The New Tri-State Defender - June 1-7, 2023

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June 1 - 7, 2023

VOL. 72, No. 22

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School board agrees to create a new policy to replace access ban

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The “Women of Soul” Series, an idea that Joy Truly Brown started nurturing three years ago, is set for June 11, 7:30 p.m. at the Halloran Centre For Performing Arts & Education, next door to the Orpheum. (Courtesy photo)

‘Women of Soul’ returns to the Halloran in celebration of Black Music Month

by Candace A. Gray

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Joy Truly Brown, Orpheum’s director of Rentals & Events, and creator of the “Women of Soul” Series, wanted to run a hotel.

She just knew her degree in Hospitality Management would prepare her to do so.

What she didn’t know is, nearly 20-plus years later, after climbing the ranks, she would give birth to the “Women of Soul” concert series at Downtown’s Orpheum Theatre.

This year’s concert, the third of its kind, will take place Sunday, June 11, 7:30 pm at the Halloran Centre For Performing Arts & Education, next door to the Orpheum.

The event will feature Zsa (pronounced Zah) Davis, Keia Johnson, Adajyo and Katrina Anderson – just in time for Black Music Month in June.

“I started as a hairstylist, worked in the box office, and even ran concessions,” Brown recalls, each milestone preparing her for current role.

“I always loved the beauty and excitement of being backstage and event planning, commercials, movies, music videos…And when the pandemic hit, I got to work,” said Brown.

“The Women of Soul series was born in the fall of 2020 for two purposes – to bolster programming (translation: income) that was nil, as shows began to cancel because of COVID-19 and to give back and showcase the wonderful talent we already have right here in Memphis.

“I wanted to offer local artists, specifically women of color, an opportunity to showcase their musical talent on the Orpheum stage,” said Brown.

One such artist is Keia Johnson, a former contestant on Seasons nine and10 of “American Idol,” who is not only an artist, but the owner of KJ Management, co-curator of this year’s concert.

“I attended the first show, and it

SEE SOUL ON PAGE 2

Memphis-Shelby County School Board members will explore revising its policy about maintaining both order and public safety during board meetings.

The board made the commitment after much discussion during its Tuesday (May 30) business meeting.

The review stemmed from the banning of five activists from board meetings and district property following a May 9 board meeting. They were cited for breaking meeting rules and being disruptive.

The ban has drawn criticism, which was actively expressed Tuesday when a group of community members addressed commissioners on behalf of the activists, who rallied outside prior to the meeting’s start.

They carried signs reading: “Full Transparency,” “No Ban,” “Don’t Silence Us.” The five banned activists are former teacher’s union president Tikelia Rucker; former school board candidate Rachael Spriggs, and Damon Morris, LJ Abraham, and Amber Sherman.

During the May 9 board meeting, board Chair Althea Greene cut off comments about the search for superintendent.

After visibly signaling to one another, the activists were seen leaving the meeting as two panic sound devices were dropped as they walked out.

“We received letters about 30 minutes before we showed up here,”

Outside the Memphis-Shelby County Schools office building, the discontent about the decision to ban activists was visible and audible. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

Championing a community effort to improve 3rd-grade reading scores. See Perspective, Page 4.

Spriggs screamed through a bullhorn. “They sent us text messages.

They defamed us, saying that we are a danger to the public. How are we a

danger? Nobody had to escort us out of the meeting. We said what we had to say and walked out on our own.”

Morris wondered aloud who put the ban in place.

“Who issued a ban against us?

Was it Althea Greene? Was it Keith Williams? Was it Michelle McKissack? We want to know who it was?”

Morris told the small gathering outside the building.

Abraham was the only banned activist who did not attend the rally.

Activists lamented to supporters that their First Amendments rights were being violated by banning them from school district property.

Spriggs pushed back on comments from Commissioner Keith Williams regarding decorum and “uncivilized behavior.”

“All of this from the School Board is working toward dismantling the public school system,” said Spriggs.

SEE BAN ON PAGE 2

Turning 103 – the journey of Jannie Louise Rucker Winfrey

by Dr. Sybil Mitchell The New Tri-State Defender

Ask Jannie Louise Rucker Winfrey what should happen next after she celebrated her 103rd birthday, she will tell you, “Start making plans for the 104th birthday.”

When you live 103 years, your life is filled with stories – happy and sad, well-earned accomplishments and hurtful disappointments. In Winfrey’s case, you watch your children grow into successful adults and mourn the child who left the world too soon.

“Mother turned 103 on the 23rd of May, but we had her party on Saturday (May 27),” said Pastor Jairus Winfrey of Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church. “There are three living generations of college graduates. And we’ve got a fourth generation coming up in school. I think Mother is most proud of that.”

Mrs. Winfrey, a retired educator from (the legacy Memphis City Schools) still presides over the Greater Mt. Zion Missionary Society.

Her memory and articulation are

Jannie Louise Rucker Winfrey is the proud matriarch of three living generations of college graduates. Her rule is, “If you are in this family, you are going to finish college.” She turned 103 years old on May 23. (Courtesy photo) as sharp and exact as they ever were, Pastor Winfrey said.

“Mother continues to be quite effective as president of the Missionary Society. I want to allow her to hold that office for as long as she is

able. I promise you, Mother is the busiest 103-year-old you ever saw.”

Mrs. Winfrey reads and writes all day, according to family members.

She relishes a time when people communicated through letters.

Sending and receiving mail from friends and family is a major delight for her.

“You should see the penmanship,”

SEE 103 ON PAGE 2

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The New Tri-State Defender

June 1 - 7, 2023

Page 2

NEWS

At Tuesday’s meeting, members of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Commissioners were repeatedly criticized for the ban on five activists. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

BAN

CONTINUED FROM FRONT “We are not allowed in the meetings. We are not allowed in the committee work sessions. Decorum is for people who are heard. Decorum is for people who are listened to.”

Spriggs said the contention started with the group’s objection to how the search for a new superintendent was being conducted. She accused the board of being secretive and keeping the public in the dark.

One supporter denounced the process for allowing the interim to become a candidate for superintendent.

