I spent 10 months jailed at “201 Poplar,” now respectively named the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Center. Recently, I “popped in” by choice, deciding that I wanted to see how my circumstantial brothers are being treated during COVID-19.

I made my move on May 28, three days before George Floyd was killed by former Minneapolis (MN) Police Department Officer Derek Chauvin.

Since then, Memphis demonstrators have wonderfully taken to the streets in unity with thousands throughout the U.S. and around the world. Rightly, they’re demanding justice in George Floyd’s case, for every person that has become a hashtag before him and for those killed and/or abused in painfully familiar encounters with law enforcement.

Definitely miles to go before we rest, but we’ve started and are continuing on the right path.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office oversees the jail. Just City Memphis, which has spent the last three years working toward a criminal justice system that “prioritizes fairness, decency, and equal protection under the law,” and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have sued Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr., the first African-American elected to serve in the position. With the pandemic raging, they say he has not done enough to project those behind bars.

I wanted to get a feel for myself. I arranged to visit as a freelancer for The New Tri-State Defender, leveraging a relationship with the Sheriff’s Office, the Memphis Police Department and the Germantown Police Department that I created seven years ago with a periodic column titled “Good Blue & You.”

During that time, the conversations I have shared with TSD’s audiences have ranged widely from Bonner to patrol officers assigned to high schools to SWAT teams and officers serving in myriad capacities. The interviews have captured the intimate thoughts of officers about the community, why they chose law enforcement and drilled down to their favorite music or foods, marriage and their extra-curricular activities.

The Good Blue and You concept became its own entity, which I have maintained on my own, emailing copies to 36,000-plus people in our area and beyond. I have reason to think that the resulting relationships nurtured and cultivated seeds that have positively affected police-community interactions.

I made my visit to the jail fully committed to tell the truth as I encountered and discerned it. No change there in the way I operate. I talked with Chief Jailer Kirk D. Fields, Coleman Thompson, who manages the Sheriff’s Office’s substance abuse programs, and Assistant Chief (Juvenile Detentions Services) Deidra F. Bridgeforth.

Here are those conversations, purposely kept as raw as they happened.

The most recent testing and case information provided by the Shelby County Division of Corrections at TSDMemphis.com as of 6/6/20

Chief Jailer Kirk D. Fields – We have roughly 1,875 inmates in the Shelby County Jail. Out at Jail East, we have 170 detainees and we have 47 at the Juvenile Detention Center. As of now, testing has been offered to approximately 450 inmates. A little under a half of those agreed to take the test. So testing is ongoing.

“We are currently working with the Tennessee Department of Health, the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association and Tennessee Corrections Institute on coming back in and doing some additional testing for those detainees that want to be tested, as well as our staff. That has not been finalized yet, but it is to take place in the future.

Kelvin Cowans – So, regardless of a test being available, let’s say even if two or three months ago, the inmates can refuse to be tested for COVID-19?

Chief Jailer Fields – That is correct. Legally, I cannot force an inmate to take a test, but we highly encourage it.

K.C. – As compared to a normal, non-pandemic May, are those numbers normal?

Chief Jailer Fields – Our numbers are quite lower in comparison to this time last year. That’s because the one thing that Sheriff Bonner did in early February 2019 was that he hired Michelle Best, a former General Sessions judge, creating a position as an expediter. That was because we saw a need to reduce our jail population PRE-COVID, well over a year ago.

We hired her to come in and to look at trouble cases, like people with misdemeanors and medical conditions. More so, people that needed help in the court system to transition them and get them out of jail so they can get the proper care or services that they needed.

Since we have had Michelle Best in place, our population has decreased significantly. We went from 2,700 when she initially came on and those numbers have started falling as she grew into her position. Now in conjunction with the (Shelby County) Attorney General’s Office and our other community partners, we are way down as you can see.

K.C. – What can you say to members of the public who may have family or friends housed in your jail system right now? We know that jail is hard and to put a virus on top of that, you can understand their concern is heightened for their loved ones.

Chief Jailer Fields – I completely understand. They are human and they are a part of our community. What I want the public to know is that their safety and medical care is comparable to the same level that they would receive if they were at home. They are getting the best care available.

Coleman Thompson (Manager, substance abuse programs) – I’m relatively new here as I came in since December of 2019. My experience has been great here. The jail has a rather large amount of operational processes that take place. If a person hasn’t worked here before or done as you are doing in coming in and researching, then they wouldn’t truly understand how we function.

I’m into the program aspects of the inmates, including all males, females and juveniles. And I’m here to develop even more programs to strengthen inmates for when they leave here. No matter how long they are here, whether its 30 days, 90 days, six months or a year, we are educating them for when they get back out in the public, that they are more prepared for situations than when they came.

K.C. – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has for decades now shown itself to be a community-driven, law-enforcement agency. What have you seen since COVID-19 that makes you say you’re glad you came aboard here?

Manager Thompson – This operation is built on helping people change their life style. None of that has changed during this COVID-19. In fact, I’ve witnessed staff go out of their way to ensure more comfort to the inmates.

K.C. – Sheriff  Bonner won the race overwhelmingly, at least 3 to 1. This told me that the community as a whole saw something in him and trusted that he could lead this agency to great levels; or, (in the view of some) keep the gold standard gold.  Even in a pandemic, what are your thoughts on what this community believed forward in him?

Manager Thompson – In me knowing the Sheriff some, he has a great passion in wanting to see inmates get their lives together and not come back through here. He is a person who leads by example and it is clear that he is focused on making good people better. I have noticed that he doesn’t expect anything from his staff that he’s not also willing to do or have done to secure the public.

K.C. – As I entered the building today, I had to fill out some paperwork and my temperature was taken. I passed with a 97.8. That entire process was new for me and others. What else has been different about you guys’ routine in taking care of the inmates during COVID-19.

Assistant Chief Deidra F. Bridgeforth (Juvenile Detention Services) – New admissions are accepted primarily in the same fashion in which you entered today. In contrast, if they answered ‘yes’ to anything on the questionnaire – which is centered around the fact that they have had contact with a person that has the virus or frequented large gatherings or have a really high temperature,  then our precautions are set into place.

We quarantine them before they are even admitted.  For our juveniles, once they have actually been admitted inside then they are given a mask. All of our staff are given daily temperature checks and must wear mask as well and have to respond to COVID temperature checks every day.

K.C. – How many juveniles do you have housed currently?

Assistant Chief Bridgeforth – We have 47 at Juvenile Court and 170 at Jail East and 40 of them are transferred boys.

K.C. – Is that number a normal amount for Juvenile Court or has it been shaped by COVID-19 as others?

Assistant Chief Bridgeforth – Yes, the numbers are way down. Our average population dating back to in January of this year is usually 70.  Then in April, it went down to 68, then 59 and now 47. What we have done is work with the courts to set up video visitation for attorneys, Zoom for court hearings, which actually moves court much faster. We still get about 10 Juveniles a week but it was double that, more so 20 a week PRE-COVID.

K.C. – Contrary to belief, you guys do not possess the power to say there is a pandemic and we need law enforcement not to arrest people. If I am correct, your job starts at the unlocking of the handcuffs?

Assistant Chief Bridgeforth – Absolutely! We are not the gate keeper. We are custody and care. Our population is indeed a lot lower than it would normally be if it were not a pandemic.

K.C. – How long have you been in law enforcement?

Assistant Chief Bridgeforth – I’ve been in law enforcement for 30 years.

 K.C. – How many pandemics have you been a part of?

Assistant Bridgeforth – None.

 K.C. – Are you sure?

Assistant Chief Bridgeforth – Ha! Yes I’m sure. But I will say this, it’s almost like we are built for this.  Even though it is very unique, we are prepared. At Juvenile Court, we haven’t had a positive case at all. That is a blessing. We also haven’t had one at Jail East either.

The communication and teamwork of our staff has been excellent. There have been no pushbacks about the mask or the test. We have all decided to fight this thing head on and do our jobs and do them well. We want to keep the detainees safe as well as keep ourselves safe. This thing can take your life and so we are being very careful.

Also, we work with the Health Department, the University of Memphis, Sarah’s Hope, Shelby County Schools; and we are working on something with the Urban League as well. Our community partners are always donating to us, even in this trying time. They understand the difference in male and female inmates or detainees needs and they zero in on what we need specifically.

(Kelvin Cowans, the creator and owner of Good Blue and You, can be reached at kelvincowans@hotmail.com.)

Back to the airport

James Cook plans to reopen his Lenny’s Grill and Subs at Memphis International Airport Monday (June 8).

The eatery will initially open on a reduced schedule from 5 a.m. to noon, but he anticipates eventually opening on a full schedule.

Cook had to close his two businesses in Memphis International Airport – Runway 901 Bar & Grill and the Lenny’s – in March because of a lack of airport passenger traffic caused by the new coronavirus pandemic.

Since then, he has been working with his father’s landscaping business and working for another Lenny’s franchisee.

Cook decided to reopen at the airport because of an uptick in passenger traffic. He also plans to reopen Runway 901’s bar.

Glen Thomas, the airport’s director of Strategic Marketing & Communications/PIO, said in an email Wednesday (June 3) the airport has “seen a slow but steady increase in passengers over the past few weeks.

“The Friday before Memorial Day was our busiest day since March 17, with more than 1,900 passengers and employees screened. We are still down by more than 80 percent compared to 2019 at this time, but traffic is increasing.”

It has become clear over the past weeks that Cook has a fierce entrepreneurial spirit and likes being his own boss.

Although he appreciates the other Lenny’s franchisee giving him the opportunity to provide for his family, he will be glad to be working for himself once again.

“I’ve never seen my father or stepfather working for anyone,” he said. “I’m trying to leave something for my children.”

 “Corona, Corona”

After an initial rush of customers eager to get a haircut when barber and beauty shops were allowed to reopen last month, things have slowed a bit for barber William Gandy Jr.

That was not unexpected, he said. “A lot of my clients, who are older, still are afraid to come out.”

This has allowed him to spend more time on his music, including composing a song about the virus, titled “Corona Corona.”

A virus-related helping hand

Margaret Cowan, founding keeper of I Am My Sister’s Keeper, a nonprofit that works with single, working mothers to increase their earning potential, has been busy honing her nonprofit expertise and helping her moms.

About 20 women are in the group.

When The New Tri-State Defender last checked two weeks ago, she was trying to find temporary housing for one of her “moms,” whose mother had contracted the COVID-19 virus.

With the help of her pastor, Cory Jackson of New Covenant Seventh-day Adventist Church in Southwest Memphis, the young mother and her 2-year-old daughter were able to live in an Olive Branch hotel for two weeks until her mother recovered.

Meanwhile, Cowan said another one of her “moms” created T-shirts for the group, featuring the nonprofit’s logo.

And, thanks to some hustle and donations, Cowan was able to create “essential boxes” for her moms. The boxes contained food stuffs, cleaning essentials and other items.

 (Jerome Wright is deputy editor for The New Tri-State Defender.)

LIVING THROUGH COVID-19 — ARCHIVES

Maneuvering through the perils of COVID-19

Living through COVID-19: A trio of profiles – Part II

Living through COVID-19: A trio of profiles – Part III

Living through COVID-19 — Part IV

Living through COVID-19: A trio of profiles – Part V

Living through COVID-19: Part VI

Living through COVID-19: Part VII 

Living through COVID-19, Part VIII

by Ayan Ajanaku — 

Whether it be war, famine, slavery or genocide, the history of human peoples throughout the world is not without its fair share of violence and trauma.

Whether you or your forefathers have been on the receiving or giving end of that trauma, or whether you believe those past events have affected your life in a direct way doesn’t really matter. It is affecting your life either directly or indirectly now and will continue to fester, if the collective trauma is left untreated.

There is good news though. If one understands as Lord Byron once said that, “Adversity is the path to truth,” pain or discomfort presents an awesome opportunity, if one decides to confront it.

What is collective pain anyway?

When pain is inflicted upon us our typical response is to become resentful. But when the same type of pain is inflicted upon thousands if not millions of people for the same reasons (such as the case with genocide, slavery and racism), the pain body becomes an insidious and treacherous complement to your individual identity.

Now your resentment has strength in numbers because many other people have co-signed on its legitimacy.

This anger is passed down from generation to generation and becomes a burdensome and sorrowful legacy that unwittingly kills you softly whilst never actually directly affecting the “enemy.” Because suffering is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.

You can administer pain to another, but you can never administer suffering. It’s a choice.

But resentment is natural!

It may feel natural because resentment is a knee jerk reaction for most when they’ve been wronged, but it’s not natural, it’s simply a habit. We still have a choice though, what we do with that surge of pain is 100 percent in our control. We can carry it and nurture it, or we can keep it in its place and use it as a catalyst for empowerment.

Each person must individually decide to use their pain as a source of empowerment and not a source of suffering.

