20th Anniversary Celebratory Events

EXHIBITION
April 16 - August 15, 2026

The Ways We Remember: Celebrating Twenty Years of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium

Bringing together a new project by renowned Chicago-based artist Candace Hunter alongside archival materials from the BMRC, the exhibition celebrates the ways archives have shaped both personal and institutional stewardship of Black history in Chicago.

Presenting the first part of a new body of work, Hunter responds to the displacement of Black communities on the South Side caused by the construction of the Dan Ryan Expressway while considering the reparative possibilities of archival activation. The exhibition will be on view through August 15, 2026 at the BMRC at the Forum location, 320 E. 43rd Street in Chicago.

FILM SCREENING & DISCUSSION

Are You a Librarian? Black Librarians and Freedom Through Literacy

April 14, 2026 2-3:30 PM
The Joseph Regenstein Library,
1100 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637

The documentary film Are You a Librarian? Black Librarians and Freedom Through Literacy uncovers the hidden legacy of Black librarians—from the era of enslavement and segregation to today’s battles over book bans and intellectual freedom. Through powerful interviews, archival footage, and expert insights, the film tells the story of how Black librarians transformed underfunded and segregated spaces into vital cultural and educational hubs for their communities.

An abbreviated screening will be presented by the Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) and the University of Chicago Library as part of its Library Futures series and Banned Books Initiative. A discussion led by the film’s director and producer, Rodney E. Freeman, Jr., and BMRC Executive Director Sumayya Ahmed will follow the screening.

For detailed information and registration, click here.

BOOK TALK

Dorothy Berry on The House Archives Built and Other Thoughts on Black Archival Possibilities

May 7, 2026, 5-7 PM
Smart Museum of Art,
5550 S. Greenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637

Archivist and author Dorothy Berry and Black Metropolis Research Consortium Executive Director Sumayya Ahmed discuss Berry's new book, and the challenges and possibilities of Black archives within and outside of cultural heritage institutions.

Reception to follow.

SYMPOSIUM
June 17-18, 2026

BMRC 20th Anniversary Symposium on Black Chicago

The Joseph Regenstein Library,
1100 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637

Keynote Speaker: Davarian Baldwin

New Book Launch with Amani Morrison,
A Kitchenette to Fit your Needs: Housing Chicago's Great Migration

Symposium program and registration coming soon!