In the spiraling chaos that often seems to surround left-wing politics, one might liken it to a surreal sketch comedy or, to put it more accurately, a Disney Plus cartoon with a plot full of far-fetched scenarios. This week’s guest star? None other than the Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, whose recent statements managed to confuse both historians and anyone with a basic grasp of historical fact. Apparently, Johnson believes that America was built by slaves, a bold assertion that not only raises eyebrows but also raises questions about his grasp of history.
Certainly, his speech seemed to have borrowed heavily from the “Woke Playbook,” a curious collection of political platitudes that don’t hold up well against actual historical scrutiny. Now, anyone who glanced at a map of the good old U.S. of A. with its star for Illinois would know that this state proudly stood with the Union during the Civil War. Illinois was one of those states that said “no, thanks” to slavery well before the Civil War even kicked off. Its neighbor to the South, the Land of Cotton, might have a different story, but Illinois was marching to the beat of a very different drum.
A fascinating trek through old black-and-white photos or paintings would show a rather different Chicago than the sprawling metropolis it is today. Back in 1820, when all this supposed slave labor was happening, Chicago was more of a rustic outpost than a bustling city. We’re talking tepees and a few simple farmhouses—nothing that screams monumental city crafted by armies of forced labor. Anyone doing a historical check would likely run into the fact that Chicago wasn’t even officially a city until 1837, well after slavery was a memory in the region.
As the mayor rallies with rallying cries about land built by slaves and indigenous folks, one might forget that such claims could require tiny dollops of truth to be taken seriously—details that seem to have slipped his speechwriters’ minds. Indigenous people lived across the land, sure, but to attribute the steel skyscrapers and urban sprawl of today’s Chicago to their handiwork really takes creative license to new heights. You’d need to jump through a few more historical hoops to land on such a conclusion.
Meanwhile, over in the practical lane, things are less fantastical. While Johnson paints audacious tales, Chicago’s current woes hint at problems closer to home. Recent headlines recall a shocking scene over the Labor Day weekend, with more than fifty people shot across the city’s embattled streets. It’s a calamity that might need more than contentious historical claims to resolve, perhaps leaning on partnerships and pragmatic solutions like better policing and community partnerships to stem the tide of violence.
As the clamor for real, tangible solutions grows louder, one suggestion floats to the top: maybe it’s time to bring in some reinforcements. An idea entertained by some involves rolling out a partnership with federal resources, despite potential disagreements about jurisdiction. The one reality that’s hard to debate? Chicago is in desperate need of a change that doesn’t involve revisiting historical inaccuracies or stoking political fires. It might just need a bit more than good storytelling to navigate its current stormy waters.
