National Civil Rights Museum announces 2025 Freedom Award honorees
By Brianna Smith-Herman TSD Contributing Writer
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The National Civil Rights Museum has announced the honorees for its 34th annual Freedom Award, the institution’s signature event recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to civil and human rights.
The 2025 Freedom Award will honor three distinguished leaders:
• Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, for transforming the historic civil rights organization with a focus on economic empowerment, education and criminal justice reform.
• Velma Lois Jones, a lifelong Memphian, pioneering educator and civil rights leader. Jones broke barriers as the first classroom teacher elected president of both the Memphis Education Association and the Tennessee Education Association, and she was also the first woman to lead the NAACP Memphis Branch.
• Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who has built global partnerships to advance health, education and opportunity, drawing on lessons from his upbringing in apartheid South Africa and his career with the United Nations.
The Freedom Award ceremony will take place Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Memphis. The evening will begin with a pre-award gala and red carpet at 5:30 p.m. outside the Halloran Centre and will feature
a special performance by Memphis native and acclaimed vocalist Wendy Moten.
In addition to the evening program, the Freedom Award Student Forum will be held that morning at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. The forum engages middle school, high school and college students from across the nation in discussions about leadership and positive social change.
The event will also include the presentation of the Keeper of the Dream Award, recognizing outstanding young leaders.
Now in its 34th year, the Freedom Award continues to shine a spotlight on the power of truth, equity and justice — values that remain vital in today’s climate.
President Calvin Anderson Editor
Stephanie R. Jones
Marc H. Morial Velma Lois Jones
Mark Suzman
When nonprofits fall silent, communities lose their voice
Groundwork: Mission Critical
By Judith Black Moore TSD Contributing Writer
When a nonprofit closes its doors, the loss is felt in ways both seen and unseen: the after-school program where children once learned and laughed goes dark, the senior lunch that brought companionship is no longer delivered, the battered spouse has no safe refuge. A community’s pulse weakens. The cause isn’t always mismanagement. More often, it’s silence — organizations doing essential work without the communications capacity to be visible to the public. In an age when attention drives funding, invisibility can be fatal.
Yet, despite no dedicated communications staff, some nonprofits have found ways to rise above that silence. One example is AngelStreet Memphis, which has nurtured girls in the Bickford, New Chicago, Smokey City and Klondike neighborhoods for nearly 13 years. With no communications expert of its own, AngelStreet Memphis has collaborating partners who help amplify its mission — proof that visibility can be achieved when others invest in telling the story. Through music education, leadership training and a deep sense of community, AngelStreet Memphis helps young women grow artistically, emotionally and spiritually. But as co-founder and Executive Director Ruth Abigail Gardner points out, nonprofit work begins with passion, not publicity.
“Most people who get into this work do it because of their passion and not because of the publicity,” she says. “I know publicity is necessary. But we are not looking for a pat on the back, claps or a red carpet.”
That humility, however, doesn’t erase reality: In today’s climate, nonprofits without visibility are often overlooked. Gardner acknowledges the uneven playing field: “With nonprofits who have dedicated communications staff you get to see their work all the time. But when you start a nonprofit, you become an entrepreneur. You’re asked to learn skills you didn’t come in the door with, and often you don’t have the resources or time to gain them.”
It’s the paradox most small nonprofits face: heart and impact on one hand, limited capacity to share that story on the other. “As nonprofit leaders we have to understand that we are running a business,” Gardner says. Like any business, survival depends on customers — or in this case, donors, partners and volunteers — knowing who you are and
why you matter.
That reality hasn’t stopped AngelStreet Memphis from finding ways to be seen. Gardner explains, “We rely on word of mouth and our partners to help promote our work and offer communications support for campaigns and events. This kind of support can be a game changer. It fills a gap in infrastructure and gives small nonprofits the opportunity to build sustainability.”
Her point is clear: communications support isn’t charity; it’s infrastructure. “Smaller nonprofits shouldn’t be discounted just because we can’t afford to have professionals put the work on display,” she adds.
But without help telling their stories, grassroots groups risk being dismissed by funders who expect professional-level polish. And when they falter, the consequences ripple outward. The challenges nonprofits once helped manage don’t disappear. They reappear in more expensive places: schools absorbing struggling students, clinics treating preventable illnesses and courtrooms
where young people face outcomes stronger support systems might have helped them avoid.
That’s why nonprofit publicity deserves to be treated as civic infrastructure, an area where funders and supporters can make a lasting impact. As Gardner puts it, “Some people don’t want to pour into smaller nonprofits because they don’t have the infrastructure. That is why it is helpful to resource leaders so nonprofits get to the point where they are investible.”
Here is what that means: businesses loaning marketing talent or underwriting public relations campaigns; media outlets carving out consistent space for community organizations; and skilled volunteers adopting a nonprofit for a year, offering steady social media support.
And the public has a role: follow nonprofits on social media, share their posts, talk about their impact. For the Black community especially, the stakes are high. When a nonprofit serving our causes fails, a piece of our heart fails with it.
AngelStreet Memphis shows what is possible when those partnerships take root. “We have incredible partnerships that have helped us with events and campaigns,” Gardner says. “Having more help would mean even more in getting ahead as an organization.”
Nonprofits don’t need red carpets. They need visibility. They need partners willing to help tell their story. Because when nonprofits fall silent, entire communities lose their voice.
Learn more about AngelStreet Memphis angelstreetmemphis.com
Judith Black Moore
Young performers from AngelStreet Memphis light up the stage at the group’s Spring Concert, “Angel Mix.” Despite limited resources, the nonprofit amplifies the voices of girls in underserved communities through music and mentorship. (Photos courtesy of AngelStreet Memphis)
AngelStreet Memphis performers showcase global rhythms during “Angel Mix,” a Spring Concert remixing history and harmony.
By Dalisia Ballinger TSD Contributing Writer
Parents, educators and community members gathered Thursday, Sept, 4, at a Memphis-Shelby County Schools town hall meeting to voice concerns about the proposed state takeover of the district. The event, held in partnership with Stand for Children Tennessee and the Equity Alliance, drew a large turnout of families eager to ask questions and share frustrations.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Interim Superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond led much of the conversation, joined by members of the Shelby County Board of Education. The evening was facilitated by therapist Pametria Brown, who ensured every participant was given space to be respectfully heard.
Richmond began by offering a sweeping overview of Memphis’ and Shelby County’s complex education history, underscoring how decades of shifting policies, reforms and funding challenges continue to impact schools today.
“People talk a lot about school accountability, but school accountability has really only been around for about 25 years,” Richmond said. He walked parents through milestones including the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which set a goal of 100% student proficiency by 2014; the 2007 BEP 2.0 funding changes that introduced Memphis’ first school turnaround model; and the 2008 city decision to withdraw its funding for education, which triggered a structural deficit that lasted nearly a decade.
Richmond noted that constant changes to standards and accountability measures created instability that schools, teachers and families were forced to absorb.
“Every time new standards are creat-
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Parents raise concerns at Memphis-Shelby County Schools town hall about possible state takeover
ed, students are not going to perform well at first,” he explained. “That’s not failure, it’s the natural adjustment that happens when expectations are raised. But what happens in urban districts like ours is that it gets painted as dysfunction, when often it’s manufactured by systems far beyond our classrooms.”
He also reminded the audience of the history of school mergers, the creation and eventual collapse of the state-run Achievement School District (ASD), and the billions invested with little proven improvement in student outcomes. “There will always be a bottom five percent,” Richmond said. “The research is clear: State takeovers do not improve student learning. In fact, they create instability and erode trust in local communities.”
Instead, Richmond urged investment in sustainable, community-led solutions. “True progress requires stability,
community trust and investment in local leadership,” he said. “We cannot do this work with people from the outside. It must be done by those who love and care about this community.”
