic Violence) – something that she could tolerate – ultimately leading to her shattered dream.

Every woman, young or mature, should see this movie. Sparkle overcomes her fear, conquers her dream and wins the affection and respect of her mother. Sparkle should be the model character for all of our young women, with the movie accentuating these much-desired character references: Be persistent, never allow anyone to steal your dreams or define your success, have determination, and live by faith. That’s a formula for success.

Whitney Houston in “Sparkle” (Photo

by Alicia Gbur/Sony Pictures)

Tri-State Blue Festival – 2012

Sir Charles Jones, nephew of the late blues great Jay Blackfoot, turned in a crowd-pleasing stage appearance during the festival, which included a tribute to Blackfoot.

ENTERTAINMENT

Tri-State Defender

Page 13

August 23 - 29, 2012

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 August 24, 2012

BIG BUDGET FILMS

“The Apparition” (PG-13 for terror, frightening images and sensuality) Haunted house horror flick about a young couple (Ashley Greene and Sebastian Stan) who enlist the help of an expert in the supernatural (Tom Felton) to rid their home of a ghost that arrived in the wake of an experiment in parapsychology gone amuck. Cast includes Julianna Guill, Rick Gomez and Anna Clark.

“Hit and Run” (R for sexuality, violence, drug use, graphic nudity and pervasive profanity) Romantic road comedy about a getaway driver (Dax Shepard) in the Witness Protection Program who risks blowing his cover to drive his girlfriend (Kristen Bell) cross-country while being chased by both the Feds and the gang he’s scheduled to testify against. Featuring Bradley Cooper, Tom Arnold, David Koechner and Kristin Chenoweth.

“Premium Rush” (PG-13 for violence and profanity) Peripatetic action thriller about a Manhattan bike messenger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) being chased all over New York City after picking up an envelope at Columbia University containing incriminating evidence about a corrupt cop (Michael Shannon). With Dania Ramirez, Jamie Chung and Aasif Mandvi.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

“Death by China” (Unrated) Outsourcing expose’ explaining why America has been in economic decline since the Peoples’ Republic joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 at the behest of Congress and multinational corporations.

“General Education” (PG-13 for sexuality and a drug reference) Teen comedy about a high school senior (Chris Sheffield) who has to hide from his parents (Janeane Garofalo and Larry Miller) that he still has to complete a science course over the summer in order to graduate and enter college in the fall on a tennis scholarship. With Bobby Campo,Elaine Hendrix and Maiara Walsh.

“Hermano” (Unrated) Overcoming-theodds saga about a couple of siblings (Fernando Moreno and Eliu Armas) from the slums of Caracas who make the most of the opportunity of a lifetime when they are offered a tryout with their hometown’s pro soccer team. Featuring Beto Benites, Gonzalo Cubero and Marcela Giron. (In Spanish with subtitles)

Wolé Parks in ”Premium Rush” (Photo by Sarah Shatz/Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc.)

“Knight Knight” (Unrated) Medieval comedy about a couple of knights in training (Tom Eykelhof and David Wayman) who embark on a zany adventure in search of cash and comfortable underwear. With Jonathan Hansler, Christina Bucher and Mingus Johnston.

“Somewhere Between” (Unrated) Roots documentary about the struggle of four teenagers to make sense of their lives after being adopted in China and raised in the U.S. from infancy.

“The Revenant” (R for graphic violence, pervasive profanity, drug use, sexuality and graphic nudity) Horror comedy about a recently-deceased Iraq War vet (David Anders) who comes back to life as a bloodthirsty zombie. With Annie Abbott, Senyo Amoaku and Amy Correa.

“The Victim” (R for profanity, drug use, graphic sexuality and gruesome violence) Psychological thriller about a woman (Jennifer Blanc) who comes to rely on help from a hermit (Michael Biehn) she meets in the middle of the woods while being chased by the perpetrators (Ryan Honey and Denny Kirkwood) of a murder she’s just witnessed.

With Danielle Harris, Tanya Newbould and Dana Daurey.

“Little White Lies” (Unrated) Ensemble dramedy about a Parisian restaurateur (Francois Cluzet) whose annual summer getaway to Bordeaux with his wife (Valerie Bonneton) and friends turns confessional after one of the guests (Jean Dujardin) is left near death by an auto accident. Cast includes Marion Cotillard, Benoit Magimel and Gilles Lellouche.

