Erica Thompson
@ericathompson.bsky.social
Arts and culture writer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Former features editor of the Columbus Dispatch. Award-winning reporter on race and gender. #Prince biographer. Freelance writer.
https://ericawrites.com/
https://ericawrites.com/
Tracking #Prince’s spiritual path means following the music. And with nearly 40 studio albums, he had a lot to say. After years of studying his discography & comments in interviews, as well as talking to people who knew him, I’ve organized his journey into six phases. 1/4
November 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Tracking #Prince’s spiritual path means following the music. And with nearly 40 studio albums, he had a lot to say. After years of studying his discography & comments in interviews, as well as talking to people who knew him, I’ve organized his journey into six phases. 1/4
I’m currently revising my book on #Prince’s spiritual journey before I finish writing the last few chapters. Part of the process is trimming this massive draft down just a little bit. 1/4
November 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I’m currently revising my book on #Prince’s spiritual journey before I finish writing the last few chapters. Part of the process is trimming this massive draft down just a little bit. 1/4
When D’Angelo dropped music, the world stopped.
I’m not even talking about the fervor around “Black Messiah,” which is my favorite among his albums. Even an appearance on a song in a video game could set the internet on fire. (1/10)
I’m not even talking about the fervor around “Black Messiah,” which is my favorite among his albums. Even an appearance on a song in a video game could set the internet on fire. (1/10)
October 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
When D’Angelo dropped music, the world stopped.
I’m not even talking about the fervor around “Black Messiah,” which is my favorite among his albums. Even an appearance on a song in a video game could set the internet on fire. (1/10)
I’m not even talking about the fervor around “Black Messiah,” which is my favorite among his albums. Even an appearance on a song in a video game could set the internet on fire. (1/10)
Shout out to Lois Lane for using a digital recorder for her interview with Superman like the rest of us old reporters. I still haven't shifted to using my phone. 😂
August 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Shout out to Lois Lane for using a digital recorder for her interview with Superman like the rest of us old reporters. I still haven't shifted to using my phone. 😂
Honored to have won three NABJ Salute to Excellence awards: best business reporting, best specialty story & best national news - single story. I’m proud to share the latter with Frank Main and @elviamalagon.bsky.social. Grateful to the folks who let us tell their stories at @chicago.suntimes.com.
August 11, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Honored to have won three NABJ Salute to Excellence awards: best business reporting, best specialty story & best national news - single story. I’m proud to share the latter with Frank Main and @elviamalagon.bsky.social. Grateful to the folks who let us tell their stories at @chicago.suntimes.com.
Who else has been boppin' to Ravyn Lenae's top ten hit, "Love Me Not"? The Chicago singer stopped by her alma mater, the Chicago High School for the Arts, for a Q&A today. The students were so excited! She plays Lollapalooza on Friday.
📷 Anthony Vazquez
chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...
📷 Anthony Vazquez
chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...
July 30, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Who else has been boppin' to Ravyn Lenae's top ten hit, "Love Me Not"? The Chicago singer stopped by her alma mater, the Chicago High School for the Arts, for a Q&A today. The students were so excited! She plays Lollapalooza on Friday.
📷 Anthony Vazquez
chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...
📷 Anthony Vazquez
chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...
Chicago designer Ethan Mundt, also known as Utica, is the first "RuPaul's Drag Race" alum to compete on "Project Runway." Here's my chat with the artist for @chicago.suntimes.com.
You can catch the season 21 premiere of "Project Runway" Thursday on Freeform.
chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-t...
You can catch the season 21 premiere of "Project Runway" Thursday on Freeform.
chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-t...
July 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Chicago designer Ethan Mundt, also known as Utica, is the first "RuPaul's Drag Race" alum to compete on "Project Runway." Here's my chat with the artist for @chicago.suntimes.com.
You can catch the season 21 premiere of "Project Runway" Thursday on Freeform.
chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-t...
You can catch the season 21 premiere of "Project Runway" Thursday on Freeform.
chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-t...
I loved attending this live art collaboration between Samoan master artists and community members at the Field Museum. The completed "siapo mamanu" piece will be featured in a future exhibition. Learn more in my story for @chicago.suntimes.com.
📷 Pat Nabong
chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...
📷 Pat Nabong
chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...
July 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I loved attending this live art collaboration between Samoan master artists and community members at the Field Museum. The completed "siapo mamanu" piece will be featured in a future exhibition. Learn more in my story for @chicago.suntimes.com.
📷 Pat Nabong
chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...
📷 Pat Nabong
chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...
Who else learned about Connie Francis from this scene in "The Craft"? ✋🏾
Rest in peace.
variety.com/2025/music/n...
Rest in peace.
variety.com/2025/music/n...
July 17, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Who else learned about Connie Francis from this scene in "The Craft"? ✋🏾
Rest in peace.
variety.com/2025/music/n...
Rest in peace.
variety.com/2025/music/n...
Great photos by Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere.
And data contribution from Alden Loury.
And data contribution from Alden Loury.
July 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Great photos by Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere.
And data contribution from Alden Loury.
And data contribution from Alden Loury.
For #pride month, several Chicago drag designers gave us a behind-the-scenes look at their creative process. It was so fun to meet these artists, including "RuPaul's Drag Race" winner Willow Pill.
📷 Ashlee Rezin & Pat Nabong
Our story for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/fashion/2025...
📷 Ashlee Rezin & Pat Nabong
Our story for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/fashion/2025...
June 27, 2025 at 5:19 PM
For #pride month, several Chicago drag designers gave us a behind-the-scenes look at their creative process. It was so fun to meet these artists, including "RuPaul's Drag Race" winner Willow Pill.
📷 Ashlee Rezin & Pat Nabong
Our story for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/fashion/2025...
📷 Ashlee Rezin & Pat Nabong
Our story for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/fashion/2025...
Today, I helped cover the “No Kings” protest in Chicago. It was a long but peaceful day that started at the Daley Plaza and ended at the ICE field office. Here’s our live blog for @chicago.suntimes.com.
📷: Me
📷: Me
June 15, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Today, I helped cover the “No Kings” protest in Chicago. It was a long but peaceful day that started at the Daley Plaza and ended at the ICE field office. Here’s our live blog for @chicago.suntimes.com.
📷: Me
📷: Me
Frank Main, Elvia Malagón and I were honored with two Peter Lisagor Awards for our Sun-Times story on the toll of opioid overdoses on a generation of Black men in America: Best Political and Government Reporting and Best Data Journalism. And congrats to our Baltimore Banner and NYT collaborators! 🎉
May 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Frank Main, Elvia Malagón and I were honored with two Peter Lisagor Awards for our Sun-Times story on the toll of opioid overdoses on a generation of Black men in America: Best Political and Government Reporting and Best Data Journalism. And congrats to our Baltimore Banner and NYT collaborators! 🎉
So…Chicago has a festival dedicated to pickles … 🥒
I had fun covering #ChicagoPickleFest for @chicago.suntimes.com.
🎥 Me
I had fun covering #ChicagoPickleFest for @chicago.suntimes.com.
🎥 Me
May 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
So…Chicago has a festival dedicated to pickles … 🥒
I had fun covering #ChicagoPickleFest for @chicago.suntimes.com.
🎥 Me
I had fun covering #ChicagoPickleFest for @chicago.suntimes.com.
🎥 Me
This part of Gayle King’s comments about her space flight is not getting enough attention. Um…what?
www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
April 16, 2025 at 4:51 PM
This part of Gayle King’s comments about her space flight is not getting enough attention. Um…what?
www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
It was an honor to write an obituary for beloved architect Curt Moody for the spring issue of Ohio State Alumni Magazine.
Humility and determination were a way of life for Moody, who left an indelible mark on campus and beyond.
alumnimagazine.osu.edu/story/curt-m...
Humility and determination were a way of life for Moody, who left an indelible mark on campus and beyond.
alumnimagazine.osu.edu/story/curt-m...
April 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
It was an honor to write an obituary for beloved architect Curt Moody for the spring issue of Ohio State Alumni Magazine.
Humility and determination were a way of life for Moody, who left an indelible mark on campus and beyond.
alumnimagazine.osu.edu/story/curt-m...
Humility and determination were a way of life for Moody, who left an indelible mark on campus and beyond.
alumnimagazine.osu.edu/story/curt-m...
The original cast of “The Breakfast Club” arrives at C2E2…
April 12, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The original cast of “The Breakfast Club” arrives at C2E2…
I wrote today's front-page story on the National Public Housing Museum. It opens April 4 inside the remaining building of the former Jane Addams Homes on the Near West Side. The institution features impressive exhibitions, installations and recreated apartments.
📷 Timothy Hiatt
📷 Timothy Hiatt
March 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I wrote today's front-page story on the National Public Housing Museum. It opens April 4 inside the remaining building of the former Jane Addams Homes on the Near West Side. The institution features impressive exhibitions, installations and recreated apartments.
📷 Timothy Hiatt
📷 Timothy Hiatt
I had fun writing the cover story for today’s “Taste” section at @chicago.suntimes.com. Nicole Schnitzler’s fantastic new book, “Chicago Cocktails,” features 100 recipes inspired by the Windy City.
📷 Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere
chicago.suntimes.com/the-sip/2025...
📷 Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere
chicago.suntimes.com/the-sip/2025...
March 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I had fun writing the cover story for today’s “Taste” section at @chicago.suntimes.com. Nicole Schnitzler’s fantastic new book, “Chicago Cocktails,” features 100 recipes inspired by the Windy City.
📷 Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere
chicago.suntimes.com/the-sip/2025...
📷 Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere
chicago.suntimes.com/the-sip/2025...