Chicago, Illinois, has played a significant role in Black history in the United States. Chicago was a major destination during the Great Migration, a period in the 20th century when millions of African Americans moved from the rural South to northern cities seeking better economic opportunities and escaping Jim Crow segregation.

During the Great Migration, Chicago's Black population swelled, transforming the city into a vibrant center of Black culture, politics, and activism. The Bronzeville neighborhood on Chicago's South Side became a hub of Black life, with thriving businesses, churches, clubs, and cultural institutions.

Prominent Black leaders and activists emerged from Chicago, such as civil rights leader Ida B. Wells, who was a pioneer in the anti-lynching movement, and journalist and activist Ida B. Wells, who fought for racial and gender equality.

Chicago also played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a march in Chicago to protest housing segregation and discrimination, bringing national attention to the issue.

Today, Chicago continues to be a center of Black culture and activism, with organizations and individuals working to address systemic racism and inequality in the city.