The Power of Symbols
What makes the unspoken words of symbolism so powerful? To answer this question, you must first understand why we use them, and the important role symbols play. As a people, we tend to prefer shortcuts and symbolism allows us to indulge in this preference without sacrificing any meaning. The use of symbolism can, if used correctly, dramatically increase the meaning, impact, and potentially give us a deeper understanding of different concepts. A symbol can be used to tell a story or represent something completely different in which it has a relationship with. One example of an object being used to tell a story and representing something different is a train. Trains have long been used to tell stories of freedom like the Underground Railroad and its Conductor Harriet Tubman. Because they are used as such a strong focal point in those stories, their presence has evolved to represent deliverance. A symbol can also describe something invisible like a ring to symbolize love. But what happens when we move from the symbolization of things to the symbolization of highly complex and flawed individuals. No one is perfect, and context is key.
Last week, the House debated several bills on removing and replacing the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest. Each bill regrettably and unsurprisingly failed in committee. During the committee debate, every argument against the bills included that of erasing history and that he should be praised for renouncing his past sins. As a devout Christian, this fills me with conflicting emotions. I firmly believe that anyone who genuinely opens their heart to God and unequivocally renounces their past sins should receive praise and forgiveness. However, every time I walk by and see his face, I do not see a man changed by God's power and grace. What I see are the all too painful memories of growing up during segregation and Jim Crow laws. Every time I walk the Capitol halls, I am reminded that I was once considered subhuman because of my skin color. That my social studies textbook as a child only devoted a single paragraph to my people, stating that we were slaves and a workforce. That is not the only memory his bust evokes. I am also forced to recall that when I was thirteen, my friend and I's life was almost cut short by several individuals who tried to run us over because of the color of our skin.
Context matters, and so does preserving our history. However, many Confederate statues around the country, including the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest, provide little or no context except that they were part of the Confederacy. If the end goal of these confederate monuments is to educate, why not relegate these statues to a museum where instructors can properly inform citizens? Removing a statue is not erasing history. As I sat watching the debate, I realized that the end goal of these monuments is not to preserve history and to honor a repentant man. The goal is to sanitize an uncomfortable truth.
The truth is that the Confederacy and the people that supported it fought for their state's right to continue the use of a slave economy. The Constitution of the Confederate States of America enshrines slavery as a cornerstone of their secession by stating, "No bill... or law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves shall be passed." To give further context, the Vice President of the Confederate States of America, Alexander Stephens laid out the basic fundamental principles for the Confederacy in his Cornerstone speech, "its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests on the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man. That slavery, subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition." There is no denying this fact. Simply put, the Confederacy and its supporters fought for racism and to continue a slave economy.
The refusal to accept these uncomfortable truths has led to romanticizing an alternate history of men like Nathan Bedford Forrest. Proper context and education around the Confederacy and the time period in which these Confederate Statues were erected is critical. It is undeniable that these monuments were installed to send a direct message to African Americans under the guise that they were great men. Many of the Confederate statues were erected between the 1890s and 1920s during the height of Jim Crow and state-sponsored segregation. The bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest was installed in the Tennessee State Capitol in 1978 following the civil rights movement. We, as a country, need to reckon with our heritage and what it means appropriately. We can no longer ignore it or say it's something other than what it is. Racism.
There is a difference between honoring and memorializing. The question remains, should we honor a man who massacred hundreds of African Americans, traded slaves, and became the first Grand Wizard of the KKK, all because he repented for his sines? While my faith tells me that if God forgave his sins, I should too, but I do not believe that he should be honored. His bust at the State Capitol like many other Confederate statues are symbols of systemic racism and oppression in our country. Their purpose singular, to send a message to all African Americans, know your place. The bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest must be removed.
Legislation to Watch
Criminal Justice Reform
As the 111th General Assembly came to a close late this morning, I want to share my disappointment with the lack of willingness to advance a number of real and meaningful criminal justice reform bills. While attempts have been made to reform the state's archaic criminal justice system, the vast majority of the legislation did not pass both legislative chambers. Only the only bills that have passed both chambers and will become law are HB1611 and HB2517. I renew my call for the 112th General Assembly and Governor Lee to pass meaningful and substantial changes to a system that targets and oppresses so many African Americans. Criminal justice reform is not something we can kick down the road every year. People are hurting, and there needs to be a change.
HB1611, by Rep. Staples, authorizes the issuance of electronic citations, and not just written citations on paper, for certain misdemeanor criminal offenses in lieu of arrest.
HB2517, by Chairman Curcio, removes the requirement that a person convicted of a drug offense in a drug-free school zone must serve the entire minimum sentence imposed before being eligible for release on parole; decreases the drug-free school zone from 1,000 feet to 500 feet; makes various changes to sentencing requirements for certain controlled substance violations.
Absentee Ballots
In a major win for voting rights in the State of Tennessee, Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ruled that the state's limits on absentee voting during the pandemic constitutes "an unreasonable burden on the fundamental right to vote guaranteed by the Tennessee Constitution." Her ruling mandates that the State of Tennessee must give all eligible voters the option to vote by mail in the upcoming 2020 elections because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the following day the State of Tennessee filed a motion to stay the Chancellor's order along with a motion for interlocutory appeal, which would allow a direct appeal to the Court of Appeals before the Chancery Court makes its final ruling on the injunction. Following the State's motion to stay, Chancellor Ellen Lyle ruled that the State of Tennessee must comply with the court's order and instructed the state to fix its absentee voting request forms. Anyone who deems COVID-19 a risk to their health or others will be able to request an absentee ballot.
First Time Voters: It is unclear at this monument whether first time voters will be able to vote absentee. In the Chancellor mandate, she states that "any eligible Tennessee voter". However, in her order, she does not specifically state first time voters.
This is an evolving situation. Be sure to check back next week for more information.
On election day, if there is a dispute on your ability to vote you can request and cast a Provisional Ballot.
Copy and paste the link for voter registration information and registration process. https://ovr.govote.tn.gov/
Copy and paste the link for absentee ballot information and application. https://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/absentee-voting
New COVID-19 Testing Sites in Chattanooga
On May 21, the Hamilton County Health Department announced the opening up four new COVID-19 testing sites located at Brainerd High School, East Lake Academy, Hardy Elementary, and Orchard Knob Elementary. The announcement comes after the Health Department's decision to no longer continue COVID-19 testing at that Bonnyshire Emissions Testing Center due to vehicle emission testing returning in certain parts of the state. It is important to note that testing will not occur inside the school building. These testing centers were strategically placed within the most populated areas of the county to ensure easy accessibility by everyone and maximum testing. All testing at these locations will be performed in a drive-through and walk-in tents around the school's parking lots. Testing at all four sites will take place between 7-11 a.m. Physician referrals, appointments, and present symptoms are not required to get tested. All COVID-19 testing is free. The new COVID-19 testing sites will operate through July 2020.
For questions about COVID-19 testing and information, call the COVID-19 hotline at 209-8383.
Testing Dates Monday-Sunday
Hardy Elementary School - 2100 Glass St., Chattanooga, TN 37406
June 22-28
July 6-12
July 20-26
East Lake Academy of Fine Arts - 2700 E 34th St., Chattanooga, TN 37407
June 22-26
July 6-10
July 20-24
Brainerd High School - 1020 N Moore Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411
June 15-21
June 29-July 5
July 13-19
July 27-Aug. 2
Orchard Knob Elementary School - 2000 E 3rd St., Chattanooga, TN 37404
June 29-July 3
July 13-17
July 27-31