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

[MUSIC] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, AND INTIMATE CONVERSATION ABOUT CHICAGO'S GUN VIOLENCE PROBLEM WHEN A CHICAGO MOTHER WHOSE SON WAS RECENTLY KILLED.

>>> $500 A MONTH PER YEAR NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

GARY, INDIANA LAUNCHES A GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT PROGRAM.

>> TODAY 35 PERCENT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS ZERO NET WORTH.

>> ON THIS WEEK'S LAST WORD WHAT AUTHOR STEPHEN ROGERS BELIEVES WHAT WHITES CAN DO TO HELP THE WEALTH DISPARITY FACING BLACKS.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT AS JOURNALIST WE TRY TO AVOID BECOMING PART OF THE STORY WE COVER, BUT SOMETIMES THE STORY IS A PART OF US.

LAST MONTH MY FRIEND SONYA ANDERSON'S STEPSON MILES WAS SHOT AND KILLED TWO DAYS BEFORE HIS 19TH BIRTHDAY.

MILES USUALLY LIVED IN NORTHBROOK BUT WAS IN AUSTIN, VISITING HIS FATHER SONYA'S FORMER PARTNER WITH WHOM SHE SHARES A 10-YEAR-OLD SON.

THIS WEEK I SAT DOWN WITH SONYA AS MOTHER OF BLACK SONS AND PEOPLE WHO SPEND TIME THINKING ABOUT VIOLENCE, EQUITY IN THE NARRATIVE.

ME AS A JOURNALIST AND SHE AS A LONGTIME CIVIC AND NONPROFIT LEADER.

I BEGAN ASKING HOW MILES FIRST CAME INTO HER LIFE.

>> I MET MILES AT FOREIGN HALF THE TIME I MET HIS FATHER AND HIS FATHER SAID TO ME FAIRLY EARLY ON IN OUR RELATIONSHIP, I HAVE A SON AND IF THIS RELATIONSHIP IS GOING TO PROGRESS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW MY SON AS WELL.

THE CLEAR RECOLLECTION THE VERY FIRST TIME I WENT TO MEET MILES, I WAS SO NERVOUS, SO NERVOUS.

AS YOU KNOW I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN FRONT OF AUDIENCES.

I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER BEEN SO AFRAID IN MY LIFE AS I WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE DOOR ABOUT TO MEET MILES FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I RANG THE DOORBELL ANY OPEN THE DOOR AND IN THAT FOREIGN HALF-YEAR-OLD PRECOCIOUS WAY AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED CHATTING MY EAR OFF AS IF WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER ALL OUR LIVES AND THAT SUMS UP WHO HE WAS.

HE WAS A PEOPLE PERSON, A PERSON WHO ATTENDED FOR OTHERS AND CARED FOR OTHERS.

HE WAS THE ONLY CHILD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEN HIS MOM AND STEPFATHER HAD TWO OTHER CHILDREN AND HIS DAD AND I HAD OUR SON.

BY THE TIME OUR SON ROLLED AROUND HE WAS ADEPT AT ALL THINGS BIG BROTHERLY AND IT WAS THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF PLAYFUL AND TEACHER AND PROTECT HER.

HE WAS A GOOD SON, A GOOD FRIEND, A GOOD KID.

>> I WAS AT THE FUNERAL AS YOU KNOW AND I CAME AWAY WITH A BETTER SENSE OF WHO MILES IS.

A HARD WORKER EARNING THE FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP WHICH, SADLY HE PUT OFF A YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND REALLY ENTREPRENEURIAL IN A FUNNY WAY THEY HAD US LAUGHING AT THE FUNERAL TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> DEFINITELY A HARD WORKER.

THAT'S IT TESTAMENT TO HIS HARD WORK HE USED TO BE A LITTLE BIT HUSKY AS WE CALLED IN OUR HOUSE AND HE BECAME INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL AND WAS WILLING LIKE FOOTBALL TO DO WHATEVER IT TOOK TO GET TO WHERE HE NEEDED TO BE.

