Chicago Defender Building

Built in 1899 and remodeled in 1915, this former Jewish synagogue was home to the Chicago Defender from 1920 until 1960. Founded by Robert S. Abbott in 1905, the newspaper became nationally known for its outspoken editorial policies on behalf of civil rights issues. The Great Migration of the early-20th century was largely initiated by Defender editorials urging African-Americans to leave the poverty of the South for new opportunities in the North. The building is one of nine structures in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville Historic District.

Chicago, Illinois · United States