>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT...

THE SHOOTING IN HIGHLAND PARK SPARKED OUTRAGE NATIONWIDE.

AND SUPPORT FOR THEN THOSE IMPACTED BY EVERYDAY GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO WONDER WHY NOT THE SAME FOR THEM?

A NEW MEMOIR CAPTURING BRONZEVILLE'S RISE AS THE CENTER OF BLACK RISE IS THE CENTER OF A BLACK BOOK CLUB AND WHY THE SPORT IS MORE THAN LEARNING THE ROPES.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY BIG ON CELEBRATING PEOPLE THROUGH MY ART.

>> AND A CHICAGO POET PAYING CONTRIBUTE TO POWERFUL BLACK MEN AND WOMEN LEAVES US WITH THE LAST WORD TONIGHT.

>> FIRST TONIGHT, THE JULY 4TH PARADE SHOOTING IN HIGHLAND PARK HAS DOMINATED HEADLINES WITH POLITICIANS SENDING CONDOLENCES AND VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS VISITING THE CHICAGO SUBURB.

SEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 46 OTHERS INJURED.

THAT SAME HOLIDAY WEEKEND, EIGHT PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 60 OTHERS INJURED IN SHOOT GHTS ACROSS CHICAGO.

AND SUPPORT POURS IN FOR HIGHLAND PARK SOME NEIGHBORS ARE LEFT WONDERING WHY THE GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO DOES NOT RECEIVE THE SAME RESPONSE.

JOINING US ARE DONALD TYLER DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL SERVICES FOR CHICAGO CRED.

RASHAWN RAY A SOCIOLOGIST AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION.

ARTHUR REED DIRECTOR OF THE SECOND CHANCE INITIATIVE A VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

AND MACK LIEDERMAN A REPORTER FOR BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MACK LIEDERMAN LET'S START WITH YOU.

YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WROTE AN ARTICLE COMPARING THE SUPPORT FOR SHOOTING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS IN HIGHLAND PARK WITH THOSE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

WHAT DID YOU FIND IN TERMS OF THE DIFFERENCE IN ATTENTION AND COVERAGE?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AROUND OUR NEWSROOM WE'VE HAD INTENTIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE PLAN TO COVER THE HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTING ESPECIALLY AS A PAPER THAT KEEPS MOST OF THE COVERAGE WITHIN CITY LIMITS.

WE SAW OTHER PAPERS SENT HOARDS OF RESOURCES TO HIGHLAND PARK FOR COVERAGE AND NECESSARY COVERAGE BUT WE WONDERED WHY THE MEDIA CENTERS POLITICIANS, THE WORLD SEEMS TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS THESE SHOOTING INSTANCES IN THE AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES.

YOU FEEL MORE DESENSITIZED TO CRIME HAPPENING IN CHICAGO.

THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE SHOT AND KILLED OVER THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND THAN HIGHLAND PARK.

WE WENT TO PLACES IN THE CITY WHERE PEOPLE HAD BEEN KILLED WE DID NOT SEE BU KEKS AND TRIBUTES BUT PEOPLE WALKING DOWN THE STREETS LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED THE WEEKEND BEFORE.

AND THAT IS STRIKING AND WORTH TALKING ABOUT.

>> AND WE'RE LOOKING AT VIDEO OF ONE OF THE TRIBUTES IN HIGHLAND PARK.

RASHAWN RAY WHY DO WE SEE A STARK DIFFERENCE IN RESPONSE TO THE SHOOTING IN HIGHLAND PARK VERSUS THE EVERYDAY GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, I THINK THE ANALYSIS THAT MACK AND HIS COLLEAGUES DID HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

PART IS WHAT WE ARE EXPOSED TO IN THE MEDIA.

OFTENTIMES IN TERMS OF WHAT IS NORMALIZED IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WHEN YOU ARE ON ONE SIDE OF THE CITY COMPARED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY.

