Chicago Politics

Black History Month Cultural Reception 2.19.26

Description

Mayor Johnson, city officials and community leaders attend the Black History Month Reception at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Transcript

0:00 Your favorite millennial and host of the Cleopatra Show, the talk of the nation right here at WVON, 1690 AM. And I'm going to give a little history about WVON. We were founded in 1963 right here in Chicago by Chess Records. Midway Broadcasting owners, Purvis Spann the Blues Man and Mr. Wesley South in their infinite wisdom, bought WVON in 1977.

0:37 Through the decades, we were known to be the voice of the Negro. To date, we are led by Melody Spann Cooper. her. She's fierce, she's brilliant, and she's innovative. And might I add, she's the chairwoman and president of Midway Broadcasting. Please give her a round of applause. If I may add,

1:07 she's Michael Jackson bad, if you know something about them zippers. Now, without further ado, I would like to bring up another amazing woman. But I still hear whispers. If you all could please, The resounding echo reverberates this way. And her voice, although it's powerful, you've got to hear it to believe it. And I don't want you to miss the beat. Can I get an amen? Amen. All right.

1:38 Okay. Now, as I was saying, I would like to introduce another amazing woman. Now, she's taken to the stage, and that's Ms. Opal Staples. She's going to grace us with her powerful voice and bless us with the Black National Anthem. Please give her a round of applause and welcome her.

4:31 Sing something in memory of Reverend Jesse Jackson. He often had me singing at the Push Coalition on Saturday mornings, very, very early, dragging all my children up there. But his message was powerful and he would always turn to me and say, sing that song I told you to sing. And so I asked everyone in memory of him in this moment if everyone could stand to their feet and sing with me.

5:06 We shall, we shall, we shall, we shall, we shall over some day.

6:05 Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Once, if you can hear me clap twice, times, give yourselves a round of applause.

6:41 Giving an overly robust round of applause for that beautiful voice. That was Ms. Opal Staples. See, I knew y'all can clap harder for her than you did yourselves. Amen, amen. Now, I'm back. I'm Cleopatra Draper, and I have the privilege to be your emcee for the evening. But again, we have to quiet the noise because it is resounding. Yeah, somebody shh. All right, all right.

7:12 So it's an absolute privilege to elevate and narrate the black stories. That's what I get to do every day at WVON, 1690 AM. As your favorite millennial, I am dedicated to leading an intergenerational conversation rooted in culture, arts, and politics, Monday through Friday from 9 to noon. But fun fact, I am the youngest on-air personality in our fantastic lineup, and I did earn it.

7:47 That was an applause. Y'all can clap to that. Now I'm going to give a little lesson. So I've earned the moniker of Professor Draper. I didn't ask for it. But I want to lean in on, did you hear me say did earn it? Okay, that's an acronym. We're going to get there. So I want you all to say it with me. did earn it. Y'all not saying it like you believe it. I said did earn it. Now, as a former educator, I must teach a quick lesson growing up Baptist. You ready? I want you

8:23 to turn to your neighbor and tell them they did earn it. Okay. Now turn to your other neighbor and tell them they did earn it. Those affirmation exercises, do you? The DEI in the room is not a coincidence. I'll say it again. All of this DEI in the room is not a coincidence.

8:57 It could be diversity, equity, and inclusion, or it could be an affirmation that you did earn it. And it is because we did earn it, we are here today to fight for better days. If you are in this room, that is the assignment. Am I clear? Happy Black History Month. Give yourselves a round of applause. To give a big thank you, and I know you all will too, to Dr. Carter G. Woodson for creating Black History Month.

9:38 It is because of him we have the privilege to celebrate. 100 years of black excellence and practice 365 days you can clap to that too Now, did you all enjoy the food? All right, give it up for Soul & Smoke for the amazing food and the bar service. It has been fantastic.

10:10 Now, I just can't have the people in the floor clapping. If you talking, you can't hear me. I'm going to talk to you all like I do my four-year-old over here. As for the decor, look at your tables. Vision and Bloom Design presented us with exceptionally beautiful flowers. Guess what they all have in common? They are both black and excellently owned businesses right here in our city. Give them a round of applause.

10:43 I would like to thank you all. Now for tonight, tonight could not have been made possible if it were not for our sponsors. So I'm going to do a roll call. Now if you're here, just say hey. Bally's, where you at? I already waved at you. Hey. Come in. All right. Farrah Candy Company. Gift of Hope. The gift they keep on giving. The Globetrotters. McDonald's. Northern Trust. I hear y'all in the back, y'all. Y'all representing. People's Gas. P. America. U.S. Bank. And United Airlines.

11:36 Additionally, we will want to welcome and thank the African-Caribbean Engagement Council. Where you at? I'm going to repeat. We want to welcome and thank the African-Caribbean Engagement Council. I look forward to working with you in collaboration throughout the year to celebrate black Chicagoans.

