December 11, 2019 by South Side Weekly

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SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY The South Side Weekly is an independent nonprofit newsprint magazine written for and about neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago. We publish in-depth coverage of the arts and issues of public interest alongside oral histories, poetry, fiction, interviews, and artwork from local photographers and illustrators. The South Side Weekly is dedicated to supporting cultural and civic engagement on the South Side and to providing educational opportunities for developing journalists, writers, and artists. Volume 7, Issue 8 Editor-in-Chief Adam Przybyl Managing Editors Sam Joyce Sam Stecklow Deputy Editor Jasmine Mithani Senior Editors Julia Aizuss, Christian Belanger, Mari Cohen, Christopher Good, Rachel Kim, Emeline Posner, Olivia Stovicek Politics Editor Jim Daley Education Editor Ashvini Kartik-Narayan, Michelle Anderson Music Editor Atavia Reed Stage & Screen Editor Nicole Bond Visual Arts Editor Rod Sawyer Nature Editor Sam Joyce Food & Land Editor AV Benford Sarah Fineman Contributing Editors Mira Chauhan, Joshua Falk, Lucia Geng, Carly Graf, Robin Vaughan, Jocelyn Vega, Tammy Xu, Jade Yan Data Editor Jasmine Mithani Radio Exec. Producer Erisa Apantaku Social Media Editors Grace Asiegbu, Arabella Breck, Maya Holt Director of Fact Checking: Tammy Xu Fact Checkers: Abigail Bazin, Susan Chun, Maria Maynez, Sam Joyce, Elizabeth Winkler Visuals Editor Mell Montezuma Deputy Visuals Editors Siena Fite, Sofie Lie, Shane Tolentino Photo Editor Keeley Parenteau Staff Photographers: milo bosh, Jason Schumer Staff Illustrators: Siena Fite, Katherine Hill Interim Layout Editor J. Michael Eugenio Deputy Layout Editors Nick Lyon, Haley Tweedell Webmaster Managing Director

Pat Sier Jason Schumer

The Weekly is produced by a mostly all-volunteer editorial staff and seeks contributions from across the city. We distribute each Wednesday in the fall, winter, and spring. Over the summer we publish every other week. Send submissions, story ideas, comments, or questions to editor@southsideweekly.com or mail to: South Side Weekly 6100 S. Blackstone Ave. Chicago, IL 60637 For advertising inquiries, contact: (773) 234-5388 or advertising@southsideweekly.com

Cover Illustration by Shane Tolentino & Mell Montezuma

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE The end of the year is, for many, a time of reflection. Once every ten years, that retrospection goes into overdrive as one publication after another puts out their 'Best of the Decade' list of albums and tweets, and reflections on how far they've come in that time. We thought about doing our own South Side best of the decade list, but quickly realized it's all but impossible to summarize a decade's worth of moments for an area as big and diverse as the South Side into a tiny list. Sure, we might all agree that Rahm Emanuel announcing he wouldn't run for re-election is up there—but outside of that, you're likely to get as many different lists as there are South Siders. It also occurred to us that it would be odd to write about a decade we haven't even been around long enough to see through from the beginning. South Side Weekly, in our independent form, under our current name, has only been around since 2013. In that time, we've gone from a ragtag group of UofC students putting the paper together in a basement to a slightly less ragtag group of volunteers from across the city, with an office and a budget and a new website. It hasn't been easy. But then, nothing worth doing is. There have been times when the paper nearly didn't make it to the printer, or when we've considered taking a hiatus. And in these past years, the South Side has changed too. Many people, especially Black people, have moved away. Real estate developers have altered the landscape of neighborhoods like Pilsen and Woodlawn, maybe forever. Where do we stand at the end of it? At least we can say there's good news from the Weekly. Earlier this year, we applied for and received a $50,000 grant from the McCormick foundation. With that support, we've been able to create our first-ever paid editorial position. And today, after an extensive hiring process, we welcome Jacqueline Serrato as our new editor-in-chief. Jacqueline, who was born and raised in Little Village, has been a journalist in Chicago for seven years and has written for a number of Chicago outlets. We're excited for her to bring her skills, knowledge of the South Side, and commitment to local journalism to the Weekly. As we near the start of the new decade, we look forward to facing the uncertainty of what the coming years might bring with the same energy that's driven us this far.

IN THIS ISSUE visions of justice through jazz

““Jazz is an art form that we as a people pioneered.” amelia diehl.....................................4 the multitudes of broadway muse

Broadway Muse’s journey to rap and more. clare mccloskey...............................5 holiday events

south side weekly staff..................7 chicago: city on the bake

A sampling of holiday specials from your favorite South Side bakeries. jim daley and sarah fineman.......9 holiday recipes

christina salesberry, malvika jolly, stephanie zimba, sam pointon............................................10 holiday gift guide

south side weekly staff................12 ways to give back

south side weekly staff................14 organizing for justice in—and beyond—chicago

“What you saw in there was a multinational, working-class room, and it’s hard to find that anywhere else in the country.” ashish valentine............................15 movies of the masthead

south side weekly staff................17 mental wellness during the holidays

Beverly Therapists has provided mental health resources, education and outreach for the South Side community since 2010. nicole bond.....................................18

VISUAL ARTS

Visions of Justice through Jazz

AMELIA DIEHL

South Side Community Art Center exhibit draws connections between jazz and visual art BY AMELIA DIEHL

or decades, Chicago has been known as a jazz hub. When the Great Migration brought musicians from New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta, the booming city developed its own distinct style. Between nightclubs and festivals, the city continues to support a live jazz scene that churns out world-class musicians. The Jazz Institute of Chicago has been a key player in the mix, cultivating talent and weaving jazz into the city’s public life with events like the annual Chicago Jazz Festival. When the Institute celebrated its fiftieth 4 SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY

anniversary earlier this year, its creative director, artist Raymond Thomas, saw an opportunity to highlight its history. This effort culminated in “dear jazz...a Visual Love Letter,” which opened on October 4 at the South Side Community Art Center in Bronzeville. Across two halves—a group show of paintings, collage, sculpture, and more in Suite 1; and a solo showcase of local artist Arthur Wright’s paintings and sketches in Suite 2—“dear jazz” draws out the intimate connections between jazz and the visual arts.

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The location only strengthens this bond: the Center, founded in 1941, is the oldest Blackrun arts center in the country, a fitting site for the exploration of a genre that emerged from African American life. As curator of the show, Thomas handpicked twenty-five visual artists who “use jazz as a muse and a purpose” and exhibited their responses to the genre. For Thomas, the connection between jazz and art is a “symbiotic relationship,” noting the abundance of jazz artists who also make visual art. At the exhibition’s original

closing reception on November 3 (it has been extended through December 13), the featured artists discussed the inspiration jazz provided for their work. Take it from painter Paul Branton, whose work honored the 1960s hard bop and soul jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan: “Sixty to seventy percent of the time, I’m listening to jazz while I’m working,” he said. As the name of the show suggests, several pieces were homages to specific jazz figures, from John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Morgan, to Thelonious Monk and Louis Armstrong. But many of these artworks nonetheless kept an abstract feel—as artists were more interested in capturing the energies that surround a particular figure. “I try to interpret the musician and channel them, get the feelings that they might have had,” said painter Keith Conner, whose homage to Jelly Roll Morton and the Red Hot Peppers spanned an entire wall. Arthur Wright’s works, which filled the Center’s entire upstairs gallery, also blurred the lines between visual artist and musician; many of his pieces were created while he attended a live show, or listened deeply to an album. “Jazz is the energy behind my work. It gives me an opportunity to move on to my creative side. I don’t drink, I don’t do drugs, I listen to jazz,” Wright said with a laugh. He doesn’t play an instrument, he added; instead he “[plays] with the brush.” Wright often works at venues like the Fulton Street Art Collective, where he draws with ink pens—because these venues discourage wet mediums for fear of staining tablecloths, he’ll let the watercolor background dry first. Wright then adds the foregrounding layers; the quick, bustling strokes captures the fluid, focused energy of musicians playing an energetic live set. These immediate pieces—like one which captured a performance by The Bridge, an international exchange that sends jazz musicians between Paris and Chicago—were complemented by slower creative works he made while listening to albums “all night long,” culminating in huge sprawling collages made from issues of National Geographic. In a way, Wright’s variety of approaches lets him tease out the myriad possibilities jazz inspires. Wright wasn’t the only artist to incorporate deep listening into their process: many pieces were created in a single session, as though the visual artists were improvising with the music they were listening to. Roger Carter, whose piece

MUSIC

honored John Coltrane, said that he “can only work with organized chaos, so jazz was instrumental for that.” He painted his piece live in a span of two hours. Similarly, Alan Emerson Hicks’s saxophone-inspired sculpture was created over a period of just forty minutes. Hicks also worked while listening to interviews of President Donald Trump: a way to inundate himself with the cultural realities he was trying to respond to in the sculpture. At moments like these, many artists spoke to the deep roots of the genre as resistance, seeing their work in a long line of resiliency. “[ Jazz] is an art form that we as a people pioneered,” Paul Branton said, referring to Black musical traditions. “All music began with us,” Conner said, referring to the continent of Africa and cultures that came out of the African diaspora. “There’s a rhythm to life, a rhythm to paintings. Africans have led the world as a people. We are not God, but that’s where we create things out of nothing. To be an artist is to truly an honor and a blessing to bring people along in your vision.” Conner connected this tradition with the high stakes of art’s potential for social change, articulating the concern many other

artists felt for the decline in arts funding. “The arts of any kind brings people together,” Conner said. “A lot of us lose touch with our own culture. If we learn to care for ourselves, we won’t hurt other people.” This need to make culture visible was part of why some of his work depicted Esperanza Spalding, a bass player and bandleader from a younger generation. Thomas’s works also touched on this theme, through depictions of Miles Davis as a “spirit warrior.” In conversation, Thomas discussed his vision of Davis invoking spirits to create his music, and spoke about the role masks play for ritual and ceremony in many African cultures. Davis, who was born in downstate Illinois, toured extensively in Chicago throughout his career. Candace Hunter also drew upon the complex layers embedded in the genre’s history. Her sculpture of a cello played a recording of Charles Mingus performing “Moanin’,” a bluesy track whose many horns creep messily around a minor scale. Mingus’s yells in the background of the track are barely audible over the building saxophone screeches, echoing the heavy suffering—and resistance—that jazz’s history is embedded within. The sculpture also incorporates

cotton and rice, referring to the “labor that kept this country alive,” (“Rice is what numbed our fingers,” Hunter said)—and a black hat sits atop the cello, representing “the man who didn’t come home.” For Bryant Lamont, “Jazz really [is] the embodiment of Black culture. With this music I can take bits and pieces of trials and tribulations, and put it out into the world.” Lamont’s painting, mounted in a thick gold frame, serves as a study of saxophonist John Coltrane’s 1960 album Giant Steps. Lamont was drawn to the album’s reputation as “one of the most feared [compositions] of jazz music, because of the complexity that Coltrane created.” Lamont sees parallels between the album’s complexity and the complex struggles African Americans face— as well as their fight to be seen as complex. Here and elsewhere, the artworks weren’t just about the history of jazz, but the way it encourages artists and performers to think—and the show inspired many artists to think differently. “[ Jazz] is such an original art form,” said Wright. “Jazz to me is connected to invention, it’s connected to science, it’s connected to architecture, it’s connected to math.”

“Each [jazz musician] had a way of breaking away from the norm,” Norman Teague added, drawing a parallel between the musical and visual avant-gardes. When she was first asked to be part of the show, Makeba Kedem-DuBose says she thought, “I don’t do music art.” Still, she added it to her process, painting between midnight and 6am—which was “good for this piece because those are club hours.” “When I do portraits, it might not look like you, but it will feel like you,” Kedem-DuBose said. “Jazz is a feeling. It’s something that resonates deep in your soul.” “dear jazz…A Visual Love Letter” is on view through December 13 at the South Side Community Art Center, 3831 S. Michigan Ave. Open Wednesday through Friday noon– 5pm, Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 1pm–5pm. Closing ceremony December 13 from 6pm– 9pm. Free admission. jazzinchicago.org Amelia Diehl writes about climate, the environment, and the arts for the Weekly. She is also a staff writer for Audia Music News, a site covering women and nonbinary musicians. She last wrote for the Weekly about a performance on ecological restoration at Big Marsh Park.

The Multitudes of Broadway Muse

Broadway Muse’s journey to rap and more BY CLARE MCCLOSKEY

'm really interested in John Keats, the poet,” said Chicago rapper Broadway Muse early on in our interview. “‘Ode to a Nightingale,’ that is one of my favorite pieces.” Upon examination, Broadway Muse and Keats’s 1819 poem seem like a natural pairing. Like Wyclef Jean sampling Enya’s “Boadicea” for the Fugees track “Ready or Not,” listening to one will bring the other to mind. Broadway Muse had to grapple with her own mortality at the young age of twelve when she was diagnosed with cancer. Similarly, the exploration of mortality is a principal theme in “Nightingale.” The poem posits that life, itself, is transient. Broadway, through her experience battling serious illness, understands life’s transience as an essential truth. “Everything that is a part of this world is pretty much an accessory,” she said. “Anything DUKE VIRGINIA

DECEMBER 11, 2019 ¬ SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY 5

can happen in any way, at any moment. Even this body. This body that I hold is not necessarily mine, but I have it for here, in order to be here on Earth.” The diagnosis changed the trajectory of Broadway’s life, reordering her ambition and shifting her focus to new priorities. “That's exactly when I started writing. I kind of drifted away from being this model and dancer,” she said. “I always felt like I didn't really connect with my friends too much, only because I thought pretty much more profoundly about everything.” Similarly, in Keats’s poem, the songbird experiences a type of death but does not actually die. It is capable of continuing to live through its song. One could say that the cancer diagnosis marked the birth of Broadway’s writing career and, simultaneously, the death of her previous ambitions. Today, Broadway is cancer-free because, as she put it, “I got too many things to do.” Broadway continues to write, composing lyrics for poems, songs, and raps—which she performs beautifully. For Broadway, Romantic-era poetry and rap are not irreconcilably different. She sees the similarities immediately, and compared Keats to rapper Nipsey Hussle. Keats didn't gain recognition and critical acclaim until after his death, which Broadway said is similar to the growth of rapper Nipsey Hussle's status following his death. “Most people don't necessarily know the strength of his music until he passed away, or what he really contributed to hip hop,” she said. I asked Broadway about the differences and similarities in her writing processes between rap and poetry. For her, composing rap lyrics is the more academically and intellectually rigorous exercise than composing poetry. “So a rap verse… I’m focused moreso on how words sound... Poetry is moreso just how I'm feeling,” she explained. “Rap is a bit more structure to me than actual poetry... Poetry, I just want to write.” But there’s something in that structure and rigor of rap that’s more liberating for her. “I feel a bit freer actually rapping than I do in poetry,” she said. Further, poetry and rap are inspired from different places. Beats, for example, speak to her and what she hears comes out in words.“If I hear a beat or something, that might motivate me to want to write in a particular way,” she said. In her music, there isn’t a single style which anchors her SoundCloud. One could be forgiven for thinking her music lacks a 6 SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY

cohesive narrative, but don’t be fooled; the diversity of sound is a flex. It shows her range. Give the woman any style, any beat, she can match it. “ReRoute” is bouncy and fun, while “Really With Me” is dark and much more drill. Broadway Muse’s lyrical velocity on “SPAZZ” is up there with Twista. She spins like a playground tire swing; it’s jaw dropping. Lyrically, the tracks are dense. “IDK Feelin’,” for example, is a whole mood. Specifically, how one feels when one's significant other isn't coming correct. “I Don't Know Feelin' is me just not wanting to keep putting myself in this position of giving my all to someone who is not necessarily showing up... So it was just like, I don't feel like it. I don't feel like it anymore… you're not necessarily taking notes as well

that blocked them was my mind telling me I'm afraid of it,” she said. “So literally, when I was in college I made it my duty to do things that you know, once my mind told me not to do it, just go do it anyway.” This mindset motivated Broadway to study abroad in Rome. While in Rome, Broadway spent some time visiting Keats’s grave in the city’s Protestant Cemetery. The cemetery felt more like a garden and Broadway found the city where the poet spent his final days to be a source of inspiration. “It's amazing to have walked in the same steps of where he walked,” she said. Keats’ personal friend, English painter Joseph Severn, is buried alongside him. The inscriptions on both headstones reference the permanence (or impermanence, as it were) of Keats’ writing and by extension, the immortality of Keats’

“Anything can happen in any way, at any moment. Even this body. This body that I hold is not necessarily mine, but I have it for here.” as you should,” Broadway said. There's a deep ambivalence within the lyrics of "IDK Feelin'.” As if the narrator is questioning herself, interrogating her own expectations and wondering if the standard she set is too high. “The idea of wanting somebody to love you who don't necessarily have the means to or don't know how to,” Broadway said. The song occupies the space between “I need you to come correct” and “I don't know if you're capable of what I need.” Broadway Muse is a product of the many things she’s experienced in life. Over the course of our interview, she said more than once that her experience having cancer benefitted her in a number of ways. During the worst of her illness, Broadway spent a year in the hospital. That time confined to the hospital presented an opportunity for introspection and reflection on her life. Despite her young age of twelve, Broadway found herself thinking frequently about the opportunities she didn’t pursue. “I thought about all those missed opportunities that I could have had and what blocked them. And the main thing

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himself. Broadway found this to be like a story within itself. “I've actually sat like right there… writing,” she said. The evolution of her story—from the pain of having cancer, to her decision not to let fear get in the way of doing the things she wanted to do—brings to mind the Ovid quote, “…someday this pain will be useful to you.” Broadway made it to the proverbial ‘someday’ and continues to push the boundaries of conventional career pathways. In addition to being a musician, she is a docketing assistant at the prestigious Chicago law firm Jenner & Block and aspires to be a lawyer. Poetry and law do not seem the likeliest of combinations. In our interview, I asked Broadway how she is able to reconcile the freedom and experimentation necessary for creating art with the rigidity and structure of the law. Her experience in undergrad with a hiphop scholarship program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison called First Wave helped her put together a framework for combining her passions. “It [First Wave] was pretty much based on how we can

combine activism, art, and also scholarship,” she explained. When Broadway Muse describes her aspirations to combine law and music, her energy is palpable. “I think if I can master both of those simultaneously, that'd be amazing. And I think that's one of the goals that I've gotta have,” she said. The thing that makes the deepest impression is how naturally she contains her multitudes. For me, as someone who struggles, has always struggled, and will likely continue to struggle containing my own multitudes, the elegance with which she contains hers is inspiring. The woman knows her own mind. She isn’t confined to a silo, can’t be classified as a monolith. She contains multitudes and occupies all of these spaces, giving her an uncommon bird’s eye view. With such a perspective, she can see more and create more. In November, Broadway celebrated the arrival of her first child: a daughter, named Lyric. “My little poetry,” Broadway said, smiling, because it is the perfect name. Listen to the SSW Radio interview with Broadway Muse on southsideweekly.com. Keep up with Broadway Muse, including her upcoming album, on her SoundCloud (soundcloud.com/taniesha-broadway) and social media pages (@BroadwayMuse on Facebook and Twitter, and @Broadway_Muse on Instagram). Clare McCloskey is a Chicagoan. She is usually writing, obsessing about a band, musician, or book, traveling, and prefers to be on the lakefront, between the water and dry land. Her last stories for the Weekly can be found in the 2019 Best of the South Side issue.

HOLIDAY CONCERT AT ARMOUR SQUARE PARK Tired of waiting for Christmas carolers to come around? Bring thee and thy family to the holiday singers, who will be at Armour Square Park next Saturday. Head over to listen as a chorus from the VanderCook School of Music performs a suite of classic holiday melodies. (Sarah Fineman) Armour Square Park, 3309 S. Shields Ave. Friday, December 13. 2pm–6pm. Free. bit.ly/ArmourSquareHolidayConcert.

PRE-KWANZAA HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE Celebrate the Kwanzaa season early, especially principles four (Ujamaa—Cooperative Economics) and six (Kuumba—Creativity) with Africa International House as they present two days of shopping, food, raffles, clothing giveaways, and some of the most inspiring entertainment around. Experience jazz legend Maggie Brown, spoken word artist P.O.E.T., and songs by Henry H. Weddington School for the Performing Arts, along with a special presentation by Dudley’s Hair Show, programs by the Earth Center, radio personalities AC Green and Clara Hubbard, and so much more! It’s family friendly, it’s fun, and it’s free! (Nicole Bond) Africa International House, 6200 S. Drexel at Harris Park. Friday, December 13, 2pm–8pm; Saturday, December 14, 10am–7pm. Free admission. bit.ly/PreKwanzaaHolidayMarketPlace ALFREDO MEDRANO

BANTU FEST COMMUNITY DAY CHRISTMAS POSADA IN PILSEN! Sones de México Ensemble returns this year with another Christmas Posada. Featuring music, food, and cheer, it is sure to be a good time. Enjoy a performance by the Ensemble. Hear guitar music from the graduating students. Sing Christmas carols. Break into a piñata. Bring a dish to share, and try dishes from others. Free and family friendly, just be sure to bring food or drinks! ( Joshua Falk) Holy Trinity Croatian Roman Catholic Church, 1850 S. Throop St. Saturday, December 14, 11am–1pm. bit.ly/ChristmasPosada

JAMMIE JINGLE FUN AT PARK NO. 571 Park No. 571 is hosting a holiday party for the teensiest of South Siders: toddlers from ages one to three (and their parent plus-ones, of course). Crawl, stroller, and skip over to the park by the river for a morning of making crafts, dipping cookies in milk, and writing letters to Santa. Pajamas welcome. (Sarah Fineman) Park No. 71, 2828 S. Eleanor St. Wednesday, December 11, 10:30am–12pm. $2 for a children’s ticket. bit.ly/JammieJingleFun

WALDEN HOLIDAY MARKET The Walden Collective will have something for all your holiday needs at their annual Holiday Market. This market features locally made gifts like handcrafted metalsmith jewelry by Dawn McHugh. Music, dessert, craft cocktails, and more! (Erica Knox) The Walden Collective, 99th & Walden Parkway. Thursday, December 12, 6pm–9pm. Free admission. bit.ly/WaldenMarket2019

This free day of community support will feature hot meals, coat and clothing giveaways, healthcare services, toys, canned goods, bus passes, books, workshops, performances and more. All free for those in need. All donations of money, goods or services are welcome and tax deductible. If you need something, come. If you have something to give, come. (Nicole Bond) K.L.E.O Community Center, 119 E. 55th St. Saturday, December 14, 1pm–5pm. Free. All are welcome

MOTOWN FOR KIDS HOLIDAY CELEBRATION The music of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, the Temptations, and more will be played at a kid-friendly volume by the Rock and Roll Play House Band. Children age ten and under, accompanied by an adult, can dance, sing, play games, hear stories, and have a holly jolly time, all while experiencing the Motown sound. Little ones under age one get free admission. By attending this event, patrons consent to their image (with or without their voice) being included in photographs and/or film and videotape of the event, and give Thalia Hall, The Rock and Roll Playhouse and their respective licensees and assigns the absolute and irrevocable right and permission to use and publish such content in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter developed. Just so you know. (Nicole Bond) Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Sunday, December 22; doors open,11am, show 11:30–12:30pm. $15. bit.ly/MotownForKids

NYE 2020—AFROBEATS, HIP HOP, REGGAE, SOCA Ring in the new decade at The Sage Room (formerly the Velvet Lounge) for a stylish and intimate celebration for up to 150 guests only—so get there early! Wear something festive. And enjoy DJ-selected Afrobeats, Hip Hop, Reggae, and Soca music and a midnight champagne balloon and confetti drop. Table, bottle, and VIP service available. (Nicole Bond) Sage Room Chicago, 67 E. Cermak Rd. Tuesday, December 31, 9pm–2am. Ages 21+. Tickets $20–$250. For more information, or to reserve tables and bottle service call (773) 512-9875. bit.ly/NYE2020_SageRoom

HOLIDAY

HOUSE MUSIC WITH SANTA AT WEST PULLMAN In most places, Santa comes to your house. But in Chicago, Santa brings the house to you— house music, that is! For the third year in a row, Santa will fill West Pullman Park with house music, organized by the Chicago Parks District. The event will feature arts and crafts and a chance to get a picture with Santa. All ages, no charge. Bring kids, friends, and family, and dance the night away! ( Joshua Falk) West Pullman Park, 401 W. 123rd St. Thursday, December 19, 5pm–8pm. bit.ly/SantaPullman JENNIFER CHAVEZ

BEVERLY’S 4TH ANNUAL COOKIE CRAWL To encourage local celebration, the Beverly Area Planning Association will host a cookieguided tour of the neighborhood’s small businesses. Reserve a tin ahead of time to ensure a piece of the action, and on Saturday, the shopkeepers (exact shop names to be dropped day of ) along a mile of Western Ave will be ready to fill participants’ tins with a full melange of sweet treats. It’s a chance to check out local businesses for gift ideas, engage in some community cheer and, most importantly, fill your home with cookies. (Sarah Fineman) Begins at Beverly Art Center, 2407 W. 111th St., then progresses along Western Ave. Saturday, December 14, 11am–4pm. $25 per cookie tin. tins must be pre-purchased at bit.ly/4thCookieCrawl

HOLIDAY MARKET AT LO REZ BREWERY Lo Rez’s jam-packed holiday market will feature all the giftable classics from ceramics to plants, and a hot chocolate bar in addition to plenty of the Pilsen brewery’s own concoctions on tap. Grab a meal from one of the food vendors and window-shop homemade art, or go all out and hit everyone on your gift list. Those suffering from shopping stress can relax with a beer and listen to live music. Donations to this year’s featured charity, the nonprofit Streetwise, are encouraged. Grab a hot chocolate on the way out to keep warm. (Sarah Fineman)

ASLEEP WITH THE FISHES: WINTER WONDERLAND Ever see the movie Night at the Museum? How about a night at the aquarium where families and groups with children ages five to twelve can explore all the open exhibit spaces, make aquatic crafts, participate in a scavenger hunt, and more, overnight! Grab your sleeping bag, toothbrush, fuzzy slippers and go! No air mattresses please. (Nicole Bond) Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr. Starts Friday, December 20, 6pm. Ends Saturday, December 21, 8:30am. Tickets start at $85 per person and $70 for Shedd members. sheddaquarium.org

HYDE PARK HANDMADE As Hyde Park Handmade enters its sixth year, it presents an artisans’ bazaar and farmers’ market event in collaboration with the Promontory. On December 22, you can browse locally made goods and works by creatives from Bronzeville, Woodlawn, and Hyde Park—to name a few! Items for sale include fashion, home goods, jewelry, and products from urban farms. The event includes music from local DJs, and both food and beverages are available in the Promontory restaurant (floor level). The Hyde Park Handmade Bazaar might offer the opportunity for a great two-for-one, so take along some friends, enjoy the camaraderie of the season, and find quality, unique gift items. (Michelle Anderson)

2101 S. Carpenter St. Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15, 7pm–8:30pm. Free. (888) 404-2262. lorezbrewing.com

Hyde Park Handmade, Promontory Restaurant (second floor), 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West. Sunday, December 22, 12pm–4pm (may close early at vendors’ discretion). Free admission. hydeparkhandmade.com

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS AT OPEN OUTCRY BREWERY

SHEDD AFTER HOURS POLAR PARTY

Not yet in the holiday mood or counting the days until December 25? Love the idea of music, food, and libation in one location? Consider a visit to Open Outcry Brewery in Morgan Park for a live rendition of the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack (performed by The ChristmasTree O). The event is free, and the menu will include comfort food appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, and pizza. Seating will be first come, first served, and early arrival is recommended. (Michelle Anderson)

Adults twenty-one and over are invited to chill at the Shedd Aquarium with the polar bears and learn how they thrive in icy waters. While there, enjoy sugar cookie cocktails and seasonal snacks. Then stay to win prizes for Arctic Aquatic Trivia and Holiday Sweater contests. (Nicole Bond)

Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr. Wednesday, December 18, 6pm–10pm. Tickets available online only. $24.95; $19.95 for Chicago residents and $14.95 for Shedd members. Photo ID required for entry. (312) 939-2438. sheddaquarium.org

COMEDY LAUGH FEST Get your pre-New Year’s laugh on with a comedy smorgasbord featuring Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Eddie Griffin, Nephew Tommy, and Deon Cole. Yup—all of them! (Nicole Bond) Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Rd. Saturday, December 28, 8pm. $49–$129. wintrustarena.com/event/comedy-laugh-fest/

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¬ DECEMBER 11, 2019

SOL SALINAS

HOLIDAY

Chicago: City on the Bake

A sampling of holiday specials from your favorite South Side bakeries.

BY JIM DALEY AND SARAH FINEMAN

SCAFURI BAKERY, LITTLE ITALY In 1904, Luigi Scafuri, a recent arrival to Chicago from Calabria, Italy, opened this bakery in what was then a neighborhood of Italian immigrants. After the UIC campus was built (and steadily expanded to swallow Maxwell Street and other landmarks of the Near West Side), Little Italy grew smaller, but Scafuri Bakery stayed. For the holidays, baker Juanita Marsden has created two special treats: a yule log cake and a white chocolate cranberry cheesecake. The yule log is a holiday tradition, and is “essentially a vanilla cake; [it] has chocolate buttercream textured on top,” Mardens said. Meringue “mushrooms” and rosemary complete the log. The cheesecake came about on a whim. “I had leftover cranberries,” Marsden said, “and I thought ‘cheesecake!’” The cake balances the white chocolate’s sweetness with the tartness of cranberries, she says. “Tart and sweet, you can’t go wrong.” Scafuri Bakery, 1337 W. Taylor St. (312) 733-881. Yule Log $30, Cheesecake $36. Orders must be made in advance.

MASA MADRE, PILSEN

JENNIFER CHAVEZ

The holidays are an opportunity to reflect, spend time with loved ones, prepare for the coming year—and eat as many pastries and cookies as you possibly can. Honestly, is there a better time of year to visit a bakery? Probably not, and the South Side has a fantastic assortment of bakeries to choose from. Here’s a sampling of some whose holiday specials are particularly worth saving room for this season:

BETTY BOT BAKERY, SOUTH SHORE Betty Bot Bakery specializes in vegan and gluten-free pastries, and owner and baker Betty Alper draws on European traditions around the holidays. Stollen is a German Christmas bread that Alper first encountered in culinary school. “I’ve never actually eaten what we all call fruitcake, but this is kind of like that in a way—but to the max,” she said. “The yeasted dough has dried fruits and nuts in it, and then there’s a center portion of the bread that is marzipan.” After it’s baked, the bread is traditionally soaked in butter—Alpert uses a vegan substitute—and rolled in sugar. Alper also has holiday kringles (puffy iced Norwegian treats with sweet filling), and sufganiyot (jelly donuts made to celebrate Hanukkah) for sale. “We love being a South Side bakery,” said Alpert, who also offers a specialty “atomic cake,” inspired by the University of Chicago’s role in building the A-bomb, year-round.

Masa Madre doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar location, instead conducting all its business online. Bakers Elena Vázquez Felgueres and Tamar Fasja Unikel, both of whom are Mexico City natives, started Masa Madre in 2017 by selling sourdough bread they advertised on Instagram out of a Pilsen apartment. Of the name, Felgueres explained, “masa madre is the natural starter you use to make sourdough.” The pair later shifted to making babka, a Jewish sweet bread that hearkens back to Unikel’s Mexican-Jewish roots and is featured among their holiday offerings this year. “We started here in Pilsen, and we really like the idea of this mix of cultures,” Unikel said. “Being in a neighborhood that’s pretty much Mexican, and that was Polish before this, I think it’s a great location to have something like this.” The golden-brown holiday babka I tried was flavored with pistachio and cardamom, which tasted faintly citrusy and had a warmth that would pair well with a cozy seat by the fireplace.

Betty Bot Bakery, 7100 S. South Shore Dr. (773) 495-4615. Stollen $8, Kringel $4, Sufganiyot $3. Available starting December 13; all items are vegan and gluten-free.

Masa Madre, hellomasamadre.com or instagram.com/hellomasamadre/. Babka $20; six mini-babkas $21. Order online; vegan options available; pickup in Loop or in Pilsen. Available until December 13; bakery reopens after January 3.

MAJANI, SOUTH SHORE

PANADERÍA NUEVO LEÓN, PILSEN

Majani Restaurant opened in 2017 when owners Nasya and Tsadakeeyah Emmanuel saw a lack of healthy options in South Shore, and they have been serving plant-based and vegan food in the neighborhood ever since. The restaurant’s lemon and strawberry cake doesn’t feature flavor profiles one might expect in a holiday special, but who cares: it’s got strawberry compote, we’re buckling in for a long winter in Chicago, and we all could use a reminder of what summer once was like.

If you live on the South Side, holiday pastries don’t have to stop once Christmas is over. Many Mexican Chicagoans celebrate into early January with the Feast of the Epiphany, the day Catholics observe as the visit of the Three Kings to the Holy Family (and on which children traditionally receive presents in many Latin American countries). This celebration has a special pastry of its own (por supuesto). Abel Sauceda, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, opened Panadería Nuevo León in Pilsen in 1973, where the bakery has been turning out traditional polvorones, grageas, and conchas ever since. For the Epiphany, the bakery makes traditional Rosca de reyes, or “ring of the king,” bread. The circle-shaped pastries are decorated with dried and candied fruits and will be available now through the weekend after January 6.

Majani Restaurant, 7167 S. Exchange Ave. (773) 359-4019. Lemon cake with strawberry compote, $70, orders must be placed at least a week in advance.

