The New Tri-State Defender (August 13-19, 2020) by The Tri-State Defender

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August 13 - 19, 2020

VOL. 69, No. 33

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POLITICS 2020:

Marquita Bradshaw’s ‘active listening’ campaign for the U.S. Senate by Karanja A. Ajanaku kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com

Taking a break Wednesday morning from her role as a home-care worker, Marquita Bradshaw, the Democratic Party nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat in Tennessee, created time to talk with The New Tri-State Defender about her stunning win in the Aug. 6 Tennessee Federal Primary Election. “I’ve been going to work since the beginning (of the campaign) … Monday through Wednesday, anywhere from 10 to 15 hours a day. Then during my breaks, I work on my campaign. After work, I work on my campaign,” said Bradshaw during a video interview with Associate Publisher/ Executive Editor Karanja A. Ajanaku. “Well, I can’t say it’s my campaign. I can say our campaign because there’s a lot of people working with me. Mostly, I’m oﬀ Thursday through Sunday and that’s when I really, really ramp up.”

TSD: Will that change going forward as a result of your win? Marquita Bradshaw: No, because I’ve still got to keep a roof over my head. I’m a single black mother, and the other sources of income that I used to do would put me in and out of homes that would endanger the person (a family member) that I care for…. TSD: One week ago today, what were you doing? M. Bradshaw: Wrapping up early voting with volunteers, ramping up the GOTV (get out the vote) eﬀort for the 43,000 voters who did not vote that usually vote in elections for Shelby County and also across the state. … I was really concerned … that many people that normally vote didn’t get to vote or hadn’t voted yet. …So I’m trying to get those people out to the polls. We’re pulling and dragging. TSD: At what point did you decide

Once a candidate for president, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) now is the VP choice of soon-to-be Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden. (Photo: Twitter)

“This journey is more than a person,” said Marquita Bradshaw of her bid to become Tennessee’s next U.S. Senator. “It’s about the issues that we have put together that people are experiencing and that people are identifying (with) all over the world. (Photo: Screen capture) that you were going to make this run for this oﬃce? Was it something that you came up with? Was this part of a collective? How did it surface?

M. Bradshaw: I do serve as a board member, executive committee mem-

SEE SENATE ON PAGE 2

Outside pleasure... The 8th Annual Mtenzi Awards were held outside of the House of MTenzi Museum, 1289 Madison Ave., because of COVID-19 last Sunday (Aug. 9). Emmett “SuperStar” Brown was honored as “Best Legendary Celebrity DJ, MC, Promoter & Manager. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)

Poll probes area attitudes about police African Americans show less confidence TSD Newsroom Asked to rate local law enforcement on five specific issues, fewer than half of African Americans polled on behalf of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission gave an overall positive rating on four of them. The countywide poll was con-

ducted by Public Opinion Strategies. According to the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, the overall results show strong support and respect for local law enforcement throughout Shelby County while at the same time reflecting a need to raise the level of confidence in police among African Americans. Key findings: – 66 percent of respondents felt that local law enforcement is doing an excellent or good job enforcing

the law, but only 50 percent of African Americans felt that compared to 82 percent of white respondents; – 57 percent felt that local police are doing an excellent or good job at being honest and trustworthy, but only 45 percent of African Americans felt that compared to 71 percent of whites; – 56 percent felt that local law enforcement does an excellent or good job of protecting people from violent crime, but only 43 percent of

African Americans compared to 70 percent of white respondents; – 52 percent felt local police do an excellent or good job solving crime, but the percentage drops to 37 percent among African Americans compared to 68 percent among whites; and – 51 percent felt that local law enforcement does an excellent or good job of not using excessive force on suspects, but it drops to 36 per-

SEE POLL ON PAGE 3

Harris as VP choice rings like a winner for many by Jennifer Sharp Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Local elected Democratic officials weighed in on presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s choice of U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) as his running mate, expressing excitement at the choice and expectation that she can help carry the party to victory in November. Biden made the announcement Tuesday (Aug. 11) and the two appeared together as presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the first time Wednesday (Aug. 12). He earlier had promised to name a woman as his running mate, but in recent weeks there was growing speculation on whether it would be a woman of color. Harris is the first Black woman and first person of Indian descent to be nominated for national office by a major political party. She will also be only the fourth woman in U.S. history to be selected for a presidential ticket. As a Howard University alum and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Harris has garnered many accomplishments in her life, including being the first Black woman in California elected district attorney in 2003 and winning the U.S. Senate race in 2016. Her former career as a prosecutor has left some African Americans questioning her stance on issues that affect the community. However, the VP-selection news has caused many people to stand in support of Harris. The New Tri-State Defender asked several local elected officials their thoughts on Harris being named Biden’s running mate. Memphis Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas: “This symbolism shows little Black girls that a Black woman, who is a member of a NPHC (The National Pan-Hellenic Council, a collaborative organization of historically African-American Greek lettered fraternities and sororities organi-

SEE HARRIS ON PAGE 2

The New Tri-State Defender

August 13 - 19, 2020

Page 2

NEWS SENATE CONTINUED FROM FRONT ber for the Tennessee Executive Committee for Sierra Club… and I volunteer in a whole lot of different kinds of ways throughout the community. My whole environmental justice career in Memphis has been a volunteer role for 25 years. … It’s been my passion… I was doing the Christmas party circuit (in 2018). Some people approached me, and it’s not uncommon for people to approach me to run for office. … (I heard) “Hey, Marquita, you should run for office. There are a lot of open seats, the mayor’s coming up… school board. I think you should run for office.” I was like, “You know what? If I would do anything, I would run for a federal office because of what happened in my community had a lot to deal with how federal policies failed our whole community and is failing a lot of communities across the state of Tennessee….” I said, “If I did anything, I would run for US Senate.” The whole room came to a hush it seems like, but it was like a powerful word that was spoken…. (Later), this opportunity came to me from a lady I met a couple of years ago at the Legal of Women Voters. It’s like, “Hey, I’m in this new role. We have a program that trains and recruit leaders of color to become candidates and campaign operatives.” See, I’ve always been on the opposite sides of campaigns, just doing fieldwork and helping people with GOTV efforts. … I was thinking of everybody else that I was working with, and she’s like, “No, since you’ve been on this environmental thing for a while, I’m thinking of you. You need to come and you need to be prepared to run for office.” …I still wasn’t convinced yet, but then after I started the program (I) saw how comprehensive it was, and it was free. … I was like, “Oh, I want to get picked for this program.” …(I)t had the missing pieces that I didn’t have for running a complete campaign. It had the campaign management piece, it had the fundraising piece … it had preparing to be a candidate piece. …It put me in different circles, where other elected officials and people were wanting to become candidates themselves. So my network grew from my labor network that I’ve worked in, and my nonprofit networks, and the community work that I’ve worked in, to more people…. I became more and more comfortable with the idea of being a candidate and my life being peeled apart and everything being looked at. …I’m such a private person and quiet as it’s kept, I can get bashful sometimes because I can be really introverted. But when it comes to things I’m passionate about, you can never tell because then I’m an extrovert when I was talking about my passion….That’s how (it) came about. TSD: So now you’ve got some additional skills relative to being able to run a campaign. It still costs money. How do you think such a small-budgeted campaign was able to unseat such a large amount of money on the other side? M. Bradshaw: Organizing has always been about people. Whether you’re organizing workers in a new unit, to become a new union, or organizing in the community, you’re always organizing against big money. …When I got started a lot of people thought I was crazy and I was like, “No, I see a path to victory.” They were

like, “You don’t have any money. ...Those folks are millionaires. What you going to do?” I was like, “When have we allowed not having money to stop us from doing what’s right and serving people? When have we done that as a community, as a black community?” … Not having money to do things has been my life experience. Really, I didn’t know we were poor until it was time to go to college. …I didn’t want to put that additional burden on my mother … being responsible for my education. … So, I took on that student loan debt … and it took a long time for me to get through college. It wasn’t (a) traditional route. I graduated from the University of Memphis, but I started out at Memphis State. TSD: You covered some ground; I gotcha. When you graduated, what was your degree in? M. Bradshaw: Journalism. It started out as Broadcasting and Electronic Media with Communication Studies and Journalism. So it’s a Bachelor of Liberal Science, a hodgepodge of all of those three things. It really fit well with the career path I took because understanding how people communicate is one of the key components in active listening, which is what this campaign is built around…. In politics, usually how it goes is that a candidate says, “OK, this is going to be my platform. And we’re going to have listening sessions, and we’re going to tweak … because I’m the leader, and this is the way I lead. …Well, my leadership style is way different. …I’m the leader of these people who I want to serve. I’m going to listen to them first, and put together a platform based on the narratives, which is the empirical data to drive the policy that we need to have in DC. TSD: Relative to your active listening up to this point, what are you gleaning that people want you to, do and to advocate? M. Bradshaw: Well, if you go to my website, marquitabradshaw.com, and you look at those issues, it’s something in there for everybody. …Yes, I am focusing on marginalized communities, because if you make those investments in those marginalized communities, it brings all of the communities up. We are only as strong as a weaker part of our community. … TSD: We’re in a state that is so heavily Republican, red. Just looking at the numbers, you’d have to have a very significant Democratic turnout, but it also seems like you’d have to be able to have a message that resonates with Republicans on some level. Do you see it that way? And if so, what part of your message do you think might resonate with Republicans? M. Bradshaw: The messages that the people have put together within our platform versus the message that the Republican nominee is carrying (are) so vastly different. I’ve been stomping across Tennessee before COVID and so that means that I’ve talked to Republicans and I was like, “So, you have all these people that are candidates and they’re not concerned about the internal threats of poverty and racism and they don’t have a platform around education. They don’t have a platform around environment and they don’t have a platform around economy that works for working people. So, are you telling me that in the Republican Party that there’s no one that’s concerned about those issues? Is that really re-

flective of all the people in the Republican Party?” … Number two, let’s dispel the myth that this is a Republican state. No, that is not the truth and let’s not repeat it. TSD: Amplify on that. M. Bradshaw: This is a state where you have almost 45 million people that are registered to vote that do not vote. You have more non-voting registered voters than Republicans and Democrats combined. People that are eligible to vote and some of them aren’t registered to vote. … There’s some Republicans that we don’t have time to reach or even activate their base, so we’re not going to even entertain them. But for the Republicans that are concerned about removing the hypocrisy in democracy and moving us forward away from racism, because that’s going to kill our country if we don’t deal with it. If we don’t move from the hypocrisy that everybody is not able to participate in our economy and the hypocrisy not every child has a high quality education. … The third thing is the environment, the pollution. If we do not deal with the pollution, it don’t matter what kind of economy we got if everybody’s dying, right? … Republicans are just as concerned about pollution and the environment as Democrats. They might wrap it up and package it in a bow in a different way and their leaders are not speaking about it. Their leaders are not leading in a way that they want them to because they’re continually rolling back regulations. … There (are) over 100 environmental laws that were made to protect our human health and our environment health. You cannot separate health from the environment. …We know that everyone deserves medical care. Just imagine if people in a COVID environment had access to primary care providers, we could have responded differently than what we’re going through now. TSD: Now that you’ve gained the nomination, you’ve gotten nationwide notoriety. I envision that organized Democrats from all sorts of places, some with money, are reaching out for you. How do you blend this new infusion of interest into your campaign? M. Bradshaw: Well, if you want to do things the way it has always been done, this might not be the campaign you need to work with because we are leading with environmental justice principles with the voices of the people who are experiencing the pain. It’s value and is put in this platform. By that way, we are being inclusive and it’s for everybody because we want America to be for all, not just for some people. If you’re on that boat, don’t come this way and that’s all to it. But if you are willing to learn how to do things differently, because it was no feat to be out $2 million, that was a single mother knowing how to stretch a dollar and being connected to community. It ain’t no secret how it’s done, but it takes a lot of work. If you’re going to talk to this campaign, if you’re looking to get rich because of the money you think is going to come in, that’s not going to happen. Let’s set some ground rules. If you’re coming here to serve, you have a place here. If you’re coming to win and flip this U.S./Tennessee seat and understand that the way that we’re leading is to serve people, then let’s get to work. …We are building a people-focused platform that’s based on everyone having healthy and safe communities.

HARRIS CONTINUED FROM FRONT zation) and an HBCU alum can be in one of highest oﬃces in the United States. “We say that we trust Black women, so this is our time to show that we trust Black women to be in high position in politics.” Tennessee state Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis): “I think Sen. Harris is a good choice for VP because as an African-American woman, she may spur African Americans who stayed at home when Hillary Clinton was the nominee to vote for. Additionally, she is tough, and she is not afraid to go hard after Trump.” Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr.: “Sen. Harris getting the nod to serve as Joe Biden’s running mate and potentially becoming Vice President is historic. Hopefully, it sends a strong message to every Democratic candidate going forward, that simply paying lip service to its most loyal demographic is not enough. “Not only do Black voters deserve candidates at the top of the ticket, but also policies that directly address the issues within our community.” Tennessee state Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis): “I’m excited about Biden’s decision. Sen. Harris is uniquely qualiﬁed to go on a statewide election and has been vetted as someone who has run for president. “She’s a Black woman and it’s time to recognize just how much of an important role that Black women play in the

