On Friday, Chicago talk radio host Perri Small signed off for the final time, ending a 30-year career with the Black-owned WVON radio station.
But the Roseland Heights resident’s mood was far from melancholy.
“I haven’t been this happy since 2010,” she told the Sun-Times, referencing a period before her father’s death.
Small was not only celebrating her retirement, but her 65th birthday. Sitting in front of a bouquet of flowers and sipping champagne, she spoke to in-studio visitors and took calls from prominent figures honoring her decadeslong career as a journalist and media personality.
Public intellectual and former presidential candidate Cornel West even called in, encouraging Small to “keep that smile and that style and that spirit and that soul.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson stopped by with a proclamation for “Perri Small Day” in Chicago, in recognition of her “exceptional career” and “unwavering dedication to enriching public life through journalism and advocacy.”
“It is very surreal when you get a resolution from the city of Chicago,” Small said. “I must have written hundreds. I never, ever in my wildest dreams thought that I would be worthy enough of such an honor.”
Small was referring to her prior position working in the press office for former Mayor Harold Washington.
“I was surrounded by Black excellence like you have never seen before,” she said. “I just put everything into it. It was a defining moment in my life. I don’t know what I’d be doing if that wouldn’t have happened to me.”
Small grew up in West Chesterfield and graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School in South Holland. She also worked for the Citizen Newspaper Group. Her life is highlighted in a 2024 documentary, “Perri Period! In Her Own Words,” on von.tv.
“I wasn’t even supposed to be here,” Small said. “I was an active addict for 30 years. And when my father died in 2010, I went into this deep depression. I would pray at night that I wouldn’t wake up. And so I went through therapy and rehab, and my life changed.”
At WVON, Small was known for her humor and tell-it-like-it-is approach on issues facing the Black community.
ABC7 anchor Cheryl Burton called in to express that point during Small’s final show.
“I want to take this moment to say thank you for all that you have done for all of us, and being a voice for us when we had no voice,” Burton said. “You had the courage and the bravery to go on WVON and say what we all wanted to say but could not say. And we want to thank you for spearheading the leadership, the love, the light and the liberty for all of us.”
Small said some of her most memorable moments on the show centered on discussions about high-profile cases involving the shooting of railroad patrolman Howard Morgan and 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police officers.
“I’m the same with everyone,” Small said. “I don’t change. I’ve never had to code-switch. I can always be authentically myself. And I can sleep at night.”
Perri Small on the air at WVON in 2009 as co-host of “The Matt & Perri Show” with Matt McGill.
Brian Jackson/Sun-Times, file
WVON executive producer Sunya Walls calls Small a “living legend” in the city.
“She is so loved by her listeners and her WVON family,” Walls said. “Perri is one of a kind, and there will never be anyone like her. Her style, beauty, intelligence, humor and authenticity is cherished.”
Small said she knew it was time to retire from WVON because she felt she had given everything she could — at least in that forum.
Though she is looking forward to watching her guilty-pleasure TV shows like “Love After Lockup,” she hinted at doing more, especially following the presidential election.
“I don’t know how I can stay silent,” she said. “I’ve just got to find the right thing to do at the right time. I need at least six to eight months just to decompress. And maybe after that, I’ll be ready to look at what my next chapter is.”