"CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN BART BY... [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... A NEW REPORT CHALLENGES THE IDEA THAT CHICAGO HAS SEEN A DECLINE IN CIVIC ENGAGE.

VMENT THE HEAD OF CHICAGO'S F.B.I.

OFFICE IS RETIRING AFTER 30 YEARS.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH HIM TO DISCUSS TOP THREATS, HIS LEGACY AND MORE.

>> REMEMBERING ALBERT WOODFOX, ONE OF THE SO-CALLED ANGOLA THREE WHO SPENT FOUR DECADES IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

AND THE LEGENDARY BUD BILLIKEN PARADE IS EXPANDING ITS REACH TO A PROMINENT DOWNTOWN BUILDING.

FIRST OFF U.S. CENSUS DATA SAYS VOLUNTEERING HAS DECLINED IN CHICAGO.

BUT A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO SAY THAT'S NOT THE FULL PICTURE.

NEW RESEARCH SAYS PREVIOUS DATA COLLECTING DOESN'T INCLUDE THE WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN THE CITY OFTENTIMES LEAVING OUT THE WORK OF BLACK, LATINO AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE CHRIS POULOS, A POST-DOC TORE RALE RESEARCHEST FOR THE INSTITUTE ON RACE AND PUBLIC POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO AND ONE OF THE LEAD AUTHORS OF THE STUDY AND KENNEDY BARTLEY SENIOR DIRECTOR OF UNITED WORKING FAMILIES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CHRIS POULOS, U.S. CENSUS DATA SHOWED DECLINING RATES OF VOLUNTEERING IN CHICAGO FROM 26.7% IN 2009 TO 21.9% IN 2019.

YOUR DATA SHOWS THAT AT THAT TIME SURVEY HAD BIG GAPS HOW DATA WAS COLLECTED ESPECIALLY WHEN DOCUMENTING THE WORK OF BLACK, LATINO AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

WHAT ARE THOSE GAPS?

>> YES, THAT IS RIGHT.

TO BE CLEAR IT'S THE DATA ITSELF ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT IN THE SURVEY IS HOW CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS BEING MEASURED AND THAT HAS A REAL CONSEQUENCE THEN ON DATA THAT SHOWS RACIAL DISPARITIES AND VOLUNTEERING AND VOTING AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

WHEN WE LOOKED INTO THE SURVEY ITSELF, A PROMINENT SURVEY WHICH THE U.S. CENSUS CONDUCTS, WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE ESPECIALLY IN VOLUNTEERING THERE WERE BIASES AGAINST COUNTING VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY PRACTICED BY BLACK AND LATINX AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE LIKE INFORMAL SUPPORT NETWORKS OR PUBLIC MEETING ATTENDANCE.

THOSE CONDUCTING THE SURVEY THEY HAVE A HELPFUL HINT SEAT THAT SAYS WHAT IS INCLUDED IN VOLUNTEERING AND WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED.

AN EXAMPLE OF INFORMAL SUPPORT NETWORKS BEING EXCLUDED THEY ARE SAYING SOMEBODY IS ASKING WHAT COUNTS AS VOLUNTEERING, BUILDING OR REPAIRING A HOUSE THROUGH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WILL BE COUNTED AS VOLUNTEERING.

HOWEVER IF I HELP MY NEIGHBOR REPAIR THEIR HOUSE, FOR AN EXCHANGE FOR THEM WATCHING MY KIDS, THAT IS NOT INCLUDED AS A FORM OF VOLUNTEERING.

AND THAT IS ONE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.

PUBLIC MEETING ATTENDANCE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

ATTENDING A PUBLIC MEETING AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER TO PROVIDE INPUT OR VOTE ON SOMETHING TAKES TIME AND TAKES SOMEBODY THAT FIGURING OUT THEIR SCHEDULE AND MAYBE CHANGING UP WORK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THESE ACTIVITIES ARE NOT INCLUDED.

IF YOU INCLUDE THOSE IN VOLUNTEERING, A LOT OF THE RACIAL DISPARITIES SHRINK CONSIDERABLY OR REVERSE.

>> TO THAT POINT, CHRIS, I WANT TO GET KENNEDY IN HERE AS WELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC MEETINGS BEING A FORM OF VOLUNTEERING AND YOUR RESEARCH FOUND THAT THE RACIAL GAPS WOULD DIMINISH OR REVERSE THE WHITE TO BLACK GAP WOULD SHRINK FROM 11.9 TO 2.6 PERCENTAGE POINTS AND THE WHITE LATINO GAP WOULD REVERSE TO -1.6 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

KENNEDY I KNOW ARE WITH UNITED WORKING FAMILIES, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE DATA COLLECTION?

>> UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T THINK THERE IS MUCH SURPRISE IN THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW, A FIELD THAT IS LIKE HISTORICALLY AN OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE AND MALE WOULD DEFINE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN A WAY THAT IS LARGELY LEAVING OUT SWATHS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING CONTROL OF THEIR COMMUNITIES IN THE VARIOUS WAYS THAT CHRIS HAS LISTED OUT AND NAMED OUT.

DURING MY TIME AT UNITED WORKING FAMILIES THROUGH THE PAST THREE YEARS, EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOLKS ARE ORGANIZING PEOPLE TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT AND MAKE DEMANDS OF CITY COUNCIL.

I SEE LIKE WORKING IN THE 20TH WARD A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND LATINX REGION IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, I'M SEEING LIKE ALL BLACK AND LATINX ORGANIZERS GETTING THEIR NEIGHBORS TO TAKE CHARGE OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

IT'S RECENTLY AS EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE TURNED IN NEARLY 4,000 SIGNATURES FROM FOLKS ON THE BLACK AND LATINX SOUTH SIDE SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO SEE A REFERENDUM ON THE NOVEMBER 8TH BALLOT YOU KNOW.

ALSO DOING THIS WORK ON THE SHOULDERS OF FOLKS WHO TURN YOU HAD OUT HISTORIC NUMBERS IN 2016 TO VOTE ANITA ALVAREZ OUT OF OFFICE.

THOSE WERE ORGANIZING EFFORTS THAT WERE LED BY BLACK, LATINX AND YOUNG FOLKS.

AND SO UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE OF LIKE YOU KNOW WHO IS TELLING THE STORY AND WHO IS AT THE HELM.

BUT I CERTAINLY -- >> WELL, HOW DOES THIS LIMIT THE SCOPE OF WHAT ORGANIZERS CAN DO IF THEIR WORK IS NOT BEING RECOGNIZED BY POLITICIANS AND INSTITUTIONS AND THE BIG NONPROFITS AND FOUNDATIONS?

>> SURE.

I THINK LIKE WHAT IT DOES, IT CREATES A RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PARTS OF ORGANIZERS TO MAKE SURE THE ANALYSIS THAT FOLKS LIKE MYSELF AND COMRADES WHO KNOW HOW FOLKS DICTATE OUR WORK IS NOT ACTUALLY LIKE INFORM OR IMPACT OUR WORK.

IT LIKE LEADS TO FOLKS BEING DISAFFECTED IN ENGAGING CIVICALLY.

BUT I THINK THAT IT CREATES A NEW ONUS ON THE PART OF ORGANIZERS TO MAKE SURE THAT ANALYSIS IS EVEN IF DATA SCIENTISTS WHO AREN'T MOVEMENT DRIVEN OR COME FROM A MOVEMENT BACKGROUND ARE THE ONES DEFINING OUR WORK AS OR IS NOT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WE ARE DEFINING THAT FOR OURSELVES.

>> CHRIS POULOS HOW CAN CIVIC LIFE BE BETTER MEASURED?

>> I THINK OUR APPROACH IN THE REPORT WAS ASKING PEOPLE THAT WERE DOING THE REPORT.

THE QUESTION IS WHY DO WE WANT TO MEASURE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING QUESTION.

AND IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT PRACTICALLY USEFUL WHAT WE DID IN THE REPORT IS ASKED PEOPLE DOING THE WORK WHAT WERE BARRIERS AND WHAT FACILITATED ENGAGEMENT AND GOT A WIDE RANGE OF ANSWERS THAT I THINK WERE USEFUL THAT WE LAID OUT IN THE REPORT IN TERMS OF HOW FOUNDATIONS CAN THINK ABOUT THIS STUFF.

