The New Tri-State Defender - March 31-April 6, 2022 by The Tri-State Defender

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March 31 - April 6, 2022

VOL. 71, No. 13

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Memphians on hand to witness ‘historic civil rights moment’ by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

“This was moment (was) 130 years in the making. Ida B. Wells did what she could, and then she passed on the baton to those who came after her. And this was our moment, and what a moment it was.” Civil rights activist Dr. L. LaSimba Gray said this is what he felt Tuesday (March 29) as he stood on the White House grounds and watched as President Joe Biden signed into federal law the Emmett Till Antilynching Act.

As the President signed the law, he said, “Well, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I just signed into law the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crime for the first time in American history.” Gray reflected, “So many leaders that had been in the fight a long time were there. Al Sharpton and others …” Civil rights activists and elected officials from all over the country joined Biden. White House invitations went out all over the country. Many accepted the invitation. Shelby

County Commissioner Eddie Jones also was present. “I recognized so many of my colleagues from all over the country,” Jones said. “I am president of the National Association of Black County Officials. It was great sharing that once-in-a-lifetime moment. “Before March 29, bills like this had been voted down every time. After more than 200 attempts, lynching is declared by (federal) law to be a hate crime. Being there was awesome.” Vice President Kamala Harris also

President Joe Biden signs into law the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crime for the first time in American history. (Courtesy photo) gave remarks, lauding the importance of the “Black Press” when she began to speak about Ida B. Wells. “The courageous nature of that in-

credible American … to help open

SEE TILL ON PAGE 2

St. Jude accepts 2nd group of Ukrainian cancer patients by Adrian Sainz Associated Press

Mason, Tennessee Vice Mayor Virginia Rivers (left) lines up with supporters determined to help the majority-African-American town address its debt and keep its charter. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

Mason, Tenn.’s budget woes prompt NAACP fundraiser

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Mason, Tennessee Vice Mayor Virginia Rivers issued a call to action Saturday (March 26) to prevent the state’s takeover of the city’s finances. “Coming in and taking over our finances is payback for us not giving up our charter,” Rivers told a group of community activists. “State Comptroller Jason Mumpower came in and demanded that we give up our city charter or ‘face a state takeover.’ But I told

him we were going to fight.” The state is scheduled to seize control of the town’s spending Monday (April 4), Rivers said. “They’re setting us up for failure. First, Mumpower said we had to make an immediate payment of $22,134. Then, he brought it down to $9,654. If we don’t come up with the money, the state says we can’t pay our bills, Rivers said. She added, “Any spending over $100 must be approved. We’re running a city, and we will need permission to spend $100.”

The vice mayor said the Tennessee State Conference NAACP is aiding the Tipton County town’s fight for autonomy. The conference, Rivers said, will launch a fundraiser Saturday (April 2) during a noon rally for the town in front of City Hall. “Mason does matter,” said Tennessee State Conference NAACP President Gloria Sweet-Love. “People care about what’s happening in Mason, not only across the state, but around the country.

SEE MASON ON PAGE 2

A second group of Ukrainian children with cancer has arrived for treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee after they fled with their families from the war in their home country, the hospital said. Four children ages 6 to 17 and their 11 family members arrived at the Memphis hospital Monday after a flight on a chartered medical transport airplane departing from Poland, St. Jude said in a news release late Tuesday. The group joins four other children and their 14 family members who arrived at St. Jude on March 21 after making an arduous journey from Ukraine to a clinic in Poland before they were flown to the U.S. First lady Jill Biden visited the first group of arrivals at the hospital Friday. St. Jude said it was helping families settle into their new surroundings with the help of Ukrainian interpreters. Using mostly private donations, families with children who are patients at St. Jude never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing and food. In addition to receiving cancer treatment, the children also will get therapy to address their psychological, emotional and cultural needs, the hospital said. “Our ongoing commitment is to ensure children with cancer around the globe have access to lifesaving care,” St. Jude president and CEO James Downing said. “We are honored to help these families resume their children’s lifesaving treatment in safety.” Downing said St. Jude’s Global Alliance of 182 institutions in 61 countries “is uniquely positioned to bring the world together to address this humanitarian tragedy.”

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The New Tri-State Defender

March 31 - April 6, 2022

Page 2

NEWS

Part of the team that joined Mason, Tennessee Vice Mayor Virginia last Saturday in door-to-door canvassing to inform Mason residents about state actions. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

MASON

CONTINUED FROM FRONT “We’ve been talking to our chapter presidents, and we want to raise the remaining $250,000 needed to pay off Mason’s deficit. The link to donate will be available at the rally.” Mumpower dialed back the state’s demand for the charter and told the Tennessee State Caucus of Black Legislators last week in a ZOOM meeting that “a plan had been worked out, and roughly $250,000 from American Rescue Plan dollars” would be given to Mason toward the more than $500,000 deficit. “What Mumpower did not count on was the national media reporting what white Republicans were doing to a little, Black town in Tennessee,” said Rivers. “Mumpower first came in with about eight more

people with him. That was to intimidate me. But I was not intimidated. I told him I would fight to the death before we give up our charter.” According to U.S. Census figures, 70 percent of the town’s 1,337 residents are African-American. Five of its six aldermen are African-American. Mumpower admitted to legislators that “the optics was horrible,” after CNN and other cable news outlets blasted the Republican-led administration for demanding the town’s charter so close to Ford Motor Company’s $5.6 billion Blue Oval City electric vehicle project fewer than five miles away. Covington, Tennessee Alderman John Edwards joined Rivers Saturday in door-todoor canvassing to inform Mason residents about state actions. “I’m here because we care

what happens in Mason,” said Edwards. “Today, it’s Mason. Tomorrow, it may be Covington. We need Mason to be here.” Mason Community Task Force member Michael Harris said Mason would never surrender its charter. “For so long, Mason was majority Black with white elected officials,” said Harris. “But in 2015, we got together and identified people who could run for office. That’s how we got a Black administration. That deficit was much larger, and it was made under the prior white administrations. Our Black elected officials inherited those arrears and have paid it down.” Mason’s financial woes date back 20 years under a “white mayor,” according to Rivers. “The state never came to address the deficit under those white mayors,” said Rivers.

Door-to-door canvassing is one of the ways being employed to inform Mason residents about state actions. “This leads many to believe the takeover is racially motivated.” Harris added, “Mason is like

“I just stood and reﬂected on how Dr. King would have loved being there for this moment.” — Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr.

Shelby County Commissioner Eddie Jones shared the historic moment as president of the National Association of Black County Officials. (Courtesy photo)

ST JUDE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT In 2019, St. Jude began working with the government and hospitals in Ukraine to assess the level of care they could provide. Ties were established with four Ukrainian hospitals and other entities in Poland, Moldova and Roma-

nia, Downing told The Associated Press in an interview last week. After Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, St. Jude teamed up with foundations in Poland to evacuate children with cancer from the war zone. The collaborative has helped more than 730 patients by translating medical records

Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr. inside the White House on the day the Emmett Till Antilynching Act was signed into law. (Courtesy photo)

and coordinating convoys from the Ukrainian city of Lviv to the Unicorn Marian Wilemski Clinic, a summer resort converted into a triage center in Poland. From there, sick children have been taken to cancer centers in Europe, Canada and the U.S., Downing said. A network of 200 translators across the world is converting

patient records from Ukrainian or Russian into English or other languages. First lady Jill Biden visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital last Friday (March 25, 2022) in conjunction with the arrival of a group of Ukrainian children with cancer. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)

the stepchild of the county. But we are descendants of exslave families who settled here in 1865. We survived a brutal

sharecropper system. This is our town. It’s our land, and we won’t let the state take that from us.”

TILL

present and future as well. “Racial terror still occurs,” said Harris. “We must have the courage to name it when it happens and hold the perpetrators to account.” Jones said he reflected on the fact that lynching is terrorism, no matter who is the target. “Lynching is lynching,” Jones said. “Black, white, green, red, yellow – it is terrorizing. Can you imagine the fear and intimidation our ancestors felt? Lynching was used to alienate them from their rights after slavery was abolished. “This was not just our moment, but the moment of those who were tortured and killed, never experiencing justice.” Harris and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) co-sponsored the bill, while Harris was still in the Senate. “The bill was named after Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American, savagely murdered by a group of white men in Mississippi in 1955,” Harris said. Till allegedly had whistled at a white woman. Before returning to Memphis, Gray also visited the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. monument while he was in Washington. “I just stood and reflected on how Dr. King would have loved being there for this moment,” said Gray.

CONTINUED FROM FRONT the eyes of our nation to the terror of lynching … speaks to the importance of the Black Press, making sure we have storytellers in our community, who will tell the story when no one else is willing to tell it,” Harris said. Memphian Gray spearheaded a funding effort that resulted in a statue honoring Wells being erected at Beale and Fourth. In the late 1800s, her newspaper, among other things, focused on lynching and other degradations of Blacks. She left Memphis after receiving death threats. The great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Michelle Duster, walked out with the President and Vice President. “Lynching was used as an excuse to terrorize the Black community and to maintain the social and economic hierarchy based on race,” Duster said. Biden said Duster shared in a private conversation that Wells went to the White House to visit President William S. McKinley in 1900 as part of a delegation to urge him to make lynching a federal crime. Duster said the country’s “national crime” is lynching. Harris said the bill is not only for the past, but for the

The New Tri-State Defender

March 31 - April 6, 2022

Page 3

NEWS

Women’s History Month: Women in Business – Part 5 by Candace A. Gray

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

As we wrap up this Women’s History Month Women in Business Series, a reminder that this month’s theme is Providing Healing, Promoting Hope. There are so many ways the Black woman, and our community as a whole, needs to heal. Holistic Wellness has been around for decades, but only recently has it become a buzzword with more interest and practitioners. The first African-American woman to become a physician was Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, who earned her degree in the early 1850s. The first (and only) African-American woman to receive her MD from New England Medical College, she was known for providing healthcare for freed slaves. Dr. Crumpler wrote a book instructing Black women to take charge of their health and that of their children. Dr. La Tina Epps Thomas also believes that one of the best things we can do for ourselves is to take our health into our own hands. Here is her story. TSD: What type of business do you own? Dr. La Tina Epps Thomas: A holistic concierge tele-health and wellness practice. I take into account a person’s physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and spiritual health. Then I educate and emphasize they take back their health through prevention, and supporting their body through optimal health through the use of natural, non-invasive therapies and natural substances that encourage their body’s inherent self-healing process. TSD: How long have you been in holistic health? And in business for yourself? Dr. Thomas: I have been in the industry since 2017 and in business since 2018. TSD: How many employees do you have? Dr. Thomas: One – me! TSD: What was your inspiration for going into holistic health and starting your business? Dr. Thomas: My inspiration for going into holistic health through yoga and healthy lifestyle changes stems from my own struggle with an eating disorder. As a teenager, I fought a long battle with anorexia/bulimia. I won by changing my mindset about myself and about food, and incorporating the healing benefits of yoga.

AT A GLANCE Business Name: Authentically Living Natural Health and Wellness Owner’s Name: La Tina Epps Thomas, ND, EYT Nameline: Dr. La Tina Epps Thomas As an adult, I was diagnosed with asthma, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism. After seeking help from several doctors and not getting any better, I realized there had to be a better way. And that just dealing with symptomatology but not the root cause was not working. This led me on a path to discovering the multidimensional powers of yoga and naturopathy, which in turn put me on the path to better health and healing for myself and countless others. TSD: What challenges have you faced as a holistic practitioner and business owner, and how have you risen above them? Dr. Thomas: We live in a society that disregards centuries of evidence regarding the body’s ability to heal itself with the proper support through optimal nutrition, detoxing, supplements, essential oils, herbs, water, exercise, and stress reduction, among other natural alternatives to health. This is the amazingly beautiful way God made us. So, there are those that discredit what I, and others like me, do. Fortunately, this is beginning to change, somewhat. People come to me thinking there is a quick fix, not realizing you can’t just take a little pill and continue on with the same unhealthy habits. Rather, it requires work in changing one’s mindset, then their lifestyle. Sometimes they don’t want to do the work or take their health into their own hands. I’ve had to stop taking it personally and remind people through social media, and speaking engagements on the importance of taking control of one’s health. Eventually, they come back – it’s typically when they are sick and tired of being sick and tired! Sometimes people don’t value my time. Someone might text, email or call with “just a quick question” on something they may be dealing with. But they require an appointment. Like any other industry, there are those who want the help

Dr. La Tina Epps Thomas is a Naturopathic Doctor who leads people down the path to natural healing and a healthy lifestyle. but don’t want to pay for it. As a healer, I’ve had to learn not to always give everything away. I remind myself that I went to school for three years past my undergrad studies and did clinicals for three years and continue to invest in knowledge and training. As someone once told me, “People don’t go to their medical doctor for free, they shouldn’t expect you to be free either.” TSD: As a wife and a mother (if you are one), and now a business owner, how do you balance it all? Dr. Thomas: As a wife and mother to two furry babies Kitty and Max, and a Godmother to some amazing kiddos that I actively help raise, as well as being a business owner, the subject of how I balance it all is a big one. Honestly, like every other woman who has these responsibilities, I have my moments where I think if I hear my name being called one more time, or if one more entity needs me, I’m going to scream. It can be exhausting. Here’s the thing: that is absolutely normal. It’s OK to not be 100 percent available to everyone and everything all the time. … Because this is truly my passion, I sometimes give of myself until I’m depleted. So, I’ve learned to acknowledge when I’m struggling to keep up and don’t beat myself up about it. I rest and ask for help when needed, which is hard at times since I’m the “fixer.” But to be truly authentically living I must be OK with not being OK, then do the work to change that. That includes not feeling guilty when I just can’t do something and need to rest. This requires a really good support system, which I’m blessed to have my family and tribe. I also use the resources such as essential oils and herbs that help balance mood. I make sure I am eating and nourishing my

