The Last Days of the Black Elks Hall in Bronzeville..

A Once Sacred Place in a Once Sacred Space ..

is now reduced 

2 a pile of rubble …

A rubble of red bricks

now sit on the spot 

at the end of my block

A pile of red bricks 

that sit unknown 

against the night  sky

as I

pull the car up to see  

the crime .. up close...

A murder in the night…

There’s no red tape around the corpse.. but 

It still feels like a death in the darkness... 

where someone took away my heart and my soul...

Yes … my  Big little “Red Schoolhouse’..

The Elks Hall…

Where they used to  hold “Elks Affairs”

With B.B. King as a headliner

 Where they dressed in their best.. 

With  beautiful fur collars and 2 inch heels.

And Dobb hats

The end of an era..

of important Black Elks who started  up in  Bronzeville

back in the day.

I remember the cars that lined the block and  

how the lots were full when there was an “Elks Affair..

I remember when guitarist, George Freeman, brother of Von Freeman..

and Byron Barbour  and Terry Norman ... played gigs there.

I remember after many years,… when the Elks  had gone.. 

and the Temple of the African Community  came...

With  Dr Jake Carruthers as their  leader,

we looked forward to the works of the Kemetic Institue

but .. alas.. he passed away 

and the dreams seemed to leave with him..

because the building was never brought to the original vision.

I  came to say  goodbye 

To a piece of my light…

A part of my family history

Growing up on the block..since 1966

Growing up...

knowing 

that 

I could go get some 

Jays potato chips... and a pop..

and watch the elders talk ... 

about important  'things' that elders talk about..

and feel safe...

 knowing that the BIG RED BUILDING  stood

at the  end of the street

 towering  like a big red Fortress 
protecting 'Short Vernon from the  Hawk,

 the folks...

and that it had a history ...

but now it's

Reduced to nothingness... 

against the night sky

It’ s cold… and I stare and stare

before taking a picture

I am alone..

Feeling some kind of way…

 like a lone warrior who cared…

 like a Bronzevillian Shogun

who guarded ... the Stable... 

who watched  over...

and groomed and  

maintained the grounds.

I know I tried..  

to imagine  

a school for the Arts

The children inside ..

a place of learning

filled with music  again..

with community again..

learning about the beauty, the history that we

have in Bronzeville

and interfacing that history with  the world..

The world who always came to visit 43rd St

They  would  stop  at my door 

to learn about the Checkerboard Blues club...

And they would always ask 

"What y'all going to do with that Big Red Building 

at the end of the block?

And I would  always say..

"Some of  us would love to see it become a  

Historical  place of learning.."

A place where the Arts & Technology can flourish...
Where literacy can rise..

But what really happens 2 a dream when it gets no support

Too little.. too late…

No support from those..

who have cultural roots here

 but No imagination..

No love.. 
No Interest..

For a Stable built in the 1890’s
surrounded by cobblestones...

With a rich history..

I’m  having  a flashback

A FLASH BLACK  

2  a whole 'nother time..

In Bronzeville 

On 'short Vernon

 Which is the nickname 
for this block on 43rd St..
because it is only one block long...
on Muddy Waters Drive

With its own rich history..

A flashback to when they tore the Checkerboard down..

As I watched  from the window…

It was a long time coming…

And it hurt just as much..

By Aki Antonia c2018 12418

The Blues! From Bronzeville........... to the White House:The People's House

The Checkerboard Lounge

"Home of The Blues"

423 East 43rd St - Chicago - Bronzeville

A 'bit of Smithology at the Checkerboard

On the 1st super snowy night in Chicago this winter, Saxophonist Al (Alto) Smith showcased music from his new CD, titled Smithology at the Musician's Mecca set at the Checkerboard in Hyde Park on Monday, December 20, 2010.

The crowd who braved the weather were in for a warm treat because Al was in great form and very comfortable in presenting with some of his long time musical friends and compadres in a mellow jazz ensemble.

The group included pianist, Mike Logan, pianist, Genevive Smith (also his mom), and Mecca musicians, guitarist, Keith Henderson, bassist, Mike Sterling, drummer, Grady and percussionist, Tony Carpenter

Al had appeared at the Jazz Showcase earlier this summer with a full scale concert of his new CD, Smithology, which celebrates his musical family and legacy.

Tonight the music was fun and funky and a variety of genres including swing, straight ahead jazz, smooth jazz, R&B and funk were presented. Pianist, Genevive Smith set a musical foundation in her pianistic presentation as she covered a historical combination of jazz piano styles including classical technique, stride piano and even some deep boogie-woogie on After Hours!

Pianist, Mike Logan and guitarist, Keith Henderson kept their flow funky and contemporary while Al just kept swinging... through standards, Christmas Songs and songs from the album. Even Mecca's Crump sat in on Santa Claus Go Straight To the Ghetto!

The open mike part of the night included a outstanding young drummer named Taylor who sat in on several songs. Taylor is a Hyde Park Kenwood Academy alum and currently is a music student at UIC, in Champaign, Urbana. She was home for the holidays and stopped in to

play at the Musician's Mecca session. Taylor was excellent and she blew the audience away with her ability to hold her own with these seasoned musicians across several different types of songs.

To check out the music , pop the video!

Speaking 'bout the Blues..Lefty Dizz took me 2 School

Blues In the Night - The Lefty Dizz Interview - by Aki Antonia
Jam Sessions Magazine

Never used 2 really like the Blues. Thought they were 2 depressing.

All the songs sounded the same and it seemed like they were

all played in one key.

But what did I know? 

I had never really listened 2 my own Blues inside.

Had tuned them out...

Had never really played the blues...

Had never really paid no dues...

Never really used to understand the Blues until I had the opportunity 2 interview Bluesman, Lefty Dizz for an article on the Blues in Jam Sessions Magazine.

He told me... one day the Blues was gonna sneak up on me and seep into my soul. Then I would really know how to play the Blues...

Then I would know how 2 play a solo that ment something. 

Not just a bunch a notes played up against the right chords...

but a feeling.

He said the Blues is a feeling...

by Aki Antonia

(click to enlarge photo)

He talked about how he had sat with a young left handed guitarist named Jimi Hendrix and taught him a few things on the guitar..... Told me about how he would reverse his thinking 2 get low down and dirty on the left hand....

I got a chance to play with Dizz on a gig or two. Got the opportunity 2 jam with him and a guitarist friend, Dale Williams right there at the Checkerboard. What a joy! We were playin' the blues that night! He taught me 2 feel my way through. "Have a conversation with your melody. Make yo melody talk! He played me some examples all left handed and crazy.....

I swear the lines sounded just like English!

I learned 2 play my own blues.. to tell my own stories and 2 bend the notes in between...Bamp! bampr! Bamp! Bamp!

Why u come home so late baby?

U might as well stay out all night long!

Why--aiiiii U stay out so late baby?!

U might as well stay out all night long.

Next time the sun catch u crying.

U gon' find out that I am gone."

AA lyrics c 2008

LC and Buddy Guy speak about the Checkerboard Lounge

Baby I'm Going Down to the Checkerboard! 

Jam Sessions Interview

by Aki Antonia

I used to go in the Checkerboard on 43rd St. when Lefty Dizz was playing.

Yes, I remember Jr. Wells and Johnny Dollar would be hanging out and..........

Buddy Guy was always around lighting up the room with his big smile and his big sound.

One night in 1981.... the Rolling Stones... Lefty Dizz and Muddy Waters rolled into the Checkerboard and this is a little something from that night....

I was there! And they played the blues that night!

With Muddy in the House, class was over!

Yes, yes, yes!

AA100908I