Richard L Jones Armory (Perkins, Chatten & Hammond, 1931) in Washington Park (6/12/20)
Dan Freeman, CIA’s first black agent, turns his training on the oppressor in Chicago’s South Side.
Sam Greenlee’s 1969 spy novel tells the story of the CIA’s new “token” black agent Dan Freeman who engineers his placement into Hyde Park/Washington Park from where he organizes former gang rivals into a resistance force. Recommended by public figures from Dick Gregory to Nipsy Hustle and made into a 1973 movie (filmed mostly in Gary) that was required viewing for Black Panther members.
At first post, half of the sixty markers have original CBA pictures of the location or nearby contemporary buildings. As with all CBA maps this is a work in progress and will be updated with more pictures over time. Historic photos illustrate those specifically mentioned buildings that no longer exist. Included for each marker is the chapter of the story in which it is found, a quote of text referring to the location, and a link to more information for the curious or forgetful (me).
An alphabetical list of all the sites is located below the map. A click on the list will jump you to its location on the map.
Contact CBA for a custom guided ride that includes some of these sights or for gift certificates for the cyclists in your life. Also, this map is just one layer of many on The Map, where you can plan your own ride, run, or walk around Chicago.
Sources: The Spook Who Sat by the Door (Sam Greenlee, 1969), icons by Icons