To my agent, Charlotte Sheedy, thanks for making this project come to fruition and forcing me to see what was right under my nose. Thanks to my wonderful editor, Karen Wolny, who pushed and guided me, making this a much better book. And thanks to the entire St. Martin’s Press team, including Laura Apperson, Gabrielle Gantz and Donna Cherry.
My formal education began with wonderful Chicago Public Schools teachers and I thought of them often during the writing of this book, especially in the schools integration chapter. Howard University taught me much about the bigger space in which it meant to be a black girl from the South Side of Chicago. Thanks to the history and journalism departments: Joseph Reidy, Arnold Taylor, Jannette Dates, Clint Wilson, Lawrence Kaggwa, Jeanne Toungara and Eileen Boris.
Chloe Riley pitched in with enthusiasm at every turn as my research assistant. Pablo Boczkowski, of my alma mater Northwestern University, put me on the right path for the media study, and thanks for lending me Miya Williams.
My research was bolstered by assistance from the National Archives at Chicago, Chicago History Museum Research Center, Harold Washington Library Center, the Woodstock Institute, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection and Columbia College Chicago Library.
To all of those who read chapter drafts, thank you: Natalie Hopkinson, Chana Garcia, Nicole Tefera, Patrick Rivers, Badia Ahad-Legardy, Audrey Petty, Rick Kogan, Amanda Williams, Stephen Franklin, Monica Eng, Linda Lutton, Brentin Mock, Afi-Odelia Scruggs, Ron Stodghill, Brandi Kenner-Bell and Mick Dumke.
Scholars and writers have helped me over the years as a reporter understand the policies around black Chicago and segregation through being a source, inspiration or mentor: my “play grandfather” Timuel Black, Gary Orfield, Janet Smith, Mary Pattillo, Steve Bogira, Barbara Ransby, Cathy Cohen, Mariame Kaba, Nikole Hannah-Jones, D. Bradford Hunt, Douglas Massey, Robert Sampson, Lawrence Vale, Isabel Wilkerson, Thomas Sugrue, Laura Washington and Arnold Hirsch. I’m indebted to your work and hope this book isn’t reinventing the wheel but building upon your scholarship.
Thanks to Bill Healy, David Pierini, Francine Washington, Tamiko Holt, Sally Eisele, William Jelani Cobb, Krista Franklin, Jennifer Halperin, J. Nicole Brooks, Salamishah Tillet, Scott Smith, Janelle Thompson, Kimberly Henderson, the staff of Mollison Elementary, Niala Boodhoo, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Achy Obejas, Lance Williams, Maxine McKinney de Royston, Reggie Royston, Alice Kim, Jane Saks, Ben Austen, Tanya Triche, Esther Williams, Jessica Kimbrough, our Black Girl South Side Salon and “the Hot Links.” Thanks to my colleagues at WBEZ, especially Cate Cahan, Ben Calhoun, Goli Sheikholeslami and Ira Glass.
My parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins served as inspiration at various points of writing. Thank you for sharing your stories of our family.
And my own family expanded during the writing of this book. Sydney, Raven and Milan—your laughter and bubbling personalities were a welcome distraction when I should’ve been at my laptop. My life is richer with each of you in it. Rod, I’m eternally grateful for your love, counsel and patience.