Chicagoan John Sibley is the author of ten books and an accomplished artist whose paintings are collected by Mayor Richard Daley, football star Walter Payton, and heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson among others.
John Sibley and Mayor Richard Daley
In a 2019 interview in N'DIGO magazine, Sibley was asked what inspires him, and he replied: "Life. Just jogging in Washington Park inspires me." Sibley had ample opportunity to be inspired throughout the 2020-2021 coronavirus pandemic, during which he exercised by power walking around Washington Park, an area that encompasses 372 acres between Cottage Grove and Martin Luther King Drive.
Washington Park
While walking, Sibley observed the area's flora - such as oak trees, maple trees, and spring wildflowers, and fauna - like crows, red-tailed hawks, gray squirrels, garter snakes, and more. The sunlight and nature inspired Sibley to ruminate about life, death, history, philosophy, black lives, and more.
Sibley is especially troubled by the mistreatment of minority people - which is a historical and ongoing problem in America. Sibley recalls that Washington Park was once the home of roving Indian tribes like the Shawnee, Miami, Ojibwa, and Winnebago, who "had to deal with the hubris onslaught of white pioneers and settlers who altered their ancient indigenous culture." Sibley goes on, "The Indians were not barbarians or invaders—the American and European colonizers were."
Illinois Indians
Unrestrained violence continues to plague America. Observing a flock of Canadian geese.....
.....Sibley notes "how ironic it is that Chicago has ordinances prohibiting the discharge of firearms at geese, yet it has one of the highest black-on-black homicide rates in the nation."
Many cultures believe human welfare should supersede animal rights. For example, African philosopher Dr. Reginald M.J. Oduor, who lectures at the University of Nairobi in Kenya, says "man is seen as the core of existence in African philosophy" and "animal rights do not exist in most African philosophies." Oduor goes on to say, "Every time I look at TV commercials about how you should spend your money to help abused animals like dogs and cats, I feel nauseated. I think the obligation to help homeless people should take precedence over animals."
Dr. Reginald M.J. Odour
Sibley has an interesting theory about why people of European descent love dogs, and posits that "white love for Canis lupus familiaris [is] based on transgenerational epigenetics" - meaning outside factors change the way genes are expressed. Sibley speculates that the domestication of Paleolithic dogs 25,000 years ago in Germany "led to epigenetically acquired phenotypical traits (kinship and love for dogs), which is a fixed trait in their genome."
A Paleolithic man with his dog
Other examples of epigenetic characteristics might be "how, subconsciously, the trauma from slavery, the Civil War, and the Holocaust still exist in shared family genes." Epigenetics may even cause violence in black communities. Sibley's suggestion is that "the rampant homicidal violence in Chicago’s youth lies in epigenetics, PTSS (Post Traumatic Slavery Syndrome), and transgenerational DNA. We not only pass onto our children hair and skin color, height, and intelligence, but other traits: a propensity for self-hatred and genocidal violence."
Epigenetics may contribute to violence in black communities
Inner city violence often seems like an intractable problem in the United States. To curb the stabbings, beatings, and shootings, Sibley thinks the Biden administration should focus on racial equity, especially systemic racism and criminal justice. Sibley also believes law enforcement should use cyber warfare techniques like robotic cockroaches, flies, and bees, as well as nano-optic smart dust.
Robo-Fly
Smart Dust
Devices like this could be employed to videotape homicides in alleys, drive-bys, and schools. Sibley muses, "Imagine how a criminal would react before pulling the trigger if he were not sure the fly or bumblebee buzzing around him was videotaping his every move, or he could not distinguish which bird on the telephone pole wire was ‘real’ or [a drone]?"
With regard to the Covid-19 vaccines, Sibley notes that they have been met with skepticism in the black community because of historical racist health policies. For example, the 20th century Tuskegee experiments purposely left black men with syphilis untreated so doctors could follow the progress of the disease.
Sibley writes, "I understand black folks’ paranoia and reluctance because if science can now target genes that expressed the color of a mouse, you could target genes that express other traits, such as ethnicity. What if a new vaccine causes a hemorrhagic fever when it encounters cells containing African American genes? What if a virus gives whites only a headache but other groups die from it?" The presence of extremists in government exacerbate concerns like this, because racists might decide a FSV (Final Solution Virus) is needed. This might sound outlandish, but genetic manipulation of humans is a reality, and genetically engineered babies have already been born in China.
Genetically engineered babies
Turning to bigger issues, Sibley ponders, "It is humbling to think that existence on this planet can be extinguished like a blown-out flame. Are we prepared for mass extinction because of climate change? It is terrifying to think how our planet is warming ten times faster than it has in 65 million years. Oceans are acidifying and becoming oxygen dead-zones."
Sibley is optimistic, however, and writes, "I see light at the end of the apocalyptic tunnel if we get serious about the rate of release of greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide). If not, mass extinction is inevitable, and [Washington Park] will have no crows, squirrels, red-tailed hawks, or geese for future generations."
Sibley also has thoughts about disease-incubating geese, how it feels to be a squirrel, the cultural significance of snakes, the morality of eating animals, what to do about statues of racists, University of Chicago diversity programs, historic redlining of black homeowners, and more. Sibley's reflections and suggestions provide things to consider for black communities as well as the wider population.
This is a thoughtful book that's well worth reading.
John Sibley with two of his paintings
Thanks to John Sibley for a review copy of the book.
Rating: 4 stars
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