The New Tri-State Defender (July 30 - August 5, 2020)

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July 30 - August 5, 2020

VOL. 69, No. 31

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Parents: Going all virtual is another ‘challenge to overcome’

by Joy Doss Special to The New Tri-State Defender

With word Monday that Shelby County Schools will open on Aug. 31 as a virtual experience, parents now are in an accelerated mode to wrap their minds around yet another adjustment forced by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

According to Supt. Joris Ray, schools will stay on the virtual path pending further notice.

Data reported by SCS indicated that 80 percent of parents are in agreement that virtual learning was the option of choice.

Sen. Katrina Robinson (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

After the announcement, The New Tri-State Defender sampled Memphis parents to get a community-level feel for the decision and the uncertainty ahead.

Takeisha Berry Brooks, SCS parent (school TBC) Owner, A Natural Affair “I think virtual is great, although I know it’s going to take some dedication and work from the parents.

Considering what we have going on and not knowing how long COVID is going to exist and not having a treatment for it, it’s all very scary.

“I feel that if the schools open

A virtual block-party was another tool of engagement staged by SCS and its partners prior to the decision to embrace all-virtual learning when schools open for the fall semester.

(Photo: SCS on Twitter) back up, the numbers will increase.

I just don’t want to expose my children. Every child should be tested if they are going to back to classrooms at least 14 days before the first day.

It will be a better, safer approach if we know who has tested positive or

negative.”

Lee Rankin Attorney, The Lee Rankin Group, STEAM Parent SEE SCHOOL ON PAGE 3

Shelby County zooms past 20,000 COVID-19 cases Special to The New Tri-State Defender

A sobering milestone was passed on Wednesday with the Shelby County Health Department reporting that the total of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County had topped 20,000.

With 362 cases reported from the previous 24 hours, Wednesday’s total registered 20,056, with 14386 listed as recovered cases. The death toll stood at 268.

Health Department officials continue to point out that the numbers reported daily are the results of several days of testing. At Tuesday’s briefing by the Memphis-Shelby County COVID-19 Joint Task Force, Dr. Bruce Randolph, the Health Department’s medical director, said labs are trying to get rid of their backlog and bring their test results current.

While wait times for lab results have been as long as 7-14 days, Randolph said results for

tests are down to three days. The goal is to get results within 24-48 hours from labs.

As of Wednesday the positivity rate for Shelby County was 10.2 percent, having edged beyond the 10 per cent mark that Health Officials have said is their goal to stay below.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said wearing masks is the new normal, although there is nothing normal about what is happening.

As he once again championed

Embezzlement, theft charges lodged against State Sen. Katrina Robinson

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Masks – properly worn – were in order as Kwanzaa in July was celebrated at the Slave Haven Museum.

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

$1.00

the wearing of masks as one of the best strategies to help combat COVID-19 spread, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris on Tuesday said, “The high numbers indicate that we are not out to the woods yet. There is still lots of work to be done, and the outlook will probably darken before it abates.”

Harris also voiced his support for a state-wide masking mandate.

SEE VIRUS ON PAGE 4

Two years after being elected to represent District 33, state Sen. Katrina Robinson, 39, faces federal charges of theft and embezzlement involving government programs and wire fraud.

D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, made the charges public Wednesday afternoon. Robinson is executive director of The Healthcare Institute (THI), a provider of educational and training programs for jobs in the healthcare field.

“Protection of the United States Treasury and federal grant programs against theft, fraud, waste and abuse is a top priority of this office and the Department of Justice,” Dunavant said.

According to the unsealed criminal complaint, during the period of 2015-19 THI received over $2.2 million in federal grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The complaint alleges that during the 2015-19 time frame Robinson stole more than $600,000 from THI, paying herself more than what was allowed under the terms of the HRSA grant. Also alleged is that Robinson used THI funds for payments and purchases benefiting herself and immediate family members.

Alleged payments and purchases include: • A vehicle for her daughter; • Clothing, accessories and hair and beauty products; • Expenses related to her wedding and honeymoon, and later, legal fees for her divorce; • Payments on her personal debts, including credit cards, store charge cards, student loans, and other personal loans; • Travel and entertainment for herself and her family; • Improvements to her personal residence; • Expenses related to a body aesthetics business she owned; • A snow cone business operatSEE ROBINSON ON PAGE 4

The New Tri-State Defender

July 30 - August 5, 2020

Page 2

NEWS

Shelby County Schools to open virtually this fall In-person learning off the table

by Jacinthia Jones Chalkbeat Tennessee

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray announced on Monday that all district schools will open virtually on August 31 and will remain so until further notice.

The decision removes the in-person learning option that parents initially could have chosen.

“As hard as it was to close schools (last spring), sending students back to them is even more complicated,” he noted.

“Unlike the NBA, we cannot keep each student in a bubble to mitigate the exposure to the virus once they exit the classroom,” he said, referring to the basketball league’s strict quarantine that requires the players to live, practice, and play all games in a closed environment.

The decision for the district’s 100,000 schoolchildren and 15,000 employees comes after more than 80 percent of families requested the virtual learning option, according to a release from the school district. Parents had to decide last week.

“Returning to school in-person while coronavirus cases increase in our community puts the safety of our students and staff at greater risk – a risk the district is not willing to take,” said the school board’s chairwoman Miska Clay Bibbs in a statement.

Ray promised when classes restart this fall, they won’t resemble how classes ended last spring. When the coronavirus forced campuses to shut down early, Shelby County Schools relied mainly on homework packets and recorded lessons broadcast on public television.

