February 7 - 13, 2024

february 7 - 13, 2024 Vol. 32 No. 06

$3 $1.85 + Tips go to your Vendor

STAY COVERED WITH MEDICAID! C H E C K YO U R S TAT U S AT A B E . I L L I N O I S . G O V.

ADVERTISEMENTS

4 Arts & Entertainment 6 SportsWise

Event highlights of the week!

The SportsWise Team debates what makes a football team a contender for the Super Bowl.

8 Cover Story: National basketball Association

Begin Black History Month with this feature on the first 50 years of professional basketball, a mixture of white and Black (and Black-owned) teams, who barnstormed the U.S. playing against each other, as well as the Chicagoan who was the first to sign an NBA contract.

12 From the Streets

Facing homelessness and surviving Chicago's worst winter weather during the January cold snap.

15 The Playground

ON THE COVER: Nat ‘Sweetwater’ Clifton played for the New York Rens and went on to become one of the first Black players in the NBA (Library of Congress photo). THIS PAGE: The Rens won the first World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1939 (Black Fives Foundation image). DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of StreetWise.

Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher

dhamilton@streetwise.org

StreetWiseChicago @StreetWise_CHI

Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief

suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

Amanda Jones, Director of programs

ajones@streetwise.org

Julie Youngquist, Executive director

jyoungquist@streetwise.org

Ph: 773-334-6600 Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL, 60616

LEARN MORE AT streetwise.org

DONATE

To make a donation to StreetWise, visit our website at www.streetwise.org/donate/ or cut out this form and mail it with your donation to StreetWise, Inc., 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60616.

We appreciate your support!

My donation is for the amount of $________________________________Billing Information: Check #_________________Credit Card Type:______________________Name:_________________________________________________________________________________ We accept: Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express

Address:_______________________________________________________________________________

Account#:_____________________________________________________City:___________________________________State:_________________Zip:_______________________ Expiration Date:________________________________________________Phone #:_________________________________Email:_________________________________________

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Compiled by Dave Hamilton

A Chicago Debut!

Compañía Nacional de Danza The Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, presents Compañía Nacional de Danza in its Chicago debut. The Madridbased ‘National Dance Company’ will perform a mixed repertory program featuring varied and representative styles, recognizable inside and outside Spain, including classical, neoclassical, and contemporary dance. Compañía Nacional de Danza is led by Artistic Director Joaquín De Luz, a past soloist with American Ballet Theatre and principal dancer with New York City Ballet. Performances will include: “Passengers Within” (2022), a new work by De Luz set to music

by Philip Glass and inspired by today’s society and our slavery to the system of modern technology; “Sad Case” (1998) choreographed by former Nederlands Dans Theater dancers Sol León and Paul Lightfoot showcasing the surprising and earthy movements of the mambo; and “White Darkness” (2001) by acclaimed Spanish modern ballet dancer and choreographer Nacho Duato, former CND director and current artistic director of the Berlin State Ballet.

The one-night-only performance is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 10. Tickets are $40+ at auditoriumtheatre.org

Vroom, Vroom!

Chicago Auto Show Showgoers can once again expect an experiential show with both indoor and outdoor ride-and-drives and the return of Chicago Drives Electric, a one-stop-shop for electric vehicle test drives and education. Fan-favorite events will bring the show floor to life including Chicago Friday Night Flights, a local craft beer sampling event, and the Toyota Miles Per Hour run, where runners can experience the auto show via a 2.4-mile loop inside McCormick Place before the event doors open to the public. The show runs February 10-19 at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, and opens to the public daily at 10 a.m. Adult ticket prices are $17; seniors ages 62 and older are $12; children ages 4-12 are $12; kids 3 and younger are free. Show hours vary by day. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com

A Longing for Home!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

'Evicted' Exhibition Inspired by Matthew Desmond’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” the Evicted exhibition brings visitors into the world of low-income renter eviction. The exhibition challenges visitors to face the enormity of one of 21st-century America’s most devastating problems while providing context for the crisis and a call to action. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) makes multiple references to both the physical and emotional need for belonging and safety, from the right to shelter to free movement and residence. However, for millions in the United States and around the world, access to a safe, reliable, and permanent home remains out of reach. Those displaced by conflict, discrimination, or economic instability are forced to leave their homes and seek safety and opportunity in places they often have never been. Similarly, marginalized communities often see their homes vulnerable to governmental neglect, violence, and environmental degradation. On view through March 10, Thursdays-Friday, 12-6 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays, 12-5 p.m. at National Public Housing Museum, 625 N. Kingsbury St. FREE, no reservations or tickets are required.

