VOL. 62, No. 37
September 12 - 18, 2013
Half-cent sales tax proposal gearing up
kajanaku@tri-statedefender
by Karanja A. Ajanaku
kajanaku@tri-statedefender.com
by Karanja A. Ajanaku
SEE TAX ON PAGE 2
- INSIDE -
• Jobs crisis: Could the GOP do better? See Opinion, page 4. • Stop worrying & walk fearlessly into your desire. See Religion, page 7. • Renaissance Business Center is a good bet. See Business, page 10.
Tyra Banks
• Tyra Banks dons whiteface for photo exhibition. See Entertainment, page 8.
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
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REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Friday H-90 L-60 H-82 L-49 H-92 L-62
Saturday H-85 L-59 H-78 L-55 H-90 L-61
Sunday H-91 L-66 H-86 L-62 H-92 L-66
75 Cents
Gift-bearing TSU president right at home in Memphis
NAACP backs pre-K funding
It’s a no-brainer that educating Memphis’ children should be one of the city’s greatest priorities, but some scratch their heads in doubt when talk turns to raising taxes to get that done. With that sentiment as a backdrop, supporters of a proposed half-cent sales tax increase to fund pre-kindergarten education are getting busy trying to drum up support. On Tuesday, the Rev. Keith Norman, president of the local NAACP, announced that the Memphis Branch backs the proposal. The announcement via a media release simply spread a position that Norman had made known in late August at the Children’s Museum of Memphis during a local group’s kickoff of what is being dubbed The Memphis Pre-K Initiative. Norman’s wife is a pre-k educator. “Early childhood education is an important civil rights issue and one of the NAACP’s “5 Game Changers for the 21st Century,” Norman said in the released statement. The pre-K Initiative is designed to be a citywide grassroots campaign. The goal is to “persuade every citizen that the proper funding of pre-kindergarten classes is critical, not only for each child’s academic success but also for the future success of the Memphis as it competes in a global economy.” Norman, senior pastor of First Baptist Church – Broad, is serving as a co-chair, with Kathy Buckman Gibson, chairman of Buckman Laboratories. If voters approve the proposed halfcent sales tax increase, which will be on the ballot this fall, it has been projected to generate about $47 million annually. About $30 million of that is being looked to as funding for prekindergarten classes for about 5,000 Memphis children 4 years of age who
www.tsdmemphis.com
TSU President Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover learned as a child the value of an expanded knowledge base. (Courtesy photo)
An achievement incentive to the tune of $3 million in scholarships was delivered to Memphis-area high school seniors on Wednesday courtesy of Tennessee State University and its first female president, Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover. A Memphis native, Dr. Glover unveiled the scholarships news during a special Presidential Scholarship reception at the Downtown Sheraton. “We look forward to providing access to college for prospective students that are committed to achievement in the classroom as evi-
denced by their academic credentials,” said Dr. Glover. Students receiving the scholarships will have a direct pipeline to the University, with funding for four years of their education. TSU’s Office of Admissions and Recruitment worked closely with high school counselors to identify high-achieving students to receive the scholarships based on grade point average and ACT/SAT test scores. Dr. Glover has a full slate of activities in Memphis this week associated with the 24th Annual Southern Heritage Classic football game between TSU and Jackson State University on Saturday. She took over as the eighth president of TSU earlier this year,
with inauguration activities scheduled for Oct 23-25. On Tuesday evening, Dr. Glover spoke with The New Tri-State Defender Executive Editor Karanja A. Ajanaku.
Karanja A. Ajanaku: Dr. Glover, please paint a picture of your childhood in Memphis and share how that picture affected your journey to becoming the eighth president of Tennessee State University. Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover: I started in South Memphis in the Weaver Rd. area … near Mitchell High School between Walker Homes and Boxtown. I SEE TSU ON PAGE 3
Ready, set, dominate! Keith Ellis Lee, a 2013 JSU Hall of Fame inductee
Special to The New Tri-State Defender from Jackson State University
Ron Cobbs, International Space Station Avionics Chief Engineer and TSU graduate, helped NASA engineers identify the cause of a serial interface issue with a spacesuit that malfunctioned during a spacewalk on July 16. (Courtesy photo)
NASA, we’ve got ‘ambiguities’ TSU-trained engineer helps solve spacesuit mystery TSU News Service
NASHVILLE – Teamwork does pay, even if you are not part of the team. Just be good at what you do. Ask Ron Cobbs, a NASA avionics chief engineer assigned to the International Space Station operations. His input has helped investigators trying to unravel the cause of a spacesuit malfunction during a recent spacewalk. “I personally am not part of the official Extravehicular Mobility Unit (space suit) investigation team that is looking into the suit anomaly,” said Cobb, a 1989 TSU graduate with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. “ However, Cobbs said, since the problem appeared to
be electrical, he was asked to “look into” the situation. “I discovered that the problem was a systems problem relative to operational use of the serial port on the laptop side of the suit,” said Cobbs As a result, the procedures for the astronauts were rewritten and retested, and subsequently led to identifying the problem. “It worked,” Cobbs exclaimed to the excitement of his fellow engineers. It all started on July 16 when astronaut Luca Parmitano was doing a spacewalk outside the ISS when his suit malfunctioned, cutting short the spacewalk or extravehicular activity. Water used to cool the suit started to leak into his air ventilation system, causing the astronaut’s helmet to start filling with water. Crewmembers sent a short video describing the incident to ground SEE NASA ON PAGE 2
Keith Ellis Lee was a prominent member of the dominant Jackson State University men’s track and field team. From 1973 to 1978, Lee and his teammates all but ruled the track and field landscape in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Next month, Lee, who later became a celebrated Air Force veteran, will be among 13 people inducted in the JSU Hall of Fame. From the moment he stepped onto the JSU campus, Lee was a fierce competitor and a winner. As a freshman, he advanced to the NAIA finals in the 880-yard dash, where he lowered his personal best time to 1:50.8. As a sophomore, he started running cross country, which helped him in track and field as he again lowered his 880 time (1:50.2). During his junior year, Lee was absolutely on fire. He went undefeated during the cross-country regular season, before winning the conference meet. When the indoor track season came around, he posted a time of 2:07.7 in the 1,000 yards – only 2 seconds off the then indoor record. Once again, he lowered his 880 time in outdoor track and field (1:49.4). He also set a Jackson State and SWAC record as he ran a 6.5-mile course in 33:33. The next year, Lee again went undefeated during the cross-country regular season. The 1978 season – his senior campaign – was the year of the “Big Seven” for JSU track and field. The Tigers won seven major meets, including indoor and outdoor nationals. Lee recorded another personal best in the 800 meters, posting a 1:47.2. He also recorded a time SEE JSU ON PAGE 2
‘Knowing…when to step down’ Ben Jealous resigns as NAACP president NNPA News Service
by Freddie Allen WASHINGTON– Five years ago, Benjamin Todd Jealous, president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, made two promises. The first was to the NAACP to help the organization get to the next level, revitalizing the mission and the relevancy of the storied civil rights group for the 21st century and old and new battles ahead. The second promise was to his then 3-year-old daughter that he would return to being a full-time daddy in five years. He says now is the time to keep that second promise. “Leadership involves knowing when to step up, and when to step down,” Jealous said Monday on a
telephone call with reporters. Looking back at his accomplishments, he mentioned how the annual revenue of the NAACP doubled from $23 million in 2007 to $46 million in 2012. Donors also increased from 16,000 to 132,000 over the same period. According to Jealous, the NAACP has more activists online (1.3 million) and on mobile devices (more than 430,000) than any other civil rights organization. “We’re not just more powerful and more effective and larger, we are also financially solvent and more sustainable,” Jealous said with pride. And many activists agree. Ron Daniels, president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century, a group that works to build economic social and political power in black communities, said Jealous energized the NAACP by bringing a lot of young talented and gifted people on board. He also said Jealous highlighted
Benjamin Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, talks to young people during the 50th Anniversary “Let Freedom Ring” Commemoration Ceremony on August 28 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Freddie Allen/NNPA) the issues of environmental justice, mass incarceration and the war on drugs. “(Jealous) uplifted these issues as being vitally important to healing and revitalizing sectors of Black America
moving forward,” said Daniels. “There is a way that people tend to stay in these positions for a very long time, five years is not a long time. SEE NAACP ON PAGE 2
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JSU
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of1:46.8 in a leg of one of the team’s sprint medley relays. A fall in the preliminary rounds of the nationals prevented him from qualifying for the finals. All-SWAC and All-American, Lee ran for the Flying Tiger Track Club for a year after leaving Jackson State. He participated in track and road races, going undefeated in road races at distances from five kilometers to 10 miles. In 1979, Lee joined the Air Force and continued to race. He eventually joined the Air Force track team and participated in Armed Services track meets in Colorado and Brazil. In 1980, he won the Air Force Long Distance Championships in both the three- and six-mile events. In these races, he ran three miles in14:06. One of Lee’s few defeats in his track and field career came in 1980. He lost the Santa Rosa Mall five-mile race when he fell at the start and tore a calf muscle, the first major injury of his career. Lee served in the Air Force for 21 years. While serving as the director of Logistics for the 100th Regional Support Group in the United Kingdom, he helped to found the American Air Museum in the UK. The museum is a living
NAACP
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All-SWAC and All-American, Keith Ellis Lee (Courtesy photo)
memorial that honors men and women of the American Air Forces who gave so unselfishly of themselves in the cause of freedom. In 2000, Lee left the Air Force as a major and received an honorable retirement for creditable service. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the 2nd award, Air Force Commendation Medal, 4th award, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, 2nd award, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal. The 2013 JSU Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is Oct. 4. (For more information contact Eric Stringfellow at 601-979-2272.)
