Illinois city plans reparations fund for Black residents using cannabis revenue

A Chicago suburb that has historically denied access to its Black residents is now hoping to confront history by taking advantage of is expected to be a booming industry come next year: cannabis.

Evanston, Ill., has seen a decline in its number of Black residents due to a racist history of redlining, which segregated the city based on race and economics.  According to the Chicago Tribune, Blacks went from 22.5 percent of the population in 2000 to 16.9 percent in 2017. Evanston Alderman Robin Rue Simmons helped to pass a resolution to give reparations to Black residents that have felt the pinch of the city’s racist past.

READ MORE:  Reparations expert says it’s time to stop the tired narrative that Black people can’t manage money

“We were intentionally targeted,” Simmons said. “The law, the policy, the actions, the culture of the community, intentionally excluded black residents.”

Lifelong Black residents, even those with college degrees, have found it difficult to afford to live in the suburb.

“Despite the fact that I was born and raised here, and I live here, and I’m raising my kids here, I could not afford to buy here,” Toly Walker told CBS Chicago.

CBS Chicago reported that the reparations fund is the first of its kind in the country, and with recreational use of marijuana becoming legal in Illinois on Jan. 1, Evanston is expecting to put away 100 percent of the tax revenue from marijuana sales into the fund. The city hoped to cap the account at $10 million to help Black residents stay in the city, provide job training among other benefits.

READ MORE: Pay up, America! New calculation puts slavery reparations at $14 trillion

According to the Tribune, city officials are still examining ways to spend the money and how to best support the black community through housing, education and economic incentives. Many of the city’s Black residents support the unprecedented fund, including a retired teacher who said it could repair past wrongs.

“I support the approval of the ordinance for the city of Evanston to commit all of the anticipated tax revenue from the recreational marijuana businesses, to support work aimed at intentionally repairing harms done to the black community from policies and practices in so many different areas,” Evanston resident Oliver Ruff said.

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Sofiane Boufal: Southampton midfielder injures toe running into kitchen table

Southampton's Morocco midfielder Sofiane Boufal suffers a toe injury after running into a kitchen table at home.

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20 Black Friday Amazon Deals: Echo, Kindle, Fire, Etc (2019)

Get your Prime on with our favorite Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on Amazon's Device, including Fire tablets, Echos, Kindles, and more.

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Chicago man denied bail in killing of student who admitted ignoring his catcalls

The main suspect in the strangling-death of a University of Illinois Chicago honor student, Ruth George, was recently denied bail in a case that has outraged many across the country.

Donald Thurman, 26, faced a judge on Tuesday after he was taken into custody Sunday morning. According to Chicago station WLS-TV, Cook County prosecutors said Thurman, who has a criminal history, admitted to the attack that killed George and he had done it because she ignored his catcalls. He confessed after police tracked him down at a Chicago commuter rail station.

READ MORE: Remains confirmed as UFC fighters’ stepdaughter

“The defendant was angry that he was being ignored,” Cook County Asst. State’s Attorney James Murphy said. “The defendant came up behind the victim, grabbed her around the neck from behind, and put her into a choke hold. With his arms still wrapped around the victim’s neck the defendant dragged the victim from the ground and he opened her back seat car door.”

George, who had aspirations of a medical career, had just left a student event with a friend. The Chicago Sun Times reported that after the pair were dropped off in a Lyft, George allegedly walked to her car alone where she encountered Thurman. When she did not respond to Thurman’s catcalls, he followed her into a parking garage where he strangled and raped her, police say.

Surveillance video shows Thurman going into the parking garage about 1:35 a.m. Saturday morning and exiting about 30 minutes later.

READ MORE: Former Miami teacher charged with multiple counts of raping his students as girls come forward

After being reported missing, George’s body was found in her car by her sisters and police, who tracked her location by her cellphone, early Saturday morning. Her family released a statement on Tuesday saying they hoped what happened to her would not happen to anyone else.

”Ruth lived out her deep faith in Jesus by loving and serving others, leaving a legacy of Christ-centered kindness and sacrifice,” her family said in the statement. “She was the beloved baby of our family. We grieve with hope. We hold no hatred towards the perpetrator, but our hope is no other girl would be harmed in this way and for a mother to never experience this type of heartache.”

Thurman has been charged with first-degree murder and sexual assault. According to the Sun Times his next court appearance will be on Dec. 16

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DR Congo's TP Mazembe plan new 50,000 seat stadium

Five-time African champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo announce plans to construct a 50,000 seat stadium next year.

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Don’t Want Turkey for Thanksgiving? Here are 5 Turkey Alternatives

Anyone else out there want another dish besides turkey for Thanksgiving? If so, believe it or not, you’re not alone. A recent Yahoo survey revealed many Americans are moving beyond making the turkey as the center of attraction. Why not try some of these turkey alternatives this year?

Roasted Leg of Lamb with Black Cherry-Pomegranate Salsa

(Pinterest)

“One of the most exciting cuts of meat to celebrate with is a bone-in leg of lamb. The presentation is so luscious on a big carving board or platter. Up in Michigan, we are always looking for new ways to eat our abundant cherries–dressed with pomegranate molasses and spooned over the lamb, they taste just as striking as they look, a perfect sweet and tangy balance to the rich meat.” (Source: Maureen Abood of Yahoo.com)

Slow-Cooked Duck with Green Olives and Herbes de Provence

(Pinterest)

“This is the most forgiving and delicious duck recipe you’ll ever find. By slow-cooking duck with aromatics until it’s as tasty and tender as confit, then broiling it until the skin is shatter-crisp, Paula Wolfert manages to play to all of the bird’s strengths.”(Source: Food and Wine Magazine)

Very Vegetable Lasagna

(Pinterest)

“Spinach is the star of this vegetable lasagna recipe. The veggie-based recipe makes one large lasagna (9 by 13 inches) or two smaller ones (8 by 8). For the perfect make-ahead meal, prepare two vegetable lasagnas; bake one now, and freeze the other for later.”
(Source: Martha Stewart)

Cuban-Style Shredded Beef (Ropa Vieja)

“This version of ropa vieja is made with beef and accented with olives and capers. The recipe first appeared in the April 2012 Saveur issue along with Kathleen Squires’s story, Spanish Conquest.” (Source: Saveur.com)

Smoked Pork Sausage with Hard-Cider Sauce

(Pinterest)

“Classic autumn flavors come together in this crowd-pleasing dish of smoked pork sausage with a sweet-tart hard-cider sauce and sauteed broccoli.” (Source: Food and Wine Magazine)

 

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Editors’ Note: This piece was originally published on November 18, 2018.

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Best Black Friday Deals on Google Devices (2019): Pixel, Nest, Chromecast

We found every great Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal on Google devices like the Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 3A, Nest Hub Max, and Nest WiFi.

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#ThanksgivingWithBlackFamilies Is the Season's Best Hashtag

Each year it turns nostalgia into a hybrid, weaving together the universal and the culturally distinct.

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Nigeria federation put Yusuf in charge of Enugu

The Nigeria Football Federation puts Super Eagles assistant coach Salisu Yusuf in charge of local team Enugu Rangers

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Black Friday 2019: Best Video Game Deals on Switch, PS4, Xbox

Looking for a game or console? We've rounded up the best Black Friday deals so you can spend more time gaming.

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Yet Another Challenge for Air Travelers: Finding Your Uber

Airports including LAX are setting up pickup areas a ways removed from terminals to address the congestion created by popular ride-hail apps.

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The 10 Best Movies to Stream This Thanksgiving

Avoid family conversational awkwardness with ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ and more.

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Rwanda leads fight against cervical cancer in Africa

Rwanda's ambitious bid to tackle cervical cancer is inspiring other African countries to follow suit.

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Several Major Black Friday Sales Are Now Live (Walmart, Amazon, Etc)

It might be Thanksgiving, but according to these stores, Black Friday is already here.

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Daniel Kaluuya & Jodie Turner-Smith on their reactions to ‘Queen & Slim’: “I was speechless”

While the main plot of Queen & Slim tackles big issues like police brutality and the plight of Black folks in America today, the genius of this masterpiece lies in the intricate details. Through the title characters, (who are actually unnamed until the last moments of the film) Lena Waithe manages to illuminate the complexities and vastness of the Black experience, while zeroing in on two very specific people.

Jodie Turner-Smith is mesmerizing as Queen. When we meet her, she’s a polished, buttoned-up, non-believer whose expectation of excellence extends beyond herself and onto everyone she encounters. She’s here to make a mark on the world.

Daniel Kaluuya is flawless as Slim; an easy-going guy who doesn’t expect too much from anyone. He relishes the simple things in life like faith and family and would be content if the person he loves remembers him when he’s gone. 

Somehow, these two characters manage to represent the entire community in one way or the other. At once, they embody the Black experience so precisely and so differently, creating a snapshot of what it feels like to navigate this country at this time in these bodies. 

WATCH: Melina Matsoukas on casting British leads in ‘Queen & Slim’: “All they see is Blackness”

What makes this fete particularly impressive is the fact that both of these talented actors are from across the pond and we couldn’t wait to find out how they approached the roles. 

“I tried to be as specific as possible. This is this person, he’s from this kind of family, this kind of area, this is his level of education, this is what he does on the weekends. It’s the care. I think we live in a day and age where you have to be specific to be general,” Kaluuya says. “The approach is just respect.”

Turner-Smith was equally moved when she saw the film. 

“The weight of the Black American experience is so heavy and I just had so much respect and reverence for telling the story of these people and this community that is living, that is resilient, that is refusing to be dehumanized no matter how much society is doing that to them,” she explains. “I felt the heaviness of that, the reverence of that, the respect of that. I feel like we did what we set out to do.”

The British actress has lived in the U.S. since she was 7-years-old, but she still had a lot to learn about our history. 

“What she does with her life caused me to dive in to this idea of policing in America, policing of Black men and women in America. They don’t teach you a lot of this history and the realities of how this society was built around oppression in school.”

WATCH: Daniel Kaluuya is on the run in ‘Queen & Slim’ trailer

Jodie Turner-Smith says the role had a profound effect on her real life. 

“I didn’t even recognize myself. It wasn’t me. That even overwhelmed me more because all I wanted to do was tell the truth,” she says.

“This truth is  obviously pulling from so many elements of what this experience is of being a Black woman in America. A Black woman who has pain and who has built walls around herself. It changed me to do it and it changed me to watch it.”

Even though the actor who has starred in films like Black Panther and Widows was in almost every frame of the immensely powerful flick, Daniel Kaluuya admits he was blown away by the finished product. 

“I just couldn’t speak. I was speechless,” Kaluuya says of his reaction to the film. Overtime I see it, it puts me in a place…There’s a lot of soul and there’s an eeriness to it. I don’t know what hat eeriness is.”

Check out the full interview above.

Queen & Slim is in theaters now. Don’t miss it. 

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Cancer in Africa: Malawi's cervical cancer screening champion

Falesi Mwajomba and a group of cervical cancer survivors are encouraging other women to get screened.

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ULTIMATE 2019 GIFT GUIDE FROM BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES: Tech, Recreation, Toys, and Games

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Rhyme Antics

Rhyme Antics is a “Hilarious rhyming vocabulary Game” inspired by hip hop. Think Catch Phrase meets Karaoke while you freestyle in proper English only. The challenge is to test your vocabulary skills.

(Image: Rhymeantics.com)

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Cards For All People

(Image: cardsforallpeople/Instagram)

 

Cards For All People is at trivia gaming company that celebrates diversity and inclusion. By infusing humor with trivia the company creates opportunities to highlight cultural micro-communities and the issues they care about while keeping it entertaining. Games include Black Card Revoked (which is now a TV show!) and Girls Night Out.

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MekaMon Robots

(Image: Reach Robotics)

 

Co-created by a young British-Nigerian engineer, MekaMons are four-legged robots that players can control via a smartphone using a companion app for augmented reality gameplay. Multiple players can battle their bots against each other. MekaMon is available in the Apple Store and the manufacturer’s website.

 

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Black Excellence Playing Cards

(Image: mycarddecks.com)

 

This standard deck of playing cards depicts black excellence and beauty.

 

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Blebrity 

Actor and activist Jesse Williams launched the Blebrity app, the blackest trivia app game you’ve ever played.

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Tip Off

(Image: TipOff Game)

TipOff is a fun, app-based word guessing game not only promises good times and a way of connecting with family and friends—it also raises money for scholarships to historically black colleges.

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TriviaMob

TriviaMob, a live game show app, allows players to face off in two separate “mobs,” where they answer questions about art, science, entertainment, and more to win prizes. 

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Fishing Caddy 

 

The Fishing Caddy allows fishing enthusiasts to pack up their myriad of gear into one convenient portable caddy. It includes fishing rod holders, tacklebox, a compartment to keep fish live and fresh plus more great features.

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Toys Like Me

 

Toys Like Me creates African American backpack dolls, emoji dolls, and even black mermaid dolls.

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Ikuzi Dolls

 Ikuzi Dolls is a line of dolls that are sensitive to diversity and the many different and beautiful ways little girl of color can look.

 

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Please note: Black Enterprise makes a small commission when you purchase one of these products via the embedded Amazon links. 

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Florida reggae DJ set free after fatally shooting his girlfriend’s rapist

A Miami-Dade judge has determined that a man charged and jailed for murdering his girlfriend’s alleged rapist acted in self-defense.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Teresa Mary Pooler threw out murder charges against Pete Campbell, who is also known as DJ Feddy, under Florida’s controversial stand-your-ground law. The stand-your-ground law allows a citizen to use deadly force if they are being threatened with bodily harm. Campbell killed John King, 42, who was accused of raping Campbell’s then-girlfriend, reported The Miami Herald.

READ MORE: White Florida man citing ‘Stand Your Ground’ law convicted of murdering Black man

Campbell, 30, was deejaying at Bunny’s West Indian restaurant in Miami Gardens on July 3, 2015, when he was accosted by King and his friends in a restaurant hallway. Campbell told police he was able to tussle a gun away from one of King’s friends and he fired a fatal shot at King. After the shooting, Campbell fled the scene, but was arrested by Miami Gardens police and spent several years behind bars before he was freed by Pooler.

King reportedly came to Bunny’s looking for Campbell. Apparently, word got out that Campbell and his girlfriend had repeatedly tried to get the police to pursue King for the girlfriend’s rape.

During a stand-your-ground hearing, Campbell’s attorneys said King had raped Campbell’s girlfriend at gunpoint six months before the shooting. “She reported the case to the police but nothing was done about it,” Judge Pooler wrote in her order.

“This was the most transparent self-defense case of justifiable use of deadly force I’ve seen,” Defense Attorney, Jonathan Jordan, said in the hearing, according to The Miami Herald. “Credit to Judge Pooler who followed the law the Legislature has set out. The ‘victim’ sought out Pete at his place of employment; Pete never asked for this but he was put into a situation where he had no choice but to defend himself or become a victim himself.”

READ MORE: Star Georgia women’s college basketball student charged with murder

Pooler agreed that Campbell acted in self-defense.

“(Campbell) knew King’s reputation in the community for violence,” the judge wrote in her court order, reported The Herald. “He also believed that King was out to get him. …. Based on all that ensued prior, his fear was reasonable that King came to Bunny’s with the intent to kill or do great bodily harm.”

“Mr. Campbell testified and his testimony was very compelling and credible,” Pooler added.

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Uber's London Rivals Are Plotting Its Downfall

Irresistible deals for drivers and passengers are creating a frenetic race as fellow ride-hailing services try to cash in on uncertainty.

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The Beauty of Hawaii, Minus All the Human-Made Crap

Photographer Leah Schretenthaler's latest series erases the condos and freeways to show the Aloha State’s real majesty.

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