|
|
Illinois Senate Passes Resolution SR 0432 Recognizing Black Wall Street District Chicago
Black Wall Street District Oakland recognized as the modern day blueprint | |
|
Saturday, November 21, 2009 08:44:54 CST
By PostNewsGroup.com
SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois State Senate Passes Resolution SR 0432 recognizing Black Wall Street District Chicago (www.blackwallstreet.org).
The SR 0432 resolution comes on the heels of two recent proclamations from Illinois State Senator Donne Trotter in August , and from the Honorable Dorothy Brown, clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook CountyCircuit Court of Cook County in September.
Senator Kwame Raoul (D) 13th District, along with Representatives William D. Burns (D) 26th District and Andre M. Thapedi (D) 32nd District has signed on to the campaign.
|
Read Illinois Senate Resolution SR 0432 on the Illinois Senate website
SR0432 LRB096 14638 GRL 29479 r
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest city in the
3 United States, is a thriving center of business, industry, and
4 culture; and
5 WHEREAS, The Chicago Urban League has stated that "Chicago
6 will be the new Black Wall Street. 75th Street east of the Dan
7 Ryan Expressway is one commercial strip that has 80% or more
8 businesses owned by African Americans. It is the prime example
9 of a Black Wall Street District in Chicago."; and
10 WHEREAS, Since the early 1940's, African American
11 businesses have thrived on East 75th Street, bringing quality
12 products and services to the community; in subsequent years,
13 these business owners saw a growth in their profits as they
14 were able to sustain a comfortable way of life for themselves
15 and their families; with the downturn in the economy over
16 recent years, some of the businesses that once flourished on
17 75th Street are now facing financial difficulties; and
18 WHEREAS, It has been determined, by the members of Black
19 Wall Street-Chicago, that the community will utilize the
20 template of Black Wall Street-Oakland and will help build the
21 business capacity of African American businesses on East 75th
22 Street in Chicago; and
SR0432 - 2 - LRB096 14638 GRL 29479 r
1 WHEREAS, History will show that Black Wall Street-Chicago
2 continues the rich historical tradition of growth and
3 prosperity with the original "Black Wall Street District" in
4 Tulsa, Oklahoma; during the early 1900s, the area reportedly
5 used "black dollars" instead of U.S. currency to do business
6 inside the district; in 1921, the Tulsa Race Riot, one of the
7 nation's worst acts of racial violence, occurred; many African
8 American business owners and the residents of Greenwood were
9 burned out, shot, kidnapped, and killed in the early hours
10 while they slept; the neighborhood has never fully recovered,
11 but two blocks of the old neighborhood have been restored and
12 are part of the Greenwood Historical District; and
13 WHEREAS, Black Wall Street-Chicago recognizes the
14 potential to recreate on East 75th Street in Chicago the
15 positive aspects of the historic Black Wall Street District in
16 Tulsa, Oklahoma; through the organization's mission to sustain
17 and increase black businesses, 75th Street is achieving
18 stability and is one of the only business districts that has
19 African American ownership in parity with its population; and
20 WHEREAS, 75th Street is currently undergoing a
21 revitalization to cultivate a pedestrian-friendly, urban
22 experience on the south side of Chicago, similar to the
23 makeover in the southern portion of downtown Chicago; the Black
SR0432 - 3 - LRB096 14638 GRL 29479 r
1 Wall Street District on 75th Street includes a family bowling
2 alley, vegetarian and vegan restaurants, barbeque and soul food
3 restaurants, an ice cream shop, women and men's clothing and
4 shoe stores, and barber and beauty shops, among many other
5 flourishing businesses; and
6 WHEREAS, A comprehensive plan to help sustain black-owned
7 business has and continues to be developed by Black Wall
8 Street-Chicago; the plan continues to be developed during
9 weekly meetings of the group and during Black Wall Street
10 Economic Summits, which have been held quarterly since March of
11 2007; and
12 WHEREAS, Black Wall Street-Chicago held a ribbon cutting
13 ceremony on August 29, 2009 to designate 75th Street east of
14 the Dan Ryan as a Black Wall Street Chicago District;
15 therefore, be it
16 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
17 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Black Wall
18 Street-Chicago as a premier organization in the State of
19 Illinois and celebrate the recognition of a Black Wall Street
20 in the City of Chicago; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22 presented to the members of Black Wall Street-Chicago as a
SR0432 - 4 - LRB096 14638 GRL 29479 r
1 symbol of our esteem and respect.
Read Illinois Senate Resolution SR 0432 on the Illinois Senate website
|
Michael Carter, Sr., the national chairman of Black Wall Street USA says this is a welcomed recognition of the Spirit, labor and energy of Ron Carter, BWSC Chair and President (no relations to national chair) and the Black Wall Street Chicago staff.
Carter, Sr. said, "For our organization (Black Wall Street District USA) to accomplish this now, in President Barack Obama country, in his back yard, has God written all over it. Truly this is a day that the Black Wall Street District communities across the US can celebrate." The Black Wall Street District USA national headquarters are based in Oakland. There are Black Wall Street District's in Atlanta, Durham. and Minneapolis. According to Ben Johnson from the national office there are plans for expansion of Black Wall Street Districts in other US cities. Those cities being considered are Houston, Portland, Jackson Ward in Richmond, VA, Detroit, Miami and Philadelphia.
Ron Carter said, "This makes all of the hard work by our volunteer staff worth the blood, sweat and tears." he said "We are pleased with this recognition but there's still a ways to go yet, but it is indeed a positive development and a step in the right direction."
The Chicago Black Wall Street District staff have successfully planned ten Black Wall Street Economic Summits with over 150 resolutions voted on since 2007. The most recent Economic Summit X was held on Saturday, October 31st. The summit dealt with Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Black Contractors in the Neighborhood and the Black Better Business Bureau and the designation of 75th Street as the Black Wall Street District in Chicago
Black Wall Street Economic Summit XI is scheduled for Sunday, January 31, 2010. The National Conference is scheduled for May 21-23, 2010 when the National Chairman Michael Carter, Sr. gives his annual address.
Carter, Sr. said, "This is not about black folks living today this is for future generations...people we will never meet, while paying spiritual homage to those we never met." He said "It's time we move from the mid-bar (the wilderness) and possess the land flowing with milk and honey."
Carter, Sr. said, "This story of the spirit of Tulsa, OK (1830 to 1921) is intriguing and exciting mainly because it was intentionally kept out of the history books and aggregate of courses of Black study in a schools, colleges and universities."
Black Wall Street District USA, headquarters are in Oakland. BWSD USA is a national organization that represents Black Wall Street District communities throughout the United States. BlackWallStreet.org.
Click here to donate to Black Wall Street District USA - BlackWallStreet.org.
.
| |
