A republished note from Chronicle News's late publisher Jay Price in 2020
Courtesy Photo-The Chronicle News Publisher-Jay Price
The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and three others has proved to be a hot topic worldwide. This event has shined a spotlight on the dark nature of America. This senseless display of violence lasted for 8 minutes and 46 seconds and caused me to flashback to April 4th, 1968. For those of you who do not know the significance of this date, it’s the day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. On this date, the graduating class of John Marshall High, prepared for their upcoming ceremony.
Courtesy Photo-Postcard Image John Marshall High School, Chicago Illinois
I sat in class observing the festive mood of my classmates in the wake of upcoming ceremonies. Suddenly, the intercom pierced our festivities. A voice announced that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. My high school "John Marshall High" was set on fire, which led us to be dismissed. The students gathered one block away from the school. Additional groups and others in the community joined in. Out of nowhere someone threw a rock into a window; It seemed like one of the loudest sounds ever. The crowd erupted, and it was suddenly tricky to maneuver through the thick clouds of smoke. These memories were of a dark time; For me, this was one of the worst memories I can recall in my life up to this point. It was a bad time for Chicago and the rest of the Country. Things as we knew it would never be the same.
As bad as it seemed, I guess you could consider it as breaking point. Things needed to change somehow and be reconfigured. The doors of opportunity were opened. There was new job training, college scholarships, and the Small Business Administration was willing to loan money to anyone stepping forward with a believable business plan. People also had liberal access to food and resources. We learned about eating well-balanced meals and had access to lots of reliable information. The barriers to entry didn’t seem as impossible anymore. Progress was finally an option for blacks, and we were able to pursue our real dreams. I was able to attend Columbia College in Chicago, as a result of doors opening for black Americans. I was able to pursue a career in radio while working as a broadcast engineer.
For the first time, to my knowledge, African Americans were able to pursue their dreams. We had a chance; we finally had a chance. I improved my skillsets. My soon to be wife(Carolyn Carter, grew as well. This collaboration allowed us to give birth to "The Chronicle Newspaper.” We are here to show the positive side of the African American community. We birthed a creation that allowed us to confirm that Black people share the same desires to obtain success as any other race/nationality in the United States.
So, there you have it. This June, we celebrated thirty-five years of service in the community. We stand here in hopes that the countless, senseless killings will cause everyone to pause and work towards improvement. The senseless killings of black men in America have to stop. I hope that a renewed spotlight will serve as a wakeup call to address the transgressions of America. Everyone deserves a seat at the table. Charity is good but, teaching one to fish leads to a society that works towards the good of the whole. A country where liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness should be the right of every citizen of the United States.
To find out more about the Chronicle News and our mission to show the positive side of the African-American community please visit www.thechroniclenews.com
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