Bobby J. Smith II

Author Bio

Bobby J. Smith II is Associate Professor of African American Studies at the University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign, author of the James Beard Award-nominated book, Food Power Politics, and Public Voices Fellow through The OpEd Project.

October 16, 2025

Chicago Restaurants Using Civil Rights-Era Playbook To Fight ICE

The recent invasion of Chicago area restaurants and cafés by Immigration and Customs Enforcement is inspiring owners and workers to revive the Civil Rights-era playbook of Black-owned restaurants to fight back. From Logan Square to…

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