David Cook is the award-winning city columnist for the Times Free Press, working in the same building where he began his post-college career as a sportswriter for the Chattanooga Free Press. Cook, who graduated from Red Bank High, holds a master's degree in Peace and Justice Studies from Prescott College and an English degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. For 12 years, he was a teacher at the middle, high school and university levels. A Marshall Memorial Fellow, Cook published in magazines (The Sun, Utne Reader, Geez), academic journals, an anthology on homelessness ("Personal Struggles, Professional Lives: Ethics and Advocacy in Research on Homelessness" — Lexington Press) and an anthology on grandparents and grandchildren ("Grandparenting with Heart" — North Atlantic).
Years ago, I read Rod Dreher's "The Benedict Option," which calls for Christians to intentionally withdraw from 21st century society.
by David CookI remember the Confederama. And touring battlefields in grade school, big yellow buses parked beside huge rows of wooden, rampart-like fencing. We ate sack lunches and played tag near the graves of thousands.
by David CookEarlier this summer, my wife and I spent a lovely morning with Ann Brown, a retired librarian who lives on Lookout Mountain with husband Howard.
by David CookIn these Afghanistan-collapsing, Ida-wrecking, COVID-killing days, I've been trying to focus on something, well, different.
by David CookOn Thursday, Sept. 16, the Ed Johnson Memorial Dedication begins, lasting four days, with more than a dozen events: a courthouse church service, discussions with Eddie Glaude Jr., Jon Meacham, artist Jerome Meadows, panels, lectures, walking tours and Sunday's memorial dedication.
by David CookThe man in line at the feed store was buying three tubes of ivermectin, a horse dewormer.
by David CookPaul McDaniel was 14 or 15 when he took a job working for a white boss.
by David CookThe new Tennessee law forbidding the teaching of critical race theory — passed in May, now affecting thousands of state teachers and students — seems to be written by white men who have little understanding of race or education.
by David CookOn Friday, there were 50 Tennessee children hospitalized because of COVID-19, according to state data.
by David CookJaLonnie Mack was 15 and pregnant with nowhere to turn. Then, she found Baby University.
by David CookIn the late '80s and early '90s, public and private forces aligned to create a series of economic and cultural changes so profound, people all over the world took note. Some even called it a renaissance.
by David CookIt is time to undo the school system merger.
by David CookIn February, Get Vaccinated Chattanooga held its first free vaccine clinic, and 880 people came.
by David CookMy soul, what a life.
by David CookLakweshia Ewing remembers decades ago, sitting at the elementary school lunch table as her friend — the preacher's daughter — was talking about the church van that got stolen. All her classmates were nodding, yes, how awful, how bad.
by David CookTen days ago, local police arrested a 13-year-old for shooting a 14-year-old.
by David CookThere was a shooting Wednesday night. According to local media, both victim and suspect were children.
by David CookSome years ago, Ric Morris was driving downtown. Morris is a dark-skinned Black man. He was driving a Mercedes. Used, not new.
by David CookDon't call them selfish.
by David CookThe big political headline last week: US Rep. Liz Cheney lost her leadership position in Congress.
by David Cook