The New Tri-State Defender - May 20-26, 2021

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May 20 - 26, 2021

VOL. 70, No. 20

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Fight for $15: Shelby County Schools has yet to give a living wage to all employees

by Julia Baker

Chalkbeat Tennessee

No, no Rudy!...

Kyle Anderson and the Memphis Grizzlies eked out a 100-96 win over former Grizzlies star Rudy Gay and the San Antonio Spurs during the play-in tournament game at FedExForum on Wednesday night. Memphis stayed alive in pursuit of the playoffs. (Photo: Warren Roseborough) (Related story, photos on Sports, Page 9.)

COVID-19 UPDATE:

Local residents, businesses work to handle relaxed health guidelines

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

One week into the rescinding of the mask mandate in Shelby County and confusion about whether masks should be worn still abounds for many.

“We can understand that some people are not real sure about when they can go without a mask, now

that the mandate is not in effect,” said Shelby County Health Department Medical Director Dr. Bruce Randolph.

“We have said all along that when the mask mandate is no longer in effect, then people must rely on their own sense of personal responsibility to protect themselves and other people from getting infected with COVID-19.”

Randolph touted this week’s new

COVID-19 daily numbers as being great.

“Shelby County continues to do well in terms of keeping new infections down,” said Randolph.

“Wednesday’s new cases were 109, and on Tuesday, the number was 62.

The day before that, I think the number was 83. So I think we are doing extremely well without the countywide mask mandate.”

While new cases have significant-

ly diminished, so has the need for massive vaccination sites. Operations at the Pipkin Building at the Fairgrounds, a federal COVID-19 vaccination site, wrapped up on Wednesday.

City-run sites will continue to operate as Shelby County health officials reach out to those who have not yet been vaccinated. A city-run

SEE COVID-19 ON PAGE 2

With I-40 bridge closed, backup route gets inspection

by Adrian Sainz and Andrew DeMillo Associated Press

An inspection of the Interstate 55 bridge connecting Tennessee and Arkansas began Tuesday, a week after the span became the states’ primary Mississippi River crossing when a cracked steel beam prompted the indefinite closure of the nearby Interstate 40 bridge.

Inspectors using drones were looking closely at the 71-year old I-55 bridge to ensure it is structurally sound and can withstand the higher volume of road traffic it has seen since the I-40 bridge was closed May 11, said Clay Bright, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Repairs to the heavily-used I-40 bridge are expected to begin this week, but a long-term fix could take months, officials said. The states are relying on the I-55 bridge to get cars and trucks across the Mississippi River and maintain the flow of commercial vehicles.

During a news conference in Memphis, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the two states, along with federal agencies, were working together to repair the I-40 bridge. Both Lee and Hutchinson are Republicans.

“We will work to repair this in the shortest time possible, but we will not compromise the safety of the workers or the safety of the citizens that will

SEE BRIDGE ON PAGE 2

As advocates nationwide are pushing for a $15 minimum wage, Shelby County and Memphis City governments have already raised the minimum to $15 an hour for all employees. But Shelby County Schools is continuing to pay some part-time employees as low as $10.19 per hour, deterring people from working with the district and contributing to employee turnover.

All full-time SCS employees make at least $15 an hour due to a 2018 initiative from former Supt. Dorsey Hopson, but that adjustment did not include part-time employees.

In May of 2019, current Supt. Joris Ray reaffirmed the district’s “commitment to pay part-time workers a living wage.” Two years later, the district still hasn’t lived up to that commitment, said Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford, Jr. He said approximately 3,100 part-time employees still don’t earn a living wage, a number that has remained relatively unchanged since the County Commission passed a resolution asking the district to study the issue.

When Chalkbeat asked how many part-time employees earn less than $15 an hour, Memphis district officials did not provide updated figures.

Ford said that some non-certified staff, such as full-time nutrition service staff, make more than some employees who have degrees and certifications, including substitute teachers.

“On average, (these employees) are making 30 cents an hour less than cafeteria workers,” he said. “So the person with degrees and certifications could easily decide, well, I might as well be a nutritional services support employee, because I’m going to make 30 cents an hour more and not be in the classroom.”

In April, during the district’s preliminary budget presentation to the Shelby County Commission, Ford asked SCS chief financial officer Toni Williams if there has been any movement toward raising part-time hourly pay to a living wage. Williams assured him that the finance and human resources teams at SCS were working on it.

In its fiscal year 2022 proposed budget, the district allocated funds to bump up 587 part-time employees to a living wage, but stopped short of extending the $15 wage minimum to all employees. District officials will go back before the commission today for a budget hearing.

In 2018, when Ford was on the City Council, he brought forward a resolu-

SEE $15 ON PAGE 2

River traffic under the six-lane Hernando de Soto Bridge is flowing again after inspectors found a “significant fracture.”

(Photo: Shirley Jackson/The New Tri-State Defender)

The New Tri-State Defender

May 20 - 26, 2021

Page 2

NEWS $15

COVID-19

tion that would establish a $15.50 minimum wage for all city employees. It passed. That same year, Mayor Lee Harris announced that all county employees, even temp workers, would receive a $15 minimum wage. Ford said he has been in talks with Williams for nearly a year and a half about instituting $15 minimum wage for all SCS employees, but the district would need to increase its salary budget to $25 million from the $16 million that was proposed during the budget presentation.

“Shelby County government found the money within their budget in order to make that happen,” Ford said during a recent interview. “City government, with the help of the City Council, we were able to find the money in our budget to make it happen.

I’m not asking Shelby County Schools to do anything different than Shelby County government and Memphis City government have already done.”

County Commissioner Tami Sawyer, who is also chair of the education committee, added that implementing a $15 minimum wage for all employees would have a broad impact on the community at large.

“There’s so much that an increase taking us out of poverty wages will do, such as allowing people to secure transportation, invest in their children’s education, and take care of medical bills,” Sawyer said. “SCS is the largest employer in Shelby County, the positive ripple effect will be huge.”

Non-certified SCS personnel such as nutrition service employees start at $11.57 per hour, and certified staff such as substitute teachers start between $12 and $13 per hour.

Nearby, Metro Nashville Public Schools pays all of its employees at least $15 per hour.

Former substitute teacher Holly, whose last name has been omitted for the sake of confidentiality, worked for the district for two years while she was in grad school. According to Holly, when she started substituting in 2015, she made $95 to $98 per day, depending on the assignment, or about $12 to $13 per hour for a seven-and-a-half hour day. She said the wage she made was just enough to make ends meet until she graduated and began a career doing hospital research.

“Shelby County Schools is a school system that has a huge need for substitutes,” Holly said. “The district should realize that if they want good people to come in, and because they are stewards of children, even if it’s just for a day, compensate accordingly.”

Jolie Madihalli, president of the Memphis-Shelby County Education Association, said the substitute teacher positions are meant for people like Holly, who are just starting their careers, and retirees wanting to supplement their income.

Regardless of the status of the employee, however, she said that all employees of SCS, including non-certified and part-time support staff, should earn at least $15 minimum wage.

“It’s important for all workers in Shelby County Schools to receive a minimum wage of $15 an hour,” Madihalli said. “Because ultimately, it will have an impact on our community and the socioeconomic status of our students, which we already know affects our students and how they learn.”

vaccination program will now operate from the Pipkin Building.

More than 340,000 people have been fully or partially vaccinated. That is nearly half of the county’s goal to get 700,000 vaccinated.

“In different groups, we’re approaching herd immunity,” said Memphis Chief Operating Officer David Sweat. “If you’re over 65 years of age in Shelby County, the likelihood is most of the people who are your peers are fully vaccinated at this point, and herd immunity has been achieved.”

Randolph said it is OK for those who have been vaccinated to go without a mask both inside and outdoors, unless: • Signage is posted in a business or other establishment that a mask is required before you are served.

• Riding public transportation, that includes: buses, trains, planes, subways and ride-share

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

services. This is a federal requirement.

• An employer requires employees to wear a mask while working.

On Tuesday of this week, Shelby County announced that masks are required in all government facilities that are open to the public until July 11, 2021. Masks are also required in spaces regularly open to the public, such as offices and in office settings, unless one has been fully vaccinated.

The mask requirement does not apply to the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Center, or the Shelby County Corrections and Detention facilities. A different executive order has been operating in those buildings since Monday (May 17).

“Well, I can admit that I’m very confused right now,” said Merritt Bailey, owner of the Ball Hoggerz Restaurant in Orange Mound.

“You really don’t know who has been vaccinated and who has not, so we haven’t been in a hurry to change things. Right now, our dining area is closed, but our patio is open.

“If you’re eating out on the patio, you don’t

need a mask,” Bailey said. “When you come inside to pick up an order, a mask is required.

It will be the same policy when the dining area opens back up, at least for the time being.”

Betty Wilson is a senior who has chosen to continue wearing her mask.

“It is about my health and me feeling safe enough to stop wearing my mask,” said Wilson.

“I put my mask on before I go out of my door, and I don’t remove it until I get back in my house. I don’t have a certain date of when I will stop wearing a mask, and I’ve had both my shots. It will be when I feel comfortable going without a mask. I want to be safe.”

Evan Fields, 25, wears a mask only when she is required to wear one.

“Since they lifted the mandate, I have been going without a mask, but I keep one in my purse in case I’m going inside a business that requires a mask.

“That keeps me from being confused about when to put on a mask. I wear one now, only when required.”

Repairs to the heavily-used I-40 bridge are expected to begin this week, but a long-term fix could take months, officials said.

Meanwhile, barge traffic is flowing again. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

BRIDGE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT drive across that bridge for the sake of finishing early,” Lee said.

Officials called for the I-55 bridge inspection out of an “over-abundance of caution,” Bright said. Should problems be found by Tennessee inspectors on the I-55 bridge — which lies about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) south of the I-40 bridge — it could lead to its closure and send motorists to river crossings 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the north near Dyersburg, Tennessee, or 60 miles (96 kilometers) to the south near Lula, Mississippi.

The new inspection comes a day after Arkansas transportation officials said an inspector who failed to find the defect in the I-40 bridge had been fired. Drone video showed the crack on the bridge spanning the Mississippi River in May 2019, Arkansas Department of Transportation Director Lorie Tudor said Monday.

Tudor said the crack was not noted by the inspector in his reports that fall or the following year. She called the mistake “unacceptable.”

The department did not immediately name the employee and said the incident is also being referred to federal investigators.

Opened in 1973, the I-40 bridge connected Memphis and the Arkansas city of West Memphis. It was shut down May 11 after inspectors found a fracture in one of two 900-foot (274-meter) horizontal steel beams that are critical for the bridge’s integrity. River traffic under the span was closed that day, but reopened on Friday. Road traffic was rerouted to the I-55 bridge, and traffic there has been heavy.

The I-40 bridge closure has raised concerns about shipping and delivery costs. The Arkansas Trucking Association has estimated the closure would cost the trucking industry at least $2.4 million a day.

“This is a critical, critical link for Arkansas,” Hutchinson said of the I-40 bridge “Whenever you see a break in the commerce, whenever you see a defect in a bridge, then you realize how dependent you are on that flow of commerce.”

Hutchinson called the closed I-40 bridge “a federal link that is important for our national security, whether it’s the flow of fuel or whether it is the flow of other necessary items across our country.”

The I-40 bridge repair could take several months, Bright said. It will be conducted in two phases, and both steps must be completed before the bridge can be reopened.

The first step is installing steel plates on each side of the fractured beam to provide stability

for crews to permanently replace the damaged parts. The second phase involves removal and replacement of the damaged piece of the bridge.

The bridge’s closure comes as the White House is negotiating with a group of Senate Republicans on an infrastructure package. Democrats have called the I-40 bridge damage an example of the urgent need for additional funding to fix the nation’s infrastructure.

Republicans have called for a infrastructure plan with a smaller price tag than President Joe Biden’s and with a narrower definition of public works.

In Arkansas, all “fracture critical” bridges that had been inspected by the fired employee will be re-inspected, Tudor said. The department is changing its inspection program to add additional checks, including the use of a new drone to aid in inspecting bridges, she said.

Tudor has said that the I-40 bridge’s damage could have led to a “catastrophic” event.

Hutchinson said Tudor “took quick action” in firing the employee and did not make excuses for the mistake.

“I think she handled it perfectly well,” said Hutchinson.

Tudor told Arkansas lawmakers the inspection of the I-55 bridge may be completed by Wednesday.

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The New Tri-State Defender

May 20 - 26, 2021

Page 3

BUSINESS

FedEx teams with nonprofit partner on FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab TSD Newsroom Small businesses owned by women and people of color who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 will soon have support from the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab. The recently launched FedEx program was developed in collaboration with Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF), a nonprofit organization providing small business owners with access to capital, networks and coaching.

According to FedEx, the program is designed to help diverse small business owners who are looking to develop or expand their e-commerce operations as they continue to adapt their business models in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on women and entrepreneurs of color.

The program is designed to provide intensive hands-on learning to 150 small business owners across the U.S. through a series of workshops and one-on-one coaching.

The business owners will re-

ceive free technical support in setting up and maintaining their virtual stores, as well as support with marketing, managing promotions, customer service, managing orders and fulfillments, and product photography.

Participants will also receive a $2,000 business grant to launch and grow their e-commerce business. AOF and FedEx plan to develop a series of virtual seminars on more advanced e-commerce topics, as well as an online learning hub featuring on-demand virtual learning courses, open to any small business owner seeking to expand their e-commerce expertise.

As a result of more consumers shopping online during the pandemic, eMarketer reports that e-commerce volumes grew by 33 percent in 2020.

“It is no secret that the pandemic has had a significant impact on small business owners, especially women and people of color,” said Brie Carere, executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer, FedEx. “Through our new collaboration with

The new FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab is designed specifically for businesses owned by women and people of color to help them develop their e-commerce operations as they continue to adapt their business models in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy photo) AOF, we are helping to level the playing field and get these small businesses back on their feet, which is especially important as record growth in e-commerce volumes continue.”

With the launch of the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab, Carere said, “we’ll not only help individuals meet customer needs in new ways, but also provide comprehensive programming that will equip them with the tools to navigate through these uncertain times.”

The hands-on learning experience will be open to 150

small business owners who founded by Terrand Smith, are new to e-commerce. It is that helps small businesses scheduled to run five months, owned by women and people beginning in September 2021. of color prepare for distribuThe timeframe was designed tion through diverse growth to ensure that participants re- channels. ceive support with holiday “Together with FedEx, we marketing and promotions, as have the opportunity to help well as technical support in all elevate the voices of entrepreaspects of managing holiday neurs that often go unheard,” orders, traditionally the bus- said Luz Urrutia, CEO, Accion iest time of year for e-com- Opportunity Fund. merce.

“By offering access to reTechnical support, order sources and opportunities and fulfillment and initial host-Newspaper providing tailored Ad –support, 5x8.5 we ing of their online stores will can prepare these communibe delivered in collabora- ties for future growth and ultion with 37 Oaks, a Chica- timately develop more equitago-based social enterprise ble economic opportunities for

TVA, Facebook solar site coming to Shelby County

Thank You

TSD Newsroom Shelby County is on track to be the home of one of Tennessee’s largest solar farms, according to an announcement from the Tennessee Valley Authority on Wednesday.

A new Green Invest partnership pairing TVA, Facebook and RWE Renewables is projected to yield a 150-megawatt solar facility near Millington.

Facebook reportedly would use 110 megawatts of the solar energy to support its data center operations in Gallatin, Tennessee and the broader Tennessee Valley.

Doug Perry, TVA senior vice president, Commercial Energy Solutions, said bringing clean energy to Shelby County is part of TVA’s long-term community plan and is critical to support the region’s sustainability strategy.

“This project is more than a solar farm, it puts people to work, revitalizes communities and makes our region an environmental leader,” said Perry.

Since 2018, Green Invest has attracted nearly $2.7 billion in solar investment and procured over 2,100 megawatts of solar on behalf of its customers.

TVA is partnering with RWE, a company focused on renewable energy, to develop the $140 million solar farm.

RWE, through a long-term power purchase agreement with TVA, will own and operate the plant.

Silvia Ortin, chief operating officer for Onshore Wind and Solar PV Americas, RWE Renewables, said, “… the clean energy generated from this site will fuel jobs locally and

a diverse range of businesses.”

Participants must not have an existing active e-commerce presence, currently produce and sell a packaged product (either shelf-stable, pre-packaged food or non-food general merchandise such as fashion, beauty or home décor), earn less than $500,000 in annual revenue and be willing to commit to full program participation.

More details about the application process will be available in June. To be notified when the application is live, sign up at https://aofund.org/ program/fedex/.

Built by Southern Serenity Homes in Winstead Farms East, Lakeland, TN. Estimated value $475,000.

Giveaway Date: June 27, 2021 A rendering of Facebook’s $800 million data center that will cover nearly 1 million square feet in Gallatin, Tennessee. The new solar farm to be built near Millington Facebook is projected to use 110 megawatts of the solar energy to support the data center. (Image: TVA) across the state and help Facebook achieve its carbon reduction goals.”

Projections provided by TVA point to the generating of more than $12 million in property tax revenue. Also projected are 150-plus construction jobs, with additional employment for two to four full-time operations and maintenance staff.

Pending environmental reviews, the solar farm is expected to come online in late 2023. It will occupy approximately 1,200-1,400 acres.

As for the project’s size, 150 megawatts AC equals approximately 399,600 solar panels.

Millington Mayor Terry Jones is welcoming TVA and Facebook, saying they will be “great neighbors.”

“Businesses want renewable energy, and this solar farm makes it easier for us to compete for good jobs,” Jones said.

Facebook operations are now supported by 100 percent renewable energy.Iin the last year, Facebook has signed Green Invest agreements for

475 megawatts of new solar to be built in Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky. Since 2018, Facebook has agreed to purchase 852 megawatts of power generated by multiple solar farms linked into the TVA electric grid.

“This solar project, which is our third in Tennessee, will help us continue our commitment of 100 percent renewable energy for our global operations, while also bringing new investment and jobs to the local community,” said Urvi Parekh, head of Renewable Energy at Facebook.

TVA reports that its electricity is nearly 60 percent carbon-free. Since October, the utility giant has increased its contracted solar capacity by 60 percent.

“Facebook, RWE and our elected officials are great partners, and this announcement demonstrates our commitment to Shelby County, and how we are using solar energy to make our region the prime destination for businesses to achieve their environmental goals,” said Perry.

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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, May 20 - 26, 2021, Page 4

Critical Race Theory, Republican efforts to derail and the challenge facing teachers

by Curtis Weathers

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

House and Senate lawmakers in Tennessee have passed bills that prohibit educators from teaching elements of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Tennessee’s public schools.

Critical Race Theory is the study of race relations in America and how historical inequities and racism continue to shape public policy and social conditions today.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, has signaled he favors the bill, although he has not yet attached his signature. He said students should learn “the exceptionalism of our nation,” not things that “inherently divide” people.

CRT has been around since the early 1970s. While college professors have used the term for decades, the debate about its use in public school classrooms ramped up last year when then-President Donald Trump made it something Republicans could love to hate.

The bill passed by Tennessee lawmakers states, among other things, that schools could not include or promote instruction or curriculum that teaches that the United States is

“fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist;” or that an individual, by virtue of the person’s race or sex, “is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppresCurtis sive, whether Weathers consciously or subconsciously.”

The state education commissioner can withhold funds from schools and districts where teachers violate this law.

Legal scholars are debating whether the new law can pass legal muster.

Others, who have studied the bill, say it is poorly written and hampers freedom of speech and academic freedom in the classroom.

State Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, a sponsor of the House bill, in an effort to defend he and his colleagues, cited an email he received about a 7-year-old white female student in Williamson County, who was emotionally distraught after discussing white privilege in her school.

“I’m ashamed that I’m white,” she told her mom, according to the email.

Calling Gov. Lee – six state senators seek CRT-bill veto

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchel

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Six members of the Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus are urging Gov. Bill Lee to veto legislation they assert will diminish classroom discussions about race and the origins of racial disparity in America.

In a letter forwarded on Monday (May 17), the Tennessee senators asked Lee to veto Senate Bill 623. It prohibits classroom discussion about slavery or any other racially provocative subject to include “critical race theory.” (Simply put, critical race theory, or CRT is a concept that seeks to understand and explain inequality and racism in this country.)

The controversial measure was sent to the governor for his final approval on the same day.

“This bill was passed on the last day of sessions by the state senate,”

said Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-29) of Memphis. “Just when we’re trying to come out of this pandemic and people are dealing with evictions and foreclosures and other devastating circumstances, Republican senators would choose to focus on this.”

The case is made in the letter for Gov. Lee to reject the substance of Senate Bill 623: “We cannot reconcile the promise of our principles and the reality of racism in our history if we do not talk about it. Our children deserve to learn the full story – the true story of the victories, the struggles, and the failings – so they can be prepared to contribute to a future for our nation, where liberty and justice are a reality for all of us.”

Another concern was expressed regarding recruiting and retaining high-quality, licensed teachers, especially teachers of color, in school

I wonder if Rep. Ragan ever thinks about how young black children feel when discussing their history or, for that matter, the racist activity we see here in America on a daily basis?

I doubted it!

Ragan also said teachers should “teach according to Tennessee academic standards for social studies, which the legislature has approved.”

To my knowledge, teachers have never been limited to just state-approved academic standards when deciding what and how to teach in their classrooms.

Because a teacher has a discussion in his or her classroom about critical race theory does not mean they are neglecting the state’s academic standards. These topics can at any time blend easily into discussions of standards-based material on slavery and racism in America.

In fact, after what this nation has gone through in recent years, I cannot imagine how any [history] teacher could leave critical race theory out of any discussion of racism in America.

The job of our legislature is to ap-

prove curriculum standards, not police Tennessee classrooms.

Nevertheless, the discussions taking place across America about CTR are fascinating.

The more Republican legislators try to mute discussions about the legacy of race relations in this country, the more energy they seem to give to this debate about CRT. It was painful to listen to the video discussions of this bill on the Tennessee House floor. Some of the arguments and comments were simply insane.

It is clear, however, that this law is symbolic at best and will be difficult to enforce.

But it will most surely serve as a deterrent to some educators who want to teach and discuss a deeper, more comprehensive perspective of how the legacy of racism impacts today’s society.

But in talking to many of my former colleagues, both teachers and administrators, they are confident this bill will not deter their efforts to address this issue.

In fact, they are more excited then

ever about teaching CRT in their classrooms.

What teachers really need, they said, is training on how to facilitate the robust and thorny issues of equity and racism, so they can appropriately engage their students in these types of discussions.

Nevertheless, the objective here is clear. Republican lawmakers are trying to censor any meaningful discussion about systemic racism or inherent racial bias. But it will not work.

The Organization of American Historians, the nation’s largest professional organization of scholars of U.S. history, reminds us that, “The best historical inquiry acknowledges and interrogates systems of oppression — racial, ethnic, gender, class — and openly addresses the myriad injustices that these systems have perpetuated through the past and into the present.”

