Nashville PRIDE June 2, 2023

TN Sen. Brenda Gilmore honored with Lifetime Achievement Award See page 3

ONLY

Movie Review The Little Mermaid See page 7 © 2023 Multicultural Media Group

NAShviLLe PuRuiuDue ‘The Voice of a Proud Community’

50¢

Visit us on the web at www.pridepublishinggroup.com.

volume XXXvii, Number 22

People Are Talking Metro Council office releases new district data dashboard

District Data Dashboard map In partnership with Metro’s ITS and Planning departments, the Metropolitan Council Office has released a new, interactive District Data Dashboard tool on the Council Office website to make a vast amount of data available to the public.

The District Data Dashboard contains a wealth of 2020 Censusbased information for Nashville and Davidson County under broad topics such as Population, Housing, Education, Employment, and Transportation. Council District lines and information are based on the 35 districts created by the 2021 redistricting process approved by Metro Council through BL2021-1052 on January 18, 2022.

For the first time the public will have access to important citywide information all in one convenient space. The District Data Dashboard can be found on the Metropolitan Council Office Homepage and is also available using the following direct link: <experience.arcgis.com/ experience/26905f405562442db0cc658 dd25a1372>.

CMA Fest celebrates 50 years of Fan Fairs in Nashville

Darius Rucker CMA Fest is the longest-running Country Music festival in the world. Country fans can choose from a variety of ticketing options, from the complete CMA Fest four-day pass to attending the free outdoor, daytime stages without any tickets.

CMA Fest hosts numerous stages filled with throwback tunes, up and coming acts, today’s biggest stars and much more.

Your attendance allows CMA to give back, as portion of proceeds from CMA Fest will support the CMA Foundation and their mission to shape the next generation through high quality music education. Every child deserves the opportunity to participate in music, and your pass or ticket can make a difference in a child’s life.

Full story on page 7

Nashville, TN

June 2, 2023

Neighborhood developed by African Americans for African Americans honored during Preservation Month

The Metro Historic Zoning Commission presents Neighborhood Leadership Recognition certificate to Council member Toombs, Haynes Heights Neighborhood Association President Quinta Martin, and Board member Eric Cazort. Shown (l to r): Chair Menié Bell, Council member Toombs, Quinta Martin, Eric Cazort, Commissioner David Price, Commissioner Elizabeth Mayhall, Commissioner Mina Johnson, Vice-chair Stewart, Commissioner Elizabeth Cashion.

In celebration of Preservation Haynes Heights is a mid-20th cen- namesake, Rev. William Haynes, was Month, the Haynes Heights Neighbor- tury neighborhood located north of born into enslavement but became a hood Association was honored with West Trinity Lane. Developed by and prominent educator, minister, and real the Metro Historic Zoning Commis- for African Americans during the ‘Jim estate developer in Nashville. In 1931, sion’s first Leadership Recognition on Crow’ era, doctors, lawyers and edu- he donated a parcel of land for Haynes May 17. The recognition honors a cators were some of its earliest inhab- School, a school for African American neighborhood association, merchants itants. In October 1954, the Davidson students. association or individual that has, County Planning Commission Although outside of city limits durthrough their leadership, made out- approved a 14.2-acre development for ing the era of redlining, much of standing contributions to their com- African Americans, to include 102 northern Nashville became the only munity and worked towards preserva- home sites. The approved subdivision place for African Americans to live. tion and education regarding the histo- was estimated to cost $1,000,000. With the planning commission’s ry of their neighborhood/district. The Developer K. Gardner estimated that approval of the subdivision, newspawinners of this recognition inspire oth- houses would cost an average of pers deemed it the largest, private ers to take action in their communities. $10,000 each. The neighborhood’s Continued on page 5

Study finds over 25% of U.S. homeowners struggle with housing costs

The study utilized data from the U.S. Census Bureau, analyzing monthly housing costs and median household income in the 170 most populated cities nationwide.

by Stacy M. Brown, The findings indicate that 27.4% of NNPA Newswire senior all homeowners are considered “costnational correspondent burdened.”

A recent study conducted by the Miami, Los Angeles, and New Chamber of Commerce, a product York City are leading the list of cities research company specializing in real with a significant number of financialestate, revealed that more than 25% of ly strained homeowners, where more homeowners in the United States are than four in 10 feel stretched beyond burdened by housing costs, spending their means due to housing expenses. over 30% of their income on their Interestingly, all but one of the top 10 homes. cities for cost-burdened homeowners The study utilized data from the are in California or Florida.

U.S. Census Bureau, analyzing In the District of Columbia, 26.3% monthly housing costs and median of homeowners also grapple with the household income in the 170 most weight of housing costs. populated cities nationwide.

Continued on page 5

NAACP chair says he hopes Florida travel advisory leads to smart voting

NAACP Board of Directors Chair Leon Russell

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent NAACP Board of Directors Chair Leon Russell told NNPA Newswire that the civil rights organization’s Florida travel advisory isn’t a ban but a call to action against the state’s regressive and oppressive laws and policies that specifically target Blacks and other minorities.

Russell asserted that the advisory serves as a method to mobilize voters who are subjected to and tired of the anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion movement in the Sunshine State.

“Let’s understand what this advisory is. It is an advisory,” Russell said.

Continued on page 5

The Nashville PRIDE Newspaper is on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @pridenews

Use the QR code to get your online issue for .75 cents OR get an entire year for $20!

Printed on 100% recycled paper

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

June 2, 2023 National/State www.pridepublishinggroup.com Despite troubling report, Ambassador Andrew Young Rep. James Clyburn explains what went wrong maintains he’s no ‘sellout’ with voting and civil rights Page 2

Nashville PRIDE

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent Earlier this month, a scathing report from ProPublica noted the apparent betrayal of one of the most trusted and powerful Democratic politicians in America.

South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, the socalled king maker and assistant House leader, allegedly sold out his state to Republicans to keep his seat.

ProPublica claimed Clyburn made a secret deal with the GOP during the redistricting process in 2021 that sapped the strength of the all-important Black vote while making it extremely difficult for Democrats to compete for a congressional seat.

ProPublica reported that Clyburn cut the deal to ensure his seat would remain safe.

Though the revelation occurred two weeks ago, Clyburn has mostly remained mum. But rumblings have led many to wonder when he will explain.

As political writer Isaac Bailey wrote, the NAACP sued over the gerrymandered voting map.

Bailey noted that a three-judge federal panel called it a racial gerrymander, and the court determined that it was “effectively impossible” to have moved more than 30,000 Black voters into Clyburn’s district without it.

Bailey Further, observed that the court pushed back against some of the NAACP’s claims by showing that Clyburn had requested some of the changes.

“It’s just one example of the ugly, oftenhidden layer of what we keep referring to as a

South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn democracy, a term that’s often misapplied given the state of things,” Bailey said. “In a healthy democracy, the people choose their representatives. Increasingly, that’s not what’s happening in ours.”

ProPublica reported on a series of meetings between Clyburn and high-ranking Republicans following the release of the 2020 Census map. They noted that the slightest line changes could determine who wins and holds power.

But as the process commenced, they said Clyburn had a problem: His once majority Black district had suffered a daunting exodus of residents since the last count.

He wanted his seat to be made as safe as possible.

“Republicans understood the powerful Black Democrat could not be ignored, even though he came from the opposing party and had no official role in the state-level process,” ProPublica wrote.

“Fortunately for them, Clyburn, who is 82 and was recently reelected to his 16th term, had long ago made peace with the art of bar-

tering.”

The fallout?

“The resulting map, finalized in January 2022, made Clyburn’s lock on power stronger than it might have been otherwise,” the report stated. “A House of Representatives seat that Democrats held as recently as 2018 would become even more solid for the incumbent Republican.

“This came at a cost: Democrats now have virtually no shot of winning any congressional seat in South Carolina other than Clyburn’s.

“As others attacked the Republican redistricting as an illegal racial gerrymander, Clyburn said nothing publicly.

His role throughout the redistricting process has remained out of the public view, and he has denied any involvement in state legislative decisions.

The report further notes that while it’s been clear that the South Carolina congressman has been a key participant in past state redistricting, “the extent of his role in the 2021 negotiations has not been previously examined.”

ProPublica said they Continued on page 5

Minnesota AG Keith ellison delivers keynote during Black Press convention

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who successfully prosecuted all the officers involved in the murder of George Floyd and who’s penned a new book about the experience, will keynote the 2023 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) national convention.

Ellison, the state’s former representative in the U.S. Congress and two-term attorney general, will speak to the more than 230 African American-owned publishers and media company owners during a special address on Friday, June 30, at the JW Marriott in Nashville, Tennessee.

With the theme, ‘The Black Press: Amplifying Progress, Excellence, and Voices of Black America,’ the conven-

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

Ambassador Andrew Young the late Rep. John Lewis, and Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Young was an unquestioned leader in the American Civil Rights Movement.

Young’s career in civil rights began in 1954 with voting registration drives despite numerous threats to his life.

He worked with the National Council of Churches before leading the Southern Chris-

Call (615) 292-9150 to advertise <AC@0<24 2/. 6:<9*6,. /79 2*+.;2,:

**

K'(L K'(L

*74 $0A7D8::4 *74 $0A7D8::4 &(&( 'C829 (454@4<24 'C829 (454@4<24

<AC:8< 4>4<30<B -4:2=;4

$! )-/, ) ! .*,!

