Policy: A Family Business, a powerful stage production at the Harold Washington Cultural Center, explores the largely untold history of Black entrepreneurship through Chicago’s policy game (Photo Courtesy of Jimalita Tillman).
A story central to Black Chicago and Black America takes the stage at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Bronzeville.
That story comes in the form of Policy: A Family Business, a production about the figures behind saloon culture and the non-traditional entrepreneurs who built the foundation for Black institutions we know today.
By non-traditional, we mean the local Black economies fueled by policy—the daily lottery system where people bet numbers drawn from a wheel, also known as “running numbers.”
A Story That Must Be Told
“This is American history and heritage that needs to be told, and we are honored to share it during Black History Month, during theater week, right here on 47th and King Drive,” said Jimalita Tillman, the play’s producer, director, and writer.
Running from February 13 to 16, 2025, the production is part of Broadway in Bronzeville and is presented by Tobacco Road Incorporated. It honors historical figures like Jesse Binga, Mary McLeod Bethune, Jennie Ligon and Sadie Bruce, and lesser-known but equally important names like John “Mushmouth” Johnson, Henry “Teenan” Jones, and Pony Moore.
Policy: A Family Business explores the early 20th-century South Side and the policy kings and queens who shaped Black economic life with gripping storytelling, vibrant music and energetic choreography.
For Tillman, this production is more than a play—it’s truth-telling, an excavation into the lesser-known but crucial stories of our culture. “A lot of the guys in policy wanted to cross over from policy money into real business,” she said.
The Forgotten Figures of Chicago’s Policy Game
A scene from “Policy: A Family Business” (Photo Courtesy of Jimalita Tillman).
The story looks beyond well-known figures like Sam Giancana or the Jones Brothers and highlights Black business leaders who built institutions that still matter today. “This is the third installment in our series,” she explained. “We did The Kings of the Policy about the men, then The Queens of the Policy about the women. Now, we’re showing how families played a role and how it all began.”
Tillman and her team combed through records at the Library of Congress, piecing together stories that had been left out of history. They also secured permission from families of historical figures to ensure accuracy. The research led to surprising discoveries. “John D. Rockefeller studied what the policy kings were doing so he could use similar strategies,” she said. “[Edward] Eichenbaum, who launched the Regal Theater, had to go to policy kings for bridge loans. These are real events that get lost in history.”
Shedding Light on Black Entrepreneurship
The play also examines how Black entrepreneurs used policy money to fund businesses when banks wouldn’t lend to them. Tillman said that in the early 1900s, Black people couldn’t get loans or mortgages. “So grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, and aunties running policy wheels.” And it would be policy that helped fund patents, schools and even medical research. Tillman pointed out that Dr. Daniel Hale Williams and Lewis Latimer relied on non-traditional funding sources for their groundbreaking work. “We still feel the impact of those scientists today.”
The production also explores how Black families passed down wealth and community responsibility. Take John “Mushmouth” Johnson’s sister, Cecilia. “She wasn’t trying to pass as white at the University of Chicago—they just never asked,” Tillman said. “She was earning her master’s degree when people got jealous, exposed her, and got her kicked out. Devastated, she was sent to Florida to work with Mary McLeod Bethune.”
“So it’s those kinds of connectivities and stories that we don’t get a chance to talk about often that this production leans heavily on,” Tillman said.
Audiences can expect an experience that’s both entertaining and enlightening. “You’ll laugh. You’ll see big singing, big dancing. And you’ll want to go home and learn more about your family’s own history,” Tillman said.
A Cast Rooted in History, Bound for Broadway
A scene from “Policy: A Family Business” (Photo Courtesy of Jimalita Tillman).
Many cast members have trained at the Harold Washington Cultural Center for years. Some have even gone on to Broadway, including roles in MJ the Musical and The Lion King.
After its Chicago run, Policy: A Family Business will head to New York for a performance in Times Square’s theater district. “We’re excited to give our cast, many of whom have never performed in New York, the chance to take the stage there,” Tillman said.
More Than a Play—A Community Experience
More than a play, Policy: A Family Business is a chance for the community to connect with its past.
“Come out and be part of it,” Tillman said. “Share your family’s stories about policy. Learn something new. We need your support—whether in the audience or on the stage.”
For more information on tickets and showtimes, visit broadwayinbronzeville.com.
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