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Access to black male achievement program lowered student dropout rates, Stanford-led study finds — Page 3 Week of Nov. 13, 2019

| Vol. 38 | No. 51 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SOUTH SUBURBAN

State Representative Robert Rita (pictured right) recently spoke at an Appropriations-Human Services Committee hearing to discuss the importance of taking immediate action to transform the newly closed MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island into a free-standing emergency center. Photo Credit: Provided by the Office of State Representative Robert Rita

STATE LEGISLATORS PUSH FOR FUNDING TO REOPEN CLOSED SOUTH SUBURBAN MEDICAL CENTER During a recent Appropriations-Human Services Committee hearing, members of the committee discussed new legislation that would provide funding to reopen the building that was home to MetroSouth Medical Center, 12935 S. Gregory St., in Blue Island and turn it into a free-standing emergency center. PAGE 2

BUSINESS Fight to Fame Brings on Roy Jones Jr. as an Ambassador PAGE 4

ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR

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Celebrate the Holiday Season at Millennium Park Campus with Holiday Traditions

New Indie Pop/Rock Artist “Ebie” Releases Official Single and Officially Detaches Herself from Her Father Eazy-E’s Shadow

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2 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

NEWS briefly EDUCATION

NIOSH PARTNERS WITH AMERICA ACHIEVES TO PREPARE THE FUTURE WORKFORCE WITH COMPETENCIES FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY EMPLOYMENT The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has partnered with America Achieves, a not-for-profit organization focusing on education-to-workforce issues, to promote young worker safety and health. Through this collaboration, NIOSH and America Achieves have included materials that address foundational, workplace safety and health competencies related to hazard identification and hazard control strategies in a recently released version of Quest for Success, a new, innovative career exploration course for high school students to learn about and prepare for jobs of the future. “Ensuring that future jobs are also safe and healthy jobs is critical to ensuring the health and wellbeing of the workforce,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “NIOSH is pleased to partner with America Achieves to work together to prepare future generations of workers with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe at work through an innovative career readiness resource.” Any educator, school, or school system in the world can access the Quest for Success curriculum free-ofcharge at: www.americaachievesednetworks.org/questfor-success.

State Legislators Push for Funding To Reopen Closed South Suburban Medical Center Continued from page 1 BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

During a recent Appropriations-Human Services Committee hearing, members of the committee discussed new legislation that would provide funding to reopen the building that was home to MetroSouth Medical Center, 12935 S. Gregory St., in Blue Island and turn it into a free-standing emergency center. If the legislation passes, the transformation of MetroSouth Medical Center, which recently closed after months of pushback from the community and local legislators, would be made possible through roughly $8 million in state funding. “There is no plan for that building and that’s the point of starting this conversation. This is just the start of a plan or a model to use but we have to start somewhere and we can’t just keep waiting to hear about the community impact from the next closure,” said State Rep. Robert Rita (D- Blue Island). Representative Rita has been a fierce

leader in the fight to keep MetroSouth Medical Center open and now that it has effectively stopped all services and been approved for closure by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, Rita is looking at how to reopen the building as a free-standing emergency room for the community. “If you look at the whole Southland area, this is going to have a tremendous impact as we go forward and we have to think about who’s going to be next,” said Rita. “The answer is not to just keep throwing money at these hospitals to keep them standing up, we should be looking at what services each hospital offers and how can they work together to share resources and create transfer agreements for the services they are providing in all these areas.” Rita went on to say that if nothing is done to unite the medical community in the Greater Southland Region, it will cause inequalities based on who has easier access to medical services. “What’s going to happen is you’re going to have a major divide of the haves and

have-nots,” said Rita. The Illinois legislation that is being considered would allow state funding that was already approved to be used for hospital transformation, through the state’s Hospital Assessment Program, to be used to transform the MetroSouth Medical Center building. “These dollars were already allocated to this area for transformation, and this is transformation, and that’s my argument. We can always change this idea if there is a better plan or a better way of approaching this but I believe this is a pretty solid way of moving forward,” said Rita. The bill is currently up for consideration by the Illinois senate and will soon undergo another vote. If the legislation passes in the Senate it will go on to be approved by Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker. “We need to do something because otherwise, that building is just going to sit there until spring and by the time we get to May what is going to happen? I am asking that we move this forward and continue to move this forward,” said Rita.

HEALTH

NEW UNITEDHEALTHCARE BENEFIT FOR LOW BACK PAIN HELPS REDUCE INVASIVE PROCEDURES AND ADDRESS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC UnitedHealthcare has introduced a new benefit for people with acute low back pain that makes it more affordable to: • access physical therapy and chiropractic care • help improve health outcomes • reduce costs and; • avoid often unnecessary invasive treatments and opioid prescriptions “This new benefit design may help encourage people with low back pain to get the right care at the right time and in the right setting, helping expand access to evidence-based and more affordable treatments,” said Anne Docimo, M.D., UnitedHealthcare chief medical officer.

LAW & POLITICS

DURBIN, DUCKWORTH, BUSTOS ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION FOR QUAD CITIES TO CHICAGO AMTRAK RAIL PROJECT FUNDING US. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), recently announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an extension for $177 million in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding for the Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline until December 31, 2024. In June, the members sent a letter to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao that urged DOT to extend the deadline for Illinois to use the $177 million in FRA funding that was secured in Fiscal Year 2010. After being encouraged by negotiations regarding the scope of the project, the members sent another letter in October and again urged for an extension of this crucial funding. “Today’s announcement gives local communities in the Quad Cities the certainty needed to plan ahead for the new passenger rail service. After years of unnecessary delay, Senator Duckworth, Representative Bustos, and I have pushed hard to make Amtrak in the Quad Cities a reality. The future of this critical Illinois transportation project looks bright,” Durbin said.

