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CSJ Photo by Parthenia Luke
Obama Library
THE I LLINOIS BLACK C HAMBER OF C OMMERCE
“The Chamber Report”, Page 12
February 28 - March 13, 2018
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Vol. 25 No 2
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By Frank Otton A major unspoken history during Black History has been ‘Black Genocide’. Most aspects of Black History have focus on individual achievements than the cause and effect that structured the impact of its people. Issues such as Re-gentrification and ‘Genocide’ has not been openly focus on nor addressed officially by government or resulted in policy itself. Justified before Black History Month Governor candidate Chris Kennedy charged the Chicago Mayor Rham Emmanuel of re-gentrification of the Black community. saying he believes Mayor Emmanuel is gradually pushing Black residents out in mass numbers through the use of an underhanded gentrification strategy plan that's aiming to make the city "whiter and wealthier." Although many question his remarks as politically motivate.
“Now that the White Man (Kennedy) said it, it must have some ligament base.” Said Mark Carter, a west-side community activist.
The Plan However, long before Mayor Emmanuel, the plan, debatable of racial
Re-Opening of The Carter Woodson Regional Library Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Chicago Public Library Commissioner Brian Bannon, Secretary of State Jesse White, local leaders and south side community members to cut the ribbon at the grand re-opening of Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, known as the 'Father of Black History.' He penned the influential book 'The MisEducation of the Negro.' who was an AfricanAmerican writer and historian. The nearly $9 million investment will serve as a community anchor for south side residents, housing the largest collection of African American history and literature in the Midwest. the Woodson Regional Library. The newly reno- Monica Moss, wife of Rev. Otis Moss vated 65,000 square-foot of Trinity United Church address the two-floor regional library body in the reopening of the Carter G. (Continued on page 7) Woodson Regional Library
CSJ Photo by John Alexander
By Donnell Robinson Illinois Governor Candidate JB Pritzker’s remark on the “Black Thing” to former Governor Rod Bolgicha continued toying with the African American voters by the Democrat Party it is known to support. Percy Coleman, a Republican committeeman of the 34th ward for over 30 years, pointed out “Black Republicans are still Chicagoans only fair hope for politicial justice.” He argues that the Democratic Party’s leaders have taken the Black vote for granted, and that Chicago's African-Americans have suffered as a result. "It's like, 'Well, we got your vote anyway.'" However, it has not always been that way. Samuel B. Fuller, founder (Continued on page 4)
intentions officially started in 1974. But as far back in 1967, Chicago real estate developer Arthur Rubloff was quoted by the then Chicago Daily News as saying that "I'll tell you what's wrong with the Loop. It's people's perception of it. And the perception they have about it is one word - B-L-A-C-K. From there three of Chicago's most influential business leaders, Gordon M. Metcalf, then CEO of Sears, Roebuck and Co., Donald M. Graham, CEO of Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Co. of Chicago (then the biggest employer in the downtown area) and Thomas G. Ayers, President of Commonwealth Edison Company, began the brain trust behind the old Dearborn Station on Polk Street into a mixed-income community of 120,000 people. The focus was if the CCAC could develop this land and populate it with the right people, it could essentially "protect" the Loop from the lowincome African-American Communities along State St. To date it has been accomplished with the results what the Black Wall Street Chicago says, the new ‘White Wall Streets.’ (Continued on page 5)
Comic book expert calls ‘Black Panther’ a ‘cultural milestone’ for genre (Continued on page 15)