Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is considered to be the first permanent resident and black pioneer in Chicago. He was born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) around 1745 and later settled in the area that would become Chicago in the 1780s. Du Sable was of African descent, possibly born to a French sailor and an African woman.

Du Sable established a successful trading post and farm at the mouth of the Chicago River, which became a thriving center of commerce and culture. He traded furs with indigenous peoples and European settlers and his settlement grew into a multicultural community. Du Sable was known for his hospitality and leadership in the area.

Despite facing obstacles and discrimination as a black man in a predominantly white society, Du Sable's contributions to the early development of Chicago were significant. His legacy as the "Founder of Chicago" is recognized today, and a museum dedicated to his accomplishments stands in Chicago in his honor.