>>> GOOD EVENING, HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES .

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, ONE ON ONE WITH THE CEO WHO IS TAKING CHARGE OF THE ENERGY GIANT, EXELON.

>> ALL OF US WANT TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

>>> CHALLENGES OF FINDING A CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE THERAPIST.

>>> THE SILENT KILLER, OVER HALF OF BLACK ADULTS HAVE IT, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HYPERTENSION.

>> I AM ANGELITO, WE ARE TAKING YOU TO RIVER WEST FOR A SHOW CELEBRATING THE CITY'S MOST PROLIFIC ARTISTS.

>>> OUR FIRST STORY, WE MEET THE NEW CEO OF EXELON .

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT : BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> >>> THOUGH YOU MAY NOT THINK ABOUT IT MUCH, THE ENERGY THAT POWERS SO MANY THINGS WE RELY ON IS UNDER CONSTANT THREAT , FROM EXTREME WEATHER TO SECURITY CONCERNS .

AS THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES THE ENERGY PRODUCTION SECTOR, COMPANIES ARE AT AN INFLECTION POINT.

THE CHICAGO-BASED UTILITY OPERATOR EXELON IS AT AN INFLECTION POINT , AT THE END OF 2022, CALVIN BUTLER JR. WAS NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE UTILITY COMPANY .

HE JOINS US NOW.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TRENDLINE.

>> YOU ARE MOVING TO CHICAGO FROM BALTIMORE.

YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY WITH EXELON .

>> I STARTED IN 2008, INDY LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AREA, MOVED TO CORPORATE, DECIDED TO MOVE TO CONSTELLATION ENERGY , I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING ON THE GROUND AND GETTING THE DEAL DONE.

I MOVED THE FAMILY IN 2013 AND BECAME THE CEO OF BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC IN 2014 AND RAN THAT FOR 5.5 YEARS.

WE HAD GROWN FROM JUST TWO UP TO SIX.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LAST YEARS , RAN THAT UTILITY FROM 2019 UNTIL THEY MADE THE PRESIDENT AND COO IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.

CHRIS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT .

>> YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A HOT WEEK.

BEING WITH THE COMPANY HAS WORKED OUT FOR YOU.

STILL WAITING ON THE TRIAL DATE FOR MICHAEL MADIGAN, ALLEGED BRIBE SCHEME WHICH CON ED IS COOPERATING WITH THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

>> THIS IS UNFORTUNATE.

ALL THE GOOD WORK , THE 6000 MEN AND WOMEN DO EVERY DAY, IS TAINTED BY THE ALLEGED ACTIONS OF A FEW.

WHEN I TELL THE MEN AND WOMEN EVERY DAY, SHOW UP , THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB, THEY HAVE CONTINUED THROUGH ALL THE NOISE, TO DELIVER , IT WAS RECENTLY RANKED THE NUMBER ONE MOST RELIABLE UTILITY IN THE COUNTRY , AT THE LOWEST RATES OF THE URBAN CITIES IN THE TOP 12, AND MY FOCUS HAS BEEN AND WILL BE ON THE 6000 MEN AND WOMEN WHO SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY.

>> WHAT MEASURES DO YOU TAKE TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

IMMEDIATELY , WE WENT OUT AND HIRED A COMPLIANCE OFFICER.

WHO HAD SEC SECURITIES BACKGROUND , HE PUT IN A PLAN , NOT JUST FOR COMED , A PROGRAM ACROSS ALL OF OUR UTILITIES.

EACH OF OUR BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE CONDUCT THAT WAS ALLEGED WOULD NOT OCCUR IN ANY PART OF THE BUSINESS.

IT WAS NOT.

WE PUT IN THOSE ROBUST PROGRAMS THAT ARE A MODEL FOR OTHER COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IN THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED 1.5 YEARS AGO IN ILLINOIS, CLIMATE EQUITY JOBS ACT, MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS EFFORTS BY COMED WERE PUT INTO LEGISLATION.

WE ARE PROUD OF THAT.

IT IS A CULTURE SHIFT.

WE WILL WORK MORE BUT WE ARE NOT DONE.

