By John W. Fountain
Exactly 40 years ago the Chicago Tribune published a book about my childhood neighborhood known as North Lawndale.
They called it —us—the American Millstone. So-called because they said we were the heavy weight, or the Millstone, draped around America’s neck, further describing us as a “permanent underclass.” The Tribune’s work, published first as a newspaper series, said the people of North Lawndale did not have middle class values, were a drain on the city, and the nation. An albatross. A few years later, I walked into the Tribune as a young reporter – a proud product of North Lawndale.
The newspaper’s negative portrayal of us always unsettled me.
And I have written and continue to write about the mainstream news media’s historic and continual misrepresentation of Black communities across this nation. And more importantly, of the need to tell our own stories through our own lens. A few have suggested that I should shut up already. I won’t. In fact, I won’t even consider it. At least not until the Tribune at last apologizes for its misrepresentation and unfair portrayal of the totality of life for people on Chicago’s West Side that exists in the annals of Chicago history with little rebuttal. Who am I?
Just a Black journalist and writer with a pen? And a proud son of North Lawndale who will continue to declare without relenting: We are not your millstone.
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published
Not Your Millstone lyrics: “Dear Chicago Tribune: WE ARE NOT YOUR Millstone!” (Chorus) We wearing shades 'Cause we shining so bright We been called out of darkness Into the marvelous Light West Side, Best Side North Lawndale raised Gonna keep it West Side 'Til I go to my grave I Got love for my city From Over-East, To the North, And the whole South Side In Chi-City I was born Sky-scraper pretty The Magnificent Mile But ain't nothin sweeter Than this West Side pride Until the Lion tells the story The truth has yet to be told West Side, Best Side I will never be your Millstone (Verse) We have Never been your Millstone That weight draped around America's neck Never been your stereotype And no lies the media tells Could ever break our backs: Painting with broad strokes This life behind the veil Shining a light on negativity The whole truth they never tell Salacious headlines they write 'Cause they got papers to sell Hypotheses formed Long before their reporters arrive Mainstream news media Still tryna tell our stories through jaded blue eyes Invasion of the body snatchers On the outside lookin’ in Enraptured by corrupted methodologies Led by misguided pens Studying us like we wild animals Caged up in a zoo Ice cold misinterpretations of ghetto life 'Cause they can't handle the truth Of how we Live Laugh Love Advance Even amidst so much pain Of how we Play Work Build Dream And Dance Like happy laughter in the rain Of our backyard parties And our La-di Da-di Of our hot summer days And cold, white-water fire hydrant sprays Of how Mama worked miracles in the kitchen Every single day Or how Christmas Never missed us Come what will or may And the sun rose on the 'hood every morning And ghetto children played Of the resilience of our hopes and dreams Even when times were hard and lean Of how every day in the 'hood Ain't always what it seems And like the Phoenix, from the ashes we rise We gon' always prevail But if they tryna throw shade on us, Just tell 'em: Go to hell! (Chorus) We wearing shades 'Cause we shining so bright We been called out of darkness Into the marvelous Light West Side, Best Side North Lawndale raised Gonna keep it West Side 'Til I go to my grave I Got love for my city From Over-East, To the North, And the whole South Side In Chi-City I was born Sky-scraper pretty The Magnificent Mile But ain't nothin’ sweeter Than this West Side pride Until the Lion tells the story The truth has yet to be told West Side, Best Side I will never be your Millstone (Bridge) The story ain't all gory It's sprinkled with glory With everyday life, The sweet and The spice With hope and The struggle Like the Darkness and Light We gotta tell our own story If we want it told right…
Listen To “Not Your Millstone” — Available on All Music Streaming Platforms Friday, Aug. 28
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Email: Author@johnwfountain.com
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