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

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

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT NUMBER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN IS CONVICTED OF MURDERING GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNESOTA.

WE WILL TALK TO LOCAL JOURNALISTS ABOUT THEIR REACTIONS.

>>> THE LONG VACANT SITE OF THE FORMER MICHAEL REESE HOSPITAL IN BROWNSVILLE WILL GET NEW LIFE.

WE ARE TELLING YOU HOW MANNERS ARE INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN AN AMBITIOUS PLAN.

>>> A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH THE WTTW PROGRAM, OUR PEOPLE.

IT BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES 41 VIEWER AND WE WILL HEAR HIS STORY.

[MUSIC] [SINGING] >> Host: MEET THE WOMAN WHOSE STYLE THAT VIOLA DAVIS IS SHOW, STORRYTELLING THROUGH HAIRSTYLING IS NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR AWARD.

>>> AFTER A YEAR OF PROTEST IN A THREE WEEK LONG TRIAL, FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDERING GEORGE FLOYD.

A CONVICTION THAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN CALLS "STAIN ON OUR NATION'S SOUL".

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE VERDICT, THE REACTION AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

BRANDON POPE REPORTER AND WRITE FOR EBONY MAGAZINE, CHERYL CORLEY CORRESPONDENT FOR FTR AND DOMETI PONGO NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

WE HAVE HEARD A LOT THE PAST FEW WEEKS ABOUT HOW EMOTIONALLY TAXING THESE TIMES HAVE BEEN FOR BLACK PEOPLE EVEN THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA WOMEN'S FOUNDATION FOUNDED THE BLACK JOURNALISTS THERAPY RELIEF FUND.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

CHERYL CORLEY, I WELCOME TO YOU FIRST.

>> Guest: I AM DOING FINE.

I THINK WHEN YOU COVER TRIALS AND I WAS COVERING THE TRIAL, WE WERE PRETTY FOCUSED ON DOING THAT JOB.

AND, SO, THAT'S HOW IT WAS FOR ME.

I ALSO KNEW ABOUT THE HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY OF COVERING THIS TRIAL WAS AS WELL.

THAT WAS ON MY MIND.

IT WAS A TENSE SITUATION.

YOU AS A JOURNALISTS ARE WONDERING WHAT WILL HAPPEN JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

BUT, I WAS FINE WITH COVERING IT.

>> Host: BRANDON POPE?

>> Guest: IT HAS BEEN TOUGH.

WHERE PEOPLE HAD A SIGH OF RELIEF AT THE VERDICT, I FOUND IT TOUGH TO FIND JOY BECAUSE THE VERDICT DOESN'T CHANGE MY REALITY TODAY OR NEXT WEEK.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE TALK I WILL HAVE TO HAVE WITH MY NIECE OR NEPHEW NEXT MONTH.

I WANT TO SEE SOME PROGRESS.

I AM HOPING THAT WE DON'T GET COMPLACENT AND KEEP OUR EYE ON THE PRIZE AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD FOR CHANGE.>> Host: DOMETI PONGO?

>> Guest: IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN TOUGH.

LIKE NINA SIMONE SAID, AND ARTIST DUTY IS TO REFLECT THE TIMES.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE THESE MEGAPHONES AND MICROPHONE TO ADD CONTEXT TO WHAT IT IS HAPPENING.

EVEN ON THE WORST DAYS I REACH EIGHT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MYSELF TO TELL THE STORIES.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH BUT REWARDING.

>> Host: CHERYL CORLEY YOU WERE IN MINNEAPOLIS COVERING THIS.

WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE AS A CHICAGOAN TO WATCH THE TRIAL IN THE VERDICT UNFOLD IN MINNEAPOLIS?

>> Guest: IT WAS INTERESTING.

AS YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE SIMILAR HISTORIES.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN HERE IN CHICAGO THAT MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE LAQUAN McDONALD TRIAL, THE TRIAL FOR VAN DYCK AND THE LAQUAN McDONALD CASE.