Parents’ voices take center stage
While Richmond’s context resonated with many families, the town hall revealed that the community is far from unified on the question of a state takeover.
“Our district stands at a crossroads,” one parent said. “For too long, decisions about Memphis schools have been shaped by forces outside of our community. Stability, trust and equity are not optional. They are essential if our schools are to thrive.”
Many parents in attendance echoed that sentiment, urging the district and the board to protect local voices and prioritize stability for students. Parents
“They don’t have nobody governing them,. The school board has been doing what they want to do, and they’re going to continue to do what they want to do. They don’t have the budgets, but they’re spending all kinds of money. Then they’ll come to us during elections and say they need to raise taxes again. We’re 65% black in Memphis, and we get pimped by blacks. I’m tired, and it’s time for a change. Maybe the state board takeover is a good idea.”
— Anthony Warr
also vented frustrations about the lack of resources available to families and the limited opportunities for meaningful involvement between parents and the school board. Above all, they said, they wanted to be seen, heard and valued.
Still, not all parents opposed the idea of state involvement. Some expressed deep frustration with the district’s leadership and board, arguing that outside control might be necessary.
“They don’t have nobody governing them,” said parent Anthony Warr. “The school board has been doing what they want to do, and they’re going to continue to do what they want to do. They don’t have the budgets, but they’re
MSCS Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond outlines a timeline related to the potential state takeover. (Photos: Dalisia Ballinger/The Tri-State Defender)
spending all kinds of money. Then they’ll come to us during elections and say they need to raise taxes again. We’re 65% black in Memphis, and we get pimped by blacks. I’m tired, and it’s time for a change. Maybe the state board takeover is a good idea.”
Warr’s comments underscored the frustration some parents feel not just with state politics but also with local leadership and accountability. The evening reflected both a strong defense
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of local control and a raw sense of disillusionment with the current system.
Community advocacy and organizing
Local advocacy groups, including Stand for Children Tennessee, the Equity Alliance and Memphis For All, also stressed the importance of community-led solutions.
“We are in a moment where the state is unfairly targeting our school district in order to dismantle it,” said Aris Newton of Stand for Children Tennessee. “Politicians want to take away local control. They want to tie our hands so it’s impossible for us to create solutions here at home. But we believe that true, open and honest discussion can bring us together instead of dividing us.”
Newton highlighted how the listening sessions offer a space for stakeholders — parents, teachers, board members and administrators — to collaborate and “support our public schools in a way that hasn’t been done before.”
A history of “manufactured” instability
Richmond also walked families through the broader policy shifts that have shaped Memphis schools over the past two decades. He explained
that many of the state’s “failures” were the result of shifting benchmarks and manufactured dysfunction.
“In 2010, when Common Core came in, schools bottomed out,” Richmond said. “But people should understand that (it) was manufactured. National standards were raised so high that nearly every district would fail. That created room for testing companies, curriculum developers and outside reformers to step in. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry built on manufacturing dysfunction.”
He reminded families that this pattern has repeated itself. Every time new standards or accountability measures are introduced, schools initially show drops in performance — not because students suddenly learned less but because expectations shifted.
“Sometimes what you have is people manufacturing dysfunction,” Richmond said. “It will appear that urban school systems are failing, when in reality they’re being held to moving targets.”
Richmond also tied these shifts to local events: Memphis City Schools’ decision in 2011 to surrender its charter, the 2013 merger with Shelby County Schools, and the six suburban districts that seceded a year later, taking with them additional tax revenue streams.
All of this, he argued, left MSCS with a disproportionately high concentration of low-income students and long-term financial obligations.
“This history matters,” Richmond told parents. “Because every time we adjusted to new rules, new tests, new funding models, it was our children who bore the cost.”
Looking ahead
For many parents in attendance, the fear is less about the politics of education and more about their children’s daily experiences in classrooms. Some left the meeting more convinced that local control is essential, while others, like Warr, felt that the district’s entrenched issues demand outside intervention.
