OP-ED By Erik Wiatr Wednesday, April 7, 2021 I respectfully encourage anyone who is an opponent of prioritizing taxpayer money for a baseball stadium to benefit private entities – including the Smokies and Gem…
Sports Stadium public/private deals proven to benefit billionaires, burden cities and citizens.
OP-ED Citizen’s Voice By Axel C. Ringe, Tennessee Chapter Sierra Club As you all know, Randy Boyd (UT president, etc.) wishes to build a baseball stadium for his minor league team next to the…
David Hunter is Back in the Saddle
EDITORIAL By David Hunter (January 23, 2021) – For those who might have actually missed my contributions to the East Tennessee Enlightener, I’ve been absent for a while – occupied by avoiding…
Homeless Shelter, Humiliating Experience
OP-ED: By Barbara Bridges I lived for 4-plus months at a Knoxville shelter for women and children when my kids were little. It was during my first year of architecture school. While I…
Joe Biden EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: My Plan to Lift Every Voice in Black America
By Joe Biden There is injustice in America. There is discrimination. There is a legacy of racism and inequality that lives still in our institutions, our laws, and in too many people’s…
OP-ED: Inequalities are Intensified in a Crisis, Pandemic
By Kanika White I’ve been thinking deeply about the effects that this pandemic will have on black people and our communities and I must say for a brief moment, I thought to…
In the case of: Knoxville politics
From the Publisher’s Perspective
From Slaves to Vagrants to Criminals = Modern Day Slavery
Citizen’s Perspective By Taru Taylor, submitted The American Negro is a prisoner of war. Of the race war started by Portuguese and Spanish conquistadors, and furthered by English, Dutch, and French pirates….
We Charge Genocide: a 1951 Plea to the United Nations
CITIZEN’S VOICE “We Charge Genocide” is a historic petition for relief from the United States Government’s Crime of Genocide against Negro People. It was presented in 1951 to the United Nations, Secretary-General Trygve…
Moma!!! The last words of George Floyd, aka Gentle Giant
Patricia Williams, ETE Editor Knoxville, TN (June 2020) – His mother died years ago, but in his last breaths, pleas in desperation, George Floyd cried out to his Moma. How much submission,…
Beck Center Director, Today’s Actions is Tomorrow’s History
“The Negro only wanted an opportunity to be a man and then he would manifest his ability to accomplish great things.” – W.E.B. DuBois speaking at Mount Zion Baptist Church in…
Despite Diversity, Students Should Earn the Right to Belong
“I never want to be the token Negro.” – Taru Taylor has a message for black and brown high school graduates and college students. By Taru Taylor, Guest Columnist When I decided…
Congressional candidate Hoyos on impeachment of Pres. Trump
Clean water advocate Renee Hoyos continues her work against corruption KNOXVILLE, TN Dec. 17, 2019) – Community leader Renee Hoyos released a statement today regarding the upcoming vote regarding President Trump’s impeachment….
Attacks on Booker Weakens VMC/Caswell Park Acquisition
By Michael Covington, Guest columnist One of the worst things an advocate can do is go after a righteous dude. Former State Rep., former City Council member, former mayoral aide, former Beck…
Former Candidate Thankful, Plans to Keep Up the Pace
By David Hayes, Former Candidate for at large City Council seat KNOXVILLE, TN (Nov. 7, 2019) – Thank you to everyone who showed up for this campaign. Thank you for the long…
Reducing Uncertainty in Trade with Mexico and Canada
By Miriam Sapiro, Guest columnist OP-ED (Nov., 2019) American businesses face enormous challenges right now. The ebb and flow of the trade war with China is roiling supply chains. A simmering tariff…
A SOLDIER’S SALUTE TO SERVING AND TO THOSE WHO SERVED
By Darvin Williams Over 27 years ago, I️ left my hometown in Tennessee to embark upon one of the greatest journeys in what has been a lifetime of great journeys. I️ joined…
Candidates for Knoxville Mayor Have Principals: Democratic or Republican
OP-ED As an active member of the District 1 Democrats, I am shocked at the support for a Republican candidate for mayor among elected Democratic officials who have gladly received funds from…
Actions Speak Louder than Minced Words
Op-Ed (Oct. 31, 2019) Knoxville’s mayoral election is pitting Indya Kincannon, who trained in public affairs at the prestigious Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and served as Mayor Madeline Rogero’s…
The Law of Slavery Reparations Included Compensation to the Slaves, and Has Not Been Honored
After the Revolutionary War, the United States approved reparations and returned lands to slave-holders; but stopped short of compensating Black slaves with reparations of “40 acres and a mule.” By Taru…
Knoxville Democrats Should Require Commitment from Its Officers
Citizen Commentary The upcoming City of Knoxville’s mayor’s race is shaping up to be an interesting one for certain. The field of candidates is among the most diverse in recent times. These…
A Father Seeking: How Do We Protect Children From the Wounds of Hate Speech
By Charles Washington A brave new world. America made great again – not so much last night. What’s going on in America made its way to my neighborhood, my home, down my…
Changing Seats Was A Life Changing Move
Indya Kincannon, a 2019 candidate for Mayor, recalls the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church shooting. Eleven years ago, our Sunday (July 29, 2008) started out pretty normal. My husband, Ben had to…
The Stranger at My Door Became My Candidate
There I was, recently retired, new to Knoxville and working hard on the house I’d just bought: when the doorbell rang. I know, you shouldn’t open the door to strangers, but I…
Negative Press Can Yield Positive Results
By David Hunter Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a very young woman, by the standards of today, who pulled off a remarkable feat by unseating a veteran Congress member in her New York district….