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Happy Black History Month. Or, as it's known in many households around here, Black History Day, one of 365 on this year's calendar.
After all, there's far too much to celebrate, commemorate and call attention to than can be crammed into any one February.
"Why Black history? Why highlight it, even make it its own course?" asks Champaign community organizer Imani Bazzell. "Cuz we're so damned witty and wise and inventive and curious and hurt and angry and maimed and resilient and determined and creative and flexible and masterful and inspiring and caring and nurturing and engaged and rageful and traumatized and scholarly and language-rich and historic orators and builders and healers and oh, so cool. Who in their right mind would not want to teach and learn that American story?"
Lest there be any confusion, "there would be no America without the contributions of Black Americans," adds Champaign County Associate Judge Ronda Holliman. "Celebrating Black History Month continues to be necessary at a time when there are efforts to erase the truth through book bans and by the promotion of policies aimed at eliminating curriculum centered on Black History.
"We do not need permission to celebrate and acknowledge Black history, Black leaders, Black authors, Black culture, Black innovations and Black contributions -- in February and every day.
"Black history is American history. Black history is world history."
Locally, history continues to be made -- from Joan Walls' appointment as Champaign's first African American city manager in December to the possibility of Urbana electing its first Black mayor four days from now. Black women run C-U's two largest school districts. Black men hold the title of chief of police in both Champaign and Urbana, as well as Urbana fire chief, Danville mayor and University of Illinois chancellor, among others.
Who shaped them? Which landmarks did they frequent? What hurdles remain to be cleared? Who's inspiring the next generation? For answers to those questions and many more, Editor JEFF D'ALESSIO convened a panel of Black community members young and old for a wide-ranging conversation.
Just this week, Experience C-U launched a first-of-its-kind bus tour offering riders "an immersive journey through the rich history of the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail." If you were planning such a tour, what would be your first stop?
NATHANIEL BANKS, former director of the UI's African American Cultural Center and co-founder of the Banks Bridgewater and Lewis Fine Arts Academy: "My stop would be the south side of the city parking lot adjacent to the current police station. That area in the First Street corridor between University Avenue and Washington Street was the largest Black business district. It was a major part of my paper route.
"I was 11 years old when I began delivering newspapers to a pool hall, a rooming house, a diner, the Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q restaurant, a shoe shine spot and a couple of other establishments that I do not recall. All of those businesses were on the north side of the street. They were all Black businesses.
"The street was closed, along with most of the businesses, during the redevelopment of the area under the guise of 'urban renewal.' The most colorful people in the community used to hang out on that street. I walked that same street on the way to and from both junior and senior high school.
"The last business to be torn down was the Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q restaurant. They used to be a hangout for the teens in those days. The owner treated us like real people rather than kids. He would sometimes give us free food. They boasted as having the best barbecue in town. Of course, I would beg to differ. My grandfather's Banks Barbecue was number one.
"All of the establishments had jukeboxes that played the latest hits with what would later be known as high-fidelity sounds. At that point, none of our homes could afford Hi-Fis.
"I always thought that this area -- as opposed to Poplar Street -- was the heart and soul of the community. I and many others were devastated when the city decided to put a police station there."
Central High grad and Champaign insurance agent JOE STOVALL: "Banks Barbershop. Tinsley's Cleaners. Holtz Confectionary. Tommy's Record Shop. Tommy's Barbershop. Pity Pat's Bar. Jackson's BBQ. Buddies. Knits and Pants. All were Black-owned businesses that were located on First Street from Church Street to University Avenue.
"I could literally walk around the corner from our house at 103 East Church Street and there was Champaign's 'Black Wall Street' -- Black-owned businesses right in the middle of the neighborhood.
"Seeing men and women go to work in places that they owned created a sense of pride and inspiration that was literally an everyday occurrence."
Champaign music maker, photographer and small business owner HERMAN BISHOP JR.: "Rising tall, smack dab in the middle of our park, Douglass Park, would be 'The Hill.' Over the years, a number of buildings, businesses, housing projects and others have come and gone, yet The Hill in the park remains.
"The park has been a place for us to meet every summer on an early Saturday in August to barbecue, hug, laugh, play games, sell our wares, chill, kick it, have some fun and enjoy some faces, family and friends we may not have seen since last year about the same time.
"For some homebodies, it's an excuse to get out of the house. For those who have moved away, it's motivation to come back home and get the most bang for your buck by seeing a lotta folks in a short time.
"C-U Days has always been and will always be the highlight of the summer, and the highlight of the day was always the talent and fashion show, with singing, dancing, acting, poetry, modeling, whatever. Black excellence on display.
"We need to get back to channeling our gifts for the world to see. They do still exist."
NAACP Champaign County Branch President MINNIE PEARSON: "My first stop would be the Douglass Community Center and park. It's more than just a building -- it's a cornerstone of African American history and culture in Champaign-Urbana. Named after Frederick Douglass, it has served as a gathering place for generations, hosting events, educational programs and community activism.
"This space holds the stories of resilience, pride and progress within the Black community. Starting here sets the tone for the tour because it reflects both the struggles and the triumphs of African Americans in this region, connecting past legacies with present growth."
Retired U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/CERL equal employment opportunity manager MICHELE COOPER: "Located centrally in the north end of Champaign-Urbana, Douglass Center and park is behind the house where my husband and I raised our children. When we moved to the neighborhood, my husband played softball there, and I could always tell when he was at bat because he always hit a foul ball in our yard and almost broke our window several times.
"My son played with his friends down the hill in the middle of the park. The News-Gazette took a picture of him in his Dallas Cowboy jacket pulling his sled up the hill. In the early '90s, Douglass Park became the home of the First String youth sports program that is still active today."
VON YOUNG JR., former chief of Parkland College police who spent 20 years with Champaign PD, retiring as the department's first African American lieutenant: "In the mid-1970s, l was a 24-year-old police officer for the city of Champaign. My tour would start on North Poplar Street in the northeast part of the city, which is a historically Black neighborhood.
"During this time, a new concept of policing was sweeping the country and Champaign tried this new concept by introducing a Team Policing Unit.
"This unit would be assigned to work only in the northeast part of Champaign and consist of 14 officers. l, along with one other Black officer, was assigned to this unit.
"This area of the city at the time did not have the best relations with the police department or the mostly White officers assigned to work in the area.
"As a Black officer assigned to work in the area, I was not always looked at by residents in the best of favor, because not being from Champaign, people didn't know me except for the time l would be assigned to work in that area.
"As time passed, people in the neighborhood came to trust and accept me and my White partner as we walked a foot beat in the neighborhood.
"We started to get invited to picnics and social gatherings and into people's homes. We were accepted as part of the community. People started to see that the police were not there to be an occupying force, as people predicted, but a unit there to solve problems.
"The memories that I have and the friendships that I made are the special parts of my tour that l will never forget and will forever be thankful for."
Champaign County Black Chamber of Commerce president and Champaign city councilman WILL KYLES: "Booker T. Washington STEM Academy would be my first stop -- a beacon rooted in history and bursting with promise. Its legacy, intertwined with the stories of countless community leaders, inspires me every day.
"Community schools like this form the very fabric of our local economy, nurturing strong partnerships with institutions such as the University of Illinois, Parkland College, local trades, businesses and community organizations. By empowering our children and supporting their families, we lay the foundation for a future where every individual can thrive. Booker T. Washington STEM Academy isn't just a school; it's a symbol of community resilience and a vision of what education can achieve in 2025 and beyond."
Retired Urbana educator BARBARA GILLESPIE: "My location to the Champaign area was through a pastoral assignment for my husband, Reverend Joshua Gillespie, at the Grove Street Church of God in Christ. So, on a tour I would have a vested interest in seeing the most historical church in town.
"Religion and church have always been a passionate experience for African Americans."
SisterNet founding director IMANI BAZZELL: "My first stop would be the Dorothy Vickers-Shelley Memorial Library. Our story of research and advocacy, resistance and persistence in naming the school library in the Booker T. Washington STEM Academy is a shining example of what it looks like to make real the promise of social justice and participatory democracy.
"As a school librarian, community educator and activist, mother and other-mother, and Champaign County NAACP president, Ms. Shelley represents the critical combination of a commitment to equity and excellence in education and the fighting spirit required to make fundamental systemic change to end racism, sexism and economic injustice. The Tubman spirit!"
Former Garden Hills resident CLARISSA NICKERSON FOURMAN, who represented District 1 on the Champaign City Council: "If I could add a stop, I would do it at Bristol Place. This only works if it includes a 3D rendering of what it looked like before. You have to see the growth and the redevelopment to understand the hope it provides. You really had to see the area when The Manners were still up to understand what the growth in that area means for the future.
"Also, Bristol Place has a community center named for John Lee Johnson. More education about his life and how he contributed to the Black community should be included. He created a path that opened many doors for so many others after him."
Former Champaign resident and UI alumna DEBORAH CLEMENTS BLANKS: "I would go somewhere on the U of I campus, where my brother, Tony Clements, worked for 30 years and where the Black Chorus and other Black organizations were instrumental to my life as a student many years ago.
"I would visit the studio of Illinois Soul radio, which has brought vibrancy to Champaign and connected with many people of color. Many people may not understand the power of having a media that connects with one's culture.
"I would stop at the corner of Fifth Street and Bradley Avenue, where my grandparents lived in a single-family home before urban renewal plowed the homes down and destroyed community.
"And, of course, I would probably drive down some of the blocks where street names have been changed to recognize the contributions of Blacks like my uncle, Dawson Banks, owner of Banks Barbeque Pit."
AUSH KNOX, owner of Urbana's Beard Culture Barbershop and Gallery: "The original Rose & Taylor location would be the first stop for me. It is located at 204 North First Street on the north end of Champaign, in the heart of the African American community, where there was a rich history of Black-owned businesses.
"Owners Lum Rose and Joe Taylor became owners in the early 1960s. The barbershop was so important because it was the cornerstone of our community and the barbers touched so many lives for so many generations. To watch them do what they loved and the way they interacted with each other and the community was and is so inspiring.
"One of my most memorable moments was watching my uncle, Leroy Knox, who was a longtime barber at Rose & Taylor, sing as he would cut hair. Those were his two things that he was truly passionate about. After singing a couple of notes to a song, he would have this enormous smile that would allow his gold tooth to shine. His smile was infectious and would light up the shop."
As Barbara Gillespie reminded us earlier, churches play a big role in local Black history. We asked the pastor of Champaign County's oldest African American-led church: What's the historical aspect of Bethel AME that makes you especially proud to be pastor?
Says the REV. TERRANCE L. THOMAS: "I think one of the most endearing things that stands out to me from Bethel's history is the ways in which the church provided community to Black students who were denied access to the larger U of I community.
"Knowing that families like the Hineses, Hurseys and Bankses opened their doors and provided a safe space to Black students at a time when U of I treated them as second-class citizens is heart-warming and awe-inspiring.
"I am also enamored with the fact that Bethel was home to four of the Ellis Drive Six. Their bravery and dedication to equity in education literally transformed a community.
"Lastly, the amount of Black firsts that come out of Bethel is proof positive that one cannot talk about the history of Black Champaign and not mention Bethel."
Are there enough Black-owned businesses in Champaign-Urbana and what specifically needs to change for that number to grow?
ISIS GRIFFIN, co-owner of Champaign's CBPB Popcorn Shop and Sooie Bros Bar B Que Joint: "No I don't think there are enough Black-owned businesses in Champaign-Urbana, and something that needs to change for the number to grow is people's mindset.
"Being able to sell something out of your house is not the same as being able to sell out of a brick and mortar. Side hustles are fine but before you sign a lease or go to the bank for a loan, make sure the product you're selling can pay bills and make customers happy, not just be a fun hobby."
TALISHA JOHNSON, owner of Champaign's AMT Hair Salon & Co.: "There can never truly be enough Black-owned businesses until they are no longer labeled as 'small businesses' and can compete equally with businesses of all kinds. Black businesses should have the same opportunities to provide jobs, benefits and success as any other business, whether it's white-owned or women-owned.
"In Champaign-Urbana, we have Black-owned small businesses, but we need more to make the playing field fair. It's often difficult for Black businesses to be taken seriously, and they are too often viewed as a 'hustle' or a 'scam.' While there are spaces where we are included, they are rarely led or governed by people who look like us. We are forced to work four times as hard to achieve the same things that white small businesses are trying to do.
"We are working to build a community for us, but first, we must overcome the challenge of proving our worth and success. Access to capital, mentorship and visibility are essential for Black businesses to grow at the same rate as others, without facing bias or being targeted."
Among current Black-owned businesses -- or any businesses, for that matter -- downtown Champaign's Neil St. Blues was the favorite among our panelists. What's their secret?
Carle PR manager and Centennial High alumna BRITTANY SIMON: "The owners are putting their heart and soul into making food that feels like a taste of home and creating a space for people to come together to celebrate and enjoy music that's hard to find otherwise."
Retired UI administrator-turned-Champaign consultant FRED COLEMAN III: "There was a need for a quality, well-executed restaurant/bar that offered the type of food and atmosphere that catered to a diverse clientele, with roots reflected in contemporary African American culture.
"The food is excellent. The variety of food is excellent. The service staff is welcoming and works to make sure the customer is happy with all aspects of their experience.
"This venue serves a broader significant purpose to the community and specifically, the African American community experience in greater Champaign-Urbana. This is because it has become a go-to place for African American professionals and others to visit and experience comfortably while being served meals that are universally enjoyed while in an atmosphere that nods to the African American experience."
Is there a Black-owned business or Black-run organization from your youth that you miss most?
Champaign Central girls' basketball coach KRIS BELL: "I love soul food, and Seaboat that used to be located at 403 West Kirby in Champaign was really good."
Urbana High School Hall of Famer SHANNON McFARLAND: "'15-80 ... AM ... WBCP.' I miss hearing these call letters on the radio. When WBCP dropped in 2020, it left the Black community without a media outlet.
"I remember being interviewed by Joe Stovall on his weekly show, Talkin' Sportz. It was a fun and competent platform to share information on athletic development and the Jackie Robinson Day Clinic. Talkin' Sportz was broadcast on UPTV, on-air for over a decade, and was a shining product of WBCP."
JENIECE MITCHELL, family liaison for the Urbana school district and executive director of the Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center: "One business from my youth that is no longer around is TLC. I remember eating good barbecue and attending special events there from about age 10 to age 14. It was owned by The Church of the Living God, aka The Love Corner.
"There were spiritually uplifting events, fashion shows, mini-concerts and friendly faces that greeted you right when you came in. I used to look forward to going to TLC on weekends when they were open. Today, our community has Neil St. Blues, Wood N' Hog and Sooie Bros., to name a few -- all of which are Black-owned restaurants that have the same welcoming atmosphere."
LASHAUNDA CUNNINGHAM, organizer of Urbana's annual MLK Jettie Rhodes Neighborhood Day, which will be held for a 27th time on June 28 at King Park: "I fondly remember Po' Boys, the original restaurant owned and operated by Mr. Arnie Yarber. It holds a special place in my heart as it was a spot I frequented with my late grandfather, Mr. Jeff Rhodes, Jr.
"I can vividly recall families gathering around the bar area -- laughing, conversing and enjoying some of the best barbecue in town. The restaurant had a retro ambiance that made it feel inviting and comfortable, serving as a gathering place for people from all walks of life, including University of Illinois coaches, players, prominent business owners and more.
"My grandfather would often engage in long conversations while we waited for our Polish sausages and pulled pork sandwiches. I especially remember the original location on Market Street in Champaign. The restaurant closed in 2006 and later reopened under new ownership, but its original charm and atmosphere will always be remembered."