When Division Street first emerged in 1967, penned by New Press founder André Schiffrin and authored by Studs Terkel, it immediately cemented Terkel’s legacy as a pivotal voice in American oral history. Terkel’s approach was distinctive: he chose Chicago as a microcosm of the United States, venturing out with his tape recorder to capture the voices of over seventy individuals. Their conversations, spanning a year, delved into pressing issues of race, family dynamics, education, employment, and future aspirations – themes that resonate with striking urgency even now. His subjects were diverse, including a participant in the historic 1963 March on Washington, a skilled tool-and-die maker, a Hungarian baker, a gay actor living in secrecy, and a successful yet disillusioned advertising executive. Writer Tom Wolfe aptly described Terkel as “one of those rare thinkers who is actually willing to go out and talk to the incredible people of this country.”
The individuals Terkel interviewed largely shared common aspirations: a better future for their children and a more united and equitable America. However, the “Division Street” referenced in the title transcends a mere geographical location in Chicago. It becomes a powerful metaphor, symbolizing the deep societal rifts that characterized the 1960s. This metaphorical “division street” underscores the persistent relevance of Terkel’s work in our current era, marked by significant polarization.
More than half a century later, the profound insights of Division Street are being revisited and expanded upon in the compelling podcast Division Street Revisited, set to launch in January 2025. Created by Melissa Harris and Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Mary Schmich, this podcast features interviews with the descendants of Terkel’s original subjects across seven engaging episodes. Schmich’s insightful foreword to the new edition of Division Street, coupled with the impactful podcast, serves to highlight Studs Terkel’s remarkable foresight and the enduring significance of his contribution to understanding American society. The reissue of Division Street and the launch of Division Street Revisited podcast together offer a crucial lens through which to examine the ongoing dialogues about social division in America, proving Terkel’s work remains as vital and insightful today as it was over fifty years ago.
