Nashville PRIDE April 21, 2023

Historic Black church gets land returned from NHL Penguins See page 2

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EDITORIAL Metro Nashville under seize See page 4

Mrs. Universe Juanita Brown Ingram receives royal welcome...

See page 8

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Volume XXXVII, Number 16

People Are Talking Special Election for TN House of Representatives District 52 Set

Rep. Justin Jones

by Cass Teague TN House of The Representatives District 52 Special Election calendar has been released by the Davidson County Election Commission.

This is to fill the seat forcibly vacated by Justin Jones on April 6. Only voters who live in District 52 will be eligible to vote, and only their precincts will be open for this special election primary, along with the Davidson County Election Commission offices.

There will be a House of Representatives District 52 Special Primary with its designated Election Day of June 15. After that Primary, there will be a TN House of Representatives District 52 Special Election with the designated Election Day of August 3.

Continued on page 5

State will not appeal ruling on halving of Metro Council According to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, the state will not appeal the decision by a three judge panel to block the state law that would shrink the Metro Council in half.

The judges ruled that the law would cause “irreparable harm” to the election process that is already underway.

Skrmetti says that he believes that the law will still take place for the next council election cycle.

“Clarity about the law is important, both now and in the years to come,” Skrmetti said.

“While the Court did enjoin the short-term, transitional provisions of the new law in Davidson County, the result of this litigation to date is that the cap on the size of metropolitan councils has been delayed but not been defeated.”

However, Metro Law Director Wally Ditz said: “A unanimous three judge panel ruled that the provision of the law mandating the reduction this year violates the Home Rule Amendment of the Tennessee Constitution. The cap itself is unlawful and should not apply in the future for the reasons we cited in our brief and reasons we have yet to present to the Court.

We intend to make our case to the panel and again express our appreciation to the court for its prompt attention to this urgent situation.”

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April 21, 2023

Dealing with state legislature should be priority over new jobs for next mayor – Vanderbilt poll For the second year running, the ‘Vanderbilt Poll–Nashville’ shows more than half of respondents believe the city is on the wrong track. From the start of the Nashville poll, in 2015, until 2021, Nashvillians viewed the city as on the right track. This trend is amplified by a plurality of respondents indicating the growth of the city is making their quality of life worse, rather than better or having no effect.

However, other measures within the poll could indicate the sources of dissatisfaction are more complex than the issues that may first come to mind.

“While the trend toward concern for the future of Nashville is clear, the origins of the concern are not,” said Josh Clinton, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll, who holds the Abby and Jon Winkelried Chair and is a professor of political science. “Even though 56% think the city is on the wrong track, 59% also approve of the job Mayor John Cooper is doing. This suggests that concerns beyond the mayor’s control and likely related to concerns about growth, public education, and the increasing tension between Nashville and the state government are affecting people’s optimism about the future of our city.”

The 56% who think the city is on the wrong track is more than double those who thought the same in 2017.

Similarly, 47% say Nashville’s growth is making their day-to-day life worse—just under double the number in 2017.

Yet respondents’ views about

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(l-r) Rev. Edward Hatch and Rev. Harry Flemmings

By Cass Teague Hatch & Flemmings Funeral Home is a full service funeral home located at 314 Donelson Pike in Nashville, TN 37214. Edward Hatch is one the most trusted Licensed Funeral Directors in funeral service, with over 40 years of experience. In 1994 he opened The House Of Hatch Funeral Home at Historic 924 Jefferson Street. There he was proud to have served the families of community leaders, pastors, business owners, entertainers, neighbors, and other hard working people who seek value and compassion.

Edward Hatch wanted to make sure that families could afford a very respectful funeral or cremation service at fair market value without having to emotionally overspend or be coached into spending more than needed or intended. So he reached out to Rev. Harry Flemmings, a like-minded Christian funeral director with 20 years of experience himself, to join him. Thus the vision for Hatch & Flemmings Funeral Home was created, and they opened for business in September of 2022.

If you have any questions about their services or pre-planning please Continued on page 5

Age and length of residency dominates the perception of Nashville’s trajectory.

Nashville’s economy and feelings of mute times are comparable to 2017, safety walking in their own neighbor- though that is likely a result of the drahoods have both been generally flat for matic increase in those working from three years, and views about the rapid home (15% in 2023 versus three pergrowth of Nashville’s population have cent in 2017). been flat for five years. Daily comContinued on page 5

State of Black America reveals how hate continues rise in U.S.

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent The National Urban League’s 2023 State of Black America report concluded that an uptick in police brutality, specifically against Black Americans, is no coincidence.

Across the nation, White supremacist groups and domestic terror cells have infiltrated law enforcement and the military ranks, posing a threat to homeland security and the public.

The report highlights five topics revealed as troubling threats: 1) A hate manifesto: the rise in violent hate crimes across America 2) Tracking parental rights’ movement rooted in racism: the threat within education 3) Hate in the nation: the threat within America’s political system 4) A threat to national security: hate within law enforcement and the military 5) The divided state of America: a surge of divisive policies The State of Black America, which also drew from information from the Brennan Center, noted that the FBI reported that White supremacists posed a “persistent threat of lethal violence” that has produced more fatalities than any other category of domestic terrorists since 2000.

“And FBI policy documents have also warned agents assigned to domestic terrorism cases that the White supremacist and anti-government militia groups they investigate often have ‘active links’ to law enforcement officials,” the National Urban League’s report stated.

“Countries around the world have been destabilized by military and law enforcement coups led by extremists holding right-wing ideologies. To protect our communities and our democracy, we must take this threat seriously.”

The authors of the report said that groups of state and federal law-

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial makers working with shady political operatives and violent extremists are dangerously close to destroying American democracy and replacing it with autocratic rule.

The 2023 report titled ‘Democracy in Peril: Confronting the Threat Within’ sounds the alarm about extremist ideas taking root in classrooms, law enforcement, the military, and the halls of Congress.

“The mainstreaming of extremist ideology is an existential threat to American democracy, the rule of law, and decades of hard-won progress toward an equitable, inclusive, and more perfect union,” National Urban League President/CEO Marc H. Morial said.

“No longer limited to passing out mimeographed leaflets on street corners or huddling in corners of the dark web, conspiracy-mongers and White nationalists openly spew their bile across social media and cable television.

“They weave it into the public policy they impose on their constituents. It corrodes the trust between police, the military, and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.”

The report also draws on data and analysis from the Southern Poverty Law Center, ADL, and Continued on page 5

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Local

Nashville PRIDE

Cancer…My Journey in time Joy in the game

by Wanda Clay For the last few weeks, Rev. Enoch Fuzz, pastor of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church, has been reiterating the analogy of ‘staying and playing in the game’ to that of living life. In essence, it is not easy to go through life without some bumps, bruises, aches and pains.

Just like all athletic games, the players have to endure some bumps, bruises, aches and pains in order to remain on the team and attempt to lead their teams to a victory— one game at a time. Yet some games are less stressful than others— and some situations in life are less stressful than other at times.

He has been on a long journey with stage four lung cancer, so Rev. Fuzz has found that all ‘long journeys’ in life apply to health and wellness as well.

Nevertheless, Rev. Fuzz is dedicated to ‘staying in the race to finish the game’ at all costs. Through the various issues that continue to arise, he remains steadfast and maintains the thought that all things could be worse, because there are other

Rev. Enoch Fuzz people who are in a worse situations than himself.

Most recently Rev. Fuzz made the following statement of encouragement to anyone who may be in a similar situation.

“My doctor’s appointment today was good news when talking about cancer,” Rev. Fuzz said. “The cancer growth is stable, which means it's not getting better nor worse. It’s always good that your cancer is not spreading.

But the cancer tumor is there on that lung. The bad news is that breathing is more tedious.

Get plenty rest which means you're not allowed to do and go at the same pace

you want to. Eating healthy is good but don't feel like you gotta eat the whole plate of food. Since my activity is less it means I require fewer calories.

No pain no gain, so learn to play with pain and always be consoled that you are blessed beyond what is deserved. And many people are going through greater trials than you. I still have joy.”

Living with cancer and having joy makes this situation a testimony of faith. Without maintaining that love and joy, living could be a little more difficult.

Athletes have a true love for their sport. It enables them to play through physical and mental pains. We must all live life just the same. It is possible if you have that joy within for your mission in life.

Even when there’s pain in the game, there’s also joy in the game. You can win.

Keep praying for Rev. Fuzz for his health and healing.

Pray, share and be encouraged by the postings and weekly readings of ‘Cancer: My Journey in Time.’

Alive Hospice to hold advance care, Mother’s day, and butterfly release events Alive Hospice, the only nonprofit hospice in Middle Tennessee, is hosting several upcoming community events during the next few months.

On April 27th, Alive will host a free advance care event at the Larkspur Conservation (5201 Ave, Alabama Nashville, TN 37209) in Nashvville from 5:30 7:30 p.m.

