Week of: June 12, 2025
The latest from tsdmemphis.com
Fabian Matthews and 25 years of Spotlight Productions — Page 14 Spotlight Productions produced a segment with Spike Lee while the director was in Memphis to receive the 2024 Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum.
NEWS
ENTERTAINMENT
‘AMERICA’S NOTRE DAME:’ EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO RESTORE CLAYBORN TEMPLE
SLY STONE, LEADER OF FUNK REVOLUTIONARIES SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, DIES AT 82
— Page 8
— Page 5
Volume 74, Issue 23
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■■ NEWS TRI-STATE DEFENDER
Memphis City Council considers free Civil Rights Museum admission for local children amid renovation funding push By James Coleman
Special to The Tri-State Defender
tsdmemphis.com President Calvin Anderson
Editor Stephanie R. Jones
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Week of: June 12, 2025
Ebbing visitor numbers at the National Civil Rights Museum may get a boost if a proposal for free admission for Memphis children gains traction. The idea was pitched as a dividend for decades of taxpayer investment. Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green suggested the proposal during the council’s budget wrap-up session Tuesday, June 3. Mayor Paul Young’s proposed $883 million fiscal year 2026 budget is currently under review. “For an $11 million investment, I would like to see this museum open to any child that lives in the City of Memphis that wants to come in and see it,” Green said. Like other city amenities, the museum does offer free days. However, a year-long family pass ranges from $100 to $150. There are also access agreements with Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Still, attendance has declined. In 2024, about 200,000 people visited the museum, down about 50,000 from recent years. Leaders from the museum were requesting a $230,000 grant when the free entry idea was introduced. The funding would contribute to a $38 million renovation project for the carriage house, a building adjacent to the main Lorraine Motel structure. The carriage house previously displayed artifacts directly related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Of the $38 million goal, between $37.2 million and $37.3 million has already been secured. Once completed, the renovated carriage house will guide visitors through the immediate aftermath of King’s death, when Coretta Scott King and other civil rights leaders continued his work. New exhibits will highlight civil rights struggles over the decades, including movements for gender and wage equity. The expanded space will also allow the museum to showcase contributions from local communities and host more tempo-
rary exhibits. Currently, its single gallery is often booked by national exhibits, such as those affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. If history is any indicator, the renovation could result in a surge of visitors. “We are confident we will experience significant growth,” Wigginton said. “The last renovation 10 years ago brought fresh exhibits that attracted both outsiders and people in Memphis.” The museum grant was one of four carried over from the previous budget wrapup meeting on May 21. A second session was scheduled after council members discovered a $650,000 line item in Mayor Young’s FY2026 grant proposals. Young clarified that the amount was not an increase, but part of a reclassification. In FY2025, a $2 million line item for
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“public safety” had been entered mistakenly as “grants.” “In previous budget years, there were line items for specific agency grants. They were spelled out,” Young said. “This is the breakout of what that line was. It was $650,000. So we went from $2 million to $1.65 million under that public safety line.” Of the remaining funds, $1 million is still earmarked for public safety grants that local nonprofits can apply for. The Memphis Police Department has taken over certain responsibilities, including street intervention programs, allowing the administration to cut $350,000 from the budget. The council has less than a month to approve the FY2026 budget. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ COMMUNITY
Shelby County proposes $5.5M crime lab focused on forensics, cell phone data, DNA By James Coleman
Special to The Tri-State Defender
In the midst of pitching his $1.7 billion fiscal 2026 budget to Shelby County commissioners, Mayor Lee Harris proposed a $5.5 million “focused” crime lab to serve the county’s various law enforcement agencies. While commissioners largely agreed on the need for the facility, they held off on approving the funding amount during a Wednesday, June 4, Budget Subcommittee meeting, opting instead to include input from partner agencies and other stakeholders. “I think it is reasonable to bring in other folks as financial contributors to the goal, in that we put in the upfront money,” said committee chair Miska Clay Bibbs. Her suggestion was well received. Discussions with stakeholders are reportedly already underway. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner leads weekly meetings with police chiefs from various municipalities. Commissioners expressed interest in also involving representatives from the Memphis Shelby County Crime Commission and contributors to an ongoing crime lab feasibility study due in August. “The sheriff shared with me (that) it’s a pretty robust organization,” Bibbs said. According to several commissioners, leadership in Collierville and Bartlett have already been briefed on the proposal and responded positively. If approved as part of the fiscal 2026 budget, the lab would become a recurring expense. Still, with Harris Week of: June 12, 2025
term-limited, he acknowledged the administration would be hard-pressed to spend the full $5.5 million in his final year in office. If fully funded, the lab would focus on three key forensic areas: cell phone forensics, rapid DNA testing and ballistics investigations. Due to current demand and limited resources, local police departments currently reserve cell phone and ballistic analysis for homicide cases only. “The idea is to take county resources to expand our capacity in those three areas,” said Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. “If we did that, we would significantly expand our forensic capabilities, increase our solve rate and make a big stride forward for public safety.”
