CHICAGO’SFREEWEEKLYSINCE | APRIL CHICAGO’SFREEWEEKLYSINCE Translating Rahm Ben Joravsky 6 Masa Madre takes on Passover Aimee Levitt 9 Black veterans’ new battleground Mariah Karson 11 A new rein Chicago goes all in on Lightfoot THIS WEEK CHICAGOREADER | APRIL | VOLUME NUMBER IN THIS ISSUE TR - ­ ­ TheWorstMotherintheWorldis @ aboutinclusionandmommyissues andYenshowstwoneglectedteens strugglingtogrowup P TB IEC FILM SKKH FOOD&DRINK 19 FestivalPreviewWhatdoesit D EKS 09 FoodFeatureArmedwith meantobeAsianAmerican? C L SK D P JR familyrecipesMasaMadretakes 20 ReviewWithAshIsPurest 30 ShowsofnoteExHexMdou CEAL onPassover WhiteJiaZhangkeremainsthe MoctarPerfumeandmoreshows M EP M masterofdisplacement thisweek A EJL CITYLIFE SWDI 03 StreetViewArapper’sstyle 21 MoviesofnoteGospelof 36 EarlyWarningsJoanna BJ MS startswithhisshoes EurekashowsaBibleBelttownon NewsomIndianGladysKnight S WMD LG 04 TransportationWhatshould thebrinkofchangeShazam!has andmorejustannouncedconcerts G D D C S M EBW Chicagodoaboutcyclistswho retroappealforcomicbookbuff s 36 GossipWolfJohnCorbett M L C don’tplaybytherules? andStyxisathoughtprovoking celebrateshisbookwithfree S C -J moraldramaaboutlifeanddeath barbecuedrummerSpencer FL C PF T A ECS TweedydropsanEPasafrontman CNB D C andmore D C LC NLC CC MDLC S F IG AG OPINION KTH JH JH ARTS&CULTURE 36 SavageLoveDanSavageoff ers IH DJ MK S 14 LitGneshnabemne?Citizen adviceondatingandrespecting K MM B M JRN MO L O Y PotawatomiNationproducesits transwomen P LP KS KR fi rstdictionary BS DS A W 15 Lit AnAmericanSummer CLASSIFIEDS ---------------------------------------------------------------- createsaportraitofacitybattling 37 Jobs D D JD D P E &P intractableills 37 Apartments&Spaces KK NEWS&POLITICS 15 ExcerptMeltdownatPitchfork MUSIC&NIGHTLIFE 37 Marketplace O M SN L 06 Joravsky|PoliticsWhenRahm 16 HistoryAdocumentarygives 24 FeatureJohnCage’streasures ADVERTISING blastsKimFoxxforSmollettgate CasimirPulaskiacomingoutparty arehidinginplainsightinalibrary COMICSSERIALS -- -@ youhavetowonderwhathe’supto yearsa erhisdeath atNorthwestern 38 PLDermesgoestoaparade C @ 08 Isaacs|CultureUICgrad 29 InRotationChancesDances studentsstrikeforbetterpay cofounderLathamZearfossona S D PF THEATER O I V PS 18 Playsofnote ANumberstrips Solangealbumfortheagesand D D FD ’ AM downtoitsabsorbingelements moremusicalobsessions SA R JL A R LM-H CR M TP N A FEATURES VMG --- JLSB ---------------------------------------------------------------- DC PHOTOS [email protected] -- STMREADERLLC B PDRL T E R A new battleground S JS A- S V Veterans of the armed forces’ segregated past fi ght C EB to keep their legacy alive. C ---------------------------------------------------------------- S P M K 11 R ISSN-­ STMR LLC SM SC IL -- C ©C R P C IL CORRECTION Last week, our story “More money no problems” incorrectly stated that Ameya Pawar was endorsed by United Working A C R R Families. The group did not endorse any candidates for treasurer. RR T® 2 CHICAOREADER - APRIL ll CITY LIFE Less scrolling. Street View Kickin’ it A rapper’s style starts with his shoes “ICALLMY style ‘SlightFlex,’ which means doing the most and nothing at all simultane- ously,” says Corey Henderson, 29, a rapper whose stage name is Almighty Xanno. The Austin resident was photographed at the Jef- ferson Park CTA station on the way to visiting his brother in Des Plaines. Henderson breaks down the concept he created, explaining that “Slight” is for the subtleness of his out- fit, and “Flex” is the color coordination that makes a look really pop. He says his style is built from the shoes upward: here his prized 90s Nike Air Maxes are paired with pieces that echo the sneakers’ red, black, and white hues. “Everything I wear is focused around the color of the shoes,” he says. “I like dress- ing for success.” —I G ISAGIALLORENZO More strumming. Give your digital life a break. Connect over music, dance & more. Anyone can play! Find your spring class at oldtownschool.org 315656_4.75_x_4.75.indd 1 3/22/19 11:05 AM ll APRIL - CHICAOREADER 3 CITY LIFE TRANSPORTATION Breakin’ the law What should Chicago do about cyclists who don’t play by the rules? By JG ver since my last Reader column majority-white neighborhoods. A police rep on Chicago’s mayoral election was eventually acknowledged that this was due to published, I’ve been fielding a lot officers using bike enforcement as a pretext RACHALDUGGAN of complaints about lawbreaking for searches in high-crime areas. bicyclists. I mentioned Toni Preck- To get some di erent viewpoints on the best Ewinkle’s statement from a recent debate that policies to address unlawful cycling, I checked often choose to ignore cyclists doing Idaho Schwieterman also recommended letting many bike riders “don’t pay any attention to in with a few city agencies and transportation stops. But Ludwig said the CPD will sometimes bicyclists take an online bike safety class in the tra c laws, which is not only infuriating, experts and advocates. conduct “targeted enforcement” stings on lieu of paying a fine. “It would send a clear but also scary for drivers.” I contacted the Wisconsin-based National bike riders, staking out particular locations message about safety while lessening tension A typical comment I received on Twitter Motorists Association for the right-wing where residents or aldermen have complained with law enforcement personnel.” read, “Many, many cyclists ARE unsafe. Very windshield perspective. After all, the group’s about bike infractions, or in response to a Active Transportation Alliance advocacy self-centered, all-about-me-me-me and gen- hard-line stances against automated enforce- cyclist-involved crash. director Jim Merrell argued that sidewalk erally disrespectful.” Isn’t it great that drivers ment, lower speed limits, traffic calming, While the CPD’s job is wielding the prover- cycling is best addressed with more protected never act that way? stricter DUI rules, and even seatbelt laws bial “stick” of enforcement against hazardous lanes, neighborhood greenways, and o -street In fairness, though, hazardous and obnox- make the American Automobile Association behavior, the Chicago Department of Trans- trails. Free bike light giveaways, which have ious cycling is a thing. So I’d like to throw a look like Greenpeace. But I was pleasantly sur- portation provides “carrots” in the form of been done in the past by the Bike Ambassa- bone to the “there are a lot of reckless bikers” prised by spokeswoman Shelia Dunn’s fairly bike infrastructure, education, and encour- dors, and Streetsblog Chicago cofounder Ste- crowd with a look at what Chicago should do balanced response, which stressed that every- agement. CDOT has built dozens of miles of ven Vance’s grassroots “Get Lit!” campaign, about bicyclists who break tra c rules. one “driving, riding, or walking . should be physically protected bike lanes over the last can help eradicate bike ninjas. Let’s classify lawbreaking by bike riders responsible for their own safety and look out eight years, which help make less-confident Merrell doesn’t have a problem with police into three categories: for others on the road.” cyclists feel more comfortable staying o the throwing the book at riders who endanger 1. Technically illegal, but widespread and Predictably, the NMA doesn’t support legal- sidewalk. other people, especially pedestrians. “But it’s largely harmless, behavior. This includes izing the Idaho stop. Dunn argued that doing The department has also pioneered the use unclear that this behavior, while annoying and slow, cautious cycling for short distances on so would make it di cult for pedestrians and of contrafl ow bike lanes that legalize “wrong disrespectful, presents a [signifi cant] public sidewalks or against traffic on side streets. drivers to predict bicyclists’ behavior, and way” riding on otherwise-one-way stretches safety risk,” he said. “Crash data tells us that Another example is riders treating stoplights embolden cyclists to run reds and signs even of designated side-street bikeways called reckless behavior among drivers—especially like stop signs and stop signs like yield signs. when intersections aren’t clear. “neighborhood greenways.” This has made speeding, distracted and drunk driving, and This is known as the “Idaho stop” because it’s Dunn called for better and earlier mobility already-popular low-stress routes like Glen- failure to stop for people walking—is by far legal in the Gem State. education for kids, including safe walking, bik- wood, Berteau, and Wood even more useful. the greatest cause of serious injuries and 2. Lawbreaking that may be annoying, ing, and driving practices. “I lived in Germany Meanwhile, CDOT’s Bicycling and Safe fatalities, so that’s what traffic enforcement but is mostly a danger to the cyclist. This in- for a time, and my fourth-grader was required Routes Ambassadors safety outreach teams should target.” cludes riding for long distances on sidewalks to take a bicycling course in school,” she said. pedal to schools, day camps, senior centers, Merrell added that as biking becomes more or against tra c on main streets, and riding at “This would be a tremendous help.” and community events to spread the gospel. mainstream, cultural norms will shift and help night without lights. (People who do the latter I asked the Chicago Police Department The ambassadors attended 515 events and reinforce good behavior. are nicknamed “bike ninjas.”) about