>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, CHICAGO'S ELECTION DAY IS FAST APPROACHING.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT BIG ISSUES BLACK VOTERS ARE TAKING WITH THEM .

>>> A THROWBACK TO THE DAYS OF POLICY, AND UNDERGROUND LOTTERY THAT HELPS LOCK CHICAGO THAT ON ITSELF.

>> THE MORE BLACK OWNED HAIRCARE PRODUCTS WE HAVE, IT IS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE FROM.

>> ACCESSIBILITY IN BLACK HAIRCARE.

ALL OF THAT COMING UP, BUT OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, WE DIVE INTO TOP ISSUES FOR BLACK VOTERS AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK'S ELECTIONS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>>> A NEW NONPARTISAN POLL FROM NORTHWESTERN IS DIGGING INTO WHAT ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT FOR CHICAGO'S BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS.

THEY FOUND THAT AMONG THE BLACK VOTERS, 54% SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NEXT MAYOR REDUCE CRIME .42% SITE THE RISING COST OF LIVING AND 31% WANT REFORMS TO HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE AND A POLICY , 97% SUPPORT MORE FUNDING FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS .96% WANT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND 95% SUPPORT INCREASED FUNDING FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR BLACK CHICAGO ARE THE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO.

THE YOUTH LEADER AT COMMUNITY UNITED, AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIC IMPACT AT METROPOLITAN PLANNING COUNCIL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

YOU SAID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS SOMETHING ON MANY BLACK VOTERS MINDS.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPANS A WIDE VARIETY OF AREAS INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ACCESS TO JOBS AND IT INCLUDES JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG ABLE AND YOUNG ADULTS.

ALL THINGS THAT RELATE TO THE BIG TOPIC WHICH IS CRIME.

WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE ALSO NOT HAPPY WITH CRIME LEVELS AND MANY OF THEM ARE LIVING IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INUNDATED WITH CRIME AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A TRIED AND TRUE TACTIC FOR DEALING WITH CRIME, RIGHT?

AS HARD AS THE JOB OF POLICE IS, THEY ARE RESPONDING TO CRIME BUT JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROGRAMS THAT HELP PROVIDE WEALTH GROWING OPPORTUNITIES IN COMMUNITIES AND THAT CAN HELP DETER CRIME, GIVING KIDS SOMETHING TO DO GIVING PEOPLE A WAY TO MAKE A LIFE FOR THEMSELVES.

THAT IS ALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THAT IS IMPROVING OUR SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.

>> YOU MENTIONED SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT IS A BIG CONCERN FOR BLACK VOTERS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK VOTERS ARE LOOKING FOR FROM CANDIDATES ON THAT ISSUE?

>> SURE.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE ISSUES RELATED TO TRANSIT .1 IS ENSURING CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

WE CERTAINLY NEED HIGHER QUALITY SERVICES THAT SUPPORT BROAD RIDERSHIP AND TO ENSURE THAT THE RESOURCE, WHICH IS A NECESSITY TO SO MANY PEOPLE, IS NOT LOST OR DECIMATED.

HISTORICALLY IT HAS BEEN CUT IN HALF BECAUSE OF LOW RIDERSHIP.

IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THEY ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ALSO LEVERAGE LOCATIONS AND RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT BUSINESSES AND HOUSING OPTIONS ARE CONNECTED FOR TRANSIT AND ARE ACCESSIBLE.

WE NEED TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR PEOPLE TO CROSS THE STREET.

AND USE OTHER FORMS OF TRANSIT LIKE BIKES AND SCOOTERS FOR SHORT COMMUTES.

>> THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME VOTING IN ANY ELECTION, WHAT ISSUES WOULD YOU SAY YOUNG VOTERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES AS WE GET TO ELECTION DAY?

>> SO SOME ISSUES WOULD BE MOSTLY THE VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY BUT ALSO WE WANT TO SEE THE DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC STATUSES, NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

WE WANT EQUITABLE CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE WANT TO BE SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THOSE THAT WE ELECT TO HELP US PROVIDE THESE CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITIES SUCH AS RESOURCES LIKE IMMUNITY CENTERS AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FACILITIES AND ALSO JUST DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE JOB TRAINING FOR YOUTH WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING THAT WE WANT.

ALSO FOR SOMETHING I'M LOOKING AT FROM THE CANDIDATE THAT I WILL ELECT WILL BE JUST THE VOICE TO BE LIKE PHYSICALLY AND ADVOCACY FOR THE YOUTH AS WELL AS CHANGE IN THE CITY.

WE WANT TO BE SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THEM AND WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE ARE IMPORTANT AND IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES WE WANT TO BE PART OF THAT CHANGE.

>> HOW DO BLACK CHICAGOANS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WORK ON PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT HOW DO THEY WANT TO SEE THAT ISSUE ADDRESSED ?

>> WELL, I THINK EVERYBODY IN CHICAGO IS CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE CRIME ADDRESSED IN THE CITY BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT AND BLACK AND LATINO FOLKS ARE THINKING AND MORE PROGRESSIVE WAYS ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH CRIME WHICH IS NOT SO MUCH GET HARD ON CRIME.

IT IS NOT THROWING MORE MONEY AT THE POLICE AND OVERTIME FOR POLICE OFFICERS, THEY WANT TO SEE MORE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP GIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING TO DO THAT IS PRODUCTIVE FOR THEIR LIFE, TO BE ABLE TO EARN MORE MONEY AND TO LIVE IN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES THAT THEY WANT TO LIVE IN AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE PARKS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THESE ARE THINGS EVERYBODY WANTS, HOWEVER WE KNOW THAT ALMOST 90% OF POLICE ARE A BLACK MALE OR WOMAN AND THAT IS BEING STOPPED AND SAY HEY, WERE YOU GOING OR TO QUESTION THEM.

MANY OF THOSE TURN INTO ARRESTS .90% OF THE PEOPLE THAT POLICE ARE STOPPING AND MANY OF THOSE ARE TURNING INTO ARRESTS, THEN THERE IS NO SURPRISE THAT ALMOST 80% OF PEOPLE IN COOK COUNTY AND THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM ARE ALSO BLACK MEN AND WOMEN, RIGHT?

80% BLACK MEN AND WOMEN.

AND SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT IS THE FUNNELING OF BLACK FOLKS INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH MEANS WE WANT MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK AND LATINOS IN THE CITY BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS POLICING TACTICS AND STRATEGIES AND RETHINK HOW WE ADDRESS CRIME.

>> JAMAL, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE NEXT MAYOR ADDRESS VIOLENT CRIME?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR YOUTH AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BETTER STREETS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE JUST MORE INVESTMENT AS FAR AS HOW WE CONNECT.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT CONNECTEDNESS AND PUTTING MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET IS NOT GOING TO PROVIDE CONNECTEDNESS WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY LABEL US AS THUGS OR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT JUST BASICALLY BRINGS DOWN THE PEOPLE.

WE WANT TO SEE MORE THINGS THAT WILL CONNECT US SUCH AS COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW FAMILIES TO CONNECT AND ALSO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO CONNECT.

>> 96% OF BLACK PEOPLE SURVEYED SAID THEY WOULD SUPPORT THE CITY CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHAT FORM WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE THOSE DEVELOPMENTS TAKE AND HOW IMPORTANT IS AN OLDER PERSON IN THE PROCESS.

FOLKS ARE CONSIDERING WHICH THEY MIGHT BE VOTING FOR.

>> SURE.

I THINK HOUSING AFFORDABILITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG ISSUE IN CHICAGO.

BUT I ALSO HEAR FROM COMMUNITIES WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THERE IS ALSO WEALTH BUILDING AND CREATING PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE OWNERSHIP.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE SEEN INCREASED COMMITMENT FROM THE PUBLIC AND CIVIC CENTERS IN 2020, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO SUSTAIN AND GROW THOSE INVESTMENTS AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT MAKE IT REALLY HARD AND EXPENSIVE TO LAUNCH BLACK BUSINESSES IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

EQUITY NEEDS TO BE AN EXPLICIT GOAL OF THAT, INCLUDING HOW DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES ARE DEPLOYED.

YOU KNOW, REALLY HAVING STRONG OUTCOMES THAT CAN BE TRACKED SO THAT PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE DEPLOYED WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED MOST.

>> THE CITY IS LOSING BLACK POPULATION, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TO KEEP MORE FROM LEAVING CHICAGO?

>> THE CITY IS LOSING A LOT OF BLACK PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SAW THE PROPORTION OF BLACK FOLKS INCREASE BY 6% IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHILE WE SEE THE GROWTH OF LATINO POPULATIONS INCREASING.

AND THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS SHOWN THIS LAST YEAR IS WHERE WE ARE REDRAWING ELECTORAL DISTRICTS AND YOU KIND OF SEE THE ZERO-SUM GAME OF POLITICS HAPPENING WHERE IF WE GIVE LATINOS THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS THAT THEY NEED AND YOU KNOW, THEY DESERVE, THEN THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO TAKE AWAY A BLACK DISTRICT.

NOW WE HAVE THIS INCREASED COMPETITION BETWEEN THESE TWO GROUPS REALLY HAVE MORE SIMILAR OF A POLICY AGENDA THAN MANY OF THE OTHER FOLKS LIVING ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE CITY.

AND SO I REALLY, YOU REALLY WANT TO JUST SEE THESE GROUPS COME TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH IN NEED OF COMMUNITY CENTERS AND JOB TRAINING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THEY'RE BOTH IN NEED OF BETTER SCHOOLS.

AND THEY SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER, BUT AS WE SEE MORE AND MORE BLACK FOLKS LEAVING THE CITY WE SEE MORE SCHOOLS THAT ARE BEING UNDERUTILIZED WHICH MEANS FEWER STUDENTS.

WE SEE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE BEING MORE AND MORE EMPTIED WHICH MEANS BUSINESSES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME SUCCEEDING, ESPECIALLY BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.

>> OBVIOUSLY A CHALLENGE.

IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>>> UP NEXT, INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY FOR BLACK HAIR CARE PRODUCTS.

>> A NEED FOR ACCESSIBILITY, THAT IS THE PREMISE OF A HAIRCARE LINE CREATED BY A LOCAL CHICAGO IN.

WE VISITED THE BEAUTY LABS TO SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE HER MOST POPULAR PRODUCT.

HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN MAKING HER OWN HAIRCARE PRODUCTS.

DAVIS SHARED HER WORK ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT SHE REALIZED THERE WOULD BE A DEMAND FROM OTHER WOMEN.

>> TIKTOK IS WHEN EVERYTHING BLEW UP.

♪ >> IT STARTED FROM ME DOING MY HAIR AND THERE WAS A COMMENT LIKE CAN YOU SHOW US WHAT PRODUCTS YOU USE?

I SAID I'M USING MY OWN PRODUCTS.

MAYBE THAT IS A WAY THAT I CAN SHOWCASE MY HOBBY.

SO I MADE A VIDEO OF ME MAKING IT AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD ONLY GET A COUPLE HUNDRED VIEWS AND IT GOT OVER 1 MILLION VIEWS.

>> DAVIS PUT HER BUSINESS PLAN TOGETHER IN TWO WEEKS AND BEGAN TO GET ORDERS FOR THE SHAMPOOS, CONDITIONER, WAX STICK, HAIR GROWTH OIL AND EDGE CONTROL.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS.

LABELS ARE IMPORTANT TO MUSCLE HOW YOU PRESENT THE PRODUCT AND THE QUALITY OF PICTURES ON THE WEBSITE AND THEN MARKETING.

SO A MARKETING CAN BE EXPENSIVE, BUT I THINK WITH TIKTOK IT IS FREE MARKETING.

>> WITH THAT THEY WERE BORN, FEATURING A PRIMARY PRODUCT .

EDGE CONTROL.

>> EDGE CONTROL IS A STAPLE IN BLACK HAIRCARE .

WE ARE OBSESSED WITH OUR EDGES AND IT IS LIKE A VERY STRONG GEL.

WE WANTED IT TO STAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND WE DON'T WANT OUR EDGES TO MOVE, WHICH IS HARD TO FORMULATE.

SO THIS IS WATER AND THIS IS OUR OIL STAGE.

>> Reporter: SHE SHOWED ME HOW THAT IS MADE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO POUR THIS THING INTO THE WATER.

START TO GEL.

MAKING BLACK HAIRCARE PRODUCTS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF THE HAIRCARE ON THE MARKET IS NOT REALLY CATERED TO US.