Cell phone forensics: The “lowest hanging fruit” Cell phone data is often described as a “treasure trove of information,” revealing a suspect’s contacts, whereabouts and more. But Memphis Police Department currently limits phone cracking to homicide cases because of capacity constraints. The estimated cost for analysts, software, storage and training is $1.25 million annually. “I would like to have the ability to do it not just in a small subset of cases, but as an investigative tool — do it throughout,” said Mulroy.
Rapid DNA: Faster suspect identification Another $1.5 million would be allocated to rapid DNA testing, which dramatically speeds up the time it takes
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has proposed a $5.5 million investment in a “focused” crime lab as part of his $1.7 billion fiscal 2026 budget. The facility, which would support local law enforcement agencies, aims to expand capabilities in cell phone forensics, rapid DNA testing and ballistics analysis. (Photo: Envato Elements)
to receive results. Traditional tests can take months, while rapid testing can produce results in hours. If funded, DNA would be collected both at crime scenes and during suspect bookings, then compared to look for matches. Annual operating costs would run approximately $1.25 million. “In the first few days when you’re investigating a crime — when it’s most crucial — you could use rapid DNA to identify suspects or eliminate them,” Mulroy said. Currently, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson office handles DNA testing for all sex crimes in Shelby County. Mulroy emphasized the county’s lab would not compete with TBI but instead fill local gaps. “The idea is to complement what TBI is doing in key, focused areas where there is a local need,” he said.
Ballistics: High cost, long timelines Ballistics would require the most investment and patience. For example, Houston — home to the nation’s largest ballistics department — still averages about 80 days for results. Nashville’s average wait is over 200 days. When TBI is involved, turnaround times can extend from 70 weeks to more than 16 months. Annual costs to staff and operate a
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local ballistics unit are also estimated at $1.25 million. Training a certified firearms examiner takes two to three years. “Adding an additional firearms examiner or two would likely decrease the time ... we are above average,” said Mulroy.
Administrative costs and potential location A one-time administrative cost of $1 million would also be included to cover the lab setup. Mulroy said the county is already well-positioned to handle more forensic responsibilities. A partnership exists between the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Additional vendors could be brought in for specialized services. “It feels like this conversation is well-timed, because we are in a great position in terms of advisory capacity,” he said. Mayor Harris said the most likely home for the lab would be the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center on Poplar. “We own the land around it,” he said. “We would bring back a proposal if this moves forward, to eventually expand that footprint because we’ve got plenty of room there.” TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
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■■ ENTERTAINMENT
Sly Stone, leader of funk revolutionaries Sly and the Family Stone, dies at 82 By Hillel Italie
Associated Press
NEW YORK – Sly Stone, the revolutionary musician and dynamic showman whose Sly and the Family Stone transformed popular music in the 1960s and ‘70s and beyond with such hits as “Everyday People,” “Stand!” and “Family Affair,” died Monday at age 82. Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, had been in poor health in recent years. His publicist Carleen Donovan said Stone died in Los Angeles surrounded by family after contending with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments. Founded in 1966–67, Sly and the Family Stone was the first major group to include Black and white men and women, and well embodied a time when anything seemed possible — riots and assassinations, communes and love-ins. The singers screeched, chanted, crooned and hollered. The music was a blowout of frantic horns, rapid-fire guitar and locomotive rhythms, a melting pot of jazz, psychedelic rock, doo-wop, soul and the early grooves of funk. Sly’s time on top was brief, roughly from 1968– 1971, but profound. No band better captured the gravity-defying euphoria of the Woodstock era or more bravely addressed the crash which followed. From early songs as rousing as their titles — “I Want To Take You Higher,” “Stand!” — to the sober aftermath of “Family Affair” and “Runnin’ Away,” Sly and the Family Stone spoke for a generation whether or not it liked what they had to say. Stone’s group began as a Bay Area sextet featuring Sly on keyboards, Larry Graham on bass; Sly’s brother, Freddie, on guitar; sister Rose on vocals; Cynthia Robinson and Jerry Martini horns; and Greg Errico on drums. They debuted with the album “A Whole New Thing” and earned the title with their breakthrough single, “Dance to the Music.” It hit the top 10 in April 1968, the week the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered, and helped launch an era when the polish of Motown and the understatement of Stax suddenly seemed of another time. Led by Sly Stone, with his leather jumpsuits and goggle shades, mile-wide grin and mile-high Afro, the band dazzled in 1969 at the Woodstock festival and set a new pace on the radio. “Everyday People,” “I Wanna Take You Higher” and other songs were Week of: June 12, 2025
anthems of community, non-conformity and a brash and hopeful spirit, built around such catchphrases as “different strokes for different folks.” The group released five top 10 singles, three of them hitting No. 1, and three million-selling albums: “Stand!”, “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” and “Greatest Hits.” For a time, countless performers wanted to look and sound like Sly and the Family Stone. The Jackson Five’s breakthrough hit, “I Want You Back,” and the Temptations’ “I Can’t Get Next to You” were among the many songs from the late 1960s that mimicked Sly’s vocal and instrumental arrangements. Miles Davis’ landmark blend of jazz, rock and funk, “Bitches Brew,” was inspired in part by Sly, while fellow jazz artist Herbie Hancock even named a song after him. “He had a way of talking, moving from playful to earnest at will. He had a look, belts and hats and jewelry,” Questlove wrote in the foreword to Stone’s memoir, “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” named for one of his biggest hits and published through Questlove’s imprint in 2023. “He was a special case, cooler than everything around him by a factor of infinity.” Sly’s influence has endured for decades. The top funk artist of the 1970s, Parliament-Funkadelic creator George Clinton, was a Stone disciple. Prince, Rick James and the Black Eyed Peas were among the many performers from the 1980s and after shaped in part by Sly, and countless hip-hop artists have sampled his riffs.
A dream dies, a career burns away By the early ‘70s, Stone himself was beginning a descent from which he never recovered, driven by the pressures of fame. His record company was anxious for more hits, while the Black Panthers were pressing him to drop the white members from his group. After moving from the Bay Area to Los Angeles in 1970, he became increasingly hooked on cocaine and erratic in his behavior. A promised album, “The Incredible and Unpredictable Sly and the Family Stone” (“The most optimistic of all,” Rolling Stone reported) never appeared. He became notorious for being late to concerts or not showing up at all, often leaving “other band members waiting backstage for hours wondering whether he was going to show up or not,” according to Stone biographer Joel Selvin. Page 5
1968 publicity photo of Sly Stone
Around the country, separatism and paranoia were setting in. As a turn of the calendar and as a state of mind, the ‘60s were over. “The possibility of possibility was leaking out,” Stone later explained in his memoir. Late in 1971, he released “There’s a Riot Going On,” one of the grimmest, most uncompromising records ever to top the album charts. “Riot” highlighted an extraordinary run of blunt, hard-hitting records by Black artists, from the Stevie Wonder single “Superstition” to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” album, to which “Riot” was an unofficial response. But Stone seemed to back away from the nightmare he had related. He was reluctant to perform material from “Riot” in concert and softened the mood on the acclaimed 1973 album “Fresh,” which featured a cover of “Que Sera Sera,” the wistful Doris Day song. By the end of the decade, Sly and the Family Stone had broken up, and Sly was releasing solo records with such unmet promises as “Heard You Missed Me, Well I’m Back” and “Back On the Right Track.” Most of the news he made over the following decades was of drug busts, financial troubles and mishaps on stage. Sly and the Family Stone was inducted into the Rock & Roll of Fame in 1993 and honored in 2006 at the Grammy Awards, but Sly released just one album after the early ‘80s, “I’m Back! Family & Friends,” much of it updated recordings of his old hits. Sly Stone had three children, including a daughter with Cynthia Robinson, and he was married once — briefly and very publicly. In 1974, he and actor Kathy Silva wed on stage at Madison Square Garden, an event that inspired an 11,000-word story in The New Yorker. Sly and Silva soon divorced. TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ COMMUNITY Seniors Exploring Technology (SET) empowers adults 55+ through accessible digital education By Dalisia Ballinger
Special to The tri-State Defender
While younger generations are practically born knowing digital technology and the importance of staying connected and informed, many older adults are finding themselves having to play catch-up. That’s why the Memphis Urban League launched Seniors Exploring Technology (SET), a hands-on, eightweek program designed specifically for adults aged 55 and older. With a focus on accessibility, confidence-building and safety, SET helps seniors take charge of their digital lives. Supported by Internet Essentials by Comcast, SET provides seniors with the tools they need to engage with modern technology safely and independently. “We were so excited about continuing this amazing program,” said Urban League Digital Equity and Education Program Manager Terrie Reed-Jackson, who coordinates the SET classes. “To provide critical job skills and help seniors stay competitive in today’s job market has been incredibly rewarding.” Among the standout success stories is 97-year-old Daisy Marion, who is currently completing the course alongside her 77-year-old daughter, Virginia Marion.
Week of: June 12, 2025
“I’m so happy to have taken this course. It’s helped me out a lot,” said Daisy Marion during a session on June 5. “I learned what to do and not to do when operating a computer. It was challenging at first, but as time passed, it got easier.” Virginia added, “I love that we have an opportunity to take a computer home with us to keep up with what we learned.” The program originally launched in 2019, shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the initial sessions were successful, SET had to pause operations because of public health concerns. However, after witnessing its early impact, Internet Essentials by Comcast, which sponsors the program, renewed its commitment in 2024, providing additional funding to restart and expand its reach.
