Mary Mitchell celebrated for 29 years of ‘speaking truth’ as Sun-Times columnist

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell’s storied career, one that has spanned nearly three decades at the newspaper, was celebrated Friday by colleagues, politicians and friends.

Mitchell, who decided last month to scale back her workload, is known in Chicago for her fearless voice fighting discrimination, combating domestic violence and holding politicians accountable. She also inspired many by chronicling her battle with breast cancer.

“I want to thank every editor ... for giving me an opportunity to have a voice in the city of Chicago,” Mitchell told those gathered at the Taste 222 restaurant on the Near West Side. “I used to drive my car, look up at the city and say, ‘Oh my God, I got a voice in the city of Chicago. How good is that? How good is that?’”

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell holds up framed copies of her work for the paper as editor-in-chief Chris Fusco speaks during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell (center) poses for a portrait with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Rev. Jesse Jackson during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell speaks during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot greets Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet during the retirement party for columnist Mary Mitchell at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell hugs supporters during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks about the legacy of Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell during Mitchell’s retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell listens as Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks about the legacy of Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell during Mitchell’s retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell hugs Mayor Lori Lightfoot after the mayor gave a speech about Mitchell’s legacy during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell holds up framed copies of her work for the paper during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell listens as Mayor Rahm Emanuel delivers a video message during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell laughs as she listens to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s video message during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell poses for a portrait with editor-in-chief Chris Fusco during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg speaks during the retirement party for columnist Mary Mitchell at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times CEO Nykia Wright speaks about the legacy of columnist Mary Mitchell during Mitchell’s retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell dances during her speech at her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell poses for a portrait with family members during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Dozens gather for the retirement party for Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Maudlyne Ihejirika and Dorothy Tucker, both leaders in the National Association of Black Journalists, speak during the retirement party for Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Page Editor Tom McNamee speaks during the retirement party for columnist Mary Mitchell at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell get emotional and hugs her husband as Editorial Page Editor Tom McNamee speaks during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Page Editor Tom McNamee hugs columnist Mary Mitchell during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell dances with her husband during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Lynn Sweet, Washington bureau chief for the Chicago Sun-Times, speaks during the retirement party for columnist Mary Mitchell at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell smiles and hugs her husband and Lynn Sweet, Washington bureau chief for the paper, speaks during Mitchell’s retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times CEO Nykia Wright and columnist Mary Mitchell pose for a portrait together during Mitchell’s retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks about the legacy of Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell during Mitchell’s retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Page Editor Tom McNamee and columnist Mary Mitchell pose for a portrait together during Mitchell’s retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg speaks during the retirement party for columnist Mary Mitchell at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell laughs as editor-in-chief Chris Fusco speaks during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell dances with family and friends during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell hugs a supporter during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell dances with family and friends during her retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell (center) poses for a portrait with reporter Fran Spielman (left) and CEO Nykia Wright during Mitchell’s retirement party at Taste 222, Friday night, Aug. 16, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Mitchell started at the Sun-Times in the early 1990s, covering education and City Hall before becoming a full-time columnist and editorial board member in 1996.

Mitchell’s family was part of the Great Migration, moving from Mississippi to Chicago before Mitchell entered elementary school. An identical twin, she grew up with eight other siblings in public housing on the South Side. She graduated from Dunbar High School in 1967 and spent 20 years working as a legal secretary.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. were among those attending the celebration. Both praised Mitchell for her work.

”First of all, no one can replace you,” Lightfoot said. “You have occupied such an important space, and speaking truth about black folks in particular in our city, that’s so important. The stories that you have told, the challenges that you have issued to us as a collective, nobody else has done that.

”And you are to be celebrated as a great Chicago icon,” the mayor continued. “And I am really, really grateful for everything that you’ve brought and for the path that you’ve blazed for other women of color — and particularly black women — in a really tough industry.”

Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel sent a video message, calling Mitchell a “voice of compassion.”

Sun-Times Media Interim CEO Nykia Wright thanked Mitchell for promoting and magnifying underrepresented voices.

“I wanted to take the journey to turn around the Chicago Sun-Times with you ... because of what you represented,” Wright said. “Thank you for helping me become a better leader.”

Mitchell’s scaled-back role with the paper began Aug. 1. She’ll continue to attend sessions with the editorial board, the opinion arm of the newspaper. She also will write two or three columns a month.