“The very nature of the interim, first and foremost, is that he or she does not want the job,” said a woman, hold-

103

CONTINUED FROM FRONT said Pastor Winfrey. “It looks like calligraphy. It’s art. Those who receive a note from her cherish it. They save it like a rare treasure because it is.”

Winfrey said family history reaching back into the days of slavery might have something to do with his mother’s strength and longevity.

“Mother’s family is from Rutherford County (Tennessee),” said Winfrey. “That’s Murfreesboro. We still have 60 acres of land, and the house is still there. We keep up with the taxes and take care of the property, but no one has lived in the house since Mother’s sister, Annie, died.”

Winfrey told an intriguing story of the family’s past in Rutherford County.

According to family lore, their ancestors were enslaved in that same area. Inside the house is a photo of Jannie

SOUL

CONTINUED FROM FRONT was magical,” said Johnson.

“There was something so special about seeing these women, considered “local artists,” on this big, amazing stage, and the audience dancing…That’s what we want to recreate for this year’s show.”

KJ Management is an entertainment agency, specializing in event production, among other creative offerings.

“Keia and I really connected during the production of the second show, and I knew I needed her artistic energy on and off stage for this year’s show,” said Brown.

Johnson added, “I love to create experiences. Women of Soul will feature a house band, led by Deveraux Williams, with background singers, rhythm section, horns, dancers, lighting – I want people to remember how they felt when they were here.”

MSCS President Althea Greene found this protest sign on her car after the meeting. (Photo: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell/The New TriState Defender) Attendees at the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board meeting. ing a “No Ban” sign. “They not only let this interim become a candidate, but she was allowed to continue serving as

the schools’ superintendent.

That was just wrong.”

MSCS Chief Security Officer Carolyn Jackson said

district officials are trying to meet with the activists to bring some resolution.

Jackson said the five were

Winfrey’s grandmother, who was called Mary Lawrence.

Mary is notably posing with one arm behind her back. That is because her owners cut off her hand after she was accused of stealing.

The family doesn’t know the circumstances about what she allegedly stole. However, numerous stories of slaves taking extra food to feed their children are documented. But the family has no confirmation of details.

Mary Lawrence came from somewhere in North Carolina and ended up in Rutherford County, possibly sold further south as punishment for her alleged theft.

After Emancipation, the family stayed in Rutherford County. Ms. Jannie’s father was Council Rucker, a sharecropper. Her mother, Fannie Rucker, worked alongside her husband in the field and took in washing and cleaning jobs from white families.

“My grandmother, Fannie,

raised white children along with her own, working every kind of job she could for her family,” said Pastor Winfrey.

“There were three daughters: Annie, Jannie, and Bertha.

Council Rucker sent all three to Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College (now Tennessee State University).

All three graduated, and all three did well.”

Council Rucker is legendary in the family because of where he took his family. Through the years, he acquired 60 acres of land. According to the family, Rucker would dress in a suit and go down to the courthouse and observe proceedings.

He gained the respect of both African Americans and white citizens of Rutherford County for this practice.

Mrs. Winfrey is the oldest, living graduate of Tennessee A&I, according to her family.

Annie graduated in 1943; Jannie finished in 1948, and Bertha graduated in 1950.

Two of the daughters be-

came educators, but Bertha became head dietician at Meharry Medical College for many years.

While at Tennessee A&I, Jannie met her future husband, Wesley James Augustus Winfrey at American Baptist College, which still operates in Nashville.

They married two years after graduation. In 1949, the family moved to Shelby County, where Ms. Jannie taught in Memphis schools for 38 years.

“The Winfreys” had two sons and one daughter, Angela. One of Mrs. Winfrey’s great heartbreaks was the death of Angela in 2007. Angela had earned a doctorate in neuropsychology.

“We don’t speak of Angela’s death, even today,” said Pastor Winfrey. “It was just so traumatic for our family, especially for Mother.”

Wesley James Augustus Winfrey II, Ms. Jannie’s other son, is an accountant.

Children born into the fam-

Johnson continued, “… I wanted to give extremely talented women an opportunity to be on a stage they might not have been on before, and to honor Black Music Month with these SOULful artists who ALL have original music.”

Johnson provided a quick snippet on each artist: “Zsa Davis is a newer singer to Memphis but soulful and brings a fresh sound.

“Adajyo is a female group, which we don’t see all the time. Their harmonies are so intricate. They sing background a lot, but this is their chance to take center-stage.

“Katrina Anderson is not new to the city but does a lot of corporate and private shows. You might know her as previously part of BB King’s Allstars and the legendary Barkays.”

Artists featured in the first show in 2020 were Karen Brown and D. Monet, and the second in 2021 featured Rollyne’ Anderson, Tonya Dyson,

and Keia Johnson.

Among other artists considered were Wendy Moten, Stefanie Bolton, and Talibah Safiyah, all of whom were unable to participate due to unforeseen circumstances (like “The Voice”).

The co-curators hope that Memphians walk away with a new appreciation for Memphis music.

“Memphis is recognized as a music city all over the world, but many local artists don’t feel the local embrace,” said Johnson.

“We hope people leave having seen and heard the professionalism we all possess. We want them to leave lighter, kinder, feeling love and loved, and proud …”

(Tickets are $49, plus fees and are available at orpheum-memphis.com, Ticketmaster.com or by calling the Orpheum box office (901-5253000). For more information, visit orpheum-memphis.com.)

identified and banned “for their disruptive action and violation of rules.”

Board members were shown the May 9 video, but at least one thought the bans went too far.

Commissioner Frank Johnson said, “Not all of the activists participated with the panic alarms.”

Commissioner Kevin Woods said anyone banned should receive written notice and the opportunity to appeal the action.

Greene and Jackson will meet to devise a timeline for setting safety policy revisions that also will protect the right of individuals to speak.

On Wednesday (May 31), Greene said Jackson informed her that meetings with two activists would not be taking place.

“I was told that a meeting with two of the activists would not be happening,” said Greene. “They do not want to meet at this time. Our security officials will continue reaching out.”

Jannie Louise Rucker Winfrey, 103, with her son, the Rev. Jairus Winfrey, pastor of Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church. (Courtesy photo) ily understand at an early age that they will attend college, Pastor Winfrey said.

Mrs. Winfrey is looking forward to her 104th birthday party, according to Pastor Winfrey.

“And I’m not even kid-

ding,” he said. “She’s got to have something to look forward to. Maybe that’s the secret of a long life – always looking forward to some upcoming event. Anyway, it works for Mother.”

The New Tri-State Defender

June 1 - 7, 2023

Page 3

NEWS

“It’s scary. It’s emotional to even think about how I could’ve lost my son because I was trying to get help.”

— Nakala Murry

Officer who shot an unarmed 11-year-old boy in his home should be fired, family attorney says

by Emily Wagster Pettus Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. – An 11-year-old Mississippi boy who called police to help his family and then was shot by an officer said the bullet that pierced his lung felt “like a big punch to the chest.”

“I actually thought I was about to lose my life,” Aderrien Murry told “Good Morning America” in an interview that aired Tuesday.

The shooting happened May 20 in Indianola, a town of about 9,300 residents in the rural Mississippi Delta, about 95 miles (153 kilometers) northwest of Jackson.

A d e r r i e n ’s mother, Nakala Murry, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Indianola, the police chief and the officer accused of shooting her son. The lawsuit, which Aderrin seeks at least $5 Murray million, says Indianola failed to properly train the officer and the officer used excessive force.

Nakala Murry asked her son to call police about 4 a.m. when the father of one of her other children showed up at her home, Murry family attorney Carlos Moore told The Associated Press last week. Moore said the man was irate and Nakala Murry felt threatened.

Nakala Murry said during a protest at Indianola City Hall last week that her son is “blessed” to be alive but he does not understand why an officer shot him.

Attorney Carlos Moore said Indianola, Miss. Police Department Sgt. Greg Capers was improperly trained, used excessive force and must be terminated after shooting 11-year-old Aderrin Murray, who called police to help his mother. (Photos: Screen capture, Associated Press) Moore said two officers went to the home and one kicked the front door before Nakala Murry opened it. She told them the man causing a disturbance had left the home but three children were inside, Moore said.

Moore said Nakala Murry told him that Sgt. Greg Capers, who is Black, yelled into the home and said anyone inside should come out with their hands up. Moore said Aderrien, who is also Black, walked into the living room with nothing in his hands, and Capers shot him in the chest.

“I came out doing this,” Aderrien told “Good Morning America,” holding both hands up. He said he was bleeding from his mouth after he was shot, and he remembered singing a song: “No weapon formed against me shall prosper ...”

Aderrien Murry was hospitalized five days for a collapsed lung, lacerated liver and fractured ribs, Moore said.

“It was God that saved my life,” Aderrien told “Good Morning America.” “And I truly, truly believe that.”

Nakala Murry said during a protest at Indianola City Hall last week that her son is “blessed” to be alive but he does not understand why an officer shot him.

“I never thought anything like this would happen” Nakala Murry told “Good Morning America.” “It’s scary. It’s emotional to even think about how I could’ve lost my son because I was trying to get help.”

Indianola City Attorney Kimberly Merchant confirmed to The Enterprise-Tocsin newspaper in Indianola

that Capers is the officer who fired the shot. An Indianola Police Department communications supervisor, Kedric Wash, told AP on Tuesday that the department is not commenting on the shooting while it is under state investigation.

Moore told AP last week that Indianola officials have suspended Capers with pay during an investigation into the shooting. Moore and Nakala Murry have called on the Indianola Police Department to fire Capers.

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation announced it is examining the shooting, as it does most shootings involving law enforcement officers in the state. Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bailey Martin said last week that the department would not comment on the investigation as it continues, and MBI agents will share their findings with the state attorney general’s office.

PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, June 1 - 7, 2023, Page 4

Championing a community effort to improve 3rd-grade reading scores

by Curtis Weathers

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

TCAP scores are in, and I must say the excitement has never been greater.

This time, however, the performance of our third graders is at the center of all the attention.

Just in case you haven’t heard, our legislature upped the ante two years ago when it passed an extremely controversial piece of legislation called the Third Grade Retention Law. The bill, T.C.A. 49-6-3115, requires any third-grade student who does not achieve grade-level proficiency on the English Language Arts portion of the TCAP exam to be retained unless the student can meet specific criteria.

I’m no fan of this legislation but let me share with you a small bit of history that is somewhat related.

In February 2016, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) convened a group of stakeholders from across the state to discuss achievement in our school systems.

Tennessee’s stagnant and disappointing third-grade reading scores were at the top of the agenda.

Before they departed, legislators set an ambitious goal that at least 75 percent of third graders would be proficient readers by the year 2025.

Tennessee has implemented several initiatives over the years, including Response to Instruction and

Intervention (RTI2), Read to be Ready, Reading 360, and now this 3rd Grade Retention law, all aimed at helping school districts meet this ambitious Curtis goal.

Weathers The emergence of the COVID pandemic intensified existing concerns and has made the challenge all the more difficult.

It has now been seven years since the original call to action, and we are still significantly short of the original goal of 75 percent.

This year only 40 percent of third graders statewide and 26 percent in Memphis Shelby County Schools scored proficient on the reading portion of the state TCAP assessment.

We know that systematic change takes time, but we have yet to find the right combination of strategies to address this critical issue in our school systems.

Academic, emotional, and social issues abound for children who are struggling readers. Children behind their peers in reading wrestle with feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Low achievement in reading also is the common denominator in school discipline, attendance, dropout prob-

This year only 40 percent of third graders statewide and 26 percent in Memphis Shelby County Schools scored proficient on the reading portion of the state TCAP assessment.s lems, and juvenile crime.

Keep in mind that children don’t outgrow learning and thinking challenges by just repeating a grade.

They may not do better at all unless there are new, specific interventions in place.

When students are held back because they’re struggling to learn, more of the same kind of teaching does not help.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools, however, has put in place reasonable and fair pathways and alternatives that provide opportunities for students to stay on course as far as their reading improvement and grade-level status are concerned.

It will require, however, a little more time and effort on the part of students and their families, which seems reasonable, and fair given the circumstances.

As we stand today, third graders who scored below proficient in reading were able to retake the TCAP assessment online up to 48 hours after receiving their results.

Parents of students who did not meet score requirements after the retake can submit an appeal online to the Tennessee Department of Education between May 30 and June 13.

If a student does not retake the test and score proficient or if a parent does not submit an appeal, those students will need to attend the Summer Learning Academy for at least 90 percent of the sessions.

At the end of summer learning, students must retake the TCAP reading test again and score at least five percent better on the test to move on to the fourth grade.

But given all the commotion around this issue, wouldn’t it be great if we could rally the entire Memphis-Shelby County Schools community (businesses, organizations, churches, colleges, universities, for example) around the improvement of third-grade reading scores?

It would be an enormous undertaking around what is one of the most important performance indicators in K-12 education.

The question becomes, do we have the wherewithal as a community to take on such an enormous task? I think so!

It would require an unprecedented effort by both the community and the school system, but it is well worth a try.

We could recruit volunteers to help teachers create and implement student support plans for children who may have been held back or who are identified as struggling readers.

Imagine, if you will, tutoring sessions at libraries and community centers staffed by volunteers (i.e., high school seniors and college students looking for ways to score volunteer points and/or meet graduation requirements).

We could create a support network via ZOOM and other online services, where parents can log their children in and receive free reading support services.

We could also recruit businesses and organizations to provide volunteers and incentives for children who participate in reading support programs and who meet certain performance goals.

Some elementary schools already have adopters who visit their schools on a regular basis. Why not focus their time and resources on thirdgrade reading support?

How about getting our churches involved by asking them to provide reading support services to the youth in their congregations and making a commitment to ensuring that third graders in their church are proficient readers?

We could go on and on with suggestions. But this is an opportunity to bring our community together around a worthwhile and doable pursuit.

I think we should give it a try.

(Follow me, TSD’s education columnist, on Twitter @curtisweathers.

Email me at curtislweathers@gmail. com.)

‘I’m not a reader,’ says Fla. parent who had Amanda Gorman’s poem removed from school

by Angela Johnson theroot.com

Last week, we told you about a Miami-area parent whose complaints about Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb,” caused its removal from a local elementary school. Now, that parent is admitting to what the rest of us already knew to be true – she didn’t read the damn thing.

According to the Miami Herald, the pissed-off parent, Daily Salinas, is the mother of two students at Bob Graham Education Center, a K - 8 school located in Miami Lakes. Salinas expressed her complaints about the poem Gorman read at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, along with other children’s titles, “The ABCs of Black History,” “Cuban Kids,” “Countries in the News: Cuba,” and “Love to Langston” for including

“references of critical race theory,” “indirect hate messages” and “gender ideology and indoctrination,” according to the Florida Freedom to Read Project.

In a May 24 interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Salinas was asked about her book challenges as well as antisemitic content found on her Facebook page, including a disturbing post with a list of steps for how “Jewish Zionists” would achieve world domination, including “Replace royal rule with socialist rule, then communism, then despotism,” and “Sacrifice people (including Jews sometimes) when necessary.”

In the interview, Salinas, who says she has a deep opposition to communism, due to her Cuban heritage, admitted she hadn’t read her questionable post beyond the word “communism.” She also noted that English

Amanda Gorman recites her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” during the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. (DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II) is not her first language.

“I see the word ‘communism,’ and I think it’s something about communism,” she said. “I didn’t read the words.”

“I want to apologize to the Jewish community,” Salinas added. “I’m not what the post says. I love the Jewish

community.”

When it came to Gorman’s poem, however, Salinas was far less apologetic but she did use the same “I didn’t read it” excuse.

“I’m not an expert,” she admitted in the interview. “I’m not a reader.

I’m not a book person. I’m a mom

involved in my children’s education.”

But despite all of the challenges, Gorman’s poem has plenty of supporters. Students at Gorman’s alma mater, Santa Monica, California’s New Roads School, read the poem at a school-wide rally.

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The New Tri-State Defender

June 1 - 7, 2023

Page 5

NEWS

The Rev. Keith Caldwell

Historic Centenary UMC’s new senior pastor is a prominent Nashville native

by Sheryl Allen Huff NNPA News Service

NASHVILLE – The Rev. Keith Caldwell, a Nashville native, is a longtime grassroots community organizer who, through years of working at the intersection of Race and Poverty across the Southern Region, organically emerged through the ranks to become a civil rights leader who served as the president of the Nashville Branch–NAACP during the organization’s 100-year commemoration in 2018.

Caldwell now has been appointed to serve as Senior Pastor to Centenary UMC (United Methodist Church) in Memphis by Bishop William McAlilly of the Tennessee / Western Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church. Centenary is a legacy church that was the site of nonviolence workshops and mass meetings under the pastorate of the Rev. James Lawson during the Civil Rights Movement.

As an undergraduate, Caldwell attended The American Baptist College and earned his Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He serves as Senior Pastor at the Historic Seay Hubbard UMC in South Nashville. It is a congregation that has been a community pillar since the time of American Reconstruction.

Seay Hubbard began as Hubbard Chapel. The church shares a distinct history with Meharry Medical College and Hubbard Hospital. Hubbard Chapel started with an attendance requirement for all medical students.

The school’s president, Dr. George Hubbard, insisted that students be spiritually grounded as they lived out the school’s motto, “Worship of God Through Service to Mankind.”

Rev Caldwell will continue to work on justice issues statewide through his work on the passage of Medicaid Expansion with the Tennessee Justice Center. He also works across the state through the Tennessee African-American Clergy Collaborative.

(Originating source: The Tennessee Tribune.)

People come from as far away as Collierville, Arkansas and Mississippi to patronize the teen-operated business. (Courtesy photos)

Pastor Ricky Floyd builds on youth-entrepreneurial focus

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Pastor Ricky Floyd at Pursuit of God Transformation Center recently purchased the remaining space of the strip mall across from the church.

“Our teen boys are going to work this summer,” said Floyd. “We need more space for the ever-expanding business ideas.

