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September 22 - 28, 2022
VOL. 71, No. 38
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‘Swerve the Purge’ powers voterregistration push by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
The narrative that student athletes (or for that matter, just students) shouldn’t overlook LeMoyne-Owen as a place where they can excel has helped the tiny college in South Memphis attract some big names as coaches. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
At LeMoyne-Owen, coaches sport outreach to extend Magicians’ brand
by Lee Eric Smith lesmith@tsdmemphis.com
As a track star at Melrose High School in the 1980s, Rochelle Stevens had athletic scholarship offers from multiple big-name colleges and universities. Given her talent, she may well have won Olympic Gold anywhere she laced up her cleats. But Stevens chose to lace ‘em up at Morgan State University, an HBCU. And now, as head coach of LeMoyne-Owen College’s
rebooted track and field team, she’s asking a new generation of track stars to make the same choice she did: Choose an HBCU — specifically, of course, LeMoyne-Owen. “I am so excited to be able to give back to the community on a larger scale,” Stevens said at her introductory press conference in October 2021. “I am looking for the diamond in the rough for LeMoyne-Owen College.” It’s a full-circle metaphor that’s not lost on LOC Athletic Director William Anderson. “Being a former HBCU athlete, a lot of people don’t tell that part of her story,” An-
derson said. “She did what a lot of kids are talking about doing now (in choosing an HBCU). She did that when it was unpopular, and still was able to be one of the best at her sport.” That narrative — that student athletes (or for that matter, just students) shouldn’t overlook LeMoyne-Owen as a place where they can excel — has helped the tiny college in South Memphis attract some big names as coaches.
SEE LOC ON PAGE 2
Catching up with Sable Otey
Bobsledder, businesswoman, mom, wife… by Candace A. Gray
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
You might recall a story a few years back about the first African-American woman and mother from Memphis who was on the USA Bob-sledding team. Sable Otey was and still is a real American Hero(ine). Only now she’s on a different team, playing a different game but the strategy and mindset are the same: Work hard and push your way to greatness. The wife, mother of three, and entrepreneur hung up her bobsled suit after a not-so-great finish at the 2018 Winter Olympic games and returned to Memphis to finish out the school year as a physical education (PE) teacher at Lowrance Elementary.
“She was an amazing teacher,” said Kelvin Bates, Lowrance principal. “We were so sad to see her go, but it was clear she had a purpose to fulfill beyond our four walls and so we let her go knowing she’d do amazing work in our community.” Otey said Bates was extremely supportive of her and her Olympic career, even saving her spot when she returned and providing space for her to conduct community workshops, even after she transitioned from teaching back into her family business. Otey and her husband of 17 years, Rueben, had started a business, Making Multi-Millionaires, or the Triple M Agency, in 2016 that she was remotely involved in until after her
SEE OTEY ON PAGE 2
Once a member of the USA Olympic Bobsled team, Otey is now using her “superpowers” to help people gain financial stability and wealth. (Courtesy phots)
The race to November kicked into overdrive Tuesday (Sept. 20) as the Shelby County Voter Alliance (SCVA) staged a massive voter registration event in South Memphis. Tuesday was National Voter Registration Day, and SCVA swept through the community surrounding Jesse Turner Park with canvassing teams and voter registration forms. Hundreds of contacts were made as Memphis Artists For Change teams educated voters about the electoral process. “Memphis Artists For Change is a part of the Shelby County Voter Shelby County voters who are not registered. Some have been purged and don’t know they are no longer on the rolls. There are expungement issues, and we have a process in place. We want everyone to exercise their voting power,” said Ian Randolph, a SCVA representative. As canvassing teams returned to their 1310 S. Bellevue Blvd., headquarters, the park filled with families from the neighborhood. A raised DJ’s platform blared out familiar old school hits and rap favorites. Young men showcased their best moves on the basketball court, and there was food enough to feed an army. “The reason it looks like a family reunion, or a block party of neighbors is because that’s exactly what it is,” said Tameka Green, executive director of Memphis Artists For Change. “We are a community, and we like to commune. You just can’t go into a place and talk about voter registration or anything else without communing with people first.” Tuesday’s “Swerve the Purge” event was a part of a week-long schedule of events by Memphis Artists for Change, from Monday, Sept. 19, to Saturday, Sept. 24. “We wanted to get more involved in helping people register to vote,” said Green. “More than 100,000 people have been purged from the voting rolls, and many of them don’t even know. So, we are encouraging everyone to check their voting status online and make sure it’s still active.” As of July 1, there were 583,829 total voters in Shelby County; 547,829 were listed as active, according to Shelby County Election Commission data. Some 28 percent are Black, and some 19 percent are white, according to the information on voter registration forms. Voters in Tennessee are not required to identify their race. Green said canvassers found residents in South Memphis who want to vote, but said their criminal record made them ineligible to vote. “That’s where voter education
SEE VOTE ON PAGE 2
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The New Tri-State Defender
LOC
CONTINUED FROM FRONT Among them is former Grizzlies star Bonzi Wells, who is entering his second season as head coach of the LOC mens’ basketball team. For his first season with the Magicians, Wells was flanked by Lionel Hollins, the beloved former Grizzlies coach. Hollins won’t be back this season, instead accepting an assistant’s job with the Houston Rockets. But Wells is committed to using whatever star power he can muster to shine a light on the 160-year college. “The way the world is changing, it’s HBCUs’ time,” Wells said upon accepting the job in 2021. “We’ve promoted these other colleges that are not HBCUs long enough. So now it’s time to get the revenue and all that stuff directed to the HBCUs. We need to get all the media attention.” The moves are splashy but calculated. LOC’s leadership wants to parlay a higher sports profile into more recognition and respect across the board, Anderson said. Syreeta Dodson and the LOC Cheer and Pom Squad
“We’ve promoted these other colleges that are not HBCUs long enough. So now it’s time to get the revenue and all that stuff directed to the HBCUs. We need to get all the media attention.” — Bonzi Wells are doing their part. In addition to recruiting and training the pom squad as dancers, she’s been working to remind people that pom squads do more than just cheer on their teams. They practice, sweat, and compete just like any other athletes at LeMoyne-Owen. But she’s making them stretch in other ways as well. The squad has represented LOC at college fairs, community events and has been busy on social media. “I am showing these girls how to be ambassadors for their school,” said Dodson, who has booked the squad for appearances at college fairs and community events. “They know they are students before
OTEY
CONTINUED FROM FRONT bobsledding and teaching careers ended. The firm helps families learn about financial literacy. “We are trying to close the generational wealth gap, by helping people get life insurance with living benefits and other financial products families need to be successful,” Otey said. She wishes her family had a safety net to catch her when her family faced two debilitating tragedies four months apart. “When I was bobsledding, someone broke my son’s thigh bone playing sports and then my husband was hit by an 18-wheeler.” The near fatal accidents left her family in serious financial trouble. Plus, add the fact that bobsledding was self-funded until friends and supporters helped her find sponsors. “We were about to lose everything. I had to keep my game face on.” Even though her husband was unable to work after his accident, Otey got busy and started making moves. The 35-year-old mother of three sons, produced a license to conduct business as an insurance broker and single-handedly ran the business until her husband was able to
The Otey family. (Courtesy photo) return to work. Then COVID-19 pandemic hit. “When COVID first hit, we were scared. We were in our first building, had two mortgages and had to decide to “mildew or barbeque” as they say. And we decided we were NOT mildewing!” They pushed forward, worked even harder and used the promise of helping others achieve their dreams to motivate them. “We saw that dreams can actually come true. We were helping people learn how to start saving, how to start retirement funds – we can actually bring back that Black Wall Street.” Over the last few years, the Oteys didn’t let the fact that
September 22 - 28, 2022
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NEWS
they are athletes. We want them to know that academics is as important to us as your talent. As long as you can find the balance, you’re going to be great.” To be clear, Dodson may not be a celebrity but she’s no slouch. She was among the “Grizz Girls,” has toured with the Bar-Kays, and performed in music videos on MTV and BET. “I’m just blessed to be one of those people that can be spoken of like that,” Dodson said. “Some of these girls, you never know who you are inspiring.” If it seems like it’s personal for LeMoyne-Owen coaches, well . . . it is. “I’m just about my (students),” said Volleyball Coach Reginald Morris. “I’m about them graduating from college. I (say) it all the time: You may not make the pros, but you can be a pro in the professional community. Doctors, lawyers, teachers.” Like any other college sports program recruiting athletes, LOC is competing against colleges with bigger fan bases, nicer facilities, and deeper pockets. “We’re the city’s only HBCU and we’ve been play-
ing in Bruce Hall for 70 years,” Anderson said. “Why don’t we have one of the top facilities in the city just like Christian Brothers, Rhodes or (The University of) Memphis?” But the tides are turning. Earlier this year, Stevens connected LOC President Dr. Vernell Bennett-Fairs directly with Marvin Ellison, the CEO of hardware megastore Lowe’s. Their conversations led directly to Lowe’s donating $1 million each to both LeMoyne-Owen and Tennessee State University in Nashville. Anderson hopes a sense of civic pride when it comes to LeMoyne-Owen can lead to more gifts like that — from every corner of the city. “It’s so important that the city of Memphis realizes that we are the city’s only HBCU,” Anderson said. “Not investing in Lemoyne is actually a travesty for the city of Memphis. “No matter what race, color or creed you are, this is our HBCU,” he continued. “And (because it’s in Memphis), it’s better than Jackson State, better than Tennessee State, better than Florida A&M. “That’s the type of commitment we need from the (people) of Memphis.”
they don’t have a large family (which could have provided assistance) deter them from their path to greatness. “We did what we needed to do. God has blessed me with people outside of my family to help. The only thing I know is to work hard. And if you’re scared, go even harder. Her time as an athlete taught her valuable lessons that shape her mindset for growth today. “Being an athlete gives you an opportunity to push past the pain. Even if things aren’t going as well as you’d like for them to, you just keep going. Even those who are successful now, they have lost a few times. “It’s not always about being the best but about using what God has given you and you doing your best with what you’ve been given.” Otey’s time being part of a team has also shaped how she approaches her work today. “You want others to be successful, too. I really want to see [our clients] win. I’m so thankful for having support over the years and now I can be that support for someone else.” Speaking of support, Otey’s husband is one of her greatest motivating factors. “Honestly, I don’t give him enough props, but my husband and my children also push me. My husband has always been there and has supported every-
thing I’ve ever done.” The couple also works together to teach soft skills to other couples who work together. In Otey’s “spare time,” she’s also Solar Sally, a TVA superhero who instructs children about solar power. And she’s the President of the West Tennessee Women’s Political Caucus.
Members of the Shelby County Voters Alliance were in full effect during the voter registration drive in Jesse Turner Park on Tuesday. Pictured (l-r): Joshua Adams, Rickyta Mallett and Ian Randolph. (Courtesy photo)
VOTE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT comes in,” said Green. “There are steps to having voting rights restored. So much misinformation exists surrounding a criminal record and voting rights being permanently lost. We help guide ex-offenders through voter restoration.” Randolph said the organization has devised a six-month process by which voting rights can be restored to ex-offenders. “If a person was convicted of a misdemeanor, voting rights can be restored through a simple process,” said Randolph. “With felons, it is a bit more complicated. But it can be done. There are steps to take and forms to be completed, but the voter alliance is here to help guide Shelby County residents through the process.” Kevin Bland, 28, who will vote for the first time in November, was cheered on as he addressed an enthusiastic crowd. “I’m excited because I will be a first-time voter in November,” said Bland. “We need people like the voting alliance to take time and educate us
about voting. I am so grateful. There is power in voting.” Bland then led a chant of “Power to the People.” Bland later told the New TriState Defender a few more details about his life. “Most of my family is here in South Memphis,” Bland said. “I am in the military, stationed at Millington. My grandmother used to talk to me all the time. Now, I understand so much, and things make more sense. “Voting is a right and a privilege. Our people died so that we could vote. And I’m telling other young people, ‘We need to vote.’” Voting registration activities for the week include phone banking, more canvassing, and a noon press conference on Friday (Sept. 23) in front of the Shelby County Election Commission. Saturday’s (Sept. 24) culmination, “Healing in the Park,” is scheduled from 4-7 p.m., at Health Sciences Park at Madison Avenue and S. Dunlap Street, with food, music, and help with restoration and voting registration. Additional information is available at: MemphisArtistsForChange.Org.
The New Tri-State Defender
September 22 - 28, 2022
Page 3 Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, September 22 - 28, 2022, Page 4
Locked up: the prison labor that built business empires
by Margie Mason and Robin Mcdowell
M
ore than 150 years ago, a prison complex known as the Lone Rock stockade operated at one of the biggest coal mines in Tennessee.
It was powered largely by African American men who had been arrested for minor offenses – like stealing a hog – if they committed any crime at all. Women and children, some as young as 12, were sent there as well. The work, dangerous and sometimes deadly, was their punishment. The state was leasing these prisoners out to private companies for a fee, in a practice known all across the South as convict leasing. In states like Texas, Florida, Georgia and Alabama, prisoners were also used to help build railroads, cut timber, make bricks, pick cotton and grow sugar on plantations. In a joint investigation, reporters from the Associated Press and Reveal at the Center for Investigative Reporting spent months unearthing this history. They focused on Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad, which ran the stockade and coal mine, and the company that later bought it, U.S. Steel. The team found someone living today whose ancestor was imprisoned in the Lone Rock stockade nearly 140 years ago. They also interviewed the descendant of a man who got rich from his role in pioneering Tennessee’s convict leasing system. The reporters also heard from U.S. Steel. For the first time, it said it was willing to discuss its past with members of the affected community. What is convict leasing? Convict leasing was essentially a new form of slavery that started after the Civil War and went on for decades across the South. States – and companies – got rich by arresting mostly Black men and then forcing them to work for major companies. The 13th Amendment, passed after the Civil War, banned slavery and involuntary servitude. But it made an exception for people convicted of a crime, offering legal cover for convict leasing. Tennessee and many other states adopted similar language in their constitutions that still exist today. What was the lone rock stockade? The Lone Rock stockage operated in Tracy City, Tennessee for more than 25 years. The prisoners lived in cramped, unsanitary conditions. Built to hold 200 people at a time, the prison sometimes held 600. The men risked their lives every day above ground too, manning fiery, domeshaped coke ovens used in the iron-making process. They were helping Tennessee, Coal, Iron
and Railroad get rich. The company was an economic powerhouse, later bought by the world’s biggest company at the time: U.S. Steel Corporation. How did the prison population change after emancipation? The racial makeup of prison populations changed almost overnight after the Civil War. In Tennessee, during slavery less than 5 percent of the prisoners were Black. In 1866, after emancipation, that number jumped to 52 percent. And by 1891 it had skyrocketed to 75 percent.
Men convicted of a crime and leased to harvest timber in Florida, 1915. (Photo: Library of Congress via AP)
What are black codes? Black codes are laws passed by states that targeted African Americans for minor crimes such as vagrancy, jumping a ride on a train car or not having proof of employment. In Tennessee, people were sentenced up to five years of hard labor in the coal mine for having interracial relationships. What does U.S. steel say now about their use of convict leasing? The United States Steel Corporation, also known as U.S. Steel, was founded by American business giants, which included J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie. It has operations in the U.S. and Central Europe, and remains a leading steel producer. The company used convict labor for at least five years in Alabama in the early 1900s, but has never spoken openly about this dark chapter of its history. It has misrepresented its use of prison labor and has not acknowledged the men who died in its mines. After being contacted by the AP and Reveal reporters, the company agreed for the first time to sit down and talk with members of the affected community. U.S. Steel also confirmed it owns a cemetery located at the site of its former coal mine: “U. S. Steel does not condone the practices of a century ago,” it said in a statement. “Given the amount of time that has lapsed, we, unfortunately, do not have comprehensive records relative to this situation.” “We would be pleased to consider a memorial plaque should members of the affected community express an interest. We would also be happy to meet with them and discuss these topics.” (This story was supported by Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with the Arnold Foundation.)
Photograph shows two white men overseeing African-American men hammering boulders as others walk with wheelbarrows in a shallow pit phosphate mine, Dunnellon, Florida, 1890. (Photo: Library of Congress via AP)
An undated old photograph of the Lone Rock Stockade is shown, May, 28, 2022, in Tracy City, Tenn. The Lone Rock stockage operated for more than 25 years and used prison labor known as convict leasing. The prisoners lived in cramped, unsanitary conditions and risked their lives every day in the iron-making process. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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The New Tri-State Defender
September 22 - 28, 2022
RELIGION
Page 5
By the light of … Greater Light Christian Community Church of Praise, 300 East Georgia Ave., Ste. 101, celebrated the 70th birthday of Pastor George W. Robinson III last Sunday (Sept. 18). (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
Pastoral installation … The Rev. Trenady Phillips, shown here with his family, was installed as pastor of Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, 913 Thomas St., last Sunday (Sept. 18). The installation speakers were the Rev. Steven Young of Ardmore Terrace Baptist Church and the Rev. Dr. Darrell K. Slack, pastor of Greater New Liberty Baptist Church. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
Zion Community Project … “Remembering our Past: Documenting our Future” was the theme for the 13th Annual Fundraising Dinner for the Zion Community Project at Rhodes College last Thursday (Sept. 15). The event’s focus was on the unveiling of “Historic Zion Cemetery in Memphis,” a book edited by Dr. Peatchola Jones-Cole and Dr. Tyrone T. Davis. The event chair was Dr. Ken Hall, with Beverly Robertson serving as co-chairperson. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
A service to remember … During a memorial for Maia Jaribu Ajanaku Locke, Dr. Femi Ajanaku poured libations and Grace Meacham was the mistress of ceremony. The memorial for the teacher and education entrepreneur was held at the Cherokee Branch Library on Sharpe last Friday. (Photos: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)
The New Tri-State Defender, September 22 - 28, 2022, Page 6
15 beloved Black banned books you must read now by Angela Johnson theroot.com
T
his September 18-24 is Banned Books Week, an annual celebration of the freedom to read, which began in 1982. Across the country, there have been continuous efforts to ban books from libraries and schools that deal with issues of race and sexuality. And it’s no coincidence that many of those books were written by LGBTQ or authors of color. But as conservatives push to keep people from reading these books, it’s important that we push just as hard on the other side to keep them in circulation. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite books by Black authors that are frequent targets of conservatives. Accused of everything from sexually explicit content to making white people feel bad about slavery, haters just can’t keep these titles out of their mouths. • “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker – A beautiful story of sisters Celie and Nettie who work to maintain their connection after being separated as young girls. The book won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, but it is the constant target of challenges for “language and explicit content,” including one by a PA school district who called it “smut.” • “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison is one of Oprah Winfrey’s favorite titles, and one of the first picks for her Oprah’s Book Club. But Toni Morrison’s 1977 novel has been challenged by several school districts around the country, including one in Georgia who removed it from required reading lists and library shelves after being deemed “filthy and inappropriate.” • “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston – A classic piece of American literature and a powerful love story. The book was challenged by a school district in Virginia in 1997 by a parent who took issue with the book’s “language and sexual explicitness.” • “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison – This 1952 novel tells