HE TRAINED RELENTLESSLY WORKED OUT RELENTLESSLY THROUGH HIM WHOLE SELF INTO IT.

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PIECE STARTED AS EARLY AS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

HE HAD A WHOLE HUSTLE WHERE HE WOULD TAKE USED SNEAKERS AND CLEAN THEM OFF, GUSSY THEM UP AND RESELL THEM.

THERE IS A MARKET FOR RESOLD SNEAKERS THAT WE ONLY KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE MILES GOT REALLY INTERESTED IN IT.

ONE THING THAT EXEMPLIFIES HIM BEST AND WAS MENTIONED AT THE SERVICES IS THAT PART OF HIS VISION FOR THE ENTRE NOUS WORSHIP WAS TO TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY AND IN PARTICULAR THIS IDEA THAT HE WAS TRYING TO SAVE MONEY.

HE WAS TRYING TO SUPPORT HIS FATHER WHO HAD MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND WAS TRYING TO ACCESS A CURE AND RIGOROUS TREATMENT FOR HIS MS. >> TAKE US BACK TO JULY 7.

HOW DID THE FAMILY LEARN WHAT HAPPENED.

>> IT WAS THURSDAY MORNING ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO I GUESS NOW AND I WAS HERE AT HOME, MY SON WAS WITH HIS DAD IN AUSTIN AND MILES GENERALLY LIVED IN NORTHBROOK WITH HIS MOM AND STEPFATHER BUT BECAUSE HIS DAD WAS IN AUSTIN HE WOULD VISIT ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WE WOULD ORGANIZE IT WHENEVER MILES WOULD BE AT HIS DAD'S MY SON WOULD BE AT HIS DAD'S ALSO IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THE BOYS SPENT TIME TOGETHER.

THERE WAS A NINE YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE CLOSE AND HAD A STRONG BOND AND RELATIONSHIP.

THEY WERE EXPECTING MILES TO ARRIVE THE NIGHT BEFORE AND MY SON GOT UP THAT MORNING AND NOTICED THAT MILES'S ROOM WAS UNTOUCHED HIS BED WAS NOT SLEPT IN AND HE LOOKED OUT THE BACK WINDOW AND HE SAW HIS BROTHER LYING IN THE BACKYARD.

HE LET HIS DAD KNOW THAT MILES WAS IN THE BACKYARD AND IT WAS SUPER EARLY IN THE MORNING AND MY SON BEING THE CHILD THAT HE IS, DECIDED TO GO OUT AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HE THOUGHT MILES WAS ASLEEP IN THE BACKYARD.

HE JUST TURNED 10 A FEW WEEKS PRIOR AND THAT WAS THE SENSE HE COULD MAKE OF IT CARED WHY WOULD HE THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE?

MILES WAS SLEEPING IN THE BACKYARD.

HE WENT OUT AND TRIED TO RILE HIM AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, OBVIOUSLY AND THEN HE NOTICED THE BLOOD.

HE WENT INSIDE AND NOTIFIED HIS DAD AND THEY CALLED 91.

>> AS A MOTHER OF BLACK SONS AS WELL ONE THAT SHARES THE SAME NAME OF YOUR STEPSON, MILES.

ONE THING I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS THE TRAUMA THAT JONAH WOULD CARRY AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AS A MOM AND A PROFESSIONAL?

HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THAT?

>> I THINK ABOUT THAT IN THREE BUCKETS.

I THINK ABOUT THE GRIEF OF LOSING MILES DIRECTLY AND HE WAS SUCH A BRIGHT SHINING LIGHT IN THE WORLD AND IT IS BEEN EXTINGUISHED.

THAT RINGS ME IMMENSE SADNESS.

I THINK ABOUT JONAH AND THE TRAUMA HE EXPERIENCED ACTUALLY DISCOVERING HIS BROTHER'S BODY.

HE'S HAD A SET OF EXPERIENCES THAT MOST OF US HAVE NEVER HAD AND HE IS NEWLY 10 YEARS OLD.

DESPITE WHAT YOU THINK HE IS STILL A CHILD.

I THINK ABOUT THAT.

I GET STUCK SOMETIMES THINKING ABOUT WHAT I CALL JONAH AT 30.

JONAH IS NOT THINKING ABOUT JONAH AT 30 BECAUSE HE'S 10 BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT JONAH AT 30 AND HOW WILL THIS EVENT DEFINED HIS LIFE IN SOME WAYS?

MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT DO HARM TO JONAH BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT I CALLED THE BOOK OF JONAH'S LIFE THERE IS SQUARELY A CHAPTER THAT IS JULY 2021 THE DAY HIS BROTHER WAS MURDERED IN THE DAY HE DISCOVERED HIS BROTHER'S BODY.

I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES TO FIGHT THIS HORRENDOUS THING THAT HAS THE FALLEN US.

I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

I HAVE ACCESS, RESOURCES AND A NETWORK THAT IMMEDIATELY SWOOPED IN AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID RIGHT AWAY WAS REACH OUT TO COUNSELORS TO SPECIALIZE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE GRIEF AND TRAUMA.

THIS HAPPENED ON A THURSDAY MORNING AND FRIDAY MORNING WE WERE AS A FAMILY SITTING ON A COUCH AND TALKING TO A THERAPIST AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE HER ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO EXPERIENCE WHAT JONAH HAS EXPERIENCED QUITE FREQUENTLY, AND THEIR ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE PAIRED WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES?

IT'S NOT THE ONLY PART OF CHICAGO'S PROBLEM BUT IT IS PART OF IT.

>> I AM STRUCK IN THIS CASE.

JONAH LIVED A REASONABLY HAPPY AND WELL LOVED LIFE UNTIL THIS PARTICULARLY DEFINING MOMENT.

HIS BEFORE WAS FOR THE MOST PART RAINBOW AND SUNNY SKIES.

HIS AFTER HOPEFULLY WILL BE RAINBOWS AND SUNNY SKIES BUT HE HAS TO DEFINE THAT MOMENT.

THE REALITY IS THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CITY EVERY DAY RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK WHO HAVE HAD A BEFORE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FILLED WITH RAINBOWS AND SUNNY SKIES THAT WERE FILLED WITH TRAUMA AND WILL BE EXCEEDED IN ADDITIONAL TRAUMA OR CHALLENGES.

IF ANYTHING THIS IS UNDERSCORED FOR ME THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, INVESTING IN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND ALL KINDS OF WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THE WELL-BEING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US IN HIS LEFT SUCH AN INDELIBLE MARK ON US AND WE HAVE RESOURCES AND WAYS TO ADDRESS AND ACCESS THE SUPPORTS THAT WE NEED WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OTHER FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THIS ACCESS?

AS A CITY WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO SUPPORT YOUNG FOLKS TO GET THROUGH THE STRUGGLES THEY ENCOUNTER EVERY DAY.

>> CHICAGO POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE MILES IS SHOOTING INTO THIS POINT NO ONE HAS BEEN CHARGED.

>> I WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF MY CONVERSATION WITH SONYA LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM.

FIRST IT'S AN IDEA THAT'S GROWN POPULAR IN THE LAST FEW YEARS GUARANTEED OR UNIVERSAL PAYMENT.

A PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN GARY, INDIANA, WHERE 100 RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $500.

QUINN MYERS HAS HOW IT WORKS AND HOW LOCAL OFFICIALS HOPE IT WILL BE A MODEL FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

>> AUGUSTINE LEWIS HAS LIVED IN GARY, INDIANA SINCE 1976.

>> I MET SOME PEOPLE IN GARY WHO WERE IN THE AIR FORCE WITH ME AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THE STEEL MILLS AND HOW YOU COULD ACCUMULATE MONEY IN A FAST WAY, LEGALLY AND THEY WERE RIGHT.

THE STEEL MILL COULD PAY YOUR BILL AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING LEFT OVER.

>> HE WORKED AT U.S. STEEL UNTIL THE EARLY TO THOUSANDS WHEN HE WAS LAID OFF.

HE IS NOW RETIRED AND LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME JUST ENOUGH TO MEET EXPENSES AND OCCASIONALLY SUPPORT HIS SON, AUSTIN, WHO HAS AUTISM AND LIVES IN INDIANAPOLIS.

>> MY BILLS FOR THE CHECK AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND I AM ABLE TO BUY ONE McDONALD'S AND NOTHING EXTRA.

>> STARTING IN MAY LEWIS RECEIVED HIS FIRST OF 12 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $500 AND AS A PART OF A NO STRINGS ATTACHED GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT PROGRAM BEING LAUNCHED IN GARY.

>> I WILL BE ABLE TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE EITHER ON GROCERIES OR GASOLINE TO GO SEE AUSTIN WHEN THE PANDEMIC EASES UP.

>> LEWIS IS ONE OF ONE OF 25 GARY RESIDENTS EATING THE MONEY GOES AND BY LOTTERY OF ABOUT 4000 APPLICANTS HAD TO SHOW THE NEED LESS THAN $35,000 PER YEAR AMONG OTHER CRITERIA.

THEY PRINT THE PUBLIC PILOT IS ABOUT EXPANDING THE SAFETY NET FOR RESIDENTS STRAINING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

>> WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE EXISTING FROM PAYDAY TO PAYDAY AND OFTEN TIMES THEY DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO MEET UNEXPECTED EXPENSES AND THAT'S WHEN THINGS SORT OF HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE EVEN LARGER IMPEDIMENTS AND IN SOME INSTANCES VERY CATASTROPHIC INSTANCES.

>> THE PROGRAM IS BEING PAID FOR WITH $500,000 OF SEED MONEY WITH THE GROUP MAYORS FOR A GUARANTEED INCOME WITH THE REST COMING FROM THAT FUNDING.

THEY STRESSED THE MONTH THE PAYMENTS ARE ABOUT COMPASSION NOT A GOVERNMENT HANDOUT.

>> IF YOU WERE GIVEN IN ADDITIONAL $6000 PER YEAR IS WHAT THIS AMOUNTS TO, WOULD YOU STOP WORKING?

I THINK THE ANSWER WOULD BE A RESOUNDING NO.

THIS IS ABOUT PROVIDING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER THEMSELVES AND GIVING THEM THE IMPETUS TO DO SO.

>> OFFICIALS RUNNING THE PILOT PROGRAM SAY SUCCESS COULD MEAN A LOT OF THINGS LIKE ANY PEOPLE FIX UP THE CARS SO THEY CAN DRIVE TO WORK OR TAKING THE KIDS ON VACATION OUT OF STATE TO VISIT FAMILY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

FOR JUST PEOPLES IS THE DIRECTOR OF GUARANTEED INCOME VALIDATION EFFORTS VALIDATING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

PEOPLES IS WORKING WITH A CONTROL GROUP AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE OF 50 GARY RESIDENTS WERE NOT RECEIVING PAYMENTS BUT FILLING OUT SURVEYS ABOUT THEIR ECONOMIC NEEDS AND CHALLENGES.

>> WHAT IS IT THAT YOU NEED IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR YOUR CITY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO FOR INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE NATION?

>> OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS UNIVERSAL INCOME HAS BECOME A MAINSTREAM IDEA THINGS IMPART TO POLITICIANS LIKE INJURY TO LEANDER YANG AS WELL AS FEDERAL STIMULUS PAYMENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLES SAYS THAT ONE-OFF CHECKS ARE GREAT BUT REGULAR SUPPORT IS WHAT IS NEEDED TO ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY IN A WHOLE.

