Advisory Council
by Deborah Levine, former Education Director of the Rotary e-Club PLANET SHAKERS
originally published in The Chattanooga times Free Press.
Tennessee is a leading state for laws and policies dealing with antisemitism according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Antisemitism has been a focus of the ADL since it was founded in 1913 by the cultural association called B’nai Brith (Children of the Covenant) whose mission was to serve and protect Jewish immigrants, many of whom came to America to escape European and Russian persecution. Hate and antisemitism were rampant there, and here, too. My great grandfather, a Jewish banker in Boston who had emigrated much earlier, was a pioneer in hiring Blacks and women. Enraged, other bankers tried to ruin and bankrupt him.
Continue reading Tennessee Proudly Leads Against Hate – by Deborah Levine
originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press
It’s wonderful that there are so many book clubs in Chattanooga! Folks gather together to discuss all kinds of books: history, novels, science fiction, mysteries, and poetry. They meet in homes, churches, synagogues, schools, libraries, book stores, coffee shops and more. This weekend I was invited to speak and share one of my books at the East Ridge Library Book Club. As a long time resident of East Ridge, it was truly a pleasure to talk about my book, Going Southern: The No-Mess Guide to Success in the South.
Continue reading ‘Going Southern’ at the Book Club – by Deborah Levine
The Jewish New Year is upon us, but may not feel like new, with vaccines being banned and Trump destroying democracy, making Americans hungrier, dumber, sicker, less safe, and more prone to natural disasters. He’s facing more days in court, alas with a Get Out of Jail Free card form the Supreme Court, which has absented itself from the Constitution. The book of Proverbs says, “To do righteousness and justice is preferred by God above sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3). The psalmist exhorts: “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute” (Psalms 82:3).
Fall is the beginning of the Jewish High Holy day of Rosh Hashanah. It means “the head of the year.” Some say it’s the birthday of the universe, the day God created Eve and Adam.
BREAKING NEWS: Recent Department of Labor statistics show that nationwide, Black women lost 319,000 public and private sector jobs from February to July this year compared to 142,000 and 176,000 increases, respectively, by white and Hispanic women. White men saw an increase of 360,000 over that same period of time.
Now that I got your attention, denial, urge to fact check me or fire off a letter to the editor look, just chill out as we turn our attention to all those unqualified “DEI Hires” we’ve been hearing about. If you believe the pundits, those “DEI Hires” have infiltrated every organization, taken over our nation and taken our jobs, that is except the thousands of (“DEI Hires”?) who, out of fear of deportation, have abandoned the backbreaking jobs picking fruit and vegetables in California, mopping floors in hospitals and putting in long hours in restaurants and on construction sites leaving their employers desperate for new workers.
Okay readers, let’s peel back the onion on the who and why behind all the “DEI Hire” shenanigans, shall we?
Continue reading Confessions of an unashamed DEI Hire – by Terry Howard
I begin this piece with a test on your ability to immediately recognize the names of the following five prominent Black women in the United States. Any luck?
Lisa Cook, Federal Reserve Board member
Latitia James Attorney General, New York
Ketanji Brown-Jackson, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Stacey Abrams, former Georgia State Representative
Jasmine Crockett, Texas State Representative
Continue reading The Realities of Dark-Skinned Black Women – by Terry Howard
Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press
When I saw this article in Sunday’s Times Free Press, “John Ross House could be on move”, I knew I had to say something. Ross was chief of the Cherokee nation in the mid 1800s and the founder of Ross’s Landing. I love visiting his wooden home in Rossville and its ponds filled with ducks, swans and geese. The beautiful scene is inspiring and calming in a world where such scenes are increasingly rare. Further, relocating the home of Chief John Ross from Rossville to Oklahoma, would be a cancel event, removing a piece of history that we should preserve.
Continue reading Moving Ross House Risks Erasing History – by Deborah Levine
Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press
It’s been 10 years since the domestic terrorism attack by Mohammad Abdulazeez who was inspired by terrorist propaganda according to the FBI. After shooting at a recruiting center, he opened fire on a Navy Reserve Center, killing a total of four marines and one navy sailor. Chattanooga has responded in several remarkable ways including last week’s ceremony at the Wreath of Honor Memorial.
Not long after the terrorist attack, there was an inclusive, and high-profile interfaith service that should be remembered, too. Chattanooga’s flocked to Mount Olivet Baptist Church which has become one of the city’s largest African-American churches. The church was overflowing with elected officials, police officers and FBI, military veterans, and media among the diverse crowd of Black & White, Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Together, we prayed over the loss of four marines and a wounded sailor, who would die just hours later. We prayed over the trauma to our entire community inflicted by the lone gunman.
Continue reading Remembering Chattanooga’s Fallen Five – by Deborah Levine
originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press
The war on DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) is ridiculous. Take the recent claim by MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk that the Texas flood death toll “would not have been as high if it wasn’t for DEI”. Unfortunately, claims that DEI is responsible for catastrophes are fairly common these days. Trump tried to blame the January mid-air crash in DC between a plan and a helicopter on DEI. Musk commented in January after California wildfires: “DEI means people die.” These conspiracy theories go above and beyond Fake News! DEI doesn’t control floods, earthquakes or tornadoes.
Continue reading Anti-DEI Fervor Out of Control. Enough Already – by Deborah Levine
Chattanooga, TN. — The American Diversity Report (ADR) is proud to spotlight a profound new video series, Restore Our Humanity, created by Deborah Levine, award-winning author of 20 books and documentary: Untold, Stories of a World War II Liberator.
Levine created these 5-minute episodes from her remarkable life to provide the inspiration and instruction for humane interaction so needed in today’s tumultuous world. The series is resonating with viewers for its heartfelt and thought-provoking storytelling about intense emotional issues including:
The videos are praised by academia, high tech experts, artists and HR professionals, as well as the general public.
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MEDIA NOTE: Click for details on Levine’s books, awards, keynotes, and clients: https://americandiversityreport.com/editor-in-chief-deborah-levine/