For California Sen. Kamala Harris (second from left), the road to becoming Joe Biden’s running mate was littered with misleading online attacks on women under consideration. (Photo: Twitter) Democratic process and voting for the Democratic Party.” – Q: As a current Democratic oﬃce holder, how do you think that Biden’s decision will aﬀect the 2020 presidential election? Smiley: “I hope Biden’s decision will increase voter turnout because the main objective is to get a new president. This will inspire people to get out to vote, so that we will not deal with four more years of the unknown.” Easter-Thomas: “This is the most important election in our lifetime, thus far, and we need to think about placing our personal convictions aside to come together in 2020 for a change in the presidential seat.” Akbari: “I think that this will drive voter turnout and it is a balanced ticket. People are excited all over social media and it will put the Democratic in a good position.” Q: Do you have any advice for African Americans who

have aspirations for running for political offices? Easter-Thomas: “My advice is to stay hard working, stay observant and stay humble. A lot can be said about a person with merit, and it is important to stay committed to serving others. It is easy to get off track, but you must stay focused on the people and the purposes.” Smiley: “If you have aspirations to seek public office, I would suggest identifying the issues within your community that you are most passionate about, determine which public office has a direct impact on the aforementioned issues and hone your advocacy skills in preparation long before you put your name on the ballot.” Parkinson: “Serve the people prior to asking for their vote. Your community needs you now.” Akbari: “Just do it, do it afraid and jump in with both feet. Know that ordinary people can do extraordinary things, so why not be that person.”

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The New Tri-State Defender

August 13 - 19, 2020

Page 3

NEWS

TSU analysts: Harris VP selection likely to power two-pronged boost Special to TSDMemphis.com NASHVILLE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Bidenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s selection of U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris to be his running mate will not only further energize young voters, but also renew interest in historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what political analysts at Tennessee State University have to say after Biden made the announcement this week. If he wins in November, Harris would become the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst female vice president, ďŹ rst black vice president and ďŹ rst black female vice president. Geraldine Ferraro was the ďŹ rst female vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket, in 1984. In 2008, Alaskaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s then-governor Sarah Palin was Republican John McCainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s running mate. TSU President Glenda Glover said Bidenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s announcement was a great moment for our country, African-Americans, and for women. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Senator Harrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; selection is a full circle moment for HBCUs and African-American Greek organizations that worked tirelessly to give the black community a voice from the turn of the century, through Jim Crow and the civil rights movement, to present day,â&#x20AC;? President Glover said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As the president of Tennessee State University, a premiere HBCU, and as International President of AKA, in which Sen. Harris is a member, I am doubly proud of this selection. I also commend Vice President Joe Biden for his insight to bring someone of Sen. Harrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stature to the ticket. She is intelligent, experienced, charismatic and above all qualiďŹ ed for the job.â&#x20AC;? Glover added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;African-American women have been the backbone of this country, and now an African-American woman has the opportunity to ascend to the second highest oďŹ&#x192;ce in the nation; with the opportunity to create polices that will impact us for generations to come.â&#x20AC;? Dr. Samantha Morgan-Curtis, a Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Studies faculty member and dean of the College of Liberal Arts at TSU, said Harris is â&#x20AC;&#x153;historic on several levels.â&#x20AC;? Morgan-Curtis said Harrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; selection is a continuation of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;wave of activismâ&#x20AC;? during the 2018 midterm elections in which there were historic ďŹ rsts for women of color. To name a few, Democrats Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib became the ďŹ rst Muslim women elected to Con-

gress, and Democrats Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids became the ďŹ rst Native American women elected to Congress. TSU junior Tiara Thomas said it is inspiring to see someone who looks like her get a step closer to being the second most powerful person in the United States. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think what Kamala Harris is doing for black women is what (former President) Barack Obama did for black men in America,â&#x20AC;? said Thomas, a political science major from Olive Branch, Mississippi, and the creator of TSU Votes, a social medial platform. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It gives us another crack in the glass ceiling.â&#x20AC;? In 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the ďŹ rst Black American and the ďŹ rst woman to seek the Democratic presidential nomination. Now, said Thomas, Harris is standing on her shoulders. â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool to see history kind of reinvent itself,â&#x20AC;? said Thomas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To see a black woman actually be put on the (presidential) ballot, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing.â&#x20AC;? In the four hours after Biden announced Harris as his running mate, ActBlue, the Democratsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; main fundraising platform, reported more than $10.8 million in donations. TSU political analysts predict Harris will have a similar eďŹ&#x20AC;ect on voters. They say her selection will not only galvanize female voters, but all voters, particularly young ones, disgruntled over continued social injustice, like the deaths of George Floyd and other black men and women due to police brutality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always impressed with how worked up our students can get, and how they focus that on things,â&#x20AC;? said Erik Schmeller, a history professor and director of the Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement at TSU. â&#x20AC;&#x153;National organizations are also pushing the message, that this is your opportunity to get engaged and make a diďŹ&#x20AC;erence.â&#x20AC;? TSU Political Science Professor Brian Russell predicts Harris, an alumna of Howard University and a member of the prominent black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., will cause more young people to consider attending HBCUs, especially if Biden is elected president. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to energize a lot of younger African-American students to look in the HBCU direction,â&#x20AC;? said Russell. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be exciting.â&#x20AC;?

The Memphis branch of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on Tuesday voiced support for the recruitment of more police oďŹ&#x192;cers. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

POLL CONTINUED FROM FRONT cent among African Americans compared to 66 percent among whites. Asked whether local law enforcement oďŹ&#x192;cers use excessive force too often, there was a split, with 46 agreeing (50 percent of African Americans and 43 percent of whites) and 46 percent disagreeing (39 percent of African Americans and 54 percent of whites). The poll was conducted July 26-28 and included 450 registered voters, with 294 being registered voters in Memphis. The ethnic/racial breakdown was 48 percent white, 46 percent African American, 5 percent other, and 1 percent refused countywide. The breakdown among Memphis respondents was 53 percent African American, 40 percent white, 6 percent other, and 1

percent refused. (For age and gender breakdowns, see the full report at www.memphiscrime.org.) Memphis residents in the survey (a total of 294 voters) were asked whether they favored placing a referendum on the November 3 ballot to amend the city charter to allow Memphis police oďŹ&#x192;cers (and ďŹ reďŹ ghters) to live outside of Memphis but within a 50-mile radius of the city limits. The results showed that 77 percent said they supported having a referendum, with 18 percent opposed. That sentiment crossed all key subgroups, with 74 percent of African American voters indicating support and 80 percent of white voters supportive. Recently, the Memphis City Council voted 7-6 to remove the referendum from the November ballot. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Respect for local law en-

forcement and support for more police oďŹ&#x192;cers is overwhelming across the board among various subgroups polled,â&#x20AC;? said Bill Gibbons, president of the Crime Commission. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the same time, there is a feeling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; especially among African American respondents â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that there is room for improvement, ranging from reducing violent crime to reducing unnecessary use of force.â&#x20AC;? The Crime Commission spearheads development of the local Safe Community Plan and develops key outcome indicators for each part of the plan. One key goal is strengthening community involvement in crime prevention eďŹ&#x20AC;orts and improving community relations with law enforcement. A key outcome indicator for that goal, according to the commission, is the level of community satisfaction with law enforcement.