Eight South Suburban High School Students Pass Advanced Placement Art & Design Exam BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Eight students from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills recently found out that they passed the Advanced Placement (AP) Art & Design exam. The exam scores students from one to five with five being the highest score and three being the minimum for passing. One student, Jennifer Soto, became the first student in Hillcrest High School history to receive a five on the exam. “I’ve been teaching AP Art & Design for the past nine years and the AP Art & Design exam is part of the College Board college entrance exams that high school students can take. If they pass the AP Art & Design exam with a score of three to five, then they’re able to earn college credit,” said Jamilah Adebesin-Mason, fine arts teacher at Hillcrest High School. “Basically, they are being tested on college-level material that they are being taught in the classroom and it gets the students ready for college-level work.” Students prepare for the exam all year by building up a portfolio of their best work to

Jennifer Soto (pictured) recently became the first Hillcrest Highschool student to receive a 5, the highest possible score, on the Advanced Placement Art & Design Exam. Photo Credit: Provided by Jamilah Adebesin-Mason

submit to be graded. Adebesin-Mason said that she recommends certain students take the exam who have been committed to advancing their art skills during their time in high school and those who she thinks are uniquely talented and interested

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in pursuing art in college. “I usually handpick the students and I specifically pick kids who have done at least three years worth of art because at that point, a lot of students have built up their technique or sometimes there

are some kids who just have raw talent and I pick them because I know that they’ll be able to contribute something great to that exam,” said Adebesin-Mason. “For the entire school year, the students work on building up their portfolio in a specific way where they are showing growth in something that they’re studying.” Adebesin-Mason described Soto as being one of her students with “raw artistic talent.” “The whole thing is just beyond me and it’s an incredible feeling. I graduated from Hillcrest High School and to be able to come back to the school and help students to achieve something of this magnitude is huge for me. A lot of times it can be like pulling teeth to get my students to actually take the exam,” said Adebesin-Mason. “I tell them that it’s not even about the score, it’s about the process of building up their own artwork and going through the struggle. There is a lot of pain that goes into getting this work done, both emotional and physical, but when they get it done and they have all the artwork with them, it changes them as a person.”

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

NEWS

Access to black male achievement program lowered student dropout rates, Stanford-led study finds Nearly 10 years ago, school leaders in Oakland, California, launched the first district-level initiative of its kind in the nation: a program targeted exclusively to black male high schoolers that was a part of their regular classes during the school day. Taught by black male instructors, the “Manhood Development” course emphasizes social-emotional learning, African and African American history and academic mentoring, drawing on culturally relevant teaching methods to counter stereotypes and create a stronger sense of community and belonging in school. A new study led by Thomas S. Dee, a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE), provides the first evidence that access to the program significantly reduced the number of black males who dropped out of high school. The study found smaller reductions in the number of black females who dropped out as well, suggesting a possible spillover effect. As hundreds of communities across the country invest in similarly targeted programs as part of the national “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative introduced by former President Barack Obama in 2014, the study provides leading evidence supporting the promise of these investments. “Many historically marginalized students experience schools as highly alienating spaces,” said Dee. “The targeted design of this program, and the evidence of its impact, challenges us to radically reconsider how we think about promoting equity in education.” The findings were published in a working paper on Oct. 21 by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The study is also available on the website of the Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis at the GSE. An effort to counter trends The Manhood Development course is the centerpiece of the African American Male Achievement (AAMA) program, launched by the Oakland Unified School District in 2010. The program created a new model for a targeted curriculum by offering classes specifically for black male students

during the school day, rather than episodic or extracurricular programming. Initially available to ninth graders in three Oakland high schools, the program soon expanded to serve students at higher grades in all nine of the district’s regular, comprehensive (not alternative) high schools. The classes, which meet daily, include units such as “The Emotional Character of Manhood,” “The Struggle for Liberation and Dignity” and “The Black Male Image in American Media.” Students also participate in community-based projects, such as oral histories of black residents in Oakland, and field trips that expose them to colleges and careers. A district review in 2010, when the program began, documented high rates of absenteeism, dropout and suspension among black male students at Oakland Unified. Though black males made up 16 percent of the student population, they represented 42 percent of suspensions annually. Roughly 20 percent of black male students were chronically absent across all grade levels, and 55 percent of black males were off-course from graduating on time, compared with 37 percent of students in the district overall. “We know that failing to complete high school has dramatic, long-term economic consequences,” said Dee, the Barnett Family Professor of Education at the GSE, a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and faculty director of the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. “It’s catastrophic for success in the labor market. It implies worse health outcomes, lower levels of civic engagement and increased likelihood of being imprisoned. Completing high school and being college- and career-ready is fundamentally important for almost any dimension of human welfare you can identify.” Increasing the graduation rate Using enrollment and dropout data from the California Department of Education, Dee and his coauthor, Emily K. Penner – a former postdoctoral fellow at the GSE, now an assistant professor

A new study shows that access to an achievement program targeted to black male students lowered high school dropout rates.

