First Annual Red, Black, Clean and Green Day a hit

By Final Call News | Last updated: Apr 27, 2016 - 12:32:40 PM

Chicago

Philadelphia

Black communities nationwide participated in efforts to clean up their communities in the first annual Red, Black, Clean and Green Day. Black Communities in Chicago and dozens of other cities underwent efforts to transform their communities from trash-filled streets and vacant lots to clean streets and beautiful flower and vegetable gardens April 16.

Some of the participating community organizations had the assistance of unemployed and gang-affiliated youth for their clean-up projects.

Chicago

High levels of violence in Chicago and other cities correlate with high levels of trash and physical neighborhood neglect. Neighborhoods that have large amounts of trash, paper, garbage and debris also seem to have high levels of violence, shootings, murders and other anti-social behaviors. Low levels of educational attainment correlate with high levels of trash and debris in communities.

The Chicago effort was spearheaded by the Justice Or Else Chicago Local Organizing Committee, Sel Dunlap of The War on Filth and Fear Campaign and Phillip Jackson of The Black Star Project.

Other Chicagoans that participated in this clean-up included volunteers in Roseland, South Chicago, Morgan Park, South Shore, Englewood, West Englewood, Woodlawn, West Woodlawn, Park Manor, Bronzeville, North Lawndale, Lawndale, Austin, Garfield Park, East Garfield Park, Gage Park, Chatham, New City, Jeffery Manor, Washington Heights and Back of the Yards.