The New Tri-State Defender - July 20-26,2023

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VOL. 72, No. 29

July 20 - 26, 2023

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Consensus eludes Shelby County Commission in pursuit of new chairperson

by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

ty with health, education, Mauricio and other basic services.

Calvo He also serves on the boards of UnidosUS, Shelby Farms Conservancy, Hope Credit Union and We are Memphis.

A U.S. citizen, Calvo was born in Mexico and is the father of two children in MSCS schools.

Calvo replaces former school board member Sheleah Harris, who resigned in June after the other board members unanimously voted to relax job requirements for superintendent.

The changes allowed interim Superintendent Toni Williams, who lacks classroom experience, to stay in the running for the permanent position. Harris abstained from voting. Later, she claimed the superintendent’s

The task was to select a new chairperson and the Shelby County Board of Commissioners could not get it down after numerous rounds of voting failed to produce the needed seven-vote majority.

The stalemate on Monday (July 17) came despite Democrats holding nine seats on the 13-member commission.

The commissioners will make another attempt to choose a new chair during a special meeting scheduled for Aug. 7. The chair pro tempore will also be voted on. The start date for the one-year positions is Sept. 1.

Repeatedly, Commissioner Miska Clay-Bibbs Miska fell one vote short of the Clay-Bibbs seven needed to become the next commission chair.

She squared off against Republican Amber Mills, who netted four votes through nine rounds of balloting.

However, it was the members that abstained that doomed the votes to failure and highlighted a fissure running through the commission’s Democratic Amber and Black caucuses.

Mills All three members who held back – Edmund Ford Jr., Britney Thornton, and Erica Sugarmon – were critics of a meeting that yielded a $25 wheel-tax-increase compromise that eventually passed on June 28.

The voting pattern was temporarily broken on the sixth ballot, when Thornton was nominated for the chair. She netted the votes of fellow Black Caucus wheel tax foes Ford and Sugarmon, along with herself.

Proposed by Mayor Lee Harris in early June, the wheel tax increase is earmarked to cover the first five years of construction costs – $350 million – of a $1.6 billion rebuild of the Regional One Health hospital campus.

New high schools also will be built in Cordova and Frayser. The tax required nine votes to pass.

Yet, its passage wasn’t always guaranteed.

With votes going nowhere, Harris called a bi-partisan meeting on June 11 to save the centerpiece of his second term.

The meeting was attended by Republican commissioners Mick Wright and David Bradford, along with Democratic counterparts Chair Mickell Lowery and Clay-Bibbs.

While a compromise reduced the tax increase from $50 to $25, several Democrats on the commission said “misinformation” was spread during the meeting.

Thornton criticized the gathering for making “decisions” for the larger Democratic majority.

The commission’s other Democrats – Shante Avant, Charlie Caswell, Henri Brooks, Mark Whaley, Chair Mickell Lowery – voted for Clay-Bibbs.

Prior to Monday’s votes, Clay-Bibbs, the current chair pro tempore, highlighted her ability to work within the Democratic membership’s majority to accomplish larger goals, while casting Mills as an

SEE CALVO ON PAGE 2

SEE COMMISSION ON PAGE 2

New MSCS board member Mauricio Calvo observes rising fourth graders at a Summer Learning Academy at Shelby Oaks Elementary School, during a tour for board members and the media Tuesday. The summer academy is designed to help students boost their proficiency in reading and math. (Photo: Tonyaa Weathersbee/Chalkbeat)

Memphis-Shelby County Schools TCAP scores show modest gains

By Laura Testino, Tonyaa Weathersbee and Thomas Wilburn Chalkbeat Tennessee

Memphis-Shelby County Schools students gained some ground on state math tests, newly released test scores show, but they have yet to rebound to pre-pandemic proficiency levels.

In English language arts, where the district recouped pandemic era losses last year, scores stagnated.

Officials released the district-level results of

the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, known as TCAP, Tuesday (July 18) afternoon.

The gains for Memphis were much more modest than the previous year, when officials trumpeted a district “trending up” following devastating academic declines during the pandemic.

Overall, scores on the tests students took in the spring approached 2019 levels but have yet to completely return for all students and subject areas.

MSCS Deputy Superintendent Angela

Whitelaw acknowledged in a statement that the district had “continued work to do this year.”

Statewide, math scores followed a similar trajectory as in Memphis, although scores for MSCS students were lower than statewide averages.

In MSCS, 15 percent of students were on track for their grade in math compared with 23 percent in 2019. The 2021 low was 7 percent.

But while Tennessee students in gener-

SEE TCAP ON PAGE 2

District 5’s vacant school-board seat goes to Mauricio Calvo

by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

With a void to fill, Shelby County commissioners made quick work of approving Mauricio Calvo to an interim seat on the Memphis -Shelby County School Board.

“I pledge to be someone to work for accountability, for transparency, for collaboration across ideas and communities,” said Calvo after Monday’s (July 17) vote.

Calvo continued, “I pledge to make every decision with them in mind and I expect the people to hold me accountable to that; even if we don’t agree I agree to work with everybody.”

It was Calvo’s second run at a school board slot. He lost in a general election in 2020. He made a run at a Memphis City Council seat the year before.

Teacher shortage – Should we be concerned?

See Perspective Page 4 His interim-school-board term ends in September 2024.

In addition to electing a new superintendent, his priorities include improving the school system’s fiscal standing.

“It’s extremely important to have a fiscally sound budget. We are facing the end of COVID money and a new formula.

It’s also important to have a new leader in place that can improve the economic outcome of every single child in Shelby County Schools.”

A Memphian for 25 years, Calvo currently leads Latino Memphis. The social services organization assists Memphis’ Latino communi-

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The New Tri-State Defender

July 20 - 26, 2023

Page 2

NEWS

“One key takeaway for me is the momentum we saw in our high schools. With the exception of English 1, we saw gains across the board.”

