May 15, 2025 Edition

May 15 - May 21, 2025• The Voice Of Black Chicago • Vol.3 No 6 • cnwmedia.com • F R E E

A Glamorous Life

Andrea Hill

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Chicago News Weekly

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Cheryl Mainor Norman CEO & Publisher

E notes

Terri Winston Vice President Laura Miller

Managing Editor Darnell Pulphus Art Director Max Blaisdell

Copy Editor Dr. Mila K. Marshall Cannabis Corner Editor Kennedy Lynn

Editor Assistant Staff Writers CL Blackburn Zada Johnson Marti Worell Wanda Wright Malachi Webster Columnists Dr. Sanja Rickette Stinson David Seaton Contributors NNPA Newswire Mare Evans Melanie Mainor Ken Hare Shanell Oliver Cover Photo Steve Koch Photography

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May 15 - May 21, 2025

Release, Let Go, Receive

If

you grew up like I did, you were taught that a clean house is important and necessary. I never thought to question it—I just did what I was instructed to do because that much I understood. Obeying our house rules was a requirement to live there. Seriously, my father said, “You can do whatever you like. Right now, you have two choices: You can follow my rules and wait until you're grown and living in your own home where you can do whatever you like, or you can leave now and go wherever and do whatever you like.”

Well! You know what I chose.

What I didn’t know is the infinite importance of a clean house. Clean—and let’s add organized. The two go hand in hand, providing a sanctuary for your thoughts, creating clarity and the ability to think through matters of significance and consequence. The order and cleanliness prevent obstruction and clear the way for focus and lucidity, which clears the path to vision.

You can’t get to the resolve of anything if you are distracted by the dust on the tabletop, the crumbs on the floor between the bed and nightstand; clothes piled in the chair; dishes in the sink; piles of paper on the table; boxes stacked up all through the house; nasty sheets and overused bath towels; dirty clothes smelling throughout the home; a greasy stove; a nasty refrigerator—and God forbid what’s rancid in the refrigerator.

Do you get my drift?

Sweeping the front porch every morning is an important cleansing ritual that prepares the ground for new energy. It can be sweeping the floor in your home, your basement or garage. What matters is the action of sweeping.

Today’s modern times have changed things. For some of us, sweeping has become an activity performed without much thought. Sadly, sweeping is a lost art, replaced by the noisy, efficient vacuum cleaner. But in several cultures and religions, sweeping the front and back porch every morning is regarded as an important cleansing ritual that prepares the ground for new energy on every level—physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. It is often employed to sanctify a space and prepare it for a ceremony.

photo credit: Dot Ward

Kai EL’ Zabar Editor-In-Chief

Kai EL’ Zabar Editor-in-Chief This seemingly simple action has the power to clear away the old and make space for the new. Sweeping is a form of action in motion. It moves and shifts the energy from its sitting space in a place. The sweeping act clears out the astral buildup that is the natural byproduct of the presence of humans.

This kind of sweeping is not about cleaning the area of dust. It is about clearing to create space for dreams to come into play and manifest. In fact, the broom doesn’t have to touch the ground to be effective. Instead, you can wield the broom like a fan, sweeping from one side to the other, disturbing the sedative invisible matter that lacks natural mobility to move as we need it to move.

Now that you know this, you might be moved, touched and inspired to consider having two different brooms—one for cleaning dust and dirt, and the other for energy clearing. If you are so moved, you could decorate your broom by adding ribbon and/or bells.

You can paint it or carve the handle however you wish.

Decorating your broom with gemstones, tassels or any other creative adornment that appeals to you can also help rearrange the energy in the room. You can even make your own broom out of tree branches—ask your community gardening store.

Sweeping each morning prepares the ground for the new day, while also deepening our awareness of the importance of releasing the past, letting go of fear and being open to receive in the moment—making way for the future. Clearing the energy of our space makes way to clear our own energy systems. Consequently, we create a space that feels clean, clear and open to all who enter, just like the foyer to your home.

Become accustomed to thinking welcoming thoughts as you sweep, and be aware that you are manifesting what you need for the day, every day—and your future—creating space for your vision.

By implementing sweeping as part of our daily ritual, we tune into the continuing cycle of releasing the old, letting go of the past and receiving in the moment the new—that is the assurance of a healthy energy ecosystem.

Chicago News Weekly

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around town

CNW STAFF REPORT Kevin Ross Photo

Met Gala

CNW staff split the scenes and attended MET Party's across the city where we were excited to check the style players ! Unfortunately we came up with zero! The question was did they miss the memo? our Answer...

Apparently with the exception of our team Player Kevin who entered the room undeniably Dandy! If you think that's disappointing imagine being at the actual Met Gala and missing the mark. There were a few. We chose to share some of those who got it right.

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commentary

David Seaton CNW Columnist

THE BOOK OF DAVID The Exhaustion of Race-Centric Narratives A Black Professional’s Perspective

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n today’s America, it has become almost inevitable that every political decision, policy debate, or social disagreement devolves into a conversation about race. The reflexive tendency to attribute every action to racial motivations has, ironically, dulled our collective ability to address real issues with nuance and intellectual honesty. As a Black professional, I find this not only frustrating but counterproductive.

The recent uproar over the Trump administration granting refugee status to 59 white South Africans is a textbook example. Critics immediately accused the administration of racism, pointing to the contrast between this move and the restrictions placed on immigration from war-torn nations. While skepticism of any political decision is healthy, reducing this complex issue to “Trump

City News

only helps white people” is a lazy analysis. It overlooks geopolitical nuances, international asylum protocols, and even the potential influence of individuals like Elon Musk, a South African–born entrepreneur with significant clout.

This fixation on race as the primary lens through which every event is interpreted reveals a deeper issue: a lack of critical thinking. Far too often, conversations about policy, crime, education, or immigration are derailed by accusations of racism, leaving no room for substantive debate. The problem is not that racism doesn’t exist—it does. The problem is that it has become the default explanation for disparities and disagreements, even when other factors are at play.

Enter the concept of Black fatigue—a term that resonates with many Americans, Black and non-Black alike. It de-

scribes the exhaustion people feel when every disagreement, critique, or policy proposal is met with accusations of racism. Non-Black Americans are weary of being vilified for societal issues they had no hand in creating, while some in the Black community react defensively to any suggestion that personal responsibility or cultural factors play a role in our community’s outcomes.

This is not a call to ignore racism or pretend that America’s racial history has no bearing on present-day realities.

Rather, it is an appeal to elevate the conversation. Blaming racism for every challenge faced by Black Americans reduces our agency and traps us in a perpetual state of victimhood. It absolves individuals of responsibility and allows political actors to exploit our pain for their own agendas.

