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VOL. 70, No. 34
August 26 - September 1, 2021
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COVID-19 UPDATE
Health scenario’s moving parts test public, private resolve
$1.00
LEGACY: Dr. Erma L. Clanton
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Mask-wearing members of a marching band, an honorary streetsign unveiling and a COVID-19 milestone for infections in Tennessee are part of the mix that reflects public and private resolve to get through the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. The Tennessee Department of Health has now recorded 1,002,632 infections since March 2020, and the state is currently reporting nearly 6,400 new infections per day. Sobering as those statistics are, Tennesseans in Greater Memphis are pushing forward, with those acutely attuned to the risks making needed adjustments to safety protocols. Such was the case over the weekend during a South Memphis parade held in conjunction with a street-unveiling salute to the legendary singing group The Temprees. “We can’t shut everything down like we did the first time around,” said Dr. Bruce Randolph, the Shelby County Health Department’s medical officer. “We have information we didn’t have before. We have vaccines. We know that the safety protocols of
Dr. Erma L. Clanton (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/TSD Archives)
All the world was her stage by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
nomic Empowerment component. Harrington is continuing that work in the collaborative. BCCM’s partnership with Hope Credit Union has devised a plan to raise $50,000 and Hope will match that amount. The $100,000 will be used to back short-term loans to those who have traditionally resorted to check-cashing, pay day vendors. “You will find tote-the-note car lots, pay-day lenders and liquor stores in our communities,” said Harrington in reference to some liquor stores cashing payroll checks
While teaching Theater and Communications at the University of Memphis, Dr. Erma L. Clanton tried always to “create new opportunities for our children to act, to speak and to communicate effectively.” Her success at doing so there and elsewhere added to a legacy ripe with living examples of talent nurtured by her guiding hands. Dr. Clanton, 98, died on Tuesday evening. Services are pending. M.J. Edwards Funeral Home has charge. Synonymous with success as a playwright, stage director, songwriter and educator, Dr. Clanton for many years promoted the value of excellence through the Memphis Living Legends recognition service held annually at New Sardis Baptist Church. The Rev. Darrell Harrington, New Sardis’ pastor, said he and Dr. Clanton had dinner together not long ago. “I was there at the house until about three (Wednesday morning after she passed Tuesday night),” Harrington said. “Dr. Clanton passed sitting right there in her chair. She was 98, but the Lord has been good to Ms. Clanton. And so, we are not finding any fault with God.” The Rev. Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr., New Sardis’ pastor emeritus, was Dr. Clanton’s pastor for many years, remembering her as a prolific songwriter, among many other notable talents and achievements. “Erma Clanton did so much to integrate the theatre and drama,” said Gray. “Her work was transformative to so many people. … She saw things before they came to be.” A Booker T. Washington High School graduate, Dr. Clanton – one of eight children – was a Memphis native born on Feb. 5, 1923. At Alabama State University, she earned a bachelor of science degree (1945). For two-plus decades, Melrose High School, where she made her English class embraceable and memorable, was her home away home. Later at the University of Memphis, she added a master’s degree in theater and communication to her professional tool box. As an associ-
SEE LOAN ON PAGE 2
SEE CLANTON ON PAGE 2
With pandemic-safety protocols in mind, members of the Memphis Youth Arts Initiative Performing Arts Marching Elite helped usher in the street-naming salute to The Temprees last Saturday. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises) (Related photo on page 8). masking, social distancing, avoiding poorly ventilated places where crowds have gathered, and washing thoroughly and often (work). “We will remain open. Shelby
Countians must take charge of managing their own health.” Efforts to mitigate the number of new daily cases are ongoing. “The thing is getting through
this,” said Randolph. “This strain of COVID-19 is different from the first one. Two things are happening: The
SEE COVID-19 ON PAGE 2
Clergy group moves to loosen grip of ‘payday loans’ by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Barely a year old, the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis (BCCM) has a collective focus on delivering a crippling blow to predatory lending companies that offer payday loans. “It’s really legalized loan sharking,” said Pastor Darrell Harrington of New Sardis Baptist Church during an Aug. 18 event at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. “We partnered with Hope Credit Union here in Memphis to give a message of hope to many in our congregation concerning their financial well-being.” Payday loans generally, according to researchers, are relatively small – $350 to $425 – short-term loans that, depending on the terms and conditions, can carry interest rates ranging around 400 percent or more. That means a person taking out a $400 loan could end up having to replay $1,600. The people, who cannot open a
“It’s really legalized loan sharking.” — Pastor Darrell Harrington banking account, rely on these type loans to pay bills or take care of financial emergencies. BCCM’s playbook involves a plan to offer services from a traditional banking institution that rival what predatory lenders claim to offer. “I worked for Hope Credit Union as its regional program officer,” said Harrington. “My job was to preach the message of hope to people, whether it was with credit issues, or they were ‘unbankable,’ meaning they had left a balance over at some other bank. Whatever the financial obstacles, we could change the narrative to financial wholeness.” Dr. J. Lawrence Turner, pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, experienced a profound awakening as the murder of George Floyd spurred weeks of protests in
The Rev. Dr. J. Lawrence Turner: “We partnered with Hope Credit Union here in Memphis to give a message of hope to many in our congregation concerning their financial well-being.” (Courtesy photo) the streets. That awakening created a vision of the “black church” returning to the height of prominence as not only spreading the gospel throughout slavery, Jim Crow and beyond, but also “relied upon to address the issues that affected its members.” Here was the beginning of the BCCM. The three areas of concern as objectives identified by Turner are economic empowerment, criminal justice reform and economic empowerment. Harrington, who is secretary of the organization, also heads the Eco-
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The New Tri-State Defender
August 26 - September 1, 2021
Page 2
NEWS COVID-19
CONTINUED FROM FRONT virus is more contagious, and it is more transmissible from one person to another. Masking will keep everyone safe.” This past week, Shelby County has averaged 798 new cases per day. On Wednesday (August 25), the Health Department reported 522 new cases and three COVID-19-related deaths. Hospital bed availability remained at a breaking point, with 96 percent of ICU beds filled, and COVID-positive patients taking up the same percentage of regular beds. Shelby County was averaging 1,984 new COVID-19 vaccinations per day on Wednesday. A total of 455,062 people in Shelby County have been vaccinated, about 65 percent of the goal of vaccinating 700,000 people. With the news last week that U.S. health officials plan to give COVID-19 booster shots to all Americans to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant of the coro-
navirus, Randolph said those who were vaccinated during the first quarter of the year should take the booster shot as soon as it becomes available. According to Randolph, statistics show that in Shelby County 37 percent of African Americans, or 163,274, have been vaccinated, as compared to 34 percent, or 152,961, among Whites. Higher numbers of African Americans taking the vaccine follows a national trend. African Americans have surpassed White Americans across the nation in rates of vaccination by double digits, according to an NBC News poll released this week. African Americans and Latino Americans lagged behind for months as polls showed hesitancy among various communities. Vaccination rates among African Americans have dramatically increased during the Delta surge. That increase is reflected in the NBC News/Hart Research Associates/Public Opinion Strategies poll released Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Shelby County Schools, the state’s largest public school district, has recorded 547 COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the school year, according to a dashboard set up to monitor cases within the system’s schools. Some 449 cases have been reported among students, and 98 cases among school staff. The district plans to update the numbers on the dashboard weekly. Children now make up 36 percent of Tennessee’s reported COVID-19 cases, marking yet another sobering milestone in the state’s battle against the highly contagious delta variant, Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said Wednesday. “We had 14,000 pediatric cases in the last seven days, which is a 57 percent increase over the week prior,” Piercey told reporters. “Right now, 36 percent of all of our cases in the state are among children when it’s historically been in the 10 to 15 percent range.” According to researchers from Johns Hopkins, Tennessee ranks sixth in the country for new cas-
es per capita. The rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by about 2,200, an increase of 75 percent, over the past two weeks. Piercey said the biggest increase has been among schoolage children just as many are kicking off the new school year. The spike has raised calls from some health officials for the state to take more forceful protective measures to prevent the spread of the virus among young children, teachers and other staffers. However, Lee has thus far resisted such suggestions. Instead, he recently signed the executive order letting parents opt their children out of coronavirus-related mask mandates in K-12 schools just as a few school districts issued mask requirements for students and others. When pressed Wednesday if the Republican was considering giving schools more flexibility to hold virtual learning, Lee said no. (This story reflects a report by the Associated Press.)
Dr. Erma L. Clanton arrives for an annual Memphis Living Legends service, which she created in 2003. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/TSD Archives)
CLANTON
CONTINUED FROM FRONT ate professor there, she gave birth to a production called “An Evening of Soul,” which evolved into an enduring part of her legacy. Brenda Jones Lewis played a role in the production while a student at Hamilton High School. “It was amazing how she saw so much in us, and knew how to pull it out,” said Lewis. “She was truly a visionary who touched so many people. She brought me out of my shell. I will be forever grateful.” Dr. Clanton was in pursuit of her graduate degree at the University of Memphis when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968. In an interview with The New TriState Defender that coincided with what would have been Dr. King’s 90th birthday, Dr. Clanton recalled the “heady days when we performed all over the country versions of my original stage production, ‘An Evening of Soul.’
The Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart, pastor of Christ Missionary Baptist Church, and the Rev. John Brown, executive director of Memphis Red Cross, lined up in support of providing freedom from so-called payday loans. (Courtesy photo)
LOAN
CONTINUED FROM FRONT for a fee or a requirement that the check’s possessor make a purchase from the store. “But you will hardly find a grocery store where we live. We want to liberate our people from the injustices holding us back, even if we don’t see them as injustices.” Harrington said the collaborative will support financial wellness through the partnership. “We want to end the poisonous predatory lending practices so pervasive in our commu-
nity,” Harrington said. Now, with 40 pastor members and their congregations, $10,000 of the $50,000 pledge has been raised. “We are calling on every business, every organization and every individual who wants to see financial wholeness come to fruition for many of our people, to give to this cause,” said Harrington. BCCM Executive Director Shirley Bondon said some action also has been initiated on civic engagement. “We have opened discussions with Collierville leaders about removing the Confederate statue in the town
square,” said Bondon. “No action has been taken yet, but we have at least initiated a discussion.” Turner is the collaborative’s founder and president. The website touts the BCCM as: “Expressing the Voice of the Black Church.” An online statement, in part, reads: ” …In the twenty-first century, the Black Church remains vital to African American religious life; however, some black churches have not remained as involved in its members’ social, political and economic life. The Black Clergy Collaborative
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“It was amazing how she saw so much in us, and knew how to pull it out.” “She was truly a visionary who touched so many people. She brought me out of my shell. I will be forever grateful.” — Brenda Jones Lewis “Many students were the first to attend college, and on the high school level, some of those children had no dream of attending college after graduation,” she said. “Those shows instilled a sense of pride and beauty in being ‘young, gifted and Black’ to use the words of a songwriter. “I like to think that Dr. King would have loved those productions and what I was trying to do…”
SALES PERSON
of Memphis was organized to lead the Black Church’s resurgence as advocates for social justice.” Hope Credit Union articulates its mission as “To strengthen communities, build assets and improve lives in economically distressed areas of the Deep South by providing access to high quality financial products and related services.”
The New Tri-State Defender is looking for a few sales consultants to sell print ads, digital ads and event sponsorships for the organization. The candidate should have some sales experience. This is a commission based opportunity. For serious inquiries email your resume to administration@ tsdmemphis.com.
(For more information, visit blackclergycollaborative.org; hopecu.org. Both partners are accepting donations for the $50,000 projected goal of the BCCM.)
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The New Tri-State Defender
August 26 - September 1, 2021
Page 3
PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, August 26 - September 1, 2021, Page 4
Making the case for a spotlight on conservatorships by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
For lawyer Ruby Wharton and Shelby County Probate Court Judge Kathleen N. Gomes, getting a better handle on conservatorships is a community necessity with ample examples of individual need. Wharton and Gomes are spearheading an effort to spotlight conservatorships, with a virtual event planned for Friday. A conservatorship is a court case where a judge appoints a responsible person or organization (called the “conservator”) to care for another adult (called the “conservatee”) who cannot care for himself or herself or manage his or her own finances. While many are unfamiliar with the term, mention the name Brittany Spears and there is a point of reference for the conversation. The popstar is engaged in a high-profile battle with her father over his conservatorship of her considerable assets. “I’ve been (handling cases) in Probate Court for 40 years,” said Wharton. “And I met Kathleen Gomes 30 years ago when we were both working
on cases in probate. We would bring each other in on cases. So, I know her to be a good judge in probate, because of her years of practice.” Wharton explained why events such as the upcoming panel discussion on conservatorships is a mustsee for every family, regardless of financial standing. “Many people have no idea what Probate Court is,” said Wharton. “This is the court that deals with the widows and orphans. Probate Court deals with estate matters, the distribution of property – with or without a will. “Heirs are the spouse, first. If there is no spouse, then the children. And if there are no children, there may be a surviving parent. “Conservatorships are also determined in Probate Court, and there are some things everyone should know.” A Zoom webinar on Friday (Aug. 24), will feature Gomes, along with other professionals relevant in the naming of a conservator, such as a psychiatrist and a social worker. The session begins at 11:30 a.m., and is titled “Probate & Estate Section: ‘Toxic’ and ‘Overprotected’ or
‘Gimme More?’: an In-Depth Panel Discussion on Tennessee Conservatorships.” The highly publicized situation with Spears raises questions about what conservatorship is, said Gomes. “Britney’s father is her conservator because there are clearly some mental issues with her. So clearly, conservatorships are not just for an elderly parent experiencing dementia.” According to Tennessee law, a conservator or a co-conservator is a person, persons, or entity appointed by the Court to exercise the decision-making rights as practical under the particular circumstances for the person’s disability.
Gomes said a doctor must sign documents declaring it medically determined that a person has a disability that makes him or her unable to govern his or her own affairs. Tennessee defines a person with a disability as “any person 18 years of age or older determined by the court to be in need of partial or full supervision, protection, and assistance by reason of mental illness, physical illness or injury, developmental disability, or other mental or physical incapacity.” A conservatorship is a proceeding that removes the decision-making powers and duties in whole or part in the least restrictive manner from
Ruby Wharton
Judge Kathleen N. Gomes
a person with a disability who lacks capacity to make decisions. Most tend to think that Probate Court is only for the elderly and to settle matters after a death, said Wharton. “That is true, but conservatorships can be determined and put in place before a tragedy takes place. Any of our lives can change in a moment. The issues being discussed on Friday are issues all families need to hear. … “Generally, our people wait too long before they do anything about these matters,” said Wharton. She added, “The power of attorney, and decisions before there is a stroke or coma, or hospice, is really the right time to get this business in order. There are so many cases of elderly abuse that occur, and the court investigates. Families and individuals have so much peace of mind when those matters are in order.” (To get the Zoom link Meeting information for Friday’s panel, email: carol.childress@shelbycountytn. com.)
Pfizer’s ‘Voices for the Heart’ speaks to Black America by Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. NNPA Newswire
The year 2021 continues to be full of health-related challenges to Black Americans and other communities of color throughout the United States. Yet, we should affirm fervently that this year has also provided more national focus on the opportunities to improve the quality of life of all people and especially those who have historically and contemporarily experienced public health disparities. The Black Press of America is the trusted voice of our communities. Since March of 1827, the Black Press, with the first publication of Freedom’s Journal in New York City 194 years ago, has gained and maintained the trust of Black America on all the issues that impact our families and communities. The NNPA, representing the Black Press, therefore is pleased with the ongoing strategic partnership that we have had over the past six years with Pfizer to effectively help raise public awareness and education about health-related matters with respect to African Americans and other people of color in America. First, we are proud to state that the NNPA, Pfizer, and Howard University conducted the first national poll on Sickle Cell disease that revealed important information and data in 2016 about awareness on a wide range of issues concerning Sickle Cell and Black America. Today, we note that for the past two
years the NNPA and Pfizer have worked together raising public awareness about Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM): A serious and ofDr. Benjamin ten underdiagF. Chavis Jr. nosed cause of heart failure in African Americans. A recent national study by the America Heart Association (AHA) pointed out that African Americans are disproportionately affected with heart disease more than other ethnic and racial groups in the United States. The AHA defines ATTR-CM as “an underdiagnosed and potentially fatal disease. It’s characterized by deposits of amyloid protein fibrils in the walls of the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart. In ATTR-CM, the amyloid protein is made of transthyretin.” The amyloid protein deposits cause the heart walls to become stiff, resulting in the inability of the left ventricle of the heart to function properly that can lead to heart failure. Thanks to Pfizer, the NNPA and other organizations that serve the public health interests of our communities are enabled to better inform more and more African Americans about this potentially fatal heart disease that disproportionately affects Black America. The Pfizer public
The National Newspaper Publishers Association and Pfizer are working together to raise public awareness about Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM): A serious and often underdiagnosed cause of heart failure in African Americans. Pfizer’s public information and awareness initiative is named “Voices for the Heart.”
information and awareness initiative about ATTR-CM is appropriated named “Voices for the Heart.” This important and timely initiative is dedicated to raising awareness about ATTR-CM and Black Americans toward achieving the goals of developing effective and accessible educational programming, local outreach events, and helpful resources in order to (1) Explain the signs and symptoms of ATTR-CM, an underrecognized and too often underdiagnosed condition, and (2) Help those
who are at risk for ATTR-CM to start the conversations with their personal doctor and other heart physicians about appropriate healthcare options and responses. “Voices for the Heart” is, therefore, a welcomed Pfizer initiative that hopefully will be engaged and activated within our families and communities. We in the NNPA intend to help spread the word and to amplify the mission of Voices for the Heart across the nation. It is unfortunate that there are some
in leadership positions in our society who today openly deny the truth of science and facts in healthcare, the environment, climate and in other areas. In the age of so much misinformation and the tendency to be swayed by the absence of truth, facts and science, it makes what we do in the Black Press so vital and so crucial to getting factual and science-based information out to the communities where we serve and are trusted. Our health is vital. Heart disease is a serious matter in Black America. Let’s listen to Voices for the Heart and let’s be informed and let’s take action to protect our hearts and our overall health conditions. Thank you for listening. (Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr, is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and executive producer and host of “The Chavis Chronicles” on PBS television stations throughout the United States. He can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org.)