+ 20<LB 14 BC@<43 3=E<

( /%+ ) " ( /%+ ) " )=280: = G=C 34A4@D4 = G=C 34A4@D4 )=280: )42C@8BG 8A018:8BG )42C@8BG 8A018:8BG 0:: CA 5=@ 0 5@44 0:: CA 5=@ 0 5@44 2=<AC:B0B8=< 2=<AC:B0B8=< 2HKD +E:<> $GCNKR 2HKD +E:<> $GCNKR NMHFH;BE> <<B=>GM NMHFH;BE> <<B=>GM +>KLHG:E $GCNKR +>KLHG:E $GCNKR 2BEE +K>I:K:MBHG 2BEE +K>I:K:MBHG 2> :K> A>K> MH A>EI 2> :K> A>K> MH A>EI

;>CB44A -4:2=;4 + 20<LB 14 BC@<43 3=E<

HGM:<M . :M OBLBM PPP <:L: G:LAOBEE> HK@

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

Nashville PRIDE (USPS 003861) is published weekly for $40.00 for one year, $80.00 for three (3) years by Multicultural Media 5331 Mt View Rd #1072, Nashville, TN 37013. Periodicals Postage Paid at Nashville TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Multicultural Media PO Box 60487, Nashville, TN 37206. Service by NNPA wire. Articles submitted for publication are subject to editorial rights of Multicultural Media. Multicultural Media accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited articles, photographs, or art. For subscriptions and advertising rates call: (615) 292-9150. E-mail - News and Editorials: npnews@ comcast.net Advertising: prideads@comcast.net.

"0<3A20>4 4A86<

40@3 &@=>4@BG 40@3 &@=>4@BG 40@3 &@=>4@BG #08<B4<0<24<2 #08<B4<0<24 #08<B4<0<24 <2<2 (4A834<B80: (4A834<B80: =;;4@280: =;;4@280: <3CAB@80: <3CAB@80:

"0<3A20>4 "0<3A20>4 4A86< 4A86< <AB0::0B8=< <AB0::0B8=< #08<B4<0<24 #08<B4<0<24 "0E< "0E< #08<B4<0<24 #08<B4<0<24 =<2@4B4 =<2@4B4 -=@9 -=@9 *@44 *@44*@8;;8<6 *@8;;8<6 @08<064 @08<064 @@860B8=< @@860B8=<

=AB4@ =AB4@ D4<C4 D4<C4 $0A7D8::4 $0A7D8::4 *$ *$ ((

)* )* # # ** ))

"" " $) $)$)

%$ %$%$ %% %

.. .

E867B E867B "" 40@3 40@3 140@3>; 140@3>; 7=B;08: 7=B;08:2=; 2=;

<< 1CA8<4AA 1CA8<4AA 5=@ 5=@ =D4@ =D4@ G40@A G40@A

$! )-/, ) ! .*,!

Being there is why I’m here.

C1@4G 8D4<A 0<3 C1@4G 8D4<A 0<3 AA=280B4A AA=280B4A +<8=< )B@44B +<8=< )B@44B )C8B4 )C8B4 $0A7D8::4 *$ $0A7D8::4 *$

() ! () $ *-%(!

"460:

T >KMB?B>= ) />LMBG@ T 'HP>LM ) " /%+"N:K:GM>> ( +KB<> T .:F>= G=C :R 34A4@D4 IIHBGMF>GML )=280: T HG?B=>GMB:E 8A018:8BG )42C@8BG T ->LNEML 0::=FBLLB;E> CA 5=@ 0BG5@44 HNKM 2=<AC:B0B8=< T ?M>K #HNKL *G LBM> 2HKD +E:<> $GCNKR O:BE:;E> <<B=>GM NMHFH;BE>'H<:MBHGL T /PH ):LAOBEE> +>KLHG:E $GCNKR +K>I:K:MBHG ELH2BEE LI><B:EBSBG@ BG MH A>EI :K> A>K> KN@2>E<HAHE M>LMBG@ :G= */ +ARLB<:EL ?HK C1@4G 8D4<A $G=BOB=N:EL :G= 0<3 AA=280B4A HFI:GB>L +<8=< )B@44B )C8B4 "" *% *$/ $0A7D8::4

&@8<B8<6 &@8<B8<6 C@B8AL &@8<B:: :: C@B8AL &@8<B =>G 4<B4@ 4<B4@ =>G -4AB -4AB 0;8:B=< 0;8:B=< (3(3 $0A7D8::4*$*$ $0A7D8::4 *((%..!.* .*!,0%!,0% 2 2*((%..! !3 !3 <NKMBLIKBGM:EE<HF<:LM <HF<:LM <NKMBLIKBGM:EE G>M G>M

$7*-=.9;2:. *-=.9;2:. ,*44 ,*44 $7

40%

Call my office for a quote 24/ 7.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company , Bloomington, IL P090107 06/09

Call today to advertise on the Quick Reference!

(615) 292-9150 x101

HK

&0B4@<8BG

)&

Get discounts up to

Bobby Berry Berry,, Agent 703 Main Street Nashville, TN 37206 Bus: 615-271-2996 .bobbyaberry.com www www.bobbyaberry.com

. MK:BGBG@ BL ?K>> PBMA FHKGBG@ :G= >O>GBG@ <E:LL>L H??>K>=

Call today to advertise on the QR. (615) 292-9150 x101

;>CB44A -4:2=;4

"460: "460:

<AC@0<24 2/. 6:<9*6,. /79 2*+.;2,:

<AC:8< 4>4<30<B -4:2=;4

0:: 0:: B= 03D4@B8A4 B= 03D4@B8A4

/A> :OB=LHG HNGMR HNKM IIHBGM>= .I><B:E =OH<:M> .

IKH@K:F MK:BGL OHENGM>>KL MH L>KO> :L :=OH<:M>L ?HK :;NL>= :G= G>@E><M>= <ABE=K>G /AHNL:G=L H? <ABE=K>G <HF> MH MA> :MM>GMBHG H? %NO>GBE> HNKM >:<A R>:K :L : K>LNEM H? :;NL> HK G>@E><M /A>R A:O> <HFFBMM>= GH <KBF> ;NM ;><HF> OB<MBFL H? :G HO>K;NK=>G>= <ABE= P>E?:K> LRLM>F .

OHENGM>>KL :K> :IIHBGM>= ;R : CN=@> :G= >FIHP>K>= MH :=OH<:M> ?HK MA> ;>LM BGM>K>LM H? <ABE=K>G

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison tion begins on Wednes- Annual National Conday, July 28. vention,” said NNPA During the conven- President/CEO Dr. Bention, Ellison also will jamin F. Chavis, Jr. provide commentary on “Keith Ellison has his new book, Break the emerged as one of the Wheel: Ending the most effective and Cycle of Police Vio- courageous Attorney lence.

Generals in American “The National News- history,” Chavis said. paper Publishers Associ“We look forward to ation enthusiastically his speech on ‘Ending announces that Min- Police Violence in nesota Attorney General America’ before the Keith Ellison will national assembly of our address the NNPA 2023 Continued on page 5

tian Leadership Conference’s Citizenship Schools where he and King taught non-violent strategies to push the civil rights movement forward.

Most have pointed to Young’s strategic negotiation skills that led to President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In an exclusive interview with the Black Press at his illustrious office in Atlanta, the 91-year-old icon said he also believes some of the damage done by the modern Republican Party, particularly to African Americans, is a result of individuals seeking their own advantage.

“We got to 1969, after Dr. King’s death, Continued on page 5

The Nashville PRiDe Quick Reference

$=< &@=58B

NAShviLLe P*R*i*D*e Staff and Afillates Administration Publisher: Meekahl Davis, CEO Advertising Sales: Scott Davis Attorney: Karen Davis

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent The failure of lawmakers to get a current civil rights bill, the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, and an unbiased voting measure through Congress can be traced back to the obvious, including: the power grab made by Conservatives; and the not-so-obvious: the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young, a civil rights icon and two-term Atlanta mayor, said Republicans stacking the courts and appointing GOPfriendly federal judges have cut into the progress he and others made during the civil rights era.

Along with King,

$=< &@=58B /A> :OB=LHG HNGMR HNKM IIHBGM>= .I><B:E =OH<:M> .

IKH@K:F MK:BGL OHENGM>>KL MH L>KO> :L :=OH<:M>L ?HK :;NL>= :G= G>@E><M>= <ABE=K>G /AHNL:G=L H? <ABE=K>G <HF> MH MA> :MM>GMBHG H? %NO>GBE> HNKM >:<A R>:K :L : K>LNEM H? :;NL> HK G>@E><M /A>R A:O> <HFFBMM>= GH <KBF> ;NM ;><HF> OB<MBFL H? :G HO>K;NK=>G>= <ABE= P>E?:K> LRLM>F .

OHENGM>>KL :K> :IIHBGM>= ;R : CN=@> :G= >FIHP>K>= MH :=OH<:M> ?HK MA> ;>LM BGM>K>LM H? <ABE=K>G . MK:BGBG@ BL ?K>> PBMA FHKGBG@ :G= >O>GBG@ <E:LL>L H??>K>= HGM:<M . :M OBLBM PPP <:L: G:LAOBEE> HK@

HK

&0B4@<8BG

() )&

! () $ *-%(!

T >KMB?B>= ) />LMBG@ T 'HP>LM +KB<> "N:K:GM>> T .:F> :R IIHBGMF>GML T HG?B=>GMB:E T ->LNEML =FBLLB;E> BG HNKM T ?M>K #HNKL *G LBM> O:BE:;E> T /PH ):LAOBEE> 'H<:MBHGL ELH LI><B:EBSBG@ BG KN@ E<HAHE M>LMBG@ :G= */ +ARLB<:EL ?HK $G=BOB=N:EL :G= HFI:GB>L

"" *%

/

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

June 2, 2023

Local

Cancer… My Journey in time Remember the sick and shut-in

by Wanda Clay “What a difference three years can make,” recalls Rev. Enoch Fuzz as he reflects on just how many doctor visits he has made over the course of his ‘journey,’ following a diagnosis of stage four lung cancer three years ago.

