The Black and White City

The History of Racism and Race Relations at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair

By: Charles River Editors

Narrated by: Scott Clem

Walking around Chicago today, it's easy to forget about its past as a rural frontier. That's due in no small part to the way Chicago responded to the Great Fire of 1871. Immediately after the fire, Chicago encouraged inhabitants and architects to build over the ruins, spurring creative architecture with elaborate designs. Architects descended upon the city for the opportunity to rebuild the area, and over the next few decades they had rebuilt Chicago with the country's most modern architecture and monuments. Chicago recovered well enough within 20 years to win the right to host the World's Fair in 1893, which was commemorating the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the New World. Covering nearly two square miles, the Fair's grounds created a city within a city, and Daniel Burnham was in the middle of it all. With several other noteworthy architects, including Louis Sullivan, Burnham designed the layout of the grounds and the construction of the buildings on the ground. During the late 19th century, "neoclassicism" was in vogue, and American architects designed buildings incorporating ancient Greek and Roman architecture. A world's fair is an opportunity for people around the globe to demonstrate to the world how they see themselves. It is a chance to proudly wear one's native clothing, to share cuisine, to demonstrate knowledge, and to share perspective.

©2016 Charles River Editors (P)2017 Charles River Editors