June 14-20, 2023

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Arts & Entertainment Event highlights of the week!

SportsWise

The SportsWise Team gets ready for summertime fandom.

Cover Story: Juneteenth 2023

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the date the last enslaved people were freed, in Texas, two months after the Civil War was over and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth was once celebrated only in Texas, but became a new national holiday in 2021. We look at how Chicagoans are celebrating the holiday and how it is an example of the United States finally beginning to realize the values stated in the Declaration of Independence.

Juneteenth Calendar

Celebrate Juneteenth with these special events!

The Playground

Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher dhamilton@streetwise.org

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

THIS PAGE: Chloe Henderson, a clinical coordinator at Rush University Medical Center and a member of its Sunshine Committee, has decorated the conical tree in one patient check-in area with the African colors of red, green and black (Suzanne Hanney photo) 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.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Berlin Before Hitler!

Pride Program: 'A Night at the Eldorado' In the early 20th century, Berlin was the center of LGBTQ+ life. LGBTQ+ people frequented a variety of clubs, bars, and cafes, where they could gather and socialize openly in affirming spaces. Berlin’s reputation as an LGBTQ+ haven soon became a staple of tourist literature, and became a destination for those seeking community and the freedom to be in public spaces as their true selves. The Eldorado was one of the most famous clubs, and was frequented by both LGBTQ+ people and their allies, who were drawn to its festive atmosphere that attracted artists, celebrities, locals, and tourists alike. The Eldorado was shut down 90 years ago, soon after the Nazi regime came to power. Join Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, in partnership with OUTspoken! for a celebration of LGBTQ+ life, in the spirit of the Eldorado and Weimar-era Berlin, before the Nazis came to power. The evening will feature six Chicago LGBTQ+ storytellers, music by DJ Stryfe, free signature cocktails, and food. This program is FREE to the public! Registration is required: https://ihm.ec/pride2023

Moe, Moe, Moe, Moe & Moe!

‘5 Guys Named Moe’

"Five Guys Named Moe" follows the story of down-on-his luck Nomax: he’s broke, brokenhearted, and drowning his sorrows in booze. Out of his 1930s-style radio, five guys named Moe (Big Moe, No Moe, Eat Moe, Little Moe, and Four-Eyed Moe) appear to help him get his life back on track. Through song and dance, they comfort him, teach him about life and love, and set him on the straight and narrow. This electrifying musical revue features the songs of Louis Jordan, one of the most revered talents of the 20th century, whose music brought a popular new slant to jazz that paved the way for the rock-and-roll of the 1950s. You’ll be dancing in the aisles to instantly recognizable classics such as “Early in the Morning,” “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” and “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby.” Playing June 15-17 at 7:30 p.m., and June 17 & 18 at 2 p.m. at Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. Tickets start at $40 at thebeverlyartscenter.com/event/5-guys-named-moe/

Sneakers Required!

Chicago Dance Crash ‘Sneaker Ball’

The biggest celebration of the year for Chicago Dance Crash adopts a "sporty" feature, as Oxfords and high heels are out and a smart pair of gym shoes are in on June 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Visceral Dance Center, 3121 N. Rockwell St. Along with a few surprises, the evening will include special performances by the 2023 Chicago Dance Crash performance ensemble, open bar, photo opps, DJs, dancing & mingling, early info on this year's primary performance season (along with opportunities to support) plus some of the BIGGEST announcements in Dance Crash’s 20+ year legacy of concert/street-style dance art. $50 at chicagodancecrash.com/events/ the-2023-sneaker-ball/

An Ideal American!

‘Pretty Shahid’ Jackalope Theatre Company presents the world premiere of “Pretty Shahid,” at Jackalope Theatre in the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway, June 16 – July 23, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. “Pretty Shahid” shares the story of the Kazem family, who emigrated to Chicago from Iraq and who are attempting to assimilate when 9/11 happens. This romantic comedy uses classic film tropes to examine identity and which knots one chooses to untie to become the ideal American. It is a play about self-discovery that was born and developed at Jackalope and is the company’s first production centered in the Muslim, SWANASA (South West Asian, North African, and South Asian) diaspora. Tickets start at $37.50 at jackalopetheatre.org

Compiled by Dave Hamilton

Build Your Library!

60th Chicago Book and Paper Fair

On June 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Plumbers Hall, 1350 W. Washington Blvd., book dealers from across the Midwest will offer a wide range of books, maps, prints, and ephemera, including autographed books and manuscripts, limited editions, collectible collaborations between writers and visual artists, modern first editions, African American history and literature, exploration, milestones of science, antique and leather-bound books, Chicago and local history, demonstrations of book marbling, military, Americana, radical literature, LGBTQIA, and more. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for students with ID. Children 12 and under are FREE.

ANew Americana!

‘What the Constitution Means to Me’

Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful, and guttingly human debate-meets-play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the relationship between four generations of women—all while grappling with the founding document that, for better and worse, shapes their lives. Playing through July 2 at TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave. Tickets start at $47 at timelinetheatre.com/events/what-theconstitution-means/

A Chicago Landmark!

Willis Tower 50th Anniversary Open House

Visit Willis Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive, for a celebration befitting a Chicago icon… the Willis Tower itself! On June 15 from 3-8 p.m., the event is bringing music, art, live performances, giveaways to the heart of the Willis Tower in the newly renovated space, Catalog (pictured). Named for the Sears Catalog produced in the building 50 years ago, the anniversary open house will be anchored in the newly redeveloped space, spotlighting several dining and entertainment options. Celebrate the building’s rich past and bright future at this free event. Food and drink are available for purchase.

Youth Art!

21Minus | What Was, What Is

Designed by Chicago youth and curated and hosted by the MCA’s Teen Creative Agency (TCA), 21Minus is the MCA’s annual exposition of youth creativity. This year’s theme, "W hat Was, W hat Is," engages our pasts, our histories, and ourselves in order to recognize the realities of our experiences and environments. Gather at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., from 1–6 p.m. June 17, for performances, workshops, art installations, film screenings, and more! The event is free for people ages 21 and under and their families, though all are welcome to attend.

Pitch Perfect!

Chicago a cappella ‘Cabaret Night’

Chicago a cappella’s fun-filled tradition returns, as its singers bring you solos from the worlds of Broadway, jazz, pop, cabaret, and more, accompanied by Paul Langford. 8 p.m. June 15 at Fitzgerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Tickets start at $45 at www.chicagoacappella.org/concert-event/cabaret-night. Proceeds from the event support Chicago a cappella’s artistic and educational programs.

Yummy, Yummy!

Taste of Randolph

Commemorating the iconic street festival’s 26th anniversary, Star Events and WLCO brings together the biggest and brightest names in Chicago dining, featuring over 16 restaurants exemplary for delectable menus and irresistibly unique flavors. StarEvents has curated a list of the nation’s hottest up-and-coming bands and musicians and the biggest names in Chicago house music, performing on two stages and a DJ stage to entertain guests. At the same time, they embark on the culinary adventure of the Summer. June 16 5 - 10 p.m.; June 17 & 18 Noon - 10 p.m. Entrance at 900 W. Randolph St. Suggested donation of $10 benefits the West Loop Community Organization.

Freestylin' into the summer heat

Patrick: Well, fellas, we’ve nearly arrived at that point in the year when the excitement and the hugeness of the specific playoffs—i.e., NBA, NHL—has eased, and we’re back in the sports-freestyle surf.

Donald: Not a horrible thing. Shoot, I mean, there’s still the WNBA, which has just recently kicked off. So, for those who need a transition into the non-“Power” sports, the WNBA could help.

Russ: And it’s really exciting. Shoot, I look for the Chicago Sky score across SportsCenter’s bottom-screen-scroll as I would a Bulls one.

Patrick: Man, I watched about 20 minutes of bags—rather, Cornhole—competition events. Absolutely amazing what these cats can do out there. I mean, dang near every shot is in the hole. I play a lil’bit from time to time, and I’m lucky to have all of my shots even touch the board— let alone stay on the board or, ridiculously, all nearly fall into the bullseye.

John: Well, I say, with summer here and both the NBA and NHL seasons just about

wrapped up, the focus should now be on Major League Baseball (MLB). However, a combination of poor marketing and a poor TV package has put MLB in the rearview mirror—not hot topics. Unfortunately, the playoffs don’t begin for them until October, which occurs during the prime of NFL and college football play.