SOL SALINAS

Panadería Nuevo León, 1634 W. 18th St. (312) 243-5977. Large Rosca de reyes $42; small roscas $32. DECEMBER 11, 2019 ¬ SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY 9

R E C I P E BY CH R I S T IN A SALESBE R RY ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHANIE ZIMBA

ILLUSTRATION BY SAM POINTON

FOR THE JEWELRY LOVER MIDWAY JEWELRY

FOR THE FUTURE HOOFER

SHANE TOLENTINO

M.A.D.D RHYTHMS TAP ACADEMY For the person in your life who “taps” across any available surface in their tennis shoes, a gift of classes at M.A.D.D. Rhythms Tap Academy might be the perfect way to spend the cold winter months. Founder and instructor Bril Barrett can not only turn novices into regular hoofers, but also incorporates history lessons into his classes, using tap dancing as a lens through which students can better understand the culture and history of Chicago. Classes for the winter session starts January 8, available by the class ($15) or in a ten-class bundle ($125). (Tammy Xu)

With vintage jewelry, wedding sets, watches, and more, Midway Jewelry is sure to provide a glamorous gift for your friends and loved ones. The local shop has been open in Clearing for over forty years. The vintage items can be sized to fit, and are also professionally cleaned and detailed. The store even has children’s jewelry and pieces specific to each birthstone, so you’re sure to find a gift for all ages. Midway also provides jewelry repairs, so if a friend is distraught over a broken bracelet, the holidays are a perfect time to fix it! Make the holidays a little more sparkly by shopping at Midway Jewelry this year. (Ashvini Kartik-Narayan) Midway Jewelry, 5635 W. 63rd St. Monday–Tuesday and Thursday–Friday, 9:30am–6pm; Saturday, 9:30am–2pm. (773) 767-1633. midwayjewelry.com

M.A.D.D Rhythms, 4701 S. King Dr. (773) 604-1899. maddrhythms.com

FOR THE CRAFT BREW CONNOISSEUR

FOR THE LOVER OF THE ARTS

ARGUS BREWERY TOUR

AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS ALLIANCE OF CHICAGO AND BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER

Making the Weekly’s Best of the South Side list in the Pullman and Roseland neighborhoods, the $15 (per person) tour is a gift for anyone interested in craft beer. The guided tour takes place on select Saturday evenings, runs about ninety minutes, and includes beer samples, popcorn, and a pint glass to keep. Reservations must be made in advance and only one date remains for 2019 (December 14), but more will be available soon. (Michelle Anderson) Argus Brewery, 11314 S. Front Ave. (773) 941-4050. argusbrewery.com

FOR THE FILM BUFF VIDEO STRIP GIFT CERTIFICATE Do you have a movie or video game lover in your life? The Video Strip will be like a candy shop for them, and you can indulge their sweet tooth with a gift certificate. Previously featured in our 2018 Best of the South Side, the Video Strip is still going strong, with a massive collection of films and games to rent. Your friend or loved one can use the gift certificate for individual rentals starting at $3.99, an unlimited membership starting at $12.99 per month, or even one of the specialty microwave popcorn flavors offered by the shop. In a world of intangible, impersonal streaming, give a gift that offers human connection to go with the movies they love. ( Joshua Falk) The Video Strip, 3307 S. Archer Ave. Sunday– Friday, 1pm–midnight; Saturday noon– midnight. (773) 927-4307. bit.ly/thevideostrip

The African American Arts Alliance of Chicago embraced and expanded the mission of the African American Black Theatre Alliance in 1997. The goal was nothing less than formally recognizing the work of African American artists in Chicago in all its mediums: film, music, literature, and more. If you are a Black creative, or looking to treat yourself to a holiday gift, you might consider a membership purchase to the African American Arts Alliance.The membership system is tiered, ranging from $25 for students and older adults, to $35 for individual artists or patrons, and $150 for an organizational membership. And for those theater lovers in your life, consider a gift of theater at the co-located Black Ensemble Theater. The gift could take the form of a punch card ($225) offering admission to any five productions, or a general gift certificate in any denomination. (Michelle Anderson) African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and Black Ensemble Theater Company, 4450 N. Clark St. (773) 754-3922 (box office for theater purchases). aaaachicago.org

FOR THE SECRET SANTA EK HOUSEWARE & GIFTS A gem among the gift shops in Chinatown, EK Houseware & Gifts is perfect for anyone looking to spice up their home decor. With everything from glassware to tea sets to souvenirs, find a gift for a friend who just moved, a fun trinket to spruce up someone’s desk at work, or a gift to bring to a holiday potluck along with a pot of soup. Gifts range from small trinkets to decorations and furniture, and you’ll be able to find something for all ages. (Ashvini KartikNarayan) EK Houseware & Gifts, 2258 S. Wentworth Ave. Monday–Sunday, 10am– 7pm. (312) 842-8818

SHANE TOLENTINO

HOLIDAY

FOR THE FASHIONABLE AND CHARITABLE

FOR THE ASPIRING WINEMAKER

BROWN ELEPHANT RESALE SHOPS

BEV ART BREWER & WILD BLOSSOM MEADERY CLASSES

Run by Howard Brown Health, an organization dedicated to providing LGBTQ-affirming primary care to individuals across Chicago, Brown Elephant Resale Shops raise money through the resale of donated items. The resale shops stock everything from home decor to vintage clothes, as well as books and electronics. Perfect for finding a one of a kind gift for the person in your life with a unique style, while also giving to a great cause. (Ashvini Kartik-Narayan)

For the eco-conscious couple that eschews the live Christmas tree and pins up stockings instead, here’s a gift that can fit in an envelope (or email, if you avoid wasting paper). Bev-Art Brewer & Wild Blossom Meadery offers an experience: its gift is ensuring that you and your partner acquire homebrew know-how, a memory to treasure, and six gallons of wine. The class is for winemaking, of course, and costs $125 for a couple—not including the supplies, which allows you to customize your experience and choose what type of wine you want to produce. At Bev-Art, you have the option to make six gallons of a fruitier variety (for roughly an additional $90) or, if you want something more refined, you can choose grapes from the wine-producing region of Sonoma, including varietals such as Pinot Noir ($190-$200). The first class, held at the Wild Blossom Meadery overlooking the Dan Ryan Woods, is about two hours long and introduces participants to the initial steps of winemaking. Two weeks later, Bev-Art holds an optional second class, which covers the process of racking your wine (removing the dead yeast from your newly batched vat). Four to six weeks later, the wine is prepared for bottling, and folks will be invited in for a ninety-minute class on bottling the twenty-five to thirty bottles this class yields. A class from Bev-Art is latent with the possibility of starting a new tradition, one you can create with one of your partners, a family member, or a friend. We recommend scheduling your first class sometime in January (and trying your best to anticipate a snowy day). After class, you can head to the tap-room and sample a flight of six Wild Blossom beverages, which runs about $15. Together, you have the opportunity to learn about a microcosm—and the microcosmos—of wine culture. (Label wine accordingly). (Leo Williams)

Brown Elephant Resale Shops, three locations across Chicago: 3020 N. Lincoln Ave.; 5404 N. Clark St.; 217 Harrison St. Monday–Sunday, 11am–7pm. howardbrown.org/get-involved/brownelephant

FOR THE ANTIQUE ENTHUSIAST BEVERLY HILLS MARKETPLACE Have a friend that just moved into a new place? Beverly Hills Marketplace’s stock ranges from designer, classic items to midcentury pieces to more trendy items, so you’re sure to find something they’ll love. The marketplace offers vintage antiques, home furniture and decor, and clothing. Co-owner Bonita Jefferson wanted to revive the old antique store, which used to be housed on the 95th Street corridor, and has been collecting unique antiques there for the past six years. Beverly Hills Marketplace is a great way to shop local and secondhand this holiday season for the people in your life who are entering new chapters. (Ashvini Kartik-Narayan) Beverly Hills Marketplace, 1809 W. 95th St. Wednesday–Saturday, noon–7pm; other days by appointment. (773) 701-6674. bit.ly/bhmarketplace

FOR THE LIT CRITIC OR HISTORY BUFF VIVIAN G. HARSH SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP The Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, housed at the Woodson Regional Library and named for the Chicago Public Library’s first African American librarian, is the largest collection of African American history and literature in the Midwest. The materials have an emphasis on the Black experience in Chicago, with manuscripts, photographs, film, and other documents available for use by researchers. The Vivian G. Harsh Society cultivates community and raises money for the physical resources needed to maintain such an extensive collection. What better gift for your lover of all things Chicago than a Vivian G. Harsh Society membership, which funds these efforts and includes a quarterly newsletter and priority access to programs and events? The tiered membership starts at fifty dollars a year, with discounted rates for students ($20) and older adults ($25). The highest level (Contributor’s Circle, $2,500) gives you two dinner tickets to the Society’s Timuel D. Black, Jr. fundraiser. (Michelle Anderson)

Wild Blossom Meadery, 9030 S. Hermitage Ave. Tuesday–Friday, 9:30am–7pm; Saturday, 9am–6pm; open Sunday and Monday by appointment only. (773) 233-7579. shop.bev-art.com

FOR THE ENEMY OF COLD FEET THALIA HALL SOCKS If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to wear socks that have their own Instagram account—well, now you can find out. Thalia Hall’s socks (@thaliahallsocks) are available in black, white, and baby blue, any of which would be the perfect stockings to round out your stocking stuffers. Thalia Hall, the lovely and historic venue in Pilsen, is also donating one pair to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless for every pair purchased during the month of December. So if they keep your feet warm, someone else’s might be too. (Tammy Xu) Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. (312) 526-3851. bit.ly/SocksTH

Vivian G. Harsh Society, PO Box 438157. (312) 544-9188. harshsociety.org

DECEMBER 11, 2019 ¬ SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY 13

HOLIDAY

DEBORAH’S PLACE Located in Garfield Park, Deborah’s Place provides housing, wrap-around services like job preparation training, and a caring environment for women experiencing homelessness. The organization was founded more than thirty years by a group of volunteer women, but people of all genders are welcome to help out at Deborah’s Place. Volunteers can assist residents and visitors by serving meals, landscaping and cleaning spaces, facilitating games like bingo, and sorting physical donations to the organization. To start volunteering, simply fill out their Volunteer Sign-up form or contact the External Relations Manager at (773) 638-6538. You can also make a holiday donation of linens, cleaning supplies, or non-perishable foods by dropping your items off at 2822 W. Jackson Blvd. between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday. (Lucia Geng) Deborah’s Place, 2822 W. Jackson Blvd. (773) 772-5080. deborahsplace.org

ST. SABINA ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FEAST FOR THE HOMELESS AND ELDERLY Experiencing the Christmas Eve service with the Faith Community of St. Sabina is a night not soon forgotten. Christmas carols begin fifteen minutes before the 10pm mass, which starts with a pre-service pageant and light show. And if you’re wondering why the midnight mass begins at 10pm, well, you’ve never been to a St. Sabina service. This spectacular and festive gathering breathes new meaning into what so many believe to be the holiest night of the year. But the real spirit of Christmas at St. Sabina can be found on the afternoon of Christmas Day, at the annual Christmas Feast for the homeless and elderly in Bethune Hall at St. Sabina Academy. From noon to 2pm, home-cooked Christmas meals are served free of charge, with transportation provided to and from some shelters. Cash and food donations are being accepted now to make this year’s feast possible, and the church is also looking for people to help with decorating and cleaning up. Contact the church office if you’d like to help or be helped: (773) 483-4300. (Nicole Bond) St. Sabina Academy’s Bethune Hall, 7801 S. Throop St. Wednesday, December 25, noon–2pm. (773) 483-4300.

MIND + HAND Mind + Hand is a nonprofit technological career-training center in West Elsdon, named by the Weekly as one of our “Best of the South Side” winners in 2018. They recently hosted a coding bootcamp teaching students to code in Swift, a coding language used for iOS apps, and have announced upcoming apprenticeship programs in digital marketing, data analytics and UX design. But Mind + Hand isn’t limited to technical skills; they’ve also hosted workshops on topics like LinkedIn, career interviews, and college applications, helping people land the opportunities that Mind + Hand has helped them become qualified for. They also provide an open, free space for community members to hold meetings, get work done, and work on crafts and projects in their “makerspace.” They accept donations, but they’re also looking for support through in-kind contributions and volunteers. If you have some old craft materials or computers lying around, consider dropping them off with Mind + Hand—get a head start on your spring cleaning while supporting a good cause. And if you’re interested in lending your expertise, they’re always looking for professionals who are willing to share their skills with the community. (Sam Joyce) Mind + Hand, 5400 S. Pulaski Ave., 2nd floor. Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm. mindhand.org

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¬ DECEMBER 11, 2019

ROSELAND CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES The lights of Michigan Avenue (and the many excellent stores we’ve recommended in our gift guide) offer a variety of opportunities for holiday shopping, but if you’re looking to get your shopping done while also giving back to the community, don’t miss the Roseland Christian Ministries Thrift Store. For twenty years, RCM Thrift has offered clothes, furniture, housewares, board games, books, accessories and more—something for everyone on your list. An excellent selection is paired with excellent prices; most clothes are just one to three dollars. The store is staffed by volunteers, so every dollar goes to supporting Roseland Christian Ministries’ programs: a food pantry, a free lunch program, and a shelter for women and children. (Sam Joyce) Roseland Christian Ministries Thrift Store, 33 E. 111th Pl. (773) 468-0262. Thursday–Saturday, 10am–4:30pm. roselandchristianministries.org

POLITICS

Organizing for Justice In— And Beyond—Chicago BRIANNA DORN

A historic civil rights group refounds as a national organization BY ASHISH VALENTINE

rganizers from Chicago and around the country gathered at the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) Center Friday through Sunday, November 22–24, for a conference to re-found a historic civil rights group known as the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR), with the aim of forging links between grassroots movements for racial justice and police accountability nationwide. The conference began with a rally that filled the union hall, featuring speakers from the city and across the country, including

academic and activist Angela Davis.The following days were devoted to workshops that sought to build connections between local and national movements through topics like building community control of the police and fighting local law enforcement’s collaborations with federal authorities. Chicago is no stranger to community organizing around these issues. The National Alliance’s Chicago chapter participated enthusiastically in grassroots campaigns around police violence and accountability. It led a citywide push for a Civilian Police

Accountability Council (CPAC) and pursued reparations for the hundreds of mostly Black Chicagoans who were tortured and unjustly imprisoned by the Chicago Police Department, particularly under the infamous Commander Jon Burge. One such survivor is Gerald Reed. At the conference’s opening night rally, his mother, Armanda Shackelford, spoke about the Chicago Alliance’s role in his defense. Despite having his conviction overturned a year ago, Reed remains imprisoned as hearings for his release continue, and his

physical well-being declines. He's been imprisoned now for almost 30 years. “They’re fighting every day to free my son. But it’s not just Gerald Reed, because Gerald is not in there by himself,” Shackelford said. “When my son was arrested in 1990, if we had CPAC, he would not be in jail. But it happened and it still happens.” Grassroots efforts to hold the city accountable for police torture resulted in Burge’s conviction on June 28, 2010—not for torture, but for obstruction of justice and perjury, with a prison term of less than five years. This was almost forty after the first known act of torture under his watch in 1973.The sentence pales in comparison to the decades that many of his targets spent in jail, often as a result of convictions based solely on confessions Burge and his detectives had tortured out of them. It also resulted in the historic reparations ordinance passed by Chicago’s City Council in May 2015, one of the first reparations measures implemented by an American city. It guaranteed a pool of $5.5 million in monetary compensation for torture survivors, free education at any City College, and counselling for survivors and their families. In addition, it includes a curriculum about police torture in Chicago Public Schools, a public monument the city has yet to build, and the creation of a torture justice center on the city’s South Side. Aislinn Pulley, co-director of the center and an organizer with Black Lives Matter Chicago, praised the Alliance’s efforts around police torture, saying that organizers from the Alliance were part of the torture justice movement from the beginning. Survivors of police torture in Chicago, both under Burge and after his tenure, were also at the conference to share their stories. In Chicago, the Alliance extended support beyond Black movements to others in the city. The conference’s structure reflected these relationships through the visible presence of international movement leaders at the rally and throughout the weekend. When Palestinian-American organizer Rasmea Odeh faced the stripping of her American citizenship and deportation to Jordan in 2017, Chicago Alliance members joined Palestinians in supporting her. In a video message, Odeh spoke from her home in Jordan and personally thanked the Alliance, co-chair and educational director Frank Chapman, and Angela Davis. Giving the rally’s keynote speech, Davis emphasized that, from its founding, the movement was dedicated to a multiracial and

DECEMBER 11, 2019 ¬ SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY 15

internationalist struggle against repression, telling the audience that the American Indian, Chicano, Puerto Rican nationalist and other movements were integral to its character. “We were very insistent on the multiracial character of the organization and recognized that we could not move forward in the struggle against racism without acknowledging the importance of white people learning to accept Black and Brown leadership,” she said. As the rally and conference continued, the diversity of the attendees and workshops themselves seemed to act as a blueprint for the intersectional, radical internationalist movement that NAARPR originally embodied, and that the refounded NAARPR seeks to recreate. Palestinian-American organizer Hatem Abudayyeh took the stage on Friday to rustle up funds for the fledgling Alliance, and as he called out bids for donations like a leftist auctioneer, hands shot up across the packed hall to put up cash for the movement. Funds poured in from Chicago and national organizations and, as the internationalist rallying cry went that evening, “from Palestine to the Philippines.” Bassem Kawar, an organizer with the Arab-American Action Network and the US Palestinian Community Network, spoke with the Weekly after the Friday rally about the internationalist dimension of the movement. “We’re part of the Chicago Alliance’s steering committee and have organized shoulder to shoulder with them for a long time,” he said. “What you saw in there was a multinational, working-class room, and it’s hard to find rooms like that [anywhere else in] the country.” “It all goes back to the historic ties between ours and the Black communities in Chicago. If we could date it back to the Washington days with the Rainbow Coalition, the Palestinian community played a major role,” Kawar said. “Most recently, in the movement for justice for Laquan Macdonald, we were shoulder to shoulder with the Alliance since day one, at the Black Friday Boycott... and to be real the Alliance has always supported Palestinian liberation work here in Chicago. I was one of the lead organizers for Rasmea’s defense work, and the Alliance was with us since day one...Our solidarity isn’t transactional—we have the same ideology and the same aims.” Intersections and discussions between these communities made the conference itself a generative space—one that in and of itself served as a model for the movement it was seeking to create. A workshop on civilian, democratic control of the police 16 SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY

saw attendees break up into small groups to talk about how they’d push for and implement CPAC-like structures in their own communities. Attendees from around the country discussed how the Chicago model was being replicated in cities like Jacksonville, Florida, and Minneapolis, and ways to keep these movements connected. Another workshop on centering families in the movement for accountability for police violence gave the floor to family members themselves to speak out about what it was like to lose their loved ones to unjust violence. Martinez Sutton, the brother of Rekia Boyd, was one of the speakers at this workshop. Alongside him was Rekia’s sister, Kenyatta Rosemond, who spoke publicly about Rekia for the first time there. She spoke, haltingly, of what Boyd’s killing had done to her mentally, emotionally, and even physically. “I've been in anger management for four years,” Rosemond said. “I'm very upset, and I haven't cried. I haven't cried.” “Rekia was my baby,” she said after a long pause. “She used to lay on my chest.” “I was stopped by the police officer three weeks ago on Ashton Street going to the VA and I just freaked out. My cousin literally had to pull me out the car and hold me, ‘cause I wouldn't raise my window down to police.” “Police officers are the worst thing that triggers me...So I just wanted to see if I could get up and talk and I guess I can.” Toshira Garraway, the fiancee of Justin Teigen, followed her. Teigen’s badly bruised dead body was found in a recycling facility in St. Paul ten years ago. Garraway says that the St. Paul police beat Teigen the night before and threw his body in a recycling bin, where it was picked up and taken all the way to the processing facility before being found. That was in 2009, four years before Black Lives Matter was founded, and she described the isolation of trying to push for accountability in the absence of a robust organizing community. “[The police] want you to fade off into the background, and they want you to be silent....I was scared for my own life. [But]...I cannot continue to hear this stuff and, and just know that they're doing this to our people and just be silent about it.... The reason that they're able to continue these murders is because they've been able to isolate the families one by one.” “But we’re able to come together ‘cause it's like, ‘Oh that happened to your family. That happened to my family.’...There’s strength in numbers. So that's why I'm glad

¬ DECEMBER 11, 2019

we're doing this, to come out with these stories so they cannot pick us off one by one,” Garraway said. Martinez Sutton told me after the workshop that he felt the success or failure of a refounded National Alliance would depend largely on whether its movement can stay internally coherent, and whether it can decide on an effective organizational strategy. Part of the struggle, for him, was whether the movement could balance system-level demands with achievable, short-term results. “For me, a lot of people here are advocating to take down the whole of CPD, but that’s so hard,” he said. “Why don’t we learn from how they target us? Why don’t we pick them off, one by one, remaining as much of a thorn in their side as possible? We can focus on one killer cop, get him convicted, force him out of CPD. Like that, bit by bit, once you chip away at the building, you’ll eventually get to that foundational stone that’s holding everything together.” The idea Sutton was referencing—the eventual abolition of prisons and police departments—was a key focus of the conference. Discussing this tension between immediate, reform-minded measures like increasing community control of the police versus explicitly abolitionist ones, Chicago Alliance organizer Brian Ragsdale explained, “We often look at these two concepts as within a binary and...it doesn't have to be either-or. We can advance the struggle for community control of the police while we then begin to develop ‘alternative ways of harm reduction,’ as Angela [Davis] described it.” Ragsdale added that he didn’t believe the concept of abolition is immediately viable, but is part of a longer, transformative process—and argued that part of that process is making sure that police officers who have committed crimes under the present system would not be let off the hook. “I see almost no need for the police, but right now, we’re not at that place” Ragsdale said. “I’ve developed a lot of relationships with the family members, and I can’t go up to Armanda Shackelford and say, ‘Well, let’s have a conversation about what it looks like without the police,’ because that would be insulting...because we are living in a present moment where the reality is that their loved ones are in the prison system right now or have been tortured right now. So while part of me wants to vision a restorative justice place that I think we can get to, I want police who engage in these activities to be held accountable...they should not be outside the law at all.”

Jazmine Salas, the Chicago Alliance co-chair, described the progress she says allied movements have made in just a few years. “Refounding NAARPR is really... aligning for the first time the movements that are working on community control of the police. So when we started our campaign in 2012, there were...150 people in a room. And since then we've grown to 60,000 supporters, and that's just in Chicago. And we know that other cities are looking to us...And there are other cities who are launching campaigns using the CPAC model for community control of the police. So what NAARPR will do is it'll give us the framework, especially a national framework for us to all synchronize and work together and learn from each other.”

he original National Alliance formed out of collective efforts to free Angela Davis after she’d been arrested and imprisoned on suspicion of involvement in a shooting at a Marin County, California courthouse in 1970. As Davis explained in her keynote speech on Friday, “From the time I was first arrested in New York and held in the women's house of detention in Greenwich Village, I could look around and see countless numbers of women who did not have the kind of support that I did. I felt that as long as the campaign focused exclusively on me, we would not be fulfilling our revolutionary mandate. And I could not myself feel comfortable being the sole beneficiary of this phenomenal campaign.” After her input, the campaign changed its name from “The National United Committee to Free Angela Davis” to the same title, but with the addition of “And All Political Prisoners.” True to its name, the movement, through a combination of nationwide and even international pressure, as well as funding from groups as disparate as trade unions and communist parties, the Presbyterian Church, and even college fraternities and sororities, pooled resources and succeeded in freeing Davis in 1972, when she was formally acquitted of all charges. After achieving this and other initial victories, in 1973, the organizers turned the infrastructure they had created into NAARPR, an organization dedicated to protecting emerging minority-led, left-wing movements in the United States from law enforcement and federal targeting, as well as fighting for individual prisoners facing unjust detention. According to Salas, at the old National

Alliance’s height in the 70s and 80s, it boasted twenty-six chapters nationwide. She mentioned that this number dropped steadily as programs like the FBI’s COINTELPRO surveilled, divided, and violently targeted Black, Brown, and left-wing movements such as the Black Panthers. The conditions that ultimately led to the decline of the movement, according to CAARPR organizers, are still active today. Salas listed the urgency of addressing police killings, the targeting of movements like Black Lives Matter by the FBI under the label of “Black identity extremism,” and a rise in nationalist violence worldwide as the stakes that inform the movement’s

refounding. Though the movement dwindled, it “didn't die out,” Salas said. “Considering all of these things, it's kind of the perfect time to really get it going again. Applying these lessons that we've learned as well as trying to basically protect people's rights. Because we are losing our rights every single day.”

ack on opening night, Pulley referenced the idea that a newly refounded NAARPR could represent the alignment of local and national movements through the example of torture justice in Chicago, arguing that torture

remains a part of Chicago police operations at places like its secretive Homan Square facility in North Lawndale. When they talk about the ‘Era of Burge,’ don't let them use that language, because the torture continues to happen...The work we have to do is to end torture completely in this city and across this country,” she said. “And what that means is that we have to free all the prisoners, we have to open all the cages, and we have to defund all the police departments.” Moving forward, on the conference’s last day, members voted to establish the foundational layers of the movement. At a closing rally, they elected longtime Chicago

Alliance organizer Frank Chapman as interim Executive Director, and chose to establish a continuations committee to pave the way for the organization to start connecting movements nationwide. Ashish Valentine is a Chicago-based audio and print journalist. This is his first piece for the Weekly, but you can find his work at WBEZ, NPR, and subtitle magazine. Anna Luy Tan contributed reporting.

Movies of the Masthead ‘Tis the season to cozy up with something warm to drink (maybe pomegranate mulled wine— see page eleven) and binge-watch all your favorite holiday movies. Here are some favorites from the Weekly’s editorial staff—see if yours made our list!

TRADING PLACES The story takes place during the holiday season, which qualifies it for me as an official holiday movie, though the story would be just as funny set at any time of year. Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy), a poor street hustler, and Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd), an uppercrust commodities broker, have their lives swapped by brothers Randolph and Mortimer Duke (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche), affluent owners of the brokerage firm where Winthorpe works, to try and answer the nature vs. nurture question—all over a one dollar bet. I live for Eddie Murphy’s deadpan look into the camera when the Duke brothers explain the relevance of bacon in the commodities market to Valentine. In the end, all of the players get their comeuppance. Funny AF. 1983, rated R. (Nicole Bond – stage & screen editor)

HOME ALONE Next year will mark thirty years since Home Alone was released, and to this day it remains a classic. Set in nearby Winnetka, the story follows Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin), who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on a Christmas vacation. He must then fend off two burglars, Harry Lyme and Marv Merchants ( Joe Pesci and Daniel Stearn), who have been staking out the houses in the neighborhood. Kevin's knack for turning a variety of household items into ingenious booby traps was an endless source of inspiration for me as a kid (though my attempts to ward off my siblings were not so successful). Amid all the fun and thrill of rooting for Kevin to escape the burglars, there’s real emotional payoff as Kevin realizes he misses his family after all. I recently learned that Home Alone was the highest-grossing liveaction comedy for more than twenty years. Well-deserved! 1990, rated PG. (Adam Przybyl – outgoing editor-in-chief )

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS This movie celebrates both Christmas and Halloween. It’s a sweet and scary dance between good and evil. Sci-fi animation meets the spirit of the season, with something for every palate. It’s marketed for children, but don’t get it twisted—this is a grown-up movie that will have you leaving a little scotch for Santa with his cookies. 1993, rated PG for pretty ghoulish. ( Jackie Serrato – new editor-in-chief )

DIE HARD

At twenty-one years old this past July, “Yippee-ki-yay [expletive]!” is probably one of my favorite phrases at any time of the year. Set in LA, John McClane (Bruce Willis) is a cop estranged from his wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and their kids. The family is attempting to reunite for the Christmas holiday when pesky terrorists seize the building where McClane’s wife works, taking everyone hostage. What are the odds that McClane, as a lone cop, will be able to shut down the twelve terrorists? As someone with strong feelings regarding the over-policing of poor, Black and Brown neighborhoods, I am content to watch an action film where the police work happens in a more exclusive neighborhood. I must not be the only one who feels this way (albeit for different reasons), as Die Hard has been named one of the best action and Christmas-themed movies ever made. 1988, rated R. (Michelle Anderson – education co-editor)

THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT Before Jason Bourne made the assassin-with-amnesia narrative a blockbuster, there was Charly Baltimore. Geena Davis stars as Samantha Caine/Charly, a bubbly suburban mom who can’t remember who she is but has an uncanny ability to throw chef ’s knives with deadly accuracy. As Samantha, she is haunted by nightmares that suggest her past may soon catch up to her, and she enlists the help of unscrupulous private eye Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson) to find out who she really is. The film is full of spy-vs-spy machismo that Charly never hesitates to call out, whether she’s lambasting Mitch for leering at a female jogger or shooting a torturer in the face. Mitch, who has been disastrously betrayed by white partners in the past, also pushes back at Charly for treating him as the help, sexualizing him, and wantonly placing him in extreme physical danger. Brian Cox gives a small but memorable appearance that foreshadows his roles in The Bourne Identity and Succession. 1996, rated R. ( Jim Daley – politics editor)

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: ANIMATED When I think of movies that make me feel like the holidays are, in fact, upon us, my mind wanders to the 1964 stop-motion animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It's aged well and with me, and it's still fun to watch even after all these years! The textures in this movie are a big part of what captivates me, from the soft felt fur of Rudolph to the coarse, snowdusted beard of Yukon Cornelius. It's a warm classic, with songs, like “Misfits,” that don't feel like overplayed, commercialized Christmas carols. 1964, rated G. (Mell Montezuma – deputy visuals editor) DECEMBER 11, 2019 ¬ SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY 17

HOLIDAY

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MOVIE

ARNOLD’S CHRISTMAS (HEY ARNOLD!)

This is not about the stop-motion movie—never seen it. I grew up with a different telling of the Rudolph story: an animated musical featuring dancing Arctic foxes, problems with North Pole infrastructure, and, most importantly, a bizarrely star-studded cast crowned by Whoopi Goldberg as the voice of Stormella the Evil Ice Queen. At first, the movie seems like a classic take on the tale, as cute baby Rudolph (Kathleen Barr) is mocked but comforted by his parents, Blitzen (Garry Chalk) and Debbie Reynolds. Things pick up when Christmas Town’s least competent elves, Boone and Doggle, get into a sleigh accident and smash up the sculpture garden of the evil Stormella, who happens to own the only bridge over the appropriately named Grand Chasm. When Santa ( John Goodman) refuses to hand over his elves to her brand of justice, Stormella closes the bridge, threatening to create a blizzard that will stop Santa from delivering presents if anyone uses it. Years later, Rudolph, still bullied and afraid of being rejected by his family, runs away. When his crush crosses the bridge to search for him, all hell breaks loose—hell, in this case, consisting of Eric Idle and Bob Newhart as more talking Arctic animals, a diva number for Stormella complete with a magical costume change, and the opportunity for Rudolph to save the day. I can’t say that this is a good movie, but the cheesy songs have been stuck in my head for a couple decades. 1998, rated G. (Olivia Stovicek – senior editor)

Growing up, I was never much of a fan of Christmas specials. They didn’t speak to my religious tradition or my experience. But something about the Hey Arnold! Christmas special was different. The beautifully animated episode managed to cover serious topics in a way that was accessible for me as a child without being condescending, and it did so with Hey Arnold's characteristic sense of comedy. “Arnold’s Christmas” hit upon topics as varied as loss, consumerism, the Vietnam War, sacrifice, and human connection. The episode ends with a heartwarming reminder that we have the power to make miracles, if only we choose to. 1996. ( Joshua Falk – contributing editor)

Mental Wellness During the Holidays

Beverly Therapists offers suggestions for staying well during the holidays BY NICOLE BOND

or the past nine months, Beverly Therapists, a diverse group of mental wellness practitioners, has hosted a series of monthly two-hour “Wellness Seminars” on every second Saturday, each featuring a different therapist who customizes the session to their area of practice. Past sessions have included: “Journaling for Wellness,” “For Teens: The Road to Adulthood,” and “For Parents: The Love for Social Media.” Some of their upcoming seminars for the new decade include: “For Couples: Shifting Communication Patterns,” “The Hidden Trauma in School Struggles,” and “How to Better Understand Your Teen.” These sessions are just one example of how Beverly Therapists has, since 2010, provided mental health resources, education and outreach for the South Side community. At ten dollars each, the seminars are accessible, and participants can register online to reserve a space. The therapists accept most insurance providers, and each therapist offers sliding scale fees for those without insurance. I spoke to Lisa Catania, a licensed clinical social worker and one of the founding 18 SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY

members of Beverly Therapists. She’ll lead their next monthly seminar, “Intentionally Creating Peace,” on December 14th. Catania knows all too well how the holidays are not always a happy time of year for everyone. She explained that the holidays are a time of increased stress even in the best of times, and that living on the South Side can bring its own set of stressors. Just as there are food deserts on the South Side, there are barriers to mental wellness. Many people struggle with transportation barriers, unable to travel to locations where services are available; others need meds they can’t afford. Many of these barriers have been exacerbated in recent years by the closing of many public mental health facilities. Those problems often overlap with more systemic oppressions, and seeking treatment for any mental health problems is complicated by both the cultural stigma attached to mental health and the complexities of the American healthcare system. Catania says people have been conditioned to put up with negative emotions in a way we aren’t expected to put up with physical ailments. We’ve become complacent and have learned how to put

¬ DECEMBER 11, 2019

up with being neglected, shoving aside the invisible issues of mental health. Catania says the constant barrage of holiay ads showing excitement, festivities, and gift-giving tries to make us feel things we may not feel if we have had a recent or past loss of a loved one, are experiencing family problems that create divisions and separation, or are far away from home and caregivers. If you find yourself in one of these groups this holiday season, here are a dozen recommendations for navigating the weeks ahead: 1. Acknowledge how you feel and make adjustments. 2. Take extra care to be kind, patient, and caring with yourself. 3. Engage in stress reducing activities, like physical exercise, or meditation and yoga. 4. Talk to someone trustworthy—be real, especially if you are hurting. 5. Release the belief that there is such a thing as “perfect.” 6. Remember the importance of what the season means to you and honor that in your actions.

7. Balance taking care of yourself, with taking care of others. 8. Know your boundaries and limits. 9. Practice saying no—Practice saying yes. 10. Ask for help when you need it. 11. Hold onto whatever feeds your soul. 12. Remember to breathe—deeply. If you are feeling fine and looking forward to the holidays, consider reaching out to someone who seems vulnerable this season. When checking in, take time to really try to listen from the heart without offering solutions or sharing similar stories of your own, but simply hold space for people to feel heard. Beverly Therapists is located at 10725 S. Western Ave. Open daily from 8am. (773) 310-3488. Sign up for their monthly newsletter and/or register for the monthly wellness series happening on the second Saturday of every month from 3pm–5pm. $10 at beverlytherapists.com Nicole Bond is the Weekly’s Stage & Screen editor.

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IN-PERSON REGISTRATION Saturday, December 7 at 9am for most parks Some parks begin Monday, December 9 VIEW WINTER PROGRAMS NOW AT WWW.CHICAGOPARKDISTRICT.COM City of Chicago, Lori E. Lightfoot, Mayor Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners Michael Kelly, General Superintendent & CEO

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