"If Chicago Could Talk"

A historical fiction story about The Great Migration and the  Black Metropolis that influenced the social, cultural, and political landscape of the United States.

In this captivating tale set in 1919, the Thomas family leaves New Orleans for Chicago as part of the Great Migration, seeking the equality denied in the South. Their optimism is quickly dashed when they are met by 6,000 National Guard troops deployed to quell a recent race riot.

Linda and Ben prepare their nephew Trey to lead the family through the treacherous landscape of a big city plagued by segregation, police violence, and corruption. Is he ready? They devise a risky plan to challenge real estate covenants banning Blacks from buying homes in white neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Trey’s girlfriend, Tallulah,  leads the "Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work" protest, confronting Marshal Field’s department store over their discriminatory hiring practices. She boldly faces the police when they attempt to break up the protest.

Tallulah's mother, Opa, reminds her of their proud Choctaw heritage and tells her they will leave her abusive father, Ray. Despite her fear of his threats, Opa reassures her, “No one is going to touch you or your brother.”

“What about you?” Tallulah asks.

Opa smiles, “I have a plan.”

John Arceneaux, the Godfather of Bronzeville, battles to protect his territory from Italian and Irish mob bosses during Prohibition but he trusts the wrong people. The police captain, also on his payroll, arrests those who betrayed him.

Tolliver Investigative Services is hired to find two missing women, one white and one Black. The case evolves into a murder mystery, revealing a family friend, James, may be involved.

Steeped in history and packed with action, "If Chicago Could Talk" is a tale of family resilience, heroes, heroines, villains, and heartache.

“Until The Lion Tells The Story The Hunter Will Always Be The Hero” – African Proverb