Donald: I don’t quite understand what you’re getting at, John. You’re saying folks won’t care about the baseball season because of…well, not sure what you’re saying.

John: The focus will be on the NFL, who are the masters of marketing now, what with DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket now expired, and YouTube TV gaining the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket. I like the idea. However, there’re a couple of growing pains attached. The first is the cost: $349 for the season. That’s not a small amount of money.

Russ: Especially not for the little person.

John: Right. And number two is that residents with a home or internet have access to the NFL Sunday Ticket package. However, sports bar owners have been running into problems with YouTube TV regarding the NFL Sunday Ticket.

Patrick: John, I’m looking up this stuff as I am clueless, and I’m learning a few things. Something I found online: “The NFL and YouTube will work together to determine additional ways to support distribution of NFL Sunday Ticket in commercial establishments such as bars and restaurants.”

John: So, basically, one alternative amongst a few, and one that appears to be the easiest to me, is for bars and restaurants to dramatically upgrade their in-house internet/Wi-Fi and stream the games.

Russ: So, life after the NBA and NHL is here…and I’m ready for it. I enjoy all sports. Currently, I’m enjoying the WNBA; I’ve watched 6 games this week. Plenty of action, too. Having baseball for the summer and fall will absolutely hold me. I can watch a game or two every other day, so no problems until the football season.

Donald: What do you think about what John said about being able to watch certain things…and being not able to watch others?

Russ: Look, there are all kinds of ways to watch stuff these days. You have apps, streaming, etc., so if you can get to it, get to it; if you can’t, find something else to watch…or find someone who does have capability to watch what you want to watch.

Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org The first 5 responders will receive an item from the StreetWise swag box!

Rashanah Baldwin

Vendors Russell Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat about the world of sports with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.

JUNETEENTH 2023

by Suzanne Hanney

“Juneteenth” is a new national holiday that marks June 19, 1865, the date the last enslaved people were freed, in Texas, 2½ months after the Civil War ended.

Juneteenth means that Chloe Henderson, a clinical coordinator at Rush University Medical Center and a member of its Sunshine Committee, has decorated the conical tree in one patient check-in area with the African colors of red, green and black. The tree changes at least monthly, as a morale-builder for Rush team members and patients alike. Previously, it had been topped with a Mexican sombrero for Cinco de Mayo and festooned with a string of blue plastic gloves for Nurses Week.

Chloe’s research told her the idea of a Juneteenth national holiday gained popularity after the pandemic and the death of George Floyd. She said it reminds us there is still work to do concerning gun and police violence. And she’s pleased to see more Juneteenth flags and parades, whereas in the past, Cinco de Mayo got all the attention.

“It’s being conscious of what it means to you and how it applies to your coworkers,” she said. “You live in a world that is not just you, not just Mexicans – but everyone.”

Juneteenth is a holiday for Americans to embrace, President Joe Biden said during the White House signing ceremony on Thursday, June 17, 2021, because “Great Nations don’t ignore their most painful moments. We come to terms with the mistakes we made. And in remembering those moments, we begin to heal and grow stronger.”

Juneteenth had long been celebrated in Texas, but the movement for a federal holiday gained momentum from the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of Floyd at the hands

of police in 2020. Among those at the White House signing ceremony was Opal Lee, a 94-year-old former teacher who had made symbolic 2½-mile walks every Juneteenth around the U.S. for 40 years to publicize the 2½-year gap between Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the enslaved people’s actual freedom.

Between September 2016 and January 2017 at the end of President Barack Obama’s second term, Lee began “Opal’s Walk 2 DC,” to petition his administration and Congress to grant Juneteenth an official position on the calendar. She made more symbolic walks in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis.; in Atlanta and the Carolinas.

Chloe Henderson, a clinical coordinator at Rush University Medical Center and a member of its Sunshine Committee, has decorated the conical tree in one patient check-in area with the African colors of red, green and black (Suzanne Hanney photo)

“I was all over the place,” Lee told Variety. She appeared on Sean “Diddy” Combs’s Revolt Network and marched alongside hip-hop artist/producer/actor Niko Brim in Washington, D.C.

In early 2020, she had only 12,000 signatures. She wound up with 1.5 million.

StreetWise Vendor Jacqueline Sanders on FREEDOM

“I think it was ‘enough was enough,’ she said. “I think losing that man’s life just pushed us over the edge. How long must we put up with people being killed in the street like that young man George Floyd?

“It hasn’t been so many years that they stopped having lynchings, but it’s a different kind of lynching. When I think about what our ancestors had to put up with before the Emancipation – before that General Order No. 3 was declared down in Galveston [Texas] – the situations aren’t that different.”

Union Gen. Gordon Granger’s General Order No. 3 came two months after the Confederate Army’s surrender in the Civil War, because the rebel army had not given up. The Union Army had to fight its way south from the Appomattox, VA, surrender site and then west to Texas.

People tell you what to do all the time. Freedom is getting up in the morning, doing things you like to do, like playing video games, watching television, or reading a book or going places without telling someone. It is having enough money for food. It’s a good and sustainable warm house to live in, a nice car to drive and other resources to pay your bills, to have anything your heart desires, anytime, anywhere, to come and go without worry. That is freedom to me.

Moreover, the Texas constitution prohibited granting freedom to enslaved people, so Texans ignored Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of Jan. 1, 1863—until Gen. Granger arrived with 2,000 troops.

Juneteenth in Texas came to be a time where formerly enslaved people threw away the rags they had been forced to wear in exchange for new clothes. In the Houston area where Beyonce and George Floyd grew up, Blacks even bought a park where they could host annual Juneteenth celebrations. Chicago in the last two years has embraced the same model of food and networking events (see listing, page 12-14).

For me, Juneteenth means the United States is finally coming closer to its words that “all [people] are

Opal Lee (courtesy photo).

Marchers with a Black Lives Matter banner protest in Bronzeville on June 2, 2020 (Kathleen Hinkel photo).

created equal” in the Declaration of Independence, celebrated on July 4. But, as Frederick Douglass said, “What, to the slave, is the Fourth of July?”

Even in 5th grade history, I felt the hypocrisy of the words between 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed, and 1865, when enslaved people were finally free. I was riled up at every ridiculous compromise over those nearly 90 years, every failure to assist people’s potential.

As StreetWise participant Cornelius Washington said, “It’s the same pattern today in a pretty package. Many conservatives don’t want to provide benefits that would elevate people’s status in life, like housing and health insurance.”

The word “slavery” was removed from the Declaration during its rewrite. Thomas Jefferson didn’t want to endanger the “fragile” coalition that was the new United States, according to the website for his house museum, Monticello. A slave owner himself, Jefferson believed the slave states of Georgia and South Carolina would not agree to break away from England if slavery were abolished.

The Henry Ford Foundation and the Constitutional Rights Foundation say that the Declaration authors in 1776 were just being expedient, because they thought slavery would disappear within a few years.

But as Vendor A. Allen and I have discussed, the invention of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin in 1794 did the opposite, because it took the work out of removing seeds from cotton. Cotton became more profitable; plantations grew larger and even more dependent on the labor of enslaved people.

Even at the very beginning, however, both North and South were tied to slavery by the “triangle trade.” Southern plantations used enslaved labor to produce tobacco, cotton and other cash crops for export back to Europe on ships owned by Northern merchants in exchange for sugar and rum traded for yet more slaves.

By the mid-19th century, according to the National Archives ( https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/cotton-ginpatent), the South provided 60 percent of U.S. exports – most of it cotton. The U.S. supplied 75 percent of the world’s cotton, which was manufactured into cloth either in New England or in England.

Simultaneously, the cost of land and labor for cotton plantations meant there was no room for cities, so most immigrants went to the North. Just before the Civil War, the North had 71 percent of the railway mileage, 92 percent of the industrial workers, 86 percent of the manufacturing plants – and 71 percent of the population.

StreetWise participant Cornelius Washington on FREEDOM

Freedom, to me, is maturity and the absolute truth about me and my life as a Black man in America.

With unlimited access to the doctrines of the American Declaration of Independence, which guarantees me the freedoms to make choices based on my decisions, however, freedom comes with a great responsibility. To me personally, my freedom is understood as having the ability to change and to act without constraint. I can possess the power (as we all have) to seek and potentially fulfill my purposes in life unhindered and to obtain unlimited access to personal freedom, with no parodies!

I have learned that many aspects of freedom do not necessarily mean the same as they do for me and others. Freedom for many is actually fleeting. For instance, many are physically free with freedoms, and many are mentally and psychologically locked up. Fortunately for many, including myself, today I love and respect the freedoms this (my) country allows me to possess. And, gratefully, to reflect and protect...

As a result, according to the National Park Service, Northern and Southern states were increasingly divided over three things that led to the Civil War: economic policies, cultural values, and the extent of the federal government. Underpinning it all was slavery.

One big compromise was in the Constitution, in May 1787.

Southern states wanted slaves to be counted among the general population, because it would give them greater numbers in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College.

But slave owners weren’t going to allow their Black people to vote. Northerners recognized the power play and demand-

StreetWise Vendor A. Allen on FREEDOM

Being free and having freedom to be self-supporting are two different things. It reminds me of StreetWise. To be jobless and homeless is a tough situation. When you are unemployed, you are without a means of supporting yourself, so the only means of being self-supporting is to steal, rob, or beg for money.

This could be a tough situation, because the choices could be devastating and costly to an individual’s freedom and self-esteem. It’s costly to one’s freedom, because stealing and robbing could very easily cause you to become incarcerated. And begging, while it seems harmless, in the long run does have a cost. It is extremely damaging to a person’s self-esteem. When you are asking for money, you have to humble yourself. And to do that lowers one’s dignity, affects one’s way of looking at one’s own importance or estimation.

But with a resource such as a magazine, you can stand on your own as a man, and seek to be self-employed through entrepreneurship.

It’s the same as when the enslaved people were freed. It was only an illusion, a mirage. As defined by Merriam Webster, freedom is the quality or state of being free from coercion or restraint in choice or action. To be truly liberated from the slave owner, these people needed some type of support to get started with their new lives in freedom. This was not provided. “Forty acres and a mule” was initially suggested, but it was never given. That’s the reason the slaves sold themselves back into another form of slavery called “share cropping.”

Back to how this relates to StreetWise. StreetWise is a hand up, not a handout, which means StreetWise provides an opportunity for someone to become self-supporting through their own efforts and perspiration. The same could have been applied back then: giving resources to the formerly enslaved people so they could become selfsupporting on their own.

If you know of anyone who desires the same type of self-supporting lifestyle, I welcome them to become vendors and to sell StreetWise magazine. I host orientation every Thursday at noon, at the StreetWise offices at 2009 S. State St.

ed a compromise, according to the Constitutional Rights Foundation. That’s why each slave counted for 3/5ths of a person. Even so, Southern slaveowners won 12 of the first 16 presidential elections.

Governing depended on keeping an equal number of slave and free states. There were 11 of each in 1819. Then Missouri wanted in. A territory that permitted slaves.

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 kept the balance by also admitting Maine as a free state. In addition, slavery was not permitted north of latitude 36/30, Missouri’s southern border.

The collision course toward war only grew during the 1850s:

• There were 15 slave states and 15 free when California applied for statehood in 1849. The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a free state and allowed the territories of New Mexico and Utah to decide for themselves. Also included was the Fugitive Slave Act: people who did not return escaped slaves to their masters paid ruinous fines. Many Northerners thought it violated their own consciences.

• In 1851, Harriett Beecher Stowe published “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in an abolitionist newspaper and then a book that sold 300,000 copies. Stowe imagined how an enslaved mother would feel about her baby being sold away, using published slave autobiographies and stories from fugitive Blacks. Northerners were shocked by the brutality; Southerners felt attacked.

• In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed new states to vote on slavery for themselves. Abolitionists were irate that it repealed the sacrosanct borders of the Missouri Compromise.

• In 1857, the Supreme Court said that Dred Scott, an enslaved person who had moved with his owner to free territory, was “property,” not a U.S. citizen, so he was unworthy of protection (both issues overturned with the 13th and 14th Amendments). The Court also said the federal government had no right to limit slavery in territories. There was no room for compromise anymore.

For me, the mid-1850s climate resembles the U.S. of the last several years. Then and now, people in the vanguard had been opposed to slavery. Just like the slow buildup of the 1850s, the general population has been moved from inertia by COVID-19, George Floyd’s death and the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

By the presidential election of 1860, the Republican party was known to be anti-slavery. Abraham Lincoln won with just 40 percent of the vote, thanks to a divided Democratic party and the South split between two candidates. The Civil War began in April 1861, when 11 Southern states left the U.S. to form a separate nation: the Confederacy. The war lasted four years, until the Appomattox surrender.

