Nashville PRIDE May 26, 2023

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volume XXXvii, Number 21

People Are Talking Music icon, Tina Turner dies at 83

Tina Turner performing in 2009 on her 50th Anniversary tour.

(Photo: Philip Spittle) On Wednesday, the family of Tina Turner released the following statement: “Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’n Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht,” With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.”

Turners iconic voice and dance moves vaulted her to a storied 60-year career.

She was listed on Rolling Stone's list The Immortals – The Greatest Artists of All Time.

Turner is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and she is also represented in the Grammy Hall of Fame by two of her recordings: "River Deep - Mountain High" (1999) and "Proud Mary" (2003).

Turner has won eight Grammy Awards.

Born Anna Mae Bullock, on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee, Turner’s parents, Floyd and Zelma Bullock, were poor sharecroppers who split up and left Turner and her sister to be raised by their grandmother.

When her grandmother died in the early 1950s, Turner moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to be with her mother.

Continued on page 5

Legendary NFL player, movie star, activist Jim Brown dies at 87

Nashville, TN

May 26, 2023

Belmont University hosts 2023 Nashville mayoral debate

Nine of the 15 candidates running for Nashville mayor on the debate stage at Belmont University Fisher Center. (photo by Sam Simpkins, Belmont University) On May 18, Belmont University Freddie O’Connell; Davidson County who live here. We don’t want you to hosted a 90-minute televised debate Property Assessor Vivian Wilhoite; come out of a restaurant and have your for the leading candidates for state Senator for District 21 Jeff car towed and a meal go from $40 to Nashville mayor.

Yarbro; former educator Natisha $250.”

Of the 15 candidates that have peti- Brooks; Alliance Bernstein COO Jim In answering a question about tioned to run for mayor, nine partici- Gingrich; business strategist and for- affordable housing, Assessor Vivian pated in Thursday’s debate. Debate mer political aide Alice Rolli; and for- Wilhoite stressed that a public/private participants were chosen based on two mer economic development and hous- partnership is needed. factors: the candidate raised at least ing executive Matt Wiltshire.

“In order for us to have affordable $50,000 by the March 31 reporting Some of the issues debated includ- housing, government cannot do it period of the Davidson County Elec- ed: Nashville’s astronomical growth, alone. They must reach out to pubtion Commission and the candidate affordable housing, relations with the lic/private partnerships to create the presently holds an elective office in a state legislature, and homelessness. public housing we need. county or legislative capacity.

In discussing Nashville’s growth, “My son lives with me. He cannot The panel included state Senator candidate Laticia Brooks stressed the live on his own even though he has a for District 20 Heidi Campbell; at- principle “pay-to-park-to-eat. We need college degree, and be able to afford large Metro Council member Sharon to make Nashville more friendly—not Continued on page 5 Hurt, District 19; Council member just to our visitors but for the people

NAACP issues travel ban on Florida responding to governor’s ‘hostility’ toward minorities

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent The NAACP Board of Directors has issued a formal travel advisory for the state of Florida.

According to a news release from the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, the travel advisory comes in direct response to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”

The formal travel notice states: “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color

and LGBTQ+ individuals.

“Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”

NAACP President/CEO Derrick Johnson said he wanted the message to resonate.

“Let me be clear: failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all,” Johnson said.

“Under the leadership of Gov.

DeSantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and is in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon.

“He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. We’re not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation.”

According to the release, the travel advisory was initially proposed to the Board of Directors by NAACP’s Florida State Conference.

Continued on page 5

Third-grade retention law puts 60% of third grade students at risk of being retained Jim Brown

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent Jim Brown, the superstar Cleveland Browns running back who quit football at the very height of his hall-of-fame career, has died at 87.

Perhaps the greatest running back ever, Brown quit football to pursue an acting career at 30.

From 1957 to 1965, the perennial all-pro helped lead a Cleveland Browns ground game that won an NFL championship in 1964. Voted pro football’s greatest player of the 20th century, Brown earned induction into the Hall of Fame in 1971. But football wasn’t the only sport in which he excelled.

He played basketball, track, and lacrosse at high levels. He was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1984. But football is where he chiefly left his mark.

Sen. London Lamar According to state education officials, 60% of third grade students are at risk of being retained based on a single test score.

“Families of third graders across Tennessee are feeling the consequences of Republicans enacting a law that ignored evidence-based and data-driven recommendations,” said Sen. London Lamar, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

“Instead they used students as a pawn to enact their extreme agenda.

“Our third graders are so much

Sen. Raumesh Akbari more than a single test score. We should be investing in more innovative solutions like smaller classroom sizes and reading specialists, not more high-stakes testing.”

“There are so many student interventions we could be supporting to improve reading comprehension, said Sen. Raumesh Akbari, leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus. “Highstakes testing, with the threat of failing third grade, is not one of them.

“Important decisions about your child’s education should never be

Dr. Adrienne Battle made based on a single test score. But the G.O.P. refused to listen to educators and passed their third-grade retention law anyway.

“Now 60% of third graders could be held back. No one benefits from this manufactured chaos.”

“It is important for children, parents, and the community to understand that if a student didn’t score proficient on this one test, it does not mean they failed, that they cannot Continued on page 5

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South Carolina Senator Tim Scott announces presidential campaign

Sen. Tim Scott

by Stacy M. Brown, a crowded field of candiNNPA Newswire senior dates, including former national correspondent tech and finance guru Carolina Vivek Ramaswamy and South Republican Sen. Tim former Arkansas Gov. Scott, a longtime and Asa Hutchinson. devoted ally of former Many expect Florida Donald Gov. Ron DeSantis to President Trump, has thrown his announce his candidacy hat into the 2024 presi- soon, and former Trump dential ring.

Vice President Mike With Trump already Pence hasn’t ruled out declared and the pre- a run. sumptive frontrunner, Virginia Gov. Glenn Scott joins a growing Youngkin, South Dakota Republican candidate Gov. Kristi Noem, forlist that includes another mer Wyoming ConTrump ally, former gresswoman Liz CheSouth Carolina Gov. ney, ex-national security Nikki Haley. advisor John Bolton, and Haley former New Jersey Gov. Ironically, appointed Scott in 2013 Chris Christie are also to represent South Car- said to be weighing a run olina in the U.S. Senate for the GOP nomination. after the retirement of Robert F. Kennedy, Jim DeMint.

Jr. is the lone Democrat The GOP already has to declare his intention

to challenge President Joe Biden.

“Under President Biden, our nation is retreating away from patriotism and faith,” Scott said, announcing his bid.

“Joe Biden and the radical left are attacking every rung of the ladder that helped me climb.

And that is why I am announcing today that I am running for president of the United States of America.”

While Biden remains popular among Black voters, Scott, an African American, has drawn the ire of Blacks and other minorities, with many in the community deriding the senator as ‘Uncle Tim,’ a takeoff of the self-hating Uncle Tom. “Tim Scott is 2024’s Herschel Walker, just more articulate,” commentator Eddie Smith wrote on Twitter.

There was a side-byside image of Scott and the made-up cartoon character Mush Mouth with the post.

The phrase ‘Uncle Tim’ regarding Scott has trended several times this year.

“Tim Scott reminding us that even Black Republicans only have that one go-to MLK quote,” MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan wrote on Twitter.

Hasan responded to Scott’s comments that “the color of our skin does not define us.”

Facing a new moral dilemma: should you tip at self-checkout line?

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent Recently, consumers have been forced to confront the revelation that having zero interaction with employees during a transaction no longer exempts customers from the moral dilemma of tipping.

Customers say they have noticed that they’re increasingly asked to tip at self-checkout terminals, despite having no contact with an employee.

Reportedly, cash registers in airports, stadiums, stores, and cafes are prompting customers to add up to 20% tips.

Tipping culture has expanded from pubs and restaurants to coffee shops and takeout establishments due to what one publication called ‘tip-flation.’

“This new trend of being prompted to leave a tip does nothing but frustrate consumers. It’s one thing to tip your server personally. It’s another to be asked to leave a tip on a screen where you’ve done all the work at a self-checkout,” said Corey Donovan, president of Alta Technologies.

“It’s an option to have it turned on or off

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 Continuations ..................... 5 Pastor,Pew & Pulpit .......... 6 Leisure ................................ 7 Health/Education ............... 8

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire enior national correspondent A new study shows that after some progress, the number of deaths and years of possible life lost among America’s Black population stopped going down and then started going up again.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) said their results show that new ways of doing things are needed.

JAMA looked at statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed that when the coronavirus pandemic hit the world in 2020, the number of deaths and years of potential life lost went up.

Non-Hispanic Black mothers are more than three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related problem than non-Hispanic White moms. (photo courtesy of iStockphoto/ NNPA) Compared to White study period, which people, 1.63 million took place from 1999 more Black people to 2020. died than they should “After a period of have. progress in reducing Experts said that’s disparities, improvethe equivalent of 80 ments stopped, and difmillion years of poten- ferences between the tial life during the Continued on page 5

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Study reveals excess mortality, years of potential life lost among Black population in U.S. from 1999-2020

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Customers say they’ve noticed that they’re increasingly asked to tip at self-checkout terminals, despite having no contact with an employee. within the payment gate- head of marketing at way software, so busi- Ninja Transfers, offered nesses are consciously that businesses placing a choosing to have it tipping option at selfturned on.” checkout machines Donovan said the appears to be just anothbest-case scenario is that er way for companies to the business gives those pad their bottom line. tips to their employees.

“I ordered a smooth“The worst-case sce- ie online and went to nario: they’re hoping pick it up myself, and it that customers will just automatically added a absent-mindedly keep tip to the checkout. hitting next to get to the Rather than the default final payment screen to being ‘no tip,’ it was set generate additional rev- to 15%,” Golubovich enue. Either way, it’s not said. something that makes “I didn’t even notice customers happy and this until after I’d could have a negative already paid. I think that impact on customer this is a sneaky practice experience and satisfac- for companies to take tion,” Donovan said. in additional revenue.

Tom Golubovich, the Continued on page 5

May 26, 2023

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Local

Cancer… My Journey in time Three difficult years – “but God”

by Wanda Clay While we approach a weekend of looking back during the observance of Memorial Day, it sparks a look at all memories. The time not only sparks memories, but also creates thoughts of encouragement. As Rev. Enoch pastor of Fuzz, Corinthian Missionary Church, Baptist remembers his diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer, he notes that this is the month of the initial diagnosis and how it has unfolded over three years.

As we continue to reflect on the past three and tough “long years,” the most memorable of those times for Rev. Fuzz are four phone calls made on May 3, from Dr. Rachel Thomas.

“Dr Thomas pleaded with me that night with at least four phone calls, begging me. She said: ‘Pastor Fuzz, I'm on my knees praying and all I hear is God telling me to get you to hospital.’ I remember my vivid rejection of her plea, "Dr. Rachel, I'm not gonna go to no hospital on a Sunday night."

But Dr. Thomas

Rev. Enoch Fuzz persisted throughout the night, pleading that God was telling her that Rev. Fuzz needed to go to the hospital.

He admits to being as stubborn as she was persistent. On Monday morning, Fuzz recalled: “I woke up soaking wet. I'm terrified with the thought that I'd contracted the COVID19 virus. So now I have no choice except to call for EMT to get me. So I succumbed to Dr. Rachel and let her know, I'm calling the ambulance to take me to the hospital." Needless to say, she was extremely pleased and said: “Thank you God,” as she assured Rev. Fuzz that she would meet him at the emergency room.

“Little did I know she was one of the doc-

tors in charge of the emergency room,” said Rev. Fuzz. “The care I received was immediate and intensive. So to say ‘God has his eye on the sparrow and He watches over me’ is an understatement.”

While the journey has been a long one, Rev. Fuzz remains steadfast in his prayers and looks forward to his complete recovery.

“After three years I must say, ‘But God— my testimony is that if it had not been for the Lord on my side…" said Rev. Fuzz.

Rev. Fuzz reminds himself and others: “God takes care of His people and often He uses people like Dr. Rachel Thomas to bring about His will when Enoch is too stubborn to heed wisdom.”

While Rev. Fuzz is still in the midst of his journey with cancer, you are still encouraged to keep praying for him in his health and healing. He is also in continuous prayer for others.

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

Celebrate Juneteenth with Sheree Renée Thomas at Tenn. State Museum, June 10

by Cass Teague As part of this year’s Juneteenth Celebration at Tennessee State Museum (TSM), entitiled “Looking to the Past to Empower the Future,” the TSM will explore an anthology of thirty-two original stories from the award-winning editorial team of Sheree Renée Thomas, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, and Zelda Knight that showcases the breadth of science fiction and fantasy (SFF) from Africa and the Diaspora.

African Sheree Reneìe Thomas, Co-Editor of Africa Risen (Macmillan) will be at the Museum on Saturday, June 10, 2023 for a reading and discussion from 10:30 am 12:00 p.m., free and open to the public, in the Digital Learning Center at the Tennessee State Museum.

In the anthology, there are many mindblowing Afrofuturistic stories. A group of cabinet ministers query a supercomputer containing the minds of the country’s ancestors. A child robot on a dying planet uncovers signs of fragile new life. A descendent of a rain goddess inherits her grandmother’s ability to change her appearance — and perhaps the world. Created in the legacy of the seminal, award-winning anthology series Dark Matter, Africa Risen celebrates the vibrancy, diversity,

Meet Author Sheree Renée Thomas at Tennessee State Museum June 10. and reach of African and Blues: Stories from an Afro-Diasporic SFF and Ancient Future was a reaffirms that Africa is finalist for the 2021 not rising — it’s already Ignyte, Locus, and here.

World Fantasy Awards.

Throughout the day, She is the editor of families can enjoy Sto- The Magazine of Fantarytime and craft activi- sy & Science Fiction, ties. There will also be a associate editor of dance, poetry and music Obsidian, and also edithour followed by a spe- ed the two-time World cial lecture. Check their Fantasy Award-winning website for a full sched- groundbreaking antholoule of events: TNMuse- gies, Dark Matter: A um.org/Juneteenth. The Century of Speculative event includes an oppor- Fiction from the African tunity to purchase books Diaspora and Dark Matthrough the Museum ter: Reading the Bones store and get them (Grand Central). She signed by the author. lives in Memphis, TenSheree Renée nessee near a river and a Thomas is an award- pyramid. winning fiction writer, Before that, join the poet, and editor. Her TSM Statehood Day work is inspired by myth Celebration on Thursand folklore, natural sci- day, June 1 at 10:00 a.m. ence and the genius of For Tennessee’s 227th the Mississippi Delta. Statehood Day, the She is a co-editor of museum will have activAfrica Risen: A New Era ities for families, a of Speculative Fiction keynote lecture, cup(Tordotcom) and Trou- cakes, print shop ble the Waters: Tales of demonstrations, and so the Deep Blue (Third much more. The MuseMan Books). Her fiction um is also partnering collection, Nine Bar Continued on page 5

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DMK Foundation hosts 3rd annual FunFitness Dance exercise Special guest appearance with R&B music sensation Tony Terry

DMKF is hosting its 3rd annual FunFitness Dance Exercise event to promote healthy living and fitness in the community.

