Illinois
White Republican running as Democrat in majority black district: Race not an issue
Tom Swiss is a white candidate running for state representative in a majority African-American district. But that has nothing to do with his decision to erect a billboard with his name and a picture of a black construction worker, he said. “I don’t look at this as a race issue — I look at it [...]
Professional women, poor girls form sisterhood
Meeting in the living room of a Hyde Park high-rise, a book club comprising 10 African-American women was reading about violence, poverty and challenges in the black community. As they spoke passionately over crackers and juice, the women, all educated professionals from Chicago and around the globe, realized they wanted to do more than just [...]
Chicago street named after comedian Bernie Mac
A sign bearing the name of the late comedian Bernie Mac has been raised over a street in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. About 200 people, including his widow Rhoda McCullough, daughter Je’Niece McCullough and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, gathered Tuesday on a corner near the home where he grew up. Je’Niece McCullough says she hopes renaming [...]
Have Chicago’s Race Relations Changed in 20 Years?
Nearly 20 years ago, on a cold day in March in downtown Chicago, Kevin Morrow was trying to hail a cab. Morrow was one of several students who, back in 1993, helped NBC Chicago’s Unit 5 Investigative Team conduct a very unscientific and random test to find out if African Americans would be treated any [...]
Teacher sues CPS after suspension for n-word slur during ‘teachable moment’
A white teacher who says he was disciplined for using the n-word in a “teachable moment” about the perils of racism with his sixth-grade class has filed a federal lawsuit, alleging his black principal and Chicago Public Schools violated his civil rights by suspending him without pay for five days. Lincoln Brown, 48, says he [...]
