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October 20 - 26, 2022
VOL. 71, No. 42
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Shelby County District Atty. Gen. Steve Mulroy detailed office changes made and others in the works during a recent appearance before the Frayser Exchange Club at the new Ed Rice Community Center. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)
Shake-up at the DA’s office signals changing of the guard by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, who took office Sept. 1, announced the formation of the Post-Conviction Justice Unit Tuesday (Oct. 18) and a veteran defense attorney to lead it. Lorna McClusky will direct the initiative, designed to review prior cases for “possible errors and false convictions.” The unit also will re-examine sentences that have been handed down to access appropriateness, considering any changes of the law. Establishment of the Post-Conviction Justice Unit marks the second major change in as many weeks. Friday (Oct. 14), nine prosecutors were cut from the present staff. Mulroy also has announced six new hires in a move to keep a campaign promise to bring “diversity and change” to the county prosecutor’s office. Ernest Brooks II., Denania Galloway, Melanie Headley, Kindle Nance, and Krysa Scully are joining the office as assistant district attorneys general. Jessica Indingaro will serve as Special Assistant for Projects & Government Relations. All will be brought on between now and mid-November, according to Mulroy’s newsletter. “These attorneys represent a wide breadth of professional experience. Together they bring our office closer to better representing the full diversity of our community. They include former prosecutors, former public defenders, and members of the private bar … some are former law students of mine and dedicated professionals whose skill and acumen I’ve admired for years. I’m honored to have them on our team…” While announcing the new hires, Mulroy also said nine employees were let go. Moving forward, Mulroy said more changes are coming and invited members of the community to offer input in the hiring process. “Our office is still looking to fill several critical roles, including new positions that I created when I took office last month,” Mulroy said. “Among these are a Chief Data Officer, who will provide essential data analysis and transparency into the office’s performance…”
SEE MULROY ON PAGE 2
Early voting for the Nov. 8 Election began Wednesday (Oct. 19) and continues through Thursday, Nov. 3, with 26 locations across Shelby County. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
Window for Early Voting now open
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
With the November 8 Election less than a month away, the window opened on Wednesday (Oct. 19) for those who choose to vote early. Early voting extends through Thursday, Nov. 3, with 26 locations across Shelby County. The Shelby County Election Commission and the Shelby County Voter Alliance
pitched early voting during a joint press conference at the Shelby County Election Commission downtown on Wednesday morning. A hopeful tone was sounded for possibly higher numbers this mid-term election year. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Shelby County Election Commission Administrator Linda Phillips said this mid-term will feature the roll-out of new voting machines. Sessions for voters to do a test run of the new machines before actu-
ally voting have been scheduled. “We are excited about the new machines and what we believe is an enhancement of the voter experience,” said Phillips. “And, of course, we always want every voter in every election to come out and exercise their right to vote. But numbers show that voters will come out for elections where they feel their vote counts. We believe this year’s numbers will be up.”
SEE VOTE ON PAGE 2
Hurt, healing bared at symposium to get Ell Persons lynching site on federal registry by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
The horrors of lynching and the act’s lasting effects on the psyches of the victim’s relatives and witnesses were laid bare during a day-long symposium at First Congregational Church. “Confronting the Legacy of Lynching: A Conversation Among Descendants” was the fourth and final panel of the Memphis Lynching Sites Project. A broad multiracial crowd of attendees came to hear descendants of lynching victims and witnesses. The event is part of an effort to raise awareness of these inhumane racist murders and to have the site of the lynching of Ell Persons added to the National Parks Registry. Steve Haley, whose great-uncle watched a rabid mob of white men soak Persons with gasoline and burned him alive, played a three-anda-half-minute recording of his great-uncle’s account, while on his death bed, of the 1917 event. “They poured gasoline on that n****r and burned him at the stake,” said the gravelly voice
SEE LYNCH ON PAGE 2
The panel for “Confronting the Legacy of Lynching: A Conversation among Descendants” featured (l-r) Richard Watkins, Lynching Sites Project president; Laura Kebede, distinguished journalist in residence, Institute for Public Service Reporting at the U of M and a LSP board member; Michelle Whitney, a descendant of Ell Persons’ family; Steve Haley, a descendant of a lynching spectator, and Laura Wilfong Miller, a descendant of Antoinette Rapel, whose killing triggered the events that culminated with the lynching of Ell Persons in 1917. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/ GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender) on the recording. “I can still smell the flesh of that n****r cooking…” Haley, whose great-uncle was a white man, living in Memphis in 1917, remained silent af-
ter the recording ended. Finally, he spoke. “Fifty years later, my great uncle could still recall the smell of burning flesh,” said Haley. “I am on this panel today, but I don’t really talk about it
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The New Tri-State Defender
October 20 - 26, 2022
Page 2
NEWS
LYNCH
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Voting for the Nov. 8 Election features the roll-out of new voting machines. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
VOTE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT In addition to local, state, and federal races, the midterm ballot also presents several “important constitutional questions,” said Phillips. Voters who need some clarification and insight on what those questions mean can contact voter education organizations such as the Voter Alliance, the Women’s League of Voters and UpTheVote901. Shelby County Voter Alliance spokesman Ian Randolph said his organization’s partnership has been productive and fruitful in terms of voter outreach. “Our organization has been proud to join the Election Commission in helping to inform voters about the new machines and encouraging them to go to the polls for this important election.” Practice demonstrations of the new machines have been held across the county. Ran-
MULROY
CONTINUED FROM FRONT Mulroy indicated in last week’s letter that he was looking for “dedicated professionals who want to get in on the ground floor of a transformative reform effort to remake this office in line with best practices across the country.” “If you know someone — or are someone —who fits that description, I encourage you to check out these and other positions at SCDAG.com. The Shelby County District Attorney General’s office employs approximately 110 prosecutors. McClusky graduated from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1994. Four years later, she joined the Massey McClusky Law Firm, where she advanced to managing partner,
dolph described the practice sessions as beneficial to voters who want to learn the machines before they actually go to vote. Phillips amplified on her optimism that this mid-term voting season will be one of the best in terms of numbers. “Of course, mid-terms do not bring out the voter numbers that presidential election years do,” said Phillips. “But typically, the number is right at 200,000. But we may reach 250,000 because of the great work the Voter Alliance has done this year. Their voter education and registration efforts continue to be extremely effective in turning out more voters.” Phillips noted that Shelby County voters have shifted in great numbers to the early voting schedule, as well as the use of mail-in and absentee voting. A major shift has occurred over the last few election cycles, since 2014. Voters at the Glenview Community Center bear out
the shift from Voter Day participation to early voting. Workers outside with mailers and other literature in support of various candidates said they had seen the trend toward early voting firsthand. “For me, it is the force of habit to get out and vote on the very first day of early voting,” said Donald Dickerson. “Very seldom is there a line, and if you can’t wait in line, you can always come back. I started early voting many years ago, and I will never go back to Voting Day.” Joe Boyland recalled casting his first ballot soon after he turned 18. “I went on Voter Day, and the line was so long. I stayed in line because I was determined to cast my vote. But the next election, I voted early, and I couldn’t believe the difference. I have voted early every time since then.”
