Greetings:
As we leave the summer sunshine and merge into Autum, the bright yellow sunflower continues to brighten our days through the transition from season to season. The sunflower is more than just a symbol of happiness and vitality, it loyally follows the sun’s path from East to West throughout the day, and once it has bloomed, it devotes its energy to producing seeds within its large flower head.
There are women who, like the sunflower, brighten our lives. And like the sunflower, they have followed the path laid out for them, not only for their own success, but to bring happiness and hope of a good life to others. These women devote their lives to producing good works and great people to continue their legacies. In this issue, we highlight three such women.
Alice Palmer blessed the lives of so many people, as a teacher, a professor, a State Senator, and a world traveler and global activist. Alice Palmer was a quiet storm who made a raucous difference in politics, race relations, education and more. We highlight the life of this incredible woman in this issue, as told by her daughter, Zella Palmer and son, David Robinson.
Betty Magness knew at a very young age that her destiny was to strive for justice and equality. Like the loyal sunflower, Betty followed the path that was laid out for her. From Breadbasket to PUSH, Betty Magness rose through the ranks to become a central figure in the movement for civil rights. Betty Magness, is known by those who are familiar with her activism and accomplishments as Chicago’s political genius.
Sasha Daltonn takes us through Betty’s journey, revealing little known and unknown factors that make Betty Magness the woman she continues to be today.
A’ndrea Paxton saw the inequities
toward Black business owners, and her path toward changing it began with her career as an urban planner, her curiosity as relates to Black history, and her political knowledge. In this Black Business month edition, we interview A’ndrea Paxton who gives us a riveting account of the legacy of the Greenwood District of Tulsa. Oklahoma, the bombing, and terrorist attacks on that profitable district and why this historical moment in Black history inspired her to write Illinois House Resolution HR 1320. Looking to the past to bring hope of fairness and equity to Black businesses, HR 1320 is perhaps one of the most important resolutions, soon to become a bill, that will be brought before the Illinois House of Representatives. In this article, Ms. Paxton explains how the passage of HR 1320 could bring about change in the Black community.
Just like the sunflower, great food also brings happiness and vitality to our lives. Toure Muhammad, founder of BlackChicagoEats.com, guides our readers to the newest Black-owned restaurants throughout Chicago and a few old standards serving diverse, delectable, and delicious choices of cuisine for every appetite.
Sometimes the sunshine is taken out of our lives too sun. We sadly extend our goodbyes and condolences to the family of Renault Robinson, co-founder of the Afro American Police League; to the family of Karen Pinckard-Gill, whose Karen Joy Jewelry was always a bright spot at community festivals, and to the fans and family of Willie Perry, Jr., known throughout Chicago and nationally as DJ Casper, creator of the Casper Cha Cha Slide. Casper performed at many Quarry and Real Men Cook events, and he left behind his Cha Cha Slide for us to remember him by. These bright spirits will be missed.
We thank our readers for your continued support and, as your self-proclaimed Guide to the Good Life, I encourage you to shine on!
