CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO A SPECIAL JUNETEENTH ADDITION OF CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT - >> I HAD NO IDEA HOW IMPORTANT THIS PLACE WAS TO OFFER BILLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> Host: FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS EVEN IN LIFE AND DEATH THESE CHICAGOANS ARE EDUCATING OTHERS.

>>> A NEW SOCIAL ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING BLACK WOMEN SCHOLARS ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE PHD.

>>> AWARD-WINNING CHEF ERIC WILLIAMS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNETEENTH AND HONORING AMERICAN CUISINE.

>>> FIRST UP AMERICANS HAVE A FEW NEW DAYS TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM PAIRED ON THURSDAY PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE A BILL FINDING JUNETEENTH A FEDERAL HOLIDAY THEY WILL COMMEMORATES JUNE 19, 1855 WHEN NEWS REACHED TEXAS THAT THE CIVIL WAR HAD ENDED AND HE AND SLAVES WERE FREE.

THAT WAS MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION IN 1863.

CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, JULIANA STRATTON AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS OFFER THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS TO AMERICA.

THERE IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> DAYS LIKE JUNETEENTH REMIND THE WORLD THAT BLACK HISTORY IS TRULY AMERICAN HISTORY AND PROVIDE US WITH AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE CONTINUED WORK WE MUST DO TO CREATE A SOCIETY WHERE ALL BLACK FOLKS HAVE FREE, UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO ENJOY THE FULL MEASURE OF CITIZENSHIP.

[APPLAUSE] SLAVERY MIGHT HAVE OFFICIALLY ENDED IN 1865 BUT WE ARE STILL GRAPPLING WITH THE VESTIGES OF THAT ORIGINAL SIN HERE TODAY.

FROM HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD DISINVESTMENT TO HIS BILLY INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM HOLD PEOPLE BACK TO REALIZE THEIR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.

THESE INEQUITIES CONTINUE TO KEEP FAR TOO MANY BLACK FOLKS AWAY FROM OPPORTUNITIES AND UPWARD MOBILITY.

WE CANNOT SIMPLY STAND IDLY BY AND CONTINUE TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> NEITHER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION OR THE DECLARATION OF FREEDOM ON THE FIRST JUNETEENTH EVEN THE 13TH AMENDMENT ALLOWED US AS BLACK PEOPLE TO FULLY EMBODY THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ALL DESERVE.

RATHER, WE CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEEP FAITH AND STRENGTH OF OUR ANCESTORS THAT PROPELLED US TO THIS MOMENT.

IT IS A TIME TO COME TOGETHER IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN OUR STATE TO RECOMMIT TO AND WORK TOWARDS THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF FREEDOM FOR ALL.

DOCTOR MAYA ANGELO SAID THE MORE YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY THE MORE LIBERATED YOU ARE.

JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY WILL HELP ENSURE EVERY ILLINOIS AND KNOWS OUR HISTORY AND THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS KNOW OUR HISTORY.

THAT IN ITSELF IS LIBERATING.

>> WHEN WE ESTABLISH NATIONAL HOLIDAYS IT MAKES AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS OR SOMETHING IMPORTANT.

THESE ARE DAYS WHEN WE AS A NATION HAVE DECIDED TO STOP AND TAKE STOCK.

AND OFTEN TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR HISTORY.

WE MUST LEARN FROM OUR HISTORY AND WE MUST TEACH OUR CHILDREN OUR HISTORY.

BECAUSE, IT IS PART OF OUR HISTORY AS A NATION.

IT IS PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> Host: SOME OF THAT HISTORY THE VICE PRESIDENT IS REFERRING TO IS BURIED RIGHT HERE IN CHICAGO, LITERALLY.

A CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER WALKING TOUR TAKES US TO THE HEADSTONES AND MAUSOLEUMS OF SOME OF CHICAGO'S MOST INFLUENTIAL ACTIVISTS, POLITICIANS AND ENTREPRENEURS THAT SHAPE HISTORY IN THE 155 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST JUNETEENTH.

FOR MANY CHICAGOANS THE BISHOP SUPPORT IS JUST A BUSTLING FREEWAY THROUGH THE SOUTH SIDE.

