THE ONLY MAGAZINE CREATED BY EVANSTON CITIZENS
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DEE’S PLACE
SOUL FOOD WORTH THE DRIVE TO GLENVIEW
BENNETT JOHNSON
EVANSTONS HISTORIC SHEPHERD
MELEIKA GARDNER “I AM GOING ON RECORD”
A Glimpse of the Fight for
REPARATIONS Reparations | EvanstonMagazine.net
BOBBY BURNS AND THE FIFTH WARD- WHAT NOW
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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BENNETT JOHNSON
Reparations and The City of Evanston
What Does It Look Like
DEPARTMENTS
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FIFTH WARD
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FEATURES
Bobby Burns Won and Now What Will Bobby Do to Assure 5th Ward Growth?
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ANTI- REPARATIONS
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“The Argument Against Reparations”
THE PHENOMENAL MELEIKA GARDNER SHE IS “ON THE RECORD”
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Editor’s Letter WHAT AN IMPORTANT ISSUE During the pandemic, the City of Evanston went on record as the first to pass the first REPARATIONS BILL. The honor goes to Robin Rue-Simmons, as the leading Alder-person of the 5th ward. The idea of reparations has been spoken about for decades. It’s almost as if there’s so much content that needs to be published, that our 24-page attempt is in need of a thousand more pages and video. We’ve done our best and present this to the world. We’ve put together a group of very key people. Voices of the Evanston area continue to be warriors of community growth. Voices like Meleika Gardner who really “spoke her mind”. Also, newly elected 5th ward Aldermanic candidate Bobby Burns laid out some of his plans to uplift the residents of the ward. We have included two anti-reparations voices. Unfortunately despite all of the blatant and subverted attacks upon American black people who have suffered, there are still people alive that believe some of the thoughts that you will read. This issue documents the compassionate and intellectually appropriate start to the process of healing- REPAIR Bennett Johnson’s article is recorded and time-stamped in key places so that important parts are not missed. He is a village elder who helped finance M.K. King and arranged for Elijah Mohammad to meet M.L. King. He worked with Mohammad Ali during the times when Ali reigned supreme. His relevance in black history is insurmountably important and is still relevant in the works of reparations and Evanston. To get the full unedited version see the Youtube channel ( https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=O1EU3V7QVZQ ) I found, it’s useless to try and edit a long and important conversation down into a three-page article. I would never deprive my neighbors. So go take the time to listen. The organizational institutional and oppositional hidden racism that was experienced when the opportunity to advertise was presented “shocked me”. Most astounding were the institutions like banks and the city of Evanstons’ taxed-based resourced institutions that seem to find no value in our publications and no advertising money for people of color. I watched as they funded the “other” publications. Therefore, I truly want to thank Leak and Son’s Funeral family, especially Spencer Leak, who stood strong with us and advertised at a time we needed the boost. It has always been businesses’ like the Leak family who steps up in historical moments. I feel like this is one of those moments. The Sam Cooke funeral - important to black culture. We also appreciate other valuable supporters. These heartfelt Evanston Businesses that show the good side of Evanston included the AutoBarn, Alcove- Evanston, Cottage Jeweler, Heart Automotive, and many others. Please join this list-advertise@evanstonmagazine.net I feel as though we have a lot of work to do and its getting DONE.
Editor in Chief EVANSTON Magazine
Aaron Foster 4
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EVANSTON MAGAZINE
Publisher Editor -in- Chief Aaron Foster In Mentorship Evanston Woman Magazine
Linda Del Bosque Contributing Writers
Zimmerman Wealth Management Meleika Gardner Sheetal DeCaria, MD. Sherryanne de la Boise Keith Terry Heather S. Bormann Demona Hoffman Karen Kopan Photographers Aaron Foster Google Marketing Director Deanna Lena Elliott-Sales Director Erik STAY IN TOUCH afoster@evanstonmagazine.net FB.com/EvanstonMagazine IG evanstonmanmagazine Phone Number 773.441.4044
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Reparations | EvanstonMagazine.net
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REPARATIONS
An Interview With
Bobby Burns
5th Wards New Alderman Evanston Magazine Bobby Burns the incoming fifth Ward, Aldermen. Congratulations on your win Alderman Bobby Burns, how you feel about it? Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns It feels good. It was a, you know, it was a team win. It was a community win. You know, I was thankful to have the support of the former aldermen current alderman, you know, earn both of those had good conversations with them about. You know, my vision and my work ethic and my style of leadership, as well as a commitment to continue the work that they started. Evanston Magazine You have this great responsibility now what are you gonna do with it? Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns I feel tremendously fortunate. I know the real work starts now. So it’s time to get to work.
