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

[MUSIC] >> WE BELIEVE WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED, COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER, LIVES ARE MADE BETTER, AND THE FUTURE HOLDS GREATER PROMISES FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER, WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

[MUSIC] >> Brandis: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH A SPEED ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, CHICAGO'S TOP COP, DAVID BROWN, JOINS US TO WEIGH IN ON NEW EFFORTS TO COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE AND REFORM IN NCPD.A GUIDEBOOK TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE FIGHT RACISM, IT'S THE LATEST INSTALLMENT IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SERIES.

REMEMBERING HAROLD WASHINGTON COULD A LOOK BACK AT HOW THE FORMER MAYOR SAID HE WANTS TO BE REMEMBERED AS THE CITY CELEBRATES WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY.

>> WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ESSENTIAL IN ANY CAPACITY, UM, IN ANY ROLE THAT WE PLAY.

>> Brandis: AND WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A PAIR OF LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS ON A MISSION TO ADVOCATE FOR BLACK WOMEN THROUGH A LIFESTYLE BRAND.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, WE ARE ONE ON ONE WITH CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN TO DISCUSS EVERYTHING FROM GHOST GUNS TO POLICE REFORM IN CHICAGO.

TO PRINT TENANT BROWN WAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED A FEDERAL CRACKDOWN ON SO-CALLED GHOST GUNS.

THOSE ARE FIREARMS MADE FROM KITS THAT ARE PRIVATELY ASSEMBLED AND HAVE NO SERIAL NUMBER.

CHICAGO POLICE SAY THEY RECOVERED 458 GHOST GUNS IN 2021, THAT'S A 70 PERCENT INCREASE FROM 2020.JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS SUPERINTENDENT OF CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, DAVID BROWN.

SUPERINTENDENT, WELCOME BACK AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

SO, AS WE MENTIONED, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ESSENTIALLY EXPANDED WHAT QUALIFIES AS A FIREARM UNDER THE GUN CONTROL ACT, TO INCLUDE GHOST GUNS AND AT-HOME GUN KITS.

ALSO, ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS, WE KNOW THEY HAVE PASSED A MEASURE, MAKING GHOST GUNS ILLEGAL.HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM WOULD YOU SAY GHOST GUNS ARE IN CHICAGO?

>> Superintendent David Brown: SO, JUST LOOK AT THE LAST THREE YEARS, 2019 UNTIL TODAY.

THERE'S BEEN OVER A 200 PERCENT INCREASE IN GHOST GUNS THAT WE SEE USED FROM CHICAGO, SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AND IT'S AN ESCALATING PROBLEM.TWOFOLD BREED AND ALSO, WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE GHOST GUNS IN PRIVACY BEING USED FOR VIOLENCE.

>> Brandis: SO, DO YOU THINK THESE NEW EFFORTS, BOTH STATE AND LOCAL, WILL HELP TO REDUCE SOME OF THE GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO?

>> Superintendent David Brown: I DO, I DO THINK THE PRESIDENT DID THE RIGHT THING, I THINK THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HERE IN ILLINOIS IS DOING THE RIGHT THING, TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO REGULATE GHOST GUNS, BECAUSE THEY ARE GUNS.

THEY CAN HARM PEOPLE.

AND YOU CAN ORDER THEM ONLINE WITH AN AMENITY AND YOU CAN USE THESE GUNS AND THERE IS NO WAY CURRENTLY BEFORE THIS WAS PUT IN PLACE TO TRACK IT THROUGH SERIAL NUMBERS, SO IT IS AN ANONYMOUS WAY OF HIDING, UM, THE USE OF THE GUN, WHO OWNS THE GUN, WHO BOUGHT THE GUN, SOLD THE GUN, SO THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT REGULATION AS IT RELATES TO SERIAL NUMBERS ON THESE GUNS AND ON THESE CHIPS THAT COME THROUGH THE MAIL.

>> Brandis: SO ALSO THIS WEEK, THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S OFFICE SAYS THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU ALL ARE MOVING CLOSER TO COMPLIANCE WITH REGARD TO YOUR FEDERAL CONSENT DEGREE.

