TCB May 20, 2021 — 'Outrageous!'

MAY 20-26, 2021 | TRIAD-CITY-BEAT.COM

‘OUTRAGEOUS’ Lawyers for theMarcus Smithfamily respondafter thecity accuses them, activists andajournalist of misconduct

BY SAYAKA MATSUOKA | PAGE 6

GSO’ FIRST BLACK-RUN COMIC CON PAGE 9

MAGNOLIA HOUSE ONE STEP CLOSER TO REOPENING AS A B&B PAGE 8

VIKKI VASSAR ON W-S CULTURE, MEMES PAGE 4

MAY 20-26, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

Finding peace in the garden

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he old codger squints at the flower, a perfect orb of fine, purple petals, and pokes at it with his finger.

by Brian Clarey He’s got a camera strapped around his neck, and I can tell he’s debating whether to snap a photo of this bloom, which looks somewhat like a burst of fireworks caught in freeze-frame at the moment of detonation.

It’s an onion, you dope! I want to say, a Giant Allium, interspersed here in the garden among the earnest flutes of the Dutch Irises. You can eat it!

But I say nothing because I’m sort of pissed at the codger, who I now see is maybe 10 years older than I am. I resent his encroachment upon this beautiful little spot where I’ve come to play video games on my phone and, perhaps, leach some of this poison from my soul. That I’m so irked means it’s not working too well.

If I’m being honest — and what’s the point if I’m not? — I’ve been feeling a little down on my fellow humans lately: the ones who ousted Liz Cheney from her GOP leadership role, the ones who

say they “identify as vaccinated” while enabling new variants of this deadly virus to flourish, the ones who hoarded gasoline to create an artificial shortage, the ones who cut me off in traffic, the ones who slow down the checkout line, the ones who misspell words on social media, the ones who just don’t get it….

When you’ve got this many resentments, the problem is you.

And so I’ve come to the garden, to this quiet little alcove by a tiny pool where the lily pads are just starting to cluster but the lotus buds have yet to bloom. I want to listen to the gurgle of the fountain and the soft breeze through the stalks and stems, to let the scent of the flowers wash away my poison, to create a rare piece of serenity amid the mundane agitations of my life.

I want to be more like the flower, out here photosynthesizing in the sun, and less like the funky onion down there in the dirt.

On my way back to my car, I spot an Allium Hollandicum, another purple sensation tucked into a flowerbed near Ladies Glove blooms that hang like tiny bells.

“It’s an onion,” I say quietly; there’s no one around to hear it.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Winston is so accepting of people who just want to be weird and want to be themselves. It seems like almost anything goes here in town.

—Vikki Vassar pg.4

1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336.256.9320 BUSINESS PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Brian Clarey brian@triad-city-beat.com

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Allen Broach allen@triad-city-beat.com

OF COUNSEL

Jonathan Jones

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR

Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

CHIEF CONTRIBUTOR

Michaela Ratliff michaela@triad-city-beat.com

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SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR

Nikki Miller-Ka niksnacksblog@gmail.com

EDITORIAL ADVISOR

Jordan Green jordan@triad-city-beat.com

ART ART DIRECTOR

Robert Paquette robert@triad-city-beat.com

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KEY ACCOUNTS

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TCB IN A FLASH @ triad-city-beat.com First copy is free, all additional copies are $1. ©2021 Beat Media Inc.

CONTRIBUTORS

Carolyn de Berry, Jordan Howse, Clay Jones, Matt Jones, Jen Sorensen, Nicole Zelniker

COVER

People gather at the Beloved Community Center for a press conference about the Marcus Smith case on May 13. (photo by Carolyn de Berry)

(As of Wednesday, May 20)

625 North Trade ST. Winston-Salem NC, 27101

MAY 20-26, 2021

Coronavirus in the Triad: Documented COVID-19 diagnoses NC 993,547 (+7,104) Forsyth 36,023 (+240) Guilford County

46,434 (+487)

COVID-19 deaths

NC

12,938 (+108)

Forsyth

377 (+2)

Guilford

710 (+3)

Documented recoveries NC

963,539 (+12,610)

Forsyth

34,907 (as of 5/15)

Guilford

44,705 (+518)

336.893.8118

www.cheesecakesbyalex.com

Current cases NC

17,070 (-5,614)

Forsyth 739 Guilford

1,018 (-34)

Hospitalizations (right now) NC

820 (-113)

Forsyth

*no data*

Guilford

34 (-7)

Vaccinations NC First Dose

33,416,726 (+58,699)

Fully vaccinated

3,134,470 (29.9%, +108,399)

Forsyth First Dose

131,388 (+2,306)

Fully vaccinated

120,273 (31.5%*, +3,663)

Guilford First dose

190,022 (+3,808)

Fully vaccinated

175,319 (32.6%*, +5,107) *adjustment

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UP FRONT | MAY 20-26, 2021

CITY LIFE MAY 20-23

by Michaela Ratliff

By Michaela Ratliff

THURSDAY May 20 Bike to Work Day @ Downtown Greenway (GSO) 4 p.m.

