JOINING US TONIGHT ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

HERE IS WHAT IS COMING UP.

>>> BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATES HIT A RECORD LOW.

OUR FIRST CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON, ABOUT HOW LIVING ON THE WEST SIDE WILL HELP SHAPE THE DECISIONS HE MAKES.

>>> REPRESENTATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS PROVIDES NEW COVERAGE OVERALL.

THE CELEBRATING LEGENDARY CHICAGO POET ON THIS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH.

>>> AND WHY THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY IS PARTNERING WITH A LOCAL BARBER.

ALL OF THAT COMING UP.

>>> OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, WHAT IS BEHIND A RECORD LOW BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD'S BANK, AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> AT FIFTH THIRD, WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD, COMMUNITIES ARE MADE BETTER.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER, WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> THE BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HIT A RECORD LOW OF 5% LAST MONTH.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

IT COMES THREE YEARS AFTER THE BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE SPIKED DURING THE PANDEMIC TO NEARLY 17%.

THE DATA COMES AS ECONOMISTS ANTICIPATE THE LABOR MARKET WILL BEGIN COOLING.

JOINING US TO BREAKDOWN THE IMPACT ON CHICAGO WORKERS IS THE CEO OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT NETWORK, AND DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING WITH EQUITY AND TRANSPORTATION.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> ALONSO, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT YOU THINK ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST FACTOR IS, I ASK MYSELF, WHO DID THEY COUNT?

SO, OUR ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE TO WORK OUTSIDE OF A REGULAR 9:00 TO 5:00.

WE JUST TOOK A WALK OVER TO SPRINGFIELD AND WE COULD SEE INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE SAYING, I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY OUTSIDE OF THIS REGULAR 9:00 TO 5:00, AND ALONG WITH THAT, WHEN WE ACTUALLY SEE THOSE NUMBERS, WE SEE THE UPTICK ON BLACK WOMEN.

ACTUALLY, MORE BLACK WOMEN ARE NOW EMPLOYED, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST GIVE HOMAGE TO THAT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT ANY OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC THERE WAS A DOWNTICK IN THAT AND ALSO A DOWNTICK IN BLACK MALES BEING EMPLOYED.

SO NOW, WE HAVE SOLUTIONS WHERE ALL OF US ARE ACTUALLY COUNTED.

TRYING TO MAKE SURE ALL OF US ARE GETTING HIRED.

>> WE HAVE A GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT HAS REACHED A HISTORIC LOW SINCE 1970s.

BRENDA, ARE YOU SEE THAT REFLECTED IN THE POPULATIONS OF THE FOLKS THAT YOU WORK WITH QUICK?

>> NO.

YOU KNOW, IT IS INTERESTING, BUT THERE STILL ARE THESE POPULATIONS, THESE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS STILL 3 TO 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL STANDARD.

I WORK IN NORTH LAWNDALE, AND WE ARE ONE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE ARE CONSTANTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE REDUCTION OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, NO.

IT IS INTERESTING THAT IT IS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT CERTAINLY, THERE ARE THESE CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE CONTINUES TO BE VERY HIGH.

>> ALONSO, MANY BLACK AND LATINO WORKERS TEND TO HAVE BETTER EMPLOYMENT RATES IN THE GIG ECONOMY.

IS THAT WORK SUSTAINABLE?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT WORK IS SUSTAINABLE.

YOU CAN LOOK RIGHT NOW AT THE LEGISLATION THAT IS TRYING TO BE PASSED IN CHICAGO, WHERE THERE ARE TRYING TO REMOVE DRIVERS FROM CERTAIN AREAS.

AND ALSO, THE CITY SECTOR, THEY ARE ACTUALLY GETTING OFF OF THOSE FARES, THOSE FARES ARE GOING DOWN.

BUT, THAT IS TRUE WITH EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW?

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL, AS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

WE HAVE TO REALLY GET TO THE POINT THAT WE CAME OVER HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE MUST ALWAYS QUESTION WHAT NUMBERS ARE BEING COUNTED, AND IN WHAT PLACE DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE THAT.

>> SO, YOU ARE SAYING WITH THE INCOME PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO EARN FROM THOSE JOBS -- >> THE INCOME THEY ARE ABLE TO EARN, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL ACTUALLY PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

IT IS EASY TO COME INTO A JOB, BUT WE JUST SAW THEY TOUTED THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MINIMUM INCOME.

THEY HAVE RAISED THAT UP.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE NOW PLAYING THREE DOLLARS FOR A DOZEN OF EGGS.

SO, HOW DOES THIS PLAY OUT?

AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION, OF THOSE POSITIONS.

YOU GET THOSE POSITIONS, BUT YOU HAVE TEMP AGENCIES THAT DON'T ALLOW YOU TO STAY ON LONGER THAN 90 DAYS.

SO, YOU GO RIGHT BACK OUT INTO THE SYSTEM.

AND WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH REAL, ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS.

>> BRENDA, GO AHEAD.

>> I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT POINT, AS WELL, THAT PEOPLE AREN'T BEING COUNTED THE SAME ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY.

THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR RAISING MONEY AND SUPPORTING THEMSELVES.

THAT WOULD INCLUDE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, OR, YOU KNOW, MY DAUGHTER IS REALLY INTO TIKTOK, I THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL IT.

THE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES, JUST BECAUSE TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT HASN'T BEEN ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM.

>> HOW CAN FOLKS GET AHEAD WITH THAT TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT?

>> I THINK SOME OF THE BARRIERS CERTAINLY IS FOOD.

A LOT OF FOLKS, A LOT OF EMPLOYERS THAT ARE JUST HESITANT TO GIVE FOOD TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAIR HIRING.

PEOPLE WHO ARE AGED -- WE ARE NOT KIND TO OUR ELDERLY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE 60 AND OLDER LOOKING FOR WORK.

SO, THAT IS NOT EVEN SOMETHING THEY CAN CHANGE.

BUT, WHAT WE CAN DO IS CHANGE THE MIND-SET BY SEEING THE VALUE THAT THEY HAVE.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THEY ALSO I THINK HAVE LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT.

SO THOSE COMBINED, ALONG WITH UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, WILL CONTINUE TO TRIBUTE TO ALL OF THOSE BARRIERS.

>> ALONSO, YOU MENTIONED WITH THE INFORMAL ECONOMY, THE FOLKS THAT YOU WORK WITH FIND THEMSELVES OUT THERE OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL 9:00 TO 5:00.

WHAT DO SOME OF THOSE JOBS LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT SUPPORTS DO YOU PROVIDE TO THOSE WORKERS?

>> I WOULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH AN EXTENSION OF WHAT SHE SAID, WE HAVE TO MOVE THE BARRIERS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THE LEAST OF US ARE GETTING THERE.

WE HAVE TO MOVE THE BARRIERS.

THE FACT THAT YOU BROUGHT UP TIKTOK, OR YOUNG INDIVIDUALS LOOKING TO BECOME ENTREPRENEURS.

OR RIGHT NOW, ILLINOIS HAS THE THIRD HIGHEST FOR INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO -- NOT ONLY IN THE JOB MARKET, BUT ENTERING INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

SO, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT FORMAL WORKERS, WE HAVE TO SAY, WELL, IT WAS SAYING THAT WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO ENTER THE JOB MARKET BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A GED.

WELL, WE NEED TO REMOVE THAT BARRIER BECAUSE WITHIN THAT BARRIER, THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, RIGHT?

WE NEED TO REMOVE THAT BARRIER, TO ALLOW THEM TO GET INTO THIS JOB MARKET.

BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE ALL ARE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SURVIVE ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

WE, AS A PEOPLE, WERE NOT EVEN COUNTED.

YOU KNOW?

WE ACTUALLY JUST STARTED BEING COUNTED >> IN THE LABOR FORCE.

>> IN THE LABOR FORCE.

>> WE WEREN'T COUNTED UNTIL 1972.

YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD'VE JOKED ABOUT IT.

BUT, WE WERE IN THE LABOR FORCE FOR OVER 40 YEARS, RIGHT?

>> A VERY LONG TIME.

>> RIGHT THERE, SAYING THEY ARE NOT COUNTING THE FORMAL WORKERS, RIGHT?

JUST IMAGINE THE INDIVIDUAL, HE GETS ARRESTED, OR SHE GETS ARRESTED, AND THEY GO TO JAIL.

AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY WORK FOR A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY WHEN THEY ARE INCARCERATED.

BUT, THE MOMENT THEY ARE RELEASED, THEY ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO WORK FOR A 500 COMPANY.

WE HAVE TO REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE THESE SKILL SETS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN GET HIRED IMPROVE THAT QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> BRENDA, WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING IN, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HIM DO WITH THIS?

>> TO REALLY WORK WITH EMPLOYERS TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DIFFERENT TIME.

TO COME UP WITH INCLUSIVE HIRING POLICIES.

IF SO, ASK THE QUESTION, IS A DEGREE REQUIRED?

OR, IS IT SKILL SETS THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT?

IF WE CONSIDER THAT, IT WILL OPEN UP A WHOLE LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS.

SO, IT IS UPSCALING AND ALLOWING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

IF THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD, WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CRIME AND THE ACTUAL JOB THEY ARE APPLYING FOR?

IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP?

AND IF THERE ISN'T, WHY NOT GIVE THIS INDIVIDUAL AN OPPORTUNITY?

SO, I WOULD WANT TO CHALLENGE THE MAYOR TO THINK ABOUT MORE INCLUSIVE HIRING POLICIES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY EVEN OUT THE PLAYING FIELD.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

A LOT OF WORK.

BRENDA HOLMES, AND ALONZO HOCKING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY A CENTURY, CHICAGO WILL HAVE A MAYOR WHO CALLED THE WESTSIDE HOME.

BUT, HOW EXACTLY WILL BRANDON JOHNSON'S WESTSIDE BACKGROUND SHAPE HIS TIME IN LEADERSHIP OF CHICAGO?

WE SHOT DOWN AT HIM WITH ONE OF HIS FAVORITE RESTAURANT, HERE IS WHAT WE HAD TO SAY.

>> I BELIEVE THE WESTSIDE CITY OF CHICAGO IS NOT JUST POSITIONED TO HELP PROVIDE DIRECTION FOR WHAT INVESTMENTS WILL MEAN, NOT JUST FOR THE WESTSIDE, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF CHICAGO.

BUT, IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE WE NEED TO PULL THE CITY OF CHICAGO TOGETHER, REGIONALLY.

THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE ON THE WESTSIDE ARE NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT -- IN FACT, THEY ARE NOT DIFFERENT THAN THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IN THE WHOLE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THE WESTSIDE, WITH ITS PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN, IT'S PROXIMITY TO THE WESTERN SUBURBS, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PRACTICE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL.

SO, IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY, DESPITE THE CHALLENGES.

AGAIN, I AM EAGER TO IGNITE THE ENTIRE CITY AROUND THE VALUES OF WHICH I RAN ON AND I WAS ELECTED TO DO.

>> AND HE TOLD ME THAT AS MAYOR, ON MAY 15th, YOU CAN WATCH OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH HIM, AND A TOUR OF THE COMMUNITY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> CHICAGO'S LONG HISTORY AS A CENTER FOR POETRY OWES MUCH TO GWENDOLYN BROOKS, WHOSE WORKS LARGELY DETECTED THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN THE CITY.

IN THIS THROWBACK CLIP TO A 201 EPISODE, HER DAUGHTER TALKED ABOUT HER MOTHER'S INVOLVEMENT AND INFLUENCE IN THE 1960s BLACK ARC MOVEMENT IN CHICAGO.

>> WE HAVE 160 PEOPLE IN THIS LITTLE, TINY HOUSE.

DISCUSSIONS WOULD GO ON.

PEOPLE WOULD SOMETIMES BE OVER THERE UNTIL 4:00, 5:00 IN THE MORNING.

BUT, IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO REALIZE THAT THIS WAS THE KIND OF THING THAT SHOULD BE GOING ON.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE TALKING TO EACH OTHER, TRYING TO RESOLVE ISSUES, YOU KNOW?

>> Reporter: GWENDOLYN'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT ON MANY YOUNG BLACK AND WOMEN.

HAKIM, FOUNDER OF THIRD WORLD PRESS AND THE BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE AT CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY, ATTRIBUTES MUCH OF THE LITERARY WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE HE GAINED IN THE '60s TO THE MOTHER-SON RELATIONSHIP HE DEVELOPED WITH BROOKS.

>> BAM, BAM, BAM!

>> SO, COMING THROUGH THIS BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT AND FINDING MOVEMENT TO 1967 SLOWED ME DOWN.

>> Reporter: THE TURBULENCE OF THE 1960s BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT TRANSFORMED MANY LIVES, INCLUDING THAT OF GWENDOLYN BROOKS.

IN 1968, SHE RELEASED IN THE MECCA, SELECTIONS OF POETRY FOR THE USE OF THE URBAN BLACK LANGUAGE AT THAT TIME.

AND IN 1959, GWENDOLYN BROOKS RECEIVED THE ELLIOTT POET AWARD, WHICH ALLOWED HER TO EXPAND HER LITERARY ANALYSIS WITH WORKSHOPS AND CRAYONS DEVELOPED TO INSPIRE POETS IN PERFECTING THEIR CRAFT.

>>> APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH.

IF A YOUNG POET YOU KNOW WANTS TO CELEBRATE WITH THEIR OWN POEM, SUBMISSIONS FOR THE GWENDOLYN BROOKS YOUTH POETRY AWARDS ARE MAY 5th.

>>> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", RIGHT AFTER THIS.

♪°7 >>> A NEW REPORT SAYS THERE ARE VERY FEW JOURNALISTS WHO LOOK LIKE ME.

A STUDY FINDS THAT IN A SAMPLE OF 12,000 U.S.

REPORTING JOURNALISTS, JUST 6% WERE BLACK.

WHEN TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT WHO IS COVERING WHAT, BLACK JOURNALISTS MAKE UP ONLY BETWEEN 2% AND 8% OF ALMOST ALL REPORTING ON THINGS LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT, SPORTS, POLITICS, AND HEALTH.

BLACK JOURNALISTS REPRESENT 15% OF JOURNALISTS IN SOCIAL POLICY.

JOINING US NOW ARE SYLVIA SNOWDEN, ADVOCACY CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS CHICAGO CHAPTER AND POLITICAL FOR HIM.

LECTURER OF AUDIO JOURNALISM PROGRAMMING AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, ANTONIA HILL, MULTIMEDIA REPORTER AT THE TRIBE, A DIGITAL MEDIA TO PLATFORM LOOKING TO RESHAPE THE NARRATIVE OF BLACK CHICAGO.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", EVERYONE.

I AM THRILLED YOU ARE HERE.

SYLVIA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

6% OF ALL JOURNALISTS ARE BLACK, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

>> I WISH I COULD SAY I WAS SURPRISED, BUT I AM NOT.

I HAVE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY A LITTLE WHILE NOW, AND I SEE THIS EVERY DAY.

HOW MANY BLACK ATHLETES ARE THERE?

BUT, THERE SIMPLY ARE NOT THE JOURNALISTS TO COVER.

THE SAME THING WITH POLITICS.

IN A CITY OF CHICAGO, WE HAVE SO MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN A POLITICAL TOWN.

AND IT IS A RELATIVELY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITY, WE MAKE UP A THIRD OF THE POPULATION.

YET, WE ARE NOT ON THE SCENE.

I WISH I COULD SAY I AM SURPRISED, I TRY TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN JOURNALISM.

BUT, FOR WHATEVER REASON -- >> IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

AS IS THE JOB, AS WE ALL KNOW.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE REPRESENTATION OF BLACK REPORTERS IMPACTS THE COVERAGE OVERALL?

>> I THINK IT MEANS THAT OUR NEWS COVERAGE IS NOT ADEQUATELY REFLECTING THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERING, YOU KNOW?

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CRIME, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT -- EVEN IN A CITY LIKE CHICAGO, THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES THAT COME OUT OF OUR CITY, OUR BLACK STORIES.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE BLACK REPORTERS ON IT, THEN WE MISSED A BIT OF NUANCE.

SO, I WOULD SAY WE ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN TEACH BLACK STORIES, BUT WE ARE MISSING A GREAT DEAL OF OVERALL COVERAGE AND JUST THE LANDSCAPE OF NEWS COVERAGE WHEN WE ARE NOT PROPERLY REPRESENTED, WHEN OUR NEWSROOM DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE COMMUNITIES WE ARE REPRESENTING.

>> COVERAGES MAY BE A PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT?

LIKE, WE MIGHT SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> I HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING A COUSIN SHOT TO DEATH.

AND READING SOME OF THE COVERAGE -- AND I READ 1 MILLION STORIES ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE GUNNED DOWN.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO MY COUSIN THAT I COULD SEE THE VERY RACIALLY CHANGED WAY THOSE STORIES OFTEN TIMES ARE.

AND IT TOOK ME, TAKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE AN OP-ED IN THE POST ON WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A HORRIBLY DONE ARTICLE ON HOW THEY DIE ALL THE TIME.

BUT, IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY WITH EXPERIENCE GETTING THAT PHONE CALL AT 2:00 A.M., I AM SORRY, YOUR RELATIVE IS DEAD, YOU NEVER GET THAT VANTAGE POINT.

SO, I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT, IN A CITY WHERE CRIME IS AN ISSUE, WHERE GUN VIOLENCE IS AN ISSUE, TO HAVE YOUNG BLACK AMERICANS WHO HAVE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE, TELL THAT STORY.

>> SO, WE HAVE A TRIBE, A PUBLICATION, BLACK LEAD, MAJORITY BLACK NEWSROOM.

YOU GUYS ARE PRETTY YOUNG.

BUT, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR COVERAGE?

>> TO ADD ON TO WHAT THEY SAID, WE NEED IT.

WE NEED THAT PERSPECTIVE.

WE ALSO NEED OUR VOICES ON STORIES, AND I THINK EVEN SYLVIA'S POINT ABOUT TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE, I THINK THERE IS SOME NUANCES THAT -- WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE.

LIKE, WHEN MAINSTREAM NEWS OUTLETS COVERED THE CURRENT, IT IS MORE OF A NUMBERS WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT.

LIKE, THIS PERSON WAS SHOT AT THIS TIME, AT THIS LOCATION, THIS WAS THEIR NAME, THAT IS IT.

BUT, WE ARE TRYING TO ALSO RESHAPE HOW WE TALK ABOUT CRIME.

WE WANT TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES THAT LED TO THIS MOMENT, BECAUSE IT WASN'T JUST SOMEONE WAS INJURED, OR HARMED, IT WAS INSTITUTIONAL HARM THAT ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THIS MOMENT.

WHAT INSTITUTIONAL FAILURES WERE HAPPENING FOR THIS CRIME TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE, AND WHAT COULD WE HAVE DONE TO PREVENT IT?

