103 years ago this month, Chicago was shaken to its core by racial violence.

Black people were chased in the streets and alleys by angry white mobs.

Many black families simply locked their doors and hid until the danger passed.

In some cases, blacks retaliated and the violence spiraled.

Racial incidents like this were happening across America and what became known as the Red Summer of 1919. In just one week, 38 Chicagoans were killed.

More than 500 were injured and more than 1,000 were left homeless.

Obviously, anyone who lived through the Chicago race riots was forever changed.

But how did the riots change Chicago?

That's the question we got from Stephen Boone.

He lives in the Southside neighborhood of Woodlawn.

Stephen was particularly interested in whether the riots contributed to a defining characteristic of Chicago.

Our legacy of segregation.

As much as I love my city, it's still really segregated.

I know people personally who lived on the south side of Chicago

their entire lives and have never been north of Madison downtown. You know, it's just how it is here.

I'm Jason Mark, and when we come back, former Curious City editor Jessica Popovac and University of Chicago professor Adam Green, they're going to answer Stephen's question by taking a deep look at the response to the riots by the most powerful institutions of the time.

The police, the courts, the political organizations, the banks, and the realtors.

That's next.

If you're already a WBEZ member, thank you.

Right now, you have the power to do even more.

If every high fidelity member increase their monthly gift by just $3 or more,

together we could fully replace the $3 million in federal funding that's currently at risk.

...