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ForestParkReview.com Vol. 100, No. 8
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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
REVIEW FEBRUARY 22, 2017
Say it ain’t so! Jackie Schulz cutting back column schedule PAGE 11
3 vie for 2 seats on park district board PAGE 3
Middle School changes black history narrative Program message tackled stereotypes, stressed education By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter
T
tleground for establishing a sanctuary city policy. But their efforts are different than they were in Oak Park, where advocates recently convinced local officials to pass one
eachers and students at Forest Park Middle School spent three hours last Friday creating a positive story about African Americans in an effort to help students of all races be proud of their contributions without glossing over the negative images and stereotypes throughout history. After watching negative images of African Americans from the film, Birth of a Nation, TV shows and cartoons, teacher Bob Liddell and four student cohosts gave short talks in their own words about what Black History Month means to them. “Black History Month is a time when AfricanAmericans come together to celebrate those before us who fought for our rights … to thank those people for giving us hope,” student Shamya Melton said. “Black History Month is a time when black people are able to speak up for themselves and say more of how we feel.” Student Jah Jah Alleyne said, “I am a black male and we have a lot of struggles in the United States. … Black history has shown me how strong black people are, how strong we have been throughout history and how strong we can be. With all that’s going on right now, black history is just as important for everyone as it was in 1926.” Camilo Medina, who is Hispanic, revealed how he identified with black figures in American history.
See SANCTUARY on page 6
See BLACK HISTORY on page 4
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
Students from Forest Park Middle School sing the song “Glory” during an assembly for Black History Month on Thursday Feb. 17.
Advocates press for sanctuary city resolution in Forest Park Should mirror Oak Park’s, proponents say
By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER and ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporters
Advocates pushing back against President Donald Trump’s immigration policy are focused on Forest Park as the next bat-
IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 THIS Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
D209 declares itself a ‘Welcoming’ District
Tom Holmes: Optimisim on Madison St.
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