October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The South Side Drive acknowledges the breast cancer survivors and celebrates the hard-fought victories and advances. We also offer our condolences to the families of those who succumbed to this dreadful disease. We pledge our support as we continue to fight the good fight toward the eradication of all forms of cancer.
October is also Mental Health Month, and our community needs mental health support, not only in October, but year long. Real Men Charities has mental health and mentoring programs throughout the year for men of our communities.
One mental health issue that is prevalent in the Black community is racialized violence against Black men and women at the hands of the police. There are not enough individual counselors to address the repercussions these acts of violence have on our mental state. However, the Congo Square Theater and the Lookingglass Theater have combined to produce a play, written by Alesha Harris, entitled What to Send Up When It Goes Down, The play incorporates a Celebration of Healing, and for this month’s issue we interviewed the artistic director of the Congo Square Theater, Ericka Radcliffe, and Kareem Bandealy, staff and ensemble member of Lookingglass Theater, about this unique play.
We hope you will also enjoy our interview of Norman Bolden, one of our South Side Chicago’s favorite sons who has brought entertainment venues and a bistro to Chicago’s Kenwood-Oakland community. Now, Norman is bringing more outdoor fun for families as the exclusive concessionaire, planning future dining experiences at Chicago’s Rainbow Beach.
We are always bringing new and better ways to enjoy our business successes, and we are excited to introduce our readers to Sister Imani Muhammad. Sister Imani is known for her delicious bean pies, and now she has extended her food line-up to soups, beverages, and other delicious favorites, which she is selling from her new location at the Quarry Entertainment Center in South Shore. Sister Imani is also catering various Quarry events.
Theaster Gates, the unique artist and builder, who many of you know for bringing the Stony Island Arts Bank into the community, has done it again. This time he is bringing a new and innovative building to foster the artistic and entrepreneurial spirits of Chicago’s south-siders. You will find out the details in the intriguing article Deborah Easton has penned for you. On a sad note, the South Side community has recently lost three outstanding icons. Prince Aseel Benisrael brought to the South Side of Chicago the revelation that vegan food can be delicious as well as healthy, through his Soul Vegetarian Restaurant. He brought more than food to the community, he instilled religious pride through his Hebrew Israelite teachings and even established residence in Israel for many of his followers. Ramsey Lewis was a national musical genius who resided on the South Side of Chicago. His Ramsey Lewis Trio was known nationally and internationally for such iconic hits as “The In Crowd.” And Pharoah Sanders, whose spiritual jazz touched the lives of thousands. The world is richer because these men lived, and we’re proud to say they lived on our side of town.
Don’t forget to come to the Quarry at 2423 E. 75th Street for our live performances, now including more R&B a few times a month.
