By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — The African American Police Association (AAPA) was hit with the hard news that it’s co-founder Clifton Dates, Jr. died on Friday, Dec. 9, 2023. It was especially painful because the organization was planning for its milestone 50th Anniversary Christmas Party, which occurred on Saturday, Dec. 16 at Perignon’s Restaurant and Event Center. The news was quite a blow because the event had been structured to honor Dates and fellow co-founder James Bolden, now the last surviving founder of the original seven that established the AAPA in June, 1973. They are the aforementioned Bolden, Dates,…
Author: Tony Jones
By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — Thankfully, ruefully, social activism has become one of the watchwords of our times. Thankfully, because with the assistance of the internet, systemic racism is kept on the frontlines. But also, ruefully because with the awareness at internet there’s a plethora of so called “activists” not getting much done in real world terms. But again thankfully, there are many others like Sharon Mourning. Known as “Diamond” to most people she encounters, Mourning was named Activist of the Year at the 5th Annual Hood Idol Awards, held this past November in Hazlehurst, Mississippi a half hour…
By Tony Jones While Memphis city leaders grapple with the crime rate, I stumbled upon a Thanksgiving story that goes a long way to answering some of the questions. There’s even a lesson in it for the so-called “woke” social media activists and other know-it-all’s that constantly criticize everyone but themselves. Is it just me or have you noticed that any discussion about family, faith, and self-responsibility is missing in the debate about crime? Thugs are nothing new. When I was a front-page reporter for the Tri State Defender, I knew I had to pull back from covering crime because…
By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — “Crash and grab” has become the latest headline grabber driving the exploding crime rate in Memphis. Highlighted by brazen back to back commando-type raids at popular clothier City Gear, the latest phenomenon further tarnishes the city’s unfortunately escalating reputation as an out of control hell hole. But perhaps even more shocking, before the latest criminal escapade footage hits the news, reports and video from the infamous Shelby County Jail often tops it. With the overhanging pall of the Tyre Nichols and Young Dolph murder trials underway, the schizophrenic nature of public safety and law…
By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — A-List movie and television star Terrence Howard’s returned to the scene of his prime last week to launch his new film, Showdown at the Grand, was a love fest for the city. Saying he was “born again” when he came to Memphis 18 years ago to portray DJay in the now classic Memphis-based Hustle and Flow, the new film’s premiere Wednesday Nov. 8 at the Malco Powerhouse. It served as a fundraiser for the Memphis and Shelby County Film Commission Foundation dubbed “Tales & Tunes with Terrence,” featuring Howard playing piano and guitar in an open forum with the audience, the event was produced by film commission board members Gayle Jones Carson and Tajuan Stout-Mitchell, (calling…
By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — Gov. Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee presented Stax Records early hit maker Carla Thomas with the Tennessee Governor’s Arts Award. Presented at the Executive Residence Conservation Hall Tuesday, Oct 17th, 2023, followed by a reception at the governor’s mansion, Thomas was among the dozen artists honored for their lifelong contribution to the arts. Officially announced in 2021, the ceremony was delayed due to COVID restrictions. The daughter of one of Stax’s many standard bearers Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas was introduced to the world with her monster introductory hits B-A-B-Y and Gee Whiz…
By Tony Jones The public is being invited for a special launch event Wednesday, Nov. 1 for two Memphis teens who successfully pitched their company Angels & Tom Boys on the hit tv show Shark Tank. Founded by Madison Star and Mallory Iyana, Angels & Tom Boys will debut their line of plant-based skincare products at the launch. Aired May 2014, (episode #803), Mark Cuban and Daymon John agreed wholeheartedly with Angels & Tom Boys mission statement that the company “stands as a testament to the power of youthful creativity and innovation. Rooted in Memphis, Tennessee, the brand embodies the…
By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — Can a city like Memphis survive without strong public transportation? It’s terrible to contemplate, but it’s not a far-fetched notion as the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) embarked on a city wide town hall tour to inform riders of proposed route changes for city buses. Broadcast live and available on MATA’s Facebook page, the tour began Monday, October 16 at Officer Geoffrey Redd Library. Required by law to have at least one public meeting when major changes are announced, MATA’s Community Engagement Manager, Chandra Smith said that 12 sessions were planned to ensure the…
By Tony Jones MEMPHIS, TN — In a surprisingly swift conclusion, Memphis voters chose Downtown Commission president and CEO Paul Young as the city’s next mayor, following Young’s victory, the Shelby County Election Commission (SCEC) announced that keys to several ballot boxes had been stolen from an SCEC employee’s car, but assured the city that the theft will not alter the election results. SCEC notified media, “We regret that an election worker’s car was recently victimized. Thankfully, she remained safe, the incident happened away from our offices and polling locations, and the complete integrity of the October 5th election…
By Tony Jones Except in the romance book game, it’s not often that a press release tells a love story, but on election week Monday, Memphis’s widely known and respected African American marketing firm TRUST Marketing issued a quiet but important release that does just that. Started 32 years ago by husband and wife team Howard and Beverly Robertson, the release introduces the company’s next generation team, their children, Ryan Robertson, Corporate President and Adrienne Robertson King, Corporate Vice President. Third sibling and middle child Howard “Trey” Robertson, III is currently a copyright executive at the Library of Congress in…