African Americans in Chicago, Illinois; 1860-1950
I often wonder why. "Why" I see gang violence on the news so often and why I read about the academic achievement gap between the crowned "white" race and my own. "Why" is it that every time I see a man on the news, one who shares the same face as mine, the same blood, is staring in the eyes of an impending incarceration. "Why" the idea of a drug dealer or a, "gang banger," is tagged with the image of a man with Black skin. "Why" I look around and only see people of my own complexion in these underprivileged places called "projects." Is it that society is implicitly stating my people are a project that in turn, needs to be worked on? A sub-group of people that are not necessarily up to par with the rest of society? If this is the case, then why do I feel as if nothing is being done about this? It seems like everywhere I go; African Americans are painted out to be less human. The essence of "Black face," which physically died almost a century ago still lingers today, hidden in news and entertainment. The news would rather post stories of Black men in prison and Black athletes making major mistakes, rather than tales of Black excellence. In movies, the role of the thug or drug dealer is always given to the most beefy Black man with an intimidating bass in his voice and a lacking prose. Why is this just something that is accepted?
My topic is not necessarily one of a unique or original nature, but its roots are in doubt entangled with the seeds of this nation. It has been said that the foundation of America was built on the backs of the slaves and thus carried on and thrived through the same means. This sad truth is our history, my history; and despite being granted freedom, the generations of slavery on my people left harsh results that we are to this day battling. This matter in something of incredible worth and importance to me, not only because of my African American Heritage, but because I am incredibly thankful for their sacrifice; their endurance of the injustice they were forced under for centuries made it so that I today would not have to struggle with the same. Thus, it is my duty to know and understand their struggle, pain, and passions. The following research will examine the African American progression in Chicago, Illinois from 1860-1950. The great city of Chicago is imbued with so much history as one of the defining cities of our Nation. Accounts date back to the 1600's; the name is derived from the Native American tribe that originally inhabited the land, the "Chicaugou." Ironically, the official first settler of the area was a Black man of Haitian descent named Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. It would seem that Chicago was destined to be the historical hotspot that it is today; The Fort Dearborn Massacre by natives and the War of 1812 with Great Britain were early battles fought on its soil. By the time the mid-18th century rolled by, Chicago