(In French with subtitles)

“Samsara” (PG-13 for sexuality and disturbing images) Non-narrative meditation exploring assorted wonders of the world from the mundane to the miraculous while delving into the unfathomable depths of humanity’s spirituality.

“Teddy Bear” (Unrated) Asian bride drama about a lonely, 38 year-old bodybuilder (Kim Kold) desperate for true love who travels from Copenhagen to Thailand to find the girl of his dreams (Lamaiporn Hougaard).

With David Winters, Elsebeth Steentoft and Barbara Zatler. (In Danish, Thai and English with subtitles)

“Wild Horse, Wild Ride” (PG for profanity) Equine whisperer documentary chronicling the efforts of entrants in an annual bucking bronco competition to tame wild mustangs in a hundred days or less.

HOROSCOPES

August 23-29, 2012

ARIES Use better judgment with regard to financial matters. Stop rationalizing. Money is important.

Do something about the fact that you might find yourself broke more often than you wish.

TAURUS Move slowly concerning relationships this week. People are a little edgy and they don’t know exactly where you are coming from. Make full explanations. Most of all, stay positive no matter what.

GEMINI You can’t be right all of time. Instead of always trying to be right, try to find the logic in other’s viewpoint whether you agree or not. Endear yourself to a loved one, by really listening to what they have to say. Don’t be so stubborn, that you deny yourself what you really want.

CANCER This week is a good week to dump any extra baggage that has been pulling you down. You have too much potential to waste your time on issues that will amount to nothing. Stay focused on your goals. Meet and spend time with people who will be able to help you reach them.

LEO Your spiritual vibes will give you insight on a situation that’s been on your mind. Share your thoughts with someone close to you. Spend time with friends and family that will provide support and guidance when you make an important decision.

VIRGO Your careless ways with money are going to be apparent this week. Financial mistakes you’ve made in the past will be especially painful. Don’t conceal the pain from yourself. It is a warning that you should take steps to prevent future financial crisis.

LIBRA Take advantage of the great weather and spend time outdoors enjoying and relaxing with Mother Nature. Learn a new sport, and spend time with family and friends. Cook up some goodies for your loved ones.

SCORPIO Stay positive, don’t let negative people get inside your head. You know that things will work out well. Ease rapidly away from anyone who is a naysayer. During the week, things may seem hard at times but soon life will be filled with fun. Enjoy!

SAGITTARIUS The bond that you established with your spiritual side works well in your relationship with a special person. Speak of the reality of the intangible qualities of life. Your lover will understand.

Keep attention on the financial matters you’ve been dealing with.

CAPRICORN The link that you’ve established with your spiritual self will be strengthened by the people who come into your life. This week is a week for seriousness about a relationship. Discuss your deepest thoughts with others. They’ll understand and thank you for sharing intimate parts of yourself.

AQUARIUS You’ve done some of your own love homework.

Hopefully you’ve discovered a new way of seeing the world and in that way you’ve found a way of loving that is more natural for you. The combination of sexiness and joyful focus can create you a wonderful love experience.

PISCES Share in the glory of your friend who has been recognized for outstanding work. Plan a small get-together to celebrate the occasion. Your time will come. Your intimacy radar is sensitive.

Watch out for a new romance that might come along. Expect the unexpected!

Source: NNPA News Service

Page 14

ENTERTAINMENT

Most watched original premiere in networkʼs history

TV One sets ratings record with ‘R&B Divas’ premiere

TV One is pumped up over the announcement that its newest reality series “R&B Divas” delivered the most watched original premiere in the history of the network.

The series, airing Monday nights at 9 p.m. CT, tells the real-life story of five multi-talented, beautiful R&B stars – Faith Evans, Nicci GilbertDaniels, Monifah Carter, Syleena Johnson and Keke Wyatt looking to reclaim their place in the musical spotlight.

The program garnered a .93 HH rating, delivering 531,000 homes and among P25-54, earned a .76 rating, delivering 479,000 viewers.

Nearly 900,000 total viewers tuned into “R&B Divas” during the premiere and encore airings.

“We were confident in the quality of production and that the compelling storytelling deriving from the Divas’ willingness to present their lives so openly and honestly would result in an entertaining series,” said Toni Judkins, TV One EVP of Programming and Production.

