The Tri-State Defender - January 22, 2026

Winston spins a mythological tale about an African princess

Book review

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Dripping in jewels from head to foot.

If you were a princess or a queen, that’s what you would have. Jewels, gold, lux gowns and lush thrones, not to mention power and respect. It would be so much fun. It would mean a lot of work, too. And in the new book, “Destiny of the Diamond Princess” by Sherri Winston, it might include an ancient curse. For her entire life, Zahara-Grace Jones had known that she was adopted. What she didn’t know was that her life was a lie!

That whole time, her Mom claimed she didn’t know a thing about Zhara-Grace’s birth parents. She didn’t even have names, she said. But on the evening of Zahara-Grace’s 12th birthday, the truth is revealed. The mom had known a lot about Zahara-Grace’s birth. In fact, she was there right after Zahara-Grace entered the world, and she was given a mysterious box to give to Zahara-Grace on her 12th birthday.

Inside the box was a medallion, a statue and a letter that said everything would make sense soon.And then there was more: As Zahara-Grace competed in her favorite school sport, equestrienne skills, there was a commotion on the sidelines. A tall, regal gentleman loudly announced that she was the granddaughter of the King of Maliwanda, and the descendant of Princess Fara. That meant that Zahara-Grace was a real-life, bona-fide, honest-to-goodness princess!

What a shocker, right? But becoming royalty could seriously change a girl’s life, starting with rumors of a curse, palace jealousy and a poisoning centuries ago. Was Zahara-Grace the heir to that curse? And was it truly a coincidence that the mummies of her ancestors were about to be on display at a local art museum …?

To your adult eyes, a mummy’s curse

novel might seem like old-school fiction. And it is — yet it’s also not, in this case.

“Destiny of the Diamond Princess” has shades of 1932, but with a 2026 twist that’s fresh as can be, and fun, too.

Author Sherri Winston’s character, Zahara-Grace, is a great kid, kind and responsible, and her family is supportive of her interests, which widens the story and lets in more believability. On that same note, there’s African history and mythology in the tale, which gives it a ring of truth that your child will love, but not so much that the story feels textbookish. What young readers will probably enjoy best, though, is the exciting Indiana Jones-like tone that Winston uses. It’s thrilling and just a little scary, but safely so.

“Destiny of the Diamond Princess”

is meant for kids ages 8-to-11 but older children might enjoy it, too. As might an adult, because this book is a gem.

‘A Conversation with Kamala Harris’ in Memphis

Former vice president of the U.S. issues challenge to build and uphold community

By Candace A. Gray TSD Contributing Writer

The room was colorful, vibrant. Not just the pink, green, red, white, brown and black. But the women, and a few men, wore smiles that shined through the dimly lit room. There was an air of celebration, hope and family in the Orpheum Theatre on Thursday, Jan. 15. It greeted the 49th vice president of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, who, too, was all smiles as she entered the stage to Victoria Monet’s “On My Mama.”

Local interior designer and HGTV star Carmeon Hamilton, who would serve as the moderator for the event dubbed “A Conversation with Kamala Harris.” The backdrop: a picture of the cover of Harris’ book, “107 Days,” referencing the length of time she campaigned for the presidency in 2024, which she refers to as the shortest campaign in history.

“Good evening, Memphis!” Harris called out to a standing and squalling crowd.

“Happy Founders Day and Happy Dr. King’s Birthday,” she said. Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., in the crowd appropriately responded with shrill “skeeee weeees” as the huge crowd finally took their seats.

A poised but clearly excited Hamilton opened with her first question, acknowledging the loss of both of their mothers due to cancer, asking Harris how she takes care of herself after loss

and deals with the inevitable grief that results.

Harris shared sentiments about grief, including that it comes in waves; it’s a physical, emotional and spiritual experience. She also shared a story from her time caring for her mother prior to her death.

“The doctor said, ‘Has anyone talked to you about anticipatory grief?’ I found it’s the grief that you experience anticipating a loss that hasn’t occurred yet,” said Harris, intimating there are several forms of grief, as well.

“Time is one of the most effective ways of dulling the pain … the passage of time,” she said, before mentioning that Tyre Nichols’ parents were there. “Last time I was here, I was at his funeral.”

“But with loss it’s important to surround yourself with community,” Harris said. Community. It was the

“It starts with not allowing a situation, individual, circumstance or election take your power away from you — never let ANYONE take your power from you!”

— Kamala Harris

first time she said the word that would become a uniting thread throughout the night.

Hamilton mentioned that when she experienced the tragic loss of her husband several years prior, community sustained her through that loss.

But as the great prophet, Frankie Beverly said, life is about joy and pain. Hamilton’s next question focused on just that.

“With what we are witnessing in the world right now, how do we avoid feeling guilty for experiencing joy?” said Hamilton.

“They can co-exist,” said Harris, before sharing a story about how her parents met during the Civil Right Movement. Harris, who toured the Na-

tional Civil Rights Museum earlier in the day, said one of the things we have to remember is that we always found time to sing and dance even during the struggle.

