Nashville PRIDE June 30, 2023

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Hash Browns for Hope with Hope Station See page 3

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volume XXXvii, Number 26

People Are Talking Yusef Salaam of Central Park Five running for New York City Council

Yusef Salaam <BlackMansStreet.Today> (TriceEdneyWire.com) – When Yusef Salaam and the other four members of the Central Park Five were cleared after another man confessed to the 1980 brutal rape and beating of Trisha Meili, the Central Park jogger, Donald Trump didn’t like it one bit.

Trump took out a full-page ad in four New York newspapers, calling for the boys to die in custody—declaring that New York should bring back the death penalty.

Salaam is now running for New York City Council, and Trump, who is running again for president for the second time, may be headed to prison.

Salaam is now 49. He was 15 when he went to prison. He spent seven years in prison for a crime he and other boys, all Black or Hispanic, did not commit.

Matias Reyes admitted that he raped Meili. “The cops and the press did not give the presumption of innocence,” Salaam said during an interview.

He says he is now ready to change things from the inside.

Salaam is running against three other candidates for the coveted Harlem district on the New York City Council.

He faces Al Taylor, of the New York State Assembly, and Inez Dickens, a former City Council member. Early voting will be held from June 17 to June 25. The primary election is set for June 27, and the general election will be held on November 7.

His opponents claim he does not have experience. “I have a great record in the 34 years since I fought to clear my name in the Central Park Jogger case,” Salaam said.

Wagner Group, believed to have planned coup against Putin, deeply involved in African wars

Nashville, TN

June 30, 2023

Ancestral connections – political elite’s ties to slavery revealed

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent Recent research conducted by Reuters has shed light on the genealogies of America’s political elite, revealing that a significant portion of members of Congress, living presidents, Supreme Court justices, and governors are direct descendants of ancestors who enslaved Black people.

Among the 536 members of the last sitting Congress, Reuters found that at least 100 have ancestors who were slaveholders.

Furthermore, over a quarter of the Senate, or 28 members, can trace their families back to slaveholding ancestors.

This spans Democratic and Republican lawmakers, including influential figures such as Republican Senators Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, and Tom Cotton, as well as Democrats Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, and Jeanne Shaheen.

The examination also revealed that President Joe Biden and every living former U.S. president, except Donald Trump, have direct connections to slaveholders.

That list includes Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and even Barack Obama through his White mother’s lineage.

Additionally, two of the nine sitting U.S. Supreme Court justices, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, have ancestors who were involved in enslavement.

The research conducted by Reuters also delved into the gubernatorial level, revealing that in 2022, 11 out of

“In my mind, there is no way to understand the development of the world's economic and political system post-1800 C.E. without a solid and sophisticated understanding of the transatlantic slave trade,” stated John Rosinbum, a Texas-based high school teacher. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) 50 U.S. states had governors who were least eight percent of Democrats and descendants of slaveholders.

28% of Republicans in the last ConEight governors hail from states gress had ancestral ties to slaveholdthat formed the Confederate States of ers.

America, which fought to preserve This disparity reflects the historical slavery. strength of the Republican Party in the Among them, Asa Hutchinson, the South, where slavery was concentratformer governor of Arkansas, and ed.

Doug Burgum of North Dakota, are South Carolina, where the Civil seeking the Republican nomination for War began, exemplifies the familial president. connections between lawmakers and According to Reuters’ findings, at Continued on page 5

July 4th and early Black Americans – it’s complicated

Celebrants outfitted in Union uniforms and period dress assemble at the All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors in Philadelphia. (photo by Laura Blanchard, via Flickr)

by Susan Kelley newspaper ran the text in full and On July 15, 1776, the signing of the reported the declaration had been read Declaration of Independence was to the Continental Army’s New York front-page news in the New-York regiment, led by Gen. George WashGazette and Weekly Mercury. The ington.

The paper also featured two freedom notices of a different sort.

One offered a reward for a 21-yearold Black man named Prince, who had escaped his enslavers and was “supposed to have gone towards Rye, New York, or entered the Army.” The other featured two brothers, Nathanial and Jacob, who had escaped from separate enslavers near Long Island, New York.

Derrick R. Spires, associate professor of literatures in English in the College of Arts and Sciences, imagines those men hearing the declaration read somewhere in New York—knowing that it did not apply to them.

“Black Americans were in a position where they believed in the principles of the declaration and the American Revolution itself,” said Spires, an award-winning expert in early African American and American print culture, citizenship studies and African American intellectual history. “And yet, many of them were enslaved or formerly enslaved. From their perspective (and maybe even today) there were better days to celebrate.”

Continued on page 5

Supreme Court allows redrawing of Louisiana congressional map creating additional majority-Black district Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group <BlackMansStreet.Today> (TriceEdneyWire.com) – The Wagner Group, a mercenary army with business connections, nearly reached Moscow in what many believe was a coup attempt to oust Russian President Vladimir Putin before abruptly Continued on page 5 The Nashville PRIDE Newspaper is on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @pridenews

Printed on 100% recycled paper

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent The U.S. Supreme Court has permitted redrawing the Louisiana congressional map, paving the way for adding another majority-Black district.

The justices have reversed their initial plans to hear the case directly and lifted the hold placed on a lower court’s order regarding the need for a revamped redistricting regime.

Notably, there was no dissent among the justices.

This move by the Supreme Court follows a recent ruling made earlier this month regarding Alabama’s congressional maps.

The ruling upheld the historical approach of courts when dealing with the redistricting provisions in the Voting Rights Act, a historic civil rights law that Black voters are utilizing to challenge the Louisiana Continued on page 5

The ruling upheld the historical approach of courts when dealing with the redistricting provisions in the Voting Rights Act, a historic civil rights law that Black voters are utilizing to challenge the Louisiana congressional plan. (photo courtesy of <iStockphoto/NNPA>)

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June 30, 2023

Supreme Court ruling limits challenges to unlawful convictions for innocent federal prisoners

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court delivered a blow to the rights of federal prisoners, particularly those who may be completely innocent.

This week’s ruling in Jones v. Hendrix establishes a significant hurdle for prisoners seeking to challenge their convictions in court.

The case revolved around Marcus DeAngelo Jones, a federal prisoner convicted in 2000 of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction.

However, in a 2019 case called Rehaif v.

States, the United Supreme Court declared that individuals could not be convicted under the felon-in-possession statute unless they were aware of their prior felony conviction at the time of possessing the gun.

Jones argued that he mistakenly believed his previous felony conviction had been expunged when he acquired the firearm, rendering his

conviction invalid under Rehaif.

He said because he was unaware of his felony status, federal law did not make his possession of the firearm illegal.

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s ruling, as outlined in Justice Thomas’s opinion, prevents Jones from challenging his conviction altogether.

The outcome is because of a federal law known as Section 2255, which generally bars federal prisoners from making multiple challenges to their convictions or sentences.

Jones had previously succeeded in petitioning a federal court to vacate a portion of his sentence before the Rehaif decision, which Thomas argued extinguished his sole opportunity to challenge his conviction, even though Jones had no way of knowing that his claim of innocence would become potentially valid after Rehaif.

Section Although 2255 does include

exceptions that allow for a second challenge under certain circumstances, Thomas narrowly interprets the provision, stating that the usual process is “inadequate or ineffective” to test the legality of a prisoner’s detention.

In her dissenting opinion, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized Thomas’s restrictive construction and even mocks it by claiming that only a fire or mudslide could provide relief.

Thomas’ majority opinion extends the consequences beyond individuals like Jones, who hope to overturn their convictions due to developments like the Rehaif decision.

Many other individuals who are entirely innocent and wrongfully convicted will also be denied the opportunity for second appeals and remain unjustly imprisoned.

Section Before 2255’s enactment in 1948, federal prisoners had to challenge their

This week’s ruling in Jones v. Hendrix establishes a significant hurdle for prisoners seeking to challenge their convictions in court. (photo courtesy of <iStockphoto/NNPA>) convictions in the judiSection 2255 iar with the prisoner’s cial district where they addressed this issue by case to hear the habeas were incarcerated. requiring prisoners to suits challenging their However, the system bring challenges to the confinement. was impractical and bur- court that initially tried Although Section densome for federal trial and convicted them, 2255 ordinarily restricts courts near prisons, as ensuring a more equi- prisoners from filing a they often needed easier table distribution of second habeas challenge access to necessary cases among federal dis- if they were previously records, evidence, and trict courts, and provid- denied relief, it permits a witnesses. ing the court most familContinued on page 5

The Nashville PRiDe Quick Reference Call (615) 292-9150 to advertise

FBi under fire for imposing ‘secrecy agreements’ on local law enforcement regarding cell-site simulators

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent Records obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have shed light on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) persistent enforcement of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) on state and local law enforcement agencies seeking to use the agency’s cellsite simulators.

The ACLU found that the agreements prohibit disclosure of the technology’s use to the public and the courts, even going as far as obstructing defendants’ constitutional right to mount a proper defense.

The organization found that records highlighted the FBI’s compelling local police to

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“These records show the FBI continuing to Continued on page 5

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Rep. John Lewis Lewis captured by Marco Grob for Time magazine in 2013.

The design also incorporates a 1963 image taken by Steve Schapiro outside a nonviolent protest workshop, featured in the

‘selvage’ or margin of the stamp pane.

Officials called the combination of photographs a poignant reminder of Lewis’ tireless commitment to civil rights and his instrumental role in the nonviolent protest movement.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, addressing the gathering, announced that the official dedication ceremony for the John Lewis Forever stamp is scheduled for July 21 at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

DeJoy shared plans to rename Atlanta’s main post office in honor of the late congressman, acknowledging Lewis’ Continued on page 3

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

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.

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Stamp honoring late Rep. John Lewis unveiled

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent House leaders joined forces with the U.S. Postal Service to reveal a commemorative stamp paying tribute to the late Rep. John Lewis on Wednesday.

The unveiling occurred during a special event held at Capitol Hill.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Linda Earley Chastang, Lewis’ former chief of staff, were the prominent figures present.

According to a press release from the Postal Service, the stamp showcases a photograph of

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Local

Cancer… My Journey in time

Hash browns for hope with Hope Station

by Wanda Clay In the year 2017, a young lady was met with a dilemma. She was a young working mother that was faced with the need for assistance in order to maintain her household.

However, she did not meet the criteria for any assistance programs available in the city of Nashville.

Rather than succumbing to the overwhelming feelings of defeat, with help and guidance, Quintina Waller had what she expressed as a “glory trigger.”

Waller sought the help of Rev. Enoch Fuzz pastor of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church. He offered a Sunday School classroom in his church as office space for Waller to develop a program. At that time, Hope Station was born in order to assist single mothers with small children in the home.

The uniqueness of this program is that assistance is offered without the red tape of going through a rigorous application process demanding unnecessary information—only to be declined because $33,000 per year would disqualify a working woman with children.

“While other programs require you to be ‘poor,’ we are not here to humiliate. We are here to fill in the gap,”

Quintina Waller (Hope Station) and Rev. Enoch Fuzz said Waller, founder/ ences. Hash browns for executive director of Hope will be held on Hope Station.

July 8 at the Hilton Hope Station dis- Green Hills. For more tributed approximately information and dona$900,000 during the tion information, visit COVID-19 pandemic the website at <hopesto assist with immedi- tation.org> or call 614ate needs for rent, utili- 480-2765. ties, car repair, food, Rev. Fuzz is glad to meds, etc. Mental heal- be a part of such a proing was recently added gram that had its beginin 2020 to help in ning in his church. breaking the stigma of Proud of this ministry, using counselors in Rev. Fuzz’s support for order to deal with men- this program is in no tal health. “We have way an indication that partnered with Insight he is ready to accept Counseling to provide speaking engagements 8-24 sessions, as neces- as much as he would sary,” Waller said. The like to. areas currently served keep Therefore, are Davidson County praying for Rev. Fuzz and Rutherford County. and for Quintina Waller ‘Hash browns for and the Hope Station Hope’ is the signature program as it continues fundraiser that will be to provide for those in held in person for the need. first time since the panGod heals. demic.

Keep watching Rev. It is an opportunity Fuzz’s posts on Meta, to learn more about the and be encouraged by mission while enjoying reading weekly ‘Cana silent auction, brunch cer: My Journey in and many other experi- Time’ installments.

NAReB Nashville Chapter celebrates Black excellence in real estate with prestigious award ceremony Save the date for a night of recognition and celebration of African American professionals in real estate. On July 13, the Nashville chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) will proudly host the Black Excellence in Real Estate Award Ceremony at 14TENN, located at 1410 51st Avenue N. Nashville, Tenn. 37209.

NAREB Nashville President Furtesha Woods shared her anticipation for the upcoming ceremony: “This annual event has become a catalyst for showcasing the diverse talents and skills of Black professionals in the Nashville real estate industry. Our focus on recognizing and celebrating these significant contributions plays a crucial role in increasing representation and breaking down barriers within our sector.”

Furtesha Woods Since its inception in 1997, NAREB Nashville has been a stalwart advocate for diversity, inclusivity, and economic empowerment within the real estate industry. This non-profit organization is committed to promoting dignity, respect, and equal opportunities for communities of color through an unwavering support of African American real estate professionals.

Set to begin at 6 pm, the award ceremony will feature a theme of Black Professional Attire, a symbol of unity and pride within the community. The event promises to be an evening of celebration, delicious food, uplifting music, and a valuable platform for networking. It aims to foster collaborations and partnerships, contributing to the growth and success of Nashville’s real estate industry.

Woods concludes with a potent message about the ceremony’s potential impact: “By highlighting successful individuals and companies, we inspire others in our community to pursue homeownership, careers, or entrepreneurial ventures in real estate. This recognition serves as a catalyst for change, motivation, and empowerment within the Black community.”

Rep. John Lewis... from page 2 immeasurable contributions to the nation.

“Our nation certainly benefited from his fearlessness and his unfailing willingness to get into ‘good trouble,’” DeJoy stated.

McCarthy emphasized the significance of Lewis’ actions during the introduction of President Barack Obama at the 50th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Selma, Alabama, back in 2015.

McCarthy, a Republican from California, acknowledged the power of Lewis’ words and how they transcended party lines.

“I may be in a different party. I may have different views. But I’m an American,” McCarthy said. “I get goosebumps and tears thinking how far we have come— thinking that John Lewis led the march on that bridge and led the introduction that day.”

Jeffries, the Demo-

cratic Representative from New York, expressed his belief that the stamp would forever symbolize Lewis’ significant contributions and serve as a tribute to his unwavering dedication as the conscience of Congress.

He called Lewis one of the country’s greatest sons and deemed it fitting for such an influential figure to be recognized with a Forever stamp.

Lewis, a Democrat representing Georgia, served in the House of Representatives from 1987 until his passing on July 17, 2020, at 80, after battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Known as the ‘conscience of Congress,’ Lewis dedicated his life to advocating for peaceful protests and equality.

An original member of the Freedom Riders, Lewis played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, enduring

brutal violence when Alabama state troopers fractured his skull during the infamous ‘Bloody Sunday’ incident in Selma in 1965.

In July 2020, Lewis became the first Black lawmaker to lie in state at the Capitol, a testament to his indelible mark on American history.

Even after his passing, his words have continued to inspire and motivate, as evidenced by his 2020 New York Times op-ed, where he urged others to carry the torch and fight for their beliefs.

His famous phrase, ‘good trouble,’ remains a rallying cry for those seeking equality and justice.

Postal officials said the John Lewis Forever stamp is a lasting tribute to a remarkable individual who dedicated his life to making the United States a better place for all its citizens.

Nashville PRIDE

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4th Annual Black Women’s empowerment Weekend July 7-8

By Cass Teague The 4th annual Black Women’s Empowerment Weekend welcomes Metro Nashville Public Schools as a participating sponsor for the event curated to inspire, elevate, and appreciate culture and community.

MNPS will contribute to the vibrant programming and identify 100 students to attend the two-day conference.

This intentional collaboration reflects each organization’s purposeful mission to enrich the lives of Tennesseans through the power of education, intergenerational investment, and community.

LaTosha Brown is the keynote speaker and Mani Millss is the weekend host. LaTosha is a woman with her eyes centered squarely on Black liberation, as the Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter Fund and Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, organizations which boost Black voter registration and turnout.

Mani Millss, Nashville’s one and only 101.1 The Beat’s Midday Mama, is sure to keep the vibes going.

Powered by The Equity Alliance, Tennessee’s Black womenled advocacy force for unapologetic Black civic and political power building, the Black Women’s Empowerment Weekend 2023 will include a Friday Summit and Saturday Brunch.

The Black Women’s Empowerment Weekend is a highly anticipated premiere event exclusively designed for Black women, and open to those who support, stand with, and bet on Black women. Attendees will experience nothing short of electrifying energy, abundant joy, and genuine connection along with live entertainment, catered meals, and vendors.

Women's Black Empowerment Summit is Friday, July 7th,

Mani Millss and LaTosha Brown 10AM - 5PM, at Bel- lounge and sip on craft mont University Fischer cocktails. The Brunch Center, 2020 Belmont promises an exclusive Blvd., Nashville, TN networking mixer, ven37212. This full-day dor, marketplace and convening will holisti- memorable program. cally affirm and amplify Remaining true to its the unique life experi- sacred origin of honorences of the modern ing those who diligently Black woman through serve, the Brunch will main stage panels that recognize three trailcater to every woman’s blazing Black women in inner boss, baddie and politics and community beloved. advocacy.

