Cyntoia Brown is granted clemency after serving 15 years in prison for killing man who bought her for sex

CNN Newsource
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Cyntoia Brown is granted clemency after serving 15 years in prison for killing man who bought her for sex

By MALLORY GAFAS and TINA BURNSIDE | CNN Newsource

Cyntoia Denise Brown, a woman serving a life sentence for killing a man who bought her for sex when she was 16 years old, has been granted clemency, the Tennessee governor’s office said Monday.

Brown, 30, will be released to parole supervision on Aug. 7 after serving 15 years in prison, Gov. Bill Haslam’s office said in a statement.

“This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case,” Haslam said.

“Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16. Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms. Brown has taken to rebuild her life. Transformation should be accompanied by hope.”

Brown’s case drew the attention of several high-profile advocates including a US congressman, several Tennessee lawmakers and a number of A-List celebrities. Comedian Amy Schumer, reality star Kim Kardashian West and actress Ashley Judd were among those who called for Brown’s clemency.

In 2004, Brown killed Johnny Mitchell Allen, who Brown said had solicited her for sex and taken her back to his house.

Prosecutors at the time said Brown shot Allen in the head while he was sleeping, stole money and guns, took his truck, and fled the scene. They argued the killing wasn’t motivated by self-defense, but robbery.

Brown said she was scared for her life by Allen’s behavior and took money for fear of returning empty-handed to her pimp, nicknamed “Cut Throat.”
A juvenile court found Brown competent to be tried as an adult. She was convicted of murder and robbery and sentenced to life in prison.

Though more than a decade had passed since her trial, the harsh punishment for a teenage victim of sex trafficking sparked outrage around the US — particularly after celebrities Rihanna and Kardashian West came to her defense on social media in 2017.

Since Brown’s conviction, juvenile sentencing guidelines in Tennessee have been amended:

“If Cyntoia Brown were tried today, legal experts say she would not have been tried in the same way,” said CNN affiliate WZTV anchor Stacy Case, who had been investigating reports of sex trafficking in Tennessee when she came across Brown’s story.

“Our courts today would view her as a child sex slave… she would be viewed as a victim.”

In fact, it was Brown’s trial that inspired a documentary that eventually helped to alter the way Tennessee deals with sex trafficking victims, particularly those who are juveniles.

“If you look at Cyntoia’s original transcripts, they are peppered with the phrase ‘teen prostitute,'” says Derri Smith, founder and CEO of non-profit End Slavery Tennessee.

“Well we know today there’s no such thing as a teen prostitute … because this teen may think that she decided this was her idea to be raped multiple times a day and give money to someone else, it’s pretty clear there’s an adult behind that who’s manipulating and exploiting her.”

In the 2011 documentary “Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story,” Brown describes being forced into prostitution at a young age, sex-trafficked and raped repeatedly.

“The first time he did something to me is when he choked me and I passed out,” Brown recounts of her alleged pimp in the documentary. “I made him money…he wasn’t going to let me go nowhere. He told me he’d kill me.”

The documentary by Daniel H. Birman Productions, Inc. also revealed new evidence that suggests Brown suffered from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which can cause brain damage — evidence that the jury which convicted her in 2004 never saw. Her mother also admitted to drinking heavily while pregnant, according to court records from a 2014 appeal.

“Then as a teenager, she did have a nice adoptive family,” Case said. “But because of her experiences, she veered and ended up on the wrong side of the law — and ended up being sex-trafficked. If she had grown up differently, if she had had other opportunities, it may not have ended up that way.”

A second installment of the documentary is scheduled for release this year.

Since her sentencing, Brown has spent all of her adulthood in prison — but her advocates say she has worked to transform herself during her time behind bars.

“She is light years today, as a woman, different from the traumatized 16-year-old that she was,” Smith says. “She’s mentoring… troubled youth, working on her college degree, she is planning a nonprofit so she can help other young people.”

Brown received her associate’s degree from Lipscomb University in 2015, and, according to Smith, has been working toward her bachelor’s degree while in prison. She’s also collaborating with Tennessee’s Juvenile Justice System to help counsel young people at risk, and her supporters say she’s been a model inmate during her incarceration.

“I learned that my life was — and is — not over,” Brown said over the phone in a clip titled, “Prison Reflections,” from the documentary filmmakers. “I can create opportunities where I can actually help people.”

Pending Blackburn’s ruling, do Black lives really matter in Nashville?

Niara Savage
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Pending Blackburn’s ruling, do Black lives really matter in Nashville?

By NIARA SAVAGE | Nashville Voice

On Monday, the Daniel Hambrick case will reach another apex, as judge Melissa Blackburn will decide whether or not there is sufficient probable cause against officer Andrew Delke, for the case to go before a grand jury.

The case is notable for several reasons. This is the first time a Metro Nashville Police Officer has ever been charged with criminal homicide for an on-duty incident.

In addition, District Attorney Glenn Funk boldly decided to obtain a warrant for Delke’s arrest, as opposed to going before a grand jury that would then decide whether or not Delke should be indicted.

According to Funk, a grand jury would have reduced transparency and diminished public access to details of the defense and prosecution arguments.

Funk’s decision to carry out the preliminary hearing before General Sessions Judge Melissa Blackburn allows for a more open process because grand jury proceedings are typically closed to the public.

The fate of the Hambrick case would be determined and records of those proceedings would not be readily available to the public eye.

There are only two possible outcomes for Monday’s decision and each will trigger after effects of seismic proportions. Either Judge Blackburn will find probable cause against officer Delke, or she won’t.

If the judge finds probable cause against the officer, that is a good sign that our justice system is working correctly. The officer will be innocent until proven guilty, provided with a robust defense, face a jury of his peers, and the Hambrick family will rightfully have their day in court.

All Americans must be able to trust and believe in a justice system that is equitable and impartial. This is especially true for the most vulnerable populations, including minorities, who have been at statistical odds with the American justice system since its inception.

If the case moves forward to a trial, citizens can be reassured of the fact that the justice system strives to be blind and fair. Increased faith in the system is wholly good for the City of Nashville.  

But what if the judge, despite the video evidence, and the undeniable proof that Daniel Hambrick was shot in the back three times as he fled, finds no probable cause against Andrew Delke?

What if the judge overlooks the fact that there was no traffic stop and no crime committed by Hambrick?

What if she is so distracted by Hambrick’s criminal record that she forgets the fact that the 25-year old was 200 yards away from Delke and retreating when the officer—who was not in immediate danger—made a decision to stop pursuit to steadily and deliberately take aim and fire shots at Hambrick.

What if she accepts the defense’s argument that because the officer was provoked and annoyed by chasing Hambrick, that it justifies his murder?

If Blackburn, who was democratically elected by the people of Davidson County to serve the people of Davidson County, can take a good look of all of the evidence, shrug and say that there is no probable cause and no need for the case to go to trial, what is she saying to the Black people of the county she serves?

Further, what does that say about the values of Davidson County? This is not even a question of whether or not the officer is guilty, but of whether or not he should even be put on trial. If the facts of the case aren’t enough to indicate probable cause, what does?

Granted, if the judge rules that there is not enough probable cause to proceed to trial, it does not necessarily mean the case is closed. Funk still has the authority to bypass Blackburn’s decision and take the case to a grand jury.

After all, Nashville has been inundated with extravagant claims of restorative justice practices and community policing and the passage of the Community Oversight Board proves there is a strong desire from the community to see even more accountability of the part of the police.

If the first-ever criminal charges against an MNPD officer never make it to trial, how can Nashville’s most vulnerable populations even be expected to maintain faith or trust in the justice system? And if the justice system won’t protect them, are they forced to protect themselves?

If following the death of an unarmed Black man, there is no probable cause is found to even begin the process of carrying out a trial, do Black lives matter in Nashville?

Or, is our justice system enabling a man with a gun—so long as he is equipped with a badge—be awarded open season on Black citizens and provided with immunity when he pulls the trigger?

Because this is the first time Nashville has encountered such a case, Monday’s decision creates huge implications not only for the Hambrick family but also establishes a precedent for how the justice system will handle every Black life in the city.


The crux of officer Andrew Delke’s defense plea rests on unverifiable claims

Niara Savage
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The crux of officer Andrew Delke’s defense plea rests on unverifiable claims

Niara Savage│Nashville Voice

On Friday, excerpts from an interview of Andrew Delke explaining his decision to shoot Daniel Hambrick just days after the shooting were played in court. In the interview, Delke parrots the phrase that has almost become a trademark excuse for White cops who shoot and kill Black people. Delke’s expected, predictable, and overused  “I feared for my life” argument, presented itself through the words, “If I don’t shoot him, I’m gonna die.

