Week of February 7 | Vol 1 • No 26 • www.cstweekly.com
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SuburbanTimes Professor, author, poet, and playwright Useni Eugene Perkins recently released his new book Rise of the Phoenix: a compilation of voices from Chicago’s Black Struggle from 1960-1975. The book documents the lives and voices of people who took part in the Black Empowerment and Black Arts Movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Photo credit: Third World Press Foundation and Useni Perkins
Chicago Author Documents The Black Struggle More Inside Community > PAGE 3
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women’s political activism POLITSCOPE > P3
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Just in Time for Valentine's Day: 56% of Couples Agree That Travel history of black nationalist women’s political Treasury Secretary Mnuchin’s weak-dollar myopia is dangerous The Black Creativity Program Returns toThe MSIhidden Keeps the "Spark" Alive activism
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ARTSCENE
The Black Creativity Program Returns to MSI By: Katherine Newman
The Black Creativity program has returned to the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI). This program runs annually for black history month and includes several different exhibits and activities to encourage people to visit the museum and explore the creative achievements of African Americans. “Black Creativity is a program that provides visitors with a hands-on, creative way to learn about not only African American achievements, but how they themselves become innovators and inspire young learners,” said Manny Juarez, director of science and integrated strategies at MSI. One particularly exciting part of the Black Creativity program is the Juried Art Exhibition featuring over 100 works of art from professional and emerging African American artists. The exhibition is also special because it has been coming to the museum annually since 1970.
on display.” MSI also accepts art submissions from students around the region that can be displayed in the exhibition alongside the more wellknown artists. “It’s open to students across the city. We do get representation from schools from this area in Hyde Park, but it’s open to students throughout the region,” said Juarez. The Black Creativity Program has a number of other activities and exhibits going on from now until the end of February. The program not only provides a way to learn about African American’s The Juried Art Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry contributions to the world is part of the Black Creativity Program and features more than of art and science, but also 100 dynamic works from African-American artists from around the inspires children to achieve country, including student and professional artists. Photo Credit: J.B. their full potential within the Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago] science, industry, medical, and engineering fields. “It’s a really terrific show “Our Juried Art Exhibition started in 1970 and this year and we are very happy with the quality of it’s one of the nation’s longest running continuous the work and the diversity the work that is being exhibitions of African American art so we are very displayed,” said Juarez. proud of that,” said Juarez. “This year we have For more information on the Black Creativity about 135 pieces in the exhibit and we also have Program visit msichicago.org. student work in there that has been selected and is
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Chicago Author Documents The Black Struggle CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
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By: Katherine Newman
“I sent letters out to about 85 people that I felt were involved and had some role in the movement that took place here in Chicago and I got about 72 responses. The book is a collection of testimonies from men and women who played an important role during this historic period in American history, primarily in Chicago."
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rofessor, author, poet, and playwright Useni Eugene Perkins recently released his new book Rise of the Phoenix – a compilation of voices from Chicago’s Black Struggle from 1960-1975. The book documents the lives and voices of people who took part in the Black Empowerment and Black Arts Movements of the 1960s and 1970s. As editor of the book, Perkins gathered scholars, activists, artists, educators, and others who were active participants in shaping that era. “I sent letters out to about 85 people that I felt were involved and had some role in the movement that took place here in Chicago and I got about 72 responses. The book is a collection of testimonies from men and women who played an important role during this historic period in American history, primarily in Chicago,” said Perkins. The book examines the black struggle during the civil rights movement through first-hand experiences. A full spectrum of history is included in the book to represent black arts, black awareness, the labor movement, education, and political awareness and advocacy that were
all happening during this time period in black communities. There is a section that gives testimony from people who were teenagers at the time who were motivated by witnessing the black struggle. “These are young people that were 16 or 17 years old, but they were influenced during that period and they became active participants,” said Perkins. Perkins feels fortunate to have grown up in an artistic home where he was exposed to great black writers and artists at a young age. He often looks to a quote by Paul Robeson, a wellknown writer, performer, and social justice activist during the Civil Rights movement. “The artist must elect to fight for freedom or slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative,” said Robeson The quote by Robeson accurately sums up why Perkins has chosen to spend his adult life documenting the black struggle through his writing. “I have attempted to use my writing to address the problems in our community and be a liberating voice to help black people in the community to uplift themselves from some of the chaos that we find ourselves in,” said Perkins.
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POLITISCOPE
The hidden history of black nationalist women’s political activism Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the historical contributions of black people in the United States. Too often, however, this Keisha N. Blain history focuses on black men, sidelining black women and diminishing their contributions. This is true in mainstream narratives of black nationalist movements in the United States. These narratives almost always highlight the experiences of a handful of black nationalist men, including Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and
Louis Farrakhan. Contrary to popular conceptions, women were also instrumental to the spread and articulation of black nationalism – the political view that people of African descent constitute a separate group on the basis of their distinct culture, shared history and experiences. As I demonstrate in my new book, “Set the World on Fire,” black nationalist movements would have all but disappeared were it not for women. What’s more, these women laid the groundwork for the generation of black activists who came of age during the civil rights-black power era. In the 1960s, many black activists – including Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Robert F. Williams, Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael
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– drew on these women’s ideas and political strategies. So, let’s use this Black History Month to begin to set the record straight.
The Universal Negro Improvement Association \In 1914, when the Jamaican black nationalist Marcus Garvey launched the Universal Negro Improvement Association, Amy Ashwood – who later became his first wife – was the organization’s first secretary and co-founder. Her efforts were invaluable to the success of the association, which became the most CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 www.cstweekly.com
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FOOD
Better, Healthier Baking
(Family Features) Olive oil is a flavorful and versatile cooking oil that is often trusted in popular cooking methods such as sauteing, stir-frying, dressing, marinating and grilling. It can also earn your trust when it comes to baking. With seven olive oil varieties to fit almost any need, each Filippo Berio olive oil has its own distinct color, aroma and flavor characteristics. Among those seven, the Extra Light Olive Oil offers a delicate aroma and subtle flavor that can complement your favorite baked goods. Its high smoke point helps keep those goodies moist, and with strong flavors like chocolate, it also lets the sweetness come through. Additionally, it provides Photo Courtesy of Filippo Berio high levels of mono-unsatu1/2 tablespoon Filippo Berio Extra Light rated fat ("good" fat) and low Olive Oil, plus additional for coating pan levels of saturated fat ("bad" fat), making it 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus additional a more nutritional choice when compared to for coating pan butter or margarine. Because you need less olive 4 ounces 70 percent cocoa dark chocolate oil than butter in baking, you'll save calories as 1 ounce 30 percent heavy cream well. 3 egg whites One easy way to incorporate olive oil in your 2 egg yolks baked goods is during the prep work: where recpinch of cream of tartar ipes call for buttering or flouring pans, instead Heat oven to 375 F. Grease two 6-ounce ramebrush the pan with olive oil and dust with flour kins with olive oil and dust with sugar. for the same effect as butter. In double boiler, melt chocolate, 1/2 tablespoon Explore more tips and recipes using olive oil at olive oil and cream; let cool. Using electric filippoberio.com. mixer, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Whisk egg yolks into cooled chocolate mixture; fold in egg whites, 1/4 cup sugar and cream Dark Chocolate Souffle of tartar. Pour into prepared ramekins; bake 15 minutes. Prep time: 10 minutes Tips: This recipe can be easily doubled. Cook time: 18 minutes Garnish Servings: 2
with fresh berries, if desired.
Double-Chocolate Olive Oil Cake with Salted Chocolate Caramel Icing Recipe courtesy of Chef Sharon Sanders Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 35 minutes Servings: 8-10 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, Filippo Berio Extra Light Olive Oil, divided, plus additional for coating pan 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon table salt 1/2 cup half-and-half 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1/4 cup, plus 1/3 cup, mini dark chocolate chips, divided 1 cup canned dulce de leche flaky sea salt (optional) Position rack in center of oven and heat to 350 F. Lightly coat 9-inch round cake pan with olive oil and line bottom with parchment paper. Lightly coat parchment with olive oil. In large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in half-and-half, 1/2 cup olive oil and vanilla. With electric mixer, beat in egg until well blended. Scrape batter into prepared cake pan and sprinkle top with 1/4 cup mini chips. Bake cake 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Place cake on cooling rack 10 minutes then turn cake out onto rack and let cool completely. In medium saucepan, heat dulce de leche over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add remaining olive oil and chocolate chips and stir until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Remove pan from heat. Transfer cake to serving plate. Pour icing over cooled cake, sprinkle with flaky salt, if desired, and serve.
The hidden history of black nationalist women’s political activism CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
influential black nationalist organization of the 20th century. The organzation’s earliest meetings were held at the home of Ashwood’s parents. When the organization’s headquarters relocated from Jamaica to Harlem, Ashwood was actively engaged in its affairs. In addition to serving as general secretary in the New York office, Ashwood helped to popularize the Negro World, the organization’s official newspaper. She also contributed to the financial growth of the organization, relying on her parents’ money to meet some of the growing expenses. In 1922, months after Garvey’s divorce from Amy Ashwood, Amy Jacques became Garvey’s new wife – a position she used to leverage her involvement and leadership in the organization.
During these years, she helped to popularize and preserve her husband’s ideas. When her husband was imprisoned in 1925 and later deported – on trumped-up charges of mail fraud orchestrated by the FBI – Amy Jacques Garvey oversaw the organization’s day-to-day activities. In the aftermath of Garvey’s 1927 deportation, women helped to popularize black nationalist politics. With limited financial resources and resistance from the FBI, these women asserted their political power in various cities across the United States.
The Peace Movement of Ethiopia During the Great Depression, Chicago was one of the key cities where black nationalist women
organized. In 1932, Mittie Maude Lena Gordon, a former member of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, established an organization called the Peace Movement of Ethiopia which became the largest black nationalist organization established by a woman in the United States. At its peak, the organization attracted an estimated 300,000 supporters in Chicago and across the country. In 1933, Gordon initiated a nationwide emigration campaign, utilizing her widespread political networks in Chicago and across the Midwest. With the assistance of other black nationalist activists, she collected signatures for a pro-emigration petition. In August of that year, she mailed the petition to President Franklin D. Roosevelt with approximately CONTINUED TO PAGE 6
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Clear winter roads: What works and what doesn’t (BPT) - It is no surprise that in the winter we see many articles about how our roads get plowed and treated. Nor is it particularly surprising that winter maintenance practices often lead to debates over different methods and materials used to keep roads clear. One oftenheard rebuke is that road authorities should go back to using sand or abrasives for winter maintenance, instead of using salt. Unfortunately, that would be very counterproductive for many reasons. Sand alone does not melt any snow or ice. Any time melting has been associated with sand, it is because a small amount of salt (about 10 percent or less) is typically included in the stockpile to stop the sand from freezing solid. It is sometimes said that some melting occurs because the color of the sand creates excess solar heating, but that is minimal compared to the normal solar heating occurring on roads anyway. This matters because we need roads to be free of snow and ice in the winter. A study by Global Insights indicated that when roads are impassable because of snow or ice, a state can lose between $300 million and $700 million in economic activity per day. A study from Marquette University has shown that a safe
and sustainable snowfighting program that uses road salt in an appropriate manner will reduce accidents by up to 88 percent. Sand does provide a temporary increase in friction. However, to supply that increase in friction, it has to be located between the tires of the vehicles on the road and the snow or ice on the road. But the sand does not stay where it is needed for very long, especially at highway speeds. Studies have found that the friction increase due to sand disappears after 10 to 20 vehicles have driven over it at highway speeds. So the benefits of sand in terms of increasing friction are very fleeting in high-speed and
high-traffic situations. In addition, to get the friction benefits of sand, it has to be applied at much higher rates than salt. This means that trucks must be refilled more often, and when a truck is in the yard being refilled, it is not out on the road system plowing and applying materials appropriately. Some believe that there is no environmental impact from the use of sand, but this is not the case. When abrasives like sand settle in river beds, they choke off access of aquatic species’ eggs to oxygen, thus reducing their value as spawning grounds, potentially putting the breeding of certain fish species at risk. The other danger is to air quality. As cars drive over the sand and other abrasives, these get ground up and become dust. Both the city of Denver, Colorado, and Washoe County, Nevada, where air pollution is a particular concern, require that any abrasives used be vacuumed up no more than 72 hours after the end of the storm. This cleanup adds significantly to the cost of using abrasives. When properly applied at the right place, at the right time and in the right amount, road salt is the single most effective, economic and environmental way to keep our roads passable and people safe in the winter.
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NEWS
Chicago identified as site for Imagining America 2018 National Conference
“This inspired Michigan English professor, Barb Clauer, to lead similar projects in Lansing. Students in several History, Philosophy, English, Graphic Design and Theatre classes will respond to prompts around the question: “Using what you’ve learned at LCC, how you will engage the larger community?”
Lisette Gushiniere
This year, the Imagining America’s 2018 National Conference will be held in Chicago on October 19-21. The Imagining America conference is an annual gathering of public scholars, artists, students, designers, and cultural organizers who are addressing the nation’s most critical issues. The conference offers participants a three-day immersive experience in which to connect, dialogue, learn, and strategize on the ways in which the arts, humanities, and design are and may be leveraged locally, regionally, and nationally towards transformative action. Organizers expect more than 400 individuals to attend this year’s national conference. In the past, the conference has been held in: Seattle, WA; Minneapolis & St. Paul (Twin Cities), MN; New York, NY; Syracuse, NY; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MA; Milwaukee, WI and Davis, CA. During the 2017 conference, 113 institutions were in attendance including 20 cultural institutions, 24 colleges, and 68 universities— totaling over 460 participants from around the country, according to Erica Kohl-Arenas, faculty director of Imagining America. Conference organizers recently commented on the decision to hold the event in Chicago, saying the city’s, “abundance of universities, community colleges, museums, and other non-profit community organizations will make it a wonderful host for this year’s gathering,” Imagining America Board Chair Lisa Yun Lee commented. Illinois Humanities Executive
Director Angel Ysaguirre added, “Being able to host humanists and artists who are engaged in strengthening the fabric of our communities is an exciting honor for Illinois Humanities. Imagining America provides a crucial space for considering how the humanities can serve all members of society, as partners rather than as the purveyors of knowledge. We are excited to have all that energy in Chicago,” she said. “Imagining America is excited to partner with Illinois Humanities and other local Chicago institutions to celebrate and learn from the city’s long history of publicly engaged scholarship and art,” says, Kohl-Arenas. “Chicago is also an important location from which to draw attention to pressing public issues, such as immigrant rights, housing insecurity, and mass incarceration, that many communities are struggling with across the country,” she added. A national consortium of colleges, universities, and cultural institutions, Imagining America advances public scholarship, community building, civically engaged learning, and campus change through the power of the arts, humanities, and design. The mission of the Illinois Humanities includes strengthening the social, political, and economic fabric of Illinois through constructive conversation and community engagement. Founded in 1974 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Illinois Humanities is the only statewide proponent of the public humanities in Illinois. Through public programs, education and training, and grantmaking, it connects Illinoisans who might not otherwise encounter one
another. Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life and Illinois Humanities will work with local institutions and leaders in organizing the annual event. When discussing how humanists and artists use the conference as an opportunity to strengthen communities, Kohl-Arenas pointed to specific examples. “Through the bold power of arts and teaching, a poem made at a past IA conference is sparking a movement,” she explained. “At last year’s conference, Andrew Sullivan, a poet and teacher from California, designed and facilitated the creation of a community-generated poem. “This inspired Michigan English professor, Barb Clauer, to lead similar projects in Lansing. Students in several History, Philosophy, English, Graphic Design and Theatre classes will respond to prompts around the question: “Using what you’ve learned at LCC, how you will engage the larger community?” “Clauer’s English class will take the responses and collage the poem, with guidance for students from Lansing’s poet laureate, Dennis Hinrichsen,” she added. The community generated poem designed and facilitated by Sullivan for the 2017 Imagining America Conference was constructed by: Nitya Kumaran, Barb Clauer, Hilarie Spangler, Anita Lorentzen, & Andrew Sullivan. It can be read by visiting, http://imaginingamerica. org/2017/11/02/a-community-generated-poem-for-the-2017-imagining-america-conference/ For information and updates about the conference, follow Imagining America’s newsletter at www.list.robly.com and Twitter handle, @ImaginingAmer.
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400,000 signatures of black Americans willing to leave the country. Drawing inspiration from FDR’s New Deal programs, Gordon requested federal support for those who desired to relocate to West Africa in hopes of securing a better life. Gordon’s attempt to secure federal support failed. Yet she drew an even larger following of supporters who were inspired by her bold move. Many of these new members were women. Black women found in her organization a space of empowerment and opportunity. They occupied a number of visible leadership roles, working alongside the organization’s female founder. Celia Jane Allen, a black woman from
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Mississippi who had relocated to Chicago, was one of these women. In the mid-1930s, she became an active member of the Peace Movement of Ethiopia. Embracing Gordon’s vision for unifying black people in the U.S. and abroad, Allen took on a leadership role in the organization. In 1937, she became one of the national organizers. From the late 1930s to the mid-1940s, Allen traveled extensively throughout the South, visiting local homes and churches to recruit new members and advocate the relocation to West Africa. By the end of World War II, she was successful in getting thousands of black southerners to join the movement and embrace black nationalist ideas.
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Today, these women’s stories are largely absent in popular accounts of black nationalism. More often than not, the assumption is that men exclusively established and led black nationalist organizations. This could not be farther from the truth. As these few examples reveal, women were key players in black nationalist movements, and their efforts helped to keep black nationalist ideas alive in U.S. politics. No history of black nationalism is complete without acknowledging women’s significant contributions. Keisha N. Blain is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh.
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NEWS The Lansing Association for Community Events (LACE) is gearing up to host their annual Fat Friday celebration, in honor of Mardi Gras. The event will take place on Feb. 9 from 6-11p.m. at Kacey’s Banquet Hall in Lansing. Photo Credit: Randy Heinitz
Upcoming Mardi Gras Party In Lansing By: Katherine Newman
The Lansing Association for Community Events (LACE) is gearing up to host its annual Fat Friday celebration, in honor of Mardi Gras. The Party will offer light food, adult beverages, a raffle, costume contests, and a jazz band. Fat Friday will take place on Feb. 9 from 6-11p.m. at Kacey’s Banquet Hall in Lansing. “We are trying to give back to Lansing and give people a place to go and see each other and have a good time, that’s our main goal with Fat Friday,” said Patricia Leck, event organizer for LACE. Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is heavily celebrated in New Orleans the day before Ash Wednesday. Fat Tuesday is a day of indulgence before the start of Lent, where many people choose to give up some of their guilty
pleasures for the 40 days leading up to Easter. “It used to be Fat Tuesday, but we changed it to Fat Friday because we thought having it on a weekend would make it easier for more people to attend,” said To increase the authenticity of the event LACE has added a live jazz band to the list of attractions this year and there will once again be a trumpet-led line parade. Both are notable traditions from Mardi Gras in New Orleans. “We have a trumpeter that comes in and just like you get at Mardi Gras weekend, we do a line parade all around the space. Everyone seems to really enjoy it,” said Leck. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in Mardi Gras themed clothing. A King and Queen will be named at the event based on who is best dressed along with a Krewe
contest awarding a prize to the best group costume theme. Last years Krewe winner was a group dressed as pirates, according to Leck. This event is not a designated fundraiser for LACE, but more to just provide a fun event for the community to get together. We have a lot of fun doing it and we really look forward to doing it every year. This year we have changed the venue because we try to do as much as we can with all of the businesses in our village. We feel that as long as we make enough to cover the event we are good with it,” said Leck. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased from J.J. Kelleys, Lansing Chamber of Commence, Lynnie Ques, Mancino's, Minuteman Press, Water's Edge Gifts, and LACE Board Members.
Attorney General Candidate Sharon Fairley Releases Policy Paper on Use of Force and Police Accountability Recently, two men were released from prison after charges were dropped for the 1989 murder of a retired police officer’s wife. The men, who were 19-years-old at the time, say they confessed to the murder after being beaten by detectives trained under former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge. Last month, the Better Government Association along with WBEZ released a report showing that over the last 12 years, 113 police officer involved shootings took place in suburban cook county without any findings of misconduct. The lack of police accountability has cost Illinois taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars since 2000. In response to the entrenched need for police
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accountability and reform, Illinois attorney general candidate Sharon Fairley held a news conference Thursday at her Loop campaign office, 408 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill, to release proposed policies that will address the need for statewide standards and oversight. “We know police accountability isn’t just a problem in Chicago, but a statewide issue,” explains Fairley, the former head of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. “As attorney general, I’d like to create a statewide taskforce combining law enforcement and the state’s attorneys around the state to provide some infrastructure to these struggling law enforcement agencies to make sure they’re holding their officers accountable.” Fairley, who has spent the last two years creating new
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processes for oversight and investigation into police misconduct, believes the standard for deadly force is woefully low. “I think we need policy to raise the level for deadly force so we are authorizing officers to use force under circumstances that we as a community believe are appropriate,” says the criminal justice reform expert. Fairley wants to establish a Public Safety Bureau in the AG’s office to: 1) identify and implement evidence-based crime fighting strategies; 2) foster improved accountability and community engagement for law enforcement statewide; and 3) pursue smart criminal justice reform that will address overincarceration and bail reform.
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