4

A Perfect Valentine's Date!

'Dances from the Heart' Emergence Dance Theatre and Access Theatre Productions present the popular and romantic "Dances From the Heart" at 8 p.m. Saturday, February 10 at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie.

Curated by Artistic Director John Schmitz, it showcases the hottest romantic and transformational works. The night is an unforgettable way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with Chicago’s finest dance creators. The program includes Trinity Irish Dancers, Visceral Studio Company, Gus Giordano Company, Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Christine Rich Dance Theatre, Comedy Dance Chicago, and more! Tickets are $25 - $45 at NorthShoreCenter.org or (847)673-6300.

The World is a Stage!

Chicago Theatre Week 2024 Experience everything Chicago theatre has to offer for just $15 or $30 (or less!) from February 8 - 18. Chicago Theatre Week features value-priced tickets to more than 100 performances at theaters across the city, from musicals to improv to dramas and beyond. Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago. Now in its 12th year, this highly anticipated event allows visitors and locals to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout the Chicago area. For tickets and a full schedule, visit www.choosechicago.com/chicago-theatre-week/

Get to Know the Artists!

Classic Encounter with Terri Hemmert Starting as an overnight announcer and public affairs director in 1973, legendary DJ Terri Hemmert became Chicago’s first female morning-drive personality in 1981. In 2002, she became host of “Breakfast with the Beatles,” and in 2010 she was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. On February 8, start your Thursday night at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., with an interactive multimedia discussion between Terri Hemmert and Seong-Jin Cho before their concert. Classic Encounter is $25 in addition to the $45+ SeongJin Cho Plays Beethoven ticket at cso.org. Classic encounter starts at 6 p.m., concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

Bonjour Mon Amour!

‘An American in Paris’ in Concert Witness the 1951 MGM musical — starring Gene Kelly as an American ex-GI who falls for a Parisian woman played by Leslie Caron — on the big screen while the CSO performs the score live. Featuring the treasured songs of George and Ira Gershwin, the movie culminates in an iconic ballet sequence, choreographed by Kelly himself. Paris never felt so magnificent.

Friday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets start at $85 at cso.org

A Showcase of Talent!

‘Studies in Blue’ The Joffrey Ballet continues its 68th season with a captivating mixed rep program with original work choreographed by Liam Scarlett and Andrew McNicol, rounded out with a world premiere by Stina Quagebeur. Testing the limits of classical ballet with contemporary themes, scores, and breathtaking set design, “Studies in Blue” features deeply moving works that showcase the range of the Company’s repertoire with choreography by the most visionary artists in modern dance. At the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Upper Wacker Drive, in 10 performances only, from February 15–25.

Visit joffrey.org for tickets and a full schedule of performances.

Happiness and Prosperity!

Lunar New Year Celebration As part of the Old Town School of Folk Music’s World Music Wednesday Concert Series, this Year of the Dragon-themed concert will immerse viewers in the spirit of Lunar New Year with performances blending traditional and contemporary Chinese and Thai music and instruments. Featured performers include multi-instrumentalist Tzu-Tsen Wu (pictured), multi-percussionist Brent Roman, and their duo, Ruan and Hide, along with special guest Chamni Sripraram. Wednesday, February 7 at 8 p.m. at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N. Lincoln Ave. This event is free, but advanced reservations are recommended at oldtownschool.org

Fighting Antisemitism!

