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Wendi C. Thomas Profile picture
Wendi C. Thomas
@wendi_c_thomas
Journalist. Disrupter. @MLK50Memphis editor. Former @ProPublica LRN Fellow. 2020 Selden Ring winner. @niemanfdn c/o '16. DMs open. She/her #1908 💕💚
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Sep 5, 2020 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
This book and article reeks of the privilege of those who’ve never been surveilled.

Would like to hear Black & Brown photographers’ reax to this. Says the photog who has been spying on people for two years and then packaged the surveillance into a book so he can make money: “I trust that what I do isn’t hurting anyone.”
Jul 23, 2020 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
Ooh, this is a good one and a conversation that's gaining steam in the industry.

I came up in old-school print newsrooms and do not see myself as an activist. I don't give to campaigns, I don't have bumper stickers on my car or campaign signs in my yard. Ida B. Wells said: “The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.”

What we choose to write on - and what we don't - is another way of saying: We think this is important and we hope you do something with this info.
Jun 9, 2020 • 13 tweets • 4 min read
I have worked as a journalist in Memphis for the last 17 years.

On Aug. 20, 2018, I discovered that the @MEM_PoliceDept was spying on me.

I’ve never been a victim of police brutality, but my interactions with police have not inspired confidence.. I covered demonstrations that followed Darrius Stewart’s death by police in 2015. I posted my interview with the teen’s father on Insta.

A few days later, a cousin wanted to take a quick tour through downtown Memphis. It was dark and rainy. He’s black w/ long locks and a beard.
Mar 3, 2020 • 8 tweets • 6 min read
When I got the call Saturday, I was pulling up to Autozone in my 16-year-old raggedy car, check engine light on. I've been saving up for a used Altima, but am $5,000 short.

Then @gstables shared the good news. Y'all, I BAWLED in the parking lot. @gstables I am grateful to so many folks, especially the folks who were with me when I was shooting in the gym and @MLK50Memphis was just an idea. My bad-ass leadership team @andreamorales @PeggyMcKenzie1 and @deadlinedd, who motivate me and inspire me.
Sep 1, 2019 • 19 tweets • 7 min read
What matters more than @MemphisMagazine’s slightly better yet still insufficient apology following the #CaricatureAssassination of @tamisawyer?

The answers to these queries.

A thread. @MLK50Memphis @MABJTN @NAACP @MsPackyetti In Memphis Magazine’s 42 years, how many black publishers, managing editors, editors, art directors and full-time staff writers have there been? How does the staff’s racial makeup compare to the makeup of the city in your publication’s name? (Memphis is more than 63% black.)
Aug 2, 2019 • 12 tweets • 5 min read
As recently as 2017, @MemphisChamber marketed the city as having a workforce at wage rates lower than most of the country.

Median household income for AA is around $33K. 43% of workers earn less than $15/hr.

But yeah, tell me more about affordability. If you want to #MoveToMemphis, please do. But come with your eyes wide open.

80% of folks here make less than $79K.

Half make less than $37K.
Jul 15, 2019 • 22 tweets • 10 min read
.@MethodistHlth has an incredible opportunity to truly transform its financial assistance policies and abandon its aggressive debt collection practices. Tinkering on the edges would disappoint many.

There are plenty of models to follow. Here are a few. After a similar investigation of Mary Washington Healthcare @MWHCConnection, the VA hospital suspended its court collections for SIX MONTHS. (Not 30 days like Methodist is doing.) fredericksburg.com/news/local/mar…
Feb 5, 2019 • 7 tweets • 4 min read
I’ve been nominated by @MichelleDuster to post covers of #7books I love. No reviews, no explanations, just covers. You’re supposed to nominate someone else w/ each post but rules schmules. I’ll do my best. First, @tayari, of course. I LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK.
Feb 1, 2019 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
What did I do today? I spent three hours trying to fix my NEW MacBook Pro, including 2 hours and 14 minutes on the phone @Apple tech support.

This is after a tech support debacle that took up at least 10 hours total of my time earlier this month.

Super stabby rn I’ve been Team Apple all my life. My dad had the original Macs. But these days... It’s just bad and there are huge blind spots in how consumers use their products.

For example, a 256gb iPhone that can’t be backed up to a MacBook Pro unless you leave half of your memory unused.
Jan 31, 2019 • 29 tweets • 12 min read
When you ask @3onyourside @memphisnews and @LocalMemphis to answer obvious questions but they don’t, so you report/write story and THEN they try to call your sources for comment - y’all better say who broke this. Put some respect on @MLK50Memphis’ name. @3onyourside story is virtually identical to the DA’s press release.
Aug 22, 2018 • 132 tweets • 43 min read
Day 3 of the Memphis police surveillance trial set to begin in federal court soon. @mem_police Director Mike Rallings will testify first. Follow me on Twitter at @wendi_c_thomas for updates throughout the day. #MLK50 To catch up, check out @DanielConnolly @memphisnews story: commercialappeal.com/story/news/201…
Aug 20, 2018 • 39 tweets • 11 min read
Court is back in session: ACLU wants longtime ACLU attorney and local member Bruce Kramer to testify to clear up some of the discrepancy about the history of the West TN chapter. Problem is... Kramer has been sitting in court all morning and he’s the attorney for the four plaintiffs who were dismissed because the judge decided they didn’t have standing.
Aug 13, 2018 • 55 tweets • 16 min read
I'll be live tweeting from the Shelby County Commission at @wendi_c_thomas. This is our local government at work. Y'all follow along. #ElectionsMatter Here's the agenda for this afternoon's meeting. documentcloud.org/documents/4755… I'm interested in a few items, including this one re county contracts with minority and women-owned businesses, otherwise known as MWBEs.
Aug 3, 2018 • 75 tweets • 23 min read
And the @IBWellsSociety investigative reporting workshop is off! Ron Nixon dropping knowledge on how to do investigations while also covering your beat. #NABJ2018 @NABJ @nixonron: Use social media not just to promote your brand but also as a reporting tool.
Aug 3, 2018 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
This staff is about 80% white in a city that’s 63% black.

It’s bucking the national nonprofit news trend with a hard paywall.

It’s defying industry best practices by refusing to be transparent about their funders.

None of that is in this @Poynter story. @RickEdmonds The writer for @Poynter does note that the city is majority black, but then it’s as if the diversity of the staff is unknowable. Or that the race of Eric Barnes and Andy Cates is unknowable.

But the race of the editor of the CA? Knowable. 🤦🏽‍♀️
Aug 2, 2018 • 9 tweets • 8 min read
Looking forward to talking about @MLK50Memphis and how to build an amazing team like my crew: @andreamorales @megawatts2000 @jdylan901 @lkleinmann @kirstinlcheers @deadlinedd and many more! @LIONPubs @NABJ #NABJ18 Gonna share some of our good work. We focused on economic justice in the city where MLK was killed. What has Memphis done with King’s sacrifice?

Not enough. mlk50.com/50-years-after…
Jul 28, 2018 • 7 tweets • 8 min read
So @LenoirForMayor puts out an attack ad that blogger @vibinc called “racist,” @MemphisFlyer editor @sylamore1 called racist and @ryanpoe of @memphisnews called “race-baiting” at worst - but who does Lenoir blame?

These three white guys?

His graphic designer?

Nope. Me. See for yourself. Clockwise: Lenoir’s attack ad; @LeeHarrisfor901 on the set of @LocalMemphis with @Local24Richard and @OtisSanford; and Harris from his campaign website.

But @LenoirForMayor says he didn’t darken Harris’ picture?
Jul 27, 2018 • 11 tweets • 9 min read
There’s a mountain of research around the racist stereotype of darker skin and criminality that I’ll share here for local journalists who may be covering this racist attack ad @LenoirForMayor ran on @LeeHarrisfor901.

Come on in the room. Of course, I was late to the game re the problems with this ad. Local blogger Steve Ross @vibinc called it racist (screenshot) and @ryanpoe linked to Ross’ piece this am.

The 9:01: Lenoir criticized for 'racist' mailer

memne.ws/2NMIeO6
Jul 27, 2018 • 12 tweets • 8 min read
Hi, Kemp. Wondering when you’re going to keep your word and address the city’s racialized bankruptcy issues @ProPublica revealed? Or is @BirdRide your solution?

Let me remind you of what you said you’d do, in case it’d slipped your mind. I know you’re a busy guy. 🙂 The Smart City Memphis blog reported this in October: You, @kempsuper9 and council member Patrice Robinson, declared it “unacceptable” that black people in Shelby County filed for the kind of bankruptcy least likely to relieve their debts.
Jul 12, 2018 • 37 tweets • 13 min read
From left: Incumbent circuit court judges David Rudolph and Mary Wagner; challengers Yolanda R. Kight, Jennifer Mitchell; and incumbent environmental court judge Patrick Dandridge #VIP901 @NAACPMemphis Do you know what circuit court judges do? (It's OK - I wasn't clear either.)
They handle divorces, auto accidents, wrongful death, breach of contract and some other stuff. @NAACPMemphis
#VIP901 shelbycountytn.gov/223/Circuit-Co…
Jul 11, 2018 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
This is what @LenoirForMayor espouses. He said in the Rotary Club debate that it doesn’t matter how much you make, it matters how you spend it. And he doesn’t miss a chance to talk about the financial literacy classes his (trustee) office promotes. A popular nonprofit pairs people making minimum wage with middle/upper-middle class residents for this financial literacy curriculum.

I held my tongue as they told the participants to save 10% of their income.