Binga Dismond, someone worth remembering

When I was researching Amos Alonzo Stagg and Stagg Field, I realized that, while Stagg is famous for football, but he was a huge presence for track and field too, especially promoting the Olympics movement. He also respected talent. Henry Binga Dismond (1891-1956) was one of his track stars in 1915-1917, a Black man competing … Continue reading Binga Dismond, someone worth remembering →

Nonviolent resistance gets a test in Hyde Park

A night time view of the Jack Spratt coffee shop lit from within.

In February 2024, I wrote up how James Farmer tested his detailed plan on how to implement Gandhi’s tactics of nonviolent resistance in Chicago in 1943, long before the Montgomery Bus Boycott or later and more famous lunch counter sit ins. It’s been mentioned before, but I found the detailed strategy in the Chicago Defender. … Continue reading Nonviolent resistance gets a test in Hyde Park →

Sam Ransom

Part II of Two Hyde Park High School Athletes This is the story of two Hyde Park High School athletes—and the road not taken. Part I covered Walter Eckersall, who found the special treatment of football fame toxic in the end. His Hyde Park High School teammate had a very different story. Samuel L. Ransom … Continue reading Sam Ransom →

William Warfield

When I was researching Hyde Park/Kenwood/Woodlawn’s first women representatives, I came across the name of William J. Warfield, who was elected in 1928 in the same district. Warfield was the 15th African-American to serve in the Illinois House. The first African-American in the Illinois legislature was John W. E. Thomas in 1876. Though he wasn’t … Continue reading William Warfield →