The New Tri-State Defender

68-year-old swimmer competes in National Senior Olympics

Jannelle Walker, Special to The New Tri-State DefenderJuly 4, 2019

Once she became a contestant for the local games, Loretta Griffin was told that she would need to participate in the state level and place in the top four to attend the Nationals, as well as qualify the year before the actual Olympics. Griffin completed all her requirements, including coming in third place last year in a 500 freestyle that consisted of 20 laps and four strokes to qualify her for the Nationals.

University of Memphis Sit-In Commemoration Looks Back and Forward

Harlan McCarthy, Special to The New Tri-State DefenderApril 26, 2019

On April 23, 1969, 75 BSA members at the University of Memphis staged a sit-in at then-President Cecil Humphreys’ office because he refused to provide $1,750 to bring U.S. Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., the first Black person to be elected from New York to Congress, to speak to the association.

Family News (Family)

A tale of love and redemption: ‘Spiritual parents’ throw surprise party for man who broke into their church

Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell, Special to the New Tri-State DefenderFebruary 21, 2019

Jesus taught forgiveness, and “we have the ministry of reconciliation,” Rev. Lavender says.

Entertainment Movies

If Beale Street Could Talk, It Would Tell Memphis to ‘Copyright Me’

Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr., Special to The New Tri-State DefenderFebruary 15, 2019

I will never forget the colorful characters of Beale Street: Men wearing coordinated suits, shoes and hats, with processed hair; curvaceous women walking with advertising gaits and long eye lashes; impromptu street concerts by bands and musicians; “barkers” pleading for customers to enter their stores and shops; shoe shine boys with their mobile shine parlors and the bustling crowds.