The Chicago Project

Chicago Trip

Page 4

The Nation of Islam

Wednesday evening we were invited into the home of Father Clements, a Catholic Priest who is best known for his work to help over 100,000 foster children be adopted through his “One Church-One Child” program.  He spoke to us about the importance of recognizing how both slavery and segregation still affect our communities today through extreme wealth inequalities and continued personal and institutional discrimination. 

Father Clements opened his home to allow us to listen to another guest speaker,  Minister Jeffrey Muhammad from The Nation of Islam.  Our time was engaging, educational, and enlightening.  Minister Muhammad explained that the philosophy of the Nation of Islam is to help predominantly African American men by renewing their mind through education and training.  The organization places primary responsibility of changing lives on the individual rather than engaging in attempts to change laws and circumstances like civil rights organizations.  “Change the circumstance by changing the man!”  The second core philosophy of the Nation is to speak out strongly against injustice in the American governmental system.  We met with these two speakers for a total of four hours… and it was always engaging and interesting.

“I am confident that what I have learned from you will in some way have an impact in my life and I sincerely respect you for that.”

                                Casey McCall, 2008

You really inspired me to think before I speak.”

                                                Victoria Wright, 2008

“I was wrong about Muslims and what they believe. You really do make a difference in what people believe.”

                                                                                                                                Mary Hess, 2008

Rainbow P.U.S.H. and Dr. Bonita Carr

Operation P.U.S.H. was founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson under the direction of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for the rights and economic needs of African Americans and all Americans in the North.  The organization continues to fulfill this mission through addressing issues of economic opportunity, political empowerment, trade and foreign policy, the justice system, election law reform, educational access, employee rights, and livable wages. 

We spent two hours talking to Dr. Bonita Carr, National Education Director, PUSH Excel.  She presented a convicting case of structural injustice in the public school system which at its heart provides abundant resources for schools in wealthy communities but less than adequate resources in poor ones.  She stated the facts and allowed us to draw our own conclusions.

“There are issues in our nation I believe should easily be resolved. All it takes is the willingness to resolve them.”                                                                                                                   Charmise Salmons, 2008

“I agree that everybody is at fault for the way the school is." 

                                                                                                         Mary Hess, 2008

Millennium Park

We spent two hours downtown at Millennium Park engaging in a new activity for the class - breaking up into groups and surveying people concerning their ideas of the causes and solutions to urban poverty.  We were required to interview at least 15 individuals and try to engage them in conversation.  The answers covered a wide range of causes and solutions.