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Chicago-based artist Tonika Johnson and UIC professor of Sociology Maria Krysan discuss and read from their recently published book Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It. 

In it, the authors examine the racism behind the advice to avoid Chicago’s South and West side neighborhoods. From interviews with Chicago residents, Johnson and Krysan show how deeply ingrained stereotypes about safety and violence shape perceptions of predominantly Black and Hispanic communities. They delve into ways these biases are passed down through generations and how individuals—both native Chicagoans and expats—navigate their own confrontations with racial fear. Following the reading, Denny Mwaura, Gallery 400’s Assistant Director and Curator, moderates a conversation between the authors.

ABOUT: 

Tonika Johnson is a photographer, social justice artist and life-long resident of Chicago’s South Side neighborhood of Englewood. She is also co-founder of the Englewood Arts Collective and Resident Association of Greater Englewood, which seek to reframe the narrative of South Side communities and mobilize people and resources for positive change. Her art often explores urban segregation, documenting the nuance and richness of the black community to counter media depictions of Chicago’s violence. Recognized as one of Field Foundation’s Leaders for a New Chicago in 2019, she currently serves on the Cultural Advisory Council of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events by the Chicago City Council. In 2021, she assumed the role of Artist as Instigator for the National Public Housing Museum, working on her latest project, Inequity for Sale, which sheds light on the history of homes sold on Land Sale Contracts in Greater Englewood during the 50s and 60s. She is the recipient of the 2024 Gordon Parks Foundation Fellowship and one of Chicago Magazine‘s 2017 Chicagoans of the Year. 

Maria Krysan, LAS Distinguished Professor of Sociology at UIC, has spent decades teaching, researching, and writing about residential segregation and racial attitudes. Her 2017 award-winning book with Kyle Crowder, Cycle of Segregation proposes an innovative framework for understanding the causes of racial residential segregation and has served as a springboard for her growing engaged work, especially that with Tonika Johnson, a Chicago social justice artist and creator of the Folded Map Project. The co-authored book, Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt is one outcome of their collaboration. Krysan’s writing has been published in conventional academic outlets as well as nonacademic publications (e.g., The Hill Reporter, Crain’s Chicago Business, Visible Magazine, Block Club Chicago) and she has been interviewed and/or cited in the media (e.g., WBEZ, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, CityLab, CNN, WGN, TeenVogue, Vox.Com, Washington Post, New York Times). She frequently presents her work outside of academia, sharing her expertise with, and learning from, her engagement with advocates, mayors, legislators, housing agencies, real estate agents, researchers, K-12/college students, foundation staff, lawyers, library patrons, and so on.

ACCESS INFORMATION: This program is free and CART captioning will be available. For questions and access accommodations, email gallery400engagement@gmail.com.