CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK AND BY 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 THE CALL FOR FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST POLICE OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE ARE GROWING.

ACTIVIST BEHIND THE MOVEMENT LAY OUT THEIR DEMANDS AS HE IS SET TO BE RELEASED.

PLUS THE ORIGINAL 13TH AMENDMENT DOCUMENT THAT ABOLISHED SLAVERY CAN BE SEEN IN PERSON.

THE FUTURE OF BROWNSVILLE A PODCAST THAT SHARES A NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN RESIDENT.

>> ART CAN BE THE ACTIVE WAY OF ENGAGING BOTH YOUR MIND BUT ALSO YOUR HEART.

>> A NEW EXHIBIT SHARES THE INTERSECTION OF VIOLENCE AND ART.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT FORMER POLICE OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE IS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON ON THURSDAY AFTER SPENDING THREE YEARS BEHIND BARS LESS THAN HALF OF THE NEARLY 7 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE HE WAS GIVEN AND 2019 FOR SECOND-DEGREE MURDER IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF TEENAGER LAQUAN McDONALD.

PEOPLE ARE CALLING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION DEMANDING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BRING CHARGES AGAINST JASON VAN DYKE FOR VIOLATING LAQUAN McDONALD'S CIVIL RIGHTS.

JOINING ME NOW ARE WILLIAM CALLOWAY, JAZMINE SALAS FROM CHICAGO ALLIANCE AGAINST RACIST AND POLITICAL REPRESSION AND WILLIAM CALLOWAY PROTESTING IN JASON VAN DYKE'S RELEASE.

WILLIAM, LET'S START WITH YOU.

JASON VAN DYKE THIRD TIME CHARGES FOR WHAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE STATE BUT WHY DO YOU THINK HE SHOULD ALSO FACE FEDERAL CHARGES.

WILLIAM, I THINK YOU ARE ON MUTE.

>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.

IT IS CLEAR THAT JASON VAN DYKE UNDER TITLE 18 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 242, JASON VAN DYKE VIOLATED LAQUAN McDONALD'S CIVIL RIGHTS THEREFORE HE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED UNDER THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THE PUNISHMENT THAT HE RECEIVED BEING HANDED DOWN THIS LIGHT SENTENCE OF 81 MONTHS DOES NOT MATCH THE CRIMINAL ACT THAT HE COMMITTED ON OCTOBER 20TH 2014.

AND FURTHERMORE, THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS IN COOK COUNTY JAIL THAT HAVE SPENT AND ARE SPENDING MORE TIME IN DETENTION WAITING FOR THEIR TRIAL THAN WHAT JASON VAN DYKE HAS SPENT IN THE ILLINOIS STATE AND ATTEND JURY.

THIS IS AN INJUSTICE AND MISCARRIAGE OF INJUSTICE AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CALL FOR FEDERAL CHARGES.

>> WILLIAM, BRIEFLY CLARIFY FOR US WHY YOU THINK THAT LAQUAN McDONALD CIVIL RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED.

>> I AM SURE THAT THE ATTORNEYS WANTED THIS WAY BUT THE DEPRIVATION UNDER THE COLOR OF LAW IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND YOUR VIEWERS CAN RESEARCH THAT.

THAT CHARGE IS WHAT IS APPLICABLE TO THE CRIMINAL ACT OF WHAT JASON VAN DYKE DID AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY KNOWS THAT AS WELL AND HE SHOULD FACE CHARGES.

>> JAZMINE SALAS FROM CHICAGO ALLIANCE AGAINST RACIST AND POLITICAL REPRESSION YOU ARE ALL JOINING THIS CAUSE DELAY CALL FOR FEDERAL CHARGES HOW ARE YOU GETTING THE ATTENTION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY?

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE MOBILIZING OUR SUPPORTERS SO IT IS ALL OVER CHICAGO.

THIS CAUSE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

WE ALL KNOW THAT 81 MONTHS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO HOLD HIM FULLY ACCOUNTABLE AND WE KNOW THERE IS A MOVEMENT IN THE CITY AND THE REASON WHY THAT JASON VAN DYKE IS BEHIND BARS.

