Cierra Lemott 
Chicago native and creator of the “Cha Cha Slide” Willie “DJ Casper” Perry, Jr. has passed away at age 58 after losing his battle with cancer.
According to Chicago’s ABC7, in an interview in May, Casper revealed his diagnosis of both kidney and liver cancer. He was diagnosed in 2016.
Despite his cancer diagnosis, he remained positive and encouraged others to do the same. In the recent interview with ABC7, he said, “Anybody that’s going through cancer, know that you have cancer and cancer does not have you. So, keep doing the ‘Cha Cha Slide.’”
He created a song and line dance that has brought people together for years and will continue to do so.
RIP DJ Casper. Your music and line dances will live on and be a part of the Black culture forever.
By Cierra Lemott, Senior, Columbia College Chicago
Instagram: @cece.kodak / @kodakscamera
X: @LemottCierra
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