>> CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

[MUSIC] >> AT THE THIRD, WE BELIEVE WORD DOLLARS VOICES ARE HEARD AND MAKING COMMUNITIES STRONGER.

WHERE THE FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR UPPER THAT'S WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICES.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND DRIVE CHANGE.

[MUSIC] >>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

ON BRENDA'S FRIEDMAN AND THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, STUDENTS PROTESTING RACIST ATTACKS AT SCHOOL.

THEY SAY IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED.

WHY STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS SAY THERE IS A CULTURE OF RACISM AT A STOGIE HIGH SCHOOL.

CONFRONTING GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.

THE LATEST INSTALLMENT OF THE BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB LOOKS AT THE IMPACT AND JOURNEY TO HEAL.

CHICAGO CARTOONIST IS THE START OF THIS WEEK'S BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT.

SHE PAID THE WAY FOR FUTURE ARTISTS.>> WE SAW THE POTENTIAL AND YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS GIRLS AND BOYS.

>> IN THE STORY OF SILAS PURNELL, HOW HE HELPED SHAPE THOUSANDS OF LIVES BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST RACIST ATTACKS AT A NORTH SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOL.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: STUDENT AT NILES WEST HIGH HAVE TWO WALKOUTS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS TO PROTEST WHAT THEY CALL A CULTURE OF RACISM ON-CAMPUS.

THE WALKOUTS COME AFTER A GROUP OF STUDENTS ALLEGEDLY SHOUTED RACIAL SLURS AND MADE MONKEY SENSE AT A GROUP OF BLACK STUDENTS.

THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS MONTH, BUT STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND DISTRICT LEADERS OF STATES IN THE FIRST TIME RACIAL SLURS, INCLUDING THE N-WORD HAVE BEEN USED TOWARDS STUDENTS AND STAFF.JOINING IS NOW WITH MORE ARE DYLAN RANDOLPH.

AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT NILES WEST HIGH SCHOOL.

JAZZMAN, WHOSE DAUGHTER IS A SOPHOMORE AT NILES WEST.

ALSO COFOUNDER OF THE STOGIE SCHOOL EQUITY COLLABORATIVE.

AND LONDON.

A NILES WEST SENIOR PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK STUDENT UNION AND ORGANIZER OF THE WALKOUT.

WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO DISTRICTS TO 19 ADMINISTRATION TO JOIN AS WELL.

INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND PRINCIPAL, BUT NEITHER WAS AVAILABLE TO JOIN US.

SO, LONDON, LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO ORGANIZE THESE WALKOUTS?

>>LONDON : HELLO.

I'M LONDON LOW BALANCE.LAST YEAR IT WAS PLACED ON THIS FRIDAY.

I DECIDED TO GATHER A GROUP OF MY FELLOW CLASSMATES AND LOCAL LEADERS.

AN ORGANIZED THIS PROTEST TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE HOUSE WAS.

AND WE KEPT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

TO GIVE MY FELLOW CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS A CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT AND HOW THEIR STORY AND HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL CHANGE.

AFTER THIS WALKOUT.

>> THREE DAYS AFTER THAT INCIDENT, WERE STUDENTS WERE RACIALLY HARASSED, PRINCIPAL KAREN RITTER SENT AN EMAIL TO THE NILES WEST COMMUNITY, WHICH READ IN PART QUOTE, DURING THE WALKOUT, STUDENTS IN THE HALLWAY HEARD THE AND WERE DIRECTED TOWARDS THEM.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED.

IN FACT, STUDENTS AND ADULTS HERE THE N-WORD REGULARLY IN SCHOOL ALONG WITH OTHER RACIAL SLURS AND DEROGATORY COMMENTS.

ABOUT RELIGION, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND OTHER IDENTITY GROUPS AT SCHOOL AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THIS IS DISGUSTING BEHAVIOR AND IT MUST STOP FROM EVERYONE IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

LONDON, BACK TO YOU.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HER RESPONSE AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE SO FAR?

>>LONDON : SO FAR, I DON'T THINK THEY ARE CHANGING ANYTHING BY RESPONSE.

IF THEY ARE AWARE OF IT, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE THAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT IT.

SO FAR, WE'VE NOT SEEN ANYTHING BESIDES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON PROGRAMS THAT STUDENTS GO THROUGH AND THAT'S IT.

