Free Licks
By Joy Lynn Clark
02/17/2025
I first moved to Chicago’s Northside as a student in 1996. I spent a lot of time taking the bus and the train to learn my way around the city. I did not have the benefit of learning this with my many family members that also live here because I am the oldest of all of the grandchildren. In the “building” I was right in the middle, too old for the kids, too young for the aunts and uncles.
Even though I had just done that reality talk show, I was already in a different area learning how to live as a grown up. When I saw the show I laughed at how ghetto we looked. If it wasn’t for the fact that my mom called me the next week saying that she saw it, I am not sure that I would have told anybody. Someone should have told me to wear my makeup heavy. In addition, I am now an educated college student and I want to seem more, intellectual.
My grandparent’s north side neighborhood was nice with a couple of not-so-nice blocks. I didn’t walk down every street.
I had also just made, “too much game” on my own. I was trying to figure out how to make beats and I made this recording with a mic and cassette. It was pretty basic but my guy friend thought that it was a decent verse and an ok track.
My new boyfriend and I first went into the corner store for sodas. Afterward we went to my favorite place, the beach. Next, he wants to walk up one of the blocks that I never would. My guy grabs my hand, “come on”. I am trying not to seem too stuck up but, by the same token, I really don’t walk on this block and I am starting to wonder if this guy gets high.
He laughed and we walked around a triangle-shaped block that eased my nerves because at least we were headed back in the right direction. As we turned the corner, there was a mob-like group of people in the street. At first, I couldn’t make out what was going on. “What’s that?”, I asked. My guy tried to calm my trepidation by holding my hand as we crossed to the other side of the street. “Are they fighting?” I observed but still asked. “I don’t know”, he replied. Next, my guy switches places with me as we reach the sidewalk, “My woman walks on the inside”.
Immediately after that, some woman (who looks like a junkie to me) says, “Free licks, because he robbed and raped the name of someone whom I cannot recall because I didn’t know them anyway. My guy places his hand on my back and says, “nah” and in my mind I can see safety just a couple of blocks ahead. I nervously glance back and people are running up, stomping and punching him. Others also cry out, “Free Licks!”. Even kids were throwing eggs and all sorts of trash at the guy. “Free licks!” another yells, “come and take a shot!” another hollers.
My boyfriend and I finally got off of the side street. I am glad to finally escape the melee’ and I wonder if what they say is true. Everyone was just beating on this guy. The whole situation was so frighteningly graphic that I was hoping that this was justice rather than an injustice.
