- Social Networks and Archival Context

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK MAN PAINTING A STORE FRONT ON SOUTH WABASH STREET ONE OF THE NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF HIS RACE WHO MAKE UP MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. IT IS ONE OF MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. IN SHORT, THEY ARE PORTRAITS OF HUMAN BEINGS WHO FEEL THEY ARE INDIVIDUAL AND ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE. THEIR FACES MIRROR PRIDE, LOVE, BEAUTY, HOPE STRUGGLE, JOY, HATE, FRUSTRATION, DISCONTENT AND FAITH

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK FAMILY COUNT THEIR CASH IN THEIR APARTMENT IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883. BUT THE MEDIAN INCOME OF WHITES INCREASED EVEN MORE AND WIDENED THE GAP FROM $3,251 IN 1960 TO $3,603 IN 1970

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK MAN OPERATING A NEWSSTAND IN CHICAGO AT 22ND AND SOUTH STATE STREET ON THE SOUTH SIDE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION MUHAMMAD ALI, A BLACK MUSLIM, ATTENDS THE SECT'S SERVICE TO HEAR ELIJAH MUHAMMAD DELIVER THE ANNUAL SAVIOR'S DAY MESSAGE IN CHICAGO. THE CITY IS HEADQUARTERS FOR THE BLACK MUSLIMS. THEIR $75 MILLION EMPIRE INCLUDES A MOSQUE NEWSPAPER, UNIVERSITY, RESTAURANTS, REAL ESTATE, BANK AND VARIETY OF RETAIL STORES. THE MUSLIM LEADER DIED FEBRUARY 25, 1975

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK SOUL SINGER ISAAC HAYES PERFORMS AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL PUSH 'BLACK EXPO' IN THE FALL OF 1973. THE ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASES BLACK TALENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, STARS, ART AND PRODUCTS TO PROVIDE BLACKS WITH AN AWARENESS OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK COMMUNITY OLDER HOUSING ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE. THIS AREA IN 1973 HAD NOT QUITE RECOVERED FROM THE RIOTS AND FIRES DURING THE MID AND LATE 1960'S. ACCORDING TO THE 1970 CENSUS, 22 TO 29% OF THE RESIDENTS WERE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. BLACK WEST SIDE BUSINESSMEN FORMED AN ORGANIZATION, FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN AGREEMENTS WITH MAJOR NATIONAL FRANCHISES AND RESULTED IN SOME $20 MILLION IN JOBS FOR AREA CITIZENS BY 1974

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ARTIST RON BLACKBURN PAINTING AN OUTDOOR WALL MURAL AT THE CORNER OF 33RD AND GILES STREETS IN CHICAGO. HE IS ONE OF MANY ARTISTS PAINTING IN THE CITY'S BLACK COMMUNITIES. THE ARTISTS FEEL IT IS A MEANS OF SHARING ART WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE GHETTO WHO DON'T GO TO THE CITY'S MUSEUMS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE DAN RYAN EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO ILLINOIS. IT IS THE BUSIEST IN THE UNITED STATES WITH 254,700 VEHICLES DAILY, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED IN MARCH, 1975, BY THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO IS THE SECOND BUSIEST (NOT SHOWN) WITH 234,100 VEHICLES PER DAY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. WORSHIPPERS AT HOLY ANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. IT IS THE CITY'S LARGEST BLACK CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE PASTOR IS FATHER GEORGE H. CLEMENTS, A LEADER IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ILLINOIS GOVERNOR DAN WALKER GREETS CHICAGO CONSTITUENTS DURING THE BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE, ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS FOR BLACKS DURING THE YEAR. HALF A MILLION PEOPLE CELEBRATE THE AUGUST PARADE EACH YEAR WHICH IS HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS. THE PARADE INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS, BLACK BANDS AND BLACK BEAUTIES OF ALL AGES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK MAN ENJOYING A NAP ON A CHAISE LOUNGE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. YOUNG FAMILY IN A SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO PARK AT THE 35TH STREET BEACH. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883. BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR INCOME AND THAT OF WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED FROM $3,251 TO $3,603

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A YOUNG BLACK MAN SHOWING HIS MUSCLE DURING A SMALL COMMUNITY PROGRAM IN CHICAGO ON THE SOUTH SIDE. THERE ARE MANY BLOCK CLUBS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ORGANIZED TO HELP YOUNGSTERS quot;DO THEIR THINGquot; DURING SPECIAL WEEKEND PROGRAMS IN EMPTY LOTS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITIES. IT HELPS THEM TO DEVELOP CHARACTER AND BELIEF IN THEIR ABILITIES AS WELL AS STRESSING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A STUDENT AT THE WESTINGHOUSE INDUSTRIAL VOCATION SCHOOL ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE. SHE IS ONE OF NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF HER RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. IT IS ONE OF MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT. THE PHOTOS ARE PORTRAITS THAT REFLECT PRIDE, LOVE, BEAUTY, HOPE, STRUGGLE, JOY, HATE, FRUSTRATION DISCONTENT, WORSHIP AND FAITH. IN SHORT, PORTRAITS OF HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACKS AT LAKE MEADOWS SHOPPING CENTER ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883 ALTHOUGH THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT THEY AND THE WHITES RECEIVED ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK YOUNGSTERS OUTSIDE THE STATEWAY GARDENS HIGHRISE HOUSING PROJECT ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. THE COMPLEX HAS EIGHT BUILDINGS WITH 1,633 TWO AND THREE BEDROOM APARTMENTS HOUSING 6,825 PERSONS. THEY WERE BUILT UNDER THE U.S. HOUSING ACTS OF 1949 AND 1968 THEY ARE MANAGED BY THE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 41,500 PUBLIC HOUSING DWELLINGS. CHICAGO'S MIDDLE CLASS BLACKS LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WEST SIDE AND NEAR NORTH SIDE IN HIGHRISE APARTMENTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK SIDEWALK SALESMEN ARRANGING THEIR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. MANY OF THE CITY'S BLACK BUSINESSMEN STARTED SMALL AND GREW BY WORKING HARD. TODAY CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. BLACK ENTERPRISES MAGAZINE REPORTED IN 1973 THAT THE CITY HAD 14 OF THE TOP 100 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTRY, ONE MORE THAN NEW YORK CITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. CHICAGO GHETTO ON THE SOUTH SIDE. ALTHOUGH THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS MAKING $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58% BETWEEN 1960 AND 1970, A LARGE PERCENTAGE STILL REMAINED UNEMPLOYED. THE BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE GENERALLY IS ASSUMED TO BE TWICE THAT OF THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. HOLY ANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. IT IS THE CITY'S LARGEST BLACK CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE PASTOR IS FATHER GEORGE H CLEMENTS, (LEFT) A LEADER IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,000 CHURCH MEMBERS. THE CHURCH ALSO HAS THE LARGEST BLACK CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE NATION WITH MORE THAN 1,300 STUDENTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO GHETTO MOTHER AND CHILD WHO LIVE IN NEARBY LOW INCOME HOUSING. THEY ARE PART OF THE 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF THEIR RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION CHICAGO AREA CENSUS FIGURES SHOW A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN ECONOMIC SECURITY BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES. OF FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $8,000 IN 1970 SOME 50% WERE BLACK COMPARED TO 21% WHITE. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME IN CHICAGO AT THAT TIME WAS 65% THAT OF THE WHITES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. SCENE IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO ON 47TH STREET, A BUSY THOROUGHFARE WHERE MANY SMALL BLACK BUSINESSES ARE LOCATED MANY OF THE CITY'S BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS STARTED WITH SMALL OPERATIONS AND GREW WITH HARD WORK. TODAY CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. CENSUS FIGURES IN 1970 NOTED THAT 8,747 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES WERE IN OPERATION IN CHICAGO AND GROSSED MORE THAN $332 MILLION

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK BALLOON SALESMAN ON SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO'S 47TH STREET MANY OF THE CITY'S BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS STARTED WITH SMALL OPERATIONS SUCH AS THIS AND GREW BY WORKING HARD. TODAY CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. BUT BLACKS HAVE A HARDER TIME STAYING IN BUSINESS THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS. STATISTICS NOTE THAT 80% OF BLACK BUSINESSES DO NOT SURVIVE TWO YEARS. RACIAL PREJUDICE, LACK OF CAPITAL AND EXPERTISE ARE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. STREET SCENE ON 47TH STREET IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO, A BUSY AREA WHERE MANY SMALL BLACK BUSINESSES ARE LOCATED. MANY OF THE CITY'S BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS STARTED WITH SMALL OPERATIONS AND GREW BY WORKING HARD. TODAY CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. CENSUS FIGURES IN 1970 NOTED THAT 8,747 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES WERE IN OPERATION IN CHICAGO AND GROSSED MORE THAN $332 MILLION