“I just realized that I visited a doctor's office at least twice a week until last month.” Now his visits are currently once every six weeks.

Rev. Fuzz continues to progressively heal.

However,looking back, he recalls the continuous pain and difficulties associated with being ill. He says that he has learned how difficult it is to be sick long-term.

“It’s not like three or four days with the flu or a bad cold.”

This journey truly demonstrates the difference in not feeling well for a few days verses a daily struggle that is constant. It is constant in how it changes from one ail-

Rev. Enoch Fuzz ment to another, from one day to the next.

Fuzz’s healing is tremendously improved but still there are things that must be handled with special care.

“Breathing is tedious and short walks can be disastrous, especially uphill,” said Rev. Fuzz. “By the grace of God and the many prayers from all over the world, I'm definitely on a good path to health. I’m mindful not to expect complete recovery, but I'll adjust to be always thoughtful of those many more people who are worse

off than me.”

While he is consistently concerned with others, he asks that we: “Be kind to people who are sick. Try to empathize. There's one thing I've learned and that's how difficult it is to be sick long-term.”

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

Rev. Fuzz notes that sickness is big business in America. Hospitals are packed with people who have no support group at all. “I hope these articles remind us to remember the sick and shut in,” he said.

“Take time to reach out to a sick friend, family member or a stranger.

But by the grace of God, there go I.” Pray, share and be encouraged by the postings and weekly readings of ‘Cancer: My Journey in Time.’

Page 3

Nashville PRIDE

Neighbor 2 Neighbor honors Sen. Brenda Gilmore with Lifetime Achievement Award Neighbor 2 Neighbor will honor Sen. Brenda Gilmore at a breakfast reception on Tuesday, June 27 for her significant and sustained efforts to create safer, healthier, and more vibrant neighborhoods throughout her 30 years of public service. The event, a fundraiser for Neighbor 2 Neighbor, will be held at the Centennial Arts Center beginning at 7:30 am.

Advance registration is required.

Sen. Gilmore started her political career serving on the Metro Nashville Council from 1999 to 2007. In 2006, Gilmore challenged and defeated an incumbent for a state House seat.

She held the post until 2018 when she was elected to the upper chamber. In 2022, Sen. Gilmore retired from the Senate.

Longtime neighborleader, Gina hood Coleman, remembers how then well Councilwoman Brenda

Gilmore worked with her and her neighbors to make the Haynes Park neighborhood a safer place to live. Gina's neighborhood was filled with drug dealers and other criminal activity.

As soon as Gina reached Councilwoman out, Gilmore went to work with Gina and her neighbors to find viable solutions. Over the next few years, the neighborhood saw a significant reduction in crime and the drug houses were closed.

"This would not have happened without Sen. Gilmore's strong support and advocacy on our behalf," Gina said.

Established to honor N2N co-founder, Billy Fields, the lifetime award achievement

Sen. Brenda Gilmore annually recognizes a Nashvillian who has made a significant and sustained effort throughout their career to preserve and improve local neighborhoods.

Tickets are $100 per person ($50 for students and young adults). For more details and to purchase your ticket, visit: <support.n2n.solutions/r eception>.

ESTATE SALES/ VEHICLES/REAL ESTATE

Have you thought about an auction?

“Most money in the shortest time” 1-877-292-6611 or 1-615-292-6619 AUTO AUCTIONS, INC. LIC #42

Tenn. school districts urged to focus on mental health support policies," Forte said.

"Those are policies such as suspension and expulsion."

Forte emphasized they would like to see more schools focused on bringing in trained adults who will have a strong healthy relationship with students. She added it is also important for Tennessee students to have access to psychologists, counselors and social workers to help foster social, emotional and academic development.

In 2022, Tennessee had close to one million K-12 students enrolled in nearly 1,906 schools in 148 school districts. (photo courtesy of WavebreakMediaMicro/AdobeStock) An education advocacy group wants school districts in Tennessee and across the country to focus on critical mental health support.

Tennessee ranked 41st in the country when it comes to a higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care for youth.

Denise Forte, president/CEO of The Education Trust, said in the Volunteer State the top concern for parents, communities and teachers is school safety and students' mental health.

She explained as a result of the pandemic, they have seen the rate of

students' mental health issues increase.

"In states like Tennessee, students have had a really hard time accessing mentalhealth services," Forte said. "One of the things that we also know is that student rates of suicide are going up. Terrible stats there say that one in five has seriously considered suicide, and one in 10 has actually attempted suicide."

Forte argued the statistics prove more work needs to be done. Forte added her group is pleased the federal government has invested money in supporting

CRD

students' mental health, but pointed out it is important to know if states and school districts are using those funds effectively. he Education Trust in Tennessee urges school districts to support the social, emotional, academic development and mental-health support of all students more effectively.

"That means everything from making sure students feel a sense of belonging, to they have strong social, emotional supports in the classroom, to even such things as getting rid of exclusionary discipline

Land + Property Consultants

• Agency • Land Sales Strategic Land • Zoning Planning

615-714-1543

OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING.

Nashville Electric Service actively seeks qualified small, TN service-disabled veteran, minority and women-owned businesses as vendors. Visit nespower.com to register for My Vendor Account and view open bid opportunities.

For additional information, contact NES Supplier Diversity staff at 615-747-3821 or ProcurementAssistance@nespower.com.

1214 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37246

June 2, 2023 Editorials www.pridepublishinggroup.com Legal loopholes allow criminal activity to flourish Page 4

by William T. Robinson, Jr. It is without question that the three branches of the government (legislative, judicial, and executive) are full of loopholes and improprieties allowing unjust laws to continue to be on the books, as well as ignoring or refusing to regulate laws that could help eliminate many existing societal problems. These loopholes and flaws are more evident as lawmakers and high profile governmental representatives openly flaunt misconduct, malfeasance, and blatant disrespect that would be immediate grounds for dismissal or imprisonment for the average civilian. In fact, it would be easy to argue that many of our laws have a propensity to favor the criminal over

Nashville PRIDE

the victim, making one suspect these loopholes could be by design.

Today’s ‘legal’ climate leads one to question the credibility of our judicial, legislative and executive branches of government. But an even bigger question concerns why legislators are so eager to make new laws.

Perhaps we should revamp the judicial system and eliminate laws and loopholes that impair justice, equality, and fairness. It leads one to believe that many lawmakers don’t respect the ability of their constituents to harbor common sense. seem Lawmakers engrossed in enacting legislation claiming it will help make our lives better. But perhaps the answer may be in revisiting the laws on the

books and correcting and eliminating unjust, biased laws and practices that we all know are flawed and unfair.

Correcting the wrongs in our laws and practices should be a priority for our lawmakers. But this is overlooked, maybe because many of our lawmakers are looking to use these flaws and loopholes to help themselves or questionably corrupt individuals and companies they represent or serve.

The public is not without blame in allowing the abuse of loopholes and flaws to go unchecked. We have been conditioned to believe that all laws are for our best interest, and as law abiding citizens, we should adhere to even unfair laws. Too many times, we elect

War in Ukraine rages as American allies continue to add money to Russian coffers

by Hamil R. Harris News Analysis (TriceEdneyWire.com) – When Russia invaded President Ukraine, Biden said that the impact of such aggression would be met with international sanctions so severe that it would cripple Vladimir Putin and his generals.

But 18 months later, Russia continues to get millions from multinational corporations, an of moral example hypocrisy that renews an old debate about how effective economic sanctions have been and what can be done to punish or shame companies that refuse to say ‘no’ to Russia's trading partners.

As the war in Ukraine rages, most Americans believe more than mere reputational damage should come to those who continue to do business with Russia.

America, as usual, is doing more than its part in supplying aid to even as Ukraine, American citizens languish in food lines.

Many are growing weary and believe America must take a stand when requiring that allies bear their fair share of the responsibility and not violate the spirit of the sanctions.

One example of why this is necessary is the behavior of commodities traders like Niels Troost, a Dutch oil trader and

Hamil Harris founder and owner at Paramount Energy & Commodities SA, a Switzerland-based commodities trading firm.

Even though the U.S. and other Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russia's oil and gas sector, Troost's company continued to trade with Russian companies.

As a result, observers are keen to examine the possible engagement with or around U.S. sanctions.

As reported by The Financial Times, Troost has spoken publicly about the importance of global food security. Yet his company's actions show they are willing to put profit above everything else, including the suffering of people in Ukraine, by buying oil from Russia above the sanctioned price.

To continue trade with Russia despite the sanctions, Paramount Energy & Commodities SA established a new company in Dubai called

Paramount Energy & Commodities DMCC. With practically the same name as the original company, global observers are interested in understanding if this move allowed them to continue to profit from Russian oil while sidestepping the sanctions.

It has been widely reported that other Swiss-based companies continue to support Russia because, according to the country's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, "legally independent subsidiaries" of Swiss companies are not bound by Swiss sanctions. The European Union, more strident in its sanctions, does not allow subsidiaries to circumvent the sanctions with creative business structuring.

The behavior of companies that flaunt the sanctions highlights the need for stronger measures against those who continue to support aggression Russia's Ukraine. against America cannot be left holding the bag and the responsibility of policing the bad guys of the world. For those not paying attention, the Russians are, without question, the bad actors.

America's allies, particularly the Swiss, must take a tougher stance against companies that violate the spirit of the sanctions and continue to prop up Russia.

Climate in crisis

unethical lawmakers catering to groups harboring discriminatory, racial, or unjust motives.

And so called good people acquiesce and say nothing.

Historically, our government’s role in perpetuating and supporting White supremacy has helped institutionalize these loopholes socially, politically, and economically. The loopholes (for the most part) favor White men found taking up most of the powerful and influential roles in our three branches of government.

