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 FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, EVANSON MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST USC TO MAKE REPARATIONS AVAILABLE TO IT'S BLACK RESIDENTS.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL OUTLOOK.

HER FIRST BOOK WAS CALLED AND WHAT AND NOW HER BOOK IS AND HOW.

OUR AUTHOR, AJAYI JONES JOINS US FOR OUR BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SELECTION.

WE HAVE A LOCAL AUTHOR WHO DIED AT 70 AND THE JOB IN THE 1970S THROWBACK.

>> WE GO ALL OVER IF YOU CAN'T GET OUT.

IF YOU CAN GET OUT WE WILL TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS.

>> OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL IDOWU ON A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SERVING GROCERIES TO ARTISTS IN NEED.

WE'LL FIRST OFF TONIGHT EVANSON HAS BECOME THE FIRST CITY IN THE COUNTRY TO OFFER REPARATIONS FOR BLACK RESIDENTS.

144 YEARS SINCE THE END OF RECONSTRUCTION.

LAST WEEK EVANSON ALDERMAN DECIDED TO DISTRIBUTE $10 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS USING THE TAX MONEY FROM THE SALE OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA GOOD IT STARTS WITH DEBATING OVER $400,000 TO ELIGIBLE BLACK HOUSEHOLDS.

THOSE WHO QUALIFY WILL RECEIVE $25,000 FOR HOME REPAIRS, INTEREST PENALTIES OR DOWN PAYMENTS ON PROPERTY.

AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, ALD.

ROBIN RUE SIMMONS SAID THIS HOUSING PROGRAM IS JUST THE START FOR EVANSTON'S REPARATIONS PLAN.

>> IT IS THE FIRST TANGIBLE STEP.

IT IS ALONE, NOT ENOUGH.

IT IS NOT IN FULL REPAIR ALONE FOR THIS ONE INITIATIVE.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE ROAD TO REPAIR AND JUSTICE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IT IS GOING TO BE A GENERATION OF WORK.

IT IS GOING TO BE MANY PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES AND MORE FUNDING.

>> JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE HISTORIC LEGISLATION ARE HISTORIAN MORRIS "DINO" ROBINSON FOUNDER OF THE SHOREFRONT LEGACY CENTER.

KAMM HOWARD WITH THE NATIONAL COALITION OF BLACKS FOR REPARATIONS IN AMERICA AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, SEBASTIAN KNOWLES.

THINK THE THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING ME THIS EVENING.

"MAKING GOOD TROUBLE" IS A HISTORY OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY THERE IN EVANSTON.

PARTICULARLY HOUSING DISPARITIES.

REMIND US OF WHAT THAT HISTORY IS AND EXPLAIN IT'S IMPACT ON TODAY'S BLACK RESIDENTS.

>> EVER SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1855 AS A CITY OR A VILLAGE AT THE TIME, EVANSON EARLY HISTORY WAS NO SINCE OF A BORDERLINE OF WHAT AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WAS.

EVERYONE LIVED EVERYWHERE.

THERE WAS A DEMARK AFTER THE 1900S THAT SHOWCASED WHERE BLACKS WERE BEING PUSHED INTO ONE AREA.

THAT TOOK OVER 30 YEARS TO SEE THE MAJOR IMPACT OF THAT.

THEY USED ZONING, THE HOPE MAPS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ALSO JIM CROW POLICIES WHICH WERE NOT NECESSARILY IN BOOKS BUT PART OF THEIR SOCIAL LIFE.

OVER THE 30 YEARS THROUGH A WELL DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT LACK COMMUNITY WAS TARGETED AND PUSHED INTO ONE AREA OF EVANSTON.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED ABOUT 8 ONE.

THE ONE-VOTE CAME FROM ALDERMAN SISLEY FLEMING AND SHE EXPLAINED LAST WEEK THAT SHE ISN'T ANTI-REPARATIONS BUT SHE HAS A SPECIFIC OBJECTIONS TO CALLING THIS PLAN REPARATIONS.

HERE'S WHAT SHE SAID.

>> WE HAD ON THE COUNCIL THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAM IN EVANSTON.

IT WASN'T JUST FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS BUT IT HELPS YOU WITH A DOWN PAYMENT AND SUCH.

MY ISSUE WITH THAT UNDER THE BANNER OF REPARATIONS IS I DON'T THINK THAT'S REPARATIONS I THINK IT'S HOUSING PLAN.

THIS WILL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE CITY INTO YOUR BANK ON THEIR BEHALF.

AND, THEY WOULD HAVE NO INPUT ON HOW THIS MORNING IS SPENT.

IT IS REALLY IN MY CONTRADICTORY TO REPARATIONS.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A TONING AND HEALING AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

IT'S REALLY TELLING PEOPLE WE THINK WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU AND IT'S HOUSING AND WERE GOING TO GIVE IT TO THE BANK.

>> YOUR GROUP OPPOSES THIS REPARATION PLAN AS WELL.

TELL US WHY, PLEASE.

>> I WANT TO SAY OUR GROUP DOESN'T OPPOSE REPARATIONS AS A WHOLE.

WE BELIEVE IT IS THE CRUX OF THE NATION.

THIS CURRENT PROGRAM AS IT STANDS IS NOT REPARATIONS AND I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY OVER WHAT ALDERMAN FLEMING SAID.

THESE EQUITY PROGRAMS ARE NOT REPARATIONS.

THE FACT THAT 25,000 DOLLARS IT IS GOING TO 8 FAMILIES IN TOTAL AND THEY CAN'T EVEN COME TOGETHER TO SPEND THAT MONEY?

THEY HAVE NO SAY IN THIS MATTER HERE THEY CAN'T CHOOSE WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR MONEY, THEY CAN'T PUT INTO THE BLACK BUSINESSES THAT THEY WANT TO.

THEY CAN'T SPEND IT ON EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN PIT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE WITH THE PROGRAM.

>> KAMM HOWARD YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS WINNING REPARATIONS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP THAT EVANSTON IS TAKING OR WOULD CASH PAYMENTS BE BETTER?

>> ABSOLUTELY THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP.

WE FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH WHAT ALDERMAN FLEMING SAID.

THEY DO NOT HAVE A CORRECT OVERVIEW OF WHAT REPARATION IS.

REPARATION IS REALLY ANY RESOURCES TARGETED TOWARD SPECIFICALLY OUR BLACK PEOPLE FOR THE LEGACY OF CRIMES COMMITTED DURING ENSLAVEMENT.

JIM CROW SEGREGATION OR JIM CROW ERA.

THIS IS A HOUSING INITIATIVE THAT IS A REPARATIONS HOUSING INITIATIVE.

THERE WILL BE OTHER PACKAGES AND OTHER REPARATIONS INITIATIVES AND HEALTHCARE REPARATIONS INITIATIVE.

THERE IS A HOUSING REPARATIONS INITIATIVE.

IT WILL BE A MODEL OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO USE.

WHEN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOLLARS COME DOWN WE WILL SEE WHETHER OR NOT THIS HAS AN IMPACT AND HOW WE SPENT THIS NATIONWIDE.

>> AND, DINO ROBINSON YOU ALSO HELPED CREATE A TEAM OF RESIDENTS WHO WILL EXPAND REPARATIONS WORK .

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE GROUP?

>> THIS IS A FORMING GROUP.

IT IS NOT YET REALIZED.

THIS WILL TAKE A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WE UNDERSTOOD THE LIMITATIONS OF THE $10 MILLION PROPOSED BY THE CITY OF EVANSTON WITH THEIR PROGRAM THEY ARE FOCUSED ON HOUSING GOOD ACCORDING TO THE RESOLUTION IS HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION IN THIS BILLY INITIATIVES.

WHAT IS MISSING IS THE ELEMENT, THE CASH PAYOUT, HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLNESS AND OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN EVANSTON.

WHAT THIS IT IS GOING TO ADDRESS IS A FORMAT WHERE THE HARMED COMMUNITY CAN HAVE A SAY WHERE THE REPARATIONS MONEY CAN GO TO THROUGH A PRIVATE FUND THAT IS HELD BY THE FOUNDATION.

THIS WOULD BE COMMUNITY RAN WHERE THE COMMUNITY SETS THE PRECEDENT OF WHAT IS DONE WITH THAT MONEY.

>> SEBASTIAN KNOWLES, BASED ON WHAT WE HEARD FROM DINO ROBINSON AND WHAT ALD.

ROBIN RUE SIMMONS HAS SAID.

THIS IS JUST A FIRST STEP.

THIS HOUSING PROGRAM REPRESENTS A SMALL PORTION OF THE MONEY.

DOES THAT RESOLVE ANY CONCERNS THAT YOUR GROUP HAS THAT MORE IS ON THE WAY DOES NOT HELP AT ALL WITH YOUR CONCERNS?

>> NO IT DOESN'T.

I HAVE BEEN ASKING THIS QUESTION FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW.

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

WE GO INTO THIS PLAN AND WE SAY, IF YOU CREATE A PLAN OR YOU BUILD A HOUSE YOU DON'T BUILD THE KITCHEN 1ST AND THEN DECIDE TO BUILD THE BEDROOM NEXT YEAR OR A BATHROOM TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE.

THIS PLAN WAS NEVER FLUSHED OUT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH AN ALDERMAN LAST WEEK.

I ASKED WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WERE FOR THE PROGRAM AND HE SAID ULTIMATELY IT'S UP TO THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE THAT.

WE DON'T CREATE A PLAN AND MARKET IT AS REPARATIONS WITHOUT HAVING THAT NEXT STEP.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THE COMMUNITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE NATION WILL LOOK AT THE HOUSING PROGRAM AS A MODEL TO THE NATION TO FOLLOW.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THIS HOUSING PROGRAM CANNOT WORK IN MISSISSIPPI OR WORK IN DEEP SOUTH GEORGIA.

IT MIGHT WORK HERE IN EVANSTON AND WE CAN CALL IT A HOUSING PROGRAM IS NOT TRUE REPARATIONS.

>> I WANT TO GO TO KAMM HOWARD.

WE JUST HEARD ARGUMENTS THAT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.

IF THIS IS BEING CONSIDERED POTENTIALLY A MODEL NATIONWIDE, KAMM HOWARD LAY OUT TO US WHAT REPARATIONS LOOK LIKE ELSEWHERE?

WHAT COULD IT LOOK LIKE NATIONWIDE?

>> ON A LOCAL LEVEL, WHERE YOU HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TARGETED TOWARDS A PARTICULAR AREA IN THIS CASE IT IS HOUSING.

IT COULD BE THE DEVELOPMENT AT THE NEXT DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES BUT IT'S GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT IN EACH COMMUNITY.

MOSTLY BECAUSE EVERY COMMUNITY HAS THEIR OWN CHALLENGES.

IT'S UP TO THE COMMUNITIES TO PRIORITIZE WHAT THEIR CHALLENGES ARE AND WHERE THEY WANT TO DIRECT THEIR RESOURCES.

IN EVANSTON THE PRIORITY WAS HOUSING TO THE NEXT INITIATIVE MIGHT BE SOME ELSE AND THAT'S UP TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO DETERMINE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE CAN SEE IN EVANSTON CAN BE UTILIZED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN EVANSTON THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE IS THAT EVANSTON CHOSE TO DETERMINE A DOLLAR AMOUNT PRIOR TO DEVELOPING A PLAN.

MOST OTHER CITIES HAVE A PLAN WHERE THEY HAVE A COMMISSION TO DEVELOP THE PROPOSAL AND THEN GO FIND IT.

EVANSTON TOOK ANOTHER ROUTE.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS SUCH A NOVEL PLAN.

>> OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE BOTH IN EVANSTON AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

MY THANKS TO SEBASTIAN KNOWLES, DINO ROBINSON AND KAMM HOWARD.

>>> LONGTIME BROADCASTER BILL CAMPBELL DIED EARLIER THIS MONTH AT AGE 70.

MANY PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER HIM AS THE DISTINCTIVE VOICE ON OS BROADCAST.

WHEN HE APPEARED WITH WEEKEND REVIEW IN 1981 WAS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR AT WLOS DELIVERING VIEWS OF STATION MANAGEMENT AND ISSUES OF THE DAY IN THIS ROW BACK FROM THAT YEAR CAMPBELL TALKS TO JOEL WISEMAN ABOUT HIS SIGNATURE EDITORIAL AND DERIVING MEANING FROM HIS WORK.

>>.

[MUSIC] >> PEOPLE ASKED ME WHY DOES TELEVISION HAVE TO BE ON IT'S WAY TO LOCATION.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE IF YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE SANITARY DISTRICT AS OPPOSED TO TALKING ABOUT IT?

>> MAYBE NOT THE SANITARY DISTRICT AS AN EXAMPLE BUT CERTAINLY HAPPENED IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE STARTED CHANNEL 7 EDITORIALIZING ON LOCATION FOUR YEARS AGO.

WE FOUND IT TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF UTILIZING THE MEDIA THAT WE ARE ALL WORKING WITH.

CERTAINLY IF YOU ARE IN A COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT IS OCCURRING THERE IN THE INTERACTIVE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE A FEELING THAT MORE THAN ON PONTIFICATING THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORKFORCE.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SATISFYING EDITORIAL OR EDITORIAL CAMPAIGN THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT HAS ABOUT CHANGES?

>> ONE ILLUSTRATION AND IT'S A GREAT ILLUSTRATION AT THIS POINT IS BREAKWATER OFF OAK STREET BEACH.

LAST YEAR THERE WAS A VERY TRAGIC ACCIDENT WHERE A YOUNG COUPLE WAS KILLED BECAUSE THEY RAN INTO THE BREAKWATER AT NIGHT .

THEY WERE EXPERIENCED BOATERS AND WE DECIDED THERE SHOULD BE LIGHTS ON THE BREAK WATER.

FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS SIX OR SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SIMILAR ACCIDENTS.

WE RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND OUT THAT NO ONE WANTS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.

SENATOR PERCY GOT INVOLVED AND JUST THE OPENING OF THIS BOATING SEASON >> WHEN YOU SAY WE DECIDED THERE SHOULD BE LIGHT, HOW DO YOU SAY WE?

DID YOU SEE THIS STORY ON THE NEWS AND SAY HOW CAN WE AVOID THIS?

>> WE SAW THE STORY AND WE GOT CALLS FROM THE FAMILY WHO HAD ALL TRIED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WHY AREN'T THERE LIGHTS THERE?

IT'S A DANGEROUS NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM.

WHY NOT?

[MUSIC] FROM JUMPING OUT OF PERFECTLY GOOD FLYING AIRPLANES TO ZIP LINING THROUGH A JUNGLE AUTHOR OF THIS WEEK'S BLACK VOICES SELECTION HAS BEEN AN EXPERT AT CHALLENGING YOUR FEARS BUT NOT ALL OF HER DURING ADVENTURES MEAN LEAVING THE GROUND.SHE WAS AFRAID TO GIVE HER OWN 2017 TED TALK, GET COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE WHICH CLOSES IN ON 6 MILLION VIEWS.

SHE'S GOTTEN OVER THAT FEAR AND SHE'S HELPING US DO THE SAME WITH HER NEW BOOK, PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER, THE FEAR FIGHTER MANUAL.

HERE IS AUTHOR AJAYI JONES.

WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU MENTIONED BEING A TROUBLEMAKER IN THAT 2017 TED TALK THAT YOUR FIRST BOOK WAS JUDGING YOU, THE DO BETTER MANUAL.

WHY NOW FOR THE PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER BOOK?

>> YES, MY BOOK PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER IS A FEAR FIGHTING BOOK.

AND, WE ARE LIVING IN A WORLD THAT IS SCARIER THAN EVER, I THINK.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO BE CONFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKERS WHICH MEANS THEY ARE DISRUPTORS FOR GOOD.

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE MEETING SAYING ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN.

THERE IS A FAMILY MEMBER WHO POINTED OUT THAT JOKE YOUR UNCLE MADE.

I THINK PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKERS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELEVATING EVERY ROOM THEY ARE IN AND WE NEED THEM TO EXIST YET I WANT TO AFFIRM THEM AND IF YOU'RE NOT ONE I WANT TO CONVINCE YOU TO BECOME ONE.

>> THAT'S A TOUGH SELL.

YOU ARE INSPIRED A LOT FROM THE HEAD PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER IN YOUR LIFE .

YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

TELL US ABOUT HER AND WHY SHE INSPIRED YOU.

>> MY GRANDMOTHER FOR ME WAS THE PERSON WHO I LOOKED AT WHO GAVE ME PERMISSION TO BE A BOLD WOMAN.

SHE TOOK UP SPACE WITHOUT APOLOGY.

SHE ALLOWED HERSELF TO BE CELEBRATED.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS KIND SHE DIDN'T TAKE ANY OF YOUR STUFF.

OKAY.

>>> SHE WAS SO DEEPLY LOVED.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SHE WAS MOVING THROUGH THE WORLD AND LEARNING THAT I COULD ALSO DO THE SAME THING AND BE A PERSON.

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO HER WHO PASSED 10 YEARS AGO.

THIS IS AN AMAZING TRIBUTE TO HER.

>> SHE DIDN'T TAKE ANY STUFF WHICH IS A NICE WORD THAT WE CAN'T SAY ON SUNDAY TELEVISION.

YOU IMMIGRATED FROM NIGERIA AT A YOUNG AGE OF NINE.

IN WHAT WAYS WAS OVERCOMING THAT YOUR SUPERPOWER?

>> COMING FROM NIGERIA TO THE UNITED STATES, FOR THE FIRST TIME I WAS A NEW GIRL AND I WAS DIFFERENT.

THE WAY I SIGN MY NAME WAS DIFFERENT.

I ADOPTED AS KIDS DO HERE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT AT NINE.

WHEN I GOT TO COLLEGE AND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AND I GOT TO SEE EVERYBODY ON THEIR CULTURE IN A REAL WAY I WAS LIKE THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO OWN MY NIGERIA IDENTITY.

AND IT'S HOW I APPROACH THE WORLD.

WE ARE A VERY BRAVADO APPROACHING PEOPLE.

AND, SOMETIMES I THINK THAT BEING TOO DIFFERENT ISN'T SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON.

>> IN THE BOOK YOU WRITE ABOUT THE RICCI.

TELL US WHAT THAT IS.

WHY YOU NEED ONE?

>> SO, THIS IS FROM TRADITIONAL NIGERIA.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT TIES YOU TO YOUR LINEAGE AND YOUR FAMILY AND IT AFFIRMS YOUR VERY BEING.

I CALL IT A STANDING OVATION FOR YOUR SPIRIT.

I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS.

IN THIS WORLD WE ARE TOLD ALL THE TIME THAT WE ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR WE ARE TO SOMETHING OR WE HAVE TO CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT OURSELVES AND THAT IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

IT SAYING YOU ARE AMAZING AS YOU ARE TODAY.

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE NOBODY CAN TOUCH YOU AND NOBODY CAN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOU.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL TO WRITE OURSELVES AS A RICCI.

>> THIS IS A EXERCISE THAT YOU GIVE READERS OF THE BOOK AND YOU GAVE YOUR OWN AND YOU LIKE AND IT TO GAME OF THRONES FANS WILL KNOW THE ONES THAT IS OFTEN GIVEN TO THE NEAREST TARGET AREA AND.

WHERE YOU FIND YOUR PAGE.

GO ON.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THEY INTRODUCE DENARIOUS YOU SAW HER, QUEEN OF THE ANDEL'S, MOTHER OF THE DRAGONS.

SHE WAS THE RETRACTOR OF SEVEN REALMS.

AND EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE WON.

I HAVE WON FOR MYSELF IS CALLED LOVE YOURSELF JONES FIRST OF HER NAME THE SELLER OF BOOKS, GAME OF DICTION, THAT'S WHAT I WROTE.

I WANT EVERYONE TO WRITE WHEN FOR THEMSELVES.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MOMENT WHERE SOMEONE TELLS YOU SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL DIMINISHED OR A BAD DATE THAT YOU'VE HAD OR WHEN YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING BIG LIKE ASK FOR A PROMOTION.

READ THAT THING AND LET IT GAS YOU UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHY TROUBLEMAKING?

YOU TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT BUT HOW IS THE ADVICE YOU ARE GIVING FOLKS TROUBLESOME?

>> I THINK TROUBLE IS A GOOD THING.

THINK ABOUT THE LATE JOHN LEWIS WHO SAID WE NEED TO MAKE NECESSARY GOOD TROUBLE.

USUALLY TROUBLE IS ANYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ROOM AND OFTEN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ROOM IS NOT OKAY.

MAKING GOOD TROUBLE MEANS TELLING THE TRUTH.

IT MEANS ASKING FOR SOMEONE'S VOICE TO BE HEARD WHEN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY NOT.

IT MEANS USING YOUR POWER IN SERVICE OF OTHER PEOPLE.

I THINK MAKING TROUBLE IS A GOOD THING.

WE HAVE TO RECLAIM THE WORD GOOD THING.

>> YOU JUST WRAPPED UP YOUR BOOK TO HER.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU THIS, THERE WAS A SORT OF KINDNESS TRAIN THAT FORMS ON YOUR BOOK TO HER.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT AND HOW GOT STARTED.

>> THE KINDNESS TRAIN HAS TOUCHED MY SPIRIT.

WHEN I ANNOUNCED MY BOOK TO HER A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID I CAN'T COME.

OTHER PEOPLE WILL SAW THE COMMENTS ON MY SOCIAL AND SAID I WILL BUY YOU A TICKET AND I WILL BUY YOU ANOTHER TICKET.

THROUGH THEIR 500 PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TICKETS 500 OTHER PEOPLE BOUGHT THEIR TICKETS.

AND THEN MY FRIENDS CAME IN AND SAID I WILL BUY 100 TICKETS.

WE GAVE AWAY 1900 TICKETS WHICH MEANS 1900 BOOKS.

IT WENT TO ONLINE WORKERS, MOMS WHO NEED A BREAK, SOCIAL WORKERS, ANYBODY WHO COULD NOT COME.

FOR ME THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HAS COME OUT OF THIS WHOLE BOOK LAUNCH AND BOOK TO HER.

PEOPLE REALLY SHOWED UP FOR EACH OTHER AND SHOWED THAT COMMUNITY IS A VERB.

>> WE THANK YOU SO MUCH TO AJAYI JONES.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE BOOK IS CALLED "PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER: THE FEAR FIGHTER MANUAL".

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/ VOICES.

UP NEXT, A COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION HELPING ARTISTS IN NEED.

[MUSIC] A CHICAGO ARTIST IS WORKING TO MAKE SURE NO MUSICIAN IS LEFT BEHIND WITH A COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO BLACK MUSICIANS IN CHICAGO.

OUR ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU RECENTLY SHARED HOW THAT HAS EXPANDED TO HELP ANYONE IN NEED.

HERE IS A LOOK.

[MUSIC] >> IT WAS GOD SENT TO ME TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME FOR SOME MUSICIANS THAT CAN'T PLAY.

THEY CAN'T SING.

THEY CAN'T APPEAR IN CLUBS.

THEY CAN'T TOUR.

I KNOW HOW THAT FEELS.

BECAUSE OF ME NOT BEING ABLE TO SING FOR TWO YEARS.

I WAS HOMELESS.

I ATE OUT OF GARBAGE CANS.

AND, I JUST DECIDED THAT BECAUSE LIFE, MUSIC HAS BEEN MY LIFE, I KNOW HOW THESE MUSICIANS ARE FEELING.

I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.

>> IT WAS ON HER BIRTHDAY LAST OCTOBER WHEN CHICAGO ARTIST, HOLLETHEMAXWELL DECIDED TO CREATE BLACK MUSICIANS MATTERS WITH HELP FROM SECURITY COMPANY, THE GROUP DELIVERS FOOD ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

>> THEY WON'T REACH OUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH PRIDE.

SO, WHAT I DO IS GO AND CALL THEM AND ASK THEM, DO YOU NEED SOME THING?

I NEED CHICAGO MUSICIANS TO KNOW, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH US.

WE WELCOME TO YOU IF YOU CAN'T GET OUT.

WE COVER THE WEST SIDE, WE WENT TO MAILROOM PARK, WE WENT TO OAKS PARK, WE GO TO THE HUNDREDS.

>> WITH DONATIONS FROM GO FUND ME THE GROUP WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE MONETARY SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS LIKE BASE GUITAR PLAYER, HOLLETHEMAXWELL WHO WAS THE BAND DIRECTOR OF EAST ODYSSEY LOUNGE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>> A BIG BOX OF FOOD I WAS GIVEN MONEY AND THAT CAME IN HANDY.

AT THE TIME I REALLY NEEDED IT.

BECAUSE THE BILLS NEED TO BE PAID.

>> MUSICIAN CHARLES CRANE AND JIMMY BURNS HAVE ALSO RECEIVED SUPPORT.

>> I HAD TO PAY MY CELL PHONE BILL AND IT WAS RIGHT ON TIME.

TAKE MY WORD ON IT.

I LOVE APPLES.

THEY GAVE ME FRESH APPLES.

THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> THEY'VE HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY.

I JUST MADE SOME BEEF STEW THE OTHER NIGHT.

>> THE ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY SERVES BLACK ARTISTS BUT THEY WORK TO HELP ANYONE IN NEED WHETHER THEY BE HOMELESS, OLDER ADULTS OR EVEN SINGLE-PARENT.

>> WE HAD ONE GIRL, WHAT WAS HER NAME?

BRITTANY.

BRITNEY!

SHE HAD FOUR KIDS AND WAS HOMELESS.

>> WHILE CHICAGO MUSICIAN RONNIE BAKER BROOKS HE HAS NOT RECEIVED THE AID BUT HE HAS SEEN THE IMPACT FIRSTHAND.

>> MUSIC IS INSPIRATIONAL.

IF YOU GET SO DISGUSTED HOW CAN YOU BE CREATIVE?

AND IF YOU'RE NEGATIVE ALL THE TIME THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AND THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO SING ABOUT.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HELP EACH OTHER AND INSPIRE.

>> IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

>> I DIDN'T JUST FORM THIS ORGANIZATION OR FOOD.

AND JUST FOR MONEY.

I FORMED THIS ORGANIZATION BECAUSE I HAVE A DREAM.

A VISION.

I WANT TO PUT UP A BUILDING IN BROWNSVILLE THAT WILL HOUSE MUSICIANS IF THEY GET ON BAD LUCK.

THIS IS MY DREAM NOW.

>> FOUR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> BLACK MUSICIANS MATTERS CONTINUES TO SERVE ARTISTS FOR AN AS-NEEDED BASIS.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO RECEIVE THE AID.THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR SUNDAY NIGHT.

JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ TOMORROW AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

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

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY