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

[MUSIC] >> 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, WHAT IS IN A SWEEPING CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL THAT WAS SIGNED EARLIER THIS WEEK AND WHAT CONCERNING BILLY IS CONCERNING IT'S OPPONENTS?

>>> ON HOW MEDIA REPRESENTATION PROMOTES POPULAR MISCONCEPTION IN A THROWBACK CLIP.

>>> NECK IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SERIES, WE RIP ON THE HISTORY.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THE STORY IS WEAKENED BY THE POWER.

>> Brandis: EDITING HISTORY TO INCLUDE ADA McHENRY, HER SERVICE IN BILLY INDOORS.

>>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER SIGNED A BILL THAT IS MASSIVE.

764 PAGES AND IT'S IMPACT ON HOW ILLINOIS APPROACHES CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND POLICING.

HERE IS THE GOVERNOR AT MONDAY'S BILL SIGNING YOUR.

>> ALL ILLINOIS AND WILL LIVE IN A SAFER AND MORE JUST STATE WITH THIS LAW IN THE BOOKS.

IN SHORT THIS LEGISLATION MARKS A SUBSTANTIAL STEP TOWARDS DISMANTLING THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT PLAGUES OUR COMMUNITIES, STATE AND NATION AND BRINGS US CLOSER TO TRUE SAFETY AND TRUE FAIRNESS AND TRUE JUSTICE.

>> Brandis: JOINING US NOW ALL REPUBLICAN STATE SEN. JOHN CURRAN AS WELL AS TO SPONSORS, STATE REP. JUSTIN SLAUGHTER AND STATE SEN. ELGIE SIMS.

GENTLEMEN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

REP. JUSTIN SLAUGHTER LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHY WERE THE CHANGES IN THIS BILL NECESSARY?

>> Guest: IT WAS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS AND BRING MORE EQUITY, MORE FAIRNESS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT WAS ROOTED IN RACISM.

WE WANT TO DO RING FORTH A COMPREHENSIVE HOLISTIC REPORT BILLY APPROACH TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

WHAT YOU SEE IS US ADDRESSING POLICE POLICIES WITH THE USE OF FORCE, CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING AND MORE ENHANCED CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND ALSO A STATEWIDE BODY CAM PROGRAM.

ALSO LOOKING AT SENTENCING REFORM IN ADDRESSING THE MASS INCARCERATION CRISIS AND DISCRETION FOR LOWER-LEVEL MANDATORY MINIMUMS, ALTERNATIVES TO CUSTODY AND OF COURSE BEING THE FIRST STATE TO LEGISLATE IN ENDING CASH BAIL.

WE FEEL IT IS A MORE FAIR SYSTEM THIS IS ALL NECESSARY AND ALSO A THIRD PRONG TO THE BILL IS PLANTING A STRONG SEED FOR CRIME AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS NECESSARY TO REMIND THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS THAT THIS IS THEIR GOVERNMENT.

WE CAN MARCH TOGETHER, PROTEST TOGETHER BUT WE CAN ALSO IMPACT POLICY TOGETHER IN HB 3653 REFLECTS THAT WE ARE GOING FROM PROTEST TO PROGRESS.

>> Brandis: YOU MENTIONED CASH BAIL WHICH IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE BILL.

IT IS A POTENTIAL MODEL FOR OTHER STATES CONSIDERING ELIMINATING CASH BAIL.

SENATOR SIMS, WHAT IS THE IMPACT FOR SOMEONE BEING HELD IN JAIL AWAITING FOR THEIR CASES TO BE ADJUDICATED?

>> Guest: WE FIND THAT A STUDY SHOWS THAT AFTER THREE DAYS THERE LIFE STARTS TO UNRAVEL.

THEY LOSE THEIR JOB, THEIR HOMES, THEIR CHILDREN IF THEY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE CHILD CARE FOR THE CHILDREN THE CHILDREN WILL GO INTO THE CHILD CUSTODY SYSTEM.

A PERSON'S LIFE STARTS TO UNRAVEL AFTER THREE DAYS.

I REMIND YOU THAT THE TRIAL PROCESS TAKES PLACE BEFORE A PERSON IS EVEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

WE ARE INSTITUTING THESE POLICIES ON THE BACKS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME YET.

>> Brandis: WE WELCOME BACK TO SEN. ELGIE SIMS.

SEN. JOHN CURRAN YOU AGREE WITH SOME PARTS OF THE BILL.

