>> HI, A THANKS FOR JOINING CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, WITH ELECTION DAY QUICKLY APPROACHING, A LOOK AT EFFORTS TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

>> IT IS RESTORED JUSTICE INITIATIVE.

>> A MAJOR CHANGE IS COMING TO EVANSTON'S REPARATIONS PROGRAM.

AND EXHIBITION REVEALS THE REASONS WHY GLENCOE ONCE THRIVING BLACK COMMUNITY LARGELY DISAPPEARED.

>>> AND IN THE BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB WHAT HAPPENED WHEN AN AUTHOR DISCOVERED A FAMOUS BLACK SCIENTISTS IN HER FAMILY TREE.

ALL THAT IS COMING UP, BUT, ANGEL HAS THE FIRST STORY EFFORTS TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE POLLS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> AT THE FIFTH THIRD WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER AND FUTURE HOLDS GREATER PROMISE FOR ALL.

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT PLAQUE VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER, WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> FROM CONFUSION OVER VOTER REGISTRATION DETAILS TO LACK OF INFORMATION ON THE ISSUES, IT CAN BE HARD FOR YOUNG AND FIRST TIME VOTERS TO FEEL ENGAGED IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

NOW ACCORDING TO THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS, ONLY 3% OF VOTES CAST WERE FROM VOTERS AGES 18 TO 34 -- TO 24, I AM SORRY IN THE FEBRUARY 28th ELECTION WITH THE MAYORAL RUN OFF ELECTION A NOW DAYS AWAY, WHY ARE NOT THE CITY YOUTH AND YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING PART IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS?

AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET THEM TO THE POLLS?

HERE TO TALK ABOUT YOUTH VOTER TURN OUT ARE KATRINA WITH CHICAGO VOTES, AND JAMAL RAY WITH COMMUNITIES UNITED.

KATRINA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

I KNOW ON TUESDAY, CHICAGO VOTES HAD A PARTY AT THE POLLS BY GOING ON.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT AND HOW YOU MADE SURE THAT FIRST TIME VOTERS SPECIFICALLY, MADE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE AT THE POLLS.

>> YEAH, SO VOTING FOR THE FIRST TIME CAN BE INTIMIDATING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GO IN WITH THE ASSUMPTION THEY HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BALLOT AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THE ELECTORAL PROCESS TO PARTICIPATE.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

SO CHICAGO VOTES YOU HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED PARADE TO THE POLLS WHICH IS GROWN INTO A PLETHORA OF OTHER THINGS INCLUDING PARTY AT THE POLLS.

SO THIS PAST TUESDAY, WE WORKED WITH 13 DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS AROUND THE CITY, AND BUSED STUDENTS TO MAGGIE DAILY WHICH IS AN EARLY VOTING SITE.

AND WHILE THERE, WE HAD A DJ, GIANT INFLATEABLES, A RED CARPET AND MUSIC AND A STUDENT RALLY SO YOUNG PEOPLE COULD FEEL EMPOWERED AND HEAR FROM THEIR PEERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND GO AND CAST VOTES DIRECTLY THERE AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO ASK A FOLLOW-UP.

WHAT DID YOU FIND THAT THE YOUTH FOR MOST CONFUSED OR UNSURE ABOUT THIS THAT PROCESS OUTSIDE OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND LACK OF AWARENESS ON THE ISSUES?

HOW ARE THEY FEELING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE?

>> YES, I THINK THAT NOW WITH THE RUN OFF WITH THERE BEING TWO CANDIDATES, THAT DOES SIMPLIFY THINGS AND MAXIMUM THINGS EASIER FOR VOTERS TO CONCEPTUALIZE.

BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF BARRIERS, INCLUDING MISINFORMATION AROUND IDs TO USE TO VOTE.

HAVING THE CONFIDENCE TO VOTE AND ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF IF THERE'S AN ISSUE IF YOU ARE TOLD YOU HAVE TO CAST A PROVISIONAL BALLOT WHEN YOU DON'T.

IF YOU ARE TOLD TO SHOW A ID WHEN YOU DON'T AND HAVE THE SENSE OF CONFIDENCE AND SELF-EFFICACY.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PRACTICAL REASONS.

