Racial Justice

RACIAL JUSTICE
History is the Truth-teller 

William Marvin Gordon, Jr.
April  16, 1963

BECK PRESENTS


RACIAL JUSTICE PART XXI

FRIDAY FEB 17. 2023 @ 4P

RACIAL JUSTICE PART XXII

FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 17. 2023 @ 4PM

BECK CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER

MEET THE PANELIST


DR. DASHA LUNDY

KNOX COUNTY COMMISSIONER

ANGELA DENNIS

KNOX NEWS SENTINEL RACE & EQUITY REPORTER

KRYSTAL GOURLEY

CONNECTION POINT COORDINATOR

COMPASSION COALITION

KNOXVILLE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

GWEN MCKENZIE

SIXTH DISTRICT

CITY COUNCIL WOMAN


Truth is what sets us free ...

We Are In Dire Need of
A Lesson In Truth

 

Beck has produced a series of Town Hall Meetings on Racial Justice.  

Feel free to view and share with others.



The Historical Journey of

Black Women Judges

HONORABLE CONSUELO B. MARSHALL

RACIAL JUSTICE PART XIX


HONORABLE CONSUELO B. MARSHALL

Senior District Judge of the United States District Court for

the Central District of California.


  • First woman hired as a lawyer by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office
  • Appointed to the United States District Court for the Central District of California in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter
  • The seventh woman of color to serve as an Article III judge in the country
  • The first woman to serve as Chief Judge of the Central District of California

Knoxville Native & Austin High Graduate


MODERATOR

Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President

Click to Join

"I Can't Breathe"

MARBLE CITY OPERA

RACIAL JUSTICE PART XVIII


JAYME ALILAW

Cast Member, "The Mother"


LESLIE BURRS

Composer


JONATHAN CLARK

Stage Director


BRANDON J. GIBSON

Librettist


GARRETT MCQUEEN

Conductor


MODERATOR

Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President

CLICK TO JOIN

Race & History: A Critical Look

JUSTICE ON TRIAL

RACIAL JUSTICE PART XVII


CHAD LAWSON COOPER

Movie Producer, Broadway Based Playwright & Gospel Recording Artist


HARRY LENNIX

Hollywood A-list Actor, Gifted Writer & Director


DR. ROBERT O. WHITE

Alabama State University Professor Social Science


JUSTICE ON TRIAL

Two civil rights attorneys sue the U.S. Department of Justice for reparations and damages done to African Americans while bringing back time-traveler witnesses to testify. The evidence is then given to a mixed-cultural jury, to deliberate.


MODERATOR

Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President

CLICK TO JOIN

RACIAL JUSTICE TOWN HALL

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | PART XVI

TYLER WHETSTONE "An Investigative Report"



Tyler Whetstone, reporter for the Knox News Sentinel, has been writing some of the most challenging investigative journalism on racial justice in Knoxville this past year.  A unique one-on-one discussion about his important reporting on Knoxville politics and government.


An important conversation as we dig deep to unpack and uncover these stories of community activism, political maneuvering, voting accessibility, and police investigation.











Moderator

Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President


RACIAL JUSTICE TOWN HALL

OCTOBER 29, 2021 | PART XV

KNOXVILLE COLLEGE "Let There Be Light"




LEONARD ADAMS '94

Interim President Knoxville College


DR. DASHA LUNDY

Executive VP/ COO, Knoxville College


LOIS MCSWINE '73

Retired Educator


DWIGHT TREADWELL '78

President KC National Alumni Association


DR. WILLIE MAY '68

Former US Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards & Technology & Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology


RONALD DAMPER '67

President & Founder of Damron Corporation

McDonald's first diverse national supplier and supplies tea to McDonald's nationwide along with various other restaurant systems.