As it stand now, can we honestly say our laws allow everyone due process? You answer this question: How fair is it when five people can commit the same identical crime and get five outcomes, different

depending on their race, social status, or who they know? Every day there are reminders of the loopholes and flaws found in our three branches of government.

This country can never be the country it professes to be until we honestly do what we all know is right and amend the wrongs so flagrantly exhibited in our system.

Unfortunately, it will not come about from within, but from the masses relentlessly demanding reform. The old vanguard who perpetuated many of these loopholes and who are now guarding and protecting them need to be voted out if this country is to redeem itself.

Call me foolish, but I honestly believe the majority of the country wants a government

William T. Robinson, Jr. where honesty, integrity, and equality are prime virtues needed to make this a better nation where everyone feels valued and appreciated—not just criminals trying to find loopholes to avert justice. As it stands now, too many of our public servers and companies reek with criminal improprieties. They are running amuck, literally laughing at us while taking advantage of the loopholes in our flawed system.

Under controlled coal-fired power plants still threaten Americans’ health

by Ben Jealous (TriceEdneyWire.com ) – Tatum is an East Texas town of about 1,300 people, closer to Shreveport than Dallas. It’s on the north shore of Martin Lake.

Across the water sits a coal-fired power plant named after the lake that happens to be the single largest sulfur dioxide polluter in the United States.

Goree, Paulette who has lived in the area her entire life, gets a daily reminder of the Martin Lake Power Plant. “I use a personal air monitor every day to figure out if I should spend much time outdoors.”

She thinks the air pollution contributed to the deaths of family members and the respiratory problems she and her husband have.

A Sierra Club report estimated that, in the two counties surrounding Tatum, coal plant pollution contributes to two premature deaths every year.

That’s a fraction of the 154 people who die annually in part due to what's spewed out of Martin Lake’s smokestacks, according to Clean Air Task Force.

It’s why Paulette and other volunteers across the United States are fighting for the federal government to enforce clean air standards already on the books and to strengthen those requirements to reflect what technology can do now to make the air breathable again.

“It just isn’t right, and the EPA needs to

do better,” she said.

“It’s too late for me and my generation, but we need to improve the air for our younger generations.”

It’s a fight I’ve been part of for more than a decade, one that led me to launch the Climate Justice Program at the NAACP. It’s still true that these coal powered killers and other industrial polluters more often than not sit in communities of color and where residents have the least economic power.

Thankfully, we’ve been able to get hundreds of those power plants retired.

The unmistakable injustice is that nearly two thirds of the remaining coal-fired power plants in this country could and would have to address their deadly pollution if we were enforcing and strengthening the Clean Air Act, as the Sierra Club’s report showed.

Effective pollution control technology exists. But instead of taking on the expense of controlling their damage, plants are forcing Americans to bear higher healthcare costs from coal pollution.

We should no longer subsidize coal generation, and the electric bills of some Americans, with the lungs of Americans who live in Tatum or Cheshire, Ohio, or New Madrid, Missouri—anywhere the remaining 158 coal plants operate.

And we don’t have

Ben Jealous to. The cost of coal power generation is rising while the cost of electricity from renewable solar and wind farms is falling steadily. Only one coal plant nationally operates for less than a clean energy alternative that could replace it. It’s one reason why the historic clean economy funding that President Biden and Congress approved in 2021 and 2022 is vital. We have the money to put an end to coal power once and for all.

There are 154 people who live downwind of Martin Lake who can’t afford a delay of another year.

And 154 the year after that. For them it’s a matter of life and death. We have proven ways to make the air cleaner and we have a law that demands that.

We need to act now.

(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.)

structural racism, the America report titled, legacy of enslavement ‘Democracy in Peril: and socioeconomic fac- Confronting the Threat tors like redlining, segre- Within,’ where ACORE, gation, and poverty, our nation’s foremost without considering that experts on environmenclimate change is likely tal justice, energy policy, to exacerbate these exist- renewable energy, and ing racial disparities. civil rights, examine the The most severe past and present impacts harms from climate of fossil fuel and other change fall dispropor- pollution on Black, tionately upon under- Brown, and underserved Energy Jobs Training renewable energy proj- ues to loom, we can no longer afford to ignore it. served communities who communities, and illus- Program where they uti- ect.

by Marc H. Morial The National Urban We have an opportunity (TriceEdneyWire.com) are least able to prepare trate a realistic path for- lize classroom trainings – “There’s one issue that for, and recover from, ward toward realizing a and hands-on lab activi- League wants to see to realize the clean enerwill define the contours heat waves, poor air truly just and equitable ties to prepare students Black businesses and gy transition in a way for work in the solar workers participate in that creates a more incluof this century more dra- quality, flooding, and clean energy future.

This future is defined industry. They also con- the economic opportuni- sive and equitable econmatically than any other, other impacts. As a American-made duct a Solar Sales and ty that renewable energy omy, but we need to and that is the urgent result, they are at higher by Finance course that cov- investments are creating. implement bold and threat of a changing cli- risk of climate-related renewable energy.

With the billions of ers the most critical con- As the eminent threats of innovative ideas to be mate” – Barack Obama, health issues including 44th president of the respiratory and cardio- dollars American com- cepts in evaluating a climate change contin- part of it. vascular disease, heat panies plan to invest in United States. new wind, solar and batWhen Hurricane stroke, cancer.

Climate change and tery storage projects, this Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, the city's Black racism are arguably two will greatly improve air neighborhoods bore the of the biggest challenges and water quality, lower brunt of the storm. of the 21st Century, electrical bills, and creTwelve years later, the which proves that this ate new career opportuBlack districts of problem is systemic. nities—all factors that Houston were devastat- When racism is sys- will greatly improve the ed by the full force of temic, it can operate quality of life of the Hurricane Harvey. In without obvious intent. nation’s most underboth cases, these natural So, how does one served communities.

The National Urban disasters exacerbated address systemic probLeague has taken its own issues in neighborhoods lems?

With systemic and steps to prepare Black that were already strugcommunities for a gling. For years, com- equitable solutions.

In April, the National renewable future. Our munities of color have had to struggle through Urban League released Chicago Urban League the everlasting effects of its 47th State of Black affiliate created a Solar The editorials on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers or staff of this newspaper.

Subscribe to the PuRuiuDue Call Today!

(615) 292-9150

June 2, 2023

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

Continuations

Page 5

Nashville PRIDE

Neighborhood... from page 1

NAACP chair... from page 1

suburban development for Nashville’s Black population.

Leaders within Nashville’s African American communities noted this development as a sign of progress, calling it the “clean outskirts of the city.” They believed the private financial backing of the development showed how African Americans had “an appreciation for finer living conditions the same as other racial groups.”

Homes were advertised as “all-electric,” “styled for easy, modern living,” and noted as being exclusively built for African Americans.

Developers placed since expired deed restrictions on all lots, disallowing “noxious or offensive operations,” poultry and livestock, trailers and barns and requiring all homes to be connected to the water main supply. This ensured that neighborhood the

“It is advising people who are coming into the state or who are thinking about coming into the state.”

The nation’s oldest civil rights organization issued the advisory on May 20 following Gov. Ron DeSantis signing a bill that blocked public colleges from using federal or state money on diversity programs.

Russell repudiated any claim that DeSantis’ latest attack on diversity was the last straw that caused the advisory.

He said it was a culmination of DeSantis and Florida’s GOP-controlled legislature’s overt attempts to erase Black history, the continued attacks on the LGBTQ community, and the banning of works by Black and minority authors and artists.

Russell also said the national organization agreed with the advisory following the NAACP’s state conference call for such action. “It comes from the unrelenting assault on fundamental freedoms from the governor and his legislative body,” the NAACP said.

NAACP President/ CEO Derrick Johnson said: “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.”

“Before traveling to

embodied the lifestyle that the burgeoning Black upper class desired for their families, one that was not available to them in established neighborhoods of segregated Nashville.

Despite a series of racially-motivated cross-burning incidents in October 1957, Haynes Heights remained praised as a symbol of Black prosperity in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, neighborhood residents and coalitions successfully fought against proposed industrial development and a commercial community center would have that adversely impacted the district.

Later years saw battles against a proposed landfill, apartment complexes, a produce warehouse, and potential disfrom a placement planned highway project that was ultimately rerouted. These hard-won

victories have protected the architectural and historic integrity of a neighborhood created as a middle- to upper-class suburban oasis for Black Nashvillians. Many homes represent the popular, mid-century Ranch style, including traditional, transitional, and split-level forms with a wide variety of architectural features and materials.

According to historic zoning officials: “Property owners were instrumental in obtaining this protection of their history with a historic zoning overlay and accomplished the task during COVID, just as they have been the key force to prevent re-zonings over the year that would likely have resulted in the loss of this important The neighborhood.

MHZC is proud to honor the association’s many efforts towards preserving their story and their neighborhood.”

U.S. homeowners... from page 1 The rise in mortgage interest rates is one factor that contributes to the financial strain homeowners experience.

At the pandemic’s beginning, rates hit historic lows but surged past 7% in 2023, reaching the highest levels since 2002.

While rates have cooled slightly since early 2023, new homeowners still face significantly higher monthly mortgage payments compared to those who locked in lower rates.

Combined with skyrocketing inflation and stagnant wages, Americans now owe trillions more than before the pandemic.

The higher housing costs are eating into savings, spending, and emergency funds.

The impact of rising housing costs is not limited to homeowners alone. Renters also bear the brunt of this trend, as escalating housing expenses increase rental rates.

It means that renters and homeowners feel financially strapped by growing housing costs.

The study sheds light on the long standing personal finance guideline known as the ‘30%’ rule.

This rule advises individuals to ensure

that their housing expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, and utilities, do not exceed 30% of their monthly income.

However, with the current housing affordability challenges, many individuals need help to abide by this rule.

The study also reveals a concerning trend.

