BACK TO SCHOOL
Scenes from Day One at area elementary schools — Page 6
Week of: August 8, 2024
FOR THE LOVE OF BASKETBALL AND MOVIES
Local filmmaker shooting ‘Hoop Streets’ in Memphis. — Page 8
$2 billion in relief payments announced for Black farmers. — Page 3
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■■ NEWS
Sawyer wins General Sessions Clerk; incumbent Greene defeated in school board race
By TSD Newsroom
In a signi cant political shi , former Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer emerged victorious in the race for General Sessions Court Clerk, securing 40,383 votes against incumbent Lisa Arnold’s 34,563 votes.
Arnold had run a campaign emphasizing her years of experience in government, but voters were not swayed.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Shelby County School Board saw a near-complete overhaul, starting with Board Chair Althea Greene. Greene, the incumbent in District 2, was defeated by Natalie McKinney, who garnered 2,278 votes to Greene’s 1,671.
is election ushered in a wave of new members, with Stephanie Love retaining her seat in District 03 with 2,873 votes, while Tamarques Porter and Sable Otey won in Districts 04 and 05, respectively.
On her Facebook page, Otey shared a celebration photo with her son from her election watch party, praising him for inspiring her to victory.
“I’ll take him to war with me and I’ll go to war for him!” she said. “I’m human — roughout this journey, I’ve had days that I’ve wanted to break down, rest, and just cry. But my son reminded me that, We are doing this for THEM. is mission is bigger than us and it’s going to require faith, endurance, playing hurt and perseverance.
“We want to be parents and servant leaders that our children can be proud of,” she continued. “I promise to do this right.”
Despite the optimism, the election revealed an ongoing troubling trend: an embarrassingly low amount of voters. Turnout for the school board races for instance, was under 11
percent of the approximately 243,000 eligible voters across the five contested districts.
Sawyer made note of the low turnout on her Facebook Page:
“Some races were decided by less than 5,000 voters. . . 220,000 voters opted not to have a voice about the future of our school system,” she said. “My race had 13 percent turnout and while I am proud of our win, I am saddened by the lack of participation.
“ is is not a voter shaming post,” she said. “Rather, I continue to wonder what is the answer to the extreme voter apathy we face.”
Tri-State Defender
President Calvin Anderson Interim Editor Lee Eric Smith
Newly elected to the Memphis Shelby County School Board, Sable Otey shared a moment with her son at her election night watch party. “He reminded me that we are doing this for THEM,” she said on Facebook. (Photo: Facebook.com/Sable Otey)
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
is week marks a monumental victory for Black farmers as they begin receiving payments from the $2.2 billion Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP).
It’s the latest good news to come since the Supreme Court ruled on the Chevron Deference Doctrine on June 28, 2024. At the time of the ruling, omas Burrell, president of the Memphis-based Black Farmers & Agriculturalists Association (BFAA), said the ruling will bene t Black farmers involved in a discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
e BFAA led a lawsuit last August in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Western Division, alleging that the USDA violated the constitutional rights of Black farmers by excluding deceased relatives from a $2.2 billion settlement under the 2022 In ation Reduction Act.
“ is ruling means that a government agency like the USDA will no longer have the right to decide to deny Black farmers their constitutional rights,” Burrell said in a statement. “BFAA’s members were denied their rights to le a claim for a deceased relative regarding the $2.2 billion lawsuit. It’s for every farmer, whether they are alive or deceased.
“ e 40-page application was also unconstitutional,” Burrell continued. “ e Chevron Deference Doctrine allowed the devil to be in charge of the details and not the courts.”
Elsewhere in the country, a di erent association of Black farmers echoed
■■ BUSINESS
Historic victory for Black farmers: $2 billion in relief payments announced
similar praise for the ruling. John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), declared the day “a huge win.”
Nearly two years ago, President Biden signed the In ation Reduction Act (IRA) Section 22007, authorizing compensation for farmers who faced racial discrimination in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) farm lending practices before 2021. is week, around 43,000 farmers will receive payments of up to $500,000, with the average award being $82,000.
Re ecting on this long-awaited achievement, Boyd recounted his journey, which began almost 40 years ago when he rst experienced these injustices.
“No matter how it is sliced, the $2.2 billion in payouts is historic,” he said. is follows previous settlements, including a $1 billion payout in 1999 and a $1.25 billion settlement in 2013.
e NBFA’s relentless e orts have also paved the way for similar settlements with Hispanic and women farmers ($1.3 billion), Native American farmers ($800 million), and the Cobell
“This ruling means that a government agency like the USDA will no longer have the right to decide to deny Black farmers their constitutional rights. BFAA’s members were denied their rights to file a claim for a deceased relative regarding the $2.2 billion lawsuit. It’s for every farmer, whether they are alive or deceased.”
— Thomas Burrell, President of the Black Farmers & Agriculturalist Association (pictured, left)
case settlement ($3.4 billion). Boyd’s dedication to justice has been challenging. He faced hateful phone calls, mail, and even death threats. Despite these obstacles, he remained steadfast in his ght. “Total restoration is impossible, but for me, the ght was about justice,” Boyd emphasized. Midtown Group, an unbiased third-party administrator, oversaw the DFAP’s administration to ensure a fair adjudication procedure for each farmer’s case. Although the 40-page application process and long wait times added to the farmers’ pain, the payments represent a bittersweet victory. Boyd acknowledged that issues such as banks denying operating funds or farm ownership loans persist, as do recent allegations of racial discrimination against companies like John Deere.
For those denied assistance through the DFAP, there is no appeal or review process, a reality Boyd profoundly regrets. Many Black farmers have died waiting for justice, but today’s announcement brings some closure. Boyd re ected on his tireless e orts, from lobbying Congress to protesting with his mules “Struggle” and “Forty Acres,” and riding his tractor, “Justice,” to Washington. Listening to Senior White House Advisor Stephen Benjamin
detail the award noti cations and check disbursement made it all worthwhile. “Today is a huge win for the NBFA,” he declared.
In October 2022, civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced a class action suit against the United States government on behalf of the NBFA. e lawsuit came a er ndings that Black farmers lost approximately $326 billion of land due to discrimination during the 20th century. Crump and the farmers argued that the federal government breached its contract with socially disadvantaged farmers under the American Rescue Plan Act.
Despite these challenges, President Biden rea rmed his commitment to addressing inequities in farming. “Farmers and ranchers work around the clock to put food on our tables and steward our Nation’s land. But for too long, many farmers and ranchers experienced discrimination in farm loan programs and have not had the same access to federal resources and support. I promised to address this inequity when I became President. Today that promise has become a reality,” Biden stated.
(TSD Interim Editor Lee Eric Smith contributed to this story.)
Memphis City Council approve appointments of Adams and Person in top city posts
By James Coleman Special to The Tri-State Defender
A er months on the job, Chief Operating O cer Antonio Adams and Chief Financial O cer Walter Person were unanimously approved during the council’s Tuesday, Aug. 6 meeting.
“I’m not sure if any other person could navigate the challenges of right now better than soon-to-be chief operating o cer Antonio Adams… e city is better because he is leading and serving,” said Council Chair JB Smiley. e introduction of Adam’s and Person’s nominations was met with applause prior to their votes during the full council meeting.
“Can we keep this spirit all year long?” Adams joked.
Adams and Person also served during the previous administration of Jim Strickland, along with several members of Young’s leadership team. Most were nominated and approved in January.
In April, Young’s team discovered an $11 million budget shortfall from the FY2023 budget. It failed to account for the hires of over 100 new Memphis Fire Department personnel.
Angered council members swily passed a resolution to cover the oversight. Holdovers attached to the previous budget – like Adams and Person – also lost the bene t of the doubt. Both denied knowledge of the lapse.
BUt the relationship was quickly repaired. During FY2025 budget negotiations, the pair kept in close contact with council members throughout the season. Approved in late June, the $858 million document includes a 49-cent property tax hike, along with an increase in solid waste fees.
