Shame of Chicago: The Color Tax
11/2 at 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Kenilworth Union’s Racial Justice Committee
An episode of Shame Of Chicago will be shown Thursday, November 2, 7 p.m. at The Joseph Sears School: 521 Abbotsford Road, Kenilworth. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Please Register below
In an effort to better understand why the racial wealth gap exists, members of Kenilworth Union’s Racial Justice Committee screened the film “Shame of Chicago.” What we learned was impactful and, alongside our amazing sponsors, we wanted to share it with our neighbors on the North Shore. This in-depth series will be broadcast for the first time in 2024 but you can see an episode here first. If you are interested in history, wealth generation, real estate, addressing inequity, this presentation is for you.
Shame of Chicago is a five-part documentary revealing the true stories behind how Chicago and its suburbs devised the most sweeping system of racially segregated communities. Episode 3, “The Color Tax: Origins of the Modern Day Wealth Gap” focuses on the contrast between the rapid expansion of a white families that benefited from federal policies and home equity, and Black families who could not secure mortgages and who stood to lose everything with a single missed payment. This episode demonstrates the devastating impact that contracts had on Black wealth-building and racial comity in Chicago, a wealth gap that continued to widen as white affluence grew.
The 40-minute documentary will be shown, and then we will have a discussion with and talk with Bruce Orenstein, Lead Director and Producer, and Dr. Clinton Boyd, Executive Director of “Fathers Families Healthy Communities.” This program is made possible with generous funding support from these sponsors:
Am Shalom
Compass: Amy and Dave Chung
First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette
Glencoe Union Church
Holy Comforter Church
Kenilworth Union Church
Temple Jeremiah
Winnetka Congregational Church