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The New Tri-State Defender
August 26 - September 1, 2021
Page 5
RELIGION
Information blitz targets Black Church to combat COVID-19 by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
One Tennessee lawmaker is enacting a time-honored strategy that has served the African-American community in times of trouble: calling on religious leaders as “trusted messengers” to rally their congregations to action. “Our people have been inundated with lack of information and misinformation in this global pandemic,” said State Rep. G.A. Hardaway. “But now, we must act with a great sense of urgency. We as a community may not trust medical professionals, but we do trust our pastors.” With that urgency in mind, an information blitz with area churches now is underway. Hardaway last week (Aug. 17) spoke to the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association (MBMA), urging pastors to endorse vaccination and testing across the pulpit to mitigate the effects of the resurging numbers caused by the Delta variant. “Rep. Hardaway came and offered us some
good information,” said Pastor Vernon Horner, president of the MBMA. “We are especially concerned about our millennials, who have such a low percentage of vaccinations in their age group. More of our young adults and children are suffering and dying. We appreciate State Rep. G.A. Hardaway Rep. Hardaway. He gave us some great information, some wonderful strategies I believe will help our people. Hardaway presented a six-prong plan in a mass mobilization campaign: * Education * Vaccination * Masking * Social Distancing * Testing * Repeat, and do all five all over again “Education and vaccination are more pow-
erful together,” said Hardaway. “Younger people are being effected, and we’ve got to make sure our children are safe. So much misinformation is out there, and it is preventing that critical age group of 18-44 from being vaccinated. Our pastors are key Pastor Vernon to successfully mitigating Horner COVID-19. Throughout our history, we could always depend on the black church. Our ministers are a valuable resource that we need to utilize.” As of Tuesday (Aug. 24), the seven-day rolling average of new cases in Shelby County was 788, with 2,102 listed as the average number of daily vaccinations. The total number of people vaccinated was 453,935, which is 64.8 percent of the goal of vaccinating 700,000 people. “We will continue to urge everyone who has not been vaccinated to go and take the vaccine,” said Dr. Bruce Randolph, medical officer at the
health department. “Young people are getting severely ill and dying because they have chosen not to take the vaccine.” A masking mandate was reinstituted on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, at 7 a.m., as hundreds of new cases are continually logged daily. Hardaway said he will also be meeting with COGIC leaders and elders from both the AME and CME organizations. Hardaway also said a vaxxing event is planned to get ahead of the Southern Heritage Classic game. “We are planning several vaxxing and testing events to get ahead of the Southern Heritage Classic, the COGIC Convocation, and of course, our children are returning to school,” said Hardaway. “We didn’t have the information last year that we have now. We know vaccination and masking can keep everyone safe. We’ve got to make that happen. “And now we’ve got the Office of Minority Health and Disparities Elimination,” said Hardaway. “That is another great resource to aid our pastors with dispersing information.”
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks about his and wife’s COVID-19 diagnosis by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
Showing support … For the Rev. Willie Ward and Mt. Pisgah CME Church in Orange Mound, support of the children is a task for all seasons. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Legacy: Amanda Paulette Williams... A Sunday School teacher and superintendent for the Young People Department at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, Amanda Paulette Williams died Aug. 10, with her life celebrated Aug. 21 at Serenity Funeral Home. She was 68. Pastor James B. Collins delivered the eulogy. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
While he and his wife remain hospitalized in a Chicago hospital after positive COVID-19 tests, the Rev. Jesse Jackson told the Black Press that he remains vigilant in fighting for freedom, justice and equality. In an exclusive telephone conversation from his hospital bed on Sunday, August 22, the renowned civil rights leader expressed his ongoing support for vaccinations while explaining why his wife, Jacqueline, had not received the vaccine. “I have had both my shots,” Rev. Jackson said in the telephone call from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “My wife did not receive the vaccine because she has pre-existing conditions that were of concern.” Jackson maintained the importance of vaccination, noting that there are more stringent variants of the coronavirus. He said he and Jacqueline are receiving the “best of care.” The telephone call came just one day after his organization, the Rainbow Push Coalition, revealed the positive tests and hospitalization. The call included National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., a longtime friend and comrade in the fight for civil rights. Both disciples of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Jackson, and Dr. Chavis expressed concern that some media members would exploit Jackson’s positive tests. Jackson issued a reassurance of his strength. “I’m doing fine,” Rev. Jackson insisted. “My wife is here, and she’s being cared for.” Though he’s battling Parkinson’s disease and now diagnosed with COCVID-19, Rev. Jackson’s voice appeared strong. He said his battle for freedom, justice, and equality would continue. “He’s a fighter, a warrior,” Dr. Chavis added. Those who work closely with the Rev. and Mrs. Jackson, were tested after Jacqueline Jackson visited her doctors for a routine checkup. As per medical protocol, Mrs. Jackson received a COVID-19 test, triggering doctors to test Rev. Jackson and others. The icon said he wasn’t sure when he or his
“I have had both my shots,” the Rev. Jesse Jackson said in a telephone call from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “My wife did not receive the vaccine because she has pre-existing conditions that were of concern.” Jackson maintained the importance of vaccination, noting that there are more stringent variants of the coronavirus. (Courtesy photo) wife might be discharged. Since news of the couple’s illness and hospitalization, social media has seen a flood of well-wishers express love and prayers to Rev. and Mrs. Jackson. Texas Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro, Reverend Al Sharpton, and King’s daughter, Bernice King, were among those who sent prayers for the couple. “They need our sincere and intense prayers,” Rev. Sharpton insisted. Castro added, “Sending strength and prayers to Rev. Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline.” King also said she was “praying” for the family. Rev. Jackson, 79, and Jacqueline, 77, have been married for nearly 60 years. The couple has six children. In November 2017, doctors diagnosed Rev. Jackson with Parkinson’s disease, a central nervous system degenerative disorder. Actor Michael J. Fox and the late Muhammad Ali count among the more famous sufferers of the disease, primarily affecting motor skills. “I am doing ok,” Rev. Jackson said. (Follow Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia.)
The New Tri-State Defender
August 26 - September 1, 2021
Page 6
ENTERTAINMENT
Native Memphian a standout in new generation of aspiring playwrights by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
To the casual observer, Calley Anderson started her journey toward becoming a successful playwright as an undergrad at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. Her love affair with the drama and pageantry of theater, though, began at the Orpheum Theatre when she was “around 11 or 12.” The Tony-Award-winning production of “Aida,” a contemporary opera, featuring the music of Elton John and Tim Rice, ignited the stage with an electrifying performance that left a lasting impression on Anderson. She tucked it away in the place where dreams take root in the heart. “I remember being struck by this world, where a world beyond my own could be made real right in front of me,” said Anderson. “It was one of those moments that my brain stored that wouldn’t fully materialize again until college. That’s where I took my first play analysis class and started to find the right language for exactly why theater moved me.” Still, Anderson’s “aha” moment would not come until three years later. She was fascinated, not only with the magic and fantasy acted out on a stage, but also with the creative ability of the playwright, to create a world with the power to move and transform an audience. Fast forward to 2021, and Anderson is wrapping up an impressive year with the exclusive class of Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF) Fellows. The most promising and gifted playwrights, composers, lyricists and book writers are selected from a talented field of hopefuls. Ten made the cut in Anderson’s 2020-21 Fellows class. The program provides budding, talented writers access to accomplished professionals, who help them “find their unique voice” through one-on-one mentoring and
Calley Anderson (Courtesy photo)
“For Hylas” was the title of this Playlist Workshop Production by Calley Anderson in Nov. 2019. (Courtesy photo)
“I remember being struck by this world, where a world beyond my own could be made real right in front of me. It was one of those moments that my brain stored that wouldn’t fully materialize again until college. That’s where I took my first play analysis class and started to find the right language for exactly why theater moved me.” — Calley Anderson staged presentations of their work, according to the DGF Fellows website. Anderson has developed and matured at every adventure along the way. After college, Anderson became part of the Hattiloo Theatre family. Armed with a degree in English and concentration in Film and Media Studies, Anderson took on the role of programs coordinator. She gleaned valuable experience in forging community relationships and overseeing artistic internships and administration of youth programs. After two years at Hattiloo, Anderson spent a year with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra as the diversity and inclusion
manager. Although both positions kept Anderson close to live stage performances, Anderson knew there only was one job that would fulfill what she understood as her destiny — becoming a playwright. So, back to school she went. In 2017, Anderson applied to The New School of Drama in New York City. Three years later, she had completed her master’s degree in Fine Arts. Along the way, a number of awards and positions of note as an outstanding, young playwright have filled her resume. Among them are University of Memphis Department of Theatre and Dance Com-
missioned Playwright, 2020-21, member of the American Theatre Group PlayLab, 2020-22; finalist in the R&D Group for “The Civilians,” and finalist in the Incubation Series, Egg & Spoon Theatre Collective, 2021. Before securing her place among the DGF Fellows, Anderson has been a member of the Dramatists Guild since 2018, while still in grad school. There’s no turning back for Anderson. Even when prospects looked murky, she never stopped moving toward her goal. “Here I am now, still committed, pandemic and all,” said Anderson. “And it’s not just about the playwriting part, but about the kinds of stories I want to explore and the characters I want to interrogate and unearth. “My work picks at truth and the many definitions of it, even when it’s difficult.” Anderson is the younger daughter of TSD board Chairman Calvin Anderson and Beverly Anderson. (Read more about Anderson at calleynanderson.com.)
COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, August 26 - September 1, 2021, Page 7
BRIEFS & THINGS LOC to clear spring 2021 balances for students LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC) students with balances remaining from the Spring 2021 semester will have one less roadblock to continuing their education. Dr. Vernell Bennett-Fairs, LOC president, this week announced that those balances would be cleared with monies from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HERF). “If we can help students persist in their education goals, we should do all we can to make it not just a possibility but a likelihood that they will reach degree completion,” said Bennett-Fairs. “Clearing their debt is just one way we can support our students.” Several HBCUs have made headlines in the past few months for clearing student debt using federal funds. (For more information on LeMoyne-Owen College, visit loc.edu.)
Coming soon: TN Voter Connection Cedric Richmond, senior advisor to President Joe Biden and director of the White House’s Office of Civic Engagement, will be the featured speaker during the virtual launching of TN Voter Connection (TVC) in recognition of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The TVC is designed to be the connector and convener across the state to track the work of organizations focused on voter education, registration and protection. The virtual event is set for 11 a.m. (CDT) on Aug. 28. With a limited number of attendees, reservations should be made at www. TNVoterConnection.com/registration. (For more information, contact Cynthia J. Finch, TVC committee chairperson, at 865254-4793; Tennessee State Rep. Barbara Cooper of Memphis at 901-315-5287.)
Debt reduction tops $1 million for clients of local financial empowerment center Shelby County Trustee Regina Morrison Newman, in partnership with non-profit service provider the RISE Foundation, this week announced that clients of Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center (GMFEC) have reduced their debt by over $1 million. The GMFEC, which opened its doors about two years ago, provides free professional one-on-one financial counseling as a service to any County resident. As of the end of July, the center had served 800-plus clients who had jointly reduced their non-mortgage debt by over $1 million. GMFEC counselors have been operating fully remotely for the last 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am thrilled with the success clients have been able to achieve through counseling with the GMFEC. To see that amount of debt reduced in the face of the pandemic speaks to their hard work to improve their financial footing,” Newman said. The GMFEC is a key part of Shelby County’s efforts to support individuals on their pathway out of any financial hardship that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID-19 has underscored the critical importance of professional one-on-one financial counseling to help residents manage the financial impact of the pandemic,” said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “We are thrilled to partner with Shelby County and Trustee Newman on the GMFEC, and applaud the work they’ve done over the past two years and during the pandemic to build residents’ financial stability.” First piloted in New York City in 2008 under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, financial empowerment centers across the country have worked with over 123,000 clients, helping them reduce individual debt by more than $171 million, and increasing their families’ savings by more than $30 million. Shelby County is one of more than two dozen cities and counties that have either launched or are working to launch local FECs. (To schedule an appointment with the GMFEC, visit https://fecpublic.org/appointment-greatermemphis or call 901-3904200.)
County Commission defines positions on mask mandates
by James Coleman
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners has approved a resolution opposing Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order requiring school districts to allow parents and families to opt out of mask mandates in Tennessee public schools. The adoption came during the commission’s Monday (Aug. 23) meeting. “I think it was a direct response to Shelby County’s decision (to require masking) and it challenges our local control,” said the resolution’s sponsor, Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer. In addition to turning mask wearing into a matter of personal choice, Lee’s order permits the skirting of opt-out documentation required by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Shelby County Schools Supt. Dr. Joris Ray has bucked the order by requiring masks in schools. However, Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor has conceded the executive order carries more heft. Earlier in the day, commissioners met with
the county attorney’s office to mull a legal challenge to the order. The nonbinding resolution passed 7-0, with a handful of members sitting the vote out. The gesture swiftly gained traction during an offweek committee meeting. Commissioners also backed a countywide mask mandate put into effect on Aug. 20 by the Health Department. The effort passed 102, with commissioners Mick Wright and Amber Mills voting against it. Additionally, upwards of $1.5 million was allotted to the county’s various school systems to beef up their mask stockpile. Also sponsored by Sawyer, it passed 9-0. Finally, the commission voted 11-0 to pony up $3.6 million for Regional One Health. The money will allow the county hospital to reopen the 21 beds closed because of a national shortage of skilled health care professionals triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Two more installments of $4 million will be voted on during September’s meetings. The Memphis City Council approved $2 million for the hospital last week to hire travel nurses or temporary workers.
Like elsewhere, masking in schools has become a hot-button issue for parents. For example, on Tuesday (Aug. 24) several parents on both sides of the argument addressed the Collierville School Board. The school has adhered to the Aug. 16 decree. That event followed a gathering of parents at the Shelby County Board of Education Monday morning, with parents inquiring about virtual learning and safety. A Change.org petition is also making the rounds suggesting school should be held virtually, like at the start of the pandemic. As of Monday, the petition had netted more than 12,000 signatures. The push to strengthen the county’s pandemic response comes as the Delta variant of the virus has pushed area healthcare systems to their limits. An estimated 96 percent of virus patients filling beds at Methodist and Baptist hospitals in Memphis are unvaccinated. This past week, Shelby County has averaged 798 new cases per day. Wednesday (August 25), the Health Department reported 522 new cases and three COVID-19-related deaths.
Author Opal Lee to bring her special view of Juneteenth to Memphis Aug. 29
Opal Lee – known widely as the “grandmother of Juneteenth” – will be in Memphis Sunday (Aug. 29) to sign copies of her children’s book, “Juneteenth: A Children’s Story,” at the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. The book-signing event is set for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum at 826 N. 2nd St. Memphis. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States and has been an African-American tradition since the late 19th century. In 2016, Lee laced up her sneakers for a 1,400-mile trek from her home in Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C., hoping to ask President Barack Obama to make Juneteenth Opal Lee’s name is ina national holi- extricably interwoven day. She made na- with the new Junetional headlines, teenth federal holiday. earned a credit On Sunday, she will in the film “Miss sign copies of her children’s book, “JuneJuneteenth” and teenth: A Children’s gained more than Story,” at Slave Haven 1.6 million signa- Underground Railroad tures on a petition Museum. to mark the holiday. On June 19,1865, Major General Gordon Granger informed plantation owners in Galveston, Texas that Abraham Lincoln had declared the last of enslaved Black people free under the terms of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. Earlier this year, Congress established June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day – a U.S. federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States of America. In June, President Biden signed the legislation into law with Lee, 94, beside him. “Ms. Opal is an amazing woman,” said Dr. Belay Reddick, her tour manager. “I’m excited about this book signing event. For decades, she’s made it her mission to see that Juneteenth became a federally-recognized holiday.” Juneteenth – also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day – is the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983. Most states recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or have an official observance of the day, and most states hold celebrations. Before the new legislation, Juneteenth was a paid holiday for state employees in only four states, Texas, New York, Virginia and Washington. “She’s truly an American treasure and icon,” Dr. Reddick said of Lee. “She is really look-
Opal Lee was right where she wanted to be when President Biden signed into law legislation authoring Juneteenth as a federal holiday. (Courtesy photo)
Opal Lee’s pursuit of making Juneteenth a federal holiday included walking 1,400 miles to drum up awareness. (Courtesy photo)
“Ms. Opal is an amazing woman,. I’m excited about this book signing event. For decades, she’s made it her mission to see that Juneteenth became a federally-recognized holiday.” — Dr. Belay Reddick ing forward to coming to the beautiful City of Memphis.” The event is free and books may be purchased onsite. If time permits, Lee will read from her work.
Lee’s book is published by Unity Unlimited, Inc. (For more information about Lee, visit www. sbcompanyinternational.com.)
