Nashville PRIDE February 10, 2003

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volume XXXvii, Number 6

People Are Talking Lawmakers, local officials say GOP bill will reduce minority representation

Nashville, TN

Gov. Lee delivers 2023 ‘State of the State’ address

February 10, 2023

More police officers facing discipline after Tyre Nichols’ beating death

Tyre Nichols Sen. Charlane Oliver Nashville lawmakers and Metro officials are calling for an end to the legislature interfering with city affairs, saying the GOP bill to reduce the size of the Metro Council will eliminate representation for minority communities.

“If this legislation moves forward, I fear the representation of Black and Brown Nashvillians will suffer,” said Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville. “That could set us back as a city and state for a generation.”

Continued on page 7

Beyoncé breaks record for most Grammy wins

Gov. Lee, seen here meeting with the Department of Children’s services, is proposing more than $190 million in additional resources to support the embattled department.

On Tuesday, Tennessee Gov. Bill secure continued success. Lee’s proLee delivered his fifth State of the posed $55.6 billion budget includes State address and presented budget strategic funding to modernize and legislative priorities for the transportation, ensure economic and upcoming year to a joint session of educational opportunity, preserve the General Assembly and fellow our natural resources, protect chilTennesseans. dren, strengthen families and more.

“Tennessee is leading the nation Lee is proposing updates in the as a guiding light for opportunity, state’s transportation and infrastrucsecurity and freedom,” said Lee. ture to include $3B to the Trans“I’m proud to propose a budget and portation Modernization Fund to strategic policies that ensure our alleviate urban congestion and fund state continues to be a shining rural road projects across the state, example for educational opportuni- $300M to expand the State Aid Proty, strong families, innovation and gram for local road projects, and economic prosperity.” proposing new comprehensive legAccording to Gov. Lee, the islation centering on alternative state’s strong fiscal stewardship delivery models, public-private places Tennessee in one of the partnerships, electric/hybrid vehicle strongest budgetary positions in hisContinued on page 5 tory and allows for investments to

Senate Democratic leaders react to Gov. Lee’s State of the State Beyoncé (photo: Getty Images) Beyoncé is officially the ‘Queen Bey’ of the Grammys.

On February 5, Beyoncé broke the record for the most Grammys ever won by a single act, surpassing Hungarian-British orchestral and operatic conductor Georg Solti who has 31 wins.

The music star came into the 2023 Grammys as this year’s most nominated artist, earning nine nods for her hit album Renaissance and tying her husband Jay-Z’s record for the most nominations at a whopping 88.

Ahead of Sunday’s live show at <Crypto.com> Arena in Los Angeles, Beyoncé won the 2023 Grammy award for Best Traditional R&B Performance with ‘Plastic Off the Sofa.’ She also nabbed Best Dance/ Electronic Recording for ‘Break My Soul.’

During the awards show, Beyoncé tied Solti’s record of 31 Grammy wins when she took home the award for Best R&B Song with ‘Cuff It.’ However, the Renaissance artist didn’t accept the award in person with host Trevor Noah blaming Los Angeles traffic. Beyoncé was in the building and officially made history as the Grammys’ most-awarded artist when she earned Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for Renaissance.

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Tennessee Senate Democratic leaders issued the following statement following Gov. Bill Lee’s State of the State address: “We are glad to see an emphasis on tax cuts for small business owners, the conservation of our natural resources, and some targeted investments in maternity care, children and state workers,” said Sen. Raumesh Akbari, Senate minority leader.

“But most of the new money in this budget is long overdue.

Sen. London Lamar and Sen. Raumesh Akbari They’re putting out fires that have been growing for a decade.

Continued on page 5

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent Seven more Memphis police officers are facing discipline in the aftermath of Tyre Nichols’ death, according to City Attorney Jessica Sink.

The officers will be given an internal statement of charges, which will inform them of policy violations. Sink stated that a hearing and written decision will follow.

CNN reported that the action is not criminal in nature, but Sink said the final round of charges will be filed this week. Next week, the agency will hold administrative hearings.

Six officers have already been fired for their roles in the incident, five of whom have been charged criminally with second-degree murder.

The announcement came during a meeting of the Memphis City Council on Tuesday, where members were scheduled to discuss nearly a dozen public safety proposals and reforms, as well as question the city’s police and fire chiefs.

It was the council’s first public hearing since the video of police beating Nichols was released by the city.

“January has deeply affected all of us and continues to do so, serving as a clarion call for action,” Councilwoman Rhonda Logan said. “Today our focus will be on peeling back the layers of public safety in our city and collaborating on legislation that moves us forward in an impactful and intelligent way.”

According to an online agenda, the council’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee was set to take up 11 proposals in total, including an ordinance requiring police to only make traffic stops in marked cars, Continued on page 5

Pres. Biden renews calls for police accountability during SOTU address

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent With the parents of Tyre Nichols in attendance for the State of the Union address, President Joe Biden renewed the call for police accountability and the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The legislation bans chokeholds and no-knock warrants in certain cases, mandates data collection on police encounters and alter qualified immunity for law enforcement officers.

RowVaughn Wells, Nichols’ mother, and Rodney Wells, his stepfather, sat attentively during the joint session at the invitation of Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford (D-Nevada).

Since the cops in the Nichols case didn’t stop other officers from beating him up and they didn’t rush to help him, lawmakers have talked about Continued on page 7

During his speech, the president talked about jobs for the middle class, cancer research, the situation of veterans, and making America safer.

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February 10, 2023

NNPA wraps Midwinter Conference showing strength of Black Press, star-studded celebration for Dr. Benjamin Chavis

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the trade association for more 230 African than American-owned newspapers and media companies, held its 2023 midwinter training conference in Puerto Rico.

By the end of the four-day event, publishers, partners, sponsors, members, guests, and anyone else who visited the San Juan Marriott Resort and Beach Stellaris Casino gained a better appreciation of the power of the Black Press of America.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., president/ CEO of the NNPA, received the organization’s highest accolade while colleagues, family, and friends celebrated his birthday.

With ‘Digital Innovation Training and Engagement’ as the conference’s theme, NNPA Executive Administrator Claudette Perry and con-

ference planners did not disappoint.

The NNPA began by introducing everyone to its new app, which facilitated registration, provided information and instructions to each session.

Publishers left the Island of Enchantment with a better understanding of the importance of their digital products and how to monetize both print and online publications.

Kate Cox, adjunct professor at the Poynter Institute in Tampa, Florida, conducted an enlightening conversation on overcoming obstacles to produce sustainable corporate outcomes through digital transformation.

Cox advised publishers on how to engage in a presentation that was developed expressly for NNPA members to generate revenue streams because of digital transformation.

In a separate workshop, Cox assisted publishers in implementing

NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. receiving the 2023 NNPA Lifetime Achievement Award. the suggested evalua- cess approaches adopted Partnerships Manager, tions of their current by certain members, and Tina Xiao, Google audiences, staffing, and including Rolling Out. News Initiative’s global consultants to maximize “Digital ads are an program manager, prepotential for raising digi- important part of digital, sented publishers with tal revenue and expand- but there are many other three better practices for ing their total market benefits. It can help your driving traffic to their influence. business,” Fling said. websites.

Later, NNPA Digital “Do not unsell yourThey also instructed Manager Norman Rich self,” Rich told publish- journalists on how to use and Rolling Out COO ers.

Google tools to find, Randy Fling discussed Ashley Edwards, verify, and tell stories the digital revenue suc- vNews Lab’s US tailored to their audi-

Six figure earners also living paycheck-to-paycheck

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent In 2022, the economy proved as volatile as ever, with less disposable income and greater unpredictability.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, inflation in the United States peaked at 9.1% in July 2022 and dropped to 7.1% by November 2022.

A new study found that more people are having to spend all their income on necessities, and they are counting on their next salary to meet the costs they’ll incur until then.

Researchers discovered that many people of higher socio-economic status have had their first taste of living paycheck to paycheck this year.

While researchers found that most paycheck-to-paycheck consumers can pay their bills on time, one in every five Americans still require assistance to make ends meet.