Wonya Lucas, TV One President and CEO, said , “As TV One continues to invest in original program-

ming that reflects the breadth and depth of true black life, it is encouraging to see the strong viewer response to quality entertainment programming.”

The eight-episode, one-hour series is filmed primarily in Atlanta, with additional shooting in Washington, DC, New York and New Orleans.

The series is produced for TV One

by Thinkfactory Media.

Launched in January 2004, TV One (www.tvone.tv) serves more than 57.3 million households. It is owned by Radio One, the largest radio company that primarily targets African American and urban listeners; and Comcast Corporation.

First Lady’s lineage a mostintriguing, multiracial mosaic Special to The New Tri-State Defender

“On November 4, 2008, Michelle Obama stood before a crowd of thousands of roaring, singing and weeping supporters in Chicago’s Grant Park... It was Election Night and her husband had just become the first African-American President of the United States…

(She) was… the poised picture of a sophisticated, self-assured woman prepared to take her place in history.

The truth was, though, that she knew very little about her own (history)…

Like many African-Americans…

Mrs. Obama knew her grandparents as a girl, but only bits and pieces about the relatives who came before them. She had grown up hearing whispers about white ancestors in her in her family tree, but no one knew who they were…

The First Lady wanted her girls to understand their own history, and she wanted to know more about it herself… The only way to do that is to go backwards, one generation at a time, peeling back the layers of history to unearth the story of one remarkable family and one singular nation…

Let the ancestors tell their stories.

Let them speak from the grave!”

– Excerpted from the Introduction (pgs. 3-15)

Between Barack Obama’s heartfelt memoir “Dreams from My Father” and a few further-enlightening, encyclopedic biographies of the President written by the likes of Dinesh Sharma (“Barack Obama in Hawai’I and Indonesia”) and David Maraniss (“Barack Obama: The Story”), we have a pretty complete picture of the President’s heritage. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said about the First Lady prior to the publication of this painstaking-researched opus.

Thus, the nation owes a debt of gratitude to Rachel L. Swarns, a reporter for the New York Times since 1995, for donning her investigative journalist cap to dig into Michelle Robinson Obama’s past. The upshot of that quest resulted in a reconstructed family tree going back to the 18th Century, including a slave-owning white great-great-great grandfather.

He was a plantation owner who mated with teenaged Melvinia Shields, Michelle’s maternal greatgreat-great grandmother. From evidence unearthed, the author

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BOOK REVIEW

by Kam Williams

CLASSIFIEDS

Tri-State Defender

August 23 - 29, 2012

establishes that he victim was helpless to protest because she had not only been “separated from any close family” since the age of eight but was “living in a society that viewed a white man’s rape of his slave women as a right, not a crime.”

Most of Michelle Obama’s ancestors lived in the Deep South, with her paternal great-grandfather, James Preston Johnson, who settled in Chicago in 1908, being among the first to participate in the Great African-American Migration northward. The book includes photos of both black and white relatives, a motley crew whose progeny you hope might someday have an opportunity to assemble to share a beer in the Rose Garden, if not make up for lost generations at a full-blown family reunion inside the White House.

The First Lady’s lineage as a mostintriguing, multiracial mosaic.

“American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama”

by Rachel L. Swarns Amistad Hardcover, $27.99 400 pages, Illustrated

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PUBLIC BID OPENING - DUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 AT 2:30 PM SEALED BID #SBI-000180 State Road Asphalt Resurfacing Project A voluntary pre-bid conference will be held at 9:00 AM, Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at the following location: Shelby County Roads and Engineering Building Conference Room, 6449 Haley Road, Memphis, TN 38134.

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BOOK REVIEW

Author brings children Digital Age escape route Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

“Kids love stories, and what could be more fun at playtime than stories that come to life? Author, illustrator, storyteller and pre-K teacher Steve Light has teamed up with Guidecraft to create Storyboxes based on classic stories from around the world.

Each beautifully-crafted wood Storybox, containing hand-painted characters, props, and settings, will inspire creative play and send kids’ imaginations soaring.

Storytelling and make-believe play a crucial role in child development, forming the basis for language comprehension and subsequent reading skills. With Steve Light Storyboxes, kids can use the intricately-detailed miniature figures and props to retell stories over and over, acting them out in their own words and creating new stories.”