THOSE KINDS OF SIMILARITIES WERE SOMETHING THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT AS I WAS COVERING THE TRIAL.

WE HAVE SEEN THESE KINDS OF TENSIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

NOT JUST IN CHICAGO OR MINNEAPOLIS.

I KEPT ALL OF THAT IN MIND.

>> Host: BRANDON, CHERYL JUST MENTIONED THE LAQUAN McDONALD TRIAL IN THE TRIAL OF JASON VAN DYCK.

BRANDON, HOW DO YOU COMPARE THESE TWO CASES?

>> Guest: IT IS HEAVY.

LIKE CHERYL SAID, WE ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF HEAVY THINGS.

A LOT OF MIDWESTERNERS ARE.

I WAS IN THE COURT ROOM FOR THE VAN DYCK VERDICT.

A LOT OF SIMILARITIES HERE.

I THINK THERE WAS MORE OF A SENSE AT THE CHAUVIN TRIAL AS JUSTICE BEING SERVED THEN IT WAS NECESSARILY WITH THE VAN DYCK TRIAL AND THERE STILL MORE TO COME WHEN IT COMES TO SENTENCING.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

THE WAY THAT THE CITY WAS FEELING, THE ANXIETY, THE TENSION AND THEY WANT TO SEE SOMETHING IS DONE.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHEN.

>> Host: GO-AHEAD.

>> Guest: ONE THINK THAT IS INTERESTING WITH BOTH OF THESE TRIALS IS OFTEN TIMES WHEN A GUILTY VERDICT COMES DOWN WE EXPECTED TO BRACE AND EVERYONE IS CELEBRATING AND JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED.

THE SIMILARITIES OF THESE CASES ARE EXTREME CASES.

ONE PERSON BEING KNELT ON FOR 9 MINUTES THE WHOLE EXCRUCIATING MURDER CAPTURED ON CAMERA THEN YOU HAVE LAQUAN McDONALD, 15 SHOTS.

YES WE ARE CELEBRATING A GUILTY VERDICT TO COME DOWN BUT ALSO THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT OUR GUILTY VERDICTS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE IN THE MOST EGREGIOUS VIDEOTAPED HIGHLY DOCUMENTED AND PUBLICIZED CASES.

THOSE ARE THE BIG SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO .

>> Guest: AND A SENSE OF MORNING AS WELL.

YOU HAVE LOST LIVES HERE.

IT IS TOUGH TO FIND JOY KNOWING THAT SOMEONE'S LIFE IS TAKEN.

THEIR SUN IS GONE, THEIR FATHER IS GONE.

IT'S TOUGH TO GRAPPLE WITH.

>> Guest: IN KNOWING THAT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO DO.

WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY INSTANCES EVEN AFTER THE DECISION OF MORE SHOOTINGS, MORE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVES.

WHILE THERE WAS SOME CELEBRATION, WE HAVE THESE OTHER TRAGEDIES OCCURRING AND PEOPLE ARE KIND OF MUTING THE CELEBRATION THAT WAS OCCURRING IN THE CHAUVIN CASE.

>> Host: WHEN THE VERDICT CAME DOWN LAST WEEK WE HEARD FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS AND EVEN SPORTS ORGANIZATION.

THEY TOOK SOME CRITICISM FOR THEIR RESPONSES.

FOR EXAMPLE, NANCY PELOSI, THANK YOU GEORGE FLOYD FOR SACRIFICING YOUR LIFE FOR JUSTICE.

BECAUSE OF YOU AND THE THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD PEOPLE CAME OUT FOR JUSTICE.

YOUR NAME WILL ALWAYS BE SYNONYMOUS WITH JUSTICE.

THE LAS VEGAS RATERS PUT UP A "I CAN BREATHE" WITH THE VERDICT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> Guest: WITH PELOSI, THERE IS NO MOBILITY OR MARTYRDOM.

