.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BANK.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

[MUSIC] >> DIVERSE VOICES ARE EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER.

ME BETTER WHERE THE FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE PROPER THAT'S WHY WE ARE SPREAD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICES.

TODAY OTHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER, WE CAN DRIVE VE CHANGE.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICE.I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE HOLIDAY WITH US.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: ON FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY, WE LOOK AT A WORLD THAT HAS HAD DIFFERENT MEANINGS FOR DIFFERENT AMERICANS.

PATRIOTISM, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO SOME MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

OFFICIALS UNVEIL A LONG ANTICIPATED MONUMENT FOR CHICAGO JOURNALIST AND ACTIVIST IDA B WELLS.

MEET THE FIRST BLACK DIRECTOR OF THE LINCOLN LIBRARY MUSEUM AND HER THOUGHTS ON THE LEGENDARY PRESIDENTS SIGNIFICANT AND STORY OF THEM AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

AND ERIC CORRESPONDENT ANGELITA SHARES DETAILS ON THE NEW PHOTO EXHIBIT DOCUMENT IN THE PAST AND CELEBRATING THE FUTURE OF WOMEN IN BLUE.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, TODAY IS 4 JULY.

THE CELEBRATION OF THE DAY, THE GREAT AMERICAN EXPERIMENT BEGAN TO HUNDRED AND 45 YEARS AGO.

AS WE KNOW, AMERICAN HISTORY IS NOT ALWAYS REFLECTED ITS PURPORTED VALUE OF EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

IN 1852, ABOLITIONISTS FREDERICK DOUGLASS ASKED IN HIS SPEECH, WHAT TO THE AMERICAN CLAIM IS 4 JULY?

TODAY, THAT HISTORY COMPLETES THE FEELING THAT MANY BLACK AMERICANS HAVE FOR THE COUNTRY.

LEADING SOME TO QUESTION WHAT PATRIOTISM OR WHAT PATRIOTISM SHOULD ME TO THE BLACK AMERICAN.

WIZARD JIMMY LEE TILL THE SECOND.

PRESIDENT OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING REPUBLICAN.

MICHELLE CUSTER, AUTHOR, ACTIVIST, AND GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF IDA B WELLS.

AND ALVIN TILLERY.

CENTER OF DIVERSITY AND DEMOCRACY AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

WELCOME BACK AND WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICES AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M GONNA ASK EACH OF YOU THIS SAME QUESTION.

I'LL ASK YOU KEEP YOUR ANSWERS KIND OF BRIEF PLEASE.

BUT, FIRST MICHELLE, WHAT DOES 4 JULY MEAN FOR YOU?

>>MICHELLE: 4 JULY OBVIOUSLY IS THE OFFICIAL INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR THIS COUNTRY.

BUT I THINK FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED.

WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES FREEDOM MEAN.

FOR US.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO SOME GOOD COMPLICATIONS.

JIMMY LEE TILLMAN, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE FOURTH OF JULY MEANS FOR YOU?

>>JIMMY: NOT THAT.

RIGHT NOW, FOR ME, INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM AND CELEBRATION FOR THE BLACK AMERICAN MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT IS NOT A DAY TO BE CELEBRATED OR HONORED.

THIS GREAT COUNTRY TO BE IN CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM.

>> FOR ME, AND I'M DESCENDENT FROM MEN THAT FOUGHT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

BLACK MEN WHO GOT THE FREEDOM FROM FIGHTING IN THAT WAR.

AND FOR ME, IT IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT WITHOUT BLACK AMERICANS, THIS COUNTRY WOULD HAVE FAILED WITHOUT BLACK AMERICANS, THERE WOULD BE NO DEMOCRACY TO SPEAK OF.

AND THAT'S WHAT I CELEBRATE WITH MY FAMILY AND CHILDREN EVERY YEAR.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: CROSSING THAT OUT LITTLE BIT, HOW DOES THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY CONFLICT WITH THESE NOTIONS OF FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE FROM BLACK PEOPLE?

MICHELLE, I'M GONNA ASK YOU THAT ONE FIRST.