As a Black man navigating corporate America, I have seen firsthand how this narrative can be both a crutch and a weapon. It silences dissent within our own community and discourages honest introspection. Worse, it alienates potential allies who grow tired of being labeled as oppressors simply because of their skin color.

Progress requires intellectual courage.

It demands that we differentiate between systemic injustice and personal accountability. It calls for us to challenge policies and leaders with facts, not just feelings. Race matters, but it should not be the only thing that matters.

If we are to advance as a community and as a nation, we must be willing to have difficult, nuanced conversations that go beyond the simplistic and often inflammatory charge of racism.

CNW Staff Report

Chicago Urban League’s 2025 Report Charts Path to Black Wealth Amid Disparities

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he Chicago Urban League's 2025 State of Black Chicago report, titled A Laddered Path to Wealth Building, presents a sobering yet solution-oriented analysis of the economic disparities affecting Black residents in Chicago.

The report highlights that the median net worth for Black families in the city stands at $0, compared to $210,000 for white families—underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions.

Rather than focusing solely on documenting these disparities, the 2025 report introduces a comprehensive fivestage “laddered” framework aimed at guiding Black Chicagoans from financial instability to generational wealth.

This approach emphasizes actionable strategies across key areas: justice, entrepreneurship, homeownership, workforce development, education, and health.

In the realm of justice, the report acknowledges the disproportionate impact of crime and the criminal justice system on Black communities, which hinders wealth accumulation. It advocates for

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collaborative solutions like the City of Chicago’s People’s Plan for Community Safety and the Civic Committee’s Public Safety Task Force to address and prevent crime.

Entrepreneurship is identified as a vital component of wealth building. Despite the growth of Black-owned businesses, access to capital, commercial property, and procurement opportunities remains limited. The report suggests implementing seed grants, property tax incentives, and procurement mandates, along with establishing innovation hubs and capital funds to support small business scalability.

Addressing the significant homeownership gap—where Black homeownership rates lag over 30 percentage points behind white residents—the Urban League proposes increasing down payment assistance, promoting equitable lending practices, and protecting heirs’ property rights. Collaborations with organizations like Kinexx and Ani Real Estate aim to construct affordable homes swiftly, with plans to build 10 homes in the

first year, 40 in the second, and up to 70 in the third.

In workforce development, the report notes that Black workers are underrepresented in high-wage sectors. To bridge this gap, it recommends employer-led apprenticeships, portable benefits, and wage growth incentives. The proposed “Chicago Talent & Wealth Mobility Compact” seeks to align training programs with emerging industries, facilitating better employment opportunities.

Education is emphasized as a foundational tool for wealth building. The report calls for partnerships between corporations and schools to create industry-aligned education tracks, support youth entrepreneurship hubs, and integrate wealth-building resources within community schools.

Health disparities also play a critical role in economic inequality. The Urban League advocates for expanding access to high-quality healthcare, nutritious food, and clean environments, recognizing that health is deeply tied to economic prosperity.

To support these initiatives, the Urban League has announced partnerships with Edward Jones and Kredit Academy to promote Kredit Quest, a mobile app that rewards users for improving financial literacy. Additionally, collaborations with Kinexx and Ani Real Estate aim to expand access to affordable homeownership.

Chicago Urban League President and CEO Karen Freeman-Wilson emphasizes the importance of these efforts: “The disparities that Black communities face are already well documented. Now it's time to implement targeted solutions.

This report is an essential call to action for some of the most influential leaders in Chicago.”

The 2025 report serves as a blueprint for building Black wealth in Chicago, advocating for collaborative, cross-sector solutions to longstanding disparities.

By focusing on actionable strategies and partnerships, the Chicago Urban League aims to transform the city’s economic landscape, ensuring that all residents have the resources and opportunities to thrive.

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Malachi Webster CNW Staff Writer

City News

The Budget Says Yes. But Will the City Show Up?

W

hen Chicago mayors talk about their budgets, they typically talk in the billions of dollars. But on city's South and West Sides, the questions are smaller—and more urgent.

Will the pothole on your street finally get filled?

Will your cousin get a summer job?

Will Grandma’s building be rehabbed before another winter hits?

The 2025 Chicago city budget promises equity, investment, and transformation. But in neighborhoods long passed over, promises have a shelf life.

This year’s plan, spearheaded by Mayor Brandon Johnson, allocates record funding to affordable housing, youth employment, and community-based safety initiatives. On paper, it reads like the budget Black Chicagoans have been asking for. But the real test is execution.

Housing Headlines, History Warnings Affordable housing leads the narrative. A newly formed city-run nonprofit developer will begin constructing “green social housing,” with guaranteed unit allotments for low- to moderate-income residents. Targeted areas include Roseland and Englewood—neighborhoods long bypassed by developers, banks, and brokers.

The city is also expanding rapid rehousing programs, shelter networks, and small-scale development on long-vacant lots. In theory, it’s a multi-tiered strategy designed to curb displacement before it starts.

But longtime housing advocates remain cautious.

“Groundbreaking is easy,” one organizer in Greater Grand Crossing told Chicago News Weekly. “It’s the ribbon-cutting—and what happens five years later— that counts.”

Jobs, Not Just Policing Youth investment is another cornerstone. More than $50 million will fund youth jobs, many through the One Summer Chicago program. Teens and young adults on the South and West Sides will have access to paid roles in the arts, tech, city services, and more. The underlying goal: shift the public safety conversation from punishment to prevention.

City leaders have called this a “generational investment.” But for families where income and stability are fragile, what matters most is whether these programs start on time—and stick around.

Violence Prevention Reframed Public safety funding has taken a notable turn. Over $100 million will go to community organizations focused on conflict mediation, trauma care, and workforce training. For Black-led groups long operating on scraps, the support is overdue. But many stress that one-time funding can’t undo decades of erasure.

“We’ve been here,” said a South Side violence interrupter who asked not to be named. “The difference now is whether they keep showing up when the cameras leave.”

Infrastructure and Access The budget also addresses neglected infrastructure.

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Aging viaducts, crumbling residential streets, and long-forgotten bus stops are now slated for repair. The long-awaited Red Line extension to 130th Street remains funded, with officials saying it will better connect the Far South Side to the broader transit grid—a promise first made generations ago.

ful work. The 2025 budget says yes. But in a city where follow-up often outruns follow-through, “yes” isn’t a guarantee—it’s an invitation to hold power accountable.

Progress in this city doesn’t just show up in head-

Accountability in the Fine Print Oversight will come through an expanded Office of Equity and Racial Justice, now charged with tracking how city dollars are deployed. Some Black alderpersons are pushing for more aggressive audits, citing a history of funds that “disappeared quietly between departments.”

