The New Tri-State Defender (September 3-9, 2020) by The Tri-State Defender

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September 3 - 9, 2020

VOL. 69, No. 36

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Black Caucus and Gov. Lee on unsettled ground amid protests by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Tennessee’s governor refused to meet with peaceful protesters and the state’s lieutenant governor re-tweeted a post that appeared to support violence against Black Lives Matter protesters and Antifa, an ultra-liberal group known for civil disobedience actions. As a result, Gov. Bill Lee and Lt. Gov./Speaker of the Senate Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) were blasted in a Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators (TBCSL) virtual meeting on Zoom Aug. 26. Controversy between the two factions spilled over into this week as a clear breakdown in communication became evident. It started weeks ago when Lee refused to meet with protesters or the caucus, according to TBCSL Chairman G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis). “Those kids were peacefully protesting and they asked for an opportunity to speak with the governor,” Hardaway said. “They stayed there faithfully (for) 62 days, asking to speak with him, and he wouldn’t do it.” Hardaway said Lee’s “refusal to speak with those young people” sparked anger among caucus members, who then asked for a meeting with Lee in a letter. The governor called Hardaway last week, according to the TBCSL chairman. “Instead of just hearing them

Computer-savvy Mackenzie Bailey, a fourth grader at Grahamwood Elementary School, focuses on a lesson while at the dining room table on Monday, the ﬁrst day of classes for Shelby County Schools. (Courtesy photo)

SCS weathers all-virtual opening State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, chairman of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, said Gov. Bill Lee should have met with protesters demonstrating outside of the state Capitol. (Courtesy photo) out, Lee called a special session so the Republican Senate could push through a bill making capitol protest a felony,” Hardaway said. “Then he calls to meet with the caucus. I told him, ‘I have to see if the caucus wants to meet with you, sir.’ It took him so long to respond to us.”

Lee’s administration countered Hardaway’s account that the governor has skirted TBCSL’s attempt to meet with him. “Our oﬃce has reached out to the Black Caucus to schedule a meeting for the near future,” said Gillum Ferguson, Lee’s press secretary. “The governor has met with the Black Cau-

cus on numerous occasions during his tenure, in addition to many oneon-one conversations with individual members.” TSCBL members had mixed feelings about the governor’s response to their meeting request.

SEE CAUCUS ON PAGE 3

Years after playing for John Thompson, Memphis-born former Georgetown player still carries life lessons by Lee Eric Smith lesmith@tsdmemphis.com

Over the course of the late John Thompson Jr.’s legendary coaching career at Georgetown University, it’s no stretch to say he touched the lives of hundreds of young men from across the nation, leaving a lasting impact on his players both on and oﬀ the court. In the early 1990s, one of those players was a young standout at Raleigh-Egypt High named Kevin Millen. Nowadays, it’s common to see Millen’s 6’7” lanky frame and easy smile on Beale Street, where he works to keep the entertainment district looking its best. But 30 years ago, Millen was a multipositional freak on the court whose talent eventually landed him at Georgetown under Thompson’s tutelage. And while Millen’s hopes of a pro career never manifested, he still carries with him the life lessons that Thompson imparted. “First of all, let me say that Coach Thompson had a masters degree in philosophy,” Millen said. “So coach was a person that knew and studied the mind and knew how to get the best out of a child’s mind. From 18 to 22 you’re still basically a child.

“What made me a better person was Coach Thompson got us in class and made sure we were doing what we’re supposed to do.” — Kevin Millen “What made me a better person was Coach Thompson got us in class and made sure we were doing what we’re supposed to do,” said Millen, now 47. “Because it’s easy to fall off track if you don’t have that person who’s like ‘You got to go to class, you got to stay on top of it.’” Millen said he first popped up on Thompson’s radar when Craig Esherick, one of Thompson’s assistants, spotted him at the Dave Krider All-American Basketball Camp in Cinncinati. “At Dave Krider, I rocked the camp,” said Millen, who remembers averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and five assists in his senior year at Raleigh-Egypt. “I was great when I was young. I was a really great basketball player. Some of the best were at this camp, and my attitude and athletic ability allowed me to do well. And Coach Thomp-

After starring at Raleigh-Egypt, Kevin Millen was recruited to play for legendary Georgetown University Coach John Thompson Jr., who died last Sunday (Aug. 30). (Courtesy photo) son heard about me after that one camp.” Millen was coveted by Bob Huggins at Cinncinati and of course by then-Coach Larry Finch at Memphis State. But Thompson came to watch Millen play at Raleigh-Egypt and lured him to Washington D.C. “I knew I could play basketball, but I was shady on the education,”

Millen recalled. “But once I got to Georgetown, I had to kick in on education and upgrade my basketball.” It was there that Thompson helped Millen develop into a more rounded person both on and oﬀ the court. Not only was he exposed to the nation’s capital, he got to travel to Israel with

SEE COACH ON PAGE 3

‘We’re standing strong in this district’ by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Imperfection is to be expected on the first day of school, even when there isn’t a global pandemic driving an all-virtual opening, which was the case for Shelby County Schools this week. For one thing, technology was not fully cooperative as thousands of students logged on almost simultaneously during the first school day of the 2020-21 academic year on Monday (Aug. 31). “There were some glitches and kinks that had to be worked out,” said Elsie Bailey, ex-principal of Booker T. Washington High School. Bailey’s 10-year-old granddaughter, Mackenzie Bailey, sat at the dining room table, busy with her lesson. The Grahamwood Elementary School fourth grader is a computer-savvy ‘whiz kid.” Bailey said the virtual model is simple and quite practical. Under this teaching model, teachers teach, either remotely from home or from their classrooms at school. “The parents’ job is to create a quiet place for children to sit undisturbed while they learn. I think our superintendent has done a wonderful job,” the former teacher and principal said. “He Ray) made the decision to go completely virtual and took the leadership of distributing the devices to our students and providing hotspots so that each child could use their device for school. There were firstday hiccups, but they were smoothed out in the end.” Last Friday ahead of the first day

SEE SCHOOL ON PAGE 2

The New Tri-State Defender

September 3 - 9, 2020

Page 2

NEWS

Cromwell Elementary School teacher Shana Rivers: “We’re standing strong in this district.”

SCHOOL CONTINUED FROM FRONT of school, SCS Supt. Joris Ray encouraged principals, teachers, students and parents to “give each other a lot of grace and support during these next few weeks. …” His rallying call came via a weekly school system update video on Facebook. He called Monday’s school start “an historic day unlike any other the district has faced in its more than 153-year history. “We’ve planned and planned some more, to make the first day of school go as smoothly as possible,” said Ray. Parents Akila and Mario Sims shared “home-school duties in supervising daughters, Kree Sims, a second grader student at Belle Forest Community School, an SCS charter, and Khoi Sims, a seventh grader at Germantown Middle School. Khoi was Student of the Year last year at her school. “It rained some, so there were a couple of glitches,” said Mario Sims, owner of a limousine service. “We are embarking on a new way to educate kids, and parents must be involved to help the teacher.” The girls took the IT issues in stride. “I guess we can’t expect everything to be perfect because this is all new to everybody,” said Khoi. “We’ve been working on computers in the classroom for a while now, so this wasn’t so hard. But I guess we all miss going to school and seeing our friends.” Charles Lampkin and wife Tracy Lampkin also teamed up to help their four, school-age boys. Zermaine Lampkin is in fifth grade, Zacarias Lampkin is in the fourth grade, Justin Lampkin is in third grade, and Zaa’van Lampkin is in second grade. “There were e technical glitches at first, but I think the district had to do a lot in a very short period of time,” said Charles Lampkin. “But there is a virtual library, a

