The New Tri-State Defender - August 4-10, 2022

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August 4 - 10, 2022

VOL. 71, No. 31

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Amid division in slain pastor’s family, some clergy oppose prosecuting teens as adults

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Impassioned pleas marked a press conference where church leaders representing various denominations opposed transferring two 15-year-olds to adult court to stand trial for the July 18 killing of Pastor Autura Eason-Williams.

Those church leaders on Tuesday morning joined forces with United Methodist Church ministers in advocating for Miguel Andrade and Brayan Carillo to be tried as juveniles in the first-degree murder case.

“Rather than look at what the teens are accused of, I think we should consider a larger question,” said the Rev. Tom Fuerst, pastor of First United Methodist, where the Aug. 2 gathering was hosted.

“Is it right to take someone out of the possibility for redemption, without restorative opportunities to rightness and wholeness? We must seek justice and do no harm.”

The brief press conference outside First United Method- Autura EasonWilliams ist came a day after Andrade and Carillo appeared in Juvenile Court for a judge to decide whether they will be transferred to adult court. No ruling was made Tuesday.

The next court appearance for the two minors is Sept. 12. Andrade will have a new attorney. Both suspects have been ordered to take a competency evaluation.

Shelby County District Atty. Gen Amy Weirich has recommended that the two teens be tried as adults, along with a 20-year-old, who was also arrested for the killing of Eason-Williams in her driveway.

“The 2022 total was even better than the 2018 early voting number,” said Ian Randolph of Shelby County Voter Alliance. “In 2018, the total was 86,002. Clearly we are making strides in Shelby County.”

Local early voting, compared to other metropolitan across the state, are impressive. In Nashville, early voters topped out at little more

It’s going to be a red-letter year for Cordova Middle Optional School students. Just ask the new principal, Christopher Hardiman.

“Aim high,” said Hardiman. “That’s what I tell our students every day. I told my teachers, ‘You’re going to get tired of hearing me say it, but that’s what we want from our students.’

“Kids need structure. Kids want structure.”

Hardiman’s administrative style sends him daily through the halls, in and out of classrooms, talking with students, conferring with teachers, and checking on staff.

Gone are the days when principals spent most of their day in an office, sitting at a desk, Hardiman said.

“The district’s instructional leadership expects us to know firsthand what goes on in the classroom,” said Hardiman. “Inspect what you expect. Observing in the classroom provides the opportunity for feedback, and feedback Christopher helps our teachers do a Hardiman better job.”

Cordova Middle Optional School was Back to bustling with activity school takes Wednesday (Aug. 3) as parents and students on new lined up to complete meaning for registration and take MSCS as a care of other last-min- launch pad ute details before the for success. first day of school on Perspective Monday (Aug. 8).

Page 4 Hardiman is particularly excited about an initiative of Memphis-Shelby County Schools – SEL (social emotional learning).

“Coming back from the pandemic and all that our students had to endure, this program has proven to be of great value,” he said.

“We want our children to be well-rounded, emotionally whole individuals. SEL allows students in a weekly session to de-escalate conflict, talk through disputes. There is even a re-set room where things can be worked out.”

Public school systems across the nation have SEL programs.

“Students are able to just stop and think about what they are doing before they do something irrational,” said Hardiman. “The program generates a spirit of peace for both students and staff.”

Hardiman, a Morehouse College man, prides himself on inspiring young lives to shoot for the stars.

“Aim high,” students are exhorted every morning.

At Southwind High School in 2018, Hardiman created a bastion of self-respect and character.

“The 100 Leading Men of Southwind” was founded to teach young men how to carry themselves, how to dress, how to dine – all the

SEE VOTE ON PAGE 2

SEE PRINCIPAL ON PAGE 2

Attendees at Tuesday’s press conference pray after the reading of Scripture. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender) Eason-Williams’ family is divided over whether to prosecute Andrade and Carillo as adults. Her children have asked the court to “consider other options” rather than adult prison, expressing the conviction that their mother would have been concerned about the fate of the teens who shot her.

Darrell Eason-Williams does not see it that way. He said his wife “would not want these kids back out on the streets to kill anybody else.”

The Rev. Sara Corum of Trinity United Methodist Church said the two teens have been failed by “society,” and should, therefore, be spared adult treatment in court.

“The failure of society (is) really to blame,” said Corum. “Our responses are reactive, rather than pro-active. Poverty and racial discrimination are factors. I came up under Pastor Eason-Williams as a

SEE MURDER ON PAGE 2

Shelby County’s earlyvoting turnout has some seeing signals of progress Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Voter advocate groups in Shelby County are celebrating the highest voter turnout in the state.

“Shelby County really turned up the vote during early voting,” said the Rev. Earle Fisher Jr., Upthevote901 organizer. “Although we are a non-partisan voting entity, one thing is very clear to us – strategies are working.

“The NAACP and Shelby County Voter Alliance, working with one another, put boots on

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Cordova Middle School’s new principal is used to aiming high for success

the ground, knocking on doors, using phone banks. The whole state must sit up and take notice.”

Early voting, which began July 15, ended on Saturday (July 30) with a phenomenal turnout, just for that one day. A whopping 11,380 voters stood in long lines shorter hours, sweltering heat, and sporadic rain to be counted in early voting numbers.

The 86,637 total hovers at about 30 percent of total registered voters. In a midterm election cycle, the percentages are more like 10-12, according to prior voting numbers.

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The New Tri-State Defender

August 4 - 10, 2022

Page 2

NEWS

VOTE

PRINCIPAL

than 35,000; in Knoxville and Chattanooga, the numbers were even lower.

Randolph cited a new strategy he felt helped boost Shelby County numbers.

“We increased outreach to the Hispanic community between election cycles,” said Randolph. “When Shelby County was trying to get the Hispanic community to be vaccinated, we would participate. When there was a pop-up vaccination site, we would be there to work, to volunteer.

“Then, when the election year rolled around, we already had some relationships established. People weren’t seeing us for the first time, knocking on the door saying, ‘You need to register to vote.’ We did a lot in terms of voter education and voter participation – trying to teach people how voting works and why it is important.”

