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February 16 - 22, 2023
VOL. 72, No. 7
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COMMENTARY
Sunset Canopy anchors Tyre Nichols’ memory, family to a place he loved
by Karanja A. Ajanaku kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com
Sunsets captured by a photographer hint at the renewal inherent in sunrises and bring to mind the cycle of life of which both are points of reference. Circumstances so tragic and seared in minds worldwide have people embracing Memphis amateur photographer Tyre D. Nichols and pondering a question: “Where is the humanity?” There is no way for Nichols’ family to bypass waves of pain as they process his brutish beating by five now-former Memphis Police Department officers and the complicity of a still undetermined and/or
yet-not-publicly released number of others. His parents, RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, through their public demeanor, are pillars of strength for untold numbers of people, who never met their son but feel the pain of what happened to him on January 7th and his death three days later. On Friday (Feb. 10th), they dug deep into their reservoir of courage, resolve, grace and dignity to welcome the naming of the civic canopy at Tom Lee Park along the Mississippi River in honor of their sunset-loving, 29-year-old. The Hyde Family Foundation, sponsor of the canopy, and specifically Barbara and Pitt Hyde, made it happen. Barbara Hyde, chair and CEO of the Hyde Foundation, addressed her remarks
While thanking the Hyde Foundation for naming the Sunset Canopy in Tom Lee Park in honor of her son, Tyre D. Nichols, RowVaughn Wells showed the courage and grace that have moved so many. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanku/ The New Tri-State Defender) directly to the Wellses. “We recognize, Pitt and I, that we’ve never experienced the fear that Black parents must feel when their children leave their homes and they have to wonder will they return home safely. And we know, be-
yond a shadow of a doubt, that we cannot imagine the unspeakable pain of the loss of a son,” she said. “We also know we can stand with you,
SEE CANOPY ON PAGE 2
Expressions of Love
Gale Jones Carson and her partner of seven-plus years. (Courtesy photo)
Rose and Richard Flenorl (Courtesy photo)
Pastor Dianne and Bishop William Young (Courtesy photo)
Enjoying a ‘committed and loving relationship’ without the paper
Still making each other laugh 41 years later
The way we were: ‘You and me against the world’
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Second marriages are less likely than first marriages to end in divorce, according to the Marriage Foundation. However, many “committed and loving” couples after the age of 50 are choosing not to marry. For Gale Jones Carson and her partner, opting out of a second marriage is simple. “We are enjoying life as a couple,” said Carson. “At this point in my life, I know I will never marry again. I already did it once. (He) and I travel, spend quality time together, and love things just the way they are. We don’t feel that adding a piece of paper would enhance what we already have.” Carson, vice president of Community & External Affairs for
Valentine’s Day for The Flenorls started with a post on Facebook, stating, in part: “Richard proposed to me on Valentine’s Day…so this day has even greater significance…I can still make him laugh after 41 years together!” The assertion that laughter has been a special ingredient in the 41 years of marriage drew a flood of “likes” and affirmed comments to Rose Flenorl’s “Happy Valentine’s Day” wish to husband, Richard. Rose’s account of their love story over the years is intriguing. Just the mention of Richard’s name, and Rose cannot speak for laughing. Meeting her future husband for the very first time still is hilarious to Rose, manager of Global Citizenship-Signature Programs at FedEx, after all these years. Rose had recently graduated from the University of Mis-
For Pastor Dianne Young, Valentine’s Day was a day of quiet joy, filled with memories of her life with Bishop William Young. “We were married 46 years, and what a wonderful life we enjoyed together,” said Young. William went on to be with the Lord on Oct. 9, 2022 … So, Tuesday (Feb. 14) was my first Valentine Day without my husband. But love lives on when a sweetheart is gone. And they live on through memories. It was a good day.” Bishop William and Dianne Young led The Healing Center in Oakhaven together for more than four decades. Dr. Young’s legacy is his tireless work in connecting “The Black Church” with mental illness and suicide in the African-American community.
SEE COMMITMENT ON PAGE 3
SEE LAUGHTER ON PAGE 3
SEE MEMORIES ON PAGE 3
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
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The New Tri-State Defender
February 16 - 22, 2023
Page 2
NEWS
Pitt Hyde talks with Tyre Nichols’ parents, RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/ The New Tri-State Defender)
CANOPY
CONTINUED FROM FRONT shoulder to shoulder, as we work together toward a more loving and peaceful community and a more just future for Memphis and the nation. And we can do something now, right now, to honor the memory of Tyre.” Under the shell of the newly-named Sunset Canopy, RowVaughn Wells, with a voice now familiar for its softness and strength, greeted those at the riverside event that included the installation of the first wooden roof beam. “Good afternoon. On behalf of our family, we would like to thank the Hyde Foundation for making this possible. It’s an honor to have this dedicated to our son and his memory. And we appreciate all the love and support that we have received from our community and all over the world.” She spoke on from the heart. “I know my son, right now, is smiling down. … I know he is smiling down right now and he is just jumping up for joy. “I am going to miss him so much. ‘Ty’ was just a beautiful soul like I said,” her voice trembling as she shed tears. “Thank you all for being here to support our family. Thank you.” Earlier, before the presentation began, Barbara Hyde said her “mother’s heart” had been touched as she became aware of how Wells was navigating through the death of her son. The seed of the idea to transition from the Hyde Civic Canopy to Sunset Canopy in “memory of Tyre Nichols and to honor his family’s example of leadership, healing and love” began there. Carol Coletta, president and CEO of Memphis River Parks, the nonprofit that manages, maintains and operates five riverfront park districts, said the plan had been to announce the naming of Hyde Civic
Signing the first beam: Barbara Hyde, RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
Barbara Hyde. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprise/The New TriState Defender) Canopy – the central feature of a redeveloped Tom Lee Park – on Friday. “Barbara and Pitt Hyde were going to sign one of the beams and let it be lifted up. It would be a small event for them and the foundation. Barbara and Pitt, when this terrible tragedy happened, had been talking between themselves to decide what they might do, how they might honor not only Tyre but also the courage of his parents and how they responded in the worst moment of their lives. “And their call for peaceful protests, call for change and determination around change but do it peacefully, was such a graceful, courageous move on their part. It was their (the Hydes’) idea to take their name off the canopy and to recognize the beautiful photographs he (Tyre) made of the river and the peace he obviously found there.” Thus, the Sunset Canopy after “the beautiful photographs he had made of the sunsets on the river” and “in memory of Tyre Nichols and honoring his family for their love and leadership.” Having arrived a few moments earlier, the Hydes walked over to greet The
Carol Coletta shares details ahead of the ceremony to be held at the Sunset Canopy. (Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender) Wellses before both families took motorized carts down to the canopy construction site. Pitt Hyde fielded my question. “It was a privilege to be able to do it,” he said. “I think it is so fitting given his love for Shelby Farms and the riverfront. We are just delighted to be able to make this available.” Referring to his wife’s “mother’s heart” having been touched by RowVaughn Wells, he said, “We were all moved that in such a moment of tragedy, she was able to rise above and speak to all the citizens about peace, and demonstrate but do it peacefully and that that’s what her son would have wanted. It is so much to her credit and an inspiration to all of us.” Later at the canopy site, Bar-
bara Burress, who has been a constant voice among activists applying street-level pressure in pursuit of justice for Tyre Nichols and his family, along with systemic change, shared the event live on social media. “I am happy I was able to
make it,” she said. “I have a lot of family on my live that is watching and I wanted them to see this moment. They are out of town. I’m just glad of being a part of anything that the (Nichols) family has going to show my support. I am here to
the end.” Nichols’ family, their attorneys and others continue to credit activists for bringing what happened to him to light. “I guess I am just glad that we were caring enough to tell the story and that people were caring enough to listen and do something about it,” said Burress. After his wife had spoken, Rodney Wells said, “I would just like to say thank you everybody for this glorious dedication to our son. Like my wife said, he would love this. There is nothing he liked more than watching that sunset on the Mississippi. “He’s a California kid, so for him to come out here to Memphis and be embraced by all of you is a beautiful thing,” he said. “We just appreciate everything that is being done in the city and around the world. This is another historic day. We’ve had quite a few in the last few days. And for our family, I think this is the best one.”
The New Tri-State Defender
February 16 - 22, 2023
NEWS
Rose and Richard Flenorl (Courtesy photo)
LAUGHTER
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Gale Jones Carson and her partner of seven-plus years. (Courtesy photo)
COMMITMENT
CONTINUED FROM FRONT Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division, boasts a stellar career in government administration at a time when many older Americans have already retired. “I spend lots of time with my granddaughters, and they are priority right now,” said Carson. “(He) has other things that he likes to do as well. He is not one of those clingy individuals, who needs to be up under each other all the time, and neither am I. What we have now just works for us.” Carson was attending a workshop when a relationship just kind of fell in her lap. “We have been together for seven years now,” said Carson. “While I am no expert in relationships, I believe women, especially older women, tend to approach relationships incorrectly. We act like we need a man to make us complete. I don’t feel that way. Unless there are two whole people in a relationship, there will be some very serious issues.” Carson said she is not afraid to be alone. “I don’t think you can truly love someone else until you love yourself. Otherwise, if the goal is just to be in a relationship, it opens us up to all kinds of unhealthy interactions,” she said. “When we are desperate for companionship, this leads to unhealthy behavior, such as using online dating sites to find someone. I’m not afraid of being alone because I love Gale.” Carson said when she met her partner at the workshop, looking for a long-term relationship was not on her mind. “He had seen me before, but I had never noticed him. This particular day his group was leading the workshops I was attending.
“When he came over to speak, he told me he had seen me five years prior to that time. (He) asked if he could take me to lunch, and that’s how we started dating. “Then, he said, ‘I told myself I was going to date you.’ Five years later, that is exactly what happened. That was in 2015, seven years and counting.” Her partner is an outdoor enthusiast, treating Carson to scenic RV trips and motorcycle rides. “He has been riding motorcycles since he was a teenager,” said Carson. “He is super safe, and that’s why I am comfortable riding on the back of his bike.” Carson, a huge fan of social media, has a prominent footprint online. Her partner, on the other hand, tends to avoid an online presence. Yet, somehow, the two make the relationship work. “Maintaining a healthy, loving relationship involves respecting each others’ space,” said Carson. “Respect will cause a person to not cross boundaries and be open to communicate when there is a disagreement. Although I embrace social media, I am always mindful that he does not.” Whether with her partner or alone, Carson primarily is committed to pursuing activities and hobbies that make her happy. “Having love for yourself helps a person understand their self-worth. Everyone must do what is best for them,” she said. “It is OK to be in a loving, committed relationship without marriage being the end game.” (Note: With the goal of presenting a viewpoint of love relationships shared by many others, The New Tri-State Defender agreed not to directly identify Gale Jones Carson’s partner.)
Page 3
sissippi, also known as “Ole Miss.” She had landed an exceptional opportunity with The Commercial Appeal newspaper as an intern. It was her first stint as a news reporter, and Rose moved to Memphis, excited and hopeful about her new adventure. She was shopping in the old Goldsmith’s at Southland Mall when Richard spotted the tall beauty. “Richard said when he saw me, he tried to leave the store,” Rose managed to get out before succumbing to another fit of laughter. “But he came back. Richard walked up to me and said, ‘Don’t I know you?’ And I said, ‘No, you don’t.” More laughter follows. Rose thinks Richard just used the oldest line in dating history, but as it turns out, Richard really did know Rose, or at least, knew of her. “You’re Mr. Jackson’s daughter,” Richard said. “Yes, that’s right. I am Rose Jackson.” Rose grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where her father was a school principal, and her mother was a teacher. “I began to warm up to him when I realized he really did know who I was,” said Rose. “Many people knew me because of my parents. It turns out we grew up about 10 miles apart but had never met. Richard grew up in Duncan, Mississippi. We attended different schools.” The two began to date from that time on. Six months later, on Valentine’s Day in 1980, Richard asked Rose to be his wife. In June 1981, they married. And according to Rose, laughter has been a welcome constant in their relationship. “We continue to have fun and enjoy each other’s company,” said Rose. “Laughter has made our life together such a joy, but the most important element a couple needs to stay together is a strong faith in Jesus Christ. You need someone who will pray over you, pray for you, and pray with you.”
Growing together over the years has meant working through some tough times. But Rose said challenges in their relationship have made their bond stronger. “Certainly, you will have some disagreements in any relationship,” she said. “Sometimes, you just have to be quiet for a while. You know when your mother told you if you didn’t have anything nice to say not to say anything? Well, sometimes, during a disagreement, you need to just stop talking.” After a while, cooler heads prevail, and another lesson is learned. “Every disagreement doesn’t have to be an epic battle,” said Rose. “I think in a relationship, you have to pick and choose your battles. Be willing to let some things go.” Both Richard and Rose were given “Godly examples” of long marriages. “Richard’s parents were married for more than 70 years, and my parents were married for over 50 years,” said Rose. “We learned by example that love is a commitment. And marriage, for us, is a lifelong vow. The Lord makes that possible.” They still laugh about Richard’s cheesy icebreaker, “Don’t I know you?” “That still cracks me up,” said Rose. “I remember thinking, ‘That was the best he could do?’” Rose often thinks back on a comical moment and breaks into laughter. That makes Richard laugh, even before she tells him why she is laughing. It all has to do with continuing “to have fun and enjoy each other’s company.” In June, the couple will hit the 42nd anniversary mark. Although Richard is a bit more reserved than Rose, he’s clearly a cut-up. When asked if he had anything to add, Richard answered, “Yes, whatever she said.”
Pastor Dianne and Bishop William Young (Courtesy photo)
MEMORIES
CONTINUED FROM FRONT “Every couple can’t live and work together,” said Young. “We were among the fortunate ones. It is my joy and purpose to continue the work to which my husband was so passionately committed. Not only with our family (but) William left so much of himself because he touched so many lives. Of course, I miss his presence, but I keep him with me always, if that makes any sense.” “…And when one of us is gone And one of us is left to carry on Then remembering will have to do Our memories alone will get us through Think about the days of me and you You and me against the world” Young said as Dr. Young’s health worsened in his final days, the two of them would sing, “You and Me Against the World.” “We especially liked the part which says, ‘…And when one of us is gone, and one of us is left to carry on,” said Young. “William’s picture sits in the corner. When I feel like talking, I talk to him. I hummed and sang that song to him on Valentine’s Day.” Young’s “endless love” story began when she was working in a bank that William Young patronized. He had returned home from Vietnam, and had only recently accepted a call to the ministry. “I was at work one day, and William asked me to go out on a date,” said Young. “I told him I couldn’t go out with him because I had a boyfriend. Well, that was the end of that, I thought. “Sometime later, I can’t remember just how long, I was at work. I left my station for something, and I was walking by a desk when the phone rang. The Lord told me to pick it up. Would you believe that
was him?” Young said they laughed at that very first phone call throughout their marriage. “To this day, I still don’t know how he got that number,” said Young. “When I answered, he asked again, ‘I was calling to see if you would go out with me?’ I said, ‘Yes, I will.’ And that’s how we started dating. He was called to the ministry in 1974. We began dating in 1975.” It was at a family funeral that Dr. Young knew Dianne Marshall would be his partner for life. “His aunt died, and William put me on program to sing,” said Young. “William didn’t know if I could sing or not. He only knew I went to church at New Salem, Fourth Street. I guess he just took a chance and was hoping for the best. I did sing…and he told me, ‘Oh, that was heavenly.’” They were inseparable from that time forward. In their 35th anniversary year, the couple returned to New Salem Baptist Church to renew their vows. It was standing room only. “I wanted us to renew our vows because I didn’t know when the Lord would take him,” said Young. “He had health issues from his exposure to Agent Orange while he was over in Vietnam. We read up on the chemical together. So, we knew exactly what was going to happen.” After the wedding ceremony, the couple rode through the community to Stax Recording Studio in a horse-drawn carriage. “I can remember having so much fun,” said Young. People were stopping us and asking who we were. One man yelled, ‘Is that Obama?’ We laughed as William told him what the occasion was. We often relived that wonderful day of with great joy.” “And when one of us is gone/And one of us is left to carry on…” “My husband is with the Lord, completely whole and healed. All is well.”
PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, February 16 - 22, 2023, Page 4
‘Only in Mississippi’
White representatives vote to create white-appointed court system for Blackest city in America by Bobby Harrison and Adam Ganucheau Mississippi Today
A white supermajority of the Mississippi House voted after an intense, four-plus hour debate to create a separate court system and an expanded police force within the city of Jackson – the Blackest city in America – that would be appointed completely by white state officials. If House Bill 1020 becomes law later this session, the white chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court would appoint two judges to oversee a new district within the city – one that includes all of the city’s majority-white neighborhoods, among other areas. The white state attorney general would appoint four prosecutors, a court clerk, and four public defenders for the new district. The white state public safety commissioner would oversee an expanded Capitol Police force, run currently by a white chief. The appointments by state officials would occur in lieu of judges and prosecutors being elected by the local residents of Jackson and Hinds County – as is the case in every other municipality and county in the state. Mississippi’s capital city is 80 percent Black and home to a higher percentage of Black residents than any major American city. Mississippi’s Legislature is thoroughly controlled by white Republicans, who have redrawn districts over the past 30 years to ensure they can pass any bill without a single Democratic vote. Every legislative Republican is white, and most Democrats are Black. After thorough and passionate dissent from Black members of the House, the bill passed 76-38 Tuesday primarily along party lines. Two Black members of the House – Rep. Cedric Burnett, a Democrat from Tunica, and Angela Cockerham, an independent from Magnolia – voted for the measure. All but one lawmaker representing the city of Jackson – Rep. Shanda Yates, a white independent – opposed the bill. “Only in Mississippi would we have a bill like this … where we say solving the problem requires removing the vote from Black people,” Rep. Ed Blackmon, a Democrat from Canton, said while pleading with his colleagues to oppose the measure. For most of the debate, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, who has been publicly chided by the white Republicans who lead the Legislature, looked down on the House chamber from the gallery. Lumumba accused the Legislature earlier this year of practicing “plantation politics” in terms of its treatment of Jackson, and of the bill that passed Tuesday, he said: “It reminds me of apartheid.” Hinds County Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten, who served in the House before
In Mississippi, HB 1020 would create a new court district in part of the capital city of Jackson, with judges who would be appointed rather than elected. Black Democrats pushed back vociferously against the legislation, arguing it unconstitutionally strips voting rights from many residents in the majority-Black city. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba labeled Wednesday’s passage by the state House “probably round one of a 12-round fight.” (Screen capture) being elected judge and would be one of the existing judges to lose jurisdiction under this House proposal, also watched the debate. Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, who oversees the Capitol Police, watched a portion of the debate from the House gallery, chuckling at times when Democrats made impassioned points about the bill. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, the only statewide elected official who owns a house in Jackson, walked onto the House floor shortly before the final vote. Rep. Blackmon, a civil rights leader who has a decades-long history of championing voting issues, equated the current legislation to the Jim Crow-era 1890 Constitution that was written to strip voting rights from Black Mississippians. “We are doing exactly what they said they were doing back then: ‘Helping those people because they can’t govern themselves,’” Blackmon said from the floor. The bill was authored by Rep. Trey Lamar, a Republican whose hometown of Senatobia is 172 miles north of Jackson. It was sent to Lamar’s committee by Speaker Philip Gunn instead of a House Judiciary Committee, where similar legislation normally would be heard. “This bill is designed to make our capital city of Jackson, Mississippi, a safer place,” Lamar said, citing numerous news sources who have covered Jackson’s high crime rates. Dwelling on a long backlog of Hinds County court cases, Lamar said the bill was designed to “help not hinder the (Hinds County) court system.” “My constituents want to feel safe when they come here,” Lamar said, adding the capital city belonged to all the citizens of
the state. “Where I am coming from with this bill is to help the citizens of Jackson and Hinds County.” Many House members who represent Jackson on Tuesday said they were never consulted by House leadership about the Rep. Trey Lamar, bill. Several times R-Senatobia during the debate, they pointed out that Republican leaders have never proposed increasing the number of elected judges to address a backlog of cases or increasing state funding to assist an overloaded Jackson Police Department. In earlier sessions, the Legislature created the Capitol Complex Improvement District, which covers much of the downtown, including the state government office complex and other areas of Jackson. The bill would extend the existing district south to Highway 80, north to County Line Road, west to State Street and east to the Pearl River. Between 40,000 and 50,000 people live within the area. Opponents of the legislation, dozens of whom have protested at the Capitol several days this year, accused the authors of carving out mostly white, affluent areas of the city to be put in the new district. The bill would double the funding for the district to $20 million in order to increase the size of the existing Capitol Police force, which has received broad criticism from Jacksonians for shooting several people in recent months with little accountability.
The new court system laid out in House Bill 1020 is estimated to cost $1.6 million annually. Democratic members of the House said if they wanted to help with the crime problem, the Legislature could increase the number of elected judges in Hinds County. Blackmon said Hinds County was provided four judges in 1992 when a major redistricting occurred, and that number has not increased since then even as the caseload for the four judges has exploded. In addition, Blackmon said the number of assistant prosecuting attorneys could be increased within Hinds County. In Lamar’s bill, the prosecuting of cases within the district would be conducted by attorneys in the office of Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who is white. Blackmon said the bill was “about a land grab,” not about fighting crime. He said other municipalities in the state had higher crime rates than Jackson. Blackmon asked why the bill would give the appointed judges the authority to hear civil cases that had nothing to do with crime. “When Jackson becomes the No. 1 place for murder, we have a problem,” Lamar responded, highlighting the city’s long backlog of court cases. Several Democrats, during the debate, pointed out that the state of Mississippi’s crime lab has a lengthy backlog, as well, adding to the difficulty in closing cases in Hinds County. Lamar said the Mississippi Constitution gives the Legislature the authority to create “inferior courts,” as the Capitol Complex system would be. The decisions of the appointed judges can be appealed to Hinds County Circuit Court. Democrats offered seven amendments, including one to make the judges elected. All were defeated primarily along partisan and racial lines. “We are not incompetent,” said Rep. Chris Bell, D-Jackson. “Our judges are not incompetent.” An amendment offered by Rep. Cheikh Taylor, D-Starkville, to require the Capitol Police to wear body cameras was approved. Lamar voiced support for the amendment. Much of the debate centered around the issue of creating a court where the Black majority in Hinds County would not be allowed to vote on judges. One amendment that was defeated would require the appointed judges to come from Hinds County. Lamar said by allowing the judges to come from areas other than Hinds County would ensure “the best and brightest” could serve. Black legislators said the comment implied that the judges and other court staff could not be found within the Black majority population of Hinds County. When asked why he could not add more elected judges to Hinds County rather than appointing judges to the new district, Lamar said, “This is the bill that is before the body.”
“Only in Mississippi would we have a bill like this … where we say solving the problem requires removing the vote from Black people.” — Rep. Ed Blackmon
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The New Tri-State Defender
February 16 - 22, 2023
RELIGION
Page 5
A ‘Gospel Explosion’ at the U of M Ahead of the 2023 Black History Month Opening Ceremony set for Wednesday evening (Feb. 15), the Multicultural Affairs office at the University of Memphis sponsored “Gospel Explosion,” a Black History Month presentation last Friday (Feb. 10). With vocalist and songwriter Zacardi Cortez featured, “Gospel Explosion” was held at the University Center Theatre. The University of Memphis Black History Committee presented Minister Billy Rivers with the Excellence in Music Award. (Photos by Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
“Rebounding To Rebuild Gala Affair” … Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 1072 South Wellington, presented the inaugural Pastor and Wife’s Banquet in honor of Pastor Jerry D. Taylor and Charlena F. Taylor last Friday (Feb. 10). The keynote speaker was the Rev. Dr. Frank E. Ray Sr., pastor of New Salem Baptist Church and director of the Ministers’ Division of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. The Rev. Rickey L. Dugger Sr., president of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association, delivered remarks.
(Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
The New Tri-State Defender, February 16 - 22, 2023, Page 6
Ekpe Abioto brings ‘solid’ message with ‘Don’t Touch A Gun’ Musician-turned-author tackles gun safety in new children’s book
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to the New Tri-State Defender
A popular Memphis figure in children’s motivational workshops has dropped a colorful and creative book with an important message: “Don’t Touch A Gun.” Ekpe Abioto, a self-styled “musical philanthropist” has been drumming and chanting positive messages to children for nearly five decades. Abioto’s new book reinforces the message on his interactive music video of the same title. Abioto talked recently with The New TriState Defender about his new release. While the book is new, it grows out of Abioto’s workshop presentations for more than two decades. “Well, I first wrote the song, Don’t Touch A Gun, in 1997,” said Abioto. “I already had the performances that I do for children — “I Am A Genius and Buckle In,” which is a seatbelt safety song…” Darlene A Head Start interNewman im director suggested to Abioto that a song should be written for children about never touching a gun. Two months later, “Don’t Touch A Gun” was performed for young children in Abioto’s workshop. Twenty-five years later, the book heralds the same message. Bold, colorful illustrations contain the whimsical use of movement and abstract to pull young readers into the book. Memphis artist, Darlene Newman, collaborated with Abioto to bring his vision to fruition. “I was delighted to work on this children’s book,” said Newman. “I align myself with projects that align with my beliefs, stories which are positive and teach a valuable lesson. As you can see, the use of color is a dominant element. I often end up being surprised with the finished product.” Abioto appreciates Newman’s talent, which brings the message of the book to life, he said. “I probably went through five or six artists,” said Abioto. “Certain things just didn’t quite work out. There were just so many things when you’re working on something like that. Everything has to really come together.” Newman said she was pleased with how the copy and the illustrations were coordinated. “Ekpe had a lot of input with the illustrations,” said Newman. “It was important for the visuals to be pretty, pleasing to the eye. The great collaboration produced a wonderful children’s book.” On the cover, an intriguing scene confronts the reader, even before opening the book. There is a gun lying on the ground, and several boys are standing around it. A black cat is on high alert with its fur sticking up. There is even a young skateboarder, which pays homage to Tyre Nichols, Abioto said. (Nichols was fatally bludgeoned by Memphis police officers Jan. 7. He died Jan. 10. Six officers were fired because of the encounter; five have been charged with a series of related felonies, including second-degree murder.) “The whole idea (of the book) is that the boys there find this gun…and they are trying to figure out what they are going to do,” said Abioto. “So…you read through the book and find out how all of this develops and what happens as a result of them finding the gun. You always want to use a
Ekpe Abioto performed and shared nuggets of African history during the final day of Kwanzaa celebration at Abyssinian Baptist Church on Jan. 1, 2023. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)
Darlene Newman collaborated with Ekpe Abioto on the illustration for the cover of “Don’t Touch A Gun.” It features a kid on a skateboard, a salute to Tyre D. Nichols’ love of skateboarding. He started at age 6. (Photo: Myke Newman) catchy cover to try and get peoples’ attention.” Flip the book over and it reads, “Don’t
Touch A Gun.” No matter how you look at it, the message comes through loud and clear.