30-minute lunch period, two 15-minute breaks and recess. So, it’s going to work out, I believe. We just have to work through it.” Whether it was the rain, overloaded hotspots or some other issue with the online connection, two of the boys were unable to resume classes after lunch break. “Our Internet connection was unreliable, and it made the first day of school kind of difficult,” Zermaine said, clearly agitated that he couldn’t finish his lessons. “My teacher called to apologize, but it’s not her fault. We hope things will be better tomorrow.” Zermaine and Justin attend Cornerstone Prep Denver, a SCS charter. Zacarias and Zaa’van attend New Hope Academy, also a charter school. New Hope has been in school for three weeks. Monday was relatively smooth and uneventful for the New Hope students. As unwelcome as sketchy Internet connections were, greater hardships were experienced by other families. “I have three children, but only one of them received a computer because they ran out,” said Erika Boyd. “My 17-year-old has special needs and learning disabilities, and it’s hard for him to focus. He needs someone right there with him. I can’t do it because I work every day at a daycare. We need help.” Her other son, Jeremiah Staple, is a ninth grader. He is presently registered at Memphis Business Academy, but has been accepted to White Station High School. “Jeremiah has to take a test before moving on to White Station, but he didn’t get a computer. And, my daughter, Kayla, also did not receive a computer. … So, they were given packets with typed out lessons. I’ve got to get my children some help.” Boyd said the school year ended so abruptly that her two boys didn’t really get what they needed. “I think it would help if both

Germantown Middle School seventh grader Khoi Sims (left) studies at home while her sister, Kree Sims (right), gets some help from their mother, Akila Sims. (Courtesy photos)

Pictured (l-r): Brothers Zermaine, Zacarias, Justin and Zaa’van Lampkin on the ﬁrst day of school. my sons could repeat their same grades,” Boyd said. “It’s wrong to just pass them on. They are not ready for the next grade, and they both need to be sitting down with a teacher. They need to be in the building. I just need some more help. I need more support.” And so the school year is underway. Some SCS educators acknowledged the start by posting an upbeat rap video to the district’s Facebook page, complete with positive lyrics and a contagious beat. Still, there were challenges for teachers also. “I have 16 students registered, but only nine were logged in today,” said Brenda Lewis, a second-grade teacher at Bethel Grove Elementary School. “I went over the rules for our virtual format and made sure they were understood. I made it through, but it was on a wing and a prayer.” Shana Rivers teaches fourth grade at Cromwell Elementary School. “Lots of parents had not picked up the laptops for their children, so that got to be an issue,” said Rivers. “I called those parents Sunday and Monday, on the ﬁrst day. Some did come and pick up the laptops. Dr. Ray really tried to keep everything equitable. The computers are really great tablets that use windows and Microsoft. “We’re standing strong in this district. It’s going to be a good year after all.”

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Brenda Lewis teachers second graders enrolled at Bethel Grove Elementary School.

The New Tri-State Defender

September 3 - 9, 2020

Page 3

NEWS CAUCUS CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Legendary Georgetown University Coach John Thompson Jr. (back row, left) took this group of players, including Memphian Kevin Millen (front row left, kneeling) on a trip to Israel. Thompson died last Sunday. (Courtesy photo)

COACH CONTINUED FROM FRONT the team. “Coach Thompson got us in a place where we could talk to diﬀerent (types of) people,” Millen said. “You got foreign teachers, you got white people, you got black people . . . “And you got to be able to talk coherently to these people so they understand where you’re coming from,” he added. “Because they will look at you as you ain’t nothing but a basketball player. You’ve got to allow them the opportunity to know you, and once they know you and that you’re trying to succeed, you will succeed.” That was just one of many life lessons that stuck with

Millen. “Coach Thompson said that anybody that wanted to graduate from Georgetown graduated,” Millen remembered. “That meant that you had to want to go to class. You had to want to go to practice. That’s just how it was.” At Georgetown, Millen averaged 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds, while playing with future NBA players including Alonzo Mourning, Othella Harrington, Jerome “Junkyard Dog” Williams and even “The Answer” Allen Iverson. Despite his talent, Millen’s NBA dreams never manifested, and after earning a degree in ﬁnance, he returned home to Memphis. “Coach gave me the chance to coach some incoming fresh-

men and I kind of took to that,” Millen said. “But I didn’t have any money to stay in Washington D.C., so I came on back to Memphis. I was young and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do.” Millen said some around him felt Thompson didn’t help him in his quest to make the NBA. But he quickly corrects them. “I didn’t make the league and a lot of people say, ‘Coach Thompson messed you over.’ No. NO,” Millen said emphatically. “Coach Thompson educated me. He got me where I know when it’s time to push the gas, push the gas. When it’s time to pump the brakes, I know to pump the brakes. “Coach Thompson taught me a lot.”

State Sen. Brenda Gilmore (D- Nashville), who also cochairs the caucus, said she was pleased that the governor “ﬁnally decided to meet with the caucus,” but felt sorry it was so late. “I’m sorry it took him so long, and it was very hurtful to learn that Gov. Lee feels that meeting with the caucus would be unproductive,” Gilmore said. “That was very painful, very hurtful.” Hardaway acknowledged that Lee did tentatively schedule to meet with the legislators this week, but that meeting subsequently was canceled and has not been re-scheduled. “He reneged on meeting with the group, and we don’t know if we can trust him now. Instead of meeting with all of us, he has now proposed to meet us individually,” said Hardaway. “Now, he can play phonea-friend, and he can play tele-buddy with individual lawmakers. That’s ﬁne. We will be his friend, but we operate as a caucus, and we need to meet with him together. “We are about doing the people’s business. We have to address the disparities that are devastating our community in the midst of this pandemic.” State Rep. London Lamar (D-Memphis) said Lee should feel compelled to meet with the caucus. “African-American legislators should be able to discuss with the governor those things which are near and dear to our community,” Lamar said. “We look for the governor to lead the way with inclusiveness …We will keep applying pressure.”

State Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) shared her position. “We urgently need healing and solutions to eliminate the injustices and inequities built into our criminal justice system and policing, in school funding and healthcare and our economy,” Akbari said. “No matter where we live or what we look like, we want our families to be vibrant, but we can’t solve these problems with more division.” Akbari said elected leaders must hold the governor accountable “when he’s not moving fast enough, and urged her colleagues to be “just as committed to collaborating on policies that make our communities safe for everyone.” Akbari said families are “desperate for action, and discussions must translate into reforms that make Tennessee communities whole. “We have to work together and, in Tennessee, our political reality is that we cannot solve these problems without the governor.” Caucus members also denounced McNally for re-tweeting a poster that shows a Black man sitting down, with the heading “Warning to BLM and Antifa.” The text at the bottom read: “Once you’ve managed to defund and eliminate the police, there’s nobody protecting you from us. Remember that.” McNally has since deleted the post. “He and the Republicans pushed that bill through and made criminals out of peaceful protesters,” Hardaway said. “The governor and the Legislature are running ‘Jim Crow 2.0 up in Nashville.’” Ferguson rejected the char-

acterization that Lee and his administration has been discriminatory against “peaceful protesters.” “Over the past few months, the governor has met with African-American faith, community and business leaders throughout the state to discuss access to capital, police reform and racial reconciliation eﬀorts, among other topics,” Ferguson said. “And, he will continue to do so. This should not be conﬂated with the governor’s refusal to legitimize calls for an autonomous zone and defunding law enforcement, or meeting with those who routinely defaced state property.” State Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis) feels “optimistic and always hopeful” that communication between Lee and the caucus can be improved. “I believe things are going to be alright,” said Parkinson. “We are credible messengers who listen to those in our community. We were elected to represent our community, so our issues must be heard. I think our people will get what they need, and life will be good – not just good – but great again.” Hardaway also sees room for growth and reconciliation. “I still believe that the governor is a good man, a principled man,” said Hardaway. “But there are extremely partisan members of the Legislature. Any concessions he makes to us and to our community, he has to answer for to them. “I can understand that. In the end, I feel his faith compels him to do the right thing. We are still hopeful.”

