Warsaw Feels Like Chicago (North Side) and Black Activism & What’s Holding the South Side Back

In this video, I reflect from a park in Warsaw on the surprising similarities between this city and my hometown — Chicago. As someone who grew up in the Windy City, Warsaw's layout, vibe, and work ethic remind me of the North Side — clean, safe, and full of potential. But I also get into the tough stuff: what’s holding back Chicago’s South Side.

I share my personal connection to Maze Jackson, a prominent Black radio voice in Chicago known for the phrase, “What’s in it for the Black people?” While that kind of activism has a place, I argue that it’s also held the South Side back from real progress. I make a comparison between the North Side of Chicago and Warsaw… and the South Side and Monrovia, Liberia — a tough truth, but one that needs to be said.

I also dive into a controversial idea: if Trump sent in the Army to secure the South Side, the resulting safety and stability would lead to economic revival. Yuppies would renovate homes, Home Depots would open, and a thriving food and culture scene would follow — *benefiting Black residents most of all.

Topics discussed:
My emotional connection between Warsaw and Chicago
The role of Black activism in Chicago’s political stagnation
The future of the South Side and what real revitalization could look like
Why safety, not slogans, is the key to progress
A controversial but honest take on what it would take to save Chicago

#Chicago #Warsaw #MazeJackson #SouthSideChicago #BlackActivism #TrumpChicago #UrbanRevival #ChicagoPolitics #What’sInItForTheBlackPeople #AmericanCities #UrbanPolicy