Urban SlavesBy Insight News' Joshua Bolden
Chained, whipped and beaten it was daily routine for a group of marginalized people across the South including here in Memphis, TN. Fast forward 200 plus years later on a October evening to the campus of the University of Memphis where slavery was being discussed, in celebration of 150 years of journalist Ida B. Wells, by historian Dr. Twitty who fell into studying the subject after doing a research project for a class. Twitty began looking at a collection of documents and found them fascinating and changed her course of study from analyzing gender history to slave history. Twitty focused on law and how slaves learned about becoming free. Twitty tells the story of Maria and Jesse Whitten. Maria was a urban slave, slaves who worked in the city for small time owners. In Jesse's last will in testament he requested that Maria and the son the two had together be free. Students said it was important for them to come learn about another side of slave history. I am of course deeply influenced by African-American history so learning more about it is important, said Hannah Smith an African-American student at the university. Twitty said that historians are just now looking beyond the plantation when it comes to slavery. |
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Domestic Violence Awareness
By Insight News' Joshua Bolden
One out of every four women has or will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. This October is domestic violence month and the University of Memphis doing its part to equip women with the tools they need to avoid and handle abuse. The university's adult and commuter services as part of the University's Domestic Violence Awareness week held a meeting to discuss the issue. Between 600,000 and 6 million women are victims of domestic violence each year and according to a survey by the nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum police departments across the country are encountering more occurrences of domestic violence. Elizabeth Shelley is one of those victims. She stayed married to her abuser for 20 years. "I felt like I had done everything I could do to make the marriage work," said Shelley, "I finally reached the point there was nothing more to try." Attendees said this meeting definitely opened their eyes and they feel more knowledgeable about what they should do when they are caught in a domestic violence situation. "I learned to be more aware of what to do in relationships and to get away if a relationship is abusive," said Mya Bright, a U of M student. "The longer you stay in an abusive relationship the harder it is to come out of one." Shelley said that when it comes to domestic violence, it's not just the abused that becomes a victim but their family as well. Although domestic violence is on the rise Shelly hopes through discussions like this that the abuse can be curbed. |
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Gallery Guitarists
By Insight News' Joshua Bolden
Cooper-Young is celebrating 25 years of the annual neighborhood Cooper Young Festival. The residents started things off on September 13th with an art invitational at the David Perry Smith gallery where five artists showed off five pieces to equal twenty-five years. In addition to the art on canvas there was art in the air—the musical kind. Khari Wynn and Michael Joyner came together on this one night to add a musical theme to the evening. The guitarists were there to sooth the ears of attendees and played everything from their own original songs to covers of Stevie Wonder and Al Green. "Obviously they're a very good combination," said Robert Eggplant, "they've got a lot of things going for them so it's really a pleasure to seem them play. Both have been stringing and strumming for over two decades and both said they enjoy the feel of the guitar. "I love the tone of an acoustic guitar," said Joyner. "I love that it's about patterns." Joyner said it was really easy to learn. Wynn who played with the rap group Public Enemy said he was attracted to the guitar because it's a versatile instrument and "you can do a lot of stuff with it." The duo who has known each other since 2004 said they try to play together as often as they can but whether separately or together they will be plucking at the guitar for many years to come. VO-SOT-VO
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Release The Greatness
By Insight News' Joshua Bolden.
Former University of Memphis student, songwriter, artist, model, radio host and inspirational speaker, Jessica Grace White has now added a new title to her list of accomplishments--author. White has written a book called Release The Greatness: Keys To Unlocking Your Hidden Treasure. Published in 2012, Release the Greatness is a Christian themed book, Grace wrote after going through some difficult situations where everything that could go wrong did. "Every day I felt like I just don’t know. I don’t know if I can make it. I don’t know if there’s hope for me after this, said White" White said being a woman of strong faith, God pulled her through those difficult times, gave her direction and reaffirmed who she is in God. "[God] told me that he had a purpose for me and that he had something for me on this earth to do, said White." Part of that purpose was to pen Release the Greatness, which was a cathartic release for White and helps every day people focus on how they can overcome the obstacles they are dealt with in their everyday lives. "It was definitely a tool of ministry," said reader, Adriana Ballentine." White revealed this is not the first and only time readers will see her name on the cover of a book and that several books will be coming readers way in the future. Release The Greatness can be purchased on JessicaGraceWhite.com VO-SOT-VO
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Purchase The Book Jessica's Official Website JGW Enterprises Growing with Grace Radio Show (Saturdays 11-12p cst) |