‘Just For Us’ Fresh from a hit Broadway run, award-winning comedian Alex Edelman brings his acclaimed solo show “Just For Us” to Steppenwolf Theatre February 15 – 25, in the Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. In the wake of a string of anti-Semitic rhetoric pointed in his direction online, standup comic Edelman decides to go straight to the source: specifically, Queens, where he covertly attends a meeting of White Nationalists and comes face-toface with the people behind the keyboards. W hat happens next forms the backbone of the shockingly relevant and utterly hilarious stories that comprise "Just for Us." Tickets are $52+ at steppenwolf.org/justforus or (312)335-1650. .

www.streetwise.org

5

Vendors (l-r) John Hagan and Russell Adams chat with Editor Suzanne Hanney about the world of sports.

What makes a team worthy John: We're recording this podcast way ahead of the Super Bowl, which is February 11, so we’re not gonna make predictions, we’re gonna talk about what makes a team a contender. Russell, you have the inside information.

Russell: First of all, you have to have a good quarterback.

That's No. 1. No. 2, a team that doesn't get injured a lot, they got a chance. And third, for example in the 70s, the Cowboys had Roger Staubach. Something happened to Roger Staubach, they had Danny White, a good backup quarterback. Also, you need good coaching, good players.

Suzanne: You're saying we need a first-string and a second-string quarterback?

SPORTSWISE

Russell: It helps to get a good quarterback backup. Danny White was damn good. Staubach got hurt, boom! They didn’t miss a beat.

Suzanne: So, I'm gonna jump in here, digress from the Super Bowl just a minute. Does what you’re saying about backup quarterbacks mean the Bears need to draft another quarterback in April with our No. 1 pick?

Russell: No, keep who we got.

John: Tyson Bagent was filling in for Justin Fields when he got hurt. He did a decent job. Not great but decent.

Suzanne: Who are our theoretical contenders going into the Super Bowl?

John: I am going to go off what Russell said, you need a stud quarterback, but also need an offensive line: someone who will protect the blindside of a quarterback.

Certain teams, you have a backup quarterback and offensive line head coaches, you’re gonna be OK. Now, if you have a defensive head coach and a subpar backup, like in 1990 for example, the Dallas Cowboys when Troy Aikman went down, Babe Laufenberg came in and that was the end of the season for them. During the offseason, they got Steve Beuerlein and went to the playoffs that year. So you need an offensive coach, good backups, and some depth. You can still make the playoffs if you don't have great depth, but you're more fraudulent.

Russell: The Baltimore Ravens are the strongest team.

Best ’backs in the NFL. Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley.

John: Kansas City’s got a decent backup QB, Blaine Gabbert. Houston has Davis Mills and used Case Keenum in December against Tennessee Titans. The 49ers have a “system.” The Packers’ backup: rookie Sean Clifford.

If Jordan Love goes down, they are not going anywhere.

Although they have a coach who's more offensive-minded, so there’s hope for the Packers. And as far as the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they don't have as great depth, especially Tampa Bay. How Tampa Bay got to the level they got to, that’s pretty surprising.

Again, they play the NFC South, but you gotta give hats off to them, they won the first round of playoffs.

Russell: Good offensive coordinator. Good play calling.

The Bears -- same play every week. To the left, to the right.

Teams be waiting for that kind of stuff. Can’t keep calling the same plays. You got

to throw the ball sometimes.

Get some good receivers.

They see a fast pass, they go get it, not just wait for it. You gotta play hard, play to win.

One more thing: Houston, Texas. A surprise team. They went from last place – boom -- to the play offs! Congratulations! So Bears, take note.

All is not lost.

John: I also want to congratulate the Green Bay Packers.

They made a strong comeback after a slow start. They made the playoffs. They upset the Cowboys, who were undefeated at home this year.

Suzanne: You want to congratulate the Green Bay Packers in Bears country?

John: Yeah, because they overachieved.

Any comments, suggestions or topic ideas for the SportsWise team? Email StreetWise Editor Suzanne Hanney at suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

Staying healthy in Cold & flu season When the weather shifts in temperature, the cold and flu season has begun. The flu (influenza) and the common cold share many of the same symptoms. Both are contagious illnesses that affect the respiratory system and are spread through viruses. How can you tell if your symptoms are a cold or the flu? Here’s how: Cold symptoms are usually milder, develop over time, and can include: • Fever • Runny or stuffy nose • Sore throat • Cough • Sneezing • Fatigue • Muscle aches • Headaches

by Dr. Marina Claudio

Flu symptoms can be more severe, appear suddenly, and can include: • Fever (often higher than one that’s due to a cold) • Stuffy nose • Feeling like you want to vomit (nausea) • Chills • Sweats • Fatigue • Muscle aches • Cough • Headaches • Loss of appetite • Vomiting and/or diarrhea (more common in children) Whether or not you have a cold or the flu, be sure to take steps to feel better while your body fights the virus: • Get lots of rest • Stop smoking • Drink lots of fluids • Avoid alcohol • Gargle with warm salt water a few times a day to help your sore throat feel better • Use saline (saltwater) nose drops or sprays to help loosen mucous and hydrate dry nasal passages • Use a humidifier • Take medicine recommended or prescribed by your provider • Get the annual seasonal flu vaccine early in the season!

Call your provider if you have the following symptoms: • High fever that lasts for more than a few days • Symptoms that last for more than 10 days or get worse instead of better • Trouble breathing or shortness of breath • Severe sinus pain in the cheeks or forehead • Severe or constant vomiting • Confusion https://familydoctor.org/is-it-a-cold-or-the-flu/

Dr. Marina Claudio is a board-certified family physician who has been in practice since 2003. She is currently a Medical Director at Molina Healthcare of Illinois/Wisconsin. She's a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the UIC/Advocate Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Residency Program.

HEALTHWISE

Viruses that cause colds and the flu have no cure.

Over-the-counter medicines help to lessen symptoms. There are a few prescription anti-viral medications available to help treat flu symptoms. Here is what you can do to protect yourself and others from getting sick: • Wash your hands frequently to stop the spread of germs • Eat healthy, exercise and get enough sleep to boost your immune system • Cough and sneeze into your elbow to avoid the spread of germs • Clean surfaces like countertops, door handles and light switches with antibacterial products • Stay home when you are sick • Avoid contact with people who are sick • Get a flu shot early in the season.

7

A century ago, a Black-owned team ruled basketball − today, no Black majority owners remain

by Jared Bahir Browsh

For the first time in 20 years, the NBA began its season with no Black-owned franchises.

In fact, there’s been only one Black majority-owned team in league history.

In late 2002, the NBA awarded an expansion team, the Charlotte Bobcats, to Black Entertainment Television cofounder Bob Johnson. Four years later, former NBA star Michael Jordan bought a minority stake in the franchise, and in 2010, he bought Johnson’s stake. However, Jordan sold his majority stake in the franchise in July 2023.

This lack of diversity in basketball team ownership is especially disappointing considering the rich history of Black ownership in sports, which began when the top leagues in the U.S. were still segregated.

A century ago, one of the top pre-NBA professional franchises began play in Harlem thanks to the efforts of a Black business owner named Bob Douglas.

A challenge to the dominance of white sports

COVER STORY

My students are often surprised that the history of professional team sports in the U.S. goes far beyond the NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB. But the media’s focus on the “big four” leagues can cause fans to overlook the incredible accomplishments and leadership of many pioneers in athletics, including those from marginalized groups whose participation in mainstream leagues was limited or banned.

8

The first 50 years of professional basketball was an amalgam of regional leagues and barnstorming teams. As with baseball and football, basketball teams from this era were segregated. But white teams and Black teams would square off against one another in exhibitions as they toured the country.

On the business side, many white businessmen were profiting from – if not exploiting – this Black talent pool, arranging tournaments and competitions and taking a disproportionate cut of the earnings. But Black entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to support Black communities through sports

by keeping the talent – and money – from exclusively lining the pockets of white owners.

Douglas helped found the Spartan Field Club in 1908 to support his and other Black New Yorkers’ interest in playing sports. These clubs provided facilities and organized amateur teams across a number of sports, with cricket and basketball being among the most popular.

Douglas had fallen in love with basketball after first playing in 1905, only a few years after he had immigrated to New York from St. Kitts. Despite encountering discrimination as a Black man and immigrant, he founded and played for an adult amateur basketball team within the club named the Spartan Braves. He transitioned to managing the club in 1918.