Still, the narrative appears to be shifting. Last fall’s community budget forums drew thousands of residents. In Austin, Bronzeville, Englewood, and beyond, neighbors gave feedback—and this year, some of those voices made it into the final line items.

From Line Item to Lived Experience For decades, Black Chicagoans have asked for the basics: safe streets, stable housing, dignified infrastructure, meaning-

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National news

Neffer Kerr CNW Staff Writer

Parental Accountability or Policies that Penalize Parents?

In

recent years, we’ve seen a rise in school bullying—both online and in person—along with blatant disrespect and physical violence in educational spaces. These incidents occur not only between students but also between students and faculty. This troubling trend has left many inside and outside of education wondering how to address the issue, especially as it seems to be escalating.

Parental Accountability Multiple states—such as Illinois, Tennessee, Maryland, and Ohio—have instituted legislation that, to varying degrees, holds parents accountable for the behavior (or crimes) of their minor children. Most recently in Georgia, with support from lawmakers, the Georgia Federation of Teachers proposed the Parental Accountability Act. The legislation seeks to address school violence prevention, increase parent accountability, and introduce other preventative measures.

It also recommends penalties for parents,

including fines, community service, and, in some cases, jail time—particularly when students physically assault faculty or staff.

But how do you teach accountability by punishing someone else?

Political strategist and lobbyist Kenyette Tisha Barnes, who has worked in Georgia, spoke with Chicago News Weekly about the proposed legislation.

She shared that this isn’t the first time a bill like this has been introduced—similar legislation has failed multiple times in the past—but now there's an even stronger push behind it.

The Issue The overarching problem, Barnes says, is that “educators no longer feel safe— personally or professionally. They are no longer effective at de-escalating situations with students. Disruptive students make classroom management extremely difficult. And there’s a perception that parents are using classrooms as daycare centers and simply don’t care. Violence

is particularly concerning with physically larger high school students. School violence is not just student-to-teacher, but also student-to-student. Teachers face multiple forms of abuse, including physical assault, cyberattacks, doxing, and sexual harassment.”

Blame Game Barnes describes the current legislation as more of a “trauma response” than a substantive solution. While parental accountability is necessary to address school violence—and while people do want legislative reform that supports student discipline—she emphasizes that no one seems to be addressing the root causes of the behavioral and psychological challenges playing out in classrooms.

According to Barnes, what we’re witnessing is educational trauma.

She explains that many schools across the country have become institutionalized, with substandard facilities and little focus on actual learning. “Some schools,” she says, “have become recruiting grounds for drug and gang activity, as well as sex trafficking. This is only compounded by the fact that child-on-parent abuse is virtually unacknowledged, let alone addressed.”

The need for change is urgent—but how effective is it to legally punish parents as a solution? Have states that have implemented similar laws actually seen improvements? What about accountability for the minors themselves? And who is held responsible when a child is a ward of the state, transient, or lives in split households?

Who decides which parent is “pun-

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ished”? Do we flip a coin? Or do we, by default, lock up countless parents— many of them single mothers—who may already be caring for other children?

Finally, how are schools addressing children who are simply mirroring behavior they see celebrated, rewarded, or emboldened—whether it’s racism, homophobia, or sexism—in their immediate environments? It may sound extreme, but we cannot ignore the ways in which broader society plays a role in shaping student behavior.

A Cry for Help Barnes sees the Parent Accountability Act—and similar efforts in other states—as a cry for help. She stresses the need for a multi-tiered approach that includes increased parental involvement, but also experts in forensic psychiatry, psychology, pediatrics, and sociology.

Only through a holistic approach, she argues, can we address students’ underlying needs before violence occurs.

This vision aligns with the preventative components of the Georgia bill, which include mental health screenings, staff training, and parenting classes. But Barnes cautions that, as with many policy ideas, the solution may be stronger in theory than in practice.

One major challenge is that many schools are already underfunded and struggling to manage a dichotomy where, as Barnes puts it, “both vulnerable children and those with predatory behaviors exist in the same environment.”

Hopefully, in the future, these issues will be addressed with care and fidelity by parents, educators, and legislators alike—so that we don’t simply create a new parental pipeline to prison.

May 15 - May 21, 2025

Laura Miller Managing Editor Photo Credit: Frankie Leal

Special Feature

Jeremy Piven: From Hollywood Icon to Stand-Up Comic—The Return to the Stage

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n June 6th, Jeremy Piven brings his unique brand of humor to The Vic for an unforgettable night of stand-up.

Known for his award-winning role as Ari Gold on Entourage, Piven has established himself as one of Hollywood's most dynamic actors. But now, he’s stepping into the world of comedy, offering fans a glimpse of the raw, honest, and often hilarious side of his life through stand-up.

“It’s not just about telling jokes,” says Piven.

“It’s about letting the audience in on who I

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am, what I’ve experienced, and where I come from.” His stand-up is far from a typical performance. Drawing inspiration from his life in Chicago, his Jewish upbringing, and his experiences navigating Hollywood, Piven offers a perspective that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. “I’ve been performing for decades,” Piven explains, “but standup is different. It’s about engaging with the audience in real-time, letting the comedy flow organically from the moment.”

Growing up in Evanston, Illinois, Piven was immersed in a diverse community that profoundly shaped his worldview. “I was lucky to grow up in a place where integration wasn’t just a buzzword—it was real. It made me see the world in ways that I could never have imagined,” he reflects. His unique perspective is at the core of his comedy, and it’s what makes his stand-up so engaging.

Whether he’s discussing his high school years, his time in theater, or the cultural nuances of growing up Jewish, Piven’s storytelling is powerful and deeply authentic.

“There’s a saying in the black culture: ‘Real recognizes real.’ And it’s true. There’s something about authenticity that cuts through,” Piven says, emphasizing the importance of cultural understanding. His experiences of

growing up in an integrated high school where he was one of the few white students on his football team gave him a rare insight into race, identity, and the power of shared experiences. “I’ve always believed that racism and antisemitism come from a lack of understanding about other people’s cultures,” he adds.

While Piven’s acting career catapulted him to fame, it’s his love for stand-up that has truly allowed him to express himself in a way that feels most natural. “All roads lead to stand-up,” he says. “Even when I was acting, I was always thinking like a comic. The best actors I know are the ones who understand timing, who know how to create moments.”

His time in Chicago with Second City and the Piven Theater gave him the stage to experiment, and by the time he was performing at Just for Laughs in Montreal, he had already developed the skills that would make him a standout comic.

