A Guide to Black-Owned Restaurants + Businesses in Chicago
Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods - Wicker Park
I know everyone is likely feeling the same heaviness and sadness today as we collectively mourn the unjust murder of George Floyd. What has unfolded in the last few days has been incredibly painful, yet equally eye-opening for those who have been afforded the privilege of typically turning a blind eye to the inequities that plague America.
What’s been happening to our black and brown communities throughout the nation, decade after decade, is appalling, inexcusable and gut-wrenching. I trust that anyone with even an ounce of humanity can understand the pure anguish I’m feeling right now, as I’m sure you are all hurting with me. As a human being that lives and breathes on this planet Earth, along with the rest of the 7.5 billion humans that populate it, I am fucking ANGRY about the senseless murder of Mr. Floyd, an innocent man who was begging for his life, only to have his life stolen by a cop whose sole sworn responsibility is to SERVE and PROTECT the public. I am ANGRY about the way Amy Cooper knowingly tried to weaponize her white privilege and power to harm Christian Cooper for simply asking her to leash her dog in a public place. I am ANGRY about Ahmaud Arbery being shot to death by two white men while he was simply out jogging in his neighborhood. I am ANGRY about the countless other black Americans who have suffered grave injustices at the hands of our systematically oppressive society.
I truly don’t know what the right next course of action is, and right now it’s really hard for me to imagine a world in which we begin to heal from this hate and vitriol. All I know is that if you choose to be a silent and complicit bystander in times like these, then you are just as much to blame. To me, silence is an absolute betrayal to our black neighbors, friends, colleagues and community members. We will no longer be silent. I am not black, but I stand with the black community with every fiber of my being. I promise to use my platform to amplify the voices of those who feel unheard. If you feel even remotely enraged, humiliated or disgusted, please stand with me and let’s open up a healthy dialogue with our fellow human beings. Let’s commit to be better, to do better, and find solace in knowing that we are siding with the right side of history.
One way we can commit to support our black brothers and sisters, in addition to speaking up and amplifying these voices, is to patronize our black-owned restaurants and businesses in the Chicagoland area. I’ve put together a helpful resource guide to encourage you all to show our solidarity. These lists are evolving so please feel free to share more with me! Hopefully this is just one small step we can take to unify and show our support—I urge you to consider patronizing these black-owned local businesses and continue to fight the good fight with me <3.
Restaurants/Cafes
Small Businesses