– Excerpted from press info If you’re like me, you lament how the Digital Age has come to redefine

human life to the point that most people are always hooked-up to some form of electronic media, whether a cell phone, laptop, tablet or TV. Personally, I relish any culturally-enriching opportunity to push back against that unfortunate trend, and the “Little One Inch” Storybox affords just such a chance to go off the grid.

Created by pre-K teacher Steve Light, this educational tool effectively brings the Japanese folktale of the same name to life via a combination of narration and audience participation using props and improvisation. For the stimulating Storybox includes not only a copy of the classic story, but hand-painted, resin characters to encourage children to act it out while listening to a reading.

“Little One Inch” chronicles the effort of a brave little boy only an inch tall to rise to the challenge of protecting the beautiful Princess from a monster using just a needle for a sword. Ultimately, he is handsomely rewarded, being blessed in the end with both normal height and

the hand of the Princess in marriage before they ride off together into the proverbial sunset. The set of figures features the Princess, the Prince, the Big Fish, the Oni Monster and Little One Inch himself.

Besides “Little One Inch,” the talented Mr. Light has also adapted “Rapunzel,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “The Girl Who Loved Danger” into Storyboxes. If you are unfamiliar with “The Girl Who Loved Danger,” that African fairytale from the Congo, revolves around a headstrong little girl who’s always landing in trouble with her parents.

A fantastic collection of old-fashioned throwbacks to the days when an active imagination mattered more than being transfixed by mindnumbing gigabytes.

“Little One Inch”

by Steve Light Guidecraft Storybox, $50 Wooden box containing handpainted characters, unique props, settings and a story booklet

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SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, August 23 - 29, 2012, Page 15

TRACKING THE TIGERS

The University of Memphis held its final scrimmage of the preseason on Wednesday (Aug. 22) as the team moved closer to breaking camp and moving into game week preparations ahead of the Sept. 1 season opener against UT Martin.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” Fuente said. “We are going to

try to take advantage of not being in school. There will be a lot of meeting time and working to get everyone’s legs back.”

Tickets for the season and the Sept. 1 opener are available for purchase online at www.GoTigersGo .com or by calling the Tigers Ticket Office at 901-678-2331.

At U of M, the focus is on change New Tigers coach out to change football culture Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by J.R. Moorhead Tim Thompson, a 1983 graduate of Melrose High School, led Melrose to state titles in 1996 and 1998 and a runner-up finish in 1997. In 2001, he drew a suspension from Memphis City Schools for accepting money from a University of Kentucky assistant coach. (Courtesy photos)

Coach ‘T’ makes the cut Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Andre Mitchell

When Steve Harvey’s new daytime TV talk show debuts Sept. 4, former Memphis-area high school football coach, Tim Thompson, is scheduled to make a guest appearance – as an author.

Here he talks with The New Tri-State Defender about his new book – “The Locker Room” – and how he hooked up with Harvey.

Tri-State Defender: Coach ‘T,’ what do you say to people who still doubt you and your ability after taking lack luster programs at several schools – Westwood, Melrose, Fayette-Ware (Fayette County) – and turning them around?

Coach Tim Thompson: I do what I do, that’s coach, lead and inspire youth student-athletes and young professionals. In my coaching career, I have been through the fire so to speak, because of some choices that I have made, but nobody on this Earth is perfect. However, I am wiser as a coach and as a person now. And for all those people who may still doubt that I can get the job done, I simply say, “God takes you through certain life experiences to make you better, not bitter.”

TSD: What is “The Locker Room” saying to anyone who reads it?

Coach ‘T’: In a nutshell, it’s all about hope and inspiration. It talks about how you can be changed for the better by believing in who God has you to be and working hard to get where you want to go in life. Also, I think it will serve as a way for current coaches to realize that they are in a position to help turn lives around for the better.

Anybody can be a coach, but can you be a fatherfigure, a mentor, a teacher, a counselor, a person who inspires others to become greater than that person ever imagined? Now that’s a coach!

TSD: Whom (what target audience) did you write this book for?

Coach ‘T’: For anyone and everyone who wants to know how we took inner city, urban youth – many from dysfunctional, broken homes – and helped them make a successful life for themselves and their family through the game of football and the help of a traditionally strong community.

TSD: What inspired you to write/tell this story?

Coach ‘T’: There were people from the community, people in general, but mostly, it was the former players who would say to me from time to time that they wish they had “the locker room” in their current lives. Often, they say, “Coach, I sho’ miss those locker room talks!”

