Latino Voices

Latino Voices

‘Like Lightning Struck’: Community Marks 60 Years Since the First Division Street Riot, Puerto Rican Rebellion

(Courtesy of the Chicago History Museum) While events for the community are planned for the entire weekend to celebrate Puerto Rican pride and culture, this year also honors the history of Chicago’s Boricua community — marking the 60-year anniversary of the first Division Street riot. Read more >

Latino Voices

As Mexico City Prepares to Host World Cup, Residents Say Construction Is Taking a Toll

(Medill School of Journalism) Residents said the rapid construction is destroying local infrastructure, severing the very pipelines that communities depend on for daily life. For many, the disruptions have come with little warning and even less explanation. Read more >

Black Voices

Black Voices

From a Replica Oval Office to Michelle Obama’s Dresses, What’s Inside the Obama Presidential Center

Visitors experience the “Yes We Can” installation at the Obama Presidential Center Museum on March 1, 2026. (The Obama Foundation) WTTW News visited the Obama Presidential Center for a firsthand look at the exhibits, installations and everything in between. Read more >

Black Voices

South Side Residents Voice Gentrification Concerns Ahead of Obama Presidential Center Opening

The Women’s Garden at the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (The Obama Foundation) Despite years of organizing and city ordinances being put in place, rising housing costs and investor activity continue to threaten gentrification in neighborhoods surrounding the Obama Presidential Center. Read more >

Latino Voices

New Book Explores the Intersection of Education and Culture. What Inspired ‘Rabbit on the Moon’

Elizabeth Alvarez appears on “Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices” on June 27, 2024. (WTTW News) Elizabeth Alvarez has dedicated her life to teaching, empowering students and breaking down educational disparities. Alvarez shares all of this and more in her new book “Rabbit on the Moon: Embracing My Mexican-American Identity.” Read more >

Latino Voices

Public Art Project Uncovers the History of an Ancient Mexican Civilization

The “Olmec Trails: Culture and Legacy” public art project will be on display in the Chicago area from June to October 2024. (WTTW News) Long before the Aztecs or the Maya, there were the Olmecs. Their people once lived along the southeast border of Mexico in what is now Veracruz; they are considered one of the most influential civilizations of Mesoamerica. Read more >

Latino Voices

Local Advocates React to Biden’s New Immigration Order Protecting Undocumented Spouses and Expediting Work Visas for ‘Dreamers’

President Joe Biden speaks on June 18, 2024. (CNN) For some local advocates who work on immigrations issues, the action is a welcome one. Read more >

Latino Voices

Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices, June 20, 2024 - Full Show

Alex Hernández (WTTW News) The president touts new protections for undocumented spouses and faster work visas for “Dreamers.” And how extreme heat is impacting working conditions.  Read more >

Black Voices

Chicago Republicans and Democrats on What Happened in the Presidential Election

The decisive defeat leaves Democrats to pick up the pieces and figure out a path forward for their party after notching across the board defeats in the expected swing states. Both Republicans and Democrats in Chicago on Wednesday analyzed the results of the election and what it might say about the future of the country.  Read more >

Black Voices

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Nov. 6, 2024 - Full Show

Kamala Harris concedes the race for president. We have local reaction to Donald Trump’s victory, plus two area congressmen on what his reelection means for Capitol Hill and Illinois. Read more >

Black Voices

Illinois Congressmen on What Trump’s Victory, Red Wave Could Mean for the State

Former President Donald Trump ran a campaign with messages on mass deportation, higher tariffs and anti-transgender rhetoric that drew in swaths of voters from the coveted swing states needed to secure the win. Read more >

Black Voices

New ‘Chicago Stories’ Documentary Celebrates 40 Years of House Music

“House Music: A Cultural Revolution” is celebrating the innovative and catchy dance music that still inspires prominent artists today. Read more >

Join WTTW News every weekend for analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts and life, entrepreneurship and innovation, and equity and justice across the sectors of our society and in the Black and Latino communities in Chicago. Make the VOICES series your definitive source for real conversation and a platform for different voices and perspectives.

Latino Voices

Black Voices

Latino Voices

‘Like Lightning Struck’: Community Marks 60 Years Since the First Division Street Riot, Puerto Rican Rebellion

(Courtesy of the Chicago History Museum) While events for the community are planned for the entire weekend to celebrate Puerto Rican pride and culture, this year also honors the history of Chicago’s Boricua community — marking the 60-year anniversary of the first Division Street riot. Read more >

Black Voices

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Sept. 10, 2025 - Full Show

Brandis Friedman hosts the Sept. 10, 2025, episode of "Chicago Tonight: Black Voices." (WTTW News) The latest on conservative activist and Chicago-area native Charlie Kirk, who was shot at an event in Utah. And how people who are homeless could be impacted if the National Guard is deployed in Chicago. Read more >

Latino Voices

As Mexico City Prepares to Host World Cup, Residents Say Construction Is Taking a Toll

(Medill School of Journalism) Residents said the rapid construction is destroying local infrastructure, severing the very pipelines that communities depend on for daily life. For many, the disruptions have come with little warning and even less explanation. Read more >

Black Voices

South Side Residents Voice Gentrification Concerns Ahead of Obama Presidential Center Opening

The Women’s Garden at the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (The Obama Foundation) Despite years of organizing and city ordinances being put in place, rising housing costs and investor activity continue to threaten gentrification in neighborhoods surrounding the Obama Presidential Center. Read more >

 

Black Voices

New Columbia College President on Her Vision for the School’s Future

Shantay Bolton appears on “Chicago Tonight” on June 2, 2026. (WTTW News) Shantay Bolton was appointed the 11th president and CEO of Columbia College Chicago at what she calls a “pivotal moment” for the school. Bolton, who is the first woman of color to lead the minority-serving institution, inherits a campus that has seen enrollment steadily decline over the last decade. Read more >

Latino Voices

From Dancehall to Reggaeton, Exhibit Explores the Power of Music as Protest

Matthew McCarthy and Maxine Walters, “The Most High–a serious t’ing,” 2026. Installation view, “Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón,” MCA Chicago, April 14-Sept. 20, 2026. (Michael Tropea / MCA Chicago) The Museum of Contemporary Art is showcasing a new exhibition tracing the visual, political and spiritual origins of popular Caribbean music. Art installations are designed to immerse visitors in sound and movement. Read more >