April 9 2015

April 9 - 15, 2015

VOL. 64, No. 13

COMMENTARY

www.tsdmemphis.com

Priority number one: Focusing on ‘generational poverty’ says Harold Collins

Walter Scott’s death and the cycle of contempt for black lives We can no longer ignore the fact that members of law enforcement have become a threat to the lives of black men and women.

by Tony Jones

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Q: You established an exploratory committee to make a determination of whether this run was feasible. Talk about that process and how you ultimately made the decision to run.

A: When we announced the exploratory committee in October of 2014, we did that because we felt it was the right thing to do to see if there was an opportunity for a

During a focused, well-managed and enthusiastic press conference in Southland Mall, District 3 City Councilman Harold Collins announced his campaign for Mayor of Memphis.

Former Whitehaven City Councilwoman Tajuan Stout Mitchell hosted the Wednesday morning press conference.

Council member Janice Fullilove (Super District 8, Position 2) roused the crowd of supporters with an emotional endorsement of Collins that energized the Harold gathering.

Collins Collins presented himself as a people’s champ type of candidate. He said the decision to run was not an easy one.

“The thought of challenging someone (incumbent Mayor A C Wharton Jr.) that I consider to be a good friend was difficult. However, I saw the need for new leadership because many of the policies and projects were not intended to help our most promotable resources – it’s citizens, but only for a few people and their special needs,” said Collins.

“I don’t believe that listening to big businesses is more important than listening to the people in the neighborhoods. I will not be that kind of leader. Focusing on our city’s generational poverty will be priority number one.”

The city’s minority business sector will be a major platform if he is elect-

SEE COLLINS ON PAGE 3

SEE PRIORITY ON PAGE 3

by Charles F. Coleman Jr. The Root

By now, many in America have watched the obscene video showing the death of Walter L. Scott, shot in the back as he flees for his life from North Charleston, S.C., Police Officer Michael Slager. Seemingly in an instant, eight shots from Slager’s gun turned Scott from a man to a memory. Then the officer adds insult to injury by appearing to try to frame Scott, with video footage showing him dropping what appears to be a weapon near his dead body.

Another black life that mattered has been lost and another name has been transformed into a hashtag Walter symbolizing the L. Scott latest inexplicable killing of an unarmed black man at the hands of law enforcement.

What is clear is that Slager knew exactly what to do in order to concoct the perfect formula for a police officer’s Michael freedom. His lie Slager was prepared and his version of events was designed to fit neatly within the same lazy narrative that always seems to surface when police show wanton disregard for black lives. Plant a weapon. Check. Fear for my life. Check. Black thug struggled with me and threatened the use of force against me and I reacted by using my service weapon. Acquittal (if there is even an indictment and a trial).

It’s a story to which we have become so desensitized that we expect it before it happens. So much so that media members and respectability apologists alike were practically tripping over themselves searching for a way to sully the character of Scott, a 50-year-old family man and father of four.

There are a few alarming things of note stemming from the public discourse about Walter Scott’s death.

The first is the media’s failure to frame the discussion properly within the broader narrative of law enforcement’s continued abuses of people of color in America.

We have all heard the obvious question, “Would an arrest have taken place if there were no video?”

Let me assure you that that is an unlikely possibility. The fact is, as shocking as the video is, and even as it may have been a catalyst for Slager to be charged, it still may not be enough to overcome the thinking of jurors in South Carolina for a unanimous conviction.

This is because the video cannot itself address a mindset that exists regarding the alleged threat posed by SEE SHOOTING ON PAGE 5

MEMPHIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY

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If elected, he will be a mayor “that understands that government can’t do it all, but government can certainly lead,” said City Councilman Harold Collins. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

Collins is in! He’s running for mayor

The New Tri-State Defender

On Wednesday morning, City Councilman Harold Collins (District 3) announced that he is running for Mayor of the City of Memphis. During a visit Monday to the offices of The New Tri-State Defender, Collins shared details of how he came to that decision, his assessment of the race and key aspects of his vision for the city.

“Yes we are running! When the petitions are available later this month we will pull a petition. When we will officially file it, I am not sure,” said Collins, who met with TSD President/Publisher Bernal E. Smith II and Executive Editor Karanja A. Ajanaku.

“I am a deliberate person. When we pull, we will get our signatures, we will make sure everyone that signs it is registered and then we file it. I’ll walk in quietly, pay my

Thunderstorms

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$100, sign it, walk out and we’ll go to work.”

Collins was upbeat and yet pretty “matter of fact” regarding the official process for declaring his candidacy.

He demonstrated excitement and energy regarding his outlook on what many project as one of the most interesting mayoral races in recent history.

Clear the runway for Elise Neal Memphis Black Expo’s ‘Art of Fashion’ to feature actress proud of her Memphis roots

by Kelvin Cowans

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Earlice Taylor, a community activist in the Glenview community, gets a helping hand from Jamall Charles as she labors to get her urban gardening project to take root. (Photo: Wiley Henry)

Homegrown ‘Hoop House’ dreams that you can eat

by Wiley Henry

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75 Cents

Earlice Taylor made the decision a year ago to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. So she had a hoop house, or high tunnel, built in the back of her home in the historic Glenview community to harvest her goal.

“I’ve had a garden in the back yard for years, even in Chicago, where I once lived,” said Taylor, a community activist and project director for the Hoop House Project, which the Glenview Community Development Corporation, Inc. is spearheading.

The Hoop House Project is a teaching tool to encourage residents in the Glenview community to eat healthy; to demonstrate and teach sustainable gardening; and to grow healthy, organic produce year-round that will supply low-income residents with fresh food.

“It’s a community project,” said Taylor, noting that about 8-10 people are actively involved. “I’m doing this for people to learn about gardening so they can take home some fresh fruits and vegetables to eat. I won’t be selling

anything.”

The Hoop House is one of nearly 80 small-scale community projects dispersed across 40 neighborhoods in Memphis. The projects are eligible to receive $85,000 in matching funds in part from The Hyde Family Foundation, a Memphis-based foundation that supports education, arts and culture, and livable communities.

The funds will be dispersed by ioby (In Our Back Yard), an online crowd-funding platform for neighborhood development ideas, and Livable Memphis, a program of the Community Development Council of Greater Memphis working to promote healthy growth and livable communities.

Taylor submitted her proposal at the onset of the Hoop House Project to ensure its success from start to finish.

Although the project is well underway, supplies are still needed to harvest a good, healthy crop, she said.

“We still need a medium size rear tine tiller, untreated cedar or oak boards for raised beds, organic soil, plants and seeds, and a water line installed for a drip system.”

SEE HOOP HOUSE ON PAGE 5

Actress and Memphian Elise Neal will rip the runway at the Memphis Black Expo on Sunday (April 12), which assures the always-fashionable attendees that they will not be alone in style.

Neal, whose star presence radiates on “Hollywood Divas” and “Pillow Talk Channel 187” on TV One and multiple movies and other successful network ventures, has not forgotten what hard work will do for you. Nor has she overlooked the importance of business and brand ownership.

Fresh off the set of rehearsal in California when The New Tri-State Defender hooked up with her by telephone on Tuesday, Neal shared her thoughts on entrepreneurship. The Memphis Black Expo stretches from April 9-13 and in making her first appearance at the annual event she is doing what rap legend Ludacris once coined as “Back for the first time.”

Kelvin Cowans: Much love and SEE ELISE ON PAGE 3

“No matter where I do business or where I go I let them know that I am from Memphis, Tennessee.” – Actress Elise Neal (Photo: elise-neal.com)

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April 9 - 15, 2015

The New Tri-State Defender

The New Tri-State Defender

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 3

NEWS

“This will not just be a slogan, not just a committed slogan, not just a suggestion. We will have a mayor that understands that government can’t do it all, but government can certainly lead.”

COLLINS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT new kind a of leadership and a new approach to leading Memphis.

In 2007 when we decided to run for the Council, we established that we would not serve any more than two terms. So we approached it with a sense of urgency to get things done.

We felt that eight years would be enough time to make a tangible difference for the residence of District 3 and get things done. I was also of the mind set that I could step aside and allow new leadership to step in.

In Memphis, we always talk about trying to bring young folks in, but it never happens. That’s why we have people serving 19 and 20 years in elected positions.

Taking nothing from my colleagues, generally two things happen when people serve that long – you get burned out and start making decisions that are not in the best interest of your constituents, and you start leaning to select special interest.

So in getting elected to the council I wanted – and still want – to be the kind of leader that makes it possible for other young leaders to come in and serve and, two, have a sense of urgency to get things done in my district; and we’ve done that.

Q: So, with that being said, talk about those accomplishments. What exactly is your legacy of work in District 3?

A: Let’s start in the east and work our way west. The first thing we did was knock down the old Marina Cove. That location was an eyesore and a dumping ground. We knocked it down and ultimately it was deeded to the Power Center CDC. In a few weeks you will see them breaking ground on a $40 million dollar redevelopment project called Eden Square.

Soon after that the tornado hit Hickory Hill and Fox Meadows, including Sharp (Manufacturing, Company of Memphis), the Hickory Ridge Mall and several warehouses. When that occurred and the decision was made to close Hickory Ridge Mall, we got out there and helped Pastor A.R. Williams and World Overcomers (Outreach Ministries) secure, renovate and reopen the mall through efforts to secure financing through HUD. We helped manage to get Sharp back up and running within 24 hours. They were

ELISE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT respect from Memphis. We follow you, we admire you and we love you. I actually saw a post you made on Twitter sometime back and you had on a Memphis Grizzlies T-Shirt standing in the middle of Staples Center as they battled the Los Angeles Clippers in the N.B.A. Playoffs. It’s always a good look to see our hometown stars on a national stage hold true to the things we take pride in of our city. The Memphis Black Expo is another one of those things. Ms. Neal, could you please tell us why the Memphis Black Expo is important to you.

Elise Neal: Thank you. I love you guys as well. The city of Memphis is my hometown and I will always stay true to my roots. No matter where I do business or where I go I let them know that I am from Memphis, Tennessee.

The Expo is a good staple for our city and when I was asked to participate I jumped on it.

That’s how I am. When it’s a great cause and I’m available, I make it happen. This is actually my first year doing it and I’m looking forward to having a good time. And I’ll be on the runway, so that should be nice.

K.C: The Memphis Black Expo is built on entrepreneurship. How important business ownership for African Americans.

E.N.: I think it’s very important for people to know that when you have a good idea you should put it to work. I don’t care if that’s clothing, makeup or any of those things. I see a lot of great stuff happening even for some of my friends as they have begun to create lipsticks and nail polish products.

This is important because you will notice that with many people that create products, they end up only getting maybe 25

Sara Lewis, who served on the old Memphis City Schools board and on the City Council, was on hand to support Collins. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

“My desire is to take that effort, that vision, that energy and spread it throughout the city to help transform all of our communities, cleaning up blight, attracting new development and new business and investing in infrastructure.” shut down and if they couldn’t get open within a short of time were in jeopardy of closing for good. We brought the resources and effort to bear to get thing back up and running quickly.

We assisted Carolyn Hardy with the bottling plant that was also damaged and helped her get back up and running and ultimately positioned for the offer she accepted from City Brewery.

We secured and activated the funding that had long been allocated to re-do Elvis Presley Boulevard. When the funding was allocated to build the parking garage in Overton Square we came back and got the $16 million to complete Elvis Presley.

We assisted Kroger with a $5 million dollar renovation of its Shelby Drive store that is now one of the highest revenue generating Kroger stores in the Mid-South/Delta region.

