When chatter started about a potential Michael Jackson biographical picture being produced, the gears in the Gary International Black Film Festival’s team’s mind started to turn. “How could we celebrate our native son?” was the question they all asked as rumors turned into teasers and trailers for the film that began to drop into the […]
History
Posted inHistory, Politics & Policy
The Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies at 84; His Roots in Gary Shaped a Movement
The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the civil rights leader and presidential candidate whose work helped reshape Black political power nationally and in cities like Gary, has died at 84. His death Tuesday prompted tributes across Indiana and the country from elected officials and community leaders who credited him with expanding opportunity and representation for Black […]
Posted inCommunity, History, Politics & Policy
Gary Renames Grant Street in Honor of Former Mayor Richard Hatcher
A partly cloudy sky Monday could do nothing to damper the beaming pride of a city as it honored one of its brightest stars, former Mayor Richard G. Hatcher, with a rechristening of Grant Street as Richard Gordon Hatcher Boulevard. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton — just the seventh mayor since Hatcher — recalled seeking the […]
Posted inHistory
The Long Journey to Preserve Emmett Till’s Story, 70 Years After His Lynching
At about 9 a.m. local time on Thursday, the Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr. arrived by train in Greenwood, Mississippi. He traveled for nearly 13 hours from Chicago aboard the Amtrak City of New Orleans. This first-of-its-kind commemorative ride was done to honor the life of his cousin and best friend, Emmett Till. Parker and Till […]
Posted inArts, Community, History
Gary Youth Bring History to Life Through Art in ‘Greatness of Gary’ Project
The smell of pancakes filled J’s Breakfast Club as people crowded in, hoping to grab a bite to eat and catch the commotion unfolding in the back of the restaurant. A crowd of people huddled together around tables, artworks, and snacks on Sunday as Gary native and world-renowed artist PeQue prepared to unveil the monthslong […]
Posted inCommunity, History
‘You Can’t Take This Melanin Away’: Gary Celebrates Juneteenth
On a hot and sunny Thursday, Gary’s Midtown neighborhood welcomed a flurry of Juneteenth flags, shirts, and camaraderie as community members gathered to celebrate the holiday. Chants, laughter, and music filled the air as the parade celebrated the Black holiday. “It’s so nice that the weather opened up,” said one parade attendee as she danced […]
Posted inCommunity, Criminal Justice, History
Historical Plaque in Municipal Gardens Remembers Slain Black Man, Helps Ensure Painful Past is not Forgotten
This story was originally published by The Indiana CItizen One hundred and three years after his body was found hanging from a sapling along the banks of the White River, George Tompkins is finally getting his story written into the pages of history. Tompkins, a 19-year-old Black man living in Indianapolis with his aunt and […]
Posted inHistory, Politics & Policy
Tuskegee Airmen’s Legacy Lives On in Gary Amid National Debate
The legacy of Black aviation is a point of pride in Gary, where the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen — trailblazing pilots who fought for America abroad and equality at home — are honored through tributes like a statue at the Gary Aquatorium and a bridge at Gary/Chicago International Airport. These service members helped pave […]
Posted inHistory, Politics & Policy
Meet the Woman from Gary Who Secured MLK Day as a Federal Holiday
Katie Hall, a trailblazing congresswoman from Gary, played a pivotal role in the fight to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday. As the first Black woman to represent Indiana in Congress, Hall authored and sponsored the legislation honoring King’s legacy, ensuring his dream of justice and equality would be celebrated nationwide. […]
Posted inCulture, History
Gary’s Latest Thriller, but This Time It’s a Movie
A Gary story is back in the headlines thanks to a new movie, and it offers a mixture of reviews from longtime residents of the community. The Deliverance, a new Lee Daniels film on Netflix, follows the story of Ebony Jackson (played by Andra Day) as she moves into a new home with her three […]