This time, he said, every student will have a digital device, internet hotspot, and live interaction with teachers and peers daily.

Ray had said plans for opening schools during the pandemic were fluid and suggested earlier this month that in-person classes might not happen. In a recorded video address, Ray said that it is “tragic” that the health of students and reopening of schools had turned into “partisan noise.” He said he will continue to rely on scientific evidence in making decisions for Tennessee’s largest school district.

Ticking off a litany of coronavirus statistics, including some 18,000 cases and 250 deaths in Shelby County (at that point), Ray said that science suggests that by September that Memphis will experience a similar trajectory as New York, which was the epicenter of the nation’s coronavirus crisis in the spring.

“I concur with other superintendents across the country that the phrase ‘safe opening of schools” is largely a myth,” he said. “Direction signs on floors, spacing desks, more hand sanitizer, and masks cannot make a school safe in a community that is experiencing a daily triple-digit increase of virus cases, hospital admissions and death.”

Even though people are eager to return to normal routines, Ray said there is too much uncertainty about the role children play in the spread of COVID-19 and that too much rests on the safety and

lives of students and employees.

Last week, teachers were given the option to teach remotely or in classrooms after about 80 educators and supporters protested outside school district offices. A re-

quest for information on how many teachers had chosen remote learning was not immediately answered.

Ray said teachers will have the option to teach remotely or return to classrooms to teach their lessons online.

“I concur with other superintendents across the country that the phrase ‘safe opening of schools” is largely a myth.”

— Joris Ray

In a recorded video address, Supt. Joris Ray said he will continue to rely on scientific evidence in making decisions for Tennessee’s largest school district.

(Screen capture)

The New Tri-State Defender

July 30 - August 5, 2020

NEWS “As a community we have this opportunity to wrap our arms around those most affected by this pandemic ... As the African proverb goes, ‘It takes an entire village to raise a child.’ ” — Lee Rankin SCHOOL CONTINUED FROM FRONT “I am personally relieved at SCS’s decision for all students to attend virtually this upcoming semester. That’s a difficult decision for any parent to make – but especially for those without the option of staying home, lacking resources and childcare for their children. I was heartened to see that SCS is circulating info regarding childcare resources and providing electronic devices to those who need them.

“As a community we have this opportunity to wrap our arms around those most affected by this pandemic – instead of always taking shots at a school system charged with educating a large population of children who live in some of the poorest ZIP codes in the nation. As the African proverb goes, ‘It takes an entire village to raise a child.’ ” Cherhonda Mason-Ayers Former educator, Bellevue parent “In my opinion, the decision to go virtual was the very best decision SCS could have made for students and teachers alike.

While it may pose an inconvenience, forcing parents to consider more creative ways of childcare and requiring us to come together more as a village, it’s the best way to keep our teachers and young people safe.

“There is just no way for the district to safely manage all of the variables and outliers – bus riders, temperature checks, holding spaces for children who are ill, transportation challenges for those ill students who need to be dismissed.

“Then we ask our teachers to go into this environment when they don’t want to be exposed or bring anything home to their families or conversely expose the students that they are supposed to serve and protect. Had they voted for in-person class, it would have potentially been a domino effect of catastrophic proportions.

“I believe it would have been wise to have made the decision earlier to ensure that teachers could have adequate training and best practices for virtual teaching. And they should have devoted more time to creating a comprehensive contingency plan that would help mitigate the issues with dead zones and getting the kids the devices on time for the first the day of school.

“Nonetheless, I appreciate the final decision. I, as a parent, will be actively working in tandem with the instructors to ensure that our son is actively engaged to get the most out of his learning opportunities however they look.”

Cristina McCarter Sea Isle Elementary parent “My decision was easy to make once I saw the plan. I was thinking for elementary aged children…they have to sit down for six hours and wear masks, no recess, lunch in one place… that would have been like torture for my son.

“Once they have too many cases, they would end up going virtual anyway. So they may as well do it now so parents can prepare and adjust their homes and work schedules. Employers should be understanding about the situation. No one should be at risk of being fired. (As a parent) you gotta do what you gotta do. My mom used to take me

to work with her sometimes.

“As far as the learning part, I don’t know how that’s going to work. We’ve been doing stuff at home over the summer, though nothing consistent for over three hours. I don’t know how I will keep his attention span for a two-hour reading/ English class! The other classes are 45 minutes to an hour so that should be fine. I guess time will tell. But I will have to sit there with him to make sure he isn’t falling asleep!”

Kynis Douglas Central H.S. parent “Our family planned for my daughter to go back to school.

I’m 100 percent responsible for her care and education, though my mother helps quite a bit. We made the decision based on her age, maturity and educational needs. I understand the risk associated with sending her back…the possible exposure to her, me and my mother.

“In terms of what’s best for her education-wise, she needs to be in school. I want the subject matter experts to teach her. It’s just the best model for her learning style.

“I am not in any way sur-

prised that everyone is starting the year off virtually. To be honest, I anticipated it. It was the right decision from a public health standpoint but it will impose tremendous challenges for working parents, myself included. I work full time. Although I have flexibility and a tremendous support system, I’m still in the middle of figuring out how this is supposed to be.

“One of the things I considered is forming a cohort but at the high school level it’s a little more difficult. Their course loads vary greatly, more so than in elementary and middle school. How do you cohort with people that are in different classes? I’ve even joined a Facebook group of parents looking to form cohorts. I’m looking at all the options and hoping that this will be a shortterm arrangement.

“I’m also looking at the extracurricular part of it. It’s not the most important piece but it is a critical component of her educational experience. I still have a lot of questions at this point, but my goal remains the same – to make the best the decisions for her as a parent.

It’s just another challenge to overcome.”

Page 3

The New Tri-State Defender

NEWS ROBINSON CONTINUED FROM FRONT ed by her children, and • An event for her State Senate campaign.

If convicted, Robinson faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, three years supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case will be presented to a federal grand jury at a later date to consider an indictment.

Learning of the charges, the Senate Democratic Caucus issued this statement: “It’s clear that Sen. Robinson’s work in the state legislature on behalf of her constituents is not in question here today. Just like every other American, Sen. Robinson deserves the presumption of innocence and due process under the law. Her case should be resolved by a court of law, not by the court of public opinion.”

The Caucus referred further comment to Robinson and her attorney, who had not been reached for comment at The New Tri-State Defender’s print deadline.

State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, chairman of the Tennessee Caucus of Black Legislators, said there would be no statement concerning the matter at this time.

State Rep. Barbara Cooper, the oldest member of the Tennessee General Assembly, said: “That is very unfortunate, but judgment should be reserved for court when jurors will hear all the evidence in the case. Everyone deserves their day in court.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services –Office of the Inspector General (HHSOIG).

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Christopher E. Cotten will be prosecuting Robinson’s case on behalf of the federal government.

VIRUS CONTINUED FROM FRONT “Some of our neighbors and partners don’t have the power to limit how people move in public,” Harris said. “So our borders will not allow our transmission rate to ever go to zero percent. A state-wide mandate would remedy that.”

Harris mentioned briefly the recent commitment of Shelby County Schools to open with a completely virtual school model. Noting that children need to be kept safe, he added that they also need to develop, grow, and socialize.

Gabby Dowdy, a student at the University of Memphis School of Public Health, presented results from a study on the efficacy of mask-wearing.

The study showed since the mandate has been in effect, mask adherence has improved significantly, particularly in the age group from 2-18.

But even post-mandate, Hispanics showed the lowest number of adherence, with 34 percent, and Asians showing the highest level of compliance, with 91 percent.

However, only 60 percent demonstrated correct mask usage.

In a final word of caution, Harris stressed wearing masks correctly.

“Please don’t wear the mask on your chin like this,” Harris said, pulling a mask down on his chin, “or on your ear like this,” showing his mask hanging from his ear. “Masks must cover the mouth and nose to protect the wearer.”

July 30 - August 5, 2020

Page 4

PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, July 30 - August 5, 2020, Page 5

The Strike for Black Lives is essential for essential workers

by Tiffany Lowe Special to The New Tri-State Defender

On July 20, thousands of service workers joined forces and took to the streets in more than 25 cities across the nation, including Memphis.

Workers in healthcare, public transportation and fast food, like me, joined together and as we’ve done before to demand a livable wage and the right to form a union.

This time, though, felt different. We were even more specific in our fight: We were striking for Black lives.

Some might wonder how these two topics relate. I say they go hand in hand.

I’ve worked at KFC for three years to help support myself and my four children.

I earn $7.85 an hour, which is barely enough to get by. We all have to share a space with a roommate since I can’t afford a home just for us.

I’m also a Black woman, who immediately thinks of my own children, especially my 19-year-old daughter, when I hear the names Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and how it could have been one of them.

The majority of my co-workers and colleagues in the Fight for $15 are Black or brown. We work long hours or multiple jobs to make ends meet and still struggle to put food on the table for our children.

Now, more than ever, we see the need to fight for better working conditions.

I haven’t had the luxury to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve been going to work, dealing with customers, wearing the same mask all day, which is usually well-worn by the end of my shift.

I don’t get hazard pay. I’m worried that I’ll get home and get my kids sick. But I have no other choice but to go to work.

If I don’t work, my kids won’t have food.

The National Employment Law Project (NELP) reports that Yum Brands, the parent company to KFC, is only second to McDonald’s in their workers relying on public assistance.

This is the reality many service workers like me, the majority Black and brown, face every single day. Not only are our livelihoods on the line, now our health is.

Why would a Black man join a gang?

Really? For real, For real? It can’t be for personal wealth because most gang members live below the poverty line.

The Black Lives Matter equation

by Gary Jefferson Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Tiffany Lowe supports her four children as a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)worker. A leader in the local Fight for $15 and a union leader, she participated in the Strike for Black Lives in Memphis on July 20.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that Blacks are almost five times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19. The pandemic is more proof of the difference and injustice Black communities face.

I shouldn’t have to be afraid of getting pulled over by police and I shouldn’t have to be afraid of going into work. Yet, here we are.

Companies are now offering their own words to try to offer comfort. KFC tweeted “Black Lives Matter” and promised to listen and act.

I see it as a slap in the face.

They don’t care. How can they say they stand with us

when they can’t even give us a livable wage?

We’re getting paid poverty wages and risking our health working on the frontlines during the pandemic. If KFC and other corporations really cared about Black lives, they’d start with their own employees.

This is why I decided to walk off the job and join the tens of thousands of other workers of all different colors and races.

We’re centering Black lives, knowing that you can’t have economic justice until you have racial justice.

You can’t have one without the other.

THE CULTURAL COACH

Labels are for packages, not for grandkids

by Linda S. Wallace Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Dear Cultural Coach: Why do people put labels on their grandchildren? I hear people make statements like ``my local grandkids, my Italian grandkids, my Mexican grandkids ... my Jewish readymade (adopted) grandkids.’ I personally find this extremely inappropriate and have since learned that many parents of those kids are also annoyed.

How do I let people know that this is offensive? I may have once said something, and it was disregarded. Please help.

– Us Labeled Folks Dear Labeled Folks: Labels are helpful on cans, packages and bottles but not on people and certainly not on grandchildren. I would add a few more descriptive terms to your list: my gay grandchild, my fat grandchild, my pretty or plain grandchild or my smart, lazy or dumb grandchild. When we encounter a friend or neighbor who gets a thrill from attaching adjectives to people, we must gently remind him/her/them that there are better ways to spend their time.

We might say politely, “I

h a v e a pact with my grandchildren: I don’t label them, and they don’t label me. It Linda S. works out Wallace very well, actually, because then they don’t run and tell their friends that I am their old person.’

Dear Cultural Coach: Sometimes I am afraid to talk to Whites for fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. I don’t want to be called a bigot, yet sometimes I can’t express my real thoughts. Help!! Afraid to Be Real Dear Real: Ok, I suspect you are poking fun at me and the column.

I’ll admit your question made me laugh. I am going to answer your question, however, because you unintentionally make an important point.

Somewhere along the line, some people of color got the impression that diversity lessons apply only to European Americans. They see diversity

classes as a chance to get even and get angry rather than acquire interpersonal skills.

One of my most memorable moments as a journalist came as I sat quietly watching an elderly, white copy editor fight to keep copy out of the paper that he felt demeaned an African American woman. The writer in question was Black.

The impassioned white copy editor, by the way, won his battle, and the objectionable sentence about Black women in hot pants was removed.

In life, as in business, some people chase opportunity, and others await its arrival. Effective cultural communicators act like skillful coaches who use words to motivate, inspire and win. Past experiences have taught me that if I deliver a message passionately and fail, most likely my words didn’t fit the audience well, or my listeners didn’t think I was a credible source.

Americans possess varying degrees of cultural skills, including language skills, and knowledge of global history, tribes and ethnic groups, and

I don’t think any of us can afford to rest on our laurels.

Recently, I sat in a predominantly white coffee shop while two African Americans loudly bemoaned their plight and discussed the latest plots invented by ‘white folks.’ I was not surprised to hear their relationships had not been happy ones.

The attitudes we carry around about particular ethnic, racial or religious groups are lenses that limit our view to some degree and thus affect the quality and of our interactions.

Right now, in America, the woods are on fire. Protesters from all walks and stages of life seek justice because our lives, community safety and the 2020 election are all at stake.

Let’s band together to promote equity and imagine a fairer world for our children.

This is not the time to turn on our allies-the Jewish community, especially. Watch your words.

(Linda S. Wallace is a freelance journalist and communication specialist, who helps clients develop cross-cultural messages for the workplace and the media. Readers are invited to submit questions on work or personal problems related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or physical differences to Theculturalcoach@aol.com.)

Black Lives Matter is a powerful and necessary movement.

Growing up in rural Georgia, I watched on television as young, Black urban men complained that police officers stopped, arrested or killed other Black men unlawfully.

Like many in America, I curious and concerned.

However, with the advent of cameras on smart phones, we see firsthand evidence of many of these unlawful, horrific acts by the police officers.

Some police officers lawfully do not respect Black Lives. The equation, however, is incomplete.

As an engineering student, I was taught to complete the equation.

What about Black-onBlack crime?

Sure, we have white-onwhite crime, Asian-on-Asian crime, Hispanic-on-Hispanic crime. I agree: It is about proximity.

However, I am talking about Black people now, specifically African Americans.

We have seen where Black-on-Black crime not only negatively impacts the livelihood of law-abiding African Americans, but it kills innocent people, especially children.

We want the world to respect us as equals and deserving people, while respecting our right to life.

However, can we obtain that respect if our own Black brothers do not treasure the lives of other Black people?

We passionately, collectively and publicly mourn the death of victims of police brutality, while only placing a polite obituary in the newspaper for innocent deaths from Black-on-Black crime.

One could reason that the violence is spawned

by Black people trying to survive in a racist society.

However, White America does not force a Black man to spray bullets into a crowd full of Black people while trying to kill one of his enemies or adversaries.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the national, American Black unemployment rate in 2019 was 6.1 percent.

This means jobs were relatively plentiful, yet we still had a high percentage of Black-on-Black crime, especially fatalities.

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I think the violence is a segment of the Black culture.

I think s o m e young Gary Jefferson B l a c k men think that it is “cool” and glorified to live the life of a hustler on the streets.

However, who are you hustling and killing, my brothers?

Too often, you are murdering law-abiding African Americans trying to earn a decent living. (Remember, the concept of proximity.)

I think Rap music and other pillars of the Black culture encourage and perpetuate this terrible behavior. Too much of Rap music glorifies and praises “putting a brother on his back.”

We need to hold our Rap music artists to a higher standard. We also need to think about the long-term effects of some of those so-called “cool,” “street-survival,” “respect” and “street credibility” behaviors.

Gang behavior also contributes to the high rates of Black-on-Black crime.

Why would a Black man join a gang? Really? For real, For real? It can’t be for personal wealth because most gang members live below the poverty line.

We know there are hardships and disparities that are fixtures in the Black community. But, do those factors motivate a Black man to seek gang membership, and eventually rob and kill other innocent Black people?

As Black people, we are taught coping skills at an early age to handle most of life’s unfortunate situations.