ON THE SOUTH OR WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO COMPARED TO HIGHLAND PARK THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN EXPECTATIONS AROUND THAT.

LOOK MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE DO HAVE A GUN CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE ALSO HAVE A YOUNG MAN VIOLENCE PROBLEM.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT HOMICIDE FOR EXAMPLE AS MUCH AS PEOPLE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT BLACK ON BLACK CRIME HOMICIDE IS THE TOP FIVE KILLER FOR NOT ONLY BLACK MEN BUT WHITE MEN AND LATINO MEN FROM THE AGES OF 18 UNTIL LATE 30s WE DON'T FRAME IT THAT WAY IN PUBLIC OPINION.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE KEEP HEARING IS THE THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN HERE.

YOU DON'T EXPECT THIS HERE.

WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT, WHAT ARE THEY INTENDING TO SAY WHAT DO THEY MEAN AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT KIND OF STATEMENT?

>> WHEN PEOPLE MAKE STATEMENTS LIKE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN HERE THEY ARE SAYING IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH MY WHITE NEIGHBORS WITH MY AFFLUENT NEIGHBORS BUT WE EXPECT FOR IT TO HAPPEN ACROSS TOWN IN A LOWER INCOME AREA AND BLACK AREA.

THESE NARRATIVES FUEL BLACK ON BLACK CRIME NARRATIVES INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT CRIME IN THE AGGREGATE.

AND THIS IS THE OTHER THING... CRIME IS INTERRACIAL.

IN OTHER WORDS PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKE WILL I TO COMMIT CRIME WITH PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THEM.

AND GIVEN THE WAY SEGREGATION OPERATES THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS MOST PRONE TO IT WE SEE CRIME OCCURRING BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ONE ANOTHER.

AND WE NEED TO FRAME IT IT THAT WAY INSTEAD OF LETTING ONE GROUP OFF THE HOOK.

IT LETS THE PEOPLE OFF THE HOOK FOR THE EXPLANATIONS WHY THOSE THINGS OCCUR.

>> ARTHUR REED, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SEE THIS OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT WE'VE SEEN "GOFUNDME" PAGES RAISE MORE THAN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

POLITICIANS GIVING SPEECHES ON-SITE FOR HIGHLAND PARK BUT LITTLE RESPONSE IN A SIMILAR EVENTS THAT HAPPEN ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> I FEEL SYMPATHY FOR THE LOSSES THAT HAPPENED IN HIGHLAND PARK.

BUT THEN SECONDARILY I THINK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO SOUTH AND THE WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO DURING THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND AND ANY OTHER VIOLENT WEEKEND WHERE TENS OF LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST.

AND WE DON'T SEE THE GOVERNOR.

WE DON'T SEE SENATORS.

WE DON'T SEE THE VICE-PRESIDENT.

AND I SHAKE MY HEAD.

>> SO DONALD TYLER, FIRST I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GOVERNOR PRITZKER ASKED ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT HE AND OTHER POLITICIANS WERE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE SHOOTING IN HIGHLAND PARK THAN THE GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT ON CNN'S STATE OF THE UNION.

>> WELL, I CAN SPEAK AT LEAST FOR MYSELF.

I'M NOT GIVING MORE ATTENTION TO ONE THAN ANOTHER.

IN FACT, MUCH OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN OUR BUDGET OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IS TO PUT MONEY INTO PROGRAMS THAT SERVE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT CHICAGO AND IN FACT THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE STATE.

PARTICULARLY COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE'S BEEN A HIGH DEGREE OF VIOLENCE.

HIGHLAND PARK IS THE LATEST.

AND IT IS AN UNUSUAL ONE THAT I THINK THE NATION IS PAYING ATTENTION TO.

IN PART BECAUSE OF THE WEAPON THAT WAS USED AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED ALL AT ONCE BY ONE PARTICULAR SHOOTER.

