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Dr. Xyzeidria Ensley serves as the Director of Behavioral Health Services at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
Dr. Xyzeidria Ensley is a mental health professional and author who has served as the Director of Behavioral Health Services at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 20 years.
Ensley’s path led her to the Sheriff’s Office after she worked as a Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) case manager at the Mental Health Cooperative. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, also known as SAMHSA, FACT is a service delivery model intended for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who are involved with the criminal justice system.
“We would help transition adults with severe mental illnesses from correctional facilities into the community,” Ensley explained. “This endeavor was under the leadership of Amanda Bracht at the time, and this was my first encounter dealing with the criminal justice system.”
While working as a FACT case manager, Ensley got to know the late Jeff Blum, a legend among local homeless service providers due to his influence bridging different systems and helping address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
“My current role actually was Jeff Blum's role,” Ensley said, adding that she became the Director of Behavioral Health Services after Blum retired. In that role, she oversees the behavior management of all facilities in the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, which includes, among a number of other things, the coordination of forensic evaluations, and oversight of an intensive outpatient treatment program.
Nationwide, people with mental illness are overrepresented in the justice system. Do you have an estimate of how many people in Nashville jails have a mental health condition?
In 2024, there were nearly 7,000 individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) that came through our doors. The volume of people in the Sheriff's Office housed with SPMI (severe and persistent mental illness) in the jail, it seems to be still disproportionate compared to the volume of people with SPMI in the general population. We are close to two thirds of individuals in the correctional settings having SPMI.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office has implemented some innovative approaches including the Behavioral Care Center (BCC). What are some of the outcomes of the BCC that you would like to highlight?
The Sheriff (Daron Hall) speaks a lot about BCC’s readmission rate, and it is always something that should be highlighted. There is only 36 percent
Q&A with Xyzeidria Ensley
BY JUDITH TACKETT
of the population that have returned to jail after completing BCC. We also have Increased the amount of time between incarcerations for those who have returned to jail after completing the program.
I believe this is due to increasing access to services for folks, not only while they are in custody but also when they return to the community.
Every resident at BCC received discharge planning services, a plan that addresses their housing, their mental health care or aftercare, their substance abuse treatment, medical care, and employment. If residents refuse any specific services or discharge planning, they receive resources when they leave, so that they can pursue [services] independently.
That was one thing that the Sheriff really wanted to highlight regarding BCC. He wanted to make sure that someone was handed to some type of community provider.
The program model has also helped with enhancing collaboration within the criminal justice system [that includes] the DA's (District Attorney) Office, the PD’s (Public Defender) Office and Probation. These relationships foster systems that work more efficiently.
Besides the BCC, what other approaches is the Sheriff’s Office taking to assist people with mental illness who are incarcerated?
Aside from BCC, one thing that the Sheriff’s Office does differently, at least compared to other counties in Tennessee, is that we have a robust in-house mental health team [providing] medical services, which include medical discharge planners. A lot of the other jails rely on having maybe a mental health nurse or a specialist, and some rely on having just a medical staff who
may continue orders for mental health medications once these medications have been verified.
At the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, we have multidisciplinary meetings, which can help identify individuals who have mental health needs and monitor services that they are receiving.
As far as the unique processes, one of the things that we have is that the Sheriff's Office put in place a distribution of reports that are sent out daily to some of the community partners. These reports really assist with collateral information regarding those who've been newly incarcerated who are in outpatient mental health care, so that our in-house mental health team can do their best to ensure the continuity of care.
Some years ago, the former Metropolitan Homelessness Commission director, Will Connelly, who now is the executive director of The Contributor, partnered with the Metro Public Health Department and the Sheriff’s Office to implement a SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery) program in jail. Is that program still going, and how would you describe its impact?
Yes, the SOAR Program is still being implemented within the facilities. We currently have two staff members working in our population to assist them with this process. I believe the program has been really impactful because it has created opportunities for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our system to have access to resources that seriously improve their ability to thrive once they reintegrate into the community.
About how many inmates who experience homelessness would you say are arrested in Nashville on a monthly basis? How do you determine their
homelessness status, and what is the cost per night of housing people in jail?
Homelessness status is self-reported based on address. If an inmate gives the address as “homeless” or lists one of the local shelters, we consider them to be homeless upon booking.
In 2024, we had about 2,576 justice-involved individuals booked as being homeless or unhoused. That averages out to 215 a month. Of those, only 1,625 were unique inmates, so many were booked multiple times.
As far as the cost per night is concerned, it may cost about $118 per night to house individuals that are justice-involved.
You serve on the Continuum of Care’s Homelessness Planning Council. What are some opportunities that you see for organizations working on preventing and ending homelessness to partner with the Sheriff’s Office?
The Sheriff's Office has always partnered with community providers to bring opportunities to our population. In the past, the agency has put on some resource fairs for community stakeholders to introduce their services to the population. Also, quarterly Transition from Jail to Community meetings provide a forum for community partners to highlight their services.
We hope to continue to move forward by utilizing key community providers that cater to the unhoused individuals to provide coordination and linkage for streamlining access for services.
Is there anything else you would like to highlight?
This goes back to the over-representation we have talked about earlier in regard to people with severe mental health issues. The Sheriff’s Office has created a flag system that helps to ensure that people who are up for release are assessed in order to try to make sure we are not releasing individuals who are not able to take care of themselves or maintain their safety once they are out of the facility. That flagging system helps us identify those who are really ill in our population, and we do great work in not releasing those into the community who are unable to care for themselves.
What happens when after an assessment it is determined that a person cannot take care of themselves. What’s the next step?
If the mental health and medical providers feel that these individuals are unable to care for themselves, they will do their best to get them [into services to address their needs]. If it’s deemed a crisis situation, they will make sure they are connected to a hospital, whether it's the Crisis Resolution Center or other services that could be beneficial.
The Trump Card Poison Pen Jr.
Written by Chris Scott Fieselman, Vendor #0015
Come up empty handed, Again and Again and Again and Again... It’s really not all that funny, When you haven’t got the money. But we do have an Old / New President. Infected with an Intense Sense of Compensation, And a Taste for Sweet Revenge.
The Trump Card... An Old / New President of the United States. With an Agenda that he, And his friends have been planning, To Implement and Orchestrate. Isn’t it great? Payoffs and Paybacks, Promises and Pardons, Political Parlays and Protection from, What Pent-up Power can eventually become? One day we may appreciate, The Provision that’s been placed upon our Plates, When we look back and see what “We the People” have done? Too little... Too much... And too late... Isn’t it great? All Hail the Old / New Commander in Chief... So proud to now, at last be allowed, To air and act on His Political Beliefs... “Let’s make it a point to get rid of them. The Illegal Alien Immigrant Population. The Criminals and the Thieves. And let’s keep them from ever coming back again.” xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
And then? A Welcome Howdy, How do you do, To all of you, who wish they were an American? Are we better off with or without them? Therein lies the question?
Give us your gifted and not your afflicted. Your Talented, Proud and Deserving, Not your worthless, your worst, your unwanted, Your desperate and your hurting. That’s not my problem. That’s your burden... Dear Mr. Old / New President, This is how I’ve decided to play my hand. From the Oldest Son of Poison Pen. Experience is what turns a boy into a man, Or a young girl into a woman. Have you ever noticed? How so many goals, Depend upon those we call friends. Make no plans to take advantage of one’s fellow man. Understanding what Forgiveness Represents? Is... Understanding what it means to be Christian? “Take care of yourself or take care of other? Put others before oneself.” For the good of everyone else? Or for accumulating more wealth? This ain’t the first time we’ve committed a crime, Defending this land of, What’s yours is yours and what’s mine is mine. What does it take to open the eyes?
Of someone unfortunately born blind? One has to be so inclined...
From, Poison Pen Jr. Mumz Oldest Son.
We’ve only just begun to have fun... I think she’d be proud, Of what I’ve said and what I’ve done? Who I am now and what I’ve become?
Too cool for school, considered a fool, But handy to have around.
Mumz worked The Long Island Rail Road, Jamaica Station, Lost and Found.
I guess she said what they wanted to hear? To see their way clear, to keep her around. She did what she did for years, Without ever complaining or making a sound. She taught me... “This Land is Your Land” and, “We all stand upon Common Ground.”
