Voting is now open for TSD Best in Black Awards
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The nominations are in for The TriState Defender’s annual Best in Black Awards, which recognize outstanding Black businesses, community organizations, entrepreneurs and individuals in the Mid-South.
Now it’s time to cast your votes for what person, business or organization you think is best in 35 categories, including Best Entrepreneur, Best Restaurant and Best Youth and Mentorship Program.
Voting is underway and will run through Sunday, Oct. 26.
Ballots can be cast at https://tri-statedefender.com/bibvoting/.
The 2025 Best in Black Awards ceremony will be held Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, 7–9 p.m., at the Central Station Hotel, 545 S Main St., Memphis, TN 38103.
Tickets are now on sale to attend the Best in Black Awards for $82.31 (including taxes and fees).
Current sponsors for the 2025 awards ceremony include:
• Xfinity
• Oteka Technologies
• The Carter Malone Group
• Shelby County Government
• Gipson Mechanical Contractors
Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.
To learn more about the Best in Black Awards, to purchase a ticket or to become a sponsor, visit www.tri-stat edefender.com/bestinblack.
Digital subscriptions are available online at tsdmemphis.com
President Calvin Anderson Editor Stephanie R. Jones
Morial warns of ‘state of emergency’ at Memphis Urban League’s State of Black America session
By Judith Black Moore TSD Contributing Writer
At the University Club of Memphis on Thursday, Oct. 16, business, civic and government leaders gathered for the Memphis Urban League’s State of Black America Luncheon, a candid conversation on race, democracy and progress in America. The keynote speaker, Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League and former mayor of New Orleans, delivered what could be described as part master class for elected officials, full call to arms for the Black community.
Morial, in Memphis to receive the National Civil Rights Museum’s Freedom Award later that evening, praised Memphis Urban League President and CEO Gale Jones-Carson for rebuilding the local chapter and called on the audience to strengthen its work.
“We are a direct service provider,” he said. “We do our work through a team of professionals supported by volunteers. We are in partnership and family with other organizations. We are not in competition. We have no time for that.”
Morial’s address quickly turned to what he called a “state of emergency.” He reminded the audience that only six decades ago, the racial makeup of public leadership looked far different and that today’s progress is under threat. “The storm clouds are on the horizon,” he cautioned. “The Supreme Court has turned its back on civil rights.”
Drawing from the National Urban League’s State of Black America report, Morial described an orchestrated rollback of civil rights gains, from anti-diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to voting rights. “Before the ink was dry,” he said, “the president issued an order that was a direct attack on the Civil Rights Act — an anti-diversity executive order designed to erase 60 years of progress.”
He warned that Project 2025, a
hell freezes over, and then let’s fight on the ice.”
Following the keynote, a panel moderated by Jones-Carson featured Memphis Mayor Paul Young, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Tennessee Rep. Karen Camper, each reflecting on Morial’s charge.
Rep. Camper addressed civic fatigue among voters:
“I’m hearing people say, ‘Why should I defend democracy when I’m not a full participant in it?’ People are really feeling hurt. We have to encourage them and show why defending democracy still matters. Our ancestors never gave up, even knowing they might not fully benefit from it.”
Mayor Harris spoke about the need for genuine allyship and accountability:
conservative political blueprint, “is a master plan to dismantle the civil rights era, to dismantle the New Deal, to dismantle Obamacare. But what we must do is rise to the occasion.”
Morial made a forceful case for diversity as an economic and moral imperative, recounting the story of a Black woman who increased her job application response rate eightfold after changing her name and photo through AI. “Diversity, equity and inclusion is all about merit,” he said. “It is about giving everybody with merit a chance.”
He tied the rollback of DEI to the rising unemployment rate among Black women following mass corporate layoffs. “This is not about poor performance,” he said. “It is a frontal attack on 70 years of progress.”
Morial also challenged U.S. spending priorities. “Think about the value proposition of spending $20 billion to bail
out Argentina but cutting hundreds of billions from Medicaid. Think about $50 billion to rebuild Gaza, yet right here in Memphis one billion would make a huge difference in the infrastructure of this city.”
Housing and poverty, he said, are defining issues of the era. “Poverty has a new face in America today. There are fewer middle-class Americans than in 1971. Housing costs have increased six times faster than incomes.”
Morial closed with an impassioned call for civic action. “In Memphis, when there is an election, we can’t tolerate 30 percent voter turnout,” he said. “Voter suppression is awful; self-suppression is a mortal sin. Vote even if you don’t like the person -- hold your nose, just vote.”
He urged attendees to stay alert and involved. “We are in a fight. No matter where you are, there is a role for you to play. Let’s fight and fight and fight ‘til
“One of our failures as a diverse community is that a lot of folks who were supposed to be allies have let us down. In terms of diversity, equity and inclusion, they were willing to lay off people and cancel diversity at a moment’s notice as soon as there was a whisper of tension. We’ve got to build the right kinds of relationships so when things happen, there are people in positions willing to stand up and reject the push against progress.”
Mayor Young emphasized communication and connection:
“As public officials, we have to articulate how our decisions impact daily life. We can’t assume people know what government is doing. Communication must be constant — through social media, ambassadors and influencers — to keep citizens informed and engaged.”
Morial left attendees with a challenge to confront apathy with action.
“What kind of America do we want for our children and our children’s children?” he asked. “History will ask where we stood when the storm clouds blew in. Did you sleep or did you protect?
“No matter where you are,” he said, “there is a role for you to play.”
(From left) Memphis Urban League President and CEO Gale Jones-Carson, Tennessee Rep. Karen Camper, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and National Urban League President Marc Morial gather following the State of Black America Luncheon on Oct. 17, 2025, at the University Club of Memphis. The leaders participated in a panel discussion on civic responsibility, democratic engagement, and the local impact of national efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion policies. (Gary S. Whitlow/ Tri-State Defender)
Shelby County Mayor Harris, local officials sue Gov. Lee over National Guard deployment
Lawsuit claims action violates Tennessee law; City of Memphis stays on sidelines, continues coordination with state
By Lee Eric Smith TSD Contributing Writer
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has consistently voiced his opposition to the National Guard deployment in Memphis, arguing that it violates Tennessee law. Now, he and a coalition of county, city and state elected officials are taking Gov. Bill Lee to court.
Filed Thursday, Oct. 16, in Davidson County Chancery Court, the lawsuit contends that Lee overstepped his constitutional authority when he ordered the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis at the request of President Donald Trump.
The 23-page complaint argues that the move “trampled on Tennessee law by unilaterally deploying Tennessee National Guard members in Memphis as a domestic police force” without legislative approval or a formal request from local government officials.
“The deployment is patently unlawful,” the lawsuit states. “Defendants have exceeded the authority provided to the governor by Article III, Section 5 of the Tennessee Constitution.”
In addition to Harris, the plaintiffs include Shelby County Commissioners Erika Sugarmon and Henri Brooks, Memphis City Councilmember J.B. Smiley Jr., and state lawmakers G.A.
Hardaway, Gabby Salinas and Jeff Yarbro. Named as defendants are Lee, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, and Maj. Gen. Warner Ross II, adjutant general of the Tennessee National Guard.
The suit hinges on two key provisions of state law: one that limits the governor’s power to mobilize the Guard to cases of “rebellion or invasion” and another that allows deployment only in emergencies such as riots, natural disasters or attacks — or when local authorities formally request help. The plaintiffs argue that none of those conditions apply to Memphis.
“There is neither rebellion nor invasion in Tennessee,” the complaint says. “The General Assembly has not declared that public safety requires a military deployment. The Governor acted at the request of President Trump but not at the request of any Memphis or Shelby County officials.”
The legal challenge marks the most significant pushback yet against the Guard’s presence, which began visible operations in Memphis around Oct. 10. It also underscores the widening
split between local and state leadership over the “Memphis Safe Task Force,” the multi-agency crime initiative Lee announced in mid-September.
The lawsuit makes no mention of other federal law enforcement agencies operating in Memphis, focusing solely on the governor’s authorization of the Tennessee National Guard.
Read the full text of the lawsuit here: https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/ uploads/2025/10/Harris-v.-Lee_ Complaint.pdf
City of Memphis not a plaintiff
Noticeably absent from the list of plaintiffs is the City of Memphis itself, which has adopted a markedly different posture — one of cooperation and careful coordination rather than confrontation.
Mayor Paul Young and Police Chief C.J. Davis have repeatedly said they did not request the Guard, but both insist the city’s priority is to ensure that any outside forces operate within Memphis’s established public-safety strategy. Their approach centers on defining clear roles, maintaining communication, and keeping the focus on the specialized federal resources already on the ground.
“We want to make sure our community members understand that the
Memphis Police Department is the primary public-safety agency in the city of Memphis,” Davis said at a Sept. 30 town hall. “Ideally, we’ll have a memorandum of understanding so we’re all on the same page about who’s doing what.”
Speaking again on Oct. 10, Davis said the deployment was far smaller and less consequential than many feared.
“We don’t have a level of concern about the National Guard because we plan to try to utilize the National Guards in ways that are not law-enforcement related,” Davis told the TSD at the recent EDGE Awards breakfast. “There are commanders here looking for lodging, looking for staging areas — just handling the business of what deployment looks like. We will probably have less than 200 Guards here in Memphis. They had 1,500 in D.C., so it’s going to look a little bit different.” Davis added that the more meaningful impact on local policing is coming from the influx of federal agents.
