The New Tri-State Defender - April 20-26, 2023

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April 20 - 26, 2023

VOL. 72, No. 16

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Pursuit of ‘Justice for Tyre’ yields a massive lawsuit Louise Polk Saulsberry (Photo: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell/The New Tri-State Defender)

The life of Byhalia matriarch represents historic love for ‘family and the land’

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Louise Polk Saulsberry, 91, just wanted a better life not only for children, but “for all of God’s people.”

As a result, she became an unlikely fighter against racial discrimination and unequal justice.

She waged a bold and courageous trek across Byhalia and Marshall County, urging AfricanAmerican residents to register for the vote.

Byhalia, a town of some 1,300 residents, is on U.S. 78 about 30 miles southeast of Memphis.

Even at the age of 13, Louise Polk was what people back in those days called “a great beauty. Connie B. Saulsberry, 21, saw her for the first time and immediately set out to make her his bride.

Saulsberry was the son of Tommie and Effie Young Saulsberry, the hard-working and industrious parents of 12 children.

The two were married and became the parents of seven children.

Louise worked hard in the cotton fields.

Connie was a farmer like his father. He opened Byhalia Fish Market in 1978, becoming a successful business owner for more than two decades.

The still-distinguished Louise recalls her past exploits with impressive clarity, while her children and grandchildren chime in with colorful detail.

Family lore has kept the stories of their ancestors and the family matriarch alive.

“I made it all the way to the ninth grade, and I could pick and chop 400 pounds of cotton a day,” Louise said.

As their seven children grew, “the Saulsberrys” wanted something better for their children.

Louise began working in 1973, when Byhalia’s population was about 700 people and Marshall County’s was about 25,000, with the NAACP in a door-to-door voter registration drive.

Louise and her one of her closest friends, Annie Lou Saulsberry, were spiritual mothers of First Baptist Church. They preached, taught, and prayed in the absence of a full-time minister.

“They kept the church going,” said Ruby Bright, retired chief executive officer of the Women’s Foundation and daughter of Annie Lou. “Both ladies married into the Saulsberry family. That’s how they ended up with the same

RowVaughn Wells, Tyre Nichols’ mother, said, losing a son put her in something “she never wanted to be a part of” – those who have lost children to violent encounters with law enforcement. (Photo: William Weeks/The New Tri-State Defender)

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Citing negligence on several fronts, civil rights attorney Ben Crump on Wednesday announced the filing of a $550 million lawsuit against the city of Memphis and others in the Tyre Nichols beating case by members of a special police crime suppression unit.

The lawsuit accuses the city of negligence in hiring Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, who also is named as a defendant. It contends Davis was culpable for lax hiring processes, along with the development of the SCORPION (Street Crimes Operation to Return Peace In Our Neighborhoods) Unit’s “oppression style of policing” and poor training.

The lawsuit states the city should have been aware of the Atlanta Police Department’s RED DOG Unit that Davis was closely tied with

when she was hired as Memphis’ police chief in 2021.

Also, the lawsuit said the creation of the SCORPION Unit should have raised red flags.

The lawsuit also alleged the SCORPION Unit rather than “restore peace” in Memphis neighborhoods, “consistent with the directives received from Chief Davis, herself,” brought terror…and conducted “untold Fourth Amendment violations with a focus on Black men living in Memphis.”

Flanked by other attorneys who helped devise the extensive complaint, Crump called the filing a “landmark lawsuit,” not only for the amount of money being sought, but also as a way of sending a message to other cities.

“We want other cities to know that if they allow these jump-out units, these red dog units, these pro-active police units to operate, we may be coming to your city next,” said Crump.

Crump continued, “We want police depart-

ments all over America to change their policies because it would be financially unsustainable to unjustly kill Black men and women…”

Nichols was brutally beaten during a Jan. 7 traffic stop by police officers working in a special detail called the SCORPION Unit, which was disbanded after Nichols’ death.

Officers were shown on video bludgeoning and spraying a chemical agent at Nichols.

The video footage was released to the public, sparking protests across the nation.

Nichols died Jan. 10 at St. Francis Hospital.

Also named as defendants in the lawsuit are former police officers and three Memphis Fire Department paramedics accused of failing to help Nichols at the scene are also named.

The other defendants are former SCORPION Unit police officers Emmitt Martin

SEE LAWSUIT ON PAGE 2

Tough landing …

Memphis’ two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant was charged with an offensive foul as he tried to maneuver past Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis late in the fourth quarter of the opening game of the first-round Western Conference Playoffs series at FedExForum on Sunday. He injured his hand in the fall and did not reenter the game. His availability was in jeopardy heading into game two Wednesday night (April 19). For story, see Sports, Page 10.

(Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)

SEE LOUISE ON PAGE 2

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The New Tri-State Defender

April 20 - 26, 2023

Page 2

NEWS

LAWSUIT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT III, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Desmond Mills Jr., and Tadarrius Bean.

All five officers were fired and later charged with second-degree murder and other serious felonies for their alleged actions in Nichols’ beating.

The lawsuit also targets Preston Hemphill, a former police officer fired for his role in the encounter, and former police lieutenant DeWayne Smith, who resigned from the Police Department before facing an administrative hearing for his role in the incident.

Former Fire Department paramedics Robert Long, JaMichael Sandridge, and Michelle Whitaker, who were also fired, are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Crump used the April 19 announcement to invoke “the lynching of Emmet Till 70 years ago.”

