We Are the Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything

by Arionne Nettles

Black Chicago culture is American culture .
During the Great Migration, more than a half million Black Americans moved from the South to Chicago, and with them, they brought the blues, amplifying what would be one of the city's greatest musical art forms. In 1958, the iconic Johnson Publishing Company, the voice of Black America, launched the Ebony Fashion Fair show, leading to the creation of the first makeup brand for Black skin. For three decades starting in the 1970s, households across the country were transported to a stage birthed in Chicago as they moved their hips in front of TV screens airing Soul Train.
Chicago is where Oprah Winfrey, a Black woman who did not have the "traditional look" TV managers pushed on talent, premiered her talk show, which went on to break every record possible and solidify her position as the "Queen of Daytime TV." It's where Hall of Famer Michael Jordan led the Bulls to six championships, including two three-peats, making the NBA a must-see attraction worldwide and wearing Jordans a style symbol to this day. And it's home to Grammy winner Chance the Rapper, whose work honors the city's cultural institutions, from the White Sox to modern art superstar Hebru Brantley.
Pop culture expert Arionne Nettles takes us through the history of how Black Chicagoans have led pop culture in America for decades, and gives insight into the ways culture spreads and influences our lives.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Cultural Studies, Race

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2024

Reviews

[Michelle Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dilla of the Mahogany Tours Chicago has a quote “Everything Dope About America Comes From Chicago.” His Bronzeville tour is just a tiny slice of the enormity of Black Chicago and its influence.

Nettles a NU director of journalism takes a deep dive into a fascinating historical journey across music, journalism, fashion, hair, television, sports and the arts and how Black Chicagoans have led pop culture in America for decades.

The Defender, Ebony, Jet, Fashion Fair, Soul Train, Oprah, the double 3-peat Bulls, Chance and the Sox all represent this great city where we all want to be like Mike.

[Logan Kedzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In writing this review, I keep stumbling into a tone that feels like gatekeeping. What I think is that this is a very Chicago book. Well, yes, and every review is going to call this a love letter to Chicago. The author calls this a love letter to Chicago. But I mean that this book is a pure expression of the City's character. I worry that will be taken as a sort of sublimation, or an appropriation, of the book's equally unapologetic Blackness. But that's just it, it's the same thing. I do not mean the centrality of Blackness to the City's identity, though the book is a good argument for that, but there is a way that the book feels its feels that puts it in continuity with the best writing both on and of Chicago.

Since it is about race, there are bound to be some people who do not get that, and it is probably worth the sort of question as to why I feel the need to, or have the sort of right to, assert that. But I think that the importance there is how treating it as a love letter is insufficient to explain why it is so great. My only problems are structural. Some of the topics need longer discussion, so I hope that the book is a jumping off place for people. I also think that organization by topic is not always in the service of clarity. There are interesting chronological or (more specific) geographical overlaps that create interesting stories in themselves, but you have to put some work in to see in this context. But when my complaint is fundamentally that there is not enough of it, it's good.

My thanks to the author, Arionne Nettles, for writing the book and to the publisher, Lawrence Hill Books for making the ARC available to me.

[Jeffrey M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was wonderful! This is an excellent overview and starting point of Black Chicago history, where you can find a subject matter you're interested in and become a catalyst for further research.

This also brought back so many memories. It just reinforces my pride in being from Chicago, for example, hearing the late great radio legend Herb Kent on the radio while driving with my dad on Sunday afternoons or seeing him a few times when I would go to the beauty shop with my mom. He’d get his long ponytail done there.

[Marietere T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I really wanted to read more non-fiction book this year and learn about different historical things that I can not learn of in Puerto Rico. This one was great, I like the balance between the information giving and not feeling like it dragged or it was info/stat heavy.

I do recommend this one.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent rundown of Black culture in Chicago. I loved learning about the stories of the various entrepreneurs and leaders. I especially loved the chapter on the Chicago Defender and its predecessor.

[Viral · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books about the history of Chicago. I'll probably read every single one I can for the rest of my days. I've been waiting for this book for a while now, however, since I've been following Nettles' journalism and work for some time now and have been patiently awaiting this book for months.

This is an excellently written, very accessible, book about the historical influence of Black Chicago on the country. People are gonna call this a love letter to Chicago, and it is. People are gonna point out that this book is well written and accessible, and it is. But that's not what sets this book apart from other excellently written books about Chicago.

What sets this book apart is Nettles' undying, unrelenting love for her people and how they have shaped her city. She opens by saying she grew up with two identities, being Black and being from Chicago. And this book is uncompromisingly both of those things, and it made it an absolute joy to read.

My only critique of this book came in the section on Oprah. While I agree that Oprah was a massive influence for so many Black women, and it was so important to see a Black face like hers be on daytime tv, you can feel Nettles' defensiveness towards critiques of Oprah. Personally, in light of how many terrible people rose to fame thanks to Oprah, from anti-vaxxers to body shaming diet gurus to snake oil salesmen turned attempted politicians like Dr. Oz, I think it is important to think critically about Oprah's influence. But I understand why a Black woman like Nettles feels somewhat defensive of Oprah.

Nevertheless, this book was still a blast to read, and I highly highly recommend it. Definitely in the top pantheon of books to recommend to newcomers to Chicago.

[Gabe Dulecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

“And friends, Black Chicago, the love of my life, never loses its sparkle.”

WOW I love you Chicago!!!! What a beautiful testament to the influence of Black Chicagoans. I continue to be in awe of the rich history of this city. The final chapter talks about an artist, Hebru Brantley, and when his work is described I immediately realized that he painted the mural under the metra tracks on the end of my block that I love dearly!!

My biggest struggle with this book was the flow between topics, and how it often felt like we came to an abrupt halt right when we were getting into something juicy. I loved seeing the interconnected nature of the different sections, but it felt a bit disjointed. I would absolutely love seeing some sort of visual representation of the key people, timelines, locations, etc. across all the sections to be able to conceptualize better what was happening when!!

A beautiful love letter to Black Chicago.

[Chris Jaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent book covering various cultural elements that have come out of (or are associated with) Black Chicago. Some parts are pretty basic and well-known - Oprah, the 1990s Bulls. Others, however, are not that prominent or necessarily associated with Chicago in the modern day. There's the Chicago Defender (and before that, the Chicago Conservator, the city's original black newspaper). There's blues music, and Soul Train. You get black radio and film as well as the rise of house music. There are beauty products geared specificially for black people. My favorite parts were on Jet and Ebony magazines, which were published in Chicago.

[Ciana · Rating 3 out of 5]

As if we didn’t already know Black Chicago has always been a national influence. From music to radio, art to television, and being twice three-peat champs, this city embodies black excellence! It was interesting to learn the history behind these achievements. My one gripe is how did we not fact check Gwendolyn Brooks death! She passed in 2000 not 1990!

[Chet Taranowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed much of the book particularly the sections on music and radio in Chicago. I also learned why they call it "house" music. I wasn't very interested in the cosmetics and hair care sections. Nevertheless, the book is worth reading if you are interested in Chicago's history.

[Alexi Siegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 rounded up. Solid overview of influential black chicagoans! I wish she had sometimes gone more into depth about 1 or 2 people rather than talk about so many people each chapter.

[Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 for me but still good!