THESE DONORS.

>>> AT FIFTH THIRD, WE BELIEVE WHEN THE VOICES ARE HEARD THE FUTURE HOLDS GREATER PROMISES FOR ALL.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

[MUSIC] >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EVENING OFF.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

FOR THIS HOLIDAY EDITION OF THE PROGRAM, WE SHARE RECENT STORIES OF INTEREST AND IMPORTANCE.A LOCAL AUTHOR REFLECTS ON THE BONDS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP AND GROWING UP IN CHICAGO IN HER NEW BOOK.

BLACK HAIR HAS BEEN POLITICIZED, PENALIZED AND LEGISLATED THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

WE HEAR ABOUT THE HISTORY AND PRESENT DAY CONTROVERSIES.

>> WE WANT TO BE REPRESENTED IN THIS LIFESTYLE, TOO.

THAT'S WHY.

>> Angel: MEET TWO TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS USING TIKTOK TO ENCOURAGE BLACK PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS.

>> IT DOCUMENTS THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> Angel: AND PRESERVING CHICAGO'S BLACK CULTURE THROUGH ART AND FASHION.

FIRST TONIGHT, TO A RECENT CONVERSATION BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAD WITH A LOCAL WRITER ABOUT HER COMPELLING PERSONAL STORY.

HERE IS BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> Brandis: JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR DAWN TURNER HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT RACE, POLITICS AND PEOPLE HER WHOLE CAREER.

IN HER NEW BOOK, SHE TURNS HER PEN INWARD.

IN THE LATEST BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SELECTION, WE LOOK AT TURNER'S REFLECTIONS ON HER OWN LIFE'S PAST AND HOW DIVERGED FROM THE LIVES OF THE TWO GIRL SHE GREW UP CLOSE IS TOO, HER SISTER KIM AND BEST FRIEND TABRA.

THE BOOK IS CALLED, THREE GIRLS FROM BRONZEVILLE, RACE, STATE AND SISTERHOOD.

DAWN, WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> Dawn: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Brandis: YOU TALK ABOUT YOU, YOUR SISTER KIM AND YOUR CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND DEBRA.

IT FALLS THE THREE OF YOU THROUGH VERY DIVERGENT PATHS.

YOUR SISTER WAS BORN WHEN YOU WERE THREE.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIM AND YOUR FAMILY?

>> Dawn: ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN MY PARENTS BROUGHT HER HOME, FROM THE VERY MOMENT, SHE WAS A MYSTERY TO ME.

HEADSTRONG.

FEARLESS.

STUBBORN.

MY MOTHER WOULD SAY, THAT LITTLE GIRL IS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING AND THAT SCARES ME.

SHE IS THE ONE WHO CHALLENGED MY PARENTS FROM BEGINNING TO THE END.

I WAS THE KID WHO WAS NOT PERFECT, BUT MUCH MORE QUIET.

WE WERE VERY DIFFERENT IN THAT REGARD.

SHE WAS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE.

THAT WAS JUST HER PERSONALITY.

>> Angel: AND THEN YOU BECAME FRIENDS WITH DEBRA LATER ON WHEN YOU WERE EIGHT.

WHEN HE SAID THE TWO OF YOU WERE AN UNLIKELY PAIR?

>> Dawn: ABSOLUTELY.

SHE HAD PRETTY MUCH THE SAME QUALITIES AS MY SISTER.

I WOULD ALWAYS SAY DEBRA AND I WERE BEST FRIENDS, BUT KIM AND DEBRA WERE SOULMATES.

THE THING THAT I DID NOT ADMIRE ABOUT MY SISTER I LOVED IN DEBRA.SHE WAS HEADSTRONG.

CHALLENGED THE TEACHERS.

FOR ME, RULES WERE SCAFFOLDING.

FOR THEM, THEY WERE SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO PUSH OUT OF THE WAY.

REALLY, THE WHOLE NOTION ABOUT OPPOSITES ATTRACTING.

ABSOLUTELY THE DYNAMIC IS PRESENT IN ALL OF US.

>> Angel: THE FOURTH CHARACTER IN THE TITLE IS BRONZEVILLE ITSELF, ESPECIALLY THE PRIVATE LAWLESS GARDEN APARTMENTS WHERE YOU LIVED AND THAT IDA B.

WELLS PUBLIC HOUSING.

WHAT ROLE DID THIS PLAY IN YOUR LIFE?

>> Dawn: BRONZEVILLE WAS THE CRADLE OF MIGRATION.