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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, September 3 - 9, 2020, Page 4

As many businesses face uncertainty, relief may be available by David Gerregano Special to The New Tri-State Defender

(David Gerregano is the Tennessee Department of Revenue commissioner.) The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges and financial hardship for small business owners across the State of Tennessee. Confronted with the reality of declining or inconsistent sales and an uncertain David economic outlook, Gerregano many are forced to make difficult life and business decisions at a troubling rate. At the Department of Revenue, we hear from taxpayers in this position every day. For many of them, financial relief may be available. Governor Lee and the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group have announced several programs intended to assist businesses and organizations struggling with the impacts of COVID. One of those programs is the Tennessee Business Relief Program. The program was designed to assist those small businesses who were directly impacted by mandatory closures or who suffered a related and substantial reduction in sales. The Tennessee Business Relief Program requires no application, and its relief payments are not loans that need to be repaid. Eligible businesses are simply asked to certify their business information with the department, and once eligibility is confirmed, a relief payment is issued. More than 40,000 small businesses across a wide range of industries are eligible for the program. Restaurants, salons, hotels, and gyms are just a few examples of the more than 60 qualifying business types. A full list of eligible industries can be located on the department’s website at https://www.tn.gov/ revenue/tennessee-business-relief-program. html. Payment amounts are based on a business’ total gross sales and range between $2,500 and $30,000 per business. Because this program is focused on small business relief, eligible businesses must have annual gross sales of $10 million or less. To date, the program has generated $130 million in relief payments to more than 17,000 businesses. However, there are still many thousands of businesses who have not yet acted. The Department of Revenue has notified by email or letter those businesses it has been able to identify as potentially eligible for the program. However, all business owners who believe they may qualify for a relief payment are encouraged to visit the department’s website to learn more about the program. The deadline for businesses to certify is September 25th, 2020. With just a few weeks remaining, I strongly encourage all eligible business owners to complete this step as soon as possible. And if you know a small business owner who could benefit from this program, please help spread the word and awareness. The funding is available, and certifying is simple. (For more information on the Tennessee Business Relief Program, visit the Department of Revenue’s website at https:// www.tn.gov/revenue/tennessee-business-relief-program.html. You can also call the Taxpayer Services Division from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CDT) at 615-253-0600, or email revenue.support@tn.gov.

When police stop Black men, the effects reach into their homes and families by Deadric T. Williams and Armon Perry The Conversation

While much of the world was sheltering in place in the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans’ undivided attention was focused squarely on Minneapolis, Minnesota, where George Floyd was killed at the hands – and knees – of the police. Floyd’s murder evoked memories of other murders by the police, including those of Walter Scott, Eric Garner, Philando Castile and Samuel DuBose. Most recently, another Deadric T. unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot Williams seven times in the back in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We are a sociologist and a social worker who study racism, inequality and families, including a focus on Black men and their interactions with law enforcement. Each of these killings serves as confirmation that concerns about those interactions are warranted. The problem isn’t just that Black men get killed – it’s that Black families are stressed and strained by Black men’s daily encounters with police. Armon Studies show Black and Hispanic drivers, Perry compared to white drivers, experience a disproportionate number of police stops and that officers show less respect to Black drivers. Racial inequality in contact with the police may influence the lack of trust in police among Black Americans. In a recent Gallup survey, one in four Black men ages 18 to 34 reported they have been treated unfairly by police within the last month. In our research on these interactions, we found that they have far-reaching implications for Black families. Law enforcement encounters for Black Americans stretch beyond the streets of our cities and into Black Americans’ homes, where they have a negative effect on family life.

Black men are stopped by police in disproportionate numbers. (Photo: Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)

Being stopped by police can hurt a Black man’s relationship with his family. (Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez/Getty) same relationship problem if they had been previously incarcerated.

Families suﬀer

Anger and frustration

Studies show that one in nine Black children has had a parent in prison. Having an incarcerated parent is associated with a host of social problems for children, including behavioral problems and academic failure. Former inmates have to navigate many barriers to reintegrate and reconnect with their communities and families. A recent study shows that if fathers were previously incarcerated, they were more likely to report having a strained and unsupportive relationship with their child’s mother, a major factor which negatively impacts fathers’ involvement and harms their connection and relationship with their children. Although a growing number of studies focus on incarceration and families, there is less empirical research that includes whether police stops experienced by Black fathers affect family life. In our research, we have found the obstacles that come with economic hardship, mental illness, parenting stress and incarceration can hurt how well parents work together and the well-being of their children. We wanted to extend our work by examining whether experiencing a traffic stop for Black fathers affected their relationship with their child’s mother. This is important because the mother-father relationship plays a large role in fathers’ involvement with their children. In 2019, we co-authored a study that examined how Black fathers’ contacts with police affects their relationships with their children’s mother. We analyzed data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being study, a study surveying nearly 5,000 families from urban cities. In conducting our analysis, we focused on 967 Black families that included both fathers’ and mothers’ reports of relationship quality and cooperative parenting. We found that fathers who reported experiencing a police stop were more likely to report conflict or lack of cooperation in their relationships with their children’s mother. They also reported the

Encountering law enforcement can affect family relationships in a number of ways. In many cities, the police presence is heaviest in low-income communities where Black men are more likely to live. These communities and their residents are often economically disadvantaged with very few viable prospects for gainful employment. For the Black fathers in these communities, not being able to fulfill the financial provider role can contribute to relationship tension with their children’s mother. Family researchers suggest that stressful events such as law enforcement contact may also reduce individuals’ ability to manage family problems. Family members are inextricably linked, so when Black fathers experience a police stop, it may generate feelings of uncertainty and agitation on the part of the mother and affect the way that she views the relationship, leading to anger and frustration that negatively impacts the relationship. Reinforcing racial oppression The disproportionate number of Black men who have contact with law enforcement does not happen within a vacuum. Some researchers underscore the historical origins of policing and criminalizing of Black males since the Civil War that continues into the present. This includes negative stereotypes of Black men as dangerous, which led to more than 150 years of lynchings, mass incarceration of Black men and more recent stop-and-frisk policies that disproportionately target Blacks. Given the prevalence of both incarceration and police stops for Black men, law enforcement contact of any kind can become a source of additional stress and may reinforce racial oppression. As the results of our study indicate, these experiences may carry over into their day-to-day lives, including harming their family relationships.

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The New Tri-State Defender

September 3 - 9, 2020

Page 5

RELIGION Gas and food to go... The fruits of an ongoing partnership between Golden Gate Cathedral Baptist Church, 3240 James Rd., and Good Samaritan outreach include the healthy response to a free gas and food event that wound its ways through the church’s parking lot last week (Aug. 27). (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

Farewell and Transition

Greater Lakeview MBC welcomes a new shepherd Longtime Senior Pastor Joe E. Hayes retires by Shirley Jackson Special to The New Tri-State Defender

After 45 years of service, dedication and leadership at Greater Lakeview Missionary Baptist Church (GLMBC) at 191 E Holmes Road, Pastor Joe E. Hayes has shifted into retirement, making room for a new church shepherd. In August, the members of GLMBC unanimously voted Rev. Isaac A. Wright Jr. as their new senior pastor. Wright and his wife, Joyett (Joy), accepted the title of Pastor and First Lady. Wright said, “I was grateful and humbled when the board and church leaders asked me to apply for the position and it worked out.” Hayes’ retirement (Aug. 2) was celebrated with a guest church – Laughter Missionary Baptist Church, pastored by his brother Charles Hayes, who delivered the sermon. Members and visitors from the Memphis community (socially distanced and wearing masks) stopped by to wish Pastor Hayes well in his retirement. The celebration continued with food and a drive-by retirement party in the church’s parking lot to honor and show love and appreciation to Pastor Hayes and First Lady Bobbie. “I’m going to miss everyone, but I will be back to visit,” Hayes said as he greeted members and friends in the caravan of cars that drove by. Wright, the congregation’s new shepherd, is a former commander in the United States Air Force Reserve (USAFR). He accepted his calling to preach in 2004. He took a buyout to come oﬀ active duty in 2006 and returned home to Memphis. Considering himself a novice preacher, Wright said, “I thought it was a great opportunity to learn from my dad and we sojourned at my dad’s church, New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, for about three or four years. The problem was that he (dad) had ﬁve associate ministers and

four evangelists … I only got to preach maybe once or twice a year.” Wright and his family joined GLMBC in 2011, where he became the associate pastor and the family became actively involved in various ministries. When talking about his family, Wright proudly said, “Joy and I will be married 14 years, Sept. 30. We have five kids and one granddaughter. Our oldest son, Tevyn (wife Dominique and granddaughter Harmony) is a tech sergeant E6, active duty in the United States Air Force in Las Vegas, Nevada.” Daughter, Taylor is a 02 active duty Coast Guard in St. Petersburg, Florida. Isaac III is a senior at Central High School. Amaya is in the eighth grade at Maxine Smith Steam Academy. And, Abigail is in the second grade at Peabody Elementary.” Pastor Wright has outlined three goals for 2020 to attain growth and prosperity of the church. “The first goal is Meaningful Ministry, which is outreach ─ fulfilling our calling and the work of the church by helping those who are in need. We want to be that beacon of light serving the community. “The second goal is mutual support for one another. COVID-19 has created some fellowshipping challenges for us all. I encourage the members to reach out to one another with phone calls, texts social media etc. to support and uplift each other to maintain family bond that we are familiar with. “Lastly, maintenance and mortgage ─ take care of deferred maintenance projects to make sure the facilities are in top notch shape when we return to our cooperate worship format. For the mortgage, our extended goal is to pay off the church and celebrate with a Mortgage Burning Party.” Wright is looking to make better use of technology as a means of communicating. “I want my congregation to start engaging technology. There is Zoom. There is Microsoft Teams. There is Skype. There are so many ways we can get together and

Pastor Joe E. Hayes and ﬁrst lady Bobbie Hayes say farewell. It’s time to retire after 45 years of dedicated service to the congregation of Greater Lakeview Missionary Baptist Church and the Lakeview Gardens community. (Photos: Shirley Jackson)

The Rev. Isaac Wright delivering his sermon live via Facebook, with a few members in the audience wearing masks and socially distanced.

The Rev. Isaac Wright and ﬁrst lady Joy Wright: “We want GLMBC to be that beacon of light serving the community.) talk. We can do it via our smart phones and things like that,” he said. He added, “We are live streaming our worship services, Sunday School and Bible Study on Facebook. We also have phone conferences because we have a lot

of senior members who don’t have smart phones. They can just pick up the phone, dial a number and hear what’s going on at the church.” Wright’s favorite Bible verse is Psalms 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” He explained, “It means to me that, whatever I need I can ﬁnd in God no matter what it is. When I need help or assistance, I can ﬁnd it in God; questions I have God will answer. I just have to exercise patience to wait for his answers and accept his sovereignty.” First Lady, Joy voiced, “The biggest thing for me is being supportive and getting my hands dirty with the work. You know, not being a bench member, but really getting out and working and genuinely loving the people of God and doing ministry with God’s purpose at the forefront of our mind.”

The New Tri-State Defender, September 3 - 9, 2020, Page 6

Chadwick Boseman on the set of Marvel’s “Black Panther.” (Photos: Marvel)

How do we reconcile Black Panther without our King Chadwick Boseman? Wakanda will go on forever, and that includes T’Challa, even as we mourn the passing of our ﬁrst and forever king. by Dr. Jason Johnson The Grio

I have started and stopped writing about the passing of actor Chadwick Boseman several times. As a comic fan and a Black man around his age, Boseman’s passing at only 43 after a fouryear battle with cancer leaves me heartbroDr. Jason ken. Johnson The words I needed just couldn’t translate from my brain to my fingers to the keyboard; until last night when I was talking to a good friend of mine. “You know, at this point last year we’d have been partying at Dragon Con,” he said. “Man, if Chadwick died on the first Friday of Dragon Con, the whole weekend would be done.” For those who don’t know, Dragon Con brings about 85,000 people every year to Atlanta during Labor Day weekend for one of the biggest, (and I would say Blackest) comic conventions in the country. The convention, like so many other things, has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, my friend and I talked about how much Black folks loved “Black Panther” and Boseman’s role and how that movie opened the doors for so many African Americans to feel welcome in the convention space. That helped me find the words I needed. Chadwick Boseman’s death denies his family and the world his love and talents, which makes it all the more important that the character he brought to the big screen, The Black Panther, continues for generations to come. The first time I ever saw Chadwick Boseman was his portrayal of Jackie Robinson in the film “42” at a screening in downtown Atlanta. The movie was the perfect Oscar bait for Harrison Ford, who played White Savior “Branch Rickey,” the famous Brooklyn Dodgers manager who broke baseball’s apartheid by bringing in Robinson. Yet, Boseman stole the show and actually made me care about baseball, which is an amazing accomplishment in and of itself. He was so physically impressive in the film, I remember telling a friend at the time, “This guy is like the perfect triangle shape, he LOOKS like a Superhero!” It was 2013, “The Avengers” had just come out the year before, and lifelong

Black comic book fans like myself were looking at every Black actor dreaming of who they might play. I had hoped Boseman would play the Falcon, or maybe jump to DC Comics and re-boot the terrible Green Lantern movie as John Stewart. I never imagined a Black Panther movie would get made, let alone that he would star in it. I saw “Black Panther” four times in theaters. The first time after the credits I just sat there dumbfounded, literally not having the words to process what I had just seen. It was emotional, cultural and racial validation all wrapped up in a fantastic plot and acting. None of which would have been possible without Boseman. For a celebrity I’ve never met in person, stories about Chadwick Boseman the actor often weaved in and out of my life in a way that made me root for him, personally as a Black man and as the current bearer of the mantle of Black Panther. I met a line producer from “42” at a cigar bar once who told me how nice Boseman was, how he taught other folks on set meditation techniques and was really chill. My friends met him at Howard University’s 2018 graduation and said how kind and humble Chadwick was to everyone. My friends who were at Boseman’s now-viral interview at SIRIUS XM, when he got choked up talking about two little Black boys he had met who were fighting cancer, just hoping they could make it to see the movie “Black Panther.” They didn’t make it. What many people don’t know is that Boseman was so broken up telling that story that he couldn’t finish the interview, he burst into tears in the bathroom but still expressed humanity and grace to others as he had to leave. Professionally, he was loved for his versatility and cornering the market on Black biography and history films. I remember last year people joking on Black Twitter that Sterling K. Brown was in so many movies they were about to get Chadwick to play him in a biopic. I mean, do you realize how good of a man, personally and professionally, you have to be for ABC, Marvel and Disney to put together a whole televised memorial to you hosted by Robin Roberts in 48 hours during a pandemic? Boseman was that Black man that everyone, men, women, children and especially generation X brothers like myself could rally around. He was courageous, good looking, humble, had a Black wife, went to an HBCU and was just hitting his stride as an actor. He was at the forefront of a new vanguard of Black male thespians like

Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa.

T’Challa and Shuri in “Black Panther.” Sterling K. Brown, Michael B. Jordan and Lakeith Stanfied that we expected to watch for decades. For the first time in our lives, Black leading roles would no longer be limited to whatever Denzel, Will, Laurence or Jamie could fit in their schedules. This is why, as heavy as my heart is right now, it’s so important that fans and industry people realize how important it is that the “Black Panther” movie legacy and franchise continue even with Boseman’s passing. The Black Panther is a 50-year-old comic book character that has been written, drawn and voice acted by dozens of people over the years, and the character is bigger than one actor no matter how amazing he was. I’ve seen seven different White guys play Batman in my lifetime, four white guys play Spider-Man, four White guys play Superman and two women play Aunt Viv on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” All movie roles, no matter how iconic, are meant to eventually be played and interpreted by other actors and directors so that other artists and fans can continue to re-discover them. The Black Panther is a mantle, like Batman or Green Lantern, that can be worn by many and should be. Not to get too much into the comic book weeds, but for those saying “Shuri should take over as Black Panther” – yes in the comics she was Black

Panther at one point because being Panther and being King are two different jobs, like being the Pope and being President. However, eventually, Shuri gave the mantle back to T’Challa to chart her own path. It wasn’t permanent (Shuri’s solo adventures sounds like a great idea for a Disney Plus series though!) Finally, let’s be honest: Disney, ABC and Marvel aren’t going to leave a billion-dollar franchise on the table. There will be a “Black Panther” sequel, and it will be the most sought after role in the history of Hollywood. Which, in and of itself will empower Black actors in ways we’ve never seen before. A new Black face will take on the awesome responsibility of not just the Black Panther role, but Chadwick Boseman’s legacy of activism, charity and dignity. Boseman’s death has hit all of us hard. Someone told me that explaining to his kids that “Black Panther was dead” was almost as hard as telling them about George Floyd, and I can believe it. As a man around Boseman’s age, between him and Kobe Bryant passing earlier this year, I feel like mortality is smacking me in the face (I called my doctor on Monday for a cancer screening. Bless you, Chadwick.) As low as I feel about his passing, I’m encouraged by the doors this will open for some other deserving actor. I’m encouraged by just now learning that this man battled cancer, still got married, filmed six movies, and mentored kids all before passing on at the age of 43. Wakanda Forever meant the stories of Wakanda would go on forever, and that includes T’Challa, even as we mourn the passing of our first and forever king. (Dr. Jason Johnson is a professor of Politics and Journalism at Morgan State University, a Political Contributor at MSNBC and SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio. Notorious comic book and sports guy with dual Wakandan and Zamundan citizenship.)

September 3 - 9, 2020

The New Tri-State Defender

Page 7

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE CULTURAL COACH

Why diversity is everybody’s business by Linda S. Wallace Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Dear Cultural Coach: Why aren’t you more concerned about giving our youths the correct tools to succeed in a global market? Encouraging students to constantly speak “hip-hop” vocabulary will only hold them back. It’s Linda S. Wallace not like past generations where the youths had a few words or phrases used among themselves; this is becoming a language – a poor one, at that – and the youths have no desire to learn the correct way to communicate with the world at large. – HOUSTON Dear Houston: Allow me to answer your question by sharing an urban fairytale. Once upon a time, the rich, beautiful and powerful people gathered once a year to hold a fabulous aﬀair. To get inside the door, you had to have the right look or family history. Those who did not meet that standard gathered beside the back fence and watched the fun from afar. One evening, a wise elder posed a question to the disenfranchised: “Why do we stand here every year and watch

this party? Why not get together and host our own celebration and play our own music? Then we, too, can experience what it is like to be beautiful and cool.” And so they did. But their festival was unlike any other. Women wore brightly colored African fabric and scarves. The men braided their hair. The music was faster, and the words ﬂowed like poetry. Soon, fashion stylists and music executives looked to that party as the urban trendsetter. Meanwhile, the hosts of the big party now were ready for bigger and better things. They reasoned that if they opened up the doors to everyone, their celebration could soon be the envy of the world. When the hosts announced this vision, they expected long applause. As it happened, the outsiders were skeptical. Their soulful language and culture were comfortable, like a second skin, and many were reluctant to let go. The outsiders, you see, feared that, to gain general admission to the bigger party, they had to look like and act like the folks who had locked them out. They wondered if that act might dishonor their ancestors and discount eﬀorts

to build a distinct identity. Organizers of the big party have to find a way to convince outsiders that, if they join the mainstream, they can bring their cultural uniqueness and customs with them. We have the right to tell others that they should be more like us but, as parents and Baby Boomers know, that message is rarely received well. (OK, boomer?) Why not pledge that the party, going forward, will reflect an authentic community blend, and value the artistic contributions of all generations? The event must have communitywide appeal. I share this so that you may understand why I greatly admire the European-American teacher who shared during a diversity training session that she had created a hip-hop dictionary to bridge the language gap between school and neighborhood. The dictionary served two purposes: Helping teachers understand what the heck the students were saying and 2) teaching students that they needed two dictionaries – one for school, and the other for the neighborhood. The teacher stressed to her pupils that it was important to understand when it is appropriate to use hip-hop, and when it is ill-advised. By saying this, she validated the students’ language while suggesting it might not be a good fit for school. You and I agree that young people need to learn the language used by corporations and in schools. Young people do need to know how to speak the language of business, as well as their own. Businesses need to learn the languages of their diverse customers, including youth. Anyone who doesn’t learn how to speak effectively to diverse audiences is doomed to fail. (Linda S. Wallace develops cross-cultural messages for the workplace and the media. Readers can submit questions related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or physical differences to theculturalcoach@aol.com.)