control engineers. Immediately, a team of investigators, not including Cobbs, was assembled to see what was the cause of the problem with the spacesuit. However, as astronauts and team engineers were having problem downloading the data from the suit for analysis, Cobbs was called in to troubleshoot the problem. “I am not a mechanical engineer, nor would I have been able to troubleshoot the air recycling/thermal system, but they did call me because of a serial interface issue and I was able to help,” Cobbs said, adding, “The operations group wrote the procedures and the engineers told them how the hardware works, but forgot to tell them that everything works as a system.” He said, operationally, the laptop Wi-Fi on the spacesuit was active with software loads operating in the background, but “no one asked how they all interact together.” “It is not enough to know about the design product, but also how it works in the environment, what are the interfaces to the design, and who are the users. All of this is known as the Concept of Operations, which was not appropriately applied in this
situation to find the cause of the problem,” Cobbs said. Cobbs, who also holds a master’s degree in Space Systems Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, said to solve the problem he repeated the steps of the “documented procedure” to see if he could come out with the same “error.” “I found out that there were some ambiguities that created the problem. The hardest part in the procedures was making sure they were clear so that anyone could understand them. Never assume that they already know.” Dr. Satinderpaul Singh Devgan, professor and head of the TSU Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said his former student is “a true example of an electrical engineering graduate with passion for life-long learning and professional growth.” “I think Ron Cobbs’ achievement at NASA is a great story,” added Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean of the College of Engineering. Cobbs, who graduated TSU with honors, is a member of the Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society. He joined NASA at the Johnson Space Center immediately after graduating TSU. He has moved through the ranks from design engineer, systems engineer to now ISS avionics chief engineer.
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His tenure was really successful and I was actually looking forward to more.” The Rev. Al Sharpton, president and founder of the National Action Network, said he had mixed emotions when he learned that Jealous would resign. “I am happy that he has done so well and leaves his post with no scandal, shame, or physical challenges, and young enough to have a bright future,” said Sharpton in a press release. “There is sadness, however, because for the last several years he has joined Marc Morial (National Urban League president), Melanie Campbell (president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation), and me as we tried to broaden the civil rights leadership of the 21st century movement. Ben Jealous has operated with integrity and a real sense of hands-on activism.” Mary Frances Berry, history professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and former chairperson of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, was on the NAACP selection committee to pick a successor to Bruce Gordon. “We expected him to make the organization financially solvent and he did,” said Berry. “We hoped by appointing someone younger and someone new that had a lot of energy and interest in the organization that it would create a more livelier organization.” She said he accomplished that mission. “(Jealous) stayed on the case all the time and he made sure that the NAACP was in the forefront of trying to deal with the emerging issues,” Berry said. “That it is positioned to deal with some of these major issues like the economy. He made it stronger and more possible for the (NAACP) to go to the next level.” Jealous said that once he steps down at the end of the year, he will dedicate more time at home being a dad, help train the next generation of
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now are said to be unable to attend pre-kindergarten because of lack of funding. The remaining $17 million would be used to reduce city property taxes. “Thousands of children are left out of pre-K each year because of federal and local budget cuts, and it is imperative that we, as a community, find a way to make sure those most vulnerable have a starting chance,” said Norman. Mayor A C Wharton Jr. said two of his administration’s top strategic priorities are investing in the city’s youth and safe and vibrant neighborhoods. “Early childhood education is a powerful weapon in the fight against crime and violence, and I strongly support public invest-
Tri-State Defender
September 12 - 18, 2013
Actor Laz Alonso to talk education at SHC College Fair The 4th Annual Southern Heritage Classic College Fair – hosted by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and the City of Memphis Office of Youth Services – will be Saturday (Sept. 14th, from noon to 4 p.m. in the Pipkin Building. “I get as excited about the college fair as I do about the big football game between Tennessee State and Jackson State,” Wharton said. “Exposing our young people to college opportunities is critical because a college degree means opportunities that are not as readily available to those who have no higher education. Also, in today’s economy a college degree increases earning potential.” More than 50 colleges and universities will be in attendance, including Jackson State University, Tennessee State University, the University of Memphis, The LeMoyneOwen College, Middle Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Rust College, the University of Alabama, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Students will have the opportunity to hear from actor Laz Alonso thanks to a spon-
sorship from Verizon. His appearance is at 2 p.m. A graduate of Howard University, Alonso has starred in Laz several hit Alonso movies including: “The Fast and the Furious,” “Deception,” “Stomp the Yard,” and “Jumping the Broom,” which earned him a NAACP Image Award. “Earning a college education is extremely important for this generation of young people, this is their passport to the middle class and beyond,” said James Nelson, special assistant to the Mayor, Office of Youth Services. “The Classic College Fair and Mr. Alonso’s message to our young people will hopefully encourage and inspire our youth to dream big and to take control of their future.” The college fair is free and is held in the Pipkin Building located on Tiger Lane.
SHC SCHEDULE Thursday, Sept. 12
* Classic VIP Gala: (5 p.m.) Memphis Marriott Downtown/Heritage Ballroom. Hosted by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. Music by Trio Plus. Invitation only.
