Brand New Sheriff Productions kicks off its new season with “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” TThhee CChhaarrllootttteeTHE VOICE P POF THE BLACKo oCOMMUNITYss SINCEtt 1906 WEEK OF AUGUST 5, 2021 VOLUME 47, NUMBER 48 WWW.THECHARLOTTEPOST.COM $1.50 Brace for wave of evictions across NC End of moratorium sparks calls for help By Bryan Anderson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RALEIGH — It wasn’t long after Iliana Diaz began her first day in person at Legal Aid’s Raleigh office that she and others were hit by a tsunami of phone calls. Seated and masked in a small room on Monday, Diaz was among the five call center workers franti- cally trying to do the unachievable: respond to all the messages that had come in from low-income North Carolinians facing the threat of eviction after the federal evic- tion moratorium expired over the weekend. TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST The bilingual intake specialist The CityLynx Gold Line, which is scheduled to debut this month, will change public transit and neighborhoods along the historically who joined Legal Aid of North Car- Black Beatties Ford Road corridor. olina has seen a sharp rise in re- cent call volume and is motivated to help as many people as she can. “If I don’t answer that phone call, then potentially that person may Streetcars, history, race and not have the chance to call back or they may just never have the chance to get any assistance what- soever,” Diaz said. For many struggling renters who impact on westside neighbors have received eviction notices, Legal Aid can be the last line of de- Post Foundation’s virtual town hall brings community together on Gold Line fense. Depending on how much money they make, the law firm will Heights resident Colette Forrest and Ron proved funding for a streetcar feasibility By Ashley Mahoney connect them with a free attorney, [email protected] Cureton, who lives in the Hyde Park study in 2009, said she does not fear another agency or share infor- Public transportation expansion in His- neighborhood. words like “gentrification.” mation on rental assistance pro- toric West End brings anticipation and The concerns of gentrification, which “We must hold people accountable,” grams. anxiety for its longtime residents. ocurred in South End along Marshall said. North Carolina’s Housing Oppor- The Charlotte Post Foundation’s Black the CityLynx Blue Line, Said Post Foundation board member tunities and Prevention of Evic- Lives Matter Conversation, “Gold Line: linger for westside home- Tiffany Capers, who moderated the town tions (HOPE) program offers rent Riding Rail to Revival or Ruin” explored owners and businesses. It is hall: “There are blessings and curses and utility assistance to low-in- the historic ramifications of streetcars in also seen as an opportunity sometimes when transportation comes come renters in 88 of the smallest historically Black neighborhoods as well for economic development. into a community. We are cognizant that counties in the state. Twelve larger as the scheduled August launch of the “When we talk about the history is always with us.” counties are managing their own CityLynx Gold Line. The conversation streetcar/CityLynx Gold Charlotte streetcar history programs. featured Mattie Marshall, Historic Wash- Line we are talking about an “From 1887 to the 1930s, Charlotte The state has set aside roughly ington Heights neighborhood associa- economic engine,” Marshall Marshall had grown tremendously,” Griffin said. $1.3 billion to help tenants cover tion president, Levine Museum of the said. “When the streetcars first came, there their housing and utility costs, New South staff historian Willie Griffin, Marshall, a member of Charlotte City were about 10,000 residents living in community advocate and Wesley Council’s advisory committee which ap- Please see THREAT | 2A Please see POST | 2A New for the Black-owned school year: restaurants struggle Required face masks to find, keep staff By Aaliyah Bowden [email protected] By Braedyn Speight Emmanuel Williams’ three sons FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST are going back to school next Two months ago, Sharon Freshwater, co-owner of month with books and face cover- Freshwaters in Uptown, notified her staff the dining ings. room would be reopening for business. Sixth-grader Aiden, 12, Ja’Dor- Only one person showed up for work. rain, 7, a second-grader and Evyn, Labor shortages is only one of multiple problems 5, who is headed to pre-K will wear that have plagued restaurants now that they are able face masks while in accordance to open at full capacity. Freshwater is trying to fill with new state guidelines. all the roles left vacant while pulling double duty “The most impor- since she works in the front office and cleans up at tant work our state closing. will do next month is “I can’t stay open late because of the staffing situ- JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY getting all our school ation,” she said. “By the time I’m here from 10 in the Johnson C. Smith University is forgiving $300,000 in debt for students enrolled between children back into the morning to 8 [p.m.], I’m drained and I’m so tired and March 2020 and June 2021. The school provided more than $6.4 million in financial aid classrooms safely for burnt out.” since transitioning to remote learning at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. in-person learning,” Freshwaters is not the only restaurant to be suffer- Gov. Roy Cooper said. ing from a lack of staffing. According to the North “That’s the best way Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, the lei- for them to learn, and Dashew sure and hospitality sector made up 20% of job JCSU takes steps to forgive we want their school losses during the pandemic. Workers who became days to be as close to normal as unemployed during the pandemic chose to stay un- possible, especially after a year of employed because it paid better than hourly wages. $300,000 in student debt disruption.” The federal minimum wage is $7.50 an hour. Students in kindergarten through North Carolina pays a maximum of $350 per week By Ashley Mahoney business and finance. eighth grade, faculty and staff at in unemployment benefits. Also, the federal govern- [email protected] JCSU reported it provided over those schools are required to wear ment is providing an additional $300 on top of the Johnson C. Smith University is at- $6.4 million in financial assistance a face mask indoors regardless of unemployment insurance benefits provided by the tacking student debt. to students since it transitioned to vaccination status. However, high state. The federal program ends on Sept. 4. The school announced last week it remote learning in March 2020. The school students, faculty and staff Restaurants across Charlotte are learning to adjust will pay off $300,000 in outstanding federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and who are fully vaccinated will not to new challenges brought on by the pandemic. One balances owed for students enrolled Economic Security Act funding pro- have to wear face coverings in- of the most pressing is the food shortage that has between March 2020 and June 2021. vided additional financial aid for the Eligible students will be notified this fall 2020 semester: $2,500 directly doors. The guidelines are in accor- Please see BLACK RESTAURATEURS | 2A week by the university’s office of Please see JCSU|2A Please see NEW FOR | 2A

