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September 7 - 13, 2023
VOL. 72, No. 36
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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris gestures as she speaks during an interview with the Associated Press on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on Wednesday (Sept. 6, 2023). (AP Photo: Dita Alangkara)
VP Harris says Trump shouldn’t be an exception for Jan. 6 accountability by Chris Megerian Fred Jones Jr., founder of the Southern Heritage Classic, acknowledged some “turbulence” in putting together this year’s cultural celebration. Memphis, he said, needs a successful event, adding, “That’s why I’m going at it as hard as I can.” (Courtesy photo)
This year’s ‘Classic’ yields another chapter about stepping up in crunch time
by Karanja A. Ajanaku kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com
An organization’s readiness for a much-anticipated event tends to show when crunch-time looms, especially when the unexpected pops up bearing its own deadlines. “With the Classic, you’ve got a whole bunch of those stories,” said Fred Jones Jr., founder of the Southern Heritage Classic Cultural Celebration, which will reverberate in Memphis for the 34th time on Sept. 7-9. “9-11, Katrina, weather-related stuff, the one we had to cancel because of the
lightening, then we had to cancel because of COVID,” said Jones. “I had to make a big decision two years ago to shut the Classic down. It wasn’t popular. Everybody was saying I was premature … that I had too much autonomy, that I needed to check with somebody. On the fourth day after it was over, they came back around because people around the world started shutting down. …” When it comes to such decisions, Jones is the trigger man. However, he does not operate in a vacuum. “You’ve got good, quality, dedicated
SEE CLASSIC ON PAGE 3
UAPB’s pride-seeking mission gets a ‘Classic’ opportunity. See Sports, Page 10. TSU’s Tigers ready to add a fresh win to their ‘Classic’ tradition. See Sports, Page 10. The Penny Hardaway Memphis District Golf Classic keeps growing. See Page 8.
The Associated Press
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday that those responsible for the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the ensuing violence at the U.S Capitol must be held accountable — even if that means Donald Trump. “Let the evidence, the facts, take it where it may,” Harris said in an interview with The Associated Press in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she was attending a regional summit, noting: “Everyone has their right to their day in court.” Federal prosecutors have indicted Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, for his efforts to cling to power in 2020. The former president also has been charged in Georgia in a scheme to subvert the will of voters who elected Democrat Joe Biden instead of giving Trump a second term. “I spent the majority of my career as a prosecutor,” said Harris, who served as California’s attorney general before moving to Washington as a U.S. senator. “I believe that people should be held accountable under the law. And when they break the law, there should be accountability.” The White House has been circumspect in addressing the issue of criminal charges against Trump, who has pleaded not guilty, to avoid any whiff of political meddling in the work of prosecutors, particularly as
SEE HARRIS ON PAGE 8
‘Tennessee Three’ Rep. Gloria Johnson launches 2024 Senate campaign by Kimberlee Kruesi and Jonathan Mattise Associated Press
Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson, a Democrat who skyrocketed to national fame after surviving a Republican-led expulsion effort for participating in a gun control demonstration, on Tuesday formally announced that she’s running for U.S. Senate. Johnson, 61, is running for a seat currently held by Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, 71, who is seeking reelection in a state that has solely elected GOP statewide candidates for nearly two decades.
“Tennessee deserves better. Hardworking Tennessee families need someone who will fight for them and not just the billionaires and corporations and the wealthy and the well-connected,” Johnson said at a campaign stop in Nashville. She reiterated that stance during a campaign stop at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis on Tuesday evening. In April, just days after a school shooting that killed 6 people, Johnson joined fellow Democratic Reps. Justin Pearson (of Memphis) and Justin Jones (of Nashville) as they walked to the front of the state House floor with
SEE SENATE ON PAGE 2
Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) – one of the “Tennessee Three,” along with (l-r) Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis and Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. In April, she joined Pearson and Jones at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis before the Shelby County County Commission sent Pearson back to Nashville to represent District 86 via an appointment pending a special election. On Tuesday evening, she was back in Memphis at the museum, one of several stops where she announced her Senate candidacy. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender Archives)
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The New Tri-State Defender
SENATE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT a bullhorn. The trio joined the chants and cries for gun control legislation by protesters in the public galleries and outside of the chamber. The violation of House protocols quickly sparked outrage among Republican lawmakers, who demanded they be expelled for violating House rules — a punishment that had only been used a handful of times since Reconstruction. The showdown between the Democratic lawmakers and the Republican supermajority attracted national attention, amplifying the profiles of the group — dubbed the “Tennessee Three” — across the U.S. Their supporters pointed to the their censure as the latest front in the battle for the future of American democracy. Pearson and Jones, who are both Black, were expelled, while Johnson, who is white, was spared by one vote. Shortly after the expulsion vote, Johnson quickly noted that she avoided expulsion likely because she was white. Republicans denied that race was a factor. Instead, they said some members may been persuaded that she wasn’t disruptive as Jones or Pearson. Both men have since been reelected to their positions. Blackburn first won the Tennessee Senate seat in 2018, defeating Democratic former Gov. Phil Bredesen by almost 11 percentage points. Blackburn was the first female Senator elected by Tennessee voters. The race also marked a noticeable rightward shift in the state’s political landscape in a state previously known for electing centrist politicians.
Blackburn launched her senate campaign by touting that she was a “hardcore, card-carrying Tennessee conservative” and aligned herself closely to former President Donald Trump. She is currently endorsing Trump in the 2024 presidential race. In the Democratic primary for the Senate seat, Johnson will face off against community activist and organizer Marquita Bradshaw. Bradshaw won the Democratic Senate nomination in 2020, and she lost the general election to Republican Bill Hagerty by 27 percentage points. “It’s no surprise that radical socialist Gloria Johnson decided to jump into the race at the urging of liberals in Washington, joining Marquita Bradshaw and others in the race for the Democratic nomination,” said Blackburn’s campaign
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spokesperson, Abigail Sigler. “State Rep. Johnson is as woke as they come, and she would be a puppet for Joe Biden, the Squad, and Chuck Schumer in the Senate.” Blackburn later released a campaign video criticizing Johnson, saying that the Democrat was a “threat to our way of life” in Tennessee. Standing in Nashville next to a suffrage monument surrounded by several hundred supporters, Johnson said she chose the location because she believes women’s rights are under attack in Tennessee. She pointed to the state’s abortion ban, which has very few exemptions for pregnant women, as the key example of Republicans implementing dangerous policies. “We got to talk about the fact in Tennessee women are no longer equal, young girls will
be forced to carry a pregnancy from a rapist. That’s what people are saying,” Johnson said, adding that Blackburn supports a federal abortion ban. Blackburn has supported efforts to implement a 20-week abortion ban. She hasn’t said whether she supports a push by GOP U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham to pass a 15-week federal abortion ban. Last year, Blackburn recorded a video message calling the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that gave married couples the right to birth control “constitutionally unsound.” She was not proposing restrictions on birth control, but she later clarified to Breitbart News that she did not support such efforts.
We’re going with … Tikeila Rucker of Memphis for All and the People for Fairness and Justice (PFJ) joined Stand for Children representatives, Rep. Justin Pearson (District 86) and others to endorse Van Turner Jr. and his bid for mayor of Memphis. Said Rucker, “We have an opportunity to elect transformative leadership that will build a safer, stronger, and more just Memphis for all – a Memphis that breaks away from repeating the same mistakes over and over.” (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
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The New Tri-State Defender
CLASSIC
CONTINUED FROM FRONT people,” Jones said, sitting in the front room of his home and detailing the crew that is focused on delivering another top-notch event. “The Classic has been about integrity. We’ve haven’t been … fly-bynight.” Integrity is an absolute necessity when the goal – as it was with the Classic – is to “create something that would have longevity, year after year,” he said. “We’ve accomplished that goal.” Tennessee State and Jackson State had been playing each other before the Classic took the root, Jones recalled. “A coach had left Jackson State and took all the coaches to Tennessee State. There was a bitter rivalry between the schools. But then you didn’t have the structure to take it forward. … That structure became the Southern Heritage Classic. Because of that structure, we’ve been able to survive the turbulence, the headwinds we’ve run into.” Getting to this point has involved a long view of preparation. Yes, the Southern Heritage Classic Cultural Celebration is anchored in September. Being ready for September means having put in as much work as possible well in advance. “When it gets past the fourth of July, it’s downhill … rapid fire,” said Jones. “You try to get off to as much of a start early on. …” Over the years, technology has affected the task at hand, with social media now a growing factor in spreading the word about the Classic, which has a mailing list of 70,000plus. This year’s Classic notably is distinguished by the addition of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as TSU’s opponent. “The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is really into this Memphis market,” said Jones. “The energy level and what they are doing and how they are doing it … they are stepping up. This is a big deal for them and they are treating it like that.” UAPB steps into a readymade model. “We’re not really having to start all over. It’s a new team, but the process is already there. … Every day it seems they are grabbing a hold to it. …There is a big connection with this (the Memphis) community – and a lot of other people around the country in general – with that school,” said Jones. JSU’s abrupt exit from the Classic spurred questions: “What are they going to do since Jackson State left? … Will they (UAPB) draw like Jackson State?” Most schools following JSU to the Classic would be challenged to match JSU footsteps given the school’s history and tradition,” said Jones. Well, will Jackson State be back? “The concentration is (on) this year. … The only conversation is 2023, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff – UAPB – and Tennessee State University – TSU,” said Jones, who found UAPB officials “very interested” when he made an initial call to gage the university’s interest in joining the Classic. Now, there is a two-year contract with UAPB, two years remaining on the contract with TSU and two more years with the City of Memphis for the stadium. “It’s very important for this year that we play, that we have a big level of support … that we lay out the red carpet, or
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the carpet period whether it’s red, black or blue or whatever. The Classic needs that. “Beside from the schools, the Classic in Memphis needs to have a successful event this year behind all of the conversation and all of the gyrations and turbulence. … I’m throw-
ing the kitchen sink at this one. There will be nothing held back in terms of advertising and promotion, fan engagement. …We’re out there right now.” Jones said the beauty of the situation is that he hears people talking about the Classic
wherever he goes. “The city needs this … we need to have a Memphis celebration,” said Jones. “We can have this with the Classic. A successful event will have that kind of impact. That’s why I’m going at it as hard as I can.”
Fred Jones Jr.
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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, September 7 - 13, 2023, Page 4
The next mayor and our public schools – what should we expect? by Curtis Weathers
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
The city of Memphis mayoral race is heating up. The candidate pool is crowded with individuals trying to convince Memphis citizens that they have the leadership wherewithal to turn this city around. Strong leadership is a critical need in our city right now. The citizens of Memphis are in the process of filling two crucial leadership positions – superintendent of the largest school system in Tennessee and mayor of the largest city in Tennessee. And the stakes couldn’t be higher. The top issues facing residents of the city of Memphis are crime, education, and jobs. While each of these issues is interconnected, pulling together a plan to address all three will be a challenge for our new mayor. The candidates in the mayor’s race include nineteen individuals vying for the job. The person elected will hold the unenvious distinction of being mayor of “The Most Dangerous City in America.” The Memphis Shelby County School Board is in the middle of a nationwide search for a strong and effective leader to serve as its school superintendent. With this new leadership, we have an opportunity to create a fresh and dynamic partnership between the city of Memphis, school systems in Memphis and Shelby County, and the city’s law enforcement community. It is my hope that our leaders (may-
We need a Community Summit that brings together key stakeholders willing to work together to address crime issues, improve our schools, and bring jobs to our great city. or, superintendents, chief of Curtis police), whomWeathers ever they might be, will come together with other key leaders and create a comprehensive plan to address the many challenges facing our great city. We have several candidates who are more than capable of leading our city as mayor, some with strong educational backgrounds and experience, i.e., former mayor and school superintendent Dr. Willie W. Herenton and former school board chairperson Michelle McKissack. While it is true that the city mayor has no direct power over public schools, the relationship and collaboration between these entities need to be strengthened. I keep listening for one of the candidates to outline the elements of such a relationship, but I have yet to hear it fully addressed. I’ve listened to and read all of their plans for how they will improve our city. Most of their ideas, especially those related to education, are piecemeal, a scattering of assertions that lack cohesiveness and coherence to a larger plan.
We need a Community Summit! While the three areas most in need of attention in our community are crime, jobs and education, the area of education is central to addressing the other two. They are all interrelated. This is why the leadership in all three areas should come together and create a coherent plan that outlines how each entity will support the other. Any strategies to reduce crime in our city should include our education systems and business community as partners. The educational landscape here in Memphis is splintered, to say the least. It includes a growing sector of charter schools, a state-run Achievement School District, and six suburban school districts. The city has the highest concentration of low-performing schools in the state. While coordinated efforts may be underway at the state, county, and among the philanthropic community to turn our schools around, most people are unaware of what those efforts might entail. I’m fully aware that the city mayor has no direct power over public
TSD education columnist Curtis Weathers: “While it is true that the city mayor has no direct power over public schools, the relationship and collaboration between these entities need to be strengthened.” schools; they each, however, along with law enforcement and the business community, have a common interest – the health and well-being of the citizens of Memphis. While it’s important to note that the relationship between education and crime is complex and influenced by various factors, research generally suggests that effective schools and higher levels of education are associated with lower levels of crime. A comprehensive approach to crime prevention should consider a combination of factors, including education, social services, community support, and economic opportunities, to effectively address the complex nature of criminal behavior. But I’m not naive; while education can play a crucial role in reducing
crime, it is still just one piece of the puzzle, and while employment can be a significant deterrent to crime, neither of these is a panacea for all crime-related issues. We need a Community Summit that brings together key stakeholders willing to work together to address crime issues, improve our schools, and bring jobs to our great city. So, maybe this year, once we have a new superintendent in place and a new mayor, we can get with our relatively new police chief along with key business and nonprofit leaders and construct a comprehensive plan (together) to improve our city. (Follow me, TSD’s education columnist, on Twitter @curtisweathers. Email me at curtislweathers@gmail. com.)
Celebrating the union difference and building tomorrow’s public service workforce by Lee Saunders
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
It’s as exciting a time as any in recent memory to be a part of a union. Working people are seeing what the union difference is all about, and they want to be a part of it. Unions are overwhelmingly popular as the newest Gallup poll on attitudes toward labor unions shows. Across the country, there is a bold surge of worker activism, as more people raise their voice on the job and claim their seat at the table. Workers are organizing with renewed vigor and winning some of our best contracts in decades. In the cultural sector, for example, 6,000 workers at museums, libraries, zoos and other cultural institutions have joined AFSCME since 2019. Municipal workers in New Orleans – a part of the country that hasn’t historically been labor-friendly – won collective bargaining rights this summer. In city after city, we are seeing that same energy and enthusiasm during local job fairs that AFSCME is sponsoring as part of “Staff the Front
Lines” – our new initiative to recruit qualified people for vacancies in public service. Job seekers are flocking to these hiring events in droves – nearly 200 people showed up in Lee Saunders, Philadelphia on a President, recent Monday afAmerican Federation of ternoon. They have State, County & Municipal heard our message Employees. that public service (Courtesy jobs are good jobs photo) that can support a family and provide a career path. These are very often union jobs that come with strong protections, plus a unique sense of solidarity and fellowship with your co-workers. You get excellent benefits, including a pension so you can one day retire with dignity. These are also jobs with a purpose that allow you to make a difference in the lives of your neighbors. Our strategy is working. After a huge drop in public-sector employ-
Through “Staff the Front Lines” and other campaigns, the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees vows to keep fighting to help more people discover the union difference. (Screen capture) ment during the pandemic, we are seeing a bounce back, especially in places where we enjoy strong partnerships with employers. Those bestin-decades contracts we’re negotiating are helping retain valued public service workers. And many employers are making steady progress bringing in new people who want to do work that strengthens their communities, while enjoying the rights and freedoms of union membership. Nationwide, July was the 16th consecutive month of growth in state and local government jobs, with a total of 315,000 added since the beginning of this year. But there are still many positions to fill, and so we are casting a wide net. In many places, we are doing
grassroots outreach to young people, to communities of color and to populations that are underrepresented in these jobs. That means, for example, working with faith leaders, asking them to spread the word in their churches and mosques that public service employers are looking for new talent – for nurses, corrections officers, sanitation workers, school bus drivers and more. We will do what it takes, because it’s critical that the public service workforce look like our communities. Diversity in the public service has a rich history. Jobs in state and local government have been an economic lifeline for generations of Black people, especially when other doors of opportunity were slammed shut. This is my family’s story, so this is person-
al for me. My father drove a city bus in Cleveland, Ohio – a good union job that gave us some modest security and stability. We weren’t living on Easy Street for sure, but there was food on the table for dinner and a roof over my head at night. We want to give more people of all races that chance – the chance to be one of the everyday heroes of public service, the chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself by joining a union. This past Labor Day, we honored the sacrifice of all working people. And we affirmed that life is better in a union. In the months and years to come, through “Staff the Front Lines” and other campaigns, we will keep fighting to help more people discover the union difference.
Information • Inspiration • Elevation Published by Best Media Properties, Inc.
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The New Tri-State Defender
September 7 - 13, 2023
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WFGM awards $1.6 million to 38 community organizations TSD Newsroom The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis has tapped 38 organizations to receive grant awards during the group’s 2023-24 annual grant cycle. This cycle’s grant awards amount to a nearly $1.6 million investment in the community. “We are building on the lessons learned though our place-based strategy to reduce poverty,” said Shante K. Avant, WFGM president and CEO. “Our Vision 2025 plan focuses on maintaining the gains we have made in South City, ZIP code 38126 while simultaneously expanding into other economically challenged neighborhoods,” said Avant. The $1.6 million investment is WFGM’s highest such investment to-date and is a six percent increase from last year’s contribution total. Since 1996, WFGM has awarded
more than $35 million to 185 local non-profits, including investments in advocacy and research. In 2015, W F M G launched Vision Shante K. 2020, a five-year Avant strategic initiative aimed at reducing poverty in ZIP code 38126. The initiative included a $7.1 million strategic investment in programs serving South City – ZIP code 38126, one of the most economically challenged neighborhoods in Tennessee. As part of the plan, WFGM established a place-based investment strategy to fund grantee partners that provide programs in support of five goal areas: (1) case management and
wraparound services; (2) job skills and employment; (3) early childhood development; (4) youth development and employment; and (5) financial education and asset building. The Vision 2025 strategic plan, includes four additional zip codes – 38105, 38106, 38107 and 38108. “Our goal is to impact the lives of more than 8,000 individuals annually by focusing on advancing economic and social mobility,” said Avant. According to WFGM, the group’s investment has yielded these results: • 3,438 individuals receiving job training and placed in jobs. • 141 individuals starting a business or micro-enterprise. • 7,069 young people participating in youth development programs. • A 53 percent increase in average annual earned household income for adults. WFGM plans to build on its suc-
cess with support to its 2023-24 grantee partners in these investment areas: Vision 2025 Investment Area 1: Case Management and Wraparound Services – Hope House Day Care; MIFA (Metropolitan Interfaith Association); Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc.; Urban Strategies Inc.; Room in the Inn; Salvation Army of Memphis and the Mid-South. Vision 2025 Investment Area 2: Job Skills, Employment and Entrepreneurship – Advance Memphis; Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis; DeNeuville Learning Center; Dress for Success Memphis; HopeWorks; Karat Place, Inc.; Memphis Urban League, Inc.; Southwest Tennessee Community College Foundation; YWCA of Greater Memphis. Vision 2025 Investment Area 3: Early Childhood Development – ALLMemphis; Early Success Coalition; Families Matter; Porter-Leath.
Vision 2025 Investment Area 4: Youth Development and Employment –A Step Ahead Foundation; JIFF Juvenile Intervention & Faith-based Follow-up; Booker T.Washington Middle and High School; Emmanuel Center, Inc.; Girls Scouts Heart of the South Girls Inc. of Memphis;|Memphis Inner City Rugby; Mustard Seed Inc.; New Ballet Ensemble and School; |STREETS Ministries; University of Memphis Research Foundation-Herff-GEE; Vance Avenue Youth Development Center; Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South; Memphis Black Arts Alliance; Kids in Technology. Vision 2025 Investment Area 5: Financial Education and Asset Building – Knowledge Quest; Community Legal Center; RISE Memphis; South City a Community of Opportunity Revitalization Empowerment (SCORE CDC).
Tennessee hires leader to jump-start school turnaround efforts statewide by Laura Testino and Marta W. Aldrich Chalkbeat Tennessee
Tennessee has appointed a school improvement leader to manage all of its school turnaround work under a powerful new position that will touch urban, suburban, and rural districts. Bren Elliott, who was a Nashville school administrator from 2001 to 2007 and has been school improvement chief for District of Columbia Public Schools since 2017, will begin her job as state turnaround superintendent on Tuesday. The Tennessee Department of Education announced Elliott’s hire last Thursday (Aug. 31), three years after launching its first search to fill the job. The position is considered key to jump-starting school improvement work in Tennessee, which has helped pioneer several turnaround models with limited success. She is among the first major hires for Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds, who started her job on July 1 with an early focus on school accountability. Elliott’s experience in school improvement “will be an asset to the state and provide intentional support to these schools to ensure all students receive a high-quality education,” Reynolds said in a statement. Chief among Elliott’s new responsibilities will be overseeing the Achievement School District, the state’s most aggressive lever for improving low-performing schools. The state-run district, which takes over schools and assigns them mostly to charter operators to manage, has itself struggled, with little to show so far for its turnaround efforts over the past decade. Elliott also will be responsible for supervising interventions for all 95 of the state’s so-called priority schools – those that score academically in
the bottom 5 percent – as well as schools that need targeted support due to large achievement gaps among groups of historically underserved students such as English language learners, students with disabilities, or those from low-income families. In all, nearly 300 Tennessee schools fall in those categories. She will also work closely with local leaders of district-level turnaround initiatives, from the Innovation Zone in Memphis and Nashville to the Partnership Network in Chattanooga. “I look forward to working with our schools most in need of support and intervention, including the Achievement School District, to improve student achievement and help all students in these schools succeed,” said Elliott. Turnaround efforts are at a crossroads
For many local school improvement leaders, the education department’s naming of a statewide turnaround chief came as a surprise. Under Gov. Bill Lee, the department launched multiple searches to fill the job, even naming three finalists in 2021. But those searches stalled due to the pandemic, budget issues, and uncertainties about what direction the state wanted to take its turnaround work. Victoria Robinson, the department’s spokeswoman, said making the hire was a priority for Reynolds. “Dr. Elliott was identified several months ago as a potential candidate, and since that time has completed the interview, hiring and other processes with the state, including with Commissioner Reynolds and TDOE leadership,” Robinson said. Reynolds has not said what she has planned for the ASD and other turnaround work. State law gives the commissioner the authority to iden-
Students listen during a 2019 class at Hillcrest High School, a Memphis charter school operated under Tennessee’s Achievement School District, a state initiative to turn around low-performing schools. (Photo: Karen Pulfer Focht / Chalkbeat) tify schools for state takeover and place them in the ASD. Under Reynolds’ predecessor, Penny Schwinn, the department unveiled a new vision for the ASD that would have had a “smaller footprint” and new takeovers, but none of the updates materialized. The ASD, which launched in 2012, has been mostly a disappointment. Under charter management, its schools typically performed no better than low-performing schools receiving no intervention. As a result, Tennessee has not taken control of a neighborhood school since taking over four in Memphis in 2016. Most of the ASD’s schools are Memphis, with a few in Nashville, but the district has shrunk by more than half to just over a dozen schools in recent years. A few have closed, some have returned to their local districts, and many that have shown the most improvement have moved under the oversight of a new state commission for public charter schools. A lack of steady leadership in the ASD has complicated the complex exit process for schools once their charter contracts expire. The district’s last leader, Lisa Settle, departed in summer 2022. Since then, other staff with the education department have managed it.
Elliott has Tennessee ties Elliott, who is a member of Chiefs for Change, an influential national education leadership network, is a native of North Carolina and no stranger to Tennessee. She was a teacher and administrator in Nashville public schools for 15 years, and spent her last year at the district as a director focused on priority schools. She earned her master’s degree from Tennessee State University. In 2020, Elliott lost a bid to become director of Metro Nashville Public Schools to Adrienne Battle, who was the interim leader at the time. This summer, Elliott was a superintendent finalist for Huntsville City Schools in Alabama, which also picked its interim leader instead. Before joining the Washington, D.C., school district, she spent eight years as an administrator for two school districts in North Carolina, where she focused on support services for students in Wake and Guilford counties. As the state’s overarching turnaround leader, Elliott also will work with local officials who manage district-run turnaround models. Memphis-Shelby County Schools operates the Innovation Zone with funding assistance from the state.
Bren Elliott, Tennessee’s new school turnaround leader, returns to the state from Washington, D.C., where she was a school improvement leader. Elliott has previously been a teacher, principal and administrator in Nashville. (Photo: Tennessee Department of Education) The so-called iZone gives its schools autonomy over curricular, financial, scheduling, and staffing decisions, similar to charter schools. State officials also have worked closely with Hamilton County Schools’ Partnership Network, a model that seeks greater collaboration between the state and the local district. But the ASD is the state’s most scrutinized turnaround program. This spring, state Rep. Antonio Parkinson received bipartisan support for a bill that would revamp the state’s turnaround model and halt school takeovers altogether. On Thursday (Aug. 31), the Memphis Democrat said the department needs a school turnaround leader, whether his legislation passes or not next year. “We need to be utilizing and putting our efforts and resources behind those practices that actually work,” Parkinson said, “and stop feeding millions and millions of dollars into the practices that didn’t work.” (Laura Testino covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Laura at LTestino@chalkbeat.org. Marta Aldrich is a senior correspondent and covers the statehouse for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Contact her at maldrich@ chalkbeat.org.)
The New Tri-State Defender, September 7 - 13, 2023, Page 6
Welcome to the ‘new’ Tom Lee Park! The general public was ushered into the revamped version of Tom Lee Park on Saturday (Sept. 2). The day before was set aside for a media preview and The New Tri-State Defender was there to capture these images. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
Jazz to you … The 5th Annual RiverCity Jazz and Music Festival was held at the Cannon Center on Sept. 3. The special guests included Lalah Hathaway, Leela James, saxophonist Paul Taylor and jazz guitarist Adam Harley. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
The New Tri-State Defender
September 7 - 13, 2023
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The New Tri-State Defender
September 7 - 13, 2023
NEWS
The Penny Hardaway Memphis District Golf Classic keeps growing
The 2023 Penny Hardaway Memphis District Golf Classic – the official golf tournament of the Southern Heritage Classic Cultural Celebration – is set for Saturday (Sept. 9th). This is the fourth year for the charity event, which last year drew over 100 hundred players to the greens to play with University of Memphis Men’s Basketball Head Coach Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. The Penny Hardaway Memphis District Golf Classic is sponsored by the Memphis District Laymen, an auxiliary of the Memphis District Association, which is part of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. The Memphis District Association is comprised of over 60 churches that assist and strengthen the community through outreach ministry. “As the golf tournament grows, so do our community efforts,” said Charles L. Ewing Sr., the Memphis District Laymen president and president/CEO of Ewing Moving & Storage, Inc.” Proceeds from the golf tournament are used to support three key efforts: * A free one-week summer golf clinic at the Links at Whitehaven
golf course for over 50 youth. * The Deacon R.B. Cole Scholarship, totaling $10,000, which assists deserving college students in accomplishing their goal of higher education. * The Jump Academy summer camp, which provides a free six to eight-week summer sports and enrichment camp for ages 8-17 that includes golf, volleyball, basketball, track and field, football, and cheerleading. Students also learn skills such as etiquette, how to tie a necktie, baking and music, with fun field trips mixed in. “This was our first year hosting the Jump Academy, and it was a great success.” said Ewing. “Parents were able to leave their children in a safe and nurturing environment at no cost to them. Those children left with more knowledge than they came with and greater self-esteem.” Participants in the Penny Hardaway Memphis District Golf Classic will receive several perks, including admittance to the Early Bird Registration and Reception set for the National Civil Rights Museum on Thursday (Sept. 7). The 2023 Deacon R.B. Cole Scholarship re-
cipients will be announced during the reception. During Saturday’s awards luncheon, participants also will receive a Nike golf shirt and a swag bag with several gifts. During the hole-in-one competitions, players will compete to win one of two new cars. There also will be a raffle, with prizes such as golf clubs and flat-screen TVs. Tee time is 8 a.m. at Tunica National. Cigna Healthcare company is the title sponsor for the fourth year. Although registration for the golf tournament is at capacity, hole sponsorships are still available for purchase. Among the sponsors are Gossett Motor Cars, Nike, TVA, Valero, Principle Toyota, FedEx, Renasant Bank, MLGW, Memphis Tourism, Regional One Health, All World Management, Veasley Paving Services, Inc., City of Memphis, Memphis Rebounders, New York Life, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the Memphis District Association (MDA). (For more information, visit memphisdistrictgolfclassic.org or call 901-265-4886.)
Two West Tennessee students among six to net $10,000 BlueCross Power of We Scholarships TSD Newsroom Anthony Guinn of Memphis and Farraday Johnson of Covington are among six Tennessee students that the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation has selected as recipients of its 2023 BlueCross Power of We Scholarships. “The BlueCross Power of We Scholarship is one way we’ve been working toward health equity,” said Ron Harris, vice president of corporate workforce diversity at BlueCross. “We are proud to support some of our state’s brightest students, and we hope they will use their unique insights and experiences to help de-
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liver high-quality care for all Tennesseans.” Since 2013, the BlueCross Foundation has awarded the scholarship to help increase representation in Tennessee’s health care workforce and address health disparities statewide. Each of this year’s recipients will receive $10,000 toward school tuition. To date, the foundation has awarded $415,000 in scholarships to 44 students. Guinn is a senior nursing major at Baptist Health Sciences University. Johnson is a senior majoring in biomedical engineering at the University of Memphis. This year’s other recipients are:
Kendrick Cox – Cleveland; senior, Nursing Major, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Destini Givens – Chattanooga; senior, psychology major, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Zakiya Hamza – Nashville; senior, nursing major, Tennessee State University. Emmanuella Ingabire – Nashville; senior, nursing major, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. (For more information, visit BCBSTNews.com/scholarship.)
HARRIS
CONTINUED FROM FRONT Biden seeks a second term in 2024. But both Biden and Harris have been outspoken about what they view as the very real danger to American democracy the aftermath of the 2020 election exposed. “Democracies are very fragile,” the vice president said in the AP interview. “They will only be as strong as our willingness to fight for it.” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said with her comments, the vice president was affirming her belief “in our system of laws,” a belief the president shares. “This is something that of course the president shares and believes in ... but I’m going to let the Department of Justice do their job independently,” Jean-Pierre said. Harris is representing the United States at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in place of Biden. The president’s absence disappointed some, but the White House emphasized that it remained committed to the region, which Harris reiterated in her interview. “We as Americans, I believe, have a very significant interest, both in terms of our security but also our prosperity, today and in the future, in developing and strengthening these relationships,” she said. Southeast Asia is a critical arena for the rivalry between the U.S. and China, particularly when it comes to the South China Sea. One-third of global shipping traverses its waters. Beijing recently released a new government map that emphasizes its disputed territorial claims to the sea. “It’s a violation of the law. And that’s where I put that map,” Harris told the AP. ASEAN has struggled to make progress on issues such as the military coup in Myanmar, but Harris said the organization “absolutely” remains a critical forum. “The fact that so many leaders are convening in this one place at the same time to address some of the biggest challenges facing our world is a sign of strength of both the commitment that each nation has to the
coalition and the potential for collaboration,” she said. Harris sounded a strong warning about reports that Russia was talking with North Korea about obtaining weapons for its invasion of Ukraine, calling the possible alliance “illadvised.” “Russia has been levied a strategic failure,” she said. ”Their aggressive, unprovoked actions in Ukraine have resulted in a situation where the aura and myth of the Russian military has now been dispelled.” Harris dismissed concerns about Biden’s age, 80, even though he’s widely seen as too old for office. A recent AP/NORC poll showed that 77% of Americans and 69% of Democrats think he’s too old for a second term. Harris is next in line for the presidency, a position that increased scrutiny of her as she serves with a president who would be 86 at the end of a potential second term. Some Republican presidential hopefuls claim that a vote for Biden would really end up being a vote for Harris — and not in a good way. “I see him every day. A substantial amount of time we spend together is in the Oval Office, where I see how his ability to understand issues and weave through complex issues in a way that no one else can, to make smart and important decisions on behalf of the American people have played out,” she said. “And so I will say to you that I think the American people ultimately want to know that their president delivers. And Joe Biden delivers.” Harris described the idea of possibly stepping into the role of president as “hypothetical” but said she was ready. “Joe Biden is going to be fine, so that is not going to come to fruition,” she stated. “But let us also understand that every vice president — every vice president — understands that when they take the oath they must be very clear about the responsibility they may have to take over the job of being president.” Harris added, “I’m no different.” (Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this report from Washington.)
CLASSIFIEDS NOTICE TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000821 SCSO 1080 Madison Remodel. 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. BID I000821 DUE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2023 AT 2:00 PM CST (SB-I000821) SCSO 1080 Madison Remodel Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/821535157 You can also dial in using your phone. (For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.) United States: +1 (408) 650-3123 - One-touch: tel:+14086503123,,821535157# Access Code: 821-535-157 A mandatory pre-proposal meeting to address questions will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. (CST) at 1080 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104. Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service. 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: Michael Jones Tax Parcel #: 07503700000010 Tax Sale #: 1801
Price Offered: $4,200.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:30 a.m. on October 5, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802400000050 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:00 a.m. on October 5, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802400000030 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on October 5, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802400000040 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on October 5, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION,
BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: MEMPHIS ACQUISITIONS LLC Tax Parcel #: 04801700000120 Tax Sale #: 1802 Price Offered: $3,900.00 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 ad-
ditional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on October 5, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant
to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Adonis Hayes Tax Parcel #: 04903100000010 Tax Sale #: 1802 Price Offered: $34,100.00 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 October 5, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.
The New Tri-State Defender
CLASSIFIEDS
Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802300000160 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 12:30 p.m. on October 4, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802300000170 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 12:00 p.m. on October 4, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802300000180 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:30 a.m. on October 4, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802300000190 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:00 a.m. on October 4, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150
NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802300000200 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on October 4, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802300000210 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on October 4, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802300000220 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on October 4, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 03802300000230 Tax Sale #: 1603 Price Offered: $4,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on October 4, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150
September 7 - 13, 2023
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SPORTS
The New Tri-State Defender, September 7 - 13, 2023, Page 10
Tennessee State University’s football captains make their way onto the field at Notre Dame, as TSU became the first HBCU opponent for the Fighting Irish. (Courtesy photo)
TSU’s Tigers ready to add a fresh win to their ‘Classic’ tradition
by Terry Davis
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Head coach Eddie George and the Tennessee State University football program will be on familiar ground when the annual Southern Heritage Classic game kickoffs off at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The Southern Heritage Terry Classic was first played in Davis 1990 to enhance the rivalry between TSU and JSU, two HBCU regional powers. There have been 31 games played all-time in the Classic, with 29 between TSU and Jackson State University, which backed out of the annual clash last year. Tennessee State is 17-14 all-time in the Classic. George – a Heisman Trophy winner and a former NFL star running back, is in his third year as TSU’s head coach and still is looking for his first win in the Classic. He began the season with a sense of excitement. “Our kids put in a lot of work in the off season,” said George. “They have committed to one another. They are owning the standard. I see a lot of growth there. We are excited about the recruiting class we have brought in.” TSU’s Tigers are coming off of a 4-7 season and enter the Classic after a 56-3 thumping by the Top-Ten ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish last weekend. It was the first time Notre Dame had played an HBCU (historically Black College and University) football program. At the onset of the season, George pinpointed the Tigers’ biggest challenge. “Our consistency will be important,” said George. “We have a taste of what the standard
can be. Defining the culture is a daily operation. You are always working on your craft. Through that you are going to obtain success on the football field.” It will be a homecoming for several former Memphis high school players: Eddie • Jordan Helton, juGeorge nior safety, Memphis University Schools; • Dorian George, junior defensive back, Germantown High School; • Craig Cunningham, freshman running back, Lausanne; • Ethan Jones, freshman defensive lineman, Lausanne; • Kennedy Wilbert, senior offensive lineman, Middle College High School. Terence Carpenter II, a freshman defensive lineman, and cornerback Jashon Watkins played for the University of Memphis. Draylen Ellis, the senior quarterback from Olive Branch, Miss., needs 271 passing yards to hit 6,000 in his career. Ellis is currently ninth in FCS active passing leaders, with 5,729 passing yards. He tallied 1,811 yards in his first season as a Tiger and 3,894 in two seasons at Austin Peay. Against Notre Dame, quarterback Deveon Bryant led all TSU rushers with 29 yards, picking up 4.8 yards per carry. Jeremiah Josephs led the Tigers with 9 tackles against the Fighting Irish. George said Memphis is a hot recruiting bed for TSU. “It is important to us to have a presence there. It is great for the HBCUs to have a game in Memphis. It brings a great deal of revenue, excitement, and energy. It is something our fan base is excited for. I have it circled on my calendar.”
Tough Tigers… The University of Memphis football team blew out Bethune Cookman 56-14 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in the opening game of the 2023 season. It was the Tigers’ largest margin of victory since the Tigers (1-0) beat Mercer, 66-14, in 2018. (Photos: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff defenders had a tough time reeling in Tulsa’s offense. (Courtesy photo)
UAPB’s pride-seeking mission gets a ‘Classic’ opportunity by Terry Davis
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Head coach Alonzo Hampton’s big-picture mission for the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB) football team is a work in progress. The Golden Lions finished with a 3-8 record last season and are looking to rebound in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. “We are trying to restore the pride,” said Hampton, who has returned to UAPB, where he was an assistant coach from 2006 to 2010. “That is what we are trying to do.” Hampton and the Golden Lions take another step toward restoration when UAPB makes it first appearance in the Southern Heritage Classic, with the kickoff against Tennessee State University (TSU’s) set for 6 p.m. at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium at 6 p.m. UAPB was slotted for the Classic after Jackson State University pulled out of the arrangement that had pitted JSU against TSU since 1994. “Anytime you are picked for a classic it is a different feel,” said Hampton. “Mr. (Fred) Jones (founder of the Classic) has done a great job. For us as a fan base, we are excited. Our fans have been talking about this all summer.” Hampton played defensive back in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His 19-year coaching career includes successful stints as a high school coach in Arkansas and Georgia and a two-year stint coaching defensive backs at Western Kentucky, where he helped helping the Hilltoppers post back-to-back, 7-win seasons, including the program’s first postseason bowl appearance
in the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (against Central Michigan). The Golden Lions lost their season opener (42-7) at Tulsa. “We started the game right and got a turnover and went up (7-0),” said Hampton. “The first posAlonzo sessions we had takeHampton aways. We had the chance to be up 13-0, but that is what’s frustrating. In the second half, we let the game get away from us…. Overall, our kids played hard.” There are three Memphians – all sophomores – on the UAPB team. Wide receiver Kenji Lewis is from East High School. Safety Marcus Askew II played at Germantown High School. Offensive lineman Rolando Jones played at Southwind High School. For Hampton and the Golden Lions’ coach staff, the visit to Memphis for the Class doubles as an opportunity to make more recruiting inroads. As for facing TSU, Hampton said, “It is an opportunity for two good football programs. I am looking forward to playing in the Southern Heritage Classic.” Overall, TSU and UAPB have split the three games the programs have played, with TSU winning the first two and the Golden Lions claiming a 37-31 victory in 2019. The Southern Heritage Classic game featuring TSU and UAPB can be streamed on HBCU GO.