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 CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT IN A MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE LED BY YOUNG MEN OF COLOR.

WHY ORGANIZERS SAY WHY LISTENING TO THOSE IMPACTED BY TRAUMA IS KEY TO IMPROVING MENTAL WELLNESS.

ONE MAN'S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE IS CHRONICLED WITH A FILM ABOUT MARIJUANA INJUSTICE CREATED BY A CANNABIS COMPANY.

AND THE AUTHOR OF "THE EMERGENCY" JOINS US TO DISCUSS HEALTHCARE INEQUITIES AND CHALLENGES IN THE ER.

AND A REAR CHICAGO SHOWING OF PROVOCATIVE PAINTINGS BY AN OVERLOOKED ARTIST AT THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT IN GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LEADING AN EFFORT TO RETHINK HOW TO APPROACH MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUNG MEN OF COLOR.

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL YOUNG LEADERS WITH THE RACIAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY UNITED FOCUSED A STUDY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF YOUNG BLACK MEN IN CHICAGO.

THE REPORT TITLED CHANGING THE BEAT OF MENTAL HEALTH IDENTIFIES MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND ASK RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO COPE.

JOINING US MORE ARE RENIE WALKER SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SENIOR HEALTH INITIATIVES AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT WITH PATRICK McCUNE HEALTHY INSTITUTES AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND JIM ALREADY A YOUTH RESEARCHER FOR THE STUDY THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

JAMAAL LET'S START WITH YOU FIRST.

WEEKLY GIVE US A DESCRIPTION OF THE KEY FINDINGS OF THIS REPORT AND WHAT WAS IT THAT STUCK OUT TO YOU THE MOST?

>> A COUPLE THINGS TO FIND WERE YOUNG MEN AND BOYS OF COLOR SAW A DEEP CONNECTION TO SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AND MENTAL HEALTH AND ALSO THAT THEY OFTEN INTERNALIZED THE BLAME FOR IT AS WELL AS TRAUMA IS OFTEN NORMALIZED AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR WANT TO BE SEEN FOR THEIR FULL IDENTITY AND LEADERSHIP.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT CONCEPT OF NORMALIZING TRAUMA.

BEFORE WE DO 62 PERCENT OF YOUNG MEN SURVEYED REPORTED FACING CHALLENGES WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT AT ALL?

>> NUMBER I WAS NOT SURPRISED BY THAT AT ALL FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT WE HAVE COME ACROSS CHALLENGES EVERY DAY AND LIFE IS SO HARD ON A LOT OF YOUNG MEN IN GENERAL BUT MOSTLY YOUNG MEN OF COLOR.

>> RENIE WALKER WHY WAS IN IMPORTANT FOR THE YOUTH THEMSELVES TO LEAD THIS RESEARCH?

>> ONE THING IS IN ORDER TO TRANSFORM THE SYSTEM WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOICE IS THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND IT'S IN THE CONVERSATION.

AND I KNOW THAT MANY HOSPITALS THEY USE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, OUR POLICIES AND IN ORDER FOR US TO REALLY HAVE A LASTING IMPACT WE WANT TO HAVE WITH THIS COMMUNITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE THESE VOICE L PRIORITIES.

>> 50 PERCENT OF MEN OF COLOR SAID THEY WOULD CONSIDER MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING IF THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES?

>> WHAT I THINK THIS FINES IN PARTICULAR IS THE LAST HALF.

IN THE REPORT THE YOUNG MEN TALKED ABOUT MISTRUST IN THE SYSTEM AND THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH SYSTEMIC RACISM AND THEN ON THE OTHER HALF YOU HAVE YOUNG MEN WHO TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THOSE THAT HAVE SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS, THOSE THAT HAVE SIMILAR LIVED EXPERIENCES.

WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS GIVEN THESE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THEY CAN STILL SEE THAT YOUNG MEN ARE STILL WILLING TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL CARE.

>> JAMAAL, THIS REPORT DUG INTO THE NORMALIZATION OF TRAUMA FOR LUCK AND BROWN YOUNG MEN.

GIVE US A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THAT IS IN THE PRESENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> IF ANYONE HAS VISITED A COMMUNITY OF COLOR THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THE NAME IS COMING INTO A WEBSITE AREA IS OFTEN BASICALLY KNOWN AS TROUBLED OR VIOLENT AND THAT IS THE TRAUMA THAT IS IMPLEMENTED IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

THE TRAUMA IS BEING AROUND VIOLENCE SO MUCH AND ALSO THAT IT IS NORMAL TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS BEING SHOT OR KILLED.

