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January 5 - 11, 2023
VOL. 72, No. 1
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Deadly-fire aftermath: providing comfort ‘until we can chart a way forward’ by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
In the aftermath of a Dec. 29 night-time fire that claimed the life of a 72-year-old resident of Feels Like Home Senior Lifestyle Residences, managing member Vanecia Belser Kimbrow Tuesday (Jan. 3) tearfully struggled to explain the emotional toll of the tragedy. Kimbrow called a news conference in front of the charred ruins of a once-vibrant community at 3393 Kirby Road in the Hickory Hill area. “We purchased the facility back in June of 2015,” said Kimbrow. “… What started out as a one-room fire, because of the weather … and all the conditions of the deep freeze in the city, came to be a several-alarm fire … It resulted in massive, devastating losses. The most poignant was the loss of life.” The blaze also sent two residents to the hospital and displaced nearly 50 seniors who called the facility home. Kimbrow has met with residents, who are being temporarily housed at Embassy Suites in East Memphis. The focus, she said, is on the community of seniors who have lived together like family. Residents expressed that “they want to come home,” she said. “Our focus is just trying to build a comfortable environment for our seniors temporarily until we can chart a way forward,” Kimbrow said. The news conference enumerated the results of “a perfect storm of unseasonable weather,” making conditions just right for a fire to thrive and spread. “Memphis does not handle arctic freezes that last five and six days,” said Kimbrow. “…This building was not equipped for that. We were
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
The death of TN State Rep. Barbara Ward Cooper on Oct. 25, 2022, created a vacancy for the highly sought District 86 seat. Eleven candidates have submitted petitions with the specified signatures to qualify as a viable candidate. Hopefuls will appear on the ballot in alphabetical order. Long-time personal friend and colleague in the TN House, State Rep. G. A. Hardaway, said it could be anyone’s race. “Just the sheer number of variables lets us know that this could
COMMENTARY
Gangsta Boo: “I just want to be known as someone that put her heart into her music and who really, really appreciated her fans. Because if it wasn’t for my fans, like I said, I definitely would not still be doing this. My fans are my motivation. I love my fans.” (Photo: Gangsta Boo, Facebook)
Gangsta Boo – ‘An absolute Memphis legend & game changer!’ by Brianna Smith-Herman The New Tri-State Defender
been counted on that day. State Democratic leaders urged District 86 voters to re-elect Cooper posthumously, to insure that Democrats retained the seat. Cooper won with a landslide majority in a November run-off against Independent Michael Porter. To fill Cooper’s seat before the state legislature meets, the Shelby County Commission will appoint an interim during its Feb. 1 meeting, allowing that person to begin work immediately. Winner of the Jan. 24 election will also be the appointed interim. District 86 runs north and south
All of this is true about Gangsta Boo: A “Queen” of Memphis. A hiphop legend. A pioneer of female rap. The first lady of the Oscar-winning group, Three 6 Mafia. Riding a beat like no other, she was an incredible artist who transcended generations. An incredible legacy and a huge loss for Memphis. Lola Chantrelle Mitchell from birth, Gangsta Boo was found dead on Sunday – the first day of 2023 – at a home on Raines just east of Millbranch in Memphis’ Whitehaven community. Born in Whitehaven on Aug. 7, 1979, she was 43. Memphis Police Department officers responded to a “person-down” call at 2:18 p.m. on New Year’s Day. According to MPD, “A female, identified as 43-year-old Lola Mitchell, was pronounced deceased on the scene. “There were no immediate signs of foul play. This is an ongoing death investigation, and the results of her autopsy are pending.” Gangsta Boo’s mother, Veronica Mitchell, released a brief statement: “The Mitchell family would like to thank everyone for their condolences regarding the untimely death of Lola ‘Gangsta Boo’ Mitchell. The family is asking for your continued prayers and privacy as we process the loss of our loved one.” Gangsta Boo had a lengthy career and it didn’t look as though she was slowing down anytime soon. In December 2021, she participated in the Verzuz battle alongside Three 6 Mafia as they battled Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in Los Angeles. I was there for the battle, an intense yet exciting show. I saw Boo perform again in Memphis during a playoff game after the
SEE VOTE ON PAGE 2
SEE BOO ON PAGE 2
“Our focus is just trying to build a comfortable environment for our seniors temporarily until we can chart a way forward,” said Vanecia Belser Kimbrow, managing member of Feels Like Home Senior Lifestyle Residences. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender not equipped to handle water outages…or rolling utility failure when we have systems that rely upon the electricity to be on and working.” On the day of the fire, all systems were checked. There were fire safety services and plumbers working on the leaks and frozen pipes that burst during the freeze. The water had been restored, but the fire safety
SEE FIRE ON PAGE 2 What started as a two-alarm fire grew quickly into an inferno as staff and firefighters rushed to evacuate residents at the Feels Like Home Senior Lifestyles Residences in Hickory Hill. (Photo: Bill Adelman / Adelman Fire Images.)
Early voting underway for House District 86 election by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
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be anybody’s race,” said Hardaway. “You’ve got several familiar names and then others who might be outstanding leaders in their own communities. Turnout is a factor, and how voters are thinking matters. We won’t find another Rep. Barbara Cooper. Whoever wins will have some very big shoes to fill.” The special election will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Early voting begins on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. Voters who live within the perimeters of District 86 will be eligible to vote. Elections are decided in two ways: majority or plurality. Majority votes are generally required in a primary, meaning, a clear winner must have
“We won’t find another Rep. Barbara Cooper. Whoever wins will have some very big shoes to fill.” — Rep. G. A. Hardaway 51 percent of the vote. If no primary candidate has 51 percent of the vote, then the two contenders receiving the highest votes will face each other in a runoff. Since this is not a primary, the winner will be elected with plurality, or, the highest number of votes. The new representative will be chosen on Jan. 24, given that all votes have
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The New Tri-State Defender
January 5 - 11, 2023
Page 2
NEWS
“Unfortunately, when persons are blind, they depend upon their ears … With the BOO CONTINUED FROM FRONT alarms blazing and with people shouting, it was so overwhelming that he just froze, and they couldn’t convince him to just walk out of the room.” end of the Memphis Grizzlies’ breakout regular season. Every time she hit — Vanecia Belser Kimbrow
(Disclosure: Vanecia Belser Kimbrow is a member of The New TriState Defender’s ownership group. She did not participate in the construction of this story.)