Research conducted by <Pymnts.com> and LendingClub Corp. revealed that by the end of the year, 64% of American customers (166 million individuals) will be living paycheck to paycheck.

That represents a rise of three percent from a year ago, or 9.3 million additional people in the United States.

Almost eight million of them made $100,000 or more per year.

By the end of 2022, 51% of people in that income bracket reported that they were living paycheck to paycheck, up nine percent from the year before.

U.S. consumers, especially those who must spend every dollar they earn each month to

Editorial Department Editor: C. Ailene Lydia Staff Writers: David Lawrence; Wanda Clay

Table of Contents Front Page .......................... 1 National/State..................... 2 Local.................................... 3 Editorials ............................ 4 Church ................................ 5 Black history ..................... 6 Advertise in the Nashville PRIDE Call (615) 292-9150

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While 6.8% of consumers making above $200,000 report living paycheck to paycheck and having trouble making ends meet, 10% of those making between $150,000 and $200,000 and 12% of those making between $100,000 and $150,000 admitted a similar financial situation. meet their financial obli- and while it is now comgations, have been hit parable to a year ago, it hard by inflation and is up 11 percentage economic uncertainty in points from a low in 2022, as the authors of April 2021.

‘The Paycheck-to-PayAlthough people of check Report: 2022 Year all income levels have in Review’ detail. felt the pinch, the perThis study analyzed centage of high-income consumers’ responses to people living paycheck the ongoing financial to paycheck has pressures of an ever- increased significantly changing economic in the last two years. landscape by drawing on From July 2021 to PYMNTS’ series of 12 November 2022, the unique reports, conduct- percentage of highed in collaboration with income customers who LendingClub and rel- reported living paycheck eased each month from to paycheck increased January to December— from 34% to 47%. representing insights While 6.8% of confrom a total of 45,700 sumers making above U.S. consumers. $200,000 report living The researchers det- paycheck to paycheck ermined that living pay- and having trouble makcheck to paycheck is ing ends meet, 10% of currently the norm in the those making between United States. $150,000 and $200,000 Over the past year, and 12% of those makthe percentage of con- ing between $100,000 sumers living paycheck Continued on page 5 to paycheck fluctuated,

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Staff and Afillates Administration Publisher: Meekahl Davis, CEO Advertising Sales: Scott Davis Attorney: Karen Davis

ences.

In addition, the pair discussed the importance of GNP resources for publishers to grow and sustain their digital businesses.

Chavis spoke with Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) about the importance of Black lives and the Black press in a pre-recorded conversation.

He also had a live chat with fireside Dorothy Tucker, president of the National Association of Black (NABJ), Journalists about strengthening the bond between the two organizations.

The Illinois proprietors of The Times Weekly, Jayme and Dwight Casimere, conducted a session entitled ‘The Business of Wine and How it Became a Advertising Digital Opportunity.’

A workshop on the opinions and recommendations of Generation Z and Millennials regarding the future economic Continued on page 5

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Local

Cancer…My Journey in time: Making plans

Vivian Wilhoite attended the service in support of Pastor Fuzz.

by Wanda Clay color. However, that’s Plans begin with a not our focus today. thought. Sometimes Last week, the readthe thought comes ers were introduced to many years before it is the idea of Nashville manifested.

During General Hospital Black History Month, (NGH) building a new we celebrate the many facility. Dr. Joe Webb, plans that were made, CEO of NGH, made a and some that failed. comment that Rev. Some plans are for the Enoch Fuzz, pastor of good and some for the Corinthian MBC, made bad. Has it been con- that suggestion to him nine sidered that there were approximately plans to always have years ago. As time goes Black people as slaves? on, it appears to now That was the intent be in the planning when many humans stages. Dr. Webb made were brought across this known during the the ocean to be Sunday service at enslaved, starting in Corinthian which he the 1600s. attended in support of There was definite- Rev. Fuzz. ly an intent to make Fuzz was also supthis the way of life for- ported by several comever—most recently munity leaders and when former President friends attending the Trump promoted the service. slogan ‘Make America He was scheduled Great Again.’ Seem- to give the message to ingly, this alludes to his congregation for returning Black Ameri- only the third time in a cans to slavery—along year due to disruptions with other people of from his diagnosis of

stage four lung cancer.

His sermon, ‘Help from Heaven,’ was surely more than just a message.

Rev. Fuzz has received positive news from his latest doctor’s appointment. Although he still has pains (it was suggested that he continue to use his oxygen), Rev. Fuzz was told that the cancer has not spread even though he has been off a specific cancer drug since August of 2022.

This is definitely help from heaven. Prayers have been answered.

This is also proof that God makes plans for our lives. Sometimes plans take longer than anticipated. Sometimes plans are all in God’s time and in God’s way.

Please pray for the building of a new ‘state of the art’ Nashville General Hospital; healing for Rev. Enoch Fuzz; yourself; and this world. Many thanks to those who attended the service in show of support. During the service, Vice Mayor Jim Schuman announced that the City Council has established the ‘Enoch Fuzz Spirit of Nashville’ award.

Pray, enjoy and share Rev. Fuzz’s Meta postings; the weekly ‘Cancer: My Journey in Time’ article; and Rev. Fuzz’s reflections on all aspects of life’s journey.

Conversations at OZ returns in person February 22

(Top row l-r) Ciona Rouse, Dawn Cornelius, Josh Black, Dr. Gerald Onuoha, and Marquis Munson. (bottom row l-r) Marshall Crawford, Omari Booker, Sharon K. Roberson, Bentley Caldwell, and Freda Player.

by Cass Teague speakers for the event, at OZ, please visit “Conversations at their topics, and about h t t p s : / / w w w. o z a r t OZ,” an annual fundrais- upcoming performances snashville.org/. er celebrating the art of conversation with comThe full list of Nashville's most prominent leadmunity leaders and ers moonlighting as table hosts for Conversations at OZ includes the following (note that 9 are already vibrant personalities, Sold Out [*], and most of the others have Limited will take place in person Availability [**], so book your seat now): this year at OZ on *Samar Ali, Professor, Vanderbilt University Wednesday, February Law School, Founder & CEO, Millions of 23, 2022 at 6:30 pm.

Conversations **Kahlil Arnold, Co-Owner, Arnold's Country One of the most dynamKitchen ic annual benefits in **Clara Belden, Certified Holistic Coach; Nashville, the event Founder, The Happy Hour invites guests to engage **Josh Black, Comedian & Visual Artist Omari Booker and Alex Lockwood, Visual in insightful dialogue on Artist/Muralist and Founder, The Elephant Gallery a range of contemporary **John Brittle, Jr., Founder, Whiskey House topics, including arts Nashville and culture, social Bentley Caldwell, Men’s Fashion Stylist issues, business and **Steve Cavendish and Demetria Kalodimos, President & Editor; Executive Producer, Nashville government. The 2023 Banner lineup of conversation **Phil Cobucci, Executive Director, Inclusion hosts is packed with the Tennessee most compelling and *John and Laura Cooper, Mayor and First Lady of Nashville powerful voices impactDawn Cornelius, Founder and Principal ing Nashville’s thriving Consultant, Cornelius Group community.

Marshall Crawford, President & CEO, The “We are beyond Housing Fund grateful to host some of **Seth Feman, Executive Director & CEO, Frist Art Museum the most prominent and Raheleh and Reza Filsoofi , Vanderbilt Professor, invested movers and Visual Artist; Musician shakers in the city for Elam Freeman, Founder, Ojas Partners this year’s Conver*Bobby Frist, CEO, Healthstream **Brenda Gadd and Freda Player, President, sations at OZ fundraisRethink Public Strategies and Executive Director, er,” said Tim Ozgener, Emerge Tennessee Co-Founder and Sarah Gavigan, Owner, Otaku Ramen President of OZ Arts **William Gonzales, Executive Sales Leader, Nashville.