“Tyre was attacked by a lynch mob, except they were

Attorney Ben Crump emphasized the lawsuit is about “accountability.” (Photos: William Weeks/The New Tri-State Defender)

As they have been from the outset, local activists were present demanding justice for Tyre Nichols.

wearing department-issued t-shirts and badges,” said Crump.

Partnering with Crump was attorney Antonio Romanucci, who worked with Crump on the George Floyd case. His remarks placed Nichols’ death squarely on the doorstep of Davis.

“Cerelyn Davis brought the concept of the Red Dog Unit which operates in At-

leashed on Jan. 7 “the direct and foreseeable product of the unconstitutional policies, practices…and decisions of the City of Memphis and Chief Davis.”

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, both individually and as “administratrix ad litem,” which is legalese for the person appointed by a Probate Court to represent the in-

lanta,” said Romanucci. “She changed the name, but the purpose was still the same: make traffic stops of Black men and get as much evidence from the car as they possibly can…”

Crump said officers are going to testify that they were instructed to make these “unlawful, unconstitutional stops.”

“They will testify that Chief Davis told them, ‘Don’t worry about cases being thrown out,”

Pictured (l-r): Marsha Saulsberry, granddaughter; Katie Saulsberry Williams, daughter; Mary Saulsberry Stallings, great niece, Louise Saulsberry, the matriarch; Ruby Saulsberry Bright, great niece; Linda Saulsberry Harrison, daughter; Lashanda Humphrey, great-granddaughter-inlaw. (Photos: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell/The New TriState Defender)

LOUISE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT last name. My mother married my Uncle Connie’s nephew, Ferl Saulsberry. That was my father,” Bright explained.

Louise’s role as a church leader seemed a natural springboard to working with voter registration. She wanted a better life, not only for her children, but “for all of God’s people.”

“I would go into the home and talk to them about voting,” Louise said.

She continued, “Some thought because they didn’t own any land, or because they were poor, they couldn’t vote.

And, sometimes, they were just plain scared to vote. But I would tell them, ‘If you want change, then vote. But, if you want things to stay just like they are, then don’t vote.’”

Despite warnings, intimidation, and outright threats from whites in leadership, Louise refused to stop.

A new day was dawning in Mississippi because African-Americans began to understand the power of their vote.

Louise would pay a heavy price for not backing down — the imprisonment of her eldest son, Larry Saulsberry.

He was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana, which might have otherwise warranted a few months in jail and a nominal fine. Larry Saulsberry was sentenced to 28 years.

Crump said.

Crump said the lawsuit hits directly “at the indifference of those involved.”

Romanucci’s office released a press release on Wednesday, stating the “savage beating of Tyre Nichols” was set in motion when the Memphis City Council appointed Davis as the new police chief.

The document calls the brutality against Nichols un-

terest of Tyre Nichols’ estate.

Wells spoke briefly, saying that losing a son puts her in “a fraternity she never wanted to be a part of,” those who have lost children to violent encounters with law enforcement.

When asked how the attorneys came up with the $550 million figure, Crump said, “It is the 55th year since Dr. Martin Luther King was killed.”

Crump said the suit is not about the money, but about “accountability.”

Wells is being represented

by Crump, Romanucci, Bhavani K. Raveendran, Bryce T. Hensley and Sarah M. Raisch of Romanucci & Blandin.

Local counsel includes David Mendelson and Benjamin Wachtel of Mendelson Law Firm, Lashonda Council-Rogers of Council & Associates, and retired Memphis City Court judge Earnestine Hunt Dorse.

Crump said each attorney had a hand in meticulously composing the 897-paragraph complaint.

Historic First Baptist Church, where Mother Louise Polk Saulsberry served.

The Saulsberry cemetery.

family

“It was their chance to pay my mother back,” said Katie Saulsberry. “My brother was sentenced to 28 years. He served 23.”

Year after year, Louise Saulsberry petitioned the judge to reduce her son’s sentence, but she was repeatedly denied.

“This was a praying mother, and she was undeterred by their denials,” said Bright.

Aunt Louise tried to get Larry released for more than 20 years. Larry was finally released after 23 years.”

Sadly, Larry Saulsberry would only live 18 months as a free man. His death was a source of great sorrow, especially to his mother.

Now, Louise finds immense joy in spending time with her children and their children, and generations beyond them.

Family lore says that somehow, two of the Saulsberry men actually got their 40 acres and a mule.

Those 80 acres grew into many more. Some sold their portion of land for a quick payoff.

But others learned to value the land from their ancestors.

“We understand that land is wealth, the inheritance of our parents and grandparents,” said Bright. “Our children have been taught to cherish and value the land. When all else fails, they know they can always come back home because the land is our home.”

The New Tri-State Defender

April 20 - 26, 2023

Page 3

NEWS

Tennessee moves to shield gun firms after school shooting

by Jonathan Mattise Associated Press

NASHVILLE – In the wake of a deadly school shooting last month, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee awarded final passage Tuesday to a proposal that would further protect gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers and sellers against lawsuits.

The Senate’s 19-9 vote sends the bill to Republican Gov. Bill Lee, despite pushback from Democratic lawmakers saying their GOP counterparts are trying to shield gun companies just weeks after the Nashville school shooting that killed six people, including three 9-year-olds.

The final vote came as Lee’s administration was still trying to drum up enough support among lawmakers in his party to pass legislation to keep firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others. The fate of that kind of measure remains uncertain.

Lawmakers are hurrying to finish a legislative session as soon as this week while receiving national scrutiny over the expulsion of Rep. Justin Pearson (District 86, Memphis) and Rep. Justin Jones (District 52, Nashville). Pearson and Jones, who are

now reinstated, were expelled over a House floor gun control protest. Students, parents and others have also applied pressure for weeks to pass gun safety measures.