WE GIVE THEM $600 AND THEY HAVE TO RAPIDLY PAY BILLS OR RENT TO KEEP THEIR HOME SO THEY ARE RIGHT BACK IN THE SAME BREATH THEY WERE IN.

THERE CONSISTENTLY PULLING THEMSELVES OUT OF A SITUATION AND THEN STARTS BUILDING AND STARTING OVER AGAIN.

>> FOR AUGUSTINE LEWIS STARTING OVER AGAIN MEANS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL TO STUDY SOCIAL WORK.

HE'S HOPING TO USE HIS MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO BECOME A COUNSELOR FOR ATTIC AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> I THINK GARY IS ON THE RISE AND I HOPE TO BE A PART OF IT ONCE THEY GET INTO SOCIAL WORK AND I EXPECT TO ONE DAY HAVE A COUNSELING OFFICE OF MY OWN WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME TO ME AND I COULD GO OUT INTO THE FIELD.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM QUINN MYERS.

>> WE HAVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM ON THE WEBSITE.

>>> RETURNING TO THE CONVERSATION WITH MY FRIEND SONYA ANDERSON WHOSE STEPSON WAS SHOT AND KILLED LAST MONTH.

SONJA IS PART OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED DRIVE CHICAGO A COLLECTIVE IMPACT ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH NONPROFITS AROUND THE CITY ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR.SONJA THINKS A LOT ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE HER SON WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS LIKE HERS.

SHE SAID THE WAY THE NARRATIVE AROUND MILES DEATH CHANGED WAS STRIKING TO WATCH IT PLAY OUT FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.

>> WE DISCOVERED HIS BODY IN THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON IT WAS PART OF A NEW CYCLE.

IT SAID 18-YEAR-OLD MAN IN AUSTIN ON THE WEST SIDE MURDERED.

I WAS STRUCK BY THAT.

18-YEAR-OLD MAN.

LEGALLY I SUPPOSE MILES WAS ALSO KILLED ON THE EVE OF HIS 19TH BIRTHDAY SO, LEGALLY HE IS AN ADULT BUT NOT IN ANY WAY THAT MATTERS.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE 18-YEAR-OLDS IN OUR LIVES WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE STILL ON THE TRAJECTORY GROWTH OF DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN THE NARRATIVE CHANGED, NORTHBROOK TEEN MURDERED WHILE ON THE WEST SIDE VISITING HIS FAMILY.

HE WENT FROM BEING A MAN TO 18 AND I ASSOCIATED THE FACT THAT HE LIVED IN NORTHBROOK AND EVENTUALLY THE NARRATIVE BECAME SUBURBAN NORTHBROOK ALL-STAR FOOTBALL PLAYER BRUTALLY MURDERED ON THE WEST SIDE WHILE VISITING FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS ARE ALL CORRECT.

SUBSEQUENTLY THEY MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I THINK IT PRIMES US TO THINK ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN CERTAIN KINDS OF WAYS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY SERVE US WELL, RIGHT?

IT CREATES IN MY MIND THIS IDEA THAT CERTAIN THINGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN TO CERTAIN PEOPLE.

YES, AGREED.

THE INVERSE OF THAT IS THAT IT IS OKAY FOR CERTAIN THINGS TO HAPPEN TO PEOPLE AND THAT IS THE PEACE THAT I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH AS A PROFESSIONAL AT THRIVE EARED WE WORK ON PATHWAYS THAT ARE PURPOSEFUL, MEANINGFUL AND ACCESSIBLE TO BOYS AND MEN OF COLOR IN THIS CHANGE, THIS NARRATIVE WERE MEN OF COLOR AS ALL THE THINGS WE KNOW.

AS DANGEROUS, AS SUSPICIOUS IN SOME WAY REALLY MISSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE POPULATION THAT IS FULL OF UNTAPPED POTENTIAL THAT WHEN SUPPORTED AND CHANNELED IN THE RIGHT WAY COULD BE SUCH AN ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY AND SUCH AN ASSET TO OUR CITY AND THE WORLD.>> LASTLY, SONJA, HOW DO YOU WANT MILES TO BE REMEMBERED AND WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS STORY?

>> THERE'S A PIECE OF ME THAT FEELS LIKE IF THIS SHOWS US NOTHING ELSE IT SHOWS US WE ARE ALL CONNECTED IN THIS STORY AND IN THIS INDUSTRY TOGETHER.

I WILL BE CANDID THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT TO ME AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

IT IS IN EVERY SINGLE SECTOR OF MY LIFE PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT WITH WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.

I THINK IT WAS SUCH A HORRIFIC ACT WHEN PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT ME, I ALSO THINK THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE PARTICULARLY FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE SECTOR THAT I WORK IN I JUST MIGHT, I DON'T KNOW THIS FOR A FACT BUT I HAVE A STRONG SUSPICION I JUST MIGHT BE THE FIRST PERSON THE EMBODIMENT OF THE FIRST PERSON THEY HAVE KNOWN PERSONALLY THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO.

IS BEEN AROUND THERE DIDN'T DELAY DINNER TABLE OR MEETS THEM FOR HALF YOU REALLY HAPPY HOUR I AM A PEER AND A COLLEAGUE AND THAT BRINGS A PROXIMITY TO THIS ISSUE THAT WE SOMETIMES HAVE THE LUXURY OF INTELLECTUALIZING BUT NOT FEELING IN OUR HEARTS AND SOULS.

FOR FOLKS WHO KNOW ME AND PEOPLE WHO LAND IN A PARTICULAR KIND OF WEIGHT THE OTHER THING I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT, NONE OF US ARE SAFE UNTIL ALL OF US ARE SAFE AND I THINK ABOUT THE WORK WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY AND AS YOU KNOW MY BACKGROUND I HAVE TWO IVY LEAGUE DEGREES OF TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I'VE WORKED FOR THE MOST PROMINENT LEADERS IN THIS COUNTRY.

I HAVE DEVOTED MY ENTIRE LIFE TO ISSUES AROUND EQUITY AND ACCESS AND NOW TO BOYS AND MEN IN COLOR BUT I COULD NOT SAVE A BOY OF COLOR IN MY OWN LIFE INTO ME THAT MEANS IF I COULDN'T DO IT IF MY FAMILY COULD BE EXPOSED TO THIS HORROR REALLY IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE AND I DON'T SAY THAT TO BE ALARMIST OR TO USE SCARE TACTICS, I SAY IT TO SAY WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES BETWEEN NORTH BROOK IN CHICAGO OR EVANSVILLE JULIE EVANS AND CHICAGO OR THE COAST.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY AND UNTIL WE START TO REALIZE THAT ONE PROBLEM IS ALL OF OUR PROBLEM, ONE OPPORTUNITY IS ALL OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND WE WILL NEVER SOLVE THIS AND MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE.

>> IN A VIDEO POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA LAST YEAR MILES ENCOURAGED HIS FRIENDS TO NOT LET THE ISOLATION OF THE PANDEMIC STOP THEM FROM REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT.

AS THEY PUT IT AT THE TIME, TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED.

A GOOD REMINDER FOR US ALL.

YOU CAN FIND THIS VIDEO IN OUR INTERVIEW WAS WITH SONYA ANDERSON.

>>> AARON RODGERS, HIS BOOK WTTW.com/NEWS TO TO HELP THE BLACK COMMUNITY CAN HELP US MOVE TOWARDS RACIAL JUSTICE.

HERE, ROGERS GIVES THE LAST WORD ON WHAT AMERICAN BILLY AMERICA CAN DO TO HEAL.

>> MY NAME IS TRAN 21 AND I WAS RAISED IN THE AREA.I'M ALSO A FORMER PROFESSOR AT HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL.

I BELIEVE 50 PERCENT OF THE RACIAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES HAS TO DO WITH THE FINANCIAL WEALTH DISPARITY TO BLACKS AND WHITES.

THE AVERAGE WHITE FAMILY HAS ASSETS, LIABILITIES OF $170,000 VERSUS 17,000 FOR THE AVERAGE BLACK FAMILY AND THAT HAPPENS NOT BECAUSE WHITES WORK HARDER OR THEY ARE GREATER OR BETTER SAVERS IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED ACTIONS THAT WERE DESIGNED TO ENRICH WHITES WHERE AT THE SAME TIME THEY WERE DESIGNED TO IMPOVERISH BLACKS WHERE AT THE SAME TIME 35 PERCENT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS ZERO NET WORTH.

BLACK PEOPLE ARE INCAPABLE OF PULLING OURSELVES OUT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE WHITES GOT A 246 YEAR HEAD START.

AND UNTIL AMERICA ADDRESSES THE WEALTH DISPARITY WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PROBLEM BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES.

MY BOOK IS A CALL FOR WHITES TO DEPOSIT 1.29 PERCENT OF THEIR ANNUAL SAVINGS TO BLACK-OWNED BANKS BECAUSE THEY PUT MONEY INTO THE BLACK COMMUNITIES.

WHEREAS LESS THAN HALF A PERCENT OF MORTGAGES BY WHITE OWNED BANKS GO TO BLACK PEOPLE IN THE 9.29 PERCENT REPRESENTS THE NINE MINUTES INTO A NINE SECONDS THAT OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN HAD HIS KNEE ON GEORGE FLOYD'S NECK.

NUMBER 2 I RECOMMEND THEY SPEND 9.29 PERCENT OF THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET WITH LACKLAND BUSINESSES BECAUSE LACKLAND BUSINESSES ARE THE LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER OF BLACK PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.

THE THIRD CALL TO ACTION THAT I'M ASKING WHITES TO ENGAGE IN IS TO DONATE MONEY TO THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHICH PRODUCE 80 PERCENT OF ALL BLACK JUDGES, LAWYERS TO DATE AND 30 PERCENT OF ALL BLACK ENGINEERS AND 100 PERCENT OF ALL BLACK VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

MY FINAL RECOMMENDATION IS THAT BLACKS GET THE SUPPORT OF WHITES, TO SUPPORT REPARATIONS TO BE GIVEN TO LACK AMERICANS WHO ARE DESCENDENTS TO ENSLAVED PEOPLE TO THE TUNE OF A CHECK OF ONE AND $53,000 WHICH IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE WEALTH.

BLACK AMERICANS HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A CHECK FOR JUNE 1946 YEARS OF ENSLAVEMENT.

I BELIEVE ONCE WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN LEGITIMATELY BEGIN THE HEALING OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO BLACK AMERICA INTENTIONALLY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IN MY OPINION THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL THERE'S ACTUALLY AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT MADE TO CLOSE THAT WEALTH GAP AND IF THAT IS GIVEN TO BLACK IT WOULD CHANGE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

YOU WILL SEE LOWER VIOLENCE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, HEALTHCARE WILL IMPROVE AND IT WILL MAKE AMERICA THE BEST VERSION OF WHAT IT COULD BE.

>> WE RECORDED THAT STEPHEN ROGERS BACKYARD.

HE SAID HIS HOME IS TO A LOT THAT STOOD VACANT AFTER A BLACK FAMILY WAS FORCED TO MOVE THEIR HOME TO THE FIFTH WARD IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BLOCK LIGHT.

ROGERS CALLS IT FAIR JUSTICE THAT A BLACK MAN LIVES NEXT TO THAT LOT TODAY.

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

SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS AND JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ AND ME FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US TONIGHT AT