>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY DESERVES TO BE SAFE.

>> US ATTORNEY GENERAL VISIT CHICAGO AND SAYS HIS OFFICE IS DOUBLING DOWN ON EFFORTS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.

AFTER RESIGNING IN THE WAKE OF JADEN PERKINS, TRAGIC DEATH.

THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE STATE'S PRISONER REVIEW BOARD GIVES HIS FIRST INTERVIEW.

>> YOU HAVEN'T HEARD QUEEN BEY HAS A NEW ALBUM.

A LOOK AT THE BLACK COUNTRY, ARTISTS WHO CAME BEFORE HER.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, CHICAGO'S HOMICIDE RATE IS DOWN AND THE CITY'S CLEARANCE RATE FOR THOSE CRIMES.

IS AT ITS HIGHEST YEAR-TO-DATE IN ALMOST 10 YEARS.

THAT'S THE HEADLINE FROM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MONTHLY CRIME STATS.

POLICE SAY HOMICIDES ARE DOWN 5% YEAR-TO-DATE AND THROUGH MARCH, THE CLEARANCE RATE IS 77%.

THAT IS THE HIGHEST SINCE 2015.

THAT SAID THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS AND SHOOTING VICTIMS IS UP THIS MARCH COMPARED TO MARCH OF LAST YEAR.

US ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND WAS IN TOWN TODAY TO TALK ABOUT VIOLENCE PREVENTION MATT MASTERSON.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

AS THE SPRING BREAK.

TRAVEL SEASON WINDS DOWN.

THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WANTS TRAVELERS TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO PACK FOR THAT SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON.

GOING TO FLORIDA.

>> STILL CAN BRING THE OVERSIZE SOMEWHAT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAS TO BE IN A CHECKED BAG AS WELL.

THESE ARE ITEMS THAT WILL SLOW YOU DOWN WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING.

SO THINK ABOUT THAT.

WHEN YOU'RE PACKING YOUR BAGS.

>> TSA REMINDS AIR TRAVELERS THAT SOME ITEMS CANNOT GET THROUGH SECURITY IN YOUR CARRY ON, FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN THOUGH THIS GUN IS MADE OF CHOCOLATE IS A REPLICA ITEM AND WOULD HAVE TO GO IN YOUR CHECKED BAGGAGE.

SAME GOES FOR BOTTLES OVER 3 OUNCES.

HOUSEHOLD TOOLS IN SELF-DEFENSE ITEMS LIKE THOSE ON YOUR KEY CHAIN, THEY'LL HAVE TO STAY HOME OR BE CHECKS AS THE TSA.

FOR MORE ON WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T BRING.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AND MULTIPLE CHICAGO CHEFS ARE IN THE RUNNING FOR THE COVETED JAMES BEARD AWARDS RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY THIS YEAR.

AND A POSY OF IS UP FOR OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF FOR BAKER AND LULA CAFE IN LOGAN SQUARE IS UP FOR OUTSTANDING HOSPITALITY.

2 OTHER CHICAGOANS ARE COMPETING FOR BEST CHEF, GREAT LAKES BAY INCLUDES 2 JOHNS, OUR CURRENT INDIAN AND JENNER TO OF AS MAY.

THIS YEAR'S JAMES BEARD AWARDS ARE AGAIN RETURNING TO CHICAGO'S LYRIC OPERA HOUSE ON MONDAY, JUNE 10TH WOULD HAVE NO MONEYS.

UP NEXT, CHICAGO GETS A VISIT FROM THE NATION'S TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>> VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY COULD BE SEEING MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS IN A VISIT TO CHICAGO TODAY, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND ANNOUNCED HIS DEPARTMENT'S PLAN TO SPEND 78 MILLION DOLLARS ON COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH.

>> EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY DESERVES TO BE SAFE AND TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

THOSE FUNDS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THOSE REPRESENTED IN THIS ROOM THAT ARE MAKING STRIDES AND DRIVING DOWN VIOLENT CRIME AND BUILDING COMMUNITY TRUST ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> AND REPORTER MATT MASTERSON WAS AT TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

MATT, WHY WAS THE AG IN CHICAGO TODAY?