the mic/stage, she was full of energy and entertainment. In the Spring of 2022, she appeared on WEtv’s “Marriage Boot Camp: The Hip Hop Edition’’ with her boyfriend, Emmet Flores. Also, in recent months, Boo was featured on Atlanta’s own, Latto and Memphis rising star, Glorilla’s collaboration “F— The Club Up,” a play off Three 6 Mafia’s “Tear Da Club Up” and Hannah Monds’ “Big Momma”. Featured recently on the popular “Drink Champs” Youtube show, she went in depth about her career, being a part of Three 6 Mafia, her legacy in the rap industry and being from Memphis. Two months later, she revealed to Billboard that she was working on a new project called “The BooPrint,” which she projected to be released early this year. “I would honestly say that I have to admit, respectfully and humbly, that I am the blueprint,” Boo told Billboard. “I hear my cadence in a lot of men and female rappers. … My sound is a Memphis sound. It’s a Gangsta Boo sound; it’s a Three 6 Mafia sound!” On New Year’s Eve, she shared a video on Instagram about the past year. The clip was captioned, “Some of the things that I did in 2022! So fun and productive, climbed out my shell alot!! 2023 go be 23’n! #JORDAN #BOOPRINT #recap Happy New 2023 everyone!” Shortly after word spread of her passing, Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul and Juicy J paid tribute to their former bandmate on Instagram. DJ Paul shared a caption-less photo of the late rapper; Juicy J posted a snapshot of the pair accompanied by a broken heart emoji. In 1994 at age 15, he joined the Three 6 Mafia local hip-hop collective founded by DJ Paul, Juicy J and Lord Infamous. That same year, she recorded her first solo song with the group, “Cheefa Da Reefa.” The track set the tone for the Memphis femcee, who later unveiled her most popular hit – “Where Dem Dollas At?” – from her 1998 debut album, “Enquiring Minds.” Boo underwent several transformations, renaming herself Lady Boo in 2001 and releasing numerous solo albums. In 2013, she joined Da Mafia 6ix before the passing of band member Lord Infamous in December of that year. In 2014, she and Da Mafia 6ix’s other femcee, La Chat, recorded the album “Witch” as a duo. Memphis’ Drumma Boy produced Boo’s 2003 album “Enquiring Minds II: The Soap Opera.”
tions manager for Shelby Co. Government • Clifford Lewis – business owner • Justin J. Pearson – environmental advocate and community leader • Michael D. Porter – adjunct Communications professor at U of M • Will Richardson –a home healthcare business owner
• Rebecca Robinson – a concerned activist working for positive change • Andrew “Rome” Withers – son of famed photographer Ernest Withers The special election is technically a “primary.” But since the seat was held by a Democrat, a Democrat will retain the party’s representation.
Wynetta Harris and her husband, Robert Harris, view the ruins at the Feels Like Home Senior Lifestyles Residences. (Photos: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)
FIRE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT system had been “red-tagged.” “When a system is red-tagged, you do what is called a fire watch,” said Kimbrow. “This means that staff walks and monitors the property physically. That means every 30 minutes to an hour, we make our rounds on the property.” The alarm system did not fail. Staff discovered the fire because the alarm system pinpointed the location of the fire, which was initially confined to one room. However, the systems failed, including the sprinklers, Kimbrow explained. Firefighters couldn’t get their trucks through because the fire access lane that used to come off Winchester has been blocked by the neighboring, larger and wealthier senior community, Kirby Pines LifeCare Community, Kimbrow said. “We are the least of these, so they get a private driveway, and we lose an emergency access lane.” Kimbrow said. “…We are not making excuses, and we are not blaming anyone. But we want the community to know there was no fault in how we operated…” The New Tri-State Defender called the public information office of the Memphis Fire Department asking for a statement regarding Kirby Road and the assertion that the fire lane in
VOTE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT along the Mississippi River, going from Southwest Memphis through Downtown to Millington. The official ballot will list candidates in alphabetical order:
Robert Harris shares a social media photo showing his brother-in-law, Malcolm Ware, leading a blind friend who lived three doors down from him at Feels Like Home Senior Lifestyle Residences. Ware’s friend was killed in the fire that roared through the facility Thursday night. the back had been closed to provide a private drive for the adjacent Kirby Pines Senior Community. The public information office requested that the inquiry be put in writing in an email, which was promptly sent, but no reply had been received by press time. When Kimbrow heard there was a fire at the facility, she “never dressed so fast and drove so fast.” She recounts getting to the facility in 14 minutes from Collierville. Kim• Rod Blount – successful businessman and insurance broker • Julian T. Bolton – attorney and former Shelby County Commissioner • Tanya L. Cooper – daughter of Rep. Cooper • Juliette Eskridge – case worker for Carver College Career Academy • Dominique Frost – public rela-
brow began to cry as she relived the horror of that night – frantically trying to insure everyone was safe. She began to cry as she reflected on the attempt to save the man who died. The fire started in his unit. “They tried to get the decedent out of the apartment,” said Kimbrow. “He was a blind individual; blind, but not unable to function … Many people attempted to get him to come out of the unit … but unfortunately, when persons are blind, they depend upon their ears … “With the alarms blazing and with people shouting, it was so overwhelming that he just froze, and they couldn’t convince him to just walk out of the room….” She said. “After a while, it became necessary for those trying to get him out to leave the building … His best friend had to be physically dragged out of the building because he was doing everything he could to go back in and pull his friend out.” Kimbrow praised the efforts of the Fire Department and the staff to bring everyone to safety. She promised additional updates in the coming days. Kimbrow estimated losses at about $6-$7 million. The total capacity of the facility is 127 residents.
“When it’s all said and done, I want to be remembered as Gangsta Boo from Three 6 Mafia. The first lady of crunk music. The first lady who brought a platinum plaque back to Memphis.” — Gangsta Boo “Gangsta Boo was like a sister to me and told the world about me the way my blood brother did,” he said in a released statement. “We both are Leos and share the same energy towards unity and seeing people happy! This is just such a devastating loss cuz she always wanted to see others win! RIP to the Queen of Memphis, forever my sister.” Gangsta Boo was real and a raw voice for women in the South and beyond. She was committed to encouraging and helping future generations of artists, especially women rappers from Memphis. In a 2012 interview with Jimmy Ness from passionweiss.com, she was asked what she wanted people to remember most about her. “I just want people to know that I’m really a hard worker. I’m human just like everybody else. I write all of my own music. I’ve helped other people come up with concepts. I’ve helped put a lot of people on. I just want to be respected,” she responded. “When it’s all said and done, I want to be remembered as Gangsta Boo from Three 6 Mafia. The first lady of crunk music. The first lady who brought a platinum plaque back to Memphis. The first lady who bought a gold plaque back to Memphis. I’m the only female rapper in Tennessee that has ever did that and probably will be the only one who ever will. “I just want to be known as someone that put her heart into her music and who really, really appreciated her fans. Because if it wasn’t for my fans, like I said, I definitely would not still be doing this. My fans are my motivation. I love my fans.” Gangsta Boo’s passing blew threw social media like a storm. Tenn. State Sen. Raumesh Akbari wrapped it up well in a tweet: “Whether in Memphis or beyond, Gangsta Boo left an indelible mark on Southern hip hop. Her sound was unique & unmatched – so many memories of listening to #EnquiringMinds! She literally influenced an entire generation and supported them! An absolute Memphis Legend & game-changer!” Gangsta Boo rightfully called herself “the Queen of Memphis.” All hail! Requests for an absentee ballot must be submitted to the Shelby County Election Commission by Jan. 17, 2023. For more information, go to: electionsshelbytn.gov, or call the Shelby County Election Commission at 901222-1200.
The New Tri-State Defender
January 5 - 11, 2023
Page 3
NEWS
Shante Avant emerges as president/CEO of Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
After a five-month search and consultations with some of the most gifted thought leaders and nonprofit executives, the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) Board of Directors appointed Shante K. Avant as the organization’s the new president and chief executive officer. Avant, the WFGM’s vice president, began her new duties effective Jan. 1. She was deemed the best qualified to lead the organization after the retirement of former president Ruby Bright. “I started out with the Women’s Foundation in 2007, 15 years ago,” said Avant. “I had 26 years in the non-profit sector, but this was my first foray into philanthropy. So, I just wanted to learn the power of one woman’s leadership and how philanthropic resources and investments can change lives.” Rather than providing direct services to address needs, Avant attained a different perspective on the other side of the table as a working with a nonprofit grantor. Talent and competence moved Avant up through the ranks to serve as second in command under Bright. But, before taking the lead post, there was a meticulous process of searching the nation for the best leader to take WFGM to greater heights. Was Avant worried — even a little? “I have a strong sense of faith,” said Avant. “And because I have a strong sense of faith, I really do believe that what God has for me is for me. And because of that, I knew this
was something I dreamed to do, to lead the organization… “There are so many ways we built out our foundation and created so many great partnerships. I wanted the opportunity to continue the work.” Bright said, “Shante is a very capable leader and one who, I believe, will be an exceptional visionary in taking the Women’s Foundation forward. “The fact that she was chosen from a national search of many gifted leaders, certainly, speaks for itself. I am excited to see the organization move onward and upward under Shante’s direction.” Avant became vice president in 2011. By virtue of her position, the natural promotion process would have made Avant next in line for the top spot. But that’s not how the board of directors chose to operate. “Twenty-two years is a long, long time,” said Dr. Marcia Bowden Marche, the board’s co-chair. “Ruby Bright left a very impressive footprint locally, nationally, and internationally. And so, it goes without saying that we knew we needed to do a national search to justify who we put in this position.” The first search, however, was for the right search firm, according to Marche. Three or four were considered, she said, and the board settled on one they felt understood the foundation’s work and the community it serves. When the process got underway, the search was on for a person who understood the heart and soul of the organization, Marche said. It was important to seek out a leader who could feel the heartbeat of the Wom-
In this April 2018 photo, Shante Avant (right) and Ruby Bright share the view that one of the ways to realize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision is to “continue to work hard for impacting communities such as the community of 38126.” (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender Archives) en’s Foundation. As it turned out, none of those impressive candidates was more qualified than Avant. No one knew and felt the heartbeat more clearly than Avant. No one loved the Memphis community as she does. The national search discovered that the next WFGM leader was right under the board’s nose all the time. “To be sure, there were many quite impressive candidates, we determined the most qualified and best prepared for this critical role is Shante,” said Marche. “She has worked in several capacities, and she understands the goals of Vision 2025 plan.” For Avant, entering the search process was about what she envisioned in moving the organization forward. “I am a native Memphian,” said
Avant. “I have lived and loved in this city by choice from the time I graduated from college. There isn’t a better city in this country who cares more for its people than Memphis …We were voted the most generous city in the nation. That wasn’t by accident.” Avant is wildly optimistic about the future of both Memphis and the Women’s Foundation. “What my vision is to help the generations after us to come up out of poverty,” said Avant. “We want more people to move from poverty to economic stability, and from stability to security. “We want our young people to start on a higher footing than their parents. And the only way to do that is to invest in our young people. Education is a huge part of that.” Avant earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University
of Tennessee. She also holds a master’s in social work. She served nine years on the Memphis-Shelby County School Board, representing District 5. For more than 25 years, the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis has been a force for breaking the cycle of poverty through philanthropy, community leadership, and collaboration. Building leadership in women has been its signature strategy. Memphis philanthropist Mertie Buckman was instrumental in founding what became the Women’s Foundation in 1995, inviting 10 women to invest in the lives of women and children in Memphis. Seven years ago, the foundation made the decision to shift its focus and efforts to South Memphis’ 38126 Zip code, one of the poorest in the nation. The Vision 2020 Strategic Plan’s goal was to reduce poverty in the Zip code by five percent. WFGM, according to its website, has invested $7.1 million in grants to provide direct services in Zip code 38126. The area is bounded roughly by East McLemore on the south, South Third and South Main on the west, Neptune and Elmwood Cemetery on the west and Vance on the north. Among the plan’s accomplishments: 16,117 residents were served; there was a 53 percent increase in average household income; 825 children enrolled in early childhood education; 5,632 young people participated in programs supporting positive youth development; 1,730 individuals were placed in jobs and 94 individuals started a new or micro-enterprise.
