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 WE KICK OFF BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH HOW BLACK HISTORY IS TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AND HOW SOME SAY IT SHOULD BE TAUGHT.

THE LAWS AND LIMITATIONS OF LIFE AFTER PRISON IS THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SELECTION.

>>> A THROWBACK FROM AN INCISIVE 1968 INTERVIEW WITH ACTOR AND COMEDIAN GOTTFRIED CAMBRIDGE WITH HIS GROUNDBREAKING SHOW OUR PEOPLE AND THEN.

THERE WAS AN ISSUE TO CALL ABOLISH TEACHING HISTORY IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS CITING CONCERNS THAT THE WAY THE SUBJECT IS TAUGHT IN IT'S PRESENT FORM PROMOTES WHITE SUPREMACY AND RACISM.

HERE'S SOME OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY THAN.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING HISTORY IN ILLINOIS WE NEED TO END THE MISEDUCATION OF ILLINOIS PROVIDENCE.

IT COSTS SO MUCH TO PRINT BOOKS AND IT COST SO MUCH FOR TAXPAYERS TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THEIR KIDS AND THEIR CHILDREN TO GO TO SCHOOL TO BE A SUBJUGATED.

>> Brandis: JOINING US NOW ON HOW AND WHAT WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN ABOUT BLACK HISTORY ARE MARINE ROUGHLY FACING HISTORY WITH OURSELVES AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE LASHAWN FORD WHOSE BILLY WHO WAS ALSO A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

REPRESENTATIVE FOR LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH HISTORY AND SPECIFICALLY BLACK HISTORY ARE BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOL?

>> BRANDIS, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WE TALK ABOUT HISTORY IS NOT INCLUSIVE AND BLACK HISTORY ONLY REALLY STARTS WITH SLAVERY WHEN BLACKS WERE ENSLAVED AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.

PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW BLACK HERITAGE IN THE CULTURE OF HISTORY AND ARE SCHOOLS DO NOT DO THAT IN AMERICA.

>> MAUREEN, USE AND ADDRESS THESE DIFFICULT SUBJECTS LIKE RACISM, AND PLACES BILLY SEMITISM AND PREJUDICE HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION APPROACH DIFFER TO NORMAL ORGANIZATIONS?

>> FIRST OF ALL BRANDIS IS AN HONOR TO BE ON AND WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE FORGE.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, TO BELIEVE THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY, OUR HISTORY AND THAT ALL EDUCATORS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH THAT HISTORY IN IT'S FULLNESS YEAR-ROUND, I THINK THAT WHAT REPRESENTATIVE FORD IS INTERESTED IN IS RIGHT IN MIND WITH THE GOALS OF HISTORY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE FORGE YOU WROTE A 2013 BLACK HISTORY TAX FOR TWO STUDY JUSTICE.

WHAT HAS THAT TASK FORCE LEARNED?

>> AT TASK FORCE LEARNED THE CURRICULUM AND THE OVER 852 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ILLINOIS IS LEARNING IS THAT THERE IS A NEED TO CHANGE THE STANDARDS IN ILLINOIS OF HOW WE TEACH HISTORY AND THE NEED TO CHANGE FROM TEXTBOOKS AND CURRICULUM THAT WE ARE USING TO TEACH HISTORY IN ILLINOIS.

>> MARINE, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES TO TEACH THOSE DIFFICULT SUBJECTS LIKE SLAVERY AND THE HOLOCAUST?

>> THE CHALLENGE ARE THAT SO MANY TEACHERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH HAVING THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR STUDENTS.

THEY THOUGHT SAY HISTORY'S APPROACH IS TO HELP EDUCATORS HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEIR IDENTITY INTO PLACE WITH THE IDENTITIES OF THE STUDENTS THAT THEY ARE TEACHING AND WE PROVIDE FOR THE TEACHERS THE TOOLS WHICH THEY CAN HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND CREATE SAFE SPACES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO REALLY CONNECT ON THESE CHALLENGING TOPICS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA IN THE 50S AND 60S REPRESENTATIVE FORD AS WE MENTIONED YOU WERE A HISTORY TEACHER FOR CPS.

WHAT KIND OF MATERIALS WERE YOU GIVEN AT THE TIME TO TEACH ABOUT THAT ERA AND DO YOU THINK THOSE WERE THE RIGHT TOOLS?

>> I'M ASHAMED TO SAY THE TOOLS THAT I HAD TO USE WERE CENTERED AROUND THE STANDARDS THAT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS REQUIRED.

AS A TEACHER I COULD BRING IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE A LITTLE BIT BUT I HAD TO SPEND THE TIME ON TASK TEACHING THE WAY THE STATE REQUIRED.NO.

IT DID NOT PROVIDE THE NECESSARY TOOLS FOR ME TO TEACH IN THE CLASSROOM THE WAY THAT HISTORY SHOULD BE TAUGHT.

AND I WILL SAY NEIL STEINBERG JUST WROTE SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY POWERFUL.

HE SAID HISTORY ISN'T HERE TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT OUR HISTORY DOES FOR PEOPLE WHO READ IT.

IT TRIES TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE REFERENCING NEIL STEINBERG'S COLUMN IN THE TIMES.

MAUREEN, WHAT IS HISTORY OFFERING TO TEACH THE CIVIL RIGHTS TIME.

AND HOW DO YOU DEVELOP THOSE?

>> IN PARTICULAR AROUND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA WE HAVE A CURRICULUM THAT FOCUSES IN ON THE LITTLE ROCK NINE.

SO, THE AMAZING THINGS THAT THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE DID IN 1957 TO BRING THE SUPREME COURT DECISION OF BROWN VERSES THE BOARD OF EDUCATION INTO REALITY.

I THINK IT IS SUCH A POWERFUL CURRICULUM BECAUSE IT CONNECTS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE SEE THAT THEY HAVE AGENCIES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO BE ABLE TO VOTE IN ORDER TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON SOCIETY.

THOSE NINE YOUNG PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS WE'RE ABLE TO AFFECT CHANGE.

I WILL ADD TO THAT THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT IN CHICAGO WE HAVE A SUPPLEMENT THAT HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IN 1963 THE STUDENT BOYCOTT OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO CONNECT THESE HISTORIES TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY.

IT MAKES THEM FEEL THAT THEY ALSO HAVE AGENCY THAT THEY CAN MAKE A CHANGE.

>> MARINE, STICKING WITH YOU FOR A SECOND WE ALL HAD A TRUE LIFE SECOND OF LIVING HISTORY WITH WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND C.P.S.

ISSUED A CURRICULUM TO TALK ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY.

HOW SHOULD TEACHERS TALK ABOUT THESE MODERN-DAY EVENTS, THESE MODERN EVENTS IN HISTORY?

>> I THINK THAT THIS REALLY SPECIALIZES IN THAT ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE ENCOURAGE TEACHERS TO DO IS WHEN THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS TO ALSO MAKE CONNECTIONS TO HISTORY AND THAT SOMETIMES IF YOU BEGIN WITH A HISTORY LESSON AND ALLOW YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT AND BEGIN TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND YOU CAN REALLY GET THAT CONTEMPORARY ISSUE IN A WAY THAT IF YOU DID THE OPPOSITE AND YOU JUST LEFT IT WITH THE CONTEMPORARY ISSUE THAT IS WHERE CHALLENGES AND SOMETIMES OVER EMOTION CAN HAPPEN.

IF YOU BEGIN WITH A HISTORICAL CONTEXT, LOOKING AT OTHER INSTANCES WITH POLICE BRUTALITY AND OTHER INSTANCES WHERE OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE STOOD UP AND MARCHED IN THE STREET YOU CAN HELP KIDS MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE WORLD TODAY DEAR.

>> REPRESENTATIVE FORD WE HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT.

PART OF THIS DRAMATIC DELAY HISTORY CAN BE TRAUMATIC, THE UGLY HISTORY OF THIS WE ARE ALSO TEACHING THE POSITIVE PARTS OF THAT HISTORY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK SOME OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS TALK ABOUT THE ORIGINAL SIN OF SLAVERY AND THEY CONDEMNED IT EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PART OF OWNING.

AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR THERE WAS THE TREATMENT IN THAT GUARANTEED OR WAS SUPPOSED TO GUARANTEE BLACK PEOPLE THE FULL FREEDOM OF AMERICA AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

I THINK WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF OUR HISTORY SO THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT AS EDUCATED.

>> NOT TO WALK BEFORE WE SLEEP.

MARINE AND REPRESENTATIVE FORDE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WERE A GROUP OF PRIMARILY BLACK MILITARY PILOTS WHO FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II.

THEY AREBEING HONORED WITH THE TRIBUTE THAT MIGHT FIND YOUR WAY INTO YOUR POCKET SOON.

TAKE A LOOK.

>>.

[MUSIC] THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES IT'S INTENTION TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE OBAMA ERA PLAN TO PUT ABOLITIONIST HARRIET TUBMAN ON THE $20 BILL.

UP NEXT THE LATEST SELECTION OF OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB AND A CONVERSATION THAT ORIGINALLY AIRED ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

[MUSIC] IN ILLINOIS THERE ARE MORE THAN 1400 LAWS REGULATING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.

THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 1000 EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS, 186 LIMITING POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND 21 HOUSING STATUTES.

THE NEXT ELECTION IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB, HOW TO AFFECT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH FELONIES ONCE THEY ARE OUT OF PRISON.

THE NEW BOOK IS CALLED HALFWAY HOME, RACE, PUNISHMENT IN THE AFTERLIFE OF MASS INCARCERATION.

JOINING US NOW IS THE AUTHOR, RUBEN JONATHAN MILLER, CROWNED FAMILY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL LIFE AND PRACTICE.

RUBEN, WELCOME BACK AND AM EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BOOK SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE POST INCARCERATION LIMITS ALL THESE LAWS WE JUST MENTIONED THE PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED FROM PRISON?

>> ONE OF THE MAJOR LAWS HAS TO DO WITH HOUSING RESTRICTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE WITH A FELONY RECORD SO MUCH AS VISIT SOMEONE IN PUBLIC HOUSING AS OF 1996 THERE IS A FEDERAL GUIDELINE THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE TENANT CAN BE EVICTED.

OF COURSE, THEY HAVE HOUSING RESTRICTIONS, BOTH IN PUBLIC HOUSING AND IN THE PRIVATE MARKET WHERE LANDLORDS CAN EVICT SOMEONE FOR A CRIMINAL RECORD AND NEITHER APPLICATION WITHOUT HAVING ANY RECOURSE BUT THERE'S NO RECOURSE ON THE PERSON WITH THE CRIMINAL RECORD EVEN IF THEY HAVE A CREDIT SCORE GOOD ADDITIONAL LAWS ON THE BOOKS, IT WASN'T UNTIL 2018 THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE RESTRICTION FOR PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS, SPECIFICALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A BARBERS LICENSE OR CAUSE A COSMETOLOGY LICENSE.

IT TOOK A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE FOR THAT TO COME ABOUT TO BECOME A BARBER.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF RESTRICTIONS IN THE LABOR MARKET AND HOUSING MARKET THAT MAKE IT CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS TO MAKE A LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AFTER THEY RETURN HOME WITHOUT HELP.

>> AND THE RULES, LAWS AND STATUTES IMPACT THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.

YOU WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED THE ECONOMY OF FAVORS WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN INCARCERATED AND DEPEND ON.

>> THE CHANGES OF LIABILITY LAW BEGINNING IN 1980 MADE IT SO THAT EMPLOYERS, LANDLORDS, LICENSING OFFICIALS COULD BE SUED IF THEY PROVIDED CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD.

THE WAY THAT THESE ENTITIES RESPONDED WAS TO RESTRICT THEM FROM TWO THINGS LIKE HOUSING EMPLOYMENT, ETC.

BECAUSE A FAMILY MEMBER CAN BE EVICTED, LET'S SAY, IF A GRANDMOTHER ALLOWS HER GRANDSON TO SLEEP ON THE COUCH FOR AN AMOUNT OF TIME IS INTRODUCES A KIND OF TENSION.

ON THE ONE HAND, PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS ARE MADE NEEDY BECAUSE OF ALL THESE RULES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM ACCESSING THE POLITICAL ECONOMY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, BECAUSE OF THE PUNISHMENT THAT GETS TOLD OUT ONTO THE ONLY MEMBERS SUCH AS SERVICE PROVIDERS OR EMPLOYERS THEY ARE THE LEAST DESIRABLE CANDIDATE TO HELP.

SO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO NAVIGATE IS TO CONVINCE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUNISHED IF THEY HELP THEM TO IN FACT DO THEM A FAVOR OF RENTING THEM AN APARTMENT, ALLOWING THEM A PLACE TO STAY, GIVING THEM A JOB EVEN IF THEY ARE OUR QUALIFIED.

>> IS THAT SUPERVISION ALL THOSE RULES OF BEING INCARCERATED ARE THOSE NOT DESIGNED OR INTENDED TO PREVENT REFIT IS IS HIM OR A FOSTER CHILD IF THAT PERSON SHOULD BE LIVING IN A HOME WITH A FOSTER CHILD, PREVENT THEM FROM BEING HARMED?

EXIT IS DESIGNED WITH THIS IN MIND.

THE ROOF IS A SCHISM REDUCTION OR PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS ARE RESPONSES FROM POLICYMAKERS WHO LEARN TO WRITE OUT PEOPLE WHO WERE AFRAID OF FULL PARTICIPATION FROM SOCIETY.

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

ONE ROLE THAT IMPLEMENTED IN ALMOST EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY IS THAT PEOPLE WITH A FEDERAL RECORD CANNOT SIT ON A JURY.

JURIES HAVE NOTHING TO DO IF WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL COMMIT A CRIME BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS SOMEONE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD CAN GO BEFORE A JURY IT IS ALMOST NEVER THAN A JURY OF THEIR PEERS.

IN FACT, THEIR PRIOR CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS ARE USED AGAINST THEM PROSECUTORS ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE THEM WITH EXTRA CHARGES BECAUSE OF SOMETHING CALLED SENTENCING ENHANCEMENT.

ON THE ONE HAND THEY ARE RESTRICTED FROM BEING ALLOWED FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THAT FROM BEING THERE JURY AND ON THE OTHER HAND THERE CRIMINAL RECORD CAN PUT THEM AWAY FOR MUCH LONGER.

>> RUBEN, BEFORE WE LET YOU GO ON YOUR WORK AS A PSYCHOLOGIST, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES WITH YOUR FATHER AND BROTHER HAVING BEEN INCARCERATED.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

>> IS INTERESTING.

I WAS BORN POOR AND BLACK IN CHICAGO AFTER 1972 IN CHICAGO WHICH IS THE YEAR THAT MASS INCORPORATION BEGAN.

I DECIDED TO WRITE MYSELF AND MY FAMILY INTO THE STORY BECAUSE I COULDN'T AVOID PRISON IF I WANTED TO.

IT IS LIKE A GHOST.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD.

NOT JUST IF SOMEONE COULD GET A JOB BUT WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A FAMILY MEMBER TO LOVE SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD OR WHO IS LOCKED OUT OF THE POLITICAL ECONOMY.

I WRITE THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE HUNDRED PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH AS THEY NAVIGATE THESE SYSTEMS.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS LEFT.

THE BOOK TITLE HALFWAY HOME IS A PLAY ON WORDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ON THE ONE HE AND I DID 3 AND HALF YEARS A PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION IN CHICAGO.

ON THE ONE HAND IT IS THE HALFWAY HOUSE ITSELF.

ON THE OTHER HAND IT REPRESENTS BEING STUCK.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO NEVER QUITE MAKE IT HOME?HOME IS SOMETHING THAT WE MAKE FOR PEOPLE.

THE WAY THAT WE MAKE A HOME FOR PEOPLE IS TO NOT THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY BUT TO THINK ABOUT BELONGING.

WHAT KIND OF SOCIETY WOULD WE HAVE IF WE CONSTRUCTED IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT EVEN PEOPLE WE ARE AFRAID OF HAVE A PLACE IN IT.

THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT I RAISE IN THIS BOOK.

>> RUBEN JONATHAN MILLER THANK YOU SO MUCH THE BOOK IS CALLED HALFWAY HOME, RACE, PUNISHMENT AND THE AFTERLIFE OF MASS INCARCERATION.

I THINK RUBEN JONATHAN MILLER FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A REDISCOVERED INTERVIEW WITH OUR PEOPLE.

STAY WITH US.

>> FROM 1968 TO 1972 THE LATE JIM TILMAN HOSTED A WEEKLY TELL PROGRAM CALLED OUR PEOPLE ON TRENT A.

IT FOCUSED ON ISSUES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND OFFERED INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEWS WITH ENTERTAINERS IN THE AREA.

MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN LOCKED OVER THE YEARS BUT OUR LIBRARY STAFF RECENTLY REDISCOVERED A FEW THAT WE ARE EXCITED TO BRING TO BLACK VOICES THROUGHOUT THE JURY.

FIRST UP, A CLIP FROM AND INTERVIEW WHICH COMEDIAN AND ACTOR GODFREY CAMBRIDGE LENDS HIS THOUGHTS ON POLICING AND CRIME IN CHICAGO WITH HIS CHARACTERISTIC DRY HUMOR.

>> I WAS INTRIGUED BY THE SIGN-UP.

IT IS CALLED ICARE WHICH I THOUGHT WAS FUNNY TO PICK UP IN A CITY WHERE IMMENSITY IT IS GOING TO SHOOT DOWN CHILDREN BECAUSE YOU BEGIN TO WONDER.

I SAW SOMEONE TESTING MACE IN CHICAGO THE OTHER DAY HE SAID I'LL TAKE MACE IN THE EYE.

IT IS A TRAGIC SOCIETY THAT WE LIVE IN WHERE IS OUR SOLUTION TO ANYTHING IS TO SEND A POLICE CAR OR MACE OR OUR ONLY SOLUTION IN WHICH WE CAN SEND SOMETHING TO THE MOON AND SEND BACK PICTURES AND CURE SO MANY ILLNESSES AND ALL WE CAN DO TO SOLVE A PROBLEM IS TO SEND A POLICE CAR IS A TRAGEDY.

I MAKE FOR HAPPINESS IN THE WORLD.

I TRIED TO BRING PEOPLE JOY.

I AM ALSO SECURE ENOUGH THAT ON A NIGHTCLUB STAGE I AM A FUNNY MAN THAT I AM SECURE ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT YOU CATS LEFT OFFSTAGE BUT I COMMIT MYSELF FOR DOING OTHER THINGS.

I DO DEAL WITH SOMETHING, YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEGRO CRIME RATE WHICH IS A THING THAT DELIGHTS ME BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT NEGRO CRIME RATE AND BASICALLY I FEEL THAT NEGROES ARE DOING ALL RIGHT FROM VIOLENT CRIMES BUT I AM INSTRUCTING MY NEGRO BROTHERS THAT THEY MUST MOVE OUT OF NONVIOLENT CRIMES BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE WHITE PEOPLE ARE AND THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS.

IF A POOR NEGRO HOLD THAT MAN HAS TO TAKE THE BUS TO WORK OR CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE A CAB AND HE WAITS IN THAT DAMP ALLEY TO WAIT FOR THAT GUY TO COME BY PITY CAN'T BREATHE BECAUSE HE HAS THAT STOCKING PULLED OVER HIS HEAD.

ALL TO HIT A GUY IN THE HEAD FOR $4.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A NEGRO CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLING $5 MILLION?

RUNNING OFF TO SOUTH AMERICA?

WHITE PEOPLE DO IT SO OFTEN THAT PAN AM HAD TO ADD 30 EXTRA FLIGHTS.

[LAUGHTER] COUNTERFEITING FOR EXAMPLE, IS NO LONGER A WHITE CRIME.

I FEEL A SENSE OF PRIDE IF A COLORED BROTHER WALKED OVER TO ME AND LAID A COUNTERFEIT $1 BILL ON ME WITH A PICTURE OF BOOKER T ON IT.

[LAUGHTER] [MUSIC] >> GODFREY CAMBRIDGE WITH TILLMAN.

IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW.

THE MENTORING ORGANIZATION, I AM A GENTLEMAN BEGAN AS A ONE-DAY SEMINAR THAT HELPS YOUNG MEN SKILLS TO KEEP THEM UP IN ADULTHOOD LIKE TYING A NECKTIE.

THE YOUNG MEN HAVE MUCH MORE TO OFFER THAN IN A DAPPER PRESENTATION.

TONIGHT ANDERSON GIVES US THE LAST WORD ON HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN.

>> I AM A GENTLEMAN IN INCORPORATE IS A MALE LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION.

WE SERVE YOUNG MEN AGES 13 TO 21 NOT JUST IN CHICAGO BUT IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA.

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER THEM AND EQUIP THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE PREPARED WITH LIFE SKILLS THAT THEY CAN USE IN THE REAL WORLD.

WE OFFER ENRICHMENT WORKSHOPS, WE OFFER DINING AND ETIQUETTE EXPERIENCES, WE OFFER OUR MAIL MENTORING ACADEMY.

ACADEMY TEACHES MEN BASIC LIFE SKILLS LIKE HOW TO RESPECT WOMEN .

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE YOUR OWN BOSS.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES, SKILLS THAT ARE NOT TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM BUT SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO HELP MAKE YOU BECOME A MARKETABLE CITIZEN OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND MAKE YOU PRODUCTIVE IN SOCIETY.

WE HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON IMAGE DAY NUMBER ONE WHEN YOUNG MEN WALK INTO OUR CLASSROOMS AND OF COURSE PEOPLE TELL US ALL THE TIME IT'S NOT ABOUT THE IMAGE OR THE PRESENTATION.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK.

WE BEG TO DIFFER JUST A LITTLE BIT.

WE DISCOVERED THAT A YOUNG MAN WHO LOOKS GOOD AGAINST YOU FEEL GOOD AND THEN ONCE HE FEELS GOOD HE WILL DECIDE TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES IN LIFE AND WALK DOWN A BETTER PATH.

IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THE EXPRESSION OF A YOUNG MAN WHEN HE WALKS IN.

HE MIGHT NOT WANT TO BE THERE.

MOM SIGNED HIM UP FOR THE PROGRAM, A TEACHER SIGNED HIM UP FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE FIRST THING WE DO IS PUT HIM IN A WHITE DRESS SHIRT AND A NECK TYPE IS SOMETHING HE HAS NEVER WORN BEFORE BUT IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HIS CONFIDENCE SHOOT THROUGH THE ROOF PEER HE SAYS WOW, THIS IS ME?

I CAN BE A LEADER?

I LOOK GOOD.

WE HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON COMMUNITY SERVICE DURING THE PANDEMIC JUST LIKE MOST ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE TO PIVOT.

WE DISCOVERED THAT IT'S NOT JUST ENOUGH FOR US TO REACH THE YOUNG MEN THAT WE SERVE WE MUST REACH FAMILIES.

SINCE MARCH 2020 OUR YOUNG MEN HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT AND DISTRIBUTIVE MORE THAN 10,000+ FACEMASKS ACROSS THE CITY IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS SAFE.

THEY MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES WHO ARE WITHOUT HAVE FRESH GROCERIES EVERY WEEKEND.

THEY PROVIDE WARM MEALS EVERY SUNDAY SINCE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND WE BELIEVE THAT I AM A GENTLEMAN, IT TAKES BACK AND MAKES LIFE BETTER FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

OUR PROGRAMMING WILL ALWAYS FALL UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.

GIVING BACK THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT ONLY DOING SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF BUT WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING IN LIFE REACHES SOMEONE ELSE.

>> THAT LAST WORD FROM JERMAINE ANDERSON.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE TO WATCH MORE OF THE OUR LAST WORD SERIES.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/ NEWS FROM THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIGHT TO REOPEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR IN PERSON LEARNING AND JOIN PARASITES AND MEET TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

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

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF IT YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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