Best quote from Du Sable: The Erased Founder of Chicago
History often begins for people of color only when they cross paths with Western record keepers. We have to balance the investigative rigor of looking at archival records with the cultural necessity of acknowledging a founder who didn't fit the colonial mold.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
Based on research highlighted by Jared Spano, this lesson examines how Jean Baptiste Point du Sable—a Black Haitian trader widely recognized as the founder of Chicago—became marginalized in the city’s historical narrative as later political and ethnic power structures emerged. It explores parallels to shifting control of trade corridors like the Des Plaines River and argues Chicago should more prominently honor its origins, including a major African-American civic celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is officially recognized as the first permanent, non-Indigenous founder of Chicago. A Black man of Haitian descent and a successful trader, he established a massive, high-end estate at the mouth of the Chicago River decades before the city was incorporated. His settlement was a sophisticated economic hub featuring a large log home with French walnut cabinets, a mill, a smokehouse, and a dairy, proving that the city’s foundations were multicultural and rooted in global trade rather than just military conquest.
DuSable’s legacy was marginalized by shifting political and ethnic power structures that favored a "white pioneer" narrative. After DuSable sold his property in 1800, it eventually came into the possession of John Kinzie, whose family had the social capital to frame him as the "Father of Chicago" in early historical accounts like Juliette Kinzie’s book, Wau-Bun. This erasure was reinforced by 19th-century concepts of Manifest Destiny, which sought to portray the land as "untamed" until the arrival of European settlers, effectively turning DuSable into a historical footnote for over a century.
The founding of Chicago was a partnership between DuSable and the Potawatomi people. DuSable married a Potawatomi woman named Kitihawa (Catherine), which allowed him to become "Potawatomi kin" and a naturalized citizen of their nation. This alliance provided him with the protection, diplomatic networks, and cultural mediation necessary to maintain a thriving trading post for twenty years. Modern historians emphasize that Chicago’s origins should be viewed as a site of alliance and kinship between Black and Indigenous people rather than a blank slate discovered by Europeans.
The "DuSable Myth" refers to the historical debate regarding the specific details of DuSable's life due to a lack of records written by him. Some historians, like John F. Swenson, argue that certain aspects of his story—such as his farming in Peoria—might be historical constructions or based on misidentified legal records. However, other scholars argue that while specific biographical details may be "fuzzy" or fragmented, his status as the first permanent non-Native settler is undisputed and serves as a vital symbol of the city's Black and Indigenous roots.
Chicago is undergoing a significant effort to restore DuSable to his rightful place in public memory through several major initiatives. This includes the 2006 ordinance officially naming him the founder, the renaming of Lake Shore Drive in his honor in 2021, and a planned $40 million investment to develop DuSable Park. Additionally, public art projects and festivals are being designed to honor both DuSable and his wife Kitihawa, ensuring the city's "Black and Indigenous roots" are a permanent part of the civic landscape.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
