April is the birth month of our beloved Mayor Harold Washington. Mayor Washington’s birthday is April 23, but since he would have been 100 years old on that date this year, a lot of Chicagoans are not just celebrating the day or even the month, but they’re celebrating the entire year as “the year of Mayor Harold Washington.” Thanks to the diligent work of Josie Childs and the Mayor Har-old Washington Legacy Committee, the Chicago City Council approved the motion to make April 15 Harold Washington Day.
We’re wishing our beloved late mayor Happy Birthday with two timely articles that you’ll surely enjoy. While many of us knew Harold for his charismatic smile, the way he jokingly called himself Harold and allowed us to, and the way he was loved by all Chicagoans – according to Jeanette Foreman, his true legacy has gone unheralded. Many of the changes he made back then are still effective today. In this issue, Jeanette shines a light on his legacy and gives us even more reasons to remember this great man with love as she points out not only what he stood for, but what he fought for and what he changed.
Then Quinton Arthur writes about Raymond Lambert, producer of the outstanding documentary, Punch 9 (which was Harold’s number on the ballot in the historical election of 1983) and his quest to invigorate the generation that might not have been here in Harold’s time, but surely can benefit from the knowledge of his election, who he was, and what he did.
The documentary is scheduled to be released to the public sometime this year. Meanwhile, Tallgrass Educational Films and The Kulture Museum got together to present an outstanding event, “Art & Legacy, Remembering Mayor Harold Washington.” The event was held in honor of Black History month, but of course, in the “Year of Harold Washington”, he takes front and center during Black History Month as well as all of 2022.
April is also Health Month, and writer Deborah Easton recently talked to Chef Tsekeedah about how his journey to health and wellness, through food, led him to employ his culinary skills, inherited from his father to found what is quickly becoming the South Side’s favorite restaurant. In this intriguing article, Deborah helps us realize that what’s healthy and good for you can also be delicious if you know the place to go. That place is Majani Restaurant of Soul Vegan Cuisine fame. Chef T, brought his healthy plant-based recipes from the garden to this fabulous South Side restaurant that he co-owns with his wife, Nasya Emmanuel.
Something else that’s brewing this month that’s pretty exciting is the release of the 1950 Census. That’s big news and genealogist and Census expert, Tony Burroughs explains why it’s so important, especially to baby boomers, their children, and their grandchildren. This data is being released on the first of this month and whether you’re a serious genealogist, or you just want to trace some re-cent ancestors for fun, this article explains why the release of the 1950 census information is a goldmine. Don’t forget to come to our live jazz set at the Quarry, 2423 East 75th Street. We’re really proud of the way the presence and the work of Real Men Charities has transformed the strip from 75th and Yates to the Lake into what a few have begun calling “The Corner of Love.”