the story of a young college-educated Black man who is struggling to find his identity. The narrator is purposely nameless to emphasize the experience of being a Black man in America. The book caused controversy in a Washington school district in 1994 after parents raised concerns about violence and profanity included in the book. • “Native Son” by Richard Wright tells the story of a Black man who killed a white woman in a moment of panic. And although Wright’s story is meant to make a powerful statement on the impact of racism, it has been challenged by several school districts around the country for containing “sexually explicit content.” • “The New Kid” by Jerry Craft is a bestselling graphic novel for children. Author/illustrator Jerry Craft based the story on his own experience as a Black kit attending a predominately white school in New York City. But a public school district in Texas decided that it promoted Critical Race Theory and Marxism and voted to remove it from their library shelves. • “Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot” by
Mikki Kendall – Mikki Kendall looks at the feminist movement, which she argues is focused on helping those with privilege gain even more. Kendall writes that the movement is neglecting issues like food insecurity, quality education and public safety, all of which are feminist issues that primarily impact women of color. In 2021, the book was placed on a banned list released by Republican Texas state Representative Matt Krause who argued that all of the talk about race in the book might make some (aka, white) students feel uncomfortable. • “The Hate You Give” by Angie Thomas held a place on The New York Times bestseller list for 50 weeks, received a Coretta Scott King Book Award and was adapted into a feature film. But it also was
the target of a whole lot of conservatives who looked to ban the book for violence, profanity and being against the police. The novel, inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement, centers around a teenage girl who witnesses one of her childhood friends being shot by police. • “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson is a collection of beautifully personal essays by George M. Johnson. In the book, they share their experience growing up Black and queer. From the bullying and abuse to first loves and special moments with their grandmother, Johnson gives readers a look at everything beautiful and painful of their experience. And the book received plenty of praise, named one of the top 10 teen titles of 2021 by the Young Adult Library Services Association of the American Library Association. But of course, conservatives get lost in the profanity and the LGBTQ themes, which they are quick to call “sexually explicit” and even “pornographic.” The American Library Association named it one of the 10 most challenged books of 2021. • “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison is a classic piece of American literature and a work that solidified her place as one of our most beloved authors. But it is also heavily targeted by those who accuse the book of including offensive language and sexually explicit content. The book was listed on the American Library Association’s (ALA) list of the most challenged books in 2013 and 2014. • “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou – In her first memoir, Maya Angelou writes beautifully about her childhood after being sent to live with her grandmother in a small town in the South. Angelou shares personal stories, including her abuse at the hands of an older man. Although the book is autobiographical, it stays on the banned book lists that accuse it of being anti-white and including sexually explicit content. • “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds found its way onto the ALA’s top 10 most challenged book list in 2020 because of a statement the author made in public. It was also hit with claims that it contains “selective storytelling incidents” and isn’t inclusive of racism against all people. • “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X and Alex Haley is the story of the legendary civil rights leader as told to Alex Haley. According to a January tweet from Books to Prisoners Seattle, the book was banned by a Tennessee State Department of Corrections prison. The prison returned the book to the nonprofit which donates books to those who are incarcerated with a note that read, “Malcolm X not allowed.” • “Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin tells the story of a fourteen-year-old boy finding his identity as the stepson of a Pentecostal minister. The book was banned twice in New York and Virginia in cases accusing it of being “rife with profanity and explicit sex.” • “Beloved” by Toni Morrison is a New York Times Bestseller, a Pulitzer Prize winner and required reading in many English classes. It tells the story of Sethe a freed slave who is still haunted by her past. The book, which appeared on the ALA’s top 10 most banned book list in 2012, was criticized for sexually explicit and violent content as well as its religious viewpoint.
The New Tri-State Defender
September 22 - 28, 2022
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NEWS
Pictured (l-r): Dr. Anissa King, Betina Hunt and Seretha Nobbin. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
Joyclyn Wilson performs during the ceremony where Betina Hunt was crowned Ms. Tennessee Corporate America.
Meet Ms. Tennessee Corporate America TSD Newsroom Betina Hunt was crowned the first Ms. Tennessee Corporate America last Sunday (Sept. 18) during a ceremony at The Board Room at Hickory Ridge Mall. Hunt is the former chapter president of the Greater Memphis Chapter of International Association of Women, chief financial officer for the Heal the Hood Foundation, co-author of “The Sisterhood: Journey of Women in Entrepreneurship,” founder of You First Community Foundation and the owner of BB Distribution Group, LLC.
Community leaders, public officials, family, friends and other supporters were present for the crowning ceremony, which began with a welcome and prayer from Kamekio Lewis and the introduction of hosts by Amya Hunt. The ceremony hosts were media moguls Christie Taylor and Tina Tilton, whose tasks included introducing a solo performance by Joyclyn Wilson. The guest speaker was Seretha Nobbin, Ms. Nashville Corporate America. Her remarks included saluting Dr. Anissa King, founder/director of the Ms. Corporate
America organization. In a virtual appearance, King surprised Hunt and those attending with the announcement of the inaugural Ms. Tennessee Corporate America winner. “Betina encompasses the true essence of what Ms. Corporate America represents and she walks in her divine purpose,” said King. Speaking directly to Hunt, King said, “You did the hard work, you made an impact in your community. Now, let’s help you tell the world.” A proclamation from Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris noted Hunt as an “out-
standing pioneer, who diligently strives to positively impact the lives of women.…” Hunt’s social impact initiative is to help end poverty and to bring awareness by informing both teens and women globally who “suffer in silence with pain, heavy bleeding, unhealthy menstrual cycles, and the potential toxicity of tampon use.” In collaboration with the Justice for My Jewel Campaign, Hunt’s platform will “educate females on the important roles of keeping a healthy cycle by encouraging getting active, healthy eating, healthy product choices and community awareness events.”
COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, September 22 - 28, 2022, Page 8
In the matter of … Cleotha Henderson, the suspect in Eliza Fletcher’s fatal kidnapping, faces life without parole if convicted for any one of three charges stemming from a prior kidnapping and rape case, according to Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee. On Sept. 3, Henderson, 38, was arrested after his DNA was taken on a pair of sandals police say he lost in the area where Fletcher, a kindergarten teacher, was last seen. Two days later, police discovered Fletcher’s remains behind an abandoned house on Victor Street. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
MSCS board chair McKissack mulling a 2023 mayoral run by Samantha West Chalkbeat Tennessee
Michelle McKissack, chairwoman of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board since last year, is mulling a run to become the city’s next mayor. McKissack, who has represented District 1 since 2018 and was recently reelected, on Tuesday announced the formation of an exploratory committee for a campaign to succeed Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, whose term expires at the end of 2023. If elected, she would be the first woman to hold the city’s highest elected office. “As a lifelong Memphian, mother of four children, and a staunch supporter of our public school system, I believe we’re at a critical, decision-making point in this city,” McKissack said in a statement on Monday. “Memphis families are doing all that we can to turn things around in our own neighborhoods and protect our children, but it’s now time for a big
vision from leadership that puts families first.” McKissack would be joining what is already shaping up to be a packed race for Memphis mayor next year. Strickland, who endorsed McKissack’s reelection campaign last month, is term-limited and can’t run for reelection. If McKissack moves forward with a campaign, she would become the third school board member to pursue higher office this year — at a time when MSCS has publicly clashed with city and county government over school funding and each entity’s role in solving other regional issues such as rising gun violence. Miska Clay Bibbs and Shante Avant, two longtime MSCS board members, recently left the school board after winning election to the Shelby County Commission. Both Bibbs and Avant touted their experience on the MSCS board during their campaigns for the commission, the district’s second-largest funding source behind the state.
Over the last two years, the commission has granted the district less than half of its $55 million requests for capital improvement funds to fix up or rebuild aging school buildings. Commissioners have urged the district to turn instead to taxpayers or the city government to seek more funding. The setbacks have forced the district to halt several flagship construction projects in its Reimagining 901 school improvement and facility plan — including a new high school in Frayser. Earlier this month, MSCS officials also hit back at Strickland for comments linking rising truancy and declining enrollment in MSCS to juvenile crime. “It’s not just the one problem of getting guns off the streets or tackling truancy — it’s all of it,” McKissack told Chalkbeat on Sept. 7. “We’re operating too much in silos. We should not be making national news time after time.” After a series of shootings the next day left four people dead and three
others wounded, McKissack called for a comprehensive approach to crime and violence in Memphis, suggesting local elected officials should convene an emergency summit to explore solutions collaboratively. McKissack, a native Memphian and former broadcast journalist, reiterated that call during a press conference on Tuesday. She outlined several priorities for her prospective campaign: improving public safety, expanding public transit, and fighting blight by investing in neighborhoods. In a nod to her school board experience, McKissack also hinted at the role she believes the city should play in growing the next generation of Memphians. She advocated for the city to boost trades training and strengthen after-school and summer programming, arguing that “every child in Memphis should have the opportunity to register for constructive and safe things to do when they are out of the classroom and when their parents are at work.” McKissack said she will spend
Michelle McKissack the next several weeks conversing with the city’s police and fire associations, as well as local parents, many of whom have lived in fear in recent weeks amid a flareup of violence in Memphis. “Every person in our city deserves to feel safe,” McKissack said. With Avant and Bibbs on the County Commission and MSCS’ current board chair considering a mayoral run, Vice Chair Althea Greene said Monday she feels more optimistic about the future of Tennessee’s largest school district. “Our goals would be attainable, and I would see hope for the district,” said Greene, who also ran for County Commission this spring, but was defeated in the primaries. “I would really feel like we have support here in Memphis-Shelby County Schools.” (Samantha West is a reporter for Chalkbeat Tennessee, where she covers K-12 education in Memphis. Connect with Samantha at swest@chalkbeat.org.)
Bakery where Young Dolph was killed reopens by Associated Press Makeda’s reopened store features a tribute to Young Dolph. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender) Customers returned to Makeda’s to the first time since Young Dolph was killed last November.
Morris Hill and Willie Mae Hill named their cookie outlet after their daughter, Makeda Denise Hill, who died in 1997 after losing her battle with leukemia.
A cookie shop where rapper Young Dolph was fatally shot in a daylight ambush 10 months ago has reopened. Makeda’s Homemade Cookies welcomed customers Saturday for the first time since Young Dolph, 36, was killed Nov. 17 in a shooting at the bakery’s flagship location near Memphis International Airport. The shooting shook Memphis and the rap world. The rapper and producer, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was buying cookies at the shop located near the Memphis neighborhood where he grew up when he was killed. Two men have been charged
with murder in the slaying. The shop’s windows had been replaced with wooden boards, where fans had placed tributes to the slain rapper known for charitable works in Memphis. He had returned to Memphis to visit a sick relative and organize a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway. Customers lined up Saturday inside the remodeled store, which smelled of freshly baked goods, including its signature butter cookies. Since the shooting, Young Dolph has been honored in several ways, including the naming of a city street in his memory. Young Dolph had three albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200, with 2020’s “Rich Slave” peaking at No. 4.
The New Tri-State Defender
September 22 - 28, 2022
Page 9
NEWS
A Scout’s honor … Mullins United Methodist Church, 4 North Mendenhall, was the venue last Sunday (Sept. 18) as Tylan Quincy Williams, son of the Rev. Trennie Willams and Kiwanna Williams, was saluted during the Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
Memphis Music Hall of Fame … Stax legend Booker T. Jones was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts last Thursday (Sept. 15.) It was the second induction for Jones, who was among the first class of honorees in three years because of the pandemic. Former Stax executive Deanie Parker, founding president and CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, added to the star power at the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.
CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP NUMBER 23-0005 TRASH REMOVAL SERVICES Sealed responses to this Request for Proposals for providing Trash Removal Services will be received by the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (Authority), Procurement Division, Memphis International Airport, 4150 Louis Carruthers Dr, Memphis, TN 38118 until 2:00 PM local time, October 19, 2022. A listing of all proposers responding will be posted to the Authority’s website after the response deadline. Responses to Requests for Proposals and Requests for Qualifications will not be publicly opened. A complete Request for Proposals Packet with submittal instructions, additional data, and response format may be found on the Authority’s website ( https://flymemphis.com ) on or after September 16, 2022. A pre-proposal conference will be held Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 11:00 AM, at the Authority’s Board Room on the Mezzanine Level, Terminal B of the Memphis International Airport, 2491 Winchester Road, Memphis, TN 38116. All attendees must register at www.eventbrite.com. All Proposers are responsible for checking the Authority’s website up to the submission deadline for any updates, addenda, or additional information. In accordance with the Authority’s purchasing policies, the Authority will give a preference to businesses located in Shelby County, Tennessee when awarding contracts and making purchases, unless prohibited by law. The successful Proposer must sign a contract with the Authority that includes Federal Aviation Administration provisions, if applicable, regarding the Buy American Preference, Foreign Trade Restriction, Davis-Bacon, Affirmative Action, Debarment and Suspension, and Drug-Free Workplace, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this Request for Proposals in whole or in part; to waive any informalities, technicalities, or omissions related to this Request for Proposals; and to reject responses on any other basis authorized by the Authority’s purchasing policies. The Authority is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, disability, marital status, military service, or sexual orientation in its hiring and employment practices and in the admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services, and activities. By order of: Scott A. Brockman, A.A.E. President and CEO Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
NOTICE OF 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: Martin Carodine Tax Parcel #: 01301400000060 Tax Sale #: 1602 Price Offered: $67,200.00 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 10:00 a.m. on October 21, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Martin Carodine Tax Parcel #: 01301800000070 Tax Sale #: 1701 Price Offered: $18,200.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on October 21, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received
an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Mario Bradley Tax Parcel #: 07106300000050 Tax Sale #: 903 Price Offered: $5,000.00 Terms: Cash
FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS
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 21, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Jarvis Donnell Lee Tax Parcel #: 03201500000100 Tax Sale #: 1704 Price Offered: $34,300.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 2:00 p.m. on October 12, 2022, 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.
or
6,000
$
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Cisiro Perry Tax Parcel #: 07206200000920 Tax Sale #: 1702
SEE PAGE 10
GREATCHOICETN.COM
The New Tri-State Defender
CLASSIFIEDS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Price Offered: $46,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:30 p.m. on October 21, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant
to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: EDBS, LLC Tax Parcel #: 08201700000520 Tax Sale #: 1702 Price Offered: $49,600.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:00 p.m. on October 21, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY
September 22 - 28, 2022
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: Vince Gray Tax Parcel #: 02500600000200 Tax Sale #: 1801 Price Offered: $$1000.00 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 21, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400
SCORE UP TO
TOWARDS A MORTGAGE OR REFI For a limited time only, Trustmark is offering up to $10,000 towards the purchase or refinance of a home in Fayette or Shelby County, TN, or DeSoto County, MS, as part of our Home Advantage Mortgage program. You may qualify for a Home Advantage Mortgage with little to no down payment. Stop by your local Trustmark, or visit trustmark.com/upto10 to learn more.
Program Highlights
• Loan amounts up to the Fannie Mae conforming limit
• 0% - 3% down payment options based on your credit score, amount of debt you owe and amount of cash you have saved
• Homebuyer education required
• Cannot own another home at time of closing
• Purchase and refinance options available
*Limited time offer only available in Fayette County, TN, Shelby County, TN, and DeSoto County, MS. Credit approval required. Income, geographic and other restrictions apply. Additional disclosures provided at time of application. The $10,000 is comprised of up to $8,000 in grant funds and up to $2,000 in closing costs.
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SPORTS
The New Tri-State Defender, September 22 - 28, 2022, Page 11
Riding early-season success, Fairley’s Bulldogs are pushing forward by Liaudwin Seaberry Jr.
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
At 5-0, the Fairley High School football team is surging behind the leadership of head coach Frederick Copeland. The Bulldogs entered the 2022 season with lofty expectations, despite losing key members from last year’s team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Copeland retooled his roster over the summer and now his team is primed to make a second straight appearance in the 2A playoffs. With playmakers featured on both offense and defense, the offense’s focal point is freshman running back Quinterrion Hollins. He already has produced two games this season with six or more touchdowns. And, he has avoided the typical “freshman wall” that many ninth graders hit when transitioning from middle school to high school football. Hollins’ feats have resulted in 17 touchdowns in five games. Copeland
The Fairley Bulldogs pose for a team picture before the beginning of a practice session. no longer views him as a freshman. He’s simply a playmaker. “We are looking for him to haul in and keep putting up big numbers for the rest of the regular season and in the playoffs,” Copeland said. So far this season, Fairley consistently has scored, racking up 232 points. That eye-catching offensive stat is amplified by the astounding fact that the Bulldogs’ defense has not allowed opponents to score a point. With defensive playmakers such as junior Jacquan Davis, the city’s leader in interceptions, and senior defen-
sive end Jalen Russell, it has become an uphill battle to score points against the Bulldogs. “We stay really humble about it,” Davis said, referring to the team’s complete shutout of its opponents this season. “We do our best to outwork the competition on and off the field, and it starts in the weight room and then moves onto the field.” Discipline and players understanding their respective assignments have been a plus for Fairley. Russell highlighted that when discussing the defensive improvements. As the leader, he is responsible for holding
The Fairley Bulldogs unite after adding a victory to a season that already has yielded success. Despite the success of many individual players, head coach Frederick Copeland’s message centers around team unity. (Courtesy photo) his teammates, many of them being underclassmen, to the team’s lofty standards this season. “It’s been great to not have given up a touchdown the entire season, and that’s certainly something to be happy about,” said Russell. “However, every week presents a different challenge, and we can’t be thinking about last week’s performance when preparing for a new team to face.” With five games left in the season, Fairley is in prime position for an opportunity to host playoff games all through the playoffs. However, there are still four district games to
play against Oakhaven, King Prep, Mitchell, and undefeated Freedom Prep Academy. Copeland’s message throughout the team’s success is to take things one day, one practice, and one game at a time. He feels no need to change the mantra now. “We cannot look ahead to the future because that’s how you get caught off guard and slip up,” he said. “Our guys have played lights-out this season, for sure, but now it’s about continuing the strong production in every game going forward headed into the final half of the season.”
Tigers take down Arkansas State
Memphis’ Brandon Thomas eyes what he has to do to pick up this first down for the Tigers. (Photos: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
University of Memphis Tigers’ defensive pressure caused James Blackman, the quarterback for Arkansas State, to throw the ball out of bounds. Memphis improved to 2-1 with the win at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
The New Tri-State Defender
September 22 - 28, 2022
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