CHICAGO CRUSADER 09-24-2016.qxp_Sheriff 9/8/07 2007 9/22/16 12:43 AM Page 1
www.chicagocrusader.com Blacks Must Control Their Own Community
•C•P•V•S•
To The Unconquerable Host of Africans Who Are Laying Their Sacrifices Upon The Editorial Altar For Their Race
AUDITED BY
VOLUME LXXVI NUMBER 23—SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
PUBLISHED SINCE 1940
25 Cents and worth more
Chaos at job fair for new Mariano’s store Hundreds turned away for interviews for positions in Bronzeville By Keith Chambers The line stretched four city blocks. Nearly 1,000 people—many of them in desperate need of work—stood in line for hours to apply for just 400 job openings for the new Mariano’s store opening in Bronzeville Oct. 11. What seemed like an opportunity to get a job turned into a mob scene with hundreds of disappointed job applicants being turned away or going home after Chicago Police of-
ficials closed the gate at Holy Angels Church, where Mariano’s Open House Career Fair was held on Sept. 15. While some were able to have their resumes reviewed by Mariano’s, many left without being interviewed. One of them was Neal Crudup, 30, who lives in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Unemployed and broke, Crudup was seeking any job he can get at Mariano’s. “I’ve made many mistakes in my life, but I came here to get my life together,” said Crudup, who heard about the career fair on
the streets. “I’ve made many mistakes, but everyone deserves a chance.” The experience left hundreds disappointed and angry. Many questioned whether Mariano’s underestimated the turnout or were insufficiently prepared to handle the large crowds. Some also questioned whether Mariano’s was really committed to helping the Black community. The job fair was held less than two miles from the new Mariano’s store scheduled to open at 39th & King Drive. For the past sev-
BLACK HISTORY LIGHTS UP A NATION After a visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, I was left in awe By Erick Johnson WASHINGTON- It took me six hours to see over 3,000 pieces of Black relics. Ok I cheated. By the end of my tour, I was tired and worn out, so I skimmed over many artifacts. Despite the blisters and many breaks, I still didn’t see everything at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which will open this weekend with the biggest party the nation has seen in recent memory. The place is incredible. Six times as big as the DuSable Muse-
um and four times as big as the Detroit’s magnificent Charles Wright Museum, the Black museum in our nation’s capitol is truly a thing to behold. Some 18 minutes away, President Barack Obama will leave his famous house on Pennsylvania Avenue on September 24 to dedicate the museum. It will be a ceremony steeped in symbolism when the country’s first Black president rings the 130-year-old Freedom Bell, which for this occasion, was temporarily removed from its perch at the historic First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, VA, located 154 miles away from the U.S. Capitol. For 150,000 Americans who are expected to descend on Washington this weekend, the wait is finally over. The museum will officially open its doors at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 24
after months of hype and anticipation. For Black Americans, it’s a proud and historic moment to showcase the contributions of a people who waited 100 years for this day to arrive. Despite the many sacrifices of Blacks, never in this country’s history has there been a Black museum of this scale and intrigue. The museum vividly tells the story of Black America, from the pain and horror of slavery, to the triumphs and contributions in nearly all professions, from the military to business, media, television, sports, fashion and yes culinary arts. For those who are making the pilgrimage to Washington this weekend, the museum will be worth enduring huge crowds and long lines. It’s big and impressive. There is so much about Black history that many people don’t know (Continued on page 10)
eral months, construction workers and Mariano’s executives have been busy around the clock stocking the store’s shelves and putting the finishing touches on their 38th store in the Chicago area. In recent months, excitement and anticipation had been building about Mariano’s new store in Bronzeville. Many residents have expressed hope that the store will help rejuvenate the community by providing jobs and spurring economic development in the area. Last month, several minority-owned businesses attended the “Meet the Buyer” expo at Mariano’s hoping to get their products on the shelves at the Bronzeville location. Weeks before the job fair, Mariano’s sent out a flyer promoting the event. With less than a month before opening, Mariano’s is seeking to fill some 400 positions in 19 departments for the new Bronzeville store. From produce to the bakery, Mariano’s job openings are appealing to applicants seeking work in their community. With unemployment high in South Side neighborhoods, the news spread like a brush fire. People made extra copies and passed them out to friends and neighbors. Many teenagers spread the word on their Facebook page, and Mariano’s advertised the open positions on its website as did Chicago radio station, WGCI. The extra publicity drew a surprising number of applicants who overwhelmed the five people interviewing applicants at Holy Angels Church. Many of the applicants were teenagers who came professionally dressed with resumes in hand. When a Chicago Crusader reporter arrived at the career fair at 4:30 p.m., hundreds of applicants were waiting in a line that stretched from the church at 39th Street to 40th Street & Langley Ave. Many parts of (Continued on page 2)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Spencer Leak , Sr. receives prestigious award (See story on page 3)
Chatterbox is Back! (See page 7)