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

[MUSIC] >> Host: 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, AFTER A MODULES YOU MONTH A NEW PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY MAKING VICE PRESIDENT WERE SWORN INTO OFFICE LAST WEEK.

WE WILL TALK IT OUT WITH LOCAL JOURNALISTS.

WE KICK OFF THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK SERIES WITH A AUTHOR, TRAILED BLAZING JOURNALISTS AND ACT THE BEST, IDA B WELLS AND IS WRITTEN BY HER GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER.

WE REVISIT OUR 2017 CONVERSATION WITH THE LATE JIM TILMAN ABOUT THE BARRIERS HE FACED AS A PIONEER IN MARTIAL AVIATION AND BROADCASTING.

WE'LL FIRST OFF TONIGHT, REMEMBER WHEN WEDNESDAYS USED TO BE REGULAR DAYS?

OUR COUNTRY SAW IT'S THIRD REMARKABLE WEDNESDAY LAST WEEK THE HISTORIC INAUGURATION OF JOE BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

NOW THAT THE CEREMONY AND CELEBRATIONS ARE BEHIND US IT IS TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS AHEAD FOR THE COUNTRY UNDER THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION.

JOINING US TO BREAK IN ON DOWN OUR RACHEL HINTON CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, BRANDON POPE REPORTER AND ANCHOR AT WCIU AND IN 16 INTERIM EDITOR AT THE CHICAGO REPORTER.

I AM GLAD YOU ARE JOINING US TONIGHT ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

GLENN REEDUS, BIDEN SPEECH WAS A CALL FOR UNITY.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT SPEECH.

>> ON THIS JANUARY DAY MY WHOLE SOUL IS IN THIS BRINGING AMERICA TOGETHER.

UNITING OUR PEOPLE AND UNITING OUR NATION AND I AND I ASKED EVERY AMERICAN TO JOIN ME IN THIS CAUSE.

[APPLAUSE] UNITING TO FIGHT THE PHOTOS WE FACE, ANGER, RESENTMENT AND HATRED.

EXTREME LAWLESSNESS, DISEASE, JOBLESSNESS, HOPELESSNESS WITH UNITY, WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS, IMPORTANT THINGS.

>> Host: WE HEAR THE WORD UNITY A LOT.

WE HEARD IT IN THAT SPEECH.

GLENN, HOW DO YOU THINK WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT?

>> Guest: I THINK BY DOING WHAT HE PROMISED TO DO.

I DON'T INCORPORATED IT IS GOING TO BE TERRIBLY TOUGH BECAUSE HE HAS TO UNDO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

>> Host: RACHEL HINTON, SAME TO YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW PRESIDENT AND HOW WILL HE ACHIEVE THE UNITY HE WAS TALKING ABOUT?

>> Guest: I AGREE WITH GLENN.

REALLY COMMITTING TO AND FULFILLING THOSE CAMPAIGN PROMISES .

PEOPLE WILL BE WATCHING AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND I BELIEVE IN HIS SPEECH AS THEY CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON UNITY AND TOUCH ON THAT AS A THEME WILL ALSO HELP ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

>> Host: BRANDON POPE.UNITY, GO.

>> Guest: WHEN IT COMES TO UNITY IT IS A WORD THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

IT IS ALMOST A BUZZWORD.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE.

JOE BIDEN TO ACHIEVE UNITY HE HAS TO WORK IN LOCKSTEP WITH THAT.

LET'S BE REAL.

THERE'S A LARGE PART OF THIS COUNTRY BLACK AND BROWN IN PARTICULAR DO NOT WANT UNITY WITH JANUARY 6.

WE HAVE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT IS NOT AMERICA.

WE DO NOT WANT TO UNITE BUT THAT.

I THINK THAT IS THE UNITY THAT JOE BIDEN SHOULD BE STRIVING FOR.

>> Host: JOE BIDEN WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO MENTION WHITE SUPREMACIST IN AN INAUGURAL ADDRESS IN THE FIRST ACT IN OFFICE WAS TO END WHAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD PROMOTED.

LYNN, WHAT DO YOU THINK MOVES LIKE THAT SIGNAL TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

>> Guest: THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM.

THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO SUGARCOAT IT OR IGNORE IT.

HE WILL PUT THE PEOPLE IN PLACE TO ADDRESS IT.

>> Host: RACHEL, OF COURSE WE SAW A BLACK WOMAN AND INDIAN WOMAN IN THE NEW VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS TAKE THE SECOND HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE NATION.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SEEING HER SWORN IN?

>> Guest: I THINK IT'S HISTORIC.

I THINK THIS WILL INSPIRE BLACK GIRLS, ASIAN GIRLS, I THINK IT WILL INSPIRE CHILDREN.

SHE HAS AN IMPORTANT JOB AHEAD OF HER.

IT'S NOT CLEAR YET WHAT HER JOB WILL ENTAIL OR THE PORTFOLIO OF ISSUES SHE WILL BE DEALING WITH OR OVERSEEING THE SENATE.

BEYOND THAT IT IS NOT CLEAR.

I BELIEVE SEEING HER AT THE INAUGURATION IN THE PURPLE COAT, I THINK IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT KIDS LOOK BACK ON THAT I THINK WILL BE TALKED ABOUT AND A FOCUS IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS.

>> Host: WERE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO THAT PURPLE COAT LATER ON.

GLENN, HOW ACTIVELY INVOLVED DO YOU THINK THIS VICE PRESIDENT WILL BE IN THE ADMINISTRATION?

>> Guest: I THINK SHE WILL BE VERY INVOLVED.

ESPECIALLY WITH HER BACKGROUND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND AS A PROSECUTOR.

EVEN HER TIME IN SENATE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SHORT SHE KNOWS THE PLAYERS AND THEY KNOW HER.

IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN MIKE PENTZ WENT INTO THE JOB.

>> Host: BRANDON, IN LIEU OF THE PAGEANTRY AND GALAS.

WE COULDN'T DO IT THIS YEAR.

WE SAW TELEVISED CELEBRATION OF AMERICA.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS SENDING WITH THAT KIND OF EVENT?

>> Guest: WHILE.

I LOVED THE CELEBRATION OF AMERICA.

I THOUGHT LET'S DO THIS EVERY YEAR.

LET'S MAKE THIS AN ANNUAL EVENT.

WHAT WORKS SO WELL ABOUT IT IS THAT IT BROUGHT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TOGETHER AND MADE THEM PART OF THE EXPERIENCE.

AS A CERTAIN PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT WRAPS WHAT AMERICA IS IN ONE SINGLER PERSON AND THE CELEBRATION WAS NO, AMERICA IS US.

ALL OF US, BEAUTIFUL, COLORFUL AND MULTICULTURAL.

I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE THEY TRIED TO SEND AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD CONTINUE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> Host: THE FIREWORKS AT THE END WERE PRETTY IMPRESSED REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

FOLLOWING THAT THE PRESIDENT BEGAN THE FIRST MEMORIAL CEREMONY OF THE VICTIMS OF COVID-19.

THE PRESIDENT PRESSING FOR 100 MILLION VACCINATIONS IN HIS FIRST 100 DAYS AND ISSUED A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE COVID PANDEMIC, PUSHING FOR MORE STIMULUS PAYMENTS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE ACTION SO FAR?

>> Guest: I WISH HE HADN'T TIED THE HUNDRED DAYS TO COVID.

100 DAYS MEANS NOTHING.IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO ANYONE EXCEPT POLITICIANS.MAYORS DO IT, GOVERNORS DO IT, PRESIDENTS DO IT, BUT I AM GLAD THAT HE DID SOME THING AS IS THE ACTIONS FOR THE FEDERAL BUILDINGS AS WELL AS THE INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION'S A I THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL IN STOPPING THE SPREAD OF COVID.

>> Host: RACHEL HINTON WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THE ACTIONS HE HAS TAKEN SO FAR?

>> Guest: I THINK IT IS THE FIRST STEP TO ACHIEVING CAMPAIGN GOALS.

I THINK IT IS A SHOW TO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT HE IS CHANGING WHAT HE CAMPAIGNED ON.

I AM A PERSON OF MY WORD AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO ACHIEVE THESE THINGS.

I THINK IT IS ALSO A SHOW THAT WE ARE TAKING THE PANDEMIC SERIOUSLY.

WERE GOING TO TRY TO RAMP UP OUR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND BEGIN MITIGATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WHICH I THINK HE IS TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS HE CAN IN MEASURED WAYS IMMEDIATELY BUT I THINK WE WILL STILL NEED TO SEE CONGRESS STEP IN.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME LEGISLATION TO BEGIN TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN HURT BY THIS.

>> Host: RACHEL, THIS WEEK WE ALSO SAW THE RETURN OF THE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

SOMETHING OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD STOPPED DOING LATER ON IN THE GAME.

