Shermann “Dilla” Thomas

Chicago historian Shermann Thomas, or Dilla, as he is affectionately called, is a fascinating blend of modern historian, cultural worker, and public employee. Thomas has become a Chicago social media sensation by going viral on TikTok. His 60-second history videos on everything Chicago have been viewed over 20 million times, and he has amassed a following of 210K followers across all social media platforms. He has been featured on all Chicago media and appeared nationally on both "The Today Show" and "The Kelly Clarkson Show." Thomas is a proud lifelong resident of Chicago's South Side. He lives by the saying that everything dope about America comes from Chicago.

Through the power of storytelling, Thomas is helping to change the narrative locally and nationally about Chicago's value to the world. He has been named 2022 Chicago Tourism Ambassador of the Year by Choose Chicago, the city's tourism agency. He is a recipient of the prestigious Chicago Public Library Foundation's 21st Century Award and a Studs Terkel Uplifting Voices recipient. Thomas was voted 2021 and 2022 as the best Chicago Twitter and Chicago TikTok pages by Chicago Reader magazine. He has presented Chicago history lessons and lectures to institutions such as the University of Chicago, LaSalle University (PA), Northwestern University, Rosevelt University, and a number of partners of the Chicago Community Colleges network.

Thomas has also given lessons to corporate groups such as Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Google, Stork, Shriver Center of Poverty Law, and Chicago Cares. He most recently represented Chicago in Amsterdam for Bloomberg's City Labs. He is a member of the Black Chicago History Initiate Steering Committee and a proud partner of the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, and the Chicago Fire.