AND HOW WE CAN REFRAME CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AS SOMETHING THAT GOVERNMENT POLICY HAS A BIG HAND IN PLAYING.

FOR EXAMPLE, CONSISTENT BUDGET CUTS TO SCHOOLS AND MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS AND ALL THAT STUFF AND THAT DOES HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO GET OUT TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND THAT KIND OF THING.

SO RETHINKING THOSE POLICIES AS WELL AS FUNDING THESE SOCIAL SERVICES.

ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL IN ENCOURAGING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

>> THAT IS A GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS TO CHRIS POULOS AND KENNEDY BARTLEY FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH >> YES.

>> UP NEXT, PARIS, FRANCE AND AN EXIT INTERVIEW WITH THE HEAD OF CHICAGO'S F.B.I.

OFFICE.

THERE'S NEVER A SHORTAGE OF ACTIVITY IN THE LOCAL F.B.I.

OFFICE INCLUDING MASSIVE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THINGS LIKE GUN TRAFFICKING AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION.

MOST RECENT BEING THE MASSIVE FEDERAL INDICTMENTS OF FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN AND ComEd ASSOCIATES.

NOW THE HEAD OF CHICAGO'S F.B.I.

OFFICE IS RETIRING AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.

SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE EMMERSON BUOY HAS BEEN RUNNING THE LARGEST FIELD OFFICE SINCE 2019.

AND HERE IS DISCUSS HIS LEGACY AND MUCH MORE IS EMMERSON BUIE, JUNIOR.

YOU TOOK OVER IN YOUR HOMETOWN IN 2019, HIGH PROFILE CORRUPTION CASES, GUN CASES AND THEN COVID, CIVIL UNREST IN 2020.

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES RUNNING THAT OFFICE AMID ALL OF THIS?

>> THANK YOU, PARIS FOR INVITING ME BACK IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

I THINK THE CHALLENGES WERE THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT MOST PEOPLE EXPERIENCED NOBODY ANTICIPATED THE WORLD BEING SHUTDOWN BY A PANDEMIC.

THE PANDEMIC ITSELF PRESENTED CHALLENGES BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILY'S PERSONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AND IT PUT EVERYBODY IN A MASS WHICH ALLOWED PEOPLE WHO WERE INTERESTED IN COMMITTING CRIMES KIND OF A LITTLE MORE COVER BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT WAS HARDER TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS.

SO THAT WAS DIFFICULT NOT TO MENTION BECAUSE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND OTHER CONCERNS.

A LOT OF PLATFORMS HAD TO BE CREATED TO COMMUNICATE AND SHARE INFORMATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO THE WORK COULD CONTINUE TO BE DONE.

>> THAT MASK MUST BE TRICKY.

DID YOU HAVE ZOOM MEETINGS WITH SOURCES?

OR PEOPLE YOU WERE INVESTIGATING?

IF YOU COULDN'T MEET FACE-TO-FACE?

>> WELL, I MEAN THERE WERE A LOT OF INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES THAT TOOK PLACE.

YOU KNOW NOTHING REPLACES FACE-TO-FACE.

MAINLY WHAT WE HAD TO DO WAS CREATE ALTERNATIVES FOR COMMUNICATING AND SHARING INFORMATION WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS AND INTELLIGENCE PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE COORDINATED IN THEIR EFFORTS AND PURSUING THE VARIOUS THREATS OUT THERE.

AND THERE WERE.

>> AND THERE WERE LOTS OF THREATS AS VIOLENCE WAS ON THE RISE.

AND THE BIG BOMBSHELL INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED CORRUPTION WITH ComEd AND MICHAEL MADIGAN.

THE F.B.I.

DOESN'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFICS IN CASES WHAT WENT INTO INVESTIGATING A CASE LIKE THAT?

>> INVESTIGATING PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASES PARTICULARLY HIGH PROFILE CORRUPTION CASES, A NUMBER OF THINGS TRANSPIRE.

IT'S RESOURCE INTENSIVE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, AGAIN, HERE IN THE CHICAGO OFFICE WORKING WITH OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS, WE TAKE PRIDE IN THE EFFORTS THAT WE PUT FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY THEY DESIRE TO MAKE SURE PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST THE MADIGAN CASE AND ComEd LOTS OF OTHER PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASES.

DO YOU THINK THESE CASES WILL MAKE A DENT IN FUTURE CORRUPTION AND PERHAPS PUBLIC OFFICIALS THINKING TWICE BEFORE THEY PUT THEIR HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR DISM.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS WHEN YOU HAVE A CORRUPTION CASE COME TO THE FOREFRONT THE HOPE IS IT WILL BE A DETERRENT FOR OTHERS NOT TO PURSUE THAT SAME TYPE OF CONDUCT.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE CITIZENS ARE AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT IS GOING ON THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE OR THAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE INAPPROPRIATE, THAT THEY REPORT IT RIGHT AWAY.

NO ONE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, NO ONE THAT IS TAKING THEIR OATH SERIOUS IN POLITICS WANTS ANYONE DOING ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE IN THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT YOU HAVE SUPPORT ACROSS THE BOARD FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO BE PURSUED TO EITHER VALIDATE THE ACTIVITY AND TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

OR INVALIDATE THE ACTIVITY SO THAT NO ONE'S REPUTATION IS HARMED SERIOUSLY BY THE ALLEGATIONS.

>> WE MENTIONED THE GUN CASES AND VIOLENCE CASES, GUN TRAFFICKING CASES, GANG CASES, EXPLAIN TO OUR VIEWERS WHAT THE F.B.I.

BRINGS TO THE FIGHT AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, THE F.B.I.

BRINGS A NUMBER OF THINGS PARTICULARLY WE BRING A FEDERAL TOOLBOX THAT INCORPORATES A LOT OF TECHNIQUES AND ABILITIES TO THE TABLE THAT STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MAY NOT HAVE.

THE F.B.I.

IS NOT BOUND BY THE CITY JURISDICTION OR THE STATE JURISDICTION WAS WE ARE A TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

AND ALSO WE HAVE OUTREACH INTO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO THAT ALLOWS US TO NOT JUST GO AFTER THE IMMEDIATE THREAT WHICH IS THE PERSON COMMITTING CRIMES IN YOUR PARTICULAR CITY, BUT IT ALLOWS US TO GO AFTER THE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAYBE SUPPLYING, ELICIT DRUGS OR DRUGS TO THE CITY OR COUNTRIES.

WE BRING THAT CAPABILITY.

WE ARE ALSO THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD THAT HAS BOTH INTELLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES WHICH MAKES US UNIQUE AS WELL.

BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO PROCESS INFORMATION ON TWO FRONTS WHICH MAKES US EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE IN HOW WE DO OUR BUSINESS.

>> I KNOW THE F.B.I.

AND DOJ HAS GONE AFTER CARTELS AND EL CHAPO GUZ MAN.

THE ROOTS OF SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT CAUSE GANG VIOLENCE AND IN YOUR EXIT INTERVIEW WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THE CITY NEEDS MORE OF TO MORE EFFECTIVELY TACKLE THIS PROBLEM?

>> COOPERATION.

IT IS A MULTIFACETED PROBLEM AND IT HAS BEEN EVER SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID GROWING UP IN CHICAGO.

THERE ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE ALTERNATIVES.

YOU CANNOT ARREST YOUR WAY OUT OF EVERY SITUATION.

THERE HAS TO BE ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY AND TO GROW AS GOOD CITIZENS.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE VALUABLE EMPLOYMENT VALID EMPLOYMENT THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO SUPPORT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.

AND NEED OPPORTUNITIES TO HIGHER EDUCATION THAT ALWAYS HELPS AS WELL.

AND THEN, AND DOING THAT AND PURSUING THOSE ALTERNATIVES WHAT IT ALLOWS YOU TO DO IS TO SEE SOMEPLACE OTHER THAN CHICAGO AND OTHER THAN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND MEET PEOPLE WHO MAY OR MAY NOT LOOK LIKE YOU THAT YOU CAN BUILD NETWORKS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH TO ALSO IDENTIFY MENTORS, COACHES, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS TO DO BETTER.

IT IS A MULTIFACETED PROGRAM THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO GIVE PEOPLE ALTERNATIVES.

AND AT THE SAME TOKEN LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY AT EVERY LEVEL.

AND PROSECUTORS AND THE JUDICIARY AND THE CITIZENS HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO GIVE PEOPLE AN HONEST DAY IN COURT AND A FAIR DAY IN COURT.

AND IF EVERYTHING IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD, I THINK YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A REDUCTION.

>> AND YOU CERTAINLY YOUR CAREER IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BROUGHT YOU ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

YOU CAME BACK IN 2019 TO YOUR HOMETOWN OF CHICAGO TO LEAD THIS OFFICE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY ON THIS OFFICE TO BE AS YOU LEAVE NOW?

>> SO I NEVER GOT INTO THIS JOB NECESSARILY TO HAVE A LEGACY.

I GUESS MY LEGACY WILL BE WHAT OTHERS WHO I HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH AND BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND TOUCHED, WILL DETERMINE IT TO BE.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE THAT IF PEOPLE WERE TO DISCUSS ME IN A POSITIVE WAY THAT THEY WOULD RECOGNIZE FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT I WANTED TO INSURE THAT EVERYONE HAD ACCESS TO THE F.B.I.

BECAUSE IT IS THE CITIZENS F.B.I.

EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO ME SINCE I AM THE FACE OF THE CHICAGO DIVISION.

AND THAT AND PARTICULARLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THAT WE WERE HERE TO ALSO ASSIST YOU EQUALLY AS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE THE LEGACY TO BE.

ONE OF COOPERATION, ASSISTANCE, ACCESS, AND FAIRNESS AND EXECUTING OUR MISSION AS SED BYTHE THREATS PRESENTED TO .

IT WAS A BLESSING TO COME HOME AND BE RECOGNIZED AS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO SERVE IN THIS POST.

AND A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE I WANTED TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT I WAS PRESENTING THE BEST EXAMPLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO I HOPE TO SEE COME AFTER ME.

THE THIRD, OR THE 100TH AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR ANOTHER PERSON OF COLOR OR MINORITY THAT WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS POST BECAUSE WE HAVE A MULTICULTURAL CITY AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE SOMEONE THAT REPRESENTS THEM AND THEIR CULTURE AND RACE IN THIS POST TO GIVE THEM INSPIRATION TO DO GOOD THINGS AND PAY IT FORWARD AND BRING PEOPLE FORWARD.

>> QUITE A DISTINCTION TO HAVE BEING THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THAT POST.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THE 2022 BUD BILLIKEN PARADE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST PARADES AND THIS YEAR IT'S EXPANDING ITS REEF REACH TO DOWNTOWN.

THE PARADE IS BEING CELEBRATED IN A FILM PROJECTED BENEATH THE STARS.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US TO AND LOOP FOR MORE ON THE STORY.

>> CHICAGO NEWSPAPER IS REALLY WHAT CAUSED A LOT [INAUDIBLE] >> 93 YEARS LATER, THE BUD BILLIKEN PARADE OR THE BUD, IS STILL MARCHING DOWN KING DRIVE CELEBRATING ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST INFLUENTIAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW THAT YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER, KIDS CAN COME TOGETHER IN A POSITIVE AND PEACEFUL WAY.

>> THE PARADE MARCHS FROM 39TH TO 55TH ON KING DRIVE.

BRINGING TOGETHER BLACK CHICAGOANS THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD AND FUN.

BUT THIS YEAR, THE PARADE IS ALSO TAKING OVER A PROMINENT DOWNTOWN BUILDING AND A PROJECTION FILM TITLED BILLIKEN.

IT FEATURES DANCERS FROM THE TALENT DANCE COMPANY.

>> WE DID GET FOOTAGE NOT KNOWING IF WE WOULD MAKE IT.

BUT TO HAVE THE FOOTAGE PREPARED AND READY IT WAS DOPE AND EXCITING TO SEE IT.

>> AS ONE OF MANY DANCE GROUPS TO PERFORM IN THE PARADE, SHE SAYS WATCHING THEMSELVES DOWNTOWN IS IMPORTANT.

>> SEEING THEM UP THERE IT PUSHES THEM TO WANT MORE AND DO MORE.

SO WE ARE GOING TO HOPE WHEN THEY SEE THIS AND THEY SEE WE'RE DOING THINGS WITH THE KIDS THAT WE NORMALLY DON'T DO IT'S GOING TO GET BIGGER.

>> THAT EXPOSURE THE FILM PROVIDES IS NOT JUST FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ATTEND THE PARADE.

>> IT'S POWERFUL THAT BUD BILLIKEN WILL BE DISPLAYED THE ON THE MERCHANDISE MART BECAUSE IT GIVES PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GREAT EVENT THAT'S HUGE BEYOND MEASURE.

BUT ALSO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN FEEL PROUD ABOUT THEIR TRADITION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 93 YEARS.

93 YEARS AND MANY GENERATIONS GET A CHANCE TO SEE THE BUD BILLIKEN DISPLAYED IN A WAY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DISPLAYED BEFORE.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND IF YOU MISSED THIS YEAR'S PARADE, YOU CAN CATCH THE BILLIKEN AT ART ON THE MART EVERY NIGHT AT 9:00 P.M. AND 9:30 UNTIL SEPTEMBER 7.

AND THERE ARE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> ALBERT WOODFOX WHO SPENT 42 YEARS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT DIED LAST WEEK.

ALBERT WOODFOX WAS ONE OF THE ANGOLA THREE HELD IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR DECADES AFTER HE AND ANOTHER PRISONER WERE CONVICTED OF MEASURING A GUARD A CHARGE THE MEN AND SUPPORTERS SAY WAS A SHAM.

HE BECAME AN ACTIVIST ORGANIZING PROTESTS WITHIN THE PRISON AND USING THE COURT SYSTEM.

HE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON IN 2016.

OF THE WE SPOKE WITH ALBERT WOODFOX BACK IN 2019 ABOUT HIS BOOK SOLITARY.

WE ASKED HIM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE HE SAW IN EDUCATING HIMSELF WHILE IN PRISON.

>> BY THE TIME WE WERE PLACED IN CCR, I ALREADY HAD DONE BLACK PANTHER PARTY AND I STARTED DOWN THE ROAD OF REDEMPTION -- FIRST STEP IS THE SELF REEDUCATE YOURSELF.

BECAUSE I WAS AS MUCH A VICTIM OF THE INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN LOUISIANA AND AMERICA IN THE 60s.

AND SO YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO LEAD TO INSPIRE OR TO ORGANIZE, I HAD TO HARMON AND I AND ROBERT HAD TO REEDUCATE OURSELVES.

AND THAT REEDUCATION IT'S SAD TO SAY THAT I WAS 27 YEARS OLD WHEN I LEARNED THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND AFRICA AND THE CONTRIBUTION THAT OUR PEOPLE MADE TO SOCIETY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETY WORLDWIDE.

>> ALONG THE WAY YOU WERE ABLE TO TEACH FELLOW PRISONER TO READ.

WHAT DID THAT MEAN TO YOU TO DO THAT?

>> I CONSIDER THAT MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT.

BECAUSE AS HE SAID ONE DAY, I HAD OPENED THE WORLD TO HIM.

AND IT WAS A TREMENDOUS FEELING AND I ALL THE THINGS THAT I'VE ACCOMPLISHED, AS A SOCIAL ACTIVIST AND IN AND OUT OF PRISON, I STILL HAVE NOT MATCHED THAT EMOTIONAL FEELING THAT WHEN HE SAID THAT TO ME.

>> WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK, SOLITARY?

>> THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CHANGE.

THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO REEDUCATE YOURSELF, DEVELOP A SENSE OF MORAL VALUES AND PRINCIPLES.

A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH, DIGNITY, PRIDE, SELF RESPECT.

AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BETTER OF HUMANITY AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

>> ALBERT WOODFOX DIED ON AUGUST 4.

HE WAS 75 YEARS OLD.

ALBERT WOODFOX WROTE ABOUT HIS JOURNEY IN THE 2019 BOOK CALLED SOLITARY UNBROKEN BY FOUR DECADES IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

MY STORY OF TRANSFORMATION AND HOPE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. AND JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 P.M. 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.

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