(To learn more about the Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement at TSU, visit http://www.tnstate.edu/servicelearning/.)

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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, August 13 - 19, 2020, Page 4

“While the problems of racial inequality and systemic injustice are difﬁcult and sensitive, it is critical to tackle them.” — Lyndon Campbell

Quarterbacking positive change through sports (Neilsen) – When history is set, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the Star-Spangled Banner back in 2016 to protest reported police brutality and oppression against people of color, it will be viewed as a key moment in the long ﬁght for racial equality in the U.S. Almost four years later, as tensions around racial injustice couldn’t be higher, the sports industry remains a key arena for activating awareness and positive change. Importantly, Kaepernick’s action was a catalyst for important conversations, many of them outside professional sports. His protest set the stage for a seismic shift in attitudes, resulting in broad awareness of systemic racism. It also fueled growing support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and that support is notably strong among professional sports athletes as well as the fans who cheer for them. Leveraging their visibility, many professional athletes have taken a leading role in amplifying Black Lives Matter protests and speaking out about racism and police brutality. Examples include Carmelo Anthony, Serena Williams, Leonard Fournette and Huston Street. But it’s not just the athletes who are passionate about the movement: Fans are too, most notably those who consider themselves NBA, MLS and NFL loyalists, according to ﬁndings from Nielsen’s recent “Promoting Racial Equality in Sports” study. In addition, many athletes have pledged funding to the Black Lives Matter movement and similar racial justice causes. Former NBA superstar Michael Jordan, for example, has pledged $100 million over 10 years to groups that pursue racial equality and social justice. While basketball fans regard Michael Jordan as NBA royalty, fans of MLS and NHL are actually more giving when it comes to personally supporting the Black Lives Matter movement with their own time and money.

Support for the Black Lives Matter movement is notably strong among professional sports athletes as well as among the fans cheering for them. “New insights into fandom, such as which league followers are most generous in their giving to causes like Black Lives Matter, hold massive potential to guide more data-driven and informed decision-making,” said Lyndon Campbell, senior vice president, Head of Sports Leagues and Rights Holders at Nielsen Sports. “Leveraging this intelligence, sports properties and teams as well as brands that are activating through sponsorship, TV broadcasts and social media, have new opportunities to realize competitive advantages.” Interjecting one’s self and personal opinions into conversations that divide groups of people can be a risky proposition, but sports fans across leagues believe professional athletes have an important responsibility to speak out to educate and raise awareness about the Black Lives Matter movement and racial injustice. In addition to bolstering their personal brands and the stature of the leagues they compete in, athletes who champion racial injustice can eﬀectively engage audiences that want to align with similarly minded brands and organizations. For brands in a very crowded and fragmented media market, it’s increasingly diﬃcult to stand out – especially in front of the right consumers. Knowing which sports fans are most engaged and most willing to get involved enables smarter targeting and fosters more meaningful engagements right from the start. It can also have a positive impact on the bottom line at the same time.

Colin Kaepernick’s protest set the stage for a seismic shift in attitudes, resulting in broad awareness of systemic racism. (Photo: Twitter) For example, 64 percent of individuals surveyed in Nielsen’s Promoting Racial Equality in Sports study say they are open to trying new brands that combat social injustice or take the lead in fighting racism. That means there is opportunity to increase share for more than just established brands and organizations. And what’s more, fans engaged on the topic of racial equality are 10 percentage points more likely to try new brands involved in the cause than the general population. And while we know that brand loyalty is fleeting in many categories, loyalty among consumers engaged on this topic are much more loyal to brands similarly engaged than the general public is (62 percent vs. 54 percent). “While the problems of racial inequality and systemic injustice are difficult and sensitive, it is critical to tackle them,” said Campbell. “Brands and rights holders that authentically align with these critical issues as they

engage sports fans can drive positive social change while also achieving business objectives. This is the definition of a win-win situation.” Kaepernick has yet to return to professional football. His protest back in 2016, however, kicked off a massive wave of support for fighting racial injustice. And while he hasn’t returned to the

NFL, his action has garnered him massive support from brands like Nike and most recently, Disney. With Disney, Kaepernick will work with minority directors and producers to develop and tell stories that explore issues of race, social justice and equity. And in many ways, this powerful partnership couldn’t have happened without sports.

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The New Tri-State Defender

August 13 - 19, 2020

Page 5

RELIGION

Doing good works... Golden Gate Cathedral, 3240 James Rd., was the venue recently for two events – an anti-bullying rally and another Good Samaritan Outreach food distribution. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

COMMENTARY

SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING: Don’t throw your own pity party and then attend by James Washington Jr. NNPA Newswire

In this 2006 file photo, firefighters spray water on hot spots inside the shell of Pilgrim Baptist Church, in Chicago. Strong winds that swept across northeast Illinois on Monday (Aug. 10) caused additional damage to the historic Chicago church, where Mahalia Jackson and other famed gospel singers often sang and the man considered the father of gospel music, Thomas A. Dorsey, led the choir. Two walls, made of limestone and braced by metal beams, remain intact. The building has been a shell since January 2006, when it was gutted by fire. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

Wind knocks down wall of firegutted historic Chicago church CHICAGO (AP) – Strong winds caused additional damage to a historic Chicago church but may have also swept in a badly needed “blessing” for a sanctuary where Mahalia Jackson and other famed gospel singers often sang and the man considered the father of gospel music led the choir. Winds that reached nearly 100 mph knocked down the south wall of the fire-damaged Pilgram Baptist Church in northeast Illinois on Monday. Two walls, made of limestone and braced by metal beams, remain intact. The building has been a shell since January 2006, when it was gutted by fire.

The building, constructed in 1890 as a synagogue and converted to a Christian church in the 1920s, was designed by the famous architectural ﬁrm headed by Louis Sullivan and his partner. It’s the church where Thomas A. Dorsey perfected his cross of the blues with the sacred music into a sound that became gospel music. A fundraiser has been ongoing since 2017 for a proposed National Museum of Gospel Music. Don Jackson, who heads the museum project, told the Chicago Sun-Times the collapse may be a “godsend.” “This forces the urgency,” Jackson said. “This has been a blessing

for the project that says that we need to get started.” He added he thinks the museum can open in September 2022. Ward Miller of Preservation Chicago, a nonproﬁt that promotes the preservation of the city’s historic landmarks, is expressing concern the wall’s collapse will derail the proposed estimated $48 million project. He said he would welcome anything to preserve the space. “It’s still an important component to save,” Miller said. “It has a lot of signiﬁcance to the nation and to the world, culturally in music and, of course, architecturally.”

