Chicago Defender: The Stories that Defined Chicago in 2023, Part 2

Black people in our city are doing remarkable things and living extraordinary lives.& In 2023, Chicago Defender writers profiled real Chicagoans who have distinguished themselves in the arts, athletics, business, politics, media and entertainment.& We even chronicled real celebrities who pulled up to our city, conducting one-on-one interviews with them or capturing events they hosted.& & As for the Defender, we celebrated a birthday and even appeared as a question on a popular game show.& The following is Part 2 of the stories that defined our Chicago. You can read Part 1 here.& The Black Chicago Stories That Moved Us Jason Weaver, Son of The Chi: An Exclusive Interview: Arika Linton wrote this feature on the beloved, homegrown actor. We get the full scoop on his Chicago loyalties: White Sox versus Cubs, “Footworking” versus “The Percolator.” Plus, he talks about his work on the acclaimed Showtime series “The Chi.” Englewood Barbie: A Bold Activist With A Bolder Vision:& A profile on one of Chicago’s most daring advocates for the unhoused. Chicago is to stand-up comics what Belle Glade, Florida is to NFL football players: the talent pool is overflowing. We had the opportunity to profile Correy Bell, an emerging star...