Moderator

Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President

RACIAL JUSTICE TOWN HALL

AUGUST 27, 2021 | PART XIV

"The 1919 KNOXVILLE RACE RIOT" MAURICE MAYS





WILLIAM ISOM, II

Black in Appalachia, Director


MATT LAKIN

"A Dark Nigh: The Knoxville Race Riot of 1919" Author


NANCY LOCKLIN-SOFER

Maryville College, History Professor


JOY RADICE

UT Legal Clinic, Director & UT Law Professor









Moderator

Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President

RACIAL JUSTICE TOWN HALL

JULY 23, 2021 | PART XIII

"The Voices of Black Administrators"

MICHELLE CLAYTON

Richard Yoakly Transition, Principal


ROBIN CURRY

Sarah Moore Greene Magnet, Principal


JESSICA HOLMAN

Green Magnet Academy, Principal


CHRIS JAMES

Harrison Bay Future Reader Center, Principal


DESIREE ODOM JONES

Vine Middle Magnet, Principal


NATHAN LANGLOIS

Advancement & Diversity, Director


TARA HOWELL-SPIKES

Fair Garden, Principal


SYDNEY UPTON

Sunnyview Primary, Principal


TIFFANY WATKINS

Gap Creek Elementary, Principal





Moderator

Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President

Click to View

RACIAL JUSTICE TOWN HALL

JUNE 28, 2021 | PART XII

"One Year Later ... Where Are We?"

GWEN MCKENZIE

City of Knoxville, Vice-Mayor, 6th District City Council


TANISHA FITZGERALD-BAKER

Project Grad Knoxville, Executive Staff


REV. DR. JOHN BUTLER

NAACP, Immediate Past Chair


PHYLLIS Y. NICHOLS

Knoxville Area Urban League, President & CEO


DEBORAH PORTER

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, Chair


IMANI MFALME

Community Defense of ET


FRANK SHANKLIN, JR.

Police Advisory Review Committee


PASTOR DARYL ARNOLD

Overcoming Believers Church


BISHOP KEVIN PERRY

aMen Leadership Academy


REV. DR. HAROLD MIDDLEBROOK

Civil Rights Activist


DR. THEOTIS ROBINSON

Civil Rights Activist


Moderator

Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President

Click to View

URBAN RENEWAL / REMOVAL
& BASEBALL
MAY 28, 2021 | PART XI

ROBERT J. BOOKER
Historian, Raised in "The Bottom"

DAN BROWN 
Former Mayor Knoxville (2011), Raised in "Mountain View"

JACK NEELY
Historian, Knoxville History Project

GERALDINE TAYLOR
Retired Educator, Raised in "The Bottom"

RANDY TYREE
Former Mayor Knoxville (1975)


Moderator
Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President
CLICK TO VIEW

THE MEN OF 
AUSTIN-EAST HIGH SCHOOL
APRIL 16, 2021 | PART X

ANTHONY ANDERSON 
Educator / Coach, Class of 2007

DIATA BRAZELTON 
Artistic Director, Class of 2003

REV. SAM BROWN 
Pastor, Class of 2005

DR. ANTHONY M. DONALDSON, JR., PH.D 
History Professor, Class of 2003

KEN EASTERLY
Professional Dance Artist, Class of 2007

BRANDON J. GIBSON 
Opera Managing Director, Class of 2004

CHANCE JONES 
Business Owner, Class of 2009

HOWARD KELSEY 
Real Estate Investor & Broker, Class of 2008

CHRIS LOWERY 
Acting Manager / Engineering, Class of 1998

DERRICK D. MCGUIRE II
Regional Business Manager, Class of 2007

ARSENIO MOULDEN, SR. 
Civil Engineer/ Personal Trainer, Class of 2006

DEVANTE SALES 
Educator/ Business Owner, Class of 2010

Special Guest
KWANBE BULLARD
Beck Staff/ UTK Student

Moderator
Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President
CLICK TO VIEW

AUSTIN EAST HIGH SCHOOL | RACIAL JUSTICE


In Knoxville, our community and specifically, our local high school, Austin-East Magnet High School, located at 2800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, has been traumatized by violence. We know that systemic racism manifest itself in many areas including crime in our community; we must end the violence. We wanted to hear from AE alumni on this topic. We wanted to hear their voice speak to the community, teachers, administrators, students and allies. These alumni are doing amazing things. They have wisdom for this moment. 

 

In March, during Women’s History Month, we heard from the Ladies of AE, and it was dynamic. In April we heard from the men.

 

Like the women, these are amazing men who will leave an impactful legacy in our history. 


THE LADIES OF 
AUSTIN-EAST HIGH SCHOOL
MARCH 19, 2021 | PART IX

TYRISA "TY" BURDINE
Business Owner, Class of 2005

BIANCA "BELAIR" BLAIR CRAWFORD
WWE Pro Wrestler, Class of 2007

JENAÉ A. EASTERLY, ESQ.
Attorney, Class of 2007

BRIANA FLANAGAN
Archivist, Class of 2011

CASHAUNA C. LATTIMORE, ESQ.
Attorney, Class of 2004

LASHAUNDRA LENIOR
Business Owner, Class of 2005

ATTALLAH STOUT
Program Manager, Class of 2008

TIARA THOMPSON
DDS Candidate, Class of 2008

DR. LESLIE UPTON
Physics, Class of 2004

LEONA "BINX" WALTON
Model, Class of 2014

Moderator
Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President
CLICK TO VIEW

HEALTH CARE COVID 19
Racial Justice Town Hall 
February 19, 2021

DR. MELISSA B. DAVIS
Assistant (Interim) Professor of 
Cell and Developmental Biology 
Scientific Director, International Center for the 
Study of Breast Cancer Subtypes

DR. KEITH GRAY
Chief Medical Officer, University of TN, Knoxville 
Medical Center

CYNTHIA FINCH, LMSW, CCM, CMCE
Faith Leaders Church Initiative

DENA MASHBURN, MS, RN, APN
Director of Nursing, Knox County Health Department

Moderator
Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President
CLICK TO VIEW

RACIAL JUSTICE PART VII - THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT


  • Austin High School Students

    J.D. Daniels, Lorenza Glasgow, & James Gillenwaters

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  • Austin High School Students - TN Theatre

    (l-r) McDowell, unknown, James Gillenwaters, unknown, Joe Mobely, Jackie Gallman, 

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  • Knoxville College Students

    Warren Brown, Robert Booker

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  • Booker Jailed

    Robert Booker, John Bell-Knoxville College Dean

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  • Avon Rollins & Martin Luther King, Jr.

    March - Washington, DC 

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CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Racial Justice Town Hall 
January 15, 2021

Students In The Movement

Mr. Robert J. Booker
Bishop Warren Brown
Lorenza Glasgow
Rev. Dr. Harold Middlebrook
Dr. Theotis Robinson


Moderators
Jacqueline White & DaVeon Hall
Beck Young People's Council &
Rev. Reneé Kesler, Beck President
CLICK TO VIEW

THE DIVINE NINE
Racial Justice Town Hall November 20, 2020

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Founded 1906 
DR. CHARLES F. LOMAX, JR.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Founded 1908 
CYNTHIA FINCH
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Founded 1911
ERIC LATTIMORE
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Founded 1911
SAM MCKENZIE
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Founded 1913
TUNISIA HOLLEY
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Founded 1914
ASHFORD HUGHES, SR.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Founded 1920
TENEA MCGHEE
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Founded 1922
VIVAT SHANKS
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Founded 1963
CHARLES A. BROWN

Special Guest
ROSLYN M. BROCK
Chairman Emeritus
NAACP National Board of Directors
Chairman, International Connection Committee
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

MODERATOR: Rev. Reneé Kesler
View - Divine 9 Town Hall

THE VOTE: Voter Suppression,Then & Now
Racial Justice Town Hall Meeting 
October 30, 2020 | 4PM

WJBE Radio Owner & 
Former State of Tennessee Representative
Joe Armstrong

I AM The Voice of theVoiceless Founder & 
Executive Director
Vivian Underwood Shipe

#UPTheVote901 Founder & 
Abyssinian Baptist Church Memphis, TN, Senior Pastor 
Rev. Dr. Earle J. Fisher

Alcoa-Blount County NAACP President &
St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church Maryville, Pastor
Rev. Dr. Willa Estell

