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

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

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT IF YOU'D OVER AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN WOODLAWN.

THE CITY LAYS OUT A PHASE I PLAN AND HOW RESIDENTS ARE RESPONDING.

>>> A NEW SURVEY FOCUSING ON RACISM IN HEALTHCARE.

WHAT A PATIENT'S EXPERIENCE COULD BE A KEY FACTOR IN THEIR OVERALL HEALTH.

>>> IN THIS WEEK'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT DOCTORS BREAKING BARRIERS IN MEDICINE.

>>> A MURAL IS HONORING LATE FASHION DESIGNER HIM.

>>> WE FEATURE A THEATER PRODUCTION HONORING A BLACK MUSIC CONDUCTOR IN THE 18TH CENTURY.

>> FIRST OFF, WOODLAWN RESIDENCE A FIELD EFFECT OF THE OBAMA CENTER.

DURING THE LATEST MEETING ON HOUSING PLAN THE CITY PRESENTED WHAT THEY CALL A PRELIMINARY PHASE I PROPOSAL.

IT WOULD DESIGNATE 13 CITY LOTS FOR THE CREATION OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.THAT MEANS 15 PERCENT OF A BUILDING WOULD BE SET ASIDE HOUSEHOLDS EARNING BETWEEN 30 AND 50 PERCENT OF THE AREA'S MEDIAN INCOME.

ABOUT 20 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO $47,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

ANOTHER 15 PERCENT OF THE BUILDING WOULD BE FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING AT OR BELOW 30 PERCENT WHICH WOULD BE $25,000 PER THE MEDIAN INCOME IN WOODLAWN IS $24,000.

THE RESTRICTIONS ARE PART OF THE WOODLAWN HOUSING ORDINANCE WHICH WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 2020 TWO HELP PROTECT RESIDENT FROM DISPLACEMENT AND CREATE NEW AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

JOINING US WITH MORE ART PATRICIA TATUM A WOODLAWN RESIDENT AND MEMBER OF THE OBAMA IF IT'S COALITION WHICH PUSH FOR THAT ORDINANCE AND 20TH WARD ALD.

JEANETTE TAYLOR WHOSE WARD INCLUDES WOODLAWN.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

PATRICIA I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE CITY IS IDENTIFYING 13 LOTS SO FAR FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE KNOW THE ORDINANCE CALLED FOR A TOTAL OF 52 THEY SAY THIS IS JUST ONE STEP.

THERE WILL BE MORE DOWN THE ROAD.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS FIRST PART OF THE PLAN?

>> WELL, OUR ACTION IS THE MAYOR NEEDS TO HOLD THE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT AND SETTING ASIDE ONLY 13 LOTS IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE DON'T WANT HER TO KEEP THAT PEDALING ON THIS.

FIRST IT WAS 25,013 THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE CALLED FOR 52 LOTS WHICH IS ONLY 1/4 OF THE CITY-OWNED LOTS IN WOODLAWN.

13 IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE NEED ALL OF THOSE LOTS ALONG 53RD ST. CLOSE TO WHERE THE OBAMA CENTER IS GOING TO BE LOCATED TO BE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> WHY WOULD YOU PREFER TO HAVE THOSE LOTS CLOSER TO THE OBAMA CENTER VERSUS WHERE THE CITY IS CURRENTLY PROPOSING?

>> SO THAT THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE WHO HAVE WEATHERED THE STORM WHO HAVE LIVED IN WOODLAWN WOULD BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE OBAMA CENTER.

THE WAY WE ARE GOING NOW PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED EVERYDAY AND LONGTIME WOODLAWN RESIDENTS ARE BEING DISPLACED BECAUSE THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE WANT RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO STAY HERE TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> ALD.

JEANETTE TAYLOR SAME QUESTION TO YOU WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CITY'S PROPOSAL FOR THE PHASED APPROACH IN THE 13 LOTS FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING?>> I AGREE THAT IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

WE SHOULD BE DOING 52.

I DON'T DISAGREE.

REMEMBER, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT MYSELF HELPED PUSH AND I WAS PART OF THE COALITION BEFORE I GOT INTO THIS.