Abioto laments that the message of the book is as timely as it ever was, nearly three decades after the concept was encapsulated in a song. “Unfortunately, the message of my book is still relevant, and it seems to be getting worse,” said Abioto. “Not just more guns on the streets, but in the homes…and some parents are more vigilant than others about not having guns where children can get to them.” Abioto expressed regret that Memphis has a problem with children gaining access to guns and hurting themselves or someone else. “…Last year, 35 children were killed by guns in Memphis,” said Abioto. “And from what I read, a couple of hundred more were injured by guns. This is tragic, and we must be concerned about the problem.” Abioto’s organization, GENIUS UNLIMITED, specializes in children’s musical and cultural entertainment and promotes such principles as high self-esteem, creative thinking, conflict resolution, drug prevention, and gang awareness in a format he calls “motivational learning.” Abioto, more widely known as “Ekpe,” plays African instruments as his signature presentation, including the djimbe drum and the kalimba, or thumb piano. Ekpe, he said, means rock or stone, conveying solid. “Even though I’m strong and I believe in what I do, there’s this side of me, this balance, this harmonious side … to understand that we want to use the cultural arts.… You … can use that as a way to get to people’s hearts and heads.” Abioto means born special and divine. “I’m the last child born in my family. I’m the 14th child … seven girls and seven boys, and I’m number seven.” (This story reflects an interview by Karanja A. Ajanaku. Copies of the book are available by contacting Ekpe Abioto at 901-237-8359.)
“…Last year, 35 children were killed by guns in Memphis. And from what I read, a couple of hundred more were injured by guns. This is tragic, and we must be concerned about the problem.” — Ekpe Abioto
The New Tri-State Defender
February 16 - 22, 2023
Page 7
ENTERTAINMENT African American History Month Calendar
LeMoyne-Owen College
*Celebrate Black Artists – Romare Bearden 10 a.m.-noon Arrow Creative, 653 Philadelphia St.
Feb. 15-17 Black History Exhibit/Archives and Special Collections Hollis F. Price Library 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Feb. 24 Afro-Latino Night Fiesta! 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Memphis Music Room, 5770 Shelby Oaks Dr.
Feb. 17 Black Cinema Film Showcase Student Center Little Theater Film Shown All Day 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Feb. 25 *BLACKITY BLACK BLACK BLACK SHOWDOWN Noon – 4 p.m. L R Jackson Activity Center, 405 S. 25th St. West Memphis
Feb. 18 Black Cinema Feature Student Center Little Theater Honoring Dr. Willied W. Herenton, the first elected Black Mayor of Memphis “The United Front Documentary” 4 p.m. Feb. 20 Black History Week Kick-off Student Center
Celebration
Feb. 24 Collegiate 100 Pinning Ceremony Metropolitan Baptist Church 3 p.m. The University of Memphis Feb. 16-17 The Long Civil Rights Movement: From Slavery to the Present Thursday, Feb. 16 University Center Auditorium 7:30 am - 12:15 pm 2:15 pm - 5:45 pm Friday, Feb. 17 University Center Iris Room (Breakfast) - 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. University Center Auditorium 9:40 am - 1:15 pm Rose Theater - Memphis State Eight Paper Prize, 1:30 p.m.
The University of Memphis Tigers were on the court as the “Lift Every Voice and Sing” – often called the Black National Anthem – was sung before the recent Tulane game during a commemoration of Black History Month at FedExForum. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/ The New Tri-State Defender) Feb. 17 Graduate Association of African-American History Conference “Archives and Erasure: Searching for Justicd in the Lives of Enslaved Women” by Dr. Tamika Nunley, Cornell University Rose Theater, South Lobby 1:45-3:45 pm Southwest Community College Feb. 16 National Civil Rights Museum Visit 11 a.m. Feb. 19 Black History Month Lunch and Learn
Union Avenue Campus 11 a.m. Feb. 27-28 Black History Month Jeopardy Macon Campus 12 p.m. Memphis/Shelby Public Library
County
Feb. 16 Stop, Drop & Read Black American History 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Frayser Library – Children’s Area Feb. 18 Black History Month Family Storytime 11 a.m.- 11:45 a.m.
Feb. 16 Candid Conversations w/Entrepreneurs – Black History Month Edition 11 p.m. – 1 a.m. 1139 Brownlee Rd. Feb. 18 Our Stories Matter 6th Annual African American Read-In 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library,3030 Poplar Ave. Feb. 22 Black History Month Spotlight: Outer Space 4 p.m.-5 p.m. South Library – Main floor Feb. 24 Black History HBCU College Fair Raleigh Library – Meeting Room
*Celebrate Black Artists – Kehinde Wiley 10 a.m. – noon Arrow Creative, 653 Philadelphia St. Places to explore 1.The National Civil Rights Museum 2. Beale Street 3. Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum inside the historic Burkle Estate 4. The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange 5. Ernest Withers Collection Museum 6. Historic First Baptist Beale Street 7. MLK Reflection Park 8. I AM A MAN Plaza 9. The Blues Hall of Fame 10. Stax Museum of American Soul Music 11. W.C. Handy Home and Museum
COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, February 16 - 22, 2023, Page 8
IN POLITICS ’23
Sheriff Bonner moves to address residency issue by James Coleman
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
There is about to be a new sheriff in town, as Shelby County’s top lawman Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. closed on a house in Memphis proper. The Bonner family’s pending move from Bartlett is an effort to
scratch the residency requirement off the to-do list for the Memphis mayoral hopeful. Bonner is a declared candidate for Memphis mayor in the Oct. 5 city elections. Property records show Bonner and his wife, Audrey, purchased an East Memphis home near Humphreys Boulevard on Jan. 23. The pair of empty nesters are expected to move this month. He has been a Bartlett
homeowner since 1994. The residency requirement comes from a 1967 provision in the Memphis City Charter that mayoral candidates need to live in the city for five years ahead of Election Day. Although Bonner’s move falls short of the language of the Charter, the Memphis City Council’s attorney Allan Wade last fall wrote an opinion to Shelby County Election Com-
mission Administrator Linda Phillips that aspirants only needed to reside in the city by Election Day. “A person’s qualifications to serve as mayor or city council member are determined at the time he or she is elected ... Your office should not refuse a candidate’s petition based on questions about residency,” Wade’s letter stated. Wade’s opinion also benefits oth-
er familiar names who have thrown their hats in the mayoral-race ring, such former Memphis mayor Dr. Willie Herenton and former Shelby County Commissioner Van Jones. The former owned a home in Collierville until mid-2020, while Turner lived in an unincorporated part of the county while serving on the commission. Both are also Democrats.
Determined to be a Doctor Someday Returns to UTHSC Campus TSD Newsroom For the first time since the COVID pandemic, the Determined to be a Doctor Someday (DDS) program will be held at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center on Saturday, (February 18). The DDS program aims to expose children aged 2 to 5 and teens aged 14 to 18, primarily from urban settings in the MidSouth, to a variety of career options in the healthcare field in a transparent, fun, and engaging format. The 2023 cohort, consisting of 49 teenagers and 30 toddlers, will attend monthly sessions on the UTHSC campus through June, when white coats and awards will be presented to the active participants. The students at Saturday’s session will learn from several speakers, including Dr. Quodarrius Toney, a dentist in the Memphis area who was in the inaugural DDS cohort in 2012. The teens will also hear a panel discussion with UTHSC College of Dentistry alumni Dr. Brooke Dishmon and Dr. Derrick Payne about the trajectories of their careers and their lives as practicing dentists. The younger group will hear from pediatric dentist and UTHSC graduate Dr. Rodric Miller. Christina Rosenthal, DDS, MPH, a 2005 graduate of the UTHSC College of Dentistry, founded the program in 2011, with support from UTHSC, to address the need for more minority health care providers nationwide. “Representation is very, very important,” Dr. Rosenthal said. “It’s important that we have providers who look like the patients they serve in those health care spaces. Diversity makes us all better, and it makes us better Americans.” Dr. Rosenthal is a Memphis native, growing up in the Smokey City neighborhood in North Memphis. “Growing up in North Memphis, I didn’t have a doctor mentor that I could reach out to and learn from to know that becoming a dentist was even possible for me,” she said. “This program is not just about the handson activities related to the professions, it’s
With children of this age in mind, Dr. Christina Rosenthal said, “Representation is very, very important. … It’s important that we have providers who look like the patients they serve in those healthcare spaces. Diversity makes us all better, and it makes us better Americans.”
The DDS (Determined to be a Doctor Someday) program at UTHSC includes exposing children 2 to 5 to the healthcare field in engaging ways. (Photo: UTHSC) also meant to give the students hope and to put a face to that hope. They can see people from similar backgrounds as them who became doctors, so they know they can become a doctor, too.” Rosenthal notes several students who went on to have careers in the healthcare field, including Dr. Toney, Dr. Jasmine Jefferson, who recently graduated from the UTHSC College of Medicine, and here son, who was in the program’s first cohort and is now studying veterinarian medicine at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Even though some DDS students do not
end up in a healthcare profession, Rosenthal said the program has many benefits. “Becoming a doctor is not our only metric for success. One program benefit, for example, is standardized test preparation. We have had students get 27s, 29s, 32s on the ACT and get full-ride scholarships to college,” she said. While COVID had an impact on the program in the last few years, DDS was able to continue its mission by holding virtual programming. That brought new challenges to the organizers of the program, but it also had its benefits. For example, the stu-
dents were able to hear from more doctors from all around the world without anyone having to leave their homes. Still, Rosenthal said the in-person connections make the program better. “There’s just no replacement for that face-to-face, in-person engagement you can have when you’re physically in front of one another,” she said. “It helps to build social connection, which I think is lacking among a lot of teens and youth because of technological devices and social media, so I’m really excited to see how they interact with one another and how friendships are built in the program.” As the 2023 program gets underway, Rosenthal’s hopes for the future are growing. Not only is she planning to continue the program, she also dreams of expanding it in multiple ways. For example, developing programming for children between the ages of 6 and 13, providing resources and aid to the program’s graduates as they continue their education, and moving into other markets across the nation. Parents who want to get their child involved with Determined to be a Doctor Someday in the future can visit the DDS website or social media pages, or email beadoctorsomeday@gmail.com.
FedEx-HBCU Student Ambassador Program enters year two TSD Newsroom Students selected for the second cohort of the FedEx-HBCU Student Ambassador Program will be attending the 54th NAACP Image Awards next week in southern California and will have a career experience with FedEx team members who are part of the company’s Los Angeles Operations. FedEx announced this week that it had entered year two of its five-year commitment to help students at HBCUs prepare for the workforce As part of the five-year commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) announced in 2021, the program helps prepare HBCU students with opportunities to learn about the FedEx enterprise from executives, build leadership and career-ready skills, and participate in unique experiences, while also helping expand the company’s pipeline for diverse talent. New student participants were selected from the following eight HB-
CUs, which are regionally located within a short distance of a FedEx operating or distribution facility. The proximity allows students from within the community better opportunities to engage with FedEx team members and learn about the business. The HBCUs: · Jackson State University (Jackson, Miss.) · Tennessee State University (Nashville.) · LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis.) · Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena, Miss.) · Lane College (Jackson, Tenn.) · Paul Quinn College (Dallas.) · Miles College (Fairfield, Ala.) · Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, N.C.) The second cohort will kick off later this month with a career exposure and leadership day involving FedEx leadership. Additionally, the cohort will participate in experiences throughout the year to
“Through the second cohort of the FedExHBCU Student Ambassador Program, we’re preparing future leaders and the next generation for the workforce through tailored, hands-on programming.” — Jenny Robertson help prepare them for entry into the workforce, including sessions on interview training, mock interviews, and resume development. Freshman, sophomore and junior students were selected to participate based on good academic standing and career tracks aligned with FedEx career tracks such as: business, sales, IT/tech, logistics, marketing communications, accounting, and more. This year also comes with new
on-the-job learning and mentorship experiences for the ambassadors. “Through the second cohort of the FedEx-HBCU Student Ambassador Program, we’re preparing future leaders and the next generation for the workforce through tailored, hands-on programming,” said Jenny Robertson, Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing and Communications. “FedEx is proud to strengthen our ties with HBCUs across the country and provide students with the tools and resources to pursue fulfilling careers. Initiatives like this are important to building a diverse talent pipeline within FedEx.” The initial announcement took place last year at the New York Stock Exchange on the first day of Black History Month, February 1, 2022, with HBCU students, presidents, and FedEx executives in attendance to commemorate the occasion. (For more information visit FedExCares.com and view the HBCU Fact Sheet.)