The New Tri-State Defender
August 26 - September 1, 2021
NEWS
Page 8
CLASSIFIEDS 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: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to “Vendors” block at top of page • Click “Register Now” • Click on “Mercury Commerce Vendor Registration” line • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit
Street-wise … Radio personality Bev Johnson, a member of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, sets the stage for members of the legendary Stax group The Temprees. The group recently was saluted with the unveiling of a sign showcasing an avenue named in The Temprees’ honor. Pictured: Harold “Scotty” Scott, Deljuan “Del” Calvin and Walter “Bo” Washington. Former lead singer Jasper “Jabbo” Phillips died in 2001. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)
Final victim found in Tennessee flooding disaster search by Jonathan Mattise and Travis Loller WAVERLY, Tenn. (AP) – The body of the final person missing from a devastating weekend flood in Middle Tennessee was recovered on Wednesday, prompting the search for victims to be suspended as the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency toured the area. Saturday’s flooding took out houses, roads, cellphone towers and telephone lines, with rainfall that more than tripled forecasts and shattered the state record for one-day rainfall. More than 270 homes were destroyed and 160 took major damage, according to the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency. Waverly Police Chief Grant Gillespie’s voice broke as he announced the discovery of the final victim during an afternoon news conference. The death count stands at 20, according to county authorities, although the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency had put it at 17 at mid-day on Wednesday. “We had resumed the searching this morning in the areas that we thought were most likely to – where our victim was most likely to be found,” Gillespie said. “We’ve used dogs, heavy equipment. It’s just been very painstaking because it’s a tedious process to get in there and look for victims. ... Today was about our victim, and we found her.” FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee toured the area together on Wednesday. The first stop was Waverly First Baptist Church, which is being used as a shelter, with a table of food lining one wall and small beds lining another. Lee became choked up when talking to those temporarily living in the shelter, as well as those who have been assisting. “Tragedy comes in a moment. But what we’ve seen here is the intersection of tragedy and hope,” said Lee. Lee also said President Joe Biden called him Tuesday and offered his support, noting that the Biden administration quickly approved the state’s request for an emergency declaration, which frees up federal aid to help with recovery efforts in Humphreys County. Criswell said she spoke with Biden right after Saturday’s flooding.
“The road to recovery is going to be long, but we are here to support the governor and his team and support you with what your needs are,” Criswell said, temporarily taking her mask down so everyone could hear. “And my heart goes out to all of you.” The small city of Waverly, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) west of Nashville, was the community hit hardest by the flood. A public housing project there along the banks of Trace Creek was in ruins. The Waverly Housing Authority was working on Wednesday to try to find housing for the residents in nearby towns, executive director Sherry Lynch said. Meanwhile, residents picked through their mud-caked possessions and searched bushes for belongings that were washed away. Strewn across the ground were the remnants of their lives – Christmas wreaths, T-shirts, VHS taps, baseball cards. Every vertical object left standing was plastered with debris, wrapped tightly around poles and trees in the direction of the current. In the chaotic aftermath of the flood, there was confusion about even the number of people killed. The number had previously climbed as high as 22, but Gillespie later said some people were counted twice and others were counted who died from non-flood-related causes. With the search for victims over, efforts turned to clean-up and recovery on Wednesday. All of the deaths would be investigated by detectives, Gillespie said, even though there is no foul play suspected. “They’re just tying up loose ends, trying to find out the circumstances about how somebody went in the water, how they – where we found them – and tying all those records together,” he said. “We’re going to treat each one with the individual respect it deserves to get the answers about what happened in each one of those cases.” Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis spoke to reporters on Tuesday about the toll the disaster has taken on residents. “You’ve seen us get a little emotional. You have to remember, these are people we know, people’s families, people we grew up with — just the people of our small town. It’s just very close to us.” (Loller reported from Nashville.)
If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246. If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid. SEALED BID DUE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021 AT 2:00 PM “AMBULANCES” FOR SHELBY COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT (SB-I000693) (MC 642) This Sealed bid does not have a LOSB participation goal requirement. By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Charles Humphrey Tax Parcel #: 03505500000120 Tax Sale #: 1603 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
TSD CLASSIFIEDS 1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 PH (901) 523-1818 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. DEADLINES: Display ads Friday 5 p.m. Classifieds ads Monday 5 p.m.
a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on September 24, 2021, 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: Tammy L. Nutall Tax Parcel #: 07608800000390 Tax Sale #: 1701 Price Offered: $800.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on September 24, 2021, 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:
STANDARD RATES: $6.00 per line for 1 column ad. Rates are non-commissionable and are quoted at the net rate. No refund for early cancellation. For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@tsdmemphis.com.
Howard-LittleJohn Tax Parcel #: 08201000001270 Tax Sale #: 1701 Price Offered: $600.00 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 24, 2021, 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: Denise Ruff Tax Parcel #: 07502400000080 Tax Sale #: 304 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 9:00 a.m. on September 24, 2021, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400
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SPORTS
The New Tri-State Defender, August 26 - September 1, 2021, Page 9
In Bonzi Wells, LeMoyne-Owen College gets a coach resolute about molding student-athletes TSD Newsroom
P
en in hand and under press conference lights, 10-year NBA veteran Bonzi Wells on Friday signed on to be the head men’s basketball coach at LeMoyne-Owen College and made it clear that he is “ready to get to work.” That work, according to Wells, is to win and to get his players to “understand what they are here for. … Education is the most important thing. Like I told them in my meeting, I wouldn’t be up here right now if it wasn’t for the education, me getting my diploma, getting my degree. Getting your education is everything. I want to preach that to them.