The Dorothy Marie and sampling, zip-lining, Kinnard Foundation kid’s water park, gogo (DMKF) is hosting its pit, kangaroo inflatable 3rd annual FunFitness jumper, airnasium, disc event which will take golf, music and more. In place on Saturday, June addition, there will be 10, from 11 am to 3 pm vendors, prize give-aat Camp Widgiwagan aways, refreshments, (Joe C. Davis YMCA and free convenient Outdoor Center) located parking. The event is at 3088 Smith Springs free and open to the pubRoad, Antioch, Tenn. lic.

37013. This year's event “Our foundation is Tony Terry promises to be even big- thrilled to host the 3rd ger and better with a annual FunFitness event American Diabetes wide range of activities and is committed to Association, more than and challenges for par- spreading awareness on 37 million people now ticipants of all ages and diabetes prevention have diabetes and 96 fitness levels. through our organiza- million are at risk of The FunFitness event tion’s mission,” said developing it. Moreover, is a celebration of the Rhea Kinnard, presi- diabetes is one of the foundation's mission to dent/founder. “Because leading causes of death promote healthy living diabetes disproportion- and disability in the and fitness in the com- ately affects people of United States and has munity. The Pre-June- color, the foundation is come with a staggering teenth FunFitness theme taking a ‘boots on the cost in excess of $327 for this year is Freedom ground’ approach to pro- billion annually and to Good Health, Strong moting awareness and continues to climb as Minds, and Healthy education among this more people develop the Families and will have a group.” disease. guest appearance by According to the Continued on page 5 R&B music sensation Tony Terry, who will perform his masterful ‘Family remake Reunion,’ as hundreds of Have you thought about an auction? participants join in solidarity to spread aware“Most money in the shortest time” ness on the country’s 7th 1-877-292-6611 or 1-615-292-6619 leading cause of death and disability.

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Understanding what it is to be anti-Semitic

by William T. Robinson, Jr. Maybe I am treading on dangerous waters when I say there are many people who are confused about being labeled as anti-Semitic—relegating them to being vilified, demonized and even cancelled out when making comments they don’t personally deem as being offensive, hostile or prejudiced against Jews. It is never right to purposely engage in hateful and harmful rhetoric toward any group of people especially by intentionally lies or promoting untruths. But many Blacks are confused about questioning the actions of some Jews in some situations. What is rightfully considered offensive or anti-Semitic?

There have been some high profile Black individuals such as Nick Cannon and Kyrie Irving who had to apologize or recant actions or statements that some viewed as anti-Semitic.

Some people would argue that they don’t see these individuals as antiSemitic or haters of Jews but as sharers of information that could be hurtful whether you view it as right or wrong. However, if it is the intent of an individual to share harmful rhetoric or untruths about Jews to promote hate and disunity, it can be undoubtedly be assumed as anti-Semitic.

Sharing the history of slavery and the role of the Confederacy doesn’t make one anti-White unless it contains calculated lies, and one’s purpose is to promote hate.

Is it possible to assume that some people say or manifest actions not knowing they are considered anti-Semitic?

One would presume presenting prefabricated lies with the intent to promote hate or foster resentment or rebellion, warrants being labeled anti–Semitic.

Many would argue this is not the case of some people being labeled antiSemitic by the Jewish community.

Respectfully, in all honesty, can any group or race claim to be more racially targeted, stereotyped, and subjected to harm and hate than African Americans?

However, those negatively targeting African Americans are not given the same seriousness as those alleged to be antiSemitic. Those opposed to African Americans or their history are not made to apologize and are not vilified or cancelled. Is there a double

William T. Robinson, Jr. standard? Where do we draw the line, especially when considering what is deemed to be antiSemitic?

Can you understand why some people, especially African Americans, are confused at the insensitivity of those who are personally offended by anything negatively stated about Jews but ignore the attacks made against people of color? Shouldn’t negative statements promoting lies prejudice, hostility, and hate against any group be taken seriously? Concerning the teaching of history, is promoting hate and hostility as opposed to educating people (hopefully) to make amends going forward, given the same weight? Is teaching provable facts of history which may be uncomfortable to some becoming a liability?

No entire race or group of people can be considered collectively monolithic in their actions or views, especially when described historically or subjectively. Viewing all members of a race or group of people under one microscope is unfair and bias, but in reality people unfortunately relate to or identify with groups in generalities, whether right or wrong. Remember there are always exceptions to the rules in any given circumstance.

We as a society have a proclivity in relating to specific actions of individual people in a group and judging everyone racially related to that group as a whole under one umbrella. Individuals or certain actions of people within a group shouldn’t categorize the whole group.

Stating historically true statements about a group showing some of them in a negative light doesn’t necessarily make the person sharing information a hater.

Educating people on the ills or shortcomings of an individual, group, or nation is history and can be a definitive learning moment that can be beneficial in going forward—if the information is true. You can be too sensitive and take things personally, but

that should not negate others from knowing the truth—especially if (for no other reason) to make amends or show compassion and empathy going forward.

The history of this country and the world is full of people and events, especially wars, that we are not proud of.

But it happened, and it would be doing us a grave injustice to sweep these events under the rug because it makes some people uncomfortable. Not talking about injustices as if they didn’t happen doesn’t make them go away. The injustices only clandestinely permeate.

Let’s make no mistake, it is some individual’s or group’s intentions to spread hate and prejudice for divisive purposes. Although it is wrong, we must be cognizant that we are a country where we boast on having freedom of speech. Maybe we should revisit that constitutional right concerning rhetoric or speech intentionally which spreads lies and promotes harm and hate to discredit an individual or group. We must also be mindful that individual’s sensitivity concerning statements will vary, and we should not demand everyone to feel the way we do.

Answer the question: ‘Do you believe everyone alleged to be antiSemitic is guilty and harbors ill- will and hate against Jews?’ This is not an irrelevant question, because many people (especially Blacks) are honestly confused.

Something that may be controversial about Jews is considered antiSemitic, but that is not always the case when hateful and racists comments are made targeting Blacks. Very rarely is an apology required or rendered.

Blacks don’t hate Whites because of the history of slavery, Jim Crow and Black Codes laws, discrimination, and segregation in this country. African Americans only want equality and amends for the wrongdoings of the past going forward. Reality or the truth only serves to better things going forward for those mistreated or devalued. Discussing the ills of the past caused by White oppressors doesn’t make Blacks anti-White or haters. It makes Blacks more vigilant, making sure these ills cease to exist. The question still remains: ‘Does saying anything a Jew may disagree with or question makes the content or deliverer anti-Semitic?’

What we shouldn’t permit

by Ben Jealous (TriceEdneyWire) – Picture a mountain valley somewhere in the Alleghanies, Appalachians or Blue Ridge. It’s a safe bet what you just imagined didn’t include a metal pipeline more than three feet wide running down a steep ridge or crossing a pristine stream.

People from West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and several Indigenous nations have been fighting for years to keep that image from becoming a reality by opposing the incongruously named, 303-milelong Mountain Valley Pipeline across their states and ancestral lands. They’ve been so successful, in fact, that some in Congress want to take away their power to oppose a project that’s recorded hundreds of clean water violations alone.

It's part of a bigger

Ben Jealous fight that goes by the mundane-sounding name ‘permitting reform’ that’s playing out in Washington right now.

While that description isn’t as stirring as ‘Star Wars missile defense’ or ‘the Great Society,’ the decision being made will determine how the nation can exert oversight on big projects from pipelines to manufacturing plants to minimize their damage to the planet. Some of them may go on federal lands, and many of them will

be financed by hundreds of billions that the federal government will invest in infrastructure and clean energy in the next decade.

It's a fight so important that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has tied defaulting on the country’s debt to resolving it.

“This is more than just about the Mountain Valley Pipeline,” Maury Johnson, a retired educator and farmer from West Virginia who’s a leader in the opposition, told a reporter. “This is about the Gulf Coast, North Alaska and every community that has been sacrificed for decades.