WHEN YOU RELAX ON PROGRAMS FOR TRAINING WITH HIGH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY, WHICH WE SHOULD BE DOING AND WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON , IT CAN FALL BACK INTO PLACE.

>> IN PLACES LIKE TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, THE STABILITY OF THE POWER GRID IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENERGY STABILITY?

>> WE INVEST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE SECURITY , NOT JUST PHYSICAL SECURITY , BUT CYBERSECURITY OF THE GRID, WE KNOW THERE ARE BAD ACTORS WHO WANT TO ATTACK.

OUR MEN AND WOMEN ARE INVESTING IN OUR I.T.

SYSTEMS, SENSING , YOU MAY GO BY A SUBSTATION ONE DAY AND IT LOOKS RELATIVELY VANILLA , YOU GO BACK AND YOU SEE HIGH SECURITY.

THAT IS WHAT WE UNDERTAKE TO MAKE SURE THE GRID IS PROTECTED AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY MONITORING.

WE HAVE CENTERS LOCATED IN THE MID-ATLANTIC AND IN CHICAGO TO MONITOR THE TRAFFIC IN OUR SUBSTATIONS.

THIS IS A PRIORITY .

>> YOU SPOKE ABOUT DELIVERING ENERGY EQUITABLY .

EXPLAIN WHAT INEQUITIES EXIST AND HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THEM?

>> AND EQUITIES EXIST BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO PUT SOLAR ON THEIR HOMES OR PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

NOT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS WILL HAVE CHARGING STATIONS.

WE DO KNOW THAT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT AS PART OF THE SOLUTION.

ONCE AGAIN, AND THE CLIMATE , EQUITY, AND JOBS ACT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRANSITION TO A THE CARBONIZED CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE IN THE UNDER RESOURCED -- CHICAGO HAS 77 NEIGHBORHOODS AND MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ECONOMY AND NOT ONE OF THEM GETS LEFT BEHIND.

>> TO THAT POINT, HOW ARE YOU POSITION FOR TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES?

>> SINCE OUR SPLIT FROM CONSTELLATION , WE ARE GOING TO DELIVER ELECTRICITY WE ARE AGNOSTIC WHERE THE POWER COMES FROM, NUCLEAR, SOLAR, WIND, HYDRO, I NEED TO DELIVER IT RELIABLY AND AFFORDABLY.

ONCE I DO THAT AND BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROTECT THE GRID AND MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT, THAT IS MY JOB EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THAT IS WHAT WE FOCUS ON.

COMED IS INVESTING IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO IT CAN MOVE ALL TYPES OF POWER SOURCES TO YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS.

>> WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF EXELON ?

>> WE ARE DOING VERY WELL.

WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE UTILITIES IN THE COUNTRY IN 2022.

WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING BILLIONS.

BY WORKING WITH THE REGULATORS AND LEGISLATURES, IT HAS REMAINED AFFORDABLE.

THAT IS WHAT I AM MOST PROUD OF.

I RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS, ONE DOLLAR A MONTH IS A LOT OF MONEY.

WE ARE PROTECTING THE RATE OF CHANGE IN OUR BILLS AS WE TRANSITION OFF OF THE CURRENT RATE MAKING PROCESS , THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE ARE WORKING TO THE COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT A SEAMLESS AND KNOW WHAT IS SURPRISED BY A LARGE BILL INCREASE.

>> YOU ARE ONE OF THE SEVEN BLACK CEOs LEADING FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES , WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU ?

>> MY MOTHER WOULD BE VERY PROUD.

IT IS AN HONOR.

IT REALLY IS.

I KNOW WHERE I COME FROM.

I COME FROM ST. LOUIS.

I HAVE FIVE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE INVEST IN THE .

IT IS MY JOB TO INVEST IN OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT , I AM ONE OF SEVEN, SHAME ON US, I SHOULD BE ONE OF MANY.

WHAT AM I DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GROUNDS ARE BEING MADE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW .

I RECOGNIZE THE RESPONSIBILITY.

MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF EXELON AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE .

>> WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

CONGRATULATIONS, NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF EXELON, YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A WEEK AND HOPE YOU'RE SETTLING IN NICELY .

>>> ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE FIGHTING TO PROVIDE MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO BLACK AND LATINO CHICAGOANS .

THAT MEANS A PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, WE LOOK AT THE ISSUE ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS , HERE IS A JOURNALIST AND PROFESSOR WITH A PORTION OF THE STORY.

>> Reporter: ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE CHICAGO SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY HAS EXPERIENCED BEING A THERAPIST AND A BLACK WOMAN SEEKING THERAPY.

>> I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE , EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD DEGREES, THEY WERE COMPETENT ON PAPER, WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ME CULTURALLY.

>> Reporter: SHE BELIEVES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A THERAPIST WITH A SIMILAR BACKGROUND.

>> MY COUNSELOR NOW IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN.

SHE ALSO HAS ALIGNED WITH MY IDENTITIES , NOT ALL BUT SOME.

SOME IS ENOUGH.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

NEXT, -- >>> IT IS A NEW YEAR AND THAT MEANS TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT OUR HABITS AND ENTERING 2023 IN BETTER HEALTH THAN WE EXITED 20.2.

ONE CONDITION CAN FLY UNDER THE RADAR OF THE HEALTH-CONSCIOUS EVEN , HYPERTENSION, THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION SAYS 55% OF BLACK ADULTS HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

BLACK AMERICANS ALSO HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH RATES OF MORE SEVERE HPV AND DEVELOP IT EARLIER IN LIFE.

HIGHER RATES OF OBESITY AND DIABETES AMONG BLACK AMERICANS INCREASE THE RISK OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION IS A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR STROKE, HEART FAILURE , AND KIDNEY DISEASE.

MEDICATIONS, DIET, EXERCISE CAN HELP CONTROL IT.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HYPERTENSION AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, AND A NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE DOCTOR .

A NURSE PRACTITIONER , AND DR. EVERETT, A CARDIOLOGIST FROM AVERITT HEALTH.

WHAT EXACTLY IS HYPERTENSION AND WHY DO WE CALL IT THE SILENT KILLER?

>> HYPERTENSION IS A MEASURE OF WHAT THE HEART PUMPS.

THE BLOOD VESSELS , THEY CREATE WHAT MAKES THE HEART PUMP.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE HEART HAS TO PUMP THE BLOOD.

THERE IS A RESISTANCE , THAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

IT COMES FROM A NUMBER OF REASONS, ESSENTIALLY, THE RELAXATION OR THE CONSTRICTION OF THE BLOOD VESSELS THAT THE HEART PUMPS AGAINST.

>> WHY DO WE CALL IT THE SILENT KILLER?

>> IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS ASYMPTOMATIC , SOMETHING WE DON'T REALLY FEEL.

WHEN YOU DO FEEL IT , THAT IS THE DANGER TIME , WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACUTE OR EFFECTS THAT MAY HAPPEN WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE , STROKE, OR SOME SORT OF CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, SOME THINGS CAN COME RIGHT AT THE TIME OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

PEOPLE WALK AROUND WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

>> WHY IS THIS SUCH A PERVASIVE PROBLEM IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK THERE IS A HIGHER PREVAILING OF CERTAIN COMORBIDITIES , OBESITY , DIABETES, BUT THERE ARE OTHER SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS THAT MAKE IT A PERVASIVE FACTOR.

LACK OF ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE , LACK OF INSURANCE SOMETIMES PLAYS A ROLE , LACK OF AFFORDABILITY OF MEDICATIONS THAT CAN HELP CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE.

UNFORTUNATELY , OUR PERMANENT ISSUE IS THAT BLACK COMMUNITIES , I BELIEVE THAT IN GENERAL , PEOPLE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE , ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL , AND I THINK THE BLACK POPULATION IS PROBABLY EVEN MORE SO AN ISSUE BECAUSE OF THOSE FACTORS.

NOT ONLY THAT, ALSO ACCESS TO GOOD FOOD, ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE AND THE ACTIVE.

ACCESS TO EXERCISE.

OTHER GENERAL WELL-BEING FACTORS.