THE GIRL WAS IN TOWN FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE SECOND ANNUAL COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION CONFERENCE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN HELD IN CHICAGO AND IT'S GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERAL OFFICIALS LIKE GARLAND TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> TO SHARE IDEAS VIOLENCE, PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES STRATEGIES ALONG THOSE LINES AND ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FEDS TO ANNOUNCE GRANTS LIKE THEY DID TODAY.

>> SO WHAT I MEANT, WHAT ELSE DID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY?

GIRL AND SAID THERE'S A FEW NEW INITIATIVES UNDERWAY, INCLUDING THAT 70 MILLION DOLLARS THAT YOU MENTIONED.

THAT'S GOING TO HELP EXPAND VIOLENCE, PREVENTION EFFORTS, RESEARCH IN TRAINING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THE AG POINTED TO A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES SINCE THE CREDIT OF THE WORK OF LOCAL VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WITH HELPING GET THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.

ONE FOCUSED ON WAS READY.

CHICAGO THAT WITH HELPING AROUND HERE.

BUT GARLAND ALSO NOTED THAT IS A VERY PRECARIOUS WORK THAT PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN SEEN IN THE HOMICIDE RATE CAN BE WASHED AWAY VERY QUICKLY.

AND THAT'S WHY THE FEDS WANT TO STEP IN AND PROVIDE THESE EXTRA DOLLARS TO HELP THESE GROUPS GET THIS WORK CONTINUE.

>> SO WHAT WE KNOW THAT MERRICK GARLAND, OF COURSE, HE IS FROM THE CHICAGO AREA.

BUT IT WAS ANOTHER PERSON WHO'S LEADING TODAY'S EVENT.

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW EDDIE BOCANEGRA WHO LONGTIME VIEWERS MAY RECOGNIZE AS A REGULAR ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

HE IS NOW WORKING AS A SENIOR ADVISER IN THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, ALTHOUGH FORMALLY THE READY PROGRAM THAT YOU HERE'S SOME OF WHAT EDDIE AND THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL AMY SOLOMON TOLD AFTER TODAY'S EVENT.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING THIS, IT REALLY SIGNALS TO THE REST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO SAY THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT WE REALLY BELIEVE IN.

WE KNOW THAT.

>> ADDRESSING VIOLENT CRIME IS A COMPREHENSIVE.

IT TAKES A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.

AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PUZZLE IS NOT THE WHOLE THING.

>> ELSE THEY TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY HOPE THIS INVESTMENT MEANS AND ALLOWS COMMUNITY GROUPS TO DO SO.

IN ADDITION TO ALLOWING THESE GROUPS TO EXPAND THEIR WORK, TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK.

BOCANEGRA AND SOLOMON MADE CLEAR THAT THEY HOPE THIS FUNDING HELPS CATCH THE ATTENTION OF PHILANTHROPIC GROUPS AND CITY AND LOCAL LEADERS AS WELL TO HELP THESE GROUPS OUT.

>> THEIR HOPE IS THAT CITIES LIKE CHICAGO.

THEY'VE GOTTEN SUPPORT LIKE THIS.

THERE ARE PHILANTHROPIC BODIES THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT THESE GROUPS.

BUT NOT EVERY CITY HAS THAT SUPPORT.

SO THEY'RE HOPING THAT IF THEY SEE THE FED STEP IN AND HELP THESE GROUPS BY PROVIDING THIS LEVEL OF FUNDING, THAT IT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO ASSIST WITH THEM AS WELL.

>> SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT MASTERSON.

THANKS SO MUCH.

EXPERIENCE.