Although both Fisher and Randolph run non-partisan organizations, neither was surprised to learn that the number of requests for Democratic primary ballots over Republican primary ballot was more than 22,000.

Randolph attributed the numbers to the fact that Shelby County is largely Democratic. Fisher said the wide gap indicates something more.

“Shelby County is proving to be a hallmark of the political landscape in Tennessee,” said Fisher. “We are non-partisan, but we see the progressives trying to build a coalition in Nashville, when clearly, the hotbed is here in Memphis and Shelby County.

“As people around the state observe our numbers, I believe they will have to take Shelby County a little more seriously.”

Election day is Thursday, Aug. 4.

Absentee voters have until 7 p.m. Thursday when polls close to have ballots delivered to the Shelby County Election Commission by mail. Tennessee law prohibits hand delivery of absentee ballots to the Election Commission.

According to the Tennessee Secretary of State records, 293,675 absentee voters requested Republican primary ballots, while 155,182 requested Democratic primary ballots.

The Shelby County early vote was by far the largest of any of the state’s 95 counties, accounting for 18.1 perecent of the statewide turnout.

By comparison, Davidson County posted 35,429 early voters, – Knox County 32,971 and Hamilton County 19,629.

things young men should know.

“We had announced that we were starting the organization. About 150 boys show up in the gym.

“But that gym was filled from one end to the other with men in the community who showed up to mentor those youngsters.

They showed every one of those boys how to tie a tie.”

The organization continues at Southwind, with the name changed to “100 Leading Gentleman of Southwind.”

“Now there is an organization for girls as well,” said Hardiman. “It’s all about seeing a need and addressing it. Our boys and girls needed mentorship. And I wanted to find a way to address that need.”

On Monday (August 8) when 650 students “walk through my doors … they belong to me,” said Hardiman.

“Our children need us, and we need the community to stand with us. I think we have been blessed with a caring community. Oh, yes, I would say it’s going to be a very good year.”

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

MURDER

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

“We understand that police are under pressure to make arrests. And we should let the process play out,” said the Rev. Andre Johnson, pastor of Gifts of Life Ministries.

“But if there is one thing we have learned, it is that punitive action has not made us safer.” (PhotoS: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New TriState Defender)

“Pastor Autura (Eason-Williams) was my friend,” said the Rev. Dr. Rosalyn Nichols, pastor of Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church Nichols. “Although we are all grieving her death, I know she would have wanted the focus to be on these two young men. … Pastor Autura was a powerful and effective youth leader for many years.”

child. She worked with youth.

She would want the focus to be on these young people.”

Fuerst and others wrote letters last week to Weirich’s office, asking that the teens be treated as juveniles. The delay in ruling on adult or juvenile court was welcome news for the church leaders at the press conference.

“Let’s remember that these youth allegedly committed this crime,” said Pastor Andre Johnson of Gifts of Life Ministries.

“We understand that police are under pressure to make arrests. And we should let the process play out. But if there is one thing we have learned, it is that punitive action has not made us safer.”

Johnson and Fuerst made brief remarks while other clergy prayed and read scripture.

The Rev. Dr. Rosalyn Nichols of Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church said Eason-Williams’ concern “would be with the well-being of those boys. …

“Pastor Autura was my friend,” said Nichols. “Although we are all grieving her death, I know she would have wanted the focus to be on these two young men. I think her daughter articulated that sentiment for all of us.

“Pastor Autura was a powerful and effective youth leader for many years.”

Weirich stood by her deci-

sion to file motions for Andrade and Carillo to be tried as adults.

“I have a responsibility to the community,” said Weirich. “In making my decision, we looked at several factors. We considered the offenders’ criminal history and whether they have been in the system before, we look at the age and the facts of the case.”

The suspects were caught later on the night of July 18 after committing another carjacking in Cordova.

The Rev. Sara Corum (third from right) of Trinity United Methodist Church said the two teens have been failed by “society,” and should, therefore, be spared adult treatment in court.

Arm yourself against Covid.

Get your vaccination today.

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The New Tri-State Defender

August 4 - 10, 2022

NATIONAL

Page 3

Vice President Harris addresses NAACP convention; Urges Black voter participation

by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Vice President Kamala Harris appeared at the NAACP convention in Atlantic City on Monday, July 18, declaring that freedom, liberty, and democracy are on the ballot in the upcoming midterm elections.

She implored the large gathering at the Atlantic City Convention Center to make sure that all voices are heard.

“We’re not going to be able to get these days back, so each one of these days we must, with a sense of urgency, ensure that the American people know their voice and their vote matters,” Harris declared.

“It is their voice. The right to vote is something that the leaders of this organization and its founders knew to be at the core of all of the other rights and freedoms to which we are entitled,” she further implored.

“So, we know what we need to do. And, in particular, to protect the freedom to vote and a women’s right to make decisions about her own body, we need people who will defend our rights up and down the ballot, from district attorneys to state attorneys general, from local sheriffs to governors.”

The vice president received several standing ovations as she spoke of the need to vote. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade association representing 235 African American-owned newspapers and media companies, has teamed with the Transformative Justice Coalition in an effort to register 10 million more Black voters ahead of the midterm and 2024 general elections.

As Harris arrived in Atlantic City, Mayor Marty Small greeted her as she descended

“We’re not going to be able to get these days back, so each one of these days we must, with a sense of urgency, ensure that the American people know their voice and their vote matters,” Vice President Kamala Harris told attendees at the NAACP convention.

“We’re not going to be able to get these days back, so each one of these days we must, with a sense of urgency, ensure that the American people know their voice and their vote matters.”

— Kamala Harris from Air Force Two. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson spoke to the vice president and railed against politicians and the U.S. Supreme Court for “the erosion of constitutional freedom, including the right of a woman over her own body.”

Harris also decried the sharp increase in mass shootings and gun violence in the United States.

“There is no reason for weapons of war on the streets of America,” she asserted.

With West Virginia Democratic Sen.

Joe Manchin repeatedly stopping the Biden-Harris administration agenda, Harris called on voters to participate in the U.S. Senate election.

“We will not, and the president has been clear, we will not let the filibuster stand in our way of our most essential rights and freedoms,” Harris declared.

“I visited Buffalo, New York, to attend the funeral of an 86-year-old grandmother who went to the grocery store after, as she often did, spending the day with her husband who was in a nursing home – Mrs.

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Whitfield.”

Harris continued: “I went to Highland Park, Illinois, where there were strollers and lawn chairs scattered up and down a street where there was supposed to be a parade for July 4th. There – as in Uvalde, Texas; as in Greenwood, Indiana, just last night; and in so many communities across our nation – scenes of ordinary life have been turned into war zones by horrific acts of gun violence.

“Mass shootings have made America a nation in mourning. And it’s not only the mass shootings. We see it in our communities every day, and it is no less tragic or outrageous.”

“Think about it: Black people are 13 percent of America’s population but make up 62 percent of gun homicide victims.

“This issue of the need for reasonable gun safety laws is a real issue when we are talking about the civil right, the right that all communities should have, to live in a place that is safe without weapons of war running those streets.”

She concluded that the number of guns manufactured in the country tripled over the last 20 years. “Today we have more guns in our nation than people,” Harris said.

“Earlier this month, the president signed the first federal gun safety law in nearly 30 years. And it was an important and necessary step. But we need to do more. We must repeal the liability shield that protects gun manufacturers. And we must renew the assault weapons ban.”

(Follow Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia.)

PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, August 4 - 10, 2022, Page 4

Back to school takes on new meaning for MSCS as a launch pad for success

by Michelle McKissack

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

For our school-aged children and families, these last days of July bring the excitement of returning to school – shopping for school supplies, reuniting with old friends and making new ones. On August 8, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) will open its doors to welcome our children back for another exciting year of learning.

As the school board chair already attending back-to-school events in my district, and as the mom of an MSCS student entering middle school, I’m optimistic about the progress and momentum the new school year will bring. While the District faces challenges with the review of the superintendent, a thorough independent investigation is underway and our deputy superintendents are more than capable to lead and are moving forward on behalf of our children.

We’ve experienced significant gains even during the pandemic thanks to our leadership, educators and community supporters, and we expect them to continue. Since 2020, the District has been steadfast in creating a formula for success, which brought us incremental growth along the way. Now the expectation is to experience exponential growth, and here’s why: Earlier this year, we unveiled “Re-

imagining 901,” to create a new vision for education in the city.

Our vision gave way to multiple investments of time, dollars and innovation through seasonal Michelle learning acadeMcKissack mies and elevated tutoring, and they have proven to be effective. We also rebranded the district for a stronger connection to the community we serve and greater name recognition.

We received a historic allocation of federal dollars through the American Rescue Act. Those funds will go toward innovation in addressing student learning loss, facility repairs, and a proposal for additional new schools. Each of these objectives are essential to ensure our students are equipped for maximum teaching and learning in the next phase of the pandemic. The work has already begun starting with key repairs to AC units districtwide.

Additionally, we hired nearly 1,000 education assistants to help fill learning loss gaps for students and elevate the classroom experience. We are innovating new solutions to tackle the problems of the day.

Finally, we proudly shared our

Memphis-Shelby County Schools begin the new year Aug. 8, which means hallways such as this soon will swell with students.

(Screen capture) progress in Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) scores released earlier in July. Our efforts and students’ perseverance led to the strongest high school English scores in five years. Elementary reading and Math saw nearly double-digit gains. Considering a McKinsey analysis that shows students nationwide are on average five months behind in Math and four months behind in reading by the end of the school year as a result of COVID-19, seeing our scores land in and move toward pre-pandemic territory is encouraging.

Not only are scores up, but TCAP participation rates increased from 94 percent to 97 percent. While we

know there’s more work to do, we’re pleased with the progress thus far, and our students should be celebrated for that. For that reason, the 20222023 school year is an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum we’ve created together.

We walk into the new school year with strong district leadership who has been committed and invested in this work for years. Our educators are now joined by retired veteran teachers, who have chosen to reenter the classroom to boost student achievement.

Just as we do every school year, the board takes our role as decision-makers on behalf of our children and district seriously and will continue to

collaborate with district leadership to move the needle in the right direction.

Thanks to a wonderful partnership with top area healthcare systems, we’re hosting free immunization events to ensure our students have the safeguards needed to return to the classroom healthy, and ready to learn.

We’re also realigning a host of principals in the District to transition our reimagination into action inside our school buildings.

This is what excitement about the new school year looks like! I am eager to see what progress my child can make, what experiences will unfold this year and how her future will be impacted in the most positive way, and I desire that for every student in Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Parents, guardians, and community members who consider MSCS children as your own, we know there is room to grow, but we have evidence that an even brighter future is ahead.

We are fully prepared with lessons learned, strong resources and a community that loves and supports our students. We’re just getting started, so please join us on the journey.

Together We Must Believe. Together We Will Achieve. Together We Are REIMAGINING 901.

(Michelle McKissack chairs the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education.)

Scholars and experts make case to expand Supreme Court; abolish electoral college

by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has raised concerns from women regarding bodily autonomy and palpable fear that other long-held rights may also be in jeopardy.

And with the ongoing hearings surrounding the January 6 insurrection and the attempt by former President Donald Trump to change the outcome of the 2020 election, momentum has increased in favor of abolishing the long-standing Electoral College.

A growing number of Americans reportedly believe that expanding the court and ridding elections of the Electoral College are keys to preserving democracy in America.

This month, a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 (ECRA) to ensure that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state’s public vote for president.

“Adding more justices to Supreme Court and abolishing the Electoral College both help to give the majority of Americans the ability to have a say in what’s going on in their country,” said H.R. Bellicosa, the author of “The Punishings,” a novel about a world without abortion rights.

“We are headed toward minority rule if we’re not there already. Overturning Roe is a deeply unpopular opinion, but with a conservative ma-

jority on the court, the justices were able to further their theocratic agenda,” Bellicosa stated.

“More justices would combat that.

The Electoral College has given us two recent presidents who did not win the popular vote – (George W. Bush and Trump). America is under threat of being ruled by a deeply unpopular minority, and steps must be taken to mitigate that.”

A change.org petition has garnered more than 103,000 signatures from individuals desiring to abolish the Electoral College, a system established in the 1800s and resulted in the infamous “three-fifths compromise” in which three-fifths of an enslaved Black person would count toward allocating electors and representatives.

The U.S. Constitution holds that whoever wins the electoral vote claims the presidency during presidential elections even if the candidate fails to win the popular vote.

Further, historians noted that officials created the Electoral College to give slave states more power and to keep an agent of England’s King George from becoming president.

Neither situation rises as pertinent in the 21st Century, said historian and political scientist William S. Bike.

Bike said he believes it’s time to get rid of the Electoral College, and Democrats, while in the majority, should act.

“Republicans use every weapon at their disposal against Democrats, but Democrats tend to behave like

someone bringing a tennis racket to a knife fight,” stated Bike, the author of “Winning Political Campaigns, a how-to guide on political campaigning.”

“So, Democrats expanding the Supreme Court would be a weapon seldom used before in American history, but without it, the extreme right will continue taking away Americans’ rights,” Bike asserted.

“They’re coming after Miranda, birth control, gay marriage, homosexuality, and possibly interracial marriage and racial equality.

“The negative to expanding the Supreme Court is that once the Democrats do it, the next Republican president will do it, then the next Democratic president. Eventually, the Supreme Court would become as big as a legislature. But it’s a chance Democrats must take if they want to protect basic rights.”

Georgetown University graduate Tim Rosenberger Jr., who’s completing a JD/MBA at Stanford University, said expanding the high court can improve America.

However, eliminating the Electoral College could hamper the country’s ability to preserve minority rights and ensure ongoing dynamism.

“Americans benefit from having smaller states that can be laboratories for innovation,” Rosenberger stated.

“Justice Antonin Scalia once noted the oddity of how non-representative the Supreme Court is,” Rosenberger noted.

“Every New York borough but

Counting the electorial vote 1921, 2/9/21.

(Photo: Library of Congress) Staten Island had a seat on the court for a time. At the same time, not one protestant, the prevailing American religion, sat on the court. Both the Supreme Court and the D.C. Circuit should start having geographically assigned seats with seats traditionally, if not explicitly, aligning with one person from each of the larger geographic circuits.”

Rosenberger continued: “Eliminating the electoral college would overly concentrate political power in large urban centers and move America away from a diverse and complicated social and political tapestry.”

Content Writer Elena Zimmerman added that the benefits of expanding the Supreme Court in its current state are impossible to miss.

“Whatever the intentions were with the decision to appoint 9 judges, it would be difficult for anyone to argue the idea in mind was for one political party to appoint 66 percent of the justices of the most powerful

judicial body in the country while systematically excluding the choices of elected presidents in the opposing party while in office,” Zimmerman stated.

“It would also be difficult for anyone to argue that it should be acceptable for new potential justices to lie during their confirmation hearings about their intentions to rule if appointed.

“Expanding the court during a democratic president’s tenure and with an evenly divided Senate could potentially balance this inequality of partisan power.”

Zimmerman further concluded that there’s “no longer a benefit to the Electoral College.”

“Particularly when it can be used exclusively to the benefit of only one party to override the popular vote,” she insisted.

(Follow Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia.)

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The New Tri-State Defender

August 4 - 10, 2022

Page 5

RELIGION

Vatican: Moment is ripe for serious consideration of the harms of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Rome, Italy – A group of global reparations leaders met with the Vatican this week to discuss the Catholic Church’s role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and the need for the Church to formally address its role with a Papal reparations commission and financial retribution for descendants of enslaved Africans.

The Global Circle for Reparations and Healing (GCRH) a delegation of reparations leaders arrived in Rome, led

by Kamm Howard, Director of Reparations United; and included Dr. Ron Daniels, convenor of the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC); Dr. Amara Enyia, strategist for the GCRH, and Nikole Hannah-Jones, author of the 1619 Project.

They met with Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Pontif-

ical Council of Culture, at the Vatican.

The group delivered a presentation outlining the harms and offenses of the Church regarding the Transatlantic slave trade and slavery.

The presentation also referenced the legacy of those harms and offenses, and reparations measures that are needed for full repair.

“The effects of the Transatlantic slave trade, and the harms inflicted on our ancestors continue to cause systemic damage to this day,” said Kamm Howard, Director of Reparations United, who is co-convener of the GCHR. “The Catholic Church has admitted that it played a role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and the purpose of our meeting was to provide a roadmap to allow us to move forward toward true repara-

tory justice. The focus now will be on continued conversations to move the work forward to ensure repair becomes a reality.”

During the meeting, Bishop Tighe suggested that the moment is “ripe” for the presentation to be seriously considered by the Church under the guidance of Pope Francis.

He cited Pope Francis’s encyclical Fratelli Tutti as evidence of the Pontiff’s commitment to explore issues of justice, equality, and reconciliation.

Bishop Tighe agreed to share the presentation to leaders within the Church and offered suggestions for initiating a process for moving forward with talks.

“When talking about slavery, particularly the Transatlantic slave trade and its after-effects, there are cer-

“When talking about slavery, particularly the Transatlantic slave trade and its after-effects, there are certain institutions that directly benefitted and continue to reap those benefits,” said Dr. Ron Daniels, convenor of NAARC and co-convenor of the Global Circle for Reparations and Healing (GCRH) a delegation of reparations leaders. tain institutions that directly benefitted and continue to reap those benefits,” said Dr. Ron Daniels, convenor of NAARC and co-convenor of the GCRH. “Our goal is to hold those institutions accountable and

ensure that they play a major role in helping to repair the communities that have been harmed. I am encouraged by the conversation with Bishop Tighe and look forward to creating real change for African descendants of enslavement

throughout the diaspora.”

Also present at the Vatican meeting were representatives of other GCRH organizations and supporters representing the Global African Congress (U.K.), Black Europe Summer School (Netherlands), Nia Foundation (Netherlands), First Repair (U.S.), Questa E Roma (Italy), and the African Future Action Lab (Europe).

In August, the group will travel to Accra, Ghana with nearly 100 other global reparations activists to learn from each other in efforts at “building a global culture of repair and healing.”

Additionally, they will meet with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and address, among other things, expanding the role of African nations in discussions about the global reparations’ movement.

Memphis District Association...

The Memphis District Association Annual Session featured the Mass Choir Concert.

These young voices added to the spirit of the Mass Choir Concert.

Church Rededication…

The 85th Memphis District Association (MDA) Annual Session, which kicked off on July 31, extends through Aug. 4 at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church on McLemore, where the Rev. Ashton Alexander is host pastor. The Rev. Derrick D. Davis is MDA moderator.

(Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New TriState Defender)

St. Luke Church, located at 7491 Hacks Cross Rd. in Olive Branch, Miss., presented its Church Rededication service on July 31. The guest speaker was Bishop J. Louis Felton. The host pastor is the Rev. Earl Shannon and the “first lady” of the church is Catherine Shannon. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

The New Tri-State Defender

August 4 - 10, 2022

Page 6

ENTERTAINMENT

IN MEMORIAM: Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ has died at 89

by Lindsey Bahr Associated Press

Nichelle Nichols, who broke barriers for Black women in Hollywood when she played communications officer Lt. Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, has died at the age of 89.

Her son Kyle Johnson said Nichols died Saturday in Silver City, New Mexico.

“Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. Her light, however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration,” Johnson wrote on her official Facebook page Sunday.

Her role in the 1966-69 series as Lt. Uhura earned Nichols a lifelong position of honor with the series’ rabid fans, known as Trekkers and Trekkies. It also earned her accolades for breaking stereotypes that had limited Black women to acting roles as servants and included an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner that was unheard of at the time.

George Takei (Sulu) shared the USS Enterprise bridge with Nichols (Lt. Uhura in the original “Star Trek” series.

“For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend,” Takei posted on Twitter.

Celia Rose Gooding, who currently plays Uhura in “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” wrote on Twitter that Nichols “was the reminder that not only can we reach the stars, but our influence is essential to their survival. Forget shaking the table, she built it.”

“Star Trek: Voyager” alum Kate Mulgrew tweeted, “Nichelle Nichols was The First. She was a trailblazer who navigated a very challenging trail with grit, grace,

Actress Nichelle Nichols, known for her most famous role as communications officer Lieutenant Uhura aboard the USS Enterprise in the popular Star Trek television series, displays her Lego astronaut ring while visiting the “Build the Future” activity where students created their vision of the future in space with LEGO bricks and elements inside a tent that was set up on the launch viewing area at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. on Monday, Nov. 1, 2010. NASA and The LEGO Group signed a Space Act Agreement to spark children’s interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

“Nichelle Nichols was The First. She was a trailblazer who navigated a very challenging trail with grit, grace, and a gorgeous fire we are not likely to see again.”

— Kate Mulgrew and a gorgeous fire we are not likely to see again.”

Nichols also appeared in six big-screen spinoffs starting in 1979 with “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and frequented “Star Trek” fan conventions. She also served for many years as a NASA recruiter, helping bring minorities and women into the astronaut corps.

More recently, she had a recurring role on television’s “Heroes,” playing the greataunt of a young boy with mystical powers.

The original “Star Trek” premiered on NBC on Sept. 8, 1966. Its multicultural, multiracial cast was creator Gene Roddenberry’s message to viewers that in the faroff future — the 23rd century — human diversity would be fully accepted.

She often recalled how Martin Luther King Jr. was a fan of the show and praised her role. She met him at a civil rights gathering in 1967, at a time when she had decided not to return for the show’s second season.

“When I told him I was going to miss my co-stars and I was leaving the show, he became very serious and said, ‘You cannot do that,’” she told The Tulsa (Okla.) World in a 2008 interview.

During the show’s third season, Nichols’

character and Shatner’s Capt. James Kirk shared what was described as the first interracial kiss to be broadcast on a U.S. television series.

Despite concerns, the episode aired without blowback. In fact, it got the most “fan mail that Paramount had ever gotten on ‘Star Trek’ for one episode,” Nichols said in a 2010 interview with the Archive of American Television.

Born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, Nichols hated being called “Gracie.” When she was a teen her mother told her she had wanted to name her Michelle, but thought she ought to have alliterative initials like Marilyn Monroe, whom Nichols loved. Hence, “Nichelle.”

Nichols first worked professionally as a singer and dancer in Chicago at age 14, moving on to New York nightclubs and working for a time with the Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton bands before coming to Hollywood for her film debut in 1959’s “Porgy and Bess,” the first of several small film and TV roles that led up to her “Star Trek” stardom.

In her 1994 book, “Beyond Uhura,” she said she met Roddenberry when she guest starred on his show “The Lieutenant,” and the two had an affair a couple of years before “Star Trek” began. The two remained lifelong close friends.

Another fan of Nichols and the show was future astronaut Mae Jemison, who became the first black woman in space when she flew aboard the shuttle Endeavour in 1992.

Nichols’ schedule became limited starting in 2018 when her son announced that she was suffering from advanced dementia.

(Lindsey Bahr is an Associated Press film writer. A version of this story post appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.)

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, August 4 - 10, 2022, Page 7

The Memphis Branch NAACP is out to supersize activism

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to the New Tri-State Defender

Recently named the “best local branch in the nation,” the Memphis Branch NAACP used last Saturday’s Freedom Fun Luncheon to signal a resolve to double down on a longstanding commitment to fighting for equity for African-American people.

Nearly 1,000 supporters gathered at the Memphis Hilton Hotel for the organization’s first, in-person fundraiser since the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Van Turner Jr., the Memphis Branch NAACP president, drew thunderous applause when he announced that the local branch had been named “the best local branch in the nation” at the 2022 NAACP National Convention held in Atlantic City, N.J. on July 14-20.

The recognition served as a measure of the effectiveness of the Memphis Branch NAACP and came amid calls for renewed commitment to fight against attacks on civil liberties.

The Freedom Fund Luncheon is the primary fundraiser for the local NAACP group. This year’s theme was “The State of Black America,” with multiple speakers – directly and indirectly – echoing the need for heightened awareness and activism to fight the aggressive assault on voting rights, civil rights, and the rights of women.

At a press conference ahead of the fundraiser, Judge Carlos Moore, immediate past president of the National Bar Association, effectively spoke to the event’s theme.

While focusing on African-American attorneys and judges, he made it clear that he assessed that the State of Black America warranted action.

“Black attorneys and judges in American courtrooms must have the courage of their convictions and do what they know is right,” said Moore of Grenada, Miss. “Our judges on the bench must do what is right.”

Some of the most crucial issues affecting Black America, said Moore, are the alarming rollback of voting rights, persistent police brutality across the country, and reparations for America’s slavery past.

Including racial healthcare disparity among those issues, Moore said COVID-19 did not create the disparity; only exposed it.

Turner, who touted the organization’s storied history of fighting racial discrimination and its effects through legal activism in the courts, gave a present-tense example of the ongoing commitment.

“We don’t mind suing people, and we do that very well,” said Turner. “Attorney Andre Wharton is here, along with the parents of Brandon Calloway, the young man who was beaten (recently) inside the family

Judge Carlos Moore, Freedom Fund Luncheon keynoter, said given the “State of Black America” it is time for a “new deal.” (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

“There has been great value in championing timeless, legal causes. Beam by beam, brick by brick, the segregation and racial equality that keeps black and brown people on their knees, have been torn down through court challenges.”

— Judge Carlos Moore home by Oakland, (Tennessee) police officers. We are supporting them in the fight to see justice done. There is a legal redress.”

Turner also vowed that the fight would continue against school vouchers. This comes as Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee pushes forward in rolling out his long-blocked school voucher program following a judge’s ruling lifting an injunction that had prevented it from being put into effect.

“We are suing the state over the voucher program,” said Turner. “We lost the battle, but not the war. …

“We will keep fighting as we stand on the shoulders of Vasco Smith, Maxine Smith, Ben Hooks,” said Turner, referencing iconic Memphis Branch NAACP figures. “The NAACP as a civil rights organization is still important, still relevant to the fight.”

The courts, he said, remain an important battleground in addressing issues plaguing “Black America.”

Moore’s keynote praised historic court battles such as Brown vs. Board of Edu-

cation of Topeka. The landmark 1954 Supreme Court case established that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. It helped establish the precedent that “separate-but-equal” education and other services were not at all equal.

“There has been great value in championing timeless, legal causes,” said Moore.

“Beam by beam, brick by brick, the segregation and racial equality that keeps black and brown people on their knees, have been torn down through court challenges.”

Moore said considering the state of Black America means it’s time for a new deal.

“Not the ‘New Deal’ of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, where he conveniently forgot the suffering of Black people,” said Moore. “It’s time for a new deal, enacting John Lewis’ voting rights package to combat voter suppression all over the nation…

“It’s time for a new deal, holding police officers accountable for their behavior;

a new deal that will end the modern-day lynching of our people. It’s time for a new deal, with the study of reparations for our people. It is up to the NAACP to put together that new deal.”

Historically, a highlight of the annual Freedom Fund Luncheon has been the naming of President’s Award winners. The 2022 President’s Award Recipients are: *Hazel Moore – the founder of Academy for Youth Empowerment, a successful businesswoman, and the “Mayor of Whitehaven.” *Robert Lipscomb – former head of Memphis Housing and Community Development and the Memphis Housing Authority. He is credited for his role in replacing run-down public housing projects with newly built, mixed-income communities. *Beverly Robertson – the first African American to serve as president of the Greater Memphis Chamber and former president of the National Civil Rights Museum. During her tenure, $43 million was raised for the museum, including an $11-million expansion. *Ronald A. Walter – former and longtime president and general manager of WREGTV; former VP of Customer Relations of MLGW; former member of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors.

BRIEFS & THINGS Save the date: MSCS Family Festival The Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Family Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 6) at the Board of Education at 160 S. Hollywood.

MSCS departments will be on site to support families with registration, immunizations, school supplies, bus safety and a school-supply giveaway.

The first day of school is August 8.

For more information, visit www.scsk12.org/ backtoschool.

Free haircut for school-aged children at D’Kal’s Barber and Beauty Shop D’Kal’s Barber Beauty Shop, located at 3131 S. Mendenhall Rd., is offering free haircuts and press and style for all school-aged children (four years to 17 years) on August 6. Three $100 gift cards will be given away.

Guests must arrive between 8 a.m. and noon to receive service or complimentary food (Boujee Bistro and Waffle Cream food trucks) and pull a ticket number upon arrival. You must be present when your number is called to receive service.

Reservations are recommended.

The event is sponsored by Tito’s Lawn Care in partnership with D’kal’s Barber and Beauty Shop.

Literacy Mid-South Launches Read901 Literacy Mid-South has launched a new campaign, Read901, to ensure every child and adult in Memphis has the resources needed to read, write and communicate clearly with others.

A Harvard study shows that people who grow up in communities with higher literacy rates live longer. Read901 is a coalition of partners focused on providing as much support as possible to normalize literacy in the Mid-South.

“Literacy affects everything in your life – from schooling to understanding an over-thecounter drug label to filling out a job application,” said Sam O’Bryant, head of Read901 and executive director of Literacy Mid-South.

“We believe that everyone, regardless of your ZIP code, financial status, or background, deserves this investment in their future,” said Bryant. “Together, we can reach 100 percent literacy in the 901.”

Read901 has an online portal with free resources. Child and adult tutoring resources include reading and math tools, citizenship and job readiness prep, financial and digital literacy, and resources for learning disabilities.

Literacy Mid-South also has unveiled “an innovative new way” to put books in hands immediately. Two book vending machines have been placed at Scenic Hills Elementary and at For The Kingdom (camp, conference and retreat center) providing free, on-the-spot reading material for Memphis residents of all ages and literacy levels.

(For more information, visit Read901.org.)

MLGW receives TDEC Grant for Fast Charge TN Network Memphis Light, Gas and Water is among the recipients of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) grant funding to install direct current fast charging (DCFC) infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) along prioritized interstate or major highway corridors across the state.

MLGW already plays an integral role in supplying electricity to EV owners who charge at their homes and businesses, as well as the more than 100 public charging sites in Shelby County.

MLGW joins TDEC, TVA and other local power companies awarded Fast Charge TN Network grants.

“Together, we will expand public access to convenient, fast EV charging, alleviating fears of range anxiety and making EV charging a

more visible activity so that when residents and businesses consider their next vehicle purchase, they also consider electric vehicle options,” said J.T. Young, MLGW president and CEO. Learn more at mlgw.com/ev; energyright. com/ev and driveelectrictn.org.

BRIEFLY: Leaders of the Professional Golf Association and other industry experts will be in Memphis on August 10 for the Golf Industry Diverse Supplier Summit, which will convene from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Pavilion at TPC Southwind. The focus of the summit will be to discuss industry needs, provide insights, and share initiatives and information in service to the golf industry’s interest in supporting supplier inclusion within the $84 billion supply chain.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/3vDzQZC. BRIEFLY: The next meeting of the Memphis Light, Gas and Water Board of Commissioners is set for Aug. 17 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the MLGW Administration Building, 220 S. Main. The suggested arrival is a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Those who don’t plan to attend in person can submit questions by August 16 at 8:30 a.m. by email to corpcomm@mlgw.org. The email should include the customer’s full name, physical address and question(s), with “August 17, 2022 Board Meeting” in the subject line. The public may also access the meeting and agenda online at mlgw.com/livestream.

The New Tri-State Defender

August 4 - 10, 2022

Page 8

SPORTS

Knowing that ‘the standard is the standard,’ Whitehaven looks to move beyond last season’s disappointment

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Whitehaven High School’s football Tigers are coming off a disappointing 7-4 season in which the team did not win the District Championship for the first time in over a decade.

With a full off-season routine and a return to normalcy after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, head coach Rodney Saulsberry is doubling down on a long-held philosophy.

“The standard is the standard,” said Saulsberry, meaning that the Tigers will not compromise their goals and will always thrive to being the best.

“Last year for us was disappointing. Winning a state championship is our ultimate goal,” said Saulsberry.

“If we don’t achieve that goal, it is a disappointment. We did have success because I saw development with our guys as the season progressed.”

All Shelby County Schools will play a two-day jamboree on August 12 and 13 at Central High School.

The Tigers will open their regular season on August 20 against the Overton Wolverines at 7:30 p.m.

Sometimes a father-like figure in the young men’s and at other times a counselor, Saulsberry relishes again having a full off-season program.

Terry “Just beDavis ing able to go through the entire process. It is about development and building.

And when it is disrupted, it causes its challenges,” he said.

“We were able to get back into the weight room, to get our bodies ready for a physical season ahead.”

This summer’s extended heat wave has forced adjustments, with the team practicing later or earlier depending on the weather situation. Overall, it has been another lesson in how to deal with adversity.

Assessing the prospects of this year’s team involves measuring up against the Whitehaven tradition of having great offensive and defensive lines. This season, the offensive line

William Carter is set to guide Whitehaven’s offense as the quarterback.

(Photos: Terry Davis) “Last year for us was disappointing. Winning a state championship is our ultimate goal,” said Whitehaven head football coach Rodney Saulsberry. will propel Joe Williams (running back), Kedarius Jones (wide receiver), William Carver (quarterback) and Zerius Short (running back, wide receiver) among others.

The football program has married the track program and with that the football Tigers will use speed as a weapon.

The defense will be led by Demario Smith (defensive back), Short (defensive back), Cody Barker (linebacker) and Rodney Hunter (defensive line-

man). Saulsberry and his coaching staff are excited about several of the guys up front.

Before a recent practice, Saulsberry brought in former Lausanne and Naval Academy standout Cameron Kinley to speak to the team about his journey and the difficult road of trying to make a National Football League team.

With so many of Whitehaven’s players eying playing at the next level, Saulsberry has become ac-

customed to chauffeuring players to colleges for football games and introducing them to college coaches.

Helping players secure scholarships comes with the territory.

Notably, linebacker Mahamadou Diarra has committed to play at Alcorn next season and defensive lineman Taylor Burton has multiple offers, including Samford, Tennessee State and SE Missouri.

As in seasons past, Whitehaven’s players will be looking toward “Doughnut Monday,” which amounts to a sweet reward when the team shuts out the opponent the week before.

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICE Request for Bids MSCAA Project Number 19-1426-01 Obstruction Clearing - South Of MEM Airfield - Construction Sealed bids for Obstruction Clearing - South Of MEM Airfield - Construction will be received by the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (Authority), Procurement Department, 4150 Louis Carruthers Drive, Memphis, TN 38118, until 2:00 PM Local Time on 9/1/2022. Bids will not be received at any other location. Within 30 minutes thereafter, the bids will be opened and publicly read via phone/video conference (Link: https://us06web.zoom. us/j/86284431340?pwd=M05KQW5TRWw2UzFQRHBuQVJmUIJJQT09; Phone: 1 (312) 6266799/ Meeting ID: 862 8443 1340; Passcode: 691105. The Bid Documents, including a description of the scope of work, the required response format, and additional instructions may be obtained on or after August 2, 2022 online at www.flymemphis.com.

A virtual Pre-Bid Meeting will be held Friday, August 12, 2022, at 10:30 AM local time via phone/video conferencing (link: https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/86213557207?pwd=Z1dmbnhqbzdjRStlWm5rbzdVekJwdz09; Phone: 1 (312) 626-6799 / Meeting ID: 862 1355 7207; Passcode: 565794. Attendance at the Pre-Bid Meeting is strongly recommended. The project site will be available available for inspection upon request.

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

Each bid must be made by a contractor licensed in Tennessee and be accompanied by a 5% Bid Guarantee. The successful bidder must execute a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond in the amount of 100% each of the Contract Price and meet the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal for this project, which is 10%.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this Request for Bids in whole or in part; to waive any informalities, technicalities, or omissions related to this Request for Bids; and to reject responses on any other basis authorized by the Authority’s purchasing policies.

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

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

TSD CLASSIFIEDS 1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 PH (901) 523-1818 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

DEADLINES: Display ads Friday 5 p.m.

Classifieds ads Monday 5 p.m.

STANDARD RATES: $6.00 per line for 1 column ad.

Rates are non-commissionable and are quoted at the net rate.

No refund for early cancellation. For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@ tsdmemphis.com.

Grounds Maintenance Informational Session The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) will hold an Informational Meeting to discuss upcoming opportunities for Grounds Maintenance with the Memphis International Airport (MEM). The meeting will be held on August 22, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Airport Board Room located at 2491 Winchester Road, Memphis, TN 38116.

The meeting is designed to discuss the various aspects of the Ground Maintenance work at MEM to include but not necessarily limited to, field mowing, berm maintenance, general mowing, finish mowing, trimming, tree pruning, clean-up to include trash removal (tires), chemical spray, flower bed landscape and all labor and materials as necessary to perform project as required.

The Informational Meeting will include presentations on the following topics: description of the ground’s maintenance experience, qualification requirements, insurance, staffing requirements, DBE certification, and anticipated timetable for the selection and completion of the project.

The Informational Meeting will be useful for small businesses, minority and women business owners seeking to contract with MSCAA. Please RSVP at bdd@ flymemphis.com. Space is limited so please no more than two individuals per firm are asked to attend the session.

PUBLIC NOTICE Memphis International Airport Announces MEM CONNECT 2022 Memphis International Airport (“Airport”) will seek to connect contractors to approximately half a billion dollars in contract opportunities on Friday, August 19, 2022, with the MEM CONNECT 2022 forum. The forum will provide information about a variety of upcoming Airport projects, as well as guidance for doing business with the Airport. MEM CONNECT will focus on the next phase of the terminal modernization program which includes seismic upgrades and modifications to ticketing, baggage claim, and passenger/ screening facilities.

The Airport will host the public forum to discuss this initiative: Friday, August 19, 2022 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon The Hilton Memphis 939 Ridge Lake Boulevard Memphis, TN 38120

Companies and individuals can register for the event by visiting: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/mem-connect-2022-tickets-392646756017.

By order of: Scott A. Brockman, A.A.E. President and CEO Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority 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: Suite 85, LLC D/B/A: Supper Club on 2nd Location: 85 South Second Street 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, August 16, 2022 Jared Johnson, Chairman Anna Vergos Blair, Member Claudette Boyd, Member Barry Chase, Member Chad Hampton, Member Brian Harris, Member Renee Poe, Member Johnsie Wallace-Gault, Member Yolanda Fullilove, Executive Secretary City of Memphis Alcohol Commission

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: RRL Investments, LLC Tax Parcel #: 04203300000190 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $700.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 2:00 p.m. on October 5, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: RRL Investments, LLC Tax Parcel #: 04104000000010 Tax Sale #: 1304 Price Offered: $1050.00 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 October 5, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: RRL Investments, LLC Tax Parcel #: 04105000000350 Tax Sale #: 701 Price Offered: $1013.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:00 p.m. on October 5, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: RRL Investments, LLC Tax Parcel #: 04104300000120 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $800.00 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 October 5, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: RRL Investments, LLC Tax Parcel #: 04203600000600 Tax Sale #: 604 Price Offered: $1013.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10)

working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on October 5, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: RRL Investments, LLC Tax Parcel #: 04104000000150 Tax Sale #: 1004 Price Offered: $844.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on October 5, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

The New Tri-State Defender

August 4 - 10, 2022

Page 9

SPORTS

Basketball legend Bill Russell dies at 88

by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Former NBA great Bill Russell speaks during a news conference at the NBA All-Star basketball weekend, Feb. 14, 2009, in Phoenix. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, file)

Boston Celtics Legend Bill Russell, one of professional basketball’s greatest players and the sport’s most crowned champion, has died at the age of 88.

Russell, who won 11 NBA titles as a player and two as a player-coach, died “peacefully” with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, a statement on social media said.

Jeannine said funeral arrangements are pending.

“But for all the winning, Bill’s understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask too-long-tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississippi’s first integrated basketball camp in the combustible wake of Medgar Evans’ assassination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness, and thoughtful change,” the statement read.

It continued: “Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded.

“And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified, and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last and lasting win for our beloved #6.”

President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Freedom in 2011, and Russell won five NBA Most Valuable Player awards.

He made the All-Star team in 12 of the 13 years he played in the league. The prolific big man finished his career in 1969 with 21,620 career rebounds, an average of 22.5 per game, and led the league in rebounding four times.

Bill Russell wearing a Boston Celtics jacket in 1957 (Photo: John G. Zimmerman for Sports Illustrated / Wikimedia Commons)

He grabbed 51 rebounds in one game, 49 in two others, and a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds.

Many viewed Russell as the greatest player in history until Michael Jordan arrived in the 1980s and 1990s and Lebron James in the 2000s.

Born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, Russell’s family moved to the San Francisco area, where he attended McClymonds High School in Oakland.

He earned a scholarship to play at the University of San Francisco and helped lead the basketball school to an astounding 56 straight wins and back-to-back NCAA titles.

As noted by ESPN, Russell was most visible as a color commentator on televised basketball games for CBS with Rick Barry.

Russell later explained in a newspaper article that he never found a comfort zone behind the microphone.

“The most successful television is done in eight-second thoughts, and the things I know about basketball, motivation, and people go deeper than that,” Russell told the Sacramento Bee. In 1974, Russell earned election to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1980, he was voted Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America.

He was part of the 75th Anniversary Team announced by the NBA in October 2021.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, shared the following in a statement released after learning of Russell’s passing: “The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) salutes the memory and outstanding legacy of Bill Russell. He was the greatest on the NBA basketball court and he was also one of the strongest voices across the nation and world who advocated for freedom justice and equality.

The NNPA extends our condolences to the Russell family.”

(Follow Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia.)

The New Tri-State Defender

August 4 - 10, 2022

The only way you get to #1 is by putting clients first.

World’s Best Bank is a huge honor, but we couldn’t have earned it — or others we’ve received — without our 200,000+ teammates and millions of clients around the globe.

Together, we’re demonstrating that we deliver great results for clients while helping address important priorities for our employees and the Memphis community. It’s amazing what we have the power to do when we work together.

Trevia Chatman President, Bank of America Memphis

What would you like the power to do?® Learn more at bankofamerica.com/memphis

Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC © 2022 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

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