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August 24 - 30, 2023
VOL. 72, No. 34
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Council asks Sheriff’s Office for a permanent presence Downtown after mass shooting by James Coleman
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
With the city’s latest Downtown violent outburst still resonating, Memphis City Council members unanimously adopted a nonbinding resolution requesting a permanent Shelby County Sheriff’s Office presence on Downtown streets. The council’s action came during its Tuesday (Aug. 22) meeting, which also featured an appearance by Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. The appeal for extra officers follows an early Sunday morning (Aug. 13) Downtown shooting that left several bystanders with non-critical
injuries. The resolution passed 10-0. “I think it’s beneficial for the folks who live in the City of Memphis, if the collaboration between the MPD and the Sheriff’s Office is something that is sustained on a permanent basis. Not some situation where you have to request for help,” said co-sponsor JB Smiley Jr., the council’s vice chair. “If you turn on the news, we need help every single day.” Earlier Tuesday, a working plan for Downtown safety was discussed during the council’s Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee meeting. In addition to an added sheriff’s deputy
presence, the Downtown Safety Plan calls for the blocking of selected streets around Beale Street. It also limits access to hotels, parking garages and other businesses. Officers assigned to the entertainment district on weekends will work 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shifts. Previously, they cleared the area by 2 a.m. The Memphis Police Department plans to make the Downtown assignments permanent. “What we’ve had in the past has really been sort of these pop-up operations. This is not a pop-up operation. This is the new normal,” said MPD Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis. Traditionally, the Sheriff’s Department
SEE DOWNTOWN ON PAGE 2
MPD Cerelyn “CJ” Davis addresses crime and safety concerns during a recent town hall meeting. Davis said Tuesday that officers assigned to the Downtown entertainment district on weekends will work 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shifts. Previously, they cleared the area by 2 a.m. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender Archives.)
Signs return after judge blocks new House GOP rule
All about the blues…
by Jonathan Mattise and Kimberlee Kruesi
The 20th Annual Tri-State Blues Festival, which entertained a sold-out crowd at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, featured artists such as J’Wonn and Chick Rodgers. (Photos: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender. For more, see Lifestyle & Culture, Page 6.)
Kroger talks safety, inflation and community investment as the Delta Division marks 50 years of service by Dena Owens
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Kroger Delta Division is observing 50 years of service to customers in the Mid-South. Community investment initiatives, specials savings and store upgrades are parts of the celebration. With 13 locations in Memphis and 34 across the Delta region, Kroger is known for fresh food, convenient access, weekly sales, gas stations at select sites, and giving back to the community. Behind the scenes, the division’s new leader is working tirelessly to conquer challenges facing major grocery chains. Skyrocketing food prices, store closures in high crime areas, on-site felonies, and customer resistance to new technologies are among concerns.
Despite issues, Kroger is seizing ways to expand community investment, labor development, cost savings, security, and delivery options. Community Impact “We love the impact we’re making in the community,” said Michael Cristal, president, Kroger Delta Division. “We like to think we’re not a good corporate citizen, but a great corporate citizen.” Cristal joined Kroger in 1985 at Memphis’ Orange Mound store (now closed) and rose through the ranks. After nine years of leading Kroger operations in other cities, he returned to Memphis in May 2022 as Delta Division president. The division formed in 1973 when stores
SEE KROGER ON PAGE 2
Michael Cristal joined Kroger in 1985 at Memphis’ Orange Mound store (now closed) and rose through the ranks. After nine years of leading Kroger operations in other cities, he returned to Memphis in May 2022 as Delta Division president. (Courtesy photo)
NASHVILLE – People held signs without problems at the Tennessee Capitol complex Wednesday after a judge agreed to temporarily block a new rule advanced by House Republicans that had banned the public from doing so during floor and committee hearings. The ruling came in a lawsuit that was filed after state troopers removed three people Tuesday who held small signs urging gun control at a hearing on the same statehouse grounds where Republicans also drew attention this year for expelling two young Black Democratic lawmakers for breaking procedural rules. This week’s removals came at the order of a GOP subcommittee chair, who later instructed troopers to kick the rest of the public out of the committee room after deeming the crowd too unruly. That included grieving parents closely connected to a recent Nashville school shooting, who broke down in tears at the decision. The emotional and chaotic scene irked both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, while others pointed out that although signs were banned, the public could still freely carry firearms inside the legislative office building. Signs were present during a House committee hearing Wednesday morning. Nashville Chancellor Anne Martin’s ruling came within hours of the filing of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee on behalf of the three women who were removed because of their signs: Allison Polidor, Maryam Abolfazli and Erica Bowton. Republicans, who have a supermajority in the House, signed off on a new slate of strict rules this week during a special session that was called by Gov. Bill Lee in reaction to the Nashville school shooting in March. GOP leaders are not expected to take up gun control despite the governor’s push for legislation to keep guns away from people deemed to pose harm to themselves or others. The Senate has taken on a far more narrow agenda, advancing bills on gun safes and locks, among other measures. They have approved severely limiting the public from accessing the Senate and House galleries where people have traditionally been allowed to watch their government in action. The Senate did not ban signs. A hearing on the temporary injunction has
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The New Tri-State Defender
DOWNTOWN
CONTINUED FROM FRONT has loaned officers upon request. These often come during annual events such as the Southern Heritage Classic, Memphis in May, and the Christmas Day Parade. Davis also said decisions on future use of deputies lie with Bonner. “All we have to do is get an ask,” Bonner told councilmembers during the body’s regular meeting. “I will say to this body, there was no need to pass a resolution. Anyone of you could
KROGER
CONTINUED FROM FRONT in Memphis and Little Rock, Arkansas merged. Today the division includes 16,000 employees and 93 stores across Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Missouri. In 2024, Kroger will open a new store in Arlington, a growing Memphis of some 14,500 hundred residents in northeast Shelby County. The population was about 2,500 in 2000. The site sits between Memphis and Ford’s new Blue Oval campus in Stanton, Tennessee, which is scheduled to open in 2025. Cristal said, over the last three years, the Delta Division has provided more than 7 million meals to people who may lack access to nutritious food. This summer, through Kroger’s Zero Hunger, Zero Waste program, the division partnered with University of Memphis to offer consumers low-cost, $10 tickets to the Tigers’ first home football game on Saturday, Sept. 2. Each ticket benefits MidSouth Food Bank and creates three meals to fight hunger. For the 2023-24 school year, Kroger donated 250 backpacks to one eligible school in each of the division’s metro areas – Memphis, Little Rock and Jackson, Tenn. – and covered teacher appreciation luncheons at each school. In 2022, Kroger awarded full scholarships to five eligible freshmen of LeMoyne-Owen College. Now in their sophomore year, the students have the option to work for Kroger as they continue their college studies. Labor enhancements Kroger has invested $700 million in work-life enhancements for employees nationwide, said Cristal. Most part-time workers now receive health benefits and start at $17 per hour, he said, and both hourly and corporate employees receive equal discounts. Kroger urges employees early on to take advantage of health benefits, the Ayco financial planning app, tuition reimbursement and career path programs, plus a $1,000 college scholarship for themselves or their children. Cost-saving strategies Grocery prices rose 11.3 percent across the board over the past year according to the most recent Consumer Price Index data. Kroger helps to lower grocery costs through weekly ad sales, card member savings, personalized coupon mailers, store brand pricing and digital coupons (found in-store, online or in the Kroger app). The grocer also accepts manufacturer coupons and has a fuel points program to lower prices at the gasoline pump. Cristal said there’s a clear
August 24 - 30, 2023
NEWS
“I will say to this body, there was no need to pass a resolution. Anyone of you could have called me and asked the question, or made the request.” — Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. have called me and asked the question, or made the request.” Martavius Jones, the council chairman and resolution sponsor, pointed out that Shelby County gains most of its taxes from Memphians. “I just felt that it was long overdue, if we’re having a safety concern – safety problem – in the city of Memphis, and the men and women of the
Memphis Police Department are doing all that they can, I wanted some representation and protection for the taxes that we as Memphians pay,” said Jones. Jones reflected on his tenure as a school board member in 2013 and said during that time, it was more common to see MPD officers assigned to county schools than sheriff’s
uptick in shoppers substituting popular food brands for money-saving Kroger brands (Smart Way, Kroger, Private Selection and Simple Truth). Weekly paper ads mailed to homes are being phased out, he said, due to customers increasingly shopping online or in the app. Paper ads, however, will remain available in stores.
creasing manned registers. Cristal says Kroger’s average checkout time is a quick 79 seconds. He maintains that Kroger will always have some manned registers, but many customers prefer self-checkout and have adjusted to its use. Still, a number of shoppers complain about scanning glitches and user errors, the time it takes to fix them, and bagging their own items. Last week, national grocer Trader Joe’s took a different stand on the matter, announcing that they have no plans to add self-checkout and support a personal experience and keeping their labor crews. Cristal said usage of Kroger’s grocery delivery and pick-up options has greatly increased, allowing customers to receive groceries conveniently at home or at the curbside. For a nominal fee, staff members select a client’s groceries based on preferences they designate online or in the Kroger app. These conveniences assist elderly and disabled clients, customers with little or no access to transportation and people who are too busy to shop in-store. The options also aid communities where Kroger stores previously closed. Cristal said customers find they “receive the same quality items they’d select for themselves.”
Store security Major grocers nationwide have seen their share of crime in recent years. Kroger is no exception. On Sunday (Aug. 20), a shooting occurred outside the Kroger at South Mendenhall Road in East Memphis (a neighborhood generally perceived to be safe). In response, the Delta Division released the following statement: “At Kroger, safety is our top priority for customers and associates. We are working with the local police department to help with this ongoing investigation.” In 2020 and 2021, two shootings occurred outside a different Kroger in East Memphis, and in 2021, a mass shooting took place at Kroger in affluent Collierville, Tenn. A few instances of carjacking have been reported in Kroger parking lots. Cristal stressed that Kroger takes safety measures seriously by providing security guards in each store, cameras both in and outside, plus parking lot patrol. These and other tactics largely improve safety for Kroger’s customers or those of any major retailer. If crime happens despite safety measures, these efforts help police to identify and arrest felons. Checkout and delivery options Based on heavier customer volumes and convenience, Kroger has added more self-checkout lanes while de-
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In-store celebration Store shoppers are enjoying the Delta Division’s golden anniversary perks, including surprise giveaways, specials, and facility upgrades such as new floors at certain locations. In Tennessee, shoppers can save double with Kroger’s weekly ad sales, plus tax-free food purchases made in August through October. (For more information about Kroger and the Delta Division, visit: http://www.thekrogerco. com.)
