Black Family Mayoral Forum, ‘1619,’ Planned At Morgan Park Academy

CHICAGO — The Black Family Mayoral Candidates Forum will be held Sunday, Feb. 5, at Morgan Park Academy, 2154 W. 111th St. The forum will also include an original Chicago musical, “1619: The Journey of a People,” tracing 400 years of Black history since the first enslaved Africans arrived in the United States.

The performance starts at 3:30 p.m., with the mayoral forum to follow at 6 p.m., in the academy’s Baer Theatre. This free event is being presented by the Magnificent Mile Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc., and St. Agatha-St. Martin De Parres, with Ted Williams III and the 3rd Dimension Performance Group.

All nine mayoral candidates have been invited. Ald. Sophia King (4th), Chicago activist Ja’Mal Green, Rep. Kam Buckner, and Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) have confirmed their appearance. The forum will be moderated by Evelyn Holmes of ABC-7 and “1619” playwright Ted Williams.

The forum discussion will be directed toward policy proposals on issues including, but not limited to, affordable housing, community and economic development, environmental justice, children’s constructive education (cultural, civic, health, recreational, fine arts), criminal justice reform and health equity.

“1619: The Journey of a People, The Musical” has won critical acclaim for its extraordinary song, dance, and multiple performance pieces tracing the African American journey from when the first 20 enslaved Africans landed at [Old] Point Comfort, Virginia. The playwright, Ted Williams III, has taught political science at Wright College and Chicago State University, and is currently chair of the Social Sciences Department at Kennedy-King College. By combining both events, organizers hope to spark a meaningful conversation about Black History Month.