5 steps to confronting your role in collective trauma:

1. If you’re angry or sad, acknowledge that. And then acknowledge that you can and must choose to stop suffering simply because it isn’t productive. You don’t need a reason to be pleasant. Happiness is a choice, not a pursuit.
2. When collective pain triggers occur, limit your exposure to social media and even with friends until you are centered. It’s not possible to retreat to a Himalayan cave every time you want to be at peace. But first one must create space to learn how to achieve stillness.  Create the space you need with fewer external distractions until you can learn how to balance yourself internally.
3. “I am not the body; I am not even the mind” is a very simple meditation chant you can use to help achieve some balance. Upon inhalation, chant to yourself: “I am not the body,” and upon exhalation chant, “I am not even the mind” for five minutes while seated comfortably with your eyes closed, and a mild focus above and between your eyes. This meditation will help you release your identification with your thoughts and achieve the balance you need to tackle the next step.
4. If you’re confused and embarrassed about how you can confront your role  in the unrest you see around you, that’s good!  Just don’t sweep your ignorance under the rug as someone else’s problem.  Pain in general usually results when you unconsciously identify with the notion that someone else is inherently better or worse than you. So ask yourself some personal questions. What do you identify with and how do these identities influence your decisions? Confront your ignorance when it comes to the answers and continue to ask yourself uncomfortable questions. Answers will follow naturally for those who continually seek.
5. You’ve probably heard the saying, “You change the world by changing yourself.” Everything we create is just a manifestation of who we are. So while acknowledging the truth about the unconscious identities you’ve established, decide what actionable steps you can take to transform yourself so that you can contribute to collective healing as opposed to being part of the collective trauma.

We as humans generally swing between periods of inflicting devastation upon ourselves and others to rebuilding and stagnancy, often with two steps forward and one step back.

Now is the time to use consciousness as a tool to truly take “One giant leap for mankind.”

(Former Memphian and blogger Ayan Ajanaku lives in Seville, Spain, where she teaches English online.)

In myriad places across America, individuals and groups are lending their voices to an evolving movement for change regarding the disparate way law enforcement is applied in the U.S.

For some, it’s the next step in an ongoing journey. Others haven’t long gotten on the road. Still others — jarred and stimulated to act by a video of 46-year-old George Floyd’s killing on videotape by a Minneapolis policeman — are just pulling onto the highway.

One such collection of voices was put together earlier this week (Monday, June 1) by the Memphis Branch NAACP and the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church at historic Mt. Olive CME Church on Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. CME First Episcopal District Bishop Henry M. Williamson Sr. hosted an interracial gathering, which aired live on digital platform Zoom.

There is chaos in the country, Williamson said, because American leadership ignored the pandemic of slavery and Jim Crow. Dr. King’s warning of the three great evils — racism, poverty and war — have been ignored, he added.

NAACP youth leaders Angela Redwing and Zachery Love appealed to the community to stand with young people because their lives could be taken in an instant and because they are protesting for change in policing.

Fifteen-year-old Angela Redwing, president of the NAACP Youth Council, “People are uncomfortable with the rioting that is going on…but I am uncomfortable with having to tell my two little, black brothers that if they wear a hoodie, or walk the wrong way, or if they…move their hand out of their pocket the wrong way, they could die instantly.”

Redwing said she also is uncomfortable with having to explain to her teenage brother that there are certain words he cannot say to a white policeman, or he could take his last breath.

Love, 21, said, “Don’t turn your back on the youth….

”They are rioting because they need someone. They need something to cling to… They need the black church. They need Jesus to step in and show them how to protest, to show them how to demonstrate.”

Young people, he said, are “the best weapon we’ve got. … “They have the energy to take us in to tomorrow. …We can’t talk about how they dress. We can’t talk about their lingo. Don’t let the media brand them as thugs. We want to stand up for our rights, and with the right leadership, we can do it peacefully.”

NAACP Executive Director Vickie Terry set the context for her message by repeating the chilling words Floyd spoke just before he died.

“I can’t breathe. Mama, I can’t breathe. Mama, I can’t breathe. Please, Mama, I can’t breathe,” Terry shouted.

“Oh my God, these words will forever resonate in my heart, in my mind, in my spirit.”

Young people, said Terry, are saying, “We can’t breathe.”

Memphis Branch NAACP President Van Turner Jr., also a Shelby County commissioner, outlined a path forward with three points — protest, policy and protection.

“First, we must embrace the protests,” Turner said. “That policeman’s knee was on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes. The charge should be murder one. There was intent, there was deliberation, and there was malfeasance.”

Turner said there must be policy changes, with stronger citizen review boards warranted and all knee holds banned. And, he said, it is the duty of other officers to intervene if they see excessive or deadly force being used.

The Memphis Branch NAACP, said Turner, will represent nine defendants facing charges of obstruction, inciting a riot, assaulting a police officer and other alleged offenses associated with protest marches in Memphis against Floyd’s homicide.