>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK ADVICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... AN AND SERVED WARRANT CHARGES CAROLYN BRYANT DONHAM IN THE 1955 KIDNAPPING OF EMMETT TILL.

NOW, A GROUP OF TILL'S RELATIVES ARE DEMANDING TO SEE THAT WARRANT SERVED.

FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER WEIGHS IN ON THAT WARRANT AND SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY, VOTER SUPPRESSION AND MORE.

THE FIELD MUSEUM'S NEW ASSISTANT CURATOR GIVES US THE LAST WORD WHY HE SAYS MORE ACCURATE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT ARE NEEDED.

>> ART CAN REALLY BE THIS ACTIVE WAY OF ENGAGING BOTH YOUR MIND AND ALSO YOUR HEART.

>> YOUR LAST CHANCE TO VIEW A LOCAL EXHIBIT EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF VIOLENCE AND ART.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT...

IN THE BASEMENT OF A MISSISSIPPI COURTHOUSE IN LATE JUNE, MEMBERS OF THE MINNESOTA-BASED EMMETT TILL LEGACY FOUNDATION DISCOVERED AN UNSERVED WARRANT.

THE 1955 WARRANT CHARGED CAROLYN BRYANT DONHAM IN THE KIDNAPPING OF EMMETT TILL.

A BLACK 14-YEAR-OLD FROM CHICAGO.

TILL WAS ABDUCTED, TORTURED AND KILLED AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF WHISTLING AT CAROLYN BRYANT DONHAM AT A FAMILY STORE IN MISSISSIPPI.

THE HUSBAND AND BROTHER WERE TRIED AND ACQUITTED UNTIL THE LYNCHING.

THE FOUNDATION DEMANDING THE WARRANT BE SERVED AND TO SEE CAROLYN BRYANT DONHAM CHARGED.

JOINING US ARE IS DEBORAH WATTS EMMETT TILL'S COUSIN AND COFOUNDER OF THE EMMETT TILL LEGACY FOUNDATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST IF YOU WITH, EXPLAIN YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO EMMETT TILL HOW ARE YOU FAMILY?

>> I AM A COUSIN OF EMMITT'S AND MAMIE TILL.

OUR GRADE GRANDFATHER AND MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WERE BROTHERS.

>> AND WE ALL KNOW IN THE FAMILY WE'RE ALL FAMILY NO MATTER HOW FAR BACK YOU GO.

YOU FOUND THIS WARRANT, CORRECT?

SY.

WELL, IT WAS FOUND BY CALI WHO WAS WITH US.

THERE WERE FIVE PEOPLE WITH US AT THE TIME.

AND IT WAS MELISSA ERNEST ONE OF OUR AMBASSADORS, MY DAUGHTERRY WATTS OUR PR DIRECTOR WITH KEITH, KEITH IS THE FILM DIRECTOR AND JUSTICE ADVOCATE.

AND MYSELF.

SO IT WAS FOUND IN THE LOWER LEVEL BASEMENT AREA OF THE COURTHOUSE IN GREENWOOD MISSISSIPPI.

>> AND WHAT WAS THAT SEARCH LIKE?

HOW DID YOU GAIN ACCESS TO THE RECORDS?

>> WE GAINED ACCESS WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE COUNTY CLERK.

OUR FAMILY COUNSEL AND ATTORNEY REQUESTED THAT ACCESS.

AND IT WAS INITIALLY GRANTED TOWARDS THE END OF MARCH.

AND MELISSA ERNEST WITH KEITH DID AN EARLY ASSESSMENT AND THEN WE AFTER PUTTING OUR CALENDARS TOGETHER AND MATCHING UPDATES, WE KNEW WE HAD TO GO BACK.

THEY DIDN'T DID AN ASSESSMENT AND THERE WAS ANOTHER AREA THAT NEEDED TO BE SEARCHED AND THAT WAS THE LOWER BASEMENT AREA.

WE WENT WITH GLOVES, WITH HATS WITH, MASKS ON READY TO FIND THE WARRANT.

AND WITHIN AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF, CALI WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A BOX LOOKING THROUGH IT, FOUND THE ORIGINAL FILE THAT HAD BEEN THERE SINCE 1955.

>> SO DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR?

SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS WARRANT?

OR WERE YOU JUST LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WAS THERE, WHAT YOU COULD FIND?

