The New Tri-State Defender - July 6-12, 2023

Get TSD news, online anytime at TSDMemphis.com

July 6 - 12, 2023

VOL. 72, No. 27

www.tsdmemphis.com

State law changes restrict trans health care; fund more school safety

by Kimberlee Kruesi and Jonathan Mattise NASHVILLE (AP) – Months after Tennessee lawmakers finished a chaotic legislative session, many of the most hotly contested laws took effect on July 1, including measures on health care for transgender children, police oversight, school safety and teacher pay.

The new fiscal year began July 1, keying the implementation of the latest state spending plan and a slew of new statutes.

This year, hundreds of laws were passed by the state’s GOP-controlled General Assembly and signed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who has yet to veto a bill.

But the most hectic portion of the monthslong legislative session oc-

curred in the spring, when two Democratic lawmakers were expelled – and another avoided expulsion by just one vote – for participating in a protest seeking stronger gun control laws on the state House floor. After a shooting in March that killed six people at a Nashville school, protesters renewed their call for lawmakers to limit gun access.

Ultimately, Republican lawmakers refused. Instead, the debate will continue at a special session scheduled for later this summer.

In the interim, here’s a look at some of the notable laws that took July 1.

LGBTQ+ rights Increasingly, the Republican-dominated Legislature has enacted some of the most anti-LGBTQ+ bills in

$1.00

Dear Top-Tier Superintendents – an openletter on behalf of the ‘Citizens of Memphis’

by Curtis Weathers

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The doors of the state House of Representatives are open on the first day of this year’s Tennessee General Assembly session.

(Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender Archives) the country. This year, the first proposal introduced by lawmakers was a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Still, a federal judge blocked part of the ban before it takes effect. The ruling in the lawsuit prevents the state from enforcing a ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors, and the state is appealing the decision. The judge, however, allowed the ban on gender-affirming surgeries for youth to take effect.

The law includes a nine-month phase-out period for medical treatments that began before July 1, but no new treatments will be able to start. It requires existing treatment to end by March 31, 2024. Health care providers who violate the ban would be subject to regulatory discipline and could be sued by the attorney general or private parties. Violations carry a $25,000 penalty.

SEE LAWS ON PAGE 2

Summer Camp Showcase Spectacular …

Forty young people from the Memphis Black Arts Alliance’s SPARK and DREAMERS Camps were featured in its Summer Camp Showcase Spectacular at the Memphis Music Room, 5770 Shelby Oaks Drive, on July 1. (Photo: William Weeks/The New Tri-State Defender). For related photos, See Community, Page 8.

It looks like Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) will be restarting its search for a new district superintendent.

The process has been so conCurtis voluted that it is Weathers hard to imagine any top-tier superintendent be- Affirmative ing interested in Action: a place with such One step forward, turmoil.

So, I thought two steps I’d stick my nose back. See in the process Perspective, and write a letter Page 4 to all top-tier superintendents, who now may be having second thoughts about applying for the position.

Dear Top-Tier Superintendents, You are probably aware that our school system, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, is in the process of searching for a new superintendent.

You may also be aware that there has been some degree of turmoil surrounding the search process that might make you and other top-tier candidates hesitant about tossing your hat into the ring for consideration.

Our school board can be a little dysfunctional at times (but they mean well), which is why we need someone exceptional, like yourself, to lead our school district.

I just want to take a moment to share with you why you should still be interested in the job despite the negativity that has overwhelmed the search process thus far.

First, Memphis is a vibrant community with a rich history in music, the arts, civil rights, and food (emphasis on food). The city is also

SEE MSCS ON PAGE 2

Mississippi high court to weigh in appointing judges in majority-Black Jackson, the capital city

by Emily Wagster Pettus Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Supreme Court will hear an appeal Thursday as some Jackson residents try to revive one of the lawsuits challenging the appointment, rather than the election, of some judges in the capital city – and the top justice will not take part in the hearing.

Chief Justice Mike Randolph has

recused himself from considering the appeal because he said he does not want to prolong the case.

The Jackson residents originally named Randolph as a defendant in the lawsuit because the chief justice is required to appoint five judges, under the law that the suit is trying to block.

Randolph objected to being sued, and a chancery court judge removed him as a defendant. In Randolph’s recusal order on the appeal, he wrote

Monday that he is neutral about the constitutionality of the law, which is the central issue in the lawsuit.

“But absent recusal, the Chief Justice’s participation risks prolonging the ‘circus’ and allowing a sideshow to overshadow the center-ring attraction,” Randolph wrote.

He wrote that his decision to step aside on this appeal should not encourage lawyers to sue judges.

“Just suing a judge does not mandate his recusal,” Randolph wrote.

The Legislature passed a bill this year to expand the territory of the state-run Capitol Police department inside Jackson. The bill, signed into law by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, also creates a new court inside Jackson with a judge appointed by the chief justice. And it requires the chief justice to appoint four judges to serve alongside the four elected circuit court judges in Hinds County, where Jackson is located.

Most judges in Mississippi are

elected, and opponents of the new law say the majority-white and Republican-controlled Legislature is usurping local autonomy in Jackson and Hinds County, which are both majority-black and governed by Democrats. Supporters of the new law say they are trying to improve public safety.

In May, Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas dismissed

SEE JUDGES ON PAGE 2

Get TSD News, announcements and special promotions in your email! visit TSDMemphis.com to sign up, or scan the code at right!

The New Tri-State Defender

LAWS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT Meanwhile, a separate law will define “male” and “female” in a way that prevents transgender people from changing their driver’s licenses or birth certificates. The bill passed, despite warnings that Tennessee could risk losing hundreds of millions of federal dollars because they likely violate federal regulations on sexuality and gender identity, but Republican lawmakers dismissed the concerns.

Police oversight The handful of community oversight boards in Tennessee, including one in Nashville that has been approved by voters, will soon be replaced with review committees with no power to investigate police misconduct allegations. Under the new law, the committees can only refer complaints to law enforcement internal affairs units, rather than independently investigate the complaints.

Advocates of the need for police accountability have pointed to the killing of Tyre Nichols, who died in April after a brutal beating by five Memphis police officers.

Gun laws The Nashville Christian school shooting in March reignited a debate over Tennessee’s relaxed gun laws. Republican lawmakers have largely resisted calls to restrict access to firearms. Starting July 1, they are deploying $232 million to fund school resource officers and make security upgrades in public and private schools, as well as require every school to develop annual safety plans.

After the shooting in March, lawmakers approved more protections for gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers and sellers from potential lawsuits. The move

MSCS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT home to a number of Fortune 500 companies and is a major center for healthcare, transportation, and logistics.

We are a city on the rise, the economy is growing, and we want our education system to be able to support the growth and future aspirations of those who live and work in our great city.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools is the largest school district in Tennessee, more than 150,000 students enrolled, and the 25th largest school district in the United States.

But please know that the challenges that await the person chosen to lead our school system are enormous.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools is a large and complex district that faces a number of challenges related to student achievement, equity, and socioeconomic disparities.

The city of Memphis has a poverty rate of 24.2 percent (according to 2022 Census data) while child poverty is 32.7 percent, and we have one of the highest crime rates in the nation.

These factors have a direct impact on the educational environment in our schools.

We recognize that challenges like these can be daunting for even the most experienced superintendents.

But if you’re someone who truly wants to make a difference in the lives of young people and a community, then

sparked outcry from Democrats and others who urge reform of gun laws. Republican supporters, however, said the bill aims to help businesses in the state’s booming firearms industry.

Tax breaks and incentives Officials approved a variety of tax breaks and incentives, including: $273 million for a three-month sales tax holiday on groceries; more than $150 million in annual tax breaks aimed mainly at small businesses; and $350 million for improvements at sports venues in Memphis.

School changes Republicans passed legislation to ban Tennessee public schools and universities from requiring employees to learn about implicit bias in trainings. In recent years, they have placed restrictions on how teachers and professors can talk about race in K-12 classrooms and college campuses.

Paid family leave A new bill to fund six weeks of paid leave for teachers and most state employees following the birth or adoption of a child. The law doesn’t include limitations about the parent’s gender.

Unions and teacher groups Two new laws target unions and a professional teachers group.

One law blocks economic incentives for companies, when unions try to use the simpler “card-check” method to unionize. The legislation includes an exception for a big Ford project that will build electric pickup trucks and manufacture batteries with a South Korean partner company. Ford has stopped short of offering explicit support for

Memphis may be the ideal place for you to pursue your dreams.

We are looking for someone who can stabilize our school system and move it forward, not someone who wants to use this position as a steppingstone to greater opportunities.

We’ve had six superintendents over the last 20 years; the average duration of their stay is just over three years.

We need someone who can create a dynamic vision for our school system and our community and is willing to stay the course until that vision is realized.

We’re looking for someone who can inspire an organization, who can foster a positive and inclusive work culture, promote innovation, and implement effective educational strategies that benefit students and educators alike.

We have some of the most talented teachers and administrators on the planet who are in great need of dynamic, forward-looking, stable leadership.

Our teachers and students need someone who can lift their spirits and appreciate their accomplishments.

If you are an individual who is passionate about educational equity and social justice, Memphis-Shelby County Schools is the place for you.

We need someone who can effectively address these issues head-on and help make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and their families.

Oh, did I mention the fact

July 6 - 12, 2023

Page 2

NEWS

union membership at the new plants. The company has said it’s up to workers to decide.

Another law would ban deductions from educators’ paychecks by professional teacher organizations, which is the main method of collecting membership dues. The change has been temporarily blocked in court. The law backed by the governor targets the Tennessee Education Association, which filed the lawsuit and has butted heads with Lee on previous education initiatives, including his school vouchers program.

The law also gradually raises the minimum teacher salary for the 2026-2027 school year to $50,000, which left some lawmakers conflicted in their support for the pay hike. The Tennessee Education Association asked the judge to keep the pay raise and to block the limitations on dues collection.

Nashville airport A new law supported by the Republican-led Legislature will let state leaders pick the majority of board members for Nashville International Airport, a move seen as one of many state attacks on the liberal-leaning city in recent years.

The board, named the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, previously included seven members selected by the mayor. With the change, six combined appointments on an eight-member board will be made by the governor and House and Senate speakers.

City officials sued over the change.

Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration told city officials that the agency will continue to recognize the mayor-appointed airport board until a chancery court judge rules on the lawsuit.

In response to the FAA, attorneys for the airport authority said it must follow state law and, barring court action, will seat the reconstituted board on July 1. that we compensate our superintendents extremely well in Memphis?

The salary of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent is in line with the salaries of superintendents in other large, urban school districts.

Our last superintendent had an annual salary of almost $300,000 per year. I’m sure the salary you will receive will be comparable.

Memphis is a city with many challenges, but it is also a community with enormous potential just waiting to be unleashed.

You will have a chance to shape the future of education here in our great city and effect positive change on a significant scale for years to come.

It is our hope that top-tier superintendent candidates like yourself will step forward and take the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of students, families, and an entire community.