I'M SORRY.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: IS MOVED TO DON.

AS A TEACHER, YOU'RE IN THE BUILDING EVERY DAY FOR DO YOU AGREE WITH WHAT PRINCIPAL RITTER SAYS THAT THIS TYPE OF SPEECH HAPPENS REGULARLY?

>>DYLAN RANDOLPH: THAT'S THE THING.

I WOULD SAY THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL ME PERSONALLY, I'VE NOT HEARD THIS LANGUAGE PERSONALLY, BUT I HAVE HAD STUDENTS WHO COME TO ME WHO SAY THEY HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF SLURS TOWARDS THEM.

ESPECIALLY BLACK STUDENTS AND OTHER STUDENTS.

MY CLASSROOM SAYS THAT.

I DEFINITELY AGREE THAT THE PRINCIPAL SAID THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS HAD BEEN AT THE SCHOOL, I BELIEVE IT.

THE STUDENTS, THE SAME THING.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: GIVE GUIDANCE FROM THE DISTRICT OF THE SCHOOL ON HOW TO HANDLE HATE SPEECH IF YOU SHOULD HERE IN SCHOOL?

>> PARTICULAR, BUT I KNOW WHAT I DO [INDISCERNIBLE] JUST WITH MY WHOLE KNOWLEDGE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH IT OR TO FACE IT HEAD ON.AS A TEACHER.

>> HOW DO YOU DO AND HOW SHOULD A TEACHER BE ADDRESSING IT?

>>LONDON : YOU COULD HEAR IN THE MOMENT AND SEE IN THE MOMENT, IF TO ADDRESS IT IN THE MOMENT.

A LOT OF TIMES LET US LIKE OR LET IT GO AWAY, THE VICTIM OF THAT HE SPEECH DOESN'T FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY'S PROTECTING THEM.

OR IS EVEN AWARE OF IT.

AS A TEACHER, YOU CANNOT BE THE ONE TO BE LIKE THAT ON A MESS WITH IT.

SOMETHING IS TO ADDRESS IN THE MOMENT MAKE SURE YOU ARE PROTECTING THE STUDENTS.

WE SAY HATE HAS NO HOME HERE, THAT'S REACTOR SHOW.

IF TO SHOW YOUR STUDENTS HEY, THIS HATE HAS A HOME HERE, IF TO BE THE PERSON IN THE ROOM TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT.

>> JAZZMAN, AS A PARENT OF THE NILES WEST STUDENT, DEFLECT THE SCHOOL IS A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE FOR YOUR DAUGHTER?

>>JASMINE: I DO NOT.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: TELL ME WHY.

>>JASMINE: A YEAR AGO IN JANUARY, WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE THAT ARE GOING ON AT THE SCHOOL.

OUR KIDS ARE OVER DISCIPLINE.

OUR KIDS ONLY MAKE UP ABOUT SIX PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL AND THEY RECEIVE OVER 12 PERCENT OF THE DISCIPLINE REPORTS.OUR KIDS ARE ISOLATED IN HONORS CLASSES.

YOU MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO BLACK KIDS IN AN HONEST CLASSROOM.

WHEN THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THINGS HAPPENING TO THEM, I'VE HEARD THAT NOTHING HAPPENS TO THE KIDS THAT CAUSED HARM TO THE BLACK CHILDREN.

YOU KNOW, A GROUP OF PARENTS, I WAS ONE OF THEM COULD WE MET REGULARLY WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT IN HIS CABINET.

CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LIKE A RESPONSE TO HEY, PROTOCOL ARE STILL NOT IN PLACE.

HERE WE ARE ONE YEAR AFTER OUR FIRST PRACTICE BUT I WAS PART OF A GROUP THAT HAD A LOT OF PROTEST TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS ABOUT HOW OUR BLACK KIDS ARE BEING TREATED.

THERE ALSO NOT SICK BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDERREPRESENTED.

LIKE STAFF HAS LEFT THE SCHOOL AND IN NUMBERS.

I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF THE BLACK STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAVE LEFT THE SCHOOL.

THEY PRESENTED AT OUR PRESS CONFERENCE AND WE ALL SHARE THE SAME YOU KNOW, STUDENT.

