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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Mariah Rush

‘1619’ stage musical creator: ‘Black history is American history’

Monique Whittington contemplates what it means to truly be an American during a performance of “1619: The Journey of a People, the Musical.” The musical will run at the Vittum Theater in Chicago over Juneteenth weekend. (Daveed Holmes)

In 2018, Ted Williams III, a political science professor at City Colleges of Chicago, decided to take a well-timed sabbatical. The Ashburn resident spent his time off mulling over how to commemorate the 400-year anniversary of African Americans’ arrival in America.

The first instinct, as a scholar, would be some sort of academic conference detailing that history, beginning in 1619.

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