Editor's Note

AS I WRITE THESE WORDS, President Joe Biden prepares to declare the site of Springfield's 1908 race riot a national monument. At the same time in the capital, citizens and public officials consider the murder of an unarmed Black woman by a deputy sheriff. Our history is never far behind us.In this issue, the Journal takes a break from its usual format—scholarly articles, special projects, and book reviews—to contemplate the role of Illinois in our country's complicated racial dynamics. Within these pages are the proceedings of The Past and Future Are Linked: Introducing the Freedom Corridor, a conference held at Illinois College in Jacksonville in February 2024.Kate Williams-McWorter and Brittney Yancy prepared and assembled these proceedings, ensuring as near a replication of the conference as possible in print. Conference attendees, sponsors, and presenters explored not only the history of the Freedom Corridor but how the actions and events of the nineteenth century resonate in our times. Equally important is the conference's focus on educating current and future citizens about this heritage of resistance, struggle, and freedom.As always, we appreciate hearing from you with comments, questions, or suggestions about the Journal.