DuSable High School Honored With Landmark Plaque

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago home to royalty in the arts, and a mayor of Chicago, has been honored as the city's most historic site for African-Americans, reports WBBM's John Cody.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel made it official with a landmark plaque for DuSable High school, the city' first high school built for African Americans.

"Mayor Harold Washington graduated from here, Dinah Washington, Von Freeman, Gene Ammons," said Alderman Pat Dowell,

Dowell says demolition of DuSable would be destruction of history:

"We're taking down the soul of the African-American community in Chicago. We would be taking it down and that is why is important to preserve this place because it is a place of the people of Chicago," said Dowell.

Dowell argued for and won DuSable's landmark designation before the city council last year.