Chicago’s African Americans ‘are at Rock Bottom,’ Top Black Historians say

Norman Parish | As of Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Noted Chicago historians Timuel Black and Christopher Reed say blacks are suffering now more than ever. The two retired educators made their grim statements at a black history conference at Chicago State University.
Noted Chicago historians Timuel Black and Christopher Reed say blacks are suffering now more than ever. The two retired educators made their grim statements at a black history conference at Chicago State University. Photo by Norman Parish.

An African American toddler’s body parts found last week in Garfield Park in Chicago. Regular weekend violence on the city’s South and West sides. And the lack of positive black images in today’s schools.

That is some of the evidence indicating that African Americans struggle now more than ever, according to two top local black historians.

Timuel Black, professor emeritus of City College of Chicago and Christopher Reed, professor emeritus of history at Roosevelt University, made the grim statements at a conference last Friday night for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

“I am saying it is the worst,” said Reed to the audience gathered at Chicago State University library auditorium, 9501 S. King Dr. “We are at rock bottom.”

Reed pointed to regular gun violence in Chicago, saying that gun violence is one of the major problems plaguing African Americans.

He also said he was sickened by news reports of a black toddler’s head and foot found in the lagoon at Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Ave. DNA and forensic testing are being conducted to help determine the child’s identity.

“Kids at the bottom don’t think they are going to live very long,” Black said. “They just feel hopeless.”

The pair also suggested that changes on a political level are desperately needed to improve African American lives.

Because of the problems affecting African Americans, more attention should be given to black history in the city’s educational system, Black said.

The panel discussion was part of a program last week to commemorate the founding of ASALH, which formerly was the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

The group was founded a century by historian Carter G. Woodson and other African Americans in Chicago.

The group is credited with helping to launch black studies programs at colleges and universities.

“It is important to remind people of the significance of black institutions,” said Lionel Kimble Jr., associate professor of history at Chicago State University and co-chair of the celebration. “It is important to remind blacks of the places they come from.”

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