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body with the best foods that my body needs to function at its best. I take time out to do yoga and meditate and pray. I also get out and explore nature either alone or with my god kiddos frequently. I garden and love wildcrafting. I’ve learned how to say no and let that be a complete sentence. And I’ve learned how to distance myself from energy vampires and negative people. Most importantly, I observe the sabbath. From sunset Friday night to sunset Saturday night, I shut down my office, don’t do any business. People don’t stop needing help or being sick just because it’s the sabbath, but it’s rare that I’m needed during that time. This time is reserved for rest and family and friends. Taking this time out is so important to allow our minds and bodies to be able to just be. TSD: What impact does your business have or do you hope your business will have in the future? On your family, community, etc. Dr. Thomas: I believe I am just the vessel through which the Creator uses and that I’ve been given this gift and passion for true healing to spread the health message to the world. It’s manifested itself in speaking engagements, and corporations seeing the need for health and wellness education for their employees. My family and friends have been impacted because I’m always in teacher mode, which I guess, depending on who you ask, may or may not be a good thing. I pray and hope

that people will begin to take control of their health and truly begin to journey the path of authentically living natural. There really is a better way. TSD: What advice do you have for other black business owner hopefuls? Dr. Thomas: 1. Find your passion and work at it. It may not come easy or quickly but continue to work at it. 2. Reach out to others because networking is so important. 3. Know your worth! When someone comes to you, they are coming for your expertise; that includes all the time, money and education you have invested into your expertise. You may not be for everyone, but the right people will begin to notice and they will come. 4. Stop comparing yourself. I recently heard a speaker say, “Comparison is the thief of joy!” It’s true. It doesn’t matter how far along someone else is in their business. It really is true when they say, “What God has for you is for you.” Follow those who are doing what you do and find your own niche, your own way of doing things. TSD: If you weren’t doing this, what else would you be doing? Dr. Thomas: In my previous life, I was a model and produced music videos and commercials. I think I would be doing that. TSD: What professional accomplishment or major milestone are you most proud of?

Dr. Thomas: At the beginning of the COVID shutdown, I started a daily live stream called “Coffee Break Live with Dr. La Tina.” It was a way for me to connect with my clients and yoga students. I talked about everything from social issues, mental health issues to do-it-yourself (DIY) medicine in your kitchen to healthy cooking tutorials. This was a way for me to help demystify natural alternative solutions for health and wellness. It grew from a few people tuning in to hang out on social media with me every day to hundreds of people from around the country watching and building a community. I did more than 230 shows. I took a break for a while but every day I get messages from people who watched it, thanking me and asking when I’m going to do the lives again. I’m proud to authentically show up, be there and to pour into others. I’m also proud of being contributing writer for various health and wellness magazines, as well as a contributing author on a book. I’m in the process of writing 2 more. Mostly importantly, I’m proud that God chooses to use me to help people. TSD: Anything else you’d like to add? Dr. Thomas: I would love to chat with Tri-State Defender readers. I can be reached at: DrThomas@alnhealthandwellness.com; 901-494-4579; www. alnhealthandwellness.com; Facebook: alnhealth; Instagram: latina_thomas; YouTube: ALN health and wellness tv.

Uplift the Community Grant Are you interested in having a positive impact on your community and need an “Uplift” to get you started? The NAACP Memphis Branch, The New Tri-State Defender and Kroger Delta Division are partnering on the Uplift Your Community Grant Program. If you are a 501(C)3 and have a program or idea on how to:

Improve your community Decrease crime Decrease blight Please consider applying for the grant. The grant application process opens on March 4, 2022 and closes on March 31, 2022. The grants will be awarded on April 29, 2022. For more information about grant criteria, visit the NAACP Memphis Branch website at www.naacpmemphis.org.

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TRI-STATE DEFENDER

PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, March 31 - April 6, 2022, Page 4

It is hard to believe the MSCS school board went along with this process in the manner in which it is being implemented. The district owes parents and the community a much better explanation of what’s going on.

Fresh start … Really? by Curtis Weathers

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

My heart sunk to a familiar level of despair that I had not experienced for some time when I learned that Memphis-Shelby County Schools were going to “Fresh Start” two of its high schools and require all their teachers to re-apply and reinterview for their jobs next year. Last week, teachers and staff at Hamilton High and Kingsbury High were called into a meeting and notified that their schools would undergo an academic review and that all teaching and support positions would be reexamined. Subsequently, a third school, Airways Achievement Academy, has been added to the list. All teachers who wish to return must complete a full reapplication and interview process regardless of their experience and tenure. Teachers at these schools and the teacher unions were caught off guard by these decisions, and district leaders, for some reason, are not talking much about this process and why it is being initiated at this particular time. At this point, the district has made clear that no additional information about personnel changes or transitions would be shared with the media. So, although we heard from a hand full of community members, teachers, and administrators at Monday’s board meeting about how wonderful the Fresh Start process has helped their schools, we still do not know a lot about the schools chosen to go through this process. Fresh Start is pitched as a way to reassess staff and ensure the best outcomes for all students. According to MSCS Supt. Dr. Joris Ray, this fresh start process will “allow for a close examination of culture, climate and data to assure student success and achievement.” Still, the question remains: Why were these three schools chosen to go through this process at this particular time? Two of the high schools going through the fresh start process are under the leadership of new principals, which is part of a districtwide restructuring process initiated by Ray last summer. The district said the “fresh starts” are a continuation of that process. This process, however, is not limited to just teachers, but non-instructional staff as well. The district has reevaluated several positions at the cabinet level, including job roles for executive directors of equity, curriculum and instruction, and professional and leadership development. But, can you imagine seeing your job posted on the jobs board and being told (without warning) you will now have to re-apply and interview for your position next year? It has to be incredibly disheartening for teachers and staff. Another local school system, KIPP Memphis Charter Schools, fresh started some of its schools

a little over a month ago. That process still is underway. Teachers and staff must re-apply to keep their jobs as well. I have seen Curtis this “Fresh Weathers Start” process used before under the leadership of former superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson. In 2004, five Fresh Start schools were faced with the task of re-engineering their staff to improve academic achievement in their schools. These schools were able to reconstitute their entire teaching and support staff. The district created clear goals and objectives these schools were required to achieve, along with incentives to award schools, teachers, staff and principals for achieving their goals. Professional development sessions and informational meetings were held with the district leadership team, academic directors, principals, assistant principals, instructional facilitators, teachers and staff. These meetings were designed to determine what resources (instructional needs, strategies, personnel, funds, etc.) were needed to help the Fresh Start schools be successful. In addition, Human Resources conducted a job fair so that principals could staff their schools according to their needs and expectations. The process was well thought out and involved school, district and teacher union leaders working collaboratively throughout the entire process. Unfortunately, I do not see the same level of coordination and cooperation this time around. School systems across the country have used the Fresh Start process with mixed results. But I question the wisdom of implementing such a process at this stage of the school year and in the manner in which it is being rolled out. Why not wait until after state testing has been completed? For the new principals at these schools, this is a much-appreciated gift I’m sure; they get a chance to handpick their instructional team. Unfortunately, however, for the teachers and staff currently working in these schools, this is just another layer of stress they now have to endure, along with whatever else is going on in those buildings. I truly hope this goes smoothly from this point forward and this transition is successful for each of these schools. (Follow TSD education columnist Curtis Weathers on Twitter (@curtisweathers); email: curtislweathers@gmail.com.)

Memphis Area Association of Governments’ executive leadership with Blue Oval City forum panelists from Chattanooga and event moderator Odell Horton Jr. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

Probing the next steps to Blue Oval City

by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

City planners, development consultants and other experts provided a crash course in possible changes in store for the region during the West Tennessee Mega-Site/Blue Oval City forum at the Halloran Centre in Downtown Memphis last Thursday (March 24). Presented by the Memphis Area Association of Governments (MAAG), the live-virtual event probed “next steps” regarding Ford Motor Co.’s plans to build America’s largest electric truck and battery plant near Stanton, Tennessee in Haywood County. “This will really impact the entire region, so the smaller communities really need to avail themselves to some structure to manage growth,” said MAAG Director Ralph Moore, who emceed the event. Ford’s incoming auto production plant – named Blue Oval City – is projected to bring 5,800 jobs to Haywood County. In addition to producing electric F-150 Lightning pickup trucks, it will also manufacture electric vehicle batteries and a battery recycling center. The automaker is investing $5.8 billion in the site. “Projects like this are big and scary to some people because they don’t know how it’s gonna impact on them in various ways,” said Nashville-based development consultant Randall Gross. “I think the things to remember is that there is going to be a lot of planning going into this and there is an important way to look at how you can benefit from this project.” Blue Oval City is expected to resonate throughout the region’s economy with an influx in infrastructure projects, real estate developments and supporting businesses. Haywood County alone is expected to see a 127 percent increase in its economy. Yet, some communities that have seen auto production plants come online have experienced downsides to a booming local economy. In those instances, jobs and higher incomes were accompanied by increased traffic, urban sprawl, cookie-cutter housing developments, strip malls and, ultimately, a loss of local character. “If you want to maintain the character of some of these smaller communities, we need to coordinate among those communities to talk about where we want housing to go,

West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon (left) was among those at the Halloran Centre as next steps were discussed regarding the West Tennessee Mega-Site/Blue Oval City project. Also pictured (l-r): Steve Jones and Nick Coulter. where we want different kinds of retail to go,” said Gross. Analysis will likely extend beyond preserving historic buildings and community charm. Along with zoning considerations, natural resources will draw consideration. These could include aquifers, woodlands or wetlands, for example. Auto manufacturers have relocated operations from rust belt states to southern ones in recent decades. Smyrna, Tennessee, a suburb outside of Nashville, has been home to a Nissan plant since the 1980s. The discussion on Thursday included a reference to it as having been ill-planned and, consequently, typifying many of the negative concerns that can come with such a development. A decade ago, Volkswagen opened an assembly plant in Chattanooga. With 3,800 direct jobs – often highly technical – and thousands of others (with more expected to come), it also has buoyed the area’s educational system. “You have to understand … the robots are really building these vehicles,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “The labor at the plant is really running the robots, for the most part. This is not manual labor, for the most part. So, we had to convene the community. We were fortunate, we had a county mayor and school superintendent that got it. It really led to deep reform in the school system.” As a result of the needed workforce, the reform of the school system extended beyond the K-12 system to vocational and tech schools to

fill those slots with local workers. “We now have some of the biggest and best learning labs and mechatronics labs in the state, if not the country,” said Kelly. “I think that’s directly because of the relationship with Volkswagen and the need to produce workers that can hold those jobs.” Experience supports the likelihood that land prices in Haywood County and beyond will increase, with owners looking to cash in on a once-in-alifetime opportunity. Some observers have expressed concern about such a scenario in a period of overpriced housing and with new housing stock at an all-time low. “Speculation is a word that is often associated with these projects,” said Phil Walker, Urban Planning Consultant for the Walker Collective. “There will be tremendous amounts of land speculation associated with this site. That’s kind of just what happens.” Transportation will also be an issue. Many employees may choose to live out of town, resulting in congestion at certain times of the day as shifts change. Finding a ride will be another matter, too. Some employees likely won’t own a vehicle, reinforcing the need for expanded public transportation throughout the area. “I probably shouldn’t leave the stage before I talk about this Amtrak idea,” said Kelly. “(Memphis) Mayor (Jim) Strickland and I talk about that. It’s kind of a pipe dream, right, but I’d love to see train service from Memphis to Nashville through the site and then down to Chattanooga.”

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The New Tri-State Defender

March 31 - April 6, 2022

RELIGION

Page 5

COMMENTARY

Accept the unexpected by Dr. Froswa Booker Drew BlackPressUSA

I hate to rush but according to the GPS, I would only be two minutes late. That wasn’t bad but I wasn’t prepared for an accident to happen. In my haste, I panicked and decided to jump on another freeway thinking I can just loop around and miss the accident altogether. To my surprise, there was another accident. I was irritated that my plans of being just two minutes late became a 20-minute delay. Had I just remained patient and waited, I probably could have got there just 10 minutes late. In that moment, I realized how often we make decisions because what we see ahead doesn’t look like what we planned. We can make choices that delay our progress because we aren’t willing to wait and be inconvenienced. When life doesn’t work out as planned, instead of waiting on God, we will make decisions out of our limited perspective. At the core of our decisions is an unwillingness to trust God and believe that we know what to do. I was reminded that the delay was in my best interest and that God was possibly protecting me from something. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” How often have we all decided abruptly to do something that later cost us more than it was worth? Instead of trusting God and getting there on a straight route with a brief interruption, I was going in a circle and wasting time. The Israelites are a prime example of how we can waste time when we allow what we see to stop us from getting to our promised lands. Instead of trusting God, we can spend so much time wondering and wandering when we chose to take our lives into our own hands. The Israelites called out to God for help and God heard them. “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt,” (Exodus 3:7). We, too, cry out to God for help but because we do not receive the answer we want immediately, we can become discouraged and take matters into our own hands. Moses in his frustration because of what he saw

Dr. Froswa Booker Drew

around h i m killed an Egyptian, which he ultimately had to leave because of fear that others knew what he had done.

(Exodus 2:11). When we don’t trust God’s timing, we can make decisions that cost us and have consequences. Even as Moses followed God’s instructions and said to the Hebrews that it was time to depart Egypt, they became overwhelmed at what they saw in front of them. Despite God’s reassurance that He would be there with them, when faced with something unexpected, they wanted to go in another direction. They were not prepared to be chased by the Egyptian army and they didn’t expect God to part the Red Sea for their deliverance. “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14). Like me, they wanted to move and do something because they weren’t prepared for the unexpected. Just as God calls us to be still in moments when things don’t go our way, we are losing peace trying to create solutions. Over and over, God proved that He was with them and yet, their limited thinking cost them so much time. A trip that would have taken 11 days resulted in a 40-year journey because they weren’t willing to wait and trust God. I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Expect interruptions and detours. It doesn’t mean that God isn’t at work in those moments. And check this out, I got to my destination when I needed to. It was all a part of God’s perfect timing when I accepted the unexpected. (Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the vice president of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.)

Empowerment symposium ... Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Patterson Sr., pastor of Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, presented an empowerment symposium dubbed “Ministry Today & Beyond – Where Are We Now and How Will We Be Effective in the Future” at the church, 229 S. Danny Thomas Blvd., last Saturday. Pictured (l-r): Pastor Bartholomew Orr, Bishop Darryl O. Woodson, Bishop Ed Stephens, Bishop Patterson, Evangelist Lashun Dillard Berry and Bishop Linwood E. Dillard. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

Quadrennial ... A Quadrennial Appreciation Celebration was held last Friday (March 25) for Bishop Henry M. Williamson Sr., presiding prelate of the First Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME). (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

The New Tri-State Defender, March 31 - April 6, 2022, Page 6

Will Smith would face little more than a slap if charged by Brian Melley Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Will Smith’s slap seen ’round the world at the Oscars was clearly a crime, legal experts say, but the chances of prosecution are slim and even if convicted he’d likely face little more than a slap of his own — on the wrist. Smith left millions of witnesses stunned Sunday when he marched onto the stage of the Dolby Theatre and smacked Chris Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who was sitting with the actor in the front row. The Los Angeles Police Department has said it was aware of the incident but was not investigating because Rock declined to file a police report. While police could technically open an investigation based on the Academy Awards broadcast, they wouldn’t do so without Rock’s participation, said defense lawyer Alan Jackson, a former Los Angeles County prosecutor who oversaw high-profile cases. “Would they ever in a practical world do that when Chris Rock is saying, ’I won’t cooperate with a criminal investigation?′ Not in a million years,” Jackson said. “LAPD is probably breathing a relative sigh of relief that they don’t have to get involved with two high-profile actors duking it out on a world stage.” The Los Angeles city attorney’s office, which prosecutes misdemeanor crimes, declined to comment, but said it couldn’t bring charges without a police referral. “If he’s going to be charged, I can’t speak to what the charge would be,” spokesman Rob Wilcox said. News of celebrities in trouble has been a fixture in LA since Hollywood’s early days, and questions frequently arise about whether the rich and powerful receive a different brand of justice. “The celebrity thing is coming into play, unfortunately,” said former LA District Attorney Steve Cooley. “If some Joe Blow committed this act in front a police officer, would he would be able to walk away from it? Probably not.”

Will Smith, right, hits presenter Chris Rock on stage while presenting the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photos/Chris Pizzello)

“How can what appears to be an obvious criminal act committed in the open publicly not result in any criminal consequences? Do different standards apply to celebrities and noncelebrities?” — Jody Armour If Smith is not charged, it could imperil the justice system’s credibility, said Jody Armour, a law professor at the University of Southern California. “How can what appears to be an obvious criminal act committed in the open publicly not result in any criminal consequences?” Armour asked. “Do different standards apply to celebrities and noncelebrities? Apparently, we seem to all recognize that is the case. But what does that recognition say to us about the legitimacy and credibility of our criminal justice system?” While the famous can use their status to influence decision-makers, their fame

Jada Pinkett Smith, left, and Will Smith hold hands in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. can work against them if the prosecutor decides to make an example of a crime by someone well-known. “I would surprised if the city attorney does not seriously consider it because it was so public,” said Alison Triessl, a criminal defense lawyer who has handled many misdemeanor battery cases. “Are they sending the wrong message if they don’t prosecute him?” Triessl said there’s no question a crime was committed, and there’s no need for the victim to file a report. Charges are routine-

ly brought in domestic violence cases without cooperation from the victim because the crime is against the state for violating its penal code. “It sends a message that you can commit a crime and you won’t be punished,” she said. “This was a very wrong message.” Defense attorney Adam Braun said it’s unrealistic Smith would face charges in the absence of serious injuries and without support from Rock. “Although a prosecution is not likely, the wild card here is that the evidence is overwhelming and the incident was witnessed live by millions,” Braun said. “Prosecutors could feel compelled to prosecute Will Smith, regardless of Chris Rock’s preference, to avoid creating the impression that a wealthy actor is above the law.” If Smith were charged, he would face a misdemeanor battery count, which carries a penalty of up to six months in jail. Even if prosecuted and convicted, it is unlikely he would face incarceration and there are alternatives to going to court that could lead to a penalty as light as having to attend anger management classes. Cooley said if he were advising Smith, he’d have him voluntarily enroll in anger classes and then try to convince prosecutors not to bring charges in the interest of justice because he had recognized his problem and was dealing with it. Cooley said he’d want more information on the case as a prosecutor before making any decisions. He said said LAPD was premature in announcing they weren’t getting involved. Stephen Downing, a retired LAPD deputy chief, said a case could be brought. But he said it was reasonable not to waste resources when Rock apparently wasn’t injured or ruffled enough to file a complaint. “Rock carried on as if nothing happened to him,” Downing said. “He didn’t even put a hand to his cheek. There didn’t appear to be an injury. If he had knocked him to the floor and rendered him unconscious, I think action would have been taken.” (Associated Press journalist Stefanie Dazio contributed to this report.)

What is Alopecia? Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair-loss condition is the center of Oscar Night controversy

by Angela Johnson The Root

By now, you’ve heard all about the slap heard around the world at last night’s Oscar ceremony. This year’s Best Actor winner, Will Smith, was not acting when he rushed the stage to take a jab at comedian Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock’s joke, “Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see ya,” referenced Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. But neither Pinkett Smith nor her Oscar-winning husband found it funny. The actress will surely be at the top of every best-dressed list, wearing a stunning emerald green gown courtesy of the Spring/Summer 2022 couture collaboration between Jean Paul Gaultier and Glenn Martens of Diesel and Y/Project. And she looked absolutely regal with her shaved head and flawless makeup. But the reason for Pinkett Smith’s haircut is extremely personal and one that causes many women of color to suffer in silence. The American Academy of Dermatology describes alopecia areata as an autoimmune disease that develops when the body attacks its own hair follicles. Although alopecia can affect anyone, it is most common in those who have a relative with the condition or an autoimmune disorder such as diabetes, lupus or thyroid disease.

Alopecia is not contagious, and except for hair loss and possible nail changes, many people with the condition are otherwise healthy. A 2018 Nurses’ Health Study found that Black and Hispanic women are more likely to experience alopecia areata compared to white women. Each case of alopecia is unique, but there are different forms of the disease. Alopecia areata refers to patchy hair loss, while alopecia areata totalis is when a person loses all of the hair on their head. Alopecia areata universalis is the most severe form, and causes a person to lose the hair on their entire body. There is no cure for alopecia, and the AAD says that hair loss is often unpredictable. But the hair can grow back, and there are treatment options, including corticosteroids, that can assist with the process. The Girls Trip actress first opened up about her battle with alopecia in a 2018 episode of her popular online series, Red Table Talk. “I’ve been getting lots of questions about why I’ve been wearing this turban,” she said. “Well, I’ve been having issues with hair loss.” Pinkett Smith used her show, which usually gets other celebrities to get personal, to reveal the fear she experienced when she first noticed that she was losing her hair. “And I’ll tell you it was terrifying when it first started. I was in the shower one day and then just handfuls of hair, just in my hands, and I was like ‘oh my God am I go-

“The Girls Trip” actress Jada Pinkett Smith first opened up about her battle with alopecia in a 2018 episode of her popular online series, “Red Table Talk.” (Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin (Getty Images) ing bald?’ The actress began wearing turbans in public to cover up her hair loss, which she said was empowering during a difficult time. “When my hair is wrapped, I feel like a queen,” she said. But in 2021, Pinkett Smith decided to shave her head. Her daughter Willow revealed Pinkett Smith’s new look in a stunning July 12, 2021, Instagram photo of the pair hugging. The caption read, “A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return.” Pinkett Smith responded to the post. “Willow made me do it because it was time to let go. My 50’s are bout to be Divinely lit with this shed,” she said. Jada Pinkett Smith is not the only

high-profile figure to suffer from alopecia. Viola Davis, Tyra Banks, and Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley have all openly discussed their struggles with hair loss. In an exclusive 2020 video, Pressley shared her personal hair loss story with The Root. “I have only been bald in the privacy of my own home and in the company of close friends,” Pressley said in the video before revealing her shaved head with viewers. Pressley says her eventual decision to go public with her story was freeing. “I’m not here to occupy space. I’m here to create it,” she said in the video. Although alopecia isn’t the thing that people will remember most about Oscarnight, hopefully, Jada Pinkett Smith’s story will shed more light on the condition that many Black women have had to deal with in private.