>> DONALD TYLER WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE THERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY HE'S DEFINITELY BEEN ONBOARD WITH GIVING MORE ATTENTION AND MORE RESOURCES AND A GREATER EFFORT TO PREVENTING VIOLENCE THAT IS OCCURRING IN SOUTH AND WEST SIDE COMMUNITIES.

SO I WILL SAY THAT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE HAS TO BE DONE.

AND AS FAR AS THE ISSUE, THE PRIMARY ISSUE YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SHOOTINGS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING IN SOUTH AND WEST SIDE COMMUNITIES AT HIGH LEVELS FOR A VERY LONG TIME YEAR AFTER YEAR UNABATED.

AND SO CERTAINLY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INCREASED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

BUT I THINK THERE BECOMES A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS ABOUT IT.

AND SO PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO CHANGE THE PROBLEM SO I THINK THEY TURN THEIR ATTENTION ELSEWHERE.

BUT ALSO HAVE TO SAY FRANKLY, BLACK AND BROWN LIVES AREN'T VALUED TO THE SAME EXTENT.

SO INCIDENTS LIKE HIGHLAND PARK GET MORE ATTENTION FOR THAT REASON.

PEOPLE LOOK AT WHAT OCCURS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE IN TERMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND THEY THE PERSPECTIVE IS WELL THESE ARE CRIMINALS, GANG MEMBERS, YOU KNOW SO THEY ARE NOT VALUED TO THE SAME EXTENT.

BUT THEIR LIVES ARE JUST AS VALUABLE AS ANY OTHER LIFE IN A STATE OF ILLINOIS OR ACROSS THE WORLD.

EVEN AMONGST INDIVIDUAL BHOS MAY BE GANG INVOLVED WHO MAY HAVE CRIMINAL HISTORIES THEIR LIVES ARE AS VALUABLE AS ANYONE ELSE'S.

WE CAN TACKLE THE PROBLEM AND MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.

>> AND ARTHUR REED WHAT MORE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENS IN CHICAGO?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MORE TARGETED APPROACH WHERE THEY ARE SENDING THE DOLLARS TO.

WHERE THEY ARE SENDING THE RESOURCES TO.

A LOT OF IT IS NOT REACHING THE FRONTLINES AND MANY OF THE AREAS THAT IS WHY WE SEE A PROLIFERATION OF GUN VIOLENCE ACROSS THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

WE HAVE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT REALLY CARE AND COULD GO OUT AND BE IMPACTFUL ON THE FRONT END BEFORE VIOLENCE OCCURS.

WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING IS THE RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE WHAT I WANT TO DO IS RESPOND ON THE FRONT END SO WE DON'T SEE THE CASUALTIES WE SEE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TO AVOID THAT.

WE HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.

MACK LIEDERMAN, ONE LAST TIME, JOURNALIST TO JOURNALIST WHO ROLE DO YOU THINK THE MEDIA CAN PLAY HOW WE COVER SHOOTINGS AND GUN VIOLENCE?

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GLOBAL NATIONWIDE CRISIS THAT ON VIOLENCE WE VIEW THAT IN THE MEDIA THROUGH THE PRISMS OF THE LONE WHITE SHOOTERS.

THE MEN WHO MIGHT LOOK LIKE ME AND WE DON'T THINK HOW WE TACKLE GUN VIOLENCE HOW THE ISSUE AFFECTS ALL OF US.

IN THE WEST AND SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITIES AND HOW WE STOP MASS SHOOTINGS WHEN WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN THE MEDIA.

>> GREAT DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, DONALD TYLER, RASHAWN RAY, ARTHUR REED AND MACK LIEDERMAN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A JOURNEY THROUGH BRONZEVILLE DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

THE LATEST SELECTION IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB.

>> >> A NEW BOOK CAPTURING WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GROW UP IN BRONZEVILLE DURING THE 1950s AND 60s IS THE LATEST INSTALLMENT OF OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB.

"WHEN BLACKNESS WAS GOLDEN" OBSERVATION FROM THE FRONTLINE IS A MEMOIR BY PEMON RAMI.

IT IS A COMING-OF-AGE STORY THAT GIVES READERS A LOOK AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS IN CHICAGO AND WHEN BLACK ERA AND CULTURE WERE ON THE RISE.

THE AUTHOR PEMON RAMI JOINS US NOW.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR MEMOIR AND WHAT READERS CAN EXPECT FROM IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT IS A RETROSPECTIVE A LOOK BACK AT AN ERA WHICH WE WERE MORE INTERESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GROUP THAN THE INDIVIDUAL.

YOU SAW THE PROLIFERATION OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PATROLMEN'S LEAGUE.

THE BLACK PSYCHOLOGISTS.

EVERY SCHOOL HAD AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS COMPRISED OF PARENTS CONCERNED PARENTS THAT WERE WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS.

YOU HAD INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE CITY THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH PEOPLE COULD HAVE DISCUSSIONS.

TO ELIMINATE VIOLENCE, TWO THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN: ONE PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE A VALUE FOR LIFE.

AND IT COMES ABOUT AS A AS A RESULT TO LOOK FORWARD WITH HOPE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR PAST IS.

AND ALSO, REQUIRES A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS PLACES TO GO AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS.

AND THAT IS A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE 60s DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE TITLE, "WHEN BLACKNESS WAS GOLDEN".

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> YOU KNOW DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THE 1950s IS WHEN EMMETT TILL WAS KILLED AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF LYNCHINGS.

WHEN YOU ROLL INTO THE 60s YOU GET A DIFFERENT SENSE.

A SENSE OF MANHOOD AND PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO AFRICA.

YOU GET PEOPLE APPRECIATING THEIR NATURAL BEAUTY AND THE NATURAL HAIR.

YOU HAVE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE BLOSSOMING OUT OF THAT.

YOU HAVE PARENTS AND YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THE SAVING AND UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY THAN THEMSELVES.

I BELIEVE SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT WAS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.

WE COULDN'T GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING.

AND WHEN WE GREW NEWSPAPER THAT COMMUNITY FROM THAT LADY.

AND SHE KNEW EVERYBODY WHO THEIR PARENTS WERE, SHE WOULD CALL OUR PARENTS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING THAT WAS WRONG.

SO WHEN I LOOKED AT AND SAID IT WAS GOLDEN IT WAS MORE HOW WE FELT ABOUT OURSELVES, OUR COMMITMENT EVEN THE SINGER IN THE MUSICIANS AND THE ARTISTS AND THE FILMMAKERS WERE GEARED IN TO DEVELOPING WORK THAT WAS UPLIFTING, THAT WOULD RESTORE US TO OUR GREATNESS.

YOU HAD JAMES BROWN ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE DEVELOPING MUSIC THAT WAS POSITIVE AND UPLIFTING.

>> YOU WRITE ABOUT GROWING UP IN PUBLIC HOUSING.

AND HOUSING PROJECTS, HOW DID THAT EXPERIENCE SHAPE YOU?

>> IT SHAPED ME IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

WHEN WE MOVED IN IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

WE HAD MOVED OUT OF THE TENEMENTS LOCATED IN BRONZEVILLE 56 BETWEEN INDIANA AND PRAIRIE.

WE MOVED IN IT WAS MANICURED LAWNS.

THE ORCHESTRA USED TO PLAY ON THE WEEKENDS.

A LOT OF YOUR LISTENERS PROBABLY WON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AND THEY DID.

WE WOULD SIT OUT IN THE PARK AND LISTEN TO THE MUSIC.

THE PARK DISTRICT HAD ANY SERVICE AND ACTIVITY.

I ENDED UP GETTING INTO FILM AND TV BECAUSE I WENT TO THE PARK DISTRICT AND JOHNSON, THE FOUNDER OF ETA WAS TEACHING THEATRE THERE.

AND I WAS A NINE-YEAR-OLD AND HE ASKED ME DID I WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED?

AND I BECAME INVOLVED.

THERE WERE PLACES PEOPLE COULD GO WHEN WE LOOK DOWNTOWN AT THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT GATHER PART IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GO.

WHERE THEY CAN ENJOY THEMSELVES, AND COMMUNICATE.

AND HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INSURING THEIR SAFETY.

AND WHEN I MEAN SAFETY, SAFETY OF PURPOSE, SAFETY OF WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT, SAFETY WHAT THEY DO AS WELL AS GETTING THEM AWAY FROM THE TYPICAL VIOLENCE.

>> YOU EXPERIENCED RACISM GROWING UP IN CHICAGO AND DESCRIBE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES IN YOUR MEMOIR INCLUDING AN ATTACK IN BRIDGEPORT WHILE YOU WERE PLAYING BASEBALL WITH YOUR FATHER AND FRIENDS.

WHAT DO THOSE EXPERIENCES TELL YOU ABOUT THE CITY'S RACIAL DIVIDE?

>> I HEARD MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

SPEAK WHEN I WAS 16.

HE WAS ELOQUENT AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE KING OF ENGLAND.

THEN I GO OUT HERE IS THIS BLACK MAN HE IS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

BUT AT THE END OF THIS SPEECH HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO MARCH TO MARKET PARK IN CICERO AND I TURNED AROUND AND WENT HOME.

BECAUSE I UNDERSTOOD THE VIOLENCE THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH US EVEN TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THOSE COMMUNITIES.

ON THE LITTLE LEG TEAM I HAPPENED TO WALKOUT OF THE BACK DOOR AND ENDED UP IN BRIDGEPORT THE HOME OF THE MAYOR, DALEY, WE WERE ATTACKED BY THE COMMUNITY.

THEY THREW BRICKS AT US AND CALLED US NAMES A AS A NINE-YEAR-OLD YOU ARE GOING WHAT IS THAT?

WHAT IS IT THAT WE DID SO BAD TO BRING THAT ABOUT?

AND SO WHAT I EXPERIENCED THAT, IT SHIFTED MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT COMMUNITY MEANT.

AND I NEED TO BE INSULATED.

SO I ENDED UP PULLING BACK.

I ENDED UP NOT GOING TO THE PLACES THAT I MIGHT HAVE CONSIDERED GOING HAD I NOT HAD TO FEAR FOR MY LIFE.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY YOU PROBABLY FOUND COMFORT IN THE COMMUNITY OF BRONZEVILLE WHERE BLACK WAS GOLDEN.

WHAT DO YOU WANT READERS TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR MEMOIR?

>> TWO THINGS: NUMBER ONE, I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING DOCUMENTS.

AND I ALSO WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY HAS A STORY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TELL THEM.

IT'S IMPORTANT WE DOCUMENT THE REALITY OF WHAT FACES US.

BECAUSE IT IS IT IS OUR LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS MOST RELEVANT.

A LOT OF TIMES THE MEDIA MIGHT SKEW WHAT WE BELIEVE MIGHT BE TRUE BUT WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION AND RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AT THE POSITIVENESS IN US.

TO LOOK AT THE VALUE WE BRING TO THE TABLE.

AND SEE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT FIRST YOU HAVE TO SEE IT AND THEN YOU CAN BE IT.

>> WE'RE FRESH OUT OF TIME THAT IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO LEAVE IT.

PEMON RAMI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AGAIN THE BOOK IS CALLED "WHEN BLACKNESS WAS GOLDEN" OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FRONTLINE.

YOU CAN READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> WHAT STARTED AS A HOBBY TO KEEP CHILDREN ACTIVE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS EVOLVED INTO A SPORT THAT IS EMPHASIZING THE ART OF DOUBLE DUTCH.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU RECENTLY VISITED A LOCAL DOUBLE DUTCH JUMP ROPE TEAM.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> TWICE A WEEK GIRLS GATHER AT TOOLY PARK TO EXERCISE THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH WITH DOUBLE DUTCH.

>> IT HELPS GET YOUR MENTAL HEALTH FOCUSED AND TAKES YOUR MIND OFF THINGS.

JUMPING IS LIKE AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY.

>> IT IS AN ACTIVITY THAT ORIGINATED IN NEW YORK IN THE 1940s.

AND HAS SINCE DEVELOPED INTO A SPORT BEYOND THE SIDEWALKS.

HERE IN CHICAGO, DOUBLE DUTCH GROUP JUMPING JUNIORS SAYS IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST LEARNING THE ROPES.

>> GIRLS THEY GET INTO BOYS THEY GET INTO EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON ESPECIALLY SOCIAL MEDIA.

THEY WANT TO BE LIKE THE NEXT PERSON THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON WITH OUR YOUTH AND WE WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON BEING A KID.

>> THEY DEVELOPED CONFIDENCE AND GOTTEN OVER THE FEAR OF FAILURE.

THEY LEARN HOW TO CHEER FOR ONE ANOTHER.

THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING ASPECT OF OUR PROGRAM IS A GREAT BENEFIT.

>> WITH MORE THAN 30 GIRLS IN THE PROGRAM 11 ARE PREPARING FOR THE FIRST DOUBLE DUTCH COMPETITION IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> IN A COMPETITION, YOU HAVE TO KNOW MORE RULES YOU HAVE TO BE MORE DISCIPLINED.

YOU CANNOT GO PAST THAT TO GET INSIDE.

>> 14-YEAR-OLD LOREAL MILLER IS ONE OF THE GIRLS COMPETING.

DESPITE IT BEING AN ACTIVITY HER MOTHER AND ELDERS WERE RAISED ON SHE DIDN'T DOUBLE DUTCH UNTIL SHE BEGAN JUMPING JUNIORS IN 2020.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO LET MY NERVES GET THE BEST OF ME.

IT IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND JUST TRYING TO GET BETTER.

IT'S ALL ABOUT FUN.

>> JUMPING JUNIORS IS DIFFERENT.

YOU DON'T SEE A TEAM LIKE DOUBLE DUTCHES ANYMORE.

YOU SO THAT IS THE NORM.

>> NOW, JUMPING JUNIORS IS MORE THAN JUST A DOUBLE DUTCH GROUP IT'S ABOUT MENTORSHIP AS WELL.

>> I JUST WANT TO GO BACK I'M STILL IN THE GHETTO I WANT TO GO BACK AND REACH AND HELP GIRLS BECAUSE I APPRECIATED PEOPLE REACHING BACK AND HELPING ME.

>> I LIKE TO INSPIRE THEM THINGS THAT WILL STICK WITH THEM AS THEY GROW AND WHATEVER YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO YOU CAN REACH.

>> WE ARE NOT POURING INTO THEM WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING ELSE OUT.

SINCE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE TIME AND WISDOM TO REACH YOUNG GIRLS AND LOOK UP TO US WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT FIRE GOING AND THEY PASS IT ON.

AS LONG AS THEY ARE WITH US IN HERE THEY ARE NOT OUT THERE IN THE WORLD THAT WE'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT.

>> 19-YEAR-OLD KEIRA MCMILLER AGREES.

>> I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS TO ME.

AND I FEEL LIKE FAMILY HERE.

AND I FEEL VERY SAFE.

>> EXERCISE, MENTORSHIP, AND SELF LOVE.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE QUALITIES JUMPING JUNIORS HOPES TO INSTILL NOT JUST WITH THIS GENERATION BUT GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> I BELIEVE IT'S CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT.

SOME OF US HAVE GRANDKIDS WE'RE SHARE TO GO WITH NOW PART OF OUR CHILDHOOD AND IT'S US INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION AND GIVING THEM SOMETHING TO ENRICH THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> NICE JUMPING.

OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO THE JUMPING JUNIORS WHO TOOK HOME TWO FIRST PLACE TROPHIES AFTER THE COMPETITION IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THIS PAST JUNE.

