June 8 - 14, 2020 Vol. 28 No. 23
The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and other African Americans and people of color, as well as the ensuing protests, shine a spotlight on the systemic racial injustices that have plagued our community and country. We are sad, angry and frustrated by the overt racism, discrimination and marginalization that disproportionately affect communities of color. This includes many of the StreetWise vendors and job seekers who are more likely to experience homelessness, incarceration, and violence. StreetWise Magazine remains committed to bringing awareness of the critical issues of racial, social and economic inequality that impact the daily lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our community. We are also committed to elevating the work that many individuals, communities and organizations are doing to bring about lasting systemic change. This issue of StreetWise is devoted to acknowledging and responding to the anger and grief among the people we seek to serve and the larger community.
-Julie Youngquist, Executive Director, StreetWise
5 Cover Story: CHicago Protests 6 Intro
Poetry by StreetWise Vendor Lady David Tillman
On May 25, George Floyd died after spending 8 minutes and 46 seconds under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. In the haunting video of his death you see him call for his mother and speak his last words, “I can’t breathe.” Across Chicago and across America, thousands are rising up in remembrance of George Floyd and the many black lives that have been lost. People are marching in protest of police brutality and white supremacy and in solidarity with the racial justice movement. These photographs by Kathleen Hinkel are from a selection of protests here in Chicago.
Voice of the streets: op-ed
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Inside Streetwise
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Rendel Solomon, founder of One Stock, One Future, talks about your big but. StreetWise Chairman Emeritus Pete Kadens acknowledges his privilege as he fights institutional racism. Also, StreetWise Vendor Donald Morris shares condolences for the family of George Floyd.
ON THE COVER: June 2, 2020: A woman holds her fist in the air as thousands march together peacefully down Martin Luther King Drive in Bronzeville on Tuesday in remembrance of George Floyd and countless other African Americans who have died as a result of police brutality, systemic racism and injustice. The march was organized by Bright Star Church and leaders of various faiths throughout the Chicago area. THIS PAGE: May 30, 2020: A man wears a sign with George Floyd's last words "I can't breathe." People attended a march organized by Black Lives Matter at Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago on Saturday, where thousands protested police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Both photos by Kathleen Hinkel.
Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher
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Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief
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Amanda Jones, Director of programs
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Julie Youngquist, CEO
jyoungquist@streetwise.org
WE HAVE MOVED! Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60616
People I Try Not To Use/ Drugs I Try Not To Abuse/ A lot Of Times I Failed/ And It Is Hell/ That In My Mind/ It's In A Bind/ That's Why I Write/ To Make Right/ All The Stuff I Did/ When I Was A Kid/ Mom Said: You Black/ Wasn't Trying To Hear That/ I Covered My Eyes/ I Told Myself Lies/ But Racism Was Always In My Face/ Always Been All Over The Place/ Sly And The Family Stone Said: There Is A Riot Going On/ And I Think It Will Be Long/ I Hope I'm Wrong - StreetWise Vendor Lady David Tillman
June 3, 2020
Anguish & Action Chicago protests
COVER STORY
photographs by Kathleen Hinkel On May 25, George Floyd died after spending 8 minutes and 46 seconds under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. In the haunting video of his death you see him call for his mother and speak his last words, “I can’t breathe.” These were also the last words of Eric Garner, whose similar 2014 death at the hands of a New York City police officer was also captured on video. George Floyd, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Laquan McDonald, Michael Brown, Stephon Clark, Alton Sterling, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Sandra Bland, Fred Hampton and Emmett Till are a few names among the countless African American lives that have been lost to police brutality, systemic racism and injustice. Across Chicago and across America, thousands are rising up in remembrance of George Floyd and the many black lives that have been lost. People are marching in protest of police brutality and white supremacy and in solidarity with the racial justice movement. These photographs were taken at protests here in Chicago.
