>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EPISODE OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" A JUNETEENTH SPECIAL.

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

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, WE'RE COMMEMORATING JUNETEENTH, THE FIGHT TO RECOGNIZE THE DAY AS AN OFFICIAL HOLIDAY AND WHY IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING.

PLUS, A LOOK AT THE FIGHT FOR REPARATIONS WHY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IS FACING CALLS TO MAKE AMENDS FOR HISTORICAL TIES TO SLAVERY.

WE SHARE AN UPDATE WHERE THE PUSH FOR REPARATIONS IN CHICAGO STANDS AS OTHER CITIES IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS.

STITCHING HISTORY WITH A LOCAL QUILTERS GUILD AS WE LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CRAFT IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> I DON'T WANT THE SHOW TO BE A BLACK SHOW.

THIS IS AN AMERICAN SHOW.

>> AND HOW A LOCAL THEATRE IS COMMEMORATING MORE THAN 400 YEARS OF BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY WITH A NEW MUSICAL.

>> AFTER YEARS OF ADVOCATING AND CAMPAIGNING, JUNETEENTH IS BEING RECOGNIZED AS A FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL HOLIDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.

THE DAY RECOGNIZES JUNE 19TH, 1865 WHEN THE LAST ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN TEXAS WERE FREED MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

THE EFFORT TO MAKE JUNETEENTH A CHICAGO HOLIDAY STARTED IN 2019.

NOW IT IS OFFICIALLY ON THE CITY'S CALENDAR LIKE THE FOURTH OF JULY AND ANY OTHER MAJOR AMERICAN HOLIDAY.

JOINING US NOW ARE TWO PEOPLE WHO MADE THAT HAPPEN, TORRENCE GARDNER WHO HELPED DRAFT CHICAGO'S JUNETEENTH LEGISLATION ALONG WITH ALDERWOMAN MARIA HADDEN'S OFFICE AND LACRESHIA BIRTS FOUNDER AND CO-CHAIR OF THE BLACK REMEMBRANCE PROJECT.

COAL COME AND HAPPY JUNETEENTH TO BOTH OF YOU.

LACRESHIA BIRTS LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

YOU AND THE BLACK REMEMBRANCE PROJECT YOU KICKED OFF THE PUSH TO MAKE JUNETEENTH A CHICAGO HOLIDAY.

WHY WAS THIS CAUSE WAS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> BECAUSE IN 2019 IT WAS A HISTORIC PERIOD FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

2019 PARKED THE 400 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BLACK AMERICAN, AFRICANS BEING BROUGHT HERE AS SLAVES AND JUNETEENTH REPRESENTED THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CHICAGO RACE RIOTS AS WELL AS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF [INAUDIBLE] AND WE REALIZED THAT 2019 WAS SUCH A HISTORIC YEAR, WE SAID THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO RECOGNIZE THE LINEAGE OF BLACK AMERICANS AND SLAVERY.

>> TORRENCE WHEN THE PROJECT APPROACHED WITH THIS INITIATIVE, APPROACHED ALDERWOMAN MARIA HADDEN'S OFFICE WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE IT ON?

>> IT TO ME WAS SOMETHING LONG OVERDUE.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO SHOULD NEVER BE OVERLOOKED, NO LONGER.

AND IT HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR TOO LONG.

TO ME IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND ALSO SOMETHING THAT I FELT IN MY BONES THAT IF WE DID NOT DO THIS, THEN IT SHOWED THAT WE COULDN'T GET A HOLIDAY RECOGNITION LET ALONE THE OTHER NEEDED SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS IN OUR BLACK COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO GET RESOLVED.

THE HOLIDAY TO ME SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE REGARDLESS.

BUT IT WAS SOMETHING I FELT MUCH JOY IN TAKING ON WITH THE OTHER FOLKS WHO HELPED JOIN ALONG AND SOMETHING OUR ANCESTORS WOULD BE PROUD OF.