What SET Offers: • Basic Computer Skills: Covers how a computer functions, understanding its components, operating system settings and how to access files and photos. • Email and Job Applications: Provides step-by-step guidance on creating and navigating email accounts, filling out online applications and attaching documents. • Social Media Use: Explains how to use platforms such as Facebook and best practices for online privacy and
Daisy Marion, 97, left, sits beside her 77-year-old daughter, Virginia Marion, as Terrie Reed-Jackson, standing, coordinator of the Seniors Exploring Technology program, looks on during a class session at the Oasis of Hope Center in Memphis, Tenn., on June 5. The eight-week program, run by the Memphis Urban League and supported by Internet Essentials by Comcast, empowers adults 55 and older with hands-on digital education. (Dalisia Ballinger/Tri-State Defender)
digital safety. • Cybersecurity Awareness: Gives tips on how to avoid scams, recognize phishing emails and take essential cybersecurity precautions. The classes are limited to 10 seniors to encourage peer support, questions and confidence-building for learners of all skill levels. Sessions are held at the Oasis of Hope Center on Guthrie Avenue, a location that’s both welcoming and accessible. After completing the course, each
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graduate receives a free laptop that allows them to continue practicing and maintaining their digital momentum and independence. SET is more than a class. It’s a bridge for seniors to opportunity, connection and digital confidence. The application deadline for the next session is July 30. To apply or learn more, contact the Memphis Urban League at 901-272-2491, or email Terrie Reed-Jackson at treed@ memul.org.
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■■ NEWS
‘America’s Notre Dame:’ Efforts underway to restore Clayborn Temple After the fire, those involved in the original restoration project are choosing fortitude and optimism. By Lee Eric Smith
Special to the Tri-State Defender
I
t’s not unusual for artists to keep weird hours. Which is why, in the wee hours of April 28 — the night that Clayborn Temple burned — Lonnie Robinson was working. The artist, whose stunning stained glass windows had become a defining feature of Historic Clayborn Temple’s restoration, had his phone on silent, as he often does during late-night sessions. That night, he didn’t hear the sirens, didn’t see the smoke or the flames. In fact, it wasn’t until multiple text messages woke him the next morning that he got the news. “I saw two words: ‘fire’ and ‘Clayborn Temple,’” Robinson recalled. “And I rolled back over. I knew I was going to have to deal with that. I’m glad I didn’t see it. It would’ve been traumatic. Just hearing about it was enough.” Even more traumatic: Memphis Police and Fire officials are now investigating the blaze as arson, and a potential suspect is being sought. But good news has followed: Civic leaders have made full throated pledges to restore Clayborn. And on Wednesday, May 28, just yards away from the mounds of rubble where the temple stood, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund announced a $1.5 million grant, to shore up the building’s structure and provide runway for a larger effort to fund whatever the iconic structure will become next. “God wants Clayborn Temple to live,” said Anasa Troutman, executive director of the Clayborn Restoration Project and CEO of The BIG We.
‘Do you know Clayborn Temple is on fire?’ Forget a rollercoaster — for Troutman, the fire and its aftermath has been more like an emotional bungee jump: freefall, bounceback, more freefall. And it started with a nightmare of a phone call from one of Troutman’s cousins, a nurse who’d seen the fire on the news at 2 a.m. “She woke me up and said, ‘Do you know Clayborn Temple is on fire?’ And of course, I did not,” Troutman said. “I jumped up and got dressed. I was probably on site by 2:30.” Week of: June 12, 2025
They wouldn’t let her close at first. Fire crews and first responders tried to keep her at bay, protectively shielding her from what was unfolding. “I think they were trying to protect me — not protect the fire,” she said. “Keep me from seeing it, because I was obviously visibly upset.” She approached from the MLK side, stopping about a block away near the firehouse. From there, she couldn’t yet see how bad the fire was. “People were saying words like ‘engulfed’ and ‘collapse,’ and I was like — what do you mean?” Troutman said. “I didn’t actually see the building until maybe 3:30 or 4.” She thought about calling Lonnie. “At the point where we were at in the restoration, you can’t think about the work that we’ve done already and not think about Lonnie,” she said. “You just can’t. You can’t look at the building or think about the building or the work we’ve done and not think about those windows — not just because it was obviously beautiful, but because the innovation that he had to engage in to get them to look the way they did.” She paused, then added: “We used to talk about how those windows would be there for 100 years. That literally was a conversation we were having when they were complete — everyone was looking at them, beaming, excited. And they were there for a year.”
What was lost The fire that engulfed Clayborn Temple wasn’t just the destruction of a building — it was a wound to the heart of Memphis and to a sacred site of national importance. It’s not a stretch to refer to the tragedy as “America’s Notre Dame” for its tragic similarities to the cathedral in Paris, which burned in 2019. Clayborn Temple stood as a rare convergence of spiritual legacy, civil rights history and architectural grandeur. Originally constructed in 1892 as Second Presbyterian Church, the Romanesque structure was, for a time, the largest church building south of the Ohio River. In 1949, it was sold to the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and renamed Clayborn Temple, becoming a vital center of Black civic and spiritual life in Memphis. Its most indelible imprint on American history Page 8
As restoration efforts gain momentum, the Memphis community remains committed to rebuilding Clayborn Temple, including the restoration of its iconic stained glass windows, a symbol of resilience and civil rights history.
came during the 1968 Sanitation Workers Strike, when it served as headquarters for the movement. It was from Clayborn that thousands marched carrying the now-iconic “I AM A MAN” signs — a moment forever linked to the final chapter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. In the decades that followed, the building fell into disrepair, suffering from neglect, water damage and structural decay. But in recent years, under Troutman’s leadership and with support from local and national stakeholders, Clayborn Temple had begun a long-awaited renaissance.
Collaboration and craftsmanship While Lonnie Robinson’s vision helped define the project, he wasn’t working alone. The stained glass murals were a collaboration — co-designed with Memphis artist Sharday Michelle Williams and executed with the technical guidance of Andy Young, founder of Pearl River Glass Studio in Jackson, Mississippi. “Robinson and Williams brought the art,” Young said. “We brought the glass.” Young’s studio was responsible for the full restoration of Clayborn’s historic stained glass windows — a five-year process involving removal, repair and TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS And yet, he says, he was surprised by his own resilience. “I’m not as devastated as I would’ve imagined I would be. I don’t know why, but I’m not,” he said. “I want to see a silver lining in this. We would be able to tell more of the story. More people, more portraits. “There’s nothing we can do to change what happened that night,” he continued. “So I have to look at this as glass half full.”
Lonnie Robinson works on a stained glass panel for the historic Clayborn Temple at the Pearl River Glass Company in Jackson, MS, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Robinson’s intricate designs were a key part of the temple’s restoration, bringing to life murals that honored Memphis’ civil rights legacy. Despite the recent fire that damaged the building, Robinson remains hopeful about the ongoing efforts to restore the temple, which holds profound significance in the fight for racial equality. (Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today)
reinstallation. He also helped train Robinson in the fused glass techniques that brought the murals to life. “Lonnie had never done that kind of glass work before,” said Young. “But he jumped right in. We worked side-by-side in the studio, turning his drawings into something permanent. He rose to the occasion.” Young emphasized the collective effort behind the project — including a local steel craftsman, Lorenzo Scruggs, who built the custom window frames, and partnerships with Memphis organizations like Advance Memphis to house temporary workspaces. “We had people on that job for years,” he said. “(That it’s gone) hasn’t even sunk in yet.”
‘That hit me in the chest’ The loss of the windows was a gut punch for Robinson, who had to learn a whole new way to execute his art to create them. “That was a 2.5-year task for me,” he said. “And I have to tell you, it was something to learn. We changed the process. They trained me to become a fused glass contractor myself. I wanted to supervise the fabrication and really get the results I intended in the renderings.” Week of: June 12, 2025
He described the work in vivid terms: “A lot of people look at it and think we painted — no. It was glass dropped on glass. Almost like making a pizza. You’re layering glass and then you’re putting it all in a kiln to make it one piece of glass.” The process wasn’t just technical — it was deeply personal. He’d worked with some of those he would feature in the glass artwork. Among them, Maxine Smith, a legendary Civil Rights activist in Memphis and the former secretary of the local NAACP chapter. So he wanted to get everything right. “We had the first soft opening and several family members came,” Robinson said. “They cheered me on in terms of capturing the likenesses. That was very important to me — that these pieces looked like the individuals we were honoring.”
‘I want to see a silver lining in all this’ When he finally did visit the site later that afternoon, the damage stunned him. “Looking at the front from the west elevation — where the marching scene was — that was completely level. That hit me in the chest. It knocked me back a bit,” Robinson said. Page 9
Thirty days later . . . That brings us back to the $1.5 million grant announcement on May 28, and the occasion around it. It is common in the Black Church that a season of mourning becomes a reason to celebrate, and it was no different this day. The mood and the message from city leaders, national allies and Memphis residents was clear: Clayborn Temple will not be mourned — it will be reborn. Memphis Mayor Paul Young was among the first. “We’re a city that knows how to rise again and again,” he said. “And it’s really, really, really important that we make sure that we come together and make sure that we turn this into a showcase — a space where a tragedy occurred, but we rise from that tragedy greater than we were before.” “Clayborn Temple will rise again — not just as a restored structure, but as a living, breathing center for cultural, economic and civic renewal,” said City Council Chair J. Ford Canale. “A place where the past is honored, the present is activated and the future is shaped. “You have my word and my promise: The Memphis City Council will support the reimagining of Clayborn Temple,” he concluded. Then came Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, and the announcement of a $1.5 million collective grant from the National Trust, the Mellon Foundation and the Ford Foundation. These funds will fill the immediate need to further stabilize the remaining structure and to provide Troutman the working capital to execute a vision that hasn’t even begun to come into focus yet. “There was never one doubt that we were not going to rescue this irreplaceable history,” Leggs told The Tri-State Defender. “It was just, what’s the strategy? How fast can we move?” Among other featured guests that day: Martin Luther King III, who delivered the poignant perspective of a son still missing his father. U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen also pledged support. But the day wasn’t just about speeches and grants. After the formal ceremony, community members broke into smaller workshop sessions — an intentional kickoff to the next phase: a citywide process to re-
See Page 10 TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
NEWS From Page 9 imagine what Clayborn Temple can and should become. Attendees contributed ideas, reflections and hopes for how the site could honor its legacy while serving future generations.
