The 21St Ward & Chicago's African Americans Neighborhoods

Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

I never met Chicago Alderman Ronnie Mosley, however I think he has been a good elected official. He provides excellent information on Facebook and his monthly 21St Ward meetings can be viewed on Facebook. 

I'm not shocked nobody is running against Alderman Ronnie Mosley. It can take a whole lot of money to defeat an establishment elected official. Being a resident of the 21St Ward all of my life, I have seen the economic and population decline. I understand change is inevitable.

When I think about the 21St Ward and other African Americans neighborhoods of the far southside of Chicago I remember these remarks from former City of Chicago Treasurer Kurt Summers; Why would they want to come back here?  Why would they want to come live here and bring their family here?  Why would they want to raise children here?

Marc Sims 

Chicago

Ald. Ronnie Mosley Running Unopposed

https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/10/27/ald-ronnie-mosley-running-unopposed-in-far-south-sides-21st-ward

Why would they want to come back here?  Why would they want to come live here and bring their family here?  Why would they want to raise children here?

Kurt Summers, former Treasurer, City of Chicago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28QUnndoc5E&feature=youtu.be&t=1095&fbclid=IwAR0HpJs-nwSVDQIVGv4-K3xMWWnOGJOTpS9Dy3hH2GFraPN93JvIy1uEyTI

How often do Chicago neighborhoods change?

I would guess three generations.

Dominic Pacyga

WBEZ Curious City

https://www.wbez.org/shows/curious-city/from-stockyards-to-speakeasies-a-chicago-historian-tackles-5-questions-about-the-citys-history/6dc5503c-c39f-452a-adb5-676139a58c52

Why Don’t Black Chicago Neighborhoods Gentrify?

https://www.wbez.org/stories/why-dont-black-chicago-neighborhoods-gentrify/ff0341a4-1ff2-4370-b4dd-e25dc84c5e5e

I Want To Be Respected!

 

Why do I want respect from people who don't give a damn about me?

Marc Sims

Chicago

Overcoming Fear of Judgement & Ridicule | Sadhguru

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1fLidw2vrA

Googe AI Overview

You want respect from indifferent people because your mind often mistakes their approval for proof of your own worth. [1, 2]

When someone does not care about you, your ego sees their rejection as a puzzle to solve. Winning them over feels like a way to prove you are valuable. [1, 2]

Common Reasons Behind This Urge

Low Self-Esteem: If you doubt your own value, you rely on outside sources to tell you that you matter.
The "Fixer" Habit: Trying to win over cold people can feel familiar. It often repeats old patterns from past relationships where love or respect felt hard to earn.
Chasing Control: Getting approval from a difficult person feels like turning a threat into a safe situation.
Confusing Attention with Respect: You might think that making them notice you means you have won power or status. [1]

How to Shift Your Focus

Build Inner Value: Real confidence comes from how you treat yourself, not from chasing after people who offer nothing back. You can read more about building self-worth in guides like 7 Subtle Traits to Gain Genuine Respect From People.
Drop the Rope: Stop trying to impress or over-explain yourself to people who do not value your time.
Choose Availability Wisely: Protect your energy and pull back your attention from those who ignore you.

Don't Criticize Have a Conversation

 

Nikole Hannah-Jones seems very smart and very honest. Americans are basically not very honest when discussing public education. I rarely hear a discussion about the history, the purpose, and reality of public education in the United States. 

Nikole Hannah-Jones should not be criticized for not choosing a better school for her child, but exposing how hopeless public education is for most working class families.

Marc Sims

Chicago

PBS

Nikole Hannah-Jones responds to the controversy over her new essay

Nikole Hannah-Jones sent her daughter, to a local high-poverty, predominantly Black elementary school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr3ny2ok8Vs

My daughter is in an all Black school, and culturally it is amazing, educationally, it is a bit of a sacrifice.

Nikole Hannah-Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVIWFgCvcjQ&feature=youtu.be&t=2993

An Argument

Nikole Hannah-Jones

This American Life

https://www.thisamericanlife.org

Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own

Nikole Hannah-Jones

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/magazine/ny-public-schools-black-students-segregation.html

Success

 A few thoughts on success

Success is a gift. "It is not the brightest who succeed . . . Nor is success simply the sum of the decisions and efforts we make on our own behalf”. It is, rather, a gift. Outliers are those who have been given opportunities - and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them." 

Malcolm Gladwell Outliers

"The tragedy is that society (your school, your boss, your government, your family) keeps drumming the genius part out. The problem is that our culture has engaged in a Faustian bargain, in which we trade our genius and artistry for apparent stability." 

Seth Godin Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

You can't be successful all by yourself. Other people make you successful. That's why you have to focus on other people, not yourself. 

Al Ries & Jack Trout: HORSE SENSE 

I believe, as I suspect most people do, that the potential for change among human beings is virtually limitless. But I also believe----- and my work on this book has strengthened this belief---- that it takes a truly exceptional person to transcend his or her social environment and that we are shaped (and limited) by our backgrounds and by the thinking of our generation more than we know or are comfortable admitting, even to ourselves. 

Ellis Cose The End of Anger

Marc Sims

Chicago

Teach Money

 

I ain't mad at Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. I want to teach CPS students how to get a six figure income and multi-million dollar pension.

Marc Sims

Chicago

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is currently set to receive a pension worth an estimated $3.8 million through the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund and the Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund.

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-public-pensions-to-be-worth-3-8m-5-5m-thanks-loopholes

Gatekeepers & Constituents

 

Jessie Fuentes & Ronnie Mosley

I can't get the 21St Ward Alderman Ronnie Mosley on my video podcast. It is sad because I have been a resident of the 21St Ward for 64 years.

My show on YouTube does not have thousands of viewers and subscribers. It's basically a public affairs program. The guests are people who like to talk and don't mind being seen on social media with Marc Sims.

Ronnie Mosley seems like a nice gentleman and a good Alderman, but I think his staff is blocking him from being a guest on the show.

Alderman Ronnie Mosley's gatekeeper may see me and my public affairs program as a total waste of time. Gatekeepers have a job to do but they may be doing their employer a disservice.

Marc Sims

Host

Just A Few Questions video podcast chat show

https://www.youtube.com/@justafewquestions3647

marcsimschiago@gmail.com

Elected officials from my audio only podcast. 

Organizer Alderwoman: Alderwoman Jeanette B. Taylor

Marc Sims speaks with Alderwoman Jeanette B. Taylor, 20th Ward of Chicago Illinois.

https://anchor.fm/marc-sims8/episodes/Organizer-Alderwoman-Alderwoman-Jeanette-B--Taylor-e12084m

Man of Service: Alderman David Moore

Just A Few Questions Podcast

Marc Sims talks with Chicago's 17th Ward Alderman David Moore about reducing neighborhood crime and saving homes.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Q8PSuxSYzjJEEoZJLcRHw

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, 26th Ward Chicago Illinois.  

Marc Sims talks with Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes about making neighborhoods safe.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0TsKwIjoYSxQDIoQpUsOB3

Public Service: Alderwoman Maria Hadden

Just A Few Questions Podcast

Marc Sims talks with 49th Ward Alderwoman Maria Hadden about improving life in Chicago’s far north side.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6KMndG1wIhtHJSzB4U6WsP

Run For The US House of Representatives: Pat Dowell

Just A Few Questions

Marc Sims speaks with Pat Dowell, candidate for Illinois' 1st Congressional District in the US House of Representatives.

https://anchor.fm/marc-sims/episodes/Run-For-The-US-House-of-Representatives-Pat-Dowell-e1d1j7h

State Senator Lakesia Collins

Just A Few Questions Podcast 

Marc Sims speaks with Illinois State Senator Lakesia Collins about her office and public safety.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2eRXgLrwO44jfy0kHfmSfG

Attorney Richard Boykin Candidate Cook County Board President

Just A Few Questions Podcast

Marc talks with Attorney Richard Boykin, candidate for Cook County Board President.

https://anchor.fm/marc-sims/episodes/Attorney-Richard-Boykin-Candidate-Cook-County-Board-President-e1i7b4v

No One Is Safe In Chicago:  Alderman Raymond Lopez

Just A Few Questions Podcast

Marc Sims talks with Alderman Raymond Lopez about changing the perception of the city of Chicago Illinois.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1idaBbwUdD95h6ZIqnbFxd

Reducing Neighborhood Crime: Bob Fioretti    

Just A Few Questions Podcast

Marc Sims speaks with former Chicago Alderperson Attorney Bob Fioretti about reducing neighborhood crime.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2sfiqS7ujcOoOz1vfjz7yD

Wish For Low Income Neighborhoods.

My wish for low income neighborhoods.

Grade school students will get a practical education that teaches skills that pay the bills.

The unemployed and underemployed will get jobs that pay a middle class wage or be subsidized by a universal basic income.

A severely mentally ill person is placed in an institution for the mentally ill.

Non-violent neighborhood criminals are sent to a correctional facility that will teach them legal skills that pay the bills.

Marc Sims

Chicago

Do the powers that be wish to have a workforce of strong independently

minded critically thinking people?

A Different Kind of Teacher  John Taylor Gatto

Clip by Marc Sims.

https://www.c-span.org/clip/public-affairs-event/user-clip-nobody-can-educate-you-except-yourself/4653000

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