Blockchain Enthusiast *Cesar Gueikian, Brand President/CMO of “We’re proud to proGibson Guitars vide a platform for **Sean Henry, CEO, Nashville Predators members in our commu**Jen Hidinger-Kendrick, Co-Founder, Giving nity to engage with local Kitchen **Philip Holsinger and Tess Varga, leaders on an important Photojournalists range of topics while **Matt Leff, Founder, Rhizome Productions supporting the advanceLaura Maurice and Diana Ford, The Vault ment of contemporary Luxury Resale art both here in **Marquis Munson, Host and Production Coordinator, WNXP Nashville and across the **Dr. Gerald Onuoha, Founder and CEO, world.”

Everybody vs. Racism Official benefit tickSharon K. Roberson, President & CEO, YWCA ets are on sale NOW on Nashville and Middle Tennessee *Hunter Claire Rogers, Head of Membership, the OZ Arts website. All Soho House Nashville proceeds support OZ Ciona Rouse, Poet, Curator and Writer Arts’ mission to create *Heather Southerland, Owner/Partner, The innovative and accessiFrothy Monkey and Tailor Nashville ble artistic opportunities *Jennifer Turner, CEO, TPAC **Terry Vo, Founder, API Middle Tennessee for artists, audiences and **Chet Weise, Third Man Books Publishing students in Middle **Tandy Wilson and Stephanie Melidis Wilson, Tennessee and beyond.

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TSU’s AOB becomes first marching band to win Grammy

by Alexis Clark Tennessee State University’s marching band is now known as the Grammy-award winning Aristocrat of Bands.

The AOB made history as the first collegiate marching band to win the music industry’s highest honor for Best Roots Gospel Album, The Urban Hymnal, at the 65th annual ceremony. AOB is also featured on Spoken Word Artist and Poet, J. Ivy’s album The Poet Who Sat By The Door, that won a Grammy as well.

“We congratulate our students, Dr. Reginald McDonald, Professor Larry Jenkins, and the band staff for this amazing accomplishment as we continue to write history and prove why the Aristocrat of Bands is the best marching band in nation,” said TSU President Glenda Glover.

“It is quite appropriate that this historic moment in our institution’s history takes place during Black History Month, highlighting the accomplishments of great African American educators, scientists, civil rights and social justice leaders, innovators, visionaries and the trailblazing musicians of our Aristocrat of Bands.”

Dr. Reginald McDonald, AOB band director, said being the first college band in the nation, leading amongst HBCU bands is a ‘surreal’ moment that all universities can be proud of.

“It is a true testimony to how HBCUs with less tremendously resources find ways to educate and overcome enormous obstacles,” McDonald said. “The lesson for our students is that hard work, dedication, determination, perseverance and faith always win.”

The album also feaTSU’s New tures Direction Gospel Choir along with acclaimed gospel artist Jekalyn Carr, Fred Hammond, Kierra Sheard, J. Ivy, John P. Kee, Louis York and more.

New Direction Gospel Choir’s powerful vocals are heard on ‘Dance Revival,’ a track that lifts the spirit and soothes the soul.

The internationally acclaimed gospel choir has been featured on BET’s Sunday Best, toured Europe with a command performance at the Vatican hosted by the Pope Francis.

Walking the Grammy red carpet and accepting the award on behalf of

Walking the Grammy red carpet and accepting the award on behalf of TSU and the band were the album’s co-executive producers, shown (l to r): TSU alum platinum recording artist Aaron ‘DUBBA-AA’ Lockhart; Assistant Band Director Larry Jenkins; and TSU alumni, two-time Grammy award-nominated songwriter and artist Sir the Baptist TSU and the band were couldn’t be put into the album’s co-executive words when the award Assistant winner for the Best producers, Band Director Larry Roots Gospel album was Jenkins, TSU alumni, finally announced.

There are more than two-time Grammy award-nominated song- 280 AOB members. writer and artist Sir the Chelsea Flournoy, a Baptist, and TSU alum music education major platinum recording artist who plays the trombone Aaron ‘DUBBA-AA’ for the band, jumped for joy with her fellow Lockhart.

Jenkins thanked classmates.

“I cried tears of joy,” every student who worked hard to make the Flournoy said. “We worked so hard, long dream a reality.

“Thank you to the nights recording this best band in the land, album to make it perfect, State and the perfect way got Tennessee University AOB. Thank us a Grammy. I was conyou to all of our amazing fident in this album, we students. Your hard work made history!”

TSU senior John and dedication created the pen that allowed you king, who plays the cymto write your own page bal, said he was very in the history books. We confident in last night’s before the made history, but it is win also February, so we also announcement. “I saw the vision,” King said. made Black history.”

It was just as exciting “Being a part of this on the TSU campus as journey and seeing this hundreds of students, being accomplished, it including band mem- motivates me and it bers, waited anxiously gives me hope.”

Listen to The Urban for the category and Hymnal album on all announcement.

The Grammy watch music streaming platparty erupted when the forms such as Apple band’s name was read as Music, YouTube, and or the winner. Emotions Spotify.

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Page 4

Nashville PRIDE

Editorials

Africana Studies should be a must at hBCUs

by William T. Robinson, Jr. HBCUs should be the hubs for African Americans or any students wanting a quality education as well as an introduction to true Black history—an aspiration, which should be paramount in understanding the role of a beautiful and persevering people. America is a tapestry of different people with different cultures and traditions that should be known and respected. This knowledge should be inclusive as we come together as a nation representing all its citizens. However, we all know that (as it stands now) our educational system is built on indoctrinating everyone to a Eurocentric perspective, although the powers to be claim to be bringing everyone to the table under the disguise of promoting diversity. But they are only continuing to promote and encourage Eurocentric assimilation.

One of the biggest dilemmas facing so many Blacks is their lack of understanding their true history and the beauty of their greatness. One of the greatest obstacles facing many Blacks, especially from disadvantaged or improvised communities, is low self-esteem and a propensity to expect less or wrestle with crime because of an educational system that negates or dilutes their importance and relevant contributions to mankind.

Our educational system has yet to recover from a history where Blacks were segregated or barred from schools, with integration taught and systemic racism engraved in all our businesses and institutions. Even today, this in a problem. Not being exposed to African Studies puts Blacks in a position to continue to be devalued and exploited. Being denied African Studies in our institutions, especially our HBCUs, is a disservice in promoting equality, truth,

and knowledge of self to the young Blacks in our country.

Colleges are supposed to offer us venues to grow and be productive. But all too often they offer a designated Eurocentric curriculum, stifling the minds of conscientious and creative Black students demanding truth.

In the United States, Blacks and people of color are introduced and inducted into a Eurocentric dominated curriculum depriving them of cultural and academic inclusion.

This practice continues on even in HBCUs. If the students are not exposed to an Afrocentric curriculum where they can find their true selves and learn of their true worth and potential to achieve unlimited greatness, they continue to be manipulated by a system aimed at creating subjugated robots.

HBCUs that do not have strong African Studies programs as required credit are doing their students a grave disservice and are no better than White institutions continuing to peddle a White agenda. African Studies should be ‘mission essential.’ Anytime you have an HBCU apologizing and diluting its Blackness to appease Whites, you may need to look at the administration leading that HBCU. HBCUs should not have to apologize about being predominately Black—especially considering they came about because White colleges and universities refused to admit Blacks. You don’t find PWIs (Predominately White institutions) apologizing for being predominately White.

HBCUs must be cognizant of Black college presidents backed

by Whites acting as puppets to dilute the schools’ Blackness in favor of making Whites feel better about attending. HBCUs have never discriminated. But if you feel comfortable in a predominately White environment, there are plenty of PWIs you can

William T. Robinson, Jr. attend. HBCUs with strong African Studies programs should be the place Blacks should be able to attend and be de-programmed from a Eurocentric curriculum that subliminally keep students willing victims. without HBCUs strong African Studies Departments are inadequate. They deprive students of knowing and loving who they are. You don’t have to apologize for having an Afrocentric perspective. You don’t find too many Blacks making excuses for their Europerspective centric keeping them mentally imprisoned.

Many PWIs are seeing the importance of African Studies departments and offer degrees in the study to attract Blacks from HBCUs, offering White students a glimpse of the truth in a country so engrossed in hiding it with false narratives. It is a slap in the face of an HBCU surrounding when PWIs have stronger African Studies programs. When all is said and done, who is better in introducing African Studies than people who are representative of that race?