OUR COMMUNITY WAS KIND UP IN THE MIDDLE.

TO THE NORTH OF US WAS FOR THE BLACK ELITES, JUDGES, LAWYERS, POLITICIANS LIVED THERE.AS YOU MENTIONED, IDA B.

WELLS WAS IN ITS HEYDAY.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND FORWARD THINKING PLACE, A HAVEN.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ANSWER TO THE AWFUL TENEMENTS OF PEOPLE WHO CAME UP DURING THE GREAT MIGRATION THEY HAD TO LIVE IN THESE HORRIBLE PLACES.

IDA B.

WELLS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ANSWER TO THAT.

AFTER A WHILE, THE CITY ABANDONED IT.

IT BECAME A PLACE WHERE THE CONDITIONS WERE DEPLORABLE.

WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE.

WALLACE GARDENS WAS PRIVATELY OWNED, BUT WE WERE WORKING WITH MIDDLE-CLASS ASPIRATIONS.

HE HAD THE TENSION BETWEEN IDA B.

WELLS AND WALLACE, BUT IT WAS KIND OF PERCEIVED DIFFERENCES.

WE WERE ALL PEOPLE STRIVING UNDER VERY DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.

>> Angel: DURING YOUR TIME AS A COLUMNIST AT THE TRIBUNE, YOU WROTE ABOUT DEBRA'S TIME IN PRISON.

I DON'T THINK I AM GIVING ANYTHING AWAY.

OBVIOUSLY IT WILL ALL BE THERE.

AND HER RETURN TO COLLEGE WHILE SHE WAS IN PRISON.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WRITING ABOUT A FRIEND, WRITING ABOUT HER STORY AS IT WAS HAPPENING?

>> Dawn: I WROTE ABOUT HER WHEN SHE WAS SENTENCED 50 YEARS IN PRISON CONVICTED OF MURDER.

I WROTE ABOUT HER A COUPLE YEARS LATER AS KIND OF A FOLLOW-UP.

I REALIZED BOTH STORIES WERE VERY MUCH CAUTIONARY TALE TYPE STORIES.

WHEN I HAD WRITTEN ABOUT HER, SHE HAD GRADUATED WITH HONORS, IMPRISONED, GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, SOMETHING SHE STRUGGLED TO DO AN OUTSIDE.

I GOT LETTERS FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ACTUALLY, EMAILS, LETTERS.

THAT STORY WAS A STORY ABOUT REDEMPTION AND TRANSFORMATION.

I THINK WE ADMIRED THESE TYPES OF STORIES.

WE LOVE THE WHOLE NARRATIVE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

FOR DEBRA AND HER PRISON EXPERIENCE, WHICH I THINK IS UNFORTUNATELY A LITTLE RARE, IN THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT FROM PRISON.

>> Angel: SHE AND THE WOMEN WHO GRADUATED WITH HER ARE CERTAINLY THE EXCEPTION IN PRISON.

I IMAGINE IT WAS PAINFUL TO WRITE ABOUT YOUR SISTER, BOTH OF YOUR FRIENDS, AND YOUR SISTER KIM WHO DIED SO YOUNG.

WAS IT THERAPEUTIC FOR YOU?

>> Dawn: I HAD NEVER WRITTEN ABOUT KIM BEFORE.

WHEN I STARTED, DEBRA AND ME, TWO GIRLS WHO HAD TAKEN DIFFERENT PATHS.

WHEN I STARTED WRITING THE PROPOSAL AND SHOWING IT TO PEOPLE, MY SISTER LIFT OFF THE PAGE AND IT BECAME THE STORY OF THREE GIRLS.

IT'S NOT A STORY THAT HAS BROUGHT COMPLETE CLOSURE, BUT IT DEFINITELY IT GAVE ME A CHANCE TO DO RESEARCH AND LEARN THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM AND MYSELF.

IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO WRITE THE TYPES OF STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN AN OFFSHOOT OF THE TWO OF THEM BEING IN MY LIFE.

I THINK THIS STORY I CAN PUT IT TO BED.

>> Angel: THAT'S GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT.

IF FOLKS WANT TO KNOW MORE THEY HAVE TO READ IT.

WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE FOR NOW.

DAWN TURNER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> Dawn: MY PLEASURE.

>> Angel: AGAIN, THREE GIRLS FROM BRONZEVILLE, UNIQUE MEMOIR OF RACE, STATE AND SISTERHOOD.

MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[MUSIC] >>> DON'T MISS ONE OF OUR STORIES.

GET THEM DELIVERED TO YOUR DESKTOP OR MOBILE DEVICE WITH A SUBSCRIPTION TO THE WTTW NEWS DAILY BRIEFING.

GO TO WTTW.com/DAILY BRIEFING AND SIGN UP.

[MUSIC] >>> THE SUBJECT OF BLACK HAIRSTYLES HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND DEBATED FOR DECADES.

THIS YEAR IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HERE IS BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IN A CONVERSATION IN THE SPRING ABOUT THE SUBJECT.

SINCE THE STORY FIRST AIRED, THE BILL THEY HAVE DISCUSSED HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW.

>> Brandis: BLACK AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ON THEIR HAIR THROUGHOUT HISTORY.STILES TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH NATURAL BLACK HAIR LIKE GRADES, TWISTS AND AFROS HAVE BEEN CALLED EVERYTHING FROM DISTRACTING TO UNPROFESSIONAL IN SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES LEAVING MANY BLACK AMERICANS FEELING PRESSURED TO STYLE THEIR HAIR IN WAYS THAT CONFORM WITH EUROCENTRIC IDEALS.

A BILL THAT RECENTLY PASSED IN ILLINOIS SENATE AIMS TO ADDRESS BLACK HERE DISCRIMINATION IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE PATRICE, WRITER AND CREATOR OF THE BEAUTY BLOG.

DAVID THOMPSON GREENWELL, FILMMAKER, JOURNALIST AND PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM.

AND STATE SENATOR MIKE SIMMONS WHO INTRODUCED THE BILL AND WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES NEIGHBORHOODS ON CHICAGO'S FAR NORTH SIDE.

ALL THREE OF YOU, WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO TONIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SENATOR SIMMONS, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PROPOSE THIS BILL?

>> Sen. Simmons: I HAVE READ SO MANY STORIES IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO OF BLACK YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY BEING FORCED TO TAKE OUT NATURAL HAIRSTYLES SUCH AS THE STYLE I WEAR, DREADS, FREE-FORM BRAIDS.

THE TIPPING POINT FOR ME WAS WHEN I READ ABOUT CHET HAWKINS, A FOUR-YEAR-OLD ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO WHO IS EXCITED ABOUT SCHOOL AND EXCITED ABOUT HIS NEW BRAIDS.

MOM TOOK HIM TO SCHOOL AND HE WAS FORCED TO TAKE OUT HIS BRAIDS.

I READ THAT AND I SAID I HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS.

WE NEED LEGISLATION AND TURN THE PAGE ON THIS HISTORY.

>> Brandis: AVA, YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT BLACK HAIR IN THE WORKPLACE AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT WOMEN.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> Ava: THERE'S REAL HISTORY BEHIND THAT, PARTICULARLY TELEVISION WHERE IMAGE TENDS TO BE EVERYTHING.

YOU DON'T LOOK FEMININE, CHANGE YOUR HAIRSTYLE.

SHE WAS DEFIANT AND DECIDED SHE WAS GOING TO KEEP HER HAIR THE WAY IT WAS.

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERING THE STORY AND RICHARD NIXON'S DAUGHTER, HER WEDDING.

SHE DECIDED SHE WAS GOING TO WEAR HER AFRO.

THEY SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T.

THEY ACTUALLY DELETED HER PORTION.

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY CERTAINLY SINCE THE 1970S, BUT WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO, I THINK.

IT STARTS CERTAINLY WITH CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES FULLY IN SCHOOL.

I AM VERY HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION FROM SENATOR SIMMONS.

>> Brandis: YOU HAVE EVEN WRITTEN ABOUT MORE MODERN-DAY INSTANCES THAT ARE SIMILAR.

NOT QUITE THE SAME, BUT MODERN-DAY INSTANCES THAT STILL HAPPEN TO SOME TV NEWS REPORTERS.

PATRICE, THERE IS MORE LEGISLATION ON THE HORIZON REGARDING BLACK HAIR.

WHAT WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THE CROWN ACT MEAN?

>> Patrice: CROWN ACT STANDS FOR GRADING RESPECTFUL AND OPEN WORLD FOR NATIONAL HAIR.IT HAS BEEN PASSED IN CALIFORNIA IN 2019.

SEVEN STATES HAVE PASSED SIMILAR LAWS.

