Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 1-27-17

FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017
B
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie: ‘Freedom And Courage Are Intertwined’
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
“Freedom and courage are intertwined, so when in the pursuit of the former, you must be armed with the latter.”
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie delivered that charge last Wednesday in a fiery speech to at- tendees at the Tampa Black Heritage Festival’s Lead- ership Luncheon.
It is one of a series of events spread over 10 days that celebrates African American history, achieve- ment, and culture.
Freedom “costs” and those in the fight for justice must be willing to pay, said Bishop McKenzie, who holds the distinction of being the first woman and the 117th elected bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, representing the 10th District.
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the op- pressor,” she said. “It must be demanded by the op- pressed.”
A Baltimore native, Bishop McKenzie is the great-granddaughter of John H. Murphy, Jr., founder of the Baltimore’s Afro-American newspa- per, and granddaughter of Vashti Turley Mur- phy, one of the 22 founders of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc. Married to retired NBA player, Stan McKenzie
– a Miami native – Bishop McKenzie is the mother of three children and serves as her sorority’s national chaplain.
“The calendar may read 2017, but recent occur- rences of police brutality, voter suppression, and other negative incidents mirror a much darker time in America’s history,” she said.
“Believers in a just society should push back against opposition. It is not an attack, but it is raising our voices against an unjust system. It is not an at- tack on policy but a repressive system.”
“Exercising courage does not have to be a grand act; indeed, there are simple, ordinary acts of courage committed every day,” she said.
“Courage is doing what you must do when others say it cannot be done,” Bishop McKenzie said.
“Courage is sitting at the table when there is no food. It takes “an uncommon” courage to fight against an unjust system. It’s time for those who are dedicated to breaking down oppressive regimes to stand up and motivate others to act,” Bishop McKenzie said.
“Develop a consensus, designate your leaders. We need people with courage who will not just crit- icize, but speak to the people with love.”
BISHOP VASHTI MURPHY MCKENZIE
After-Party Followed: Ybor City’s Jazz House Hosts ‘Tampa Bay SoulFest’
Expanding its horizon, Ybor City’s Jazz House hosted its first Tampa Bay SoulFest on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at the University of South Florida
Sun Dome. An after-party followed the
concert at the Jazz House with comedian Joe Torres. (Pho- tos by Julia Jackson)
R&B artist Johnny Gill rocked the house, too.
Beat Down Band lead singer, Marcus.
Tampa’s jazz musician, Marcus Boothe.
Popular R&B artist, Brian McKnight, left, with Ybor City’s Jazz House owner, Eric Fleming.
Thomas Loggins was also at the concert.
Mr. Al B. Sure brought the house down.
Brian McKnight perform- ing at the Sun Dome.
Representing Tampa, Or- lando, and Ft. Pierce at the after-party were: Britton Riley, Donald Calbe, Marty Dently and Nitra Mobley.
“Poetic Justice” actor/co- median, Joe Torres with Julia Jackson and Percy Johnson, a college classmate of Torres.
Johnny and Carolyn Banks were among the concert-goers who enjoyed the event.
Renita Tripley-Lee enjoyed the fun at the Jazz House.
son.
S. Avery and Percy John-