>> LACRESHIA BIRTS YOU STARTED THIS IN 2019, DO YOU THINK THE SUMMER OF 2020 WHAT IMPACTS DO YOU THINK THAT HAD ON FURTHERING NURSING HOME CAUSE?

>> I THINK THE SUMMER OF 2020 HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR CAUSE.

THE YEAR THAT GEORGE FLOYD WAS ASSASSINATED BY POLICE.

I THINK THAT THE UPRISINGS HELPED TO PUT ATTENTION ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND I MEAN EVEN BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT WE WERE STILL GAINING MOMENTUM FROM THAT AS WELL.

THERE IS A NEW GENERATION OF ACTIVISTS THAT WERE BORN FROM BLACK LIVES MATTER MYSELF INCLUDED.

SO I THINK THAT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON JUNETEENTH.

FOR ME AS SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN ORGANIZING AROUND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES I SAW JUNETEENTH AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO THINK BEYOND JUST THAT AND START TO ENVISION A WORLD THAT WE WANT BLACK PEOPLE TO LIVE IN.

A WORLD WHERE BLACK PEOPLE ARE LIBERATED.

IT MESHED WELL WITH THE UPRISING.

>> DURING A CITY JUNETEENTH EVENT EARLIER THIS WEEK, CITY LEADERS RECOGNIZED THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF DESIGNATING JUNETEENTH AS A HOLIDAY.

BUT SAID THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO.

HERE IS A BIT OF WHAT THEY SAID.

>> WE'RE 246 YEARS INTO THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT AND WE'RE NOT DONE.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS TO ME.

IT IS A REMINDER THAT WE'RE NOT DONE.

>> AND THOUGH SLAVERY MUST HAVE OFFICIALLY ENDED IN 1865 AS WE KNOW ITS EFFECTS ARE STILL VERY MUCH PRESENT AS WE ARE DEALING WITH THE RIPPLE EFFECTS AND THE VESTIGES OF THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT SEEING AFRICANS AND BLACKS AS REAL PEOPLE DESERVING OF THE FULL RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP IN THIS COUNTRY.

THIS CONTINUES TO BE A SIN THAT WE MUST IRRADICATE IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> TORRENCE, DO YOU THINK THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF JUNETEENTH COULD STRENGTHEN OTHER RACIAL EQUITY EFFORTS?

>> CERTAINLY AND HONESTLY THAT IS THE PUSH THAT WE MEANING LACRESHIA BIRTS AND I AND ALDERWOMAN HAD EN DESIRED.

I THINK THERE WAS A NOTION WHEN IT PASSED LAST YEAR THAT THE HOLIDAY WHY DO WE NEED A HOLIDAY?

IS THAT ALL WE GOT AS A BLACK COMMUNITY A HOLIDAY?

THAT IS THE IRONIC PART TO THE STORY WE WANTED JUNETEENTH TO BE A TESTAMENT TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.

A CATALYST TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER.

AND THROUGH JUNETEENTH, WHERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER AGAIN, SOLVE THOSE ISSUES THAT WE STILL HAVE NOT RESOLVED IN OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

SO JUNETEENTH IS A BEGINNING AND JUNETEENTH SHOULD BE UTILIZED AS A WAY TO FURTHER BUILD ON TO MORE MOVEMENTS THAT I FORESEE COMING AND WHAT LACRESHIA BIRTS SAID, JUNETEENTH'S VICTORY IS PARTLY PREDICATED ON THE UNFORTUNATE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN JUNETEENTH ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT THE MOVEMENT THAT OCCURRED POST THAT MURDER.

>> LACRESHIA BIRTS YOU WERE PART OF A COALITION FOCUSED ON KEEPING COMPANIES FROM MONETIZING JENTD.

WE SAW THIS WITH WALMART AND DOLLAR TREE CREATING JUNETEENTH THEMED PRODUCTS.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT EFFORT AND WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO PROTECT?

>> AS A BLACK AMERICAN I BELIEVE IN BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF JUNETEENTH MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO TAKE PART IN THE HOLIDAY DON'T MONETIZE OR PROFIT ADVERTISE OFF OF IT IN A WAY THAT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE LINEAGE OF AMERICAN SLAVERY DESCEND ENDS.

I THINK IF CORPORATIONS SHOULD BE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS RESPECTFUL TO THE PEOPLE IN THE GROUP THAT THIS HOLIDAY IS SET UPON BLACK AMERICANS DESCENDANTS OF DRIVERY.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY AND EQUITY IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE PART OF DOING SOMETHING AROUND JUNETEENTH THAT PARTICULAR GROUP FOR ANY HOLIDAY, ANY CULTURAL EXPERIENCE WHETHER IT BE SOHNI SINGH, THOSE GROUPS SHOULD BE CENTERED IN THE BRANDING AND EVERY PART EVERY ASPECT IN THE WAY THE CORPORATIONS PARTICIPATE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO WIDEN THOSE IN THE CORPORATIONS RESPONSIBLE SO THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE CULTURE AND IN THIS CASE BLACK AMERICANS.

>> WE HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT IS NEXT?

YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED THIS WHAT IS NEXT ON YOUR AGENDA?

>> WHAT IS NEXT ON MY AGENDA IS REPARATIONS.

I AM A REPARATIONS ORGANIZERS AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PUSH FORWARD TO GET CHANGES SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS TALKED ABOUT.

>> MORE TO COME DOWN THE ROAD.

LACRESHIA BIRTS AND TORRENCE GARDNER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, SOME OF AMERICA'S MOST PROMINENT UNIVERSITIES HAVE HAD TO RECKON WITH THEIR TIES TO THE ORIGINAL SIN: SLAVERY.

FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HAS FACED CALLS TO MAKE REPARATIONS FOR ITS TIES TO THE SLAVE TRADE.

THE UNIVERSITY SAID IT WAS A PRIOR ITERATION OF THE SCHOOL THAT BENEFITED FROM SLAVERY NOT THE CURRENT INCARNATION.

AS NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS, THAT HAS NOT QUIETED CALLS FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE HISTORY AND MAKE AMENDS.

>> THE FIRST SCHOOL KNOWN AS THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WAS FOUNDED IN 1856 BY FORMER ILLINOIS SENATOR STEVEN A. DOUGLAS WHEN HIS FATHER-IN-LAW DIED HE LEFT A PLANTATION AND ENSLAVED PEOPLE.

DOUGLAS GOT A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS.

>> WITH THAT STEVEN A. DOUGLAS WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE CHICAGO REAL ESTATE MARKET THEN HE STARTS TO GET INTO PHILANTHROPY.

AND ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HE GIVES MONEY TO IS UPSTART BAPTIST ORGANIZATION CALLED THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

>> DOUGLAS GAVE THEM A 10-ACRE PLOT AND SERVED AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUCE TEES.

BUT WHEN KING JORDAN WHO STUDIES AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY STARTED ASKING IF U CHICAGO HAD TIES TO SLAVERY THE RESPONSE HE HEARD WAS... >> THE UNIVERSITY STARTED IN 1890.

IT IS A POST SLAVERY INSTITUTION THERE CAN'T BE TIES TO SLAVERY.

AND THEN ONCE WE STARTED LOOKING INTO IT, YOU KNOW, WE FOUND ACTUALLY YES, THERE WERE INDEED TIES TO SLAVERY.

>> IN 2017 JORDAN AND GRAD STUDENTS PUBLISHED A CASE FOR REPARATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO OUTLINING DOUGLAS' KEY ROLE IN LAUNCHING WHAT THE SCHOOL CALLS THE OLD UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

DOUGLAS DIED IN 1861N A STATEMENT TO WTTW NEWS A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SCHOOL SAID...

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO THAT EXISTS TODAY WAS FOUNDED IN 189O THE EARLIER UNIVERSITY WAS FOUNDED BY DOUGLAS IN 1856 AND FINANCIALLY COLLAPSED IN 1886 WITH THE LAND AND BUILDINGS FORECLOSED BY CREDITORS.

>> HE IS INTEGRAL TO THE UNIVERSITY.

>> THE REMEMBERSTY BORROWED AGAINST THE DONATED LAND AND REFORMED ITSELF TO GET OUT OF DEBT.

WITHOUT THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE SCHOOL... >> YOU DON'T GET THE REPUTATION AND THE VOLUMES WITH THE BOOKS YOU DON'T GET THE DONOR NETWORK.

>> THE UNIVERSITY IS FIRM THAT THE OLD AND NEW ARE SEPARATION INSTITUTIONS IN JULY 2020 THE SCHOOL REMOVED A STONE FROM THE OLD UNIVERSITY AND A BLACK HONORING DOUGLAS DONATED TO SHOW THE FOUNDER AND FATHER OF THE OLD IS GIVEN CREDIT FOR HIS PECULIAR PART IN THE INSPIRATION OF THE NEW.

>> AT MANY INSTITUTIONS THE KIND OF DISCOMFORT SOMETIMES.

NORTHWESTERN PROFESSOR LESLIE HARRIS STUDIES AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND IS COED TORE OF SLAVERY AND THE UNIVERSITY.

>> EVERYTHING IN THE SUNS ROOTED IN THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY.

ANY INSTITUTION THAT WE THINK OF THAT IS FOUNDED DURING AND EVEN FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE SLAVE TRADE IS ROOTED IN THE MONEY, THE WEALTH PRODUCED BY SLAVERY.

>> HARRIS SAYS SCHOOLS LIKE BROWN, EMORY, HARVARD AND YALE HAD TO RECKON WITH THEIR TIES TO SLAVERY.

>> WITH THE ARRIVAL OF MUCH MORE DIVERSE FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY THEY HAVE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE WERE WE?

ARE THERE PEOPLE LIKE ME HERE BEFORE?

AND AS YOU GO BACK IN TIME, THE PEOPLE FOR SOME OF THEM WHO WERE LIKE THEM, WERE ENSLAVED PEOPLE.

>> SOME SCHOOLS PROFITED FROM THE SLAVE TRADE AND OTHERS USED SLAVE LABOR TO BUILD OR STAFF CAMPUSES.

HARRIS SAYS DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES HAVE TAKEN DIFFERENT APPROACHES BUT THE SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT RUN FROM THEIR PASTS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED OR AFRAID OF REPARATIONS.

DOES THIS MEAN PEOPLE JUST GET A CHECK?

IS THAT GOING TO TAKE SOMETHING OUT OF MY POCKET?

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE WORD REPAIR PART OF THIS WORD REPARATION.

HOW DO WE CREATE INSTITUTIONS THAT ADDRESS THE FUTURE WE WANT TO LIVE IN?

>> IN A STATEMENT U CHICAGO HIGHLIGHTED ITS COMMUNITY WORK, COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAMS, HEALTHCARE, SUPPORTING BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS.

LAST YEAR THE SCHOOL LAUNCHED A COUNCIL ON U CHICAGO COMMUNITY RELATIONS TO TACKLE THE FRAUGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND FIND WAYS TO BUILD BRIDGES.

>> I THINK THAT IS THE EXACT WAY THAT THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD GO.

WHAT IS GOING TO MATTER IS WHAT THE UNIVERSITY DOES WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE ISSUES.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> U CHICAGO'S COMMUNITY COUNCIL INCLUDES FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

ITS FIRST MEETING WAS IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

>> UP NEXT, THE MOVEMENT FOR REPARATIONS IN CHICAGO AND WHERE IT STANDS.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT JUNETEENTH EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.

AS WE COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH CALLS ARE GROWING LOUDER FOR REPARATIONS BUT HERE IN CHICAGO, THERE'S BEEN LITTLE MOVEMENT ON THE ISSUE.

A CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE WAS CREATED TWO YEARS AGO TO EXAMINE HOW THE CITY TO PAY REPARATIONS.

BUT SINCE THEN IT'S ONLY MET TWICE.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE HAS BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF REPARATION EFFORTS IN AND AROUND THE CITY AND JOINS US NOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST, BRING US UP-TO-DATE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE PUSH FOR REPARATIONS IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, THERE WAS A BIG MOVEMENT TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT STUDYING THE NEED FOR REPARATIONS AND HOW TO DO IT IN CHICAGO.

AND INITIALLY, THE PROPOSAL WAS TO CREATE A FULL COMMISSION THAT WOULD HAVE A STAFF AND THE RESOURCES TO REALLY GET INTO THIS ISSUE.

BUT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT OBJECTED TO THAT PLAN AND THE CITY COUNCIL AGREED TO FORM A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE.

AS YOU SAID, THAT SUBCOMMITTEE HAS MET ONLY TWICE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS AND MADE NO SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS TOWARDS STUDYING REPARATIONS IN A SYSTEMIC WAY OR MAKING REPARATIONS FOR WHAT THE CITY SHOULD DO TO BEGIN ADDRESSING IT.

>> THERE'S ALSO A SLAVERY ORDINANCE IN CHICAGO REQUIRING FIRMS TO DISCLOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEY PROFITED FROM SLAVERY BEFORE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.

BUT WE ARE NOW LEARNING THAT MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS HAPPENED.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL BUS THIS?

>> CHICAGO BECAME THE FIRST CITY IN THE NATION BACK IN 2002 TO PASS THAT SLAVERY ERA DISCLOSURE ORDINANCE.

AND THE IDEA WAS WAS THAT THE CITY SHOULD KNOW IF THE BUSINESSES THAT IT IS ENGAGED WITH PROFITED FROM SLAVERY MUCH THE WAY THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PROFITED FROM STEVEN DOUGLAS WHOSE ROOTS WERE IN SLAVERY.

THAT ORDINANCE CALLED FOR THE CITY TO PRODUCE AN ANNUAL REPORT.

WE LEARNED THAT SECOND MEETING OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT THOSE REPORTS APPEAR NOT TO HAVE BEEN PRODUCED OR AT LEAST ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

THE CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ALDERMAN COLEMAN SAID SHE HOPED THOSE REPORTS COULD HELP GUIDE THE NEXT PHASE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S WORK BUT THEY SIMPLY DON'T'S EXIST OR ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

>> HEATHER THANK YOU.

REPARATIONS IS THE TERM THAT -- WAS NOT USED MUCH 10 YEARS AGO.

HEATHER CHERONE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> UP NEXT, STORYTELLING THROUGH STITCHING.

WE EXAMINE THE HISTORY OF QUILTING BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT MORE JUNETEENTH EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.

>> THE AFRICA INTERNATIONAL HOUSE IS EXPLORING THE IMPACT QUILTING HAS HAD ON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN A CELEBRATORY SYMPOSIUM THIS JUNETEENTH WEEKEND.

ANGEL IDOWU IS HERE TO SHARE WHY THE PRACTICE IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST A NEEDLE AND THREAD BUT DOCUMENTING HISTORY INSTEAD.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

I VISITED WITH A LOCAL CULTURE GUILD WHO HAS BEEN STITCHING HISTORY TORE THE LAST 30 YEARS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> FOR DECADES, THE MARRIAGE OF A NEEDLE, THREAD AND FABRIC HAS OFFERED MORE THAN JUST A COMBINATION TO CREATE BLANKETS.

>> QUILTING IS SIGNIFICANT OF LIKE HISTORY, CULTURE AND SURVIVAL.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE RAILROAD MOVEMENT, UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, WE READ THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE SYMBOLS OF THE ICONS HELPED ESCAPE TERRORISM AND SLAVERY.

>> THE PRACTICE HAS SINCE EVOLVED INTO AN ART FORM THAT CONTINUES TO EDUCATE NOW SERVING AS ENTERTAINMENT AS QUILTERS SEW STORIES ABOUT HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE.

