Memorial Service for Timuel Dixon Black

Chicago's centenarian, civil rights warrior, author, teacher, lecturer and historian is being honored at a public memorial December 5. The program will open with a traditional African ancestor salute with African drumming and dance, followed by libations and an interfaith prayer. Musical offerings include Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s co-founder trumpeter Orbert Davis’ Quartet playing Louis Armstrong; vocalist Tammy McCann; Jazz institute of Chicago’s Jazz Links Alumni Ensemble; jazz vocalists Maggie and Africa Brown and Dee Alexander and gospel diva Cathy Townsend with young divo Ajene Cooks, accompanied by pianist Robert Irving III. The program closes with the AACM’s Great Black Music Ensemble and a traditional New Orleans second line procession. Governor JB Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, historian Juliana Richardson, political strategist Don Rose and City Colleges’ Chancellor Juan Salgado are among those who will be speaking at the event.

All guests must abide by COVID safety protocols, which include showing proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test 72 hours prior to the event. All attendees must wear a mask while in doors.

Due to limited capacity, related to COVID-19 precautions, registration is limited to the first 450 persons. The event will be live streamed in its entirety and a link will be publicly available. Doors open at 3pm.

And if you would like to record a video tribute for the occasion, please visit this link:

https://www.tribute.co/dr-timuel-black/