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. PRICE ALLEN, THE PEANUT MAN, WHO SELLS HIS PRODUCT AND TALKS ABOUT THE BIBLE TO CUSTOMERS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. CENSUS FIGURES FOR 1970 SHOWED THERE WERE 8,747 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE CITY THAT GROSSED MORE THAN $332 MILLION. BUT STATISTICS NOTE THAN 80% OF BLACK BUSINESSES FAIL WITHIN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF RACIAL PREJUDICE AND LACK OF CAPITAL, BUSINESS EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. GHETTO BLACK CHILDREN LINE UP FOR SNOW CONES FROM A SIDEWALK VENDOR ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE IN THE SUMMER OF 1973. THIS PORTION OF THE CITY WAS HARD HIT BY RIOTS AND FIRES IN THE MID AND LATE 1960'S AND WAS SLOW TO RECOVER. HELP CAME WHEN BLACK BUSINESSMEN, WITH FEDERAL HELP, REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH SEVERAL NATIONAL FRANCHISES WHICH RESULTED IN $20 MILLION WORTH OF JOBS TO RESIDENTS BY 1974

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. SOUTH SIDE TOWNHOUSES OWNED BY BLACKS IN CHICAGO ON COTTAGE GROVE AVENUE AT 33RD STREET. MIDDLE CLASS BLACKS IN THE CITY GENERALLY LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WEST SIDE, NEAR NORTH SIDE, IN HIGHRISE APARTMENTS ALONG THE LAKE FRONT AND IN THE SUBURBAN RING THE 1970 CENSUS NOTED NEARLY HALF OF THE NATION'S 22.7 MILLION BLACKS AND 58% OF CHICAGO'S BLACKS WERE IN THE MIDDLE INCOME BRACKETS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MARINA IN LAKE MICHIGAN ADJACENT TO DOWNTOWN CHICAGO. THE CITY HAS PROVIDED A CLIMATE FOR DEVELOPING BLACK RESOURCES AND IS CONSIDERED THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. THERE WERE 8,747 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES WHICH GROSSED $332 MILLION IN 1970 ACCORDING TO CENSUS FIGURES. BLACK ENTERPRISES MAGAZINE IN 1973 REPORTED THAT CHICAGO HAD 14 OF THE TOP 100 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES TOPPING NEW YORK CITY'S 13

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. PRICE ALLEN, THE quot;PEANUT MANquot;, A SIDEWALK VENDOR ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. HE IS ONE OF THE NEARLY 1.2 MILLION BLACK PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF THE POPULATION OF CHICAGO. IT IS ONE OF MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. THEY ARE PORTRAITS OF PEOPLE LIVING LIFE AS THEY FIND IT, AS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK MAN OPERATING A NEWSSTAND IN CHICAGO ON THE WEST SIDE THE CITY IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. CENSUS FIGURES SHOW IN 1970 THERE WERE 8,747 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE CITY THAT GROSSED MORE THAN $332 MILLION. BUT BLACK CAPITALISTS STILL HAVE MORE TROUBLE STAYING IN BUSINESS ONCE THEY BEGIN AND THE MAIN REASON REMAINS RACIAL PREJUDICE. LACK OF CAPITAL LACK OF BUSINESS EXPERTISE AND LACK OF SUPPORT FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY ARE OTHER FACTORS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A SENIOR CITIZENS' MARCH TO PROTEST INFLATION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND HIGH TAXES STOPPED AT A BAND SHELL ALONG LAKE SHORE DRIVE IN CHICAGO TO HEAR SPEECHES. THE RALLY WAS SPONSORED BY THE REV. JESSE JACKSON AND OPERATION PUSH. REV. JACKSON IS SHOWN SPEAKING

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE CHECK OUT A MOTORCYCLE. THE CITY'S WEST SIDE DID NOT QUICKLY RECOVER FROM THE RIOTS AND FIRES OF THE MID AND LATE 1960'S. ACCORDING TO THE 1970 CENSUS, SOME 22 TO 29% OF THE AREA'S RESIDENTS WERE BELOW THE OFFICIAL POVERTY LINE. A BLACK BUSINESSMAN'S GROUP, WITH FEDERAL HELP, HAD SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH SEVERAL NATIONWIDE FRANCHISES THAT PUMPED $20 MILLION IN JOBS INTO THE COMMUNITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE BLACK COMMUNITY LINE A PORTION OF DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. DRIVE TO WATCH THE ANNUAL BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE. UP TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VIEW ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR, HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS. THE PARADE INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS, BLACK BANDS AND BLACK BEAUTIES OF ALL AGES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE AS IT TRAVELS CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE ON DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. DRIVE. ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS DURING THE YEAR, IT IS HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS, AND ATTRACTS UP TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE ALONG THE ROUTE. THE PARADE INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS, BLACK BANDS AND BLACK BEAUTIES OF ALL AGES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. SOUTH SIDE BLACK COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO WITH SMALL BUSINESSES AND APARTMENTS OVER THE STORES IN THE OLDER BUILDINGS NEAR 43RD AND INDIANA AVENUE. CHICAGO AREA CENSUS FIGURES SHOW A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN ECONOMIC SECURITY BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES. ONLY 35% OF BLACK FAMILIES EARNED $10,000 TO $25,000 IN 1970 COMPARED TO 60% FOR WHITES. OF FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $8,000 SOME 50% WERE BLACK AND 21% WHITE THE 1970 MEDIAN BLACK INCOME IN CHICAGO WAS 65% OF WHITE FAMILIES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A SWIMSUIT CLAD BLACK WOMAN ENJOYS HER SUMMER OUTING AT CHICAGO'S 12TH STREET BEACH ON LAKE MICHIGAN. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $4,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. LAKE MEADOWS SHOPPING CENTER ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE WHICH IS FREQUENTED BY BLACKS. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883 ALTHOUGH THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT THEY AND THE WHITES RECEIVED ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A PORTION OF LAKE SHORE DRIVE IN CHICAGO. IT AND THE OUTER DRIVE ARE THE CITY'S MOST SPECTACULAR STREET. TRAFFIC MOTORS ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN FROM 5600 NORTH TO 6600 SOUTH, GENERALLY AT 45 MPH. THE DRIVE PROVIDES A CONTINUOUS, LANDSCAPED ASPECT OF CHICAGO'S FRONT YARD. THERE ARE FOUR LANES EACH WAY, BUT SIX LANES ARE ONE WAY IN AND SIX OUT DURING THE MORNING AND EVENING RUSH HOURS. THE FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY IS SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. INSPECTOR TESTING THE EXHAUST OF AN AUTO AT SOLDIER'S FIELD ONE OF NINE AUTO POLLUTION TEST SITES CONDUCTED FREE BY THE CITY OF CHICAGO'S ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN JUNE 1, 1973, A TOTAL OF 400,789 CARS HAD BEEN VOLUNTARILY TESTED BY FEBRUARY 1, 1975

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ARTIST WHO WAS HELPING WITH A WALL PAINTING ON 33RD AND GILES STREET IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO. HE IS ONE OF MANY BLACK ARTISTS PAINTING OUTDOOR MURALS IN CHICAGO. THEY FEEL IT IS A MEANS OF SHARING ART WITH GHETTO PEOPLE WHO DON'T GO TO THE ESTABLISHED MUSEUMS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ROBERT TAYLOR HOMES, LOW INCOME HIGHRISE APARTMENT HOUSING FOR BLACKS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. IT IS ONE OF A COMPLEX OF 28 BUILDINGS WITH 4,312 APARTMENTS HOUSING 25,220 PERSONS. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883 BUT WAS STILL $3,603 LESS THAN MEDIAN INCOME FOR WHITES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A PORTION OF THE BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE ALONG DR. MARTIN L KING JR. DRIVE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. UP TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VIEW ONE OF THE LARGEST ANNUAL EVENTS OF THE YEAR, HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS. THE PARADE INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS, BLACK BANDS AND BLACK BEAUTIES OF ALL AGES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK FAMILY ENJOYS A PICNIC DURING THE SUMMER AT CHICAGO'S 12TH STREET BEACH ON LAKE MICHIGAN. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK COMMUNITY OLDER HOUSING ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE. THIS AREA IN 1973 HAD NOT QUITE RECOVERED FROM THE RIOTS AND FIRES DURING THE MID AND LATE 1960'S. ACCORDING TO THE 1970 CENSUS, 22 TO 29% OF THE RESIDENTS WERE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. BLACK WEST SIDE BUSINESSMEN FORMED AN ORGANIZATION, FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN AGREEMENTS WITH MAJOR NATIONAL FRANCHISES AND RESULTED IN SOME $20 MILLION IN JOBS FOR AREA CITIZENS BY 1974

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. CONSTRUCTION SIGN IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO NOTES CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST PHASE OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WITH 400 UNITS. THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS PROVIDING INTERIM FINANCING FOR THE FHA PROJECT. BLACK HOME OWNERSHIP IN CHICAGO INCREASED FROM 13,000 UNITS IN 1950 TO 90,000 IN 1973 WITH LIBERALIZATION OF FHA CREDIT. BLACK INTEREST IS INCREASING IN BUYING APARTMENT UNITS, FINANCED THROUGH BLACK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. THE APARTMENTS WILL BE FOR PEOPLE WITH LESS THAN $9,000 INCOME

