The New Tri-State Defender - March 3-9, 2022

Get TSD news, online anytime at TSDMemphis.com

March 3 - 9, 2022

VOL. 71, No. 9

www.tsdmemphis.com

$1.00

Ja Morant adds considerably to the notoriety of the Spurs’ Jacob Poeltl, posterizing him on a dunk seen/ heard throughout the NBA at FedExForum on Monday night (Feb. 28).

(Photo: Warren Roseborough/ The New Tri-State Defender) Principal Candis Dawson leads the procession for The Excel Center graduation carrying a picture of a student who was killed earlier in the year. (Courtesy photos)

‘Little things’ warrant celebrations for adult students at The Excel Center

by Alliyah Jordan

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The Excel Center officials “let loose” while celebrating its recent graduating class in December.

“Graduation is the best time in the building because we let loose and truly celebrate,” said Excel Principal Candis Dawson. “One thing I tell the students is that I’m big on celebrating the little things because they’re more important than what people think.”

Dawson said the celebrations include class shirts, superlatives, dress-up days, senior head photos. If a student has a child enrolled in the school’s child-care center, the child also graduates with them.

The Excel Center is an adult education school in Memphis. It is a public contract school governed by Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Memphis-Shelby County residents 18 and over

Ja shows his mastery with a ‘50-piece’ outing

by Terry Davis

Gwendova Cooks leaves no doubt about how she feels as a graduate. can earn their high school diplomas.

The school also is operated under Goodwill Excel Center Mid-South as an extension of Memphis Goodwill.

After working at different high schools in Memphis, Dawson decided to work at Excel. “… I was able to connect with children in a traditional school setting … dealing with barriers that children aren’t able to deal with on their own,” said Dawson.

She continued, “So it clicked to me maybe it’s my time to work with adults to help break those generational curses; to help build those life skills that they’ll need, and then it’ll trickle down to the children…Holistically it will help the school system and the child … from repeating the cy-

SEE EXCEL ON PAGE 2

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

It was one of those, “Do you remember where you were nights?”

The night Memphis superstar point guard Ja Morant scored a career-high and franchise-record 52 points, setting franchise-high-scoring marks in back-to-back games.

This Monday evening had a sense of urgency before the first game-time ball bounced. The Grizzlies (4320) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (118-105) on the final night that the team was celebrating Black History Month. Add to the mix that the Spurs (24-38) were a whisker away from the post-season, play-in games to get into the Western Conference Playoffs; with Memphis less than two games out of second place.

“Got to be the 50-ball, first in history,” said Morant, responding to a

question about the most memorable part of the night for him.

“I am not going to lie; I don’t know if I can talk about that right now. My head is all over Terry the place.”

Davis He did talk, saying what Grizz fans pretty much expect of him after roof-raising performances.

“Thankful for my teammates, my coaches; they believe in me, have all the confidence in the world that I can go make the right play, and tonight they were looking for me. As I got close, they told me to go ahead and go get it.

SEE 50 ON PAGE 2

Activist Pamela Moses preparing for her next court bout after release

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The granting of a motion for a new trial on her voting fraud conviction turned last Friday (Feb. 25) into a good day for Memphis activist Pamela Moses.

Moses legal quagmire drew national attention after Memphis Criminal Court Judge W. Mark Ward sentenced her to six years and a day for illegally registering to vote.

Ward, on Feb. 25, summoned Mo-

ses back into court, only days after sentencing, to announce that he was granting the motion for a new trial filed on Moses’ behalf.

She was immediately released from custody and is spending time with her family and friends, according to activist and friend Brandy Price.

Supporters of the activist started a campaign on social media and email blitzes to “spread the news of this injustice.”

“Ward was embarrassed because of the national attention this case got,”

said Karen Spencer McGee, also known as “Mama Peaches.”

Supporters of Moses, who attended the trial, were critical of what they perceived as the judge’s harsh language toward Moses.

When Moses’ predicament was aired nationwide on the “Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC, her case was compared with those of three Trump supporters, all white males, who intentionally cast a vote for a dead relative.

Maddow said six years for an Afri-

can-American woman who “made a mistake” and little to no consequences for the white men proves that “there are two systems of justice.”

McGee said Pamela Moses has been Moses advised by her attorney not to make any comments to the media.

“Pamela is just trying to get back to living her life before this nightmare started for her.”

Moses, 44, was convicted in November of 2021of illegally registering to vote in 2019. From the outset, she has contended she thought her probation was over and that she could apply to have her voting rights reinstated.

An officer certified that Moses had completed probation, thus, signing

SEE MOSES ON PAGE 2

Get TSD News, announcements and special promotions in your email! visit TSDMemphis.com to sign up, or scan the code at right!

The New Tri-State Defender

March 3 - 9, 2022

Page 2

NEWS

50

CONTINUED FROM FRONT “That is why you all saw, every time they got the ball, they were looking for 12 (Morant’s jersey number). Credit goes to them, without them I would not be in the position I was in, they allow me to get to my spots with how well they can score the ball.”

Morant and the Grizzlies are living up to the moniker of the most entertaining team in the NBA. With 1:38 left in the first half, Morant soared on a monstrous dunk that propelled Memphis’ bench players out of their seats and immediately rocketed his slam to the top rung of the league conversation about the best dunk of the year.

With 0.4 seconds left in the first half, Morant would top his earlier dunk highlight. After a made free throw by the Spurs, Memphis center Steven Adams threw a quarterback-like pass 94 feet. On the receiving end, Morant snared the missile and fired it in for a quarter-ending shot as his momentum landed him into the arms of awaiting teammates.

“I mean, just phenomenal force,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins of Morant’s performance. “He set a tone with the pace that he was playing with, pushing the ball in transition, obviously getting downhill, finishing. … But, then also I thought he did a really good job defensively. We, as a team, kind of struggled at times against the number one pace team in the league. But, trying to get to the next play, I thought Ja did a really good job.”

The Grizzlies’ locker room celebration mirrored the oncourt jubilation immediately after the game.

“You saw how the team celebrated on the court after that unbelievable Steven (Adams) to Ja connection at halftime,” said Jenkins. “More of the same, just a little bit more water now involved in the locker room. So, (Ja) got the game ball. Teammates were hooting and hollering for him. Smiles everywhere.

A big win for the team….”

MOSES

CONTINUED FROM FRONT her papers so she could register to vote.

Moses, who is known as a “Black Lives Matter” activist, has been called a political prisoner by her supporters.

Brandy Price said she hurried to court on Feb. 25 to witness the proceeding.

“We called and sent emails and texts, but it was really the power of prayer that got Pamela free,” said Price. “We didn’t know what was going

Ja Morant, who has ruled the paint throughout the season, slices to the hoop for two of his record-setting 52 points. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender) Ja’s night was another team win, with winning plays and contributions from multiple sources. Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds.

“At this point, he (Morant) is at the rim every night, but tonight he was just in attack mode from the jump,” Melton said. “He got whatever he wanted, and it looked easy out there. It was just special to just be out there, and watch that.

The way he did it, and missing eight shots, crazy.”

Fielding a recurring postgame question – Favorite play between Morant’s dunk or buzzer beater? – Melton said, “That dunk was crazy. The way he rose, stared at him, then dunked it. That dunk was crazy for sure.”

As for the buzzer-beater, Melton said, “Steve-O (Steven Adams), he does that (the fullcourt pass) all the time,” with the result this time being “Ja catching it, and throwing it up, almost behind the backboard.

It felt like a game-winner; it felt like we won the game right there.

“That is just the excitement we have for each other.

We love to see those types of plays, and we love to see that type of energy flow through the team.”

With a sense of light-heartedness, Spurs legendary coach Gregg Popovich said, “I’m a little angry. I feel like if we held him in the 40s we would’ve been OK. But no, he’s a beautiful player, what else can you say about him. … “(S)ome say it’s because he’s athletic or a freak of nature because he’s so fast. He’s got a lot of athletic ability, but so do a lot of those guys.

“He makes decisions, he knows what’s going on the court, he passes the basketball and he inherently understands space; he knows where he is on the court and where everybody else is and when he has a lane, he knows what to do. You combine that cerebral part of his game with the athleticism and you have a special kid.”

on. When Ward said he was granting her a new trial and she could go free, she just fell on her knees and was shouting, ‘Hallelujah.’ It was very emotional.”

Price said she knew “something was up” when it was noted that Moses’ attorney was not present in the courtroom.

“When someone said her attorney was not there, Ward said, ‘There is no need,” Price said. “I really wondered what was happening at that point.”

Price said the whole proceeding was hard to believe because just a few days earlier,

that same judge had sentenced her to six years.

“She (Moses) was just shouting and praising God,” said Price. “We were, too.

Everyone was so happy. We really worked to get the news out about her mistreatment by this judge, but we just never dreamed that Pamela would be out just like that.”

Price continued, “More than work, we prayed. I mean, we prayed, and we knew she was praying, too. Prayer is the most powerful weapon.”

Moses will remain free as a new trial date is set.

Next up: The Grizzlies travel to Boston for a Thursday night (March 3) matchup with the Celtics before returning to face the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. at FedExForum on Saturday (March 5).

Charles Kilpatrick’s graduation day from The Excel Center was also his son’s graduation day from the Little Learner Academy. (Courtesy photo)

EXCEL

CONTINUED FROM FRONT cle.”

Eighty-five percent of Excel graduates are currently employed or furthering their education.

In an Excel video, a former student talks about dropping out of school after becoming a teen mom, after struggling to find a balance between school and motherhood. After working various jobs, nothing seemed to work out to make ends meet for her family.

The light clicked for her when she applied for a job at Methodist University Hospital, where she was required to show her high school diploma.

After hearing about the Excel Center through a friend, Yolanda decided to go back to school to receive her diploma.

When she first walked into Excel, she immediately fell in love with the environment, especially with the staff, lauding the treatment and help she received. She eventually graduated with a 3.4 GPA. She later enrolled at Southwest Tennessee Community College, where she majored in criminal justice.

The Excel Centers classes Monday through Thursday are one hour and 20 minutes.

Classes on Friday are held from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The teachers can also meet with students individually, as well.

The school also offers a drop-in center, a program that offers free daycare for up to 4 hours while the student is in class.

Students are offered free MATA bus passes if they need help with transportation.

There are life coaches to help students with personal issues and give advice.

According to the Excel website, Students can also earn free college credit and industry-recognized certifications while earning their diplomas.

Every service provided by the Excel Center including books, classes, learning materials, child-care center, and support services are free for the students.

The New Tri-State Defender

March 3 - 9, 2022

NEWS

Page 3

Women’s History Month: Women in Business – Part 1

by Candace A. Gray

AT A GLANCE

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

As Women’s History Month kicks off, The New Tri-State Defender begins its monthlong series highlighting some of the women who have blazed trails in fields that have not always been so welcoming to African-American women. One such field is that of law.

The first African-American female lawyer was Charlotte E. Ray, who gained admission to the Washington, D.C. bar in 1872.

She applied to Howard University Law School as “C.E. Ray” and caused a commotion when they discovered she was a woman. Her practice ended quickly due to sex and racial prejudice, and she moved to New York in the 1880s to become a teacher.

Memphis’ own, Tressa Johnson, knows the struggles of being an African-American female lawyer, where only nearly five percent of the entire profession is Black – and less than a percentage point of those are women. She doesn’t let that discourage her from fighting hard for her clients.

Business Name: Johnson & Bennett, PLLC Owners’ Names: Tressa V. Johnson, Esq. and Kristy L. Bennett, Esq. business, file the origination paperwork, annual report with the state, Employer Identification Number with the IRS and a host of other important documents and initial filings.

Rule number one after all of that: Do not give signing authority to anyone, and only go into a business with a partner that you trust with your money.

You should know every dollar that goes in and out of the business. Read (and understand) everything you sign. I know it is lawyer-ish to say that, but people sign a lot of things they do not understand.

TSD: If you weren’t doing this, what else would you be doing?

TJ: I would be an artist for Disney.

TSD: What type of business do you own?

Tressa Johnson: We own an employment and civil rights law firm.

TSD: How long have you been practicing law and in business for yourself?

TJ: I have been practicing law for almost 15 years and am licensed in Tennessee and Mississippi. The firm has been in operation for the past six years.

TSD: How many employees do you have?

TJ: 4 TSD: What was your inspiration for going into law and starting your business?

TJ: My eldest son was my inspiration for going to law school. As a single mother, I had a hard time making ends meet in Washington, D.C. However, I knew I would have to reach to be able to do more for him. He was my driving force to become an attorney. The purpose behind starting the firm was to create a supportive work environment that served the community.

TSD: What challenges have you faced as a lawyer and business owner, and how have you risen above them?

TJ: The presumption of incompetence is the biggest challenge being a Black female lawyer.

Some think I am the receptionist, the paralegal, or the court reporter. The presumption is great, but it is removed after the legal arguments have been made and the writing has taken place.

I rise above by doing the work – and I do it well. People tend to not see race or sex when they are forced to focus on the law. I know the same presumption is made in the boardroom, the operating room and the classroom.

Many think there must be a male in the background making all the decisions and bankrolling the firm; surely there’s more than two females working the firm. (Not at this one.)

TSD: As a wife and a mother, and now a business owner, how do you balance it all?

TJ: I really don’t know if I do a really good job of balancing. My foundation is my husband, so I am a wife first. Our marriage makes our four children strong. The support of my husband allows me to do all of the things that bring me joy. He is the person that I bounce ideas off of, and we make game plans for our children.

Tressa V. Johnson, Esq., and her law firm partner, Kristy L. Bennett, Esq., celebrate the firm’s first anniversary. (Courtesy photo) Our children are also supportive and interested in my work. They understand mediation, depositions and court, and ask “How was work?” or “How did mediation turn out?”

They also know Momma will stop the world to see them perform at school or attend their games. My family is first, then the clients and then the firm. Every day I pray for each in that order.

I do have to find a space and a place to center myself. Wearing multiple hats, you feel as though you give until you are empty, but you have to fill up your well. My center is my faith.

It gives me a tremendous amount of peace and grounds me in a storm.

TSD: What impact does your business have or do you hope your business will have in the future? On your family, community, etc.

TJ: I want to have the best civil rights and employment law firm in the country. I want to be able to provide a place of solace after experiencing terrible acts of discrimination.

We currently have offices in Tennessee and Mississippi. I hope to have offices across the South, in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

We go up against Goliaths every day. Potential clients wonder if we can handle cases against fortune 500 companies. We answer with a resounding YES! This is what we do and who we are. We represent David.

TSD: What advice do you have for someone who might be interested in entering your field?

TJ: Do it! You got this. It will take a tremendous amount of work, but always bet on yourself.

We’re Known By the Money you Keep!

Special purchases with unbeatable low prices. get it now!

Fresh Ground Beef 73% Lean Sold in 5 Lb. Chub at $12.95 Ea.

2

$ 59

Lb.

Plus 10% Added at Checkout

When they’re gone, they’re gone.

Smithfififield Smith eld

Thick Cut Bacon 40 Oz. Pkg. Hickory Smoked

8

$ 48

Plus 10% Added at Checkout

Eckrich

Smoked Sausage 13-14 Oz. Pkg., Selected Varieties

2

$ 47

Plus 10% Added at Checkout

PRICES VALID MARCH 2-15, 2022 MIDTOWN: WHITEHAVEN: SOUTH MEMPHIS: 1620 Madison Ave. 4049 Elvis Presley Blvd.

1977 S. Third St. See the full Memphis Cash Saver grocery ad at memphiscashsaver.com

TSD: What advice do you have for other Black business owner hopefuls?

TJ: I would tell Black business hopefuls to: One, get a good CPA. Establish a good relationship with a small bank and create a strong business plan. I like small banks because they know and care about you.

Second, get an attorney to help establish your

TSD: What professional accomplishment or major milestone are you most proud of?

TJ: My biggest professional accomplishment is when my partner and I secured a million-dollar verdict for our client. The jury asked if they could give more than a million, and I put my head down on the table.

On reconsideration, the judge stated that he would have given the million. I knew in that moment that, with hard work, we could help our community in profound ways.

TSD: Anything else you’d like to add?

TJ: I would like to thank The (New) Tri-State Defender for such an honor. It is a blessing to do what you love and be surrounded by people you love. If you ever need us, you can reach Johnson & Bennett at our Memphis office: 901402-6601; or Jackson, MS office: 769-2070599.Visit www.myjbfirm.com.

PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, March 3 - 9, 2022, Page 4

Historic first for the nation reverberates in Memphis Local praise, perspectives about nomination of African-American woman for Supreme Court

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The Honorable Judge Bernice Donald couples the distinction of multiple firsts in the judicial profession with the self-embraced responsibility to “work hard to make sure that there is a second, and a third and, a fourth and so on.”

The trailblazing U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit Court Judge detailed that commitment last fall during an interview in which talked about her upcoming transition into semi-retirement, opening a path for President Joe Biden to nominate her successor.

On Friday, Biden stepped toward a historic first, choosing federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy to result from the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer this coming summer. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Jackson, 51, would be the first African-American woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.

“This is an exciting moment in the history of our country,” said Donald, the first African-American female judge in Tennessee, the first African-American woman appointed to serve as a U.S. bankruptcy judge (and the only African American in the South), and the first African-American woman to serve on the U.S. Sixth Circuit bench.

Her elation at Biden’s nomination of Jackson was echoed in various quarters of Memphis by numerous African-American women with overlapping perspectives.

“It is a culminating moment in the fight, the struggle, the perseverance of our ancestors,” continued Donald. “I have always believed in the diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, and experience. We have never had an African-American woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.”