This was a time when we would be in the locker room before and after practice where we talked about things other than football.

“And for all those people who may still doubt that I can get the job done, I simply say, ʻGod takes you through certain life experiences to make you better, not bitter.ʼ” – Tim Thompson

We talked about life situations and I would often relate any scenario that they would throw at me to stories and relationships in the Bible. It’s all there from A to Z and after a while, they would test me on how to relate their personal situations to the Bible. That’s when I knew I had their ear and attention. So much in fact, they started bringing Bibles into the locker room to quiz me about certain things and together we would learn how to better deal with life. Of course, that’s another reason why we were able to do what we did, the way we did it. We had God in the midst of it all.

TSD: “The Locker Room” is set to be mentioned on the new and upcoming “Steve Harvey Show.” How did that come about?

Coach ‘T’: We shared the story idea with a few folks. As a matter of fact, we did an advance industry preview in Atlanta with Usher and Mary, Mary. Usher Raymond really liked the story and was blown away by what we did. One thing led to another and then marketing people began to get involved and when some of Steve Harvey’s people got wind of it, then they said they wanted to step up (to) an opportunity to get on board as well. So we’re set to appear as a special guest on Steve Harvey’s upcoming television show on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network on Sept. 4, 2012.

TSD: What’s next for Tim Thompson?

Coach ‘T’: I want to be able to bless someone else. If I had all the resources and the ability to do what I wanted, I would bless every underprivileged “ghetto” child in the world, especially the kids who live near the schools where I’ve coached. God told me to go back to where I got my start and open up educational, training centers for the kids in those communities.

So my vision is to go back to Westwood, Melrose, Fayette-Ware and Cypress. I got to go to North Memphis, without a doubt, and start a school to help the youth. That’s not only what I want to do, it’s what God has commissioned me to do. So I’m going to do it!

(For extended interview www.tsdmemphis.com.)

Q&A,

visit

After a disappointing 2011 campaign, the University of Memphis injected change into the football program.

The biggest news of the off-season was the announcement that the Tigers would be joining the Big East Conference. Many had embraced the notion that Memphis might miss out on a bid to a bigger conference during all the conference shifting and realigning, Another change, more directly pertaining to football, was the replacement of head coach Larry Porter with new head coach Justin Fuente.

The Tigers’ new head coach was most recently the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas Christian University, which has grown into a college football powerhouse over the last decade.

Now he is out to change the culture of Memphis football.

That might be easier said than done, but Fuente is making steps in the right direction.

It’s not that hard to spot some of the Tigers’ glaring problems. Go to a game. The largest crowd last year was for the home opener against Mississippi State and an overwhelming amount of those at the game were wearing maroon, not the hometown blue.

How do you capitalize on this?

Fuente’s answer: Schedule more SEC and top-tier conference opponents. Teams that Memphis could be competing against in the near future include Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Miami and Louisville, not to mention significantly better conference opponents once the Tigers transition into a Big East schedule.

Fuente’s thinking is along the lines that better opponents and higher at-

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS 2012-2013 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

tendances could significantly help with recruiting, coupled with the conference change. Sounds like a good plan. Well, unless the Tigers don’t win any of these games. Filling the stands is one thing, but at the end of the day winning is still the most important goal.

The first-year head coach has also required the entire team to learn the words to the fight song. When the Tigers record a victory they will all sing together in front of the band after the game. Quirky, yes, but it also may create a deeper bond between players and fans in the stands.

Fuente is definitely not the first coach to institute such a “tradition.”

It happens at schools all across the nation. However, it is much more fun when you get to participate in this tradition more than twice a season.

Otherwise, you risk the chance of just looking down right silly.

With just over a week remaining before their first game, Fuente looks to have the Tigers ready to face University of Tennessee-Martin. Yet, every journey has bumps along the way. The most recent problem facing Memphis is the injury bug. It seems to have bitten the offense pretty bad as the Tigers top three running backs – Rhodes, Steib and Gibson – are all banged up.

Coach Fuente has made it known that he would like to have Rhodes and Steib on the field for the first game, but if they can’t go, then he will find creative ways to use the run-game until he gets his betweenthe-tackle runners back into action.

These injuries will most certainly not be the last obstacle placed in front of Fuente and the Memphis football program this year. We will learn about the new head coach’s resilience, ability to push forward and keep everyone focused by the decisions he makes in the face of adversity.

