AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/history/page/2/)
About 50 people came together last week to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Million Man March and to call for new economic drivers for the Austin community. The Million Man March, which the Washington Post called “the largest civil rights demonstration in U.S. history,” was held in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 16, 1995.
State Rep. La Shawn Ford is proposing legislation that would create a commission to review and update Illinois’ history curriculum so that textbooks, class discussion and other course material more accurately reflect history through the inclusion of diverse perspectives.
Former West Sider Jacquelyn Dortch has fond memories of growing up in Austin. She devoted a chapter in her memoir to living in the community, which AustinTalks is republishing here.
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.
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.
Wednesday’s celebration was organized by the West Side Historical Preservation Society, Garfield Park Advisory Council and Greg Zanis of Crosses for Losses.
Commemorate Juneteenth at the Garfield Park Golden Dome, 100 N. Central Park Ave., from 12 to 4 p.m. June 19th. The West Side Historical Preservation Society is holding Wednesday’s event in collaboration with the Garfield Park Advisory Council.
After years of vacancy, Preservation Chicago has added the historic Laramie State Bank Building to its annual list of endangered buildings with the hope that city officials and others will help save the West Side landmark.
For the first time in the citywide festival’s eight-year history, 11 locations in Austin will be featured.
Veterans and victims of gun violence will be honored Saturday at the Golden Dome Field House, followed by three days of activities the following weekend.