>> Announcer: CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS: >>> COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER AND FUTURE AND THE FUTURE HOLDS GREATER PROMISE FOR ALL THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT "CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES" TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING APART OF YOUR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT IN THE WAKE OF LORI LIGHTFOOT'S COMMENTS ON THE DIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDIA WE'LL TALK WITH LEADER OF LOCAL JOURNALIST ASSOCIATIONS ON WHY THEY SAY NEWSROOMS NEED DIVERSITY.

A THROWBACK REVISITING THE LEGACY OF THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE AS WE NEAR ITS 100th ANNIVERSARY.

LEADERS FROM LOCAL PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS SHARE WHY THEY THINK BLACK REPRESENTATION MATTERS AND HOW CHICAGO'S CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT THE CITY.

>>> AND PUPPETS AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE COME TOGETHER FOR A LOOK AT RACIAL PROFILING.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT KICKED OFF A FIRESTORM OF CRITICISM AND LOCAL IN NATIONAL MEDIA WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED THAT INTERVIEWS ABOUT HER SECOND ANNIVERSARY AS MAYOR WOULD ONLY BE GIVEN TO REPORTERS OF COLOR.

NOW THE MAYOR SAID THAT SHE WAS HOPING TO COUNTERACT THE "OVERWHELMING WHITENESS AND MALENESS OF CHICAGO MEDIA."

AND WHILE THERE WAS PLENTY OF SPECULATION AS TO HER REASONS FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, HER COMMENTS HAVE THROWN A SPOTLIGHT ON DIVERSITY IN CHICAGO.

JOINING US NOW ARE BRANDON POPE PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE BLACK JOURNALISTS, AND LAURA RODRIGUEZ SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR FOR THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE HISPANIC JOURNALISTS.

SO BRANDON, LET'S START WITH YOU WOULD YOU SAY THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S STRATEGY WAS A GOOD ONE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF NEWSROOM DIVERSITY?

>> THE STRATEGY ITSELF, NO, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY COORDINATION OR CONTACT WITH ANYONE BEFORE JUMPING INTO IT.

RIGHT THERE WE HAVE TO QUESTION MOTIVE.

IT WAS A BAD ROLLOUT.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING THAT IT CAME FROM A GOOD PLACE.

BECAUSE MAYBE THE ISSUE IS REAL AND THE ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NEWSROOM DIVERSITY IS A PROBLEM BUT THAT'S JUST A FIGHT THAT WE'VE BEEN LEADING NOT THE MAYOR USUALLY AND WE WANT THE MAYOR TO JOIN US IN LEADING THE FIGHT NOT JUST KIND OF GOING ON HER OWN.

>> LAURA, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THE MAYORAL HANDLED THIS SITUATION?

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH BRANDON.

AS WE MENTION THE CONVERSATION IT SPARKED THIS CONVERSATION AND IT'S NOW HIGHLIGHTING THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN THE NEWSROOM.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED WE ISSUED A STATEMENT AND SAID WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM BUT WE DON'T AGREE WITH THE ESSENTIALLY THE POLITICS BEHIND IT.

WE BEING A LOT OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND THE ESSENCE OF JOURNALISM TO DECIDE, RIGHT, WHERE SHE CAN CHOOSE WHO WILL COVER HER OR THE WAYS THEY WILL COVER HER.

>> LEADERS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABOUT EXCLUDING ANYBODY, THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

WE'RE ABOUT INCLUSION AND INCLUSION IS A GREAT THING.

SO YES, BRING US TO THE TABLE GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY BUT LET'S NOT EXCLUDE PEOPLE.

>> SO LAURA, I MEAN LET'S START WITH YOU WHAT WOULD YOU SAY SOME OF THOSE SOLUTIONS LOOK LIKE?

YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN DOING.

>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST, THE SOLUTION THAT MANY OF US TALK ABOUT WE USE THAT A LOT, RIGHT, AND IT'S ALMOST SOUNDS EMPTY NOW, I THINK AT ONE POINT WHEN WE WORK FOR THE OUTREACH WE SAID #MOREDIVERSITY.

