The Black Tax with Andrew Kahrl and Tonika Lewis Johnson
@ National Public Housing Museum
919 South Ada St, Chicago, IL 60607
Opening Wednesday, October 8th, from 6PM - 7:30PM
Throughout the twentieth century, Black families invested in the American dream, acquiring significant amounts of property nationwide. But racist practices, obscure processes, and outright theft diminished their assets and their power.
The National Public Housing Museum, in partnership with the Cook County Assessor’s Office’s Racial Equity and Real Estate Conversations, presents historian Andrew W. Kahrl (author of The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America) and social justice artist Tonika Lewis Johnson (2021–2022 Artist as Instigator at the National Public Housing Museum and co-author of Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It), in conversation about the history of racist and predatory real estate practices and their devastating impact on Chicago’s most vulnerable communities.
Shining a light on Land Sale Contracts, overtaxation, state laws allowing the sale of unpaid tax debts to private investors, and more, Kahrl and Johnson expose this devastating history and share the stories of the fierce organizers and activists who battled against corruption, and lessons of past struggles that remain relevant to us today.
Moderated by Kelwin Harris, Cook County Assessor’s Office.
Register for the event
FREE, but space is limited. This event will also be livestreamed—register to receive the link.
Light bites and beverages will be provided, and a book signing will take place after the event.
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Tags: Andrew Kahrl, Chicago, National Public Housing Museum, near west side, The Black Tax with Andrew Kahrl and Tonika Lewis Johnson, Tonika Lewis Johnson
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