No one said it was going to be easy, Coach.

Date Opponent / Event 09/01/12 vs. Tennessee-Martin 09/08/12 at Arkansas State TV 09/15/12 vs. Middle Tennessee State 09/22/12 at Duke 10/06/12 vs. Rice * TV 10/13/12 at East Carolina * TV 10/20/12 vs. UCF * TV 10/27/12 at SMU * TV 11/03/12 at Marshall * 11/10/12 vs. Tulane * 11/17/12 at UAB * 11/24/12 vs. Southern Miss * TV * conference event

Location Memphis Jonesboro, Ark. Memphis Durham, N.C. Memphis Greenville, N.C. Memphis Dallas, Texas Huntington, W.Va. Memphis Birmingham, Ala. Memphis

Time 6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

TBA 6:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

Dwight Howard emerges as new face of Lakers NNPA News Service

by Kenneth Miller From Watts to South Central, to Inglewood, to Hawthorne and beyond, Lakers fans are rejoicing in the acquisition of superstar big man Dwight Howard joining the storied basketball franchise.

It is one of those moments that sort of transcends your normal sports story. Not as important as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. assassination or the presidential election of Barack Obama, but you remember where you were when you heard about it.

I was sitting in Fridays on La Tijera waiting to be seated when the noise erupted. The Olympics were on the television screen and some obscure divers were in the pool, but it was all about Dwight.

“We Got Him!” Laker fans are not your normal breed. They don’t recognize the word pessimistic in the dictionary. They are always going to win the NBA championship. They actually hate every other team in the league and

the Celtics even more.

Winning 16 NBA championships and playing in 31 Finals will have that impact on you. Jerry, Kareem, Wilt, Shaq, Elgin, Magic, Phil, Chick, Pat – it is an association that is THE ASSOCIATION. So, here’s hoping that Dwight Howard realizes what he’s getting into by being traded to the Lakers from the Orlando Magic.

Laker fans are glad to know that you have been enjoying the shopping in Beverly Hills, the beaches in Malibu, the clubs in Hollywood and the adulation that has been rushed upon you.

They were thrilled to see you smiling at the introductory presser while mocking Kobe (Bryant) and embracing the opportunity of winning a championship.

They will be ecstatic when you put that Lakers uniform on for the first time, whether it be in December or January.

These fans are not really even tripping about your next contract with the Lakers after the season is over….That is if you don’t win a

championship.

You see, Dwight, as young as you are and as talented as you are, this whole big deal is just really about one small thing: A CHAMPIONSHIP! The Lakers are like the Yankees in baseball, they realize that going to the playoffs and finishing in the conference finals as you did in Orlando is not good enough here.

Being an NBA All Star six consecutive years and three times Defensive Player of the Year are nice accolades, but pale in comparison to what the big prize is here.

Shaquille O’Neal understood that and no matter how much he despised Kobe he didn’t allow it to get in the way of him winning three NBA championships here.

We know how hard it was for you to accept the path that Shaq took to title town, but what options did you really have? New Jersey? Oh we swept them in the Finals in their only shot. Houston? You mean our stepchildren in the West?

Listen carefully, Dwight! We are not concerned about your baby-

momma drama and three kids out of wedlock; it’s clear you are not the choirboy I first met when you were in high school and your Christian values have been challenged.

However, we gave up the future of our franchise, Andrew Bynum, because we believe that you are better.

Fact is your numbers indicate that you are an absolute MONSTER. That is why the rest of the NBA is crying foul, questioning the integrity of the league because the Lakers are now such an overwhelming favorite to win the NBA championship next year.

There will be no stage and dancing to the tune of “Not ONE, Not TWO…” This is about 17, 18, 19, 20.

I am sure you get the drift.

So, here is to inform you that city officials have already been contacted as to the exact route of the parade next June, a half million invitations will go out in the mail and the seat at the front of the bus is all yours (Kenneth Miller is a LA Watts Times correspondent)

The battle for big-man supremacy between Andrew Bynum (17) and Dwight Howard will rise to a new level following the blockbuster trade that moved Bynum from L.A. to Philadelphia and Howard from Orlando to Los Angeles. (Photo by Jason Lewis/NNPA)

Page 16

August 23 - 29, 2012

Tri-State Defender