“We want our young men to experience the joy of working with their hands as they build financial independence. We want to change the narrative of our community. Thank God, it’s working.”

Floyd has an ample and eager work force in “The Husband Institute,” a Pursuit of God outreach to young boys and teens in the community.

“Many of our boys are formerly homeless, classified as ‘special needs’ in school, in and out of Lakeside,” said Floyd. “But the power of addressing ‘fatherless-ness’ is undeniable.

In the Husband Institute, they experience the benefit of loving, Godly, and compassionate father-figures, who work every day to see them succeed.”

For years, Floyd has worked to see that young men in Frayser break the cycle of gang life and criminality.

“God has a way out,” said Floyd. “And if things are done God’s way, the best possible outcomes will happen. I want our young men to speak differently and think differently.

“Involving them in actual business transactions can open up a world of dreams for them. They can imagine themselves as heads of businesses. We’re building ‘Black Wall Street’ right here in the Frayser Community.”

Floyd says the blueprint for operating, successful businesses is kept simple and easy for a young person to understand.

“You provide a service or some goods in

In addition to building young men trained to care for families, The Husband Institute is nurturing entrepreneurs and budding businessmen, who say they are building a “Black Wall Street” in Frayser. exchange for a specified cost,” said Floyd.

“Working directly in one of these businesses can inspire the idea for starting another business. We encourage our young men to identify their talents and gifts. That’s the first step in operating your own enterprise.

“Pursuit of God is training them for financial independence. They will develop into men who can take care of their family.”

Christian Elisha Wright, 17, will be a senior at Power Center Academy this fall. He was named MVP of Track and Field this past year. Wright just launched his own business.

“The name of my business is ‘No Cap Teen Fitness,’ and it is going incredibly well,” said Wright. “I started it with a partner, who I met at the Husband Institute. We develop fitness plans on our website.

“These plans are designed for each person, according to their needs. It is a business run totally online. We thank God for how well it

is going.”

After graduation, Wright says he will be working to expand his business. He will delay going to college for a while.

“When I go to college, I will be able to pay my own way,” said Wright.

According to Floyd, Pursuit of God is running its own version of summer youth crime prevention.

“We are not neglecting our girls and young ladies,” said Floyd. “They have the ‘I Am She’ organization, which teaches them what they need to know about growing up into respectable and accomplished young women.

We want all our children busy. We make them accountable for everything they do, every decision they make. Pursuit of God is changing the trajectory of these young people.”

Floyd said the business mall across from the church is bustling every weekend because there is a supportive community that believes in what is happening.

“Our teens just became the youngest Crumpy’s franchise owners,” said Floyd. “The Crumpy’s food truck is making big dollars because everybody loves chicken wings. The car wash is doing phenomenal business as well.

“But we have the community to thank.

And people come from as far as Collierville, across the bridge from Arkansas, and from Mississippi to support our efforts here in Frayser. We thank God for everyone.”

One youngster has fallen in love with the retail business.

“I will be going to the 11th grade at Raleigh-Egypt High School,” said Cailen Crump. “I work at the Regroup Upscale Thrift Boutique on the weekends, and I absolutely love it. When I graduate, I want to attend Life Christian University. I want to be a minister.”

Life Chrisitian University is a Pursuit of God institution. The church is located at 3759 N. Watkins in the Frayser community.

The New Tri-State Defender, June 1 - 7, 2023, Page 6

Jet cover, July 28, 1977 (ebony.com)

Jet cover, November 1978 (ebony.com)

Tina Turner’s 1978 Memphis shows were Fred Jones Jr.’s business Karanja A. Ajanaku kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com

Eight performances in four days at a Memphis hotel, where the co-headliner is one of 1978’s hottest comedians and tickets are $12.50 per show. Pencil in Tina Turner as the other star and who wouldn’t want to travel back in time.

For Summitt Management Corporation President Fred Jones Jr., founder of the Memphis-based Southern Heritage Classic, the trip back is a memory. He was there and made it happen.

When word of Tuesday’s death of the incomparable Tina Turner reached him, Jones, like millions in myriad parts of the world, was jarred into reflection.

“We lost another one,” Jones recalls as his first thought, meaning a megastar around which circled memorable aspects of one’s own life.

“I remember I was in a meeting and looked down at my phone and (it) said Prince had died. It was like ‘whoa.’”

Such was his reaction to learning about Tina Turner.

“She was the real deal,” he said. “There was no question about the talent and the ability to bring that talent to the stage and make people really want to hear and see you all over the world.”

Introduced to the world as “Tina Turner” in July 1960, the artist born Nov. 26, 1939 in Nutbush, Tennessee, and named Ana Mae Bullock, had freshly stepped into the solo phase of her multi-layered career when she took the stage in Memphis in 1978. She appeared with comedian David Brenner at the Hilton, at Democrat Rd. and Airways Blvd., for a run of shows from June 22nd through June 25th.

Three months earlier, her divorce from Ike Turner, with whom she had achieved stardom as the duo Ike and Tina Turner, had been finalized. She had filed the previous July after Ike Turner’s well-chronicled assault in a Dallas motel.

“This is one of the first shows that she did solo,” said Jones.

“The thing about that I remember, not only about that show, but the shows of Tina Turner … when he (Ike Turner) picked her, she was the talent. … Every time that you would see them right through the time that she decided to go solo … and in 78 (when) she played the show in Memphis … to the time when she hit the really big time, all the shows were consistent. … She was always good.”

Jones was in a position to know and make such an evaluation. His business put him there as he worked with some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars in Memphis and throughout the country.

The most successful of his multi-year run of shows at the Hilton had been the first -– Lou Rawls and Nancy Wilson headlining in 1977. “We sold out in advance. All eight shows sold out in advance.”

Circling back to Tina Turner, Jones said, “I think for me, a person who has been around this stuff for a while, people who came out of that era … performing is what they did.

And, they did it at the highest level.

“You very rarely see them not at their best. … And they

Summitt Management Corp. President Fred Jones Jr. keeps track of the myriad shows he has produced, including this ledger entry noting Tina Turner’s run of solo shows June 22-25, 1978 at the Hilton at Democrat at Airways. The founder of the Southern Heritage Classic, Jones is shown here speaking at the 2018 Coaches Luncheon.

(Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender Archives)

were a staunch believer that the show must go on.”

He provided a case in point.

“I remember doing a show with Ruth Brown years later.

‘Baby, I, I just can’t make it. I can’t.’ “‘Ladies and gentlemen, Ruth Brown.’ Man, the cane goes up in the air, she hit that stage and she was like a dynamo. But they all came out of that era. They all did the same thing. They all really had a mindset about doing the show and looking good and making a great presentation.

They were always good,” he said.

“And that’s what Tina did. So, from the years (of) Ike and Tina Turner to the years when she decided that she was going to retire, she always gave a good show.”

Still, said Jones, “When she came to the Hilton nobody (knew) what it was was going to be like without Ike being there, but she gave them what she’s always given them – a great show.”

As she did, Jones focused on his business, not even taking a photo with the icon now being remembered as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

“For me, being in this business has always been about the business. So, I was always making sure that things were the way they were supposed to be. It wasn’t until years later that I even took a picture with artists. …

“But see, with her, like everybody in that era, once they said, ‘We going to do this show and the show going to get started at eight o’clock, and we going go do (this),’ they were ready to go. They were all pros. … And she put on a show. … Everything about that show in 1978 was what you got with Ike and Tina Turner without Ike.” Jones had seen her year earlier as part of Ike and Tina Turner when he made his way into the old The Hippodrome, a one-night stand, Blacks-only concert venue at 500 Beale Street that Mary and “Big Foot” Johnson had evolved from an old skating rink. It was a stop on the “The Chitlin’ Circuit tours” and some consider that “the launch pad for Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

In 1984, Turner shifted into yet another gear of stardom following the May 29th release of “Private Dancer,” her fifth solo album. It was accelerated into production following the acclaim for Turner’s 1983 cover of Memphis-based Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.”

All of that was of particular significance to Jones. He had Turner set to appear in Downtown Memphis at a revamped Orpheum Theater.

That February 1984 show was slotted into a week of shows that featured a tribute to the legendary Nat D. Williams (the first black radio announcer in Memphis when he began broadcasting for WDIA in 1948), James Brown and The Manhattans, BB King and Albert King, Z.Z. Hill and J. Blackfoot and Gladys Knight & The Pips.

“The day that ‘Let’s Stay Together’ came out, Al Green’s cover, Tina’s people called me and said she couldn’t make the show,” recalled Jones, adding that Z.Z. Hill got sick and also could not perform.

“So, my only time playing Tina Turner was back in ’78 at the Hilton (in Memphis). … The beauty of all of this for me, I was a part of it. And looking back, I was a part of a lot of history-making moments.”

The New Tri-State Defender

June 1 - 7, 2023

ENTERTAINMENT

Page 7

REVIEW

‘The Little Mermaid’ is way too good to be sunk by negativity

by Destiny Alexis Royston Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The live-action movie of the 1989 animated classic “The Little Mermaid” premiered in London on May 15 with the stars, including Halle Bailey, Jonah-Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, meeting fans on the blue carpet.

The long-awaited film took on another level of anticipation in 2019 when it was announced that African-American singer, songwriter and actor Halle Bailey would portray the rebellious Princess Ariel.

Disney had pre- Destiny Alexis Royston viously announced that classic animated films would receive a live-action adaptation, and fans looked forward to seeing their childhood cartoons transform into reality.

However, as word spread that the adaptions would include changes in the race of some key characters, social media was set ablaze with comments for and against.

“As long as the actress plays the character naturally and can sing, it doesn’t matter to me what race they are. Especially for this film since race isn’t an important part of the story,” said Michelle, who watched the mother with her two kids during the early access viewing of “The Little Mermaid” in Memphis.

While “The Little Mermaid” nearly sold out at the early access showing at the Paradiso and made $38 million on the opening day worldwide, some continue to hurl negatives, including racist backlash.

Leading up to the premiere of the movie, racist memes and jokes surfaced online and depicted the lead actor as “a ghetto mermaid.”

Although many fans of the original 1989 movie are displeased with the live-action adaptation, it seems just as many have

Four years after it first was announced, Halle Bailey stars as the rebellious Princess Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.” (Photo: 2019 when Halle Bailey, singer, and songwriter, was first announced as being casted as the rebellious Princess Ariel.

(Photo: twitter.com/thelittlemermaid)

Eagerly awaited, “The Little Mermaid” brought $38 million on the first day of its release. (Photo: twitter.com/thelittlemermaid) looked forward to watching the movie, purchasing the merchandise, and supporting Bailey.

“It’s very ironic that people have made fun of her (Halle Bailey) because the entire plot of the movie is about a girl who wants to be part of a world she is fascinated by,” said Eren, who viewed the movie with his friends at the Paradiso.

“Halle Bailey auditioned for the role, sang and acted perfectly. She earned the role.”

In an interview with the Los Angeles

Times, Director Rob Marshall said, “She (Bailey) was the first person we saw for this role, and she set the bar so high….

“When she sang, you got a deep understanding of what it is that Ariel wants, you believe that the stakes are high, and you just root for her to succeed.”

At the London premiere, Bailey posed for photos with young fans who saw themselves in her.

Her ethereal voice gave fans a hint at what was in store in the movie when she

sang, “Part of Your World” as the magical visuals appeared behind her on stage.

The movie takes viewers on a colorful, fun, and beautiful tour of life in the sea.

I watched the movie on the early access night with my boyfriend, Ralphael Burks, and we both enjoyed every moment.

Burks, who isn’t usually a fan of live-action adaptations, said the film was entertaining and noted that the additional songs added to the film were catchy.

The audience erupted into cheers and clapping during the opening scene and the credits.

For me, the most memorable scene was at the end, when all the mermaids in the sea said farewell to Ariel and her newfound love, Prince Eric.

The mermaids, unlike in the original movie, represented different races and ages. Everyone deserves to see themselves in their favorite character, regardless of the tripe from racist, Internet trolls.

“It was like I was a kid again,” Eren said after the movie. “I had the same feelings watching the live-action as I did when I first saw the original movie growing up.

“And this time, everyone is part of Ariel’s world.”

(Destiny Alexis Royston is a former City of Memphis Youth Services MPLOY intern for The New Tri-State Defender and now is a periodic contributor.)

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, June 1 - 7, 2023, Page 8

District 86 early-voting underway for Special Primary Election TSD Newsroom With three location options, eligible voters in House District 86 can now cast early-voting ballots for the Special Primary Election set for June 15.

The early-voting window opened on Friday and will be open through June 10.

Two candidates, Rep. Justin Pearson and David Paige, and educator, are competing in the Democratic Primary for the seat long held by the late Rep. Barbara Cooper.

No candidates qualified for the Republican Primary. The Democratic Primary winner will face Jeff Johnston, a little-known independent candidate, in the General Election on Oct. 5. Write-in candidates can file until June 14.

District 86 extends from the Mississippi state line to Millington and unincorporated northern Shelby County.

It has been a winding road to this latest Special Election. Cooper was the oldest-serving state legislator when she died Oct. 25 at 93. She was posthumously re-elected to the seat in the Nov. 8 general election and had represented the district for 26 years.

In January, Pearson easily emerged from a field of 10 candidates to capture the Special Election Democratic Primary. With no Republican Primary challenger, Pearson’s election was assured and the Shelby County Commission then appointed him to represent the district on an interim basis.

In early April, Pearson and fellow representatives Justin Jones of Nashville and Gloria Johnson of Knoxville faced expulsion by the Republican-controlled state House after a House-floor protest pushing for gun-control legislation in the aftermath of the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.

Johnson narrowly survived. Pearson and Jones were expelled, only to be reappointed by local government bodies pending special elections.

Along the way, the trio rocketed to national fame and wide-spread acclaim.

“Once again, we have a unique situation in District 86,” said Linda Phillips, Administrator of Elections for the Shelby County Election Commission. “But, like any election, we cannot assume the outcome, and we must manage it according to all applicable laws.”

The Special Election will cost $400,000, with the state of Tennessee covering the cost, said Phillips.

Paige ran unsuccessfully for the Memphis-Shelby County School Board last year. In an online pitch for his District 86 candidacy, Paige describes. himself as an “educator for 25+ yrs, Westwood Neighborhood

Justin Pearson (r) speaks outside of the Vasco A. Smith Jr. County Administration Building after the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted to appoint him back to Nashville. He is being challenged in the House District 86 Special Election Democratic Primary by educator David Paige. (Pearson Photo: William Weeks/ The New Tri-State Defender Archives) (Paige: Social media photo) Association (President), community activist, and personally trained by Rep. Barbara Cooper.”

Explaining why he is seeking the seat, Paige gives this online answer: “We need someone with the determination to stand out in the crowd when it comes to taking care of the needs of the constituents of District 86.”

An environmental activist, Pearson built name recognition and goodwill within the district as a co-founder of Memphis Community against the Pipeline, which opposed the Byhalia pipeline.

The ill-fated project would have cut through neighborhoods in Southwest Memphis. Pipeline opponents

said the proposed pipeline would risk contaminating the Memphis Sand Aquifer, the city and region’s main source of fresh drinking water.

After winning the Special Election Democratic Primary in January, Pearson said, “I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors and the great Representative Barbara Cooper, who served … with integrity and strength for 26 years. I hope to continue her legacy of servant leadership…”

Here are the early-voting locations and hours: (For more information, visit Shelbyvote.com; electionshelbytn.gov; call 901-222-1200.)

With the assistance of school administrators, Frayser-area students voiced their support for a long-awaited new high school for Frayser. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New TriState Defender)

The fourth Memphis People’s Convention 2023 Mayoral Candidate Meet & Greet was held at the Levitt Shell. The Rev. Dr. Earle J. Fisher confers with the five attending mayoral candidates State Rep. Karen Camper, Memphis City Councilman Frank Colvett, Downtown Memphis Commission President Paul Young, businessman J.W. Gibson and Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board Commissioner Michelle McKissack. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)

Next mayoral meet & greet headed to Whitehaven TSD Newsroom The fifth in a series of Memphis People’s Convention 2023 Mayoral Candidate Meet & Greet opportunities is set for Saturday (June 3) in Whitehaven.

Spearheaded by the Rev. Dr. Earle J. Fisher and #UPTheVote901, the fifth session will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1215 Southland Mall.

The four previous meet and greets

were held in South Memphis, Orange Mound, North Memphis and Midtown.

The sessions are part of building momentum for the Memphis People’s Convention, which is scheduled for July 13th-15th.

Meanwhile, Fisher’s pitch to eligible voters is to “be sure to demand that candidates seeking office (mayor, city council, etc.) prioritize meeting directly with citizens where they are.”

Frayser-area students take change-agent stance in support of a new high school

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Among the ways to measure maturity is taking a stand for a future better than the present and that was the collective posture of Frayser-area students, who recently made a public pitch for a new high school.

The Trezevant High School Library, 3350 N. Trezevant St., was the setting last Friday (May 26) for a student-led press conference powered by students from Trezevant and Frayser Community Schools. With the fate of funding for a proposed new Frayser-area high school in the hands of the Shelby County Commission, the students shifted into an advocacy mode.

“Having a good school in Frayser would encourage students and change perceptions about this community,” said Rickey Wright, a student-athlete, who plays baseball. “It would mean we won’t have to go outside our school to have access to some programs, such as STEM and culinary arts.”

Talk of a new school for the Frayser area goes back several years. In April, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris announced that a proposed, multi-year increase in capital spending would include funding for a new high school in Frayser. He has encouraged area residents to let the

county’s commissioners know of their support.

Rising freshman Terrion Taylor, also a student athlete baseball player, layered his “passionate about our community” support with ground-level details. “…As an athlete, I have gone to other schools that had better equipment. Better equipment for me means I don’t have to put down dirt on the field,” he said.