>> YOU MENTIONED 15% OF JOURNALISTS REPRESENT THOSE COVERING SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES IN THE PAST YEAR, DOES THAT SORT OF LEAD TO EXPECTATIONS ABOUT WHAT BLACK JOURNALISTS CAN AND CANNOT COVER?

>> IT DOES.

IT IS KIND OF THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE USED TO EXPERIENCE, WHERE WE WOULD HAVE JOURNALISTS CAST TIES FOR WANTING TO COVER BLACK THINGS.

AND NOW, IT TURNS INTO WAS BEING EXPECTED TO BE THE EXPERT ON ALL THINGS BLACK IN OUR NEWSROOM.

AT THAT ALSO IS NOT FAIR.

WE ARE NOT BEING PAID TO BE CEI EXPERTS IN OUR NEWSROOM.

WE ARE NOT PAID TO BE CONSULTANTS.

WE ARE NOT PAID TO ALSO BE AN EDITOR AND EDIT EVERYONE ELSE'S THING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T COMING UP WITH CARBON COPIES.

>> WE ALSO CANNOT BE THE VOICES OF ALL BLACK PEOPLE.

>> WE CANNOT BE THE VOICES OF ALL BLACK PEOPLE.

SO, IT IS SETTING UP A LOT OF TIME, SETTING UP THOSE VERY REPORTERS WHO ARE ON THE BLACK, THE RACE BEAT, WITH A DESIRE TO HELP IMPROVE COVERAGE.

WE CAN BURN THEM OUT, WE CAN MAKE IT SO THEY LEAVE THE INDUSTRY WAY TOO SOON, AND IT JUST DOESN'T BENEFIT EVERYONE WHEN WE KNOW THAT RACE IS REALLY A PART OF EVERY STORY THAT WE DO, IN ANY BEAT.

IT REALLY SHOULD BE STRETCHED OUT, IT SHOULD BE A COMPETENCY THAT EVERYONE, EVERY SINGLE REPORTER, SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO UNDERSTAND.

>> SONJA, WHAT YOU THINK ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS, OR THE ISSUES THAT BLACK JOURNALISTS RUN INTO WHEN TRYING TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY, OR EVEN BEING IN THE INDUSTRY?

>> ACCESSIBILITY, IN COLLEGE, WE TALK ABOUT THE INTERIM THING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE ON UNPAID INTERNSHIPS.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE UNPAID.

THIS IS REALLY AN INDUSTRY WHERE IT IS LIKE WHO YOU KNOW MATTERS AND IF YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT, IT IS HARD TO BREAK IN.

BUT, FOR ME, PERSONALLY, I HAVE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE, ACTUALLY.

I HAVE HAD BLACK WOMEN WHO HAVE HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY HERE.

BUT, I THINK ONE THING THAT IS ALSO A THING POINT -- PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO TAKE A CHANCE ON A BLACK JOURNALIST.

AS WE WERE TALKING BEFORE BACKSTAGE, PUTTING YOU IN A BOX, AND THINKING THIS ONE SPACE IS WHAT YOU ARE BEST AT, AND NOT THINKING YOU CAN HANDLE MORE COMPLEX STORIES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> SYLVIA, BEYOND DIVERSITY ON PAPER, AND IN THE NUMBERS, WHAT DOES TRUE EQUITY, THE VERSION YOU DO -- LOOK LIKE IN THE NEWSROOM?

>> EFFICACY IS REALLY MAKING SURE THAT BLACK JOURNALISTS ARE NOT JUST IN SPACES THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVE IT.

BUT, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE AND THEY ARE WELCOME.

IF SO, WHAT HAPPENED SOMETIMES WHEN JOURNALISTS GO INTO NEWSROOMS, IS THEY ARE THERE, AND THEY WANT TO COME OUT WITH THEIR NEW IDEAS, THEY WANT TO COME WITH A DIFFERENT STORY.

SO, I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, DIVERSITY ISN'T JUST SOMEONE WITH A DIFFERENT SKIN TONE.

IT IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A DIFFERENT THOUGHT.

IT IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINT.

IT IS SOMEBODY WHO THINKS DIFFERENTLY.

WHEN YOU COME WITH THOSE DIFFERENCES, YOU CANNOT RESIST THEM, PUNISH THEM, HOLD THOSE THINGS AGAINST THEM.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GIVING THEM THEIR SPACE TO ALLOW THEM TO BRING THEIR WHOLE SELVES IN TO DO THE WORK.

>> SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

WHAT DOES TRUE DIVERSITY LOOK LIKE IN THE NEWSROOM?

BEYOND THE NUMBERS.

>> DIVERSITY LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE THAT LOOKS LIKE THE CITY WE ARE COVERING, OR THE NATION WE ARE COVERING.

AND THAT IS, LIKE SYLVIA SAID, ALSO INCLUDING DIVERSE EXPERIENCES, INCOME, COLLEGE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU, BOTH, FOR JOINING US.

THANKS, EVERYBODY.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A LOCAL BARBER WHO FOUND HIS NEW CHAPTER AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY.

HIS STORY, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> PUBLIC LIBRARIES CAN BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS.

THAT WAS THE CASE FOR SAMUEL BROWN, WHO CREDITS LIBRARIES AND THE RESOURCES FOUND WITHIN FOR TURNING HIS LIFE AROUND.

FROM LIVING ON THE STREETS TO BECOMING A LICENSED BARBER, REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ TELLS US MORE ABOUT HIS MISSION TO PAY IT FORWARD.

>> Reporter: HE IS KNOWN AS SAM THE BARBER.

TRAVELING AROUND CHICAGO, GIVING FREE HAIRCUTS, AND MAKING FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY.

>> I WENT ACROSS THE ROAD.

>> Reporter: A YEAR AGO, SAM STARTED HIS NONPROFIT CALLED HAIRCUTS FOR HUMANE, AN ORGANIZATION HE NOW RUNS FULL TIME.

>> WHEN I CUT HAIR, I AM IN THE CHAIR.

>> Reporter: LIFE HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN EASY FOR SAM.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR UPBRINGING?

>> HARSH.

I GREW UP IN A SINGLE HOME.

MY MOTHER WAS ADDICTED TO COCAINE.

SHE WAS AN ALCOHOLIC.

>> Reporter: RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR FREE POP-UPS ACROSS THE CITY.

SAM SAYS LOCAL LIBRARY BRANCHES WERE A SAFE HAVEN FOR HIM WHEN HE WAS HOMELESS.

>> I WOULD STAY IN THE LIBRARY -- >> IT IS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK IN THE PLACE THAT DID SO MUCH FOR YOU, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

>> YEAH.

>> Reporter: SAM SAYS HIS REASON FOR HER BEHIND HELPING OTHERS IS BECAUSE OF HIS MOTHER, WHO IS IN HOSPICE.

>> SHE IS FIGHTING FOR IT RIGHT NOW.

SHE IS DOING WHAT SHE IS DOING.

>> Reporter: A FRESH CUT, AND HUMAN INTERACTION.

>> I WILL LISTEN TO THEM SOMETIMES.

THEY WANT TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH.

>> Reporter: WITH AN INFECTIOUS SMILE, SAM SAYS HE WANTS TO PAY IT FORWARD, THE WAY PEOPLE HELPED HIM ALONG HIS JOURNEY.

>> WHAT HE GOT FOR ME, IT COMES.

>> Reporter: FROM "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", I AM JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> SAM BROWN'S NEXT FREE HAIRCUT EVENT IS ON APRIL 18th, AT THE LIBRARY AT 6:00 P.M. MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT IS THE SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS, FOR THE LATEST ON NEWS.

IF YOU ARE JOINING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH "BLACK VOICES," AND "LATINA VOICES" AT 10:00.

FOR ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", I AM BRANDON FREEMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE, AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFTON.

IF CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND