Readers voice
ETE CITIZEN’S SPACE Hubert Smith Political Pundit and Host of the Hubert Smith Show February 19, 2022 I was one of only a handful of people not associated with Knox County Schools in attendance yesterday (Tuesday, Feb. 17…
Nursing homes and assisted living communities faced workforce and economic crises long before the pandemic, due in large part to chronic Medicaid underfunding. But now, long-term care facilities are grappling with the worst job loss among all health…
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 Development – with massive profits, that…
COMMENTARY NATIONAL (January 11, 2021) – That this should happen at the Capitol, the People’s House, is a grave desecration of our democracy. Many of us know that the Capitol was built by Black people, both enslaved and…
OP-ED Knox County Democratic Party’s Statement on Tennessee and Knox County GOP Elected Officials’ Complicity in Recent Seditious Actions KNOXVILLE (Jan. 6, 2021)— Our local and state Republican Elected Officials are complicit in the seditious actions & insurrection…
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 appreciate the support they provided, I…
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 hearts that makes it harder for…
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 not address or discuss it along…
From the Publisher’s Perspective
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 were Africans whom Europeans uprooted…
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 Halvdan Lie. The world ignored it…
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, surrender, and desperation is needed for…
“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 Knoxville, July 23, 1914. KNOXVILLE, TN…
“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 on law school, I aimed to…
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. “Tomorrow the US House of Representatives…
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 Cultural Center director and Knoxville’s foremost…
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 hours of canvassing and phone banking,…
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 war with the European Union could…
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 the local Democratic party, and its…
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 Special Program Manager for 3 years…
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 Taylor (First published by Truthout.org on…
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 candidates are diverse in terms of…
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 driveway, past the protection of my…
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 catch an early flight to go…
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 did it anyway – I hadn’t…