JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EVENING OFF.

TONIGHT, A BIG TIP FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR BLACK CHICAGOANS.

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SHARE WHAT THEY SAY WORKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND JOBS.

>>> ILLINOIS LEADS THE COUNTRY IN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MAYOR JOHNSON 'S REFORM EFFORTS?

>>> WHAT THE FIGHT FOR WATER RIGHTS LOOKS LIKE FOR BLACK RESIDENTS.

>> I WAS NOT PLANNING TO DO ANY OF THIS.

>>> AN EXHIBITION OF PORTRAITS AND PERSONALITIES OF BLACK MEN IN CHICAGO DURING THE 1980s.

ALL OF THAT COMING UP .

>>> BUT FIRST, UNEMPLOYMENT FOR BLACK KIDS IS RISING.

RESOURCES AIMED AT COMBATING THE DECLINE, AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY FIFTH THIRD BANK.

>>> CHICAGO'S NEWLY MINTED MAYOR IS LOOKING FOR OPTIONS TO EXPAND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT.

ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY, THOSE JOBS ARE CRITICALLY NEEDED.

THE STUDIES SHOW THAT THE SPIKE IN UNEMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR AGES 20-24, THE JOBLESSNESS RATE ROSE TO 57% IN 2021.

THAT IS ON TOP OF THE 87% OF BLACK RESIDENTS 15 TO 19 YEARS OLD WHO WERE UNEMPLOYED IN 2021.

THAT IS 20% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE MELISSA, CHIEF OF STRATEGY AND STAFF, JANINE FULLER, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING, AND ONE OF THE STUDY AUTHORS, MATT WILSON, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AT THE GREAT CITIES INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US!

MATT, SO I SAW YOU FOUND IN YOUR STUDY THAT A RISE IN CRIME HAPPENS WHEN EMPLOYMENT DROPS.

IS THERE A CORRELATION, OR WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> SO THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF EVALUATION INTO THESE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND VERY ROBUST RESEARCH.

THEY FOUND THAT WHEN PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE WORKING AND THEY ARE PROVIDING MENTORS AND COUNSELING, THAT CRIME ACTUALLY DROPS 50%.

THAT IS WHILE THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THAT.

THE YEAR AFTER, IF THEY ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, THE CRIME DOES NOT ACTUALLY DROP.

SO THERE IS A VERY STRONG CORRELATION, BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS A CAUSE LINK BETWEEN HAVING A JOB AND CRIME.

>> SO MELISSA, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND HOW YOU ARE REALLY GETTING TEENS READY FOR EMPLOYMENT.

>> WE PROVIDE JOBS AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS FROM EIGHTH GRADE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SUMMER AFTER THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

THESE PROGRAMS ARE IN A VARIETY OF CONTENT AREAS AND THEY ARE REALLY DESIGNED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE BUILD SKILLS IN THESE CONTENT AREAS BUT ALSO BUILD THE MENTORING SKILLS THAT THEY WILL NEED FOR WHATEVER EMPLOYMENT THEY DECIDE TO GO AFTER, WHATEVER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THEY ARE INTERESTED IN.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT CO-OP FOCUSES ON GETTING BLACK COLLEGE GRADUATES EMPLOYED.

WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU ALL USED TO HELP THEM FIND OPPORTUNITIES?

>> SO CO-OP CAREERS IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT AREA WE SUPPORT GRADUATES CONTENDING WITH UNEMPLOYMENT.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT UNEMPLOYMENT IS, BUT UNDEREMPLOYMENT IS COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO ARE MAY BE EMPLOYED AT A JOB THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A BACHELORS DEGREE OR THEY MAKE LESS THAN $50,000.

WHAT WE DO IT CO-OP CAREERS AS WE FOCUS ON THE SOCIO-P'S AS WELL AS DIGITAL SKILLS.

WE LOOK AT STUDENTS WHO ARE RECENT GRADUATES.

THEY ARE LEARNING OUR TWO CURRICULUMS PROGRAM, WHICH IS DATA ANALYTICS AS WELL AS DIGITAL MARKETING.

THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT DATA FOCUSES AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY.

THE COUPLE THAT WITH SOCIAL CAPITAL.

ALL OF US ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT, BUT WE HAVE A COVERT MODEL WHERE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING ALL THESE DIFFERENT SKILLS AND FULFILLING THEIR SOCIAL CAPITAL.

THERE WILL BE SOMEONE IN THE PROGRAM THAT CAN SUPPORT THEM AS THEY GET BETTER AT THEIR JOBS.

>> NOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT LOOKING AT GETTING ON PEOPLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES IS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CITY OR MAYBE THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

>> SO I THINK BOTH.

I THINK ONE INTERESTING THING IS TO THINK OF WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR ROLE IS.

THE LABOR MARKET HAS LARGELY NOT EMPLOYED YOUNGER PEOPLE.

THEY ARE OFTEN COMPETING FOR JOBS AGAINST PEOPLE OLDER THAN THEM, SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO STEP IN AND TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE.

IF YOU THINK OF A 16 TO 17-YEAR-OLD, THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT READY TO ENTER THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITHOUT KNOWING THINGS.

I THINK THE MONEY THAT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS TRYING TO PUT INTO YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IS SUCH A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN TERMS OF PROVIDING IN PEOPLE WITH SKILLS WHERE THEY CAN CONVERSE WITH AN EMPLOYER AND LEARN HOW TO SHOW UP ON TIME AND LEARN HOW TO RESPOND TO SUPERVISORS.

I THINK THE PUBLIC SECTOR NEEDS TO GIVE A PUSH.

>> SO WE THINK ABOUT PUBLIC FUNDING OR PUBLIC PUSHING.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION IN TERMS OF HOW THEY PUSH FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS?

>> WE HAVE BEEN SO ENCOURAGED BY MAYOR JOHNSON'S COMMITMENT TO ENGAGEMENT.

ALIGNS WITH APPLICABLE MATTERS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON IN THE CITY HAS ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE INTERESTS AND DECIDE WHAT IT IS WE WANT TO DO NOW AND IN THE FUTURE .

WE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGED AND WE HOPE TO SEE ALL THESE GOALS COME TO FRUITION.

>> JUMPING OVER TO YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT STRUCTURAL ISSUES DO YOU BELIEVE CONTRIBUTE TO UNEMPLOYMENT OR UNDEREMPLOYMENT FOR BLACK COLLEGE GRADUATES?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK A LOT OF IT IS THAT SOCIAL COMPONENT, YOU KNOW, THAT SOCIAL CAPITAL.

LEARNING HOW TO AFFECT PEOPLE IN A POSITIVE WAY.

WHEN I TALK TO A LOT OF YOUNG ADULTS, PEOPLE ON OUR PROGRAM, THE THING THEY HAVE ABOUT NETWORKING IS THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

HERE IT CO-OP WE SHOW THEM THAT SOCIAL CAPITAL IS NOT JUST ABOUT ASKING FOR A JOB, IT IS BY GETTING SUPPORT FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ARE ALREADY DOING.

RIGHT NOW OUR PROGRAM STARTED IN 2014 AND WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT .

WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE PEACE OUT SUPPORTING ALL THAT.

>> JUMPING BACK TO YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CITY COULD DO TO JUMPSTART OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

>> SO I THINK THAT IT IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT IS ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THAT IT IS THINKING ABOUT SUMMER JOB PROGRAMS.

I THINK THINKING OF THOSE AS AN EXTENSION OF EDUCATION.

WE ALWAYS THINK OF EDUCATION IS GOING IN A CLASSROOM, BUT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, I THINK THE PUBLIC SECTOR CAN DO A GREAT SERVICE AND PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO PREPARING THEM FOR THESE TYPES OF JOBS.

>> JUMPING BACK TO YOU, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR PARTICIPATION IN AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS?

HAVE YOU SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE PANDEMIC OR A LULL?

>> SO THERE WERE ABOUT 10,000 YOUNG PEOPLE.

TO YOUR POINT AS TO WHETHER THIS CAN CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INTERNSHIPS AND PROGRAMS.

WE TRANSITIONED TO REMOTE.

I THINK THIS SOME OF THE DEMAND WILL BE GREATER, SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE THERE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELP THEM RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.

