Opinion

Improving education in Illinois

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Legislation signed into law last week by Gov. J.B. Pritzker expands already required Black history coursework to include pre-enslavement of Black people, why Black people came to be enslaved and the American Civil Rights renaissance. The new law – a key part of the Illinois Black Caucus’ legislative agenda – also increases the percentage of grant funds prioritized for Black males and incorporates consideration of financial need in awarding grants, among other improvements to higher education.

Opinion

Will Blacks, Latinx people see the need to get vaccinated? Austin lawmaker hopes so

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Many in the African American and Latinx communities remain wary of immunization and the medical establishment at large, writes state Rep. La Shawn Ford. That’s why “we have to make sure that people trust the vaccine will work, and we need to do everything that we can to bring an understanding to our community about how important it is to take the vaccine and to be able to trust it,” Ford says.

Opinion

Abolish teaching history – until we get it right

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Important parts of our history have not been told or taught because it hasn’t been believed it actually happened, writes state Rep. La Shawn Ford. Until they saw it on their TV screens, the dominant White culture didn’t believe that Blacks could be treated like John Lewis was treated – and many did not believe that so many Blacks are victimized by police until they saw the last 8 minutes and 46 seconds of George Floyd’s life.

healing

Heal trauma from within

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If white people are programmed to be racist, then my people are programmed to hate ourselves, writes Daryl Satcher. Systemic racism is the true virus that we need to defeat. You must first defeat this disease in your mind before you can defeat it in your world.

Opinion

Welcome to the movement

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To every person who needed to see buildings burning before doing something about racism, welcome to the movement, writes Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford. To everyone who felt uncomfortable speaking on race issues, welcome to the movement. To every corporation who made their first statement in support of Black lives, welcome to the movement. To every young person who took to the streets in protest for basic human rights, you are the movement. Keep pushing.

Opinion

Black Lives Matter is not a monolith

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Other black life experiences matter also, writes John W. Fountain III. While we argue about the broad spectrum of black life, we must also account for the nuances that exist within a hashtag or chant. Inclusion of all black lives and allies must coexist under the guise of liberty, justice and equality for all.