BE WITTY

Author: BE WITTY

  • George Raveling: Witness to Greatness, Architect of Legacy

    Image credit: Chris Johns / The Seattle Times

    George Raveling, a Hall of Fame college basketball coach who Michael Jordan credits with influencing him to sign with the sneaker brand Nike a move that launched a cultural phenomenon has passed. He was 88.

    “It is with deep sadness and unimaginable pain that we share the passing of our beloved ‘Coach,’ George Henry Raveling, who faced cancer with courage and grace,” Raveling’s family wrote in a statement. “There are no words to fully capture what George meant to his family, friends, colleagues, former players, and assistants and to the world.”


    George Raveling speaks onstage at the 21st Annual Harold and Carole Pump Foundation Gala held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on August 20, 2021. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Harold and Carole Pump Foundation)

    George Raveling began his coaching journey at his alma mater, Villanova, where he joined the staff as an assistant in 1963. That opportunity marked the start of a remarkable career spanning more than 30 years. He went on to serve as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland before taking head coaching positions at Washington State, the University of Iowa, and the University of Southern California. During his tenure, Raveling was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year three times and received honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. In 2015, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

    Image credit: Getty

    Among his many contributions to the sport, Raveling is perhaps best known for his pivotal role in shaping sneaker history: in 1984, he famously advised a young Michael Jordan fresh out of the University of North Carolina and headed to the Chicago Bulls to sign with Nike, then an up-and-coming athletic brand. The endorsement would go on to become a cultural and commercial landmark.

    In a 2015 interview, Michael Jordan recalled Raveling’s persistent push for him to sign with Nike at a time when the brand was still emerging in the basketball world.

    “He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. You’ve got to try,’” Jordan said.

    Jordan eventually took his advice a decision that would revolutionize sports marketing. The deal included a rare 5% royalty on each pair of Air Jordans sold, helping Jordan earn an estimated $1.5 billion from the partnership to date.

    Raveling retired from college coaching in the mid-1990s, but his impact on the game and on generations of athletes continued long after he left the sidelines.

    In August 1963, a young George Raveling and a friend traveled to Washington, D.C., encouraged by the friend’s father to witness history in the making: the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The night before the event, the two college students met a civil rights organizer who asked if they’d be willing to volunteer as security during the demonstration. Standing 6-foot-4, Raveling was an imposing presence and gladly accepted.

    That chance encounter would place him just feet from the podium as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech a moment that would stay with Raveling for the rest of his life.

    Keeping sacred for over 20 years that he had the original typewritten copy of the “I Have a Dream” speech private. He didn’t tell anyone not even his wife. It wasn’t until 1983, the year he made history as the first Black head basketball coach at the University of Iowa and in the Big Ten Conference, that he revealed he had held onto the historic document all those years.

    George Raveling’s life was far more than wins and losses on the court. He was a pioneer, a mentor, and a quiet guardian of history. From breaking racial barriers in college basketball to helping shape Michael Jordan’s legacy with Nike, to standing inches from Dr. King during one of the most pivotal moments in American history, Raveling consistently found himself at the intersection of sports, culture, and change.

    His influence spanned generations — not just through the players he coached, but through the lives he touched with his wisdom, grace, and unshakable sense of purpose. Whether courtside or at the heart of a movement, George Raveling led with dignity, vision, and a profound understanding of his place in the bigger picture.

    He leaves behind a legacy not just of excellence, but of impact one that will continue to resound through history books, locker rooms, and lives for years to come.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Studies Find Longevity Increases Among Women Who Give Birth Over 35

    Image credit: Pinterest/loreeirowland

    In recent years, an intriguing link has emerged from medical and demographic research: women who have children later in life may also tend to live longer. While this doesn’t mean delaying childbirth causes longevity, studies suggest there may be a biological and genetic connection between reproductive longevity and overall lifespan.

    Several studies have found a correlation between later-life childbirth and increased lifespan. One notable study published in the journal Menopause (2014) found that women who gave birth after age 33 were more likely to live to 95 or older compared to women who had their last child before 30. The researchers concluded that a woman’s ability to conceive naturally later in life could be a marker of slower aging and healthier genetics.

    Image credit: shutter stock

    A similar study by the Boston University School of Medicine, based on data from the Long Life Family Study, reported that women who had their last child after age 33 had twice the odds of living to 95 as those who had their last child before age 30.

    These findings don’t suggest that having children later causes women to live longer, but rather that women who can naturally conceive and carry a pregnancy at older ages may simply be aging more slowly. In other words, their reproductive system may reflect the overall condition of their body’s health and resilience.


    Comedian and actor DC Young Fly pictured with his mother, who gave birth to him later in life. Whom he recently bought a new home for. A testament to resilience, late motherhood, and the enduring bonds of multigenerational gaps in modern families.
    Photo credit: Instagram

    Some researchers believe that the ability to have children at older ages might be connected to what’s sometimes called “slow aging” genes genes that may delay menopause and support longer reproductive and overall lifespan. For women with this genetic advantage, the body’s natural systems like the immune system, heart health, and even how well cells repair themselves may continue functioning at a higher level for longer.

    In many Black families where women live well into their 80s, 90s, or beyond, you’ll often find women who had children later in life, went through menopause later, and aged more slowly overall. These women may also face lower rates of certain age-related illnesses, like heart disease or cancer even while navigating systems that haven’t always supported Black health equally.

    It’s also real that having children later can come with increased health risks especially for Black women, who already face higher rates of pregnancy-related complications like hypertension and gestational diabetes. Fertility naturally declines with age, and every woman’s body is different. So while some women may have healthy pregnancies well into their 30s or 40s, others may face complications.

    Image Credit: istock Cristan Maclel

    The research around later-in-life childbirth and longevity opens up important conversations, but it is not a one-size fits all path. What matters most is being informed, supported, and empowered no matter when or how motherhood happens.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Red Lobster’s Comeback Is Powered by Black America According to CEO


    Damola Adamolekun present CEO of Red Lobster.

    When Red Lobster declared bankruptcy in 2024 there was a pang of something deeper than just concern for another restaurant chain. For a lot of Black America, Red Lobster wasn’t just a place to eat it was a landmark to celebrate milestones.

    Presently, in one of the most culturally resonant corporate comebacks in recent memory, CEO Damola Adamolekun is betting big on what many companies ignore or take for granted: The Black American consumer markets.

    Image credit: Lanna Apisukh/The New York Times

    When Damola Adamolekun stepped in as CEO after Red Lobster’s bankruptcy, the situation was dire. Endless shrimp deals had drained profits, locations were closing, and the brand had lost its way. But Adamolekun didn’t just look at spreadsheets he looked at culture.

    “I kept hearing from Black Americans about how Red Lobster was a celebratory experience,” he told the New York Times. “There’s real nostalgia there.”

    Damola Adamolekun didn’t just capitalize on nostalgia he honored the cultural significance Red Lobster held for many Black Americans. For decades, the restaurant chain had represented more than seafood; it symbolized celebration, upward mobility, and blue collar luxury.

    Recognizing this, Adamolekun introduced what he coined “RED Carpet Hospitality” a service philosophy designed to ensure every guest feels valued and celebrated from the moment they walk in. The concept moves beyond customer service into cultural affirmation. It is, at its core, an acknowledgment that for many Black diners, Red Lobster has always been about more than food it has been about dignity.

    By centering this experience, Adamolekun tapped into a deeper truth: Black consumer dollars carry both economic power and cultural pride. Moreover, any brand that earns that loyalty must do more than offer a product it must appreciate the value of the community it panders to & is supported by.

    Red Lobster’s resurgence is emblematic of a broader truth in American business: Black culture has long fueled the economy, yet is rarely recognized at the decision-making table. The brand’s revival under Adamolekun’s leadership demonstrates what’s possible when Black influence is not only acknowledged but considered at the highest levels.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Micah Parsons Fulfills Dream of Retiring His Mom After $188M History Worthy Contract

    Image credit: Nick Cammett-Getty

    Micah Parsons is making headlines not just for his record-breaking NFL deal, but for a heartwarming moment that followed. Shortly after signing a gigantic four-year, $188 million contract with the Green Bay Packers, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history Parsons shared a deeply personal video of himself helping his mom retire.

    Image credit: Mike Coppola/Getty

    The Instagram clip, set to the gospel song Smile, shows Parsons tearfully embracing his mother, Sherese, with the caption:

    “That moment when your momma never got to work again!”

    Sherese had worked for over 25 years at United Concordia Dental. Despite Parsons’ previous attempts to get her to retire, she always hesitated—uncertain of what life after work would look like. But with $120 million fully guaranteed and $136 million in total guarantees in his new deal, Parsons finally made her retirement a reality.


    Harrisburg native and former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons stands with his mother, Sherese, in front of his childhood home on Jefferson Street in Harrisburg on April 9, 2020. On Thursday, Parsons became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. (Photo: Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com)

    This isn’t the first time Parsons has honored his mother in a big way. After signing his rookie deal with the Dallas Cowboys, he used his earnings to buy her a new house keeping a promise he’d made years prior.

    The emotional video resonated with fans, not just because of the touching moment, but because it showcased the person behind the player. Parsons’ rise from standout at Penn State to NFL superstar has been fueled by hard work, family support, and a sense of gratitude that remains front and center.


    Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons speaks at his introductory press conference on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers acquired Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in a blockbuster trade on August 28, sending defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks to Dallas. (Photo: Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

    Following a blockbuster trade that sent him from Dallas to Green Bay costing the Packers two first-round picks and DT Kenny Clark Parsons now starts a new chapter. But it’s clear his proudest accomplishment so far isn’t just on the field it’s giving his mom the life she deserves.

    In a world of contracts and stats, Micah Parsons just reminded everyone what success is really about.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Staying Black, Staying Powerful: Viola Davis’s Uncompromising Path in Hollywood


    Viola Davis achieved the coveted EGOT status earning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Making her the third Black woman in history to receive this rare and prestigious honor.

    In an industry where success often demands compromise, Viola Davis has chosen a different path one defined by integrity, defiance, and a deep-rooted connection to her identity. In a recent interview, Davis summed it up in a few powerful words: “I stayed Black.”

    This wasn’t just a casual remark but a declaration. A nod to the battles she’s fought throughout her decades-long career. A reminder that her rise to the top tier of Hollywood has never required her to abandon who she is. Instead, Davis has embraced her Blackness at every turn refusing to dilute it for roles, awards, or mainstream comfort.


    Image Credit: © Paramount Pictures / Fences (2016)

    One of the most defining examples of this is her Oscar-winning performance as Rose Maxson in Fences, the 2016 film adaptation of August Wilson’s iconic play. In the role, Davis brought raw emotion, vulnerability, and strength to a character rooted deeply in Black life and struggle in 1950s. She didn’t just play Rose, she was Rose. It was a role that demanded authenticity, and Davis delivered with a power that shook audiences and critics alike.

    Fences wasn’t an anomaly in her career it was a continuation of the deliberate choices she’s made all along. From Doubt to The Help, from Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom to How to Get Away with Murder, Davis has consistently portrayed complex, unvarnished Black women whose stories don’t conform to Hollywood stereotypes.

    “I stayed Black” is more than a personal truth it’s a challenge to an industry that often values palatability over truth. Davis has never tried to soften her features, her voice, or her message. She has refused to “disappear,” as she once put it, into roles that ask her to be anyone but herself.

    Championing the fact that blackness should not be diminished on the main stage but honored, embodied, and celebrated.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Five Years Later, His Legacy Lives On

    PHOTO: JORDAN STRAUSS/INVISION/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK.

    Today marks five years since the world lost Chadwick Boseman, an actor whose body of work and quiet strength elevated not only cinema but the cultural consciousness of a generation.

    Boseman, who died on August 28, 2020, at the age of 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer, left behind a legacy defined by transformative performances, unwavering dignity, and a commitment to telling stories that matter.

    Born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina, Boseman’s artistic path began in the theater before transitioning to television and ultimately film. A graduate of Howard University, where he studied under the guidance of Phylicia Rashad, Boseman later attended the British American Drama Academy in Oxford an experience made possible by a scholarship funded quietly by Denzel Washington.

    Though his early career included television roles on shows like Law & Order and Lincoln Heights, Boseman’s breakthrough came in 2013 with 42, where he portrayed baseball legend Jackie Robinson. The role demanded more than athleticism or acting skills it required grace under pressure, which he delivered.


    Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa in Black Panther (2018); Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013).
    Credit: © Marvel / © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection; © Warner Bros. Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    He would go on to portray other historic Black icons, including James Brown in Get On Up (2014) and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall (2017). Each role was meticulously crafted, with Boseman diving deep into the psychology, voice, and movement of the figures he portrayed. His performances didn’t just reenact history they rehumanized it.

    In 2018, Boseman stepped into a role that would cement his place in cinematic history King T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther. More than a superhero film, Black Panther became a cultural milestone. It was the first Marvel Studios film led by a Black actor, featuring a predominantly Black cast and crew. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film shattered box office records and sparked global conversations about representation in Hollywood.

    Boseman’s T’Challa was regal, poised, and complex a hero grounded not in spectacle but in responsibility and compassion. His performance inspired millions, particularly young Black viewers who for the first time, saw a mainstream superhero who looked like them.

    Photo credit: Marvel Studios/Disney

    Black Panther earned over $1.3 billion worldwide and became the first superhero film nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Boseman’s impact, however, went far beyond accolades it was cultural, emotional, and deeply personal for many.

    What few knew at the time was that during the filming of Black Panther and several subsequent films including Da 5 Bloods and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Boseman was undergoing surgeries and chemotherapy.

    Despite his illness, he continued to work tirelessly, never once allowing his health to overshadow his craft. In Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, his final role, Boseman delivered a searing, vulnerable performance that earned him a posthumous Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win for Best Actor.

    The revelation of his private health battle shocked the world. But it also deepened the respect and admiration for the man behind the roles a figure of tremendous resilience, humility, and courage.

    Howard University’s “Chadwick Boseman Fine Arts” Building

    Five years on, Boseman’s influence continues to ripple through the arts, culture, and activism. His alma mater, Howard University, renamed its College of Fine Arts in his honor. New generations of filmmakers and performers cite him as a guiding light. And Marvel chose not to recast his role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, instead crafting a story that respectfully mourned his character and celebrated his legacy.

    His most famous quote, delivered during a commencement speech at Howard, remains a guiding principle for many:

    “Purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history.”

    Chadwick Boseman lived with purpose and used his platform to uplift, challenge, and inspire. Today, the industry continues to honor him not only as an actor but as an artist whose integrity transcended the screen & left a legacy that will never be forgotten.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Preaching and Preying: The Trafficking Case Against David E. Taylor

    David Taylor/Facebook

    David E. Taylor, self-proclaimed “apostle” and leader of Kingdom of God Global Church (formerly Joshua Media Ministries), was arrested in August 2025 and federally indicted for operating what prosecutors call a religious labor trafficking scheme. Along with associate Michelle Brannon, Taylor faces 10 felony counts including forced labor, conspiracy, and money laundering.

    According to the indictment, Taylor and Brannon coerced church members into unpaid labor, forcing them to meet daily fundraising quotas in abusive conditions. Victims were allegedly denied sleep, food, and medical care, subjected to public shaming, and controlled through fear, isolation, and threats of spiritual damnation. Women were forced to take “day after pills” formerly known as Plan B contraceptives, and some served as personal assistants known as “armor bearers.” The ministry reportedly raised over $50 million from 2014–2024, used to fund luxury homes, cars, and boats.

    FBI raids across Texas, Florida, and Missouri rescued 17 people and exposed the scale of control behind the organization’s religious front.

    Image credit: Dhs.gov

    Taylor’s alleged manipulation of spiritual authority for profit and abuse erodes trust in faith leaders and institutions meant to protect. Moreover, the coercion tactics used echo broader patterns of trafficking, exploitation, and systemic harm that disproportionately affect minority Americans, especially women and youth.

    While Taylor once promoted himself as fighting sex trafficking, his ministry now stands accused of perpetrating a form of it. The case is a sobering reminder: exploitation can wear many faces or in this case cloths. Mr. Taylor is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Labeled, But Not Protected: The Truth About Prop 65 and Black Health

    Every time we pick up a product, be it a beauty item, electronics, furniture, or even food we might see a small, often overlooked label: “This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.” This warning comes from Proposition 65, a California law enacted in 1986. While the intent behind this law is to inform and protect consumers, the reality—especially for Black Americans is far more complicated, and dangerous.

    Imaged by: BEWITTY Publication

    Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, was created to help Californians make informed decisions about their exposure to harmful chemicals. It requires companies to warn consumers when their products contain any one of over 900 toxic substances linked to cancer or reproductive harm by being near said item in any capacity.

    Image credit: Sky News

    But here’s the thing: these warnings are everywhere, from hair relaxers to cookware, car parts, household cleaners, and even drinking straws. And when everything carries a warning, it’s easy for consumers to tune them out or misunderstand what they mean. That can be deadly.

    To understand why Prop 65 matters so deeply to Black Americans, we have to look at the broader issue of environmental racism. For decades, Black communities have been disproportionately exposed to harmful chemicals and pollutants. Our neighborhoods are often near factories, highways, waste sites, and power plants. Toxic air, unsafe water, and chemical-laden products have been part of daily life for many of us, not by choice, but by design.

    This systemic exposure leads to higher rates of asthma, cancer, reproductive issues, and other chronic diseases in Black communities. Proposition 65, while helpful in theory, doesn’t do enough to prevent these exposures. It merely warns consumers, assuming we all have the same resources, education, and access to safer alternatives.

    One of the most striking examples of this issue is in the beauty industry. Black women have long been targeted with hair and beauty products containing toxic chemicals. Studies have shown that many hair relaxers and skin-lightening creams which often carry Prop 65 warnings contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can lead to uterine fibroids, cancer, and early puberty in girls. Meanwhile these products are still widely sold in stores that serve Black communities many times foreign owned beauty supply stores.

    We’re being told that these products are dangerous, but are not given local alternatives. With the burden of navigating these dangers being placed on the community instead of companies which make billions from such.

    Let’s be clear: a Prop 65 warning doesn’t mean a product is banned. It doesn’t mean a product is unsafe by FDA standards. It just means the manufacturer is required to tell you that it will expose you to harmful chemicals that can lead to but is not limited to cancer or death. Knowing most people don’t have the time or knowledge to research every label. And in communities already facing health inequities, warning labels aren’t enough.

    Moreover, many companies don’t change their formulas when they get a Prop 65 designation. Instead, they simply slap a label on the package and continue to sell the item. This practice disproportionately impacts consumers of color, who are more likely to live in areas where safer or organic products are less available and more expensive and thus forth unaffordable.

    From a minority perspective Proposition 65 reveals a deeper issue: the fight for clean, safe, and non-toxic living. It’s not just about warning labels, it’s about accountability, education, and environmental justice.

    We need stronger regulations on companies that continue to sell toxic products, especially those targeting Black and Brown communities. Public health messaging around Prop 65 must be clear, accessible, and culturally relevant. Safer alternatives must be made affordable and available in our neighborhoods, not just in wealthier ones. And we need meaningful investment in Black-led environmental justice movements that have long been fighting for our communities’ health and safety.

    Prop 65 may offer transparency, but it doesn’t offer protection. For the systemic maligned who have long borne the brunt of environmental racism and toxic exposure, a warning label isn’t a solution, it’s a reminder that our health is still being treated as an afterthought.

    Until our communities are truly protected, not just warned , we all must keep demanding more.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Authorities Say Missing New Orleans Child Likely Died in Alligator Attack


    Bryan Vasquez. Image provided by the New Orleans Police Department.

    A 12-year-old boy with autism who had been missing for nearly two weeks is believed to have died from an alligator attack, according to police. His body was discovered this week in a canal in New Orleans.


    On August 17, 2025, neighbors and friends of the Vasquez family joined the search for 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez in the Village De L’Est neighborhood of New Orleans.
    Photo credit: John McCusker / AP

    Bryan Vasquez was reported missing on the morning of August 14, after reportedly climbing out of a bedroom window in the eastern part of the city, the New Orleans Police Department said. Vasquez, who was nonverbal, was last seen on doorbell camera footage around 5:20 a.m., walking alone down the street wearing only a diaper.

    His body was found Tuesday with the help of a drone. In a statement to CBS News, a spokesperson for the police department confirmed that the Orleans Parish Coroner determined the cause of death to be drowning, with injuries consistent with an alligator attack.

    As a result, the case has shifted from a missing child investigation to an unclassified death investigation, now being handled by the homicide division, according to a police department spokesperson.

    “Detectives are thoroughly investigating every lead and examining all aspects of the circumstances surrounding Bryan’s death,” the spokesperson said. “At this time, no suspects have been identified or charged. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.”

    Bryan’s mother, Hilda Vasquez, told The New Orleans Advocate/The Times-Picayune that her son had a habit of sneaking off to a nearby playground, though the family had recently moved to a new home.

    His disappearance sparked an extensive search effort involving multiple agencies, volunteers, airboats, and bloodhounds.

    As local and state teams scoured the area, the New Orleans Police Department faced criticism over its delayed response. As reported by CBS Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick acknowledged there was nearly a five-hour delay between the time Bryan was reported missing and when officers arrived on the scene. His body was ultimately found about 200 yards from the original search area. Kirkpatrick noted that in drowning cases, it’s not uncommon for a body to resurface some time after death.

    In a separate news release, city officials described Bryan as “a bright, charismatic, and energetic young boy whose joy and spirit touched the lives of his family, friends and community.”      

    Kirkpatrick said she has asked the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to remove “nuisance” alligators from the area where Bryan was found.

    According to the wildlife agency, hunters capture and remove more than 1,000 nuisance alligators every year in an effort to minimize encounters between the alligators and humans. Louisiana is home to the largest alligator population in the country.

    As of the most recent data, Black residents make up approximately 55.2% of New Orleans’ population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and demographic sources like World Population Review.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • We’re Burying Our Children: South Side Pastor Calls Out Chicago Mayor on Crime

    Pastor Corey Brooks at his Community Event/ Image by projecthood.org

    A respected South Side Chicago pastor is taking aim at Democratic leaders, accusing them of turning a blind eye to the violence destroying Black communities. Pastor Corey Brooks of New Beginnings Church says it’s time for bold action and he’s calling on former President Donald Trump to send in the National Guard to restore order.

    J. Kim / Chicago Tribune via Getty Images

    “Democrats keep telling us crime is down,” Brooks said during a recent sermon. “But we’re the ones burying our children. We’re the ones who live with gunfire. They’re lying and we’re paying the price.”

    Brooks, a longtime advocate for safer neighborhoods, says Chicago’s Black communities have been neglected for too long by politicians who make promises but don’t deliver. He believes the city’s leadership has failed to get violent crime under control, and that residents need real protection — not more talking points.

    Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson attends a funeral service in Bridgeview, Illinois, in October 2023.

    While Mayor Brandon Johnson touts community programs and softer policing strategies, Brooks argues that those efforts haven’t made the streets any safer. “We’ve tried the social experiments,” he said. “They’re not working. People are scared to walk outside.”

    Recent weekends have seen surges in shootings across the South and West Sides, including several incidents involving children. Brooks says it’s time for someone to take decisive action and he believes Trump is willing to do what Democrats won’t.


    Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

    “I’m calling on President Trump: send in the National Guard. Our communities need help now,” Brooks said. “We don’t care about politics. We care about survival.”

    Brooks’ message has struck a nerve, drawing praise from residents fed up with rising crime, but criticism from those who see federal intervention as extreme. Still, the pastor insists this isn’t about party lines it’s about saving Black lives.

    “This isn’t just a Chicago issue it’s happening in cities run by Democrats all over the country,” he said. “We need leadership that’s not afraid to protect us.”

    Brooks plans to lead a march demanding accountability and increased law enforcement presence, saying the time for empty promises is over.

    Former Chicago Mayoral Candidate, respected businessman & philanthropist Willie Wilson has also chimed in regarding the national guard coming to Chicago saying. “If the National Guard can help stop the violence and protect our people, I welcome it,” Wilson said. “We need action, not more excuses.”

    For Brooks and others in the community, the message is simple: the time for political games is over.

    As crime continues to grip parts of the city, voices like Brooks and Wilson say they’re no longer waiting on political promises. For them, it’s about restoring safety, dignity, and peace in neighborhoods that have gone too long without it.

    “Our communities deserve better,” Brooks said. “And if our leaders won’t step up, we’ll call on someone who will.”

    BY: BEWITTY Staff