Democratic Sen. London Lamar (District 33, Memphis) said it’s “disrespectful timing” to push through protections for gun companies while people continue to march at the Capitol for gun control changes. The civil liabilities bill passed just ahead of a protest in which people formed a human chain through Nashville to the Capitol in support of gun control measures.

“I am challenging you not to pass this bill because we need to do more to protect citizens from gun violence than the people making the guns that people can use to kill more people,” Lamar had said.

In the demonstration, scores of people gathered in the late afternoon along a three-mile route from the children’s hospital at Vanderbilt University, where victims of the school shooting were taken, to the state Capitol, some with arms outstretched and hands clasped, and others linked arm in arm. The demonstration stretched from sidewalks near campus to a plaza outside the Capitol where many held signs with messages such as,

“We’ve been receiving emails and calls, people are holding up signs, telling us to go out of our way to help those people.

Not one of those signs says to protect the gun manufacturers.”

— Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville “I’m A Voice for Gun Safety.”

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Joey Hensley from Hohenwald, said his legislation doesn’t prevent any other proposal from passing. The bill passed the House ahead of the March 27 shooting at The Covenant School.

“This is just to try to help businesses in this state that have chosen to come here, to give them a little civil liability,” Hensley said.

The Tennessee bill spells out a half-dozen situations in which gun and ammo companies could be held civilly liable in Tennessee state courts, exempting others.

Three Republicans voted against the legislation, including Sen. Art

Reappointed to District 86 a week after being expelled by the GOP-dominated House, Justin Pearson takes the oath of office.

Pearson was expelled for his role in the Tennessee House floor gun control protest in the wake of the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender) Swann of Maryville, who said “gun-makers have encouraged the environment we’ve got right now.”

“They’re accountable for it, and we need to hold them to it,” Swann said.

The firearm industry remains largely shielded from liability under federal law. Seventeen states do not have special immunity for the gun industry, and Tennessee is already not among them, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control advocacy group.

Last year, Remington, the company that made the rifle used in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut, settled with the families of those killed in the shooting for $73 million. The families had accused the company of targeting younger, at-risk males in advertising and product placement in violent video games.

And in February, families of those killed and injured in a 2018 Texas

high school shooting settled a lawsuit they filed against a Tennessee-based online retailer, Lucky Gunner, that was accused of illegally selling ammunition to the student who authorities say fatally shot 10 people.

The owner of the company, Jordan Mollenhour, sits on the Tennessee State Board of Education. The company was accused of failing to verify Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ age – he was 17, at the time – when he bought more than 100 rounds of ammunition on two occasions before the May 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School.

“There are people that we should be going out of way to protect this week,” Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville said.

“And we’ve been receiving emails and calls, people are holding up signs, telling us to go out of our way to help those people. Not one of those signs says to protect the gun manufacturers.”

PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, April 20 - 26, 2023, Page 4

MSCS Superintendent search – the ‘drama’ continues!

by Curtis Weathers

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

I am not the kind of person who likes to say, “I told you so.”

But I told you so!

It never fails, somehow or another “drama” has a way of finding a welcoming seat at the table when it comes to searching for a superintendent for our beloved Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Is it just me, or does the “search” process seem incredibly flawed at this point?

First there were three (finalists), then there were seven, now there are four.

My head, I’m certain, is not the only one spinning out of control right now.

After watching Tuesday’s (April 18) work session, board members seem frustrated and unsure of what the next steps should be.

The School Board is at a critical stage of the process, and clearly, board members are not happy with the four finalists left standing.

And so, the finger-pointing is in hyper mode right now. We now have a process that is in total disarray.

Based on concerns that are being publicly expressed by board members, key details about the search process and the criteria used to evaluate candidates are the central issues.

While that is unacceptable, the blame rests squarely in the laps of board members, not the search firm.

This is not the school board’s first time conducting a search for a superintendent. The district has been through this process multiple times over the last two decades or more.

The School Board should have its own step-by-step playbook on how to manage this process successfully.

So right now, here’s where we stand.

First, board members cannot agree

on where we are from a policy perspective with regards to the qualifications needed to be considered for the superintendent’s job.

The policy in Curtis question dictates Weathers that superintendent candidates must have 10 years of education experience to be considered for the job.

This is why some members of the board are ignoring policies that might disqualify certain candidates, namely Toni Williams.

Some board members (not all) want the policies revised (or ignored) so Toni Williams can remain a finalist.

In other words, they want to make the rules up as they go along.

So now, we’re at a standstill.

There are now four finalists waiting to be vetted.

Dr. Carlton Jenkins currently serves as superintendent of Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a career educator whose experience includes a principalship and two superintendent positions.

The Madison Metropolitan School District has 54 schools and serves just over 27,000 students. Thirty-six percent of MMSD students are economically disadvantaged, and only 18 percent of the district’s enrollment is African American.

Earlier this year, Dr. Jenkins announced his retirement from the Madison Metropolitan School District, effective at the end of this school year.

According to reports, Dr. Jenkins decided to retire “so he could spend more time with his family.”

He now wants to suspend his plans for retirement and lead one of

TSD education columnist Curtis Weathers said that based on concerns being publicly expressed by MSCS board members, important details about the superintendent search process were not clearly explained. He adds that while that is unacceptable, “the blame rests squarely in the laps of board members, not the search firm.” (Screen capture)

Blame rests squarely in the laps of board members, not the search firm.

This is not the school board’s first time conducting a search for a superintendent. The district has been through this process multiple times over the last two decades or more. the largest, most challenging urban school systems in the nation.

Keith Miles Jr. is superintendent of Bridgeton Public Schools in Bridgeton, New Jersey. A career educator, he has served as superintendent of schools, an assistant superintendent, a high school principal, and World Language and STEM instructor.

Dr. Angela Whitelaw currently serves Memphis-Shelby County Schools as the deputy superintendent of Schools and Academic Support.

The departments falling under her

leadership include Academics, Strategy and Performance Management, Student, Family and Community Affairs, Academic Operations and School Support, and Research and Accountability.

She is highly qualified.

In her years of service in Memphis-Shelby County Schools, she has served as Chief of Schools, Assistant Superintendent of Schools and Leadership, Instructional Leadership Director, Southwest Regional Coordinator, Principal, Assistant Principal, and Instructional Resource Teacher.

Toni Williams, MSCS interim superintendent, has been involved in an extensive interview process while leading this school system after the departure of Joris Ray. Thus far she has done a pretty good job.

So where do we go from here?

The board wants to suspend the search process until it receives more information about the candidate pool and their concerns about the process (which are many) have been sufficiently addressed.

But I have the solution and it’s not complicated.

First, go ahead and revise the policy so Toni Williams can be considered along with the other three can-

didates.

If the board refuses to change the policy, then she needs to withdraw from consideration because she does not qualify under current board policy.

While it is going to be messy and highly controversial, the board needs to go ahead and get that piece of business out of the way while we are at a pause in the process.

The other three candidates meet board policy and so the process can now move forward.

Second, restart the interview process with the four finalists and choose the person who will lead our beloved Memphis Shelby County Schools into the future.

As I alluded to earlier, we seem incapable of running a clean, drama-free superintendent search process without some degree of “drama” tagging along.

So, let’s just hold on and enjoy the ride as we head towards the finish line.

It’s going to be a bumpy one!

(Follow me, TSD’s education columnist, on Twitter @curtisweathers.

Email me at curtislweathers@gmail. com.)

National Financial Literacy Month: Tune up on the basics of your financial literacy journey

by Trevia Chatman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Financial literacy, or the ability to make sound financial decisions, can significantly impact a person’s future. I hope readers will be encouraged this National Financial Literacy Month to learn the basics of personal finance, taxes, and more.

One of the most important aspects of financial literacy is personal finance, which can include budgeting, saving and spending. Every budget is different, but there are a few ground rules everyone can use when thinking about personal finance.

First, keep track of your income and expenses. While this might seem simple, many Americans end each

month wondering where all their money went. Instead, try using a budgeting tool to get a handle on your spending habits, then set some basic goals, such as building an emergency fund.

While it’s difficult to plan for every outcome, having a little bit of money set aside can make a stressful situation much more manageable.

Understanding debt is also crucial to becoming more financially literate.

While some debt, like a home mortgage, may make sense long-term, you’ll want to pay off your credit card debt as quickly as possible because interest on the debt will continue to pile up.

Many websites offer free calculators to give you an idea of just how

much you might be paying in interest each month. Not only will paying off credit card debt save you money on interest, but it will also free up that money to be used on things you enjoy.

Finally, while Tax Day (April 18) has just passed, it’s always a good idea to educate yourself about the basics of your tax situation. Take the time to understand your Tennessee and federal income tax obligations, as well as the deductions and credits you may be eligible for.

And, of course, putting your taxes off until the last minute is a bad idea, especially if you have a more complicated return.

If you have any questions, make sure to contact a tax professional.

They can answer your questions and

help you avoid trouble with the IRS down the road.

If you want to improve your financial health and meet your goals, I recommend using our Better Money Habits program to determine your financial priorities and find the right resources for your stage of life. Here in Memphis, organizations such as Bank On Memphis, Memphis Urban League, and Agape Child and Family Services are valuable resources that can lead you on the right path during your financial health journey.

Best of luck with your financial literacy journey and happy National Financial Literacy Month!

(Trevia Chatman is president, Bank of America Memphis.)

April is Financial Literacy Month and Trevia Chatman, president of Bank of America Memphis, says that while every budget is different, there are a few ground rules everyone can use when thinking about personal finance. (Photo: Isaac Singleton)

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The New Tri-State Defender

April 20 - 26, 2023

RELIGION

Page 5

Work of ESPN Academy founder takes root in Jamaica

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Doris Thomas Hill envisioned a school in Jamaica that would mirror her successful, tutorial program at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church.

On April 13, the dedication and ribboncutting of The Keith Primary School in the Hill-Robinson Building was the realization of a two-decades-old dream.

Hill opened The Education Scholarship Preparation Nurture (ESPN) Academy in 2001, with the full approval of her husband and pastor, Dr. Alfred DeWayne Hill Sr. Pastor Hill was so enthusiastic about the program that he made the institute part of the church’s community outreach.

When Dr. Hill was tragically killed in 2002, his wife continued the work of ESPN, expanding the vision to Jamaica because of Dr. Hill’s desire to extend the church’s outreach efforts to Jamaica and the West Indies.

In 2019, Doris Hill lost her fight with congestive heart failure. Loved ones and her church family remembered that she worked tirelessly, gathering donations of money and supplies to ship over to the school and ministry where she and Dr. Hill had provided so many resources for nearly two decades.

Doris Hill’s building opened posthumously, but goddaughter and ESPN Principal Evidane Slaughter traveled to Jamaica for the happy occasion.

“My husband, Brandon, and I went to Jamaica for the dedication and ribboncutting of The Hill-Robinson Building,” said Slaughter. “The building is equipped with a Literacy Room, an All-Boys’ Classroom, and Community Room. A project in the making for over 20 years has come to life, and the legacy of our beloved founders lives on in Jamaica.”

Dr. Amos Jones, president of the National Association of Christian Educators (NACE), partnered with Doris Hill to bring the new school building to fruition.

Jones has sponsored and led numerous mission trips to Jamaica for ministers and laypeople, alike. Jones made a very generous donation on behalf of NACE. “When we lost Dr. Hill, I made a promise that when we completed the school, I would make sure he was honored,” said Jones. “Both Doris and Dr. Hill had a real heart for outreach in Jamaica. It was only fitting that the building be named for Dr. Hill.”

Also honored with the naming was Deacon James Robinson, who not only generously supported the school with his wife, Queen Robinson, but he also made the annual mission trip with NACE. While on mission, ministers and laypeople conduct Vacation Bible School

Evidane Slaughter and Brandon Slaughter in front of a photo of the late Rev. Dr. Alfred DeWayne Hill Sr.

ESPN Academy Principal Evidane Slaughter, and husband, Brandon Slaughter, stand on the balcony of the newly dedicated Hill-Robinson Building. (Courtesy photos)

The Keith Primary School now features the Hill-Robinson Building. and other Christian education sessions.

“This was my first trip to Jamaica,” said Evidane Slaughter. “It was so exciting, and so inspiring for all of us. I had time to spend with the principal at Keith Primary School. I shared some of the basics of teaching children how to read. What a joy the whole experience was.

Slaughter is principal at Cornerstone Prep Lester School in Binghamton.

“The trip outside the states opened my eyes to an important truth,” said Slaughter.

“Black and brown children have the same struggles across the world. But good

teaching is good teaching. An effective reading instruction program is key to improving education.”

When Hill first opened ESPN Academy Memphis, it began as a tutorial program to improve the high school graduation rates and increase the number of children performing at grade level.

For several days a week, certified teachers and tutors provided church and community children academic enrichment and social development as tutors and caring mentors.

The concept absolutely worked. So, in

The Hill-Robinson building includes a Literacy Room.

Three who have been instrumental in the Jamaican work are from left: the Rev. J.J. Green, Deacon James Robinson, for whom the building is named, and Dr. Amos Jones, president of the National Association of Christian Educators (NACE).

August 2006, ESPN Academy teachers knocked on doors in South Memphis, looking for school-age children who needed help with their homework.

The academy had officially expanded to an after-school program.

It was a strike aimed at reducing juvenile crime.

“I have a new perspective on our work here in Memphis,” said Slaughter.

“Despite the challenges, our students are blessed with so much. They have so much potential. I have been so inspired…I am so optimistic.”

The New Tri-State Defender, April 20 - 26, 2023, Page 6

The ‘new’ Tom Lee Park coming into view TSD Newsroom A reimagined Tom Lee Park is 80 percent complete, according to Memphis River Parks, the entity shouldering the task.

The grand opening is scheduled for Labor Day weekend.

On Tuesday (April 18), a glimpse of the work completed and what lies ahead was visible on Media Day. Construction will halt for the Memphis in May festival, then resume to the finish line.

When the public space is complete, visitors will have access to:

● Dynamic views of the Mississippi River and sunsets ● A Monument to Listening, a new artwork

by Theaster Gates ● Buckman Outdoor Classroom and river-centered curriculum ● Creatures of the Mississippi River playground ● More than 1,OOO new trees ● The architectural park centerpiece Sunset Canopy dedicated in memory of Tyre Nichols ● More than 3OO,OOO sq. ft. of native grasses and shrubs ● Elevated selection of park food and drinks

The crown jewel of Memphis’ riverfront transformation is Tom Lee Park, named for an African-American river worker who, on May 8, 1925, courageously rescued 32 people from drowning in the Mississippi River. (Photos: William Weeks/The New Tri-State Defender)

Noted …

Family and friends celebrated on Tuesday (April 18) as trailblazing bass player Omar Higgins, who died on April 18, 2019, posthumously was saluted with an addition to The Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame. Many knew Higgins as the frontman of Chinese Connection Dub Embassy and Negro Terror. The celebration, which included a concert in Handy Park, also featured the unveiling of artistry by Walter “Sir Walt” Andrade (second from right).

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

The New Tri-State Defender

April 20 - 26, 2023

Page 7

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK REVIEW

‘Love, Honor, Betray’ delivers a wild romp and then …

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Those are words you hear when someone is about to testify in a court of law. They put the “sworn” into sworn testimony, and you’ll also find the phrase in courtroom dramas, legal thrillers, and “Perry Mason”.

You don’t hear those words in a marriage ceremony, but in the new book “Love, Honor, Betray” by Mary Monroe, maybe you should.

He could’ve looked all over Lexington, Alabama, for the rest of his life and Hubert Wiggins wouldn’t have found a more-fitting wife than his Maggie had been.

Before he met her, she’d been sexually assaulted and though she wanted to repeat her vows with someone special, she vowed that she’d never have relations again – which was fine with Hubert. He preferred to sleep with men anyhow, so their marriage was perfect.

Alas, Maggie died just over a year ago and Hubert needed a new wife.

Jessie, Maggie’s best friend, had her sights set on Hubert the day he put Maggie in the ground. In order to land him, she lied to him, said that he’d raped her when he was drunk and now she was pregnant, even though Hubert swore that he was traumatized by loss and couldn’t perform in bed because of it.

Jessie was sure she could cure Hubert’s problem. In the meantime, she wasn’t above having a fling when a fine man made it possible.

It was 1941, and sneaking around to see his boyfriend, Leroy, was a challenge for Hubert, especially when the police were doubly-rough on a Black man in a nicer car at night. They didn’t care that Hubert was a respected businessman in Lexington’s Black community. They didn’t care that he was a funeral director, that his business had buried almost all the murder victims of a serial killer loose in the area.

The police might have had something to say, though, if they knew that Hubert and Jessie had murdered a woman named Blondeen...

Love a wild romp between the pages?

Then you’ll be overjoyed with the opening two-thirds of “Love, Honor, Betray,” where infidelity becomes an art form.

It’s rowdy and fun, in fact, until the books’ pinnacle, at a point where author Mary Monroe might seem to be wrapping things up. But look: there’s a chunk of book left, and that’s where everything falls apart.

It’s as if someone took a hammer to the plot here and busted it to pieces. Characters act contrary to the personalities that were built up for them for 200 solid pages, and they do things that feel disrespectful to gay readers. This destroys the sense of fun that accompanied the everybody-sleeps-around chaos early in the book. Is it merciful or irritating, then, that the story doesn’t tie up loose threads, but it just... ends?

Readers who are comfortable not finishing a book will enjoy this one, if they put it aside before it’s done. Go too far into “Love, Honor, Betray,” though, and you’ll be sorry you finished the whole thing.

“Love, Honor, Betray”

by Mary Monroe c.2023, Dafina $26 320 pages

Mary Monroe (Courtesy photo)

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, April 20 - 26, 2023, Page 8

The celebration of the 36th annual Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival, Inc., which is honoring the Republic of Rwanda, kicked off on Wednesday (April 19).

Rawanda coming into view during Africa in April 2023 TSD Newsroom The Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival, Inc. will salute the Republic of Rwanda – a Central African nation of nearly 14 million – through Sunday.

The 36th annual celebration kicked off on Wednesday (April 19) with the International Business and Entrepreneur’s Luncheon at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis.

Shannon A. Brown, the retired senior vice president of FedEx’s Eastern Division of Operations and chief diversity officer, is this year’s Executive of the Year.

The festival, which is spearheaded by Dr. David Acey, executive director and Yvonne B. Acey, associate director, once again will be anchored Downtown in Robert R. Church Park.

Vendors, about 150 of them, will showcase a variety of fashion, food and other items. Live music will add to the festival’s soundtrack, featuring multiple genres (blues, jazz, reggae) with Sunday focused on gospel.

Affecting children is a huge part of the festival’s mission and there is a children’s activity center to build upon that.

On Friday, the International Diversity Parade will re-

verberate near Church Park, beginning at 10 a.m.

Hours and admission Robert R. Church Park will vibe with the sights and sounds of the festival from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday; 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $10 after 4 p.m. Friday; $10 Saturday and Sunday.

Dr. David Acey, executive director of the Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival, Inc, and Yvonne B. Acey, associate director, join retired FedEx executive Shannon A. Brown, the Executive of the Year, in showcasing the 2023 Africa in April poster.

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

(Visit africainapril.org. for mor information.)

Golden memories …

Several members of the Spring of 1973 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beta Tau Initiates recently celebrated their Golden (50th) Anniversary at the Embassy Suites

by Hilton, 1022 S. Shady Grove Rd. Present and contributing to the reunion were: Thelma Haynes Burchett, Arlinda Turner Cagle, Mary Callahan Clayborn, Gloria Pryor Lewis, Virginia Smith Potts, Barbara Ollie Ragland, Dr. Inetta F. Rogers, and Vontyna Noel Winfrey. Sandra Clark Vaughn was not able to attend. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

On strike for the long haul …

Since April 12, about 88 drivers at Republic Services, which provides waste recycling and waste disposal services, have been on strike at two locations.

Represented by Teamsters Local 667, organizers said the strike partially is in response to unfair labor practices. A Republic Services employee was killed on the job at the Memphis landfill on March 31. Union members also describe management’s posture in negotiations as contentious. The TSD has reached out to Republic management but had not made contact by the print deadline.

(Courtesy photo)

The New Tri-State Defender

April 20 - 26, 2023

Page 9

NATIONAL

Homeowner who shot Black teen Ralph Yarl pleads not guilty LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) – Walking with a cane and speaking too quietly to be heard throughout a Liberty, Missouri, courtroom, 84-yearold Andrew Lester pleaded not guilty Wednesday in the shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager who mistakenly knocked on Lester’s front door looking for his younger brothers.

The shooting has attracted presidential attention and renewed national debate about gun policies as people react with shock to a 16-year-old honor student being shot first in the head, then in the arm while making a routine stop in a residential neighborhood.

The case is among three in recent days involving young people who were shot after mistakenly showing up in the wrong places. A 20-year-old woman was killed in upstate New York when the car she was in pulled into the wrong driveway. In Texas, two cheerleaders were shot after one of them mistakenly got into a car thinking it was hers.

Yarl was shot at point-blank range in the head but miraculously survived the bullet.

Some civil rights leaders and Yarl’s family attorney, Lee Merritt, have urged prosecutors to charge Lester with a hate crime, with Merritt noting that “was armed only with his Black skin.”

Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson said first-degree assault is a higher-level crime, allowing a sentence of up to life in prison, which is more than a hatecrime charge would carry.

Though activists have called for the U.S. Department of

Justice to investigate, it was unclear whether it would do so. Messages seeking comment from the department were not returned.

Lester remains free after posting $20,000 – 10 percent of his $200,000 bond – and agreeing to relinquish any weapons and have no contact with Yarl or his family. He also agreed to have his cellphone monitored.

