This event will be held in-person at the Newberry. The multimedia program from 11 to noon will be livestreamed on Zoom. The online version of this event will be live captioned. Please register below.
Step into the soundscape of 1960s Chicago, where church bells and El trains mingle with protest chants, and faith spills from sanctuaries into the streets. Beyond Belief: Religion and Social Change in 1960s Chicago opens with a vibrant multimedia program that weaves live readings, archival photos and footage, and stirring music into a vivid portrait of a city in transformation. From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s marches in Marquette Park to the activism of the Young Lords, from women demanding equality in pulpits and public life to the rise of the Nation of Islam on the South Side, this dynamic performance brings to life voices and visions that reshaped Chicago and the nation. Through the words of Martin Luther King Jr., Betty Friedan, Elijah Muhammad, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, accompanied by the music of Mahalia Jackson, John Coltrane, and Ramito, we will explore how belief became action in a decade of upheaval.
Following the multimedia program, engage in guided table conversations to reflect together on the voices and movements encountered, considering what “belief in action” meant in 1960s Chicago and what it might demand of us today.
The program concludes around the table, where conversation gives way to connection. In the spirit of the church basements, union halls, and community kitchens that have sustained movements for change, we invite you to share a meal, meet new conversation partners, and continue building the kind of community that has shaped Chicago’s past—and can shape its future.
This program is part of Beyond Belief: Religion and Social Change in 1960s Chicago, a wide-ranging Newberry initiative running through 2029. It is generously supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.
Speakers
Liliana Macias and Sherman “Dilla” Thomas will narrate, with readings by community members.
Cost and Registration
This program is free and open to all. Advance registration required.
Registration opens March 1.
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