Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Inside the Chicago Freedom Movement
United Way of Metro Chicago, January 2022 Newsletter
Published: January 20, 2022
“If you can move Chicago, you can move the country.”
– Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, the Urban Historian
Martin Luther King Jr. joined activists in Chicago in 1966 to advocate for fair and affordable housing for Black residents. Riots ensued. Talks with Mayor Daley ended with an agreement. But what happened after Dr. King left? And why does Chicago remain one of the most segregated cities today?
This past Monday, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, TikTok sensation and Urban Historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas shed light on these issues—and where we go from here—during “Inside the Chicago Freedom Movement,” an exclusive virtual conversation hosted by our very own Tamiya Aurel, chief people and equity officer at United Way of Metro Chicago.
Miss the talk? You can watch the recording and take some time to reflect on our city's history, our progress and the critical work ahead of continuing to build a more equitable Chicago region.