THE
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EDITION - Celebrating Black history through art, page 3 and HairStory, page 7
Daily Egyptian SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916. SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.
DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025
VOL. 108, ISSUE 23
Carbondale celebrates Black history through food
Emily Fulk Jason Isele efulk@dailyegyptian.com jisele@dailyegyptian.com
On Feb. 22, Carbondale highlighted the Black community’s food in homage of Black History month. After a several-year hiatus due to COVID-19, New Zion Missionary Baptist Church hosted the fundraiser Taste of Blackness, a soul food dinner to appreciate the loving food made within the community. “Well, soul food is different, more so because it came out of a historical perspective of our people having to utilize what was available,” Pastor Darryl Cox said. “...What was available was the parts and even the produce that people didn’t want, and because they came into an environment, because of the environment they lived in, they had to make do with what they had.” Soul food is unique because there is so much history and community
Jasmine Thompson jasminethompson@dailyegyptian.com
Chef Jacquelin Ocole serves green beans to Taste Of Blackness attendee David Rouse at the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church Feb. 22, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. Jason Isele | @iselephotography
behind every meal served. It’s not only about the flavors and ingredients but what went into creating the recipes, the care that goes into each dish and the sharing
Nancy Maxwell’s film inspires community change
Annalise Schmidt aschmidt@dailyegyptian.com
Nancy Maxwell has spent over 20 years advocating for the southern Illinois community, and her latest project — a documentary in the works — continues that mission. As the executive director of Carbondale United and vice president of the Black Chamber of Commerce, Maxwell has been on the front lines of addressing systemic issues that Black people face in Carbondale. She said her upcoming film will bridge generational gaps, amplify marginalized voices and inspire action in other communities
Black business owners reshape Carbondale
facing ongoing challenges. “When the presidential election was final, a lot of people went into, like, a deep depression. They got really upset, and it was really devastating to them,” Maxwell said. She noticed a disconnect between younger and older generations in how they processed political and social turmoil. “The older generations were like, ‘we’ve been through slavery. We’ve been through the ’50s and ’60s. We’ve been through some stuff. This is nothing, we can survive this again,’” she said. “And I felt the disconnect
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of these recipes from generation to generation, Cox said. One of the servers at this event, Elva Liddell, said, “I grew up in Mississippi. My mother and my
grandmother cooked soul food all the time. They did not use a box. I learned how to cook from them from scratch, you know. And it goes back
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Nancy Maxwell stands for a portrait Feb. 24, 2025 at Carbondale United in Carbondale, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
In Carbondale, a quiet revolution is reshaping the community, led by resilient Black entrepreneurs. “Our journeys may be paved with challenges, but they remind us of our strength and the power of community,” Ryan Reed Sr., supervisor of GRO Community, said. Business #1: GRO Community & Southern Illinois Supervisor – Dr. Ryan Reed Sr. Reed is the southern Illinois supervisor for GRO Community, an organization founded out of a commitment to addressing mental health needs within marginalized communities, particularly among Black and Brown populations. The organization was established by Aaron Mallory, who aimed to redefine the narrative surrounding mental health care. Reed’s personal experiences, including the loss of close family members and his struggles with depression, influenced his dedication to helping others. As he put it, “I wanted to answer the question, ‘Can I live?’ because I believe we all struggle with mental health.” The path to establishing GRO Community was filled with challenges. “It’s not easy navigating these waters, especially when the system isn’t designed to support us,” Reed said. Additionally, the emotional burden of caring for others during the COVID-19 pandemic added complexity to his role, he said. GRO Community has become a resource for Carbondale’s Black community, offering individualized counseling, group therapy and community support services, Reed said. “We’re not just offering therapy; we’re about building connections,” Reed said. Their initiatives extend into the community, engaging clients in activities such as sports that promote BUSINESSES | 3