Piven’s stand-up is never static—it evolves with each performance. “I’m an improviser at heart,” he admits. “The set changes with every show. You never know what’s going to happen in the room.” This spontaneity is part of what makes his shows so special. Fans can expect a performance that’s alive with

energy, constantly shifting based on the audience’s response. “It’s not a monologue, it’s a dialogue,” he explains. “The audience and I, we’re all in this together. That’s what makes stand-up so exciting.”

As Piven gears up for his show at The Vic, he’s excited to return to his roots. “Chicago has always been a place where creativity is celebrated,” he says. “It’s where I learned the value of community and support, and it’s shaped who I am as a performer.” His return to Chicago isn’t just a chance to perform— it’s a homecoming, and it promises to be one of the highlights of his national tour.

“I can’t wait to bring this show to Chicago,” Piven says with a smile. “There’s something magical about coming home. And this tour?

It’s just the beginning. We’re going to take this all over the country, but The Vic? That’s my home turf.”

If you’ve ever seen Jeremy Piven on screen, you know he’s a master at commanding attention. But when he steps on stage at The Vic, you’ll see a whole new side of him—a comedian who’s not afraid to be raw, honest, and hilariously unpredictable. Don’t miss the chance to experience this one-of-a-kind performance. Get your tickets now and get ready to laugh like never before.

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Cover Story

Laura Miller Managing Editor Steven Koch Photography

Andrea Hill In Her Element

Andrea Hill’s presence doesn’t need to be announced—it enters a room with her.

She’s soft-spoken when she wants to be, but never invisible. She moves with the kind of grounded energy that tells you she’s walked through doubt, outpaced expectation, and now lives at the center of her own design.

Most mornings, Hill is up by 5:45 a.m. It’s quiet. She doesn’t reach for her phone. She prays.

Then she presses play on Ricky Dillard’s “Consider It Done,” a gospel anthem she loops for clarity, confidence, and rhythm. “That song sets the tone for my whole day,” she said. “I play it on repeat until I feel charged enough to carry everyone and support those I am responsible for.” And she means that literally. By 7 a.m., Hill is often already in motion—making her way between stores across the Chicagoland region, sometimes on just a few hours of sleep.

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uring our interview, she was in the car, heading to two Hooters locations she oversees as Regional Director of Operations for HMC Hospitality Group. “I had to take this call while I’m out because today I’m driving to both Lansing and Oak Lawn,” she explained. “Sometimes I just need to be present. I want my team to know I see them. That they matter enough for me to show up.”

This, as Hill puts it, is what leadership looks like. Not just making decisions— but making yourself available. Not just managing numbers—but nurturing people. She doesn’t lead from behind a screen. She leads from the passenger seat of a moving car, from the corner booth of a restaurant that needs a little love, from a place of lived experience that informs every choice she makes.

And when Sheila E.’s “Glamorous Life” comes on during one of those drives— everything shifts. “That’s my song,” she says with a smile that hits before the words. “It just changes my mood. Makes me feel free. Reminds me I’m allowed to be light, too.” You get the sense that Hill is someone who takes life seriously—but not so seriously that she forgets how to enjoy it. Her joy is rooted, chosen, deliberate.

Hill’s first shift at Hooters came with no formal welcome—just tension. The woman assigned to train her that day wanted nothing to do with it. “She was very clear that she didn’t want to train me,” Hill said plainly. “And in that moment, I felt small. Unwanted.” But another woman, who would become one of Hill’s closest friends, Desi, stepped in without hesitation. “She took my hand.

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Literally,” Hill said. “She told me, ‘I got you.’ And that moment changed everything for me. I remember thinking—I want to be her for somebody else.”

She would become that woman for someone else, and then another, and then another. Not because it was required, but because it was right. Because she remembered what it was like to be unsure, to be new, to be looked past.

One wouldn’t believe that as a child, Hill was painfully shy. “I was so quiet growing up,” she said. “People think I’ve always been this confident, but I haven’t. Hooters was where I learned to use my voice.” She doesn’t say that lightly.

“Some girls come in shy and leave confident women,” she added. “What’s wrong with that?”

The misconceptions about women who work at Hooters aren’t lost on Hill.

In fact, she confronts them directly.

“People see the uniform and make assumptions,” she said. “But we celebrate women in similar attire in sports and entertainment—Rockettes, cheerleaders. The only difference is the setting.

And the confidence we gain? That’s real.”

She notes that when people look at the women who’ve worn the uniform, they should also see the legacy: more than 400,000 women who’ve gone on to succeed across countless industries.

Over time, Hill transitioned from hostess to server to corporate trainer. She flew across the country training new staff in brand culture and customer care. “It wasn’t about just being cute,” she said.

“You had to know your stuff. You had to be sharp. And you had to connect.”

While many were still seeing her in orange shorts, Hill was already building

her résumé behind the scenes. Her first job outside of the front-of-house roles was as a file auditor. “That was my entry into the business side,” she said. “I was making sure all employee files were compliant. It sounds simple, but that job taught me the value of precision.”

Hill’s professional pivot was steady and intentional. She had been working in local news at the time, juggling a broadcasting schedule and part-time shifts at Hooters. “It took me a while to admit that broadcasting wasn’t my calling,” she said. “It’s hard to walk away from something you studied, something people expect you to do. But Hooters was the one space where I felt like I could grow for real.”

From audits to training, her trajectory within HMC Hospitality Group was marked by quiet readiness. Every time a new opportunity appeared, she had already done the work. “I didn’t know I was preparing,” she laughs. “I just kept saying yes.”

One of those yeses led to New York City—a place known for breaking people down before it builds them up. The opportunity came unexpectedly: a leadership role at one of the company’s flagship locations. Hill was hesitant. She had no desire to leave Chicago. But when she talked to her dad, he didn’t hesitate. “‘If you don’t take this,’ he told me, ‘they’re not going to offer it again.’” She trusted him. “So I packed up and left everything I knew.”

She arrived in New York with no fanfare, no warm welcome, and no built-in credibility. “They didn’t care who I was.

I had to prove myself,” she said. And she did. Hill took one of the company’s flag-

ship locations and reshaped its culture from the inside. “It was like building trust brick by brick,” she said. “I had to listen before I led.”

When Hill returned to Chicago, she brought more than just new strategies— she brought New York–style grit, stories, and standards. “New York changed how I lead,” she said. “I stopped trying to prove myself and started making space for others to rise.”

Today, Hill oversees multiple high-performing Hooters locations across the Chicagoland area as Regional Director of Operations for HMC Hospitality Group. But her reach extends far beyond operations.

