It has become a tradition in Chicago for black barbers to give free haircuts to neighborhood schoolboys during the last days before school commences. (Chicago Public Schools open Tuesday.) I walked by the neighborhood barber shop directly south at about 7 PM last night. The shop was absolutely packed with children. A mother was guiding about ten more young boys down the sidewalk toward the shop. Three barbers were working furiously. And some people wonder why a fourth barber murdered by the Chicago Police Department a few blocks west on 71st was beloved… why neighbors threw water bottles at the police.