Although dozens of questions were raised throughout the night, Shelby County Board of Education members said they could not yet provide full answers. Instead, they pledged to continue the dialogue at another town hall event scheduled for late October.
The evening closed with a reminder from both community leaders and families that the conversation is far from over. As one parent summed up: “We’re not against accountability. We just want solutions that work for our kids, not more disruption.”
School board member Natalie McKinney opens the town hall with remarks outlining its purpose.
By Lee Eric Smith TSD Contributing Writer
For months, the stretch of Riverside Drive along Tom Lee Park has been closed while city crews reconfigured the roadway. On Monday, city officials cut the ribbon on the new design — a two-lane corridor with expanded parking and a calmer pace meant to make the riverfront safer and more inviting.
Mayor Paul Young called the reopening “a great day, a long time coming.”
“This street is a vital part of tying together our riverfront and the rest of downtown,” Young said in his official remarks. “It connects Memphians and visitors alike to Tom Lee Park, to the river, and to the heart of our city. By narrowing Riverside, we’re making intentional choices. We are prioritizing people by slowing down cars. This is more than a road project — it’s an investment in a stronger neighborhood and a stronger city.”
The redesign reduces the drive from four lanes to two — one northbound and one southbound along the east side of the road. The west side, bordering the park, now features both parallel and back-in angled parking. The total number of spaces increased from 65 to 88, including additional ADA-accessible spots.
John Zeanah, director of the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, said the goal was to transform the road from a barrier into a connector.
“Riverside Drive for too long has been a boundary line between our downtown and Tom Lee Park,” Zeanah said. “Now, with this redesign, it’s a promenade through our riverfront park. Tom Lee Park has become such a special place in our community, and this street was repurposed to honor that legacy.”
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Riverside Drive reopens with new two-lane design, enhanced parking near Tom Lee Park
Nuts and bolts of the new layout
City officials said they considered four or five different design options before settling on the current plan.
Zeanah explained that the mix of parallel and back-in spaces not only creates more capacity but also forces drivers to slow down, improving safety.
Through traffic, whether northbound or southbound, now flows along the east side of Riverside Drive, closest to downtown. Drivers headed for Tom Lee Park must approach from the north and travel southbound on the west side of the road, adjacent to the park, to access parking. The first spaces encountered are parallel, followed by several pods of back-in angled parking. City officials emphasized that signs are posted throughout the corridor to guide drivers.
Paid parking is also part of the plan, though the first hour is free — particularly important, Young said, since city data show more than 70 percent of park visitors stay less than an hour. “It encourages turnover so more people can experience Tom Lee Park, while also generating revenue to support opera-
tions and security,” he said.
Emergency responders, Young added, were consulted throughout the design process, and movable barriers allow flexibility during major events such as Memphis in May. “These elements can be pulled up, stored, and put right back down within a matter of days,” Zeanah said.
The total project cost was roughly $2 million.
Safety and security upgrades
The reopening comes amid a broader push to strengthen public safety downtown. Young pointed to 62 new high-definition cameras installed in the district last fall, adding to more than 200 already in place. Another 100 are expected to come online soon, some along Riverside Drive.
“These are different than the old blue-light cameras,” Young said. “They’re tied into our fiber network, which allows us to run artificial intelligence searches if we want to look for a specific vehicle type, for example. It’s part of our broader public safety strategy.”
City officials emphasized that the
new traffic pattern itself is also a safety measure. Narrower lanes, visible barriers and the back-in parking configuration are all designed to slow down drivers.
“One of the primary goals for this project was slowing down traffic so we could improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists,” Zeanah said.
The upgrades also reflect a broader philosophy of using technology and design together. Slower speeds, better sight lines and increased surveillance, Young argued, make the corridor not only safer for families visiting the park but also more inviting for residents and tourists who may have previously avoided the area after dark.
A long-debated change
Memphians may remember a similar two-lane experiment in 2014 that was quickly reversed after complaints. Zeanah noted that this version addresses problems that plagued the earlier attempt, such as unsafe left turns into Tom Lee Park’s old parking lot. “The barriers you see today prevent those turns,” he said, “which makes this design much more sustainable.”
