Page 25 - Willa Rawls

BRONZEVILLE

Willa Rawls is situated in the heart of what is famously known as Bronzeville;
an area in South Side Chicago rich with history, heritage, and culture. Bor-
dered by 22nd St. on the north, Washington Park on the south, Federal Street
in the west, and Lake Michigan on the east, this area is rich in history and
culture. Before it became Bronzeville, its lush green boulevards and stately
estates were home to some of Chicago’s barons of industry and entertain-
ment, such as the Swifts and the Marx Brothers. These mansions, which
were primarily built in the late 19th century, represent the area’s extraordinary
display of Gothic, Romanesque and Queen Ann-style design, and are famed
for their architectural importance to this day.

Between 1910 and 1920, a tremendous number of African Americans jour-
neyed to Bronzeville to escape oppression in the south. The neighborhood
quickly boomed; despite it being a narrow seven mile strip, at its peak more
than 300,000 people lived in Bronzeville. Today, Bronzeville is regarded as
one of the most significant landmarks of the Great Migration.

Bronzeville’s 20th century resurgence, which rivaled the Harlem Renais-
sance, is responsible for tremendous cultural and social advances. Pulitzer
Prize recipient Gwendolyn Brooks, civil rights activist Ida B. Wells, and world
famous musician Louis Armstrong were profoundly responsible for the area’s
development and subsequent cultural crusade, which included advances in
civil rights, jazz, blues and gospel music as well.

However, the neighborhood’s most striking, modern influence is in the realm
of public art. Commissioned to help rejuvenate the area, Bronzeville contains
some of the most celebrated works within the City of Chicago’s Public Art
Collection. The Monument to the Great Northern Migration can be found on
Martin Luther King Drive and is a Bronzeville icon. Bronzeville is also known
for the street art that decorates many buildings and walls, depicting the neigh-
borhood’s rich history and contributions to modern culture.

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