“If they do something after college in basketball, that’s icing on top of the cake.” LeMoyne-Owen College President Dr. Vernell Bennett-Fairs set the tone for the introduction of Wells, who played for the Memphis Grizzlies from 2003-05 under coach Hubie Brown after being traded from Portland. “We are confident that Mr. Wells’ work ethic, his career, his example will be fabulous for our students,” said Bennett-Fairs. “We’re very excited to see what he brings to LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC).” Bennett-Fairs still is relatively new at the helm of LOC, taking over as president last January. She framed the hiring of Wells as “adding to the magic” that is happening on the South Memphis campus of the only HBCU (historically black college and universities) in Memphis. New LOC Athletic Director William B. Anderson, the former men’s basketball coach, said the hiring of Wells was the next step in Bennett-Fairs’ vision and plan for the college. “During our interview process Bonzi separated himself quite well (from the ‘many’ other candidates) with his vision,” said Anderson. “His vision lined up exactly with what our president is looking for: How he wants to impact student-athletes’ lives and help them beyond basketball.” Anderson, who had coached the men’s basketball since 2009, succeeded Clint Jackson, who retired as athletic director earlier this year. He also had served as athletic director before Jackson was named to the position in 2013. Bennett-Fairs’ vision for LOC’s sports programs mirrors her next-level vision for the college overall and “there was no way I could do both,” Anderson said of serving as coach and athletic director. Wells, said Anderson, is “a role model. His career is something they (players) can look at and aspire to be. He can really share life experiences with them that can help them grow, not only here at LeMoyne-Owen College, but become the leaders that we would like for them to be in our community.” Wells, who has no college-level, head-coaching experience, said, “This is just big for me, big for my family. We don’t take this lightly. … “It’s going to be a tough job … learning a lot of stuff on the fly. Everything is happening fast for me, but ever since I’ve been around here, I just see this family atmosphere. And everybody has treated me like family. I feel like I’m back home again. Wells said he met Anderson a few months ago during the Allen Iverson Basketball Classic that was held at Bartlett High School. His agent connected him with Anderson and University of Memphis head men’s basketball coach Penny Hardaway
Bonzi Wells signals his readiness to get started as LeMoyne-Owen College’s new head men’s basketball coach. He was introduced last Friday by LOC President Dr. Vernell Bennett-Fairs and LOC Athletic Director William B. Anderson. (Screen capture)
“I’ve always been a Memphis guy since I got traded down here,” Wells said. “I’ve always had connections down here. … I’m very excited to be here. I’ve got my brother Rasheed Wallace down here as well. … We’re very excited to entrench ourselves into the Memphis culture and do what we do. We’re here to win games. We’re here to create some great student-athletes. … That’s what it’s all about.” — Bonzi Wells
Bonzi Wells (left) warms up with some Memphis Grizzlies before the start of a 2005 Bobcats game in Charlotte, NC. (Wikimedia.org)
“The way the world is changing, it’s HBCUs’ time.” — Bonzi Wells. “and it just became a conversation. “It just started like that. We didn’t know how far we were going to take it.” During the Iverson Classic, Wells coached against his former Portland teammate Rasheed Wallace. The two have a podcast called “Let’s Get Technical,” with Hardaway having appeared as a guest last spring. Wallace was set to become the head coach at LOC, with Wells to be his assistant. However, according to Wells, Hardaway convinced Wallace to join him as an assistant at the UofM, opening the head-coaching lane at LOC. “I’ve always been a Memphis guy since I got traded down here,” Wells said. “I’ve always had connections down here. … I’m very excited to be here. I’ve got my brother Rasheed Wallace down here as well. … We’re very excited to entrench ourselves into the Memphis culture and do what we do. We’re here to win games. We’re here to create some great student-athletes. … That’s what it’s all about.”
Bonzi Wells with the Houston Rockets in February 2008. (Wikipedia. org)
With candor and in response to a question, Wells said when he joined the Grizzlies in 2003 he was “coming from a tough situation in Portland … My name probably wasn’t the best. Everybody thought I was this crazy person. And when I got to Memphis nobody cared about that. … They allowed me to be me.” Wells said whenever he has been in
With the 11th pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons selected Bonzi Wells, who they then traded to the Portland Trailblazers for a future pick. Wells played 310 games with Portland, scoring 4,112 points before a trade to Memphis in 2003. (Photo: Twitter) Memphis it has been like family. “I never had a problem in Memphis. Everybody has always showed me love. They appreciated me; they appreciated the way I played. And that’s what it’s all about. My job now is to hand that over to the kids. I want the people in the community talking about how hard our kids play. … “It’s full circle and I am very excited.” Wells referenced “the trend around the country” regarding former professional athletes taking on positions at HBCUs. For example, this year’s South Heritage Classic will feature Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Eddie George coaching HBCU rivals Jackson State University and Tennessee State University. “The way the world is changing, it’s HBCUs’ time,” said Wells. “We’ve promoted these other colleges that are not HBCUs long enough. So now it’s time to get the revenue and all that stuff directed to the HBCUs. We need to get all the media attention. “Like I told them in my interview process, I’ll use any type of celebrity I have to get attention to the HBCUs. From Deion Sanders and all the other guys, professional athletes that went to these schools, we’re going to use every ounce of our celebrity to make sure our schools are on the map and they are talking about us daily on the ESPNs, the FoxSports and all those things,” said Wells. “We need to be in those type of conversations every week.” NOTES: *For the record, the full name of LOC’s new men’s head basketball coach is Gawen DeAngelo Wells, aka Bonzi. *Wells was a two-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Year while playing for Ball State. He was the 11th pick in the 1998 NBA draft, with the Detroit Pistons trading him to Portland on draft day. *LOC has only had four coaches in the modern era, with the legendary Jerry Johnson serving for 46 years. Johnson, who died in January at 102, became the first African-American basketball coach to win a Division III national title when LeMoyne-Owen got the job done in 1975. *Other than LOC’s Magicians, no men’s college basketball program in Tennessee has won an NCAA title. LOC also is the only sports program from Memphis to capture an NCAA championship. *Circle October 24. That’s the date when Wells and his Magicians are scheduled to take the court at FedExForum for an exhibition game against Hardaway, Wallace and the latest version of the University of Memphis Tigers. (This story reflects reporting by TSD sports columnist Terry Davis.)
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