WHAT IS YOUR CONCERN WITH CASH BAIL IN PARTICULAR?>> Guest: THANK YOU BRANDIS GRADE DOING AWAY WITH CASH BAIL IS A MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEM.

THE ABILITY TO PAY SHOULD NOT BE DETERMINING FACTOR IN WHO IS DETAINED PRETRIAL IS TO BE BASED ON RISK AND RISK TO SAFETY AND PUBLIC SAFETY ARE THE OBJECTIONS WE HAVE HERE ARE THE LIMITATIONS OF WHAT FORCIBLE FELONIES ARE ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE ASSESSMENT.

WE WERE LOOKING MORE FOR A MOTTO LIKE NEW JERSEY WHERE ALL CRIMES WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT HEARING IF THERE WAS A BASIS TO BRING FOR THE PROSECUTOR TO BEAR THE BURDEN AND BRING THAT MOTION TO DETAIN.

HEAR THERE ARE MORE LIMITATIONS TO IT.

THIS IS A VERY STRONG PRESUMPTION IN THE BILL FOR PRETRIAL RELEASE.

THAT IS A GOOD THING.

PROSECUTORS SHOULD BEAR THE BURDEN BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO ALL FORCIBLE FELONIES.

>> Brandis: REP. JUSTIN SLAUGHTER HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO HIS CONCERNS REGARDING BAIL?

>> Guest: FIRST OF ALL I DO BELIEVE THE STATE IS BETTER OFF HAVING STATESMEN LIKE SEN. JOHN CURRAN LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH LEADER SEN. JOHN CURRAN ON THIS.

THERE IS A LIST OF FELONIES THAT THE SENATOR IS MENTIONING AND WE DO NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IT.

ONE THING I WANT TO SHED LIGHT ON SEN. ELGIE SIMS HAS DONE A GOOD JOB ON THIS.

THE GO LIVE DATE OF CASH BAIL IS 2023.

WE REALLY WANT TO USE OUR TIME, ENERGY AND EFFORT FROM NOW UNTIL THEN TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MOST IMPACT WILL END EFFECTIVE SYSTEM.

WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH AN OPEN DOOR POLICY READY TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE ACROSS THE AISLE AND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WITH STATE ATTORNEYS TO ASSURE THAT WE LOOK AT THE CONCERNS THAT SEN. JOHN CURRAN BROUGHT UP WITH FORCIBLE FELONY.

WE MUST MOVE AWAY FROM OUR SYSTEM AGAIN WE WANT TO NOT CRIMINALIZE THE POOR OR POVERTY.

ON THE OTHER SIDE THE MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO MAKE SURE WE DO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY.

RIGHT NOW VIOLENT CRIMINALS ARE ABLE TO BE RELEASED OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY IF YOU HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS.

THERE ARE BILLY IS MORE SKILLED WORK TO DO AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING AND COLLABORATING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT ARE STILL OUTSTANDING.

>> Brandis: SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE, SEN. JOHN CURRAN, THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT THE LEGISLATION WILL BE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB.

HOW SO?

>> Guest: LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS CONCERNS FOR THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE LANGUAGE CENTERED AROUND THE USE OF FORCE.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT SEN. ELGIE SIMS AND REP. JUSTIN SLAUGHTER HAVE ENGAGED A PROCESS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND THAT THE POLICY OBJECTIVES IN THE BILL ARE ACCOMPLISHED AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION IS SPECIFIC AND CLEAR FOR THE PROFESSIONALS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE STILL A LITTLE WORK IN PROGRESS BUT WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

>> Brandis: ANOTHER CONCERN THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM REPUBLICANS IS THAT THE BILL WAS RUSHED THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE BLACK CAUCUS SAID YOU ALL HAD MULTIPLE HEARINGS ABOUT THIS BACK IN THE FALL.

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO VOTE SHOULD THERE HAVE BEEN MORE DISCUSSION AND DEBATE AND AMENDING ON THE FLOOR?

>> Guest: YOU REFERENCED THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE HAVE.

THE NINE PUBLIC HEARINGS OVER 30 HOURS OF TESTIMONY AND THE WAY THE BILL GOT PASSED AND THE HOUR THAT THE BILL GOT PAST WAS BECAUSE HE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT THE SENATOR MENTIONED.

WE WERE NEGOTIATING UNTIL THE VERY LAST MOMENT.

TRYING TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT NOW.

THAT'S HOW THE BILL WAS PASSED AT THE HOUR IT PASSED.

I WOULD ALSO REMIND YOU THAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO PICK THE BILL UP DURING THE FALL VETO SESSION.

WE HAD ADDITIONAL TIME WHEN THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WE WANTED TO HAVE OPEN, HONEST DIALOGUE DID THAT.

WE BROUGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THE TABLE WE ASKED FOR THEIR INPUT AND THERE WAS ALSO A 15 POINT PLAN THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OUTLINED OR PERFORMANCE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND MANY OF THOSE ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN HOUSE BILL.

THE ONLY WAY THAT REFORM WORKS IS IF EVERYONE IS MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS REFORM.

>> Brandis: YOU KNOW THAT THE BLACK CAUCUS YOU ARE ALL WORKING ON HOPING THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN MORE LEGISLATION IN REGARDS TO ECONOMIC POLICY.

MY THANKS TO THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE REP. JUSTIN SLAUGHTER, SEN. ELGIE SIMS AND SEN. JOHN CURRAN FOR JOINING US.

>>> BACK WHEN JIM TILMAN INTERVIEWED ENTERTAINERS SAMMY DAVIS JR. FOR WTTW OUR PEOPLE IN 1968, BLACK ACTORS AND ENTERTAINERS WERE JUST BREAKING INTO HIGH-PROFILE MOVIES AND SHOWS.

IN TONIGHT THROWBACK LOOK AT THE LACK OF REPRESENTATION AFFECTED THE PERCEPTION OF BLACK CHILDREN AND AMERICAN HISTORY AND THEMSELVES.

>> TELEVISION, HOWEVER, HAS MADE LARGER STRIDES IN TERMS OF TRYING TO DISCOVER NEW TALENT AND PUTTING NEW TALENT MUCH BETTER THAN MOTION PICTURES HAVE.

YOU KNOW?

IT TOOK RC DAVIS 30 YEARS TO GET A LEAD OPPOSITE, YOU KNOW, BURT LANCASTER IN THE SCALP HUNTERS.

THE MAN HAS BEEN A QUALIFIED BLACK STAR OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.

THEY JUST DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE PART.

>> ARE YOU AT ALL SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THAT THE TREND IT IS GOING NOW WITH GUESTS COMING TO DINNER AND OTHER MOVIES COMING ACROSS AS YOU MENTIONED?

>> I THINK THE SCALP HUNTERS WAS BASED ON ONE THING.

MAYBE TALK ABOUT BLACK AWARENESS.

WE TALK ABOUT BLACK CULTURE AND THE BEST WAY THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY CAN SERVE THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS LETTING BLACK CHILDREN KNOW THAT THERE WERE BLACK PIRATES, BLACK INDIANS, LIKE COWBOYS.

I MADE A JOKE OUT OF IT IN THE EARLY DAYS WHEN I WAS A BLACK COWBOY.

AND IT'S TRUE TODAY.

IT HAPPENED NO SOONER TODAY SITTING OUTSIDE WITH A BUNCH OF KIDS AFTER THE SHOW.

WE MADE IT A POINT TO INVITE KIDS DOWN ON MATINEE DAYS EVERY SHOW FROM UNDERPRIVILEGED AREAS AND WHEN I SAY KIDS I DON'T MEAN KIDS IN THE SENSE OF THAT BUT I MEAN YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND EVERY DAY WHEN I GOT TO TALK TO THEM AFTERWARDS TO RELATE IN SOME WAY SOMEONE SAYS DID YOU LIKE PLAYING WITH A GUN IN THE WESTERN?IT WAS THE FIRST BLACK PERSON MAY HAVE SEEN ON A HORSE.

IN TERMS OF HISTORY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE FILM THAT SHOWS A BLACK AND CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CULTURE SO THAT A BLACK CHILD CAN GO IN AND SEE THERE WAS A TIME THAT WHITE PEOPLE KNEW AS WELL AS BLACK PEOPLE IN THE FIRST MAN THAT DIED IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS A BLACK MAN NOT A WHITE MAN.

FIRST MAN WHO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR AMERICA IN TERMS OF THE REVOLUTION WAS A BLACK MAN.

>> Brandis: YOU CAN WATCH THE ENTIRETY OF JIM TILMAN'S CONVERSATION WITH SAMMY DAVIS JR. ON OUR WEBSITE.

THE UNTOLD STORY OF A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND A LEGENDARY ORGANIZATION.

