>> AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES I'M BRANDIS FREE BAY ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

CITY COUNCIL DELAYS VOTE ON 2 PROPOSALS BACKED BY MAYOR JOHNSON.

WE HAVE THE LATEST.

>> THIS IS THE BEST EXAMPLE I CAN THINK OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.

>> WE PREVIEW A NEW W T TW DOCU SERIES EXPLORING CHICAGO'S HISTORY OF SEGREGATED HOUSING.

AND A NEW BOOK EXPLORES WHY THE SUBURBS AREN'T IMMUNE TO THE PROBLEM OF RACIAL INEQUALITY.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, OFFICIAL WHO GREEN-LIGHTED THE BOTCHED SMOKESTACK IMPLOSION IN LITTLE VILLAGE IS NOW SET TO LEAD THE CITY'S BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT.

>> CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY APPROVED THE NOMINATION OF MARLENE HOPKINS TO THE POSITION CITIES WATCHDOG HAD RECOMMENDED HOPKINS BE PUNISHED FOR FAILING TO PREVENT THE TWENTY-TWENTY SMOKESTACK IMPLOSION THAT COVERED LITTLE VILLAGE IN DUST.

BUT TOP OFFICIALS REJECTED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATION IN HAWKINS DID NOT FACE DISCIPLINE.

AND THE MAN TAPPED TO SUCCEED.

REVEREND JESSE JACKSON SENIOR AS THE HEAD OF THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION IS STEPPING DOWN AFTER JUST MONTHS ON THE JOB.

THE CHICAGO BASED ORGANIZATION SAYS IT HAS ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION OF REVEREND FREDERICK HAYNES.

THE 3RD, THE 63 YEAR-OLD HAINES TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HE FELT IT NECESSARY TO MOVE ON IN LIGHT OF, QUOTE, CHALLENGES THAT CONTINUE TO EXIST.

BUT HE DECLINED TO COMMENT FURTHER RAINBOW PUSH SAYS JESSE JACKSON'S SON USE OF JACKSON.

ATTORNEY WILL CONTINUE SERVING AS THE GROUP'S CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

NO WORD ON THE SEARCH FOR ANOTHER PRESIDENT AND CEO.

WE HAVE ONE.

THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE WILL RETURN TO THE CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK THIS SUMMER.

2 YEARS AFTER THE PARADE SHOOTING THAT KILLED 7 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED DOZENS MORE.

THE CITY SAYS THIS YEAR'S FESTIVITIES WILL START WITH AN INDOOR REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY WHILE THE TEMPORARY MEMORIAL NEXT TO CITY HALL WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE.

THEN THE PARADE WILL CONTINUE DOWN A DIFFERENT ROUTE THAN PREVIOUS YEARS.

AND WE'LL KEEP THE TRADITION OF THE CHILDREN'S BIKE AND PET PARADE.

ORGANIZERS SAY THIS YEAR'S EVENTS HAVE TAKEN A TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF VICTIMS OF CRIME.

AND THEY SAY THOSE WHO FEAR REE DRUMMOND IS A SHUN FROM THE DECOR AND MUSIC OF THE PARADE ITSELF.

THEY ENCOURAGED TO AVOID THE AREA MIDDAY.

UP NEXT CITY COUNCIL KICKS THE CAN ONTO MAJOR PLANS TO SHARON JOINS US LIVE FROM CITY HALL RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 2 KEY INITIATIVES BACKED BY MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON HIT ROADBLOCKS TODAY.

JOHNSON CITY COUNCIL ALLIES DELAYED FINAL VOTE ON A BILLION-DOLLAR BORROWING PLAN AND SPENDING FOR MIGRANT CARE CITY COUNCIL SET TO BE BACK IN SESSION FRIDAY TO TACKLE THOSE HOT BUTTON ISSUES.

W T TW NEWS REPORTER HAD A SHARON JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM CITY HALL WITH MORE.

AND HEATHER, YOU KNOW, USUALLY WE RELY ON YOU TO TELL US WHAT DID HAPPEN AT CITY COUNCIL TODAY.

BUT TODAY WE NEED TO BREAK DOWN WHAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND WHY SO WHY DIDN'T THE CITY COUNCIL A VOTE ON THAT PLAN TO BORROW 1.2 5 BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS.

>> WELL, THE MAYOR'S ALLIES USED A PARLIAMENTARY TRICK KNOWN AS DIFFERENT PUBLISHED TO PREVENT THE MAYOR'S OPPONENTS FROM DELAYING TODAY'S VOTE BEFORE THEY COULD IT ESSENTIALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION TO THE MAYOR'S PLAN TO REORIENT THE WAY THE CITY FUNDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS.

RIGHT NOW THE CITY RELIES ON WHAT'S CALLED TAX INCREMENT FINANCING WHICH BASICALLY ONLY BENEFITS THE PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE PROPERTY VALUES ARE GROWING.

HE WANTS THE CITY TO TAKE A MORE EQUITABLE APPROACH AND TO DO THAT.

HE WANTS TO BORROW 1.0, 2, 5 BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS.

BUT HE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHETHER HE WILL BE ABLE TO MUSCLE THAT THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL FOR 48 HOURS.

AND EVEN IF THE BARN PROPOSAL DIDN'T GET A FINAL VOTE, HEATHER, IT DID CLEAR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AFTER ONE LAST STICKING POINT WAS RESOLVED.

WHAT WAS THAT?

>> WELL, DEBATE REALLY CAME DOWN TO A SIMPLE ISSUE.

SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE TO APPROVE EVERY PROJECT THAT WAS WORTH MORE THAN 5 MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE THAN 1 MILLION DOLLARS.

EVENTUALLY, THE MAYOR BACKED A PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR 5 MILLION DOLLARS IN TODAY.

AFTER THE MEETING, HE SAID HE DID THAT IN THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION, BUT REDUCING THAT LEVEL TO 1 MILLION DOLLARS WAS JUST A STEP TOO FAR.

AND THE MAYOR'S ALLIES SAID THAT WOULD HAVE JUST CREATED TOO MUCH RED TAPE FOR THE CITY OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

SO THAT IS WHAT IS UP FOR A VOTE ON FRIDAY.

>> OKAY.

AND ALSO STILL UP IN THE AIR.

THOSE THE MAYOR'S REQUEST THAT THE CITY SPENT AN ADDITIONAL 70 MILLION DOLLARS TO CARE FOR.

THE MIGRANTS COMING CHICAGO THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

WHERE DOES THAT STATE?

>> ALSO UP IN THE THE MAYOR'S LSU'S, THE IDENTICAL PARLIAMENTARY TRICK TO DELAY THAT VOTE UNTIL FRIDAY AGAIN, AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT EMOTIONS RUN VERY, VERY HIGH ON THIS ISSUE.

TALK ABOUT HOW THE CITY SHOULD CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS AND WHETHER THE COST OF THAT THAT COST SHOULD BE BORNE BY CHICAGO TAXPAYERS.

NOW THE MAYOR SAYS THAT THE CITY BASICALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY CHOICE BUT TO BUT TO JOIN THE COUNTY AND THE STATE POOLING THEIR RESOURCES TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH ABOUT 321 MILLION DOLLARS TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR AND TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION WHEN A NEW RENEWED SURGE OF MIGRANTS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO CHICAGO ON BUSES PAID FOR BY TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.

>> AND HEATHER, VERY BRIEFLY.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> SO WE'LL BE BACK HERE ON FRIDAY.

THE MAYOR SAID AFTER THE MEETING, HE'S CONFIDENT HE HAS THE VOTES.

IF HE DOES, THOSE WILL BE TOO SIGNIFICANT VICTORIES FOR THE MAYOR WHO IS JUST ABOUT TO MARK HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.

OKAY, HEATHER?

SURE.

OWN AT CITY HALL FOR US.

THANKS, HEATHER.

>> THANKS.

BRANDIS.

AND YOU CAN FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

>> SEGREGATED HOUSING IN CHICAGO WASN'T AN ACCIDENT.

IT WAS A SYSTEM THROUGH FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS.

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE, AN ANIMATION, THE NEW FOUR-PART DOCUMENTARY SERIES, SHAME OF CHICAGO.

