THE DESTRUCTION OF AN AFRICAN VILLAGE:
How neglect and indifference have eroded Black life in Morgan Park
When I was attending school my parents would tell me that I had to work harder as the country is run by white people who will not hire you unless you are qualified. This meant you as a Black person had to work at the 100% level at all times to prove this fact to them. My parents also told me to go to college and receive a degree for achieving this paper is vital to living a quality life for society can never take this from you.
My parents told me that be careful with who you ''hang out with.'' For ''association makes assimilation'' and those who are all chummy and up in your face telling you what a great person you are not always your friend and may have ulterior and bad motives.
Both my brother and I were raised on used clothing and toys which were often the envy of our playmates. Our role models were our parents, parents of friends and adults who lived in the community. They were teachers not politicians or famous people.
The only Black man that you would know existed was when Joe Louis had a fight and the entire neighborhood had radio on their front porches which created a surround sound. And when the fight ended there would be a cheer that could be heard for blocks.
Having a good time was going to the movies on Sunday on the Streetcar and watching a 15?¢ movie at the Roseland Theater, at 114th and Michigan. Of course the streetcar ride was not complete until one of your partners pulled the rope which ran down the middle ceiling of the coach to notify the motorman that someone wanted to get off. Also there was only one track so we had to stop at Halsted Street to wait for the street car going in the other direction to pass. Those were truly the days.
We had a Black doctor and Dentist who lived in the community today we don't even have a Black doctor or Dentist. We had a clothing store, drug stores, savings and loan, a shoe repair store gas stations, a hardware store, an ice cream parlor, along with the other store which you find today in most Black communities restaurants, hair places, record stores and churches. We even had a newspaper The Morgan Park Journal. Today we have only a shell of a community with a park and a school which merely serve as monuments or structures.
Today we have children calling their parent B..... and Whores and hitting them. The Blacks have lost control of not only their homes but their entire community.
Are we paying for allowing this to occur?
By Eugene Broyls
How neglect and indifference have eroded Black life in Morgan Park
When I was attending school my parents would tell me that I had to work harder as the country is run by white people who will not hire you unless you are qualified. This meant you as a Black person had to work at the 100% level at all times to prove this fact to them. My parents also told me to go to college and receive a degree for achieving this paper is vital to living a quality life for society can never take this from you.
My parents told me that be careful with who you ''hang out with.'' For ''association makes assimilation'' and those who are all chummy and up in your face telling you what a great person you are not always your friend and may have ulterior and bad motives.
Both my brother and I were raised on used clothing and toys which were often the envy of our playmates. Our role models were our parents, parents of friends and adults who lived in the community. They were teachers not politicians or famous people.
The only Black man that you would know existed was when Joe Louis had a fight and the entire neighborhood had radio on their front porches which created a surround sound. And when the fight ended there would be a cheer that could be heard for blocks.
Having a good time was going to the movies on Sunday on the Streetcar and watching a 15?¢ movie at the Roseland Theater, at 114th and Michigan. Of course the streetcar ride was not complete until one of your partners pulled the rope which ran down the middle ceiling of the coach to notify the motorman that someone wanted to get off. Also there was only one track so we had to stop at Halsted Street to wait for the street car going in the other direction to pass. Those were truly the days.
We had a Black doctor and Dentist who lived in the community today we don't even have a Black doctor or Dentist. We had a clothing store, drug stores, savings and loan, a shoe repair store gas stations, a hardware store, an ice cream parlor, along with the other store which you find today in most Black communities restaurants, hair places, record stores and churches. We even had a newspaper The Morgan Park Journal. Today we have only a shell of a community with a park and a school which merely serve as monuments or structures.
Today we have children calling their parent B..... and Whores and hitting them. The Blacks have lost control of not only their homes but their entire community.
Are we paying for allowing this to occur?
By Eugene Broyls