deputies, taxes, and all. Bonner defended his record of deployment. In addition to the County Jail, which is under Bonner’s purview, and special task forces, the SCSO also has a larger county to patrol. There also are ongoing patrols in certain areas of Memphis. Cities with no police departments, Lakeland and Arlington, rely solely on the Sheriff’s Department for patrols. Unincorporated parts of the county, too. Bonner, considered one of the leading candidates for mayor in the Oct. 5 city elections, said the SCSO currently provides 54 of its 600-plus
deputies to county schools. “You bring up a good point, Sheriff Bonner, if there are 54…we’ve got 200 schools,” Jones replied. “So, Memphians are paying for those, and they should be in all Shelby County schools, as well… “If we talk about taxation without representation, are we getting our dollars’ worth in Shelby County taxes and only 54 sheriff’s deputies in schools that are in the city limits of Memphis?” During the discussion, several members requested a visit by Bonner to the council’s Public Safety Committee to further outline the deployment
plan. Both departments suffer from officer shortages. Prior to the pre-dawn gun violence, there had been growing concerns about crowds gathering at intersections and in front of businesses, particularly after hours. The latest act occurred around 2:30 a.m. Eight people were shot at the intersection of Peabody Place and B.B. King Avenue, one block away from Beale Street. No one was seriously injured. MPD stepped up its presence in the entertainment district the next day.
Jean Jackson, left, wears a mask stating “TN can’t silence me” outside a House committee room during a special session of the state legislature on public safety Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
NASHVILLE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT been scheduled for Sept. 5. However, lawmakers are expected to adjourn by Thursday, meaning there’s a limited window for people to display signs anyway. A spokesperson for House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who is named as a defendant, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “We applaud the court for taking swift action to protect the free speech rights of Tennesseans,” Stella Yarbrough, ACLU of Tennessee legal director, said in a news release. “Democracy depends on people’s ability to express their opinions to their elected representatives on issues they care about, and this unreasonable rule stood in the way of people fully participating in the democratic process.” On the first day of the special session Monday, House Republicans approved a new set of procedural rules that carried harsh penalties for lawmakers
deemed too disruptive or distracting, and they banned visitors from carrying signs inside the Capitol and in legislative hearing rooms. While House GOP leaders have defended restrictions on lawmakers, they’ve been largely silent on why they also went after signs. Polidor, a gun control advocate from Nashville, was escorted out of a hearing room because she was holding a sign that said, “1 KID” is greater than “ALL THE GUNS.” “I joined with so many other moms from across Tennessee to urge our lawmakers to enact common sense gun laws,” Polidor said in the news release. “I was removed for peacefully holding a small sign, and exercising my First Amendment rights. What started as a debate on gun safety has morphed into a blatant violation of my First Amendment rights.” While firearms have long been allowed inside Tennessee’s legislative building, hand-held signs have been criticized by lawmakers as being a potential safety hazard and a distraction from pro-
ceedings. In 2017, signs were briefly prohibited from Cordell Hull — the building that contains both legislative committee rooms and offices for lawmakers and staffers — following demonstrations over refugee resettlements, Medicaid expansion and gas taxes. That policy was then altered to allow the public to hold small letter-size signs inside Cordell Hull, but banned any signs on sticks or poles. In the years since, members of the public have repeatedly shown up with signs that reflect a wide range of policy stances. Tennessee Republicans in April expelled Democratic Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis for breaking House rules during a floor demonstration in support of gun control. The two lawmakers have since been reinstated and reelected, but their expulsion sent shock waves about the Republican supermajority’s ability to deliver strict punishments to opponents.
The New Tri-State Defender
August 24 - 30, 2023
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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, August 24 - 30, 2023, Page 4
Michael Oher’s new book sets the record straight about his own silence and strength by Angela Johnson theroot.com
Most people know Michael Oher as the former NFL player who was the subject of the 2009 movie The Blind Side. The movie, which earned over $300 million at the box office and a Best Actress Oscar for Sandra Bullock, depicts Oher as a poor Black kid rescued from poverty and despair by the white Tuohy family. But while that may sound nice, Oher argues that the reality is a lot different from what we saw on screen. In his new book, “When Your Back’s Against the Wall,” Oher describes himself as a fourth-andone guy who comes alive when his back is against the wall. And while he says he wrote the book to inspire future generations, Oher also uses the opportunity to dispel some of the myths portrayed in the Hollywood version of his life story and drive home the fact that most of his motivation to succeed came from within. “I know there’s information on the internet about me, but much of it is fiction,” he writes. Although he grew up in the Memphis housing projects in a family where high school diplomas and consistent employment were anything but the norm, Oher insists that he didn’t need saving as the “The Blind Side” depicts. Instead, he writes that his success was fueled by his own motivation to find a path out of poverty and the foster care system he’d been a part of for most of his childhood. “My saving grace came with the disposition the good Lord gave me,” he writes. “I wasn’t
one who fixated on the obstacles I faced. I was dead set on trying to find every potential opportunity I could get to improve my situation. Without anyone ever telling me it was possible, I believed that there had to be some way, somehow to get out of the projects.” Oher says his work ethic and determination to succeed in the NFL was overshadowed by Michael Lewis’ 2006 book, “The Blind Side,” and adds that he wasn’t consulted about it until the very end. “When the book was a success, I decided to keep my head down. I thought if I continued working on my skills, I could quiet the distractions that came with the media. People would eventually see me for the potential I had, instead of focusing on the shock value of my poverty,” he writes. “But as the months and years would attest, I was 100 percent wrong.” Oher’s story is back in the headlines these days as he recently filed a suit against the Tuohys, claiming they never adopted him but rather tricked him into signing a conservatorship agreement. The move, he says, allowed the family to get rich off his life story while he never received a penny. Looking back, Oher says, his silence allowed the portrayal a false narrative. “I knew it was going on, but it didn’t affect my life in that moment, and I honestly wasn’t consulted about it until the very end,” he writes. “As I would learn later, when you’re silent like that, a lot of times you give people license to say whatever they want about you. Things that are not true.”
“I know there’s information on the internet about me, but much of it is fiction.” — Michael Oher
Former NFL player Michael Oher, whose story inspired “The Blind Side,” clears up some of the confusion surrounding his path to success.
FedEx just canned a Black employee who claims he was attacked on the job by Noah A. McGee Theroot.com
The Black delivery driver who was shot at by two white men while he was just doing his job is having a tough go of it. If you don’t recall, in January of last year, D‘Monterrio Gibson was dropping off packages in Brookhaven, Miss. He was wearing a company uniform but was not driving a vehicle with “FedEx” on it. According to authorities, Brandon and Gregory Case
followed him for 15 minutes in their pickup truck before getting out of the car, firing shots at the vehicle while Gibson was inside, and chasing the vehicle until he ran out of town. The two white men who shot at him were arrested days later when they decided to turn themselves in. But recently, not only was a mistrial declared for the two suspects in the case, but Gibson, the Black man who was shot at, has just been fired by FedEx, the
company he was working for. Gibson shared with the Associated Press that he “feels disrespected” after he learned that he was fired through an email he received from the company. His termination was confirmed by the manager of global network communications, Meredith Miller, who said, “Mr. Gibson is no longer employed at FedEx.” More from the Associated Press on why Gibson was fired: Carlos Moore, an attorney who has represented Gibson in a
civil lawsuit, provided AP with a copy of an email Gibson received from FedEx on Monday. It said Gibson’s employment was terminated July 26, and the company attempted to deliver a letter and documents to him about the termination July 31. FedEx fired Gibson because he did not accept a part-time, non-courier job that the company offered in mid-July, Moore said, adding that he did not know whether the company gave Gibson a deadline to accept.
D‘Monterrio Gibson (Photo: Rogelio V. Solis / AP file) Gibson argues that FedEx cannot force him to come back, since he’s still dealing with the long-term effects of being shot at. Although he was not hurt during the shooting, he’s been struggling with anxiety and has been going to therapy to cope with his issues, according to the AP. Instead, he’s been on worker’s compensation leave since January 2022, making a third of what he would normally make.
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The New Tri-State Defender
August 24 - 30, 2023
Page 5
RELIGION
From MLK to today, the March on Washington highlights the evolution of activism by Black churches by David Crary Associated Press
The March on Washington of 1963 is remembered most for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech – and thus as a crowning moment for the longterm civil rights activism of what is sometimes referred to as the “Black Church.” At the march, King indeed represented numerous other Black clergy who were his colleagues in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. But the march was the product of sustained activism by a broader coalition. Black and white labor leaders, as well as white clergy, played pivotal roles over many months ahead of the event. Moreover, the Black Church was not monolithic then – nor is it now. Many Black pastors and their congregations steered clear of civil disobedience and other nonviolent confrontational tactics in the civil rights era, just as some now steer clear of the Black Lives Matter movement and shun progressive Black pastors’ engagement on behalf of abortion rights and LGBTQ+ rights. “The issues are multiracial. It’s too simplistic now to say, “Black church/ white church,’” said the Rev. William Barber, who in 2018 became co-chair of a national anti-poverty initiative called The Poor People’s Campaign. It took its name from a movement launched by King and other SCLC leaders in 1968 shortly before King’s assassination. Barber, now director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, admires King immensely yet is critical of those who “water down the March on Washington to one man, one speech.” “That’s a political strategy to undermine the purpose of mass protest,” he said. “It must be a mass movement, not just a mass moment.” Barber said the new manifestation of the Poor People’s Campaign has drawn active support from thousands of clergy of different races and faiths. “There are Jews, Quakers, some predominantly white congregations that are pro-civil rights and proLGBT community — that care about immigrants and women’s rights and voting rights,” he said. “Any efforts today that are not engaging all these issues on an every day basis is not truly moving in the spirit of the March on Washington.” In the decades before and after 1963, Black churches and denominations have had diverse priorities and political approaches. Many Black faith leaders in the early 1900s supported Booker T. Washington’s call for Black progress to occur through education and economic self-sufficiency, rather than through
Crowds surrounding the Reflecting Pool, during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. (Photo: Warren K. Leffler via the Library of Congress)
Starbucks employees seeking to form a union welcomed the support of the Rev. Dr. William Barber II, the president and senior lecturer at Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.” (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with leaders at the March on Washington, 1963. (Photo: Warren K. Leffler via the Library of Congress.) direct challenges to segregation laws. In later decades, self-sufficiency was touted by the Nation of Islam as part of its advocacy of Black Nationalism. Some other Black pastors — notably Father Divine and Reverend Ike — became wealthy with optimistic promises of heaven-on-earth prosperity for their followers. Currently, there are large numbers of Black pastors in two different categories, according to Robert Franklin, professor of moral leadership at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. Some of them,
Franklin says, engage energetically in social-justice activism, envisioning themselves as “prophetic radicals” in the tradition of King. Others have a more conservative, individualistic outlook, Franklin said. “They are a little mushy on the activism and the risk-taking.” “In many respects, they have declared victory, purchased their own buildings,” he said. “There are fewer prophetic sermons and more concern with institutional maintenance. ‘How to do we keep the lights on, pay the bills.’”