THE POLLS ARE OPENED UNTIL 7:00 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY AND PEOPLE WORK AND HAVE JOBS AND SPORTS.

SO UNLESS THEY HAVE THE CHANCE FOR PARTICIPATION AND A PLAN TO GET THERE, IT MIGHT NOT BE TOP OF MIND.

>> JAMAL, I WANT TO GO TO YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ACTIVELY WORK WITH COMMUNITIES UNITED, BUT YOU ARE ALSO A FIRST YEAR ARCHITECTURE STUDENT AT IIT.

AND I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT HOW INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE YOUTH.

CAN COULD YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> SO, INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT TO THE YOUTH BECAUSE WHEN ARCHITECT DESIGNS A BUILDING, IT'S NOT THE BUILDING, BUT IT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE BUILDING.

SO, BUILDINGS LIKE COMMUNITY CENTERS, MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES IS IMPORTANT WHEN THE USE OF THE BUILDINGS IS TARGETED TOWARDS THE YOUTH AND HOW THEY CAN HAVE A PLACE TO BE WHEN THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE -- THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO DO.

SO, THE DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS REALLY POWERFUL WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ARCHITECTURE PERSPECTIVE DEFINITELY, FOR THINGS TO DO AS FAR AS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND OUTSIDE OF HOME.

BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT SOMEWHERE TO BE.

IT STARTS WITH HOW CHICAGO'S INVESTMENT IN THE YOUTH WITH THE DESIGNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF BUILDINGS THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP.

SUCH AS LIKE COMMUNITY CENTERS, MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES AND OTHER BUILDINGS THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE POURED INTO THE YOUTH.

SO, INSTEAD OF THE TOWERS, BUILD COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR YOUTH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

KATRINA, GOING BACK TO YOU, WHAT OTHER ISSUES DO YOU FIND THE YOUTH ARE CONCERNED WITH?

I THINK PROBABLY INVESTMENT IN HE HAD CASE, PUBLIC SAFETY ARE TWO ISSUES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I THINK OF.

WHAT HAS YOUR RESEARCH SHOWN?

>> I WANT TO ECHO POINT HE MADE, BECAUSE I THINK INFRASTRUCTURE IS A SUPER IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF THINGS LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION.

THERE IS -- PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS.

AND WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO THE POLICE.

THEY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS BEING OPENED UP BECAUSE THAT'S PUBLIC SAFETY.

THEY WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY WANT ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THE PARKS AND FEEL SAFE WALKING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE ALTER PEOPLE AND MAYOR HAVE POWER OVER THE THINGS.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONNECT THE ISSUES, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE POWER SO YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR VOTE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JAMAL, I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU.

I KNOW YOU DO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES UNITED.

AND A COMMON ISSUE AMONG YOUNGER FOLK IS THAT THEY FEEL THAT THE CANDIDATES DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT CHALLENGE THEY HAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT IN THE SAME AGE BRACKET.

HOW IS YOUR WORK WITH COMMUNITIES UNITED WORKING TO HELP THE CANDIDATES AND THE PUBLIC GET YOUR VOICES OUT THERE, THE DESIRES THAT YOU ALL HAVE?

>> COMMUNITY UNITED IS A GREAT HELP WITH ADVOCATING FOR YOUTH, BUT THEY ALLOW YOUTH TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT THE ISSUES THEY WANT TO ATTACK.

SO, LIKE ME, AS BEING A PART OF COMMUNITIES UNITED, I WAS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING IN THE WORK THAT I WANTED TO SEE.

LIKE, A DIFFERENCE I WANTED TO SEE.

SO, COMMUNITIES UNITED HAD PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE THAT ALLOWS THE YOUTH TO TAKE THE ACTIONS TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

KATRINA, GOING BACK TO YOU, THINKING ABOUT YOUNG VOTERS THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS SEGMENT AND MAY NOT FEEL CONVINCED TO VOTE, WHY WOULD YOU SAY VOTING IN THE ELECTION IS IMPORTANT?

>> OH, BIG QUESTION.

I THINK THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL ELECTIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN OUR LIFETIME AS YOUNG VOTERS.

AND WE ARE SEEING THAT RUN-OFF NUMBERS, THIS YEAR, COMPARED TO THE LAST RUN-OFF IN 2019, THEY ARE MUCH HIGHER.

THIS POINT IN THE ELECTION IN 2019, THERE WERE AROUND 80,000 VOTES CAST.

NOW WE ARE AT AROUND 150,000.

SO WE ARE VOTING IN HIGHER NUMBERS, AND THE REASON THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE UP THE LARGEST PART OF THE ELECTORATE.

SO WE HOLD THE MOST POWER IN NUMBERS.

AND IF WE SHOW UP TO THE POLLS, WE CAN REALLY DECIDE HOW THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO GO.

AND GOING OFF THAT, THERE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT CANDIDATES IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY IDENTITY AND EXPERIENCE.

BUT IN TERMS OF POLITICAL BELIEFS AND ORGANIZING STRATEGY.

SO IT'S KIND OF THERE'S A CLEAR LINE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES WHICH MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER TO FIND SOMEONE WHO IDENTIFIES WITH YOUR VALUES.

>> AS WE HEAD INTO THE RUN-OFF ELECTION WHAT ADDITIONAL WORK IS CHICAGO VOTES DOING.

I KNOW YOU WORKED WITH CPS STUDENT, BUT THINKING ABOUT SCHOOL.

>> WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING PARTIES AND PARADES WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING EVENTS AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO MOBILIZE THEM TO VOTE.

WE ALSO DO A LOT OF WORK IN THE JAILS, BECAUSE PEOPLE BEING HELD PRETRIAL HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO WE DISTRIBUTED OUR VOTER GUIDES TO PEOPLE IN THE JAIL IN ADDITION TO PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN ELECTIONS WERE HELD IN THE JAIL AND WE KIND OF OVERSEE AND MAKE SURE THAT PROCESS RUNS SMOOTHLY.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE WE KNOW THEY ARE.

THEY ARE IN SCHOOL, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE INCARS NATED, AND WE ARE PARTNERING LIKE DISTRIBUTING VOTER GUIDES IN FITNESS CENTERS AND YOGA STEWEDETSERS AND MARCH MADNESS THEMES.

AND WE ARE TRYING TO GO WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AND HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, INSTEAD OF BEING GO VOTE, FIND US IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT.

>> MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE.

>> YEAH.

>> NOT MAKING IT DIFFICULT.

>> YEAH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS TO KATRINA AND JAMAL.

AND DON'T FORGET TO VISIT OUR WTTW NEWS VOTER GUIDE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

SEARCH BY NAME, RACE OR WARD AND FIND OUT WHERE A CANDIDATE STANDS ON THE ISSUES IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

VISIT WTTW.COM/VOTERGUIDE.

UP NEXT , A BIG CHANGE COMING TO A NORTH SUBURB REPARATIONS PROGRAM.

>>> THIS WEEK THE SENSE OFTON CITY COUNCIL MADE A CHANGE TO THE GROUND BREAKING REPARATIONS PROGRAMS ENACTING A $25,000 PAYMENT MEANT TO ADDRESS DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING LAWS IF A EXISTED FOR DECADES.

THE PAYMENT OF $25,000 WAS FOR HOUSING BENEFITS LIKE MORTGAGES ASSISTANCE OR RENOVATIONS.

BUT ON MONDAY, THE EVANSTON CITY COUNCIL PASSED WITHOUT ANY OPPOSITION AN EXPANSION TO PROVIDE $25,000 IN NO STRINGS ATTACHED DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE.

>> THE HISTORICALLY BLACK STILL PREDOMINANTLY BLACK TODAY HAS NO ACCESS TO NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

STRIPPED OF A HOSPITAL.

STILL NO ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS.

>> ROBIN RUTH SIMONS AN IS FORMER MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND SITS ON THE CITY'S REPARATIONS COMMITTEE.

SHE FOUNDED FIRST REPAIR.

A GROUP THAT FIGHTS FOR REPARATIONS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

>> BEFORE WE EVEN SEE THE DATA, WE ARE LIVING IN THE CONDITIONS OF ANTIBLACKNESS IN EVANSTON.

>> FROM 1919, TO 1969, THERE WERE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT LIMITED BLACK RESIDENTS' ABILITY TO LIVE IN EVANSTON OTHER THAN THE FIFTH WARD WHERE THEY OFTEN FACED SUBSTANDARD DWELLING.

BLACK FAMILIES HOMES WERE RELOCATED IN SOME CASES.

BOBBY BURNS, A COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTS THE FIFTH WARD SAYS THE DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS GIVE MORE OPTIONS TO RECIPIENTS.

>> PEOPLE CAN USE IT AS THEY SEE FIT.

THEY CAN USE IT FOR HOME REHAB, TO PAY OFF THE INTEREST ON THE MORTGAGE OR THEY CAN USE IT FOR GROCERIES OR USE IT TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLES.

>> Reporter: THE HOUSING BEN VETS ARE AVAILABLE, BURNES SAYS THERE'S A PLENTY PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS.

>> IT INVOLVES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION, CONTRACTORS, IT INVOLVES THE WORK NEEDING TO BE PERFORMED ITSELF PLUS THE PLANNING THAT GOES INTO IT.

LONG PROCESS.

>> Reporter: 16 RESIDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE CURRENT HOUSING BENEFITS PROGRAM.

YET THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF APPLICANTS THAT THE CITY STILL NEEDS TO VET.

>> WE CANNOT GET THE DOLLARS OUT TO OUR BLACK COMMUNITIES SOON ENOUGH.

>> TRANSFERRING $25,000 INTO SOMEONE'S ACCOUNT, NOT A LONG PROCESS.

>> Reporter: WHY PUT CASH DIRECTLY INTO POOL'S POCKETS?

AVOW KITS SAY THE RECIPIENTS SHOULD DETERMINE WHAT TO DO WITH THE REPARATIONS.

>> WHAT COST TOUTS CONSTITUTES WHAT REPARATION IS THE HARMED COMMUNITY GETS TO DETERMINE WHAT REPAIR LOOKS LIKE THEM AND IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN RESTRICTED TO A USE.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT WE DON'T PRESCRIBE WHAT REPARATION IT IS TO ANY BLACK RESIDENT.

>> AND BLACK RESIDENTS WHO LIVED IN EVANSTON FROM 1919 TO 1969 AND THEIR DIRECT DESCENDENTS RECEIVED PRIORITY FOR ELIGIBILITY.

>>> THE NORTH SHORE SUBURBS HAVE ALMOST ALL BEEN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE FROM THE START.

BUT, THE TOWN OF GLENCOE WAS AN EXCEPTION AND IN THE EARLIEST DAYS, 10% OF THE POPULATION WAS BLACK.

TODAY, HOWEVER THAT, PROPORTION STANDS AT 1%.

IN THE EXHIBITION, GLEN HELLO,'S BLACK HERITAGE, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXPLORES THE TOWN'S BEGINNINGS AS AN UNUSUALLY INTEGRATED COMMUNITY AND LOOKS AT HOW HOW THE BLACK MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WERE PUSHED OUT.

>> THE RESEARCH FOR THIS STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO BEFORE THE COMMUNITIES 150th ANNIVERSARY WHEN WE DECIDED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BLACK HISTORY.

BUT THE TRUE GENESIS WAS WHEN ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS BASICALLY ASKED THE QUESTION OF WHY DID BLACK PEOPLE COME TO GLENCOE?

WE HAVE NOT HAD A BLACK POPULATION SINCE THE 1880s AND ON THE NORTH SHORE THAT'S UNIQUE.

>> MY FAMILY MOVED HERE 1952.

BUT IT WAS ALWAYS CURIOUS TO ME HOW WE WERE IN ONE SECTION.

AND THERE WERE MORE BLACK PEOPLE HERE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP THAN THERE WERE NOW.

>> THE EARLY HISTORY SHOWED A VERY COHESIVE COMMUNITY.

IT SHOWED THE GLENCOE COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER.

AND WE KNEW AFTER WORLD WAR I, THINGS CHANGED.

THINGS CHANGED NATIONALLY, BUT THEY ALSO CHANGED LOCALLY.

AND WE WANTED TO KNOW WHY.

AND THAT WAS A PART OF GLENCOE HISTORY THAT OFTEN HAD BEEN GLOSSED OVER BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE DARK SIDE.

SO WE REALLY FOCUSED IN ON THAT AND MORE RECENTLY HAVE TRIED TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHY THE BLACK POPULATION DECREASED DRAMATICALLY BETWEEN 1920 AND 1930.

A WHY THERE ARE NOT MORE BLACKS IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.

>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHERE I GREW UP, IT WAS SAFE, VERY EASY FOR US TO WALK AROUND THE COMMUNITY AS KIDS.

WE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES IN THAT REGARD.

BUT WHEN I THINK OF WHAT WAS THERE, AND THAT'S A LOSS THAT WILL NEVER GAIN BACK.

IT'S SAD TO KNOW THE TRUE HISTORY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF GLENCOE EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT ALL HAVE BEEN THE BEST.

IT'S THE HISTORY OF WHAT WE HAVE.

WE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS BY LOOKING AT OUR COMMUNITY AND LEARNING ABOUT WHAT WORKED IN THE EARLY COMMUNITY AND MADE US A REALLY COHESIVE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO WHAT CAUSED DIVISIONS LATER ON.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.

>> LORD, I NEVER KNEW THAT WHERE MY -- WHEN MY DAD MOVED US TO GLENCOE WHAT MY LIFE WOULD TURN OUT TO BE.

AND TO BE STANDING HERE IN THE GLENCOE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, TALKING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE CAME HERE IS KIND OF AN AMAZING THING.

>> ON APRIL 16th, THE GLENCOE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL PRESENT A DISCUSSION ON RACISM IN 1920s GLENCOE.

FIND MORE ON THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> UP NECK, LOCAL AUTHOR DISCOVERS A FAMOUS ANCESTOR.

STAY WITH US.

>>> THE AMERICANS ARE DISCOVERING FAMILY SECRETS EVERY DAY, THANKS TO DNA TESTING AND ONLINE GENEALOGY.

BUT NOT EVERYONE LEARNS THEY HAVE A LUMINARY OF BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY AS AN ANCESTOR.

HOWEVER, THAT WAS THE CASE FOR AUTHOR RACHEL JAMISON WEBSTER.

SHE HAD BEEN-AWARE OF HER BLACK ANCESTRY UNTIL SHE DISCOVERED SHE WAS RELATED TO ALMANAC AUTHOR BENJAMIN BANICKER.

SHE USED RESEARCH AND COLLABORATED WITH NEW FOUND COUSINS TO DIVE INTO HER FAMILY'S RACIAL HISTORY AND RECREATE ANCESTOR'S STORY.

IT IS CALLED BENJAMIN BANICKER AND US 11 GENERATION OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY.

JOINING US IS THE AUTHOR RACHEL JAMISON WEBSTER PROFESSOR OF CREATIVE WRITING AT NORTHWESTERN.

THANK FOREIGN JOINING NEWS THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP.

>> IT WAS A FAMILY STORY.

MY COUSIN WAS DOING RESEARCH ON ANCESTRY.COM AND DOING HER GENEALOGY, AND SHE DISCOVERED WE HAD GENERATIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MULTI-RACIAL ANCESTORS THAT HAD BEEN DENIED IN OUR FAMILY LINE.

SO SHE, OF COURSE, WANTED TO LOOK THROUGH THAT LINE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD NOT EXAMINED.

AND WHEN SHE LOOKED THERE, SHE STARTED TO TURN UP THESE INCREDIBLE STORIES.

SO, SOME OF OUR ANCESTORS HAD COME INTO OHIO AND ARGUED FOR THE RIGHT FOR AN EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

AND THEN GOING BACK FURTHER, WE DESCENDED FROM BENJAMIN BANICKER'S SISTER GENTLEMAN MILIA.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED?

>> NOT AS SURPRISED AS YOU WOULD THINK TO THINK WE HAD AFRICAN AMERICAN ANCESTRY.

I FELT SORT OF A, OH, I FELT LIKE IT EXPLAINED SOME MY AFFINITIES AND MY -- THE KINDS OF COMMUNITIES I LOVED TO LIVE IN.

SO, I FELT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

AND INTERESTED IN IT.

OF COURSE, TO FIND A CONNECTION TO, AS YOU SAY, A LUMINARY, AND SOMEONE AS BRILLIANT AND AMAZING AS BENJAMIN BANICKER THAT WAS A LOT TO TAKE IN.

>> YOU HAVE TO LIVE UP TO THAT, RIGHT.

>> YES.

>> IN YOUR PROCESS YOU MET AND CAME TO KNOW A LOT OF YOUR COUSINS.

WHAT DID THAT MEAN FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> THAT WAS EVERYTHING.

I FOUND THE STORIES, I WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT THEM.

AND ANY WRITER WOULD.

BUT I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS PROBLEMATIC FOR A WHITE WOMAN TO BE CLAIMING A FAMOUS BLACK ANCESTOR.

SO I HAD A PAUSE OF A FEW YEARS WHERE I DID RESEARCH AND THOUGHT ABOUT MY WAY INTO THE STORY.

AND MY COUSIN GOT.

>> TOUCH WITH ME AND SAW AN ESSAY I HAD WRITTEN AND SAID, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT OUR FAMILY.

AS SOON AND WE BEGAN SPEAKING, IT WAS LIKE WE KNEW EACH OTHER, AM I UNDERSTOOD THIS WOULD BE THE FORUM FOR THE BOOK.

IT WOULD HAVE HISTORY, BUT IT WOULD HAVE PREP DAY CONVERSATIONS WITH MY BLACK COUSIN SO SHE INTRODUCED ME TO THE REST OF THE FAMILY AND WE STARTED TALKING AND IT'S BEEN AMAZING.

WE ARE CLOSE AND INVOLVED IN PROJECTS TOGETHER, STILL, AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOUR COUSIN.

TELL US ABOUT HOW EASY YOUR COUSINS WERE INCOOPERATED INTO THE STORY TELLING AND HOW THAT HELPED YOU TO TELL THE STORY.

>> BECAUSE I WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT BLACK HISTORY, AND I ALSO WANTED TO EXPLORE THE LAWS AND WAY THE LAWS WERE SET UP TO -- BASICALLY CREATE DIVISIONS, AND CREATE THIS FALLACY THAT WE WEREN'T RELATED.

I WANTED TO EXPLORE ALL OF THAT, BUT I ALSO KNEW THAT I COULDN'T WRITE FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING A BLACK AMERICAN.

SO, I WAS IN CONVERSATION WITH MY COUSINS, AND THEY VERY GENEROUSLY SHARED THEIR STORIES AND RESEARCH.

SO THE BOOK HAS A LOT OF RESEARCH CHAPTERS ABOUT THE ANCESTORS AND EVERY OTHER CHAPTER IS A PRESENT DAY CONVERSATION WITH ME AND MY COUSIN.

>> THE BOOK TALES LOT OF WOMEN STORIES INCLUDING THAT OF BANICKER'S STORY WHAT DID YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> SHE WAS AMAZING.

SHOW WAS A HERBALIST.

THEY OWNED LAN AND BENJAMIN BANICKER IS GROWING UP IN THE REVOLUTIONARY ERA AND IS A BRILLIANT SCIENTISTS AND NATURALIST AND HIS MOTHER WAS AS WELL.

SHE WAS KNOWN TO BE A HERBALIST AND HOW TO HEAL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SHE GREW FOOD AND SOLD IT AT THE MILL IN THE AREA.

SO SHE WAS VERY ENTERPRISING.

AND HIS SISTERS WERE AS WELL.

HIS SISTER WAS THE SEAMSTRESS AND ANOTHER WAS A MIDWIFE IN THE AREA.

AND SO, BECAUSE HE BECAME FAMILIAROUS IN HIS LIFETIME, WE HAVE STORIES ABOUT HIS FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THAT'S WHAT IS ESPECIALLY THAT BECAME SPECIAL TO BE ABLE TO WRITE ABOUT THE WOMEN.

>> IT'S PART HISTORY AND SPECULATIVE HISTORY.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE THE APPROACH?

>> I WANTED TO HONOR DIFFERENT WAYS OF NOTHING.

SO, WE ARE VERY LUCKY, ESPECIALLY FOR A MULTI-RACIAL FAMILY OR FAMILY OF BLACK ANCESTRY, TO BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT THE FAMILY VERY FAR BACK.

WE HAVE ORAL HISTORY AND THE ORAL HISTORY IS SO IMPORTANT IN BLACK TRADITIONS AS YOU KNOW.

BECAUSE THAT WAS A WAY TO PRESERVE THE FAMILY MEMORIES.

SO I WANTED TO HONOR ALL OF THAT, AND I WANTED TO BRING THE ANCESTORS ALIVE.

AND HAVE THEM SORT OF BEING FILLED OUT AND OFTENTIMES IT WOULD HAPPEN THAT EDDIE WOULD TALK THROUGH THE NAME AND DATES AND I WOULD HAVE A FEELING OF A SCENE.

SO, IT WAS A JOY TO IMAGINE THEM.

>> YOU AND THE COUSINS THAT YOU HAVE GOTEN TO KNOW THROUGH THE PROCESS, THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, LIKE FAMILY NOW NOW YOU KNOW THEM.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> THEY ARE FAMILY, TECHNICALLY AS WELL.

BUT YOU HAVE HAD TO -- SOME OF THE DIFFICULT BUT HONEST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE.

WHAT HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS BEEN LIKE?

WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN LIKE.

>> I AM GRATEFUL TO THEM, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK MANY OF US GET TO BE IN CONVERSATIONS THAT HONEST.

SO, OF COURSE, THERE WAS A GROUP, MOST OF THE FAMILY WERE HAPPY THAT I WAS WRITING THE BOOK AND TRUSTED THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

AND THEN THERE WERE SOME FAMILY MEMBERS WHO REALLY DIDN'T TRUST ME AS A WHITE WOMAN.

AND THAT'S IN THE BOOK AS WELL.

AND GRAPPLING WITH THAT AND LOOKING AT HISTORY WHY THAT HAPPENS.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY PERSONAL.

IT IS BECAUSE OF A LONG HISTORY OF WHITE EXPLOITATION OF BLACK STORIES.

SO WE PUT THAT IN.

WE PUT THE TENSE MOMENTS IN.

THE EMBARRASSING MOMENTS.

BUT ALSO THE LOVING MOMENTS.

AND THE MOMENTS WHEN WE KNEW WE REALLY FELT DEEPLY THAT WE ARE RELATED.

AND WE WERE MEANT TO BE WORKING ON THE BOOK TOGETHER.

BUT WE START OF DECIDED IT ALL HAD TO BE PART OF THE STORY.

YOU CAN'T WRITE AND TALK ABOUT RACE WITHOUT SOME PAIN.

WE CAN'T DO IT PERFECTLY.

BUT WE CAN TRY TO MAKE A SPACE TO DO IT HONESTLY.

>> GOOD, BAD ANDINGLY.

WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

MOST OF US CAN PROBABLY TRACE OUR LINEAGE AND FIND MIXED ANCESTRY.

WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY'S STORY SAY ABOUT THE COUNTRY.

>> WE ARE SO RELATED, AS YOU SAID, MOST OF US HAVE MIXED ANCESTRY.

I DO THINK THAT THE WHITE AMERICANS NEED TO EMBRACE THAT AND FACE THAT A LITTLE MORE.

I THINK THAT MY COUSIN ON THE BLACK SIDE, THEY ALREADY KNEW THAT ABOUT THE ANCESTRY.

THEY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS TO HAVE MIXED ANCESTRY IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF HISTORY.

BUT NOW I THINK.

>> REALIZATION.

>> FOR ALL OF YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED BENJAMIN BANNEKER AND US 11 GENERATION OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY AND READ THE EXCEPT ON THE WEBSITE.

>>> THAT'S THE SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE LATEST.

AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:HUNDRED P.M. AND JOIN ME NEXT WEEK AT 10:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH MORE FROM INSIDE GLENCOE'S BLACK HERITAGE EXHIBIT AT THE GLENCOE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICE, THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF FORD