True Social Justice & Racial Equity Is Hard Work
Four people I grew up were charged as adults and sentenced to life in prison and they were 16 and under (the youngest was 14) for murder. They did it. That’s not my issue. They were guilty and they forever changed the lives of the victims’ families, friends, and community. […]
One of my first thoughts after watching the murder of Adam Toledo was I could tell how bad the police officer felt. It was evident that he made a mistake and was traumatized. I hope we can give all the folks who commit murder the same sympathy and understanding. Many […]
The constant coverage of carjackings in Chicago Black men is racist propaganda used to justify the Mayor hiring more police officers in Chicago and a $9 million police training center. Talking about “lawless Black youth” is a way for the elected officials to invest money in policing instead of policies […]
Dear Black (Brown) folks: FIVE beautiful children have been murdered by gun violence in the last two weeks in Chicago. Rightfully, everyone wants “justice” and for someone to turn in the shooter. The thing that is the hardest for Black folks, is to humanize criminals. We have drunk the kool-aid […]
This weekend over 100 people were shot in Chicago. And, of course, many folks, including Black folks are angry and want vengeance and punishment of the shooters. They are also including them as enemies to Black folks. But the shooters are victims of racism and perpetrators of racism. A […]
UNFILTERED RANT: STOP DRINKING THE KOOLAID! re: the 100 shootings in Chicago this weekend… There are a lot of ways that people die. There are also lots of ways that people kill themselves. One of the more popular suicide methods, (they bring it up a lot on crime shows like, […]
“Tell me, who I have to be. To get some reciprocity.” Lauryn Hill Anthony Clark, one of the best, most committed community leader, social justice leader, and all-around coalition builder, is running for Democrat Congressman of our IL-7th district. As someone who cares very much about social justice and racial […]
I woke up this morning to two stories dominating my news feed. First, the sudden death of the beloved Black congressman and justice fighter from Baltimore, Elijah Cummings. Second, enthusiastic support for the Chicago Teachers Union strike. I saw the face of their campaign, Stacy Davis Gates, fiercely handling the […]
As a racial scholar and advocate, with an interest in White liberal northern racism, I’ve been closely following the racial equity “vision statement” conversation with Oak Park Village Board. First it’s amazing that there is this much struggle over A VISION STATEMENT! It’s just words! There is literally nothing actually […]
Racism in America, and, racism in Oak Park is nothing new. But calling out the racism of White liberals, unapologetically and blatantly, is a newer trend. For better or worse, most White conservatives own and are unapologetic with their racism. As an anti-racism advocate, my writing creed is, “call racism, […]