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VOL. 70, No. 30

July 29 - August 4, 2021

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COVID-19 UPDATE

Health ofﬁcials, workers battle ‘avoidable’ tragedy by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The resurgence of COVID-19 in a morphed more transmissible form is hitting Shelby County hard. “The folks getting sick now are between 1844 (years old),” said Shelby County Health Department Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Randolph. “They are unvaccinated, and many of them have underlying medical problems, which

makes them severely at risk.” Randolph was referring mainly to the COVID-19 Delta variant that has spawned a national resurgence of the virus, mostly among those who have not received a COVID vaccine. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 83 percent of the new virus cases are the highly transmissible Delta variant, and some 90 percent of those among unvaccinated people. Memphis Children’s Clinic has six locations in Shelby and DeSoto counties. Over the

past seven days, 13 of those being tested for COVID-19 have come back positive. Across the state, Tennessee has reported more than 2,000 pediatric cases just in the last two weeks. “The real tragedy is that this was all avoidable,” said Randolph. “The resurgence would be non-existent if everyone had been vaccinated. While people are acutely ill, they can’t get the vaccine. They just have to ride it out.” Randolph said there have been some “breakthrough cases,” in which vaccinated people have contracted the virus. The breakthrough

victims, however, have in most cases avoided serious illness or hospitalization. Randolph said in some of the new cases of vaccinated people contracting the virus, the victims have some immuno-compromised condition that has compromised their immune systems in some way. Still, he urged everyone “to go and get vaccinated.” In Memphis-Shelby County, the virus re-

SEE COVID-19 ON PAGE 2

Nominated by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, Dr. Michelle Taylor takes over as Health Department director on Aug. 2. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

Dr. Taylor nets Health Department director’s post with unanimous vote For the family of “Gladys Millie “MaDear” Bennett, the time has come to ofﬁcially celebrate her home as a welcomed addition to the National Register of Historic Places. Pictured (l-r): Yvonne Bennett, daughter of author, Ambrose Bennett; Ambrose Bennett, and Darryl Wells, “MaDear’s” grandson, raised as her own son. (Courtesy photo)

‘MaDear’s House made a National Historic Site; son’s new book tells why

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The ﬂower bed along the front of the porch is as beautiful as it was when “MaDear” was tending it. “Some of these plants have been here since the 1950s,” said Ambrose Bennett, son of “MaDear.” That’s just one of many enduring elements of a remarkable legacy of a woman who was the daughter of slaves. Gladys Millie Crawford Bennett raised

her children at 1039 Delmar Street in Memphis. But it was so much more than a house. Gladys Bennett was “MaDear,” not only to her children, but to all those who came to that house. “Our house was like two shotgun houses put together,” said Ambrose Bennett. “We lived on one side, and boarders lived on the other side. But everyone came to eat at our dining room table. This is the same table that has always been here.” Bennett had his mother’s house designated as a National Historic Site. It started with the Memphis City Landmarks

Commission nomination to add the “Gladys Millie “MaDear” Bennett House to the National Register of Historic Places on Dec. 19, 2019. On Feb. 7, 2020, the house was officially added to the registry. The Bennett family was planning a huge celebration. But then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. And those plans were discarded. Until now. Ambrose Bennett and other family members will host a celebration of the house as an historic site on

SEE HOUSE ON PAGE 2

County Commission also stands pat on not raising property taxes by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

In its first post-budget meeting since June, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners on Monday voted unanimously to approve Dr. Michelle Taylor as the new director of the Shelby County Health. The commission also opted to let the tax rate, which they approved in June, remain at $3.45 per $100 assessed value. The action let stand the decision to not raise county property taxes for the 2021-2022 fiscal year that began July 1. A Memphis native, the lieutenant colonel currently advises the Air Force National Guard on health care policies. Taylor is a graduate of White Station High School. She studied at Howard University, the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University. She was nominated by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. Her first day on the job is Aug. 2. “Dr. Taylor advises and helps lead health care policy for the Air National Guard, an organization with 107,000 airmen and 7,500 health

SEE TAYLOR ON PAGE 2

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The New Tri-State Defender

July 29 - August 4, 2021

Page 2

NEWS “We feel that the best safety measure, regardless of what a person’s vaccination status is, (people) should make a personal decision to revive maskwearing indoors when out in public.” — Dr. Bruce Randolph

COVID-19

CONTINUED FROM FRONT surgence is reﬂected in the Health Department’s daily virus new-case numbers. There were 269 new cases and five new deaths reported Wednesday; 236 new cases and two deaths Tuesday; 279 new cases and four deaths Monday; 315 new cases and one death Sunday, and 319 new cases and one death Saturday. The CDC on Tuesday (July 27) updated its guidelines urging vaccinated people in certain areas of the country to resume wearing masks indoors. The CDC also is recommending that everyone in the k-12 school environment mask up indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Many health experts have recommended the use of masks to protect against the Delta variant. Masks are especially recommended for children who are too young to be vaccinated. “While we will not likely return to the masking mandate stage, the Health Department strongly endorses the new CDC guidelines,” said Randolph. “We feel that the best safety measure, regardless of what a person’s vaccination status is, (people)

should make a personal decision to revive mask-wearing indoors when out in public.” Randolph said the spiking numbers of hospitalizations with the most recent resurgence of the virus will continue to take a toll on healthcare workers everywhere. JJ’s story John “JJ” James Jr., a native Memphian who was just beginning his nursing career when the pandemic broke out last year, decided to be a traveling nurse, helping out in cities where COVID-19 hit especially hard. “I am working in Atlanta right now,” James told The New Tri-State Defender this week. “Hospital admissions are moving up again. Whether it is the original coronavirus, or the Delta strain, or the newest Lamda strain, those who have not been vaccinated are getting really sick. Many of them are young people.”

