The wall of respect in South Chicago

In the heritage of slavery, there are plenty of heroes, just like in any other tragedy. Deep in the wasteland of Chicago Southside, embedded like an emerald in an ash can is an immaculate wonder called the wall of respect. Black artists painted black heroes on this wall. Men and women willing to liberate themselves, in Malcolm X's words, by any means necessary. They are individuals who will either have respect or will die trying to get it. And some of them have. It's a long way and a lot of years from the slave market in Charleston to the wall of respect in Chicago. But neither distance nor time has yet entirely separated the black man from bondage. No one needs to inflame the black race against these realities. The fire of rebellion started burning a long time ago. What these travels in black America have shown is that white racism created the need for black power.