of education at the University of California, Irvine – found that access to the AAMA program significantly reduced the number of students who dropped out of Oakland Unified schools, particularly in ninth grade. In the average pre-AAMA school-grade cohort of about 61 black males, access to the program reduced the number who dropped out over the next year by 43 percent, from about five students to three. Meanwhile, between the graduating classes of 2010 and 2018, the high school graduation rate for black males in Oakland schools increased from 46 to 69 percent – a gain that exceeded districtwide improvement by about 3 percentage points. The researchers also found evidence of smaller but statistically significant reductions in the dropout counts of black females: When the program became available in a certain school and grade level, the number of black female students who returned to school the following year increased by 1.8 percentage points. “Evidence has shown when some students improve, their peers will also improve,” Dee said. Taking a targeted approach In 2014, several years after Oakland Unified launched the AAMA program, Obama introduced My Brother’s Keeper, a national public-private partnership supporting mentorship and educational programs for young men of color. Nearly 250 communities from all 50 states have committed to the initiative, now run by the

Obama Foundation. The AAMA and My Brother’s Keeper programs adopt an approach known as targeted universalism, which takes into account that while certain goals may be universal – such as preparing young people to graduate from high school and pursue a career or further education – students from different backgrounds have different levels of access to resources and opportunities. Instead of pursuing the same strategies for all students, a targeted approach addresses the varying needs and circumstances of different groups. “The idea of America as a melting pot is not the experience for many people in this country,” said Dee. “These initiatives are compelling schools to reconceive how they engage diversity – with very specifically targeted interventions to help students feel affirmed and respected, where they have a voice and a community with shared experiences and shared cultural reference points.” Designing a curriculum around individual social identities represents a new and controversial direction for educational policy, but this study suggests that targeted universalism is worthy of serious consideration and further research, Dee said. “More generally, it also provides new quantitative evidence showing that educational practices that make students feel valued and critically engaged are an effective – and comparatively affordable – way to unlock students’ learning potential.” Support for this research was provided by the Raikes Foundation and the Mindset Scholars Network.

Job Seekers Hired On-the-Spot at Congresswoman Kelly’s 7th Annual Hiring Event

In October, several job seekers walked away with jobs at Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly’s annual hiring event at the Lan-Oak Park District in Lansing, IL.

In October, several job seekers were surprised to walk away with jobs at Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly’s annual hiring event at the Lan-Oak Park District in Lansing, IL. “We’re thrilled to learn that employers hired some people immediately at the job fair,” said Kelly, who represents Illinois’ 2nd congressional district. “Every year, we’re impressed by the high caliber of hard-working people within the district attending the job fair. Obviously, employers saw their talent as well and did not hesitate to hire them,” she stated. “We have a very good track record of employers hiring job seekers from my previous hiring events, but this is the first time we’ve had immediate hires,” Kelly noted. “It’s always a pleasure to connect my constituents with quality employers representing a wide

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range of industries.” The annual event, in its 7th year, featured more than 60 companies and agencies with active job openings, including FedEx Ground, Nucor Steel, BMO Harris Bank, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Prior to the Hiring Event, Congresswoman Kelly hosted a free Job Readiness Boot Camp in Calumet City, where instructors from the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership taught job-seekers interview skills, how to prepare a resume and strategies to successfully navigate hiring events. Congresswoman Kelly hosts a Hiring Event every year in October and an annual Youth Job Fair and Resource Expo each April.

4 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

BUSINESS

Fight to Fame Brings on Roy Jones Jr. as an Ambassador

Roy Jones Jr. Joins Fight to Fame

Fight to Fame, an entertainment platform with the aim to create new movie stars from the fighting industry recently announced that Roy Jones Jr. has joined fellow world class fighters Chris Van Heerden, Rigan Machado, and Prince Badi Ajamu as one of Fight to Fame’s ambassadors. The ambassadors are expected to guide the new blockchain technology company in the right direction while drumming up support from upcoming fighters. Fight to Fame’s global boxing ambassador, Roy Jones Jr., is one of the success stories in the boxing space. Jones is a former professional boxer who has also worked as an actor, boxing trainer, boxing commentator, and rapper. Roy Jones Jr. was born in the United States in 1969 and comes from a family of boxers. His father, Roy Jones Sr., was a middleweight boxer who received a Bronze Star for valor for rescuing a fellow soldier in the Vietnam War. As an amateur boxer, Roy Jones Jr. won a number of accolades including the 1984 United States National Junior Olympics, the US 1986 National Golden Gloves, and the US National Golden Gloves in 1987. He completed his amateur career with an impressive 121-13 record, comparable to other boxing greats such as Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya, and Pernell Whitaker. He enjoys being the only boxing champion to have held seven golden belts including the IBA, IBF, IBO, NBA, WBA, WBC, and WBF titles. Roy Jones Jr. was named Fighter of the Decade for the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America while

the Ring Magazine named him the Fighter of the Year in 1994. He won the Best Boxer ESPY Award on three occasions (1996, 2000, and 2003). At his best, Jones Jr. was known for his great hand speed, movement, athleticism, and reflexes. He won 12 unified light heavyweight title bouts, which by 2018, stood as a record for the most wins in the fighting industry. Are these Fight to Fame ambassadors useful to the business? Companies hire advisors for many different reasons. Fight to Fame has brought on ambassadors with experience in several fighting styles. This means a number of things such as adding credibility to Fight to Fame, which is looking to bring blockchain, movies, and sports under one roof. According to a press release, their expertise is valuable to the company because they provide a knowledgeable perspective that is hard to get elsewhere. The ambassadors also have connections that will come in handy to Fight to Fame and help upcoming fighters join reality tv shows and become movie action stars. In addition to the above ambassadors, there are also famous Hollywood film/TV producers, directors, screenwriters, famous international event promoters, and famous international financial law experts on the Fight to Fame team. Fight to Fame ranges from signing sports athletes to hosting action star reality shows and starring in Hollywood action movies.

