By: A.L. Smith

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen the media embrace an incredible story of an accomplished young south-side Chicagoan, a brilliant and pleasant-looking African-American female child prodigy with the familiar last name of Tillman, proudly clutching her college diploma. Despite little exposure, many recognize Chicago’s Black community is filled with talented youngsters who are seriously grinding away toward success and working hard to make a definite name for themselves in various ways.

A prime example is this young recent college graduate, who is part of this esteemed group. Please meet a ‘Genius-Jeanius’ in our midst who will, among other local notables, be a Grand Marshall, helping kick-off the 2018 Bud Billiken Parade: Dorothy Jean Tillman. “I’m honored and amazed to be in the parade this year. I would always watch it on King Drive and want to participate. The past two years I worked as a parade intern. Imagine my surprise when told I would not only be in it but also be at the beginning with all the celebrities! This is great,” said Ms. Tillman.

Her mother, Jimalita is proud that her daughter Dorothy Jean Tillman has been chosen to preside as one of the Grand Marshalls at the legendary 89th Annual Bud Billiken Parade, indeed a prestigious honor. Several years ago, she transformed a spare bedroom into a home-based learning laboratory and classroom for her. She never dreamed of inspiring a youthful college graduate in the summer of 2018. Dorothy Jean Tillman, known to family and friends as ‘DJ,’ is an accomplished, bright, articulate, poised and self-confident young Black woman, who just graduated from college with a joint associate degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and sciences from Excelsior College in Albany NY.

The young Ms. Tillman hails from the Chicago Bronzeville community, and is the granddaughter of former 3rd Ward Alderman, civil-rights activist and current WVON-AM 1690 Saturday morning radio host) Dorothy Tillman. “As I see it, one of the biggest problems in the world is that we still don’t always act in ways that can simultaneously protect and sustain people in regions across our planet,” says DJ. “Maybe I can help change that dynamic.”

In her spare time, Dorothy Jean enjoys painting, attending Broadway musicals, photography and other visual arts, dabbling in STEM app coding, fashion design, in addition to writing and performing poetry. Recently featured on ABC-7’s Windy City Live, she enthusiastically espoused her PET philosophy: Persistence – Excellence & Tenacity.
Her mother, Jimalita recalls DJ ’s unique and accelerated penchant for learning was both noticed and nurtured early.
“

She is gifted. DJ spoke her first understandable words at seven months, was correctly solving complex math problems at age four, and by eight years old finished her graduation competencies at the high-school level,” said
Jimalita, laughingly adding, “Keeping up with her sharp mental capacity demands staying on your
toes at all times!” “From a very young age, DJ always displayed a driven intellectual determination to succeed,”
Echoes former Alderman Dorothy Tillman. The youthful Dorothy Jean credits strong family support and values, a close network of friends and social circle influencers – including local educators and businesspeople, coupled with
active church attendance, exposure to travel, cultural and new experiences as critical factors behind her success.

Dorothy Jean explains, “I was excited to learn any and everything,” Tillman recalled, remembering she would almost cry at the end of each school day. Why? Because she wanted more, typically finishing the daily reading, science and math lesson plans well before the allotted time.

“My mother noticed things in DJ at four-years-old and insisted that I channel my efforts into her education. So, we took advantage of some of Chicago’s enrichment programs as she got older, including programs, 1647 Blue, Teenpreneur, Pathways to Success, One Stock on Future, Golden Eagle Aviation, Future Founders and Jump the Education barrier,” says Jimalita.

She continues, “The bottom line? I believe the same way we celebrate proms; we must celebrate dedication to Christ and academic achievement. Here are a few key strategies: Keeping your child with like-minded children and know their parents. Establish a safety circle and stay aware of technical pitfalls. Pray with your children and listen to them. Give them the gift of travel early, if possible.”

While acknowledging that her academic achievements could be considered impressive for her age, DJ also emphasizes that she’s just a healthy, happy girl who furiously shares text messages her friends, go shopping, loves ice
cream and movies, as well as socially interacting with others her age to have fun and relax. So what does the future hold for DJ? She plans to continue her education. Her ultimate goal is to complete her doctorate by the time she’s 18-twenty at the latest. Wait? Isn’t that typically the age when many young people are in the process of finding themselves and starting to attend college?

“I plan to become a multi-disciplinary innovator,” says the shy 12-year-old. No doubt, she will achieve this goal.

Note: This article was originally published in the inaugural issue of Bronzeville Life Vol. 1 for August/September 2018.