HEIDI THINK THIS IS MINISTRIES AND WILL WORK WITH THE PRESS GOING FORWARD?

>> Guest: I THINK IT WILL BE A VERY DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP.

I WATCHED THE FIRST PRESS BRIEFING, DOCTOR FAUCI CAME UP, HE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK, HE WASN'T HIDING SOMEWHERE.

I THINK THE PRESS WILL HOLD THE PRESIDENT AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.

I THINK THERE COULD BE TENSE MOMENTS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BUT I DON'T THINK WE WILL SEE THIS PRESS SECRETARY CALLED THE PRESS THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.

I HOPE THIS PRESS SECRETARY ISN'T CAUGHT IN BLATANT LIES AND I HOPE GOING FORWARD, WE CAN GO BACK TO A MORE NORMAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRESS AND THE PRESS SECRETARY .

WE HAVE TO HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL LET US DO OUR JOBS.

>> Host: ABSOLUTELY.

BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT FASHION.

NO BALL GOWNS BUT THERE WERE SOME COATS THAT WERE WORKING HARD IN D.C.

INCLUDING THE CHOICE OF PURPLE FOR VICE PRESIDENT AND BURGUNDY FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE GESTURES?

>> Guest: THEY LOOKED GOOD!

PURPLE, WE ALL KNOW REPRESENTS WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE AND A TIME GOING FORWARD BUT ALSO REPRESENTS RED AND BLUE COMING TOGETHER AND BIPARTISANSHIP THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HOPES TO ACHIEVE.

I ENJOYED IT.

I LOVE THE GOOD LUCK.I THINK IF YOU BRING THE FASHION I AM THERE.

>> Host: WE WILL TALK ABOUT FASHION POLITICS NEXT TIME.

[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT, BRANDON POPE, GLENN REEDUS AND RACHEL HINTON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> UP NEXT OUR FIRST ADDITION OF THE NEW BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB WITH THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF A NOTABLE CHICAGO AUTHOR.

STICK AROUND.

>>.

>> Host: AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE HERE AT BLACK VOICES WE ARE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY IN FEBRUARY.

SO EXCITED WE ARE STARTING THE CELEBRATION IN JANUARY.

TONIGHT IS THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THE CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB.

WE ILLUMINATE NOT ONLY BLACK HISTORY BUT BLACK EXPERIENCE.

WE KICK IT OFF WITH A BLACK WOMAN WHOSE LEGEND IS LARGE IN CHICAGO.

JOURNALIST, PUBLISHER AND ACTIVIST IDA B WELLS IS KNOWN FOR FOR STANDING UP WHAT SHE BELIEVES AND DESPITE THE RISK OF RETRIBUTION.

WHETHER IT WAS REFUSING TO LEAVE A SEGREGATED TRAIN CAR OR BOLDLY REFUSING LYNCHING IN THE SOUTH.

SHE PUT HERSELF IN HARMS WAY TO ENACT CHANGE.

AUTHOR MICHELLE CUSTER HAS WRITTEN A BIOGRAPHY ON HER.

IT'S CALLED IDA B THE QUEEN.

THE LIFE OF IDA B WELLS.

SHE HAS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HER SUBJECT, SHE IS WELLS GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER.

JOINING US IS THE AUTHOR.

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

FIRST, WHY DID YOU WANT TO WRITE THIS BOOK ABOUT YOUR GREAT-GRANDMOTHER?

>> Guest: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I WAS HONORED THAT MY BOOK IS THE FIRST ONE IN THE SERIES.

SUCH AN HONOR.

I DECIDED TO WRITE THIS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO INTRODUCE MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S LEGACY TO A NEW GENERATION THAT CAN HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT.

I TRIED TO TIE THE WORK THAT MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER DID .

TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY.

IT HELPS TO CONCEPTUALIZE AND MODERNIZE HER STORY.

>> Host: YOU SAY INTRODUCE HER TO A NEW AUDIENCE.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A VERY ACCESSIBLE BOOK.

WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?

>> Guest: I THINK THE BOOK IS FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN HISTORY.

ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN THE STORY OF BLACK AMERICA, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD ENJOY THE BOOK.

>> Host: EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE HER GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER YOU LEARNED A LOT ABOUT YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS OF RESEARCHING AND WRITING THIS BOOK.

TELL US ABOUT THAT JOURNEY.

>> Guest: RIGHT.

I GREW UP HEARING IT'S IN PIECES ABOUT MY GRANDMOTHER STORY, THE WAY MOST PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS SPRINKLED IN CONVERSATION.

AS FAR AS THE DEPTH OR THE DANGER THAT SHE DEALT WITH AND THE SENSE OF LOSS OR THE DEPTH OF THE LOSS THAT SHE EXPERIENCED, I DID NOT KNOW THOSE TYPES OF DETAILS UNTIL HE STARTED DOING THE RESEARCH AND READING HER DIARY AND READING THE CHRONICLES OF THE LYNCHINGS.

SHE WROTE SEVERAL PAMPHLETS, THAT CHRONICLED THE EXCRUCIATING DETAIL ABOUT LYNCHING HERE THAT WAS NOT INFORMATION THAT I WAS NOT NECESSARILY TOLD AS A CHILD.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE TOUCHSTONE EVENTS THAT SERVED AS A CATALYST FOR HER CAREER AND ACTIVISM.

LIKE THE MURDER AND LYNCHING OF THOMAS MORE AND IS THIS PARTNERS STUART AND McDOWELL IN MEMPHIS IN 1892.

WHAT DO YOU THINK DROVE HER PURSUIT FOR JUSTICE?

>> Guest: WELL, I COULD GATHER THAT IDA HAD A SENSE OF WHAT WAS RIGHT AND WRONG AND WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ITIES WERE FOR FREELY ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS.

SO, SHE WAS BORN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS CIVIL WAR AND BECAME OF AGE DURING RECONSTRUCTION WITH PARENTS WHO WERE PROGRESSIVE AND TYPICALLY AND POLITICALLY ENGAGED.

I THINK SHE HAD A STRONG SENSE OF POSSIBILITY AND ONCE THERE STARTED TO BE PUSHBACK AND BACKLASH AGAINST BLACK PROGRESS I THINK SHE FELT A SENSE OF DESIGNATION OF WHAT THIS COUNTRY WAS VERSES WHAT IT COULD BE.

I THINK IT WAS PERSONAL FOR HER BECAUSE SHE HAD LOST HER PARENTS AND THOMAS MOSS IN PARTICULAR WAS A REALLY GOOD FRIEND OF HERS.

I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN THINGS ARE PERSONAL IT DRIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE TO DO SOMETHING.

AND TO WORK ON THE ADVOCACY TO MAKE SOME KIND OF CHANGES.

>> Host: WE ALSO KNOW THAT SHE FOUGHT FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE BUT SHE WASN'T AFRAID TO CALL OUT THE UNEQUAL TREATMENT FROM EVEN WITHIN THE SOUTHERN SUFFRAGISTS BY ASKING WOMEN TO MARCH ON THE BACKS OF A D.C. PROTEST AND WE KNOW THAT IDA B WELLS DID MAKE HER WAY TO THE FRONT OF THAT MARCH.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> Guest: RIGHT.

EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID.

FIRST OF ALL, MY GRANDMOTHER'S CHALLENGED THE SUFFRAGE BECAUSE SHE WAS INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE WORKING WITH THE SUFFRAGE AND SHE HAD A FEELING THAT ILLINOIS WAS GOING TO GRANT THE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO, SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION SUFFRAGISTS WENT TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND SO SHE WAS WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THEY WERE REPRESENTING THE STATE.

WHEN THEY ASKED BLACK WOMEN TO MARCH IN THE BACK SHE REFUSED.

AND, FAMOUSLY INSERTED HERSELF INTO THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION DURING THE MARCH.

SO, THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE SHE WAS WORKING WITH THESE PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS AND WHY SEPARATE HERSELF WHEN SHE GOT TO WASHINGTON D.C.?

>> Host: LASTLY WHILE I HAVE YOU MICHELLE, I HAVE TO GET YOUR REACTION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEW VICE PRESIDENT TAKING THE OATH LAST WEEK.

>> Guest: THAT WAS SUCH A TOUCHING MOMENT FOR ME TO WATCH.

THE COMBINATION OF SONJA SOTO MAYOR THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SWEARING IN KAMALA HARRIS, TWO WOMEN OF COLOR IN THIS POWERFUL POSITION.

TO ME THAT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING MOMENT AND IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE WOMEN INCLUDING MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WHO HAD FOUGHT FOR OVER 160 YEARS FOR THIS MOMENT TO BE POSSIBLE.

