Page 85 – Chattanooga News Chronicle

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August 11, 2023

IN PREPPING FOR NFL REGULAR SEASON, FALCONS MAKE SEVERAL ROSTER MOVES

BY ANTOINE HARP

HayWood Media ATLANTA, GA (AUG. 7, 2023) – IN BUILDING THEIR ROSTER FOR THE UP COMING 2023 NFL REGULAR SEASON, LAST FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, THE ATLANTA FALCONS SIGNED DEFENSIVE TACKLES MATTHEW GOTAL AND CAEVEON PATTON. ALONG WITH WIDE RECEIVER MATHEW SEXTON AND CENTER MICHAL MENET AND THEY PLACED TIGHT END FELIPE FRANKS, LINEBACKER IKENNA ENECHUKWU AND WIDER ECEIVER CHRIS BLAIR ON INJURED RESERVE AFTER CLEARING WAIVERS. THEN, TWO DAYS LATER, MONDAY, AUGUST 7, THE DIRTY BIRDS REMOVED DEFENSIVE END CALAIS CAMPBELL FROM THE NON-FOOTBALL INJURY LIST AND SIGNED OFFENSIVE TACKLE LACOLBY TUCKER. THEN, BEFORE THE DAY CAME TO A CLOSE, THE BIRDS WAIVED GOTEL.

The most serious Trump indictment yet – a criminal law scholar explains the charges of using ‘dishonesty, fraud and deceit’ to cling to power

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August 11, 2023

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The most serious Trump indictment yet – a criminal law scholar explains the charges of using ‘dishonesty, fraud and deceit’ to cling to power

By Gabriel J. Chin, Professor of criminal law, immigration and race and law, University of California, Davis

The Justice Department announced its second federal indictment of former president Donald J. Trump on Aug. 1, 2023. The charges are groundbreaking and not just because a former president is facing multiple criminal charges.

It’s because these are the first federal charges alleging a former president effectively attempted a particular kind of coup, called an auto-coup, in which he attempted to keep himself in power by illegal means.

The indictment lists four felony charges. All of them rely on the same facts and boil down to the same set of five allegations, many of which have been previously reported.

All of the charges rest on the claim that Trump and his co-conspirators knew the former president lost the 2020 election, and that his claims of fraud and voting irregularity made before and on Jan. 6, 2021 were unfounded.

Three counts in this new indictment allege conspiracies: There is conspiracy to defraud the government; to obstruct an official proceeding – in this case, counting the electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021; and against the rights of the voters to cast ballots and have them fairly and honestly counted.

The remaining count alleges obstruction of an official proceeding – namely, tallying the electoral vote. The document states that Trump allegedly had the help of six co-conspirators, including four lawyers, a Justice Department official and a political consultant.

None of them are charged in the indictment, and they are identified by number, not name. This could mean one or more of these people are cooperating with the Justice Department, but not necessarily.

The indictment charges that all of Trump’s many claims of election irregularities “were false, and the Defendant knew that they were false.”

I am a scholar of criminal law and procedure. While Trump is facing multiple other charges, this indictment contains the most serious charges he has faced thus far.

In another case, Trump is being charged in New York with falsifying business records, which is, to some extent, a technical offense. And the Justice Department has charged him in Florida with illegally keeping national security documents, but there is no allegation they were disclosed to foreign agents or represented much more than souvenirs.

This indictment, by contrast, alleges that Trump knowingly worked to hold on to an office he knew he was not entitled to.

Breaking down the charges

In this most recent indictment of Trump, the Justice Department alleges that in November and December 2020, Trump tried to get state legislators to derail the process of certifying the election results in their states. Trump allegedly did this, for example, by asking legislative leaders to call the legislature back into session and approve a resolution that Trump, not Joe Biden, had won.

But all state legislatures certified the election results by December 2020. Trump and his allies then assembled slates of alternate electors in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – all key states that Biden won. These self-appointed electors prepared alternate election documents to submit to Congress.

The indictment alleges that some of the fraudulent electors were told by co-conspirators that the certificates with their names and votes would be used only if Trump managed to overturn the election results in their state – an event which occurred in none of the seven states. The co-conspirators allegedly later attempted to use the certificates anyway.

Third, Trump and his allies allegedly attempted to have Justice Department officials communicate with states whose electoral votes Trump wanted. They wanted those officials to falsely state that there were active election fraud investigations pending.

Trump and his allies allegedly asked the Justice Department officials to sign a letter they had drafted that asked states to bring their legislatures back into session to reconsider the outcome of the election.

Fourth, the indictment alleges that Trump attempted to persuade then-Vice President Mike Pence that he had the right to reject Biden’s electoral votes, or return those votes to the state legislatures.

Ties to Jan. 6

And finally, the indictment accuses Trump of being responsible for some of the violence on Jan. 6, 2021, and exploiting the riot at the Capitol by urging members of Congress to delay the electoral vote count proceedings that day.

According to the indictment, Trump called followers to attend a protest rally the morning on Jan. 6, and he “directed them to the Capitol to obstruct the certification proceeding and exert pressure on the Vice President to take the fraudulent actions he had previously refused.”

Then, the indictment continues, “the Defendant and co-conspirators exploited the disruption by redoubling efforts to levy false claims of election fraud and convince members of Congress to further delay the certification based on those claims.”

The conspiracy charges are helpful to the prosecution because under the rules of evidence, any statements made, or acts done, by a co-conspirator to further the conspiracy can be used against Trump.

So, even though Trump is the only person named and indicted in this case, a wide range of evidence from others’ actions will be available against him.

Potential time served

Trump could theoretically serve decades in prison if he is convicted of these charges.

The indictment’s first count, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., has a five-year maximum sentence. Counts 2 and 3, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, carry 20-year maximum sentences.

Count 4, conspiracy against rights, normally has a 10-year maximum sentence. However, the statute provides that “if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section” the sentence may be imprisonment “for any term of years or for life,” or the person “may be sentenced to death.”

Seven people died in connection with the Jan. 6 riots, so it is likely that the question of whether the enhanced sentence is available will come up if there is a conviction. But the Justice Department under Biden has been parsimonious with the death penalty. Based on that and other considerations, it seems highly unlikely that the death penalty would be a realistic option for sentencing in this case.

Many legal questions will have to be resolved in court between the time Trump appears in a Washington, D.C., federal court, initially scheduled for Aug. 3, 2023, and whenever a jury reaches a verdict.

It is clear that a sitting president can be impeached. There are no cases of a person being charged with crimes based on their acts as president. The issue came up in the 1970s, but was rendered moot when President Gerald Ford pardoned former President Richard Nixon. This case places Trump in a much deeper kind of new legal trouble, and the U.S. in a murky, unexplored political and legal landscape. (The CONVERSATION)

BlueCross Foundation Accepting Proposals for 2024 BlueCross Healthy Place Projects

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August 11, 2023

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BlueCross Foundation Accepting Proposals for 2024 BlueCross Healthy Place Projects

The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation will be accepting project proposals for 2024 BlueCross Healthy Place grants through Thursday, Aug. 31.

BlueCross Healthy Places are designed to bring communities together and may include features such as playgrounds, walking paths, splash pads, fitness equipment, sports fields/courts and pavilions for community events. They must be free and open to the public.

Tennessee communities are invited to submit proposals for spaces that are tailored to the needs of their area.

“We’re proud of how the BlueCross Healthy Place program has grown over the last five years, and we’re looking forward to new community partnerships that create additional spaces for connection throughout Tennessee,” said Chelsea Johnson director of the BlueCross Foundation.

Governmental agencies and non-profit organizations can submit proposals on the foundation’s online portal.

To qualify for funding, applicants must:

• Be the legal titleholder of the property with full approval to execute the project and ensure site readiness

• Seek community input on project priorities before proposal submission

• Provide metes and bounds documentation and most recent land survey upon submission

To view full application criteria and guidelines, or to apply, visit BlueCrossHealthyPlaces.com.

There are 19 BlueCross Healthy Places completed statewide, with more on the way, including the BlueCross Healthy Place at Founders Park, being completed in partnership with the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

To date, the BlueCross Foundation has invested $51.2 million in projects across Tennessee. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.4 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and has brought peace of mind to its members and local communities for more than 75 years.

As suicides rise in the US, the 988 hotline offers hope – but most Americans aren’t aware of it

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August 10, 2023

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As suicides rise in the US, the 988 hotline offers hope – but most Americans aren’t aware of it

By Emmy Betz, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Ca

July 2023 marked the one-year anniversary of the national launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Currently, more than 200 call centers throughout the U.S. are responding to 988 calls. But few people know it exists. SciLine interviewed Dr. Emmy Betz, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado, who discussed the critical need to raise awareness about 988, the increasing numbers of suicide deaths in the U.S. and the signs that someone is thinking about suicide.