“We experience laughter and joy and love. We can’t get through the struggle without also knowing the joy. We don’t overcome the pain if we don’t have the ability to see the light in each other,” said Harris.

Community was suggested again. How do we build it?

Harris says it starts with each of us knowing our power.

“In moments like this, forces are trying to suggest we are without power, trying to divide us, make us believe we are alone …

“It starts with not allowing a situation, individual, circumstance or election take your power away from you — never let ANYONE take your power from you!

“The smallest gesture to help your neighbor will show your strength. It’s not based on who we beat down but who we lift up!” said Harris.

From Page 3

She went on to encourage the crowd to support the work local nonprofits are doing, get people signed up to vote NOW rather than later, especially for local elections, volunteer and give, even though things might be tight for everyone right now.

Prior to the Memphis stop, Harris’ southern leg of her tour took her to New Orleans Tuesday and Jackson, Miss., the day before Memphis. In Jackson, she had an experience that reminded her of how we need to “see” people.

Harris accompanied a single mother of three to the grocery store, where she would spend a weekly budget of $150. By the time they were checking out, Harris asked the mom, “What’s in there for you?” and the mother became emotional.

“In our country right now, are we doing that for each other? How can we show that we SEE each other and remind people they are not alone?” said Harris.

This rich conversation went on to cover other topics like not allowing the normalization of what’s happening with

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our government, speaking and teaching history to our children, expecting something for our vote, not being passive when it comes to injustice and not being distracted when it comes to the corruption that’s happening.

Harris perched on Gen Z for a bit, suggesting we remind them of how

powerful their vote is, as they are now greater in number than the Baby Boomers and recognizing them as the “Sandwich Generation,” who are taking care of young children and aging parents.

“We have failed these parents. We need affordable childcare,” said Harris.

One of Hamilton’s last questions was about Harris’ thoughts on decorum.

“Presidents should conduct themselves in a way that garners respect … and we don’t have that with this current administration. We have one that is callous, corrupt and incompetent,” Harris said.

“We have a duty to uphold our nation’s standards of dignity and respect. We shouldn’t compromise.”

Harris fielded a few questions from the crowd, to which her answers focused on making sure our children know how special they are, walking a mile in others’ shoes to see their perspective and rallying around those who are struggling, helping any way we can, not just around the holidays but accepting our dutiful responsibility to community everyday.

Harris closed with these last sentiments: “Let’s try to experience the light, those moments that give you happiness and joy. Let’s get out there in the fight to make things better.”

And with that, Harris walked off the stage to Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.”

Does Higher Ground mean Kamala Harris for president in 2028? Only time will tell …

■■ COMMUNITY

From classrooms to community hub: Northside Square revitalizes former high school

By Brianna Smith-Herman TSD Contributing Writer

After years of planning and preparation, the first phase of the Northside Square redevelopment project is officially open.

The former Northside High School at 1212 Vollintine Ave. in the Klondike community, has been transformed into a mixed-use development designed to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood. After nearly a decade of closure, the historic school has been given new life as Northside Square — a 270,000-square-foot community hub.

The $81 million redevelopment project brings together affordable housing, workforce development, education, health care, and retail and office space — all under one roof.

On Friday, Jan. 16, organizers, community members and local leaders gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the project’s first phase, which includes community space and 42 affordable housing units, and marks the beginning of additional openings expected throughout the year.

The moment was especially meaningful for Northside alumni, who watched their former school — once home to Cougar pride — evolve into a space designed to serve future generations.

Northside Square is owned by The Works, Inc., a Memphis-based nonprofit community development corporation. President and CEO Roshun Austin said residents will begin moving into the housing units this spring, with commercial tenants expected to follow this summer.

“To reopen this building, which has been the anchor of this community

“This project, given the magnitude and scale, just wasn’t going to generate the typical return on investment that most financial institutions look for. It took significant civic investment to make it possible.”

— Archie Willis III

since the 1960s, is life-changing for residents along the Vollintine corridor,” Austin said.

Those involved in the development acknowledged that the project was not without challenges. According to Archie Willis III, president of ComCap Partners and lead developer, the scale of the project made traditional investment difficult.

“This project, given the magnitude and scale, just wasn’t going to generate the typical return on investment that most financial institutions look for,” Willis said. “It took significant civic investment to make it possible.”

Through collaboration and longterm vision, Northside Square is now being hailed as a beacon of hope and a

catalyst for a broader Klondike neighborhood renaissance.

“It brings additional development,” Austin said. “It attracts small developers to build homes, and it helps small businesses reopen their doors because you’re bringing more people into the area.”

Organizers emphasized that Friday’s event marked a beginning not an official grand opening, as construction continues and more components of the project remain to be completed.

“Trying to convert a school into something other than a school is not always the most efficient idea,” Willis said. “But we were determined to make it happen — and we did.”

Long-term plans for Northside Square include nonprofit offices, retail

space, law firms, low-income apartments, a Northside High School Hall of Fame, and eventually a home for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. The project’s scope has drawn comparisons to Crosstown Concourse as another example of adaptive reuse fueling community revitalization.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee, 9th District) highlighted the importance of reimagining historic schools as community assets.

