In a striking career pivot, Shermann "Dilla" Thomas, who has gained a following as Chicago's urban historian, has landed a new role at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. After a sudden layoff from ComEd, Thomas finds himself harnessing social media to steer more visitors to the museum's rich content. Known for his mantra "everything dope about America comes from Chicago," Thomas joins DuSable as their brand ambassador and social media chief.
Thomas' collaboration with the museum is not new to those who've been following his work. Through his bus tour company, Chicago Mahogany started in 2021 to combat city segregation and illuminate Chicago's diverse communities, he often began tours at the DuSable. However, after losing his job of over a decade at ComEd, which he thought was secure from budgetary constraints, Thomas' future seemed uncertain. "Promises were made that I would be put in a secure position that wouldn’t be subject to budgetary constraints, and the exact opposite happened," Thomas told the Chicago Tribune.
With his new endeavor at the museum, Thomas aims to bridge a connection between the city's history and a modern audience. He plans to "highlight the work the museum is doing and use my social media platform to get more bodies through the door," promising to revamp the museum’s social media presence, especially among younger demographics. "Our cultural institutions — the numbers are down as far as people visiting these spaces," Thomas expressed concern in a statement. He added, "That’s not a good thing. These places tell our story of Chicago as a whole and they should be lifted up."
Thomas' historical contributions have remained rooted in Chicago's fabric, from explaining the Loop's 312 area code on Instagram to spotlighting lesser-known facts through TikTok. Now as part of the DuSable, he continues this mission with his series, "You Don't Know Chi," and his ongoing engagement with bus tours across the city. Perhaps what's more compelling, is his commitment to sharing the untold and uplifting stories that paint a broader, more inclusive picture of Chicago. "I just think people should be hyper focused locally on being proud of being from here and all the amazing things that Chicago has given to the nation — all the innovation and influential folks," Thomas told WTTW News.