AND YOU CAN READ MATT'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

>> CHICAGO, TONIGHT'S COVERAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS SUPPORTED BY THE SOO LEE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INITIATIVE FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>> THE SHOCKING KILLING OF AN 11 YEAR-OLD CHICAGO BOY IS PROMPTING CALLS FOR CHANGE AT THE STATE'S PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

PROSECUTORS SAY JADEN PERKINS SHOW DANCING HERE WAS KILLED LAST MONTH WHILE TRYING TO DEFEND HIS PREGNANT MOTHER FROM FORMER BOYFRIEND.

CHRIS.

BRAND BRAND HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR RELEASE BY THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD THE PREVIOUS DAY OUTRAGE OVER PERKINS KILLING 2 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD RESIGNED, INCLUDING THE BOARD'S CHAIR, FORMER CHAMPAIGN POLICE PATROL SERGEANT DONALD SHELTON AND JOINING US NOW FOR HIS FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE THAT RESIGNATION LAST WEEK IS FORMER CHAIR OF THE ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD, DONALD SHELTON, MISTER SHELTON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WELCOME.

LETS START WITH RECENT RESIGNATION FROM THE YOU SERVED ON IT FOR NEARLY 12 YEARS.

WHY RESIGN?

WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS ASKED TO TAKE THE POSITION OF CHAIRMAN, I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT I WOULD BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR.

>> ALL THE DECISIONS THAT COME OUT OF THE BOARD, WHETHER I'M INVOLVED OR I KNOW THAT THE THE FILE THAT RESULT THAT WAS USED TO REFER THE CASE REVIEW.

AND THIS PARTICULAR WAS REVIEWED BY NO MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE TEAM AND THEY HAD ISSUES WITH RESULTS OF THOSE HEARINGS THAT HEARING SO.

YOU KNOW, TAKING MY RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY.

I FELT THAT THE ONLY REASONABLE THING FOR ME TO DO I WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED TRAINING OF MANY OF THOSE BOARD MEMBERS.

WAS TO RESIGN.

THAT'S ONE ANOTHER REASON ACTUALLY RELATES MORE TO.

YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A DECISION MADE BY 3 PEOPLE.

IT WAS DECISION WAS MADE IN GOOD FAITH.

I HAVE A REAL CONCERN ABOUT THE FACT THAT A DECISION THAT'S MADE IN GOOD FAITH BUT IS NOT AGREED WITH BY THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM WHERE THE GOVERNOR.

MIGHT RESULT IN A BOARD MEMBER BEING MADE TO FEEL THAT.

RESIGNATION WOULD WAS APPROPRIATE THING TO DO.

IF THE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE IN GOOD FAITH.

AND I DON'T THINK.

I DON'T THINK SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MURDER.

THAT HAPPENED THAT SHE COULD NOT ANTICIPATE.

AND I WAS REALLY UPSET WHEN WHEN ATTENDED A RESIDENT UNDERSTOOD WHAT DID.

IT.

>> SO SO TO CLARIFY FOR OUR GOVERNOR PRITZKER RELEASED A STATEMENT REGARDING BOARD MEMBER LIAM MILLER AND HER RESIGNATION FROM THE THE IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE 3 BOARD MEMBER PANEL BOARD MEMBERS WHO MADE THE DECISION IN THIS PARTICULAR CLASE THE PICK CASE.

GOVERNOR PRITZKER SAID, QUOTE, IT IS CLEAR THAT EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE WAS NOT GIVEN THE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION THAT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DESERVE.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT STATEMENT AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

I DON'T AGREE.

>> I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT STATEMENT.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS I DON'T AGREE.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THAT.

I THINK THE JUDGMENT WAS IN AIR.

IT'S ANOTHER THING TO SAY THAT.

DOMESTIC, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE WASN'T.

A LACK OF CONCERN.

FOR A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

I READ THE FILE AS WE'RE CONCERNED WITH WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE POTENTIAL FUTURE VICTIM MADE A DECISION BASED ON THE INFORMATION THEY HAD AT THE TIME.

WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT THERE'S NO REASON TO ASSUME THAT THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

>> THE FACT EVERY ONE OF THESE CASES WHEN THEY COME FOR BOARD MEMBER AND REVIEWED BY 2 ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS, WHICH IS HOW IT WORKS.

THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION NOT ONLY TO HOLD THE PERSON THAT BEFORE THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS IF THEY BELIEVE THAT'S APPROPRIATE POINT OF VIEW.

THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO HOLD THE STATE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ITS CASE TO A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE STANDARD.

NOW THAT'S A LOW STANDARD, BUT IT'S STILL A STANDARD.

I CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY CASES AND 11 AND A HALF YEARS WHERE I HAD A GOOD FEELING SHE'S I DON'T THINK ELECT THIS PERSON.

BUT I CAN'T DECIDE THAT A PERSON'S GOING TO BE HELD IN CUSTODY AND IS A VIOLATOR BECAUSE I HAVE A GOOD FEELING THAT I DON'T KNOW.

THEY'RE NOT A NICE PERSON.

I HAVE TO MEET A THAT THE CASE NEEDS TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THAT PERSON, TOO.

HONOR HIS RIGHTS TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS RIGHTS ARE UPHELD THAT IS WHAT WAS DONE DURING THE COURSE OF THAT CASE.

LET'S GET IN A LITTLE BIT TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES, THE DUTIES OF THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

GIVE US BRIEFLY.

IF YOU WANT AN EXPLANATION OF OF THE DUTIES RESPONSIBILITIES.

>> THERE IS NO BRIEF EXPLANATION.

BUT THE BOARD MEMBERS CONDUCT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF REVIEWS THEY CAN.

WE CAN WHEN I SAY WE ARE NOT PART OF THE WE ANYMORE.

THE BOARD MEMBERS CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THOSE CASES.

OF PERSONS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY RELEASE THAT THE 45 DAY STAGE, IF IF THEY'RE CONVICTED OF CLASS 3, A CERTAIN CLASS 3 IN OUR QUEST FOR FELONY OFFENSES, THEY CONDUCT THESE MANDATORY SUPERVISED RELEASE REVOCATION HEARINGS.

THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS IN THE CASE MISTER BRAND.

THOSE CASES ARE HEARD BY ONE PERSON AND DECIDED BY 3 THE CONDUCT PAROLE.

ELIGIBILITY HEARINGS.

AND OF COURSE, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE UNFAMILIAR OR THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT PAROLE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY MOST OF US THINK OF IT.

MOST OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE IN ILLINOIS WERE SENTENCED.

>> BEFORE 1978, AND YOU MENTIONED MANDATORY SUPERVISED RELEASE.

THAT IS THE SITUATION UNDER WHICH MOST HAVE HAD SOME TIME SHAVED OFF OF THEIR SENTENCES THROUGH STATUTORY OTHER MEANS.

FOR STARTERS, THOSE PERSONS ON PAROLE WERE FOR THE MOST PART SERVING INDETERMINATE SENTENCES.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, 50 YEARS, 200 YEARS, 8 106 YEARS, YOU KNOW, 200 YEARS 500 YEARS.

THEIR RELEASE IS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD.

THEY ARE THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS FOR WELL, NOT THE ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW TYPES OF HEARINGS NOW, BUT TRADITIONALLY, THEY HAVE BEEN THE PERSONS WHO THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO MAKE A FORMAL DECISION AS A GROUP AS AN ENTIRE BOARD, A MAJORITY DECISION A RULES.

WHERE THAT PERSON IS GOING TO BE GRANTED PAROLE IF THAT PERSON TO SERVE X AMOUNT THE SENTENCE THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR ANNUAL REVIEW.

THOSE CASES THEM COME BEFORE THE BOARD ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR THE MOST PART.

AND THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THE ENTIRE BOARD MANDATORY SUPERVISED RELEASE, WHICH ARE THE WHICH IS REALLY THE NEW CROP UP HEARINGS THAT RELATE SIMILAR TO PAROLE HEARINGS, AS I SAID, ARE DECIDED BY THROUGH ONLY 3 ONE PERSON CONDUCTING HERE.

>> SO THEY'RE BEING THERE.

THERE'S BEEN SOME CALLS FOR MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD PRISONER REVIEW SHOULD BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO EXPLAIN OR DOCUMENT THEIR DECISIONS WHEN THAT PANEL OF 3 IS MAKING A DECISION ON WHETHER COULD OR SHOULD BE RELEASED OR THEY HAVE EXPLAIN WHY THEY DID OR DID GRANT.

I DON'T AS A RULE.

I'M NOT INCLINED ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.

MY APPROACH TO THE WORK UP TO NOW HE'S BEEN WHAT IS MY STATUTORY OBLIGATION?

IS THIS WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THAT?

I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS DO IT.

I'M GOING MAKE SURE THAT I DO IT.

>> THAT'S THAT'S MY APPROACH TO BEING THE LEADER OF THAT ORGANIZATION.

WHEN I WAS.

FOR WHAT PEOPLE THINK BOARD MEMBER SHOULD HAVE TO DO, THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE BY STATUTE.

THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE IN NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN OUR LEGISLATORS AND OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

AND WE'LL SIMPLY DO WHAT THE STATUTE REQUIRES US TO DO TO BOARD MEMBERS SHOULDN'T MAKING THE DECISION.

THEN BASED ON.

>> THEIR OPINION OF THE INITIAL CRIME THEIR THOUGHTS ON ON THE THE CRIME THAT SEND SOMEONE TO PRISON IN THE FIRST WHAT DECISION WE TALKING ABOUT FOR TALKING ABOUT WEATHER IN THE CASE OF MS ARE THE HEARINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT.

HERE ARE THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE BROUGHT BACK IN CUSTODY AS ALLEGED VIOLATORS OF THEIR IMAGES ARE BECAUSE THE BOARD MEMBERS ON THE SIDE OF GO OF BY STATUTORY AS A AS A MATTER STATUTE.

IT'S NOT UNTIL THEY'RE BROUGHT BACK AS AN ALLEGED VIOLATOR THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS NOW HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE ABOUT.

ARE THEY A VIOLATOR IF THEY'RE NOT A VIOLATOR?

AND THE STORY THAT PERSON IS GOING TO BE RELEASED BECAUSE THE BOARD HAS DECIDED HE'S NOT A VIOLENT HERE.

SHE'S NOT A VIOLATOR.

IF THERE ARE A VIOLATOR, DOES THE VIOLATION AMOUNT TO A REASON TO?

KEEP THAT PERSON IN CUSTODY OR DOES IS IT MORE REASONABLE TO RESUME THAT PERSON'S MANDATORY SUPERVISED RELEASE THE PREVIOUS RULES OR MAYBE SOME NEW CONDITIONS.

SO SINCE THIS INCIDENT, REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE CALLING FOR REFORM AND THEY'RE BELIEVING THEY'RE CALLING FOR ALL BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE AT LEAST 20 CUMULATIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

PROSECUTOR POLICE OFFICER, A PUBLIC DEFENDER.

WHAT HAVE YOU?

>> SHOULD THAT BE THE CASE OR SHOULD THERE BE A DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE AMONG BOARD MEMBERS?

ABSOLUTELY DIVERSITY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST WAS APPOINTED, I WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH THAT.

I WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH THAT.

I'M COMING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD AGREE AGREED WITH THAT.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT SOME OF THE MOST EDUCATING EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD HAVE BEEN THOSE 6 HAVE BEEN THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD IN THE BACK ROOM.

WE'RE 6 OR 7 OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ON A DAY WHEN WE WERE ASSIGNED TO COME IN JUST SIT DOWN SIGNINGS AND DISCUSS THE RATIONALE US WHY WE THINK THIS PERSON SHOULD HAVE THIS COUNSELING.

WHY THIS PERSON'S ABSTENTION HEARING SHOULD RESULT IN REVOCATION BECAUSE EXPERT KNOWLEDGE, ONE FEELS VERY NARROW KNOWLEDGE AND IT TAKES A WIDE.

SCOPE OF KNOWLEDGE.

I THINK TO GIVE A PERSON THE BEST.

>> THE BEST REVIEW THAT YOU ALL CAN REVIEW THAT THEY CAN GET.

THERE YOU GO, OK, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

MY THANKS TO FORMER ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD CHAIR DONALD SHELTON FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

AND RAY CHARLES, TINA TURNER AND NOW BEYONCE.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ARTISTS KNOWN FOR THEIR POP ROCK AND DANCE.

SOUNDS WHO ALSO EXPLORE THEIR SOUTHERN ROOTS THROUGH COUNTRY MUSIC.

BUT BLACK ARTISTS IN CULTURE HAVE SHAPED THE GENRE LONG BEFORE THEM PULLING FROM THE MELODIES OF BLACK HYMNS INCORPORATING AFRICAN INSTRUMENTS LIKE THE BANJO.

WELL, TODAY'S COUNTRY MUSIC IS MOSTLY DOMINATED BY WHITE ARTISTS.

SOME ARE TAKING A STEP BACK TO RECOGNIZE ITS DIVERSE ROUTES.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE, OUR FRANCESCA ROYSTER, PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AND CRITICAL STUDIES AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK BLACK COUNTRY MUSIC LISTENING FOR REVOLUTIONS AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING COUNTRY AND FOLK ARTIST DOM FLYNN'S KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN SONG STIR.

I'M EXCITED TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ABOUT HOW THIS ALBUM BEYONCE'S, WHAT IS THE ACT TO COWBOY CARTER, HOW GENRES.

AND SHE HERSELF HAS SAID IT'S NOT A COUNTRY ALBUM.

IT'S BEYONCE ALBUM.

I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION BRIEFLY AND THEN TALK SOME MORE OF IT.

FRANCESCO, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALBUM?

I THINK IT'S JUST A REALLY BEAUTIFUL ALBUM.

IT'S COMBINATION OF LOTS OF DIFFERENT BLACK SCHOOL TRADITIONS.

>> BUT WITH THE OUT HIS OWN ORIGINAL SPEND TO IT, WHICH I THINK MAKES IT FUN AND EXCITING.

DID YOU THINK?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE FITS INTO ONE OF THE CATEGORIES OF BLACK COUNTRY MUSIC THAT COMES THROUGH THE WHOLE HISTORY.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU BREAK IT DOWN, WE'RE IN SORT OF FOR PATTERNS OF THE BLACK COUNTRY MUSIC.

THE FIRST ONE BEING FOLK MUSIC TRADITIONS THAT HAVE FUELED COUNTRY MUSIC.

THERE'S I GUESS, THE BEYONCE, I'M SORT OF FITS IN THE SECOND PHASE, WHICH SOME LIKE RAY CHARLES BLACK MUSICIANS WHO HAVE GENRES R AND B SOUL GOSPEL MUSIC PUT THE COUNTRY FLAIR TO IT AND PUT THEIR OWN SPIN ON IT.

AND THEN THERE'S THE 3RD PATTERN, WHICH ARE PEOPLE LIKE CHARLEY PRIDE TO DARIUS RUCKER, WHO TAKING MORE OF A STANDARDIZED COUNTRY, WESTERN FLAVOR TO HOW THEY PERFORM.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, IS THE 4TH PATTERN, WHICH IS HIP-HOP AND IN MODERN MUSIC.

IS SORT OF A RECLAMATION OF BLACK COUNTRY MUSIC AS IT FITS FOR WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE.

AND SO BEYOND AM SORT OF FITS AND THAT PATTERN TO.

YEAH, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING A LITTLE BIT OF A VIDEO RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE TALKING.

FRANCESCA, DOES IT TAKE SOMEONE LIKE BEYONCE >> CREATING COUNTRY MUSIC FOR PEOPLE TO START TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE GENRE.

>> I THINK THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAN BASE OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC AND BLACK COUNTRY MUSIC ARTISTS.

BUT BEYONCE HAS TAKEN IT TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

AND SOMETHING WE'RE SAFE.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

AND THE DEBATES TO LIKE THE DEBATES AROUND PROTECTING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GENRE.

I THINK BEYONCE IS REALLY BRINGING THAT OUT AS WELL.

HAVE OTHER BLACK COUNTRY ARTISTS BEEN LESS LESS SUCCESSFUL.

AND I MEAN THAT IN HAD THEY BEEN ABLE TO SELL AS MUCH OF THEIR HAVE THEY BEEN LESS WELCOME BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY HAS GOT TO BE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE ARTISTS.

ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, THE PERSON THAT COMES TO MIND IMMEDIATELY IS LINDA MIGHT HEALTH AND SHE'S ON THE ALBUM AND HER CAREER-WISE.

WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN ITS MOMENT.

SHE HAD MADE ONE ALBUM BUT WAS DROPPED BY HER LABEL AFTER THAT OUT BUT SHE ALREADY CROSSED BOUNDARIES PERFORMING AT THE GRAND OLD OPRY.

SHE'S THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO PERFORM.

>> AND SO RETURN TO THE COUNTRY.

MUSIC SCENE IS REALLY THROUGH THE LENS OF ALBUM AND KIND OF SEEING HER INTRODUCING THE SONGS AND ACTUALLY LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT GENRE IS REALLY EXCITING.

YEAH, SHE'S ALSO IN IN THAT WAY SORT OF UPLIFTING THIS ARTIST LINDA MARTELL WHO CAME BEFORE HER FIANCE LITERALLY SENT TO SOME OTHER A FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST AS WELL OVER THIS LAST WEEK.

>> DON'T WOMEN'S WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INFLUENCES FROM BLACK CULTURE THAT WE SEE IN MODERN COUNTRY MUSIC?

I >> THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A HIP-HOP HAS BEEN IN RECENT DAYS.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF COUNTRY ARTISTS TEND TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO THEIR MUSIC.

WE'LL DO WHEN YOU ALSO THINK ABOUT HIS SONGS, LIKE THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THE SONG THAT HAS BLACK GOSPEL ROOTS.

AND WHEN OUR WHEN ARTISTS PERFORM THAT SONG, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS EVOKING BLACK FOLK CULTURE IN A WAY THAT EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT SEE A WHITE ARTIST ON THE SURFACE LEVEL, IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT'S ROOTED WITHIN BLACK CULTURE SO THAT SOMETHING THEIR OWN DID MY OWN WORK WITH MY OWN BLACK COWBOYS ON SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS AND TRIED TO MAKE SURE WAS PART OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD NEVER QUESTION BLACK COWBOYS IS THE SUBJECT MATTER.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THOSE ARE COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS SOMEWHAT BROUGHT YOU TO TO THE GENRE COUNTRY AND FOLK MUSIC WILL.

YOU KNOW, MY DAD WAS A BIG FAN OF COUNTRY MUSIC.

HE WAS BORN RAISED IN FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA, WHICH IS IN NORTHERN ARIZONA.

AND WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP THERE WITH JUST ONE RADIO STATION IN TOWN AND IT WOULD SWITCH BETWEEN ALL THE DIFFERENT GENRES.

SO MY MOM USED TO SAY THAT WHEN HE CAME DOWN, HE WAS THE ONE BLACK EYE SEEING ALL THE COUNTRY SONGS.

AND SO THAT WAS MY INTRODUCTION TO COUNTRY MUSIC.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR LIVING IN FRANCESCA, SAME TO YOU.

WHAT ATTRACTS YOU TO THE I DEFINITELY GREW UP IN NASHVILLE WHERE COUNTRY MUSIC AROUND IN THE 70'S.

YEAH.

I MEAN, IT WAS A PART OF THE EVERYDAY CULTURE, POPULAR CULTURE >> AND THEN HAVING A A DAD ALSO WHO WAS INTERESTED IN ALL KINDS MUSIC SUPPRESSION US OR IS A PERCUSSIONIST AND HEARING ABOUT HIS WORK PLAYING ON DIFFERENT COUNTRY MUSIC ALBUMS WHILE HE WAS THERE AND LEARNING ABOUT THOSE STORIES JUST MAKES ME CURIOUS.

AND ONCE I STARTED LOOKING INTO IT, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF ARTISTS UP THERE.

>> STORYTELLING IS OBVIOUSLY A LARGE PART OF COUNTRY MUSIC.

FRANCESCA, YOU TALKED ABOUT NOT HEARING YOUR EXPERIENCE IN YOUR STORY IN COUNTRY MUSIC.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S REALLY TRUE THAT IT'S IN THE WORK SOMEONE LIKE TINA TURNER OR LINDA MARTELL, WHERE I AFTER AMERICAN HISTORY KIND OF THING.

>> I'M TOLD AND TALKED ABOUT LIKE INFLUENCE OF THE GREAT MIGRATION I SEE IS UNDERCURRENT IN BOTH OF THEIR ALBUMS, THEIR COUNTRY MUSIC ALBUMS.

BUT NOW THAT I KNOW LIKE THE WORK THIS KID, FOR EXAMPLE, OR WE GOOD OR OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE TELLING A KIND OF HISTORICALLY INFORMED STORY ABOUT BLACK EXPERIENCE THAT CAN ALSO BE UNIVERSAL.

I REALIZE THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY EVEN MORE OUT THERE.

DON, BEFORE WE LET YOU BOTH GO, WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF COUNTRY MUSIC?

THINK IT'S HEADING.

>> IT'S A HARD THING TO SAY.

JUST TALKING ABOUT BACKSTAGE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY NEW PEOPLE WHO'VE COME ALONG THE CONVERSATIONS AND BLACK COUNTRY MUSIC SHRUNK DOWN AT ONE POINT WAS SO FEW AND FAR BETWEEN TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BLACK COUNTRY MUSIC AND NOW IT'S SHRINKING DOWN EVERY YEAR.

AND SO THERE'S JUST A PLETHORA OF NEW PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ON.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S SO AMAZING AS WELL TO HAVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERFORMERS DOING COUNTRY MUSIC.

THE IDEA THAT HERE IN NEW CAN CHANGE THE WHOLE MEANING OF THE SONG.

AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERSON PERFORMS BECAUSE OF THE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.

I THINK OF JUST LINDA MARTELL, THE SUNCOAST OF COLOR, HIM FATHER, FOR EXAMPLE.

YEAH, THAT'S CHANGES COMPLETE MEANING WHEN YOU HAVEN'T TO MARTE, HE'LL SING RIGHT.

THE THE DEPTH AND BREATH OF THE STORY.

LOT MORE TO LISTEN TO HIM.

TALK ABOUT.

WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

BUT THANKS TO FRANCESCA REISER AND DUMPLIN AND I KNOW YOU'RE JUST GETTING WARMED BEFORE WE GO, WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO A SPECIAL EVENT.

WTW IS HOLDING LATER THIS MONTH.

>> YOU CAN JOIN US FOR AN INSPIRATIONAL EVENING OF GOSPEL MUSIC RIGHT HERE IN OUR W T TW STUDIOS WERE HONORED TO BRING THE AMAZING VOCAL ARTISTRY.

FIRST LADY KAREN CLARK SHEARD.

>> PASTOR SMOKING NOR FULL CHICAGO MASS CHOIR AND LAMAR CAMPBELL, IN THE SPIRIT OF PRAISE, YOU CAN BE PART OF THIS MEMORABLE MUSICAL EVENT AS WE HONOR AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE ART AND POWER OF GOSPEL MUSIC.

TICKET INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH GOSPEL SHOWCASE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES BRING THIS TREATMENT, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A AND CLIFFORD CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH HE'S PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ITS 18, IT