[MUSIC] >> Chicago Tonight: Black Voices IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK, AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS: [MUSIC] >> WE BELIEVE WHEN VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED, COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER, SO THE FUTURE HOLDS GREATER PROMISE FOR ALL, THAT'S WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

[MUSIC] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO Chicago Tonight: Black Voices.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN I THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, JUDGE JACKSON'S HISTORIC CONFIRMATION TO THE SUPREME COURT AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

ONE ON ONE WITH TOP CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, BEN CRUMP, AND HIS FIGHT FOR BLACK LIVES.

HAMILTON START RENIE ELYSE GOLD VERY IN CHICAGO FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY CONCERT.SHE TELLS US WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> ART IS EVERYTHING, IT'S IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

>> Brandis: AND A VISUAL ARTIST AND TEACHER WITH AN EXHIBIT AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY GIVES US THE LAST WORD ON BLACK CREATIVITY.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, JUDGE BROWN JACKSON WILL BE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SIT ON THE SUPREME COURT.

IT'S A HISTORIC MOMENT.

JACKSON HERSELF WAS ABLE TO TAKE IN ALL SPEAKING OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE ON FRIDAY.

>> IT HAS TAKEN 232 YEARS AND 115 PRIOR APPOINTMENTS FOR A BLACK WOMAN TO BE SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.

[APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] >> BUT WE'VE MADE IT.

[CHEERING] >> Brandis: JUDGE JACKSON WATCHED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AS THE SENATE VOTED TO CONFIRM HER NOMINATION ON THURSDAY.

THE VOTE FELL MOSTLY ALONG PARTY LINES, 53:47, WITH THREE REPUBLICANS JOINING DEMOCRATS VOTING IN FAVOR.

JUDGE JACKSON IS SET TO BE SWORN IN AS THE 116TH SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SOMETIME THIS SUMMER WHEN JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER STEPS DOWN.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE AUDRA WILSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CENTER ON PROPERTY LAW, AND KHALIL COLEMAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER CHICAGO.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

THE JUDGE JACKSON'S CONFIRMATION MAKES IT THE FIRST TIME, AS WE SAID, THAT A BLACK WOMAN WILL SAY ON THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE NATION.

THE 233-YEAR-OLD SUPREME COURT.

ILLINOIS SENATOR DURBIN WHO LED THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS AS THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, HE REFLECTED ON THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION AND HOW IT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY, LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> IN THE YEARS TO COME, LONG AFTER WE LEFT THE SENATE, ONE OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN MAY ASK WHERE WE WERE ON THIS HISTORIC DAY, APRIL 7, 2022, WHEN AMERICA BROKE DOWN WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE RACIAL BARRIER AND VOTED TO SEND THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE ON OUR HIGHEST COURT.

I WILL BE PROUD TO SAY I WAS ON THE SENATE FLOOR, STANDING AT MY DESK AND CASTING MY VOTE WITH PRIDE FOR THE NEXT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, JUST AS KETANJI BROWN JACKSON.

>> Brandis: KALEA COLEMAN, WHY IS THIS MOMENT SO MONUMENTAL?

>> THIS MOMENT IS SO MONUMENTAL BECAUSE JUSTICE JACKSON'S APPOINTMENT TO THE SUPREME COURT PROVIDES A BEACON OF HOPE.

AS A BLACK WOMAN LAWYER, UM, AS A MEMBER OF THE BLACK LAWYERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER CHICAGO, THIS IS SUCH AN INSPIRING MOMENT.

NOW WE CAN REALLY SAY THAT EVERY YOUNG BLACK GIRL CAN LOOK TO JUSTICE JACKSON AND NO THAT THEY, TOO, CAN ASCEND TO THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND.

THIS MOMENT IS SO MONUMENTAL BECAUSE WE ARE NOW MOVING TOWARD, HAVING SOME REASSURANCE THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARD FORMING THAT MORE PERFECT UNION.NOW THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND REALLY REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF AMERICA, THAT IS ESSENTIAL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.IT'S A MONUMENTAL MOMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE, UM, JUSTICE JACKSON, WHO WILL SERVE AS THE FIRST FEDERAL DEFENDER TO EVER SIT ON THE HIGHEST COURT.