Led by credentialed The Equity Alliance experts, immersive top- is a 501(c)(3) nonpartiics will include: entre- san civic engagement preneurship, wealth organization that building, relationships, unapologetically builds career development, independent political holistic wellness, and and economic power for civic leadership. The Black Tennesseans.

Summit will be a safe They are determined to space for Black women, educate, empower and girls, Black men, and all mobilize Black Tenour allies in attendance nesseans to keep govto have open dialogue. ernment in check. CoThe Black Women's founded and led by Empowerment Brunch award-winning Black is Saturday, July 8th, women who work at the 11AM - 3PM, at intersection of economic Marathon Music Works, empowerment, racial Clinton St, equity 1402 and civic Nashville, TN 37203. activism, they uphold This signature catered the vital nature of multievent is bigger and more faceted power as the key dynamic with live per- to success and wellbeformances DJ sets from ing. the leading female disc If you haven’t locked jockeys who curate the down your ticket yet, best vibes in the city. lock it down now at: VIP attendees can chill theequityalliance.org/ out in an exclusive VIP women.

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June 30, 2023 Editorials www.pridepublishinggroup.com Listening again to loving Reflections on Nashville PRIDE

Juneteenth 2023

by William T. Robinson, Jr. This year’s Juneteenth celebration participation was exponentially greater than anyone might have possibly imagined. So many African Americans and their supporters became knowledgeable and participated after realizing its significance. Juneteenth is without a doubt ‘on the map’ and is assured to grow even bigger.

Juneteenth While may have been celebrated in all major cities and communities, it was not fully known by many Americans until major emphasis was put on it through social media, bringing about national awareness—as well as Joe Biden declaring it a national holiday in 2021.

In the past, Juneteenth has been basically trivialized or even left out of our history books altogether—disregarding any commemoration or of the recognition enslaved finally being told they’d been freed with the last holdout in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.

This holiday has galvanized the Black community and other Americans by celebrating our commonality as Americans, regardless of those working so defiantly trying to divide us. It is a jubilant celebration of inclusion, offering our

William T. Robinson, Jr. country and the world exposure to the resilience, culture, greatness, and beauty of African Americans who cannot be denied their role in making this country the great country that it claims to be.

Juneteenth is a celebration and tribute to our enslaved ancestors who kept hope alive, never giving up on their cries and prayers for deliverance by our benevolent God whose will is infinite. It is probably the most important holiday in which African Americans feel totally accepted and free to manifest the love and admiration they feel for each other— defying the myths and stereotypes manufactured by those who still seek to oppress us by trying to make African Americans feel inferior.

The numerous celebrations manifested throughout Juneteenth help consolidate the acceptance of African Americans as a viable,

important part of this country.

Juneteenth offers a colorful and vibrant array of traditions and exposure to our culture through song, dance, food and oratory skills honoring our ancestors. Other races helping to celebrate Juneteenth were not disappointed. They gained a deeper appreciation and respect for the wealth of talent African Americans bring to the table.

Juneteenth celebrations inundated TV screens, mass and social media, exposing the country and the world to African Americans taking pride in their heritage and relevance as proud Music, Americans. dance, parades and food festivals were numerous—as well as respectful, spiritual homage paid to our enslaved African American ancestors.

I can only envision Juneteenth growing bigger and bigger with the oncoming years, with all American looking forward to celebrating and acknowledging the holiday. As an African American, it was bonding and informative for me displaying the beauty of people who look like me.

How can you experience Juneteenth and not be appreciative of African Americans being freed, realizing their role in making this a better country?

Honoring our past – looking towards the future

At the site where some researchers say half of all African Americans arrived in this country will sit a museum committed to reunifying their descendants with lost histories. (photo courtesy of the International African American Museum (IAAM)

by Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (S.C.-06) In 2019, my daughter Jennifer and I took part in a Congressional Delegation to Ghana that included my good friend, the late Congressman John Lewis.

Our visit was to commemorate the 400 years since Blacks were forcibly taken from the continent of Africa and enslaved in America.

During that visit, Jennifer and I stood silently in the ‘door of no return’ holding hands. I never asked her about her thoughts, and she did not ask me about mine. Last Saturday, she and her husband joined me at the dedication of the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston. It is fitting that IAAM stands on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, where nearly half of all enslaved Africans brought to this continent arrived.

When I was asked by then-Charleston Mayor Joe Riley 23 years ago to chair the steering committee to develop his vision of establishing such a museum in Charleston, I thought of the countless slaves that were stolen from their homeland, stripped of their identities, and brought to this strange land in shackles. But I also thought of the African Americans who

rose above the circumstances of their ancestors and their countless descendants eager to honor their memories. I said during my dedication remarks that IAAM tells the story of perseverance through the middle passage, resistance to enslavement, triumphs over Jim Crow, and significant contributions to the greatness of this country.

In the early days of our efforts, there was significant debate about the focus of the museum.

But I knew we had to do justice to all 400 years of the Black experience in America. On the day we broke ground on IAAM, another good friend, Congressman Elijah Cummings, was being funeralized in Baltimore, Maryland. Elijah was the great-greatgrandson of Scippio Rhame, who, until he was freed in 1868, worked the same land as Elijah’s parents, who were sharecroppers.

Because of his parents’ participation in the great migration, Elijah was born and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where Elijah was placed in special education classes. He overcame that profiling and graduated college, Phi Beta Kappa. He became an accomplished lawyer, rose to serve in the United States Congress, and became chairman of the

powerful Oversight Committee. IAAM tells the story of the ancestors and descendants of Scippo Rhame, and countless others with similar backgrounds and experiences.

Those stories are about more than the institution of slavery— they are uplifting experiences that epitomize the varying possibilities of who we are and what we can (and have) become.

In that spirit, IAAM has established a one-of-akind center dedicated to African American genealogy research. The Center for Family History hosts a growing collection of photos, historical documents, and family histories that the public can comb through to find more information about their family trees.

To help bolster their records, the IAAM Center for Family History has issued an open call for obituaries, photos, family histories, and other historical documents. It is not lost on me that at the site where some researchers say half of all African Americans arrived in this country will sit a museum committed to reunifying their descendants with lost histories.

There is significant currency in the museum’s acronym, ‘IAAM.’ In my office is a statue of a sanitation worker holding a sign with a

by Marian Wright Edelman Sixty years ago in June 1963, a young wife and mother drafted a neatly handwritten letter about a ‘problem’ her family was facing: Dear Sir: I am writing to you concerning a problem we have.

Five years ago my husband and I were married here in the District. We then returned to Va. to live.

My husband is White, I am part Negro, and part Indian.

At the time we did not know there was a law in Va. against mixed marriages.

Therefore we were jailed and tried in a little town of Bowling Green.

We were to leave the state to make our home.

The problem is we are not allowed to visit The our families. judge said that if we enter the state in the next 25 years, that we will have to spend one year in jail.

We know we can’t live there, but we would like to go back once and a while to visit our families and friends.

We have three children and cannot afford an attorney.

We wrote to the Attorney General, and he suggested that we get in touch with you for advice.

Please help us if you can. Hope to hear from you real soon.

Yours truly, and Mrs. Mr. Richard Loving

Mrs. Mildred Loving, the letter’s author, had chosen to reach out to U.S. Attorney GenRobert F. eral Kennedy, who suggested she and her husband contact the ACLU for help. Over the next several years dedicated ACLU lawyers took their case through the court system, and the eventually Lovings made history when their struggle to have their marriage recognized in their native Virginia led to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Loving v. Virginia.

On June 12, 1967, the justices ruled 9-0 that Virginia’s law banning interracial marriage and all others like it were unconstitutional and that the freedom to marry was “a basic civil right.”

The Lovings, who shunned the spotlight, made it clear they never set out to be social revolutionaries.

It was simple: they loved each other, wanted to marry, and beyond that, as Mrs. Loving said: “It was God’s work.” The two first met in the early 1950s in Central Point, Virginia, the small community where they both grew up. They became young sweethearts, and in 1958, when Mildred became pregnant they decided to get married. They drove to Washington,

Marian Wright Edelman D.C., for their marriage license, and Mrs. Loving later said she initially believed they doing that were because less paperwork was required there. But Richard may have understood something she didn’t. Getting a marriage license as a mixed-race couple would have been illegal and impossible in Virginia.

Mr. Loving may not have known how the state would treat legal interracial marriages that had been performed elsewhere, but five weeks after their wedding they received a very literal rude awakening. Acting on a ‘tip,’ sheriff’s deputies surrounded their bed with flashlights at 2 am demanding to know why they were there together. Their reply that they were husband and wife made no difference. The Lovings were arrested, and Mr. Loving was held in jail overnight while the pregnant Mrs. Loving was forced to stay for several days. Both were charged with violating Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act. Under a plea bargain, in order to avoid a year-long jail sentence they were forced to leave the state and were prohibited from returning together for 25 years.

They settled in Washington, D.C., but missed the small town where they had spent their entire lives. These were the conditions that led the Lovings, inspired by the growing Civil Rights Movement, to reach out to Attorney General Robert Kennedy asking for change.