IT MEANS PROTECTION FOR US TO NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE WORKPLACE AND IN SCHOOLS.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT WHAT SENATOR SIMMONS IS INTRODUCING AND TO SEE ACTS LIKE THIS ENACTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS.

>> Brandis: SENATOR SIMMONS, HOW WOULD THE BILL WORK?

>> Sen. Simmons: THE BILL WOULD PROHIBIT SCHOOLS FROM INCLUDING A DISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE ON HAIRSTYLES TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH RACIAL ETHNICITY, I.E.

, PEOPLE WHOSE HAIR IS OF AFRICAN DESCENT.

SPECIFICALLY, THE LEGISLATION SAYS YOU CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST DREADS, BRAIDS, AFROS AND PROTECTED HAIRSTYLES.

THE ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY IS ONCE PER YEAR ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DOES A COMPLIANCE AUDIT OF ALL SCHOOLS IN THE STATE AND HANDBOOKS WILL HAVE TO REMOVE ANY LANGUAGE THAT WOULD SAY YOU CANNOT HAVE THOSE KINDS OF HAIRSTYLES.

IF THEY ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES AND SCHOOLS COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE THE RECOGNITION BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

>> Brandis: SENATOR SIMMONS, HE SAID THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED PERSONALLY AS WELL.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> Sen. Simmons: MORE SO IN MY EARLIER YEARS WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

THERE'S ALWAYS A SENSE FROM AUTHORITY FIGURES, SCHOOL SETTINGS, PLACES LIKE THAT.

I WOULD HEAR RANDOM COMMENTS ABOUT MY HAIR.

I RAN TRACK AND FIELD.

PEOPLE ON THE TEAM AND COACH WOULD SAY THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE THINGS.

BACK THEN, I KIND OF KNEW IT WASN'T RIGHT.

I FELT LIKE A BOUNDARY WAS BEING CROSSED, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE TO NAME IT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY A BIG PART OF WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO WITH THIS LEGISLATION IS IT'S ALSO ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THE PANDEMIC HAS ALREADY BESIEGED OUR YOUTH TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS CRITICIZE HAIRSTYLES.WE HAVE MUCH BIGGER FISH TO FRY.

I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE AUTHORITY FIGURES BE LITTLE YOU IN FRONT OF YOUR PEERS.

AS AN ADULT, HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE OTHER ADULTS HAVE MADE INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS WHERE THEY WILL REACH OUT.

IF THEIR MOTHERS SAW THEM DOING THAT THEIR MOTHERS WOULD CRINGE.

THAT IS USING THE LITMUS TEST ON THAT TYPE OF SAVIOR AND HOW UNACCEPTABLE IT IS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY DEI CONSULTING OR CULTURAL SENSITIVITY IS GOING TO FIX THAT.

IF YOUR MOM WOULD BE EMBARRASSED OF THAT BEHAVIOR IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS ALIGN WE SHOULDN'T CROSS.

>> Brandis: I THINK EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO THAT.

AVA, BLACK HAIR HAS A POLITICAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY.

CAN YOU GIVE US EXAMPLES OF THE HISTORICAL DISCRIMINATION WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AROUND OUR HAIR?

>> Ava: THERE HAVE BEEN WOMEN IN LAW FIRMS AND AIRLINE WORK WHO HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED.

NOT PROMOTED OR NOT OFFERED THE JOB BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE WEARING THEIR HAIR.

THIS IS REALLY AFFECTING THEIR LIVELIHOOD CERTAINLY, IT IS AFFECTING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

AS THE SENATOR MENTIONED.

IT IS REALLY IMPACTING THEIR WALLET.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE SAYING HERE IS PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE CHOICE.

THEIR PARTICULAR RACIAL IDENTITY SHOULD DICTATE THE KINDS OF WORK THAT THEY CAN DO AND SHOULDN'T LIMIT THEM IN TERMS OF POSSIBILITIES PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY.

>> Brandis: PATRICE, YOU SAY IS NOT JUST AN AMERICAN ATTITUDE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE GROWING UP IN TRINIDAD?

>> Patrice: BORN IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, HAVE SEEN STORIES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY SO MUCH DISCRIMINATION AGAINST DREADLOCKS AS WE HAVE CALLED IT IN THE CARIBBEAN TRADITIONALLY, OR BRAIDS.

JUST THE WAY PEOPLE TRADITIONALLY HAVE LEARNED TO STYLE OUR HAIR.

THERE IS A EUROCENTRIC STANDARD THAT HAS BEEN IMPOSED.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO EXAMINE AND TRY TO ROOT OUT OURSELVES.