Can you share some statistics about suicide in the U.S.?

Emmy Betz: Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, it’s the 12th-leading cause of death among all ages. We had been seeing suicide rates rise from about 2000, up until around the COVID era. There was a small dip in rates during those COVID years, which was great, but unfortunately we’ve now seen rates increase again. In 2021, there were 48,000 suicide deaths in the U.S., which is about one every 11 minutes.

What about youth suicide?

Emmy Betz: Suicide rates among youth in particular have increased. Between 2011 and 2021, suicide rates for youth rose 60%. Particularly concerning are increases in suicide rates among young individuals of color, where there have traditionally been lower suicide rates.

Who should call 988, and when?

Emmy Betz: 988 is the suicide and crisis lifeline. I want to really emphasize, it’s not just for suicide. It’s for anyone who’s experiencing substance abuse, mental health crisis, emotional distress or suicidal thoughts. You can call for yourself. You can call for someone in your family or a friend. It’s available 24/7, and it’s free and confidential.

How has the first year of the 988 hotline gone?

Emmy Betz: In the first year, 988 answered nearly 5 million calls, chats or texts. That’s great news. But one thing that I think is concerning: There was a Pew Charitable Trusts survey published in April 2023. Only 13% of respondents said they knew both about 988 and what it was for. So I think we still have a ways to go in terms of raising awareness among people about what the hotline is, when you should call and then what happens when you do call.

What are warning signs that a person is thinking about suicide?

Emmy Betz: It can vary. Sometimes, it can look like what we think of classically as depression – somebody who might seem sad, seems withdrawn and not doing the things that they previously have been wanting to do.

Certainly anything like talking a lot about death, mentioning suicide, mentioning not wanting to be around anymore – those are all very concerning. Some people, though, can seem angry or sort of ramped up or different.

The main thing to look out for is if someone says that they’ve lost hope or that they aren’t looking towards the future anymore.

And perhaps the most important thing to know – it’s OK to ask. If you’re ever worried that someone might be having thoughts of suicide, it’s fine to ask them directly. You’re not going to prompt suicidal thoughts by asking that question.

What are some prevention strategies for firearm suicides?

Emmy Betz: Here at the University of Colorado, I lead the firearm injury prevention initiative, which is a new program funded through the medical school that hopes to reduce all sorts of firearm injuries and deaths, including suicide.

Where I live in Colorado, 73% of our gun deaths are by suicide. It’s a critical problem in our state. And these deaths are preventable.

Suicide typically occurs in the context of some kind of crisis, whether it’s related to a job, or a recent breakup with a romantic partner, or something else. Prevention is all about getting people through that high-risk period, to get the treatment or resources they need.

We know that if a person uses a firearm in a suicide attempt, about 90% of the time they die. So my work and the work of our initiative really focuses on how can we reduce firearm access when someone is in that high-risk period.

And importantly, it’s not about confiscation. It’s not about legislation. It’s about engaging with communities, educating communities and educating health care providers about what we can do to reduce firearm access – specifically, encouraging people to take steps to lock up guns differently, such as changing the locks or changing the password so the at-risk person can’t access the gun.

When someone has suicide risk, it can be a good idea to move firearms out of the home temporarily. We’ve been working with gun ranges, retailers and other locations that offer voluntary and temporary firearm storage as a solution for people – to make the home safer while someone’s getting better.

There are things we can do that don’t conflict with views on Second Amendment rights. I’m thrilled to see firearm rights organizations working with large organizations like the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense and medical organizations.

What is suicide contagion, and what should journalists know about covering suicide without contributing to it?

Emmy Betz: Suicide contagion is the phenomenon whereby hearing about one suicide – in particular, the methods – leads to additional individuals attempting or dying by suicide using the same methods.

It’s really important that journalists talk about suicide, and that we raise awareness, and we get these messages out. But there are guidelines about how to reduce contagion. There are guidelines from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and other large organizations that really spell out best practices for journalists.

Watch the full interview to hear more about the 988 hotline and suicide prevention.

SciLine is a free service based at the nonprofit American Association for the Advancement of Science that helps journalists include scientific evidence and experts in their news stories. This article was corrected to fix the attribution for the April 2023 survey. (The Conversation)

How To Manage Asthma at School: A Guide For Parents

Health

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August 10, 2023

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How To Manage Asthma at School: A Guide For Parents

Asthma is the biggest chronic disease-related school absence. When parents and school authorities address asthma risk factors, kids will miss fewer days of school. School asthma management requires a healthy atmosphere.