The Downtown Greenway, in partnership with Blue Duck transportation company, invites you to stop by on your way home from work for free pizza, drinks and giveaways. Enjoy demos of e-bikes and e-scooters from Blue Duck.

Willingham Story Slam @ MUSE Winston-Salem (W-S) 7 p.m.

In partnership with Willingham Theater in the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center, MUSE WinstonSalem is hosting this virtual storytelling event with the theme of “The Mamas and the Papas.”

Listen to or tell your best story about family, love and more. Donovan Livingston, an awardwinning public speaker, is the evening’s featured guest. Visit Eventbrite for free registration.

FRIDAY May 21

Visitor Center Grand Opening @ Gateway Gardens (GSO) 10 a.m.

Join Greensboro Parks and Recreation and Greensboro Beautiful for the unveiling of Gateway Garden’s new visitor center. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the facility will be open for tours.

Miss Johnnie Mae’s @ Cork and Grind (HP) 5 p.m.

Fill up on the soul food of Miss Johnnie Mae’s food truck while browsing a variety of coffee, wine and craft beer from Cork and Grind. Learn more about Miss Johnnie Mae’s on their Facebook page.

The Steel Woods @ the Blind Tiger (GSO) 7 p.m.

Nashville-based country rock band the Steel Woods are playing at the Blind Tiger to promote their album All of Your Stones. To purchase tickets, visit the event page on Facebook.

SATURDAY May 22

Guilford CARES Feeding 1500 @ Guilford County Department of Social Services (HP) 10:30 a.m.

To support families impacted by COVID-19, Guilford CARES is providing free boxes of fresh produce and non-perishable food items. Be sure to get there early as boxes are available on a first come, first served basis.

Second Market @ Etc. (GSO) 12 p.m.

Etc.’s backyard will be filled with vendors selling food, books and handmade crafts during its second artists’ market. Check Etc.’s Instagram page for updates.

Family Movie Night @ Winston-Salem Fairgrounds (W-S) 7:15 p.m.

Children’s Home Society of NC is taking over the fairgrounds, raising money to support its mission of providing children in need with permanent families. This drive-in movie experience features a screening of the classic Jurassic Park. Find tickets on the event page on Facebook.

SUNDAY May 23

Yoga with Kim @ Natty Greene’s (GSO) 10 a.m.

Relax and release the stresses of the week during this Sunday yoga class. Your $6 ticket reserves your spot and includes a voucher for one Natty’s draft after class. Be sure to bring your own mat and other materials. To register, visit Natty Greene’s website.

Mad Grill Skills Workshop @ Distractions (HP) 4 p.m.

During this class, paint your own grilling-themed platter, perfect for Father’s Day and approaching summer weather. To reserve your space, visit Distractions’ website.

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W-S’s Vikki Vassar talks art and meme culture Vikki Vassar, a Winston-Salem based artisan, created an online store where she sells Camel City-centric art she originally made for the Ardmore Art Walk on May 8. Vassar’s items includeTt-shirts, prints, paintings, and stickers inspired by Winston-Salem’s pop culture. Vassar also creates original art and custom portraits. She’s a regular contributor to the Winston-Salem Memes Facebook group where she mines ideas. Shop Vassar’s creations at thatblondegirlvikki.bigcartel.com and houseofrodan.com.

How did you get started making art?

It’s pretty much been a lifelong thing for me. I went to a high school that went to a fantastic arts program up in Michigan and it’s been ongoing ever since. I work in pretty much any medium someone wants to try to hand me. With the pandemic, I had more time to do art. I’ve been doing local shows since 2015, but it was so sporadic. I didn’t have time to sit and develop a base of work. The pandemic just gave me an opportunity and I took it.

What are your favorite things about Winston-Salem?

I love Winston-Salem because it reminded me of Ann Arbor, Mich. a little bit. The artistic side of it, at least. I went to Tecumseh High School that had a great arts-based program headed up by a teacher named Ron Frenzen, and I would go to Ann Arbor to look at more art because they have an annual art festival. I always admired how much emphasis they put on art and creativity. I feel like anybody can be an artist, it’s just finding the right medium to work in. Everybody has a creative side. I took all that information Mr. Frenzen taught me and came down here, and I needed a creative outlet. Winston reminded me of Ann Arbor so much I immediately got comfortable.

Winston is so accepting of people who just want to be weird and want to be themselves. It seems like almost anything goes here in town. That kind of fits my life philosophy: As long as you’re not being a giant a-hole, do you.

Speaking of art, why did you decide to bring back Bartsy? Because I know that shook up Winston for a bit.

(Laughs) Because everybody lost their minds over it! Even Brian did. He wrote a whole article with James about it. And I was like, you know, we didn’t hate Bartsy. We were all about Bartsy. It was pretty freaking cool. And so I made these stickers and T-shirts that say, ‘We remember Bartsy’ and you know, these types of shared experiences and reminders of shared experiences really bring any community together.

