The New Tri-State Defender - February 17-23, 2022

African-American History Month

February 17 - 23, 2022

VOL. 71, No. 7

www.tsdmemphis.com

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

$1.00

Council weighs in on MLGW’s storm review

by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

This all-black, rubber suit is what the 12 pioneering African-American firefighters wore in 1955. The rubber would melt when exposed to extreme levels of heat from a fire. But African-Americans wore the suit with pride. The painting was done

by Floyd Newsum Jr., professional artist and son of one of the original 12, Floyd Newsum Sr. (Courtesy photo)

Black Firefighters’ stories come together in Fire Museum exhibit

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

If you looked closely enough, the story of Memphis’ African American firefighters was already inside the walls of the Fire Museum of Memphis – an item here, an item there, but the artifacts were there.

Museum curator Bill Adelman didn’t think people should have to look closely to find it.

“We had bits and pieces of the exhibit scattered throughout the museum,” Adelman said.

“I thought it would be a good idea to pull everything together to tell the African-American firefighters’ story in the City of Memphis. The director approved it, the board said, ‘have at it,’ and here we are.”

Although the African-American Firefighter Exhibit has drawn special attention during Black History Month, the exhibit was actually unveiled on Dec. 1, 2021. Former Memphis

Fire Chief Chester Anderson and many other retired African-American fire personnel were on hand for the grand opening festivities. And their hearts caught fire at what they saw.

“I was so glad to see that those first Black firefighters were finally getting the recognition they deserve,” said Anderson, the first African American to lead the fire department.

The compelling display chronicles the his-

SEE FIRE ON PAGE 2

Wounding of 7-year-old Legend Johnson spotlights youth in violent crosshairs

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

There are certain words you never want to hear from a child’s mouth – let alone a child in your family.

“Auntie, they shot me,” Legend Johnson told an aunt after gunfire sprayed the South Memphis home where he and his mother live with extended family. And if those words feel like a punch in the gut, what he said next brought sighs of relief.

“But I am all right,” the sevenyear-old assured his aunt.

Johnson’s close-call ordeal began at about 7:20 p.m. on February 9.

That’s when drive-by shooters riddled the family’s Doris Ave. home,

sending family members diving for cover. Only young Legend was hit.

Police arrived to find Legend in critical condition with a gunshot wound to his left hip. He was rushed to Methodist-LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, where the trauma team stabilized him and his condition continued to improve through the night.

Janice Johnson, his mother, remained at his side.

“My son was awake and talking later that night,” she said. “He was laughing and playing at the hospital.”

And if she needed a reminder of how fortunate she was, there was one nearby.

“We were across the hall from an-

SEE JOHNSON ON PAGE 2

Legend Johnson’s mother, Janice Johnson, talks with Stevie Moore, founder of Freedom From Unnecessary Negatives (FFUN), a community-based group whose fight against gun violence includes supporting families. (Photo: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell)

The Memphis City Council’s Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) Committee met Tuesday with members of the area provider’s leadership, who delivered a post-mortem of the utility’s response to the recent ice.

Stretching from Texas to Maine, the severe weather event rolled through the nation’s midsection on Feb. 2, leaving a blanket of snow and ice, as well as millions without power. MLGW customers weren’t immune.

The peak outage was 186,000 with more than 233,000 – over half of MLGW’s customers – going dark at some point. Total repairs are estimated to be $14 million. If declared an emergency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could reimburse 75 percent.

Felled trees and falling limbs were the primary cause.

“That was probably our number one challenge in this storm is the impact of trees. Not just on circuits, but trees downed the line behind J.T. fuses where Young we had other work,” said J.T. Young, president and CEO of MLGW. “We had more damage than we typically would have experienced in previous storms that our employees, that our crews and others had to deal with.”

Council members were quick to praise the efforts to restore power.

Crews worked day and night in sub-freezing conditions. In addition to repairing downed lines, they had to replace primary circuits and smaller fuses, among other issues. By midnight Saturday, around 99 percent of outages had been restored.

However, one percent had to linger in the cold.

“I truly believe you all did the best you could. But, I guess you figured out you probably need to prepare and do a lot better in the future,” said Councilmember Cheyenne Johnson.

It was pointed out that if the current trend in severe weather events continues, the utility will have little choice.

“I was looking at the storm dates, and 14 out of the 15 major storms happened this century,” noted Councilmember Jeff War-

SEE MLGW ON PAGE 2

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The New Tri-State Defender

February 17 - 23, 2022

Page 2

NEWS

JOHNSON

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Then-Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie W. Herenton appointed Chester Anderson as director of Fire Services, the first African American to serve in that position.

FIRE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT tory of African American firefighters from 1955, when the first 12 were hired by the City of Memphis. And Adelman was careful not to whitewash the experiences and the treatment of African American firefighters in the decades since.

“They were treated pretty badly,” Adelman said. “Those first 12 firefighters were denied training on any equipment, except on the pump. They were called the ‘n’ word, denied promotions, and endured many indignities of workplace discrimination.

“But they persevered, and today, many hold high positions of authority,” he added.

A significant portion of the exhibit is a modern-day celebration of African-American firefighters in modern gear, fighting fires alongside their white counterparts. Some photos were donated, but most were taken

by Adelman, who continues to document local firefighter history even in retirement.