with nearly three decades of practice in criminal law. McClusky also has extensive experience in capital cases. “This is an epochal shift for the justice system of Shelby County,” McClusky said. “We are looking forward to our unit advancing DA Mulroy’s vision of not merely remedying false convictions, but of creating a stronger legal system built on fairness.” A recent death of an inmate at the Shelby County Jail, spotlighted conditions and practices that may indicate a massive violation of civil rights for the 2,300 inmates held in custody. Mulroy indicated in last week’s letter that he was asked in a recent interview why so many are locked up in pre-trial before they’ve even had their day in court. “There are many people in jail right now who have not
been convicted of any crime, yet are stuck behind bars for months, or even years,” said Mulroy. “The reasons for this are complex and stretch back many years, and largely have to do with the way that the bail system works or fails to work in our community. “The unfortunate outcome is that more people remain locked up for longer periods of time, regardless of their guilt or innocence, costing taxpayers extraordinary amounts of money without improving public safety. This must change.” The jail was built in 1981 and designed to house 1,200 inmates. The purpose was to construct a temporary holding cell for brief periods of time while inmates awaited their day in court. Expansions were made in 1989 and 1991 to accommodate the growing population.
(For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3D9ugCu.)
much. I get emotional.” Persons’ lynching often is called “the worst lynching in Shelby County.” Persons, an African-American woodcutter was accused of raping and decapitating a15-year-old white schoolgirl, Antoinette Rappel, who was last seen on her bicycle crossing the Wolf River on the Macon Road Bridge. The only “proof” that Persons was actually guilty was the coerced “confession” to the girl’s murder. Haley remembers his great uncle’s account of May 22, 1917, when Persons was snatched from the custody of two officers bringing him back to Memphis on a train to stand trial. They dragged Persons off the train, beat and tormented him to coerce a confession to murder, and then proceed to render mob justice. Haley recalls his ancestor saying it was clear that anyone who tried to interfere in the lynching would be killed. Persons’ great niece,, Michele Whitney did not find out about the lynching until 2017, well into middle age. “Growing up, no one talked about it,” said Whitney. “This was not a part of our family’s oral history. “I was contacted by Tom Carlson, a professor at the University of Memphis, who told me he believed that I was a descendant of Ell Persons. But I never heard anything about this growing up.” Whitney acknowledged it has taken professional therapy to deal with wounds of the past and the painful secret el-
A display at the Lynching Sites Project event showcased newspaper coverage and drew the attention of a lynching-victim descendant. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/ GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender) ders in her childhood took to the grave. “My father was four when our family moved from Memphis up to Chicago,” said Whitney. “History is uncomfortable. We must take a look at it, addressing the wounds. The only way out is through it.” Laura Wilfong Miller, a descendant of the Antoinette Rappel family, also learned about her lineage from Carlson, who told her he believed she was Antoinette’s descendant. “There has never been any indication that the real killer was ever found, or if Persons actually did it,” said Miller. “I have a 14-year-old daughter, and I did share our family’s story and the lynching that followed Antoinette’s murder. Some discussions are difficult to have, but we must all keep talking to each other.” Whitney and Haley extended each other grace, as they made peace with the past and each other. “I continue telling my stories,” said Whitney. “Young people need to know. They need to connect to their history. I tell them we should never
take our freedom for granted. “Generations before us wanted us to do better and go further. We have an imperfect past, but a hopeful future.” Haley, who taught history 40 years at Shelby State, (now Southwest Tennessee Community College), said lynching is a part of American history, particularly Southern history. “I have always had discussions with my students that no one else was having,” said Haley. “We talked about lynching, and surprising enough, those who objected to talking about it were Black students. They would say, ‘Why are you bringing that up.’ I understand. The past is painful.” Haley, too, sees honest and sometimes, painful conversation as the way forward. “After World War II, things had gotten somewhat better,” said Haley. “My daddy used to say that everybody has a soul, Black or white, and that everybody had a right to be saved. “There is some change. Some other things are racism in a different package. Together, we can heal each other.”
My worst fears became my greatest moment of thanks. ANGELA BAKER Thankful Cardiology Patient
When Angela Baker was admitted to the hospital for chest pain, she needed a team of dedicated cardiologists to diagnose and treat her, but she also needed supportive caregivers who reassured her when she was most vulnerable. In a letter, she writes, “Because you were with me every step of the way, I was never fearful, not even for a second. I cannot thank you enough for the care you provided. Your kindness, dedication and healing touch were nothing short of amazing. You will always be in my heart.”
Hear Angela’s full story of thanks at methodisthealth.org/angela.
