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

>> Brandis: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

WE HAVE A DAMNING REPORT FROM THE POLICE RESPONSE IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD SKILLING.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR DOCTOR EDDIE GLAUDE TALK TONIGHT ABOUT THE BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SELECTION.

AFTER DIAHANN CARROLL TELLS A HARROWING STORY FROM A THROWBACK OF OUR PEOPLE.

[SINGING] HOW DOES GOSPEL MUSIC VARY FROM OTHER MUSIC GENRES?

OUR CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU CHECKS IN WITH A LOCAL GOSPEL GROUP TO FIND OUT.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BOTCHED NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF IT'S RESPONSE FROM THE PROTEST AND UNREST TRIGGERED BY THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD UNDERMINING EFFORTS TO REBUILD THE COMMUNITY TRUST IN THE DEPARTMENT.

ALL OF THAT ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE CITY INSPECTOR GENERAL RELEASE LAST WEEK.

THE REPORT HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICAL OF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND POLICE SUPERINTENDENT JOEY BROWN IS SLOW TO REACT AND SOMETIMES CONFUSED.JOINING ME IS THE AUTHOR OF THE REPORT, 4 PUBLIC SAFETY DEBORAH WHISPERED.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME TONIGHT ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

A SCATHING REPORT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LAST SUMMER.

WHAT WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OR FAILURES OF CPD THAT YOU DOCUMENT IN THIS REPORT?

>> Guest: AT IT'S MOST PROFOUND LEVEL THIS IS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP AND THE FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP FROM CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ENDANGERED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND LEFT FRONT-LINE MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE AND LEFT THOSE HIGH-STAKES IMPROVIDENT DILLY IMPROVISATIONS THAT HAD BAD OUTCOMES.

>> YOU SAY THAT CPD WAS ILL-EQUIPPED WITH FRONT-LINE OFFICERS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.

WHY WEREN'T THEY PREPARED FOR THIS?

>> Guest: I THINK THERE WERE TWO DIMENSIONS TO THE LACK OF PREPAREDNESS.

A LONGER-TERM ONE AND A SHORTER-TERM.

IN THE LONGER TERM YOU WOULD WANT IT TO BE THE CASE THAT A MAJOR CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD A CONTINGENCY PLAN AVAILABLE FOR LARGE-SCALE PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS AND UNREST.

SORT OF SITTING IN THE DRAWER SOMEWHERE READY TO BE ACTIVATED AND I THINK THERE WERE REAL SHORTCOMINGS THERE WITH THAT BACKUP CONTINGENCY PLAN IN PLACE IN THE LONGER E LONGER TERM.

IN THE SHORTER-TERM PREPAREDNESS BETWEEN THE DAYS OF GEORGE FLOYD IN THE UNRAVELING OF EVENTS HERE IN CHICAGO THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE AND IN FACT IN THE HANDS OF LEADERSHIP OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CITY HALL ABOUT THE EVENT THAT WERE OCCURRING IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN THE UNITED DATES AS WELL AS EVEN TO SUGGEST LARGE-SCALE EVENTS WERE COMING TO CHICAGO AND I THINK GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT WAS AVAILABLE I THINK THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT COULD AND SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER TO BE PREPARED.

>> Brandis: YOU SPOKE WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

IN THE REPORT SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAID "THE DEPARTMENT STRUGGLED WITH CERTAIN ASPECTS OF IT'S RESPONSE AND HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL USE THE INSTRUCTOR GENERAL FINDINGS AS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL TO SELF EVALUATE AND MOVE FORWARD TO BE A BETTER POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

ADDITIONALLY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAID TODAY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY LEARNED LESSONS FROM THE MISTAKES THEY HAVE MADE AND HAS CONFIDENCE IN SUPERINTENDENT BROWN'S READERSHIP.

HERE IS MORE.

>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT OBVIOUSLY HAD TAKEN A DEEP LOOK OVER WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME..

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT EXPERIENCE AND PUT THAT LEARNING INTO PRACTICE OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER AND THE FALL AND L AND CURRENTLY.

BUCKSKIN YOUR VIEW DID THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALREADY ABSORBED THE LESSONS FROM LAST SUMMER AND THE FEELINGS YOU DOCUMENT IN YOUR REPORT?

>> Guest: I WOULD CERTAINLY FOR THE MOMENT TAKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT IT'S WORD AS THERE ARE LESSONS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

THERE ARE POLICY PROVISIONS AY.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PLAYED INTO THE INTO THE DECISION TO NOT PUT IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT.

THERE ARE REMEDIAL EFFORTS UNDERWAY AND WE WANT TO SEE THOSE LANDS AND SEE WHAT INCLUSIONS THEY BRING ABOUT.

>> Brandis: WE SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC, WE ARE EXPECTED TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERSEEING THE DISINTEGRATED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVOLVED IN.

YOU ARE ABLE TO INTERVIEW, THE MAYOR AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.

WHAT KIND OF INSIGHT DID THEY PROVIDE WHEN YOU INVESTIGATED THEM?

>> Guest: THE MAYOR AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ARE OBVIOUSLY THE PRIMARY DECISION-MAKERS.

IN THERE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS.

YOU KNOW, THEY OFFER A LOT OF INSIGHT INTO THE PROCESSES THEY WENT THROUGH IN MAKING CRITICAL DECISIONS DURING THE PROTEST AND UNREST.

I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT RUN THROUGH THOSE DECISION PROCESSES.

THERE WAS COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION AMONG ENTITIES, CPD AND STATE AND COUNTY ENTITIES AS WELL AS OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES BUT ALSO MUNICATION AND COORDINATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT BETWEEN THE LEADERSHIP RANKS AND PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREET.

I THINK THERE WERE GAPS THERE ALL AROUND AND AS I MENTIONED IT LED TO THE PEOPLE ON THE FRONTLINE WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE EXECUTING DECISIONS MADE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL WERE WITHOUT APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO DO SO.

>> WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT CAN IMPACT THE FAILURE YOU DOCUMENTED IN YOUR REPORT WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WILL THAT HAVE ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY OR TO TRY TO REBUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE WITH THE COMMUNITY?>> Guest: THERE ARE LOGISTICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES TO THE WAY THIS RESPONSE WENT.

ON A LOGISTICAL LEVEL THE ABSENCE OF CLEAR AND COMPLETE RECORD IS COMPROMISING IN TERMS OF SEEKING INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ACTION AND MISCONDUCT.

I SHOULD SAY BOTH MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

THE ABSENCE OF THE RECORD WILL COMPROMISE BOTH THE INVESTIGATION AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

I THINK A LITTLE MORE PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE I THINK THERE ARE COSTS TO PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND I THINK CRITICALLY THE WAY THE RESPONSE WAS HANDLED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WE WILL SEE THAT COME AT A COST IN TERMS OF BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CREDIBILITY.

>> Brandis: TO BE SPECIFIC THE CRITICISMS OF THE POOR RECORD-KEEPING IN REGARDS TO USE OF FORCE AND NOT ALL POLICE OFFICERS HAVING BODY CAMERAS AND ANY OFFICERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN MISCONDUCT OR COULD HAVE BEEN CAN NEVER BE HELD FULLY ACCOUNTABLE.

WILL THEY EVER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE GIMMICK.

>> Guest: THERE ARE CERTAINLY MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY AND SOME HAVE COMPLETED THEIR INITIAL STAGES.

IT'S NOT AS THOUGH THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY CAUSE FOR MISCONDUCT DURING THE EVENTS BUT WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT THERE WILL NEVER BE A COMPLETE RECORD.

>> Brandis: ON THE FLIPSIDE OF THAT YOU SAY COULD HAVE BEEN SOME RESIDENTS THAT ENGAGED IN RIOTING AND LOOTING AND THEY MAY NOT SEE ANY PROSECUTION AS WELL?

DEBORAH WE'VE GOT ABOUT 15 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT YOU THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS HERE?

>> Guest: MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ENTITLED TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT THEM AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DESERVES GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT.

>> Brandis: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY DEBORAH.

>> Guest: THANK YOU.

>> Brandis: BLACK WOMEN'S HAIR, PARTICULARLY IN THE WORKPLACE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF ENDLESS DISCUSSION IN MOVIES AND DOCUMENTARIES IN RECENT YEARS.

IN TONIGHT'S THROWBACK FROM A REDISCOVERED 1968 INTERVIEW WITH ACT FOR DIAHANN CARROLL FOR WTTW OUR PEOPLE, SHE TELLS A STORY THAT DEMONSTRATES IT'S NOT EXACTLY A NEW ISSUE.

[MUSIC] >> YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD OUR GREATEST SEPARATION OF COLOR AND TEXTURE OF OUR HAIR.

I WAS DOING A FILM AND I WENT TO THE PRODUCER DIRECTOR AND EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT WHILE WE WERE ON LOCATION IT WOULD REALLY BE A GOOD IDEA FOR HIM TO HAVE A HAIRDRESSER WHO KNEW HOW TO DO WHAT IS CONSIDERED KINKY HAIR.

HE SAID WHY?AND I SAID WELL BECAUSE ONCE WE ARE ON LOCATION AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE AWAY FROM TOWNS AND CITIES AND SO FORTH, IF YOU ARE DOING A SHOT AND IT'S VERY HUMID IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR ME TO CARE FOR MY HAIR MYSELF.

WHOEVER IS THE HAIRDRESSER SHOULD MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO DO KINKY HAIR AND HE SAID I HAVE THE FINEST HAIRDRESSER IN THE COUNTRY WHO IT IS GOING TO DO THE FILM AND I SAID FINE LET'S SEE IF HE CAN DO KINKY HAIR AND OF COURSE HE COULD NOT DO KINKY HAIR.

I SAID NOW, WOULD YOU EXPLAIN, PLEASE, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO MY HAIR NOW MET HE SAID WELL, WHAT DOES ONE TO?

I SAID I HAVE TO DO HOT COMBS AND CURLING IRONS.

HE WENT BACK AND EXPLAINED TO THE PRODUCER DIRECTOR THAT HE COULD NOT DO MY HAIR.

THE PRODUCER DIRECTOR IS OTTO PREMINGER AND I HAD TO TELL YOU THAT.

SO WERE ON LOCATION IT'S VERY HUMID AND HOT AND MY HAIR BEGINS TO GO IN FRONT OF HIS VERY EYES AND HE KEEPS YELLING FOR THE HAIRDRESSER AND THE HAIRDRESSER KEEPS PUSHING IT DOWN AND IT STICKING UP AGAIN!

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE STORY, I CAN SEE THE WHOLE THING FLASHING IN FRONT OF OTTO'S FACE SHE WARNED ME SHE WARNS ME!

AND I'M STANDING THERE SAYING OKAY OTTO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

THE HAIRDRESSER BECAME VERY UPSET.

HE YELLED AT OTTO AND THE DAYS WORK IS PRACTICALLY RUINS AND WE CAME BACK THAT DAY AND OTTO SAID WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

[MUSIC] IF YOU HAPPEN TO SPOT THE WAITRESS WITH THE BUNNY TAIL WHO SERVED CAROL HER DRINK THEN YOU ARE AS EAGLE EYED THAT THE LONG-LOST INTERVIEW WAS SHOT AT THE LAKE GENEVA LABELING CLUB AND IF YOU MISSED IT YOU CAN WATCH IT AGAIN WITH THE REST OF DIAHANN CARROLL'S INTERVIEW.

>>> FOR MANY PEOPLE THE EVENTS OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE FELT LIKE A FAILURE OF THE USS.

DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA WRITING JAMES BALDWIN BORE WITNESS TO AMERICA'S GREAT SECOND RECKONING COULD THIS WEEK'S BLACK BOOK CLUB SELECTION GRAPPLES WITH RACIAL CONSCIENCE.

THE BOOK IS CALLED "BEGIN AGAIN" JAMES BALDWIN'S AMERICA AND URGENT LESSONS FOR OUR OWN.

JOINING US NOW IS THE AUTHOR EDDIE GLAUDE JUNIOR AND A PROFESSOR IN CONTRIBUTOR TO MSNBC.

WELCOME.>> Guest: I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> Brandis: WERE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU.

WHEN THIS BOOK WAS RELEASED LAST SUMMER THE NATION WAS IN THE THROES OF A RACIAL UPRISING AND NOW WE ARE A MONTH INTO A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION AND 6 MONTHS REMOVED FROM INSURRECTION JANUARY 6.

AS WE ARE IN THE COUNTRY ARE WE BEGINNING AGAIN?

>> Guest: I'M NOT SURE.

I'M NOT SURE AT ALL.

WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6 AS AN EXTENSION OF RACIAL RECKONING.

IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT POLICE KILLING US BUT THE WAYS IN WHICH WHITENESS CONTINUES WITH ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES IN OUR COUNTRY.

JANUARY 6 WAS ABOUT MOSTLY WHITE CROWD SACKING THE CAPITAL WITH WHITE GRIEVANCE AND WHITE HATRED.

I HOPE WE DON'T TRADE ONE FANTASY OR ANOTHER FANTASY.

THE TRUMPET IS HIM FOR THE BIDEN AND HARRIS ADMINISTRATION AND PUTTING THE REPUBLIC BACK TO SLEEP.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> Brandis: WHY DO YOU THINK BALDWIN'S WRITING HAS SEEN IN INSURGENTS RECENTLY?

>> Guest: I THINK HE IS THE MOST PRESSING WRITING OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY THAT WE'VE EVER PRODUCED AND IN SOME WAYS HE WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME.

HE WAS A MISFIT FORCING US TO THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT WHERE IT SEEMS AS IF WHAT HE SPIED ON THE HORIZON IN THOSE EARLY DAYS HAVE COME TO FRUITION AND SO FOLKS ARE REACHING FOR HIM BECAUSE HE OFFERS THE MOST INSIGHTFUL COMMENTARY ON THE CONTRADICTION AT THE HEART OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.HE KEPT TRACK OF THE SERPENT WHO ALWAYS THREATENED TO SWALLOW WHOLE OUR EXPERIENCE.

>> Brandis: HERE AT WTTW WE HAVE OUR OWN JAMES BALDWIN ARCHIVES.

HERE IS A CLIP THAT HE DID BACK IN 1985.

>> SO, SPEAKING OF A WRITER AGAIN SOMETIMES YOU ARE WRITING A PAGE OR A SENTENCE IN YOU HAVE TO CHANGE A WORD IN THE SENTENCE.

WHEN YOU CHANGE THAT WORD OR TAKE THE WORD OUT AND YOU ARE CHANGING IT ON THE PAGE.

WHEN COULD CONSIDER WHAT WE AS AMERICANS ARE GOING THROUGH AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE 20TH CENTURY IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO CHANGE A SINGLE WORD.

WE TALK ABOUT THE LACK PROBLEM.

IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PAGE IF ONE DISCUSSED THE WHITE PROBLEM.

>> Brandis: DOCTOR EDDIE GLAUDE YOU SAID THAT THE COUNTRY IS FOUNDED ON A LIE AND THE LIE IS THAT THE BLACK MAN IS NOT A MAN THIS THE COUNTRY FORGIVES US ALL FOR THE TREATMENT THAT IT INFLICTS ON BLACK PEOPLE FOR SO MANY YEARS AND AS BALDWIN JUST SAID WE FRAME THIS AS A LACK PROBLEM VERSES EIGHT WHITE PROBLEM AND THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU CONVINCE SOMEONE OF THE TRUTH WHEN AND AS YOU SAY THEY ARE WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING HAS BUILT A LIFE.

>> Guest: THE FACT THAT THE COUNTRY IS BROKEN IT GIVES A POSSIBILITY TO US TO CONFRONT THE UGLINESS OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

AT THE HEART OF BALDWIN'S PURPOSE IS THAT WHEN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT HASN'T BEEN US, AS BALDWIN WILL SAY I AM NOT THE N-WORD THE QUESTION IS WHY DID YOU NEED THE N-WORD IN THE FIRST PLACE?

THE INVERSION SHIFTS THE BURDEN OF ANALYSIS IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT PEOPLE WILL LISTEN.

IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT PEOPLE WILL FIND THE MOST COMPELLING BUT IT CERTAINLY ORIENTS US WHO ARE TRYING TO BUILD A NEW JERUSALEM.

IT WILL HELP BRING A NEW AMERICA INTO BEING AS WE SHIFT AND I LOVE THAT FORMULATION AS WE SHIFT THE WORD.

THAT IS WONDERFULLY PUT.

OF COURSE IT IS.

>> Brandis: YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK AND YOU REFER TO HIM AS JIMMY.

[CHUCKLE] WHY DO YOU CALL HIM JIMMY?

>> Guest: I HAVE BEEN WALKING WITH BALDWIN, JIMMY, FOR 30 YEARS AND IT IS AN INTIMATE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP FOR ME.

TEACHING ME HOW TO BE HOW TO MANAGE MY RAGE, HOW TO CONFRONT MY OWN VULNERABILITIES, URGING ME AS I WAS TRYING TO WRITE THIS BOOK TO NOT IMITATE HIM BUT TO TRUST MY OWN VOICE.

TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A WITNESS.

I AFFECTIONATELY CALL HIM JIMMY BECAUSE THERE IS AN INTIMACY THAT I HAVE WITH HIS BODY OF WORK.

AND SO IT IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT BRANDIS OF WHAT HE MEANS TO ME.

>> Brandis: YOU CAUTIONED AGAINST TEACHING BLACK HISTORY IN A MANNER THAT PUTS HISTORIC FIGURES LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING IN THE SAFE HEROIC REDUCTION OF WHAT HE WAS VERSES WHAT THE FIGHT WAS LIKE FOR HIM.

DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SANITIZE RACE AND RACISM IN A SIMILAR WAY?

>> Guest: SURE.

DOCTOR KING'S BONES HAVE BEEN PICKED CLEAN SPIRIT SOMETIMES HE IS A REARVIEW ACTION TO CONTAIN RADICAL ACTION AND TO ARREST DEMAND FOR SUBSTANCE AND CHANGED.

THINK ABOUT HOW DOCTOR KING'S VOICE IS USED IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR DEBATES AROUND POLICING AT THIS MOMENT.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS AN EFFORT TO NARROW THE RANGE OF BLACK POLITICS.

DOCTOR KING HAS ALSO BEEN INVOKED AS THE PRINCIPAL REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT IS LEGITIMATE FORMS AND WHAT IS SO IRONIC ABOUT IT IS THAT IT WAS A CARICATURE OF DOCTOR KING'S LIFE.

IT'S AS IF WE FREEZE THEM IN 1963 AND THEN WE MURDER HIM OVER AND OVER AGAIN AT EVERY HOLIDAY BY LOCKING HIM INTO 1963.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> Brandis: WHAT WOULD BALDWIN SAY ABOUT THE STATE OF RACIAL EQUALITY TODAY?

>> Guest: I WOULD NOT TRY TO ANTICIPATE BROTHER JIMMY'S WORDS BUT I HAVE LEARNED FROM HIM AND HE WOULD SAY WE HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE IS WHERE WE HAVE ALWAYS AND AND THAT IS THAT AMERICA NEEDS TO GROW UP, FINALLY AND FACE IT'S GHOST.

>> Brandis: THANK YOU DOCTOR EDDIE GLAUDE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> Guest: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Brandis: AGAIN THE BOOK IS CALLED "BEGIN AGAIN" JAMES BALDWIN AND IT IS AND URGENT MESSAGE FOR OUR OWN.

YOU CAN FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> A GROUP OF YOUNG WOMEN ARE CHANGING GOSPEL MUSIC AND WHO IT'S FOR.

OUR ANGEL IDOWU MEETS A BAND OF SISTERS ON A MISSION.

[SINGING] [SINGING] MEET GOSPEL GROUP A4L, OR ALL FOR LOVE.

[SINGING] THEY ARE FOUR SISTERS ON A MISSION TO SHARE THEIR LOVE FOR CHRIST THROUGH GOSPEL MUSIC HERE.

>> THE WORD GOSPEL MEANS GOOD NEWS.

IT IS REALLY GREAT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE A MESSAGE OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT PEOPLE.

[SINGING] >> THIS IS A CULTURE OF OUR FAMILY.

OUR DAD BEING THE OWNER OF.

[MUSIC] AND HIS BROTHER ONE OF THE PROPRIETORS.

THEY REALLY DID INSTILL IN US AS A FATHER TO HUM THE ONE IN THE SONG.

TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE NUMBER SYSTEM AND COME TO THE PIANO AND FIND THE G OR FIND THE SEA.

IT IS BIRTH FROM OUR DNA AND BEING HIS DAUGHTERS.

LIKE THEY SAY THE DIVERSE MUSIC TRAINING FROM THEIR FATHER AND UNCLE, ALAN AND AARON FRANKLIN HELP THEM WITH THEIR FOCUS.

>> GOSPEL MUSIC RINGS LIFE AND HOPE.

AND, I AM HAPPY THAT THEY CHOSE THAT ROUTE.

>> WHEN YOU LEAVE A GOSPEL CONCERT YOU HAVE A FEELING OF HOPE AND UPLIFTING.

IT IS A DIFFERENT FEELING.

>> GOSPEL MUSIC IS SO WIDE OF A RANGE.THE CHOIR TO THE QUARTET AND THE WORSHIP GOSPEL IS COMING TO NEW HEIGHTS.

AND WE HAVE BEEN EXPLORING WHAT OUR NICHE IS IN GOSPEL MUSIC.

IT IS FUN TO HAVE THOSE LIBERTIES.

[SINGING] >> AS AN OFFICIAL GROUP FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, A4L SAID THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOSPEL MUSIC AND COMPARISON TO OTHER GENRES IS THE MESSAGE.

>> I FEEL LIKE THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOSPEL MUSIC AND THE SONGS OF TODAY.

I COULD LISTEN TO A SONG RIGHT NOW AND IT COULD TELL ME WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

WHAT IS A SONG THAT CAN HELPED ME GET PAST IT?

THAT IS WHAT GOSPEL MUSIC DOES IS YOU LISTEN TO IT IN YOUR LIKE WOW, NOT ONLY AM I GOING THROUGH A TRIAL BUT JESUS IS THE ONE THAT CAN GET ME THROUGH IT.

THERE ARE MESSAGES THAT ARE PUT IN THE MUSIC, TOO, SO YOU CAN FORGET EVERYTHING THE PASTOR MAY SAY BUT THERE MIGHT BE A SONG THAT REALLY BLESSED YOU OR A SONG THAT REALLY GAVE YOU HOPE OR ENCOURAGED YOU OR GIVE YOU FREEDOM.

[SINGING] THE WHOLE GOAL OF GOSPEL MUSIC YOU SHOULD WANT TO GROW INTO SOMETHING BETTER YOU SHOULD WANT TO BE BETTER AND YOU SHOULD WANT TO LIVE BETTER.

YOU SHOULD WANT TO CHANGE AN OLD MINDSET AND GIVE YOU PERSPECTIVE.

THAT SHOULD BE THE GOAL OF GOSPEL MUSIC BUT FOR US THAT IS OUR GOAL THAT PEOPLE ARE RADICALLY TRANSFORMED BY WHAT THEY HEAR.

[SINGING] FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON A4L.

THEY WILL BE RELEASING THEIR FIRST ALBUM THIS YEAR.

AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE NEW PART PBS DOCUMENTARY SERIES THE BLACK CHURCH, THIS IS OUR STORY THIS IS OUR CHURCH.

DETAILS ON HOW TO WATCH ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THE SUNDAY NIGHT COULD BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/ NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST NEWS FROM WTTW.

JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ AND MEET TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT PAID CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DEBATE IF COVID RELIEF MONEY SHOULD BE USED TO COVER POLICE COST.

AND CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH THE CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR.

JOIN ME TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:00 FOR BLACK VOICES FEBRUARY COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS.

I WILL BE JOINED BY FOUR BLACK WOMEN LEADERS IN CHICAGO SHINING A LIGHT ON BLACK WOMEN, THE POWER THAT THEY HOLD WHILE OVERCOMING DIVERSITY SPECIFIC TO THEM.

YOU CAN VISIT WTTW.com/ EVENTS TO RSVP.

WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH MORE MUSIC FROM THE GROUP A4L.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

[SINGING]