>>MICHELLE: WELL, I MEAN, THE THING IS THAT YOU KNOW?

WHEN THE CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN, YOU KNOW, SAYING THAT LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE CONSTITUTION OR SLAVEHOLDERS.

AND SO, THEY CLEARLY DID NOT MEAN FOR EVERYBODY.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO WONDER, WHAT DID THEY MEAN?

AND SO, JUST THIS CONFLICT OMMA EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO FOUNDED THE COUNTRY.

IS SOMETHING TO REFLECT ON AND SO, THAT'S WHERE THE CONFLICT COMES FROM.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: THE WORD ITSELF, PATRIOTISM, IT HAS BECOME A CHARGED WORD AS OF LATE.

JIMMY LEE TILLMAN, HOW THE EVENTS OF THIS PAST YEAR CHANGED YOUR SENSE OF PATRIOTISM?

>>JIMMY: WELL, THIS PAST YEAR HAS MADE MY SENSE OF PATRIOTISM VERY STRONG.

JUST TO SEE HOW THE CRUCIAL AMERICANS, BLACK LIVES AMERICAN STANDING UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.

ARE THEY RIGHTEOUS?

AMERICA IS A FREE COUNTRY.

TO PIGGYBACK ON MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT IN THE BIRTH OF THIS COUNTRY, THE BLACK AMERICAN HAS PLAYED A TREMENDOUS PART.

WE HAD GEORGE FLOYD, HE REALIZED THE COUNTRY [INDISCERNIBLE] THE PROBLEM IS OUR TRUE HISTORY IS NOT BEING TOLD AND WE SIT WITH THE MENTALITY AND NOT KNOWING THAT IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY, BLACK AMERICAN ARE RIGHT THERE IN THE BEGINNING.

IT WAS NOT ALL SLAVES OR ALL >>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: ALVIN, YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE APPROPRIATE PATRIOTISM IN THIS COUNTRY?

>>ALVIN: I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATED.

I THINK PATRIOTISM, WHICH ADDED SPACE, SIMPLY MEANS A LOVE OF COUNTRY.

I THINK PATRIOTISM MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

I THINK THE KINDS OF PATRIOTISM THAT BLACK AMERICANS HAVE HISTORICALLY ELEVATED IS A LOVE OF COUNTRY WHEN THE COUNTRY DID NOT LOVE THEM.

AND NOT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PATRIOTISM THAT I THINK HAS EVER BEEN REFLECTED IN OUR NATURE.

I WOULD SAY THE KIND OF PATRIOTISM THAT BLACK AMERICANS, LIKE MICHELLE'S GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, ARTICULATED WAS THE PATRIOTISM THAT WAS INCLUSIVE OF ALL PERSONS.

AND THE DILEMMA FOR BLACK AMERICANS IS THAT THEY ACTUALLY WERE VICTIMIZED DESPITE THEIR PATRIOTISM.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SORT OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BLACK AMERICANS, PEOPLE LIKE MY GRANDFATHER, WHO WENT ON A SHIP TO FIGHT THE JAPANESE IN THE SEA OF JAPAN IN 1942 AT 16 YEARS OLD, HE WAS FIGHTING AGAINST THE JAPANESE, BUT ALSO AGAINST JIM CROW.

THE DOUBLE VICTORY.

WE ARE THE ONLY GROUP THAT HAS TO PAY THAT KIND OF WAGE.

PATRIOTISM FOR A LOT OF AMERICANS IS JUST A RALLYING CRY FOR AROUND SYMBOLS.LIKE THE FLAG OR AN IDEOLOGY TO DISCIPLINE OTHERS.

AND SO, THAT'S THE KIND OF PATRIOTISM THAT I THINK IS TO NORMAL AND SHOULD BE SORT OF DISCOURAGED RIGHTLY IN MY VIEW.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: MICHELLE, FOR YOU, HOW DO YOU REMAIN PATRIOTIC?

YET, KNOWING THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY OF RACISM AND TREATMENT FOR BLACK PEOPLE?

>>MICHELLE: WELL, THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY AND HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE COUNTRY.

AND APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT FREEDOMS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE REALIZE THAT THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

AND THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR CHANGE.

IN ORDER FOR THE COUNTRY TO LIVE UP TO ITS TRUE POTENTIAL OF WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

WITH THE IDEA OF WHAT AMERICA IS.IN MY OPINION, HAS NOT BEEN FULLY REALIZED.

I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A GOOD THING TO WANT TO GROW AS A COUNTRY.

TO GROW AS A SOCIETY AND CONTINUE TO CHANGE.BECOME AS INCLUSIVE AND AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY OPPORTUNITIES AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND SO, TO ME, PATRIOTISM IS A LOCAL COUNTRY, BUT ALSO PUSHING THE COUNTRY TO BE IT'S BEST SELF.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: JIMMY LEE, DO YOU THINK BLACKS OCCASIONALLY, BASED ON ALL THAT WE'VE SAID, AND ALL THAT WE HEARD, THE ASKED SOMETIMES YOU PATRIOTISM OR A SENSE OF DUTY TO THE COUNTRY DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES?

>>JIMMY: IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT AGE AND GENERATION THAT YOU DEAL WITH.

MY GRANDPARENTS WENT TO THE SERVICE.

NOT ALL BLACK AMERICANS WERE IN THE SERVICE.

IT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERATION OF THE 60S OR 70S THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

THIS COUNTRY IS NOT YOUR COUNTRY.

OUR THE WHITE MAN'S ARMY IS THE WHITE MAN'S ARMY.

A GENERATION THAT YOU HAVE.

THERE'S A LOT OF BLACK AMERICANS THAT ARE PROUD OF THIS COUNTRY, NO MATTER WHAT THIS COUNTRY HAS DID TO THEM.

IT'S JUST THAT MOST BLACK AMERICANS HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF EXPRESSING THAT PATRIOTIC SYMBOLISM.

YOU KNOW?

WHEN WE SEE MICHAEL JORDAN OR LEBRON JAMES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PLAN BASKETBALL, EVERY BLACK AMERICAN IS A PATRIOT.

EVERY BLACK AMERICAN HAS A FLAG OUT THERE.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: I WANT TO JUMP IN BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

ALVIN TILLERY, SPEAKING OF GENERATIONS, HOW SHOULD CHILDREN BE TOLD ABOUT THIS HISTORY AND PATRIOTISM IN A FEW SECONDS?

>>ALVIN: THEY SHOULD BE TAUGHT THE REAL HISTORY OF AMERICA.

AND THAT REAL HISTORY IS THAT YES, BLACKS UNDER JIM CROW AND SLAVERY WERE VICTIMIZED.

THEY CONTINUE TO BE VICTIMIZED.

YET, THEY WERE ALSO PATRIOTS.

YET, THEY WERE ALSO FOUNDERS.

AND SO, GETTING AWAY FROM THOSE FACTS WILL JUST LEAD TO THE KIND OF MISEDUCATION THAT MOTIVATES FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR POLITICS TODAY.

AND SO, THEY'VE GOT TO BE TAUGHT THE REAL TRUTH.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

HAPPY FOURTH TO THE THREE OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MICHELLE FESTER, IT JIMMY LEE TILLMAN, AND ALVIN TILLERY.

LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND DIGNITARIES WERE ON HAND AND BRONZE FILLED LAST WEEK TO DEDICATE A NEW MONUMENT TO A WOMAN'S LEGEND WHO LOOMED LARGE IN CHICAGO.

THAT A BLACK JOURNALIST PUBLISHER AND ANTI-LYNCHING CRUSADER, IDA B WELLS, ROSE TO WRITE GREAT RISK TO EXPOSE THE HORRORS OF RACISM AND JUSTICE FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY.

THE MONUMENT CALLED LIKE OF TRUTH IS CALLED DESIGNED BY INGLEWOOD HUNT AND IS LOCATED ON THE FORMER IDA B WELLS HOME IN BROWNSVILLE.

AND IS SAID TO BE THE CITY'S FIRST MONEY MADE IT DEDICATED TO A BLACK WOMAN.

HERE ARE SOME OF WHAT WAS SAID AT THE DEDICATION CEREMONY.

>> HER ANTILYNCHING ACTIVISM BECAME SO POWERFUL AND SO MOVING THAT OF COURSE WHITE FOLKS ROSE UP AND EXILED HER FROM THAT AND 1892.

>>WOMAN: FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

SHE FOUND A HOME.

HERE IN OUR CITY.

IN CHICAGO.

AND WE CLAIM HER AS OUR OWN.

SHE CAME HERE MAKING SURE THAT SHE WOULD HAVE THE NECESSARY WORK TO CONTINUE DEMANDING CHANGE AND ADVOCACY ON THE BEHALF OF BLACK PEOPLE AND YES, SHE DID.

>> SHE PROVIDED THE TEMPLATE FOR NOT BEING WORRIED ABOUT YOURSELF, BUT BEING WORRIED ABOUT THE TRUTH AND UNDERSTANDING THE POWERFUL PEOPLE NEVER WANTED US TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

>>WOMAN: THEY NEVER WANTED US TO UNDERSTAND THE HOW THE POWERS USED AGAINST US AND THE TRUTH ACTUALLY SAID IS THE WAY THAT WE RIGHT THE WRONGS OF OUR SOCIETY.

SO, AS WE COMMEMORATE 80 B WELLS BARNETT, THE BADDEST CHICK, I HOPE WE CAN REMEMBER HER LEGACY, BUT ALSO THAT WE ARE REMINDED OF OUR OWN DUTY TO CARRY ON HER FLIGHT.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: THE BADDEST CHECK.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE WALLS MONUMENT AND RENOWNED SCULPTURE, RICHARD HUNT, WHO DESIGNED IT BY NEXT WEEK CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICES.

MAKE SURE TO WATCH OUR CHICAGO STORIES DOCUMENTARY ON WELLS AND EXPLORE THE COMPANION WEBSITE@WTTW.COM /IDB WELLS.

UP NEXT, SOME SAY THE NEW LEADER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM IN A CONVERSATION RECORDED ON THE DIRECTORS FIRST DAY ON THE JOB EARLY LAST MONTH.

STAY WITH US.

[MUSIC] >> MORE THAN A DECK AND A AND AND A HALF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN LIBRARY HAS HELPED TO TELL THE STORY OF THE NATION'S 16TH PRESIDENT.

RESEARCH LIBRARY FOR BOTH SCHOLARS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

RECENT YEARS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT BUMPY THOUGH WITH THE DEPARTURE OF THE STATE HISTORIAN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

AND DEBATES OVER THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE HIGH-PROFILE ARTIFACT OF STOWED PIPE HAT.

TODAY MARKS A NEW ERA FOR THE INSTITUTION.

FIRST DAY ON THE JOB FOR ITS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JOINING US NOW IS THAT NEW LEADER, CHRISTINA SHUT.

SHE IS A MISSOURI NATIVE AND WAS RECENTLY A DIRECTOR OF THE MOSAIC TEMPLES CULTURAL CENTER IN LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS, WHICH CELEBRATES AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

WELCOME TO ILLINOIS.

HOW WAS YOUR FIRST DAY AT WORK?

>> IT WAS EXCELLENT.

I GOT TO MEET WITH SOME OF THE STAFF TODAY AS WELL AS WELCOME BUSLOADS OF VISITORS AND SCHOOLCHILDREN THAT WE HAVE HAD VISITING US.

SO, IT WAS A GREAT FIRST DAY.

>> YOU GREW UP IN A FAMILY THAT VALUED LEARNING.

TELL US ABOUT THAT FAMILY CULTURE.

>>CHILD: ABSOLUTELY.

OUR FAMILY EDUCATION WAS ANY WAY IN WHICH NOT ONLY BETTERING OURSELVES, BUT HELP BETTER OUR COMMUNITY.

AND YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT QUITE WELL WITH MY GRANDMOTHER.

>>CHRISTINE: WHO INTEGRATED HER UNIVERSITY.

AND SHE DID THAT BECAUSE USE AGAIN, SHE WANTED THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HERSELF.

FOR HER COMMUNITY AND FAMILY THAT WOULD COME ALONG LATER.

NEXT IT'S INTERESTING AS A HISTORIAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAD A TEACHER ONCE THEY TOLD YOU TO FORGET ABOUT THE TEXTBOOK AND WRITE YOUR OWN HISTORY BOOK.

WHAT IMPACT DID THAT HAVE ON YOU?

>>CHRISTINE: IT HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON ME BECAUSE IT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT HISTORY IS NOT JUST SOME FARAWAY FOREIGN PLACE THAT WE VISIT.

HISTORY IS ALIVE.

THE HISTORY IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BE ENGAGED IN.

AN UNDERSTANDING OUR HISTORY HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE IN NOW.

AND HELP US TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT THE WORLD THAT WE WANT TO LIVE IN.

SO, HAVING THAT KIND OF HANDS-ON HISTORY IS SOMETHING THAT I'M PERSONALLY ATTACHED TO AND I HOPE TO NOT ONLY REALLY CONTINUE, BUT THE GROW HERE AT THE MUSEUM.

>> AND WHAT ATTRACTED YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE TO THE LINCOLN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM?

>>CHRISTINE: I THINK THAT YOU DON'T GET VERY MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TO TALK ABOUT AND TO REIMAGINE AND RETHINK YOU KNOW, SOMEONE OVER 15,000 BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT LINCOLN.

AND SO, TO ME, TO TALK ABOUT HIM IN A FRESH NEW WAY IN A RELEVANT WAY FOR OUR PUBLIC IS USUALLY JUST EXCITING.

SO, I GOT THE CALL, I IMMEDIATELY SAID YES.

AND YOU GOT THE CHANCE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE INSTITUTION?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

>>CHRISTINE: YES, I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL TO MY VISION WELCOMING THE COMMUNITY, HELPING TO REALLY CENTER LINCOLN IN THE CONTEXT OF NOT JUST WHO HE WAS AT THE TIME, BUT WHO HE IS FOR US TODAY.

WHAT DO LINCOLN'S WORDS MEAN TO US TODAY?

HOW HAVE WE TRIED TO EMBODY THINGS LIKE YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING OUR BETTER ANGELS?

RIGHT?

HOW WE THINK ABOUT LINCOLN AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT HE HAD.

BUT ALSO, THE IMPACT OF THOSE HISTORICAL AND THOSE AROUND HIM HAD.

AND AGAIN, THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE IN TODAY.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'VE BEEN SOME UPS AND DOWNS IN THE MUSEUM'S HISTORY.

IN TERMS OF BRINGING STABILITY TO THE INSTITUTION, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>>CHRISTINE: YES, ALL I CAN DO IS SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE.

IN THE CULTURE CENTER, I WAS THE FIFTH DIRECTOR APPOINTED THERE AND 14TH CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AND CHANGE OF STAFF.

I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN MOVING FORWARD AND WITH THAT PATH.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY SHOWN OVER THE PANDEMIC AND LAST YEAR, YEAR AND AND A HALF IS THAT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHER.

THEIR EXCITEMENT MOVE FORWARD.

EVEN IN THE MIDDLE THE PANDEMIC, THEY CREATE AN EXHIBIT.

ORIGINALLY OPENING THE SOUND AND IT'S A FANTASTIC EXHIBIT, WHICH THEY DID IN THE MIDST OF A VERY TRITE AND DIFFICULT SEASON.

YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.

I THINK WE ARE ALREADY LOOKING MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER.

WHAT CAN THIS MUSEUM MEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY OF SPRINGFIELD, BUT ALSO FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND FOR THE NATION AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR 16TH PRESIDENT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE SEGMENT IS THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE STOVEPIPE.

GIVE US AN UPDATE, WHAT WAS THE LATEST THERE WASN'T OR WAS IT NOT LINCOLN STOVEPIPE THAT YOU HAVE?

>>CHRISTINE: THERE WAS A REPORT THAT WAS BROUGHT.

AGAIN, IT'S MY FIRST DAY, SO, I'M JUST GETTING TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE OF SOME OF THAT STUFF.

I KNOW THAT FOR THE COMMITTEE THAT'S WORKING ON THAT.

I WILL ALWAYS KEEP THE PUBLIC UPDATED AND WHEN IT COMES TO LIGHT EXPERTS AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> GOING ON THE DISPLAY THIS MONTH IS THE JUNETEENTH AS PART OF THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.

TELLS ABOUT THAT.

>>CHRISTINE: YES.

I AM SO EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE DISPLAYING ONE OF THE ORIGINAL, IN A SUPER RARE COPY OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, QUITE WELL, DOCUMENT OF LINCOLN'S TIME, FREED AND ENSLAVED PEOPLE WERE IN REBELLION AGAINST THE UNION.

TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO THE CIVIL WAR AND THE EFFORT.

SO, WE WILL BE DISPLAYING THAT, BUT ALSO WE'VE GOT SOME THINGS LINED UP.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNEL.

WORK OUT THE SPECIFICS.

HOW TO INTERPRET THAT, TALK ABOUT THAT, TO TALK ABOUT THE RELEVANCE FOR PEOPLE HERE TODAY.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR UNDERGROUND RAILROAD PROGRAM COMING UP.

I THINK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THERE'S DEFINITELY CAN BE SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.>> YOU ARE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERSON TO HAVE THE INSTITUTION.

DOES THAT INFORM HOW YOU'RE GOING TO APPROACH THE JOB IN ANY WAY?

>>CHRISTINE: SURE.

I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN I COME TO WORK MY BRING ALL OF MY IDENTITIES WITH ME AND I BRING MY WOMANIST, MY BLACKNESS, MY DEGREES, I BRING ALL OF THE ANCESTORS AS WE WOULD SAY IN THE BLACK HISTORY COMMUNITY.

WHEN I COME INTO WORK.

IN TERMS FOR ME I THINK, GROWING UP IN A SITUATION WHERE I DID NOT SEE MYSELF REPRESENTED IN MUSEUMS, I DIDN'T SEE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME.

IT'S ALWAYS ENCOURAGING AND INSPIRED ME TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE WILL WHAT STORIES ARE NOT BEING TOLD?

WHAT HISTORY HASN'T BEEN SHARED?

HOW DO WE BRING THAT TO OUR INSTITUTION?

HOW DO WE BRING THE COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE MUSEUM?TO BE PART OF THE STORES THAT WE ARE TELLING ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT JUST AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR LATIN HISTORY OR INDIGENOUS HISTORY.IT'S AMERICAN HISTORY.

HOW CAN WE TELL THAT AND NEW WAY?

>> THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR FIRST DAY WITH THIS.

CONGRATULATIONS AND ALL THE BEST TO YOU.

>>CHRISTINE: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[MUSIC] >>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: MURALS AND NEWS BEGINS TO HONOR MUSIC GENRE THAT CALLS CHICAGO HOME A TRAVELING PHOTO EXHIBIT IS MAKING SURE THAT CERTAIN ARTISTS RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION AS WELL.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGELITA SHOWS HOW ONE PHOTOGRAPHER IS USING SNAPSHOTS OF TIME TO PAY TRIBUTE TO WOMEN OF THE BLUES.

>> THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.

>>WOMAN: THAT'S WHAT LYNN ORMAN WEISS IS TRAVELING PHOTO EXHIBITION, WOMAN OF THE BLUES IS ON THE ROAD TO SHARE.

HOW FEMALE ARTISTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSIC GENRES.

>>WOMAN: CHICAGO IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS SORT OF THE PORTAL.

YOU KNOW?

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT CITY FOR WOMEN OF THE BLUES.

>>WOMAN: THIS COLLECTION OF THE HISTORIC SNAPSHOTS ARE SIX YEARS IN THE MAKING AND FEATURES MORE THAN 100 WOMEN INCLUDING COCO TAYLOR.

[MUSIC] >>WOMAN: COCO TAYLOR BEING OUR CHICAGO QUEEN OF THE BLUES PLAYS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN INFLUENCING AND EMPOWERING THE VOICES.

OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND SHE WAS MY INSPIRATION FOR THIS SHOW.

[MUSIC] >>WOMAN: THE BLUES IS WHAT SHE LOVED.

THE BLUES IS WHAT SHE LIVED.

BUT NOT HOW SHE LEFT.

>>WOMAN: TAYLOR'S DAUGHTER JOYCE AGREES AND SAYS HER MOTHER WHO GREW UP IN THE CHURCH AND STARTED AS A GOSPEL SINGER REMAINED TRUE TO HERSELF AND HER FAITH WHILE WORKING WITH BLUES LEGEND WILLIE DIXON.

[MUSIC] >>WOMAN: THESE ARE THE MAKING OF HER.

SHE REFUSED TO SING IT.

BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT ABOUT THE DIRTY DOZEN.

[MUSIC] >>WOMAN: AND MY MOTHER SAID THAT I JUST CANNOT SING THAT SONG.

AND DIXON SAID YOU JUST DON'T KNOW UNDERSTAND.

YOU GOTTA CHANGE BECAUSE I JUST CANNOT SING THAT.

>>WOMAN: ALSO FEATURES UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS MELANIE ANGEL WHO SAYS LEARNING THIS HISTORY IS IMPERATIVE TO HER DEVELOPMENT AS AN ARTIST.

[MUSIC] >>WOMAN: NOT ONLY ARE YOU HONORING THE GENRE, BUT YOU ARE HONORING THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED IT.

BECAUSE FOR ME, LEARNING ABOUT MY HISTORY, LEARNING ABOUT MUSIC HISTORY BUILT ME UP IN SUCH A WAY.

MY SELF-ESTEEM WAS BUILT UP BY KNOWING THAT I COME FROM A PEOPLE THAT NOT ONLY FOUND A WAY TO SURVIVE THROUGH THE MOST HORRIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THEY THRIVED AND THEY INVENTED AND CREATED THINGS THAT WE ALL LOVE TODAY.

[CHEERING] [INDISCERNIBLE] [CHEERING] >> FROM CHICAGO TO ST. LOUIS TO MEMPHIS, THIS EXHIBIT NOT ONLY CELEBRATES ARTISTS WHOSE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE GENRE, BUT ALSO THE PHOTOGRAPHERS, WHO HAVE DOCUMENTED THESE MUSICAL CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR DECADES.

>>WOMAN: WE ARE USUALLY IN THE PIT RIGHT NOW STARTING TODAY.

THE BLUES FEST, ELBOW TO ELBOW.

CAMERA TO CAMERA, LENSES TO LENSES SHOOTING THESE REMARKABLE WOMEN.

SO, I WANTED TO GIVE A VOICE ALSO TO THE PHOTOGRAPHERS.

BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THEM.

AND EVERYBODY CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF THE PERFORMER DIFFERENTLY.

AND IT'S REALLY IT BECOMES THIS BEAUTIFUL NARRATIVE ON WHO THEY ARE.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM ANGEL ITO.

>>BRANDIS FRIEDMAN: VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO SEE WOMEN OF THE BLUES.

THE EXHIBIT JUST FINISHED ITS RUN AT THE DELMAR RECORD GALLERY AND HAS A FEW STEPS BEFORE HEADING TO BROWNSVILLE THIS FALL.

THERE, YOU WILL ALSO SEE MORE ABOUT THE FEATURED ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS BEHIND THEIR PICTURES.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FROM THE LATEST FROM DTW NEWS AND JOURNEY TOMORROW ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

A PROTEST OR A RIOT HAS DIFFERENT AMERICANS VIEW THE SAME EVENT AND THEIR NATIONAL IDENTITIES.

AND A GLOBAL CAMPAIGN WANTING PEOPLE TO GO PLASTIC FREE THIS JULY.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICES, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE HOLIDAY WITH US AND STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[MUSIC]