We’ve worked with Elvis Presley Enterprises on its planned developments of the

area around Graceland, now a $135 million project that will create jobs and opportunity in the heart of the district. There are many other ancillary projects and efforts that have improved the quality of life in my district. Whereas before there seem to be little resolve or sense of urgency to get those things done. We came in and got it done.”

“My desire is to take that effort, that vision, that energy and spread it throughout the city to help transform all of our communities, cleaning up blight, attracting new development and new business and investing in infrastructure. We can make this city into what it can be with the right leadership.

percent of the product that they created themselves and the company they work for gets the large share of it. And that’s not fair and not good business on your behalf.

In this day and time we have websites such as Twitter and you have emails and you can actually become a boss over night.

The focus should really be upon creating a good product and getting your brand out there; not someone else’s brand.

that was a great way to do it.

K.C.: Following your career, I realize that you mean those words dearly as I’ve seen you pretty much reinvent yourself or your brand. How is that working for you?

E.N.: Yeah, you caught me.

Ha! It goes back to me having pride in my work. I felt like I’ve been there and done that and so I embrace who I am as a person and as a brand and this is the next level.

One reason I took the job as a Hollywood Diva is that I feel like information is key and I think that I have information about dance, information about how to be a successful actress and how to keep fit all throughout your career; just tons of information. I wanted to share that insight with the world and

NEXT: In Part II (online and in print on Friday) Councilman Harold Collins shares his vision for Memphis, along with the planks of a platform designed to anchor his campaign for Mayor of Memphis.

K.C.: What’s next for you?

E.N.: We’ve just started filming the second season of “Hollywood Divas” and that’s wonderful. I’m also moving into a place in my career where I create content for television.

I’m more so becoming a writer, a producer. I’m working on a pilot for a TV show and various things of that nature under my brand and I feel like that’s the growth of Elise.

One stream of thought of mine is like Evolution shows for women of color, and that evolution could be fitness or getting sexy again, etc. This is a really exciting time for me.

But first up is The Memphis Black Expo.

NOTE: The Memphis Black Expo serves to highlight entrepreneurship, promote cooperative economics and support the stability and growth of small, women and minority-owned businesses. Visit memphisblackexpo.com.

(Follow Elise Neal on Twitter (@TheRealNealE.) (Kelvin Cowans can be reached at kelvincowans@ hotmail.com)

PRIORITY

CONTINUED FROM FRONT ed, Collins said.

“This will not just be a slogan, not just a committed slogan, not just a suggestion. We will have a mayor that understands that government can’t do it all, but government can certainly lead.”

The crowd cheered as he gave a short history of his part in developing Tiger Lane at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

“That was a $16 million dol-

lar project. We made sure that, with our colleagues’ help on the council, that nearly 54 percent went to small, women- or minority-owned businesses.”

He particularly noted the work of Councilman Reed Hedgepeth as being responsible for ensuring MWBE’s were fairly included.

Asked by The New Tri State Defender if he would provide a real, detailed plan to help grow the African-American business sector, Collins answered this way: “I once heard someone say, ‘If you’re not at the table,

you’re on the menu.’ So our challenge is to be sure that our women- and minority-owned businesses are at the table. In my comments I said that the mayor of this city has to be intentional to ensure that all – and all means all – that everybody will be accounted for.

We will never be the city we need to be until all of us are successful.”

Sara Lewis, who served on the Memphis City Schools board and on the City Council, was on hand to support Collins.

“What I am most concerned about in this race is economics and employment that pays a livable wage and benefits,” said Lewis. “If you have any doubt about what I’m saying, take a ride through the Carver community. What was once a thriving community is now desolate. We need to know what are the long term plans for these communities?”

Scott Gill, regional vice president of Summit Holdings, spoke in favor of Collins from the podium.

“We’re based on Brooks Road and have been in business in Memphis for 33 years.

We’re supporting him (Collins) because he listens and makes the kinds of decisions that are favorable for business, but is favorable for Memphis at the same time,” said Gill.

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 4

OPINION

John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951-1997)

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Charter schools: Balance that benefits all; or no deal at all

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Veteran Black Press columnist has been diagnosed with ALS (TriceEdneyWire.com) – For the past 22 years, Jim Clingman has published his cutting edge “Blackonomics” column in black-owned weekly newspapers around the country. The column mainly pushes for economic justice, which he views as a core necessity for black progress in America.

But as this award-winning columnist, author of four books, college professor, entrepreneurship expert, speaker and businessman continues to fight with his pen, Clingman, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, is suddenly engaged in an unexpected and devastating personal battle. It is a battle for his own life – and quality of life.

Eighteen months ago, doctors diagnosed Clingman with ALS, the gradually debilitating disease that leads to partial or total paralysis of the body and a most often two to five year lifespan after diagnosis. …

Many have learned of ALS from the so-called “ice bucket challenge” that has raised more than $100 million to research the mysterious illness. …

“It’s like having a stroke one neuron at a time,” Clingman says. “And you know we have billions of neurons, so it’s like a death by a thousand cuts. A slow process, but a deliberate process.”

So far, the creeping symptoms which he first noticed six years ago in 2009 with a weak foot that caused him to stumble when he tried to bowl, have gradually grown into the loss of his ability to walk without help from a walker to sturdy himself. The weakened muscles in his feet and calves have also ended his beloved 35-year bicycling activity….

Now, 18 months since the diagnosis, Clingman is beginning to feel the effects in his upper limbs. …Typically, ALS patients live between two and five years after diagnoses, according to the National Institute of Health. The ALS Association reports that about 30,000 people in the U. S. are currently diagnosed with ALS. About 5,600 people are diagnosed with it each year.

Meanwhile, there is only one drug for ALS that is approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It’s called Riluzole.

A blue bottle of it sits on Clingman’s desk. …Riluzole Jim Clingman “slows progression (Photo: Kiah of ALS but does not cure it,” acClingman) cording to NIH. …

The New York Times reported in February that a new ALS medication called GM6 – still in experimental stages – has now shown to “dramatically slow down the progression” of ALS. … Genervon, the maker of GM6, posted a press release on its website March 21 saying it met with the FDA in February and “we have filed a formal request for the Accelerated Approval (AA) Program and are now waiting for a final decision.” …An online petition, already signed by a half million people at Change.org, offers some hope to influence the FDA to accelerate approval. Here’s the URL: https:// www.change.org/p/lisa-murkowski-fda-accelerated-approval-of-genervon-s-gm604-for-use-in-als.

The petition appeals to U. S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the committee; as well as Janet Woodcock, the doctor who is director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation & Research. About 18 other people, including senators and FDA administrators are also listed.

ALS notwithstanding, Clingman is up for this fight. … (He) and his family are leaning on their faith. …

“Doctors give death sentences, but God gives life sentences – eternal life,” said Clingman.

Walking away from bad customer service After 19 years, most of them as a satisfied customer, I am closing my personal checking account this week at Citibank. I am closing my account not because I was lured away with an incredibly attractive offer from one of its competitors. Rather, I am walking away from Citi because of bad customer service. When a business loses customers who want to stay, it’s a sure sign of trouble.

My issue was a simple one.

Throughout 2014, whenever I made a deposit to my personal Citi account from my business account at a rival national bank, the full amount was immediately made available upon deposit in the ATM. Beginning this year, however, the full amount was no longer being honored and no one would tell me why.

I started with the Customer Service Department. Instead of being responsive to my complaint, five different representatives – Sabrina Padron, Rene Torres, Christine Flanders, Priscilla Chaires and Christine Naranjo – felt the need to send me form letters essentially stating Citibank’s policy of spreading funds availability above a certain amount over five business days.

Despite assurance in an email to me from Padron, dated March 4, that “Citi is committed to providing our client’s (SIC) with world class service that is efficient, responsive and dependable,” the service was neither world class, efficient, nor responsive.

After sending five emails to the online services department and not getting a reply that was “responsive,” I decided to approach the branch manager near my home. He promised to look into the matter and to call me back within several days. He kept his word and when he called, he said he could find no reason why the change had been made.

Finally, I emailed a letter to CEO Michael Corbat on April 2. At press time, I had not received a reply, which is not surprising given the volume of correspondence he probably receives. In the meantime, I have opened a personal account at the bank where I do my business checking and ignored the last email I received from Christine Naranjo asserting that “…Citi is committed to providing our client’s (SIC) with world class service that is efficient, responsive and dependable.” (Surely, someone at a bank that purports to provide “world class service” should know that “clients” is not spelled with an apostrophe.)

Less than six months ago, I had to walk away from a Merchant’s shop that not only misdiagnosed the problem, but incorrectly installed the wrong part on a vehicle. I had been using the business for more than a decade, but no more.

When service is bad, I have decided to not simply walk away in silence.

Instead, when I leave now, I let them

know why I am leaving. If they are serious about customer service, they will fix the problem that prompted me to leave. If they continue to ignore those problems, they might not be in business long, George E. anyway.

Curry By the same token, I believe in rewarding good service in word and deed. For instance, when I was treated recently at Emory Johns Creek Hospital near Atlanta for a mild heart attack, I publicly thanked the outstanding nurses by name and copied the hospital’s interim CEO. As one who waited tables on trains over the Christmas holidays to help pay my way through Knoxville College, I am extremely sensitive to service and tipping. I usually tip between 20 and 25 percent, sometimes more. If the service is exceptional, I note that on the receipt and sometimes ask to speak to the supervisor.

However, I have not convinced myself to tip people when I pick up a carry-out order. It’s not like they are waiting on me. They pick up the order from the kitchen, take my money and hand me my order. That is not the same as waiting on me at a table. Last Saturday, I went to Olive Garden to pick up an order. Instead of handing me my $2 change, the employee had the gall to ask, “Do you need your $2 back?” Of course, I need all of my money back.

Thanks for asking.

Speaking of restaurant employees, I have two pet peeves. One is when they ask, “How are we doing today?” I can’t speak for them, so I don’t know how we are doing. If you want to know how I am doing or how my dinning party is doing, it would not require any more energy to ask the question directly.

I try to restrain myself when they ask, as they frequently do: “How was everything?” I didn’t eat everything, so I couldn’t possibly know the answer to that question. I can only tell you about the food I consumed.

I know, I know, I am becoming persnickety in my old age. I have decided to become more vocal when I receive good or bad service. In doing so, I hope that will improve the next customer’s experience.

(George E. Curry is editor-inchief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service and BlackPressUSA.com. He can be reached via www.georgecurry. com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.)

Jailing educators for ‘cheating to the test’ Eleven Atlanta teachers have been convicted of altering student test scores on standardized tests. They are charged with racketeering and conspiracy. The much-celebrated Supt. of Atlanta Public Schools Beverly L. Hall was among the indicted but was too ill to stand trial. She died March 2.

Another group of teachers, principals and administrators took plea bargains. A total of 178 people were accused of taking part in the cheating “scam” and in 2011 Hall reminded observers that “we have over 3,000 teachers in Atlanta,” and just a few were part of the cheating scandal. She also denied having any knowledge of the cheating. Until her illness, she insisted that she wanted to stand trial and clear her name.

In what was described as the largest cheating scandal in the nation’s history, District Attorney Paul L. Howard Jr. prosecuted the educators under a law originally designed to snare organized crime figures. Of the 12 defendants, 11 were convicted of racketeering, a felony punishable up to 20 years. One defendant, Dessa Curb, a former elementary school teacher, was acquitted.

Those 11 convicted were taken straight from the courtroom to jail.

Sentencing should take place this week. On top of the 20 years maximum sentence for racketeering, they could be convicted on other charges including making false statements.

It is interesting to note that most of these teachers are African American.

You can serve as few as 15 years for second-degree murder in Georgia, and as little as a year for involuntary manslaughter. Further, most convicted offenders get a day or even months to go home and straighten out their affairs before reporting to prison. But not this group of educators.