The New Tri-State Defender

March 31 - April 6, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

Page 7

Collage Dance Collective, Iris Orchestra set their sights on ‘Brazil by Night’ TSD Newsroom “Brazil by Night” a Brazilian-themed evening of live music, world-class dance, cocktails and food, will light up the Collage Dance Center on April 9. The Collage Dance Collective and Iris Orchestra will host the evening experience, which is set for 7 p.m. at the new Collage Dance Center, 505 Tillman Street in Binghampton. Attendees will be treated to an authentic Brazilian feast by Carson Rodizio, along with performances by Collage’s professional ballet company and the Iris Artist Fellows. Bossa Nova melodies by songstress Deborah Swiney and a samba party will round out the night of international culture and art. Iris Artist Fellow Pedro Maia and Collage dancer Fábio Mariano are among the Brazilian artists that the Collage Dance Collective and Iris Orchestra are bringing together for the co-curated, community-centered event. “Brazil by Night” is designed as a celebration of the diverse professional artists each organization engages in a way that also resonates with the richly diverse communities they serve. “Music and dance are one of the most perfect pairings, so collaborating with Iris Orchestra was a no-brainer for us,” said Marcellus

Brazil Night is coming. (Courtesy photo)

Harper, Collage Dance executive director. “It has been an honor to work alongside the Iris team to build a program that both celebrates the vibrant cultural diversity of our company artists and expands the reach of classical arts.” Collage Dance Collective is the largest Blackled ballet company in the South. Its mission reflects a commitment “to inspiring the growth and diversity of ballet by showcasing a repertoire of relevant choreography and world-class dancers.” Iris Orchestra’s mission is to “serve the community with the gift of exceptional music through performance, education, and community engagement.” Violinist Pedro Maia, a 2021-22 Iris Artist Fellow, said of “Brazil by Night,” “We wanted to give Memphis a taste of something new and unique like only these two organizations could pull together, yet authentic to the name, and working with other artists to create this perfect moment has been an artistic highlight for me for sure.” The event will feature a cash bar. Onsite parking is free. For tickets, which are $75, visit https://bit.ly/3uFl1En. The buzz about Brazil by Night has stimulated plans for Brazil by Day, a free Community Day event at Crosstown on May 14. Additional partners will include Crosstown Arts and Carpenter Art Garden. Details are pending.

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, March 31 - April 6, 2022, Page 8

As gun violence strikes, this Memphis teacher makes space to grieve by Cathryn Stout Chalkbeat Tennessee

On one of the toughest days of his teaching career, there was tenacity, transparency, and tears. “Today has been heavy,” admitted Adrian Hampton. Hampton, 41, has spent half of his life as a math teacher at Booker T. Washington Middle and High School, known as BTW. During his time at the Memphis school, he’s lost multiple students to gun violence, including 15-year-old Damien Smith, Jr., who was shot the day before Hampton’s interview with Chalkbeat. The police charged 38-year-old Marcus Orr with the fatal shooting, and videographer Twan Freeman filmed Smith’s vigil a few days later. Since the beginning of the school year, at least 23 children have died by homicide in Memphis, according to police data. Scheduled days before the shooting, the interview was initially set as a time to chat about Hampton’s legendary teaching career, which was shaped by two former teachers, Snowden School science teacher Clarence Estes and Central High School math teacher Rick Yates. In 2021, Hampton was a finalist for the district’s teacher of the year award, a nod to both his talent and his longstanding commitment to working in a school where children need extraordinary support. About 90 percent of BTW students are economically disadvantaged, according to the state. Hampton has served the BTW community for 20 years – or 22 years if you count his two years there as a student-teacher. He has now taught math to two generations of families at the school. Just over a decade ago, he and the senior Class of 2011 got a backstage meeting with then-President Barack Obama who served as the school’s commencement speaker. “The first Black president, and he’s at BTW,” said Hampton. “The kids cried. The toughest guys were in the back crying when he walked behind the curtain. It was amazing,” he added. But mixed into a career of incredible highlights are the devastating lows of losing a student, which Hampton discussed, as he reflected on how he teaches while facing sorrowful young faces and an eerily empty desk. How are you doing today? Today’s been different. I’ve

A 2021 finalist for Teacher of the Year, Adrian Hampton has had a career of highlights, but mixed into that tenure are the devastating lows of losing multiple students to gun violence. (Photo: Courtesy of Adrian Hampton via Chalkbeat) taught here for so long that I’ve lost a lot of kids, so you don’t ever want that to become normal. Yeah, today’s been heavy. You could have taken the day off, and you didn’t. You came back to school today. Why? We got a job to do. We tell kids not to make excuses. And not saying that this would be an excuse, because you got to take care of you first, because if you’re not taking care of you first, then, of course, you can’t take care of everybody else, but you lead by example. You show the kids that it’s OK to corporately come together and grieve. How do you approach such a heavy time with your students? It was solemn in the class. I was able to still get in some instruction but not hover over them. We had grief counselors in the building today, so I just kind of let them be to themselves. If somebody had their head down, I didn’t bother them today. We don’t hear enough Black men discussing and expressing grief, and I just want to acknowledge that and applaud you for that. How do you take care of yourself at this moment? I think you just helped me in making me talk about it just then. I really hadn’t talked about it for real until you just asked me that question, so that just allowed me to get out some emotions that I didn’t even know that I needed to get out. So

many

teachers

move

and making sure that everything isn’t the same for that full 75 minutes that they’re in class with you. You have to have things in place that are going to allow kids to move around a little bit as much as we can. We don’t want anybody getting COVID or anything, but keeping them moving a little bit. Giving them brain breaks at certain points. Those are things that were talked about before the pandemic, but they’re absolutely necessary now. As far as socialization, some of our kids never really stopped being around each other to a certain extent, but they weren’t around grown people. Discipline has been something that we’ve had to refocus on. That’s something that we’ve had to hone in on to make sure that they understand how they’re supposed to act when they’re in the building. We teach code-switching, making sure that you know how to act when you’re around your friends, but also knowing how to act when you’re around grown people. Do you guys actually call it code-switching? Yeah, we call it code-switching for sure.

Chris Dean shakes the hand of President Barack Obama at the Booker T. Washington High School graduation in 2011. Dean was selected to introduce the president. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender Archives) around. Why have you stayed at Booker T. Washington? The relationships – not only with the kids, but some of the other teachers have served just as long as me. The Algebra I teacher has been here 21 years. The guidance counselor, she’s been here 21 years. If you can deal with the neighborhood and working in this environment, our teachers really don’t leave. So you build relationships with your coworkers, and you build relationships with families. Some of my former students are my parents now. So, I wouldn’t leave at this point. It’s ingrained, and kids know kind of what to expect because I’ve taught so many of their family members that, honestly, it makes it easier every year. I don’t have to adjust. The kids know my reputation.

ACT-SO ... The NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. Parkway Gardens Presbyterian Church was the setting for the local competition. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

You have a reputation for being relatable. How do you create such a strong connection with your students? I let them know that I care from day one. If they play sports, I’m going to their sporting events. If they’re in the choir or in the band, I support them in things that they do. I let them know that I care about them as a person and that they’re not just a student in my class. I bring my kids up here, and they know my kids. My wife used to work here. What has it been like connecting with and teaching students during a pandemic? The biggest thing is that the attention span isn’t as high as I saw with those kids two years ago. You have to constantly be doing something to keep their attention

As we emerge from the pandemic, what gives you hope at this moment? What gives me hope is that kids see when you’re genuine. My dad’s a preacher, and he says all the time, all you can do is plant and water. You may not see the increase, but you know that you planted and watered, and that’s what teachers do. We give them instruction. We give them the tools to make them, hopefully, be the best they can be, and you may not see the fruits of your labor during that school year, but you sleep well at night knowing that you did your best. And do you know that you did your best with Damien? I regret not saying something to him yesterday. That goes back to what I said earlier, you can’t waste time. You always think, “OK, let me go ahead and get through this lesson, and I’ll talk to him at some other point when I get him by himself.” But, I know he knows – wow, I know he knew that we cared about him. (Bureau Chief Cathryn Stout, Ph.D. oversees Chalkbeat Tennessee’s coverage. Contact Cathryn at cstout@chalkbeat.org. This story is one in a series called How I Teach.)

The New Tri-State Defender

March 31 - April 6, 2022

NEWS

Man charged in crash that killed former medical examiner (AP) – A Tennessee man has been charged with being drunk while driving a truck involved in a traffic crash that resulted in the death of a former medical examiner in Memphis, prosecutors said. Courtney T. Kincaid, 41, has been indicted on counts of vehicular homicide and drunken driving in a September crash that killed Dr. Karen Chancellor, the Shelby County district attorney’s office said Tuesday. Chancellor, 64, was named Shelby County’s chief medical examiner in 2004 and served for nearly 14 years. She also

served as deputy chief medical examiner for Tennessee and had been associate chief medical examiner for North Carolina. Chancellor was driving her SUV on a Memphis highway when a pickup truck pulling a trailer with lawn equipment crossed the median, went into the air and landed on top of her vehicle, investigators said. Kincaid was speeding and had a blood alcohol count of .267, authorities said. Online records did not show if Kincaid had a lawyer to speak on his behalf Wednesday.

CLASSIFIEDS

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000716, Purchase of SWAT Hazmat Equipment for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce. Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www. shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above described Sealed Bid. SEALED BID I000716 DUE DATE THURSDAY, APRIL 21ST, 2022 AT 2:30 PM CST (SB-I000716) “Purchase of SWAT Hazmat Equipment for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office” Shelby County is an equal opportunity afﬁrmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service. By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOTICE OF 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: Jay Sims Tax Parcel #: 06015800000230 Tax Sale #: 1702 Price Offered: $31,800.00 Terms: Cash

Byron Black in a photo provided by the Tennessee Department of Corrections. (Photo: Tennessee Department of Corrections via AP, File)

Judge won’t halt execution over intellectual disability

by Kimberlee Kruesi Associated Press

NASHVILLE – A judge on Tuesday dismissed a motion to declare a Tennessee death row inmate intellectually disabled, a move that would have prohibited his upcoming execution. Senior Judge Walter Kurtz wrote that federal courts had previously determined Byron Black was not intellectually disabled and therefore was ineligible to have the decision considered once again. The 45-page decision comes despite agreement between Nashville’s district attorney and Black’s lawyers that he is intellectually disabled and should not be put to death. Black is scheduled to be executed on Aug. 18 for his murder convictions in the April 1988 killings of his girlfriend and her two young daughters. Black’s attorneys had argued the 65-year-old should be spared under a 2021 law that made Tennessee’s prohibition against executing people with intellectual disability retroactive, pointing out there is a different standard in place now than in 2004 – when the court found that Black didn’t meet the now-obsolete definition of “mental retardation.” Previously, Tennessee had no mechanism for an inmate to reopen a case to press an intellectual disability claim. However, Kurtz ultimately concluded that the new state law does not apply to death row inmates who had previously received a ruling from a prior court. “This Court fails to see how the federal courts’ resolution of petitioner’s intellectual disability claim can be seen as anything other than an adjudication on the merits under the legal and medical principles which are embodied in the

most recent version of (Tennessee law),”Kurtz wrote. “Given the above, the Court finds that Mr. Black had a full and fair previous adjudication on the merits of his intellectual disability claim.” Black was convicted by a Nashville court in the deaths of girlfriend Angela Clay, 29, and her daughters Latoya, 9, and Lakesha, 6. Prosecutors said he was in a jealous rage when he shot the three at their home. At the time, Black was on work release while serving time for shooting and wounding Clay’s estranged husband. Earlier this month, District Attorney Glenn Funk – Nashville’s lead prosecutor – announced that he agreed with Black’s legal team that the inmate was intellectually disabled and should instead face a sentence of life in prison. Funk pointed to a newly changed conclusion by psychologist Susan Redmond Vaught, who was one of the state’s experts in the 2004 determination, but has since said Black meets the new law’s criteria for a diagnosis of intellectual disability. Another expert made the determination as well. “Today’s order says that even though the law has changed, the courthouse doors are closed to Byron Black,” said Kelley Henry, Black’s attorney. “We will appeal this decision which, in our view, misinterprets Tennessee and federal law.” Tennessee has five executions scheduled for 2022, including Black’s. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state has not put any inmates to death since February 2020, when Nicholas Sutton died in the electric chair. Black’s execution had been set for October 2020, but the pandemic saw it rescheduled twice.

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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 29, 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: 4D Marketing Business Solutions Corp Tax Parcel #: 0935240A000130 Tax Sale #: 1702 Price Offered: $5500.00 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 29, 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

er, 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 29, 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

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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:

during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on April 29, 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.

Tasha Sturkie Tax Parcel #: 03300100000520 Tax Sale #: 1702 Price Offered: $22,000.00 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 29, 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: Brenandaka Murrell Tax Parcel #: 0260440000017C Tax Sale #: 1601 Price Offered: $500.00 Terms: Cash

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: Alexian Scruggs Tax Parcel #: 04206300000160 Tax Sale #: 1302 Price Offered: $375.00 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 29, 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

THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER assumes no ﬁnancial responsibility for errors nor for copy omission. Direct any classiﬁed billing inquires to (901) 523-1818.

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: John Baker Tax Parcel #: 02405600000390 Tax Sale #: 703 Price Offered: $1700.00 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 May 2, 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

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.

We're Known By the Money You Keep!

Erica Robinson-Phillips Tax Parcel #: 07105300000180 Tax Sale #: 505 Price Offered: $1687.50 Terms: Cash

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Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) high-

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ADJUSTMENTS: PLEASE check your ad the ﬁrst day it appears. Call (901) 523-1818 if an error occurs. We can only offer in-house credit and NO REFUNDS are issued.

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

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:

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New Tri-State Defender reserves the right to correctly classify and edit all copy or to reject or cancel any ad at any time. Only standard abbreviations accepted. Copy change during ordered schedule constitutes new ad & new changes. Deadlines for cancellation are identical to placement deadlines. Rates subject to change.

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SPORTS

The New Tri-State Defender, March 31 - April 6, 2022, Page 10

LeMoyne-Owen’s Jaquan Lawrence turns hard work into HBCU All-Star Game selection by Liaudwin Seaberry Jr.

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

When Jaquan Lawrence arrived at LeMoyne-Owen College in 2017, he understood the academic and athletic challenges before him. Originally from Chicago and determined to become the best basketball player he could be, Lawrence recognized that nothing of value would be given to him without hard work. That realization has paid off in a big way. The fifth-year senior will compete in the inaugural HBCU AllStar Game in New Orleans Sunday (April 3). The game highlights the best players from historically Black colleges and universities around the nation. LOC junior point guard Andrew Anderson recalled the steps Lawrence took to reach his goals. Anderson, also a Chicago native, said nothing would be given to either player on the court, but he is not surprised by Lawrence’s level of talent. Anderson has seen it in practice for the last three seasons. “To be honest, I wish that he had

another year of eligibility,” Anderson said. “He deserves everything good coming his way and it is good that he is getting the credit coming his way for participating in the All-Star Game.” Under the supervision of former LeMoyne-Owen College men’s basketball coach and current athletic director William Anderson, Lawrence, a 6-9, 200-pound forward, steadily improved on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Entering college, Lawrence focused on shots close to the rim and gradually expanded his game. By the 2019 season, he had become one of the best players in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). “Defensively, Jaquan Lawrence continued to get better every year, and his offensive game grew as he improved upon his jump shot,” Anderson said. “When he first arrived, he was limited in terms of his shooting, but he found the floor early based on his ability to guard all five positions.” Despite the 2020 season being canceled because of COVID-19,

While he has excelled as a defensive player, Jaquan Lawrence averaged 12 points and nine rebounds per game for LeMoyne-Owen College’s Magicians this past season. (Courtesy photo) Lawrence harnessed his skills and put together his best season at LeMoyne-Owen this past season. With new head coach and former NBA player Bonzi Wells implementing his fast-paced offensive system heading into the 2021 campaign, Lawrence quickly adapted to the style and improved his skills as a savvier player. “When we first got here, it took a while for them to adapt to our system,

as we arrived just before the season started,” LOC assistant coach Jernel Jernigan said. “However, when everyone got used to how things were run, it became easier to work with.” Lawrence averaged 12 points and nine rebounds per game. The Magicians finished with a 16-12 record in the 2021-22 season. They lost in the second round of the SIAC tournament. Lawrence highlighted his prowess

on the defensive end of the floor. He captured the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year award, a culmination of the hard work and pride he takes in playing defense. “From the beginning, I always possessed an affinity for playing defense, and that’s where I made my name,” Lawrence said. “Blocking shots is something that brings an adrenaline rush throughout my body, and something I enjoy doing.” Lawrence aspires to play professionally overseas, and with his degree being information technology, he wants to use both talents to help others while also building upon the legacy of LeMoyne-Owen College. Lawrence is confident about success after college because of his ability to rise above demanding situations. “I feel that with the attributes I have, I can thrive in whatever I decide to do, first on the basketball court and afterward when I get into my IT career,” Lawrence said. “I am grateful for the opportunities that LeMoyne-Owen provided me, and I can truly say I developed into a young man while here.”

Grizzlies’ season-long goal to be the ‘best version’ of themselves yields playoff-clinching success by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

With eight games to go in the 82-game, regular-season schedule, the Grizzlies approached last Saturday night’s tilt with the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks with a singular – and team shared goal: “to just find our best version.” “Get better every single day. Simple as that,” head coach Taylor Jenkins said after the Grizzlies (51-23) had wiped out the Indiana Pacers 133-103 at FedExForum the previous Thursday evening. “I’m repetitive because I don’t want them to be thinking anything other than, ‘Hey, there’s going to be this marker … that people are going to Terry talk about. We are really trying to find Davis our best selves defensively, offensively, spirit-wise; all that just gets better every single day.” With the win the Grizzlies clinched a playoff spot, joining the Western Conference Phoenix Suns as the only team in the league to have done so. The Grizzlies’ season-long quest to be the best version of themselves has wound itself around, through and over myriad challenges, including injuries to the team’s on-thefloor general and league All-Star Ja Morant, who remains out of the starting line-up as he recovers from a sore knee. Jenkins announced before tipoff with the Pacers that Morant’s absence will continue for an extended period, with an evaluation in two weeks. There now are less than three weeks left in the regular season. Now in his third season as Memphis’ head coach, Jenkins challenges each player to play at his best and live with the results. That has worked overall and notably in Morant’s absence, with the Grizzlies taking a 16-2 winning mark without the star guard into the matchup against Milwaukee. The Bucks proved to be no match for the Grizzlies as Memphis romped past Milwaukee 127-102. Desmond Bane finished the game with 20 points and 5 assists, Dillon Brooks added 19 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 16 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. “So, really proud of the guys,” said Jenkins after the victory, noting the Grizzlies adjusting to player availability. “Yes, roles have had to adjust a little bit, but they know when they’re out there how we play basketball. It’s a credit to them just not changing and overreacting to someone being in or out of the lineup.” The win was the Grizzlies’ third on a four-game homestand, with the final game two days later against the Golden State Warriors, who were without the services of All-Stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Steven Adams of the Grizzlies sets a pick for teammate Dillon Brooks, who scored 21points in Memphis’ win over Golden State.

Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins delivers instructions during a timeout in the win over the Indiana Pacers at FedExForum. (Photos: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender) Again, Memphis came out the winner, taking down the Warriors 123-95. “There’s been a level of physicality we’ve had to have in almost every single game, especially with Brooklyn, Milwaukee,” said Jenkins, reflecting on the homestand. “And even with some of their star players out, you’re going to have to have a level of physicality, on the ball and off the ball to get to our spots, to execute our offense. … You need this time of year to prepare for the long run.” Brooks noted that the Grizzlies have been able to “get up” for games against the top contenders and the teams not having successful seasons. “Last year, we couldn’t get those ‘trap’ games done. And this year we’re finally growing and taking care of business. … Like on our last road trip against Atlanta, we let one slip but then we come back on this homestand and did not let the Indiana game slip. … It’s just coming in every single day locked in and trying to get each other better … because we want to go into the playoffs with momentum.” As for the team’s mindset, Bane, who said he is growing into playing more point guard in Morant’s absence, put it this way: “Day by day. I mean, that’s been our approach all season long, just continuing to get better. Throughout the season, obviously, I get to reflect and look at what we’ve accomplished, but we’ve got bigger goals for sure. So just keep getting better one step at a time.” Acknowledging that the Grizzlies had checked off the clinching-a-playoff-spot box, Jackson said, “It’s cool I guess, but we’ve just got to move on because playoffs are going to come soon. Before we know it, we’re going to be in it. “Then the goals are going to change and we’re going to want to win a series and win the next one. One game at a time, but you know the goal is a championship.”

Xavier Tillman (left) and Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Grizzlies combine to stop Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. scores over Kevin Durant of the Nets as Kyrie Irving looks on.