One Knox Legacy Coalition Co-Founder
Rev. Calvin T. Skinner

East Tennessee Freedom Schools Executive Director
Denise Dean

University of Tennessee Professor 
College of Social Work
Dr. Stan L. Bowie

Special Guest
Neal & Harwell, PLC
Attorney Trey Reliford

MODERATOR: Rev. Reneé Kesler
View THE VOTE Town Hall Racial Justice

PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Racial JusticeTown Hall Meeting - September 25, 2020

The Honorable Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Knox County
The Honorable Mayor Indya Kincannon, City of Knoxville
Director David Rausch, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 
Sheriff Tom Spangler, Knox County 
Chief Eve Thomas, City of Knoxville
Chief Gus Paidousis, Knox County Schools
Chief Nathaniel Allen, City of Decatur

MODERATOR: Rev. Reneé Kesler


View PUBLIC OFFICIALS Town Hall Racial Justice

YOUNG ADULT LEADERS
Racial Justice Town Hall Meeting - August 7, 2020

Matthew Best
Kloi Sky-Blue
Sam Brown
Jonathan Clark
Angela Dennis
Denzel Grant
David Hayes
Preston Johnson
Sydney Kesler
Felecia Outsey
Bethany Parker
Tony Smith, II
Sierra Turner
Frenando Blevins
Clarence Vaughn, III

MODERATOR: André Canty
View YOUNG ADULT LEADERS Town Hall Racial Justice

YOUTH LEADERS
Racial Justice Town Hall Meeting - August 7, 2020

Ayanna Albright
Darrion Bell
Juan Benn
Eliza Croom
Michael Darden
DaVeon Hall
Ben Hamilton
Robert Higgins
JeTori Howard
Jahson Jackson
Kalen Jones
Morgan Jones
Aaliya Riddle
Camiah Wilson
Jacqueline White

MODERATOR: André Canty
View YOUTH LEADERS Town Hall Racial Justice

WHITE LEADERS
Racial Justice Town Hall Meeting - July 17, 2020

Ben Bentley, Executive Director and CEO of Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC)
Candie Carawan, Humanitarian, Cultural Activist & Educator, Highlander Center
Bishop Brian Cole, 5th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee
Beth Ford, Federal Community Defender for Federal Defender Services of East Tennessee
Rev. Dr. Gordon Gibson, Civil Rights Activist & Co-Founder of the Living Legacy Project
Rev. Meredith Loftis, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church & Justice Knox Board Member
Loki Mulholland, Award-Winning Filmmaker, Author, Activist and Son of Civil Rights Icon, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland
Donde Plowman, Chancellor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Atty. Mark Stephens, Founder, The Justice Initiative & Former Public Defender for the Sixth Judicial District (Knoxville) 
Bob Thomas, Superintendent, Knox County Schools
Tammy White, President & CEO, Leadership Knoxville
Anthony Wise, President, Pellissippi State Community


MODERATOR: Rev. Reneé Kesler
View WHITE LEADERS Town Hall Racial Justice

BLACK LEADERS
Racial Justice Town Hall Meeting - June 19, 2020

Vice Mayor & Sixth District City Councilwoman, Gwen McKenzie
Project Grad Knoxville Executive Director/CEO, Vrondelia (Ronni) Chandler
Knoxville Branch NAACP President, Rev. Dr. John Butler
Knoxville Area Urban League President, Phyllis Nichols
Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission Chair, Deborah Porter
Community Defense of East TN, Imani Mfalme
Police Advisory Review Committee Vice-Chair, Atty. LaKenya Middlebrook, esq. 
My Brother’s Keeper, Pastor Daryl Arnold
aMen Leadership Academy Executive Director, Bishop Kevin Perry 
Civil Rights Activist & Justice Advocate, Rev. Dr. Harold Middlebrook, 
Civil Rights Activist & Justice Advocate, Dr. Theotis Robinson
TriStar Summit Medical Center Medical Physician, Dr. Daymond McDuffey, M.D.

MODERATOR: Rev. Reneé Kesler

View BLACK LEADERS Town Hall Meeting Racial Justice

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