— Angela Whitelaw TCAP

CONTINUED FROM FRONT al continued to see literacy gains, Memphis did not see much growth after last year’s rebound.

Students in grades 3-8 take the state assessments each year, and high school students take subject-area tests at the end of their courses.

“One key takeaway for me is the momentum we saw in our high schools,” Whitelaw said. “With the exception of English 1, we saw gains across the board.”

The score reports do not reflect the progress of students as they move from one grade to the next. For now, they can be used only to compare, say, this year’s sixth graders to last year’s sixth graders.

So, they don’t capture how much this year’s third graders in Memphis improved from when they were in second grade.

Those improvements showed up in an analysis MSCS shared earlier this summer in connection with Tennessee’s new reading law.

This past year’s third graders were the first class subject to the new state law, which uses students’ TCAP scores in English language arts to determine whether they need more intervention to avoid being held back.

How to review district-level, student TCAP scores District TCAP scores are available on the state report card website, https://www. tn.gov/education/families/report-card.html.

After selecting a district to view, open the “2023 Dis-

CALVO

CONTINUED FROM FRONT search was manipulated.

Williams has since said she will not seek the superintendent post.

Voting in favor of Calvo were commissioners Brandon Morrison, Shante Avant, Miska Clay-Bibbs, Amber Mills, David Bradford, Mickell Lowery, and Mick Wright.

Another round of voting was

trict Assessment” tab for results.

Student TCAP scores are available in the state’s family portal, accessible using the student’s state ID number. The portal will show student scores over time.

MSCS’ recovery efforts have helped students who are the farthest behind, the data shows.

In both ELA and math, the share of students who scored “below” proficiency on the test – the lowest performance level – continued to shrink. But for both subjects, that share is still larger than in 2019, and the divide is more pronounced in math.

“Having visited these classrooms this morning, it helps me to remain hopeful and optimistic,” Bill White, a top MSCS academic leader, said after a tour of summer class at Shelby Oaks Elementary.

White added, “Because the data nationwide shows me that coming out of those learning losses is going to be tough, and it’s going to be slow, and it’s going to require extra time and instruction.”

The testing data reflects achievements from the most normal school year the district’s students have had since classrooms shuttered in March 2020 as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. The 2021-21 school year was online for most Memphis students.

They returned to classrooms in 2021-22, but spikes in COVID-19 infections led to waves of absences and disruptions to learning.

Students didn’t have those kinds of disruptions this past school year, but the district did have a turbulent year, starting off with transitions in top avoided after Wright changed his vote from Audrey Elion to give Calvo a majority.

In addition to Calvo, Jada Thornton, Sable Otey and Elion were nominated. Interviews with candidates took place July 12.

“It’s an appointment that’s always tough, because people come with great resumes and also with great recommendations, as well,” said commission chair Mickell Lowery.

leadership and ending with the fallout of a stalled superintendent search.

For the coming school year, the board plans to order a review of the district’s academic programs, which interim Superintendent Toni Williams has started preparing. The results are expected to also inform spending decisions as federal COVID relief funds run out.

“We know the district is doing something right,” board member Kevin Woods said about the academic review.

“And I think the better way we frame that is why so many of our students struggle, with all the investments that we make.”

COMMISSION

CONTINUED FROM FRONT opponent of their goals.

“The reality of it is, we have to work together versus further dividing us …We cannot move forward if we continue to think about dividing us first, in order to bridge the gap. We’ve got to bridge the gap. Not only for us as a body, more importantly, as a county,” said Clay-Bibbs.

Mills, for her part, also had her work cut out for her. As a

member of the minority, she is seeking a return to a rotating system with Democrats and Republicans alternating the chair position.

“I firmly believe that embracing a rotating system between parties will enhance our governance and foster an environment of collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation,” Mills said.

“We used to have a gentleman’s agreement that rotated it, so we were a team. So that we were representing all of Shelby County and work-

ing together. It wasn’t Democrat versus Republican, urban versus suburban versus rural Shelby County. We were all working together.”

She also said a return to the past would help the commission also work with others, namely Republicans in the GOP-dominated Tennessee General Assembly, to achieve goals for the county.

“This will allow us to engage more effectively with the state. Because, however blue we say Shelby County is, the

state is that much red.

“Us working together and going back to the rotating will advance the interests of Shelby County’s residents. We have a large ask, multiple large asks of the state. We’ve got to work together to get those resources,” said Mills.

Democrats have criticized the alter-chairmanships proposal as a squandering of their majority.

Voting for Mills were GOP commissioners David Bradford, Brandon Morrison, Mick Wright, and Mills.

The New Tri-State Defender

July 20 - 26, 2023

Page 3

NEWS

“The promise of America is that we are all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. While we’ve never fully lived up to that promise, we’ve never fully walked away from it because of extraordinary leaders like Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr..”

— President Joe Biden

Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III succeeds Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. as president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition

by Stacy M. Brown,

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III will succeed Rev. Jesse Jackson as president and CEO of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

The announcement came as tributes poured in for the Jackson, who announced on July 14 his retirement as head of the Rainbow PUSH, the influential civil rights organization he started decades ago to continue the struggle for equality and justice that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought heroically.

“The promise of America is that we are all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. While we’ve never fully lived up to that promise, we’ve never fully walked away from it because of extraordinary leaders like Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.,” President Joe Biden said.

The President continued, “Throughout our decades of friendship and partnership, I’ve seen how Reverend Jackson has helped lead our nation forward through tumult and triumph.

“Whether on the campaign trail, on the arch for equality, or in the room advocating for what is right and just, I’ve seen him as history will remember him – a man of God and of the people; determined, strategic, and unafraid of the work to redeem the soul of our nation.”

One of Jackson’s comrades in the civil rights struggle, National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., echoed Biden’s remarks.

“On behalf of the NNPA, representing the Black Press of America, I am so pleased to issue the NNPA’s highest regards and respect to the Honorable Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.,” Chavis said.

Chavis added, “I have known and worked with Rev. Dr. the Rev. Jackson all of my Frederick D. adult life as a fellow freeHaynes III dom fighter in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, NAACP, Rainbow PUSH, United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice, and the National African American Leadership Summit ...

“The Black Press resolutely salutes Jesse Jackson’s outstanding national and global leadership, and we pledge to keep fighting for freedom, justice, equality, and equity.”

Jackson, a renowned figure in the fight for civil rights, founded PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in 1971 and established the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984.

In 1996, the two organizations merged to form the powerful and influential Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Organization officials said Jackson’s successor, Dr. Haynes, a Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. co-chair, exemplifies the same passion and commitment to global racial justice that characterizes Jackson’s legacy.

As a co-founder of the Samuel DeWitt Proc-

Rev. Jesse Jackson (Photo: Eric Bridiers/ NNPA Newswire) tor Conference (SDPC), Inc., Haynes has been a guiding force for more than two decades, upholding the mission and ministry of the organization.

Dr. Iva Carruthers, general secretary, and co-founder of the SDPC, said, “This nation has entered a new era of struggle against racial injustices, hate speech, new forms of institutional oppression against the poor, people of color, and those marginalized due to religion or sexual orientation.”

SDPC Co-Chair Bishop Leah Daughtry highlighted the necessity for collaboration between national and local organizations during what he

called critical times.

“Collaboration between national and local organizations is ever more needed at this time,” Daughtry said in a press release.

President Biden said, “Jill and I are grateful to Rev. Jackson for his lifetime of dedicated service and extend our appreciation to the entire Jackson family.

“We look forward to working with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition as he hands the torch to the next generation of leadership, just as we will continue to cherish the counsel and wisdom that we draw from him.”

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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, July 20 - 26, 2023, Page 4

Teacher shortage – Should we be concerned?

by Curtis Weathers

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The opening of school is only a couple of weeks away, and while we have many issues to be concerned about, at the very top of the list is the shortage of qualified teachers to instruct our children.

There is nothing more stressful to school leadership during this time of the year than having multiple teacher positions unfilled, especially in core subject areas like math, English, or special education.

Fox News reported last week that there were over four hundred teacher vacancies on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools website.

Curtis I’m sure that the number shrinks Weathers daily, but having so many vacancies so close to the start of the school year is troubling.

But MSCS is not alone in its struggles to fill teacher positions. The teacher shortage across the nation is large and growing worse each year. The teacher pipeline continues to shrink, and burned-out educators are leaving the profession in ever-increasing numbers.

When indicators of teacher quality (certification, relevant training, experience, for example) are considered, the shortage is even more acute than was estimated, with high-poverty schools (of course) suffering the most from the shortage of certified, credentialed teachers.

But according to the Economic Policy Institute, two of the most serious factors contributing to the shortage include lower pay and teachers feeling disrespected and unsupported.

However, leaders in Memphis-Shelby County Schools appear confident that the vacant positions eventually will be filled.

But MSCS might be on the right track in its efforts to contain this issue, at least regarding low pay or teacher compensation. The latest MSCS board-approved budget prioritizes teacher pay, school environment, and expanding academic opportunities for students.

The district is investing an additional $27.3 million in teacher salaries and has approved a 2.9 percent pay increase for all non-instructional employees.

In the new budget, teachers could receive a retention bonus between $10,000 and $15,000 and performance-based bonuses based on state testing data.

Incentives like these are geared toward retaining current teachers and attracting new ones.

But the one thing teachers value the most outside of their salaries is “support.” Support comes in the form of both compensation and a good school environment to work in each day.

Teachers appreciate being paid a respectable wage along with good benefits, but they love order, discipline, and professional support, which makes for a great work environment.

Administrative support is the one factor most consistently associated with teachers’ decisions to stay in or leave a particular school.

Studies consistently show that teachers who find their administrators to be unsupportive are more than twice as likely to leave their schools.

When either of these three elements is missing (money, support, order), teachers will not be happy, and they may eventually leave the profession in frustration.

It happens far too often.

On a national level, the teacher shortage has been per-

sistently growing since 2015. Today, more than three-quarters of U.S. states are experiencing significant shortages in certified teachers.

The Learning Policy Institute, in a report conducted in 2016 (A Coming Crisis in Teaching?), estimated a growth of about 64,000 vacancies in 2015 and 300,000 by 2020.

By 2025, that number is projected to reach 316,000 vacancies.

In June 2022, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on pandemic learning estimated that between 2019 and 2021, public education lost about 7 percent of its total teaching population (233,000 instructors).

These educators cited the pandemic, strict time demands, persistent behavioral issues, and lack of administrative support as top issues leading to their departure.

The source of the teacher shortage and who is responsible is a complex issue, but the situation remains dire regardless of who or what is at fault.

School leaders across the nation, as well as in Memphis and Shelby County, are struggling to fill both teaching and non-teaching positions.

Human resource officials say their biggest challenge has been finding enough candidates to apply, much less fully qualified ones.

But I’m an eternal optimist. While the teacher shortage is a severe problem, it is not insurmountable.

With the right strategies, MSCS and other school systems across the nation can attract and retain qualified teachers and ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education.

There is enough information in the public sphere about strategies that work in making schools and school systems enjoyable and fulfilling places to work.

The empirical data is abundant. The key to successfully addressing the problem is adopting and applying strategies that work.

But again, the teacher shortage is real, and our communities are experiencing a mass exodus of teachers leaving the classroom, never to return.

There will be far-reaching consequences for our children and our communities if this trend continues.

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

Black folks watch out! These deadly summer heat waves are a warning

By Jessica Washington The Root

Complaining about the heat during the summer isn’t exactly a novel concept.

But if it’s starting to feel like you’re having an unusually sweaty season, there’s a good chance it’s not just in your head: Because on July 4th, the world experienced the hottest day on record.

Scorching heat waves this summer continue to put tens of millions at risk throughout the United States.

Recently, heat advisories were issued in 15 states across the country, impacting roughly 100 million people. And the scorching temperatures are expected to continue to build.

Exposure to extreme heat can be deadly and can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps within minutes.

For Black Americans, rising temperatures are a particular cause for concern. In 2022, the New York Department of Health released a report on heat-related mortality in New York City, and the findings were troubling.

They found that Black New Yorkers were twice as likely to die from heat stress than white New Yorkers.

The authors of the report attributed those differences to structural racism and economic inequality, such as access to proper air-conditioned housing.

This isn’t a New York City-specific problem. As Derrick Z. Jackson

“According to a 2021 study of the nation’s 175 largest urban areas, people of color in the U.S. were more likely than white people to live on what are called ‘heat islands.’ explained in a piece for The Root, Black Americans are significantly more likely to live in what’s known as “heat islands.”

“According to a 2021 study of the nation’s 175 largest urban areas, people of color in the U.S. were more likely than white people to live on

what are called ‘heat islands.’

“This is the modern term for the ‘concrete jungle,’ referring to parts of cities where the concentration of buildings, roofs, roads, sidewalks, and parking lots relentlessly absorb and radiate the sun’s heat.

“Such neighborhoods are often marked by a lack of trees, parks and ponds, creeks, and lakes that naturally cool and moisten the landscape.

“Black people, according to the study of 175 cities, have the highest surface urban heat island exposure of any racial or ethnic group, with Hispanics coming in second.

“It is not an issue of poverty. The nation’s history of redlining and many other forms of housing discrimination in neighborhoods that

white interests see as cooler – figuratively, and now, literally – have resulted in Black people being marooned on heat islands regardless of their income.”

As the world gets hotter due to climate change, things will only get worse. A Wilderness and Environmental Medicine Journal report found that from 2005 to 2015, the rates of emergency department visits for heat-related causes increased by 67 percent for African Americans.

Although there is federal money flowing into states to prepare communities for climate change, it’s essential that it’s used effectively.

If not, Black Americans will continue to bear the brunt of this country’s impending climate crisis alongside other marginalized groups.

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The New Tri-State Defender

July 20 - 26, 2023

Page 5

RELIGION Remembering Ida B. Wells never gets old…

Crusading journalist and anti-lynching advocate Ida B. Wells-Barnett was born on July 16, 1862.

On Sunday (July 16), the Ida B. Wells Birthday Celebration was held at First Baptist Church, Beale Street (Beale Street Baptist Church), which was built by a congregation of freed slaves. From a basement office in the church, Wells-Barnett published scathing, hard-hitting newspaper editorials.

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

Celebrating a long life …

Elaine Turner, a Memphis civil rights stalwart and operator of Heritage Tours, added to the Ida B. Wells Birthday Celebration at First Baptist Church, Beale Street.

Homegoing services were held last Saturday (July 15) at Springdale Baptist Church for 103-year-old Jannie Louise Rucker Winfrey, a sharecroppers’ daughter and longtime teacher, who, said the host pastor Rev. Dr. Kevin Taylor, lived every minute of her long life. The Rev. Jairus Prince Winfrey Sr. (above), pastor of Greater Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, delivered the eulogy. Mrs. Winfrey was the oldest known Tennessee State University alum, with the TSU Alumni Group among those in attendance. Countess V. Winfrey performed a praise dance in honor of her grandmother. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender).

Sunday’s celebration was spearheaded by the Rev. Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr. (seated), the chief spokesman for the Memphis Memorial Committee, which led the effort that resulted in the adjacent Ida B. Wells Plaza. Speaking is Menelik Fombi (formerly Michael Willis), one the 13 students that desegregated Memphis City Schools.

The Rev. Darryl Harrington, pastor of New Sardis Baptist Church, is served a slice of the Ida B. Birthday Celebration cake.

Men’s Day emphasis…

State Rep. Justin Pearson was the keynote speaker as Mt. Pisgah CME Church held Men’s Day. The host pastor was the Rev. Willie Ward Jr. Notables on hand included the Rev. Tracy L. Jackson, presiding elder, and the Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas Sr., presiding prelate.

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

Noting the 35th…

The 35th Annual Tabernacle Fellowship Ministries Convention was held July 11-14 at Solemn Assembly Tabernacle Holiness Church, 32 West Gage Ave., under the guidance of Presiding Bishop Robert Covington. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender).

The New Tri-State Defender, July 20 - 26, 2023, Page 6

The six-time Grammy Awardnominated Tupac Shakur has had five No. 1 albums, including 1996’s “All Eyez on Me.”

Tupac Shakur’s long-unsolved killing again under spotlight in Las Vegas Associated Press LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas police confirmed Tuesday that they served a search warrant this week in connection with the long-unsolved killing of Tupac Shakur, propelling the case back into the spotlight nearly 30 years after his death.

Shakur, one of the most prolific figures in hip-hop, was gunned down the night of Sept. 7, 1996, in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. He was 25.

No arrests have ever been made. Yet attention on the case, which has seen its share of conspiracy theories, has endured for decades.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that the search was conducted Monday in the nearby city of Henderson, but the agency did not say whether a suspect has been identified. It’s also unclear what they were looking for and where they were looking.

Citing the ongoing investigation, department spokesperson Aden OcampoGomez

said in a brief phone call that he couldn’t provide more details on the latest development in the case.

Nevada does not have a time limit for prosecuting homicide cases.

Shakur was shot while sitting inside a black BMW with Marion “Suge” Knight, head of Death Row Records. Police have said the two were waiting at a red light near the Las Vegas Strip when a white Cadillac pulled up next to them and gunfire erupted.

Shot multiple times, Shakur was rushed to a hospital, where he died six days later.

Las Vegas police have said in the past that the investigation quickly stalled in part because witnesses refused to cooperate.

Shakur’s death came amid his feud with rap rival the Notorious B.I.G., who was fatally shot six months later. At the time, both rappers were in the middle of the infamous East Coast-West Coast rivalry, which primarily defined the hip-hop scene during the mid-1990s. The feud was ignited after Shakur was seriously wounded in another shooting during a robbery in the lobby of a midtown Manhattan hotel.

Shakur openly accused B.I.G. and Sean “Diddy” Combs of having prior knowledge of the shooting, which both vehemently denied. It sparked enough of a feud that created a serious divide within the hip-hop community and fans.

The New York-born Shakur represented the West Coast after he signed with Los Angeles-based Death Row Records. He often traded verbal jabs in the media and through songs. B.I.G. and Combs hailed from the East Coast while representing New York City-based Bad Boy Records.

Largely considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time, the six-time Grammy Award -nominated Shakur has had five No. 1 albums: 1995’s “Me Against the World,” 1996’s “All Eyez on Me,” and three posthumous releases: 1996’s “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,” which was recorded under the name Makaveli, as well as 2001’s “Until the End of Time” and 2004’s “Loyal to the Game.”

His professional music career only lasted five years, but Shakur secured 21

Billboard Hot 100s, including top 10 hits “Dear Mama” and “Old School” in 1995, and his best-known track, 1996’s “How Do U Want It/California Love” featuring K-Ci and JoJo. The latter spent two weeks at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 from his final studio album and Death Row Records debut, “All Eyez on Me.” According to entertainment data company Luminate, Shakur has sold 33 million albums, 41 million when including track sale and streaming equivalents. The rapper’s on-demand video and audio streams total 10.1 billion.

In 2017, Shakur was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Snoop Dogg.

In June of this year, the rapper received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He’s also had some museum exhibits that paid homage to his life, including “Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free,” which opened in 2021.

(This AP story by Rio Yamat, Maria Sherman and Jonathan Landrum Jr. Landrum and Sherman reported from Los Angeles.)

Snoop Dogg and E-40 collaborate on new cookbook, ‘Goon with the Spoon’ Rappers celebrate decades of friendship and their shared passion for food Thegrio.com Longtime friends and musical collaborators Snoop Dogg and E-40 are taking their talents to the kitchen.

“Goon with the Spoon” will feature over 65 recipes, including meals the duo cook and eat together, photos of the rappers chopping it up in the kitchen, and updated stories from Snoop’s celebrity friends. The cookbook also will take inspiration from the pair’s music and their shared passion for food.

Snoop has become something of a foodie, hosting cooking shows with the likes of Martha Stewart and running Broadus Foods, a company that donates its profits to Door of Hope.

The release is a follow-up to Snoop’s first cookbook, “From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg’s Kitchen.”

Meanwhile, E-40 has become a rapper turned restaurateur with Lumpia, the Bay Area fast-casual Filipino chain he co-owns.

The rappers also go way back.

E-40 (born Earl Stevens) helped Snoop (born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.) get started in rap on the West Coast. Since then, the two

Rappers Snoop Dogg and E-40 celebrate decades of friendship and their shared passion for food in the new cookbook “Goon with the Spoon.”

Snoop Dogg is no stranger to collaborating with his rapper friends. He launched Broadus Foods this year with Master P in honor of his late mother’s legacy. The rappers said they were motivated to launch their own brand after learning the true history behind the Aunt Jemima brand. have continued collaborating, including joining Ice Cube and Too $hort to form the rap group Mount Westmore in 2021.

Their admiration for each other reportedly shines through in the upcoming cookbook.

“E-40 is my big homie, my brother, my men-

tor,” Snoop writes in the book’s foreword.

“Watching him expand his love for food and cooking over the years to his many successful businesses is some boss-level s---. Which is why “Snoop Dogg Presents Goon with the Spoon” had to be the next cookbook, ya dig?”

Snoop is no stranger to collaborating with his rapper friends. He launched the aforementioned Broadus Foods this year with Master P in honor of his late mother’s legacy. The rappers said they were motivated to launch their own brand after learning the true history behind the Aunt Jemima brand.

“When P came to me with the idea of honoring my mother and our heritage with our own line, it just made sense, and we are both committed to creating opportunity and jobs to help our communities and build economic empowerment,” Snoop said in a release at the time.

The New Tri-State Defender

July 20 - 26, 2023

ENTERTAINMENT

Read ‘Life on Other Planets’ to see the sky with fresh eyes

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight...

And the second and third and you’ll just keep wishing until you run out of desires.

You’ll never run out of stars, though, so you can spend all night wishing and do it again tomorrow. Wish hard enough, work even harder and, as in the new book “Life on Other Planets” by Aomawa Shields, PhD, you may see your hopes come true.

Growing up in a “self-sufficient and independent” all-female household that prized education and encouraged her love of the planets, Aomawa Shields was raised securely on a foundation of science and “the sky was my first love.” She didn’t know then that the night sky could become a career; she remembers wanting, instead, to be a cheerleader like the pretty white girls she saw on TV. Her PhD-educated mother “winced” over that, but delighted in Shields’ fascination with stars and her embrace of STEM subjects. By the time she was twelve years old, Shields had mapped out her entire future career.

To get there, she read as much about astronomy as she could find. She “devoured” TV shows about space before applying to attend an elite prep school that took her from her California home to New Hampshire. At Exeter, she says, “As soon as I could, I took astronomy courses....” She dreamed of applying at NASA. She also auditioned for a play, and landed a good part. Acting, Shields learned, was fun and she was quite good at it; storytelling, making an audience feel a certain

way, it was addictive.

And so, when she began struggling academically in college and a professor told her that maybe it was time to put astronomy aside, another “love” was waiting for her in the wings. She continAomawa ued to attend astronoShields my classes, but he also (Photo: Steven secretly auditioned for Meckler) parts before moving back to California for her new career.

Still, she says, she wasn’t satisfied. Astronomy and acting – how was this going to work? She had two loves, and was about to meet a third...

Pick up “Life on Other Planets,” and you may be tempted to put it right back down.

The subject matter is pretty heavy. It’s very science-y and what if it’s over your head?

You might get lost, right?

Not really. Author Aomawa Shields does bring a lot of science into her tale, but it comes with a lot of gentle wide-eyed wonder and explanations that are easy for an average reader to grasp. There’s beauty in what Shields sees, and she shares her excitement in a way that will make you see the sky with fresh eyes.

That’s the first leg of this book. The other part is about Shields’ journey to fit into two worlds, one foot in each of them, while still being true to herself and her interests.

Readers who love science will love this book, but you don’t have to be a STEM expert to enjoy it. Find “Life on Other Planets” and see if it doesn’t brighten your summertime reading.

“Life on Other Planets: “A Memoir of Finding “My Place in the Universe”

by Aomawa Shields, PhD c. 2023, Viking $28.00 352 pages

Page 7

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, July 20 - 26, 2023, Page 8

Stax Music Academy kicks off 2023-24 afterschool program with new partnership from Gibson Gives Calling all middle and high schoolers with an interest in music TSD Newsroom The Stax Music Academy is calling all middle and high school students with an interest in music to audition for and enroll in its 2023/2024 SMA Afterschool Program.

The call is in conjunction with a new partnership with Gibson Gives, the philanthropic arm of the iconic American instrument brand.

Located at the original site of Stax Records in Memphis, Stax Music Academy provides training, classes, rehearsals, ensembles, and more in vocals, instrumentals, music theory, production and audio engineering, songwriting and music business, videography, choreography, and more.

The school pairs its music education with equal parts mentoring, offering social and emotional growth learning, professional mental wellness counseling, and college preparedness training.

The academy has traveled around the world as Memphis Music Ambassadors to places such as Italy, Australia, France, Germany, United Kingdom, and its most recent outing, playing the July 12 Summer for the City Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City with legendary Stax artist Booker T. Jones of Booker T. & the M.G.’s.

Of particular interest in the upcoming year is the new partnership with

Gibson Gives, which is offering assistance to guitar players via the Skip Pitts and Albert King Gap Funds for students in need of tuition assistance in the program of the SMA. Albert King was an American guitarist and singer signed to Stax Records. King is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues singers of all time. He is perhaps best known for his popular and influential song “Born Under a Bad Sign” (1967). Pitts, who was Isaac Hayes’ longtime guitarist, played the famous wah-wah riff on the Academy Award-winning “Theme from Shaft.”

“Both SMA and Gibson Gives recognize the importance of investing in growth and development of youth through music,” said Stax Music Academy Executive Director Isaac Daniel. “We are very excited about this new partnership for the Soulsville Foundation.”

The SMA Afterschool Program is designed to help students earn music scholarships to college and result in civic-minded, socially conscious, successful adults.

“The new partnership with Gibson Gives will only strengthen what we already do,” added Daniel.

(To set up an audition or find out more about the Stax Music Academy, email smaprogramming@staxmusicacademy.org.)

“Overwhelmed and Overloaded” …

Dr. Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention, keynoted the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association meeting on Tuesday (July 18). His topic was “Overwhelmed and Overloaded,” which he drew from the book of James. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/ The New Tri-State Defender)

The Links at Pine Hill Golf Course has been renovated and the new club house is a work in progress. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

Council hears pitch to preserve the history of Pine Hill and Church Park

by Jennifer Sharp

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

A pitch is being made to preserve the South Memphis history of Pine Hill Park and The Links at Pine Hill and Downtown’s Robert R. Church Park, which is bordered by Beale St. and Bishop G. E. Patterson Boulevard.

The Rev. Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr., pastor emeritus of New Sardis Baptist Church, recently appeared before the Memphis City Council to ask councilmembers to support the preservation of the historic sites.

Pine Hill Park at 1005 Alice Avenue is 14.76 acres and includes a playground, an outdoor basketball court, the Pine Hill Community Center and an 18-hole golf course called The Links at Pine Hill.

The history of Pine Hill dates to a 2,000-acre plantation owned by the Person family.

The Links at Pine Hill was the first integrated golf course in the city of Memphis.

Famed golfer Tiger Woods once led a Junior Golf Clinic at Pine Hill in the 1990s.

For decades, Charles Hudson, who now is retired, was the golf professional and course manager at Pine Hill. He trained aspiring golfers and encouraged youth to learn the game while building a sense of community in South Memphis.

Dr. Gray talked extensively about the history of Pine Hill and Charles Hudson’s impact on golf in that community. He asked the council to rename the clubhouse at The Links at Pine Hill after Hudson.

“Pine Hill has a very rich history as it was the first golf course in

A young Tiger Woods saluted Pine Hill golf course pro Charles Hudson during a Memphis visit in August 1997.

(Courtesy photo)

“Low maintenance equals no maintenance and the fact that Church Park continues to lie in dormancy is disrespectful. Church Park should be more functional with playgrounds, tennis courts, baseball courts, etc.”

— Rev. Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr. Memphis to be desegregated,” said Dr. Gray. “The history of Pine Hill and the history of golf should be enshrined.”

Robert R. Church Park is a 7.68-acre park that includes his-

toric markers, a playground, four mini-pavilions, a short walking trail and picnic tables.

The church is named after Robert Reed Church, who is considered the first Black millionaire. Because the city did not provide any recreational facilities for Black citizens, Church invested in the park in 1899 making Church Park the first of its kind to be exclusive to Black people.

The park contained a playground and a large concert hall, where Black theatrical groups could perform.

Guests such as Booker T. Washington, President Teddy Roosevelt, and W.C. Handy all spoke at the concert hall.

Regarding Church Park, Dr. Gray, who spearheaded efforts to have a statute honoring anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Well placed in the park, told councilmembers the park is not being properly cared for.

He also talked about how historic Beale Street Baptist Church, which is next to Church Park, needs its land back for adequate parking space.

“Low maintenance equals no maintenance and the fact that Church Park continues to lie in dormancy is disrespectful,” said Dr. Gray. “Church Park should be more functional with playgrounds, tennis courts, baseball courts, etc.”

“The Memphis City Council controls the budget, and they have the power and funds to put resources into the parks,” said Dr. Gray. “I hope to see them do the right thing and preserve the parks’ history.”

Nick Walker, director of Parks and Neighborhoods for the city of Memphis, told Dr. Gray and councilmembers, that the city is in full support of preserving the legacy and history of the two sites.

MSCS Learning Academy set as site for three school-entry events The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Teaching and Learning Academy, 2485 Union Avenue, will be the venue as the Shelby County Health Department teams up with community partners, including Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, UT Health Science Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Latino Memphis, ShotRx, and MATA to provide immunizations needed for school entry on three upcoming dates: The dates are July 29, Aug. 5 and Sept. 3, with each event set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Vaccinations will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents are encouraged to bring their child’s insurance card and vaccination records with them, but if they cannot locate records, they will be provided.

Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) will offer free bus passes to assist families with transportation costs. And Spanish interpretation will be available at each event.

“We know back-to-school season

is a busy time for parents,” said Dr. Michelle Taylor, Director and Health Officer of the Shelby County Health Department. “That’s why we’re providing this opportunity to get children up to date on immunizations before the start of the school year.

“These events are open to all children who reside in Shelby County, including those who attend private schools and home schools. It’s our way to make back to school a little easier for parents throughout Shelby County.”

A free immunization event also is set for July 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Health Department Headquarters, 814 Jefferson Avenue For more information, contact Joan Carr, Shelby County Health Department Public Information Officer at joan.e.carr@shelbycountytn.gov; David Henson, Public/Community Relations, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital at david.henson@lebonheur.org; or Dawn Davis, Media Relations with Memphis-Shelby County Schools at davisda@scsk12.org.

A view of the Pine Hill Community Center.

Back-to-school event powered by Health Department, The BLVD and Youth Empowerment Academy The Shelby County Health Department, along with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, the Academy for Youth Empowerment, and Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (The BLVD) will host a free backto-school event on July 29th.

The Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church Back to School Event is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 70 N. Bellevue at the Mississippi Boulevard Church Midtown Campus.

The Health Department will provide free immunizations and immunization records required for school

for children 17 and younger and COVID-19 vaccinations for children and adults. Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Baptist Memorial Health Care, and other partnering agencies are providing free health screenings.

Other giveaways include free food and backpacks loaded with school supplies.

“We are pleased to once again partner with The BLVD and many other agencies to provide much-needed services to parents and children this summer,” said Dr. Michelle Taylor,

Shelby County Health Department Director, and Health Officer. “It is in everyone’s best interest to send our children back to school with everything they need to stay healthy and be ready to learn on their first day of classes.”

No appointment is required. All services will be provided on a firstcome, first-served basis. For more information about the Shelby County Health Department’s Immunization Program and required school immunizations, https://shelbytnhealth.com/.

The New Tri-State Defender

NEWS

July 20 - 26, 2023

“Some of the problems are about infrastructure being neglected over the years. It’s just been a systemic failure.”

— Helena-West-Helena Mayor Christopher Franklin

CLASSIFIEDS

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000824, Camera System for Shelby County Division of Corrections. 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 abovedescribed Sealed Bid. SEALED BID-I000824 DUE DATE THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2023 AT 2:30 PM CDT (SB-I000824), CAMERA SYSTEM FOR SHELBY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 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

The city of Helena-West Helena was formed from the merger of two previously existing towns. The 2010 census counted a population of just over 12,000 citizens.

The origins of the two prior towns can be traced to separate eras in American history. (Photo: Arkansas.com via NNPA News Service)

Helena-West Helena suffers water crisis amidst heatwave Small Arkansas town was once a safe haven for escaped slaves

by Stacy M. Brown NNPA News Service

During the Civil War in 1863, Helena, Arkansas, located in the South and under Union occupation, provided refuge to runaway slaves, becoming a safe haven for them.

The city also served as a training ground for various regiments comprised of colored soldiers.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Helena transformed into a thriving blues community, flourishing as a bustling port town along the Mississippi River.

According to the city’s official website, musicians from all corners of the South would make a stop in Helena, contributing to its vibrant music scene.

To this day, Helena remains the proud host of the nation’s longest-running blues radio show, King Biscuit Time.

The show played a crucial role in launching the careers of numerous renowned musicians.

Presently known as Helena-West-Helena, the city serves as the county seat for Phillips County and is home to a population of slightly over 12,000 people, predominantly African Americans.

And typical of Black communities across the country, Helena-West Helena has its share of problems that arise from discrimination.

Today, as blistering heat beats down on Helena, the city faces a water crisis and meaningful state, and federal aid has remained elusive.

As the city braces for more scorching temperatures, the mercury expected to reach a sweltering 98 degrees next week, it has grappled with a dire water shortage for the past three weeks.

Aid has been slow to arrive, leaving the community to rely on bottled water for their daily needs.

The root cause of Helena-West Helena’s water woes lies in its aging infrastructure, with pipes dating back at least 60 years, which have been bursting throughout the city.

Mayor Christopher Franklin

“In America, where people have the right to good, quality drinking water, the federal government should be running aid to provide that.”

— Christopher Franklin expressed his concerns in an NBC News interview.

“Some of the problems are about infrastructure being neglected over the years. It’s just been a systemic failure,” Franklin said.

The crisis reached its tipping point on June 25 when a major water line broke, causing the city’s computer operating system that runs the water plant to fail automatically.

As a result, the predominantly Black community endured a grueling 20-hour period without water in scorching temperatures of up to 97 degrees.

Since then, the city has been under a boil water alert, which remains in effect due to leaks sprouting from various compromised parts of the infrastructure.

According to NBC News, city officials estimate that the cost of repairing the antiquated piping system ranges from $1 million to $10 million.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a $100,000 loan to help address the leaks in the primary water system, but Franklin and his chief of staff, James Valley, deemed it insufficient to resolve the issue.

Although water service had been partially restored, low pressure and new leaks persist.

Franklin has tirelessly sought aid from state and federal authorities but claims that his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Speaking truth to power, Franklin also wasn’t afraid to express his frustration.

“In America, where people have the right to good, quality drinking water, the federal government should be running aid to provide that,” he told NBC.

“Instead, there’s no sense of urgency for us. I mean, why would it be? We’re Black.

There’s no urgency until they want our vote. And that’s what’s happening here. What else are we left to think?”

The mayor called upon Arkansas’ two Republican senators, Tom Cotton and John Boozman, both of whom failed to provide a satisfactory response to the crisis.

While Cotton sent an aide to assess the situation, Boozman is scheduled to send one soon.

However, Franklin stressed that what his city truly needs is immediate access to resources and a comprehensive solution, not just visits from representatives.

Acknowledging the assistance provided by entities such as the Arkansas National Guard, the Red Cross, Walmart, and Dollar General in offering support and bottled water, Franklin said he worried that if those organizations are the sole sources of help, the city will face a long, scorching summer.

He others have questioned why substantive and timely aid has been slow to materialize, citing similar delays experienced in other predominately African American communities like Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi.

In his seven months as mayor, Franklin said he has focused on revitalizing the city by demolishing 90 abandoned homes to eliminate blight and attract residents back to the area.

He said he sees this as an opportunity to replace the aging water lines that lie beneath those houses.

However, the water crisis has not been the only challenge for Franklin.

Since defeating a white incumbent in the mayoral race, Franklin said he’s encountered racism, including death threats, property intrusions, and social media attacks.

“I’m not arguing about a football game. I’m arguing about the quality of life for Black people and all the people in this inner city,” Franklin stated.

Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000792, Officer Uniforms and PT Gear (Sheriff’s Office).

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-I000792 DUE DATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2023 AT 2:30 PM CDT (SB-I000792), Officer Uniforms and PT Gear (Sheriff’s Office) 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

Page 9

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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: Michael Freeman Tax Parcel #: 04302300001450 Tax Sale #: 1802 Price Offered: $13,900.00 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 August 18, 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.

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The New Tri-State Defender

July 20 - 26, 2023

SPORTS

Page 10

Marcus Bell is drawing upon his fulfilled football dreams to help ring in the future at White Station

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Most high school football players dream of making it to the National Football League. In 1997 at Kingsbury High, Marcus Bell was one of those dreamers.

Now, after successful careers at the University of Memphis and the NFL, Bell has not only made that dream a reality for himself, he’s helping others pursue the dream too – as the defensive-line coach of the White Station High School Spartans.

“I felt like I could instill my work ethnic into them at the high school level,” Bell said. “I will be in the best position to make better college football players and better men.”

After high school, Bell was a defensive lineman for the University of Memphis, playing in 42 games and starting in 20 games. His play earned him letters each year from 19972000, and in 2000, he Terry was named to the AllDavis Conference USA first team defense.

From there, Bell declared for the draft, going in the fourth round to the Arizona Cardinals, one of three Tiger defenders selected in the 2001 NFL Draft. Bell played seven seasons in the league — three years each with Arizona and Detroit before his final season with the New York Giants.

During his career, he logged 165 tackles, three forced fumbles and six pass breakups in 86 games.

In 2008, Bell returned to the U of M as a member of then-Head Coach Mike Norvell’s staff, and wrapped up his bachelor’s degree in 2010. Bell experienced more success as a coach at Memphis than as a player. During his 10 years with the program, he watched the Tigers grow from on the brink to a team that played in the Cotton Bowl in 2019.

“My passion was to make a difference.

I like going against the grain,” he said of that run. “When I got back, my vision was to make the team relevant in my own way. That was the driving force to make it better.”

The team indeed became relevant. In 2014, the Tigers went 10-3 en route to Memphis’ first conference title since 1971 and a victory in the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl. They won their last seven games that season.

Norvell moved on to Florida State after that season, and Bell returned to running the transportation company he started many years ago. But eventually, he wanted to get back into coaching. But where?

“I was watching the Penny Hardaway documentary (‘This Magic Moment’) again and it just said to me, ‘You know you have something to give. What are you waiting

Marcus Bell returned to the University of Memphis in 2008 as a member of then-head coach Mike Norvell’s staff.

(Photos: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender)

“I was watching the Penny Hardaway documentary (‘This Magic Moment’) again and it just said to me, ‘You know you have something to give. What are you waiting on?’ I talked to a couple of coaches and the choice came down to either Houston High or White Station.”

— Marcus Bell

Marcus Bell shares a sideline laugh with former UofM and NFL star running back DeAngelo Williams.

on?’ I talked to a couple of coaches and the choice came down to either Houston High or White Station.”

White Station seemed to have the most need, having won just two games last season.

Bell became the defensive line coach.

The Spartans begin their season August 18, when they travel to play Christian Brothers High School. White Station plays in one of the toughest districts in the state of Tennessee with Bartlett, Whitehaven, Houston, Germantown and Collierville.

Bell expects to take his team back to the basics and work with them from techniques and stances.

“It is not all about coach, coach and coach,” Bell said. “I have to get to know these kids in order to make a difference.”