A COURT THAT OFTEN TIMES PRESIDES OVER DECISIONS INVOLVING CRIMINAL LAW.

SHE FUNDAMENTALLY UNDERSTANDS THE CRIMINAL PROCESS, SHE UNDERSTANDS CRIMINAL LAW, CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.SHE WILL PROVIDE A VERY VERY IMPORTANT VOICE TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

AS THE JUSTICES ARE MAKING DELIBERATIONS, IN ORDER TO SET PRECEDENT THAT WILL HAVE LONG-STANDING IMPACT FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> Brandis: AND INTO THAT POINT, AUDRA, AS WE JUST HEARD KALEA SAYING, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT A FORMER DEFENDER, FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER SITS ON THE SUPREME COURT.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, OUR OPINION, OUR IMPRESSION OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS HAS SHIFTED.

>> HISTORICALLY, THE PATH TO BECOMING A JUDGE, UM, EVEN THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL COURTS IS TO BE A PROSECUTOR OR WORK FOR A LARGE LAW FIRM, OR BE A LITIGATOR TO THE GOVERNMENT.

FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDERS, CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYERS, AND OTHER ATTORNEYS THAT ARE WORKING FOR THE NAACP.

ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CHALLENGING THE GOVERNMENT.

SO, HAVING THIS CONFIRMATION IS SO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE WE SEE NOW, THERE IS MORE OF A POSSIBILITY FOR PROFESSIONAL DIVERSITY TO BE REPRESENTED IN THE FUTURE.

AND AS KALEA ALSO MENTIONED, WITH RESPECT TO DISCUSSIONS ON THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, WHICH ARE FRONT AND CENTER NOWADAYS, HER TIME AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER WILL BRING A MORE NUANCED PERSPECTIVE, PRECIPATIBLE THIS IS DEFINITELY MOMENTOUS.

>> Brandis: THE CONFIRMATION DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE THE CONSERVATIVE LEANING OF THE COURT, BUT WHAT KIND OF IMPACT MIGHT SHE HAVE ON CASES?

>> WELL, THAT IS TRUE, IT DOESN'T, UM, CHANGE THE CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY, BUT THERE IS A VOICE THAT WILL BE PRESENT DURING THOSE DISCUSSIONS THAT WAS NOT PRESENT BEFORE.

AND, UM, THAT VOICE IS ONE, AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, WILL BE ONE THAT COMES WITH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, AND HOPEFULLY BASED ONHER DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE , IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE MAJORITY IDEOLOGICAL COMPOSITION, HOPEFULLY IT CREATES A DIFFERENT, UM, LEVEL OF CONSIDERATION BASED ON, YOU KNOW, HOW SHE WILL, UM, ARTICULATE HER VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES ABOUT DIFFERENT ISSUES.

>> Brandis: SO, THIS FALL, THE SUPREME COURT WILL ALSO HEAR A CHALLENGE TO, UM, HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S USE OF RACE AS A FACTOR IN ADMISSIONS.

NOW, IT'S A CASE THAT COULD IMPACT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASES NATIONWIDE, AND WE KNOW THAT JUSTICE BROWN JACKSON, SHE CURRENTLY SERVES ON HARVARD'S BOARD OF OVERSEERS, BUT SHE TESTIFIED IN SENATE HEARINGS THAT SHE WOULD RECUSE HERSELF FROM THAT CASE.

AUDRA, DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT MOVE?

>> Audra: I DO THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT MOVE TO MAKE.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES TYPICALLY MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AS TO WHETHER TO RECUSE THEMSELVES.

FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES FEDERAL JUSTICES TO BE REQUIRED TO RECUSE FROM ANY PROCEEDINGS IN WHICH THERE SO ALTHOUGH SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT STANDARD, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

>> Brandis: I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, THAT JUSTICES HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF NOT DOING ENOUGH, OF POLICING THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT MORE AND CHOOSING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES WHEN IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY.

UM, SHOULD JUSTICES BE POLICING THEMSELVES MORE, AUDRA?

>> Audra: [LAUGHING] THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE JANUARY 6, UM, PROCEEDINGS AND THE CONCERN, A MAJOR CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPRESSION ALI OF THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

UM, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME OTHER THAT WE COULD RELY UPON JUSTICES TO BE ABLE TO RECUSE THEMSELVES OR TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHEN THEY SHOULD BE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY HAD THE FLEXIBILITY.

I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHY THE FLEXIBILITY IS IN PLACE, BUT FOR EXAMPLE IN THIS CASE, I HOPE JUSTICE JACKSON WOULD RECUSE HERSELF IN THIS PROCEEDING, THAT JUSTICE THOMAS WOULD ALSO TAKE UPON HIMSELF TO RECUSE HIMSELF, IF IN FACT THERE ARE, UM, ANY PROCEEDINGS THAT MAKE IT TO THE SUPREME COURT REGARDING JANUARY 6.

>> Brandis: KALEA, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO HER RECUSING HERSELF FROM THAT CASE POTENTIALLY?

BECAUSE THEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASE WHERE THE BLACK WOMAN ON THE COURT IS NOT, SHE'S NOT CASTING A VOTE, NOT PROVIDING INPUT ON THAT ONE.

>> Khalea: WELL, AS AUDRA MENTIONED, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SYSTEM.

JUDGES ARE EXPECTED TO BE IMPARTIAL.

AS PART OF THAT IMPARTIALITY ASSESSMENT, UM, WHEN ONE MAY HAVE, UM, AT LEAST FROM OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE, MAY HAVE INVESTED INTEREST HERE, JUSTICE JACKSON SERVED ON THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR HARVARD, UM, THAT COULD COMPROMISE, UM, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, UM, FAITH OR CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM, SO I THINK A RECUSAL,UM, IS APPROPRIATE.

HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHEN THE SUPREME COURT DOES CONSIDER THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASES, THERE'S ANOTHER CASE INVOLVING , UM, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA THAT JUSTICE JACKSON MAY BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THAT CASE, UM, WHICH HOPEFULLY, HER PERSPECTIVE, UM, WITH RESPECT TO WEIGHING IN ON THAT CASE COULD, UM, SORT OF PUT THE OTHER JUSTICES ON NOTICE OF HER POSITION, WITH RESPECT TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AS A WHOLE.

>> Brandis: AND KALEA, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I WANT TO MENTION THIS.

POLITICIANS OBVIOUSLY CALLING JACKSON'S CONFIRMATION OF GROUNDBREAKING MOMENT, INCLUDING MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, WHO HAD THIS TO SAY: JACKSON MAY BE THE FIRST, SHE CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE THE LAST.

SHE WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE MANY OTHERS LOOK LIKE HER TO FOLLOW IN HER FOOTSTEPS.

UM, HOW DOES THIS CONFIRMATION SORT OF OPEN THE DOOR FOR LAWYERS WITH MORE VARIED BACKGROUND, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH A HISTORY OF BEING A PUBLIC DEFENDER, HOW DOES THAT OPEN THE DOOR, UM, FOR MORE DIVERSITY THAN WE TYPICALLY SEE PROFESSIONALLY?

>> Khalea: YOU KNOW, I HAVE A QUOTE THAT REALLY RESONATES WITH ME, YOU CAN'T BE WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE.

I THINK NOW, JUSTICE JACKSON, UM, CONFIRMATION AND HER APPOINTMENT TO THE COURT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE SIMILAR CLEAR PATHS TO BE AUDACIOUS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY, UM, EXPRESSED THEIR INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE SUPREME COURT.

UM, WHEN BEFORE, YOU KNOW, MANY FOLKS WHO WERE PRIOR FEDERAL DEFENDERS THOUGHT IT WAS A COMPLETE IMPOSSIBILITY.