From, Poison Pen Jr. Mumz Oldest Son. Written with Rhythm, Rhyme and Reason. A Memorable Message with Morals and Meaning, And an Imaginary Melody. Someone had to say it?
With or without back-up music’s company. Why not a Long Island Songwriter, Living in Nashville, Tennessee?
From Poverty to Prosperity, and everything in between. Fulfilling a Promise, while Chasing a Dream. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, And knowing what that means?
Nothing is ever really as regrettable, As presently things may seem.
“It’s just not looking good for our team...”
From, Poison Pen Jr. Mumz Oldest Son. The Songwriter, the Soldier, the Sinner, the Saint... Sentimental he is, but Selfish he ain’t.
Somewhat Sarcastic and Slightly Insane, But still pretty good at Playing the Game. What’s meant to be, they keep telling me? Will eventually someday come. If my example can help someone else? It was worth it, it was needed and was fun.
I’ve never been one to “Turn and Run” Or begged for anything from anyone.
I’ve come a long ways, a ways from the days, I was younger and had just begun. But I’ll never forget who I am? Why I’m here? And where it is I come from?
From, Poison Pen Jr. Mumz Oldest Son. And the songs from “The Soundtrack of My Life.”
Some are born to sing the songs, and others are born to write. A Superior level of Service, Satisfaction Guaranteed. For better or for worse, I’ve got exactly what you need.
I’m part of Music’s Universe because I write the words. Saying what needs to be said at first, Before the Music’s been heard.
Well worth all the time and effort & definitely all the work, When, whether or not I succeed...
THEME: THE OSCAR
ACROSS
1. 1/10
6. European tourist tax, acr. 9. "Germinal" author … mile
13. Bye, in Paris
14. Bigheadedness
15. Relating to wine, arch.
16. Tabletop mountains
17. H+, e.g.
18. Large key on the right
19. *"____ Boys"
21. *"Emilia PËrez" leading actress
23. H in HMS, sometimes
24. Kids' get-away
25. Like certain Four
28. Queen of Carthage
30. Razzed
35. Scary fairytale creature
37. Soft drink
39. Like certain egg order
40. Sir Mix-____-____
41. *Sean Baker's original screenplay
43. Loyal, arch.
44. Caldecott award
46. Ascus, pl.
47. AI's learning material
48. Harry ____, once of One Direction
50. Wearing footgear
52. *At 2024 Oscars, Ryan Gosling sang "I'm Just ____"
53. Sushi restaurant libation
55. Unit of length of yarn
57. *This year's Academy Awards host
60. *Elphaba and Galinda story
63. Antique shop item
64. Metal-bearing rock
66. Mountain nymph
68. Southeast Asian org.
69. Lavatory, abbr.
70. *____ Theatre
71. Whimper
72. Sodium hydroxide
73. Follow
DOWN
1. Scottish cap
2. Barbara of "I Dream of Jeannie"
3. Not yet final, at law
4. Mold a mind
5. Like ear of corn that is ready to cook
6. Bride's cover
7. Opposite of hence
8. Polynesian kingdom
9. Zn
10. "I'm ____ you!"
11. Property right
12. Acronym, abbr.
15. Evening worship
20. "All My Children" vixen
22. Invoice qty.
24. Colossus, pl.
25. Fizzes
26. End of a shoelace
27. *"The Brutalist" leading actor
29. Spanish lady
31. Old, in Scottish
32. Go stealthily
33. Related on mother's side
34. *Chalamet's role
36. Et alibi, abbr.
38. St. Louis' Gateway
42. Garlicky mayonnaise
45. Acne, technically
49. Famous frat house
51. Crack
54. Grassy mound
56. Ohio metropolis
57. Yorkshire river
58. Tea or beer
59. Iranian money
60. We have
61. Mature elvers
62. Dabu-____, chili pepper condiment
63. Operator's equip.
65. *Jamie Foxx won Best Actor in 2005 for this biopic
67. Yellow #5, e.g.
Recently, I met Denny. He is 70 years old and lives outdoors in a local park, by himself — without a tent — and I’ve been terribly concerned about him. We just have gone through the second extreme cold spell of 2025. Denny has extremely bad eyesight. He told me that about two years ago, his eyes started to fail him, and his number one concern right now is to finally get to see a doctor about it.
I was sitting right next to him on a bench, and he said he was unable to recognize my features. When his case manager from People Loving Nashville showed up, he called out to her so she could identify herself by voice.
Denny told me that people have been checking up on him. People want to help. He’s also been offered a ride to Metro’s Cold Weather shelter, rather aggressively, as he described it to me, which made me laugh as Denny has a sense of humor. But Denny explained to me that he prefers staying outside. He feels safer in his spot, especially with his bad eyesight. Once he explained all the different reasons, it made sense.
The reason I found Denny is because I intentionally reached out to several nonprofits to help connect me with people who are willing to tell me their story and allow me to check in over the course of the next nine months. Their stories will be recorded, and portions of those conversations will be used for the second season of In My Place , a nine-part radio show/ podcast about homelessness. In My Place airs live on This Is Nashville , and you can catch it most likely on the last Tuesday of each month on WPLN 90.3 FM.
I’ve had the honor of creating and co-producing this radio/podcast series with Tasha A.F. Lemley, managing editor of This Is Nashville and one of the founders and the first executive director of The Contributor. The vision of the series is to educate listeners about the different aspects of homelessness and learn from experts, including people with lived experience, about what we can do to help.
For this second season, we want to dig deeper into how people are linked to services. What are their experiences on their path to housing? What are their obstacles, and how do they overcome them? What are their goals and needs, and how do they feel about their situation when we check in with them?
I have now met several people in the places they live. Some asked to use a different name for safety reasons that they explained to us. But they all look forward to telling their story in the hopes to help listeners understand homelessness better and learn how they can help.
It feels different when people tell you their story rather than hearing it told through other folks like nonprofit providers or me (in this column). It also feels different when you can hear the emotion in people’s voices. When you listen and can see the tears rolling slowly down the face of
COLUMN: LEARN MORE ABOUT
Learn More about “In My Place”
BY JUDITH TACKETT
a nearly blind person as he shares with me how he lost his son in an accident and fell into such a deep depression that rendered him unable to work. He lost everything and eventually ended up on the streets.
Another person, Danielle, needs 24/7 care due to her disability. That’s also the reason why she cannot access a shelter since most emergency shelters require people to be able to take care of their own hygiene. That is understandable, when you think about it. Shelters are not equipped and do not have the staff on hand to help people shower or brush their teeth, for example.
Besides their personal stories, we hope In My Place will allow us to show people’s talents, strengths and resilience — similar to what you can find in the writing of The Contributor vendors on these pages.
While In My Place always had a strong focus on including people who were or still are experiencing homelessness, in our second season, we aim to elevate their voices. We will attempt to go into the field and talk to them about their journey. Some folks, we hope, will allow us to check in every few weeks throughout the duration of the next nine months. Others may decide that after a while they don’t want to talk to us anymore. Some may leave you wanting for more, while others may upset you with their opinions. All of that is what we hope to share.
As we enter an unstable future for most of us, it behooves us to pay attention to what is happening to some of the most vulnerable among us.
We are in a world right now where political campaign money seems to flow endlessly. Yet, we are clearly unable to help people off the streets as quickly as they lose their housing. We have the most billionaires we’ve ever had globally — and they now rule countries and make arbitrary laws that threaten to cut off funding for marginalized populations such as people experiencing homelessness.
The first big shock wave came with a memorandum issued by the Trump Administration on Jan. 27, 2025, which directed all federal agencies to pause the
disbursement of federal financial grants to organizations. The effective date was the following day, Jan. 28, at 5 p.m. A judicial order put a temporary block on the directive, which had created confusion and chaos for nonprofit and government agencies across the nation. Eventually, the Trump Administration backed off, but some federal funds were unavailable for days — and according to news reports some monies are still not accessible.
In a Feb.-14 email, Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, gave an update of the impact the measures of the Trump administration have had on homelessness so far. Here is a brief summary of those impacts:
• In January, HUD announced nearly $3.6 billion in Continuum of Care (CoC) program awards across the country. But, Oliva said, so far, no steps have been taken to distribute the funds. A majority of these funds are needed to continue services to people experiencing homelessness.
• A new federal budget proposal issued by House Republicans “relies upon $1.5 trillion in spending cuts,” Oliva wrote. “It is believed that Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be targeted for deep cuts.” This would deeply impact access to health care and housing stability.
• Oliva further noted that the Equal Access Rule is at risk. The Equal Access Rule prohibits agencies from asking about sexual orientation or gender identity to determine housing eligibility, and it requires that federally funded programs including shelters and other facilities allow people to be served in accordance with their gender identity.
• HUD also intends to revoke the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, which is a tool that requires local communities to identify barriers to the Fair Housing Act and set goals to address those barriers. Protected groups under the Fair Housing Act are those who experi-
ence discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex or disability.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition wrote shortly after the inauguration, “President Trump came into office at a time when more renters than ever before, particularly those with the lowest incomes, are struggling with high housing costs.
“More than 10 million households with the lowest incomes are severely cost-burdened, paying more than half their limited income on rent. Despite the urgent need, three in four households eligible for housing assistance are unable to access assistance because of Congress’s failure to adequately fund vital affordable housing programs. Without affordable housing options, these families are always one financial shock away from facing evictions and in the worst cases homelessness.”
The Contributor has and continues to report on increased criminalization of homelessness. In 2024, the nation saw the highest number of homeless people ever — 770,000 — during a one-night count of people staying in emergency homeless shelters or outdoors. The count also found that families are the fastest growing population affected by homelessness.
In case you wonder how all of this is linked to our reporting for In My Place , I believe it is imperative that we learn to truly listen to the people who are affected by homelessness directly. The Contributor is already doing a tremendous job. Read the articles written by the vendors!
But we have more to do. We need to elevate people’s voices whenever we can, so that the general public starts to understand that when we have people living on the streets in the United States of America, something has gone terribly wrong. And through these stories, they will learn that it is not personal failures that are the root cause of homelessness in America. Rather, it is widespread systems failures that could be corrected through long-term planning, policies, and government support.
I hope by listening to people’s stories, we learn from their experiences, and we see opportunities to improve some things despite what is going on politically.
When I spoke to Denny, he said there were a lot of people who came up and tried to help him out. They are good people. They want to help their neighbors. But oftentimes, they give him stuff he cannot use or currently doesn’t need. He described a guy to me who was super nice and brought him a shirt and pants. But those were clothes that a businessperson would use to go from the car to a store. They were not warm enough to sustain Denny in the cold of winter.
I asked him, “Has anyone ever come to you and ask you first what you need before they bring you stuff?”
“Once,” he replied, pointing to a blanket he said was exactly what he needed in size and warmth.
WE ARE HERE.
Job loss, unexpected bills and unforeseen circumstances can happen to anyone. United Way can help.
We offer free programs and initiatives that are available to everyone in our community. Here are a few:
Free Tax Prep Services available to any household that earned $76,000 or less in 2024. Taxpayers have the option to file virtually on their own or with the help of our tax preparers or in-person at select sites. Visit unitedwayfilefree.com to get started.
Financial Empowerment Center offers free one-on-one financial counseling to anyone who needs it — regardless of income. Counselors can help plan for your future, establish or improve credit, manage debt, create a budget, increase savings and maximize cashflow. Schedule your appointment by calling 615.748.3620 or visiting fec.nashville.gov
211 Helpline is a free and confidential service helping people find the local resources they need for help in times of crisis and beyond. Just dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211. Search for services in your area at: team211.communityos.org/homepage-uwgn
Scan the code to learn more about how United Way is helping in our community.
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Will Nashville Choose FUSUS or Democracy?
BY STEPHEN WATTS
In December 2024, the Nashville City Council rejected Metro Nashville Police Department’s FUSUS contract — by one vote. FUSUS, a technology that merges private and public video feeds into one centralized platform for the police to monitor, was backed by Mayor Freddie O’Connell as a vital tool to help keep Nashvillians safe. But local advocates described the technology as one which, without proper policies and procedures, attempts to use Davidson County residents as the “beta testers” for a new era of policing.
Immediately after the bill’s defeat, Mayor O’Connell blamed FUSUS’s failure on community members who “attach[ed] fears about unrelated possibilities to it.” So city leaders have already brought back the bill in an attempt to barge it through. Community concerns seem so insignificant when they collide with a process determined to chug along.
The mayor has dismissed all concerns about FUSUS as misguided and lobbyists have reportedly resorted to making threats to council members who refuse to vote their way. But they have repeatedly failed to address citizens’ concerns in good faith, because it is very difficult to argue that FUSUS technology makes Nashvillians more safe.
1. They failed to produce any data suggesting this bill would be effective in reducing violent crime. That is because this data does not exist. Data that has been collected seems to suggest the opposite, with large drops in Nashville’s violent crime rates occurring after video feeds to FUSUS were disabled.
2. They failed to develop coherent policies and procedures to ensure that intended goals would be achieved. Despite FUSUS first being installed in September of 2022, the MNPD never enacted a Standardized Operating Procedure (SoP) for the technology at all.
3. They failed to provide enforceable guardrails to protect Nashvillians’ civil rights. The FUSUS contract indemnified the MNPD from any allegations of “misuse” by rerouting all allegations of abuse to Axon Enterprises (FUSUS’ parent company). Local civil rights leaders warned that litigation against private organizations is so expensive that it would prevent Davidson County residents from seeking justice for civil rights violations.
4. They failed to be proactive to anticipate the dangers of outsourcing
key government functions to private corporations. The terms and conditions of the FUSUS contract between Metro Nashville and Axon (the owner of FUSUS) reads, “In no event will either party [Metro and Axon] be liable to the other for any … damages of any kind for any matter arising out of or in connection with … this agreement.” Even if Axon violated the key terms of any amended agreement, our government would have already forfeited the responsibility to pursue legal remedy for its citizens.
5. They failed to provide clear and consistent descriptions of the FUSUS technology, with council members regularly coming away from meetings with different interpretations. In the discussion directly preceding the last FUSUS vote, council members repeatedly disagreed on what kind of data FUSUS captures and where this data is stored. One councilman turned to the citizens in the gallery and tried to argue that FUSUS does not capture data at all.
The Tennessee state legislature has made it clear that they will force local police departments to use all available tools to criminalize immigration, homelessness and protest. But rather than addressing this crisis head-on, Nashville’s elected officials are pushing legislation that further weakens citizens’ ability to hold the police department accountable to our priorities.
Watching local lawmakers openly mock our concerns reminds me that public safety is not primarily an issue of crime, but of democracy. Although Nashvillians have repeatedly stated that community control over public services makes us safer than surveillance, our elected officials continue to advance “solutions” that directly contradict our community’s greatest needs.
In Mayor O’Connell’s final encouragement to Nashville council members to vote in favor of FUSUS, he described the vote as one that would answer “a question about whether we trust ourselves — local government, local law enforcement — to perform a core mission of public safety.” The answer came back: “No.”
In a time where authoritarianism is in such clear view, we are once again checking for effectiveness, coherence, enforcement, proactiveness and clarity from a mayoral administration that wishes to operate according to business-as-usual. It is no surprise that upon receiving a vote of no confidence, they would decide to dismiss the results.
Black History Facts
STORY AND IMAGES BY BARBARA WOMACK
1. Nashville, Tennessee was the first southern city to desegregate public facilities.
2. Justice A.A. Birch Jr. was the first African American to serve as Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court and father of A.A. Birch III, SVP & Chief External Affairs Officer for the Tennessee Titans.
3. Attorney Avon Williams was the first African American senator to be elected in the state. He was a cousin of Chief Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice of the United States.
4. The Fisk Jubilee Singers are the first collegiate music group to win a Grammy. This was the same year the ensemble celebrated its 150th anniversary.
5. Tennessee State University is the first
HBCU to offer men's Ice Hockey at the collegiate level.
6. Jimi Hendrix came to Nashville in l962 and scored a residency at Club Del Morocco with his band, The King Kasuals.
7. Ray Charles and his band thrilled the crowd at Maceo's on Jefferson Street, the same year he'd have his biggest crossover hit yet with "What'd I Say" in l959.
8. The Ku Klux Klan underwent a revival in the l920s partly as a reaction to the huge influx of immigrants during the previous 40 years. The Klan spread beyond the South and became a national movement that opposed not only Blacks, but also Jews, Catholics and Asians.
9. The association of the Republican party with emancipation drove the great bulk of
white southerners into the arms of the Democratic party. The white southern vote was overwhelmingly Democratic until the l960s, when the Democratic party supported the civil rights movement. This support led many white southerners to turn to the Republican party.
