voices.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

Brandis Friedman has the evening off.

Here's what we're looking at.

>> Everything that is dope about America comes from Chicago.

>> Mayor Johnson faces off with Congress members as he defends the city's protections for undocumented immigrants.

>> We are close to reaching an agreement.

Chicago teachers, union officials submit their final contract offer one-on-one with Stacy Davis.

Gates.

>> How a Southside businessman started the iconic black hair care brand Afro Sheen.

>> The factions, our state.

This is the continent itself.

>> And the fashion of Africa takes center stage in a new exhibit at the field museum.

First off tonight, Mayor Brandon Johnson found himself on a very hot seat this morning called to defend Chicago's efforts to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation in front of the U.S. House Oversight Committee.

>> Everybody in crime is devastating.

But scapegoating entire communities is not only misleading.

It is unjust and it is beneath us any actions that amplify fears of deportations make Chicago more dangerous.

>> Our Heather Sharon joins us now with more on the mayor's very high stakes and very long Thanks for being Happy to do it.

So the mayor appeared alongside his counterparts from New York, Boston, Denver facing Sharp questioning as expected about the city's welcoming city ordinance.

And if it stopped immigration agents from deporting criminals, here's some of the first exchange Mayor Johnson had with Republican Representative James Comer of Kentucky who came who chairs that committee.

>> That's criminal.

Be turned over with a criminal warrant.

They are subject to the federal laws that includes deportation.

The point that we've got to iron out today.

Is that we have to have cooperation.

>> So that came just minutes into today's 6 hour hearing.

Is it fair to say it set the tone for the day?

did because I think there was a lot of confusion among the Republican members of the committee about what exactly Chicago's welcoming city ordinance does.

It does not prevent federal agents from coming to Chicago and deporting people who are here without permission.

What it does do is prevent city officials from assisting that effort unless there is a judicial warrant.

We heard the mayor say that time and time again.

And I think several of the Republican members didn't quite know what to do that because, of course, this is sort of seen as sort of blanket protection for undocumented immigrants, which they wrongly cast as all criminals.

When we know that most undocumented Chicagoans are just trying to live their lives, that really took a little bit out of the air in the hearing room and it appeared because people really wanted sort of a viral moment front with the mayor didn't come well despite plenty of Republican politicians taking shots at Tim Johnson did have a few.

>> A friendly faces.

Some Democrats on the panel panel.

Was he able to use that to his advantage at all?

He what he did.

There is nothing.

Brandon Johnson looks more than serving as Chicago's hype So he was able to proclaim Chicago the best freakin city in the world and he was able to pay homage to our very own urban historian Sherman Della Thomas proclaiming that everything dope comes from Chicago.

Pretty sure the first time that phrase has been entered into the congressional that's for can city in the world.

We've heard that line of time to So as we've reported, the Justice Department suing Chicago over that welcoming city ordinance.

Officials have even threatened to arrest Mayor Johnson if he doesn't aid in the Trump administration's efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

Did anything that happened today have any bearing on those efforts?

Not really.

There was a lot of worry among Johnson supporters that he was going do something to sort of put the city on its back foot in that litigation, which hasn't even really gotten started yet.

Nothing really came along those lines, although we did hear Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna say she was going to make a criminal referral to the Department of Justice to investigate all for Mares for violating federal immigration law.

That's the same allegation that the Department of Justice already made an already investigating.

It's not clear that that is really going to add to the city's legal woes.

But I would imagine that after that 6 hour hearing Brandon Johnson is glad to be on his way back I think a lot what had Sharon.

Thank you very much.

Thanks, Nick.

And you can read Heather's full story on our website.

It's all at W T Tw Dot com slash news.

>> Chicago tonight, he's made possible in part by the support of these don't use.

>> Chicago teachers, Union officials say a contract deal with Chicago Public Schools is close at hand after nearly a year of bargaining today, CTU members submitted to the district a petition for what they say are their 5 absolute must haves signed by thousands of educators.

Ct is deputy general counsel says the union has submitted its quote Last best and final offer, which comes after more than 100 bargaining sessions between the union and the District.

Joining us now with the latest is Stacy Davis.

Gates, president of the Chicago Teachers Union.

Welcome back, Chicago tonight.

Thank you for having me.

Always a pleasure.

As we mentioned, you delivered what we said.

Thousands petition signatures, those 5 absolute must haves more educator prep time for elementary, smaller class sizes, boosting pay for veteran teachers, increasing staff like librarians nurses, other supports an ending that teacher evaluation system that a state report found is racially biased.

You say close to landing a new contract.

Where is there still a disconnect between the district and the union?

Well, that's why we took today to engage the board of education.

We took our by sticking issues with the intense support from our membership.

>> From communities, from Edison part to Beverly to Roseland all the way up to Colson in Little Village.

Our members are united.

Our families are united.

We our contract negotiators there.

We had our parents there.

We talked about issues that are going to make school better for young people.

I do believe that the people at CPS want what's best for our young people.

Same for Chicago teachers Union, the CEO of CPS says We're close.

I know we're close because I'm at the table and so we can land this contract.

The budget amendment that they put forth today tells me that they are ready to land this.

And so we are looking forward to getting that yet for folks who aren't familiar with that.

As you mentioned, the board of Education put forward an amendment to its budget today.

>> Can you briefly explain what that is and can what bearing that has on contract negotiations?

It's a little awkward.

Typically the budget amendment is put forth to the board Education after we lander contract.

But this year because the CEO did not budget for the pension payment, he did not budget for the principles contract and he did not budget for our contract.

He basically submitted some incomplete work.

And so now he's going backwards to figure out how to pay the pension payment and honor the workers and our school district.

And what did you see in that in that budget amendment doesn't look like, you know, it's the kind of financial wherewithal.

>> To meet some of the costs of this potential contract, it does appear to have the financial wherewithal to meet the cost in this contract.

>> We are encouraged by the number and again, hopefully this gets us to the finish line.

Look, our members are exhausted.

We have go Apple or were winners at the table.

We have teachers of the year at the table.

These are people who are intensely dedicated to their students.

They want to be back in the classroom with their students and that at the bargaining table.

So they want a period at the end of this session.

Our students deserve smaller class sizes and that's with contract will get them once settled.

>> As we mentioned, you called this the last best and final offer.

Are there more bargaining sessions scheduled?

we don't have any tomorrow.

We are looking forward to landing the contract.

We have offered at transformative vision in the form of a collective bargaining agreement that builds a force around our school district.

It honors the contributions and the diversity of our working staff by making sure we have black teachers in the classroom.

It gives young people a safe instructional experience.

In smaller classes, we expand the sports offerings.

We provide more art in music and physical education, teachers and more supports inside the classroom.

That will help to further transform our district.

This will be historic agreement once landed.

>> it's been a month or so since E 2 rejected an independent fact finders report.

Kind of looking at at the arguments.

Both sides have put forward rejecting that report is is a necessary step toward a strike.

Is CTU considering a strike authorization vote?

We went into this project this time thinking about how might we together with the Chicago Public Schools create an environment.

We're giving our students with a desire.

And so that is our priority and has been our priority.

The petition drive that we have the first 3 days told us that 5 issue, small class size veteran pay.

Those things are very important to our membership.

They are willing to fight for them and they would prefer to be honored and respected at the table and land this contract at the table.

So today we took the petitions today.

We also heard a budget amendment that makes a bit you know, more since then.

He's been making lately.

These are the things that I believe stop for the messy fight and will land in historic agreement that I think all of us can be proud of.

Well, in addition to the contract negotiations, a lot going on and on the national scene that affect education as well.

>> We saw a Linda McMahon sworn in yesterday as secretary of the U.S. Department of Education seemingly with mandate to dissolve that department, essentially for folks who aren't familiar with the role, the Education Department plays kind of in neighborhood schools.

What sort of an impact could that have little have a tremendous impact on the safety of our LGBTI.

A cute and trans students.

>> Our Department of Education provides a force go to support.

>> Civil rights protections for those young people.

Back when Arnie Duncan was the CEO of our public Schools.

We were suspending kindergartners, a disproportionate amount of black students.

The civil rights division came to Chicago and said time out, you can't do that anymore.

We lose that type of guardrail title, one funding, special education law and forsman of that.

That's why this contract is important.

We've used our contract historically to create a system under which we hold the district accountable to give special education students there.

Minutes their resources and their supports.

We are doing that with this contract as well.

And now it means even more because of the bullishness of the WWE running the D O E you could not make up the worst horror story.

If you tried in this moment, that's why it's important land this contract.

We're going need to have a district in the union relationship that is strong and protective black children, immigrant children lead a children's bilingual children are special education children.

I mentioned our trans children.

They're going to need all of the support and protection that is necessary in this moment.

>> And that collegiality in partnership will speaking of of those protections for certain populations of students and parents.

>> We recently saw ice make an arrest outside of a school drop-off.

Are you concerned we might see more targeting of undocumented students and families?

I am absolutely worried about that.

Back in 2016, we begin the process of bargaining sanctuary in our contract.

We land at those protections in 2019.

So I when federal agents came to Southside school, the entire staff had a understanding and training that prevented further action.

That's what we need the district for in this moment.

We need to land those protections and create that for All right.

Well, much more to talk about in the coming days and weeks.

I'm sure.

But Stacy Davis Gates, thank you for joining us.

Thank you so much.

Up next, Rennes Friedman and businessman George Johnson on the ledge just like see rather of his iconic black hair care brand Afro Sheen.

>> For many black people.

>> Afro Sheen is a household name after businessman George Johnson created the products in 1954, he continued breaking racial barriers to become one of the most successful black entrepreneurs in the country by the late 1960's.

He's now telling the story of how he built his business from scratch.

In a new book called Afro Sheen.

How revolutionize an industry with the Golden Rule from soul train to Wall Street.

And joining us now are the books Co authors.

We are honored to have George Johnson, founder of Johnson products company in studio along with writer Hilary Beard.

Thanks to you both for joining us.

And congrats on the book.

Mr. Johnson, I want to start with you first.

What made you want to write this book now?

You sure you want to know.

I I am sure.

Okay.

I'm never intended write a book.

>> I didn't like talking about myself.

And every time I started talking about myself to my grandkids, tears were just flow.

So don't.

I decided that I wasn't going to write a book.

Friends, Ask me and people who knew me ask me for 30 years.

What am I going to tell my And now we told them I'm not going to do it without don't like talking about myself.

However.

November, 21st Sunday morning 2021. sitting in my family room.

And all of a my room concluded.

Got warm.

I tried to get up out of my chair.

I couldn't get up out of my chair.

And I clearly heard 5 words.

You tell your story.

And I believe it was the Lord telling me that I have to tell my story.

It scared me.

It scared me to death.

I immediately change my mind 180 degrees and decided to look for professional writer and we know the rest is history because we know that that clearly led you to Hillary Beard.

But I want to back up into some of that story a little bit because imagine it was.

>> Probably an emotional process for you if the tears were flowing when trying to express this to your kids.

But you became a pioneer in the black here here industry at a time when, of course, blacks are still facing all sorts of obstacles in this country with segregation.

Among them, chief, among them, what led you to create those products at the time.

>> I got on the elevator on the 5th floor at for-profit company where I work.

And that was stop on the 3rd floor.

Jonah gets on well dressed and look at him and learn it out of my mouth without thinking.

I said what the is wrong with you?

And he told me that he came to pull up route because it was a black company and the Heat needed some help.

And he asked Mr. Fuller to make him a better product.

have been trouble with the product using and his barbershop.

You.

His name was Obama Nelson and he was owner of the House of Nelson Mr. Fuller totaling that he was not interested in Baba business.

Didn't have any time to be involved with that.

He had too much of his own things going.

And so I said to him, I don't know what you're talking about.

But I work in the lab if you if you have a card, give me a card and not come by and see if I can do something for you show.

I told him I helping.

And that was the beginning of junction.

Proud Okay.

>> I'm Hilary.

You helped chronicle nearly, you a century of history.

That is Mister Johnson's life.

What drew you to this project and what was it like?

>> Well, I received a call out of no nowhere, which I also viewed as a gift from God.

There's an African proverb that says when elder dies, it's like a library burned down.

And here was this very much alive.

94 year-old elder, who is incredibly accomplished, a trailblazer and pioneer with a library of stories that have not been documented and also black history that has been not been documented and some of which has been actively suppressed.

So I felt to responsibilities.

One, he's 94.

So we needed to move quickly to reflect.

Remember, catalog and condense all these memories into a book quickly and then second, secondly, we wanted to can text to allies in history.

So the 2 days leaders visionary strive ERs and entrepreneurs can understand the magnitude of his accomplishments with in the history and the Times with with in which they took place, which really similar to what's happening now?

Mr. Johnson in the book you it's included in the title how you revolutionize an industry with the Golden Rule, something that you have lived by.

>> How has the golden rule treating others as you would want to be treated?

How has that guy did your life >> made me what I am and what I've been.

The goal remove grounded in love.

And trying to love people.

You can't being at.

First of all, you help them they help you.

It it.

Well, came upon that I was taught that.

>> talked about Mr. Fuller.

I worked in the midst of all of time.

I was 17 years old until I was 24.

Well, I actually got 24.

And just to follow the very devout man and good businessman.

And he live by the golden.

Even mentor.

his encouragement looking at what he did and what it did for him.

I just I you know that I'm going to try to live.

And believe my life my business.

>> you know, whenever she came into the market, black haircare industry was not as big as it is today, which is a multibillion dollar industry black people didn't have a lot of options with regards to their hair care was Mr. Johnson ahead of his time, Mr. Johnson was a pioneer and the creation of ultra Sheen relaxer, which was the first product that allowed African-American women to Kimberly to permanently straighten their hair.

It allowed them to access the mainstream labor market in ways that they have been unable to access before.

>> So it was revolutionary and opening those opportunities up to black women at a time when excluded oftentimes from mainstream jobs and often not seen as human in part because of texture of our hair.

He was a pioneer in terms hiring people within the city of Chicago.

He hired a diverse workforce before anybody did.

He had 11 work environment.

He offered above market wages to African-Americans.

He offered jobs to African-Americans all people of color and women from the factory for to the C-suite before that was done.

He offered profit sharing to everybody in the company way before that was an industry.

Norm, he had health care benefits and on site health care available tuition reimbursement, maternity leave benefits that people still want.

Today, Mister Johnson was offering the 1960's and >> what do you hope people take away from your life story?

>> Help one another.

All right.

That that is a good lesson.

think I'm gonna have to leave it there.

Congrats on the book to both of you.

Thanks again for joining us.

George Johnson.

>> And Hillary Beard.

Thank you.

Thank you for having Again.

The book is called Afro Sheen.

How I revolutionize an industry with the Golden Rule from Soul Train to Wall Street.

>> You can read an excerpt on our website.

And we're back with more right after this.

>> a new exhibit at the field museum is celebrating Africa's layered history of fashion and uses photography.

Video fabrics and more to showcase the work of artists from the start of the liberation period of the Mid 20th century.

Up until today, the exhibit called Africa fashion was organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and features creations from 22 African countries.

>> And the continent itself is alive and thriving in beautiful that the stairs types are not president.

You walk through the spacing.

You're feeling pride in your culture.

If you're part of that culture, if you're not, you're you're just looking at beautiful things and looking at a culture of people that have created beautiful things and not in a past tense way that there's still creating beautiful things.

So I love that feeling as you walk through the space that that it's alive and thriving.

Africa is ons ahead of the United States it comes to fashion the silhouettes, the materials that are used very different than what you find.

This were walking through a store Chicago, downtown Chicago.

When you come, CFA confession us to see an amazing factions, intensive outfits.

>> What you a lot of photography because the show is about self representation as well as cell function in.

So if you think about the stooge April traits that you find this one full black and white Stu ship will chase by the African FA took his lights on.

They saw Ray.

So I think that this it at that session can on the one hand, say something about yourself and the political so allow you to it.

She societies and this will is.

So that's not a suspect.

But then there's a whole host of The comes on in the globe left.

And I asked but just relished the joy and the sensation of wearing one to 4 plates.

Come back to the title the show because it's Africa, fashion for recent south, the removal of the end with the streets, strategic refusal to put the N on on to Africa.

It's because we want it to keep.

open and it possible.

We want to mock the fact that unit, the fashions, our state, this is the continent itself.

And we recognize we could do the show like this, even though it's a survey show to give ordinance Ezekiel in It's true.

The show we hope tell a story that is about agency about a funded and it's about unbound to creativity.

And I see is the magnificence of African creativity.

And so within that, we want to tell a story that gets the kind of limits of the climate and the politics.

But confession, C. >> The exhibit, Africa fashion is on display at the field museum through June.

29th.

And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

You can stream Chicago tonight on our W T Tw YouTube Channel every evening and catch up on any programs you may have missed and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10.

President Trump's new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China are in effect.

We explore the impact on Illinois.

Now for all of us here in Chicago tonight, I'm Nick Blumberg.

Thank you for watching to care yourselves.

Have a good night.

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