>>> HEY, THERE.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

I AM BRENDA FREEMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT -- >> I FEEL LIKE WE ARE ALL RESILIENT IN A WAY, WE ALL HAVE SOME FORM OF RESILIENCE.

>> PARTICIPANTS IN THE CITIES GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT SAY HOW THEY SAY THE PROGRAM HAS HELPED THEIR LIVES.

>>> ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF EMMETT TILL, CLOSED.

THE SINGLE WHO MADE THAT ACTION YEARS AGO, DIED.

>>> BUSINESS OWNER GIVES THE LAST WORD.

CONSIDERING HIRING RESIDENTS RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION.

>>> CHICAGO HAS ITS FIRST EVER POETRY ON THE PAGE.

>>> AND A LOOK BACK AT THE LEGENDARY ROLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

ALL THAT, COMING UP.

>>> OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, A CHAPTER CLOSES IN THE BRUTAL KILLINGS OF EMMETT TILL, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK.

AT FIFTH THIRD, WE BELIEVE WHEN VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED, LIVES ARE MADE BETTER WITH A BETTER PROMISE FOR ALL.

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

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER, WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> THE WHITE WOMAN WHO ACCUSED BLACK CHICAGO TEENAGER EMMETT TILL OF MAKING INAPPROPRIATE ADVANCES LEADING TO A LYNCHING IN 1955 MISSISSIPPI HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 88.

CAROLYN BRYANT HAD AN ACCUSATION THAT CAUSED HER HUSBAND TO KIDNAP AND KILL YOUNG TILL.

AN ALL-WHITE JURY DID NOT CONVICT THE MEN.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS ON IF BRILLIANT HERSELF WITH PHASE PROSECUTIONS FOR THE ACCUSATIONS THAT SOME FACE SHE LATER RECANTED.

JOINING US NOW IS TILL FAMILY ATTORNEY, CHRIS BENSON.

TILL'S COUSIN, AND LAST WITNESS TO HIS KILLING, CHRIS, WELCOME BACK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, THANK YOU.

>> SO, REVEREND PARKER, THE LAST WITNESS, AS WE SAID, RELEASED A STATEMENT AFTER THE DEATH WAS RECORDED.

IT READS IN PART, "OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY OF CAROLYN BRIAN DUNHAM.

I RECOGNIZE THAT ANY LOSS OF LIFE IS TRAGIC AND DON'T HAVE ANY ILL WILL OR ANIMOSITY TOWARD HER.

EVEN THOUGH NO ONE NOW WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEATH OF MY COUSIN AND BEST FRIEND, IT IS ALL OF US TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CHALLENGES WE ALL FACE IN OVERCOMING THE RACIAL INJUSTICE."

CHRIS, EMMETT TILL'S STORY HAS BEEN PART OF YOUR LIFE'S WORK.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS?

>> WELL, WE EXPECTED THIS TO HAPPEN SOONER THAN LATER.

WE KNEW THAT SHE WAS NOT IN GOOD HEALTH AND IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

WE WERE HOPEFUL THAT AT SOME POINT BEFORE SHE LEFT THAT SHE WOULD CONFESS, THAT SHE WOULD TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

SADLY, THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

ON THE GOOD SIDE, THOUGH, REVEREND PARKER AND I PARTICIPATED IN A FOUR YEAR RIDE ALONG WITH THE FBI AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI TO CLOSE OUT THE INVESTIGATION.

AND OVER THOSE FOUR YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO SEE A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION THAT STILL HASN'T BEEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.

BUT, WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT THE DOTS TO SHOW HER RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS HORRIBLE LYNCHING OF EMMETT TILL.

AND TO SEE HOW HER STORY HAD GROWN IN ORDER TO COVER UP HER INVOLVEMENT IN THAT AFFAIR.

>> AND CONSIDERING ALL OF THAT RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION, AND ALL THAT YOU AND THE FAMILY KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, DOES THIS DO ANYTHING TO CLOSE THE CHAPTER FOR THE TILL FAMILY?

>> WELL, YOU READ THE STATEMENT OF REVEREND PARKER, THIS IS A DEEPLY RELIGIOUS FAMILY, AND HE AND OF COURSE, EMMETT'S MOM, WOULD SAY SO OFTEN, HEAT DESTROYS THE HATER.

SO, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HOLD ONTO THAT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY WANTED TO SEE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY IN THIS CASE.

NOW, THE ACCOUNTABILITY WILL COME IN THE WAY WE CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORY.

CAROLYN BRIAN DUNHAM DIDN'T TELL IT.

WE KNOW WHAT IT ALL MEANS AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORY.

SO, THERE IS SOME MEASURE IN JUSTICE IN THAT, REACHING THE TRUTH.

AS JOURNALISTS, WE ARE ALL ABOUT THE TRUTH.

WE WANT TO TELL THE STORY.

>> LAST YEAR, THERE WERE ATTEMPTS TO SEE HER ARRESTED AND CHARGED.

LAST WEEK, A MISSISSIPPI SHERIFF SAID THAT THE ARREST WARRANT WAS NOW MOVED.

HOW MUCH BLAME TO YOU ASSIGNED TO HER?

IT SEEMS LIKE IN THE INVESTIGATION YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF, QUITE A BIT.

BECAUSE IT SEEMS DOESN'T SHE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HER HUSBAND WOULD REACT THE WAY HE DID WHEN SHE IDENTIFIED HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?

>> YEAH, AND WE SEE THAT IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REVIEW, INCLUDING THE MANUSCRIPTS THAT SHE WANTED TO PUBLISH IN HER BOOK.

TO WHICH SHE SAYS THAT SHE FEELS LIKE SHE IS AS MUCH OF A VICTIM AS EMMETT TILL.

BUT, WE WERE ABLE TO THREAD A LOT OF THESE ELEMENTS TOGETHER TO SEE THAT SHE KNEW WHAT HER HUSBAND WAS CAPABLE OF.

SO, THERE WAS SOME AMOUNT OF CULPABILITY IN THAT.

THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

REGRETTABLY, THOUGH, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND I THINK THE THING THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND UNDERSTAND IS THAT WHILE WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT THE PERPETRATORS, IN TELLING THE STORY, WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE POWER STRUCTURE THAT MADE ALL THIS POSSIBLE.

FIRST, THAT WHITE PEOPLE IN 1955 BELIEVED THAT THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH MURDERING A BLACK PERSON.

AND TWO, EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE BY THAT POWER STRUCTURE TO COVER THIS WHOLE THING UP.

A LOT OF THESE STORIES HAVE CARRIED FORWARD, OUR STORIES THAT THEY DISTORTED IN WAYS THAT I THINK TAKE US AWAY FROM THIS REALIZATION OF NOT ONLY THE FACTS, BUT THE MEANING OF THOSE FACTS.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE CORRECTING NOW THROUGH THESE BOOKS WITH REVEREND PARKER.

>> ARE THERE UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS THAT THIS DEATH WILL LEAVE UNRESOLVED QUACKS AND ALSO, WHAT MORE MIGHT WE LEARN?

THERE ARE A LOT OF DOCUMENTS THAT STILL HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.

>> WELL, WE SAW THEM.

WE WERE ABLE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ANALYZING THE DOCUMENTS, AND WE WRITE ABOUT THAT IN THE BOOK AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS FROM THAT.

SO, WITH RESPECT TO THE FACTS OF THE CASE, WITH RESPECT TO THE MEANING OF THOSE FACTS, THERE IS NOTHING NEW THAT WAS EMERGED AFTER THE BOOK THAT WE HAVE DONE.

WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT IS THIS POWER STRUCTURE THAT IS ON A PARALLEL, WE BELIEVE, WITH 1955.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND FROM EMMETT TILL'S STORY.

EMMETT TILL IS THE STORY OF A HORRIBLE CRIME COMMITTED AGAINST THIS GIFTED KID, BUT IT IS MORE THAN THAT.

IT IS A STORY ABOUT HOW PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH WERE CONCERNED AND AFRAID OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THAT MOMENT.

THEY WERE LOOKING AT WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED WITH BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF RACIAL RELATIONS.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ON A PARALLEL WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING BACK THEN, AND PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, THAT IS A TRANSFORMATION OF THIS COUNTRY WITH RESPECT TO DEMOGRAPHICS.

AND PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF LOSING POWER, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW, THE PUSHBACK, THIS VIOLENT PUSHBACK AGAINST THAT CHANGE, JUST AS WE SAW IN 1955.

EMMETT TILL, AND THE STORY OF EMMETT TILL, HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE WE ARE GIVEN RIGHT NOW, AND HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

>> CHRIS, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

WHERE DOES THE TILL FAMILY GO FROM HERE, IN MAINTAINING THIS STORY AND THIS LEGACY?

>> WE HAVE INFORMED THE EMMETT TILL AND AMY TILL INSTITUTE THAT CONTINUES TO ADVANCE THE LEGACY OF AMY MOAKLEY, WHICH IS ALL ABOUT EDUCATION.

SO, TELLING THE CONTEXTUAL STORY IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE, HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY, TO GET INVOLVED, TO SEE THAT THEY HAVE A CIVIC DUTY, TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

WE DEVELOPED A NATIONAL CURRICULAR TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NOT ONLY THE FACTS OF EMMETT TILL AND THE CASE, BUT ALSO WHAT IT MEANS FOR THEM, IN MOVING FORWARD IN THE CASE, IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.

SO, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

>> DEFINITELY MORE TO COME, I AM SURE WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT AS IT ALL DEVELOPS.

CHRIS TILL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, WE CHECK IN WITH A COUPLE OF CHICAGOANS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT.

>>> LAST SUMMER, THE 8000 CHICAGOANS COLLECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CITIES GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT BEGAN RECEIVING $500 A MONTH.

TO SPEND HOWEVER THEY NEEDED.

THE PILOT , CALLED RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, WAS DESIGNED TO HELP INCOME QUALIFIED CHICAGOANS STABILIZE THEIR FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

PRODUCER, ERIKA GUNDERSON, MET TWO OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS TO FIND OUT HOW THE PROGRAM HAS WORKED FOR THEM SO FAR.

>> Reporter: DEONTE A BAKER HAS BEEN A SINGER.

SO, AS AN ADULT, HE DECIDED TO GIVE A PROFESSIONAL MUSIC CAREER A SHOT.

BY SPRING 2022, BAKER SAYS HE WAS ON A ROLL.

>> TIME IS TRICKY IN MUSIC.

YOU HAVE TO SOMETIMES GO OVER OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES.

THEN, THE NEXT DAY I HAD A JOB INTERVIEW AND THE NEXT DAY I HAD A GIG.

I HAD A PLAN.

>> Reporter: BUT THAT PROGRESS CAME TO A HALT WHEN HE WAS SILENTLY ATTACKED OUTSIDE HIS APARTMENT.

>> I WAS STABBED AND I BLED OUT.

I BLED OUT AND LOST LIKE A THIRD OF MY BLOOD, HAD TO HAVE THREE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS.

I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO WALK AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, ME BEING A SINGER, I HAD TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING, BECAUSE I JUST COULD NOT DO IT.

AND JUST AS FAR AS HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T WORK WITH YOURSELF THAN, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE LIKE, WELL, WHAT IS MY LIFE?

WHAT AM I DOING?

>> Reporter: BAKER WAS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE ATTACK WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT THE CITIES RESILIENT COMMUNITIES GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PILOT AND DECIDED TO APPLY.

HE SAID HE WAS OVERJOYED TO LEARN HE WAS SELECTED.

>> IT LITERALLY GOT ME OUT OF THE GUTTER.

FINANCIALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET A CAR FOR MYSELF, I WAS ABLE TO PAY RENT, I WAS ABLE TO REBUILD MY LIFE AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: AUGUSTINA TOWNSEND HAD BUILDING ON HER MIND, TOO, WHEN SHE MOVED FROM NIGERIA IN 22.

A FEW YEARS LATER, SHE WAS WORKING AS A CASHIER INTO THE NEXT YEAR, SHE WAS PREGNANT.

SHE RECALLS BRINGING HER NEWBORN SON, MILES, HOME.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME.

THAT ONE DAY HAS BROUGHT US TO 16 YEARS AND WE ARE STILL COUNTING.

>> Reporter: FOR THOSE 16 YEARS, TOWNSEND HAS RAISED HIM ALONE.

WHILE SHE SAYS IT HAS BEEN A FINANCIAL STRUGGLE, MAKING SURE MYLES HAS WHAT HE NEEDS IS HER CONSTANT FOCUS.

>> MYLES HAS A DREAM.

MYLES IS A LEADER.

>> Reporter: TOWNSEND WORKS AS A RIDE-SHARE DRIVER.

SHE SAYS THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN MADE HER ALREADY FRAGILE FINANCIAL SITUATION WORSENED.

>> I WAS PILING UP ON MY CREDIT CARD BILLS BECAUSE I WAS SPENDING FOR SURVIVAL.

ME BEING A SINGLE MOTHER, I BARELY MAKE NOTHING.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE MONTHLY $500 SHE HAS RECEIVED THROUGH RESILIENT COMMUNITIES HAS HELPED KEEP HER ON THE ROAD BY COVERING CAR COSTS.

WITH FOOD BUDGETING, SHE WAS EVEN ABLE TO TRAVEL WITH MILES TO A SCHOOL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

>> I WILL END UP TWO NIGHTS, INSTEAD OF THREE NIGHTS.

MYLES IS GOING TO EAT, I AM GOING TO EAT.

>> Reporter: WITH BAKER AND TOWNSEND SAY AS THEY APPROACH THE END OF THE PILOT, THEY HAVE RENEWED HOPE FOR THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURES.

>> I HAVE HOPE.

HUGE HOPE.

WE HAVE DREAMS, BIG DREAMS.

>> IT HONESTLY GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO GO AFTER MY JOURNEY, AND I AM LIVING THAT JOURNEY.

I AM MAKING THOSE SHORT-TERM GOALS, WHICH IS GOING TO BRING ME TO LONG TERM GOALS, WHICH IS POSSIBLY GOING TO HELP ME GET THE LIFE I WANT, THAT I ENVISION FOR MYSELF.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", THIS IS ERICA DEBORAH.

>> THE PILOT.

OF RESILIENT COMMUNITIES ENDS THIS SUMMER.

>>> IN A CITY KNOWN FOR ITS POETS AND POETRY, BEING NAMED CHICAGO'S FIRST-EVER POET LAUREATE IS HIGH PRAISE AND A LONG ORDER.

BUT, TEACHER, PRODUCER, COMPOSER, PERFORMER, AND YES, POET, AVERY BROOKS, SAID HE CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED SERVING AS THE CITIES POETRY AMBASSADOR.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HIS DECISION FOR THE ROLE, IS AVERY YOUNG.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I AM GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

YOU ARE A HOMEGROWN TALENT.

WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF POETRY BEGIN?

>> MY LOVE OF POETRY BEGIN WITH A BOOK THAT WAS A COMPILATION OF BLACK POETS, AND I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH WORDS.

THE STORIES THAT WERE BEING TOLD IN THOSE BOOKS BY THOSE POETS.

>> AND WHILE YOU WERE GROWING UP, HOW DOES THAT LOVE OF WORDS NURTURE AND ENCOURAGE YOU?

>> IN CHURCH, WATCHING THE MINISTER PREACH, GET PEOPLE ALL RILED UP, AND THEN PRAY, AND I WAS LIKE MAN, HOLED UP.

THAT IS MAGIC.

>> THAT IS THE MAGIC YOU GOT.

YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO HOLD THIS TITLE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> I AM LIKE, WOW.

KAREN ROGERS, AND BRENDA MATTHEWS, AND SO MANY POETS THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, BUT IT IS ME.

I AM LIKE, WOW.

I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

I AM DOING THIS LIKE, EVERY HALF HOUR, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS ACTUALLY REAL.

BUT, I AM EXCITED.

I AM EXCITED.

>> YOUR POETRY GOES BEYOND THE PAGE, YOU ARE A CROSS DISCIPLINARY ARTIST.

HERE IS A LOOK AT YOUR WORKS.

>> ♪ YOU ARE THERE, YOU ARE THERE, YOU ARE ALL DRESSED IN BLACK.

♪ SINGH, SISTER SING.

♪ WERE YOU THERE, WERE YOU THERE?

>> SO, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS APPROACH TO POETRY THAT WORKS FOR YOU?

>> ANY MESSAGE BEING GIVEN TO PEOPLE, HAS AN ASSIGNMENT.

SO, A LOT OF WHAT IS GOING ON THROUGH CHURCH AND TRANSFORMING FAITH THROUGH LANGUAGE IS THE WAY IN WHICH I DELIVER POEMS.

SO, THIS PARTICULAR POEM , EMMETT TILL THE REMIX IS BASICALLY A RETELLING OF A STORY IN CHURCH.

AND I REMEMBER GOING TO THIS SCHOOL AND THE YOUNG MEN HAD NO IDEA WHO EMMETT TILL WAS.

AND I WAS LIKE, I AM GOING TO WRITE A POEM.

AND THEN, I WAS LIKE, WELL, LET'S WRITE THE POEM.

AND I THOUGHT ABOUT, AGAIN, HOW EFFECTIVE THAT COULD BE WHEN IT KIND OF INITIATES AN EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT.

NOT JUST, OH, I'M LISTENING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN HISTORY.

AND AGAIN, I WILL NEVER FORGET THE STORY, JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS DELIVERED, I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT YOU ENJOY OR APPRECIATE WRITING ABOUT?

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE OFTEN GOING FOR WHEN YOU ARE WORKING?

>> IN THE BLACK WORLD THAT I WORKED IN, I DON'T KNOW, THE LIQUOR STORE, THE CURRENT EXCHANGE, AND THE CHURCH ARE ALL RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP ANYTHING PRIVATE, DON'T EVER PUT IT FORWARD.

SO, I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE STORIES WITH THESE GREAT CITIES.

STORIES ABOUT MY MOTHER, A COUSIN, MY UNCLE.

YOU KNOW?

>> ANYTHING CHICAGO.

>> ALL THINGS CHICAGO.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT DO YOU ENVISION FOR THIS ROLE, AND HOW DO YOU HOPE IT WILL IMPACT OTHER POETS?

>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO TEACH POET LAUREATES TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GET SOME WORK DONE AND SHARE IT WITH THE CITY.

THIS IS A CRAZY TIME WITH ME BEING THE FIRST ONE.

I WANT TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.

>> VERY SURPRISED CHICAGO HASN'T ALREADY HAD A POET LAUREATE, CONSIDERING THE HISTORY.

>> I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THAT.

I HAVE BEEN AROUND POETRY IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME.

>> RIGHTS.

>> I'VE NEVER BUT HE HEARD ABOUT ANYBODY WHO IS A LAUREATE.

>> THERE IS A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

ARE THERE RESOURCES THAT THE ROLE OFFERS THAT CAN GIVE YOU ACCESS TO NEW OR DIFFERENT STORIES?

>> WELL, I WANT TO WORK WITH THE DK DEPARTMENT AND FIGURE OUT SOME SOURCES WHO CREATE RESIDENCIES FOR POETS OUTSIDE OF MYSELF.

MAYBE THERE IS A MEETING TO BE HAD WITH SOME MAGAZINES OR NEWSPAPERS SCAN POETRY SECTIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> IF YOU ARE LISTENING, MAGAZINE PEOPLE -- >> YOU ARE LISTENING!

>> YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO DEVELOP A YOUNGER CHICAGO POET YOU HAVE WORKED WITH FOR MANY YEARS.

YOU HAVE ABOUT 25 SECONDS LEFT.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO USE THIS?

>> GOING TO SCHOOLS, GOING TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND TO THE MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS I HAVE WORKED WITH TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO FIND A PLATFORM.

TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEIR BREATH IS VALUABLE.

>> CHICAGO'S FIRST POET LAUREATE, CONGRATS, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> ABOUT 26,000 PEOPLE LEAVE ILLINOIS PRISONS EACH YEAR AND MANY OF THEM REPORT HAVING TROUBLE EMPLOYMENT WHEN THEY ARE HOME.

THIS WEEK, COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THE EXPANSION OF THE ROAD HOME PROGRAM, WHICH CONNECTS RETURNING RESIDENTS TO FIND A JOB.

AS PART OF THE ONGOING INITIATIVE, FIRST HAND: LIFE AFTER PRISON, HERE IS BUSINESS OWNER DREW DAVIS GIVING US THE LAST WORD ON WHY SHE IS HIRING RETURNING CITIZENS MAKING FOR GOOD BUSINESSES.

>> I AM JIA DAVIS, OWNER OF PURPLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND PURPLE REAL ESTATE CONSULTING.

I SAW THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING HOME WHO WERE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING JOBS.

PEOPLE THAT I KNEW, EXPERIENCES THAT I HEARD OF, JUST SEEING A NEED FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING HOME.

I CHOSE THE WORLD HOME PROGRAM AND THE CHICAGO WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.

I STARTED WORKING WITH THEM AND WORKING WITH THEIR PARTICIPANTS AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WORK ACROSS OUR COMPANIES WHO NEVER DID THE JOB BEFORE.

BUT, THEY LEARNED ON THE JOB, AND IT HAS WORKED OUT WELL.

WE NEED EMPLOYEES THAT ARE RELIABLE, THAT ARE DEPENDABLE, THAT COME TO WORK AND DO THE JOB THAT WE ASK.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE.

AND SO, THERE IS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF SAFETY WHEN EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HELPS OUT.

WHY ARE OUR RATES SO HIGH?

ONE OF THE REASONS, PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING EMPLOYMENT.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BUY ON THE OUTSIDE AND THAT IS WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE WORLD HOME PROGRAM.

IT WASN'T JUST STARTING WHEN THEY CAME HOME, IT LITERALLY STARTED INSIDE.

I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER NOT JUST THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOURSELF.

IF YOU ARE IN BUSINESS AND YOU HAVE A NEED, THERE IS A POPULATION TO HELP.

SO, BE OPEN, IF THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS TETHERING YOU FROM HIRING SOMEONE WHO IS A RETURNING RESIDENT, EXCEPT FOR YOUR OWN BELIEF ON WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WILL BE LIKE, DON'T LET THAT DICTATE YOUR EXPERIENCE, IT WILL DENY YOU A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE GET BEHIND PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO RETURN HOME, AND BE PRODUCTIVE IN THEIR RETURN.

THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WINS.

>> COOK COUNTY LEADERS ALSO DESIGNATED APRIL AS A SECOND CHANCE MONTH FOR ALL RESIDENTS RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION.

THERE IS MUCH MORE ON WTTW'S FIRST-HAND LIFE AFTER PRISON INITIATIVE ON OUR WEBSITE, THAT IS WTTW.COM/FIRSTHAND.

>>> THE KING OF CALYPSO HARRY BELAFONTE DIED THIS WEEK AT AGE 96.

HIS RISE TO FAME IN THE 1960S, INTRODUCING AMERICAN AUDIENCES TO CARIBBEAN RHYTHMS, CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., WHO ENCOURAGED HARRY BELAFONTE TO ENCOURAGE HIM IN THE RIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

IN THIS CLIP FROM A 2001 CHICAGO STORES INTERVIEW, HE REFLECTED ON DR. KING'S ABILITIES TO INSPIRE MOVEMENT.

>> HE HAD A GREAT SENSE OF RESPECT.

A GREAT REFERENCE FOR THOSE WHO WERE TOUCHED BY THE GIFT OF ART.

HE ALSO KNEW THE CONTEXT OF THE MOVEMENT, ITSELF.

THAT THE MOST INSPIRING FORCE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT ALWAYS HAD THE MOST POSITIVE RESULTS, WAS THE SONG.

AND IN THE EVENING WHEN THE EVENT WAS BEING ORGANIZED, NOT ONLY WAS HE THE SPEAKER, DR. KING HAD TO KNOW WHERE WILL OUR MUSIC COME FROM?

WHERE WILL THE VOICES BE THAT WILL LEAD US IN SONG?

AND MY TASK WAS TO, IN PART, WAS TO USE WHATEVER RELATIONSHIPS I HAD, OR INFLUENCES I HAD TO WIN SOME OF THE BEST ARTISTS OF OUR DAY TO THE CAUSE.

>> AGAIN, THAT WAS HARRY BELAFONTE IN 2001 INTERVIEW.

HE DIED THIS WEEK AT 96 YEARS OLD.

>>> AND BEFORE WE GO, STARTING FRIDAY, MAY 5th, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" HERE ON WTTW, AND STREAMING LIVE .

THAT IS IN ADDITION TO OUR 6:30 P.M. BROADCAST ON SATURDAY.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS, THAT IS FRIDAY, MAY 5th.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM, THE LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

AND JOIN US NEXT WEEK AT 5:30 AND 10:00 ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH SOME MORE MUSIC FROM DEONTE BAKER, ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE CITIES GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT.

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

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD