Content:

The Kings and the Chicago Freedom Struggle. A study group and discussion with Dr. Jeanne Theoharis, author of "King of the North."

From the fight for the 8 hour day to the first Rainbow Coalition to the struggle for fair housing to the Chicago Teachers Union strike (and so, so much more!), there is much to learn about past struggles as we navigate a quickly changing world in crisis. Uncovering the usable lessons of from organizers who lived and fought right here in our city will help build us meaningful movements to meet the needs of this dire moment.

With this in mind, we hope you'll join us for the first event in our new political education series Radial Chicago and the Struggles for a Livable City. On Friday, May 30th, we'll welcome Professor Jeanne Theoharis for a discussion of the chapter "Warrior Without a Gun: The Kings Move to Chicago" from her new book King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life of Struggle Outside the South. We'll discuss the King family's time in Chicago, their involvement in tenant unions and rent strikes, their long-mischaracterized collaboration with neighborhood gangs, and the lessons this history provides for organizers interested in long-term planning and strategic campaign coordination for today's struggles. "Warrior Without a Gun" can be found on pages 181-216 of King of the North. If you already have the book, dive in and bring your notes and questions. If you need a copy of the chapter, email us at [email protected] and we'll send over a PDF of the chapter for free.

In the coming months, we hoping to build up this political education series to include readings, films, and discussions about the first Rainbow Coalition, the movement against the war in Vietnam, Karen Lewis and the building of a fighting teacher's union, and much more. Stay tuned and reach out if there's part of this history you want to know more about or share with our community.