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK CHILD ON THE REAR PORCH OF A HOUSE IN A VERY LOW INCOME AREA ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE. IT IS ONE OF THE MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. THE PHOTOS ARE PORTRAITS THAT REFLECT PRIDE, LOVE, BEAUTY, HOPE, STRUGGLE, JOY, HATE FRUSTRATION, DISCONTENT, WORSHIP AND FAITH. IN SHORT, PORTRAITS OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS AND ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK YOUNGSTERS PERFORMING ON AN EMPTY LOT AT 5440 SOUTH PRINCETON AVENUE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE AT A SMALL COMMUNITY PROGRAM CALLED quot;AN OPEN AIR FASHION AND TALENT SHOWquot; PRESENTED BY quot;THE NEW BETWEEN THE TRACKS COUNCILquot;. IT IS ONE OF MANY BLOCK CLUBS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ORGANIZED TO HELP YOUNGSTERS quot;DO THEIR THINGquot; DURING SPECIAL WEEKEND PROGRAMS IN EMPTY LOTS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITIES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK MAN DELIVERS MAIL TO THE BLOCK OF EAST 43RD STREET ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. HE IS ONE OF THE NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF HIS RACE WHO MAKE UP MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. THE PHOTOS ARE PORTRAITS THAT REFLECT PRIDE, LOVE, BEAUTY, HOPE STRUGGLE, JOY, HATE, FRUSTRATION, DISCONTENT, WORSHIP AND FAITH. THEY ARE PORTRAITS OF INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MOTORISTS WAIT IN LINE AT SOLDIER'S FIELD, ONE OF NINE AUTO POLLUTION TEST SITES CONDUCTED FREE BY THE CITY OF CHICAGO'S ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN JUNE, 1973, A TOTAL OF 400,789 CARS HAD BEEN VOLUNTARILY TESTED BY FEBRUARY 1, 1975

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A SENIOR CITIZENS' MARCH TO PROTEST INFLATION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND HIGH TAXES STOPPED ALONG LAKE SHORE DRIVE IN CHICAGO TO HEAR SPEECHES FROM VARIOUS OFFICIALS. THE RALLY WAS SPONSORED BY THE REV JESSE JACKSON AND OPERATION PUSH

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK BEAUTIES COMPLEMENT A FLOAT DURING THE BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE ALONG DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. DRIVE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE UP TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VIEW ONE OF THE LARGEST ANNUAL EVENTS OF THE YEAR, HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS. THE PARADE ALSO INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS AND BLACK BANDS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. LERONE BENNETT, WELL KNOWN BLACK WRITER WHO IS SENIOR EDITOR AT EBONY MAGAZINE, IN HIS OFFICE AT JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY IN CHICAGO. THE FIRM ALSO PUBLISHES JET, BLACK WORLD, BLACK STARS AND EBONY JR. AS THE TOP BLACK OWNED BUSINESS IN CHICAGO, THE FIRM RECORDED 1972 SALES OF $23.1 MILLION. CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY WITH 14 OF THE TOP 100 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES COMPARED TO 13 FOR NEW YORK CITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A Senior Citizens' March to Protest Inflation, Unemployment and High Taxes Stopped along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago to Hear Speeches from Various Officials, the Rally was Headed by the Rev Jesse Jackson and Operation Push

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A Black Man Who is Jobless Sits on the Windowsill of a Building in a High Crime Area on Chicago's South Side, He Has Nothing to Do and Nowhere to Go, This Scene Contrasts with the Publications Which List the City as the Black Business Mecca Of The World, in Early 1975 Some 16% of Blacks were Believed to be Out of Work Double the Rate of White Unemployment, Black Owned Businesses in Chicago in 1970 Grossed $332 Million from 8,750 Businesses

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MOTORISTS WAIT IN LINE AT SOLDIER'S FIELD, ONE OF NINE AUTO POLLUTION TESTS SITES CONDUCTED FREE BY THE CITY OF CHICAGO'S ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN JUNE 1 1973, A TOTAL OF 400,789 CARS HAD BEEN VOLUNTARILY TESTED BY FEBRUARY 1, 1975

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. SOUTH SIDE GROUP OF BLACK CHILDREN IN CHICAGO AT A PLAYGROUND AT 40TH AND DREXEL BOULEVARD, PART OF NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF THEIR RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF THE CITY'S POPULATION. THEY COMPRISE SEVERAL OF MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY PRIDE, LOVE, BEAUTY, HOPE, STRUGGLE, JOY, HATE FRUSTRATION, DISCONTENT, WORSHIP AND FAITH. IN SHORT, PORTRAITS OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS AND ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK MEN AT THE ENTRANCE TO A POOL HALL WHERE THEY HANG AROUND DAILY, LOCATED ON ROOSEVELT ROAD IN THE HEART OF THE GHETTO ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE. THE 1970 CENSUS REPORTED 22 TO 29% OF THE AREA'S RESIDENTS WERE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. HELPED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A LOCAL ORGANIZATION SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH MAJOR NATIONAL FRANCHISES THAT RESULTED IN $20 MILLION IN JOBS FOR RESIDENTS. IN 1973 THE WEST SIDE HAD NOT YET RECOVERED FROM EARLIER RIOTS AND FIRES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WAS ONE OF THE THEMES AT THE ANNUAL BLACK EXPO HELD IN CHICAGO. ALSO PRESENT WERE BLACK ART AND CULTURE, EDUCATION, TALENT, A VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AND OTHER ASPECTS OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS. THE AIM IS TO MAKE BLACKS AWARE OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. CHICAGO FAMILIES ENJOYING THE SUMMER WEATHER AT THE 12TH STREET BEACH ON LAKE MICHIGAN. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK SAXOPHONIST PERFORMS AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL PUSH 'BLACK EXPO' IN THE FALL OF 1973. THE ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASES BLACK TALENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, STARS, ART AND PRODUCTS TO PROVIDE BLACKS WITH AN AWARENESS OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. Black Youths Play Basketball at Stateway Gardens' Highrise Housing Project on Chicago's South Side, the Complex has Eight Buildings with 1,633 Two and Three Bedroom Apartments Housing 6,825 Persons, they were Built under the U.S. Housing Acts of 1949 and 1968 They are Managed by the Chicago Housing Authority which is Responsible for 41,500 Public Housing Dwellings

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. CLOSEUP OF A SAILBOAT OWNER READYING HIS CRAFT IN A LAKE MICHIGAN MARINA ADJACENT TO DOWNTOWN CHICAGO. THE CITY HAS PROVIDED A CLIMATE FOR DEVELOPING BLACK RESOURCES AND IS CONSIDERED THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. THERE WERE 8,747 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES WHICH GROSSED $332 MILLION IN 1970 ACCORDING TO CENSUS FIGURES. BLACK ENTERPRISES MAGAZINE IN 1973 REPORTED THAT CHICAGO HAD 14 OF THE TOP 100 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES TOPPING NEW YORK CITY'S 13

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. VOTE REGISTRATION DRIVE WAS ONE ASPECT OF BLACK EXPO, AN ANNUAL EXHIBIT OF BLACK TALENT, EDUCATION, PRODUCTS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS HELD IN CHICAGO. THE AIM IS TO MAKE BLACKS AWARE OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. CLOSEUP OF A BLACK MOTHER AND CHILD AS THEY ENJOY A SUMMER OUTING ON CHICAGO'S 12TH STREET BEACH ON LAKE MICHIGAN. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK BAND PERFORMS AT THE LAKE MEADOWS SHOPPING CENTER IN CHICAGO. NOT WELL KNOWN, THEY ARE SHARING THEIR MUSIC AT HOME AND HOPE THEIR START WILL LEAD TO GREATER RECOGNITION

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. THE KADATS OF AMERICA, CHICAGO'S MOST LOVED YOUNG BLACK DRILL TEAM, SHOWN PERFORMING ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT A COMMUNITY TALENT SHOW ON THE SOUTH SIDE. LEADER OF THE GROUP IS MAJOR GENERAL ACKLIN, WHO WORKS WITH THE YOUNGSTERS TO GIVE THEM A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE. THE GROUP HAS WON MANY MARCHING AND DRILL AWARDS, AND HAS PERFORMED IN MANY AREA PARADES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. GRAFFITI ON A WALL IN CHICAGO. SUCH WRITING HAS ADVANCED AND BECOME AN ART FORM, PARTICULARLY IN METROPOLITAN AREAS. BLACK ARTISTS ALSO HAVE USED WALLS ON BUILDINGS IN BLACK COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO TO PAINT OUTDOOR MURALS. THEY FEEL IT IS A MEANS OF SHARING ART WITH PEOPLE IN THE GHETTO WHO DON'T GO TO THE MUSEUMS. THE ARTISTS ALSO HAVE GIVEN PAINTING LESSONS TO COMMUNITY GROUPS BY DECORATING WALLS ON SOME BUILDINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. STREET SCENE ON 47TH STREET IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO, A BUSY AREA WHERE MANY SMALL BLACK BUSINESSES ARE LOCATED. MANY OF THE CITY'S BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS STARTED WITH SMALL OPERATIONS AND GREW BY WORKING HARD. TODAY CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. CENSUS FIGURES IN 1970 NOTED THAT 8,747 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES WERE IN OPERATION IN CHICAGO AND GROSSED MORE THEN $332 MILLION

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK SOUL SINGER ISAAC HAYES AND HIS GROUP PERFORM AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL PUSH 'BLACK EXPO' IN THE FALL OF 1973. THE ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASES BLACK TALENT, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, STARS, ART AND PRODUCTS TO PROVIDE BLACKS WITH AN AWARENESS OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A YOUNG BLACK CHILD, ONE OF THE NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF HER RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. IT IS ONE OF MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. THE PHOTOS ARE PORTRAITS THAT REFLECT PRIDE, LOVE, BEAUTY HOPE, STRUGGLE, JOY, HATE, FRUSTRATION, DISCONTENT, WORSHIP AND FAITH IN SHORT, PORTRAITS OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS AND ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. Photograph of an Oakland A's Pitcher

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE WITH A MARINA AND PART OF THE CHICAGO SKYLINE IN THE BACKGROUND. THE CITY HAS THREE OF THE FIVE TALLEST BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD. THERE ARE 29 MILES OF SHORELINE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND 30 PUBLIC BATHING BEACHES. DURING 1973 OFFICIALS ISSUED 3,399 MOORING PERMITS IN THE HARBOR AREA, PLUS ANOTHER 2,985 PERMITS TO USE LAUNCHING RAMPS BY SMALLER BOATS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. OLDER LOW INCOME APARTMENTS INHABITED BY BLACKS IN CHICAGO ON THE SOUTH SIDE. A GOAL OF MANY RESIDENTS IS TO FIND A JOB THAT PAYS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO REACH MIDDLE CLASS STATUS AND MOVE. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT WAS STILL $3,603 LESS THAN THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR WHITES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. SUNRISE ON LAKE MICHIGAN WITH CHICAGO SHOWN IN THE BACKGROUND. THE CITY HAS PROVIDED A CLIMATE FOR DEVELOPING BLACK RESOURCES AND IS CONSIDERED THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. THERE WERE 8,747 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES WHICH GROSSED MORE THAN $332 MILLION IN 1970, ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS. IN 1972 BLACK OWNED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN CHICAGO HAD ASSETS OF $254.9 MILLION

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. STREET SCENE IN WEST SIDE CHICAGO. THIS AREA WAS SLOW TO RECOVER FROM THE RIOTS AND FIRES OF THE MID AND LATE 1960'S ACCORDING TO THE 1970 CENSUS, SOME 22 TO 29% OF THE AREA'S RESIDENTS WERE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. THEN A GROUP OF BLACK BUSINESSMEN FORMED THE GARFIELD ORGANIZATION INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION. WITH FEDERAL HELP THEY REACHED AGREEMENTS WITH SEVERAL NATIONAL FRANCHISES THAT RESULTED IN JOBS FOR AREA RESIDENTS THAT TOTALLED $20 MILLION BY 1974

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. GHETTO STREET SCENE IN CHICAGO ON THE SOUTH SIDE. THE CITY CENSUS FIGURES SHOW A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN ECONOMIC SECURITY BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES. OF FAMILIES EARNING $10,000 TO $25,000 IN 1970, 35% WERE BLACK AND 60% WHITE. OF FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $8,000 SOME 50% WERE BLACK AND 21% WHITE. IN 1970 MEDIAN BLACK INCOME IN CHICAGO WAS 65% THAT OF WHITE FAMILIES, AN IMPROVEMENT OF 5% IN 20 YEARS, BUT AN ACTUAL WIDENING OF THE DOLLAR GAP

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK CHILD LIFTS A LEG WHILE HIS MOTHER PUTS ON HIS SOCKS AT A 12TH STREET BEACH ON LAKE MICHIGAN ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE IN THE SUMMER OF 1973. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACKS USING BUS TRANSPORTATION ON 63RD STREET IN CHICAGO DURING 1973 THERE WERE 272,803,082 PEOPLE WHO RODE THIS TYPE OF CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY TRANSPORTATION. A TOTAL OF 2,420 BUSES WERE USED AND DROVE 90,702,000 MILES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK WOMAN EXHIBITOR AT PUSH EXPO, AN ANNUAL EXHIBIT OF BLACK TALENT, BLACK PRODUCTS AND BLACK EDUCATION IN CHICAGO. IT IS USED TO RAISE MONEY, DISPLAY BLACK PRODUCTS, BLACK COLLEGES, BLACK STARS, BLACK ART AND OTHER AREAS OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS TO RAISE MONEY FOR BLACK POOR PEOPLE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. LAKE MEADOWS APARTMENT COMPLEX ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE INHABITED 70% BY BLACKS. THEY ATTRACT PERSONS WITH MIDDLE TO UPPER INCOME BRACKETS ($14,000 AND UP). THERE ARE 2,900 APARTMENTS IN 10 BUILDINGS, FIVE THAT ARE 12 STORIES HIGH AND FIVE THAT ARE 27 STORIES TALL. THEY ARE LOCATED FROM 31ST TO 35TH STREET AT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE. OF FAMILIES EARNING $10,000 TO $25,000 IN THE AREA IN 1970 SOME 35% WERE BLACK AND 60% WERE WHITE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK FAMILY AT THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE FOR THE BABY'S BAPTISM

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. SOUTH SIDE BLACK WORKERS PASSING THE TIME PLAYING CHECKERS ON EAST 35TH STREET BEFORE GOING TO WORK IN CHICAGO. THE CITY CENSUS FIGURES SHOW A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN ECONOMIC SECURITY BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME BETWEEN 1960 AND 1970 INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883 BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THE TWO RACES WIDENED. BLACKS WERE RECEIVING THE AVERAGE OF $3,603 LESS THAN THE MEDIAN WHITE FAMILY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MEMBERS OF THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES DURING THE GROUP'S ANNUAL CONVENTION AT CHICAGO'S SOX PARK, A BASEBALL FIELD ON THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE. THE UMBRELLAS ARE IN EVIDENCE TO SHADE THE PARTICIPANTS FROM A HOT JULY SUN

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK WOMAN SELLING GAS FILLED quot;HAVE A HAPPY DAYquot; BALLOONS ON A CHICAGO SOUTH SIDE STREET CORNER AT SOX PARK BASEBALL FIELD MANY OF THE CITY'S BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS STARTED WITH SMALL OPERATIONS SUCH AS THIS AND GREW BY WORKING HARD. TODAY CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. BLACK ENTERPRISES MAGAZINE REPORTED IN 1973 THAT THE CITY HAD 14 OF THE TOP 100 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTRY, ONE MORE THAN NEW YORK CITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK WOMAN AT THE OPERATION PUSH EXPO ANNUAL CONVENTION A SPECIAL TALKATHON WAS SET UP BY A LOCAL BLACK RADIO STATION IN CHICAGO TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THE ORGANIZATION. ONE OF THE AIMS OF PUSH IS TO OPEN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS TO SMALL BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES. THE REV. JESSE JACKSON IS ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE GROUP

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK YOUNGSTERS PERFORMING ON AN EMPTY LOT AT 5440 SOUTH PRINCETON AVENUE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE AT A SMALL COMMUNITY PROGRAM CALLED quot;AN OPEN AIR FASHION AND TALENT SHOWquot; PRESENTED BY quot;THE NEW BETWEEN THE TRACKS COUNCILquot;, A COMMUNITY BLOCK GROUP. IT IS ONE OF MANY BLOCK CLUBS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ORGANIZED TO HELP YOUNGSTERS quot;DO THEIR THINGquot; DURING SPECIAL WEEKEND PROGRAMS IN EMPTY LOTS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITIES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. THIS LITTLE GIRL ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE WILL HAVE MANY HURDLES TO OVERCOME WHILE GROWING UP. THE SCHOOLS ARE POOR IN HER COMMUNITY, CRIME IS HIGH AND OTHER DAILY PROBLEMS WILL CLOUD HER FUTURE. THE YOUNGSTER IS ONE OF THE NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF HER RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. HER FACE COMBINES WITH MANY BLACKS IN THIS DOCUMENTARY PROJECT WHO ARE LIVING LIFE AS THEY FIND IT AND ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. DETERIORATED WALL MURAL ADJACENT TO A VACANT LOT ON 35TH STREET IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO. MANY BLACK ARTISTS ARE ACTIVE IN PAINTING OUTDOOR MURALS IN THE CITY'S BLACK COMMUNITIES. THEY FEEL IT IS A MEANS OF SHARING ART WITH PEOPLE OF THE GHETTO WHO NEVER GO TO THE MUSEUMS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE DAN RYAN EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO ILLINOIS. IT IS THE BUSIEST IN THE UNITED STATES WITH 254,700 VEHICLES DAILY, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED IN MARCH, 1975, BY THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE TALL BUILDING IN THE BACKGROUND IS THE SEARS TOWER, 110 STORIES HIGH AND THE WORLD'S TALLEST AT THE TIME IT WAS BUILT