The center of the Winston-Salem Memes group on Facebook is having a laugh together as a community.

Some days you’re up. Some days you get to make the joke about somebody else and some days you’re just the butt of the joke. It’s important to laugh, to me. Like, really important. After all the things we’ve been through as a community in the last couple years we need a little chuckle.

Did you start the stickers recently or were they something you’ve always done?

No, I literally just did all this for the Ardmore Art Walk. I had nothing. I didn’t have stickers. I didn’t have prints. I had some T-shirts through House of Rodan from the beginning of the pandemic. I was doing art for some local businesses just offering my services for free because it seemed like T-shirts were a way to patch people over until the PPP loan situation got clarified, so I did T-shirts for Silver Moon and Major Tomms and the Crooked Tail Cat Café. I did this to try to help these businesses stay afloat for the first few really shaky weeks where we didn’t know what was going on.

Now that you’re selling work, what are your future plans when it comes to art?

Keep creating when I feel inspired, and encourage others to create. Provide experience where I can and resources when I can for others. I honestly just kinda float around and do whatever I like. It’s a fantastic life.

Triad parents cautious, relieved as vaccines become available for kids

by Nicole Zeniker

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ow that she’s been vaccinated that, but found no trials in her area. As against COVID-19, 17-yearsoon as Pfizer made vaccines available to old Katie Hassard had hoped children over 12, she took her daughter to see her friends. A junior to her local pharmacy. at Grimsley Senior High “They’ve been anxious about getting School, she has been a remote student a vaccine and feeling like they’ve done for the entire year, unable to hang out their part,” she said. “They’re sciencewith her peers. But even now, she still fair kids, so they’ve been tracking the worries about bringing the coronavirus science.” home.

Tillie Hellinger, the older sibling, “She’s vaccinated, but still feels received her Pfizer vaccine on May 11. nervous,” said Melissa Hassard, Katie’s Otto Hellinger turns 12 this summer mother. “She’s worried about expoand wants to get vaccinated as soon as sure, about bringing something back to he can.

Andrew.”

Otto has been asking his older sister Andrew is Katie’s younger brother, 14, questions about the vaccine and the side who was unable to be vaccinated until effects. He was pleased to learn the vacrecently, when the Pfizer vaccine was aucine hurt less than the flu shot, according thorized for anyone 12 and older; Modto Tillie. But even after both children are erna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines vaccinated, they will have to be careful. are available to anyone 18 and older.

“I’m on immunosuppressants for MS “My younger son has one friend that and the reaction to the vaccine is dampwe’ve been able to hang out with, and I ened,” said Gabrielle. “The medication just know the parents and they’ve cared that I take cancels out the vaccine. As a a lot about safety,” Melissa said. “They family, we still have to be careful, which wear masks, and that only started in the is frustrating to all of us.” last month and a half. Really, we’ve been The CDC has previously cautioned at home, sequestered, for a year.” people with compromised immune sysBecause these vaccines were not tested tems or who are on immunocompromison children younger than 12 and on ing medication to be exceedingly careful, very few children under 15 until recently, even if they have gotten the vaccines. manufacturers have needed to run trials Like Otto, fifth-grader Nathaniel on these age groups before they can Smith will turn 12 in a few months, on recommend children get them.

Sept. 18. His mother, Natasha Smith, “Kids aren’t just small grown-ups,” said that his school will be in-person said David Wohl, medical director of next year, so she is very excited about two vaccine clinics in Orange County the Pfizer vaccine being available for and a UNC professor of global health children over 12. and infectious diseases. “They have dif“I didn’t want to send him back in ferent organs and immune systems and person without a vaccine, but virtual side effects.” became a failure after about the first Now, Wohl says, there are trials for quarter,” she said. “It’s horrible that kids under 12. the choice is having him be a successful Despite popular belief student versus keeping that COVID-19 does not him safe.” affect kids the same way Natasha worries about it does adults, Wohl said the long-term effects of that the vaccine is imporCOVID, even though her tant to protect those who son is young and healthy. do get sick, and to prevent “They don’t know long kids from transmitting the term about what happens virus to adults. Wohl has to kids who get COVID,” seen parents eager to vac- – Guilford County Chief of she said. “He’s very cinate their children, and Schools Marshall Matson active, and I want him several have entered their to remain active. I don’t kids into clinical trials so want him to have scarred that they had early access to the vaccine. lungs for life.”

Gabrielle Serang Hellinger, a parent For children older than 16, some of a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old in schools have been offering transportation Winston-Salem, had hoped to do just to make vaccines more accessible. Guil-

‘It just takes away an extra layer of worry.’

MAY 20-26, 2021 | NEWS

NEWS

COURTESY PHOTO

Natasha Smith (right) said that vaccinating Nathaniel, who turns 12 in a few months, will give her peace of mind when he goes back to the classroom.

ford County Schools has been providing bus transportation for students with parent authorization to Four Seasons to get vaccinated, funded by the public health department.

