Memphis was more than ready to welcome a newspaper that reflected its African American community — and this “first class” of TSD newsboys were excited to deliver the first issue in early November. This 1951 promotional image for The TriState Defender shows newsboys holding up a preview edition of the paper. (Photo: Hooks Brothers. Department of Art and Design archives, University of Memphis.)
As The Tri-State Defender celebrates 73 years of publishing news and information for Memphis and the Mid-South, we’re looking back at key points in our history. See Pages 7–15
TRI-STATE DEFENDER
■■ COMMUNITY
Memphis City Council discusses 2025 priorities
By James Coleman Special to The Tri-State Defender
Continued pressure on state lawmakers to tighten gun restrictions – including a lobbying visit to the state capitol during the next legislative session –tops the list of priorities for Memphis City Council members going into 2025.
A group trip to Nashville came up during a discussion of legislative priorities by members of the Personnel & Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
together – showing our voice for the people who elected us in these seats. The votes showed what the temperature is here in Memphis and where the heartbeat of this city is, as far as gun violence,” Yolando Cooper-Sutton concurred.
data centers can raise water to prevent vaporization when cooling. A heat restriction would effectively requires data centers to become carbon neutral.
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“We all know that we’re going to need their help to pass some of these laws. As our people are up there, we need to lobby for that and see if we can get some people to help us with it,” said council member Jeff Warren.
The suggestion follows the results of three gun control-related ordinances on Election Day a week earlier.
In addition to declaring that “proliferation of assault weapons” poses a health and safety threat to all citizens of the city,” voters also approved referendum questions that prohibit the open carry, or concealment of assault rifles within the city limits, and another that allows for a court to provide protections to people believed to be under threat from a gun owner.
“I agree wholeheartedly with my colleagues in regards to continuing to lobby for the common sense gun reforms that are overwhelmingly supported by the citizens of Memphis,” said Jerri Green.
The ordinances are trumped by state law, which allows for adults 21 and up to open carry without a permit. Permitless carry was enacted in 2021 by the Republican-dominated Tennessee State Legislature.
In both chambers, the concern of rural gun owners – like farming and hunting, for example – typically hold sway over the majorities. In cities, guns are typically kept for self-defense – or used as weapons.
“With these gun laws, I think we need to be more present with legislation in Nashville in working more closely
“I would suggest to my colleagues as we do travel to the National League of Cities (NLC), especially as we speak to other people who are in places of power within the state of Tennessee, to ask them to pass similar referendum,” recommended Green. “So the state can hear not just from Memphis, but from Nashville, Chattanooga, from Jackson…across the state.”
Among the other ideas thrown into the 2025 hat to be prioritized were:
Continued support for the Regional One Hospital expansion. A $750 million expansion of the Mid-South’s only trauma hospital is still in the planning stages. Legislation to limit the temperature
A Human Life Protection Act that adds exceptions for the life of the mother, rape and incest to state prohibitions on access to abortion.
Granting permission to add fees to phone bills of residents to assist in the funding of suicide prevention hotlines.
Increasing taxes on vape products. Revenues would fund early childhood education programs. It would be similar to a Colorado law.
Stronger support from the Tennessee Department of Transportation to address litter on interstates, bridges, railroads and underpasses.
A Part-time work government work program for seniors to earn credit towards property taxes.
President Calvin Anderson
Interim Editor Lee Eric Smith
Get Covered: Affordable Care Act open enrollment now underway
NNPA Newswire
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace opens its 2025 enrollment season, offering millions the opportunity to secure or adjust health insurance plans. This year’s opening enrollment is vital, particularly if Donald Trump is re-elected. The twice-impeached former president and MAGA Republicans have vowed to repeal the healthcare law, which would deprive an estimated 40 million Americans of coverage. Under Trump’s plan, millions of individuals with pre-existing conditions would also lose health insurance.
In 2024, approximately 4.2 million Floridians enrolled in an ACA health plan, marking a more than 200% increase from 2020, according to White House data. Florida, one of 10 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid, is seeing around 823,000 residents lose Medicaid coverage.
More than 418,000 Michigan residents signed up for new health plans through HealthCare.gov—a nearly 30% increase over 2023. In Wisconsin, over 250,000 residents secured ACA coverage, as state officials reported. Meanwhile, 1.26 million Georgia residents enrolled, reflecting a 206% rise from 2020, with about 96% receiving an advanced premium tax credit to help cover premiums.
Maryland also saw a 33% increase in Black enrollees and a 30% increase in Hispanic enrollees. In Virginia, 389,568 residents enrolled, marking a 67% increase since 2020, with 88% receiving advanced premium tax credits to help cover costs. Meanwhile, 11,910 District of Columbia residents enrolled, although enrollment has decreased by 26% since 2020 — about 22% of D.C. enrollees qualified for advanced premium tax credits.
With increased enrollment nation-
wide, this year’s Marketplace offers more options than ever. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), consumers can choose from a broader array of plans, with benchmark silver plans averaging a 4% premium increase and bronze plans up by 5%. However, enhanced subsidies introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) continue to make coverage affordable, capping monthly premiums at a percentage of income. Most enrollees on HealthCare.gov can find plans for under $10 per month, despite unsubsidized premiums reaching $497 for a 40-year-old on a benchmark silver plan. KFF researchers noted that some states, like Vermont, Alaska, and North Dakota, face double-digit premium hikes, while others, like Louisiana, see decreases in low-cost plans. Under the Biden-Harris administration, the ACA Marketplace has expanded to include more insurers, with an average of 9.6 participating insurers
per state, allowing 97% of Healthcare. gov users to choose from at least three insurers. The range of options includes silver and bronze plans tailored to meet different healthcare needs. Silver plans, which serve as the basis for subsidy calculations, offer a balance of coverage and cost, while bronze plans provide lower premiums but higher deductibles.
Federal funding has also been allocated to ensure continued support for enrollees. The Biden-Harris administration committed $100 million to the Navigator program, providing more resources to help Americans understand and select the best health plan. Enhanced subsidies—initially introduced under the American Rescue Plan Act and extended by the IRA—are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless renewed by Congress. Without renewal, millions would face premium hikes in 2026, with costs doubling in some cases. A young family of four in
Pennsylvania earning $125,000 would see an annual increase of $6,448, while a 45-year-old in Wisconsin with a $60,000 income would experience a $1,354 hike.
DACA recipients are eligible for ACA coverage for the first time, with subsidies that help reduce costs. Effective November 1, this new eligibility offers a special enrollment window for an estimated 100,000 DACA recipients despite ongoing litigation. Additionally, states like California and New Mexico are leveraging federal tax credits to reduce deductibles, enhancing affordability for those with lower incomes.
KFF found that further safeguards and protections accompany this year’s enrollment. Stricter fraud protections require brokers to secure consent before making plan changes and respond to complaints about unauthorized plan modifications. Non-ACA-compliant short-term plans are now limited to four months and must display clear disclaimers noting they lack comprehensive health coverage. Similarly, fixed indemnity plans, which pay a set amount for specific medical events but lack ACA protections, now carry required disclaimers.
New network adequacy standards for federal Marketplace plans also ensure timely access to care. Wait times are capped in 2025 at ten business days for behavioral health, 15 days for primary care, and 30 days for non-urgent specialty care. Compliance will be monitored through “secret shoppers” surveys to verify access.
Health officials said the ACA Marketplace’s enrollment success reflects expanded access under the Biden-Harris administration. However, political opposition from Trump and MAGA Republicans threatens these gains. To register for health insurance for 2025, visit www.Healthcare.gov.
Kappa League of Memphis Holds 2024 Induction Ceremony for New Members
By TSD Newsroom
On Sunday, October 27, the Kappa Leadership League of Memphis, led by the Memphis Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., celebrated the induction of its 2024 class at St. Paul Baptist Church in Whitehaven.
This year’s class includes 52 young men from various high schools across Shelby County and North Mississippi, joining the organization’s flagship mentoring program under Kappa Alpha Psi’s National Guide Right initiative, which emphasizes leadership training
and community service.
The event drew family, friends, and supporters, along with representatives from other Kappa League chapters and youth organizations such as the Omega Lamplighters.
In attendance were Memphis chapter Guide Right Chairman Larry Dodson II and Chapter President Milton Bonds Jr. St. Paul Baptist Church pastor Dr. Christopher Davis, also a Kappa Alpha Psi member, hosted the gathering, which featured each inductee receiving a ceremonial necktie.
A young man looks up as he’s welcomed in to Kappa League, a mentorship program of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/Tri-State Defender)
COGIC Saints re-elect Bishop Sheard for Presiding Bishop at 116th Convocation
TSD Newsroom
The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) General Assembly has reaffirmed Bishop J. Drew Sheard as its presiding bishop for a second term, coinciding with the denomination’s 116th Holy Convocation held in Memphis from November 5-12, 2024. This significant event marked the return of the annual gathering to its founding city, emphasizing COGIC’s deep-rooted heritage.
Bishop Sheard, who leads a global fellowship of over 13,000 congregations across more than 106 countries, expressed profound gratitude for the continued trust placed in his leadership.
“It is an honor to serve once again as the presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Inc.,” he stated. “I am humbled and deeply committed to furthering our mission of faith, community service, and spiritual guidance
for our millions of members around the globe.”
The Holy Convocation, COGIC’s largest annual assembly, convened thousands of delegates, clergy, and members worldwide at the Renasant Convention Center. The event featured worship services, educational sessions, and legislative meetings, fostering spiritual growth and unity within the church community.
In addition to Bishop Sheard’s reelection, the General Assembly appointed new members to the General Board, reinforcing the church’s leadership structure. Bishop Jerry W. Macklin of California was named First Assistant Presiding Bishop, and Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten of Missouri was appointed Second Assistant. These leaders, along with other esteemed bishops, will collaborate to guide COGIC’s future endeavors.
“It is an honor to serve once again as the presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. I am humbled and deeply committed to furthering our mission of faith, community service, and spiritual guidance for our millions of members around the globe.”
— Bishop Sheard
The hierarchy of the Church Of God In Christ, Inc.,.under the leadership of Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle J. Drew Sheard, is in place for the next four years, as members elected leadership during the 116th Holy Convocation at the Renasant Convention Center.
The Holy Spirit had COGIC members on their feet during the 116th Holy Convocation at the Renasant Convention Center. (Photos: Courtesy Patricia A. Rogers Public Relations)
■■ COMMUNITY
Black Coalition for Housing Holds Retreat to Tackle Racial Equity and Minority Housing Access
TSD Newsroom
In a move to address racial equity and expand minority housing access in Shelby County, the Black Coalition for Housing (BCFH) will host a Leadership and Planning Retreat in Memphis from November 16 to November 20, 2024.
The retreat will gather community stakeholders, housing experts, and partners for targeted discussions aimed at dismantling housing disparities that disproportionately affect minority communities.
A planned tour of historically disinvested neighborhoods in Shelby County will provide participants firsthand insight to ensure the solutions proposed are deeply informed by local needs.
This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by the Shelby County Commission’s Racial Equity Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Commissioner Edmund Ford, Jr. The committee, focused on identifying and addressing racial inequities, is tackling issues across five core areas:
• Affordable housing and homeownership
• Mental health
• Criminal justice reform
• Economic mobility
• Financial literacy
As part of the committee’s work, BCFH is leading the charge on the Affordable Housing and Homeownership pillar, which aims to increase African American access to affordable housing and improve homeownership rates.
The coalition’s focus areas include combating discriminatory practices
such as redlining, blockbusting, and racially restrictive covenants, and working to eliminate the biases that hinder African Americans from securing VA/ FHA and THDA mortgages.
“BCFH is committed to establishing equitable access to housing for minority communities by addressing the systemic barriers that have denied generations the opportunity to own and build wealth through real estate,” said Rasheedah Jones, Tennessee Managing Director of BCFH. “This retreat, along with our ongoing efforts, aims to empower our communities to create sustainable and inclusive neighborhoods for future generations.”
Momentum from the Black Developers Housing Summit
The retreat builds on the foundation laid by the Black Developers Housing Summit in March 2023, where more than 200 attendees gathered to address barriers faced by minority developers.
Scheduled to return in March 2025, the next summit will concentrate on helping emerging developers and fostering community receivership initiatives, paving the way for housing projects that directly benefit underserved neighborhoods in Memphis and beyond.
Through these collective efforts, BCFH aims to contribute to a more equitable and prosperous Shelby County, empowering African American families and minority communities to achieve generational wealth through homeownership.
For more information about BCFH’s work or to become involved, contact info@blackcoalitionforhousing.com.
PUBLIC NOTICES / CLASSIFIEDS
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000900, Unified Communication Systems Replacement: Ring Central Phone System (Information Technology Department). Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn. gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above-described Sealed Bid.
SEALED
BID-I000900 DUE DATE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024 AT 2:30 PM CDT
(SB-I000900), UNIFIED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS REPLACEMENT: RING CENTRAL PHONE SYSTEM
(Information Technology Department)
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.
By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Notice of Availability
Draft Environmental Assessment
Proposed Memphis International Airport (MEM) Westside Airport Improvements Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the proposed landside improvements along the westside of
Memphis International Airport (MEM). The purpose of the project is to address the need for additional capacity of selected landside facilities to accommodate the identified need for additional public parking, car rental, administration space, employee parking, and other landside space for selected services (including Checked Baggage Inspection System) at the Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the lead federal agency to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as well as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, FAA Order 5050.4B, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions, and FAA Order 1050.1F Desk Reference. The Draft EA addresses how the project would potentially impact economic, social, and environmental resources.
This public review and comment period is also being conducted pursuant to the draft Memorandum of Agreement among the FAA, the Tennessee State Historic Preservation Office, and MSCAA. The proposed project would result in new construction and the demolition of Concourse A, which is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. To resolve the adverse effect, consultation with the SHPO and other consulting parties resulted in a project-specific Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that includes proposed mitigation measures. A draft of the MOA is included in the Draft EA.
The Draft EA can be reviewed by accessing the MSCAA website, www.FlyMemphis.com. Click the “About MEM” tab then navigate to the “Environment” page. Members of the public may issue comments on the Draft EA within 30 days of this notice. Comments should be addressed to James Hay, MEM Director of Development by phone at (901) 922-8224 or by email at jhay@flymemphis.com.
TURNS 73
The Tri-State Defender has seen many changes since its debut in 1951. While the mission remains steady, the product has evolved, from doorstep delivery of newsprint to an online website, social media, email and
mobile accessible content including video.
As The Tri-State Defender celebrates 73 years of publishing news and information for Memphis and the Mid-South, we’re looking back at key points in our history.
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From first issue, The Tri-State Defender was about
‘more than just printing news’
By Lee Eric Smith Interim Editor
TO understand the origin and legacy of The Tri-State Defender, it helps to put its birth in historical context.
In November 1951, Memphis was still segregated; The landmark Brown v. Board of Education was still three years away. America, not even a decade removed from World War II, had GIs embroiled in another war, this time in Korea. A new generation of African American soldiers were returning home — yet again, with high hopes that their service to their country would be rewarded, and yet again, having those hopes met with dogs and firehoses.
If you were rich, you could afford this fancy new picture box called a television; otherwise, your main source of entertainment was radio — and your main source of information was your local newspaper.
One of those papers had been The Memphis World, an African-American owned publication that came out every three weeks. It was there that a young college graduate from named Lewis O. Swingler would grow and mature into a respected journalist and community leader.
Though he was born in Crittenden County, Ark. in 1905, Swingler was raised in Tulsa, Okla., where he went to Booker T. Washington High School. These details matter perhaps more than you think.
A little simple math and knowledge of history can lead us to this conclusion: Swingler was a teenager in Tulsa when a racist mob bombed and burned down the legendary Black Wall Street in 1921. He almost certainly knew people who were killed, perhaps even surviving it himself. It’s not hard to imagine Swingler bringing the weight of that tragedy back with him to the Mid-South.
Swingler went on to study journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he be-
came a founding member of the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter there. He put his degree to use as Editor of The Sphinx, the national Alpha magazine, and he served in World War II. And by 1951, after 20 years with The Memphis World, Swingler was ready to team up with The Chicago Defender’s John H. Sengestacke to bring a new independent weekly newspaper to Memphis.
The first issue of The Tri-State Defender, published Nov. 3, 1951, features some familiar headlines and news stories: “CITY-WIDE ELECTION NOV. 8” blares above the banner, along with a story about Dr. J. E. Walker’s campaign for Memphis School Board. Another headline: “Saints Call 44th Convention” features coverage of the Church of God In Christ’s annual gathering. There’s even a brief about the upcoming rivalry game between Booker T. Washington and Manassas High Schools.
Other tidbits? Army Private Robert Wright is recovering in Japan after being wounded in Korea; meanwhile, Private Charles Coleman is nearing the end of his training. The Red Cross is seeking blood donors and a new pharmacist, Dr. William Pippin, is relocating to Memphis. It was news by us, about us, and for us.
This was by design, and it’s laid out in Swing-
Lewis O. Swingler
ler’s first editorial: “New Banner Unfurls In Memphis:”
“A newspaper is only as great as its readers make it. Its strength comes from the energy pumped into it by the people. Its muscles and bones are the determination of the people; and its heart is the conscience of God-fearing men and women.
The job of a militant newspaper is more than just printing news. It gathers, shapes, and molds public opinion. It searches out the truth and brings justice to the innocent and punishment to the unjust by focusing the glaring light of the printed word on them.”
In 1955, the Tri-State Defender turned that glaring light on the horrors of lynching. Yes, it was Mamie Till who “let the world see” what a murderous lynch mob had done to her son Emmitt, holding an open casket funeral. And The Tri-State Defender provided sprawling coverage of the funeral and trial, including publishing photos of Till’s corpse that helped ignite the Civil Rights Movement.
As The Tri-State Defender grew, so did its voice in the fight for civil rights. Swingler’s vision — of a paper that would be both mirror and spotlight, reflecting the lives of its readers while exposing injustices—became a lifeline for the community.
It was here that African Americans in Memphis and beyond found stories of their own lives, struggles, and triumphs validated and elevated. In the years that followed, the Defender would stand as both witness and warrior, documenting history as it unfolded and, sometimes, forcing the nation to confront its deepest wrongs.
The journey had only just begun….
TSD’s Sept. 10, 1955 edition featured sweeping coverage of Emmitt Till’s lynching in Mississippi, including this heartbreaking image of Till’s mother, Mamie, in tears.
From the beginning, the editorial plolicy of The Tri-State Defender set as a goal to broadcast to the world the achievements of all the citizens it serves.
The first issue of The tri-State Defender featured some familiar topics including a story on the Church of God In Christ’s annual gathering.
TSD coverage of 1968 Sanitation Strike, MLK not only broke news, it made history
By Lee Eric Smith Interim Editor
BY 1968, The Tri-State Defender had established itself as a hub of news and information for Memphis’ Black community. National news and local, recipes and recitals, commentaries and comic strips, the newspaper was growing into its own.
It was also living up to being the “defender” in its title, shedding light on incidents mainstream media simply wouldn’t. Case in point: “Women mistreated at P.O., says NAPE,” a Feb. 17 story about black post office employees complaining about low wages and being rounded up and “herded like cattle” to do some of the most demeaning work imaginable.
Elsewhere in Memphis, of course, another battle for better wages and working conditions was just getting underway — a labor movement that had been brewing for years, but took on new urgency when two people died.
It was a rainy day in early February 1968, when Echol Cole and Robert Walker were collecting garbage as their white co-workers rode in the cab. To get out of the rain, the two men took cover inside the compactor part of the truck — and were accidentally crushed to death. You might think that all of Memphis would rally around the cause, but that wasn’t exactly the case. An earlier attempt at unionizing in 1963 — after a similar accident killed two other black workers — never gained broad support from Memphis’ black clergy and leaders.
By Feb. 12, 1968, sanitation workers had successfully organized and marched off the job, wearing their now iconic I AM A MAN! signs. But not going to work means not collecting a check. Those workers needed food and support — and that was a message the TSD could help spread.
In the Feb. 17 issue, The TSD reported about a local drive to support the sanitation workers, as well as a gathering at Mason Temple COGIC that brought 3,300 supporters out and distributed 150 meals to striking families.
Through it all, The Tri-State Defender was there to bear witness, to amplify the cries for justice, and to remind Memphis — and the nation — that this fight was far from over.
“We are not concerned with the grievances these men have with the city and the issues involved, but we do feel that it is our Christian duty to see that none of them go hungry while the strike is on,” said real estate broker and committee chair. O.W. Pickett. “We would do this for any group deprived of food, regardless of the circumstances.”
The March 2 issue had comprehensive coverage of the strike, including what the strikers wanted, how clergy and the community had bought in, and what national media was beginning to say about the strike. There were even calls to boycott businesses and other newspapers that were not supportive to the strike.
Needless to say, The Tri-State Defender was supportive to the strike. The March 2 editorial, under the leadership of Editor McCann L. Reid, went straight at Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb:
“Loeb’s principles and justice won’t allow him to sign a contract that will give 1,300 men and their families dignity, justice and equality. He has caused many law-abiding citizens to abuse the law in order to keep our community apart and our sanitary workers from getting the dignity they deserve.”
Tensions continued to escalate — and so did police brutality from the majority white Memphis Police Department. TSD’s March 9 front page reported not only about more than 100 arrests related to the strike, but the harrowing tale of Lucy Tunstall, who had police invade her home, question her and arrest her — and then beat her up on the way to the police station. Even before his final, fateful trip to Memphis in April, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was coming to Memphis, drawing huge crowds and shifting his focus toward economic empowerment and poverty. He also began speaking out
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“Anybody with eyes can tell that there is something wrong with this nation. We are spending $50,000 to kill one Viet Cong and only $53 a person to fight poverty.”
— Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
against the raging Vietnam War.
“America has given the black man a check that has been bouncing all around, and I want it to be backed up with money from the Federal Reserve,” King said, according to our coverage.
“Anybody with eyes can tell that there is something wrong with this nation. We are spending $50,000 to kill one Viet Cong and only $53 a person to fight poverty,” he said.
Less than two weeks after that story was published, King was dead by an assassin’s bullet. As it had become known for doing, The Tri-State Defender published comprehensive coverage of King’s death, funeral, and the ultimately successful strike that ended two weeks to the day after King’s murder.
Through it all, The Tri-State Defender was there to bear witness, to amplify the cries for justice, and to remind Memphis — and the nation — that this fight was far from over. Its legacy, cemented in these defining moments, is a reminder that journalism can be both sword and shield in the pursuit of freedom.
Archive pages tell the story of a turbulent time.
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TSD’s role in electing a new leader, launching a new institution, and kicking off a whole new game
By Lee Eric Smith Interim Editor
IN Memphis, some names have grown to symbolize more than just people or places—they carry the weight of history.
But before the Southern Heritage Classic became a beloved tradition, before Dr. Willie W. Herenton made history as mayor, and before the National Civil Rights Museum became a beacon for change, these now iconic names were just getting started — and needed some attention and love from Memphis’ African American community to truly launch their transformational journeys.
The Tri-State Defender provided that platform, lifting these now iconic institutions and leaders into the public eye — gathering the city around them, and helping transform each into a cornerstone of Memphis identity.
The First Southern Heritage Classic: A Celebration of Tradition and Pride
In 1990, as Memphis grappled with the weight of unfulfilled dreams and the lingering struggles of the previous decades, a spark of light appeared—a chance for the city to come together, to celebrate, to be proud.
That light was the inaugural Southern Heritage Classic. And even before it kicked off, The Tri-State Defender sensed it could be more than just a football game — and said so in an editorial that riffs on the classic church hymn “This
Little Light of Mine:”
“The Southern Heritage Classic (SHC) weekend, September 6-8, allows the opportunity to focus on that which is good; that which is positive; that which is uniquely, historically ours in this city, and indeed the world. It is the African American experience in microcosm,” said a front page article in the issue before the game.
“For the first time in a long while we have
pulled ‘our stuff’ together; placed personal agendas aside; become …. socially and economically empowered,” it continued before admonishing readers to turn their headlights on in show of solidarity on game day.
“Let loose your individual brain. Relieve the weighty baggage of Black collectivities in our traditions—our music and culture—or, simply love family and fellow man. This is the day to “Light Up Memphis With Our Pride!” Let it shine. Let it shine. LET IT SHINE!”
The Southern Heritage Classic just celebrated its 35th Anniversary, and is being featured in an exhibit at the National Civil Rights Museum.
Willie W. Herenton’s Historic Campaign for Memphis Mayor
While African Americans had made strides in progress during the 1970s and 1980s, the city’s Black population was still clamoring for meaningful power — the type of political power that should come with having a large concentration of black voters.
In the years after the Civil Rights Movement, much of the focus was on simply encouraging blacks to register to vote — but they needed a reason. So it was a common political strategy throughout the South for blacks to run candidates up and down the ballot, even in races they knew they couldn’t win. Black leaders were building voting blocs, one election at a time.
But some of those leaders believed the main reason they could never win was simply that there were too many black candidates vying for the same positions — the classic “splitting of the vote” that made it possible for Memphis’ white voters to unite behind a single candidate.
Meanwhile, by 1991, Willie W. Herenton had already made a name for himself as an educator — first as a principal at Bethel Grove
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Elementary, and eventually making history as the city’s first black school superintendent. His no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is style made him controversial, earning him political adversaries even as everyday Black Memphians gravitated toward him.
It all came to a head in 1991, when the People’s Convention was held at the Mid South Coliseum. An estimated 3,500-4,000 residents convened to collectively nominate and get behind Herenton. If black Memphians could unite behind a single candidate — and turn out the vote — Memphis could have a black mayor in City Hall.
Just before the election, The Tri-State Defender’s front page editorial headline read: “Blacks can blame themselves if election is lost,” touting an apparent 14,000 advantage at the polls.
And in an election where every vote actually did matter, Herenton narrowly defeated incumbent Dick Hackett by just 146 votes — the first of his five terms as Mayor of Memphis.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. when he was gunned down, compared Herenton’s win to a redemption story for Memphis. “If Memphis can be redeemed, America can be redeemed.”
National Civil Rights Museum
For obvious reasons, with Herenton earning the endorsement of former presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson, that story lead the front page of the Oct. 5-9, 1991 issue. But elsewhere on that same front page, an new chapter was beginning for a building that had become a symbol of tragedy.
For decades after 1968, The Lorraine Motel had something of an identity crisis.
Throughout the 1960s, the hotel had been the preferred place for more affluent Black travelers. When entertainers, musicians and other celebrities came to town, that’s where they stayed.
All that changed after Martin Luther King was killed there. And what exactly the Lorraine could, should or would be was up for grabs. Even as guests were staying there, people were touring Suite 306, where King was shot. Although there was immediate interest in a King Memorial at the site, funds for such a project were not forthcoming and for decades, the hotel struggled and fell into decline.
Judge D’Army Bailey led an effort that finally
cemented the hotel’s fate as a memorial and museum for the movement. As the National Civil Rights Museum opened, Bailey had become its president, making stirring remarks as the now iconic Memphis landmark first opened its doors:
“Our struggle for dignity will forever be remembered,” he said. “So let us go forward. Let the chains fall as the tremendous crashing to the ground to set our hearts, our minds and our spirits free.”
Through every milestone — the Southern Heritage Classic, Willie W. Herenton’s historic election, and the birth of the National Civil Rights Museum — the Tri-State Defender stood as more than just a publication. It was a champion of Memphis’s Black community, a voice that inspired unity, pride, and progress.
Decades later, the stories The TSD brought to light continue to shape the city’s identity, a testament to the enduring power of the press in building a legacy of resilience and hope.
September 1991 issue of Tri-State Defender features Jesse Jackson’s visit to Memphis in support of Dr. Willie W. Herenton’s campaign for Mayor of Memphis.
From print to pixels: A new era for The Tri-State Defender
By Lee Eric Smith Interim Editor
IN2008, the world was changing rapidly, and Memphis felt those shifts as keenly as anywhere else.
Under then-President George W. Bush, America was engaged in costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — and that was before the 2008 economic collapse. As always, technology was reshaping everyday life — the iPhone, Youtube and social media were all in their infancy.
Netflix was still mostly known for sending out DVDs, though it was just getting started with something called “streaming.” Large screen TVs were both extremely expensive and extremely heavy. And more and more people were getting news via the Internet.
In this time of transformation, The Tri-State Defender found itself at a crossroads, adapting to a new digital landscape while staying true to its mission.
The Digital Shift and a New Editorial Vision
By 2004, The TSD had launched its first website, signaling a shift from a weekly print cycle to a more fluid, ongoing presence in readers’ lives.
At the time, blogging was emerging as a new form of media, bridging the gap between formal reporting and personal commentary. The weekly print edition still featured the local, state and national news it was known for, but the website provided another way for readers to stay informed between editions.
The arrival of Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku as executive editor also brought a new level of experience and expertise to The Tri-State Defender.
“I am here to make The Tri-State Defender the best communication tool we ever have had in the Mid-South and the nation,” Ajanaku wrote in his first editorial. “I intend for The Tri-State Defender to be highly successful and make
money. This is my vision of it.”
Ajanaku had covered Memphis for The Commercial Appeal since the 1970s, joining Otis Sanford and Jerome Wright as pioneering African American reporters. In his first editorial, in June 2007, Ajanaku shared his philosophy:
“The people of Greater Metro Memphis need an outlet for resolution of their thoughts and aspirations and dreams. They will be heard. Something will be done about what they share.
“I am here because of a mutual need,” he continued. “We are in a city that does not have a way to talk to itself and the future cannot grow. I intend to provide a medium where the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County and the MidSouth can talk to themselves and be successful at it.
“I am convinced that people must feel like they can be heard in a substantive way.”
Looking Ahead: The Legacy of Change
For The Tri-State Defender, the years surrounding 2008 marked a turning point. With Ajanaku at the helm, the paper embraced a new digital landscape while remaining true to its mission of amplifying Black voices.
Along the way, The TSD covered historic milestones, national and local: the election of Barack Obama; the murder of Lorenzen Wright; the rise of the “Grit N Grind” Memphis Grizzlies, and the Memphis Tigers’ unforgettable run to the 2008 NCAA Championship
game. From the I-40 Bridge Shutdown of 2016 through the removal of Confederate statues from Memphis parks, The Tri-State Defender has brought its unique voice.
Today, that mission endures. With a foundation built on legacy and a commitment to innovation, The Tri-State Defender stands as both a reflection of Memphis’s past and a champion of its future, poised to tell the stories that shape the city and its people for generations to come.