WE ARE REENACTING THE MOVEMENT AND SENDING LETTERS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

NOT JUST AROUND THE JASON VAN DYKE CASE BUT AROUND 89 OTHER CASES OF POLICE VIOLENCE AND POLICE MURDERS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE CITY.

WE KNOW THAT PART OF THE REASON WHY THE JASON VAN DYKE CASE ROCK CHICAGO BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY LAQUAN McDONALD'S FOR DECADES.

FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND LATINO COMMUNITY ACROSS THE CITY.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING THAT JASON VAN DYKE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL AS THE OTHER COPS THAT ARE OUT THERE COMMITTING CRIMES AND ACTING AS JASON VAN DYKE DID THE NIGHT HE MURDERED LAQUAN McDONALD.

NOW WE ARE MOBILIZING FOLKS AND ORGANIZING A RALLY ON FEBRUARY THIRD AT 5:30 P.M. ON FEDERAL PLAZA TO DELIVER THE LETTERS TO THE US ATTORNEY DIRECTLY.

>> TONY THEDFORD IN YOUR LEGAL OPINION WHAT ARE THE CHARGES THAT CAN BE BROUGHT AGAINST HIM IN THIS CASE?

>> IT IS A MATTER OF CHOICE NOT A MATTER OF CHANCE.

I THINK THE EASIEST WAY TO EQUATE THIS IS GOING BACK YEARS TO THE RODNEY KING INCIDENT BACK IN THE EARLY 90S.

THERE, THE OFFICERS WERE TRIED IN STATE COURT THAT HAD ABUSED RODNEY KING AND THEY WERE ACQUITTED.

THE US ATTORNEY IN THAT DISTRICT BELIEVED INJUSTICE AND THEY CHARGED HIM AND TRIED HIM FOR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND EACH OF THOSE OFFICERS WERE CONVICTED AND SPENT TIME IN A FEDERAL PENITENTIARY.

THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THIS.

IN FACT, THERE IS A TRIAL HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN MINNEAPOLIS THE CODEFENDANTS OR THE OTHER OFFICERS WHO WERE PRESENT WHEN DEREK CHAUVIN TOOK THE LIFE OF GEORGE FLOYD.

THOSE OFFICERS ARE BEING TRIED IN FEDERAL COURT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN TERMS OF THE SECTION OF THE FEDERAL CODE THAT ADDRESSES THE ABILITY TO CHARGE ONE FEDERALLY.

IN THE PERFECT CIRCUMSTANCE IT WOULD COME DOWN TO THE CHOICES MADE BY THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

>> OF COURSE AND A FEW SLIGHT DIFFERENCES YOU MENTIONED THE RODNEY KING CASE THOSE OFFICERS WERE ACQUITTED ENTIRELY IN THE STATE COURT AND IN THE INSTANCE OF THE THREE OFFICERS IN MINNESOTA THEY ARE STILL FACING STATE CHARGES AS WELL AND WE KNOW FORMER OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN WAS CONVICTED IN STATE COURT.

IN THIS CASE OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE WAS CONVICTED IN STATE COURT YOU ARE ALSO ASKING FOR OTHERS TO BE ACTIVISTS IN THESE CHARGES AS WELL.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET THE ORGANIZATION TO PARTICIPATE?

>> I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ASSOCIATION.

I HAD A MEETING A FEW DAYS AFTER WE HAD APPROACHED THEM TO ASK THEM FOR THEIR HELP, WITH PRESIDENT KIMBERLY BEYERS.

IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION.

SHE GOT TO HEAR THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE LAID IT OUT.

WE KNOW THAT THE COURT HAS A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN THESE INSTITUTIONS AND THESE ESTABLISHMENTS SHOULD SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE REACTIVE.

WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S IMPOSSIBLE AND AN ARREST HAS OCCURRED.

IN THIS CASE ANGERING THE COMMUNITY THE CITY EXPLODES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY USE EVERYTHING AND DOES EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN AND THEIR INFLUENCE FOR USING THEIR VOICES AND USING THEIR RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE UNDERSTANDS THAT JASON VAN DYKE IS A HAZARD TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND HE SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED AND WE WANT THEM TO USE THEIR VOICES.

>> WE HAVE REACHED OUT BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE AS OF YET.