LACK WOMEN LAWYERS THOUGHT IT WAS A COMPLETE IMPOSSIBILITY.

AND NOW, UM, THOSE IMPOSSIBILITIES ARE NOW FILLED WITH HOPE AND ASSURANCE THAT YOU, TOO, AND ALSO ASCEND TO THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND.

>> Brandis: AUDRA, JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT, BUT YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, THE SENATE CONFIRMATION VOTES HAVE GOTTEN MORE AND MORE DIVIDED.

THIS 153:47.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?>> WELL, IT TELLS US WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF OUR GREAT POLITICAL DIVIDE.

I AM HAPPY THAT YOU SAID THERE WERE THREE REPUBLICANS THAT DID VOTE FOR CONFIRMATION.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO D , A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS TO HAVE.

REALLY, WE HAVE TO BE THINKING VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT JUST THE POLARIZATION IN THIS COUNTRY THAT NOW IS POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE HIGHEST COURT OF THE LAND, WHERE IMPARTIALITY IS KEY.

ONE THAT'S WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE.MY THANKS TO KALEA COLEMAN AND AUDRA WILSON FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Brandis: UP NEXT, ONE ON ONE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, BEN CRUMP.

[MUSIC] >> Brandis: ATTORNEY BEN CRUMP HAS BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME.

GO TO LAWYER FOR THE FAMILIES OF MICHAEL BROWN, GEORGE FLOYD, AND JACOB LAKE, AMONG SO MANY OTHERS.

BEN CRUMP MAY BE THE MOST NOTABLE CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY IN THE COUNTRY, SPENDING THE LAST DECADE TAKING ON HIGH-PROFILE CASES OF NOT JUST POLICE USING EXCESSIVE FORCE, OTHER VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

DESPITE ALL OF HIS WORK, BEN CRUMP SAYS THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE AND HE JOINS US NOW.

MR., THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING HISTORIC THIS WEEK WITH REGARD TO THE NEWLY CONFIRMED SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, KETANJI BROWN JACKSON, TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> Attorney Ben Crump: YES, IT WAS JUST RIVETING FOR ME.

I KNOW KETANJI BROWN JACKSON, WE TEACH AT HARVARD EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AT THE SAME PROGRAM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RIVETED ME, BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS USED TO SEEING HER VERY, UM, TACTICAL, SHE TALKS ABOUT PROCEDURES, SHE TALKS ABOUT BEING DECISIVE AND ALL THESE ILLEGAL BUT TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE ROSE GARDEN, SHE TALKED WITH SUCH PASSION AND SHE, IN HER WORDS, NOT JUST METAPHORICALLY, BUT IN REALITY, SHE SAID HER GRANDPARENTS WERE LIVING IN SEGREGATION.

HER PARENTS WERE RAISED IN SEGREGATION.

AND FROM SEGREGATION TO THE SUPREME COURT IN ONE GENERATION.

AND I RIVETED ME.

AND ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS MY NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, BROOKLYN, AND WHAT THIS HISTORIC DAY WILL MEAN TO HER.

AND PEOPLE ALL OVER AMERICA WHO HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED.

BUT ESPECIALLY BLACK GIRLS.

IT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL DAY.

AND SHE IS GOING TO BE SUCH AN ASSET FOR OUR NATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN TRYING TO FULFILL THE PROMISE OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> Brandis: NOW, THAT WAS IN D.C. OF COURSE, BUT MR. BEN CRUMP, YOU ARE IN CHICAGO JUST THIS PAST WEEK.

THE CALLS FOR FEDERAL POLICE REFORM, AS WE KNOW, THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT INSTALLED IN THE SENATE AFTER BEING APPROVED IN MARCH A YEAR AGO, LAST YEAR, WHAT TYPE OF POLICE REFORM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

>> Attorney Ben Crump: WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY SLOW DOWN SOME OF THESE HASHTAGS THAT WERE HAPPENING FAR TOO SOON.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE FAR TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR BEING KILLED BY THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT AND SERVE THEM.

AND WE HAVEN'T HAD MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM SINCE PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON, GREAT SOCIETY LEGISLATION.

WE SAW AFTER RODNEY KING WAS HORRIBLY BEATEN ON VIDEO, WE WOULD GET POLICE REFORM.

WE DIDN'T GET IT.

THEN WE FOUND OUT FROM MICHAEL BROWN IN FERGUSON, SHOOT.

THEY WERE ALL TALKING IN OBAMAS YEARS ABOUT MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM, WE DIDN'T GET IT.

AND CERTAINLY AFTER WE WATCHED THE DOCUMENTARY OF GEORGE FLOYD BEING TORTURED TO DEATH BY THE POLICE, WE KNEW, WE JUST BELIEVED IN OUR HEART THAT FINALLY, WE WERE GOING TO GET MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM.

>> Brandis: TO THAT POINT, MR. BEN CRUMP, SORRY TO JUMP IN, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, THE NATION WAS LIVID AFTER WITNESSING THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD TWO YEARS AGO THIS SUMMER.

THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT WAS REIGNITED.

WHY THE STALL?

WHY DO YOU THINK IT HASN'T BEEN DONE, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

>> Attorney Ben Crump: PARTISAN POLITICS.

WE ARE SO POLARIZED IN THIS NATION THAT EVEN COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION LAKE BANNING TOEHOLDS, LIKE BANNING NO KNOCK WARRANTS THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR, BY HAVING A FEDERAL POLICE REGISTRY OF WHO THE POLICE ARE KILLING, SO WE CAN JUST KEEP TRACK OF IT.

THEY WON'T EVEN BUDGE ON THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ANYBODY FROM THE OTHER SIDE TO GET ANY CREDIT FROM DOING IMPORTANT WORK.

AS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.

BUT THAT'S WHY ELECTIONS MATTER.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN A BETTER WORLD, A BETTER AMERICA, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE JOHN LEWIS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT TO VOTE LEGISLATION THAT THEY CONTINUE TO TRY TO BLOCK, IT IS FOR ONE PURPOSE AND ONE PURPOSE ONLY, I BELIEVE, AND THAT IS TO CONTINUE THE PARTISAN POLITICS.

>> Brandis: MR. BEN CRUMP, I'VE GOT PLENTY OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU, BUT WE'VE GOT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOU.

YOU SPENT THE LAST DECADE OR SO OF YOUR CAREER FOCUSED ON FAMILIES IMPACTED BY POLICE BRUTALITY, EXCESSIVE FORCE, EVEN EVERYDAY CITIZENS TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

WHAT CALLS YOU TO THESE CASES?

>> Attorney Ben Crump: WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS IN THE FOURTH GRADE, GROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA, LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA, UM, THEY BLESSED US FOURTH GRADE CHILDREN ACROSS TO NORTH FULLERTON, PREDOMINANTLY WHITE COMMUNITY, AND I SAW THEY HAD NEWER SCHOOLS, NEW FACILITIES, NEWTECHNOLOGY, NEW BOOKS.

I MEAN, IT WAS , IT WAS JUST ASTONISHING.

AND I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY BEING ON THE SCHOOL BUS ONE DAY, COMING HOME BACK ACROSS THE TRACKS TO THE BLACK SECTION OF TOWN, SEEING ALL THESE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS, SEEING THE CARS BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SEEING MY FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS DETERIORATING.

AND I REMEMBER THINKING TO MYSELF, WHY ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN PEOPLE HAVE IT SO GOOD, BUT ON OUR SIDE OF TOWN, PEOPLE HAVE IT SO CHALLENGING?

AND MY MOTHER TOLD ME, THE REASON WE'VE GOT TO GO TO THE NEW SCHOOL WITH THE BETTER TECHNOLOGY AND NEWER BOOKS WAS BECAUSE OF BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND A LAWYER NAMED THURGOOD MARSHALL.

AND FROM THAT DAY ON, I SAID, WHEN I GREW UP, I'M GOING TO BECOME A LAWYER LIKE THURGOOD MARSHALL AND FIGHT FOR PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME.

TO HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY AT ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN DREAM.

AND FROM THAT DAY TO THIS ONE, I CONTINUE TO FIGHT.

>> Brandis: AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

ATTORNEY BEN CRUMP, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>> IT WAS MY HONOR, THANK YOU.

>> Brandis: UP NEXT, CHECKING IN WITH BROADWAY STAR RENI ELYSE GOLDBERRY.

STAY WITH US.

[MUSIC] >> Brandis: BROADWAY STAR RENEE ELISE GOLDBERRY IS IN CHICAGO TONIGHT FOR A ONE NIGHT ONLY CONCERT.

SHE IS BEST KNOWN FOR HER ROLE AS ANGELICA SKYLER IN HAMILTON, BUT SHE ALSO STARTED ANOTHER BROADWAY CLASSIC, ALONG WAS APPEARING IN SEVERAL MOVIES AND TV SHOWS.

TONIGHT, IN MEETING WITH RENEE ELISE GOLDBERRY AT THE AUDITORIUM THEATER, SHE WILL PERFORM CLASSIC SONGS FROM ARTISTS LIKE ARETHA FRANKLIN, ALONG WITH HER OWN BROADWAY HIT.

SHE SAYS OF ALL HER PERFORMANCES, THIS WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING.

>> I THINK THIS IS THE HARDEST FOR SURE.

IN A WAY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE, I THINK THE MOST EXPOSED, YOU HAVE TO BE THE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH YOURSELF TO KEEP PEOPLE ENTERTAINED FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.

IT'S ME, IT'S NOT BE PLAYING A CHARACTER.

I MEAN, YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE THE CHARACTER WHEN I'M SINGING THESE SONGS, BUT YEAH, IT'S REALLY JUST MORE KIND OF AN EVENING OF ME, IT'S ABOUT 90 MINUTES OF ME AND THE MUSIC THAT I LOVE AND IS REALLY WONDERFUL ARRANGEMENTS, AND, UM, AND A LOT OF STORIES OF, YOU KNOW, SOME MOMENTS THAT I THINK HAVE BEEN PRETTY EXCITING IN MY LIFE AND SOME PRETTY HUMBLING AND EMBARRASSING ONES, TOO.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MORE VALUABLE TO HEAR SOME OF THE HARDER TIMES IN PEOPLE'S LIVES THAN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE YOU SAW IT HAPPEN ON TELEVISION.

BUT I LIKE TO FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU'VE LEFT THE THEATER, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NOT ONLY HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME, BUT YOU SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AND YOU KNOW ME.

>> Brandis: SHE BEGAN PERFORMING THESE SOLO CONCERTS IN 2017 AND SAYS SHE HAS NO PLANS OF STOPPING ANYTIME SOON.

OUR NEXT STEP IS TO INCORPORATE SOME OF HER ORIGINAL MUSIC, AND SAYS TO LOOK OUT FOR AN ALBUM SET TO COME OUT THIS SUMMER.

>>> AN EXHIBIT CELEBRATING BLACK CREATIVITY IS OPEN RIGHT NOW AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

THE JURIED ART EXHIBITION CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 100 PIECES FROM BLACK ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD.

ONE OF THEM IS READ, WHO IS ALSO A VISUAL ARTS TEACHER FOR THE CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS.

SHE GIVES US TONIGHT THE LAST WORD.

>> I AM A CREATOR, I AM ALSO A TEACHER AT THE CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS.

ART IS EVERYTHING, IT'S IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

WHEN YOU WALK OUTSIDE, THERE IS ART THERE, SOMEBODY CREATED THAT STREET SIGN, RIGHT?

SOMEBODY CREATED THAT BILLBOARD.

THEY ARE ART, WHETHER YOU RECOGNIZE IT OR NOT, YOU ARE AN ARTIST.