James said the emotional and mental toll the resurgence is taking on health workers is palpable. “The resurgence is concerning and heartbreaking,” said James. “I am seeing my colleagues quitting their jobs because of mental health. They are just saying, ‘I can’t do this again.’ It’s happening more and more as ICUs begin to fill up again.” James said before he went to Atlanta, he worked in California. His experience is that those who were getting the sickest and dying initially are the same ones who are susceptible to COVID-19 this time around. “I worked in an area that was largely Hispanic, about 85-90 percent,” said James. “Most of those who were getting sick and dying were of Hispanic descent because of underlying health conditions and lack of medical care overall. “In Atlanta, African Americans are getting sick and dying from COVID-19, the same as last time. It’s

TAYLOR

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Nurse and former Memphian John “JJ” James Jr. (Courtesy photo) hard to watch because, now, we have vaccines.” (For questions and/or additional information, call: 901-222-SHOT {7468}.

HOUSE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT Thursday, July 29, at 11 a.m. Bennett will also officially release his book, “MaDear’s House,” during the event. “There are lots of our family stories included in the book,” said Bennett. “This is a record for our children and their children and their children about the woman who was the matriarch of this family.” During Thursday’s celebration, MaDear’s granddaughter, Yvonne Bennett, an actress who lives in Salt Lake City, UT, will present a one-woman show as MaDear. Bennett explained that the house was going to be demolished, but MaDear had the house moved from the corner of Delmar down on Delmar to its present location. The house was set on the lot, and MaDear had the basement dug out. She ran two successful businesses out of the basement and a boarding house upstairs. “There was the School of Domestic Arts where MaDear taught sewing on one side, and the Subway Beauty Salon, run by her sister, Cora Crawford, was on the other side,” said Ambrose Bennett. “MaDear took in boarders at a time when hotels did not take black patrons. There were so very prominent people who stayed at our house. There was once a Rolls Royce parked out in our driveway. All the children went out to look at it.” Bennett, a retired teacher and former board of education member overseas, lives in Kagman III,on the island of Saipan, in the northern Mariana Islands. Bennett is a successful author who felt his mother’s story and the life she created for her children and her community was a story worth telling. He also extols the value of “MaDears” in

The “Gladys Millie “MaDear” Bennett House ofﬁcially was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 7, 2020. (Courtesy photo) the African-American community. “I felt compelled to share and educate American society about my MaDear and the many MaDears in African-American culture,” said Bennett. “The matriarch of the family was and still is often referred to as ‘MaDear or Big Mama’ as head women of the family…MaDears are especially commonplace among African-American families in the South. We have always called our mother ‘MaDear.’” Bennett tells how the house, built in 1860 during slavery, was destroyed by fire after MaDear had acquired it. She designed the blueprints to rebuild the house.

“MaDear said if I can make a dress pattern, I can design this house,” Bennett recalled. Bennett said his mother was born in Pinney Woods, now Star, MS. to former slaves, Isaac Crawford and Manerva Potter. Manerva Potter’s father, Peter Potter, was “a kind of statesman” for freed slaves. He was caught in the oppressive sharecropping system. According to Bennett, Potter packed up the whole family and loaded all their possessions on a wagon. Potter put his children inside the wagon, with furniture surrounding them. Potter began leaving with a shotgun laid across his lap, accord-

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ing to what MaDear said about her grandfather. The white landowner came riding out to them on a horse and told Potter he could not leave with the mules because he still owed him. Potter told the landowner he was leaving, and asked the landowner if he was ready to die by trying to stop them from leaving. The family came up to Memphis. Bennett shares other intriguing stories about his mothers ancestry and what growing up in MaDear’s house. Bennett said future work would go into making MaDear’s house an fully interactive tourist site. Thursday’s program, Bennett said, should be about an hour long.

professionals… Obviously, the organization she helps lead right now is significantly larger in every conceivable way and more complex in every conceivable way than the Shelby County Health Department,” said Harris. Last week, it was revealed that a panel reviewing candidates for the post did not recommend Taylor or the other top candidate for the job. A memo from the department’s interim director La Sonya Harris Hall, dated May 19, which recommended additional funding for salary to woo more qualified candidates, was leaked by commissioner Mark Billingsley. The commission’s Black Caucus called the move “highly unprofessional” with “racial undertones,” saying it was intended to hurt Harris. Monday, Billingsley apologized to Taylor. “You and I have never had the opportunity to visit … I want to personally apologize to you for any heartache you’ve had over the last week or so. “Last Wednesday (July 21), I asked Mayor Harris a question. I asked him what the findings of the interview panel were? I just felt misled. Again, you had nothing to do with that…(It was a disagreement) between Mayor Harris and I,” Billingsley said. He went on to praise her service and success in health care, as well as for being a mother, leader and woman “that is willing to step up to a very, very tough job. “That’s why I asked the Mayor what I did; it wasn’t to disparage you. It was to ask about a really tough job,” Billingsley said. For one commissioner, the apology fell short of the mark. “This should have been 13-0 without any drama. I think we can agree with that. This stuff we saw on the news and all that; and it’s always the same player,” sniped commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. Taylor takes over the health department after the prior director, Dr. Alisa Haushalter, who resigned in February after criticism from state health officials over the handling of COVID-19 vaccines. Meanwhile, the commission decided to keep the property tax rate at $3.45 after approving penny increases twice in June. When the increase came up for a fourth vote, which is required by state law, four commissioners were absent, depriving the proposed hike the needed votes. The commission approved the minutes of that meeting as a first order of business Monday, setting the rate. Property values have soared more than 20 percent in some cases in Shelby County. To prevent a windfall in tax collections, also required by state law, the rate was dropped from $4.05.

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The New Tri-State Defender

July 29 - August 4, 2021

Page 3

NEWS COMMENTARY

With Simone Biles in mind:

Let’s talk about mental health by Jay Connor Theroot.com

I’ve never been an Olympic gymnast a day of my life, but I absolutely know what it’s like to have a demanding career in the public eye in which I’m expected to perform at the best of my abilities every single day despite facing immeasurable scrutiny. I know what it’s like to have whatever stressors or personal demons I’m battling dismissed entirely in favor of meeting ridiculous expectations that have been unfairly placed upon me. I know what it’s like to smile through frustration. I know what it’s like to laugh through trauma. I know what it’s like not to be allowed to falter. I know what it’s like not to be allowed to be human. Naomi Osaka chose refuge over participating in the French Open; Sha’Carri Richardson made a similar decision that cost her a chance at pursuing Olympic gold. With the advent of social media, we live in a world where celebrities, public figures, professional athletes, and the people we know and love are lambs to the slaughter when it comes to public critique. In the digital age, solace is a luxury none of us have. Chaos is our acquaintance, uncertainty is our tormentor. Following Sunday’s preliminary round of the Tokyo Olympics, in which Simone Biles and the rest of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team made a less than stellar debut, the five-time Olympic gold medalist took to Instagram to admit that yes, she’s human, too. “It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it,” she wrote. “I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn

sometimes it’s hard hahaha! “Whenever you get The Olympics is no joke!” in a high-stress This immense pressure to perform would only intensi- situation you kind fy during the team finals on Tuesday. With the Russian of freak out. I have Olympic Committee hungry to focus on my for its first gold in a wommental health and en’s team event since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, not jeopardize my Biles made an uncharacterhealth and wellistic mistake on the vault. When you’re considered the being. We have to best ever in your sport, improtect our body perfections are mistaken for and our mind. It a sign of the apocalypse. just sucks when However, in this instance, it’s much more likely that you’re ﬁghting they were actually a desperwith your own ate plea for help. “Whenever you get in a head.” high-stress situation you — Simone Biles kind of freak out,” she said after the event. “I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being. We have to protect our body and our mind. It just sucks when you’re fighting with your own head.” Soon after, Biles declined to guarantee her participation in Thursday’s individual all-around competition. And by Tuesday night, it became official: The most-decorated gymnast of all time, a talent so transcendent that she has her own Twitter emoji to extol her greatness, will not be participating in order to preserve her mental health.

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Featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s preview, Simone Biles widely was viewed as the face of the Tokyo Summer Olympics. In light of this decision, detractors have emerged from every orifice of the Internet to attack her for disappointing her fans, her teammates, and her country instead of celebrating the 24-year-old for refusing to be a martyr. Her decision to protect her emotional well-being over entertaining the masses should be commended. Instead of being a mule to a world that consistently goes to great lengths to blatantly abuse, disparage, and devalue Black women, she’s taken command of her agency (and) has prioritized the one thing no one can take from her: her self-worth. And honestly, the world would be a much better place if the rest of us did the same.

PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, July 29 - August 4, 2021, Page 4

“A Tale of Two Cities: An Intimate Discussion of Market Expansion Challenges and Solutions” was the topic that paired Della Clark (right), president and CEO of The Enterprise Center in Philadelphia, and Jozelle Booker, president/CEO of the Memphis Minority Business Continuum, during the MMBC’s 14th annual Economic Development Forum held virtually July 22-23.

‘Tale of Two Cities’ discussion spotlights impact of sudden disruptions on MWBE businesses “You need two things. You need a good attorney and a good accountant. They need to become your ‘best friends’ and you need to meet with them on a regular basis, not just N Philadelphia, about 67 percent of the city’s minority enterprises were not “technology ready” when COVID-19 disrupted business as usual, when your taxes are due, or not just when you’re going to get a loan.” said Della Clark, president and CEO of The Enterprise Center, a minority — Della Clark business development agency there.

by Dena Owens

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Clark, a 28-year minority enterprise expert, spoke during the annual Clark’s agency then created a consortium of smaller janitorial firms to expand Economic Development Forum (EDF) hosted by the Memphis Minoritheir opportunities. ty Business Continuum (MMBC) this week (July 21-22). EDF addressed strategies for overcoming unexpected business disruptions, such as those Capital is key to survival and growth caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Jozelle Booker, MMBC president and CEO, joined Clark in a session discussing problems minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) faced in Philadelphia and Memphis, and specific outcomes. Both cities have large Black populations – Philadelphia at 44 percent and Memphis at 64 percent. Philadelphia is larger with 1.6 million residents vs. Memphis at 651,000. Many brick-and-mortar MWBEs had to switch to virtual platforms, making it tough to adjust without proper equipment or capital. “Your computer had to have a camera with audio … many of them did not,” said Clark, regarding Philadelphia’s minority businesses. “So they could not pivot – for example – if they were a retailer to E-commerce.” A second thing recognized from the pandemic, said Clark, “is that many of our small businesses had very little cash reserves. … those that had cash reserves were able to survive the storm that came.” Those that did not? “(T)hat’s why we had significant shutdowns of minority businesses that may not be able to come back as we come out of this pandemic and as we attempt to ‘not’ struggle with the add-on of the Delta variant that’s coming about,” said Clark. Booker said tourism, retail and restaurant industries were hardest hit nationwide since they were the first to close to slow the spread of COVID-19. Distribution, construction, trade and ser-

vice industries were mostly unaffected “if they had the size and scale to have multiyear contracts or purchase orders with companies or governments that were fully operational,” she said. Clark said Philadelphia MWBEs reviewed how they conducted business in past decades, finding that collaboration is needed to mitigate disruptions. Now she is seeing “intentionality” like never before as MWBEs lay out plans for recovery. Realities exposed by the pandemic – plus the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis, Minnesota policeman and the aftermath – are two things Clark said raised interest in supporting minority businesses. Mitigating disruptions requires spend opportunities, said Booker. In Memphis, MMBC, the Greater Memphis Chamber and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative have launched spend initiatives to keep more funds in the city versus going outside for contracts. In Philadelphia, The Enterprise Center helps MWBEs make successful pivots. Providing an example, Clark said an established HVAC company was losing revenue during Philadelphia’s construction slowdown. The company started a new business disinfecting surfaces to prevent coronavirus spread. The Enterprise Center helped the MWBE obtain a major cleaning contract. That MWBE is now an emergency response service, disinfecting facilities in multiple states where people have tested COVID-19 positive.

The Enterprise Center, a CDFI (Community Development Finance Institution) for Philadelphia MWBEs, was recently licensed as a SBIC (Small Business Investment Company) to help MWBEs nationally with capital needs. Clark supports a blend of debt and capital, advising MWBEs to first seek CDFI loans in early stages. Once the loan is paid, this “track record” can support bank financing. If an MWBE pursues bank loans first, the balance sheet becomes very important, said Clark, noting that the balance sheet and track record inﬂuence bank approval. “If an MWBE wants to take larger jobs, they must focus on the balance sheet,” she said. According to Clark, many MWBEs are reluctant to invest in financial audits or reviews, or spend time with a CPA or accountant on a regular basis. “You need two things. You need a good attorney and a good accountant,” she said. “They need to become your ‘best friends’ and you need to meet with them on a regular basis, not just when your taxes are due, or not just when you’re going to get a loan.” Resiliency comes in many forms Entrepreneurship, said Clark, is a key reason many workers in restaurant and hospitality fields are not returning to those jobs. She referenced a Philadelphian, who lost his job, bought a lawnmower and is no longer interested in a job because of the mon-

ey he generates cutting lawns. “Resilience goes all the way up and down, and across, because people have found new ways to survive,” she said. “I don’t think people are just depending on unemployment benefits. I think people have become entrepreneurs. … “We saw many small businesses selling PPE (personal protective equipment) products from masks to gloves.” Research labs and hospitals were mentioned as hotbeds for MWBE contracting opportunities. Staffing agencies also are in high demand. “There’s a real opportunity for black and brown businesses to get into construction, infrastructure, bridges, highways and those things,” said Clark, asserting that an infrastructure bill will get passed by Congress. “Those are hot industries that we need to start preparing for now.” Awarding contracts on a level playing ﬁeld Nationwide, the pandemic triggered conversations among leaders in public and private sectors about how contracts are awarded, shining light on racial injustices that have existed for decades, said Clark. “If the same people are at the table awarding contracts, then minorities get left out. … Sometimes, it’s not because we’re not bidding, but because they don’t want us to get the business.” Still, Clark is optimistic that the nation will develop a more just economy with an equal system where minorities with competitive bids and capital can win better contracts. She said MWBEs frequently get approved as subcontractors or sub-subcontractors, but not prime contractors. “I think we have to stop that.”

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The New Tri-State Defender

July 29 - August 4, 2021

Page 5

RELIGION

Citing urgent need, ministers plan to ramp up ﬁght against gun violence by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Members of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association (MBMA) Tuesday (July 27) spoke out the against gun violence. Members made their feelings known during a news conference at the end of the association’s regularly scheduled meeting. Rev. Walter Womack, pastor of Faithful Baptist Church in South Memphis and chairman of the association’s Crime and Prevention Committee, said the MBMA was taking

action against the rampant gun violence sweeping the city. “We’re putting together events and programs,” said Womack. “It’s urgent that we begin to do some work. Time is out for talking. We’ve done enough talking. We’re eager to work alongside other efforts. Gun violence is wrecking horror in the lives of people in our community.” Womack, who also is president of the Memphis Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), said the first of those events is planned for Aug. 21. “We are having another planning meeting on the 9th of August,” said

Womack. “We will hash out the details of a huge block party right there in front of our ministerial headquarters at 591 E. McLemore Ave. “There will be activities for the children, and there will be opportunities for law enforcement to interact with the community. We’ll have someone to come out and talk with our youth. The key is working with our youth.” Womack’s philosophy about working with children did not just start. That’s how he got Faithful Baptist Church started, he said. “I started the church with nothing but mostly children. People would

say, ‘No one is over there but a bunch of children.’ But children have parents and grandparents. Today, many of those children are in college now, sending back their tithes. Children will draw adults,” he said. Womack said consistent efforts to get gun violence under control in Memphis communities are to be commended. This is the time to join forces with those efforts to turn things around. “It’s time for us to move from lethal to loving in the community,” said Womack. “It’s time to put down the bullets and pick up some Bibles. We’ve got to get out and make a difference.”

The Rev. Walter Womack, president of the Memphis Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, addresses the media during a press conference at the Memphis Baptist Ministers Association headquarters on McLemore in South Memphis on Tuesday. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley) Womack said the alarming numbers in gun violence statistics across the city is a wakeup call for pastors to take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the streets and outside of the church walls. “People can be saved and changed, one life at a time, one family at a time,” said Womack. “The gospel of Jesus Christ will make a difference. It can do what we can’t.” Womack, as SCLC president, has taken on the fight against blight and decay in inner-city communities, a battle his predecessor, Pastor Dwight Montgomery also waged. Womack has publicly declared in recent years that when children live in a blighted and boarded-up, decaying communities, it is an “injustice against them.” He expressed in prior instances that blight and decay that have “been allowed to grow and spread” goes hand-in-hand with the rise is crime plaguing Memphis communities.

Class of ’56... The Dr. Melvin Charles Smith Trinity Complex at Mt. Moriah East Baptist Church was the setting as the Rev. Dr. Melvin Charles Smith (front row, right) and the Booker T. Washington Class of ’56 got together for a potluck brunch last Friday (July 23). (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

“Celebrating Our Legacy”... Boston Baptist Church saluted the Rev. Dr. Oris Lee Mays and the Rev. Dr Ydell Ishmon Sr. during a legacy celebration last Saturday (July 25). (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

Youth Day message... Evangelist Lashun Dillard-Berry of Citadel of Deliverance C.O.G.I.C. was the guest speaker as Pentecostal Temple C.O.G.I.C., where Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Patterson Sr. is host pastor, celebrated Youth Day last Sunday (July 25). (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

The New Tri-State Defender

July 29 - August 4, 2021

Page 6

NEWS “At the heart of these efforts was SNCC’s idea that people – ordinary people long denied this power – could take control of their lives. These were the people that Bob brought to the table to ﬁght for a seat: maids, sharecroppers, day workers, barbers, beauticians, teachers, preachers, and many others from all walks of life.”

Bob Moses’ Memphis lesson still rings prophetically true TSD Newsroom Robert Parrish Moses, known worldwide as Bob Moses, lived the kind of life worthy of the myriad accolades that came his way in life and – now – in death. Among them was the National Civil Rights Museum’s 2014 Freedom Award. Moses died Sunday at 86, with the museum framing the civil rights icon’s legacy as that of “a visionary leader, innovative educator and champion for voting rights. … Moses applied daily the constitutional premise that ‘We The People’ is inclusive of all who believed and acted on it.” Often clad in denim overalls, Moses inspired comparisons to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a voice for the common man who would not be silenced because of fear. In a tribute released by the Student Non-Violence Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the organization’s officials said Moses was key to the SNCC launching its voter registration campaign in Mississippi. Moses’ work, they shared, led to Freedom Schools, the 1964 Summer Project, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, the Poor People’s Campaign, and the Mis-

sissippi Freedom Labor Union. “And these not only began to alter the face of Mississippi, but also challenged the country to be true to the best in itself,” the SNCC wrote in its tribute. “At the heart of these efforts was SNCC’s idea that people – ordinary people long denied this power – could take control of their lives. These were the people that Bob brought to the table to fight for a seat: maids, sharecroppers, day workers, barbers, beauticians, teachers, preachers, and many others from all walks of life.” In its released statement about the 2014 Freedom Award recipient, the National Civil Rights museum lauded Moses for understanding “that access to the ballot for the most underserved required educating the electorate, not only to mitigate obstacles to voting, but also to provide opportunity for economic advancement…” The museum’s salute to Moses included posting on its website a snippet of Moses’ 2014 acceptance speech. In 2 ½ minutes, Moses detailed the essence of being “Constitutional People,” the need to be such people and the peril of falling short. During this “Constitutional Era,” said

“We’re in a Constitutional Era,” Bob Moses said in Memphis in 2014, issuing a caution that seems ever more real in 2021. (Photo: National Civil Rights Museum) Moses, “If we are going to do something about the promise of our Democracy, the idea that we should close the gap between our ideals and our practices, we will have to do something about the issue of who gets educated and for what purposes.” Moses emphasized that the “We the people” reference in the Constitution’s preamble is for anyone in this country who says that the country is their home. “We the people in the preamble opens up constitutional status for the undocumented in this country because it did not say ‘we the citizens.’ There was no country to be citizens of. It could have said ‘we the citizens of several states’ and then we would

have been a very different country,” said Moses. “So we are free to enact ourselves and our children as constitutional people. All we have to do is say it and believe it and think that the preamble was not something that we did. Think that the preamble is something that we do. That the preamble to our Constitution helps us bring ourselves together as a Constitutional people.” Moses closed with this warning: “For if we don’t become a Constitutional people, if we don’t find a way to have conversation with each other about what it means to be a Constitutional person, then our future is not very bright.”

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, July 29 - August 4, 2021, Page 7

Commission’s vote signals ongoing rift with Election Commission on how to cast ballots by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

A resolution to purchase ballot marking devices failed to gain approval from the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, with a majority opting for hand-marked paper ballots. Commissioners made the decision during their Monday meeting. The add-on commission agenda item requested that the county’s purchasing department assist with procuring voting machines and services that support paper ballots. It was sponsored by Chairman Eddie Jones. Commissioner Tami Sawyer was added as a co-sponsor. It passed 8-2. Voting in favor of paper ballots were Commissioners Van Turner Jr.,

Tami Sawyer, Michael Whaley, Mick Wright, Reginald Milton, Willie F. Brooks, Mickell Lowery and Jones. Commissioners Mark Billingsley and Edmund Ford, Jr. voted no. Commissioner Brandon Morrison abstained. Shelby County Election Commissioner Brent Taylor Tuesday (July 27) accused the commission of “bypassing” the Election Commission “once (election commission) members have left the building.” The Election Commission-approved machines would have allowed voters to cast votes on a screen. A printout with a bar code would provide a paper trail to provide confirmation. The machines currently in use don’t provide a printout. The Election Commission voted to advance the $3.99 million contract,

“This resolution comes forward, it does not match – to your words and to your opposition’s words – does not match what a year ago we said we were majority in favor of.” — Tami Sawyer

despite knowing it was against the wishes of the county commission. “This resolution comes forward, it does not match – to your words and to your opposition’s words – does not match what a year ago we said we were majority in favor of,” Sawyer said. A similar attempt was voted down in October. Then, the proposed hybrid system would have permitted paper ballots and marking devices. “That was voted down by the commission because the contract did not

match the bid amount ... The reason it did not match the bid amount was because we incorporated what we would need for the hand-marked paper ballots,” said Taylor. He then said the Election Commission used the same request for proposal (RFP) to adopt a new resolution for the contract. The $3.99 million contract would have gone to ballot marking devices. Going forward, a new resolution could be an option for the Election Commission. If the Election Com-

mission decides to take the matter to Chancery Court, a chancellor could compel commissioners to pony up for ballot marking devices. “I think it is unfortunate for this to end up in court rather than us finding a solution,” said commissioner Wright, who abstained from voting. The commissioner also wanted to know if the next election would feature hand-marked paper ballots. “Your action today does not necessarily mean you will be voting on hand marked paper ballots in 2022. Your vote today, if the commission turns it down, will place the issue squarely back to an election issue, which means we will need to assess what our options are,” said Taylor. He also suggested the current machines could be used in the next election.

#UPTheVote901 details Memphis People’s Summit TSD Newsroom A precursor to the 2022 Memphis People’s Convention, the Memphis People’s Summit convenes on Saturday (July 31) as a “platform to engage, empower and activate citizens in Memphis and Shelby County while also holding elected officials accountable.” The one-day symposium is being spearheaded by #UPTheVote901 in association with several community partners. With COVID-19 and health and safety in mind, the summit will be a hybrid event, meaning virtual and in-person.

Set to run from noon to 4 p.m., the summit will provide in-person access at Abundant Grace Fellowship Church, 1574 E. Shelby Dr. in Whitehaven. Seating is limited, with COVID-19 protocols in place. Whether in-person or virtual, attendees are asked to register in advance at https://bit.ly/3l3oZUk. Organizers said the summit seeks to: • Advance the development of the Memphis People’s Agenda towards a more direct policy-oriented framework. • Inform voters on where elected officials stand on issues important to

them (including their voting record on crucial votes). • Connect voters to the networks and organizations to help mobilize them for political power. • Allow engagement with local elected officials, including state Sen. Ramesh Akbari (District 29); Memphis City Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas (District 7); Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner Jr. (District 12); Shelby County Schools Board Commissioner Stephanie Love. The Memphis People’s Summit is designed to build upon the 2019 Memphis People’s Convention,

The Rev. Dr. Earle J. Fisher, founder of #UPTheVote901, offers opening remarks at the Memphis People’s Convention at the Paradise Entertainment Complex on June 8, 2019. (Photo: Lee Eric Smith/TSD Archives) which drew a diverse crowd of approximately 650-plus attendees to Paradise Entertainment Complex on Georgia Ave. Unveiled during that gathering was the Memphis People’s Convention

agenda, which drew from a survey of 2,200 Memphians and produced five areas of focus: city budget, education, crime and safety, labor and wages and affordable housing.

I-40 bridge over Mississippi River to begin reopening Associated Press The Interstate 40 bridge linking Arkansas and Tennessee that was closed after a crack was found in the span will begin reopening to traffic next week, transportation officials said Wednesday. The Arkansas and Tennessee departments of transportation said the eastbound lanes of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge over the Mississippi River will reopen to limited traffic Monday morning. The span’s westbound lanes are slated to reopen Aug. 6. “We know having the bridge closed has been incredibly inconvenient,” Tennessee Transportation Commissioner Clay Bright said in a statement. “We appreciate the public’s patience while our team made the repairs and performed extensive inspections to ensure its structurally sound for many years to come.” The I-40 bridge was shut down May 11 after inspectors found a crack in one of two 900-foot (275-meter) horizontal steel beams critical for the bridge’s structural integrity. Road traffic had been diverted to the nearby Interstate 55 bridge during the I-40 bridge’s repairs. The Arkansas Department of Transportation, which is charge of the bridge’s inspection, fired an in-

spector who missed the crack in 2019 and 2020. But pictures from a kayaker indicate the crack was visible in 2016. The crack is being investigated by the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s inspector general. Arkansas Transportation Director Lorie Tudor said it’s also being investigated by her department. The fractured section of the beam, which was removed, is undergoing forensic analysis to determine when and how the fracture occurred, Arkansas Deputy Transportation Director Rex Vines told the state’s highway commission Wednesday morning. An estimated $9.5 million has been spent so far on the bridge’s repairs, design and inspection after the closure, Vines said. The cost will be split between the two states. The announcement comes days after Tennessee transportation officials said the bridge likely wouldn’t reopen until early August. Workers this week finished installing 17 steel plates needed to repair the bridge. The Tennessee Department of Transportation said the opening plan is barring any complications and planned to put out another update Friday. Workers will begin breaking down platforms and removing equip-

Workers repaired seismic plate 5 on June 24. (Photo: Tennessee Department of Transportation) ment on the bridge’s eastbound side starting Friday, officials said. I-40 is a key artery for U.S. commerce, running from North Carolina to California. Manufacturers and shippers rely on the interstate to move products and materials across the river. About 50,000 vehicles typically travel across the bridge when

it’s open, with about a quarter of those being commercial trucks, Tennessee transportation officials say. The bridge had been closed in the midst of the negotiations in Washington over a bipartisan infrastructure package. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the span last month to highlight its closure

was having on the area. The trucking industry has absorbed more than $70 million in additional costs because of the closure, the Arkansas Trucking Association said last month. The group, however, said the average cost to the industry of the closure had reduced from $2.4 million a day to just under $1 million.

The New Tri-State Defender

July 29 - August 4, 2021

CLASSIFIEDS

COMMUNITY ‘Reimagining Student Safety’ discussion examines role of police in schools by Najee El-Amin

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

With only weeks remaining before the start of the Shelby County Schools academic year, students and community members convened to express their concern about having armed law enforcement officers continue to walk the halls of their schools. “Reimagining Student Safety” brought together various local education stakeholders, including Dr. Tim McCuddy, assistant professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal justice at the University of Memphis, and Shahidah Jones, an organizer for Black Lives Matter Memphis. Youth activists also gave their input throughout the evening. With the virtual table set, the leaders tackled the question of policing in the schools. Moderator Octavian Morten offered a swift message of intent. “Youth across the country, joined by their adult peers, are calling for police-free schools to end student contact with law enforcement,” Morten said. “We hope that SCS leaders will listen to the concerns of their students calling for this change and take bold action to prevent more of our young people from entering the criminal justice system, by removing law enforcement from our students’ hallways and classrooms.” The Shelby County Schools Board is set to vote to either continue with law enforcement officers in schools or end the district’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department before the Aug. 9 start of the 2021-22 school year. SCS officials said they “plan to bring an MOU renewal to the School Board in August for consideration.” It also looks likely that the district will again try to propose the creation of a “peace corps” aimed at community-based policing that reports directly to SCS. Still, some remain skeptical about weapon-carrying personnel being allowed on school grounds in any fashion. “School safety is an issue that is a lot broader and requires a lot more than an officer,” said BLM’s Jones. “I would be interested in talking about student safety… and what roles we need as a result of that.” Gerald Darling, SCS chief of safety and security, said, “You got to be careful when you define the role of school safety or school resource officer as just a person that you may not like. There’s a lot more detail than that.” Brandon Tucker, policy director at the American Civil Liberties Union-Tennessee, said, “There is a plethora of things that city leaders, lawmakers, advocates, and law enforcement can do . … This gets to the point of how do we define what is safety, what has been the actual output or result of law enforcement in the school.” Zahra Chowdhury was among the students who shared their thoughts. “In general, school is where we spend most of our time,” she said. “The policies affect us directly and I feel like we need to have a greater say in them.” Moderator Morten closed by saying, “We love having conversations like this, but we want to move more towards action. Let your leaders know how you feel.”

Page 8

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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: Talondia Becton Tax Parcel #: 0710140000049C Tax Sale #: 1604 Price Offered: $15,000 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on August 30, 2021, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Ofﬁce, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Yaveda Nesby Tax Parcel #: 04002100000050 Tax Sale #: 403 Price Offered: $225 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 2:30 p.m. on August 27, 2021, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Ofﬁce, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Yaveda Nesby Tax Parcel #: 04002300000290 Tax Sale #: 704 Price Offered: $1,350 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of

THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER CLASSIFIEDS 1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 PH (901) 523-1818 FAX (901) 578-5037 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 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. BEER PERMITS Flat Rate: $35 GENERAL INFORMATION:

at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 2:00 p.m. on August 27, 2021, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Vernon Sanford Tax Parcel #: 03506000000150 Tax Sale #: 1304 Price Offered: $1,700 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:30 p.m. on August 27, 2021, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Vernon Sanford Tax Parcel #: 03506300000210 Tax Sale #: 1604 Price Offered: $500 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 1:00 p.m. on August 27, 2021, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of

Some categories require prepayment. All ads subject to credit approval. The 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.

any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Vernon Sanford Tax Parcel #: 03506000000090 Tax Sale #: 1003 Price Offered: $1,125 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on August 27, 2021, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Ofﬁce, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

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: Vernon Sanford Tax Parcel #: 03506000000080 Tax Sale #: 1304 Price Offered: $1,500 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on August 27, 2021, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Ofﬁce, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

Notice 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: Brothers Investors LLC Tax Parcel #: 02909700000240 Tax Sale #: 1003 Price Offered: $900 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 27, 2021, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Ofﬁce, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Solicitation of Public Comment I-55 Interchange at E.H. Crump Boulevard and South Riverside Drive Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, TDOT PIN: 101742.00

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is issuing a public notice for the solicitation of public comments concerning the preparation of a Construction Reevaluation for the improvement of the I-55 Interchange at E.H. Crump Boulevard and South Riverside Drive in Memphis, Shelby County (TDOT PIN 101742.00), in accordance with Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 771.129. A Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) June 28, 2011. A Record of Decision (ROD) was issued by FHWA January 25, 2012. Following approval of the ROD, a Right-of-Way Reevaluation was completed April 8, 2015 and a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Reevaluation was completed November 30, 2020. Stakeholder and public meetings were held in May and June 2015 to obtain input regarding the potential need to close the I-55 bridge during construction. At this time, it was determined that a Limited Scope Supplemental EIS (LSSEIS) should be prepared. Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the LSSEIS was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2015. An Advisory Group was formed and met in January and March 2016. A public officials meeting was held in April 2016. Subsequent to these studies and discussions, it was determined, based on construction techniques implemented on the Interstate 440 (I-440) from Interstate 40 (I-40) to Interstate 24 (I-24) project (Nashville, Davidson County, TDOT PIN 125325.00), that TDOT would be able to maintain traffic on the I-55 bridge during construction; therefore, the LSSEIS was determined to no longer be needed and was not completed. Notices were published in local newspapers (The Commercial Appeal – October 31, 2019 and The Evening Times – November 1, 2019) to inform the public that TDOT would no longer be pursuing full closure of the I-55 Bridge over the Mississippi River during construction. An official rescission of the NOI for the LSSEIS was published in the Federal Register on November 4, 2019. In addition, the Advisory Group was sent email notification of the decision to not pursue the LSSEIS on November 18, 2019. Currently, TDOT is preparing a Construction Reevaluation based on a review of the 2021 Construction Plans for the project. Minor modifications have been identified in the 2021 Construction Plans in reference to the proposed roundabout and roadway typical sections, all within right-of-way currently owned by TDOT. During refinement of the design, it was also determined that an additional 243 square feet of right-of-way and an additional construction easement are necessary. Based on a review of the 2021 Construction Plans, the basic setting of the affected and existing environment has not been altered, and the project area is essentially of the same character as documented in the 2012 ROD with no substantial modifications in land use or new development. The anticipated impacts have not substantially changed and the examination of the 2021 Construction Plans indicated that there have been no new environmental consequences or effects not presented and/or discussed in the 2012 ROD and subsequent 2015 Right-of-Way Reevaluation and 2020 NPEA Reevaluation that would invalidate earlier approvals or significantly affect the quality of the environment. Requests for a copy of 2021 Construction Plans can be made by contacting:

For further information prior to public comment, please contact:

Tennessee Department of Transportation Region 4 Project Development Oﬃce Region 4 Administration Building, 1st Floor 300 Benchmark Place Jackson, Tennessee 38301 Please call Dennis Moultrie, P.E. at (731) 935-0339 in advance of your arrival.

Mr. Erick Hunt-Hawkins Tennessee Department of Transportation 505 Deaderick Street Nashville, Tennessee 37243 Oﬃce: (615) 253-5163

Any comments regarding this public notice should be provided in writing and sent to the address below or by email to TDOT.Comments@ tn.gov. Written statements should be submitted by date 21 days from the ad appearing to the following address: Project Comments, Attention I-55 Project, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Suite 700, James K. Polk Building, 505 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37243-0332. TDOT is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, color, disability or national origin.

The New Tri-State Defender

July 29 - August 4, 2021

Page 9

SPORTS

Jonas Valanciunas (right) grabs a rebound from Alen Smailagic of the Golden State Warriors (March 2021) at FedExForum. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/TSD Archives)

Grizzlies moving on without Valanciunas as Draft Day looms

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

With the NBA draft set for Thursday (July 29), the Memphis Grizzlies already have signaled that the 2021-22 team that clawed its way into the Western Conference Playoffs will have a decidedly different look. Jonas Valanciunas, who graded out as a double-double machine in points and rebounds, will no longer be patrolling the boards for the Grizzlies. He now works for the New Orleans Pelicans by way of trade that became public ahead of the draft. With Valanciunas to New Orleans goes Memphis’ No. 17 and No. 51 draft picks. In return for trading fan-favorite Valanciunas, the Grizzlies got Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams and draft picks valued by the team’s front office. Specifically, that means picks No. 10 and No. 40 in this year’s draft and a conditional pick in the 2022 draft. And, those moves may not be the last the Grizzlies make as they jockey for position in the draft. Adams is likely to be in the starting lineup when the season begins. When word of the trade made its way to Twitter, many fans had ﬂashbacks of Adams’ role in derailing an earlier Memphis bid to the Western Conference Finals. That storyline featured Adams engaging with former Grizzlies’ big man Zach Randolph in such a manner that led to Randolph’s ejection

Jonas Valanciunas seemingly never saw a rebound he didn’t want. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/TSD Archives) and a suspension that kept him out of a decisive game seven in Oklahoma City. In the season just completed, Valanciunas was a critical piece in the team making the playoffs for the first time in four years. He averaged 17.1 points and was third in the league in rebounds with 12.5 a game. Adams averaged 7.6 points and graded 8.9 rebounds a game. With the Grizzlies’ well-stocked with guards, many observers do not project him actually playing for Memphis. The thought is that he would either be bought out or used as trade capital.

Conventional draft wisdom would point the Grizzlies toward a wing player, who can connect efficiently on a three-point shot and be able to defend the three-point shot just as well, if not better. Among the prospects projected to be available at pick No. 10 are: • Moses Moody from Arkansas. He widely is considered the best wing available. • Franz Wagner Michigan. • Corey Kispert from Gonzaga. • Ziaire Williams, who was projected higher in many mock drafts but has been on a draft-board slide. Memphis has had some success in

drafting players from Gonzaga. The Grizzlies benefited a couple of years ago, grabbling Brandon Clarke late in the first round after he was projected to go higher. The Memphis team that drew admiration for its competitiveness around the league last year was built with a mixture of good draft selections and the blending in of mid-level talent. In the last two drafts the Grizzlies have selected Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman. Yes, letting go of Valanciunas stings, but growth often does.

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The New Tri-State Defender

July 29 - August 4, 2021

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