AND, MAKING THAT NORMAL IS BASICALLY SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> JAMAAL, WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT DO YOU THINK WOULD HELP BLACK AND BROWN MEN THAT WOULD HELP HEAL THE TRAUMA?

>> MOST DEFINITELY IT WOULD RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND CHANGING THE WAY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE LOOKED UPON.

BASICALLY LIKE TRANSFORMING THOSE BAD ASPECTS INTO POSITIVITY AND BRINGING LIGHT TO THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO CHANGE HOW YOUNG MEN OF COLOR EXPERIENCE - WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE.

>> AND RENIE, WHAT IS THE NORMALIZED OR ADDRESS TRAUMA AND HOW CAN THAT IMPACT SOMEONE'S WELL-BEING?

>> ONE OF THE DANGERS OF NORMALIZING TRAUMA IS THAT ONE BEGINS TO BECOME DESENSITIZED TO AN EVENT.

IF A COMMUNITY OF COLOR IN PARTICULAR WHERE THERE IS MISTRUST IN THE SYSTEM THE TENDENCY IS TO DEAL WITH THE TRAUMA BY ONESELF AND THAT CAN BE DETRIMENTAL BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT UNTREATED TRAUMA CAN HAVE LASTING IMPACTS, NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON BEHAVIOR.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ON PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT.

>> JAMAAL, THE STUDY LOOKED AT SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH.

YOUNG MEN WHO TOOK THE SURVEY IDENTIFIED ISSUES AS EDUCATION, JOBS, RACISM AND POVERTY CONTRIBUTE INTO MENTAL HEALTH.

HOW CAN THESE OUTSIDE FACTORS LIKE SCHOOL OR WORK OR THE PREVALENCE OF VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTE TO SOME OF THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES?

>> SO, ONE THING IS THE VIOLENCE CREATES TRAUMA AND ALSO A SYMPTOM CALLED PTSD WHICH IS POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

THAT COMES FROM HAVING OR BEING AROUND AND EXPERIENCING SO MUCH THAT INVOLVES THE VIOLENCE OR DEATH AND THAT CAN EVEN BE HAVING THE INSTABILITY OF A HOME.

ALSO WITH SCHOOL, IT CAN COME WITH TRUST IN COUNSELORS AND THEN BEING BETRAYED BY THEM SUCH AS BEING PUT INTO THE SYSTEM WHICH IS NOT THE WAY THAT YOUNG MEN OF COLOR WANT TO BE PUT INTO.

WE JUST WANT TO BE HEARD.

AND ALSO SUPPORTED AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

>> ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATION PRESENTED IN THE REPORT IS TO WILL CREATE TARGETED GOALS TO BRING MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INTO THE SYSTEM WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR".

RENIE, HOW CAN THE SYSTEM ACCOMPLISH THAT?

>> WE LOVE THIS RECOMMENDATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY RECOMMEND IS TO HAVE A PIPELINE PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AGAIN, LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT THE YOUNG MEN IDENTIFIED GOOD PIPELINE PROGRAMS WHERE THEY CAN GET INVOLVED IN BECOMING A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXPERIENCE IN CREATING AND OFFERING A PIPELINE PROGRAM.

>> RENIE, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS, BRIEFLY, HOW IS THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL HELPING AND MOVING IT FORWARD?

WHAT WE ARE EMPHASIZING ELEVATION OF VOICE AND THAT SOMETHING WE DO THROUGH THE PROJECT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH IMMUNITIES UNITED AND IDENTIFYING ACTIONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH CRUCIAL AND CENTERED THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> THAT'S WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN YOUR WORK, JAMAAL RAY AND RENIE WALKER.

WE ARE BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THE WAR ON DRUGS LED TO THE INCARCERATION OF THOUSANDS OF BLACK MEN IN THE 80S AND 90S.

NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENDERS WERE SENTENCED FOR DECADES IN PRISON FOR BUYING AND SELLING MARIJUANA.

A CHICAGO-BASED CANNABIS COMPANY IS LOOKING TO EXPOSE HARSH SENTENCES FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA USE AS IT BECOMES LEGAL IN MORE AND MORE STATES.

CRESCO HELPED PRODUCE A SHORT FILM ON THE SENTENCING OF MICHAEL THOMPSON A MICHIGAN MAN WHO WAS GIVEN WHAT HE TO TO 60 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MARIJUANA ARREST.

>> THOMAS IS CONSIDERED THE LONGEST NONVIOLENT OFFENDER IN MICHIGAN'S HISTORY.

>> THE PAROLE BOARD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEND HIS CASE FOR CLEMENCY.

>> I'M GOING TO SAY A PRAYER FOR HIM.

THIS IS HIS LAST TRY.

IF THEY DON'T LET HIM GO THIS TIME IT IS OVER.

>> THE PAROLE BOARD IN OTHER STATES PEOPLE ANSWER THE PHONE YOU CAN TALK TO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD IF BIZARRE TO ME THAT NO ONE HAS RESPONDED TO US.

>> IT MAKES ME MAD AS HELL.

MY FATHER IS SITTING BEHIND BARS BECAUSE OF MARIJUANA AND EVERYONE IN MICHIGAN IS OUT THERE FREE TO SMOKE.

>> MICHAEL THOMPSON WAS CONVICTED IN 1994 FOR SELLING THREE POUNDS OF POT TO A CLOSE FRIEND WHO HAD TURNED INFORMANT.

THAT LED TO A HOME WHERE POLICE FOUND WEAPONS.

EVEN THOUGH THE WEAPONS WERE NOT USED IN THE MARIJUANA SALE THOMAS WAS SENTENCED ON FIRE POSSESSION CHARGES AND DRUG POSSESSION CHARGES PER HE WAS GRANTED CLEMENCY AND WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON LAST YEAR, THREE YEARS AFTER MICHIGAN LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

A SHORT FILM DOCUMENTING HIS STORY THAT PREMIERED LAST YEAR AT THE FILM FESTIVAL SXSW.

>> I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE FILM PROJECT AND WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THEIR MISSION AND STORIES AND CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY WORKED WITH I FELT LIKE IT WOULD BE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP TO SEE IF I COULD HELP AND WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT MICHAEL'S STORY AND STARTED SPEAKING TO HIM I FELT LIKE THERE WAS A CONNECTION.

NOT ONLY IS HIS STORY A GROSS INJUSTICE BUT I ALSO FELT LIKE HE WANTED TO TELL HIS STORY AND I FELT LIKE HE WAS CHARISMATIC, A CHARISMATIC GUY BUT ALSO VERY VULNERABLE AND WE HAVE THESE VERY EMOTIONAL PHONE CALLS THAT I FELT LIKE I COULD HELP GET HIS STORY OUT THERE.

>> I MENTIONED FEELS REALLY GOOD FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO SEE THE PAIN THAT I ENDURED AND SO I AM THANKFUL TO THE WHOLE TEAM FOR PUTTING IT OUT THERE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO SEE AND MAYBE THEY CAN FEEL WHAT I FEEL WHICH IS A LOT OF PAIN.

I WANT THEM TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WHAT THE APARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS REALLY IS AND WHAT THEY REALLY DUE TO A FAMILY.

AND IT TEARS A FAMILY APART.

>> THOMPSON SPENT A TOTAL OF 26 YEARS BEHIND BARS.

>>> UP NEXT THE LATEST INSTALLMENT IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THE LIST OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES IN A CHICAGO SOUTHSIDE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS ENDLESS.

FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO INCIDENCES OF PEOPLE HAVING COVID-19 PAIRED THERE'S NO DOUBT THE HEALTH EMERGENCY IS ILLUMINATED AS IT POINTS TO A DEATH RATE 1.4 TIMES HIGHER FOR BLACK PEOPLE THAN WHITE PEOPLE.

THOSE INEQUITIES AND HOW HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS CONTRIBUTE TO THEM IS THE FOCUS OF THE LATEST SELECTION IN OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SERIES.

"THE EMERGENCY" A YEAR OF HEALING AND HEARTBREAK IN A CHICAGO ER WAS WRITTEN BY DR. THOMAS FISHER IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER AND DOCTOR FISHER JOINS US NOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

FIRST, BRIEFLY DESCRIBE TO MEET WHAT THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT, PLEASE.

>> FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

IT IS A PLEASURE.

I WROTE THIS BOOK AS A SUMMATION OF 20 YEARS OF PRACTICE IN THE SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO WHERE I HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING FROM THE ONGOING PANDEMIC TO THE PANDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE AND MENTAL ILLNESS AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS LAY BARE TO MY PATIENTS THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE ARE NOT SIMPLY THEIR OWN BUT PART OF A LARGER SYSTEM THAT STRUCTURES OUR SOCIETY AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

IN THE PROCESS HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT WE AS PROVIDERS ARE RIGHT THERE WITH THEM AND TRYING TO SEE THEM FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE IN THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE BUT ALSO TO STEP BACK AND ILLUMINATE THESE LARGER STRUCTURES TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT INFLUENCES THEIR HEALTH AND ULTIMATELY THEIR HEALTHCARE AS WELL.

>> THE BOOK TAKES US THROUGH YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN ER PHYSICIAN IN THE START OF 2020 AND THE PANDEMIC, OF COURSE.

HOW DID THE PANDEMIC EXPOSE AND ESTIMATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU SEE EVERY DAY?

>> I REMEMBER STARTING THE BOOK BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TALKING ABOUT OVERWHELMED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN THE CHALLENGES OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE FACING ONE OF THE DAYS THAT THEY WILL NEVER FORGET WHETHER IT WAS THEIR CAR ACCIDENT OR A STROKE.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SOCIETY SHUT DOWN.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN MARCH OF 2020 AND WE WATCH THE PANDEMIC COMING FROM ASIA SLOWLY ARCHES WAY ACROSS EUROPE WITH ITALY BEING OVERWHELMED AND THEN SOON IT STRUCK NEW YORK AND SEATTLE.

IN THOSE TIMES WE WERE BRACING OURSELVES IN THE EMERGENCY APARTMENT GRADING FOR WHAT WE KNEW WOULD BE AN OVERWHELMED POPULATION OF FOLKS WOULD BE ILL COMING TO US AND WE ALSO KNEW THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ALSO PART OF THE ILLNESS EQUATION.

WORKING WITH TEAMS OF NURSES AND PHYSICIAN COLLEAGUES AND RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS WERE USED TO MAKING HIGH-STAKES DECISIONS BUT WORTH NOT USED TO BEING THE ONES THAT MIGHT ALSO FALL ILL OR MIGHT NOT GO HOME.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC WE SAW COMMUNITIES FALL SICK MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES FOR LOVE FOLKS THAT WERE DEEMED ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO WERE DELIVERING OUR FOOD AND STOCKING OURSELVES.

WE WERE BEING EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS IN WAYS THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME IN FRONT OF A SCREEN THAT WERE NOT IT WAS TANGIBLE AND REAL IN SOME COMMUNITIES MORE THAN OTHERS AND AS A RESULT WE SAW BEST DIFFERENCES IN MORTALITY THAT YOU DESCRIBED EARLIER.

>> YOU DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO YOUR PATIENTS AND YOU TALK ABOUT WANTING THEM TO KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM THEY ARE EXPERIENCING IS PART OF A BIGGER PROBLEM.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHAT DOES THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OR DOWN TO THE HOSPITAL ER LEVEL WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY?

>> THE FIRST STEP IS TO SEE HONESTLY WHAT IS GOING ON.

THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN IS THIS INTIMACY OF STRANGERS.

PEOPLE COME TO ME AND TELL ME STORIES THAT ARE SECRETS THAT THEY HOLD TO THOSE CLOSEST TO THEM AND THEY SHARE THEM BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET BETTER.

THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING ON AND THEY WANT HELP.

THEY SHOULD NOT ONLY BE SECRETS ABOUT THEMSELVES BUT THEY EXPOSE THEMSELVES FULLY AND EVEN ALLOW ME TO TOUCH THEM WHERE IT HURTS AND TAKE CARE OF THEM IN WAYS THAT REVEAL A HUMANITY THAT IS STRICT FREE OF THEIR TITLE AND THEIR STATUS IN SOCIETY WHETHER WEALTHY OR POOR.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO THE SAME THING THEY WANT TO BE CARED OR WHEN THEY'RE HURT THEY WANT THEIR MOTHER TO BE TAKING CARE OF WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO BE HEALED.

THAT SHARED HUMANITY IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO RESPECT AS A SOCIETY AND NO MORE IMPORTANTLY THEN WHERE WE GET OUR HEALTHCARE.

IF WE HAVE A SOCIETY THAT IS STRATIFIED BY RACIAL CAST WHERE WHITES ARE ABOVE LACKS ACROSS SOCIETY IN OUR SEGREGATION AND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND WE HAVE AN UNCHECKED CAPITALISM THAT CREATES WINNERS AND LOSERS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HEALTH WHO SHOULD BE CHOSEN TO LOOSE?

I ARGUE IN THIS BOOK THAT NO ONE CAN LOSE WE ARE ALL HUMAN EQUALLY WORTHY AND IMPORTANT AND WE STRUCTURE OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM CAN'T ALL PRAY TO THESE OLD PATTERNS.

WE HAVE TO THINK FRIENDLY WE NEED RADICAL TRANSFORMATION TO DO THAT.

>> YOU ALSO WRITE LETTERS TO YOUR PATIENTS, COLLEAGUES AND MOM.

WHY WRITE A LETTER?

WHAT DID YOU WANT THOSE FOLKS TO HEAR FROM YOU?

>> IT TOOK 20 YEARS FOR ME TO KNOW WHAT I WAS SEEING ERROR PATTERNS.

I SEE YOUNG BLACK FOLKS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS BEFORE THEIR TIME.

I SEE YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING SHOT DOING EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES AND I SEE THE MENTALLY ILL LANGUISHING FOR HOURS UNABLE TO FIND A BED.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIMPLE INJURIES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND FOLLOW-UP CARE.

THESE COMPLICATED SYSTEMS REQUIRE THAT THERE IS A DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING THAT IS VERY HARD TO TRANSMIT UNLESS YOU ARE DOING IT VERY SIMPLY AND PURPOSELY.

WE WANT TO SEE THESE LARGER SOCIAL ILLS AND EXPLAINED TO THEM DIRECTLY THERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU.

THINK IT'S JUST YOU AND ME ANYTHING IT'S BAD LUCK THAT HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE BUT IN FACT IT IS BIGGER THAN THAT.

IT'S BIGGER THAN THE COMMUNITY AND THE MEDICAL CENTER AND IT BIGGER THAN SOCIETY AND I WANTED TO REVEAL THAT THROUGH MY PATIENTS IN THE MOST SIMPLE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO SIMPLY PRETEND AS THOUGH I WAS WRITING THEM A LETTER AND EXPLAINED TO THEM AS THOUGH WE HAD MORE TIME AND I COULD ACTUALLY TALK TO THEM ONE-ON-ONE.

>> YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT FEELING TRAPPED IN THE SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS GIVE HIGH-QUALITY CARE TO EVERYONE.

ONE QUOTE THAT STANDS OUT TO US IS THE GAP THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR TRULY SICK PEOPLE AND WHAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE OF RESOURCE RESTRAINTS IS THE DEEPEST FRUSTRATION I FACE.

TELL US ABOUT THOSE FRUSTRATIONS AND HOW YOU MANAGE THEM YOURSELF?

>> IMAGINE YOU ARE FACING A FULL WAITING ROOM WHERE YOU SEE FIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE CRITICALLY ILL BUT ONLY TWO BEDS TO PLACE THEM IN IT'S YOUR DECISION WHO GOES WHERE.

THAT SORT OF MORAL CONFLICT IS OVERWHELMING AND TO FACE THAT DAY AFTER DAY YEAR AFTER YEAR KNOWING THAT THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE CHANGE REQUIRES A SORT OF CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING AND FACING WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE CHALLENGED WITH.

THAT MORAL CONFLICT IS ONE THAT HAPPENS IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND ACROSS THE NATION AND AS I TALK TO PEERS THEY FEEL SIMILAR.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER FOR OUR PATIENTS.

>> DOCTOR THOMAS FISHER THANK YOU FOR DOING THE WORK YOU DO IN THIS TIME AND FOR SPENDING A FEW MINUTES WITH US.

CONGRATS ON THE WORK YOU DO FOR THE BOOK AND BEYOND.

AGAIN THE BOOK IS CALLED "THE EMERGENCY" A YEAR OF HEALING AND HEARTBREAK IN A CHICAGO ER.

YOU CAN READ EXCERPTS ON HER WEBSITE.

>>> AN ART EXHIBITION AT THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER COMES WITH AN ADVISORY ALONG WITH MATURE CONTENT AND NUDITY SOME OF THEM USE STEREOTYPES TO DESCRIBE RACISM AND SEXISM IN AMERICAN CULTURE.

THE ARTIST, ROBERT COLESCOTT DID NOT STOP ANY PUNCHES.

>> THE COLORFUL CANVASES CHALLENGE EXPECTATIONS.

A PAINTING FROM 1980 SHOWS SHIRLEY TEMPLE WITH THEIR RACES REVERSE.

THE IMAGES REVEAL AND PROVOKE AND RESIST EASY ANSWERS.

WE SPOKE WITH THE CURATOR FROM HER HOME IN BALTIMORE.

SHE TOLD US ABOUT THE FIRST TIME THAT SHE SAW HIS PAINTINGS IN THE 1970S.

>> I LOOKED AT THEM AND I WENT OH MY GOD.

THE IMPACT OF THEM WAS SO IMMEDIATE BECAUSE I REALLY SAW THE MISCHIEVOUSNESS OF THE PAINTINGS AND REALLY RELATED TO IT.

TO WALK IN AND SEE THESE PAINTINGS THAT WERE SO NAUGHTY AND SATIRICAL AND HUMOROUS BUT AT THE SAME TIME SMACKING YOU AROUND WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST REGULATORY MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.

>> AND AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PAINTING DEPICTS HIS MOVE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO CALIFORNIA.

COLE SCOTT WAS A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II AND WELL TRAVELED.

HE STARTED WITH FERNAND IN FRANCE AND EGYPT.

HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTIST TO REVEREND BILLY REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES.

THE CURATOR WAS A FRIEND OF THE ARTIST.

>> BOB WAS ONE OF THE MOST LITERATE ARTIST THAT I KNOW IN TERMS OF WHAT HISTORY WAS ABOUT BUT HAD THIS UNIQUE ABILITY TO TRANSLATE THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO IMAGES THAT WERE VERY IMPACTFUL.

A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE DIGITAL PUNS THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE ATTUNED TO.

TITLES LIKE COLOR TV ARE A PLAGUE IN BOTH THE FACT OF COLORIZATION'S AND IMAGES ON YOUR TV ALSO THE LACKED OF REPRESENTATION OF LACKED PEOPLE HERE.

>> THE LATE ARTIST MADE NEWS EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN THE LUCAS MUSEUM PAID $15 MILLION FOR A CAMPUS THAT FEATURED GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER CROSSING THE DELAWARE.

THAT PAINTING ISN'T IN THE SHOW BUT AN EARLIER SKETCH IS.

BEFORE HIS DEATH HE INFLUENCE A YOUNGER GENERATION OF ARTISTS.

HIS OWN INFLUENCE WAS NUMEROUS.

>> COLE SCOTT WAS INTERESTED IN POPULAR ILLUSTRATION COMICS AND CARTOONS HOLLYWOOD MOVIES AND ADVERTISING THE BOMBARDMENT OF IMAGES THAT WE EXPERIENCE AND CULTURE.

HE IS ADDRESSING YOU IN A WAY THAT IS FILLED WITH IRONY.

>> YOU RECOGNIZE CERTAIN ELEMENTS THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU LAUGH BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?

>> THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER IS AS BUSY AS IT HAS BEEN IN TWO YEARS.

GALLERIES DEDICATED TO THE UNDERGROUND MAGAZINE LUMPEN ON ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY AND HI BUDDY A SHOP THAT SHOWCASES LOCAL ARTISTS AND SMALL MANUFACTURERS.

JOINING THESE EXHIBITIONS IS THIS RARE RETROSPECTIVES WORK OF ROBERT COLESCOTT.

WE ASKED THE CURATOR OF THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THE PAINTING.

>> I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LOOK CAREFULLY AND RESIST IMMEDIATE ACTIONS.

TRY TO COME TO SOME ACQUISITION THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO COME TO IF IT'S ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE AND SEE IF IT'S WARRANTED.

SEE IF THERE'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN RELATE TO AND WHAT HE'S TRYING TO TELL YOU IN HIS PAINTINGS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT THIS IS MARK VITALE.

LEXI EXHIBITION IS CALLED ART AND RACE MATTERS, THE CAREER OF ROBERT COLESCOTT AND IS FREE AT THE CULTURAL CENTER AND RUNS THROUGH THE 29TH.

YOU HEARD?

IN THAT THE GALLERY IS DEDICATED TO THE UNDERGROUND LUMPEN.

THESE HAVE SINCE ENDED SINCE THE STORY WAS FIRST AIRED.

MORE DETAILS ON HER WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND BE SURE TO TAKE OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY 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 SUNDAY AT 10 PM.

JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT AND JOIN ME MONDAY NIGHT AT 8 PM FOR NEXT VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF VOTING RIGHTS IN THE COUNTRY.

TWO RCP JUST GO TO WTTW.com/EVENTS.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.