>> YOU SAY ONE IN FOUR HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL .

THAT MEANS THREE IN FOUR DO NOT HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL.

HOW DID PEOPLE FIND OUT THEY HAVE IT?

>> MANY PEOPLE FIND OUT AT A DR.'S SCREENING, PEOPLE ASKED , THEY DID NOT FEEL GOOD , THEY HAVE A HEART ATTACK, OR BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR A PROCEDURE AND CHECKING THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE AT THAT TIME.

>> DR. EVERETT, WHAT IMPACT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE HAVE ON THE HEART?

>> THE RESISTANCE THE HEART FACES, THE HEART CANNOT GET BLOOD OUT TO GO AROUND THE BODY EASILY, IT HAS TO WORK HARDER.

JUST LIKE IF YOU WERE TO LIFT WEIGHTS WITH YOUR ARMS AND YOUR BICEPS , YOUR MUSCLES GET BIGGER, WELL, THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE HEART.

WHAT HAPPENS IS , IF THE HEART HAS TO WORK HARD, IT STARTS TO THICKEN.

THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING.

IT WILL GET LARGER AND START TO REALLY ENLARGE AND START TO BECOME WEAK.

THAT LEADS TO OTHER EFFECTS, HEART FAILURE AND OTHER VALVE ISSUES, THE PROBLEMS WHERE THE HEART VALVES START TO LEAK.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE YOU HAVE FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE KIDNEYS?

>> SECOND TWO DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS THE SECOND MAIN CAUSE OF KIDNEY FAILURE.

IT IS WITH ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE , IT CAUSES NARROWING OF THE VESSELS, THE KIDNEY CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VESSELS OVER TIME .

BASICALLY, IT LEADS TO CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE.

>> WHAT ADVICE DO YOU GIVE TO PATIENTS IN CONTROLLING BLOOD PRESSURE?

>> BECOME INFORMED.

PARTNER WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER , A PRACTITIONER OR A DOCTOR, AND IF THEY ARE ON MEDICATION, TAKE THE MEDICATION.

IF YOU ARE HAVING SIDE EFFECTS, COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PROVIDER , STOP THE MEDICATION, BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP, THEIR ALTERNATIVES WE CAN USE.

DIET , OTHER RESOURCES.

>> DR. EVERETT, SHOULD PEOPLE WITH A FAMILY OF HYPERTENSION HISTORY BE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED?

>> YES.

WE TALK ABOUT CAUSES OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ONE OF THE CAUSES HIS FAMILY HISTORY.

I GUARANTEE MOST PEOPLE WILL SAY SOMEBODY IN THE FAMILY , ESPECIALLY IF THERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE FAMILY WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

THAT IS WHY EVERYONE SHOULD BE SCREENED.

JUST BECAUSE IT IS SO PREVALENT.

ONE OF THE LEADERS IN HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OVER THE YEARS , THAT PASSED AWAY, DR. SAUNDERS, HE WROTE MANY BOOKS ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HE SAID 70% OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WILL HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE BY THE TIME THEY ARE 60 AND BY 70 IT GOES UP ABOUT 100%.

THAT BEING SAID, IT UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW MANY OF US NEED TO BE SCREENED.

IT IS VERY PREVALENT.

IT PROBABLY WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.

>> WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT BEING THE SILENT KILLER.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A CONDITION THAT MAY BE EASY TO IGNORE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE INCLINED TO NOT BOTHER TO GET CHECKED OUT?

>> THIS SOONER THAT YOU GET DIAGNOSED , THE SOONER YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IT IS NOT ALWAYS MEDICATION IN ORDER TO CONTROL, IT IS DIETARY CHANGES , EXERCISE , LIFESTYLE CHANGES , STRESS MONITORING , THINGS CAN HELP WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

THE SOONER YOU FIND OUT ABOUT IT , THE MORE YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

IT IS BETTER THAT YOU FIND OUT ABOUT IT BEFORE IT FINDS YOU.

WHEN THERE IS DAMAGE THAT CANNOT BE REVERSED.

I TELL PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET SCREENED AND THAT THEY SEE THEIR PROVIDERS AND FIND OUT IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> SAME QUESTION TO YOU, WHAT DO YOU TELL PEOPLE WHO ARE INCLINED TO AVOID WHAT THEY FEAR MAY BE BAD NEWS?

>> DISCUSSION IS KEY.

THEY MAY FEEL IT IS BAD NEWS, ONCE YOU HAVE THE DISCUSSION, YOU CAN GET TREATMENT.

THERE MAY BE ALTERNATIVES, DIET , EDUCATION , NUTRITION, TEACHING THEM HOW TO GROCERY SHOP, COOK , HAVING THAT OPEN DISCUSSION AND COMMUNICATION.

>> THANK ALL THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NEXT, A SHORT RUN SHOW CELEBRATING CHICAGO ART.

>>> A NEW GALLERY AND NOVELTY SHOP WITH ROOTS IN RIVER WEST COME AND THEY ARE EAGER TO TRANSFORM THE SPACE INTO A COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER THAT SUPPORTS ARTISTS IN THE CITY AND BEYOND.

THEY DECIDED TO HAVE AN END OF YEAR EXHIBITION SHOWCASING THOSE THEY'RE WORKING WITH.

WE LOOK AT A PREVIEW OF CHERRY MOUNTAIN ART.

>> THIS EMBODIES WHAT ART IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

THESE ARTISTS AND THEIR WORK ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL STYLE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS THE MISSION OF THE ILLUSTRATOR AND ARTISTS, RELLO, WHO OPENED JERRY MARTIN ARTS TO UPLOAD ARTISTS.

>> THE SHOW IS ABOUT SHOWCASING ARTISTS WE WILL WORK WITH AND WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN OUR MISSION.

WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THEM.

>> Reporter: THE EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS SIGNATURE ARTIST KNOWN FOR HAVING SPECIFIC STYLES .

SUCH AS THESE.

ORNATE FURNITURE PIECES ALSO SIT WITHIN THE SPACE AND WORK BY RELLO HIMSELF .

>> CATALYSTS OF MY WORK ARE OSSIE, A DIFFERENT TAKE ON MICKEY AND MINNIE MOUSE LIKE BD AND AUSTIN DAVIS, TAKING HIS CHARACTERS PEOPLE LOVE, MICKEY MOUSE WAS A BLACK PERSON, WOULD YOU STILL LOVE MICKEY MOUSE THE SAME, WE HAVE KRUSTY THE CLOWN FROM THE SYMPTOMS -- SIMPSON'S , I LIKE THE STORY TELLING BEHIND HOMEY THE CLOWN, JUST BECAUSE I LOOK LIKE A CLOWN , DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN TREAT ME LIKE ONE, YOU HAVE TO TREAT PEOPLE THE RIGHT WAY.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS, THROUGH THIS EXHIBITION, HE HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERPRETATION AS THEY CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH ART CREATED BY BLACK ARTISTS.

>> OTHER PEOPLE THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE US UNDERSTAND.

BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ALREADY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT.

PEOPLE THAT ENGAGE WITH WHITE PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU TREAT EVERYBODY THE RIGHT WAY.

WE DON'T NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO TREAT BLACK PEOPLE, WE KNOW, WE KNOW HOW WE WANT TO BE TREATED.

THE ART IS FOR EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY IS LOOKING AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT POSITION.

>> CHERRY MOUNTAIN ART WILL TURN THEIR CENTER IN THE FIGURE AND YOU CAN SEE THEM IN RIVER WEST THROUGH JANUARY 8th.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE , WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST , INCLUDING SOME OF THE BIG PROVISIONS IN THE SAFE-T ACT OTHER THAN CASHLESS BAIL.

CATCH BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT .

SOME MUSICAL MEMORIES BEFORE WE GO, ANITA POINTER DIED, THEY HAD CHARTTOPPERS THROUGHOUT THE 1970s AND 1980s.

DRUMMER FOR THE LEGENDARY CHICAGO BAND EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE, DIED WE LEAVE YOU WITH A PERFORMANCE BY THEM ON WTTW.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT TRAN02: BLACK VOICES, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD DAY .

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY,