Registered speaker George Blakemore urges Black residents to 'tend to your business' during Cook County committee meeting

George Blakemore, a registered public speaker, used the committee's public-comment period to criticize economic behavior in Black communities and urge more Black-owned commerce.

"Black people, you don't tend to your business," Blakemore said during his remarks, adding that immigrants "tend to their business, and they get economic development." The speaker also referenced "illegal Mexicans" and "Arabs" when comparing who benefits from local economic activity.

The committee's secretary reminded Blakemore of the boardroom speaking rules and issued a time warning while Blakemore continued. The secretary later noted that Blakemore's allotted time had concluded and the public-comment portion was closed.

The meeting moved on to its agenda items without formal response from committee members to the substance of the remarks. The public-comment period is recorded in the committee minutes and is not a formal action of the committee; no motion or committee direction followed from the remarks.