Chicago Public Schools is marking Black History Month this February by celebrating the achievements of its most famous alumni — Chance the Rapper, Derrick Rose, Michelle Obama, Bernie Mac, and astronaut Mae Jemison — while honoring the institutions that shaped them.
The observance coincides with two historic milestones: the 100th anniversary of Black History Week, launched in 1926, and the 50th year of Black History Month.
“CPS students are learning where they come from and how Black leaders and visionaries have shaped our society,” said CPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Macquline King.
The centerpiece event is Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Wendell Phillips Academy High School in Bronzeville. A panel discussion will explore the enduring legacy of Phillips and DuSable high schools — two institutions anchoring the neighborhood for generations. The panel includes King, historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, and current and former students and administrators.
Across the district, schools are hosting events tied to Black achievement. Chalmers STEAM Elementary is unveiling a chicken coop honoring Dr. Mary Logan Riddick, the first female biology professor at Morehouse College. Mount Vernon Elementary is staging “Heroes of the Harlem Renaissance,” a theatrical production blending the 1920s with today. Mildred I. Lavizzo Elementary is hosting its 13th annual African American Bowl, a trivia competition.
Several CPS schools function as informal museums of Black history. Arthur Dixon Elementary showcases three levels of Afrocentric sculptures and artifacts. Englewood STEM High School has a hallway dedicated to shuttered neighborhood schools. Harold Washington Elementary houses a 1980s Cadillac once owned by Mayor Harold Washington, a DuSable alumnus and the city’s first Black mayor.