Blacks making excuses to appease the guilty consciences of Whites by minimizing African Studies are doing the Black community as well as the world a grave disservice. We cannot talk about making progress in this country promoting inclusion if we don’t have knowledge of African Studies.

(Written on behalf of the Save TSU Community Coalition [STCC].)

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Our challenge during Black history Month – resist ignorance

by Julianne Malveaux News Analysis (TriceEdneyWire.com) – Each year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History sets a theme Black History for Month. This year the theme is ‘Black Resistance.’ It is appropriate for a time such as this because it reflects the work we must do in a climate where there has been active retrenchment of our rights.

The 2022 elections reminded us that voter suppression efforts continue to erode our voting rights. The reduction of our voting rights is taking place as we prepare for the 2024 election.

Already the far rights and their allies are attempting to steal the 2024 election by sidelining as many voters as possible. This will pressure our voting rights organization, and I know they are equal to the task.

Their work to prepare for 2024 is the epitome of Black resistance.

In the academic realm, 36 states have passed laws restricting what can be taught in classrooms.

These laws are specious and ignorant. Some say teachers can't teach ‘critrace theory,’ ical no one although attempts to introduce a higher-level legal concept to K-12 students.

Others vaguely say nothing can be taught to make students ‘feel uncomfortable’ about their origins. was Enslavement uncomfortable. Lynching was uncomfortable.

Tyre Undoubtedly, Nichols felt ‘uncomfortable’ when beasts with badges beat him to death over a traffic stop. What many people do not know about American history is bound to make uncomfortable. them

by Dr. E. Faye Williams (TriceEdneyWire.com) – I’m sure that many people only thought of February 1, 2023, in terms of the funeral of Tyre Nichols. Whether the date of his funeral was chosen randomly or chosen for symbolic impact, Tyre’s funeral was the commencing event of this year’s Black History Month Observance. Sadly, the circumstance of Tyre’s lynching rekindles the pain and memories of the horrors and brutalities that have been imposed upon Black communities for centuries. Those who value life deeply regret the loss of this young man’s life and the loss of his potential for good to his family, friends, and the larger community.

Many Whites will attempt to expunge any personal or systemic culpability for the brutal murder of Tyre by pointing out that the crime was committed by five Black men operating under the cover of law enforcement. Nothing could be further from the truth.

More correctly, the perpetual and ongoing conditioned responses, corruption, and contamination by the malignant institution of slavery (America's Greatest Sin) continue to plague us all.

Throughout our experience in the U.S., Blacks have commonly been

objective was and is absolute behavioral control. Whether the goal was finding the guilty or someone to blame, it was easy to find ‘the target’ among Blacks. More often than not, when all else failed or when expediency dictated, color was the determining factor. The legacy of that thinking has evolved into modern policing.

For the lack of space, I cannot provide reference for each of my postulates, but for those who contradict or wish to know more, references with empirical data abound.

As we assess the lynching of Tyre Nichols, the historic parallels are striking. As described by those who loved him most and knew him best, he was a free and unconventional spirit. His only crime lay in his Blackness. The group of ‘enforcers’ Tyre encountered had no need to follow prescribed police procedures. Imbued with the notion of Tyre’s guilt, they turned this manufactured traffic stop into a capital crime event and became this young man’s judges, juries, and executioners.

Sadly, this was not a tragic act of history, but a recurring event which threatens the psyches and personal security of us all. Like our parents, grandparents and those who preceded them, for the sake of safety, we are coerced into a state of imbalance and control.

Our pledge for this BHM must be to force these recurring events into the malignant history of this nation.

Julianne Malveaux But as my grandma used to say, ‘ignorance is bliss.’ We in academia must use our resistance to repel these malicious efforts. It is past time for us to ensure that our collective history is reflective of reality.

Nobody wants anybody to ‘feel bad.’

Instead, we want to take the truth and build on it.

There is so much to resist that we must also resist the urge to become ‘too tired’ to fight back.

I'm ashamed to say that, years ago, I said that I was tired of marching.

Wrong! We can never be too tired to march, protest, or stand up for what is right. I am profoundly grateful to the folks in Black Lives Matter who show up and show out in the face of injustice. In Los Angeles, they show up regularly to resist the antiBlackness that riddles this city. In Washington, D.C., people show up to protest land use decisions that push poor and moderate-income people out of the city. In Memphis, folks are showing up to protest the murder of Tyre Nichols.

They are resisting, as we all must. Self-care is also a form of resistance.

While we can never be too tired to resist, the wise among us will know when it is time to take a break. A leaky vessel can't carry anybody's water.

When we are broken, we can't heal anyone, much less our community. When we are healthy and whole, we are effective warriors. When we are not, we must ask ourselves if we are bringing our best selves to the struggle.

Nearly 150 years ago, at the end of Reconstruction, African Americans faced resistance to our post-enslavement gains. Black Codes and Jim Crow laws were passed. Vagrancy laws were passed. Those African Americans who had attained some and status, wealth including elective office, found themselves under attack. In that context, people like Ida B. Wells began to document lynchings to ensure that we all knew about the many attacks we were facing.

This present period is reminiscent of the postReconstruction era when obstacles were created to prevent further progress in the face of Black gains. It is no accident that the presidency of Barack Obama was followed by retrenchment in the subsequent presidency of the Orange Man, and Vice President Harris has been attacked in both racist and sexist terms. White resistance to Black progress must be met by Black resistance to ignorance.

That is our challenge this Black History Month. Our resistance must be structural, but it must also be personal.

We must make decisions about how we resist, but we must resist. "Power concedes nothing without a demand," said Douglass.

Frederick What are you demanding, and how far will you go to ensure that our collective social and economic justice demands are met?

Divisions set in concrete and pavement

February 1, 2023 perceived and treated as sub-human. Our ancestors' value was determined by the work they could produce or the number of healthy offspring they could breed.

When they became independently expressive, ran away, or actively objected to their enslavement, they were brutally beaten into compliance. Often, instead of ‘ruffling his feathers,’ the Massa would have a favored slave administer the specified punishment for him.

This favored slave could/would earn a special place in the Massa’s heart by demonstrating self-hatred/loathing and a willingness to serve as the Massa’s surrogate enforcer.

It was culturally accepted that the most efficient way to exact compliance from a ‘slave’ was to beat it out of him or her. Whether sadistic pleasure was derived from observing human torture or from doing the dirty deed personally, ‘whippings’ were more common than not. I believe that many of the whippings Black children received were predicated on the belief that beatings were necessary to achieve compliance.

Unfortunately, this legacy of personal violence still festers among many.

Even the casual, objective observer can confirm the duplicity of punishment in law enforcement. For Whites the ‘Serve and Protect’ mantra of law enforcement agencies has been more accurate than not.

As with policing, for persons of color, especially Blacks, the unstated

February 10, 2023

by Ben Jealous (TriceEdneyWire.com) – The racial divisions that have split our country for centuries don’t just live in people’s hearts and heads. Some of them exist in concrete and pavement running right through certain neighborhoods. This is structural racism in the most tangible sense.

In Milwaukee last month, local activists told me about their fight against that kind of division. Wisconsin’s transportation department wants to expand a crumbling 3.5-mile stretch of Interstate 94 running through the state’s largest city at a cost of $1.2 billion. There are about 49 acres of land in the neighborhoods adjoining the roadway.

Like Overton in Miami, East Los Angeles and West Montgomery, Ala., those neighborhoods, home to poor Black and Brown residents, were subdivided 60 years ago when I-94 was built. The highway continues to cut them off today.

It’s disingenuous to make plans today that don’t consider the history of these highways in places like Milwaukee.

The cost to locate interstates, built as courts were ordering desegregation of public schools and housing, was borne by communities of color whose residents were barred from home loans that would have let them move to suburbs that got

disproportionate benefit from faster commutes.

Planners used code words like blight, renewal, and efficiency to confuse that reality.

