A number of Black America’s most influential leaders have made their home or mark here. Beginning in 1930, Elijah Muhammad was sent from Detroit to Chicago to expand the Nation of Islam (NOI). He succeeded in the fertile recruiting ground of America’s most segregated large city. For two decades he toiled as the sole iconic leader of the NOI based in Chicago. Then, Elijah Muhammad recruited Malcolm X and various sources estimate that the NOI has grown to several hundred thousand members nationwide.  Though the NOI has earned its share of controversy over Black Nationalism and loathing for the assassination of Malcolm X, no one can dispute its unwavering nurturing of the Black ethos for self-sufficiency, strong families, transforming convicts into citizens, and principles of upright living.

    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. briefly lived and made a number of important speeches here. In his campaign to end slums, in January 1966 Dr. King, and two SCLC aides rented a four-room apartment at 1550 South Hamlin Ave in a Westside ghetto. When the landlord discovered Dr. King intended to use the apartment, he immediately assigned a large crew to refurbish it -- against Dr. King's wishes. On 10 July 1966, Dr. King addressed over 50,000 people at Soldier Field in the campaign to end slums in Chicago. At the end of his speech, he peacefully led most of the crowd on a march up to City Hall where he posted demands for the Non-Violent Freedom Fighters on Mayor Richard J. Daley's door. Daley, enjoying his role as the premier powerbroker in town, refused to meet with Dr. King.  Escalating racial tensions over the next month forced his hand. Mayor Daley finally called a summit meeting with Dr. King on 26 August 1966 at the Palmer House Hotel where terms were exchanged and agreement reached. A rising member on Dr. King’s SCLC staff in Chicago participated in those meetings, Rev. Jesse Jackson.

    Rev. Willie Barrow and Rev. Jesse Jackson founded Operation Breadbasket in Chicago in the 1962 to distribute food in underserved American communities. Rev. Jackson became national chairman of the organization in 1967. Jackson would later develop P.U.S.H (People United to Serve Humanity)/Rainbow Coalition based on the Operation Breadbasket model. In 1971, Rev. Jackson also organized Chicago’s first Black Expo, drawing one million people in four days. Though at times critics label him an issue-hopping fireman and his Wall Street, LaSalle Street and Silicon Valley Projects gets mixed reviews, Rev. Jackson is honored for establishing the first Presidential campaign that an African American had a legitimate chance to win his party’s nomination (1984 & 1988) and for registering millions of new voters.

    When Elijah Muhammad died in 1975, his son Wallace D. Muhammad led a portion of the NOI into orthodox Islam, which continues today.  Those who stayed follow Minister Louis Farrakhan, who was recruited back to assume the NOI leadership position. In spite of his racist rhetoric in the past and missed leadership opportunities on the subject of slavery in Africa, Minister Farrakhan is recasting the NOI to be more positive towards all Americans today, yet remain staunchly in support of advancing the race. Envisioning and leading the hugely successful Million Man March is his magnum opus. He followed it up with the Millions More Movement in October 2005.