SHAME OF THE NATION EXPLORES HOW THAT SYSTEM WAS CREATED, HOW IT HURT BLACK CHICAGOANS AND HOW ITS LEGACY STILL LIVES ON TODAY.

ITS FIRST EPISODE, THE COLOR TAX PREMIERES TOMORROW NIGHT AT 9 ON W T TW.

HERE'S A LOOK.

>> LIKE MANY AMERICANS, SALLY IN BOLD AND ASPIRED TO A HOME IN THE SUBURBS BETTER NEIGHBORHOOD INSIDE THE CITY.

BUT IN THE 1950'S, THOSE OPTIONS WERE OPEN TO BLACK FAMILIES.

SO HE MADE A DOWN PAYMENT ON A HOUSE IN WHAT WAS CALLED CHICAGO'S BLACK FOR 2 YEARS.

THEY MET THEIR MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS ON TIME.

ONE DAY HE RECEIVED AN EVICTION NOTICE FOR BEING LATE.

ONE TIME.

ONE.

>> THAT WAS WHEN THEY WENT TO SEE MY FATHER.

>> SO MUCH MORE OF THAT STORY THERE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE JOE WALTON, VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS AT EVERGREEN REAL ESTATE GROUP AND VIA ZOOM, SHAME OF CHICAGO.

SHAME OF THE NATION LEAD PRODUCER CREATOR AND DIRECTOR BRUCE ORENSTEIN ALONG WITH THE SERIES PRODUCER CHRIS JENKINS.

THANKS TO ALL 3 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

BRUCE, WANT TO START WITH YOU CREATED SHAME OF CHICAGO.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TELL THE STORY?

>> WELL, IT KIND OF COMES OUT OF MY LIFE'S WORK AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.

AND THAT IS A FILMMAKER FILMS FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT CHICAGO.

I WORKED IN LOW-INCOME LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO INADEQUATE HOUSING, TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS THAT FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT WE CONCENTRATED POVERTY IN THE CITY WITH HIGH CRIME RATE ALL COME FROM A HISTORY OF HOUSING SEGREGATION.

SO I WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TELL THE AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU KNOW, THAT COMES FROM MANY YEARS MY WORK IN THE OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE THROUGH LINE IN THAT FIRST EPISODE IS THE IDEA OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH BEING OBTAINED THROUGH A HOME OWNERSHIP.

BUT OF COURSE, SO MANY BLACKS WERE.

>> DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY DELIBERATELY BARRED FROM OBTAINING THAT DREAM.

BRUCE, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE METHODS THAT WERE USED AT THE TIME TO PREVENT BLACKS FROM FROM BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE AND OWN HOME.

WELL, BECAUSE OF REDLINING POLICIES THAT MANY PEOPLE HEARD THE TERM RED LINE BECAUSE OF THOSE POLICIES, BLACKS COULDN'T OBTAIN >> CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGES, THEY BE ABLE TO BUY A HOME ON A MORTGAGE THAT A WHITE WAS ABLE TO BUY A HOME OR AND SO THEY TURNED TO CONTRACT SELLERS.

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE RENT A HOME.

THE CONTRACT SELLER DROP A CONTRACT THAT WOULD SAY ONLY THIS MONTH, AMOUNT OF MONEY AND PER MONTH.

AND SO ON.

AND THEY NEVER GOT ANY EQUITY.

WOULD NEVER BUILD ANY EQUITY IN THE PROPERTY AND THEY COULD ONLY OWNED THE HOME ONCE THEY PAY THAT CONTRACT OFF.

SO THAT MEANS IF YOU LIVE IN A HOME FOR 10 YEARS, LET'S SAY YOU WANTED THE MOVIE UPGRADE WHATEVER YOUR REASON YOU WOULD NOT HAVE ANY EQUITY IN THEIR PROPERTY.

WE CUSTODY AT THE COOKS ENTER THAT SHOW THAT UPWARDS OF 4 BILLION DOLLARS TO STRAIN FROM THE POCKETS OF BLACK FAMILIES WHO ARE UNDER CONTRACT.

85% OF THE BLACK FAMILIES IN CHICAGO WHO ARE SEEKING HOMES DURING THE 1950'S AND 60'S.

WE'RE BUYING A CONTRACT.

THAT WAS.

FOR SOME OF THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SURPRISE AS WE JUST HEARD IN THE CLIP ABOUT THE BOLTON'S WHO >> WERE EVICTED WHEN THEY MISSED ONE CHRIS.

AND THEN I WANT TO GET JEWEL WALTON IN ON THIS.

BUT, CHRIS, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE TACTICS THAT USED TO THE EFFORTS BEING USED TO PREVENT THEM FROM PURCHASING HOMES.

>> WELL, ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS ABOUT THIS STORY IS RESISTANCE AND THAT BLACKS TOOK ON PUSHED BACK AGAINST SO MUCH OF THE CONTRACT SEWING THAT WAS GOING IN PARTICULAR IN CHICAGO.

THE CONTRACT BUYERS WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOUR VIEWERS WILL SEE TOMORROW IS JUST INCREDIBLE STORY OF ACTIVISM OF LEADERSHIP.

WHAT WORKING CLASS, BUT FOLKS TO PUSH BACK AGAINST SO THESE CONTRACTS, SELLERS BY GOAT GOING DIRECTLY TO THEM TO TRY TO HAVE THEIR LOANS, A RENEGOTIATED.

AND AS OF YOUR VIEWERS WILL FIND, SOME ARE DOING SOME REALLY INCREDIBLY BRAVE I WANT TO GIVE AWAY EVERYTHING.

GREAT THINGS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THEY PUT PRESSURE.

THESE THESE CONTRACTS SELLERS TO RENEGOTIATE PUSH BACK.

AND GET A FAIR DEAL, WHICH THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO.

FOR WORDS OF 15 TO 20 YEARS.

AND WHAT IS REALLY INCREDIBLE ABOUT NOT ONLY THE STORY THAT PROVES TELLS THROUGH THE CODEX WE'LL BE SEEING MORE OF THE ENTIRE SERIES IS THIS BLACK RESISTANCE IN CHICAGO.

BUT I DEFINITELY CAN USE.

>> AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, DEFINITELY WANT TO GET BACK TO BREEZE ON WHAT WHAT ELSE WE'RE GOING TO IN THE REST OF THE SERIES.

WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE IT AWAY.

WANT PEOPLE TO WATCH IT BUT WALTON, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HEAR SOME OF THESE STORIES AND THINK, OH, THIS HAPPENED 60 YEARS AGO.

SHIRLEY, THINGS HAVE CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.

OF COURSE, YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HOUSE AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT BLACK FAMILIES HAVE TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING A HOME IN BUILDING BUILDING THAT GENERATIONAL WEALTH, I THINK AND FOR THE MOST PART, THE ISSUE HAS BEEN BEING ABLE TO HAVE A SIZABLE DOWN PAYMENT AND RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO HOME OWNERSHIP.

>> PARTICULARLY AS VICE PRESIDENT.

PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH EVERY REAL ESTATE TO WORK ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND WITH THE AFFORDABILITY COVENANTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS, IT JUST TO GIVE SOME RELIEF TO BE ABLE TO COVER ADDITIONAL EXPENSES THAT CAN BE TOWARDS HOME OWNERSHIP.

THAT CAN BE TOWARDS PAYING FOR DAYCARE EXPENSES, WHICH FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES.

IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CHILDREN, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE BEYOND A HOUSING PAYMENT.

AND THEN ALSO YOU KNOW, COVER STUDENT DEBT HAS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR NUMBER OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND EVEN GOING INTO MIDDLE AGE, EVEN.

BUT IT'S MORE THE SOME OF AND THEN WE HAVE A HISTORY OF PREDATORY LENDING THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS HAPPENING JUST VERY RECENTLY THE LAST 2025 YEARS.

SO THIS IS BEEN A CONTINUATION OF A NUMBER DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.

AND WE'VE KNOWN FROM HISTORY THAT IN MANY CASES THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS BLACK AMERICANS WILL ENJOY.

WANT TO GET A LITTLE INTO THAT HISTORY BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME BECAUSE YOU AT END MAY COME TO YOU IN A SECOND.

I PROMISE.

BUT YOU HAVE A UNIQUE AND FAMILIAL CONNECTION TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY.

>> BUT EXPERIENCED A MASSIVE LOSS OF WEALTH, TULSA'S BLACK WALL STREET THAT THAT WAS DESTROYED IN 1921.

DURING THE VIOLENCE WHITE MOBS.

TELL US BRIEFLY ABOUT THAT CONNECTION.

SURE.

SIGN THE 5TH GENERATION DESCENDANT OF JB STRAFFORD.

HE IS ONE OF KEY FOUNDERS OF BLACK WALL STREET LEARNING OF THE BLACK TOWNS THAT WERE DEVELOPING OUT WEST PRIOR TO OKLAHOMA BECOMING A STATE IN 19.

0, 7, HE AMASSED A, YOU KNOW, QUITE A BIT OF WEALTH THERE.

IN THAT TIMES.

HE WAS HAD MORE THAN 24 BUSINESSES AS WELL RENTAL HOMES.

FOR BLACK AMERICANS, AND HE ALSO HAD THE STRATFOR HOTEL, WHICH WAS 55 ROOMS AND WITH THE LARGEST BLACK HOTEL AT THE TIME IT OPENED IN 6/1/1918, AND IT ALMOST 3 YEARS TO THE DATE.

IT IN TULSA RACE MASSACRE.

BEGINNING ON MAY 31ST.

1921.

SO HIS HISTORY.

AND CONNECTION TO MY HISTORY AS WELL.

HE USED HIS EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AS BUSINESSMAN TO BE A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

JUST BECAUSE HE WAS DEFENDING AT THE TIME, THE STORY OF THE YOUNG MAN WHO ASSAULT ITS ALLEGEDLY A WHITE WOMAN IN ELEVATOR, THAT WASN'T JB STRESS FOR FIRST TIME PUT HIMSELF A POTENTIAL LYNCHINGS.

IT'S YEAH, IT'S A VERY, VERY LONG AND IT IS IMPORTANT HISTORY THAT ONLY RECENTLY MANY FOLKS ARE ARE BEGINNING TO LEARN ABOUT.

WE'VE GOT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT.

BUT BRUCE, WHEN IT COME BACK TO YOU, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER STORIES THAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THROUGH THE REST OF THE SERIES?

>> BEFORE ANSWER THAT, I'M GONNA JUST QUICKLY SAY THAT CONTRACTS TELLING STILL EXIST TODAY.

YOU KNOW, ALL THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH SIDE, WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO THROUGHOUT THE SUBURBS IT'S A STORY THAT TOMORROW NIGHT STORIES VERY RELEVANT FOR TODAY AS WELL.

THE REST OF THE SERIES IS GOING TO DIVE BACK INTO THE EARLY 19.

100'S.

HOW DID CHICAGO BECOME SEGREGATED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

AND THEN ALL THAT CAME OUT OF THAT, THE WHOLE SCAFFOLDING SEGREGATION THAT PUT TOGETHER ALL METHODS, PRACTICES POLICIES.

AND SEEN SOME OF THAT AS WELL.

I KNOW.

WE ALSO.

>> YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT THE SUBURBS AND A LOT OF OTHER DIFFERENT EFFORTS AT AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS FOLKS CAN TUNE IN TO WATCH IT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LET ALL OF YOU GO THERE.

BREES ORENSTEIN, KRIS JENKINS IN JOELTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

AND AGAIN, YOU CAN WATCH THE FIRST EPISODE OF SHAME OF CHICAGO.

SHAME OF THE NATION TOMORROW AT 9 ON W T TW.

UP NEXT, HOW THE STORIES OF 5 FAMILIES HIGHLIGHT THE FRACTURING OF SUBURBAN AMERICA.

>> STORIES ABOUT CHICAGO.

HOME OWNERSHIP ARE SUPPORTED BY FUNDING FROM THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY.

TRUST >> THE SUBURBS ARE IMMUNE TO THE COUNTRY'S ISSUES AROUND RACIAL INEQUALITY.

ONCE A BEACON OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, FAMILIES HAVE NOW REALIZED THAT THE SUBURBS HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER EQUALLY ON THIS PROMISE, ACCORDING TO A NEW BOOK IN DISILLUSIONED AUTHORED BENJAMIN HAROLD EXPLORES HOW 5 FAMILIES HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS RECKONING FIRSTHAND.

AND JOINING US IS THE BOOK'S AUTHER BENJAMIN HAROLD, WELCOME CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKELY SAYS SINCE JOINING US.

THANKS SO MUCH HAVING YOU, I KNOW EACH OTHER.

WE GO BACK A LITTLE BIT AT MOST AS EDUCATION REPORTERS, BUT I WANT TO START WITH THE PREMISE OF THIS IT CAME TO YOU FROM A VISIT TO YOUR HOMETOWN IN PENNSYLVANIA.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> I GREW UP IN A TOWN CALLED PENN HILLS.

THAT'S ABOUT 10 MILES EAST OF DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH.

AND MY FAMILY MOVED IN THERE IN THE MID 1970'S AND WHERE WHITE GREW UP THERE AND HAD PRETTY PROTOTYPICAL POST-WAR SUBURBAN EXPERIENCE WAS A PLACE THAT WORKED REALLY, REALLY WELL FOR US, ESPECIALLY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH KIND OF PUT ME AND MY BROTHERS ON THE PAT THEM IN A CLASS SECURITY WITHOUT US HAVING TO REALLY DO TOO MUCH.

AND SO WHEN I GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1994, I LEFT, COULDN'T WAIT TO GET OUT OF THE SUBURBS.

I WANT TO GO SEE THE REAL WORLD AND REALLY MUCH MY PROFESSIONAL CAREERS.

A JOURNALIST WAS FOCUSED ON CITIES AND RURAL AREAS THINKING THAT'S WHERE THE KIND OF HEART OF AMERICA'S CHALLENGES WERE.

AND THEN ALL HEADLINES STARTED COMING OUT OF PENN HILLS, MY HOMETOWN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAD WORKED SO WELL FOR MY WHITE FAMILY.

AS 172 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT.

THEY WERE LAYING OFF TEACHERS.

THEY WERE SLASHING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP.

HOME VALUES ARE STAGNATING.

YOU COULD KIND OF SEE THAT SUBURBAN DREAM ALMOST ERODING IN REAL TIME AND REALIZE VERY QUICKLY.

IT WAS OVERLAID WITH THE DRAMATIC DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT.

SO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN 72% WHITE.

WHEN I GRADUATED BY THE TIME ALL OF THESE DEBT STARTED COMING, DO THEY WERE 63% BLACK?

IT WAS THE FAMILIES WHO ARE USING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOW WHO ARE ON THE HOOK FOR ALL OF THAT BURDEN.

YOU WRITE THAT THE THE ILLUSION THAT SUBURBIA REMAIN SOMEHOW SEPARATE FROM AMERICA'S PROBLEMS IS NO LONGER VIABLE AND WHITE.

>> IT'S I THINK IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER HOW MUCH OF OUR HOPES AND DREAMS AND VISIONS OF THE FUTURE AS A COUNTRY.

WE'VE INVESTED IN SUBURBIA.

>> LIKE THE MASK SUBURBANIZATION OF AMERICA AFTER WORLD WAR, 2 WAS JUST A RADICAL RESHAPING OF THE COUNTRY FROM LAND USE PATTERNS TO ECONOMIC EDUCATION AND SO FORTH.

AND SO ALL OF THAT WAS REALLY PREDICATED ON THIS IDEA THAT THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE CAN GIVE OUR KIDS A BETTER LIFE.

THAT'S VERY POWERFUL DRAW.

BUT FOR SO MANY FAMILIES HAVE COME THEIR PARTICULAR THE 3RD 4003TH 5TH GENERATION OF A RESIDENTS WHO ARE OFTEN FAMILIES OF COLOR OR LOWER INCOME OR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES COMING IN REALLY EXPECTING AND HOPING AND WANTING THAT SAME DREAM THAT SAME GENEROUS SOCIAL CONTRACT AND INSTEAD ARE FINDING THAT THEY'RE IN PLACES THAT WEREN'T DESIGNED FOR THEM THAT OFTEN ARE NOT VERY WELCOMING AND CAN BE OUTRIGHT HOSTILE.

AND THEY'RE ALSO OFTEN ON THE HOOK FOR ALL OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

OTHER FAMILIES HAVE ALREADY EXTRACTED AS MENTIONED, RUN EDUCATION REPORTER AND YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE 5 SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES THAT YOU EXAMINED.

>> WHAT DOES A COMMUNITY'S SCHOOL DISTRICT TELL YOU WHAT TELL US?

I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION 90% OF FAMILIES ASK WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING TO BUY A NEW HOME IS WHERE THE SCHOOLS IT'S REALLY CENTRAL TO THIS IDEA OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT.

AND WITH HIS VISION OF THE FUTURE IS.

>> AND YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE IDEA OF OUR SUBURBAN PROJECT AS A NATION IS PREDICATED ON HOUSING AND SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE INEXTRICABLY LINKED.

AND SO WHEN FAMILIES OFTEN HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF RECKONING MOMENT OF HATE, THIS PLACE ISN'T DOING WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

THEY FEEL IT FIRST IN SCHOOLS.

AND SO THAT'S PART OF WHY FOCUS ON THAT SO MUCH IN THE BOOK.

>> YOU FOCUS ON A DIVERSE SET OF 5 FAMILIES IN DIFFERENT SUBURBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING SUBURB THAT YOU GREW UP IN.

BUT ALSO EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

SO RIGHT DOWN THE AND YOU'RE IN FACT, IN TOWN FOR AN EVENT WITH EVANSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY THERE.

HOW ARE ARE THE EXPERIENCES IN THE NEEDS OF THESE DIFFERENT FAMILIES IN DIFFERENT SUBURBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

DIFFERENT?

>> I THINK PART OF WHAT TO THE FAMILY SHOW IS THAT THERE'S THIS KIND OF LONG ARC OF DEVELOPMENT INTO CLIMATES, SUBURBS HAVE.

AND SO WHEN IT'S A NEW COMMUNITY, THERE'S KIND OF ONE THING THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND BY THE TIME IT'S AN AGING COMMUNITY, IT'S ANOTHER THING HAPPENING.

SO THE 5 COMMUNITIES AND 5 FAMILIES REALLY TRACE THAT AND I CAME TO EVANSTON REALLY THINKING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE PLACE THAT HAD A LONG HISTORY OF COMMITMENT TO DESEGREGATION, DIVERSITY, RACIAL EQUITY WAS A PLACE THAT OTHER PEOPLE OTHER COMMUNITIES WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK TO FOR LESSONS ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES THAT ARE SWEEPING THROUGH SUBURBIA.

AND WHEN I WALKED AWAY WITH WAS A SENSE OF LIKE A WEIGHT.

EVANSTON HAS A LOT CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS TOO.

AND THERE WAS THIS REAL DISCONNECT, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNGER FAMILIES, COLOR HAVING TO DEAL WITH RACIST INCIDENTS IN SCHOOL.

HUGE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, LACK OF REPRESENTATION OF THESE ISSUES.

AND SO EVANSTON FOR ME REALLY BECAME THIS KIND OF CRITICAL PIVOT POINT OF SAYING WE'RE IN SOME REAL TROUBLE.

HERE IS A WE'VE IN THE STORY.

YOU RECOUNT THE EVANSTON COMMUNITY'S EFFORTS TO INTEGRATE SCHOOLS BACK IN THE 60'S RESULTED IN THE CLOSING OF THE FOSTER SCHOOL THAT WAS IN A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD, DONNELLY, BLACK COMMUNITY, CHILDREN FROM THAT DISTRICTS OR FROM THAT SCHOOL ZONE WERE BEING BUSED TO OTHER ZONES.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE, IN FACT, IN EVANSTON AND I SHOULD THAT SHOULD MENTION FULL DISCLOSURE.

MY CHILDREN ARE STUDENTS IN DISTRICT.

65 THEY'RE THEY'RE STILL EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS THERE.

YEAH.

AND YOUR DISTRICT 65 IN MANY WAYS IS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR DECADES OF HOW DID BOTH START AND SUSTAIN RACIALLY BALANCED SCHOOLS AS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OTHER SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES HAVE STRUGGLED WITH.

>> WE SAW, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BARRIERS COME DOWN AND THEN RE SEGREGATION AFTER THE SUPREME COURT AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WALKED BACK THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO DESEGREGATION EVANSTON THAT STATE MAKE YOU KNOW THAT THAT KEPT ON THERE IS THIS ONGOING COMMITMENT.

AND SO I REALLY CAME IN THINKING LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS A PLACE THAT IS IS GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING TO TEACH US.

AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT KIND OF SEEING HOW THE COMPROMISES THAT WERE MADE IN THE 1960'S AROUND DESEGREGATION, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE CLOSING OF FOSTER AND PUTTING THE BURDEN OF DESEGREGATION ON BLACK FAMILIES.

BUT THAT NEVER WENT AWAY.

THERE WAS LIKE A LOT OF RESENTMENT AND A LOT OF LOST OPPORTUNITY AND A LOT LAST CAPITAL IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO 50 YEARS LATER, MANY PEOPLE EVANSTON LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, HEY, WE STILL HAVE THESE HUGE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.

MY KIDS ARE STILL GETTING CALLED SLURS IN SCHOOL.

THEY'RE STILL ALL OF THESE OTHER PROBLEMS AND WE DON'T HAVE A SCHOOL IN THE 5TH WARD.

SO WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE BENEFIT IS HERE FOR US.

AND WE SAW EVANSTON ACTUALLY DISTRICT 65 WALKED BACK FROM THAT COMMITMENT TO DESEGREGATION AND YOU DECIDE TO REOPEN A SCHOOL IN THE 5TH I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLY POIGNANT MOMENT.

YES, MOST RECENTLY IN THE DISTRICT AS SAINT CLAIMED, IT IS A MATTER OF WRITING WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE HISTORICAL BRIEFLY THAT ASCENA FAMILIES, THE FAMILY THAT YOU FOLLOW IN EVANSTON, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM IN THEIR EXPERIENCE DURING IS SEEN AS A MULTIRACIAL MOM.

>> HER DAD'S NIGERIAN AND DURANT.

AND SO SHE HAD GROWN UP IN EVANSTON AND MOVED AWAY AND THEN CAME BACK IN PART TO RAISE HER SON THERE AND TO SEND HIM TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND HE WAS IN FIRST GRADE WHEN HE WAS FIRST CALLED RACIAL SLURS IN SCHOOL.

AND THIS WAS AROUND 2018 AND IT WAS A TIME PERIOD WHEN I THINK EVANSTON AROUND THE COUNTRY, THERE WAS JUST A OF TOLERANCE ARE WILLING TO PUT UP WITH THAT KIND OF THING ANYMORE.

AND SO WHAT WE SAW IN EVANSTON WAS THAT LAUREN AND ANOTHER BE A KIND OF A LARGER GROUP OF A PROGRESSIVE PARENTS REALLY BECAME VERY ACTIVE IN LOCAL POLITICS.

ACTUALLY THE SCHOOL BOARD ABOUT THE POLITICS AND TOOK CONTROL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND REALLY PUSHED RACIAL EQUITY TO THE CENTER OF THE DISTRICT'S AGENDA WITH MIXED RESULTS.

OKAY.

THINK A LOT OF FOLKS AND SAY THERE'S BEEN MIXED RESULTS IN A LOT OF PLACES, BUT THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE THEN.

HARRELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

GOOD TO SEE THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED DISILLUSIONED 5 FAMILIES AND THE UNRAVELING OF AMERICA'S SUBURBS.

YOU CAN READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE.

BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND ONE NOTE BEFORE WE GO, WE RECENTLY TOLD YOU ABOUT THE GOSPEL SHOWCASE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE HERE WTW NEXT TUESDAY.

WELL, DUE TO DEMAND, THE EVENT WILL NOW TAKE PLACE AT SHILOH, 7TH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH.

SAME TIME NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD AT 06:30PM.

AND YOU CAN STILL GET FREE TICKETS BY VISITING WT TW DOT COM SLASH GOSPEL SHOWCASE OR SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

WE'LL EXPLORE A NEW EFFORT AIMED AT ELIMINATING CHICAGO'S FOOD DESERTS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES, I'M GREATEST FRIEDMAN, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTION MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH.

>> THAT IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE