Jay GreesonOn Friday, one of the most recognizable black men in the country was meeting with Donald Trump. No, not that one.
Ubiquitous celebrity Steve Harvey, who hosts a national radio show and the ever-loved game show "Family Feud," met with the president-elect.
"I came and talked to the guy who's going to be the 45th president of the United States," Harvey told reporters Friday. "[We spoke about] housing for urban development [to] bring some positive change in the inner cities. He wants to do something. He realizes he needs some allies in that department. He seemed really sincere about it."
Here's hoping this leads us in two directions.
First, maybe Harvey's example - he is a well-respected member of the black community, which has been less than thrilled with Barack Obama's replacement - can signify a step forward for those uneasy about the next four years.
Secondly, here's hoping that at some time - be it in the next four weeks or four-plus years from now - Harvey can bridge the gap and we can have a "First Family Feud" featuring the Obamas and the Trumps.
Man, that would be sweet.
First question from Harvey: Who is the worst president ever?
Obama and Trump, simultaneously hitting the buzzer at the same time and pointing at each other: "That guy."
Survey says
Superstitious day for sure
Friday was the 13th.
This was a black mark day - the calendar equivalent of breaking a mirror or walking under a ladder - for a lot of us in a certain generation.
And that's OK. There are a lot of fun things about being a teenager and being scared at imaginary things. Add in the Jason Voorhees character from the roughly 1,206 "Friday the 13th" movies made through the years, and well, there you go.
(Side note: Maybe it's time or simply timing, but the scary silliness on movie screens a generation ago is nowhere near as scary as the complete silliness on computer screens of today. And yes, turn your music down and get off our porch.)
With that, however, we have to say kudos to the social media folks who, a week from President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, have offered this sentiment:
"This may be the first Friday 13th ever that is not as scary as the Friday following it."
Saturday's stars
As a parent, the only thing that truly scares me is my kids in danger.
With that caveat, let's celebrate the meeting of the minds and powers that be who convened at Erlanger hospital on Wednesday to come up with better ways to deal with gun violence and how it affects our children.
Dr. Dave Bhattacharya, a pediatric surgeon at Children's Hospital, led the group through the presentation, and this paper's Shelly Bradbury was there.
"Is your child immunized? Does your child wear a seat belt? And do you have a firearm in your home?" Bhattacharya said, according to Bradbury. "I think those questions all go together."
These are great talking points, and the bigwigs in attendance certainly deserve recognition for their attention to what has become a disturbing public health threat.
Chattanooga police Chief Fred Fletcher was there, along with members of his leadership team. Members of the school system administration, including Jill Levine, were there. Dr. Allen Coffman, who last September was named the state's pediatrician of the year by the Tennessee American Academy of Pediatrics, and several other medical professionals were there.
Hopefully, this type of group effort will be as beneficial as it is admirable.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343.