[MUSIC] 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 FREEMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, IN THE WAKE OF JOURNALIST NICOLE HANNAH-JONES A DECISION TO REJECT THE OFFER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

WE WILL TALK TO ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND BLACK WOMEN.

>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHY THIS GAP HAS GROWN TO THIS POINT AND HOW IT CAN BE NARROWED.

>>> THE RENOWNED CHICAGO SCULPTOR RICHARD HUNT AND YEARS IN THE MAKING MONUMENT FOR WTTW.com/NEWS ANYONE IN BROWNSVILLE.

>> EQUAL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR THESE BUSINESSES.

>> THE CEO OF A LOCAL ENGINEERING FIRM GET THE LAST WORD ON WHAT HE THINKS THE CITY SHOULD DO TO HELP CHICAGO'S SMALL BUSINESSES.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT PULITZER PRIZE JOURNALIST NICOLE HANNAH-JONES MADE HER OWN HEADLINES LAST WEEK FOR REJECTING THE OFFER OF A TENURED TEACHING POSITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

NICOLE HANNAH-JONES WAS ORIGINALLY DENIED TENURE FOR THE POSITION BY THE UNC BOARD OF TRUSTEES EVEN THOUGH 10 YEARS IS OFFER FOR SUCH A JOB.

INSTEAD, HANNAH-JONES SAID SHE WILL JOIN THE HISTORICALLY BLACK HOWARD UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, DC.

IN THE MEANTIME HER DECISION AND WORDS RESONATED WITH MANY BLACK WOMEN IN ACADEMIA WHO FIND THEMSELVES FIGHTING TO THRIVE IN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTIONS.JOINING ME NOW ARE JANE RHODES HEAD OF THE BLACK STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO AND VALERIE JOHNSON ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY.

PROFESSORS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.LET'S START WITH THIS EIGHT PAGE STATEMENT FROM NICOLE HANNAH-JONES AND HER DECLARATION TO DECLINE THE OFFER.

IT READS IN PART, "IT IS NOT MY JOB TO HEAL THIS UNIVERSITY TO ENSURE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REFLECTS THE ACTUAL POPULATION OF THE SCHOOL AND THE STATE OR TO ENSURE THAT THE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP LIVES UP TO THE PROMISES IT MADE TO RECKON WITH ITS LEGACY OF RACISM AND INJUSTICE".

JANE RHODES, LET'S START WITH YOU.

DID HER STATEMENT, THERE WAS A LOT MORE OF THAT BUT DID YOU HEAR LAST WEEK, DID IT RESONATE WITH YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NICOLE HANNAH-JONES IS ARTICULATING THE CHALLENGE OF ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR IN ACADEMIA, PARTICULARLY FOR THE BLACK UNION.

SHE DECIDED THAT SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A CHOICE AND SHE TOOK IT.

SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A TOKEN OR TO REPAIR DIVERSITY AND EQUITY ISSUES AT UNC CHAPEL HILL.

AND THAT SHE WAS GOING TO GO SOMEPLACE WHERE SHE FELT SUPPORTED AND WELCOMED AND READY TO DO HER JOB.

>> THE WORDS SHE USED WERE CELEBRATED, NOT TOLERATED.

VALERIE JOHNSON HOW DID IT STRIKE YOU?

>> WHEN I READ THE PIECE I CRIED.

IT'S SO MUCH CAPTURED MY EXPERIENCE WORKING AT A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTIO .

TO BE HONEST, IT IS ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTING.

WHILE I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE APPROACH OF NICOLE HANNAH-JONES AND SAID IT'S NOT MY FIGHT, IT'S NOT MY BURDEN, MANY HAVE.

WE KNOW THAT ALL SYSTEMS HAVE REWARDS AND PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITHTHEM .

WHEN YOU FIGHT BACK, WHEN YOU PUSH BACK, YOU ARE PENALIZED.

SOMETIMES YOUR CAREER CAN BE IMPEDED.

I UNDERSTAND VERY CLEARLY HOW SHE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT IS NOT MY BURDEN TO FIX THE UNIVERSITY.

CERTAINLY, SHE COULD NOT DO IT ALONE.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE, SO TO SPEAK, TO CHANGE SYSTEMS OF WHITE SUPREMACY.>> VALERIE JOHNSON, STICKING WITH YOU FOR A SECOND, DO YOU FEEL THERE ARE PARTICULAR BURDENS FOR BLACK WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAT YOU FEEL YOU HAVE TO TAKE ON?

>> AS THE LITERATURE SUGGESTS, BLACK WOMEN PARTICULARLY IN ACADEMIA WE BECOME THE NANNY OF THE UNIVERSITY.

IN THAT STUDENTS ARE SORT OF DRAWN TO US BECAUSE PARTICULARLY, STUDENTS OF COLOR AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE TO MENTOR WHITE STUDENTS AS WELL.

WE TAKE ON A LARGE PERCENTAGE PORTION OF THE SERVICE BURDEN AND, YOU KNOW, AS A TWOFER YOU ARE ASKED TO BE ON COMMITTEES AS A WOMAN AND THEN AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

IT IS PRETTY LONELY.

WE KNOW THAT 2.1% OF THE NATIONS TENURED FACULTY ARE BLACK WOMEN.

IF THE UNIVERSITY GETS 6%, THAT WOULD BE HERALDED AS ASTONISHING.

THERE IS A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES FROM CLIMATE TO MICROCHIP RATIONS AND MACRO AGGRESSIONS THAT WE FACE DAILY.

>> YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE ASKED TO SERVE ON BOARDS OR COMMITTEES AS A WOMAN BECAUSE YOU ARE A BLACK WOMAN.

DO YOU FEEL THAT GENDER ALSO PLAYS INTO THE DYNAMIC THAT WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE IN ACADEMIA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE ALL THESE IDEAS AND TRUTHS ABOUT BLACK WOMEN THAT RELATE CONSTRAIN AND CONTROL THESE IDEAS AND HOW WE ARE EXPECTED TO BEHAVE.

AN AGGRAVATING ING THE ANGRY BLACK WOMAN IMAGE, NAVIGATING THE IDEA THAT LACK WOMEN ARE NOT COMPETENT.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY NAVIGATING THAT AND GENDER IN BUSINESS AND IN MILITARY AND POLITICS AND ACADEMIA PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE.

THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT WOMEN ARE SUPPOSED TO PERFORM CERTAIN FEMININE ROLES AS VALERIE SUGGESTED AS A MENTOR, A NURTURER, A CARETAKER.

THEN, WE ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO HAVE THESE OTHER HEADS AS INSTITUTIONS.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE HAS IMPROVED OVER YOUR CAREER, JANE RHODES BACK TO YOU ON THAT ONE.

>> I HAVE BEEN A COLLEGE PROFESSOR FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

ONE THING THAT HAS CHANGED ARE THE NUMBERS.

AS VALERIE NOTES, WE ARE STILL VASTLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN ACADEMIA.

IN MY FIRST JOB I WAS THE ONLY BLACK WOMAN ON THE ENTIRE CAMPUS.

THAT HAS NOW BECOME MORE OF A RARITY.

I HAVE SEEN GENERATIONS OF YOUNG BLACK WOMEN AS AN UNDERGRADUATE AT GRADUATE SCHOOL MOVE ON TO BECOME PROFESSORS.

AND SO, THE EXCITING THING IS THAT THERE IS A VERY DYNAMIC GENERATION OF FOLKS THAT ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE A MARK AND HAVE A PLACE IN ACADEMIA.

SO, THAT IS A POSITIVE CHANGE BUT IT HAS BEEN SLOW AND STILL NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

>> VALERIE JOHNSON, WHY ARE THERE MORE?WHAT DO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER ED NEED TO BE DOING TO ATTRACT MORE BLACK WOMEN INTO ACADEMIA?

>> THEY HAVE TO BE COMMITTED.

THE COMMITMENT HAS TO GO BEYOND THIS FIRST COMMITMENT.

AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYDMURDER INSTITUTIONS OF, PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTIONS IN PARTICULAR, THEY HAVE UPPED THEIR PURPORTED COMMITMENT , RIGHT?BUT IF YOU WANT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION YOU HAVE TO FIND IT, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COMMITMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE SEEN EVEN THOUGH THERE IS PROGRESS.

YES, WE WENT FROM 0% TO 2.1% AS AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALES AT LEAST AND TENURED PROFESSORS.

I REALLY DO QUESTION THE ACTUA COMMITMENT.

>> PROGRESS BUT MORE WORK TO BE DONE, IT SOUNDS LIKE .

JANE RHODES AND VALERIE JOHNSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ,DETAILS ON CHICAGO'S LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP IN A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER.

[MUSIC] >> THE LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND NONBLACK CHICAGOANS HAS WIDENED.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT FROM THE HEALTH INDEXES OF CHICAGO OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

BETWEEN 2,012 AND 2,017 THE GAP GREW FROM 8.3 YEARS TO 9.2.

THAT WAS BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WHICH HAD A DIFFERENT IMPACT ON LACK CHICAGOANS.TO TALK ABOUT THE GAP AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT ARE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S HEALTH EQUITY COMMITTEE.

BLAIR , THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE KNOW THAT THE REPORT FOUND LACK CHICAGOANS ON AVERAGE LIVED 71.4 YEARS WHILE NONBLACK CHICAGOANS LIVED TO ON AVERAGE 80.6 YEARS.

BLAIR, WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS TELL YOU ABOUT HEALTH INEQUITY IN CHICAGO?

>> THESE NUMBERS TELL US THERE IS A GREAT HEALTH IN DILI INEQUITY AND BLACK CHICAGOANS WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LIVES OF BLACK CHICAGOANS AND WHITE CHICAGOANS.

THIS 9.2 YEAR GAP WE IDENTIFY THE TOP DRIVERS OF THAT GAP IN OUR REPORT.

THOSE BEING HIV AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES SUCH AS COVID, OPIOID OVERDOSE AND INFANT MORTALITY AND HOMICIDE.

>> HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET INTO THOSE A LITTLE DEEPER AS WELL.

THE HEALTH EQUITY INDEX COMMITTEE A TEAM OF FIVE WOMEN, WE ARE TALKING TO THEM RIGHT NOW.

WHY DID YOU FOCUS ON THIS RESEARCH AND LIFE EXPECTANCY?

>> YES MA'AM AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

WHAT CREATED THIS GATHERING, THIS COMING WAS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE WANTED TO EMPHASIZE OUR VOICES AS BLACK WOMEN.

WE FELT THE LEADERSHIP WASN'T REFLECTED TO WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE.

I COMING TOGETHER AND MAKING THIS WORK WITH HEALTH EQUITY WORK INDEXCOMMITTEE WE WANTED TO WORK WITH THE VOICES AND UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BLACK LIGHT .

SPECIFICALLY IN HEALTHCARE.

WE WANTED TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR US.

THE VEHICLE FOR THAT IS BE THE CHANGE WE WANTED TO SEE.

WE WANTED TO CHANGE SOME THINGS AND THAT IS TO HAVE THE FIRST DATABOOK EVER TO BE REFERENCED FOR BLACKS TO NONBLACKS.

THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN 200 YEARS OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND TO SPECIFICALLY HAVE A RESEARCH TEAM THAT IS ALL BLACK WOMEN IN THIS NEVER HAPPENED IN 200 YEARS IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THAT HAS HAPPENED AS HE BROUGHT THIS TOGETHER.

THE REASON WE ARE LOSING LIFE EXPECTANCY, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT AS AN INDEX YOU DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC MEASUREMENT.

YOU HAVE TO FIND A PROXY.

LIFE EXPECTANCY IS SOMETHING AROUND THE WORLD THAT CAN BE COMPARED TO WHAT WE CALL YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

THE MATTER IF YOU COME FROM NEW ZEALAND, GHANA, SOUTH AFRICA, EVERY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES USES LIFE EXPECTANCY TO VIEW YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

IF WE CAN DO THAT AROUND THE WORLD WE SHOULD DO THAT IN CHICAGO.

AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE PRE-COVID DATA FOR LIFE EXPECTANCY AS YOU HAD SAID WHEN WE FIRST CAME ON.

>> YA, IN YOUR REPORT THE INFORMATION IS PREVALENT NOW.

YOU WROTE, UNDERFUNDED HOSPITALS, CLINICS, LOWER WAGE JOBS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE TELEWORKING, UNSTABLE OR CROWDED HOUSING, LIMITED GROCERY STORE ACCESS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR BLACK STUDENTS ARE CAUSING BLACKS AND THE BLACK COMMUNITYTO BE ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY THIS DEADLY VIRUS.

BLAIR, THIS INFORMATION AS YA JUST MENTIONED WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT COVID-19 HAS ONLY WHILE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP ?

>> WE KNOW WILL DATA THAT BLACK CHICAGOANS HAVE BEEN MORE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY COVID MORTALITY COMPARED TO NONBLACK CHICAGOANS.

BLACK CHICAGOANS CAN MORE OFTEN HAVE THIS MORE THAN OTHER RACES.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE GAP HAS POTENTIALLY EVEN WIDENED AFTER THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19.

>> BRANDIS, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE THING TO THAT.

NOT ONLY HAS IT WIDENED IN CHICAGO, IT HAS WIDENED FROM THE NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE WHERE BLACKS WERE IN THE NATIONAL, CDC JUST ANNOUNCED THEIR REPORT OUT FOR LIFE EXPECTANCY, IT'S 5 TO 6 YEARS DIFFERENCE.

WHETHER IT IS NATIONAL OR LOCAL, BLACKS ARE NOT LIVING OR THERE LIFE EXPECTANCY IS WORSE COMPARED TO OTHERS.>> AS YOU BOTH MENTIONED THE REPORT HAD FIVE MAIN DRIVERS WITH THE DISPARITY OF LIFE EXPECTANCY INCLUDING CHRONIC DISEASES, HOMICIDE, INFANT MORTALITY, HIV, FLU AND OTHER INFECTIONS AND OPIOID OVERDOSE.

BLAIR, BACK TO YOU.WHAT DISPARITIES STOOD OUT TO YOU IN YOUR RESEARCH?

>> I THINK REALLY, ALL OF THEM.

ONE THAT HAS THE LARGEST IMPACT IN CHRONIC DISEASES AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT PLAY INTO POTENTIALLY WHY THE CHRONIC DISEASE IS HIGHER AMONG BLACK CHICAGOANS AS COMPARED TO THE REST OF CHICAGOANS COULD BE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, RESOURCES, ACCESS TO DOCTORS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS REALLY PLAY A WIDE RANGE WHICH IS WHY WE SEE ALL OF THESE DISPARITIES ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> YA, WE ALL KNOWTHAT THE MAYOR DECLARED RACISM AS A PUBLIC CRISIS .

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO NAME IT THIS WAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CANNOT FIX WHAT YOU CANNOT NAME AND IF YOU CANNOT NAME IT YOU CANNOT WORK ON IT.

AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS MAYOR WAS ABLE TO DO THAT AND CALL IT A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS BECAUSE YOUR HEALTH IS AT RISK.

AS WE SAY IT, THIS IS ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE HEALTH EQUITY OF YOUR HEALTH.

AND YOUR LIFE AND LIVING.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE CALL TO ACTION SO WE CAN GET THE RACISM AND ATTACK IT HEAD ON.

LET ME BE CLEAR.

LET'S DEFINE RACISM A LITTLE BIT.

IT IS THE POWER THAT PEOPLE HAVE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO COPE WITH OTHERS AND NOT FOR BLACKS JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR SKIN COLOR.

WE WANT TO DISMANTLE THAT AND WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS IT TO HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY.

THIS IS THE REASON WE ARE CALLING RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

>> BLAIR, I'M GIVING YOU THE LAST WORD.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITY OF THE GAP?

>> WE HAVE CALL TO ACTION IN THE REPORT IN THE REPORT IS ACKNOWLEDGING RACISM BOTH INDIVIDUAL, SYSTEMATIC RACISM.

ALSO, DEMANDING FOR AN INCREASE IN FUNDING SO THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITIES CAN GET BETTER RESOURCES TO BETTER IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH.

ALSO, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE ISSUE OF DISPARITY AND THAT IS WHAT WE GET HERE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT NOT MANY OTHER HEALTH DEPARTMENTS DO, PROVIDE LIFE EXPECTANCY DATA BY RACE.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE.

IT IS ABOUT ALL CHICAGOANS COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE A CHANGE.

IT'S NOT JUST BLACK CHICAGOANS, IT IS EVERYONE.

WE HAVE TO ALL WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY CLOSE THIS GAP.

>> WORK FOR EVERYONE TO GET ON IN.

BLAIR AND YA, INCORPORATED YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

THERE IS MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES AHEAD.PLEASE STICK AROUND.

>> WHEN PLANNING A NEW MONUMENT FOR THE CITY WHY NOT HIRE A LOCAL ARTIST WHOSE WORK IS MONUMENTAL.SCULPTURE RICHARD HUNT WAS BORN IN ENGLAND IN 1,935.

HIS WORKS HAVE BEEN SEEN AROUND THE WORLD FROM HIS STUDIO TO HERE IN CHICAGO.

OUR PRODUCER CAUGHT UP WITH HIM WORKING ON A SCULPTURE IN BROWNSVILLE.

>> THE SUBSTATION NEAR DEPAUL WAS TREATED INTO A SCULPTURE LABORATORY.

RICHARD HUNT HAS BEEN GRINDING AND WELDING HERE SINCE 1,971.

>> WHEN I GOT THIS PLACE IN TH BEGINNING I TOOK OUT ALL THE EQUIPMENT EXCEPT FOR THE CRANE WHICH , OF COURSE I AM GLAD THEY DIDN'T TAKE IT OUT.

WE HAVE THIS BIG OPEN SPACE TO DEVELOP THINGS IN AND MOVE THEM AROUND WITH THE CRANE AND GET THEM OUT THE BACK DOOR.

>> HIS PROCESS IS INTUITIVE.

>> THE WAY THINGS WORK I WILL START PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER THAT I HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT THAT SUGGEST SOMETHING.

>> SOME OF HIS 21ST CENTURY WORKS ARE CURRENTLY ON THE TERRACE AT THE MODERN WING OF THE ART INSTITUTE.

HE GRADUATED FROM THE ART INSTITUTE IN 19 IN 1,947 WITH A DEGREE IN ART EDUCATION.

>> ONE YEAR I WAS WORKING ON MY INCOME TAXES AND I MADE MORE MONEY SELLING SCULPTURES THAN I DID MY TEACHING JOB.

SO I DECIDED TO QUIT TEACHING AND BE A SCULPTOR.

>> HE CALLED HIS CREATIONS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN HIMSELF, THE TECHNIQUE AND THE MATERIAL.

>> IT'S DYNAMIC.

YOU CAN HAVE A PAINTING OF SOMETHING ON THE WALL SOMETHING THAT YOU LOOK AT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE BUT IF YOU HAVE A SCULPTURE SOMEWHERE AND YOU LOOK AT IT FROM HERE OR THERE OR ANOTHER SIDE AND IT REVEALS ITSELF IN A DIFFERENT WAY.>> HE WORKS WITH STEEL, BRONZE, COPPER, BRASS AND ALL KINDS OF SCRAP.EARLIER IN HISCAREER HE WORKED ON FOUND MATERIAL.

IN THE 1950S WE ASKED HIM ABOUT IT .

>> LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS WORKS, THESE TWO WORKS OF SCULPTURE, WHAT IS THE MATERIAL?

HOW DIDTHIS COME TO BE ?

>> WELL, THE ATERIAL WAS FROM AN AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

>> RICHARD HUNTS SCULPTURES CAN BE SEEN ALL OVER THE CITY FROM THE WOODSON LIBRARY TO MIDWAY AIRPORT TO THE LOUVRE.

HIS NEWEST WORK IN CHICAGO IS LIGHT OF TRUTH, A MONUMENT IN BRONZE TO IDA B.

WELLS.

A LOCAL AUTHOR WHO IS IDA B.

WELLS'S GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER SPENT 13 YEARS TO BRING TO LIFE THIS UNCONVENTIONAL CIVIC MEMORIAL.

>> WE MADE A DECISION EVEN BEFORE WE CONTACTED RICHARD THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BE IN HER LIKENESS BUT WE WANTED IT TO BE A MONUMENT VERSUS A STATUE.

IT IS LIFE AND HER WORK WAS SO MULTIDIMENSIONAL.

SO MULTILAYERED THAT WE FELT THAT TRYING TO CAPTURE ONE POSE WOULD CAPTURE ALL OF WHO SHE WAS.

THE TREND 21 HOMES WERE RIGHT HERE ON THIS LAND FROM 1,941 TO 2,002 A TRIBUTE NEEDED TO BE GIVEN TO IDA B.

WELLS ON THE LAND WHERE THE HOMES ONCE STOOD THAT WERE CLOSE TO THE HOUSE THAT SHE PHYSICALLY LIVED IN AND THIS IS BROWNSVILLE.

THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A STRONG, RICH HISTORY.

>> I AM REMINDED OF THE PAST AND LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> IN THE STUDIO HE HAS RUN FOR HALF A CENTURY 85-YEAR-OLD RICHARD HUNT IS BACK TO THE GRIND.

>> IT IS INTERESTING WHILE THE CITYSCAPE HAS CHANGED AND I AM HAPPY THAT I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A PIECE HERE OR A PIECE THERE, IT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT THING TO ME ON MANY LEVELS.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, THIS IS MARK VITALE.

>> THE MONUMENT IS CALLED LIGHT OF TRUTH.

BE SURE TO WATCH OUR CHICAGO STORIES DOCUMENTARY ON IDA B.

WELLS AND COMPARE THE COMPANION WEBSITE ON WTTW.com/NEWS / IDA B.

WELLS.

THE WOMEN OWN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED FOR WOMEN WHO ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST TO COMPETE AGAINST LONG-ESTABLISHED COMPANIES.

THE CO SAID THE DISCRIMINATION DOES NOT AND WHEN THE BUSINESS EXPENSES SUCCESS.

TONIGHT GIVES US THE LAST WORD ON WHAT THE CITY CAN DO TO HELP BUILD EQUITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> MY NAME IS AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WE ARE ONE OF THE CITIES LEAD ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION FIRM.

IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES HAVE CAPS.

THEY'VE CAPPED ON THEIR GROSS REVENUE, AND THEIR PERSONAL NET WORTH.

THESE CAPS ARE CREATED WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT AS YOU GROW AND YOU GROW OUT OF THIS PROGRAM AND THEY ARE NO LONGER DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THEY DO NOT NEED OTHER CERTIFICATIONS ANYMORE.

I WOULD ASSERT THAT THAT IS WHEN THE DISCRIMINATION REALLY STARTS TO HAPPEN.

MOST BUSINESSES ARE GENERATIONAL.

THEY BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOR 30, 40, 50, 70 YEARS.

HOWEVER, THE VAST MAJORITY OF MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES HAVE ONLY BEEN STARTED IN THE LAST 25 YEARS IN AN ERA WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE OPPORTUNITY UNTIL JUST RECENTLY.

TYPICALLY IN OUR INDUSTRY MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED FIRMS ARE BROUGHT IN FOR A SMALL PORTION OF THE PROJECT.

SO MUCH SO IT LIMITS THE CAPACITY OF THE FIRMS TO BE ABLE TOGROW.

WHAT WE ARE DOING AT ARDMORE RODERICK, WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED A MINORITY MENTOR PROGRAM WHERE WE BRING IN MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED FIRMS TO HELP THEM GROW TO SCALE .

WE ARE STILL AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND MINORITIES AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY.AND YET ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CITY IS LOOKING AT US AS IF WE ARE NOT.

THAT ADVANTAGE BEING TAKEN AWAY AT A CRITICAL POINT AND GROWTH SHOULD BE CHANGED.

I THINK THE CITY SHOULD CONSIDER GETTING RID OF THE OF MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES SO WE CAN COMPETE AGAINST THESE 50 AND 60-YEAR-OLD FIRMS FOR SIMILAR PROJECTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AT A LEVEL THAT WOULD AFFORD A SUCCESS.

NOW IS THE TIME.

WE HAVE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR, WE HAVE 32/50 VOTES THAT ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR LATINO AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE WEALTH EQUITY IN THE CITY AND NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

>> YOU CAN WATCH MORE IN THE LAST WORD SERIES ON A WEBSITE.

>>>THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE , WTTW.com/NEWS THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS AND OUR SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE.

ALSO JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MONTHLY PAYMENTS.

AND, A TRADITIONAL COMBO WITH JAZZ.

FOR ALL OF US TONIGHT AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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