SO, MY THOUGHTS HAVE NOT CHANGED.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT PEOPLE AS SHE SAID TO WEATHER THE STORM AND WHO WANT TO LIVE HERE.

IT IS NOT FAIR THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE INVESTMENT THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR 20 OR 30 YEARS AND FROM THE VERY PEOPLE THAT WE WERE SPLIT TO PROTECT.

IT'S NOT FAIR AND IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT I AM GOING TO SUPPORT OR STAND FOR.

>> ALD.

JEANETTE TAYLOR WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING?

WHAT IS THE RESPONSE FROM RESIDENTS AS THEY FEEL THE EFFECT OF THE FUTURE OBAMA CENTER?

>> EVERY DAY I AM HELPING FAMILIES ANOTHER PLACE TO RELOCATE OR LIVE BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THEY CAN GET MORE MONEY FOR THE PROPERTY OR THEY JUST REFUSE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROPERTY AND FORCING PEOPLE TO MOVE.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT, THAT'S NOT FAIR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SPENDING MY TIME DOING AND PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND I AM PAID TO REPRESENT ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES AND A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAVE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY MAKE SO SHAME ON THE CITY FOR NOT GIVING UP THOSE 52 LOTS.

HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THEM.

THERE IS A PUSHBACK IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WHO THINK THAT LOW INCOME HOUSING OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMES WITH VIOLENCE WHICH IS JUST NOT TRUE.

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE AND IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

I AM A RENTER.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE THIS JOB I WOULD BE STRUGGLING JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

SO, THE 700,000 HOMES THAT THEY ARE BUILDING IN THE COMMUNITY I CANNOT AFFORD SO HOW WOULD I EXPECT PEOPLE WITH A MEDIAN INCOME OF $25,000 TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> ONE ISSUE THAT HAS COME UP WITH THE PROCESS IS HOW TO FUND THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE BEING CREATED IN WOODLAWN.

TOUCH ON THIS TUESDAY MEETING AND THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID.

>> WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE COMMITMENT AND THE ORDINANCE THAT A MINIMUM OF 10 HIGHEST DENSITY LOTS WILL HAVE THE 30 TO 50 PERCENT AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND THAT 52 LOTS ARE RESERVED FOR THAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE GET THAT LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY WHEN WE ARE DOING THAT RENTAL HOUSING AND WE GET THAT LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY WHEN WE SUBSIDIZE THAT ELEMENT.

THE WAY WE DO THAT IS THROUGH LOW INCOME HOUSE CREDIT.

>> COULD'VE BEEN TYPICAL TO SEE THE COMMISSIONER THERE.

IT WAS A ZOO MEETING OBVIOUSLY.

TRICIA, THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS COME EVERY TWO YEARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU ASKED THAT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE CITY CAN FUND THESE DEVELOPMENTS?

>> NUMBER WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELY ON THE CITY'S LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS ALONE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE STANDING WITH US WHO DEMAND THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO GET INVOLVED IN THIS AND CREATE, ADD TO BLACK HISTORY.

THIS COMMUNITY IS FULL OF HISTORY OF BLACK PEOPLE SUCH AS LORRAINE WHO MOVED TO THIS COMMUNITY TO SEE A BETTER LIFE.

WE SHOULD HELP THEM BY FUNDING HOUSING.

THEY HAVE LONG PLAYED A HAND IN DISPLACEMENT ON THE SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO SO THEY SHOULD BE A PART OF BUILDING BACK UP AND HELPING PEOPLE TO STAY HERE WHO WANT TO STAY HERE.

>> WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME BUT, ALD.

JEANETTE TAYLOR THIS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION SO WHAT'S THE NEXT STEPS FOR YOUR OFFICE AND 20 SECONDS?

>> THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO PULL THA TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD'VE STARTED FIGHTING FOR THIS WAY BEFORE NOW.

WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET TO SAN DIEGO AND GET THE CASINO BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SAY ALL OF THESE PEOPLE NEED HELP IN THE WOODLAWN COMMUNITY.

>> WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THIS FOR SURE.

MY THANKS TO 20TH DISTRICT ALD.

JEANETTE TAYLOR AND PATRICIA TAYLOR.

