All posts by Terry Howard

ADR Advisor Terry Howard is an award-winning 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.

Israelis and Palestinians Part 2 – by Terry Howard

Why African Americans support Palestinians (in case you wondered)!

“Neal” wrote: “Terry, I liked your recent piece on the Israel-Hamas conflict. But as the saying goes, ‘there are two sides to every coin.’ So as a Black person, I hope you’ll balance that one with an African American perspective on Palestine. I suppose I shouldn’t hold my breath until you do, huh?” 

Duly noted Neal. And thanks for your, eh, “vote of confidence.” 

A few days after Neal’s email – while comfortably ensconced in my favorite chair – I scrolled my TV channels in search of an “Andy of Mayberry” episode I’d recently recorded, a search that was interrupted when I came across a heated interview with journalist Piers Morgan and a Palestinian guest, he too a journalist. 

The subject? Well, you guessed it – media coverage of the plight of Palestinians during the Israeli-Hamas war.  

Continue reading Israelis and Palestinians Part 2 – by Terry Howard

Israelis and Palestinians Part 1 – by Terry Howard

Daily Life after Oct. 7

“Rubbernecking” is a term primarily used to refer to bystanders staring at accidents. More generally, it can refer to anyone staring at something of everyday interest from a safe distance. The term derives from the neck’s bending while trying to get a better view. 

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Israelis and PalestiniansWith a flip of a remote control or finger, we have the ability to change the channel or turn the page away from events in the news that sickens and shocks us. And that’s what we do. But that’s easier said than done if you’ve not been personally impacted by the event or know someone who has. Which brings us to the current conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, and relatedly to a recent email I got from “Ernie” a Jewish friend who lives with his wife in Florida. 

You see, Ernie’s daughter and her family live in Israel. Thankfully, they escaped with their lives when the recent horrific attack on Israel occurred. But unlike the convenience afforded to most of us, Ernie was unable to “rubber neck” his away from the horror because the matter was personal for him. Very personal. 

Continue reading Israelis and Palestinians Part 1 – by Terry Howard

Perils of discussing politics with family and friends – by Terry Howard

Silly me! 

I failed to heed this advice from a friend: “Don’t mess with political discussions in the family,” and learned the hard way what can happen when wise counsel collides with actual experience. Without doubt, you’ve probably read your share of articles telling you to stay away from talking politics in the workplace and around the dinner table. 

You see, what should have been an uneventful ride to the airport turned out to be anything but. The culprit? Politics or, more to the point, disagreement between the two of us on our firm political positions. 

Continue reading Perils of discussing politics with family and friends – by Terry Howard

Black Trumpers beware! – by Terry Howard

Now this may come as a newsflash to some, but the mosaic of Black folks cuts across a wide swath of differences. Monolithic we’re not. 

And, like any other group, we’re capable of doing some “what the hell were you thinking?” idiocy. Look, no one – I repeat, no one – has a monopoly on stupid. Which takes me to the front page of a local newspaper and what I cannot believe I’m about to write about.

“Oh no, you gotta be kidding,” I thought. To verify what I hoped not to see, I leaned to get a closer look at photos of the 18 people in Georgia indicted for conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential elections. Among them were faces of two Black somebodies: a Trevian Kutti and a Harrison Floyd.

Continue reading Black Trumpers beware! – by Terry Howard

The Scared States of America – by Terry Howard

Rejection?……Death?…..Aging?…..
Being judged?…..Loneliness?

What’s your innermost fear readers? I posed that question (with the options above and others) to some folks whose views I value. Those are the fears that bubbled up. Their answers follow. But to make this personal, ponder your answer to that question.

Now before we get to the responses from those I “surveyed,” I’ll start with a conversation with an African American friend who, like me, is the father of sons. We were talking about the recent spate of gun deaths sweeping the nation and the disproportionate impact on African Americans. Here it is:

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Scared – by Terry Howard

I left the store and headed to my bright red car. About ten feet away, I tapped the silver button on my key to open the door. Humm, it didn’t open.   

So, I put my bag on the ground and pushed the key into the door to open it manually. Again, nothing.

Befuddled, when I looked away thinking about my options, (AAA, calling wife) I noticed a red car, same color as mine, parked next to me.
Oh, oh!

Continue reading Scared – by Terry Howard

“Nappy-headed hoes (2.0)” – by Terry Howard

As a lifelong basketball fanatic – and a years ago mediocre point guard on my high school team, my unconscious (okay, conscious) bias against the game as it is played by women got, “slam dunked” on during the recent NCAA women’s basketball tournament. 

Wow, what have I been missing all these years? Heck, the girls’ championship game, watched by 9.9 million viewers, the highest ever, was a lot more exciting to me than the boys’ games.

Continue reading “Nappy-headed hoes (2.0)” – by Terry Howard

“I see nothing!” ….. really Clarence, really? – by Terry Howard

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been in the news recently, for all the wrong reasons. 

You see he was outed for having received millions of dollars’ worth of gifts over the last 20 years from billionaire Harlan Crow. With wife Ginny, globetrotting Thomas has been living the high life aboard a million-dollar yacht and on a private jet while puffing away on cigars, munching on caviar and sipping expensive wines. 

Now what’s interesting is that once he got caught with his pants down and forced into the limelight, like a deer caught in the headlights Thomas pulled out his Sergeant Schultz defense, “I see nothing! I hear nothing! I know nothing!” 

Continue reading “I see nothing!” ….. really Clarence, really? – by Terry Howard

‘Woke’- an American threat? – by Terry Howard

Okay readers, ready yourselves for another entry into the You Can’t Make This Stuff Up – Chronicles of the Asinine. Have an extra strength Excedrin or shot of Bourbon within reach. You may need it.

You see, before the ink was dry on recent news about the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, nitpickers from the peanut gallery began pointing blame to the latest boogey man…. “Woke.”  “Woke” flooded the news recently, drowning out coverage of NCAAP basketball tourneys, Ukraine and pending indictments.

Continue reading ‘Woke’- an American threat? – by Terry Howard

Chronicles of the asinine: new entry – by Terry Howard

My three granddaughters are, respectively, age 12, 5 and 3. They are also Black and beautiful. I start with that as a link that to what I’m about to write about; something personal, very personal.

You see, I’m ticked off to report that we have still another addition to the umpteenth volume of our “You can’t make this stuff up folks” collection, our chronicles of the asinine. Our latest entry comes from Caldwell, New Jersey courtesy of some “racially nearsighted” dude by the name of Gordon Lawshe. 

Continue reading Chronicles of the asinine: new entry – by Terry Howard