In last week’s newsletter, MLK50’s editor Wendi C. Thomas ribbed Shelby County leaders’ pro-COVID vaccination take on the “pass the phone” Tik Tok trend. The video was well-intentioned, earnest and awkward, like when your dad starts using the latest slang.
“Pass the phone” videos can be hilarious, as friends call out their friends’ failings – I’m passing the phone to someone who has all public conversations on speaker phone. As a government PSA, it doesn’t work so well.
This week, former MLK50 contributor Kirstin Cheers, a social media guru, and activist and organizer Amber Sherman collaborated on their own “pass the phone” video – but this time with an explicit public policy lens.
Gently skewered in a spirit of fun but also accountability are Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael, Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo, Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn.
Commentary with a side of shade. Enjoy.