My dream is to form a team of a criminal psychologist, criminal attorneys and myself to try to understand the root cause of the violence.

There are too many assumptions and generalizations being made about the sources of Black-on-Black crime. I think young Black men join gangs for glory, praise and status. That is so sad.

Lawfully Respected Black Lives + Treasured Black Lives = Black Lives Matter.

(Gary Jefferson is an author, social activist and engineering consultant.)

The New Tri-State Defender

July 30 - August 5, 2020

Page 6

RELIGION

Death of John Lewis fuels movement to rename Edmund Pettus Bridge for him

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The nation and the world met a young, hopeful John Lewis on March 7, 1965 when he helped lead marchers across Selma, Alabama’s Edmund Pettus Bridge on what became known as “Bloody Sunday.”

Lewis death last Friday (July 17) re-ignited a month-and-a-half-long effort to memorialize his legacy by renaming the Edmund Pettus Bridge in his honor. A petition to do just that now boasts well over half a million signatures.

“We should push mightily for this renaming,” said Faith Morris, chief communications officer at the National Civil Rights Museum. “Let’s be as serious, determined and focused in doing this for John Lewis as he was in fighting for us. I just wish he had lived to see this happen. I know he would be proud.”

Michael Starr Hopkins, a Washington, D.C. attorney and activist, started the petition at the end of May after protesting George Floyd’s murder, coming home from the protest march and watching “Selma” again.

Hopkins gave life to “The John Lewis Bridge” after researching the name of Edmund Pettus, who was a Confederate Army officer and a grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan. He urged others to sign the petition, declaring, “We can’t miss this moment.”

Morris recalls the distinct honor of meeting Lewis at a soiree in the nation’s capital.

“Congressman Lewis danced the night away, light-footed and fancy free,” Morris said. “This was not the John Lewis I expected because what I had seen of him before then was a very serious, very deter-

Causes for celebration...

With songs of praise aplenty, Mt. Pisgah C.M.E. Church celebrated Annual Men’s Day and Connectional Youth Day, with the Rev. Victor Bowen (right) as the guest speaker.

(Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

mined, very focused man. This John Lewis just wanted to enjoy the evening, and he did. I even got in a dance and a laugh with him. I loved the contrast.”

Lewis was aware that the petition had been started at the time of his death. When the announcement was made that he had lost his fight with pancreatic cancer, hundreds of thousands rushed to sign the petition.

The Change.org document is the largest petition ever started on Change.org.

Morris recalls a very great debt of gratitude owed by the National Civil Rights Museum to Lewis “Congressman Lewis did something very special for us,” Morris said. “He brought his Congressional Pilgrimage with a delegation of 35 representatives from all over the country to the Museum in March of 2018. He said it was important for Congress to understand the trials and tribulations of the Movement. That they needed to understand what the Movement was about, and why it was still going on.

“We were all deeply moved. I got to talk to him over lunch, thank him for that special moment, and get another promise that he would return April 4, 2018, for MLK50.

He promised, and he did return.”

The renaming is not without its controversy, however, Morris acknowledged.

Some have argued that the renaming would be a disservice to the other protesters who marched and endured violent beatings that day. Lynda Lowery, who was 14 at the time, and received 35 stitches to her head that day, is among those who have voiced opposition to the renaming.

Hopkins, the petition’s author, said of the opposition, “If we get so busy arguing, I’m not sure we will have this chance again.”

This year, when Lewis made the now symbolic march across the Pettus Bridge,

Faith Morris with Congressman John Lewis during one of his visits to the National Civil Rights Museum. (Courtesy photo) he said: “On this bridge, some of us gave a little blood to help redeem the soul of America. Our country is a better country.

We are a better people, but we have still have a distance to go before we get there.”

Morris said every American, no matter what race or creed, should support the move to rename the Pettus Bridge in honor of Lewis.

“Every time I walk across the symbolic Edmund Pettis Bridge in the “Selma” exhibit at the Museum, I think about John Lewis,” Morris said. “It is here that we tell the story of ‘Bloody Sunday.’ It’s important that this bridge be named for Lewis, an American hero who risked his life and

that of the 600 others who made the long, dangerous walk for voting rights. It should not remain named for Pettus, a Confederate general and KKK leader, who I don’t consider worthy of such an honor.”

Elwin Wilson, who confessed to beating Lewis, came to him and apologized, asking forgiveness for his racist acts against numerous African Americans in Selma.

Wilson went to each one in Selma who was still living. Wilson said he had an awakening after President Obama was elected to office.

He asked Lewis to forgive him.

Lewis did, and they embraced.

The New Tri-State Defender, July 30 - August 5, 2020, Page 7

#ACCESS901

With the Just Eat pop ups, Khomorai’s focus is on people new to the holistic journey and/or considering the vegan lifestyle or just healthier options.

(Photos: Demarcus Bowser)

Free your mind and Just Eat! Pop up offers food that is good to you and good for you

by Joy Doss Special to The New Tri-State Defender

A

chance encounter led me to some of the best tasting vegan food I have had in years.

I am standing outside Pilates gossiping with my friend Victoria when along comes three gentlemen, striking up a conversation (respectfully).

After laughing and joking for a bit, we discover that one of these brothas has a recently launched food pop up.

Joy A native Memphian, Khomorai has been Doss travelling to and from in Ghana for the past seven years, living there for two years during that period.

He recently returned to the states for what turned out to be an extended period, made even longer given the current pandemic situation.

Just Eat is an extension of his primary holistic health and wellness brand, Absolute Body Fitness.

He began his work as a lifestyle coach, promoting mindful eating and living. He would work out with clients then go grocery shopping with them and teach them to prepare meals.

Khomorai’s journey started a little over 10 years ago. He was morbidly obese, cresting 400 pounds. He was pre-hypertensive, pre-diabetic, had acid reflux and sleep apnea.

He wasn’t even 30 at the time. One day, he was having a stroke. The hospital kept him for two days, running the obligatory stress tests and so on.

“They basically were like, ‘you’re just big,’” he said said.

“My epiphany came shortly after that.”

He always had struggled with weight. Since he was very athletic in school, playing just about every sport, it was a non-issue.

However, there’s a difference between a hobby or extracurricular activity and a lifestyle. Once he became less active, the weight started creeping up.

He speaks of another moment that served as a catalyst.

“I was purchasing a pair of slacks for a job I was working on. I went to buy those slacks and they were a size 54! I almost cried at the register. It showed me actually how big I had actually gotten. I needed to get control of this. I started making mindful decisions, researching a lot of things.”

He researched food and recommended daily allowances, initially cutting out red meat. Then he cut sugars to a bare minimum before he landed solidly on the vegan lifestyle path.

From the M to the A (Atlanta AND Accra), Khomorai wants to us know better and do better.

The Just Eat vegan pop up starts here in Memphis, but he will be taking it down the road and to the Continent (whenever we can travel again!).

He’s adapting his offerings and brand regionally. In Memphis, it’s Just Eat Mane. It’s Just Eat Shawty in Atlanta. In Accra, it’s Just Eat Chale.

Just Eat is as simple as it sounds per Khomormai.

“Breaking it down to its simplest component. In essence, we should eat the food that’s good for us without overthinking it and without sacrificing taste and flavor.

“Don’t focus on what it is and where it comes from. The food we eat on a regular basis, we don’t question that. We have to condition ourselves to think differently. Healing not killing.”

A new tagline is born. (Note: In Memphinese, healing not killing rhymes!)

With the Just Eat pop ups, Khomorai isn’t targeting people who are already vegans or vegan adjacent. His focus is on people who are new to the holistic journey and/or considering the vegan lifestyle or just healthier options.

When asked about his specialties, he says he loves to make sauces. He’d recently made vegan rotel and when (our photographer) Demarcus and I arrived, we were treated to biscuits and vegan gravy (pictured).

When I tell you that gravy was FYE! Oh. My. Gah. No drippings or fat whatsoever, just an almond milk base and rightly seasoned. My inner fat girl was like YEEEEAH! As it turns out, this is a preview of what’s to come. The next pop up will be brunch style, breakfast food you can eat anytime. After that, be on the lookout for pizza and eventually vegan BBQ. Listen…if the rest of his food is this good, I’m sold! This is coming from a very picky eater. Trust me on this and Just Eat, Mane!

(For updates on pop ups, dishes and what’s new and next, follow Khomorai on Instagram: @fitabsolutebody.)

Biscuits with vegan gravy is a Just East specialty.

The New Tri-State Defender

July 30 - August 5, 2020

Page 8

ENTERTAINMENT

Goodness Gracious!

Cookie entrepreneur takes talent to ‘The View’

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Megan Mottley has had a whirlwind romance with her Goodness Gracious Luxe Cookies brand.

From cookie-bake fundraiser to featured Memphis entrepreneur on television’s “The View,” the savvy businesswoman is proving that fresh-baked, homemade cookies really are essential during a global pandemic.

When Mottley decided to take the plunge into a built-from-the-ground-up cookie business in 2017, she never imagined her journey would take her to the national stage on “The View.”

“I was featured on a segment called ‘View Your Deal,’” said Mottley. “It’s a promotion by a small business, which highlights savings or a company’s special deal.

“I was running 50-percent off of my cookie mix. My segment ran on Tuesday, July 21, and ended this week on Tuesday.”

Instead of a live appearance or ZOOMpowered interview, Mottley sent in a prerecorded video touting her cookies in the forms of cookie dough and fresh mix.

She also thanked her customers in Memphis and everyone who has ordered from her.

“The View” appearance was a long time coming, but it all started back in 2017 when Mottley auditioned for the business capital investment show “Shark Tank.”

Although Mottley didn’t make the cut, the ABC Network approached her to appear on its longest-running, daytime talk show. Then 2020 came, and this was going to be the year Goodness Gracious expands its market share worldwide.

And then, the pandemic happened. And for any kind of business looking to survive COVID-19 and thrive, even in the midst of it, adjustments had to be made, and

Megan Mottley: “As a mom and entrepreneur, I hope I encourage small business owners to persevere despite tough times, and I especially look forward to more local support.” (Courtesy photos) changes would be inevitable.

“Some time after I had just gotten started, one of my repeat customers asked me if I could sell her frozen cookie dough so she could just bake my cookies whenever she liked,” said Mottley. “I said, ‘Yes, I can do that.’”

That was before the pandemic when life was simple and the cookie delivery business was booming.

But mid-March came, COVID-19 invaded Shelby County and cookie deliveries came to a screeching halt.

Schools were closed, so her substitute teaching gigs dried up.

“I have a daughter, Kaitlyn, going into her second year at the University of Memphis,” said Mottley. “I have to provide for her and make sure she has every thing she needed, no matter what’s going on.”

Then, Mottley started thinking: “What if I start mass-producing my frozen cookie dough and cookie mix to sell? People will feel safe and still get to enjoy my original cookie recipes.”

