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Blake Bonaparte shares why Chicago needs free community journalism. it’s your turn now. When yo
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Blake Bonaparte shares why Chicago needs free community journalism. itâs your turn now. When you were in your twenties and searching for a partner, or broke and seeking a job, where did you turn? For people of a certain era, it was the Chicago Reader. Today, there's a young generation of Chicagoans who need the same sense of belonging that the Chicago Reader has always represented. With your support, we can continue to operate a platform that not only highlights the strength of community, but will build intergenerational bridges across Chicago. Meet Blake Bonaparte, a multi-hyphenate creative based here in Chicago. He explains why diverse storytelling is the future of the Chicago Reader. [Support the future of the Reader]( Meet the Artist, Blake. I remember my first time truly feeling the intensity of a sunset and seeing firsthand the many colors dancing between the lake and the sky. Watching the golden glow hit my friendsâ faces, gave me an appreciation for my skin that I carry with me to this day. I remember being at block parties and street festivals during the summer and trying to count the countless different hairstyles I could spot in the crowd. I learned so much about how creativity is vital to expression, and saw how it ties us all together while also making us each unique. Credit: Blake Bonaparte (@ayeee_itsblake) âGrowing up and seeing the world through the lens of Black Queer eyes, Iâve come to realize that most people donât view things from my perspectiveâ [Donate to keep stories alive]( âTo me, storytelling is connection, and I intend on using my work to connect with as many people as possible.â Credit: Blake Bonaparte (@ayeee_itsblake) My identity, that has set me apart from so many people and cast me to the margins over and over again, has actually been the thing that has helped me to connect with people the most. Iâve gained a specific kind of empathy that comes only from having an intersectional experience. Being Black and Queer, you learn from a young age how stories can be weaponized against you. These stories are used to fabricate narratives and create harmful stereotypes. Also, many stories are withheld from communities in order to isolate them and separate them from their histories. Credit: Blake Bonaparte (@ayeee_itsblake) Our winter fundraiser is coming to an end! Help us place storytelling at the center of Chicago by making a donation before the end of 2023. [Donate]( P.S: Give today and your gift will be matched by our friends at the Carol Oppenheim and Jerome S. Lamet Charitable Fund, who have challenged us to raise $25,000 from members this month! [Facebook icon]( [Instagram icon]( [Twitter icon]( [Logo] Copyright (C) 2023 Chicago Reader. All rights reserved.
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