THE MAN IS NAMED FOR, BISHOP LEWIS FORD WAS THE EULA JUST OF TO ME HILL.A FUNERAL THAT WOULD GALVANIZE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT ON THAT FATEFUL DAY IN 1955 AFTER TILL WAS LYNCHED IN MISSISSIPPI.

>> THE PICTURES OF HIS CORPSE WERE PUBLISHED IN JOHN JOHNSON'S EBONY AND JETS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE.

EVERY THEM BILLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE COUNTRY COULD SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

>> TODAY BOTH JOHNSON AND FORWARD LIEN REST NEXT TO EACH OTHER INSIDE OAKWOOD CEMETERY IN THE GREATER GRAND CROSSING COMMUNITY.THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACE IS SHARED WITH SO MANY OTHER CHICAGOANS WHO HELPED WRITE THE CITIES AND COUNTRIES HISTORY.

THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURES WALKING CIVIL WAR TO CIVIL RIGHTS WALKING TRACES THE HISTORY TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BURIED.

AMONG THEM 4000 CONFEDERATE AND MILITARY PRISONERS IN A MASS GRAVE.

>> WOULD BEGIN AT THE CONFEDERATE MOUND THAT'S NOT WHERE WE END HERE THAT'S THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR.

THEN WE MOVE INTO RECONSTRUCTION, THE GREAT MIGRATION AND THE MODERN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND ALL THE PEOPLE HERE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT DIFFICULT TRANSITION FOR OUR COUNTRY .

>> ANOTHER THEME THAT IS PART OF THE TOUR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RECONSTRUCTION IS THAT PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE THE FEELING THAT HISTORY IS ALWAYS ABOUT PROGRESS.

YOU ARE ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD AND THINGS ARE ALWAYS GETTING BETTER.

WHAT WE SEE IN SOME EXAMPLES OF THIS TO WORK IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF REGRESSION.

>> ERICA MILES IS ONE OF THE DOCENTS OF THIS TO TOUR.

THEY EXPLAINED TO VISITORS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHICAGO'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR.

>> HE WAS ELECTED MAYOR IN 1983 AND UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED IN 1987 BUT WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO IN THAT SPAN OF TIME IS AMAZING.

>> ANTILYNCHING CRUSADER AND JOURNALIST IDA B WELLS.

>> IT WAS AMAZING TO ME TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT SHE DID, THE TIME SHE DID IT IN AND HOW VERY DANGEROUS IT WAS AND HOW SIGNIFICANT IT WAS IN TERMS OF RAISING THE AWARENESS AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

>> ALSO BURIED HERE, OLYMPIC GREAT JESSE WILLIAMS WHO BEAT THE NAZIS IN TRAFFIC TRACK AND FIELD IN THE OLYMPICS.

THEY SAY HISTORY DATES ARE IMPORTANT BUT WHAT SHE REALLY HOPES VISITORS CAN SENSE IS THE CONTEXT OF THE TIME.

>> WE TEND TO MYTHOLOGIZED THESE PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM LARGER-THAN-LIFE AND SAY THEY COULD ACCOMPLISH THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE THIS SUPER HUMAN PERSON.THAT'S OFTEN NOT THE CASE.

IT IS OFTEN JUST REGULAR PEOPLE WHO ARE RISING TO THE CHALLENGE.

>> OTHER NOTABLES BURIED AT OAK WOODS INCLUDE SOCIAL SERVICES ADVOCATE ADA S McKINLEY AND NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL ICON TED DOUBLE DUTY RADCLIFFE WOULD ALSO BURIED THEIR U.S. SENATE ARE FROM ILLINOIS, WHO WROTE THE FIRST AMENDMENT, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND THE FREEDOMS BUREAU ACT.

THE CHICAGO CENTER IS OFFERING THIS TO WORK IN AN ADDITIONAL FOUR DATES THIS YEAR.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE.

>>> 100 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH GEORGIANNA ROSE SIMPSON BECAME AMERICA'S FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO GRADUATE WITH A PHD.

SHE EARNED HER DOCTORATE AS WELL AS HER BACHELOR AND MASTERS DEGREES IN GERMAN THEOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

NOW TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARE HONORING HER TRAILBLAZING ACHIEVEMENT WITH THE GEORGIANNA ROSE ORGANIZATION.

A SOCIAL GROUP SUPPORTING BLACK WOMAN AND FEMININE ALIGNED STUDENTS IN ACADEMIA.