Commitment to home grown talent From the beginning of her involvement with Clayborn’s restoration, Troutman was determined to use local talent. She learned that the “I Am A Man” Plaza at the site hadn’t been done by a local artist and was told that there wasn’t anyone in Memphis with the capacity to do a large steel installation. “I was like, no one’s ever going to say that to me again,” she told The Tri-State Defender in early May. “Memphis is such a place of innovation and creativity and imagination that our artists deserve to have the skill and the capacity and the pay of doing that kind of work.” Troutman thought back to Notre Dame’s recent reopening. Just as that fire created an opportunity for today’s craftspeople to literally help shape history, Troutman sees Clayborn Temple’s restoration as a chance to drive another artistic renaissance in Memphis. “There’s a new generation of craftspeople and woodworkers and metalworkers and people who will have their hands on this site,” she said. “That will happen.” Andy Young said his team at Pearl River Glass is ready if Troutman calls. “I would love it if we get the chance to do it again,” Young said. “We’ve got all of Lonnie’s renderings saved. We have the technology. We could recreate the murals, no problem. I’d be the first to raise my hand and say, ‘Let’s go.’ “I’m a believer in Anasa Troutman,” Young continued. “That woman’s a force. My money’s on the house — she’s gonna get it done.” To learn more about the restoration or to contribute, visit https://clayborn.org. Anyone with information related to the Clayborn Temple arson investigations is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 901528-CASH (2274). Week of: June 12, 2025
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LEGAL NOTICE TO FURNISHERS OF LABOR AND MATERIALS TO ENSCOR, LLC. FOR THE BIG CREEK PARK SHADY OAKS PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Notice is hereby given that SHELBY COUNTY is preparing to make settlement with ENSCOR, LLC. for necessary and related work for the rehabilitation and/or construction of BIG CREEK PARK SHADY OAK PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT All persons holding claims against the Contractor ENSCOR, LLC. or their agents for materials or labor entering into the construction of this project must file itemized notice of such claim (two copies) with the original copy sworn to before a Notary Public. This notice to be received at the office of James Gloster, Administrator of Purchasing, 5th Floor, 160 North Main, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, on or before June 30, 2025 in order to obtain the advantages afforded to claimants by legal statute. Respectfully submitted, James Gloster Administrator of Purchasing Shelby County Government
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TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ COMMUNITY
A Legacy Confronted: MoSH Debuts Powerful Exhibit ‘Overcoming Hateful Things’ from Jim Crow Museum Rows of Black caricature dolls — wide-eyed, exaggerated, grinning — lined one display like souvenirs from a twisted past. On another wall, a sign read bluntly: “Whites Only.” Nearby, a vintage children’s book depicted African Americans as subhuman caricatures. It’s a jarring experience, but that’s the point.
By Dalisia Ballinger
Special to The tri-State Defender
On May 30, dozens gathered at a special preview event for “Overcoming Hateful Things,” a powerful new traveling exhibition from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery. Hosted at the Memphis Museum of Science and History (MoSH) at the Pink Palace Mansion, this emotionally charged exhibit is open to the public and runs through Oct. 19. Media, museum partners and invited guests — more than 60 in total — were among the first to walk through a historical experience that is both unsettling and urgent. The Jim Crow Museum, located on the campus of Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, houses the largest publicly accessible collection of racist artifacts in the country. Curated by Dr. David Pilgrim, the museum features more than 3,000 objects used to denigrate and stereotype African Americans throughout U.S. history. This exhibition, Overcoming Hateful Things, brings more than 130 of those artifacts to Memphis, marking the city as the first stop on the national tour. “I think what’s so wonderful about this exhibition is it’s really not focused on the hateful things — it’s actually overcoming hateful things,” said Raka Nandi, director of Exhibits and Collections for MoSH. “It is a story about African American resilience and how American history is messy and uncomfortable. What’s crazy about it all is African Americans never saw themselves Week of: June 12, 2025
this way. They never saw themselves as what whites depicted them to be.” The exhibit’s title is fitting. While visitors encounter deeply offensive and painful relics, the real takeaway is the strength, resistance and unbreakable spirit of Black Americans. Yes, there are degrading images — Mammy dolls, minstrel show posters, pickaninny caricatures — but there are also stirring photographs of marches, protests and voices that refused to be silenced. The Jim Crow era refers to the period following Reconstruction (roughly the 1880s through the 1960s), when a series of state and local laws in the South legally enforced racial segregation and second-class citizenship for African Americans. These laws weren’t just about social customs. They were codified policies determining where Black people could live, go to school, eat, work and even walk. There are signs in the exhibit that make it undeniable: “Colored Waiting Room.” “No Dogs, Negroes or Mexicans.” “White Customers Only.” These were not suggestions. They were rules backed by police, courts and lynch mobs. “This is an inflection point in our history, and as a country, this was massive change for us,” said MoSH Executive Director Kevin Thompson. “If we look throughout our long history, we see instances of things similar to this, where one group’s trying to establish dominance, and they do that either through inclusivity or by putting somebody else down. This is a very recent example. Many folks are still very much alive who experienced this.” What makes Overcoming Hateful Things especially impactful is its balance between confronting horror and honoring resilience. Alongside degrading imagery are powerful visuals of civil rights marches, protest signs and moments of defiance, from sit-ins to boycotts. A looping video shows speeches, interviews and news clips
The traveling exhibit “Overcoming Hateful Things” is showing at the Memphis Museum of Science and History at the Pink Palace Mansion.
