Children and face-painting, neighbors and hotdogs, cops and city officials on a perfect evening in August made for some holy togetherness in parks around Springfield Tuesday. It was National Night Out, which used to be called a “night out against crime,” but now it’s as much “for” as against. For building relationships, for dismantling racial barriers and for sharing a commitment to old neighborhoods, in a culture that fears commitment. These folks come out to celebrate staying put, and to honor each other for staying put too. –Fletcher Farrar, editor and CEO
Cover photo: In 1902, an unidentified man whitewashes a fence in preparation for the Illinois State Fair. From the book, African Americans in Springfield, by Mary Frances and Beverly Helm-Renfro. PHOTO COURTESY ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
This article appears in Aug 4-10, 2022.