>> Reporter: WITH LIMITED PRODUCTS CREATED FOR BLACK CONSUMERS AND BLACK HAIR TYPES OF VARYING IN TEXTURE, SHE SAYS PRODUCT VERSATILITY IS IMPERATIVE.

>> WITH HAIR TYPES IT GOES BASED ON HOW TIGHTLY COILED THE HAIR IS.

YOU HAVE TYPE A, B, AND C HAIR AND THEN IT GOES NUMBERS 123 AND FOUR.

SO SOME OF OUR HAIR IS COARSE AND THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD CALL FOR C HAIR.

IT IS HARD TO FIND PRODUCTS BECAUSE YOU NEED EXTRA STRENGTH WHEN IT COMES TO EDGE CONTROL.

WE WANT EDGE CONTROL TO HOLD OUR EDGES DOWN AND BECAUSE IT IS TIGHTLY COILED SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT ALWAYS STAY THAT WAY.

THE MORE BLACK OWNED HAIRCARE PRODUCTS WE HAVE , IT IS MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CHOOSE FROM AND THAT CAN REALLY WORK WITH OUR HAIR.

>> DAVIS CONTINUES TO USE TIKTOK FOR HER FEEDBACK FROM CUSTOMERS.

SHE SAYS HER GOAL IS TO CATER TO ALL HAIR TYPES.

>> YOU LOOK GOOD YOU FEEL GOOD.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP WOMEN FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR HAIR NO MATTER THE TEXTURE.

>> WE HAVE JUST SEEN WHAT IS REQUIRED TO START A BUSINESS, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BUSINESS SOARS?

A BLACK OWNED HAIRCARE COMPANY MERGED WITH PROCTER & GAMBLE BEAUTY EARLIER THIS YEAR.

NOW THIS COMES AS THE MOST POPULAR HAIR GROWTH OIL GREW IN POPULARITY AFTER BEING PROMOTED BY A WHITE INFLUENCER.

NOW THE MOVE HAS SPARKED DISCOURSE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL RIPPLE EFFECTS THAT COME WITH BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES GETTING INCREASED ATTENTION AND SUPPORT.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE BRENDA JOHNSON, A LICENSED COSMETOLOGIST, AND NATURAL HAIRCARE BEAUTICIAN AT BE STYLES BEAUTY AND THE LEAD CREATIVE STRATEGIST AT TARGET HEADQUARTERS.

BRENDA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

GETTING SUPPORT AS A BUSINESS OWNER, DO YOU THINK THE INVEST AND IS A REASON TO CELEBRATE?

>> DEFINITELY.

AS A BUSINESS OWNER, THAT IS THE GOAL IS TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT WORLDWIDE AND BEEN ABLE TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF SOMETHING THAT YOU CREATED AS YOUR BABY.

NOT EVERYBODY CAN GET TO IT.

>> NOW DOING WORK AT TARGET AS A LEAD CREATIVE STRATEGIST, DO YOU THINK CONSUMERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHO OWNS THE COMPANIES THAT THEY ARE MAKING PURCHASES FROM?

>> YEAH, I DO ACTUALLY.

ONE THING I GET TO DO AT MY JOB IS TRULY IDENTIFY CULTURAL TRENDS AND I SEE FROM A LOT OF THE RESEARCH THAT FOLKS ARE ACTUALLY INCREASING HOW THEY FIND WHAT BUSINESSES ARE BEING OWNED BY ACTUAL BLACK-OWNED FOUNDERS OR IF THEY HAVE BEEN SOLD OFF.

SO THAT IS A TREND THAT IS INCREASING IN THE CONSUMER SPACE.

>> SO THERE IS A FEAR THAT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT THE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES ARE ONLY SUPPORTED WHEN THEY RECEIVE A CERTAIN TYPE OF RECOGNITION OR THAT ONCE THESE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES RECEIVE SUPPORT THE PRODUCT FOR THE INTENDED TARGET AUDIENCE WILL CHANGE.

YOU THINK THAT PARTNERSHIP IS A REASON FOR CONCERN?

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS A REASON FOR CONCERN BECAUSE SHE IS STILL HANDS ON.

SHE IS NOT GIVING IT AWAY.

SHE IS STILL THE OWNER.

SO WE HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN CONFIDENT SHE WILL KEEP IT.

>> YEAH.

I WOULD AGREE.

IT SEEMS LIKE SHE IS MAKING SMART DISMISSED DECISIONS.

TOTALLY UNDERSTANDING FROM MY OWN PERSPECTIVE THAT WHAT IT TAKES TO GO INTO A BUSINESS, THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES REQUIRED , YOU NEED THAT.

YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HELP YOU SCALE, AND SO FOR ME I'M HAPPY FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SCALE HER BUSINESS.

>> BRENDA, WE JUST SAW HER EXPLAIN THE COMPLEXITIES OF CREATING HAIRCARE PRODUCTS FOR VARYING BLACK HAIR TYPES.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHEN A PRODUCT IS MOSTLY USED BY BLACK PEOPLE AND THEN GETS DISCOVERED BY A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE?

>> IT CAN BE A LITTLE JARRING, BUT SHE CAN MAKE MORE MONEY OFF OF THE PRODUCT, SO IT DOES MAKE IT MORE WORLDWIDE EVEN THOUGH WE WANT TO HOLD ONTO IT, BUT THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR HER TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF THESE PRODUCTS.

IF SHE IS ABLE TO GET EVERYBODY IN ON IT, IT IS AMAZING.

>> SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SUPPORTING BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES, BUT BEYOND THAT SUPPORT COMES THE RETENTION.

HOW DO WE KEEP THE BUSINESSES AND WHAT ROLE DOES MARKETING PLAY IN THAT?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> SO THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF MARKETING IS AWARENESS, SCALABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.

AND IT TAKES A LOT OF MONETARY INVESTMENT , BUT ALSO PERSONAL INVESTMENT, NOT JUST FROM THE BUSINESS OWNERS BUT FROM THE COMMUNITIES WHO IS AWARE OF THEIR PRODUCT ALREADY .2 BE ABLE TO GROW AS A BUSINESS A PRODUCT, A SERVICE.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN HOW YOU REACH THE AUDIENCE.

AND A LOT OF FOLKS MAY NOT REALIZE THAT QUITE HONESTLY, IT IS A HIGH DOLLAR INVESTMENT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW UP ON YOUR SOCIAL PLATFORM.

SO MARKETING FOR SURE IS HELPFUL TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE.

AND BRING AWARENESS TO THE PRODUCT.

IT IS ALSO A WAY TO TELL THAT YOU NEED STORIES.

EVERY BRAND HAS A UNIQUE STORY AND MARKETING IS A GREAT WAY TO START TO FUNNEL THAT STORY AGAIN TO THE MASSES.

THROUGH SOCIAL, TRADITIONAL MEDIA, BUT AGAIN, THE MONETARY INVESTMENT IN THAT IS STEADY INCREASING.

>> WHAT IS A RESULT OF USING FROM MARKETING WITH YOUR BUSINESS?

>> SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT IS THE BIGGEST PLATFORM WE CAN.

AND WORD-OF-MOUTH.

SO WITH THE YOUTUBE IT WAS AMAZING, IT WAS A BIG PLUS FOR ALL THESE COMPANIES TO COME TOGETHER AND BE LIKE NOW THIS IS A PRODUCT THAT I USE ON MY HAIR.

THIS IS WHAT IT DOES.

KNOW IT GIVES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY THAT OUT AND IT IS SPREAD BETWEEN EVERYBODY AND THEN WE ALL GET TO ENJOY AND SEE THAT IT WAS VERY PROFITABLE.

>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SUPPORTING BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT SUPPORT LOOKS LIKE SPECIFICALLY FROM COMMUNITIES?

>> THAT WOULD BE TO PURCHASE.

YES, BUT THE PRODUCT IS STILL GOING TO DO WHAT IT DOES.

SO, STILL BY IT.

IF YOU GO TO THE STORE AND YOU SEE IT IS ONE OR TWO BY BOTH.

JUST CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE NEED TO SHOW THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY AND THIS IS WHAT WE ENJOY AND MAKE MORE PRODUCTS.

>> FROM YOUR SIDE IN A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE WE THINK OFTEN TIMES OR WE NOTICE THAT THESE COMPANIES DO SEEM TO PROFIT OFF OF BLACK CULTURE, BUT RARELY OR SEEMINGLY THEY ARE NOT INVESTING OR PUTTING DOLLARS BACK INTO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST PROFITING OFF OF BLACK CULTURE BUT ARE PUTTING MONEY INTO THE COMMUNITY?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IS A GREAT WESTERN.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT -- HOW WE RESPOND SEEING OUR BLACK WOMEN AND MEN BRING THEM MORE FAIRNESS AND ACCESSIBILITY.

AND HOPE OF COURSE THE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO OFFER INVESTMENT TO US FROM A STARTUP PHASE AND A GROWTH PHASE AND A RETENTION PHASE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE TO TRULY RELY ON OURSELVES AS A COMMUNITY AND ESSENTIALLY MOBILIZE IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTS ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE BLOCK COMMERCE AND WE ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST GROWING POTENTIAL YOU KNOW, IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

QUITE HONESTLY, SO IF WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, IT IS ONLY, YOU KNOW, UP FROM HERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LADIES.

WE HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT, FINAL THOUGHTS.

BRENDA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT YOU THINK INCREASED REPRESENTATION OF BLACK OWNED BRANDS IS IMPORTANT?

>> BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO SEE OURSELVES AND IF WE CAN SEE OURSELVES ON A GLOBAL PLATFORM IT IS EVEN BETTER.

IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR OUR CAUSE.

>> AGAIN, WANTING TO SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS HAS TO TRULY COME FROM THE HEART AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERY BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBER OUT THERE TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS.

SUPPORT THE ONES WHO HAVE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY WITH LARGE CORPORATIONS BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT IF WE DON'T SUPPORT THEM THEY CAN'T FEED THEIR FAMILY AND THEY HAVE THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY HAVE AMBITION FOR, SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> OUR THANKS TO BRENDA JOHNSON.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> BACK IN THE DAY STAN LAWRENCE HOSTED CONVERSATIONS THAT TOOK A LOOK BACK AT NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE WHO BUILT BLOCK CHICAGO.

IN THIS THROWBACK HE SPOKE WITH NATHAN THOMPSON WHO WROTE ABOUT POLICY .

THE ILLEGAL GAMBLING RACKET THAT SERVED AS A POWERFUL ECONOMIC FORCE FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20th CENTURY.

>> IT WAS THE SINGLE BIGGEST ECONOMIC ENGINE THEY HAD AND IT IS WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REBIRTH OF THE BALL LEAGUE.

THERE WAS A PERIOD BACK IN THE VERY EARLY DAYS OF THE NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUE WHERE IT FELL APART.

>> SO GAMBLING FUNDED THE NEGRO LEAGUE?

>> YES.

GUSTS GREEN IN PITTSBURGH RARELY GETS CREDIT BUT HE WAS THE MAJOR POLICY KING AND ALONG WITH GUYS HERE IN CHICAGO.

EVERY YEAR ALL THE GREAT EAST-WEST CLASSICS WERE HELD IN CHICAGO AND IT WAS THE BIG ATTRACTION AND OF COURSE HE GOES ON TO BECOME HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOCTORS, DENTISTS, LAWYERS, INSURANCE PRACTICE, ON AND ON.

ANY LEGITIMATE OCCUPATION.

ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN GO AND GET A JOB DOING, YOU HAD THAT SAME JOB .

YOU DID.

>> AND SINCE THE POLICY BUSINESS WAS SO LARGE OF A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, IT MUST HAVE HAD OR SEEN SOME IMPACT FROM THE DEPRESSION.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DEPRESSION, 1929, THE STOCK MARKET CRASHES.

ABOUT FOR A VERY LONG TIME IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THE ONLY GUYS MAKING ANY MONEY IN THE COUNTRY INCLUDING THE BLACK ICE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

>> YOU KNOW THE GOOD TIMES CANNOT LAST FOREVER.

IT CAME TO AN AND WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE ILLINOIS STATE LOTTERY IN 1974.

THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

WHILE YOU ARE THERE, WITH THE ELECTION DAYS WAY, DON'T FORGET TO VISIT THE WTTW NEWS VOTER GUIDE FOR CANDIDATE PROFILES AND RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRES AND OF COURSE, THE ONGOING POLITICAL COVERAGE.

THAT IS ALL AT WTTW.COM.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING A SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES AT 10:00 P.M. JOIN ME NEXT WEEK AT 10:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

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

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.