PEORIA MAGAZINE February 2023

function that was generating a lot of buzz on social media. After turning down my pitch, my superior told me that I needed to think of news stories that “appeal to the average, white, 35-year-old, stay-at-home mom.” It was just an unsavory sign of the times. Now, the River City is fortunate to have a small group of Black and other minority journalists shedding light from more varied angles and vantage points. But, before this, we knew we could always count on Peoria’s oldest Black publication, The Traveler Weekly. The Black business and entrepre neurial landscape seems hopeful, too. Aaron Kilgore heads his own State Farm agency. Lexii Loushell has started a modeling agency, #SELFMODELS. Riley Greenwood produces cul inar y creations through Riley’s Vegan Sweets and Eats. Ezra Murray’s business, Joker Visuals, is doing light and sound production for nearly every Black event in the city. Chama St. Louis recently opened her new location for Euphoria Aerial Arts & Dance Studio. Jonathan and Emmanuelle Day of Jingle Holiday Lights helped light up Peoria. In house catering is alive through Zakiya Floyd’s Mothering Skillet. It’s a family affair at The 9 Lounge with Courtney Mason, who heads the city’s newest late-night hangout. We’re also fortunate to have a solid network of mentoring groups in Peoria.

Arts Partners and Big Picture Peoria invited artists Kevin Bradford and Brenda Gentry of the Peoria Guild for Black Artists to paint and showcase Peoria pioneers Romeo B. Garret and Valeska Hinton on the side of the Peoria Public Library. Young Black artists depicting Black pioneers on the side of the Main Street library in downtown Peoria 10 years ago? Nah. These public art displays create a sense of pride for those who live here and a sense of belonging for the artists that create them. They also help tell the full story of our city. The Peoria Riverfront Museum has taken a liking to Black culture, as well, showcasing several Black events and artists from all over, thanks in-part to Everley Davis, the student engagement coordinator there. Credit also is due to our local media outlets. They have the power and the obligation to showcase the complex, nuanced flavor of Peoria, in a way that represents the city’s population. The fact that I’mwriting an article for Peoria Magazine, which is dedicating this issue to the Peoria experience through the Black lens, and that other minorities are being featured, reflects progress. This is a stark contrast frommy time working as an intern reporter for a Peoria media outlet during college. I tried pitching a story about an urban

Carl Halloway has his Male Mentor Mondays. Tahari Nicole has Teens to Queens. Antwaun Banks has his Product of the Project. There's a 100 Black Men presence here, too! It is as great a time as ever for Black folks to have a hand in curating their Peoria experience. We’re slowly gaining access to resources, our cultural expression is finally starting to resonate, and we’re building our own tables where the existing ones don’t have seats. WE’RE BUILDING OUR OWN TABLES WHERE THE EXISTING ONES DON’T HAVE SEATS Peoria still has some knots tountangle tomakeitamoreinclusiveandprosperous city for all who live here. But just like slow money is better than no money, some progress is better than none.

De’Marcus Hamilton , aka Marc Supreme, is general manager of the radio station Strictly Hip Hop 90.7FM, a founding member of The YANI Collective, a public speaker and author of the coming D@mn, I Graduate in May! He contributes to a number

of media outlets and was recognized as one of Peoria Magazine’s Forty Leaders Under 40 in 2021

FEBRUARY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 51