Walking into the Black Abolition Movement for the Mind (BAM) center in Waukegan, people will see two racks of clothing, a line of computer terminals, artwork, a piano, an electrician’s workbench, a stand where coats are made, a foosball table and much more.
Though there are a variety of reasons for all the items there, an overriding purpose is to help Waukegan’s youth better understand themselves, their community, the world and have a brighter future.
Operated by Chris “Brotha” Blanks and Josephine “Queen” Blanks, they use their varied skills and experience from fashion designing to community organizing to help young people understand their heritage and develop tools for success.
“Before they play games on computers, they have to become educated on where they came from,” Brotha Blanks said. “We teach them the greatness they came from. A person who doesn’t know that is like a tree without roots.”
Josephine Blanks was given Waukegan’s Extra Mile Award on Nov. 21 during a City Council Meeting for her efforts with the area’s youth, just as Brotha Blanks earned the Waukegan Proud award just over a year ago.
“In recognition of your community efforts especially working with our youth and beyond through fashion and sewing classes, we are presenting this award for going the extra mile and being a community leader,” Mayor Ann Taylor said at the meeting.
Young people who spend time at BAM, a not for profit corporation, also get the opportunity to talk to community leaders like state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove. She said she first met the Blanks when she became a senator two years ago.
Johnson, who regularly holds public listening sessions to hear what is on her constituents’ minds and let them know what is happening in Springfield, said the two best-attended were at BAM. The young people there impressed her.
“They were engaged, and were asking good questions,” Johnson said. “Josephine and Brotha Blanks provide them a good platform. The kids were as young as 7 and they were very tuned in.”
People who see Brotha Blanks when he frequents City Council and Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education meetings cannot miss the colorful, tasteful coats and hats he wears. Josephine Blanks makes those clothes for him, along with special orders of others.
“This is made from African fabric,” Josephine Blanks said, referring to the coat her husband was wearing at BAM recently. “I saw it two years ago and knew it would be a good jacket. I turned it into a peacoat. These fabrics were imported from Africa.”
Along with making clothes for sale, Josephine is teaching teenage boys and girls how to sew. She learned how to sew in high school in Chicago, matured into a designer and believes it has become a lost art. With her help, she hopes it will be part of her students’ future.
“They come in and see me sewing,” Josephine Blanks said. “It’s a passion for me. It’s a calling for me to teach them. They are very imaginative. They could grow up to be designers.”
When young people arrive at the center and see the computers, before Brotha Blanks lets them play games or use the foosball table, they spend time learning about their heritage. They do research on the computer.
A U.S. Army combat veteran and a retired union construction worker, Brotha Blanks said he guides young people to the trades where they can earn a good living. The electrician’s workbench is there because one of his associates is an electric engineer and the teens can learn to become electricians.
Josephine Blanks said the piano is there for people to play, and perhaps teach others. Just as she considers clothes designing an art, so is music. There is also artwork around the room. The pieces mounted on the walls are there to teach history. Brotha Blanks said the ones on the floor are for sale to help fund the organization.
Both Brotha and Josephine Blanks had to overcome challenges in their past to arrive at a place where they want to bring better lives to the youth and others in the community. She said she was a victim of abuse in a previous relationship. She moved on and raised a daughter and three sons.
At one time, Brotha Blanks said he used and sold drugs. After he spent a few months in jail, he said he changed.
“Sometimes God sits you down to make you think,” Brotha Blanks said. “If you don’t need the warning, He lays you down. I’m 32 years cocaine-, crack- and heroin-free.”
Though Brotha Blanks spends his time working with youth and others, he said the development of BAM is a team effort.
“She has been the wind under my wings to do all this,” Brotha Blanks said.