“It’s important that we reuse these high schools and turn them into community centers,” Cohen said. “We’ve done it at Melrose, and we’ve done it here at Northside.”

Memphis Mayor Paul Young acknowledged that projects of this magnitude are complex, but said the results speak for themselves.

“Efforts like this are hard,” Young said, “but this one is paying off.”

LeMoyne-Owen marks 35th MLK Alumni Prayer Breakfast with call to action

By Candace A. Gray TSD Contributing Writer

On the day Americans paused to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC) gathered more than 500 alumni, students, elected officials, clergy and community leaders for its 35th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Alumni Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 19, 2026, at the Renasant Convention Center.

Held on the federal holiday observing King’s birthday, the breakfast carried the theme “Keeping the Dream Alive Through Education,” underscoring the role historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continue to play in advancing justice, opportunity and civic leadership.

The morning opened with an instrumental version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” or the Black National Anthem. The atmosphere blended celebration and solemn reflection, as alumni embraced old classmates, sorority and fraternity sisters and brother, respectively, and students took part in a tradition rooted in faith and social responsibility.

Student leadership was prominently represented, and a few shared their personal platform anchors designed to strengthen leadership, purpose and resilience of the student body. In attendance were Khadajah Kimbrough, Miss LeMoyne-Owen College, along with class representatives Johnasia O’Neal, Miss Junior; Brianna Lesure, Miss Sophomore, whose platform is focused on bringing spiritual values back to center; Naiyelle Taylor, Miss Freshman; and Marvin Johnson, Mister Senior, who reflected on the legacy left by his grandparents and the teaching of his mother, and said his platform is founded on being professional, “leading, looking nice, being about business, and under-

standing that we don’t play at LOC.”

The invocation and blessing were delivered by Dr. Rosalyn Nichols, class of 1985, and LOC’s vice president for donor prospect and strategic engagement. A series of prayers followed, focusing on the spiritual, social and economic challenges facing Memphis and the broader nation.

Dr. Janie Dowdy Dandridge of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church offered the Prayer for the Community, calling on God to “stand in the gap for our city, heal the wounds of racism and violence, and transform faith into faithful action.”

Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus of Middle Baptist Church led the Prayer for Peace and Justice, invoking King’s vision of a world grounded in love, equity and compassion.

Additional prayers addressed economic empowerment, the future of LeMoyne-Owen College, and its students and leadership. Rev. Vincent Joplin, class of 2001, of Hope Church Memphis prayed for stewardship of resources, while Rev. James C. Wiggins of Fellowship United M.B. Church lifted prayers for the college’s president, Rev. Dr. Christopher B. Davis, Sr., faculty and students to remain resilient in the face of obstacles.

Masters of ceremony Rev. Stoney Butler, Jr., and Ena Esco, class of 2001, guided the program. Musical selections by Jolynn Diggs, including “Soon I Will Be Done with the Troubles of the World” and later “Precious Lord,” added soulful and emotional depth to the day.

The 14th president of LOC, Davis introduced the keynote speaker, but not before acknowledging the trustees in attendance, those responsible for the program, who would later speak, and shamelessly plugging his podcast called “What You Said.”

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, 12th

president of Tennessee State University (HBCU) and 30th international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. A Memphis native, Glover framed education as both resistance and responsibility.

“Education is the most durable form of resistance,” Glover said. “It is the great equalizer and the foundation of every movement for justice.”

Glover spoke of her personal ties to LOC, her father, Henry Baskin, and his role as a civil rights leader in Memphis, including his supervision of sanitation workers during the 1968 strike. She contrasted incremental progress with persistent inequities, citing disparities in poverty, incarceration, health care access and voter participation.

“We must vote. We must serve. And we must keep standing,” Glover said, recounting challenges she faced advocating for fair funding for HBCUs during her tenure at TSU. “Don’t get discouraged because someone hurt your feelings. When you rise to new levels, you encounter new devils, but you keep serving.”

Glover reminded the audience of the $100,000 endowment installment from Alpha Kappa Alpha in 2019 to LOC, and personally presented $10,000 to LeMoyne-Owen during the breakfast. Her remarks sparked an impromptu fundraising effort that raised more than $30,000

for student scholarships. She went on to “preach” for a few minutes, using biblical references and spiritual songs to ground the work she called us to do.

Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery later presented a $25,000 check generated through his annual golf tournament, and highlighted more than $1.5 million in county funding secured for the college.

The program also honored the legacy of his father, the late Myron Lowery, with Davis noting that leadership is measured not by title, but by lasting impact. The Lowery Communication Center was cited as a testament to his service. “His work is finished, but his impact remains,” said Davis of the late Lowery. Following the breakfast, Lowery’s official enshrinement took place at the building on the LOC campus.

The breakfast concluded with words of appreciation from alumni leaders, including National Alumni Association President, Alandria London, class of 1994; Memphis Chapter President William Anderson, class of 1998; and alumni Jesse Chatman, class of 1971; Bridget Harvey, Class of 1994; and Joi Hill, Class of 2001, all of whom worked on the event host committee.

As attendees departed the breakfast, the message of the day was clear: Remembrance must be matched by recommitment and action.

Teamsters, others observe MLK Day

As it has for nearly 40 years, Teamsters Local 667 honored Dr. Martin Luther King on the federal holiday commemorating his birthday on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. Local 667 members joined by local ministers, community leaders and others marched on Main Street and A.W. Willis Avenue to pay tribute to King, who lost his life in Memphis in 1968 while here to support striking sanitation workers. The theme of this year’s remembrance was “Relive and Reload the Dream.”

Monday marked 40 years of MLK Day as a federal holiday.

Organizations such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Delta Lambda chapter, and the Southwind High School Marching Band participated in the march.

Following the march, the local NAACP Branch hosted an event called “Memphis Men Rising” at Centenary UMC on East McLemore with resources, speakers and refreshments.

(Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)

‘Yield, Heal & Thrive:’ Finding purpose through health crisis and survival

After treatment for cancer and end-stage kidney disease, Stacy Hobson pens a memoir and launches a nonprofit to educate, advocate and inspire.

Judith Black Moore TSD Contributing Writer

Stacy Hobson was living life on her own terms. After leaving the classroom for a career in real estate, she became a managing broker, built a successful business and enjoyed the rewards that came with it — traveling the world, spending time with friends and embracing a full social life.

But as Hobson was living what she describes as the life she had worked hard to create, her body was sending warning signs. Chronic foot pain was attributed to plantar fasciitis. Swollen feet were linked to elevated blood pressure, a family trait she believed would improve with weight loss. Shortness of breath was viewed as another sign she needed to shed a few pounds. Even bubbles in her urine were dismissed as leftover cleanser in the toilet. Her doctors addressed the symptoms, but the underlying condition continued to go undetected.

“They wanted me to just go into the hospital and get some fluids,” Hobson said. “I literally almost didn’t make it.”

Diagnosed first with chronic myeloid leukemia, Hobson said she quickly learned how abruptly illness can upend a life. “Cancer reshapes everything,” she said. “I had to work on myself physically, mentally and spiritually. That included realigning my life with God and being at peace with whatever His will was for me.”

Even as she managed cancer treatment, another condition steadily progressed. “The doctor told me I was fine. I felt fine,” Hobson said. “I had little signs — I was out of breath going up the steps, I had muscle cramps. I

thought I just needed to lose some weight.”

In 2021, Hobson learned she had been living with advanced kidney failure. “I had Stage 5 renal failure,” she said. “My kidneys were barely functioning by the time I really understood how bad things were.”

At one point, her kidney function dropped to seven percent. Still, she continued to work. “My first job was real estate,” Hobson said. “My second job was researching — learning how to take charge of my health.” That research included refusing to begin dialysis.

“My doctors, family and friends didn’t understand,” she said. “But I just wasn’t going on dialysis.”

Her research also included seeking second opinions and incorporating holistic approaches alongside traditional medicine. “I learned not to just take one doctor’s word for it,” she said. “You have to research, get second opinions and really understand your numbers.”

Hobson shared her story publicly Saturday, Jan. 18, when she marked her 49th birthday by hosting a book-signing event that included the launch of her memoir, “Yield, Heal & Thrive!

A Woman’s Transparent Journey of Surrendering, Healing and Flourishing After Transplant,” and a fireside

conversation about faith, health and survival. The event brought together family, close friends and key figures in her journey, including Dr. Vasanthi Balaraman, medical director of living donor kidney transplant at Methodist Institute, and Jennifer Joyner, the woman who donated a kidney to Hobson.

The memoir traces Hobson’s journey through two life-threatening diagnoses — chronic myeloid leukemia and end-stage kidney disease — and her path toward healing through faith, self-advocacy and community support. “Through it all, I was very functional,” Hobson said. “But I had to make myself

yield to God’s will before healing could begin. Now it is about purpose. I know my purpose is to teach. I have always been a teacher. I know it is to educate others about taking charge of their health.”

During the fireside conversation, Hobson also addressed racial disparities in kidney care, noting that Black Americans are disproportionately affected by kidney disease and often experience delayed diagnosis and access to transplants. “When I learned how the system works, including the racial disparities when it comes to transplants, it changed everything for

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me,” she said.

Balaraman discussed a genetic variant more commonly found among Black Americans that is associated with an increased risk of kidney disease. She said this genetic predisposition is one of several factors contributing to the disproportionate number of Black patients diagnosed with kidney failure, including a growing number of young adults. “We are seeing patients as early as their twenties being diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease,” Balaraman said.

“Because early symptoms are often mild, nonspecific or overlooked, the disease frequently goes undetected until it has progressed to advanced, life-threatening stages,” she added.

In August 2025, Hobson received a kidney transplant from Joyner, an altruistic donor from Hernando, Mississippi whom she had never met.

Joyner said she learned about organ donation through a transplant registry she saw on Facebook. “It was definitely a God thing,” Joyner said. “I don’t think

I would have made this decision on my own.”

After seeing the information, Joyner attended church that evening. “The pastor’s sermon was about prayer,” she said. “If you sincerely pray on it, do you think God is going to let you make a mistake?”

A wife and mother of young children, including one with Down syndrome, Joyner said the decision became real once she learned she was a match. “I checked life insurance. I prepared,” she said. “But it never got to a point where I was going to change my mind. I was in.”

Joyner returned to work four weeks after surgery and said she has had no complications. “I feel amazing,” she said.

“Stacy is a superwoman. I had my kidney for 45 years, and she has done more with it in a few months than I did in all that time.”

For Hobson, the transplant marked a turning point and a call to action.

“When I realized the sacrifice Jenni-

fer made for someone she didn’t know, I knew I had to bless others the way she blessed me,” she said. “Survival comes with an obligation — to educate, to support and to help someone else.”

That obligation is taking shape in the form of a nonprofit Hobson plans to formally launch in March, which is also Kidney Awareness Month. The organization, also called Yield, Heal & Thrive, will focus on supporting kidney transplant patients and donors by addressing needs often overlooked during the transplant process, including hardship resources, essential supplies and education.

“Too many patients are treated like

numbers,” Hobson said. “You’ve got to take responsibility for your own health. Look at your numbers year to year. If you see changes, research it and ask questions.”

As the event concluded, Hobson said she hopes her story will encourage others to listen to their bodies and advocate for themselves.

“Healing isn’t just physical,” she said. “It’s mental, spiritual and physical. I pray that no one else has to go through what I went through.”

More information about Hobson’s book and organization is available at HOME | Stacy Hobson - Kidney Warrior & Author

■■ SPORTS Grizzlies share some responsibility in Ja Morant drama

Star player’s response to trade rumors: ‘Live with it’

ANALYSIS

By Lee Eric Smith TSD Contributing Writer

For years now, before he ever wore a Memphis Grizzlies jersey, an image from the animated movie “Tangled” has been at the top of Ja Morant’s Twitter/X feed. In the screenshot, there’s a guy cornered, surrounded by knives and swords ready to pounce. What’s more telling is the expression on the guy’s face: unfazed, “not-my-first-rodeo.” It’s almost as if he knew: “Sooner or later — probably sooner — everyone is going to be out to get me. Yawn.”

That was the energy Morant had as he fielded questions in Berlin, before the Grizzlies fell to the Orlando Magic there Thursday. It was Morant’s first media session since news broke on Jan. 9 that the Grizzlies are open to trading him before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline. Asked his reaction to the trade drama, Morant confirmed the question before nonchalantly stroking his chin and responding.

“You asked what my reaction was?” Morant said. “Live with it.”

Morant has spent most of the past three seasons in and out of the lineup for one reason (injury) or another (sus-

pension). When he’s been on the floor this season, too often he has looked like a player fighting for rhythm instead of imposing it — a star with one foot on the gas and the other hovering over the brake.

From the social media posts showing off his guns, the suspensions, the injuries, and the visible lack of joy and competitive fire that once seemed effortless, Morant has thoroughly earned much of the blowback he’s received. He has some maturing to do. I defy you to show me ONE 26-year-old who doesn’t need to mature more. There, I said it.

But if we stop there, we’re doing the lazy version of this story — the version that absolves the franchise because it’s easier to blame the player.

Nope. The Grizzlies own some of this, too.

Yes, injuries have decimated the roster for the better part of two full years now (and counting), so ultimately, we’ll never know what these teams could have done at full strength. Still, even injuries don’t fully explain how quickly Memphis went from boom in 2022 to … whatever this is now.

For Context:

Before we talk about the firing of Taylor Jenkins — and we need to — we have to name what the Grizzlies were at their height. Because the fall feels sharper when you remember how high

the climb was. Here’s the context that keeps getting skipped:

• This wasn’t just a good team. It had an identity. Under Jenkins, Memphis was loud, young, physical and fearless — and the city loved it. FedExForum didn’t just host games; it hosted a mood. And the Grizzlies were dominant — averaging double digit wins and long winning streaks for much of the 2021-22 season. They lost in the Western Semis to the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors, but literally if 3-4 possessions in that series had gone the other way . . .

• Jenkins built continuity and a brotherhood. With Morant healthy, Dillon “the Villain” Brooks setting the edge, Desmond Bane evolving into a co-star, Jaren Jackson Jr. blossoming and Steven Adams dominating the glass, Memphis didn’t feel like a cute story. It felt like a problem for opponents.

• Morant played his best basketball under Jenkins. That matters — not because Jenkins was perfect, but because the most coherent version of the Grizzlies and the most dynamic version of Morant were built in the same era. Then the organization abruptly pivoted in a way that would rattle any locker room, especially one led by a superstar who (fair or not) sets the temperature. Which brings us to the moment that changed the weather.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, fined $75,000 for a gun-like celebration after hitting a 3-pointer, debuted a new gesture — a grenade toss — during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, April 11, 2025. “That’s my celebration now until somebody else has a problem with it, and I’ll find another one,” he said. (Noah Smith/Tri-State Defender)

The firing of Taylor Jenkins

The Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins on March 28, 2025 — a stunning decision not only because Jenkins was the winningest coach in franchise history, but because of the timing: With nine games remaining, Memphis was sitting fifth in the West, very much in the playoff picture.

You can argue basketball reasons all day — urgency, stagnation, whatever the front office saw coming. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne later reported a fractured situation where “no one was on the same page” and the organization decided it couldn’t wait.

But here’s the part that matters if you’re trying to understand the Morant situation through a franchise lens: General Manager Zach Kleiman said he didn’t consult any players.

“The players were not consulted on this decision,” Kleiman told the media after the firing. “This decision is mine and mine only.”

That’s not a throwaway line. That’s a

locker-room weather report.

Because whether you consult players or not, the message heard by players — especially by the face of the franchise — is simple: This is happening to you, not with you.

If you want to understand how a team ends up entertaining trades for its superstar, you can’t ignore moments like that — moments where trust either deepens or cracks.

The Iisalo bet — and the opportunity cost

Not long after that firing, Memphis made a second decision that deserves more scrutiny: It committed quickly to Tuomas Iisalo as head coach.

Iisalo has a strong resume overseas, and the Grizzlies have framed him as the kind of modern coach who can install a faster, more decisive system — pace, rapid reads, constant action, problem-solving basketball. That might be smart. It might even be the future. But it’s also a philosophical bet, and bets have consequences.

By moving quickly to lock in Iisalo last summer, the Grizzlies effectively took themselves out of the broader coaching sweepstakes as it evolved — the part of the calendar where

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NBA-proven, championship-tested names start shaking loose.

One of those names: Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year who ultimately landed as the New York Knicks’ head coach in July 2025. Or Michael Malone, who had just won a championship in Denver in 2023.

Maybe Brown was always headed to New York. Maybe Memphis never had him. But the larger point stands: When you commit early, you limit options — and you own that.

And if you’re trying to stabilize a franchise with a fragile superstar situation, NBA credibility matters. Championship credibility matters.

At 26, Morant is a seasoned NBA veteran, squarely in his prime. And yet the franchise around him has shifted in ways that would test any superstar’s buy-in. Key players (Adams, Brooks, Bane, even D’Anthony Melton) from the team’s most coherent winning identity are gone, as is the coach. In fairness to the Grizzlies, injuries and suspensions forced them to imagine a team that didn’t depend on Morant. The culture has been reshuffled and the organization has effectively pushed its chips in on a new, unproven NBA head coach and a new system.

That might be a smart long-term bet. But for a star point guard whose game is built on rhythm, control, and downhill pressure, a system that spreads decision-making outward — while reducing his minutes and taking the ball out of his hands — isn’t just a tactical adjustment. It’s a psychological one. And that’s where the Morant conversation has to go next.

When “system” collides with a superstar

Here’s where basketball and psychology meet.

Morant is at his best when the game is a blur — when he has the ball, the runway and the freedom to weaponize chaos. A system that spreads decisions across more bodies, emphasizes constant movement and manages shifts differently can be brilliant — but it can also feel, to a lead guard, like the organization is trying to manage him instead of unleash him.

If you’re Morant and you sense the offense is being reshaped in ways that reduce your natural imprint — fewer long stretches to find rhythm, fewer possessions where your downhill force is the organizing principle — then, even if you never say it publicly, you feel it.

And if you feel it, you don’t play free. That doesn’t excuse Morant’s choices. It could explain why the on-court product might look joyless.

The mental-health piece everyone tiptoes around

And here’s what too many people avoid because it complicates the neat story: Morant has talked openly about the mental part of recovering from injury and being sidelined.

After 2022’s playoff loss to Golden State, Morant told ESPN’s Taylor Rooks: “That Golden State series where I couldn’t play was one of the toughest times of my life,” he said, describing the “mental aspect” of being unable to play. And fresh off of his 2023 gun incident, he spoke with Jalen Rose about the stresses of stardom. It’s forgotten now, but Morant did seek (and receive) professional help after the scandal, and

said he learned “different ways to manage stress in a positive way.”

“I was constantly talking to therapists. I’ve been doing reiki treatment,” he said. “I’m doing anxiety breathing, different stuff to help me manage that and release all that stuff from my body.”

Rose: “How stressful can it be being Ja Morant?”

Morant: “Very. And I felt like I didn’t pay enough attention to that when it got rough and I pretty much just let it all build up. And that’s why I felt like I needed my time away to better myself and become a more healthy Ja.”

There’s no handbook for transforming from an unrecruited backyard hooper from Dalzell, South Carolina, into a global celebrity — levitating in Nike commercials — while the whole world waits for your next mistake. Some players manage that cleanly. Some don’t. And Morant clearly hasn’t. But Memphis also has to ask itself whether its decisions — from leadership messaging to coaching direction — made it easier or harder for its star to stabilize.

So what now?

Finding a match for Morant likely won’t be easy, given his health, salary, baggage and narrative. Don’t be surprised if a trade involves three teams, and nets the Grizz a haul of draft picks.

If Memphis trades Morant, it will be framed as a referendum on Morant. But it should also be a referendum on the franchise’s ability to build alignment between its front office vision, its coaching identity, and the superstar it once built everything around.

Morant didn’t do everything right — far from it. But the Grizzlies didn’t either.

And if you’re going to tell the full story of how the Grizzlies got here — to a January where trading Ja Morant is even a sentence people can say with a straight face — you have to tell both sides.

Lee Eric Smith covered the Grizzlies for more than 10 years, including five years for the Tri-State Defender.

■■ SPORTS

TSU, Jackson State to renew rivalry in Nashville — not Memphis

By Lee Eric Smith TSD Contributing Writer

For the first time since 2022, Tennessee State and Jackson State will clash again on the gridiron, renewing a rivalry dating back to the 1940s. It should be classic.

But it won’t be The Southern Heritage Classic.

The John A. Merritt Classic kicks off this year in Nashville on Aug. 29 at Nissan Stadium. A 2027 game is already set to be played in Jackson. TSU formally announced the news on Jan. 13, calling the matchup with Jackson State “a renewal of tradition.”

“The John A. Merritt Classic provides the perfect stage to renew our rivalry with Jackson State,” said TSU Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen. “Hosting the game in 2026 and returning to Jackson in 2027 reflects the tradition and excitement this matchup brings to both programs.”

The announcement all but cements what many Memphis football fans have suspected for some time: the days of seeing both schools face off at the Southern Heritage Classic appear to be over.

Fred Jones Jr., founder of the Southern Heritage Classic, declined to comment specifically on TSU or JSU’s decision or on the new Nashville game. “No comment at this time,” he said in a brief phone interview with The TriState Defender. “We have no current announcements about the Southern Heritage Classic.”

Founded in 1990, the Southern Heritage Classic grew into a Memphis institution and one of the largest annual HBCU events in the nation, drawing tens of thousands of fans to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (now Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium).

For decades, the event featured TSU vs. JSU as its centerpiece, flanked by concerts, fashion shows, the Battle of the Bands, and a festi -

val-like atmosphere.

But recent years brought change.

Jackson State, under then-head coach Deion Sanders, announced in 2022 it would exit the Classic. Tennessee State followed suit the next season. And for the first time in more than 30 years, the 2025 Classic did not feature either team, instead showcasing a SWAC matchup between Alcorn State and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB).

Meanwhile in Nashville, the Tennessee Titans will serve as presenting sponsor, bringing NFL-level marketing and resources to the event — creating a scale of backing that an independent event like the Southern Heritage Classic might find difficult to match.

In a 2025 TSD exclusive, Jones said that last year’s event was closer to being cancelled than most realize, but he was able to convince Alcorn and UAPB to relocate an already scheduled matchup to Memphis for the 2025 Classic.

He also noted during the interview that the Southern Heritage Classic has dates reserved at SimmonsBank Stadium through 2029, but no commitments from any schools to participate.

But he also was optimistic, insisting the Classic could still thrive even without TSU and JSU.

“The Classic has always been bigger than one game,” he said. “It’s something Memphis can be proud of. Doesn’t matter where you live — Frayser, Germantown, South Memphis, West Memphis — it brings people together.”

This year’s matchup marks the first-ever meeting between Tennessee State and Jackson State at the John A. Merritt Classic, adding a new chapter to a rivalry that spans more than seven decades. TSU holds a 30–23–2 all-time advantage in the series, which began in 1949.

As part of a home-and-home agreement, the two programs are scheduled to meet again in 2027, when TSU travels to Jackson, Mississippi.

PUBLIC NOTICES / CLASSIFIEDS

NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE REALTY LAWSUIT

As County Trustee, I am required by law to publish the following statement:

You are advised that after March 31st, 2026, Additional penalties and costs will be imposed in consequence of suits to be filed for enforcement of the lien for taxes against real property; until the filing of such suits, taxes may be paid at my office.

REGINA MORRISON NEWMAN SHELBY COUNTY TRUSTEE

This notice pertains to delinquent 2024 Shelby County and (if applicable) Town of Arlington, City of Bartlett, Town of Collierville, City of Germantown, City of Lakeland, City of Memphis and City of Millington Realty taxes only.

January 2026

NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE PERSONALTY LAWSUIT

As County Trustee, I am required by law to publish the following statement:

You are advised that after March 31st , 2026, Additional interest and costs will be imposed in consequence of suits to be filed for enforcement of the lien for taxes against personal property; until the filing of such suits, taxes may be paid at my office.

REGINA MORRISON NEWMAN SHELBY COUNTY TRUSTEE

This notice pertains to delinquent 2024 Shel-

by County and (if applicable) Town of Arlington, City of Bartlett, Town of Collierville, City of Germantown, City of Lakeland, City of Memphis and City of Millington Personalty and Tennessee State Assessed property taxes only.

January 2026

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000965, Coreview Licenses and Subscriptions (Shelby County Information Technology Department). Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above-described Sealed Bid.

SEALED BID-I000965 DUE DATE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026, AT 2:30 PM CST (SB-I00096), Coreview Licenses and Subscriptions (Shelby County Information Technology Department)

Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

■■ BUSINESS

TVA grants $500K to City of Memphis to help strapped owners fix homes

Funds cover ‘gap repairs’ that existing weatherization program can’t

By Lee Eric Smith TSD Contributing Writer

The City of Memphis has programs and funds to help low-income homeowners winterize their homes — but there’s only so much they can do. Caulking and insulation, sure. But a failing roof or major plumbing problem can stop the process cold.

Until now.

Memphis Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently announced a $500,000 grant aimed at covering those “gap” repairs — the kinds of fixes that can’t be paid for under weatherization rules, yet must be addressed before a home can qualify for energy-efficiency upgrades.

“TVA is providing that additional funding to help address issues like the roof that prevents us from doing the weatherization,” said HCD Director Ashley Cash. “We can get those things done with this type of funding.”

Cash described the “gap” as the moment a home qualifies on income, but fails on condition. Weatherization is intended to reduce utility costs by improving how a home holds heat and air, but federal rules can limit what weatherization money can fix — and serious issues can stop a job before it starts.

“Energy burden is defined as the percentage of income that families are paying toward their utilities,” Cash said. In older homes with leaky windows, drafty attics and other openings, she said, families can end up paying more just to stay comfortable.

“To get those homes repaired, we have a weatherization program but there are certain elements of the home that can’t be repaired unless there’s another source of funding to pay for it,” she said.

The “threshold” problems: roof, leaks, plumbing

Cash said roof repair is one of the most common barriers — and when a roof is failing, other problems tend to follow.

“If your roof is challenging (to repair), you’re probably (also) having leaks through that roof,” she said, adding that water intrusion can damage walls and foundations. Major plumbing repairs can also stall a project.

Cash said the city expects the TVA funding, leveraged with other resources, to help repair about 41 homes this year, with the goal of pushing those homes back into the weatherization pipeline instead of leaving them deferred.

The funding will support the city’s Efficient Homes for All program, which prioritizes households that have been deferred or deemed ineligible for other home repair or energy-efficiency programs due to the condition of their homes, according to the city.

The effort is closely tied to the city’s newer Residential Repair and Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRRAP), created to serve households that could not move forward with weatherization assistance because their homes needed structural or safety repairs outside allowable funding. The city has said the program’s first 65 beneficiaries were households previously deferred from weatherization services.

Boxtown leader: Don’t let the help pass you by

For Barbara Britton, president of the Neighborhood Association for Boxtown, the policy details matter — but so does the reality of how information reaches seniors in neighborhoods like hers.

“A lot of people in my neighborhood are elderly and don’t use computers and

stuff,” Britton said. “So a lot of them, by the time they find out what’s actually going on, the program is not there for them or has closed.”

Her advice to neighbors: “Start calling today,” Britton said.

TVA:

A stake in lowering energy burden — and building the workforce

TVA’s Latrivia Welch, government and community relations manager for the utility’s West Region, said TVA views the investment as a community partnership with tangible payoffs — not only for families, but for the city’s long-term capacity to do this kind of work at scale.

“Number one, our priority is to make sure that we’re good partners to our community,” Welch said. “All of us have a stake in this. Reducing energy burden, identifying ways that we can use these energy efficiency programs to improve quality of life is something that we’re all seeking to do. This gives us the alignment and the ability to do it.”

Welch emphasized a second goal: workforce development.

“We cannot stop working on developing that workforce,” she said, describing demand for licensed contractors and hands-on trade skills connected to home repair, weatherization and energy efficiency.

“We’ve got young people who are looking for ways that they can get involved … and this is a great place,” Welch said, encouraging residents to explore training opportunities through Moore Tech, which operates a Weatherization Training House referenced by the city as a key part of the broader effort.

In a prepared statement included by the city, TVA Senior State Director of Government and Community Relations

Bert Robinson said the investment is designed to remove barriers that keep families from essential upgrades.

“By removing barriers to essential home upgrades, we aim to help families lower energy costs and improve longterm housing stability,” Robinson said. Citywide eligibility, intake begins by phone

Cash said the program is not limited to one part of the city.

Asked what neighborhoods were targeted, she responded: “All of the city of Memphis.”

Eligibility begins with intake, Cash said, and the city uses affordability criteria — generally tied to households at or below a percentage of area median income — before moving to an application and inspection.

“It starts with an intake,” Cash said. “If they’re not sure, they can call, give their information, we’ll let them know.”

Cash said residents can begin reaching out immediately as the city builds its list and works through the process.

“People can call tomorrow,” she said at the announcement. “We’re setting up a list to make sure we have a good intake list and then we’ll work through the system.”

For more information, call 901636-7300, or go to https://memphistn. gov/residential-repair-and-rehabilitation-assistance-program-rrrap/.