VIEW FROM BEYOND THE TRIBE Debates over free speech have deeply immersed themselves into the fabric of our culture over the past few years. Wild and sharp finger-pointing has gone in both directions. A Cornell University junior accused of posting violently threatening statements against Jewish people on campus was held without bail. While we take … Continue reading Israel and Free Speech on America’s Campuses – by Elwood Watson
A Tribute to the ‘Conscience of Congress’ As he’s laid to rest, there are no shortage of salutes to Congressman John Lewis, the formidable civil rights activist and legislator from Georgia who departed this earth on July 17, 2020, at the age of 80. Mr. Lewis was a larger than life figure, a fierce, fiery … Continue reading RIP John Lewis – By Elwood Watson
Remember Rashard Brooks and Other Black Victims of Police Brutality In 1964, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to sweep the country, the arc of justice needs to bend more quickly in the case of … Continue reading Juneteenth Message – by Elwood Watson
During Women’s History Month we pause to remember and celebrate the achievements of iconic women who positively contributed to shaping the social fabric of America. One such woman is the spectacular singer, Aretha Franklin. She is still affectionately known as the “Queen of Soul” to her countless millions of fans and others worldwide who span … Continue reading Women’s History Month Tribute to the Queen of Soul – by Elwood Watson
Dr. Elwood Watson is Professor of History and African American Studies at East Tennessee State University. His areas of specialty are in 20th Century Post World War II U.S. History, African American History, African American Studies, Gender Studies, Popular Culture, and ethnographic studies. He is one of the editors of Mentoring Faculty of Color: Essays … Continue reading Dr. Elwood Watson: African American History
The names Grafton E. Thomas , Nicole Marie Poole Franklin, and Keith Thomas Kinnunens are among a few of the many that should, hopefully and highly likely, will live on in infamy. During this past holiday season, these three obviously deeply disturbed individuals engaged in shocking behavior committing , vile, horrific, sadistic, abominable crimes. In … Continue reading Hate Stories Entering 2020 – by Dr. Elwood Watson
It was the hug felt and seen around the world. Depending upon their outlook on the situation at hand, different individuals responded differently to the gesture. I am referring to the hug that was delivered to murderer Amber Guyger by Brandt Jean, the brother of slain victim, Botham Jean. As most people who closely followed … Continue reading Hug seen around the world – by Elwood Watson
LATE BREAKING NEWS: The college admissions scandal, in which 50 people including celebrities have been indicted for scheming to get the children of rich and privileged parents into top schools. It involves parents who, prosecutors allege, bribed and cheated their kids’ way into prestigious universities. A mother’s remorse: My daughter received multiple mailings from Stanford, … Continue reading “Affirmative Action” for the Rich and Privileged! – by Terry Howard & Elwood Watson
Anyone familiar with the rituals of college life knows that we are in the midst of college acceptance and rejection season. Recently, Lamar High School student Micheal Brown of Houston, Texas made national headlines when he gained acceptance to all 20 colleges and universities he applied to, including four Ivy League institutions: Harvard, Yale, Princeton … Continue reading Cheer Not Sneer: Black Gen Z Success – by Elwood Watson
Despite his material and enviable career success, Don, like many of his mid-20th-century contemporaries and many men today, more than a half a century later, was hampered by a common theme that is prevalent in the lives of many men — a lack of genuine friendships. The old saying that “the more things change, the more they … Continue reading Addressing Social Isolation among Men – by Elwood Watson