>> Host: IN HERE WE ARE.

AGAIN THE NAME OF MICHELLE DUSTERS THE FIRST BOOK, IDA B QUEEN.

AND SHE WILL BE PERFORMING IN A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT IDA B WELLS.

YOU CAN WATCH FOR THAT SPECIAL EPISODE IN CHICAGO STORIES IN MAY.

THE FIRST, MICHELLE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> Guest: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.>> Host:, REVISITING OUR 2017 CONVERSATION WITH THE LATE JIM TILMAN BUT VERSE TWO PAIR SETS WITH WHAT IS ON TAP FOR THIS WEEK.

>> BRANDIS, WE HAVE A LOT PLANNED FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

THE IMPACT FOR KAMALA HARRIS BEING THE FIRST WOMAN AND WOMEN OF COLOR AS VICE PRESIDENT AND WE CHECK IN WITH CHICAGO'S BUSINESS LOOP 10 MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S ON CHICAGO TONIGHT AT 11:00.

BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> Host: PARIS, THANK YOU.

JIM TILMAN WORE MANY HATS IN HIS LIFE.

PILATE, ROD CASTOR AND WEATHERMAN.

MUSICIAN AND AUTHOR.

HE WAS ALSO A PIONEER.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMERCIAL PILOTS IN THE COUNTRY.

JOINING AMERICAN AIRLINES IN 1955 AFTER LEARNING HIS CRAFT IN THE ARMY.

IN 2017 PHIL PENSIE TALKED ABOUT TILLMAN ABOUT HIS BOOK ABOUT BECOMING A PILOT.

HE ASKED HIM ABOUT THE KEY ADVICE FROM HIS FATHER ABOUT HIS DREAM.

>> MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE I EVER GOT IN MY LIFE.

I SAW AN AIRPLANE AND I ASKED HIM WHAT IT WAS ABOUT AND HE SAID THIS IS AN AIRPLANE AND PILOTS FLEW IT.

I ASKED, DADDY, CAN I BE A PILOT MAC THAT WAS THE BEGINNING.

HIS ANSWER WAS WELL, FIRST OF ALL YOU REALLY WANT TO BE A PILOT?

AND HE WAS SERIOUS.

MY DAD DIDN'T TOY AROUND WITH THINGS.

SO, YES DADDY, I REALLY WANT TO.

OKAY.

DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IT?

DO YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT?

DO YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT IT IS?

>> YES DADDY I REALLY BELIEVE IT.

>> SO, ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?

>> THAT WAS THE BIG ONE.

HE SAID A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT AND BELIEVE BUT IT COMES DOWN TO THE TOUGH STUFF THEY TAKE A POWDER.

YOU ARE EITHER GOING TO DO THIS BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IT AND WANT IT AND BECAUSE YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE OR IT'S NOT GOING TO GET DONE.

AND HE WAS RIGHT.

I STILL TO THIS DAY CARRY THAT KIND OF THINKING.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE CANDOR YOU HAD BUT WERE THERE HUMOROUS SITUATIONS OR SITUATIONS THAT YOU HAVE HANDLED IN AN ELEGANT WAY.

YOU SAID FOR EXAMPLE WHEN SHE BECAME A FULL-FLEDGED AIRLINE PILOT FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES YOU WERE IN YOUR UNIFORM AND IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR PEOPLE TO THANK YOU WERE A SKY CAPTAIN AND WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE SITUATIONS?

>> IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES I GOT TO THE GATE AND EVERYONE WAS LINED UP READY TO GO THROUGH AND A LITTLE LADY WOULD SAY PARDON ME, ARE YOU GOING TO GET ON THIS AIRPLANE?

>> YES MA'AM.

>> WOULD YOU CARRY MY BAG, PLEASE AND I WOULD ALWAYS SAY YES.

I WOULD TAKE IT AND LOOK FOR HER TICKET AND GET HER ON BOARD AND PUT HER BAG OVER HER SEAT AND THAT WAS IT.

STANDING AT THE DOOR WHICH I ALWAYS DID WHEN PEOPLE GET ON THE AIRPLANE THE LADY WOULD SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING CARE OF MY BAG AND OFFERED ME MONEY.

I SAID NO MA'AM, THANK YOU.

I ALWAYS TIP THE SKY.

AND I SAID MA'AM I'M NOT A SKY.

AND SHE WOULD SAY WHAT ARE YOU AND I WOULD SAY I'M THE.

AND THERE WAS A LOOK OF ALL MY GOD.

AMERICA HAD TO GROW UP A LITTLE BIT.

AS EIGHT PEOPLE WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO BUT WE DID MAKE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STRIDES DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE WHEN PASSENGERS WERE UNLOADING IN THE CAULK IS OPEN AND PEOPLE ARE THINKING THE CREW, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THEN WHEN PEOPLE DID NOT REALIZE THAT THEY HAD A LACK PILOT.

NEXT I HAD ONE PASSENGER THAT WAS REMARKABLE HERETO GOT ON BOARD AND I GREETED HER AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND ALMOST LIKE TERROR STRICKEN SHE ASKED ARE YOU THE PILOT?

AND I SAID YES I AM AND THEN SHE LOOKED PAST ME INTO THE CAULK AND SHE COULD SEE THE COPILOT WHO WAS WHITE AND SHE ASKED IS HE THE PILOT TO?

AND I SAID YES MA'AM HE IS AND SHE SAID OH OKAY IN THAT CASE AND THEN SHE WENT ONTO HER SEAT.

THE REMARKABLE THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT SHE WAS BLACK.

>> WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THAT EXPERIENCE?

>> THE FACT THAT RACISM HAS INVADED OUR CULTURE, TOTALLY.

NONE OF US ARE TOTALLY IMMUNE FROM THE DISEASE AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE INFLICTED UPON BLACK PEOPLE TURNED AROUND AND WE BEGAN TO INFLICTED UPON OURSELVES SO THERE WAS AND STILL IS TO SOME EXTENT A BIT OF BLACK RACISM AGAINST EACH OTHER.

I KNOW I'M GOING TO GET A LOT OF CONFLICT FROM PEOPLE WATCHING THIS AND THEY'LL SAY JIM I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT BUT I DID SAY IT AND I MEANT IT BECAUSE IT'S TRUE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE THE COLOR OF MY SKIN BUT THEY DON'T HAVE IT ON THE INSIDE AND THEY HAVE NOT GRADUATED BEYOND THE RIDICULOUS ATTITUDE OF SOMEONE, BECAUSE SOMEONE LOOKS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THAT THEY HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF CARE FOR.

YES, I SAID IT AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN.

THE THING IS, IT IS A TERRIBLE DISEASE, RACISM, BIGOTRY, THAT WHOLE THING AND NO ONE IS TOTALLY IMMUNE BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO GET RID OF IT.

>> REALLY QUICKLY, WE HAVE 20 SECONDS LEFT.

YOU STARTED YOUR BROADCAST CAREER HERE IN CHICAGO ON WTTW.

WHAT WAS OUR PEOPLE?

>> OUR PEOPLE WAS AN EXPRESSION OF VOICE TO GIVE A VISIBILITY OF VOICE TO THOSE WHO HAD NONE.

IT GAVE US A CHANCE TO TELL OUR STORIES BUT NOT JUST ONES ON BROADCAST TELEVISION ONES THAT WERE MEANINGFUL TO US AND PEOPLE WHO WERE MEANINGFUL TO US AND SUBJECT MATTER AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT WAS AN OUTLET THAT NEEDED TO BE AND IT HAD TO BE AT THAT TIME.

>> THAT LED YOU TO YOUR CAREER AS A WEATHERMAN.

JIM TILMAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK TO WHERE IT ALL STARTED FOR YOU.

>> IT'S GREAT TO COME HOME.

>> MY PERSONAL THANKS TO JIM TILMAN IN THE TRAIL HE BLAZED.

HERE IS A SNEAK PEEK PEER THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY ALSO KNOWN AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH WE WILL REDISCOVER CLIPS FOR JIM TILMAN AND WTTW ON CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES INCLUDING CELEBRITIES LIKE DIANE CAROL AND SAMMY DAVIS JUNIOR.

YOU CAN WATCH HIS FULL 2017 INTERVIEW WITH JIM TILMAN ON A WEBSITE AT WTTW.com/ TILLMAN.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THE SUNDAY NIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE VERY LATEST ON WTTW NEWS INCLUDING THE REOPENING PLANS OR CHICAGO.

JOIN PARASITES AND MEET FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

AND THEN JOIN HUGO BALTA FOR COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AT EPM.

HE WILL BE JOINED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO DISCUSS COVID-19 IMPACT ON THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

VISIT WTTW.com/ EVENTS TO RSVP.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HERE THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

[MUSIC] REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY