Chicago urban historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas is expanding his history lessons from social media to the museum space.

He’s got a new gig at theDuSable Black History Museum and Education Center as a brand ambassador and social media chief — an opportunity he’s called a “dream job.”

It’s just one of his many projects — from giving bus tours to posting on TikTok about the city’s lesser-known history.

With the new role, Thomas will work to drive up foot traffic to the museum by highlighting exhibits and artists on social media. He said he hopes to make a positive impact on the storytelling and cultural history coming out of the museum.

“Our cultural institutions — the numbers are down as far as people visiting these spaces,” Thomas said. “That’s not a good thing. These places tell our story of Chicago as a whole and they should be lifted up.”

Thomas worked with the museum previously through his work doing history bus tours around the city. His historical tour service, Chicago Mahogany, takes people through various neighborhoods on the South Side and often leaves from the DuSable, drawing people there. Thomas has also worked with the DuSable team on social media content.

After Thomas was recently laid off from his job at ComEd, Perri Irmer, the president and CEO of the DuSable Museum, reached out to Thomas to make the partnership official and offer him a new job.

From discussing Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on Chicago’s South and West sides to showing archival photos, Thomas aims to immerse people in the history and the community they’re touring. He said these experiences can help combat common narratives about Chicago that focus on tragedy and stereotypes.

“We’re doing a lot of myth-busting on the tour,” Thomas said. “These tours are typically happening in neighborhoods where they don’t see a lot of tourism. These are neighborhoods where Chicagoans tell other Chicagoans not to go to. So we spent a good deal of time highlighting the homes and businesses of notable Chicagoans. We typically stop in a small business and encourage folks to spend money.”

Thomas explores South and West Side communities more deeply with his new YouTube series, “You Don’t Know Chi,” where he talks about the city’s architecture and history with guests like former Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Che “Rhymefest” Smith. Thomas said it’s important to focus on uplifting positive, often untold stories to challenge prejudiced views toward under-resourced parts of the city.

And as a lifelong Chicagoan, his love for the city guides his work.

“I just think people should be hyper focused locally on being proud of being from here and all the amazing things that Chicago has given to the nation — all the innovation and influential folks,” Thomas said. “There’s a lot of good news happening around here, too, and if all anyone ever does is just talk about the bad, I don’t see how that influences people to do good.”

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