Tag Archives: Chicago Writing
Dempsey J. Travis: Refusing to Learn to Fail
Born in Chicago in 1920, Dempsey J. Travis became a self-made millionaire, one of the country’s most successful black entrepreneurs. He was president and CEO of Travis Realty Co., but his many interests and his intense commitment to the community took him … Continue reading
Leanita McClain: The Middle-class Black’s Burden
Leanita McClain’s elegant, but also blunt writing brought into focus the intersection of race, politics, justice, and family life as passionately as any writer in America ever has. McClain (1952-1984), the first Black member of the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board … Continue reading
Historian for Social Change
The sound of his name says a lot: John Hope Franklin. One of America’s greatest historians and black writers, his books and life gave direction to so much social change. John Hope Franklin (1914-2009) taught at the University of Chicago from 1964 to 1982, … Continue reading