>> A CHICAGO SPOKEN WORD ARTIST IS CELEBRATING BLACK MEN AND WOMEN ARE A COLLECTION OF POI EMS.

HAROLD GREEN GIVES US THE LAST WORD WHY HE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER IN THE PRESENT.

>> I WONDER IF YOU KNOW, THAT YOU WRITE LOVE LETTERS AND THEY ARE PURIST FORM.

I'M HAROLD GREEN AND I AM A FLORIST.

I AM VERY BIG ON FREE VERSE.

IT'S THE WAY I COME UP WITH MY WRITING IS THE WAY I LIKE TO WRITE.

IT ALLOWS ME TO BE FREE.

MELODY FOR PRESIDENT.

ODE TO MELODY HOBSON WHAT A TESTAMENT TO THE BENEFITS OF AN UNCANNY WORK ETHIC.

YOU'VE SHOWN US LIFE IS AN INVESTMENT.

BLACK OAK ARE BOTH COLLECTIONS OF OLD CELEBRATING POWERFUL BLACK MEN AND POWERFUL BLACK WOMEN WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE TODAY AND I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE TODAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I CELEBRATED THESE PEOPLE WHILE THEY WERE HERE TO RECEIVE IT.

BLACK ROSES SHOWCASED.

TRACEY ELLIS ROSS, STACY ABRAMS, TABITHA BROWN AND BLACK OAK WE HIGHLIGHTED DWAIN WADE, BILLY PORTER, LEBRON JAMES, CHANCE THE RAPPER, KERRY JAMES MARSHALL, MY FATHER, MY GRANDFATHER.

A LOT OF MY HOMEYS.

FRIENDS THAT I'VE HAD FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.

IT WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHT HOUSEHOLD NAMES BUT THOSE WHO ARE HOUSEHOLD NAMES IN MY HEART.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY BIG ON CELEBRATING PEOPLE THROUGH MY ART.

ACTUALLY STARTED LIKE THAT.

LIKE SOME OF MY FIRST POW WILLIAMS WERE -- POEMS WERE GIFTS TO MY FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS AND TELLING THEM HOW IMPORTANT THEY WERE.

I DON'T THINK WE DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB CELEBRATING PEOPLE WHILE THEY ARE HERE.

I THINK AS HUMAN BEINGS IT'S EASIER TO CELEBRATE PEOPLE ONCE THEY'VE LEFT BECAUSE IT'S HARDER FOR THEM TO LET US DOWN.

I THINK WE DESERVE TO BE AFFIRMED AND CELEBRATED WHILE WE CAN STILL ENJOY THE MOMENTS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL SEEN.

I AM A BIG FAN OF BLACK HISTORY.

AND BLACK CONTRIBUTION.

I THINK THAT EXEMPLIFYING THAT BLACK EXCELLENCE AND BLACK CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN CIVILIZATION AS A WHOLE IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO ME AS A POET BECAUSE I THINK AS A POET, MY JOB IS TO PUT FORM TO SENTIMENT.

AND I THINK GREAT POEMS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE JOURNALISM FOR FILLINGS.

AND I THINK IF WE CAN CHRONICLE WHAT BLACK PEOPLE HAVE DONE ACROSS THE TIMELINE AND THIS PARTICULAR BLUSH THAT I EXIST IN IF I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FORM TO THAT AND DOCUMENT HOW GREAT BLACK PEOPLE WERE IN THIS MOMENT, I THINK I'VE DONE MY JOB.

TIME IS NOT LOANED BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE PAID BACK.

BUT LOOK AT YOUR SWEAT EQUITY OVERALL THESE YEARS YOU'VE COLLECTED THOSE BEADS THAT DRIPPED FROM YOUR FOREHEAD AND CREATED A POOL FOR YOU TO REFLECT IN.

>> HAROLD GREEN SAYS HE HAS A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE AND PLANS TO RELEASE MORE VOLUMES.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]