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, September 3 - 9, 2020, Page 8

Alice Marie Johnson focused on the ‘forgotten’ after presidential pardon by Jennifer L. Sharp Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Former Memphis resident Alice Marie Johnson said she was “overwhelmed” by President Donald Trump granting her a full pardon. “It was a great burden lifted off my shoulders,” said Johnson during an interview via email with The New Tri-State Defender about the pardon granted on Aug. 28. “It reminded me that we have a lot of work to do for people who have paid their debt to society. Many people who have served their time are not fully free. “This is why we need to do more work on probation and parole reform, restoring voting rights for non-violent offenders and removing the stigma that obstructs many returning citizens from adequate work and training opportunities,” Johnson said. A full pardon absolves the person of the conviction and all of the

crime’s consequences. Trump announced the pardon less than 24 hours after Johnson’s speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention. In her speech, Johnson talked about how Trump commuted her life sentence after she served 21 years in prison for a nonviolent drug conviction. “It was a great honor to have such a large stage to speak about my story and mission – fighting for criminal justice reform and for the brothers and sisters I left behind in prison. “I hope that my story inspires people to have compassion for those behind bars and to urge our political leaders to provide more chances at redemption, like President Trump gave to me.” Johnson was convicted on federal charges of attempted drug possession in 1996 and received a mandatory sentence of life, plus 25 years sentence for involvement in a drug con-

spiracy. During her incarceration, Johnson created plays, taught classes, became a hospice volunteer and became a mentor and ordained minister. As a result of reality television star Kim Kardashian West advocating for her cause, Trump commuted Johnson’s sentence on June 6, 2018, ending her 21-year stint in prison. After her release, Johnson was placed on probation for five years and filed documents in federal court to have her probation ended in 2019. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Michael Dunavant denied Johnson’s probation request and referred to her as a “kingpin” of the drug organization in which she was involved. Johnson now lives in Arizona and spends quality time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also has dedicated her life to fighting for criminal justice reform and fulfilling the promise she made

A year after her release from prison, Alice Marie Johnson celebrated her birthday while promoting her book – “After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom” – during an event at the Peabody Hotel in Downtown Memphis (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/TSD Archives) to fight for the men and women she left behind. In May 2019, Johnson released her memoir “After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom,” saying her faith helped her hold on to hope while she was behind bars. Johnson recently launched a new foundation called Taking Action for Good. The idea is to scale up her existing efforts and build bipartisan coalitions to fight for greater criminal justice reform, mercy in the form of

clemency and pardons, and provide the highest-level re-entry support services for returning citizens. “I have dedicated my life to fighting for the forgotten men and women in our prison system,” said Johnson. (For more information about Johnson’s foundation Taking Action for Good, visit www.takingactionforgood.org. Follow Alice Marie Johnson on Twitter and Instagram @AliceMarieFree.)

Grants available to help seniors cope with isolation TSD Newsroom The Shelby County Health Department and the Office of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris have launched Senior Tech Connect to provide $5,000 micro-grants to qualifying assisted care living facilities and homes for the aged to increase residents’ access to virtual communication. “One of the unintended consequences of the limits on visits to long-term care facilities is that some residents are feeling the pangs of social isolation,” said Harris. “Access to digital devices and virtual visits are not perfect substitutes for in-person visits from your daughter, son, or loved one. But, it does help residents maintain connection as we all attempt to keep safe and slow the spread.” The micro-grant can be used to implement, sustain or expand a facility’s capacity to offer virtual visitation to its residents. Devices, such as iPads, tablets, and webcams, and/or accessories, such as headphones, protective covers, sim cards, etc., can be purchased using the funds. Grantees also may elect to use the micro-grant funds to support subscription fees for video conferencing services. All expenditures must be used only for the purposes of virtual visitation between residents and loved ones and telehealth visits. Licensed assisted care living facilities and homes for the aged located within Shelby County can apply by completing a brief application and providing a copy of the facility’s W-9 Tax ID form. All applications must include a brief description of the facility’s plan for use of the micro-grant funds, including what type of equipment will be used, how residents will access the purchased items, how residents will be educated or trained on the use of the equipment, and how equipment will be sanitized, if applicable. Shelby County Health Department Population Health Bureau Director Cynthia Nunnally is the program manager. “Seniors are a priority risk group because of the high risk of complications with COVID-19,” Nunnally said. “While social distancing is intended to protect individuals from the virus physically, the unintended consequence of social isolation may occur. To support residents’ health and quality of life, the Shelby County Health Department is thrilled to administer Senior Tech Connect.” To apply, owners or qualified representatives can access the application at covid19.shelbycountytn.gov. The deadline for licensed facilities to apply is Sept. 30. To submit an application, complete the form, scan and email it, along with a copy of your W-9 Form, to cynthia.nunnally@shelbycountytn.gov or mail to Cynthia Nunnally, 814 Jefferson Ave., Memphis, TN 38105. Nunnally also can be reached at 901-2229046 or email at cynthia.nunnally@shelbycountytn.gov.

Grand opening… Cupcake Cutie Etc. held the grand opening for its new location at 300 S. Main St. last Saturday. The celebration, which got a boost from Sea and Taste Food Truck, continues throughout the month. On Saturday (Sept. 5), Smurfey’s BBQ Truck will join in the celebration. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

A Square Meal… Three weeks ago, Chef Derrick Clark (left) and Chef Quan Anderson (right) staged a soft opening of their eatery, A Square Meal, in the Southern College of Optometry (SCO). On Monday morning, the ribbon was cut during an official opening. Pictured (l-r) Chef Clark; his wife, Chef LaQuonta Clark; SCO President Lewis Reich OD Ph.D; SCO Vice-President of Finance David West, and Chef Anderson. (Courtesy photo)

The New Tri-State Defender

September 3 - 9, 2020

COMMUNITY Judge mulls DNA tests in deathpenalty case that is 33 years old by Adrian Sainz Associated Press

A knife, a bloody washcloth and some missing fingernail scrapings are among evidence that should be DNA tested in the case of a Tennessee man scheduled to be executed in the brutal stabbings of a mother and daughter 33 years ago, lawyers for Pervis Payne said Tuesday. Improvements in DNA testing technology and the expansion of a national database of DNA profiles collected from convicted felons are reasons why Shelby County Judge Paula Skahan should order testing in the case of Payne, his attorneys told the judge during a hearing. Payne, 53, is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 3 in Nashville. Payne’s attorneys hope that he could be exonerated if his DNA is not found on the items, or if another man’s DNA is discovered on the evidence. Payne has always maintained his innocence in the 1987 stabbing deaths of Charisse Christopher and her 2-year-old daughter, Lacie Jo. Christopher’s son, Nicholas, who was 3 at the time, also was stabbed but survived. At the time of Payne’s trial, DNA testing of evidence was unavailable, and no testing has ever been done in his case. A previous request for DNA testing in 2006 was refused on the basis of a Tennessee Supreme Court ruling that has since been overturned. Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich is fighting the request. Even if another person’s DNA was found on the evidence, it would not exonerate Payne because there would be no indication of when the other person’s DNA was left, she has said. During Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutor Steve Jones argued that the evidence could have been touched by many people and contaminated before, during or after Payne’s trial. He suggested Payne’s lawyers want to delay the execution by filing the petition seeking post-conviction DNA testing in July – four months and a week before the scheduled execution. “There is no new evidence in this case,” Jones said during closing arguments. He later added that the evidence against Payne is “remarkably strong.” Payne told police he was at Christopher’s apartment building to meet his girlfriend when he saw a man in bloody clothes run past him. Payne, who is African American, has said he found and tried to help the victims, who were white,

This file photo provided by Tennessee Department of Correction shows Pervis Payne. (Tennessee Department of Correction via AP, File) but panicked when he saw a white policeman and ran away. Prosecutors said Payne was high on cocaine and looking for sex when he killed Christopher and her daughter in a “drug-induced frenzy.” Payne’s petition says police focused almost exclusively on him as a suspect, although nothing in his history suggested he would commit such a crime. He was a minister’s son who was intellectually disabled and never caused problems either as a child or teenager, his lawyers say. The filing also states there were other people with both the motive and opportunity to kill Christopher, including a drug dealer to whom Christopher allegedly owed money and Christopher’s abusive ex-husband. Payne’s lawyers offered a list of evidence that should be tested: A knife determined to be the murder weapon, a bloody washcloth, a pair of eyeglasses, a tampon. Lawyer Kelley Henry said “new-age, cutting edge” DNA testing technology would be used to determine whether Payne’s blood is on the items. The DNA testing request is not an attempt to delay the execution, Henry said. Forensic analysis expert Alan Keel said testing has become “more sensitive and more discriminating.” Keel also noted that the collection of DNA profiles in the national DNA database has grown to about 19 million entries, making a match with another person’s DNA more likely. “We are able to get much more information from less DNA,” Keel said. Lawyers also want to test scrapings from Christopher’s fingernails, which were collected from the crime scene, but cannot be found. Authorities have not been able to locate them in two property rooms and a forensic center where evidence has been kept since the trial. The judge said she would have a written ruling by mid-September. The most recent execution in Tennessee was in February, when Nicholas Sutton died in the electric chair.

CLASSIFIEDS NOTICE TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000622A Big Creek Park Construction- Phase I Civil Package. Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above described Sealed Bid. SEALED BID I000622A DUE DATE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, 2020 @ 2:00 PM CST (SB-I000622A) BIG CREEK PARK CONSTRUCTION- PHASE I CIVIL PACKAGE All bids will be opened and read via teleconference by Shelby County Government at the time mentioned above. Please use the following information to join the bid opening: Please join from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/ join/986307637 You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (669) 224-3412 Access Code: 986-307-637 Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting – All interested respondents are invited to participate in this meeting via teleconference on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 9:30 am (CST). Please use the following information to join the pre-bid meeting: To join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone go to the following site: https://global.gotomeeting.com/ join/546047301 To join using your phone, Call: United States: +1 (872) 240-3212 Access Code: 546-047-301 Respondents may also contact Shelby County for information at the following numbers, TTY Number (901) 222-2301 or for information in Spanish 901-2224289. Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free, and with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service. Shelby County encourages participation from WBE, MBE, LOSB, and Section 3 firms and vendors under this CDBG-NDR response. By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) Sealed bids will be received by the Shelby County Government in the Department of Housing, 1075 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38134 until 9:30 a.m. on September 22, 2020, as shown below: MULTIPLE AND ENTIRELY DIFFERENT REHABILITATION JOBS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS BID NOTICE. BIDDER(S) MAY ELECT TO BID ON ANY OR ALL OF THE JOBS IN THE NOTICE. SEALED BID I000636 DUE: September 22, 2020 1. Rehabilitation of Owner-Occupied Housing Units throughout Shelby County some of which may require the use of lead based paint safe work practices and techniques; and Detailed specifications for items above may be obtained in the Shelby County Department of Housing at the aforementioned address beginning September 8, 2020. All bids will be opened and publicly read by the Shelby County Government at the time mentioned above at the Department of Housing, 1075 Mullins Station Road Memphis, TN 38134, (901) 222-7600; TTY Number (901)

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THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER CLASSIFIEDS 203 Beale Street, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38103 PH (901) 523-1818 • FAX (901) 578-5037 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. DEADLINES: Display ads Friday 5 p.m. Classiﬁeds ads Monday 5 p.m. STANDARD RATES: $6.00 per line for 1 column ad. Rates are non-commissionable and are quoted at the net rate. No refund for early cancellation. For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@tsdmemphis.com. BEER PERMITS Flat Rate: $35 GENERAL INFORMATION:

222-2301; or for information in Spanish 901-222-3993. Award recommendations will be posted at the following website http:// www.shelbycountytn.gov/3453/ Contract-Opportunities upon review of the bid opening results. As a condition precedent to bidding, each bidder must apply and qualify for a Vendor Number and Equal Opportunity Compliance Eligibility Number prior to the submitting your response. Your EOC number must be displayed on the outside of your envelope for each bid submission. Reminder: Effective January 2020, in order for your bids to be accepted on projects, contractors must have met with the Housing Site Inspector and received a receipt for the current Shelby County Housing Construction and Rehabilitation Specifications Manual. If you did not attend a contractor meeting in January 2020, you have the opportunity to attend a virtual meeting in September 2020. Virtual meetings will be held for new and interested contractors at the times listed below: Thursday September 10, 2020 at 10:00am Thursday September 10, 2020 at 3:00pm All meetings will be held virtually and you must join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone https://global. gotomeeting.com/join/627582877. During the meeting, contractors will be given information on how to obtain and sign a receipt for the latest version of the Shelby County Department of Housing Construction and Rehabilitation Specification manual. Housing staff will briefly review the specification manual and also discuss program policies relevant to the contractor. If you attended a contractor meeting in January 2020 and received a manual and a receipt, you do not need to attend a meeting in September 2020. NOTE: Selected contractors will be required to check the SAM system to ensure that any subcontractors it selects do not appear on the debarred/ suspended registry. The label, which is attached to the specifications shall be completely filled out and attached to the bid submission envelope. You must display your current E.O.C. Eligibility Number or your Locally Owned Small Business (LOSB) Number on the outside of your envelope and a copy of all licenses and insurance policies must be included in your submitted bid package. Unless

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the label is completely filled out and your current E.O.C. Eligibility Number is noted thereon your bid may be returned to you unopened. Should your label be lost or misplaced, please note the appropriate information in the lower lefthand corner of your envelope. The Department of Housing encourages participation from WBE, MBE, LOSB, and Section 3 Contractors under these rehabilitation programs. The Shelby County Government reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informalities therein. By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Scott Walkup, Administrator NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENTS BEING ACCEPTED The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) seeks comments from the public for proposed changes to fixed-route bus service through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2020. Approved changes will become effective Sunday, November 8, 2020. These changes are recommended for the implementation of the new Transit Vision that was adopted by the MATA Board of Commissioners on January 29, 2019 to improve service, increase mobility and connectivity, and meet budget constraints. For more information about the Transit Vision, visit https://transitvision.memphistn. gov/.

on the MATA Facebook and Twitter social media platforms. Virtual meeting information will also be shared with local news media. Participants can join virtual meetings either by Internet or phone. All virtual meetings will present the same information, and public comments will be received and recorded at all virtual meetings. All public comments received will be considered prior to Board action on the service changes. Individuals who are unable to attend a virtual public meeting may review the changes posted on matatransit.com after the virtual meetings conclude. At that time, written comments will be accepted but must be postmarked through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2020 which is when the public comment period ends. Comments sent via U.S. mail (United States Postal Service) should be addressed to Memphis Area Transit Authority, Attention: November 2020 Service Changes Public Comment, 1370 Levee Road, Memphis, TN 38108. Comments via e-mail should be addressed publiccomments@ matatransit.com with “November 2020 Service Changes” in the subject line. The MATA Board of Commissioners will review and consider all comments received and address the service changes and effective date at the virtual Board meeting which takes place on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. The MATA Board of Commissioners meeting will be held virtually on Cisco Webex at 3:30 p.m. The virtual Board meeting details will be posted closer to the Board meeting on matatransit.com and on the MATA Facebook and Twitter social media platforms. Requests for reasonable accommodations, interpretation services, and materials in other languages can be made at no cost and must be submitted by calling 901.722.7144 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays no later than Thursday, September 3, 2020. 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: Jesus Bueno Tax Parcel #: 06203800000270 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4000.00 Terms: Cash

PUBLIC COMMENT SCHEDULE Due to limits on public gatherings as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, no in-person public meetings will be held. Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend the upcoming virtual public meetings on Cisco Webex and provide comments on any service proposal under consideration. These virtual meetings will be recorded and will be posted on matatransit.com after they occur.

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 11, 2020, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Virtual public meetings on Cisco Webex will be held: • Tuesday, September 8, 12 p.m. • Saturday, September 12, 10 a.m.

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

Note: Virtual meeting details for each meeting will be posted closer to the time of the virtual public meeting on matatransit.com and

SPORTS

The New Tri-State Defender, September 3 - 9, 2020, Page 10

GritGrindGrizz

Damonte Coxie and the Tigers had plenty to celebrate last season. (Photos: Karanja A. Ajanaku/TSD Archives)

Wearing shirts that reﬂect Black Lives Matter, the Grizzlies huddle up in the “bubble” in Orlando. (Photo: Grizzlies on Twitter)

About the NBA Player boycott and voting at FedExForum . . . by Lee Eric Smith lesmith@tsdmemphis.com

Despite being in the NBA’s “bubble” in Orlando, when news of the shooting of Jacob Blake Jr. in Kenosha, Wisc. ricocheted across the nation, it hit close to home for the Milwaukee Bucks. After all, the Bucks play less than an hour’s drive from Kenosha, and that’s not even considering the 2018 incident in which Milwaukee police tasered a Bucks player for an otherwise minor infraction. In protest to Blake’s shooting, the Bucks declined to play a playoff game against the Orlando Magic on Aug. 27, which eventually led to a “bubble shutdown” by the players. Later, after heated and emotional meetings among themselves, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association emerged with a list of agreed-upon objectives. “We had a candid, impassioned and productive conversation yesterday between NBA players, coaches and team governors regarding next steps to further our collective efforts and actions in support of social justice and racial equality,” the league and the union said in a joint statement. Among the next steps: A new social justice coalition featuring players, coaches and owners will be established, focusing on access to voting and advocating for police and criminal justice reform. Also, fans should expect TV breaks to include more messaging aimed at civic engagement and voting. The players also asked that NBA arenas be opened as polling places for the Nov. 3 election. And while it appears the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic will open their arenas as polling locations in one form or another, Memphians won’t be voting at FedExForum this fall – though the Grizzlies made the offer just weeks after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis. “This past June, the Memphis Grizzlies proactively reached out to the Shelby County Election Commission to understand how we can best work together, including our proposing the use of FedExForum as a polling location,” the team said in a Aug. 28 statement. “After careful consideration, the Election Commission determined the best course of action would be to continue their focus of driving voters to their local precincts in order to create the best opportunity for high voter turnout on Election Day.” State law probably had something

to do with it as well. Under Section 2-3-102 of the Tennessee Code regarding voting precincts, “no voting precinct shall be estabLee Eric lished, created, Smith consolidated, divided, or the boundaries otherwise altered unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, by reason of an annexation or other change in the boundary of a county or municipality, or in accordance with subsection (b). Any precinct boundary that is altered in accordance with this subsection (a) shall coincide with a census block as designated by the United States census bureau in the latest federal decennial census.” The law states that while Shelby County could indeed establish a new voting precinct “whenever public convenience or law requires it,” that precinct would need to be linked to a specific census tract. In other words, voters from other precincts wouldn’t be able to cast their ballots at FedExForum; only people in the same precinct could. Instead, the Grizzlies will continue to help raise awareness and promote voter registration, the statement said. “We will continue to encourage our fans to sign up as poll workers, and would encourage other local businesses to consider doing as the Grizzlies have done and provide a day of paid time off for employees who are willing to volunteer to work the polls,” the Grizzlies statement said. “As our next step in this process, we will continue working with the Election Commission to identify opportunities, such as voter registration drives, to serve the Memphis and Shelby County community in advance of Election Day on Nov. 3.” Important links for Shelby County voters * Anyone interested in serving as a poll worker on Election Day can find out more by visiting ShelbyVote.com/becoming-poll-worker. * Shelby County residents can check their status and find their polling location by visiting https:// tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup/. * Guidelines for absentee voting in Shelby County can be found at https://www.shelbyvote.com/voting-absent.

Tigers to host Arkansas State in kickoff of pandemicaltered season by Terry Davis Special to The New Tri-State Defender

One of the most anticipated University of Memphis Tigers football kickoffs in history is finally upon us. The Tigers will host the Arkansas State University Red Wolves at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in a nationally televised game Saturday night (Sept.5). The game is Terry scheduled for 7 p.m. (CDT) Davis on ESPN. There was doubt whether this season would ever start because of COVID-19. The Tigers play in the American Athletic Conference, one of few conferences that will play football this fall. The American has set specific protocols for testing to ensure that once the season starts it can be completed. The UofM has a policy not to release the number of confirmed coronavirus cases among team members. As the season-opener looms, the Tigers, who finished 12-2 last season, have received word that Kenny Gainwell, who was expected to anchor the running-back corps, has chosen not to play football during this campaign. Gainwell posted on social media that he has lost several family members to the coronavirus, most recently his uncle. He is listed on many of the preseason watch lists and is rated as one of the best running backs in the country. He rushed for 1,523 yards last season and was the second leading receiver with 610 yards. Redshirt freshman Rodrigues Clark will carry the load in Gainwell’s absence. Clark rushed for 85 yards and scored a touchdown in limited action. He also had a blocked punt in his first career game versus Southern University. “We have full faith in Clark,” head coach Ryan Silverfield said. “He can carry the rock; he can catch the ball. He is good in pass-protection concepts as well.” Memphis does return quarterback Brady White and his favorite target, Damonte Coxie, who has turned in back-to-back seasons with 1,000 receivings. While Coxie will be the primary receiver defenses will key on stopping, Calvin Austin III had a breakout season last year. The former walk-on and track star earned a full scholarship. White passed for 4,014 yards and threw for 33 touchdowns. He has been listed on many preseason watchlists as one of the most prolific passers

UofM quarterback Brady White: “I just want to win ball games.” in the country. White, who talked to media on Wednesday, already was in one-game-at-a-time mode and ever more so because of the pandemic. “No one can be looking forward or expecting anything. You have to treat every week and everyday as a gift. You never know what is to come,” White said. Once he again he voiced his team-first philosophy. “Team success equals individual success. I really don’t care about if I don’t match my numbers (from last season),” he said. “If we win 12 games, you guys are going to be happy and love us. I just want to win ball games.” White said. Arkansas State’s Red Wolves historically have been a touch team for the Tigers. Memphis leads the series 29-24, with the Tigers winning 22 games in Memphis. The teams last played in 2013. Memphis won that meeting 31-7. Quarterbacks Layne Hatcher and Logan Bonner lead the Red Wolves. They combined for 3,998 passing yards last season. Arkansas State, which finished with an 8-5 record, returns many players from last year and are picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference’s West Division. Memphis enters the game with an 18-game non-conference winning streak at the Liberty Bowl. The maximum attendance will be less than 5,000 fans because of COVID.