Students get vaccinated on the bus before returning to school. According to Matson, they didn’t even go inside the building.

“They’ve got an efficient operation over there,” said Guilford County Chief of Schools Marshall Matson. “We just felt like that was a win-win. So, our principals coordinate those efforts.” Forsyth County Schools is also hosting walk-in clinics for students over the age of 12 at various schools in the district.

Matson himself is a father to three

daughters, all under the age of 16. For his daughters as well as his students, he is glad that the vaccine has become available.

“It just takes away an extra layer of worry,” said Matson. “We have the vast majority of students back in school.

We’ve followed the CDC guidelines from the beginning. The changes we make are in concert with the changes they can make on those levels.”

To learn more about getting kids vaccinated in North Carolina visit myspot.nc.gov or visit the county school websites.

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NEWS | MAY 20-26, 2021

‘Outrageous’: Lawyers and activists respond to allegations from city

by Sayaka Matsuoka

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hings are becoming more contentious in the case of Marcus Smith, the Greensboro man killed by city police in 2018 while he was in the throes of a mental health crisis downtown.

As activists continue to call for transparency in the civil suit, the city filed a brief last week in which they allege that the Smith legal team has acted improperly by releasing confidential information to the public, in violation of a protective order and local rules. The city also singled out individuals they deemed too close to the case, accusing the Smith family’s legal team of attempting to try the case in the media. The Smith family’s lawyers, led by Flint Taylor, and activists say that the city’s assertions are “outrageous” and that they haven’t violated any rules. They responded that the brief is another example of the city’s attempt to silence activists and cover up the truth of what happened to Smith.

THE CITY’S ALLEGATIONS

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n May 12, the city of Greensboro represented by Alan Duncan, filed a 29-page brief that argued that Taylor and his associates acted improperly by distributing depositions and other materials to the public. Among them was a deposition

by Mayor Nancy Vaughan and former police Chief Wayne Scott, who was in charge when Marcus Smith was killed by police officers.

“From the start, Plaintiff’s counsel have engaged in a campaign to generate prejudicial pretrial publicity,” the brief states. “In recent weeks this unfortunate effort has accelerated, necessitating the filing of this motion.”

In the ensuing pages, the city accuses Taylor and his associates of releasing confidential material including Vaughan and Scott’s depositions to the public.

They also object to the release of expert witness reports including a second chief medical examiner’s conclusion that Smith’s death was a homicide, as well as a recent report by Scott Defoe, a former police officer. Additionally, the city filed a supplement to the brief which alleges that the press conference by Taylor and others on May 13 violated the terms of the suit. Triad City Beat covered the press conference and was cited as evidence in the supplement to the brief.

According to Jonathan Jones, a Durham attorney and former professor of media law at Elon Law School and

UNC, the argument the city makes in the brief is twofold. First, they allege that Taylor and the Smith family’s legal team violated an agreed-upon protective order, which they say prohibits anyone associated with the case from publicly distributing materials resulting from the discovery process, including depositions.

The second part of the city’s brief makes the argument that by forming a close relationship with activists and journalists, Taylor and his team have taken over the narrative of the case in the media and thus the public. The city makes the argument that the Smith side’s use of press releases, press conferences and quotes is creating “prejudicial pretrial publicity,” thus influencing public opinion.

RESPONSE BY SMITH FAMILY’S LAWYERS

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eached by phone on Tuesday, Taylor called the city’s brief “outrageous” and said they were already crafting a response.

In response to the assertion by the city that Taylor and his team inappropriately distributed confidential material, Taylor stated that the material was fit for public viewing because the city had already chosen which portions of the depositions to redact.

“It wasn’t us that made the redactions,” he said. “They can’t have their cake and eat it too. They made their redactions so that no information that they thought was confidential would be publicly released and none of that has been. But now, they are trying to throw a blanket over all of it.”

The depositions in question were recently published in an article co-written

by Ian McDowell, who writes for Yes Weekly!, in the Assembly, a new statewide publication. Both depositions include notes that either say portions have been redacted, in the case of former Chief Scott, or state that sections had been deleted because they were designated as “highly confidential” in the case of Vaughan’s deposition.

Taylor also disputes the city’s claim that the legal team is attempting to try the case in the media.

“They’re the ones trying it in the press,” he said. “From the moment they issued that first press release.”

Taylor is referring to the initial press release put out by the city in which they stated that Smith died after becoming combative and collapsing. No mention of Smith being hogtied, which is what

medical examiners have said resulted in his death, was ever included in the press release.

“What they are trying is to shape public opinion in a prejudicial way,” Taylor said.