It is, said Donald, “a moment like that moment when Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra Day O’Connor (the first female associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, (19812006)….We all have blind spots. We read the law, but we inter- Judge Jayne R. Chandler pret it through the lens of our experiences.…”

Like Donald, Jackson is a former public defender.

“Ketanji Brown Jackson has represented poor people who had no voice. She understands what it is like for the full weight of the state to be against them, and the importance of advocacy in that moment…a well-rounded judicial figure who is the personification of ‘justice for all.’”

Memphis Municipal Court Judge Jayne R. Chandler said news that a Black woman would be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court reminded her of a “book that should have been written long ago – like the book

In brief remarks, U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson thanked President Biden, saying she was “humbled by the extraordinary honor of this nomination.” She highlighted her family’s first-hand experience with the entirety of the legal system, as judges and lawyers, an uncle who was Miami’s police chief and another who was imprisoned on drug charges. (Screen capture) of Constance Baker Motley, the first African-American woman to become a federal judge in 1966….

“I thought of a book that sat on the shelf for so long, waiting to be written, now overdue….For so long, we State Sen. have not been a part of Raumesh ‘We the People.’ But Akbari with the confirmation of a Black woman to the Supreme Court, that book, long overdue, can now be written.”

State Sen. Raumesh Akbari said, “As a Black woman and a lawyer, the nomination of Judge Jackson Tami is a dream realized. I Sawyer remember visiting the U.S. Supreme Court in eighth grade and thinking about the possibility of someone who looks like me sitting on the nation’s high court. Today, President Biden has brought us one step closer to making it happen.”

Acknowledging Jackson as a “preeminently qualified jurist with nearly unmatched professional credentials,” Akbari said, “I encourage (Tennessee GOP) Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty Patrice to support a fair and Robinson timely hearing and vote for her historic confirmation.”

Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer said, “As a Black woman, this is a historical moment to witness. As an elected Black woman, the moment is especially profound. We continue Deidre to push against glass Malone ceilings that society raises higher and rebuilds every time we rise.”

Jackson is going to face a tough confirmation process, said Sawyer.

“Because she is a Black woman they will doubt her qualifications, they will question

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit Court Judge Bernice Donald was saluted in January during the third annual Luminary Awards, which commemorated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday by recognizing civil rights trailblazers.

(Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson: “If I’m fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution, and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded, will inspire future generations of Americans.” (Screen capture) her durability, they will complain about her hair, and they will decry affirmative action and identity politics.

“They will ignore the fact that American laws subjugate Black women’s existence at every turn and having a representative on the highest court in the land is the least of all we deserve.”

Memphis City Councilmember Patrice Jordan Robinson hailed Jackson’s nomination as “a very important and righteous moment in the history of our country. I encourage and support the appointment of the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. We deserve to be represented with the opportunity, the voice, and the position of justice.”

Memphis businesswoman Deidre Malone, the first African-American chairwoman of the Shelby County Commission and the first woman to win a major party nomination for Shelby County mayor, said President Biden made an excellent choice with the nomination of Jackson.

“I was thrilled by the nomination and proud that as an African-American woman, we will now have someone who understands not just women’s issues, but Barbara African-American Cooper women’s issues and the African-American family. I hope women of color see this nomination as advancement for us all.”

State Rep. Barbara Cooper, who is 92, said, “In my lifetime, in my lifetime, I shall witness a Black woman sitting on the U.S. Supreme Court.”

It is, said Cooper, an extraordinary moment “like the election of President Barak Obama, a moment like the swearing-in of Vice-President Kamala Harris. It is a moment we are all being blessed to witness in our lifetime. At age 92, I am excited. I am delighted.”

Information • Inspiration • Elevation Published by Best Media Properties, Inc.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mailed subscriptions to The New Tri-State Defender are available upon request. One Year, $35.00; Two Years, $60.00. Request can be emailed to subscriptions@tsdmemphis.com or mailed to Subscriptions, The New TriState Defender, 1509 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104. Delivery may take one week.

President Calvin Anderson Associate Publisher/ Executive Editor Karanja A. Ajanaku

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The New Tri-State Defender, 1509 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Any and all inquiries may be submitted in writing by calling (901) 523-1818 or by email.

TELEPHONE: Editorial, administration, display advertising, classified advertising: (901) 523-1818. Fax: (901) 578-5037.

The New Tri-State Defender (USPS 780-220) is published weekly by Best Media Properties, Inc., 1509 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104. Second-class postage paid in Memphis, TN.

The New Tri-State Defender

March 3 - 9, 2022

Page 5

RELIGION FROM THE PULPIT

When you are following God and life goes off the rails, when you have done what you believed God told you to do and you end up in the wilderness of life, faith opens your ears of faith to hear as the All seeing God speaks to the eyes of faith saying ‘watch now’.

Good enough to receive by the Rev. Dr. Rosalyn R. Nichols

AT A GLANCE

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

With the close of Black History Month and as we usher in Lent, I find myself asking, what is faith really? What does faith look like really?

Is faith found in the hull of the Clotilda when 110 captured Africans arrived at Mobile Bay in 1859?

Is faith what 4 million enslaved people had when the Emancipation Proclamation freed them on paper with no 40 acres nor a mule in 1863?

These are not rhetorical questions.

They are questions surfacing when Jesus says to his own people, “Truly, I tell you, no prophet is accepted in their hometown.

But I speak truth to you all, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were closed three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land.

“Yet, Elijah was sent to none of them, rather to Zarephath in Sidon, to a widow woman.”

It was by faith that Prophet Elijah was waging a powerful climate control and environmental justice fight connecting the power of the divine with the power of economics.

Still, his faith did not exclude him from the effects of his work.

His power was not enough to get him a get out of drought pass, where everyone struggled, and he did not ...

Elijah’s journey reminds us that you can follow God and be on subsidies. You can follow God and still need Meals on Wings.

You can follow God and the brook of provision will dry up.

In those moments, how you respond demonstrates your faith …

Faith is found in what you are willing to watch now.