After the landmark 1967 victory Mr. and Mrs. Loving returned to their hometown with their three children.

Sadly their own happiness ended in tragedy in 1975 when Mr. Loving was killed and Mrs. Loving lost the sight in one eye in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.

But the Lovings had paved the way for thousands of other couples like themselves who were marrying the people they loved.

Thanks to God’s work and the Lovings’ love, my husband Peter and I were the very first interracial couple to be married in Virginia after the U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Mrs. Loving never remarried and lived quietly at her home in rural Caroline County, Virginia until she passed away in 2008.

But a year before her death, the widow,

grandmother, and great-grandmother sent another groundbreaking letter. This time, it was a public statement submitted just before the Massachusetts Legislature’s historic vote reaffirming marriage equality, and read aloud at a 40th anniversary celebration of the Loving v. Virginia decision: “When my late husband, Richard, and I got married in Washington, D.C. in 1958, it wasn’t to make a political statement or start a fight. We were in love, and we wanted to be married. My generation was bitterly divided over something that should have been so clear and right. The majority believed that what the judge said, that it was God’s plan to keep people apart, and that government should discriminate against people in love.

But I have lived long enough now to see big changes. The older generation’s fears and prejudices have given way, and today’s young people realize that if someone loves someone they have a right to marry.

“Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the ‘wrong kind of person’ for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights.

“I am still not a political person, but I proud that am Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, Black or White, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all.

That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.”

In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court would issue another landmark decision guaranteeing full marriage equality. But this June, during a Pride Month when bigotry, intolerance, and threats of violence against LGBTQ+ Americans are on a sharp and dangerous rise, it is critical to listen again to Mrs. Loving’s words.

Mildred Loving and the lawyers and judges who affirmed her convictions were on the right side of history.

Ugly voices shouting for less equality and less freedom will not carry the day now.

simple message: ‘I am a man.’ This statue tells the story of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers’ strike, born out of anger over the deaths of Black sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker, who were killed on the job by malfunctioning equipment. The primarily Black sanitation force demanded recognition of their union, improved safety standards, and a living wage. It took nearly two months and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But in

the end, their demands were met. The museum’s acronym, ‘IAAM,’ serves to recognize their struggle and ultimate success.

I often quote George Santayana’s admonition, “Those who do not remember past lessons are condemned to repeat them.” African American history encompasses far more than the horrors of those who were enslaved. Their countless descendants include history-making visionaries, and IAAM honors and preserves their

struggles and accomplishments and dares us to look toward the future.

I must admit that there were times during my chairmanship, especially in those early days, when I was not sure we would get this project across the finish line. I am proud that after more than 20 years of hard work and dedicated commitment, we are celebrating its opening, and future generations can learn fuller and more accurate stories of America’s greatness.

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

June 30, 2023

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

Continuations

Nashville PRIDE

Page 5

Political elite... from page 1 Supreme Court... from page 1 the nation’s history of slavery.

Every member of the state’s delegation to the last Congress has ancestral ties to slavery.

Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican presidential candidate, and Rep. James Clyburn, a prominent Democrat, both have ancestors who were enslaved.

All seven White lawmakers from South Carolina in the 117th Congress are direct descendants of slaveholders, as is the state’s Republican Henry governor, McMaster.

The unveiling of these ancestral ties to slavery comes at a time when the legacy of slavery is under renewed and intense debate.

The investigation by Reuters emphasizes the relationship ongoing between America and the institution of slavery, particularly among those who influence the country’s laws.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., a professor at Har-

vard University specializing in African and African American Research, emphasized in an NBC News interview that identifying these ancestral connections is not about assigning blame but recognizing the close link between lawmakers and slavery.

Gates stated that it served as an opportunity for individuals to learn and for the American people to gain a deeper understanding of their shared history.

The Reuters analysis goes beyond previous documentation of ancestral ties to slavery by focusing on the most powerful officeholders of today, many of whom have taken stances on race-related policies.

The comprehensive research provides a and more broader detailed perspective on the extent of these leaders’ connections to America’s ‘original sin.’

It also explores the personal and significant implications for law-

makers and prominent officials as they confront the realities of their own family’s involvement in slavery.

The research focused on direct lineal descendants rather than distant cousins. The sources analyzed included Census records, tax documents, estate records, family Bibles, newspaper accounts, and birth and death certificates.

To ensure accuracy, board-certified genealogists reviewed each case linking a contemporary leader to a slaveholding ancestor.

While the Reuters examination provided a valuable understanding of the ancestral ties between the political elite and slavery, it’s further acknowledged that the records available may not capture the full extent of those connections.

Many records have been lost or destroyed over time, leading to the possibility of an undercount.

July 4th... from page 1 Black people in the early years of the United States had a complicated relationship to the 4th of July holiday, Spires said, confronting a “national double-speak” in which White Americans celebrated their freedom of expression political while supporting the enslavement of Black people.

“If you’re in the Washington household, your enslaver is the general of the Continental Army,” Spires said. “Or if you’re in Madison’s or in Jefferson’s household, your enslaver is penning the Declaration of Independence and maybe you’re bringing him a glass of water when he’s in Virginia, running through some of those drafts.”

Black communities in the 1700s and 1800s used national holidays like the Fourth of July as opportunity to an demonstrate their citizenship, patriotism and civic organizations—to show they were fully part of the fabric of the United States, Spires says.

But Black communities would often celebrate July 4 on July 5, Spires says, to avoid the violence they experienced when they celebrated the holiday on the same day, on the same streets, as White Americans.

They also began celebrating the idea of independence on other days, Spires says. In 1808, Black people in the U.S. began celebrating Jan. 1, when the U.S. banned the transatlantic slave trade. Black New Yorkers used July 5 to mark the day New York’s gradual emancipation law took effect in 1827.

Similarly, Aug. 1 also became a holiday in 1834, when Great

Britain abolished enslavement.

“Those dates might not supersede July 4,” he said, “but in terms of national notions of independence, they’re just as important and don’t carry the same kind of baggage.”

The downside was that those displays of patriotism were often met with violence, Spires said.

For example, in 1841, Black communities held parades in Cincinnati to celebrate the West Indies’ emancipation. “And they were met with White mob violence.” The Cincinnati riot was likely the most violent mob action against a free Black community before the Civil War. A similar scene played out in Philadelphia the next year. In Boston in the 1850s, Black people advocated for a state-recognized militia company. When they mustered and paraded across the city of Boston, in the fall of 1857, White mobs attacked attendees with bricks, prompting the militia to turn and protect their Black fellow citizens.

“This is the sort of thing that would happen across the country,” Spires said.

Throughout the 1800s, Black Americans used July 4th to argue for emancipation and full citizenship, making the case that Black citizens (free and enslaved) had as much right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as White people. On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass, by then a well-established activist and abolitionist, was invited by the Rochester Ladies AntiSlavery Society to give a 4th of July lecture he

titled ‘What to the Slave is the 4th of July?’ in Rochester, New York.

Douglass, Spires says, starts with some “sugar.” He praises George Washington, James Madison and their colleagues, saying they set into motion a worldwide revolution and calling the Constitution and Declaration of Independence sacred documents.

“And then he makes a turn,” Spires said, “and he says, essentially, ‘You have been getting by on your forefathers’ legacy.’”

Douglass said the existence of enslavement in the United States “brands your republicanism as a sham, your humanity as a base pretense, and your Christianity as a lie.”

“He’s saying that the day of supposed celebration should actually be a day of national mourning, because the nation’s promise has fallen short,” Spires said. “It should not be a day of covering up with symbols and celebrations a revolution fought and won, because it’s not done yet.”

That is why Black Americans have also celebrated other days, historically, including Juneteenth, and why his own relationship with the 4th of July is ‘vexed.’ “I can’t celebrate it without some irony, especially now,” he said. “As Black activist Martin R. Delany would say, ‘true patriotism’ and love of country requires critique.

“At the same time, I have really great memories of shooting fireworks with my uncles and having barbecues,” he said. “This is home.

So, it’s complicated.”

Prisoners... from page 2 second challenge if the usual process is “inadequate or ineffective” to test the legality of their detention.

However, Thomas characterized previous decisions allowing prisoners to file second challenges as an ‘end-run’ around the limits set by federal law for habeas petitions.

He interpreted the “inadequate or ineffective” provision so narrowly that very few cases would meet its requirements, leaving prisoners fighting unlawful convictions with limited recourse.

In response, Justice Jackson argued in her dissent that Thomas’s reading of Section 2255 is completely unsupport-

ed by the text.

Both justices agreed on the historical purpose of Section 2255, which aimed to relieve the burden on district courts near federal prisons.

However, the statute contains no language that aligned with Thomas’s interpretation of the “inadequate or ineffective” provision.