Adelman recalls that the African-American pioneers worked in a segregated firehouse, Fire Station No. 8, located at the corner of Mississippi Blvd. and Crump Ave. But everything changed when Carl Stotts, one of the original 12, filed a class-action racial discrimination lawsuit in federal court. A resulting 1980 decree opened the door for more African Americans to be hired

MLGW

CONTINUED FROM FRONT ren. “So, I think one of the things we’re looking at as a community is how are we going to harden our infrastructure to be able to handle more and more intense weather and environmental events.”

For many members, the solution was to run power lines underground.

Currently, 40 percent of MLGW’s lines are below ground. Most of these are located in the eastern part of the city. Older parts of town, such as tree-laden Midtown and South Memphis, were constructed when standards were different. The costs for upgrading one mile were conservatively estimated at $1.3 million by

A photo of the first 12 African-American firefighters at Fire Station 8 was taken by renowned civil rights photographer Ernest Withers, who donated the photo to the museum when it first opened in 1998. and promoted.

The Pioneer Black Fire Fighters, Inc., stood with Stotts, every step of the way. They wanted to make sure African Americans could finally receive equal benefits and privileges.

“I remember when we won the lawsuit,” Anderson said. “After that, we had an avenue to push back against racial discrimination. When I was assigned to the airport firehouse, the ‘n’ word was used openly. I talked to the commander one-on-one and told him I was not going to take it. I threatened to bring a lawsuit, and he quickly told me he would take care of it. And he did.”

Anderson is a self-styled fire historian who joined the fire department in the 1972 class, which boasted a significant number of African Americans.

It was Dr. Willie W. Herenton, the first African American elected Memphis mayor, who tapped Anderson for

Young. The total cost for Memphis would be over $6 billion.

“I think everybody understands it’s wildly expensive to do underground power lines, and we don’t have the money to do it all at once,” said Councilmember J. Ford Canale.

“I think what this body and this city would like is some kind of long-term strategy…especially those areas that need it the most.”

Another member said that the council, itself, should take ownership of any shortcomings in service or response.

“Although this is not a monolithic organization, the Memphis City Council is responsible for this because infrastructure improvements delayed is infrastructure improvements denied,” said Martavious Jones.

fire chief.

“When I was at Memphis State, I did my senior paper on the first 12 Black firefighters,” Anderson said.

“But not even in my fondest dreams did I ever think I would one day become the fire chief.

“We had to take a lot of stuff, but I made it to the top spot,” he said.

The African-American Firefighter Exhibit is not a Black History Month display, Adelman said. It is now a permanent part of the Memphis Fire Museum. Kids will also enjoy historic interactive spectacles, a talking horse, and hundreds of model fire engines on display.

The Fire Museum of Memphis is located in Downtown Memphis at 118 Adams Ave. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

(For additional information, call 901-636-5650.)

“Although this is not a monolithic organization, the Memphis City Council is responsible for this because infrastructure improvements delayed is infrastructure improvements denied.”

— Martavious Jones.

He pointed out that a strategy could have been put in place earlier, but the council waited until Young was hired in 2018. Last year, a three percent rate increase was passed to make the upgrades.

“We could have been in year four of a five-year plan. We punted. Colleagues, we should hold ourselves accountable,” said Jones.

“When we look at the investments we have to make for our community, sometimes we’re going to have to

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other seven-year-old boy who was also shot in his room. But he didn’t make it,” she added. “I can’t be anything but grateful.”

According to Methodist-LeBonheur’s stats,156 people were treated for gunshot injuries in 2021. Of those, 80 were between 11 and 18 years old.

Another 31 were under the age of 10.

The data also shows that 97 of those 156 gunshot patients were assault victims; 37 had been hurt in accidents.

Legend was sent home the next day, but is still recuperating with lots of bed rest and attention, according to his mother. And apparently, it’s not the first time the home has been attacked.

“The same thing happened back in July,” Janice Johnson said. “But that time, I was the one shot.”

According to police, Johnson was wounded by gunshot in a similar incident last July. A car drove up with “Black males,” and gunshots ensued.

Quickly, there was yelling for everyone to get on the floor.

This time, the victim was Legend, who was watching TV in his room when he was hit.

On Wednesday, police said Janice Johnson was standing at her front door when a four-door, white Infiniti pulled up in front of the house. When she saw two “black males hanging out of both passenger-side windows with guns,” she yelled for everyone to hit the floor.

According to the police report, the gunman in the front window was “a known black male.”

Johnson admitted she knew who was responsible for both shootings.

This time, she did something about it.

“I went down to police headquarters and circled the photo of the man who did it,” said Johnson.

Police have issued a warrant for the suspect and are actively searching for him, according to Sgt. Louis Brownlee in the public information office.

“Officers are trying to make an arrest as quickly as possible,” said Brownlee. “This is obviously a dangerous individual, and we want him off the street.”

Although she recognized the gunman, Johnson denied any personal ties.

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bite the bullet, and it costs money to do so. We delayed those increases to pay for those infrastructure improvements.”

Young defended the overall implementation of the plan.

“That five-year plan was designed to reduce outage periods by over 50 percent, and I think we are well on our way to getting that done, even though we are a little bit behind where we thought we would be,” Young said.

MLGW’s customer response

Legend Johnson, who is recuperating at home this week from a gunshot wound, is pictured here on his way to school.

(Photo: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell)

“My son was awake and talking later that night.

He was laughing and playing at the hospital.

We were across the hall from another seven-yearold boy who was also shot in his room. But he didn’t make it. I can’t be anything but grateful.”

— Janice Johnson “I wouldn’t say there was anything personal between us,” Johnson said.

“I don’t just know him, know him, like that, but I do know who he is.”

Johnson declined to speculate about the motive for the two attacks.

She also has no intention of moving out of the neighborhood.

“I have lived in this area all my life,” she said. “We have been at this house for three years. The children are all used to living here, and we have really made this our home here. I just didn’t consider moving as an option.”

If you have information or tips that can help police find the gunmen, call Crimestoppers at 901-528-CASH (2274) or visit http://crimestopmem.org.

during the storm was affected by damage to its communication infrastructure, with the storm severing communication links. As a result, text alerts were spotty or uninformative. Call centers were overwhelmed, too.

Canale spoke to the need to “beef up” call centers, noting that the next storm is a matter of when; not if.

“Especially for those who don’t have access to a computer or the internet … because maybe a telephone is the only means of communication they have,” he said.

Such an upgrade would increase the likelihood that such customers “can call and actually talk to a human being and get some answers,” Canale said. “Or at least some updated information, if possible.”

The New Tri-State Defender

February 17 - 23, 2022

Page 3

NEWS

African-American History Month: Black Men in Business – Part 3

by Candace A. Gray

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Is it just me or did anyone else’s parents want them to pursue a traditional career? You know the ones: doctor, lawyer, nurse, secretary.… It seems those were the most sought-after occupations, given the favorable salaries and access to education.

Years ago, African-Americans’ educational path often included going to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to prepare to enter those traditional career fields.

This was, of course, before we were allowed admission into predominantly white institutions (PWIs).

However, even today, HBCUs remain a strong and popular choice for many African-American students.

According to the United Negro College Fund, 25 percent of all African-American graduates in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field matriculate from HBCUs. This series segment features one of them.

Brent Johnson, DDS, attended Hampton University for his undergraduate studies and Howard University’s College of Dentistry. As this year’s African-American History Month theme is “Black Health and Wellness,” he wants to encourage us all to not only prioritize yearly physicals and check-ups, but to make routine dental visits a priority, too!

Here is Dr. Johnson’s story.

TSD: What type of business do you own?

Dr. Brent C. Johnson: Dental Practice TSD: How long have you been in business for yourself?

Dr. Johnson: I started the Aspen Dental practice 8 months ago, but

Dr. Johnson: Invest in your family, invest in your community. True wealth will come out of those two things.

AT A GLANCE Business Name: Aspen Dental (Cordova and Wolfchase)

TSD: If you weren’t doing this, what else would you be doing?

Dr. Johnson: I most likely would have been in education and coaching sports. I have had the privilege of coaching my kids in basketball for the last 15 years.

Owner’s Name: Brent C. Johnson, DDS I’ve been a dentist for 18 years.

TSD: How many employees do you have?

Dr. Johnson: 20 Brent C. TSD: How Johnson, DDS did your past (HBCUs, training, etc.) shape and prepare you for where you are today?

Dr. Johnson: I had the privilege of attending two of the best HBCUs, and for that matter best universities PERIOD, in the country, in Hampton University and Howard University College of Dentistry. They provided me with a foundation and the knowledge I needed to strive in my field.

They also helped me fortify my responsibility to be of service. As a Black, dentist I represent a very small minority of the dental profession, but we are responsible for a large proportion of care for patients of color.

TSD: What was your motivation for starting your business?

Dr. Johnson: My motivation for starting my own business was truly my family. I have always worked to provide care for those that needed it most, whether it was care for those who had limited access to dental

Dr. Brent C. Johnson believes in having fun with his staff, but takes oral health very seriously. (Courtesy photo) care, were afraid of the dentist or just haven’t been to the dentist in a while.

When the pandemic hit, I found myself not working for a while and during that time I was home spending time with my family and honestly realized how much time I was missing with them because of work. I wanted to have a better personal and work life balance and Aspen provided that opportunity for me.

I had also watched my wife (to whom TSD will speak next month) strike out and start her own business.

She has truly been an inspiration and support for me.

TSD: What impact does your business have or do you hope your business will have in the future?

On your family, community, etc.

Dr. Johnson: I would hope that our practice will serve to help people learn and understand the importance of maintaining their oral health and

the impact of their oral health on their overall health. One thing that I say a lot, to my family and to my staff, is that we have a responsibility to be of service to our community and our patients. We have been blessed to have the ability to help our fellow man and that responsibility is not to be taken lightly.

TSD: What advice do you have for someone who might be interested in entering your field?

Dr. Johnson: 1. Be of service! If you start with this mantra every day, you will be successful.

2. If you are interested in any particular field, find a mentor who can help guide you.

3. Work hard in school and dedicate yourself to learning your craft to the best of your ability.

TSD: What advice do you have for other Black business owner hopefuls?

TSD: What do think is the most important aspect of the product/ service you provide?

Dr. Johnson: The most important thing we do is educate our patients on the importance of oral health. We have been able to prevent thousands of people from having to deal with tooth or mouth pain just by educating them. Ultimately, we help prevent them from having serious and painful problems with their mouths.

TSD: What professional accomplishment or major milestone are you most proud of?

Dr. Johnson: I am extremely proud of being a healthcare provider but the things I am most proud of are being a husband and a father. Those are the two accomplishments I am most proud of and the ones that fuel my drive to serve patients and grow my dental practice every day.

TSD: Anything else you’d like to add?

Dr. Johnson: Thank you for taking the time and considering me for this article. It is truly humbling. We hope our community gleans how much we CARE from this piece, because we truly do. We would love to see everyone at Aspen Dental in Cordova (901-410-3090) and Wolfchase (901248-4732) one day soon.

Honoring the accomplishments of our Black students, faculty and staff during February and throughout the year!

Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.

For other important information, including our graduation rates, please visit our website at www.concorde.edu/admissions/resources.

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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, February 17 - 23, 2022, Page 4

THE JACKSON HEART STUDY:

Building trust in the African-American community in the battle against COVID-19

by Dr. Victor Sutton

Denver Broncos’ sale to Robert F. Smith could help NFL begin to solve its race problem

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Accustomed to being last, Mississippi is rewriting its health narrative and has emerged as a national leader in health equity.

Recently, Mississippi was recognized as 1 of only 10 states where Black residents have a higher vaccination rate than white residents. Black Mississippians represent 38 percent of the state’s population, yet comprise 39 percent of Mississippi’s fully vaccinated population.

Dr. Victor Sutton, In a recent MississipPh.D.MPPA pi State Department of Health / Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Research Study, 35 percent of the study’s nearly 12,000 respondents were Black. Nearly 4 percent of the total survey respondents identified as Latino (3.4 percent of the state is Latino).

Mississippians of all colors are being heard and served.

This work is largely being driven by strong community-based partnerships with Mississippi’s State Department of Health Office of Preventive Health and Health Equity (OPHHE), which includes the NHLBI-funded community engagement center for the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) (the world’s largest single-site, African-American, prospective cardiovascular cohort study), the NHLBI-funded CEAL (Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities), as well as the CDC-funded Delta Health Collaborative.

I serve as OPHHE director as well as principal investigator to all aforementioned grants. I’ve made the team’s mission clear: to eliminate heart health inequities (among other chronic diseases) and to lead the state’ Black, Hispanic, and racial-ethnic minority communities through the COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as the state’s cardiovascular epidemic.

In Mississippi, more people die of cardiovascular illnesses than cancer or other chronic conditions. In fact, 20 percent more Black Americans than any other race die from heart disease each year. The JHS has made significant progress in changing these statistics.

By working with barbershops, churches, historically black colleges and universities, and other champions of the Black community, JHS is ensuring the state leverages the strengths of all its “village” members.

For the last 20 years, the focus of the landmark JHS study has been heart health. Since the pandemic’s onset, the JHS team has devoted tremendous effort, resources, and countless hours to protect vulnerable Mississippians against the deadly coronavirus.

As I have said repeatedly, “The greatest tragedy of this pandemic is that people are needlessly dying when there is a vaccine that can make the difference between life and death.”

JHS, the Delta Health Collaborative, and CEAL have provided life-saving services by joining hand-in-hand with the local community, including non-profits, faith-based organizations, private businesses, colleges, and universities. In the early stages of the pandemic, the MSDH Health Equity team took

When considering potential buyers of the Denver Broncos, one name continually rises above the rest: Robert F. Smith. (Photo via NNPA Newswire)

by Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. NNPA Newswire

The Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation helps distribute the paper survey of the MSDH COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Survey at gas stations, supermarkets, and other public places across the state, investing particular energy in the Delta region. the initiative to establish mask and personal protective equipment giveaways with groups across Mississippi.

By partnering with HBCUs, such as Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, Tougaloo College and Mississippi Valley State University, vaccinations and COVID-19 testing sites were made accessible to Black and Hispanic communities across the state.

Through programs such as Shots in Shops, the MSDH Health Equity team has worked to reach underserved segments of the population by building trust, providing education, and bringing vaccinations and protective equipment to where the people are – a paradigm shift from asking the public to come to the shots.

We have partnered with local minority firms, Par’ Excelon Marketing Group and Red Squared Productions, to implement statewide Black-relevant grassroots marketing and production strategies to reach the Black community. These efforts empowered the state’s communities of color, reaching more individuals across the state and ensuring Mississippi residents have the tools they need to make informed decisions.

The fruits of these initiatives are blossoming, as Mississippi now leads the nation in the proportion of African Americans who are vaccinated against the COVID-19. Nearly 1.3 million vaccinations have been administered in Mississippi’s African American community. More than 600 thousand have received at least one dose.

The MSDH Health Equity team is dedicated to keeping Mississippians alive and healthy. We are listening to your heart and your mind.

If your organization would like to host a COVID-19 vaccination event or needs additional protective equipment, contact us at 601-206-1720 or through our online resource request form or community vaccine request form.

Visit our website at jacksonheartstudy.org.

(Victor Sutton, Ph.D.MPPA, is the Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Preventive Health and Health Equity’s director and principal investigator.)

Even before Coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the National Football League claiming the league discriminated against Black coaches in their hiring practices, it was pretty clear that professional football has a race issue.

The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida recently found that, in 2021, around 71 percent of the players in the NFL were people of color, while only a quarter were white.

Yet of the league’s 32 teams, only three head coaches are people of color. And only two team owners are non-white: Jacksonville Jaguars’ owner Shahid Kahn is a Pakistani-American and Kim Pegula, a Korean American, is a coowner of the Buffalo Bills.

In a league whose players are overwhelmingly Black, there needs to be more representation in the front office of people who look like the athletes that take the gridiron each Sunday.

With the Denver Broncos expected to hit the market sometime this off-season, now is probably the best time in the 101-year history of the NFL for the league to have its first Black team owner and to begin to change the plantation mentality that has plagued professional football for decades.

When considering potential buyers of the team, one name continually rises above the rest: Robert F. Smith.

Smith, the 59-year-old founder of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, whose net worth is estimated to be around $6.7 billion, may not have the star power that other potential buyers do (i.e., former Broncos quarterbacks Peyton Manning and John Elway or Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos). But what he does have is a long track record of success in the largely white world of investment. He has an ability to see value where others do not, successfully investing in emerging enterprises and quickly making them profitable. Consider, for example, that Vista currently has $86 billion in assets under management.

And the Broncos could certainly use some of Smith’s magic given that the team hasn’t had a winning record since the 2015-16 season when they won the Super Bowl.

Putting aside Smith’s investing acumen and ability to grow emerging businesses, his up-from-the-bootstraps story and expansive philanthropic work in the Black community would go a long way to changing the make-up of a NFL ownership from its traditional purview of stodgy, old white men.

For one, Smith is a Denver native whose curiosity, intelligence and drive led him to a job with Bell Laboratories when he was just in high school. From there, Smith went on to Cornell and Columbia universities and jobs with Goodyear, Kraft, and Goldman Sachs before founding Vista Equity in 2000.

What his resume shows is that Smith is not afraid of breaking down walls and inserting himself into traditional bastions of whiteness like the Ivy Leagues and private equity. If there is any Black man in America who could take on Dr. Benjamin the lily-white structure of F. Chavis Jr. NFL ownership, it’s Robert Smith.

If the NFL is serious about changing not just its image, but its relationships with its players and fan base, then Smith would also be an ideal partner for the league. He not only talks a big game about racial equity, but he backs it up by putting money where his mouth is.

In 2019, Smith spent $34 million of his own money to settle the loan debt for the nearly 400 students who graduated that spring from Morehouse College. He also donated $20 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the largest by an individual donor to the museum at the time, and he helped found and donated $50 million to the Student Freedom Initiative, which aims to relieve the financial burdens on minority college students.

Through Vista, Smith has also spearheaded the Southern Communities Initiative, a consortium of companies working to address problems facing communities of color in the South, where almost 60 percent of all Black Americans live. Through the SCI, Smith hopes to tackle pressing issues like substandard education and workforce development opportunities, housing and healthcare inequalities, the digital divide, limited access to capital, and physical infrastructure failures in these communities.

In an argument about integrating professional football, Black activist and journalist Halley Harding wrote in the Los Angeles Tribune in 1941 that “most persons, corporations or businesses almost always forget the people or incidents that made them big.”

Harding added: “This story is about a great American sport [football] that took all the aid the colored American could give and then as soon as it became ‘big league,’ promptly put a bar up against the very backbone of its existence.”

These words could just as aptly be applied to the NFL today as they did back in the 1940s.

But now, as America once again reexamines its turbulent past when it comes to race, the NFL probably has its best chance in years to right a glaring gap in its leadership when it comes to the Broncos. And if there is anyone who can fill that gap, it’s Robert Smith.

(Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is NNPA Newswire President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.)

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The New Tri-State Defender

February 17 - 23, 2022

Page 5

RELIGION

Gospel explosion...

The University of Memphis’ ongoing observance of Black History Month included a Gospel Explosion (February 11) at the University Center Theatre. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

Robert Bruce White

LEGACY: Robert Bruce White TSD Newsroom

No. 19...

Tabernacle of Praise Missionary Baptist Church celebrated the 19th Pastor & Wife Anniversary of the Rev. Derrick D. Davis and Glenda Davis last Sunday. Dr. S.H. Mickens, pastor of Lake Grove Baptist Church was the speaker. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

Remembering...

The family of Gwendolyn Jewel Smith, including her daughter, Cheryl Smith Ford; son-in-law Joe Ford; sons Justin and Dr. Newton J. Ford II, and daughter, Holly, were among those who gathered to say farewell at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley, The New Tri-State Defender)

During his 98-plus years of life, Robert Bruce Wright served his country as a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and through his various community service endeavors.

Mr. Wright, the widower of Mae Bess Wright, died Sunday (Feb. 13) at the Memphis VA Medical Center after a short illness.

Mr. Wright grew up in the Douglass Park neighborhood. The family’s house was at the corner of Chelsea and Orr. He always had an interesting story to tell and was adept at turning a phrase.

He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1985 after 37 years of service. He was a founder and a past president of the Retired Mail Handlers Local 329.

During his postal career, Mr. Wright was recognized several times for his work, including being recognized for “Superior Accomplishment in recognition of Notable Performance.”

He was a former Juvenile Court auxiliary probation officer, where he was honored for his leadership in 1979 and was named division chief of the year in 1983.

Mr. Wright was active in Catholic service organizations.

While a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, he was fourth-degree member of the Knights of Peter Claver. He was a past Grand Knight of the organization and a past Central District deputy for the K of PC. Later, he was a fourth-degree member of Knights of Columbus. He was a past Grand Knight of Council 4312 and a Past Faithful Navigator of Fourth Degree Assembly 1082.

He also served as the council’s treasurer and recorder.

Mr. Wright leaves a son, Jerome Wright of Memphis; a daughter, Rosalind Holman of York, Pennsylvania; five granddaughters and two great-granddaughters.

The Mass of Christian Burial is noon Thursday, Feb. 24, at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1169 Kerr. Visitation will be 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the church, followed by a Rosary service at 11:30 a.m.

R. S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home has charge (901-526-3264). COVID-19 restrictions will be in place.

The New Tri-State Defender

February 17 - 23, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

Memphis Jookin The Show, featuring Lil Buck (below left), debuted at The Orpheum Feb/11-12.

(Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

Memphis Jookin’ on stage

Page 6

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, February 17 - 23, 2022, Page 7

After a one-year hiatus forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, UTHSC College of Dentistry’s Give Kids A Smile event will return later this month. Pictured is a scene from the college’s 2020 service outreach. (Photo: UTHSC)

Sidelined by the pandemic, Give Kids A Smile Day is back UTHSC College of Dentistry resumes outreach to Freedom Preparatory Academy

Council fires on bill freeing police, firefighters to live outside Shelby County

by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

On Tuesday, the Memphis City Council passed a resolution formally objecting to a Tennessee bill proposing a law that would allow Memphis police officers and firefighters to live outside of Shelby County.

HB 105 has the support of Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis, who spoke in favor of the bill at the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville last week.

However, several Memphis City council members accused state lawmakers of interfering with the council’s prerogatives. Only four of the bill’s eight sponsors represent areas of Shelby County.

The resolution, sponsored by Councilmember Michalyn Easter-Thomas, passed 9-3-1 along party lines.

“This is not about violent crime in the state,” said Councilmember JB Smiley Jr. “It’s about folks outside Shelby County who want to tell the City of Memphis how to handle its affairs.”

Smiley, who aims to be the Democratic nominee for governor, also said that he would continue to oppose the residency policy if it becomes law.

The issue has also been a minor point of contention that has split the caucus, with some in favor of loosening the rules. The MPD is currently trying to beef up its ranks and improve morale. A lighter touch has been proposed as an incentive to stay on the job or apply.

“If this bill passes, our community will be safer,” said Councilmember Worth Morgan.

Morgan also said members relinquished responsibility when they voted 7-6 against a referendum on the matter in 2020. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, that summer was filled with waves of protests and calls for drastic changes to how police operate.

Mayor Jim Strickland vetoed the resolution, only to be overruled by the same margin.

Councilmembers Jamita Swearengen, Rhonda Logan, Patrice Robinson, Edmund Ford Sr., Cheyenne Johnson, Martavius Jones, Jeff Warren, Smiley and Easter-Thomas voted in favor of the resolution. Councilmembers J. Ford Canale, Frank Colvett and Morgan voted against it. Chase Carlisle abstained.

Special to The New Tri-State Defender After a year interrupted by COVID, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Dentistry will be filling cavities and offering other free dental care to middle-school students from Freedom Preparatory Academy, as part of the American Dental Association’s Give Kids A Smile Day (GKAS), on February 24.

Approximately 90 children are scheduled to receive care provided by College of Dentistry students and faculty. The clinic will run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the fourth floor of the College of Dentistry, 875 Union Ave. UTHSC’s College of Dentistry has hosted the event for eight years, including five years with Freedom Preparatory. In 2020, the dental students saw 121 children and performed 1,462 procedures valued at $35,585.

“We will definitely see kids who are in pain due to dental problems or who have been in pain. If a child knows it’s hard for Mom or Dad to take off work to go to the dentist, they don’t want to complain,” said Dr. Cassandra Christiansen, associate professor and director of School-based Programs and Community Outreach for the College of Dentistry.

“They may chew on the other side of the mouth. They’ll do things to get around it. But the condition gets worse.”

After their appointments, the students will have time to take selfies with the Tooth Fairy and learn about hidden sugars in their everyday diets.

“Programs such as Give Kids A Smile are simply one layer of the foundation on which to build the promise of and potential for good oral health,” said Orpheus Triplett, DDS, assistant dean of Community Oral Health and Outreach for the college.

“Our outreach programs at the College of Dentistry are meant to have a presence in as many layers of that foundation as possible as we strive to provide greater access to care, better awareness of the importance of good oral health and clinical excellence in our provision of care. What better way to start than with our efforts with Give Kids A Smile?”

This is the 20th anniversary of ADA’s Give Kids A Smile program, which was founded by a St. Louis dentist in 2003. Since then, more than 7 million children have received the free care.

According to the ADA, nearly 1,000 Give Kids A Smile events have been scheduled for 2022.

They will serve 260,000 children nationwide.

“We were extremely disappointed last year when we were not able to participate in Give Kids A Smile due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are very excited that we will be able to participate this year,” said James Ragain, DDS, professor and dean of the College of Dentistry.

“I extend a special thank you to Dr. Triplett for the remarkable job he has done putting this program together. Through his meticulous planning and coordination, I believe the program will be a huge success this year. Give Kids a Smile is a win-win for our dental school. Our students enjoy working with the children, and the children benefit from the free dental treatments.”

(The College of Dentistry also offers lowcost dental care to the public at its clinics in the Medical District. Call 901-448-6468 to make an appointment.)

Rolling celebration …

Nettie Taylor Coleman’s 89th birthday featured a Stephen Smith Limousine Service ride through the city to Carriage Crossing courtesy of her granddaughter and great-grandson. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

Women’s business groups provide a setting to learn more about branding Special to The New Tri-State Defender One hundred women of color gathered recently – some in-person, some virtually – at the Women’s Business Center (WBC) South in Crosstown Concourse to lunch and learn about branding.

The event (on Feb. 10) was offered by sister programs, Enterprising Women of Color (EWOC) and the WBC South. Both programs are offerings of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) South, a national WBENC certifier of women-owned businesses.

Tiffany Carter, director of the EWOC program, kicked things off with greetings from New Orleans, where the national program is headquartered. Vonesha Mitchell, executive director of the Memphis-based WBC South, guided participants through the day and introduced the speakers.

Sheri Neely of the Neely Agency led discussions of the day’s topic, noting the necessity of a marketing plan and how those plans should include advertising and public relations. Public relations, she said, is about having a good reputation and building and maintaining good relationships with stakeholders.

Dana James Mwangi, the owner of Cheers Creative and the newly-appointed Tennessee Google digital coach, shared what makes their

Vonesha Mitchell serves as executive director of the Memphis-based Women’s Business Center (WBC) South in Crosstown Concourse.

Tiffany Carter is the director of Enterprising Women of Color (EWOC). (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/ The New Tri-State Defender)

brand unique. The ability to recognize and communicate the stories of businesses, owners, staff and stakeholders set them apart, he said.

The marketing, PR and branding experts then fielded questions before the group broke up to network.

Lunch came courtesy of the Curb Market in the Church Health Community Room. Flow-

ers from the new Crosstown, woman-owned business Mili’s Flowers & Gifts adorned the space, with the event logistics and hybrid virtual component coordinated by The Wynning Experience.

(For more information, email the Women’s Business Center South at info@wbcsouth.org or call 901-275-1919.)

The New Tri-State Defender

NEWS

February 17 - 23, 2022

Tennessee lawmakers pass ban on instant runoff voting

by Jonathan Mattise Associated Press

NASHVILLE – Tennessee lawmakers passed a ban Monday against instant runoff voting in elections, a move that seeks to end a long-running legal dispute between state election officials and the city of Memphis.

Voters in Memphis still haven’t used the method since voting in 2008 to adopt it for city elections.

The state House and Senate, where Republicans hold supermajorities, cast votes on the same day for the proposal outlawing instant runoff voting, which is also known as ranked choice voting. Tennessee Elections Coordinator Mark Goins has ruled that the approach isn’t allowed under state law.

For years, the issue has been tied up in administrative challenges against the state and lawsuits. One lawsuit filed last week by four voters and

a group backing the change claims the elections coordinator’s decision that instant runoff voting is illegal in Tennessee is “unsupported by the law, unsupported by the evidence, and was arbitrary, capricious, or a clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion.”

The system lets voters rank choices, avoiding runoffs when no candidate tops 50%.

Officials across the country adopt different rules on which races it’ll apply to and how it’ll be set up. Advocates say it’s a positive that voters can rank a candidate at the top, even if they suspect that candidate doesn’t stand a chance, and still see the rest of their rankings matter.

If Republican Gov. Bill Lee signs the bill, the lawsuits could be quickly rendered moot. The legislative push also marks the latest tussle between Republican state officials and left-leaning cities, including majority-Black Memphis.

Sen. Brian Kelsey, the Republican bill sponsor from Germantown in Memphis’ Shelby County, has criticized the voting method, claiming it’s a “very confusing and complex process that ultimately, I think, leads to lack of confidence in the vote totals.” Two Memphis Democrats – Reps. Joe Towns and Barbara Cooper – co-sponsored the ban bill.

More than 50 jurisdictions are expected to use rankedchoice voting in some capacity in their next election, including Maine, Alaska, New York City and a growing number of other local elections across the country, according to the group FairVote, which supports instant runoff voting.

Memphis voters approved city election instant runoff voting in 2008, unless voting equipment made it not yet feasible for the next election, and rejected a 2018 referendum attempt to repeal the voting method.

In July 2017, Shelby County elections administrator Linda Phillips announced plans for instant runoff voting in 2019 municipal elections.

In September 2017, Goins told the county elections administrator that Tennessee law doesn’t allow ranked-choice voting.

Beth Henry-Robertson, Tennessee’s assistant elections coordinator, told lawmakers this month that even if ranked choice were allowed, the state would need more specifics from Memphis officials on how to implement it.

Senate Minority Leader Jeff Yarbro, a Nashville Democrat, wondered what sparked the push to outlaw a voting approach that hasn’t been used in Tennessee yet.

“It’s an innovation that might work, and it might not,” Yarbro said. “But I don’t know why we would snuff that out in the crib.”

GETTING IT RIGHT “Shocked” by the lengthy punishment given his client, Memphis activist Pamela Moses, her attorney, Dr. Bedu Anyanwu, said, “This is not over by a long shot.”

The report in last week’s edition included an incorrect photo. (Courtesy photo)

CLASSIFIEDS NOTICE TO BIDDERS In order to participate in the bid listed below for Shelby County Government, you must be registered with our electronic bidding system with Mercury Commerce.

County bids are not available by mail or downloaded directly from the County website, unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation invitation. All vendors who wish to bid are required to register with Mercury Commerce Solutions in order to be notified of on-line bids.

There is no charge for registration, and it is easy to use. To register: • Go to www.esmsolutions.com • Go to Log-In at top of page • Click “Supplier Login” • Under “Mercury Version”, click ‘Not Registered’ • Complete Vendor Registration process • Submit If you have any questions about the registration process, contact ESM Solutions at (877) 969-7246.

If you have any questions about information contained in the bid

documents, contact the Purchasing Department at (901) 222-2250 and ask to speak to the Buyer listed for the bid.

SEALED BID DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022 AT 2:30 PM CST There is no LOSB participation goal for this sealed bid.

“Compact Track Loader (Skid Steer)” (SB-I000675A) (MC# 649) By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000715 Computers, Laptops & Monitors. Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn. gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate

SALES PERSON The New Tri-State Defender is looking for a few sales consultants to sell print ads, digital ads and event sponsorships for the organization. The candidate should have some sales experience. This is a commission based opportunity.

For serious inquiries email your resume to administration@ tsdmemphis.com.

MAKING MEMPHIS

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Page 8

The New Tri-State Defender

the name of the above described Sealed Bid. D BID I000715 DUE DATE TUESDAY, MARCH 29TH, 2022 AT 2:30 PM CST (SB-I000715) COMPUTERS, LAPTOPS & MONITORS Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Valerie and Kevelin Grimes Tax Parcel #: 03506900000110 Tax Sale #: 701 Price Offered: $1125.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on March 16, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Izaac Merriweather, Jr. Tax Parcel #: 02500700000170 Tax Sale #: 1702

February 17 - 23, 2022

Page 9

CLASSIFIEDS TSD CLASSIFIEDS

1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 PH (901) 523-1818 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

DEADLINES: Display ads Friday 5 p.m.

Classifieds ads Monday 5 p.m.

STANDARD RATES: $6.00 per line for 1 column ad.

Rates are non-commissionable and

are quoted at the net rate. No refund for early cancellation. For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@tsdmemphis.com.

ADJUSTMENTS: PLEASE check your ad the first day it appears. Call (901) 523-1818 if an error occurs. We can only offer in-house credit and NO REFUNDS are issued.

working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on March 15, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Price Offered: $3500.00 Terms: Cash

(901)222-2400

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on March 16, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on March 15, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Steven Cole Tax Parcel #: 04104700000020 Tax Sale #: 701 Price Offered: $1012.50 Terms: Cash

Avilenne Rivas Tax Parcel #: 0934210C000040 Tax Sale #: 1704 Price Offered: $15,600.00 Terms: Cash

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on March 16, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10)

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Curtis H. Houston Tax Parcel #: 04006100000070

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant

Arie Jett Tax Parcel #: 0130170000020C Tax Sale #: 604 Price Offered: $2500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on March 15, 2022, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

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SPORTS

The New Tri-State Defender, February 17 - 23, 2022, Page 10

With Ja Morant nursing an ankle injury, Tyus Jones stepped up big time for the Grizzlies in their win over the Pelicans in New Orleans on Tuesday night. (Photo: Memphis Grizzlies, Twitter)

Tyus Jones scores 27, leads Grizzlies past Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Tyus Jones scored a career-high 27 points to go with eight assists while filling in for All-Star Ja Morant, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the New Orleans Pelicans 121-109 Tuesday night for their sixth straight victory and ninth in 10 games.

Jaren Jackson added 23 points and ex-Pelican Steven Adams had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis, which led for nearly the entire game and by double digits for more than half of it.

Morant sat out with left ankle soreness stemming from the Grizzlies’ victory at Charlotte last Saturday night.

While Morant averages 26.4 points per game, the Grizzlies have usually played well without him. They are now 12-2 in games he’s missed.

Against New Orleans, Memphis had six players score 11 or more, including Brandon Clarke with 18 points.

CJ McCollum had 30 points to lead New Orleans, which fell to 1-3 since trading for the Portland star guard.

Jonas Valanciunas scored 19 points and Brandon Ingram added 18 points for the Pelicans.

But that wasn’t going to be enough on a night when the Grizzlies outrebounded the Pelicans 49-34 and converted 18 offensive rebounds into 27 second-chance points.

Jackson had 13 points, Jones had 11 and Adams 10 in the first half, and the Grizzlies led by as many as 20 points when Jones’ free throws made it 62-42 with 2:25 remaining in the second quarter.

New Orleans trimmed it back to 12 before the half ended, helped by

McCollum’s floating jumper, driving layup, and driving floater off the glass as he was fouled — the latter making it 65-53 with half a second on the game clock.

Memphis pushed its lead back up to 17 in the third quarter when Jones’ 3 made it 87-70, but the Pelicans closed the quarter on a 13-6 run — again fueled by McCollum, who scored nine points during the surge on three driving layups and a banked floater as he was fouled.

The Pelicans briefly pulled within single digits in the middle of the fourth quarter, but never got closer than eight points.

TIP-INS Grizzlies: Shot 50 percent (47 of 94) overall but just 29.4 percent (10

for 34) from 3-point range. … Missed 10 of 27 free throws. … Combined for 29 assists on their 47 made baskets. … Outscored New Orleans in the paint, 62-60.

Pelicans: Reserve forward Jaxson Hayes scored 13 points and reserve center Willy Hernangomez added 12 points. … Devonte’ Graham’s recent shooting slump continued. He missed five of six shots, all from 3-point range. … Shot 15.4% (4 for 26) from 3-point range.

UP NEXT Grizzlies: Host Portland on Wednesday night in their final game before the All-Star break. (Visit TSDMemphis.com for postgame coverage.)

Soaring Tigers get lift from Tyler Harris in win over Cincinnati CINCINNATI (AP) — Tyler Harris had 15 points to lead five Memphis players in double figures and the Tigers defeated Cincinnati 81-74 on Tuesday night.

Jalen Duren and Landers Nolley II added 13 points apiece for the Tigers (15-8, 9-4 American Athletic Conference). Lester Quinones chipped in 12 points, and Josh Minott had 10.

Jeremiah Davenport had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Bearcats (169, 6-6 AAC). David DeJulius added

13 points. Mika Adams-Woods had 12 points.

The Tigers improve to 2-0 against the Bearcats on the season. Memphis defeated Cincinnati 87-80 on Jan. 9.

Memphis, which has embraced the reference to the team as “road warriors,” stays on the road to play SMU on Sunday (Feb. 20). The Mustangs (18-5, 9-2 AAC) were tied for the conference lead as of Wednesday’s standings.

A season that even some Memphis loyalists feared was lost has gained new life with the Tigers now riding a six-game winning streak. (Photo graphic: Memphis Basketball, Twitter)