One notable trend in recent decades has been a rise in the number of multiracial congregations across the country. King’s former church in Atlanta, Ebenezer Baptist Church, is among them, drawing increasing numbers of white and Hispanic worshippers. Barber suggested King would be pleased by that. “Dr. King was fighting for the beloved community which included all people regardless of race,” Barber said. “He brought in everybody from different faiths and traditions.”
In New York City, one of the oldest Protestant churches, Middle Collegiate Church, is now a politically progressive, thoroughly multiethnic congregation. Its senior minister, the Rev. Jacqui Lewis, is a Black woman proud to be carrying on her family’s tradition of civil rights activism. “There’s something in our blood that will never release us from our responsibility to make heaven here on earth,” she said. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s “was not just Black male clergy in the south,” she said. “It was women who decided to march and not get on the buses (during the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955-56 ). It was white people who decided to pick up Black people in their cars and drive them to work. All the everyday, ordinary people who participated in this southern freedom movement.” Lewis agreed that the “Black Church” — as an umbrella term — may be of limited use now. “Let’s look at ‘Black faith’ instead,” she said. “It’s both inside and outside the church. ‘Black Church’ is standing in the streets for abortion rights, for immigrants. If there are two Black people in the streets chanting ‘We shall overcome,’ that’s ‘Black Church.’” It is perhaps a sign of the times that there is no single faith-based group listed among the organizations serving as co-chairs of the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington that will be celebrated on Aug. 26. Among the co-chairs are the NAACP, the National Urban League, the Anti-Defamation League and Asian Americans Advancing Justice. However, the nation’s six largest historically Black denominations — partners in the Conference of National Black Churches — will be participating in the anniversary events. “The Black Church was the foundation of the Civil Rights Movement, which is why we are resolved to play a continued role in the fight for equality,” said the CNBC board. “While we have made strides over the decades, recent events threatened to impact the right to vote, to quality education, and to good-paying jobs. The COVID-19 pandemic was a reminder that we have a long way to go, in so many aspects of life, as we strive for equality and justice.”
The New Tri-State Defender, August 24 - 30, 2023, Page 6
Julius Jones (left), owner and CEO of Pure Entertainment, Robin Sykes, the executive director of H.E.L.P. (Help Empower Less-Fortunate People) in St. Louis, and Leslie Bell, vice president of Pure Entertainment. (Photos: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
Bev Johnson of WDIA and Julius Jones, CEO and president of Pure Entertainment put their arms around James Jones during a tribute to his father, Edward Jones, widely known as Big Mack.
Tri-State Blues Festival celebrates 20 years with a sellout
by Warren Roseborough The New Tri-State Defender
Whether you are blues-music junkie or not, you likely would of loved the 20th Annual Tri-State Blues Festival, which entertained a soldout crowd at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi last Saturday. The headliner was Calvin Richarson, who was featured along with Pokey, King George, Tucka, Bobby Rush, J’Wonn, and Chick Rodgers. The emcee was WDIA radio personality Bev Johnson. Rodgers, the only female blues artist in the lineup and a well-known performer in Memphis, set the tempo. She was followed by Jwonn, who delivered a soul-satisfying performance With the crowd in full-go mode, the legendary Bobby Rush, who will turn 90 in November, took the stage and did not disappoint as played the harmonica and interacted with his dancers. Next up was a dance contest for those 60 and older. Phyllis Draper Adams emerged as the winner. During a break in the show, a collective salute was directed to legendary Memphis radio personality Edward Jones, widely known as Big Mack, who died last week. With Jones’ son, James Jones, on stage, Johnson, Julius Jones, the show’s promoter, the artists on the show and others paid tribute to Big Mack. The show resumed with Tucka, followed by King George and then Pokey. The show closed out with “ladies favorite” Calvin Richardson, who did not disappoint. The Tri-State Blues Festival and the Blues Is Alright are practically synonymous and Johnson said the Blues Is Alright Tour will be expanding in 2024 to Los Angeles and Oakland in California. I was afforded an opportunity to talk with Leslie Ball, vice president and chief of staff for Pure Entertainment and the sister of Julius Jones, the CEO and owner. Here is some of our conversation Warren Roseborough: Where are you from? Leslie Ball: Born and raised in Memphis, Tn. Warren Roseborough: How long have you been working for Pure Entertainment? Leslie Ball: 18 years. Warren Roseborough: What are some of your duties? Leslie Ball: Handling the traveling
Bobby Rush being Bobby Rush.
Tucka
Pokey
The blues crowd was in a partying mood at the 20th Annual Tri State Blues festival. and paying the artists. Warren Roseborough: As vice president, what are your thoughts on the Tri State Blues festival reaching the 20-year mark? Leslie Ball: (I am) very excited about everything. The time went by so fast for this momentous occasion. Warren Roseborough: What is the difference between the Blues Is
Alright Tour and Tri- State Blues Festival? Leslie Ball: The Tri State Blues Festival and the Blues is Alright Tour is the same tour. It’s only called the Tri State Blues Festival in Tennessee because of the locality of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. In the other states, It’s the Blues is Alright Tour.
Larry and Marie Dodson were in attendance.
The New Tri-State Defender
August 24 - 30, 2023
ENTERTAINMENT
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COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, August 24 - 30, 2023, Page 8
Council thumbs go up and down on proposed referendum items by James Coleman
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division employees living outside Shelby County can breathe a sigh of relief, after members of the Memphis City Council Tuesday (Aug. 22) shot down a proposed referendum question that would require the utility’s workers to live within Shelby County. While the residency referendum went down in flames, the council approved a referendum that will let voters decide if the City Court Clerk should be an elected position. The residency referendum failed on a 5-3 vote. Seven votes were needed for passage.
Council Chair Martavius Jones’ proposal came after the utility board voted in June to do away with its residency requirement that had required MLGW employees to live in Shelby County within six months of being hired. Voting in favor of the resolution were Jones, Edmund Ford Sr., Jana Swearengen-Washington, Michalyn Easter-Thomas, and Cheyenne Johnson. Voting against the item were Jeff Warren, Frank Colvett, and Ford Canale. Members Chase Carlisle and JB Smiley Jr. sat out the vote. The referendum was sponsored by Jones. “Until they can tell us they’ve got a waiting list for employees, I don’t
think we should be tying their hands,” said Warren. “It is foolish for us to try to limit them. I think it would be damaging to our community.” The utility has been hindered by a series of summer storms. The weather events led to days-long outages in sundry communities and neighborhoods, mostly from falling trees and limbs. The city-owned utility also has a decades-long backlog of limb cutting to achieve in its service area, exacerbating the problem. Most of the work is awarded to area contractors. Jones introduced the referendum after the MLGW’s board voted to kill its residency requirement in June. Previously, employees were required to live within the county’s limits within six months of their hire.
Most City of Memphis employees are required to live within the city’s boundaries. One of the exceptions is police and fire department personnel. While MLGW’s residency requirement dodged the 2024 ballot, the question of whether the City Clerk’s position will once again be an elected post, or remain an appointed position, will be decided by voters. It was unanimously approved. Jones also introduced the proposed referendum. An ongoing review of the City Charter by council private attorney Allan Wade and former city chief legal officer Jennifer Sink, discovered a flaw dating back to 1975. That year, a referendum was passed to make the Clerk’s Office an elected position during a city election. The ballot question, however, should
have taken place concurrently with a Shelby County election held during an even-numbered year. To clean up matters, council members unanimously approved an ordinance granting appointment power to the three City Court judges. The appointee then seeks approval from the council. The referendum effectively asks voters to undo the June vote. Voting in favor of its inclusion on the ballot were Canale, Easter-Thomas, Carlisle, Ford, Jones, Johnson, Warren, and Swearengen-Washington. Colvett and Smiley did not vote. Members Rhonda Logan, Worth Morgan and Patrice Robinson were absent for both votes.
MSCS achieves Level 5 rating for second consecutive year TSD Newsroom
When something new is familiar… Rep. Justin Pearson this week took the oath of office – again – to serve as the representative for Tennessee House District 86. Pearson, along with Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville, was ousted following on-the-floor demonstrations in favor of gun-safety reform measures. Their removal sparked national outrage and both subsequently won special elections. The Tennessee General Assembly is meeting in a special session, however, it is unlikely the Republican-controlled legislature will embrace the level of gun-safety reform measures advocated by Pearson and his supporters, many of whom traveled to Nashville by bus. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/ The New Tri-State Defender)
Giving back with plans to do more… Stax Music Academy alumnus (2014) and instrumentalist, philanthropist, engineer and producer, Christen Dukes, who also is graduate of Visible Music College, is establishing his own Arts Over Odds Foundation to “focus on teaching youth and young adults with health disorders in multiple fields of Christen the arts and inspiring them Dukes to work toward and believe in a thriving future.” It will be launched at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15 during the Arts For All Benefit Concert to raise funding for St. Jude’s Research Hospital, which treated him most of his life for sickle cell disease.
For the second year in a row, Memphis-Shelby County Schools is a Level 5 school district, the highest distinction available based on Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) composite scores. The composite score includes all grade levels and all subjects. Considering all grades and subjects together, MSCS students made substantially more growth than expected in a year, according to the Tennessee Department of Education. The district also earned a Level 5 distinction in Literacy, Science, and across multiple end-ofcourse (EOC) high school subjects. “I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the incredibly hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and leaders throughout this school year. Your resilience and commitment to learning have been truly inspiring,” said Interim Superintendent Toni Williams. “I would also like to extend a special thank you to our Academics team. Our collective efforts have resulted in Memphis-Shelby County Schools earning this highest designation once again. Your expertise and commitment have been invaluable, and we are grateful for your unwavering support.” TVAAS measures students’ academic growth over time. Its focus is student growth rather than student proficiency on the state assessment. TVAAS helps educators identify best practices, implement programs that meet the needs of their students, and make strategic decisions about where to focus resources to ensure growth opportunities for all students.
A Level 5 composite means the District is successfully moving students toward proficiency and beyond. Sixty-nine (69) schools earned a Level 5 designation in the 2022-23 school year. “Significant growth, as characterized by a Level 5, means our students continue to rebound from the negative impacts of the pandemic and other socioeconomic stressors faced by our communities,” said Dr. Angela Whitelaw, deputy superintendent of Schools and Academic Support. Three schools – Cordova Middle, University Middle, and Ridgeway High – made significant growth, moving from Level 1 to Level 5. Ridgeway and Cordova welcomed new principals last year. Additionally, almost 60 percent of schools received a TVAAS Composite designation of 3 or higher. Science is the subject area having the largest number of schools receiving a 3 or higher. Dr. Amy Maples, executive director for Curriculum & Instruction for MSCS, said, “Our back-to-back Level 5 distinctions highlight that our teachers are effectively helping students to reach academic goals and our curriculum plan is getting results.” Williams referenced the district’s theme for the year – “See the Future” – and said, “our duty is to help every student see the future they’re capable of creating … “The success of the highlighted schools and the others in our great District is attributed to the tireless, strategic work done by our educators, students, families, and community partners. It will take all of us working together to continue extending these gains.”
The New Tri-State Defender
NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150
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
Tylan Hibler Tax Parcel #: 05901100000710 Tax Sale #: 1702 Price Offered: $35,700.00 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 12:30 p.m. on September 22, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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: Tylan Hibler Tax Parcel #: 04901200000270 Tax Sale #: 1803 Price Offered: $17,700.00 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 12:00 p.m. on September 22, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1
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: Lanora Owens Tax Parcel #: 03509900000140 Tax Sale #: 1301 Price Offered: $2,000.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:30 a.m. on September 22, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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: Costel Ciocoi Tax Parcel #: 02504200000390 Tax Sale #: 206 Price Offered: $200.00 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 11:00 a.m. on September 22, 2023, 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
August 24 - 30, 2023
Page 9
CLASSIFIEDS without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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: Costel Ciocoi Tax Parcel #: 02505600000030 Tax Sale #: 1503 Price Offered: $300.00 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 September 22, 2023, 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.
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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: James Jackson Tax Parcel #: 04304200000070 Tax Sale #: 703 Price Offered: $1,125.00 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 September 22, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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 fol-
lowing property: Carlos Alberto Mercado Solis and Yadira Garcia Campos - Mercado Tax Parcel #: 05810300000310 Tax Sale #: 1804 Price Offered: $12,500.00 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 9:00 a.m. on September 22, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150
Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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: CLINTON RICHARDSON Tax Parcel #: 06900400001370 Tax Sale #: 1801 Price Offered: $5,700.00 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 10:00 a.m. on September 22, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County
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SPORTS
The New Tri-State Defender, August 24 - 30, 2023, Page 10
LOC turns to assistant coaches after the departure of Bonzi Wells by Terry Davis
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Classes started Monday for the LeMoyne-Owen Magicians and their first basketball game is scheduled for November 2, an exhibition against the University of Memphis. Everything should be coming up roses. However, there is an issue the team needs to take care of before the start of fall practice. They need to find a new head coach. Former head coach Bonzi Wells left after two successful seasons to join the staff of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Wells, an NBA veteran, was a teammate of current head coach and former Memphis Tiger’s assistant coach, Damon Stoudamire. Wells in his first season finished with a 16-12 record and in his second season had an 18-11 record at LOC. He had assembled a very nice recruiting class for this season. According to Athletic Director William Anderson, the class will be left in the capable hands of assistant coaches Wade Evans and Jerel Jernigan. “Bonzi meant a lot to the program in a variety of ways,” Anderson said. “He brought a sense of respectability, a wealth of knowledge and definitely moved the program in a good direction.” Anderson Acknowledged the importance to Wells of moving from a Division 2 school to a power-five program. “That is big not only for him. Other people can look at even though we are a Di-
vision 2 school, if you go there and have suc- Under the guidance of head coach Antonio Harris, BTW’s Warriors overcame a slow start to the season and won its district championship with a cess, there are others below .500 record. Pictured (l-r): Asst. coach Charles Griffin, asst. coach that will take a look at Vic Lightning, asst. coach Tyrus Underwood, La’Travious Thomas, Alex Morgan, James White, Mariel Bolden, Abdoul Sacko, Jamar Frazier (center) you.” Evans, a former Ethan Spencer, Tavion Ray (tourney MVP), Tayshaun Dye, Derrick Todd, prep standout in Earron Bonds, Fontavin Swindle, asst. coach Reginald Huley, Jr, and head coach Antonio Harris. (Photo: Reginald Huley Jr.) Memphis has been on the staff for the last several years and unTerry derstands the process Davis of how the league and the program should operate. As for the timeline on getting a new person to run the team, Anderson said, “We don’t want to rush. We want to take our time to get the right person. We know it is late in the season. I am confident in Evans and Jernigan. They were instrumental in bringing in a really good class.” Anderson knows that there is much speculation about the next coach, including the possibilities of Antonio Harris, the current head coach at Booker T. Washington, and Andre Turner, the head coach at Lane College. “It is a possibility. They are both great candidates,” Anderson said. “I have a lot of respect for them. They would do a great job in leading our program.” Fall practice will start during the first week in October. The Magicians will be making their biannual trip to the FedExForum to play the Memphis Tigers on No- Former Memphis State (now UofM) star guard Andre Turner (right) was on vember 2. hand with Elliot Perry, Larry Finch Jr. and Vicki Finch for the unveiling of the Larry Finch statue and plaza. (Photo: Terry Davis)
No. 12 Tennessee sets its sights high, targeting SEC East title and maybe more after breakthrough in the NFL draft. Losing two receivers to the NFL might leave a program struggling, but Milton has plenty of targets for an offense that averaged 326.1 yards passing last year. Redshirt senior Bru McCoy has size at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. There’s also senior Ramel Keyton at 6-3 and 197 pounds. And there’s Squirrel White, who Milton says seems to have gotten faster, and Dont’e Thornton Jr., a transfer from Oregon. New offensive coordinator Joey Halzle can’t wait to see what these receivers do with the ball in their hands.
by Teresa M. Walker Associated Press
Josh Heupel and his 12th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers have their sights set high for his third season. The NCAA investigation that hung over the program since January 2021 has been resolved, leaving the Vols ready to build on the program’s best season since 2001. “We’ve done a good job of resetting,” sixth-year senior tight end Jacob Warren said. “But now the focus is on winning the SEC East and doing everything we can to get ourselves in that position. Heupel and the Vols are coming off an 11-2 season and a rout of Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Heupel also has more players available after Tennessee voluntarily reduced scholarships the past two seasons, anticipating NCAA punishment. The Vols haven’t won the SEC East since 2007. But Tennessee has sold more than 70,000 season tickets for this season, and Heupel said the best is yet to come. “(I) don’t know that there’s ever been a better time to be a Vol,” Heupel said. Replacing Hooker A big reason why the Vols believe they can push two-time
Transfer portal
Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) runs during the first half of the team’s NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Nashville. Tennessee opens their season at home against Virginia on Sept. 2. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File) reigning national champ Georgia in the SEC East can be found at quarterback. They lost Hendon Hooker, now in the NFL with Detroit after tearing his left ACL last November, and replaced him with Joe Milton III. This is Milton’s third season with Heupel, and he is poised to keep the nation’s top offense on track after
averaging 525.5 yards per game last season. The transfer from Michigan has thrown for 1,346 yards, 12 touchdowns and no interceptions while at Tennessee. Wide Receiver U Jaylen Hyatt and Cedric Tillman were among five Vols taken
Heupel found lots of help in the portal, including bringing in Thornton and graduate transfer tight end McCallan Castles, who went through Orange Bowl practices before enrolling in January. Castles joins Warren with lots of experience, having started 28 games at UC Davis, with 68 catches for 928 yards. John Campbell Jr. has a sixth year available after five seasons at Miami, where he started 16 games at left tackle, one at right tackle and one at left guard. Linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally trans-
ferred from BYU. Jeudy-Lally is a graduate student with 23 career combined starts after starting at Vanderbilt. Lineman Omarr Norman-Lott transferred this spring from Arizona State. Kicker Charles Campbell is back at Tennessee after graduating from Indiana, where he made five 50-yard field goals. Defensive issues Tennessee spends so much time on the field playing defense that the Vols ranked 91st nationally last year, allowing 405.3 yards a game. But the Vols ranked 36th, giving up just 22.7 points a game. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks sees going against the Vols’ offense as the best prep possible, noting nobody can win 11 games without playing great defense. Schedule The Vols open on Sept. 2 in Nashville hosting Virginia. Their toughest road games include trips to Florida on Sept. 16 and to No. 4 Alabama on Oct. 21. They host South Carolina on Sept. 30, No. 23 Texas A&M on Oct. 14 and No. 1 Georgia in what they hope is a showdown for the SEC East on Nov. 18.