Georgia King (Photo: Tyron P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
Services for “Mother King” Services have been set for veteran social justice champion Georgia King, also known as “Mother King” and Queen Akua. King, 82, died Feb. 7. Visitation is set for February 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Serenity Funeral Home, 1638 Sycamore View Road; and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Calvary Episcopal Church, 102 N 2nd Street. The homegoing service is February 17 at Calvary Episcopal Church.
The New Tri-State Defender
NEWS
February 16 - 22, 2023
Tennessee GOP introduces bills that would shake up Nashville by Kimberlee Kruesi The Associated Press
NASHVILLE – For years, Nashville leaders have watched Tennessee’s GOP-dominated Legislature repeatedly kneecap the liberal-leaning city’s ability to set its own minimum wage, regulate plastic bag use and place higher scrutiny on police officers. Yet that simmering tension has only escalated this year as Republican lawmakers have introduced a string of proposals that local officials warn would drastically upend Music City. It’s a common scenario felt in cities across the United States as statehouses flex their authority over municipalities, often while ignoring concerns raised by community members seeking to maintain local control. In Mississippi, Black lawmakers are denouncing a plan by the state’s majority-white and Republican-led Legislature to take over power from the capital city of Jackson. Over in Missouri, lawmakers are pursuing legislation to strip power from St. Louis’ prosecutor – a plan supporters say will address violent crime but is criticized by Black leaders. While the disputes in Mississippi and Missouri reflect racial tensions, the issue in Tennessee also involves conflicts in political ideology. The latest statehouse backlash stems back to last summer when Nashville’s metro council spiked a plan to bring the 2024 Republican National Convention to the city. Progressive leaders argued that hosting the massive Republican gathering would go against the city’s values. Others expressed hesitation toward tying up so many city resources – particularly for an event that residents largely wouldn’t attend. For GOP leaders, who had spent months lobbying and wooing party officials on why Music City should host the convention, Nashville had crossed yet another line. Warnings began trickling in that consequences were imminent. Nashville continued to attract political ire after council members began discussing whether to cover expenses for employees who cross state
lines to get an abortion. That’s because Tennessee’s abortion ban, which was enacted after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, currently has no explicit exemptions. Lawmakers have been swift in filing bills that offer retribution. Legislation has been introduced that would slash Nashville’s 40-member city council in half. A separate bill would give the state control of the governing board for the city’s airport, stadiums and other landmarks, while another proposal would remove Nashville’s ability to charge the tax that funds its convention center. Republicans then introduced a bill that would block cities from using public funds for reimbursing employees who travel to get an abortion. Advocates have raised alarm at lower-profile bills, such as the proposal to eliminate all police oversight boards in Tennessee. Nashville has one, and lawmakers already restricted it under a 2019 law. Some Republicans have proposed a bill that would rename a portion of Nashville Rep. John Lewis Way to Trump Boulevard. Specifically, the effort to cut Nashville’s abnormally large city council has sparked some of the fiercest concerns, as advocates warn that doing so will undo representation of minority communities and erode council members’ ability to address constituent needs. “When people reach out to us about trash pickup, about deaths in their family, about needing things and resources, these are individuals that we are in community with,” said Delishia Porterfield, who has served on Nashville’s council since 2019. “And when you raise the number of constituents that we as council members serve, not only do you make our jobs harder, but you make us further from the people that elected us to serve. Nashville has a combined city-county government and has operated under a 40-member council – significantly larger compared to some even more populous cities, including San Francisco – since 1963, when leaders were wrestling with consolidating the city with the surrounding county, and others were working to ensure Black leaders maintained a strong representation inside the southern city.
“When the city was consolidated, and the size increased to 40, there was a promise that we would have more Black representation,” said Democratic Rep. Harold Love Jr., whose father was among the first Black members to be elected to the newly expanded city council in 1963. “So for me, there are some deep historical ties to the size of metro council when it comes to Black and minority representation that I hope my colleagues would understand,” he said. To date, a quarter of the council’s seats are held by Black members, half are held by women and five identify as LGBTQ. Republican lawmakers, however, push back that they’re explicitly punishing Nashville. House Majority Leader William Lamberth has said that reducing Nashville’s city council would help make it more efficient. “There’s a reason why juries are just 12 folks, not 50. When you have a group of individuals trying to make a decision, quite frankly, it’s just less effective the more people that you have,” Lamberth said during a Tuesday hearing. “A smaller more cohesive group of individuals that fairly represent the diverse communities just work better.” House Speaker Cameron Sexton downplayed that the Legislature was “bigfooting” cities that dare to defy Republican policies and instead argued that lawmakers have an obligation to oversee local governments. “We want to make sure we don’t get progressiveness in these cities that will limit businesses from coming into the state,” he said. Over the years, Tennessee Republicans have limited Nashville and other cities’ ability to ban short-term rentals, including Airbnb. Lawmakers have barred cities from decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, which Nashville and Memphis had moved to do. And when Nashville’s district attorney said he would no longer bring those cases or prosecute certain GOP social issue laws, lawmakers passed a requirement that puts a special prosecutor in place when a district attorney has pledged not to charge anyone under a law as a whole.
CLASSIFIEDS
ELECTRICAL APPRENTICE OPPORTUNITIES The Memphis Electrical JATC is accepting applications for their electrical apprenticeship program on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at, 6211 Shelby Oaks Drive, Call 901.386.2301 or 1.877.263.5282 outside Shelby County for more information. EOO
NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Charles Moody Tax Parcel #: M0115000002900 Tax Sale #: 1801 Price Offered: $7100.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:30 p.m. on March 16, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: JRI, LLC Tax Parcel #: 07502800000310 Tax Sale #: 1402 Price Offered: $2000.00 Terms: Cash
Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 2:00 p.m. on March 16, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Phillips Bryant Trust Tax Parcel #: 03500500000230 Tax Sale #: 1702 Price Offered: $4000.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:00 p.m. on March 16, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received
Page 9
an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Magaly Cruz Tax Parcel #: 05204400000320 Tax Sale #: 1101 Price Offered: $1350.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on March 16, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Reginald Upshaw Tax Parcel #: 03108500000430 Tax Sale #: 1803 Price Offered: $3200.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on March 16, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400
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SPORTS
The New Tri-State Defender, February 16 - 22, 2023, Page 10
Memphis survives UCF, poor shooting in Senior Day thriller by Liaudwin Seaberry Jr.
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
With 27 seconds left in regulation, Memphis guard Emani Jefferson surveyed the floor, looking for a way to help the Tigers end a 43-43 struggle with UCF. She found an opening and when her layup didn’t go in, the Tigers regrouped for overtime. In OT, the Tigers were two points better than the Knights and emerged a 50-48 winner. Jefferson, the game’s leading scorer with 19 points and 11 rebounds, sparked a Memphis squad that was uneven throughout the game. Jamirah Shutes (12 points) was the only other Memphis player with double-digit points. Memphis (14-9, 6-4 AAC) celebrated the win on Senior Day, overcoming a poor shooting performance. The Tigers only connected on 15 of 79 shots (29 percent). UCF (11-11, 2-8) was equally inefficient, also shooting 29 percent (16 of 55). “We are going to figure it out, and hats off to Central Florida for making our looks at the basket tougher than normal,” said Memphis head coach Katrina Merriweather. The Tigers’ top three scorers –
Shutes, Madison Griggs (7 points), and Jefferson – shot 11 for 51. The Memphis defense slowed a UCF attack that averaged 60 points in the last 3 games. The Tigers turned 27 UCF turnovers into 18 points. Memphis turnovers (11) yielded four points. The Knights had the Tigers down by eight (15-7) after the first quarter. Memphis responded with a 17-4 spurt in the second quarter and went into halftime with a five-point lead. UCF flipped the script coming out of the break, outscoring the Tigers 15-9 to take a one-point lead into the fourth. The see-saw battle continued into the low-scoring fourth quarter, with Memphis one point better (10-9). The Tigers were strong on the boards, grabbing 58 (to UCF’s 52), including the 29 on the offensive end that led to 12 second-chance points. Memphis freshman Destiny Thomas posted 10 rebounds and sophomore forward Hannah Riddick had 9. Accounting for the offensive struggles, Merriweather was pleased with the Tigers’ overall effort. “I’ll attribute our offensive struggles to only having played two games in the last two weeks,” she said. “I think that the shots will fall as we
Memphis’ Emani Jefferson (5) gets an energetic lift from (l-r) Madison Griggs, Hannah Riddick, Destiny Thomas and Destyne Jackson. Jefferson led all scorers as the Tigers emerged from a see-saw battle with a 50-48 win in overtime against UCF at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. (Photo: University of Memphis Athletics) play in more games in the next few days. … “Also, our team knows that they will face adversity, but I like that they embraced it and didn’t run from it.”
Next Merriweather and the Tigers travel to Houston to take on the Cougars (10-13, 7-3) on Thursday, with tipoff set for 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Designed a Play4Kay game, the Memphis-UCF match-up raised money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.)
Memphis tempers Temple’s hot shooters with tenacity
by Terry Davis
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Maybe it was the early start on Super Bowl Sunday, but five and a half minutes into the Tigers’ game against Temple only 18 points had been scored and Memphis was up two. A low-scoring slugfest seemed to be on the horizon. That would not be the case, however. Memphis (196, 9-3 American Athletic Conference) rode the fire of DeAndre Williams, particularly in the first Terry half, and KendDavis ric Davis’ second-half scoring power to an 86-77 win, the second in a row. Strong shooting by the Owls kept them in the game in the first half and they only trailed by three (36-33) at the break. Temple (14-12, 8-5 AAC) shot 52 percent from the field in the opening half and 50 percent from three-point range. “You have to contest every shot. If they make them, they make them,” said Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway, giving his take on how to defend against a hot-shooting team. “They have three of the best shooters in the country. When they are shooting hot, you have to continue to make them take contested shots.” The Owls had 11 turnovers in the first half, which worked to Memphis’ good. The Tigers defeated Temple on a last-second shot by Davis in the first meeting this season in Philadelphia. After that loss, the Owls went on a five-game winning streak, including a win at first-place and highly-ranked Houston. “It was a great win against a really good team,” said Hardaway. “I am glad we came out with the victory.” For Memphis, Williams hit the first basket of the game. It was a three-pointer and an indicator that he would be a monster problem for Temple. He scored 17 points, along
U of M head coach Penny Hardaway
DeAndre Williams played what head coach Penny Hardaway called his “best overall game” of the year as the Tigers turned back the Owls 86-77) at FedExForum on Super Bowl Sunday. (Photos: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender) with 6 rebounds, in the first half. Although Davis had a meager three points before the break, the Tigers benefitted from two big three-pointers from Jayden Harden to keep pace with the Owls. It was all Memphis for the first 10 minutes of the second half, with the Tigers surging to an 18-point lead (67-49). But Temple was not done. The Owls went on a 12-0 run, cutting the lead to six (67-61) with 7:57 left in the game. At that point, the Owls were shooting 62 percent from the field and 60 percent from threepoint range. Memphis was up for the fight. The Tigers matched every Temple basket. The duo of Williams and Davis would not allow the Owls to get closer. Davis finished the game with 21 points and 4 assists. Williams had 26 points and 12 rebounds. It was Williams’ second-straight 26-point game. Hardaway and Elijah McCadden
Held in check in the first half, Kendric Davis’ second-half performance helped turn back the Owls. were Memphis’ other double-figure scorers (12 points). Memphis shot 56.7 percent (34/60) for the game, including 44 percent (8/18) from three-point range. Temple shot 51.9 percent (28/54) overall,
and 50 percent on threes (10/20). The Tigers forced 16 turnovers and scored 24 points off of them. Badly outrebounded by Temple in the teams’ first meeting, the Tigers won Sunday’s battle on the boards
(28-27). McCadden, who had seven rebounds, put his evolving role and journey with the Tigers in perspective. “It has been challenging,” he said. “I have grown a lot in the six months I have been here. Penny has coached me hard and has made me a really good player.” On the play of Williams, head coach Hardaway said, “Wonderful, his best overall game. He could have come out in the second half and try to go for 40. He only took two shots in the second half. He was very selfless in the second half. He was creating for the other guys.” Reflecting on his second half, Williams said, “I saw them playing me more aggressively and I saw my teammates cutting and I was hitting them. I was more of a threat on offense and it gave my teammates opportunities to make plays.” The narrative about Williams being unable to control his emotions, becoming a vulnerability for the Tigers and fouling out has given way to a new chapter. “The games I did foul out, I was emotional and I learned from that,” he said. “I have learned from my mistakes. Each game has helped me grow and to play the right way for us to win.” Memphis will host the University of Central Florida at FedExForum on Thursday. With the Knights headed for the Big 12 next season, it will be their last visit to Memphis as an AAC opponent. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+. The Knights defeated the Tigers in double overtime (107-104) in Orlando on Jan. 11.