INSIDE Please Digital edition: STAY IN TOUCH Sports 5A Snapchat: thecharpost www.thecharlottepostnewspaper.com Recycle Life 1B Twitter: @thecharpost A&E 5B To subscribe: (704) 376-0496 or online Facebook: The Charlotte Post Classified 4B http://tcppc.com/Subscribe Instagram: @thecharlottepost #PaperThursday 2A NEWS | The Charlotte Post Thursday, August 5, 2021 Post town hall explores race, streetcar’s impact Continued from page 1A translated into income inequity that Charlotte, but by the 1930s Charlotte continues to this day. had grown to over 130,000. There “These were efforts to make the area were many more cars traveling the around the Beatties Ford Road corri- roads [and] cheap gas. In 1937, the dor, for lack of a better way of putting city of Charlotte and Duke Power it, they did not want these homes to moved to replace the trolleys with be exclusive or expensive,” Griffin buses. said. “In 1938, half a century later, street- Barriers like redlining caused these cars and trolleys had really become a homes to depreciate in value, as symbol of the past with homeowners were unable to acquire no place in the city.” loans to renovate their homes. The streetcar provided “Over the next 30 years, these home Black people living in values in the West End Corridor, they areas like Biddleville a don’t compare to their white counter- way to get to work, with parts in other parts of Charlotte,” Grif- many going to jobs along fin said. the rail line and in mills. Beatties Ford Road corridor res- Griffin said the streetcar idents formed the Beatties Ford Com- HERBERT L. WHITE| THE CHARLOTTE POST Griffin resulted in the devel- munity Development Inc. in the 1980s With the end of federal and state eviction moratoriums, North Carolina agencies are braced for opment of Washington to revitalize the area through public a torrent of calls from renters for help to remain in their homes. Heights. development funds. Forty years later, “Washington Heights was one of the the city launched Corridors of Oppor- first middle class Black suburbs in the tunity, a $24.5 million program de- signed to improve infrastructure in Threat of rising evictions city, and at least according to one his- torian, it was the first streetcar Black six areas of Charlotte, including the suburb in the South,” he said. Beatties Ford Road area. Other neighborhoods emerged “Many of the rumblings I have heard looms in North Carolina along the Beatties Ford Road corridor from community residents is, ‘why around the 1950s, including Oaklawn has it taken so long?’” Griffin said. Continued from page 1A and a lack of awareness of to three evictions a day, Park, McCrorey Heights, University “‘Why has it taken so long to get the with nearly $1 billion going state and local rental assis- but that number has Park, Lincoln Heights and Dalebrook. Gold Line up and running?’ to the HOPE program and tance programs are cre- dropped to two to three a “One of the things that I find very in- The streetcar’s return $300 million to the 12 ating extra cause for week. He attributes the de- teresting in my research is the kinds The Gold Line marks the return of larger counties. concern. cline to landlords’ reluc- of homes that were built just a step the trolley to Beatties Ford Road. Grif- North Carolina estimates “What’s been different is tance to file eviction above these early neighborhoods, par- fin questioned whether its return will it has awarded a total of people that have called for paperwork amid the pan- ticularly like Oaklawn Park, were a have the same impact on Charlotte’s more than $305 million to the first time, people that demic, though he expects step above … shotgun homes that Black residents as it did at the turn of 81,039 different house- have never really had to it will eventually pick up. were found in Brooklyn,” Griffin said. the century. Black entrepreneurs holds that qualify for the speak to a lawyer,” Tackett On Monday morning, he Even as new communities grew, rac- seized the moment when the trolley HOPE program. The 12 said. “They’re 45 years old. explained to one woman ist activity such as redlining by banks first arrived on the westside in 1902. counties overseeing their They’ve never not paid three months behind on and developers who dissuaded Blacks “As a historian, I really can’t tell,” he own programs have ex- rent, they’ve never gotten a rent that her landlord had from building large homes, were com- said. “I never try to predict the future. pended approximately $64 notice to go to court, so started the eviction pro- mon. As a result, investment in Black What I do say is that only time will tell. million, according to state that’s the surprise.” cess. When the woman told neighborhoods was limited, which We do have history as a guide.” officials. But fears of mass evic- Ruppe that she had paid On a typical Monday, the tions after the morato- the back rent, he re- Legal Aid intake staff of a rium’s lapse have gone sponded that she would dozen, including five unrealized thus far in need to bring proof of pay- people working in person some North Carolina com- ment to her upcoming Aug. at the firm’s Raleigh office, munities. 9 court date. will receive about 1,500 Sgt. David Ruppe hardly According to the most re- calls. Of those, the office noticed the end of the fed- cent U.S. Census Bureau New for the academic year: CMS will put about 500 in its eral eviction moratorium Household Pulse Survey, system. The workers will as he knocked on a weath- about 1 in 13 North Caro- be lucky if they can re- ered mobile home door in lina tenants have no con- requires face masks on campus spond to half of that. Cleveland County, a rural fidence they’ll be able to “I’m not sure we do meet community an hour west make next month’s rent. Continued from page 1A fection numbers in our are positive.” the need. We just do what of Charlotte. Survey data shows 30% of dance with the Centers for county are cause for se- In the state, 4% of all we can,” said James Tack- “We haven’t seen much respondents believe it is at Disease Control and Pre- rious concern – and signif- cases reported were ett, the intake supervisor of a difference at all,” least somewhat likely that vention and the American icant precautions to among 10-14 years and 3% for Legal Aid who assigns Ruppe said. “We would still they will be evicted within Academy of Pediatrics for protect our students and among ages 15-17. In the cases to attorneys and en- have evictions issued from two months. schools reopening. staff.” county, 17% of all COVID sures the phone lines are the court and we would AP journalist Sarah Blake Emmanuel Williams, 34, Williams said that he’s cases were in people under active. still serve them as if it hap- Morgan contributed to this who lives in Charlotte, said looking forward to his chil- the age of 20. Pandemic-induced job pened pre-COVID.” report. masks should be required dren wearing face masks to Ahmed said the incline in loss, a COVID-19 surge He said the sheriff’s of- for high schoolers, too. school. cases among adolescents fueled by the delta variant fice previously served two “Yeah, I think that's kind “I’m excited about that, are because the older pop- of a problem,” he said. “If because it makes me feel ulation are vaccinated but you want the older people better when I’m at work, some teens ages 12-17 are to be an example, I think that my son is safe with the not. the older kids should be mask,” he said. Children ages 12 or older wearing a mask – little kids, COVID cases and hospi- are eligible for the Pfizer older kids, young age, it talizations among 12- to vaccine only, according to don’t matter. COVID don’t 17-year-olds have slightly the CDC. have no age on it, so any- increased nationally ac- Moderna announced it body can receive it, so I cording to Amina Ahmed, plans to expand its vaccine wasn't too happy about pediatric infectious disease trials to kids under the age that decision from our gov- expert and epidemiologist of 12. When that happens, ernor.” at Levine Children’s Hospi- Williams and his wife will The Charlotte-Mecklen- tal. consider having their kids burg school board voted In Mecklenburg County, vaccinated. July 30 to approve univer- hospitalizations remain “At that point, we will ac- sal face coverings on all low among teens, but cases tually see about our kids campuses and office build- have increased. being vaccinated,” he said. ings effective immediately. “We're actually not seeing Williams said his oldest The requirement applies to an increase in hospitaliza- son has not received the all students over the age of tion in our children, and COVID vaccine but is con- 2, staff, volunteers and vis- hopefully that will con- sidering it. He added that itors inside buildings and tinue to stay that way,” all three boys enjoy school buses. Face coverings are Ahmed said. and are ready to go back to TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST optional outdoors on all “We are seeing an in- school to see their friends. Sharon and Clifton Freshwater, owner of Freshwaters restaurant, struggle to find proper staffing dur- school sites. crease in the percent posi- The state has set out to ing the pandemic. They also have to deal with shortages of menu items. “We can’t get the crab “This decision aligns tive. So, of the children that provide COVID-19 testing like we used to,” Sharon Freshwater said. “Also, it’s a shortage on the greens … you have to go all with local and state guid- present for testing, we had and social distancing over to find some good collard greens.” ance, as well as national gone down to a very mini- measures at schools in the guidelines, which address scule level, but we're be- Fall, according to the the Delta variants of ginning to see a little bit of StrongSchoolsNC Public Black restaurateurs struggle with COVID-19,” board chair an uptick also in the Health Toolkit. Elyse Dashew said. “The in- number the percent that staff shortages, food price spikes Continued from page 1A pliers to ensure that they counteract money lost due caused prices to spike. always have access to nec- to the closed bar and any “We can’t get the crab essary ingredients. hesitancy from customers like we want to,” Fresh- “It was challenging in the to eat in the dining room. water said. “Also, it’s a beginning because we had While business for both shortage on the greens… to get used to it,” Brown restaurants has been in- you have to go all over to said. “We just had to adapt creasing steadily, Fresh- find some good collard to what was going on and water predicts hers will not greens.” just make it work for us.” fully recover from the pan- Freshwaters isn’t the Both restaurants have demic for at least another only restaurant to en- gotten creative in order to year. counter roadblocks regard- account for the shortages. Brown is looking forward ing food supply. Cuzzo’s Cuzzo’s instituted a 22% to the future and hope to Cuisine ran into a similar service charge to help bal- reopen Cuzzo’s dining issue. Co-owner Anglee ance out the increase in room by September. Brown said that the price wages for staff as well as “God is on our side,” she for wings has increased, the food cost. In addition, said. and they now order from Freshwaters wants to add a three different food sup- fee to all takeout orders to JCSU forgives student debt Continued from page 1A some students are burdened with debt to returning students and $2,000 to new because of student loans and balances students. Enrolled students also received owed to the University,” the school said student emergency funds in May 2020 in a statement to students. “After careful and February 2021. The university said consideration of how to provide even students who were enrolled for the 2021 more assistance for students to continue spring semester will receive news about their education in the face of financial un- an additional distribution of student certainty caused by the pandemic, the emergency funds soon. University has decided to use a portion of “Despite assistance with tuition and its CARES Act funding to retire the bal- other expenses provided by the CARES ances of students who currently have bal- COURTESY EMMANUEL WILLIAMS Act, monies from the President’s Gap ances on their accounts.” Emmanuel Williams (right) poses with sons Evyn (middle), Ja'Dorrain (left), and Aiden. Scholarship Fund and other financial aid, 3A NEWS | The Charlotte Post Thursday, August 5, 2021 What’s in the federal infrastructure deal for you By Stacy M. Brown And, earlier this summer the Digital Equity Act, end- sit – the largest federal in- More broadly, historic in- thousands of electric NATIONAL NEWSPAPER in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pres- ing digital redlining, cre- vestment in history – will vestments in transporta- school buses nationwide, PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ident Biden announced a ating a permanent reduce commute times tion infrastructure, helping school districts ac- A little over a month ago, whole-of-government ef- program to help more low- and create more economic especially highway con- ross the country buy clean, President Joe Biden an- fort to increase the share of income households access opportunities in com- struction, cut too many American-made, zero nounced the Bipartisan In- federal contracts going to the internet, and establish- munities of color. Americans off from oppor- emission buses, replacing frastructure Framework – a small, disadvantaged busi- ing a new program to help In addition, bus and tran- tunity, dividing and demol- the yellow school bus fleet bipartisan agreement to nesses by 50 percent over low-income households sit workers are 31% Black ishing communities, and for America’s children. make largest long-term in- the next five years, leverag- obtain the devices required and 19% Hispanic, com- perpetuating economic Remediates brownfields vestment in our infrastruc- ing the government’s pur- to access the internet. pared to 12% and 18% re- and racial injustices. Across America, 26% of ture and competitiveness chasing power to help Clean drinking water spectively of the workforce The deal creates a first- Black Americans and 29% in nearly a century. more Americans realize Across the country, pipes overall. ever program to reconnect of Hispanic Americans live Biden and the bipartisan their entrepreneurial and treatment plants are The infrastructure deal is communities divided by within 3 miles of a Super- group announced agree- dreams. aging and polluted drink- the largest federal invest- transportation infrastruc- fund site, a higher percent- ment last week on details The infrastructure deal: ing water is endangering ment in public transit in ture. The program will age than for the overall of that once-in-a-generation Delivers high-speed public health. history and devotes a fund planning, design, population. investment in our infras- internet to every home There are up to 10 mil- larger share of funds from demolition, and recon- Proximity to a Superfund tructure, which the Senate There is a stark digital di- lion homes with lead serv- surface transportation struction of street grids, site can lead to elevated has now taken up for con- vide in America. Black fam- ice lines and pipes. reauthorization to transit parks, or other infrastruc- levels of lead in children’s sideration. ilies are 9% less likely to Children in up to 400,000 in the history of the pro- ture. blood. Recent studies dem- The bipartisan infrastruc- have high-speed internet schools and child care fa- grams. This is in addition to onstrate that cleaning up ture agreement will grow than their white peers, and cilities are at risk of expo- It will repair and upgrade other major grant pro- these sites can lead to a de- the economy, enhance our Latino Americans are 15% sure to lead. aging infrastructure, mod- grams that could fund ele- crease in blood levels by competitiveness, and make less likely. Across the country, fam- ernize bus and rail fleets, ments of these projects. approximately 13-26%. our economy more sustain- About 35% of individuals ilies of color are at the make stations accessible to Electric school buses The deal provides the full able, resilient, and just. living on Tribal lands lack highest risk for lead expo- all users, and bring transit The deal will make a crit- American Jobs Plan fund- The agreement will also access to broadband serv- sure at home and in service to new com- ical down payment on ing level — $21 billion – to create good-paying, union ice. Although studies sug- schools. Communities of munities. helping the more than 25 create good-paying union jobs. gest high levels of digital color in cities like Chicago, It will replace thousands million children and thou- jobs plugging orphan oil With the remainder of the access for Asian Ameri- Milwaukee, and Newark are of transit vehicles, includ- sands of bus drivers who and gas wells, cleaning up President’s Build Back cans, these studies are also at particular risk. ing buses, with clean, zero breathe polluted air on abandoned mines, and Better Agenda, these in- often limited in scope and For kids, higher exposure emission vehicles. their rides to and from remediating brownfield vestments will add, on don’t identify key in- to lead can negatively af- Transportation school. and Superfund sites. average, around 2 million equities. fect academic perform- Significant portions of Diesel air pollution is As we transition to a jobs per year over the For example, broadband ance, and can lead to the interstate highway sys- linked to asthma and other clean energy future, the Bi- course of the decade, while access and affordability in cardiovascular disease tem were built through health problems that hurt partisan Infrastructure accelerating America’s path the Pacific Islands has long later in life. By some esti- Black neighborhoods, de- our communities and deal will begin to remedy to full employment and in- been a challenge. During mates, each lead service stroying homes, schools, cause students to miss economic injustice for creasing labor force partici- the COVID-19 pandemic, line replaced at a cost of churches, and parks and school, particularly in com- communities across the pation. there were stories of kids $5,000 per line leads to causing lasting disconnec- munities of color and tribal country that have relied on The Bipartisan Infrastruc- sitting in McDonald’s park- $22,000 in health savings. tion and disinvestment for communities. the fossil fuel industry and ture deal addresses eco- ing lots to log on to remote The deal makes the residents who stayed. The deal will deliver Please see WHAT’S IN |4A nomic disparities in our school in parts of the coun- largest investment in clean economy and the con- try. drinking water in American sequences of decades of Biden believes this is un- history, replacing all of the disinvestment in America’s acceptable. nation’s lead pipes and «ADVERTORIAL infrastructure that have The agreement’s $65 bil- service lines. fallen most heavily on lion investment ensures From rural towns to communities of color. every American has access struggling cities, the deal ŽŶ͛ƚtĂŝƚƚŽ'ĞƚsĂĐĐŝŶĂƚĞĚ Through critical invest- to reliable high-speed in- invests in water infrastruc- ments, the Bipartisan In- ternet with an historic in- ture across America, in- After months of decline, COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in North Carolina. Most of those frastructure deal increases vestment in broadband cluding in Tribal Nations cases are because of the more contagious Delta variantͶand nearly all new cases are in people access to good-paying jobs, infrastructure deployment, and disadvantaged com- ǁŚŽĂƌĞŶ͛ƚǀĂĐĐŝŶĂƚĞĚ͘ affordable high-speed in- just as the federal govern- munities that need it most. ternet, reliable public tran- ment made a historic effort The deal also includes ded- COVID-19 cases in North Carolina reached their highest levels in two months. dŚĂƚ͛ƐǁŚLJƚŚĞE sit, clean drinking water to provide electricity to icated funding to deal with Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) urges all unvaccinated North Carolinians and other resources to en- every American nearly one the dangerous chemical age 12 and older to get a COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, sure communities of color hundred years ago. PFAS (per- and polyfluo- and death. get a fair shot at the Amer- This includes a $2 billion roalkyl). ican dream. investment in broadband Public transit investment COVID-19 is a serious illness. Even if you have a mild case off COVID-19, you may struggle with These critical invest- in tribal communities Asian American and Afri- long-term effects like shortness of breath, chest pain, and brain fogͶall of which are ments are first steps in ad- which were hit particularly can American workers preventable with vaccination. Those who are not fully vaccinated are at greater risk for vancing equity and racial hard by the COVID-19 pan- commute by public transit infection by the Delta variant. justice throughout our demic. at nearly 4 times the rate of economy. The bill will also help white workers. The President believes lower prices for internet For example, low-wage Vaccination is the best protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant. The risk of getting additional investments are service by requiring fund- Black residents in Chicago COVID-19 is greater than the extremely low risk of negative effects from vaccination. Rigorous needed in our nation’s ing recipients to offer a spend 70 additional mi- clinical trials with thousands of people age 12 and over, and experience with COVID-19 caregiving infrastructure, low-cost affordable plan, nutes commuting to work vaccination among hundreds of millions of diverse Americans have shown that vaccines housing supply, regional by creating price transpar- than their white peers. are safe and effectiveͶeven against the Delta variant. development, and work- ency and helping families In New York City, the force development pro- comparison shop, and by average Black resident EŽƚǀĂĐĐŝŶĂƚĞĚ͍'ĞƚƚĞƐƚĞĚŝĨLJŽƵ͛ƌĞĨĞĞůŝŶŐƐŝĐŬ͘ If you have not yet been vaccinated and are grams to ensure that boosting competition in spends 110 minutes more exposed to someone who has COVID-19, or if you develop COVID-like symptoms, make sure communities of color and areas where existing pro- per week commuting to you get tested. other underserved com- viders aren’t providing work than the average munities can access eco- adequate service. white resident. ŽŶ͛ƚǁĂŝƚƚŽ get vaccinated. Visit MySpot.nc.gov to find a vaccine location near you. nomic opportunity and It will also help close the The framework’s historic justice. digital divide by passing investment in public tran- 4A NEWS & OPINION | The Charlotte Post Thursday, August 5, 2021 TheThe CharlotteCharlotte PostPost Whitewashed history, suppression The Voice of the Black Community Gerald O. Johnson There’s been a lot of ments that students learn “discomfort, guilt, anguish ment enables the voter | CEO/PUBLISHER news about the Democratic about civil rights activists or any other form of psy- suppression.” [email protected] legislators in Texas who Frederick Douglass, Susan chological distress on ac- “The history of denying fled the state to prevent B. Anthony, Martin Luther count of the individual’s Black people the vote is Robert L. Johnson | PUBLISHER/GENERAL MANAGER Republicans from pushing King Jr., Cesar Chavez and race or sex.” As educators shameful,” he explained. through sweeping new Dolores Huerta. have noted, that’s a recipe “This means that it is less [email protected] voter suppression laws. It’s not just Texas. Just as for erasing and whitewash- likely to be taught where Gov. Greg Abbott has Republicans are pushing a ing history. teachers are mandated to Herbert L. White | EDITOR IN CHIEF threatened to wave of voter registration “Teachers in high protect young people from [email protected] have them ar- laws around the country, schools cannot exclude the feeling shame. The history rested to they are also pushing laws possibility that the history of denying Black people Published weekly by The Charlotte Post Publishing Company force them to to restrict teaching about of slavery, lynchings and the vote involves law and Inc., 5118 Princess Street, Charlotte, NC 28269 (USPS #965500). attend a spe- racism in our history, cul- voter suppression will society. This means that it Subscription is $65 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Char- cial session ture, and institutions. make some non-Black stu- is less likely to be taught lotte, NC. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Charlotte of the state CNN’s Julian Zelizer re- dents uncomfortable,” his- where teachers are man- Post, PO Box 30144, Charlotte, NC 28230 legislature. cently noted that such laws tory professor Timothy dated to tell students that BEN Now it turns downplay injustices in our Snyder wrote in the New racism is only personal JEALOUS out that voter history and lead to teach- York Times Magazine. prejudice.” suppression ing “propaganda rather Those laws give power to As I wrote in The Nation, is not the than history.” white students and parents far-right attempts to sup- only “special” project Ab- Here’s a good example: to censor honest teaching press honest teaching Lessons from bott has in mind. He and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of history. “It is not exactly about racism is meant to his fellow Republicans are said the new legislation is unusual for white people “convince a segment of pushing a far-reaching meant to keep students in America to express the white voters that they “memory law” that would from being “indoctrinated” view that they are being should fear and fight our famous and limit teaching about racism by the “ridiculous leftist treated unfairly; now such emerging multiracial and and civil rights. narrative that America and an opinion could bring his- multiethnic democratic so- Abbott already signed a our Constitution are rooted tory classes to a halt.” ciety” and to “help far-right bill last month restricting in racism.” If Patrick really Snyder also explained politicians take and hold ordinary people how racism can be taught believes it is a “ridiculous” how new state “memory power, no matter the cost What North Carolinians would you most like to in Texas schools. But he idea that racism was em- laws” are connected to to our democracy.” be subject to a new biography? People whose lives and other Republicans in bedded in our Constitution voter suppression. “In That’s also what voter are lessons or inspirations? the state don’t think it from the start, he has al- most cases, the new Amer- suppression bills are de- My suggestions include the late Sen. Robert Mor- went far enough. The Re- ready put on his own ideo- ican memory laws have signed to do. We cannot gan, the late Gov. Jim Holshouser, publican-dominated state- logical blinders. And he been passed by state legis- tolerate either of these as- Erskine Bowles, Betty Rae McCain, Senate has voted to strip a wants to force them onto latures that, in the same saults on democracy. Bill Johnson, and Mary Carol Michie. requirement that white su- teachers and students. session, have passed laws Ben Jealous is president of I would love to hear your sugges- premacy be taught as mo- Some of these state designed to make voting People For the American tions. rally wrong. Also on the memory laws specifically more difficult,” he wrote. Way. Morgan was a puzzle. Was he lib- chopping block: require- ban teaching that causes “The memory manage- eral or conservative? He was an en- thusiastic supporter of liberal Frank D.G. Porter Graham in his 1950 U.S. Sen- ate campaign and then 10 years What you’ll hear in politics in 2022 MARTIN later managed the campaign of seg- It’s clear how the two po- Theory. He also proposed a san spirit. gress as a whole for things regationist Dr. I. Beverly Lake for litical parties want to de- state constitutional Biden, the blue-collar kid undone. Biden instead governor. fine the debate in next amendment to ban affir- from Scranton, has fol- could blame Republicans. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974 as a moderate, year’s elections, in North mative action. lowed a more blue-collar He could say the GOP’s with considerable support from conservatives, he Carolina and Berger reflects the na- strategy. More than any race-culture focus is a fake was defeated six years later by a campaign that de- nationally. tional Republican/Fox other Democratic President issue designed to distract fined him as an ultra-liberal. A few years later Mor- Republicans News agenda, which fo- – more even than FDR, who and divide. He could say gan worked for liberal Walter Mondale’s campaign want to argue cuses on racial and “cul- worried about budget defi- the Covid-vaccination pro- for president. about race ture war” issues. This cits – Biden has embraced gram and the $1.9 trillion So, what was Morgan—a conservative or a lib- and culture. poses a dilemma for Dem- aggressive government ac- American Rescue Plan eral? Democrats ocrats. Do they engage on tion to rebuild the econ- prove that government can I think his biographer would find that he was want to argue Republicans’ turf, at the omy, lift people out of work. He could even say both, and he was neither, like many other North GARY that govern- risk of inflaming emotions, poverty and give every President Trump’s “Warp Carolinians. PEARCE ment can boosting GOP turnout and American a better shot at a Speed” vaccine-devel- In 1972, Holshouser, a mountain Republican work and can losing swing voters? better life. opment drive proved gov- lawyer, was elected his party’s first governor since help people. There is another path, He wants to reduce child ernment works. 1896. He was the youngest North Carolina gov- The dueling agendas similar to the one Joe Biden poverty, make child care There also will be an un- ernor ever elected. Limited to one term, he con- show how far apart the took to defeat Donald and pre-K more available predictable X Factor next tinued to serve the state in many ways, including parties are today. They in- Trump in 2020 – and the and affordable, make col- year. It will be the first elec- as a member of the University of North Carolina’s habit separate worlds spin- path Biden is pursuing as lege more affordable, re- tion since Trump refused Board of Governors. There he helped the board’s ning faster and farther President. Call it the “For duce student debt and to admit he lost and his Democratic majority deal with growing Republican away from each other like the People” path. rebuild the nation’s physi- supporters attacked the strength in the General Assembly. His reasonable- matter after the Big Bang. Because of the pandemic cal infrastructure. He Capitol January 6. Demo- ness and kindness opened avenues of trust that I’ve got bad news for my and its economic damage, wants to attack climate crats might have a potent helped bring adversaries under the same tent. fellow Democrats: race- Biden has abandoned the change, and he says it’s one-two punch: “We make Bowles’ father, Skipper, was the Democratic can- based campaigns have a governing doctrine of the real. He wants to reduce government work for the didate who lost to Holshouser. Erskine learned les- history of working. And last three Democratic Pres- high healthcare costs, people, and Republicans sons of public service and respect for those of the I’ve got good news: Amer- idents: Jimmy Carter, Bill lower sky-high prescrip- tried to take democracy other side from his dad and from Holshouser. Bill ica – and North Carolina – Clinton and, yes, even Ba- tion drug prices and make away from the people.” Clinton persuaded him to raise funds for the Clin- may be different next year. rack Obama. housing more affordable. That strategy could mo- ton campaign and to serve in the White House as We’ll witness the parties’ All three were scarred by He wants to focus on help- bilize Democrats, sway In- chief of staff. Bowles’ supporters persuaded him debate in North Carolina, the Democratic Party’s “tax ing people who live pay- dependents and define to twice run for the U.S. Senate. While neither ef- with the U.S. Senate race and spend” reputation check to paycheck, instead 2022. fort was successful, Bowles had shown his and legislative races. We’ve from the 1960s. They of cutting taxes for the Gary Pearce was a re- strength and ability to lead, resulting in a call to had the fight at UNC- strove mightily to show wealthy and big corpora- porter and editor at The serve as UNC’s president for five productive years. Chapel Hill over the history they were fiscally respon- tions. News & Observer, a politi- His life experiences would have many lessons for of American slavery. Now sible and concerned about It’s an audacious agenda. cal consultant, and an ad- us. the state’s most powerful deficit spending. They It’s hard to achieve without viser to Governor Jim Hunt McCain grew up in Faison, but she became well- Republican, Senate leader made a show of reaching Republican votes. But (1976-1984 and 1992- known and by people across the state due to her Phil Berger, wants a law to out to Republicans in Biden could end the cycle 2000). He blogs about pol- numerous statewide roles. Living in Wilson, she prevent public schools (usually futile) hopes of of seeking Republican itics and public policy at became a good friend of Jim Hunt in his cam- from “indoctrinating” stu- finding common ground help. His three Democratic www.NewDayforNC.com. paigns for governor and his efforts to change the dents with Critical Race and governing in a biparti- predecessors blamed Con- state’s constitution to permit a governor to run for a second term. She left a permanent mark in our state’s life, serving for eight years as secretary of Cultural Resources and 14 years on the UNC Board State health departments ‘burdened’ of Governors. The late Bill Johnson was owner and editor of The Charlotte Post until his death in 1986. I was by doctor supervision contracts his lawyer and his student for several years. He taught me about the incredible complications that By Nadia Ramlagan said her large APRN staff physician. atrics and adult primary a Black business owner faced in a white-dominated spans the fields of mater- Vann noted her depart- care, so you could see NORTH CAROLINA NEWS SERVICE world. His hard work and perseverance helped nal health, primary care, ment shells out tens of some maybe potential sav- him make his newspaper serve his community GREENSBORO – Local family planning, and HIV thousands of dollars for ings of just doing one con- that was still afflicted by traditions of racism and health departments that and Sexually Transmitted supervision contracts. tract for the whole inequality. Johnson’s biographer would have the rely heavily on Advanced Disease prevention and “Our role in the com- shebang,” said Harrelson, opportunity to tell an important story of persist- Practice Registered Nurses care. munity, and our services “especially if you're a ence and good will. say the costly contract re- “And all of these team for the community are smaller health department Michie died June 25 in Swannanoa near Black quirement that they be su- members, they have to really nurse-driven," said that doesn't have a whole Mountain. Beginning in 1967, she and her husband pervised by a physician are have a supervising physi- Vann. “And we do not have lot of volume coming George were mainstays of Seigle Avenue Presby- draining already scarce re- cian,” said Vann, “based on the resources to include through on your primary terian Church in Charlotte. The church was across sources and affecting the requirements from the some of these collabo- care.” the street from the Piedmont Courts public hous- North Carolina's most vul- Board of Nursing in order rations all the time.” One 2018 study of rural ing project. The church and the project were tran- nerable populations. for them to stay licensed At the Craven County health clinics in the South- sitioning from all-white to majority Black. Mary By law, APRNs must work and certified.” Public Health Department, east found loosening su- Carol devoted her life to the people in the project under doctor supervision, The SAVE Act, introduced Health Director Scott Har- pervision requirements for and the church. Just as important, she recruited have a collaborative prac- in North Carolina this year, relson said physician over- nurse practitioners im- people from all over Charlotte to help her. For tice agreement, and meet would remove supervision sight costs his department proves the numbers of those she helped and those who helped with her, once every six months with requirements statewide. around $91,000 a year. He providers, healthcare ac- she was the Mother Teresa of Charlotte. In her de- their supervising physi- But physician groups like explained that they rely cess and quality of care in termined unselfishness, there are lessons for the cian. the American Medical As- mostly on primary-care rural regions. rest of us. Health Director at Guil- sociation maintain patients physicians to help keep If you know someone whose life could teach us ford County Public Health are better served by an in- contract costs low. important lessons, write the editor of this paper Department Dr. Iulia Vann tegrated care team led by a “They can go from pedi- and explain why. D.G. Martin hosts “North Carolina Bookwatch,” Sunday 3:30 p.m. and Tuesday at 5 p.m. on PBS What’s in the infrastructure deal for you North Carolina. The program also airs on the North Continued from page 3A face multiple climate im- shelters. The infrastructure deal’s Carolina Channel Tuesday at 8 p.m. have been affected most pacts. The deal will also make it $73 billion investment is by the impacts of climate The deal invests in help- easier for low-income fam- the single largest invest- change and pollution, in- ing communities build re- ilies to buy flood insur- ment in clean energy trans- cluding rural communities silience to wildfires and ance. mission in history. and communities of color. floods through invest- Clean energy grid It upgrades our power in- Follow The Post on social media Mitigate weather risks ments in forest manage- Black, Latino, Asian frastructure, including by People of color are more ment and upgrades to American and Pacific Is- building thousands of likely to live in areas most critical infrastructure — lander, and Native com- miles of new, resilient vulnerable to flooding and like elevating buildings, munities are more likely to transmission lines to facili- other climate change-re- roads, and bridges, hard- be burdened by pollution. tate the expansion of re- lated weather events. ening physical infrastruc- Black people are almost newable energy. For example, in the wake ture, and winterizing the three times more likely to It creates a new Grid De- of Hurricane Harvey, Black power grid. die from asthma related ployment Authority, in- and Hispanic residents And it will fund state and causes than their white vests in research and @thecharpost The Charlotte were twice as likely to re- local infrastructure im- counterparts. development for advanced Post port lost income. provements and emer- And more than one in transmission and electric- Tribal lands are signifi- gency response strategies, three — or over 23 million ity distribution technol- cantly at risk to the effects such as planning grants to — Latinos in the U.S. live in ogies, and promotes smart of climate change and support development of counties where the air grid technologies that de- The Charlotte Post Alaska Natives are particu- evacuation routes or up- doesn’t meet EPA public liver flexibility and resil- larly vulnerable, as they grading community health standards for smog. ience. The Charlotte Post PAGE 5A

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021

DAVION NELSON VIA TWITTER Davion Nelson, who ran for 1,487 yards and 16 touchdowns in the spring at Butler High, signed with Johnson C. Smith in July. He originally committed to North Carolina Central. ‘Much better’ recruits cause for optimism at J.C. Smith Pandemic opened door for stockpile of late signings, headlined by Butler RB Davion Nelson By Herbert L. White of those schools didn’t play, they didn’t extra season under an NCAA waiver, ing from ground level. [email protected] graduate anybody, so it opened the av- lower-division programs, for once, Blount said his goal is to ease players What Johnson C. Smith football lost enue for us to go in and grab some kids could compete on more equal footing. back into the routine of normalcy. Men- to COVID-19 it gained in opportunity. who typically on paper we’re not sup- “We lost a couple of kids to gradua- tal and muscle memory that may have After not participating in team activ- posed to get. tion,” Blount said. “[Defensive end] been lost in the last year from a pro- ities in 20 months, coach Kermit Blount “We’re getting kids Jabriel Robinson is one that we lost to gram that went 4-6 in 2019. staff turned its focus to recruiting play- coming in as freshmen graduation in May when he decided he “It’s going to be a process that I’ve ers with Division I talent but with no who were much better would forgo his last year of eligibility never dealt with,” he said. “I’m pretty place to go. As a result, the Golden Bulls than some of the kids that and go elsewhere. [Safety] Cam Ellis is sure the players have never dealt with signed players Blount believes up- we had last year that were another one. But what’s on paper for us it, and pretty much since we sent them grades the roster when they report for juniors and seniors.” right now, we think, is … one of the home, we’ve been doing our weekly practice on Aug. 5. With Division I pro- best recruiting classes that I’ve had meetings with them, encouraging them “COVID helped us in recruiting,” Blount grams limited by the since I’ve been here.” to continue do the things that we Blount said. “Some of your FCS schools number of scholarships In some ways, JCSU, picked to finish would normally do as far as trying to affected us in recruiting because we’re they could offer recruits because of third in the CIAA South in preseason get a workout in.” recruiting the same kid, so when some commitments to players opting for an polling of conference coaches, is start- Please see MUCH BETTER | 6A

A&T football Preseason adjusts to new CIAA picks home in the raise many Big South eyebrows Tongues are still wagging since New rivals predict Aggies the CIAA virtual media day. De- pending on which side of the will finish third in poll fence you’re on, football coaches By Ashley Mahoney were either drunk when they [email protected] voted their preseason picks, or The Big South Conference has added they know something the rest of HBCU football elite to its ranks. us don’t. North Carolina A&T’s departure from the Most interesting is MEAC is complete, as the seven-time Black NORTH CAROLINA A&T ATHLETICS Chowan being College Football National champions pre- picked to finish sec- After opting out of the 2020 MEAC football campaign, North Carolina A&T will debut in the Big pare for their first season in the Big South. ond in the North be- South Conference with preseason all-conference running back Jah-Maine Martin (above). The Aggies were selected third in the pre- hind two-time season poll behind Monmouth and Kenne- being honest,” Washington said. “We had a know is the football field is the same dimen- champ Bowie State. saw State, but for head coach and defensive very good run and great experiences at and sions, length and width. The brand of foot- This is the highest coordinator Sam Washington, the transition with the MEAC, one that I will always treas- ball is equally challenging. They are very preseason selection is ongoing. ure. Coming into the Big South is like com- competitive, which we like. We love to com- for the Hawks since BONITTA “I haven’t gotten there yet, and I’m just ing into the unknown, but one thing I do Please see A&T |6A they joined the CIAA BEST in 2009. Not only were they picked second in the division but third Hornets draft and deal for ‘showtime’ athleticism overall behind BSU and Fayet- By Herbert L. White ing teams in the league and I say that con- Ball, 19, is an incentive to follow his exam- teville State. [email protected] fidently,” Bouknight said. “We are going to ple to bring a second straight rookie of the The Hawks have been on the cusp of grabbing that division The Hornets are going for athletic excite- be a team that’s must-see TV, as everybody year award to Charlotte. title a couple of times, but late- ment and depth. likes to say. We are going to be fun to “For me, I’m not going to sell myself season defensive collapses In taking guard James Bouknight watch.” short,” Bouknight said. “I want to contend doomed them. Coaches appear to 11th overall and Kai Jones 19th in last Said Jones: “I feel like it’s perfect timing, for rookie of the year. I think I’m that type  have forgiven them their previous week’s draft, Charlotte is going for players us two young exciting guys. This team is on of caliber of player and it’s definitely an in- mishaps with this latest ranking. who can run the floor and add a dash of the rise, and they’ve got really good young spiration. Seeing Melo and having a lot of It shall be interesting to see if they skill to build a maturing nucleus and one of players like LaMelo who can pass the ball. young guys on this team, me, Kai and J.T. live up to it. the NBA’s most exciting young players in So, I love running and James loves running, [Thor], and having Scottie [Lewis] with us. Lincoln (Pa.), however, has been LaMelo Ball, last season’s rookie of the year. too. So, it’s going to be showtime.” Like I said before, we box office. This is given no such expectations. The “We are going to be one of the most excit- Jones and Bouknight said playing with Please see HORNETS |6A Lions are picked to finish last in the division, a place they should buy stock in. Independence teammates Miller, Kelly chase history together It’s interesting that Lincoln, an By Ashley Mahoney on getting three points. We’ve been losing in this position was not something he original member of the CIAA, left [email protected] games, and we’re not in playoff position. thought about early in his career. Now he’s the conference in 1980 and re- Brandon Miller and Dane Kelly are chasing That’s the main focus – to win games and a decade in with five clean sheets this sea- turned in 2008 – one year before USL Championship history together. get back into playoff position.” son. Chowan – has had none of the They prefer to focus on returning to play- Said Miller with a grin: “We haven’t dis- “It was never really something I imagined minor success the Hawks have off position rather than etching their names cussed it yet. Maybe when we get closer, myself doing,” Miller said. “I want to keep a had. in the league’s record book, yet the pursuit we’ll discuss it a little more, but it will be clean sheet every game. Having a number Chowan has posted respectable of history does cross their minds. The Char- something.” behind it, it’s exciting. Guys talk about it 6-4 records four times since 2009, lotte Independence goalkeeper and striker, Miller time sometimes, but it’s not really something I while Lincoln has yet to win more respectively, have a bet going about who Miller started his 10th professional season want to focus on every single game. I just than three games in a season. But, will hit 50 clean sheets or 100 goals first. ranked third for all-time clean sheets with want to focus on getting better.” as inept as the program has been, The terms of the bet have yet to be deter- 38. Now he’s second with 43, seven behind Head coach Mike Jeffries said they ask dif- the Lions were ranked higher than mined. Evan Newton’s league record. Miller said he ferent things of Miller compared to his pre- Livingstone and St. Augustine’s “It’s not something that I’m focusing on,” was unaware of the statistic until the league vious clubs, as they are more open in how overall, which brings us to the Kelly said with a smile. “I’m more focused published an article about it, and that being Please see INDEPENDENCE | 6A Please see PRESEASON | 6A 6A SPORTS | The Charlotte Post Thursday, August 5, 2021

A&T football adjusts to new home in Big South Continued from page 5A without a doubt is my offensive line,” pete. I think it’s ideal for who we are.”% Martin said. “I don’t get touched by de- Said Hampton coach Robert Prunty: fensive linemen and I don’t get touched “I’m excited about A&T [joining the Big by linebackers. By the time I get to the South]. A&T is a premier program. Sam secondary, I’m already gone. I have to Washington is an outstanding coach. give that to my o-line. They do a great They have great players. A&T’s fanbase job day in and day out. Any time I can is great. The administration is great. It’s do something for them I’ll do it. I have a win for the Big South. A&T is an asset to give them all the glory.”% to the Big South.”% Martin’s abilities as a running back The Aggies did not play are known, but Washington says peo- in 2020, coming off ple don’t realize his personal attributes. Washington’s second sea- “That kid is a great person,” Martin son as head coach. He led said. “I admire his great work ethic and the program to a 10-2 his leadership qualities. He comes to record in 2018 and 9-3 in work every day and he brings that pos- TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST 2019, including a Black itive energy with him. He knows how Charlotte Independence goalkeeper Brandon Miller earned his 43rd career clean sheet in the College Football National to share that energy and get the best Jacks' 2-0 win against Tampa Bay Saturday. Championship. Success out of the person standing next to Washington for Washington this sea- him.”% son starts with playing a Defensive-minded complete season, after the COVID-19 Washington knows what it takes to Independence teammates pandemic altering the college land- play defense at the highest level as a scape.% former NFL defensive back with Cincin- “We have to remember we haven’t nati and Pittsburgh. His players are ex- gotten beyond COVID totally,” Wash- pected to be physical, smart and fast Miller, Kelly chase history ington said. “I still pray we have a full on that side of the ball.% Continued from page 5A “It felt good to get that goal,” Kelly said. and uninterrupted season. That is first “Coach Washington is a great coach, they play and their overall shape.% “We’ve been struggling over the last three- and foremost, and then to remain a great defensive coach, and he brings “It puts a little more pressure on him to four games, and I know the team depends healthy. I pray that not just my team, that energy out every day,” senior de- read the game,” said Jeffries, who also on me to score goals.” but everybody within this conference %% fensive back Naje Reams said. “We take credited Miller’s development as a vocal Said defender Joel Johnson, who made finishes the season on a healthy note. pride in our defense.”% leader. “We build through him a fair his first start after missing the first 13 If those two things happen, I will call it Down the road amount as well, and he’s worked really matches due to issues with his U.S. work a healthy season.” % While the Aggies are heading to a new hard to improve that part of his game. We permit: “I’m proud of [Miller and Kelly] not Run the ball conference, historic rivalries remain, still ask him to be the guy who makes the only because they are great players, but be- Senior running back Jah-Maine Martin including North Carolina Central, big play once in a while and come up with cause they are great friends of mine.”% runs with power. He earned preseason whom they beat 54-0 in 2019. They the save when we need it.”% Ending the drought all-conference first team selection, after host the Eagles on Sept. 25 but will play King Kelly Charlotte went 0-4-1 between June 23 a standout 2019 performance in which their longtime rival at Bank of America Kelly came into the campaign with the and July 3, dropping to sixth in the At- he rushed for 1,446 yards and 23 Stadium in 2022 and 2027 for the league-record 88 regular-season goals and lantic. They improved to 6-7-1 with 19 touchdowns, averaging 7.7 yards per Duke’s Mayo Classic.% has since scored a team-high seven for points but remain sixth. carry. Martin has 2,102 career rushing % “That is a golden opportunity,” Wash- Charlotte. He missed two matches with a “I think it’s just a confidence thing,” yards and 30 touchdowns for the Ag- ington said. “Each year it seems like hamstring injury suffered July 7, but his Miller said. “We know we’re a talented gies, transferring from Coastal Car- something magical is happening to this return Saturday against Tampa Bay group. We took one loss, we took two olina. % program, and next year will not be an sparked the snap of a five-game winless losses, and we start to question ourselves “What makes my game so powerful exception.”% streak. Charlotte beat the Atlantic Division a little bit [with] individuals not performing leaders 2-0 for their first win at American and little mistakes here and there, but Legion Memorial Stadium, with Kelly and tonight we put it all together with confi- Irvin Parra scoring.% dence, stayed together as a team.”% ‘Much better’ recruits cause for Preseason CIAA football picks Continued from page 5A was back. South. Jones won’t be the only coach feeling the optimism at Johnson C. Smith Ranked No. 2 in the division, Shaw is at pressure in the South. Johnson C. Smith its highest preseason ranking under coach was picked ahead of Winston-Salem State, Continued from page 5A 6-0, 210 pounds, was offensive MVP at Adrian Jones. The Bears won their last four which won titles in 2015 and ’16. Coach Although every CIAA program went on May’s Queen City Senior Bowl and a phys- games in 2019, but a three-point loss to di- Kermit Blount led the Golden Bulls to a 4- hiatus after the 2019 season, Blount is fo- ical, downhill runner who doesn’t shy from vision winner Fayetteville State kept them 6 mark in 2019, sub.500 yes, but their best cused on getting the Golden Bulls up to contact. out of the championship game, a place finish since 2013’s 5-5 record. speed as quickly and safely as possible. “We got another transfer, Tyrone Turner, they haven’t been since 2010 under former Forget father time. Blount is the grand- “I know it was difficult at one period from Benedict,” Blount said. “We had Caleb coach Darrell Asberry. daddy of CIAA coaches. He helped put when everything was shut down, but there Alexander, who didn’t play in ’19, coming Jones sounded like Asberry at media day. WSSU football on the map, guiding the were still things they could do at home to back. Jahari Paige didn’t play in ’19, he’s “We really believe we can win the CIAA Rams to two CIAA titles in three tries, and keep themselves in condition,” he said. “Of coming back. Waderick Hemingway, who championship, and we are even thinking two Pioneer Bowl appearances way before course, they wouldn’t get the football con- didn’t play in ‘19 it at all, is probably the bigger. We want to win a national champi- Connell Maynor. After a few rough seasons ditioning that we used to have and that’s fastest of all backs in probably the same onship, and we’re going to speak that into at JCSU, folks were starting to wonder if going to be what we have to focus in on category as Emanuel as far as speed. “We existence,” he said. the game had passed him by. Heading into the first 10 days of us getting together – gained three (options) when we lost one.” But the biggest news is the return of star his sixth season, we’ll soon find out. focusing in on making sure that we can get The offensive line, which lost three linebacker Devon Hunt. The 2016 CIAA The team with the biggest chip on its reacclimated to the conditioning part of it, starters from 2019, is restocked with red- rookie of the year and 2018 defensive shoulder should be St. Aug’s. Not only and gradually work our way up and get shirts as well as newcomers who were FCS player of the year was granted another were the Falcons picked to finish last in the back into the football part of it.” recruiting targets. year of eligibility after getting hurt early in division under first-year coach David As a result, JCSU scheduled nine games “Katrell Shaw, who didn’t play in ‘19, we the 2019 season. For Shaw fans, this is akin Bowser, but they were ranked last overall in order to give the players an extra week think will be an outstanding center for us. to Aaron Rodgers returning to Green Bay. – behind both Livingstone and Lincoln. to prepare for the season, which starts We also recruited Alvin Davis right here out Opposing coaches built their entire of- Now, if that’s not bulletin board material, Sept. 11 against Allen (S.C.) at McGirt Field. of Charlotte who we think can play center fensive schemes around Hunt, who aver- I don’t know what is. The trade-off was one less nonconference and guard. We took William Ripley out of aged almost 90 total tackles in each of his Bonitta Best is sports editor at The Trian- game while the seven-game CIAA schedule Philip O. Berry, a big tackle at 6-6, 320 three full seasons. I would love to have gle Tribune in Durham. remains in place. pounds. We got Omar Brent coming back seen their faces when they found out Hunt “I don’t know if that was something that to play his final year. We think that we’re just fell in place for us, but it was some- more talented up front than we did even thing I thought about,” Blount said. … “Re- with these guys being young. The talent Hornets draft, trade for athletic alistically, it’s to make sure that we keep level is a little better than we used to have these kids healthy.” at those positions.” Blount indicated the quarterback posi- Another area of need was linebacker, tion will be an open competition with at where JCSU signed West Mecklenburg High ability at guard and center least three competitors. South Mecklen- teammates Joshua McGill and Jaitonn Mc- Continued from page 5A ward Thor – while swapping Jones, who worked out burg graduate Antonio Wallace, a three- Donald to add size to that group. going to be fun.” the rights to No. 57 pick twice in Charlotte before year starter, battled concussion symptoms “One thing we had to do was find bigger Jones is excited for the Balsa Koprivica. the draft, averaged 6.2 in 2019 and sophomore Malik Evans linebackers,” Blount said. “We signed a opportunity ahead, “It’s a Bouknight averaged 18.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and started the final three games. couple of kids out of eastern part of North lot of inspiration,” he said. points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 19.8 minutes “As we come to camp, we still have An- Carolina. We got Justin Finley (a 2019 “I feel like if your mind isn’t 1.1 steals in 31.7 minutes per game in 53 career tonio, we have Malik; we have [Trey] Shep- signee) who I think is going to come on and set on being rookie of the per game at Connecticut to games over his two-year ca- ard who didn’t play year before last,” be that kind of guy who is smart enough year, you are already think- earn All-Big East and NABC reer with the Longhorns. Blount said. “We’ve got a couple of kids to run our defense. ing wrong coming into the District I Player of the Year. “We are happy he was that will come into our program, and we “In the secondary, Tywann Jackson’s a NBA. So that’s where my In two seasons with the there,” Hornets general will let that battle take care of itself.” guy that we’re looking to replace Cam [Eilis head’s at and that’s some- Huskies, the 6-foot-5 manager Mitch Kupchak After losing 1,000-yard rusher and CIAA at strong safety]. He played a lot of special thing I want to do and help Bouknight played in 43 ap- said. “If he was not there, Offensive Rookie of the Year Emanuel Wil- teams in ’19, played some from scrimmage win a lot of games, too.”% pearances and averaged we would not have made son to the transfer portal after, JCSU and we recruited kids like Ken Belcher to With Bouknight in the 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds the deal.” stocked up on replacements. Davion Nel- come in and help us in the secondary. I’m fold, Charlotte signed De- and 1.5 assists in 27.9 min- Thor, the 37th%pick, aver- son, who rushed for 1,487 yards and 16 excited because we get a chance to put a vonte Graham and traded utes per outing. aged 9.4 points, 5.0 re- touchdowns last year at Butler High, de- different mentality within our team with him to New Orleans for a The Hornets acquired the bounds and 1.4 blocks in committed from North Carolina Central to these young guys who’ve been successful 2022 first-round pick and draft rights to Jones, a 6-10 minutes per game, making sign with the Golden Bulls. Nelson, who is in high school coming to town.” declined to extend a quali- center, from the New York 27 appearances in one sea- fying offer to Malik Monk, Knicks in exchange for a son at Auburn. He blocked making him an unrestricted protected future first-round 37 shots in 2020-21, which free agent. pick. The native of Nassau, was eighth in the SEC and With Cody Zeller and Bis- Bahamas averaged 8.8 second among the confer- mack Biyombo gone in free points and 4.8 rebounds in ence’s freshmen with 9.9 agency, the Hornets are 22.9 minutes per game at points and 6.1 rebounds in backstopping depth at cen- Texas in 26 games in 2020- 24.4 minutes per game.% ter. In addition to drafting 21 season. Lewis, the 56th%pick, aver- The Charlotte Post Jones, they traded for As a sophomore, he aged 7.9 points, 3.1 re- Mason Plumlee, an eight- earned Big 12 Sixth Man of bounds and 1.6 steals in year veteran who averaged the Year and conference 25.5 minutes per game at 10.4 points and 9.3 re- honorable mention after av- Florida. In two seasons with bounds last season for De- eraging 8.3 points and 4.9 the Gators, Lewis averaged troit.% In return, the Hornets rebounds in 23.4 minutes 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds got the Pistons’ No. 37 pick per game in 16 conference and 1.3 steals in 51 career – which became 6-10 for- games. games.

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