THAT IS WHY PATRICK WOODTOR WITH AFRICA INTERNATIONAL HOUSE IS EXPLORING AND CELEBRATING THE PRACTICE IN A SYMPOSIUM THIS JUNETEENTH.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

>> WITH THE SYMPOSIUM WILL BE QUILT EXHIBITIONS AT NAVY PIER AND OTHER ENTITIES.

CREATED BY THE LADIES OF NEEDLES AND THREADS QUILT GUILD OF CHICAGO.

GUILD MEMBER DORIS BARNES HAS BEEN QUILTING SINCE SHE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD IN MISSISSIPPI.

>> I ALSO WENT TO THE COTTON FIELDS, PICKED COTTON.

SO I HAD A PROBLEM AT FIRST WITH QUILTING WITH THE COTTON.

I DECIDED I WASN'T GOING TO LET IT HOLD ME BACK BECAUSE I LIVE QUILTING SO MUCH AND I SAID I WOULD PUT THE COTTON TO A GOOD USE.

>> THE RETIRED COMPUTER PROGRAMMER HAS FIGURED OUT HOW TO UTILIZE NEW TOOLS TO ENHANCE THEIR LOVE FOR THE ART WITH THE MODERNIZED APPROACH.

>> YOU DIGITIZE IT ON A COMPUTER.

DOWNLOAD IT TO A SEWING MACHINE AND LET THE MACHINE STITCH IT OUT.

>> THE EXHIBITION WILL HIGHLIGHT PIECES FROM A QUILTERS GROUP FROM LIBERIA FEATURING A PIECE FROM GLADYS TURKETT'S GRANDMOTHER.

THE COLORS AND PATTERNS REPRESENT NOT ONLY HER FAMILY'S HISTORY BUT THE ROLE IT PLAYED IN THEIR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AS WELL.

>> IN LIBERIA, WHERE I COME FROM MY GRANDMOTHER NORMALLY THE QUILTS WERE SOMETHING THAT YOU GAVE IF YOU HAVE A CHILD TO GET MARRIED.

SHE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT NOT WORKING FOR ANYBODY.

GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

AS I CAME HERE NOW I SEE THE CONNECTION.

NOW I SEE THE CULTURE.

>> FROM AFRICA TO AMERICA, THE SYMPOSIUM INTENDS TO EXPLORE QUILTING'S ROLE ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY BUT THE CULTURAL AGENCY IT'S ALLOWED AS WELL.

>> MY GOAL IS TO PORTRAY THE HISTORY THAT I'M STILL LEARNING.

THE HISTORY WAS STOLEN FROM MY ANCESTORS.

AND SO WHAT I'M DOING I'M RECAPTURING THIS OLD HISTORY AS UGLY AS IT IS.

I WANT TO RECAPTURE THIS AND MAKE SURE WE NEVER FORGET WHAT HAPPENED TO US AND NEVER FORGET WHERE WE CAME FROM AND HOW WE GOT HERE?

IT'S BEEN QUILTING THE STORY AND DOROTHY CROSS-STRAUGHTER'S GOAL FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

>> AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A JIM CROW FIGURE AND IT WAS BASED ON A REAL GUY NAMED JIM CRUZ AND THERE IS A GUY NAMED THOMAS RICE WHO SAW THIS GUY AS A CRIPPLED MAN ENTERTAINING SLAVES IN THE 1800'S.

THIS IS FROM A PICTURE OF 1828.

HE CAME AND SAW THIS GUY DOING THIS AND HE STARTED DOING IT AND GETTING PAID FOR IT AND THERE GOES BLACK FACE.

>> WE ENDURED A LOT OF REALLY AWFUL THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO OUR PEOPLE BACK IN THE DAY.

AND SOMEHOW WE STILL MANAGED TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

WE STILL MANAGED TO KEEP MOVING AHEAD.

THAT IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR PEOPLE THAT KEEPS ME GOING AND I CHANNEL WHEN I DO THE QUILTS JUST TO MAKE SURE THIS HISTORY LIKE I SAY, NEVER GETS LOST.

>> NOW, IN ADDITION TO NAVY PIER THROUGH THE END OF JULY, THE QUILT EXHIBITIONS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE DUSABLE MUSEUM AND THE RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION THIS JUNETEENTH WEEKEND.

AS WELL AS THE AFRICA INTERNATIONAL HOUSE.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO CATCH A RECAP OF THAT JUNETEENTH SYMPOSIUM.

NOW, BRANDIS YOU KNOW I HAD TO BRING IN MY OWN PERSONAL FAMILY QUILT TO THE STUDIO TO SHOW.

SO THIS QUILT WAS MY MOTHER'S AND IT WAS PASSED DOWN FROM HER GRANDMOTHER'S BEST FRIEND WHO WAS IN A QUILTER'S GUILD.

>> THAT IS A LOVELY QUILT.

HOW HAS THIS ENCOURAGED YOU TO START YOUR OWN TRADITION AND EXPLORE YOUR FAMILY'S HISTORY THROUGH THE PRACTICE?

>> IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE THIS IS THE QUILT THAT I GREW UP.

I WOULD LOOK AT THE PATTERNS AND THE STITCHING EVERYDAY AND WHEN I WAS AROUND 8 OR 9 I STARTED SEWING I GUESS ON MY OWN.

AND I TRIED MY BEST TO RECREATE THE STITCHES THAT I HAD SEEN HERE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE COOL TO CREATE A QUILT OF MY OWN THAT COULD BE REFLECTIVE OF MY NIGERIAN AND CHICAGO IDENTITY.

>> SPECIAL PRACTICE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT QUILT WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH IT.

THANK YOU.

>> AS PART OF JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATIONS A PLAY SHARES THE STORY OF AMERICA'S JOURNEY FROM WHEN THE FIRST ENSLAVED PEOPLE ARRIVED UP TO NOW.

1619 THE JOURNEY OF A PEOPLE IS PLAYING AT THE THEATRE.

PLATE WRITE TED WILLIAMS LEADS US WITH THE LAST WORD WHY HE SAYS THIS IS NOT ONLY A BLACK SHOW BUT AN AMERICAN SHOW.

>> I'M THE PLAYWRIGHT AND PRODUCER OF A WONDERFUL MUSICAL CALLED 1619 YOU SHOULD SEE IT.

NOT BECAUSE I'M INVOLVED IN IT BUT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY AND WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND THIS COUNTRY'S JOURNEY IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS JOURNEY.

AUGUST 20TH, 1619, ENSLAVED AFRICANS ARRIVED IN VIRGINIA AND THEIR STORY CHANGED THE WORLD.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAD BEEN SO IMPORTANT.

THEY HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE AMERICAN STORY.

I AM A BELIEVER THE ARTS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL TEACHING KOOL TOOL WE HAVE.

I AM AN EDUCATOR BY TRADE AND I HAVE MORE ABILITY TO IMPACT PEOPLE ON THE STAGE IN THE MEDIA THAN I DO IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND SO I WANT TO USE THE ARTS PARTICULARLY THEATRE THE MEDIUM OF THEATRE TO EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN AND INSPIRE AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WHEN PEOPLE SEE HOUR SHOW I WANT JEFF TOBOLSKI READY FOR A TIME OF LEARNING, A TIME OF INSPIRATION AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE COME OUT AND SEE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST MY STORY AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

IT'S ALL OF OUR STORY.

>> 1619 THE JOURNEY OF A PEOPLE HAS A PERFORMANCE SUNDAY AND PLANS TO RETURN FOR AN ENCORE PERFORMANCE IN JULY.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRODUCTION AND TO SEE OUR IN-DEPTH STORY ABOUT THAT ONE OF A KIND MUSICAL THAT AIRED EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS JUNETEENTH WEEKEND.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. AND JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ 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 AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]