Joliet Area African American Historic Context Study

Background

The City of Joliet, through its Historic Preservation Commission, successfully obtained a grant through the Illinois Certified Local Government Matching Grant program to fund a historic context study that documents the history and culture of the Joliet area Black community. While similar context studies have been undertaken in other parts of the United States, this will be the second African American historic context study completed in Illinois (The City of Springfield completed their study in 2018).

Project Purpose

The purpose of this project is to:

• document Joliet area Black history in an accurate narrative,

• acknowledge racial injustice using history,

• recognize historic properties important to the Black community,

• challenge misinformation about the Black experience,

• record Black voices for future generations, and

• place Route 66 history in context with the Black Community

The context study will include traditional historical research as well as input from the Joliet area African American community. The final context study report will contain a comprehensive history of the Joliet area’s African American community from the first residents through the late 20th century. It will also contain defined historical themes connected with the African American experience in Joliet. Associated places connected to this history will also be compiled in the report. Some places or areas may no longer be extant but will need to be included. Anticipated project completion date is December 2025.

Outcomes

This project will result in community conversations and forge new or re-establish community partnerships around the history of diversity, equity and inclusion in Joliet. The information generated from this project will help ensure that the City and its partners are inclusive and equitable with long-range planning efforts.

The selected consultant, injunction with community partners, will be required to deliver two public presentations on topics derived from the findings of this context study.

Known Resources

Home Owners' Loan Corporation Map of Joliet, 1937

One of 200 “Redlining Maps” produced by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation between 1935 and 1940 with the stated purpose of stabilizing homeownership across the country. The 1937 Joliet map categorizes Joliet neighborhoods into four groups. Those neighborhoods that the HOLC determined to have the highest mortgage lending risks were shaded red. The descriptions of Joliet’s “redlined” neighborhoods are not subtle, declaring the “colored section” near the downtown as a “detrimental influence.” The HOLC map essentially codified the exclusion of home sales to citizens of specific racial and ethnic groups, which has continued to have a deleterious effect on Black citizens inasmuch as homeownership is a critical factor in amassing generational wealth and it has continued to have adverse ramifications for the specific neighborhoods in which Black citizens resided. To learn more about redlining, visit Mapping Inequality: https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining

1958-59 Brown Book Directory

1958-59 Brown Book Directory, which was published by Joliet’s only Black newspaper The Negro Voice (later known as the Black Voice and then simply The Voice), highlights the economic vibrancy of the Joliet area Black community in the South End and south side with numerous black-owned businesses and social institutions.

Project Funding

This project has been enthusiastically supported by the City of Joliet, Joliet Township, Lockport Township and Will County through its Historic Preservation Commission.

This project also received endorsements from State Representative Walsh, State Senator Ventura, Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, the African American Business Association, and the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

Next Steps for this Project

• Preparation of a Request for Qualification so that a consultant can undertake the project.

• Identify places (past and present): businesses, churches, social organizations, schools, sites etc.

• Identify people or groups to interview (present) or research (past)

• Develop a public participation plan.

Contact Us

Email: blackhistory@joliet.gov
Staff : Jayne M. Bernhard, City Planner & Liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission
Phone: 815-724-4052

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