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The New Tri-State Defender
October 20 - 26, 2022
Page 3
NEWS
Mason mayoral race goes on amid a legal challenge State NAACP fires back at partisan interference charge
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to The New Tri-State Defender
A candidate for mayor of Mason, Tennessee, who was disqualified after failing to meet the town’s residency requirements, is blasting the Tipton County NAACP, accusing the chapter of playing partisan politics to remove him from the ballot. Thomas Burrell thinks he still will be on the Nov. 8 election ballot, if a state or federal court rules in his favor. “This isn’t over by a long shot,” said Burrell. “The Tipton County NAACP President, Chris Brent (who is a member of the Tipton County Election Commission), conspired with others to get me off the ballot. Before I was called to meet with the Tipton County Election Commission, clearly there were secret meetings held before mine.” Burrell is president of the Black Farmers & Agriculturalists Association, Inc., and a well-known Republican in Tipton County. In late August, the Election Commission released the names of four individuals who had qualified for the mayor’s race. At a Sept. 9 meeting, the Election Commission disqualified him for not meeting the
residency requirement. NAACP State President Gloria Sweet-Love fired back against any partisan involvement in Burrell’s disqualification. Sweet-Love’s statement reads, in part. “The Tipton County Branch of the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP has taken no position as to whether any political candidate meets qualifications for office. That is purely an issue for the Tipton County Election Commission and the courts to decide in accordance with the applicable law. That any officer or member of the Tipton County NAACP sits on any public or private board does not change decisions of those boards into decisions of the Tipton County NAACP…” Sweet-Love made additional remarks this week, clarifying Brent’s role in the meeting Burrell calls conspiratorial. “Mr. Burrell’s accusations against Christopher Brent are completely unfounded. What he has failed to say is that Christopher Brent sits on the Tipton County Election Commission. He met with Thomas Burrell, not as the county’s NAACP president, but as a member of the election board.” Burrell argues that once
Thomas Burrell
“Chris Brent was responsible for the meeting that disqualified me because elected officials in Mason are afraid I will win. I am the only one who will stand up to the state.” — Thomas Burrell
the commission deemed him qualified to run for mayor, which should have been the end of it “Chris Virginia Rivers Brent was responsible for the meeting that disqualified me because elected officials in Mason are afraid I will win. I am the only one who will stand up to the state. I would never surrender the city’s charter, and I think each of the three candidates running for mayor would give up the charter.” Vice-Mayor Virginia Rivers, Mayor Emmitt Gooden, and Alderman Eddie Noeman are candidates in the race for Mason’s mayor.
Rivers took exception to Burrell’s remarks about the charter’s surrender. “Mr. Burrell must not have seen me earlier this year tell the state (that) Mason would never surrender the charter. As an alternative, the state is overseeing the city’s finances. “Deficits were created by previous white administrations. But they wanted to take it from African-American leaders. We are cooperating to get the city’s finances in a healthier state. But we will never give up our charter. Our foreparents lived here for generations and passed it down to us. This city belongs to the people.” The town’s fortunes are expected to benefit from the late-September groundbreaking for the Ford Motor Company’s Blue Oval City, a $5.6 billion electric car plant just outside of Mason. Burrell reportedly was questioned about the official
Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the Tennessee NAACP, speaking at rally in Mason on April 2. Tennessee NAACP affiliates staged the rally, along with other activist communities, to form a coalition advocating Mason’s right to autonomy. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender Archives) address he listed on his petition to run for mayor. Election commissioners questioned whether Burrell actually lived at the address. The house is uninhabitable, but Burrell told the board he was doing renovations. A trailer had been brought onto the property. The commission also asked Burrell about electricity and water only being recently turned on at the address in late August. Burrell said he frequently travels because of his work with the Black Farmers organization and may not be at the property all the time. Election commissioners in the end voted to reverse Burrell’s eligibility to run for mayor. Sweet-Love called election commissioner Brent a man with integrity and honor who has no political agenda.
“Chris Brent is honest and trustworthy as a person. As an election commissioner and as Tipton County NAACP president, he conducts his duties with the highest moral fortitude. If he determined that anyone is ineligible to run for mayor, it is because lawful guidelines are not being followed. Pushing an agenda is not in his character…” Burrell filed a restraining order against the Election Commission in the United States District Court Western District of Tennessee, which would have prevented the removal of his name from the Nov. 8 ballot. The order was denied on Sept. 27. Appeals have been filed in both state and federal courts, Burrell said. A favorable ruling would require Tipton County Election Commission to reinstate Burrell’s name on the upcoming mid-term ballot.
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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, October 20 - 26, 2022, Page 4
Black Southern food isn’t killing us by Nylah Burton Is Black Southern cuisine – often reduced to the simple term “soul food” – unhealthy or “low-vibration“? Or is it not high blood pressure that runs in your family, but the “plate,” as actress and vegan food influencer Tabitha Brown reportedly said recently? It’s a tired debate, but it is necessary since ignorance runs Nylah deep. Burton But Black food is not killing Black people. Black Southern food is seasonal, healthy, nuanced, and rich with culture and meaning. Systemic racism – in the form of food deserts, stress induced by racial terror, and medical negligence – kills us, not the food made by our people’s experienced and loving hands. The idea that Black food is unhealthy and inferior is rooted in anti-Blackness and prejudice against overweight people. And to understand our food and to fight back against these narratives, we must realize our migrant roots are the key. The Great Migration – when millions of Black people came to the North from the South, fleeing economic oppression, Jim Crow apartheid, and the ever-present threat of lynching – was one of the most significant movements of people in U.S. history. Our families tried to hold onto the South, sending us to Alabama and Mississippi for summers, but as with any migrant community, over generations, those connections faded. And with those faded connections came a hazy idea of Black Southern food. People distanced from their Southern roots are determined to reduce Black Southern food as unhealthy “slave food.” But this isn’t the experience of actual Southerners or people who have maintained those connections and knowledge. “Our proximity to fresh food is what fed us and kept us alive before and after being brought here – not the scraps of white people and not through overly processed foods either, said chef Amethyst Ganaway, who grew up in South Carolina. “Even as a poor Southerner, I never grew up eating fast food or ‘junk.’ We had pecan and pear trees. We had fishermen and hunters in our families and communities. People with these weird takes on soul, and Southern food are disconnected from their roots. That’s why it’s so easy to spread misinformation and feed into stereotypes.” That’s why Ganaway said it’s vital to talk to your elders and learn. “There’s been some disconnect between elders and the younger generations. I’m probably one of the only millennials in my family and the last generation to have snapped peas with my elders.” Cora Harrington, who grew up in Georgia and whose family is from rural Mississippi going back generations, points out that people who insist Black or soul food is unhealthy are “often folks whose grandmas and great-grandmas were the last people to live in the South. Their connection to Black Southern cooking is far removed and filtered through multiple generations of only eating it on holidays and only having access to minimal fresh food.” Harrington’s experience, like most Black Southerners, is not one of unhealthy food. “I’m from the Deep South and ate so
