by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman
December 23, 2025
Bridgeport Data has made a reputation for itself for its inclusive and various strategy to the Chicago music scene.
A Chicago report retailer is dealing with racist harassment and demise threats for stocking “Black music” and different works by artists of coloration.
Bridgeport Data first opened in 2024, being a beacon of creativity and variety for the neighborhood and its namesake. Nonetheless, the report store’s proprietor just lately acquired a demise menace, focusing on the shop for its various assortment.
Bridgeport Data primarily shares dance and home music, thus befitting why it has a wide-range of artists to pick from. The assortment had not appeared to spark situation till just lately, when a distressing name alerted homeowners Jerry Morrison and Vick Lavender on Dec. 20.
The duo had been watching the Chicago Bears’ recreation on the store when a person informed them he had plans to kill them.
“An older white man referred to as and stated he was on his solution to kill us,” Morrison informed the Chicago Solar-Occasions. “This was somebody who had been within the retailer, knew the format, knew our music. He stated he knew we promote Black music, rap music, Spanish music in Bridgeport. And he stated we had been going to die.”
Not desirous to danger their lives or their patrons, the homeowners shut the shop down for the night time. The menace appeared to have actual legitimacy, as Chicago police decided the person’s location within the neighborhood.
Whereas the demise menace was regarding, the homeowners and their clients stay undeterred by the racist harassment. Since their opening, they’ve felt embraced by the area people. By means of this mission, they need Bridgeport Data to be a “third house” for artists and creatives within the metropolis’s famed Southside.
“The neighborhood loves us. Now we have shut ties with plenty of distinguished deejays and producers,” Morrison stated. “We’ve change into a social hub within the music scene on the South Aspect.”
Evidently, not everybody appreciated their rising place and affect within the metropolis’s music scene. Regardless of the backlash, Morrison needs younger folks of coloration to proceed feeling empowered and welcome on the report store.
“We’re not a typical white rock ‘n’ roll report store,” Morrison stated. “He was most likely irritated that he noticed younger, Black and Latino youngsters out and in of our store.”
The person reportedly not solely threatened to kill them with a bomb, however claimed that they had been infringing on the established order of the South Aspect. Nonetheless, Morrison is unafraid to result in good, inclusive change to the world.
In reality, he plans to show the music up by Black and Brown artists for the foreseeable future, ensuring this artwork stays heard all through Chicago.
“They ain’t messing with us. We’re going to show up some Black dance music and switch it up loud,” exclaimed Morrison.
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