City On Fire: Chicago Race Riot 1919

City on Fire Thumbnail
Carly Pearlman
City on Fire Thumbnail
Carly Pearlman

City On Fire: Chicago Race Riot 1919

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One hundred years ago, all across this country, racial tensions were erupting into violence that would become known as the Red Summer. Chicago saw some of the worst of it.

This past summer, Curious City explored the causes and effects of the bloody events of that summer.

More recently, some of our colleagues recently produced a half-hour special. They revisited 1919 through drama, creating an original radio play that brings us closer to how it felt to live through the riot.

Their powerful interpretation brings this pivotal moment in Chicago history alive in a way that we’ve never heard before, and so we wanted to share it with Curious City listeners.

Natalie Moore is a reporter on WBEZ’s Race, Class and Communities desk. You can follow her on Twitter at @natalieywmoore.

The Make-Believe Association is a nonprofit podcast production company based in Chicago.