Young’s original proposal featured a 75-cent property tax increase.
“I had the opportunity… to work
with Antonio and Walter through what was probably the most complicated budget process in a long time,” said Council Member Chase Carlisle. “I just appreciate the e ort, the candor, the honesty, the hard work, the intensity, the grace under pressure – publicly.”
Memphis Police Department Interim Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis remains the lone nominee to lack council approval.
Members tabled her nomination a er her approval fell one vote short during a committee meeting. As a result, her approval will require a seven vote majority in committee before the full council can consider it.
Previously, Young said he intends to reintroduce Davis’ nomination a er a new budget was approved.
Adams, Person and Davis were appointed as interim directors at the end of 2023. Young presented his nominations at the same time.
Massey approved to lead EDGE
Members also approved the nomination of Joanne Massey for President of the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) during Tuesday’s Personnel & Governmental A airs Committee meeting.
Massey is the current vice president of operations. She was hired in 2023. Both Young and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris nominated her for the top spot.
“I expect nothing but great things from EDGE,” Young said.
A vote by the Shelby County Commission is next.
e post has been vacant for over two years. e previous president was Reid Dulberger, who resigned in 2021. He was also the st EDGE president.
Randy Richardson, the Memphis and Shelby County Port Authority vice president, has also served as interim EDGE president.
“It’s up to us to do something about
what we’re seeing, not just for businesses, not corporations, but for the kids in our community today who are going to be our leaders tomorrow,” said Massey. Massey also worked in Strickland’s administration. She resigned as the director of Business Diversity and Compliance Department in 2021. At the time, Strickland was expected to place her on leave. e decision allowed Massey to receive severance pay. Non disclosure provisions were also put into e ect.
Her resume includes work as a project manager and a lead supervisor at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Other business:
Council members also approved a referendum ordinance to move a ballot question to the November 5 ballot. It was originally scheduled for the election which took place on August 1. e amendment to the city charter would require candidates for Mayor and City Council to live in town two years prior to election day. Currently, there are no residency requirements for mayoral hopefuls.
In 2023, the charter’s ve-year requirement was struck down in Chancery Court. It had been in place since 1966.
Back to School
August 5 was Day One of the new school year, and not only were families up and at ‘em, TSD
Photojournalist Gary S. Whitlow was on hand to capture heartwarming and dynamic moments at Peabody and Cummings Elementary Schools.
From emotional goodbyes to spirited welcomes, his photos o er a glimpse into the excitement and preparation that mark the beginning of a new academic year.
On the cover: Parents and students make their way into the welcoming halls of Peabody Elementary on the first day of school. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/Tri-State Defender)
Parents embrace their children with final hugs before sending them off to their first day at Peabody Elementary, a moment filled with love and anticipation.
Teachers, staff, and school resource officers at Cummings Elementary gather together, showcasing the unity and support ready to welcome students back.
Students excitedly step off the bus at Peabody Elementary, ready to start their new school year with enthusiasm and curiosity.
A vibrant display in the grass at Peabody Elementary reflects the school spirit and pride as the new academic year begins.
MSCEA: Educator’s Union Advocates for Educators and Students Alike
By Taylor Batson Special to The Tri-State Defender
e Memphis-Shelby County Education Association, or MSCEA, is a pivotal organization within the Shelby County Schools system, representing a diverse array of professionals dedicated to education.
With more than 3,000 members, MSCEA brings together teachers, mental health employees, education support professionals, and other educators to advocate for the betterment of public education.
Currently under the leadership of Dr. Anntriniece Napper, the educator’s union seeks to foster a collaborative approach to improve the quality of education in the Memphis-Shelby County area.
“ e Memphis-Shelby County Education Association was one of the rst unions formed over 40 years ago,” she said.
Dr. Napper, a seasoned educator, and leader, emphasizes the organization’s mission to advocate for teacher’s bene ts, including things like insurance and compensation, and to work to improve the school system as a whole. As schools began to open in the Mid-South, teachers and administrators are gearing up for a successful school year.
One concern that teachers hope to address and improve is testing scores. A er a signi cant decline in standardized testing scores during the pandemic, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) has seen a steady increase in performance, yet, these scores are still far from where educators believe they should be.
One key gure in addressing these
issues is Dr. Marie Feagins, now in her rst full academic year as MSCS Superintendent. Since taking over in April, Feagins has made several changes that she believes will help in the classroom.
Dr.
ese are changes that educators like Dr. Napper deem necessary.
“I support Dr. Feagins because she had to make changes that would bene t the students, ” said Dr. Napper. “She wanted more resources in the schools for the students, she wanted less people in the Central O ce, and she wanted more people in the schools.
“Some of the people in the Central O ce needed to be in the schools — literacy coaches, math coaches, science or social studies coaches — they needed to be in the schools helping the teachers and helping the students,” Napper continued. “So the things that she has done I agree with her.”
In 2023, only 23.62% of third-grade students were at or above pro cient levels in ELA. While the percentage increased to 26.6% in 2024, there is
“They’re testing our kids too much. They’re tested so much that teachers don’t even have an opportunity to be creative with different lesson plans.”
— Dr. Anntriniece Napper
still an urgent need for targeted interventions and support. is is an issue that Dr. Napper believes could be the direct result of the testing practices within the district.
“ ey’re testing our kids too much,” said Napper. “ ey’re tested so much that teachers don’t even have an opportunity to be creative with di erent lesson plans.”
is extensive testing starts as early as kindergarten, which Napper says is problematic for many reasons. When students enter Kindergarten, they are still learning simple things like ne motor skills, and they are expected to test like older children.
“I taught kindergarten, and right before the pandemic they wanted my kids to test when they don’t even know how
to hold a pencil,” said Dr. Napper.
To address these challenges, Dr. Napper suggests aligning the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) standards with those of TN Ready, ensuring a more coherent testing framework.
“It’s not fair to our students,” she said. “First, they’re doing the TNReady practice, then you give them the TCAP, and those TCAP standards do not align with the TN Ready standards, so how can the kids do well if the standards are not aligned?”
Napper stresses the importance of early childhood education. is is essential for children to be adequately prepared to enter the school system.
“Pre-K is a very important part of a student’s academic career, so I feel every child should have the opportunity to go to Pre-K.
Napper also advocates for programs to educate parents on early childhood development.
“Maybe some of the parents do not know the steps to take when the kids are babies from maybe eight months until they go to school, and maybe they need to have some programs to help the young parents with their kids before they come to school.”
As the Memphis-Shelby County Education Association continues to champion the interests of educators and students, it remains a vital voice in the ongoing dialogue about the future of public education in Shelby County. rough its advocacy and collaboration, the organization is poised to make signi cant strides in enhancing the educational landscape, ensuring that both educators and students have the support they need to succeed amidst these ongoing challenges.
Anntriniece Napper
■■ ENTERTAINMENT
For the Love of Basketball and Movies
Local filmmaker shooting ‘Hoop Streets’ in Memphis
By Jay Green Special to The Tri-State Defender
e community of Memphis yet again has a golden opportunity to showcase its impressive talent pool through the production of its newest independent lm “Hoop Streets.”
With production taking place in Memphis, itself several members of the community have come together to bring this large scale of artwork to life. e task of lming this lm allowed every member of the community to showcase their talents in the areas of basketball, acting, video editing, and overall lm making.
is production has also opened the doors for many young rising stars in these professions to sharpen their skills, gain experience, working as a team with each other, and reach greater heights themselves.
And it all started with a dream — and a dream job — for Teresa Dickerson.
“I decided to write my rst screenplay 14 years ago, when I was working at the Memphis Grizzlies, my dream job,” said Dickerson, CEO of Isaiah 54 Films. “I’d always wanted to work in the NBA. I played basketball in high school and college. We’re just a basketball family. My husband played basketball, I played basketball, my son played, my nephew played.”
Like anyone who truly loves the game, it had lessons beyond the court, Dickerson said.
“I was always taught that sports are a microcosm of life, and it truly is,” she said. “I started seeing how life played out through basketball. How you could learn so much through playing team sports. And I tried to gure out a way to put that to tell a story.
“How do I tell this story about life,
“This is a collaborative effort. I don’t really see it as a challenge more so it’s just an opportunity for me to learn, grow, and build. But whenever you collaborate on a vision everybody’s opinion matters.”
— Princeton James
about sports, about how to overcome obstacles?”
Hoop Streets is loosely based on Dickerson’s nephew, whom she raised.
“Watching him grow up, playing basketball trying to live out his dream,” Dickerson said. “I just decided to put it on paper. “I really pray and that is my prayer that it will motivate and inspire, especially our young people of color.
“I really want them to know that they can go a er their dreams no matter how big that dream is,” she said. “Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t achieve something. Don’t let anybody tell you that you’re gonna be dead or in jail. You gotta cancel that and don’t let
people speak that over you. My prayer is that this work of art will inspire and motivate Memphis.”
e lm is about Mason, a young hooper trying to overcome his short-temper and achieve his dream of pro basketball, against all odds.
“He’s a representation of Memphis,” Dickerson said. I see that in Memphis.
I see a city that’s a great city, but we’re going a er our dreams against all odds, because there are a lot of obstacles that stand in the way of our children. So we really want to inspire the city and the country.”
Princeton James, Dickerson’s production partner, feels the same way. Growing up in nearby Coldwater, Miss., James majored in accounting at e University of Mississippi. But he never gave up on his childhood dreams of acting.
“I knew I wanted to be an actor
when I was a kid and my teacher told me to be ‘realistic. You’re gonna be an accountant.’ And that’s what I thought I would become,” he said. .
A er graduating from Ole Miss, James moved to Atlanta to pursue acting. One Sunday at church there, he heard a word that moved him.
“ e preacher preached about operating your gi — saying people will su er if you don’t operate your gi s,” James said. “So I le my job that Tuesday, went to an internship in Dallas, came back to Memphis and started my company. at was 2016, and I’ve been going ever since.”
James did plenty in front of the camera but rst dabbled behind the scenes in a movie called Uncorked. Later, James and Dickerson would meet in Houston, and their production alliance began.
James re ected on the challenges he
Princeton James and Teresa Dickerson are filmmakers on the rise, collaborating on “Hoop Streets” which is shooting in Memphis now. (Photos: Jay Green/TriSTate Defender)
“Hoop Streets” stars Benjamin Holmes (right) as a young hooper pursuing his pro dreams. Here, Holmes is on set with another actor. (Photo: Jay Green/Tri-State Defender)
faced as a director.
■■ ENTERTAINMENT
“Well I like to think of them as opportunities to grow and how to collaborate better, managing people, working with individuals, and understanding that this is a collaborative e ort,” he said. “I don’t really see it as a challenge more so it’s just an opportunity for me to learn, grow, and build. But whenever you collaborate on a vision everybody’s opinion matters.”
Also keeping the morale up when it comes to the rest of the team, so that they feel valued, loved, and cared about. And that their presence, their talent, their energy, their gi s, and their opinion all matter so I would say that would be the opportunity that I continued to learn and grow in is just to manage that.
Filmmaking is just like any other type of project. ings are gonna come up that you did not see coming,” he
said. “Locations are gonna cancel — that has nothing to do with us, but we have to navigate those waters and gure out what’s best for the production, what’s best for the team, what’s gonna keep the team safe, energized, and healthy. All while preserving the initial vision of the Executive Producer (Dickerson).”
He then described this as his main strategy for managing the set, Mr. James further added how inspired he was by Mrs. Dickerson’s vision while also continuing to “operate” his gi as he greatly expressed his excitement to continue in the production of this venture. e very idea of this entire production is groundbreaking as the vision of a single person has brought an entire community together in order to achieve a single magni cent goal that will create bonds in the community that could last for years to come.
Don’t stop dreaming of owning a home.
These young actors prepare to hoop. Or is it young hoopers preparing to act?