Christopher Schroeder

Author: Christopher Schroeder

  • Saving Others and Ourselves

    I recently reread Colson Whitehead’s (2019) The Nickel Boys, which seemed more compelling the second time.

    This story, which will appear on big screens as a new movie this fall, is based upon an actual Florida reformatory school, which Whitehead reportedly encountered on social media after a local university uncovered unmarked graves on its grounds. From here, he researched and then built a story about 1960s Jim Crow abuse as experienced by two protagonists Elwood Curtis and Jack Turner, which later won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

    One reviewer (Rich 2019) claims that this book attests to the American failure to confront its history and to reenact its worst parts. I agree but actually think the book is even more bleak, especially in the way it exposes the limits of literacy and education.

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  • Promoting Public Possibilities

    I attended earlier this week the People Powered Policy Panel, which was a Chicago Public Library event to explore a public options platform generally and specifically municipally-owned grocery stores and public banking initiatives.

    Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the audience. Then local media maven Sylvia Ewing moderated a conversation among sociologist Ruha Benjamin, community activist Dorian Warren, and city policy chief Mayumi Grigsby.

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  • Community Connections

    I was disappointed by the National Night Out, which was promoted as a way of connecting police to communities.

    I had walked along the sidewalk to Lake Street and then made my way down the middle of State Street to Randolph. A band played in the middle of the street. Several tents promoted services. Canine handlers had their dogs. Food lines were long.

    Nothing was noteworthy, so I walked to the corner of Randolph toward home. I had the white walk light and stood in the crosswalk next to a police officer, who continued to wave through left-turning cars from the opposite direction.

    The traffic light turned yellow and then read. The officer asked me to step back.

    “I was trying to cross with the light,” I said, “but you wouldn’t stop waving traffic.”

    She gave me a side-eye. “That’s why we’re here,” she said.

    To prevent pedestrians from crossing the street? I wanted to say but didn’t want to press my luck.

    Others approached. I hoped one or more would press ahead just to see what the officer would say. None did.

    The walk light flipped white again. I shook my head and re-entered the crosswalk. So much for connecting with the community.