The motivation behind my journey, Walk Across America, is to highlight the struggles faced by children trapped in a system marred by ineffective policies and failing schools. In Chicago, under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration, the city seems desperate for assistance, yet he appears preoccupied with various pursuits, including ICE raids and expressing solidarity with Minneapolis. The question stands: why? Our streets are marred by violence against children, and the education system has faltered for years.
It feels like, just when you think it can’t get worse, it somehow does. Recently, Johnson proclaimed that if there isn’t a fight against Trump and ICE, using all the tools that helped black people gain freedom, we risk succumbing to tyranny. But, is it just me, or does that seem contradictory? He talks about battling a “white supremacist system,” while simultaneously claiming that we are free. It puzzles me. Can we be both liberated and oppressed? And really, what does dragging our ancestors into this argument have to do with local governance? It’s a troubling misuse of their legacy.
Why would a mayor defend a dictator while his city continues to burn?
The stark reality is that many residents here lack the freedoms they deserve. There’s a population being regularly denied true opportunities, often used as evidence for systemic racism. And it’s particularly heartbreaking that this is largely about our children. If white supremacy is indeed the cause of their suffering, we need to understand who exactly is behind this to hold them accountable.
But, honestly, when I look at the leadership in Chicago, many of those in power are black. Mayor Johnson himself is black, along with many in his administration. The police chief, the state’s attorney, even the judges—the list goes on. So, Mayor Johnson, where exactly is this white supremacy you speak of?
Chicago resident examines the ‘Progressive Democratic Gang’ for declining federal support on crime under President Trump
Could it be that this narrative is merely a distraction from the fact that the mayor’s own policies might be contributing to the struggles faced by our children?
Former Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas reported that since Johnson took office, over 500 children under 17 have been shot, with 107 losing their lives—23 of them under 12 years old. That’s alarming and largely unseen in the news. Perhaps that’s because Mayor Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union prefer to keep those dark statistics under wraps. Instead, what gets attention? The union’s extravagant trips to destinations like Vegas and Hawaii, costing over $20 million since 2019, all categorized as “professional development.”
In the meantime, our educational system is failing. A staggering number of children struggle to meet basic literacy and math skills, with failure rates hitting as high as 96 out of 100 students in some schools.
From Selma to Chicago, MLK’s legacy is undermined by grievance policies.
Shelby Steele pointed out in the film Who Killed Michael Brown? that liberalism has been a major systemic barrier to the growth of black youth since the ’60s, and he’s not wrong.
It seems the mayor is more focused on opposing Trump and ICE, advocating for sanctuary policies for undocumented immigrants, while berating Trump’s military actions abroad. He claims that blaming immigrants is “misleading and unjust,” even as our community struggles with poverty and instability. All this talk without any substantial solutions in sight.
We need to be accountable as a community.
Ultimately, I think we need to reflect on our choices. We put this incapable man in office. Too often, we fail to hold our leaders accountable and focus instead on protests against Trump, rather than ensuring a brighter future for our children. It’s time to wake up and address these solvable issues. Education isn’t some magical solution; it requires effort we currently seem to lack.
This is why I’m walking across America—to shine a light on this urgent issue. It impacts not only our community but many others across the nation. Subordinating our core values to elite-driven policies benefits only a select few. Our kids deserve leaders who will advocate fervently for their education and future. We live in a great country, and it’s time our children realize that. Otherwise, we’ll face the consequences of our inaction.
Learn more about Pastor Corey Brooks and his mission.