The Critical Race Theory debate is here to stay, and it looks like we are just getting started. Teachers, as usual, will find a way.

Stay safe, Memphis. Get vaccinated!

Sen. Raumesh Akbari

Sen. Brenda Gilmore

Sen. Katrina Robinson

Sen. Heidi Campbell

districts across the state.

“Essentially, you can’t say that certain things happened or are perpetuated because of race,” said Akbari.

“To support this bill, anecdotal evidence is given about a seven-year-old white girl being taught about race who goes home and asks her parents, ‘Are you racist?’ No one even knows where this story comes from, or even if it’s a real story. On the other hand, what about all the Black children who go home and ask, ‘Am I less than because I’m Black?’”

Akbari called the bill an attempt to deny that “one race bears responsibility for racism against another race because of past actions and policies.”

It tries to deny that White privilege actually exists, Akbari said.

The letter to Gov. Lee argues that those in upcoming generations will not be equipped to have meaningful discussions about racism and devise

Sen. Sara Kyle

solutions: “Reckoning with the history of slavery, white supremacy, Jim Crow, and racism is essential not only to fully educate our students, but also for our future. Confronting racism and building a better future requires citizens who are equipped to have hard discussions about race. This misguided law will rob many in the rising generation of the tools necessary to challenge broken systems that produce and perpetuate racial disparities.”

State Sen. Brenda Gilmore (D-19) of Nashville said the bill would have terribly far-reaching consequences in the classroom.

“This bill will have a chilling effect on teachers trying to talk about racism, slavery and the aftermath of slavery,” said Gilmore. “It leaves no room for honest discussion about race. Of course, the governor is going to sign the bill. But it our duty to

raise the issue and ask that the bill be vetoed.”

The letter uses the governor’s own words in arguing the case for a veto: “Last July, you said: ‘I’ve continuously said that we should learn from our history, rather than whitewash it.

More recently, I’ve said that the most appropriate resolution for the Forrest bust is to put it in the appropriate context. I am as committed to those beliefs today as I have ever been.’”

Legislators charged that the bill would “whitewash American history lessons by diminishing classroom discussions about race and the origins of racial disparities… Let’s not erase our progress.”

In addition to Akbari and Gilmore, also signing the letter Heidi Campbell (D-20) of Nashville; Sara Kyle (D-30) of Memphis; Katrina Robinson (D-33) of Memphis and Jeff Yarbro (D-21) of Nashville.

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The New Tri-State Defender

May 20 - 26, 2021

Page 5

RELIGION

“Ooowee”...

Pastor Walter Womack was among an array of people representing various groups as they made a pitch for raises beyond what Mayor Jim Strickland called for in his budget proposal. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/TSD Archives)

The Ooowee Band had a busy weekend. In addition to singing at a Stop The Violence campaign rally, band members performed a selection of songs at the 21st Annual Feast of Pentecost at The Church of God at West Tennesse in South Memphis on Sunday (May 16) afternoon. (Photos: George W. Tillman Jr.)

Pastor ‘pays the price’ for heading civil rights group

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

In a former life, Pastor Walter Womack of Faithful Baptist Church was the “right-hand man” to the late Rev. Dwight Montgomery, the outspoken, long-time president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Memphis Chapter.

Today, as the organization’s leader, Womack is finding there is a high price to be paid for being a civil rights leader.

“I saw first-hand how Pastor Montgomery continued to put his own money into the organization because there was always a shortage of resources,” said Womack. “I’ve been president of Memphis SCLC for three years now. And now, I find myself doing the exact, same thing because there is a serious lack of funding.”

All those years of shadowing Montgomery and supporting SCLC efforts to bring about the “beloved community” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. often spoke about paid off in 2018 when heir-apparent Womack took the mantle of leadership during the MLK50 celebration.

“There was a big march during the 50th anniversary celebration of Dr. King’s death,” said Womack. “His son, Martin Luther King III, was here, and there were programs and celebrations surrounding my installation as leader of the local SCLC chapter.

“But there is a tremendous sacrifice of time as well as finances. The work must continue, and I am committed to our vision.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the longtime leader of the national SCLC. Womack is willing to pay the price of leadership, but there are some “fundamental issues” he feels the organization continues to struggle with, namely “basic disrespect for the organization” and the “great decline in membership numbers since the 1960s when Dr. King led SCLC. “I would like to see the Memphis SCLC become a more powerful force in fighting crime and the effects of poverty in our communities,” said Womack.

“My vision for growth involves more participation of those Dr. King came here to serve when he was killed. We want to partner with AFSCME in the continued fight for fair wages and healthcare equality.”

Montgomery, who died in September of 2017 at the age of 67, took a reflective look at his own presidency in a news interview just weeks before his death.

“Ever since I have been President, we have worked to minimize negative gang activity, getting mentors and tutors for our public schools.

We have tried to stand up for people who have been cut from TennCare. We stood up with the Kellogg’s workers who were locked out,” Montgomery said.

Womack has sought to build on the work Montgomery started. Crime, poverty and taking a stand with union workers has always been part of SCLC’s mission, he said.

“People are being held back when there is not a decent, livable wage being paid,” said Womack. “Crime and poverty go hand in hand. People are not being raised out of the level of poverty, and the wealth gap continues to grow so wide that a young man cannot feed his family and drive a decent car. Poverty breeds crime.”

Womack shares the belief by Montgomery as he vowed to turn his attention to public education. Montgomery felt young people “must be shown that the way out of poverty is getting a good education.”

“We must work with parents, work with young people. Show them the importance of education, being trained so they will not be impoverished but be empowered,” Montgomery said.

“What Dr. Montgomery stated is so true,” said Womack. “As a community, we must fight poverty and crime by standing with workers in collective bargaining, being advocates for improving public education, and supporting healthcare initiatives that will address the racial disparity. Dr. King, himself, felt that the next phase of the civil rights movement was a war on poverty.”

Rebuilding participation and membership in the SCLC has been a difficult road for Womack, but he is determined to see his hard work yield fruit.

“There should never be a time when adequate finances are not committed to this SCLC chapter,” Womack said. “I saw Dr. Montgomery struggle, and so, I know that there is a price to be paid – a high price.

“But I am willing. My vision is to build a coalition of organizations – AFSCME (America Federation of State County and Municipal Employee) – who stand for equality and justice.

The work must continue, despite the challenges, and it will.”

Faithful Baptist Church is located at 1580 Ely Street, off of S. Parkway East. For additional information on membership costs and upcoming activities, call 901-319-8784.

I got your back...

The Tennessee School of Religion (TSOR) held its 75th commencement at Berean Missionary Baptist Church on May 14. Bishop William S. Wright Sr. (middle), pastor of Liberty Church of God in Christ, was an honorary degree recipient and the event speaker. He was introduced by the Rev. Dr. Edward Parker Jr. (right), Berean MBC’s pastor and TSOR president. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

‘Faith Through The Storms’...

Greater Mt. Nebo celebrated Pastor and Wife Love Day with The Rev. G. S. Neal and his wife at the church at 1608 Ely St. last Sunday (May 16).

The theme was “Faith Through The Storms.”

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, May 20 - 26, 2021, Page 6

City Council takes stance in support of critical race theory

by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Memphis City Council members were nearly unanimous Tuesday (May 18) in adopting a resolution to condemn and restrict the Tennessee General Assembly’s move to withhold public funding to education authorities, such as school districts, that teach critical race theory in their schools.

“What critical race theory is – it recognizes that systemic racism is a part of American society and challenges the beliefs that allow it to flourish,” said Councilman Martavius Jones, who sponsored the resolution.

House bill 580 is a reaction, one of many in conservative state legislatures nationwide, to the 1619 project.

The New York Times effort focuses on the contributions of Black Americans and the consequences of slavery as they resonate within the larger context of the nation’s history.

It began in 2019, the 400th anniversary of the first slaves arriving on colonial shores via Dutch slave traders. The study of critical race theory itself emerged in the 1970s and 1980s.

Some history teachers are currently using it as a classroom supplement.

“It is exactly what is supposed to happen in the classroom, especially at a higher level. It is acknowledging what happened in history and moving on and talking about how they’re relevant today. You can disagree in a classroom, but only if it is allowed to be taught,” surmised Chairman Frank Colvett Jr., who is one of five white members on the 13-member council.

The bill was passed on a 69-20 vote in the Tennessee House earlier this month. A similar bill, SB 623, made its way through the state Senate. It awaits Gov. Bill Lee’s signature.

Arkansas, Idaho and Utah have made similar bills into law.

“This is not something that has de-

rived in the state of Tennessee, but something we have seen coming from state legislators across the country, as it refers to not only just critical race theory as a concept, but the actual teaching or notion that anything that contradicts the thought of race being an issue, a reasoning, or an impact for how we now live in our current day,” said councilmember Michalyn Easter-Thomas, who is also a school teacher.

Critics of the bill accuse its authors of whitewashing history; of being uncomfortable with the facts presented by the project.

“From 1619 to 1865 you are talking about 246 years. That amounts to about 12 generations of Black Americans who were chattel property to other Americans. That’s just from 1619 to 1865,” said Jones. “We’re talking about another 100 years where you had Jim Crow laws, Black laws, that were specifically designed to and targeted to Black Americans.”

The oppression didn’t end there.

More covert racist policies emerged and persisted. An example is redlining, which is the denial of goods or services by the government or private sector. Since the demise of the Jim Crow laws, it has been used to stymie wealth accumulation by minorities.

In spite of this history, many are still ignorant of its scope. Councilman J. Ford Canale, who also is white, pointed out that his education into the plight of minorities didn’t occur in earnest until he was elected.

“I was told before I joined this body that this is an education that you can’t get anywhere else. And I would agree. The things that I learned that were not taught in the classroom, my eyes have been opened to.

“The people that I have met, in the honor of being in this job, the relationships that I have made in this job is an education that I did not get growing up,” said Canale.

The original language of the council’s nonbinding resolution, which called for HB580/SB 623 to be condemned, was amended during the discussion.

“I agree to the messaging here and I just want to know if the maker of this motion may want to change the word ‘condemned’ to restrict ‘any further movement.’ Stop it.

“Rather than using the word condemned, we’re trying to get it to stop.

Condemned to me means we’re saying that it’s negative. I don’t want to say it’s just negative, I want it stopped in its tracks,” said Councilwoman Patrice J. Robinson.

The resolution passed using same night minutes. Council members J.B. Smiley, Easter-Thomas and Canale were added as co-sponsors.

The vote was 11-0 with councilmember Worth Morgan abstaining.

Councilmember Smiley’s vote was not recorded.

Swivels Auto Center joins fight against gun violence

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

F.F.U.N. President Stevie Moore (left with sign) found plenty of support for the Love and Peace Walk United Against Gun Violence, which was held in Westwood last Saturday (May 15). (Photo: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell)

‘Not just a march, I’m trying to start a fire’

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Stevie Moore was standing with Westwood community leaders Saturday (May 15) as they led residents in a “Love and Peace Walk United Against Gun Violence.”

Moore, president of Freedom From Un-Necessary Negatives (F.F.U.N.), had two major events happening at once – the march in Westwood and a family festival in Frayser.

And as if that was not enough, he ran by L.E. Brown Park near Downtown to encourage youngsters gathered to sign-up for Pee-Wee football.

“We want to see a movement start and grow from our events,” said Moore. “People always ask, ‘Are you all just walking and marching?’

I tell them, ‘No, this is not just a walk or a march. I’m trying to set this city afire.’

“We’ve got to make our communities safe for families – for our children and our seniors. We don’t have to lay down and just take the gun violence. We’re saying, ‘Enough is enough.’”

The march was sponsored by Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood,

where the walk was scheduled at 10 with a festival to follow from 12 noon until 1 p.m.

“Taking a stand against gun violence in our neighborhoods cannot be done by one entity, one person, one church, or one school,” said Mount Vernon Pastor Melvin Watkins. “It’s going to take a team of us joining together. It’s going to take the whole village. And, that’s what we were doing – calling the village together.”

Watkins said the church wanted to create a space for the village to come together and talk about the issues at hand.

Moore said “a fire has started” in of Memphis, and other communities are calling for his organization’s help in planning a unity event to mobilize residents against the rampant gun violence that is ravaging neighborhoods.

“We’ve already got an event planned for Hamilton High School on June 12,” said Moore. “And a church near Stax in the Soulsville Community has started as well.

Pastors are speaking out now. The churches were pillars of the Civil Rights Movement. If the churches stay silent, we are doomed.”

The emblematic red-and-white signs are posted in front yards throughout Westwood. As Moore rode through the streets with his van, people asked for signs to place in their yards.

“When I left the church in Westwood, I went over to L.E. Brown Park to a cookout for boys and girls signing up for pee-wee football and cheerleading,” said Moore. “One of the little boys carried a hand-written sign that read, ‘I don’t want to die.’

That really touched me. The children were all ages 5-12. That just let me know we’ve got to keep fighting for something better for them.”

Moore was met with a virtual sea of his “Stop the Killing” signs all over the park. He passed out F.F.U.N. T-shirts after giving youngsters some words of encouragement.

“I was so inspired to keep pushing,” said Moore. “We can’t just lie down and stay silent, not when stray bullets are killing our children while they play in the yard.

“Two years ago, a young girl was shot in her bed. I’m trying to light a fire of compassion and caring. Love is the only way. That’s God’s way, and it can’t fail.”

Thanks to the ingenuity of a Frayser-based businessman, Freedom From Un-Necessary Negatives (F.F.U.N.) impacted two major communities on Saturday morning.

Byron Cook, proprietor of Swivels Auto Center in the heart of Frayser, sponsored a Family Fun Day at his thriving enterprise at the corner of Delano Avenue and North Watkins Street.

There were bounce houses for the children, live music to get the crowd moving, food trucks and a great time all around.

Cook hosted the event while F.F.U.N. principals also were leading a march against gun violence on the opposite end of the city in Westwood in Southwest Memphis. Although the day was fun-filled and the mood light, those who attended left with a very important message: “Violence is never the answer.”

“Events like these are important because they offer support and positive outlets for families in Frayser,” said Cook. “Frayser is one of the city’s hardest hit communities when it comes to gang violence and shootings.

“From the youngest to the oldest resident in Frayser, it is important that no one resorts to violence. Too many have been lost to gun violence, some have been innocent children and bystanders.”

Cook’s auto center has offered multiple services to families, who have been historically underserved because of the area’s high crime and blight issues. Businesses have not been drawn to Frayser when considering prospective locations.

But Swivels offers families all over Memphis, but especially in Frayser, the opportunity to purchase vehicles, insurance, rent a home and have their taxes done in one location.

Cook also is known for his generosity to the Frayser in supporting initiatives and projects by church groups and organizations.

Lottie Jones, successful insurance broker and businesswoman, also operates insurance and real estate services in a “one-stop” setting.

“Frayser residents need businesses to invest in the community and we will continue to offer our services to families, especially when credit

Byron Cook

Lottie Jones issues have been a road block,” said Jones.

“We work hard to make these services affordable to our clients, many of whom may be facing financial hardship. Saturday’s family day gave us a chance to let our community know that we care and we are here to stay.”

F.F.U.N. President Stevie Moore said community partnerships with businesses, churches and schools have always been key components in the organization’s efforts to make the streets of Memphis safer everywhere.

“Mr. Cook has been an important figure in the Frayser community for decades,” said Moore. “We hope other businesses will step up and partner with us to help generate a real sense of unity and togetherness as we speak out against gun violence.

“In some Memphis neighborhoods, seniors can’t even walk to the store for a loaf of bread without fear of being shot. Children just playing in the yard have been killed by stray bullets. We’ve got to regain control of our communities.”

(For more information on the services offered by Swivels, call: 901-502-2436. To learn more about F.F.U.N. outreach and upcoming events, call: 901-527-3149.)

The New Tri-State Defender

May 20 - 26, 2021

Page 7

ENTERTAINMENT

MIM BBQ Contest – back to business & fun!

After a pandemic-forced hiatus, the Memphis in May International Festival returned with the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Tom Lee Park (May 12-15).

(Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)

The Memphis Grizzlies had a strong presence. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku) This barbecue cooking contest patron had a companion on his arm. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

In a tent where free barbecue was served, a slab of ribs gets pre-barbecue attention. (Photo: Shirley Jackson)

The New Tri-State Defender

May 20 - 26, 2021

Page 8

NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS NOTICE TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000666, Network Infrastructure and Implementation Services-Information Technology. 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 the name of the above described Sealed Bid. SEALED BID I000666 DUE DATE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16TH, 2021 AT 2:00 PM CST (SB-I000666) Network Infrastructure and Implementation ServicesInformation Technology 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.

At the job fair, Vontyna Durham made two new hires. (Courtesy photos)

Job fair offers ex-felons a second chance to work

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Wednesday (May 19) was a day of new beginnings for ex-felons looking for an opportunity to work.

Pastor Rickey Floyd at Pursuit of God Transformation Center in Frayser facilitated a fivehour event, hosting 30 employers looking for hundreds of full-time employees.

“These employers are looking for people who want to work and people, who are unemployed, are looking for jobs,” said Floyd. “I simply created an opportunity for them to share a space.

“Of those 30 employers, 12 are felon-friendly, seven do not require drug tests and two provide transportation. We’re trying to take away all the obstacles.”

Before the event was over, Floyd was called about organizing the same event in the Whitehaven.

“When we were planning this job fair, we wanted it to really be impactful, to be a life-changing occurrence in the lives of those who were struggling with finding a job,” said Floyd.

“A number of these companies are paying between $17-22 an hour. Higher wages will help lift people out of poverty and provide for their children.”

Floyd said job fairs tend to be helpful, but those who have issues with adequate transportation, a felony conviction, or often don’t pass drug tests need extra help. Ex-offenders were a special focus as communities focus on reducing crime and recidivism rates.

“Getting a job is important,” said Floyd. “But

I am a visionary. I have built a relationship with these companies, and I reached out to those who are open to train and develop people, and to get them on a positive career path. People need training. Employers need people. And we were able to pull the event together.”

Similar efforts over the past 10 years by Pursuit of God Church has helped facilitate the employment of an estimated 1,200, according to church records.

Vontyna Durham, proprietor of Durham Housing and Construction Services, hired several new employees on the spot, including an over-the-road truck driver.

“This was such a great event,” said Durham.

“It was wonderful meeting with people who were actually eager to work.

“One outstanding new hire was a woman truck driver who had been driving trucks for eight months. She was ready to come off the road, and so, we were a good fit. Our truck drivers only drive under 300 miles away. It’s a turnaround, and they come right back home.”

Durham said it was her first time interacting with the ministry’s staff.

“Everyone was so warm and welcoming to the people who came looking for jobs, as well as those who were recruiting. They generated such a wholesome atmosphere that the young people were networking and fellowshipping with each other,” she said.

“When I say Pastor Floyd blessed so many people today, I really mean that. It was great to witness first-hand.”

Companies participating in this week’s job fair include: Kroger’s, Amazon, Youth Villages, FedEx, Durham, and Office Interiors.

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: Danny Harris Tax Parcel #: 07008700000050 Tax Sale #: 1004 Price Offered: $200 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 2:00 p.m. on June 18, 2021, 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: Danny Harris Tax Parcel #: 06008600000190 Tax Sale #: 83.1 Price Offered: $200 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 1:30 p.m. on June 18, 2021, 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

THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER CLASSIFIEDS 1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 PH (901) 523-1818 FAX (901) 578-5037 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:00 p.m. on June 18, 2021, 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: Danny Harris Tax Parcel #: 06007600000390 Tax Sale #: 1304 Price Offered: $1,700 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 10:30 a.m. on June 18, 2021, 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.

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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 June 18, 2021, 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: Tammy Nutall Tax Parcel #: 07101500000070 Tax Sale #: 1701 Price Offered: $11,000 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 9:30 a.m. on June 18, 2021, 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

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:

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Pastor Rickey Floyd (left) of Pursuit of God Transformation Center in Frayser spearheaded the five-hour job fair.

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The New Tri-State Defender

May 20 - 26, 2021

Page 9

SPORTS

For the Grizzlies, play-in game stakes were worth the fight

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

For the Memphis Grizzlies, the options going into Wednesday night’s play-in game against the San Antonio Spurs were win or start vacation sooner than desired.

With the FedExForum as the setting, the ninth-seeded Grizzlies hosted the Spurs and earned one more shot at making the NBA’s Western Conference playoffs with a 100-96 win.

Going into the game, the Grizzlies had made enough comebacks in games to know they were capable of doing so, if necessary.

After a disappointing 113-101 loss to Golden State (Stephen Curry went off for 46 points for the Warriors) in the final regular season game on Sunday, Dillon Brooks looked ahead.

“We have got to find a way to close out,” he said. “We have to bring the energy for the next two games to get to the playoffs.”

Brooks did that, bringing a ton of energy, tenacious defense and scoring 24 points.

The play-in game garnered national television coverage on ESPN. Grizzlies’ center Jonas Valanciunas, who had 29 points and 16 rebounds, against the Warriors, was upbeat going into the matchup against the Spurs.

“Nothing is lost yet,” Valanciunas said on Sunday. “We are going to be ready.”

He was, scoring 23 points and grabbing 21 rebounds.

Ja Morant, Memphis’ star point guard, said, “I am just proud of our fight. No matter what is going in the game, we continue to play hard.

“We have to continue to play (like) that.

We have to play unselfishly and play Grizzlies basketball.” He managed 20 points and six assists.

Jaren Jackson Jr., who recovered from an injury and worked his way back into the Grizzlies’ starting lineup, shared an element of his mindset as the play-in game loomed.

“Every possession matters, especially the early possessions,” Jackson said. “You can’t just let the end of the game be the determining factor for everything. You have to be smart with the ball and do what you do.”

Jackson scored 10 points and had four rebounds.

Memphis started the season against the Spurs, with Morant scoring 44 points and dishing 9 assists. The Spurs won that game 131-119 at the FedExForum.

The next two games were at San Antonio, with the Grizzlies winning each by 20plus points.

The one-game elimination aspect of Wednesday’s game prompted some observers to note that it had an NCAA tournament feel to it.

“You could say that,” Morant said. “It is an honor to just be in the position to make the playoffs.

“Unfinished business” is how Brooks termed Memphis’ goal of making the playoffs.

“Anything short is just a year we can learn from. We need to win these two games so we can complete our goal.”

As for the play-in game affording the Grizzlies, the third youngest team in the NBA, an opportunity to earn some respect, Morant said, “We have been saying the same thing for two years. Nothing has changed yet. We have just got to focus on what we have to do.

Whatever comes after that is what happens.”

Ja Morant guards the Spurs’ Dejounte Murray in the play-in game won 10096 by the Grizzlies at FedExForum on Wednesday night. (Photos: Warren Roseborough) Jonas Valanciunas was too much for the Spurs in the paint, scoring 23 points and hauling in 23 rebounds.

The New Tri-State Defender

May 20 - 26, 2021

Page 10

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