TELL ME, JASON VAN DYKE WAS CONVICTED ON THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE WHICH HAS A MAXIMUM OF 20 YEARS BUT HE WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH 16 COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED BATTERY ONE COUNT FOR 16 SHOTS AGAINST McDONALD.

EACH COUNT CARRIES UP TO 30 YEARS SO HOW DID HE ONLY GETS SEVEN YEARS AND HE IS SERVING LESS THAN HALF OF THAT TIME?

>> WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THERE IS A CRIMINAL CONVICTION A JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

THEY COULD HAVE FOUND HIM GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS CONVERSATION THAT THEY DID NOT.

IT'S NOT REGARDING THE JURY THEY JUST MADE THE CASE NISSAN WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF THEM AND THEY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF EACH OF THOSE 16 SHOTS A FINDING FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT.

THAT WAS HEFTY AND POTENTIAL OF A HEAVY SENTENCE.

HOWEVER, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THOSE CHARGES MERGED INTO WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MURDER CONVICTION.

THE MURDER CONVICTION WAS SECOND-DEGREE.

THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION TAKES PRECEDENCE WHEN IT COMES TO SENTENCING.

AGAIN, WE FOUND THAT THOSE CHARGES COULD MERGE INTO THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER COUNT THUS GIVING HIM A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 20 YEARS AT 50 PERCENT.

WE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT HE WAS RELEASED AFTER SERVING HALF OF A SENTENCE AND THAT IN FACT IS THE LAW FOR ILLINOIS FOR A CONVICTION OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

>> TONY, I AM SORRY I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT BUT I WANT TO GIVE THIS LAST QUESTION TWO BRANDIS FREEMAN ONE.

JASON VAN DYKE WAS SENTENCED WELL BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH A FEW SUMMERS AGO.

IN THIS WORLD WE ARE IN POST GEORGE FLOYD AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE MOVE FOR SOCIAL EQUITY IS CHANGING DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AFTER GEORGE FLOYD?

>> I THINK THAT IS A REAL POSSIBILITY, BRANDIS.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE LYNCHING OF A BLACK MAN I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SAW THAT FOOTAGE OF GEORGE FLOYD LOSING HIS LIFE AND THEY WERE URGED INTO ACTION.

ONCE THAT DIED DOWN PEOPLE'S CONSCIOUSNESS AND FEELINGS TOWARDS POLICE, IMPUNITY, PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED AND FED UP AND I DEFINITELY THINK THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE MY THANKS TO PETE SAUNDERS, JAZMINE SALAS AND TONY THEDFORD FOR JOINING US.

AN ORIGINAL COPY OF THE 13TH AMENDMENT HAS MADE ITS WAY TO CHICAGO RATIFIED IN 18 625 THIS DOCUMENT OFFICIALLY ABOLISHED SLAVERY THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

>> IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT IT WAS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.

THIS DOCUMENT WAS SIGNED BY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SCOTT COLFAX AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

ALSO SIGNED BY 107 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND IT WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND AGAIN I STATE THIS EMPHATICALLY I BELIEVE AND MANY DO BELIEVE IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT TO COME OUT OF THE LINCOLN ADMINISTRATION.

>> THIS DOCUMENT WAS AT AN AUCTION WITH AN OPENING BID OF $200,000.

YOU CAN SEE THE DOCUMENT IN PERSON THROUGH FEBRUARY FOURTH FREE OF CHARGE.

>>> A LOOK AT BRONZE FILLS PAST AND FUTURE.

STAY WITH US.

>> BRONZEVILLE IS RICH WITH BLACK HISTORY AND IS FILLED WITH INFLUENTIAL FIGURES LIKE IDA B WELLS AND LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

KNOWN AS THE BLACK METROPOLIS IT BECAME A HUB FOR AMERICAN BUSINESSES IN THE 1900S AND HAD BEEN A POPULAR PLACE TO LIVE ESPECIALLY FOR CHICAGO'S BLACK IMMUNITY.

NOW A CONSTRUCTION BOOM IS ARE PLACING VACANT LOTS WITH A CONSTRUCTION BOOM.

IF THE FOCUS OF A NEW PODCAST SERIES JUST LAUNCHED.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE DENNIS RODKIN THE BUSINESS REPORTER BEHIND THE PODCAST SERIES AS WELL AS PETE SAUNDERS CONSULTANT AND SHERRY WILLIAMS FROM THE BRONZEVILLE SOCIETY.

DENNIS, AS A REPORTER YOU HAVE WATCHED BRONZEVILLE CHANGE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE WITNESSING THAT WANTED TO MAKE YOU CREATE THIS PODCAST?

>> THERE IS A BOOM IN HOMES $500,000 AND UP.

OVER THE SEVERAL YEARS I HAVE WATCHED IT, THAT NUMBER HAS RISEN.

WE ARE LOOKING AT A LOT OF SALES OVER 700,000 AND 800,000 AND THERE ARE SOME COMING ON THE MARKET AT $900,000.

THAT IS NOT EVERYTHING THAT CELLS IN BRONZEVILLE BUT IT IS AN INDICATOR OF A LUXURY MARKET FILLING UP VACANT LOTS LOT BY LOT IN BRONZEVILLE.

>> SHERRY, YOU HAVE LIVED IN BRONZEVILLE.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> INITIALLY WHAT BROUGHT ME TO BRONZEVILLE WAS MY GRANDMOTHER.

SHE CAME HERE IN 1942.

SHE LIVED, WORKED AND WORSHIPED IN THE SAME COMMUNITY.

WHEN I MOVED AWAY AND ATTENDED COLLEGE CERTAINLY IT WAS HOME.

IMMEDIATELY, I RETURNED.

THIS IS BASE FOR FOUR GENERATIONS NOW.

>> OKAY.

PETE, WE HAVE SEEN INVESTMENT INTO BRONZEVILLE OVER THE YEARS.

ALDERMAN DOWELL PUSHED AN INITIATIVE TO TURN VACANT LAND INTO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

BRONZEVILLE IS ONE OF 10 COMMUNITIES CHOSEN IN THE SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE.

HOW IS THIS INVESTMENT AND INCREASED ATTENTION IMPACTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> WELL, I THINK IT IS HAVING A GREAT IMPACT RIGHT NOW.

EVER SINCE THE CHICAGO HOUSING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WAS TORN DOWN IN THE EARLY 2000 THAT KIND OF GOT RID OF WHAT WAS A HUGE SOCIAL MISTAKE IN TERMS OF WAREHOUSING OF PEOPLE THERE.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT TURN TOWARDS NEW HOUSING COMING INTO THE AREA, MORE INTEREST IN THE AREA AND MORE INVESTMENT.

BUT HONESTLY THIS STARTED BEFORE THE HOUSING CRASH OF 2008.

IT WAS HURT THAT BUT I THINK THAT IF THE PRICES HAD NOT HAPPENED WE WOULD HAVE SEEN MUCH MORE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO THE LAKEFRONT, THEY LIKE THE AMENITIES AND THAT IS THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT.

>> DENNIS, YOU CALL THAT CHANGES HAPPENING IN BRONZEVILLE A QUIET TRANSFORMATION.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> THERE ARE LARGE-SCALE TRANSFORMATIONS IN BRONZEVILLE.

THERE WAS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGES, TO BRIDGES OVER LAKESHORE DRIVE.

THERE'S PLANNING TO REDEVELOP THE MICHAEL REESE SITE CAMPUS.

THIS IS QUIETER BECAUSE AS I SAID THIS IS LOT BY LOT.

ONE FAMILY MOVING INTO A HOUSE AND ANOTHER FAMILY MOVING INTO A HOUSE.

ALDERMAN PAT DOWELL SAYS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY THERE WERE 3000 EMPTY LOTS IN BRONZEVILLE MORE THAN IN ANY OTHER PART OF THE CITY.

ONE BY ONE THEY ARE GOING AWAY.

THE MAJORITY ARE STILL EMPTY BUT ONE BY ONE THEY ARE GOING AWAY AS NEUHAUS'S, TOWN HOUSES AND CONDOS ARE BUILT.

AND SO, QUIETLY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS CHANGING VERY FAST.

>> SHERRY, ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL THAT THE HOUSING MARKET IN BRONZEVILLE IS CHANGING SIGNIFICANTLY ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> HONESTLY I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH 100 TO 200 HOUSES BEING TILT STARTING IN THE MARKET OF $500,000 AND ABOVE.

THERE IS EXISTING HOUSING THAT HAS VALUE WAY BEYOND THAT.

THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN BEFORE 2008 THAT THERE WERE HOMES THAT ALWAYS EXCEEDED PAST THAT PRICE POINT.

THAT PRICE POINT WOULD BE IMPRESSIVE IF THERE WERE MORE THAN 100 HOMES BEING BUILT SIMULTANEOUSLY.

FOR MY HEART IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN NOT REPRESENTED WELL IN NEW CONSTRUCTION AND NOT JUST IN BRONZEVILLE.

CERTAINLY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PLANS FOR TRANSFORMATION THE PROMISES MADE FOR RESIDENTS THAT WERE 3 TO 4 GENERATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN MET FOR 20 YEARS.

WHEN I SEE A VACANT LOT SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR INCLUSION AND THAT MEANS ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST THOSE WHO HAVE THE MONEY TO PURCHASE PROPERTY AT SUCH A LARGE PRICE.

>> YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE PREVIOUS DEVELOPMENTS HAD BEEN CLOSED AND THOSE NEIGHBORS DISPLAYED.

PETE, WHAT ARE THE RESIDENTS OF THINGS BEING DISPLACED OR PEOPLE BEING MOVED TO MET.

>> WELL, THE SAME AS IN ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY HOWEVER, THE FLIPSIDE OF THAT IS YOU END UP WITH THE COMMUNITY SEEING THE INVESTMENT IT DESERVES THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE AMENITIES THAT YOU DESERVE AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A BALANCE IN MAKING THIS A SAFE, SECURE, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY THAT APPEALS TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE INCOME SPECTRUM.

ALSO, AS A LEADER IN AFFORDABILITY AND REACHING OUT FOR INCLUSION AND REACHING OUT TO RESIDENTS IN THAT REGARD.

>> DENNIS, WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR PODCAST?

>> THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE INTERSECTION OF REAL ESTATE AND HISTORY IN BRONZEVILLE AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE DEPTH OF CULTURAL HISTORY IN BRONZEVILLE.

CHICAGO IS A SERIES OF HOMES AND OUR HOUSING IS PRODUCED FROM SEGREGATION TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN PUBLIC HOUSING WHAT IS GOING ON TODAY HAS ALL PLAYED OUT IN BRONZEVILLE.

>> SHERRY, WE HAVE ABOUT 10 SECONDS WHAT DOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S FUTURE LIKE TO YOU?

>> IT IS BRIGHT AND WE ARE SEEING ARCHER CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING AND I'M HAPPY THAT DENNIS IS TAKING A CHALLENGE TO MAKE A PLATFORM FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

MY THANKS TO DENNIS RODKIN, SHERRY WILLIAMS AND PETE SAUNDERS FOR JOINING US.

>>> A NEW ART EXHIBIT CAPTURING 100 YEARS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

STAY WITH US.

>> A NEW EXHIBIT IS EXPLORING AMERICA'S RACE RELATIONS HITTING BACK TO THE 1800S.

THE EXHIBIT SPOTLIGHTS THE COUNTRY'S RACISM IN A VISUAL HISTORY LESSON SHOWCASING THE INTERSECTION OF VIOLENCE IN OUR WELL ALSO ENCOURAGING REFLECTION.

OUR ART CORRESPONDENCE ANGEL IDOWU LOOKS AT A FIGHT OF STRUGGLE AMERICAN ART VERSUS BLACK VIOLENCE.

A WARNING THAT SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE VERY GRAPHIC.

>> BLACK ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF HOW HISTORY IS COMMUNICATED.

ASK A NEW EXHIBIT AT NORTHWESTERN HISTORY MUSEUM IS INFLICTING ON THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY OF RACE RELATIONS.

>> WHAT THEY SEEK TO PREVENT IS THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF STRATEGIES THAT ART HAS USED TO ENGAGE THIS TOPIC.

WHETHER IT IS USING DIRECT DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE OR USING ABSTRACTION TO AVOID REPRESENTATIONS OF VIOLENCE WE WANT TO SHOWCASE THE RANGE THAT THE ARTISTS HAVE TAKEN TO APPROACH THIS TOPIC.

>> COMPRISED OF VARIOUS WORKS ACROSS MEDIUMS THE EXHIBIT TAKES VISITORS THROUGH THE AMERICAN HISTORY STARTING IN THE 1890S AND ENDING IN 2013 AT THE START OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTERS MOVEMENT.

CONTRIBUTE OR LESLIE HARRIS SAYS ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOWARDS THE ANTISLAVERY MOVEMENT.

>> EARLY ACTIVISTS HIRED ARTISTS TO DEPICT WHAT EVERYONE KNOWS NOW IS THE FAMOUS CUTAWAY OF THE SHIP.

MAY VERY EARLY TIME IN THAT STRUGGLE THEY SAY ONE EXAMPLE ARTISTS WERE ENGAGED AND ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE POLITICS OF MAKING IT KNOWN THAT THERE WAS AN INJUSTICE.

THAT WAS AT A TIME WHERE YOU HAD LOWER LITERACY RATES ALSO SO PEOPLE HAD TO RELY ON THE VISUAL TO REACH BROAD AUDIENCES BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE WAS READING A PAPER OR PICKING UP BOOKS.

>> FROM HURTING THE REALITY OF LIVING IN THE JIM CROW ERA THE EXHIBIT FEATURES WERE NUMEROUS WORKS THAT WHILE GRAPHIC ENGAGE IN THE POLITICS OF BRINGING RACIAL INJUSTICES TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> ONE OF THE OLDEST OBJECTS IN THE EXHIBITION IS ACTUALLY AN ACTIVIST PAMPHLET FROM 1885 THAT WAS WRITTEN BY IDA B WELLS THAT WAS HERE IN CHICAGO AND SHE IS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST ACTIVISTS TO APPROPRIATE LYNCHING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTESTING AND MAKING A WIDER AWARENESS OF THIS PRACTICE AND TO ERADICATE IT.

>> WITH TWO THIRDS OF ARTISTS BEING OF COLOR AND ONE THIRD NOT THEY SAY BOTH OF THESE POINTS ARE IMPERATIVE OF TELLING A COMPLETE STORY.

>> YOU CAN ALSO SEE THIS HISTORY OF SOLIDARITY THAT THERE WERE WHITE ARTISTS IN THE 20S AND 30S WHO LENT THEIR ARTWORK TO SUPPORT ACTIVISM BY THE NAACP, FOR EXAMPLE A PEOPLE CAN SEE THIS GENEALOGY SOLIDARITY.

>> IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO HAVE THIS EXHIBITION OPENING IN TERMS OF LAKH HISTORY MONTH CERTAINLY WE CAN CELEBRATE BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT SONY PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH BECAUSE OF RACISM WHAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH.

THIS EXHIBITION REALLY DEMONSTRATES THAT EVEN MORE SO IT DEMONSTRATES HOW ARTISTS HAVE CHOSEN TO USE THEIR SPECIAL TOOLS AND GIFTS TO REACH LARGER AUDIENCES ON THESE ISSUES AND TO HAVE US ALL ENGAGED WITH THEM AND WE CAN TAKE FROM THEIR EXAMPLE HOW WE IN HER OWN LIVES SHOULD SEE WHAT TOOLS WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY'S POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES AND HOW WE TALK TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES ABOUT THEM.

>> FORT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, IM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> YOU CAN SEE A PLATE OF STRUGGLE IN AMERICAN ART AGAINST ANTI- BLACK VIOLENCE THROUGH JULY 10TH.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT NOTE YOU CAN ALSO CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES BEGINNING AT 10 PM AND JOIN ME AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

ALSO NEXT WEEK OUR FIRST VIRTUAL CONVERSATION IS MONDAY NIGHT.

WERE TALKING ABOUT EFFORTS TO KEEP THE STORY OF EMMETT TILL AND MISS MOBLEY ALIVE.

I WILL BE JOINED BY TWO OF THE COUSINS TO SHARE THEIR STORY.

THAT IS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:00 AND YOU CAN GO TO WTTW.com /EVENTS TO RSVP FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

AND STAY HEALTHY AND WARM AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY.