Newly elected Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board Commissioner Tamarques Porter, representing District 4, is already focused and eager to get to work. Porter, along with three other new members—Natalie McKinney (District 2), Towanna Murphy (District 7), and Sable Otey (District 5)—was elected to the nine-member school board in the August 1 election. All four are set to be sworn in on August 29. The school system also welcomed a new superintendent, Dr. Marie Feagins, who began leading MSCS in April. According to the MSCS website, the leadership team is responsible for guiding decision-making, policy development, and implementation for the district’s…
Author: Tony Jones
By Tony Jones The 39th Annual Legislative Conference of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL) could prove to be one of the most important in the organization’s 39 year history, and House Minority Leader Karen Camper admits to a heightened sense of excitement in her plans to attend. Slated for August 6-10 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, it’s not the location that’s giving her the extra energy, but the potential impact the organization could have in the 2024 presidential election. According to NOBEL’s website, the organization has 380 politically active, mostly Democratic Party members whose groundwork…
By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — For 24 years now, Sidney Chism’s Community Picnic has been a priority stop for the city’s political body, especially for Democrats. Hosted by M.C. Stan Bell, this year’s edition was held June 22, 2024 in the sprawling fenced in yard behind the Chism-owned Horn Lake Road Learning Center, located at 3657 Horn Lake Road; near the Westwood community. As it has been for a generation now, a stop at Chism’s could prove to be the right choice for candidates as the election cycle begins. The state and federal primary and county general elections will…
Gleeful Democrat leaning voters elated over the news that former president Donald Trump was convicted on thirty-four counts of falsifying business records were given a swift reality check the very next daywhen Fox News reported that the Trump campaign had raised more than $50 million overnight after his history making trial and conviction. A jury of twelve unanimously handed down a guilty verdict, making him the first president to be tried for criminal charges in American history. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, and he has six months to file for appeal, meaning he can still run for president. The…
The month of June is Black Music Month, and four years ago my small entertainment publicist firm – Tony Jones, INK! – created a promotion called “From Memphis To The World” to highlight it. Designated by former president Jimmy Carter in 1979, the month was rededicated by President Barack Obama as African American Music Appreciation Month. I prefer the original better, but either is correct. Thanks to the generous support of W.C. Handy House Museum Executive Director Elaine Turner, who also owns Heritage Tours and the Slavehaven Underground Railroad Museum in Memphis, the lineup for this soulful month dedicated to Black…
By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — Recently retired educator and computer whiz David Page has launched a website targeted at giving teachers and school support staffs throughout the nation a sounding board without fear of reprisal. Page launched the National School Leaders Performance Registry (NSLPR.com) site after abruptly retiring from the Shelby County School (SCS) system in March after 25 years. He claims his action was prompted by alleged repeated personal attacks questioning his work by the principal of the last school where he worked, while students were present. He says he took the matter to the board but decided…
As a lifelong politics junkie, and chief politics reporter at the Tri State Defender back in the day, I’ve seen too many developments in politics to get personally excited about much. But thankfully, a refreshing breeze of change in Memphis’s civic matters stokes the old passion into a blaze of real interest, even glimmers of hope, from time to time. The first spark was watching Justin Pearson’s organic development as an actual citizen politician. Then, seeing more Black women in the seats of power, followed by cautiously enjoying new mayor Paul Young’s terrific campaign execution and first quarter moves. And…
MEMPHIS, TN — Southwest Tennessee Community College (STCC) recently celebrated its annual Open House at its flagship Macon Cove Campus, Friday, April 18. Titled “Igniting the Workforce,” the two-hour meet and greet event opened up the classes and the halls to students and guests to celebrate STCC’s ages-old legacy. Finding an STCC graduate or current student in any hospital hallway in Memphis, and probably other cities throughout the nation, is easy. There are seven locations convenient to neighborhoods throughout the city, and it’s not a stretch to say, “It would be hard for many people to see where they would…
By Tony Jones NASHVILLE, TN — Tennessee House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons issued a press release Friday, April 5 calling Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds an “embarrassment” after reportedly twice signing applications falsely seeking a tuition waiver to earn a master’s degree and teaching credentials, and stated that she should either be terminated or resign from the position. This is not the first time Clemmons and co-horts have called for Reynolds’ ouster. This past January, he and Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators Chairman Sam McKenzie voiced objections stating she did not meet the requirements outlined by Tennessee state…
By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — The Withers Collection Museum and Gallery, in collaboration with the non-profit MVP3 Foundation, has arranged a special one-time screening of a new in-depth documentary chronicling how noted Black history photographer Dr. Ernest C. Withers Sr. amassed what can easily be described as one of Black America’s most important photographic collections. Entitled “SNAP! A Look At Injustice In America”, the feature length documentary will be screened Saturday, Feb. 24, 10 a.m. at the Malco Paradiso Theater, 584 S. Mendenhall. Admission is free. It is to be released for streaming in March by the MVP3 Entertainment…