Vendor A. Allen and I have discussed the aftermath of the Civil War. Couldn’t more have been done for former enslaved people, to give them a hand up?

The Emancipation Proclamation and the Homestead Act went into effect on the same day: Jan. 1, 1863. The Proclamation refocused the Civil War on ending slavery, which gave the U.S. the moral high ground – and kept both France and England from aiding the Confederacy.

The Homestead Act granted 160 acres of land to anyone who had not taken arms against the U.S.: European immigrants, but formerly enslaved people too. They had to improve the land and remain there five years. (By the way, much of this land belonged to Native Americans.)

However, the challenges of farming on the dry prairie meant that many people never made it five years to ownership, according to the National Archives via history.com. Although 4 million claims were filed, only 1.6 million were processed. The

result was that 270 million acres – 10 percent of all U.S. lands – came into the hands of individuals.

Blacks accounted for 3,500 successful claimants, according to a new study funded by the National Park Service and conducted at the University of Nebraska. Their claims amounted to roughly 650,000 acres of prairie, with 15,000 inhabitants.

Like StreetWise participant Cornelius Washington, I relate to a speech Abraham Lincoln gave on the Fourth of July, 1861. He said the purpose of the U.S. government is “to elevate the condition of men, to lift artificial burdens from all shoulders and to give everyone an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.”

Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps is one thing, but it is entirely different when you have no boots at all. Without equipment, livestock or cash, newly-freed slaves were in no position to uproot from southern plantations and strike out on their own. Sharecropping was their only option.

However, Union soldiers received credit for time served against the five-year requirement. One thing I can see that might have helped is if formerly enslaved people had been given land outright.

I told Chloe that it is sometimes disheartening to think that as a nation, we still are not on track to be true to our word. She said she knew what I meant.

But as President Biden said at the White House signing ceremony, “It’s not – simply not enough, just to commemorate Juneteenth. After all, the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans didn’t mark the end of America’s work to deliver on the promise of equality; it only marked the beginning.”

A Union soldier stands with African Americans in 1862 on the plantation of Thomas F. Drayton on Hilton Head Island (Henry P. Moore photo).

President Biden signs the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in the East Room of the White House (Evan Vucci photo).

JUNETEENTH Celebration Events

June10

JUNETEENTH FAIR AT MANDRAKE PARK

3858 S. Cottage Grove 11 am-5 pm Music, rides, petting zoo and more. FREE

June 11

EXTRAVAGANZA ON ELLIS

1000 E. 76th St. 11 am-6 pm

Juneteenth Block Party celebrates African American heritage with a day of recognition and restoration, food, games, music, vendors and much more. FREE at allevents.in

June 16

FREEDOM MARKET

Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. 5-9 pm

The joy of total freedom endures with the third annual Refine Collective and MCA market, a celebration of Black creativity and entrepreneurship. 50+ local Black-owned businesses and creators selling a range of goods, from one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories to home goods and beauty. Surprise giveaways and goodie bags. Performance by Double Dutch Club, a Chicago based non-profit of women ages 40+ encouraging movement and community through the fun and nostalgia of Double Dutch; take the opportunity to learn! Admission $20; day-of $25 at www.ticketfalcon. com/e/freedom_market_2023/

June 16

EMANCIPATION BALL

Rockwell on the River, 3057 N. Rockwell St. 7 pm-Midnight

Taking things to the next level in a Juneteenth celebration of community, culture, creativity and commerce. Open bar, a diverse array of elevated cuisine, live bands, visual art installations. 21+ Tickets $125; $165 VIP w/riverfront lounge access, cigar rolling station, swag bag, and more at eventnoire.com

June 16-18

1865 FEST

Garfield Park Music Court Circle (Madison & Monroe/ Hamlin & Central Park)

Military honors for Black veterans, food, cultural activities, and a Father’s Day GrillOff. The 1865 Coalition is a collaboration of community organizations, residents, stakeholders, law enforcement, educational institutions, elected officials, local businesses, and churches who have come together to host the three-day celebration. Their goal is achieved through cultural activities, art, education, sports, entertainment, community engagement, state-wide partnerships and strategic planning. 1865festchicago. com

June

17

COOK COUNTY’S CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH 2023

Live panel discussions, arts, activities, resource fair: 8 am-4 pm at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd.

8 am start with a health equity breakfast with Dr. Lamar Hasbrouck, COO of the Cook County Department of Public Health; Dr. Ngozi Ezike, president, Sinai Chicago; Yumeka Brown, commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; Donna Miller, Cook County Commissioner, 8th district; and James Williams, UChicago Medicine, moderated by Donald Dew, president/CEO Habilitative Systems Inc.

A justice panel at 10:15 am will include 3rd District State Sen. Robert Peters, Ill.; Joel K. Johnson, president/CEO TASC Inc.; Mark Mitchell, associate director, Teamwork Englewood; Sherone Mitchell, Cook County public defender; and Nathaniel Gaither, Lawndale Christian Legal Center; moderated by 3rd District Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry.

A wealth panel at 11:30 am on “Understanding Black Entrepreneurship” will feature Jared Evans, community manager, JP Morgan Chase & Co.; Donte Winston, president, Excel Construction Labor Inc.; Michael Nance, co-founder, Yellow Banana; Mitchell Johnson, chairman and CEO, My Community Plan Foundation; and Melvin

1865 Fest Freedom Market

Dr. Ngozi Ezike at Cook County's Celebration of Juneteenth 2023

Bailey, executive director of the Community Male Empowerment Project; moderated by Marcell Jackson, activist and entrepreneur. Dr. Verona S. E. Portis, Chicago Public Schools principal, will moderate the 1 pm panel that includes Laurie Bryant, director of the Mathnasium, Hyde Park; Bobbie Ponder, international student; Crystal Y. Dyer, Chicago Youth Travel Adventures; and Kaleb Autman, student.

Commissioner Dennis Deer (2nd district) and Commissioner Stanley Moore (4th District) led the push in 2020 to establish Juneteenth as a day of remembrance and an official paid holiday in Cook County. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed it into law in 2021.

Juneteenth Committee Co-Chair Donald Dew said, "As we pause to celebrate that moment in time when we as African Americans learned of our freedom, let us present, examine and embrace comprehensive strategies that will ensure racial equity in all aspects of life to insure our mutual wellbeing."

FREE to the public. Registration encouraged at juneteenthillinois.com/ upcoming-events/

June 17

JUNETEENTH FAMILY FESTIVAL

110th & Longwood Drive 11 am-7 pm

Fitness and fun with African dancing, djembe, drumming lessons, live entertainment, music, storytelling, food, Thrive cardio dancing, vendors, kid & family activities. FREE, but tickets at allevents.in

June 17

ALL WHITE YACHT PARTY

Anita Dee Yacht Charters, 200 Breakwater Access 12:15-4:30 pm DJs mixing hip-hop, Top 40, Latin, house and more, in all white (recommended) attire, daytime yacht party. 21+ Tickets $50+ on Eventbrite.com and Seetickets.com

June 17

BRONZEVILLE’S JUNETEENTH

Absolutely Anything Essential, 3521 S. King Drive Noon-6 pm Village-themed, family-friendly celebration will offer live entertainment for adults and youth inside and outside. Local historians, visual and performing artists and crafters will showcase creative art, share stories, and entertain. The event aims to retain the memory of emancipation for African Americans and the price of freedom for all Americans throughout the nation’s history. Cultural wear encouraged. FREE. Info on Eventbrite.com

June 17

EVANSTON’S 4TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH PARADE

Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St. 10:45 am

Starting from the Crown Center, heading west and then northeast, parade will feature the South Shore Drill Team and Jesse White Tumblers, followed by community celebration of art, music, food and speakers at Ingraham Park, west of the Morton Civic Center, until 6 p.m. Celebrate the progress since Juneteenth, but also recognize the work that still needs to be done to achieve true equality. eventbrite.com

June 17

JUNETEENTH FREEDOM EXHIBIT

Pose Cultural Art Gallery, 2136 W. Chicago Ave. 3 pm

Opening Reception of "The Big Piece of Chicken " exhibit, an expression of Black art, success and sacrifice. Highlighting works by artist BrotherZone, poetry by Maurice Hayes, dance presentation by Mildred Riviera music, vibes, raffles and more.

June 17

JUNETEENTH PROGRAM & LEGLER PRODUCE MARKET

Legler Regional Library, 115 S. Pulaski Road 11 am-2 pm

Using the book, “Watermelon and Red Birds” as inspiration, Artist in Residence Alexandra Antoine will provide a choice of African-diasporic seeds and oil-based markers to decorate pots to take home. FREE, but reserve a spot at eventbrite.com

June 17

JUNETEENTH

RESOURCE FAIR

Harry S. Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave. 11 am-3 pm

Voice of the People hosts Uptown community resource fair, with games, prizes, live entertainment and more. Community partners will set up informational tables and participants will collaborate on an Uptown Family Tree art project. FREE eventbrite. com

Evanston's annual Juneteenth Parade

Juneteenth Family Fest

June 17

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IN NORTH

CENTER

St. Benedict Parish, 3900 N. Leavitt St. 11 am-2 pm

This event for all will feature entertainment, food, and a marketplace. And activities including hair braiding, dance lessons, horseback riding, sword play, yo-yo, and more. Highlighting Black-owned businesses and providing activities for all ages. FREE.

June 17

June 17

JUNETEENTH WEST FEST

Columbus Park, 500 S. Central Ave.

Noon-10 p.m.

West Side Arts Council offers events in jubilation of African American freedom. FREE, but reservations at eventbrite.com

June 18

JUNETEENTH VILLAGE FEST

Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Drive

Noon-8 pm

2023

ACCESSIBLE JUNETEENTH

The UIC Quad, 750 S. Halsted St. 1-5 pm Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition, UIC Disability Cultural Center, Access Living, the Chicago Disability Pride Parade, and the Institute on Disability and Human Development will host the event featuring a DJ, food, giveaways, an open-mic, and resources from Black-owned and disabilityowned businesses. Attend in person or virtually at go.uic.edu

June 17

JUNETEENTH POP-UP SHOP

Fosco Park, 1312 S. Racine Ave. 11 am-4 pm

Cookout celebration will have an Old School family feel with good eatin’ from the grill, networking, shopping from 20 Black-owned businesses, music, Double-Dutch contest, hopscotch, limbo, raffles, games. FREE entry and parking. allevents.in

Village Fest will feature musical performances by Angie Stone, Marsha Ambrosius, Talib Kweli, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Kindred and the Family Soul. Attendees can also enjoy local performers, food vendors, community-based organizations and resources, carnival rides, and activities for all ages.

June 18

HYDE PARK

JUNETEENTH FEST

Harper Court, 5235 S. Harper Court Noon-7 pm

Hawkins House of Horton, Silver Room, Connect Gallery and Lululemon offer dance classes, performances, food and fun.

June 19

SOUTH SIDE TOUR WITH SHERMANN “DILLA” THOMAS

South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive Noon

Get on the bus to celebrate Juneteenth with Chicago’s own griot. Two-hour tour, gift bag, refreshments and beach party at South Shore Cultural Center. $50 at eventnoire.com

June

19 360 CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH

94th floor, 875 N. Michigan Ave. 9 am-4 pm 10-11 a.m. Unveiling of freedom quilt, signifiicant during slavery; Black vendors' market, DJs, and guest performers. Ticket sales benefit I Am a Gentleman, a nonprofit dedicated to engaging, enriching and empowering young men for careers, healthy lifestyles, marketable skills and balanced relationships. $19 at Eventbrite.com

June 19

THE DU’S 3RD ANNUAL JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY BBQ

DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Place 10 am-8 pm

In the spirit of the ancestors, the DuSable will offer family activities (horseback riding, petting zoo), health testing, drum village, author’s pavilion, adult lounge, giveaways, inflatables, music performances, food & drink. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, there will be a discussion with legend Kool Moe Dee. FREE, but tickets at allevents.in

June 19

JUNETEENTH & FATHER’S DAY FESTIVAL

Memorial Park District, 639 N. Wolf Rd, Hillside 2-6 pm

Join Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch for food & drinks, games and activities, bounce houses, vendors, artists, entertainers. FREE to the public. Reserve at Eventbrite.com

South Side Tour with Shermann "Dilla" Thomas

Juneteenth Village Fest

The Du's annual Juneteenth Community BBQ

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the

Last week's Answers

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