When he lets go of the NAACP reins, president and CEO Benjamin Jealous – shown here at a mentoring forum in Memphis in Feb. 2012 – intends to devote more time at home being a dad, help train the next generation of leaders and work on a political action group that can help African American, Latino and other progressive candidates of color compete for leadership positions in the South. (Photo: Shirley Jackson) leaders and work on a political action group that can help African American, Latino and other progressive candidates of color compete for leadership positions in the South. Jealous’ tenure was not without its problems. In 2010, the NAACP became embroiled in the firing of Shirley Sherrod, an official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A doctored video posted by a right-wing website appeared to show Sherrod making racist remarks recounting how she didn’t’ help a White farmer as much as she should have. Without reviewing the original video, Jealous backed her dismissal. He later viewed the full tape, retracted his initial statement, and claimed he had been “snookered.” The NAACP urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to give Sherrod her job back at the USDA. Sherrod accepted the NAACP’s apology and Jealous was able to put that incident behind him. As the NAACP begins its search for the next president
ments in programs shown to prevent children from becoming criminals,” Wharton reiterated on Wednesday. “There are few things more important to our community than providing our four-yearolds with the firm educational foundation they need to succeed in school and avoid the criminal justice system.” No date for the fall vote has been set. City Councilman Jim Strickland, who sponsored the proposal, has said there are indications from the Shelby County Election Commission that it will be Nov. 21. “Memphis is at a crossroads,” Strickland told The New Tri-State Defender on Wednesday. “Since 1980, over 110,000 people, or 20 percent of our total population, have moved out of Memphis. We have made up for that outward migration by annexing areas
and CEO, Berry said the organization still needs someone who can maintain the financial solvency and keep the progress going with the membership and the leadership. Daniels said that it’s important that the next president of the NAACP continue to foster a strong relationship with the faith-based community. The Rev. Amos Brown, pastor of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, Calif. since 1976, agrees. “The black church is the base for political engagement in the black community and that’s why we have got to maintain that relationship with the church,” said Brown, an NAACP board member. “Because of our condition in this country, the black folks of America are the most religious group of people in the world, and the black church, for good or ill, has been our forum.” Jealous recognizes that he leaves the organization – although stable – at a time of great change in the country. Jealous said that in the first
and forcing people to live in the city. But future annexations are doubtful due to changes in state law. “As a result, we must do everything we can to stop the hemorrhaging of population, jobs, and our tax base,” he said. People are leaving because of crime, schools, and, to a lesser degree, Memphis’ high property tax rate, said Strickland. “In addition, nearly 30 percent of our children are growing up in poverty. The Memphis Pre-K Initiative addresses each of these challenges.” Strickland notes that most areas of the country that have had pre-K have found that the students who attend pre-K have higher academic achievement in kindergarten and beyond than the students who do not attend pre-K. “When these students enter
century of the organization’s existence the work revolved around federal court cases. Now in the second century, the NAACP’s focus has shifted from federal litigation to state legislation and addressing issues at the state level will take more boots on the ground and more diverse collaborations,” he said. “We have to get much more adept at building big robust coalitions of people,” he said, listing the NAACP’s recent efforts in bringing together African American, Latino, gay rights groups and city council members representing Muslim and Arab populations to effectively combat the “stopand-frisk” tactics conducted by the New York City Police Department. Recently, a judge ruled those tactics unconstitutional in practice – a major victory for the NAACP and its partners. Said Jealous: “That is how a democracy works and we in the civil rights community have been rising to that challenge and becoming more effective.”
kindergarten ready to learn, they achieve so much more. Second, all studies of pre-K have shown that the behavior of students who completed pre-K is much better than those who do not attend; preK students have fewer absences, fewer behavioral problems, and drop out of school less often.” To Strickland, that all adds up to this: “This truly is our chance to advance.” Asked for his read on the public response to the pre-K funding proposal, Strickland said, “It is too early to get an accurate read on the opinions of most people. Most folks do not know the referendum is scheduled or do not fully understand the proposal. “The campaign has just begun. We are getting a growing number and diversity of people supporting the proposal.”
* Classic Concert starring Charlie Wilson with Fantasia: (8 p.m.) Landers Center. Tickets: $75, $65 and $55 plus service charges. All seats reserved. Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call 1800-745-3000.
Friday, Sept. 13
* V101ʼs The Tom Joyner Morning Show: (5 a.m.) Tiger Lane at the Fairgrounds. LIVE broadcast with Tom Joyner, Jay Anthony Brown, Sybil Wilkes and Stormy.
* NIKE Classic Coaches Luncheon: (Noon) Memphis Marriott Downtown/Heritage Ballroom. A Classic salute to TSU head football coach Rod Reed and JSU head football coach Rick Comegy. Special guest speaker: Tom Joyner, founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation and host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show. Invitation only. * Greek Showdown: (7 p.m.) LeMoyne-Owen College/Bruce Hall. A step show presented by the Memphis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Tickets: $15 advance , $20 at the door. For tickets and information, contact Adrienne Dobbins at 901-603-9003 or email adriennedobbins@ymail.com. Visit online at www.memphisalumnaedst.org.
* Classic R&B Concert featuring The Men of Soul: (9 p.m.) Harrahʼs Tunica/Event Center. The Men of Soul starring Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson and Howard Hewett. Tickets: $58 plus service charges. All seats reserved. Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call 1800-745-3000.
Saturday, Sept. 13
* Classic Tailgate: (8 a.m.) Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium parking lot and Tobey Park. For more information, contact Sherry Bell at 901-729-4344.
* Ed “Too Tall” Jones Golf Classic: (8 a.m.) The Links at Cottonwoods. $150 per person, includes green fee and 1/2 cart. For information, call 901-398-6655. Net proceeds benefit the Southern Heritage Foundation. Sponsored by Harrahʼs Tunica.
* Classic Parade: (10 a.m.) Presented by the Orange Mound Parade. The parade route is along Park Avenue from Haynes to Airways featuring area high school marching bands. For information, contact Claudette Boyd at 901-413-7109 or online at www.orangemound.vze.com * Classic Battle of the Bands: (10 a.m.) Whitehaven High School Stadium. The best high school show bands in the region with show-stopping dance routines. Tickets: $7 advance, $10 day of, plus service charges. Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call 1-800-745-3000. For information, contact Walter Banks Jr. at walterbanksjr@aol.com or Andre Newsom at anewsom01@ yahoo.com or 901-230-6973.
* Classic College Fair: (Noon)
* Southern Heritage Classic presented by FedEx: (6 p.m.) Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Tickets: $48, $33, and $18, plus service charges. All seats reserved. Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster outlets, including the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Box Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call 1800-745-3000.
* AUTOZONE Halftime Show featuring TSUʼs Aristocrat of Bands and JSUʼs Sonic Boom of the South.
Sunday, Sept. 14
* Classic Fashions & Brunch: (11 a.m.) Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. “Rhythm on the Runway”. Presented by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women - Memphis Chapter. Tickets: $50. For tickets and information, contact Niki Barnes at 901-830-3569 or Cheryl Harris at 901-2682321, or view online at www.ncbwmemphis.org.
NOTE: Take the bus to the Southern Heritage Classic Football Game. For specific pickup and drop-off locations or for more information, call MATA at 901274-6282 or online at www.matatransit.com.
Tri-State Defender
TSU
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
developed a sense of values from the Baskin (family) in the civil rights movement…minister family…about eight ministers in total. Developed these spiritual values as well as my personal values in life. You became street-smart living in South Memphis and you became book smart because you had to go to school and learn all there was to learn. ... The thirst for knowledge prepared me to get into a learning mode to learn how to learn.
KAA: How might one expect the fact that you are the first woman to lead the 100year-old institution to show itself during your tenure? Dr. Glover: That’s history, but the institution will be managed based on management skills that I have learned educationally, academically and with experience – from corporate boards and being a highlevel educational administrator. … The fact that I have prepared myself not so much as a woman but as a professional to lead the university.
KAA: Last year, there were about 300 students who could not return to TSU because they did not have the money to cover tuition. You kicked off a fundraising thrust by putting up $50,000 of your own. How has that effort gone? Dr. Glover: It’s been exceptional. … This year we found ourselves in a similar situation. We had 353 students that were on the purge list, they have to be purged from the rolls if they have not paid their tuition and fees by Sept. 6. We sent out a S.O.S., Save Our Students, to the alumni and to the community. We raised $483,000 in six days. Of that, $280,000 came directly from the alumni. We are very excited about the alumni, their support and their excitement. Because of the effort – the alumni and the community – we were able to keep every student in school. … They met their financial obligation or we were able to work out a payment plan.
NEWS
KAA: Please speak to the financial challenges that TSU students or potential TSU students tend to face. Dr. Glover: The biggest financial challenge that we have now is the challenge with the PLUS loan. They’ve always had credit guidelines, but last year they changed the rules. … In a short period of time they changed it completely and made the credit rules much more stringent … punitive on families so they couldn’t borrow money. It’s so bad until the students are locked out of the education process… We are facing the greatest challenge in higher education since Brown versus the Board of Education (Supreme Court ruling outlawing school segregation) with this PLUS loan process. Brown was about access to education and when you lock students out of the system financially, you have essentially denied them access to education.
KAA: Academically, what would you say about TSU that absolutely has to be changed or addressed? Dr. Glover: We are working hard to change the customer service. We’ve come a long way in addressing some of the issues that seem to exist … making sure we are more student-friendly, more customer-friendly. We have a deeper appreciation of the public, the students, the parents (and) the community as our customers. KAA: What would you say is TSU’s academic strong suit and how do you plan to leverage it? Dr. Glover: The strong suit is the students who graduate and there are some strong programs – our nursing department, engineering and business departments. … We nurture that by building stronger partnerships with the business community, the corporations that recruit our campus and the governmental agencies that we partner with. KAA: Would you speak to the importance of a president’s relationship with faculty generally, the state of the relation-
September 12 - 18, 2013
ship you inherited and what you goal is for that relationship going forward? Dr. Glover: The most important thing any new president can do is spend time with the faculty. This administration has shared governance as one of its…goals. … It takes the faculty to buy into the vision of the president and the administration and come on board with how we can assure that students are progressing properly through the system. … I seek their opinions because diverse opinions are worthwhile.
KAA: What role, if any, do you see TSU playing in the state’s desire to improve k-12 education? I ask that particularly relevant to achievement in the bottom five-percent of schools, so many of which are mostly filled with AfricanAmerican students. Dr. Glover: One of the most serious challenges facing higher education and facing Historically Black Colleges and Universities and schools in Tennessee is that students are not being prepared when they finish high school. They are not able to compete effectively, through no fault of their own. It’s the school system that got left behind. Therefore they take remedial courses and we know that is a bad word in higher education. … Many of them drop out in their second or third year not paying their student loans. The default rate goes up. … They graduated from high school not prepared for the work force. … As you know, there is often pressure at the local level to increase the graduation rate and sometimes students become the victim of social promotion. … Tennessee ranks fourth from the bottom. I understand who we are, I understand the students that we get. That’s why we make a special effort to reach out to the students and find them a mentor to help them to be successful. We try different intervention methodologies. … There are different ways to teach students so that they can learn properly and learn at the right level and not get left behind because the school system got left behind.
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John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)
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OPINION
Tri-State Defender
September 12 - 18, 2013
• Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher • Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor
New football season, same offensive names
Jobs crisis: Could the GOP do better?
After five years of nonstop bad news regarding African-American unemployment, the Obama administration was finally able to celebrate some good news last month, or so it seemed. In July, African-American unemployment dipped to 12.6 percent, a small but significant change from June’s 13.7 percent unemployment rate – and substantially lower than the high of 16.5 percent that it reached in January 2010. But any celebration was likely short-lived. While the national unemployment rate decreased slightly in August, to 7.3 percent, reaching a five-year low, that same month, African-American unemployment rose to 13 percent. Who exactly is to blame for the seemingly unshakable epidemic of unemployment in the African-American community? Bob Woodson, an African-American conservative, generated headlines for his fiery speech at a Republican National Committee luncheon commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. During his address he argued that when it comes to policy and progress, all other demographic groups have taken precedence over poor African Americans. “Everybody has come in front of them on the bus – gays, immigrants, women, environmentalists,” Woodson said. “You never hear any talk about the conditions confronting poor blacks and poor people in general.” Though his language may have been more pointed, Woodson merely gave voice to a criticism levied specifically at the Obama administration by many African Americans – namely that in the quest for re-election, President Barack Obama and his allies focused less on achieving solid policy deliverables to those demographics already most likely to vote for him and instead focused on delivering for those groups who needed more convincing. In a 2009 interview with reporter April Ryan, when asked about the criticism that African Americans – particularly unemployed ones – were being forgotten by the first African American elected president, Obama replied, “So, we have made a series of steps that make a huge difference. The only thing I cannot do is, you know, by law I can’t pass laws that say I’m just helping black folks. I’m the president of the entire United States. What I can do is make sure that I am passing laws that help all people, particularly those who are most vulnerable and most in need. That, in turn, is going to help lift up the African-American community.” This response was puzzling when considered against the many measures he eventually executed exclusively on behalf of another group of people: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Gay Americans found the most devoted LGBT-rights advocate the Oval Office has ever known, and immigrants also found an ally in the White House who was committed to immigration reform, an issue of particular importance to the Latino community. Yet African Americans have long looked a lot like an afterthought. But does that mean Republicans could do any better? History paints a mixed picture. According to an analysis in Forbes, when Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter for the presidency in 1980, African-American unemployment hovered at 14.5 percent. (Perhaps as a nod to these poor numbers, Reagan received double-digit support from African-American voters.) But African-American voters did not fare much better under the Reagan presidency. African-American unemployment stood at 14.3 percent when he faced re-election in 1984, although that number was an improvement over the nearly 20 percent of African Americans who were unemployed at one point in Reagan’s first term. African-American unemployment was much better, but still in the double digits, at 10.3 percent in November 1988, when Republican George H.W. Bush defeated Democratic Gov. Michael Dukakis. But it was at 13.7 percent when Democratic Gov. Bill Clinton defeated the first President Bush. African-American unemployment was back down to 10 percent in November 1996 when President Clinton defeated Republican Sen. Bob Dole. African-American unemployment was at an all-time low in 2000, dipping into the single digits. Though Vice President Al Gore was part of the administration responsible for such numbers, he ultimately won the
popular vote but lost the Electoral College to George W. Bush. The numbers would creep just above 10 percent in 2004, and the second President Bush would defeat Sen. John Kerry. The numKeli bers returned to Goff the single digits in 2008 during President Bush’s final year in office, before the economic crisis would send them skyrocketing again in 2009, President Obama’s first year in office. They have remained a seemingly unsolvable problem since. When asked for comment on the current rate of unemployment among African Americans, a spokesman for the RNC replied, “As the unemployment rate for African Americans continues to tick upward, this president is still pushing policies that undermine job and wealth creation in our communities.” The RNC spokesman also referenced the importance of lower taxes for small-business owners to spur hiring and added that the Obama administration “has massively increased the regulations that are designed to protect entrenched interests but prevent emerging black businesses from growing and thriving.” Of course a White House official begged to differ, saying, “Though there are signs that the economy is making progress, the president remains deeply concerned about the uneven recovery and unacceptably high unemployment in the African-American community. That is why he remains committed to addressing income inequality and job creation in our hardest-hit communities around the country.” The official, who asked to remain anonymous, also told The Root, “The president has taken several steps to strengthen the economy for all Americans, build ladders of opportunity for those striving to get into the middle class, make college more affordable to level the playing field, pushed for quality health care, took legal action to stop predatory mortgage lending and announced initiatives to invest in the hardest-hit neighborhoods around the country.” Although Republicans expressed the need for lower taxes for business owners to spur job opportunities for African Americans, Democrats have a different take on the kind of tax policy needed to help the AfricanAmerican community. The White House official cited the extension of the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, which have ultimately benefited more than 2.2 million African Americans, as a key administration accomplishment benefiting communities of color. The official also pointed to the administration’s role in facilitating more than $14 billion in contracts and capital to minority-owned business. But most of all, the Obama administration points to heavy investments in higher education for minorities, including doubling Pell Grants and increasing investments in HBCUs. Education certainly plays a key role in determining long-term career success. But the administration’s thin record of specific accomplishments in the area of African-American job growth, as well as the lack of specifics cited by the RNC, seems to indicate that the ongoing jobs crisis among African-Americans may have less to do with the failure of the first African-American elected president than with our society’s failure to address the underlying issues. ... A labor report from the Center for American Progress found that African-American employees tend to be the last hired and first fired. And I have previously written about other documented cases of intrinsic racial bias in the interview and hiring process, including the fact that those with more ethnic-sounding names are less likely to be interviewed. So does this mean that when it comes to unemployment in the African-American community, all is hopeless? No. It does mean, however, that the only way to address the issue is to speak honestly about it. Whichever party does that first – Democrats or Republicans – will be judged most successful in leading the African-American community out of this crisis. (Keli Goff is The Root’s special correspondent. Follow her on Twitter.)
Sounds odd but Jamal & Ebony do love America
The concept of patriotism is not readily associated with inner city black children. Modern-day images of patriotism that usually come to mind reflect the iconic look of Uncle Sam – suburban and rural whites clad in American flags. This traditional conception, coupled with prevalent depictions of inner city black youth as self-interested malcontents, complicates any attempt at putting a young, indigent, black face on patriotism. But as many Americans know, though there are numerous challenges that face inner city youth, there is also a patriotism often overlooked in favor of a fixation on the tragedies.
Proof of urban patriotism
I was reminded of this a few months ago after hosting a cybersecurity discussion at the White House for a group of students in the Pennsylvania Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program at Temple University. This program is one of many around the nation aimed at attracting and equipping minority and disadvantaged students for technical careers. Students on Temple MESA’s mobile applications team recently won seed money to fund their innovative tutoring application. The program is full of brilliant students who just happen to live in and around inner city Philadelphia. During our discussion at the White House, and in a weekend seminar at Temple University on cybersecurity forensics several weeks later, I was not at all surprised by their intellectual curiosity, incredible critical thinking skills, and awareness of the international issues regarding cybersecurity. But I will admit to being a bit stunned by how adamant the students were that America defends itself from other nations hacking into our networks. These kids didn’t need an American flag lapel pin to show how much they care about the country; their patriotism was evident in every question, every idea, and in the desire to defend the nation.
Changing negative narratives
The narrative around inner city black children is littered with high school drop-out rates, teen pregnancies, violent crime, drug use, juvenile delinquency, and poor health. These issues receive much more media coverage than the success stories, and as a result, shape the nation’s perception of the youth into a tragic, stereotyped generalization. Moreover, the government’s response to events like Hurricane Katrina and other policy decisions that disproportionately affect the black poor – like changes to federal education loan requirements and government assistance outlays – only contribute to a public discourse of black dissatisfaction with America. This can lead to a perception that blacks aren’t patriotic.
The question of black patriotism
The question of black patriotism is especially timely as the nation considers military action in Syria. A new poll shows that 60 percent of
African-Americans do not support President Obama’s desire to launch strikes. Likewise, the majority of blacks, to include then-Senator Obama, did not support the war Theodore R. in Iraq. This would seem to Johnson III further the idea of unpatriotic blacks being the norm. But a look at American history should readily dispel any idea that blacks are less patriotic than other groups. Black soldiers have fought and died in every war the country has undertaken, even when they were enslaved by the very country for which they fought. In today’s military, blacks are overrepresented. African-Americans make up 12.6 percent of the population, but nearly 16 percent of the active duty military, as of 2010.
Redefining patriotism
Besides, support for war is not the only expression of patriotism. Scholars have contended that patriotism is being emotionally attached to the country, and emotionally affected by its actions. Further, research shows that patriotism closely corresponds to a more cooperative or peaceful approach to the world. In this light, the majority black stance on Iraq and Syria is might be a reflection of deep patriotism. Yet, it also means that our emotional attachment requires fierce defense when legitimately threatened, as in the aftermath of 9/11. This inclination to fight off attackers of our country is the patriotic urge the Temple MESA kids drew from during the discussion.
Jamal and Ebony: New faces of patriotism
Days before our meeting, the news was filled with stories of foreign countries attacking our banking websites and snooping around American businesses to steal information. Not only were these students aware of these occurrences, but they were ready to help, to fight for America – virtually. The spirit that propelled enslaved and disenfranchised blacks to fight on behalf of the country, to vehemently refuse 19th century ideas of deportation to Africa, and to demand the rights and opportunities that the America ideal promises, is the same patriotic spirit that can be found in our inner city students, especially when they are given a chance to showcase their talents. As the nation’s demographics turn it into an America with a majority of its population being people of color, the old depictions of patriotism as the sovereign province of whites must change. The Jamals and Ebonys, too, are the face of patriotism. (Theodore R. Johnson is a military officer and 2011-12 White House Fellow. A graduate of Hampton and Harvard Universities, he is an opinion writer on race, politics, and public service. Follow Theodore R. Johnson on Twitter at @T_R_Johnson_III.)
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I cannot let a football season open without raising the question of the names of sports teams generally and the Washington “Redskins” in particular. I continue to be absolutely amazed at the resistance on Bill the part of team Fletcher Jr. owners to changing the names of these teams, but also the tolerance by so many fans of these racist names. I have to pick on the Washington Redskins both because I was once a fan of the team and also because I live in the D.C.-area and have watched this situation close-up. As I raised in a column a few months ago, a poll was released this spring that indicated that most fans wanted to leave the name of the team as it is, despite the fact that it insults Native Americans. For some this was seen as the end of the discussion because it appeared to vindicate the position taken by the team’s owners. Let’s flip the script for a moment and consider the problem from a different vantage point. It would be worth looking at polls that were taken in the South during the early 1960s to ascertain the level of white support for the continuation of Jim Crow segregation. The mere fact that a majority of people favor or do not favor something does not automatically settle an argument. Rather, it serves as a barometer, telling us about where people stand today but it does not necessarily tell us anything about the morally correct position. It is unclear why it needs repeating – especially to African Americans – that the preponderance of opinion among Native American indicates that terms, such as “redskins,” are racially offensive. This is not about intent any more than a white person calling one of us a “nigger” should be judged based on intent. The word is so patently offensive that, used by someone of another racial or ethnic group against us, it serves as an act of aggression. Someone can stand before us and tell us that they love us, but were they to name a team the “Kansas City Niggers,” there would not be enough love and sincerity in the world to override our objections. So, why is it any different for Native Americans? Why do we have to keep going through this silly argument when the morally correct position is clear? Why should it matter whether the team will need to create a new image? That should not concern us any more than we would have been concerned about the work involved in removing “Negro Only” or “White Only” signs from public institutions 40 years ago. It is what needed to be done 40 years ago and it is, today, about what must be done. Send a note to the Washington Redskins owners. Ask them about the last time that they permitted someone to use terms like “nigger” in the offices of the Washington Redskins. If such terms are objectionable, why do they think that “redskins” is any different? (Bill Fletcher Jr. is a senior scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies, the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum, the author of “They’re Bankrupting Us” – And Twenty Other Myths about Unions. Follow him on Facebook and at www.billfletcherjr.com.) Your letters to the editor are welcome. For verification, please include your name, address and telephone number. Mail to: In The Mail, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale St., Ste. 200, Memphis, TN 38103 E-mail: inthemail@tri-statedefender.com Maximum length: 300 words (subject to editing for clarity)
IN THE MAIL
Tri-State Defender Platform
1. Racial prejudice worldwide must be destroyed. 2. Racially unrestricted membership in all jobs, public and private. 3. Equal employment opportunities on all jobs, public and private. 4. True representation in all U.S. police forces. 5. Complete cessation of all school segregation. 6. Federal intervention to protect civil rights in all instances where civil rights compliance at the state level breaks down
DISTRIBUTION: Tri-State Defender is available at newsstands, street sales, store vendors, mail subscription and honor boxes throughout the Greater Memphis area. No person may, without prior written permission of the Tri-State Defender, reprint any part of or duplicate by electronic device any portion without written permission. Copyright 2013 by Tri-State Defender Publishing, Inc. Permission to Publisher, Tri-State Defender, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN. 38103. Back copies can be obtained by calling the Tri-State Defender at (901) 523-1818, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Tri-State Defender
September 12 - 18, 2013
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COMMUNITY
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Tri-State Defender
September 12 - 18, 2013
CHEF TIMOTHY
Beef up your plate with a new health journey by Chef Timothy Moore Ph.D, N.M.D, C.N. Special to The New Tri-State Defender
All about Carver…
With Carver High School on a list of schools that could close in 2014 pending a decision by the Shelby County Schools board, monthly meetings at Bloomfield Baptist Church have provided an opportunity for area residents to get updated and to sound off. Last Thursday, SCS Supt. Dorsey Hopson (left) addressed the crowd, as did Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr. (right), the long-time board member who is seeking to regain his position after a judge ruled the results of the last election were tainted. Bloomfield’s pastor, the Rev. Ralph White, steered the meeting, which included one attendee expressing his belief that today’s Carver needs more of the kind of caring teachers who taught him and his peers. Carver – the Achievement School District announced Tuesday – could become an ASD school next year, depending on the results of meetings with the community. The ASD, which is run by the state of Tennessee, has set a goal of significantly improving the test scores of schools now in the bottom five percent. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
‘Reflect, Refresh, Refocus’…
Those were the ʻThree Rsʼ that formed the theme of the Booker T. Washington High School Class of 1963 reunion at Hotel Memphis last Saturday (Sept. 7). (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Methodist South health fair, family reunion set
Methodist South Hospital will host a fall health fair and family reunion on Sept. 28. The reunion is designed especially for all persons who were born or worked at the hospital since it opened in 1973. There also will be special recognition for past associates, physicians and babies born at the hospital, located at 1300 Wesley Dr. “Methodist South Hospital has been in the Whitehaven community for 40 years,” said Dr. Jay Robinson, Methodist South Hospital CEO. “We hope to see many people who have supported the hospital’s existence come back and cele-
brate this great achievement with us.” The following activities are planned: 8:15 a.m. – 5K Run; 8:30 a.m. – Two-mile Health Walk. All participants will receive a free t-shirt (while supplies last). 9 a.m. to noon – Health Fair The Health Fair will be located in the parking lot directly across from the hospitalBlood pressure, glucose (blood sugar), cholesterol, and other health screenings will be available. Additionally, there will be games and activities for the kids, free giveaways, free healthy food (including Hawaiian shaved ice), music and a live radio remote. For more information, visit www.methodisthealth.org or
BRIEFS & THINGS call 901-516-3580.
Trustee debuts new pay option for taxes
The Shelby County Trustee has introduced a new “recurring payments” option to its array of payment features, Trustee David Lenoir said. Recurring payments allows property owners to set up periodic payments for both current and/or delinquent County taxes. The taxpayer can choose the date and amount they want deducted from a banking account or credit card. Users of the service can pay taxes on multiple properties and pay as frequently as they wish. Taxpayers will be emailed receipts.
Thanks for your service…
Memphis Branch NAACP honors its membership workers with the Silver Life Membership Plaque. From left to right: Branch President Rev. Keith Norman, Georgia Oliver, Ruby Wilkerson, Clayborne Taylor, Barbara T. Scott, Alfreda Payne, Marissa Goodenʼs parent Debra Brown, Madeleine C. Taylor, and Dr. Warner Dickerson. (Courtesy photo) “From a budgeting perspective, this gives taxpayers more control and the ability to better manage their County property tax payments,” said Lenoir There is no additional service charge to use the recurring payments feature when using a checking or savings account. However, credit card companies will charge a nominal fee for using their services. To enroll, go to the “Payments” tab on the Trustee’s website, www.shelby countytrustee.com and click on “Recurring Payments.” A Trustee staff member can help with the process by calling 901-432-4829. BRIEFLY: The Woodstock High School Centennial Cele-
bration will be Oct. 4-6, with all former students invivted. For more information, contact Charlotte Smith at 901-3585846 or Arlene Fields at 901357-4680. BRIEFLY: The next meeting of the Methodist North Hospital support group for stroke survivors and caregivers is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct. 8 in Day Room One, HealthSouth Rehabilitation, 4100 Austin Peay Highway. The month’s topic is “Affordable Care Act update: What these changes mean to you” led by Connie Nahhas, Methodist North Hospital case management director. For more information, contact Connie Holland at 901-5165947 or visit www.methodisthealth.org.
I t ’ s back-toschool time and students are faced with so m a n y weighty challenges – what clothes to wear, food eat, Dr. Timothy to which hair Moore style is best, who to hang out with and the perception of peers. What happened to the good old days when a child could just be child? Back then a lot of these concerns really didn’t matter as much because everyone tended to look and dress alike. People bought their clothes from the same five-and-dime store. It was a rare occurrence that someone missed school or was sick. If that happened, someone went out the way and checked on them; and usually there was a health situation going on, but not for long. We had food grown locally from our gardens and it was shared in the community. Those who went to the local farmers market to purchase their fresh fruits and vegetables would return to tell neighbors and friends about the daily specials. The interaction knitted the community. Today, we too often don’t put in the time to make sound choices when it comes to selecting food. We want it now and if it tastes good, that’s all that matters. We overlook the consequences of our actions until they are staring us in the face. Why is change so hard when it pertains to our health? Can it be that our belief system won’t allow us to believe it is possible? Usually we begin to focus on change when it affects our children. We begin to wonder what steps to take to correct the problem. The first step in correcting our health problem is to look into our food pantry at all the cans of greens, black beans and peas that have been there for some time, often years. I’m talking about those out-of-date processed food items – such as macaroni and cheese, boxed pasta, cheese sauces, pop tarts – that we were told were healthy for us. The next step is to decide to change our habits for ourselves. This will be a lifestyle journey, with victory assured as we overcome our unhealthy habits. We must make conscious decisions about the foods we select to bring into our households. These decisions have to be based on the required health benefits that we receive from consuming these selected food choices. Remove the obstacles and barriers and take control! When we are in touch with our own awareness and stay true to the journey, we are more energetic, relaxed and creative. We are also more involved in our lives and we begin to feel connected and in tune with the natural rhythms of life. It’s never too soon or too late to embark on a new health journey.
(Dr. Timothy Moore teaches nutrition, heart disease and diabetes reversal through a plant-based lifestyle. A professional speaker, wellness coach and personal plant-based chef, he’s the author of “47 Tips To Reverse Your Diabetes.’’ Reach him by email at cheftimothy@chef timothymoore.com or visit www.cheftimothymoore .com or www.twitter.com/ cheftimmoore.)
RELIGION
Tri-State Defender
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September 12 - 18, 2013
LIVING THE LIFE I LOVE
Stop worrying & walk fearlessly into your desire
Dear Lucy: I created five goals at your workshop back in February. I’m having trouble with the two that mean the most to me. By now I should have made a lot more progress. Any ideas? – Stuck
Dear Stuck: Thanks for the question. I have been thinking about this myself! Here are a few ways to test your blocks to success.
If these goals really mean a lot to you, do you love them enough to walk in them right now? Can you assume the attitude and behavior you would possess if you had that goal already? Are you owning it? Can you stop “wanting” it and become the
Praise and glory…
person who already has it? You have to love it so much that you are willing to own it as if it is already yours. Make your decisions today like the person who had met those goals would do. Lucy Are you worryShaw ing over it? Worry is a sign of fear. Stop worrying and walk fearlessly into your desire. Are you disciplined? Winners work at getting what they want.
Everyday you must do something big or small that takes you to your goal. Are you reading about it; talking to yourself about it or visualizing yourself having it and all of the ways your life is changed by it? I wonder if you are a procrastinator. Is there that one thing related to this goal that you keep putting off? This is also about fear. We procrastinate often out of fear of failure or fear of success or fear of being criticized. Either way, we never get to where we say we want to go if we put off packing the bags and getting on the plane! Has the goal lost its ability to make you sizzle with passion when you think about it? Reignite the fire that
made you write it down in the first place. When we lose our passion we become apathetic and stick with a goal for all the wrong reasons. Make a list of the reasons you set this goal in the first place. Do they still matter and make you sizzle? There is no shame in rethinking your goals. Circumstances may change. But, your true hearts desire and life purpose are linked together. If you can conceive a thing, then you can have it. The connecting link between desire and achievement is believing. The biggest obstacle in any goal achievement is believing in it. Believing that you are worthy, deserving and ready for it. So take some time with these thoughts and see what you
can do. Stand in your own power. You can have your hearts desire! Blessings, Lucy
(Check out Lucy Shaw’s website at www.heartworks4u.com. You may send your questions to her by U.S. mail to: Heartworks4U, LLC; 4646 Poplar Ave. Ste 201, Memphis, TN 38117 or by e-mail to lucy@heartworks4u.com.) (For help with the feelings that get in the way of prayer and peace of mind, get Lucy’s new book, “BE NOT ANXIOUS.” Order it directly from her at 901-907-0260 or go to her web site www.heartworks4u.com.)
Volunteers at the Convoy of Hope Celebration prayed and worshipped last Sunday (Sept. 8) at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Churches of various denominations, local businesses and nonprofits teamed up to deliver free food, goods and services to thousands of attendees. (Photo: The Rev. Panisha Stigger)
RELIGION BRIEFS
Hope Church notes Silver Anniversary
In 1988, Hope Church began in a living room with only 25 charter members. Today more than 7,000 people go through the church’s doors each weekend. Hope continues its celebration with services at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 14th) and at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on Sunday (Sept.15th). “We are extremely excited about this milestone for Hope Church,” said Senior Pastor R. Craig Strickland. “These celebratory services will be a great chance to look back on God’s faithfulness over the past 25 years – as well as look ahead at what’s to come.” Hope Church first met in the back room of what is now the Butcher Shop restaurant on Germantown Rd. The church now resides on a 335,000-square-foot campus on Walnut Grove in Cordova. In addition to four services each weekend and an alternative worship service on Sunday night called The Stirring, Hope Church has numerous outreach ministries in Memphis and across the globe. The church also hosts more than 30 recovery and support groups in addition to offering the traditional ministries. Hope has a secondhand boutique store on Germantown Parkway called Hope Again. The store is an ongoing fundraising effort to raise money for missions from Memphis to Africa. “As we like to say, Hope is a church for every age and every stage,” said Strickland
St. Paul outreach effort Sept. 17
St. Paul Baptist Church, located at 2144 East Holmes Rd., is partnering with Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis and Feed the Children on Sept. 17th to distribute food, household items and hygiene products to 800 families in need. Families will assemble on the grounds of the church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. St. Paul has made servicing families in need a central part of its mission. In addition to partnerships with Feed the Children, the church operates a food pantry twice per week that has met the needs of nearly 150 families to date. Those who are interested, can call the church at 901-346-5544. Participants will need a government-issued photo ID and will only be allowed one box per family.
Installation at The Blvd. …
The Rev. J. Lawrence Turner (left) was installed as senior pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on Sunday (Sept. 8), with Dr. Marvin McMickle (right), president, professor of Church Leadership at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, N.Y. delivering the sermon. Journalist, syndicated columnist and author Roland Martin (below) keynoted a black-tie gala at The Peabody on Friday (Sept. 6). At the gala, Rev. Turner shares the dance-floor spotlight with first lady Bridgett Turner. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
BRIEFLY: First Baptist Church Lauderdale is seeking an “experienced, spirit-led” choir director to lead the sanctuary choir. Fax resumes to 901-448-1640 or mail them to Shelley White-Means, First Baptist Church Lauderdale, 655 Mississippi Blvd. Memphis, TN 38126. Applications accepted immediately. Compensation commensurate with experience. BRIEFLY: The Women of New Sardis Baptist Church will hold a service of Renewal, Restoration and Revival at 7 p.m. on Sept. 27 at the church at 7739 E. Holmes Rd. The service kicks off the church’s women’s month observance. The Rev. Dr. L. LaSimba Gray is the senior pastor.
PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-
METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor
767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126
ASSOCIATE MINISTERS
901-946-4095 fax 948-8311
Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
SUNDAY Sunday School .....................8:30 am Morning Worship Service ....10:00am
WEDNESDAY Bible Study .........................10:30 am Mid-Day Prayer Meeting .....12 noon Evening Prayer Meeting........7:00pm FRIDAY Cable Channel 17 ............... 8:00pm
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. —Phillipians 4:13
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. —Matthew 7: 1-2
Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter
ST. ANDREW A.M.E. CHURCH 867 SOUTH PARKWAY EAST Memphis, TN 38106
(901) 948-3441
Early Morning..........7:45 AM Church School..........9:45 AM Morning Worship......11:00 AM Bible Study For Youth and Adults Tuesday - 7:00 PM “Spirit, Soul, and Body!” AM 1070 WDIA Sundays, 10:00-10:30 AM
TV Cable Access Broadcast Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Channel 17 Website:www.saintandrewamec.org Child Care Center (901) 948-6441 Monday-Friday 6 AM- 5:30 PM Emergency Food Pantry & Clothes Closet Wednesday 6 PM-8 PM
Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, Pastor Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Pastor
“Ministering to Memphis-Spirit, Soul and Body”
ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, September 12 - 18, 2013, Page 8
WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?
Comebacks, returns and the Classic
Guess who’s back? No, not me. I didn’t go anywhere. I’m talking about Eddie Murphy! No, not Eddie Murphy the actor. I’m talking about Eddie Murphy the singer! Yeah, I know…same Myron person. But EdMays die hasn’t made a record in years! Remember “Party all the Time?” Now he is back on the music scene with a new song called “Red Light” featuring Snoop Dogg…or Snoop Lion rather. The laid back, smooth reggae tune is described as an anthem to raise awareness of important social changes in light of recent world events. After I stumbled across the story about Eddie’s new venture, I rushed to YouTube just to see what kind of amusement I could get out of it for a day. I mean, come on, this is the same guy who also recorded “Put Your Mouth on Me.” And the song was just a bad as the title. Complicating it for me is that Eddie has been so silly in his movies that it’s hard to take him seriously as a “real” singer. When I see him – and hear him – I can’t help but think about “The Nutty Professor,” “Norbit” and the donkey from “Shrek.” (lol) Of course, that’s not really a bad thing. We enjoyed those movies. It’s just a challenge to see him “real.” He will always be funny Eddie to me, and I suspect to most of us. Here’s the news flash: the jokester in me was quite disappointed when I actually listened to the new song. I was rather enlightened. In other words…the song is good, very good! Finally, Eddie has found a song that matches his vocal style. He’s even playing lead guitar. Take note, Eddie’s new album titled “9” is slated to be released in the first quarter of 2014. I encourage you to take a listen.
Viola Jackson – doing it with ‘Disney On Ice’ Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Warren Roseborough A fashion designer by trade, Viola Jackson graduated from Alabama A&M University, where she focused on fashion, with a concentration on design. She toured with the Ebony Fashion Fair, hitting 180 cities in nine months while having an “off-the-chain” experience right out of school. Later, she freelanced, taking advantage of behind-thescenes opportunities. Jackson always wanted to do movies and bowed to the suggestion that she first needed more costume experience. She thought about the circus and then about “Disney on Ice,” which had fascinated her since childhood. She reached out to Disney and now the self-described “Southern girl” from Demopolis, Ala. is doing it with Disney. The New Tri-State Defender: What is the first thing you remember that you ever wanted to be? Viola Jackson: I’ve always wanted to be a fashion designer. That has been my dream since second grade. Now that I have been with “Disney on Ice,” because of the fact that I love it so much and I am having such a ball, I actually love costume now. Fashion and costume is like two completely different industries. Fashion is very tedious. Costume is where you are able to go into fantasy and all that type of stuff. It’s really, really cool… I get the best of both worlds. TSD: Did you have role models and was there anyone doing something like what you do? VJ: My number one role model is my mom. She is like “the bomb.” My mom always stuck beside me, she always supported me, because like I said, I was into so much stuff. In high school, I was really into doing
With Disney on Ice, Viola Jackson pursues her passion and she says Memphians, particularly the children, are going to love the upcoming “Rockinʼ Ever After” performances. (Photos: Disney On Ice)
like all types of activities. I was in the band, I was in a boxing club, I was homecoming queen, I was (on) student council. … Through everything I’ve done in my life, every extracurricula thing I’ve done, fashion design has always been there. (My mom) would wake me up on Saturday morning … everybody would be sitting there and we would watch black-and-white movies. She would always tell me, “Look at these costumes. Look at these clothes that they’re wearing.” So we kind of formed a bond right there. … I have people in the industry who I really admire, but for the most part, my mom is number one.
What’s happening!
This weekend is the “Weekend of all Weekends”…at least in Memphis anyway. It is Southern Heritage Classic Weekend otherwise simply known as “Classic Weekend.”. And as we know and have come to expect, SHC Weekend features a full slate of things to do before we get around to the game. Thursday (Sept. 12), it’s Charlie Wilson and Fantasia at the Landers Center in Southaven. Friday it’s Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osbourne and Howard Hewitt at Harrah’s Event Center Tunica. And then on Saturday, it’s the clash of dueling Tigers at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium between Jackson State and Tennessee State. Before all of that, there are parades, fashion shows, banquets, golf, band competitions and more. You don’t even have to like football to be a part of this entire weekend. Now, as for the game, here’s my annual prediction: The Tigers are gonna win! Next week, I’ll let you know if I’m correct. Until then that’s what’s happening!
(Got an event you’d like for me to cover or attend? Email me at Myron@whatshappeningmyron.com.)
TSD: What’s next for you professionally and personally? VJ: I really want to design a show. Yes, I’m putting that out there. I want to design a Disney on Ice show. I want to be the first one to actually design a show and travel with the show as head of wardrobe. It’s like you’d have everything right there. I’d be there. If anything happened or whatever, I’d be there. It’ll be a learning process for me too. I’d be able to see how my designs travel and work on a 9-month tour. … TSD: Are you the first African American to have this position with Disney? VJ: There are a few of us here. It’s actually open, there are more African-American people, people of all different backgrounds. It’s really cool. It’s a nice work environment.
AT A GLANCE
Event: “Disney on Ice: Rockinʼ Ever After” Where: FedExForum Shows: Sept. 20 – 6:30 p.m.; Sept. 21 – 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.; Sept. 22 – 1 p.m., 5 p.m., Tickets: Ticketmaster NOTE: $1 of every ticket sold to the Saturday, Sept 21, 6:30 p.m. performance will benefit Make A Wish of the Mid-south.
Arsenio
Been catching “The Arsenio Hall Show” this week? Looks like it might be sort of a slow growth for many of us. I mean, think about it – 19 years is a long time to be away from the game. It’s easy to get that old feeling when you’re watching the show. Still, it’s a whole new world and a whole new era. There so many things to focus your attention on these days and the show has to not only recapture some of that old magic, it has to capture some new magic as well. As for the old magic, it’s clear that from the theme music to the logo at the end of the show, he hasn’t forgotten about those of us who were with him for the first go-round. He even told us, “Let’s get Busy!”… and that was nostalgic enough for me. I think the show will settle into its new position quite well and in no time we will back to planning our nightly activities around Arsenio and talking about what happened the next morning.
TSD: When you come in contact with children, what do they think of your profession? VJ: They always seem to be really excited about it, and I don’t know what it really is. I just have this bond with kids. Maybe it’s because of the artist in me, because I am able to just sit there with a child, like when they’re jubilant or coloring and stuff like that, I’m designing, I’m doing the same thing. So I can get with a kid… sit there with my legs crossed and be on the same level. Get my little paints out. … Seriously, it’s cool with me. … I think they (children) are going to really, really love the show, the “Rockin’ Ever After Show” that’s going to be there (in Memphis). … It’s really young. It’s the newest show that we have. It’s really hip. …Within the show there is so much going on, so many different surprise elements and all that stuff. We also have special guests with the Disney family that drop in at the beginning of the show to show what they’ve got, what they’re made of.
“Disney on Ice: Rockinʼ Ever After” is set for a 3-day run at the FedExForum.
Tyra Banks dons whiteface for ‘So Cool’ photo exhibition NewsOne staff
In a very bold – or very foolish – move, supermodel Tyra Banks decided to pay homage to her “colleagues, competitors and friends,” in a photo exhibition entitled, “Tyra Banks Presents: 15 photographed by Udo Spreitzenbarth and styled by creator director Ty-Ron Mayes,” just in time for New York Fashion Week. The “America’s Next Top Model” creator transforms herself into a bevy of modeling legends, including: Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Lauren Hutton, Jerry Hall, Kate Moss, Iman, Kate Moss, Twiggy, Brooke Shields, Claudia Schiffer, Carmen Dell’Orefice, and Grace Jones. She also offers her interpretation of newbies, Kate Upton, Karlie Kloss, Cara Delevingne. And in the pièce de résistance Tyra channels herself as a 15-year-old girl, according to her press release. Clearly excited about her edgy concept, Tyra shared it on Twitter.
Tyra Banks @tyrabanks So U know when U R gonna announce an OMG-that-is-so-COOL PhotoProject 2day U’VE been working on 4 a year that’ll BlowPeople’sMinds 9:53 AM - 7 Sep 2013 126 Retweets 169 favorites Tyra Banks @tyrabanks
4 hours of hair & makeup later, I’ve become übermodel @Caradelevingne! Fierce & love to #LA & #London. #NYFW #Tyra15 pic.twitter.com/yxS0l6ocNX 12:42 PM - 7 Sep 2013 898 Retweets 1,001 favorites Tyra Banks @tyrabanks Hid my booty & boobies like a pro, for a pro - all to look & pose just like #SuperModel Kate Moss! #NYFW #Tyra15 pic.twitter.com/aCP6xxEMvz 12:43 PM - 7 Sep 2013 220 Retweets 353 favorites
Tyra Banks @tyrabanks It was amazing to be physically transformed into my idol, @CindyCrawford... #Fierce mole, hair & all! #NYFW #Tyra15 pic.twitter.com/ZnCb9WulHY 12:44 PM - 7 Sep 2013 330 Retweets 534 favorites
Though “whiteface” doesn’t have the historical weight of mockery, degradation and oppression that is attached to “blackface,” is she opening the door that will allow both to be accepted in high-fashion circles? Is she perpetuating the European beauty standard? Or it just a unique spin on an old idea?
Read more at NewsOne http://newsone.com/2713871/tyrabanks-dons-whiteface-for-so-coolphoto-exhibition/