Founders of WSO | faithinc

Founders

West Side Organization

The West Side Organization,WSO, was a civil rights organization based in Chicago’s west side. The founding members included Chester Robinson, William Darden, John Crawford, Patricia Stock, William Clark, and Robert Strom. Each member played a vital role not only in the organization, but Chicago’s west side communities. In spite of coming from a lower socio-economic background, the members used connections and communication to succeed professionally.The WSO worked to achieve racial equality and to improve the conditions of oppressed neighborhoods. They believed in the power of a community and independence from government authorities for basic everyday necessities.During the time of racial segregation, the WSO played an integral part in helping communities and its citizens fight for equality and flourish. Although some of the tactics used by the WSO were portrayed negatively by the media, the true intent of the organization was to liberate the oppressed communities from the strains of government authorities. The WSO helped communities gain access to the same resources by creating plans of action for each community. While the tactics used by WSO were unique from other civil rights groups, the goal was the same: equality.

Chester Robinson

Chester Robinson was born in Tucker Arkansas in 1931, and was one of nine siblings. After a disturbance with Robinson’s father and some local citizens, Robinson’s family made the decision to move to Chicago. Robinson’s life while growing up in Chicago had many misfortunes and was eventually led to a life of crime so that he could enjoy some of society’s commodities. It was during his time in illegal activity that Robinson began his understanding of an organized business; this understanding would help in running the WSO in a professional manner. While being locked up for a four year sentence, Robinson found motivation to educate himself after having a poor academic career. With his knowledge in philosophy, history, and the Bible, he began to question the “modern” society he lived in and after being released from prison, Robinson returned to the west side, where he taught to individuals in the community. In 1964 he was recruited by the WSO for his reputation as a teacher in the community and began to work closely with the organization. Robinson could never give a straight answer as to why he worked with the WSO, and claimed it was too complex to explain, only that after following a negative path in life; he felt the need to atone for his sins by helping others so that he could continue to help himself.

William Darden

William Darden was born in Franklin Tennessee in 1935. He did fairly well during his academic years and was gifted in sports, which opened many paths for college. There were many incidents throughout Darden’s youth, which kept him from attending college and found it very difficult to keep content, after being constantly being exposed to threats and insults. Darden then enlisted in the Air force for some time but was denied a secure future in the service, due to his permanent record and other issues during that time of his life. After a minor disturbance, while working in the Air Force, Darden was discharged and decided to move to Chicago with his wife. In 1965 Darden began to work for the WSO. Darden already knew Chester Robinson and William Clark, two of the Co-founders, and was impressed by the change that occurred in their lives after working with WSO. Darden originally started as a part time worker, but eventually moved up to a Director of the WSO Welfare Union. Although Darden followed a negative life during his youth, his pursuits were always pure and he did his best to work with what he had. After being a part of the WSO, Darden found different ways to express himself other than with acts of violence, and has turned his aggression into something positive so that he was able to assist those in need.

William Clark

William Clark was born in 1932 on Chicago’s west side. He is described as a lover of life and enjoys interacting with other, but, did business with much suspicion. When Clark reached the sixth grade, he decided to quit school. Clark did this because he was uninterested in what was being taught and felt schooling had nothing to do with stepping into reality and moving about in the world. After living a life of crime and being in and out of jail, Clark had a realization and began to reflect on his current situation. It was only then that Clark realized how fortunate he had been and that if he continued to follow the same path he was currently leading, he would only find more negativity. William Clark joined the WSO in 1965. Originally, Clark did not agree with the organization, and felt that there were dark intensions behind it. But, eventually, Clark became a full time worker and led one of the Welfare Union Locals.

John Crawford

John Crawford was born in 1939 and came with his family to Chicago shortly after. He did well throughout his academic years but eventually decided to drop out of high school in 1957, at the age of 18. Crawford ended up enlisting as a national guard and was drafted into military service. After being released in March of 1958, hate, crime, and misfortune followed. John felt the need to improve on the negative aspects in his life and began to attend church. In 1964 Crawford became one of the four original members of WSO and became consumed with the work he was involved in. It was a night in prison when Crawford said he received a message from God and afterwards began to truly improve on all the issues in his life. It was after informing himself about the society he lived in, and the role he played, that he broke what we perceive as an endless cycle of not being able to step back into society, after being incarcerated. Once he was released he continued to help the west side communities and eventually established his own non-profit organization known as For Action In Togetherness Holdfast, or FAITH Inc. John Crawford sought to improve his life and in order to achieve that goal, he must first help those around him.

Patricia Stock

If it weren’t for Patricia Stock, the true intent of the WSO may have never made its way to the public. Their achievements, ideologies, and struggles were represented with their true intention, instead being replaced by negative information by the media. After graduating with a degree in Journalism, Stock crossed paths with the WSO through her roommate. She began to put a newspaper together for the organization known as the West Side Torch. The torch was available to citizens on the west side and informed of upcoming protests, events being held on the west side, and where to find financial aid. The torch of course included much more content and it was up to Stock to decide what should be published to better inform the community. In the end, Patricia was responsible for how the WSO should truly be portrayed and although she was a white woman living in an extremely segregated time, she reported for the good of the communities on the west side of Chicago and never gave in to any backlash from others

Robert Strom

Robert Strom Knew his role in society. Strom was also aware of the negativity his culture had on other communities. He made it his job as a white male to end the hate, oppression, and unfair social structure which took over the society he lived in. Strom broke out from the pack of constant hatred and oppression so that he could offer the communities of the west side his recourses. With that, they were able to decide just what they needed to be done so that an endless cycle of unfair social structure could come to a new beginning. As Chaplain and Organizer of the WSO, Robert Strom saw an opportunity in assisting to help Chicago’s west side communities flourish. Strom brought together great minds that faced the everyday struggles of living in an oppressed and segregated city, so that they could begin to work with the communities to improve the lives of the citizens.