“I have gone out of town, and these schools have had equipment with batting, pitching, outfield, and base-running. We don’t have any of those things. Our equipment is makeshift. We have to make it ourselves.”

While administrators helped organize the event, the essence of it clearly belonged to the students.

“We have been talking about these students being change agents for the future,” said Trezevant High Principal Corey Kelly, who is retiring this year. “Although they will probably not be the ones to go into the new school, they will have been agents of change for those generations coming after them.

“These words are their words.

They wrote them without our input so everyone will know how they feel about getting a new school.”

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board Commissioner Stephanie Love, who represents the area, left

no doubt about her support for a new high school in Frayser.

“Of course, I will be advocating for a new school this year,” said Love. “Why not Frayser? We want the same level of education for our children that they have in Collierville – the same facilities, the same access to programs, equipment, books.

“Why should our children have to go outside of this community to get a quality education?”

Kelly, who has been principal at Trezevant for six years, would like to see funding granted for a new high school as he makes his exit.

“There are 2,250 students zoned for Trezevant High School,” said Love. “A little over 500 actually attend, grades 9-12. Trezevant is the most ‘transferred out’ school in the district.”

A new Frayser-area high school is tabbed as an $80 million project that would mesh the student bases of Trezevant High School and the old Frayser High School, now MLK Prep – one of three schools (along with Westside Middle and Humes Middle) that operate under the Frayser Community Schools umbrella.

Alex Turner, a Westside Middle School student, said a new high school would mean he could stay in his community and “pursue (my) dreams of becoming an astronaut and engineer.”

The New Tri-State Defender

June 1 - 7, 2023

NEWS

State now accepting 2023 Families First Community Grant Program Applications Approximately $30 million will be made available to non-profits TSD Newsroom The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has opened applications for the 2023 Families First Community Grant Program, an initiative that will make available approximately $30 million in funding to non-profit organizations providing direct services to strengthen Tennessee families in need and promote self-sufficiency.

Qualifying non-profit organizations are invited to apply here through July 7 at 5 p.m. CST. “We’re extending an invitation to eligible nonprofit organizations to unite with us in pursuit to expand supportive services to families in Tennessee that generate positive, sustainable outcomes. We believe that together we can make a profound difference in the lives of those who need it most,” said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter.

“Through community partnerships TDHS we can ensure that all state residents have an opportunity to reach their full Commissioner Clarence H. potential as contributing members of Carter our community, and together, we can build stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger Tennessee.”

The Families First Community Grant program was created as an additional method to invest TANF funds in ways to provide assistance to low-income families and help them move towards sustainable economic stability. The grants will support a wide range of services in the areas of education, health and well-being, economic stability and fostering safe, stable, and nurturing relationships.

The grant recipients will be selected through a competitive application process and evaluated based upon their ability to provide effective services and programs that address the specific needs of the community.

TDHS encourages all community-based, nonprofit organizations ready to play a central role in the design and implementation of programs that address the unique problems of low-income families in their communities and fosters at least one of the federal TANF goals to submit an application for a Families First Community Grant.

The department is focused on partnering with organizations that can provide family-focused solutions that demonstrate measurable impacts designed with the goal of transforming Tennessee’s safety net by growing the capacity of vulnerable families to self-sufficiency and economic prosperity.

“We’re extending an invitation to eligible nonprofit organizations to unite with us in pursuit to expand supportive services to families in Tennessee that generate positive, sustainable outcomes.”

— TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000807 Laundry Equipment.

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 I000807 DUE DATE THURSDAY, JUNE 29th, 2023 AT 2:00 PM CST (SB-I000807) LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/701153141 You can also dial in using your phone.

(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)

United States: +1 (571) 317-3122 - One-touch: tel:+15713173122,,701153141# Access Code: 701-153-141 VOLUNTARY PRE-BID MEETING – A voluntary pre-proposal meeting to address questions will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. (CST) at 201 Poplar Avenue, Jail front lobby (Detention Lobby), Memphis, TN 38103 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 TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000820, Purchase of Toner Cartridges, Printer and Fax. 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 I000820 DUE DATE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28th, 2023 @2:30 PM (CST) (SB-I000820) Purchase of Toner Cartridges, Printer and Fax (Purchasing) 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: Iris Ferguson Tax Parcel #: 0330430000004C Tax Sale #: 603 Price Offered: $1,125.00 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

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attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:00 a.m. on June 29, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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: Iris Ferguson Tax Parcel #: 0740340D000860 Tax Sale #: 1901 Price Offered: $3,500.00 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 10:30 a.m. on June 29, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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

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an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Larry Williams Tax Parcel #: 06016300000010 Tax Sale #: 1702 Price Offered: $2,400.00 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 June 29, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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: Iris Ferguson Tax Parcel #: 0740340D000160 Tax Sale #: 1602 Price Offered: $$3500.00 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 9:30 a.m. on June 29, 2023, 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.

Page 9

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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: Iris Ferguson Tax Parcel #: 06900400000990 Tax Sale #: 1102 Price Offered: $$1,900.00 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 June 29, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 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: Ryan Smith Tax Parcel #: 04508100000150 Tax Sale #: 1803 Price Offered: $4,000.00 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 1:30 p.m. on May 23, 2023, 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 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

The New Tri-State Defender

June 1 - 7, 2023

NEWS

LENS & LINES

Pot Liquor – a culturally rich celebration of Southern Soul Food’s culinary heritage Special to The New Tri-State Defender Pot Liquor – a cultural storytelling event – added its essence to the legendary Slave Haven Museum in Uptown Memphis last Sunday (May 28th).

A celebration of foods from African ancestors incorporated elements of culture, cuisine, education, entertainment, and community engagement.

Pot Liquor-goers were treated to live demonstrations and savored com-

plimentary pot liqour and candied yam cornbread made from the harvest of Black Seeds Urban Farms. There were culinary offerings from Charlotte & Pickens and cultural exhibits, with the musical backdrop provided by DJ Juice.

The food was curated by Camille James and Charlotte & Pickens.

Family and friends – some spread out on blankets that they brought for the outing – enjoyed the authentic celebration of African culinary heritage.

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

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