A History of Black History
In February, the nation joins African Americans in celebrating their rich culture, heritage, and contributions to the American lifestyle during Black History Month.  Black History Month began as "Negro History Week" in 1926 which was established by Carter G. Woodson and was expanded to a month long celebration in 1976. Woodson is said to have chosen the second week in February for the celebration to honor the birthdays of Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist and editor, and Abraham Lincoln.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- As a people and as a nation, we have come a long way since the civil rights movement of the early 1960s. King would be proud. But at the same time, we have not yet achieved the point he devoted his life to help our society reach.
One of the most significant speeches in our nation's history was the "I Have a Dream" speech, which King delivered Aug. 28, 1963. During this speech, King expressed hope for a world where men and women would be "judged not on the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Ardena Garth is the first African American woman public defender in Tennessee’s Hamilton County. The State of Tennessee created the office of public defenders 18 years ago. It was originally an appointed position by the Governor. Ardena was the only applicant with both defense and prosecutorial experience. Of the 27 initially appointed public defenders, only two were black women. When the office became an elected one in order to assure local accountability, she ran for office and won. Tennessee’s first elected black female public defender has been re-elected several times.

Cultures all over the world have individual artistic expressions that set them apart. One of these unique gifts that varies between people groups is the art of dance. African tribal dances began to shape and define their culture long before it transferred to America. Modern day African American dance has been revolutionized into a creative expression of talent and movement. These exceptional stylistic qualities can be seen in specialized dance companies like that of Alvin Ailey. The heart and soul that comes out through their artistic talents compels generations everywhere.

The Howard High School Class of 1960

Is a very special and historic one indeed,

For we started the Civil Rights Movement in Chattanooga, Tennessee ...

Civil Rights continues to be a major element of our national debate on political, economic and social issues.  One of the originals of the Freedom Riders, Diane Nash, who was a founding member of Students for Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Nash is a major figure in the civil rights movement when I was a teenager and one of many Jewish volunteers working for SNCC. Still in high school (Great Neck, NY), I volunteered to take 'inventory'  for SNCC in a neighboring business district. My partner and I canvassed every store and documented the number of African Americans employed. We saw only one black employee; the experience was very enlightening. It was a life-changing experience but at the time, we didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of the civil rights movement, not in the way SNCC's leadership did.  Given the current presidential election, it seems appropriate to revisit my interview with Nash.

When Dr. Joseph Betancourt spoke on “Solutions for Disparities:  Delivering Quality Care to Diverse Populations” in Chattanooga TN, he delivered both unusual expertise and a personal model for future healthcare.  Dr. Betancourt’s family came from Puerto Rico to NYC and he talked about his childhood as interpreter for his grandparents to their doctors.  Today, Dr. Betancourt is Director of the Disparities Solution Center and Senior Scientist at the Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital.  With his medical degree, fellowship in Minority Health Policy and Masters from the Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Betancourt is now a well-respected expert in cross-cultural medicine.

If only you could see the vision

that does live deep inside my mind,

If only you could feel the peace that stays

knowing that your love is only mine.

DIVERSITY THANKSGIVING was celebrated by an amazingly diverse audience of 400 from the Chattanooga TN region stretching from Knoxville to Atlanta suburbs.   The Free & Public was put into motion by the American Diversity Report and hosted at Volkswagen Chattanooga in November.  One of the highlights of the evening was the Big Reveal of the winners of the Youth Multicultural Video contest, a project made possible by the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.  The videos were created by students from colleges, high schools, elementary schools and education nonprofits. The crowd enthusiasticallty cheered and sometimes jumped up and down for the  3 Over-all Winners and the Winners in Individual Categories:  Impact, Creativity, Skill and Diversity.  Read more ... See the Winners, Judges, Sponsors and Community Partners and LINKS to their videos.

Did you miss the celebration of DIVERSITY THANKSGIVING at the Volkswagen Chattanooga  /Conference Center in November 17?  Want to see the finalists' videos of the Youth Multicultural Video Contest?  Check out the newest member of the American Diversity Report blog family and catch up on photos and news from the event.   Deborah Levine, editor of American Diversity Report, invites you to take a peek.  Click on the Southern Women's  COUNCIL ON DIVERSITY  .