>> THAT MEANS BRINGING IN MORE JOURNALISTS OF COLOR IT'S NOT ALSO BRINGING US IN IT'S ALSO FOSTERING OUR GROWTH WITHIN THE NEWSROOM AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE POSITIONS THAT ARE ALSO OF LEADERSHIP AND THAT ALSO, HELP, YOU KNOW, TO SHAPE THE NEWS FROM OVERALL.

IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF BRINGING IN A VOICE AND A FACE IT'S REALLY ABOUT RESTRUCTURING EVERYTHING WITHIN THE NEWSROOM SO WE ARE ALL AS BRANDON MENTIONED INCLUESIVE.

>> ABSOLUTE LIMP LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS, BRANDON, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT NEWSROOMS COULD DO MORE TO BE MORE REFLECTIVE OF JUST DIVERSITY, IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY COVER WITH THE REPORTERS THAT THEY HAVE?

>> WELL, THAT'S THE THING.

NEWSROOM DIVERSITY IS ABOUT BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.

CHICAGO IS SO DIVERSE, LIKE IT'S A LARGELY BLACK AND LATINO CITY, SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE GROUND COVERING IT, AND EVEN THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES MAKING DECISIONS REFLECT THAT DIVERSITY.

BUT OFTENTIMES THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS YOU HAVE SOME PROBLEMATIC THINGS GO DOWN.

SO, THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE IT IS TO FOSTER ONE A CULTURE WITHIN THESE ORGANIZATIONS OF INCLUSION, BUT ALSO, FOSTERING SOME SORT OF PROGRAM AND SOME SORT OF SYSTEM WHERE THEY COULD ACTUALLY GO AND TAP INTO THIS TALENT POOL THAT THAT SO MANY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE AND THE INTENTIONAL -- BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT PUTTING THOSE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS TO LEAD AND IN POSITIONS TO MAKE DECISIONS.

THAT IS REALLY WHERE THE CHANGE HAPPENS.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE DIVERSITY ON SCREEN IT'S BEHIND THE SCENES WHERE THE POWER LIES.

>> YES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> GO AHEAD LAURA.

>> YES, IF I MAY, I THINK THAT A BIG THING ABOUT WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT BRINGING MORE DIVERSITY IN THE NEWSROOMS AND MORE LATINOS OR MORE BLACK JOURNALISTS IN NEWS IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING THEM IN THERE AND COVER CERTAIN COMMUNITIES OR CERTAIN ART COMMUNITIES OR CERTAIN ISSUES IT'S LITERALLY ABOUT NOT SEEING US AS THE OTHER ANY MORE.

WE NEED TO BE FULLY, YOU KNOW, APART OF THE CONVERSATION AS A WHOLE.

AS WE ARE APART OF SOCIETY AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO AND CHICAGO -- >> YOU ALL MENTION PUTTING JOURNALISTS OF COLOR IN THESE COMMUTES.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS TOKENISM.

BRANDON CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY JOURNALISTS OF COLOR MIGHT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TOKENIZED IN NEWSROOMS AND WHAT SOLUTIONS COULD BE TAKEN TO AVOID THAT?

>> YEAH, THE KEY THING IS YOU DON'T WANT TO BE JUST THE BLACK FACE, RIGHT.

YOU WANT TO BE ALLOWED TO BE BLACK AND LEAN IN TO THAT IDENTITY, LEAN IN TO THE ISSUES THAT MATTER AND NOT JUST KIND OF PUT FRONT AND CENTER AS A WAY OF CLEANING UP ANYTHING OF P.R.

OR JUST TRYING TO LOOK GOOD.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE TALK ABOUT TOKENISM, OKAY, YEAH IT LOOKS LIKE BUT ARE YOU REALLY, REALLY WITH IT.