OF COURSE, THAT IS THE COURT ORDER THAT WAS ISSUED IN THE WAKE OF THELOCAL AND McDONALD KILLING, REQUIRING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE , UM, STUDENT REFORM TRAINING POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR NOW, THE LATEST REVIEW FOUND THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS ABOUT AT 70 PERCENT COMPLIANCE, THAT IS COMPARED TO THE LAST REPORT AT 50 PERCENT COMPLIANCE.WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THIS LATEST STATUS UPDATE?

>> Superintendent David Brown: I THINK THE REAL STORY IS WE BEGAN OUR FIRST WITH 11 PERCENT COMPLIANCE.

IN 2019, OUR COMPLIANCE WAS 11 PERCENT.

IN THE REPORT THAT WAS JUST ISSUED, SHOW THAT WE WERE 72 PERCENT COMPLIANCE.

NOW, THAT'S JUST ONE, IN MY OPINION, SMALL ASPECT OF WHAT OUR GOAL IS.

WE WANT TO ALWAYS ACHIEVE WELL BEYOND THE BASICS.

WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE AND TRANSFORM THIS DEPARTMENT, WHERE EVERY CHICAGOAN CAN BE PROUD OF EVERY OFFICER ON THE FORCE.

>> Brandis: WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DEPARTMENT COULD AFFORD TO IMPROVE?

>> Superintendent David Brown: IS REALLY SOME SIGNIFICANT AREAS.

NUMBER ONE, BUILDING TRUST, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY.

NEXT IS OUR DATA IS REALLY BEHIND, UM, CURRENT TIMES AS IT RELATES TO TECHNOLOGY.

WE NEED TO FAST-FORWARD INTO THE 21ST CENTURY WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY IN RELATION TO CAPTURING EVERYTHING OUR OFFICERS ARE DOING AND BEING ABLE TO QUERY AND PROVE THAT OFFICERS ARE FOLLOWING THE POLICIES AND TRAINING THAT'S REQUIRED.

>> Brandis: NOW, THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTED COMMUNITY POLICING AND ENGAGEMENT AS AREAS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT AND ONE PART STATES: THE CPES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS CONTINUE TO FRUSTRATE MEMBERS OF CHICAGO COMMUNITIES.

THE REPORT ALSO ADDRESSED THE DEPARTMENTS GOAL TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE .5 MILLION POLICE INITIATED POSITIVE COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS THROUGH THE YEAR 2022.

THE MONITORING TEAM EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN, UM, THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY BE FOCUSED ON QUANTITY OVER QUALITY.

UM, IS AUDIBLE THAT YOU NEED TO RECONSIDER OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN?

>> Superintendent David Brown: WELL, QUITE FRANKLY, THE CRITICISM IS WELL TAKEN COULD I MEAN, WE ARE STARTING FROM A VERY VERY LOW LEVEL OF TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S THE REASON WHY THAT'S FAIR ASSESSMENT THAT WE DO A LOT MORE.

OF COURSE, IF WE NEED TO BE IN ONE, IT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO OVERNIGHT.

OTHERWISE, BUILDING TRUST IS GOING TO TAKE AN ETERNITY.

AND WE ARE JUST BEGINNING THAT JOURNEY.

AND WE HAVE SET GOALS, POLICE OFFICERS ARE GOAL ORIENTED.

IF YOU DON'T GET AN OFFICER OF GOAL, THEY SEEM TO FLAIL AWAY AT TRYING TO HIT WHATEVER TASK WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, SO FAIR ASSESSMENT, BUT WE WILL NEVER STOP ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY TO BUILD TRUST WE CAN NEVER STOP.

AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT FOR THE PURPOSE IN PLACE OF THE GOOD.

SO, WE HAVE A GOOD START, GETTING OUR OFFICERS OUT OF THEIR SQUAD CARS, OUT FROM BEHIND THEIR DESKS, INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND REQUIRING THEM TO CREATE A POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC.

THAT'S A GOOD GOAL.NOW, CAN WE IMPROVE HOW WE DO ALL OF THAT?

YES.

AND ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TO PROVE THAT OUR EFFORTS ARE ACTUALLY BUILDING TRUST.

SO, AUDITING, SURVEYS, YOU KNOW, HOW WE PROVE IT IS GOING TO BE HOW WE TELL.

>> Brandis: WHAT DOES OF POSITIVE COMMUNITY INTERACTION ENTAIL?>> Superintendent David Brown: IT ENTAILS MULTIPLE THINGS, BUT PRIMARILY, PROVIDING A SERVICE.

THINK ABOUT, UM, PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

WE WANT TO HELP STOP AND ASSIST.

THINK ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE THAT MAYBE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED OR TOURISTS MIGHT NEED.

THE MEN TOURING TO REQUIRED THAT ARE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE BEST PERCEPTION OF A POLICE OFFICER, WHERE THE INTERACTION LEAVES THE PUBLIC WITH A POSITIVE VIEW OF THE POLICE, RATHER THAN OUR ONLY BEING ENFORCEMENT OR INVESTIGATION.

WE REALLY WANT TO CREATE, UM, A LOT OF INTERACTIONS WITH THE TAKEAWAYS I AM PROUD.

RATHER THAN THE CAYMAN AS AN OCCUPYING FORCE.

WE DON'T WANT OUR, YOU KNOW, REQUIREMENT TO ENFORCE THE LAW BE THE ONLY NARRATIVE ABOUT WHAT POLICE OFFICERS DO.

THIS SHOULD BE ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE AND ASSISTING, PROVIDING A SERVICE EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY.

>> Brandis: ALSO, SUPERINTENDENT, THIS WEEK, WTTW NEWS REPORTED THAT ALMOST 5.5 PERCENT OF OFFICERS IN YOUR DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED OR EXEMPT FROM THE CITY'S VACCINE MANDATE.

NOW, THAT PUTS THOSE OFFICERS AT RISK OF DISCIPLINE, BUT YOUR OFFICE HAS ALSO RECEIVED DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF EXEMPTIONS OF ANY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT.

THE MAYOR RECENTLY GRANTING EXEMPTIONS FOR ABOUT 1500 OF YOUR OFFICERS.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT MORE EXEMPTIONS COULD BE GRANTED?

UM, OR COULD MORE OFFICERS BE FACING DISCIPLINE IF THEY BUILT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT?

>> Superintendent David Brown: SO, IF YOU RECALL, WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED A FEW MONTHS BACK, THERE WAS THIS SKY IS FALLING SENTIMENT.

BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WE ARE LIKELY DEALING WITH A FEW HUNDRED OFFICERS WHO OBVIOUSLY, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY AREN'T TAKING THE VACCINE, BUT WE DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF EXEMPTIONS.

APPLIED FOR EITHER A MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION.

WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED WORD WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO PROVE OR NOT.

AS SOON AS WE GET THROUGH ALL THAT INFORMATION, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

OFFICERS THAT DON'T GET VACCINATED, I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS, WILL GO INTO A NO PAY STATUS.

WE OBVIOUSLY ARE VERY COGNIZANT OF ALL OF THE VACCINATIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT, AS FAR AS IT'S A PERSONAL AND FAMILY DECISION, BUT COVID HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THESE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE NUMBER ONE.

WE LOST FOUR OFFICERS TO COVID SINCE THIS PANDEMIC BEGAN, SO I BELIEVE PERSONALLY THAT THIS MANDATE WILL MAKE OFFICERS SAFER, UM, BUT AGAIN, THERE MAY BE OFFICERS THAT DECIDE, MUCH LIKE ANOTHER PROFESSIONS, THAT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A VERY SMALL SUBSET OF OFFICERS THAT FEEL THAT WAY.

ON SUPERINTENDENT, BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, THERE'S ONE OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I DEFINITELY WANT TOCOME UNDER FIRE SINCE THE KILLING .IT'S A DEPARTMENT POLICY, NEW POLICIES EXPECTED TO BE IN PLACE SOMETIME THIS YEAR.WE KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SOME TIME.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN GETTING THIS FOOTPRINT SUIT POLICY RIGHT?

WHAT IS THE HOLD UP?

>> Superintendent David Brown: WE WANTED TO ENGAGE AND HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE POLICY.

SO, WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL ROUNDS OF PUBLIC COMMENT.

THAT'S BEEN THE DELAY.

AND THAT DELAY HAS BEEN WORTHWHILE.

THE PUBLIC HAS ENGAGED US AND THE MONITORING TEAM TO OFFER THEIR ADVICE, BUT WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY.

EVERY DAY PEOPLE WITH SOME OF THE POLICY CHANGES THAT WE ARE MAKING, IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS TRANSPARENCY AND THIS TRUST BUILDING MEANS SOMETHING.

SO, WE COULD HAVE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO JUST SAID THIS IS THE NEW POLICY ON THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ENGAGED.

BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN TIMELY TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC TO GO THROUGH SEVERAL ROUNDS OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE POLICY.

BY THE END OF THE YEAR, MAYBE SOONER, UM, DEVIL LAST QUARTER, WE SHOULD HAVE A PERMANENT POLICY IN PLACE.

BUT WE HAD AN INTERIM POLICY IN PLACE, UM, DURING ALL THIS TIME OF ENGAGING THE PUBLIC, SO WE SHOULD HAVE A PERMANENT POLICY IN PLACE, UM, HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

>> Brandis: OKAY, THAT'S WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.>> Superintendent David Brown: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Brandis: FRIDAY MARCH WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAROLD WASHINGTON'S 100TH BIRTHDAY.

WASHINGTON MADE HISTORY AS CHICAGO'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR WHEN HE WAS ELECTED IN 1983.

IT WAS THE SECOND TIME HE RAN FOR THE OFFICE AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL BID IN 1977.

DURING THAT MAYORAL RACE, JOHN CALLOWAY ASKED WASHINGTON HOW HE WOULD WANT TO BE REMEMBERED.

>> IF WE WERE TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE FUTURE AND YOU ARE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, A HISTORIAN WERE TO HAVE WRITTEN A BRIEF ACCOUNT, AN OVERVIEW OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION, WHAT YOU ACHIEVED, WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE YOU WOULD WRITE?

>> HE WOULD PROBABLY SAY THIS: THAT WAS A TURNING POINT.

THAT WAS A TURNING POINT.

BECAUSE A MAN CAME INTO OFFICE AND TALKED COMMON SENSE TO PEOPLE, NEW THE ISSUES AND DISCUSSED THEM, GALVANIZED THEM, BUT NOTWITHSTANDING THEIR SUPERFICIAL DIFFERENCES THAT KEPT THEM APART.

HE GOT TO THE CORE OF THE PROBLEM AND HE SEARCHED FOR THE COMMONALITY OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH CUTS ACROSS ETHNIC LINES, CUTS ACROSS BLACK, LIBERAL WHITE, LATINO, OTHER ETHNICITIES.

CUTS ACROSS THOSE AND GOT TO THE COMMON CORE AND GOT THE CITY WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE.

AND ALSO SOMETHING ELSE.

HIS ELECTION WAS SYMBOLIC TO OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIS PROBLEMS, SUPPORT HIM INTO OFFICE, AND SAY, HE DID IT.

AND THAT'S WHY I CAN DO IT.

WITH THIS PROBLEM, HE ROSE UP TO THE POSITION AND HE IS USING THAT POWER.

IT WAS A TURNING POINT IN THIS MIDWESTERN HUB.

HE IS THE MAYOR OF IT.

WE CAN DO IT TOO.

I WOULD BE SYMBOLIC, I WOULD BE A CATALYST, I THINK I WOULD BE GOOD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND I THINK HISTORIANS WOULD SEE THAT.

>> Brandis: HAROLD WASHINGTON HERE ON CHICAGO TONIGHT IN 1977.

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WAS HELD AT THE HAROLD WASHINGTON LIBRARY CENTER THIS WEEK STATE, CITY, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS GATHERED TO HONOR WASHINGTON AND HIS LEGACY.

>> HAROLD WASHINGTON , BY BOLDLY CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO AND COURAGEOUSLY DEMANDING EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED FOR SO LONG, OUR GREAT MAYOR TRULY PUT CHICAGO ON A PATH TOWARD BEING A GREAT GLOBAL CITY.

BY NO MEANS WAS THAT EFFORT EASY AND WE MUST NEVER FORGET WHAT HE WENT THROUGH FOR THOSE FIRST 4+ YEARS.

BUT HE KNEW HOW NECESSARY IT WAS AN ORDER TO CREATE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS INCREDIBLE CITY.

>> Brandis: IN 1987, WASHINGTON WAS SEVEN MONTHS INTO HIS SECOND TERM WHEN HE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.

HE WAS 55 YEARS OLD.

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

[MUSIC] >> Brandis: YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL EQUITY, AND THAT INCLUDES THE RECENT EFFORTS SPARKED BY THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST RACISM IS THE TOPIC OF THE LATEST SELECTION IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SERIES.

HOW TO FIGHT RACISM, A GUIDE TO STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE, AIMS TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE INFORMATION AND TOOLS TO FIGHT RACISM AND AFFECT CHANGE.

AND THE BOOK AUTHOR, JAMAR, JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME TO BLACK VOICES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.>> Jamar: IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> Brandis: THIS BOOK IS ESSENTIALLY A GUIDEBOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STEPS THAT YOU LAYOUT TO EMPOWER THEM TO STAND UP AGAINST RACISM?

>> Jamar: WELL, EVERY CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK IS FILLED WITH PRACTICAL RACIAL JUSTICE ACTION STEPS.

EVERYTHING FROM INTERVIEWING A FAMILY MEMBER ABOUT THEIR PAST RECOLLECTIONS OF RACE OR RACISM GROWING UP TO RUNNING FOR STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND GETTING A TASTE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO MAKE POLICIES FOR LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AND IT'S DESIGNED TO BE PRACTICAL AND TO BE PUT INTO USE.>> Brandis: YOU WRITE ABOUT A MODEL YOU CALLED, YOU CREATED, CALLED THE ARK OF RACIAL JUSTICE, WHICH SOUNDS FAMILIAR.

IT'S AN ACRONYM FOR AWARENESS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND COMMITMENT.

EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY THIS.

>> Jamar: WELL, IF I WERE TO ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT RACISM, I'M QUITE SURE YOU COULD RATTLE OFF EASILY AND QUICKLY A NUMBER OF ACTION STEPS, ON.

THE ISSUE WHEN WE DO THAT IS WHERE DO WE START AND WHERE DO WE HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING?

SO, BEYOND JUST A TO DO LIST OF RACIAL JUSTICE PRACTICES, THE ARK OF RACIAL JUSTICE IS A FRAMEWORK FOR THINKING ABOUT HOW TO ENACT RACIAL JUSTICE.

SO, AWARENESS IS EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO TO BUILD OUR KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ABOUT HOW RACISM OPERATES.

RELATIONSHIPS MEANS THAT THIS IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE PERFORMED COALITIONS.

DIVERSE RACIAL AND ETHNIC RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND THEN LASTLY, COMMITMENT IS NOT SIMPLY A COMMITMENT TO STAYING THE COURSE, BUT TO CHANGING LAWS AND POLICIES AND SYSTEMS AND THE WAY OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY OPERATES IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS MORE EQUITABLE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

>> Brandis: JAMAR, WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?

OBVIOUSLY CHILDREN, WHAT AGE GROUP AND WHICH CHILDREN?

>> Jamar: THAT'S RIGHT, WELL, IT'S IDEAL FOR CHILDREN AGES EIGHT AND UP, BUT I WILL TELL YOU A SECRET, IT'S PROBABLY GREAT FOR ADULTS, TOO.

THIS BOOK IS FILLED WITH STORIES AND EXAMPLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS THAT REALLY TRY TO BREAK DOWN THIS CONVOLUTED CONCEPT OF RACE AND RACISM IN A MANNER THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND.

UM, I THINK THAT WHITE PARENTS WOULD REALLY BE GRAVITATING TOWARD THIS BOOK BECAUSE MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN RECENTLY CATALYZED BY CURRENT EVENTS, WHETHER IT'S THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT OR THE 2020 UPRISINGS OR EVEN JUST OUR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE, UM, THEY'VE BEEN DRAWN TO THE ISSUE OF RACISM AND SEE ITS URGENCY, AS THEY ARE WORKING TOWARD FIGHTING RACISM, THEY WANT TO EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES, TOO.

BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY IT'S FOR BLACK PARENTS AND ADULTS OF COLOR AS WELL.

WHO OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR OWN LIVED EXPERIENCES OF RACE AND RACISM, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE PROACTIVE AND INTENTIONAL ABOUT EQUIPPING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO FACE WHAT IS ALMOST INEVITABLE IN THEIR LIVES, RACISM, BUT TO ALSO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.>> Brandis: YOU, UM, YOU MENTIONED THIS IS GOOD FOR ADULTS AS WELL.

YOU DID WRITE AN ADULT VERSION OF HOW TO FIGHT RACISM.

SO, HOW DID YOU APPROACH THIS BOOK DIFFERENTLY WHEN YOU DECIDED TO WRITE THE CHILDREN'S THE YOUNGER PERSONS VERSION?

>> Jamar: WELL, I USED TO BE A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER, I TAUGHT SIXTH GRADERS, AND I WAS ALSO A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, SO I DREW ON THAT EXPERIENCE.

WE MADE THE CHAPTERS SHORTER, WE HAVE A GLOSSARY, WE HAVE CALL OUT SECTIONS, WE HAVE REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE A LOT OF STORIES, INCLUDING STORIES FROM MY OWN CHILDHOOD, GROWING UP.

AND MY ILL-FATED ADVENTURE INTO PLAYING BASKETBALL AS A FIFTH-GRADER AND HOW THAT ACTUALLY TIES INTO SOME OF THE THEMES OF THE BOOK AND RACIAL JUSTICE.SO, I THINK IT'S VERY APPROACHABLE.

I WILL ALSO MENTION, WE'VE CREATED SOME SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS AS WELL.

WE HAVE A SIX EPISODE PODCAST SERIES, AND THAT INCLUDES THE VOICES OF FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS, SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO THAT ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL OR THE GROCERY STORE, AND THERE'S ALSO A VIDEO SERIES, UM, JUST 15, 20 MINUTE VIDEOS, SIX EPISODES.

AND THOSE ARE ALSO GREAT TO WATCH ALONG WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE AS WELL.

>> Brandis: NOW, YOU SPEND A GOOD PORTION OF THIS BOOK WRITING ABOUT KEY MOMENTS IN BLACK HISTORY.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO INCLUDE THAT CONTEXT?

>> Jamar: WELL, FOR TRUE REASONS, ONE, YOU CAN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY OF THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY AND CONTEXT OF WHAT GOT US HERE.

SO, I WANTED TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDEA OF WHY WE NEED A BOOK ABOUT FIGHTING RACISM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WHEN WE LOOK TO HISTORY TO DISCOVER THAT.

BUT SECONDLY, WE ARE IN A TIME WHERE THERE ARE A SLATE OF BILLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY OPPOSING THE TEACHING OF WHAT THEY LABEL CRITICAL RACE THEOR , AND IN EFFECT, WHAT THAT DOES IS MAKE TEACHING ACCURATE RACIAL HISTORY ABOUT THIS NATION MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

SO, IF ADULTS AND PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ARE WONDERING, WELL, HOW ARE STUDENTS GOING TO GET THIS MUCH-NEEDED INFORMATION?

HERE'S ONE RESOURCE TO HELP YOU DO IT.

>> Brandis: WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, JAMAR.

WHAT DO YOU WANT READERS TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK?

>> Jamar: I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON FROM THIS BOOK FOR BOTH ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE IS YOU HAVE AGENCY.

WHENEVER YOU SEE SOMETHING WRONG, WHENEVER YOU SEE AN INJUSTICE, YOU DON'T SIMPLY HAVE TO ACCEPT IT.

YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING, BUT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING, SO I THINK IF READERS WALK AWAY FROM THIS BOOK USING THE ARK OF RACIAL JUSTICE AS A FRAMEWORK, KNOWING THEY CAN AFFECT CHANGE, AND THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THEIR MONEY'S WORTH.

>> Brandis: THEN THEY'VE GOT AN APPOINTMENT JAMAR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> Jamar: THANK YOU, >> Brandis: AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED HOW TO FIGHT RACISM, A GUIDE TO STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.

YOU CAN READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> UP NEXT LEARN ABOUT A LIFESTYLE BRAND COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING BLACK WOMEN.

[MUSIC] >> Brandis: IT ORIGINALLY STARTED AS A PASSION PROJECT IN AN EFFORT TO PAY HOMAGE TO BREONNA TAYLOR POINT A PAIR OF FRIENDS AND BUSINESSWOMEN CREATED 50 KIDS, RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN IN CHICAGO.

TWO YEARS LATER, IT'S SINCE BECOME A MOVEMENT THAT'S EXPANDED BEYOND THE T-SHIRT THAT STARTED WITH.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL INTRODUCES US TO THE CREATORS OF BLACK WOMEN ARE ESSENTIAL.

IT SHARES WHY THE BRAND IS MORE THAN JUST A MOVEMENT, BUT A LIFESTYLE.

>> Angel: MEET CHELSEA CARTER AND ESSENCE SMITH, CREATORS OF BLACK WOMEN ARE ESSENTIAL.

>> WE KNOW AS BLACK WOMEN BEING BIRTHED FROM BLACK WOMEN, HAVING BLACK WOMEN THAT ARE FRIENDS, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ESSENTIAL IN ANY CAPACITY, IN ANY ROLE THAT WE PLAY.

>> Angel: IT'S A LIFESTYLE BRAND COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING, UPLIFTING, AND PROMOTING BLACK WOMEN IN THE HIGHEST WAY, A DUTY THEY SAY IS IMPERATIVE.

>> WHAT DOES BLACK WOMEN ARE ESSENTIAL MEAN?

>> YOU CAN SEE IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WITHIN THE POLITICAL CLIMATE, BLACK WOMEN ARE UNDERREPRESENTED, WE ARE DISRESPECTED.

WE ARE NOT VALUED.

AND, UM, AGAINST ALL OF THOSE ODDS, WE STILL RISE.

WE STILL RISE, WE STILL SHOW UP FOR ONE ANOTHER, WE ARE THE PILLARS FOR A LOT OF CULTURAL SHIFTS, MOVEMENTS.

WE HOLD THE WEIGHT OF OTHERS ON OUR BACKS WHILE MAKING IT LOOK FLAWLESS, WHILE MAKING IT LOOK EASY.

WE WEAR MULTIPLE HATS.

I MEAN, I CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT WHY AND HOW BLACK WOMEN ARE ESSENTIAL.

>> ITEMS WE PROVIDE COME FROM WHAT ESSENCE AND I BOTH WANT TO OWN WITH THE MESSAGING.

WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY CULTIVATED OF MOVEMENT AROUND THIS, SO WE WANT TO NOW GOING TO PEOPLE'S HOMES WITH IT, WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, JUST THEIR BODIES.

>> Angel: THE BRAND CURRENTLY OFFERS A RANGE OF T-SHIRTS, SWEATSHIRTS, AND EVEN A NEW HOME COLLECTION.

CONSISTING OF JOURNALS, BLANKETS, CANDLES, AND MORE.

BUT THEY AREN'T STOPPING THERE.

>>.

[LAUGHING] >> Angel: THEY WANT TO CREATE A SISTERHOOD THAT'S A REFLECTION OF THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIP.

>> WE KEEP EACH OTHER ON OUR TOES.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT.BUT ALSO, UM, WE BOTH ARE WOMEN OF FAITH.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, I DON'T WANT TO SAY YOU CAN'T ALWAYS FIND THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE PEOPLE'S SPIRITUALITY IS ALIVE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I BELIEVE DEFINITELY HAS VALUES TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD.

>> WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FUNNEL SOME SORT OF DONATION ELEMENT AND BE ABLE TO THEN PROVIDE AND POUR BACK INTO YOUNG WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS.

>> Angel: BUT THE BRAND IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST THE SISTERHOOD THEY'RE CREATING, BUT FOR EVERYONE.

>> OUR BRAND IS ADVOCATING FOR BLACK WOMEN.

AND ALL THAT ALIGNS WITH THAT MESSAGING.

SO, WHATEVER COLOR, WHATEVER ORIENTATION, IF YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF OUR MOVEMENT, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BUY.

>> Angel: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> Brandis: IF YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN ARE ESSENTIAL.

AND THAT'S OUR CHAUFFEUR THIS WEEKEND.

HE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEW FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

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 PM.AND JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

NOW, FOR ALL OF US HERE ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, AND BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[MUSIC] X REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY.

>> CLOSE CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT CLIFFORD AND THE CLIFFORD LAW OFFICE,