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

[MUSIC] >> Host: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT STATEWIDE EFFORT TO END WHCALLED PERMIT SCHMIDT PUNISHMENT.

ADVOCATES TELL US WHY IT IS TIME TO BREAK THOSE BARRIERS.

>>> IN THIS MONTH'S BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB A PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED NOVEL BY ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AUTHORS OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

MORE THAN 61 YEARS SINCE HIS DEATH.

>>> A LOCAL SKATEBOARD PROGRAM GIVES YOUNG CHICAGOANS NEW SKILLS AND LIFE LESSONS.

>> A COFFEE SHOP OR THE PEOPLE RAN BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S COFFEE SHOP.

>> Host: A MUSICIAN TURNED MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE GIVES THE LAST WORD ON NORMALIZING THERE BE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT MANY IN AMERICA VIEW INCARCERATION AS ONE REESE FLEET PUNISHMENT RECEIVES WHEN BREAKING THE LAW.

BUT A RECENT STUDY INDICATES 3.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS, THEIR PUNISHMENT CONTINUES WELL PAST THE TIME THEY SERVE.

THE REPORT EXPOSES HUNDREDS OF LAWS AND RESTRICTIONS THAT GET PROHIBITIVELY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AFTER INCARCERATION.

THIS WEEK THE HEARTLAND ALLIANCE AND OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES LAUNCHED A STATEWIDE EFFORT TO END THOSE LAWS AND SANCTIONS.

IT IS CALLED THE FULLY FREE FOUNDATION CAMPAIGN.

JOINING US ARE THE HEARTLAND ALLIANCE CAMPAIGN MANAGER MARLON CHAMBERLAIN AND FULLY FREE FOUNDATION AND LIVE FREE CHICAGO ORGANIZER WILLETTE BENFORD.

THANK YOU FOR BOTH JOINING US.

MARLON, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PERMANENT PUNISHMENT.

>>> WHAT KIND OF LIMITATIONS ARE ON THE BOOKS IN ILLINOIS?

>> Guest: I WANT TO 1ST START OFF BY SAYING THE REASON WHY WE DECIDED TO CALL THEM PERMANENT PUNISHMENT AND NOT CONSEQUENCES IS BECAUSE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCE SUGGESTS THIS WAS ACCIDENTAL.

WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THESE WEB OF LAWS WERE ACCIDENTAL.

WE DECIDED TO CALL THEM PERMANENT PUNISHMENTS BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE.

IT IS LIKE A PUNISHMENT AFTER THE PUNISHMENT AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION.

THIS WEB OF LAWS ALSO HINDERS PEOPLE FROM OPPORTUNITIES AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES WHETHER IT IS HOUSING, EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT.

>> Host: WILLETTE, GIVE US A SCALE OF THIS PROBLEM.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY IT?

>> Guest: IN ILLINOIS 3.3 MILLION ADULTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OR CONVICTED OF A CRIME SINCE 1979.

WHICH IS WIDELY THOUGHT TO BE THE BEGINNING OF MASS INCARCERATION.THAT PLACE IS ABOUT 1/4 OF THE TOTAL OF ILLINOIS POPULATION OVER 25 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION HAS AN ARREST OR A CONVICTION.

>> Host: WILLETTE, GIVE US AN IMPACT ON THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR.

>> Guest: BLACK WOMEN MAKE UP 14 PERCENT OF THE ADULT ILLINOIS POPULATION BUT OVER ONE THIRD OF THOSE ARRESTED OR CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

BLACKMAN ARE 13 PERCENT OF THE ADULT MEN IN ILLINOIS AT 1/4 OF ALL MEN ARRESTED OR CONVICTED.

BLACK PEOPLE MAKE UP 13.8 PERCENT OF ILLINOIS ADULT POPULATION.

BLACK PEOPLE MAKE UP 28.9 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO ACQUIRE ARREST OR CONVICTION RECORDS, 34.9 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE CONVICTED OF A CRIME AND 45.3 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE CONVICTED OF FELONIES.

>> Host: MARLON CHAMBERLAIN HOW HAVE YOU PERSONALLY BEEN AFFECTED BY SOME OF THE SO-CALLED PERMANENT PUNISHMENTS?

>> Guest: IN 2002 I WAS SENTENCED TO A 20 YEAR FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE.

IN 2010 MY SENTENCE WAS REDUCED AS A RESULT OF THE PASSING OF THE FAIR CITIZEN ACT WHICH CHANGE THE RATIO BETWEEN CRACK AND COCAINE.

ULTIMATELY MY SENTENCE WAS REDUCED FROM 20 TO 14 YEARS AND I WAS RELEASED IN 2012.

I'VE BEEN HOME FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS.

I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED SINCE I WAS HOME.

I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND MARRIED.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A HOME.

HOW THESE LAWS RECENTLY IMPACTED ME, MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD SON, I WAS TAKING A SCHOOL TRIP TO A BOWLING ALLEY AND HIS TEACHER ASKED ME TO CHAPERONE BECAUSE THEY SEE HOW ENGAGED I AM WITH MY SON'S EDUCATION.I COMPLETED THE APPLICATION AND WAS DENIED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AS A CHAPERONE BECAUSE OF MY RECORD.

BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THERE ARE A WEB OF LAWS ANOTHER EXAMPLE I COULD GIVE IS THAT ANYONE WITH A FELONY CONVICTION THE LAW PROHIBITS THEM FROM BEING THE EXECUTIVE OR ADMINISTRATOR OF REALLY CONTROLLING THEIR FAMILIES WILL IF SOMEONE WAS TO PASS AWAY WHICH IS A LAW THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT IS JUST A LAW ON THE BOOKS THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

IN SITUATIONS WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN BE THE EXECUTIVE OF THEIR FAMILIES WILL, IT CREATES A CHALLENGE BECAUSE NOW, THE PERSON IS NOT ABLE TO REALLY HANDLE THEIR FAMILIES BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THEIR RECORD.

>> Host: WILLETTE, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE ARGUMENT THAT SOME OF THE SANCTIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TO KEEP BUSINESSES SAFE FROM HIRING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE UNTRUSTWORTHY?

>> Guest: I SAY THAT WHEN SOMEONE HAS SERVED THEIR TIME AND YOU REENTER SOCIETY, THE ONE THING YOU WANT TO DO IS SET PEOPLE UP FOR SUCCESS.

IT IS NOT PROVEN ANYWHERE WHERE BUSINESSES ARE KEPT SAFE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HIRE PEOPLE WHOHAVE A FELONY CONVICTION FOR ARREST ON THE RECORD .

USUALLY THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST BEST EMPLOYEES THAT YOUCAN HIRE .

AND SO, I DON'T THINK, I KNOW THATTHAT DOESN'T KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE .

ASKING PEOPLE OUT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO REENTER SOCIETY AND BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED.

>> Host: MARLON, WHAT EFFECT WOULD YOU SAY THE SANCTIONS HAVE ON YOUR CYNICISM RATE?

>> Guest: THE IMPACT ON RECIDIVISM RATE, IF PEOPLE CAN'T FIND EMPLOYMENT OR HOUSING, IT IS LIKE YOU ARE FORCING PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO A LIFESTYLE THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO GO BACK TO.

IT DEFINITELY ADDS TO THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS GREAT ON THE SYSTEM AND NOT ON THE INDIVIDUAL.

IF WE REMOVE THESE BARRIERS PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR LIFE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT A MISTAKE THEY HAVE MADE IN THE PAST.

>> Host: THE LAUNCH EVENT THAT YOU ALL HAD THIS WEEK HAD TESTIMONIALS FROM FORMALLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE.

HERE IS A FROM THE SAVER FOUNDATION.

>> Guest: WE NEVER FULLY PAY OUR DEBT TO SOCIETY.

WE GO, WE ARE INCARCERATED AND WE COME HOME AND SOCIETY REJECTS US ON A MULTITUDE OF LEVELS.

WE HAVE RESTRICTIONS AS REGARDS TO WHAT JOBS WE CAN HAVE.

OR RESTRICTIONS ON WHERE WE CAN N LIVE OR WHERE WE CAN BUY INSURANCE, OR GET CREDIT.

THERE ARE OVER 4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS THAT HAVE SOME TYPE OF ARREST RECORD OR CONVICTION RECORD.

WE CANNOT REMAIN A SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN IN THIS STATE.

>> BLACK WOMEN ARE BEING INCREASINGLY AFFECTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

WILLETTE, HOW ARE WOMEN WOMEN LIKE BETH GASTON HOW ARE THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES UNIQUELY AFFECTED?

>> WOMEN ARE UNIQUELY AFFECTED BECAUSE WOMEN ARE THE PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF THEIR CHILDREN LDREN AND WHEN YOU DENY A WOMAN HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, YOU ARE ULTIMATELY DENYING THEIR CHILDREN ALSO.

WHEN YOU DO THAT IN A COMMUNITY AND THEN IN A SOCIETY YOU ARE ULTIMATELY SAYING THE WOMAN DOESN'T MATTER NOR DO HER CHILDREN MATTER.

>> Host: MARLON, BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, HOW IS YOUR CAMPAIGN SUGGESTING HOW WE REMOVE THESE LAWS AND SANCTIONS?

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP THAT THE FULLY FREE FOUNDATION WILL BE TAKING?

Guest: AS FAR AS OUR CAMPAIGN STRATEGY THIS SUMMER WE WILL BUILD OUT OF A DIVERSE COALITION THAT REFLECTS REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THIS CAMPAIGN ACTUALLY.

IN 2021 WE ACTUALLY PASSED A BILL, THE PUBLIC HOUSING BILL WHICH CHANGES SPECIFIC CHANGES IN THE WAY THAT THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY BARS INDIVIDUALS FROM HOUSING AFTER INCARCERATION.

WE HAVE ALSO PASSED HD 88 WHICH REMOVES THE PERMANENT BARRIER FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DRUG-RELATED FELON TO ACCESS.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD OUT A COALITION THAT IS LIVED BY DIRECTLY IMPACTING PEOPLE WHO WERE CENSORED IN LEADING THIS CAMPAIGN.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT OUR COALITION AND THEN ALSO OUR RESEARCH PARTNERS - >> Host: WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

MARLON, WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF YOU BACK AS YOU GET FURTHER DOWN ON THE ROAD WITH THIS RESEARCH.IN THE MEANTIME, MY THANKS TO YOU MARLON CHAMBERLAIN AND WILLETTE BENFORD FOR JOINING US.

>> Guest: THANK YOU.

>> Host:, THE NEXT SELECTION IN OUR MONTHLY BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SERIES.

STAY WITH US.

RICHARD WRIGHT WHO DIED IN 1960 IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST WRITERS IN THE 20TH CENTURY.

HIS 1940 BOOK NATIVE SON AND THEN IN 1945 BLACK BOY, MADE HIM A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND TOWERING FIGURE IN LITERATURE.

THE NOVEL HE WROTE BETWEEN THE TWO PUBLICATIONS OF THOSE BOOKS WAS INITIALLY REJECTED BY HIS EDITORS AND PUBLISHED ONLY AS A SHORT STORY.

IT HAS SINCE BEEN RESTORED AND PUBLISHED IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND NOW THAT NOVEL IS THE NEXT SELECTION IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB.

IT IS CALLED "THE MAN WHO LIVED UNDERGROUND" AND IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM THE RICHARD WRIGHT MOST OF US KNOW.

JOINING US NOW IS RICHARD WRIGHT'S GRANDSON, MALCOM WRIGHT.

MALCOLM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST, WHY WASN'T THIS BOOK PUBLISHED BACK IN 1942?

>> Guest: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE PRIMARY REASON WAS IT CAUGHT THE PUBLISHERS AND EDITORS OFF GUARD.

IT WASN'T WHAT THEY EXPECTED FROM RICHARD WRIGHT.

HE HAD PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN NATIVE SON WIT IS A DIFFERENT BOOK.

A LOT MORE CONTRASTED LESS NUANCE AND LESS DEPTH TO IT, REALLY.

IF ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THA .

SO, I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST SURPRISE AND THEN OF COURSE WHEN YOU SEE WHAT THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE NOVEL IS COMPOSED OF, WITH THE BRUTAL TORTURE OF A BLACK MAN AT THE HANDS OF THE POLICE IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE ONLY JUST BECOMING SOMEWHAT COMFORTABLE WITH TODAY.

AND IN THE 1940S, THAT WASN'T A CONVERSATION AT ALL.

I DON'T THINK THAT WAS GOING TO PASS MUSTER FOR THE GATEKEEPERS AT THE TIME.

>> Host: IT WAS YOUR MOTHER WHO DISCOVERED THIS BOOK, HOW DID SHE COME ACROSS IT?

>> Guest: THE ARCHIVES AT THE REAR BOOK LIBRARY IN CONNECTICUT.

MY MOTHER WAS THERE RESEARCHING THE ARCHIVES AND SHE CAME ACROSS IT AND IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY A STORY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AMONG OUR PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS NOW.