Young acknowledged questions about whether the changes would generate lasting economic impact, tying the project to the city’s long-term planning framework.
“Downtown is the living room of the whole region,” he said. “It’s vital that we have a strong, safe, walkable downtown. This world-class riverfront amenity will allow more people to get here safely, and in the long term, it will have a strong economic impact.”
That outlook echoes Memphis 3.0, the city’s comprehensive plan, which identified the riverfront as a key attraction and called for safer, more accessible connections between downtown and the Mississippi River. The Riverside Drive redesign, officials said, is one more step in delivering on that vision.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young (center) and other city officials open newly reconfigured Riverside Drive. (Lee Eric Smith/The Tri-State Defender)
Future focused: MMBC Continuum Economic Development Forum empowering connection
By Dalisia Ballinger TSD Contributing Writer
For 18 years, the Economic Development Forum, hosted by the Mid-South Minority Business Council Continuum, has been a cornerstone for opportunity, collaboration and economic progress across the Mid-South. The forum is a space where ideas flourish, partnerships are forged and businesses of all sizes gain the guidance, knowledge and inspiration they need to thrive.
This year’s theme, “Future Focused,” embodies the vision, tenacity and forward-thinking mindset that drive entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and community advocates to anticipate change, embrace innovation and prepare for opportunities of tomorrow.
“EDF 2025 is designed to equip business leaders and communities to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy,” said Jozelle Luster Booker, president and CEO of The MMBC Continuum.
The forum, being held at the Renasant Convention Center, kicks off Tuesday, September 9, with a welcome reception and runs through Thursday.
On Wednesday, September 10, participants will immerse themselves in The Vision Vault, an interactive exhibit hall, where attendees can explore live demonstrations and silent workshops that spark creativity, foster connections and reveal new business opportunities.
Wednesday will also feature special seminars and workshops, including Booked for Business: Author Insights for Leaders and Entrepreneurs, featuring local authors Christin Webb (“31 Days of Confidence: Engage Your Core and Leadership”), D. John Jackson (“For Whom The Virus Tolls: Resilience, Perseverance, Fortitude, and Survival in the Face of COVID-19”), and Carolyn Hardy (“Look Up: Five Principles of Intentional Leadership Volume I,” “Step Out: Bold Moves for Business Growth”).
Thursday marks the pinnacle of EDF 2025, where the forum shifts into its full programming. The day is designed to be a comprehensive learning and networking experience, giving attendees direct access to corporate decision-makers, successful entrepreneurs and business resource providers.
Throughout the day, participants will engage in workshops, panels and discussions featuring national and regional business leaders covering topics such as branding, workforce solutions and strategies for growth.
In addition, Thursday features the panel discussion Unified for Growth: A Future Focused Mayoral Discussion. Attendees will hear from Mayor Larry Dagen, Millington; Mayor Maureen Fraser, Collierville; and Mayor Marco
McClendon of West Memphis, Ark., about regional economic development, workforce initiatives and strategies for collaborative growth across the MidSouth.
The day concludes with the Robert R. Church Sr. Achievement Awards Gala at 6 p.m., a celebration honoring individuals and organizations whose leadership, innovation and dedication have made a lasting impact on economic development and opportunity throughout the region.
Booker emphasizes the Forum’s role in supporting minority-owned and first-generation businesses. “Most small and minority-owned businesses are first-generation. With mentorship, guidance and access to resources, business owners can navigate challenges more effectively and scale their businesses,” she said. “EDF has spent 18 years fostering scalable opportunities and supporting emerging enterprises, this is a chance to tap into that same guidance and network.”
Jozelle Luster Booker
Hundreds participate in NAN March on Wall Street, pledge to battle anti-DEI attacks
By Jason Ponterotto New York Amsterdam News
Instead of his annual March on Washington commemoration rally in D.C., the Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) led a “March on Wall Street” in lower Manhattan on August 4 to hold corporations accountable for bending the knee to the Trump administration’s anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agenda.
On the 62nd anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, Sharpton and NAN, along with several other civil rights and labor leaders, led hundreds of participants from Foley Square near the African Burial Ground to the end point of Whitehall Street between Bridge and Pearl Streets. Afterward, they held a rally in which several civil rights activists, elected officials, ministers and labor leaders spoke.
“Why do we come to Wall Street? Since you have benefited from Trump, we’ve come to tell you your benefit days are numbered. We are not going back,” Sharpton said during the rally.
“They stood us up right in this area and sold us like a bar of soap,” Sharpton said about the history of Wall Street being the second-largest port for slave trading in the 1700s. “But we come back — the children of our ancestors. We come back ready to vote, ready to spend our dollars. We are not slaves anymore. We are not going back on the slave market. Donald Trump, get ready for the fight [of] your life.”
The march began not far from 26 Federal Plaza, the field office for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), as speakers called out Trump’s civil and human rights violations.
Among the supporters marching were regular NAN members, ministers
and community organizers from across the country, waving signs and flags, and chanting “No justice, No peace!”
A busload of Memphis NAN members also attended the march.
Democratic NYC mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani also participated in the march and was the only candidate to attend. Sharpton announced he had invited both Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“I don’t endorse, but I do take attendance,” Sharpton said before welcoming Mamdani to the stage.
“I tell you that every day, I will wake
up with Dr. King’s dream at the forefront of my mind, a dream where we make this city — the most expensive in the United States of America — affordable for each and every person across this city,” Mamdani said in his remarks.
“To Donald Trump, we say this to you: We will continue to fight for that which our forefathers have fought for, because what we fight for is no less than what we deserve, and we will not let you take that dignity from us,” he continued.
Other speakers included Martin Luther King III and his wife, Andrea
Waters King; Michael Eric Dyson, Benjamin Crump, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Melanie Campbell and Maya Wiley.
Baraka, who was arrested in May for allegedly trespassing at a detention center in Newark while protesting against ICE, called on all mayors to fight back against Trump.
“We are here because our ancestors demand that we be here, because the times demand that we be here, because every mayor in every city in America should be rising up right now as Donald Trump tries to send the National
Members of the National Action Network, wearing yellow T-shirts, arrive by bus to New York City to participate in the March on Wall Street on Aug. 4, 2025. The demonstration called for corporate accountability and the defense of diversity, equity and inclusion policies. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/The Tri-State Defender)
Guard into our communities. We are here as they create the biggest transference of wealth this country has ever seen,” Baraka said.
The march comes after Target Corp. reported severe declines in sales since a boycott was announced earlier this year by several organizers, including Sharpton and the Rev. Jamal Bryant, in a response to its dropping DEI initiatives. Recently, the corporation’s CEO Brian Cornell resigned as a result. NAN has also been involved in protesting in front of hedge fund manager and anti-DEI figure Bill Ackman’s offices in Midtown for 86 consecutive weeks.
Buses traveled from 11 states to bring NAN chapters to the event.
Sheryl Huff, 59, president of the Middle Tennessee chapter of NAN, brought up to 72 supporters with her on a bus, along with the Memphis chapter.
“We can’t keep supporting and bringing our dollars to you, and you slamming the doors and telling us that we’re not worth it,” Huff said about anti-DEI actions from companies. Some of the initiatives they are working on include educating community members about the issues, working on improving their credit, getting their records expunged, and registering them to vote.
Martese Chism, secretary of NAN’s West Tennessee Chapter, said she was disappointed that more Democratic
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Memphis, Tennessee.”
“We came to show our youth that courage doesn’t require a crowd. That standing up matters, even when you’re standing alone. … We wanted Wall Street to hear us. To see us. To know that we are here, and we are not backing down,” Chism added.
James Viafara, 20, president of the Medgar Evers College NAACP Chapter, came as part of the New York State Conference Youth & College division.
“I feel, as a young person today, the urgency and the crisis that we witness gives us a different motive. It gives us a different purpose, and it affirms our mission,” Viafara said.
Labor was represented with leaders from the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees; National Education Association; American Federation of Teachers; and others.
“Economic justice is civil rights” was the mantra repeated by Crump several times.
The march followed a busy weekend for Sharpton: He spoke at the memorial service for Harlem giant Lloyd Williams on Saturday and then delivered a speech during the chapel ceremony at Howard University responding to the escalation of the National Guard in DC, namely, against Black residents after the Guard’s deployment by Trump.
“If you don’t want diversity and economic inclusion in our policy, then you don’t need diversity in our consumer dollars. We will shop with who does business with us. We will walk with who walks with us,” Sharpton said. He aimed further comments at Trump: “We’re gonna meet you at every turn. We’re gonna meet you at every ballot box. We are all coming together because we are not going to let you end this democracy and go to an autocracy.”
TSD Contributing Writer Candace A. Gray contributed to this report.
leaders did not show up for the march.
“I boarded the bus to New York with hope in my heart and history on my mind. I thought of the 1963 March on Washington for Economic Justice — a moment when the people showed up in force to demand dignity, opportunity and equality,” Chism said. “I expected something similar at the March on Wall Street. But when we arrived, the crowd was smaller than I had imagined. And that silence spoke volumes.”
Still, she said she was proud of “our small but mighty delegation from
The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during the National Action Network’s March on Wall Street in New York City on Aug. 4, 2025.
Democratic mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani addresses the crowd during the March on Wall Street in New York City on Aug. 4, 2025. As the only candidate to attend, Mamdani joined civil rights leaders in calling for corporate accountability and renewed commitments to equity.
Orchestra Noir brings The Culture 2000 Tour to the Orpheum
By Dalisia Ballinger TSD Contributing Writer
The Orpheum Theatre was alive with nostalgia, rhythm and symphonic power Friday, Sept. 5, as Orchestra Noir brought The Culture 2000 Tour to Memphis. The immersive concert blended the spirit of early 2000s hiphop and R&B with the grandeur of a full orchestra, giving fans a unique musical experience.
Founded in 2016 by Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers, Orchestra Noir has quickly become one of the most talked-about orchestras in the nation, having sold out shows in Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and many more cities. With a mission to celebrate the cultural achievements of African American music pioneers, the ensemble seamlessly weaves together classical, jazz, blues, hip-hop and R&B into groundbreaking performances that resonate across generations.
One of the musicians helping drive that vision is Courtland Walters, the orchestra’s strings coordinator. Walters, who has been with Atlanta-based Orchestra Noir since 2019, explained how the group has grown from its classical roots to the genre-bending force it is today.
“When we would do our bigger concerts, it was like a full orchestra, maybe 50 or so people. We would actually play classical music, and then we would kind of bring in some R&B as well,” Walters said. “We’d start with something from the classical repertoire to show that we could play that, and then show like, but also this is our music. We can play this too, and it can be part of this.”
That concept has become the foun-
dation for Orchestra Noir’s mission: honoring the past while amplifying the voices and artistry of Black culture through orchestral performance. For Walters, the Culture 2000 Tour carries a special resonance.
“In the 90s and 2000s, a lot of amazing artists were coming up,” he reflected. “We’re showing that we enjoy our culture. We’re not ashamed of our culture, we’re not ashamed of our music, and we’re not ashamed of our artists who were doing amazing things. We want to bring back that era when you heard Nelly, when you heard T.I .—
and remind you that this was the music made for us, by us.”
Adapting those iconic tracks into orchestral form is no easy feat, but Walters says it’s a process filled with creativity.
“Sometimes there’s not violins, not saxophones, not trumpets in that music,” he explained. “So, we really have to imagine what if this line was saxophones? What if this was strings sweeping through? Maestro has such a vision, and we all get to put our flavor in while keeping the songs recognizable.”
“We want to bring back that era when you heard Nelly, when you heard T.I. — and remind you that this was the music made for us, by us.”
— Courtland Walters
The Memphis stop was particularly meaningful for the orchestra. Walters noted that the city’s deep ties to blues, soul and Black artistry make it a natural fit for Orchestra Noir’s mission.
“Our people are here,” Walters said. “When you think about all these big blues artists, this music was written by our people. And they want to hear our music. Memphis is the blueprint for a lot of the music today.”
Beyond the stage, Orchestra Noir continues to champion music education. The ensemble performed earlier in the day at Ridgeway High School, where students from multiple schools packed the auditorium.
“The kids loved it,” Walters recalled. “They had great questions for us, and it was fun to see them enjoy the music and interact with us.”
Representation is another pillar of Orchestra Noir’s work. With an allblack orchestra, Walters says the group is breaking barriers in a space where blacks and classical musicians are too often overlooked.
“When we go up there on stage, we’re not just, people who don’t really know what we’re doing,” Walters said. “We have degrees. We are educated. And we’re putting out high-class artistry as African Americans, because we are just as capable, if not more capable, than everybody else. We’re here to show that, and this shouldn’t be a surprise.”
Orchestra Noir electrifies the Orpheum with symphonic renditions of 2000s hiphop and R&B hits in a vibrant celebration of culture. (Dalisia Ballinger/The Tri-State Defender)
Quarterbacks score top honors in biography ‘American Kings’
Book review
By Terri Schlichenmeyer Snap.
With that and a catch that’s picture-perfect, your team is on its way to another win. The guy who threw the football sure knows his stuff. He’s worth every penny he’s paid. And in the new book “American Kings” by Seth Wickersham, you’ll see what it took to get there.
Like so many little boys, when Seth Wickersham was growing up he wanted to play pro football. Specifically, he wanted to be a quarterback. Unlike most other boys, though, he took it to an extreme, becoming “obsessed” with throwing a football with the greatest accuracy, hoping to match the skills of the players he admired.
Alas, despite an entire childhood of near-constant practice and a few wins on the field in high school, he didn’t make varsity and ended up playing as a receiver.
He knows now that to be a quarterback is to be a star, but it’s also “a way of life.”
Here, he writes about Arch Manning, “a legend, a folk hero, a song title … and the beginning of a family franchise …” Wickersham shares the story of Warren Moon, how he stepped up to help his mother when his father died, how domestic violence almost derailed his legacy, and the racism he quarterbacked under for years.
He spent time with Caleb Williams, “the first true professional amateur quarterback” to get money for playing at the college level. He interviewed James Harris, who was prepared to become a teacher: “If the league didn’t want a Black quarterback …”
Wickersham spent much of 2022 with Andrew Luck, who “learned quickly that greatness requires an … unlimited selfishness.” He writes about how Jack Elway influenced his son’s choice of career, what Hollywood had to do with one pro footballer’s life, and the post-career of the first player “to throw a consistently beautiful spiral.”
About his subjects Wickersham says, “Anyone could throw a football. Only a quarterback could make people cheer.”
Your favorite chair is oiled for smooth reclining and fast slam-downs. The snacks are laid in for at least a week, and beverages are on ice. You know exactly what you’re wearing for the game this weekend. All you need is “American Kings” and you’re set.
Wickersham calls his book “a biography,” but it’s just as much a history, since he often refers to the earliest days of the game, as well as the etymology of the word “quarterback.” That helps to lay a solid background, and it adds color to a reader’s knowledge about football itself, while explaining what it takes for men and women to stand out and achieve gridiron greatness.
On that, Wickersham is honest, sometimes calling out his subjects for
their attitudes toward teammates and others. Blunt words are used that are unprintable in family newspapers, so beware if you’re sharing. Is your team’s QB in this book? Maybe, or a past favorite surely is, so check out “American Kings” and see what you find. Football fans and pigskin prognosticators both will love this book in a snap.
407 pages
“American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback” by Seth Wickersham c.2025, Hyperion Avenue $29.99