Fried red snapper with smashed purple potatoes and green chili chutney. (Photo: Nylah Burton)
“Our proximity to fresh food is what fed us and kept us alive before and after being brought here – not the scraps of white people and not through overly processed foods either.” — chef Amethyst Ganaway many different kinds of peas, beans, and greens on a regular basis. People sell squash and tomatoes and watermelons out of the back of trucks. People you know that hunted gave you turkeys, ducks, and boar.” Ultimately, this Amethyst refusal to acknowlGanaway edge the specificity of Black Southern cuisine is a disservice to our people. It leads to dissonance that we cannot name, a loss we don’t even know we’re supposed to feel, and ignorance about our heritage that no one urges us to remedy. Much of the misunderstanding is because many Black people are removed from their roots. When their ancestors, great-grandparents, and grandparents migrated from the South during the Great Migration, the translation of what our food was became adapted to white tastes, became adapted to something we could sell easily as we tried to start our businesses. So many of those who migrated – including my own family – came from rural areas in the South and moved to crowded urban cities in the North. We were separated from the land we knew – for many, we were separated from a cultivatable land at all – and with that came distance from our agricultural, hunting, and fishing traditions. When talking about how they ate in their hometown of Camden, Alabama, my mother’s family spoke about fresh vegetables, okra, venison, and rabbit – besides more holiday foods such as beef ribs and candied yams. It wasn’t necessarily a story of plenty but a story of sustainability and the pursuit of food sovereignty. Equating low-income people’s food choices with “Black food” or “soul food” is erroneous. And in Camden, the unhealthy food is due to a lack of access.
“People need to realize that what folks consider to be ‘soul food’ isn’t eaten every day – that’s the special Sunday meal that you enjoy with family nowadays,” said Erika Nicole Kendall, nutritionist, and writer of the blog A Black Girl’s Guide to Weight Loss. “When we try to single out Black Americans as if we are uniquely unhealthy, instead of succumbing to the same illnesses as the rest of society, (U.S. society is) saying it’s OK not to care because it’s (Black Americans’) problem.” It’s true that the health issues plaguing the Black community are not credited to our cultural foods and that it’s a broader societal problem. But the rest of society doesn’t have the same health problems as we do because our marginalization increases our risk. Kendall recommends that individuals be proactive about their health by having regular checkups, making time for exercise, and learning how to eat in ways that improve wellness. “We can’t ignore the fact that we need policies that support folks having access to the things we know contribute to improved health outcomes,” she said. “Insurance and affordable health care, safe and walkable communities, affordable grocery stores, jobs that aren’t allowed to pay you pennies while sucking up every ounce of the free time you’d use to practice self-care – those things matter. We can’t count on individual effort to erase what we need policy to do.” If Black health is the focus, picking soul food apart is not the answer. However, addressing the criminal justice system’s injustice is part of the solution. Black people are more than five times more likely to be incarcerated than white people, and a prison is where – due to numerous factors including negligent food systems – Black people develop health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Phillip Alvin Jones, the host of The Wall: Behind and Beyond podcast, who has been incarcerated for more than three decades in Washington state, told Andscape in a phone call that the diet in prison is a grave risk to incarcerated Black people. Jones, the founder of Inside/Out Consults Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, says that the prison diet consists of cheaply produced food high in sodium. “It’s not even about saving money,” he said. “They just don’t want us healthy.”
The “vegetable” is often just a piece of lettuce, and the meat is “mixed with something to make it mostly gristle and ligaments.” Reading off a menu, he said a “fortified drink” with unknown ingredients accompanied each meal, which he said prison officials can use to supplement inmates’ diets without giving them more or better food. As a consequence, Jones said, most people he knows in prison, including himself, have several health problems. “I have high blood pressure and I am borderline diabetic. There’s a lot of unhealthy people around here, people constantly in wheelchairs and having heart attacks. Everybody has high blood pressure. The food is not sufficient.” To fight back against the war on our health, we also need to reconnect with our tradition of food sovereignty and put these tired stereotypes to rest. As Harrington said, “One way to understand the history of Black Americans is through our food, and a disconnect from that might indicate a disconnect from other things too.” Travel and food writer Nneka Okona, who grew up in Georgia, said, “Being Southern is central to my identity – all I know about eating in season and from the land I grew up being shown.” Okona said her maternal grandmother, who lived in Alabama, had a garden that provided the bulk of her sustenance and the family’s when they visited. “Each time we pulled up to visit from Georgia, she had a dinner of meat loaf, cabbage, lima beans, mashed potatoes, and cornbread ready. My grandma was known for her greens – she mixed turnip, mustard and collards.” Black people with roots in the South need to familiarize themselves with our food traditions, not rely on tropes that only serve stereotypes that harm us. If we understand Black food, we know so much more. Ganaway said that when we try to understand Black food, we “open up a world of history and cultural and personal traditions that help to ground positive thoughts and ideals around what ‘Black food’ looks like.” (Nylah Burton is a travel, lifestyle, and entertainment writer with bylines in New York Magazine, Vogue, and Travel + Leisure. This story is from The Undefeated via andscape.com)
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The New Tri-State Defender
October 20 - 26, 2022
Page 5
RELIGION
When we get together … New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 955 S. 4th St., recently held a reunion brunch at the Supper Club on 2nd, which is owned by Joe Johnson and Co. Those on hand included Dr. Ed Parker Jr. Paul Young and family, Leroy Hanna and his sister, Janet Hanna, and a host of other New Salem members and supporters. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
With honor and love … During a visitation service (Oct. 14) at Mt. Pisgah C.M.E. Church, Ebony Boyd sings a salute to her late husband, the Rev. Willie Boyd Jr., pastor of Greenwood Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, who died in a single-car crash on Oct. 8. Rev. Boyd’s life was celebrated at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church last Saturday (Oct. 15). (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
In the Spirit … Joyful remembrance … The life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. James Lee Morganfield were celebrated by family and friends during a service held at Robinhood Lane Missionary Baptist Church, 3804 Kimball Ave., on Oct. 7. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
Publisher/Editor Minerva P. Little and Spirit magazine celebrated the publications 20th anniversary during a gala at the University of Memphis-Holiday Inn on Oct. 6. The celebration included Spirit’s salute to 50 women over 50. The awardees were nominated by area churches and other organizations. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
The New Tri-State Defender
October 20 - 26, 2022
Page 6
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Half American’ fills in the blanks on things missed in history class – or never told by Terri Schlichenmeyer
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Raise your hand. If something’s going to get done around here, you’re volunteering because things need to be different and you’re ready and willing to make it happen. This starts with you because, well, who else? As in the new book “Half American” by Matthew F. Delmont, there’ll be no more doing things halfway. In the time before America entered World War II, Black Americans kept their eyes on what was happening overseas, particularly in Spain. The rise of fascism during the Spanish Civil War was of particular interest to them because “fascism was Jim Crow with a foreign accent.” Eighty Black Americans even volunteered to fight against the Nationalists. Their efforts caught the attention of writer Langston Hughes, who was hired by a Black-owned newspaper to follow the American soldiers, and report about it. While in Spain, he described the “realities of war,” but he also noticed something that astounded him: “’in this anti-fascist army,’ Hughes wrote, ‘Negroes and whites marched, trained, and fought together’.” Benjamin O. Davis graduated from West Point in 1936, and had his sights set on a career in the military. Davis, says Delmont, “desperately wanted to be a pilot” but such opportunities weren’t then available to a black man, no matter what his accomplishments. Davis, and other Black U.S. soldiers had to battle racism within the ranks first. Pullman union leader A. Philip Randolph organized a march on Washington for the rights of soldiers and homefront workers. Thurgood Marshall, chief lawyer for the NAACP, became “energized” by his work for equality, particularly that of Black Americans who wanted to volunteer to “serve their country without being degraded by their countrymen.” But, says Delmont, that “was only half the fight. Victory would be incomplete unless it also uprooted white
UCAN of Memphis to host National Youth Confidence Day
“Half American: The Epic Story “of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad” by Matthew F. Delmont c. 2022, Viking $30 400 pages supremacy.... These dual war aims coalesced under a slogan that came to define the Black American experience during the war: Double V.” No matter how much you think you know a subject, there are always stories you’re missing. On the topics of racism and war, “Half American” will tell you some tales. This is one of those books that fills in the blanks on the things you missed in history class – or the things you were never told in the first place. The stories in here are stunning and quite moving, but also frustrating, even 90 years after the fact. It’s like sitting at the VFW, listening to old war stories
that were told in a whisper but that need shouting. Author Matthew F. Delmont, who is a history professor at Dartmouth College, explains that his research and this story as a whole “has forced me to see the war with fresh eyes.” Readers, whether veterans or not, should agree. Beware that this book can occasionally seem a bit academic – it’s heavy with dates and site names, but the feeling passes quickly enough that armchair historians can still enjoy it greatly. If you need to know more about Black history in World War II, find “Half American” and raise your hand.
National Youth Confidence Day, which was created by a native Memphian, will have a special 2022 celebration in the Bluff City thanks largely to UCAN of Memphis. The brainchild of Tiffany R. Lewis Founder, president/ CEO of Confident Girl Mentoring Program, Inc., National Youth Confidence is Thursday, October 20. Confident Girl Mentoring Program, Inc. is headquartered in Buffalo, New York, and Lewis will travel to Memphis to deliver a special youth confidence message. UCAN of Memphis was awarded $3,000 to host the celebration and students will be treated to free t-shirts, snacks, and fun confidence-building activities. The program was set to begin at 12:45 p.m. at Belle Forest Community School located 3135 Ridgeway Rd. Annually Lewis awards a youth organization in a different state a grant to host the special celebration. “UCAN and its programming embody everything that the Confident Girl Mentoring Program stands for,” said Lewis. “(It) was the perfect choice to host Youth Confidence Day, and I love that it’s located in my hometown. I look forward to addressing the students at Belle Forest Community School and enjoying a fun day with them.” UCAN of Memphis is co-founded by LeShundra Robinson (MPA, LSA) and offers youth empowerment, bullying prevention, and char-
Tiffany R. Lewis
LeShundra Robinson
acter-building programs within local schools and community organizations. “We are grateful for this opportunity to bring National Youth Confidence Day to Memphis,” said Robinson. “This is perfectly aligned with our current programs that exist to build confidence and empower youth to make wise decisions that can have a long-lasting impact on their futures.” said Robinson. Confident Girl Mentoring Program, Inc.’s mission is to foster a thriving culture where all girls can build their self-esteem and confidence through self-discovery. The organization received its own national holiday, National Youth Confidence Day, in 2018 and it is celebrated on October 20. (For more information about UCAN of Memphis, call 901-2628642 or visit, ucanofmemphis.org. To learn more about Confident Girl Mentoring Program, Inc. and Youth Confidence Day, visit confidentgirlmentoring.com.)
COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, October 20 - 26, 2022, Page 7
Commission embraces resolution to help operation of Shelby County Clerk’s office by James Coleman
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
With lines outside Shelby County Clerk offices still lingering, Shelby County commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution detailing recommendations to help Clerk Wanda Halbert address a series of shortfalls in staffing and. The set of benchmarks approved Monday (Oct. 17) are the latest effort to ease a backlog in the issuance of license plates, vehicle tags and handicap placards, among other items, which began in April. The move also comes as the office of Shelby County Clerk Wanda prepares to open another satellite office by the end of the month. Throughout the months-long saga, staffing was a persistent factor. During her update, Halbert blamed much of the shortfalls on bureaucratic hurdles of the county’s Human Resources Department, which is responsible for staffing the office.
“That term usually takes about 6090 days,” Halbert claimed. However, like many of the claims Halbert has made since the morass began, a county employee was quick to dispute. “It does not take 60 to 90 days to hire anyone. It’s 15 days. It’s never been 60 to 90 days to hire anyone,” countered Shelby County Human Resources Director Gerald Thornton. The pair couldn’t agree on the number of staff, either. Halbert said there were 80 currently working in the clerk’s office. Thornton countered there were only 68. He also said there were more than 1,000 applications that have been submitted. The only in-writing request seeking a hire came Monday, however. “As of last week, Clerk Halbert had 1,750 pending applications for one job in her office, but they have not done anything about it,” Thornton said. On top of HR, the county clerk also blamed shortages on non-com-
petitive wages, which results in a revolving door. This not only includes private industry jobs, but counterparts in similar sized and smaller counties. Wanda “I can’t even Halbert tell you the sunken feeling I had when we finally got a chance to hire two very good, well-qualified finance employees. Literally, these salaries, they’re walking away,” said Halbert. “They came in with little more than 33 to 35 thousand dollars and they’re leaving us just as quick as we can get them in. One, we are having them wait too long. Others are offering far more salaries than we are, so we’re working with them on that as well.” Yet, with an ongoing problem months in the making, some new
commission members were only seeking bottom line solutions. “You’ve got to get fully staffed … That’s not their responsibility, that is your responsibility,” leveled Commissioner Shante Avant, one of six new members on the commission. In addition to hiring the necessary personnel, the resolution also asks for a job study to establish what type of staffing is needed. During the meeting, Halbert said the skillset required for clerk positions, for example, can vary. The resolution also commands commission staff to “assist” Halbert’s office by “gathering necessary documents, including but not limited to job studies and budget requests from the County Clerk.” “We need to support you so that we are able to get people their tags … Let’s just get our folks what they need,” said Avant. “If that means reclassifying some positions, let’s get it done.” Halbert accused the county administration’s hiring committee of hin-
dering the hiring process. “There’s something called the ‘Hiring Committee,’ last term. That hiring committee was like a second veto for the administration, not for those elected to get us what is needed in manpower – you know what I’m talking about,” said Edmund Ford Jr., who has been a frequent critic of the county Mayor Lee Harris’ administration. The resolution calls for the new Riverdale location to open by Oct. 31. It replaces the heavily trafficked Germantown location, which recently closed. At least 13 staff members are needed for that office to open. Harris recently addressed a letter to Halbert, saying the new office might not open at the end of the month due to a lack of cooperation with the administration’s IT office. Halbert refuted the charge. As well as staffing issues, the resolution also called for all clerk’s offices to be fully automated and that all facilities be brought up to state and local codes.
Remembering ‘Baba’ …
Service in the face of need … Community Day (Oct. 15) at Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, 229 S. Danny Thomas, yielded food supplies for the needy in conjunction with the Guatemala Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church of God In Christ Holy Convocation (Oct. 10-14). Bishop Charles H. Mason Patterson Sr., Pentecostal’s senior pastor, is the prelate of the Guatemala Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
Family and friends of renowned civil rights-era photographer Dr. Ernest C. “Baba” Withers celebrated what would have been Withers’ 100 birthday during a gathering at the University of Memphis-Holiday Inn last Saturday (Oct. 15). The Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Orr was the keynote speaker. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)
New Ode app taps into Black radio legacy by Erica R. Williams
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Black radio always has been important and, in some cases, life changing. Programs explicitly targeted to Black audiences brought together their music, stories, and culture, propelling Black artists into the mainstream while broadcasting news of the ever-growing civil rights movement. It’s during the Civil Rights era that Howard Robertson, president and CEO of Trust Marketing and Advertising, was introduced to Black radio. He recalled growing up in Memphis in the 1950s, and 1960s, listening to WDIA, the first radio station dedicated to Black audiences. So intrigued by what was being delivered to his adolescent ears, Robertson decided early on that he wanted to pursue a career in media. “Black radio was everything to us,” he said. “Our music, our culture, our stories. We got it all from black radio.” Now the longtime media maven has embarked on a new venture, paying homage to the kind of radio that inspired him since he was a youngster. Robertson has created Ode, a new app that streams Black radio stations, podcasts and Black news and information. It’s the first mobile app to aggre-
Howard Robertson gate and stream some of America’s best Black and independently owned radio stations on one mobile app. Robertson acknowledged that Ode is a tribute to Black culture and entertainment. With the tagline, ‘Hear us here,’ Ode allows audiences to listen to varying genres of music, including Hip Hop, R&B, Gospel, and Smooth Jazz, all in one spot. An assortment of talk radio stations and podcasts also are featured. “A bridge is the greatest connector there is,” Robertson explained. “The Play Ode app is a digital bridge connecting Black radio listeners across a wide communications chasm between local Black communities. “Wherever you reside, chances are, you’re still keenly interested in what’s going on in your hometown. Ode is that convenient connection.” Robertson got the idea for Ode in 2018 during the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) & Power of Urban Radio conference in Washington, D.C. After the conference, he decided to
head to a nearby pub to brainstorm on what he could do to make Black radio more accessible. Six hours and several pages of notes later, the skeleton blueprint for Ode was created. To be sure he was on to something, Robertson first shared the idea with a friend and fellow Memphis-based entrepreneur Larry Robinson, CEO and founder of the digital content company Kudzukian. Robinson affirming his idea was the extra push he needed to keep going; and so, he did. Now as Black radio commemorates its 75th anniversary this year, Robertson hopes Ode allows Black radio to continue elevating and reaching more audiences. For Robertson, Ode isn’t just a passion project. It also is a response to a growing need in the Black radio industry. “It’s a David-and-Goliath-type battle for many Black radio stations,” Robertson said. “The lack of resources and having to go against the national, larger media outlets; it’s tough for Black stations despite the number of Black listeners.” Nielson reports that Black radio continues to reach a significant portion of the Black community: 91 percent of the Black population in a month. Despite the demand, Black-owned stations are met with fierce competition that often is hard to combat due to a lack of resources.
According to a 2022 report from the National Association of Blackowned Broadcasters (NABOB) in 1995, there were 146 black-owned radio stations. In 2022 only 97 were reported, showing a drastic decline. While African Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, Black-owned radio stations average just 2.8 percent of local commercial share. “This report provides clear evidence that Black-owned radio stations are not getting our fair share of advertising dollars,” NABOB President and CEO Jim Winston said after the data was released. Robertson hopes Ode can help close the gap and present Blackowned radio stations with more technological opportunities and accessibility, ultimately increasing their advertising dollars. “This is a critical time because we always seem to be on the backside of technology and the last ones to the party when it comes to technological advances,” Robertson said. “Ode is 100 percent Black-owned, plus we’re that bridge connecting dozens of other Black-owned media and content providers.” For Robertson, who spent much of his childhood absorbing Black radio, his latest venture is a personal one. “Black heritage and history were always important parts of my life, especially growing up in the 50s and 60s in Memphis at the center of Black history, the Civil Rights movement,
Ode, created by Howard Robertson, is the first mobile app to aggregate and stream some of America’s best Black and independently owned radio stations on one mobile app. Black protests, Black music and Black culture,” he said. “Anything I can do to help Black radio not only survive, but to thrive, I am honored and thrilled to be able to do it.” Play Ode features Black and independently-owned stations including: KRNB/KKDA (Dallas), WJZA (Atlanta), WLOK (Memphis), KPRS (Kansas City), WOJG (Jackson, Tennessee), WMBM (Miami), WVON & The FM Omni-Channel (Chicago), WAEG (Augusta, Georgia), WNOV (Milwaukee), WBOK (New Orleans), WDAO (Dayton, Ohio), KINB (Oklahoma City) and WEIB (Springfield, Massachusetts). The Play Ode app is available at the App Store and Google Play.
The New Tri-State Defender
NEWS
October 20 - 26, 2022 Statement of Ownership
Witnesses describe shooting that set off Memphis rampage by Adrian Sainz Associated Press
A man testified Tuesday that he saw an acquaintance shoot his friend and business partner, unprovoked, outside his Tennessee home in a killing that authorities said sparked a daylong crime rampage that paralyzed Memphis and led to an intense manhunt. Marcus Cash was one of four people at a gathering at his house who testified at a preliminary hearing for 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly, who has been charged with killing three people and wounding three others on Sept. 7 as he drove around Memphis, livestreaming some of his activities on social media. The shootings shut down much of the city. As police searched for the gunman, the minor-league Memphis Redbirds cleared the field during a game and public transportation was halted. Friends and relatives texted each other to make sure they were OK. Kelly was arrested after he crashed during a police chase that night. He initially was
charged only with first-degree murder in the slaying of Dewayne Tunstall at about 1 a.m. outside Cash’s home in east Memphis. Tuesday’s preliminary hearing was related only to that count. Kelly was later charged in a 26-count indictment related to the other shootings. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges that include first-degree murder of Allison Parker and Richard Clark, attempted murder and committing an act of terrorism. Mariko Webb, Marquez Murrell and Markaveon Walker testified that they and Kelly went to Cash’s house to eat chicken from a food truck, which Cash and Tunstall had planned to start as a business. Those at the gathering were carrying guns, but they were enjoying each others’ company, the witnesses said. “We were chillin’, we were coolin’,” Webb said. At one point, Kelly told Webb that he was going to take someone’s gun, Webb testified. “Watch this,” Kelly said, according to Webb.
After eating, the group went outside to look at the food truck, the witnesses said. The group then gathered in a dark driveway to talk, the witnesses said. Cash said he was standing next to Tunstall when Kelly shot Tunstall at close range. “He was so close to me, I thought I was next,” Cash said. After the shooting, Kelly tried to get into a car with Webb, Murrell and Walker, but he was refused entry, Murrell said. “Everyone was screaming, `Get away from us,’” Murrell said. Kelly’s lawyer, Jennifer Case, pressed the witnesses about having guns on them and suggested that some of them gathered to talk about the shooting after the fact to come up with a plan to “pin” it on Kelly. They denied doing so. Under questioning from Case, Webb said Kelly used drugs and did not sleep much. Case also questioned Cash about statements he made to police and the media after the shooting about being inside his home when the shooting
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happened. Cash said he lied about being inside the house — where his two young children and his girlfriend were — to avoid being identified as a witness while Kelly was on the run. At least one bullet went through the window of a room where the children were in bed. “I’m protecting my family,” Cash said. While the witnesses said they heard the shooting and ran away or hid to protect themselves, only Cash said he actually saw Kelly shoot Tunstall. After the testimony, prosecutor Chris Lareau said Kelly’s statements about taking someone else’s gun amounted to premeditation. Case argued that the witness statements were inconsistent and not credible. But Shelby County General Sessions Judge Karen Massey ruled that there was enough probable cause for the case to be presented to a grand jury for a possible indictment on first-degree murder. Prosecutors have said that the two cases against Kelly eventually will be combined.
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CLASSIFIEDS NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce. County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids. There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to Log-In at top of page • Click “Supplier Login” • Under “Mercury Version”, click ‘Not Registered’ • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246. If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid. SEALED BID DUE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, 2022 AT 2:30 PM CST “TUR-OUT GEAR & ACCESSORIES” (SB-I000770) (MC# 669) By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce. County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to
bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids. There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to Log-In at top of page • Click “Supplier Login” • Under “Mercury Version”, click ‘Not Registered’ • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246. If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid. SEALED BID DUE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, 2022 AT 2:30 PM CST “SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE FOR SCFD (QTY. 1)” (SB-I000771) (MC# 670) By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce. County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids. There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to Log-In at top of page • Click “Supplier Login” • Under “Mercury Version”, click ‘Not Registered’ • Complete Vendor Registration
process • Submit If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246. If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid. SEALED BID DUE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, 2022 AT 2:30 PM CST “BRUSH TRUCK FOR SCFD” (SB-I000772) (MC# 671) By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce. County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids. There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to Log-In at top of page • Click “Supplier Login” • Under “Mercury Version”, click ‘Not Registered’ • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246. If you have any questions about information contained in the bid documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid.
SEALED BID DUE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, 2022 AT 2:30 PM CST “SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FOR SCFD (QTY. 4)” (SB-I000773) (MC# 672) By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY 16. 17.
