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Author: Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.   His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing. Email Ray Hanania at [email protected]. Follow RayHanania at Twitter

Midnight Flight: Chapter 13 — Notes from Readers

Posted on January 29, 2016November 22, 2021 By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Midnight Flight: Chapter 13 — Notes from Readers
Midnight Flight: Chapter 13 — Notes from Readers

Midnight Flight: Chapter 13 — Notes from Readers One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania (C) 1990-2022 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved Send us your comments, letters and memories and I will post them here. Email me by clicking here. You must let…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Books & Films, Chicago, Commentary, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 12 — Looking Back

Posted on January 29, 2016July 14, 2019 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Midnight Flight: Chapter 12 — Looking Back
Midnight Flight: Chapter 12 — Looking Back

Midnight Flight: Chapter 12 — Looking Back One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2020 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved The families that moved out of South Shore Valley were the real losers. We were the victims, too, the people…

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 11 — Friends Left Behind

Posted on January 29, 2016August 6, 2019 By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Midnight Flight: Chapter 11 — Friends Left Behind

Midnight Flight: Chapter 11 — Friends Left Behind One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved Rely on memory for inspiration, but always check it for perfection and accuracy. Memory is human. So, it is…

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 10 — The Sub-Urban Life

Posted on January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Midnight Flight: Chapter 10 — The Sub-Urban Life
Midnight Flight: Chapter 10 — The Sub-Urban Life

Midnight Flight: Chapter 10 — The Sub-Urban Life One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “Wash your whiskey in your water, sugar in your tea …” “Wuz all this crazy questions you askin’ me …”…

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 9 — Midnight Flight

Posted on January 29, 2016February 25, 2018 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Midnight Flight: Chapter 9 — Midnight Flight
Midnight Flight: Chapter 9 — Midnight Flight

Midnight Flight: Chapter 9 — Midnight Flight One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “I’m gonna leave the city, got to get away. “I’m gonna leave the city, got to get away. “All this fussing…

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 8 — In the Eye of the Storm

Posted on January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Midnight Flight: Chapter 8 — In the Eye of the Storm

Midnight Flight: Chapter 8 — In the Eye of the Storm One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “I can fly like a bird in the sky. “I can buy anything that money can buy….

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 7 — Bowen High School

Posted on January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Midnight Flight: Chapter 7 — Bowen High School

Midnight Flight: Chapter 7 — Bowen High School One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “Give me a head with Hair, long beautiful Hair, “Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen, “Give me down to there, Hair!…

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 6 — Alone in the Playground

Posted on January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Midnight Flight: Chapter 6 — Alone in the Playground

Midnight Flight: Chapter 6 — Alone in the Playground One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “There she was just a walking down the street, “singing do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do “Snapping her…

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 5 — Black is Bad

Posted on January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Midnight Flight: Chapter 5 — Black is Bad

Midnight Flight: Chapter 5 — Black is Bad One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “I’m from Milwaukee, and I ought to know. “It’s Blatz, Blatz, Blatz, Blatz, wherever you go. “Blatz is the…

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 4 — Written Long Before

Posted on January 29, 2016August 6, 2019 By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Midnight Flight: Chapter 4 — Written Long Before

Midnight Flight: Chapter 4 — Written Long Before One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2019 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved Chicago’s borders, literally, marked the end of civilization as we knew it. Beyond the city’s borders was a vast wasteland…

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 3 — A Beautiful, Idyllic Community

Posted on January 29, 2016July 14, 2019 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Midnight Flight: Chapter 3 — A Beautiful, Idyllic Community

Midnight Flight: Chapter 3 — A Beautiful, Idyllic Community One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2020 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “You don’t know, what we can find. “Why don’t you come home with me little girl, “on…

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Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 2, Dividing Lines

Posted on January 29, 2016November 22, 2021 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Midnight Flight: Chapter 2, Dividing Lines
Midnight Flight: Chapter 2, Dividing Lines

Midnight Flight: Chapter 2, Dividing Lines One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2020 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “You never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them.”  — To Kill…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Books & Films, Chicago, Commentary, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 1, Introduction

Posted on January 29, 2016November 22, 2021 By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Midnight Flight: Chapter 1, Introduction
Midnight Flight: Chapter 1, Introduction

Midnight Flight: Chapter 1, Introduction By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2020 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved This book is about one family’s experience of White Flight from a changing and great Chicago community, South Shore Valley (also called South Shore Gardens, Calumet Heights). It is also one person’s memory of living in a wonderful…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Books & Films, Chicago, Commentary, Editors Pick, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland

Will controversy follow recent sale of Palos Church to Muslims?

Posted on January 28, 2016November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Will controversy follow recent sale of Palos Church to Muslims?

Will controversy follow recent sale of Palos Church to Muslims? The southwest suburbs have a history of community opposition to the building of a mosque or Muslim center, reflecting growing racism and discrimination against Muslims nationwide. Have things changed? By Ray Hanania More than 15 years ago, tried to purchase the abandoned Reform Church of Palos…

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Opinion, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Great teachers are hard to find

Posted on December 7, 2015November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Great teachers are hard to find

Great teachers are hard to find. Chicagoland schools in the city and the suburbs are deficient and not doing their jobs. A major responsibility falls on the teachers, whoa re not doing enough, and the excessive focus and resource commitments to school administrations. Cut the administrations and grade teachers for their work By Ray Hanania…

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Education, Opinion, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Common Core and our failing high schools

Posted on November 4, 2015November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Common Core and our failing high schools

Common Core and our failing high schools. Too many high schools are graduating students who are “not ready” for college, achieving under 21 on ACT testing. By Ray Hanania When I was young, if my grade point average was under 60 percent, I flunked. The grading system we used then applies today: A=90+; B=80+; C=70+;…

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Education, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Muslim, Christian and Jew to perform comedy for Interfaith group in Deerfield Oct. 24

Posted on October 24, 2015April 27, 2021 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Muslim, Christian and Jew to perform comedy for Interfaith group in Deerfield Oct. 24

Muslim, Christian and Jew to perform comedy for Interfaith group in Deerfield Oct. 24 Deerfield, Il. – An interfaith gathering of people committed to promoting religious tolerance and inter-cultural dialogue will host a comedy show in Deerfield Oct. 24 featuring three comedians of different faiths. The three performers at the show hosted by the Southeast…

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News, Suburban Chicagoland

First Arab Church opens in Southwest Chicago suburbs

Posted on October 19, 2015May 31, 2017 By Ray Hanania No Comments on First Arab Church opens in Southwest Chicago suburbs

First Arab Church opens in Southwest Chicago suburbs By Ray Hanania Oct. 10, 2005 Although most Americans believe the myth that all Arabs are Muslims, statistics show that the majority of Arabs in Chicagoland are Christian. There are several Arab Christian Churches in the Chicago area, but the first one to serve the huge Christian…

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News, Suburban Chicagoland

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  • NEWS
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    January 21, 2026
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    Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau
    January 21, 2026
  • Proposed Orland Park Amazon Retail site
    Orland Park Village Board Approves First-of-Its-Kind Amazon Retail Store at 159th Street and LaGrange Road
    January 20, 2026
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