SHE SAID ABOUT TRYING TO GET IT PUBLISHED AND IT TOOK A WHILE BUT HERE WE ARE.

THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA WAS FANTASTIC THROUGHOUT THAT PRESERVATION.

>> Host: YOU WROTE THE AFTERWORD FOR THE BOOK AND YOU LIKENED THE PLOT TO CATO'S ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME BUT WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TELL US HOW YOU CAME ABOUT THAT.

>> Guest: THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME JUST BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE AT THE CORE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE IS THIS DIFFICULTY TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

RIGHT?

IF WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED SOMETHING OURSELVES.

YET, IF WE COULD LEARN BETTER FROM EACH OTHER, HOW MUCH MORE ADVANCED WOULD WE BE AND HOW MUCH EASIER IT WOULD WE LEARN THE MORE DIFFICULT LESSONS OF LIFE.

SO THAT IS AT THE CORE OF THE INABILITY FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS PARTAKEN IN A LARGER REALITY TO SHARE THAT WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT PARTAKEN OF THATLARGER REALITY .

IN THE BOOK, THIS IS THE CASE OF THE HERO.

HE IS SHUNTED UNDERGROUND THROUGH HIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THOSE TRYING TO RAILROAD HIM FOR THIS MURDER.

AND THROUGH THAT HE GAINS THIS INCREDIBLE PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE ABOVE GROUND.

LIFE WITHIN THE SOCIETY THAT TRYING TO RAILROAD HIM AND REALLY ON THE HUMAN CONDITION AS A WHOLE.

TRAGICALLY HE IS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE THIS EXPERIENCE TO ANYBODY.

IT HAS VERY DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR HIM.

THE INTERESTING THING IS THIS IS IN REVERSE BECAUSE PLATO WROTE THIS AS SOMEONE LEAVING A CAVE AND DISCOVERING THE WORLD ABOVE GROUND WHERE THE SUN SHINES AND NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THE CAVE.

THE FRIEND LEARNS OF ALL THE REALITY UNDERGROUND AND CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT TO THE PEOPLE ABOVE GROUND.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR GRANDFATHER WOULD SAY.

HOW WOULD HE REACT TO THE STATE OF RACE RELATIONS AND POLICE BRUTALITY TODAY?

>> I THINK HE WOULD BE DOING MUCH OF WHAT HE WAS DOING DURING HIS LIFE WHICH WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO PUSH US FORWARD AND DISCOVERING THESE BROADER REALITIES BECAUSE THAT WAS REALLY THE TEMPLATE OF HIS LIFE AND THEN SHARING IT WITH US.SO, THE STATE OF PLAY NOW, I THINK HIS TAKE WOULD NOT BE SO UNCOMMON.

A LOT OF US FEEL LIKE WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

TO GET A LITTLE BIT INTO THE WEEDS WITH YOU ON THAT, I AM REALLY GETTING TIRED OF THE TALK OF REFORM BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE DISPARITIES ARE.

WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED BIG DATA TODAY AND WE HAVE INCREDIBLE POWERFUL MACHINES TO PROCESS THAT DATA.

YET, WE ARE NOT ALLOWING THAT TO COME INTO THE PROCESS OF OUR LEGAL DECISIONS.

CONFRONT THE JUDGES WITH THEIR BIASES.

THE DATA IS THERE MAKE IT REAL TIME SO THAT THEY KNOW THEY ARE TRANSGRESSING THE NORM OR THE STANDARD OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IMPOSED FOR A PARTICULAR CRIME OR CIRCUMSTANCE.

IT WILL CHANGE BEHAVIOR.

IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IT WE WILL BE DOING STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> Host: MALCOLM, WE HAVE ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO HAVE THIS BOOK PUBLISHED.

>> IT'S A TERRIFIC FEELING.

IT'S BEEN HOURS SILENT NEIGHBOR STORY OF RICHARDS.

EVEN IN IT'S SHORTER FORM.

NOW THAT IT IS OUT IN THE OPEN AND PART OF THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL HELP THOSE DISCUSSIONS MOVE FORWARD.

IT WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE TOOL FOR TEACHING EMPATHY FOR KIDS IN SCHOOL AND RICHARD WRIGHT HAS BEEN TAUGHT VERY BROADLY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD AND I REALLY HOPE THIS BOOK COMES PART OF THAT EFFORT.

>> Host: GROWING UP IN MISSISSIPPI I READ IT AS A CHILD