These Atlanta teachers aren’t the only teachers involved in similar cheating scams. A year ago, 130 Philadelphia educators were accused of cheating. In September, several were ordered to stand trial.

Why have those who chose a low-paid and little-regarded profession stoop to cheating on standardized tests? Are they judged by the number of students who pass these flawed tests, and the number who fail? Is there a culture of cheating in too many of our nation’s schools?

Is there a culture of “teaching to the test”?

There is no excuse for the cheating in Atlanta, or Philadelphia, or in El Paso, where the school superintendent was imprisoned for reporting faulty test scores. While there is no excuse, it would be foolhardy to ignore the pressure that many face when federal laws mandate the use of standardized tests to “prove” that teachers and schools are doing their jobs.

In some districts, including Atlanta, teachers are given bonuses when their students do well on tests, and may be terminated when students do not. Even now, after revisions in teacher evaluation, half of teacher performance is based on standardized tests. Teachers can be

reassigned, or schools can be closed if there are too many p o o r- p e r f o r m ing students enrolled.

It makes sense to look at the many ways that the system encourages teachJulianne ers to manipuMalveaux late, if not outright cheat, when they administer standardized tests. Some schools spend days preparing students to take the tests. They aren’t spending days teaching the material students must learn, just the rote material needed to pass standardized tests.

Passing a test in English and grammar may prove some proficiency, but does it prove that a student can write a paragraph or an essay, or engage in critical thinking?

When teachers spend too much time focused on standardized testing and not enough on course content, are they cheating students? In teaching to the test, are they cheating to the test? I’m not referring to the multiple erasures that investigators found on some of the Atlanta tests, or schemes that excluded poor-performing students from testing so average grades could be higher. I’m referring to teachers who choose to teach content that they know will show up on the test, or those who spend tens of hours in “practice sessions” with old copies of tests used as drills. From my perspective students are being cheated when there is too much emphasis placed on standardized testing.

One might ask how teachers and students can be evaluated without standardized tests, but there is an extensive body of research that suggests other methods of evaluating teachers, including classroom observation and curriculum review.

Interestingly, an increasing number of colleges do not use standardized tests to evaluate students for admissions because they recognize such tests are flawed.

Obviously, there must be some way to measure progress among students, and proficiency among teachers. Still, standardized test results should not be tied to teacher compensation, or to threats of school closings. If standardized tests are one way to measure results, they must be combined with other measures to ensure fairness.

It makes sense, though, to ask if there is a racial dynamic to leading nearly a dozen teachers, mostly African American, out of a courtroom in handcuffs. And it makes sense to wonder if the charge of racketeering is being applied to harshly for what is clearly illegal misconduct.

While teaching to the test is not against the law, isn’t it cheating our students nearly as much as the scams?

(NNPA columnist Julianne Malveaux is an economist, writer, and President Emerita of Bennett College. She can be reached at juliannemalveaux.com.)

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Several years ago our ministry had a great interest in establishing a charter school in Antioch and applied for it, but was turned down. This was long before all of the interest that we see right now. Rev. Rodney Back then most Beard folks didn’t even know what charters schools were. We were excited and eager to establish a school of higher caliber and opportunities for our kids, give them a real shot at college and to become successful.

Today, most people who want their kids to attend a charter school have no idea what it is. So, I will attempt tell you what I now understand.

Charter schools, according to the Center for Public Education, are publicly funded, non-religious public schools operating under a contract, or “charter,” that governs its operation.

All details of school operation – its name, organization, management and curriculum – are set by the charter, which also outlines how the school will measure student performance based on federally regulated test scores.

Charter school staffs are typically much more diverse and tend to staff heavily with minorities (particularly in urban areas), generally have less experience, make less money, and work longer hours than teachers in the public school system.

Charter schools have an advantage that the regular public school around the corner doesn’t – freedom from regulatory constraints, and autonomy from state and local rules across the board. They can basically hire who they want based on their brand, teach what they deem to be the latest in curriculum, and manage their own budget, from state to state, all 39 of them.

To top all of this off, 30 percent of all charter schools have available to them educational management organizations (EMO’s) that inject money into the system as non-profits; and another 16 percent are for-profit.

OK? Do you see where I may be going with this? And, you already know what’s next, right? Charter schools online. They’ve certainly got a plan.

But, I have to ask. What about a plan for all of the other public schools in the neighborhood that will be adversely affected…the ones that the majority of our children attend?

What is the strategic plan for them?

Where are all of the resources for the kids in the public schools that charter schools attract so readily? Why can’t we fix what we already have, and bless all of our children together so that there won’t be any “educational have-nots?” I mean…they seem to have an answer for the few, but no clue for the most, “the least of these.”

I’m no expert, but as I see it charter schools, regardless of the initial intention, have now become a cash cow for those who give to its non-profit status for tax purposes. And they have proliferated, having also nurtured relationships with for-profit entrepreneurs under the guise of education reform. The truth, however, is that some don’t want their kids going to a school with the majority being so “brown” no matter how diverse the schools population or staff may be.

I understand. I did it too back when my kids were school age. I didn’t understand that if I took my kids out of the regular system that they took the money allocated in the budget elsewhere as bad as the school around the corner needed and deserved it. I didn’t think about the vast majority of the kids in our neighborhood suffering by losing physical education, not having any field trips, being in a dilapidated structure, bad meals, and teachers who just got a paycheck as they failed the kids. All I knew was that my kids got theirs in the finest fashion possible. I didn’t understand that the rest were “left behind” to languish in a nonchalant and basically uncaring environment.

It seems to me that the concept of charter schools, probably because of the influx of private cash and dark money from the one percent, are actually no different from the privatized prison system eventually. Once entrepreneurialism and capitalism takes over our public education system and so many kids are left behind, public schools will only become feeder systems for the prisons that have already been built and that are set up to make even more money because of the educational system that has systemically, but hopefully unintentionally, failed our children…for profit.

There must be a balance that benefits all…or no deal at all.

Enough is enough!

(The Rev. Rodney Beard is pastor of The Living Word Community Church in Nashville and president of The National Action Network for Greater Nashville. Contact him at pastorbeard@tlwcc.org.)

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 5

NEWS

The New Tri-State Defender

SHOOTING

CONTINUED FROM FRONT black men in the eyes of law enforcement. Even as those black men are unarmed and running away in fear of their own lives, they still somehow pose a threat. As a former prosecutor, I have seen jurors’ personal biases defy common sense even in the face of incontrovertible evidence. That same possibility still exists in this case.

Another discussion emerging from this incident is the notion of #bluelivesmatter and #itsnotallcops. If that movement is to gain any traction, the blue wall of silence must come down. Looking at the video suggests that even as Slager attempts to drop what appears to be a weapon on Scott after shooting him, another police appears to observe this happening. For many Americans, this is a sensational shock, a thing from the movies. What everyone needs to understand is that this is hardly a movie.

This is real life and this happens. Not in Hollywood’s studios, but in real America.

In the 21st century, black men and women are framed by law enforcement. Evidence is planted. Arrests are made, convictions rendered and lives are ruined – if life is even preserved – because we also know that in-

HOOP HOUSE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT Volunteers are also needed, she said.

“I’ve had kids to come in to work a garden to get experience – and most never had a hoe in their hands,” said Taylor.

The success of the Hoop House Project, however, is contingent on matching funds.

It is a prerequisite for Taylor and other project directors to raise funds and rally support from friends and neighbors in the community.

Taylor said Glenview residents would be the beneficiaries of the hoop house’s annual yield of warm and cool-season crops. Cold-tolerant vegetables will be harvested as well in the hoop house during the winter season.

The hoop house measures

Video footage of Walter L. screenshot) nocent black men and women are killed by law enforcement.

As far as the law goes, that officer, if complicit, should not simply be guilty of conspiring to tamper with evidence and myriad other ethical violations, but in so blatantly assisting in a violation of his oath to protect

30x12x36. Depending on the condition of the soil and the method of tilling, Taylor said the setup allows the gardener to control what is grown inside the enclosed environment. A good yield, she said, can feed a family year-round with more than enough to feed a community.

“You have to plant in twoweek intervals so the crops will continue to grow,” said Taylor, explaining the process.

“And I’m interested in growing the healthiest food we can grow. We will build the soil up, plant the seeds, and watch them grow.”

Taylor said she is preparing the soil to plant carrots, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, beets, okra, cucumbers, turnip greens, watermelons and herbs.

“We’re going to show people how to use the stuff we

Scott fleeing Police Officer Michael Slager in North Charleston, S.C. (Photo: Video er than Walter Scott and we can no longer afford to ignore the fact that the police have become a risk to black men and women’s health.

Therefore the question remains, what will it take? Not simply for justice for Walter Scott, but for the scores of mem-

bers of our community who continue to endure abuse from law enforcement when there is no video present. It requires a responsible and comprehensive discussion that fundamentally establishes that these are not discrete occurrences isolated to an occasional bad actor in a near flawless system.

Rather, this is the by-product of a mindset that has existed for as long as blacks have been in America and has persisted throughout slavery, Reconstruction, the civil rights era of the ’60s, and up through what we are now witnessing as new-millennium Jim Crow.

This mindset suggests that the perceived threat of a black man justifies any level of force be used to neutralize or eliminate said threat. Until everyone connected with the criminal-justice system – jurors, prosecutors, judges and law enforcement alike – concede that point, we will remain human targets, spinning our wheels and seeking to avoid the same fate as Walter Scott and countless others not on video.

From a man to a memory.

and serve, he should be charged as if he also pulled the trigger eight times himself.

For those of us who know and understand that these violations of our rights, liberties and, moreover, our bodies are more commonplace, there is a need to use this indisputable

murder to dig deeper. To attempt to limit the discussion of Walter Scott to the unfortunate act of rogue officers is a lazy attempt to deflect from the real conversation about a serious need for police reform and fixing a broken criminal-justice system. This is so much great-

grow,” said Taylor. “If you go natural, you can’t use chemicals and pesticides. But you can use animal manure to fertilize the soil. If the soil is bad, it can affect your health.”

There are several community gardens in Memphis.

Grow Memphis, for example, is a nonprofit organization that manages over 30 community gardens. Uptown Community Garden is another one, where local volunteers from Bridges and Girls, Inc. are growing fresh fruits and vegetables.

“You can grow fruits and vegetables just about anywhere,” said Taylor. “People are growing them in pots and containers, because everybody doesn’t have plots.

“Buying fruits and vegetables can be expensive,” Taylor said. “Growing them is cheaper and better for you nutritionally.”

Earlice Taylor shows young Ari Yancey how to use a hoe. (Photo: Wiley Henry)

(Charles F. Coleman Jr. is a civil rights attorney and former Brooklyn, N.Y., prosecutor. He is also an adjunct criminal-justice professor at Berkeley College in New York.

Follow him on Twitter.)

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 6

The New Tri-State Defender

NEWS

APRIL 4TH COMMEMORATION!

The life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were acknowledged in ways big and small during observances in Greater Memphis on April 4, the anniversary of the civil rights icon’s assassination at the Lorraine Motel in 1968.

This visual tribute reflects some of the images.

Author Peggy Wallace Kennedy, the daughter of the late Ala. Gov. George Wallace, received the I Am A Man Award, during the April 4th Foundation 15th Annual Commemorative Awards Banquet at the Hilton-Memphis. Johnson Saulsberry is the Foundation’s founder.

Civil rights movement stalwart James Meredith, who integrated the University of Mississippi, is acknowledged as an I Am A Man Award recipient.

“Heartache to Harmony”

Bobby Seale, Black Panther Party co-founder, gives the keynote address. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

Mayor A C Wharton Jr. speaks at the “Heartache to Harmony” gathering at the National Civil Rights Museum.

The salute to Dr. King provided an opportunity to show commitment to meeting today’s challenges.

The Church of God in Christ joined with the Museum and the City of Memphis for the event that included a march before a musical tribute to Dr. King.

SCLC & Minimum Wages

Veterans of the Sanitation Strike of 1968 voiced support for Memphis-area activists seeking a $15 per hour minimum wage and union rights. (Photo: Twitter: show_me15)

The Rev. Dwight Montgomery, SCLC Memphis President, details the group’s support for a $15 minimum wage and union rights.

The Wreath Ceremony

Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., of which Dr. King was a member.

(Photos: George Tillman Jr.)

Saxophonist Steevon Hunter plays “Precious Lord,” a Dr. King favorite.

The Rev. Earl Fisher, pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, affixes the wreath near the spot where Dr. King was killed.

This family was one of many at the Museum for the ceremony.

Mother and son helped anchor each other at the commemoration.

The New Tri-State Defender

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 7

NATION

Change comes to Ferguson: 3 African Americans to sit on City Council

by Lauren Victoria Burke The Root

After Tuesday’s vote, the city of Ferguson, Mo., will have three African-American members on its City Council for the first time in Ferguson’s history.

Although it rained for much of Election Day, voter turnout was close to three times higher than what it was for the last City Council election in 2013. Many are saying that Tuesday’s turnout was the highest ever for a municipal election.

Ella Jones and Wesley Bell, both victorious in Tuesday’s election, will join Dwayne James as the three African Americans to sit on the six-person Ferguson City Council. The council has never had more than one African-American member in its 121-year history, and Jones is the first African-American woman ever elected.

Jones, who won Ward 1, received more votes, 824, than

her two white male challengers combined.

And Jones wasn’t the only African-American woman to win big on Tuesday. For the first time in history, the neighboring city of Jennings, Mo., which is 85 percent African American, will have an African-American mayor, Yolanda Fountain Henderson. In addition, Courtney Graves was elected to the Ferguson-Florissant school board after beating incumbent Brian Elbert.

“From what I’ve seen today, the community became empowered and came out. That is a win,” tweeted Ferguson Democratic Committeewoman Patricia Bynes as polls closed.

Bob Hudgins, a white man who joined in Ferguson’s protests against police brutality, lost his bid to represent mostly white Ward 2 on the City Council. He was defeated by former Ferguson Mayor Brian Fletcher.

On Wednesday morning,

Bynes congratulated Fletcher and said, “Everyone is looking forward toward moving forward in a better direction.”

Had Hudgins emerged victorious, the council would have leaned 4-2 against Mayor James Knowles, whom some residents want to see ousted. Still, the 3-3 split is major progress toward more equal representation in a city that is 67 percent African-American. An effort to recall Knowles – launched when five residents formed a committee in March to collect signatures for a recall – is currently under way. The group has two months to collect approximately1,800 signatures, or 15 percent of the total number of eligible voters from the last mayoral election, to force a recall.

Tuesday’s spring elections were the first since the police shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown Jr. in August. The vote coincided with an eerie reminder of

‘Little Rock Nine’ to receive Lincoln Leadership prize The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation award coincides with the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery.

(PRNewswire) – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation (ALPLF) will award its prestigious Lincoln Leadership Prize to the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine schoolchildren whose attendance at Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., is associated with the end of racial segregation in U.S. public schools.

On Sept. 25, 1957, the group received a federal troop escort by the 101st Airborne Division as they integrated the school following the Brown v Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954. Their actions that day, and since, have helped to define the civil rights movement.

The Lincoln Leadership prize will be awarded on May 18 during a special dinner at the Hilton Chicago. The event is being held the year in which the nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment, passed during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and ratified eight months after his death. The amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. The event also is being held the week in which the 61st anniversary of Brown v Board of Education landmark ruling is commemorated.

The Little Rock Nine will be in attendance to accept the award including: Carlotta Walls LaNier, Melba Pattillo Beals, Ph.D., Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest G. Green, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Minnijean Brown Trickey, Terence J. Roberts, Ph.D. and Thelma Mothershed Wair. Jefferson Thomas, who passed away in 2010, will be represented by a family member.

“Equal access to quality education was a cornerstone of the civil rights movement,” said LaNier, president of Lit-

The teenagers who became known as the “Little Rock Nine.” (Photo: www.littlerock9.com) tle Rock Nine Foundation.

“Thinking back, it’s hard to believe there was a time when high school students had to be escorted by military guards just to attend class with their peers. But it’s more important now than ever that we remember, and learn from, our nation’s history.”

The Lincoln Leadership Prize is an annual award that recognizes outstanding individuals for a lifetime of service in the spirit of 16th President Abraham Lincoln. It honors individuals who manifest great strength of character, individual conscience and unwavering commitment to the defining principles of democracy.

“We are so pleased to award this year’s prize to members of the Little Rock Nine for standing up for justice in the face of inequality, and for all of the work they’ve done to move our country forward since that day,” said Dr. Carla Knorows-

ki, chief executive officer, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.

“As we celebrate their accomplishments, we are both grateful for the progress the civil rights movement has made over the past 150 years and are reminded of the significant work left to be done.”

Previous honorees include the former President Bill Clinton, former Polish President Lech Walesa, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, director Steven Spielberg, astronaut James A. Lovell Jr., and the late television journalist Tim Russert.

The annual event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation for the benefit of the Museum and Library. For more information, visit www.alplm.org or call the foundation office at (217) 557-6251.

Brown’s death, this time out of South Carolina, where yet another African-American man, Walter Scott, 50, was shot to death at the hands of a white police officer, Michael Slager.

The new Ferguson City Council, which takes over in two weeks, will have a full workload and several benchmark decisions on its agenda.

“There’s a lot of work in front of them as far as picking the police chief, dealing with the DOJ report and getting to a consent decree. There’s a lot to do, and I look forward to working with them,” Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) said after

Tuesday’s vote. Ferguson is in the district that Clay represents in Congress.

The council must also select a new city manager and municipal judge, both of whom resigned, along with Chief of Police Tom Jackson, in the wake of a critical Department of Justice report. The DOJ findings implicated the officials in a wide-ranging scheme of racially biased public extortion focused on fines and ticketing to raise revenue.

Clay also said that the various turnout efforts undertaken before the election “expanded the universe” of voters and

created a path for victory for several candidates. Labor groups such as the Communications Workers of America and the Service Employees International Union knocked on doors and helped with get-outthe-vote efforts on the ground in Ferguson. Five members of the Congressional Black Caucus also donated money to assist the campaigns of Ferguson City Council candidates.

(Lauren Victoria Burke is a Washington, D.C.-based political reporter who writes the Crew of 42 blog. Follow her on Twitter.)

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 8

The New Tri-State Defender

BUSINESS

Economic recovery eludes African-American workers

by Freddie Allen NNPA News Service

WA S H I N G TON – The slow-moving, uneven economic recovery continues to elude African-American workers and some economists predict that even with a falling unemployment rate, Valerie at the end of 2015, Wilson African Americans will still be further away from full recovery than Whites.

A recent study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a Washington, D.C.based think tank focused on low- and middle-income families, said that in the fourth quart of 2014, the national unemployment rate for whites was “within 1 percentage point of pre-recession levels, while the African-American unemployment rate was 2.4 percentage points higher than it was at the end of 2007.”

The report also explained that, “True labor market improvements are more likely in those states experiencing both unemployment declines and increases in the share of workers employed,” also known as the employment-population ratio or EPOP ratio.

The study continued: “On the other hand, declining unemployment in those states without increasing shares of workers employed may suggest workers are simply dropping out of the labor force.”

Valerie Wilson, director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy for EPI, analyzed 2014 data for the unemployment rate, the EPOP ratio, and the long-term unemployment rate,

The African-American jobless rate is expected to dip to 10.4 percent, by the fourth quarter of 2015, but that’s nowhere near the pre-recession unemployment level, which was 8.6 percent. and said that using the unemployment rate to determine the health of the labor market may be overstating the progress of the economic recovery in the U.S. “Between 2013 and 2014, the annual black unemployment rate declined most in Arkansas (6.5 percentage points), Indiana (4.6 percentage points), and Tennessee (3.6 percentage points). Of these, only Arkansas had a significantly higher black employmentto-population ratio in 2014 (from 46.8 to 50.1 percent),” stated the EPI report.

“Among states for which reliable estimates could be calculated, 15 states experienced a significant decline in the black unemployment rate between 2013 and 2014 and in six of those states the black EPOP increased. On the oth-

er hand, between 2013 and 2014 the black unemployment rate significantly increased in Missouri (3.2 percentage points) and Wisconsin (4.8 percentage points).”

With an African-American population of 6.5 percent, Wisconsin recorded the highest annual jobless rate for African Americans in the U.S. in 2014 (19.9 percent).

Paul Randus, a columnist for MarketWatch.com, said that Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin and a Republican presidential hopeful, is known nationally, “as the governor who eliminated collective bargaining rights for most public employee unions in Wisconsin – and then beat back a recall motion over it.”

Randus wrote, “The win further emboldened Walker,” and that the governor recently signed a “right to work bill” that economists say will chip away at labor union power in the state. The policies were supposed to spur job and business growth, but the governor has fallen almost 100,000 jobs short of his 2010 pledge to create 250,000 jobs during his first term.

The anti-union policies in Wisconsin are a big problem for both white and African-American workers in the Badger State, said Wilson.

Even though, African-American workers in Virginia (19.7 percent African-American population) experienced the lowest annual African-American jobless rate in 2014 at 8 percent, it was still, “higher than the highest white rate of 7 percent in Nevada,” stated the EPI report. In the fourth quarter of last year, the 11 percent black unemployment rate was, “higher than the national unemployment rate at the peak of the recession (9.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009).”

The African-American jobless rate is expected to dip to 10.4 percent, by the fourth quarter of 2015, but that’s nowhere near the pre-recession unemployment level, which was 8.6 percent.

“In 2014, long-term unemployment among African American workers (39.7 percent) was the highest of any racial or ethnic group, although it was down 3.7 percentage points from 2013,” stated the report. “Among states with a large enough sample size for reliable estimates, only three had significant declines in long-term unemployment between 2013 and 2014: North Carolina (14.4 percentage points), Florida (10 percentage points) and Texas (8.2 percentage points). In 2014, the highest shares of long-term unemployed black workers were in the District of Columbia (56.3 percent), Illinois (52.7 per-

cent), Alabama (48.9 percent) and New Jersey (48.6 percent).”

The U.S. economy added 126,000 jobs in March, far below analysts’ expectations, and the national unemployment rate was still 5.5 percent.

Wilson said that record-setting snow falls and cold temperatures suppressed hiring and demand consumption in March.

The African-American jobless rate decreased from 10.4 percent in February to 10.1 percent in March, compared to the white unemployment rate, which was stagnant at 4.7 percent.

The unemployment rate for African-American men over 20 years old decreased from 10.4 percent in February to 10 percent in March and the EPOP ratio also rose from 60.3 percent to 60.5 percent. The jobless rate for white men was 4.5 percent in February and 4.4 percent in March. The EPOP ratio was unchanged at 69.2 percent.

Wilson said that she will be keeping a close eye on the unemployment rate for African-American women, which has increased over the last three months from 8.7 percent in January to 9.2 percent in February.

The EPOP ratio for African-American women over 20 years old was 55.8 percent in March, the same mark recorded last month. The jobless rate for white women was 4.2 percent in February and March and the EPOP ratio was down 55.2 percent to 55 percent.

“The recovery has been moving at a less than optimal pace for the last five years, partly due to inadequate demand sufficient enough to drive job growth,” said Wilson. “We need strong job growth to continue beyond this year, if we’re going to see the black unemployment rate drop significantly below 10 percent and get anywhere near what can be considered a recovery-level rate.”

ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

Making the right decisions to grow a trucking company As with any other business, growing a trucking company can be challenging for even the most experienced entrepreneur. Owners of trucking companies face a wide variety of issues from staffing to financing and everything in between.

While the trucking industry is filled with large firms like Landstar System, Swift Transportation and Old Dominion Freight Line, the number of owner/operators and small fleet owners is staggering.

Even the larger guys contract with the smaller ones.

Why would a large company contract with an owner/ operator rather than simply hire an employee and buy a new truck? For the most part, the costs are lower. The larger company does not typically incur fuel costs, payroll, truck repair or maintenance costs when using the services of an owner/operator.

Truck #1 The most expensive equipment in the trucking company is the truck and the van or trailer. Financing is a requirement to obtain the equipment.

Many truckers hit a brick wall when trying to obtain their first truck. Once a truck is under the entrepreneur’s belt, others are a little easier to obtain. While financing is not easily obtained, financing options do exist.

Decisions have to be made when deciding to lease or purchase equipment. There is no right or wrong choice, only what is appropriate for the business. Leasing is a low cost of entry but the asset usually will not belong to you at the end of the lease period.

But some leases can be structured to give the owner/operator the opportunity to purchase at the end of the lease period for a balloon payment. Purchase is more expensive but the fleet will grow faster. Under a purchase agreement, the owner/operator is also responsible for the repair and maintenance of the vehicle.

Whether your credit is great, challenged, or non-existent, there are financing companies that will finance the equipment. The issue comes down to the expected down payment and the interest rate available to the company or individual. Many financing companies prefer to finance one truck at a time to insure that they do not lose money. But after the trucking company has established a track record, many opportunities will begin to present themselves.

www.ReferATruck.com www.LiveLoads.com www.FreeFreightSearch. com

Freight bill factoring before and after delivery Cash is a requirement in trucking Carlee McCullough, b e c a u s e the overEsq. head tends to be high.

Amongst truckers, freight bill factoring is extremely popular because most cannot wait 30–60 days for payment on an invoice. Factoring is typically when a third party will advance you a large percentage of the contract upon completion for a fee.

Funds are typically disbursed from factoring after delivery of the load. However, there are some factoring companies that will advance some fees for fuel, tires, and/ or maintenance. The upfront funds up to approximately 40 percent of the freight bill may be higher, but the need may require the use of factoring for fuel.

Fuel advances, although usually expensive, are typically provided when the load is picked up rather upon delivery. After delivery, the factoring company will advance the agreed upon balance of the invoice to the trucking

company. The freight bill factoring option is designed to ensure that the trucking company has a sufficient amount of funds to operate the business when there is no capital reserve.

Prior to forwarding a fuel advance, the factoring company will verify that the associated load has been booked by verification of the rate confirmation sheet. They will also verify that the load has been picked up by review of the bill of lading. Once all has been verified, the funds are then sent to the trucker’s bank account or loaded to a fuel card.

Load Boards Now that the trucking company has transportation and financing on deck in the form of factoring, the search for loads begins. In the beginning load

boards can put food on the table. A number of free load boards exist such as: www.trulos.com

If the free load boards are too crowded and competitive, load boards exist that offer complimentary trial memberships. The trial membership allows the owner/operator to test the service for free to see if the load board is of use to the trucker. Fee based load boards include: www.DirectFreight.com www.123loadboard.com www.DAT.com Owner/operators use the

load board services because they are user friendly and inexpensive. While they are not ideal to find high paying loads, the boards serve the purpose of keeping the truck moving and putting food on the table.

Many of the loads may be placed on multiple load boards. Some sites may have as many as 100,000 users. So keep that in mind when bidding on the loads. All boards are competitive so make sure to find the one that best meets your needs.

(Contact Carlee M. McCullough, Esq. at 901-7950050; email – jstce4all@aol. com.)

April 9 - 15, 2015

The New Tri-State Defender

RELIGION

COMMENTARY

Revivalists...

The Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association kicked off its City Wide Revival during the week of Easter, April 5-10. The revival committee included Stanfort Hunt (left); J.C. Bachus; James Adams; Rev. Donald Parson, the revivalist from Chicago; Luther Williams, president of the MBMA; Rev. Dr. C.S. Greer Sr., vice president of MBMA; Rev. James Glover; and Rev. Sammie Brooks. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

Minister says Franklin Graham ignored racial bias by police

by Rev. Amos C. Brown NNPA News Service

Easter was last Sunday, but Rev. Franklin Graham is still wiping egg off his face.

In an unintentionally insensitive Facebook post on March 12, the hugely influential white evangelist ignored the existence of racial bias by law enforcement in the U.S. by suggesting the easy solution to police shootings is to teach our children to obey authority.

“It’s as simple as that,” Graham wrote. “Even if you think the police officer is wrong – YOU OBEY. Parents, teach your children to respect and obey those in authority…The Bible says to submit to your leaders and those in authority ‘because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.’”

The controversial comments are being criticized across the nation. What is most alarming, however, is that almost immediately after the ill-advised post had been published, more than 200,000 people took to the Facebook comment section in order to support Graham’s statements.

Since the post, I have personally spoken with Rev. Graham – reaching across cultural, racial and religious divides – and we both agreed that his comments were insensitive and not clothed in the right language to convey that he meant well and not ill.

Graham is not wrong that parents should teach their children to respect law enforcement. But his post failed to acknowledge that the relationship between institutions of authority and citizens is a two-way street. Law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to respect the worth and dignity of all human beings regardless of race, religious expression, gender or personal orientation.

The presence of injustice in the criminal justice system is now undeniable. A Department of Justice report on the Ferguson (Missouri) Police Department revealed widespread racial bias. That racial bias, as much as the perceived disdain for authority by citizens, was bound to lead to officer-involved shootings such as the controversial killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

The DOJ’s report revealed that people in authority must also take steps to prevent police shootings.

Though unintentional, Graham’s Facebook post perpetuated the narrow-minded view that is reflective of the mindset of established privilege; of someone who has never had to be a victim of the kind of oppression and injustice that average law-abiding kids of

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color face on a daily basis in this country.

Sure, we can attack Graham for views that were shaped by his upbringing and environment. But in my view, the better solution is to have a candid conversation with Graham and his flock about the experiences that have shaped the mindsets of Black youth in our nation.

I would not simply decry injustices in our criminal injustice system and the unfair economic policies that have Blacks living in ghettos and prison cells. Rather, I would take folks like Graham on a “ride-along” with the average Black student heading home from school. He should know what it is like to feel like a suspect in the eyes of a police officer, rather than as a normal citizen requiring protection.

He should know what W. E. B. Du Bois, the great African-American thinker, meant when he wrote in The Souls of Black Folk, “One ever feels his twoness – an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.”

My hope is that Graham’s 1.06 million Facebook followers could be tuned into this alternative perspective. As a pilot, Franklin knows it takes two wings for an airplane to remain airborne.

Despite our different racial backgrounds and theological persuasions, Franklin and I have started seeing where each other is coming from.

Post-Easter, spiritual and faith leaders must move beyond the crucifixion of misplaced and in inept utterances to a point of resurrection and cooperation between law enforcement and the people they are sworn to protect.

We pledge our support for families, for economic justice and for substantive rehabilitation programs so that this season will not just be words about a Savior who rose from a grave, but about the potential for a social and political resurrection in our nation where people will do justly, love mercifully and walk humbly with their God. When we do this, we shall become friends who understand and respect each other’s perspectives. We will no longer seek to blame or divide but rather to identify common ground from which we can rise up and improve as a fair and just society.

Rev. Amos C. Brown, a former student and colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is president of the NAACP San Francisco branch and a member of the NAACP national board.

Passionate about the Lord...

Greater Love Miracle Center Church, 585 Vance Ave., presented “The Passion I” on Palm Sunday, March 29, and “The Urban Passion II” on Easter Sunday, April 5. The reenactment began at the Porter Gym at 626 S. Lauderdale to Vance Avenue and ended at the church. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

Making his point..

Rev. James Harris, pastor of St. Stephens Baptist Church, had no problem expressing himself when he spoke to a group of ministers at The Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association weekly meeting on Tuesday, April 3.

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

Hall of fame...

Archbishop Leroy Bailey Jr. (left), senior pastor and chief executive officer of The First Cathedral in Bloomfield, CT., was the guest speaker at the Memphis Black Church Hall of Fame banquet at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn on April 2. Joining Bailey for a photo-op is his wife, Rev. Reathie Bailey, Minerva Little, publisher of Spirit Magazine, and her husband, Rev. Uliasea Little Jr., pastor of Christ Baptist Church.

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

ENTERTAINMENT The New Tri-State Defender, April 9 - 15, 2015, Page 10

WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON

BOOK REVIEW

The voice of

GRANDMOTHERS

TV is very different now Is it me or does it seem like broadcast television is really getting good?

Once upon a time it seemed as if there were not many ethnic choices when it came to broadcast television. Shows Myron such as “The JefMays fersons,” “Good Times” and “Sanford & Son” pretty much defined an entire era of TV. Back in the 90’s, we had the UPN Television Network. Remember when they lumped all of the black sitcoms on Monday night? Then for a long time, we were pretty hard pressed to find a decent offering of shows that catered to us. However, things are pretty different now. Not only is the quality of programming aimed at us getting better, we’re now finding that that programming can be found on multiple nights and channels.

There was a period when I found myself not watching any television at all. There just wasn’t anything I wanted to watch. That was until my wife turned me on to a little Thursday night show call “Scandal.” As they say…that was all she wrote. LOL. After that point, each and every Thursday night, you could find me parked in front of a television somewhere. And with the increasing number of breakout shows, I now find myself in front of a television at least three times a week. Not only is “Scandal” considered appointment television these days, “How to Get Away with Murder,” which was created by “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes, now rounds out the Thursday night line on ABC. For the first time in television history, a major TV network has created an entire night of programming around shows created by an African-American producer and a woman. The only other time anything similar to this happened was on the FOX network when each element in its Sunday night animated show line-up was a product of Family Guy creator Seth McFarland. So progress is really being made when it comes to quality and quantity.

Along with the “Shondaland” line-up on ABC’s Thursday night, the Fox network has given everyone another night to tune in. Of course, I’m talking about Wednesday night and the hit show “Empire,” which was created by Lee Daniels, who also directed such hit films as “Precious” and “Monsters Ball.”

If “Scandal” was any indication that broadcast TV was still alive, “Empire” pretty much confirms it.

Wrapping its first season, “Empire” turned out to be the biggest hit of the season, breaking records for the Fox network and for television in general.

In addition to its record breaking TV numbers, the soundtrack to the show has broken records as well reaching number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 Charts. This comes at time when movie soundtracks are pretty much nonexistent, let alone a soundtrack for a TV show.

Even cable channels are realizing that the landscape of TV is changing on both sides of the camera. They are now stepping up their games. Although channels such as BET and TV One were created for audiences such as ours, those audiences are not necessarily guaranteed anymore.

I remember when the best we were able to get from those channels were reruns of black television shows that were previously aired on one of the major networks. It actually took a while before they started to offer quality original programming that did not involve music videos. BET now offers original programming such as “The Game” and “Being Mary Jane” and TV One even has “Love that Girl” and “The Rickey Smiley Show” among others.

I cannot wait to see what the next television season has in store. Now that Shonda Rhimes and Lee Daniels have pretty much proved that there is a place in Hollywood for programming that prominently features African-American actors and it can also be profitable, I’m pretty sure that the other networks will follow suit. I expect not only an increase in the number of shows that feature African-American actors but also an increase in the number of storylines and themes that feature the experience as well.

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

African-American women of the Mississippi Delta speak in “Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom”

Author, photographer Alysia Burton Steele

Myrlie EversWilliams

by Wiley Henry

A

whenry@tsdmemphis.com

Tennie S. Self

Margaret Henry

Lillie V. Thompson Davis

grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend,” an unknown author once said. They’re also “matriarchs to their families,” said Alysia Burton Steele, alluding to the emotional connectivity that she shared with her grandmother.

The need to reconnect to those bygone days prompted the award-winning photojournalist to publish “Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom,” inspiring life stories of African-American women of the Mississippi Delta, women of Steele’s grandmother’s generation.

“They are ordinary women, like Gram, who have lived extraordinary lives under the harshest conditions of the Jim Crow era and were on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement. They are church women,” said Steele in a release.

Born in Harrisburg, Pa., and now living in Oxford, Miss., Steele will be in Memphis Thursday, April 9, for a 6 p.m. book-signing at Crosstown Arts at 438 N. Cleveland St. Her visit is made possible by Crosstown Arts in conjunction with The Booksellers at Laurelwood.

“They are ordinary “Delta Jewels” (published by Center Street/Hachette Book Group) is a compi- women, like Gram, who lation of interviews conducted have lived extraordi- nied by her enchanting black

by Steele and accompanary lives under the depicting each woman as “a and white photographs harshest conditions daughter, sister, wife, mother, or unique treasure-child, of the Jim Crow era of the Delta.” grandmother – all jewels and were on the front each woman are myriad and as The experiences of common as the Mississip- lines of the Civil Rights pi Delta. They are portraits of Movement. They are triumph “in the most challengfaith, love, courage and church women.” ing or ordinary circumstances.” Most of all they are facsimiles whose experiences are etched in their faces.

Steele documents and affirms them as “living witnesses to history.” She juxtaposes candid commentary against the poignant first-person account that each grandmother has written about herself. Each story, of course, is one of a kind.

The grandmother’s signature is also affixed underneath her photograph. And each story is headlined with her name, age, resident city, year of birth, number of years married and to whom, and the number of children, grandchildren and, in some cases, great-grandchildren.

Althenia A. Burton, Steele’s paternal grandmother, died in 1994. Steele regrets not being able to preserve the memories that she once shared. Affectionately called “Gram,” she thought she would have more time with her.

The essence of her grandmother, however, is Althenia A. Burton, reflected in more than 50 images of women like her – women who fought hard Steele’s paternal grand- to change a generation, women mother, died in 1994. others, women who spoke truth who stood in the gap for Steele regrets not be- reprisal. to power without fear of ing able to preserve ordinary, just plain and simple, a Most of the women are potpourri proudly accept- the memories that she ing their role as grandmothers.

They are nurturers and the once shared. Affection- best at it. One of them, however, ately called “Gram,” in civil rights. is influential for her work Myrlie Evers-Williams, she thought she would the widow of the late civil rights have more time with shared stories about her childleader Medgar Evers, her. hood and her maternal grandmother, Annie Beasley.

She recounts their relationship and prayer life, a daily ritual after she went to live with her grandmother.

“Okay, I’ve said my prayers,” Evers-Williams writes. “She’d always wait until I almost got out of the bedroom door. ‘Baby.’ I knew what she was gonna say. ‘Come back. You didn’t finish your prayers.’ “Yes, Mama. What didn’t I do?” ‘You know what you did not say.’”

Evers-Williams got back on her knees and prayed again. Her grandmother, she points out in the story, insisted that she ask God to make her a blessing.

“I didn’t understand it then,” the 82-year-old writes, “but you live and you learn, and if I say nothing else in terms of prayer, I ask that: make me a blessing.”

Tennie S. Self, 89, wanted some respect. The telephone company wouldn’t put “Mrs.” in front of black people’s names. So she went down to the telephone company and deSEE DELTA JEWELS ON PAGE 11

The New Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

For movies opening April 10, 2015 BIG BUDGET FILMS “Beyond the Mask” (PG for action, violence and mature themes) Faith-based historical drama about a former mercenary (Andrew Cheney) for the British East India Company who attempts to redeem himself by thwarting a plot against the American Revolution. With Alan Madlane as Ben Franklin, and John Arden McClure as George Washington.

“Desert Dancer” (PG-13 for mature themes, violence and drug use) True tale, set in Iran, revolving around a young rebel (Reece Ritchie) who risked persecution by founding an underground dance company in a country where dancing is strictly forbidden. Co-starring Freida Pinto, Nazanin Boniadi and Tom Cullen.

“The Longest Ride” (PG-13 for battle scenes, sports action, sexuality and partial nudity) Screen adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks best-seller about a starcrossed couple (Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood) whose path serendipitously intersects with that of a geezer (Alan Alda) given to reminiscing while waiting to be rescued from a car wreck. With Oona Chaplin, Gloria Reuben and Lolita Davidovich.

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 11

ENTERTAINMENT

“I just speak and if I have to die for what I believe in, then so be it.”

– Tennie S. Self

about an actress (Juliette Binoche) who agrees to portray an older character in the revival of the play that made her famous decades earlier in the starring role. Ensemble cast includes Chloe Grace Moretz, Kristen Stewart and Lars Eidinger. (In English, French, German and Swiss German with subtitles) “Dior and I” (Unrated) Behind-the-scenes

DELTA JEWELS “Freetown” (PG-13 for mature themes involving violence) Inspirational tale of survival recounting a half-dozen missionaries’ flight from Liberia to Sierra Leone to escape the bloody civil war raging in their homeland.

Starring Henry Adofo, Alphonse Menyo and Michael Attram.

“Kill Me Three Times” (R for profanity, sexuality, nudity and graphic violence) Dark comedy revolving around an assassin-for-hire (Simon Pegg) who lands in a triangulated web of intrigue involving blackmail, murder and revenge after botching a hit on a wealthy man’s (Callan Mulvey) philandering wife (Alice Braga). Cast includes Luke Hemsworth, Teresa Palmer and Bryan Brown.

“Living in the Age of Airplanes” (Unrated) Harrison Ford narrates this anthropological examination of how the miracle of flight has altered the evolution of human life on the planet.

“Lost River” (R for profanity, sexuality and disturbing violent images) Ryan Gosling makes his writing and directorial debut with this escapist fantasy revolving around a cash-strapped single-mom (Christina Hendricks) who finds herself swept into a subterranean dark world. With Ben Mendelsohn, Saoirse Ronan and Eva Mendes.

“The Reconstruction of William Zero” (Unrated) Sci-fi thriller about a geneticist suffering from INDEPENDENT & amnesia (Conal Byrne) who makes FOREIGN FILMS a shocking discovery while trying to relearn who he is with the help “Below Dreams” (Unrated) of his identical twin brother. SupMillennial Generation drama high- Desmond Watson stars in “Below Dreams,” a film about job port cast includes Amy Seimetz, lighting the frustrating job search searching in an inhospitable economic climate. (Courtesy Tim Haberger and Adam Fristoe. of three twenty-somethings, an photo) ex-con (Jamaine Johnson), a sin“The Sisterhood of Night” gle-mom (Leanne Miller), and an documentary about Raf Simons, the new artis- (PG-13 for mature themes, suicide, sexuality unemployed college grad (Elliott Ehlers), who tic director at the Christian Dior fashion house. and prescription drug abuse) Screen adaptation are all looking for work in an inhospitable eco- Featuring appearances by Anna Wintour, Jen- of Steven Millhauser’s short story of the same nomic climate. Featuring Rebecca Matalon. nifer Lawrence, Sharon Stone and Marion name about a teenage girl (Kara Hayward) Cotillard. (In English, French and Italian with who becomes the subject of a modern-day “Black Souls” (Unrated) Mafia saga, set in subtitles) version of a Salem witch trial after publicly Italy, about two brothers (Marco Leonardi and complaining about her initiation into a sinister Peppino Mazzotta) who run the family’s interna“Ex Machina” (R for profanity, violence, sorority. With Kal Penn, Georgie Henley, Wiltional drug trade while another sibling (Fabrizio sexual references and graphic nudity) Sci- la Cutthrell-Tuttleman and Olivia DeJonge.

Ferracane) herds goats in their ancestral home- fi thriller about a corporate computer geek town nestled in the mountains along the Ionic (Domhnall Gleeson) who runs away with a “Song from the Forest” (Unrated) seacoast. With Barbara Bobulova, Anna Ferruz- fetching fembot after developing a romantic Cross-cultural documentary about Louis Sarzo and Giuseppe Fumo. (In Italian with subtitles) attachment to the gorgeous android (Alicia no, an American musicologist who moved to Vikander) slated to have her memory banks the Central African Republic in 1985, had a “Clouds of Sils Maria” (R for profani- erased. With Oscar Isaac, Corey Johnson and child with a Pygmy, and raised his son in the ty and graphic nudity) Midlife-crisis drama Sonoya Mizuno. rainforest.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 manded that they give her the same props as married white women.

“I just speak and if I have to die for what I believe in, then so be it,” she said.

A few centenarians also opened up to Steele and related their stories. Leola B. Dillard, for example, is 103, from Yazoo City. Maude W. Coleman is 102. She’s from Greenville. And Rebecca “Ma Beck” Hawkins, from Indianola, is 100.

Albertine T. Reid, 105, died before Steele could get the interview. Her granddaughter instead recounts the story as if her grandmother is telling it.

Rosie H. Bynum, 101, is now deceased. But she reminded Steele of Gram, whose story she wishes she could document in words and photographs. She did succeed, however, at capturing the heart and soul of the “Delta Jewels.”

Steele pointed out that the “grandmother” project shaped her views of the world and helped her to understand her black identity and her origin as a biracial woman living in today’s society.

Skilled in journalism and photography for more than 25 years, Steele has worked for newspapers and magazines. She was the picture editor for both the Dallas Morning News and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

While working for the Dallas Morning News, Steele was part of a team that won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News for their coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She’s also won other awards for picture editing and photography.

Steele is currently the assistant professor of journalism at The University of Mississippi’s Meek School of Journalism and New Media.

Family history is important to Steele. “Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom” is her contribution.

Leola B. Dillard

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 12

CLASSIFIEDS

Legal Notices

THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER CLASSIFIEDS

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: TD & TN, LLC Tax Parcel # 07306400000070 Tax Sale # 1003 Exhibit # 16534 Price Offered: $7,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 12:30 p.m. on April 22, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581

203 Beale Street, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38103 PH (901) 523-1818 FAX (901) 578-5037

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: TD & TN, LLC Tax Parcel # 07906600000030 Tax Sale # 1003 Exhibit # 19856 Price Offered: $7,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:00 p.m. on April 22, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Clinton Richardson Tax Parcel # 06900400001720 Tax Sale #1002 Exhibit #1422 Price Offered: $13,500.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on April 27, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Jose Rafael Fajardo Tax Parcel # D02550P0F00150 Tax Sale #0903 Exhibit #1907 Price Offered: $4,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Jose Rafael Fajardo Tax Parcel # 04305300000090 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #8813 Price Offered: $5,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Jose Rafael Fajardo Tax Parcel # 04305300000100 Tax Sale #0903 Exhibit #3179 Price Offered: $1,500.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least

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RATES: Standard rates: $9.50 per line for 1 column ad.

Rates are non-commissionable and are quoted at the net rate. No refund for early cancellation.

For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@tsdmemphis.com ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Vonretta Rivers Tax Parcel # 02505400000150 Tax Sale #0903 Exhibit #178 Price Offered: $1,100.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 2:00 a.m. on April 28, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Mike Freeman Tax Parcel # 09001100000190 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #21469 Price Offered: $6,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 3:00 a.m. on May 1, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Terrance Wilson & Jacqueline Wilson Tax Parcel # 04103200000400 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #7519 Price Offered: $8,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:00 a.m. on April 29, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Mike Freeman Tax Parcel # 09001100000190 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #21469 Price Offered: $6,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 3:00 p.m. on May 1, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF

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REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Kim Jackson Tax Parcel # 05001500000230 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #10731 Price Offered: $5,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 8:30 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Curtis Webb Tax Parcel # 07516500000100 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #18350 Price Offered: $6,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on April 29, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Jerome Holmes & Dewayne Jordan Tax Parcel # 04700200000460 Tax Sale #0703 Exhibit #8355 Price Offered: $1,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 2:00 p.m. on April 29, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: James & Audrey Valentine Tax Parcel # D013400Q000020 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #24564 Price Offered: $5,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on April 29, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Carlos Morehead & Charlot Alesia Morehead Tax Parcel # 0721040A000010 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #16747 Price Offered: $8,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m.

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on April 29, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Carlos Morehead & Charlot Alesia Morehead Tax Parcel # 07607600000120 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #19019 Price Offered: $7,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on April 29, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: E L Johnson Tax Parcel # 01305300000370 Tax Sale #0201 Exhibit #745 Price Offered: $100.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:30 p.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Sharon C. Johnson Tax Parcel # 07311000000710 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #16728 Price Offered: $5,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 3:00 p.m. on May 4, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Charles W. Jones & Charles Triplett Jones Tax Parcel # 02605600000600 Tax Sale #1002 Exhibit #245 Price Offered: $4,500.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: LaVickie Hardeman Tax Parcel # 03700800000160 Tax Sale #0903 Exhibit #3143 Price Offered: $3,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Carnell Vann Tax Parcel # 04803200000110 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #10183 Price Offered: $6,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Carnell Vann Tax Parcel # 0900270B000070 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #21628 Price Offered: $8,500.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Gloria E. Alvarado-Hernandez & Benjamin Ortega Escudero Tax Parcel # 0900270A000060 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #21624 Price Offered: $8,500.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:00 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Paulette Wyche Tax Parcel # 03509300000220 Tax Sale #0005 Exhibit #11244 Price Offered: $50.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on May 1, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Paulette Wyche Tax Parcel # 03509300000220 Tax Sale #97.4 Exhibit #5973 Price Offered: $50.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:15 a.m. on May 1, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Paulette Wyche Tax Parcel # 07210100001470 Tax Sale #0901 Exhibit #5156 Price Offered: $3,500.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on May 1, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the

The New Tri-State Defender

highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Paulette Wyche Tax Parcel # 07210100001480 Tax Sale #0804 Exhibit #1250 Price Offered: $1,800.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:45 a.m. on May 1, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Brownstone Professional Bldg., Inc. Tax Parcel # 07609200000230 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #19140 Price Offered: $5,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:00 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Freddie Askew, Jr. Tax Parcel # 05200700000010 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #11216 Price Offered: $4,500.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on May 5, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Kyla Moore Tax Parcel # 07608000000130 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #19035 Price Offered: $8,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:00 p.m. on May 5, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 13

CLASSIFIEDS

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: D & D Properties, LLC Tax Parcel # 0740370H000050 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #16908 Price Offered: $350.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on May 4, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Angela Taylor Tax Parcel # 07513700000500 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #08227 Price Offered: $5,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Christopher Carroll Tax Parcel # 07501900000180 Tax Sale #0903 Exhibit #244 Price Offered: $1,200.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 8:30 a.m. on May 1, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Calvin & Connie Booker Tax Parcel # 04003000000150 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #7163 Price Offered: $7,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: 1. Purchaser: Calvin & Connie Booker Tax Parcel # 03106200000010 Tax Sale #1003 Exhibit #4499 Price Offered: $10,000.00

Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be sub-

mitted within Ten (10) days of the initial publication of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

SHELBY COUNTY LAND BANK 584 ADAMS AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 MIKE BLACKWELL (901) 222-2581 NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF STATE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION BIDS TO BE RECEIVED ON April 30, 2015 Sealed Bids will be received by the SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT at 160 NORTH MAIN STREET, 9th FLOOR, MEMPHIS, TN 38103, until 2:30 P.M., April 30, 2015 and opened publicly at the office of the Administrator of Purchasing, located at, Vasco A. Smith Jr. Administration Building, 160 NORTH MAIN STREET, 9th FLOOR, MEMPHIS, TN 38103, at that hour. The reading of the bids will begin shortly after 2:30 P.M. The SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT is seeking separate bids for construction of bicycle and pedestrian trails that extend the Shelby Farms Greenline from Farm Road to the Old Cordova Train Station.

All projects are funded through the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program. It consists of the construction of a ten foot wide paved asphalt bicycle/ hiking path with graded base and crushed limestone surface. For more information please call (901)-222-7705.

A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at the office of the Shelby County Roads, Bridges, and Engineering, Conference Room, 6449 HALEY ROAD, MEMPHIS, TN 38134, at 2:30 P.M., April 17, 2015. Additional questions from the bidders will be accepted until 12:00 P.M., April 23, 2015 and should be submitted via e-mail to nelson.fowler@shelbycountytn.gov PROPOSAL CONTRACTS WILL BE

ISSUED UNTIL THE TIME SET FOR OPENING BIDS A Prime Contractor must prequalify with the Department of Transportation in accordance with Section 54-5-117 of the “Tennessee Code Annotated” and Tennessee Department of Transportation Rule 1680-5-3 prequalification of contractors before biddable proposals will be furnished.

The SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT hereby notifies all bidders that a 20% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal has been set. This goal must be met or exceeded.

The SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation, and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex or disability in consideration for an award.

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

THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED NOTE TO PUBLISHER: The above notice is to be published no later than April 7, 2015. It is permissible and desirable that ads be run as soon as possible after receipt.

NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) Shelby County Government is soliciting Seal Bids for the provision of HVAC Retrofit, Phase II, 201 Poplar Avenue Shelby County Tennessee. The Seal Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov, click the link “Department” at the top, then P for the Purchasing Department, then click on the link “Bids.”

ROFIT, PHASE II, 201 POPLAR AVE. Voluntary Pre-Bid Conference: A prebid conference will be held at 9:30 AM, Friday, April 17, 2015 at the following location: Shelby County Criminal Justice Center, 1st Floor Auditorium, 201 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103.

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

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

JOB TRAINING

HEAT & FROST INSULATORS - LOCAL #90 Applications for Apprenticeship Program will be issued on Saturday, May 2nd from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and then again on Wednesdays only beginning May 6th through June 3rd from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at 1807 A Bartlett Rd. / Memphis, TN 38134. Minimum Requirements: • At least 18 years of age. • High School Graduate / GED / Birth Certificate / Driverʼs License / SS Card. • $40.00 Drug Testing Fee • $33.00 Work Key Testing Fee. Must pass both to be eligible for an interview.

CASH or MONEY ORDER only (NON-REFUNDABLE).This construction work involves on the job training for Commercial & Industrial type insulation and requires 144 hrs of annual night classes. EOE Program

DUE THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 AT 2:30 PM SEALED BID #SBI-000320 HVAC RET-

‘Power Box’ set to launch as an online guide to black-owned businesses

by Nicole R. Harris

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

In 2014, people across the country came together as Ferguson, Mo. went through a radical transformation after 18-year-old Michael Brown Jr. was shot by police on August 9.

Weeks of unrest in a normally quiet city rocked the nation, as images of peaceful protests were replaced by videos of tear gas, looting and destruction. Almost one week to the day following the shooting, Darren Wilson was named as the officer who shot Brown. Months later on Nov. 24, a grand jury declined to indict Wilson.

While what some would brand as a revolution was happening on the streets of Ferguson and across the United States in response to the grand jury’s decision, a digital revolution was born in Memphis.

In response to the national call to

“Buy Black” on Black Friday, Memphian Tami Sawyer upped the ante and shared locally owned black businesses on her social media profiles.

After Black Friday had come and gone, Sawyer felt move to do more for the community, both in Memphis and afar.

“When the holiday was over, I felt compelled to continue to share businesses with my network based on positive feedback from my community,” Sawyer noted on her Kickstarter page.

Sawyer launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund Power Box – an online resource to make black-owned business available to consumers without becoming an economic burden for either party. Sawyer described the startup as Yellow Pages, Yelp and Groupon rolled into one, with a focus on black businesses.

Recognizing that seeking out nonchain small black-owned businesses

is often not a first choice, Sawyer said, “PB keeps buying black at the forefront of consumer’s consciousness.”

Exceeding the initial funding goal of $750 by more than $1,200, Sawyer plans to launch the service by May 1 with the help of local, minority and woman-owned graphic design firm, Cheers Creative.

“One of the driving statistics that PB seeks to change is the lifeline of a dollar. Currently two cents of every dollar spent by an African American is spent in the African American community,” said Sawyer. “Let’s get that to 60 or 80 cents. We have the businesses and the resources to make it happen.”

As Sawyer works to launch Power Box, you can find out more information about her and area businesses by visiting http://www.livetamisawyer. com/ or her Instagram profile: @TamiSawyer.

Tami Sawyer moderating the Black Lives Matter discussion at the National Civil Rights Museum. (Photo: Elle Perry)

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 14

BRIEFS & THINGS

The New Tri-State Defender

COMMUNITY

Students to make abstinence vows at annual Promise Ball

LOC Sunday Celebration at Brown Baptist April 12 Music, art, praise and appreciation all will be on display on Sunday (April 12) during The LeMoyne-Owen College’s 2015 Sunday Celebration.

The annual art and gospel music talent showcase will be hosted by Brown Baptist Church, where the Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Orr is pastor. The event will be at the church’s South Campus, 7200 Swinnea Rd. in Southaven, Miss.

The show kicks off at 4 p.m. Doors open at 3 p.m. Orr and the Rev. Dr. James L. Netters, senior pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood, are event co-chairs.

LOC Sunday Celebration is one of the key ways the college says thanks to the community for its support over the past year. This year’s featured artist is gospel quartet Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s.

Locally popular male choruses from the Baptist Ministerial Association and Brown Baptist Church also will perform. LOC students will showcase their talents in music, art, poetry and dance. Their art and science exhibition begins at 3 p.m.

Tickets to LOC Celebration Sunday are $5 and may be purchased on the LOC campus, 807 Walker Ave., in the Office of Institutional Advancement from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, April 10. Contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 901-435-1535 for more information.

Tickets also can be purchased online at loc.edu.

Six SCS schools in culinary competition Six Shelby County Schools’ high schools will compete in the Memphis-area 2015 Cooking up Change challenge, a national culinary competition launched by Healthy Schools Campaign.

The competition challenges high school culinary students to create menu items that are a healthy, great-tasting school meal that meets high nutrition standards, incorporates a local food item, draws from ingredients commonly available to food service, and can be easily prepared in a school kitchen.

The local competition will take place on Friday, April 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the L’Ecole Culinaire Culinary School, 1245 N. Germantown Pkwy. in Cordova.

The first place team will take its winning meal to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national finals this summer.

While in D.C. they will present their meal at a Congressional briefing, meet their legislators to discuss the importance of healthful school food, and see their meal served in the U.S. House of Representatives cafeteria.

The following high schools will represent Shelby County Schools in the Cooking up Change challenge: Craigmont High School, Kingsbury Career & Technical Center, Memphis Health Careers Academy, Northside High School, Sheffield Career & Technology Center and Trezevant Career & Technology Center.