JOINING US NOW ARE DIO ADEOA, VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT MARLA ANDERSON.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TONIGHT TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

MARLA ANDERSON LET'S START WITH YOU.

TELL US WHO WAS GEORGIANNA SIMPSON AND HOW DID HER STORY INSPIRE THE ORGANIZATION?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

HOW DID WE KNOW WHO DOCTOR SIMPSON WAS.BESIDES WHAT WE KNOW FROM WRITTEN HISTORY.

I THINK THAT'S THE MOST INTERESTING THING IS THAT IT IS BOTH WRITTEN AND UNWRITTEN.

FROM THE HISTORY WE KNOW THAT SHE WAS BARRED FROM BEING ABLE TO BE ON CAMPUS BECAUSE OTHER STUDENTS, HER PEERS DID NOT WANT HER ON CAMPUS.

WE KNOW THAT SHE FACED OTHER STRUGGLES WHEN SHE GRADUATED FROM CHICAGO AND SHE WAS ABLE TO FIND TEACHING POSITIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK THAT SHE WAS GOOD ENOUGH.

WHAT I REALLY ADMIRED ABOUT DOCTOR SIMPSON'S STORY WAS HER RESILIENCE AND TO HER COMMITMENT TO INVESTING AND REINVESTING TO HER COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THAT COMES FROM.

AS BLACK WOMEN IN A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE ACADEMICS, FOLLOWING IN THOSE FOOTSTEPS AND INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY WERE THE THINGS THAT I FOUND MOST INSPIRING ABOUT HER STORY.

>> Host: DIO, THIS IS THE SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION FOR BLACK WOMEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, WHAT GAP ARE YOU TRYING TO FILL OR WHAT ROLE ARE YOU TRYING TO OFFER TO OTHER BLACK WOMEN STUDENTS AT E CHICAGO?

>> Guest: RIGHT.

ONE THING ABOUT YOU CHICAGO IS THAT IT IS A CAMPUS THAT IS DEDICATED TO FREE SPEECH.

THIS IS A PILLAR THAT THEY ALWAYS TRY TO EMPHASIZE THAT THEY NEVER TALK ABOUT THE CONDITION THAT IS NEEDED TO FOSTER FREE SPEECH.

SO THE GAP THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FULFILL IS CREATING THAT SPACE OF CARE AND COMFORT TO KNOW THAT WE ARE VALIDATED AS WOMEN IN OUR EXPERIENCE AND KNOW THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE INTERSECTIONAL.AND THEN WHEN WE GO INTO THOSE SPACES AND INTO THE WORLD WE ARE EQUIPPED TO SPEAK FREELY TO BE OURSELVES BECAUSE WE ALWAYS KNOW THAT ON CAMPUS, SPECIFICALLY THEIR IS THAT SPACE AND THAT IS WHERE GROWTH IS.

>> Host: BRIEFLY HOW WOULD YOU SAY THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM SORORITIES OF COURSE?

>> Guest: IT IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT IS FOR BLACK WOMEN BY BLACK WOMEN AND WE ARE SPECIFIC TO THOSE NEEDS WHEREAS OF COURSE THERE ARE OTHER SPACES THAT ARE MORE GENERALLY FOCUS THAT ARE ALSO BLACK AND FOCUSED BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BLACK WOMEN AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE ARE A SPECIFIC CATEGORY OF PEOPLE THAT IS WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT.

>> Host: MARLA, I KNOW YOU ARE BUILDING THE COMMUNITY NOT JUST WITH EACH OTHER BUT ALSO BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE UFC AREA HOW IS THAT GOING?

>> Guest: I WOULD LIE IF I SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT.

CHICAGO IS SO FILLED WITH BLACK WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY DUE TO RACIAL UNREST LAST YEAR EVEN GOOGLE HAS DONE A BETTER JOB OF MAKING IT'S SIMPLE TO TO SAY BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN MY AREA.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO SEMI-COLON A BLACK OWNED BUSINESS IN CHICAGO.

AND, THERE IS A BLACK OWNED CHOCOLATE SHOP, CHOCOLATE SHOP AND ICE CREAM AND THEN WE WENT TO ANISA BUTLER EVENT AT THE ART INSTITUTE AND IT IS THE BLACK WOMEN CULTURE.

BLACK WOMEN BUSINESSES ARE SO EVIDENT IT'S NOT HARD TO FIND.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DRUMMING UP SUPPORT FROM BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS SO WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND GO OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

AND THEN IN SAYING THAT IF THERE ARE BLACK WOMEN BUSINESSES IN CHICAGO THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE US, THAT WOULD LIKE TO INVITE US OVER AND SO WE CAN ALL HAVE A GOOD TIME AND CHANGE THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.

>> Host: MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY IT SOUNDS LIKE.

DAYO, I KNOW YOU ARE JUST GETTING STARTED BUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR GROW?

>> Guest: THE FUTURE OF GROW IS BRIGHT.

WE LOOK FOR MORE SOCIAL EVENTS, MAKE SURE WE ARE BUILDING THE COMMUNITY AND WE HOPE TO GET MORE POLITICALLY INVOLVED AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT BLACK WOMEN BASED ORGANIZATIONS AROUND CHICAGO DID FOR EXAMPLE, COCO, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE AND ALSO CONTINUING TO UPLIFT THE VOICES OF OUR REALLY GREAT MEMBERS SO, ALL OF THAT.

>> Host: COCO, THE KENWOOD OAKLAND ORGANIZATION.

AND THERE IS A BUS ON THE CAMPUS WHY IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT LOCATION?

>> Guest: FOR MANY REASONS.

THE MOST STRIKING ONE TO ME IS THAT HER BUS STANDS PARALLEL TO THE EXACT PRESIDENT WHO REFUSED TO LET HER LIVE ON THE E CHICAGO CAMPUS.

HER BUS IS IN A CENTRAL LOCATION ON CAMPUS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE IF THEY ARE STUDENTS HERE.

SO, I THINK FOR US, IT WAS LIKE A WELCOME ALMOST TO THE BLACK STUDENTS.

>> Host: ONCE UPON A TIME IT WAS A CLUB THAT WAS ONLY ASSESSABLE FOR WHITE MALES WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE CASE RIGHT NOW.

MY THANKS TO THE WOMEN OF GROW, DAYO ADEOYE AND MARLA ANDERSON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, BEST OF LUCK.

>> Host: UP NEXT THIS WEEK'S THROWBACK TO HOW SOME CITIES AND STATES WERE CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH BEFORE IT WAS RECOGNIZED AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

STAY WITH US.

>> Host: THOUGH THE NATION IS JUST NOW RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH AS A HOLIDAY IT HAS LONG BEEN CELEBRATED IN SOME CITIES AND DATES.

IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED AS A HOLIDAY IN CHICAGO SOME 20 YEARS AGO.

IN THIS THROWBACK FROM 2001 CHICAGO TONIGHT RICH SAMUELS SHOWS US HOW JUNETEENTH WAS OBSERVED FROM OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE NORTH.

>> 80,000 ON MILWAUKEE'S PIN DRIVE ON THE 19TH OF LAST MONTH.

>> JUNETEENTH IS ONE OF THOSE EXPRESSION SAYING WE ARE PROUD, WE WERE FREED BY A COUNTRY WHO WANTS ENSLAVED US.

REMEMBRANCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

JUST LIKE THE JEWISH TRADITION NEVER FORGET THE HOLOCAUST.

I THINK WE IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE REMISS IF WE EVER FORGOT THE CIVIL WAR AND SLAVERY.

>> MILWAUKEE'S NORTHCOTE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE BROUGHT JUNETEENTH TO MILWAUKEE 30 YEARS AGO.

>>> WEDDLE RECALLED HOW IT HAPPENED.

>> SHE WAS VISITING HER GRANT PARENT AND THEY CELEBRATED JUNE DAY.

SHE CAME BACK TO MILWAUKEE AND TOLD HER STAFF WHAT SHE HAD SEEN DID THE STAFF THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS SHE HAD SEEN IN GEORGIA.

BLOCK OFF TO STREETS ON KING DRIVE WELL THIRD STREET THEN WHICH BECAME KING DRIVE NOW.

AND THEN THEY HAD A STREET HONORING THE FREE AND OTHER SLAVES.

[MUSIC] >> THERE IS NOW A NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH.

FLORIDA, OKLAHOMA, DELAWARE, IDAHO AND ALASKA HAVE JOINED TEXAS IN OFFICIALLY DECLARING JUNETEENTH AS A STATE HOLIDAY.

SOUTH SHORE HAS BEEN THE VENUE OF THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION HERE FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.

ORGANIZERS SAY THIS YEAR'S 5000 PARTICIPANTS SHOWED JUNETEENTH IS CATCHING ON IN CHICAGO.

>> OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT THE CELEBRATION.

EVERY FLYER WE PASS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WE HAVE THE INFORMATION OF WHAT JUNETEENTH IS.

THE OLDEST CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> JUST BECAUSE A CELEBRATION IS SPECIAL, SHOULD IT BE A RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY MEANT IS JUNETEENTH RISE TO THAT LEVEL?

>> DEFINITELY.

I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE AND SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S A HOLIDAY AUTOMATICALLY BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY.

>> IT NEEDS TO BE SHARED WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE STILL IN DENIAL OVER THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING SLAVE REALLY, SOME DASTARDLY THINGS.

>> Host: WITH JUNETEENTH GAINING WIDER RECOGNITION WHAT SIGNIFICANCE DOES A HOLD FOR BLACK AMERICANS AND HOW THEY HONOR HIS LEGACY TODAY TO THEIR WORK HE >>> ERICK WILLIAMS AWARD-WINNING EXECUTIVE CHEF AND OWNER OF VIRTUE RESTAURANT IN HYDE PARK SPOKE WITH US ABOUT WHAT THE DAY MEANS TO HIM AND WHAT HE IS DOING IN THE CULINARY WORLD TO PROMOTE EQUITY.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HIM WHAT SIGNIFICANCE THE HOLIDAY HOLDS FOR HIM.

>> Guest: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

I THINK IT HOLDS A LOT OF SIGNIFICANCE AND IS VERY PERSONAL FOR ME.

WE ARE IN 2021 AND WE ARE STILL FIGHTING THE BATTLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ABROAD.

WHY THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME IS BECAUSE ONCE THE NEWS HIT TEXAS, THE SLAVES HAD NOWHERE TO GO.

WE ARE MAKING FORWARD STRIDES IN TERMS OF CREATING OUR OWN NARRATIVES, SHARING THOSE NARRATIVES WHICH GIVES ME A LOT OF HOPE IN OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE BOTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ABROAD.

HOWEVER, WE ARE STILL IN A SPACE WHERE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE ON BANK AND INSTITUTIONS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD IF WE ARE FREE AND WE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

>> Host: OBVIOUSLY THE ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN GALVESTON AT THE TIME LEARNING ABOUT THE END OF CIVIL WAR AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN FREED.

IT WAS A MATTER OF NOT HAVING INFORMATION RESOURCES THAN.

YOU TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR INDUSTRY THERE ARE BARRIERS TO INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.

HOW DO YOU REMOVE SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS?

>> Guest: IS CENTERS AROUND DIALOGUE.

AS AN ENTREPRENEUR OR CHEF OWNER HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO FASHION THAT, IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO ME TO TRADE NOTES WITH FELLOW OPERATORS TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW.

SHARE INFORMATION ON THINGS THAT I AM VERY SAVVY ABOUT BECAUSE WE ARE ALL FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE.

BEING A SMALL BUSINESS IS SUCH A TOUGH ENDEAVOR.

>> YOU'VE ALSO RECEIVED AS YOU MENTIONED THE MEDAL OF HONOR FROM THE MAYOR.

HOW DO YOU HOPE TO USE THAT PLATFORM?

>> WELL I'M GOING TO USE THAT PLATFORM HOW USE ANY PLATFORM WITH A GREAT SENSE OF HUMILITY AND WITH A LOT OF PURPOSE.

WE DIDN'T OPEN VIRTUE BY MISTAKE.

OUR RESTAURANT EXPANDS ON THE SHOULDERS OF IT'S VERY DEFINITION AND THAT IS OF HIGH MORAL STANDARD.

WE USE THE TWO BORDERS TO ENCOMPASS THE MORAL STANDARD BEING KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY.

WE TAKE PEOPLE IN WE SATIATE THEM AND WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE DIGNITY, INTELLIGENCE AND INGENUITY THROUGHOUT OUR SPACE ON A NIGHT TO NIGHT BASIS.

WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT AND IT'S EXTREMELY DISARMING .

ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE THEY CAN HEAR OUR STORY.

>> WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH AN ENORMOUSLY DIFFICULT YEAR RESTAURANTS ESPECIALLY.

HOW DID VIRTUE RESPOND IN THIS PAST YEAR?

>> WE RESPONDED MANY WAYS.

ONE OF THE WAYS THAT IS MOST TALK ABOUT IS OUR COMMITMENT TO TAKING CARE OF FIRST RESPONDERS HEALTHCARE WORKERS, WE SENT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEALS OUT TO LOCAL HOSPITALS PREDOMINANTLY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH MORALE WAS LIFTED AND TO LET OUR FIRST RESPONDERS KNOW THAT THEY MATTER TO US.

WE ALL ENDURED AN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING YEAR.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO US TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> Host: YOU WERE AS YOU MENTIONED ABLE TO STAY OPEN WHEN MANY RESTAURANTS SADLY HAD TO CLOSE.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO STAY OPEN ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR STAFF?

>> Guest: IT'S ANOTHER SCENARIO WHERE PEOPLE HAD NOWHERE TO GO.

THE OFFICES WERE OVERWHELMS AND WE FELT THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME WOULD BE TOO WORK THROUGH THE CONFUSION OF WHAT WAS GOING ON OF THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE CLOTHES DOWNS.

WE MADE SURE THAT WE COULD OPERATE AT A BREAKEVEN AND PART OF THE REVENUE WE BROUGHT IN WE SUPPORTED OUR TEAM MEMBERS WITH ARID BY WAY OF FORGIVABLE LOANS AND THAT IS WORKING OUT VERY WELL FOR US.

IT IS A HUGE INVESTMENT IN A LOT OF LOYALTY AND THANKSGIVING ON THE SIDE WHICH IS FOR US AND OUR TEAM MEMBERS ARE GRATEFUL THAT IT ALL WORKED OUT.

>> AS WE MENTIONED JUNETEENTH IS GETTING A LOT MORE RECOGNITION AND THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH BLACKS AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICAN CULTURE HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED.

HOW DO YOU COMBAT THAT THROUGH THE FOOD YOU SERVE AT VIRTUE?

>> AGAIN I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A MEAL FOR SOMEONE FOOD IS A GREAT EQUALIZER.

AND SO, IT OFFERS A LEVEL OF TRUST, IT OFFERS A LEVEL OF CARE AND A LEVEL OF SERVICE.

WE TAKE ALL OF THESE THINGS VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE CONTINUE, AGAIN, TO USE OUR PLATFORM TO SPREAD THE WORD AS FAR AS WE CAN.

MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING NOW, WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS.

WHY HAVE I NOT BEEN TOLD OF THIS BEFORE?

WE TAKE THESE MOMENTS TO REALLY STABILIZE, TOO PIVOT AND TO PUSH FORWARD NOT JUST THIS MESSAGE BUT THE MANY MESSAGES THAT ARE LOST OR BURIED OVER THE YEARS.

>> Host: BEFORE I LET YOU GO WHAT MORE NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS?

>> Guest: I THINK, AGAIN, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT BLACKS HAVE MADE BOTH FOR AND IN THIS COUNTRY.

I RY.

I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING OUR CONSTITUTION ENCOMPASSES THIS IDEAL OF AL OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS WITH LIBERTY BEING A PRETTY BIG WORD.

UNTIL ALL OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS ARE IN A POSITION WHERE LIBERTY RINGS WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE STRUGGLES.

I THINK THE PROMOTION OF LIBERTY, THE PROMOTION OF LIFE AND THE PROMOTION OF THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS WILL PROBABLY BE AT THE TOP OF MY AGENDA AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AS WE ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE BOTH NEAR AND FAR.

>> Host: CHEF ERICK WILLIAMS OF VIRTUE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> Guest: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Host: WE WILL WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>.

>> Host: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THE SUNDAY NIGHT.

MAKE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST ON NEWS AND WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AT HOME COVID-19 TESTS.

AND JOIN PERSIUS AND ME AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH SOME SHOTS OF THE LATEST EXHIBITS AT THE ARBORETUM.

FOR ALL OF US TONIGHT ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US HERE AND STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.