A highway project like this creates an actual intersection between creating more equitable communities and protecting the planet. Public works projects that encourage more traffic increase air pollution that impact our climate, increase noise pollution, and add to flooding and contaminated run-off that damage swimmable, fishable rivers. Those who live closest breathe the most exhaust and live with the constant drone of traffic, but the environmental impact unquestionably stretches far wider.

The estimated cost of expanding I-94 is about $40 million more than fixing the existing six lanes. That’s the same amount that a 50% cut in the current state budget cost mass transit systems in Madison and Milwaukee. Most Milwaukee mass transit riders are workers riding to a job or the disabled and seniors who no longer drive.

While Black and Brown riders make up a disproportionate share of the total, most riders are White.

When we see these fabricated divisions, the question we should ask is who benefits from creating them? We know from troubling experience that the self-interested find ways to separate us even when our interests are the same.

Who benefits from a wider interstate? It’s clearly not its neighbors.

Not the Milwaukee City Council who opposed the plan. Not drivers today or in years to come as updating the current highway without adding lanes will improve safety and reduce congestion. And not millennials that Wisconsin has spent millions to retain and attract who say they want to live in places that don’t demand driving.

A local issue like this one in Wisconsin matters even if you live three states away because one like it may be coming to where you live soon. We’re on the cusp of many more in every state. Historic federal funding in 2021 and 2022 to repair infrastructure and invest in a cleaner economy must be spent place by place.

We need to follow the example of the folks I met in Milwaukee: stay vigilant, never assume that decisions will be made in the best interests of everyone or the planet, build the biggest coalitions we can, and hold officials accountable when we vote.

(Ben Jealous is the incoming executive director of the Sierra Club, the oldest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the country. He is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Never Forget Our People Were Always Free, published in January.)

The editorials on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers or staff of this newspaper.

February 10, 2023

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Church/Continuations

Faith of A Mustard Seed

by Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div. I made a statement one evening while sitting in a Bible Study group at Payne Chapel.

So long ago that I only take away the fact that the young lady, who at the time was an assistant minister, opened her phone, searched and read what drove her thinking on the matter. Needless to say that the divide created caused the dialogue to ‘take sides’.

So. I want to indicate how often I give thanks to God for my Old Testament Literature course (Dr. G. Murray Branch) and my Introduction to The New Testament course (Dr. Thomas Hoyt) and their teachings on delineations in Source History. Most every student of Dr. Branch has a tape in their head where he said more often than not, “I’m tired of you all coming in here with these Sunday School Sources!”

That now, with a clear heart and mind, I can immediately identify those sources, those persons who have delivered historical statements that can be trusted... as being in line with the quest for TRUTH. It becomes ‘power of discernment’!

So. I continue to speak to young folk whose entire life, both education and knowledge is tied up into the world wide web. Concerting, their dependency that is somewhat like a drug... an ‘addiction’ that can be deadly! (That ‘human trafficking’ thang). What with the Pandemic and the entire public education system in America (and the Church too for that matter) being ‘sourced’ by internet; it will take a moment, now or revealed, to see, to know to understand the ramifications of this major event upon soci-

Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div. etal affairs. very Something drastic has occurred with the U. S. President, Trump, coining “Alternate Truth”. If indeed TRUTH is absolute (I don’t even join the debate in that for I equate ‘Absolute Truth’ with God; however difficult ‘The Way’, the search, the quest for Truth has been made, and yes, given, and accepted, and dogmatized and believed); then Alternate truth is very simply... a lie. That ‘little white’ or ‘big black’ lie is just that —a lie!

What, then, is that “do you promise to tell the Truth, the WHOLE truth and nothing but the Truth” to a justice system that practices deception? With the introduction of alternate truth, came the occupation of ‘fact checking’ and the meters began to run.

And the numbers began to mount; into the thousands on the lies told by the President of The United States!

It’s incarceration. If indeed KNOWing The Truth... sets you free — INDEED! Subsequently, with such large numbers of persons, including those sworn to protect and their commitment to served and uphold, apparently seceding to chaos. It is Biblically clear that where ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Vision’ are absent... death and destruction is relative.

"But when knowledge comes, the whole world is turned upside down. The meaning of things begins to emerge. And more importantly, the relations between things are seen for the first time. Questions are asked and answers are sought. A strong restlessness comes over the spirit and the enormity of error moves over the horizon like a vast Struggle shadow. emerges as the way of life. An appetite is awakened that can never be satisfied."

(Howard Thurman) I am reminded this week, when Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands took the title of “Grammy Award Winning”, that ‘The Shield’ of my Alma Mata bears these words: first “Think”; then “Work”; then “Serve”. The order of this “Life Mission”, I no longer question... I know now that FIRST and formost, I am required to THINK... on some levels that many folk dare not go.

When the meaning of things emerge and the relations are seen... struggle emerges as a way of life —like it, no Love IT... the “Struggle for Knowledge...

So. Young Folks.

When you reach the point where everything you think, everything you say, everything you do is driven by internet sources, what you gon do when they pull the plug on the sources of this power? Oh. You already got an idea about that. On that day when God sent that ice storm that knocked out the power. For some... for days! Akin to the pain of withdrawal from... a drug. So. For those who have yet to experience the ‘Power Outage’... just... THINK! by email: myfa thersmansionpress@ gmail.com

Tyre Nichols... from page 1 a presentation on a civilian law enforcement review board, and an ordinance establishing a procedure for an independent review of police training.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn ‘C.J.’ Davis and Fire Chief Gina Sweat both spoke at the hearing and discussed their future plans for their departments.

The officials also answered questions from council members who were dissatisfied with the answers.

The hearing occurred about a month after Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten

by Memphis police officers from the specialized SCORPION unit after a traffic stop near his family’s home. He was rushed to the hospital and died three days later.

The city released body-camera and surveillance footage of officers repeatedly punching and kicking Nichols while his hands were restrained in late January. According to the video, they then left him without medical care for more than 20 minutes.

According to a falsified police report, Nichols began fighting with them and grabbed one of their guns. His

death has reignited calls for police reform and reignited a national debate about policing justice.

Five officers involved in the beating, all of whom are Black, have been fired and charged with second-degree murder. A sixth officer was also fired, and a seventh was placed on leave. In addition, the Fire Department terminated two EMTs and a lieutenant for failing to provide emergency care.

The specialized SCORPION unit was also disbanded less than two years after it was established.

Conference... from page 2

sustainability of the Black Press was a highlight of the conference.

Discussion was led by Chelsea Lenora White of the Houston Forward Times, Jarren Small, founder of Reading with a Rapper, Michale Green, managing editor of the Washington Informer, and Lafayette Barnes, publisher of The Bridge.

The quartet discussed and illustrated how publishers may generate new revenue streams as a result of the intersection and engagement of adolescents with their digital and print media.

Chavis, the recipient of the 2023 NNPA Lifetime Achievement Award, was feted with a 75th birthday party on ‘day three’ and a starstudded awards ceremony to help close out the conference.

Chavis’ family offered heartfelt words of appreciation and admiration during the ceremony, hosted by Rev. Mark Thompson.

Chavis’ longtime friend and hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons, Public Enemy founder

Chuck D, Fat Joe, Kurtis Blow, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-South Carolina), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-California), NAACP President Derrick Johnson, and many others paid tribute in video form.

Rocky Bucano, executive director of the Universal Hip Hop Museum, also arrived in San Juan to take part in the celebrations honoring Chavis.

Billy Murphy, a wellknown Baltimore attorney, announced a $50,000 Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. Scholarship.

General Motors, Hyundai, Wells Fargo, AARP, Nissan, MCRD, Zillow, Compassion & Choices, Rebuild Local News, Comcast-NBC Universal, API, Diageo, Reynolds, Pfizer, Google News Initiative, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation counted among the NNPA’s partners and sponsors.

“Our NNPA executive committee and convention planning committee, chaired by Data News Weekly Publisher Terry Jones, are grateful

that [everyone involved] has taken the time to join us in support of the Original Black Press,” said NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards. “We are grateful to all of the NNPA’s corporate partners, sponsors, and supporters who have generously contributed to allow us to be together here in Puerto Rico.”