If you are that person, please introduce yourself to the Memphis community by applying for this incredibly challenging but immensely rewarding opportunity. We look forward to meeting you in the very near future.

Sincerely, ‘Citizens of Memphis’ (Follow me, TSD’s education columnist, on Twitter @ curtisweathers. Email me at curtislweathers@gmail. com.)

NNPA notes award-level work of the TSD TSD Newsroom The New Tri-State Defender finished third in the category of Youth & Children at the 2023 National Newspaper Publisher Association Fund’s Messenger Awards, which was hosted June 28-July 1 in Nashville.

More than 200 newspapers compete nationally each year for NPAA Messenger Awards.

The New Tri-State Defender, which was founded the first week of November 1951, is a longtime NNPA member. The TSD was represented by Calvin Anderson, the company’s board president, and Associate Publisher/Executive Editor Karanja A. Ajanaku.

During the convention and via video from the White House, President Joe Biden thanked the NNPA and the Black Press of America.

“With every story you pub-

JUDGES

CONTINUED FROM FRONT the lawsuit days after he removed Randolph as a defendant. Thomas wrote that the appointment of judges does not violate the Mississippi Constitution.

The plaintiffs are asking the Mississippi Supreme Court to overturn Thomas’ order and revive their lawsuit.

A separate lawsuit filed by

Karanja A. Ajanaku, associate publisher/executive editor of The New Tri-State Defender, accepts an NNPA excellence award for coverage of Youth & Children.

(Courtesy photo) lish, you make our democracy stronger,” said Biden.

“So thank you for what you

do and for turning the light of truth wherever your work leads you.”

the NAACP challenges the appointment of judges and the expansion of the state police role in Jackson, arguing that the law creates “separate and unequal policing” for the city compared to other parts of Mississippi. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate has temporarily put the law on hold, and he also removed Randolph as a defendant in the federal suit.

Last week, Wingate also blocked a related law that

would require people to receive permission from state public safety officials before holding protests or other gatherings near the Capitol, the governor’s mansion or other state government buildings in Jackson. Wingate wrote the law is vague and could have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights, particularly for people who want to demonstrate against government actions.

The New Tri-State Defender

July 6 - 12, 2023

Empowering the local workforce We’ve invested nearly $100 million in workforce development. Alongside hundreds of other employers and community partners, we’re increasing the talent pipeline by helping our neighbors get the skills and experience to build careers that support families and fuel our economy.

Here in Memphis, we’re investing in our community by investing in people’s futures. I’m proud of the work we’re doing to help train and identify talent for in-demand careers by contributing to local initiatives through employer and academic partners.

Trevia Chatman President, Bank of America Memphis

Learn more at bankofamerica.com/memphis

What would you like the power to do?®

Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Credit Opportunity Lender © 2023 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Page 3

PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, July 6 - 12, 2023, Page 4

“We came here to exclude the negro.

Nothing short of this will answer.”

— President of the 1890s Mississippi Constitutional Convention

African Americans carry a casket down the street under a banner reading “Here Lies Jim Crow.” (Photo: Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-35358.)

Supreme Court allows Mississippi Jim Crow-era voting law to continue

by Jessica Washington Theroot.com

The Supreme Court has been pumping out a steady stream of life-altering decisions on everything from LGBTQ+ rights to affirmative action. But there’s one case that didn’t make it onto their docket that’s worth a deeper look. On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Mississippi’s Jim Crow-era felony voting provision, meaning the provision will be allowed to continue.

Before we dive into the court’s decision, it’s worth giving some background on the felony voting provision and why it’s so controversial. In the 1890s, Mississippi adopted a constitutional provision barring people convicted of specific felonies from voting. The catch, lawmakers went out of their way to choose nine felonies they believed Black Mississippians were more likely to commit.

And you don’t have to take our word for it; in her dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson included a pretty damning quote from the President of the 1890s Mississippi Constitutional Convention. “We came here to exclude the negro. Nothing short of this will answer,” he said.

Despite the pretty obvious racist intent behind the voting provision, the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the Fifth Circuit ruling allowing the practice to continue. The Supreme Court argued that Mississippi had remedied the provision’s racist intent by altering some of the disqualifying crimes.

As it stands, the list of felonies includes crimes such as perjury, murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under

TSD education columnist Curtis Weathers says the Supreme Court’s landmark decision striking down affirmative action admission policies on the college level is “a terrible mistake” that will, once again, bring the greatest suffering to the “most disadvantaged.”

Affirmative Action: One step forward, two steps back

by Curtis Weathers

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

false pretense, embezzlement, bigamy, and forgery.

Unsurprisingly, Jackson, who was joined

by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, didn’t buy her Jessica colleague’s arWashington gument. “So, at the same time that the Court undertakes to slay other giants, Mississippians can only hope that they will not have to wait another century for a judicial knight-errant,” wrote Jackson. “Constitutional wrongs do not right themselves.

With its failure to take action, the court has missed yet another opportunity to learn from its mistakes.”

The voting rights of people convicted of felonies have been controversial nationwide, and race is an undeniable thread in all of these cases. A 2022 report from the Sentencing Project found that roughly 10 percent of Black adults in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia are disenfranchised due to felony convictions.

There have been other cases pushing back on these laws. Last week, attorneys from the ACLU of Virginia, Protect Democracy, and WilmerHale sued Virginia over its felony disenfranchisement law. The plaintiffs argue that it violates a federal law intended to stop Virginia from passing discriminatory voting laws. Although the fight against felony disenfranchisement took a major hit at the Supreme Court on Friday, no one seems ready to throw in the towel.

While growing up as a teenager, there was an expression used by my parents that has stayed with me my entire life.

When I would do something they disapproved of, they would say: “Son, why do you always take one step forward and two steps back.”

That seems to be where we are today concerning affirmative action in higher education.

We as a nation have made significant progress over the years, and suddenly, our U.S. Supreme Court tells us that what these institutions have been doing all these years has been unconstitutional.

Affirmative action refers to a set of policies and practices that aim to provide equal opportunities for historically underrepresented groups (women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities), particularly in the areas of education and employment.

It has been used to eliminate racebased discrimination against college applicants and increase diversity in student populations.

The Supreme Court last week struck down affirmative action admissions policies used by Harvard College and the University of North Carolina to increase diversity on their campuses.

Legal observers say that decision will have enormous consequences for higher education and could send ripple effects into corporate diversity programs as well.

Over the years, the Supreme Court has taken significant steps forward on affirmative action issues.

The court’s interpretation of affirmative action has evolved with changing societal attitudes and legal arguments, and future rulings may continue to shape its position on this issue.

In Regents of the University of California vs. Bakke (1978), the court determined that affirmative action was lawful, a ruling it has upheld multiple times, including in the 2003 case Grutter vs. Bollinger and the 2013 and 2016 cases Fisher vs. Uni-

versity of Texas.

In these decisions, white women claimed they were denied higher education admission because of their race.

I r o n i c a l l y, Curtis white women Weathers are the greatest beneficiaries of affirmative action policies and practices.

From college campuses to the American workplace, white women are more educated and make up a bigger slice of the workforce due to decades of affirmative action policies.

They also have made advancements into corporate leadership that people of color, particularly women of color, have not.

The decisions of the court in these latest two cases, Students for Fair Admissions Inc. vs. the University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. vs. President & Fellows of Harvard College, have basically reversed 45 years of legal precedent.

Justice Sotomayor, one of three dissenting jurists, noted that this decision “rolls back decades of precedent and momentous progress. It holds that race can no longer be used in a limited way in college admissions to achieve such critical benefits” and that “the Court cements a superficial rule of colorblindness as a constitutional principle in an endemically segregated society.”

Critics of affirmative action continue to argue that it is unfair to give preferential treatment to certain groups based on their race or gender.

One of the great benefits of attending college is the diversity of people one is exposed to during their college experience.

Interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds helps students develop interpersonal and critical thinking skills, empathy, and an appreciation for different perspectives, which can help them become more well-rounded.

Diversity, of course, has its chal-

lenges. Students who attend diverse colleges may be exposed to prejudice and discrimination, which can be frustrating and harmful.

They also may be faced with cultural norms and values that are different and can be difficult to adjust to.

The benefits of diversity, however, far outweigh the challenges.

In the final analysis, affirmative action is simply a way of correcting decades of unfair treatment of people of color in this nation and creating for them the necessary pathways to greater opportunities.

This recent Supreme Court decision will undoubtedly have a ‘chilling effect’ on students of color.

While affirmative action programs have helped to increase the number of students of color at selective colleges and universities, without these programs, it is likely that the number of students exposed to these opportunities will sharply decline.

Some of these students may be less inclined to apply to selective colleges and universities if they believe they could only be admitted with the support of affirmative action policies.

This could lead to fewer students of color attending these colleges, further decreasing diversity on these campuses.

That would be a most unfortunate outcome.

I am disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision, to say the least. It has made a terrible mistake, and once again, those who are the most disadvantaged will suffer the greatest.

Affirmative action has been a mainstay in America’s fight for equal opportunity for all and has stood as a mechanism for greater opportunity for so many who might have otherwise been ignored or cast aside.

It is important to monitor the effects of this ruling going forward. Because the ruling still is new, it is uncertain how admissions policies at colleges and universities will change.

We will be watching.

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

Email me at curtislweathers@gmail. com.)

Information • Inspiration • Elevation Published by Best Media Properties, Inc.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mailed subscriptions to The New Tri-State Defender are available upon request. One Year, $35.00; Two Years, $60.00. Request can be emailed to subscriptions@tsdmemphis.com or mailed to Subscriptions, The New Tri-State Defender, 1509 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104. Delivery may take one week.

President Calvin Anderson Associate Publisher/ Executive Editor Karanja A. Ajanaku

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The New Tri-State Defender, 1509 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Any and all inquiries may be submitted in writing by calling (901) 523-1818 or by email.

TELEPHONE: Editorial, administration, display advertising, classified advertising: (901) 523-1818. Fax: (901) 578-5037.

The New Tri-State Defender (USPS 780-220) is published weekly by Best Media Properties, Inc., 1509 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104. Second-class postage paid in Memphis, TN.

The New Tri-State Defender

July 6 - 12, 2023

RELIGION

Page 5

Judge awards Black church $1 million after BLM banner burned

by Proud Boys WASHINGTON (AP) – A judge has awarded more than $1 million to a Black church in downtown Washington, D.C. that sued the farright Proud Boys for tearing down and burning a Black Lives Matter banner during a 2020 protest.

Superior Court Associated Judge Neal A. Kravitz also barred the extremist group and its leaders from coming near the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church or making threats or defamatory remarks against the church or its pastor for five years.

“Our courage and determination to fight back in response to the 2020 attack on our church is a beacon of hope for our community and today’s ruling showed us what our collective vision and voice can achieve,” said the Rev. William H. Lamar IV, pastor of Metropolitan AME, in a statement from the church’s counsel on Saturday.

“While A.M.E. refused to be silenced in the face of white supremacist violence, that does not mean real trauma and damage did not occur – merely that congregants and the church have and will continue to rise above it.”

The ruling was a default The Rev. judgment issued after the William H. defendants failed to show Lamar IV up in court to fight the case.

(Courtesy Two Black Lives Matter photo) banners were pulled down from Metropolitan AME and another historically Black church and burned during clashes between pro-Donald Trump supporters and counterdemonstrators in December 2020.

The destruction took place after weekend rallies by thousands of people in support of Trump’s baseless claims that he won a second term, which led to dozens of arrests, several stabbings and injuries to police officers.

Metropolitan AME sued the Proud Boys and their leaders, alleging they violated D.C. and federal law by trespassing and destroying religious property in a bias-related conspiracy.

“The attack against Metropolitan A.M.E. was an attempt to silence the congregation’s voice and its support for Black life, dignity, and safety. It represents just the latest chapter in a long history of white supremacist violence targeting Black houses of worship,” said Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, in the church counsel’s statement.

“These attacks are meant to intimidate and create fear, and this lawsuit’s aim was to hold those who engage in such action accountable.”

Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, of Miami, publicly acknowledged setting fire to one banner, which prosecutors said was stolen from Asbury United Methodist Church.

In July 2021, Tarrio pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor criminal charges of property destruction and attempted possession of a high-capacity magazine.

He was sentenced to more than five months in jail.

Tarrio and other members of the Proud Boys were separately convicted of seditious conspiracy charges as part of a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a desperate bid to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 presidential election.

Back in stride …

Greater Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church recently returned to its sanctuary at 2070 Chelsea Ave. after frozen pipes forced a shutdown of in-person service there in February. The host pastor is the Rev. Jairus Winfrey, who welcomed the guest speaker, the Rev. Michael Moore. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New TriState Defender)

LEGACY: Osbie Lee Howard Jr. …

The life of Osbie Lee Howard Jr., a former City of Memphis treasurer and a local politico, who played prominent roles as Memphis initially elected African Americans to serve as the Ninth Congressional District representative and mayor of Memphis, was celebrated at Serenity Funeral Home, 1638 Sycamore View Rd., on July 1. Howard, who died on June 19, was 80.

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

The New Tri-State Defender, July 6 - 12, 2023, Page 6

NEW MUSIC

Killer Mike of Run the Jewels performs at the Reading Music Festival in England, Aug. 28, 2022. The Atlanta rapper recently released “Michael” – his first solo studio album since 2012. (Photo: Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP/File)

Q&A: Killer Mike talks grandmother’s influence, comparing himself to Wolverine, new album ‘Michael’

by Jonathan Landrum Jr. Associated Press

put out four classic records. I think Run the Jewels accomplished that. Over the course of a decade, we forged away and created what I would say is arguably the greatest rap group active today.

LOS ANGELES – It might have taken Killer Mike a decade to offer a solo music project, AP: Where did you learn to become outspoken for important causes? but the rapper hailing from Atlanta has certainly KILLER MIKE: I was shaped because my grandkept his amplified voice active.

As a member of Run the Jewels, Killer Mike, along with producer El-P, pumped out four critically acclaimed albums. He made noise outside of music as a social-political activist who has spoken out against inequality for Black people, race relations and became a vocal supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.

The Grammy-winner hosted Netflix’s “Trigger Warning with Killer Mike,” a 2019 documentary series about issues that affect the Black community. He also made an emotional plea to calm a protest against police brutality that turned violent in Atlanta.

Now, Killer Mike wants to offer an extension of his efforts with the recently released “Michael,” his first solo album since 2012. He calls his sixth studio offering an audio movie about a “prodigal son” filled with church, soul music and Southernisms.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Killer Mike talked about his grandparents’ influence, comparing himself to Logan — aka Wolverine — from X-Men, and the reason elected officials should be leaned on more than him.

The rapper is about to kick off his 19-city tour on July 10, before he and El-P goes on a four-city Run the Jewels tour to celebrate their 10th anniversary in the fall.

AP: Why compare yourself to Logan?

KILLER MIKE: Logan was gruff as a defense mechanism, and he loved hard. He went hard for his people.

He could heal quickly. He was resilient. At first, it was just bones, and it was pain. That’s not all my life. But as a Black man in America, we can identify with that character.

You can identify with Logan.... I was always attracted to that character. A lot of times, we get looked at as indestructible – whether it’s playing sports, being an advocate or being a martyr for a cause. I just wanted to show that I’m a human being. I’m flesh and bones under here.

AP: Why did it take more than a decade for you to release a solo album?

KILLER MIKE: You set a goal. You’re one half of what you feel could potentially be one of the greatest rap groups ever. If you see it through and you and your rap partner set a marker that in order to be an official rap group, you have to do like the groups that you looked up to — from EPMD, Outkast and Led Zeppelin. You got to

mother was active. I didn’t have a choice but to be active.

It’s like flying home from a tour with Rage Against the Machine to testify on behalf of small Black club owners.

It may seem strange. But if you grew up in Atlanta in my neighborhood, that’s what you’re supposed to do. You show up on behalf of your community.

AP: Should you be the primary voice on political and social issues?

KILLER MIKE: I’m not prostituting myself for every social campaign. We have a group of people who are qualified to do that. You have an amazing amount of people doing the work on an everyday basis that you should be following and reaching out to. I’m not here to replace them. Attorney Benjamin Crump is out there doing a noble job like Johnnie Cochran. We need to be standing with him. We don’t need to try to replace him.

I am simply trying to make sure that I help to mobilize those that are actually organizing on a daily basis. We have organizers that deserve to be followed. As athletes and entertainers and common people, we should be making sure they have a platform to do that — more so trying to be the next one.

AP: Would your grandmother be proud of how far you’ve come?

KILLER MIKE: She’d be proud. She used to say “That’s my grandson, Killer Mike.” I imagine her somewhere with her ancestors or with her sweet white Jesus saying, “That’s my grandson.”

AP: What do you want people to take away from “Michael”?

KILLER MIKE: Listen to this with your eyes closed from start to finish. I guarantee you’re going to feel something. You’re going to see the characters come to life before you. You’re going to see the smell. You’re going to see the sights. I sent the album to Jay-Z about a year ago when it was still unfinished. He sent back “I loved it!!” He said it felt like I had went to my aunt’s house and watched a movie. Your aunt will let you watch the movies your momma won’t. I was very flattered by that compliment.

I hope others take the chance to participate in listening.

AP: What lessons were ingrained into you?

KILLER MIKE: I’ll give you what my grandfather gave me: Take care of yourself and your sisters. Don’t embarrass yourself, me and your grandmama’s name.

Build a family name that you don’t want to embarrass.

Build goodwill in your community on a hyperlocal level. And lastly, he told me don’t embarrass Black people.

That meant to be noble and honest. I’m sincere in the things I do. I’m not a prostitute. I’m not selling myself out for issues. I’m not selling myself out for clout. I’m sincere in the things I’m about. All I ever wanted to be was an emcee. God gave me what I wanted. Everything I’m called to be in addition to that, I consider just a repay on the promise that God gave me. It’s my way of repaying and showing thanks and gratitude for what my ancestors and God have given me.

AP: You’re a co-founder of Greenwood, a majority Black and Latinx-owned bank. How’s business been going since it launched in 2020?

Killer Mike: It’s growing with over 100,000 accounts now. I’m excited to have ventured into helping people get out of the industry of payday loans and into real accounts. I’ve been happy when I walk into a store and someone says, “Mike, I’m going to buy you a water. I’ve got my Greenwood card.” That’s absolutely amazing.

From a business perspective, my wife and I want to expand. We want to expand the Swag Shop barbershop. We have three locations including one in State Farm Arena.

On a homebound basis, I hope to help Frederick Douglass High School, my alma mater, to continue to be a school that produces great leaders. I want to be a cornerstone in my own community.

Listen to this with your eyes closed from start to finish. I guarantee you’re going to feel something. You’re going to see the characters come to life before you.

The New Tri-State Defender

July 6 - 12, 2023

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Black Folk’ has the feel of a ‘living, breathing’ story

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

At least you won’t have to move.

You keep telling yourself that, ever since the boss decided to downsize this year, workplace and all: a reduced staff and work-from-home options means a smaller office and big change, which is fine with you.

In the new book “Black Folk” by Blair LM Kelley, your ancestors never had it this good.

In the years immediately following Emancipation, former slaves were shut out of nearly every job other than domestic and sharecropping and they “still faced circumstances almost as degrading as those of slavery.” Hoping for better lives, Black workers first headed from farm to big city, in the hope of landing good jobs.

“My work as a historian has always begun with the stories of my ancestors,” says Kelley and she opens this book with an angry man, his son, and the story of Henry, who was “born in bondage” and ultimately became a blacksmith. Kelley admits that she doesn’t know much about Henry’s earliest life but in adulthood, he became a voter and “he was part of a community” – something that Kelly “found time and again” had given “Black folks (a) sense of self.”

Like many Black women in the 1920s, Sarah Hill was a washerwoman hired to launder white folks’ clothes. It was an honorable job, one of the few available to Black women, but while it didn’t pay well, it paid enough for Sarah to put a little money aside. It allowed her some control over her own life then.

Callie House helped washerwomen organize. Cottrell Dellums belonged to an organization of Black Porters. As a young

teenager, Minnie Savage was “near the front of a grand exodus north” when she snuck away from her parents home. To her great irritation, Minnie could only find domestic work in Philadelphia. And after Blair LM moving north, HartKelley ford Boykin landed a job but his past kept returning to him.

“From his mother, Hartford learned that Black freedom was precarious.”

Remember how totally dry your high school history books were?

Yeah, this is nothing like those.

“Black Folk” lets readers get to actually know people who lived a century ago or more. It’s like being carefully handed a living, breathing story to hold.

In using her own family tree as a launching point, author Blair LM Kelley lends detail to tales she’s heard all her life and knows well. This is no small thing: it assures readers that there’s authenticity inside every anecdote, that they’re not told with guesswork but with real first-hand knowledge.

Alongside that, Kelley uses her experience as a historian to show how her ancestors represent most of the Black working class between roughly 1865 and 1940, and how their journeys were like so many others in the Great Migration.

On this, readers will be happy that both men and women stand tall here.

This is one of those books that’s meant to savor, to explore and enjoy. For historians and anyone who had a Great Migration ancestor, reading “Black Folk” is a good move.

“Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class”

by Blair LM Kelley c.2023, Liveright $30 338 pages

Page 7

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, July 6 - 12, 2023, Page 8

LENS & LINES

Closing the show with a bang!

The Music Room at 5770 Shelby Oaks Dr. was the venue as the Memphis Black Arts Alliance hosted its Summer Camp Showcase on July 4th weekend.

The camp finale, which was held last Saturday (July 1) featured African, Caribbean and Latinx story-telling, music and dance as well as a featured performance by gospel recording artist Sierra Ward-Pope.

The showcase spotlighted 40 young people from the SPARK and DREAMERS Camps.

