EMBRACING THE ORAL AND WRITTEN TRADITION OF OUR ANCESTRAL GRIOTS FALL/WINTER 2011 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2

WASHINGTON PARK FORUM QUARTERLY BROADSIDE Publishers & Editors: Richard & Konora Maxwell-Mason konora@sbcglobal.net $2 or 3/$5

CONTENTSP. 1:Chancellor Maxwell: For Art’s Sake ~ Off the Cuff WPF Founding Advisors/Sponsors ~ Marion Hill: For the Record P. 2 : Harold Warner: The Captain~ Richard Mason: Christmas Time Marcus McKinney: A Tribute to Grandparents Ky’nora : RTW Veterans’ Center

ART FOR ART’S SAKE

Summertime Fun by Chancellor Maxwell

The Artist Chancellor Maxwell enjoys creating art from what he sees and from what he imagines. His art is playful as well as

contemplative. His art style has been described by artists as linear- the lines of the artwork being a prominent and artistic feature of the work itself. In Chancellor’s eyes gym shoes, a key, string, tools and found objects of every description evoke a wide range of artistic possibilities. His work sells at art fairs around the city; his last piece was purchased by two

artists to add to their private collection. Available is a limited number of prints of the above original work Summertime Fun.

OFF THE CUFF Doris Dunn, a jazz aficionado, keeps up with what’s happening on the jazz scene. American, Brazilian, Cuban, African and music from other cultures samba in her head. This month she’s promoting the offerings of the Hyde Park Jazz Society founded by J. W. Wagner. At www.hydeparkjazzsociety.com check out their November programs and then go- tap your feet, bob your head, and snap your fingers!

FOUNDING WPF QUARTERLYADVISORS /SPONSORS

* In memoriam

r. &. R. BAKER* R. BEASLEY V. BOYKIN

M. BRAXTON* J. & J. BUTTS E. CHATMAN

S. CLEVELAND D. CRESSIE M. EDWARDS

M. GILLIAM F. & B. HEARN M. HILL

C. INGRAM* V. MASON* D. JOHNSON

J. & A. PALMER G. & M. PENN M.&G. ROBINSON

J. & G. SULLIVAN J. & J. THOMAS L. & L. STUBBS

H. WARNER L. WALKER E. & E. WILKINS

FEATURE ARTICLE

FOR THE RECORD by MARION HILL

Our Oral Tradition First a hearty thank you to those Washington Park pioneers who kept the art of debate alive in our community for so many years. Your gatherings have certainly helped to sustain and preserve a special legacy, the transmission of knowledge through conversation. While our youth are learning to use all the new technological gadgets, we still realize that there is a need to verbally share information and ideas.

Aunt Betty Sue Mabel Prior to this high tech age when messages are being sent and received in a matter of seconds, relatives and friends used to assemble to talk. They spoke of the past, present, and the future. Family stories were passed down. Mention was made of Uncle Henry, Aunt Jane, and Grand Daddy. Questions were asked and answered. Situations were presented and solutions for problems were offered.Everyday Comforts It is still our responsibility to transmit to each succeeding generation facts concerning our successes as well as our failures. We must preserve and disseminate our history. In the words of General Colin Powell, We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors.Perhaps as you are reading this issue of the Quarterly you may be sitting in a folding chair, munching on some potato chips, being grateful that you can see so much better as a result of having those cataracts removed. To better concentrate, you reach for the remote to turn down the TV. If your room is too hot or too cold, you adjust the thermostat to your personal comfort. You may not realize that your comforts are due to inventions created by our African-American brothers and sister.Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil Nathaniel Alexander received a patent in 1911 for his invention of the folding chair. Patricia Bath received a patent in 1988 for a laser-based device for performing cataract surgery. George Crum (of African –American and Native American ancestry) in 1853 invented the potato chip. James Matthew Allen in 1937 received a patent for his invention of a remote control apparatus. Frederick M. Jones in 1935 designed the first refrigerated trucking system. He was granted 40 patents in the field of refrigeration, including a design (in 1949) for an air conditioning unit. David Crosthwait created heating installations, the most famous of which was for Radio City Music Hall. He received 39 patents for heating systems, vacuum pumps, refrigeration methods and processes, in addition to temperature-regulating devices.Documenting Our Legacy The fact is that African Americans have invented and received patents for agricultural implements, telegraph, telephone, and electrical apparatuses; medical and surgical appliances. Musical instruments; printing and writing devices…should be continually shared among ourselves as well as globally. We tend to speak of our short comings; why not speak of our successes. Use Google for this and much more information.Family Records Within each family there are documents that need to be researched, transcribed, and printed. There are photos hidden in attics, closets, and old boxes that need to be identified and reprinted. For all we know, one or more of our ancestors may be included in that long list of African Americans who applied for and received patents. Literally there are thousands!Passing the Torch Our youth should be encouraged to apply for grants to assist in developing their ideas and projects. They should be made aware of the process to receive patents and licenses. After all, there are still millions of problems to be solved, for every

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DANCING WITH THE FEET, WITH IDEAS, WITH WORDS, NEED I ADD THAT ONE MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO DANCE WITH THE PEN? NIETZSCHEinvention was the answer to a question or the solution to a problem. YES, even with all the entertainment which captures our senses, there should still be a place and time for the grand old art of conversation, the plain and simple method of demonstrating an appreciation, respect, and reverence for WHO WE ARE.

THE CAPTAIN Inspired & Researched by Harold WarnerBarbara, Bonita, John, Harold and I were sitting and gabbing in the tutoring center waiting for our next group of students to come from lunch. Our easy chatter flowed from one topic to another and when we arrived at the topic of old school music out of Harold’s mouth came the legendary name- Walter Dyett. It turned out that while a student at DuSable High in the 1960’s Harold had studied orchestra/band under the Captain, a title Dyett had earned earlier as conductor of an Army band. We were fascinated to have in our midst someone who had personally known Walter Dyett, a person of almost mythical stature. The exquisitely designed school in Washington Park is named in honor of Dyett. We plied Harold to tell us what it was like to be a Dyett student.

He shared that he had just come from Mississippi when he enrolled in DuSable. He had played a little sax back home but this was Chicago. Somehow, probably because of his love of music, Harold summoned the courage to go to the school auditorium to audition for a coveted spot in the Captain’s band, knowing he might be chewed out, ridiculed and embarrassed for his lack of talent and arrogance for even applying and wasting the Captain’s time. To his amazement his audition earned him a seat in the band! Harold said compared to later on, that was the easy part. Read on.The Captain had an uncanny sense of knowing the depth of talent in each student. He pushed them to their limit. From each student the Captain accepted no less than his utmost best no matter what it took, how long it took, or how hard it was to achieve. His students absolutely loved and adored him for the hard work he did to find and bring out the best in them. Little wonder DuSable became the training and spawning ground for musical giants such as Gene Ammons, Sonny Cohn, Julian Priesterand, Wilbur Cambell, Dinah Washington, Von Freeman, Clifford Jordan, Nat Cole, etc. Alas- our students’ faces at the door quickly brought Harold and the rest of us

back to new school. Ky’nora

CHRISTMAS TIME by RICHARD MASON [ 1974]

Christmas time for most of us is a time for giving, a time for sharing, and a time for being near those we love. It is a time that brings us happiness; for me, it is a time for loneliness.

I was married many years ago. We had two children-how many Christmases have I seen their joy, how many times have I beamed from their delight. It is all over now. The marriage is gone. The children have moved away. Christmas had meaning then.

Now when Christmas comes I lose myself in the art of giving. I lose myself in trying to make others happy- trying to cover up the loneliness. Although I enjoy giving, (It makes me happy to bring someone happiness) enjoy the gifts I receive, the sounds of Christmas, the singing of carols, the laughter of people, and the noises of excited children- there is still that deep loneliness, a feeling that a very human part of me is missing; it happens every year.

I am sad because my sons are not there. I know I can visit them at Christmas or they can visit me but the feeling seems to linger when they are gone.Maybe I should be grateful for having children at all; maybe I should be grateful that they are healthy and so am I. But when I remember the earlier years, when I remember their earlier smiles, their joys at Christmas time, and I remember that every moment I lived was for them, the loneliness at Christmas seems to mount even more; what would I do if Christmas came more than once a year?

A TRIBUTE TO GRANDPARENTS by MARCUS MCKINNEY

Recently I was asked “What does a grandparent mean to you?” and that started me to thinking; before I had just thought of them as my parents’ parents. When I reflected it made me realize just how active, beloved, and important my grandparents have been and are in my life.

Like me I am sure you can remember a grand parent taking you to and picking you up from school. For my two sisters and myself my grandmother would pick us up after school on Mondays because our parents worked late. When we got to Granny’s house before snacks or anything else we had to do our homework. One thing she said that sticks with me until this day like lint on a sweater, especially when I’m being tested, was Believe it and you can achieve it. Another thing my grandparents tell me is to pray to God when I need help and He will fix it. I feel blessed to have on both sides of my family grandparents with positive messages.As role models grandparents serve as nurturers and provide encouragement and support to the family in times of crisis. They are baby sitters, chauffeurs, confidantes, caregivers and finders of the delicate balance between allowing us room to grow but at the same time protect our safety. As role models grand parents provide examples of hard work and family loyalty. They may not realize the influence they have until they hear us repeat something they said or imitate them. They love us, encourage us, and at any given moment become for us what ever we need them to be. Thank you grands and we truly honor you! Granny

REMAKING THE WORLD VETERANS’ CENTER by Ky’noraThree years ago Daniel Habeel and his wife Arnetha created the RTW Veterans’ Center to help the sizable population of needy vets in the Washington Park community. They quickly expanded their services to everyone in the community because of the 35% rate of food insecurity (hunger) in the area. The center is located at 5536 King Drive and makes its mission and vision known as soon as you approach the door. Posted on the door is a sincere welcome to all who agree to show respect and regard for themselves and others. Three times a day free meals are served and also offered are free academic classes and vocational training, employment and housing assistance programs, Islamic classes, after school programs for children, and other initiates that help individuals build self

sufficiency for life. The government recently granted the center 501 status and it is now in the process of applying for grants. It is also being evaluated for partnership with the Chicago Food Depository. In the meantime its ambitious outreach is funded through the sale of its home cooked meals and baked goods, Friday Fish Fry,

the appeals and funds of the founders and board of directors, small donations, and volunteers. Last year the center served 65,000 meals and gave out 38,000

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articles of clothing. Only with community support can it continue its work, even with grant. Let’s do what we can to support the center; its vision and mission for the residents of the community is to permanently eliminate the hunger, blight and poverty by giving residents all the tools required to pull themselves up out of need. It is a worthy and noble effort that requires broad based long term support. For community residents if we all give a little it will make a magnificent difference.