>> I THINK THAT WE ARE OUT OF TIME!

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR THANKS TO MELISSA, KADIM AND MATTHEW.

>>> AND UP NEXT, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IN A CONVERSATION THAT WAS RECORDED EARLIER.

>> FOR THE FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW, CHICAGO IS THE WRONGFUL CONVICTION CAPITAL OF THE U.S.

THIS IS ACCORDING TO A NATIONAL REPORT.

HEATHER , 124 PEOPLE WERE EXONERATED IN 2022 AFTER BEING CONVICTED IN COOK COUNTY.

HOW DOES THAT APPEAR TO COMPARE TO THE REST OF THE NATION?

>> NO OTHER STATE HAD MORE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS THAN ILLINOIS.

MICHIGAN HAD 16 EXONERATIONS AND TEXAS HAD 11.

NO OTHER STATE REACHED DOUBLE DIGITS.

>> SO THIS WAS TIED TO CONVICTIONS.

WHAT WERE THESE OFFICERS ACCUSED OF DOING?

>> FOR A DECADE, RONALD WATT PATROLLED THE HOUSING PROJECT.

HE WAS BASICALLY ACCUSED OF EXTORTING VISITORS AND RESIDENTS OF THE HOUSING PROJECT.

DETECTIVE RIVERA WAS FOUND TO HAVE LIED UNDER OATH AND WAS ACCUSED OF FRAMING SUSPECTS.

>> IN 2022, CHICAGO TAXPAYERS SENT AT LEAST $98 MILLION TO PERPETUATE THIS LAWSUIT.

WHAT IS THIS COSTING THE CITY?

>> WE WILL NOT KNOW FOR MANY YEARS.

IN SEPTEMBER 2021, TWO MEN WERE CONVICTED BASED ON EVIDENCE DEVELOPED BY DETECTIVE GUEVARA AFTER SPENDING TIME IN PRISON FOR A CRIME THEY WERE LATER EXONERATED OF.

THIS IS A MASSIVE DRAIN ON CITY FINANCES.

>> NOT ONLY FINANCES BUT ALSO TRUST.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS BAD NEWS FOR BRAND-NEW MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

HE HAS IMPLORED THE CITY TO SPEND MORE ON INVESTIGATING OFFICERS.

TELL US ABOUT THE CHALLENGES HE FACES.

>> WHOEVER IS THE NEXT TOP COP IS GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THESE REFORM QUESTIONS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THIS WILL REMAIN UNDER A COURT ORDER.

I SHOULD NOTE THAT ALL BUT ONE OF THE PEOPLE EXONERATED IN '22 WERE EITHER BLACK OR LATINO .

THIS WAS BASED ON A 2017 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT THAT FOUND THAT BLACK AND LATINO CHICAGOANS ROUTINELY HAVE THEIR RIGHTS VIOLATED.

THAT IS GOING TO BE JOB NUMBER ONE FOR MAYOR JOHNSON AND WHOEVER THE NEXT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT IS.

>> HEATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>, BRANDIS.

>>> YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM .

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

>>> THE PUBLIC IS BEING SHOWN WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR WATER JUSTICE IN A NEW EXHIBIT.

A STUDY FROM BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS FINDS THAT THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF LEAD IN TAP WATER.

CHICAGO HAS REPLACED LESS THAN 300 LEAD SERVICE LINES OUT OF ABOUT 390,000.

JOINING US FOR THIS EXHIBIT ON WATER JUSTICE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ARTIST, STORYTELLER AND THE CURATOR BEHIND THE EXHIBIT, THE DIRECTOR AT THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL.

THANK YOU LADIES FOR JOINING US.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT.

WISHING WELL IS MEANT TO BE BOTH AN EDUCATIONAL AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO RAISE AWARENESS ON THE RELATIONSHIP THAT BLACK PEOPLE HAVE WITH WATER TAXI?

>> DURING THE CLIMATE CRISIS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER IS MORE PRECARIOUS THAN IT WAS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE IN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS, I WOULD SAY.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CLAIM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HARMONIZE WITH OUR ECOSYSTEM.

SO MUCH OF OUR CLIMATE CRISIS IS A RESULT OF US HAVING AN INCORRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ECOSYSTEM.