For more information, visit www. healthyschoolscampaign.org/programs/cooking-up-change/.

BRIEFLY: The annual Gandhi-King Conference is set for April 1011 at the Student Center on the campus of The LeMoyne-Owen College. The focus will be on “Overcoming Systems of Violence through the Power of Active Nonviolence.” Principal presenters: Mid-South Peace and Justice Center and BRIDGES. For more information, visit http://www.gandhikingconference.org/.

BRIEFLY: Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color will host the 9th Annual Gathering of Leaders “I AM A YOUNG MAN: Honoring My Past, Celebrating My Present, Anticipating My Future” at the University of Memphis April 22-24. For more information: http://bit.ly/1a89HFg. BRIEFLY: The Arc Mid-South International Tea and Fashion Show is set for May 9 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Crowne Plaza East, 2625 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Admission is $20.

For more information, contact Lori Rosser at 901-327-2473.

BRIEFLY: The Hamilton High School Class of 1974 has planned a fun-filled, holiday weekend for Memorial Day. Wildcats from other classes are invited to join the bus excursion for a luxury hotel stay, a grand tour of the city, shopping, golf, a party bus, and more. For more information, call 901-505-3334.

BRIEFLY: For the fifth consecutive year, Shelby County Schools has been named a “Best Community for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. ThE designation is awarded to school districts that have shown an outstanding commitment to music education in their academic curriculum.

BRIEFLY: The Methodist North Community Health Festival will be April 25, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the grounds of Methodist North Hospital, 3960 New Covington Pike. Featured: health screenings, health-related vendors, a cooking demonstration, music, games and a healthy lunch. For more information, visit www.methodisthealth.org or call 901-516-5284.

Ashley Nicole Brown

Bryndon Smith

David Taylor

Erica Coleman

Jazmine Sauls

Leah Joness

Lydia Jones

Miranda Wherry

Ryan Coleman

Tevin Porter

Boys and girls from Memphis and the MidSouth will make a personal, conscience decision to abstain from sexual and substance abuse behaviors that will impact their daily lives and future destinies during the 3rd Annual Promise Ball Black Tie Oath Ceremony & Ring Presentation.

Students in grades 6-12 will participate in the Pinky Promise International event set to begin at 5 p.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center on Sunday (April 12). Standing before family, friends, civic leaders and community well-wishers, the middle and high school participants will receive a “charge” to remain abstinent from sexual and substance abuse behaviors.

Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, president of Tennessee State University, will deliver the “charge address.”

Pinky Promise International promotes abstinence, faith and career-focused

sory Board; and Commissioner Eddie S. Jones, vice president, Gent’s Promise Advisory Board.

Class of 2015 participants

Tierney Robertson Yancey

Vicki Johnson

mentorship. Vicki M. Johnson founded it in Memphis after hearing the late Dr. Maya Angelou deliver a speech entitled “A Rainbow In My Cloud” at the Memphis Canon Center for the Performing Arts.

Johnson, the organization’s CEO, will present The Dr. Maya Angelou’s

Rainbow Award” to Hortensia Dean, Commissioner Eddie S. Jones and Deidre Malone. The award recognizes persons “who have given of themselves to make a difference in the lives of others.”

The 2015 Promise Ball co-hosts are Sherry Mackey, Morning Show producer

Zariah Small and radio personality, 95.7 Hallelujah FM; and Myron Mays, columnist, blogger and radio personality, AM 990 KWAM. The Pinky Promise leadership structure includes Lea Ester Redmond Terrell, president, Executive Board; Bernal E. Smith II, president, Gent’s Promise Advi-

Miranda Jamese Wherry, Houston High School; Tierney Robertson-Yancey, Southwind High School; Lydia Jones, Munford High School; Erica Coleman, Mt. Pisgah Middle School; Leah Jones, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School; Ashley Nicole Brown, Bon Lin Middle School; Jazmine Chestina Sauls, Cordova Middle School; Zariah Small, Power Center Academy Middle School; David Taylor, Center Hill High School; Bryndon Smith, Desoto High School; Tevin Porter, Germantown Middle School; Ryan William Coleman, Germantown Middle School.

Teacher of the Week

Shepherding the Next Generation Memphis is partnering with churches around the city to honor teachers during worship services on May 3, which Mayor A C Wharton Jr. has proclaimed Celebration of Teachers Sunday. In conjunction with the effort, The New Tri-State Defender will spotlight a teacher each week “who goes above and beyond to make sure his or her students achieve.”

Teacher: Cristal Powell Roach School: Havenview Middle School Grade: Optional Program Coordinator Subject Taught: STEAM/English Church: New Direction Christian Church Pastor: Dr. Stacy L. Spencer What makes this teacher stand out?

Alfre Woodard encouraged audience members to use their talents and to blaze their own paths.

Said Woodard: “Everybody has a path, so set yourself on your path.”

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

A triumph of talent: An evening with Alfre Woodard The setting (April 1) was a night of poetry, insight and reflections entitled “A Triumph of Talent” at the University of Memphis. Previously scheduled for Black History Month but cancelled due to the weather, the event reflected collaboration between the Student Event Allocation Committee and the Black History Month Committee.

As a high school student, the “power of the screen opened me up to the world and to possibilities,” Alfre Woodard told a University of Memphis audience last week, April 1. (Photo: Merritt Gathen).

Cristal is an educator by trade and at heart. Although she is the mother of four boys, she spends more than her share of time making sure her students are equipped with the knowledge they need to succeed. This sacrifice includes late nights, early mornings, extra activities and programs for the students in her care and many weekends. She does it all because she knows her students depend on her and will benefit beyond the classroom.

Cristal also volunteers with the children’s ministry at her church, New Direction Christian Church.

Havenview’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) was designed to further stimulate the imagination of optional students. Roach makes the opportunities available for all students because she believes every child can benefit. For those around her, she is a great resource and light.

Congratulations Cristal Powell-Roach. The TSD celebrates you and all teachers.

Join in the celebration. Visit www.shepherdingmemphis.org for more information.

The New Tri-State Defender

April 9 - 15, 2015

Page 15

SPORTS The New Tri-State Defender, April 9 - 15, 2015, Page 16

COMMENTARY

GRIZZ TRACK

Courtney Lee, who scored eight points on 3-of-9 shooting, goes in for a fastbreak dunk, with former University of Memphis standout Tyreke Evans left to watch. The Grizzlies visit the Utah Jazz on Friday night. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)

Bill Fletcher Jr.

Progress in baseball came with a cost

Anyone who has followed my columns knows that about this time of the year I normally write something about the commencement of the baseball season. More often than not, I write about the late Curt Flood and the late Marvin Miller.

Well, guess what? It is the beginning of the baseball season and, yes, you guessed it, a little something about two heroes, but from a different angle.

One of the most disturbing features of modern baseball is that most fans have no sense of the history of struggle contained in the game. If you have had the opportunity to watch Ken Burns’ award-winning documentary, “Baseball,” you get a better sense of not only the evolution of the sport, but the struggles that unfolded within it, many of which reflected larger changes in U.S. society.

Two of the struggles in Major League Baseball were represented by Curt Flood and, separately (and together) Marvin Miller. Curt Flood resisted being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies and, in so doing, stood up to a form of baseball indentured servitude known as the “reserve clause.” Under the reserve clause a player was, for all intents and purposes, owned by the team.

Flood battled for what became known as “free agency,” which was introduced through a combination of the struggle that Flood unleashed and the organizing and collective bargaining that the Major League Baseball Players Association, under Marvin Miller, conducted. Miller led in the construction of a labor union of baseball players and through that organization, transformed the sport, defying the greedy and myopic owners.

Despite the key historical importance of these two men, over the years the recognition of their significance has diminished.

Many of the current members of the Major League Baseball Players Association have no sense of the key role of Curt Flood and the battle that he led for free agency, a battle without which today’s players would never have been able to conceive of their current salaries.

Marvin Miller has been equally ignored, though one could go further and suggest that the late Marvin Miller remains hated by the lords of baseball for ruining the plantation environment that they so cherished. Memories of the successful organization and legitimation of a movement of baseball players that he led have been allowed to largely dissipate from the historical record as the years have moved on.

What is lost with our failure to remember and reflect upon the work of individuals such as Flood and Miller is that progress and justice come with a cost. Flood lost his promising career in baseball not because of greed but because of principle. He was prepared to take the risk and make the sacrifice, knowing full well that he might not, himself, benefit from such a step. Miller threw himself into the building of an organization of a workforce that had been so beaten down over the years that many people believed that a labor union of baseball players was nothing more than a pipe dream.

For these reasons we must not only remember Flood and Miller but must insist that they receive the special recognition that would come from their placement in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Their significance arises not from their stats but from the fact that they led in the renovation of baseball.

With the Grizzlies in need of a win as they battle for playoff position, Marc Gasol – along with Zach Randolph (15 points, 13 rebounds and six assists) – set a strong tone early against the New Orleans Pelicans en route to a 11074 victory at the FedExForum on Wednesday night.

Former Grizz Quincy Pondexter committed the foul on Gasol.

(NNPA columnist Bill Fletcher Jr. is the host of The Global African on Telesur-English. He is a racial justice, labor and global justice writer and activist. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and at www.billfletcherjr.com.)

Russell Westbrook brings tears of joy to single mom Kerstin Gonzales, surprising her w/ @Kia he won as AllStar MVP. (Photos: Twitter)

OKC’s Westbrook gives his MVP car to single mother The 2015 Major League Baseball season is underway and that’s reason enough to pull out this old – and authentic – St. Louis Cardinals cap reflecting a salute to Darryl Kile, who died of coronary atherosclerosis in 2002 at age 33, and legendary sportscaster John Francis “Jack” Buck, who also died that year. Given to U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen as a souvenir, the cap has an autograph that cannot be clearly read. Cohen’s staff is 99 percent certain it is the signature of former player Kerry Robinson. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

(NewsOne) – Russell Westbrook proved to be the 2015 All-Star Game MVP on the court, but turns out the Oklahoma City Thunder star is a savior outside the arena as well.

Westbrook, who received a new car along with his AllStar accolade, decided to surprise a single mother of two whose vehicle was not in very good shape. And naturally, Kerstin Gonzalez was apprehensive.

According to the Huffington Post: When Westbrook surprised Gonzalez with the keys to his

car, the young mom said she initially thought it was all “a prank.” “(But) when he showed me the keys, I was like ‘this is real.’ That’s when I started to cry because it’s been such a hard time,” Gonzalez said, per a Thunder blog post.

The NBA star decided to give the car to Gonzalez to honor “all the hard work” she had done to “to keep her family together.”

Gonzalez, 19, and her two boys – 4-year-old Matthew and 2-year-old Adam – receive assistance from Oklahoma City-based social ser-

vice organization Sunbeam Family Services. According to Thunder Basketball writer Nick Gallo, the mother was just 14 years old when she became pregnant and has had a rough time getting by as of late.

Her current car was not in great driving shape and on Monday morning, the engine wouldn’t start. She has been borrowing cars from family and friends to be able to get to work, to get to school and to pick up her sons. To all of the sudden have that burden of worrying about transportation at all times be lifted

was a huge weight off her shoulders. “It’s so touching and so amazing knowing that there are people out there willing to help the ones that are in need,” Gonzalez said.

Photographs of Westbrook and a surprised Gonzalez made their rounds on the Internet early Tuesday, touching the hearts of many.

And as for Westbrook, Gonzalez described him as “a gentleman.”

“He was amazing, he was sweet and so attentive to what I had to say. He’s a really awesome person.”