Douglas was searching for a permanent home for his team and offered to rename the Spartan Braves the Harlem Renaissance in exchange for the use of the Black-owned Renaissance Ballroom & Casino on Seventh Avenue between 137th and 138th streets. The team played its first game as the Renaissance on Nov. 3, 1923, with Douglas signing his players to full-season contracts.

Two years later, the “Rens,” as they came to be called, were declared the World Colored Basketball Champions. The squad went on to establish itself as a national powerhouse and competed in some of the first professional basketball games between white teams and Black teams. In 1925, the Rens bested the Original Celtics, a white team from Manhattan’s West Side that many viewed as the top team in the nation.

The next year, another all-Black team claiming Harlem as its home was founded. Unlike the Rens, however, the Harlem Globetrotters had no connection to the New York City neighborhood. They were based out of Illinois and had a white owner, Abe Saperstein, who sought to profit from the connection between Black Americans and the place that served as the epicenter of Black culture.

A stretch of dominance

In 1936, the New York Rens played a two-game series against the formidable Oshkosh All-Stars, who played out of WisconDuring the 1932-33 season, the Rens won 120 of the 128 sin. The popularity of the games led to Douglas and Oshkosh games they played, including 88 in a row. Six of the losses founder Lon Darling to agree to a longer series, with the Rens came at the hands of the Original Celtics, although the Rens winning three of the five games. did end up winning the season series, beating their all-white rivals eight times.

Douglas agreed to extend the competition another two games to create a “world series.” Oshkosh ended up winning Basketball’s influence on Black culture continued to grow them both to take the series. The victories led Darling and the throughout the interwar period. During Duke Ellington con- All-Stars to join what would become the National Basketball certs, basketball stars like Fats Jenkins would entertain the League, a predecessor to the NBA. The NBL signed its first crowd between sets, facilitating the deep cultural connection Black player in 1942, five years before Jackie Robinson made between basketball and Black music that continues today. his MLB debut.

By the end of the 1930s, the Rens and Globetrotters were not just looking to prove themselves as the best Black teams but also establish themselves as the best basketball teams in the nation.

As the NBL grew in popularity, the World Professional Basketball Tournament was created. In the 10 years the tournament was played, NBL teams won all but three championships, with all-Black teams claiming the other three. But only one of those teams – the Rens – had a Black owner.

The New York Rens played from 1923 to 1948 (Black History Heroes/Twitter photo). INSET: Bob Douglas was nicknamed the "Father of Black Professional Basketball" (Harlem World Magazine photo).

www.streetwise.org

9

War, competition and integration The Rens struggled to maintain their dominance after the newly established Washington Bears, another all-Black team, poached a number of Ren players in 1941. The Bears were founded by legendary Black broadcaster Hal Jackson and backed by theater owner Abe Lichtman, who lured players with higher pay and a lighter schedule.

After the war, a number of NBL franchises struggled, including the Detroit Vagabond Kings, who dropped out of the league in December 1948. Since the league needed a replacement, the Rens moved to Dayton, Ohio, and finished the season with the NBL, becoming the first Black-owned team in a primarily white league.

The NBL shuttered following the season, and several teams joined the newly formed NBA, leaving the Rens behind. The NBA was segregated during its first season after the merger was completed. But in 1950, several Black players – including former Rens player Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton – integrated the league.

As professional sports grew and continued to integrate over the course of the 20th century, all-Black teams lost much of their top talent to white-owned teams. Despite quotas that limited the number of Black players on white-owned teams, the loss of top talent led to the end of teams like the Rens.

The unique community and fan experiences fostered by these all-Black franchises was forever lost.

The Rens legacy In 1963, the 1932-33 Rens squad was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Several individual players, along with Douglas, would enter the Hall in later years.

Today there are no Black majority owners in any of the four major North American professional leagues. There are a handful of Black Americans who are minority owners of teams – former NBA stars Dwyane Wade and Grant Hill have minority stakes in the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks, respectively – but it isn’t clear how much influence they wield.

It’s an especially discouraging situation for the NBA. In a league that is over 70% Black, the dearth of Black owners and executives can lead to a disconnect between the players and the people running the league.

In recent years, players have clashed with owners over dress codes, discipline and political protests.

As league revenue continues to soar, and the NBA serves as an example for inclusive hiring practices, the lack of Black ownership is harder to ignore 100 years after the Rens first stepped on the court.

Jared Bahir Browsh is Assistant Teaching Professor of Critical Sports Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. Courtesy of The Conversation.

10

Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton poses in his Harlem Globetrotters uniform (Harlem Globetrotters archives). INSET: Promotional poster for the 2023 film "Sweetwater."

NBA Pioneer Nat 'Sweetwater' Clifton

by Suzanne Hanney

Three years after Jackie Robinson integrated baseball, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton of Chicago was one of three Black pioneers in the NBA during the 1950-51 season. The movie “Sweetwater” about his career was released last year. Directed by Martin Guigui, it starred Everett Osborne as Clifton, with Jeremy Piven, Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino in supporting roles.

Clifton had played with the Harlem Globetrotters and is generally regarded as the first African American to sign an NBA contract. He joined the New York Knicks on May 24, 1950.

Chuck Cooper, who went No. 13 overall as the first pick of the second round for the Boston Celtics on April 25, 1950, was the first Black drafted by an NBA team, and Earl Lloyd was the first Black to play in an NBA game. Lloyd went to the Washington Capitols as the No. 100 pick, and opened their 1950-51 season on Halloween at Rochester.

Their children – Chuck Cooper III, Kevin Lloyd and Clifton’s daughter, Jataun Robinson – spoke on a Zoom call with NBA.com about the three race pioneers. Jackie Robinson’s status as the first Black in professional sports eased their way, even if they never achieved his fame because of the greater popularity of baseball at the time and because Blacks were already well-known in college basketball. It was a fair trade-off, the players’ offspring said.

“I think it was helpful for them to have each other because they would kind of look out for each other,” Cooper III said. “They had an agreement they would never fight each other…They would let each other know the safe places to go and hang out.”

All three “firsts” were eventually inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Lloyd in 2003, Clifton in 2014 and Cooper in 2019. They were stellar athletes too, although their stats don’t tell the whole story. That’s because the 1950s game was stacked against Blacks. They could rebound, pass and play defense, but shooting and scoring was for their white teammates.

“If you were the third or fourth guy in line to touch the ball, it probably was going up before it got to you,” Cooper III said.

All three men played with the Harlem Globetrotters.

“If you were Black and wanted to make decent money playing basketball, there were only 12 slots, and that was with the Globetrotters,” Cooper III said.

“Abe Saperstein had a monopoly on Black players.”

Clifton was born Oct. 13, 1922 in Little Rock, Ark., but his youth included plenty of cotton picking, ac-

cording to the encyclopediaofarkansas.net. His nickname, “Sweetwater” came from his love of water mixed with sugar, and for Coca-Cola in adulthood.

Clifton’s family moved to Chicago’s South Side when he was 6 and he starred in both baseball and basketball at DuSable High School. He shortened his name from Nathaniel to Nat after reporters told him it was too long.

After graduation from DuSable, he attended Xavier College in New Orleans and played a year before he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944. Discharged three years later, he signed with the all-Black New York Rens that barnstormed across the U.S. and then with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1948, until Saperstein sold his contract to the New York Knicks.

The 27-year-old, 6-foot-7-inch, 235-pound rookie helped lead the Knicks to their first-ever league championship final. He was the first Black person to play in the NBA finals and went there with the Knicks three times.

Clifton averaged 10 points and just over 8 rebounds per game in his eight-year NBA career, according to the encyclopediaofarkansas.net. He was also the oldest player (at 34) to debut in the All-Star game.

His final NBA season was with the Pistons, who were located then at Fort Wayne and moved to Detroit.

He then played baseball with the Negro Leagues, with the Chicago Majors of the fledgling American Basketball League and then two years again with the Globetrotters and other traveling teams.

Clifton was known for his community involvement and charitable work. The Associated Charities of New York City named one of their Black History Maker Awards the Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton Award, and the New York Knicks renamed their monthly “City Spirit Award,” the “Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award.”