Jones said that while he hasn’t kept track of everything the Smith family’s lawyers PHOTO BY CAROLYN DEBERRY have said publicly, the city’s argument Flint Taylor, the lead attorney for the Smith family, speaks at a that they are trying press conference on May 13. the case in the Black Messiah, the serial torture of Black media is going to be tough to prove. men in Chicago under former Chicago “If there’s already publicity then Police Commander Jon Burge, and pothey’re allowed to respond to that,” Jones lice involvement in the 1979 Greensboro said. “And if the other side has made massacre in which five protesters were statements, that opens the door a bit for killed by KKK and Nazi members. a little more latitude to what they can McDowell also asserted that he did not say…. It seems like a consistent ratchetfeel as though he had acted improperly ing up from both sides…. It doesn’t seem by reading, reporting on and publishing to me, from my outside perspective, that the depositions by Vaughan and Strader. one side alone is generating publicity.”

“Regardless of the outcome of this Jones also stated that it is unusual to litigation, the statements that the mayor, sanction a lawyer for public comments. the former chief, the current chief, the “It’s pretty rare that lawyers are disciofficers and the sergeant who conducted plined on that,” he said. the remarkably brief Internal Affairs investigation made under oath need to HE SAID, SHE SAID be public,” he said. n addition to alleging that Taylor McDowell also clarified an incorrect and his associates have acted inapassumption made by the city attorneys propriately, the city singles out a in the brief. Over the course of several handful of individuals whom they claim pages, the city alleges that the relationare working with the Smith family to ship between McDowell and Taylor is sway public opinion about the case. inappropriate by insinuating that Taylor One of the individuals named in the feeds McDowell information. However, brief is reporter Ian McDowell with Yes McDowell stated that he learned that Weekly! who has covered the Smith case Douglas Strader, one of the police offiextensively over the last two years. In cers who killed Marcus Smith, was hired the brief, the city takes aim at McDowby the Graham Police department from ell, whom they say is “part of a strange an activist in Graham, not from Taylor. symbiotic relationship with plaintiff’s “It’s bizarre that the city seems to counsel.” consider this privileged information,” On Monday, McDowell responded to McDowell said. the allegations via Facebook messages.

Jones stated that he finds the singling “Journalists have a symbiotic relationout of a journalist in a brief like this ship with information, and there’s nothunusual but also noted that McDowell ing strange about it,” McDowell wrote. does seem to have a close relationship to He notes that if Taylor hadn’t had a the Smith family’s attorneys which could symbiotic relationship with reporters in be in violation of the code of ethics. the past, then many aspects of the truth “I do think that’s unusual to cite a would never have come to light. particular reporter and their coverage,” Taylor has litigated several highJones said. “It’s an interesting question profile cases including the murder of because it does seem like from an outside Fred Hampton, whose life was recently perspective, that Ian McDowell has had chronicled in the movie Judas and the

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‘It can be dangerous for a lawyer to make public statements , but it’s also fairly rare for them to be punished for it.’

EDITORIAL

OPINION

The dehumanization of Marcus Smith

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ince Greensboro police killed Marcus Smith in September 2018, the maneuverings of the city and its attorneys have asserted through word and action, over and over again, that Smith’s life did not matter.

Smith was experiencing homelessness at the time of his death, yes. And he had mental health issues. Smith was, in fact, in the throes of a mental health crisis when Greensboro police hogtied him and stood by while he died on the ground.

This is indisputable, evidenced by police body-camera video that anyone with the stomach for it has seen.

City lawyers and councilmembers have pointed to a toxicology report that notes he had cocaine and alcohol in his system, suggesting that perhaps Smith’s death was his own fault.

And in the latest series of court filings, the defendants cast aspersions on the Smith legal team, accusing them of colluding with activist groups and a local journalist, sharing confidential discovery items and attempting to try this case in the court of public opinion.

Some of these charges must be evaluated by a judge. But city leaders must know that the court of public opinion has already weighed in on the case of Marcus Smith and the thousands of other Black lives snuffed out by police.

We won’t stand for it. And we insist that every time law enforcement kills in our name — for it is the general population that the police must serve and protect, and not city leaders — there is investigation and accountability.

This is not about money, but there is money on the line. A few weeks ago, Councilmember Michelle Kennedy told TCB that the city offered the Smith family a settlement between $300,000 and $3 million last fall — the Smith family’s lawyers state they never saw such a number. The city has already spent more than $778,277 on its legal defense, for which it has hired outside counsel. George Floyd’s family got $27 million.

Killing citizens is bad for business.

Ad we posit that these cases must be tried in the court of public opinion, because when it comes to the deaths of Black folks at the hands of police, we have lost trust in our institutions.

The conviction of former office Derek Chauvin for the killing of Floyd was a first.

But just this week in Elizabeth City, the Pasquotank County prosecutor declined to prosecute the police involved in the death of Andrew Brown Jr., who was shot in the back of the head while sheriff’s deputies were attempting to serve a warrant.

We say: Enough! Instead of blaming Smith for his own death, instead of casting aspersions on the legal team his survivors gathered and on journalists covering the story, Greensboro officials need to accept their role in Smith’s homicide and make restitution now instead of being combative with the family of the man they killed.

Marcus Smith’s life mattered. Everyone seems to understand that but the defendants.

MAY 20-26, 2021 | OPINION

an inside track on a number of done in a few ways, they suggest aspects of this story, so the brief in the brief. One would be for a seems to be implying that that’s judge to order Taylor and his team being said to him by Smith estate’s to disclose all of the materials that lawyers. were publicly distributed. They “I don’t think it outright accuses also suggest the court impose monthem of doing that, but it makes it etary sanctions on the attorneys. pretty clear that they think that’s The most severe penalty would be the logical result,” he continued. for a judge to order an investiga“And that very well may be the tion into Taylor’s actions which case and if so, then they have a could lead to additional discipline. strong argument that the legal In a contentious case like this team is perhaps in a grey area on one, Jones said sanctions aren’t the ethics rules. But it also could uncommon. entirely be the case that Ian is “These efforts to sanction a getting that information elsewhere lawyer for public comment is and coming to the legal team for difficult and fairly rare,” he said. confirmation or comment and that “It can be dangerous for a lawyer they are simply to make public being open to statements, but him once he’s it’s also fairly rare verified somefor them to be thing.” punished for it.”

Another As for whether individual named Taylor and othat length in the ers breached the brief is activist protective order Lewis Pitts, who by releasing the has been vocal depositions, Jones about the Smith said the city may case since its inhave more of a – Jonathan Jones, Durham attorney ception in 2018. case there.

In the brief, the “I think there city paints Pitts as an inappropriate is a legitimate argument on both actor who is swaying public opinsides,” he said. “I would feel comion about the case. The brief also fortable if I was the city attorney makes the claim that Pitts has had making this motion or I would feel an ambiguous relationship with the comfortable if I was the defending Smith family and was even part of lawyers for Marcus Smith’s estate the legal team at one point. as well.”

Pitts told TCB that he is not on In the several decades that he’s the legal team and he is just an been working as a public interest engaged citizen activist. He also lawyer, Taylor said that this turn rejected the first argument in the of events by the city is some of the brief which takes aim at the distrimost aggressive that he’s seen. bution of depositions and expert “I’ve been doing this for over reports by Pitts and activist Hester 50 years,” Taylor said. “I’ve been Petty. fighting some very important cases “The only thing that has been and this, in some ways, is the most given to me or anybody by the outrageous attack that has hapSmith legal team is information pened in any of those cases….In that they concluded was unredactall of those cases, it was imperative ed by the city and therefore not for us as public interest lawyers confidential in any way,” Pitts said. to make sure that the evidence “Nothing has been leaked to me or of assassination and torture and anybody.” massacre and in this case, violent hogtying, that that information WHAT HAPPENS NOW? came to light and our clients be defended from false public statements he city argues that because by officials who are trying to cover Taylor and his associates up the truth…. That’s exactly what breached the protective the mayor and at least portions of order, which they say prohibits the city council and their lawyers them from releasing depositions to are trying to do.” the public, that someone should be held accountable. This could be

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CULTURE | MAY 20-26, 2021

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CULTURE

by Nicole Zeniker

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With a new look, Historic Magnolia House reopens

am Cooke, the King of Soul, sits in a lounge chair at the Magnolia House, writing music and listening to Motown. He wears a black suit, a white shirt and a mask to protect against COVID-19, which originated almost 60 years after the singer took his last breath in 1964.

That’s because Sam Cooke is actually Lance Vannoi, a student at Dudley High School. And it isn’t the 1960s, but last Friday.

As the Magnolia House prepares to reopen to the public, owner Natalie Miller has gathered donors to see what the building will look like after the pandemic. In each of the five upstairs rooms, actors from the Greensboro community are dressed as stars who stayed at the inn when it operated in the 1950s and ’60s, including Tina Turner, a young Jackie Robinson and Sam Cooke.

About Cooke, Vannoi said, “I didn’t know too much. I’d listened to some of his songs, but I didn’t know all of his background. Getting into it, I started to learn a little bit more.”

The Magnolia House, built in 1889, was a popular destination in The Negro Motorist Green Book, a book Black travelers used to find safe places for them to stay during Jim Crow. In 1949, Gist family bought the house and turned it into an inn.

Of the more than 360 Green Book locations in North Carolina, just four are still in existence.

“Buddy Gist was good friends with Miles Davis, which is how this became a popular place for people to come and stay,” said Gina Hicks, co-owner of Vivid Interiors and one of the designers who worked on revitalizing the Magnolia House. “Buddy Gist was the son, and he told Miles Davis: ‘My parents have this great place. You should come and stay when you’re on the road.’ That’s how it became part of the Green Book.”

The Gist family bought the Magnolia House in 1949. Once the Gist family decided to put the house up for sale, Miller’s father, Samuel Pass, purchased the building in 1995 from them. He had been a child in Greensboro when it operated as an inn.

Now, Miller is continuing her father’s dream of restoring the house into a bed and breakfast.

“I took that on so we could continue restoring the property and be able to open it up, and continue our family

PHOTO BY STILL SHOTS PHOTOGRAPHY / ASHLEIGH CRAWLEY

Natalie Miller (left) took over operations of the Magnolia House from her father, Sam Pass (right) a few years ago to continue his dream of reopening the house as a bed and breakfast.

legacy,” said Miller. “Our overall mission with the Magnolia As Hicks shows off the designs, two NC A&T students sit at House is to honor what it was historically. a table in sparkling dresses, having a tea party.

“Trying to reopen our doors to generate revenue has been “I definitely learned more about Tina,” said Vayana Henderthe biggest challenge,” she continued. “We’re reopening in a son, who played Turner. “I did my research on the fashion, the pandemic, she continued.” performances, and it was really cool to learn about.

Luckily, most of the steps to reopening have gone smoothly.

Like Vannoi, Henderson got involved through school.

“The fundraising, we’re doing well,” she said. “Our event “Our professor told us that there was an opportunity to volwas really successful. We had a lot of people come out in supunteer at the Magnolia House and that we could be celebrities port.” for a night,” she said.

The goal of the fundraiser was to raise Downstairs, the house is decorated Visit at 442 Gorrell St. in $100,000 in order to finish the renovamostly in greens, to represent the Green Greensboro. Learn more at tions.Miller is hoping to reopen by the Book. One of the rooms has a wall of celebfall. thehistoricmagnoliahouse.org. rities who are known to have stayed at the Hicks and her partner, Laura Mensch, inn, including Ray Charles, James Baldwin designed each of the five rooms upstairs and James Brown. after individuals who were known to have or might have As the evening goes on, people gather outside for food and stayed at the inn. In the Tina Turner and Ruth Brown Room, live music, the latter introduced by Miller herself. The guests for example, “We wanted it to be feminine, yet strong and continue to mingle and enjoy the entertainment as the sun powerful, like these women are,” Hicks said. “So this one has a sets, 1960s Mowtown playing in the background. bolder, deeper pink and magenta.”

An airport ComicCon, from EastGate

By Michaela Ratliff

W

onder Woman and Naruto gather on the patio of the Greensboro-High Point Marriott Airport hotel enjoying hot dogs and snacks as Teen Titans’ Raven and Starfire arrive at the first annual Triad Comic Con on Sunday. Inside and around the hotel’s grand ballroom, more than 20 vendors selling comic books, custom art and a variety of Funkos — nearly 4-inch-tall figurines with round, usually black eyes and oversized heads — gather. Towards the front of the room, Marvel fan Avery Little is dressed as Captain America, posing for pictures with other guests. DJ Dlinkwent plays hip-hop beats in the background which morph into the “Cha Cha Slide” that gets attendees moving. Nearby, Charles “Chuck” Ramsey, one of the event’s organizers, takes a breather in a chair to the left of the hotel entrance. He says coordinating his first Comic Con was unpredictable at times.

“You’ve gotta be able to flow like water,” he says.

Ramsey collaborated with Daryl Cullins, who works at EastGate Comics in High Point and the owner of EastGate Comics, Fred Wright Jr., to raise comic awareness in the area.

“We wanted to bring something back to the Triad,” Cullins says. “High Point hasn’t had a steady comic shop in over ten years. We’ve been in business for three years, and we’re still growing.”

Instead of selling rare collectibles or books of more well-known comics, some vendors push their own material in hopes of gaining new supporters. ENDtense Studios, a Black-owned, Greensboro-based, family-operated comics company, is one of them.

“We try to put a variety of different characters in our stories so everyone will have a story they’re attracted to,” says Jerome Smith, author of Electrik Tiger and one-third of ENDtense.

The men each created their own comic with Black characters and Black heroes, drawing inspiration from their personal lives to mold the stories, a task Elijah Simon, another member of ENDtense, enjoys.

“We can take a situation from our personal life and turn it into a fantasy and exaggerate on it,” he says.

Travis Smith, the creator of the Shadow Wolf comic, says the group be-

MAY 20-26, 2021 | CULTURE

CULTURE

PHOTO BY MICHAELA RATLIFF

Fred Wright, Jr. (L) and Daryl Cullins (R) of Eastgate Comics threw their first ComicCon in High Point this past weekend.

ing family makes business flow seamlessly.

“What makes the group work so well is that we’re all related,” he says. “Jerome’s my brother and Elijah’s my cousin. We grew up drawing together, so it makes things a lot easier. It’s fun.”

Mikaila Council, a guest at the event, runs around in excitement as she boasts about receiving a free Solid comic from Simon after stopping by his table and showing support.

“I got an amazing comic from a new, aspiring artist,” Council says.

“If I could change anything about my day it would be… nothing!”

Council’s mother, Stephanie who watches nearby, rates her first Comic Con an 11 out of 10.

“It’s a new experience for me so I’m excited to be here and bond with my child,” she says. “She’s an artist herself and I’m finding out about new characters and things.”

She did have just one suggestion for event organizers, though, as she watches an impromptu dance battle break out.

“I would have all the dancers in some type of character. Hit them with a Verzuz every 30 minutes. Let them battle it out. That would be hot!” she says.

In a nearby ballroom, a wrestling ring hosts the day’s matches, courtesy of Next Revelation of Lucha Libre professional wrestling company in Thomasville.

In the most epic match of the day, 13 wrestlers competed for the Triad Comic Con Battle Royale championship belt. . Ear-piercing slaps, the vibration of the ring after body slams and collective “oohs” echoed throughout the room as the athletes leapt from the ropes of the ring. The final three standing include Mike Mars, the “Gate City Guardian” TDT and Xavier Maxim, who eventually emerges victorious by eliminating TDT. “I’ve been wrestling for 14 years,” Maxim says. “I’ve been at the top of the mountain and I’ve been knocked off the top of the mountain, so to make that climb again, and get back to the top one more time, this was a big way to the top, baby.”

Learn more about Eastgate Comics at their website eastgate-comics.business.site.

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SHOT IN THE TRIAD | MAY 20-26, 2021

SHOT IN THE TRIAD

Pastor Anderson Drive, Greensboro

After roughly 15 years of vacancy, construction is underway at the 13.7 acre site at the intersection of East Market and South Dudley streets in east Greensboro. The site, owned by the the United House of Prayer for All People, will be a retail and recreational space called Bailey Village at New Downtown East and will link downtown with NC A&T University.

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CAROLYN DE BERRY

SUDOKU

MAY 20-26, 2021 | PUZZLES

Tracks’—and yeah, it’s a bit of a stretch.

CROSSWORD ‘That

by Matt Jones Across 1 Deceptive maneuver 6 Wine bar choice 9 Bolivia’s constitutional capital 14 Singer Lennox 15 Zamboni surface 16 Thees and ___ 17 *Oldest of the five original MTV VJs, and host of the KISS “unmasking” special 19 Gridiron kicks 20 “Next one’s on me” 21 “Bali ___” (“South Pacific” song) 22 A long time 24 “Pericles, Prince of ___” 26 Angry Birds box that goes boom 28 *American Samoa village which is home to the territory’s only movie theater 31 Until this moment 33 “Monty Python and the Holy ___” © 2021 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) 35 “Robin Hood: ___ in Tights” 36 Elephant-snatching bird of myth 38 Amazed acronym in chats 39 News station 40 Track and field athletes during the Tokyo Olympics (and a hint to the starred theme answers) 44 T as in testing?

45 “Hazy” beer variety 46 Installation in a bar, maybe 47 Line up a cornhole bag 48 Goes around 50 Game with numbered balls Answers from last issue 54 *1997 Hanson chart-topper 13 Curvy letter 56 Word before cow or horse 18 “Call Me ___” (Mayim Bialik sitcom) 58 Prison film weapon 23 Puzzling riddle 59 “We Have the Meats” advertiser 25 Chilling 61 Big flightless bird 27 USC athletes 63 Carbon compound suffix 29 Not so much 64 Harmon of “Rizzoli & Isles” 30 Printer fluid 66 *Program you might use in a smartphone emulator 32 Over the ___ (otherwise, they’d run on their own) 34 ___ Darya (central Asian river) 69 “___ say more?”

37 “It looks like you’re writing a letter” Microsoft helper 70 Get the picture 39 How-to presentations 71 Missile monitoring gp.

40 Quick haircut 72 Air Force student 41 Rooted (through) 73 Possessed 42 Dermal opening 74 Final Oldsmobile model 43 ‘70s-’80s “Club” mentioned in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” Down 44 Tim ___ (Australian cookie) 1 Tex-Mex offering 48 “Whatever happens, happens” 2 Takes pleasure in 49 Leaked slowly 3 Harm 51 “___ here!” (“Poltergeist” catchphrase) 4 “Boyz N the Hood” actress Long 52 Musical ineptitude 5 Silicon Valley industry, briefly 53 Be extra, with “it” 6 Ascendant 55 Wedding cake figurine, maybe 7 “Foucault’s Pendulum” author Umberto 57 Fuse box unit 8 Prohibit 60 Broad band?

9 Twin city to Minneapolis 62 Arm bone 10 ___ Peak, Kilimanjaro’s highest point 64 Mandela’s former org. (and Swahili for “freedom”) 65 Org. for teachers 11 Buyer and user 67 Shepherd’s pie bit 12 Wagon wheel groove 68 ISP your grandparents might still use

©2021 Jonesin’ Crosswords

(editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

Answers from previous publication.

If you read

then you know...

• How Asian activists are speaking out • How Whole 30 is becoming more inclusive • About Greensboro’s new DIY collective Triad City Beat — If you know, you know

To get in front of the best readers in the Triad, contact Chris or Drew

chris@triad-city-beat.com drew@triad-city-beat.com

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