In 2025, she was installed on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Restaurant Association and appointed to its Finance Committee—an acknowledgment of both her business acumen and the quiet authority she brings to every room. Hill also serves on several other boards and advisory panels, lending her perspective to causes that center mentorship, community partnerships, and the advancement of women in hospitality. Her seat at the table isn’t just symbolic—it’s active, earned, and deeply engaged.

Hill has been with HMC for over two decades—24 years, to be exact—and was promoted to the executive side 11 years ago. Her longevity is rare, and it’s not just because she’s good at what she does.

It’s because she’s never lost sight of why she does it.

She builds relationships—with vendors, with community leaders, with team members. She’s known to show Continue on Page 12

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up at charity events, sponsor youth programs, and mentor young women in and outside of the industry. “You can’t ask people to care about work if you don’t care about them,” she said.

That commitment runs deep. Just days before our conversation, Hill worked a full shift and then drove to support her friend’s daughter at a school recital. “I was tired,” she admitted. “But it mattered to her. So I showed up.”

Hill’s voice softens when she talks about the people who raised her. “My dad is my rock,” she said. “He’s the reason I’m as driven as I am. He’s always pushed me when I needed it. He’s the one who told me to take New York. That voice of reason in my head—most times, it’s his.”

But the matriarchal thread runs even deeper. “My mom gave me patience,” Hill added. “She balanced out the intensity. Where my dad pushed, she steadied. She reminded me that being strong doesn’t mean being hard.”

And then, there’s her grandmother.

“She made it her business to make sure I knew who I was,” Hill said, pausing.

Her grandmother raised foster children while caring for her own, running a household with grit and grace. “She gave everything she had to everyone around her. She never made me feel small. She

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made me feel chosen.”

It’s here that Hill gets emotional, her words slowing, deepening. “I learned so much from watching her. She showed me what it meant to give without needing recognition. To love without condition. That’s the kind of leader I try to be.”

Her grandmother’s home in Chicago Heights, she said, was the center of everything. “That’s where we came back to.

That’s where I learned to work. To serve.

To stand tall.”

Even now, Hill thinks about the legacy she’s building—not just in the corporate sense, but in the spirit of the women who shaped her. “It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room,” she said. “It’s about being the one people know they can count on. That’s what she was. That’s what I want to be.”

When asked what she would say to the younger version of herself, Hill doesn’t hesitate. “She was painfully shy,” she said. “I would tell her: ‘You are perfect exactly where you are, exactly how you are, exactly who you are.’”

There’s a tenderness in her voice now. “I spent a lot of years thinking I had to be louder. Or smaller. Or more agreeable. I thought I had to do everything on someone else’s timeline. But I didn’t. I don’t.”

She takes a deep breath. “There is nothing wrong with being exactly who you are. You are not late. You are not behind.

You are not lacking.”

For Hill, time has taught her not just resilience, but clarity. She’s done shrinking. “We’re so busy telling people to dream big, but we don’t give them space to evolve,” she said. “I would tell her to take her time. That there’s beauty in blooming when you're ready.”

Looking ahead, Hill’s vision is striking in its fullness. “Prayerfully,” she said, “I will be a mother, a wife, and a CEO.” And when she says it, there’s no hesitation. “Everything I’ve walked through is shaping me for that. I believe what I’ve learned will lend itself to all three of those things that are really important to me.”

She doesn’t see leadership and family as opposing forces. She sees them as different expressions of the same gift: presence. “Whether I’m in a boardroom or at home or sitting across from someone who just needs to be heard—I want to be someone who knows how to show up.”

Leadership, for Hill, isn’t about climbing a ladder—it’s about building a platform. It’s about making space where others didn’t. It’s about carrying what her grandmother handed her, what her

father instilled in her, and what her team reminds her of every single day.

She’s not interested in being the face of something. She’s interested in being the force behind it. “I don’t need the spotlight,” she said. “I just need to know that when I show up, it means something.”

For the women coming behind her, Hill hopes her presence gives them permission to lead their own way. “There is no one version of what success looks like,” she said. “You can do it in heels or sneakers. Quietly or boldly. You just have to do it from a place of knowing who you are.”

In an industry that can burn people out, Hill is still glowing—not because she hasn’t been tested, but because she’s stayed lit from within. Her kind of leadership doesn’t come with applause. It comes with impact. With consistency.

With presence.

And sometimes, with a gospel song playing in the background. Or the spark of recognition when someone walks into a room and knows she’s in charge—not because she says so, but because they feel it. Because that’s Andrea Hill.

And that’s the heart of a leader.

May 15 - May 21, 2025

Malachi Webster Staff Writer

HEALTHY LIVING

Too Young to Forget The Changing Face of Dementia in Black America

D

ementia has often been perceived as a condition associated strictly with the elderly—a gradual decline unfolding quietly in life’s final chapter.

But recent studies and lived experiences are reshaping that narrative. Increasingly, dementia is touching lives decades earlier than previously believed, particularly among Black Americans. In cities like Chicago, the consequences of ignoring this emerging reality—of not discussing dementia openly and proactively—are too costly to overlook.

National health statistics point to a troubling rise in early-onset dementia cases. Although overall numbers remain lower than in senior populations, diagnoses among adults younger than 65 have more than doubled globally in recent decades. The implications for Black Americans are particularly stark.

Research consistently reveals that Black adults face not only a higher risk of developing dementia compared to their white counterparts but also experience symptoms at younger ages. Moreover, due to systemic disparities, these symptoms often go unnoticed or misdiagnosed, delaying critical intervention.

This heightened vulnerability isn’t solely biological. Rather, it reflects the profound effects of systemic inequities— chronic stress from discrimination, socioeconomic hardships, limited access to quality healthcare, and higher rates of conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. All these factors contribute significantly to cognitive deterioration, particularly within historically marginalized communities.

Across Chicago’s South and West Sides, the lived reality of this crisis is becoming clearer. Stories surface regularly about middle-aged residents managing early signs of memory loss while simultaneously supporting aging parents or raising young children. Some families grapple privately, guided only by intuition and resilience, without formal guidance or medical acknowledgment. Others hesitate to seek professional help, fearing their concerns might be dismissed or misunderstood due to biases in healthcare systems.

Recognizing these gaps, local organizations have stepped forward. Lorenzo’s House, a Chicago-based nonprofit, specifically supports families dealing with young-onset dementia through dedicated support groups, educational resources, and therapeutic programs like music-based interventions. Community

May 15 - May 21, 2025

initiatives such as Dementia Friendly Washington Heights are also making strides, bringing education directly to churches and local centers, emphasizing brain health as a communal responsibility rather than an isolated personal burden.

On the research front, institutions like Rush University Medical Center are at the forefront, conducting comprehensive studies on cognitive aging specifically within Black communities. Their findings highlight significant flaws in existing diagnostic tools, many of which are standardized based predominantly on white populations. These tools frequently overlook or underestimate early dementia symptoms among Black patients, resulting in delayed diagnoses and fewer opportunities for timely intervention and treatment.

The importance of early intervention cannot be overstated. Health experts advocate for proactive strategies—including effective blood pressure management, consistent mental health support, and enhanced social connections—all proven to help delay cognitive decline.

In response, some Chicago-area clinics are beginning to integrate memory assessments into routine health checkups, aiming to normalize early detection and intervention. Public health officials and community advocates alike hope these pilot programs will soon become standard practice, particularly in neighborhoods lacking sufficient neurology specialists.

Then there is the often-overlooked story of caregivers. Within many Black families, caregiving responsibilities frequently fall on daughters, nieces, grandsons, or other relatives already managing demanding work and personal responsibilities. These caregivers carry immense emotional and financial burdens, typically without adequate external support.

While community-based networks and resources offer some relief, comprehensive citywide support systems remain scarce—especially for cases involving younger dementia patients.

Despite these significant challenges, a meaningful shift is underway. Black families are beginning to break the generational silence surrounding dementia.

Churches across the city are hosting informational sessions, community centers distribute brain-health literature alongside other health screenings, and conversations about memory loss are becoming more open and frequent.

Chicago’s Black neighborhoods are re-

nowned for their tenacity—but tenacity alone should not be the city’s default strategy for addressing dementia. With younger adults increasingly affected, dementia must now be approached not merely as a clinical issue, but as an urgent matter of public health equity. For

Black communities to experience aging with dignity and care, conversations about dementia must start today—at kitchen tables, in doctors’ offices, and across every corner of Chicago.

Chicago News Weekly

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The A.I.

T

The answer.is...

here’s a lot of talk about taxes and tariffs swirling around and you may want to gain a cleared understanding of it all. Most of us understand the concept of taxes. Not everyone pays the same type of taxes or all the different type of taxes of which some of us pay and others do not. What we may not know is how tariffs impact our taxes.

Americans pay a variety of taxes at the federal, state, and local levels. These taxes can be broadly categorized. Here’s a break down of the main kinds of Taxes. : taxes on income, taxes on property, and taxes on goods and services.

1. Taxes on Income: • a. Individual Income Taxes: These are taxes on the income earned by individuals through wages, salaries, investments, and other sources.

• b. The federal income tax is progressive, meaning higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes.

• Local Income Taxes: Some cities or counties (e.g. New York city ) impose an additional income tax.

• Corporate Income Taxes: Taxes on the profits of corporations. a. Businesses pay taxes on their profits at both federal and state levels.

2. Payroll Taxes: These taxes are used to fund social in-

Hot Topic

surance programs like Social Security and Medicare. a. They are taken directly from paychecks to fund social security and Medicare (FICA taxes) b. Both employees and employers contribute.

3. Capital Gains Taxes: Paid on profits from the sale of assets like stocks, bonds, and real estate or other investments.

4. . Taxes on Property: • Paid by property owners to local governments (usually cities or counties) based on value of real estate.

• Property Taxes: These are taxes on real estate (land and buildings) and are a major source of revenue for local governments, funding schools, roads, and other public services.

• Estate and Inheritance Taxes: Taxes on the transfer of property upon death.

5. Excise Taxes known as Taxes on Goods and Services: • Specific taxes on certain goods like gasoline, alcohol , tobacco and firearms • Sales Taxes: These are taxes on the purchase of goods and services. They are typically collected by state and local governments.

• Excise Taxes: These are taxes on specific goods or services, such as alcohol,

CNW Staff Contributor tobacco, and gasoline.

• Customs Duties (Tariffs): Taxes on imported goods.

6. Other Taxes and Fees: In addition to these main categories, Americans may also pay other taxes and fees, such as: • Self-Employment Taxes: These are taxes paid by self-employed individuals to cover Social Security and Medicare.

• Unemployment Taxes: These taxes fund unemployment benefits for those who lose their jobs.

• User Fees: Fees for services provided by the government, such as park entrance fees or tolls.

• Estate and Gift Taxes: Federal taxes on the transfer of wealth via inheritance or large gifts. Some states also levy their own versions. *Important Note: The specific types of taxes paid and the rates at which they are levied can vary depending on the state and local government. For instance, some states do not have a state income tax, while others have different sales tax rates.

Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods. They do not directly affect the taxes listed above (like income or property taxes), but they can have indirect effects: 1. Consumer Prices •Tariffs increase the cost of imported

goods.

•U.S. businesses may pass those costs to consumers, leading to higher retail prices (a form of hidden tax on consumers).

2. Business Costs •Companies reliant on imported materials face higher costs, potentially reducing profits (and therefore, corporate tax revenue).

•Some may reduce hiring or wages, affecting payroll tax revenues.

3. Economic Growth •Widespread tariffs can slow down economic activity if they lead to trade wars or inflation, which may reduce income and employment—and thus reduce income and payroll tax collections.

4. Government Revenue •Tariffs do generate revenue for the federal government directly, but it’s a small portion (historically under 2% of federal revenues).

• Historically, before the income tax was established (1913), tariffs were a major source of U.S. government revenue. *Please feel free to clip this article and save as a reference.

Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Workplace Inequity Worsens for Black Women

M

eanwhile, they remain underrepresented in high-wage fields like tech, law, and executive management—even when they hold the degrees and credentials to qualify.

This passage highlights the significant challenges faced by Black women in the U.S. labor force, including systemic discrimination, lower wages, overrepresentation in low-wage industries, and limited advancement opportunities.

Despite being essential to various sectors, including healthcare, care work, and education, Black women experience a notable pay gap and are underrepresented in high-wage fields like tech, law, and executive management.

Research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) and other sources paints a picture of persistent inequality in earnings and job security. Black women working full-time, year-round, earned just 69.1 cents for every dollar paid to white men, a figure that worsens in certain states. The disparity deepens with age, and even those in leadership roles express dissatisfaction with their pay and the barriers they face to advancement. The underrepresentation in high-wage fields despite qualifications further exacerbates the issue.

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The personal stories shared, such as Charity Wallace and Chassity Coston's experiences in biotech and education, underscore the emotional toll of workplace discrimination and the need for supportive communities. The concept of “Black Girl Magic,” while empowering, also inadvertently places unrealistic expectations on Black women, contributing to higher rates of anxiety and depression.

This situation is further complicated by the lack of adequate support systems, as limited opportunities for promotion and sponsorship isolate many Black women in their careers. Tiffani Lambie’s warning about the “invisible struggle for Black women” points to the potential long-term consequences if these workplace conditions remain unaddressed. The risk is that fewer Black women will continue to break through leadership and career pipelines, further perpetuating inequality.

Ultimately, the need for systemic change is clear, as creating an equitable and supportive environment is crucial not only for Black women but for the overall health and diversity of the workforce. The stories shared in the passage offer valuable insight into how Black women navigate these challenges, leaning on community and mental health strategies to cope, and how they are striving to build more stable and fulfilling career paths.

May 15 - May 21, 2025

Laura Miller Managing Editor

love & Relationships

Wait… It Takes Eight Years to Get Over an Ex?!

Apparently. Science said it, not us.

A

ccording to researchers at the University of Illinois, it can take up to eight years—yes, eight—to fully get over an ex from a long-term relationship. Not eight years of heartbreak hotel, tissues, and sad playlists on repeat. No, this is about the quiet kind of remembering—the emotional residue that lingers long after the last text was sent.

It’s the little things.

The mental comparisons. The split-second flashes when someone new laughs differently, touches differently, shows up differently—and somewhere in the brain, a memory says, “That’s not how John John used to do it.”

The researchers found that emotional detachment from a past relationship doesn’t happen all at once. It fades gradually, in what’s called a logarithmic decline—a fancy way of saying: it gets easier, but the final traces? They take their sweet time. The early stages bring the biggest emotional shift, but the last threads of attachment can linger for years.

This isn’t about toxic relationships— those need swift exits and no looking back. This is about the ones that were meaningful, even if they weren’t meant to last. The ones built on connection, realness, and something that once felt like forever.

That kind of bond doesn’t just disappear. It sticks around, mostly through comparison. The comparisons stretch out the timeline—not always intentionally, but consistently. Because when a relationship creates habits, preferences, and comfort, everything after it is measured against that baseline—even subconsciously.

And here’s the kicker: being in a new relationship doesn’t shorten the timeline.

May 15 - May 21, 2025

That part tends to surprise people. New love doesn’t cancel out old memories.

Time is the only thing that truly does the work—and some people, quite simply, take longer to fade.

Even by the end of that eight-year mark, it’s not total deletion—it’s emotional distance. That person becomes someone who’s remembered, but not felt. Someone who’s filed away in the “used to know” category. The memory stays. The bond, however, softens.

Which brings us here: the selection process. If someone could live in the subconscious for nearly a decade after they’re gone, then choosing the right people matters. Not perfect people, but aligned people. Compatible people.

People who match goals, values, emotional pace.

Not team picky— just team intentional.

Because when a relationship ends, the hope isn’t to erase it. The hope is to feel peace when it’s over. And that starts with choosing wisely, loving well, and understanding that even the best love stories sometimes echo long after the final chapter.

The Voice Of Black Chicago

Now Available Online

www.cnwmedia.com Chicago News Weekly

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art & culture

Kai EL’ Zabar Editor-in-Chief

Hymn A Review

I

t’s a story about two Black men, brothers like many men we know.

Even more so because the story takes place on the South Side of Chicago. It reveals and exposes the inner nuance of the powerful relationship that exists between straight Black men—relationships not often exposed or held in high regard.

Playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, author of Hymn, says, “The title conjures up music and men…. I love how music can transport you back in time. Music and memory are very linked. I learned that sympathetic resonance—when a tuning fork vibrates because it feels the vibration of another tuning fork without ever touching it—shares a harmonic likeness.

I thought, ‘Wow! What a beautiful idea: to have these two characters who can tune into each other and sing each other’s tune.’ Music and men.”

Interestingly, Chakrabarti is a product of Britain and feels strongly that American people of color share a similar standing in society, noting that the history and navigation of life is very different. The difference in the two versions of emancipation from slavery and migration to the colonialist land, with the subsequent integration of a people, make for two very different stories—with the inner consequential emotional impact being the end product.

So, to work in the States with that understanding in sight, Director Ron O.J. Parsons says that the transposing of the play from England to Chicago has changed it. If for no other reason, the African American's emphatic connection to music is undeniable, with each genre and period documenting the headspace of its corresponding generation.

Each musical footprint addressing the socio-political turbulence or questions of the moment in history is an indicator of the space in time that occupied the mindset of the people, no matter their personal journeys. The music always tells you what loomed largest.

Hymn surprises us, however, because the music heard is not sung by a choir, but rather by the hearts of Benny and Gil, who are not childhood friends, but—by the unexpected news of their relationship—come together as grown men and learn to respect, value, and appreciate one another. Through the music they embrace in that moment—yet built upon the music of their past—they find themselves singing the hymn of life, love, and family. The pursuit always be-

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Chicago News Weekly

ing the promise of peace.

I was blown away by the ability of the two actors who portray men that you and I know: Benny, portrayed by Chike Johnson, and Gil, played by James Vincent Meredith—two of the country’s finest actors—who bring to life two everyday men whose story is one of the most unsung ballads of a Black man’s love story in America.

I read the press release that described the two men who came together as strangers yet, before long, “they’re singing the same tune.”

I am inclined to say I disagree. It is the suppressed quiet within each that longed to be spoken and heard—that bellowed out the hymn that labored the love—and their voices, weighted from the interference of life’s experiences that had been buried for their lifetimes, burst through because of the experience that pushes it through loud and clear.

The story is about their discovery of self/selves and the unspoken that hangs in the balance.

The performance runs approximately 100 minutes with no intermission, so don’t consume too much liquid before the show. You’ll be so engaged with the onstage theatrics that you won’t even notice the time fly.

Go see this magnificent piece of work—now on stage at Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier.

Call 312.595.5600 or go to ChicagoShakes. com for tickets!

And tell them that you heard about it

May 15 - May 21, 2025

Malachi Webster Staff Writer

Entertainment

Electric Sorrow, Amplified Soul Walk through Chi- On Maxwell Street, a once-vi- was pressed into wax. Chess Rebrant open-air market just west cords, at 2120 S. Michigan Ave.— cago’s South or West of downtown, musicians began now a landmark museum—capSides on a warm eve- plugging in. They wired grief to tured the raw brilliance of artists an amplifier and let it wail across like Howlin’ Wolf and Etta James. ning, and the blues alleys and asphalt. Muddy Waters, The building, once cluttered with might find you before Little Walter, and Jimmy Rogers cords and clashing egos, exportturned the sidewalk into a sonic ed the city’s sound to the world. you find it. It drifts from car battlefield, forging a sound sharp Later, Vee-Jay Records—one of radios, seeps from open windows, clings to the corners of old record shops. This city doesn’t just remember the blues—it holds it in its bones. And for Black Chicagoans, the music isn’t just a genre. It’s a language, a lineage, a place.

In a city often credited for deepdish and politics, there’s another legacy humming beneath the surface—one of distortion, drawl, and defiant melody. Long before the term Chicago Blues became canonical, its roots were already threading their way northward.

Between 1916 and 1970, more than half a million Black Southerners arrived in the city during the Great Migration, each bringing a verse, a voice, or a vinyl. As they left behind the cotton fields of Mississippi and the heat of Memphis, they carried with them not just survival stories—but the soundtrack that held them.

But Chicago was louder. The city’s factories roared, and its streets buzzed with ambition.

Acoustic sorrow had to evolve.

May 15 - May 21, 2025

enough to cut through concrete.

From there, blues moved into the basements and bars: Theresa’s Lounge. Pepper’s Hideout.

The Checkerboard. All gone now, but never forgotten. These venues weren’t just stages—they were sanctuaries. Communal therapy sessions that lasted past midnight, where pain could be shouted into brass and bent strings. It’s where Koko Taylor earned her crown and where Big Mama Thornton rattled the walls with the kind of voice that didn’t ask permission.

When a young Buddy Guy stepped off the train from Baton Rouge, the blueprint was already etched in sweat and spotlight.

What wasn’t performed live

the first Black-owned labels in the U.S.—pushed the envelope even further, proving that owning the means of production wasn’t just a business move; it was cultural preservation.

Today, you can still hear the blues echo in places like Rosa’s Lounge or Buddy Guy’s Legends, where tourists sit shoulder-to-shoulder with regulars who know every riff by heart. But perhaps more revealing are the record stores that remain. Out of the Past Records, tucked inside West Garfield Park, isn’t just a

storefront—it’s a living archive. Its owner, now in her 80s, still calls customers “family.” In neighborhoods where so much has vanished, that continuity means something.

But Chicago’s blues inheritance is also at risk. As rents rise and condos encroach, the city’s sonic landmarks face a familiar erasure.

Who owns the memory when the music fades?

Preservation efforts like the Muddy Waters MOJO Museum in Kenwood—currently in development—and tours of the old Chess building offer hope. Yet the question lingers: in a streaming era where songs are compressed and shuffled, can a legacy so analog survive?

Maxwell Street, now a shadow of its former self, still hosts muraled tributes—painted memories of what once electrified its concrete.

Even as change barrels forward, the city resists forgetting. Here, music is not background noise—it’s context. A map of resilience etched in every bassline and backbeat.

From the stage to the stacks, the blues holds the emotional DNA of a people who turned hardship into harmony. It reminds us that our history wasn’t only written— it was recorded, too.

Chicago News Weekly

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Food & Wine

Mare Evans Contributing Writer

Cod

Veracruz!

C

od is a white fish, and hands down, the best way to cook cod is to batter it and fry it. Battering fish locks in moisture while it cooks. Cod can be prepared in many ways, though—bake it, sauté it, broil it—they all work.

The secret, really, is to not overcook the fish. As soon as cod flakes, it's

done.

Cod's flavor can be described as mild, slightly sweet, delicate, and generally neutral, with hints of savoriness (umami). Some describe it as sweet and buttery, while others find it more subtle. Its flavor is also enhanced by the briny taste of the sea when cooked. Its meaty flesh is firm, moist, and flaky, making it perfect for various cooking methods. The flavor of cod is not too fishy, which is why it is a favorite among those not keen on the strong taste of seafood.

Here we are presenting Knorr’s delicious Cod Veracruz, made with a few simple ingredients—a recipe that’s quick and easy to make but flavorful to eat!

Prep Time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 people Ingredients 2 tbsp. vegetable oil, divided 4 pieces cod fillet (about 1 ½ lbs.)

2 medium onions, chopped

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Chicago News Weekly

1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 can (14.5 oz.) no-salt-added peeled tomatoes, undrained 1 Knorr’s chicken bouillon cube 8 pimiento-stuffed olives, halved 1 tbsp. lime juice 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro 3 cups hot cooked brown rice Cook 1. Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add cod and cook about 4 minutes, turning once, until golden. Remove and set aside.

2. Heat the remaining 1 tbsp. oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Cook onion for about 4 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon. Crumble a Knorr’s chicken bouillon cube into the skillet; stir in olives.

3. Return cod to skillet and bring to a boil, spooning some of the tomato mixture over the top. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 4 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork. Stir in lime juice. Garnish with cilantro and serve with hot cooked rice.

May 15 - May 21, 2025

C.L. Blackburn Contributing Writer

Why We Met! Defining the Met Gala?

fashion

T

echnically the Met Gala 2025 has come and gone. And the start of planning next year’s event has begun. So, what’s it all about? The Met Gala specifically is a charity event and fundraiser for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It has traditionally been timed to announce and stage the opening of the department’s annual fashion exhibition. Year after year, the event raises eight-figure sums not six but eight figure sums!

This year, the proceeds have reportedly resounded $31 million, Accordingly, museum officials have reported that it’s the biggest gross in America’s most coveted event’s 77 year history.. . . And wouldn’t you know it?

Dandyism As the Met Gala 2025 Theme The the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced in October 2024 that the Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” Drawing inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, exhibition is organized into sections. Each of the 12 sections represents a characteristic that defines dandy style: Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion, Respectability, and ‘Jook’ defined in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Characteristics of Negro Expression,” encompasses an important in-depth look at Blacks inner being expressed outside of themselves. It holds the space for dancing, singing, drinking, talking, walking and other leisure activities), Heritage, Beauty, Cool, and Cosmopolitanism.

What it Is The question is --what is Black Dandyism?

A starched pressed shirt, The undeniably sharp creases of a tailored suit, the shine on polished shoes, or the sewn in crease on your favorite pair of jeans all scream dandyism. It isn’t just about looking good. It’s a commitment. It’s an allegiance that declares excellence and distinction. It is the defiance holding his/her space in a world that has long sought to oppress and recreate Black identity. Black dandyism is the natural expression of our being through lines, shapes, color, and textures capturing details and accents of ribbon, flowers or buttons and sometimes rhinestones steeped in history, intentionality and gratification.

Dandyism in Black impact stretches far beyond the stylized presentation. It is a cultural statement reflecting the creative beings that Black folk are how they express their genius through fashion.

Exclamation!

The 2025 Met Gala theme puts the thread in the needle clearly showcasing the part Black culture plays in shaping fashion and why we Met! Black dandyism is finally receiving the global spotlight it has long deserved.

May 15 - May 21, 2025

Chicago News Weekly

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May 15 - May 21, 2025