When you are following God and life goes off the rails, when you have done what you believed God told you to do and you end up in the wilderness of life, faith opens your ears of faith to hear as the All-seeing God speaks to the eyes of faith saying, ‘watch now.’

Our American cultural definition of faith equals success without struggle. Our superficial image of faith suggests that when you are doing what God has called you to do, things will go easy for you ...

We never anticipate that in our lowest, the one who will meet our need will be a widow woman commanded to provide for

Sermon title: Good Enough to Receive Scripture: Luke 4.23-26 & 1st Kings 17.8-16 Translations from A Women’s Lectionary For the Whole Church by Dr. Wilda C. Gafney

The Rev. Dr. Rosalyn R. Nichols, organizing pastor of Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). (Courtesy photo) you!

Our faith is not prepared to see how a widow woman preparing the last meal for herself and her son before they die can help the man or woman of God? Why would God command a woman and her fatherless son to share their meager

means to help this man powerful enough to predict climate control?

We would not be surprised nor fault her if she dismissed the prophet to attend to herself and her son. We would understand if the widow woman told God NO! Real faith calls you to watch now even

when your eyes are clouded by the vicissitudes and challenges of life.

This is the faith we see as both the prophet and the widow woman must trust God. The powerful and the powerless will both be transformed by God, as they watch now together!

This I believe is at the heart of the matter as Jesus reminds the people of their own faith saying to them, “And you all will say, the things we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown.”

They want him to do for them what he did for others, to which Jesus says, “Truly, I tell you, no prophet is accepted in their hometown. But I speak truth to you all, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were closed three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land.

Yet, Elijah was sent to none of them, rather to Zarephath in Sidon, to a widow woman.

Jesus pushes them to see that faith is not transactional. Faith is not based upon tradition, nor rituals, nor expectations of quid pro quo …

No! Jesus pushes his own people to see that faith is about shared and sharing a mutual trust in God by faith to do exceedingly abundantly.

Faith becomes transformational when it is shared and co-dependent. Faith becomes transformational when there is equity; when we recognize that the only difference between the haves and the have nots is faith …

Without that, Jesus says even a prophet will fail. Without the mutuality of faith, a people, even your hometown crew, will suffer …

Be the change you want to see. Have enough faith to share and enough to receive like a widow woman no one would have expected to have had enough faith to save herself, her son and the prophet of God ...

(The Rev. Dr. Rosalyn R. Nichols, organizing pastor of Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The New Tri-State Defender

March 3 - 9, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

Page 6

LENS & LINES

The LeMoyne-Owen Choir sings the National Anthem on HBCU night ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies’ win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday (Feb. 28).

HBCU salute adds to roof-raising energy on historic night at FedExForum TSD Newsroom On the last day of African-American History Month and on the evening that Memphis Grizzlies’ All-Star Ja Morant turned in a super-sized franchise

performance with a record 52-point masterpiece at FedExForum, a salute to HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) added to the roof-raising energy. (Photos: Warren Roseborough/The New TriState Defender)

Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of the South Band performing at halftime for HBCU night.

An enduring image from HBCU Night at FedExForum on Monday night.

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, March 3 - 9, 2022, Page 7

Orange Mound history chronicled in new independent movie release Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Nuclear physicist Lila B. Smith is a 1953 graduate of Melrose High School. (Courtesy photo)

Anthony “Amp” Elmore (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender Archives) Pro basketball great Dennis Rodman’s father, Philander Rodman, was a 1959 graduate of Melrose High School. (Courtesy photo) likes of Count Basie, B.B. King, Lionel Hampton and W.C. Handy.

Pro basketball great Dennis Rodman’s father was a 1959 graduate of Melrose High School.

Smokey Robinson’s mother lived in Orange Mound, and Robinson always called Orange Mound “home” in many interviews.

Orange Mound produced a nuclear physicist, Lila B. Smith, a Melrose graduate in the class of 1953. She still lives in Orange Mound and captures the spotlight in the documentary.

“There is so much proud history, so many people who made an indelible mark on the world were born and educated right here in Orange Mound,” Elmore said.

The history of Melrose High School and the Orange Mound community have long been subjects of research for Mitchell

“I called Sports Illustrated to verify what I thought was true,” said Mitchell. “Melrose High School has more NFL players than any other high school in America. That’s something to cheer about.”

Elmore documents in the film that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. loved coming to Orange Mound to be with “his people.”

Elmore has encouraged Memphis-Shelby County Schools to plan viewing events around the documentary when it is released online.

Mitchell says the film will provide enjoyment for the whole family.

“This is our story, but in a sense, it is everyone’s story,” said Mitchell. “I call it ‘a sacred place’ because it took the blood, sweat, and tears of our people to build Orange Mound. It is our land. It is our legacy. We want the world to know our story.”

Elmore scheduled a limited release of the film on Wednesday (March 2) at the Malco Theatre on the Square in Overton Square.

School board’s Stephanie Love recovering from stroke TSD Newsroom Memphis Shelby County Schools Board Member Stephanie Love has been recuperating in a local hospital this week after suffering a stroke on Saturday (February 26), according to a family spokesperson.

“She is undergoing a range of tests and treatment. We ask the community to keep her and her family uplifted in prayer during this trying time,” family spokesman Tania Combs-Starks said in a distributed statement.

“She is looking forStephanie ward to getting back to Love work representing the students, parents and schools in her district as soon as possible,” wrote Combs-Starks.

“Respect for the privacy of the family is appreciated.”

Combs-Starks shared that more information will be provided as it becomes available.

A veteran board member, Love last was elected in 2020. She has represented the Frayser, Raleigh and North Shelby County communities since 2014.

WLOK’s 45th anniversary speaks to the value of continuity

by Art Gilliam

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

“Orange Mound: A Black Lecture Critical Race Theory” is a historical documentary telling the stories of trailblazers and pioneers who have become a part of the community’s legend.

“Orange Mound has five Super Bowl rings, one Oscar, three Olympic gold medals, three blues legends, and more than 60 gold records,” said Anthony “Amp” Elmore, creator of the three-hour documentary.

“Orange Mound is the most American community in America.”

Elmore looks forward to a worldwide release on YouTube, slated for March 26, 7 p.m. Central Time (8 p.m. Eastern).

Watch parties and other group events surrounding the release already are being planned.

“I believe it’s important for our children to know the history of Orange Mound, especially our young people still living here,” said LaTonia Blankenship, Orange Mound Collaborative Group chair. “I am hosting an inter-generational watch party so that our seniors can enjoy seeing the community in its heyday while our children listen to their stories.”

Self-proclaimed Orange Mound resident Mary Mitchell calls Orange Mound “a sacred place.” She saw first-hand so many people and places viewers should expect to see in Elmore’s production.

“It was like heaven growing up here,” said Mitchell. “Today, I still live in our family’s home house. We moved to Orange Mound when I was 5 years old, and I’m 85 now. I tried living in other places, but it just didn’t work. I still have our family’s relics from slavery.”

Mitchell hopes the film will harken to a time when Orange Mound was “a city unto itself.”

“Everything was right here,” she said. “We had our school, a movie theatre, doctors, attorneys, stores, beauty shops, restaurants, barbershops. It was wonderful.

“There was the spirit of the village, and village elders and grandmothers guided the children. Integration made us think the white man’s ice was colder than our own. And today, we’re still looking for that ice that’s colder than 32 degrees.”

According to Elmore, the film explores at length how a teenage Elvis Presley spent time in Orange Mound, “just hanging out with the guys,” especially when African-American entertainers were in town. Presley came to see the

COMMENTARY

Empowering young boys...

Curtis Weathers (left), founder/director of The Brotherhood B2M, was on point as the group’s Black History Month Tour wound its way to the historic Four Way Restaurant at 988 Mississippi Blvd. last Saturday (Feb. 26). (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

“An Evening With”...

Actress, singer and television personality Keke Palmer (right) was the main attraction during the University of Memphis Black History Month presentation of “An Evening with Keke Palmer,” which was sponsored by Multicultural Affairs and the Student Activity Council at Michael D. Rose Theatre last Friday (Feb. 25).

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/ The New Tri-State Defender)

WLOK Radio celebrated its 45th anniversary of Black ownership on Feb.17.

In 1977, 1340 WLOK-AM became the first Black-owned radio station in Memphis.

In 2017 WLOK added an FM affiliate at 104.9 FM, which WLOK promotes as FM 105.

It is the only Blackowned radio station in Memphis on the FM radio dial.

Some aspects of the history of WLOK can be seen April 1 on WKNO-TV. At 7:30 p.m. there will be a 30-minute interview, “ConArt Gilliam, versations with Art President, Gilliam,” which was re- WLOK Radio corded during WLOK’s 40th anniversary of Black ownership.

That interview will be followed at 8 p.m. by a one-hour documentary “The WLOK Story,” which was done on WLOK’S 25th anniversary of Black ownership.

The documentary examines the importance of WLOK as the first Black-owned radio station in Memphis and includes several interviews with people who are icons in Memphis history.

It is vitally important to our community for Black businesses to be able to have continuity over the years. We are pleased that WLOK has reached this milestone.

We salute other Black businesses, such as: ■ Four Way Restaurant, which recently observed its 75th anniversary.

■ The New Tri-State Defender, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary throughout this year.

■ The Southern Heritage Classic, which will have its 33rd anniversary in September.

■ Africa in April, which will celebrate its 35th anniversary in April.

We celebrate them, as well as the other Black businesses that have achieved historical milestones in their longevity in serving our community.

We at WLOK especially are proud of the fact that every day for 24 hours each day, we are available to our community as a resource for information and entertainment.

Media is vital to any community. Media provides the means by which we can communicate with each other and to know factually what is happening around us.

Indeed, in other countries, when we see a takeover of government, one of the first things the new government shuts down or controls is the radio station and other media outlets.

Those who control the media control the message to which citizens are exposed.

That is why Black ownership is important, not only to simply present relevant messages, but also to make sure that what is presented is accurate so that people can rely on it.

Business becomes the economic engine of communities.

In the Black community, longstanding businesses are relatively few and we are sustained to a great extent by our churches.

Indeed, several of our Memphis churches have been around since the days of slavery.

They formed a backbone that has been our refuge for centuries.

Business development is more recent and can become an important complement to what our religious community has done for generations.

It is in this context that the 45th anniversary of WLOK, and the milestone anniversaries achieved by other Black business, are so important.

We at WLOK give special thanks to all who have listened to WLOK over the decades. They have sustained us and made us who we are.

Finally, a radio station is really the sum of the thousands of people who listen each day and are informed and entertained.

WLOK is blessed to reach its 45th anniversary and we are especially thankful for all those who have made it possible.

(Art Gilliam is president of WLOK Radio.)

The New Tri-State Defender

NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce.

County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids.

There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to Log-In at top of page • Click “Supplier Login” • Under “Mercury Version”, click ‘Not Registered’ • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246.

If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid.

SEALED BID DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2022 AT 2:00 PM CST “MICROFILM TO DIGITAL MACHINES (SB-I000718) (MC# 650) By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce.

County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids.

There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to Log-In at top of page • Click “Supplier Login” • Under “Mercury Version”, click ‘Not Registered’ • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246.

If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid.

SEALED BID DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2022 AT 2:00 PM CST “DIGITAL TO MICROFILM MACHINES” (SB-I000719) (MC# 651) By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce.

County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids.

There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to Log-In at top of page • Click “Supplier Login” • Under “Mercury Version”, click ‘Not Registered’ • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit

March 3 - 9, 2022

CLASSIFIEDS

• Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246.

If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid.

SEALED BID DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2022 AT 2:00 PM CST “HIGH SPEED, HIGH VOLUME SCANNER” (SB-I000721) (MC# 653) By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY LEGAL NOTICE Request for Statement of Qualifications MSCAA Project Number 21-1453-00 Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Facility Site Preparation – Design Statements of Qualifications for Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Facility Site Preparation – Design will be received by the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (Authority), Procurement Department, 4150 Louis Carruthers Road, Memphis, TN 38118, until 2:00 PM local time on Thursday, March 31, 2022.

The Information Package, including a description of the scope of services, the selection criteria, the required response format, and additional instructions may be obtained on the Authority’s website at www.flymemphis.com on or after February 24, 2022.

All Respondents are responsible for checking the Authority’s website up to the submission deadline for any updates, addenda or additional information. The successful Respondent must meet the DBE participation goal for this project, which is 0%, and sign a contract with the Authority that includes Federal Aviation Administration provisions, if applicable, regarding Buy American Preference, Foreign Trade Restriction, Davis-Bacon, Affirmative Action, Debarment and Suspension, and Drug-Free Workplace, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this request in whole or in part; to waive any informalities, technicalities, or omissions related to this request; and to reject responses on any other basis authorized by the Authority’s purchasing policies. This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.

The Authority is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, disability, marital status, military service, or sexual orientation in its hiring and employment practices and in the admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services, and activities.

By order of: Scott A. Brockman, A.A.E. President and CEO Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority

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: James E. Bernard, Sr. Tax Parcel #: 04303000000220 Tax Sale #: 1101 Price Offered: $975.00 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 April 5, 2022, 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: Omar Baraias Tax Parcel #: 07005200000130 Tax Sale #: 1701 Price Offered: $6000.00 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 April 5, 2022, 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: Thomas Pinkney Tax Parcel #: 03505000000150 Tax Sale #: 704 Price Offered: $1125.00 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 April 5, 2022, 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: Thomas Pinkney Tax Parcel #: 03505200000080 Tax Sale #: 704 Price Offered: $1013.00 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 9:30 a.m. on April 1, 2022, 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: Thomas Pinkney Tax Parcel #: 03505400000230 Tax Sale #: 704 Price Offered: $1013.00 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 9:00 a.m. on April 1, 2022, 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: Thomas Pinkney Tax Parcel #: 05000400000060 Tax Sale #: 1002 Price Offered: $1013.00 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 2:30 p.m. on April 1, 2022, 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: Thomas Pinkney Tax Parcel #: 05001100000230 Tax Sale #: 803 Price Offered: $1125.00 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 April 1, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall

If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246.

If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid.

SEALED BID DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2022 AT 2:00 PM CST “A0 PLANETARY SCANNER” (SB-I000720) (MC# 652) By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce.

County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids.

There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to Log-In at top of page • Click “Supplier Login” • Under “Mercury Version”, click ‘Not Registered’

Page 8

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: Angee Milena Rodriguez Luque Tax Parcel #: 04802600000150 Tax Sale #: 1102 Price Offered: $2200.00 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 April 1, 2022, 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: Angee Milena Rodriguez Luque Tax Parcel #: 04707000000450 Tax Sale #: 1604 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 10:30 a.m. on April 1, 2022, 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: Deidra Hunt Tax Parcel #: 04104200000120 Tax Sale #: 704 Price Offered: $675.00 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 April 1, 2022, 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: Sylvester Greene Tax Parcel #: 04104200000100 Tax Sale #: 505 Price Offered: $1012.50 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 April 5, 2022, 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: Sylvester Greene Tax Parcel #: 04104700000070 Tax Sale #: 703 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 9:30 a.m. on April 5, 2022, 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: Slyvester Greene Tax Parcel #: 04105200001980 Tax Sale #: 703 Price Offered: $1012.50 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 9:00 a.m. on April 5, 2022, 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

We’re Known By the Money you Keep!

Special purchases with unbeatable low prices.

SALES PERSON The New Tri-State Defender is looking for a few sales consultants to sell print ads, digital ads and event sponsorships for the organization.

The candidate should have some sales experience. The position will offer both commission and base pay. For serious inquiries email your resume to administration@ tsdmemphis.com.

get it now!

When they’re gone, they’re gone.

Sea Best

Savannah Classics

Selected Varieties, 2 Lb. Pkg.

Selected Varieties, 16 Oz. Bag

Plus 10% Added at Checkout

Swai Fillets

7

$ 95

Reser’s

Hushpuppies

Homestyle Coleslaw

$ 98

1

$ 63

Plus 10% Added at Checkout

Plus 10% Added at Checkout

Round Top, 16 Oz.

3

PRICES VALID MARCH 2-15, 2022 MIDTOWN: WHITEHAVEN: SOUTH MEMPHIS: 1620 Madison Ave. 4049 Elvis Presley Blvd.

1977 S. Third St. See the full Memphis Cash Saver grocery ad at memphiscashsaver.com

SPORTS The New Tri-State Defender, March 3 - 9, 2022, Page 9

Tigers staying on the winning track with tunnel vision

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The mind games between the University of Memphis Tigers and the Wichita State Shockers started long before tipoff last Sunday afternoon at FedExForum.

The Shockers were not too happy with how the Tigers were dancing after slamming the Shockers with an 18-point loss on New Year’s Day. The Tigers got wind of the talk that the Shockers were doing before the rematch and made it a point to start the game with a dialed-in mentality. They jumped out to a 12-2 lead, rolled on to a 20-9 advantage and left the Shockers on the receiving in of an 81-57 shellacking.

Recalling the Tigers’ New Year’s Day win, Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway said the rematch was a big game against a team that he expected to be fired up.

“That team has a lot of pride.

They won our league last year,” said Hardaway. (The guys stepped in a big way the way we needed it.”

Hardaway’s Tigers (17-9, 11-5 American Athletic Conference) now have defeated Wichita State (13-12, 4-9 AAC) seven out of the last eight times. Memphis held the AAC preseason player of the year candidate, Tyson Etienne, to only 11 points. He entered the game averaging 15-plus points a game.

Growing the lead to as much as 28 points, the Tigers were in control throughout. They were led by Landers Nolley II’s season-high 22 points. He connected on 4-of-6 from deep and 7-of-10 shots from

Terry Davis

the field overall. Jalen Duren added 13 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals, and Lester Quinones and DeAndre Williams had 12 points

apiece.

Nolley has been rolling since the Houston game.

“He is a basketball player.

When he is happy, he plays at a very high level. That is where I want him to stay,” said Hardaway.

“We are getting him shots and he is knocking down shots. His hard work while having a leg injury is big for us.”

“I contribute it to my teammates,” said Nolley, responding to why he is playing well. “When they see me make a couple of shots, they continue to find me and keep me going. If it costs us a couple of turnovers, they try to continue to find me.”

Nolley started hot against Wichita State.

“When you start a game off like that, it gives you an amazing amount of confidence,” he said.

After a monster February in which they only lost one game, the Tigers have resuscitated their NCAA Tournament aspirations.

“I feel like this year we do control our own destiny,” said Nolley.

“If we lose, we know it is on us.

If we win it is for the better cause.

This year versus last year is big, because we know if we win out, we are going to the tournament.

If we lose, we know it is on us.”

Jalen Duren of the Tigers goes to the floor to grab this loose ball as teammate Landers Nolley II lets him know what he thinks about his hustle play. (Photos: Warren Roseborough/ The New Tri-State Defender)

Coach Penny Hardaway has the Tigers’ attention during this time out.

Landers Nolley II of the Tigers drives by Morris Udeze of Wichita State.

Lester Quinones had a similar thought pattern.

“We are not focused on looking at others to lose,” said Quinones.

“We are just depending on us to win. If we win the games we are supposed to win, there should be nothing to worry about.”

From his vantage point, Hardaway believes the Tigers have done enough to make the NCAA Tournament, specifically beating Houston at Houston and defeating Alabama and Virginia Tech.

“We have done some things some other teams have not. If you go by our quad one wins, we have done better than some other teams,” said Hardaway. “We lost some games very early in the season. Since we have had our whole team back, we have only lost one game.”

Next up for the Tigers is a Thursday (March 3) matchup on the road against the AAC’s lastplace team, South Florida. The goal, said Hardaway, is for the Tigers to keep their “tunnel vision and not trying to overlook anyone.

South Florida played a great game last night (Feb. 26) at Cincinnati.

They are capable at home.

“We know it is not going to be easy. We are in a position to take care of ourselves. We have to stay strong and together.”

Tigers seek a winning note to up-and-down season

by Liaudwin Seaberry Jr.

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The 2021-22 regular season has been a roller coaster for the University of Memphis’ Women’s Basketball team.

The team’s growing pains have been evident throughout the course of the season. Lately, those struggles have risen to the forefront. The Tigers have lost five of their last six games in conference play.

With only one remaining contest in the regular season, the Tigers’ focus remains on concluding the campaign on a high note.

Nestled in eighth place in the American Athletic Conference, the Tigers (14-11, 5-9 AAC) enter Wednesday’s (March 2) contest against East Carolina (11-16, 4-10 AAC) at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse with revenge in mind.

The team suffered an embarrassing 68-38 defeat at the hands of ECU last month, which is expected to provide the fuel needed for the team to per-

form at a high level.

“This one is on me, and I cannot say that we were prepared for this game tonight, and that is entirely on me,” Tigers head coach Katrina Merriweather said after the Feb.13 loss to ECU. In that game, the Tigers failed to score above 40 points for the first time all season. Senior center Tyler Frierson led the team in scoring with seven points and star guards Madison Griggs, Jamirah Shutes and Madison Griggs shot a combined 2 of 22 from the field.

The team converted just 27 percent of their shots and turned the ball over a whopping 30 times.

This disappointing effort from the Tigers caused a typically positive-minded Merriweather to ponder if she had properly prepared her team for the pesky Pirates.

“I am pretty puzzled, disappointed and embarrassed,” Merriweather added. “We must move past this game and get ready for the next one by watching film and seeing what

went right and what went wrong for us.”

After the ECU defeat, Memphis secured an 18-point win over SMU three days later, and senior guard Shutes was relieved to finally capture another American Athletic Conference victory.

“We had to be better defensively, and we were, and I feel we moved the ball pretty well and that’s what led to the victory,” Shutes said after the Feb. 16 win.

That game represented the last win Memphis garnered in conference play, with the Tigers losing two straight games entering the regular season finale.

While the team suffered losses to Wichita State on Senior Night and a 13-point setback at the hands of the University of Cincinnati, those results matter little now.

At this point, it’s all about making sure the team is ready for an East Carolina team that will be loaded with confidence.

“We need to improve our shot se-

Memphis’ Emani Jefferson, Madison Griggs and Alana Davis help up Maya Stovall after a hard foul in the Tigers’ game against Temple. (Photo: University of Memphis Instagram) lection, ball movement, and come out with renewed energy,” Merriweather said when asked what is needed to defeat East Carolina.

“That includes rebounding the ball, passing up good shots for better shots … I think those things will be emphasized the most during that game.”

The plan continues to remain the

same for Merriweather’s Tigers – get better every day and take it one game at a time.

With only two guaranteed games left in the season – the regular-season finale and first round of the American Athletic Conference tournament – Memphis must be sure not to look past a team that humiliated them earlier this season.

The New Tri-State Defender

March 3 - 9, 2022

OK, who celebrates fifth?

Bank of America does.

For the fifth year in a row, Bank of America has shared the success of our company with our employees with a valuable Sharing Success compensation award.

To recognize the team’s hard work, this award is over and above regular compensation. And this year, we’re proud to commemorate a first — nearly all these awards are in Bank of America stock.

That means 97% of our employees shared $1 billion worth of Bank of America stock this year, above regular compensation.

“I want to thank my teammates here in Memphis for their continued hard work and dedication.

While other banks might make awards like ours every once in a while, I’m proud to work for an organization that has rewarded our employees for five years in a row.

Because success is better when it’s shared.”

Trevia Chatman President, Bank of America Memphis

What would you like the power to do?® Learn more about how we’re investing in our local communities at bankofamerica.com/memphis

Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Credit Opportunity Lender © 2022 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Page 10