Do Schools Need An Asthma Policy?

• School nurses and staff require asthma policies and programs. It includes: Asthma school training

• School asthma education

• Efficient asthma management

To promote student health, an asthma management strategy should eliminate asthma triggers. Allergy & Asthma Network provides school safety tools and professional resources.

Asthma Management

& School Health Services

To satisfy their health requirements, asthmatic pupils must be identified quickly. Schools should consider environmental health. To make schools asthma-friendly, they should implement preventative initiatives.

How Do Schools Deal With Asthma?

School asthma management policy should be solid. Asthma programs should help pupils who already have asthma and those who develop it at school. Policies should address students, school programs, and settings, medicated, documented, and stored.

Identifying employees authorized to provide the medicine a planned emergency response education, training, and notification, including asthma information for instructors a school district communication strategy.

Asthma care should be included in a district or school protocol. Emergency, medicine, and albuterol routines are crucial.

A Simple Protocol

To treat asthma and guide care, children benefit from a regimen. Establish a pharmaceutical system for maintenance and emergencies. As required, meet with parents to establish confidence and obtain:

• Medication instructions

• Fast-acting inhalers

• Managing Asthma

• Communicate student health needs to instructors, school nurses, and staff.

• As required, educate workers about asthma.

• All personnel should review asthma symptoms and post them in classrooms.

What should the school or school nurse do at the end of the school year?

When a parent or guardian picks up medication stored at school:

• Return unused medication.

• Provide medication forms.

• Request personal Asthma Action Plan to be completed for the next school year.

• Remind the parent to make an appointment with the doctor to get a health update and forms completed. Doctor’s offices can get VERY BUSY close to the start of school.

• Discuss progress made in self-management at home and school.

Asthma Training & Education For Schools

School employees should know the following about asthma and asthma care:

• asthma signs and symptoms

• common risk factors and asthma triggers

• how to prevent asthma flares

• never send a child to the School Health Office alone

• what are the signs and symptoms of an emergency

• how to respond to an asthma emergency

• needed medication, such as a quick-relief inhaler

• how to administer the medication

• how to access emergency medical services as needed (911)

• how to manage activities, environmental triggers, and use daily air quality information

Consider using multiple teaching approaches to educate staff. Teaching methods may include:

• group educational session at a faculty meeting

• small group approaches during a team meeting

• individual sessions for teachers who are responsible for students with severe asthma.

Reinforce the teaching through faculty newsletters, reading materials in the faculty room, and individual notes or emails.

What Asthma Action Plan Should Be Used At School?

Allergy & Asthma Network recommends the School Asthma Management Program (SAMPRO) Asthma Action Plans and resources. The SAMPRO resources were developed with multiple stakeholders under the direction of the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology (AAAAI) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN).

The student’s healthcare provider should complete the Asthma Action Plan. It is based on the provider’s assessment and medical orders.

Asthma Action Plans usually provide the child and family with steps to follow depending on their current symptoms:

• Green Zone – daily care when symptoms are under control

• Yellow Zone – actions to take when a student is beginning to experience an asthma attack • Red Zone – steps to follow when asthma becomes an emergency (Source: BlackDoctor.org by Dominique Lambright)

SMBC 157th Anniversary August 13th

Events

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August 9, 2023

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Former NFL Player Sammy Seamster Named New Head Football Coach at Brainerd

Camm Ashford

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August 8, 2023

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Former NFL Player Sammy Seamster Named New Head Football Coach at Brainerd

Sammy Seamster Jr., a former standout football player at Ooltewah High School and in the NFL, has been named the new head football coach at Brainerd High School. Seamster, who has been serving as the defensive backs coach for the Panthers, takes over for Martels Carter, who resigned last week due to health concerns.

Sammy Seamster Jr. is a former standout football player at Ooltewah High School and in the NFL.

Carter was entering his second season as coach of the Panthers with a 5-6 record and a return to the Class 3A playoffs last year.

“In the short amount of time he was the coach, he and his staff created opportunities for kids to get into college, and we appreciate all his hard work,” Brainerd Athletic Director Levar Brown said of Carter.

Seamster, who works as a senior fireman for the city of Chattanooga, played defensive back for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins during his NFL career. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity,” Seamster said. “I always thought I would work my way up and get the chance to be a head coach one day, but it’s happened faster than I expected. I hope the community will get behind us and be supportive.”

The Panthers return 17 starters from last season–seven on offense and all but one on defense–and are expected to be one of the top teams in their region. Seamster said he plans to keep the same offensive and defensive systems in place.

“I think it will help the kids to have a familiar face overseeing things,” Seamster said. “Obviously, they will have a new guy as their head coach, but everything else will stay the same. It will be the same offensive and defensive system, so the kids shouldn’t have to adjust to anything new.”

The Panthers will take on The Howard School in their season opener on August 19 at 5 p.m.

ACCLAIMED ARTIST AND HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ALUM TO HOST EXHIBIT AT CLEAR STORY ARTS IN CHATTANOOGA

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August 8, 2023

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ACCLAIMED ARTIST AND HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ALUM TO HOST EXHIBIT AT CLEAR STORY ARTS IN CHATTANOOGA

Exhibition, The Weight of My Faith, on display from September 1 – 30

Chattanooga, Tenn. (August 1, 2023) – Acclaimed artist and Hampton University graduate, Benford Stellmacher, Jr., is traveling to the Scenic City to exhibit, The Weight of My Faith. The art exhibit will feature 30 abstract paintings and figurative compositions that are inspired by the scripture, “Faith without works is dead”.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 1 from 6 pm – 8 pm at Clear Story Arts located minutes from downtown Chattanooga at 1673 S. Hotzclaw Avenue. The reception is free and the community is invited to attend. The Weight of My Faith will be on display at Clear Story Arts through September 30. A percentage from all sales will benefit Hampton University Alumni Chattanooga Chapter and local nonprofit, Splash Youth Arts.

To learn more about Artist Benford Stellmacher, Jr. or to view his gallery of artwork, visit www.bdstellmacher.com

About Benford Dwight Stellmacher, Jr.

Benford Dwight Stellmacher, Jr. is a multi-faceted creative who began in his early years drawing graffiti, cartoons, and sketching still figures around the house on any piece of paper he could find. For over 10 years, Stellmacher’s creative tool of choice has been a mouse which he has used to create unique identity solutions through his graphic design business, Authentic DNA Studio, LLC. In December of 2018, Stellmacher picked up paint brushes and began expressing his creativity in a brand-new medium. Primarily using acrylics, his confidence and conviction in his artwork grew consistently throughout the years, culminating in the establishment of his namesake art company, B.D. Stellmacher, Jr., LLC in 2020.

His artwork, which spans themes of social justice, music, faith, education, and the Black experience in America, has been received with fervor and praised for its messaging, composition, quality, and uniqueness. Stellmacher refers to each of his artistic creations as “conversations”, strategically intending for each piece to act “as an independent catalyst to an internal dialogue with the viewer.” Nearly every day, he is debuting a new “conversation” through canvas that aims to inspire, influence, and impact his audience. As a proud man of faith, Stellmacher views his canvases as a pulpit, through which the spirit of God has a voice to speak to the hearts of mankind as they behold the textures, patterns, colors and holistic composition of each piece.

Chattanooga Growth Brings Mixed Blessings of Opportunities and Expense

Commentary

Robin Smith

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August 8, 2023

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Chattanooga Growth Brings Mixed Blessings of Opportunities and Expense

In 2022, Chattanooga was the fastest growing city in the entire state of Tennessee.

The report entitled, Follow Me to Tennessee: The moveBuddha 2021-2022 Tennessee Migration Report, revealed the strong job market plus the eighth lowest cost of living in the US at the time of the September 2022 publication brought 306 new individuals into the state for every 100 individuals who left Tennessee.

In-migration of new residents from other states to Chattanooga surpassed Johnson City in northeast Tennessee, logging 273 new residents for every 100 who departed. Both mid-sized towns have a university, healthcare systems that hire professionals, and feature natural beauty. Chattanooga boasts the Tennessee River, lakes, trails, and mountains, while Johnson City, located further east than Asheville, North Carolina, enjoys mountain air and life.

But what has this in-migration done to Chattanooga?

The demand for housing, especially early in this churn of humanity, ballooned the cost of homes and the typically low rent higher. More development has brought the inventory of housing options to better match the need, hopefully rounding the steep climb of prices that disproportionately hurt those who live paycheck to paycheck.

What do the numbers say?

Relative to rent and housing, Chattanooga is 15% higher than the state average and 8% lower than the national average, according to RentCafe.com. According to Salary.com, the cost of living in Chattanooga has risen almost 2% in just one year when looking at housing, food, and transportation. Interestingly, the increases of these essentials for individuals and families outpaces the increase experienced in Nashville at 1.3% in the same time period.

As property taxes and a shared portion of the sales tax serve as the primary tools of the City and County governments to fund their operations, the in-migration is a positive with more parcels of land being used for development and housing. Yet, as small businesses grow and the Chattanooga area economy continues to outpace others, with the demand for services in schools, roads, waste and garbage, government grows with ballooning budgets and operations.

The City and County leaders are faced with the blessing of growth, which affords new opportunities for employment, expanding the tax base to keep it lower for individuals and families, and creates the environment for future successes. Consider the increased strain on resources and the temptation to grow government beyond its scope of essential services which burdens individuals and employers (large and small), and will ultimately dampen growth over time. This blessing becomes a two-edged sword with the duty to do what individuals cannot do without further increasing costs through fees, regulations, taxes, and excessive government growth.

A final point about the in-migration to Chattanooga. California is the state from which most new residents have moved away from to reside in the Volunteer State.

Adopting policies, practices, spending, and governance of failed economies won’t make Chattanooga progressive. Instead, the Chattanooga Way, which is the secret to our success, will be destroyed, along with our wonderful community.

Which road America?

Commentary

Terry Howard

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August 8, 2023

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As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Now it’s a thousand words that yours truly aims not to exceed in publications I write for. So I humbly sacrifice more than half of my word limitation to three images embedded in what you’re about to read.

So, fair warning readers!

The first image is graphic and may be disturbing. I include it here to make the point that as a nation we’re still mired in issues of race – think Trayvon Martin, George Floyd and Sandra Bland, to name a few – all murders occurring a half century removed from the death of Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955. Although Till’s death happened almost a century after slaves were freed, his killing is a painful reminder of the residual effects of racism in America that continues to this day. Where once we could write murders of African Americans off as exceptions and not norms, the use of cell phone camera flips that notion on its head, doesn’t it?

Like images of our nation’s signature atrocities, among them protesters being fire hosed and pummeled with Billy clubs as they walked off Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma and the knee on the neck of a dying George Floyd, the mutilated face of Emmett Till is still another watershed moment in the sordid history of race in America.Top of FormBottom of Form

Okay, to make this personal, my oldest grandson turned 14 recently. Now although there’s no ancestral connection between the two, 14 was Emmett Till’s age when he was murdered in 1955. What’s also compelling for me is that although both Emmett and my grandson are different in skin color – he light skinned and my grandson shades darker – they have similar round faces wrapped around by charming smiles, giveaway dimples, a love for sports and magnetic personalities. So in a way when I see Emmett, I see my grandson and the faces of scores of other African American grandsons in America. Let’s shift now to another, perhaps less disturbing, image; that of President Joe Biden who recently named a new national monument honoring Emmett Till and his mother amid a national debate over how to teach painful facts about American history in classrooms.

“In a time when there are those who seek to ban books, bury history, we’re making it clear, crystal, crystal clear: While darkness and denialism can hide much, they erase nothing,” Biden said at the White House, where he and members of the Till family gathered to formally approve the new monument.

“We can’t just choose to learn what we want to know,” Biden said. “We have to learn what we should know. We should know about our country. We should know everything. The good, the bad, the truth. Telling the truth and the full history of our nation is important. We’ve got a hell of a way to go.” So contrast the preceding images with that of the Florida governor putting his signature on mandates that not only ban “Critical Race Theory” and “wokeism” (neither of which he can define) but unleashed his opportunist minions to mandate teaching the “benefits” of slavery to middle schoolers. Humm, one is left to wonder how Florida would sugarcoat the Emmett Till story.

In the end, we’re confronted by still another choice along the rocky road that lies before us during this critical junction in our racial history. Do we go back, or do we forge ahead?

Wrote Robert Frost in his poem, The Road Not Taken, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by.”

Now tell us, which road America?”Terry Howard is an award-winning trainer, writer, and storyteller. He is a contributing writer with the Chattanooga News Chronicle, The American Diversity Report, The Douglas County Sentinel, Blackmarket.com, co-founder of the “26 Tiny Paint Brushes” writers guild, recipient of the 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award, and third place winner of the 2022 Georgia Press Award.