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Evanston Magazine Give us a few brief plans that you have for your ward out in Evanston? Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns Absolutely, we want to run a professional and responsive constituent Service Office. What that looks like is simply getting back to people in a timely fashion, recording all of their constituent service requests, recording all of their concerns and issues. Then, we need to follow with them, making sure that we’re working with them to track any requests they submit to the city. (To see more of this section of the conversation please go to EvanstonMagazine.net) (Transitioning to the Reparations Conversation ) Evanston Magazine Prior to you winning the Aldermanic seat, what was your involvement in the reparations?
ALDERMAN ELECT BOBBY BURNS- 5TH WARD
Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns You know, I had the honor of drafting the first memorandum, City of Evanston memorandum, in collaboration with this City Clerk’s office and divine re the current clerk draft in the first memorandum that made a case for local reparations. After the resolution, they went on to pass the restorative housing program. Alderman Simmons came to Devon Reed, in the clerk’s office pretty early on for support. You know, I being the former deputy city clerk in the city, folded me into that conversation, and we got to work. So I was there from the beginning and helping to frame the case for making arguments for local reparations. I continue to participate in the community discussions and town halls around getting a better sense of the injury as well as what the repairs should be. Evanston Magazine What’s next? Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns I am one of the Aldermen that sits on the reparation subcommittee. The city voted on it yesterday but announced today that they are adding four community members to the reparations subcommittee. Evanston Magazine Do you know who they might be?
Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns Well? I believe Carla’s sudden was added. I think another is named Claire McFarlan- Barber Bonnie Lockhart, and then aldermen, Simmons as a citizen will round out that group as the fourth community member. Evanston Magazine Sounds like some awesome choices there. So you kind of walked into the present part of what I wanted to hear about the reparations issue. Presently you guys are structuring it so that it continues to flourish. We’ve got national and international attention for these moves made in Evanston, I think the whole community is moving forward. My question to you is what do you think the future of this movement should look like? Where would you like to see this issue go in the future? Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns I think number one, just making sure that we build a process that will allow those who were injured to determine the injury. We can do that through a truth and reconciliation process of having them tell their stories. Recording the citizen’s experiences of discrimination, and prejudice here in Evanston is so important. It’s making sure that the injured party those with either directly injured or the descendants of, ultimately get to determine what “repair”, looks like for
their household. We need a participatory process that allows that same injured group to offer different ideas and suggestions on how future reparations money should be allocated. I think that the budgeting process, it should allow for a mechanism to determine which ideas go forth. I’ve suggested, the best way to do that would be through a majority rules system of voting. Evanston Magazine How is the gathering of funding for the program going? Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns We need more money in the fund right now. The city has identified one source of revenue. The fund we’re getting is a beginning however, we’re seeing individual contributions, as well as contributions from partnering organizations step up. The reparations funds’ primary source of revenue is through the sale of legal cannabis in the city of Evanston. Right now, we only have one dispensary. The process of issuing new licenses is a state function and right now, that whole process is hung up in court and other litigation. So we don’t know right now the next time we’ll see an additional dispensary added to Evanston which would bring in more revenue. I think another priority has to be to determine how we continue to fund reparations. Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns I would say, just making sure that the restorative housing program is structured in a way where we can provide the right cash benefits for those who prefer it right now. The first program is a housing program that will provide $25,000 to eligible residents. The funds can be used to pay down the interest on a mortgage, purchase a mortgage or, improve their home. Evanston Magazine What’s the critique of this? Alderman Elect- Bobby Burns All of that money goes directly either to the mortgage lender or to the contractor. We’ve heard a lot of people say that what repair “looks like”, for me and my family will be a direct cash benefit. For those who prefer it, we need to provide a direct cash benefit. There is a separate fund, held by Evanston Community Foundation. We need to continue to keep eye on that fund and make sure that we are developing ways to come up with viable ideas to use those funds as well. For more of this interview go to EvanstonMagazine.net Transcribed by www.otter.ai Interviewer Aaron Foster Photo Credit: dailynorthwestern.com (Via Google Fair use) Reparations | EvanstonMagazine.net
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Bennett Johnson On Reparations
