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May 7 - 13, 2020
VOL. 69, No. 19
www.tsdmemphis.com
NURSES WEEK 2020
A mother rises up, triumphs after dream-threatening fire by Amelia Ables Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Arieale Munson was 16 years old when she became a mother. Since then, she has founded a non-profit, written a book and become a motivational speaker. With motherhood as the priority, she vowed to provide her two sons with their own home to feel safe, and she recently purchased her first home through the RISE Foundation’s Save Up Program. Two weeks after closing on her first home, the house caught fire, destroying all of her family’s possessions. Material possessions, said Munson, aren’t the most important. “People say to me, ‘You lost everything, but you’re still smiling.’ But I didn’t lose everything,” she said. “I still have the gift of life. My sons and I are still standing strong. Sometimes God tests your faith, but I know something
Three nurses, one deadly virus and a praise-worthy profession
My mom is the ‘shero’ I want to be for my daughter Page 6 Black Mama’s Day Bailout: A different kind of homecoming Page 6 Special gift’ for Mother’s Day, despite the coronavirus threat Page 8 Young mother gives birth in pandemic Page 9 good will come out of this.” Rather than celebrate Mother’s Day in their new home, Munson’s family is living in a nearby apartment. They are in good spirits, and are prepared to move forward in rebuilding and re-
SEE MOM ON PAGE 3
$1.00
by John Semien Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Arieale Munson in the front yard of the home she purchased with the help of the Rise Foundation. Two weeks later, it caught fire and now she is getting help to rebuild. (Courtesy photo)
The COVID-19 virus hit home for nurse Rachel Clayton a few weeks ago when she and her husband, who is an emergency medical technician, decided one of them had to quit. “This is a decision we had to make because we have three young children and we are trying to reduce the possibility of exposure,” Clayton said. Clayton joked that now she has a house husband because in his work status, he usually works one day a month. The rest of his time is devoted to his children. The pandemic is ongoing amid National Nurses Week. It’s especially appropriate now since so many nurses and other medical professions here and around the world are being sickened by the virus or dying from it while caring for COVID-19 patients. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation on March 25, proclaiming “Na-
SEE NURSE ON PAGE 2
COMMENTARY With – or without – a Pulitzer, Ida B. Wells worth of our utmost praise Serving the Pentecostal Temple COGIC congregation is a way of life for Bishop Charles H. Mason Patterson Sr., even when a pandemic keeps the sanctuary closed and the parking lot becomes a place of worship. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
COGIC drawing on strength, resolve to battle COVID-19
by Karanja A. Ajanaku Kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com
The coronavirus approaches the “Saints” of the Church of God in Christ the same way it does anyone anywhere in the world – it aims to infect and kill. The toll has been heavy, including taking the lives of two members of the General Board. On May 1, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., sent out a sobering message. “While we understand that many states are now proceeding with efforts to ease stay-at-home mandates with the reopening of restaurants, malls, movie theaters, churches and other public venues at limited capacity, we must continue to stress that we are not yet in the clear with the coronavirus pandemic,” wrote Bishop Blake. “Collectively, as a denomination, we must use wisdom in realizing the need for continued social distancing, which will undoubtedly continue to impact the ways in which we would normally gather for church services, church meetings and church events. We do not recommend the reopening of COGIC churches at this time.” Local church leaders have responded creatively, including virtual, online services. Last Sunday, Bishop Charles H. Mason Patterson Sr., pastor of Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, held a socially-distanced service on the parking lot of Pentecostal, which adjoins Robert R. Church off Downtown Memphis. Bishop Brandon B. Porter, who pastors Greater Community Temple COGIC, is a member of the General Board of the
Masks were a very visible part of the day as Pentecostal Temple COGIC improvised, holding service on its parking lot last Sunday. 6-million-plus international denomination. While many COGIC members have suffered and died from COVID-19, COGIC itself “is not in crisis” from the coronavirus, he said. COGIC, which is headquartered in Memphis, is known for what Porter called its “great gatherings, which could lend to
SEE COGIC ON PAGE 5
by Lee Eric Smith les@tsdmemphis.com
As an African-American journalist born and raised in Holly Springs, Miss., you’d think I’d have known more about my hometown’s favorite daughter growing up. But I didn’t. Then again, I guess it’s not so surprising that I didn’t know much about Ida B. Wells-Barnett. It’s not like any Mississippi public school was teaching much black history in general, let alone lionizing an African American – a woman, no less – who stood up against racial violence in the Deep South. The history we got was around the lives of people like George Washington Carver’s, W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T. Washington and, of course, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As far as women were concerned, Ida the go-to was Harriet TubB. Wells man, for obvious reasons. Names like Fannie Lou Hamer, Madame C.J. Walker and Ida B. Wells usually got a vague sentence or two -- which is no way to even begin to acknowledge what Wells’ life was about, the impact that she had. But Wells’ contributions were given their due earlier this week. On Monday, Wells became a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, receiving a
SEE WELLS ON PAGE 3