>> WE KNEW THAT CRIMINAL CASES WERE IN A RED FOLDER AND THAT IS WHERE WE FOUND IT.

WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLY WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE A PART OF WHETHER IT'S IN THE MINUTE BOOKS OF AUGUST 1955 OR WHETHER IT WOULD BE ALTOGETHER.

BUT WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND IS A FILE FOLDER, RED IN COLOR, WITH THE MINUTES ALONG WITH THE AFFIDAVIT AND THE WARRANT INSIDE AND THEN A COPY OF A PIECE OF PAPER THAT HAD THE ADDRESS ON T EVERYTHING WAS IN THAT FOLDER.

WE WERE NOT SURE WHAT WE WERE GOING TO FIND.

BUT FORTUNATELY THE ANCESTORS LED US TO THAT FOLDER AND THAT BOX, AND IT WAS ALL CONTAINED THERE.

>> AND DEBRA WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT LIKE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO COME ACROSS THAT THE WAY YOU DID?

>> I'LL TELL YOU, WE WERE OVERWHELMED.

WE WERE EXCITED.

AT THE SAME TIME WE WANTED TO BE QUIET SO WE HAD A QUIET LEVEL OF EXHILARATION AND EXCITEMENT.

AND JUST OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION.

BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE FELT WAS ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT COUPLED WITH THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS GATHERED IN THE 2004-2006 INVESTIGATION THAT COULD BE USED AND WE JUST SOME OF US FELL TO OUR KNEES.

SOME CRIED.

WE HELD OUR BREATH.

IT WAS A MIXTURE OF EMOTIONS BUT WE WERE ALL I WOULD SAY WE KNEW WE WERE ON TO SOMETHING.

WE JUST WEREN'T QUITE SURE WHAT AND DIDN'T AT THAT TIME KNOW WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO NEXT.

BUT WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER TOGETHER, GATHER OURSELVES.

AND THINK THROUGH WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO NEXT.

AND WE CALLED ON THE EXPERTISE OF OUR ATTORNEY WHO GUIDED US TO CERTIFIED COPIES AND THEN GIVE THAT TO THE CLERK AND THAT IS NOW HELD IN A SAFE IN THE COURTHOUSE IN GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW WHY THAT WARRANT WASN'T SERVED IN 1955?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, NOTED ON THE BACK OF THE WARRANT, IT ACTUALLY SAYS -- I HAVE IT WITH ME HERE.

IT IDENTIFIES MRS. ROY BRYANT AND ROY BRYANT AS BEING BY THE PROSECUTOR THE FIGURES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SERVED THE WARRANTS.

ON THE BACK OF THIS WARRANT IT SAYS MRS. ROY BRYANT NOT FOUND IN MY COUNTY AND IT WAS SIGNED BY THE SHERIFF.

SO WE KNOW AT THAT TIME THAT AND LATER WE HEARD THAT BECAUSE SHE HAD SMALL CHILDREN THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER HER.

BEING AN ACCOMPLICE IN A KIDNAPPING AND ALSO A MURDER LATER, THAT'S NO EXCUSE TO NOT SERVE A WARRANT.

AND WE KNOW THAT WARRANTS AREN'T -- UNLESS THEY ARE RESCINDED THEY DON'T EXPIRE AND WE KNOW THIS IS AN OPEN MURDER CASE AND THERE'S NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON MURDER.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU A COUPLE MORE THINGS BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

YOU AND THE LEGACY FOUNDATION YOU ALL ARE ADVOCATING THIS WARRANT BE EXECUTED AND THAT SHE BE AT LEAST ARRESTED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS WARRANT.

WE FOR THE F.B.I.

SPENT YEARS REINVESTIGATING THIS PARTICULAR CASE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TELL THAT SHE LIED AT THE TIME AND WHEN SHE DID OR DID NOT LIE WHAT IF NOTHING COMES OF THIS?

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION THEN?

>> WELL, THIS IS EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW THIS IS EVERYTHING TO US.

IT SHOULD BE TOASTER OUR FAMILY AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED OVER THE YEARS.

THIS IS AN OPEN MURDER CASE.

SON WE IN THE COMMUNITY, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALONG WITH THE D.A.

IN MISSISSIPPI THEY SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT JUSTICE PREVAILED.