Chavis, gracious but overwhelmed, stated that the NNPA is devoted to keeping its readers, constituencies, and supporters informed, engaged, and empowered through breaking news, cultural excellence, and visionary opinions and editorials.

“We are African American businesses that continue to provide a vital service to all communities across the country and around the world,” Chavis said.

“This year marks the beginning of my 10th year as president/CEO, and it has been a remarkable journey. I have personally encountered some of the world’s best publisher leaders, journalists, and advocates for freedom, justice, equality, and equity.”

Nashville PRIDE

Page 5

expressions of faith “My Word”

by Bishop-elect Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr. Today's word is going to transcend your spirit, because God is bringing you to a place of eminence.

“And Moses said unto the people, ‘Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He [God] will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will see them no more forever,” Exodus 14:13.

How do you respond when God has released a word for your life? What are your reactions, thoughts, feelings, and speech? When God releases a word into your life, it comes as a word of knowledge, wisdom, understanding.

The counsel of God has given a word of fortitude, a word of strength of mind, a word of strength of character, and the power of fearlessness.

‘Rhema’ is the word of God—a word given to you because it is filled with the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Truth.

"My word which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me void [useless, without results], but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the things for

which I sent it," Isaiah 55:11.

The Rhema word has within itself the spiritual seed that releases faith, life, and power. This is why it's the knowledge of God, because there is only one Spirit, one seed, one faith, one life, and one power. That's God and God only.

When God speaks a word, ‘Rhema,’ it's a word that was spoken before and is now being spoken again.

In other words, Rhema is the word which the Lord speaks a second time [known as the word of elevation.] It is the confirming, living, and fulfilled word.

When God confirms the word on you, He establishes the truth [correctness]. He approves it to make you stronger.

When God releases the Rhema, you can believe that it's God’s truth.

Rhema is accomplished through the operation of the Holy Spirit. The Logos [God’s word] becomes Rhema.

The word of God, or the principle of divine reason and creative order, is now in motion for you!

When God speaks His word [Logos] the second time, it is going to become Rhema and come to pass. God does

Bishop-elect Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr. not speak aimlessly.

When God speaks a second time, it's because you need to hear the words that He spoke to get you through what lies ahead. Who has a word from God that has already been spoken to you? It doesn't mean something bad, but reveals what lies ahead.

When I speak to you a second time, it's already done.

This keeps us grounded in God and His word so we don't lose our minds or go astray. When you get there, you won't forget who brought you.

When God releases His word, it is to transform us into His likeness as we walk in the dynamic power of the Lord. His word is true and eternal.

His word never changes. His word will judge us righteously. We will be held accountable to an everlasting God who never fails.

‘State of the State’... from page 1 fees.

To further economic and educational opportunities, Lee is proposing: • $288.3M for a onetime three-month sales tax holiday on food from August 1 to October 31, 2023, providing tax relief for Tennessee families • Beginning a threeyear transition to Single Sales Factor for franchise and excise taxes to improve Tennessee’s ability to compete for jobs and investment • $64M to simplify tax administration and conform with the federal bonus depreciation provisions of 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, allowing businesses to more quickly recover costs and further incentivize investment in Tennessee production • $37.8M for Small Business Excise Tax Relief, establishing a standard deduction from excise tax for up to $50,000 of reported net income, earning taxpayers a maximum of $3,250 in direct savings for Tennessee businesses • $20.3M for Small Business Franchise Tax Relief that exempts up to $500,000 of property from the franchise tax, giving small- and medium-sized businesses that own property in Tennessee up to $1,250 in tax savings on their annual franchise tax liability • $7.9M for Small Business Relief from the

Business Gross Receipts Tax, increasing the filing threshold for business tax from $10,000 to $100,000 to ensure that only businesses with $100,000 of gross receipts or more will be subject to the business tax. This includes funding to hold local jurisdictions harmless.

• $7.3M to establish a state paid family leave tax credit against franchise and excise tax for a two-year pilot period that will mirror the federal tax credit.

Lee plans to increase funding to the much criticized Department of Children’s services to include youth intervention partnerships, an updated case management and payment system, as well as increasing bed capacity.

Other proposals include: • $370.8M to update outdated facilities in seven TCAT campuses state-wide • $386.2M to invest in new buildings, expansions and improvements to 16 current TCAT campuses • $147.5M to build six new TCATs to better serve more students across Tennessee • $18.7M to increase the income threshold for pregnant women and caregivers to expand access to TennCare Services • $5.2M to provide 12-month continuous TennCare eligibility for low-income children

• $4.7M to permanently extend postpartum health coverage under TennCare • $15M to fund the Summer Youth Employment Program to connect youth and young adults ages 14 to 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experiences • $350 M in additional funding to local education agencies through Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA), including $125 M for teacher pay raises • $60.8M to extend summer learning camps and expand eligibility age from 4th grade to Kindergarten through 9th grade • $10M for Summer Bus Transportation • $20M in School Safety Grants to enhance school security • $29.7M for the Tennessee School Safety Initiative, expanding staffing to place at least one Homeland Security Special Agent in each of the state’s 95 counties to provide threat assessments and collaborate with local law enforcement • Five percent salary pool increase for higher education employees to ensure they attract and retain the best employee base possible • $10M to support successful re-entry by expanding EvidenceBased Programming Grants in prisons and jails with a focus on mental health

Senate Democrats... from page 1 “State government has to break its bad habit of waiting until a crisis emerges to make meaningful changes. Our caucus stands ready to work with our colleagues to do the hard work of planning for our shared future.”

Sen. London Lamar, Senate Democratic caucus chairwoman, stated: “Instead of leading

our state into the 21st century by investing in people and working families, Tennessee is only maintaining the status quo.

“We are not leading the nation as long as we have abused children sleeping on the floors of state office buildings.

We’re not leading the nation if our families don’t have access to

affordable housing, health coverage or childcare.

“This budget does some nice things, but with this much funding available, Tennesseans deserve more than business as usual. If we want to lead the nation, let’s get to work on real investments for our people, families and businesses.”

Six figure earners... from page 2 and $150,000 admitted a similar financial situation.

The report revealed that consumers with lower incomes are more likely to require bill payment assistance.

When asked why they were having trouble making ends meet, 18%

of middle-income consumers and 33% of lowincome consumers said it was because of their income level.

Lydia Boussour, senior economist at EY Parthenon, told MSN that “consumer spending prospects are unclear.”

She claimed that

consumers’ discretionary spending will be low this winter because of rising costs, depleted savings, and growing reliance on credit.

The decline in stock prices and property values will have a ‘negative wealth effect,’ exacerbating these dynamics.

Page 6

Nashville PRIDE

BhM 2023

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February 10, 2023

Belmont and Fisk Universities announce social justice collaborative Belmont University and Fisk University are forming a partnership between the universities designed to cultivate champions for social justice through exposure to civil rights and social justice movements throughout Middle Tennessee. The Fisk-Belmont Social Justice Collaborative is funded by the Rechter Family Foundation and was created to educate students and amplify the power of their leadership with joint projects and exposure over a five-year period.

The fostering and advancement of social justice through this partnership directly supports both Belmont’s and Fisk’s strategic trajectories.

“Our commitment to reweaving the social fabric through hope and inclusive excellence begins with a thorough and thoughtful examination of the past, reflecting on areas where imbalance and inequality have persisted,” said Dr. Susan West, executive vice president for administration, chief of staff and chair of Belmont’s Diversity Council.

Fisk University Provost Dr. Robert Carr, said: “Fisk University students were in the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. This collaboration aligns perfectly with Fisk’s Strategic Plan to provide student experiences

Joyce Espy Searcy both inside and outside the classroom that will transform the students and society.”

Belmont University Journalism Professor Dr. Sybril Brown and Fisk University Associate Professor and Chair of Behavioral Sciences Dr. Rolande Dathis have created a new course where students will create various projects including an e-book, commemorative website, video vignettes and a pop-up museum digital experience. There are 25 students enrolled in

Dr. Susan West

Dr. Robert Carr

the respective courses.

Fisk’s Associate Professor of Social Justice Dr. Ricardo Guthrie and Belmont’s Dr. Bernard Turner, associate professor and director of Belmont Social Justice Entrepreneurship, will take students to Black Mountain, N.C. for the Ignite Retreat, an immersive experience designed to teach students how to create change in their communities and tour Mobile, Alabama civil rights museums.

Dr. Dennis Chen, Belmont associ-

ate dean and associate professor of and International Management Business will also co-lead the Belmont-Fisk Spring 2023 Hackathon in partnership with Fisk John Lewis Center for Social Justice Tech/Data Science Fellow Lena Winfree.

Students will visit each campus, local museums and libraries, and interview social justice advocates across decades. A speaker series includes Continued on page 7

Frank Frazier and the Texas Gang at Woodcuts Art Show Tuesday, February 21 for one day only

by Cass Teague In the 35+ year history of Woodcuts Framing and Gallery, one of the first artists to exhibit there was Frank Frazier. Decades later, he is returning again to Woodcuts, bringing his Texas Art Posse with him. The tour features other notables such as Don O’Bannon, Emanuel Gillespie, Seidah Williams, and Lakeem Wilson. Be there as they exhibit their phenomenal work for one day only, Tuesday, February 21, from 12 Noon until 6:00 p.m., in Music City in the iconic Gallery next to Fisk Jubilee Hall on historic Jefferson Street.

“Frank's a very prolific artist,” say Nathaniel Harris, owner of Woodcuts, when I asked him what we should expect in the show. “In the past he’s done beautiful collages. He also does watercolor pastels. Recently he’s been political pieces. We sold a piece Untitled, Frank Frazier, 1986 color screenprint on matte board, 17 x 23 inches recently of the Edmund Pettus Bridge,

when the police attacked demonstrators. Frank just has a variety of styles and images that he’s created and he continues to create. With Frank, you never can tell, he’s full of surprises, so you have to be here.”

Frazier uses swatches of vibrantly colored Kente cloth and figurines from countries such as Ghana and Upper Volta, and from the Ashanti tribe. His company is called “Visions in Black Gallery,” and is run by his wife, Judy.

Frazier’s concerns revolve around the movement of black art galleries and Black art in America. He states that, “I’m concerned about the future of the black artist; the lasting effect of our work on our own children. It’s important that we, as artists, make some statements to affect change.”

“My goal is to portray in strong visual images the experience of Continued on page 7

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Nashville celebrates Black history Month In 1926 Carter G. Woodson founded the first Black History Week, selecting the second week of February to commemorate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, whose birthdays were the 12th and 14th, respectively. In the 1940s, efforts began to expand the week to a month, with West Virginia Blacks inaugurating the change.

Known then as Negro History Month, the expanded commemoration began to spread and by the mid-1960s had taken root in Chicago, where cultural activist Frederick H. Hammaurabi, who founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, made the change. Later in that decade, young Black college students all over the country (starting with Kent State in Ohio in February of 1969), who were becoming more politically conscious and active, began changing the name to Black History Month.

In 1974 then-President Gerald Ford met with civil rights leaders Vernon Jordan, Bayard Rustin, Dorothy Height, and Jesse Jackson and two years later made the celebration of Black History Month official. As he said at the time: "We can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."

As the Association for the Study of African American Life and History notes on its website about the adoption of Black History Month: "Since the mid-1970s, every American president, Democrat and Republican, has issued proclamations endorsing the Association's annual theme."

Nashville is celebrating the holiday this month at events throughout the city. Listed below are just a few.

Nashville Public Library The Civil Rights Room in the Nashville Public Library is a space for education and exploration of the Civil Rights Collection. The materials exhibited capture the drama of a time when thousands of African American citizens in Nashville sparked a nonviolent challenge to racial segregation in the city and across the South.

National Museum of African American Music The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) officially opened to the public in January 2021.

Discover the central role African Americans have played in shaping and creating all genres of American music.

From classical to country to jazz and hip hop, NMAAM has integrated history and interactive technology to share the untold story of more than 50 music genres and sub-genres. Tours initially follow a weekend schedule and will be held on Saturdays and Sundays 11 am6 pm.

Tennessee State Museum Learn more about Black History at the Tennessee State Museum. The per-

Nigerian Belgian artist Otobong Nkanga’s ‘Gently Basking in Debris’ selection of works is being featured at the Frist Art Museum during Black history Month. manent exhibitions feature Black the violence caused by exploiting natu- pm. Admission is $25-$40 a ticket.

History from the early days of the ral and human resources if we are to Urban League of Middle TN state’s beginnings through the Civil overcome the damaging legacy of On Tuesday, February 21, TSU is War and Reconstruction and the Civil extraction under colonialism and global hosting ‘A Conversation of Excellence Rights Movements in Tennessee. capitalism. This exhibition is part of the with Oscar-winning Production Throughout the month of February, the Tennessee Triennial for Contemporary Designer Hannah Beachler.’ Beachler is Tennessee State Museum will honor the Art, a statewide series of exhibitions known for her work with: Black stories of some of Tennessee's most and performances coordinated by con- Panther, Beyonce’s Lemonade, Black is noteworthy historic Black businesses sulting curator María Magdalena King, On the Run II Tour, and Black with ‘The Legacy of Black Campos-Pons of Vanderbilt Panther 2: Wakanda Forever.

Entrepreneurship in Tennessee’ series. University’s Engine for Art, The event will take place at noon in Each Thursday as part of its ‘Lunch & Democracy & Justice that explores the the Floyd-Payne Student Center.

Learn’ program, a guest will join the theme of repair and healing, particularNashville Symphony museum’s curator of social history, ly with regards to the Global South and ‘Dancing in the Street: The Music of Tranae Chatman, for a conversation on its colonial history.

Motown’ how they continue the legacy of their OZ Arts Nashville The Nashville Symphony Motown family businesses.

Compagnie Hervé Koubi: ‘What the extravaganza features smash hits made United Street Tours Day Owes to the Night’ famous by Marvin Gaye, The Four United Street Tours offers a series of With gravity-defying athleticism Tops, Martha Reeves, Michael Jackson, five-star rated, historical Nashville and mesmerizing grace, 12 high-veloc- Diana Ross, The Temptations, Stevie walking tours that are led and curated ity performers astound in a lyrical, Wonder and more. Songs include ‘Ain’t by locals. Tours show the hidden cul- explosive marriage of traditional Sufi No Mountain High Enough,’ ‘Reach ture that many find difficult to discover dance and contemporary hip-hop. Out I’ll Be There,’ ‘I Heard It Through on their own and are educational, inter- French-Algerian choreographer Hervé the Grapevine,’ ‘My Girl,’ active, and inclusion-focused. The Koubi, who trained as both a medical ‘Superstition’ — and, of course, focus is on slavery, freedom, civil doctor and dancer, grew up in France ‘Dancing in the Street.’ rights, culture, and social justice. Great unaware of his Algerian heritage. When The symphony will be performing for all age groups. he learned about it at age 25, the reve- with Gladys Knight on February 14.

Frist Art Museum lation launched a personal and artistic Nashville Black Market Nigerian Belgian artist Otobong journey that led to the founding of his The Nashville Black Market is back Nkanga creates tapestries, drawings, contemporary dance company. with a Black History Month event at the videos, sculptures, and performances Compagnie Hervé Koubi is a brother- Fairgrounds, spotlighting more than that feature narratives of wounding and hood of dancers primarily from North 100 Black-owned businesses and entrehealing, making metaphorical links Africa, most with backgrounds in street preneurs. Enjoy dance, drink, and shopbetween the landscape and the trauma- dance. The internationally-acclaimed ping, all while empowering Black busitized human body. Mapping new paths performers combine expertise in nesses. Times include: Sat., Feb 11, toward recovery, Nkanga’s work con- capoeira, martial arts, hip-hop, and con- from 11 am-7 pm; Sun., Feb. 12, from veys the necessity of acknowledging temporary styles: February 3 and 4 at 8 noon-6 pm.

Pres. Biden... from page 1 GOP bill... from page 1 adding a clause that says an officer must stop excessive or deadly force.

After the Nichols killing, eight Memphis police officers were terminated, and five were charged with second-degree murder and other offenses.

The NAACP, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), and other Black-led or owned organizations have demanded police accountability.

Led by President/CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the NNPA is the trade association of more than 238 African American newspapers and media companies in the United States.

“The NAACP is committed to fighting for meaningful change in the way our communities are policed and how the culture of policing can be reformed to prevent any more violent encounters culminating in the murder of young Black men,” said Leon Russell, head of the NAACP Board of Directors.

Biden also pledged that the Department of Health and Human Services would increase funding to recruit future mental health professionals from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and to expand its Minority Fellowship Program.

He pleaded with Republicans that he wants to work together instead of “fighting for the sake of fighting.”

During his speech, the president talked about jobs for the middle class, cancer research, the situation of veterans, and making America safer.

“To my Republican friends, if we could work together in the last Congress, there is no reason we can’t work together in this new Congress,” Biden said. “The people sent us a clear message. Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, and conflict for the sake of conflict get us nowhere.

“And that’s always been my vision for the country: to restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America: the middle class, to unite the country. We’ve been sent here to finish the job.”

The president also spoke passionately about his economic plan, which includes “investing in forgotten places and people” and “building an economy where no one is left behind.”

Biden plans to call an end to the COVID-19 emergency in May, and during the State of the Union, he paint-

ed a positive picture of the country’s economic recovery.

He also assured those in need that he understood their predicament.

“Amid the economic upheaval of the past four decades, too many people have been left behind or treated like they’re invisible,” the president stated.

“Maybe that’s you watching at home.

You remember the jobs that went away. And you wonder whether a path even exists anymore for you and your children to get ahead without moving away. I get it.”

The president described America’s story as one of “progress and resilience.”

“We are the only country that has emerged from every crisis stronger than when we entered it,” he said.

“That is what we are doing again.

Two years ago, our economy was reeling. As I stand here tonight, we have created a record 12 million new jobs— more jobs created in two years than any president has ever created in four years.

“Two years ago, COVID had shut down our businesses, closed our schools, and robbed us of so much.

Today, COVID no longer controls our lives. And two years ago, our democracy faced its greatest threat since the Civil War. Today, though bruised, our democracy remains unbowed and unbroken.”

Biden stated that his economic plan focuses on investing in forgotten places and people.

Too many people have been left behind or treated as invisible during the past four decades of economic upheaval, according to the president.

“Maybe that’s you watching at home. You remember the jobs that went away,” he said, “and you wonder whether a path even exists anymore for you and your children to get ahead without moving away. I get it. That’s why we’re building an economy where no one is left behind. Jobs are coming back; pride is coming back because of the choices we made in the last two years. This is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America and make a real difference in your lives.”

Finally, the Democrat appealed to the GOP. “To my Republican friends, if we could work together in the last Congress, there is no reason we can’t work together in this new Congress,” Biden said.

Sen. Oliver was joined by Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville; Metro Councilwoman Delishia Porterfield; retired lawmaker Brenda Gilmore; and Brenda Haywood, from the mayor’s office just moments after House Bill 48 (which would cut the size of the Nashville Metro Council by at least half) passed out of the House Local Government Committee on a partyline vote.

“This is a targeted attempt to usurp and undermine the will of the people and voters of Davidson County. This action is being taken against the will of voters in Nashville and against the will of our local elected officials,” Sen. Oliver said.

“Every person here today wants to build a productive partnership between the state legislature and its capital city. But we cannot move forward together as long as this barrage of threats is being lodged against us.”

For instance, members of the

Republican majority have filed legislation this year to: Shrink the size of the Metro Nashville Council; undo a special tax district for Nashville’s convention center; take over Metro’s airport authority and sports authority; and undermine Nashville’s community-led police oversight board.

In past years, Republicans have passed state laws, specifically targeting Nashville, to restrict the authority of local governments on a wide variety of policy areas, including: local wages, affordable housing, government contracts, short-term rental properties, long-term renter’s rights, taxation, historical markers, numerous education policies and more.

“Our economy and schools, our healthcare and safety, are all intertwined,” Sen. Oliver said. “We believe we can work together, but we have to break this cycle of threats and replace it with communication and productivity for the betterment of our state.”

Social justice... from page 6 Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette, cofounder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and part of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's inner circle.

Charged with developing the idea for the collaborative, Joyce Espy Searcy, director of Community Relations at Belmont University and a Fisk University graduate said: “This project is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff at both Fisk and Belmont to learn more about past struggles and advances in social jus-

tice and learn the tremendous resources available all around them to carry the torch forward for human rights.”

The official launch of the partnership will be celebrated at a co-organized reception on Feb. 9 from 3-6 pm in the Civil Rights Room at the Nashville Public Library.

Tours of the Civil Rights Room and the Women's Voting Rights Exhibit will begin at 3 pm, with a program to follow at 4:30 pm. All are invited to attend.

Frank Frazier... from page 6 African American life and highlights the significant achievements and contributions of African Americans in the diaspora, says Don O’Bannon. My paintings portray images of life, social, political and personal that highlight my own world view but contain universal themes that bind us together.”

Emmanuel Gillespie was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and earned a Master of Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has been creating for over 25 years. He is currently creating bodies of work that speak to the migration between 1910 and 1970.

Seidah Williams is Frazier’s granddaughter. Her acrylic painting on canvas feature symbols and words that

evoke positive affirmations.

Lakeem Wilson is a practicing artist and educator, engaging in the beautification of urban Environments and developmental art. Drawn to art as a young man when he first saw images of black superheroes in comic books, and inspired by the urban city, Hiphop, and public school art classes in the early 2000’s, he taught himself how to express his thoughts through visual art and drawing in his notepads.

“I saw that my talent could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against false politics, against all sorts of social wrongs, I knew at that point I had to be an artist,” says Wilson.

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Local community leaders spotlighted throughout Black history Month involved in improving the underlying conditions that lead to a more equitable and thriving city for us all. That is why The Village was formed and I’m proud of the work we are doing for Nashville.”

Members of The Village are provided professional development, grant funding, access to policy makers, and the tools and support to work collaboratively for collective impact.

Members who have already been featured include: • Lorenzo Washington, the founder and curator of the Jefferson Street Sound Museum • Clemmie Greenlee, Nashville Peacemakers founder/CEO • Nashvillians Steven and Whitney Sains, owners of beauty supply store, Crown Love • Charmin Bates, the founder and executive director of Creative Girls Rock • Holly Rachel and Lena Winfree, founders of the Nashville chapter of Blacks In Technology Foundation • Jaacalyn Davis, member of A Gathering of Goddesses which is dedicated to cultivating holistic health retreats, seminars, and workshops for Black women in our community

(l-r) Lorenzo Washington, Clemmie Greenlee, Steven and Whitney Sains, Charmin Bates, holly Rachel, Lena Winfree, Jaacalyn Davis In celebration of Black History Nashville, the vast majority of which grassroots and community leaders as Month, Mayor John Cooper’s Office are grassroots and minority-led, members,” said Ron Johnson. of Neighborhoods and Community belong to The Village. Ron Johnson, “Community Safety is directly tied to Engagement will spotlight 28 local Metro’s first-ever ‘community safety having the community actively community members who are making director’ and the Center for Nonprofit their neighborhoods a better place to Management created and continue to live, work, and play for all. This year’s lead the effort. initiative builds off last year’s celebra“I’m excited to once again recogtion of Metro Nashville Public School nize some of Nashville’s dedicated students, and the previous year’s effort Black community leaders who give to lift up local entrepreneurs. their time and service to our city,” said Each day of February, Mayor Mayor Cooper. “There are hundreds of Cooper will recognize a different organizations that belong to The member of The Village, a network of Village, and each one does essential grassroots community organizations work. I look forward to celebrating developed and supported by the Black History Month by sharing some Mayor’s Office and The Center for of these outstanding leaders’ stories.”

Nonprofit Management. More than “Since we began The Village in www.pridepublishinggroup.com 500 community organizations across 2021, we have grown to more than 700

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