Black Book News

Elizabeth Abunaw is Black History because she transformed personal setback into community empowerment. She used her education, corporate experience, and strategic insight to challenge structural inequality and build something tangible.

Chef Erick Williams has transformed Chicago’s culinary landscape through Virtue Hospitality Group, blending elevated Southern cuisine with cultural storytelling and community impact. From award winning restaurants to mentorship programs, his work proves food can preserve history while creating opportunity.

Sterling “Steelo” Lofton is a world renowned Chicago footwork dancer, designer, and cultural innovator who has taken a South Side born art form to global stages. Through The Era Footwork Crew, StitchedbySteelo, and his “Footwork Saves Lives” campaign, he preserves culture while empowering the next generation.

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas is redefining how Chicago understands itself. Through viral history lessons, walking tours, and national media appearances, he reclaims Black Chicago’s legacy and makes it accessible, engaging, and unapologetically ours. With over 40 million views across platforms, Dilla proves that education plus culture equals power.

Naomi Davis is redefining Black freedom through land ownership, environmental justice, and economic sovereignty. As founder of Blacks in Green, she created the Sustainable Square Mile™ model and preserved the Emmett Till home, proving that climate action and community wealth building are central to modern civil rights work.

Brandon Pope is redefining what it means to document Black history in real time. As a multimedia journalist, educator, and president of NABJ Chicago, he makes politics, policy, and culture accessible while preserving the stories shaping Chicago today. Through media, mentorship, and civic engagement, Pope ensures that Black voices are not just covered, but centered.

Dr. Gaylon Alcaraz is Black History because she has spent over four decades building movements that center Black women and LGBTQ+ communities. From founding Affinity Community Services to transforming the Chicago Abortion Fund into a reproductive justice leader, her work bridges grassroots organizing, public policy, and scholarship to create lasting change.

Mary F. Morten is Black History because she has spent more than four decades at the intersection of race, gender, LGBTQ+ equality, and public health, transforming advocacy into policy and policy into lasting impact. From leading the Chicago chapter of the National Organization for Women to directing the city’s Office of Violence Prevention, her leadership proves that justice work must be bold, inclusive, and interconnected.

Dr. Christopher R. Reed, known as the “Dean of Black Chicago History,” has dedicated his life to documenting, preserving, and protecting the story of Black Chicago. Through groundbreaking scholarship, civic leadership, and historic preservation work, he ensured that the political, cultural, and economic legacy of Black Chicago remains central to the American story.

Luvvie Ajayi Jones is Black History because she has turned courage into a global movement. From four New York Times bestselling books to the viral #ShareTheMicNow campaign, she has used her voice to disrupt systems, amplify Black stories, and train the next generation of bold authors and leaders.

Theaster Gates is Black History in motion. Through art, urban planning, and cultural preservation, he transforms abandoned spaces into thriving community institutions. From the South Side of Chicago to global museums, his work proves that art can restore memory, rebuild neighborhoods, and protect Black cultural legacy for generations.

Dieter Cantu is Black History because he turned lived experience into lasting reform. From Chicago to Houston, he champions juvenile justice reform, literacy access for incarcerated youth, and community-led violence prevention. Through initiatives like the BEAR Initiative and Cantu’s Books, he is restoring dignity, rewriting systems, and proving that second chances can change generations.

Tonika Lewis Johnson is Black History because she uses art to confront segregation and rebuild equity in Englewood. Through projects like Folded Map and UnBlocked Englewood, she transforms data into dialogue and awareness into action. Her work preserves Black history while creating pathways for homeowner stability, neighborhood revitalization, and lasting change in Chicago.

Jahkil Jackson is Black History because he proves that leadership has no age requirement and compassion can spark global change. After founding Project I AM at just 8 years old, he has mobilized thousands of youth, distributed Blessing Bags worldwide, and shown that young people can lead powerful movements rooted in service, dignity, and action.

Lakiesha “Mama Africa” Williams is Black History because she created a sanctuary where culture, commerce, and community healing thrive. Through Mama Africa’s Marketplace in Chicago’s South Shore, she built more than a store—she built a home for artists, youth, and neighbors to gather, grow, and feel seen.

Tanesha Peeples is Black History because she activates Black youth as leaders, not spectators. As founder of The Roots Initiative, she builds grassroots systems rooted in radical love, wellness, and civic power. Through programs like the Rooted & Rising Leaders Pipeline, she ensures young people understand their identity, genius, and ability to transform their communities.

Chicago’s date night scene is full of style, flavor, and culture. These 10 Black Owned spots offer romantic dinners, cocktails, and experiences to love on your Valentine.

Explore Black Owned sports bars in Chicago to watch the Super Bowl, featuring big screens, strong drinks, and great energy.

Explore Black Owned mental health spaces in Chicago offering therapy, community support, and culturally responsive care.

Explore Black Owned wellness experiences in Chicago offering holistic care, spa services, and self-care this Black History Month.