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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, January 5 - 11, 2023, Page 4
Making a move toward a consensus candidate for the next Memphis mayor by the Rev. Dr. Earle J. Fisher Special to The New Tri-State Defender
I
n November of 2022, UPTheVote901 conducted a survey of over 100 people through SurveyMonkey immediately after the midterm election. Almost 90 percent of our respondents expressed concern about the potential of a split or diminished Black vote in the 2023 mayoral election.
Rev. Dr. Earl J. Fisher, the founder of UPTheVote901, spoke during Sunday’s Kwanzaa celebration at Abyssinian Baptist Church, where he is the senior pastor. On Monday, Fisher announced via social media that UPTheVote901’s Memphis People’s Convention 2023 Planning Committee would be working on a process to develop a consensus candidate for Memphis mayor. He opened the door for others to join in. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/ The New Tri-State Defender)
Several people have publicly expressed their interest or intent in running for the office. Every candidate to date has been a Black or African-American candidate. UPTheVote901 and some of our community partners, elected officials, faith leaders, and several of the organizations that have been influential in voting engagement efforts – like Memphis Artists For Change, the official Black Lives Matter Memphis Chapter, Sister Reach, Stand for Children TN and MICAH – gathered together with several notable candidates, others were invited and declined to attend. From these gatherings, the candidates and community partners have agreed that a process be put in place to ensure that whoever is elected to office in the municipal elections represents the broadest range of ideological and political interests for the majority of the citizens. Regretfully, the current electoral process does not guarantee this. We would’ve preferred it for the City Council to allow voters to decide on partisan elections, or at the very least, a runoff provision that will provide a 50-percentplus-one rule for all city elections. Both of these efforts failed. As such based, upon past precedent, it remains rather likely that
a candidate could win office through a split or diminished Black vote without getting a simple majority of the voters. Therefore, we are committed to producing a Memphis People’s Convention in the summer of 2023. This convention will serve as a people’s primary envisioned as a ward or precinct-based caucus with proportional representation, offering citizens a chance to vet candidates and organize efforts around a consensus candidate. We believe this will also accomplish the goal of ensuring whoever is elected to office in 2023 will receive the majority of the votes cast. In an effort to obtain unity across the city, we welcome those community organizations and interested and concerned individuals who are willing to participate in our planning process. We also welcome any notable, serious and viable candidate for office to participate. Those who are willing to work with us can email their interest to UPTheVote901@gmail.com and put Memphis People’s Convention in the subject line. We hope to work with all of you and we hope to ensure the best for the City of Memphis in 2023.
Race takes center stage in the battle for House speaker by April Ryan thegrio.com
Just a couple hours before the U.S. House of Representatives convened on day two of Republicans’ attempt to elect a speaker of the House, President Joe Biden told reporters on Wednesday, “I hope they get their act together.” On Tuesday, Republican leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California failed three times to secure the needed 218 votes from his party, which currently holds a slim majority over Democrats. For the first time in 100 years, the House has no speaker and, by proxy, no one to swear in the other current 433 members of the House. On Wednesday, Republicans again nominated McCarthy and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida for speaker. Democrats unan-
imously nominated House Minority Leader U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. After a fourth and fifth round of votes, neither nominee got the needed 218 votes. Donalds, who is Black, was nominated by U.S. Rep. Chip Rep. Hakeem Jeffries Roy, R-Texas, who argued: “this country needs a change.” He noted that the nominations of Donalds and Jeffries mark the first time in U.S. history that two Black Americans have been nominated for speaker of the House. He added, “we don’t seek to judge people by the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character.”
In a tweet amidst floor votes, Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., blasted her Republican colleagues for using Donalds as a “prop” for diversity. Bush said Donalds is “not a historic candidate for Speaker.” Rep. Byron “Despite being Donalds Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy,” she wrote. “His name being in the mix is not progress – it’s pathetic.” Republicans have a history of trying to mirror diversity reflected in the Democratic Party. When Barack Obama became the nation’s 44th and first Black president, the
Rep. Kevin GOP elevated MiMcCarthy chael Steele as the first chairman of the Republican National Committee. Most recently, the party nominated Black Republican Herschel Walker for U.S. senator in Georgia against Black Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock. Unlike Steele, Walker was largely seen as not qualified for the job. In response to this historic moment of a constitutional stall in Congress, President Biden said, “It’s a little embarrassing it’s taking so long, and the way they are dealing with one another.” Speaking about what this moment signals internationally, he said, “This is not a good look, this is not a good thing for the country.” The 46th president also acknowledged to the press, “The rest of the world is looking.”
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The New Tri-State Defender
January 5 - 11, 2023
Page 5
RELIGION
An embrace and farewell … Moving forward … The Rev. Willie Kelsey, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, was the guest speaker as the Rev. Marvin Mims and St. Mark Baptist Church-Lauderdale hosted its first-Sunday service. The Rev. Kelsey’s message was drawn from Philippians 3:13-14 and entitled “Moving forward.” (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
The Rev. Sonia Walker, 85, longtime associate pastor at First Congo Church, was saluted at a retirement gathering held in her honor at the church last Friday (Dec. 30). Those sharing in the tribute was the Rev. Dr. Alvin O’Neal Jackson, who said Rev. Walker and here late husband, Dr. Walter Walker, former president of LeMoyne-Owen College, were among the first embrace after he moved here to pastor Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
“God can do it!” … Drawing from Psalms 34:1722, the Rev. Rickey Dugger, president of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association, delivered his annual address last Tuesday (June 3). His topic was “God can do it!” (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New TriState Defender)
Jubilee Day … The Rev. Keith Norman, pastor of First Baptist Church – Broad St. keynoted the 42nd Annual Jubilee Day service (Dec. 31) at Greater Middle Baptist Church, 4982 Knight Arnold Rd., where the Rev. Rodney J. Echols is the senior pastor. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
The New Tri-State Defender, January 5 - 11, 2023, Page 6
Kwanzaa and the celebration of Imani – faith! TSD Newsroom
T
he sanctuary at Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church, 3890 Millbranch Rd., overflowed with celebrants of Imani (faith) – the concluding principle of the seven-day observation of Kwanzaa – on New Year’s afternoon. Founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 during the aftermath of the Watts riot, the African-American holiday annually is embraced as an opportunity for African Americans to “celebrate themselves and their history.” Sponsored by Mid-South Kwanzaa, Inc., the celebration began with a welcome by Osupa Moon, president of Mid-South Kwanzaa, and the host pastor the Rev. Dr. Earl J. Fisher, reminding those present that they were in “the blackest church” in Memphis. Each day of Kwanzaa includes acknowledgment of the “African Pledge,” which concludes with these phrases: “We will struggle to resurrect and unify our homeland. We will raise many children for our nation. We will have discipline, patience, devotion, and courage. We will live as models, to provide new direction to our people. We will be free and self-determining. We are African people. WE WILL WIN!” Honoring and acknowledging ancestors is integral to Kwanzaa and that was woven throughout the New Year’s Day service and collectively observed during the pouring of Libations. The day’s King and Queen were environmental advocate and community activist Justin Pearson and Ayana C. Williams, the new executive director of the Blues City Cultural Center. Deke Pope shared the purpose of Kwanzaa ahead of Francis Barnes gathering all the children for lighting the candles that reflect the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumb (creativity) and Imani (faith). The day’s speaker included Ekpe Abioto, who emphasized reading books about African history and introduced his forthcoming book focused on increasing awareness about gun safety. Queen Ayana shared the history of the Blues City Cultural Center, founded by her parents, and gave a glimpse of what her focus will be in building on the legacy. Queen Justin emphasized developing a “Kin-dom” – as opposed to a kingdom – with relationships rooted in long-held principles and with children, particularly in mind. Fisher spoke on “reclaiming our heritage.” And in response to Abioto’s suggestion that Kwanzaa be celebrated at least once a month, Fisher offered Abyssinian as the venue every first Sunday. Omar Baruti detailed the significance of taking on African names during the naming ceremony before special recognition of the day’s honorees: Iyalaje Oguwale, Stephen Lee, Mama Ayodele Kofie, Sah Maat, Pearson, Jasira Olatunji, Patrick Lumumba and Crystal Denise. Dr. Carnita Atwater, acknowledged as the “first woman of color to run for the office of governor in the history of this great state,” was awarded the inaugural Nguzo Saba Cultural Impact Award.
Patricia Lee give an improptun rendition of an old Gospel song. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New TriState Defender)
Acknowledging the “spirit” of the ancestors.. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)
Kwanzaa’s King and Queen for Imani. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)
Don’t Touch A Gun. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)
The Lee family celebrates Imani. (Photo: Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/ The New Tri-State Defender)
Providing the musical backdrop. (Photo: Tyrone P. EasleyThe New TriState Defender)
Pouring libations. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)
Honoree Jasira Olatunji. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
The New Tri-State Defender
January 5 - 11, 2023
ENTERTAINMENT
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‘Enslaved’ has tales that will ‘make you wince and cringe and cringe again’ by Terri Schlichenmeyer
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
A good story requires lots of switchbacks. It’s boring if it moves too smoothly without a hitch. No, you need a detour or two, a couple of switchbacks, a pothole in the road to make the story interesting, and a good meander to smooth it out. Even so, as in the new book “Enslaved” by Simcha Jacobovici & Sean Kingsley, sometimes, the story is a wreck. Were it not profitable – if it hadn’t been for the money in it – “the transatlantic slave trade would never have happened,” say the authors in the first sentence of their book. This fact launches a tale of high seas, low tides, and the people of Diving With a Purpose, who volunteer their talents to find former slave ships that lie beneath the ocean. This work helps tell the stories of ancestors who died beneath the waters, victims of the slave trade. Jacobovici and Kingsley start out with a tale of three divers, “a story they did not want to hear. And... a dive to a haunted slave wreck they did not want to dive” in Paramaribo, a port city in Suriname. There, 664 Africans were purposely locked in the hold of a sinking ship for reasons that the ship’s captain kept to himself. Just off the coast of Gibraltar, the site known as 35F was an accidental find discovered by treasure hunters. At first DWP workers weren’t sure there was anything left of the shipwreck; it had been destroyed by area trawlers and fishermen. A second look showed cannons, ceramic pots, ivory,
and copper bracelets called “manilla,” that were used “to buy gold, elephant tusks, and humans.” And then there was the Clotilda, a ship that was illegal from the start, and was sunk on purpose in a small waterway. Today, many descendants of its survivors live in a “sleepy” town near Mobile, Alabama, a “purely African town in America” founded by former slaves, “started from scratch...” Many thoughts may swirl around your head when you read “Enslaved.” The first is that there’s something to learn everywhere, but also a good amount of information that you already know. It’s filled with powerful stories, but they’re written in sometimes-florid language that can make those tales hard to follow. And some of the tales will make you wince and cringe and cringe again. Authors Jacobovici and Kingsley weave history inside tales of recovery, which is helpful in an overall understanding of slavery around the world, beginning well before 1619 and including how it came to be that Africans were the people most captured. There are times, however, when that history gets in the way of DWP’s fascinating involvement – what they found, how it was discovered, what was done with the information, and how it matters. It’s easy to miss those parts of this book, and that’s too bad. This book will satisfy readers who want history, but armchair archaeologists may be left wanting. Come at “Enslaved” with that in mind: devour it, perhaps, or switch it out and put it back. “Enslaved: “The Sunken History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade” by Simcha Jacobovici & Sean Kingsley c. 2022 Pegasus Books $28.95 | 332 pages
COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, January 5 - 11, 2023, Page 8
Spreading the word about Opportunity R3 by Paula Anderson
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Teens and young adults, ages 16 to 24, Friday (Jan. 6) will have an opportunity to learn about solutions for job opportunities and personal development thanks to the city of Memphis’ Office of Community Affairs. The Opportunity R3 (Rethinking, Rebranding and Rebuilding) information session runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library at 3030 Poplar Ave. Registration is not required to attend. Opportunity is a collaborative effort with local government and community stakeholders to identify solutions for job opportunities and personal development. “This is a program designed for individuals, who are not working or in school, to identify their career paths and goals,” said Ken Moody, special assistant to Mayor Jim Strickland and director of Community Affairs. The program includes strategic partners who can recommend or refer potential participants. “We have reached out to Project Stand, Juvenile Court, Memphis-Shelby County Schools and local churches to increase awareness about the initiative and to Ken receive referMoody rals,” Moody said. The program began in 2022, with $2.5 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Participants receive $250per week for attending the training, Moody said. Since Opportunity R3’s inception, 70 participants have been served. Opportunity R3 meets five days a week from 9 a.m. to 1p.m. to explore job opportunities and entrepreneurship. “In a three-week period, we establish a relationship with individuals to find out what may have caused them to get off track,” said Moody. “We help with soft skills, employment, or entrepreneurship direction. “Opportunity Youth is removing barriers and connecting the gap between preparation and opportunity for young people to realize their full potential to transform lives and the stability of communities.” Moody said the program needs “mentors, who can help on a personal and professional level.” To learn more about the initiative, visit https://opportunity.memphistn. gov/opportunity-r3. (Paula Anderson is a freelance business journalist. She can be reached at writingbydesign7@gmail. com.)
About one in four schools across the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district was affected by the recent winter storm. Coil replacements in HVAC units were one of the most common repairs. (Photos: Memphis-Shelby County Schools)
Interim Supt: ‘Herculean job’ helped get MSCS schools ready for students after storm
Ranging from power outages to a ruptured fieldhouse, about one in four schools across the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district was affected by the recent winter storm. According to MSCS officials, crews spent the last few days assessing, repairing, and monitoring damage. The first storm of the winter delivered frigid temperatures, had 226,000 MLGW customers without power at one point and forced tens of thousands to cope with life-altering water-pressure issues. Interim Supt. Toni Williams said MSCS facilities and grounds teams did “a Herculean job” as they worked Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, and every day in between to ensure schools affected by the storm were operational for students’ return to class on Tuesday (Jan. 3). “I thank our crews for the countless hours they spent over the holidays taking care of our buildings so that principals and teachers can keep their focus on taking care of our students,” said Williams. Coil replacements in HVAC units were one of the most common repairs. Restoring classrooms, restrooms, and cafeterias were the highest priority. In the coming days, crews will continue to make repairs to additional spaces such as music
Described as a Navy veteran with an eye toward efficiency, Julius Muse (right) is the new chief of Business Operations for Memphis-Shelby County Schools. rooms and gyms. In a media release, MSCS reported that “all identified safety concerns were addressed. Cosmetic work is ongoing. The cost estimate, including supplies and overtime hours, is still being calculated.” MSCS new Chief of Business Operations Julius Muse supervised school repairs and discussed hotspots with principals. “With such a significant undertak-
ing, it was essential that we worked in partnership not only with our school leaders but also with Memphis, Light, Gas, and Water, and our Shelby County Office of Code Enforcement,” said Muse. “Because of this team approach, we were able to ensure that students had safe spaces to return to….” MSCS emphasized that a challenge going forward is that 33 schools are 50-plus years old ne-
cessitating more skill and attention to maintain the aging infrastructure, especially after severe weather. The media release about the poststorm work referenced a soon-coming review of a 10-year infrastructure improvement plan with the MSCS school board and funding bodies. “MSCS joins the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the American Association of Civil Engineers in supporting nationwide investment in school infrastructure,” was an assertion included in the release. Families and teachers wanting to share an area of need were encouraged to contact their school principal, call the district helpline at 901-416-5300, or email myinput@ scsk12.org.
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On watch… St. Andrew A.M.E Church held its Watch Service on New Year’s Eve night. The Rev. Troy Thomas and his wife, the Rev. Dr. Maxine Thomas, conducted the service at the church at 867 S. Parkway E. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New TriState Defender)
The New Tri-State Defender
NEWS
January 5 - 11, 2023
Nashville Law Director Wally Dietz, flanked by Mayor John Cooper and state Sen. Brenda Gilmore, criticizes a Tennessee Supreme Court ruling upholding the state’s private school voucher law. The Nashville officials spoke during a news conference on June 1, 2022, soon after the court’s decision. (Photo: Marta W. Aldrich / Chalkbeat)
Nashville, Shelby County to appeal dismissal of Tenn. school voucher case
by Marta W. Aldrich Chalkbeat Tennessee
Plaintiffs behind two lawsuits challenging Tennessee’s private school voucher law plan to appeal a judicial panel’s dismissal of their remaining legal claims. Metropolitan Nashville and Shelby County governments, which jointly challenged the 2019 law that applies only to their counties, notified the Tennessee Court of Appeals late last month that they will appeal the latest ruling. Attorneys representing parents and taxpayers in a second lawsuit submitted a separate notice of appeal. The appeals will extend the 3-year-old legal battle over Gov. Bill Lee’s controversial Education Savings Account program for at least several more months. The program provides taxpayer money for eligible families in Memphis and Nashville to help cover private school tuition for their children. Emboldened by a string of court victories, Lee’s administration began accepting applications late last summer to launch the program by fall. Meanwhile, officials in those cities went back to court to try to stop it, partly on grounds that their school districts would face financial harm if the voucher program diverts taxpayer funding from public to private schools. But in a 2-1 vote in November, a three-judge panel ruled the plaintiffs don’t have legal
standing at this point to pursue the case on those grounds, noting that the law provides for compensating the districts for lost funding in the program’s first three years. In pursuing the appeal now, the plaintiffs are pointing to the dissenting opinion from Chancellor Anne Martin of Nashville, who cited the state’s constitutional obligation to maintain a free public school system that provides equal educational opportunities for residents. Martin said the plaintiffs’ allegations of discriminatory treatment and unequal funding were sufficient concerns to let the case proceed. On Tuesday, Nashville Law Director Wally Dietz told Chalkbeat that an appeal is the “next logical step to bring some clarity to these issues.” “Chancellor Martin made important points in her dissenting opinion,” Dietz said, “and we believe these important constitutional questions should be resolved by an appellate court.” A spokeswoman for the state attorney general’s office declined to comment. The appeals will go before a judicial panel that ruled against the voucher law in September 2020, siding with Martin’s initial ruling that the statute unconstitutionally singled out two counties. Her ruling halted the program’s planned launch that year. But after the state’s highest court overruled two lower courts and upheld the vouch-
er law last May, the governor ordered the education department to kick off the voucher program with the 2022-23 school year. As of Dec. 22, the department had approved 323 voucher applications from students in Memphis-Shelby County Schools and 236 applications from students in Metro Nashville Public Schools — well under the law’s participation cap of 5,000 students for the program’s first year. Another 510 applications were deemed ineligible, according to a department spokesman. Meanwhile, a Chattanooga lawmaker has filed legislation that would expand the state’s voucher program to Hamilton County. Similar legal battles over school choice and privatization are playing out in other states. In New Hampshire last month, opponents sued to stop one of the nation’s broadest school voucher laws, while the Kentucky Supreme Court struck down a Republican-backed initiative to award tax credits for donations supporting private school tuition. (A similar initiative in Michigan, backed by former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, stalled.) Arizona launched its education savings account program last year, overcoming efforts to stop it. (Marta Aldrich is a senior correspondent and covers the statehouse for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Contact her at maldrich@chalkbeat.org.)
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SPORTS The New Tri-State Defender, January 5 - 11, 2023, Page 10
Two years ago, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin endeavored to raise $2,500 online to buy toys for needy kids for Christmas. Hamlin was critically injured in the Monday Night Football game against the Bengals in Cincinnati. (Photo: gofundme.com)
NFL rallies to support Hamlin as his condition improves ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — As a sedated Damar Hamlin lay before him in a Cincinnati hospital bed surrounded by machinery feeding him oxygen and fluids, Indianapolis Colts safety Rodney Thomas provided a few words of encouragement to his friend. “I just told him, I got him. That’s all,” Thomas said Wednesday. “Just saying the same thing: I got his back and you’re going to get through it.” It didn’t matter to Thomas whether the Buffalo Bills safety could hear him. More important to Thomas, who made the twohour drive from Indianapolis to Cincinnati, was being by the side of Hamlin — his former high school teammate in Pittsburgh — and the player’s family. “It just calmed me down and made that trip home a lot easier,” Thomas said. “I could just go home and I could just know that he’s going to be straight. I’ve got him. The world’s got him.” Two days after the 24-year-old Hamlin’s heart stopped and he needed to be resuscitated on the field during a game at the Bengals, an immense outpouring of support continued. After fans held vigils in Cincinnati and at the Bills home in Orchard Park, New York, on Tuesday, it was time for the NFL community — those who know Hamlin and those who had never heard of him before Monday — to express its support with most teams returning to practice. Though he’s still under sedation, Hamlin’s recovery from cardiac arrest continues moving in “a positive direction,” the player’s marketing representative, Jordon Rooney, told The Associated Press by phone. “We all remain optimistic,” Rooney said, adding that Hamlin’s family asked him not to go into further detail. The Bills said Hamlin was still in critical condition but displayed signs of improvement. They said he was expected to remain in intensive care. Rooney said Hamlin’s family was buoyed by the words and acts of kindness the second-year player has received since being transported by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. “They are elated right now,” Rooney said. “Damar is still their first concern. But for them, they always look at how they can turn a somewhat troubling situation into a good one. The bounce back from this, for him and his family is going to be incredible.” The family is quickly discovering how much of an impression Hamlin has made. New York Giants coach and former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll wore a cap with Hamlin’s No. 3 on it. Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips had dinner delivered to the hospital for Hamlin’s family and medical staff. “Damar was close to my locker and when I spent my time in Buffalo and helped out with my foundation because of his giving nature,” said Phillips, who spent his first four seasons with Buffalo before signing with Minnesota. “But I was a bit surprised at how many people who have zero ties and zero connections to him or to Buffalo, and how much they’re impacted because we are a brotherhood.” In Denver, rookie cornerback Damarri Mathis was too uncomfortable addressing the Broncos about Hamlin, his former University of Pittsburgh teammate. Interim coach Jerry Rosburg spoke up for him. “To Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, Damarri Mathis, your teammate, our teammate, told us all about you,” Rosburg said. “He told us of your high character and your friendliness. And he told us of your incredible ability to lead people to a loving commitment to others, community service and raising other people up. That’s a remarkable thing. So, today, Damar, we honor you.”
Grizz ride ‘main squeeze,’ ‘man in the paint’ and bench play past Sacramento by Terry Davis
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Take what Ja Morant said about Memphis center Steve Adams, and what Adams said about the Grizzlies’ All-Star guard, add the statement the team’s bench play made and you have the essence of how the Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings 118-108 at FedExForum on New Year’s Night. In the second game of a home back-to-back, the Grizzlies dominated the paint, scoring 64 points to the Kings’ 44. “The main squeeze is Ja (Morant). He is just tough to stop, mate,” said Adams, detailing why the Grizzlies tend to be so good at scorTerry ing in the paint. “So, getDavis ting him to stop going … you can’t say, ‘Stop scoring in the paint, dude.’ You can’t. They’re probably just trying to emphasize there, but it’s still a tough job because you got Ja just going. “He is ridiculous. He’s a tough dude, and we have constant movement too. All our offense is just for us to attack the paint. (Desmond Bane) is in there as a three-point threat. That means that there’s a hole in the defense that we can actually attack; so there’s no shift. It’s tough, man, especially when we are flowing. We’re a big transition team, even if it’s a slow transition. Those are just tough to defend.” Morant led the Grizzlies with 35 points (eight rebounds) in his second consecutive 30-pluspoint performance. Adams, who had 21 rebounds against New Orleans, tied a career-high with 23 more in the win over the Kings. He now is the only player in franchise history to haul in at least 20 rebounds in consecutive games. Adams also tied the club record for rebounds in any two-game span (44, last accomplished by Jonas Valančiūnas on Feb. 28-29, 2020). “I don’t think anybody else wants to go down there and battle. It’s just a man amongst boys at that point,” said Morant on the value of Adams. “He’s the man in the paint on both ends, whether it’s a defensive or offensive thing. He’s been very big time for us, back-to-back, 20-plus rebound games, which we know we need, and it’s something we have to do … he took it upon himself to go in and do that for us. … “We still have to help him on the board. We can’t just say, ‘Here, Stevo.’ We’re going to get a rebound, but we know he’s down there somewhere and eventually, he’ll get it.” The Kings are one of only three teams to defeat the Grizzlies at FedExForum this season. It was the third time the two teams have met this season, with the road team winning the two previous games. Memphis started very slow, with their first six points via the free-throw line. Jaren Jack-
Memphis center Steven Adams and super-guard Ja Morant were forces in the paint that the Sacramento Kings could not offset at the FedExForum on New Year’s night. (Photo: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender) son Jr. made the team’s first basket hitting from three-point range five minutes into the game. With the Kings up 16-9, the Grizzlies sprinted on an 11-0 run to forge ahead (20-16). Memphis led 27-26 at the end of the quarter. The Kings took their first lead (35-34) of the second quarter on a shot by Malik Monk. Coming off the bench, reserve point guard Tyus Jones hit back to three-pointers to put the Grizzlies ahead 46-40. The resurgent Kings (19-23) kept battling back and were within a point (5958) at the half. The Grizzlies controlled the third quarter, which ended with them ahead 91-87. Memphis surged early in the fourth quarter and led by as many as 14 points (113-99). The closest the Kings got from there was seven points (113106) with 2:51 left in the game. Memphis entered the game with its bench short. Bane, the Grizzlies’ starting shooting guard, was held out in light of his recent return from an extended injury absence. Brandon Clarke, a key bench contributor, also was a nogo, along with Ziaire Williams (sore knee.) It was Clarke’s first game missed this season. Tyus Jones led the bench effort with 18 points (eight assists). John Konchar, who has been playing better lately, had 12 points. “Next man up mentality,” said head coach Taylor Jenkins on the play of the bench. “Those
guys (are) seeking opportunities and want to get better on a night like tonight where we needed different guys to step up. They were big because we knew their bench was a big priority to their success, and our bench did a phenomenal job winning that battle.” The Grizzlies controlled the third quarter, which ended with them ahead 91-87. Memphis surged early in the fourth quarter and led by as many as 14 points (113-99). The closest the Kings got from there was seven points (113106) with 2:51 left in the game. The Kings were led by De’Aaron Fox with 19 points (six assists). Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 14 rebounds. Monk had 18 points off the bench. Memphis starters Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr. played solidly. Brooks had 15 points and, notably, only two fouls. Jackson had 14 points and 7 rebounds. Moving forward On Wednesday night (Jan. 4), the Grizzles beat/loss to (?) the Charlotte Hornets in the first game of a two-game, back-to-back road trip. The Orlando Magic await the Grizzlies on Thursday evening (Jan. 5). Memphis’ next home game is against the Utah Jazz on Sunday (Jan. 8).
Ja delivers joy right off of his feet
by Terry Davis
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Ja Morant’s new signature shoe – released on Christmas Day in San Francisco – will not be available to the general public until late in the Spring. Until a recent magnanimous move by the Grizzlies’ now-superstar guard, only Morant and his daughter, Karri, were known to have a pair. Morant has on his social media account that he will be giving away 12 pairs of shoes soon. On New Year’s Day, the number of people with a pair increased by one after the Memphis’ win over the Sacramento Kings at FedExForum. After Morant completed his postgame interview, he bent down, signed the shoes on his feet and slowly walked over to a young fan holding a sign that read, “Ready to Rock my JA 1’s #Summer2023.” Morant gave the pair of signed shoes to the young fan, who responded with tears. His mother was overheard: “Oh my God, what a great birthday present.”
Ja Morant’s gift of his new signature shoes made for a birthday this young fan never will forget. (Photo: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender) Morant then stood with the young fan as his mother took a picture. “I actually saw him during warmup, so I could tell how big of a fan he was. He was screaming my name, cheering for me making shots from warmup,” Morant said.
“I read the sign and, from then on, I knew who was getting a pair of shoes, and you can tell how much he wanted it and loved it. It’s a great thing to see. Leaves you speechless when you see somebody is that big a fan of you to burst out and cry. And then … it was even more crazy to notice his mom crying as well. I know that touched both of their hearts, and that’s something that I’ll never forget.” Many players are often criticized for not being respectful to the paying fans. Many players do a lot for fans when the cameras are not rolling. Earlier this summer when Morant was eating lunch, he left a large tip for one of the wait staff persons. That video went viral. On getting a signature shoe Morant said, “It means a lot. It is an honor. There are not many people that have their own signature shoe. “It was a long process. I enjoyed every bit of it. I can talk about it now. Everybody gets to see my shoe. It is something I have been working for. I am thankful to Nike for being a signature athlete.” Morant joins former NBA star and U of M coach Penny Hardaway as the only two Memphians with signature shoes.