“People should be more focused on making sure they aren’t encountered with the other federal entities that are here in the city, because we have more eyes on our city right now,” she said.
“Anyone committing crimes — especially violent crime — should know there’s an influx of support for the
“There is neither rebellion nor invasion in Tennessee. The General Assembly has not declared that public safety requires a military deployment. The Governor acted at the request of President Trump but not at the request of any Memphis or Shelby County officials.” — from the legal complaint
Lee Harris
Memphis Police Department right now.”
What the suit seeks
The plaintiffs are asking the court to block the Guard deployment, declare it unconstitutional and vacate any orders authorizing the Guard to engage in civilian law enforcement. They also request legal fees and costs.
The complaint asserts that the deployment “usurps local control” of public safety, threatens to overwhelm the county’s already burdened jail and court systems, and “diverts Guard personnel from legitimate disaster-response duties elsewhere in Tennessee.”
It also quotes a 1961 Supreme Court opinion: “Nothing can destroy a government more quickly than its failure to observe its own laws.”
■■ NEWS
“We are either a state with laws or we are not. No one should be above the law not even the governor or the president. By not coming to the legislature, the Governor abandoned his oath to uphold the Constitution of Tennessee. The deployment of the National Guard to Memphis is an abuse of power…” — Gabby Salinas
What they’re saying
Harris, an attorney by profession, has consistently challenged the deployment’s legality since it was announced.
“We’ve been clear from the beginning. We don’t need a military deployment in Memphis,” he told reporters at a Sept. 29 Regional One event. “The governor has plenty of ways to support Memphis that don’t involve soldiers or Humvees. We’re asking for alignment, not occupation.”
State Rep. Gabby Salinas made her stance crystal clear in a letter to Gov. Bill Lee that accompanied the lawsuit filing:
“We are either a state with laws or we are not. No one should be above the law not even the governor or the president. By not coming to the legislature, the Governor abandoned his oath to
uphold the Constitution of Tennessee. The deployment of the National Guard to Memphis is an abuse of power…”
State Rep. G.A. Hardaway echoed the legal concerns:
“The Tennessee National Guard is not adequately trained and not adequately experienced in the various state statutes and local ordinances of Memphis and Shelby County … I will not violate my oath of office or the Tennessee Constitution by failing to speak out and work against the unconstitutional deployment of National Guard personnel into Memphis and Shelby County.”
Legal representation for the plaintiffs is being provided by the National Immigration Law Center, among others, signaling the broader civil-rights and constitutional implications the suit raises.
What happens next
The case was filed in Davidson County Chancery Court, which handles suits against the state. No hearing date had been set as of publication time.
Lee’s office defended the initiative Friday, Oct. 17, in a written statement to multiple media outlets, saying the deployment “is about supporting Memphis and keeping communities safe.” Attorney General Skrmetti’s office declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
Meanwhile, Guard units remain in Memphis under a joint operations plan that also includes the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. State officials have described the mission as “temporary and supportive.”
Memphis area ralliers join ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump
TDS Newswire
Large crowds of protesters marched and rallied in Memphis and in cities across the U.S. Saturday, Oct. 18, for “ No Kings “ demonstrations, decrying what participants see as the government’s swift drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.
Thousands of people from all walks of life — students, activists, clergy, veterans, parents — came from every corner of Memphis gathered in the greenspace at Poplar and Highland for the rally coordinated by Indivisible Memphis.
The day was packed with speakers representing various causes for what organizers call a national day of action.
The crowd included people from different cultures bringing different messages. Collectively, the crowd was mostly showing their love for America while also showing their disdain for how the country is being run. The atmosphere felt like a pep rally of sorts — not to cheer but to show unity in displeasure.
Around the country, protesters packed into New
York City’s Times Square and rallied by the thousands in parks in Boston, Atlanta and Chicago. Demonstrators marched through Washington and downtown Los Angeles and picketed outside capitols in several Republican-led states, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smaller public spaces.
Trump’s Republican Party disparaged the demonstrations as “Hate America” rallies, but in many places, including Memphis, the events looked more like a street party.
It was the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and came against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services but is testing the core balance of power, as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that protest organizers warn are a slide toward authoritarianism.
National reports estimate around 7 million people participated in rallies across the U.S. – The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Photos: D’Angelo Connell/The Tri-State Defender)
National Civil Rights Museum celebrates Freedom Award honorees, voting rights anniversary
TSD Newswire
The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel celebrated courage, compassion and leadership at its 34th Annual Freedom Award ceremony, honoring three transformative figures whose work continues to shape the modern struggle for justice and equality.
This year’s Freedom Award recipients — Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League; Velma Lois Jones, Memphis educator and civil rights leader; and Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation — were recognized for their outstanding contributions to civil and human rights at a gala ceremony in downtown Memphis. Actor Larenz Tate served as host, with performances by acclaimed vocalist Wendy Moten and a tribute to the late Fred Smith, founder and CEO of FedEx.
“These honorees have changed the way we think about leadership whether in city halls, classrooms or global communities,” said Russ Wigginton, president of the National Civil Rights Museum. “Each of them models our mission to honor and preserve Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy while inspiring others to create positive social change.”
Honoree Mark Suzman referred to Dr. King’s work toward the Poor People’s Campaign and the Gates Foundation’s work in eradicating poverty. “Where there is poverty, there is no true freedom,” he said.
This year’s ceremony coincided with the museum’s yearlong observance of the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a milestone that continues to shape the moral conscience of American democracy.
“We honor those who risked everything to protect the sacred right to vote,” said Wigginton. “Even as that right faces new threats and attempts to be diminished, we remain resolute in preserving the truth of our shared history and the power of every citizen’s voice.”
Honoree Velma Lois Jones reminded guests that voter apathy is not an option and that every vote,
every voice counts. She cited examples of how she won three elected posts to associations by a margin of “three votes.”
During his remarks, Wigginton reminded attendees that the museum’s mission is not only to preserve history but also to use it as a foundation for truth and progress.
Honoree Mark Morial proposed that every elected official and every student in Tennessee should be required to visit the National Civil Rights Museum. “The museum is a treasure, not just to Memphis or Tennessee, but to the world,” he said.
As part of the Freedom Award occasion, the museum hosted the Student Forum, presented the Keeper of the Dream Award to Memphis student changemakers, and engaged viewers nationwide in virtual conversations about activism, compassion and the power of leadership.
Museum officials announced that the renovated
Legacy Building, located across from the Lorraine Motel, will reopen in Spring 2026. The redesigned space, now known as The Legacy, will extend the civil and human rights story from 1968 to the present, connecting historical milestones to contemporary struggles for equity and democracy.
The Legacy experience will include:
– Student engagement and leadership spaces for dialogue and civic learning;
– Rapid-response exhibitions addressing current social justice issues; and
– Digital storytelling and oral history to preserve firsthand accounts about the King assassination and investigation.
A capital campaign is underway to fund enhancements and expand programming that promotes understanding and empathy through community conversations and national outreach.
For more information, visit freedomaward.org.
Actor Larenz Tate, host of the 34th Annual Freedom Award ceremony, welcomes guests during the gala honoring civil and human rights leaders at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Memphis on Oct. 19, 2025. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
Russ Wigginton, president of the National Civil Rights Museum, speaks during the Freedom Award ceremony, emphasizing the museum’s mission to preserve Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and promote social change.
■■ COMMUNITY
Guests arrive at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Memphis for the National Civil Rights Museum’s 34th Annual Freedom Award ceremony on Oct. 19, 2025. ON THE COVER: Vocalist Wendy Moten performs alongside background singers during the Freedom Award ceremony, bringing soulful tribute to the evening’s celebration of justice and leadership.
Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, accepts the Freedom Award for his leadership in advancing economic empowerment and civil rights across the nation.
Velma Lois Jones, a Memphis educator and longtime civil rights activist, is honored with the Freedom Award for her decades of service in education and grassroots organizing.
Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, delivers remarks after receiving the Freedom Award, reflecting on poverty as a barrier to true freedom and invoking Dr. King’s legacy.
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF TENNESSEE FOR THE THIRTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT AT MEMPHIS, SHELBY COUNTY TENNESSEE, In its own behalf and for the use and benefit if applicable, THE STATE OF TENNESSEE and, THE MUNICIPALITIES OF ARLINGTON, BARTLETT, COLLIERVILLE, GERMANTOWN, LAKELAND, MEMPHIS AND MILLINGTON TENNESSEE Plaintiffs, vs. DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS as shown on the 2022 Real Property Tax Records of the Shelby County Trustee and the United States of America, Defendant(s)
TX-2024-2
Tax Sale 2202
Order of Publication:
In this cause, it appearing from the Affidavit of Service of Process and Request for Service of Publication filed in this cause on September 16, 2025, that all of the named Defendants listed below as ‘Exhibit A’ are Not To Be Found. Further the Plaintiffs conducted a diligent search and inquiry and were unable to locate any of the Defendants in ‘Exhibit A’ that were not to be found. Therefore, such persons should be notified by publication that they are required to appear on December 04, 2025 before Chancellor James R. Newsom, Part II of Chancery Court in the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Avenue 3rd Floor, Memphis, Tennessee. Such persons should also be notified of the need to file on or before December 04, 2025, an answer making defense to the bill filed against them in said Court by Shelby County, or otherwise a default judgment will be taken against each defendant herein named. The purpose for which the defendants are to appear is to defend against certainconsolidated suits filed to enforce real estate tax liens for delinquent real estate taxes due and owing on real estate in Shelby County and if applicable the City of Memphis and the Incorporated Municipalities of Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, Memphis, and Millington Tennessee. If any of the defendants named herein do not file an answer, on or before Friday December 04, 2025 a Motion for Default Judgement will be heard at 9:00 a.m. in Part II of Chancery Court, 140 Adams Avenue, 3rd Floor, Memphis, TN. If you wish to discuss alternatives, if any, to the sale of your property, currently have an active bankruptcy, or if you have any questions, please call (901) 222-0200. The properties of the Defendants named herein are scheduled for Tax Sale 2202; TX-2024-2. The sale is scheduled for April 07, 2026 via online auction beginning at 8:00 a.m. at ZeusAuction.com.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this notice be published once each week for four (4) consecutive weeks on October 03, 2025; October 10, 2025; October 17, 2025; and October 24, 2025 In the Daily News.
Signed, James R. Newsom, Part II
LEGAL NOTICE
TO FURNISHERS OF LABOR AND MATERIALS TO STANDARD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE FY 2025 STATE-AID PAVING PROJECT
Notice is hereby given that SHELBY COUNTY is preparing to make settlement with STANDARD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY for necessary and related work for the rehabilitation and/or construction of FY 2025 STATE-AID PAVING PROJECT.
All persons holding claims against the
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Contractor STANDARD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY or their agents for materials or labor entering into the construction of this project must file itemized notice of such claim (two copies) with the original copy sworn to before a Notary Public. This notice to be received at the office of James Gloster, Administrator of Pur chasing, 5th Floor, 160 North Main, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, on or before November 30, 2025 in order to obtain the advantages afforded to claimants by legal statute.
Respectfully submitted, James Gloster Administrator of Purchasing Shelby County Government
LEGAL NOTICE
BEAVER CREEK PROJECT.
All persons holding claims against the Contractor DEMENT CONSTRUCTION, LLC. or their agents for materials or labor entering into the construction of this project must file itemized notice of such claim (two copies) with the original copy sworn to before a Notary Public. This notice to be received at the office of James Gloster, Administrator of Purchasing, 5th Floor, 160 North Main, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, on or before November 30, 2025 in order to obtain the advantages afforded to claimants by legal statute.
Respectfully submitted,
James Gloster
Administrator of Purchasing Shelby County Government
LEGAL NOTICE
Request for Statement of Qualifications
MSCAA Project Number 25-1488-00
Architect & Landscape Architect Consulting Services
Statements of Qualifications for Architect & Landscape Architect Consulting Services will be received by the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (Authority), Procurement Department, 4150 Louis Carruthers Road, Memphis, TN 38118, until 2:00 PM local time on November 12, 2025. The Information Package, including a description of the scope of services, the selection criteria, the required response format, and additional instructions may be obtained on the Authority’s website at www.flymemphis.com on
or after October 22, 2025
All Respondents are responsible for checking the Authority’s website up to the submission deadline for any updates, addenda or additional information. The successful Respondent must sign a contract with the Authority that includes Federal Aviation Administration provisions, if applicable, regarding Buy American Preference, Foreign Trade Restriction, Davis-Bacon, Affirmative Action, Debarment and Suspension, and Drug-Free Workplace, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this request in whole or in part; to waive any informalities, technicalities, or omissions related to this request; and to reject responses on any other basis authorized by the Authority’s purchasing policies.
The Authority is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, disability, marital status, military service, or sexual orientation in its hiring and employment practices and in the admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services, and activities.
By
order of:
Terry Blue, A.A.E. President
Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
TO FURNISHERS OF LABOR AND MATERIALS TO DEMENT CONSTRUCTION, LLC. FOR THE COLLIERVILLE-ARLINGTON ROAD BRIDGE OVER WEST BEAVER CREEK PROJECT
Notice is hereby given that SHELBY COUNTY is preparing to make settlement with DEMENT CONSTRUCTION, LLC for necessary and related work for the rehabilitation and/or construction of COLLIERVILLEARLINGTON ROAD BRIDGE OVER WEST
Trevia Chatman President, Bank of America Memphis
Mushroom lovers, science enthusiasts, history buffs: This book’s for you
Book review
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
Something weird is growing on your kitchen sink.
It wasn’t there last night but today? Yeah, and it’s not intentional. You need to get rid of it somehow, wipe it off, kill it, eliminate it altogether or, as in the new book “Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless” by Maria Pinto, maybe study it and eat it.
Junjo or duppy umbrella.
When Maria Pinto was studying a mushroom species she found in a Target parking lot, her mother scoffed. In Jamaica, her mother said, there were just two kinds of mushrooms, which sent Pinto off on a search. The word “junjo” sounded like something else, which led to another thought, which took her further down the mushroom hole.
As a “melancholic” kid, “weird, queer … a child destined to stay strange,” Pinto had always been fascinated with dirt and the things growing in it. For a while, she liked to taste dirt, to know its saltiness. Eventually, she realized that in eating soil, she was also eating a considerable amount of fungus.
Self-taught, her laboratory extended out her front door, surrounding her house and out on nearby trails. She began spending time in wooded areas, face to the ground, photographing and getting to know the fungi that she found.
Fungi does not have a “season,” although mushroom-hunting does. Pinto enjoys the taste of what she finds and experimenting with ways to make
each fungus palatable. The smell of one kind of mushroom can vary from the next. Sometimes mushrooms smell like something you’d never want to eat but in an oddly mouthwatering way.
Fungus, especially in mushroom form, are tainted by race, says Pinto. They were often used as a meat substitute when slaves were underfed. When they were inedible or even poisonous, they were quite possibly instruments of revenge on overseers or slave masters.
All mushrooms, Pinto points out, are edible. Some just once.
Dirt. You scrub it off your shoes, tumble it from your clothes, wipe it off your hands and watch it swirl down the drain. After you’ve read “Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless,” you’ll want to look at what’s in it a little closer.
A mycophile is a person who’s interested in mushrooms and fungi, and author Maria Pinto may create a few more of them with her guileless obsession with all things mushroom. She’s unabashed in sharing her biography in this book, which fits with the lessons learned, and she adds history where appropriate. But the body of this book teaches readers to want to open their eyes wide to the tiniest things that surround them. Pinto encourages readers to get low, to get dirty, to smell and touch and know nature’s hidden things that many of us might normally rear away from. That’s a practice that’s easy, cheap and fun.
If you love to eat mushrooms, enjoy a lighthearted science book, need a new hobby, or you’ve noticed fungi and wondered about it, this book gives you permission to find out. Truly, “Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless” is a book to sink your teeth into.
“Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Hidden Histories, Zombies and Black Survival” by Maria Pinto c.2025, The University of North Carolina Press
$23.00
240 pages
■■ ENTERTAINMENT
‘A Protest History of the United States’ author promotes her latest book
From her great-great-grandmother’s defiance to modern protest, Gloria J. Browne-Marshall affirms that America is still defined by resistance.
By Judith Black Moore TSD Contributing Writer
Author, constitutional law professor, civil rights attorney and activist Gloria J. Browne-Marshall arrived in Memphis last week for what could be called a prophetic moment. Fresh from attending the National Civil Rights Museum’s Freedom Awards, her appearance the next evening at Novel bookstore was to promote “A Protest History of the United States,” her seventh book.
Though the book chronicles acts of resistance over five centuries, the discussion was strikingly current. With “No Kings” protests beginning the next day across the country and federal troops framing the streets of Memphis, her talk seemed less like a book promotion and more like prophecy and prediction.
“This has been a book that was unexpected for the times but was in the process for years. The book wasn’t something I planned,” she told the audience. “It was something put on my heart to do. I wrote it because I kept hearing people say protesting is no longer effective.”
To Browne-Marshall, there are far more ways to protest than marching in the streets. She described other forms
“The book wasn’t something I planned. It was something put on my heart to do. I wrote it because I kept hearing people say protesting is no longer effective.”
— Gloria J. Browne-Marshall
of resistance that happen less overtly.
“Writing is protest. Leaving is protest. Funding transportation for protestors is protest. Survival is protest. Holding on to your dreams. Excellence — they can all be considered protests,” she said.
Part memoir and part national reckoning, she discussed how the book traces the roots of her activism through her ancestors, beginning with her great-great-grandmother Eliza Bradshaw. She shared how Bradshaw was beaten with a hickory stick and had salt poured into her wounds by her enslaver. After she fought back, throwing boiling water on her oppressor, “They never touched her again,” Browne-Marshall said.
Moderated by Deidre Malone, former president of the Memphis Chapter NAACP and current president of the National Women’s Political Caucus, the discussion explored protest, power, race, gender and grace. Calling the current administration a “regime,”
Browne-Marshall connected the overturning of Roe vs. Wade to centuries of male domination over women’s bodies.
“Because wombs build empires, men have used women to create workers, soldiers and heirs,” she said. She warned that the same dynamics persist today, offering Project 2025 as another example.
Her talk ranged from Columbus’ seizure of Indigenous land to what she described as the current administration’s efforts to win over young Black supporters through economic appeal.
Browne-Marshall said, “Some Black supporters think if they’re on the money side, the bully won’t take their lunch money. I understand that; I don’t like getting my lunch money taken either. But the fact that it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t.” She added, “When it happens — and it will — we need to be prepared to bring them back into the fold.”
Before closing, Browne-Marshall
asked a young audience member, “What did you learn here today?” Hearing that she planned to participate in protests, Browne-Marshall offered her safety tips. “Don’t protest at night,” she said. “Dangerous things happen at night. Take it from someone who has been protesting since the third grade.”
She also advised, in case of arrest, “Make sure you put a telephone number for your lawyer or for your family on your arm or your clothes with a marker because they (law enforcement officials) will take your cell phone.”
Drawing strength from her own journey, Browne-Marshall said, “My life has not been a crystal stair. Grace is what I was given, and grace is what I try to maintain, even though my activism is fueled by rage.”
Browne-Marshall’s timing, message and advice connected the past and the present. With protesters filling America’s streets the following morning, her book, her tour and her words proved in step with the climate of the country and the urgency of the moment.
Deidre Malone, left, moderates a discussion with author Gloria J. Browne-Marshall during a stop to promote her book “A Protest History of the United States,” at Novel bookstore, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by: Judith Black Moore)
Black businesses shine at 2025 EDGE Awards Breakfast
Trap Fusion, Cynthia Daniels, a 10-year-old entrepreneur and others honored for building community through business
By Lee Eric Smith TSD Contributing Writer
When the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) for Memphis and Shelby County handed out its 2025 awards Oct. 9, it was more than a celebration of capital investment and job creation. It was also a tribute to the visionaries, risk-takers and community builders whose work is reshaping the economic narrative of Memphis from the ground up.
Held at the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms, the third annual EDGE Economic Development & Community Recognition Awards Breakfast brought together regional officials, corporate executives and small business owners to celebrate partnerships that drive growth across Memphis and Shelby County.
“Our honorees are investing in today and building a foundation for longterm prosperity,” said EDGE President and CEO Joann Massey. “Their vision, leadership and commitment show how working together fuels economic progress for all.”
Among the 16 awards presented were names familiar to TSD readers — grassroots entrepreneurs, cultural curators and local champions whose impact radiates far beyond boardrooms and spreadsheets.
Trap Fusion’s Jason Gardner: Feeding the soul of the city
When Jason Gardner, co-owner of Trap Fusion, stepped to the podium to accept the Small Business Impact Award, the room was still digesting breakfast. But what followed was a stirring sermon on what it really means to be a small business owner in Memphis. With visible emotion, Gardner detailed how a $20,000 EDGE loan
became a launchpad for more than $2.3 million in sales at the Whitehaven eatery. It’s provided more than 70 jobs and has launched a mission far deeper than just food.
“We wanted to provide healthy food options in the inner city,” Gardner told the crowd. “We don’t cook with pork. We don’t cook with salt. We’re in a food desert, and we wanted to make a difference.”
But Trap Fusion is also a place for second chances. As Gardner accepted the award, at his side was his colleague and business partner, Julian.
“Julian did 10 years in prison. He came to me from a halfway house. Now he’s my right-hand man, my kitchen manager, my business partner,” Gard-
ner said. “This is what boots on the ground looks like.”
Mariah’s Sugar Rush: Sweet hustle, straight from the heart
At just 10 years old, Mariah Shield is already learning what it takes to build a brand and, more importantly, how to dream big.
The founder of Mariah’s Sugar Rush received EDGE’s Kidpreneur of the Year Award, earning a standing ovation as she stepped shyly to the mic.
“It feels really good,” she said, clutching the award. “I just want to say thank you for your love and support. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me.”
Mariah’s idea came out of a simple
request and a “no.”
“I always wanted ice cream after school,” she told TSD. “But my mom said we didn’t have the money to get ice cream every day. So I said, ‘I’ll make my own.’”
That spark led to lemonade nachos, Kool-Aid pickles, hot dogs and a rolling dessert truck that serves local schools and events. Her mother, Kristina Shields, helps with logistics, but the ideas? Those are all Mariah.
“We work together,” Kristina said. “She dreams it up. I help do the research. And now we’re showing other kids that dreams really can come true.”
Cynthia Daniels & Co.: Building culture, platform by platform
Ever since choosing Memphis to build her empire 16 years ago,
Cynthia
Mariah Shield (center), EDGE President and CEO Joann Massey (left), and State Sen. London Lamar celebrate Mariah’s Kidpreneur of the Year Award at the 2025 EDGE Awards Breakfast, held Oct. 9 at the FedEx Event Center. (Lee Eric Smith/The TriState Defender)
Darrell Cobbins, recipient of the Chairman’s Award at the 2025 EDGE Awards Breakfast, reflects on decades of impact in commercial real estate and community development. Cobbins was honored for his leadership, mentorship and commitment to opening doors for others in Memphis.
Daniels has become synonymous with some of the most talked about events in Memphis: Black Restaurant Week. Elixir. Top 40 Under 40.
This year, EDGE honored Daniels with a Culture Maker Award, recognizing her impact as a connector of Black businesses, creators and customers.
“I’m a Memphian by choice,” Daniels said. “I moved here from Atlanta in 2009 and only planned to stay two years. But Memphis transformed my life. It gave me space to start something.”
Now, through curated events, vendor expos and brand activations, Daniels’ company has funneled millions in revenue toward local Black-owned businesses while uplifting voices that too often go unheard.
“Economic development also thrives through culture and connection,” she said. “I’m just thankful to be doing the work and to be doing it here.”
Darrell Cobbins: Honored for opening doors
If there’s a quiet architect of opportunity in Memphis’ business landscape, Darrell Cobbins may well be it.
Honored with the Chairman’s Award for his longtime leadership in commer-
■■ BUSINESS
cial real estate and economic development, Cobbins took the moment to reflect on the journey and on how opening doors for others can shape generations.
Twenty-four years ago, he became the first Black professional in Memphis hired into commercial brokerage at what is now Cushman & Wakefield.
That chance, he said, changed his life and shaped his calling.
“When you have that opportunity, open the door,” Cobbins said. “Let that person show what they can do. Maybe 25 years from now, they’ll be the one up here receiving this award.”
A nod to a giant: Fred Smith’s enduring legacy
Though much of the morning celebrated small businesses and community advocates, the Lifetime Achievement Award belonged posthumously to Fred Smith, founder of FedEx and one of the city’s most transformative figures.
Richard Smith, who succeeded his father as president and CEO of FedEx, was traveling out of the country but delivered remarks via video.
“FedEx and our family have invested heavily in this community because we love it,” Richard Smith said. “And
because we believe in it.”
Massey put it plainly: “He didn’t just build a company. He built a movement.”
Honoring a region in motion
In total, EDGE presented 16 awards recognizing achievements across industries from manufacturing and real estate to journalism and civic leadership. Among them:
• Economic Impact Project of the Year: AAON Inc., for bringing quality jobs and advanced manufacturing to the region.
• Leadership Award: Richard W. Smith, CEO of FedEx, and William B. Dunavant III, honored for decades of visionary leadership.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Frederick W. Smith, founder of FedEx.
• Small Business Impact Awards: Trap Fusion and Hard Times Deli, both recipients of EDGE’s Small Business Loan Program and now community anchors.
• Culture Maker Awards: Joanna Crangle and the staff of Memphis Business Journal, alongside Cynthia Daniels, for elevating Memphis’ identity through storytelling and entrepreneurship.
• Kidpreneur of the Year: Mariah
Shield, founder of Mariah’s Sugar Rush.
• Economic Development Collaborator Award: Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development, for its work in supporting regional projects.
• Regional Economic Development Agency of the Year: Cushman & Wakefield, honored for advancing site development and regional growth.
• Marketing Campaign Champion: Bartlett Chamber of Commerce, led by John Threadgill.
• Awards of Appreciation: Wepfer Marine, Hyosung HICO, and KTG USA, for their ongoing contributions to local job growth and economic vitality.
• Chairman’s Award: Darrell Cobbins, for decades of leadership, mentorship, and impact in Memphis commercial real estate and community development.
In closing remarks, EDGE Chair Al Bright Jr. reminded attendees that the work of building economic strength is a shared responsibility.
“Economic development isn’t abstract,” Bright said. “It’s new jobs, new investments and new opportunities that improve lives and build stronger communities.”
Event curator and entrepreneur Cynthia Daniels is all smiles after receiving the Culture Maker Award at the 2025 EDGE Awards Breakfast. Daniels, founder of Black Restaurant Week and other signature Memphis events, was honored for building community through culture and commerce.
Jason Gardner (left), co-owner of Trap Fusion, stands with his business partner and kitchen manager Julian Young after accepting the Small Business Impact Award during the 2025 EDGE Awards Breakfast at the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms on Oct. 9. The duo has turned a $20,000 loan into more than $2.3 million in sales while offering jobs and second chances in Memphis.