In 1893, the World’s Columbian Exposition brought economic prosperity to Woodlawn. Unfortunately, it left economic hardship in its wake that would persist for much of the next century, especially as a sudden racial succession turned the neighborhood from 87% white in 1930 to 89% black in 1960. Racial issues and class tensions, particularly with its northern neighbor the University of Chicago, only exacerbated its economic problems, and admittedly they’re far from resolved, even today. With the school’s continued expansion south of the Midway Plaisance, these issues will only continue to influence the identity of the neighborhood. But whatever its future may hold, there’s much to appreciate in this historic area. Read the rest of this entry »

The actor looked nothing like O. J. Simpson.

“Orenthal,” a production involving the Renaissance Society, the Experimental Station, and Court Theatre, had begun. The description of “Orenthal” in the email sent by the Renaissance Society was promising: it was to be a one-act portrayal of O. J. Simpson’s rise and fall, which would be contrasted with the story of Shakespeare’s Othello. I wondered what the two really had to do with each other. True, Othello and O. J. were both black, with white wives. And their names both began with O. But the story of Othello is a bit more fleshed out than that of Orenthal James Simpson—Shakespeare accounts for the reason behind Othello’s crime. The murder of Nicole Simpson, O. J.’s wife, was never resolved. What would be the base of “Orenthal,” the play? Read the rest of this entry »

Imagine a bright, summery Saturday morning in Chicago. The humidity settles uncomfortably on your skin, but temperatures still hover around the mid-70s. An empty lot stands on 61st Street between Dorchester and Blackstone Avenues. Although it’s currently littered by the occasional fast food bag, beginning Saturday, May 17, the lot will be filled with slower food: locally-grown fresh produce. The 61st Street Farmers Market will be open every Saturday from 9am to 2pm between the months of May and October. Ten to twelve vendors will sell produce grown mostly on small-scale farms Illinois and its surrounding states. In a neighborhood that lacks easy access to affordable produce, the project of bringing the food to the neighborhood is tremendous. Read the rest of this entry »

Jamie Kalven wants a big table. He begins his address to the crowd of twenty expectant University of Chicago students by explaining that “the major tool will ultimately be a big long table…And some chairs.” He continues, teasingly: “And our assumption is that everybody has a laptop, and we’ve got wireless access here, and some phones, and so we don’t need a conventional office!” Kalven is describing his aspirations for a new student journalism organization he is forming, one that will publish all of its work online. Kalven continues to joke about the modest means: “I mean, we’re starting out from scratch, we haven’t done this before. It’s gonna evolve, we’re gonna figure it out together.” He smiles to the crowd, and then proceeds to discuss the basic administration and digital tools that the group will utilize to collaborate. Read the rest of this entry »

Aside from the occasional political button or t-shirt, the people crowded into the high-ceilinged atrium of the Experimental Station showed no obvious signs of radicalism. They sat quietly before each panel of speakers, punctuating the dialogue with the occasional burst of applause. Even when “apparatchiks” were mentioned, it was as a means of condemnation rather than description. Read the rest of this entry »

Woodlawn was a battleground. It’s been claimed by Hyde Park Township and annexed by the City of Chicago. It’s been defended by immigrants and refugees, the University of Chicago and street gangs. Though battles still happen here—most notably between the University of Chicago and neighborhood residents—the physical cost has been reduced. Woodlawn is remaking itself in its own image, becoming one of many success stories among Chicago neighborhoods. Read the rest of this entry »