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BENNETT JOHNSON Bennett Johnson is a historic acorn in the tree of Black history. He is one of the men in the room during very iconic moments. He walked and worked with Martin Luther King. He worked and traveled with Muhammad Ali and dined with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He sat with Lester Young (Jazz player) and his best friend was the first Black man to become Mayor of Chicago- Harold Washington. His view is one from an educated historic gathering of conversations saved by his very existence. This conversation is edited by Evanston Magazines editing team only to preserve space in this issue. Evanston Magazine Bennett Johnson, thank you for taking the time out to talk to me. You know, I want to talk specifically today about this reparations bill. Evanston is now a nationally talked about city. As you are one of its most politically astute citizens here is my first question. What do you think? Bennett Johnson I think what happened is really, really important. Not so much for the actual program they put together, but for the fact that it was done. Okay. And the journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step, Right? So, this is the first step. I think we can follow the road and make sure that it ends up in the right place. Evanston Magazine Okay. I kind of agree with that. Also, I know that there’s been a lot of opposition to how it started. I think people believed that it is square one and was going to fix everything. Bennett Johnson I know that is not the case. Evanston Magazine What’s your opinion of the direction of some of the youth that believe that this was no good, or that it should be renamed? Bennett Johnson Well, I just think that the overreacting just like, when you were a kid and you wanted a bicycle, instead of a bicycle they give you a BB gun or a pair of shoes or something like that. You were given something. So, let’s go from there. I think the criticisms are justified; the program is flawed. Evanston Magazine Okay, what do you think the next step should look like? Bennett Johnson Well, actually, I’ve been involved in reparations for quite some time. Years ago Dr. Hycel Taylor and I brought in a lot of high profile people. We brought in university faculty members. You mentioned M.L. King’; his lawyer participated, and a lot of really high profile, committed folk. Evanston Magazine Martin Luther King’s lawyer? Bennett Johnson That’s right. He was also the first Black on the New York Stock Exchange. We came up with a plan. Land and housing are the centerpiece of wealth for all; Karl
Marx said this in his book, Das Capital. We are going in the right direction. Evanston Magazine 4:43 Yeah. I think it was a good start, and so are you able to put in an application? Bennett Johnson I’m not sure. Okay, I can use the extra money, but I’m not sure. Evanston Magazine 5:18 What would stop you. Bennett Johnson I’m more interested in implementing a plan that can help all Black Evanstonians. Evanston Magazine Okay, well, I understand that and then looking at the way they set it up, and you might be one of 12 people that still factually qualify for this thing. Evanston is growing and young people are moving in, and not many people with maturity are still here from the parameters that they require. So, I think that’s one of the criticisms of the reparations plan. What do you think of that? For the record Bennett Johnson, I think you should apply. Bennett Johnson Well, no, it’s not about me, it’s the City Council, who set up arbitrary dates. Ridiculous. They act like everything started because of a change in the law, right. The white realtors used techniques to keep things segregated that way prior to those important dates. Evanston Magazine I believe what the program creators picked a group, a time period, that was almost kind of unreachable, because if the people like yourself, you’re 90 years old, you know, man, and that is a phenomenal thing to be, but it’s not very common. So they’re kind of reaching back to people like yourself, and then you start thinking about some of the people in your age group. And I hope you don’t feel like this is in any way a disrespect. But a lot of people in your age group haven’t had the blessings that you’ve had to be still physically fit and mentally competent at 90. I thought that was a big hole in the reparations program. I think that it’s a great program, but it’s the first piece in 1000 piece puzzle. We have a lot of work to do. My next question reflects something you mentioned, where some of the realtors around in 1969. Are any of those people still around and can we hold them to some type of accountability? Bennett Johnson I’m not sure. I was not close to the realtors and everything at that time. Evanston Magazine 9:01 Okay. I respect that. I do know you were in the business Reparations | EvanstonMagazine.net
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world at that time. So, I thought maybe you knew one or two Bennett Johnson I was running a program called Talent Assistance Program, what we did was to help minorities get into business, using volunteers from the corporate community. We started many companies. We helped Johnson Products and Soft Sheen. We found a lot of businesses, some of which are still around. Evanston Magazine Some of those companies that participated in redlining back in the day should be held accountable monetarily. So, some of those, they should be paying in good faith, there should be documentation. You guys were redlined in 1965; you’re still around here now. We would feel comfortable with you putting together $25,000. Some of those companies may come to terms with that. The more companies that do put into that pot, the bigger the pot will become. Then you know, you get into all the other conversations on how you grow that pot to make it valuable to all Black Evanstonian people? Bennett Johnson The purpose of reparations is not retribution. We would repair rather than worry about retribution. The concept that I created has been endorsed by several people, is what I call The Freedom Plan. It starts with a real estate investment trust (reit) and a venture capital group, so we have a funds to help people in housing and in the business field. We have a not-forprofit fund for welfare, education and health problem. Then, we can have what they did in South Africa, a Truth and Reconciliation group. In other words, where people can come, and tell a lot of great stories, right? Also, some of the people who’ve been in on the wrong side can come explain where they are now. Bennett Johnson The point being that the Truth and Reconciliation thing would allow people to not only complain, but also to see why they did wrong. Now, the point with the actual money itself, is that a lot of people say give people cash, but if you have a real estate investment trust. That is when you can stay in control. Evanston Magazine You spoke of a voting trust? Bennett Johnson Yes, that could be controlled by Blacks. And so therefore, it’s a Black thing. giving control to the Black people. A venture capital group that will lend money and invest in people who want to go into business. A voting trust will be set up the same way in a not- forprofit fund to deal with health and education. The key 10
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thing as far as people feeling bad about what they’ve done, is that they can invest and put money into any aspect of the program. Evanston Magazine 14:11 I’m very interested in The plan you put together. I’d love a copy of it. And I’d love to put it on our website. So, people could actually download it and take a look at it, if it’s ready to be looked at. Bennett Johnson 15:29 I made a presentation to the committee and they ignored it because, well, I’m not sure why. I know that $25,000 in no way can compensate for the historic harms. Evanston Magazine 16:10 I think anybody with a reasonable mind agrees that that $25,000 to 15 to 17 people is so insulting. It’s just again, one small piece and 1000 piece puzzle. The conversation turns to anti-retribution Bennett Johnson We split off the sense of finances by the Black community. I started a group called Minority Real Estate Investment Trust (Merit Trust). The first Black controlled real estate investment trust in the country. So, that’s the kind of concept I would like to get together again. Evanston Magazine 21:42 That sounds phenomenal. What happened to it? Bennett Johnson Well, I was voted out by a group. I’m not sure why? We received a grant, I was the regional head of the Office of Minority Business Enterprise(OMBE), now called the MBDA, the first regional director in the Region Seven—Chicago area, and the Midwest. One of the former lawyers with the law firm, McBride, Baker,… that I worked with created the MESBIC. The name of the lawyer is David Brown. He became the key legal guy with the OMBE in the Department of Commerce. They gave Merit Trust a grant of about a quarter million dollars. Evanston Magazine What happened? Bennett Johnson Unfortunately, instead of using the money wisely the guys took a trip to China. Evanston Magazine 23:03 Okay sad ending. Unfortunately, I’m saddened by the fact that this incredibly smart idea that came to fruition was damaged by some fools’, need to take the money to China and go spend it. I think the concept was fantastic. So what give me some more, give me some more of your thoughts on this reparations program now that people are nationally attracted to Evanston?
Bennett Johnson 24:48 Well, I think the fact that Evanston is leading is important. I think other people will pick the reparations concept up across the country. And, at some point, well, like HS 40, which has been in Congress, for I don’t know how many years under John Conyers. And now I think Sheila Jackson Lee is the chair of the committee that needs to go forward. Once that’s done on the federal level, I think everything else will fall into place. The key problem is money. And we spend money to kill people plus more. The main thing is that it’s moving and it won’t stop. It may take 10 years, may take 20 years. But believe me reparation is here to stay. Evanston Magazine 26:00 Yeah. And eventually it will come to fruition and a solid form. I’m looking forward to it. Have you been contacted by any of the like ABC, NBC, CBS, Bennett Johnson I was contacted and we had a brief conversation. They asked me how I felt about the concept of reparation, I compared with when I played football because we were playing a on a new field. Evanston Magazine 27:43 I see the importance, I really have great conversation when it comes to talking about what Evanston means to people. It means treating each other fairly. I think that Evanston does still have some forms of covert racism, even overt racism. I think though that Evanston is a place where the conversation is at least being had amongst people. I think that it’s very important, especially right now, when we’re going through what we’re going through in Evanston with the Council, the exchange of the mayor, the school board, and who is presently our chief of police. I think it’s very important for us to continue the conversation and not end up enemies based on color and wealth. In building the magazine I received several endorsements from people across the country, mostly academicians, but also celebs including endorsed by Chance the Rapper.
one alone. Who’s better than that? That’s never going to be good. So, and I want this to all be about reparations, right? reparations. And I think the bigger conversation if you have a bigger conversation about reparations, yes, that should probably be a part of, but this one, we not going to touch that. Sorry. all due respect. Evanston Magazine Are you coming out with a book anytime soon? Bennett Johnson 32:23 No, no, no, I am a book publisher? Evanston Magazine 32:27 I know you’re a publisher. That’s why I’m like, why would you not have all of these things that you have done in a book? All these things that you’ve been a part of need to be documented? You, man, please? Even if you have to just talk about it, and we have to just transcribe it into a book, then it has to be somewhere. Your like Forrest Gump, you walk through all of the black history of America. Bennett Johnson I feel you can’t serve two masters at one time. Experiences and ideas are a whole lot more important and getting results, than I’m talking about who I am. I do agree that there may be some value in telling the story. Because a lot of this the things have been repeated without people realizing the top and that they were done before. That the only value I see in writing a book. Evanston Magazine 33:28 Okay, that’s awesome. Well, I look forward to either being a part of you writing that book or reading it when it’s done, whoever has the opportunity to get you to do that. Man,they’ll be a rich, because that’ll be a big endeavor. For specific details please go to evanstonmagazine. net to see the full interview. Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Bennett Johnson So, let me be clear racism is part of the culture of the United States of America. They had to be Christians. Christians justified slavery by developing a mythology of Blacks being inferior, and slaves had no rights at all, and women as well, Evanston Magazine 31:29 Well, I don’t know. I respect that. And I believe that also, that’s a slippery slope, I think, especially in an America like this one. And I don’t want to have that conversation. Let’s just walk that race based paradigm, race based teeter totter, let’s leave that Reparations | EvanstonMagazine.net
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REPARATIONS
The Voice Of Racism
ANTI- REPARATIONS UNEDITED
The argument against reparations is divided between those who question the economics of the proposed plans, like William Darity, Jr in last Sunday’s NY Times, and those citizens who embrace racist reasoning to think that the plans are not necessary and are just punitive. “Why are those people always looking backward? A car has a small rearview mirror and a large front window because we are supposed to be focusing on the future. Aware of what is behind us, but not focusing on it,” complained one interviewee. “We have given them opportunities that can only be considered ‘Reverse Discrimination.’ We let them go ahead of candidates that have worked hard and deserve those opportunities.” This conversation made me think of the episode of “All in the Family,” where Mike is passed over for promotion by a candidate of color and told, “Well, you of all people should understand.” And, Mike looked very
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sour, because he wanted that promotion for his young family. “Affirmative action started with President Kennedy in 1961 (with the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity). That is 60 years for blacks to jump the line and catch up. I think we have done enough. It’s time for blacks who have succeeded to help out others from their old neighborhood.” For decades, our government has devised social programs to “lift up the oppressed minority” (not my words). While some have achieved, overall equality has not been reached. The cry from my interviewees was that the number of programs and the amount of money to be paid seemed to be infinite. “When will the blacks feel that they have gotten enough?” “When will we stop having to pay, pay, pay?” “If you got the Evanston money, then you are still eligible for more money. How many lines can one person stand in?” “Where is the list that says ‘You have been paid your
ANTI- VIEW retributions, now go away?’” “But if any government is going to pay, it should be the Africans. The reparations should come from the profits of the gold mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After all, it was their own people, in the Congo, that captured them and sold them to the slave trade. They are the start of the whole problem. They should pay those retributions.” I fear that any action, perceived by whites as a tax on skin color, will deepen the latent racism, which will prevent equality from occurring for at least another two generations. These reparations must not be felt like retribution. Nor, as a means to transform the oppressed into the oppressor, which is a reoccurring fear amongst the elder white generation. “We do not want to be always asking forgiveness like the Germans are having to do with the Jews.” “My father was born in 1888 in rural, free Kansas and spent his adult life in Evanston. He never knew slavery. He was buried in Kansas. At his funeral, a black man played the piano. ‘Pearly’ was his name. We never heard of him, but he knew all of us. He was from the only black family in the county. The teachers refused to teach him. He would come over every night and father would teach him what he learned in school and what he learned at his piano lesson.” “The Evanston blacks would come to our back door for medical attention,” she continued. “My father had an office off the kitchen, where he would do examinations. Once, when he was removing an appendix, the surgery went awry. He packed the patient in ice, carried her to his car, and carried her into the local hospital to finish the surgery, over the protests of the other doctors and nurses. When the surgery was completed, the local hospital revoked his operating privileges for bringing in a colored. That was in 1933.”
lash was paid by the Union sword.’” “You know that Lincoln created Liberia and Nigeria to get rid of the slaves. He wanted to ship them all back. They chose to stay. America. Love it, or leave it.” “My family struggled to get their financial house assembled. We sacrificed and scrimped and saved. We drove modest cars and did not take fancy vacations. We lived in modest houses and did not purchase luxury clothes. They buy drugs and fancy cars. They just all want a free handout. They are the Crickets, and we are the Ants.” “What about the black families that settled in Evanston?” I asked. “They were the train conductors and teachers. Nice blacks, with a lot of white in them, who worked to get a little house in Brown Town and send their children to a good school. ETHS had a trade school component. Anyone who graduated from ETHS held their head high. No one looked down on learning a trade like they do now.” “Today, that teacher is on dialysis in the back room of that nice house, with three or four generations piled in with her. Not one of them has a job. They all are on welfare. Those blacks really know how to work the system… And, if you offer them reparations, they all will have their hands out and be wanting even more…. No, reparations are a bad idea.” ”What about the ‘Inherent Wealth’ that the New York Times’ 1619 Project claims is missing from American black families?” “Wealth is like knowledge: It cannot be gleaned in one pass across the field. Wealth takes time to build and is a privilege to have. Many of the restore-to-equality programs are attempting to gift wealth to the recipients in that single pass. Giving large sums of money to folks who have never had it will put them in bankruptcy. Look at the lottery winners. All in bankruptcy after three years.”
“I don’t come from people who oppressed blacks. Why should my taxes be increased to pay I for their reparations?”
But, what about the businesses, still in existence, that benefited from slavery? Can they be assessed? And, how much? To whom would the payments be made?
General Sherman created an assessment of the inherent wealth of every male slave liberated by the Civil War of, “40 acres and a mule” and a zero value for the female slaves. He did not have the authority to mandate this, but the cry of ‘I did not get my 40 acres and a mule’ echoes throughout this discussion. “Tell those blacks that their 40 acres and a mule are waiting for them in Africa.”
“Slavery advanced American Capitalism via the ruling class exploiting inequality. If reparations are made by businesses, will we owe the Chinese citizens reparations for our outsourcing of domestic manufacturing to China - often creating untenable working conditions - for the past 25 years?” The American ruling class (not just whites) has significantly increased profit margins by exploiting a global inequity. “Paying reparations is setting ourselves up for a slippery slope.”
“Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address said our debt was paid as ‘every drop of blood drawn with the
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ANTI- REPARATIONS When the “word” went out in Evanston that I was creating a Reparations issue the strange occurrences began to happen. Not only did it expose businesses that mysteriously didn’t want to participate but individual voices seem to creep from under rocks. Like this article appeared in my inbox anonymously and unsolicited. Enjoy, as its posted exactly how received with a “core message”. What makes Whites supremium? Well, for starters Whites are not killing/wounding each other’s children by the hundreds/thousands in Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore………… So far in 2021 in Chicago ALL BY ITSELF!!! 127 shot & killed, one every 15 h 31 m. 580 shot and wounded, one every 2 h 57 m. 73.3% blacks shooting other blacks. (BLnotMtoB) Shot by police 7. Reparations will not fix this. Whites are 76% of the population, blacks 13%. Whites commit 69% of the violent crimes, 90.8% of their “fair” share. Blacks 27% of the violent crimes, 208% of their “fair” share. White under 18, 62.5%; black under 18, 33.9% Reparations will not fix this. White women abort 12% of their pregnancies. Black women abort 34% of their pregnancies. Reparations will not fix this. Reparations will just finance more guns, drugs, sports betting, unwanted children and Escalades. BLM should be takin’ the guns and the NAACP should be handin’ out condoms. *************** Rights have responsibilities. Obeying the laws is a big one. Break the law, lose some rights. A capital crime can cancel the right to breath. Dealing drugs and passing phony twenties is breaking the law. Giving the police a bad time when they appear or shooting at them is not a good idea. Chances are high the outcome might turn tragic. As an ex-con, Floyd would know that. **************** Helping a friend move. Sold his house. $700,000 To a mixed-race couple. With “systemic” racism how is that even possible? Guess the new owners are outside The “SYSTEM.”