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK CONSTRUCTION WORKER IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO. SOME BLACKS CHARGE THAT AREAS OF THE NEW quot;LOOPquot; AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY VACATED AS A RESULT OF FIRES, VANDALISM OR FAILURE BY BUILDING OWNERS TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES TO TENANTS. AND THAT THE NEW APARTMENT UNITS ARE EXPENSIVE, APPEALING ONLY TO A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND ALMOST NONE OF THE AREA'S PREVIOUS RESIDENTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. HOLY ANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. IT IS CHICAGO'S LARGEST BLACK CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE PASTOR (FOREGROUND) IS FATHER GEORGE H. CLEMENTS, A LEADER IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,000 CHURCH MEMBERS. THE CHURCH ALSO HAS THE LARGEST BLACK CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE NATION WITH OVER 1,300 STUDENTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. THE REV. JESSE JACKSON SPEAKS ON A RADIO BROADCAST FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF OPERATION PUSH AT ITS ANNUAL CONVENTION. ONE OF THE AIMS OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO OPEN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS TO SMALL BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES. REV. JACKSON IS CREDITED FOR HELPING TO MAKE CHICAGO THE BLACK BANKING CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY. HE HELPED PERSUADE WHITE COMPANIES TO STOP TAKING PROFITS EARNED FROM BLACK CONSUMERS TO THE WHITE SUBURBS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK OWNED HOMES IN GROVELAND PARK ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN REFURBISHED ON THE INTERIOR BY UPPER INCOME FAMILIES. THEY ARE LOCATED ON COTTEGE GROVE AVENUE. BLACK HOME OWNERSHIP IN THE CITY INCREASED FROM 13,000 UNITS IN 1950 TO 90,000 IN 1973 WITH LIBERALIZATION OF FHA CREDIT. HOWEVER THE BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS TWICE THAT OF WHITES IN THE COUNTRY AND IT HAMPERS BLACK FAMILIES WHO SEEK JOBS AND LIFE AS MIDDLE CLASS CITIZENS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK OWNED BUSINESS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. THE CITY IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES CENSUS FIGURES FOR 1970 SHOWED THERE WERE 8,747 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE CITY THAT GROSSED MORE THAN $332 MILLION. IN 1972 THERE WERE 11 BLACK OWNED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT TOTALED ASSETS OF $254.9 MILLION. BLACK ENTERPRISES MAGAZINE REPORTED IN 1973 THAT CHICAGO HAD 14 OF THE TOP 100 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, ONE MORE THAN NEW YORK

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MONROE STREET PARKING LOT IN CHICAGO HOLDS 2,700 CARS FOR COMMUTERS AT LAKE SHORE DRIVE. NEW CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY FOR 900 ADDITIONAL VEHICLES TO BRING THE TOTAL SPACES TO 3,600. A NEW PARK ALSO WILL BE CREATED DURING CONSTRUCTION. THE TALL BUILDING IN THE BACKGROUND IS THE NEW 87-STORY STANDARD OIL BUILDING

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ONE SMALL PORTION OF THE UP TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WHO SEE THE BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE ALONG DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. DRIVE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS DURING THE YEAR, IT IS HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS. THE PARADE INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS, BLACK BANDS AND BLACK BEAUTIES OF ALL AGES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK STREET WORKER IN CHICAGO. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883. HOWEVER THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR INCOME AND THAT OF WHITES ACTUALLY INCREASED FROM A DIFFERENCE OF

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ONCE ONE OF CHICAGO'S BUSY THOROUGHFARES, 63RD STREET HAS CHANGED WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE CITY. MANY FIRES HAVE RESULTED DRIVING OUT MORE BUSINESSES WHICH EITHER FOLLOW THE FLIGHT OF OTHER STORES TO MORE PROSPEROUS AREAS OR CEASE TO EXIST. THE quot;ELquot; (ELEVATED TRAIN) TRACKS ARE SEEN IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE PICTURE. DURING 1973 THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY REPORTED 95,160,535 PASSENGERS USED THE FACILITIES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. Black Products Was One of the Themes at the Annual Black Expo Held in Chicago, Also Present were Black Education, Talent, a Voter Registration Drive and Other Aspects of Black Consciousness the Aim is to Make Blacks Aware of Their Heritage and Capabilities and Help Them towards a Better Life

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. THE KADATS OF AMERICA, CHICAGO'S MOST LOVED YOUNG BLACK DRILL TEAM, PERFORMING IN ONE OF MANY AREA PARADES. THE LEADER MAJOR GENERAL ACKLIN (BROWN SHIRT, LOWER RIGHT), WORKS WITH THE YOUNGSTERS TO GIVE THEM A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE. THE GROUP HAS WON MANY MARCHING AND DRILL AWARDS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK STUDENT IN A BLACK STUDIES CLASS IN A WEST SIDE CHICAGO CLASSROOM READING A BOOK ABOUT GREAT RULERS IN AFRICA'S PAST RECENT YEARS HAVE SEEN A RESURGENCE BY VARIOUS MINORITIES OF THEIR HISTORIES. PRIDE IN THEIR HERITAGE HAS LED TO CONTINUING TRADITIONS AND ASPECTS OF THEIR CULTURE WHICH ARE UNIQUE IN AMERICAN TRADITION

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. SIDEWALK TRASH IS SWEPT UP IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE ROBERT TAYLOR HIGHRISE LOW INCOME APARTMENT PROJECTS INHABITED BY BLACKS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. A GOAL OF MANY RESIDENTS IS TO FIND A JOB THAT PAYS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO REACH MIDDLE CLASS STATUS AND MOVE MEDIAN BLACK INCOME FROM 1960 TO 1970 INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883 BUT WAS $3,603 BELOW MEDIUM WHITE INCOME IN 1970. CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF MORE THAN $7,000 DURING THE DECADE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK STUDENT WELDERS WORK IN A MACHINE SHOP COURSE TAUGHT AT THE CHICAGO OPPORTUNITIES INDUSTRIALIZATION CENTER AT A FORMER GRADE SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF THE CABRINI-GREEN HOUSING PROJECT ON CHICAGO's NEAR NORTH SIDE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK STUDENT WELDERS WORK IN A MACHINE SHOP COURSE TAUGHT AT THE CHICAGO OPPORTUNITIES INDUSTRIALIZATION CENTER IN THE HEART OF THE CABRINI-GREEN HOUSING PROJECT ON CHICAGO'S NEAR NORTH SIDE OTHER COURSES IN AUTO REPAIR, DRAFTING AND CLERICAL WORK ALSO ARE OFFERED. THE STATE FUNDS THE CHICAGO PROGRAM WHICH IS A PART OF A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1964 TO PROVIDE FREE JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN POVERTY AREAS. A POLICE RECORD IS NECESSARY TO QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. PART OF THE COLOR GUARD FOR THE BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE WAITING TO STEP OUT ALONG THE ROUTE ON DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. DRIVE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS DURING THE YEAR, IT IS HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS, AND ATTRACTS UP TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY. THE PARADE INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS, BLACK BANDS AND BLACK BEAUTIES OF ALL AGES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ISAAC HAYES DANCERS PERFORM AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL PUSH 'BLACK EXPO' IN THE FALL OF 1973. THE ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASES BLACK TALENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, STARS, ART AND PRODUCTS TO PROVIDE BLACKS WITH AN AWARENESS OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN RALPH H. METCALFE (WHITE COAT) GREETING CONSTITUENTS DURING THE BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE, ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS FOR BLACKS IN CHICAGO DURING THE YEAR. THE PARADE IS HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS. IT INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS, BLACK BANDS AND BLACK BEAUTIES OF ALL AGES. THE ROUTE IS THROUGH THE SOUTH SIDE DOWN DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. DRIVE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACKS AND WHITES TAKE TO THE WATER AT A 12TH STREET BEACH ON LAKE MICHIGAN ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE IN THE SUMMER OF 1973. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED. CHICAGO HAS 29 MILES OF LAKEFRONT AND 30 PUBLIC BEACHES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ROBERT TAYLOR HOMES, A LOW INCOME HIGHRISE APARTMENT COMPLEX INHABITED BY BLACKS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. THERE ARE 28 BUILDINGS WITH 4,312 APARTMENTS HOUSING 25,220 PERSONS. A GOAL OF MANY RESIDENTS IS TO FIND A JOB THAT PAYS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO REACH MIDDLE CLASS STATUS AND MOVE. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. IN 1970 BLACKS HAD A MEDIAN INCOME OF $7,883, BUT IT WAS $3,603 LESS THAN THAT FOR WHITES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL DURING A BUDGET HEARING IN THE FALL OF 1973

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK GUITARIST PERFORMS AT THE LAKE MEADOWS SHOPPING CENTER IN CHICAGO. ALTHOUGH NOT WELL KNOWN, HE IS SHARING HIS MUSIC AT HOME, AND HOPES THIS START WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN GREATER RECOGNITION

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK WOMEN ON ONE OF THE BALCONIES OF THE ROBERT TAYLOR HOMES, LOW INCOME HIGHRISE APARTMENTS IN CHICAGO. IT IS A COMPLEX OF 28 BUILDINGS LOCATED BETWEEN THE 3900 AND 5400 BLOCKS ON STATE STREET WITH 4,312 APARTMENTS HOUSING 25,220 PERSONS. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME FROM 1960 TO 1970 INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883 BUT WAS $3,603 BELOW MEDIAN WHITE INCOME. CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF MORE THAN $7,000 DURING THE PERIOD JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK BEAUTIES WITH COLORFUL HAIR GRACE A FLOAT DURING THE ANNUAL BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE ALONG DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. DRIVE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. UP TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VIEW ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR, HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS. THE PARADE ALSO INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS AND BLACK BANDS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE. THE WEST SIDE WAS HARD HIT BY RIOTS AND FIRES IN THE MID AND LATE 1960'S. THE 1970 CENSUS NOTED THAT 22 TO 29% OF THE AREA'S RESIDENTS LIVED BELOW THE OFFICIAL POVERTY LEVEL. BLACK BUSINESSMEN, HELPED BY FEDERAL FUNDING REACHED AGREEMENTS WITH NATIONAL FRANCHISES WHICH RESULTED IN PUMPING $20 MILLION IN JOBS FOR RESIDENTS BY 1974

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. THE REV. JESSE JACKSON ADDRESSING AN AUDIENCE AT THE ANNUAL PUSH 'BLACK EXPO' IN CHICAGO. THE ANNUAL FAIR GIVES BLACKS EXPOSURE TO BLACK TALENT, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PRODUCTS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS. THE AIM IS TO MAKE BLACKS AWARE OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK FATHER AND SON PICTURED AT AN OUTDOOR WORSHIP SERVICE AT CHICAGO'S WRIGLEY FIELD DURING THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS ANNUAL CONVENTION. THE CHICAGO AREA CENSUS FIGURES SHOW A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN ECONOMIC SECURITY BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES SOME 50% OF BLACK FAMILIES EARNED LESS THAN $8,000 IN 1970, COMPARED TO 21% WHITE. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME AT THAT TIME WAS 65% THAT OF THE WHITES, AN IMPROVEMENT OF 5% IN 20 YEARS, BUT AN ACTUAL WIDENING OF THE DOLLAR GAP

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. FEDERAL JUDGE JAMES B. PARSONS IN THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN CHICAGO. HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK JUDGE APPOINTED TO THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS. THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE BY PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY. IN APRIL, 1975, JUDGE PARSONS BECAME SENIOR JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT, THE FIRST BLACK SENIOR JUDGE IN THE COUNTRY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK MOTHER AND CHILD, PART OF THE 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF THEIR RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. THE CHICAGO AREA CENSUS FIGURES SHOW A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN ECONOMIC SECURITY BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES. OF FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $8,000 IN CHICAGO IN 1970, SOME 50% WERE BLACK COMPARED TO 21% WHITE MEDIAN BLACK INCOME AT THAT TIME WAS 65% THAT OF THE WHITES, AN IMPROVEMENT OF 5% IN 20 YEARS BUT AN ACTUAL WIDENING OF THE DOLLAR GAP

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. THE REV. JESSE JACKSON SPEAKS ON A RADIO BROADCAST FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF OPERATION PUSH, AT ITS ANNUAL CONVENTION. ONE OF THE AIMS OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO OPEN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS TO SMALL BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES. REV. JACKSON IS CREDITED FOR HELPING TO MAKE CHICAGO THE BLACK BANKING CAPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. HE HELPED PERSUADE WHITE COMPANIES TO STOP TAKING PROFITS THEY EARNED FROM BLACK CONSUMERS TO THE WHITE SUBURBS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK BONGO PLAYER PERFORMS AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL PUSH 'BLACK EXPO' IN THE FALL OF 1973. THE ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASES BLACK TALENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, STARS, ART AND PRODUCTS TO PROVIDE BLACKS WITH AN AWARENESS OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK COUPLE AND THEIR DOG IN THEIR APARTMENT IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,000 TO $7,883. BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR MEDIAN INCOME AND THAT OF WHITES INCREASED FROM $3,251 TO $3,603 DURING THE 10 YEARS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. CLOSEUP OF A BLACK BEAUTY GRACING A FLOAT DURING THE ANNUAL BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE ALONG DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. DRIVE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. UP TO A HALF MILLION PEOPLE VIEW ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR, HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS. THE PARADE ALSO INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS AND BLACK BANDS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MONROE STREET PARKING LOT IN CHICAGO HOLDS 2,700 CARS FOR COMMUTERS AT LAKE SHORE DRIVE. NEW CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY TO ADD 900 SPACES TO HOLD A TOTAL OF 3,600 VEHICLES. A NEW PARK ALSO WILL BE CREATED DURING CONSTRUCTION

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK YOUNGSTERS COOL OFF WITH FIRE HYDRANT WATER ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE IN THE WOODLAWN COMMUNITY. THE KIDS DON'T GO TO THE CITY BEACHES AND USE THE FIRE HYDRANTS TO COOL OFF INSTEAD IT'S A TRADITION IN THE COMMUNITY, COMPRISED OF VERY LOW INCOME PEOPLE. THE AREA HAS HIGH CRIME AND FIRE RECORDS. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26% TO 58%

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SILHOUETTED AGAINST A BRIGHT OCTOBER SUN IN SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO. SOME BLACKS CHARGE THAT AREAS OF THE NEW quot;LOOPquot; AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY VACATED AS A RESULT OF FIRES, VANDALISM OR FAILURE BY BUILDING OWNERS TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES TO TENANTS. AND THAT THE NEW APARTMENT UNITS ARE EXPENSIVE, APPEALING ONLY TO A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND ALMOST NONE OF THE AREA'S PREVIOUS RESIDENTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK EDUCATION WAS THE PROMINENT THEME AT THE ANNUAL BLACK EXPO HELD IN CHICAGO IN 1973. ALSO PRESENT WERE BLACK PRODUCTS TALENT, A VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AND OTHER ASPECTS OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS. THE AIM IS TO MAKE BLACKS AWARE OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. EXTERIOR OF THE HOLY ANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. IT IS THE CITY'S LARGEST BLACK CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE PASTOR IS FATHER GEORGE H. CLEMENTS, A LEADER IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,000 CHURCH MEMBERS. THE CHURCH ALSO HAS THE LARGEST BLACK CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE NATION WITH OVER 1,300 STUDENTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK STUDENT WELDERS WORK IN A MACHINE SHOP COURSE TAUGHT AT THE CHICAGO OPPORTUNITIES INDUSTRIALIZATION CENTER IN THE HEART OF THE CABRINI-GREEN HOUSING PROJECT ON CHICAGO'S NEAR NORTH SIDE OTHER COURSES IN AUTO REPAIR, DRAFTING AND CLERICAL WORK ALSO ARE OFFERED. THE STATE FUNDS THE CHICAGO PROGRAM WHICH IS A PART OF A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1964 TO PROVIDE FREE JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN POVERTY AREAS. A POLICE RECORD IS NECESSARY TO QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MINORITY YOUNGSTERS WHO GATHERED TO HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKEN ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE DURING A COMMUNITY TALENT SHOW BLACKS MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF THE 3.6 MILLION POPULATION IN THE CITY. CHICAGO CENSUS FIGURES FOR 1970 SHOW A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN ECONOMIC SECURITY BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES. ONLY 35% OF BLACK FAMILIES EARNED $10,000 TO $25,000 COMPARED TO 60% OF WHITE FAMILIES. OF FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $8,000 A TOTAL OF 50% WERE BLACK COMPARED TO 21% WHITE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. Young Woman Soliciting Funds for A Chicago Organization in A Shopping Center Parking Lot, She is One of the Nearly 1.2 Million Black People Who Make Up over One Third of the Population of Chicago, it is One of the Many Black Faces in this Project that Portray Life in All its Seasons, the Photos are Portraits that Reflect Pride, Love, Beauty, Hope, Struggle, Joy, Hate, Frustration Discontent, Worship and Faith, She is a Member of Her Race Who is Proud of Her Heritage

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. Religious Fervor is Mirrored on the Face of a Black Muslim Woman, One of Some 10,000 Listening to Elijah Muhammad Deliver His Annual Savior's Day Message In Chicago, the City is Headquarters for the Black Muslims, Their $75 Million Empire Includes a Mosque Newspaper, University, Restaurants, Real Estate, Bank and Variety of Retail Stores, Muhammad Died February 25, 1975

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK MAN, ONE OF NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF HIS RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. IT IS ONE OF THE MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. THE PHOTOS ARE PORTRAITS THAT REFLECT PRIDE, LOVE, BEAUTY, HOPE STRUGGLE, JOY, HATE, FRUSTRATION, DISCONTENT, WORSHIP AND FAITH. IN SHORT, PORTRAITS OF INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. STATEWAY GARDENS HIGHRISE HOUSING PROJECT ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. THE COMPLEX HAS EIGHT BUILDINGS WITH 1,633 TWO AND THREE BEDROOM APARTMENTS HOUSING 6,825 PERSONS. THEY WERE BUILT UNDER THE U.S. HOUSING ACTS OF 1949 AND 1968. THEY ARE MANAGED BY THE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 41,500 PUBLIC HOUSING DWELLINGS. CHICAGO'S MIDDLE CLASS BLACKS LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WEST SIDE AND NEAR NORTH SIDE IN HIGHRISE APARTMENTS ALONG THE LAKE AND IN THE SUBURBAN RING

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK SIDEWALK MERCHANT AT 47TH STREET ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. MANY OF THE CITY'S BLACK BUSINESSMEN STARTED SMALL AND GREW BY WORKING HARD. TODAY CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. BLACK ENTERPRISES MAGAZINE REPORTED IN 1973 THAT THE CITY HAD 14 OF THE TOP 100 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTRY, ONE MORE THAN NEW YORK CITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK YOUNGSTER TAKING OUT THE TRASH ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. HE IS ONE OF NEARLY 1.2 MILLION OF HIS RACE WHO MAKE UP MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE POPULATION OF CHICAGO. IT IS ONE OF MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. IN SHORT THEY ARE PORTRAITS OF HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE INDIVIDUALS AND ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK FAMILY SIGNING THE CHURCH REGISTRY AT THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH AFTER THE BAPTISM OF BABIES IN THE CONGREGATION. ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK GIRL PICTURED WHILE SHOPPING WITH HER FAMILY ON 47TH STREET ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. SHE IS ONE OF NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF HER RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. IT IS ONE OF MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. THE PHOTOS ARE PORTRAITS THAT REFLECT PRIDE, LOVE, BEAUTY HOPE, STRUGGLE, JOY, HATE, FRUSTRATION, DISCONTENT, WORSHIP AND FAITH IN SHORT, PORTRAITS OF HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. CLOSEUP OF TOWNHOUSES OWNED BY BLACKS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. MIDDLE CLASS BLACKS IN THE CITY GENERALLY LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WEST SIDE, NEAR NORTH SIDE, IN HIGHRISE APARTMENTS ALONG THE LAKE FRONT AND IN THE SUBURBAN RING. THE 1970 CENSUS NOTED NEARLY HALF OF THE NATION'S BLACKS AND 58% OF CHICAGO'S BLACKS WERE IN THE MIDDLE INCOME BRACKETS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A CLASS OF BLACK STUDENT WELDERS WITH THEIR INSTRUCTOR AT A FORMER GRADE SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF THE CABRINI-GREEN HOUSING PROJECT ON CHICAGO's NEAR NORTH SIDE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK CHILDREN PLAY OUTSIDE THE IDA B. WELLS HOMES, ONE OF CHICAGO'S OLDEST HOUSING PROJECTS. THERE ARE 1,652 APARTMENTS HOUSING 5,920 PERSONS IN 124 BUILDINGS ON THE SOUTH SIDE. MANY BUILDINGS IN THIS PART OF THE CITY HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY VACATED FOR VARIOUS REASONS. EVEN THOUGH MANY ARE SALVAGEABLE, THEY ARE RAZED AND REPLACED WITH HIGH RENT HIGHRISES WHICH HAVE LITTLE OR NO APPEAL TO THE AREA'S PREVIOUS RESIDENTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ARTIST RON BLACKBURN PAINTING AN OUTDOOR WALL MURAL AT THE CORNER OF 33RD AND GILES STREET IN CHICAGO. HE IS ONE OF MANY BLACK ARTISTS DOING SUCH WORK. THEY FEEL IT IS A MEANS OF SHARING ART WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE GHETTO WHO DON'T GO TO THE CITY'S MUSEUMS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK FAMILY ENJOYING THE SUMMER WEATHER AT CHICAGO'S 12TH STREET BEACH ON LAKE MICHIGAN. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ARTIST RON BLACKBURN PAINTING AN OUTDOOR WALL MURAL AT THE CORNER OF 33RD AND GILES STREETS IN CHICAGO. HE IS ONE OF MANY BLACK ARTISTS PAINTING SUCH ART. THEY FEEL IT IS A MEANS OF SHARING ART WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE GHETTO WHO DON'T GO TO THE CITY'S MUSEUMS

National Archives at College Park

A PORTION OF A CROWD OF SOME 10,000 MUSLIMS APPLAUD ELIJAH MUHAMMAD DURING THE DELIVERY OF HIS ANNUAL SAVIOR'S DAY MESSAGE IN CHICAGO

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL DURING A BUDGET HEARING IN THE FALL OF 1973

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. WASHINGTON PARK ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE WHERE MANY BLACK FAMILIES ENJOY PICNICKING DURING THE SUMMER. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENT AT THE ROBERT TAYLOR HOMES, A HIGHRISE APARTMENT COMPLEX ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. HE IS ONE OF NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF HIS RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. IT IS ONE OF THE MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. THEY ARE PORTRAITS OF INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK SINGER PERFORMS AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL PUSH 'BLACK EXPO' IN THE FALL OF 1973 THE ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASES BLACK TALENT, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, STARS, ART AND PRODUCTS TO PROVIDE BLACKS WITH AN AWARENESS OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MAN IN WASHINGTON PARK USED BY BLACKS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. HE IS ONE OF NEARLY 1.2 MILLION BLACK PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF THE CITY'S POPULATION. IT IS ONE OF THE MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. THEY ARE PORTRAITS OF PEOPLE LIVING LIFE AS THEY FIND IT, AS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MEMBERS OF THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES SING DURING OUTDOOR WORSHIP SERVICES AT THE GROUP'S ANNUAL CONVENTION AT CHICAGO'S SOX PARK, A BASEBALL FIELD ON THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. AT THE GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL. (FROM THE SITES EXHIBITION. SEE ALSO THIS FICHE, ROW 3A.)

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. ROBERT R. TAYLOR HOMES, ONE IN THE COMPLEX OF 28 LOW INCOME HIGHRISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS INHABITED BY THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO. LOCATED BETWEEN THE 3900 AND 5400 BLOCKS ON STATE STREET THERE ARE 4,312 APARTMENTS HOUSING 25,220 PERSONS. A GOAL OF MANY RESIDENTS IS TO FIND A JOB THAT PAYS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO REACH MIDDLE CLASS STATUS. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK CHILDREN PLAY OUTSIDE THE IDA B. WELLS HOMES, ONE OF CHICAGO'S OLDEST HOUSING PROJECTS. LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE THERE ARE 1,652 APARTMENTS HOUSING 5,920 PERSONS IN 124 BUILDINGS. IN THE CITY VAST PORTIONS OF THE NEW quot;LOOPquot; AND LAKESHORE AREAS ON THE SOUTH SIDE HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY VACATED AS A RESULT OF FIRES VANDALISM OR FAILURE BY OWNERS TO PROVIDE BASIC TENANT SERVICES THEN THEY ARE RAZED AND REPLACED WITH HIGH RENT HIGHRISE BUILDINGS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. LEADER OF THE KADATS OF AMERICA, MAJOR GENERAL ACKLIN, IN CHARGE OF CHICAGO'S MOST LOVED YOUNG BLACK DRILL TEAM. HE WORKS WITH YOUNGSTERS TO GIVE THEM A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE. THE GROUP HAS WON MANY MARCHING AND DRILL AWARDS, AND HAS PERFORMED IN MANY AREA PARADES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. SUMMER FUN MEANS COOLING OFF WITH WATER FROM A FIRE HYDRANT AT WOODLAWN COMMUNITY, A LOW INCOME HIGHRISE APARTMENT COMPLEX ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. THESE CHILDREN DON'T GO TO THE CITY BEACHES. COOLING OFF WITH OPEN FIRE HYDRANTS IS A COMMUNITY TRADITION. THE AREA HAS HIGH CRIME AND FIRE RECORDS. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26% TO 58%, BUT STILL FELL BEHIND THE GAIN MADE BY WHITES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. WABASH STREET BRIDGE OVER THE CHICAGO RIVER IN THE CITY, ONE OF MORE THAN EIGHT DRAWBRIDGES CROSSING THE RIVER IN THE CITY LIMITS A SHIP HAS JUST PASSED UNDER THE UPRAISED STRUCTURE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK MOTHER AND FATHER WITH THEIR EIGHT CHILDREN IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE GHETTO. ALTHOUGH FIGURES IN THE 1970 CENSUS NOTE THAT NEARLY HALF OF THE NATION'S 22.7 MILLION BLACKS WERE IN MIDDLE INCOME BRACKETS, AN EQUAL NUMBER WERE TRYING TO FIND JOBS THAT PAID ENOUGH FOR THEM TO ENTER THE MIDDLE CLASS. AND THE RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR BLACKS NATIONWIDE IS BELIEVED TO BE TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. THIS FAMILY LIVES IN A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT BECAUSE THE FATHER MAKES $7,000 PER YEAR

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MOTORIST AT SOLDIER'S FIELD, ONE OF NINE AUTO POLLUTION TEST SITES CONDUCTED FREE BY THE CITY OF CHICAGO'S ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN JUNE 1, 1973, A TOTAL OF 400,789 CARS HAD BEEN VOLUNTARILY TESTED BY FEBRUARY 1, 1975

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. WORSHIPPERS AT HOLY ANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. IT IS THE CITY'S LARGEST BLACK CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE PASTOR IS FATHER GEORGE H. CLEMENTS, A LEADER IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACKS AND WHITES TAKE TO THE WATER AT A 12TH STREET BEACH ON LAKE MICHIGAN ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE DURING THE SUMMER OF 1973 FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26 TO 58%. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME DURING THE PERIOD INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883, BUT THE DOLLAR GAP BETWEEN THEIR GROUP AND THE WHITES ACTUALLY WIDENED

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. THE KADATS OF AMERICA, CHICAGO'S MOST LOVED YOUNG BLACK DRILL TEAM, ARE SHOWN PERFORMING ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT A COMMUNITY TALENT SHOW ON THE SOUTH SIDE. THE LEADER, MAJOR GENERAL ACKLIN, IS SHOWN GIVING COMMANDS TO THE YOUNGSTERS. THE GROUP HAS WON MANY MARCHING AND DRILL AWARDS, AND HAS PERFORMED IN MANY AREA PARADES

National Archives at College Park

BLACK MUSLIM WOMEN DRESSED IN WHITE APPLAUD ELIJAH MUHAMMAD DURING THE DELIVERY OF HIS ANNUAL SAVIOR'S DAY MESSAGE IN CHICAGO

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK SOUL SINGER JOHNNY TAYLOR PERFORMS AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO AS PART OF PUSH 'BLACK EXPO' IN THE FALL OF 1973. THE ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASES BLACK TALENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, STARS, ART AND PRODUCTS TO PROVIDE BLACKS WITH AN AWARENESS OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. 37TH AND PRAIRIE STREETS. (FROM THE SITES EXHIBITION. SEE ALSO THIS FICHE ROW 1 E.)

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. SIDEWALK MERCHANDISE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. MANY OF THE CITY'S BLACK BUSINESSMEN STARTED SMALL AND GREW BY WORKING HARD TODAY CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. BLACK ENTERPRISES MAGAZINE REPORTED IN 1973 THAT THE CITY HAD 14 OF THE TOP 100 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTRY, ONE MORE THAN NEW YORK CITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK STUDENT IN A BLACK STUDIES HISTORY CLASS IN A WEST SIDE CHICAGO SCHOOL WITH HER CLASSWORK. RECENT YEARS HAVE SEEN A RESURGENCE BY VARIOUS MINORITIES OF THEIR HISTORIES. PRIDE IN THEIR HERITAGE HAS LED TO CONTINUING TRADITIONS AND ASPECTS OF THEIR CULTURE WHICH ARE UNIQUE IN AMERICAN TRADITION

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK RESIDENTS ON ONE OF THE BALCONIES OF THE ROBERT TAYLOR HOMES, A LOW INCOME HIGHRISE APARTMENT BUILDING IN CHICAGO. IT IS A COMPLEX OF 28 BUILDINGS LOCATED BETWEEN THE 3900 AND 5400 BLOCKS ON STATE STREET WITH 4,312 APARTMENTS HOUSING 25,220 PERSONS. A GOAL OF MANY RESIDENTS IS TO FIND A JOB THAT PAYS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO REACH MIDDLE CLASS STATUS AND MOVE. MEDIAN BLACK INCOME FROM 1960 TO 1970 INCREASED FROM $4,700 TO $7,883 BUT WAS STILL $3,603 BELOW MEDIAN WHITE INCOME

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. OLDER HOUSING IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE THIS AREA IN 1973 HAD NOT QUITE RECOVERED FROM THE RIOTS AND FIRES DURING THE MID TO LATE 1960'S. ACCORDING TO THE 1970 CENSUS, 22 TO 29% OF THE RESIDENTS WERE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. BLACK WEST SIDE BUSINESSMEN FORMED AN ORGANIZATION, FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN AGREEMENTS WITH MAJOR NATIONAL FRANCHISES AND RESULTED IN SOME $20 MILLION IN JOBS FOR AREA CITIZENS BY 1974

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. EMPTY HOUSING IN THE GHETTO ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE STRUCTURES SUCH AS THIS HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY VACATED AS A RESULT OF FIRES, VANDALISM OR FAILURE BY OWNERS TO PROVIDE BASIC TENANT SERVICES. THEN THE VACATED BUILDINGS, OFTEN SUBSTANTIALLY SALVAGEABLE, ARE RAZED AND REPLACED WITH HIGHRISE APARTMENTS WHICH APPEAL TO FEW MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND ALMOST NONE OF THE AREA'S PREVIOUS RESIDENTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK WOMAN SITS ON A PORCH SWING ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE AND SURVEYS HER ROSE GARDEN. SHE IS ONE OF NEARLY 1.2 MILLION OF HER RACE WHO MAKE UP MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. SHE LIVES IN AN AREA WHICH WAS HARD HIT BY RIOTS AND FIRES DURING THE MID AND LATE 1960'S. THE 1970 CENSUS NOTED THAT 22 TO 29% OF THE AREA'S RESIDENTS LIVED BELOW THE OFFICIAL POVERTY LEVEL

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER RETURNING HOME AFTER A GROCERY SHOPPING EXPEDITION IN CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE BLACK COMMUNITY. IN 1973 THE WEST SIDE STILL HAD NOT RECOVERED FROM THE RIOTS AND FIRES OF THE MID AND LATE 1960'S. THE 1970 CENSUS REPORTED 22 TO 29% OF THE AREA'S RESIDENTS WERE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. HELPED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A LOCAL ORGANIZATION SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH MAJOR NATIONAL FRANCHISES THAT RESULTED IN $20 MILLION IN JOBS FOR RESIDENTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK GHETTO CHILD SAVORS A SNOW CONE JUST RECEIVED FROM A SIDEWALK VENDOR ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE. THIS PORTION OF THE CITY WAS HARD HIT BY RIOTS AND FIRES IN THE MID AND LATE 1960'S AND WAS SLOW TO RECOVER. HELP CAME WHEN BLACK BUSINESSMEN, WITH FEDERAL HELP REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH SEVERAL NATIONAL FRANCHISES WHICH RESULTED IN $20 MILLION WORTH OF JOBS TO RESIDENTS BY 1974

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK YOUNGSTERS CARRYING FLAGS DURING THE ANNUAL BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE ALONG DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. DRIVE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE. UP TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VIEW ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR, HELD FOR BLACKS OF ALL AGES AND ECONOMIC STATUS THE PARADE INCLUDES BLACK POLITICIANS, BLACK BUSINESSES DISPLAYING THEIR PRODUCTS, BLACK BANDS AND BLACK BEAUTIES OF ALL AGES

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. Photograph of a Chicago Cubs Batter

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. STATE STREET IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, PART OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE quot;LOOPquot;. IT IS A TYPICAL SCENE OF OFFICE WORKERS, SHOPPERS AND VISITORS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN STREETS IN THE CITY, DIVIDING IT EAST AND WEST. MANY OF CHICAGO'S FAMOUS SHOPS ARE LOCATED ON IT SUCH AS MARSHALL FIELDS CO. AND GOLDBLATTS

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY ON MICHIGAN AVENUE IN CHICAGO THE BLACK OWNED FIRM PUBLISHES EBONY, JET, BLACK WORLD, BLACK STARS AND EBONY JR. AND RECORDED SALES OF $23.1 MILLION IN 1972. IT IS THE TOP OWNED BLACK BUSINESS IN CHICAGO AND ONE OF THE TOP 100 IN THE UNITED STATES. CHICAGO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE BLACK BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY AND HAS 14 FIRMS IN THE TOP 100, COMPARED TO 13 FOR NEW YORK CITY

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK ART AND CULTURE WAS ONE OF THE THEMES AT THE ANNUAL BLACK EXPO HELD IN CHICAGO. ALSO PRESENT WERE BLACK PRODUCTS EDUCATION, TALENT, A VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AND OTHER ASPECTS OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS. THE AIM IS TO MAKE BLACKS AWARE OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CAPABILITIES, AND HELP THEM TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. A BLACK WOMAN, ONE OF THE NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF HER RACE WHO MAKE UP OVER ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. IT IS ONE OF THE MANY BLACK FACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT PORTRAY LIFE IN ALL ITS SEASONS. THE PHOTOS ARE PORTRAITS THAT REFLECT PRIDE, LOVE, BEAUTY HOPE, STRUGGLE, JOY, HATE, FRUSTRATION, DISCONTENT, WORSHIP AND FAITH IN SHORT, THEY ARE PORTRAITS OF INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

National Archives at College Park

THE FRUIT OF ISLAM, A SPECIAL GROUP OF BODYGUARDS FOR MUSLIM LEADER ELIJAH MUHAMMAD, SIT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLATFORM WHILE HE DELIVERS HIS ANNUAL SAVIOR'S DAY MESSAGE IN CHICAGO

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. BLACK NEIGHBORS OUTSIDE ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE. THEY ARE PART OF THE NEARLY 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE OF THEIR RACE WHO MAKE UP MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION. THE WEST SIDE WAS HARD HIT BY RIOTS AND FIRES IN THE MID AND LATE 1960'S. THE 1970 CENSUS NOTED THAT 22 TO 29% OF THE AREA'S RESIDENTS LIVED BELOW THE OFFICIAL POVERTY LEVEL. BLACK BUSINESSMEN REACHED AGREEMENTS WITH NATIONAL FRANCHISES WHICH RESULTED IN PUMPING $20 MILLION IN JOBS FOR RESIDENTS BY 1974

National Archives at College Park

Records of the Environmental Protection Agency. 1944 - 2006. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern. 1972 - 1977. YOUNGSTERS RETURNING TO CLASS FOLLOWING A FIRE DRILL IN A CHICAGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. FIRE DRILLS ASSUME A GREATER IMPORTANCE IN THE GHETTO SCHOOLS WHERE AREA BUILDINGS ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO VANDALISM AND FIRE. NOTE THE VACANT BUILDING WITH BROKEN WINDOWS IN THE BACKGROUND

National Archives at College Park

White, John H., 1945-

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White, John H., 1945-

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