That is how a fresh cookie delivery business thrives, despite a global pandemic.

Mottley began producing frozen cookie dough in a stay-fresh bag, scooped out in

the exact measure she scoops out her own cookies. Then, she got another idea. Sell the cookie mix, and all the customer has to do is add the wet ingredients – water and eggs.

Mottley quickly found cute, brand packaging to keep both the cookie dough and the cookie mix fresh with every use, and that is how Goodness Gracious Luxe Cookies thrive in a pandemic.

Internet orders come on her website, and shipping delivers the product all over the country. Locally, some of Mottley’s regular customers like their freshly baked cookies delivered the same day.

“The View” appearance opened up sales possibilities nationally and Mottley is hopeful these are not just one-time orders.

She hopes those ordering from around the nation will join the ranks of her loyal customer base.

“I was beyond excited for the opportunity to bring Goodness Gracious Luxe Cookies into homes nationwide,” Mottley said. “As a mom and entrepreneur, I hope I encourage small business owners to persevere despite tough times, and I especially look forward to more local support.”

Mottley’s Goodness Gracious products have been used to raise money for nonprofits in massive fundraising drives.

Mottley has also secured such corporate clients as Nike, FedEx, and The Hilton Corporation.

Products can be purchased at: www. ggluxecookies.com.

The New Tri-State Defender

July 30 - August 5, 2020

Page 9

COMMUNITY

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Sonny Webber (left): “I didn’t wake up on that day thinking and believing in a couple of hours they are going to kill my son, so let me get ready to start a protest and a riot. That’s crazy.� (Photo Terrisa C. Mark)

Father of teen killed by marshals now set to face his day in court

by Terrisa C. Mark Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Sonny Webber faces a scheduled court appearance Thursday (July 30) on multiple felony charges stemming from the violent reaction that resulted after his son was fatally shot by U.S. Marshals last year.

He was charged with 53 counts of aggravated assault towards the oďŹƒcers after the protests. In his view, the multiple charges are authorities’ way of blaming him for how others reacted after his son was killed. “I can’t even grieve right because this is what my time and energy has to go into, dealing with these court cases,â€? he said.

His son, Brandon Webber, 20, was shot and killed June 12, 2019, at his mother’s driveway at 2075 Durham in Frayser.

Authorities alleged that, a few days prior to Webber being shot and killed, he shot a man ďŹ ve times in Hernando, Miss. during a potential car sale. OďŹƒcers said Webber stole the car and made his way back to Memphis.

Marshals reported that they shot Webber as they approached him to

serve a warrant. They say he posed a threat by ramming their vehicles and pointing a gun towards them.

The shooting enraged Frayser residents, who believed the oďŹƒcers used excessive force. Twenty-four police oďŹƒcers were injured and their vehicles were damaged by rocks.

The incident brought national attention to Memphis.

On June 10, Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich announced that no charges would be placed against the oďŹƒcers who killed Brandon. “People still calling it a protest,â€? said Webber. “No. That was not a protest. That was a reaction to what happened to my son that

night. “To form a protest, something had to happen before then. No! this was the same day and was not a protest.�

Webber is outraged that the charges have not been dropped. “I didn’t wake up on that day thinking and believing in a couple of hours they are going to kill my son, so let me get ready to start a protest and a riot. That’s crazy,� said Webber.

Webber compared the Frayser unrest to nationwide protests over the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police ofďŹ cer. “Who are you going to arrest for all those protests and riots?

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You can’t blame one person or the family members of these victims,� he said.

As for his son, Sonny Webber wonders how authorities can justify shooting his son 16 times. “Shooting someone that many times, you can’t justify it,� he said.

Brandon’s, mother Jaleta Clark, does not believe oďŹƒcial reports about the shooting. “There were bullet wounds through my son’s upper torso and legs, there were bullet wounds through his hands where he placed them up towards his face to protect him, the entire back half of his head was blown o,â€? she said.

Clark believes the autopsy report proves her son did not point a gun at the marshals because all the bullet wounds were in a downward position.

Brandon’s parents are upset about how the situation was handled. “They plotted and waited for my son. Why didn’t Memphis Police Department put him on the TV saying there is a warrant out for him,� Clark said. “They watched and followed my son all day long instead of coming to us and saying there was a warrant for him.�

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Public Notice Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Goals The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26 proposes an overall minimum goal of 14.64 % for participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) on Federal Transit Administration (FTA) assisted contracts during the ďŹ scal year from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2023.

The proposed goal and its rationale will be available for inspection for ďŹ fteen (15) days from the date of this notice at MATA’s Administrative OďŹƒces, located at 1370 Levee Road, Memphis, TN 38108 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

MATA and the U.S. Department of Transportation will accept comments on the goals for thirty (15) days from the date of this notice.

Comments to MATA should be directed to: Anthony Amos Disadvantaged Business Enterprise OďŹƒcer 1370 Airways Blvd Memphis, TN 38108 aamos@matatransit.com 901-722-7165

The New Tri-State Defender

July 30 - August 5, 2020

Page 10

SPORTS

Tigers reload as they await a basketball season with pandemic-related unknowns play reaches their potential, they will get that heat later in the season.

by Terry Davis Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The University of Memphis basketball team has begun the process of starting a new season with the signing of a key recruit, uncertainty about whether two members will receive waivers to play and, more importantly, if there will be a season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team began official practice with all the coaches last week. All the players were in attendance, except DeAndre Williams. Williams, a transfer player from Evansville University in Indiana, returned to campus this week.

Memphis is still one coach short because of the departure of former NBA star Mike Miller. Miller took the head coaching position at Houston High School. Head coach Penny Hardaway has not set a timeline of replacing Miller.

Last year Memphis entered the season with the hype of the number one recruiting class in the nation. This year’s team may not get the hot spotlight to start the season, but if their

that there will not be any fall sports this year.

The Power Five conferences – ACC, Big 12, Big 10. Pac-12 and SEC – have set virus-related restrictions, but none have yet banned football for the fall.

Let the waiting begin Williams, a 6’9” forward out of Houston, averaged 15.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting 64.8 percent from the field.

He, along with fellow transfer Landers Nolley from the University of Virginia, will have to await an eligibility ruling from the NCAA. There is a groundswell of support for the approval for the one-time transfer exemption. The NCAA, however, balked at approving that rule for this season.

According to Hardaway, a waiver has been requested for both players.

Memphis does not have a great track record of getting waivers from the NCAA. Will there be any games?

There has been no indication that the season will begin on time or be delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Memphis is scheduled to visit

The best may have gotten better

Head coach Penny Hardaway and the Tigers now are looking toward success in a season with more uncertainties than usual because of the pandemic. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/TSD Archives) the Bahamas for a tournament this November. The tournament still is scheduled, but the country has closed its border to Americans because of the pandemic.

The American Athletic Conference created a medical panel to develop guidelines for playing under the conditions of the pandemic. The conference mandated that no fall sports would start before Sept. 1 of this year.

Other conferences have announced

High school football, girls’ soccer a go – for now!

by Terry Davis Special to The New Tri-State Defender

To the surprise of many, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee will use an executive order – No 55 – to allow Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA)-member schools to start fall sports on time.

Lee’s order means high school football and girls’ soccer can start as normally scheduled, despite most school systems beginning classes later than usual because of the COVID-19 pandemic and on a restricted schedule or virtually only.

The first Friday night for high school football is Aug. 21, with state championships slated for December 3-5 in Cookeville.

Shelby County Schools has delayed the beginning of classes until Aug. 31. The instruction will be virtual “until further notice.”

“We appreciate being able to work with Gov. Lee and his staff on this,” said Bernard Childress, TSSAA executive director. “I am pleased that we were able to develop some very specific guidelines for every sport that will allow our kids to get out on their fields and fully participate in football and girls’ soccer this fall.”

Once the order is signed,

contact may take place in girls soccer practice. The date of the first contest remains as originally scheduled, Aug. 17 with the state championships to be held October 18-31 in Murfreesboro.

No changes to the 2020 football schedule, regular season or otherwise, will be made. The contingency plan for football passed by the Board of Control last week detailed that if contact practice could resume prior to Aug. 4, then no contests would be rescheduled.

Memphis-area teams have been waiting for direction from the state on how to proceed with off-season workouts. Although the state athletic commission has given permission for high school sports to proceed, the locals must follow the direction of the Shelby County Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The protocols that Whitehaven head football coach Rodney Saulsberry will follow include some health screenings and asking all the pertinent questions about surroundings and activities. Social distancing will be standard.

“We are going to over exaggerate the social distancing.

We are going to be five yards apart from one another,” he said.

Saulsberry said he has had ongoing contact with the par-

ents his student-athletes, explain how he and his staff are going to conduct practice and all the steps they are taking to keep everyone safe.

It is unclear how the schools will pay for the required testing and personal protective equipment.

“We are going to make sure that we have everything in place and the best for our kids and to make sure our kids are safe,” said Saulsberry.

“This has been one of the most trying times in my 23 years as a football,” said Cedric Miller the head coach of (Memphis Academy of Health Sciences) charter school.

“This completely caught us off guard. We were preparing to play our season on September 18. Sometimes we have to play the cards we are dealt.

Miller had a zoom meeting with his players to discuss how the team will move forward.

With the state of emergency that banned any scrimmages with other teams, it is unclear how the season and schedule will unfold.

More details are forth coming from the TSSAA and the Shelby County Interscholastic Athletic Association (SCIAA).

It is likely there will not be a high football jamboree this season.

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Memphis led the nation in effective field goal defensive percentage last season. The Tigers lost Precious Achiuwa, the ACC’s Freshman of the Year and Player of The Year last season. He was one of the key cogs in the defensive unit.

The Tigers landed a prize recruit in Moussa Cisse. The center from Lausanne High School was listed as the best defensive player in the nation last year.

“We had a lot of pressure to sign Cisse. Precious and Moussa are best friends. Precious did a heck of a job recruiting him for us. He (Precious) told him about his experience and it came down to the wire,” Hardaway said.

Cisse is a rim protector and shot

blocking machine. He could be the missing piece the Tigers needed last season when heralded center James Wiseman left the team.

Cisse will have Ahmad Rand as a front court protecting teammate.

They will be rim protectors and expected to lead the defensive charge.

Rand, a junior college player, will be will eligible to play immediately.

Rand will be a high-energy player on the defensive end.

Memphis only scratched the surface of its offensive potential last season.

Boogie Ellis, Lester Quinones and Damion Baugh are looking to break out offensively this season. They also have proven they have what it takes to be a great defensive unit.

This year, if the offense improves, Memphis could be a hard team to play this season.

“They all came back with a different mentality. Once you get a year under your belt, you get a chance to experience some things you did not know before,” Hardaway said.

“They have come back better and you can tell they have worked on their games this summer.”