The loop May 30, 2020 Thousands gathered during a Black Lives Matter protest against police brutality and racial injustice at Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. A woman carries a sign through a protest downtown. A protester wears a T-shirt saying "I can't breathe" - the last words of George Floyd and Eric Garner - while driving on Dearborn Street. A police officer sits in his vehicle during the protest.
The loop May 30, 2020 Thousands gathered during a Black Lives Matter protest against police brutality and racial injustice at Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
Left, from top: Police officers during the protest. A police officer and a protester talk. People protested from their cars on Dearborn Street. Center: A woman is led away by police officers as the crowd chants "Let her go." Below: A man is pushed aside by police after attempting to help a woman who was being removed from the Black Lives Matter Chicago protest. Next spread: A woman wears a protective mask with George Floyd's last words, "I Can't Breathe," written on it.
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North side June 2, 2020 The Tuesday protest marched peacefully from Wrigleyville to the 18th District Station, where protesters took a knee in front of dozens of police officers in riot gear.
Above: A woman leads chanting as peaceful protesters marched from Wrigleyville to the 18th District police station. Right, from top: Peaceful protesters took a knee in front of officers at the 18th District Station after marching from Wrigleyville. Protesters talk with Chicago police officers outside the 18th District Police Station to ask that those arrested in weekend protests be released from police custody. Next spread: Protesters walk from Wrigleyville to the 18th District Police Station.
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Bronzeville June 2, 2020 Faith leaders from across the Chicago area march together down Martin Luther King Drive in Bronzeville on Tuesday, June 2, in remembrance of George Floyd and countless other African Americans who have died as a result of police brutality, systemic racism and injustice. The protests drew thousands who marched peacefully. It was organized by religious leaders of varying faiths and started at Bright Star Church in Bronzeville.
Left, from top: Reverend Jesse Jackson helps carry banners that say "George Floyd" and "Black Lives Matter" while walking in step with faith leaders from across the Chicago area. Reverend Jesse Jackson bumps fists with faith leaders leading a march down Martin Luther King Drive in Bronzeville. Marchers on Martin Luther King Drive. Center: A pastor is one of the faith leaders leading the march. Below: Thousands raise their fists in the air on Martin Luther King Drive.
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Bronzeville June 2, 2020 Left, from top: A woman holds her fist in the air as thousands march peacefully down Martin Luther King Drive. Marchers with a Black Lives Matter banner. Above: Some police officers patrolled the event on bike. Next Spread: Holding a banner bearing George Floyd's face and name, faith leaders from across the Chicago area marched down Martin Luther King Drive in Bronzeville.
Faith leaders from across the Chicago area march together down Martin Luther King Drive in Bronzeville on Tuesday, June 2, in remembrance of George Floyd and countless other African Americans who have died as a result of police brutality, systemic racism and injustice. The protests drew thousands who marched peacefully. It was organized by religious leaders of varying faiths and started at Bright Star Church in Bronzeville.
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PILSEN Rebuilding June 3, 2020 Artists are donating work, materials and to cover boarded dows with art on Street in Pilsen.
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their time win18th
Above: Muralist Joey D works on a mural on a boarded window in collaboration with other artists on 18th Street in Pilsen. Right, from top: Jocelyn Romero. Unknown artist. Next spread: 25-year-old Jocelyn Romero works on a mural on a boarded window in collaboration with other artists on 18th Street in Pilsen.
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Center: A protester holds a memorial sign for Breonna Taylor, which reads "In unity of her beauty, we say her name." Below: Protesters in the streets of Uptown. Right, from top: A memorial tribute to Breonna Taylor. A mechanic at Uptown Bikes raises her fist in front of a "Justice for Breonna" sign as protesters walked by in celebration of what was supposed to be Breonna Taylor's 27th birthday. Two people watch a crowd marching down Clark Street. Next Spread: 27-year-old Ashabi Owagboriaye speaks to the crowd in front of the Riviera Theatre in Uptown before the march begins.
Uptown Say Her Name:
Breonna Taylor
June 5, 2020 June 5 was supposed to be Breonna Taylor's 27th birthday. In remembrance and action, a crowd gathered in Uptown that afternoon to say her name, mourn, demand justice and celebrate Breonna Taylor and Black Womxn everywhere.
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Union Park June 5, 2020
"In unity of her beauty, we say her name." This day should have been Breonna Taylor's 27th birthday, but Taylor, an EMT, was killed by Louisville police. These photos are from the "Defund CPD: Fund Black Lives!" march that started in Union Park on Friday evening.
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Above: The march from above. Right, from top: George Floyd's last words, "I Can't Breathe," are written on a sign. People watch the march on Ashland Avenue from their windows. Next spread: The protest marches up Ashland Avenue.
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YOUR BUT STINKS OP-ED by Rendel Solomon
Let’s talk about the word “but.” Part of the problem with trying to have a real conversation about institutional racism is the word but. There are too many people, both white AND black, who want to show their but whenever there’s a discussion about race. BUT we had a black President BUT aren’t black people doing better than before. BUT slavery ended over 150 years ago BUT other groups have faced discrimination BUT this is not how you protest Your but is powerful. It says to me that you don’t believe or care about the lasting and continual impact of institutional racism. You subscribe to the notion that blacks are solely responsible for these disparities. You believe that if we only worked harder we’d be fine. You believe these are all isolated events. You believe protesters are inherently bad people. You believe there’s a justification for an unarmed black man being killed by a law enforcement officer. THERE IS NO BIG ENOUGH BUT TO POSSIBLY JUSTIFY WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD AND COUNTLESS OTHERS. If you believe these things, then unfortunately you are a part of the problem. You may appear as a friend, then your but changes things. Your but shows me how you really feel. YOUR BUT STINKS! So please, if we are going to have a real conversation about the role that race plays and how things may shift over time, please don’t show me your but!
Rendel Solomon founded One Stock One Future to turn one million youth into public company shareholders by using workshops to introduce them to stocks and ownership. With generously donated funds, the organization purchases gift certificates for public company stocks so that each student can open their first investment account. In July 2017, Rendel created the League of Superwomen, a networking and panel series designed to showcase women entrepreneurs and engage in a powerful discussion about entrepreneurship. He was also named one of StreetWise's "20 Most Inspriring Chicagoans" in 2019.
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Inside Streetwise: responding to injustice I wonder where I’d be if I had been a minority growing up in an underserved community. Same me. Same intellect. Same abilities. I wonder if people would have given me the second and third chances I’ve had in life. I wonder if I would have seen life as a perpetual sequence of amazing opportunities, one after another. I wonder if I can truly say “I earned” what I have or did I just inherit the gift of hope and opportunity by the mere fact that I’m seen differently by society than people who grew up in a different ZIP code than I did. I wonder about how great our world would be if none of this silly stuff like skin color or the numbers you saw on a bank statement mattered but rather what mattered was things like work ethic, how you treated people who could do absolutely nothing for you and the quality of your inner character. I wonder when you and I will be equals. For too long, for too many, lack of access and opportunity has been a standard operating procedure. Our divides are force-multiplied and revealed when challenging times fall upon us as they have now. Now is the time when actions speak louder than words. Now is the time to stop wondering and to start acting.
-StreetWise Chairman Emeritus Pete Kadens
I want to give ups to George Floyd. I realize that the symbolism of his death overshadows the man himself; however, take a moment to feel what his family and friends are experiencing. They have lost a brother, a son, a father. While they still have his memory, he is no more of this Earth. On a side note, and many don't know this, George Floyd starred as a tight end in high school and helped lead his team to the state championship game. R.I.P. George Floyd and all others who have gone on.
-StreetWise Vendor Donald Morris
Black Lives Matter
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THE CHICAGO PREMIERE
THE MOST SPECTACULARLY LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF
MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON James Ijames Directed by Whitney White By
The recently widowed “Mother of America”—attended to by the very enslaved people who will be free the moment she dies—takes us deep into the ugly and thorny ramifications of America’s original sin.
RADICALLY VULNERABLE, OUTRAGEOUSLY HILARIOUS
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