“This is a casual, drop-in event,” said Alive Hospice in a release. “Come when you can, and enjoy delicious snacks from Thistle Farms, beer, and door prizes on us!”

The event will feature small group-style chats with experts in the field from Larkspur Conservation, Sunny Care Services, and Alive will help you clarify what you can do today to better prepare, including: • Completing your advance care directive to outline your wishes for medical care • Organizing your digital estate • Making a plan for what you want done with your body • Visit our free guest notary to complete important documentation on the spot!

To register, visit: AliveHospice.org/LifeAndDeathTogether Additionally, on May 13, Alive will host a Mother’s Day Memorial Windchime Workshop.

According to Alive Hospice: “The Mother’s Day holiday can be dif-

Alive Hospice Butterfly Release participants. ficult when you are said Alive officials. grieving. Join us at this “We’re honoring loved special event and create ones who are gone from a one-of-a-kind wind our sight, but not from chime decorated with our hearts. When you found objects, personal participate, you are also mementos, and unique helping Alive’s patients tokens that remind you and families write a of your mother. special final chapter “These chimes can together.” be hung on a porch, in a All funds raised supgarden, or in another port Alive’s nonprofit location where they can services including grief add music and memories counseling, community to the air. With each gen- education, and financial tle breeze, you'll be aid. reminded of your mothThis annual event is er’s love.” for the whole family.

All ages and abilities There will be a memoriare welcome. There is a al ceremony, and our $5/person to cover the Grief Counselors will cost of materials. lead the creation of On June 10, Alive spring-themed crafts to will hold it’s Butterly make keepsakes for this Release at Green Door special day.

Gourmet.

To order butterflies, “Each spring, we or for more information remember loved ones on the event, visit with a live butterfly https://www.alivehos release, symbolizing our pice.org/news-events/ lasting love and the annual-events/butterflyrenewal of the season,” release/.

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April 21, 2023

Nashville Entrepreneur Week is May 2 - May 4

By Cass Teague Nashville Entrepreneur Week (NEW) is Nashville’s only FREE event dedicated to bring entrepreneurs of all kinds together for a week of education, collaboration and connection. Whether you dream of starting your own business or you’ve already built a successful company, NEW exists for you. It is time to support entrepreneurs that are “scaling deep” in the Nashville community.

Nashville Entrepreneurship Week 2023: Together We Are Better is organized around the theme “Fostering lasting relationships, leveraging resources to address local community needs.”

Founded in 2017, NEW has grown year-by-year.

This year NEW will highlight entrepreneurial ventures that address local needs, build collaborative platforms, create deep customer experiences, hire local talent, and revitalize the community of Nashville.

Nashville Entrepreneur Week events are being held on Tuesday, May 2 through Friday, May 5, 2023 from 9 am – 4 pm CST daily at Nashville Tech Commons, located at 500 Interstate Blvd. Nashville, TN 37210. To register, and get updated information on speakers and programs, go their

(top row l-r) Sonya Cotham-Davis, Aireka Harvell, Karen Williams, (bottom row l-r) Genma Holmes, and Christal Hector. website: .nashvilleentre- banker and business propreneurweek.com fessional, she has utiTheir goal is to reach lized her experience and entrepreneurs of all passion for helping peokinds. As a free attendee, ple in the community you are free to choose through leadership and the track that best service. describes you, in order Aireka Harvell is a to hear curated content Nashville native and specific to your needs. first-generation college Whether you’re a one- graduate, with a decade woman show, a new of experience in highbrick-and-mortar shop, scale customer loyalty or a high-growth tech with national brands like start-up, they will have AT&T and Plenti Loyalsomething with your ty. She is the founder name on it. and CEO of Nodat Inc., Among their many an AI-empowered app featured speakers are a that uses artificial intellifew notable African gence, machine learning American women, and natural language alphabetically: Sonya processing to create a Cotham-Davis, Aireka virtual agent that helps Harvell, Christal Hector, consumers navigate Genma Stringer Holmes, local services and and Karen Williams. resources, and create Sonya Cotham- personalized experiDavis, a Nashville ences that can better native, is a seasoned, meet their needs. professional banker in Christal Hector is the the Metropolitan Nash- co-founder of Tuneville & surrounding Hatch, a web-based platareas. Throughout Sonya’s 20 plus years as a Continued on page 5

FEB. 24, 2023 - MA AY Y 21, 2 2023

Photo Credit - Andrew Feiler

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

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Table of Contents Front Page .......................... 1 Local.................................... 2 National/State..................... 3 Editorials ............................ 4 Continuations ..................... 5 Pastor,Pew & Pulpit .......... 6 Leisure ................................ 7 Health/Education ............... 8

Contributing Writers: Alvin Campbell; T.A. Spence; Reeju Davis General Columnists: William T. Robinson, Jr. Church Columnists: Rev. Barbara WoodsWashington, Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr. B. Bethel Writers/Photojournalists (fl): Cass F.L.Teague, Jr., Wanda Clay, Justin Darden,

Shiloh Long, Mayes, Inc., Marcus Jones Copy editor: Bill Dorian

Production Department James H. Lewis, Jr., manager; Webmaster Lawrence Davis Circulation Department Scott Davis

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Page 3 Nashville PRIDE National/State White man arrested in Lawsuits pile up against companies who failed to shooting of 16-year-old who rang wrong doorbell honor DE&I pledges after

by Stacy M. Brown murder of George Floyd A White 65-year-old April 21, 2023

homeowner who allegedly shot and wounded Ralph Yarl, a Black teen, after the 16-year-old went to the wrong home to pick up his siblings will face two felony charges, Clay County attorney Zachary Thompson announced early Monday evening.

Andrew Lester will face charges of assault in the first degree and armed criminal action.

Authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest and he’s not currently in custody, Thompson said, according to CNN. “I can tell you there was a racial component to this case,” Thompson said at a news conference without elaborating.

There is no indication that either Lester or Ralph spoke to one another before the Thursday evening shooting, he said. The prosecutor added there is no evidence that the teen entered the home, and preliminary evidence shows Lester opened fire on the teen through a glass door with a .32 caliber revolver.

Earlier, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Lee Merritt were retained by the Yarl’s family.

According to the Kansas City Defender, the White man reportedly shot Yarl in the head through the glass door, then when Yarl was already bleeding out on the ground, shot him again.

“The family has described it as a hate crime, and community members are calling for justice for the young victim,” reported The Defender, a member of the National Newspaper

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Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old African American, was shot after accidentally ringing the doorbell of the wrong home while attempting to pick up his sibling.

Publishers Association boy is left with so many (NNPA). The NNPA is a broken pieces.” trade of more than 230 Crump and Merritt, African American- nationally recognized owned newspapers and civil rights lawyers who media companies repre- has represented Ahmaud senting the Black Press Arbery and Cameron of America.

Lamb, announced they “This was not an would represent Yarl’s ‘error.’ This was a hate family. crime. You don’t shoot a Shaun King, a wellchild in the head because known activist and jourhe rang your doorbell. nalist, announced that The fact that the police he’s also assisting with said it was an ‘error’ is the case. why America is the way The Defender, which it is,” Dr. Faith Spoon- was the first outlet to more, Yarl’s aunt, told report on the shooting, The Defender. said the Yarl family has Authorities reported- urged supporters to help ly escorted the suspect to spread awareness about police headquarters fol- the case and bring attenlowing the shooting, tion to the issue of racial briefly interviewed him violence in America. and released the man.

“There is no excuse Yarl’s family said for the release of this they are outraged that the armed and dangerous perpetrator had not been suspect after admitting to held accountable. shooting an unarmed, “This man intended non-threatening, and to kill an innocent child defenseless teenager that simply because he rang rang his doorbell,” the doorbell of the wrong Crump and Merritt said house,” Dr. Spoonmore in a joint statement. said.

“We demand swift “He looked him in action from Clay County the face and shot him— prosecutors and law and the individual is free enforcement to identify, to go about his day as if arrest, and prosecute to he did a great deed. the full extent of the law While my nephew Ralph the man responsible for Yarl is a great kid, an this horrendous and intelligent kid, a Black unjustifiable shooting.”

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent The aftermath of George Floyd’s murder has led to several large corporations facing multiple lawsuits for failing to meet the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments they made.

The commitments were made following Floyd’s death in 2020, with businesses quickly issuing statements and pledging to adopt new ways to combat racism. pledges Those included addressing ethnic and gender among inequalities their employee ranks.

However, according to Bloomberg Law,

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Historic Black church gets land returned from NHL Penguins franchise

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent In Pittsburgh’s Hill District, the historic Black Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church will return to its former location. ore than 60 years ago, the church was forced to relinquish its sanctuary to an urban renewal project that destroyed the core of an African American neighborhood.

The church was compensated for a fraction of its value, according to the church.

Now, the church has reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the NHL team that owns the development rights to the site adjacent to its current facility.

According to a report

by The Grio, the Penguins have consented to allowing the church use a 1.5-acre plot of land that the church plans to use for housing and other revenue-generating development.

Kevin Acklin, president of business operations for the Penguins, stated that the organization is “recognizing our role here as a steward” of the property and its history.

Prior to 1967, the Penguins played in a former community arena, and now they play in a newer arena nearby.

According to historians, the Hill District was a center of Black culture in the 20th century, renowned for its jazz clubs and other cultural

The commitments were made following Floyd’s death in 2020, with businesses quickly issuing statements and pledging to adopt new ways to combat racism. a host of lawsuits mote diversity, equity, claim those pledges and inclusion. were never met.

Five shareholder Among the most lawsuits allege that egregious parties are Wells Fargo ran afoul Wells Fargo and Delta of federal law against Air Lines. discrimination.

Bloomberg said Wells performed those companies false- “sham interviews to ly claimed that, over nominally fulfill a the past three years, diversity-enhancing they worked to proContinued on page 5

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Call today to advertise on the QR. (615) 292-9150 x101 Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church landmarks depicted in lition of approximately many of acclaimed play- 1,300 structures on 95 wright August Wilson’s acres, displacing more works. than 8,000 individuals, In addition, Bethel more than 400 businessAME played an impor- es, and numerous places tant role in that commu- of worship. nity.

Bethel congregants t was founded in stated that the predomi1808 and is regarded as nantly White Catholic Pittsburgh’s oldest Black church was not, howevchurch. From its incep- er, demolished. tion, it was involved in Bethel’s leaders batinfant education and tled the church’s demolicivil rights. tion unsuccessfully, ultiIt opened a large mately receiving brick church with round- $240,000 for a $745,000 ed arches and a promi- property. nent tower in 1906 in the The pastor of Bethel, Lower Hill District, Rev. Dale Snyder, said: which was home to “This is a model for how 3,000 members at its we can heal the broken zenith. realities of America.”

In the 1950s, the The church intends to Pittsburgh Urban Rede- construct housing, a dayvelopment Authority care center, and other declared a large portion potential commercial of Lower Hill to be developments on the derelict.

Continued on page 5 It oversaw the demo-

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Page 4

Nashville PRIDE

Editorials

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April 21, 2023

Metropolitan Nashville under seize

by William T. Robinson, Jr. If you are a resident of Metropolitan Nashville, you should be outraged at the blatant disrespect displayed by a majority-led Republican state legislature in monopolizing their power by defying the wishes of residents of Nashville. It appears they have no regards to what the voters in Davidson County want and have shown it with their legislative power to attempt to control the city. Exercising power to go against what citizens in a city want, only serves to polarize the city and the state. They they should be working together in the best interests of all in the state. all know We Nashville is what many Tennesseans consider the starship of Tennessee with it multitude of venues—whether it includes: educational institutions of higher learning, state-of-the-art restaurants, a city offering almost any major sport to catch one’s attention, or a never ending genre of

singing artists presenting concerts to serve anyone’s musical palate. But what makes Nashville stand out most when compared to so many of its surrounding cities and towns is its diversity, liberalism, friendliness, and respect abundantly shared by so many of its local and newly relocated citizens. There are now numerous citizens relocating from up North and the West who don’t share the prejudice and racism so prevalent in many rural southern Whites living in surrounding towns and cities.

There are rural communities, towns and cities, in Tennessee still harboring a taste of defeat of the Confederacy. They are looking for a resurgence of past discriminatory practices effecting people of color and marginalized people by exercising their past displayed by White supremacy. There are views that many of those relocating to towns in Tennessee don’t agree with; however, they but don’t see what it can be

like here until it is too late.

The continuous, disrespectful display by Tennessee’s Republicanled legislature misusing their authority causes many to reconsider coming to Nashville—and many of those who have already relocated feel they may have made a mistake. The Tennessee state legislature doesn’t respect the will or wishes of Nashville voters. Tennessee state legislators are adamant in their refusal to enact strict gun legislation laws, to respect women’s reproductive rights, and to refrain from banning books. They limit freedom of choice and stifle intellectual growth.

They have manifested what many consider racist action against TSU, and have recently expelled two Black legislators (although, they have been re-instated).

No doubt Tennessee is being dubbed by some as one of the most tyrannical, dictatorial, and racist states in the country.

Still, many would agree that Nashville,

No time to forget the Gulf coast

by Ben Jealous (TriceEdneyWire.com) – How long do you think it would take to overlook the worst offshore oil spill in history, one that lasted 87 days during which four million oil barrels spewed into the Gulf of Mexico? Recent moves by the federal government point to the answer being 13 years.

On April 20, two days before Earth Day, we’ll mark the 13th anniversary of the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig off the coast of Louisiana that killed 11 workers and started an ecological disaster that lasted longer than three months as oil poured into the sea.

Despite billions directed at mitigation, we still see the devastating impact in increased erosion and damaged plant life in the Gulf disappearing Coast’s wetlands; in marine life from dolphins to coral; in the health issues experienced by those who worked on the clean-up.

Yet the Interior Department in late March opened most of the remaining parts of the central and western Gulf along that same coastline to oil and gas extraction through the sale of drilling leases.

The Sierra Club joined other environmental groups to challenge the decision, made based on a flimsy impact review that found that burning a billion barrels of oil and 4.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas that could be pulled from the area won’t damage the climate.

Beyond colliding with the Deepwater Horizon anniversary, the sale came in the same month that the federal government approved the Willow project to drill across a huge swath of the Alaskan tundra and the UN’s climate change panel asserted

Ben Jealous that the planet can’t afford any more oil wells.

The administration’s excuse for selling leases was that the historic clean energy package approved last year demanded it. But that deal cut with fossil fuel champions in Congress didn’t demand that an area the size of Italy be put on the auction block or prescribe an outcome for the sale.

Big Gas and Oil’s protectors in Congress say more drilling means lower gas prices and less dependence on foreign oil. But not any time soon: it’s typically at least a four-year turnaround from a lease to oil flowing. Only a quarter of U.S. oil production comes from federal lands and waters, and there are thousands of existing leases that aren’t in production. In the Gulf alone, there’s extraction from only a quarter of the leases sold before last month.

The real brake on more drilling is investors’ hesitancy to pursue it. Oil companies have enjoyed record profits and turned them back into shareholder dividends, not exploration.

Recent leases for offshore wind power have sold for far higher amounts than recent oil and gas leases. The markets are placing bets on the future of our warming planet.

None of us can

escape the dire effects of continuing to feed the addiction to fossil fuels for decades with Gulf leases and Willow. The greatest impact will continue to be borne by those with the least power and most at risk—the same poor communities and people of color who get crushed by severe weather from climate deterioration and who live in cancer alleys on the Mississippi polluted by River refineries. Those same places, a study by Robert Bullard at Texas Southern University found, are where most waste from the 2010 spill ended up in landfills.

The greatest risk may be to fewer than 50 remaining Rice’s whales recently discovered living in the Gulf. We’re careening toward the first human-caused extinction of a large whale in history.

If the calculation to offer the leases was political, it probably winds up a subtraction equation. The new drilling won’t happen quickly enough to lower prices soon. But it may be enough to weaken the enthusiasm of most American voters who said climate is an issue that determines if and how they vote.

Looking ahead, the Interior Department is writing a new five-year plan for offshore drilling. The planet can’t afford a U-turn from the leadership shown by rejoining the Paris agreement and pushing through infrastructure and clean energy packages that will spend more on a healthier Earth powered by abundant energy than we spent sending astronauts to the Moon. That fiveyear plan should be short and borrow a line from President Biden in his last campaign: No more drilling, period.

even with exponential growth problems, represents a city exhibiting an air of cooperation and mutual respect where everyone (especially marginalized and communities of color) have a voice or are represented.

But now this marriage/bond has been compromised and threatened by the state legislareducing the ture Nashville Metro Council from 40 to 20, which is being contested. Many would argue that Nashville is being punished because it refuses to commit to the whims of surrounding White communities and towns still fanning the flames of the racism of their ancestors who where staunch supporters of White supremacy. They refuse to accept that their ancestor’s fight to support slavery was unholy, immoral, and treasonous.

It resulted in a loss that some have yet to accept in going forward.

Unfortunately, many state Republican lawmakers are uniting to maintain power to continue to subjugate people

of color under the guise of claiming their policies are more beneficial for Tennessee. They support policies to limit federal sponsored health care, ban books, suppress women’s reproductive rights and allow more access to guns on the street without permits.

This doesn’t benefit the citizens of Tennessee, especially the progressively growing city of Nashville.

Denying financially disadvantaged citizens health care opportunities; putting more citizens in harm’s way by making it easier to carry weapons; disenfranchising and people by diluting their districts of representation borders on tyranny.

But these measure are easy to bring about when you monopolize your authority and overlook the will of decent, fairminded people looking for equality and justice.

One can only imagine the esoteric people behind the scenes benefiting from the draconian actions of this Republican-led legislature. However, when you look at

William T. Robinson, Jr. the whole picture, these Republican Tennessean lawmakers are only hurting the image of Tennessee by dictating policies and enacting laws against the will of the citizens in their quest to make Nashville (a strong Democratic stronghold) into a Republican city.

If other cities watch and don’t question or challenge the tyrannical actions of an out of control legislature overlooking the concerns and wishes of a major city, it is only a matter of time when their city will also be under attack with little legal recourse.

This is about respecting the wishes of a city trying to do well and make a difference to benefit all its residents fairly.

Making history in Tennessee

by Svante Myrick (TriceEdneyWire.com) - There are moments when we know, suddenly and with total clarity, that we have just experienced a seminal moment in history. Sometimes those events are tragic.

And sometimes, as in the last two weeks, they are beautiful and inspiring and renew our faith in humanity.

I’m talking about the history that was made in Tennessee this month by ‘the Justins’: Reps.

Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. I was in Tennessee for the fight to reinstate both of them to their state House seats after being expelled by the Republican House Their leadership. ‘crime’? Daring to call for common-sense gun safety measures.

Never mind that the majority of Tennesseans want gun safety. Never mind that hundreds of people were protesting in favor of gun safety at the state capital, in the wake of the horrific Covenant School shooting. Reps. Jones and Pearson, two young Black freshman lawmakers, had to go. And to make it even more obvious how racist this was, a third lawmaker who had spoken out along with Pearson and Jones (Rep. Gloria Johnson, a White woman) was not expelled.

What began as a shameful attempt to humiliate these young people turned instead into a hero-making moment. It was incredible to see the energy of the coalition that rallied around Pearson and Jones. It was even more incredible to see the grace and brilliance with which both of them carried themselves throughout this ordeal. These two men are brave, unflappable and principled to the core. In just a

few days, both were back, reinstated by officials in their districts.

Both will be reelected in the special elections ahead, I am sure.

This event is historic and significant on so many levels. It’s almost impossible to absorb it all. We saw naked racism on the part of GOP lawmakers, and we saw it rebuked. We saw a desperate effort to resist the will of the people through the anti-democratic act of expelling duly-elected lawmakers, also defeated. We saw one of the clearest examples yet of the promise of youth leadership that is determined to right wrongs not just when it comes to gun violence, but climate change, racial equity, reproductive freedom, and all the problems that older generations have struggled to solve.

We saw the future.

This gives us so much to look forward to as the Pearson-Jones generation rises to power. It’s been a truism for decades that as younger generations age, they become more conservative, shoring up entrenched power structures. But that has all changed.

Polls show that unlike past generations, millennials are not becoming more conservative as they get older.

As a millennial myself, I can see why: we grew up with the invasion of Iraq, an economy that failed us, a dangerously warming climate, Donald Trump as president of the United States, and the loss of abortion protections. My generation has a different vision.

Millennials and younger GenZ folks are fighting for our values, organizing across race, age, and every other difference, and carving a new path.

On the day he was

Svante Myrick reinstated to his House seat, Justin Pearson spoke out boldly about being expelled from the legislature, saying “you can’t expel hope.” He’s right. Not only could they not expel it, House Tennessee’s Republicans fueled it.

Their effort to stop the future from coming galvanized a legion of young progressives heroes are whose Pearson and Jones.

It won’t be the last time the Old Guard pushes back against progress. And there will be more threats to our democracy when they do. But all of us will remember this amazing moment in history when two young Black men stood up, and the world rallied to their side. So what we need now is an interracial, intergenerational commitment to keep our democracy intact for this young generation that will take the lead. Tennessee showed us: that day is coming soon.

(Svante Myrick is president of People For the American Way. Previously, he served as executive director of People For and led campaigns focused on transforming public safety, racial equity, voting rights, and empowering young elected officials.

Myrick garnered national attention as the youngest-ever mayor in New York state history.)

Attacks on Black people cause lasting trauma

by Julianne Malveaux (TriceEdneyWire.com) – All Ralph Yarl was trying to do was pick up his siblings in Kansas City. He went to a home on 115 Street instead of 115 Terrace, an understandable mistake that could have been easily rectified had the homeowner, who opened the door with a gun instead said: "wrong address" and provided directions to the right one.

Instead, the rabid White man shot the 16year-old in the head and

the arm. Blessedly, Yarl is alive, hospitalized, and in stable condition.

The shooter has been released pending charges. I suppose "stand your ground" means shoot 'em up.

Would the homeowner have shot a White youth? Would a Black homeowner shooting have been released so quickly?

As concerned as I am with Ralph Yarl, an exceptional student by all accounts, I am more concerned with how this shooting may affect other Black youth's mental health and stability. Every signal our society sends to young Black people is a signal that they are not valued.

Running unarmed through the wrong neighborhood can get you shot and killed.

Driving unarmed and safely in the face of

White police irrationality can get you killed.

Looking ‘menacing’ can get you killed. Sitting in a classroom can get you killed. Going to a birthday party can get you killed. Too often, Black youth are killed by rabid and irrational Whites. Equally often, folks with more guns than sense kill them in classrooms and streets.

And then, sometimes, they are killed by each other. How are they processing the threats to their safety and survival?

In her book Lynching and Spectacle, Amy Louise Wood wrote: “Even one lynching reverberated, traveling with sinister force, down city streets, and through rural farms, across roads and rivers.

One mob's yell could sound like ‘a hundred mobs yelling,’ and the

specter of the violence continued to smolder long after it was over."

These all-too-regular shootings of Black youth have a similar effect. What does any young Black man think of the shooting of Ralph Yah? Does it make him feel more endangered?

More cautious? Angrier? Does it affect his mental health?

The fact that Ralph Yarl’s shooter has not been charged is discouraging. It suggests that there are no consequences to shooting Black people. To be sure, since the murder of George Floyd, a few murderers, like putrid Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, have experienced consequences. At the same time, too many get away with these public shootings, killings, and lynchings. Ralph Yarl’s

survival is a blessing.

His community's advocacy for him is a tremendous support. As always, Attorney Ben Crump and his team should be applauded for being on the case. Who will minister to those who are impacted by this horrible shooting?

The Black community must turn this pain into power and purpose. The National Rifle Association, now promoting ‘junior’ versions of assault weapons, must be checked.

Every time a mass shooting occurs, they should be sued, and, more importantly (but not the same thing), if they send legal reinforcements to defend the heinous attacker of Ralph Yarl, they should be countered with fierce opposition. The right to bear arms does not mean the right to shoot inno-

cent people on sight.

Simple civility suggests that the erroneous ringing of a doorbell should not turn into a savage act by a homeowner.

But the media machine that portrays Black people as frightening and threatening is at least partly responsible for the deep-seated fear and hate that some Whites have toward us.

Too many of us have been anesthetized by our trauma. It hurts, but it doesn't hurt. It's abnormal, but its attacks on Black people have been so frequent that they have become routine. We pray for Ralph Yarl, cry for him, and contribute to the Go Fund Me appeal that his aunt put out. Yet these passive acts are not enough. It is time for the kind of action that disarms fools and protects young Black people.

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

April 21, 2023

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

Continuations

Page 5

Nashville PRIDE

Vanderbilt poll... from page 1 Black America... from page 1 “Views about Nashville’s economy are deeply split by income,” said John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll, Ginny and Conner Searcy Dean of the College of Arts and Science and professor of political science. “Overall, twothirds think the economy is very or fairly good, but if you look at those making less than $45,000 a year, that number falls to 44%.”

What is clear is that how long a respondent has lived in Nashville and their age deeply influence views of the

city’s trajectory. Those who have lived here for 20 or fewer years are evenly divided about the city being on the right or wrong track, but 63% of those who have lived here longer than 20 years view the city to be on the wrong track.

Of those aged 18–34, 50% view Nashville to be on the right track while that number falls to 29% among those 55–64. Neither household income nor party affiliation changed views of right track versus wrong track.

To differing degrees,

a minority of those who have lived in Nashville for 20 or fewer years view the city’s growth as negatively affecting their day-to-day life.

Fifty-nine percent of those who have lived in the city for more than 20 years feel their lives have been made worse.

Those between 18–34 are twice as likely to say Nashville’s growth is improving their quality of life, compared to those 65 and older.

A majority of respondents (79%) also believe the city’s population is growing too quickly.

Special Election... from page 1 August 3 is also the date of the Metropolitan General Election for Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council Members At Large (5), and Council Members (Districts 1 – 35).

Early Voting for the House of Representatives District 52 Special Primary begins on May 26 and runs through June 10. Early Voting for the House of Representatives District 52 Special Election begins on July 14 and runs through July 29.

April 18 was the first day to pick up the petition for the House of Representatives District 52 Special Primary. The District 52 Special Election was made necessary due to the dramatic overreach of the Republican supermajority in expelling duly elected representative Justin Jones, along with Memphis area legislator for District 86 Justin J. Pearson. Both men were unanimously appointed by their local councils to return to the legislature

within one week of the event which had captivated the nation.

At press time, no dates had been set for the similar process involving District 86.

That will be determined by the Shelby County Election Commission.

The general election for the Tennessee House District 86, held on March 14, was a first of its kind for Shelby County, because they only had a single candidate on the ballot, Justin Pearson!

Lawsuits pile up... from page 3 policy,” the lawsuit claims.

Further, the bank’s board acted on diversity and inclusion issues only because of negative media coverage.

Law firms have filed at least 40 suits alleging that employment discrimination has only increased since pledges were made.

Sarah Fortt, worldwide co-chair of Latham & Watkins LLP’s environmental, social, and governance practice, told the outlet that she also noted a spike in “‘reverse discrimination’ claims.”

According to a published report, these lawsuits take the form of shareholder derivative proceedings, in which investors claim that a company’s failure to achieve specific DEI goals caused the value of its stock to decline.

“DEI-specialized lawyers, academics, and practitioners contend that companies must balance the needs of the business, employees, shareholders, and customers when creating progressive initiatives while averting legal action from any of those

groups,” Bloomberg wrote. “One strategy offered is formulating policies ‘aspirationally,’ or in general terms.”

Lawyers asserted that instead of creating a strict quota to employ a specific number of people of color for its board, a corporation might aim to match the proportion of people of color in its workforce to that of people of color on its board.

Elena Philipova, director of sustainable finance at Refinitiv, noted that the most prosperous businesses are genuine, and authentic and have DEI objectives built into their DNA. Despite the lawsuits, some corporations have moved to improve DEI within their organizations.

For example, in December 2020, Microsoft announced that it had achieved its goal of doubling the number of Black and African American managers, senior individual contributors, and senior leaders in the U.S. However, the report noted that the company still has work to do to achieve gender and

racial parity at all levels.

Additionally, some companies are incorporating innovative approaches to improve diversity and inclusion.

For instance, Airbnb has reportedly implemented a program called ‘Project Lighthouse’ to increase representation across race, gender, and other dimensions.

The program includes creating ‘belonging assessments’ that measure employees’ sense of belonging and connection to the company and then creating tailored solutions based on the results.

Still, the report concluded that some corporations had improved diversity and inclusion, while others faced lawsuits for failing to meet their DEI commitments.

The most prosperous businesses are open and honest about their objectives, pay attention to their staff, and incorporate DEI objectives into all operations, Philipova told Bloomberg.

“It really needs to be genuine and authentic and built into the DNA of the organization, and then being transparent about it,” Philipova said.

Historic Black church... from page 3 property. Rev. Prudence Harris, associate pastor and lifelong Bethel member, stated that she was five years old when she and her parents witnessed the deconstruction of the previous sanctuary.

The agreement was reached after years of public requests and protests by the church.

It is a microcosm of a larger conflict over the legacy of the 1950s project, in which Black community leaders have long sought redress from Pittsburgh’s political, business, and athletic elites. The Penguins hope that the agreement

and the extensive efforts to redevelop the site can serve as a model for other U.S. cities with similar urban renewal scars from the mid-20th century.

“I have never been a devotee of hockey,” AME Third District Bishop Errenous McLoud, Jr. said, thanking the Penguins for turning him into a hockey fan during a news conference on the site Bethel is acquiring. e stated that this agreement “could and should serve as a model for reparations worldwide.”

The accord is a com-

ponent of broader efforts to collaborate with Hill District residents to restore the neighborhood’s former connections to downtown.

All of the main parties, including the city, county, and two public authorities, agreed to include Hill District stakeholders in a plan in 2014.

Church leaders stated, “While the agreement is a step toward reparations for the historic Black church and the Hill District, there is still a long way to go in addressing the damage caused in the middle of the 20th century

UCLA Law. The State of Black America reveals how deeply extremist ideas have crept into America’s most important institutions, leading to a rising tide of deadly violence, harsh laws, and racial tensions being used as weapons.

A special section of the report talks about Morial’s 20 years as

president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League.

This section shows how his leadership has changed over the last two decades.

Another special section of the report called ‘A Climate in Crisis,’ made in partnership with the American Council on Renewable Energy, makes a case for equal

economic opportunity and environmental justice.

“The mainstreaming of extremist ideology is an existential threat to American democracy, the rule of law, and decades of hard-won progress toward an equitable, inclusive, and more perfect union,” Morial wrote in the report.

Hatch & Flemmings... from page 1 call them at 615-6498443 and a professional licensed funeral director will assist you. The number is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call anytime.

Rev. Edward Hatch first developed an interest in the funeral business at a very early age, inspired by knowing a local funeral director in his hometown. “My grandfather’s friend Clarence Bowman, Sr. back in Dayton, Ohio where I was born and raised,” says Hatch.

“I knew at the age of 8 that I had a calling. I just didn’t understand it then. To make a long story short, Mr. Bowman gave me my start at 17, so I have been serving for 50 years and it’s hard to believe how time flies when you love what you do.”

His approach to working with families

who are grieving the loss of a loved one is that “I let them talk and express their emotions and then ask them about their relatives’ likes,” he says.

“So we can create a service that is fitting but not final to their memory.”

Hatch suggest that families who are preplanning their funeral arrangements should plan now and get more than $10,000 dollars of insurance. “The younger you are the less insurance costs,” he says.

“Gofund Me was created to raise money for funerals.”

Asked about what sets his funeral home apart from others in the area, Hatch says, “We have the most first-hand experience at handling the remains and making arrangements. We don’t allow unlicensed employees to make arrangements or quote

prices. We are present on all removals, which is difficult at times, but we believe the owner(s) should be an active part of the first call. We offer funerals, cremations, memorial services and other services within ethics and the law.

Special requests are handled case by case.”

He says his “most meaningful experience was very personal. I had to bury my wife.

Mourning feels different when it’s you and you’re sitting on the other side of the table giving information to a funeral director that you have asked families countless times. I came away with a better perspective on serving families better.

Having a greater understanding of grief and after 20 years I realize it never goes away. Some days are good days, some not so good.”

Entrepreneur Week... from page 2 form that helps independent music artists and venues book more profitable shows and fans find shows they'll love.

Genma Stringer Holmes is an award winning serial entrepreneur and media influencer. She advises Black owned companies on how to navigate contracts and access resources to help diversify their companies to keep their family owned businesses in the family.

Karen Williams is an entrepreneur, speaker,

and Founder/CEO of Cultural Avid formerly MinTech Agency, focusing on Diversity Talent Acquisition Strategies.

MinTech Under Agency Karen worked

with a range of organizations from Fortune 500 companies to startups with the mission to increase diversity in their engineering departments.

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Pastor, Pew, & Pulpit www.pridepublishinggroup.com April 21, 2023 Faith of A Mustard Seed Faithful Utterances: Crabs race-based redistricting

By Barbara A. Woods do not belong in buckets plan that is the most Washington, M. Div. discriminatory since Joseph William Page 6

Nashville PRIDE

Barber was born in Indianapolis August 30, 1963; just two days from the greatest American protest yet seen by Church and State —‘The March On Washington’. (Talk about when ‘Stars Align’). He was a kindergartner when his, (ordained in the Disciples of Christ Church and Physics Father, Teacher) moved the family to Washington County, NC. At 15 he was elected President of the local NAACP Youth Council. His leadership continued with his election as President of his student body at Plymouth High. With total and complete consistency in his calling, he was elected President of his student body at North Carolina Central University. His graduate Degrees are earned from Duke and Drew.

I first took notice of Pastor Barber in 2013 when I saw an online news break; how his ‘vision made incarnate’ gave way to what he then called “Moral Mondays”.

I must admit that what caught my attention first was his appearance in a ‘Clergy Robe’ at the steps of the North Carolina State House. I have never worn a Clergy Robe except in the Preaching Context; so I’m like, OK Rever…endddd!

Some very real ‘Word of God’ stuff you bringing. Bring It!…

ON! Saying, I thought, attention to Church on Sunday and attention to Sate on Monday.

WOW —what a vision!

On April 29, 2013 the Carolina Justice records the words of Dr. Barber; at that moment in history President of the North Carolina State NAACP: “We have written to Governor McCrory and to the Assembly, General asking them to reconsider their assault on the poor, the unemployed, our many citizens without healthcare and our embattled public schools. They have already voted and

Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div. passed legislation to: •Deny federal funds Medicaid to for 500,000 poor North •Take Carolinians. unemployment benefits from 165,000 Carolinians.

North •Raise taxes on 900,000 of North Carolina's poor and working poor by ending the Earned Income Tax Credit to pay for tax cuts to 23 millionaires.

That took over a billion dollars last year from public education, made plans to implement a voucher plan to hand out public money to private schools, and reduce eligibility to preschool for poor children. •To re-start the death penalty and repeal the Racial Justice Act that has exposed the racially discriminatory application of the death penalty. •To codify antilabor language in our state constitution. •To roll back Early Voting, ban Sunday Voting, end same-day registration and impose an unneeded poll tax disguised as Voter ID bill that will cost the state millions, deny student ids from private schools, increase disenfranchisement of formerly incarcerated, charge parents a $2500 tax (poll tax) if their college student votes at college and not at home, and leave us with voting laws more restrictive than Alabama and South Carolina.

When you pursue policies that hurt most voters, you can't afford a big turnout. Many of those pushing this agenda got into public office because of a

the 19th century. Its racial impact is undeniable. And the Voter ID bill is simply a modern poll tax in disguise; even more restrictive than the ones passed in Alabama and South Carolina. Ending the popular Early Voting and Sunday Voting is an outrage. They do not want the people to vote.”

I have a friend from my Seminary days who has her name on so many church rolls. If you ever worshiped with her you would know that she is that one who moves deeply into the ‘Call to Discipleship’.

Period.

“Why you be joining all these churches?” I asked. She just said she don’t know, she just feels something? ...during the call to Discipleship!

As I followed The Right Reverend Barber’s William Moral Monday Movement, I found in him a boldness for speaking ‘Truth To Power’ TO Legislatures across the country. In that, I was ‘feeling… something’ — so I joined the ‘Moral Monday Movement’. I have said on numerous occasions that he is that ‘Single Voice’ in our times.

Even when the masses infiltrate to change the directives of the movement… HIS Truth to Power can still be…

HEARD! Kinda like an Isaiah; THAT VOICE crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare ye The Way of the Lord”!

Soooooo. On Monday, this week, April 2023, Dr. 17th, William J. Barber arrived in Nashville to bring the “Moral Monday Movement-Poor People’s Campaign” to the Tennessee State House; to shine a global planetary ‘Light of Justice’ on the Tennessee Legislature; still operating on the same premise of where this work began TEN YEARS ago —in 2013 Raleigh at the North Carolina State House. by email: myfa thersmansionpress@ gmail.com.

Expressions of Faith I’m worth a fruitful death (part 2)

by Elder Lady Brandy J. Lee, Guest minister “But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was to give him up), said: ‘Why was not this perfume traded for three hundred pence, and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this, not because he had any love for the poor; but because he was a thief, and, having the money-bag, took for himself what was put into it.) Then Jesus said, Let her be. Let her keep what she has for the day of my death. The poor you have ever with you, but me you have not forever,” John 12:4-8, BBE. Are you able to see past your current situations and see your seat at the King’s table?

Martha was counted the lowest and judged by Judas for anointing the feet of Jesus with spikenard (perfumed oil).

Jesus is teaching Judas, who will betray him, that Martha is not wrong for honoring the feet of Jesus with the

best.

Will a man rob God? Will you give God your very best? Are you willing to take your most prized possession and offer it as an offering and blessing unto God? Martha understood the assignment!

Humbleness should be regarded first in all you do as a servant leader. Martha was the sister of Lazarus and witnessed her brothers resurrection.

Martha knew Jesus personally, and considered Him a friend. Yet she humbled herself and became obedient to the calling and honor of Jesus Christ and blessed him with oil.

Don’t forget that Martha was one who did not fully understand or honor Jesus yet. She tried to get Jesus to tell Mary to help her around the house in Luke 10:40.

Martha’s humbleness is evidence not only of wisdom and knowledge of His purpose, but the maturity and servant leadership she had grown into personally.

Elder Lady Brandy J. Lee Are we willing to be humble like Martha and understand when we are wrong and be willing to serve?

Will you die to yourself and produce ‘fruit’?

Our degree of growing is based upon how we take in the nutrients of heat, coolness, and water. The essentials of life are based and have a foundation in God. He is our breath, life, guidance, and protection.

The fruit of the Spirit of God should reside in you, and remain. Just as Martha did, die to your humanness and produce fruit—because you’re worth it.

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(615) 292-9150

by Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew It’s interesting that so many of us have bought into this idea of feeling as if we are an imposter.

No matter how much we’ve accomplished, we find opportunities to dismiss or discredit ourselves. I realize that there have been so many times that others made me feel that if I worked harder, if I was smarter, or more of something, it would be enough. At what point does it become enough? For people of color, we are constantly reminded that we are different.

We are ‘othered’ if we don’t believe the same way, don’t look the same, speak the same, or have the same experiences. It is the onslaught of blatant reminders that you are not enough, that you do not fit. We’ve witnessed this week Tennessee's Republicanled House voted to expel two of three Democratic lawmakers who called for gun law reforms. The two expelled were Black. The third who was not, was White.

Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, were both removed with votes falling along party lines, in a disciplinary measure that's only been used twice since the 1800s. Situations like this serve as a reminder and attempt to reaffirm that your difference is a problem. It’s designed to make us feel as if we are imposters.

Imposter Syndrome is defined as the “persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills.”

What causes a person who has worked hard and has experienced success to doubt their abilities and doubt themselves? In the Harvard

Business Review article, ‘Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome’ by Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey, the authors note: “Who is deemed ‘professional’ is an assessment process that’s culturally biased and skewed” and “In truth, we don’t belong because we were never supposed to belong.”

Our presence in most of these spaces is a result of decades of grassroots activism and begrudgingly developed legislation.” Ultimately, it’s not the individual(s) that should be questioned but environments that produce these feelings that need to be examined and exposed. Growing up, I would often hear phrases about behavior of people of color compared to “crabs in a bucket.”

Crabs in unison often pull down a crab trying to escape.

It was viewed as a problem that the crabs were not cooperative or remaining confined in a bucket that was not their natural habitat. Instead, we should ask why the crabs are even in a bucket. Could it be that their behavior was in response to the trauma of being contained in an environment that was not designed with them in mind? It is a stark reminder of the power of those who tell the story and the benefit of those who have the power to share and be heard.

I bet the crabs would have a vastly different view of the experience.

It can become exhausting, even overwhelming to be in spaces that push conformity. God does not call us to conform to the world. Our uniqueness and difference are strengths when we are told that they are not.

Remind yourself of who you are and whose you are. Tap into the power of our faith as we perse-

Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew vere and speak truth to power.

• “I can do all things through him who me,” strengthens Philippians 4:13, ESV. • “I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works that He has prepared for me to do,” Ephesians 2:10.

• “I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me,” Romans 8:37.

• “I am the head and not the tail, and I only go up and not down in life as I trust and obey God,” Deuteronomy 28:13.

• “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you,” Jeremiah 1:5, ESV. Despite a world that continues to create doubt, anxiety, and fear because of our difference, we have to remain clear in God’s view of who we are.

You are more than enough!

If those rooms and spaces you enter do not welcome your presence, create a building that does.

(Dr. Froswa’ BookerDrew is the host of the Tapestry podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the vice president of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas.

To learn more, visit <drfroswa.com>.)

Nashville PRIDE Directory of Churches 40th Avenue Church of Christ 616 40th Avenue North Nashville TN, 37209 www.40thavecoc.com Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study: Wed. 7:00 p.m. & Thurs 11:00 a.m.

(615) 329-2325 Min. Dr. Charles A Beaman Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre Nashville 1130 8th Ave S Nashville, TN 37203 615-687-4600 7 days a week with Service every Sunday at 11AM scientology-ccnashville.org Senior Pastor: Rev. Brian Fesler Clark Memorial United Methodist Church 1014 14th Ave. North Nashville, TN 37208 Ph: (615) 329-4464 FAX: (615) 321-0975 Sunday Worship: 8:00 a.m./10:45 a.m.

Herbert Lester, Jr.,pastor clarkumcnashville.org Cleveland Street MBC 608 Cleveland Street Nashville, TN 37207 615-227-1149 Sunday Worship: 10:45 a.m./9:15 Church School clevelandstreet baptist@comcast.net www.clevelandstreet baptistchurch.com Dr. Donald Snead, pastor

Greater St. John Baptist Church 2200 26th Ave, No. Nashville, TN 37208 (615) 263-9450 Sunday Worship: 10:45 a.m.

Herbert T. Brown, pastor Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church 2334 Herman Street Nashville, TN 3728 615-329-2779 Sunday School @ 8:45am Sunday Worship @ 10:00am Bible Studies: Monday Thursday @ 6pm; Wednesdays @ 12 noon gordonmemorialumc.org Rev. Dr. Paula B. Smith, Pastor Jefferson Street MBC 2708 Jefferson Street Nashville TN 37208 615-329-2990 Morning Worship: 10 a.m.

Rev. Aaron X. Marble, pastor John Wesley UMC 901 Benton Avenue 615-298-2019 Sunday worship 8am/11am Daniel M. Hayes, Sr. pastor jwesleyumc@bellsouth.net http://jwesleyumc.org/ Lake Providence MBC 5891 Nolensville Pike Nashville, TN 37211 (615) 833-5539 Sunday worship: 8am/11am Rev. H. Bruce Maxwell, pastor

Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church 819 33rd Avenue N. Nashville, TN 37209 (615) 977-6855 Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.

Wed. Worship: 7:30 PM Rev. Enoch Fuzz, pastor

The Living Word International Church 5100 Wyoming Ave. Nashville, TN 37209 615-297-7437 Worship Times: 11:00 a.m. 7 p.m.

(1st & 2nd Sun.) Bishop Adebanjo thelivingwordcogic.com

Ezra Emmanuel Ministries 2606 Union Hall Rd. Clarksville, TN 37040 www.ezraemmanuelmin.org 9 a.m. Sunday worship 6 p.m. Wednesday Hr of Empowerment 931-378-1092 Overseer Danelle M. Stephens

Mt. Lebanon MBC 222 Franklin Lime Stone Rd. 11:00 a.m. worship service 615-596-0456 jamesgreen@yahoo.com Rev. James J. Green, pastor

Gospel United Missionary Baptist Church 3700 Fairview Dr. Nashville, TN 37218 615-876-7022 9:30 Sunday School Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m.

Pastor Carlos A. Jones

Mt. Vernon MBC 1022 New Providence Pass Madison, TN 37115 Sunday Worship 11 a.m.

615-860-0213 Bishop Willie Joy, pastor mtvernon1022@cocast.net

Nehemiah Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Thomas E. Hunter, Sr. 916 16th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37208 615-942-5261 Sunday School:9:00am Sunday Service: 10:00am Tues. Bible Study:6:30pm nehemiahmissionary baptistchurch.com New Salem A.M.E. Church 1800 4th Ave. N. Nashville, TN 37208 615-964-7246 Sunday Worship 11 a.m.

Pastor Eddie L. Sneed Payne Chapel AME Church 212 Neil Avenue (615) 262-3675 Sunday Worship: 10 am Rev. W. Antoni Sinkfield Schrader Lane Church of Christ 1234 Schrader Lane Nashville, TN 37208 (615) 329-0950 Sunday Worship: 7:45/10:15 a.m./5:00 p.m.

Robert Gardenhire, Pastor Spruce Street Baptist Church 504 Spruce Street Nashville, TN 37203 Worship at 11 a.m.

(615) 329-4105 Pastor Raymond Bowman St. John A.M.E. Church 1822 Formosa Street Nashville, TN. 37208 (615) 320-1026 sainjohname@aol.com Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m.

Rev. Lisa Hammonds St. Luke A.M.E. Church 355 Blythe Ave. Gallatin, Tenn. 37066 615-452-3137 Sunday School 9:15 am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Rev. Dr. Barbara J.Crawford St. Matthew MBC 2412 Osage Street (615) 329-0173 Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.

Rev. W.B. Armstrong, pastor St. Paul A.M.E. Church 3340 W. Hamilton Ave. Nashville, TN 37218 (615) 876-7219 Rev. Harold Moses Love, Jr. www.stpaul-amec.com Word of Life Christian Center International 4100 Clarksville Pike Nashville, TN 37218 (615) 876-3086 Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Rev. Alexander Arthur

Page 7 Nashville PRIDE Leisure Sinatra’s Restaurant now open in downtown Nashville April 21, 2023

By Cass Teague Sinatra Bar & Lounge, bringing a Manhattan meets Palm Springs ambiance to downtown Nashville’s historic Printers Alley, is now open in the Iconowned Southern Turf building, a spectacular Queen Anne structure built in 1839. Celebrating Frank Sinatra’s enduring cultural legacy with a warm and intimate atmosphere, the dining menu offers many of the Chairman of the Board’s favorites, traditional Italian dishes and steaks, complemented by libations and careful attention to aesthetic detail.

“We are thrilled that our Dad, who loved good songs, good food and good spirits, will now be part of Music City’s creative and vibrant landscape,” say Nancy and Tina Sinatra.

“The stately Southern Turf landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and housed a once speakeasy and saloon; how cool is that?”

“We look forward to providing our guests with a dining and enter-

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

(l-r) Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Frank Sinatra experience tainment second to none.” said Icon Entertainment Group CEO Bill Miller.

Be sure to watch for Ryan, the handsome young singer there who perfectly channels “Ol’ Blue Eyes.” For more information visit sina-

tranashville.com.

Throughout his seven-decade career, Sinatra performed on more than 1,400 recordings, awarded 31 gold, nine platinum, three double platinum, and one triple platinum album. The Oscar®

winner appeared in more than 60 films and produced eight. LifeAchievement time Awards from The Recording Academy, Screen Actors Guild and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

(NAACP), as well as the Kennedy Center Honors, Presidential Medal of Freedom and Gold Congressional Medal confirm his legendary status as an inspiration around the world for his contributions to culture and the arts.

From his youth, Sinatra displayed sympathy for African Americans and worked publicly and privately all his life to help them win equal rights. In 1947 Sinatra remarked: “We've got a hell of a way to go in this racial situation. As long as most white men think of a Negro as a Negro first and a man second, we’re in trouble. I don't know why we can’t grow up.”

In the late 40’s, before either man was famous, Frank appeared in a New York theater.

He went to Harlem to see the Will Maston Trio led by a young Sammy Davis Jr. Afterwards he asked Sammy to come see his show. After a week, no Sammy. Sinatra went back to Harlem and asked Sammy why he didn’t show. Sammy said he went, but they

wouldn’t let him in.

Frank stormed back to the theater, tore up his contract in front of them, and never performed there again. A common theme during their friendship and careers: when Sammy wasn’t allowed to play, Frank wouldn’t play there either.

Sinatra played a major role in the desegregation of Nevada hotels and casinos in the 1950s and 1960s, often stepping in to demand apologies for racist incidents and abolishing Jim Crow policies before he would fulfill his show contract. He also financially supported Martin Luther King, Jr. When Sammy was refused a Las Vegas hotel room, Frank said, “Give him my room!”

After Sammy’s car accident where he lost his eye, Sinatra paid all his medical bills. After 5 decades and 40 years of performing together, a reporter asked Frank why he was always so charitable to Sammy.

Frank responded in three words, “He’s my brother.”

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

By Cass Teague Chevalier is a new film directed by Stephen Williams, written by Stefani Robinson, based on the life of the French musician Caribbean Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, played by Kelvin Harrison, Jr., also starring Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Marton Csokas, and Minnie Driver.

Chevalier premiered at the 2022 TIFF September 11, 2022, and was officially released in the United States April 21, 2023 by Searchlight Pictures. Please support this outstanding film in theaters now.

“The rise and resurgence of Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a FrenchCaribbean violinist and composer who rose to fame through his musical prodigy. But a complicated love life and the racism of the ancien régime leads to a falling with Marie out Antoinette, and SaintGeorges realizes that things must change.”

Chevalier was directed by Stephen Williams, a Canadian film and television director.

Williams has directed several modern-day television programs including work as a regular director on the ABC drama series LOST, where he was also a coexecutive producer.

Williams is married to Jocelyn Snowdon and the couple has a daughter together, also in addition to Stephen’s twin sons, Gabriel and Justis.

The couple now resides in the Los Angeles area.

Stephen’s brother is actor Peter Williams, best known for playing the Goa’uld Apophis on the hit sci-fi tv series Stargate SG-1. In 1995, Stephen Williams wrote and directed the film Soul Survivor, which starred his brother Peter in the main role.

As of this writing, the film has an approval rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Supported by Kelvin Harrison, Jr.’s outstanding work in the title role, Chevalier offers an entertaining gateway into the incredible life of a brilliant artist.”

In real life, Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (December 25, 1745 – June 10, 1799) was a French Creole, a champion fencer, a virtuoso violinist and composer, and as a free man of color conducting leading orchestras in Paris. During the French Revolution he volunteered in the War of the First Coalition against Austria and headed a regiment, the American Cavalry Legion. In 1796 he left for SaintDomingue, then in full revolt and attacked by British troops. Within a few months he returned to France and spent the remainder of his colorful life devoted to his violin.

Saint-Georges was

born in the then-French colony of Guadeloupe, the son of the wealthy married planter Georges de Bologne SaintGeorges, and a pretty Senegalese enslaved African woman named Nanon. At the age of seven he was taken to France by his father, where he was educated at a private academy and studied horse riding, fencing and dancing along with the white French noble children.

At fifteen he was beating the strongest fencer and appointed “gendarme de la garde” by King Louis XVI. Today, Chevalier de Saint-Georges is remembered as the earliest European musician / composer, of partial African descent, to receive widespread critical acclaim. He pub-

Contemporary Etching of a painting of 1787, Gabriel Banat.- The Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Virtuosa of the Sword and the Bow. Author: D'après Mather Brown (1761–1831) & William Ward (1766–1826). (Courtesy Wikipedia Commons/public domain) lished numerous string lin concertos, Saintquartets, sonatas, and Georges also composed two symphonies. In several stage works addition to his many vio- (opéra comique).

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VUYANI DANCE THEATRE (South Africa) CION: REQUIEM OF RAVEL’S BOLÉRO

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FILL-IN-THE-BLANK ACROSS 1. Centrally localized 6. Tube in old TV 9. Precedes drab 13. Giraffe's cousin 14. Big Island flower necklace 15. Icelandic currency 16. Grating sounds 17. Software program, for short 18. Tool with toothed wheel 19. *Mellow ____ or ____ ribbon 21. Butter____ or ____ tape 23. a.k.a. Common Market 24. Printer cartridge color 25. Toothy fish 28. *Battle ____ or ____ tissue 30. *Ninja ____ or ____ dove 35. Oil group 37. *Drug ____ or ____ friendly 39. Old TV episode 40. Nobel Peace Prize capital 41. *Amazon ____ or ____ valley 43. Ages and ages 44. Earth shaking 46. Hokkaido language 47. *Odd ____ or ____ soup 48. Stay clear of 50. Vegetative state 52. Olden day "your" 53. Olden day "you" 55. Sib 57. Park bench friend?

60. *Rose ____ or ____ variety 63. LDS missionary 64. Cacophony 66. Goodbye, to amiga 68. Gaelic-speaking Celts 69. Mozart's "L'____ del Cairo" 70. Courage to go on 71. Fitness centers 72. Drenched 73. Not a trick DOWN 1. On behalf of 2. "Fine by me" 3. *Basket ____ or ____ study 4. *Adam's ____ or ____ pie

5. Finely-spun cotton threads 6. Eagle's foot 7. Workout unit 8. Slightly drunk 9. "Doggone it!"

10. College drilling org.

11. 1/36th of a yard 12. "____, humbug!"

15. #15 Down, pl.

20. Come to pass 22. Feline 24. Fissure 25. *Silly ____ or ____ down 26. Church part, pl.

27. Antiquity of the past 29. *Southwest ____ or ____ Minor 31. Lou of The Velvet Underground 32. Rainbow swimmer 33. *Free ____ or ____ hour 34. Glorify 36. Weighted weapon 38. Nevada Wolf Pack's home 42. Cuban dance 45. 1.094 of a yard, pl.

49. *Doctor ____ or ____ knows?

51. Description of a fool 54. Give qualities or money 56. More eccentric 57. Theatrical performance 58. Previously mentioned, acr.

59. Hair styling products 60. Annoying biter 61. Irish name of Ireland 62. Very bright star 63. *Easter ____ or ____ salad 65. *Dry ____ or ____ cream 67. Part of tennis match Solutions from last puzzle

Page 8

Nashville PRIDE

Health/Education

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April 21, 2023

Mrs. Universe Juanita Brown Ingram receives royal welcome on return to alma mater

by Emmanuel Freeman It is always special when former TSU students return to campus, but for Juanita Brown Ingram, that moment on Wednesday was extra special. The red carpet was laid out, as TSU officials, student leaders and community officials were on hand, to welcome the reigning Mrs. Universe, a 1999 graduate and former member of the Grammy award-winning Aristocrat of Bands. Ingram, the first African American woman to wear the coveted crown, was on campus for Tea Time, ‘A Conversation with Mrs. Universe,’ organized by the Offices of Student Affairs, and Alumni Relations.

“It is exciting and an honor to be back to where it all began,” Ingram said at the event in Elliott Hall. The former TSU honor student has gone on to world-wide fame as an attorney, author, actress, and award-winning TV producer.

In addition to the Mrs. Universe crown, Ingram is the first African American woman to compete and win the titles of Mrs. Indiana United States in 2007, Ms. World International Three former Miss TSUs returned to campus to help welcome Mrs. Universe. From (l): Mallory Moore, Miss TSU 2012, Mrs. UK Universe 2013, Mrs. ’21/’22; Barbara Murrell, Miss TSU ’59/’60; reigning Miss TSU Sa’Mariah Harding; Mrs. Universe Juanita Brown Great Britain World 2011, and Mrs. Ingram; and Chandra Norman Lipscomb, Miss TSU ’79/’80 (photo by Aaron Grayson).

UK International 2014.

The Tea Time, a ‘A Conversation tion for success. “I marched all four utive producer, so she’s done a pletho- mer queens, and the visiting Miss Fisk with Mrs. Universe,’ moderated by years in the band here. It taught me ra of things. That’s remarkable,” University for accepting our invitation Miss TSU, Sa’Mariah Harding, gave discipline, gave me tenacity, and the Roach said. “So, we just wanted the to be here today,” Howard said.

Ingram the opportunity to share with ability to overcome obstacles and to young girls to know what she does Barbara Murrell, Miss TSU TSU students what being a Mrs. not shrink to a challenge. So I think and who she is. She is the first African ‘59/’60; Chandra Norman Lipscomb, Universe has meant to her, and how whether it was passing the bar or American Mrs. Universe, so that’s Miss TSU ‘79/’80; and Mallory TSU helped to shape her future. In the being Mrs. Universe, it really gave me huge. So we just wanted to create the Moore, Miss TSU ‘21/’22 were audience were three former Miss the foundation to be who I am today.” opportunity.” among former TSU queens who welTSUs, organizations and class queens, Cristal Powell Roach, assistant ‘A conversation with Mrs. comed Mrs. Universe. Joining them as well as Jordan Smith, the current dean of Student Activities and Universe,’ was part of ‘Alumni Talks: was Aliyah Holmes, executive vice Miss Fisk University.

Leadership, said bringing Mrs. ‘Queen & Co,’ a quarterly speaker president of the Student Government “I love the time that I was here. I Universe to TSU was an effort to series, where they bring in alumni to Association, who made a special presalways said my experience at TSU is inspire “our students about the endless share success stories with students, entation to Ingram. the reason why I am who I am today,” possibilities” as they go after their according to Debbi Howard, director Ingram earned a bachelor’s degree Ingram said, adding that being a mem- own dreams, careers, and future goals. of Alumni Relations. in accounting from TSU. She and her ber of AOB gave her an extra motiva“She is an attorney, she is an exec“We acknowledge all of our for- family currently live in Singapore.

Study suggests Melatonin use eases risk

by Ayesha Hana Shaji, Texas Metro News staff In a recent study, Melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep wake cycles, could potentially reduce risk of self-

harm behaviors in adolescents.

The study by Leone, et al., published in the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health’s Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, analyzed 25,575 Swedish youth who began Melatonin treatment between ages six and 18 and found that while the rates of body injuries, falls and transport accidents were similar before and after the Melatonin initiation, the risk of self-harm was highest in the months immediately prior to medication and decreased thereafter.

This was especially true for female adolescents with depression and or anxiety. The study concludes that sleep interventions could be considered in an effort to reduce the risk of self-harm in this population. While the findings of the study are promising, it is important to note that the study was conducted in Sweden and may not neces-

sarily apply to other countries or populations.

Moreover, the study cannot prove Melatonin caused the reduced rates of self-harm, only that there is a correlation. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of Melatonin use for selfharm behaviors in youths.

It is crucial for parents and healthcare providers to be aware of the warn-

ing signs of self-harm and to seek appropriate help for affected children and adolescents. If you, or anybody you know, are suffering from selfharm, reach out to local mental health crisis services.

(Ayesha Hana Shaji is a 2022 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where she was on The Shorthorn staff. Email: <www. ayeshahshaji@gmail.com>.)

21st annual Family Literacy Day celebrate ‘power of story’

Story time with Bella at Family Literacy Day at Rose Park at Belmont University in Nashville, April 1. (photo by Cara Davis)

by Cara Baker Davis Student volunteers earned serviceBelmont’s 21st annual Family learning credits through the class Literacy Day is a celebration of read- Teamwork and Organizations led by ing for children in pre-K through Joel Hester.

Grade 6 and their families in the Mary Margaret Jones, a freshman Edgehill neighborhood. During this social entrepreneurship major, said the event, held on April 1 at the Easley day was the culmination of a semester Community Center, participants of hard work: “I’ve enjoyed seeing enjoyed reading circles hosted by everybody’s hard work come together campus organizations as well as because there were like five groups for games, crafts, treats, door prizes, bal- our individual class and then we all loons and face painting. had different parts of the larger team.

Through participation in the read- So it’s been interesting to see how all ing circles, event-goers earned stickers of our roles kind of merged for today.” for a book of their choice courtesy of Freshman Daniel Quartararo Book’em. described the class as fun and engagThe Family Literacy Day event is ing: “You have a lot of opportunity to one example of Belmont Volunteers put your opinion in and see where it for Literacy program’s efforts to be an goes.” active leader in literacy promotion “It’s great to see all the families across Nashville, which involves that have come in with their kids that ongoing tutoring at the Carter- are really excited to read and really Lawrence School, Easley Community excited to pick a book when they Center and the Nashville Adult leave,” said Freshman Carly Literacy Council.

DeMartino.

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