>> Brandis: A CONVERSATION WE COULD HAVE ALL NIGHT.

I NEED TO LET YOU GO BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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

[MUSIC] >>> WHEN TRAVEL ENTHUSIAST CHEVON LINEAR AND KAMERON STANTON ARE AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC, THEY FOUND WAYS TO HIKE AND CAMP IN NEARBY PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS.

THEY NOTICED THEY WERE OFTEN THE ONLY BLACK PEOPLE TO JOIN THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

THEY SERVE BLAZING THEIR OWN TRAIL ON TIKTOK.

THIS PAST SUMMER, THEY GAVE US THE LAST WORD ON WHY THEY SAY IT IS TIME FOR BLACK PEOPLE TO TAKE A HIKE.

>> Chevon: I AM CHEVY.

>> Kameron: I AM KAMERON.

BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE STARTED LAST YEAR DURING THE HEART OF THE PANDEMIC DURING AUGUST.

I TRIED TO PUT A TRIP TOGETHER TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.

IN THAT PROCESS, WE WERE ABLE TO REIGNITE OUR LOVE FOR CAMPING IN THE OUTDOORS, BUILD FIRES, PITCH TENTS.

>> Chevon: I MADE A CHILI DOG.

>> Kameron: GOOD MUSIC.

GOOD VIBES.

>> I STARTED CRYING BECAUSE I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING SO IMMACULATE AND BEAUTIFUL BEFORE.

THAT WAS THE MOMENT I REALIZED WE HAD TO START BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

I GREW UP WITH THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL, TRAVEL CHANNEL, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.

THERE WAS NO ONE WHO LOOKED LIKE US.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FOR ME, AN INNER-CITY GIRL FROM CHICAGO.

>> THIS TIME AROUND WE TOOK A TRIP TO OGLE CITY, ILLINOIS, TO CHECK OUT MATHESON STATE PARK.

I KNOW GAS IS GETTING EXPENSIVE, BUT JUST LOOK AT THIS WATERFALL.

GORGEOUS.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU NEED TO SEE SOMEONE DO IT TO KNOW IT CAN BE DONE.

>> Chevon: THERE ARE INFLUENCERS FOR EVERYTHING LIKE HAIR, CLOTHES AND MAKEUP.

WE WANT TO INFLUENCE THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

>> Kameron: HEY Y'ALL, BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE ENJOYING NATURE.

>> Chevon: WE DECIDE TO CALL IT BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE AS A JOKE.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE AND FUN AND ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE LIKE US TO COME OUT.

[LAUGHTER] >> Kameron: SOMETIMES YOU NEED A WAY TO GET AWAY AND BE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS AND QUIET DOWN.

YOU CAN LET LOOSE AND TAKE THE WORLD IN.

>> Chevon: PLENTY OF WAYS YOU CAN GET OUTSIDE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

YOU CAN GO TO JACKSON PARK AND GO TO THE TRAIL SYSTEM.

>> Kameron: HIT THE SKOKIE LAGOONS.

THE LOCAL PARK.

JUST BEING OUTSIDE.

YOU WILL GET TIRED OF HEARING THE CARS.

YOU WILL GET TIRED OF HEARING THE TRAINS.

YOU WILL WANT TO VENTURE OUT FURTHER.

YOU CAN HEAR THE BIRDS CHIRPING.

THERE ARE CUTER ANIMALS OUTSIDE THAN RATS.

>> WE FOUND US A LITTLE CRITTER.

>> Chevon: WE ARE STRAIGHT UP AMATEURS FROM THE CITY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING.

THAT IS THE BASIS OF OUR CHANNEL.

>> Kameron: IT FEELS GOOD Y'ALL.

WE FINALLY MADE IT UP THE HILL.

>> Chevon: WE BE HUFFING AND PUFFING.

THIS IS BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

IF YOU DON'T FINISH THE HIKE IT'S OKAY.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND YOU WILL GET A LITTLE FURTHER.

IT'S ABOUT TAKING ONE STEP AT A TIME.

REALLY FUN TO WALK ON THE DUNES AND MAKE IT TO THE BEAUTIFUL BEACH YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR.

BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

>> Kameron: WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW IF YOU CAN FIND IT PLEASE USE IT.

IT IS YOURS.

>> Chevon: THE OUTDOORS ARE FOR EVERYONE.

THAT'S WHAT WE ALWAYS SAY.

>> Angel: FOLLOW THEM AT TIKTOK AT BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

WATCH MUCH MORE ON OUR SERIES ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> AS CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE SURROUNDING THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER'S POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT OF SOME SOUTH CIDERS, AND INGLEWOOD ARTIST IS MAKING SURE THE NEIGHBORHOOD REMAINS INTACT EVEN IF IT'S THROUGH DOCUMENTATION OF MEMORIES.

I RECENTLY VISITED THE CONNECT GALLERY IN HYDE PARK TO SEE A TRIBUTE TO GROWING UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

[MUSIC] [SINGING] >> WHEN YOU FIRST WALK INTO THE EXHIBIT, IT'S LIKE A SMALL HAMAS TO DOCTOR WAX WHICH IS OF THE RECORD STORE FOR INDEPENDENT ARTISTS.PEOPLE WOULD TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEEDED TO BUY.

[MUSIC] >> Angel: A MINI ARCADE.THESE ARE FEW STAPLES VISITORS SEE WHEN WALKING IN.

>> IT IS A LOVE LETTER TO THE SOUTH SIDE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE WEAR, WHERE WE GO, WHAT WE BREATHE AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE IMPORTANT IN OUR FAMILIES.

THEY INSTANTLY CONNECT AND THEY GET THIS WARMTH.

IT'S LIKE A LOVE LETTER TYPE THING OF WHAT IT FELT LIKE AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

TOGETHERNESS OF IT.

THE UNITY OF IT.

>> Angel: THE DOCUMENTATION OF TOGETHERNESS AND UNITY IS PARALLELED WITH BLACK CHICAGO EXPERIENCES.

FROM THE STREET SIGN THAT READS COMMONLY GO TO SPIKE LEE DISPLAYED ON A THROW BLANKET YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN IN YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S LIVING ROOM GROWING UP.

>> TEXT ME WHEN YOU GET HOME.

TELL ME ABOUT THIS SCULPTURE AND HOW IT IS KIND OF REFLECTIVE OF CHICAGO'S VERBIAGE AND BLINGO.

>> IT IS REALLY TO SHOW WHAT THE CHICAGO CONVERSATION IS.

AND THEN ALSO TO APPOINT TALKING ABOUT THE DANGER OF CHICAGO WHERE PEOPLE MAKE IT HOME SAFE.

THE SOUTH SIDE PAINTING OF THE GUY REFERENCING DO THE RIGHT THING.

HE HAS THIS SHIRT ON WHICH IS SUPER CHICAGO.

IN THE PAINTING YOU SEE LIKE A NEON SIGN KIND OF BURNT OUT AND SPEAKING ABOUT HOW ROTHSCHILD WAS IN ALL OF THE HOOD, BUT DIDN'T DO MUCH IN THE SENSE OF POSITIVE THINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S THE JUXTAPOSITION.

>> Reporter: AMONGST THE HARSH PARALLELS ALSO SIT SOFTER MOMENTS OF ADOLESCENCE.

ALSO ATTRIBUTES TO COMMUNITY ELDERS.

>> LOOKING AT THE RELATIONSHIPS.

YOU HAVE TOGETHER, PAINTING WITH AN OLDER GRANDPARENT TYPE FIGURE AND GRANDMOTHER AND EXPRESSING HIS FLOWERS TO HER ON THE PORCH.

ALSO, IT IS A THROW TO PATRICK KELLY, THE DESIGNERS OF THE OUTFITS AND MOVIES AND ALSO BLACK DESIGNERS THAT INSPIRED ME WHEN I FOUND OUT THEY EXISTED.

NOW, BLACK FASHION DESIGN HAS TAKEN OVER EVERYTHING.

THESE ARE THE FOREFATHERS.

YOU HAVE HERBIE HANCOCK AND ANGELO AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME THROUGH.

WE NEED THAT TO EMPOWER THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN DO AND CREATE THEIR OWN THING.

I REALLY HOPE PEOPLE WILL SEE THE BEAUTY AND THE STORIES OF THE SOUTH SIDE WHICH I FEEL NEED TO BE HIGHLIGHTED WAY MORE.

[MUSIC] >> Angel: THE EXHIBITION CLOSED LATE LAST MONTH.

SEE MORE OF THE IMAGES ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS INCLUDING TIPS FOR CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS SAFELY AMID THE PANDEMIC THIS YEAR.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO WATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M.. JOIN BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING A PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

GOOD NIGHT.

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