A look back at the Nation of Islam’s Influence on south-side neighborhoods during the 1960s and 1970s.
Author Archives: Renata Cherlise
Posted inBlogs
Help us identify these south-side neighborhoods
The latest Blvck Vrchives features photos of the south side of Chicago from the 1960s to the 1980s, with a call to action to help identify the neighborhoods depicted.
Posted inNews & Politics
A rare glimpse into a transformative time at Cook County Jail
The late 1960s was a time of change for the prison thanks to Winston Moore, the country’s first black warden.
Posted inBlogs
Muhammad Ali’s deep roots in Chicago bloomed on the south side
In honor of Muhammad Ali’s legacy, we take a look back at his life in Chicago.
Posted inBlogs
For 71 years, Johnson Publishing has been a family affair
We take a look at the family legacy of Johnson Publishing and the publications that became a staple in black American households.
Posted inBlogs
How Cooley High and Good Times shone a spotlight on Chicago Public Schools
Nearly 41 years after the premier of Cooley High, we take a look back at CPS during the 60s and 70s, and the longstanding fight for educational equality.
Posted inBlogs
A look back at Chicago’s public housing
On the 50th anniversary of a landmark desegregation lawsuit, the Reader and Blvck Vrchives offer this visual sampler of the city’s segregated housing past.
Posted inBlogs
The legacy of Mayor Harold Washington
In many ways, Chicago’s political climate has changed little since the death of the political visionary.
Posted inBlogs
A visual history of the black vote
In this election year, we look back at the history of black voter mobilization in Chicago and in the south.
Posted inBlogs
A glimpse of Chicago childhood inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks
A multimedia story inspired by the former Illinois poet laureate’s 1968 poem In the Mecca.
Posted inBlogs
Remembering Dr. King’s impact on Chicago on the anniversary of his assassination
The Reader and Blvck Vrchives founder/curator Renata Cherlise collaborated on this reflection on Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on Chicago.