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He mentioned the Hispanic couple across the cul-desac. Their son was just accepted into the Air Force Academy. Hmmm. Where is that “systemic” racism. Guess he stepped outside The “SYSTEM.” Speaking of which: the new commandant of the AFA is a black general. How is that possible with “SYSTEMIC”^4 Racism. Watched an ethnic Rockies pitcher blow a five-run lead in the ninth. Checked his contract to see if he delivered on his paycheck. $550,000 PER YEAR! Well, what do you expect? But he is most definitely outside The “SYSTEM.” Patrick MaHomes 10 years, $504 million Cam Newton 1,750,000 PER YEAR!!! Both light years away from The “SYSTEM.” Hamilton cast All of them way outside The “SYSTEM.” In Chicago 2020 ALL BY ITSELF 2,700 blacks have been shot/wounded/killed by black brothers. Shot by police - 13 Bet they would like out of Their murderous “SYSTEM.” On the other hand, they should be glad they are not getting the justice they deserve. There is no “systemic” racism. There is systemic ignorance of the facts perpetrated by the lying, riot inciting, fact free, rabble rousing, fake news MSM left wing propaganda machine powered by woke millennial twit and twat journalism majors and fashion, food and fluff editors.
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REPARATIONS
Written by Meleika Gardner
Meleika Gardner
What I think about the Reparations Bill I am so proud of the work coming out of our city! The education Bills will benefit children K-12 for generations to come. The one thing I want Evanston to know is, in regards to Reparations, I am thinking about Black Evanston as a whole. I am not thinking of helping a few families in Evanston. Nor am I setting myself up to gain financially on the backend. I do not want to deprive or block the 15 out of 12,000 Black residents from receiving a bank loan for their Reparations or home improvement or mortgage assistance. I am not against a housing program passing to assist the 15 eligible. I am thinking of Black Evanston as a whole. Reparations are not a movement one should rush or blow off or be on the wrong side of history on. It is far too important. As the Evanston Reparations start to unfold, I want to know that I was on the right side of history in speaking out to assure all Black residents in Evanston receive the repair. Many have been asking questions who have attended Reparation meetings and have been called “crabs n’ a barrel”, “ignorant”, and “uneducated”...for simply asking questions and never receiving answers for a year. Reparations are far too important to not ask questions. Reparations | EvanstonMagazine.net
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Because I have become familiar with how Evanston local government operates, I know the vote is already set to pass for the housing program (under the name Reparations) on March 22nd without listening to community input that has been speaking for a year. The number of Reparations meetings never left the focus of a housing program and made it appear that the process was done fairly. Do you actually believe that no one, in a year of meetings, did not express their concern about the direction Reparations was taking after being told they would receive cash payments? Do you really believe no one reminded the Reparations stakeholders and committee that cash payments were the commitment as stated in Reparation meetings and on WBEZ radio on December 8, 2019? Do you really believe that everyone attending those meetings was in support of a bank loan over receiving cash payment or other stronger ideas that would serve more residents across Evanston? Apparently, many people have bought into that story that the complaints just recently came about in the past couple of weeks... out of absolutely nowhere. That is inaccurate and untrue. Part of my integrity in the media is in keeping people’s anonymity. Back in June of 2020, I was asked by a legacy Evanstonian to set up a private phone conference with a city official in regards to Reparations. This legacy Evanstonian, whose family qualifies for the housing program, wanted to speak to this city official as an elder, a Father figure. He was concerned that turning a housing program into Reparations will backfire and eventually bring shame to Evanston. This city official responded to this sincere elder with,” You are just a hater! You don’t even live here anymore!!!!!” The elder calmed the situation and agreed to not speak publicly about Evanston’s Reparations or against this city official. He attempted to work with this city official. This was just one voice that attempted to be heard in regards to turning Reparations into a housing program. I, myself, asked during a Reparations meeting,” So 15 will receive their Evanston Reparations. What happens to the rest of Black Evanston? They have experienced discrimination and racism in their life as well. When will they receive their repair and justice?” The city official suggested we look into a federal program. No plan for other initiatives was in place to even give the rest of Black Evanston hope of receiving their repair or justice in the near future. The door was closed to discuss phase 2 for the rest of the residents and the meeting was adjourned. Residents spoke out and asked more questions. They were ignored. Three months ago a petition was even started by two long-time Evanston residents because their voices were 18
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not being heard in the Reparations meetings. The petition and groups forming are the result of being ignored. One city official advised the Aldermen on City Council that those speaking out are simply “crabs n’ a barrel” trying to destroy a Black initiative. This was an insulting attempt to get the City Council to not listen to the voices of those with legitimate questions. None of those speaking out are trying to destroy Reparations. They are in support of a housing program assisting 15 Black residents. Who wouldn’t be? Their request is to not call it Reparations because it is not Reparations. It is simply a housing program. Calling it Reparations waters it down and will make it difficult for achieving real Reparation. Many argue that going to a bank to qualify for a loan is a “type” of Reparations. Others see empowering banks to deny a Black resident of their “Reparations” is not repair or justice against past harms in redlining. “We don’t apply to be Black...we come here Black.” The banks should not be empowered to deny a Black man or woman their Reparations. So there are those in Evanston who are willing to take what is handed to them. And then there are those who want Reparations. It is not “crabs n’ a barrel”. There are two different approaches to white supremacy and justice. Those who will take what they can get and then those who want what is right. The story being told repeatedly in this housing program is that it is just the beginning and that there is $9,600,000 more to go. In several Reparations meetings, residents were told they could not even be told how much money was in the cannabis funds which is supposed to be one of the sources for funding Evanston Reparations. For a year residents were told the first $400,000 was just the beginning. For a year residents asked for a plan for the other initiatives. Many strong ideas were suggested by Black residents to the subcommittee and stakeholders for a year for a school in the 5th Ward, assisting Black men and women incarcerated for marijuana arrests, creating more businesses/ employment, cash payments, and the list goes on. Those ideas were not put into a phase 2 plan. For a year residents asked for a phase 2/tier 2. Nothing. Now there is a rush to put initiatives together before March 22nd to present to the City Council as if the plan had always been there and everyone in the community had been in agreement. There was no plan discussed with residents for community input. It was incomplete. Again, this is not “crabs n’ a barrel”. This is simply residents wanting to know what is going on, being ignored, and then having their intelligence insulted. Edited from a Facebook post and approved by Meleika Gardner for print. To read the full post/ article go to Evanston Magazine.net
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Soul Food and Entertainment
An environment that the North Shore is yearning for A title wave of diners began showing up in the early 1990s on Division street. The Chicago landscape around the area known as Ukrainian Village began its climb toward gentrification. The area became a bastion of fun places. One soul food restaurant became a favorite of the area -Dee’s Place. So popular was Dee’s Place that travel writers began to seek it out. The popularity of that original location has spawned Dee’s third location. A family franchise located at 2600 Navy Ave in Glenview Illinois. Dee’s Place-Glenview will continue to fill the air with the smell of smoked to perfection “goodness”. We are talking Smoked Ribs and Ribtips combined with a menu that would make any BBQ pit master proud. The amount of press always seems to confirm the reason driving to this restaurant is well worth it. A current review by WBEZ.org included the following message. “Dee’s Place could easily be mistaken for a South Side juke joint”. The new place in Glenview is a historic masterpiece in the making. The walls are filled with GIANT pictures from the 1950s. They hang on the walls compliments of the Chicago Blues Museum and old ads for music acts at the Regal Theater hang haphazardly also. The decore is something out of a movie featuring stars like Billy Dee Williams or Diana Ross. The art decor tells a story of black history and is only trumped by the smell and taste of the food.
cornbread, and mac n cheese. The same level of food, we hear is a Janet Jackson favorite. Not only does it taste great but it looks incredible. After the first forkful, you just literally taste, smell and absorb the love coming off of this plate. The ribs are meaty and completely fall-off-the-bone tender. I’m sure your ready for an experience like no other. However we are not done. There is another layer to the Dee’s Experience. Its The World Class Entertainment Rounding Off The Night Dee’s Place in Glenview features Blues, Jazz, and Stand up comedy. The music is coordinated by Dawi And The Front Street Band. Whether you’re a fan of artists like Beyoncé or John Mayer, if you haven’t had the chance to see them perform live, you’re probably missing out on something big. Tickets might be pricey but it will be more than worth it once you’ve seen what they have to offer. Known for their powerful performances, they get fans on their feet. (Call for Ticket Prices)
The term “soul food”, doesn’t reflect the level of how great this restaurant actually is. The Hungry Hound singled Dee’s Place out as the area’s best soul food restaurant in Chicago. The owner of the franchise expects the same results in 2021 and beyond as he received in the 2000’s.
Then on Saturday, the cream of the crop stand-up comedy will be produced by Seestandup.com. Seestandup.com is hosted by Aaron Foster- a Chicago iconic comedian and producer who professes to know “everyone”. So expect such big acts as Bill Burr, Wanda Sykes, Jim Gaffigan, and iconic acts like J.J. Jimmy Walker. The fun upbeat worlds of Music, Stand up combined with the best soul food will make for an experience, unlike anything Glenview area citizens have ever seen.
Dee’s Place is known for its collard greens,
For Reservations call: 630.883.8141
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CELEBRITY COMEDIANS 2600 Navy Glenview, Illinois Deesplaceglenview.com
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