Thanksgiving might not be a worldwide festivity, but on Thursday it was a holiday that united hundreds of people to celebrate the area’s diversity.
A buffet of red beans and rice, hummus and pita chips, and German meatballs was a small sample of the different cultures and backgrounds represented at the city’s first Diversity Thanksgiving, an event organized by the American Diversity Report.
The night began with a parade of nations at the Volkswagen Academy Conference Center where children and adults carried flags from around the world, from India to Germany to Mexico and Israel.
“The goal was to bring together the community of corporate and internationals and locals and to show the global village we are and to allow people to have a voice and participate who otherwise wouldn’t be participating,” said Deborah Levine, editor of the American Diversity Report.
The event, attended by about 400 people, included Indian dances, choir performances in English and Spanish and poetry readings. Throughout the evening attendees could enter the Jewish Federation’s Sukkah — a temporary hut used during the festival of Sukkot celebrating the harvest.
Bright School was announced as the winner of the Diversity Thanksgiving Youth Video contest, in which participants were charged with making a video that showcased diversity.
For Volkswagen, the event is part of the company’s commitment to diversity, said Hans-Herbert Jagla, executive vice president for human resources at the Chattanooga plant.
“My personal belief is that every company should recognize diversity because we have only one world,” he said.
“In my experiences and my personal life, you can always have the best perspectives if you recognize and talk to all the people you can meet,” he added.
Linda Pettigrew, a grief counselor, and Sylvia Wygoda, a retired executive director of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, admired Komal Patri’s Indian dance from the back row.
“There are people from all walks of life, families, small children here,” said Pettigrew of the event. She grew up in rural Indiana but moved to Florida in her late 20s and has lived in Chattanooga for 15 years.
“Peace starts one-on-one, people getting to know each other; it has to start one-on-one in our community, as well,” she said.
Wygoda, who is Jewish and was born and raised in Chattanooga, said she’s pleasantly surprised at how the city has changed.
“It has made us a better community,” she said.
Perla Trevizo joined the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 2007 and covers immigration/diversity issues and higher education. She holds a master’s degree in newswire journalism from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid, Spain, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas. In 2011 she participated in the Bringing Home the World international reporting fellowship program sponsored by the International Center for Journalists, producing a series on Guatemalan immigrants for which she ...
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How diverse are we, really? How many of these diverse individuals have invited others of another race, nationality, religion, class into their homes, or will even speak to someone in passing who is of another race, class, religion nationality? We can all put on a good show when the cameras are rolling. But how are we really when the cameras, picture taking and reporters go away? How many homeless people do we take time to just speak to in passing? How many young men with dreadlocks, cornrolls and saggy pants do we take time to hold a conversation with? Or are you the guilty one who grab your purse a little tighter, cross over the other side of the streat, and make sure to check and see if that concealed weapon is still strapped to your hip? Answer those, then decide just how diverse Chattanooga really is.
You're absolutely right amnesti, but I don't think personal cooperation is included in the literal definition of the word: diverse.
It is very disappointing when those who would be friendly to passers by of any ethnic origin or social or cultural sect are shunned and ignored.
Though you mention the homeless and my thoughts go straight to auqualung, and good jam and a tear jerker of a story.
On the other hand, there's nothing worse than and badly told lie, leading into a request for money.
If you're hungry I'll buy you a meal, if your thirsty just ask and there's usually a place near by we can get a quick drink. Heck, I'll even buy you a beer and some smokes! But cash only helps buy to more crack, and the cause of the problem to begin with is bad decision making with cash... so "no cash for you!" (like the soup-nazi from sienfeld) Is what I would say to many (not all) of the "askers" that you speak of amnesti.
Also, you mention the reflex of self preservation as a bad thing?
When I was a kid, growing up in a large-animal clinic taught me that if you don't want to be food... don't act like food. That applies to animals and humans (animals in denial), and also applies to other situations as well.
Let me tell you, if I am walking downtown with a young lady, and I sense desperation in an approach'er... you had better believe that I will immediately give off an extremely "dangerous hormonal male" smell to send the message that we are not easily taken prey.
amnestiUSAF84 you are either the most naive person in the City is the most foolish. What an idiotic post. If you are visiting the downtown Chattanooga area you don’t have to make the effort to approach a homeless person, rest assured they will certainly approach you...and beg for drinking money. Approach a group of young males in Coolidge park at night? Sure just get ready to hand over your wallet or get shot. What kind of foolish dream world do you live in? Do you ever get out of your house? Or do you just sit behind your keyboard all day thinking this junk up that you post?
fedup350, I'm out and about, interacting {especially with out young} and socializing more than you apparently. You're so filled with hatred it's only a matter of time before you implode.
Why don't you come down from your ivory tower for once. You're such a bitter and hate filled person. I've been in downtown Chattanooga on numerous occasions and I've never been approached by a homeless person asking for money. Although, I've occasionally approaced and few myself and offered something.
Here's a suggestion if a homeless person approached yoy, Do what I do when one of those teabaggers come knocking at the door asking someone to sign a petition. JUST SAY NO!
Many of those young men you're condemning have more class in their pinky finger than you have in your entire body.
amnestiUSAF84 I spend my days downtown every day. Let me say that again, every day. If you claim that you spend time downtown and have never been approached by a homeless person begging for money then you are a flat out liar. My guess is that you live in a ritzy neighborhood and are one of the liberal elites who like to show how special they are by telling everyone else how to act and what is best for them while you yourself don’t follow the same guidelines you set for "the little people" in your mind. Let me say this again, you are a liar in your claims. I bet that you are too scared to go downtown at night let alone approach a group of gangbangers to pass the time of day. If one of them so much as looked at you I bet you would piss your liberal pants. Class you say? I don’t claim to have class, that is something someone like you thinks that only certain people have. What I have is moral character. Something you are obviously lacking in your posts with the lies that you spread. Take your own advise, go downtown at night and make some friends and we will see your name in the crime stats. You are the worst kind of coward; “do as a I say and not as I do” is your motto. Sure go downtown, your utopia only exists in your in feeble little mind.
fedup, why are you such a bitter person? Did someone pee in your cornflakes over and over?
We all already know what images come to mind when the word "gang" pops up. The image is that of a young African-American male, with or without dreadlocks, cornrolls and saggy pants. But can you really tell who is isn't a potential gangbanger just by looking at someone and their ethnic, racial makeup and where they live? Please tell the rest of us what's your definition of a gangbanger.
I've known many, but very few fit the discription you're likely to go by. Yet you quickly call everyone a racist who doesn't agree with you. What's even sadder is I and others suspect you're black yourself. A case of black on black racism? We've been told by our African-American friends and family of the class racism that runs rampant in the African-American community that keeps many from uplifting themselves. Explain to the rest of us pale skins.
To macro pee tal, Oh so you and "others" don’t like it when I post huh? That’s really funny. The thing is, I said gang bangers. I didn’t describe them, you and amnestiUSAF84 did. I go out of my way to avoid any racial stereotyping but you and "others" constantly bring up race, you constantly try to promote racial animosity and then you call me a racist. Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black (so to speak). Then you get offended because “others” and me show you what racist you really are. You can be a racist and be black. You and "others" prove it every time you post. Go back and read my posts. I always call people out when they show their racial bias. So you and others “suspect” I am black? Again race trumps everything to you and “others”. What does it matter if I am black or white or red or brown? It only matters in your bigoted little brains. You and your “others” are as bad as any klansmen. Oh and I had cheerios with milk this morning...
To macro pee tal: My definition of a gangbanger, any group of people, race doesn’t matter, that use fear and intimidation and violence to achieve their goals, Criminal activity and lack of respect for the law or for other people is the trademark of gangbangers. Gangbangers in my book are all colors, white, brown, black, yellow, gangs exit in every race. . So from your posts I assume that you and amestiusaf84 think that gangbangers are, in your words: “young men with dreadlocks, cornrolls and saggy pants”. Sounds like you two are stereotyping black people. Shame on you!
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