10. "If you don't like the world we're living in, change it. And if we can't change it, we change ourselves." This is a quote from Nikki Giovanni, one of America's greatest poets and activists. She became famous in the late 1960's as part of the Black Arts Movement. Her work has focused on race, gender and politics. Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and graduated from Fisk University. She transcended December 9th, 2024 at 81 years old.
11. One of the greatest entertainers to come out of Tennessee was Tina Turner. Tina Turner not only exemplified the strength and beauty of
Still That Brown Girl
BY REE CHEERS
an African American woman, she showed all women what it takes to walk away from turmoil and pain. She showed all women in domestic violence relationships how to free themselves and become the women they were meant to be. Tina Turner was a two time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and she became known as the Queen of Rock and Roll. When she freed herself from a tumultuous marriage to Ike Turner, Tina embarked on a successful solo career and became one of the greatest cultural icons of all time. Tina was born in Brownsville, Tennessee and transcended on May 24, 2023 at the age of 83.
12. When The Bridgestone Arena opened in Nashville, Tennessee in l996, it featured some of the most prolific and famous entertainers of all time. The Arena had shows featuring Janet Jackson, Pattie Labelle, Mary J. Blige, B.B.. Al Green, India Arie, Prince, and Christine Aquilera.
My name is Ree.
But even then, I was strong. Even then, I pushed myself to strive.
I carry the strength of Rosa Parks, the voice of Martin Luther King, and the know-how of Mr. Louis Farrakhan. I stand tall, unshaken by the winds of doubt, unwavering in my purpose.
I was that brown girl—the one with dark brown skin, nappy coarse hair, and pretty white teeth. The one they frowned upon, the one they overlooked. I felt the weight of eye rolls and whispers, the sting of being unseen, the cold grip of fear and shame pressing against my chest. My skin, my voice, my presence—some tried to make them feel small, insignificant, unworthy.
I learned to smile through it all, to walk with my head held high, to carry my history with pride. Every struggle became a stepping- stone, every doubt fueled my fire. I embraced the beauty of endurance, the power of knowing that I belong—here, in this space, in this moment, in this world.
I am still that brown girl, but now I stride as
a woman—bold, unbreakable, and destined. I carry the stories of my past, the voices of those who came before me, and the dreams of those who will come after.
I am strength. I am persevering. I am history in motion.
I am that brown-skinned girl. And I will never be overlooked again.
Soulful Dudes
GOUDSOUZIAN AND CHAPTER16.ORG
In the 1990 hip-hop anthem “Fight the Power,” Chuck D of Public Enemy slammed Elvis Presley. Elvis may have been “a hero to most,” but for the militantly conscious rapper, that “sucker” was a “straight-up racist,” lumped with the conservative icon John Wayne.
The lyrics evoked the long, complicated debate over Presley’s legacy: Did his music bridge a racial chasm, or did he steal from Black artists? In Before Elvis, Preston Lauterbach flips the frame on this question. He explores Elvis through the lives of the Black musicians who shaped his style.
Lauterbach is the acclaimed author of books that explore the history of Black music and Black Memphis, including The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Beale Street Dynasty, and Bluff City. He answered questions via email from Chapter 16:
ARAM
Is Before Elvis shaped by your earlier books on music and Memphis? What compelled you to write the book, and how did the project evolve?
Before Elvis is both a return to my beginning and a culmination of what’s happened since. My love of music and my knowledge of Black artists came from being an Elvis fan as a kid. Hearing his versions of “That’s All Right” and “Mystery Train” and reading about the histories of those songs from Peter Guralnick’s liner notes led me to the Black originators. I followed those stories back to the larger worlds that I eventually explored in books like The Chitlin’ Circuit and Beale Street Dynasty. In a bigger sense, those songs and their stories helped me understand the importance of Black culture to American culture and the need to set the record straight. Before Elvis clicked when I saw the Elvis biopic and read that critics and fans wanted to know about Elvis’ relationship with Black culture and Black artists. I thought I could do that.
Elvis aficionados know that Presley’s breakout song “That’s All Right” was written and performed by Arthur Crudup and that his hit “Hound Dog” was first done by Big Mama Thornton. If we focus on these Black musicians, what can we learn about the rise of rock ‘n’ roll?
Of course those songs are foundations of rock, but by the time of the American mainstream rock ’n’ roll craze of 1956, Crudup and Thornton had become so marginalized and
disillusioned, they practically gave up music. So as it often happens in American business, the inventor ends up with a knife in their back and their money in someone else’s pocket. But both of those artists eventually found a niche white audience thanks to the interest in rock’s roots that came about during the 1960s. In fact, the two of them, along with Little Junior Parker, the originator of the Elvis classic “Mystery Train,” performed at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, I think in 1969. I would give a digit to have been a fly on the wall at the card game backstage that night.
“The most overlooked, underappreciated, and important Elvis Presley influence,” you write, “was a man named Calvin Newborn.” How did you come to this conclusion?
Most of the book is devoted to the people who wrote and recorded Elvis’ biggest songs, but that’s only part of the story. I think that Elvis’ stage presence is as important to his legacy as his songs are, and as with many of his most important songs, there’s a Black originator behind the curtain. Elvis’ first recordings hit radio in 1954. But he didn't become a superstar until
“Before Elvis clicked when I saw the Elvis biopic and read that critics and fans wanted to know about Elvis’ relationship with Black culture and Black artists. I thought I could do that.”
1956. That happened after people saw him on television. To this day, his moves, the gyrating hips, his “Elvis the Pelvis” identity, are such a powerful aspect of his fame and his mystique. Elvis’ most important stage influence was Calvin Newborn, a performer young Elvis saw in Beale Street and West Memphis nightclubs. I had the opportunity to get to know Calvin. His insights add so much to the Elvis story. A lot of witnesses who were there maintain that Elvis took his whole presentation straight from what Calvin was doing at the Flamingo Room in Memphis right at the time Elvis cut his first sides at Sun Records. Calvin was philosophical about the whole thing. Calvin had a right to feel ripped off but shared a much more nuanced view of what happened with Elvis and Black culture, one that I hope readers will benefit from, as I have. My favorite Calvin quote about Elvis is, “He ate pork chop and gravy sandwiches. He was a soulful dude.”
Did these Black artists ever benefit from Presley’s superstardom? Did they achieve cultural appreciation or financial success?
The originators never benefited to the degree that they deserved to with respect to Elvis. But Crudup and Big Mama Thornton, in a very gritty way, used their stories to their advantage, telling their audience about what had happened and gaining appreciation. After Crudup died poor, as he knew he would, his family members fought for their rights and I think that readers will appreciate how that turned out.
How, in the end, should we judge Elvis Presley? Is he celebrating Black music or exploiting it?
People want one answer about Elvis and race, but as with other issues involving human beings, things developed as he changed over time. The Elvis who ate pork chop sandwiches with Calvin Newborn and sang at East Trigg Missionary Baptist Church in 1953 no longer existed in 1970. That young Elvis, according to multiple sources who knew him, stood out as a rebel against the Southern white order. His actions, many of which are historically documented, prove that he stood against segregation. He loved Black music, and he treated Black people with respect and courtesy.
Later in his superstardom phase, he could have done more for Black music. Many major touring rock acts on the road during the early 1970s had roots artists open for them and gained exposure for these artists. An Elvis roots show featuring Crudup, Thornton, Junior Parker, Joe Turner and others would have been monumental. Even lacking that direct acknowledgment, artists like James Brown and Rufus Thomas, whose “Tiger Man” Elvis performed into the 1970s, maintain that Elvis functioned as a major ally, opening the door for Black culture to the mainstream. I’m not here to argue with James Brown about Black music.
For more local book coverage, please visit Chapter16.org, an online publication of Humanities Tennessee.
Before Elvis: The African American Musicians Who Made the King By Preston Lauterbach
Good Friends
BY MAURICE B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
To obtain a good grasp of “self-preservation," the sincerity of self accountability and self responsibility are two essential factors required to have a somewhat healthy relationship with ourselves. Within the growth cycle of our youth ages where we began to overlook the severe facts that were being taught and accepted them as being pressured into doing the right things in the correct way the, “cleaning up of our rooms," the “taking out the trash,” the “cutting yards," the “washing of cars or trucks,” and even the “helping the elderly and or neighbors” without seeking some kind of remuneration for our services only because our consciousness veered into a state of curiosity. That's exactly when our choices become determinations, and the determining factors of what?
As we venture into the “what abouts” the storms of life raged and hit us with miraculous ideas and upon these ideas came acquaintances in which come with their ideology that's intriguing as well that leads us into becoming associates. Within the terrible terrains that all existence is playing on there are those that just can't or won't recall the teachings of “play nice” and “fair” only because whatever is nice and fair to one just might not be considered nice and fair to the next individual. Two individuals might become associates by way of riding on the bus, but the both of them are from different sides of the tracks. Neither here nor there of which side of the tracks is better because on both sides there is good and bad and in all actuality when it comes down to it we all are the same, but just do things differently. One might say they want "more" and the other might say that they want
“mo.” Focusing on the differences and not the similarities is what keeps us all in bondage and that's what allowed the attraction of and for those two that are associates.
As the appeal grew deeper and stronger through various concepts of life, for instance one goes away to better his/her education and they remain in contact and supportive by any and all means possible, and then the other falls south onto some hard times and end up being confined for some unapparent reason. The one that went away to further their education still remains in contact and supportive by all means in which that's true actions of serious friendship. The factors of self accountability and self responsibility might have been scarred or even damaged at a time on both individual's account whereas the one that went off to school just might’ve had some harsh times that a simple phone call to assure them that things would and could work itself out. And vise versa a hug, phone call, letter or visit and even some money on both aspects helps a person realize that someone really cares. Once an individual actually realizes that another person truly cares then the clicking and clinging begins and instead of just justifying and or rationalizing circumstances and situations the acceptance of rectifying mistakes together become the ideal conception. Each individual's behavior must be good. As our intentions are those that are highly observed as we live our lifestyle in which we should want better yet desire our conduct and character to match. Matching energy is plainly, "you give good, you receive good" or “you give bad, you receive bad.”
Touching Lives Making History
BY NORMA B.
I remember Mrs. Moffatt’s 8th grade History Class
There we would study dates and timelines
Things many people consider to be boring and dry
Her class was an exception to that rule,
Where everyday was like a new adventure
You never knew what she’d say or do
To make history come alive for you!
She would show us how the past was connected to the present
And how it affected our future
She would even dress up in costume
As a historical figures
Great and small
Male and female she did them all!
Not to make a statement or stir up controversy
She did it simply to instill in her students
A love of history
My time with her passed by in the blink of an eye
But my love of history was now firmly established set in place
But soon it began to fade away
Replaced by mundane things of life’s day to day
In no time at all, it was nearly dead,
But eventually it was revived once again
When thumbing through the pages of The Contributor
I discovered
Articles entitled: ‘History Corner’
I looked forward to EVERY issue
To learning something new I didn’t know
In some cases, his articles took me to places I’ve never been,
Teaching me about things of long ago
Others I was VERY familiar with
It was like visiting with a long lost friend
Still there was ALWAYS something
That left me shaking my head and wondering
Wow! I didn’t know that little detail!
This poem is dedicated to Mrs Moffatt who I saw everyday, and still I couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say or see what she might do next
And to Ridley Wills II,
A man I never met,
Still, he filled a void that had been left
When he brought back to life my love of history that was nearly dead.
Someone I’m CERTAIN I NEVER will forget!
Ridley, I am forever in your debt!
LA NOTICIA
“The Contributor” está trabajando con uno de los principales periódicos en español La Noticia para llevar contenido a más lectores en Middle Tennessee. Nuestros vendedores de periódicos han pedido durante mucho tiempo que nuestra publicación incluya contenido que apele al interés de residentes de habla hispana en nuestra comunidad.
“The Contributor” is working with one of the leading Spanish-language newspapers La Noticia to bring content to more readers in Middle Tennessee. Our newspaper vendors have long requested that our publication include content that appeals to the interest of Spanish-speaking residents in our community.
E l a s t e r o i d e 2 0 2 4
YR4, descubier to el 27 de diciembre de 2024 por el sistema ATLAS en Chile, ha generado g ran preo c u p a c i ó n y at e nción mundial debido a su potencial riesgo de impacto con la T i e r r a C o n u n
d i á m e t r o e s t i m a d o entre 40 y 90 metros, este objeto cercano a la Tier ra ha sido objeto de intensas observaciones para deter minar con mayor precisión su trayectoria y evaluar las posibles consecuencias de un impacto
C a r a c t e r í s t i c a s y C o m p o s i c i ó n d e l
Asteroide Los astrónomos han observado que el asteroide 2024 YR4 per tenece a la clase Apolo, un g r upo de asteroides cercanos a la Tier ra conocidos por sus órbitas que cr uzan la de nuestro planeta Este tipo de asteroide suele estar compuesto de rocas y metales, lo que podría aumentar su potencial destr uctivo en caso de colisión Además, su for ma ir re gular y rota ción rápida hacen que su trayectoria sea difícil de predecir, lo que requiere un monitoreo constante
Probabilidad de Impacto y Evaluación de Riesgos
Inicialmente, las probabilidades de colisión para el 22 de diciembre de 2032 se estimaron en un 3,1%, lo que generó preocupación en la comunidad científica y en el público en general Sin embargo, g racias a recientes observaciones realizadas con telescopi os ter restres y espac i a l e s , c o m o e l Te l e s c o p i o E s p a c i a l
Ja m e s We bb, l a p r o b a b i l i d a d d e impacto ha disminuido al 1,5% Esta reducción se debe a datos más precisos que han per mitido refinar la órbita del asteroide
A pesar de la disminución de la probabilidad, el asteroide 2024 YR4 ha sido clasificado en el nivel 3 de la escala de Turín, un sistema que mide el riesgo de impacto de objetos cercanos a la Tie r ra
Este nivel indica que hay una posibilidad de impacto localmente destr uctivo, suficiente para devastar una ciudad entera si colisiona con una zona densamente poblada Se estima que la energía liberada sería equivalente a ocho me gatones de TNT, unas 400 veces más potente que la bomba de Hiroshima Impacto Potencial en la Luna Además de la posible colisión con la Tier ra, las observaciones han revelado una probabilidad del 0,8% de que 2024 YR4 impacte la Luna Aunque este escenario no afectaría directamente a la Tier ra, las consecuencias en nuestro s at é l i t e n at u r a l p o d r í a n i n c l u i r alteraciones en las mareas y otros fenómenos geofísicos La posibilidad de un impacto lunar ha llevado a los científicos a considerar una amplia gama de posibles escenarios y a aumentar la vigilancia sobre el compor tamien to del asteroide
Consecuencias Globales de un Impacto En caso de colisión con la Tier ra, las c o n s e c u e n c i a s s e r í a n d eva s t a d o r a s
Además de la destr ucción local inmediata, el impacto podría generar ondas d e c h o q u e , i n c e n d i o s m a s ivo s y tsunamis si el asteroide cayera en el
En caso de ser arrestado, mostrar la Tarjeta Miranda sados en la Quinta Enmienda de la Constitución, derechos de guardar silencio y contar con un ogado fueron denominados Derechos Miranda go de la decisión de la Suprema Corte de Justicia Estados Unidos en el caso Miranda vs Arizona, 4 U S 436, de 1966 Conoce tus derechos: ¿Que hacer en caso de una
Mantenerse callado
Sólo dar nombre y apellido
No mentir
Nunca acepte/lleve documentos falsos
No revelar su situación migratoria
No llevar documentación de otro país
océano La nube de polvo y escombros resultante podría bloquear la luz solar, afectando el clima global y causando una disminución de las temperaturas durante meses o incluso años Estos efectos podrían llevar a crisis ag rícolas y de alimentos, afectando a millones de personas en todo el mundo
Medidas de Mitigación y Preparativos
Ante este riesgo, las agencias espaciales inter nacionales, como la NASA y la ESA, están evaluando estrate gias de mitigación para desviar o destr uir el asteroide si futuras observaciones indican un riesgo mayor Alg unas de las opciones consideradas incluyen:
- I m p a c t a d o r e s c i n é t i c o s : N ave s e s p a -
c i a l e s q u e c o l i s i o n e n c o n e l a s t e r o i d e
p a r a a l t e r a r s u t r aye c t o r i a
- E x p l o s i vo s n u c l e a r e s : U t i l i z a d o s p a r a f r a g m e n t a r e l a s t e r o i d e o d e s v i a r s u c u r s o - Tr a c t o r e s g r av i t a c i o n a l e s : N ave s
e s p a c i a l e s q u e v u e l a n c e r c a d e l a s t e -
r o i d e , u t i l i z a n d o s u g r ave d a d p a r a
c a m b i a r s u ó r b i t a
Aunque estas estrate gias son teóricamente viables, presentan desafíos signif i c at ivo s , c o m o l a p r e c i s i ó n e n e l momento y la fuerza del impacto, así
como las consecuencias imprevistas de fragmentar el asteroide en pedazos más pequeños pero igualmente pelig rosos
M o n i t o r e o C o n s t a n t e y C o l a b o r a c i ó n
Inter nacional
Dado el riesgo potencial, el monitoreo constante y la investigación continua son esenciales para garantizar la se guridad planetaria La NASA, la ES A y otras agencias espaciales de todo el mundo están trabajando en conjunto para mejorar la precisión de las predicciones y desar rollar soluciones efectivas Además, la colaboración inter nacional es clave para coordinar respuestas globales ante amenazas cósmicas
Preparación y Concienciación Pública El asteroide 2024 YR4 ha servido como un recordatorio de la vulnerabilidad de la Tier ra ante objetos cósmi cos Los científicos y los gobier nos están aumentando la conciencia pública sobre los riesgos de los asteroides, promoviendo protocolos de emergencia y simulacros de impacto Además, la educación sobre prog ramas de vigilancia espacial y el papel de los observatorios astronómicos ayuda a la sociedad a comprender la impor tancia de la defensa planetaria
C o n c l u s i ó n : Vi g i l a n c i a C o n t i n u a y P r e p a r
El futuro de nuestro planeta de pende de pre paración, vigilancia constante y cooperación global Este asteroide nos recuerda la impor tancia de estar alertas y pre parados ante posibles amenazas cósmicas ta de posibles catástrofes cósmicas
En víenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper com ó 615-582-3757
Por Yuri Cunza Editor in Chief @LaNoticiaNe ws
Feral: Muffin and Mini
Part 2 of 3 of the true story of a wild (feral) cat colony over a 3-year time period. My observations and involvement.
I named the two kittens from Pal in my first series Corn Muffin and Mini Pal, but they became just Muffin and Mini.
Mini is slightly larger than Muffin, but they are colored nearly the same. Very light tan coats with darker yellowish-brown tortoise shell markings. From 20 feet away, they look yellow. Mama Pal looks almost orange.
The first month, Muffin and Mini were constantly sneezing, their eyes and noses constantly running. Mama stayed with them nearly a month after they were weaned, unusual for a wild Mama cat. Her being 1.5 years old with her first litter was also unusual.
Eventually, Mama Pal divorced herself from the kittens, returning to her strip mall territory. Two or three days after Mama left, Muffin started coming within a foot from me, planting his front feet and meowing at me with such intensity that his face looked like it would split in two. He has been doing that ever since.
I reached down to pet him, but he’d scuttle away. Seconds later he was back again, doing the same thing. “I just fed you,” I told him. “What are you trying to tell me?”
A thought occurred. Rummaging later in a kitchen drawer, I found a length of string and a piece of ribbon.
The next morning, I dangled the ribbon in front of him. His eyes lit up and he snatched it! Soon he was climbing a sideways growing bush as if in a child’s jungle gym, chasing the toy. He had been demanding me to “Be my friend, figure out how,” and I had. The next day, shy Mini, seeing Muffin hadn’t been hurt or killed by the new activity, joined in.
I bought a toy with a squeaky mouse and a huge feather on the handle. For a few weeks, for 15 minutes each morning before food, it
BY KEITH D., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
was Toy Time, played with an intensity only kittens can muster.
One day Muffin was resting a minute after vigorous play, and I ran the feather gently from the base of his head to his tail. Soon my hand replaced the feature. Realization dawned in his eyes, he started purring loudly. The next day I was petting both of them. I tied the toys to low hanging branches, for them to play with when I wasn’t nearby.
When a cat approaches you with its tail up in the air like an exclamation point, it’s a sure sign that they like you and are glad to see you. Every morning, when “Big Friend (me) comes home,” both boys come racing to me with nothing less than happy tails. That’s how I was quick to figure out they are boys. Mama Pal never had a happy tail, and I’ve never touched Mama Pal in any way. But her other mannerisms tell me she’s glad to see me.
The boys grew quickly. My slowest time of the day for selling papers is before 9 a.m. That was the time they wanted the most food and fun with Big Friend. But whenever they sat near the curb and commanded me to come to them, I did. Every couple of hours, they get a couple minutes of pets and fresh food.
The boys were inseparable. Muffin was the leader, Mini followed along.
I always get down on one knee to feed and pet them. Muffin’s spot is directly under me, with Mini almost right next to Muffin. Muffin, face inches from mine, likes to look directly into my eyes with love and adoration. Though cats don’t usually make long eye contact with humans, Muffin’s not your run-of-the-mill cat.
When I’m near Mini, he does what I call The Biscuit Dance. His eyes half close and change from light brown to burgundy. He
kneads the ground with his front paws while in a sitting position, causing him to sway gently side to side.
At nine months old, Muffin started disappearing for one to four days. Every time he came back, he’d want extra treats and pet time. Every time he was about to go on a trip, he’d demand two or three extra pet sessions. I never worried about him after the first few “trips” — he always came back fit and healthy.
When Mini was 11 months old, he made his first and last disappearance. He was gone for six days. The sixth day at sunrise, as I was greeting Muffin, I heard Mini’s highpitched, quick-succession “MewMewMew” coming from the bushes. He emerged thin, dirty and unable to use his hind leg. I’m guessing a cat bully was chasing him, causing him to run unthinking into the road and get clipped by a car.
He wanted to be near me a lot for the next few weeks, more than usual. His leg healed in days, now he can effortlessly leap to a perch five feet off the ground to be eye-level with me.
About a week later, Muffin couldn’t stand on his front leg. Careful examination showed he had a quarter-size sore at the base of the hurt leg, probably a spider bite. He, too, recovered in days.
Every day with Muffin and Mini is a good time, here are some snapshot moments of our first year together.
• Muffin and Mini laying side by side on their backs, close together as Siamese twins, eyes half closed, front paws gently waving in the air, purring like motors as I rubbed both of their chests at the same time for minutes on end.
• After a satisfying meal, they would sit side by side together three feet away from the curb, facing me. They would clean themselves in perfect synchronization, minutes on end. Traffic would slow while people gawked and snapped pictures on their phones. Lick, lick, lick left paws; wipe, wipe, wipe faces; then to the right paws and wiping faces.
• I’m sitting in a folding chair in windchill near 20°F below zero right after the January snowstorm in 2024 with a boy in each lap, enjoying a half hour of pets. I had on six layers, but they were unfazed by the cold. Though, they hated walking in the snow!
• On many occasions, one or the other presents me with a fresh-caught mouse or mole. After praising their catch and giving approving head pets, they then happily devour what they’ve caught.
• At least once a day, ever since he first appeared at the food plate, Muffin carefully covers it up with leaves and twigs using his front paw. He always checks his work carefully, sometimes making adjustments. He also loves licking every drop of gravy from the empty Friskies cans before they’re discarded. Of course, I could go on and on with 100 more snapshots. The first year with Muffin and Mini was the best, but wild tomcats grow up and become territorial.
On Feb. 26, 2024, Mama Pal was hugely pregnant. When she came to eat on February 27, she wasn’t. Find out what happens next in the last installment of Feral!
• On peeping into the tent-shelter I made for them, I found them both fast asleep on the one catbed, each with a front leg around the other.
A Tribute to My Brother
BY WILLIAM B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
My mother had 12 kids. I'm the oldest living out of four now. I lost my baby brother about two weeks ago, maybe a little bit longer. I'm not too sure of the date because I’ve been depressed, on and off. I’ve not been able to sell my papers because of my depression either.
My brother was a peacemaker. He restored the calm in the family when there were arguments or fights, and I'm gonna miss him a lot. I looked up to him because, to me, he was more intelligent. He had more gifts than I did, as far as working the gifts go. To know him is to love him because he just had that kind of personality.
As an ordained minister, I married him to his first wife in the 80s, and they
were married for nine years. I don't practice ministry in churches anymore — I do it on the street to the homeless.
Every so often, when someone wants to listen, I tell them about what the Lord's done for me and the drug addiction I used to have. I'm coming up on 20 years clean off crack cocaine in April, and that’s a big thing for me because it had a hold on me that I had a hard time letting go of. When I was on it, I didn't care who I hurt, who I stole from or anything because I didn't have a will — it willed me. In my opinion, the only way to get off a drug addiction is to do it cold turkey. I did it by making them lock me up because I needed more time than what I could get in rehab, so I took a 10-year sentence. And the only
thing I regret about that is my mother and my other brother passed away while I was locked up, two weeks apart. I didn't get to say goodbye. I call my baby brother one of my big losses because cancer took him out. I'm a cancer survivor, since 1977. I got 80% of my stomach removed, and I'm still alive. But my brother's gone, and he got his cancer years and years later. Cancer can take you out. Depression can make you want to take your life. So, be strong. I'm being strong for my brother. I made a New Year's resolution that I was never going to do more drugs, except what the doctor gives me. And I'm going to honor that promise for my brother — and myself and remaining family, too.
HOBOSCOPES
PISCES
I’m sorry, what, Pisces? I know this is the third time I’ve asked you to repeat yourself in as many sentences. It’s just that everytime you start talking, my phone buzzes in my pocket. And even though I’m practicing presence by not taking it out to check, my mind just starts racing through all the things it might be. What if it’s a text from my mom? What if it’s an alert about an epic thunderstorm? What if it’s a notification from an astrology app that I forgot to disable? I guess we all know a few things we can do to be less distracted. Maybe this is a good day to do one. Anyway, Pisces, you were saying?
ARIES
The sun is staying out later again. Honestly, I find it scarier than the darkness. When the sun goes down, it’s easy to shut-out so much information about the world. Everything comes in through the windows and the cracks around the doors. And all the light wants to tell you something about what’s going on out there and how you should feel about it. It wears me out, Aries. And I miss just sitting in the dark. But I think maybe we should go for a walk out there. Engage with all that reality on some limited basis. Take in the facts and then come back home and shut it out again for a while. Next week, it’s gonna be a little brighter, so let's keep building up that tolerance.
TAURUS
You can lead a horse to water, and isn’t that strange, Taurus? Humans probably started riding horses about 5,000 years ago and now we’ve got this whole system where domesticated horses depend on humans even as humanity’s dependence on horses continues to decrease. And now we’re being domesticated by technology. We need it to find food, water, shelter and comfort. And one day we may find that technology doesn’t much need us anymore. That’s a great reason to stay on good terms with horses, Taurus. Keep showing them where the water is. And remember that all of this will change again.
GEMINI
I got you a gift card, Gemini. It’s 2,500 ShredCoins for that video game you like. Is that a lot? Like, will you be able to buy the new Freedom-Frog Skinpack? Or maybe unlock the Sunspray Racing Gulag? I know you were excited about that. Anyway, the guy at Walgreens thought 2,500 would be a good start. And I was hoping maybe you could show me what you buy with it. I’ve never played, but I always like hearing about what you’re interested in, and I think the world’s a better place when we can give each other at least that much focus. And maybe I can tell you more about how my amateur astrology club discovered the date that the world will forever fall into darkness. Shoot me a text and we’ll catch up.
CANCER
The neighbor's cat killed a mole and left it in my driveway. I thought it was just a violent coincidence, but a week later, it happened again.I think he’s trying to show me who’s really in charge. He knows I can’t catch a mole and he wants everybody on the block to know that he can. Anyway, Cancer, it reminded me of how you’ve been a little overlooked lately. I know you generally don’t mind operating in the background, but I think it’s a good time to do something that will remind people what you can do. But don’t leave dead moles around. It’s been done.
LEO
As you’ve probably heard, Leo, I’m pretty good at making over-easy eggs. I flip them at just the right time, and I almost never break the yolks. What I’ve been trying to keep hidden, is that my scrambled eggs are sub-par. They’re usually a little dry and flat. So it turns out, Leo, that I just haven’t been cooking them hot enough. I’ve been so worried about burning them, that I leave the stove too low and I’ve been using too much…Leo? Leo? Are you even listening to me? Oh wait. This is that thing I do where I start right in with what’s going on in my life and I forget to ask about yours. Let’s start again. I’ll make breakfast and you tell me what’s been going on.
VIRGO
My niece got me a sticker that says “Do one thing everyday that scares you.” So I stuck it on my water bottle but everyday when I would look at it, I would just feel sort of overwhelmed and guilty. What if I’m not really living my life? What if I never take a chance? Then my niece got me a sticker that’s a picture of a frog wearing sunglasses. So I stuck that on top of the “that scares you” part. Now it just says “Do one thing everyday” It’s still not easy to live up to, but sometimes that’s all the encouragement I need. Take that frog’s advice, Virgo. And if you forget to do one thing today, you can try again tomorrow.
LIBRA
The guy in line in front of me at this donut shop says he’s getting really into “manifesting reality.” He says I should try envisioning the thing I want and then asking the universe for it outloud. Then he ordered a chocolate frosted, a powdered-sugar cake, and an apple fritter. I noticed because that’s the same thing I usually get. I guess he manifested his donuts. I just ordered mine regular. Whether you pull what you want toward you out of the cosmic ether or just ask Wayne at The DonHut, I do think you should practice telling somebody what you want.
SCORPIO
I used to really like roller coasters, Scorpio. The best part is really the long drag up to the first drop, click-click-click and then you hang there for a few seconds anticipating the thrill. Then it’s all just zooms and twists and flips and it’s over before you know it. This rollercoaster we’re on now, though, it’s different. They’ve somehow managed to keep all the ups and downs and turns, but they eliminated the part where it slows down enough to think about it. It’s not even fun, it’s just exhausting. Here comes another triple-loop. Does anybody know how this ends? I don’t think it can last forever, Scorpio, I’m just glad we’re on it together. Here comes the camera again, let’s pretend we fell asleep. Maybe they’ll let us get off after the next cobra roll.
SAGITTARIUS
Hey look, Sagittarius, a frisbee. It’s just laying here in the grass. Oh no! That guy over there is yelling at me to throw it back to him. He must be 50 yards away. Actually, I don’t know anything about yards, but that looks way further than I could reliably throw. Would you do it? I just get so embarrassed if I do a bad job at something people think is easy. You’re always so much more athletic and you’ve got better aim. Oh wow! That went way to the left and he’s running over to pick it up. Oh, I get it, Sagittarius, it’s just not a big deal. You participated and he got his frisbee back and it doesn’t matter that it wasn’t perfect. I guess help isn’t the same thing as salvation. And none of us can really pull off the second one.
CAPRICORN
As a young man, Isaac Newton had already made enormous contributions to physics, mathematics, optics, and astronomy. He wrote in a letter to a friend, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” He understood that his discoveries were only a next step in processes begun by curious minds throughout human history. And he knew there would be more to come. Lately I see a push to throw out a lot of what’s come before. Some of the giants from the past are newly ignored and those mice pushing forward take full credit at every opportunity. Thank your predecessors today, Capricorn. Look down from those shoulders and remember how you got up there.
AQUARIUS
The squeak from the bedroom door hinges was driving me crazy. Every time I came in or left it was like a howling from some ancient anguished lupine throat. A voice crying out to tell the world of all the small things I’ve been neglecting. This morning I finally dug that can of lubricating aerosol penetrant from under the sink and I sprayed those hinges into silence. But now, Aquarius, I kind of miss it. That sound told me there were small tasks I could yet accomplish. The silence gives no such encouragement. But we must tune our ears to the squeak of hinged-things, Aquarius. And we must stay ready to spray when the next door opens.
Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a registered stablemaster, or a certified frisbee technician. Listen to the Mr. Mysterio podcast at mrmysterio.com Or just give him a call at 707-VHS-TAN1
This chapter is for sisters, women, housewives, bachelorettes, everybody in the LGBTQ+ salad bowl. We are the ones who think we have to do things the hard way. Have you ever noticed that most men find an easy way to do something? While they discuss business, they play golf or relax with a beer. They delegate to you and everyone else in your family things called “chores”. They get the easy ones, like take out the trash or pick up milk on the way home. Regardless of their level of acuity regarding fair share duties, they also manage to act … well, quite frankly, helpless. And guys, if you feel like arguing or qualifying my biased opinion, please do. Can’t wait. So ladies - here are some things you can do to make your life way easier! Stop trying to change people who don’t want to… you can leave them or just leave them alone – up to you. Meanwhile, how liberating to adopt some of the oppressor’s tactics as our own just for us!
Essential household items for Butchin’ It:
• Can opener
• MultiTool
• ONE spatula, etc.
• One sweater
• One jacket
• One each: boots, sneakers, fancy shoes.
• Undies and socks to last for two to four
Butchin’ It
BY FREEPRESSGMA, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
weeks – your choice
• Ultimate bedding that makes you sleep like a baby. If you have to be by yourself, that could be a good thing.
• A room of your own. If that is not possible, a desk of your own of whatever size you can manage ... don’t fill it up yet!
• A large bag of rags that you made from old T-shirts or bought at the store
• One plunger for the toilet, one for super easy wash in the Kitchen sink clothing … etc. Go ahead and use your imagination on what might need a simple handwashing instead of a whole lot of running back-and-forth to the laundromat or — you know!
• Picking an amount of time, say one month, that you put all tchotchkes and things that cause you extra work
- things that you do not use each and every day or week — in a box and store them somewhere easily such as in a closet or the attic, etc.
Next, go through all your personal belongings and get rid of everything that makes you feel awful about you. Whether it’s an old love letter or retinol or products you’re supposed to be using that you aren’t or something you wasted money on. If you have 10 pairs of jeans or too many shirts. just pare it down to enough
to last for one or two weeks without going to the laundry.
If you have fallen for the patriarchal trap of agonizing about whether or not you’ll need something later or whether or not you are hurting someone’s feelings, just shove it in a box for God’s sake. Even if you don’t have room to store it, you can throw a tablecloth or some other thing over it, and not have to look at it.
By the way, this is not really about scrubbing out your femininity, if you have such. It is about lightening up and really allowing yourself to adopt some traditionally masculine ideas about everything from housekeeping to what to wear.
Keep one party outfit, one super business type outfit, and just a few casual clothes in each category, say, three of each thing unless you really run through those t-shirts and you don’t feel like doing laundry that often.
But really, if you hang your stuff up overnight to air out either outside, in the bathroom, on the shower rail, or on an extender rack outside your closet door, you will find that you can wear things more than once.
Box the rest up and store it or gift it.
While you are at it since you have all those extra hangers now, hang each outfit together with its jewelry or accessories.
Take clothes out of your drawers that you wear a lot and also hang them. There is great
The Glorious Vehicle
BY FREEPRESSGMA, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
From what I can see, everybody has an important life to lead. Places to be, things to accomplish, work to do: bills to pay.
Very few of us are in the owning class. We have to work.
So when I’m out on the street with cars rushing hither and thither, I have to wonder why most of our streets look like an addict’s living room.
Trash, broken stuff, filth. Noise, arguments, tempers lost. Beads of sweat forming on drivers when the car in front of them is moving slower than they would like.
What are we addicted to?
Let’s start by defining some addiction markers.
• The advertiser offers you an amazing deal, promising this will get you ahead of the pack, buy you true love, freedom, power, more money. (Sex trafficking often starts with a promise like this.)
• He offers a sleek vehicle with all the comforts, privacy, freedom – and thrills, even in promising sexual thrills and satisfaction. You know you’re tired of the daily grind and
somehow you think this will fix it.
• You even get a free ride, a free sample. You’re sold.
• The next day, it’s back to the highway, gridlock, careless drivers, too careful drivers, breakdowns, crashes, and ambulances. Not to mention the amount of money that found a hole in your pocket, keeping up with the burdens of that wonderful thing.
• When you start the engine, the thrill is still there. Your body, organic as it is, tries to match the RPMs of the
ease and freedom in this method. Try it and see. You can even put the shoes you like to wear near or under the outfits that are you are hanging. So hang business more formal stuff together with the proper shoes underneath, etc.
Jewelry and accessories can be tricky. Try to just keep a few pieces to go with most of your things. Put these items on their own hangers near each outfit you are planning on wearing soon.
This is a lot like meal planning. What that means is, you know you’re gonna have fish on Tuesday so you look forward to it and you just eat it, no fuss no muss no in the moment decision making.
Think about it — because only women are expected to manage the social networking and necessities of life, we stress about everything. Men simply streamline things, especially if they are a CEO. Just tell yourself that somebody else will sweat the details. It might have to be you later, but it certainly doesn’t have to be you right now. If you pre-plan your meals and outfits, that is a whole lot of stress right off of you. Let me say that again: off. of. you.
Freedom from the agony of trying to decide what to do, what to wear, whether or not to take time off, becomes, well, fun. My favorite F word. Actually I think my favorite F word is Freedom.
engine. Your animal brain copes with the unnatural speed by putting on filters and blinders. The car protects you from wind, rain, heat, and cold. It numbs you to your place. To where you are.
• The street becomes merely a means to an end. Pedestrians, animals, plants: all are in your way. Violence erupts toward anyone who is in the way of your high.
And the street looks like an addict’s living room.
The New Sly Stone Documentary is a Funky, Clunky Memoir of Misadventure
BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC
Sly Lives! revisits the heyday of Sly and the Family Stone, the band’s origin story, and the self-destruction that brought the group’s eponymous frontman crashing back to Earth from the airy heights of rock superstardom. It also finds director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson continuing to evolve as a filmmaker, attempting to create unique nonfiction movies that are the equal of their one-of-a-kind subjects.
Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) assumes that most viewers don’t know much about Sly and the musical family he drew together with a mixture of funk, rock and pop psychedelia. But I’d bet most of The Contributor’s readers here in Music City know that Sly and the Family Stone were massive hit-makers and a live music phenomena when the group was at the height of its powers in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sylvester Stewart was born
in Dallas, Texas, but his musical career began after his family relocated to Vallejo, Calif. Sly formed a gospel group with his siblings. The Stewart Four released a local single, but the music man’s career started in earnest after he made a name for himself as a San Mateo disc jockey. Sly became a producer creating hits for The Beau Brummels, and coaxing the first version of “Somebody to Love” — then titled “Someone to Love” — out of Grace Slick’s first band, The Great Society. Sly and his brother Freddie fused their bands together and added pioneering bass player Larry Graham to form Sly and the Family Stone. The interracial group also included men and women. They created songs about “Everyday People,” claiming it “makes no difference what group I’m in” during a time when the Black Panther Party and their separatist rhetoric were on the rise. Their appearance and cul-
tural stances made the band standout, but their talents as performing musicians lead by a genius savant made their music a permanent feature of popular culture to this day.
Sly Lives! hits all the highlights, but I wish we could have seen this portrait of an American original given more than just the archivalfootage-and-talking-heads formula. This documentary often feels more like a PBS special than a feature film. It’s nice to hear firsthand accounts from the original members of the Family Stone including the great Larry Graham, but it doesn’t take a leap of creative insight to interview the band. Sly has become reclusive in his older age and he may not have been available to interview, but why do the film if that was the case? Thompson also interviews Sly’s peers like George Clinton, and the musicians that Sly and the band influenced including Vernon Reid of Living Colour. But
interviews like these always feel like unnecessary celebrity padding, and just sticking to the band would have made the film half-again more interesting and unique.
Sly Lives! has some good footage and a happy ending, but it’s an ordinary documentary about an extraordinary person. The going gets rougher when Thompson tries to ask his interviewees to “define black genius” or if Sly burned-out because of the “burden of black genius.” It’s an odd question to ask about an actual genius — no doubt — whose art specifically transcended race during a time when it took real courage to insist on togetherness and mutual respect. Sly built a wildly diverse band and called them his family, declaring “We’ve got to live together.” Most of the interviewees just look confused, like they're not sure what the director is getting at. Thompson begins to explore
the idea that black artists are burdened by the expectations — and jealousies — of their communities, but that conversation never really goes anywhere. I get the sense the director feels like he has to bring some profound insight to his work beyond simply focusing on his exceptional subjects. It’s the same problem that made Quest Thompson’s debut, The Summer of Soul, equally disappointing. The director knows a great subject when he sees one, and maybe his third film will be the charm. In the meantime, we’re still waiting on the great Sly Stone movie.
Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) is streaming on Hulu
Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist and performing singer/songwriter based in East Nashville. Find out more about his projects at www. joenolan.com.
