Chicago Protests: A Joyful Revolution

by Vashon Jordan Jr.

A photo book showcasing over 100 photos from more than 35 different demonstrations, community events, and moments that shaped the Chicago summer of 2020. From May through September 2020, 21-year-old, independent photographer, Vashon Jordan Jr. (@vashon_photo) captured over 17,000 photographs at dozens of demonstrations across Chicago, Illinois, to provide a tangible, authentic, visual record.They were sparked by the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless other Black people, unjustly murdered by white police officers across the country. Despite being spurred by violence, this revolution was built on peace, love, joy, led by the youth, and occurred during the pandemic of COVID-19.

Genres: Race, Nonfiction

100 pages, Paperback

Published October 16, 2020

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chicago Protests: a Joyful Revolution.

Vaguely recall George Floyd, now off the news cycle? Recall the protests over his (and so many others) being killed by police last summer? Chicago Columbia College student Vashon Jordan took 17,000 photographs on his Iphone of protests here in Chicago, from May through August 2020, documenting as much of it as he could. So was there righteous anger erupting then? Of course there was. And did he capture some of that in his work? Of course. But in the process, this positive young man wanted less to empathize the rage than the joy, the positive celebratory spirit he found there.

Emma Goldman (buried close to my house) once said she didn't want to be part of any revolution if she couldn't dance in it, and that spirit is captured in this book. It’s a lively, positive, and sometimes painful, sometimes sad, but generally joyful book. What an amazing young man!

Here's three professional reviews where you can see some of the only about 100 photographs inlcuded in this book:

https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/10/...

https://patricktreardon.com/book-revi...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trD3p...

[Erik Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking for a quick read, I found this in the 'Chicago' shelves downstairs at Heirloom Books in Chicago. It's a collection of photographs cum captions by a 21-year-0ld local photographer who attended many of the demonstrations 'sparked by the deaths of Breanna Taylor, George Floyd and countless other Black people unjustly murdered by while police officers across the country." I myself participated in four of these demonstrations, two downtown, one in suburban Evanston and a fourth here in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Jordan's photos, however, focus on the city, mostly downtown and in predominantly black neighborhoods. Notably, while subtitled 'A Joyful Revolution', Jordan's photos include many of looted businesses.

While the photos constitute an interesting record, an explanatory text would have helped this book's relevance to future generations who'd not participated in these events.

[Heather McC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended during the American Association for State and Local History Conference (2021).

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

review here

[Tiffany Breyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vashon’s work is tremendous!