Yarl’s relatives were not at Wednesday’s hearing because they are emotionally exhausted, Merritt said. Lester’s attorney, Steve Salmon, did not come out of the courthouse to speak with reporters.

The shooting happened about 10 p.m. Thursday. Police Chief Stacey Graves said that Yarl’s mother asked him to pick up his twin brothers at a home on 115th Terrace.

Yarl, who is an all-state band member as well as a top student, mistakenly went to 115th Street – a block away from where he meant to be.

When he rang the bell, Lester came to the door and used a .32 caliber Smith and Wesson 1888 revolver to shoot the teenager.

Lester told police he lives alone and was “scared to death” when he saw Yarl on the porch because he thought someone was trying to break in, police said in court documents.

No words were exchanged before the shooting, but afterward, as Yarl got up to run, he heard Lester yell, “Don’t come around here,” the statement said.

Yarl ran to multiple homes asking for help before finding someone who would call the

Robert Yarl (Photo: Ben Crump Law, via AP) Andrew Lester, 84, appeared in court on Wednesday in Liberty, Missouri, where he pleaded not guilty in the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl. (Photo: Screen capture, AP video.) police, according to court documents.

Merritt said the teen is hardly an imposing figure.

“The question is, at 5-8 and 140 pounds, what did Andrew Lester look out and see?” Merritt asked at a downtown rally Tuesday. “And the answer is he saw a Black person. And for him, that was enough justification. And that would just be a tragedy except law enforcement agreed with him.”

Legal experts expect Lester to claim self-defense and cite Missouri’s “Stand Your Ground” law, sometimes referred to as the “Castle Doctrine.” Missouri is among about 30 states with similar laws that say residents don’t have to retreat when threat-

ened in their homes, but instead can respond with physical, even lethal force.

But Merritt said the law only applies if “someone’s on your property and they’re looking to do you harm .... We don’t have any evidence of that. The Castle Doctrine does not apply to this case.”

The shooting outraged many in Kansas City and across the country. President Joe Biden spoke with Yarl on Monday, and on Tuesday invited him to the White House.

“No parent should have to worry that their kid will be shot after ringing the wrong doorbell,” Biden tweeted.

“We’ve got to keep up the fight against gun violence.”

Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who had remained silent on the shooting until Wednesday, accused Biden of politicizing it.

“I don’t want some 16-yearold kid to be getting shot because he went to the wrong house – we just don’t want those kinds of things to happen. It’s a tragedy,” Parson told the Kansas City Star.

“When the president of the United States is trying to make a political statement over a very serious tragedy, it is very unfortunate.”

Thompson, the prosecutor, said Monday that there was a “racial component” to the shooting but did not elaborate.

Merritt said the Yarl family

met privately with Thompson. The prosecutor said he was “echoing the words from law enforcement that obviously there’s a racial dynamic at play in this case,” said Merritt, who called the answer “shallow.”

Lester’s next court date is June 1.

“From this point forward, the state will be pushing to move this case forward as swiftly as legally permitted,” Thompson said in a statement after Wednesday’s hearing.

(This Associated Press Story by Margaret Stafford and Jim Salter, who reported from O’Fallon, Missouri. Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed to this report.)

CLASSIFIEDS NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC The following person(s) has asked the City of Memphis Alcohol Commission for permission to sell beer for Beer-On premise consumption.

Applicant: Full Flava Foods, LLC D/B/A: The Wing Guru - Whitehaven Location: 4130 Elvis Presley Blvd Anyone desiring to circulate a petition FOR or AGAINST said establishment selling beer at this location must secure the petition blanks from the undersigned Commission at 2714 Union Ave. Extended 1st floor.

Must be filed no later than Tuesday, May 2, 2023 Jared Johnson, Chairman Anna Vergos Blair, Member Claudette Boyd, Member Barry Chase, Member Chad Hampton, Member Brian Harris, Member Charles Monger, II, Member Renee Poe, Member Johnsie Wallace-Gault, Member

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Your Community Needs You! Lift up your community by having regular health checkups & staying up to date on your vaccinations.

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SPORTS The New Tri-State Defender, April 20 - 26, 2023, Page 10

Jackson wins Defensive Player of Year Associated Press Nobody blocked more shots per game, nor had better defensive numbers at the rim this season, than Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. And voters noticed.

The Memphis big man was announced Monday night as the NBA’s defensive player of the year, becoming the second player to win the award while wearing a Grizzlies’ uniform. He joins Marc Gasol in that club, after the Spaniard did it a decade ago.

Jackson led the league with 3.0 blocks per game this season, after finishing fifth in the defensive player of the year voting last season.

He got 56 first-place votes and 391 voting points to finish ahead of runner-up Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks, who got 31 first-place votes and 309 points. Cleveland’s Evan Mobley — in just his second NBA season — was third with eight first-place votes and 101 points.

“Team defense really helps us. It goes a long way,” Jackson said on the TNT broadcast that announced the award.

The shooting percentage that Jackson allowed at the rim – 46.9 percent – was the best in the league among those with at least 300 shots defended there, and was an obvious plus on Memphis’ path to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

“Hands down, no-brainer, JJ’s definitely defensive player of the year,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said earlier this month.

Jenkins could get into all the analytics that he wants, but the simple eye test also tells the story. Jackson wasn’t ready for the start of the season because his surgically repaired

right foot needed more recovery time.

And Memphis was, well, not great on defense while waiting for Jackson to get ready.

“He missed the first (15) games of the year. We were really bad defensively,” Jenkins said. “He comes back into the lineup and things turn the corner drastically.”

Jackson gave Jenkins and the Grizzlies’ staff much credit for his role in helping him win the award.

“They’ve instilled the confidence in me to be aggressive offensively – but really unleash me defensively to go out there and do whatever,” Jackson said.

Lopez, the runner-up, had never been this close to a major individual award in his 15 NBA seasons.

Even though he’s always been a shot-blocker – he’s swatted 1.8 per game throughout his career – this was the first time that Lopez was a serious candidate for the DPOY award. He finished 10th in the balloting in 2020, a season in which his Milwaukee teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo took home both that award and MVP. Lopez blocked a career-best and league-high 193 shots this season, plus contested 17.5 shots per game — by far the most of anyone in the league.

Golden State’s Draymond Green was fourth, followed by Miami’s Bam Adebayo in fifth, Antetokounmpo in sixth, Toronto’s O.G. Anunoby and Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday tied for seventh, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton tied for ninth, Chicago’s Alex Caruso in 11th and Miami’s Jimmy Butler in 12th.

(This Associated Press story is by Tim Reynolds.)

The self-described “Block Panther,” Jaren Jackson Jr. Jackson led the league with 3.0 blocks per game this season en route to being named the Defensive Player of the Year. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender Archives)

Memphis’ Desmond Bane (22) and Dillon Brooks focus on Ja Morant after he crashed to the floor late in the fourth quarter. Morant aggravated a hand injury and did not return (Photos: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)

Ouch! Grizzlies and Ja Morant go down in playoff game 1

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

In the NBA, a star that goes up doesn’t always come down in the same condition, and when he doesn’t in the first game of a playoff series, the possibility of a winning outcome – for the game and the series –takes a hit.

With Memphis hosting the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday at FedExForum, the Grizzlies’ floor general, Ja Morant, launched a late fourth-quarter attack from the Terry paint, dramatiDavis cally aggravating a right-hand injury suffered a couple of weeks ago. That was Morant’s last play in what ended as a 128-112 win for the Lakers.

Seated at his locker after the game, Morant slowly put on his undershirts and a hoodie before fielding questions.

“I am in a bit of pain,” said Morant, who had 18 points and 6 points before he crashed to the floor, writhing there before getting up and sprinting off the court and out of the sight of fans for medical attention.

“It is hard, especially (with) what I have been dealing with this regular season. My main focus was to get out there with my guys,” said Morant, whose readiness for Wednesday’s Game 2 is – by his description – “in jeopardy.”

Dillion Brooks, who scored 15 points (4 rebounds, 2 assists) while mostly guarding LeBron James (21 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks) said, “We have his (Morant’s) back always. Whatever he needs we got him. We will see in a couple of days (about his status).”

With the win, the No. 7 seed Lakers seized home-court advantage from second-seeded Memphis. “We didn’t execute the priorities of the game plan,” said Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins.

“We didn’t get rebounds and did not do well in the half-court defense.” The Lakers outrebounded the Grizzlies 45-34.

With the FedExForum rocking with turned-up energy and excitement for

Desmond Bane gets the layup ahead of LeBron James’ defense. the playoffs long before the opening tip, the Grizzlies got an early hint that the L.A.’s Austin Reaves might be a problem. Reaves, who ended up with 23 points and connected on 3 shots from beyond the three-pointer arc, got hot early, scoring 7 of the Lakers’ first 11 points.

Riding the effectiveness of center Anthony Davis, L.A. took its largest first-quarter lead with 2:11 to go.

Doing what they did often during the regular season, the second unit of the Grizzlies made a run and cut into the deficit, with Memphis down five (3227) to end the first quarter.

At that point, Davis, who finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocks and 3 assists, had 8 points. Memphis power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. countered with 8 of his game-high 31 points (5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks) in the quarter.

A 5-0 run that featured a three-pointer by Luke Kennard and a steal and dunk by Morant forced the Lakers into a timeout with 7:38 left in the first half and the Lakers clinging to a one-point lead (43-42). Memphis kept rolling and took a 65-59 lead into halftime.

Near the end of the quarter, Davis left the court assisted by the medical staff. He was diagnosed with a stinger and returned for the start of the second half.

The third quarter was a downer for the Grizzlies, who were outscored 3725 and trailed 96-90 heading into the final quarter. Rui Hachimura had 12 of his career-high 29 points in the quar-

ter, along with eight for James and six for Davis. Morant and Desmond Bane (22 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds) each had 8 points for Memphis.

The Grizzlies surged back and took the lead when Dillon Brooks’ two-point running finger roll layup made the score 99-98 with 9:47 to play. With 5:48 left and the Lakers leading 105-101, Morant attempted his ill-fated dunk over Davis, who drew the charging foul with Morant landed awkwardly.

As the Grizzlies forged forward without Morant, Jackson scored five straight points, pulling Memphis to within a basket (108-106) with 4:38 to play. When he drained a three-pointer with 3:04 left, the gap was down to a single point (113-112).

Memphis did not score again.

Jenkins took note of the load Jackson shouldered.

“He played extremely well,” Jenkins said. “They are going to start throwing double teams at him. When he got to his spots on the floor, he found his angles. He got separation and (had) a good finishing game. He was huge for us.”

Hachimura’s franchise-tying scoring performance off the bench largely offset Jackson’s yeoman work.

“I was just going with the flow,” Hachimura said. “The way they guarded me, I had to be ready. In the second half, we spread the ball.

Those shots just came to me.”

(Visit TSDMemphis.com for the Game 2 story.)