Jackson asserted that Congress reenacted this exception in 1996, using identical language, and intended it to preserve prisoners’ ability to bring post conviction claims, including those based on statutory innocence, that might have been inadvertently barred by the language adopted in the amendment. Experts said the

outcome of the Jones case revealed not only the complexity of federal habeas law and the procedural challenges prisoners face but also a longstanding philosophical divide within the Supreme Court.

Liberal-leaning justices argued that the criminal justice system should primarily focus on determining a defendant’s actual guilt and provide adequate safeguards for challenging wrongful convictions.

On the other hand, conservative justices, including Thomas, emphasized finality in criminal judgments— even if it meant potentially denying the innocence claims of prisoners.

congressional plan.

The lower court proceedings, which the conservative majority had put on hold in June of last year, will now resume because of this new order.

At that time, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had been preparing for an expedited review of a judge’s ruling that suggested the 5-1 congressional plan likely violated the Voting Rights Act. U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick, who presided over the case, had been considering a remedial congressional plan after Louisiana lawmakers refused to pass a plan that included a second majority-Black district.

The Supreme Court clarified on Monday that their latest decision “will allow the matter to proceed before the Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit for review in the ordinary course and in advance of the 2024 congressional elections in Louisiana.”

A congressional map that the Republican legislature had passed over Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto last year led to the lawsuit against Louisiana state officials.

The map, which only designated one out of

six districts as majority Black, came under scrutiny considering the 2020 census revealed that 33% of the state’s population is Black.

Over a year ago, Judge Shelly Dick ordered the map redrawn to include a second Black-majority district, concluding that the Republicans’ map likely violated the Voting Rights Act’s prohibition of racial discrimination in voting.

Judge Dick emphasized that “the evidence of Louisiana’s long and ongoing history of voting-related discrimination weighs heavily in favor of “the arguments put forward by the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP and other challengers involved in the case.”

S u b s e q u e n t l y, Robinson v. Ardoin proceeded to the conservative-leaning 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, where a three-judge panel, including two Republican-appointed circuit judges, declined to suspend Judge Dick’s order.

The appeals court expedited a comprehensive review of the case, but those proceedings were halted last summer when Louisiana officials successfully sought intervention from the

Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court then took up the case in June but paused it while deciding the challenge to the Alabama map.

Republicans representing Louisiana’s state officials argued in subsequent filings that the Louisiana case presented a “unique situation” for the Supreme Court to address unresolved legal issues with the Voting Rights Act because of the Alabama ruling in Milligan.

“Today’s decision in Milligan does not address the district court’s significant errors of law that should rightly result in reversal,” the Louisiana filing stated.

However, opponents of the state’s position countered by highlighting that the district court in the Louisiana case had determined that the 5-1 map likely violated the Voting Rights Act using the same legal test that the Supreme Court endorsed in its Alabama ruling.

With the Supreme Court’s latest decision, the ongoing debate surrounding the Louisiana congressional map’s compliance with the Voting Rights Act will proceed through the ordinary review course in the Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

Wagner Group... from page 1 turning around last week.

But the Wagner Group has been involved in several African countries since 2017, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The council added that in January 2023, the U.S. government called Wagner Group a “transnational criminal organization.”

The Wagner Group, which is led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, is active in the Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, and Sudan. The Wagner Group has supported African governments in combatting rebel groups.

Approximately 1,000

troops in the Wagner Group are located in the Central African Republic to defend the government of President Faustim-Archange Touadera against rebel attacks in the capital city of Bangui. In return, Wagner has unrestricted logging rights and control of the Ndassima gold mine, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

Wagner forces also fought the Libyan National Army during the 2019 Tripoli campaign during which they were accused of extrajudicial killing and planting land mines in civilian neighborhoods.

In Mozambique in 2019, the Wagner Group fought against the selfproclaimed Islamic State in the northern Cabo Delgado province.

And in Sudan, Wagner is training troops to protect mineral deposits and to suppress dissent against President Omar al-Bashir.

The Wagner Group is involved in Africa to make money and to build diplomatic support against the United Nations. It has an estimated 5,000 members in Africa. The mercenary group is made up of former Russian soldiers, convicts, and foreign nationals.

Agreements... from page 2 force local police to conceal basic information about this invasive technology from judges, defense attorneys, and the press. That is unacceptable,” Moraff said in a news release.

“The FBI should immediately stop enforcing these extreme secrecy requirements and should inform courts and defense attorneys in cases where this technology has been used.”

Cell site simulators, commonly known as stingrays or ‘IMSI catchers,’ are powerful surveillance tools that invade the privacy of cell phones.

By mimicking cell phone towers, those devices emit signals to deceive nearby cell phones into transmitting identifying information, enabling precise location tracking.

While primarily used to track the location of a suspect’s cell phone, they inadvertently gather information from the phones of unsuspecting individuals in the vicinity.

Previously, the FBI mandated strict NDAs for state and local police departments interested in procuring their own cell-site simulators.

However, the FBI backed away from this practice nearly a decade ago due to severe criticism.

A Maryland court emphasized that “such a broad prohibition on disclosure of information to the court prevents the court from

exercising its fundamental duties under the Constitution.”

The ACLU found that recently released documents indicate that the FBI has continued to impose NDAs when local police request the FBI’s assistance in locating a suspect’s phone using its own equipment.

The documents also revealed: 1) Concealment from courts: The FBI’s agreement prohibits local police from using information obtained from cell-site simulators as “primary evidence in any affidavits, hearings, or trials.” Additionally, the FBI commits to employing “all appropriate legal means to limit testimony regarding the technology in any state or local proceeding.” Consequently, officers can gather evidence using a cell site simulator but withhold crucial information from court filings, depriving the court of comprehensive knowledge about the investigation.

2) Secrecy over everything: The documents demonstrate that the FBI adopts a ‘jigsaw’ or patchwork theory of disclosure, aiming to keep even minor details about cell-site simulators hidden from the public. An email from May 2020 clarifies that the FBI will only deploy a cell-site simulator at the request of local police after they have acknowledged and agreed to the FBI’s Nondisclosure Agree-

ment. Previous versions of the FBI’s NDA went to the extreme of coercing police to drop charges rather than reveal their use of the technology.

3) Disregard for ethical concerns: Among the documents, an email exchange from 2015 highlights a local official expressing “serious reservations” about signing a nondisclosure agreement due to concerns that the terms “could place our prosecutors in a position of compromising their statutory and ethical duties.” Although much of the exchange remains redacted, records from five years later indicate that the FBI continued to impose NDAs on local agencies in certain circumstances.

ACLU officials said the recent revelations regarding the FBI’s enforcement of NDAs on local law enforcement agencies using cell-site simulators have raised significant concerns about transparency and constitutional rights.

They argued that the practice impedes defendants’ ability to mount a fair defense and obstructs the judiciary’s duty to uphold the Constitution.

Calls for the FBI to immediately cease enforcing such extreme secrecy requirements and to notify courts and defense attorneys when this technology is employed have grown louder, ACLU officials asserted.

Page 6

Nashville PRIDE

Pastor, Pew, & Pulpit www.pridepublishinggroup.com

Faith of A Mustard Seed

By Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div. I suspect that a single detriment to Black Community Building is the “Either/Or” syndrome. It is my thinking to consider the nature of this a syndrome because just as disease encompasses a ‘characteristic combination of opinions, emotions, or behavior’, —’either/or’ proves to be just as deadly.

Never to underestimate Booker T. Washington’s (BTW) living life as “A Slave Among Slaves” —”The whole machinery of slavery was so constructed as to cause labour, as a rule, to be looked upon as a badge of degradation, of inferiority. Hence labour was something that both races on the slave plantation sought to escape.” “The slave system on our place, in a large measure, took the spirit of selfreliance and self-help out of the white people.

My old master had many boys and girls, but not one, so far as I know, ever mastered a single trade or special line of productive industry. The girls were not taught to cook, sew, or to take care of the house. All of this was left to the slaves.”

I believe it to be the ‘either/or’ syndrome that has empowered the minimalism of ‘BTW’s Truth’. As his critics arise, the ‘great divides’ entrench. Only to note here that his founding of the National Negro League Business (NNBL) in 1900, platforms the Debates that must be seen in fresh eyesight between he and ‘WEB DuBois’ (WEBD) Truth’; in part, by his founding of ‘The Niagara Movement’ in 1906 (precursor to) The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.

BOTH these giants of

Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div. the nation of Africans born in America were driven by their quest of the need for Education in the life of the emancipated slave. “Ignorant and inexperienced, it is not strange that in the first years of our new life we began at the top instead of at the bottom; that a seat in Congress or the state legislature was more sought than real estate or industrial skill; that the political convention or stump speaking had more attractions than starting a dairy farm or a truck garden.” (BTW —The Atlanta Compromise Speech 1895).

“We believe that, in defense of our own institutions, the United States should aid common school education, particularly in the South, and we especially recommend concerted agitation to his end.” ( WEBD —The Niagara Movement Declaration of Principles, 1905).

“As a rule, there was food for whites and blacks, but inside the house, and on the dining room table, there was wanting that delicacy and refinement of touch and finish which can make a home the most convenient, comfortable, and attractive place in the world.

Withal there was a waste of food and other materials which was sad.

When freedom came, the slaves were almost as well fitted to

begin life anew as the master, except in the matter of book-learning and ownership of property.”

This ‘either/or’ syndrome is the American way… ‘No Two Ways About It!’ Warring — by nature of this beast.

93% of the existence of this Nation —at War. President Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law on Dec. 23, 2022, approving the 2023 defense budget and allotting $816.7 Billion to the Department of Defense.

“The slave owner and his sons had mastered no special industry. They unconsciously had imbibed the feeling that manual labour was not the proper thing for them. On the other hand, the slaves, in many cases, had mastered some handicraft, none were and ashamed, and few unwilling, to labour.”

“Either/or” as a syndrome enables the critical race theory of Willie Lynch to find grounds of disease and destruction for the duration of his 300 year plan and beyond.

Even now, Black nation is consumed in pitting one Giant of our race, over against another Giant! In every walk and field of our life. When we move into the fulness of “BOTH/AND”, we can see with ‘woke eyes’ the importance of EACH GIANT of our race being just that —A Giant! Now? Fresh eyes are needed on the age old adversarial misnomenclature invested in the very powerful work left to us as the legacy of BOTH Booker T. Washington AND W. E. B. Du Bois BEFORE their life and work is minimalized by thinking “either/or”.

By email: myfa thersmansionpress@ gmail.com

expressions of Faith ‘I am the promise’

by Bishop-Elect Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr. “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure,” Philippians 2:12-13.

Paul looks at the obedience of the Christians at Philippi. ‘You have always obeyed [Me, God] when I was with you,’ because the church at Philippi was established to strengthen the believers by showing them that true joy comes from Jesus Christ alone.

On Paul’s second missionary journey Philippi was the first church established for the joy of the Lord.

Paul said that ‘now that I am in prison in Rome, it is even more important that you obey God now while I am away from you. Keep on working to complete your salvation. Keep working on your deliverance your preservation from sin and its consequences given to you by having faith in Christ and Him only—salvation in God's grace because it is the gift of

freedom that is made by Christ who took on the punishment for our sins on the cross.’

Work on your salvation by: 1) Hearing the word is where faith comes from. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).

2) Believe the word.

This was written so that you may believe and you may have life in His name. You must believe that Jesus Christ is savior and the Son of God (John 20:31).

3) Repent of your sins. You need a change of mind and the change of action and ways. “I tell you unless you repent, you will perish,” Luke 13:5. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will saved, you and your household (Acts 16:31).

4) Be baptized, because this is an outward showing of an inward faith. “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life,” Romans 6:4.

5) Confess Jesus to others. “Therefore everyone who confesses Me [Christ] before men,

Faithful Utterances Black women in philanthropy

by Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew As a Black woman who has been in nonprofit management for decades, I’ve seen the needs in our communities, and I’ve witnessed the struggles Black women face to make a difference. If they work for a nonprofit organization, there are often issues with pay equity along with other issues pertaining to race and gender. If the organization is led by a Black woman, they are struggling to stay afloat, often using their personal funds to support the organization’s mission. On June 16, the Reconciliation and Restoration Foundation hosted an event entitled Black Women in Philanthropy in Dallas, Texas.

The event brought together Black women to network, share stories, discuss these issues, and create a safe space to address the challenges so many are experiencing in their work. It’s important to note the data that reveals the inequities that exist for Black women.

The Ms. Foundation released the landmark Pocket Change report, revealing that out of the total $66.9 billion that is given to women-led nonprofits, only .5% of that total goes to organizations led by Black women. The Race to Lead study also demonstrates the obstacles for Black women working in nonprofit management.

More than a third of Black women (34%) said they often or always are paid less than peers for similar work, followed by 31% of other women of color, 24% of Black men, 22% of other men of color, 22% of White women, and 15% of White men. The survey also asked participants compensation. about Black women (36%) were less likely than White women (42%), Black men (46%), and White men (49%) to have received a performancebased raise.

The number of Black women in philanthropic roles is often limited as well. Our speakers included leaders in philanthropy: Michelle Thomas, JP Morgan

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Chase; Abena Asante, St. David’s Foundation; Ashley Douglas, Southern Dallas Thrives-United Way of Metropolitan Dallas; Carmen James Randolph, Women’s Foundation of the South; and our keynote speaker, Toya Nash Randall, Voice, Vision, Value to share their experiences in philanthropy. Combined, these Black women in philanthropy have over 100 years of experience.

Carmen is the founder of the Women’s Foundation of the South which is the first public foundation of its kind. WFS is led by experienced grant makers of color and raises funds and leverages resources for nonprofit organizations and small businesses that are operated by and serve women and girls of color in the American South. WFS is targeting 13 states to change the trajectory of Black women and girls in which families experience optimal health outcomes, accumulate wealth, and dictate the conditions for their success across three generations.

Women’s Foundation of the South will be providing programming in the D/FW area beginning in the Fall of 2023. With over 20 years of executive leadership experience in professional philanthropy, Toya Nash Randall is a renowned champion of Black women with a deep passion for amplifying their commitment to bringing equity, inclusivity, and justice to the sector. In 2020, she created the trailblazing digital narrative platform ‘Voice.

Vision. Value. Black Women Leading Philanthropy.’

As curator and catalyst of VVV, Toya has mobilized a multi-generational collaborative network of partners and investors committed to celebrating, uplifting, and sustaining the leadership presence and contribution of Black women working in the sector. In addition to leading VVV, Toya serves as senior director of Community Initiatives in the office of the CEO at Casey Family Programs, where she leads a national portfolio of multi-sector alignment

Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew and racial equity initiatives.

Events like this are important to bring attention to not only the inequities that exist but also to celebrate the amazing work that Black women are doing to positively impact our communities. As the cofounder of HERitage Giving Circle, one of the first Black women giving circles in Texas, we started this organization with the goal of pooling our funds to support Black women-led organizations. Since 2017, more than $100,000 has been raised and distributed to Black women-led organizations.

This work is not new to our communities, and we must continue to organize to create the change we desire to see.

Black women are philanthropists. We often do not see ourselves in this way, but we give to our friends, families, congregations, organizations, and communities daily.

It’s important that we own this and become more involved in the ways in which funds are allocated to support our communities.

There is so much that you can do. Join us in this movement! I’m looking forward to our upcoming events in Jamaica <www. melanin-media.com /events>, Newark, and other cities around the country. For more information, visit our website at <www.r2fdn.org> and reach out.

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

To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.)

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

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

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

(615) 329-2325 Min. Dr. Charles A Beaman

Bishop-Elect Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr. I will also confess them before My Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 10:32.

As you work on it, do it with fear and trembling. Be responsible, be reminded. Remember what is right, and be careful about what is right—especially when you are on your own. We must focus our attention and devotion on Christ, so as faith walkers we won't be sidetracked.

God is working in you, and He has not left you alone as you do His will.

He will help you to do and be able to do what pleases Him with changed lives.

You must have a Christ consciousness.

We must condition ourselves to think like Christ, to have the desires of Christ, and to be like Christ. It's the indwelling spirit that influences our faith in God.

June 30, 2023

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 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 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 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

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

Nashville, TN 37208 615-942-5261 Sunday School:9:00am Sunday Service: 10:00am Tues. Bible Study:6:30pm nehemiahmissionary baptistchurch.com

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

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

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 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 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 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

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 30, 2023

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Nashville PRIDE

Black films shine on 2023 Tribeca Film Festival

by Dwight Brown, Film critic for NNPA News Wire and DwightBrownInk.com Diverse views of life on earth are showcased annually at the Tribeca Film Festival. Visions and voices from Black filmmakers are shared in their experiences, observations and art. The intheater portion of the fest (June 7-18) is completed. Now the Tribeca At Home part of the festivities unfolds (through July 2). Download the Tribeca At Home app and watch films on Apple TV, Fire TV, or Roku. Or get a stand alone app on IOS and Android. TFF is in the house.

The Blackening (***1/2) This is an Afrocentric horror/comedy of the highest standard. Which is a dubious distinction at best. But see it and you’ll love its craziness.

It’s funny, funny, funny.

The project evolved from a short film by the comedy troupe 3Peat.

From that nugget, screenwriters Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins place seven friends in a cabin in the woods on Juneteenth for a reunion. They’re stalked by an archer with a grudge, and forced into playing a deadly board game, ‘The Blackening.’

To save their lives, they must answer Black history, horror film and pop culture questions—or else.

They’re also ordered to sacrifice a member of the group who is the Blackest (fingers point to Shanika who says ‘n—a’ the

A scene from the film, The League most). Or the Whitest voted for (Clifton Trump. Twice! He’s got to go!).

Ride Along director Tim Story gives the film a rhythm that moves the story and characters along to a surprise ending. The young cast has a chemistry that is so affable it seems like your dizzy friends got caught in a horror movie by mistake. Filthy, racist language and the casualness of Molly and Adderall drug use are just some of this satiric film’s secret weapons.

Hilarious. Yet astute. If you’re tuned into Black life, culture wars, horror film tropes and social issues the jokes are even funnier. Bound to be an immersive cult classic.

In a theater, expect audiences to scream at the screen as if they were lost in the woods too!

Trailer: <www.youtube. com/watch?v=moiRCJR 4ToY> In theaters.

The League (***) We know that in the

‘40s, ‘50s and beyond Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron were baseball heroes.

What we didn’t know, until director Sam Pollard and executive Ahmir producer ‘Questlove’ Thompson gave us a clue, is that Black baseball players can be traced back to the 1880s and that the 1887 Supreme Court ruling for Plessy vs. Ferguson, which allowed equal but separate accommodations for the White and colored races, was the event that separated Black players from White leagues.

That finding along with a long list of players (Satchel Page), team owners (Gus Greenlee) and baseball staples created by Black players (the screwball, stealing bases) are essential elements in this very comprehensive look into the of Negro history leagues. The photos, clips of games and interviews with surviving

players are priceless.

This deep dive is very dense and comes with few frills. It will play best on the college or educational circuit or on PBS. The accomplishments on view are a source of pride. As Mrs. Jackie Robinson puts it so eloquently: “We stand on their shoulders.” An exceptional documentation of the men who played the game of baseball their way and became role models in the process. Trailer: <www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=r94emkZwTk8>.

In theaters July 7. On VOD July 14.

The Perfect Find (***) Isn’t it romantic? A ‘fortyish’ fashion editor, Jenna (Gabrielle Union), heads back into the work force after overcoming a bad break up. She lands a job with a nemesis who’s a mogul, Darcine (Gina Torez), and injudiciously has an affair with the boss’s twenty-someson (Keith thing

Powers). Fans of the Prime Video series Harlem will love this sex in the cityish ode to older women feeling their oats. Credit the rapid-fire, snarky, sexually explicit and roaringly funny female banter to screenwriter Leigh Davenport. Darcine to Jenna: “I run out of boyfriends you can f—k and you go after my son!!!!” Davenport can also take a victory lap for the ultra-modern narrative, engaging characters and frank discussions about female/male relations, e.g., the very Jenna pragmatic explains why an impending blind date has potential: “Once I heard that he had dental and vision benefits, he was an option.”

Union has never been funnier. She makes come alive.

Jenna Director Numa Perrier has a strong background in TV (Queen Sugar), which helps her get aniperformances mated from her cast and create a New York atmosphere that seems very urbane.

Production design (Sally Levi) and set decoration (Amber Thrane) stand out as much as the costumes (Amit Gajwani) and cinematography (Eric Lin). Wondrous soundtrack includes oldies (Billie Holiday) and newbies (Giveon).

Tune into Netflix and get tickled by an adult romantic/comedy that will keep you amused and titillated. Trailer: <www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=n4tjqqGgky8>.

On Netflix.

Uncharted (***)

They’re 12 songbirds. Budding neo-soul writers/singers/producers/engineers chosen by Alicia Keys for her ‘She Is The Music’ songwriting camp. The learning center is a haven, especially for the young women who’ve had tough experiences working in a predominately male industry where verbal, emotional and sexual abuse are issues.

These talented artists create ultra modern soul songs that are catchy— the kind you’d play over and over. Their confessions and perceptive anecdotes are relevant to the music business and the world at large.

Watching them write words, form melodies and harmonize is magic.

Three of the songs stand out and have top-10 potential, including: The playful wonderfully ‘Stank-ass Walk,’ the ethereal ‘Purpose’ and the very modern ‘Like It That Way.’ Director/producer Beth Aala finds the essence of each artist and explores the group’s sisterhood. Each feels like tomorrow’s breakout star who could become a Spotify sensation. The camerawork (cinematographer Ayana Baraka) isn’t fancy but does the job. The editing (M. Watanabe Milmore) cuts the footage down to a tidy 95 minutes. In the end, the music these women create makes this documentary as memorable as a song you can’t get out of your head.

Trailer: <www.youtube. com/watch?v=QrHOv5gJhY>. Tribeca at Home.

TPS Presents Fan Me With a Brick by Kenley Smith

by Cass Teague When Victoria sets out to learn more of her family's history, she opens a portal to a past full of loss, pain and indomitable perseverance. Her mother reluctantly joins her, and the two women uncover old wounds - a scandalous affair in segregated Virginia, a stolen child, a lost parent, a horrific accident - that linger unhealed in the present.

Based on true events, Fan Me With a Brick, written by Kenley Smith, directed by Shawn Whitsell, with original research by V. Yalewa Sparrowhawk Ferguson, will be presented by Tennessee Playwrights Studio at Darkhorse Theatre 4610 Charlotte Avenue Nashville, TN 37209.

The cast includes Tanya Anderson, Briana

C. Finley, Dee Hammonds, Leslie Hammonds, Tony Insignares, JR Knowles, Myah Jackson, Ethan H. Jones, Josh Kiev, Angela Martin, Kysa Siovan, and Kinston Smith. Performances are July 7&8 at 7:30 pm; July 9 at 3pm; July 13-15, 20-22 at 7:30 pm.

Visit tnplaywrights. org for more information and tickets.

Here’s the fascinating true backstory by the author: I cringed.

“Hey, I hear you’re a playwright,” my highschool classmate messaged me. “Well, you need to write a play about my family.”

My eyes rolled.

“I have my own stories,” I wanted to respond.

“Whatever you’re preparing to tell me is going to be awful.

It’ll have no impact outside of your own little circle. Life is too damn short for this.”

Although we went to the same junior high, high school and college, we’d barely spoken over those 10 years. In 2017, we were strangers with a four-decade acquaintance. But I am many things, including a coward. So I typed in response.

“Oh. Cool. Tell me about it.”

Even my fingers regretted it.

She sent me pages and pages of notes. I glanced at the words that tumbled from my phone.

No one, I told myself, wants to see a play about genealogical research, much less write one.

And then I read what she sent me. I sat transfixed. Stunned. The story in those notes

spanned a century of loss, betrayal, pain and perseverance. It was real and human and heartbreaking, but the wounds somehow closed in the end. Indomitable spirit triumphed.

We spoke on the phone for a few hours. I heard her own story for the first time, because I had never bothered before to ask. I realized how my experience of that small coalfield town directly opposed hers, and that realization shamed me. I was there, for God’s sake; how could I not have known?

“This needs to be a play,” she said. “I want you to write it.”

She wanted me, a white man of privilege, to tell the story of her African-American and Native ancestors. The thought humbled me. It terrified me.

The real-life Catherine and Victoria, the inspirations for the main characters of FAN ME WITH A BRICK, pose for a snapshot in the early 1960s.

When her voice “There are plenty of playwrights out there,” I finally spoke truth, the rest of the play unfolded. said.

“But I trust you,” she It was written between replied. And so, here we April and August of 2018 as part of my work are.

It was at first a daunt- with the then-brand-new ing task. I had to con- Tennessee Playwrights dense 70 years into a Studio.

I’m grateful for the couple of hours and pare down dozens of real-life opportunity to share this characters into a man- play with you. I hope ageable cast for the mod- you enjoy Fan Me With ern stage. I thought a Brick, the story of about it all for months Yalewa Sparrowhawk’s before Phoebe uttered family.

I knew her as Vicky, her first words in my by the way. mind.

Unforgettable night of music, tributes at 2023 BeT Awards

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent The electrifying atmosphere of the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles served as the backdrop for a momentous occasion as the 2023 BET Awards took center stage.

This year’s highly anticipated event celebrated 50 years of hiphop with an unforgettable night of special musical medleys handpicked by Kid Capri.

The star-studded affair kicked off with an explosive performance

by Lil Uzi Vert, setting the tone for an evening that would pay homage to the genre’s trailblazers.

Hip-hop pioneers such as The Sugar Hill Gang, MC Lyte (who also served as the night’s announcer), D-Nice, and Big Daddy Kane graced the stage, taking the audience on a nostalgic journey.

A heartfelt singalong to the late Biz Markie’s iconic track, ‘Just a Friend,’ brought emotion and nostalgia throughout the theater.

The night was ablaze with captivating performances from an array

embraced the essence of hip-hop, bridging the gap between past and present, paying homage to the genre’s enduring legacy.

Artists and emcee Kid Capri exalted the memory of late hip-hop luminaries, offering snippets of their iconic hits, from Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. to Biz Markie and Pop Smoke.

of artists, including Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Jeezy, Kid ‘N Play, Master P, Redman, Remy Ma, Soulja Boy, Styles P, Warren G, Trina, and Trick Daddy.

Each artist brought a unique style and energy, igniting the stage with their music.

Drake led the list of nominees with an impressive seven nominations.

His recognition spanned categories such as Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Album of the Year for his collaboration with 21 Savage on ‘Her Loss,’ and the prestigious Viewer’s Choice Award.

Following closely behind were 21 Savage and Lizzo, each receiving five nominations.

Beyoncé, Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Ice Spice, and SZA each received four nominations.

Patti LaBelle took the stage to pay tribute to the late Queen of Rock ‘n Roll, Tina Turner.

LaBelle’s soulful rendition of Turner’s timeless hit, ‘The Best,’ captivated the audience, honoring an icon who left an indelible mark on the music industry.

Another pinnacle moment came when Busta Rhymes received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Swizz Beatz presented the honor, celebrating Rhymes’ remarkable contributions as a rapper, producer, and pioneering figure in hip-hop.

The show fervently

Music took precedence, and the event appeared to capture the spirit and evolution of hip-hop.

In a surprise moment that stirred the crowd, Quavo and Offset, the surviving members of Migos, delivered a powerful performance of ‘Bad and Boujee.’

The emotional tribute included a poignant

image of Takeoff, their late bandmate who tragically died in a shooting incident last December.

Their heartfelt cry, “BET, do it for Take,” resonated deeply with the emotional crowd.

From start to finish, the 2023 BET Awards paid homage to the roots of hip-hop while embracing its vibrant future.

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 8

Nashville PRIDE

Health/Education

www.pridepublishinggroup.com

June 30, 2023

Nashville General offers tips to avoid bathroom injuries It is probably the smallest room in your home, but it can be the source of your biggest health risks: your bathroom. Of the almost 235,000 people who go to the emergency room because of a bathroom accident, 14% are hospitalized. More than 33% happen while bathing or showering. More than 14% happen while using the toilet.

“Bathroom injuries can happen to anyone, regardless of age. Those with joint pain, muscle weakness or physical disabilities may be more prone to getting hurt,” according to Nashville General Hospital in a release. “Women are 72% more likely to be injured than men. Those ages 15 to 24 are more likely to be hurt around the tub or shower. People over age 85 have more than half of their injuries near the toilet.”

Nashville General Hospital recommends the following things you can do to stay safe in the bathroom: • Put away anything you can trip over such as towels, shoes or laundry.

• Install a nightlight.

• Use non-skid floor mats or rugs.

• Install grab rails on both the inside and outside of the tub or shower to help you get in and out.

• Use non-skid rugs outside the shower or tub.

Every year, about 235,000 people visit the emergency room because of injuries that happen in the bathroom. (photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash) • Keep the floor outside the tub or • Add an elevated toilet seat to raise shower dry by using a shower curtain the seat height. This can help prevent or door. Avoid splashing water if you falls. are in the tub.

Grab bars, whether by the toilet, • Sit on a bath chair or bench when shower or tub should be installed to the taking a shower. wall vertically or horizontally. Do not • Install non-slip stickers or mats in install them diagonally. Diagonal bars your shower or tub. do not provide the necessary leverage • Set the temperature on your water to prevent a fall. A towel rack is not, heater to 120º F to prevent scalds. and should not be, used as a grab bar.

• Install grab bars near the toilet.

Towel racks are not strong enough to • Urinate sitting down and avoid support your weight. getting up suddenly.

While many of the tips above also

apply to young children, there are additional things you can do to keep your children safe. These include: • Never leave a young child alone in the bathroom.

• Close the door when the bathroom is not in use.

• Children younger than age six should not be left unattended in a bathtub or in the bathroom if there is water in the tub.

• Do not allow older siblings to ‘be in charge’ of a younger child’s safety.

An adult should be in the bathroom at all times.

• Teach your children not to touch the spout or turn on the hot water.

• Keep dangerous items like razors, electronic items and medicines out of your children’s reach.

For more information on how to prevent falls in your home, and other safety tips, read ‘Your Guide for Better Choices’ provided courtesy of the Nashville General Hospital Foundation. This guide is also available in Spanish.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should talk with your primary care physician or other qualified medical professionals regarding diagnosis and treatment of a health condition.

Tennessee Titans, Governor’s early Literacy Foundation expand annual ‘Rookies Read’ to encourage early literacy across Nashville The Tennessee Titans recently partnered with the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) and My Brother’s Keeper to host the annual ‘Rookies Read Across Nashville’ event for local children at Nashville Public Library’s Looby Branch Library, Purpose Preparatory Academy, and Thomas Edison Elementary. The event, normally held at a single location, expanded this year to encourage more young learners to ‘Stop the Slide’ during the summer and keep their brains active by reading. Representatives from GELF joined Titans rookies and leadership to share their favorite books and a special story time for the children.

The event featured remarks from James Pond, GELF president, as well as Titans Vice President/Executive Director of the Titans Foundation Johari Matthews. Titans rookies discussed their favorite books and participated in story time, followed by a ‘question and answer’ with the children in attendance.

“Education is a key pillar of our ONE Community platform, and supporting initiatives that increase literacy is a huge focus for us,” said Matthews.

“Working with GELF on the Rookie Reads event is something we look forward to annually, and we were thrilled to expand the initiative across three locations this year, offering additional educational resources to students throughout our city.”

According to GELF, research shows that two to three months of proficiency is lost for students who do not read over the summer, but reading four to six books has the potential to stop, mitigate, or reverse this ‘summer slide.’ The ‘Rookies Read Across Nashville’ event aims to support GELF’s ‘Stop the Slide!’ summer reading campaign and K-3 Home Library program. GELF’s K-3 Home Library program was established to combat summer learning loss in Tennessee and better support in the home learning for students. Through this program, GELF delivered 1.2 million books to teachers and students statewide this summer, including every rising first, second and

Tennessee Titans Rookies read to students at Purpose Preparatory Academy at the literacy event. third grader enrolled in a public school gomery Bell State Park in Burns. to join GELF’s ‘Booker’s Book Club’ GELF Book Buses will also be in serv- on social media this summer by postin Tennessee.

“At Governor’s Early Literacy ice this summer, bringing high quality ing photos of their children reading Foundation, we team up with partners literacy resources to children and com- with the hashtags #BookersBookstatewide to promote a culture of read- munities. Tennesseans are encouraged ClubTN #StoptheSlideTN. ing inside and outside of the classroom, on and off the field,” said James Pond, president of GELF. “Through our K-3 Home Library program, we deliver books and resources to over a million Tennessee students and teachers over the summer. We are grateful for the Titans’ support in joining us to ‘Stop the Slide!’ of summer learning loss. We all have a position to play in building a brighter future for our children.”

To help ‘Stop the Slide!’ GELF encourages families to utilize their other statewide early literacy programs this summer as well as participate in their local library’s Summer Reading Challenge. GELF invites families to engage their children with over 50 Storybook Trails across the state. The Storybook Trails bring classic stories to life in outdoor settings that showcase Tennessee’s natural beauty, from Cheekwood in Nashville to Mont-

A Good Fit. A Great Future.

State now accepting 2023 Families First Community Grant Program Applications The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has opened applications for the 2023 Families First Community Grant Program, an initiative that will make available approximately $30 million in funding to non-profit organizations providing direct services to strengthen Tennessee families in need and promote self-sufficiency.

Qualifying non-profit organizations are invited to apply here through July 7 at 5 p.m. CST. “We’re extending an invitation to eligible nonprofit organizations to unite with us in pursuit to expand supportive services to families in Tennessee that generate positive, sustainable outcomes. We believe that together we can make a profound difference in the lives of those who need it most,” said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter.

“Through community partnerships we can ensure that all state residents have an opportunity to reach their full potential as contributing members of our community, and together, we can build stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger Tennessee.”

The Families First Community Grant program was created as an additional method to invest TANF funds in ways to provide assistance to lowincome families and help them move towards sustainable economic stability. The grants will support a wide range of services in the areas of education, health and well-being, economic stability and fostering safe, stable, and nurturing relationships.

The grant recipients will be select-

Whenever you’re available, we offer ƽI\MFPI GLSMGIW ƍ GEQTYWIW MR QMHHPI 8IRRIWWII ƍ 3RPMRI ERH L]FVMH STXMSRW ƍ ERH [IIO WIQIWXIVW Clarence H. Carter, TDHS Commissioner (Photo: tn.gov) ed through a competitive application process and evaluated based upon their ability to provide effective services and programs that address the specific needs of the community.

TDHS encourages all communitybased, nonprofit organizations ready to play a central role in the design and implementation of programs that address the unique problems of lowincome families in their communities and fosters at least one of the federal TANF goals to submit an application for a Families First Community Grant.

The department is focused on partnering with organizations that can provide family-focused solutions that demonstrate measurable impacts designed with the goal of transforming Tennessee’s safety net by growing the capacity of vulnerable families to selfsufficiency and economic prosperity.

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Antioch, TN 37013 615-780-2760 NSCC.edu/southeast

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