Chicago is the adopted home of the man who may well be this nation’s next president, and Barack Obama is in good company amid the legacy and spirit of black Americans who helped shape the Windy City:
The DuSable Museum of African American History. The museum was named after Jean Baptist Pointe DuSable, a Haitian fur trader who was the first permanent settler in Chicago. The DuSable is the only major, independent institution in Chicago established to preserve and interpret the historical experiences and achievements of African Americans.
Mosque Maryam. The headquarters for the Nation of Islam was bought by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation in 1972. It was repurchased and rededicated by Minister Louis Farrakhan in 1988.
Bronzeville. A 15-foot tall statue greets visitors at the Gateway to Bronzeville, and a 1.5-mile walk through the neighborhood reveals 91 bronze plaques identifying significant figures who played a role in the neighborhood’s history. The Walk of Fame also features plaques, statues and other objects that detail the neighborhood’s history and culture, as well as a 14-foot historical map of the neighborhood.
South Side Community Arts Center. This legendary site has been a part of the black community since 1941, when a civic group bought the old mansion and opened an arts center for black artists and youth with a staff paid by the Work Progress Administration. Noted artists who have been affiliated with the center include sculptor Richard Hunt; author and photographer Gordon Parks; artist Archibald Motley, and poet laureate Gwendolyn Brooks.
