Chicago Defender Building

The Chicago Defender Building is a three-story limestone structure with large rectangular windows arranged across its facade on South Indiana Avenue. The building displays early 1900s architecture with clean lines and symmetrical window placement along its front.

The structure originally served as a synagogue before being converted to the Chicago Defender newspaper headquarters in 1920. This transformation occurred during a period of rapid African American population growth and the need for independent media platforms.

The building housed journalists and writers who reported on African American life and gave voice to the community's stories during a transformative period. It became a gathering place for creative and editorial work that shaped how Black experiences were told and shared.

The building sits in the Bronzeville Historic District and is accessible by public transportation. Visitors should know that this is an architectural landmark that may not be open for interior tours.

Pullman porters helped distribute the newspaper throughout the Southern United States using an informal network. This connection between Chicago and the South was how the publication informed Black communities about migration opportunities.