From 2015 to 2019, the percentage of financially burdened homeowners in the United States decreased annually, dropping from 29.4% in 2015 to 26.5% in 2019.

However, the pandemic has begun to reverse these gains, with cities like Los Angeles and New York experiencing an upward trend in cash-strapped homeowners.

In Los Angeles, almost half of homeowners are considered ‘house poor,’ despite a four-percentage-point decrease between 2015 and 2019.

Similarly, in New York City, the percentage of house-poor homeowners increased to over 45% in 2021, up from 41.3% in 2019.

On the other hand, Miami bucked the trend, as the percentage of house-poor homeowners

dropped by two and a half points to 44.6% in 2021.

The Federal Reserve, faced with the uphill battle of fighting inflation, has raised interest rates monthly since March 2022.

Although the Fed does not directly set mortgage rates, its actions often influence home loan rates. However, there is now a glimmer of hope on the horizon as the central bank signals a potential break from the consecutive rate increases that have taken place over the past year.

As the housing affordability crisis deepens, policy makers and stakeholders must address the mounting challenges homeowners and renters face.

“It is imperative to find sustainable solutions that alleviate the burden of housing costs and promote financial stability for all Americans,” said District of Columbia realtor Piper Alford.

“It’s never ideal to spend more than 30% of your income on housing,” Alford said. “But today’s market, prices, inflation, and greed has caused many to find basic living unaffordable.”

Ambassador Young... from page 2 where everybody wanted to run for president.

Shirley Chisholm, Dick Gregory, and Eldridge Cleaver,” Young said.

“There must have been 20 Black folks running for president, not that they didn’t have the right to do so.”

Nearly 40 years before Barack Obama became the first Black U.S. President, Young said he realized an African American couldn’t win a presidential election.

“I wasn’t sure you could get elected to Congress,” Young said.

In Atlanta, however, the landscape differed from what was occurring nationally. In 1963, prominent civil rights advisor Leroy Johnson became the first Black person elected to the Georgia General Assembly since Reconstruction ended.

More than 10 years later, Maynard Jackson won the race for mayor of Atlanta, where he would serve three terms.

His third term came after Young had held the office for two terms.

Jackson’s vision turned the city’s airport into one of the biggest in the world, made Atlanta a global destination, and paved the way for the 1996 Olympic Games to take place in the city.

“We took over Atlanta little by little.

Finally, Maynard took over and ran for mayor, and when he came, he could do things like build the world’s busiest airports—or at least get the process started,” Young told NNPA Newswire. “We knew that after Dr. King died, there were too many people with too much ambition and too little humility.

“So, from 1968 when Dr. King was killed, and Bobby Kennedy was killed and, before them, Malcolm X was killed, people were getting killed, and people felt they had to do something to get out. People wanted to get killed.

“It wasn’t rational. It disrupted us from a tactical plan that we all had.”

That plan included ensuring fair-minded judges were seated on federal benches and on the Supreme Court.

“When I came to Georgia in 1954, I voted Republican,” Young said.

“Maynard Jackson’s grandfather (John Wesley Dobbs) told me if you vote for Democrats, and I liked [Adlai] Stevenson, but [Dobbs] told me that Stevenson is a Democrat and if he’s nominated then [Sens.]

Richard Russell and Theodore Bilbo would get to name the judges.

“However, if [Dw-

ight] Eisenhower is elected president, they won’t have any White Republicans down there, which would force them to come to us and ask, who are the White people you trust and respect that should be nominated for judge?

“We would tell them who we trusted and respected, and that’s who they’d pick, and that’s why we achieved in the South more than they did in the North.”

Offering proof of why that strategy worked, Young said at the time that a Republican, Eisenhower, appointed all the judges.

“Because someone Black recommended the judge, every single case in the 1960s, and you can’t find a case solved in a courtroom where a Democrat had appointed a judge, we won,” he said.

“Those little things were important to the progress, and it made a big difference.

“Today, we’ve lost the right to appoint justices because we lost presidential elections.

Walter Mondale (1984) and Michael Dukakis (1988) lost important presidential elections.

As a result, Reagan got to appoint four judges to the U.S. Supreme Court, and George H.W. Bush appointed Clarence Thomas.”

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,” Johnson said.

However, Russell reiterated that the NAACP isn’t encouraging a ban in Florida.

“It [the travel advisory] is advising them to look at what’s going on in Florida to determine if this is a place that they want to come. If this is a place that they want to be a part of. It doesn’t say, don’t come. We’re not boycotting Florida.

Quite frankly, it’s exactly the opposite. We’re saying to think about it if you do come. If you’re coming to an entertainment center, come to an entertainment center that supports diversity and inclusion.

“Come to an entertainment center that’s willing to put its name out there as supporting all groups. We’re saying to corporate America to think about what they do. Think about their investors. Support diversity and inclusion, but don’t support policies that are regressive and create discrimination, or policies that foster discrimination.”

Russell added that the NAACP recently

met with about 40 partner organizations, many of whom have upcoming events in Florida.

“We’re saying to those organizations that they should come, but they should speak up.

They should speak up about these regressive policies,” Russell said.

Just as important, Russell said the NAACP wants everyone to know about public policies that might impact individuals wherever they visit.

“We want you to look at Florida’s adoption of permit-less carry no training with required. We’ve had people ask should Black folks bring guns to FloriRussell said. da,” “That’s not what we’re saying. We’re saying to take precautions. But the real thing is to start to question the political situation in Florida.

“They’ve got to get organized. That’s the only way to change these policies. Get involved in the political situation. It’s not just about the presidential campaign. It’s about elective offices across the state, from school boards to mayors, to governors.

“We are making sure we organize and that people are educated and registered and voting in every election.”

Rep. James Clyburn... from page 2 culled their reporting from public records, hundreds of pages of legal filings, and interviews with dozens of South Carolina lawmakers and political experts from both sides of the aisle.

“It’s troubling,” said Daniel Frasier, a longtime Democrat voter from Northeast Washington D.C. “And troubling is putting it mildly.

It tells me that any politician can be bought and sold, and it puts my vote in doubt next year,” said Frasier, who took in a Washington Nationals game with Steve Hamilton, who identified as Republican.

“That’s why my father told me a long time ago to really watch and consider which party you align yourself with,” Hamilton said. “I think

they all should represent the people honestly and be tough about it. But to make backdoor deals to secure your power and say to ‘heck with my party and my constituents’ sucks. But I expect that from Democrats.”

ProPublica spoke with Bakari Sellers, a former Democratic lawmaker who once served on a redistricting committee.

“There is a very unholy alliance between many Black legislators and their Republican counterparts in the redistricting process,” Sellers told the outlet.

He said Clyburn’s district “is probably one of the best examples.”

Moving that many Black voters into Clyburn’s district meant “we eliminate a chance to win” in

other districts.

“I’m not saying that we could win, but I’m saying we could be competitive, and people of color, those poor people, those individuals who have been crying out for so long, would have a voice,” Sellers said.

While Clyburn hasn’t said much publicly, a spokesperson acknowledged that the office had “engaged in discussions regarding the boundaries of the 6th Congressional District by responding to inquiries.”

“Any accusation that Congressman Clyburn in any way enabled or facilitated Republican gerrymandering that wouldn’t have otherwise occurred is fanciful,” Clyburn’s office said in a statement, calling the notion a “bizarre conspiracy theory.”

Keith ellison... from page 2 nation’s Black newspaper publishers, media industry executives, and community activists and leaders nationwide.”

Three years ago, the nation faced an awakening to its deep-seated racial problems after Floyd’s murder.

Former officer Derek Chauvin, who is White, was captured on video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes while the unarmed and compliant Black man pleaded for his life and called out for his mother.

Protests erupted

globally, and as local prosecutors appeared to drag their feet, Ellison stepped in, and prosecuted Chauvin and three other police officers involved in the incident.

Chauvin is serving a more than 20-year federal sentence, while his excolleagues Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane serve at least three years for their roles in Floyd’s death, including violating his civil rights.

Ellison recently told NPR he kept a diary about the officers’ trials.

He described how he

broke down in tears when he saw the video of Floyd’s murder for the first time.

“For me, it was a gut check moment, one of those moments where you ask yourself, ‘What am I about and what am I in this for?’” Ellison said.

“And my answer had to be we’re going to do anything we can to try to make sure that the outcome is fair, just, and right.”

For more information on NNPA’s convention, visit <www.nnpaevents.com>.

Avian Glen Vineyard CURBSIDE PICKUP AND DELIVERY NOW AVAILABLE! CALL 615-984-4344 FOR MORE INFORMATION

3545 Almaville Rd, Smyrna, TN 37167 Open 7 days a week, Noon till 8 www.avianglenwinery.com

Page 6

Nashville PRIDE

Pastor, Pew, & Pulpit www.pridepublishinggroup.com

Faith of A Mustard Seed

by Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div. Musing this week on Facebook.

5/29/23 My Post today is a Testimony with my commitment to share my “Howard Thurman Journal” in this Space in Honor of the ITC Class of 2023.

In 1992 when I left Bennett College, I spent a year as Associate to Central Church, Atlanta. I was appointed to the North Georgia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and rode to The 1993 BOM Retreat with the late Cornelius Henderson, a District Superintendent at that moment in time.

The subject turned to Howard Thurman and he asked me if he could borrow my Journal.

Not long after I put it in his hands, my Dean, Major Jones called and asked where it was. He told me that I should not let the sun go down on that day without retrieving it, AND, he said, “Never let it out of your hands again.”

In 2011 I received this email for what the Vanderbilt Divinity School called “The Search for Common Ground in a Post 9/11 World: Howard Thurman and Human Relatedness”. It was here that I realized that in a room full of Divinity Scholars, including several who had done and were in process of Dissertations on Howard Thurman, I was the only person in the room who knew Howard Thurman.

But afterwards as they waited their turns to flip through my Journal, I listened while some identified pieces that were autographed ORIGINALS stating that they had only seen 3rd, 4th and 5th generation copies of. It was revealed in that space that this journal that I

Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div. have kept, not letting it out of my hands nor sight is now… “A Holy Grail.”

PS And to encourage you as this “Brand new generation of ITC Masters of Divinity”: When YOU BE in Campus Ministry, and you working REAL HARD to cause The HOLY SPIRIT to descend upon the Chapel… and then… IT COMES and fills the House!

5/30/23 Dr. Thurman’s one and only requirement made on the Ten of us was: “It is expected that each participant will keep a log of his/her reflections and reactions to the daily experience.” This grew into a “Journal” for me… into a ‘holy grail’.

What was for so many years the ‘First Page’ is the pictures I took on the very first time I came to know even WHO he was, September 1978 in Chapel. I began by calling it “The First Encounter (of The Third Kind)”.

What is Now ‘The First Page’ is from the Tennessee A.&I. State College Bulletin when he delivered the Commencement Address to the c/o ‘38. AND Adam Clayton Powell delivered the Baccalaureate!

I must tell you here that Dr. Pugh who was stalking me about walking out on his ‘Psychological Exams’ on entrance, walked up on

me coming out of class at Graduation time c/o ‘80 when Dr. Thurman returned to deliver the Commencement Address at ITC. Had there been two doors Dr. Pugh would not have caught me, but I faced him and he asked me to walk with him.

“You are not the person I thought you were,” he said first. Then, that he has spent time with Dr. Thurman the day before at Spelman’s Guest House after he delivered the Baccalaureate there. He said that Dr. Thurman sent a message for me to come find him at Spelman.

When I got there he was not there.

So I devised my plan to arrive at Commencement very early and get a corner front row seat at the Morehouse MLK Chapel.

When I sat down I looked behind the far curtain and there he was… in his robe deep in meditation. I guess I was the only one bold enough to walk up on him and my spirit leaped as I stood frozen and he opened his eyes, smiled and said “give an account for yourself.” He told me that “he had a ‘Birddog’ on me and that I would never get away from him.” He said “before I slept that night I needed to write him a letter stating every little thing that I was doing, and everything I thought I was big enough to do.”

He told me that “he expected to find my letter in his mailbox by the time he got back to San Francisco.”

In 2010 I was doing a research project in TSU’s Archives and came across the 1938 Bulletin, now (this ‘Birddog’ as I immediately thought upon finding it) is “First Place in My Journal”.

By email: myfathersmansionpress@ gmail.com

expressions of Faith Do You Want The Gift?

by Lady Elder Brandy Moore-Lee, Guest minister In today’s world, we must be willing to evaluate the challenges facing our society. The greatest topic of discussion in society today concerns millennials. Millennials consist of individuals born between 19811996. This means that anyone between the ages of 27 and 42 are considered to be millennials in the year of 2023.

Millennials are interested in sustainability, social justice, economic equality, technology, and giving back to communities. Yet they face the challenges of technology (over dependence and addiction), unemployment, debt, and mental health. Millennials are the largest generation in the U.S., 85-90 million people strong—and are also the most highly educated. But according to the U.S Census 40% of unemployed workers are millennials. They have the highest records of anxiety, stress and depression. Still, they are obsessed with success.

No one generation has experienced the magnitude of multiple events as they have: multiple recessions, pandemics, stock market failures, education transitions, technology advancements, wars, inflations, social injustice, along with new territories of spiritual forces coming against the word of God. How do we respond to such challenges and issues facing the average millennial woman and man looking for something tangible, life changing, and priceless?

The best answer to these

questions is the grace of God. Grace is the unmerited favor of God, a spontaneous gift from God to His people. Grace grants you a new life without condemnation from God. Millennials are focusing on the statistics and obsession of being successful, but we must accept God’s grace!

Society has helped to normalize anxiety and stress, and that has clouded our minds making it difficult to imagine a journey with God in faith.

Can you be like the Bible’s Peter, Esther, Hannah, people of faith and favor with God? Through the significance and teachings of grace, we can re-establish the hearts of millennials to enter into the blessings of God and the assembling of the saints.

Grace is the one thing that millennials cannot argue with or try to find reason to.

Grace is the most simplest thing to explain.

It is a gift!

Based on the word of God from James 4:6-10, we have the instructions to obtain grace and be granted a new life in Christ as a people of favor!

“You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. Or do you think it’s without reason that the scripture says: ‘The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely?’ But he gives greater grace.

Therefore, he says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the hum-

Lady Elder Brandy Moore-Lee ble. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you,” James 4:4-10, CSB. Grace is offered to all but it is only given to the humble. Become humble and die to your pride.

Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil and draw near to God, as He draws even closer to you.

Cleanse your hands from all wickedness and sin, and purify your heart from all bitterness and pain. Mourn the loss of the joys of this world, and turn to the joy of the Lord. As you follow these steps, God exalts you with favor.

As we desensitize ourselves from the things of this world today, let us be like Christ, our greatest example. As we humble our humanness and become obedient unto the Spirit of God, we have the great opportunity of being granted unspeakable joy from God’s Grace. Do you want the gift?

June 2, 2023

Faithful Utterances Preaching but not practicing

by Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew I grew up in the church. I was blessed to have parents and grandparents who made it a point to make sure that my faith was centered in my life. I remember going to Sunday School, church services, and going home to eat only to go back to church. I can’t forget going to choir rehearsals, the Easter and Christmas speeches, or Vacation Bible School. I even recall the competitions to recite scriptures and share Bible stories.

Although all of these experiences have shaped me, I desired to develop and cultivate a relationship with Jesus. Those influences were important in my decision but ultimately, I made a choice. I have had friends who grew up in church who are now either non-religious, agnostic, or atheist.

Despite all of the attempts of their parents and loved ones, they made a different decision. Many chose to go against the beliefs of their families because they saw hypocrisy.

I know a young man who left Christianity because of this. I didn’t stop befriending him and knew that the best way to influence him was to demonstrate my beliefs through my love and my actions. I’ve learned that no matter how we try to make people believe what we believe, the best way to convince others is to live what we believe. On April 20, the Texas senate passed two bills. Senate Bill (“SB”) 1515 mandates that public schools post in all classrooms a required version of the Ten Commandments.

Many people are outraged about the violation

of church versus state.

Others feel that it is not the role of schools to teach religion, especially considering that many students are not Christian. I tend to be one of those who feels that before we mandate this in schools, our leaders need to practice what they want to preach to others.

The Ten Commandments are Biblical principles relating to ethics and worship that play a fundamental role in Judaism and Christianity.

The Ten Commandments are in the Bible in Exodus 20:2–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21.

When I was a child, this was taught at home and church. I don’t think as Christians, we discuss the significance of each of these principles, but we expect others to uphold them. I’m not perfect. None of us are perfect. Yet, each of us needs to live out what we believe which is the greatest witness to others. Could it be that the world is in turmoil because so many of us are not living out what we say we believe?

We often see the Ten Commandments as something outdated, but the reality is that they apply to our lives today.

Each of these principles is about relationships.

They are about our relationship with God in making sure that God is first. They are about our relationships with others—our family, friends, and strangers. We don’t realize that murder isn’t always about killing someone with a weapon.

We kill people daily by assassinating their character and reputation through gossip.

We steal time from God and those we commit to but don’t fulfill.

We lie to others for votes

Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew and influence. We want what others have and will do anything to get it through manipulation and even violence.

People are discriminated against with harmful policies, yet you want to talk about God. You hate your brother that you see every day but talk about loving and worshipping God that you’ve never seen (1 John 4:20).

Desiring students to learn these Biblical truths cannot be legislated, especially when legislators don’t abide by them either.

“Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like,” James 1:22-24, MSG. Many of us walk away daily forgetting what we’ve been taught and yet, we expect others to get it. In our hopes for youth to have a sense of morality, we cannot expect them to become something that we as adults are not willing to live. It’s time to practice what we preach.

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

June 2, 2023

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

Leisure

CMA Fest celebrates 50 years of Fan Fairs in Nashville

Darius Rucker performs at a recent CMA Fest. (courtesy cmafest.com) length film. The docu- more.

by Cass Teague Fan Fair X hosts CMA Fest is the mentary covers the festilongest-running Country val’s beginnings as Fan indoor stages where you Music festival in the Fair in 1972, which drew can get up close and perworld. Country fans can 5,000 fans to Nashville’s sonal with your favorite choose from a variety of Municipal Auditorium, Country artists and ticketing options, from its move to the Tennessee celebrities at the CMA the complete CMA Fest State Fairgrounds in Close Up Stage. This four-day pass to attend- 1982, and then to down- stage hosts live, interacing the free outdoor, day- town Nashville in 2001, tive interviews, acoustic time stages without any which now draws 80,000 performances and more. tickets. CMA Fest hosts fans a day across four Discover new favorite artists at the Spotlight numerous stages filled days.

The 75-minute docu- Stage, where more than with throwback tunes, up and coming acts, today’s mentary features exclu- 50 emerging artists perbiggest stars and much sive interviews with (list- form acoustic sets and ed alphabetically): Bill host meet & greets. more.

Fan Fair X admission Your attendance Anderson, Kelsea Balallows CMA to give lerini, Dierks Bentley, is included with the back, as portion of pro- BRELAND, Brooks & CMA Fest Four-Night ceeds from CMA Fest Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Stadium Pass, so all you will support the CMA Luke Bryan, Shy Carter, have to do is show your Foundation and their Luke Combs, Vince Gill, mobile pass to gain entry. mission to shape the next Valierie Ellis Hawkins, Or, you can purchase a generation through high Wynonna Judd, Miranda four-day or single-day quality music education. Lambert, Patty Loveless, Fan Fair X ticket.

Babies and children Every child deserves the Reba McEntire, Mark opportunity to participate Miller, Craig Morgan, under age 2 are admitted in music, and your pass Lorrie Morgan, Dolly to Fan Fair X, and all or ticket can make a dif- Parton, Carly Pearce, CMA Fest locations, for Jeannie Seely, Blake free. For more informaference in a child’s life.

CMA Fest will cele- Shelton, Frankie Staton, tion about bringing brate its milestone 50th Thomas Rhett, Carrie babies and children Keith under age 2, visit anniversary June 8-11, Underwood, 2023, in downtown Urban, Lainey Wilson, CMAfest.com/FAQs. All daytime, outdoor Nashville. ABC will air Trisha Yearwood and stages, plus Broadway its annual “CMA Fest” Chris Young.

Located inside Music and Fan Alley (which network primetime special later this summer. City Center on Level 3, open at 10AM daily), are The date was unavailable Fan Fair X is where you free and open to the at press time. An original truly live the Ultimate public.

Plus, participate in documentary film that Country Music Fan tells the story of the Experience – all in the games, activities, giveworld’s largest and relief of air conditioning. aways and more on site everything from CMA Fest’s official longest-running country Discover music festival debuts on from indoor stages with partners. Learn more Hulu Wednesday, July 5. acoustic performances about each of CMA stages on “CMA Fest: 50 Years and interviews, games, Fest’s of Fan Fair” marks shopping, comfortable the official website: CMA’s first feature- seating and so much https://cmafest.com/

2023 Periscope Class announced

The 2023 Class of Periscope Artist Entrepreneur Training.

by Cass Teague talented, diverse artists Ramon Dawson (he/him) The Arts & Business from a variety of disci- - Visual Art; Lisa JenCouncil of Greater plines who all demon- nings (she/her) - Visual Nashville has announced strate a high potential for Art; Martha Morales the selection of the 2023 business success in their Purucker (she/her) - Visuclass of Periscope: Artist creative endeavors,” said al Art; Princella Smith Entrepreneur Training Jonathan Harwell-Dye, (she/her) - Film/Televi(Periscope Nashville), an director of programs for sion, Literary Arts; Renea annual business develop- the Arts & Business Weston (she/her) – ment intensive that Council. “They are also Music; Sam Drapeaux empowers working artists the tenth Nashville-based (they/them) - Visual Art; to see their creative prac- cohort, marking a decade Sharita Henderson tice through an entrepre- of ABC helping artists by (she/her) - Visual Art; neurial lens. This year treating them as the small Stephanie Graves they are celebrating business owners they are, (she/her) - Visual Art; Periscope Nashville’s and by equipping them Susan Thornton (she /her) 10th year of creative with the entrepreneurial - Jewelry/ Metals; Thalia entrepreneurship. This skills to build successful Ewing (she/her) – Music; year’s class consists of 25 businesses from their Tree Lily Butcher artists working in an art.” (she/her) - Visual Art; and array of disciplines The 2023 Class of Yamil Conga (he/him) – including visual art, fash- Periscope Nashville con- Music. ion, music, jewelry, and sist of the following The Arts & Business more. artists (with their pro- Council of Greater Artists are chosen for nouns) and their disci- Nashville leverages and Periscope Nashville plines, alphabetically by unites the unique through a competitive first name: Alexa Lipman resources of the arts and application process and (she/her) - Visual Art; business communities to scored by a panel of com- Ariel Bui (she/her) – create a thriving, sustainmunity reviewers that Music; Asia Pyron able creative culture in includes leading artists, (she/her) – Dance; Beth Nashville. They accomcurators, musicians, and Barnard (she/her) - Visual plish this through six creative entrepreneurs in Art, Sculpture; Brooke main programs: EducaNashville’s arts, culture Hoffert (they/them) - tion for the Creative and business sectors. Public Art/Creative Community, Volunteer Selected artists partici- Placemaking, Visual Art, Lawyers & Professionals pate in eight weeks of Curatorial Arts; Bryson for the Arts, Periscope: entrepreneurial training, Finney (he/him) – Music; Artist Entrepreneur followed by six months Cassy Laessig (she/her) - Training, Arts Board of individualized mentor- Visual Art; Dalia Garcia Matching, Fiscal Sponship by high-caliber busi- (she/her) - Visual Art; sorship, and Creative ness mentors. The pro- Darius Montgomery Advantage, among many gram culminates at the (he/him) - Fashion/Tex- other resources and annual Periscope Pitch + tiles, Visual Art; Gina opportunities.

Learn Artist Entrepreneur Sicilia (she/her) - Music, more about the Arts & Showcase on September Culinary Art; Grace Chee Business Council at: 13, 2023, where artist (she/her) - Visual Art; www.abcnashville.org or entrepreneurs unveil their Kayleigh Walder (she/ contact 615-460-8274. creative businesses to the her) - Public Art/Creative Learn more about community.

Placemaking, Visual Art; The Periscope: Artist “This year’s class of Kristin Wiens Keyes Entrepreneur Training Periscope artist entrepre- (she/her), Public Art/Cre- at: www.abcnashville. neurs is comprised of 25 ative Placemaking; Leroy org/periscope.

Nashville PRIDE

Page 7

The Little Mermaid

by Dwight Brown, Film critic for News Wire, NNPA and DwightBrownInk.com (***1/2) Romantic and social drama ignite this ode to love, tolerance and acceptance.

“He’s a human!” Bellows Triton (Javier Bardem), an underwater sea god, who mistrusts those who live on land. “That doesn’t make him our enemy,” exclaims Ariel (Halle Bailey), his mermaid daughter as she defends her love for a prince who is a mortal.

“Our worlds were never meant to be together!” says Queen Selina (Noma Dumez-weni) to her open-minded son Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King).

He responds to her phobia affirming his liking for merpeople and the need for their kingdom to be progressive: “I’m trying to reach out to other cultures, so we don’t get left behind.”

The characters, dialogue and narrative are extensions of Disney’s brand, which champions love and inclusion, as opposed to fear and exclusion.

And so, this liveaction adaptation, of the 1989 animated Oscarwinning film, dives deep into current culture wars.

It encourages audiences to be accepting of people who are different from the ones they know. A fitting epilogue to Disney’s 1960s theme ‘It’s a Small World After All.’ Ariel is an 18-yearold mermaid who lives somewhere under the Caribbean sea with her many sisters and widowed father King Triton.

She roams around the local waters with her fishy sidekick Flounder (Jason Trembly, Room), a flighty, dizzy seabird named Scuttle (Awkwafina) and a Jamaican crab named Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), who is an advisor and a spy for her father.

Up above, a ship in a storm is wrecked by winds and waves. A gallant fellow, Prince Eric, is thrown overboard. Ariel saves his life and brings him ashore. He is semiconscious but able to feel her presence and hear her bewitching singing.

He is taken, mesmerized and haunted by her beauty and voice. Ariel is smitten too. So much so that she makes a deal with her evil Aunt Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), a sea witch. She can become a human with legs, visit the surface land and pursue the one she loves, Prince Eric. But it’s an agreement that comes with poisonous tentacles attached from her cunning, duplicitous, octopus-looking auntie.

Watch out!

Director Rob Marshall (Chicago) and the film’s producers have pulled together a stellar tech crew that makes the “merpeople’s” swimming as thrilling as Superman flying. Speedy, graceful and mercurial movements that capture the eye. Also, the pastel colors in Ariel’s fins are captivating and watching her swim is as thrilling as viewing Avatars in Avatar. Seamless VFX and SFX technology is on display.

Anyone connected to the visuals should be proud: cinematographer Dione Beebe, production designer John Myhre, art director Lauren BriggsMiller, costume designer Colleen Atwood and set decorators Diana Samuila and Gordon Sim. Alan Menken’s original songs and music from the animated film hold up well. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a clever, catchy rap tune for Scuttle, called ‘The Scuttlebutt,’ which is about hot gossip. And for two hours and 15 minutes, editor Wyatt Smith keeps your attention glued to the screen with only a few lapses.

Bailey’s casting was a genius choice. Sweet

Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid. voice, angelic look, lov- father/daughter tension; ing. McCarthy dials her mother/son misundermean bitch factor up to standings; fear of the the max. She’s campy, unknown; befriending hysterical and devilish all others; love between difat once. It’s fair to say ferent people; warnings that this very multiracial, about humans wrecking multicultural version has the ocean; lots of teachstrayed far away from its able moments; lots of original 1837 source, a things to see, discern, Danish fairytale written digest and learn; life lesby Hans Christian Ander- sons that entertain and sen. The interracial mix may prepare kids for the of the sisters and entire new world—cautionary cast speaks for itself. The tales parents should heed ensemble moves around if they want to stay relenonchalantly like having vant. a Black queen, White Families looking for a prince, an Asian bird, a PG movie that’s as illuSpanish sea god, a Pak- minating as it is fun will istani butler (Art Malik) appreciate the joy, love and a crab with a thick and wisdom of this paraJamaican patois is nor- ble. It’s an enlightening mal—and it is. It’s the exploration of what new normal. might happen if people David Magee’s (Find- reached out, accepted ing Neverland) thought- others and didn’t get left ful script is filled with behind.

Outdoor Fun ACROSS 1. Bryan of “Summer Of ‘69” fame 6. Lake in Provence 9. ____ ____ good example 13. Hypotenuse/ opposite side 14. Fuss, to Shakespeare 15. Pine 16. Filthy dough 17. Marxism or Taoism, e.g.

18. Skylit lobbies 19. *Outdoor repast 21. *Two-wheeling 23. Agreement word 24. *Climbing turf 25. “I wish I ____, I wish I might...”

28. Cracked by yegg 30. Cowardly color 35. Slightly (2 words) 37. Matterhorn location 39. Charles III’s ex 40. She played Carla on “Cheers” 41. Nev.’s neighbor 43. Rotisserie skewer 44. Indianapolis team 46. Underwater “nose” 47. Color of a bruise 48. Trying experience 50. “The Breakfast ____________” 52. p in mph 53. Ranee’s husband 55. ____ de plume 57. *Gather berries, e.g.

60. *Water slaloming 63. Soft single in baseball 64. *Sun “kiss” 66. Beau's and Jeff’s acting dad 68. Cut-down sailing sheep 69. How many “if by sea?”

70. Have effect 71. Gibbons, e.g.

72. Coniferous tree 73. Rejuvenate or renovate DOWN 1. Knee-related acronym 2. Make pretty (2 words) 3. Mushroom

spore sacs 4. Shawn Mendes’ 2016 hit 5. Parts of a play 6. Secular 7. Commercial break clips 8. Fast food option 9. Looking for aliens org.

10. Get bacon?

11. H.S. math class 12. All Nippon Airways, acr.

15. Rattled on 20. Writer Asimov 22. Like icee 24. Not an original 25. *Call to Polo 26. Opposite of adore 27. Triangular road sign 29. *Capture it!

31. Speech defect 32. Drink like a cat (2 words) 33. Chilled (2 words) 34. *Balloon filler 36. U.K. art gallery 38. Place for a house plant 42. Get an F 45. Serape, alt. sp.

49. Jet follower 51. Water-heating apparatus 54. Bulwark 56. Hundred Acre Wood creator 57. Wing motion 58. Exude 59. Fish eggs, pl.

60. Winter precipitation 61. Person, place or thing 62. Swirling vortex 63. *Part of a bikini 65. Leave speechless 67. Morning condensation Solutions from last puzzle

June 2, 2023 Health/Education Metro Schools’ highest Pink Christmas honors percentage of students survivors of breast cancer proficient on 3rd Grade with Mother’s Day Award eLA TCAP since 2017 Page 8

Nashville PRIDE

Students rallying prior to TCAP testing. MNPS students have scored the highest level of proficiency since the TNReady system was implemented in 2017.

Results from the 3rd grade ELA TCAP exams show that MNPS students have scored the highest level of proficiency since the TNReady system was implemented in 2017.

“Our goal all along has been to come out even stronger than before the pandemic, and thanks to the hard work of our students, staff, and families, along with the significant federal investments through ESSER and the commitment by the city of Nashville to support our schools, we have now achieved that goal in these latest test results,” said Dr. Adrienne Battle, director of Metro Schools.

“Investments in high-quality teaching materials, professional development, tutoring and extended learning options are all part of the puzzle to grow our students academically and see greater results.”

MNPS grew from 27.4% proficient in 2022 to 29.7% proficient in the 2023 3rd grade ELA results, which is higher than the record set in 2018 at 28.8%. In addition to the highest number of students scoring proficient, the latest results show the highest number of students exceeding the expectations on TCAP at 11.1%, or about 2.5%

more than last year. The results released today by the TDOE may be preliminary and subject to possible corrections and revisions in the coming weeks.

“As a result of the determination and commitment of MNPS educators, leaders, and parents, we're witnessing great progress in student learning and their joyful experiences with books,” said Aliya Washington Smith, director of Elementary Literacy for Metro Schools. “We still have a lot of work to do to support our students' journey to becoming confident readers, writers, and thinkers, however, this snapshot of our students' literacy growth is an encouraging indicator that our current strategy and focus are addressing the needs of our students and the Nashville community.”

The TNReady evaluation system was adopted in the 2015-16 school year by the state of Tennessee.

Testing, however, was cancelled due to challenges with the system that year, and the first TNReady tests were administered in 2017. Testing in 2020 was cancelled because schools across the state were closed due to the pandemic.

Starting in the 2021-22 school year, MNPS implemented several programs and initiatives to enhance student academic growth and outcomes.

These initiatives were supported by a combination of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, state funding, and resources from the Metro Government. Here are the programs and initiatives that were put in place: • Promising Scholars: Our summer learning program was designed to extend the school year. The four-week program combines instruction in literacy and numeracy with engaging STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) activities.

• Accelerating Scholars: This program focuses on providing highimpact tutoring to students in small groups or one-on-one settings. It involves a combination of paid tutoring opportunities and volunteer tutoring, aiming to offer additional support in reading and math to help students excel academically.

• Literacy Reimagined: This program aims to enhance students' literacy skills through various supports for both teachers and students. It involves adopting a high-quality English

Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry launches new innovation center for dental education Meharry Medical College’s School of Dentistry will launch a new innovation center (IC) to house the latest in dental technology and materials to prepare students for modern-day dental practice. The center will be supported in part by the 2023 Innovation Center Award, which was awarded to the Meharry School of Dentistry by the Center for Research and Education Technology (CRET). The center is slated to open within the next year and the Class of 2025 will be the first cohort of students to avail themselves of its features.

The IC, located within the School of Dentistry’s main building, will allow Meharry to introduce the latest in dental and digital technology including innovative products to its dental school. In collaboration with CRET, Meharry will expand its educational areas to replicate real-life dental practices with five new examination rooms. Each room will consist of different equipment and materials selected by Meharry faculty such as computerized crowns and bridges, intraoral digital scanners, laser equipment, salivary diagnostics, oral care probiotics, and other advanced restorative materials. The IC will be designed like a private dental office where students will treat patients in collaboration with dental hygienists, and assistants.

Once the plan is developed, CRET will facilitate the introduction of equipment, merchandise and training with CRET members and Meharry faculty. The past CRET IC awards have an estimated value of over $1 million worth of equipment, merchandise, design, installation, and training services, provided at no or significantly reduced cost to Meharry.

“I’m thrilled and honored to launch the new innovation center for our dental students,” said Cherae FarmerDixon, D.D.S, MSPH, FACD, FICD, dean and professor of Meharry’s School of Dentistry. “The innovation center allows our school to expand and amplify our student’s educational experience by incorporating new technology, equipment, and practices into the current curriculum. The more our students learn, the better care they will provide to our nation’s dental patients, including those in minority and underserved communities.”

Minority and underserved populations continue to bear a disproportionate burden of oral diseases due to inadequate access to effective dental services and the lack of diversity within the dental workforce. Currently, there are only approximately 8,000 Black dentists in the United States, 27% of

Cherae Farmer-Dixon whom graduated from Meharry who then continued on to work in impoverished communities where the need for oral health services is great. Training the next generation of dentists with innovative technology, equipment and techniques that will replicate a modern dental facility is a key part of the solution to ensure all communities of equitable access to dental care.

“Oral health is critical to the overall health and well-being of patients, yet significant oral health disparities persist in our country due to a lack of access to qualified and well-trained dental professionals,” said James E.K. Hildreth, Ph.D., M.D., president/CEO of Meharry. “At Meharry, we pride ourselves in training individuals who will routinely care for our low-income and uninsured communities throughout the world. The innovation center allows us to deepen our dental student’s knowledge and train more dentists who will serve minority populations and provide them with the dental care they need and deserve.”

Each of the five examination rooms at the center will incorporate equipment and technology from different manufacturers to ensure that Meharry dental students are exposed to a variety of devices. Manufacturers will provide instruction for the new equipment to guarantee all necessary training is in place for students and faculty to utilize the equipment.

“CRET is pleased to award Meharry College School of Dentistry with an Innovation Center. As the newest Dental School recipient of the award, the CRET Innovation Center will elevate each student’s experience in operating in an environment that will replicate what they will find in a practice when they graduate. In addition to the exposure to different equipment and materials, the ability to learn how best to utilize staff in a team environment, will give the student the skills to work independently once they graduate,” said Debora Bridges, CEO/chair of CRET Executive Committee.

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

Pictured left to right - Felicia Pratt (Executive Director), Judith Presley (Board Member), Ms. Glenda Mason (Scholarship Recipient), Jerry Winkler (Board Member), Tanisha Evans (Board Member, and Rev. Breonus Mitchell (Pastor Mt. Gilead Baptist Church) Pink Christmas is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in the Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee communities. Pink Christmas also provides Scholarships to graduate students studying breast cancer research.

This year, Pink Christmas introduced the Mother’s Day Award to recognize mothers who are going through treatment for breast cancer or survivors of breast cancer. Information was requested from local churches and other community organizations to recruit people to apply for the scholarship.

Eight individuals applied for the scholarship. Two women were awarded $1,000 and six applicants received $100 gift cards. For information about Pink Christmas visit <www.ourpinkchristmas.com>.

Language Arts (ELA) curriculum that provides books and materials for all students and teachers. Additionally, there is an emphasis on building foundational skills to strengthen overall literacy development.

• Intervention Programs: The district made investments in personalized learning time and increased interventions and supports for students, particularly those with exceptional needs and English Learners. These students receive intensive, individualized support to address their specific educational requirements.

• Advocacy Centers: These centers are dedicated spaces within elementary schools that cater to students who experienced emotional or behavioral dysregulation during the school day.

The centers provide short-term trauma-informed and restorative care, supporting the well-being of students in need.

• Teacher and Support Pay: In the 2021-22 school year, Mayor Cooper

and the Metro Council funded a nearly $50 million investment in teacher compensation to ensure MNPS had the highest-paid teachers across the state of Tennessee, following by a significant investment to increase pay for support staff such as bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and cafeteria workers in 2022-23 that has helped us to retain and recruit great team members to serve our students.

“While no one test should define a school or a student, the results released today show what we have been seeing the last two school years—continued academic progress for our youngest learners, who have been incredibly resilient over these last few years,” said Dr. Battle.

“We know the supports and structures that have been put in place are showing positive results, and we look to expand on these successes and improvements in the coming years to support continued growth of our students.”