SO FOR ME, I WALKED OUT IN THE WORLD AND ICR EVERY DAY.

RIGHT NOW, I AM IN A SHOW CALLED LACKED CREATIVITY, IT IS AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY OF CHICAGO.

THE WORK IS REALLY HEAVILY ROOTED IN MY IDENTITY, AND I FEEL IT KIND OF JUST GOT INTO MY IDENTITY IN GRAD SCHOOL, AND A SENSE THAT LIKE IT WAS SORT OF A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN ONE OF MY ART CLASSES AND IT WAS JUST LIKE, HEY, SO, WHAT IS YOUR ORIGIN STORY?

AND I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT MY ORIGIN STORY, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHERE MY FROM, WHO AM I?

I WAS WORKING WITH HAIR, SO I KIND OF CAME UP WITH THINGS THAT WERE REALLY CONNECTED TO THE WORK THAT I WAS MAKING ALREADY, BUT ALSO, HAIR.

LIKE THIS IS ONE POINT OF VIEW OF MY IDENTITY.

IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, HERE IS A CENTER TO THAT.

I REMEMBER HAVING CONVERSATIONS AT THE DINNER TABLE, THEY NEVER WERE ABOUT MY IDENTITY.

LIKE WHO IS THIS BLACK WOMAN, WHO IS THIS NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN?

I ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT MY HAIR.

SO, STARTING IN GRAD SCHOOL WITH HAIR WAS KIND OF, I GUESS, MY COMFORT ZONE.

THE ONLY WAY I KNEW HOW TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF AT THAT MOMENT.

SO, I WAS PUSHING OUT THOSE HAIRPIECES AND THAT PIECE THAT'S IN THE MUSEUM IS ONE OF MANY OF THEHAIRPIECES THAT I NEED .

THE PRODUCT ITSELF WAS, I CALL IT A PRODUCT JACKET.

IT HAD HAIR TIES, SYNTHETIC HAIR, HAIR CLIPS, COMBS, BRUSHES, ALL OF THESE OBJECTS SORT OF PLACED INSIDE OF THEM IN STONE, RIGHT?

WITH THESE THICK LAYERS OF VINYL.

AND I WAS REALLY THINKING ABOUT ARCHIVES.

A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I DO, TOO, SORT OF DRIVES A LITTLE BIT INTO RELIGION, TOO.

AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT COATS.

ALL OF MY WORK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IS LIKE PAST THINGS THAT I'VE DONE.

I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE PAST.

I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN SORT OF USING MATERIAL UNTIL IT'S ALL GONE.

SO, REALLY JUST LIKE WORKING THROUGH SOMETHING.

RATHER THAN JUST SKIPPING PAST THIS.

IT WAS AN ART TEACHER THAT INSPIRED ME, UM, SHE WAS THE FIRST ART TEACHER OF COLOR FOR ME, SO IT WAS REALLY JUST LIKE SEEING THIS BLACK EDUCATED WOMAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT ART MAY BE INTERESTED.

AS A BLACK WOMAN, TOO.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE ART IS LIKE ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT IS AN OUTLET FOR ME.

NO MATTER WHAT SITUATION IT IS.

SORT OF THE PROTEST THAT WAS HAPPENING, THE THINGS THAT I DID MADE ART, RIGHT?

SO, BLACK PEOPLE JUST MOVING IN THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY, I MADE ART, RIGHT?

AND I CONSISTENTLY RESPOND TO THAT AND I FEEL LIKE THE WORLD DOES, TOO.

>> Brandis: THE JURIED ART EXHIBIT FEATURING BLACK ARTISTS AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY RUNS UNTIL APRIL 17.

AND THAT'S OUR CHAUFFEUR THIS WEEKEND.

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

AND THOUGH IT MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE IT YET, SUMMER IS APPROACHING, SO MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR NEW CHICAGO SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE WHILE YOU ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.

MAC AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING THIS 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 NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

NOW, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM DEDICATED TO PRESERVING THE DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF ALL INDIVIDUALS.

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