While I was trying to remember where I heard or read about the concept of letting your hate for someone else control your life, I realized that maybe someone needed to read about it. So, here it is. Now I am not talking about just not liking someone. I am talking about not being able to control your emotions when it comes to a particular person. I mean having complete and utter disdain for another human being, so much so, that even when you don’t want to think about them, you can’t help yourself. That person occupies too much of your mental space and saps your waking time and energy. Look here. If you can’t stand someone, can’t get along with someone, are still hurt after someone left you long ago, you really need to let it go. I guess it exempliﬁes a very practical approach to “Let go and let God.” The premise is simple enough. Without forgiveness in your heart, you are forever bound and chained to that which you despise most, are fearful of and have been seriously hurt by. Have you ever been around someone who continues to relive a past relationship, a broken heart, wrongful termination, missed opportunity or a personal slight, over and over and over again? That’s all they talk about. When they see something or hear something that reminds them of that someone or that thing, you know what’s coming. And they expect you to join them in the pity party they’ve thrown for themselves. In fact, it’s the same one they threw yesterday and the day before and you know it’s the one they’ll throw tomorrow. Maybe you’ve attended a pity party or two, even thrown on for yourself. Without forgiveness in your heart and mind and your spirit, you’re essentially doomed to be shackled to what scarred you in the ﬁrst place. My bible says the truth shall set you

free. And the truth is, you better let that madness go, so you can live a life of freedom. You can never be the person God wants you to be, if you James continue to let Washington Jr. these people and events and circumstances have that kind of power over you. That’s right, power! Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, you are letting your thoughts rule your behavior, your attitude and your outlook. That’s too much power to give to anyone or anything who is so negative to who you are in the eyes of God. It’s a mind game and it’s your mind. Paul says, “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Romans 12:2. Let God reshape your thinking into what you can be instead of what they you say are not. The truth is God can’t or won’t even deal with you until you comply with the rule of forgiveness. He says, “If you come to the altar with your gift and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift and go be reconciled with your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23. You got to let it go. You have to in order to claim your freedom, your peace. Until you do, you can’t receive all that God has for you. My point is that the process begins from within. It takes intestinal fortitude to forgive one’s enemies in the face of their attacks, old and new. But you must. I know you can. Just remember this. When you do let go and let God, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” He knows it’s in you because He put it there. May God bless and keep you always. (James Washington Jr. is co-publisher of the Dallas Weekly News and a NNPA Newswire contributor.)

The New Tri-State Defender, August 13 - 19, 2020, Page 6

“The shortage has become even more apparent. I have not just broken down and had a good cry, but I have watched my colleagues break down from the taxing demands of caring for COVID patients. Some have scaled their hours back to part time. Others have just walked away altogether. Our workload is more than what it would normally be.” — John James Jr.

In harm’s way now a way of life for John James Jr. by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Barely two years out of nursing school, John James Jr. found his way onto the pages of The New York Times, as part of an expose’ titled “In Harm’s Way.” The article spotlights healthcare professionals all over the country, featuring their reflections on caring for COVID-19 patients. James initially was contacted over social media by the news organ in mid-July. As an ICU nurse at Baptist East Hospital, working long, grueling hours on the COVID-19 wings, there was plenty to reflect on. “It can be very stressful taking care of patients who are suffering complications from the coronavirus,” James said. “When we first starting dealing with COVID-19, visitation policy had to change. Family members couldn’t get in to see their loved ones unless they were going into surgery, coming out of surgery or it was an end-of-life situation.” James is a standout, not only because he is male, but also because he is an African-American male. He was excited in December 2018 when he graduated from the Baptist College of Health Science. Helping to bridge the shortage gap in the profession was foremost in his thinking. “I wanted my life and my career to have some meaning,” James said. “I wanted my work to impact the lives of those around me. “I not only loved the idea of becoming a nurse, but the urgent need for more nurses, because of the shortage, added value to my decision to choose nursing as a profession.” But caring for patients ravaged by a global pandemic was not how James had envisioned his formative, initial years as a registered nurse. Long days, pensive nights, frequent death watches with grieving loved ones who cannot be at the bedside, Face-timing the family so they can say their last goodbyes —it has all taken an emotional toll on physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals on COVID-19 units. “The shortage has become even more apparent,” James said. “I have not just broken down and had a good cry, but I have watched my colleagues break down from the taxing demands of caring for COVID patients. “Some have scaled their hours back to part time. Others have just walked away altogether. Our workload is more than what it would normally be.” The stresses and emotional weight of caring for coronavirus patients are not the causes of nurse shortages across the nation, but the widespread resulting serious illness and death exacerbated the deficiency of nurses. Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said Shelby County hospitals and healthcare facilities, are coping with the shortage like every other place in the country. “We are feeling the effects of a nurse shortage in Shelby County, just like everyone else,” Haushalter said, during a rising number of hospitalizations in April. “We have never seen a pandemic of this magnitude. So, we’re treading in unfamiliar territory. That’s why we’re working to bring every resource to bear.” Healthcare researchers predicted as far back as 2009 that a shortage of nurses would accompany the exponential growth in senior populations when the Baby Boomers turned 65, according to the American Nurses Association (ANA). There are an estimated 3 million nurses presently working. By the year 2030, one million will have retired. To alleviate the effects, one million new nurses should be ready in 2022. That is not happening, according to the ANA. “We have maintained a consistent number of nursing students at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center,” said Dr. Jamila Smith-Young, a nurse practitioner and assistant professor at UTHSC. “Some nursing programs are offering free online instruction, but none of the nursing programs in Memphis and Shelby County are participating,” she said. Faculty shortages in nursing programs also are limiting student capacity each year, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Classroom spaces are limited and the competition to get one of those spaces in tremendous. Thousands are turned away because of the limited space. “There is a lot going on,” said James. “But I am committed to riding this virus out, nurse shortage and all. “I love the profession, and despite the extreme emotional lows, nursing is worth the effort. Nursing it worth the risk.”

Nurse John James Jr. says he is “committed to riding this virus out, nurse shortage and all.” (Photo: Jackie Ray Bingham/ Ray Visions Photography)

The New Tri-State Defender

August 13 - 19, 2020

Page 7

ENTERTAINMENT

Yes, Baby, Yes! Shelved “Black-ish” episode now available on Hulu by Tonja Renée Stidhum TheRoot.com

2020 is unprecedented-ish. Remember back in 2017, a mysterious “Black-ish” episode titled “Please, Baby, Please” (based on the Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee children’s book of the same name) became wrapped in some controversy because of its reported politically-charged themes? It caused such a ruckus, and I pretty much figured the episode would never see the light of day. Well, fast forward about three years later in a world where corporations are burying themselves in black boxes in a performative display of Black Lives Matter solidarity and you’ve got yourself a plot twist! The previously shelved episode is now available to air on Hulu. “We were one-year post-election and coming to the end of a year that left us, like many Americans, grappling with the state of our country and anxious about its future,” Barris wrote in a reflective statement on Twitter, following the announcement. “Those feelings poured onto the page, becoming 22 minutes of television that I was, and still am, incredibly proud of. ‘Please, Baby, Please’ didn’t make it to air that season and, while much has been speculated about its contents, the episode has never been seen publicly...until now.” That “speculation” Barris refers to reminds me of the discourse surrounding network censorship, especially as early reports claimed that the episode was focused on the kneeling protests in the NFL, spearheaded by Colin Kaepernick. That gesture wasn’t so popular back then. Look at us now. Point is, the fact that ABC decided not to air it at the time made us want to see it even more. Hell, Michael Harriot even wrote an open letter to the show creator on The Root urging him to leak the damn episode. That’s how deep the anticipation went. On Monday, Barris confirmed that after the re-airings of

Black-ish (2014-present); “Please, Baby, Please” by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee (Photo: image: ABC/YouTube, Board Books) the “Juneteenth” and “Hope” episodes, he asked Walt Disney Television to reconsider airing the previously shelved episode and they agreed, given today’s times. “I cannot wait for everyone to ﬁnally see the episode for themselves and, as was the case nearly three years ago, we hope it inspires some much-needed conversation—not only about what we were grappling with then or how it led to where we are now, but conversations about where were want our country to go moving forward, and most importantly, how we get there together.” ABC News reports on the episode’s content: The episode revolves around a sleepless night in the household of Dre and Rainbow Johnson (Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross). To calm his infant son during a storm, Dre begins by reading a children’s book – the Spike Lee-Tonya Lewis Lee work of the episode’s title – then shares his own anxieties.

As Dre offers up an improvised fable, it’s the actions of the then-fledgling Trump administration that are identified as part of his unease. His monologue includes a thinly veiled reference to “the shady king.” The episode widens out to look at deep social divisions that Dre says followed the election of America’s first Black president, Barack Obama, and the eye-opening revelation that “not everyone’s a fan” of change, as the character puts it. “Daddy’s scared too. ... Everything’s so crazy now,” Dre says softly to his son at one point. Through imagery and concerns expressed by other family members, the episode touches on issues besides racism, including mass shootings, climate change and gay rights. Regardless, you’ll be able to see for yourself! The “Please, Baby, Please” episode of “Black-ish” is now available (along with other past episodes) on Hulu.

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, August 13 - 19, 2020, Page 8

Health Department says schools can stay open until coronavirus positivity rate hits 25 percent by Laura Faith Kebede Chalkbeat Tennessee

Shelby County health officials say they won’t recommend closing schools or returning to a stay-at-home order until 25 percent of coronavirus tests come back positive – a threshold dramatically higher than other cities across the nation. By contrast, New York City’s mayor has said school buildings must shutter if the positivity rate exceeds 3 percent, and other school districts have vowed to limit in-person learning when the rate hits 5 percent. While Shelby County’s guidelines mean that coronavirus infection rates would have to get a lot worse before the health department urges school buildings shut, the majority of students in the county won’t be returning to campuses just yet. That’s because Shelby County Schools is scheduled to begin online Aug. 31 and remain virtual until further notice. The district has not yet indicated what coronavirus

case numbers would signal a safe return to school buildings or what would prompt recurring closures. Some local charter schools, private schools, and suburban districts have already begun in-person learning or are planning to do so later this month. At the beginning of August, the county’s positivity rate was 15.4 percent, which means about one in every six coronavirus tests that week was positive. That’s down from a peak of 16.3 percent in mid-July, but is still high enough that the White House deemed the area a “red zone,” due to high infection rates. Alisa Haushalter, the county health department director, said the 25 percent threshold was set through consensus of local infectious disease experts, health department officials, and leaders of the county’s “Back to Business” plan. She also said testing and hospital capacity would factor into decision-making. “Getting children back to school is a priority for many reasons,” she said in an email. “Decreasing communi-

ty transmission impacts schools. We will aim to address community factors prior to closing schools.” The department said that it would also advise closing schools if the county averages more than 750 new coronavirus cases per day during a week or the rate of new cases increases by more than 40 percent over two weeks. Elsewhere the thresholds are far lower. In Indianapolis, officials plan to limit in-person instruction if the positivity rate surpasses 5 percent and close school buildings entirely if the rate is higher than 13 percent. Many Colorado districts are leaning on state guidance for reopening businesses, which can occur if the positivity rate is less than 5 percent. Shelby County’s coronavirus positivity rate only dipped below 5 percent for one week in May, according to five months of health department data. Stephanie Love, a Shelby County Schools board member, said that there are too many cases in the county now for in-person learning to re-

sume. And the district and the health department have not worked out basic contact tracing plans. (Two unnamed area schools will participate in a testing pilot program for teachers and students, the city announced Wednesday afternoon.) “We have no plan in place that fully protects all our students and educators because we don’t know what they are walking in the building with,” she told Chalkbeat. “The protection infrastructure was not set up for everyone’s safety, in my opinion.” Based on the Shelby County Health Department’s guidance that went into effect Monday, schools would be among the last local buildings to close. If the county’s positivity rate hits 25 percent, the department would have already implemented a curfew, restricted sporting events, and closed some restaurants. Currently, the department has ordered some bars to shutter temporarily and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. Religious gatherings are allowed, but health officials are urging places of

worship to continue online services. The department is requiring other businesses to limit customers to 50 percent capacity. The city government and county health department have required masks in public indoor spaces, and Haushalter said that has contributed to a recent decrease in new cases. “We are stable and have been stable for some weeks now and are running 250 to 300 cases per day, which was a significant decrease under the 500, 600, 700 that we have seen in July,” she told reporters Tuesday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends schools consider closing if there is a “substantial, uncontrolled transmission” but does not define it. “Communities can support schools staying open by implementing strategies that decrease a community’s level of transmission,” says the CDC guidance dated Aug. 1. “However, if community transmission levels cannot be decreased, school closure is an important consideration.”

Whitehaven CDC takes fight against Graceland 3D factory to Elvis fans by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to The New Tri-State Defender

A group of Whitehaven residents are preparing for a tough fight to prevent Elvis Presley Enterprises from opening a 3-D printing factory in the middle of middle- and uppermiddle-class neighborhoods. Their determination was demonstrated Aug. 7 when Whitehaven Community Development Corporation representatives, peacefully protesting the plan, greeted Elvis fans visiting his iconic Graceland estate. The factory is planned for the building at Winchester Road and Graves Road that once housed Graves Elementary School. A letter of intent states that the factory would make jewelry and other collectibles. “We are simply homeowners trying to protect our neighborhood,” said former City Court Clerk Thomas Long. “I am proud to be here representing my neighbors to let everyone know that Elvis Presley Enterprises is seeking to put a 3-D printing factory in the middle of McCorkle Road Neighborhood.” Long said a virtual petition is available for anyone to sign, and it’s a fight that the Whitehaven CDC wants the world to know about. “Graceland is a world-class attraction,” said Tony Jones, who led the protest with Long and Whitehaven CDC President Dr. Yvonne Nelson. “Elvis Presley Enterprises claims to be bringing 1,000 full-time jobs in the area, paying $15 an hour. But we have heard those promises to our city before. If it is all about the jobs and training workers, build it in a commercial zone.” Meetings and demonstrations sponsored by the Whitehaven CDC anticipate what residents claim will be an epic battle for the “soul of Whitehaven.” “I was just contacted by the EDGE (Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County) Board telling me that the issue of re-zoning of the Graves School property is coming in the next few weeks or so,” said Memphis City Council District 3 representative and council chairwoman Patrice Robinson. “It’s going to be a big fight, but we will need to keep everyone safe and social distanced. That council meeting will be held on Zoom to give the community a

Former City Court Clerk Thomas Long makes it clear that he and others are opposed to Graceland’s push to put a factory on the site that once housed Graves Elementary School in Whitehaven. (Photo: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell) chance to be heard.” Robinson said she’s going to make it clear that schools are always zoned “residential.” Elvis Presley Enterprises is applying for “light industrial” zoning designation. If the zoning is changed and the factory is built, it remains light industrial, Robinson said. “On down the road, if that factory closes up and moves out, any thing can move into that space,” said Robinson. “There could be a trucking company on that property.” The Aug. 7 demonstration was just the latest protest. Participants engaged visitors to Graceland with their message right inside of The Guesthouse at Graceland, a hotel built adjacent to the famous mansion. Some Elvis fans even signed the petition in support of homeowners. “I’m not really educated in what’s going on here,” said one Elvis fan, who declined to give her name. “But I can understand people wanting the community where they live to remain a peaceful, residential area.” Numerous calls and emails to Elvis Presley Enterprise from The New TriState Defender, requesting comment have gone unanswered. Robinson said she, personally, feels “uncomfortable” with the project because it has changed several times. “What the project is going to be keeps changing,” Robinson said. “First, it was going to be a technology school teaching every aspect of movie-making. “Whitehaven residents were on board. There was going to be a warehouse, also. Now, the proposal is to change it to industrial use. It causes concern and makes me uncomfortable.”

Whitehaven CDC president Nelson said “beautiful Twinkle Town” and the surrounding area would be defaced, and property values would plummet. “Why don’t they put it in their own backyard?” Nelson asked. Nelson said a factory would increase traffic exponentially and create a nightmare for the McCorkle Road Community. Jones said EPE can build on land just a mile from the proposed site on property already zoned “commercial.” “Just a mile up Winchester Road are a number of sites where a factory could be built,” Jones said. “These are our homes, where our children and grandchildren live. We are not going to sit by and let them barge into our community and do what they want to do.” Long urged everyone in Memphis, around the country and the world to stand with Whitehaven homeowners and call the Memphis City Council to send a message that they cannot “do as they please simply because we are a black community.” Robinson said the issue comes down to money. “I called the school board, and the price tag on that Graves School property is $200,000,” Robinson said. “The commercial property down the road would cost way more. It far cheaper to buy it and just have it re-zoned.” Nelson said the Whitehaven CDC wants Elvis fans to know that outside support is needed to oppose “the ridiculous plan to put a factory and training center in the middle of a residential area.”

Dr. Charles Champion shows a visitor some of the memorabilia that makes Champions Pharmacy and Herb Store, 2369 Elvis Presley Blvd., a community treasure. Dr. Champion was the first African-American pharmacist to work in a Memphis hospital. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

Flowing celebration set for community-focused Dr. Champion TSD Newsroom A “Live Like A Champion” Drive-By Celebration has been set to observe the 90th birthday of Memphis pharmacist and master compounder Dr. Charles A. Champion. Hosted by his family, the commemoration will be Aug. 22 at Champions Pharmacy and Herb Store, 2369 Elvis Presley Blvd., from 5 p.m. – to 7 p.m. The community is invited to “get in their vehicles to come show some love to a man who has been attending to the health and wellness of others for over 60 years.” As participants drive southbound on Elvis Presley Blvd., they will be able to see the new mobile store that will take the Champion’s signature products and other to neighborhoods, small towns and rural areas who desire holistic medicine. “My father has made serving this community and developing products that promote healing with natural ingredients his life’s work. Hundreds of people have testimonies about how he helped them through recommending the proper herbs and medicines or giving them sage advice,” said Carol Champion. “We want all those who can to come shower him with love during the drive-by celebration and see how our family will continue to be a blessing to others through our new Herbs On Wheels mobile store.”

Dr. Champion, a 1955 graduate of Xavier University College of Pharmacy, was drafted into the U.S. Army shortly after obtaining his degree. He served as a pharmacist in Germany during a two-year tour of duty. Back in Memphis, he began working at John Gaston Hospital’s pharmacy, solidifying his place in history as the first African-American pharmacist to work in a Memphis hospital. After 12 years at John Gaston, Dr. Champion took a job at Katz Drug Store and became the first African-American pharmacist hired by a chain in the city. Champion’s Pharmacy and Herb Store is a family business that was established by Dr. Champion and his wife, Carolyn in 1981. Since then, two of his daughters, Carol Champion (also known as Cookie) and Charita Champion, have also become pharmacists. Their late daughter, Chandra Champion, served as a pharmacy tech and now Chandra’s daughter, Jessica Champion, assists with business operations. The Champion’s private label line of products, which they compound themselves, treat over 30 common. (For more information about the “Live Like A Champion” Drive-By Celebration, email championherbstore@gmail.com. For more about Champion’s Pharmacy and Herb Store, visit www.championsherbstore.com.)

The New Tri-State Defender

August 13 - 19, 2020

Page 9

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LEGAL NOTICE Request for Bids RFB Number 20-0029 Warehouse Relocation Services-REBID Sealed bids for providing services for the Warehouse Relocation-REBID will be received by the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (Authority), Procurement Department, Memphis International Airport, 4121 Runway Road, Suite B, Memphis, TN 38118-6613, until 2:00 PM local time, September 3, 2020. Bids will be opened and publicly read thirty (30) minutes after the response deadline. To participate in the phone conference bid opening, please call (901) 922-8747 ﬁve minutes prior to the published bid opening time. A complete Request for Bids Packet with submittal instructions, additional data, and response format may be found on the Authority’s website on or after August 5, 2020. A Pre-Bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. central time via phone/ video conference link: https:// zoom.us/j/99196605825 ; Phone: Meeting ID: 991 9660 5825 +13017158592. All Bidders are responsible for checking the Authority’s website up to the submission deadline for any updates, addenda or additional information. In accordance with the Authority’s purchasing policies, the Authority will give a preference to businesses located in Shelby County, Tennessee when awarding contracts and making purchases, unless prohibited by law. 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. 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

NOTICE OF SUNSET PUBLIC HEARING

In accordance with Title 4, Chapter 29, Tennessee Code Annotated, the Government Operations Committees of the Tennessee General Assembly will conduct a public hearing to receive testimony on whether the entities listed below should be continued, restructured, or terminated. The hearings will be held in the Cordell Hull Building, Nashville, Tennessee, as indicated below. Pertinent public testimony is invited. Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 1:00 p.m., House Hearing Room 1, Cordell Hull Building Beef Promotion Board Egg Promotion Board Emergency Communications Board Pork Promotion Board Private Probation Services Council Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact State Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors State Forestry Commission Tennessee Aeronautics Commission Tennessee Athletic Commission Tennessee Dairy Promotion Committee Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board Tennessee Wine and Grape Board Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., House Hearing Room 1, Cordell Hull Building Department of Financial Institutions State Board of Equalization State TennCare Pharmacy Advisory Committee Tennessee Advisory Committee in Intergovernmental Relations Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission Any changes in the above schedule which may become necessary will be announced at the Government Operations Committees’ website at www.capitol.tn.gov/ joint/committees/gov-opps/. For additional information or to request special accommodations for individuals with disabilities, contact: Julie Vallejo, Government Operations Committee Specialist, Division of State Audit, Nashville, Tennessee; Telephone: (615) 7475318; e-mail: julie.vallejo@cot. tn.gov. Request for special accommodations should be made at least 24 hours prior to the meeting whenever possible. NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce. County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notiﬁed of on-line bids. There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register:

LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Daedalus Innovations, LLC Tax Parcel #: 01303500000160 Tax Sale #: 1602 Price Offered: $3,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 2:30 p.m. on October 6, 2020, 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

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: Dorvak Branch Tax Parcel #: 04706300000360 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $6500.00 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 3:00 p.m. on October 2, 2020, 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: Machelle King Tax Parcel #: 07506600000010 Tax Sale #: 1602 Price Offered: $7000.00 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 8:30 a.m. on October 6, 2020, 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

Tax Parcel #: 04303000000240 Tax Sale #: 1602 Price Offered: $500.00 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 2, 2020, 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

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

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:

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Daedalus Innovatons, LLC Tax Parcel #: 06906700000290 Tax Sale #: 1602 Price Oﬀered: $45,000.00 Terms: Cash

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: Brenda Hayes Tax Parcel #: 06905600000330 Tax Sale #: 1101 Price Offered: $450.00 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 9, 2020, 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.

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 3:00 p.m. on October 6, 2020, 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

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

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Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on October 1, 2020, 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.

Hands that look clean can still have icky germs!

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

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE

a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on October 8, 2020, 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.

Wash Your Hands!

This material was developed by CDC. The Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign is made possible by a partnership between the CDC Foundation, GOJO, and Staples. HHS/CDC does not endorse commercial products, services, or companies.

The New Tri-State Defender

August 13 - 19, 2020

Page 10

NEWS

Brenda Brooks

Poll worker Steve Berkeley chats with Florestine Evans, a retired science teacher from Memphis City Schools. (Photos: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell)

POLITICS 2020: Election-Day voters thoughtful, worried by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The polls had not yet closed for the Aug. 6 elections when Brenda Brooks looked three months ahead. “We’ve got to show up in November,” said Brooks, who arrived properly masked to cast her vote at the Norris Rd. Missionary Baptist Church precinct at about 5 p.m. A grandmother, Brooks sees the needs that drove her to vote this past Thursday as the same ones that should be the drivers for casting ballots in November. “I’m concerned about the leadership. I’m concerned about the virus, police reform, children and their education,” she said. “But most of all, I am concerned about what kind of world we are leaving our children and grandchildren. We have to make sure things are right for them. “After all, what is more important than doing what it takes to make sure they will be OK? Beyond that, there is nothing else.” Traffic was light and numbers were sparse for the Tennessee State and Federal Primary Elections and the Shelby County General Election, with most having chosen to vote absentee or early in person. Election Day unfolded against the backdrop of an incourt legal battle over the push to widely expand the use of absentee voting amid the pandemic. Some proponents assert that the effort itself affected some outcomes by contributing hugely to the early-voter turnout and to those who cast absentee ballots. Voting in person at The Truth Church precinct. (Photo: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell) At The Truth Church and other polling places in Shelby County, Election Day yielded debates, projections for the November races, and the interactions of long-time, community friends who’d not seen each other because of the pandemic. “Lord have mercy, we can’t do another four years of this foolishness,” said Darius Fields. “Hey, can I just go

ahead and do early voting for president?” A poll worker within earshot volunteered a response: “You don’t even know who Joe Biden’s running mate is yet.” “I don’t care who it is,” Fields replied. “He can pick Jerry Lawler, and they can give out gator packs, for all I care. Whoever he picks, I just might as well vote for him today and get it over with.” Kavious Bowden, 16, was the only campaign worker in front of The Truth Church handing out pre-printed ballots for various candidates. He got involved in politics three weeks ago. “I wanted to get involved and to help because I want to see things change, get better,” said Bowden, noting that he’d soon be picking up a Shelby County Schools computer device soon for all-virtual classes this fall. “I’m going to college and I want to get my masters in business so I can own a successful business. Everybody should get out and vote.” Dwight Walker said he voted because, “I really want to see change…. “The country cannot continue going like it is with so many people dying every day from the virus. “It’s our national representation. The leadership at the top is our biggest problem.” Setting a context for the need for people to be informed about the issues of the day, Chavez Donelson, owner of Ambassador Embassy barbershop at Ketchum Rd. and Airways Blvd., had a lot to say about the “troubling times we are seeing now.” “I get a lot of young people in my shop, and I think technology is ruining us. They’ve got that iPhone and it’s so easy to mislead people. These young guys don’t read; they don’t know how to write cursive. Even little children know how to work these phones.” Donelson said he was disheartened to hear that “Republicans were putting Kanye West on the ballot of swing states so they can try and split the black vote…. “Everything is a circus,” he said. “The sad thing is you’ll

Chavez Donelson

Darius Fields get some people voting for him. All his wife has to do is come out half-dressed, and some of these young people will vote for him. That’s so crazy.” Norris Avenue Church members Arthur Banks, a deacon, and Burnell Banks, an usher, assisted elderly voters with mobility issues and helped poll workers with various tasks. Pandemic and all, Florestine Evans, a 70-somethingyear-old Memphis City Schools retiree, came out to do what she always does – vote. “Everybody is giving their opinion,” she said, “and I ﬁgure I might as well put my two cents in.”