Computers are binary. Everything we see on a screen, from a Hollywood movie to a text message to the period at the end of this sentence, is divided into a chain of zeros and ones. These are the possibilities. On or off. Yes or no. There is no 0.5. There is no “maybe”.
All too often, thanks to thousands of years of Darwinian survival conditioning, people can also be binary. Fight or flight? Friend or foe? Nuance is a pretty modern concept and is lost on a lot of people. They like, “God commands this!” They’re not comfortable with, “Here are your options.” Choose four.”
Take the story. Entire swaths of the country seem to believe that our nation is either “great,” meaning a perfect place that has never done anything wrong, or that it is mired in “carnage” wrought by outsiders. Fine distinctions are lost on them. Anything that falls under the heroic in American history is a personal insult. Racism is a myth.
The worst thing that ever happened in their American history is George Washington cutting down a cherry tree with his little hatchet, and even then he makes up for his evil with his honest confession.
When their children are told about really bad things that really happened in the past, they theoretically feel bad about themselves. Or maybe even actually. Maybe because they sympathize with the evildoers.
They hate to give the impression that the Confederacy was a big supporter of slavery. They hate to give the impression that the South lost the Civil War, and I think given current politics they are right.
Real history is not about absolutes. It is never black or white, but nuances of meaning, depths of complexity. Not one cause, but a dozen. That’s one of the reasons I’m such a fan of Chicago TikTok historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas.
He goes everywhere. He can be taking a tour of Bronzeville and suddenly start talking about the Marx Brothers who lived there over a century ago. His Chicago is never the simple child’s drawing of clichés and deep-dish pizza that outsiders tend to offer, but a rich, diverse picture of people and places, successes and heartbreaks.
Speaking of the latter, we last visited him two weeks ago, when I told the story that ComEd had lured him from the safety of his Union berth and then shown him the gate. Some would sulk afterward, but Dilla was busy.
On Friday, he released Episode 01 of his YouTube show “You Don’t Know Chi.” Right off the bat, he’s into nuance. “Now we’re either in Chatham or Grand Crossing,” he begins, walking down a summer street. “But we can find out a little later.”
The show had 5,000 views on its first day and is worth 13 minutes of your time. Ostensibly it’s the classic Chicago bungalow, but it encompasses a variety of themes, including the warmth of the neighborhoods and a rib joint that should be added to your must-visit list.
As a historian, Dilla is a fundamentally optimistic guy who isn’t afraid to plunge into the chaos and unpleasantness. He manages the feat of being positive while also fully acknowledging the story’s problematic places – Mahalia Jackson lived on 82nd Street and Indiana and, oh yeah, her house was bombed.
His show is fast-paced and well-produced. Professional but not too slick. But I don’t have to act as a filter; Just check it out for yourself. He’s joined by rapper Rhymefest – co-writer of “Glory” from the film “Selma” with John Legend and Common – who, for me, provided the most valuable thought of the episode. And what would that be? First, watch the video. Go to YouTube and paste “You Don’t Know Chi!”
Complete? Really? Come on, go back and try it. It’s fun and easy and you’ll learn something. I definitely did that.
Are you ready now? Good.
It was Rhymefest’s remark during his friend’s visit to Dilla about the scratches and damage to his Grammy and how good it was to be mistreated by the kids he showed it to.
“If it doesn’t have any scars, that means I’m not using it for anything,” he said.
This is sensible and a thought I have never expressed before. As someone who can get upset about these things – a scratch on a thermos, a dent on a car – I’m going to try to take Rhymefest’s take to heart. There is always more to learn, from history and from each other.