IS IT REFLECTED IN YOUR POLICIES, IN YOUR NEWS MAKING DECISIONS, IN YOUR EDITORIAL PROCESS, IN THE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE WITHIN THE NEWSROOM AND IT COMES DOWN TO THINGS AS SIMPLE AS WHEN YOU ARE MAKING SINGLE DIGITS TO HAVE A MUG SHOT.

WHAT PHOTOS YOU PUT ON THE WEBSITE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE A VOICE, WE WANT OUR VOICE TO BE HEARD, INCLUDED AND TRULY AS PART OF THE COVERAGE NOT JUST SOMEONE THAT'S FILLING A POSITION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LAURA IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE TOKENISM IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH OF US IN THE NEWSROOMS.

SO OFTENTIMES WE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE ABLE TO COVER CERTAIN ISSUES, RIGHT.

IT MIGHT NOT BE, IT MIGHT NOT BE QUOTE/UNQUOTE AN ASSIGNMENT BUT WE DO FEEL ALMOST RESPONSIBLE TO SPEAK UP AND SAY SOMETHING, RIGHT.

I THINK THAT'S JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF US.

WE SHOULD HAVE, WE SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE AND I THINK THAT JUST AS WE CAN ALSO GO AHEAD AND SAY I'M, YOU KNOW LATINA AND I CAN COVER LATINA COMMUNITIES WITHOUT HAVING A CERTAIN AGENDA THAT SHOULD ALSO BE RESPECTABLE.

BUT WE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN AS I MENTIONED THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH OF US TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.

OUR IDENTITY IS NOT BIASED, YOU KNOW.

WE CAN BE FAIR JOURNALISTS, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, BE REAL ABOUT THE REALITIES WE FACE.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES THAT SHOULDN'T BE SHYED FROM.

BRING YOUR EXPERIENCES TO THE TABLE AND EVERYTHING' TABLE SHOULD BE EMBRACED BECAUSE IT MAKES THE NEWS PRODUCT BETTER OVERALL AND BRINGS MORE EYES AND VIEWERS AND READERS AND LISTENERS TO YOUR PRODUCT.

IT SOMETHING REALLY IS A WIN FOR EVERYBODY WHEN YOU HAVE A TRUE MISSION OF DIERS ISITY IN YOUR NEWSROOM.

>> LET ME -- OF DIVERSITY IN YOUR NEWSROOM.

>> LET ME JUST ADD WE HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY SOMETIMES WE ARE OFTEN THE ONLY ONES ABLE TO COVER CERTAIN ISSUES.

IN THAT CASE I FEEL THAT IT IS YOU KNOW WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND IT'S LIKE OKAY LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.

WHAT CAN ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYBODY ELSE LEARN FROM THIS AND ALMOST WHAT CAN I SHARE WITH YOU TO HELP YOU COVER THIS.

NOT JUST ABOUT ASSIGNING THIS TO ME OR TO ANOTHER JOURNALISM COLOR IN THE NEWSROOM.

>> VERY WELL SAID, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT.

OUR THANKS TO BRANDON POPE AND LAURA RODRIGUEZ.

>>> NOW TOMORROW MARKS THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE.

A TWO DAY ATTACK THAT DESTROYED WHAT WAS THEN THE WEALTHIEST BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE U.S. AND KILLED AS MANY AS 300 PEOPLE.

NOW EARLIER THIS MONTH, SURVIVORS OF THE MASSACRE TESTIFIED BEFORE A HOUSE COMMITTEE AS PART OF AN ONGOING REPAIRATIONS LAWSUIT.

IN A 2018 WTTW SPECIAL 10 STREETS THAT CHANGED AMERICA JEFFREY BAIRD TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT TULSA'S BLACK WALL STREET.

>> CONTAINED BY SEGREGATION AND FUELED BY OIL MONEY GREENWOOD BECAME THE BLACK WALL STREET.

IT BOASTED 15 DOCTORS, FOUR HOTELS, TWO THEATERS AND TWO NEWSPAPERS.

THIS IS YOUR TURF AND THIS IS WHERE YOUR RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTCLUBS AND THEATERS, AND OF COURSE, ATTORNEYS OFFICES ARE ON THESE STREETS.

>> YOUR GRANDFATHER.

>> MY GRANDFATHER FRANKLIN.

>> SO THESE BLACK DISTRICTS WERE BUILT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY DURING THE ERA OF SEGREGATION, RIGHT.

>> OH, YES.

>> BECAUSE I COULDN'T TRY ON CLOTHES IN YOUR DEPARTMENT STORE, I COULDN'T GO TO YOUR THEATER SO BLACKS HAD THE WEALTH TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.

IN WASHINGTON AND PHILADELPHIA, IN NEW YORK, AND CHICAGO.

>> Reporter: BUT IN TULSA IT WOULD ALL BE DESTROYED IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

ON MAY 30th, 1921, A YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN STEPPED INTO A DOWNTOWN ELEVATOR OPERATED BY A WHITE TEENAGE GIRL.

NO ONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT ELEVATOR, BUT THE TULSA TRIBUNE CLAIMS HE ATTACKED HER.

>> THEY ARREST THE MAN THEY TAKE HIM TO THE COURTHOUSE AND PUT HIM IN THE JAIL CELL IN THE TOP OF THE BUILDING.

BLACK WORLD WAR I VETERANS COME DOWN ARMED TO PROTECT HIM BECAUSE THEY ARE FEARED THERE WOULD BE A LYNCHING.

THERE'S A CONFRONTATION AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

>> Reporter: THOUSANDS OF WHITES TUL SANS CROSS THE TRACKS ONTO GREENWOOD AVENUE.

BRANDISHING RIFLES AND WORSE.

>> A MACHINE-GUN IS SET UP AND PEOPLE ARE MACHINE-GUNNED DOWN IN THE STREETS.

WE HAVE THE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE HEARING WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS HAIL HITTING THEIR HOMES AND IT'S ACTUALLY BULLETS AND THEY COULD SEE THE MACHINE-GUN WITH AN AMERICAN FLAG ON IT.

>> Reporter: AIRPLANES BOMBARDED GREENWOOD FROM ABOVE.

>> FLYING ABOVE THIS AREA AND DROPPING BURNING TURPENTINE BALLS.

SO THE MEN ARE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND THEN THEY'RE MARCHED DOWN THESE STREETS.

>> Reporter: RIGHT HERE.

>> RIGHT HERE AND WALKED DOWN TO THE CONVENTION HALLS WHERE THEY WERE DETAINED.

>> Reporter: NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE HOW MANY DIED.

FIGURES RANGE FROM 38 TO THREE -- 300.

GREENWOOD AVENUE HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND.

>> WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR GRANDFATHER?

>> SO THE MONEY HE SAVED -- >> IS BURNED UP WITH ALL HIS POSSESSIONS.

HIS OFFICE IS BURNED.

HE HAS NOTHING.

>> Reporter: BUCK FRANKLIN CONTINUED TO PRACTICE LAW OUT OF A TEND UNTIL HE AND HIS COMMUNITY COULD REBUILD.

-- OUT OF A TENT UNTIL HE AND HIS COMMUNITY COULD REBUILD.

>> NOW AN UPCOMING PBS DOCUMENTARY CALLED "TULSA THE FIRE AND THE FORGOTTEN" EXPLORES THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE AND HOW THE COMMUNITY IS COMING TO TERMS WITH ITS PAST.

THAT PREMIERES TOMORROW EVENING AT 9:00 ON WTTW.

>>> UP NEXT, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WITH A LOOK AT BLACK REPRESENTATION AND PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS IN A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER.

>>> FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THE WORD FILL NOT A ME -- PHILANTHROPY -- ACCORDING TO A 2020 STUDY, 92% OF FOUNDATION PRESIDENTS AND 83% OF FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS ARE IN FACT WHITE.

A FACTOR THAT CAN AFFECT WHAT INITIATIVES GET FUNDING AND HOW MUCH THEY RECEIVE.

BUT AFTER A YEAR THAT HAS LAID BEAR PERSIST INEQUITIES LEADERS OF PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS ARE REASSESSING HOW AND TO WHOM THEY ARE LENDING THEIR SUPPORT.

JOINING US NOW ARE LIZ THOMAS FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE NONPROFIT CLEVELAND AVENUE FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION.

TWALA MITCHELL AT THE McARTHUR FOUNDATION AND CO-CHAIR OF THE CHICAGO AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN PHILANTHROPY LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND MONIQUE BRUNSON-JONES PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF FOREFRONT ILLINOIS'S STATEWIDE REPRESENTING GRANT MAKERS AND NONPROFITS.

>> WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE BLACK PHILANTHROPIC APPROACH?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, IT IS SO UNIQUE FOR BLACK REPRESENTATION BECAUSE WHAT WE DO THE APPROACH IS MORE OF A CONTENT AND CONTEXT EXPERT.

THE APPROACH IS NEAR AND DEAR TO A COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN, EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE HAD AND SO WE WANT TO PARTNER IN A WAY THAT SHOWS HOW WE EXPERIENCE THAT IN THE VALUE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO TACKLE THE ISSUE.

IT'S VERY MUCH ALWAYS LIVING.

>> LIZ THOMPSON, HOW DID YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND DON THOMPSON BECOME INVOLVE IN PHILANTHROPY?

>> WELL, BRANDIS, IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE DONE ALL OF OUR LIVES YOU KNOW IN OUR COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY IS A BIG WORD AND WE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF IT AS GIVING BACK SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS IN OUR D.N.A.

FROM OUR FAMILY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO IF GIVEN THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT EDUCATION WOULD BE THE KEY LEVER WE WOULD WANT TO PULL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO VIRTUALLY ALL OF OUR LIVES.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT FOCUS ON EDUCATION IN A LITTLE BIT.

IN ROLES LIKE YOUR AT THE McCARTHUR FOUNDATION DOES YOUR IDENTITY INFORM YOUR APPROACH TO THE JOB?

>> EVERY DAY I THINK AS A NATIVE SOUTH SIDER AND CHICAGOAN I BRING LIFE FULL SELF TO THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE McCARTHUR FOUNDATION ON THE CHICAGO COMMITMENT.

THINKING ABOUT GROWING UP IN SOUTH SHORE WHICH WAS SUCH A RICH AND WEALTH COMMUNITY OF MOSTLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR TIME, THEIR TALENT, THEIR TREASURE TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND WORKING HARD EVERY DAY BUT OFTEN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LACKING THE RESOURCES, THE AMENITIES AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES THAT PEOPLE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES TAKE FOR GRANTED.

SO, FUNDING COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HAVING THAT BACKGROUND OFTEN, I CENTER MY NEIGHBORS MY COMMUNITY IN THE WORK THAT WE DO IN TRYING TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.

>> MONIQUE BRUNSON JONES HOW CAN DIVERSITY AND PHILANTHROPY HAPPY TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY GOALS?

-- IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OUR ROOT CAUSES.

SO PEOPLE WHO ARE AS YOU NOTICED AND ENGAGED IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE APPROACH AND CREATE SPACES FOR HOW OUR DYNAMICS ARE SHIFTING.

IT GUFS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW -- IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW WE ARE SUSTAINABLE WITH OUR MAKING AND GIVING AND USING THE DOLLARS TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD RACIALLY BASED ON WHERE WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITIES ARE OPPRESSED, WHERE WE KNOW WE ARE ARE GETTING THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, IF YOU WILL.

ENGAGING IN A WAY THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY WORK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> TWALA MITCHELL, HOW HAS YOU THIS ACHED THE WAY ORGANIZATIONS ARE GIVING?

>> I THINK THERE IS NOW A RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE FACING A TWIN PANDEMIC OF BOTH SYSTEMATIC RACISM IN ADDITION TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THIS RACISM HAS BEEN A SKURGE ON OUR SOCIETY AND SOMETHING THAT HAS AFFECTED US LONG BEFORE THIS DISEASE.

AND I THINK PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOW RECOGNIZING THAT THEY CAN'T TACKLE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER AND SO SHIFTING, NOT JUST MAKING STATEMENTS ABOUT INTENSE BUT SHIFTING GRANT MAKING TO GET TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN NEED THE MOST IS SOMETHING THAT ALL OF OUR FOUNDATIONS ARE REALLY STRIVING TO DO.

>> LIZ, IN DECEMBER, 2020, THE CLEVELAND AVENUE FOUNDATION YOU ALL LAUNCHED THE 1954 PROJECT, OBVIOUSLY, A NOD TO THE 1954 SUPREME COURT BROWN VERSUS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DECISION.

BUT THAT PROJECT RAISED $100 MILLION TO SUPPORT BLACK LEADERS IN EDUCATION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU KNEW THAT YOU WANTED TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION IN YOUR PHILANTHROPY.

WHY EDUCATION IN PARTICULAR?

>> THERE'S BEEN SUCH A RICH TRADITION OF VALUING EDUCATION IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS YOU KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE RISKED THEIR LIVES JUST TO BE ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO READ AS A MEANS TO FREEDOM.

IT'S NOTHING BUT FREEDOM OF THE MIND.

SO THERE HAS BEEN THIS INCREDIBLE TRADITION OF VALUING EDUCATION.

FOR MY HUSBAND AND I, WE MET AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

EDUCATION WAS OUR PATHWAY TOWARDS SUCCESS AND SO WE KNEW THAT FOR MANY OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE, LIKE US, IT WOULD BE THE SAME.

THAT JOURNEY WOULD BE THE SAME FOR THEM.

AND SO WHILE WE'RE ON THE PATH TO RAISING $100 MILLION, WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET.

WE KNOW THAT VALUING THE LEADERS IN EDUCATION, BLACK LEADERS IN EDUCATION WILL BE KEY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY STATISTICS, BRANDIS, WHEN YOU HAVE A BLACK EDUCATOR IN THE CLASSROOM IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING AS SUPERINTENDENT THE STATS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE INCREASE IN THE POSITIVE WAYS.

SO MANY OF THEM AND SO WE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THAT AREA FOR BETTER OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN.

>> MONIQUE, IN ABOUT 45 SECONDS, HOW CAN YOU KNOW THE CURRENT SYSTEMS BE MADE MORE WELCOMING TO BLACK PHILANTHROPISTS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO START LOOKING AT OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

WE TALK ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL PHILANTHROPY I CAME AS A PHILANTHROPIST AND AS A NONPROFIT WORKER LOOKING AT HOW WE INVITE THAT BLACK PHILANTHROPIST TO THE TABLE.

FOR INSTANCE, THE AMOUNT THAT'S NEEDED TO START A DONOR ADVISE FUND.

THOSE INSTITUTIONAL PERIMETERS NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE ENGAGE IN COMMUNITIES AND HOW WE HIRE AND HOW WE PROMOTE IN BLACK PHILANTHROPY AND GROUP INSTITUTIONS THEY NEED TO BE REALLY THOUGHTFULLY LOOKED AT AND POWER DYNAMICS NEED TO SHIFT.

SHIFT MAJORLY IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO SEE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> OKAY, THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

MY THANKS TO MY GUESTS FOR JOINING US.

>>> WE'RE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> RACIAL PROFILING HAS BEEN FRONT AND CENTER IN THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION OVER THE PAST YEAR AND EVEN LONGER.

A MEMBER OF CHICAGO'S THEATER COMMUNITY TURNED HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE INTO A SHORT FILM WITH HELP FROM THE CHICAGO PUPPET FESTIVAL.

HERE'S A LOOK AT A ONE MAN ONE PUPPET SHOW ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF WALKING WHILE BLACK.

PRODUCER MARK VITALY HAS THER.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT ME RIGHT, IT'S ABOUT THE PUPPET.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT I PUT ALL OF MY ENERGY INTO HIM WHERE HE'S LOOKING, WHAT HE SMELL, WHAT HE HEARS.

>> Reporter: JERRELL HENDERSON DEMONSTRATES HOW HE MOVES J.L.

HIS AVATAR AND CO-STAR OF A NEW SHORT FILM.

>> I DON'T DRIVE, I GET STOPPED BY THE POLICE AT LEAST THREE TIMES A YEAR.

JUST WALKING HOME FROM BARS, FROM SCHOOL, GOING TO OR COMING FROM WORK.

SIMPLE EVERYDAY THINGS THAT BECOME NOT SO SIMPLE AND NOT SO ORDINARY.

I SAW THE COP CAR PULL UP AS I WALKED PAST I SAW IT STOP.

>> Reporter: WHEN HE'S OUT IN PUBLIC HENDERSON IS HYPER AWARE.

>> WHERE ARE MY HANDS, HOW AM I STANDING.

I DO LOOK AGGRESSIVE, WILL I LOOK AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO STOP ME.

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A NATURAL MOVEMENT THAT PROJECTS AGGRESSIVENESS TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT MIGHT CAUSE THEM TO END MY LIFE.

>> BUT ALL I REALLY HEARD WAS YOU FIT THE DESCRIPTION, YOU FIT THE DESCRIPTION, YOU IF IT THE DESCRIPTION!

>> Reporter: IT IS SOMETHING HE'S HAD TO DEAL WITH HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

>> FIRST TIME I WAS FOLLOWED IN THE STORY I WAS 8 YEARS OLD.

I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HAPPENING SO I ASKED THE GUY IF HE HAD A PROBLEM.

I RESENT THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO BREAK DOWN MY HUMAN MOVEMENTS BECAUSE BREATHING THE WRONG WAY, OR SHIFTING MY WEIGHT MIGHT BE SEEN AS AN ACT OF AGGRESSION FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A WEAPON AND IS ALLOWED TO DISCHARGE THAT WEAPON AND I DON'T HAVE THAT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE POLICE GET TO PANIC WITH GUNS AND BLACK PEOPLE WHO GET STOPPED DON'T GET TO PANIC.

THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.

>> Reporter: HENDERSON'S STAGE CREDITS INCLUDE DIRECTING, WRITING AND PERFORMING.

HE CREATED THIS HAUNTING VERSION OF THE PIED PIPER OF HAMLET PRODUCED BY RENOWN PUPPET ARTIST HEATHER HENSON JIM HENSON'S DAUGHTER.

HIS LATEST WORK MAY BE HIS MOST PERSONAL EVEN THOUGH IT DEPICTS A COMMON EXPERIENCE.

>> SO MANY TIMES THE SITUATIONS THAT I FIND MYSELF IN BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO BE BLACK I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S REALITY OR IF IT'S JUST IN MY OWN MIND.

AND SO WHEN PIECES LIKE THIS ARE CREATED AND OTHER PEOPLE SAY NO, YOU'RE NOT CRAZY, THESE THINGS HAPPEN, YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

TO THEM I AM THE BEAR.

WHOEVER CAN FIND A MESSAGE OF HELPFULNESS OR JOY INSIDE OF THIS OR JUST SOMETIMES THE JOY THAT COMES FROM KNOWING THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE ANGRY AND UPSET AS WELL.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE FED UP, ENOUGH, RIGHT.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, RIGHT, BEGINNING TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND HEAL YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN THEN HELP HEAL OTHERS, HOPEFULLY.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT THIS IS MARK VITALY.

>>> JERRELL HENDERSON'S FILM IS CALLED "I AM THE BEAR."

IT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING VIA THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL PUPPET THEATER FESTIVAL.

JOIN US ON-LINE FOR MORE DETAILS.

>>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW AT 7:00 ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

AND "CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES WILL BE OFF FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BUT WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON JUNE 20th .

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING APART OF YOUR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

GOOD NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED-CAPTIONING WAS MADE POSSIBLE WRITE ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD A.

LAW OFFICES SERVING CHICAGO FOR 37 YEARS.