FOR US IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT OUR EARTH LOOKS LIKE SO THAT WE CAN ENVISION WHAT JUSTICE LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT A GREATER EARTH LOOKS LIKE.

>> I ANNA, JUMPING OVER TO YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES WITH WATER IN CHICAGO FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES?

>> IT IS PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR WATER, RIGHT?

THANKFULLY THE CITY DOES HAVE A MORATORIUM ON WATER SHUT OFFS SOME PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF WATER DEBT.

IT WAS FOUND THAT CHICAGOANS HAD ACCUMULATED $421 MILLION IN WATER DEBT.

60% OF THAT WAS CONCENTRATED IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, MUCH OF THIS WILL SHOW UP IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

A LOT OF HISTORIC COMMUNITIES LIKE INGLEWOOD AND SOUTH CHICAGO , THEY ARE MOST SUBJECT TO HAVING LED IN THEIR WATER, LEAD AND NEUROTOXINS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE KIDNEY DISEASE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

A LOT OF THIS CAN BE TIED BACK TO LEAD IN DRINKING WATER.

>> YOU SAID IT IS IMPORTANT THAT BLACK PEOPLE RECLAIM AND RECOUP THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER.

>> YES.

I THINK IT OFTEN BECOMES AN ISSUE OF I CAN'T GET MY HAIR WET OR I CAN'T SWIM.

THERE ARE INSTITUTIONAL INJUSTICES THAT TIE THAT WHY WE NEED TO THINK THAT WAY.

IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE LIBERATION AND JOY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

WATER IS WHO WE ARE.

WATER IS 70% OF OUR BODY.

HOW CAN WE HAVE FREEDOM AND LIBERATION AND MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIND POWER AND AGENCY IN CREATING A NARRATIVE AND PUSHING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD REGARDING OURSELVES AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER?

>> AYANNA, JUMPING BACK TO YOU, WE KNOW THAT CHICAGO IS BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO REPLACING LED WATER SERVICE LINES.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE DELAYS?

>> LEAD CAN HAVE A TON OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT LEAD REPLACEMENT IS NOT GETTING CHEAPER ACROSS THE CITY , AND ON INDIVIDUAL LEVELS IT COSTS AS MUCH IS $37,000 TO FIX A SERVICE LINE.

IF THE COST OF IT IS NOT GOING TO GET CHEAPER, THEN IT WILL GET MORE EXPENSIVE.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE ONLY TRUE WAY TO REMOVE LEAD FROM OUR DRINKING WATER.

>> UNDER JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION, ARE YOU MORE CONFIDENT THAT HE CAN IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO?

>> I AM.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR YEARS .

THEY ARE WORKING ON WATER FOR ALL PROGRAMS.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE 2017.

I THINK THE THE FOUNDATION IS THERE FOR WATER RECLAMATION STRUCTURE TO HAPPEN.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS AS WELL ON THE JOHNSON MINISTRATION PLANS FOR CREATING MORE CLEAN WATER ACCESSIBILITY FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE REALISTICALLY?

>> I THINK THE COMMITMENTS THAT HE HAS MADE SO FAR ARE MAKING THINGS AFFORDABLE AND PUTTING IT INTO FRUITION SO THE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD WATER THAT IS TREATABLE.

>> SO MEKHI, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE AN EXHIBITION SET UP AROUND THIS!

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> IT BRINGS BLACK WOMEN AND FAMILIES TOGETHER OVER THE ENVIRONMENT READ WE ALSO HAVE A FILM THAT COVERS WHAT WATER IN JUSTICE LOOKS LIKE AND HOW IT IMPACTS PEOPLE.

THIS IS HAPPENING ON SUNDAY FROM 7:00 TO 9:00.

>> WE HAVE ALL THESE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

MY THANKS TO MEKHI AND AYANNA.

THE EXHIBIT WILL RUN IN BRONZEVILLE.

>>> UP NEXT, A LOOK AT CHICAGO BLACK MEN IN THE 1980s.

STAY WITH US.

♪ ♪ IN HIS FREE TIME HE DOCUMENTED THE AREA AROUND HIM, TAKING PICTURES THROUGHOUT HIS DAY DURING MUCH OF THE 1980s.

NOW A LOOK AT GAY BLACK MEN IN CHICAGO DURING THAT DECADE AND A COMMUNITY THAT HAS OFTEN BEEN OVERLOOKED AND STEREOTYPED.

NICK BLUMBERG HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: PATRICK McCAW I GREW UP AROUND PICTURES.

HIS FATHER WAS A PAINTER AND PHOTOGRAPHER, BUT PATRICK?

>> HE DID NOT WANT TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER AND WORK WITH ALL THE DIALS AND SO FORTH.

>> YOU LIKED TAKING PICTURES WORKING WITH A SIMPLE POINT AND SHOOT THROUGHOUT THE '60s AND '70s.

>> ONE DAY ONE OF MY FRIENDS WENT TO THE CAMERA STORE AND WAS TOLD, YOU NEED TO STEP UP.

>> Reporter: HE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE CLASSES, SO HE MADE A DEAL WITH HIMSELF.

>> EVERY DAY I WAS GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST ONE PHOTOGRAPH.

>> Reporter: McCOY CARRIED THE CAMERA AROUND HIS NICK EVERYWHERE .

>> EVERY DAY SOMEONE WOULD HOLLER OUT, TAKE MY PICTURE!

>> Reporter: THIS WAS PART OF THE DEAL, TOO, THAT HE WOULD TAKE A PICTURE OF ANYONE WHO ASKED!

>> I WOULD JUST GIVE THEM THEIR PHOTOGRAPH!

>> Reporter: McCOY GOT TO KNOW PEOPLE, OFTEN TAKING THEIR PICTURE MULTIPLE TIMES.

MANY OF THEM WERE REGULARS AT THE RIALTO TAP IN THE SOUTH LOOP.

>> WE USED TO CALL IT THE STAR WARS BAR!

ALL KINDS OF CRAZY PEOPLE IN THERE!

>> Reporter: EVERYONE FROM PEOPLE LIVING IN HOMELESS SHELTERS, DOWNTOWN BUSINESSMEN TO DRAG QUEENS, BUT THE CROWD WAS MOSTLY GAY BLACK MEN.

>> FOR PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH LOOP, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE CHEERS.

>> Reporter: McCOY ALWAYS ALLOWED THEIR PERSONALITY TO SHINE THROUGH.

>> IT CUTS THROUGH THE PREJUDICES OF THE PAST HUNDRED YEARS.

>> IS A SLICE OF BLACK LIFE THAT YOU DON'T SEE IN MUSEUMS.

>> Reporter: SHE HAS KNOWN McCOY FOR DECADES AND HELPED HIM WHITTLE DOWN SOME 300 PICTURES TO THE 50 NOW FEATURED.

BUT AS THE 80s GAVE WAY TO THE '90s, McCOY FELT LESS SAFE CARRYING A CAMERA EVERYWHERE.

THE CRACK ACADEMIC AND A.I.D.S.

WERE TAKING THEIR TOLL.

>> THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE REALLY DEAR TO ME.

>> Reporter: McCOY SAYS THAT THIS COMES WITH A SENSE OF NOSTALGIA AND SADNESS BUT ALSO PRIDE AT SEEING HIS WERE CAPTURED.

>> THIS IS BEAUTIFUL TO ME.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES , I AM IN LOMBERG.

>> YOU CAN SEE ARTIST PATRICK McCOY AND A PANEL OF HIS FELLOW RIALTO TAP REGULARS IN A CONVERSATION AT THE GALLERY ON JUNE 3rd.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT!

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST .

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON FRIDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SATURDAYS BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M. AND DON'T FORGET TO JOIN JOANNA HERNANDEZ THIS MONDAY, MAY 22nd FOR OUR NEXT LATINA VOICES CONVERSATION .

SHE TALKS WITH LOCAL LEADERS TO FIND OUT WHAT BEING A SANCTUARY CITY FOR IMMIGRANTS MEANS AS THOUSANDS OF NEW ARRIVALS ARRIVE IN CHICAGO THANKS TO AN ONGOING BORDER CRISIS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES, I AM ANGELITA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.