At 101, Dr. Webb “Mr. Buy Black" Evans has passed

Funeral services set for Saturday

By Chinta Strausberg

At 101, Dr. Webb Evans, known as “Mr. Buy Black,” passed on Monday, February 23, 2015, at 5 p.m. at Mercy Hospital ending decades of teaching African Americans the importance of supporting black-owned businesses.

Visitation service for Dr.Evans will be held on Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Leak Funeral Home, 7838 South and Cottage Grove, with the pre-past services being held Saturday, March 7, 2015, at the Cathedral Baptist Church, 4821 So. Wabash Avenue, at 9:30 a.m.  The funeral begins at 11 a.m.

Born on Thursday, November20, 1913 in Greensboro, Alabama to a family of nine, Dr. Evans’ parents, Mamie and Simpson Evans, were sharecroppers, according to his sister, Bernice Lynch.

But, when Evans’ family movedto Mississippi, Lynch said her brother’s first job was working at a funeral home driving an ambulance.

She said Evans moved to Chicago in 1938. He was married to Cora Evans who passed in the 1990’s. He never remarried.

But it was in Chicago more than 52-years ago that Dr. Evans began making his signature mark. That is when he launched his “Buy Black” movement.

Evans, who was also a poet,author and speechwriter, opened a grocery store, Evans Food Mart, in 1949 located at 9 W. 31^st St. In 1953. He re-located to 515 E. 46^th St.  in the Bronzeville community. It was the perfect setting to promote his “Buy Black” campaign. Evans operated his store for 25-years, but he decided to take his “Buy Black” movement citywide.

As the founder and president of the United American Progress Association, Dr. Evans handed over the gavel to Minister Rahim Chesed Aton, the board chairman who was like a son to Webb, on November 10, 2012. You could still see Evans driving his “Buy Black” decorated car until he was 100-years old.

“I have been groomed to carry on the vision of Dr. Evans,” said Aton who is also a professional gospel musician.  “I am humbled” at being chosen to have the mantle passed on to him. Aton vowed to carry on Evans’ legacy and mission of teaching African Americans to “Do For Self,” and to always “Buy Black” first.

Almost until the day he died, Dr. Webb would be seen at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Saturday forums and other meetings throughout the community. He would always be passing out his “Buy Black” literature.

Dr. Webb’s commitment to civil rights began a long time ago when he began marching with A. Phillip Randolph, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Washington D.C. back in 1963. He marched with the late activist Lu Palmer, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., activist Eddie Read and others.

Evans is the author of “How Blacks Can Get Off the Economic Bottom,” and “The Other Way.”  He was working on a third book at the time of his death, according to Aton.

Gov. Frank G. Clement made Dr. Evans Honorary Citizen of the Great Volunteer State of Tennessee, and he was listed in ‘Who’s Who in Black America.’ He traveled to Israel where he studied the lifestyle of blacks. Dr. Evans has met with officials from the United Nations and was chosen to be the Ambassador for Peace by the Inter-religious and International for World Peace Organization.

Dr. Evans was honored with a Life Time Achievement Award from WVON radio, and he always believed that ‘the race who creates jobs will always have more jobs than those who only look for jobs. He was honored with a Life Time Achievement Award from the Pastors Conference.  The award was presented by Rev. Steve Jones. Evans participated in drawing up an agenda for African Americans by the National Assembly of Black Church Organizations representing 25 denominations which met in the Super Dome of New Orleans.

He also received the “Man of the Century Award” from the New Black World Order Organization. Evans received the Roseland Women’s Council Grit Award for outstanding leadership in community Services and Business. He received the Cathedral Baptist Church Award for outstanding Business Achievements.

Dr. Evans received the Christian Religious Builders Award for outstanding service to the Civil Rights Movement, and he received theThurgood Marshall Award from the National Civil Rights Library Organization January 14, 2011.

‘Mr. Buy Black’ will always be remembered for his teaching, ‘As often as you can, put your black dollar in another black hand.’

Dr. Evans leaves to mourn a sister, Bernice Lynch, a brother, Willie Evans, and a host of friends and family.

At 101, Dr. Webb Evans, known as “Mr. Buy Black,” passed on Monday, February 23, 2015, at 5 p.m. at Mercy Hospital ending decades of teaching African Americans the importance of supporting black-owned businesses. He is shown here holding up a $1 bill and asking blacks to support their own businesses.

Evans, who was also a poet, author and speechwriter, opened a grocery store, Evans Food Mart, in 1949 located at 9 W. 31st St. In 1953. He re-located to 515 E. 46th St. in the Bronzeville community. It was the perfect setting to promote his “Buy Black” campaign. Evans operated his store for 25-years, but he decided to take his “Buy Black” movement citywide.

Dr. Webb Evans speaking at the Masonic Hall on Cottage Grove. He was promoting his "Buy Black" campaign. He was also honored for launching this movement. (Photo by Chinta Strausberg)

Dr. Webb Evans in his younger days.

As the founder and president of the United American Progress Association, Dr. Evans handed over the gavel to Minister Rahim Chesed Aton, the board chairman who was like a son to Webb, on November 10, 2012. You could still see Evans driving his “Buy Black” decorated car until he was 100-years old,

Dr. Webb Evans shaking hands with Minister Rahim Chesed Aton.

Dr. Evans lighting a candle

Dr. Evans had just turned 99 then. (Photo by Chinta Strausberg)

Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown poses with Dr. Webb Evans at an event held at Josephine's Cooking Restaurant). (Photo by Chinta Strausberg)

Former Gov. Pat Quinn poses with Dr. Webb Evans. (Photo by Chinta Strausberg)

Activist Mark Allen, Dr. Webb Evans and Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. who were at a Bud Billiken Day parade. (Photo by Chinta Strausberg)

Dr. Webb Evans, 101, has left his mark, his legacy not only on Chicago but the nation in his launching his signature "Buy Black" campaign.