There are many problems with this statement. First, it is concerning that a trained Metro Nashville Police Officer is so ill-equipped to serve, that he lacks access to effective, non-lethal weapons, and is not proficient in de-escalation strategy.

Second, Officer Delke, although he may not have been aware of it, made a distinct value statement as he defended his actions. “If I don’t shoot him, I’m going to die.” That is to say, ‘due to my incompetence one of us is going to die, and it’s not going to be me, so it’s going to be you.’ The officer’s life mattered before the civilian’s, the White life before that Black one.

Perhaps what’s worse about Friday’s events is that the core of the defense’s argument is that Delke was so afraid for his life because Daniel Hambrick reportedly turned and pulled a gun on him during the foot chase.  The officer apparently reiterated this point many times throughout his interview. There’s one glaring problem with this claim: At no point in any of the multiple video footage of the pursuit, is Daniel Hambrick shown pulling a gun on the officer.

The defense argues that Daniel pulled the gun only during the 1.9-2.4 seconds of the chase not caught on camera. When asked whether or not a man could even turn and aim a weapon of that size in such a short period of time, TBI agent Steven Kennard admitted, “it would be very difficult.”

Despite the fact that whether or not Daniel actually pulled a gun on Delke is unverifiable, the officer claims that he “knew 100 percent that his intent was to use that gun against me…”

Will Delke’s gut feelings and personal predilection that led to his decision to shoot Daniel Hambrick be enough to make Judge Blackburn reject the case’s escalation to a grand jury? The judge has made decisions about the case on the basis of unverifiable information in the past. Last month, she ruled that the defense could use Daniel’s past “aggressive acts” to defend the officer’s actions even though there was no evidence the officer could have been aware of Daniel’s record at the time of the shooting.

On Monday, the judge will decide if the case is strong enough to move forward.

Williams: ‘Why are women of color left out of the ‘body positivity’ conversation?’

The Nashville Voice
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Williams: ‘Why are women of color left out of the ‘body positivity’ conversation?’

By JESSICA WILLIAMS | Nashville Voice

Have you ever thought how powerful the internet is when it comes to movements?

Think about it, from shifting the culture of how we vote to expose police behavior against men of color to releasing products and services to the masses, there’s no denying the power of plugging into the World Wide Web.

I found myself searching hashtags relevant to the work I do and was shocked at what I found, even though I knew I shouldn’t have been.

What did I search and where? It was #bodypositivity on Instagram. You see it, you hear it.

Body positivity is popping up all over our social media pages and in pop culture. Of course, this movement is primarily for women. No surprise there.

If you’re anyone who has a pulse to the wellness/fitness industries, you can find someone advocating for body positivity and loving your body and all the hoopla that surrounds it.

You also may notice that, with the exception of a very few, most of these women are white, have some sort of grandiose platform and are not representative of the overall community of women who have the same ideals.

According to Wikipedia, body positivity is defined as “acceptance and appreciation of all human body types. It is a social movement rooted in the belief that all human beings should have a positive body image, and be accepting of their own bodies as well as the bodies of others.”

So, if that’s the case, why the lack of representation from women of color with the same mission?

First, let’s talk appropriation.

This goes way back. Women of color have had curves for years. Familiar with Sarah Baartman? If not, you can read on her history here.

In short, in the late 1700s/early 1800s she was used for entertainment due to her proportions: large butt, small waist. Not only was she a laughing stock of Europeans who felt superior, but she was praised behind closed doors due to the intrigue of her stout figure. She was used as a science experiment!

Fast forward to present day culture, what is happening? White women are praised for having a booty. Countless women are capitalizing on how hard they worked for the beloved large posterior and make money on others to show them how to do the same.

The exact thing Sarah Baartman was ridiculed for is now a shiny new toy for white women to not only feel beautiful but to capitalize on like it’s new.

It creates a disparity for women of color simply because this has been many of our realities for years. Now it’s a trend? There’s something wrong with that picture and the exclusivity it falsely represents.

Another thing to examine is the messaging passed down from generation to generation.

Women of color are far behind the curve when it comes to knowledge about wellness. Families and ancestors of the past learned that weight and BMI equaled health. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Actually, studies are now showing that African American women, specifically, likely are allowed a higher BMI due to genetics. According to blackdoctors.org, the BMI for obesity in this demographic is actually 32 or above against the stated 30 or higher for Caucasian men and women.

However, somehow, the “norm” is still based on the Caucasian standard. There has to be a shift somewhere. It begins with education and awareness.

Last, it’s important to note what the true embodiment of body positivity means.

Many women reject the idea of positive body image because many of us equate that to not tending to health.

It’s a common misperception that if someone is body positive, they are not actively working a wellness plan. The true embodiment of the term comes when one is willing to accept their body as it is, have no space for judging others, and care enough to take care of the skin they’re in while living in it.

The level of scrutiny women of color have received has created an unsafe space to share. It’s made it difficult to navigate how to find a voice in a crowded environment of white women who have grabbed the movement by the reigns. It seemingly leaves little room for voices that have a different story and point of view.

So what do we do?

The time is now to shift the messaging to create a body positivity movement that is inclusive and inviting. It’s a mindset shift that can only start by us honoring one another. It’s about creating a tribe of women who share the same mission, stories, and goals. No space? Create it.

It’s not an excuse to neglect wellness goals.

It’s not enough to say you love your body and not do the work.

It’s not a reason to shy away from loving who you are at this moment.

It is a reason to show up for yourself and your community to create a wellness mindset shift.

Body positivity is for everybody.

New Year, New Bae?

Maya Dee
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New Year, New Bae?

Signs that show its time to cut off your bae for the New Year

By MYA SMITH | Nashville Voice

Some people may view breaking up during the holidays as its own particular brand of cruel, but I don’t think there is ever a convenient time to end a connection.

As a matter of fact, waiting for the “right time” can have partners lounging in the grey area between ‘together’ and ‘over’ for way too long.

If you feel your relationship is coming to an end, there’s no reason to wait to pull the plug because of the holidays.

No other time of year brings about the urge for change like the days leading up to New Year’s Day.

This is the time when we start re-evaluating every single aspect of our lives from relationships and health to career and financial goals. Everything deserves a re-up come Jan. 1, and that includes our romantic lives too.

As you start to reassess the value of your relationship, there are a couple of red flags you need to keep in mind. Start your year off with positivity and pace.

Psychology Today compiled a list of four things to look out for that are sure signs you are in a relationship leading to nowhere:

Interactions are consistently more positive than negative

After the “honeymoon phase,” ego, triggers, and wounds barge into a connection, interrupting what is otherwise happy home.

So how do you all handle this shift?

Disagreements are normal but “toxic fights” or “communication shutdowns” are no no’s, Jeffrey Bernstein, Ph.D. writes.

A continuous argument that goes nowhere

Are you fighting about the same thing over and over again? Most likely there is something fundamentally flawed about your relationship that triggers these same grievances.

“Do you fruitlessly try to fix your partner, or does your partner try to fix you? If you argue about the same issues over and over, things aren’t likely to change in the future. Are you willing to accept that? If not, is is time to move on,” Bernstein explains.

Patience at an all-time low

All of a sudden, every little thing they do gets on your nerves. Or, the things you used to be able to tolerate suddenly become unbearable.

These could be signifiers of the end.

Bernstein adds if you and your partner never discuss your future or if you feel pessimistic about how you all could live a life together, it may be best to cut ties.

Your gut is telling you something isn’t right

Trust that intuition.  Even if your partner has all the “factors” building a life together requires deeper compatibility than looks, sun signs, and great sex.

Do you share the same values? Do you both fight fair? Do you like who you are with this person? Do your lifestyles match?

It’s important to not waive off those gut feelings in the dating phase,  it could be the reason you divorce later.


It may be time for the Titans to move on from Marcus Mariota

Mike Patton
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It may be time for the Titans to move on from Marcus Mariota

By MIKE PATTON | Nashville Voice

Coming into this season, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was under the microscope.

The talented quarterback who was taken second overall in the 2015 NFL Draft was expected to take a step forward this season as he had a new offensive coordinator brought in to help him.

Unfortunately, the season did not go as well as Marcus thought it would. Mariota would throw for fewer interceptions than last season and have the highest completion percentage of his career, but his passing touchdown total went down by two.

Couple his declining touchdown passes with the fact he was fighting through injury the entire season. The nightmare of him fighting through injury once again has stirred up Titans fans when it comes to whether to go with Mariota going forward.

As the time nears to whether or not the Titans will pay him a huge extension at the quarterback position, you cannot help to think it could be time to move forward minus Mariota at quarterback.

The Titans missed the playoffs and the offense was one of the worst when it comes to passing the football.

Some of that was due to an injury to tight end Delanie Walker (The talented tight end was injured in the first game and lost for the season), but the injuries weren’t the only.

Another big factor in the Titans’ offensive line. The line, which was lauded as one of the best in the NFL a couple years ago, did not do its job protecting Mariota and that left him running for his life a few times.

With all that surrounded him, it is easy to say he wasn’t the issue, but he does share some of the blame. Even though he did throw fewer interceptions this season, he did also hold on the ball too long as a quarterback.

Mariota has the ability to make things happen with his feet, but he seemed reluctant to do so a lot of the time. And as a result, he took some sacks he should not have taken.

Another reason he does not have more touchdown passes than he does is that he is too careful at times.

Mariota tries his best to value the football, but in doing so, he does not take calculated chances enough. His completion percentage is high but his yardage isn’t as high as it could be only because he would rather not turn the ball over than take that chance.

Mariota’s carefulness is appreciated, but he has to let the ball go to make plays.

Along with Mariota playing it safe a lot of times, he also is always injured. It is commendable he played through some injuries this season and in season’s past, but he, unfortunately, has not been able to fight through the injuries and perform at a high level all the time.

The perfect example is this season with the nerve issue he was dealing with. He was never really the same guy after that injury happened and no fault of his own, he could not really do some of the things he was used to doing throwing the football.

As a result, the Titans offense suffered when it came to becoming balanced.

At this point in his career, there are no assurances Mariota can ever be healthy. And with an offense still trying to find its identity under Mike Vrabel, stability at the quarterback position is needed.

This offseason, expect the Titans to draft a quarterback a little earlier. Time is running out on Mariota and there is no clear answer whether or not he is the franchise quarterback as of yet.  

If this is the case and the Titans still feel unsure about Mariota as their guy, then it means they have to consider moving forward without Mariota as their quarterback.

Tomorrow is the day Donald Trump’s presidency totally changes

CNN Newsource
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Tomorrow is the day Donald Trump’s presidency totally changes

By Chris Cillizza | CNN Newswire

Donald Trump may not realize it totally yet, but today was the last easy-ish day of his presidency.

By noon (or so) Thursday, Nancy Pelosi will become the new speaker of the House of Representatives — formalizing the Democratic majority her side won in last November’s election. And that will change everything.

Trump has sought to look on the bright side of divided control of government to date — insisting that maybe he will be able to make deals with the new Democratic majority in the House.

“It really could be a beautiful bipartisan situation,” he said at a press conference the day after the 2018 election.

But the early returns are not promising. The federal government has been shut down for the past 12 days — and there’s little reason to believe that will change at any point soon.

Trump has dug in on his demand for $5 billion to fund construction of his border wall. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, are equally dead-set on providing zero dollars for Trump’s wall.

And this is only the beginning. Starting tomorrow, Democrats in the House will make Trump’s life a living hell. Efforts are already underway to bring a number of his Cabinet officials before Congress, to extricate his tax returns from his grip and to more deeply probe his business dealings both before and during his presidency.

Trump, a political neophyte prior to the 2016 race, has never had to deal with this sort of opposition before. Sure, Democrats have never been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. But he never really needed Democrats to do much of anything, either.

The Republican majorities in the House and Senate ensured Trump got his tax cuts and two Supreme Court picks. There was no real political penalty for his total unwillingness and inability to work with Democrats.

Those days are now over. Democrats can now do Trump real political damage using the official means of their House majority. While they may not be able to, say, force his tax returns into public view (the jury remains out on that), they can make sure the issue is front and center and create major distractions for a White House that has already shown it can distract itself very well, thank you very much.

Trump claims to understand this, likely with his self-professed titanic intellect. To me, that’s like when people who are about to have a baby say they are totally ready for it.

As evidence, they point to their nursery being all set up, the Diaper Genie being up and running, and so on and so forth. Then the baby comes — and they realize, like every parent that has gone before them, that no amount of planning or bracing could fully prepare them for their new reality. That’s Trump and the new Democratic House majority.


You wanna be radical? Show us with your service

Eric Brown
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You wanna be radical? Show us with your service

By ERIC BROWN | Nashville Voice

Why do so many people think being radical is a facial expression, a fashion sense, a particular language, or a clique?

Why is that being “radical” stereotyped as either being in or out of a group rather than giving purpose to yourself, your family, your people, and your world? Why is being radical only linked to being angry or being a victim of history?

Some equate being radical as people who are impatient: “You should just be a Southern Belle or Southern Gentleman. Don’t get caught up with making all these demands. Take your time and learn to work with the system.”  

I have spoken with some people who have suggested, “To make it in Nashville, you have to learn how to wait your turn.”

On the other hand, being “radical” Nashville is not always about being an oddball, or weird, or an eclectic. These things are not bad, but it shouldn’t be the only marker of being radical.

Being radical is not always about going forward in an uncertain manner. Being radical is about going back. Being radical is to go to the origin. Being radical is about getting to the root of the matter.

Or better yet, to be radical is to be the root. As is the case for all plants, roots are found underground. The root is the underground part of a plant.

Roots are the part of the plant that forms or changes the whole being of any person, entity, object, system, or meaning. To get to the root of something, one has to dig, study, or work hard to get to it. Ok, I know what you are asking, “What is the point of all this word study of the word, radical?”

Radical is not just about existing or simply being; radical also includes doing. To be radical is not easy. It doesn’t come with a handbook or “master plan.” No one can appoint you to be radical.

To be radical is to be about action; not action, in the sense of going in circles or looking busy.

To be radical is to do the work that everyone does not see nor does it need to be announced. The work of those who get at the root often goes without being noticed, acknowledged, affirmed, or credited.

Radicals are not usually famous. They are criticized, burden-bearers, and prisoners to the service for the benefit of others.

You can’t just slide on a pair of army fatigues to be radical. You can’t grow out your hair without using chemicals to be radical.

On the other hand, you can’t criminalize or outlaw it either… Well maybe you can, but that doesn’t exterminate radicality. You can’t sanitize radicality or commercialize it just so others feel safe around those who work to get to the root.

Being radical is about forming the foundation properly so that healthy growth happens for a tree, flower, plant, organization, or people to be strongly held high in its existence. You can’t imitate, duplicate, fake, or cap on being radical.

To be radical is to be disciplined in creating a success story that you will never get to watch. It’s like being Moses and looking at the promised land but never been able to enter it. Let’s try an example of being radical.

In North Nashville, Jefferson Street was merely a street that was used a service road to a place called Fort Gilliam. Fort Gilliam was a place where Black soldiers and ex-slaves lived after the Civil War.

Those folks created a tight-knit community where they had no choice but to trust one another if they wanted to survive.

They worked together to build churches where they found hope in the image of God to keep them going. Those people were a part of those churches where they used money from tithes to build educational institutions we now know as historically Black colleges and universities.

Those people, who occasionally enjoyed a fish-fry or “Heaven and Hell” party, eventually created the Black-owned businesses where people could patronize speakeasies, juke joints, and pool halls that might have distributed moonshine and accommodated placing bets to fund scholarships for those who would become doctors and lawyers.

North Nashville is where people lived together in a community regardless if you were a wino or teacher. North Nashville is where the community is a community, whether right or wrong.

Don’t let me romanticize this too much.

Of course, Metro Nashville policies eventually pushed people out of the community. Interstates demolished institutions like Del Morocco’s and black-owned hotels.

Jim and Jane Crow still made the decisions if you could drink at a certain water fountain or had to pick up your food from the back door. Either way, there was something beyond the people that brought them together for a collective power to make lemonade from lemons, dollars out of fifteen cents, and quilts out of old rags.

Regardless of class or status, when you thought of these people, you think of people who possessed a deep sense of pride. And, you know what? That’s radical.

In this city, North Nashville was the birthplace of the radical.

It is the home of why Nashville is called, Music City. We know them as the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Nashville is the home of hot chicken, before the gentrification of  Prince’s delicious recipe. Nashville is the reason great entertainers like Jimi Hendrix and Lil’ Richie are who they are—they honed their skills in Black-owned bars and clubs along Nashville’s Jefferson Street..

Nashville is the home of great educational institutions from American Baptist Theological Seminary (American Baptist College), Fisk University, Meharry, and A & I State College (Tennessee State University).

This place is radical because “Out North,” is where many knew it was okay to be Black, intelligent, communal, political, spiritual, and creative—flaws and all.

We all can possess a passion to be radical. Black folks have a history of being radical because, in many cases, it was the only way we survived from generation to generation. The work was done underground that radicality made a place that seemed insignificant to others what it is today.

The rich tradition of North Nashville is a celebration of the African American history of Nashville and Jefferson Street in the areas of athletics, civil rights, education, music, and religion.

While it is important for this generation to also celebrate it through economic sustenance, we should also consider the spirit of innovation that lingers from years of being radical when our parents and their parents had no other choice.

We can no longer leave our radicality outside ivory towers, boutique hotels, or comfortable places of prestige and let those places destroy us. It’s time we remember from when we came and re-claim our radicality through our service and work in the community.

As one of the last natives still in Nashville, Eric Brown is a mix of community connector and strategic thinker. With a passion for the North Nashville community, he believes service is the rent we pay in being grateful for the life we live.





Warren to make first Iowa trip this weekend

CNN Newsource
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Warren to make first Iowa trip this weekend

By Eric Bradner and MJ Lee | CNN Newsource

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will visit Iowa this weekend, making her first trip to the state that begins the Democratic presidential nominating process, days after taking a major step toward a 2020 run.

Warren will hold events in Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Storm Lake and Des Moines, a source familiar with her plans said. The details of those events are not yet available.

Warren launched an exploratory committee for a 2020 presidential bid on New Year’s Eve, which allows her to begin raising money for the campaign and makes her the first big-name candidate to jump into the race. Outgoing Maryland Rep. John Delaney has launched his campaign and former Housing Secretary Julián Castro also has an exploratory committee.

“Corruption is poisoning our democracy,” Warren said in a video launching her campaign on Monday as images of Republican leaders flashed across the screen. “Politicians look the other way while big insurance companies deny patients life-saving coverage, while big banks rip off consumers and while big oil companies destroy this planet.”

Polls show Warren is among the best-known candidates in what’s expected to be a large Democratic field.

A CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll among likely 2020 Democratic caucusgoers last month found that Warren starts the long road to February 3, 2020, caucuses in fourth place among possible candidates, with 8 percent support. She trails former Vice President Joe Biden’s 32 percent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 19 percent and outgoing Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s 11 percent.

That poll found that 64 percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers view Warren favorably, while 20 percent who see her unfavorably.


Our predictions: Who’s in & who’s out for 2019 Mayoral Race?

The Nashville Voice
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Our predictions: Who’s in & who’s out for 2019 Mayoral Race?

By Nashville Voice staff

The year 2018 has been quite eventful regarding the occupancy of the Nashville-Davidson County mayor’s seat.

From a scandalous resignation to a tiresome season of citizens voting for a special election, a transit referendum, a vice mayor, a primary, a community accountability board, and a general election for U.S. Senate and Gubernatorial candidates, voter’s fatigue can easily sit in.

Fortunately, with a new surge of energy around political power, Nashvillians are expressing their choice for the way they want to see their city through their ballot.

On this last weekend of the year, Nashville Voice has taken a look at the slate of both potential and confirmed candidates running to be Nashville’s next mayor. The decision to run for mayor is usually at the first of the year because of the August election.

This is important because, with our second mayoral election in two years, timing is everything. NV takes a stab of the 2019 election for who is in, who is out, and who is up for debate.

Announcement decisions will be made soon to see who will run against Mayor Briley, who announced his re-election bid in early December.

One thing is certain, mayoral elections in Music City come with millions of dollars spent and serious warfare within the city. Urban Nashville will be a strong decider in this race and readily know the power they possess.

Nashville Voice will be here to cover all the action.

The Incumbent David Briley

David Briley

It is not up for discussion. Mayor David Briley will run for his first four-year term in the upcoming election. The former Vice Mayor rapidly ascended to the mayor’s seat in March after the resignation of former Mayor Barry and dominantly took the May Special Election without a runoff.

As the incumbent, Mayor Briley has the resources and network for victory. Briley has the record and experience in navigating local politics. Not even reaching a year as mayor, Briley has continuing and upcoming battles to face, including if he will maintain Police Chief Anderson and how supportive he will push for equity in Minority Business Prosperity to continue being the leader of Nashville.
Chance of Running: Confirmed

Bill Freeman

Bill Freeman

Real Estate CEO Bill Freeman ran unsuccessfully in 2015 with a third-place finish and spending $4 million of his own money. This fact is critical because Freeman can self-fund his campaign and not simply rely on campaign contributions.

Word on the street is Freeman is strongly considering another run. He is a formidable candidate, but does he want to stomach seven months and millions of dollars for a chance at mayor again?
Chance of Running: Toss Up

State Representative John Ray Clemmons

John Ray Clemmons

Rep. Clemmons is serving his third term as State Representative of the 55th District of the Tennessee Assembly. In 2014, the Representative defeated the incumbent, Gary Odom.

JRC is not afraid to use his slingshot to defeat Goliath incumbents. The giant slayer is an outspoken progressive who is intelligent and ambitious. In a progressive city, he has an advantage with his public speaking and presidential charm.

One weakness he has is it is not clear on how much support he has from the African-American community or a County-wide status recognition. Whatever the case, he will be a strong competitor.
Chance of Running: He’s in!

Councilmember at Large, Erica Gilmore

Erica Gilmore

Councilwoman At-Large Erica Gilmore placed third when she ran for mayor during the 2018 Special Election. A mother of one and daughter of State Senator, Brenda Gilmore, Gilmore has the ability to run again.

This does put the At-Large Councilwoman in a position to give up her chance for a second term as an at-large councilperson or make a second attempt as Mayor.

Gilmore has strong name recognition with having more votes in the 2015 election for Council At-Large than even Megan Barry for Mayor in the August 2015 election. Her decision will be an interesting one.
Chance of Running: Doubtful.

Carol Swain

Carol Swain

The former Vanderbilt Law Professor took second place in the May Special Election. The conservative African-American television analyst and right-wing Tea Party aligner has been known for her controversial and polarizing rhetoric around Black Lives Matter, the Islamic Community, Immigration, and views on Homosexuality.

Until recently, she has stayed away from local politics to give commentary on National Issues. Though she is a lightning rod for Republicans, we will probably see her stay away from running in this election.
Chance of Running: She’s Out.

James Shaw

James Shaw

After making a reputation as the “Waffle House Hero,” Shaw made a name for himself as a selfless individual who helped turn a time of tragedy into a moment of hope. His story has gone viral nationwide from connecting to celebrities and building a huge twitter following.

A little while back, our local neighborhood hero tweeted out, “Shaw 2020”. With nationwide name recognition and recently turning 30 years old— the minimum age to run for mayor, Shaw could be a force to influence Millennial voters to give a facelift to Nashville Politics.

On the other end, the Tennessee State alumnus and frat boy doesn’t have any municipal experience. What is his reason for running? Is politics a passion or an opportunistic move? If he does want into politics, should he start with a smaller position as Councilmember or Council at Large?

Either way, Shaw could become the new face for Black Leadership in the city.
Chance of Running: Whoa Nelly!

William F. Carpenter

Bill Carpenter

Through the grapevine, one name thrown out that no one knew was, Bill Carpenter. We must be honest that many did not know much about him.

Carpenter, who retired last week from LifePoint Health Inc., has been one of Nashville’s highest-paid CEOs of a public-traded company. In July, LifePoint Health sold to Apollo Global Management to become private.

With a successful run as CEO, he could go down the path of a businessman to a politician like former Nashville Mayor and State Governor, Phil Bredesen, or Governor-Elect Bill Lee.
Chance of Running: He’s going to get in the race.

Renata Soto

Renata Soto

The Executive Director of Conexion Americas is stepping down from her role on May 31, 2019. She is known for her work in immigrant advocacy and stops for President Obama to give a national speech. Her name was thrown around to be a wild card, but with a late departure from the non-profit, it’s doubtful that she will run.
Chance of Running: She’s Out


John Cooper

John Cooper

The outspoken At-Large Member and younger brother of U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper, has been a strong critic of Nashville mayors.

Cooper, the Brentwood developer, could be the candidate to overturn the Metropolitan establishment.  He has made a name for challenging the trends that make Nashville the, “It City.”

A big factor for him as mayor is we know he is very vocal about what he is against, but what is he for? Will he just be a city critique or a Mayor that the city did not know they needed?
Chance of Running: He’s In.

The Unknown Candidate

Watch out for a name of one who is not out of the loop. (S)he is holding their cards real tight to their chest. They are more than likely polling to determine if they should get in. Maybe they are a minority or a name on the underground who is the people’s champ.
Chance of Running: Choose wisely and fearlessly

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