Wednesday february 12, 2025

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Governor J. B. Pritzker, and many others, chose to honor Dr, King's legacy for social justice rather than attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump in Washington, DC. Photo by Naimah Latif/ON AIR Daily News

Speaking to the packed United Club Room in Soldier Field on Chicago's lakefront at the Rainbow PUSH Annual Dr.Martin King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast Monday January 20, 2025 , Illinois Governor Pritzker praised the organizers for continuing to lift up the work of Dr. King and the movement for fairness and equality for all.  

He declared, "700 mile southeast of here, however, a very different event is held in Washington, DC.  As a new Administration takes office less than two hours from now, across America our most vulnerable communities are about to contend with new uncertainty about their future. Black children in public schools are facing the loss of hard won Child Care and Special Education.  Black college students, scholarships and grants are on the verge of being cancelled. Black workers who have finally gained a measure of power to bargain for better wages are about to have that power taken away. The same losses are being threatened against so many people across this country. Many others have seen so many advances because of the vision and courage of Dr. King and those who have followed in his footsteps. But here in Illinois, let there be no doubt, we will not go back."

Another electd official attending the King Breakfast was Mayor Brandon Johnson. He spoke to the gathering following young students who were winners of the PUSH Excel Oratorical Contest. Mayor Johnson observed, "Aren't you glad that Black children now know their legacy, who they come from and where they are going?"

Referring to the inauguration of a new President of the United States, he said, " You know, this transition we are experiencing is only but a moment in time.  You know the Bible says before that great day, the lawless man has to be revealed first, and that when lawlessness is revealed, one of the things we can anticipate is that the Great Day is nearer that what is being discussed." 

Dr. King Breakfast Keynote Speaker Ben Jealous reminds audiences of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.'s legacy of challenging corporations to refflect more diversity in hiring.Photo by Naimah Latif/ON AIR Daily News

Ben Jealous, Former President and CEO of the NAACP, resigned his position to direct his energy toward the development of new technology in Silicon Valley. He is now the Executive Director of the Sierra Club.As the keynote speaker for the  Rainbow PUSH Annual Dr.Martin King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast , he recalled how Rev. Jackson's 1984 and 1988 Presidential campaigns were the catalyst for national political organizing efforts and how Rev. Jackson influenced tech company leaders to strive to be more racially inclusive in recruiting talent to hire for their companies.   He urged leaders to  help unite the youth and prepare them to create a future in technology.  He noted that the American auto industry in Detroit is losing ground against Chinese auto manufacturing.

"If Dr. King was here today he would remind us ofthe tradition of lifting as you go.  If Dr King was here today he would remind us of what is going to happen here tomorrow is a President who aspires to be King, in the British tradition of 'Divide and Conquer.' Dr. King carried the mantle of Frederick Douglass."

Chicago activists must prepare themselves to unite and organize, he said.

"The way you fight the strategy of divide and conquer is that you unite despite it all," he said "At Sierra Club, founded in 1892...we work every day to unite this country in the interest of humanity itself." 

"As a City our heart will always be aligned with the people who stand for justice," stated Mayor Brandon Johnson at the Dr. Marting Luther King, Jr.  Breakfast at Soldier Field Monday January 20, 2025. Photo by Naimah Latif/ON AIR Daily News.

Yusef Jackson, youngest son and Santita Jackson, eldest daughter of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., along with Rev. Dr. Attorney Janette Wilson, present Senate President Emeritus Emil Jones with an award in recognition of his long time legislative service, his positive impact on social juistice and his significant influence in the transformation of Chicago State University into a first class institution of higher learning at 95th and King Drive on  Chicago's South Side  Accepting the award with him is his wife Patricia A. Jones. Chicago State' University's Emil & Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center is named in their honor. Photo by Naimah Latif/ON AIR Daily News.

Chicago resident and frequent E2 patron Karl Clemont fondly recalls good times at the club and the night he met his wife, a moment that changed his life. In the 1990s and early 2000s, many of Chicago's youg urban professionals were moving to apartments just south of the downtown area, living closer to their jobs in the "loop", as it is known.

Downtown Chicago is called the "loop" because almost all of the CTA Trains converge there and "loop" around the downtown area.  Chicago's South Loop, beginining at 12th street (Roosevelt Road) is one of the city's first residential districts.  Working class immigrants, mostly Irish, settled on Chicago's  south side while the wealthier families built houses along Michigan and Wabash.  

John L. Alexander, reporting live from 23rd and Michigan Avenue, observes the demolition of the popular South Loop night club, taking with it a piece of the city's history.

Chicago's Black Belt started further south, stretching from 24thStreet to 35th Street, between State and Federal Streets in the area known as the Douglas Community.

Recent redevelopment of the South Loop has transformed it once again into a residential neighborhood. Clubs like E2 rose in popularity as the era of the Internet was launched at the rise of a new century, the year 2000.  By 2003, the young urban professional community was increasing its presence in the South Loop, and welcomed the presence of the E2 nightclub.

The E2 nightclub was a regular evening hang out for many who worked in and around the downtown area, offering a classy social spot for the young urban professional crowd. However, fighting in the club was slowly becoming  a common occurrence, despite the generally upscale patrons. When a fight between patrons triggered a security guard to start spraying pepper spray, the spray's noxious fumes prompted many to head for the exit down a steep stairwell, where they tripped over each other and fell and were trapped at the narrow doors which opened inward - a fire code violation. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News

According to a report posted by ABC7 Chicago, on November 8, 2024, the Landmarks Commission voted to preserve the 2347 South Michigan  Avenue building because of its connection to the city's historic Motor Row District. However, inspections found the building unsafe and an emergency order was later issued for immediate demolition. By the end of December, 2024, demolition crews removed all traces of the  building that once housed the E2 nightclub, leaving an open space on the northeast corner of 24th and Michigan Avenue. Some speculate that a residential building may replace it. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News

After months of name calling and accusations, the fight for the White House is finally over - or is it?  Some are devastated over the loss of Vice President Harris, others are rejoicing over the victory of former President Donald Trump. Still others are saying that the nation needed a better choice, because neither candidate was adequate. What happened Election Day and where do we go from here? Sharing their views on The Female Solution Global Radio TV Show are political activists Amina Barhumi, Muslim Civic Coalition, Dr. Wallace Gator Bradley, United In Peace, Inc., and Tyrone Muhammad, Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change, along with Host Naimah Latif, co-Host Kareem Hameed and joining us live from London, UK is author and radio commentator Zhana Books. For more on election results see Election 1