>> A NEW STUDY FINDS THAT BLACK PATIENTS HAVE A DIFFERENT MEDICAL EXPERIENCE THEN WHITE PATIENTS DUE TO DISK OF NATION AND INEQUITIES IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS.

THE HEALTH NEWS FROM TRAN 2131 PERCENT OF BLACK AMERICANS SPRAINS RACISM WHEN DEALING WITH THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

15 NINE PERCENT OF RACISM MADE THEM STOP THE TREATMENT WHETHER THAT MEANS A CHANGE IN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, NOT MAKING A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT OR DELAYING A MEDICAL DECISION.

SINCE THIS MONTH IS REPRESENTING BLACK HEALTH AND WELLNESS WE WELCOME DR. JESSICA SHEPHERD CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AND DOCTOR OF MINIMALLY EVASIVE GYNECOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

BLACK HEALTH EXPERIENCE SURVEY LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHY DID YOU AND THE MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE TEAM LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE OF BLACK PATIENTS?

>> HISTORICALLY WE KNOW THAT BLACK AMERICANS EXPERIENCES AND IT COULD BE POOR HEALTH COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR PROVIDERS AND SCREENING IN HEALTHCARE.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT WAS THAT EXPLAINS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY EXPERIENCE THEMSELVES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA THAT SHOWS WHERE THERE DISCREPANCIES AND WHERE THE HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES ARE BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD GOOD DATA ON WHY THAT EXPERIENCE WAS WITHIN THAT BLACK COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO WITH THIS BLACK EXPERIENCE HEALTH SURVEY.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE RESULTS DOCTOR HE MET.

>> IT IS A THING WHERE YOU KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER WILL BE BUT WHEN YOU SEE IT IS STAGGERING AND VERY DISAPPOINTING.

>> AYESHA JACO, BLACK HEALTH EXPERIENCE SURVEY IS SUPPOSED TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHSIDE CHICAGO HOW DOES HEALTHCARE PLAY INTO THAT?

>> FOR US WE WANT TO DECREASE THE GAP BY 2030.

HEALTHCARE IS A DRIVER OF THAT AND WE LOOK AT OTHER SOCIAL DISCRIMINATIONS OF HEALTH.

THERE ARE FIVE MAJOR DRIVERS OF THAT TO DOWNTOWN AND THE WESTSIDE AND THEY RANGE FROM CARDIO DISEASE, DIABETES, STROKE, CANCER, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSUME THAT HOMICIDE IS A FORERUNNER.

IT IS IN THE MIX BUT IT IS NOT A TOP CAUSE ALONG WITH OPIOID OVERDOSE AND INFANT MORTALITY OR DISPARITY, MATERNAL DISPARITY.

FOR US WE LOOKED AT MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH DISPARITY.

OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE HIGHEST DISPARITY AND WE LOOK AT HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT.

IT IS REALLY ABOUT COORDINATING CARE THROUGH OUR SIX HEALTHCARE PARTNERS MAKING SURE WE STANDARDIZE CARE SO THAT NO MATTER IF YOU ARE A BLACK WOMAN FROM OAK PARK OR THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO YOU GO IN AND YOU GET THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE WHETHER YOU ARE AT THE COUNTY, SINAI OR UNITED HEALTH.

WE LOOK THE BEST PRACTICES AND HOW TO LEVERAGE THEM ACROSS OUR SYSTEM AND ALSO HAVING COMMUNITY BEST PRACTICE THAT IS ASSESSABLE TO OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER MODEL OR JUST THINGS THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE OUR ASSESSABLE AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND USER-FRIENDLY TO THEIR ABILITY TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES AND TO ENGAGE.

>> ONE THANKS PACIFIC THAT STUCK OUT DR. JESSICA SHEPHERD WAS HOW BLACK PATIENTS RESPONDED TO RACISM.

36 PERCENT SAID IT CAUSE THEM TO CHANGE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

28 PERCENT SAID IT CAUSE THEM TO DELAY MAKING A HELP DECISION AND 28 PERCENT SAID THEY DID NOT MAKE A FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT TO OR PERCENT SAID THEY STOPPED GETTING TREATMENT ALTOGETHER.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN A PATIENT'S EXPERIENCE AND HOW THEY ADDRESS THEIR OWN HEALTH.

COULD THIS BE A CONTRIBUTE FACTOR TO THE DISPARITIES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES?

>> DISPARITIES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES WILL BE WILL TIE FACTORIAL BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS JUST LIKE YOU STATED AND LOOKING AT THE EXPERIENCES THIS HAS A DIRECT CORRELATION OF WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS HYPERTENSION.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FROM A TREATMENT PERSPECTIVE?

WHEN WE SEE THAT 24 PERCENT WILL STOP TREATMENT WITH 36 PERCENT WILL CHANGE THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WHICH COULD CREATE A GAP IN THEIR ACTUAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THE 20 PERCENT NOT FOLLOWING UP WITH THEIR APPOINTMENT THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO SOME STOPS IN THE CARE THAT THEY'RE GIVEN AND THEN ALSO HOW IS THAT GOING TO CARRY OUT IN ORDER TO HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES OF HEALTH: YES THIS DIRECTLY CORRELATES WITH WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND WE THINK OF MATERNAL MORTALITY THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE HIGHER WHEN YOU LOOK AT STATISTICS LIKE THIS FROM THE EXPERIENCE AND HOW THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED RACISM AND WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT.

>> TRAN 24 WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THE HEALTHCARE VERITIES?

>> WE BELIEVE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BRING COMMUNITIES TO THE TABLE THAT HAVE A QUESTIONS ABOUT INTERVENTION AND FRAMEWORK THAT THEY WILL REACT TO HELP ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT PREVAILS IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR ALMOST A CENTURY.

THINK ABOUT MODELS AND PROTOCOLS FROM ENTITIES LIKE THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH ESSENCE MAGAZINE AND THE RELEASE THE PRESSURE CAMPAIGN THAT ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS AND IF THEY CAN'T GET HEALTH INTO THEIR OWN HANDS WE WANT TO KNOW HOW A COMMUNITY CAN PLAY A ROLE IN BUILDING THAT AND GETTING INSIGHT ON HOW TO BEST IMPLEMENT THOSE STRATEGIES WHETHER IT'S IN THE CHURCH, A SCHOOL, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE CONGREGATING IN THEN WE HAVE THOSE CONNECTIONS INTO HEALTHCARE THROUGH TRUSTED MESSENGERS AND RESOURCES AND IT'S REALLY AROUND STARTING THEIR WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOST IMPACTED SO WE DON'T COME IN WITH SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO RESPOND TO SO WE DON'T OVERPROMISE AND UNDER DELIVER BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE.

IT IS TRULY A PARTNERSHIP LED BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED THE MOST.

THAT IS ONE OF OUR STRATEGIES.

>> DR. JESSICA SHEPHERD WHAT MORE COULD THE MEDICAL COMMITTEE BE DOING TO LEVERAGE THESE DISPARITIES?

>> ONE WAY WE CAN DO IT IS REPRESENTATION.

EVEN STEMMING FROM HOW WE ARE ABLE TO GET REPRESENTATION IN MEDICAL SCHOOL AND INTO THE PROVIDERS THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE IT ALSO SHOWS THAT 49 PERCENT OF BLACK AMERICANS REPORT RACISM IN THEIR EXPERIENCES AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTH INSTITUTIONS HAVE THEIR BEST INTEREST AT HEART.

THAT IS EVEN A STATISTIC THAT SHOWS IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING REPRESENTATION IN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS OR THE COMMUNICATION THAT THEY HAVE WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PEOPLE THAT FEEL LIKE THEY DO OR HAVE THE OBSTACLES THAT WE DO AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT ONE THERE IS A DECREASE IN THE ACTUAL INTERACTION DOING A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND A PATIENT BUT ALSO THE CARRY-ON OF THEIR MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT PLANS WHICH ARE REALLY CRUCIAL IN HOW WE SEE CHRONIC DISEASES IN OUR BLACK COMMUNITIES.

>> IS A GREAT PLACE TO LEAVE APPEARED MY THANKS TO DR. JESSICA SHEPHERD AND AYESHA JACO FOR JOINING US.

UP NEXT A TRIBUTE TO LATE FASHION DESIGNER VIRGIL BELOW .

CHICAGO'S FIRST MURAL HONORING THE LATE FASHION DESIGNER VIRGIL ABLO IS SITTING IN THE MARKET.

IT WAS CURATED FROM BEELINE PROJECTS A LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO PRESERVE MURALS THROUGHOUT THE WEST.

COMPRISED OF FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT GRAFFITI CELLS IT REFLECTS ELEMENTS THAT INSPIRED AYESHA JACO FIVE AND WHAT HE DID CREATIVELY FOR THE CITY.

>> YOU WILL SEE THESE EARLY 80 GRAFFITI STYLE AND YOU'LL SEE VIRGIL'S NOTEPAD SKETCH OF HIS GRAFFITI TAG WITH BIRDS AND STARS THAT APPEAR NEXT TO HIS FACE.

HE LATER CHANGE THAT TO BE IRG WITH BUBBLE LETTERS AND THAT'S ON HIS TIE AND BEHIND HIM YOU WILL SEE THE ARROWS AND THE CLOUDS AND THINGS THE REAL EXAMPLE OF VIRGIL.

HE SET A FOUNDATION AND A DIALOGUE AND HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A STYLE OF ART AND A PERIOD OF CULTURE AND WHAT WAS BEHIND HIS DESIGNS AND WHAT MADE HIM SUCH A GOOD DESIGNER.

BECAUSE IT WAS NOT JUST ABOUT THIS SUPERFICIAL NATURE OF FASHION THAT SOME PEOPLE FEEL.

THIS WAS A MODERNIZATION OF BLACK CULTURE AND STREET STYLE AND SO THOSE WERE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT LESSONS TO OFFER FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SIMPLY BY LOOKING AT A MURAL AND SWIMMING THROUGH THE DETAILS AND INQUIRING ABOUT THOSE DETAILS EVERYTHING IS FULL OF INTENT AND THEN VIEWED WITH LOVE AND INSPIRATION THAT CAME FROM VIRGIL.

>> THE LOUIS VUITTON ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FASHION DESIGNER AND ENTREPRENEUR DIED LATE LAST YEAR AFTER A PRIVATE BATTLE WITH CANCER.YOU CAN VISIT THE MURAL AT TIMEOUT MARKET THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

>>> MUSICIAN, FRIEND TO MOZART, MUSIC TEACHER TO REENTER NET AND SKILLED FENCER.

THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE ACCOLADES THAT DESCRIBE THE MAN KNOWN TO BE THE FIRST BLACK COMPOSER OF THE 18TH CENTURY.

OUR ARTS CORRESPONDENT ANGEL IDOWU WELCOMES US TO HIM.

>> YOU ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS LIKE ME.

>> WELL IT'S NOT THE REAL HIM OF COURSE.

HE IS SAID TO BE THE FIRST BLACK FRENCH COMPOSER OF THE 18TH CENTURY.

HIS LIFE AND LEGACY ARE NOW BEING HIGHLIGHTED IN A NEW PRODUCTION CALL ENTITLED THE CHEVALIER.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT THIS INTRIGUING INCREDIBLE MAN WHO JOHN ADAMS DESCRIBED AS THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED MAN IN EUROPE.

THEY FENCER, A COMPOSER, A VIOLINIST, A CRUSADER FOR ABOLISHING SLAVERY.

A REAL RENAISSANCE MAN.

THIS FRIENDSHIP WITH MOZART REALLY CENTERED THIS WHOLE PLAY AROUND THAT PARTICULAR FORTUNATE COMING TOGETHER OF THESE TWO GREAT FIGURES IN PARIS IN 1778.

>> IT IS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY BILL BARCLAY OF CONCERT THEATER WORKS WHO'S ALSO AN ACTOR IN THE SHOW.

>> WE ARE PROVIDING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THIS MUSIC.

THERE IS ALSO HIS LIFE, HIS PSYCHOLOGY, HIS SENSE OF HUMOR, HIS RELATIONSHIP TO FENCING, HOW HE WAS KNIGHTED AND THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE MORE AMOS THAN HE TO TRY TO LIFT UP THIS MAN'S BIOGRAPHY AND UNDERSTANDING REPLACING WHERE HE BELONGS IN OUR MUSIC HISTORY AND HONOR HIM.

NO SINGLE PERSON CAN BE HIM.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TWO PERFORMERS PLAYING HIM IN THE SHOW WE HAVE AN ACTOR IN A VIOLINIST.

THERE'S NO ONE ON EARTH THAT COULD BE THE SCHWALBE A.

>> ON THE MUSICAL SIDE STANDS BRANDON ELLIOTT.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO EMBODY SUCH A PROMINENT CLASSICAL COMPOSER?

>> LAYING THIS ROLE SEEMS A LITTLE BIT UNREAL BECAUSE IT MAKES ME REALIZE HOW HARD HE REALLY WORK TO CARVE OUT THIS ENTIRE LIFE FOR HIMSELF.

>> ELLIOTT IS ACCOMPANIED EITHER MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE OR KRISTA CONDUCTED BY DAME JANE GLOVER.

THIS PARTNERSHIP PAINS TO CONTEXTUALIZE THE SCHWALBE'S MUSIC WITH HIS LIFE STORY AND COMPOSITION.

>> THERE WERE MANY LIKE HIM.

HE REALLY WAS SORT OF A ONE-OFF WHO SURVIVED SPECTACULARLY.

AGAINST SO MANY ODD.

WHEN HE AND MOZART CAME TOGETHER THEY WERE BOTH OUTSIDERS.

AND IN A WAY HE HAD MORE SO AGAINST HIM WHO SURVIVED BETTER.

>> HE IS COMING OUT OF THE GALLANT STYLE OF EARLY CLASSICAL PARISIAN MUSIC.

IT IS WITH HIM AND THEN HE STOPPED COMPOSING AND STARTED FIGHTING IN THE REVOLUTION.

HE ENDED IT HIMSELF BY DECIDING THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT TO DO, ABOLISH SLAVERY.

[CROSS TALK] >> ON THE ACTING SIDE STANDS RJ FOSTER.

DESPITE RECENTLY LEARNING ABOUT THE MULTIFACETED ARTIST HE SAYS THERE ARE SO MANY PARALLELS BETWEEN THE 18TH-CENTURY PRODUCTION AND TODAY.

>> YOU HAVE A BLACK MAN WHO HAS A TITLE AND INFLUENCE BUT ALSO HE DEALS WITH RACISM IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE DEAL WITH HERE BUT IT ALSO MIRRORS IT IN THE SAME SORT OF WAY.

CULTURE IS A SOCIAL LUBRICANT AND CAN HELP TELL STORIES THAT ARE RELATABLE TO PEOPLE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT SLAVERY'S ABOLISHMENT AND THAT IS WHY I TALK ABOUT IT.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> YOU CAN SEE IT THROUGH SUNDAY VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

CONTINUING OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH SERIES SPOTLIGHTING A STREAM MAKER.

TO DATE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO DOCTOR CONKLING GILES.

HE'S KNOWN IN CHICAGO FOR THE PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL WHICH WAS FOUNDED AND OWNED BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN MR. WILLIAMS.

WE SPOKE WITH CHICAGO'S URBAN HISTORIAN SHERMAN "DILLA" THOMAS ON HOW HIS RESOLUTIONS RESONATE TODAY.

>> TODAY IN THIS PANDEMIC THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TREPIDATION ABOUT VACCINES AND HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IS THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THEMSELVES WHEN THEY GO THERE AS ARTIST.HE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF BEING ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH THOSE STEREOTYPES IMPROVE IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO NOT ONLY ENTER INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD TO SUCCEED.

HE HAD WAY LESS RESOURCES WHEN IT COMES TO STUDYING AND GETTING THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL THEN WE HAVE TODAY SO HE FOR SURE IS SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

>> CONKLING GILES IS ALSO THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO RECEIVE A DEGREE FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

HE DIED IN 1970 AT 79 YEARS OLD.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS INCLUDING DETAILS ON THE MAYERS LAND TO SUE CHICAGO GANGS.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAY AT 10 PM.

JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WE LEAVE YOU WITH MORE FROM THE PRODUCTION OF MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE .

>> HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND, STAY SAFE, GOOD NIGHT.