In his final years, Clifton supported himself and his wife, Joan, who died in January 1990, as a cabdriver in Chicago. He had four children. On Aug. 31, 1990, he died of an apparent heart attack. He is buried in Restvale Cemetery in Alsip.

www.streetwise.org

11

Facing homelessness in Chicago's harshest elements

by Suzanne Hanney

Chicago’s mid-January was colder than in Russia's by one account, but Jamie Taylor stayed in her sturdy, two-person orange ice fishing tent under the Chicago and Albany Metra viaduct because “I don’t want my things to get stolen.”

Taylor and her boyfriend reinforced the tent with boards and poles.

They came to the 19-tent encampment four months ago from Princeton, IL roughly 115 miles southwest of Chicago, after he stepped on a nail, developed MRSA during a year of hospitalization and lost his leg. He uses a wheelchair and is still waiting for disability benefits.

Chicago has at least 10 encampments and they’re growing, said Chris Shuttlesworth, Midwest regional coordinator for the National Union of the Homeless, who is also an organizer for the Illinois Union of the Homeless. The tent city at Roosevelt and Desplaines, just east of the Dan Ryan Expressway, has tripled in size since summer, Shuttlesworth said.

The Illinois Union of the Homeless is working to create a survival network, he said, with resources to keep people alive until they get housed: blankets, heaters, propane, possibly time in hotels during the worst weather. They’d like to take people to medical appointments, offer a place to do laundry and have hot meals.

FROM THE STREETS

“Another thing I’ve noticed is the fighting between the poor,” Shuttlesworth said. “The homeless here who’ve been on the streets and haven’t been getting help are upset that the migrants are getting help.”

12

Antonio Rodriguez of the Roosevelt-Desplaines encampment said he stayed in his tent during the freeze because the encampment residents were not allowed on nearby warming buses that were provided for migrants. When people drive to their encampment to drop off food, the migrants rush them so that the tent city residents receive nothing, he said.

“One thing we shouldn’t have is poor fighting the poor,” Shuttlesworth said. “We should be united against the people perpetuating the poverty. There has to be that unification across the board, no matter color, creed, sexuality. If you’re poor and sick of being exploited, we need to come together and change it, period.”

Medical professionals for The Night Ministry did not anecdotally report encountering clients with injuries brought on by the nearly weeklong cold, said Communications Manager Burke Patten. The Night Ministry provides services at the CTA Red Line Howard terminal, the CTA Blue Line Forest Park terminal, its Health Outreach Bus and smaller Street Medicine van.

Common injuries due to cold weather include frostbite and freezing skin, which is most common on the fingers, toes, noses and ears. Hand and foot warmers, which The Night Ministry provides for clients, can be slipped into gloves or shoes to provide a layer of protection from frostbite.

One of its Nurse Practitioners said that a few clients were headed for the Harold Washington Library overnight, which served as a 24/7 warming center January 13-22.

Former Russian Oleg Ivanov was one of those people, although he usually rides CTA trains.

“In Russia it’s not windy, so it doesn’t feel that cold,” Ivanov said while eating a sandwich at The Night Ministry’s Thursday stop at the CTA Forest

Top row: Jamie Taylor at the Chicago and Albany Metra viaduct encampment. Antonio Rodriguez at the Roosevelt-Desplanes encampment.

Occupational therapist Katie Coakley OT gives a blanket to a visitor at The Night Ministry as part of a Loyola Medicine team that included Kelly McElligot LCSW and AnnMarie Berry OT. (Suzanne Hanney photos).

Park terminal. “Over here, because of the wind, it feels much colder.” The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication used the six community service centers of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) across the city as daytime drop-in centers, along with Chicago Park District facilities and Chicago Public Library branches. DFSS also activated six overnight-only shelters to operate 24/7 and two more shelters to provide services to youth and single adults.

Thomas McGrath picked up a blanket at the Forest Park terminal and had spent one of the coldest nights at Pacific Garden Mission, where he took a shower.

As a former Marine, “if I can survive that, I can survive this,” he said. He became homeless as a non-union plumber when his boss got cancer.

Glenn Hunt also predominantly rides the CTA Blue Line since eight months ago, when he and his significant other were living in a tent city and he was hit in the leg with a metal rod and shot on the other side. He woke up in John Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

Recently, he was riding the CTA Blue Line when “six young men of my ethnicity” tried to rob him.

His response?

“If I had something to give you, do you think I would be sleeping on the train?

One of the young men reacted. “Sir, I apologize for my friends.”

www.streetwise.org

13

14

the 2/8/16 Sudoku Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the se 1 to 9.

PuzzleJunction.com

Streetwise 2/8/16 Crossword To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the Sudoku numbers 1 to 9.

Puzzle

Crossword Across

©2019 PuzzleJunction.com

1 6 10 14

60 Wild goat 61 Pretend 62 From square one 63 Thunder sound 64 Soaks, as flax 65 Glasgow gal 66 Achilles, e.g.

9 Kind of power 35 J.F.K. postings 10 Like some 37 Adolescent desserts 38 Jabber 11 Service 41 VIP, usually organization 42 Shangri-la 12 Raccoon 45 Relating to the relative spleen 16 Kind of collar 46 Twosome 21 Bard’s 47 Improve, in a “before” way Down 25 Ice cream 48 Bucket flavor 1 Spellbound 49 Patriarch 2 Part of the eye 26 Mischief 50 Gushes 27 Boxing prize 3 Terrarium 53 Ancient 28 Constantly plant greetings 4 Penny29 Lawful 54 Competent 30 Rainbow’s pinching 55 Drop from 5 Sound of shape Niobe contempt 32 “Saturday 56 Really big Night Fever” 6 Places show Copyright ©2019 PuzzleJunction.com music 7 Fatuously 58 Switch 8 Charlatan 34 Party thrower settings

15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 29

©PuzzleJunction.com

Copyright ©2016 PuzzleJunction.com

last week's answers Solution

Solution

30 32 33 36 37 39 40 41 42

Sudoku Solution

44 46 47 49 52 53 54

Find your nearest StreetWise Vendor at www.streetwise.org

58 59

Steal Fed Iranian coin Drew a bead on Marathon Therefore Mark, in college Jumping amphibian Tractor-trailer Jim-dandy River of Orléans Sedates Main arteries Wild Guanaco’s cousin Allow ©2016 PuzzleJunction.com Expressed Your (Fr.) 61 Albanian 10 Go straight Cuckoos 11 Annoyance money Had a shot 12 Ancient Greek 62 Picture holder Location marketplace 63 Unlawful Go for the 13 Seating firing? bronze? sections 64 Disrespect Navy 18 Buddy 65 Pinball paths commando 22 Burden 66 Varieties Go to a 24 Completely restaurant 25 Similar Down Title-holder 26 Exploit Craze 27 Sicilian city 1 Droops Much of Niger 28 Stadium 2 Telegram Highly skilled offerings, at 3 Prayer leader La Scala times 4 Rickshaws offering 5 Dutch commune 29 PC linkup Wildebeests 31 Tomato blight 6 Wedding Kings Peak member 32 “Dog Day locale 7 Water conduits Afternoon” Ancient 8 Teen spots character Peruvian 34 Pocketbook 9 Butterfly Abhorrent 35 Stiff hair catcher

38 Criminal charge 39 Sculptor’s output 41 1980’s Geena Davis sitcom 43 Band box 45 Needle continuously 47 Besmirches 48 Sleeper’s woe 49 Caper 50 Some showdowns 51 Road curve 53 Paraphernalia 55 Recipe abbr.

56 Skin cream additive 57 Egg producers 59 Genetic stuff 60 Make lace

How StreetWise Works Buy the Magazine, Take the Magazine Vendors purchase When you buy the magazine, take the the magazine for $1.15 and sell it for magazine, and read the $3 plus tips. The vendor keeps all of magazine, you are supporting our their earnings. microentrepreneurs earning an income with dignity.

-or-

All vendors go through an orientation focusing on their rights and responsibilities as a StreetWise Magazine Vendor. Authorized vendors have badges with their name, picture and current year.

New vendor orientation is every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at 2009 S. State St. Find your nearest vendor at www.streetwise.org

THE PLAYGROUND

StreetWise exists to elevate marginalized voices and provide opportunities for individuals to earn an income and gain employment. Anyone who wants to work has the opportunity to move themselves out of crisis.

StreetWise provides “a hand up, not a handout.”

Solutio

15