>>WOMAN: WE WANT TO BE REPRESENTED IN THIS LIFESTYLE.

THAT'S WHY WE DO THIS.

>>BRANDIS: TO TRAVEL ENTHUSIAST WHO ARE USING TICK-TOCK TO ENCOURAGE BLACK PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, MORE WOMEN ARE DYING IN THE U.S. JAILS.

IN 2000, WOMEN ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF JAIL DEATHS.

IN 2018, THAT NUMBER GREW TO 15 PERCENT.BLACK WOMEN ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN THE NATION'S JAILS AND PRISONS.

IT WAS SIX YEARS AGO THIS MONTH.

THAT CHICAGO AREA NATIVE SANDRA BLAND WAS FOUND HANGED IN HER TEXAS GEL CELL AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP LED TO HER ARREST.

WHAT WOMEN, PARTICULARLY WOMEN OF COLOR FACE IN THE CAR SURREAL SYSTEM.

OUR HE COULD JONES TAPIA.

A PSYCHOLOGIST AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF JUSTICE INITIATIVE FOR PSYCHO BEYOND.

SHE ALSO SERVED AS WARDEN FOR THE JAIL IN 2018.

ORGANIZER LIVE FREE ILLINOIS, SHE WAS INCARCERATED FOR OVER TWO DECADES.

AND SYRIA:, FOUNDER OF GIVING OTHERS A DREAM, SHE'S ALSO FORMALLY INCARCERATED.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE.

MIKA JONES TAPIA, LET'S START WITH YOU TONIGHT.

LET'S START WITH CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WHAT FACTORS INCREASE TO THE FACTORS OF INCARCERATED WOMEN?

>>MIKA: FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO ARE INCARCERATED IS RELATIVELY SMALL, COMPARED TO MEN, THE NUMBER AND RATE OF INCARCERATED ACTION FOR WOMEN HAS INCREASED ALMOST 700 PERCENT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

UNFORTUNATELY, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN THESE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS HAVE NOT INCREASED WITH THAT RATE.

WOMEN ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TREATMENTS.

AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE WITHIN THESE SYSTEMS.

BECAUSE THE NUMBER IS RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO MEN.

MAKES THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE ARCHITECTS TRAFFIC LEAD DARK PLACES.

THE DISCONNECT PEOPLE FROM EVERYTHING THEY KNOW AND LOVE.

THEY DRAIN HOPE OUT OF A PERSON'S LIFE.

THEY ARE DARK AND PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND ESPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN ARE OVERLY EXPOSED TO TRAUMA THAT FEEDS INTO THE SYSTEMS LIKE SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.

>> WHAT CHALLENGES DO WOMEN PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN, WHAT DO THEY FACE IN PRISON AND JAIL?

>> WELL BLACK WOMEN, THEY OFTEN FACE YOU KNOW, THE RACISM THAT IS STILL GOING ON OUTSIDE.

RACISM IS JUST AS PROFOUND INSIDE AS IT IS OUTSIDE.

BLACK WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE OVERLOOKED AND GIVEN LOW-LEVEL JOBS.

CLEANING TOILETS AS OPPOSED TO WORKING IN THE OFFICES.

OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS INSIDE.

BEING INSIDE, I HAD TO FIGHT FOR WOMEN OF COLOR TO GET A JOB THAT REPORTED THEM MORE MONEY, DAYS OFF THEIR SENTENCE AND ALSO A BAIL, WHICH WAS OFTEN GIVEN TO WHITE WOMEN.

THEY HAD ONLY HIRED TWO WOMEN OF COLOR IN FIVE YEARS.

BEFORE I WROTE A SIX PAGE RECENT RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION.

AFTER THAT GRIEVANCE, THEY BEGAN TO HIRE WOMEN OF COLOR.

>>BRANDIS: OBVIOUSLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES ON THERE.

80 PERCENT OF WOMEN AND PRESENT OUR MOTHERS.

MORE THAN 60 PERCENT ARE MOTHERS TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE SENTENCING PROJECT AS WELL AS THE POLICY.

THE INITIATIVE.

