Institute of Politics

From the Oprah Winfrey Show to House music, Black Chicago is the birthplace of many cultural currents that have had an indisputable influence on American society and the world. However, credit is not always given where credit is due.

Presented by Chicago Style, this book talk features Rhymefest, one of IOP’s Autumn 2023 Fellows and a Chicago-grown rapper, and author Arionne Nettles, a local journalist and a lecturer at Northwestern Medill School of Journalism. Her new book, We Are the Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything, explores Black Chicago’s understated cultural imprints ranging from media publications and music to haircare and sports. Both Chicago natives, the speakers will discuss why this gap exists between Black Chicago’s contributions and perception from the outside world.