We can’t continue to sacrifice communities and people.”

If we called it “protection reform,” it might easier to understand.

What’s at stake is the process for protecting our air, water, and land from what may be irreparable harm. Some

May 26, 2023

What happens if America can no longer pay its bills?

by Charlene Crowell (TriceEdneyWire) – For much of Black America, having adequate cash to cover monthly bills or small business overhead has historically been an ongoing challenge. But over the coming days, the nation’s coffers could also lack adequate cash and credit to cover its bills.

The debt limit is the total amount of money that the United States government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries, interest on the national debt, tax refunds, and other payments, according to the Treasury Department.

On May 1, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned both the House and Senate: “After reviewing recent federal tax receipts, our best estimate is that we will be unable to continue to satisfy all of the government's obligations by early June, and potentially as early as June 1, if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit before that time. Given the current projections, it is imperative that Congress act as soon as possible to increase or suspend the debt limit in a way that provides longer-term certainty that the government will continue to make its payments.”

Since then, every passing day shortens time for President Biden and Congressional leaders to craft a resolution. To avoid rippling global financial chaos, both the Administration and Congress must reach agreement.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy advocates tying the debt dilemma to the Administration’s budget proposal, including slashing many domestic programs and adding new work requirements to access program benefits. Alternatively, President Biden seeks a separation between the debt limit and the budget. While discussions among the White House and lawmakers have begun, at press time no solution has yet to be announced.

In the meantime, an anxious nation, its people and businesses, both face financial uncertainty.

According to U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (Mis-

souri), a long-time lawmaker and member of the House Financial Services Committee: “This is the first debt-ceiling situation that I felt was not going to be abated in time to protect our country. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Federal fiscal agencies like the Congressional Budget Office and Federal Reserve have clearly and repeatedly warned Congress as well of the unprecedented and looming financial chaos that would result from debt default. Nonpartisan economists have also chimed in.

For example, Moody’s Analytics, a foremost provider of financial intelligence that assists businesses to reach informed decisions, recently published a related report.

“The timing could not be worse for the economy— even without the specter of a debt limit breach, many CEOs and economists believe a recession is dead ahead,” states the report. “With the Federal Reserve ramping up interest rates to quell wage and price pressures, avoiding a recession would be difficult even if nothing else went wrong. Assuming a June 8 debt limit breach that dragged on through July, the Treasury would have no choice but to eliminate a cumulative cash deficit of approximately $150 billion by slashing government spending. As these cuts work through the economy, the hit to growth would be overwhelming.”

The Bipartisan Policy center, a D.C.-based think tank that promotes viable public policy solutions, released its own independent analysis stating in part: “Ongoing risks include increasing costs to taxpayers, delayed payments to individuals and businesses, and potentially catastrophic financial and economic impacts if congressional inaction to raise the debt limit causes the U.S. government to default on its debt (unprecedented in modern history).”

The list of federal benefits at risk in a debt default is as lengthy as it is painful. A sample of the benefits at risk include: • Up to 21 million

Charlene Crowell Americans could lose their Medicaid, up to one million older adults could lose access to food stamps known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. And up to one million poor children could lose welfare through TANF, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, according to lawmakers who wrote a May 11 letter to President Biden.

• Section 8 housing vouchers that enable 2.1 million people to pay a national rental average of $347 to live in standard and affordable housing would also be at risk, according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

• On June 1, $12 billion is supposed to go to military and civilian retirement payments and $12 billion towards veterans’ benefits. On June 15, another $4 billion is needed to pay military salaries, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center; • At the end of 2022, the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

“Across the nation, rents have skyrocketed, eviction filings have increased, homelessness is on the rise, and millions of America’s lowest-income renters are just one financial shock away from falling behind on rent and losing their homes,” said Diane Yentl, president/ CEO of the Coalition. “It is unacceptable to cut critically needed assistance to these households.”

It should also be unacceptable for lawmakers elected to serve all of America’s people to lack the will to protect the nation.

(Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene. crowell@responsible lending.org.)

want to erode environmental safeguards that have been in place for more than 50 years and reduce the time allotted to determine the impact the new projects will have during their decades-long lifespan.

Some want to treat dirty fossil fuel industries in the same way we think about new clean energy businesses. The fast lane needs to be reserved for renewable energy and transmission infrastructure to distribute it.

We also could call it ‘participation reform.’

President Biden is pushing for greater consultation with communities that will be closest to new projects and transparency about their locations. Opponents want to extend exclusions that would allow plans to bypass any meaningful public voice, particularly for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project. They

even want to limit the ability of communities to challenge projects in court.

Those who are most strident about permitting reform argue that the safeguards we have in place or seek to add come at too high an economic price. Faster approvals will lead to lower energy prices sooner, they claim. But the falling prices of renewable energy show otherwise.

The costs that are too high are not to determine environmental impacts and not to let those most affected have their say.

We know that it’s the poor, people or color, and native peoples who live in those communities that pay the most for these projects. The Biden administration has moved to acknowledge indirect and cumulative impacts on climate and environment as well as

direct ones. Under President Trump, the federal government limited the analysis to only the most blatant damage.

The argument comes down to expediency versus existence. We’ve been careening toward a warmer planet with less biodiversity since the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. We’ve subsidized destructive industries by rendering people and places disposable by failing to consider them. That’s what we can no longer permit.

(Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. 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.

May 26, 2023

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

Continuations

Mayoral debate... from page 1 even renting,” said Wilhoite.

“We have to get to the root of the problem before we can get to the fruit of the problem,” Councilwoman said Sharon Hurt, referring to growing Nashville’s

homeless population.

According to Hurt, the solution to helping the unhoused is a matter of political will and utilizing vacant city land and buildings.

The debate series is sponsored by The Ten-

nessean, NewsChannel 5 and the League of Voters of Women Nashville, with Belmont University hosting two more debates in June and August. American Baptist College will also host a debate on July 6.

Tina Turner... from page 1 Barely in her teens, Turner quickly immersed herself in St. Louis's R&B scene, spending much of her time at Club Manhattan. It was there, in 1956, that she met rock-and-roll pioneer Ike Turner, who often played at the club with the Kings of Rhythm.

Soon Turner was performing with the group, and she quickly became the highlight of their show.

Tina Turner began performing with musician Ike Turner in the 1950s. They became known as the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, achieving popular acclaim for their live performances and recordings like the top 5 hit "Proud Mary," until Tina left in the 1970s after years of domestic abuse.

Following a slow start to her solo career, Turner achieved massive success with her 1984 album Private Dancer.

She went on to deliver more chart-topping albums and hit singles and was elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. The revered singer later became involved in the spiritual Beyond project and married longtime boyfriend Erwin Bach in July 2013.

In April 2013, Turner became a Swiss citizen and renounced her American citizenship.

In 2013, three weeks after her wedding to Erwin Bach, she suffered a stroke and had to learn to walk again.

In 2016, she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. Turner used homeopathic remedies

to treat her high blood pressure but caused kidney failure. Her chances of receiving a kidney were low, and she was urged to start dialysis.

Turner wanted to commit assisted suicide, but her husband donated his kidney in April 2017.

Turner died on May 23, 2023, at the age of 83 in her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland after battling a long illness.

In the program for the musical Tina, which is based on her life, Turner wrote: “I've been blessed with a wonderful career, and after more than 50 years of performing I don't need a musical, I don't need another show. But I get so many cards and letters — I still can't believe how people feel about me on stage and the legacy they say I left.”

Florida travel ban... from page 1 NAACP’s collective consideration of the advisory is a result from unrelenting attacks on fundamental freedoms from the governor and his legislative body, the organization asserted.

Following DeSantis’ ordering the state to reject students’ access to AP African American studies course in March, the NAACP distributed 10,000 books to 25 predominantly Black communities across the state in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers’ Reading Opens the World program.

Most of the books donated were titles banned under the state’s read, or that they are not making learning progress,” said Dr. Adrienne Battle, director of Metro Schools.

“Tennessee has some of the highest standards in the nation for student expectations, and while we all strive to help them meet those goals, students all start from different places, and teachers work hard to ensure they are making growth and progress in their learning journey.

While we did not agree with this law, we are required to implement it and are committed to working with every family to make sure their students are provided the opportunities necessary to be promoted to the 4th grade.”

According to MNPS officials, if a student scores proficient on the TCAP reading re-take, they will be exempt from the retention law.

If a student moves from

increasingly restrictive laws.

The NAACP vowed to continue to encourage local branches and youth councils to start community libraries to ensure access to representative literature.

The organization said in the release that it has encouraged all Florida residents to join the effort to defeat the “regressive policies of this governor and this state legislature.”

“Once again, hateinspired state leaders have chosen to put politics over people. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state of Florida have engaged in a blatant war against principles of diversity and inclusion “below” to “approaching” in the re-take, they will be subject to the “approaching” provisions of the state law that include only one required intervention and offer an option to appeal.

“Throughout the year, we have encouraged all 3rd grade families to sign up for Promising Scholars, our summer learning program, which starts June 1,” said Battle.

“As of May 19, there were approximately 3,700 3rd grade students registered to attend. Registration will continue to remain open through the start of Promising Scholars for students who require this intervention to be promoted.”

Students who attend Promising Scholars will be required to maintain 90% attendance and will be given a statecreated post-test assess-

and rejected our shared identities to appeal to a dangerous, extremist minority,” said Chair of the NAACP Board of Directors Leon Russell.

“We will not allow our rights and history to be held hostage for political grandstanding,” Russell said.

“The NAACP proudly fights against the malicious attacks in Florida, against Black Americans. I encourage my fellow Floridians to join in this fight to protect ourselves and our democracy.”

The NAACP asked that interested residents and supporters visit <www.naacp.org> for additional information and updates. ment at the end of the program. Students will be required to achieve a five percent growth in their score between the reading portion of the 3rd grade ELA TCAP and the post-assessment. Students who move from “below” to “achieving” through the re-take assessment (conducted May 22-24) will have that new score serve as their baseline.

“Accelerating Scholars, our high-impact tutoring program, will serve as the intervention for students who score “below expectations” and req-uire two interventions in order to be promoted, or for those who scored “approaching” but either did not attend Promising Scholars or did not meet the adequate growth threshold,” said Battle.

“Students who require this intervention will be assigned tutoring opportunities accordingly.”

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Nashville PRIDE

Jim Brown... from page 1 Notably, in 1965, Cleveland Brown’s owner, Art Modell, issued an ultimatum to the superstar, telling him that if he continued filming the hit movie, The Dirty Dozen, which was delayed because of technical problems, Brown would face fines for reporting late to training camp.

Ever independent, Brown defied Modell and called a press conference to announce his retirement from football.

Brown also didn’t hesitate to speak out on issues affecting African Americans and openly supported the civil rights movement. started and He helmed the Negro Industrial and Economic Union to create jobs for Black people in Ohio.

The organization also helped secure loans for Black businesses.

Brown also formed a coalition to denounce the federal government’s role in stripping boxing legend Muhammad Ali of his title because Ali refused to fight in the Vietnam War. Brown’s popularity grew, and he cemented himself into film lore, becoming the first Black man to have onscreen sexual relations with a White woman, Raquel Welch, in the film 100 Rifles.

Brown was born on St. Simons Island, off the southern coast of Georgia, where he had a childhood, difficult according to <biography.com>.

Brown was only two weeks old when his father abandoned the family. Then Brown’s mother left him alone after she took a job in

New York as a maid.

While living with his grandmother, Brown’s mother sent for him when he was eight.

During his senior year at New York’s Manhasset High School, Brown played running back and recorded a mind-boggling 14.9 yards per carry, more than good enough to earn him a spot at Syracuse University. In college, Brown dominated the competition on the football field and the basketball court.

He also ran track and was a talented lacrosse player, according to <biography.com>. earned Brown national attention as a running back for his strong, explosive play.

In the final regular-season game of his senior year, Brown capped off his college career by rushing for 197 yards, scoring six touchdowns, and kicking seven extra points.

In 1957, the Cleveland Browns selected Brown as the sixth overall pick in the National Football League draft.

“Brown wasted little time adjusting to the new competition, leading the league in rushing yards with 942 on his way to capturing the league’s Rookie of the Year honors,” his biographers wrote. “Over the next seven seasons, Brown became the standard-bearer for all NFL running backs.”

At a time when defenses were geared toward stopping the ground game, Brown bulldozed his way past the opposition, posting season remarkable totals: 1,527 yards (1958), 1,329 (1959),

1,257 (1960), 1,408 (1961), 1,863 (1963), 1,446 (1964), and 1,544 (1965).

His only ‘down’ year came in 1962, when Brown rushed for 996 yards. It was the one season in his brilliant but brief football career where he failed to lead the league in yards.

In 1964, Brown steered Cleveland to the championship, NFL where the club routed Baltimore 27-0 to win the title. In the game, Brown ran for 114 yards.

“But Brown saw a life for himself outside of football, and before the start of the 1966 season, he stunned the world by sports announcing his retirement,” the biographers noting that wrote, Brown earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

Brown appeared in over 30 films, including The Dirty Dozen (1967) and 100 Rifles (1969).

His later credits include parts in Mars Attacks!

(1996) and Any Given Sunday (1999), in which he played a football coach.

“The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is deeply saddened about the passing Jim Brown who was one of Black America’s enduring heroes on the football field and in the terrain of the Civil Rights Movement as a gallant freedom fighter for justice and equality,” NNPA President/CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. said.

“We acknowledge and salute the outstanding contributions of Jim Brown that have made our world a better place for all of humanity.”

Self-checkout line... from page 2 I hope that the employees working got my tip, but I can’t be so sure of that. It also just feels wrong to have a tip added to something where there wasn’t any personal interaction.”

Mark Pierce, the CEO of Cloud Peak Law Group, added that it’s becoming more evident that employers are attempting to put the onus for employee pay on customers.

“It’s not justified by any means, but employers saw the opportunity and went for it,” Pierce said.

“Tipping has always been a part of employees’ wages in the service industry, but it was attached to giving an actual person the tip.

“Now it seems like it’s an option on every transaction, regardless of whether there was human interaction or not. While employers could argue that at the end of the day, the employees are still getting the tips, there’s no reason to tip if the transaction happened without a person’s help.”

In some states, employers can pay below the minimum wage due to the presumption that workers will earn enough in tips.

Still, Jodi Smith, a human resources professional and etiquette consultant, said employers shouldn’t solicit tips for jobs that aren’t typically tip-pable so they can pay employees less.

“There are also some state laws that prohibit who is eligible to receive any pooled tips,” Smith said in an email, reiterating her thoughts she provided to USA Today.

“I so wish the software coders for some of these payment systems had taken the time to actually speak with etiquette experts before coding the choices and interface.

“There is a difference between a tip and a service charge. Tipping occurs at the end of the interaction, not before.

Additionally, we tip for transactions that occur through interpersonal interactions. For example, handing someone a doughnut is not a tippable interaction.”

FunFitness Dance... from page 3 The foundation is a partner with several organizations such as the NFL Alumni Tennessee, American Diabetes Association, JDRF, Meharry Medical College, and Tennessee Health Disparity Task Force among others to help spread awareness

through its outreach initiatives.

This year’s event sponsors include HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health, BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee, Target, 353 Media Group, WQQK 92Q Radio in addition to others.

Registration for the FunFitness event is currently open, and participants can sign up at funfitness2023.event brie.com/.

For more information regarding the Dorothy Marie Kinnard Foundation, visit their website: www.dmkf.org.

Black population... from page 2 Sheree Renée Thomas... from page 3 Black population and the White population got worse in 2020,” JAMA experts wrote.

Because of the pandemic, experts stated that years of growth had ended. They said the pandemic affected Black Americans more than other groups.

Herman Taylor, one of the study’s authors and head of the cardiovascular research institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine, said: “The study is very important for about 1.63 million reasons. Real lives are being lost. Real families are missing parents and grandparents.

Babies and their mothers are dying. We have been screaming this message for decades.”

Clyde Yancy, an author of the study and

chief of cardiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, told reporters that high death rates among Black people have less to do with their genes.

However, it has more to do with the country’s long history of discrimination, which has hurt generations of Black people’s chances of getting an education, a good place to live, and a good job. Yancy said that Black areas redlined in the 1930s, meaning that mortgages and other investments were too ‘high risk’ for them, are still poorer and sicker today.

Yancy remarked that there were also more COVID infections and deaths in ZIP codes that used to be redlined.

“It’s very clear that we have an uneven distribution of health,” Yancy said. “We’re talking about the freedom to be healthy.”

In 2021, non-Hispanic White Americans could expect to live to 76 years old, but nonHispanic Black Americans could only hope to live to 71 years old.

A big reason for this difference is another study that showed that non-Hispanic Black babies are 2.5 times more likely to die before their first birthday than non-Hispanic White babies.

Non-Hispanic Black mothers are more than three times more likely to die from a pregnancyrelated problem than non-Hispanic White moms.

with Bicentennial Mall and the Tennessee State Library & Archives on activities throughout the day.

Plan now to attend events at their neighbor-

ing institutions.

The Tennessee State Museum (TSM) also continues exploring the histories and legacies of Rosenwald Schools in the exhibition “Building

CRD

a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee” set to open June 16, 2023 and run through February 25, 2024.

Land + Property Consultants

• Agency • Land Sales Strategic Land • Zoning Planning

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Page 6

Nashville PRIDE

Pastor, Pew, & Pulpit www.pridepublishinggroup.com

Faith of A Mustard Seed

by Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div. Reset. Again. On this line of revelational thought that has captured and turned my writing from “Text-Led to LifeLed” in matters of Faith.

“So very clear of this ‘Bright Light’: “Knowledge is Biblical. Education is not.” (Me). And what this study has already revealed: “Education is Legislation”. I know, I know, you are listening for debate. Listening through the lense of the content of your own mind.

Even as bearers of truth, in the business of truth it is so hard to even understand that Jesus FIRST calls us to metanoia= “Repent” change (the/my/your) mind. Into the definition of Knowledge that we are working with from Thurman...

Howard “when knowledge comes the whole world is turned upside down”...the relationship of things (must be seen) and “you will never be the same again...When Knowledge Comes.”

“The months and years ahead will bring new evidence of masses in motion for freedom.

The March on Washington is not the climax of our struggle, but a new beginning not only for the Negro but for all Americans who thirst for freedom and a better life.

Look for the enemies of Medicare, of higher minimum wages, of Social Security, of federal aid to education and there you will find the enemy of the Negro, the coalition of Dixiecrats and reactionary Republicans that seek to dominate the Congress.” Asa Philip Randolph from The steps of The Lincoln Memorial, 1963 March on Washington.

So much, so so so much placed into the public domain in the form of this 'prophetic voice' spoken from this Nation's greatest “Soapbox”— Washington DC's Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Now to A. Philip speaking Randolph beyond the grave to “look for the enemies of... education, there you will find the enemy of the Negro...”.

Never really knew

Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div. how to put it into words until now, but I have always had major 'distrust of Sermonizers' who proclaim as GOOD— the facts of the African American community's ILLITERACY! The old “My Grandfather never learned to read or write and he knew ‘The Word’ from Genesis to Revelation.” Or “My mother was one of the greatest women in the Church and she never had so much as a 3rd grade Education”.

Don't get it twisted. “My Grandfather AND My Mother” are the Africans born in an American Justice institution that 'Legislated Against’ THEIR RIGHT to learn to read and write! They knew what the ‘Slave Master’s Preachers’ TOLD THEM was ‘The Word’... from Genesis to Revelation!

My Grandfather and my Mother were the PRODUCT of an American INjustice System that ‘surgic-legislatively’ (yeah! that's it), ‘cut away by law’— REMOVED, 2/5th of our 'personhood' while “transforming us into... PROPERTY!” I do know that when I hear this 'enemy of education' propaganda spewing from The Black Church Pulpit, not only does it make my 'skin crawl', but, calls once again into question— in The ‘Worship Context’— that ‘Without TRUTH’ we remain a people of INCARCERATION! We no longer even know THE TRUTH... in the ONE PLACE where...”

TRUTH WILL SET US FREE”! Asa Philip Randolph, valedictorian of his High School Class AND Martin Luther King, Jr., an EARNED academic Ph.D. from Boston University ‘Seret. al, monizer’, MARCHED to this Nation’s Capital in 1963

FOR “Jobs AND Freedom”.

American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten called Betsy DeVos “the most ideological, anti-public education nominee put forward since President Carter created a Cabinet level Department of Education. In nominating DeVos Trump makes it loud and clear that his education policy will focus on privatizing, defunding, and destroying public education in America”. Still again, the Outlet reports her record in Michigan.

“That's exactly what DeVos has zealously worked to make happen on a state-by-state basis for decades.

In 2000, she helped get a ballot measure before Michigan voters that would have enshrined a right to vouchers in the state's Constitution. After the measure failed, she and her husband formed a political action committee to support pro-voucher candidates nationally.

Less than a decade later, the group counted a 12160 win/loss record.”

Yet again, The Washington Post reports, “She leads the American Federation for Children, described by teacher and education commentator Peter Greene as “a dark money group that for school works privatization”.

In 2018, The Tennessean reported this: “More than 1,300 Tennessee kindergarten students were suspended last school year. Overall, black students are the brunt of the students being suspended in kindergarten”. OK. So some folks need to let this sit for another... second? Min-ute? Hour? 5 year old African born in America BABIES suspended from school!

This “School-to-Prison Pipeline” IS NOT ‘A Dream’— it is VERY REAL!!!

NOW! Emphatically Now! A. Philip Randolph speaking beyond the grave: “look for the enemies of... education; there you will find the enemy of the Negro”.

Contact Rev. Barbara by email: myfathersman sionpress@gmail.com.

expressions of Faith Understanding God

by Bishop-elect Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr. “If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it for you,” John 14:14.

What are you asking in your praying to God through Jesus Christ our Lord? Do you know what you’re asking and do you know how to ask? When you understand God, then you understand the will of God in your asking.

Let’s look at understanding God. God has revealed Himself to humanity to know Him and understand Him. 1) God is spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

2) God exists everywhere. “Where shall I go from your spirit? Or where shall I flee from thy presence?” Psalm 139:7-12. God exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17).

3) God is infinite (1 Timothy 1:17).

4) God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6).

5) God is incomparable (2 Samuel 7:22).

When you understand God, then the gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon you (the disciples of Christ) to impact your life and the world. We must have the consciousness of God, His will and His purpose—because God is will and purpose. This is why all who ask in faith, and according to the will of God, will receive His fullness. When Jesus says we can ask for anything, we must remember that our asking must be in accordance to the will of the Father. Your asking must show forth the character of God’s

will and purpose. God will not grant your request contrary to His will and His purpose.

Jesus Christ is not going to go against God’s nature or His will. When you know God, you will not ask with selfish desires. If you truly know God and seek to do His will, then your asking will be in line with what He wants and has for you through the Holy Spirit.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He [the Holy Spirit] may abide with you for ever.

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for he dwells with you, and shall be with you. I will not leave you comfortless [alone]; I will come to you. Yet in a little while, and the world will see Me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also.

If you love me keep My commandments,” John 14:15-19.

Jesus was soon to leave His disciples, but He gives them a promise.

He told them: The Spirit of God will come after Me to care for you and to guide you. I cannot leave My disciples alone; I am not going to do that.

Before My ascension [raising up] after My resignation with My own power, the Holy Spirit will come. The Holy Spirit is the very presence of God within us, helping us to live as God wants us to live—and is building us as Christ’s church in the earth. You will have the Holy Spirit as a powerful presence that will always be with

Bishop-elect Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr. you. I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Comfort, you are never without— that he may abide [keep to, stick to, hold to, stand by, and uphold] with you for ever.

The Spirit of truth will never leave you. The Father will send the Holy Spirit to act in His name.

He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).

The world does not know him [the Holy Spirit]; the world cannot receive Him. You don’t know Him or see him.

But you, the sons and daughters of God, know Him because He dwells within you, and shall be in you. The Holy Spirit will convict you of your sins, but at the same time show you the righteousness of God to convince you to live in accordance to God’s perfect will.

Jesus knew that we cannot do it alone, even though we are believers.

But those who receive Christ’s word and understand the Spirit of God, will receive a whole new way of looking at life.

He will give you a Christ consciousness, Godly counsel, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, character, moral strength, purpose and endurance.

“I will not leave you alone [comfortless]. I will come to you. In all of your endeavors, I’m there. You have this promises from Me.”

May 26, 2023

Faithful Utterances Realize that faith without works….

by Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew Last week, I was out of town when I received the alerts about the Allen mass shooting. As I scrolled through Twitter, I was horrified of the raw footage of the murder scene. My heart ached.

As I fought back tears, I found myself experiencing an array of emotions.

I was angry. I was sad. I was disappointed. I was fearful. It was a rollercoaster ride of feelings.

I’m heartbroken for the loss of life, and for the pain and suffering of these families. I’m angry that so many people who were there are dealing with trauma because of the experience that will be with them for the rest of their lives.

I’m sick of this becoming common and I’m tired of a society that is becoming so desensitized because it happens so often. I’m tired (once again) of the onslaught of only getting ‘thoughts and prayers.’

I’m tired of families losing their loved ones to random acts of violence and those who witness these atrocities dealing with injuries and memories for the rest of their lives.

I’m tired of people who have no value for human life who choose to deal with their insecurities, racism, hatred, and unresolved pain by murdering innocent people.

I’m tired of politicians sending condolences who choose to do absolutely nothing but offer lip service. They pander for votes but chose to hand off the significant issues to the next generation to address.

I’m tired of people who don’t vote and do not see the correlation between their everyday lives and these folks who make decisions.

I’m tired of people

who do vote but only focus on single issues, who do not pay attention to how those they elect are impacting other facets of their lives or that only care about how it impacts them and no one else because they aren’t affected.

I’m tired of children and adults losing their lives—of families grieving because of the unexpected loss of life taken senselessly.

I’m tired that there is no safe place, e.g.: churches, synagogues, malls, grocery stores, schools, any public places—and the list goes on and on and on.

I’m tired that people will live in fear and isolate themselves from enjoying the freedom we are supposed to have in this country.

I’m tired of the divisiveness and rhetoric that creates an ‘us versus them’ dynamic—not recognizing that when one suffers, we all pay the price either directly or indirectly. We all are connected.

I’m tired of the passion to protect unborn babies but when they get here, we don’t want to make sure they thrive throughout their lives.

I’m tired of mental health being blamed when there are hundreds of thousands of people with mental health issues who do not make decisions to harm others instead of recognizing that we have created a culture that does not value human life. We feast on a diet of destruction and viciousness. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. And you should be, too.

I would be foolish to believe that there is only one problem and one solution. It’s multifaceted. Just as mental health is an issue, it’s not the only issue. Just as guns are an issue, it’s not

Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew the only issue. We have got to be willing to address root causes and not just symptoms.

Otherwise, we will continue to place a band-aid on a rapidly growing tumor. As a woman of faith, I believe in prayers. I know they work but I am also one who understands that without action, nothing happens. James 2:14-18 is a reminder to all of us: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

America, let’s see your faith AND your works…

(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

May 26, 2023

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Movie reviews: White Men Can’t Jump

by Dwight Brown, Film critic for NNPA \News Wire and DwightBrownInk.com (**1/2) White men who can’t dunk and the Black men who chide them was a fresh, chuckle-worthy idea back in the day. In today’s world, not so much.

When b-ballers Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson trash talked each other in the R-rated 1992 sports/comedy White Men Can’t Jump, their digs were edgy and hilarious. In this update, with Sinqua Walls (Friday Night Lights) and Jack Harlow (Grammy nominee Best Melodic Rap Performance for ‘First Class’), the humor seems too homogenized, too PG-13.

Calmatic, the former Grammy Winning director of Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ video, marked his feature film debut with the 2023 update of House Party.

The dance party scene in House Party showed glimmers of his brilliance, but the rest of the footage proved that he was still working out the kinks in his technique as he transitions from video king to filmmaker. He holds the reins over this revise, and this time out, nothing stands out visually. Not even the way he shoots basketball games.

When the ball and players are in motion it’s a perfect time to show fluid, jerky, in-your-face camera movement and

Sinqua Walls and Jack Harlow in White Men Can't Jump. flaunt DP skills. There twenty-something set dumbass, acting like you are none. Nothing is eye- adrift and playing L.A. can’t hoop.” Jeremy: catching. This is a street ball where he can. “You assumed I couldn’t missed opportunity.

Jeremy (Harlow) dam- hoop, because I’m Kenya Barris, whose aged his ACLS so bad White, which is incrediTV comedy chops are playing the game, he bly outdated.” Kamal: superb (Black-ish) and swore to his lady friend “No, I assumed you film screenplays are hit Tatiana (Laura Harrier, couldn’t hoop because (Girls Trip) and miss BlacKkKlansman)—and you were dressed like a (Shaft), scripted this his knees—that he was White girl at Whole venture. The characters giving up the brown ball. Foods.” are set and there are The Black brother Before you know it, problems a plenty. The and young White man they’ve joined forces. narrative, builds, fizzles, meet. Yea, there’s some They’re hustling betting builds fizzles… tension between the on games they set up As a teen basketball alphas as they assess with unsuspecting playchamp, Kamal (Walls) each other’s skills, game ers. Jeremy is the bait, had a bright future and a and hustle. A bet is Kamal and his friends strong parental figure placed on who can win a Renzo (Myles Bullock) (Lance Reddick, TV’s game. It’s on. Kamal: and Speedy (Vince StaBlacklist). An incident “You think you’re slick, ples) join in. The boys blew his chances for suc- huh. Showing up to are making cash. Circess and now he’s a courts dressed like a cumstances and money

New Music-themed exhibitions and Art Fest at the Frist Art Museum

Aaron Wessling Photography. Close up of Odetta Holmes playing the guitar. Otto Hagel.

Odetta, 1958, Gelatin silver print; 13 58 x 10 58 inches.

by Cass Teague view, reflecting NashStoried Strings: The ville’s internationally Guitar in American Art renowned status as is the first exhibition to “Music City” and a explore the instrument’s mecca for outstanding symbolism in American guitarists and socially art from the early nine- impactful music. teenth century to the The accompanying present day. Featuring three hundred–page cat125 works of art as well alogue positions the guias thirty-five exceptional tar within a nexus of art, instruments, the exhibi- music, literature, and tion will demonstrate cultural histories. that guitars figure promiGuitar Town: Picturnently in the visual sto- ing Performance Today ries Americans tell about features work by ten themselves May 26–Aug Nashville-based photog13, 2023 in the Ingram raphers who capture the Gallery of Frist Art energy of Nashville’s Museum. diverse music scene Works by artists such through images of guitar as John Baldessari, players performing in Thomas Hart Benton, venues across the city.

Lonnie Holley, Dorothea Highlighting a variety of Lange, and Annie Lei- musical styles and attibovitz and seminal tudes, the photographers instruments by Fender, employ dramatic angles, Gibson, and C. F. Martin surprising cropping, and & Company show how hair-trigger responses as guitars have served as they capture decisive symbols of American moments in each perhistory, cultural atti- formance. tudes, identities, and The photographers in aspirations. For the pres- the exhibition are entation at the Frist, Angelina Castillo, Lance notable instruments and Conzett, Steven Cross, other artworks drawn Emma Delevante, H.N. from Middle Tennessee James, John Jo, Laura E. collections will be on Partain, John Partipilo,

Jenni Starr, and Diana Lee Zadlo. Through images of musicians including Brandi Carlile, Sierra Ferrell, Brittany Howard, Peter One and Jess Sah Bi, Marty Stuart, William Tyler, Adia Victoria, Jack White, and Yola, viewers see how the performers’ self-presentation— clothing, hair, stance, and facial expressions— provide visual links to the music they are making and bring viewers into the room with the audience to share the visceral experience, on view in the Conte Community Arts Gallery through August 20, 2023.

Celebrating guitars, photography, and more, the Frist Art Museum will hold a weekendlong Frist Arts Fest on June 3–4 spotlighting the exhibitions Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art, Guitar Town: Picturing Performance Today, Ron Jude: 12 Hz, and Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature.

Saturday, enjoy live guitar-centric musical performances in the auditorium organized by WNXP 91.1. Sunday, programs geared toward children and families include sets by The Rock and Roll Playhouse inspired by artists represented in Storied Strings and an instrument petting zoo with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. All weekend, enjoy songwriters performing in the Turner Courtyard, exhibition tours; art-making activities, food trucks, games, a photobooth, and more.

Admission to Frist Arts Fest will be free for Frist members and guests ages 18 and younger. For all other guests, the regular $15 adult admission will apply both days. All normal discounts are suspended during the weekend. For more details, go to the Frist website: fristartmuseum.org/

woes push them towards a basketball competition that could be lucrative.

Jeremy has Tatiana as an anchor. Kamal’s woman friend Imani (Teyana Taylor, A Thousand and One) keeps him grounded. The two couples struggle, differently.

One is well off, while the other is always looking for a payday. But both relationships have trouble with deception. Gen Zers will relate to their challenges. Too old to be totally irresponsible. Too young to have it all together. The turbulent history between Kamal and his dad adds a depth that gives the shallow narrative needed umph.

But keep in mind that the model for this film was an uproarious comedy that was thorny, with putdowns, insults, jibes and banter that were delivered by the mischievous comedy king Harrelson and consummate actor, Snipes. They milked each scene with macho bravura and laughs. These two new leads don’t recreate that tense energy. And in this screenplay, Kamal’s buddies, played by Bullock and Staples, are the court jesters, Greek chorus and wacky observers of race relations. While Taylor, Harrier and Reddick get weighed down in drama. It’s different.

Harlow is feeling his way around movie sets for the first time. He delivers his lines, shows some personality but has a lot to learn. Walls is a

veteran but doesn’t exhibit the command of humor that could have made his character more engaging. Smarter casting would have paired Pete Davidson and Kevin Hart. The visuals alone of tall young skinny Pete and short older muscular Kevin hustling basketball games would be hysterical. That’s before they even opened their mouths. And we know both can talk a lot of funny s—t!

Considering this is a film and not a TV show, the lack of locations is noticeable. What’s on view seems like a series of half-hour episodes pulled together and not a film that could hold a theater audiences’ attention for one hour and 41 minutes (editor Jonathan Schwartz, Modern Family). That’s why streaming on Hulu and not screening in a cineplex is a smart idea. A flat screen TV may be kinder to the film’s flaws. Walls has his TV fans. Harlow has millions of music fans. Teens and young adults may tune in.

Certainly the 1992 OG White Man Can’t Jump has a premise worthy of a refresh. This execution is competent, not excellent and doesn’t get the job done. Different casting, saltier language and a better feel for filming sports scenes might have made this pretender a contender.

As is, this update jumps—but never high enough.

experience “Front Porch Society” by Kennie Playhouse Theatre June 1 - 11

The cast of Front Porch Society invites you to their play June 1 -11 at Looby Theater.

by Cass Teague that restores her faded legally freed slaves in There are quite a few faith. the Southern states. cool things to do in The undercurrents of On June 17, 2021, Nashville during the “Front Porch Society” President Joe Biden month of June. One of illuminate the massive signed into law the Junethe best is to take in a experiences of Black teenth National Indenew play by a Black America and its cautious pendence Day Act makcompany to kick off the optimism of hope in ing Juneteenth a federal month that celebrates America’s promise of holiday, giving federal Black Music Month and equality. Kennie Dozier, workers a paid day off or Juneteenth. A local The- founder of KTP, who is one-and-one-half times ater Company is leading also directing the play, their regular rates of pay Music City’s Juneteenth said he chose “Front if they must work on or celebrations with the Porch Society” to coin- around June 19— local premiere of Melda cide with Juneteenth to depending on the day of Beaty’s “Front Porch illuminate the continu- the week on which the Society.” Among June- ing quest for peace and holiday falls. teenth celebrations this equality.

Front Porch Society summer, this timely pro“The massive expe- performances will run duction with a political riences of the past Thursdays – Sundays backdrop could set the years—racial conflict, from June 1-11, 2023. tone for the commemo- the insurrection, the pan- Performances are at 7:30 rations. demic, political polar- P.M. nightly Thursdays, Kennie Playhouse ization-- have rocked Fridays, and Saturdays, Theatre (KTP) presents America and changed with Sunday Matinees at the award-winning stage daily life,” says Dozier. 2:30 p.m. There will be a play “Front Porch Socie- “The characters in Front Meet & Greet with the ty” at the historic Z. Porch Society, embody playwright, Melda Alexander Looby The- the emotional tempera- Beaty, on Saturday, June ater, 2301 Rosa L. Parks ture of America’s sordid 3. Kennie Playhouse Blvd., in Nashville’s history with being black Theatre is offering speMetroCenter. in America as they face cial discounted performThe play is set on an unimaginable, unpre- ances for senior citizens November 4, 2008, in cedented opportunity to on June 6 and June 7 at Marks, Mississippi. vote for the first black 10:00 a.m.

America is on the eve of president.”

“Though there is electing its first black Juneteenth com- some humor in the propresident. Amidst the memorates June 19, duction, my hope is that town’s excitement over 1865, when Union sol- the rich insights presentBarack Obama, Carrie diers brought the news ed in ‘Front Porch’ will Honey grieves her son’s of freed to enslaved inspire more conversatragic death. After 40 Black people in Galve- tions that can lead to disyears of failed attempts ston, Texas — a full solving racial and politito seek justice, Carrie two months after cal polarization,” Dozier has grown bitter and is the Confederacy had adds. no longer interested in surrendered.

To learn more about life’s celebrations, but This was also about Front Porch Society and when a scandal in town 2 ½ years after the for tickets, visit: rocks this historic day, a Emancipation Proc- www.kennieplayhouse past secret is revealed lamation had already theatre.com.

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