Chicago Reads Omar

Chicago Reads Omar is a citywide invitation to discover the extraordinary story of Omar ibn Said, a Muslim scholar from West Africa whose autobiography, written in Arabic in 1831 while he was enslaved in North Carolina, is believed to be the only surviving American slave narrative written in Arabic by an enslaved person in the United States. Presented by Lyric Opera of Chicago in connection with America250, the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the initiative brings together libraries, museums, universities, cultural organizations, and community partners across Chicago to explore Omar's life, legacy, and place in American history.

The Library of Congress makes an English translation of “The Life of Omar ibn Said”  available to read for free.

Take the Chicago Reads Omar Challenge

  1. You can read Omar's words.
  2. You can hear scholars discuss his life.
  3. You can learn how his story became an opera.
  4. And you can experience that story onstage.

    Take one step or take all four.

    Either way, you'll be part of a citywide effort to discover one of the most remarkable firsthand accounts in American history — and to consider what Omar ibn Said's story can tell us about America today.

    Ready?
    READ. WATCH. LEARN. EXPERIENCE OMAR.

Participating Organizations

Library of Congress

DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center