MAKE NO MISTAKE.

THE RIGHT REALLY NAILED THIS.

OH, THIS GUY SHOULDN'T BE A MARTYR AND WE SHOULD CRIMINALIZE HIS CHARACTER FOR, THEY MISSED CHARACTERIZED HIM BECAUSE OF HIS PAST DRUG USE.

THIS GUIDE DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A SACRIFICE.

THERE IS NO MOBILITY OF GOING TO THE STORE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO COME ME AND SEE YOUR FAMILY.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF JUSTICE VERSES ACCOUNTABILITY, WHAT WE SAW WAS A GUILTY VERDICT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

JUSTICE WOULD HAVE BEEN GEORGE FLOYD TO SEE HIS DAY IN COURT BECAUSE OF THE ALLEGED COUNTERFEIT $20 BILL HE HAD.

THIS ISN'T JUST HOLDING POLICE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.

THIS ISN'T WHAT FLOYD WANTED TO BE.

I KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A SILVER LINING AND YES, HIS NAME IS SYNONYMOUS FOR THIS BIG WATERSHED MOMENT IN HISTORY.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS MAN DID NOT SET OUT TO BE THIS.

HE WAS JUST A REGULAR KIND OF GUY.

AND, JUST TO SPEAK TO THE LACK OF DIVERSE VOICES IN A ROOM TO UP TO SAY, WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS MIGHT BE TAKEN THE WRONG WAY.

I MUST SAY THAT I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH FLOYD'S BROTHER AND HE DID NOT TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT.

ONCE GO OUT TO THE INTERNET THEY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OWN.

>> Guest: I THOUGHT PELOSI'S COMMENTS WERE PRETTY APPALLING.

SHE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS WHO COULD HAVE SAID SOME THING OR ADVISED HER A LITTLE BETTER PERHAPS.

GEORGE FLOYD CERTAINLY WASN'T THINKING ABOUT SACRIFICING HIS LIFE FOR JUSTICE.

HE WAS MURDERED.

HOWEVER, PEOPLE DO MISSPEAK AND MAKE MISTAKES.

I DON'T WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR NANCY PELOSI IN ANY WAY BUT SHE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND RACIAL JUSTICE.

AND HAS THE POWER TO PUSH THROUGH LEGISLATION THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS A BAD MOMENT FOR HER.

AS FAR AS THE MARC DAVIS AND THE RAIDERS, WHEN SAYING I CAN'T BREATHE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY ODD, TO BUT HE EXPLAINED WHAT IT MEANT AND WHAT THE ORGANIZATION MEANT.

YOU KNOW, LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE HOLDING THEIR BREATH OVER WHAT THIS VERDICT WOULD BE.

>> Host: CLEARLY THERE WAS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

AND, THE CONVERSATION, I WILL HAVE TO HAVE ALL THREE OF YOU BACK ON AGAIN.

BUT, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

MY THANKS TO CHERYL CORLEY, DOMETI PONGO AND BRANDON POPE FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL JOIN ME TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:00 FOR OUR BLACK VOICES COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

WE ARE TALKING TO ORGANIZERS AND CURRENT AND FORMER POLICE OFFICERS ABOUT THE CHAUVIN CONVICTION AND THE KILLER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

YOU CAN GO TO WTTW.com/ EVENTS TO RSVP.

>>> AFTER A DECADE AFTER SITTING UNUSED, THIS FORMER MICHAEL REESE HOSPITAL SITE APPEARS TO BE UNDER REDEVELOPMENT.

EARLIER THIS YEAR THE CHICAGO PLAN COMMISSION APPROVED AN EFFORT TO OVERHAUL THE PROPERTY JUST WEST OF THE LAKEFRONT ON 31ST STREET.

AS WE REPORT, THE TEAM BEHIND THE IN DEVELOPMENT IS THINKING BIG AND WORKING TOWARDS COMMUNITY BUY-IN.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL REESE HOSPITAL WAS ONE OF CHICAGO'S OLDEST FOUNDED IN 1881 AND DEMOLISHED IN 2009.

>> HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF ITERATIONS, SHOULD THIS BE THE OLYMPICS?

AMAZON?

>> Reporter: THE CITY BOUGHT THE PROPERTY AS IT WAS GOING FOR A FAILED OLYMPICS BID HERE THEY PICKED A TEAM OF DEVELOPERS TO TAKE OVER THE SITE AND CREATED A MASSIVE PLAN FOR A MIXED DEVELOPMENT UNIT.

>> WE NEARLY POTENTIAL FOR THE SITE AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE ENTIRE SOUTH SIDE AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE CITY WHO NEED IT MOST.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECTS FIRST PHASE WILL BE THE ART INNOVATION CENTER AND EQUITY FOCUSED RESEARCH ARM OF ISRAEL'S RENOWNED SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER.

IT IS TO MAKE ACCESSIBLE.

THEY SAY THIS BUILDING WILL REFLECT THAT.

>> IT FRAMES A LITERAL GATEWAY TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND TOWARDS THE SINGER PAVILION WHICH IS A HISTORIC BUILDING THAT WE ARE CHOOSING TO PRESERVE AND KEEP ON THE SITE.

>> Reporter: BEYOND KEEPING THAT BUILDING URBAN ARCHITECTS ARE TRYING TO IMAGINE EVERY FACET OF THE MASSIVE SITE.

>> EVERYTHING FROM THE ROADS, TO THE PARKS IN THE BLOCKS TO THE USES, WHAT THE PLACE SHOULD LOOK AND FEEL LIKE AND THEN HOW IT SHOULD CONNECT BACK TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THE DEVELOPERS THAT WORK ON THE PROJECT SAY THE COMMUNITY IS PLAYING AN INTEGRAL ROLE.

IT IS NOT JUST A ONE AND DONE TOWN MEETING.

THEY CAME TOGETHER TO PUT TOGETHER A MICHAEL REESE ADVISORY FOUNDATION TO WORK WITH HIM THROUGHOUT THE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

>> I THINK EVERYONE'S THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

ONCE THIS IS DONE I THINK WE WILL SET THE STANDARD OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> THE DESIGNER, "STAIN ON OUR NATION'S SOUL" LIVES A MILE AWAY FROM THE SITE.

HE SAID THAT TRUE COMMUNITY IS A WAY TO NOT JUST RAISE SUPPORT BUT TO FEEL LIKE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> YOU WANT TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS MORE THAN JUST PARKS.

IT IS NOT JUST A NEW BUILDING HERE AND A PART, THEY HAVE A TANGIBLE MEANING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Reporter: THE SITE IS ALSO SLATED TO HAVE MARKET GRADE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDING FOR SENIORS, RETAIL WITH DISCOUNTED RENT FOR SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES, GREEN SPACE AND A COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> THE FOLKS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY NEED TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A PART OF BROWNSVILLE.

THAT CONNECTION BRINGS ME JOY, PERSONALLY.

>> MORGAN MALONE SAID SHE HOPES THE COMMUNITY ECCENTRIC APPROACH COULD BE A MODEL BEYOND THE PROJECT.

EXIT MAY SEEM TOO HARD OR COMPLEX BUT WHEN YOU PUT PEOPLE FIRST YOU CAN DO IT YOU CAN WIN AND YOU CAN FINANCE.

IT WILL BE POSSIBLE AND EVERYONE WILL AND IF IT.

>> THREE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FULL SITE WILL BE A TWO DECADE EFFORT.

BUT THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SAID THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T SPENT MUCH TIME IN THE AREA, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT.

>> COME ON DOWN!

COME HANG OUT.

COME ON DOWN!

WE HAVE SPIRIT, SOUL AND APPROACHABLE SOUL.

IT'S NOT AN AREA WHERE YOU COME INTO IT BUT YOU FEEL LIKE AN OUTSIDER.

WHEN YOU COME INTO THIS COMMUNITY YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM NICK LUNDBERG.

>> Host: THE MASTER PLAN HAS TO PASS KEY COMMITTEES AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

THEY HOPE TO COMPLETE THE $6 MILLION PHASE ONE BY 2026.

>>> FROM 1968 TO 1972 WTTW AIRED THE WEEKLY PROGRAM, OUR PEOPLE, HOSTED BY JIM TILMAN, ONE OF THE FIRST OF IT'S KIND TO PROVIDE A FORM FOR BLACK ISSUES FEATURING GUEST LIKE HAROLD WASHINGTON BEFORE HE BECAME MAYOR AND ACTOR AND ARTIST JAMES BALDWIN.

WE RECENTLY UNEARTHED CLIPS OF THE PROGRAM AND IT ROCKED BACK MEMORIES FROM ONE VIEWER WHOSE FATHER APPEARED ON THE SHOW ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

>>> IT WAS A PROGRAM THAT GAVE A PLATFORM FOR BLACK CELEBRITIES LIKE DIANE CAROL, SAMMY DAVIS JUNIOR AND JAMES BALDWIN.

BUT ALSO, LOCAL ARTISTS LIKE JOSI WILLIAMS.

HE APPEARED ON THE SHOW IN NOVEMBER 1970.

THOUGH THE EPISODE ITSELF HAS BEEN LOST, A FEW IMAGES WERE RECOVERED, BRINGING BACK MEMORIES TO WILLIAM SON, KIM.

>> THAT IS A REAL YOUNG DUDE BUT I WAS ABOUT 14 AND HE WAS 39 AT THE TIME.

>> Host: TODAY THE SENIOR WILLIAMS IS 90 YEARS YOUNG AND THOUGH HE DOESN'T REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT BEING ON OUR PEOPLE, HE DOES REMEMBER WHAT IS IMPORTANT, CREATING HIS ART.

>> AS LONG AS YOU LIVE YOU ARE CREATING SOMETHING.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT FORM.

IT MIGHT BE A FORM OF PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY OR DRAWING.

IDEAS ARE ALWAYS THERE.

CREATIVITY NEVER LEAVES ONE'S MIND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT ONE'S GIFT IS.

SO, IF YOU FIND OUT WHAT YOUR GIFT IS YOU DO THAT UNTIL YOU MOVE INTO THE NEXT LIFE.

UNTIL YOU LEAVE THIS LIFE.

BUT YOU ARE ALWAYS WORKING.

>> Host: WE SPOKE TO THEM FROM THEIR HOME IN VIRGINIA.

KIM WILLIAMS WHO RECENTLY MOVED FROM CHICAGO SAW THE CLIPS OF OUR PEOPLE PLAYING ON BLACK VOICES.

SHE RECALLS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROGRAM AT THE TIME PRESENTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY TO TELL HIS OWN STORY.

>> THAT WAS THE MOST SEEN T.V.

AT OUR TIME IN CHICAGO.

PEOPLE WHO CAME TO CHICAGO TOOK THAT NEWS SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> Host: JOSI WILLIAMS RECALLED THAT IN THE LATE 60S AND EARLY 70S THERE WERE NO GALLERIES FOR ARTIST TO DISPLAY THEIR WORK SO THEY HAD TO CREATE THEIR OWN SPACES INCLUDING ONE ON 31ST STREET.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE FROM THE OUR PEOPLE PROGRAM ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> A GARY INDIANA WOMAN IS BEING NOMINATED FOR TONIGHTS OSCAR.

WE REVISIT OUR CONVERSATION WITH MIA NEAL FROM LAST MONTH WHEN SHE WAS FIRST NOMINATED.

[MUSIC] MA RAINEY MADE HISTORY AS THE MOTHER OF BLUES.

MOVIE WATCHERS GET AN EAR FULL OF HER LIFE AND MUSIC IN THE FILM MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM WHICH RECORDS A SESSION IN THE 1920S IN CHICAGO.

HISTORY IS BEING MADE.

A GARY, INDIANA NATIVE IS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR IN MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING.

JOINING US IS MIA NEAL, THE HEAD DEPARTMENT OF THE FILM, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM AND WHO IS MAKING OSCAR HISTORY ALONGSIDE HER PARTNER AS THE FIRST WOMAN NOMINATED FOR MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING GOOD CONGRATULATIONS.

>> Guest: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Host: WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE NEWS OF RECEIVING DENOMINATION AND MAKING OSCAR HISTORY WITH THIS NOMINATION?

>> Guest: THE WHOLE THING FEELS VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN.

I FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THAT IS HAPPENING.

YOU GO TO WORK, YOU DO YOUR JOB, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WORK BEHIND THE SCENES YOU ARE NOT USED TO HAVING ANYTHING IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

YOU KNOW?

THAT TO HAPPEN AT THIS CALIBER IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

I AM SO GRATEFUL.

EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.

>> Host: PART OF YOUR JOB WAS NAILING THE HAIRSTYLES FOR THE 20S FOR BLACK PEOPLE BOTH IN CHICAGO BUT ALSO AT A TENT IN THE COUNTRY, ON THE ROAD.

WHAT DID YOU LOOK TWO FOR INSPIRATION FOR THOSE?

>> Guest: THERE'S ONLY SEVEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF MA RAINEY HERSELF WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING AND I COULD ONLY FIND TWO WHEN I WAS DOING THE RESEARCH.

I DO LOOK UP A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHS LIKE HARLEM RENAISSANCE AND THAT SORT OF THING BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT DID THE GREAT MIGRATION THEY CAME FROM DOWN SOUTH AND TO THE NORTH AND LANDED IN HARLEM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHS THERE THAT DEPICT BOTH KIND OF SOUTHERN AND VERY MUCH SO CITY LOOK OF THE 20S.

THE RESEARCH PART IS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS WHEN EVER I GET A FILM.

GOING THROUGH THERE I USUALLY LOOK UP A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHERS LIKE BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE TIME AND I GO OFF OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS THE THEY USED.

AND SO, THAT'S WHAT I DID.

AS FAR AS MA RAINEY GOES, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS WRITTEN THAT THE COSTUME DESIGNER HAD FOUND THAT SHE WORE HORSE HAIR WIGS.

WE DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY GO WITH THAT SINCE WE COULDN'T FIND THAT MANY FACTS ABOUT HOW SHE LOOKED.

AND SO, THAT WAS INTERESTING FOR THE FIRST TIME I MADE A WIG OUT OF HORSEHAIR WHICH IS NOTHING LIKE HUMAN HAIR.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WOULD COME COVERED WITH LICE AND MANURE SO THAT WAS INTERESTING.

>> Host: HERE'S A CLIP FROM THE FILM WITH FILM STAR, VIOLA DAVIS.

>> I COULD NEVER STAND THE SILENCE.

I ALWAYS HAD TO HAVE SOME MUSIC ON IN MY HEAD SOMEWHERE, IT KEEPS THINGS BALANCED.

MUSIC CAN DO THAT.

THE MORE MUSIC YOU HAVE IN THE WORLD, FLOW IT IS.

>> Host: WHAT WAS IT ABOUT MA RAINEY'S STORY THAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE FILM AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT HER THROUGH STYLING THROUGH A CHARACTER AND HER HAIR?

>> Guest: I DEFINITELY LEARNED ABOUT THE HORSEHAIR WIG AND THE CONTINUITY OF IT.

I THINK THAT MA RAINEY HERSELF WITH SUCH A COMPLEX WOMAN.

RIGHT?

THIS IS A WOMAN WHO GREW UP IN THE RURAL SOUTHERN PART OF GEORGIA.

SHE CHANGED HER NAME, MOVED, CAME FROM PROBABLY WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SHARECROPPERS.IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, SHE'S THE FIRST GENERATION BORN FREE IN THIS COUNTRY FROM HER FAMILY.

SHE DID NOT, ALSO BEING A DARK SKINNED WOMAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WROTE ABOUT HER DESCRIBE HER AS THE MOST UNATTRACTIVE WOMAN IN THE SHOW BUSINESS.

HAVING ALL OF THESE THINGS AND REALIZING THAT, I'M STILL GOING TO GO OUT AND GET EVERYTHING I WANT IN THIS LIFE NO MATTER WHAT THE OBSTACLES.

SHE DIDN'T FOLLOW ANY RULES WHICH IS HIGHLY DISRESPECTED AS A WOMAN IN THE 20S, A WOMAN OF COLOR, ALL BOUNDARIES BROKEN HERE SHE HAD A HUSBAND AND A GIRLFRIEND.

SHE WORE FOR CODES IN THE SUMMERTIME.

LIKE GOLD TEETH, THE WHOLE NINE.

THIS IS ABOUT RESPECT.

HER LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER DURING THIS TIME.

SHE SPOKE TO MEN LIKE MEN SPEAK TO MEN DURING THAT TIME AND SO, I LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A VERY BRAVE WOMAN WHO WAS WAY AHEAD OF HER TIME AND I AM GLAD THAT GEORGE AND DIDN'T SELL AND AUGUST AND ALL OF US CAME TOGETHER SO THAT PEOPLE NOW KNOW HER BECAUSE SHE REALLY HAS BEEN ERASED.

AND, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL NOT ONLY WATCH THE MOVIE BUT GO AND READ ABOUT HER AND LOOK UP OTHER THINGS.

SHE REALLY WAS AN INTERESTING WOMAN.

>> Host: I'VE SEEN THE MOVIE AND SHE IS VERY INTERESTING.

I WANT TO ASK YOU AND JIMMY GO WILSON WHO YOU ARE NOMINATED WITH, THE FIRST BLACK WOMEN TO BE NOMINATED.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A CRITICS SAY IS A LACK OF DIVERSITY IN ENTERTAINMENT?

>> Guest: MY THEORY ON IT IS EVERY, WHAT IS A WAY TO PUT IT?

EVOLUTION IS INEVITABLE.

YOU KNOW?

IN EVERYTHING THAT HAS RESISTED EVOLUTION OF MATTER HOW BIG AND SMALL IS NOW EXTINCT.

SO, THAT'S WHAT I TELL MYSELF AND THAT IS HOW, I BELIEVE THAT AND SO, I THINK THINGS ARE CHANGING BECAUSE IT IS INEVITABLE.

AND, I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND THEY WANT IT.

I THINK ULTIMATELY WE HAVE INHERITED A MESS.

YOU KNOW?

NONE OF US WERE REALLY HERE TO DETERMINE THOSE RULES OF SOCIETY.

WE ARE HERE NOW AND WE CAN CHANGE THEM SO THAT IS MY TAKE ON IT.

>> Host: AND, MIA NEAL BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AT THE OSCARS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> Guest: THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

ESPECIALLY, CHICAGO.

HEY CHICAGO, HAGUE GARY, INDIANA.

[LAUGHTER] THANKS.

>> Host: THE ACADEMY AWARDS CEREMONY AIRS TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

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

ONE-ON-ONE WITH COOK COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY WITH UNVEILED POLICE REFORM EFFORTS, AND MORE.

THERE ALMOST ON THE CLOCK .

WHAT ARE THE BEARS BIGGEST NEEDS WHEN THEY HAD INTO THE NFL DRAFT?OR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

EGGS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

ALL SHE COULD LOSE TO