THEY ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM THE PARENTS.

THAT ARE RACIST TOWARDS THEM.

THEY HAVE HAD ADMINISTRATORS NOT SUPPORT THEM.

THANK THERE ARE STAFF MEMBERS THERE THAT ARE NOT CULTURALLY COMPETENT.

AND WHAT YOU DO AS A PARENT, WHEN I AS A PARENT GO AND MEET WITH THE TEACHER, THERE IS PUSHBACK FOR A MEETING.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: JAZZMAN, YOUR DAUGHTER HAD A MESSAGE FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING RECENTLY DURING THURSDAY'S MEETING, CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY TO THEM?

>>JASMINE: YES SHE DID.

AND IN FACT SHE WROTE THAT LETTER ALL ON HER OWN.

SHE WANTS THE BOARD TO RESPOND TO THE RACIST ATTACKS ON JUSTICE ON HERSELF AND HER PEERS.

SHE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE BOARD STILL HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WAS HELD LAST FRIDAY.

AND CHANNEL 2 WAS THERE AND CHANNEL 11 WAS THERE.

CHANNEL 5 WAS THERE AND THE BOARD HAS NOT RESPONDED GET TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

THE PAIN AND THE STORIES THAT THE KIDS HAVE SHARED ABOUT HOW THEY ARE TREATED IN SCHOOL THERE'S NO WAY THEY COULD MEET ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IF THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.

AND IF THEY DON'T FEEL HEARD.

AND IF THE LEADERS OF THE SCHOOL OR NOT MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE OKAY.IT SHOULD BE CHECKED TO THESE KIDS BY NOW.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: WE DID REACH OUT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, NO ONE RETURNED OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT EXCEPT FOR ONE MEMBER PER JOE HENRIQUE AND THAT'S WITH SHE HAD TO SAY BUT FEBRUARY 10 AND THE BOARD'S RESPONSE.

>> THE BOARD IS SUPPOSED TO ACT.

THE SCHOOL BOARD LIKE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP IN THE DISTRICT JUSTICE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO SET THE TONE.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEN WE DON'T MAKE DECISIONS, WHEN WE DON'T STAND FIRM AGAINST SOMETHING, THEN WE ARE JUST PASSIVELY FOR IT.

>> DON'T, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CULTURE NILES WEST?DO YOU THINK THEIR EFFORTS TO DESCRIBE THE RACISM AND ANTI-BLACKNESS?

>>DYLAN RANDOLPH: I WOULD SAY THE JUSTICE WE TALK THE TALK AND WE DON'T ALWAYS WALK THE WALK.

I WOULD SAY THAT I TRUSTED THE ADMINISTRATION ONCE TO FIGHT ANTIBLACK RACISM IN THE SCHOOL.

I JUST HAVE TO SAY.

WHEN IT COMES TO MASS PROTESTS AND RACIAL SLURS THAT THROUGHOUT THE BLACK STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND THE STAFF THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CONSEQUENCES TO THOSE STUDENTS.

I THINK WE HEARD THAT THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY TO WHAT HAPPENED.

WITHIN THOSE STUDENTS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

THE NEW CONSEQUENCE FOR THAT.

OUR BOARD MEMBERS SAID THAT IS WHEN WE ARE PASSIVELY FOR?

WE ARE NOT ACTIVELY FIGHTING IT.

NEED TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN SCHOOL AND HOW WE ACTUALLY ARE TRYING TO FIGHT ANTIBLACK RACISM.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: LONDON, HOW DOES IT SCHOOL CULTURE IS IMPACTING YOU AND YOUR LACK SCHOOLMATES OF PARTICULAR?

>>LONDON : I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THE CULTURE DISH AND MEAN IT'S REALLY OFF HONESTLY.

IF YOU LIKE OUR SCHOOL IS NOT HERE FOR US.

AS PEOPLE OF COLOR.AND YES.

JUDGMENT, UNWILLING TO BE THE LAST WORDS.

A FEW SECONDS LEFT.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: YOU SUBMITTED HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS OF RACISM TO THE BOARD.

HOW DO YOU THINK THEY ARE DOING AS FAR AS ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS ABOUT RACISM.

>> ALL SITE LIKE MY DAUGHTER SAID IN HER LETTER.

SHE RESPONSE TO HER LAST NIGHT.

THERE IS SILENCE AND VIOLENCE.

THEIR SILENCE IS A MESSAGE TO THE FOLKS AT THIS SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.

THAT TEACH THEIR KIDS TO BE HATEFUL AND RACIST.

THAT IS A GOAL.

YOU CAN GO AND CAUSE HARM TO BLACK KIDS AND WE WILL NOT SAY A WORD.

ANY TO STEP UP AND DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO BY LAW.

IN 1954, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT WAS PASSED AND OUR KIDS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN SCHOOL.

AND THAT IS NOT JUSTICE OUR KIDS ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

THEY'RE NOT BEING PROTECTED.

AND IT'S TIME TO STEP UP AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

>> AND THAT IS WHERE WE WANT TO LEAVE AND OF COURSE WE WOULD STILL UP TO HEAR FROM THE DISTRICT ON ALL OF THIS.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK OUR GUESTS, DYLAN, JUDGMENT, AND LONDON.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF THE STUDENTS WHO USED RACIAL SLURS WERE PUNISHED AS STUDENTS OF DISCIPLINARY RECORDS ARE CONFIDENTIAL.

UP NEXT, HEALING TRAUMA IS THE FOCUS OF THE LATEST BOOK OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB.

[MUSIC] >>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS REPORT ON CHICAGO'S GUN VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IMPACTS.

MANY TIMES, WE DON'T KNOW WHY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE HIT THE HARDEST.

GETTING TO THE WHY OF THE THEME THE SPOKEN LATEST INSTALLMENT OF BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SERIES.

THE BOOK PUT HEALING INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF CHICAGO'S MOST PROLIFIC VOICES IN MEDIA AND BLACK CULTURE.

IMPACTS THE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.

BLACK PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AND HOW THAT IMPACTS COMMUNITIES.

AND AUTHOR, B HARRISON JOINS US NOW.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOUR BOOK DIGS INTO GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THAT IS AND ITS IMPACT.

>> THANK YOU.

GENERATIONAL TRAUMA REALLY DESCRIBES THE PASSING DOWN OF TRAUMA AND OUR FAMILY.

AND AS WE CAN PASS DOWN GENETICS AND LOOK LIKE OUR MOTHER AND FATHER'S, WE CAN INTERNALIZE AND PASS DOWN TRAUMA.

SO, IT IS THE PASSING DOWN OF TRAUMA.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA?

YEARS AND YEARS OF IT?

>> THE IMPACT TYPICALLY IS THIS IDEA OF NEVER DEALING WITH THE TRAUMA.

AND NOT HAVING A SPACE TO DEAL WITH GRIEF.

NOT HAVING THE SUPPORT TO DO THAT AND THAT HAS BECOME VERY NORMAL AND IN CULTURE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: YOU READ ABOUT MAINSTREAM MEDIA NOT TELLING THE WHOLE STORY WHEN THEY ARE REPORTING ON BLACK STARS AND BLACK PEOPLE.

WE THINK THEY'RE LIVING OUT?

>> THERE LIVING OUT THE NARRATIVES THAT IS THE TRUTH.

AND TO THIS COUNTRY IS THE VERY POOR JOB AT TEACHING OUR GENERATION THE TRUTH.

SO, WHAT WE ARE LANDING WITH IS THINGS THAT WERE HANDED DOWN GENERATION TO GENERATION THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE TRUTH.

THE MEDIA IS ONLY GETTING THE NARRATIVE THAT IT CHOOSES TO GIVE AND MOST BLACK JOURNALISTS ARE WANT TO CHANGE IN NARRATIVE.

THE POWER IN CHANGING THE NARRATIVE.

>> ALSO LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

HOW CAN THE MEDIA DO BETTER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE SURE AND HEALING IN MY BOOK WAS THE SOLUTION BASED GUIDE TO WHAT MEDIA AND CHICAGO RESIDENTS CAN DO.

TO ACTUALLY WORK THROUGH THEIR TRAUMA IN CHICAGO.

AND AS FAR AS MEDIA, MEDIA CAN BECOME A LITTLE MORE EMPATHETIC ABOUT HOW IT COVERS NEIGHBORHOODS.

SPECIFICALLY BROWN AND BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT IS BETTER RESEARCH.

AND RESEARCH JOURNALISTS WHO DON'T KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS PARACHUTE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THAT OFTEN, AND WOULD, BACK OF THE YARD, IT'S LIKE RESEARCHING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THIS RESIDENCE.

SO THAT WE CAN EFFECTIVELY COVER THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT STEMS FROM TRUTH.

UNDERSTANDING BEHIND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE TIME MEDIA AND RESIDENTS CAN DO BETTER.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: WE ALSO GET PRETTY PERSONAL IN THIS BOOK SHARING YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE AND TRAUMA.

WHAT WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DRAW ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES ENSURE THAT?

>> IN MOST CASES, ESPECIALLY GOING UP IN INNER-CITY BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, SOMETHING THAT IS HANDED DOWN AS PART OF OUR UPBRINGING IS NOT TO TELL YOUR BUSINESS.

DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED MOM AND POPS HOUSE.

AUSTIN AND GROWING UP AND RAISING OUR CHILDREN, WE CAN THIS CONCEPT RIGHT DOWN.

FOR ME, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AS I MADE THIS POINT FOR HEALING.

IN MY BOOK TO TALK ABOUT MY OWN TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.

AND HOW I AM LEARNING SELF KILLING MYSELF.

I'M NOT A GURU OR DOCTOR.

OF TRAUMA, BUT I AM A PERSON OF LIVED EXPERIENCE FROM TRAUMATIC THINGS IN MY LIFE.

AND SO, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET VULNERABLE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL SEE THE STORIES AND RELATE.

WHEN WE MAKE TELLING THE STORY SCHOOL AGAIN, PEOPLE START TO REALLY ARTICULATE WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THEM.

AND FROM THERE, WE BEGIN THE HEALING JOURNEY.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: ONE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES SUPPORTS THE DEATH OF YOUR BROTHER AND OF COURSE YOU INTERVIEWED YOUR MOTHER.

OTHER JOURNALISTS FOR THIS BOOK.

WHAT WAS IMPORTANT AND OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO INCLUDE A VARIETY OF VOICES?

>> BECAUSE CHICAGO'S VARIETY OF PEOPLE AND I KNEW THAT BASED ON WHO WAS BORN AND BRED ON THE WEST SIDE, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO TELL ABOUT THE TRAUMA AND CHICAGO.

SO, I TAPPED INTO DONALD T PONGO.

WHO IS THE VOICE BEHIND THE SOURCE OF THE HEALING.

CAN TV IT SNOWED IN, WHOSE'S OUTSIDE BRIDGE.

AND A WOMAN WHO IS GROWN IN CHICAGO AS WELL.

ANY AWARD-WINNING DISTANCE JUST TO SHOW THAT THIS BOOK IS INTERGENERATIONAL FOR ALL AGES.

AND THE MESSAGE IS FOR THE CULTURE AND THE PEOPLE AND NOT NECESSARILY THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

ALSO, TAKE THOMPSON.

CO-FOUNDER OF YOUTH MEDIA FOUNDATION.

AND IN CHICAGO.

AND OF COURSE MY MOTHER.

SANDRA HARRISON.

WHO ALSO HELPED ME SHARE VERY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IS THAT SHAPED OUR LIVES AS WE GREW UP AND AS SHE RAISED ME AND MY SIBLINGS IN INNER-CITY CHICAGO PROGRESS ONE QUOTE THAT REALLY STICKS OUT.

THIS QUOTE WE HURT OURSELVES IN OUR OWN CAN BECAUSE WE ARE TAUGHT TO HATE OURSELVES.

BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY DO.

WE MEAN BY THAT?

>> INVITE FAMILY JUSTICE IN BLACK COMMUNITIES, LET'S START THERE.

AND BY COMMUNITIES, THERE IS SUCH A LACK OF OUR ESSENTIAL NEEDS.

LOVE AND SUPPORT.

SO, IN OUR HOMES, THE MOST TYPICAL CHAOS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATIONSHIPS.

ONE PARENT HOMES WITH FRUSTRATED PEOPLE THAT WERE FRUSTRATED TO THE MOMS.

CHILDREN BEING RAPED BY GRANDPARENTS.

WE INTERNALIZE THIS TRAUMA.

THIS SERIES OF EVENTS THAT HURT US.

DEEPLY I NEVER HAVE A FACE TO LAY OUR GRIEF AND SO OFTEN IN INNER-CITY COMMUNITY LIKE CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE AND CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE, OUR GROCERY STORES ARE TAKEN AWAY.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE DESTROYED AND TAKEN DOWN.

WE HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM US.AND SO, THERE IS NOT MANY EXTERNAL CASES OUTSIDE OF OUR HOME TO LAY THAT.

SO, WE LAID ON OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND THEN WE LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND WE LOOK BACK AT IT AND IT'S A RECOLLECTION THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR INNER SELVES.

WE HATE OURSELVES IN THOSE CASES.

NATURALLY WHY IT'S HARD TO GET TO THE HEALING.>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY.

A LOT TO UNPACK THERE.

WE ARE ACTUALLY OUT OF TIME.

HARRISON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US PRINTING FOR THE BOOK.

>> APPRECIATED, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: THE BOOK IS CALLED HOLY HEALING.

INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF CHICAGO'S MOST PROLIFIC VOICES IN MEDIA AND BLACK CULTURE.

UP NEXT, LOOK AT THE EVOLUTION OF A COLLEGE PLACEMENT PROGRAM AND HOW IT HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS OVER THE YEARS.

[MUSIC] >>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: TO MANY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GOING TO COLLEGE IS AN EXPECTED NEXT STEP.FOR SOME, THE PROCESS OF A POINT FOR COLLEGE AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING.

ON A MISSION TO MAKE EDUCATION ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY TO BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS, ONE MAN STARTED A PROGRAM THAT HAS RUN DRASTICALLY OVER THE YEARS.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT COLLEGE IS NOT JUST AN OPTION FOR A SELECT FEW.

HOWEVER, IT IS AN OPTION FOR EVERYONE WHO CHOOSES TO PURSUE IT GIVEN THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF INTERVENTION.

GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES.

>> PENNY'S PARTY IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR IT AS McKINLEY SERVICES.

FOUNDED IN 1919.

THE AGENCY PROVIDES VARIOUS SERVICES FROM EMPLOYEES AND MENTAL HEALTH TO EDUCATION.

ONE OF THE SERVICES IS A COLLEGE PREPARATION PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

THAT HELPS MATCH STUDENTS WITH SCHOOLS BASED ON THEIR INTERESTS AND FINANCIAL NEEDS.

>> WE CURRENTLY SERVICE OVER 1700 STUDENTS ANNUALLY.

THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, WE PLACED 75,000 MINORITY STUDENTS IN OVER 400 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

WITH OVER HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS.

THROUGHOUT OUR 60 YEARS OF EXISTENCE.>> THE COLLEGE PLACEMENT PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES.

IT ALL STARTED WITH SILAS PURNELL.

IN THE 1960S, PROMOTE LEFTIST CORPORATE JOB AND OPENED A MAKESHIFT OFFICE IN THE BASEMENT OF THE DEARBORN HOMES HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE.

HE CANCELED STUDENTS, HELP THEM GET TO EXCEPTED INTO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY IN THE MUCH-NEEDED FELLOWSHIPS.

>> HE SAW THE POTENTIAL IN YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS ROLLED AND BOYS.

AND THEY TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

>> HARDY KNOWS THIS FIRSTHAND.

SHE STARTED AT IT AS McKINLEY AS AN ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: AT 25 YEARS LATER, SHE'S LEAVING THE PROGRAM THAT PURNELL STARTED.

>> IS ACTUALLY MEANT TOWARD BY PURNELL.

I GOT A CHANCE TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THAT PERSONALIZED AND INDIVIDUAL LIFE SUPPORT CAN HAVE ON FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS.

IN TERMS OF ENCOURAGING THEM, MOTIVATING THEM TO SEE IF IT SHOULD BE OUT WITH ENGLISH AND FOR THEMSELVES.

>> THE PROGRAM IS FEDERALLY FUNDED UNDER THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT.

EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS ASSIST STUDENTS IT SQUEEZED WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] WHEN I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 2019 WITH MY FAMILY, AND SINCE THEN, I WANT TO DO COMPUTER SCIENCE AND KNOW HOW TO MAKE APPLICATIONS.

>> SAMUEL O'BANNON IS ONE OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM.

AFTER GRADUATING FROM DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL, ATTENDING ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY IN OKLAHOMA, WHERE HE RECEIVED $80,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS.

>> THAT WAS REALLY GREAT BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE DOING IT FROM YOUR HEART.

IT WAS LIKE DOING IT FOR YOUR OWN.

YOUR CHILDREN OR FOR THEMSELVES.

AND THEY ARE REALLY GREAT.

SO, THAT HELPED ME.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: IT'S NOT THE FIRST OF HIS FIRST OF HIS FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE.

MANY OF THE STUDENTS THAT WORK WITH ETA AS McKINLEY ARE FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS.

>> IF WE CAN TOUCH ONE CHILD IN A FAMILY, ONE YOUTH, IN PARTICULAR, WHEN YOUNG BLACK MAN OR WOMAN THAT'S ABOUT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

AND WE CHANGE THEIR PATH.

THEN, WHAT HAPPENS IS MANY OF THEIR SIBLINGS, THEY FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.

SO, WE'RE ABLE TO CHANGE ENTIRE GENERATION AND FAMILY OF PEOPLE AND CHANGE THEIR LIFE.

>> CHANGING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION WAS SILAS PURNELL'S MISSION.

ONE THAT STILL IS BEING CARRIED OUT TODAY.

>> IS A TRAILBLAZER BECAUSE 75,000 AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO ACCESS WHOLE SECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS.

>> AND PRINT OUT LIKE THE PROGRAM AT 8F McKINLEY UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 2000.

HE DIED THREE YEARS LATER AT EIGHT YEARS OLD.

AS THE COLLEGE PREPARATION AND PLACEMENT PROGRAM EXPENSE, ETA AS McKINLEY ALUMNI'S ARE BEING PAID FORWARD TO SIGN UP AND BECOME A VOLUNTEER.

WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

AS WE CLOSE OUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THE LAST CHICAGO HISTORY MAKER IN OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES IS A FAMOUS CARTOONIST.

JACKIE ORANGE BROKE BARRIERS AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN CARTOONIST BE PUBLISHED IN A NEWSPAPER PRINT SHE GOT HER START AT THE PITTSBURGH COURIER IN CHICAGO IN THE 40S, WHERE HER CURTAINS APPEARED IN THE CHICAGO DEFENDER.

ARM'S MOST POPULAR CARTOON, EDDIE, JOE, GINGER IS THE COMMENTARY ON AFRICAN POLITICAL LIFE.

THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN DOLL THAT WASN'T AN MANNY OR BLACK STEREOTYPE.

NONE FOR TACKLING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES IN HER CURTAINS.

A PRACTICE WE STILL SEE TODAY.

>> I'M SURE SHE INFLUENCE PEOPLE LIKE THE GENERAL WHO CREATED THE BOONDOCKS.

HER UPFRONT STYLE.

ONE OF HER LAST CARTOONS THAT WAS PLACED IN THE CHICAGO DEFENDER WAS HER BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT.

THAT KIND OF ADVOCACY THAT YOU SEE SUDDENLY IN THE COMICS THAT WE READ IN THE NEWSPAPER, IT COMES FROM HER.

>> FORMS IS A FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER OF THE TROUBLE MUSEUM.

HER WORK CAN BE SEEN THERE TODAY.

IN ANOTHER HISTORIC MOMENT, THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THE SUPREME COURT MAY SOON HAVE ITS FIRST BLACK WOMAN JUSTICE.

AS PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCES CANTON G BROWN JACKSON AS HIS NOMINEE.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: OF COURSE SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE AND WILL HAVE MORE ON BROWN JACKSON'S NOMINATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

WT TW.COM/NEWS.

AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE MORE COVERAGE ON THIS NOMINATION NEXT WEEK ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

AND JOIN US MONDAY NIGHT FOR OUR NEXT VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH JOANNE HERNANDEZ.

MODERATING A DISCUSSION ABOUT AFRO LATINO HISTORY AND THE NUANCES OF MULTIRACIAL IDENTITIES.

THAT IS MONDAY NIGHT AT EIGHT.

YOU CANRSVP@WTTW.COM/EVENTS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES, I AM BRANDIS TREATMENT.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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