Black Heroes of Fire - Chicago's 100 Years of Public Service: A Historical Photographic Archival Documentary (Engine 21 - 1872 to 1972)

This book contains never-seen photos of Black men working as Firefighters in Chicago. News clippings involving Chicago Fire Department historical events from about 1872 to 1972 laid a foundation for these brave and courageous members' testimony. It contains information about the foundation of the city and the role Black Chicagoans played in its rise as a sanctuary city and a catch-all for Blacks migrating from the south looking for better housing, and an opportunity to participate in the public educational system. It identifies those members who put their lives on the line for the public good and well-being. Chicago's newspapers such as the Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago Dailey News, Chicago Sun Times, and the Chicago Defender. These archival stories and photos share a once-in-a-lifetime historical view of Black Chicago for the historical period mentioned. Blacks have been a part of Chicago since the founding father, Jean Baptist Point Du Sable, who was identified as Chicago's first citizen from 1790 until 1800. During Chicago's growth period between 1835-1870 all Blacks who migrated to Chicago did not live in Chicago, but in many cases settled in unincorporated areas outside Chicago. Robbins and Phoenix are both located in rural farm areas. Blacks were not confined to Shantytown but were limited to low-income and poor housing community areas of the city.