CELIA, HOW DOES INCARCERATION IMPACT THE FAMILY ATE UNIT AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

>> ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC THINGS THAT IS HAPPENED TO OUR NATION.

THERE'S PLENTY OF DATA THAT SHOWS TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT INCARCERATION DOES NOT MAKE COMMUNITIES ANY SAFER.

>>CELIA: IT DOES NOT STOP THE VIOLENCE OF ANYTHING IT CREATES MORE VIOLENCE AND CHAOS BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE CATASTROPHICALLY HARMED.

AND IT CREATES GENERATIONAL HARM.

GENERATIONAL BARRIERS.

THEY'RE ALL CHILDREN AND INNOCENT CHILDREN ACROSS THE NATION THAT ARE PAYING FOR DEBTS THAT THEY DO NOT OWE.

THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT ARE BEING BLOCKED.

PARENTS MOTHERS THAT ARE BEING BLOCKED FROM THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES.

WE'RE NOT ALLOWING SOMEBODY WITH A RECORD TO BE A PARENT.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, BESIDES THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

FOR THE RECORD, YOU CAN VOLUNTEER.

YOU CANNOT CHAPERONE.

YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING BUT PICK UP A REPORT CARD.

THEREFORE, THAT'S CREATING THE PRISON PIPELINE.

THAT'S CREATING A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE CHILD AND THE PARENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF OF THAT STUFF GOING UP AT THEIR JOBS YOU CANNOT GET YOUR TYPE IS A RECORD.

THAT'S EVEN WORKING IN THE POLICE FORCE.

WORKING FOR THE FBI.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SCHOOLS.

I AM SOME RECORDS HE APPEARED AMERICANS TO DO.

FOR 21 YEARS.

GETTING BACK TO MY COMMUNITY SERVED THE MOST BETTER SERVING WITH.

AT MY RECORD SO, BUT I STILL HAVE MY CIVIL RIGHTS BACK.

STILL CANNOT RUN FOR OFFICE.

I STILL CANNOT WORK AT SCHOOL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I STILL CANNOT DO AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT.

AND BEING GENERATIONAL AND LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF WHAT THIS DOES TO CHILDREN.

OUR FUTURE LEADERS ARE BEING DESTROYED BEFORE GIVEN A CHANCE.

>>BRANDIS: WE MENTIONED GO AHEAD.

>>MIKA: WE KNOW THERE'S AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INCARCERATED AT OUR PARENTS.

MEN AND WOMEN.

WHAT MAKES THE EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN UNIQUE IS THAT MOST OF THEM ARE THE SOLE CAREGIVERS FOR THE CHILDREN.

ONE OF THE FIRST WOMAN THAT I ENCOUNTERED AT THE COUNTY JAIL WAS A MOTHER, WHO WAS CHARGED WITH MOTHER MURDER OF HER PARTNER.

SHE WAS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHICH IS THE CASE FOR A LOT OF WOMEN THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT.

AND SHE WAS SEPARATED FROM HER CHILDREN.

SHE WAS PUT IN THE SQUAD CAR AND PUT AWAY.

FOR A WEEK, SHE DID NOT KNOW WHERE HER CHILDREN WERE.

IF THEY WERE SAFE.

LIKE, I CANNOT IMAGINE AS A MOTHER, SEEING MY CHILDREN AND NOT KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE.

I THINK THE SOLE CAREGIVING OF MOTHERS, WHO ARE INCARCERATED HAVE TO BE ONLY THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF INCARCERATION.

>>BRANDIS: SO, IMAGINE THIS A MINUTE AGO MIKA.

THE NUMBER OF INCARCERATION FOR WOMEN HAS BEEN RISING.

IN 1980, 6000 WOMEN WERE INCARCERATED AND IN 2019, 222 ARE INCARCERATED.

THAT'S AN INCREASE AS YOU JUST SAID, 700 PERCENT.

WHY IS THAT?

ARE THERE PROBLEMS THAT WOMEN FACE THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THEM?

AND WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS THAT THEY FACE WHEN REENTERING?

>> BRANDIS, BLACK WOMEN ARE OFTEN POLICED DIFFERENTLY.

THAT'S WHY THEY MAKE UP 14 PERCENT OF THE ILLINOIS ADULT POPULATION, BUT OVER 1/3 OF EVERYONE THAT'S INCARCERATED.

AND WE KNOW THAT IN 1980, YOU KNOW, THE WAR ON DRUGS AND THEN THE 19 I BELIEVE IT WAS 92, CRIME DEAL.

IT REALLY SAID THAT IT WAS THE ONE DRUGS, BUT REALLY IT WAS A WAR ON BLACK COMMUNITIES.

YOU KNOW, THE BLACK COMMUNITIES WERE DECIMATED BY POLICE COMING IN, KICKING IN DOORS, ARRESTING WOMEN AND SAYING, THE CONSPIRACY LAW.

THE FEDERAL CONSPIRACY LAW, WHERE EVEN IF YOUR MAN SOLD DRUGS AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT, THEY WANTED TO LINK YOU IN WITH THAT.

SO, THEY REALLY JUST DESTROYED BLACK FAMILIES BACK THEN.AND MANY WOMEN ARE SITTING IN PRISON TODAY, WITH NATURAL LIFE SENTENCES ON DRUG CHARGES THAT THEY ACQUIRED BACK WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS SUCH A DISPARITY IN THE CRACK COCAINE LAW AND THE POWDERED COCAINE LAW.

BECAUSE WHITE PEOPLE USE POWER MORE.

SO, THEY GET LESS SENTENCES AND THEN CRACK COCAINE WAS NORMALLY FOUND IN LOW INCOME POVERTY-STRICKEN COMMUNITIES.

AND REALLY, POVERTY HAS BEEN CRIMINALIZED.

BECAUSE BLACK WOMEN HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS, SHE'S CRIMINALIZED AND SENT TO PRISON FOR A COUPLE OF BAGS OF DRUGS, WHERE IS WHITE COUNTERPARTS IS SAID TO A REHAB.

SO THAT SHE CAN GET HER LIFE TOGETHER AND RETURN HOME TO HER CHILDREN.

SO, POVERTY IS REALLY POVERTY.

SPECIFIC RACISM IS THE UNDERLYING ISSUE WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE PRESENT POPULATION OF ILLINOIS AND ACROSS THIS NATION.>>BRANDIS: YOUR ORGANIZATION THIS OBVIOUSLY WORKED TO SUPPORT WITH WOMEN IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

WHEN THEY LEAVE PRISON, WHAT RESOURCES ARE NECESSARY FOR THEM WHEN THEY GET HOME?

>>MIKA: BEING INCARCERATED HAS MULTIPLE LAYERS OF HARM.

IT REQUIRES MULTIPLE LAYERS OF SOLUTIONS.

I AM ONE OF MANY VESSELS AND MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OUT HERE DOING THE WORK.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO UPLIFT SOME OF THOSE BLACK AND BROWN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CHICAGO BEYOND.

FULLY FREE, KIDS OFF THE BLOCK.

ACTIVISTS, GIRLS LIKE ME.

RAGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF US.

GOD GIVING US DREAMS OUT HERE ON THE FRONT LINES DOING THE WORK AND WE WE DO IS SUPPORT PEOPLE UNAPOLOGETICALLY COULD WE SHOW NO JUDGMENT OR DISPARITIES.

JUST GIVING THEM RESOURCES AND TOOLS AND BEING MENTORS IN THEIR GUIDES.

ALSO GIVING THEM ALL THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR FIRST MONTH HOME.

MEANING THAT WE SUPPORT THE WOMAN AND HER FAMILY.

BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY IS INCARCERATED, WHOLE FAMILY IS IMPACTED.THE WHOLE FAMILY IS HURTING.

AND RIGHT NOW, THE CITY, THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THERE ARE SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT 27,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE RELEASED EVERY YEAR FROM IDEAL THAT THEY COME HOME TO.

THEY ARE ON THE WEST AND THE SOUTH SIDE.

ECONOMIC IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS NOT CHANGED.

THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT CHANGED.

THE LACK OF RESOURCES IN THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT CHANGED.

IT'S UP TO US TO SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER AND TO BRING THE RESOURCES.

WE SERVE THE WOMEN WITH WHAT'S CALLED A WE WHEN PACKAGE.

BECAUSE WHEN WE INVEST IN WOMEN, WE WIN AS A COMMUNITY, AS A SOCIETY, AND WE TRY TO GIVE THEM ALL THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED.

MEANING THAT WE DO A BARRIER ASSESSMENT OVER THE PHONE.

FIND OUT WHAT THINGS THEY NEED TO DO SAID THEY DON'T HAVE A TECHNICALITY AND GO BACK.

THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FORCED BACK.

AND THEN WE BRING THEM CONNECTIONS TO THE DIRECT RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

WE ALSO ADDRESS THEM WITH YOU KNOW, INTERVIEW CLOTHES AND ALL THE HYGIENE PRODUCTS.

>>BRANDIS: AND GET THEM OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT TO TAKE THOSE NEXT STEPS.

WE WIN IS ACTUALLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

CELIA, MIKA, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THE LATEST SELECTION IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB.

STAY WITH US.

[MUSIC] >> BREAKING CYCLES OF PAIN TAKE SELF-EXAMINATION AND SELF-LOVE.

THE NEXT BOOK IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SERIES BREAKS DOWN THE INTERNAL EXPERIENCES OF THAT STRESS AND TRAUMA AND UNACKNOWLEDGED EMOTIONAL SUFFERING.

BLACK WOMEN HAVE FACED FOR GENERATIONS, WHILE OFFERING A NEW WAY OF BEING STRONG THAT INVOLVES ALSO BEING COMFORTABLE WITH VULNERABILITY.

IT'S CALLED NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN.

THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF BLACK WOMEN.

IN THE BOOK AUTHOR INGRID ZIGLER TURNS IS NOT WHICH IS A LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AT WESTERN UNIVERSITY STEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE INGRID, WELCOME BACK.

I'M THRILLED THAT WE ARE FINALLY ABLE TO HAVE YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BOOK.

BECAUSE WE TALKED WITH YOU A FEW TIMES DURING THE PANDEMIC ABOUT NAVIGATING THAT.

SO, FIRST, WHY DID YOU WANT TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

>> YOU KNOW BRANDIS, IT WORKED CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE WERE FAR TOO MANY BLACK WOMEN IN DEEP EMOTIONAL PAIN AND SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.

>>INGRID: AND THAT PAIN IS ROOTED IN A VARIETY OF FACTORS.

IT'S ROOTED IN GENERATIONAL FAMILY TRAUMA.

PEOPLE WHO ARE CONFRONTING EVERYDAY RACISM.

SEXISM AND DISCRIMINATION.

FEELINGS OF REJECTION BY BEING DENIED OPPORTUNITIES THAT BLACK WOMEN KNOW THAT THEY HAVE RIGHTFULLY EARNED.

AND YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE TO CARRY SO MUCH THAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO NOT ONLY DO IT ALL, BUT DO IT ALL ON OUR OWN.

AND THESE FEELINGS, WE ARE CARRYING AROUND INTERNALLY LIKE A TICKING TIME BOMB.

THEY ARE EATING AWAY AT US.

THEY HAVE REAL SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.

NOT ONLY ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

WE KNOW THAT STRENGTH AND TRAUMA ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO PHYSICAL HEALTH AND EXTENDING FROM THAT OUR LIFE EXPECTANCY.

WHEREBY BLACK WOMEN HAVE THREE YEAR SHORTER LIFE EXPECTANCY THAN WHITE WOMEN.

AND SO, NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN TO SHOW THE OTHER SIDE OF WHAT STRONG BLACK WOMEN SHOW THE WORLD.

AND BY DOING THAT OFFERS THIS SPACE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE DIFFICULT EMOTIONS THAT MANY OF US EXPERIENCING AND OPEN THE DOORS TO RECEIVING THE NECESSARY SUPPORT THAT WE NEED.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STRONG BLACK WOMAN IN A MINUTE.

I'M MADE IT TO PAGE 2.

>>BRANDIS: AND I READ SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE FAMILIAR TO ME AS A BLACK WOMAN.

YOU MENTIONED YOUR GRANDMOTHER TELLING YOUR MOTHER.

YOUR MOTHER TELLING YOU AND OTHER WORDS LIFE IS NOT FAIR, SO DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE.

THE PERSON IN MY FAMILY SAID WHO TOLD YOU LIFE WAS FAIR?

WHY WE PASSED THIS TOUGH LOVE ONTO THE GENERATIONS?

>>INGRID: I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH OUR YOUNG GIRLS THAT LIFE AS A YOUNG BLACK GIRL, YOUNG BLACK WOMAN, AS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN IS GOING TO BE TOUGH.

WE ARE TRYING TO TOUGHEN UP OUR GIRLS SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AND GET TO SOCIETY.

YOU KNOW, BY DOING THAT, WE ARE NOT HONORING THOSE EMOTIONS THAT ARE ALSO A PART OF THAT PICTURE.

WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION OF THE SADNESS, THE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY.

BY TEACHING GIRLS ONLY TO BE STRONG, WE ARE ALSO MINIMIZING AND DISMISSING THOSE OTHER FEELINGS THAT MIGHT BE BELOW THE SURFACE.

>> WE'RE TALKING BUT THE STRONG BLACK WOMAN AND YOU MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO AS WELL.TWO THINGS, WHY WE FEEL THE WORD STRONG.

WE ARE OBVIOUSLY BLACK WOMEN.

CAN THAT BE A POINT OF PRIDE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY?

>>INGRID: IT'S ABSOLUTELY A POINT OF PRIDE.

I DEFINITELY YOU KNOW, HAVE HELD BEING CALLED THE STRONG BLACK WOMAN AS SOMETHING THAT I AM PROUD OF.

AND IT'S REALLY MANY OF THE STRENGTHS THAT WE SO DEEPLY ADMIRE IN EACH OTHER.

THE WAY THAT WE HOLD OUR HEADS UP, THE WAY WE ARE ABLE TO BE RESILIENT.

THE WAY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE KIND OF MAKE AWAY AND BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH HARD TIMES.

THE OTHER SIDE IS AVOIDING AND DENYING WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE INSIDE.

THAT'S WHAT I OFFER.

AND IN THIS BOOK, NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN.

WE CAN BE PROUD, STRONG BLACK WOMAN.

BUT ALSO ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE VULNERABLE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES THAT WE'VE HAD.

KNOWLEDGE THE EMOTION THAT COMES WITH THAT.

THE WAY THAT IT IMPACTS OUR LIVES AND BEHAVIORS.

WAY IMPACTS OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

AND IN DOING THAT, WE CAN MOVE OUT OF THE SPACE OF SHAME AND ISOLATION.

AND BUILD COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING AND OPENING OURSELVES UP TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THAT WE NEED.

>>BRANDIS: HAVE YOU NOTICED IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, IS THERE BEEN A RECENT SHIFT TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH?

>>INGRID: ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT THIS IS A PIVOTAL TIME IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH PARTICULARLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT'S THE LUXURY THAT WE ARE SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

KIND OF CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THAT.

PEOPLE LIKE MICHELLE OBAMA, MEGAN MARKEL, NAOMI OSAKA.

SERENA WILLIAMS.

BEYONCI, THESE WOMEN, WHO WERE BEAUTIFUL AND REVERED, WHO ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT DIFFICULT TIMES THAT THEY HAVE HAD.WHEN PEOPLE DO THAT, THAT REALLY GIVES THE EVERYDAY BLACK WOMAN CURRENT MISSION.

TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER OWN SUFFERING AND TO KNOW THAT SHE'S NOT ALONE.

AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO THE SAME EXPERIENCE.

>>BRANDIS: THE BOOK IS ALSO ABOUT THERAPY.YOU TELL THE READERS TO ASK THEMSELVES CERTAIN QUESTIONS AND IDENTIFY CERTAIN TRAITS OR FEELINGS.

WERE YOU PROVIDING THERE AND HOPE THAT PEOPLE TAKE AWAY?

>>INGRID: ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO PROVIDE IS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SOME MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES LOOK LIKE.

OFTEN, WE TALK ABOUT, AND DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

WE THROW THESE TERMS AROUND, BUT PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL LIVES.

SO, I WANTED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THROUGH REAL EXAMPLES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS THAT MIGHT BE SHOWN IN THEM.

AND IN DOING SO, THERE IT WOULD REFLECT.

SOMETHING IS GOING TO.

I'VE HAD DIFFICULTY SLEEPING.

I'VE HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING IN BED.

I AM FINDING MYSELF IRRITABLE AND ON EDGE AND AFRAID TO LEAVE MY HOME.

I AM HAVING CRYING SPELLS AND SADNESS.AND BY RECOGNIZING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IN OURSELVES, THAT AWARENESS IS STEP TOWARDS MAKING BEHAVIORAL CHANGE AND REACHING OUT FOR SUPPORT.

>>BRANDIS: WITH 20 SECONDS LEFT.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS BOOK.

WHY SHOULD THEY READ IT?

>>INGRID: OUR MENTAL HEALTH ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT.

THE TIME FOR US AS BLACK WOMEN IS TO DO SO IS RIGHT NOW.WE ARE NOT ALONE AND WE CAN BE BOTH STRONG AND VULNERABLE.

AND OUR VULNERABILITY DOES NOT LEAVE.

>>BRANDIS: CONGRATS TO YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>INGRID: THANK YOU.

>>BRANDIS: AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN.

THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF BLACK WOMEN AND YOU CAN READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE.

UP NEXT, ME TO TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS LOOKING TO INCREASE REPRESENTATION OF BLACK PEOPLE EXPLAIN THE OUTDOORS.

STAY WITH US.

[MUSIC] >>BRANDIS: WHEN TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD NOT AND CAMERON STANTON HAD THE WANDERLUST STYMIED BY THE PANDEMIC, THEY FOUND WAYS TO SCRATCH THAT TRAVEL IT'S BY HIKING AND CAMPING IN NEARBY PARTS IN NATURAL AREAS.

THEY NOTICED THEY WERE OFTEN THE ONLY BLACK PEOPLE ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

INSTEAD OF BLAZING THEIR OWN TRAIL ON TICK-TOCK.

HERE, THEY GIVE US THE LAST WORDS ON WHY THEY SAY IT'S TIME FOR BLACK PEOPLE TO TAKE A HIKE.

>>WOMAN: I'M CHEVY.>>MAN: I'M CAMERON.

WE ARE BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

>>WOMAN: THIS TRAIL IS NICE.

WE ARE MAKING THIS FUND THOUGH.

>>MAN: BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE STARTED LAST YEAR DURING THE HEART OF THE PANDEMIC AROUND AUGUST.

I'M TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE TRIP TO THE GRANTEE YELLOWSTONE PARK.

IN THAT PROCESS, WE WERE ABLE TO REIGNITE OUR LOVE FOR CAMPING AND THE OUTDOORS.

BUILD FIRES, PITCH TENTS.

>>WOMAN: WE MADE A CHILI DOG.

THERE ANY PLATES OR ANYTHING?

>>MAN: GOOD VIBES.

WE KINDA MILKY WAY.>>WOMAN: I STARTED CRYING BECAUSE HE NEVER EXPLAINED SOMETHING NOT SO IMMACULATE AND BEAUTIFUL BEFORE.

NOW THE MOMENT I REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO START BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE, BECAUSE I GREW UP WATCHING THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL, THE TRAVEL CHANNEL, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND THERE WAS NOBODY THAT LOOKED LIKE US.

AND SO, I DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WAS FOR ME, INNER-CITY GIRL FROM CHICAGO.

>>MAN: THIS TIME AROUND WE TOOK A TRIP DOWN TO ILLINOIS TO CHECK OUT MATHESON STATE PARK.

NOW, I KNOW GAS IS GETTING EXPENSIVE, BUT LOOK AT THIS WATERFALL.

JUST SPLASH.

GORGEOUS!

A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE PEOPLE DOING IT TO KNOW THAT IT CAN BE DONE.

>>WOMAN: THERE ARE INFLUENCES FOR EVERYTHING.

LIKE HAIR, CLOTHES, MAKEUP.

WE WANTED TO EXPERIENCE THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

>>MAN: BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE, OUT HERE LIVE AND ENJOYING NATURE.

>>WOMAN: WE DECIDED TO CALL OURSELVES BY PEOPLE OUTSIDE AS A JOKE BECAUSE WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE OUTSIDE SEEM VERY ACCESSIBLE AND FUN.AND TO ENCOURAGE OTHER LIKE US TO COME OUT.

[LAUGHTER] B3 SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A PLACE TO GET AWAY AND BE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS, QUIET DOWN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.

JUST LET LOOSE IN A SENSE AND TAKE THE WORLD IN.

>>WOMAN: THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS YOU CAN GET OUTSIDE VIA PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY.

YOU CAN GO TO JACKSON PARK AS WE ARE STANDING HERE NOW.

YOU CAN GO TO THE PAYLOADS TRAIL CENTER.

>>MAN: YOU HIT THE SCOPING LAGOONS.

JUST FIND A LOCAL PARK.

FIND THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING OUTSIDE AND THEN NOT GET TIRED OF HEARING THE CARS AND HEARING THE TRAINS.

IT'S WITH THE TRYING VENTURE OFF A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

HE THOUGHT TO HEAR THE BIRDS CHIRPING.

THERE ARE A LOT MORE CUTER ANIMALS OUT THERE THAN RATS.

SO.

[LAUGHTER] [INDISCERNIBLE] >>WOMAN: WE ARE NOT PROS.

WE STARTED OFF AMATEUR.

WE ARE FROM THE CITY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THAT'S THE BASIS OF OUR CHANNEL.

>>MAN: [INDISCERNIBLE] WE MADE UP THE HILL.

>>WOMAN: WE WOULD BE HUFFING AND PUFFING.

OUR DAY IS LIKE THE STRUGGLE PAGE OF NATURE.

THIS BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

I DON'T KNOW.

IF YOU DON'T FINISH A HIKE, COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND YOU WILL GET FOR THE PERIODS ABOUT TAKING ONE STEP AT A TIME.

IT'S REALLY FUN TO WALK OFF SOME DUNES AND WHEN YOU FINALLY MAKE IT TO THE BEAUTIFUL BEACH THAT YOU BEEN LOOKING FOR, BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

>>MAN: WE NEED TO LET BLACK PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF YOU CAN FIND IT, PLEASE USE IT.

IT IS YOURS.

>>WOMAN: THE OUTDOORS ARE FOR EVERYONE.

THAT'S WHAT WE ALWAYS SAY.

>>BRANDIS: YOU COULD FOLLOW CHEVY AND CAMERON ON TICK-TOCK BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE.COM.WE COULD WATCH OUR LAST WORD SERIES ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR CHAUFFEUR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WT TW/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WT TW NEWS.

WHILE YOU ARE THERE, MAKE SURE TO READ OUR STORY ABOUT NEW SAFETY AND HEALTH PROTOCOL CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS THIS FALL INCLUDING INDOOR MASKING.

ENJOY THIS WEEK AT SEVEN IN CHICAGO TONIGHT.

LIKE PRESERVERS INSIDE A CAMPAIGN MAKES THE LAKEFRONT SAFER.

AND CHICAGO'S IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF COMIC STRIPS.

AND TOMORROW NIGHT, BE SURE TO JOIN OUR VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL EGO WILL TALK WITH INDEPENDENT ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT THE FUTURE CHICAGO'S OUR TEAM.

THE EVENT STARTS AT 8 PM.

YOU CAN VISIT WT TW.COM/EVENTS TO RSVP.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR WEEKEND WITH US, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[MUSIC]