[MUSIC] >> Brandis: A CHICAGO-BASED COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION SERVES 7000 PEOPLE PER YEAR AND HAS BEEN DOING THIS SORT OF WORK FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BUT THE STORY OF IT'S FOUNDER HAS LARGELY BEEN ERASED.

AMANDA BENEKE JOINS US NOW IN AN EFFORT TO REWRITE AND STRENGTHEN THAT HISTORY.

AMANDA?

>> IN JUST A MOMENT I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A VIDEO CLIP TO SEE IF YOU AND YOUR VIEWERS CAN QUICKLY IDENTIFY IT.

HERE IT IS.

IF THIS DOESN'T MAKE IT OBVIOUS IT IS IN CHICAGO ON THE WEST SIDE AND IF THE PLAQUE SHOULD MAKE IT OBVIOUS THIS IS A PLACE OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

ARE YOU READY TO VENTURE AGAIN?

>> NOT REALLY.

[LAUGHTER] FULL HOUSE.

FOUNDED BY JANE ADDAMS WHO IS RECOGNIZED GLOBALLY AND HISTORICALLY AS A PIONEERING SOCIAL PERFORMER A DEVELOPER OF THE RECREATION MOVEMENT.

ANOTHER ONE HOW ABOUT THIS ONE?

ADA MCHENRY?

THE ANSWER IS LIKELY TO BE KNOWN.

THERE ARE TWO PARTS IN CHICAGO NAMED AFTER ADAMS BUT NO PUBLIC MONUMENTS OR SPACE THAT IS DEDICATED TO McKINLEY EVEN THOUGH BOTH LIMITED SIMILAR WORK IN THE SAME TIMEFRAME JUST FOUR MILES APART FROM ONE ANOTHER.

McKINLEY WAS LITTLE KNOWN EVEN TO PROFESSORS WHO STUDIED THE RECREATION MOVEMENT.

AT LEAST THAT WAS UNTIL A PAIR OF RESEARCHERS MET IN A CONFERENCE A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND DECIDED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.

>> IT WASN'T IN EASY PROCESS BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO STOP BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO GIVE A VOICE TO McKINLEY WHO HAS CERTAINLY BEEN NEGLECTED AND IN MY OPINION SHE DESERVES MUCH MORE RECOGNITION AND AWARENESS FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

>> ACCORDING TO THE REPORT AROUND THE TIME THERE WERE 400 OTHER SETTLEMENT HOMES DOING SIMILAR WORK IN 1919 THERE WERE 35 OF THEM IN CHICAGO .

WHAT CAME TO BE THE SOUTH SIDE SETTLEMENT HOUSE SERVE THE LARGEST AREA AND WAS FULLY STAFFED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

IT ALL GREW OUT OF A RECREATION PROGRAM STARTED BY McKINLEY DESIGNED TO HELP RETURNING WORLD WAR I VETERANS, MIGRANTS MOVING TO CHICAGO AND YOU.

>> PROVIDING NURSERY, ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS, PROVIDING LODGING, MEALS FOR KIDS.

>> AMANDA SO WHY DON'T MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT McKINLEY'S WORK IN THIS SPACE?

>> IT'S WHAT RESEARCHERS STUDY.

THEY SAY A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH A HISTORICAL BIAS FOR WHITENESS.

>> IT MADE INTUITIVE SENSE FOR THEM TO WRITE ABOUT EIGHT WHITE WEALTHY WOMAN AND FOR THEM NOT TO BE AWARE OF A POOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN WHO DID SOME PRETTY AMAZING THINGS.

>> THEY WERE RECOGNIZED AS THE BEST OF THE BEST WITH WOMEN OF WEALTH AND PRIVILEGE THEY HAD FUNDING AND CONNECTIONS TO MAKE IT THAT WAY.

>> THAT'S WHAT MAKES KETO McKINLEY'S STORY SO OUTSTANDING BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T COME FROM WEALTH.

IN FACT, JERRY AND I BOTH AGREE THAT SHE PROBABLY IN ONE SINCE DID MORE BECAUSE THERE WAS SO LITTLE RESOURCES THAT SHE HAD.

>> WHILE THE WHOLE HOUSE WENT BANKRUPT IN 2012 THE MODERN VERSION OF THE SOUTH SIDE SETTLEMENT HOUSE THE COMMUNITY SERVICES IS STILL DOING THE WORK.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WORK THAT ADA DID AND STARTING THE AGENCY IN 1919 IT IS CARRIED FORWARD AND BECAUSE THE NEED IS STILL THERE AND EVEN INCREASED WE REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE CONTINUE HER LEGACY AND WE WANT PUBLIC SUPPORT TO CONTINUE TO HELP US BUILD UPON THAT.

>> THE CEO NOTED BACK IN 1919 WHEN THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED CHICAGOANS WERE FIGHTING THROUGH THE SPANISH FLU PANDEMIC.

THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN PROVIDING SERVICES LIKE CHILDCARE WHILE ALSO EMPLOYING FRONTLINE WORKERS DOING COAT THE CONTACT TRACING.

McKINLEY'S LEGACY WAS ON BUT THEY SAY TO ACHIEVE RATER FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE McKINLEY AND OTHER FORGOTTEN PIONEERS OF COLOR MUST BE BROUGHT INTO A SHARPER FOCUS.

>> WE ARE LOOKING FOR HISTORY BOOKS AND SCHOOLBOOKS TO BE REWRITTEN TO BE ENHANCED TO INCLUDE HERS AS THEY DO WITH OTHERS TO THE OTHER IMPORTANT FIGURES THAT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HER AND WAS IN THE SAME RACE AS HER BUT DID THE EXACT SAME WORK.

HER WORK HAS ENDURED.

>> ALSO THEY ARE LOOKING TO GET A CHICAGO STREET NAMED AFTER IT'S FOUNDER AND SOLICITING FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO HELP SUPPORT MISSION THAT SHE BEGAN OVER A CENTURY AGO.

THEY ARE ALSO ASKING FOR ANYONE TO CONNECT WITH THEM IF THEY WERE AIDED BY OR EVEN MET IN NEW ADA S McKINLEY.YOU WILL FIND A LINK TO ALL OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE AND RESEARCH PARTNERS SAY THEY HAVE JUST GOTTEN TO THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO MORE RESEARCH INTO McKINLEY AND THEY WANT TO LOOK INTO OTHER SUPPLEMENT HOMES AND THEIR REPORT CITES THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS CENTER FOUNDED IN 1904 WITH A MISSION TO " PROMOTE AMICABLE RELATIONS BETWEEN WHITE AND COLORED PEOPLE".

>> Brandis: AN IMPRESSIVE HISTORY LESSON FOR US AMANDA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

LET'S THANK YOU BRANDIS.

>> JAZZ IS THE CAREER OF MARK RUFFIN'S CAREER.

IN TONIGHT'S BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB WE LOOK AT THE TOPICS OF RACE AND INTOLERANCE AND BEBOP FAIRY TAILS A HISTORICAL FICTION TRILOGY ON JAZZ AND BASEBALL, HE WEAVES JAZZ, BASEBALL WITH REAL PEOPLE AND REAL ATTITUDES FROM THE PAST INTO THREE FICTIONAL STORIES AND MARK RUFFIN JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME BACK TO WTTW.

THE BOOK IS CALLED BEBOP FAIRY TAILS BUT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A BOOK FOR KIDS.

WHY DO YOU CALL THEM FAIRYTALES?

>> Guest: BRANDIS, FIRST, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT IS GOOD TO BE ON SCREEN IN MY HOMETOWN TELEVISION STATION.

IT WAS ACTUALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

WHEN I WAS A KID THROUGH THE GREAT BOOKS FOUNDATION I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE BEBOP FABLES.

I LOVE THAT THE BEBOP TABLES AND VERY TALES, I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE KIDS CONNECTION IT WAS JUST CLEVER TO ME.

>> Brandis: SO HOW DID THIS BOOK COME ABOUT CONNECT WHY DID YOU WANT TO WRITE?

>> Guest: IT TOOK ME 17 YEARS TO WRITE THIS BOOK.

IT STARTED A LONG TIME AGO IN THE 90S WHEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH SCREENWRITING AND I WROTE A FEW PLAYS, I HAD SOME WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES AND IN CHICAGO WE WROTE SO MANY SCREENPLAYS AND I EVENTUALLY WAS PLACED IN THE SUNDANCE SCREENWRITING COMPETITION IN 2003.

I WENT TO LA AND I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED MOSTLY BECAUSE I WRITE ABOUT HISTORY AND I WAS AT A PARTY AND THE GUY MENTIONED A HOT MOVIE AT THE TIME, BROKE BACK MOUNTAIN.

AND I SAID THAT CAME FROM A BOOK OF SHORT STORIES AND THAT WAS A LIGHTNING BOLT IN 2003.

I WROTE THREE SCREENPLAYS IN SEVEN YEARS AND IT TOOK ME 17 YEARS.

>> Brandis: A LABOR OF LOVE.

THE FIRST STORY IS A MAGICAL REALISM WITH MAIN CHARACTERS WHO ARE REAL HISTORICAL FIGURES INCLUDING CHICAGO BORN CHOREOGRAPHER BOB FOSSE AND JEAN AMMONS.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BUILD A FICTIONAL STORY AROUND REAL PEOPLE WE'LL.

>> Guest: AS I MENTIONED, I HAD MY CAREER GOING FOR A WHILE.

RADIO AND MUSIC CAME TO ME BY OSMOSIS.

WHEN I HAD THE DESIRE TO WRITE SCREENPLAYS THE HISTORICAL STORIES OF JAZZ FLOODED MY HEAD.

MY FIRST STORY WAS ABOUT BEING KIDNAPPED BY AL CAPONE.

I HAD ALL THE STORIES ABOUT JAZZ FOLKS GOOD I WANTED TO ELEVATE JAZZ STORIES, JUST LIKE I DID WITH WTTW I JUST WANTED TO TELL JAZZ STORIES I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE DICHOTOMY OF RACISM IN MY HOMETOWN.

WHAT IF BOB FOSSE WHO IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND JEAN AMMONS FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO MET AT A WILD TIME IN NEW ORLEANS POST-WORLD WAR II NEW ORLEANS?

THERE'S LOTS OF GREAT FACTS IN THE BOOK LIKE FOSSE WAS A CHILD STAR.

JOE PAPP THE VERY FAMOUS DIRECTOR WAS HIS PATIENT CHIEF WHEN HE WAS IN THE NAVY AND THAT'S HOW THEY MET.

IN MY BOOK I IMAGINE HIM WITH THE BAND IN THE TIME WAS STRANDED IN NEW ORLEANS AND I PUT IT TOGETHER.

>> Brandis: FUN FACT IN THE FIRST CHAPTER I NOTICED THAT YOU MENTION MY HOMETOWN, VICKSBURG BUT THAT IS ANOTHER STORY AND ANOTHER TIME.

YOUR SECOND STORY WAS AROUND THE KU KLUX KLAN AND SIDEWINDER ARE THOSE BOTH INVOLVE BASEBALL.

GIVE US SOME QUICK SKETCHES ABOUT WHAT THE STORIES ARE ABOUT.

>> Guest: AROUND MIDNIGHT WITH THE KU KLUX KLAN IS ABOUT A GUY WHO IS IN HIS MID- 40S WHO HAD BEEN BULLIED AS A KID BY HIS STEPFATHER WHO MADE SURE THAT HE WANTED TO DO ONE THING.

HE ENDED UP IN NEW YORK CITY AT A CONFERENCE FOR A WEEKEND.

AND, IT CHANGED HIS LIFE.

HE GOT SEDUCED NOT BY JAZZ BUT HE LOST HIS VIRGINITY AND HE WENT BACK HOME AND GOT IN TROUBLE WITH THE CLAN.

I DON'T THINK THAT GIVES AWAY TOO MUCH.

>> Brandis: WE HAVE 30 SECONDS FOR THE SIDEWINDER.

>> Guest: IT IS A LOVE LETTER TO THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES AS A STRUGGLING CUBS FAN I RELATED TO THE 1954 PHILLIES AND I MISS EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN 64 AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES WHICH INCLUDE ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI AND I TOUCH ON THAT STORY IN THE SIDEWINDER.

>> Brandis: WERE NOT GOING TO GIVE IT ALL AWAY THEY HAVE TO READ THE BOOK.

>> Guest: THANK YOU BRANDIS.

>> Brandis: THANK YOU MARK FOR JOINING US.

AGAIN THE BOOK IS CALLED BEBOP FAIRY TAILS A HISTORICAL FICTION TRILOGY ON JAZZ, INTOLERANCE AND BASEBALL.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THE SUNDAY NIGHT.

JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ AND MEET FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

SEVERAL THOUSAND C.P.S.

STUDENTS STEP BACK INTO THE CLASSROOMS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY A YEAR.

THERE ARE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM NOW.

THE FRIGID WATERS BECOME A DAILY SWIMMING POOL FOR ONE CHICAGOAN.

ON A PROGRAMMING NOTE, CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES IS OFF FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BUT WE HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MARCH 21.

ALL OF US TONIGHT ON BLACK VOICES, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>>.

[MUSIC]