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Chicago natives and people from all across the country traveled to take part in “Takin’ It To The Streets”, an annual urban international festival organized by the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), which invites artists and speakers to share inspirational words aimed to foster and inspire participants to push for and participate in social justice causes.
This year’s gathering also marked the 50 year commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s march through Marquette Park for fair, open housing. The festival provided music filled with messages of change, inspirational words from various speakers, food, fun, and family bonding activities. It also provided an opportunity for various expressions of Muslim culture to be displayed.
Shamar Hemphill, a member of IMAN and a committee chair for “Takin’ It To The Streets,” said there are a variety of reasons the gathering is so important. It provides a moment to really pause, reflect and celebrate the struggle 50 years later, he explained.
The amount of support and number of people who come out to the festival has increased tremendously, said Mansoor Sabree, Regional Director for IMAN in Atlanta. “We’re really expecting this one to be the best with the most people present. This is a flagship activity for IMAN so this is something that’s going to continue into the future.”
Speakers at this year’s festival included Ilyasah Al Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, Imam Zaid Shakir, a Muslim scholar and co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, Calif., members of the group Assata’s Daughters, Student Minister Abel Muhammad of the Nation of Islam and Linda Sarsour, the executive director of the Arab American Association of New York. Elected officials were also present, including Chicago Alderman David Moore, U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Illinois State Rep. Mary Flowers, Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Chicago Alderman Toni Foulkes.
The festival opened with a Muslim prayer recited in Arabic that was then translated into English. Afterwards, speakers and artists took the stage to encourage an audience of various faiths, ethnicities and beliefs to continue to fight for social justice and to unite regardless of their differences.
“The language of the Muslims and the Christians are one and the same,” said Laila Muhammad, daughter of the late Imam Warith D. Mohammed. “We cannot stop now. We must continue this collective work.”
Student Minister Abel Muhammad, who is of Mexican descent shared with the audience how he was born and raised in Marquette Park, and could remember playing on the same basketball court that was several yards away.
“We have the greatest weapon anyone can have, which is our unity for justice,” said Mr. Muhammad. “Today is the first step for us getting justice or else. We’re no longer going to wait for justice to be given to us from some benevolent person. All of us must stand today for one cause, and that cause is justice.”
Linda Sarsour, a Palestinian activist from New York, said that Dr. King has been whitewashed.
“He was a radical Black revolutionary,” said Ms. Sarsour. “He was a victim of police brutality. Don’t let people tell you not to be like him, because we are being like him. The same people who justify the murders of Palestinians and call it collateral damage are the very same people who justify the killing of unarmed Black men. We have one common enemy and that is White supremacy.”
Participants also got the chance to enjoy music from the Caribbean, South and Central America in the vending area. Food and non-food vendors from all over Chicago and the country came with homemade food and unique crafts to sell to attendees.
There was also an area for children and teenagers to enjoy bounce houses, inflatable obstacle courses, a mini train, music and dance contests.
Shakirah Perkins, 15, enjoyed the festival and was there with an urban arts youth development organization called Kumba Lynx. She was there in celebration and to help the children and monitor them while they were outside, she said.
Artists from all over the world came to perform representing various musical styles and lyrical messages. Lyricist Amir Sulaiman brought listeners to tears as he passionately talked about the oppression of Black and Brown people. Cuban singer Danay Suarez sang a Spanish melody that brought the audience back to Cuba with her as images from her childhood flashed across the large, digital screen behind her. Hip Hop duo The Reminders, made the crowd jump with their upbeat songs and conscious lyrics, while rapper Vic Mensa spread a more serious tone across the crowd and reminded listeners about the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore.
Attendees were also shaken by the recent shooting death of 18-year-old Paul O’Neal at the hands of Chicago police. Leslie Hodges, 22, said she was hurt by the teen’s death.
“We kind of feel desensitized to it, you know, that’s the problem,” said Ms. Hodges. “It’s kind of like, oh, another one, but at the same time I’m just really hurt about it.”
Areaun Martin, who attended the festival for the first time, hopes for peace. “I hope they stop the violence,” said Ms. Martin. “I hope they’re really listening to what they’re really saying out here because we need peace out here. I have a young son and a nephew out here, so I just hope there’s peace,” she explained.
“I think that was so disrespectful what happened with Paul O’Neal. You know, I really think they should take that to another level and you know, get justice for that young man. He haven’t did anything, you know, they ain’t have to kill him. He could’ve just went to jail.”
The rest of the artist lineup included Malaysian singer Yuna with her soulful and subdued tones, community activist and rapper Brother Ali, and legendary lyricist Rakim, who brought the entire festival to a close performing a selection of his classic hits.
Takin’ It To The Streets will continue to be a place where the voices of those receiving injustice will be promoted and a place where families can come to enjoy themselves, said organizers.
“Takin’ It To The Streets has always been a vehicle for inspiration,” said Mr. Hemphill. “It’s always been a way to bring the collective Chicago together to really show that we’re part of the human race, one family.”