12:12 So thank you all. Now, to you, our esteemed guests, you all are looking extra good. I done complimented a number of you all, especially our brothers in the Dashikis and our sisters in the African Guard. I see you. Let us honor our past, embrace the present, and work toward a future filled with the spirit of our newest ancestor. That's right, that's the late great Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, Sr.

12:50 And in that spirit, the only thing that you need not do is to never give up and to keep hope alive. Now, I done had y'all clap for yourselves all night. And in saying that, you are clapping up to the vibration of our celebration of Black History Month. So clap again, not only for yourselves, but while you're in the room. Now, here's the real assignment.

13:20 Without further ado, I would like to introduce to you all, I need absolute silence. So if you see somebody talking, tell them, shh, because this is the kind of respect he deserves, and I'm not going to get it until I command it. Now, without further ado, I would like to introduce to you all a man. He's an unapologetically black man.

13:51 He's a God-fearing, wife-loving father to his children kind of man. He's a driven-by-his-values kind of man. He's a guided by his virtues kind of man. He's a practice his principles kind of man. He's a know the word but don't miss the word kind of man. He's a we can do both and it does not have to be either or kind of man. He's a ten toes down for the working families kind of man.

14:26 He's my west side is the best side big brother. from spring we sprung birthday twin, please help me welcome to the stage my mayor, your mayor, our mayor of the best and the greatest frickin' city in the world, the city of Chicago's 57th mayor, Mayor Brandon Johnson. Thank you so much. Thank you. Please be seated.

15:00 Thank you to Cleopatra Draper for your leadership and being a part of the voice of not just the Negro, but the voice of the nation, WVON. You can catch her every single day, Monday through Friday from nine to noon. So thank you again for your service, you all. Let's give it up for our emcee, Ms. Cleopatra Draper. Remember, when I met Cleopatra, she had a nice four-door Jeep Wrangler and no kids.

15:33 And now she's got strollers, a whole bunch of kids, and I don't know if she even drives anymore. So, to her husband and her entire family. Happy Black History Month, everybody. What an incredible time in our world's history to come together. It is a blessing to stand before you as we mark 100 years of formerly celebrating black history in this nation. 100 years of lifting up stories that we were always worthy.

16:08 Stories of our ancestors and the stories yet to be told. As we gather in celebration, we must gather in remembrance. And today, of course, we are still grieving and mourning the loss of a true humanitarian, someone who saw somebody in everybody. To the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., a freedom fighter, a fierce advocate, a man of deep faith and deep courage, a man who got up one day and said, I'm going to run to ensure that this nation elects a black man to serve as president of these United States.

16:50 A man who recognized that it's the Rainbow Coalition that speaks to the heartbeat and the soul of America. Someone who provided voice to the voiceless. And someone who was a mentor and a dear friend of mine. And we will never forget his work. We will always know that hope is alive because of the life that he lived. So please just join me just for a moment of silence as we remember the life, legacy, the man, Jesse.

17:38 Thank you. You know, Chicago stands today as a global city, not by accident, but because it embraced the fullness of who we are and who we can continue to be. And of course, a black Haitian immigrant who fell in love with a Potawatomi woman who established this beloved epicenter as the global capital of the world, knowing that one day that traditions and people from all over the world will find refuge and sanctity here.

18:14 Blackness brings and breeds diversity. From the richness of our culture to the traditions that shape our neighborhoods and define our spirit, we find our healing in our stories. That's why I'm grateful that D-Case established the Cultural Healing Grant Program to uplift organizations that celebrate heritage and create pathways towards our healing. And tonight, I'm proud to present the Cultural Heritage Grant to an organization, to a person who imbibes the true spirit of our ancestors, knowing that creating safe spaces for our young people who have been impacted by oppression and violence and disinvestment, they've created a sacred space providing sacred work for the least of these.

19:10 Circles and Ciphers This organization and this entity has provided restorative practices and mutual aid and transformative power of hip-hop They are helping young people heal, grow, and thrive They are part of the essence of who we are as a city And so please join me in welcoming the Executive Director of this incredible organization and Marie Brown and Akeem as we celebrate their leadership and their well-deserved recognition.

20:23 So just a final few words of reflection here. Thank you to all the elected officials that are here today. I want to thank our board president, Sean Harden, and the CEO of our public schools, Dr. Macklin King. Can you give them both a round of applause? Thank you both for being here. You know, the Bible says that we are to work while it is day.

20:54 because there will come a time where we won't be able to do that. And while we have breath in our soul, there is plenty of work and some daylight ahead. See, Black History Month gives us a sacred opportunity to not just reflect more deeply, to honor those who have come before us, but to recognize their courage that shaped our city, our country, and our globe.

21:27 It calls for us to tell the truth about our history, but it also calls upon all of us to talk about the progress that we have made, but we also have to be honest about what we are still faced with. And that's why I've been very adamant about ensuring that Chicago becomes a model for establishing reparations, not just here in the city of Chicago, but around this country.

22:06 Advancing not just serious conversations about reparations, but a pathway towards equity and healing. And we must hold that history close to us because in moments like this, when there are deliberate intent to interrupt and disrupt progress, but to tell a different story about who we are, where we come from, and where we're headed. You see, our city and our country is at a critical point. We are witnessing attacks on our rights, our freedoms, and the very protections that generations fought for.

22:41 Someone said to me the other night ago that perhaps this generation needs to feel a little bit of pain to understand what we have to gain when we work together. God, I hope not, but families are being separated. Communities are being targeted. Hard-won gains are being tested. And you have white supremacy that believes that the enemy of black people are marginalized people around the globe. A migrant has never done anything to disrupt the progress of black people.

23:13 And I will be doggone if I will allow white supremacy to separate black people from the people of this globe. Because it was black businesses that fed migrants. It was black businesses that provided hope and aspirations for the people who have been marginalized across this globe. But we also have to be very clear that the injustices that we feel within the black community are real.

23:45 And Dr. Keene reminded us that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. The history of this city of closing black schools, disrupting health clinics from black communities, shutting down housing for black people, firing black people from public sector positions, understand that our fight for justice is not over. And that we must continue to build an operation to ensure that what was fought for and won, that we restore what was lost, but gain more than what we lost.

24:17 And so as we celebrate black history, we must continue to fight for development, for rights, for equity. We must recommit ourselves to solidarity, standing shoulder to shoulder, working within my administration to ensure that we can build the safest, most equitable, affordable city in the world. You know, the black experience is something that is talked about and studied a lot. You know, it's remarkable to see the diaspora in this room. I'm old enough to remember where black people understand our global connection one to another,

24:50 that what happens in South Africa and Sweto is not that much different than what happened. Cabrini-Green on the north side of Chicago, or the favelas in Brazil that were all interconnected, that somehow just because a ship made it a little bit further across the coast, I'm not going to allow the constant separation to continue to divide us. Because they've already done that, and it's important that in this moment that we reconnect ourselves, whether you are from South Africa or East Africa or West Africa, if you happen to live

25:28 on the South Side or the West Side, we are warm black people. Black immigrants are essential and they make up a part of the fabric of this city and this country. Do you know in 2015, one in ten black folks in this country were foreign-born. If we allow blackness to be separated, liberation is not possible. And that's why I'm grateful that my administration understands the collective assignment to black existence.

26:02 And we hired a black woman who represents the diaspora, Ms. Nneka Obasi, to ensure that our connection remains. And I'll close with this. For more than, for decades, we have fought hard, and I'm grateful that we have a leader like Tony Browder, who's helping to curate the upcoming Juneteenth exhibition at the South Shore Cultural Center in partnership with Dr. Anna Castillo and D-Case.

26:44 Tony has worked for years as a proud son of Chicago's West Side to ensure that these connections remain let us remain united united not just against hatred and fear but united to protect one another you know it's the words of Dr. King that ring true today that when he came to the city of Chicago and understood the collective assignment that if we're going to transform this country We have to have a strategy in the North.

27:15 And he came to Chicago and set up shop here, fighting for affordable housing and public accommodations, understanding that race and zip code should not determine your health outcomes. And he looked power into the face with people like incredible leaders of Al Rabi, and of course other main organizers who understood the great assignment. I'm thinking about Dr. Tim U. L. Black and the movement to black education and excellence was centered around the value system of public accommodations.

27:50 And he was met with resistance, but he understood that figuring out liberation in Chicago could transform this country. Do you not know that there are cities across America that are embracing the executive orders that we've established here in this city? whether it's ice-free zones or protecting the rights of working people or holding federal agents accountable if they abuse their power. The people of this country are looking to Chicago to get it right, as Dr. Keene prophesied.

28:23 But here's what he understood. He knew that there was one individual that could carry it out. He said it has to happen in Chicago. And then he said, Jesse, you're in charge of it. I'm so glad that he dropped Jesse Jackson Sr. off in the city of Chicago. Because now hope is not just alive, but hope is thriving. So let's continue to come together. Let's ensure that no matter where you live, no matter where you are, you can experience liberation through the lens of those who built this nation.

28:57 And so thank you all for your hard work. And let's continue to not just celebrate this month, but let's ensure that we celebrate throughout the year. But let's celebrate the things that we know we have to accomplish. We have to build a resistance in this country through the lens of black liberation that guarantees equal access to affordable housing. We have to build a movement that ensures that every single child has access to a high-quality public education, good-paying jobs, access to transportation, health care.

29:30 That is the work that we have to do. That's the way in which we can honor the essence of black history So God bless you all And God bless the greatest freaking city in the world The city of Chicago

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