JUSTICE DELAYED SHOULD NOT BE JUSTICE DENIED.

WE ARE NOT DOING THIS WITH HATE IN OUR HEART.

EMMETT'S MOTHER DID NOT HAVE THAT.

WE WANT JUSTICE TO PREVAIL.

WE WANT AT THE LEAST THIS WARRANT TO BE EXECUTED.

AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES AND PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

I KNOW THE HEADLINES SAY ARREST HER AND THAT.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS AT THE LEAST EXECUTE THE WARRANT.

WE ALSO HOPE THAT THE D.A.

WILL IMPANEL A GRAND JURY AND YES, WE HOPE FOR A CONVICTION.

WE WANT JUSTICE TO PREVAIL.

AND WE FEEL WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT.

>> IN THE PAST THERE HAVE BEEN GRAND JURIES THAT FAILED TO INDICT HER BEFORE AND THIS IS A NEW PIECE.

DEBORAH WATTS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> UP NEXT, A ONE-ON-ONE WITH FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER ON WHETHER HE THINKS THAT NEWLY FOUND WARRANT SHOULD LEAD TO AN ARREST IN A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER.

THE FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER BARACK OBAMA WARNS THAT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS IN PERIL.

IN A NEW BOOK ERIC HOLDER ARGUES SINCE THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN PARTS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN 2013 STATES SOUGHT TO RESTRICT VOTING RIGHTS.

HE SAYS WHAT HE CALLS THIS ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY ULTIMATELY LED TO THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FAILED ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION ON JANUARY 6 AND IT CONTINUES HE HAD TODAY.

THE BOOK IS OUR UNFINISHED MARCH, THE VIOLENT PAST A HISTORY A CRISIS A PLAN.

AND JOINING US NOW IS FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER.

Mr. HOLDER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH THIS MOST RECENT MASS SHOOTING WHICH UNFORTUNATELY HIT CLOSE TO HOME IN HIGHLAND PARK.

AND IT'S YET ANOTHER ONE WE'VE SEEN FAR TOO MANY OF THESE.

AND WHEN YOU SEE THEM HAPPENING AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN THINKING ABOUT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS?

>> WELL, FIRST YOU KNOW I'M ANGERED BY WHAT YOU SEE.

I FEEL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE VICTIMS THE FAMILY MEMBERS THE SURVIVORS.

BUT IT'S ALSO AN INDICTMENT OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE UNITED AROUND COMMON SENSE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE THOSE KINDS OF SHOOTINGS FAR LESS LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, WAITING PERIODS THE BANNING OF ASSAULT WEAPONS THERE'S MAJORITY OF SUPPORT YET OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY IT SEEMS TO GET OUT OF THE POCKETS OF THE GUN LOBBY AND DO WHAT THE MEME WANT TO DO.

THE PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY MEASURES HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND WE DO THAT BY VOTING AND HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE THOSE POLITICIANS WHO WILL SIDE WITH THE GUN LOBBY AS OPPOSED TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY.

>> SHIFTING TO THE JANUARY 6TH HEARINGS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING THE CASE THAT THEN PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ATTEMPTED TO ORCHESTRATE A COUP TO KEEP HIMSELF IN POWER.

YOU NOTED A EXCHANGE BETWEEN TRUMP AND DONAHUE REVEALED AS BEING DAMNING.

LET'S HEAR TESTIMONY ON THAT.

>> LET'S NOT PUT UP THE NOTES WHERE YOU QUOTE THE PRESIDENT HE SAID THE PRESIDENT SAID JUST SAY THE ELECTION WAS CORRUPT AND LEAVE THE REST TO ME AND THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN.

SO Mr. DONAHUE THAT IS A DIRECT QUOTE FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS AN EXACT QUOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT, YES.

>> SINCE THEN WE HAVE HEARD MORE EXPLOSIVE TESTIMONY FROM FORMER WHITE HOUSE AIDE CASSIDY HUTCHINSON.

BASED ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR HAVE WE SEEN ENOUGH EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT THAT WE COULD SEE THE FORMER PRESIDENT CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THAT POINT.

THAT STATEMENT -- YOU JUST SAY IT'S CORRUPT AND WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THE REST.

THAT CALL HE MADE TO FOLKS IN GEORGIA.

FIND ME 11780 VOTES.

ALL THIS TALK IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND THE NECESSARY INTENT WITH REGARD TO TRUMP'S ACTIONS.

THAT IS BELIED BY WHAT YOU PLAYED AND WHAT I SAID WITH REGARD TO THE GEORGIA CALL.

HE CLEARLY HAD THE INTENT TO TRY TO STEAL THE ELECTION TO FOR MEANT A COUP.

AND WE ARE CLOSE TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SAY AN INDICTABLE CASE CAN BE MADE AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, HE SHOULD BE INDICTED.

HE HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> THE SUPREME COURT THEIR TERM ENDED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND ONLY ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS APPROVE OF THE JOB THE SUPREME COURT IS DOING.

I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SLEW OF SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THE DOBBS DECISION WHICH OVERTURNS THE ROE DECISION.

EXPANDING GUN RIGHTS.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION.

A LOT OF THIS COURT'S DECISIONS SOME CRITICS ARE SAYING THEY ARE DRIVEN BY MORE IDEOLOGY THAN THE LAW.

HOW CAN THE COURT MAINTAIN ITS LEGACY AS IT'S VIEWED AS PARTISAN?

>> I AM AHE NOT SURE IT'S VIEWED AS PARTISAN AS MUCH AS IDEOLOGICAL.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE COURT CERTAINLY WITH REGARD TO THE DECISION THAT OVERRULED THE ROE DECISION, THAT WAS NOT A NEW FINDING.

IT WASN'T SOME NEW FOUND LAW AND NEW FOUND FACTS.

THAT WAS A CHANGE IN COURT PERSONNEL AND THAT IS NOT THE WAY IN WHICH OUR SYSTEM WORKS.

COURTS MAKE DETERMINATIONS AND SUBSEQUENT COURTS TRY TO FOLLOW THE DECISIONS.

STARE DESIGH SIS.

TO OVERRULE SOMETHING THAT WAS ALMOST 50 YEARS OLD UPON WHICH PEOPLE RELIED ON THE BASIS THAT THE COURT STATED IN THEIR OPINION BY JUSTICE AUTO LET TOW -- JUSTICE ALITO AND PUTS AT RISK THE WAY IN WHICH IT IS VIEWED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

I WOULD HOPE THAT THE JUSTICES WILL NOT USE THE POWER THEY HAVE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE IT BUT USE THAT POWER IN A WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE BEST TRADITIONS OF THE COURT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR BOOK.

IN BROAD TERMS, IT IS ABOUT THE FIGHT TO WIN THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO UNDERMINE THAT RIGHT.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

>> THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY AND WHERE WE ARE WITH REGARD TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

I SAY IN THE BOOK AND I'VE SAID I THINK OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK.

WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO EXAMINE PREVIOUS TIMES IN OUR HISTORY WHEN OUR DEMOCRACY WAS UNDER ATTACK.

HOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE RESPONDED THEN.

TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION WE ARE CONFRONTING.

AND PUT OUT SPECIFIC IDEAS ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN MAKE OUR DEMOCRACY BETTER.

MAYBE SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> SO SOME OF THOSE IDEAS THAT YOU DO SHARE IN THE BOOK, YOU HAVE IDEAS ON FIXING THE ELECTIONS FOR EXAMPLE WITH AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION, SAME DAY REGISTRATION ON-LINE REGISTRATION.

EN FRANCHISING THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED VOTE.

MAKING ELECTION DAY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

AND FIXINGS OUR INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING ELIMINATING THE FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE.

AND ENDING LIFE TENURE FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES BY ALLOWING EACH PRESIDENT TO APPOINT TWO JUSTICES OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR TERM.

AND THOSE JUSTICES WOULD SERVE FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF YEARS INSTEAD OF LIFETIME.

WHAT HOPE DO YOU HAVE THAT SOME OF THE MEASURES WILL COME TO FRUITION?

>> IT IS A LONG LIST OF PROPOSALS.

ALL OF WHICH I THINK ARE REALLY GOOD ONES AND WOULD FOSTER THE NOTION OF A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY.

AND SO PEOPLE SAY WELL, THAT IS TOO MUCH.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

AND WE CAN'T HAVE THAT PESSIMISM BECAUSE THAT LEADS TO INACTION.

WE HAVE TO BE OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT LEADS TO CONSISTENT AND CONCERTED ACTION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY PART OF THE BOOK I'M SURE POINT Dr. KING AND THE PEOPLE WHO SURROUNDED HIM THOUGHT HOW ARE WE GOING TO PULL DOWN A SYSTEM OF AMERICAN APARTHEID?

HOW DIFFICULT IS THIS GOING TO BE AND HOW CAN WE MAKE IT HAPPEN?

THEY PERSEVERED AND THEY DID IT.

THE PROPOSALS I AM MAKING, ARE NOT NEARLY AS BIG AS THE STRUCTURAL CHANGES THAT Dr. KING AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT BROUGHT ABOUT.

>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE DISCOVERY OF THE UNSERVED WARRANT IN THE EMMETT TILL CASE THAT WOULD HAVE CHARGED CAROLYN BRYANT DONHAM WITH THE KIDNAPPING OF TILL.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT DISCOVERY AND THE CALL BY SOME MEMBERS OF TILL'S FAMILY THAT SHE SHOULD BE ARRESTED?

>> WARRANTS CAN GO STALE OVER TIME.

I HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE WARRANT SAID.

TRY TO GET AHOLD OF THE EVIDENCE THAT LED TO THE WARRANT THAT MADE A JUDGE MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTED AND TAKE INTO THE COUNT WHAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS MADE A DETERMINATION THERE WAS NOT A BASIS TO GO FORWARD BUT CERTAINLY IT IS A PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED.

IMPORTANTLY THE UNDERLINED DOCUMENTS THAT LED TO THE JUDGE'S FINDING THERE WAS A BASIS TO HAVE HER ARRESTED I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING NEW THERE THAT MIGHT LEAD TO A REOPENING OF THE CASE.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> IT IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SEE A LOCAL EXHIBIT THAT IS EXPLORING AMERICA'S RACE RELATIONS DATING BACK TO THE 1800'S.

THE EXHIBIT SET TO CLOSE THIS WEEKEND, SPOTLIGHTS THE COUNTRY'S RACISM IN A VISUAL HISTORY LESSON SHOWCASING THE INTERSECTION OF VIOLENCE AND ART WHILE ALSO ENCOURAGING REFLECTION.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU SHARES A LOOK AT A SIGHT OF STRUGGLE AMERICAN ART AGAINST ANTIBLACK VIOLENCE.

AND A WARNING SOME OF THE IMAGES ARE GRAPHIC.

[♪♪♪] >> BLACK ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF HOW HISTORY HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED.

>> A NEW EXHIBIT AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S BLACK MUSEUM IS REFLECTING ON THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY OF RACE RELATIONS.

>> WHAT THE EXHIBITION SEEKS TO PRESENT ARE THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THAT ARTISTS HAVE USED TO ENGAGE THIS TOPIC.

WHETHER IT'S USING DIRECT DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE... OR USING ABSTRACTION TO AVOID LITERAL REPRESENTATIONS OF VIOLENCE.

WE WANT TO SHOWCASE THE RANGE OF APPROACHES THAT ARE TAKEN TO THIS TOPIC.

>> COMPRISED OF 60 WORKS ACROSS MEDIUMS THE EXHIBIT TAKES VISITORS THROUGH AMERICAN HISTORY STARTING IN THE 1890s AND ENDING IN 2013 AT THE START OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

NORTHWESTERN PROFESSOR LESLIE HARRIS SAYS ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN CRITICAL TO THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT.

>> THE EARLY ACTIVISTS HIRED ARTISTS TO DEPICT WHAT EVERYONE KNOWS THE CUTAWAY OF THE PASSAGE SHIP.

FROM AN EARLY TIME IN THAT STRUGGLE JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE ARTISTS WERE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN THE POLITICS OF MAKING IT KNOWN THAT THERE WAS AN INJUSTICE THAT WAS HAPPENED.

THAT WAS AT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD LOWER LITERACY RATES.

PEOPLE HAD TO RELY ON THE VISUAL TO REACH BROAD AUDIENCES.

BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE WAS READING THE PAPER OR PICKING UP BOOKS.

>> FROM DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF LYNCHING TO EXPLORING THE REALITY OF THE JIM CROW ERA, THE EXHIBIT FEATURES WORKS 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 1895 THAT WAS WRITTEN BY IDA B.

WELLS BASED HERE IN CHICAGO.

AND SHE IS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST ACTIVISTS TO APPROPRIATE LYNCHING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTESTING LYNCHING AND MAKE IT A PROCESS THAT NEEDED TO BE IRRADICATED.

>> WITH TWO-THIRDS ARTISTS OF COLOR AND ONE-THIRD NOT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BOTH TELLING THE STORY.

YOU CAN SEE THE HISTORY OF SOLIDARITY THERE WERE WHITE ARTISTS IN THE 20s AND 30s WHO LENT THEIR ARTWORK TO SUPPORT ACTIVISM BY THE N.A.A.C.P.

SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THE GENEALOGY OF SOLIDARITY.

>> IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO IT HAVE THIS EXHIBITION OPENING IN TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

CERTAINLY WE CAN CELEBRATE AND WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH BECAUSE OF RACISM AND WHAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE OF THAT.

THIS EXHIBITION DEMONSTRATES THAT.

BUT MORE SO IT DEMONSTRATES HOW ARTISTS HAVE CHOSEN TO USE THEIR 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 SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHAT TOOLS DO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORIES POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE AND HOW DO WE TALK TO OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ABOUT THEM.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND THE EXHIBIT, A SIGHT OF STRUGGLE AMERICAN ART AGAINST ANTIBLACK VIOLENCE CLOSES THIS SUNDAY AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S BLOCK MUSEUM IN EVANSTON.

HIGHLIGHTING AFRICAN INNOVATION, THE GOAL OF THE FIELD MUSEUM'S ASSISTANT CURATOR.

THE AFRICA EXHIBIT IS ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD.

AND IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A MAJOR UPDATE.

FOREMAN WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ZIMBABWE IS WORKING TO BRING A REPRESENTATION OF AFRICA TO MUSEUM GOERS.

HE LEAVES US WITH THE LAST WORD TONIGHT.

>> WELL, I'M AFRICAN.

I GREW UP IN AFRICA.

I THINK I HAVE A DUTY A MORAL DUTY LIKE THIS COLLECTION HERE HAVE A MORAL DUTY TO ALSO SPEAK.

THE STORY OF AFRICA WHICH HAS NOT BEEN TOLD AT LEAST NOT ENOUGH, AND RETOLD MANY TIMES.

YOU SWITCH THE TELEVISION YOU HEAR ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

I THINK TIME HAS COME AND PERHAPS TIME IS NOW WHERE WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO.

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU MANY PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT IT.

BUT FEW PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT THE GREAT WALLS OF BENIL.

WE ARE IN THE GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS BACK IN THE 1970s.

BUT WHY NOBODY TALKS ABOUT THEM OR KNOWS ABOUT THAT TODAY?

THAT SHOWS YOU THE STORY OF AFRICA HAS SUFFERED FOR A LONGTIME.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE COME TO VISIT AND TO SEE IN SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY DO NOT COMPARE TO SOME OF THE MAGNIFICENT PIECES FOUND IN AFRICA.

IF WE DO NOT FIND WAYS OF HIGHLIGHTING THAT THEN WE ARE DOING INJUSTICE TO THAT PART OF THE PAST THAT CAN SPEAK THAT CAN HIGHLIGHT, THAT CAN EDUCATE, THAT CAN INFORM.

THE AFRICAN PEOPLE FOUND OUTSIDE AFRICA THEY HAVE A DUTY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AFRICA.

BECAUSE THEY ARE PEOPLE, THERE ARE MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS WILL NEVER GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

TO ADVERTISE THEMSELVES.

UNTIL THEY HAVE THE CHANCE LIKE MYSELF TO COME TO A PLACE LIKE THIS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT AFRICA, BECAUSE OF THE YEARS AND YEARS OF PREJUDICE THAT AFRICA SUFFERED.

YET AFRICA DOES HAVE A LOT TO OFFER AND SOME HAS TO DO WITH THE RELATIONS THAT MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT AFRICA.

AND THE MORE THEY WANT TO EXPERIENCE AND TO SEE OTHER THINGS AND WHERE THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN VISIT AFRICA WITHOUT BRINGING INCOME INTO THE CONTINENT.

>> AND HE BEGAN HIS ROLE AT THE FIELD MUSEUM LAST AUGUST.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

JOIN ME NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 P.M. ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

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.

[♪♪♪]