About The Savannah tribune. (Savannah, Ga.) 1973-current | View Entire Issue (March 27, 2024)
^ Mapp# EaAt&i Sundauf * Sunday,, Makc/i 3f. 2024 ') “Georgia’s Best Weekly * PRSRTSTD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Savannah, GA ■ Permit No. 923 Fj&iCi»~jtiS ^aijannal) Critmne I8I>5 MLK Jr. Blvtk Sav., G A 31415 | ' March 27* 2024 - April 2, 2024 VoL 54 No. 13 Tel: 912-2JLV6I28 - Fax: 912-233-6H0 w ww.sava n Dabtribu ne.com Women's History Month Ida B. Wells-Barnett Journalist, Civil Rights Activist, Suffragist (1862-1931) By The Transformative Justice Coalition | Photo Credit: Cihak and Zima “Bom a slave in 1862, Ida Bell Wells was the oldest daughter of James and Lizzie Wells. The Wells were decreed tree by the Union, about six months after Ida’s birth.... [H]er parents were able to support their seven chil dren because her mother was a ‘famous’ cook and her father was a skilled carpenter....” Her father... was involved with the Freedman’s Aid Soci ety and helped start Shaw Uni versity ... (now Rust College) and served on the first board of trustees.... Yellow Fever swept through Holly Springs and killed her parents and youngest sibling.... [S]he kept the fam ily together by securing a job teaching... [and].. .managed to continue her education... [at]... near-by Rust College. “In 1882, Wells moved with her sisters to Mem phis, Tennessee, to live with an aunt.... Wells continued her education at Fisk University in Nashville. “It was in Memphis where she first began to fight (literally) for racial and gender justice. In 1884 she was asked by the conductor of the Ches apeake & Ohio Railroad Com pany to give up her seat on the train to a white man.... Wells wrote in her autobiography: ‘I refused.... He went forward and got the baggageman [sic] and another man to help him and of course they succeeded in dragging me out. ’ .... “Wells sued the railroad, winning a $500 settlement in a circuit court case. However, the de cision was later overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court. ...’’Ida B. Wells ...w[rote] about issues of race and politics in the South... in papers geared to African Amer ican and Christian audienc es.... Wells eventually became an owner of the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight, and lat er, of the Free Speech.... “In 1892 three of her friends were lynched. Thomas Moss, Calvin McDowell, and Henry Stewart.... were owners of People’s Grocery Company, and their small grocery had taken away customers from competing white businesses. A group of angry white men... attacked People’s grocery, but the owners fought back, shoot ing one of the attackers. The owners ... were arrested, but a lynch-mob broke into the jail, dragged them away from town, and brutally murdered all three.... Ida B. Wells-Barnett Her newspaper of fice was destroyed ...after the killing of her three friends. She could not return to Mem phis, so she moved to Chicago. She... [was] active in investi gating and exposing the fraud ulent ‘reasons’ given to lynch Black men.... [A]s a lecturer and organizer of antilynch ing societies, [s]he traveled to speak in ... major U.S. cities and twice visited Great Britain for the cause. “In 1896, [Ida] formed the National Associa tion of Colored Women. The National Association of Col ored Women Clubs (NACWC) was established in Washing ton, D.C... by the merger ... of the National Federation of Afro-American Women, the Women’s Era Club of Boston, and the National League of Colored Women of Washing ton, DC... [and] smaller orga nizations that had arisen from the African-American wom en’s club movement. Founders of the NACWC included Har riet Tubman, Margaret Mur ray Washington, Frances E.W. Harper, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, and Mary Church Terrell.... The NACW came about as a result of a letter written by James Jacks, the president of the Missouri Press Association, challenging the respectability of African American women, referring to them as thieves and prostitutes. During the next ten years, the NACW became involved in campaigns in fa vor of women’s suffrage and against lynching and Jim Crow laws....[I]n 1910 she found ed and became the first presi dent of the Negro Fellowship League, which aided newly ar rived migrants from the South. Continued on Page 4 The Deadline Date Is April 22, 2024 To Register To Vote In The May 21st Primary Election Check Your Voter Status: mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ Applications For The Absentee Ballot Are Now Available! In Person At The Voter Registration Office: 1117 Eisenhower Dr., Ste E, Savannah, GA31406; Call in the request: 912-790-1520; or Email voter@chathamcounty.org to request the application ONLINE REQUESTS at https://securemyabse11teeballot.sos.ga.g0v/s/ 2024 Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Awards T he Savan nah Tribune congratulates Daniela Rodriguez, Executive Director of Migrant Equity Southeast and Murem Sharpe, CEO of StrategyRx, who were among 32 women in the state of Georgia awarded the Nikki T. Randall Servant Leader ship Award at the Yellow Rose Ceremony by the Georgia Women’s Legislative Caucus of the Georgia Legislature on International Women’s Ob servance Day, March 8th. For 2024, Sharpe was honored as a nominee of Rep. Edna Jackson and Daniela Rodriguez was the nominee of Rep. Anne Allen Westbrook. This prestigious award is presented to women who have provided exception al community services in their district that are not affiliated with a political party. The Georgia Wom en’s Legislative Caucus is a L-R: Rep. Edna Jackson, Murem Sharpe, Daniela Rodriguez, and Rep. Anne Allen Westbrook bi-partisan, bicameral organi- Georgia General Assembly. Georgia who faithfully promot- zation that fosters communi- The award is named in honor ed community service, ty and engagement between of Nikki T. Randall, a former women legislators in the Representative from Middle Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Celebrates Local Heroes at Annual Awards Luncheon Ji. L-R: Shellie Terrell, Nisha Giustino, Tina Tyus-Shawn, Michael Owens, Jennifer Hagan, Rachel Stayer, and Mike Carbo In a splendid show case of community spirit and dedication, the Chatham Coun ty Sheriff’s Office hosted its biannual Awards Luncheon last Thursday, March 21, 2024, at their facilities. This prestigious event, a hallmark in the Cha tham County calendar, is ded icated to recognizing the un sung heroes of our community who contribute significantly to making Chatham County a saf er, more vibrant place to live. Under the leadership of Sheriff John Wilcher, the event brought together indi viduals from various sectors of the community, united in their commitment to service and ex cellence. The Sheriff’s Awards of Excellence, as they are known, are not just accolades but a testament to the creative and impactful ways individuals are making a difference in the workplace and beyond. The luncheon was not only an occasion to honor these extraordinary individuals but also a moment for the commu nity to come together in grati tude and celebration. It was a vivid reminder of the strength and resilience inherent in Cha tham County, bolstered by the commitment of its citizens. Continued on Page 2 Savannah Music Festival to Present World of Music March 28 - April 13 With Nearly 100 Performances by Top Artists in Iconic Venues The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) - renowned for its high-energy mix of jazz, classical, blues, Americana and global roots music programs - will delight local residents and visitors with live music per formances presented in icon ic venues across Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District from Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, April 13. The 35th annual Savannah Mu sic Festival will present nearly 100 live performances by ac claimed artists from across the country and around the world. Tickets to the 2024 Savannah Music Festival are currently available online at savannahmusicfestival.org, by phone at 912.525.5050 or in person at the Savannah Box Office, located at 216 E. Broughton St. “We’re thrilled to bring incredible live perfor mances to Savannah through out the spring, offering a world of music in one city,” said Savannah Music Festival Ex- Chucho Valdes by Martin Espino Garcia ecutive Director Gene Dobbs Bradford. “Savannah Music Festival has a deep commit ment to the local community and to expanding access to live music. We invite everyone to enjoy their favorite musicians and to discover exciting new artists at the 2024 festival.” During the 17-day festival, top artists from around Oumou Sangare by Holly Whittaker the world will converge in Sa vannah, Ga., including blue- grass legend Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, world-re nowned soprano Renee Flem ing, eminent classical pianist Emanuel Ax and GRAMMY Award-winning composer and singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash, who will return to the SMF stage for the first time Bobby Rush by Arnie Goodman in six years with her husband and longtime creative partner John Leventhal. In addition, talented musicians from India, South Africa, Ireland, Cuba, Sweden, Portugal, Mali, Co lombia, France, Argentina and Spain will take center stage for the 2024 festival. Continued on Page 9 ROBERT E. JAMES President since December 1971 CARVER' STATE BANK «£ Feb, 23,1927 97 Years of Service, Leadership and Success! LOO IS B. TOOMER founder one) 1st President MAIN OFFICE 70 i Martin Luther King. Jr. Bled., Savannah, GA 3140) SKI DAW AY BRANCH 71 tO Skidaway Rd., Savannah. GA 31406
