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OP-ED: The Tennessee Three: A Page Out of the Playbook of History

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Representatives Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), Justin Jones (D-Nashville), and Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) took to the Tennessee House floor to stand in solidarity with school and community activists protesting legislative inaction on guns after the tragic mass shooting at a Christian school in Nashville. Instead of focusing on how to protect innocent children from gun violence, Tennessee Republicans mobilized to remove those who had the audacity to step forward and demand a change.
The post OP-ED: The Tennessee Three: A Page Out of the Playbook of History first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

April 13, 2023

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By Congressman James E. Clyburn, Special to the NNPA

The Tennessee General Assembly’s expulsion of two African American lawmakers duly elected by their constituents, while sparing a third who happened not to be African American, signifies a dangerous subversion of our representative democracy, the most precious thing we have in this country. With this action, Tennessee Republicans attempted to silence the voices of nearly 140,000 voters who chose these two lawmakers to make informed legislative decisions on their behalf.

Representatives Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), Justin Jones (D-Nashville), and Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) took to the Tennessee House floor to stand in solidarity with school and community activists protesting legislative inaction on guns after the tragic mass shooting at a Christian school in Nashville. Instead of focusing on how to protect innocent children from gun violence, Tennessee Republicans mobilized to remove those who had the audacity to step forward and demand a change.

Just before the vote to remove Representative Pearson, Tennessee House Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) chided him on the floor of the General Assembly, saying: “That’s why you’re standing there—for that temper tantrum that day. For that yearning to have attention. That’s what you wanted. Well, you’re getting it now.”

When I heard this rant by Representative Farmer, the author of one of the resolutions for removal, I thought of my own experiences in South Carolina. His coded and condescending lecture was not unlike those I heard as a 20-year-old protester in the 1960s. Those of us who marched and were arrested for demanding equal opportunity and fair treatment under the law know what it is like to be subjected to such disrespect.

The actions of Tennessee Republicans are reminiscent of those of Southern white officials during and post-Reconstruction. I also thought about lessons I learned as a student and former teacher of history. Philosopher George Santayana once wrote, “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.”

The ending of the Civil War and establishment of the Reconstruction era in 1865 precipitated honest and honorable attempts to include African Americans in the political process.

However, there were resisters, and Tennessee led the way then as it seems to be doing again. The Ku Klux Klan was founded in Tennessee in 1865 and in the same year, Mississippi and South Carolina enacted “Black Codes,” a series of laws designed to restrict the social, economic, and political autonomy of African Americans. Just one decade later in 1875, “Red Shirts” ran rampant across the South, intimidating and assassinating Black leaders and suppressing Black voters’ access to the ballot box. And in 1877, Republican President Rutherford B. Hayes removed all troops from the South and left Black citizens up to the creative devices of Jim Crow laws and practices.

Long before the massacres of Tulsa (Oklahoma) and Rosewood (Florida) were the massacres of Memphis and Pulaski. Google the “Original 33” and discover how 33 African American men got duly elected to the Georgia legislature in 1868 and were subsequently expelled. People protested and at least 12 of those who protested were killed. Dozens more were injured. The tragedy would later become known as the Camilla massacre.

Tragically, violent voter suppression ultimately succeeded in ending democracy in the South for decades. Black Codes, the Ku Klux Klan, the Red Shirts and their ally, the 19^th President of the United States, ushered in a wave of new post-Reconstruction state constitutions that eliminated any meaningful African American political participation until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

This ugly history is what the Tennessee General Assembly has chosen to honor with the removal of Representatives Pearson and Jones. By failing to be vigilant and exercise diligence, the Tennessee state legislature has set us on a path toward reliving chapters of our not-so-pleasant history. For the sake of our democracy, we must learn from the lessons of our past and do everything we can to support the Tennessee Three.

The post OP-ED: The Tennessee Three: A Page Out of the Playbook of History first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 […]
The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

7 days ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.

He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win

Master the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework with Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt. Learn every stage, tactic, and win!
The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

7 days ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Negotiation framework stages, tactics, and winning strategies from AutoNetwork

Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt deliver the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework in Episode 8 of The Color of Our Money Is Green. This episode covers the three foundations of every effective negotiation, the full seven-stage negotiation sequence with exact language for every stage, and five of the most common dealership tactics with the specific response each one requires.
What You Learn in This Episode:
The three foundations that make every negotiation tactic work
The complete seven-stage car-buying negotiation sequence
Exact language for every stage of the dealership conversation
Five common dealership tactics — the turnover, the four-square, the packed payment, spot delivery, and forced add-ons — and how to counter each one
Why signing preliminary paperwork isn’t the same as signing the final contract
___________________________________________________________________
“The Color of Our Money Is Green: A Buyer’s Guide to What Cars Actually Cost” — stan.store/RGist
____________________________________________________________________
AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.

How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

AutoNetwork.com
CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts

Stay toasty in the CX-90! Plush Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, and a memory-equipped heated steering wheel deliver ultimate luxury.
The post Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Mazda CX-90 interior with heated seats offering premium comfort.

Experience ultimate comfort in the CX-90. Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, 8-way power adjustments, and memory settings for both front passengers. The heated steering wheel with memory tilt/telescope adds premium convenience.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/EH5A4eQ4ipY