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SPORTS The New Tri-State Defender, October 20 - 26, 2022, Page 9
The Midnight Madness celebration at LeMoyne-Owen College was a time to honor all the sports teams on campus. (Photos: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender)
At LeMoyne-Owen, sports ‘madness’ celebration fuels desire for success
by Terry Davis
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
A version of Memphis’ love of basketball was on display as LeMoyne-Owen College held Midnight Madness at Bruce-Johnson Gym last Friday (October 14). The annual event was the first held since the pandemic. While basketball season looms, the Midnight Madness celebration Terry was a time to Davis honor all the sports teams on campus, with a special salute to Latino Heritage Month. “We are also recognizing our Latino student athletes,” said Athletic Director William Anderson. “We want them to feel at home and hear their music and see their flags and know that we appreciate them and their cultures. It is a big night for Lemoyne-Owen College.” One by one the LOC sports teams, including the cheer squads, were ushered into the gym, where they were well received by the students, fans and alumni. After all of the players were introduced, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams ran drills to give a sneak preview of what the season may hold. Men’s team preview Last season was a learning one for first-year, men’s head coach Bonzi Wells, who also made his college-coaching debut. With COVID-19 concerns forcing the cancellation of last year’s Memphis Madness, Wells was elated to experience the 2022 version. “It is awesome. I am excited to see it,” said Wells. “This is my first full year at the campus. It is vibrating and I’m excited to see the students back in here. All of the COVID restric-
Men’s coach Bonzi Wells.
This year’s men’s basketball team is looking to build upon the 2021 season, which saw the Magicians finish with a 16-12 overall record and 11-9 in conference play. They lost in the second round of the SIAC post season tournament.
Women’s coach Antony Partee. tions are lifted. I am super excited to feel the energy.” The Magicians finished the 2021 season with a 16-12 record and 11-9 in conference play. They lost in the second round of the SIAC post season tournament. Asked who would lead the Magicians on the court this season, Wells, a former NBA standout, said, “Hopefully all of them will be leaders at some point this season. I am trying to build them all up. I tell them any day could be yours.” Wells has some good returning players and some newcomers. He noted Gjerand Wilson, a junior guard from Upland, Calif. Holder of a black-belt, Wilson is described as disciplined and a hard worker. He is a lefty but prefers to use his right hand. Wells wants his team of Magicians to pace themselves over the course of the season. He and the coaching staff are emphasizing playing hard all the time, eating right and having the right recov-
Head coach Antony Partee’s women’s team is looking to improve upon last season’s overall 13-14 record (5-3 conference) and contend for a deeper run in the postseason. ery time. Women’s team preview Head coach Antony Partee’s women’s team is looking to improve upon last season’s overall 13-14 record (5-3 conference) and contend for a deeper run in the postseason. For Partee, it will be his tenth season as the head coach. “It (Midnight Madness) means
we are somewhat getting back to normal. It is good for the school and the program,” he said. Looking toward the season, Partee said, “I think we are going to be over ready. We are super prepared. I am excited to see what we are going to bring to the season. “This has been a full year since the pandemic, where we have had enough time to bring in the players and work them out.”
Looking to build upon experience gained last year, Madison Riley will be looked upon as an outside shooting threat. Gamariona “GiGi” Hollingsworth-Pugh is a newcomer, who can get buckets and play defense. The Magicians will hold homecoming the week of October 2329, with the men’s and women’s teams playing exhibition games against Xavier at Bruce-Johnson Hall on October 29.
The New Tri-State Defender
October 20 - 26, 2022
SPORTS
Page 10
Pouncer (left, the mascot for the Memphis Tigers) greets Empress Walker.
The Poms performing at the Block Party. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
The introduction of Maddie Griggs.
Hometown favorite Alex Lomax waves to the fans as he is introduced.
Kaodirichi Akobubdu-Ehirichi of the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team waves to the fans as he is introduced.
Head coach Katrina Merriweather shares coaching thoughts.
Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway takes in questions from the media.
Lanetta Williams takes in the appreciation of the crowd.
U of M students give mixed reviews to revamped basketball rollout
by Liaudwin Seaberry Jr.
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Student reaction was mixed about the University of Memphis’ basketball programs’ replacing Memphis Madness with a Memphis Basketball Block Party this year. On Saturday (Oct. 15) afternoon, U of M students and fans gathered outside the on-campus University Center to celebrate the beginning of the men’s and women’s basketball seasons. The Block Party featured music, the pom squad, cheerleaders, and the introduction of each basketball team. Celebrated Memphis rappers Kevo Muney and Action Pack revved up the crowd, especially U of M students. The success of the event varied from student to fan, with some enjoying the new format. Senior U of M student Madison Penke enjoyed the latest version, and she feels it could start a new tradition for the school and the teams. “The event was great overall. I think this could be the start of a new and improved tradition. Of course, this was the first year so there are things to be worked out but overall, the event was a success.” Other students were not as enthusiastic about this year’s version. Sophomore Octavius Lamar and senior Ellie-Rose Focht both agreed that the FedExForum version of Memphis Madness better suits the university. “Memphis Madness at the Fedexforum was something I’ve attended since I was a kid, and it always brought the city together. I do not know if we accomplished that this year,” Lamar said. An avid Memphis football and basketball, Focht was not impressed by the buildup to the block party and surmised that it played a significant role in the smaller turnout than usual.
Al Kapone singing “Whoop That Trick” at the Block Party. “I wasn’t really pumped about this year’s version of Memphis Madness,” Focht said. “The hype for it didn’t really exist like it did for past years, when people really were looking forward to it.” Katrina Merriweather and Penny Hardaway, the head coaches of the women’s and men’s basketball programs respectively, talked about the event prior to the kickoff. Both discussed this not being a permanent move, but an attempt to try something different. Student Penke thinks the Block Park can be sustained because it allows students to be more involved with the audience. Lamar, on the other hand, preferred a transition back to the Memphis Madness of old at the FedExForum. “Compared to the way of old, it failed,” he said. “I would like it if they moved it back to the FedExForum and brought that excitement back. Nonetheless, Go Tigers Go!”
Signing autographs.