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Still Burning: Half a Century of Chicago, from the Streets to the Corridors of Power: A Memoir
In this lively and insightful memoir, Jeremiah Joyce recounts a wide-ranging career that in many way tracks the history of Chicago over the last half century. During the late sixties and early seventies, his jobs took him from tense urban classrooms to street encounters as a member of the Chicago Police Department's Gang Intelligence Unit. While many neighborhoods in American cities turned from white to Black almost overnight, Joyce, as alderman for the 19th Ward on the Southwest Side, fought to ensure the long-term viability and successful harmony of an integrated neighborhood-one that still stands strong and united today. He spent more than a decade as a Democratic state senator in Springfield and participated in some of the turbulent local elections of the eighties. Because of his experience in Chicago politics, presidential campaigns drew on his expertise. Barack Obama consulted with him before running (unsuccessfully) for Congress and again while weighing whether to run for president. An underlying theme throughout Joyce's story is the effort to preserve and improve the vitality of Chicago during a time of racial tumult and white exodus to the suburbs. Overall, his memoir provides an acute, detailed account of the intersection of power, politics, religion and race as it influenced the course of the city.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 10, 2023
Review to follow soon. Way too close to home for me to be impartial. Some of his politics brought worse after worse. Still does. But most was understandable for the placements he held. Good intent may often be counter productive.
After some time in contemplation and in sickness (yep took me out for 3 or 4 days.):
This is a good book to read if following the insider contacts and compromises for the inner circles of Democratic Party politics in Chicago during the last century. He is 5 years older than I and in his 80's now. But has been active more than not that entire time of our lifespans. From a mixed job youth of teaching and police work. He didn't even finish proper high school. I remember Joyce as always being in the background. As a state Senator from 19th district. I was always 18th ward, right next door. He was one district east of me in Sabina's parish. But we have nearly identical childhood/ young person placements and some other intersects to absolutely knowing what Chicago was like in those mid-century days especially. Up until the Days of Rage. Joyce did not have to go through SDS and worse every day at school and transit. I did. He was a policeman then and had somewhat infiltration backup/ protection. Also during all the varying riots, his horrors were MUCH less than mine. That's the truth.
He is 100% politician and his compromises were at time, to me, not cited here in the real flavor of what they condoned. Joyce is extremely good at sympathetic double talk. Still.
I quite enjoyed hearing about Harold and Jane Byrne's days and the inner circle cabals. How Dick Mel and Ed Vrdolyak operated etc. Also Rostenkowski's pit downfall with money etc. But he didn't reveal anything new to me. Said much of the good without telling the truth for avenues of "special people" at all.
You may like to read this for nostalgia if you are a South side Chicagoan. People suffered but they did also at points enjoy. To this day I know at least 50 to 100 people who will not speak of the times when they lost their houses, churches, neighborhoods all in one clean sweep within 10 years. My Mother gave away a three flat on Racine where I was born. It was burned within the decade regardless. It was NOT shoddy construction at all- the marble outside was literally vandalized and stripped away in mere years. The front door was burned in entry attempts three times in 2 years right after we left. The man she gave it too tried very hard but was nothing but 100% property loser in the end regardless. His race didn't protect him either.
Many lens told here are more than slanted. Today he is probably a Republican. He was right of JFK during JFK's time, I do remember. JFK would be a Republican today. Jeremiah Joyce could talk. Still loves it. You can tell.
He wouldn't have made the cut for a McAuley girl- that's for sure. Despite all his hobnobbing with Popes and Presidents.
After some time in contemplation and in sickness (yep took me out for 3 or 4 days.):
This is a good book to read if following the insider contacts and compromises for the inner circles of Democratic Party politics in Chicago during the last century. He is 5 years older than I and in his 80's now. But has been active more than not that entire time of our lifespans. From a mixed job youth of teaching and police work. He didn't even finish proper high school. I remember Joyce as always being in the background. As a state Senator from 19th district. I was always 18th ward, right next door. He was one district east of me in Sabina's parish. But we have nearly identical childhood/ young person placements and some other intersects to absolutely knowing what Chicago was like in those mid-century days especially. Up until the Days of Rage. Joyce did not have to go through SDS and worse every day at school and transit. I did. He was a policeman then and had somewhat infiltration backup/ protection. Also during all the varying riots, his horrors were MUCH less than mine. That's the truth.
He is 100% politician and his compromises were at time, to me, not cited here in the real flavor of what they condoned. Joyce is extremely good at sympathetic double talk. Still.
I quite enjoyed hearing about Harold and Jane Byrne's days and the inner circle cabals. How Dick Mel and Ed Vrdolyak operated etc. Also Rostenkowski's pit downfall with money etc. But he didn't reveal anything new to me. Said much of the good without telling the truth for avenues of "special people" at all.
You may like to read this for nostalgia if you are a South side Chicagoan. People suffered but they did also at points enjoy. To this day I know at least 50 to 100 people who will not speak of the times when they lost their houses, churches, neighborhoods all in one clean sweep within 10 years. My Mother gave away a three flat on Racine where I was born. It was burned within the decade regardless. It was NOT shoddy construction at all- the marble outside was literally vandalized and stripped away in mere years. The front door was burned in entry attempts three times in 2 years right after we left. The man she gave it too tried very hard but was nothing but 100% property loser in the end regardless. His race didn't protect him either.
Many lens told here are more than slanted. Today he is probably a Republican. He was right of JFK during JFK's time, I do remember. JFK would be a Republican today. Jeremiah Joyce could talk. Still loves it. You can tell.
He wouldn't have made the cut for a McAuley girl- that's for sure. Despite all his hobnobbing with Popes and Presidents.
December 17, 2022
3.5 stars. A fun stroll down memory lane for aging Chicagoans. Joyce's memoir harkens back to the days when life in Southside neighborhoods revolved around the local Catholic parish and the Daily family ran the "City that Works". Joyce served as a Chicago police officer and schoolteacher before being elected a Chicago city alderman and later, Illinois state senator. He shares first-hand accounts of his encounters with the two Mayor Dailys, Harold Washington, Barack Obama, David Axelrod and dozens of other familiar names.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews