Tacuma Roeback

5 days ago | chicagodefender.com | Tacuma Roeback

Meet Patricia Andrews-Keenan, founder of Pigment International, leading a movement to elevate Black artists, build a sustainable art ecosystem, and make Chicago the North Star of Black fine art (Photo Provided). Her mentees call her “Auntie.”But it’s safe to say that Patricia Andrews-Keenan has helped mother a movement in Chicago—centering Black artists and building sustainable communities for them to thrive.

1 week ago | chicagodefender.com | Tacuma Roeback

Experienced, battle-tested and worthy. It’s for those reasons that Rep. Robin Kelly has launched her bid for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat, joining Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in what’s expected to be a hotly-contested primary with more expected to jump into the fray. But Rep. Kelly is not new to this.

1 week ago | chicagodefender.com | Tacuma Roeback

Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) (Public Domain Photo). U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly announced on Tuesday that she will run to succeed Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who announced two weeks ago that he won’t seek reelection. Rep. Kelly is the second candidate to officially declare her campaign for the retiring senator’s seat, joining  Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton who declared last week. .  In a statement, Kelly said it’s a challenge she is undertaking on behalf of Illinoisans, one she is more than ready for.

1 week ago | chicagodefender.com | Tacuma Roeback

The aftermath of a teen takeover in downtown Chicago in March 2025 (YouTube Screenshot/WGN). “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” It’s debatable whether writer Mark Twain actually uttered that quote, but that doesn’t detract from its truthfulness, especially concerning this country’s history of racism and segregation and the behavior of her governing bodies, which have a history of passing laws that weaponize law enforcement against people of color.

2 weeks ago | chicagodefender.com | Tacuma Roeback

K-Love sits down with Monique Roberson for this Black Women’s History Month interview. Legacy isn’t just what we inherit—it’s what we’re actively building in real-time. And few embody that truth like the incomparable K-Love the Poet. Imagine the soul of Maya Angelou wrapped in the fire of Nikki Giovanni, and you’ll begin to understand the power of her presence.