VOL. 61, No. 36
September 6 - 12, 2012
www.tsdmemphis.com
75 Cents
Southern Heritage Classic
ʻAmbassadorsʼ make it happen
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Tony Jones
Fred Jones and his staff stage one of the region’s most highly anticipated spectacles each fall: the Southern Heritage Classic Weekend. The mainstay’s centerpiece is a long-held tradition of rivalry on the football field between Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., and Nashville’s Tennessee State University. Add to that the pageantry of luncheons, fashion shows, celebrity performances, champaign receptions and a fiercely-performed “Battle of the Bands.” The result is a multi-milliondollar affair complete with thousands of alumni and students who converge on the city to witness it all. How does Jones do it? How does he make it all happen? He gets by with a little help from his friends – namely, a dedicated group of volunteers called Ambassadors. Led by Bhalander Joe Boyd and Shari Green, the organization works to support Classic events by tying up all the loose ends and taking care of those all-important small details. From stocking supplies to assisting celebrity guests, and everything in between, Ambassadors take their assignments very seriously. “Volunteers have numbered as many as 200 in past years,” said Boyd, “but we usually run more like 100, or a few more. That’s how many we have this year.” Team leaders Boyd and Green are as passionate about the Southern Heritage Classic as they are about their “lifelong friendship.” “We’ve known each other since elementary school and church,” said Boyd. “We started volunteering for the Classic under Maxine Maclin who taught us the details of coordinating tasks and team members. This is like my second job – 100 percent voluntary – but I love it. You just can’t measure the rewards.” Boyd is a FedEx service sales representative, and Green is a transportation manager for the U.S. Postal SEE CLASSIC ON PAGE 3
Pumped up by First Lady Michelle Obama, Memphians and other Tennesseans at the Democratic National Convention have visions of turning a “Red” state “Blue.” (Photo by Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku)
Democrats seek ‘Blue Magic’ President gets official nomination kajanaku@tri-statedefender.com
by Karanja A. Ajanaku CHARLOTTE, N. Car. – Twelve hours after wowing supporters at the Democratic National Convention during her address at the Time Warner Cable Arena, First Lady Michelle Obama stepped from behind a curtain in a ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center and the room exploded. A sea of African-American faces surged forward, with waves of people jostling for a view of Mrs. Obama that they could capture via camera.
The New Tri-State Defender’s Executive Editor, Karanja A. Ajanaku, is directing the production of TSD’s Sept. 6-12 edition from Charlotte, N. Car., where he also is covering the 2012 Democratic National Convention. View additional coverage online at www.tsdmemphis.com
The setting was the African-American Caucus, filled with AfricanAmerican delegates and about as many other African-American convention-goers that could be wedged into the room. “What you do every day for the next 62 days will make the difference
between waking up on Nov. 7 (one day after the election) and asking yourself could I have done more, or sealing the promise of four more years.” “Mmm hmm, four more years,” said a woman behind me. A few minutes later, Mrs. Obama leaned toward the audience and said she needed to know something. “Are you fired up?” “Fired up!” came the response, as rows of people jumped to their feet. Mrs. Obama fired back: “Are you ready to go?” Chants of “Ready to go” echoed back. Mrs. Obama came back with, “I’m so fired up, can you tell?” “This is about our future, our sons
and our daughters and the world we want to leave for them long after we are gone.” Each person entering the room walked pass a table where they were offered a handout from African Americans for Obama (est. 2007) that spelled out five “simple things you can do online to make sure that President Obama is re-elected. On the list: Join Dashboard, the campaigns online engagement tool. Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter. Download the APP that the campaign recently released for both iphones and Androids. SEE OBAMA ON PAGE 2
‘Gas For Guns’ aim is less ‘mean’ streets Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
See Best in Black event coverage on page 12 and in the special section.
WREG News anchor Markova Reed and her sister share a moment with Dr. David L. Acey, executive director of the Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival, at the Best In Black VIP Reception. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
H- 9 4o - L - 6 8o I so . T-St orms
H- 8 1o - L - 5 8o I so. T-Storms
H- 8 1o - L - 5 8o S unn y
REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Friday H-99 L-70 H-91 L-68 H-95 L-72
Saturday H-85 L-58 H-73 L-57 H-82 L-61
Sunday H-83 L-58 H-77 L-56 H-81 L-57
- INSIDE -
• ‘Big Mike’ left us real big memories. See Entertainment, page 8. • How to raise capital via Internet crowd funding. See Business, page 5. • Tigers could use a kick-start. See Sports, page 10. • Dedication yields recognition for NAACP membership workers. See Community, page 11.
Michael Clarke Duncan
Law enforcement in Baton Rouge (Louisiana) collected 260; Nashville boasted 260. And on Saturday, Sept. 15, a Memphis pastor and local corporate partners are hoping for an equally successful haul in an upcoming “Guns For Gas” effort. “Too many lives have been lost because of gun violence, not just here in South Memphis, but all over this city,” said the Rev. Ralph White, pastor of Bloomfield Full Gospel Baptist Church. “If we can take some of these guns off the street, especially out of the hands of our young people, I believe we’ll see a decline in gun violence.” Semiautomatic pistols, revolvers, assault rifles, shotguns – all kinds of firearms – can be brought to the church parking lot at 123 S. Parkway West,” said White. For each gun, a voucher will be given for a $50 gas card and two tickets to a Memphis Grizzlies game. Up to three guns may be turned in, each in exchange for a gas card. No questions asked. “Because our partners have been so generous, we can give $150 in gas cards for three guns,” said Rev. White. “We expect that the high gas prices will be a great incentive. Also, the Grizzlies tickets will lure sports fans as well.” Whether participants arrive on foot or in a vehicle, they are asked to bring the firearms in a paper bag, some kind of box, a backpack, or gun safe. All guns should be unloaded at the time of surrender. A special unit of the Memphis Police Department will remove guns
from their packages and collect them for disposal. Bloomfield Urban Ministries – the nonprofit, outreach arm of the church – is the program’s sponsor. Similar programs in urban areas, especially Rev. Ralph across the southWhite east region, have experienced wide participation. Past programs in Memphis have been sponsored in the last five years. “We expect to see an immediate decline to some degree in the number of shootings, armed robberies, and other gun violence,” said Ron Kent, owner of Chow Time and China Inn Restaurants. “Our children, our families and our streets will be a little bit safer. Both my wife, Carolyn, and I felt sponsorship was important.” Officials in other cities report that hundreds of these firearms collected over the years have included everything from small-caliber pistols to military-style AK-47 assault rifles. Mayor AC Wharton Jr., Ron Kent, The New Tri-State Defender, The Memphis Grizzlies and Mapco Stores have all joined Bloomfield as sponsors. “Some are not hopeful that this event will effect gun violence and crime,” said White. “I beg to disagree. I understand that firearms are very accessible on the street. I understand that although hundreds will turn in their guns, many more will hold on to theirs. “(If) Gas For Guns” save even one life, the effort is well worth it.”