By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Considered one of the top Black hairdressers in Knoxville for over 40 years, Andrei Allen, known and loved by all as Dr. Dre because of his skill and his love for doing the hair of his people, has died. Dr. Dre passed away on May 22, 2024, at Fort Sanders hospital. His friendly spirit, skills and knowledge of Black hair drew clients from across the city and surrounding counties; people would wait for hours to be able to sit in his chair. Dr. Dre had a great love for the Lord, his family, and…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Knoxville will be awash with tradition this fourth of July weekend as an event that only occurs every five years takes over the city with memories, music, and activities celebrating several generations. From this years new fresh face graduates as young as 17 to those who graduated long ago and are now in their 90s; good times will flow across the city as Black students who have lived through the changes of time descend to deliberately choose to remember. Before Austin-East was birthed, the parent schools had existed separately across town from each other for…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Honorary doctoral degrees are the highest honor a university can bestow upon an individual. The receipt of an honorary doctorate recognizes an individual has made significant contributions to society, the state, and the university. On Saturday, May 18th, University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Chancellor Donde Plowman, stood before a room of guest and explained the process and procedure of nomination, selection, accepting and awarding this distinguished honor; an honor bestowed upon the late Dr. Bob Booker, author, statesman, longtime community leader, icon, and civil rights activist chosen by a unanimous decision by the leadership of…
KNOXVILLE, TN — How do you celebrate a matriarch with a legacy of over 100? You take the queen on a river boat ride and have family join her on the boat. That’s exactly how the family of senior Willie Mae Kyle celebrated her 95th birthday, with family coming in from all over the country. Kyle, as spry and as playful as ever, stepped around the boat on her own, enjoying a feast, receiving gifts and love; happy for her family, grateful for good health, strength and surrounded by those she loves most. Copyright TNTRIBUNE 2024 All rights reserved.
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Dignitaries from across the State crowded in to the conference room for the dedication and ribbon cutting of the New Gateway Center. The vision of Karen Pershing came to life as hope rose as the ribbons floated to the ground. The Gateway is a recovery community center, designed to provide additional support and on going recovery for those coming back into the community. The center was built around the belief that treatment is just the beginning of the healing process and when supportive services are provided, there are less relapses. The center will offer…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Ursala Bailey, Knoxville attorney was the key note speaker for the Knoxville Area Urban League’s voter restoration clinic. The Urban League has been holding expungement clinics for citizens desiring to have their rights restored. It is estimated over four million U.S. citizens are unable to vote due to felony records. Expunging their records is one of the processes on the journey back to full citizenship. In Tennessee, that journey has an additional hurdle due to law changes at the beginning of 2024. Individuals must now have their gun rights restored before they get their…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Before there was the great Dawn Stanley, there was C. Vivian Stringer, Black woman, winningest coach, Hall of Famer, HERstory maker. Forty-two years ago, Stringer, would lead her all Black women’s team into the FIRST Women’s NCAA Championship game. Considered one of the greatest coaches ever, her record, impressive as 251 of her 1055 victories over the decades occurred at Cheyney State. What team that was to lead, especially in 1982. Not only were they one of the first four teams to play in the newly formed NCAA, they were from the nations FIRST…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The event to kick off Youth Violence Prevention Week in Knoxville a long with the rest of the nation, got off to a great start as youth gathered at the John T. O’Connor Center to begin a week of fun, education, and reflection. The moment was not lost by city Mayor Kincannon. She wholeheartedly supported the event which is part of her plan to create a safe, healthy and thriving community. She proudly spoke of the Turn Up Knox violence prevention program. Since it’s inception two years ago , the city has seen a…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN— Alpha Xi Chapter of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority named Knoxville businessman Mark Deathridge their 2024 Bronze Man of the Year at their 40th year celebration and scholarship fundraiser. Deathridge, owner of East Tennessee Mechanical Contractors started the business with his late brother Don in 1978. Since that time the highly successful Black owned company has worked on many prestigious jobs; among them the Nissan Stadium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and most recently the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville. Founded in 1929 by Lola M. Parker, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It was a national effort put forth by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) under the guidance of USAging: get the senior population over sixty and those aged 18 to 59 with disabilities, with no insurance or those underinsured, especially in marginalized communities caught up on their vaccinations. The pandemic had caused many in these groups to stay in and not venture out, causing many to fall behind in needed vaccinations for shingles, RSV, boosters, flu, Tdap, Hepatitis, and other needed shots. Compounding the health problem was the CDC announcement that over 250,000 kindergarten…