By Jessica Pumphrey National (TN Tribune)-National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is awarding $4 million in its second round of Preserving Black Churches grants to 31 historic Black churches across the U.S. Notably, two of the churches selected for grants are located in Tennessee. Henderson Chapel AME Zion Church in Rutledge, built in 1890, served as a center of cultural activity throughout the Jim Crow era and will now receive support for an architectural assessment and comprehensive preservation plan. Additionally, The House of God Church Inc. in Nashville, founded in 1903, will use grant funding…
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Nashville, Tenn. (TN Tribune)-The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have acquired the personal collection of Dom Flemons, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and cultural historian whose music and research have brought greater awareness to African Americans’ extensive contributions to roots music. The collection was compiled and curated by Flemons and his wife, Vania Kinard, to include research materials on Black cowboys, musical instruments, an Edison phonograph with several playable wax cylinders, historical sheet music, field recordings, art pieces, memorabilia, personal gifts, autographed records, and materials documenting Flemons’ professional music career over the past 20 years. “This is a treasure trove for anyone interested…
NASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Lee and Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. announce the appointment of Heather Slayton as Tennessee State Forester and Assistant Commissioner for the Forestry Division. She succeeds David Arnold, who is retiring after more than three decades of public service.“This is an exciting period of transition for the department,” Commissioner Hatcher said. “We are indebted to David for his visionary leadership and we are proud that Heather is taking on this challenge.” As State Forester and Assistant Commissioner, Slayton will now oversee 400 division staff members and the management of more than 168,000 acres of state-owned forests. Additionally,…
Memphis, TN – In an effort to tackle the root causes of economic poverty and crime in the Greater Memphis area, Centenary United Methodist Church, located at 584 East McLemore Avenue, is set to host the 2024 Expungement Clinic on January 27, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In a letter from the church, it is emphasized that the initiative stems from the recognition that a direct correlation exists between poverty levels and crime rates. Rather than relying solely on law enforcement, the church believes in a holistic approach that places much-needed resources directly at the point of need…
By Kenya Hunter, Associated Press Nearly 21 million children in the U.S. and its territories are expected to receive food benefits this summer through a newly permanent federal program, but Mississippi will not be among them after the State rejected the funds. It is not clear whether the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will participate. The United States Department of Agriculture announced the program on Wednesday. Thirty-five states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes opted into the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT, which the government says is meant to supplement existing programs during the summer that…
By Joe Pitts Nashville, Tenn. (TN Tribune)-On Monday, Jan. 15, our great city of Clarksville, Tennessee, will join the rest of the nation in observing a federal holiday honoring the birthday of a very important American. “Greatness” is a term perhaps over-used at times, in describing various individuals and their achievements. But for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is indisputably the correct descriptive term. It is absolutely right and appropriate that we observe this day. Dr. King, born in January 1929, stands above the rest across our free nation, for his tireless efforts in the 20th century to bring…
nterdenominational Ministers Fellowship (IMF), organizers of Nashville’s MLK Day March and Convocation since 1989 made the decision late Sunday night to cancel the 39th Annual March and to stream the Convocation. “Due to the extreme winter weather, we have decided to keep the safety of our community members first and foremost, said Rev. Davie Tucker – President of IMF. All of the Nashville community is invited to the virtual MLK Day celebration with renowned poet and speaker Nikki Giovanni (photo attached) streaming on Facebook Live at 9 a.m. Monday, January 15th here. Media is invited to attend the direct zoom link upon request. All speakers…
By John Thomas III, Ph.D., Editor, The Christian Recorder One could be forgiven for wondering exactly what happened at Mother Emanuel on Monday when US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. visited in his first campaign swing of the 2024 Presidential cycle. As an affiliate member of Mother Emanuel, a journalist, and a collegiate Political Science professor, I confess that I needed a few days to sit with the variety of emotions and perspectives that I felt after Monday’s program. We know that the Black Church as an institution is more to the African American community than a religious place. It…
Clarksville, Tenn. (TN Tribune) – Old Glory Distilling Co. is set to make waves with the announcement of its upcoming restaurant, and to staff the new venture, they are hosting a hiring fair from Jan. 16–18, exclusively for non-managerial positions. Shannon Cunningham, Chief Operating Officer, expressed the company’s enthusiasm about the hiring fair, stating, “As we approach the much-anticipated grand opening of our restaurant addition, we are excited to host this hiring fair for all non-managerial positions. We’re looking to hire great people that have experience in the food service industry and a passion for quality customer service.” The Restaurant…
Story by Angela Dennis, Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville, Tenn)-Ether Rice Jackson, a dedicated archivist at Knoxville’s Beck Cultural Exchange Center and revered community member, died this week at the age of 103. Jackson’s significant contributions at the Beck Center involved the meticulous curation and archiving of obituaries for every African American in Knoxville. Beyond serving as a rich source of genealogical information for Black Knoxvillians, the records stand as a powerful testament to the history she shared with the community. Safeguarded in the Beck archives, they serve as a tribute to the countless individuals who left a lasting mark on Knoxville. “Ms.…