(Photos: William Weeks/The New Tri-State Defender)

The New Tri-State Defender

NEWS

July 6 - 12, 2023

After Republicans expelled him, Rep. Justin Pearson raised $860K, says campaign

by Jonathan Mattise Associated Press

Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson raised about $860,000 through some 31,700 campaign donations after Tennessee Republican lawmakers abruptly moved to expel him and two other Democrats for a gun control protest on the House floor, his campaign said.

The short-lived expulsion propelled the Memphis environmental activist, a fresh face just months into his first term, to become a nationally watched progressive figure who sat in the Oval Office.

His quick fame translated into a wave of campaign cash largely because Republicans opened the door for Pearson and fellow expelled Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville to accept donations from across the country just when the spotlight centered on them. Had Republican lawmakers left the two young Black lawmakers in office, they would’ve been banned from raising cash because a legislative session was ongoing.

Instead, in just two months, Pearson attracted, through average donations of about $27, an amount of campaign cash similar to what the Republican House speaker raised all of last year and into early 2023 through his campaign and his political action committee combined.

The vast majority of Pearson’s haul — $814,000 — poured in during the week when he had been kicked out, but not yet reinstated.

“To see so much support, particularly from these tens of thousands of small-dollar donations, is a testament to what I believe is a people-powered movement, which is that we all have something to contribute, and our little bits of contribution makes a lot,” Pearson told The Associated Press.

The preliminary fundraising numbers Pearson’s campaign shared with the AP reveal just a partial picture of how much Democrats were able to capitalize after the Black lawmakers were expelled for protesting for GOP to pass gun control measures after the deadly shooting at a Christian school in Tennessee’s capital city.

Their white colleague who joined them in protest, Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, was spared by a single vote. Local officials reinstated Pearson and Jones within days.

The Jones and Johnson teams have yet to comment on how much they have raised.

Democrats have been relegated to

CLASSIFIEDS

THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER CLASSIFIEDS

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

DEADLINES: Display ads Friday 5 p.m.

Classifieds ads Monday 5 p.m.

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

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

GENERAL INFORMATION: Some categories require prepayment.

All ads subject to credit approval. The

LEGAL NOTICE Request for Statement of Qualifications MSCAA Project Number 23-1472-00 Rental Car Parking Garage - Design

Rep. Justin J. Pearson recently won the Democratic Primary in a special election for House District 86. He entered a watch party ready to celebrate. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender Archives) the superminority in both legislative chambers for years, limiting their recourse mainly to complaining when Republicans want to halt debates quickly, or waive other House rules. Pearson and other Democrats hope the fundraising wave can help them cut into that margin.

Kent Syler, a Middle Tennessee State University political science professor, said Pearson’s fundraising could have an impact, and given how very few competitive legislative districts there are in Tennessee — a net gain of even a few seats could be a win for Democrats.

“That amount of money is a testament to, really, how badly this issue went for House Republicans,” Syler said. “It gave Democrats an incredible platform in Tennessee that they haven’t had in a couple of decades.”

Pearson, Jones and Johnson have hit the national TV news circuit, visited President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House and made appearances outside Tennessee. Pearson was featured on a recent fundraising email pitch from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which helps elects state legislative Democrats nationwide.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, provided a significant assist. Murphy tweeted a link to a fundraising page in April, and his team said he helped raise more than $605,000 to split between Pearson and Jones.

By comparison, Pearson raised more than $144,000 for his early 2023 win to take office. Tennessee’s House Democratic Caucus,

Unlock Your

which spreads around its fundraising, raised nearly $233,000 over the 2022 election year into early 2023.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s campaign and his political action committee raised more than $830,000 combined in the 2022 election year into early 2023. Over that timeframe, the House Republican Caucus raised more than $448,000.

Reports thoroughly detailing the Democrats’ campaign cash hauls aren’t due until the middle of July, and with both Pearson and Jones heading into special general elections for their seats, only some of the money they have raised has been disclosed in required reports.

Those amounts don’t include the few days of fundraising around the expulsions.

Other Democratic fundraising groups could also benefit from the expulsions.

Pearson spokesperson Daphne Thomas said the $814,000 in donations that came in while he was out of office from April 6-April 12 was in addition to nearly $9,000 that came in from the end of legislative session on April 21 through May 2.

Additionally, Pearson raised more than $37,000 from May 2 through June 5, his special election campaign finance report shows.

For Jones’ special election, he raised more than $64,000 through more than 1,000 donations from April 21 through June 5, according to his campaign finance report. That does not include donations during the days between his expulsion and his reinstatement by Nashville officials on April 10.

Dream Home With A Chenoa Down Payment Assistance Program Up to 5% Assistance 600 Minimum Fico Scores

Contact Us Today P 901-758-1740 www.brightonbancorp.com NMLS# 892951 Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rate and program terms are subject to change without notice.

Page 9

Statements of Qualifications for Rental Car Parking Garage Design will be received by the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (Authority), Procurement Department, 4150 Louis Carruthers Road, Memphis, TN 38118, until 2:00 PM local time on August 3, 2023. The Information Package, including a description of the scope of services, the selection criteria, the required response format, and additional instructions may be obtained on the Authority’s website at www. flymemphis.com on or after June 29, 2023.

All Respondents are responsible for checking the Authority’s website up to the submission deadline for any updates, addenda or additional information. The successful Respondent must meet the DBE participation goal for this project, which is 26%, and sign a contract with the Authority that includes Federal Aviation Administration provisions, if applicable, regarding Buy American Preference, Foreign Trade Restriction, Davis-Bacon, Affirmative Action, Debarment and Suspension, and Drug-Free Workplace, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this request in whole or in part; to waive any informalities, technicalities, or omissions related to this request; and to reject responses on any other basis authorized by the Authority’s purchasing policies.

The Authority is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, disability, marital status, military service, or sexual orientation in its hiring and employment practices and in the admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services, and activities.

New Tri-State Defender reserves the right to correctly classify and edit all copy or to reject or cancel any ad at any time. Only standard abbreviations accepted. Copy change during ordered schedule constitutes new ad & new changes. Deadlines for cancellation are identical to placement deadlines. Rates subject to change.

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

THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER assumes no financial responsibility for errors nor for copy omission.

Direct any classified billing inquires to (901) 523-1818.

spective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on August 2, 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: Albert Ndzengue Tax Parcel #: 0250030000022C Tax Sale #: 1802 Price Offered: $3,000.00 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 9:00 a.m. on August 2, 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

By order of: Scott A. Brockman, A.A.E. President and CEO Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority

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: Albert Ndzengue Tax Parcel #: 02500300000210 Tax Sale #: 1802 Price Offered: $3,000.00 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 pro-

Wanna Subscribe?

Scan below! (registration required)

The New Tri-State Defender

July 6 - 12, 2023

Page 10

SPORTS

Penny Hardaway’s 2023-24 team of Tigers is taking shape

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

At the start of last week, the University of Memphis men’s basketball program had two important questions in need of answers: Who would play center for the 2023-24 team?

What is the status of incoming super freshman Mickey Williams?

The answer to the center question came via a recent announcement. It’s Terry Jordan Brown, Davis a Roseville, CA native and McDonald’s All-American out of Prolific Prep (Napa, CA).

Jordan – listed as 6’11” center – began his career at Nevada, where he was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year. He spent the next two seasons at Arizona, followed by two seasons at Louisiana. In 202021, Brown was voted Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 9.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game at Arizona.

Getting an answer to Williams’ status is a work in progress. He still faces charges for an incident involving a gun at a party earlier this year. The outcome of that case will determine if Williams will be with the Tigers for the tipoff of the season.

The Tigers have 12 players com-

In 2020-21, Jordan Brown was voted Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year.

This season he’s expected to start at center for the University of Memphis Tigers. (Photo: Twitter) UofM head coach Penny Hardaway (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New TriState Defender) mitted for next season and are still in the hunt to land Alabama transfer Jahvon Quinerly. Pending is star forward DeAndre Williams’ NCAA quest for another season of eligibility.

And, there is a slight chance that veteran center Malcom Dandridge will return for another run with the Tigers. Head coach Penny Hardaway has the wiggle-room option of taking his two sons off of scholarships.

The Tigers return to practice next week as they prepare for a three-game trip to the Dominican Republic from August 1-7. This will be Hardaway’s second international summer trip during his tenure at Memphis. The first was in 2018 with his first number

one recruiting class.

As the upcoming season’s roster takes shape, here is a look at players that will be working toward playing time: • Nicholas Jourdain, a 6’ 9” 215-pound center/forward, played in 74 games for Temple, including 40 starts, over his three seasons and tallied 427 career points (5.8 avg) and 320 rebounds (4.3 avg). He recorded 94 blocked shots (1.3 avg).

• Caleb Mills, the Florida State guard played at Houston before transferring to FSU. He finished his twoyear career at FSU as the Seminoles’ all-time leader in career free throw percentage with an 84.2-percent clip (171-203).

• In 2021-22, Mills led Florida State in scoring (12.7) and earned All-AAC second-team honors. As a Seminole, he started 54-of-58 games and totaled 745 points (12.8), 158 re-

bounds (2.7), 173 assists (3.0) and 82 steals (1.4).

• Johnathan Pierre, who is from Nova Southeastern (Florida), is a proven winner, having just won an NCAA Division II National Championship and compiling a 67-1 record over the past two years at Nova Southeastern, said Hardaway.

“On top of bringing his championship pedigree, Jonathan is an extremely intelligent, high character and hardworking young man that embodies all of our core values.”

In 33 games, Pierre scored in double figures 27 times and reached 20-plus on six occasions. He also recorded four or more assists in 16 outings and knocked down two or more threes in 21 games.

• Teafale Leonard joins the Tigers after playing the last two seasons at Middle Tennessee and will have two remaining years of. The 6-foot-8 wing

Home loans that fit you to a

Shopping for a home can be challenging. That’s why Trustmark makes it simple to apply online for pre-qualification, so when you find your dream home, you can move fast. It’s good to have one of the South’s leading lenders on your side. Learn more at trustmark.com.

The UofM Tigers have a commitment from highly-touted Mickey Williams, however an off-thecourt issue has his availability uncertain. (Photo: FoxLifeVisuals - https://www.foxlifevisuals. com/basketball-photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=91747883) averaged 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists as a sophomore for the Blue Raiders in 2022-23. He also tied his own program record with 50 dunks.

“Teafale is one of the most versatile two-way players in the country and will thrive in our pressure-filled, fastpaced style of play,” Hardaway said.

“He is a phenomenal athlete who is always in attack-mode and plays with a relentless motor and has the ability to change games on both ends of the floor. His unselfishness and team-first mentality are a perfect fit within our Memphis Tiger basketball culture.”

• Memphis has also signed David Jones (Texas Velley Christian), Jayholon Young (University of Central Florida), in addition to the five freshmen in the incoming class: Mickey Williams, J.J. Taylor, Ashton Hardaway, Carl Cherenfant and Ryan Forrest.