So I’m getting my morning exercise Saturday morning around 7AM and I’m walking east on Madison . I’ve lived in Oak Park for 34 years, but I never noticed that there are 8 black beauty shops on Madison between Ridgeland and Austin, and customers are pouring in at 7AM. How come? I rack my white brain, and I can’t come up with an explanation as to why so many African- American women get their hair done at 7AM on Saturday morning. I feel that living in an ‘integrated” community I should know this. Even worse, it occurs to me that I don’t know a single black women well enough to call and ask about my Saturday discovery. Kind of sad.
One more thing: Madison Street is the home of the John L.Hedges Parks and Rec Building. John is a current Village Trustee, but before that, he was long time boss of Oak Park parks. Is he the only living person in Oak Park with a building named after him? Pretty impressive. Even George Washington had to wait for his memorial!