from the era, reminding viewers that real people lived — and resisted — this reality. “This exhibit is a no-doubt impactful, educational and cultural catalyst,” Thompson added. “Through additive museum experiences like this one, we can enable a wider and deeper net of Memphians and visitors to ‘begin the exploration’ and fulfill our MoSH mis-
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sion to educate and inspire.” Overcoming Hateful Things is not a comfortable exhibit, but it is a necessary one. It encourages visitors to confront the past, reflect on the present and take responsibility for the future. It is recommended for ages 12 and up because of the sensitive content and is included with general admission to the Pink Palace Museum. TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ COMMUNITY
Juneteenth celebration - An hour well-spent By Candace A. Gray
Special to The Tri-State Defender
Though it rained Saturday morning, the sun finally came out. And everyone was ready for a celebration. At 3:30 p.m., a band of six youth called the Ace Band took over the main stage. These high schoolers had been together about a year and captivated the attention and hearts of the 100-person crowd gathered underneath the pavilion at Medical District Park (across from the new Aldi on Union Avenue). “Give these young men a hand,” said Bart Orr, world-renowned musician. “You’d rather they be on this stage than doing some of the things these other kids are doing.” While the band played, several hundreds more walked around the festival environment, finding something to peek at: food trucks, tents with wares for sale. There was even a tent pressing Juneteenth T-shirts onsite. We can’t forget about the African beads, sea moss, permanent jewelry and items from other Black-owned vendors, like Kaye’s Pints & Scoops, located in Whitehaven. (My son had to get a scoop of the birthday cake ice cream, complete with little pieces of real birthday cake!) Score Health, one of the sponsors, was giving out bags, flipping fans, and information about their new location opening later this month in Cordova. Its goal is to help prevent the spread of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and STIs (sexually transmitted infections). A representative shared that one pill a day can help protect against contracting HIV. As we were talking to her, another act, Randy, came on the main stage with the quiet storm. And quite the stir came from behind the pavilion — Mayor Paul Young and first lady Jamilah Smith Young had arrived, along with Telisa Franklin, the event’s organizer. “I’m glad the sun is finally out, and we are glad to be here celebrating Memphis’ culture and learning about Week of: June 12, 2025
Festival organizer Telisa Franklin addresses the crowd for Memphis’ 32nd Juneteenth celebration.
A representative Score Health, an event sponsor whose mission is to help prevent the spread of HIV and STIs, gives out bags and information about its new location opening later this month in Cordova. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The Tri-State Defender)
Vince Soul performs – you guessed it – soul music at the festival.
what Juneteenth is all about,” said Smith Young. Franklin shared that things were going amazingly well with the festival, now in its 32nd year. She’s been involved
since year 18, when the festival’s organizer passed the torch to her. “It started in my neighborhood, Douglass. And I knew I could, and I had to, keep it going,” said Franklin.
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“Today I see generations of people coming together and celebrating the importance of Juneteenth,” said Mayor Young. “This celebration is so important, and there’s no city more important than Memphis, the largest Black city in America.” “We have a responsibility, but I’m grateful for the journey. People don’t realize all it took to be where we are today. They need to appreciate where we are, so we don’t make the same mistakes of the past, and we can blaze a new trail for the future,” he said. After Randy finished, Franklin took to the main stage to make some announcement and recognize the VIP guests. “I wanted to let you all know what we think about Juneteenth in Memphis and why we are kicking it off early,” said Franklin. “We want to make sure there is a Juneteenth event every weekend in Memphis.” She rattled off the next couple of events happening around the city in Orange Mound, Douglass, at The Orpheum Theatre and more, all of which are detailed at www.memphisjuneteenth.com. Young was very complimentary of Franklin’s efforts and said, “These are the moments I want our city to be talking about. Sometimes we forget how great we really are. … We are a TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
COMMUNITY
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Win this House Giveaway Date: June 29, 2025
Free Tours Begin in May Volunteers press and sell T-shirts and other merchandise at the Juneteenth booth.
State Rep. Antonio Parkinson tells the crowd “These are the moments I want our city to be talking about. Sometimes we forget how great we really are.”
great city. Just look at the young and old faces. … I want the news to have these highlights every night. Here are the types of things that can change the narratives for our amazing city.” State Rep. Antonio Parkinson added, “Everyone please, let’s change the algorithm when it comes to Memphis. There is a ton of work being done. We are going to turn this corner, and we are turning it right now, … Memphis is going to be the best city in America, and I believe that with my entire soul.” Week of: June 12, 2025
Jeffrey Williams and Voices of Inspiration took to the main stage after that. And if you know, you know — there is nothing like hearing gospel music in a park. At 4:30 p.m., we packed it up. We couldn’t have picked a better hour to attend this year’s official Juneteenth (kick-off) celebration. Pretend this is an opinion column for a moment… As we know, Juneteenth is about when the last enslaved Africans were freed after the Civil War. But if you were to bring it to modern times, we can claim our freedom today, too. Freedom to learn. Freedom to be who we want to be. Freedom to start businesses. Freedom to be creative. Freedom to learn new skills that could change the trajectory of our lives and our children’s lives. Freedom to try. Freedom to try again. Freedom to heal. Freedom to launch. Freedom to be who we were destined to be. Allow Juneteenth this year to inspire you to claim the freedom that is rightfully yours. Walk in your freedom. It’s yours. Page 13
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■■ BUSINESS
A businessman and a business, Man - Fabian Matthews and 25 years of Spotlight Productions By Candace A. Gray
Special to The Tri-State Defender
When someone has been in business for 25 years, the meaningful nuggets just flow… But the two best pieces of advice from Fabian Matthews, owner of Spotlight Productions? No spoilers here. You will have to catch them at the end of this story! Fabian Matthews is the owner and creative director of Spotlight Productions, a full-service, award-winning commercial video and podcast production house that has been serving Memphis and the Mid-South for more than 25 years. But that wasn’t always the plan. “I was going to be a cook,” said Matthews. “I cooked at a steakhouse.” He was a business major at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and took a pause to join the Army to Fabian Matthews offset school costs. When he returned, his trajectory and career aspirations changed drastically. “I came back and immediately got into radio and TV,” said Matthews. “I knew from day one, this was the right fit.” An adjunct professor, Mike Bowman, who also worked at a local Jonesboro news station KAIT, loved Matthews’ creativity and hustle and encouraged him to pursue the field. It bears mentioning that Matthews’ mother was a visual artist, so even though he didn’t realize it, creativity was in his blood. “Six months later, he called and hired me on the spot. He asked me what I wanted to do. I told him ‘Whatever you don’t want to do!’ and it was on from there.” Matthews started by producing sports coaching shows, then commercials in his three years at KAIT. After graduating, he got a call from WMCWeek of: June 12, 2025
Spotlight Productions celebrates 25 years of creative storytelling, live events, and media production as a mainstay in the local industry. (Courtesy photos)
TV5 in Memphis to help train employees on a specific editing machine. It’s there he met former business partners and friends, Craten Armmer and Isaac “Ike” Singleton. “I worked the first half of the day for promotions and the rest of the day for production,” said Matthews. A few years in, Matthews, Singleton and Armmer had the “eureka” moment to join together to create some opportunities for themselves outside of their day jobs. Six months later, in May of 2000, Spotlight Productions was born. “I was single with no kids and was able to make a big leap, while the other guys stayed,” said Matthews. The business started with Singleton working on funding, Armmer bringing in clients and Matthews serving their current clients. “Craten knew a lot of people, my wife, Cassandra, was working at the Orpheum, and over time, we just started picking up more accounts,” said Matthews. One of his longest and best clients is the National Civil Rights Museum, for whom he produces the Freedom Award videos every year. A breakout moment was also when friend and client, Howard Robertson, introduced him to Lee
Warren, then leader at the Center City Commission (now Downtown Memphis Commission) who started the “Definitely Downtown” video series. “We moved to 10 South Main, and I met my future banker, that’s when the game changed,” said Matthews. Matthews began to work on projects, varying in size and impact, from Memphis Fire Department recruitment videos to Nike brand videos, to documentaries about Ida B. Wells and National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award winners. As his business grew, so did his passion for his art, and with those, his business acumen. Matthews shared that the “business side” of business is where a lot of entrepreneurs fail, knowing their craft but lacking the business knowledge and tools to run and maintain a successful business. “There are times when I’ve lost business because someone found out I was Black, so you have to figure out how to have money coming in on a consistent basis. Just because you have two good months doesn’t mean the next two months will be the same. I’m thinking six months out,” said Matthews. He said one of his smartest business moves was hiring an accountant.
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Top 5 Entrepreneur Business Tips from Fabian Matthews: 1. Be nimble. A small project for someone else might be the perfect project for you. 2. Watch how you spend your money; keep overhead low. 3. Manage expectations – your own and your clients’. You must get repeat business from everyone. 4. Don’t get caught up in the latest equipment. There will always be something new. Use what works for you. 5. Relationships are important. Learn from those around you and have people around you who you can really trust and depend on. “One of my first clients, Danny Jenkins of Waterkolours Fine Art Gallery, told me to pay my taxes! I found an accountant the next day,” said Matthews. As Spotlight Productions took on bigger clients and projects, a new space was needed to accommodate the growth and vision. Matthews designed and moved into the current 4,000 square foot studio, located at 649 S. Second Street in Uptown, in 2006. It not only houses a 20-by-9 foot LED wall, but boasts a Black and African art collection, a rooftop deck and kitchenette, two bathrooms and more. “I’m proud of what I’ve done here, opening the door for other Black businesses to come. We do rentals, I even have a company that comes from Nashville to shoot here,” Matthews said. But the best advice he would give any entrepreneur hopeful? Know your banker and have someone in your corner who’s really in your corner. “That banker will fight for you behind closed doors, and entrepreneurs need people on our side. My wife kept me grounded, motivated and from throwing in the towel.” TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com