Jobs Report: Employment Growth Stronger Than Expected The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 128,000 in October. According to a press release from The Conference Board, this is a stronger than expected gain given the negative impact from the GM strike, which probably lowered overall employment by more than 50,000. The numbers for August and September were significantly revised up. The Board added that the main message from the recent report is that the current trend in employment growth is higher than expected and is probably in the 150,000-200,000 range, also stating that with such solid employment growth, consumer spending is likely to remain strong into the holiday season and keep the US economy growing despite cautious spending by businesses. The Federal Reserve has fewer reasons to keep lowering interest rates in such an economic environment. The current employment growth is more than enough to continue tightening the www.citizennewspapergroup.com

WITH SUCH SOLID EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, CONSUMER SPENDING IS LIKELY TO REMAIN STRONG INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND KEEP THE US ECONOMY GROWING DESPITE CAUTIOUS SPENDING BY BUSINESSES. labor market and drawing more people from the sidelines, which will continue to improve the labor market conditions of under-represented demographic groups, the Board continued. The Conference Board is a member-driven think tank that delivers insights for what’s ahead. Founded in 1916, it is a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. For more information, visit www.conference-board.org.

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CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

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Gun violence told through the voices of the Chicagoans who live it. Noemi’s story:

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FIRSTHAND is a multiplatform initiative from WTTW, in partnership with The Trace. FIRSTHAND: Gun Violence is presented, in part, by The Grainger Foundation, Allstate Insurance Company, The Chicago Community Trust, and the Marc and Jeanne Malnati Family Foundation. Major support is also provided by Ann and Rich Carr, Lew Collens, Denny and Sandy Cummings, Jim and Kay Mabie, Sonia T. Marschak, and Rande and Cary McMillan. As of 10/21/19.

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6 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

Hazel Crest Mayor Alsberry Celebrates Birthday With A Fundraiser At Idlewild Country Club Photos by A&D Photography

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CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

NEWS

Affordable DIY Projects to Transform Your Home StatePoint - Transformative home renovations don’t need to be complicated, nor do they need to cost an arm and a leg. There are plenty of affordable DIY projects you can do in a weekend to add beauty to your home’s indoor and outdoor spaces. Here are a few to consider: • Instant Ambiance: Most often associated with party decor, string lighting hung above back patios and decks can be used to create everyday ambiance. As for how to string the lights, the possibilities are endless. You may prefer taut, clean lines, slack zig-zags or concentric circles. Just be sure to use weatherproof lighting designed to withstand the elements. • Stone Patio: A drab concrete patio, pool deck, garage floor or walkway can be an eyesore. Whether your concrete is older and looking stressed, shedding its latest coat of paint, slippery, stained -- or new, but just gray and lifeless, there’s a very easy way to spruce things up that doesn’t require replacing the materials or involving a contractor. With a pre-mixed, factory-tinted stone coating system, such as the patent-pending SpreadStone Decorative Concrete Resurfacing Kit, just about anyone can add authentic stone character to any concrete floor or wall. It not only boosts aesthetics, but also adds traction for safer walking surfaces. The real stone coating performs well in all

There are plenty of affordable DIY projects you can do in a weekend to add beauty to your home’s indoor and outdoor spaces.

climates, standing up to water, snow, salt, UV exposure and extreme cold and heat. “The best part? Application is fast and simple and you don’t need to be an artist to achieve great results,” says renovation expert, James Carey, co-host of “On the House,” a national home improvement show.

• Mount Shelving: Installing floating shelves onto otherwise bare walls adds coziness to living spaces while creating smart storage. The lightweight, easy-to-install Ambrosia Maple Rustic Mantel Shelf from Ornamental Mouldings & Millwork is a good choice, as it can be used as either a stand-alone floating shelf or

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fireplace mantel, and can be left as-is or stained to complement other elements in the room. • Stone Countertops: Have you always wanted real stone countertops but didn’t want to spend thousands on a complete remodel? You can now roll a new stone surface over any existing countertop made of laminate, cultured marble, concrete, wood, tile and other solid surface with the high-performance SpreadStone Mineral Select Countertop Refinishing Kit from Daich Coatings. Available in 10 colors, all of which feature mineral accents and highlights found in natural mined rock, the proprietary stone technology gives an elegant, environmentally-friendly facelift to surfaces in kitchens, bathrooms and other home interiors. “If you can use a roller and paintbrush, you can create a new stone surface using this product,” says Peter Daich, president of Daich Coatings. “It’s an affordable, simple alternative to putting in a new stone slab and looks just as great.” Unfortunately, there are many homeowners who avoid desired renovations, assuming that in order to make a true impact, they’ll need a huge budget and a lot of time. The truth is that there are transformative DIY updates you can execute affordably in just one weekend.

8 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

New Indie Pop/Rock Artist “Ebie” Releases Official Single and Officially Detaches Herself from Her Father Eazy-E’s Shadow An American Los Angeles based artist who became popular as a “Young Hollywood” socialite in the L.A. music scene at just 16 years old, Ebie soon after became a talent of MTV and spent the rest of her teen years doing a plethora of MTV shows and specials that quickly thrusted her into the spotlight in 60 countries around the world. EBIE captivates with this mesmerizing and heart-felt record titled “Heart Hurts” that sounds like it’s something out of a Hollywood blockbuster feature like “Fifty Shades Of Grey.” Ebie captivates you with her distinct tone that has a warmth angelic feel to the ear, yet a deep emotional undertone that creates her signature dark and compelling pop vocals. Heavily influenced and deeply rooted from a music background from both her father Eazy-E and a family of musicians on her mother Tracy Jernagin’s side, she was inspired at a young age by her favorite artists Pink, Avril Lavigne, and Gwen Stefani. Ebie’s music has been most compared to

Ellie Goulding and Halsey. Early released songs by Ebie included “What I Wanna Do” Produced by Grammy Award Winning Producer/Songwriter “Detail” (Beyonce’s Drunk In Love and 7/11) showcased more of her Pop/Rock sound and then a few years later, she teamed up with famed Hip-Hop Producer “Sonny Digital” and released “Girl Crush” that allowed Ebie the creativity to fuse together her smooth and youthful pop vocals on an infectious heavy trap beat. The visuals for both records were creative directed by Ebie and she will also be the creative mind behind the visual for “Heart Hurts.” “Heart Hurts” will be followed up with her EP Project that is not yet titled in January 2020. Instagram: @Ebie Twitter: @ Wewantebie Facebook: Facebook.com/wewantebie Youtube: Youtube.com/wewantebie https://foundation-media.ffm.to/ hearthurts

EBIE (pictured) captivates with this mesmerizing and heart-felt record titled “Heart Hurts” that sounds like it’s something out of a Hollywood blockbuster feature like “Fifty Shades Of Grey.”

COMMENTARY

Black Representation and Appearance in Japanese Pop Culture BY NOAH WASHINGTON NNPA Newswire Pop Culture Contributor

With the release of Netflix’s “Cannon Busters,” we go back to the age-old conversation of representation of African Americans in anime. The most well-known characters in Japanese pop culture have often been represented with European features and fairer skin tones such as Naruto, Ichigo, Luffy, or Spike Spiegel. Even in live-action adaptations, some of these characters have been played by Caucasian actors. Even when there is a Black character written into a storyline, their features are often exaggerated or they are made into a stereotype, most infamously with Mr. Popo of “Dragon Ball” fame; his dark as night skin and big red lips reminiscent of Blackface. This issue extends outside of classic cartoon anime. Japanese video games are also guilty of unequal and stereotypical representation. There are many different types of representation and all of these entertainment companies are missing the mark on all of them. The closest thing we have gotten to a fair and entertaining anime representation is in Aaron Mcgruder’s “The Boondocks.” Yes, I know that The Boondocks is not considered an anime, but it has anime influences, and development by Madhouse Studios made it the closest thing we have

gotten to an enjoyable anime with a predominantly Black-filled cast. Unfortunately though, as much as I enjoyed “The Boondocks” and how it cleverly portrays stereotypes, they are stereotypes nonetheless. “Cannon Busters,” which is a part of Netflix’s anime initiative to bring about more original content was recently released, and I have to say the quality of it and the writing are outstanding. “Cannon Busters,” has all the qualities of a traditional anime, giant mecha’s, over the top protagonists, and a dramatic impossible plot, but I am disappointed with “Cannon Busters” in one aspect. In Episode two of the series, we are introduced to the Gearbolt Empire. “Cannon Buster’s” has Black Warriors, a Black Prince, a Black King and most importantly a Black hero named Odin. I see Odin as a double-edged sword. This presented a chance to show off powerful deities with African origins. There are plenty of gods to choose from in the Yoruba and Egyptian pantheon such as Ogun, Sango, or Horus. On the other side of this problem is the fact that a Black man is depicted as a powerful larger than life figure named Odin who has traditionally looked like a grizzled caucasian male with an eye patch. Video games also have their own role in this dilemma. Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy are two of the most popular video game series and have cemented themselves in American pop culture.

Kingdom Hearts is a joint venture with Disney Interactive and Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts combines the worlds of Final Fantasy and Disney films. The third entry in the Kingdom Hearts series was released early in 2019 and the game overall is good, but yet again another missed opportunity. Several Disney worlds were featured in the game, but the easy slam dunk world that is missing is “The Princess and the Frog.” For some fans of the series, this was a disappointment. Kingdom Hearts is overflowing with the themes of dark vs light, love conquers all, magic (good and bad), and whimsically simple-minded villains such as Dr. Facilier. Even the Bayou would have made a great location for the main characters of Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy to play around in, you could have even turned them into frogs like the design mechanic that was done when the characters went to see Simba from the Lion King in Kingdom Hearts II which visualized them as Lions. Final Fantasy faces a different issue. More than thirteen plus games make up the Final Fantasy series and there has barely been a handful of memorable characters. Barret Wallace and Sazh Katzroy are practically the same characters. They both use guns as their main style of fighting and have operated as comic relief at various points in the main story. Sazh is a mild-mannered character who represents a big problem. Sazh www.citizennewspapergroup.com

himself isn’t a bad character, but it’s what he is carrying around with him constantly: A Chocobo. Chocobo’s are like horses in the Final Fantasy series and to any uninformed viewer, kind of cute, but to the informed it carries the stereotype that Black people love chicken which is an insulting character choice. Barret Wallace, on the other hand, is made to look like a stereotype, a muscled up Black man with a gun (as I previously stated). I hope they treat Barrett a cut above his old self in the Final Fantasy VII remake set to release March 3, 2020. I just want a Black Final Fantasy character that has a slim muscular build who carries around an awe-inspiring sword that one day my kids would want to dress up as for Halloween. Is this an issue of the Japanese studios not interacting enough with people of African heritage or is it a matter of malevolence? We notice the trend of African American stereotypes even outside of Japanese anime and video game culture. In Jordan Peele’s critically acclaimed movie “Get Out.” There is a scene where the main character Chris, played by Daniel Kaluuya is attending a “get together’’ for his girlfriend’s family which is filled with nothing but Caucasian Americans with the exception of a man played by the Japanese actor, Yasuhiko Oyama. On IMDB the character is listed as Hiroki Tanaka, a Japanese name. Is this

a commentary on how Asian Americans are allowed opportunities that African Americans are not? Is this a way for Jordan Peele to say that the Japanese see African people the same way Caucasians do? Or is this a way of saying that the Japanese identify with Caucasian Americans more than the other marginalized and oppressed groups due to their colonization by the English? We as Black nerds are entitled to characters that we can identify with and can show to children for them to take pride in. Growing up I loved Goku, Cloud, and Sora. But it would have been nice to have a stalwart and cool character that I was a kid could look up to that I could identify with that looked like me. The good news is that the release of Marvel’s “Black Panther” brings in a new era of representation that does not have the word “stereotype” anywhere around it. The bad news is that there is not a character of color that stands out in the world of anime like Goku or Naruto. Noah Washington was born in Richmond, VA. Noah has been a black nerd since birth. He is a Media Entrepreneur major at Georgia State University. He loves everything in from “Ant-man” to “Z-Gundam” He has written for the SCADCONNECTOR writing exposés and TV interviews such as NBC’s “New Amsterdam. Follow him on Instagram under Riotboyatl and on Facebook.

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

CALENDAR

Celebrate the Holiday Season at Millennium Park Campus with Holiday Traditions Millennium Park will be the epicenter of holiday cheer in Chicago, featuring your favorite seasonal traditions, Chicago’s official Christmas Tree, ice skating, music, exhibitions, an art market and free family fun. The 106th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 22, at 6pm, featuring music performances, Santa Claus and more. The program will feature Grammy® Awardwinning artist Jonathan Butler who grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, and recently released his second Christmas album, Christmas Together. Also performing will be Cielito Lindo, a modern Latino Mariachi made up of the 9-member Lucero family. Performing the traditional music of Mexico, these 4th generation musicians are passionate about inspiring families to enjoy music, culture and creativity together. Following, rag doll Eleanor and the elves from Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish - The Musical will show off their wrapping and “rapping.” The music performances will be followed by a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus. The evening’s headliner will be the City of Chicago’s 106th Christmas Tree. The Millennium Park Art Market with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College Chicago will feature oneof-a-kind items, including jewelry, fashion, painting, sculpture, prints, drawings and more on sale by more than 150 student artists. Supported by the Millennium Park Foundation, the market offers free admission running November 22 and 23, 11am–7pm and November 25, 11am–5pm in a heated tent on the Chase Promenade North. Winter in Millennium Park is not the same without skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, which will begin the weekend before

Millennium Park will be the epicenter of holiday cheer in Chicago, featuring your favorite seasonal traditions, Chicago’s official Christmas Tree, ice skating, music, exhibitions, an art market and free family fun. The 106th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 22, at 6pm.

the holiday festivities on Friday, November 15, at 11am, with a special program featuring the skaters from the Robert Crown Community Center of Evanston. The rink will be open through March 8, 2020. All are invited to bundle up and belt out holiday classics during Caroling at Cloud Gate located on the park’s iconic Cloud Gate Plaza. The festive series is part concert, part singalong with some of our city’s most entertaining choirs on Fridays from November 29 through December 20 beginning at 6pm. l November 29 - Sounds Good! Choir l December 6 - Mark Hubbard and The Voices

December 13 - Chicago Children’s Choir December 20 - Wicker Park Choral Singers Sugar plum fairies and mouse kings of all ages and dance skills are invited to point their toes to the familiar music of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic at the Dance-Along Nutcracker® on Sunday, December 8. Optional dance lessons at 9am and Noon precede the hour-long participatory performances at 10am and 1pm under the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.). The DanceAlong Nutcracker®, created in 1985, is the property of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay l l

Freedom Band, the world’s first openly gay musical organization. Don’t miss even more family fun and holiday traditions across the Millennium Park Campus. From the Skating Ribbon in Maggie Daley Park to the Wreathing of the Lions at the Art Institute of Chicago on November 29, visit millenniumpark.org for information on events at Maggie Daley Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Lurie Garden, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and the Park Grill. For the complete schedule of events, visit millenniumpark.org

ESSENCE Launches ‘ESSENCE + New Voices Entrepreneur Summit’ to Create Cultural & Economic Hub for Entrepreneurs of Color ESSENCE recently announced the launch of the ESSENCE + New Voices Entrepreneur Summit, taking place Friday, December 13th through Sunday, December 15th at West End Production Park in Atlanta, GA. Designed to support entrepreneurs of color and cultivate increased economic opportunities for Blackowned businesses, this inaugural Summit represents ESSENCE’s commitment to providing these entrepreneurs the access and tools they need to thrive and transform the global economy. As such, the Summit will also include the first-ever ESSENCE x Target Holiday Market, which will be designed as a holiday market to celebrate and support Black-owned

brands and the local community. The 3-day gathering will be a cultural and economic hub for entrepreneurs of color to transact, transform and transcend – helping eliminate barriers to entry by empowering them with a one-of-a-kind summit and marketplace experience. The highly-anticipated ESSENCE + New Voices Entrepreneur Summit will convene today’s leading executives, business moguls, and venture capitalists for masterclasses, panel discussions, and fireside chats, as well as a pitch competition. The New Voices Foundation, which helps women of color entrepreneurs achieve their vision through leadership development, skills-building, and networking opportunities, currently

has more than 10,000 women of color entrepreneurs on its platform. The Foundation has hosted six pitch competitions across the country since July 2018 and will host its first pitch competition in Atlanta during the Summit. The Foundation will grant up to $100,000 in award money to Black women entrepreneurs during the New Voices Pitch Competition and will provide its signature support services including mentorship, coaching and masterclasses to help the winners address some of their immediate business challenges beyond capital. The jam-packed weekend will also include the ESSENCE x Target Holiday Market, a festive experience where guests can explore themed www.citizennewspapergroup.com

curations with more than 50 vendors and shop Black-owned businesses across industries and categories for all their holiday gifting needs. Target will also feature a curated assortment of products from its Black-owned business vendors. Important partners in helping Target meet its goals of increasing its number of certified diverse suppliers, their products help meet the needs of all Target guests while celebrating a diverse array of backgrounds, style and creativity. In addition to interactive and customized activities for the entire family, live musicians and bands, and local food trucks, vendor highlights for the Holiday Market include: - Beauty Village: Haircare, Skin-

care, Makeup, How-to Holiday Glam Sessions - Kids Village: Clothing, Gifts, Books, Toys, Photo Booth, Santa - Wellness Village: Fitness, Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality products and services - Fashion Village: Fashion Designers, Clothing, Jewelry, Wearable Accessories - Food Village: Various Cuisines, Baked Goods, Demonstrations by Celebrated Chefs For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.essence.com/ market-summit For information on how to become a Marketplace vendor, visit www.essence.com/holidayvendor

10 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

Staying Digitally And Socially

Connected To Us Canâ€™t Get Any Easier. . If you miss us in print, you can find us here:

www.thechicagocitizen.com www.citizennewspapergroup.com Publisher Of The: * Chatham-Southeast Citizen * Hyde Park Citizen

* South End Citizen * South Suburban Citizen

* Chicago Weekend Citizen * Citizen Suburban Times Weekly

Let Us Help You Tell Your Story. . . If You Have A News Story Idea That You Would Like To See In The Citizen Let Us Hear About It. Email editiorial@thechicagocitizen.com. Email Us Us At:At: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.com

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

CLASSIFIEDS BIDS

HELP WANTED

Barnard Soletanche Bessac JV (BSB) An Equal Opportunity Employer Requests subcontractor bids from qualified WBE/MBE Subcontractors and Suppliers for: Design-Build Services South Airfield Consolidation O’Hare International Airport OWNER: City of Chicago BID DATE: December 6 th , 2019 at 4:00 PM (CST) BID ITEMS: Earthwork/Excavation; Asphalt Paving; Site Security; Traffic Control; Office Maintenance; Materials Testing; Rebar Furnish & Install; Concrete Ready-Mix; Concrete Pipe; Preconstruction & Post-Construction Surveys; Environmental Consulting; Tunnel & amp; Site Survey; Geotechnical Instrumentation and Monitoring; Erosion & Sediment Control; Site Restoration; Muck Disposal; Reservoir Wall Support; Geotechnical Instrumentation & Monitoring; Water Pumping/Pipeline; Electrical; Mechanical; Plumbing; HVAC; Trucking & Disposal; Hazardous Material Handling; Tunnel & Shaft Construction Safety; Equipment Rental; Heavy Equipment Mechanics; and Steel Fabrication for the Tunnel Liner. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS: Contact Rivers Topping – Barnard Construction at PH: (406) 5861995 or email: rivers.topping@Barnard-Inc.com for information on obtaining plans and specifications. ASSISTANCE AND QUESTIONS: BSB will provide technical assistance as needed through- out the bidding process. We will work with subs and suppliers to develop a delivery schedule that accommodates the needs of subs and suppliers on non-critical work items. When economically feasible, we will divide total contract requirements into small portions to permit maximum qualified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) participation. Upon request, we will assist interested businesses in obtaining bonds, lines of credit and/or required insurance. Questions regarding assistance and bids should be directed to Rivers Topping at (406) 586-1995. Questions regarding obtaining bonds should be directed to Austin Neff at (760) 8222184, or Austin.Neff@TheBondExchange. com. All bids should be faxed to (406) 586-3530 or emailed to BWBids@Barnard-Inc.com.

SERVICE

best handled when you’re well-rested. Encourage plenty of sleep in the weeks ahead. Before bed, avoid activities that make sleep more evasive, such as looking at bright screens, consuming caffeine or indulging in too much alcohol. A vigorous workout, while great for your cardio health, is best performed at least several hours before lights out. • Connected Tech: You don’t necessarily need a smartwatch to avoid the hassle and potential risk of forgetting to wind watches back. Instead, consider a connected watch that updates automatically when Daylight Saving Time starts or ends or when traveling to a different time zone. For example, the shock-resistant, solar-powered GShock GSTB100XA-1A is equipped with Bluetooth that lets it connect with a smartphone to receive time information from an internet time server. Likewise, the Casio Edifice EQB1000D-1A, a new high-spec super-slim model with phone linking capabilities can keep you further on track with a daily alarm, full auto-calendar and stopwatch. • Avoid Anxiety: The anxiety caused by a time change can ironically make it harder to function. Make a point of engaging in some stress-reducing activities like meditation, yoga or relaxing with a book. These activities can also serve to create a calming bedtime routine. • Think of the Family: Time changes can be especially difficult on young children and pets who don’t understand why bedtimes and feeding schedules have changed. Ease kids and furry creatures into the time change by shifting their schedules 10-15 minutes each day. While “falling back” is a time-honored tradition, it can take its toll on schedules and health. With some smart strategies, you can set your clocks back with ease. __________________________________

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth

Sales Manager General Manager

Editorial

Send news tips, press releases, calendar listing etc to: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.com

Advertising

Display Advertising advertising@citizennewspapergroup.com or jgarth@citizennewspapergroup.com

Classified Advertising call us at

(773) 783-1251

Display Advertising call us at

(773) 783-1251

Coverage Areas: CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

Chatham, Avalon Park, Park Manor, Greater Grand Crossing, Burnside, Chesterfield, West Chersterfield, South Shore,and Calumet Heitghts.

SOUTH END

Washington Heights, Roseland, Rosemoor, Englewood, West Englewood, Auburn-Gresham, Morgan Park, Maple Park, Mt. Vernon, Fernwood, Bellevue, Beverly, Pullman, West Pullman, West Pullman, Riverdale, Jeffrey Manor and Hegewisch.

SOUTH SUBURBAN Serves communities in Harvey, Markham, Phoenix, Robbins, Dixmoor, Calumet Park, Blue Island, South Holland, and Dolton. Shopping- their favorite pastime!

HYDE PARK

PROPOSALS: We ask that all subs and suppliers complete this form and return to BSB as soon as possible indicating your interest in the Project. At this time we are asking all subs and suppliers follow the below schedule for submitting cost proposals to insure sufficient time to evaluate all proposals.

Lake Meadows, Oakland, Prairie Shores, Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Woodland, South Shore and Hyde Park.

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Chicago Westside Communities, Austin and Garfield Park

CITY OF CHICAGO or COOK COUNTY MBE/WBE CERTIFICATION FORM DUE BEFORE: November 6 th , 2019 SCHEDULE C AND SCOPE DUE BEFORE: November 20 th , 2019 BID DUE BEFORE: November 27 th , 2019 _________________________________________

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY Bloom Township, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Ford Heights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest, Sauk Village, South Chicago and Steger

MISCELLANEOUS Business Opportunities Learn How To Start A Successful Online Business For Free. exclusivebusinesstraining.com __________________________________ COLLECTABLES POSTAGE STAMP SHOW Westin Hotel 400 Park Blvd Itasca IL November 22-24 Hours Fri Sat 10-6 Sun 10-4 Free Parking and Admission Info at www.Chicagopex.org __________________________________

Advertising In The Classified Section Can Be Easy As 123.

PUBLIC NOTICE The annual return of The Love and Unity Prayer Circle church is available, at the address noted below, for inspection during normal business hours, by any citizen who so requests within 180 days after publication of this notice of its availability. The love and Unity prayer Circle 1153 E. 82nd Street Chicago, Il 60619-4513537. The principal manager is Cynthia A Cohen, Pastor Telephone (773) 993-9796. __________________________________

This space can be yours Call us at (773) 783-1251. LIVING

4 Ways to Make Turning Back the Clocks a Cinch (StatePoint) Daylight Saving Time may end like clockwork each fall, but that doesn’t make the transition any easier. Here are four ways to avoid scheduling snafus, missed appointments and lost sleep. • Revamp Evenings: Time changes are

Here’s where you can sell your professional services, your home, used auto, gently used appearel, rent a apartment or sell your used house hold goods. You can place your ad for a reasonable price. Call for a quote today:

(773) 783-1251

Stay Connected To Us...

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Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (CNGI), Publisher of the Chatham-Southeast, South End, Chicago Weekend, South Suburban and Hyde Park Citizen and Citizen Suburban Times Weekly. Our weekly publications are published on Wednesday’s (publishing 52 issues annually). Written permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or in part from the publisher. Citizen Newspaper Group, Inc. does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited materials, therefore they become property of the newspaper and can or will be discarded or used at the newspapers disgratation. Deadlines for advertising is every Friday at noon. Deadlines for press releases are Thursdays at 10 am prior to the next week’s edition. Please send information for the calendar at least three weeks prior to the event. Send to: editorial@thechicagocitizen.com. For more information on subscriptions or advertising, call us at (773) 783-1251 or fax (872) 208-8793. Our offices are located at 8741 South Greenwood Suite# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

12 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

DIVERSITY IN CLINICAL TRIALS BRINGS NEW TREATMENTS TO EVERYONE. Participation in clinical trials not only helps patients gain access to new medical therapies but also advances knowledge about how treatments work safely and effectively in the diverse communities represented in those clinical trials. Visit medicalheroes.org to learn more.

A sincere thank you to everyone who participates in clinical research from the following sponsors: