CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

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

I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON OUR 50TH SHOW TONIGHT THE 2020 CENSUS DATA REVEALS THE BLACK POPULATION IS DECLINING IN CHICAGO.

WHAT THE CITY CAN DO TO CONVINCE BLACK RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO CALL CHICAGO THEIR SWEET HOME.

>>> CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER REV.

JESSE JACKSON TURNED 77 THIS WEEK.

FROM DEFENDANT TO DEFENDER.

JARRETT ADAMS SHARES HIS STORY OF BEING WRONGFULLY CONVICTED AS A TEENAGER.

>> SEEING ME, THIS KID OF COLOR-áCUSTOMá CHICAGO ARTIST EDO BRINGS HIS ART.

>> FIRST TONIGHT FROM HIS TRADING POST OF HAITIAN MAN TO HIS GREAT MIGRATION TODAY CHICAGO OWES MUCH TO ITS BLACK RESIDENTS A CULTURE THAT MAKES BLACK CULTURE SO PROUD, ART AND INDUSTRY IN MUSIC WOULD BE HARD TO THINK ABOUT WITHOUT THE BLACK PEOPLE OF CHICAGO.

BUT, FROM THE CITY THAT SHAPE THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT HAS SEEN A STEADY STREAM OF LACK RESIDENTS FLEE.

ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS CHICAGO'S BLACK ELATION FELTON PERCENT OVER THE LAST DECADE.

THAT IS A LOSS OF 85,000 BLACK CHICAGOANS AND THAT LEAVES SOME COMMUNITIES HOLLOWED OUT IN THE MAYORAL UNION TRYING TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

RUNNING US IS STACEY SUTTON AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO AND KENDRA JACKSON FREEMAN VICE PRESIDENT AT THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING COUNCIL.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

KENDRA JACKSON FREEMAN LET'S START WITH YOU.

BEYOND RACE, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING TO LEAVE AND WHY THEY ARE CHOOSING TO LEAVE?

>> WE DO KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME TRENDING DOWN IN THE BLACK POPULATION AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE FULL 2020 CENSUS DATA SO THAT DATA IS NOT PERFECT.

NBC RECENTLY DID A STUDY WHO IS LEADING IN COOK COUNTY AND ONE THING WE FOUND WAS THERE IS AN IMPACT PARTICULARLY TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME BLACK HOUSEHOLDS SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PEOPLE LEAVING, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE NET LOSS.

WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE BUT NOT ATTRACTING THOSE PEOPLE BACK.

THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE BIGGER PROBLEM HERE.

>> STACEY SUTTON ON THAT SIMILAR SUBJECTS FROM YOUR WORK THERE ARE NUANCED DECISIONS OF WHY PEOPLE LEAVE, PARKING TICKET, HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE IN CHICAGO FOR EXAMPLE.

WHAT DID YOU FIND ABOUT WHAT THEIR CHOICE WAS TO LEAVE?

>> I CANNOT SAY THERE IS A DIRECT CAUSATION BUT I CAN SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WHEN YOU INTRODUCE THIS, I AM AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR THE REASON I MAKE THAT CORRECTION IS BECAUSE WHEN I RECEIVE A TICKET AND I HAVE RECEIVED TICKETS I AM ABLE TO PAY.

I HAVE UPWARD MOBILITY.

IN TERMS OF WORK.

BUT WHAT CHICAGO HAS TO OFFER, ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME AND WORKING-CLASS FOLKS THERE'S JUST NOT THAT MUCH.

SO WHEN YOU RECEIVE A TICKET, EVEN IF YOU WENT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT IN YOU ARE SPEEDING, A TICKET FOR $100 IS EXTREME DIFFICULT TO PAY.

THEN IT GETS WORSE BECAUSE OF THE DOUBLING OF THAT FINE AND THE FEES AND SO FORTH.

SO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARGUE IS LEAVING CHICAGO HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF TICKETS BUT ALSO THE LACK OF JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY.

>> OKAY.

BACK TO YOU KENDRA JACKSON FREEMAN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY IMPACTED BY BLACK POPULATION LOSS.

WITH FEWER RESIDENTS, WHAT DOES THAT FOR THE TEACHER OF THE COMMUNITY LEFT HIND?

>> I THINK IT IS CHALLENGING.

THINK NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER QUESTION IS WE HAVEN'T MADE SOME PLACES IN CHICAGO THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES.

THAT IS WHAT THAT IS ALLUDING TO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT NEIGHBORHOODS ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN DECADES AND DECADES OF SUSTAINED DISINVESTMENT ON TOP OF SCHOOL CLOSINGS, ON TOP OF A LOT OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC AND VIOLENCE.

AND THAT COMPILED IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TO THRIVE.

WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE SHIFT THAT AND HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT DOING TARGETED INVESTMENTS TO REALLY INVEST IN BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AND THAT HAS TO DO A LOT WITH OUR LEGACY OF SEGREGATION AND INEQUITY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND DECISIONS THAT WE MADE QUITE HONESTLY WHEN THE GREAT MIGRATION HAPPENED WHEN WE CHOSE TO RECEIVE OUR GROWING BLACK POPULATION AND HOW WE CAN FIND THEM TWO VERY SMALL SPACES IN THE CITY AND HOW WE BUILT STRUCTURES AND WOODY THAT STILL IMPACT GENERATIONS LATER.

>> AND, STACEY SUTTON ARE THERE OTHER MODELS IN OTHER CITIES THAT CHICAGO COULD POSSIBLY TAKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE POPULATION LOSS?

>> YES, AGAIN IT IS THE QUESTION OF WILL THEY ADDRESS THE POPULATION LOSS?

THERE ARE MODELS OF COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING I THINK AS WHAT KENDRA JUST MENTIONED IS SPOT ON.

A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DO NOT HAVE THE RATE OF AMENITIES THAT NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE NORTH SIDE SAT RIGHT?

IN ONE OF THOSE HAPPENS TO BE THE COMMERCIAL CORE DOORS AND VIBRANCY OF SMALL BUSINESSES THERE THERE ARE SOME BUT THERE COULD BE A LOT MORE.

PART OF THE CHALLENGE WITH OPENING A BUSINESS, THERE ARE MANY AND I'M NOT GOING INTO THAT BUT IF WE REALLY PUT AN EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY WEALTH AND COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIP OF ENTERPRISES WHICH MANY CITIES ARE DOING AND CHICAGO HAS HINTED AT BUT IF WE ACTUALLY INVESTED IN THOSE PROGRAMS THERE WOULD BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE PEOPLE TO OWN THESE ENTERPRISES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

RIGHT?

THAT ALSO CREATES JOBS FOR PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT THINKING THEN SUPPORTING AN INDIVIDUAL ENTREPRENEUR TO GET WEALTHY BUT RATHER SUPPORTING COLLECTIVES OF PEOPLE TO START ENTERPRISES TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND THAT CREATE MORE COLLECTIVE WEALTH ACROSS THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN JUST ONE INDIVIDUAL.

>> STACEY SUTTON, AND KENDRA JACKSON FREEMAN, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO KEEP BLACK EQUITY IN CHICAGO?

>> I THINK IT'S ARTICLE.I THINK WE HAVE A HISTORY IN CHICAGO WHERE WE TRY TO SPREAD THE PEANUT BUTTER TO THIN.

WE WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE PIECE OF SOMETHING AND THAT DOESN'T WORK WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO TRANSFORM NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DOES COMPREHENSIVE INVESTMENT LOOK LIKE?

IT LOOKS LIKE HOUSING TO BUILD WEALTH AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME HOUSING WHETHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR HOUSING THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO MOVE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE BROWNSVILLE WHERE THE PRICES ARE COUPLED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS TO BRING AMENITIES TO ANCHOR SMALL DILLY AND FUND SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES SO THEY HAVE THE REPORT TO BUY IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMPLEMENTING THAT WITH TRANSIT ACCESS AND THINGS LIKE LINE REPLACEMENT AND FLOODING PREVENTION SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS AND BUYING HOMES CAN SEE THE LONG JEVITY OF THEIR INVEST AND EQUITY IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER THING ABOUT NARRATIVE CHANGE AND BLACK SPACES THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TACKLE.

>> GO ON.

WE GOT JUST A FEW SECONDS BUT I DO WANT TO HEAR YOUR POINT ON THOSE.

>> WE NEED TO CHANGE THE NEGATIVE NARRATIVE ABOUT LACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHEN WE TURN ON THE NEWS AND WE HEAR THINGS ABOUT BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS IT THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING SHOT, SOMETHING GETTING CLOSE DOWN, THE LIQUOR STORE, THE SCHOOL CLOSING, THAT IS NOT THE NARRATIVE AND ENTIRETY OF BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY ARE STRONG, VIBRANT PLACES AND PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS TO LIVE THERE.

I GREW UP IN CHICAGO.

I MADE A DECISION TO MOVE TO CHATHAM AND AT THE TIME IT WAS NOT THE BEST DECISION FOR ME TO MAKE IT I WAS THINKING SOLELY ABOUT HOW DO I LIKE MAKING A PROFIT ON MY INVESTMENT LATER THAT I BELIEVED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND I LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET THOSE AMENITIES, THEY SHOULD BE HERE.

HOW DO I BECOME A PART OF FIGHTING FOR THAT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> THAT IS A PERFECT PLACE TO LEAVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR GUESTS, KENDRA JACKSON FREEMAN AND STACEY SUTTON FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST NOTABLE RESIDENTS AND THE COUNTRIES MOST VISIBLE AND ICONIC SOCIAL RIGHTS LEADERS TURNED 80 THIS WEEK.

REVEREND JESSE JACKSON JOINED US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT TO TALK TO US ABOUT HIS WORK AND LEGACY.

HE HAD POIGNANT COMMENTS OF CODE OF SILENCE IN UNITIES THAT HURT HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS.

>> I SAID THAT BLACK AND WHITE AND BLACK AND BROWNS IN THE MILITARY WHO RELAXED THE SENTENCE OF THEIR LIVES TO THAT MUST NOT BE THE CASE BUT IT IS THE CASE.

I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE GO IN THE LOCK UP AND WHAT DO WE DO?

IF A WHITE KID HAS A ROPE IN A CAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WE TELL EACH OTHER MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM GUNS THEN DON'T.

I'M TRYING TO SAY THAT WE MUST ENGAGE THIS IN A MEETING AWAY AND PURSUE THESE KILLERS KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

>> REVEREND JESSE JACKSON THERE STILL ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE AND AN END TO VIOLENCE AS HE TURNS 80.

YOU CAN FIND MORE OF CHICAGO TONIGHT'S INTERVIEW WITH JESSE JACKSON ON A WEBSITE.

AND NEXT THE LATEST IN OUR SERIES OF BLACK BOOK CLUB.

THAT'S UP NEXT.

AT 17 YEARS OLD JARED ADAMS A BLACK BOY FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO WAS CONVICTED OF RAPING A COLLEGE FRESHMAN A WHITE WOMAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PAID HE SPENT 10 YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON FOR A REPEAT ALWAYS MAINTAINED HE DID NOT COMMIT.

HE SPENT THOSE YEARS STUDYING THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO OVERTURN HIS OWN CASE AND EVENTUALLY BECOMING A LAWYER HIMSELF WORKING TO HELP YOUNG BLACK AND LIKE HIMSELF.

HE WROTE ABOUT HIS VARIANCES IN THIS BLACK VOICES BLACK BOOK SERIES COLLECTION REDEEMING JUSTICE MY LIFE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SYSTEM.

AUTHOR AND ATTORNEY JARRETT ADAMS JOINS US NOW.WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

>> THANK YOU, IS A PLEASURE TO BE ON AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

GLAD YOU LIKE IT.

THANK YOU.

YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT YOUR STORY AND YOUR WORK BUT START A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS, RE-BLACK MEN TEENAGERS ACCUSED OF RAPING A WHITE WOMAN PEERED WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK RACE PLAYED AT THE TIME?

>> IT PLAYED THE ENTIRE ROLE IS WHAT IT PLAYED.

THE ACCUSATION ITSELF WAS SO OUTLANDISH.

ME, MY FRIENDS WHO WERE USED, OUR FAMILIES WE MAINTAINED THAT WE WOULD BE FOUND GUILTY BECAUSE WE WERE TELLING THE TRUTH AND LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT THE TRUTH DID NOT GET PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU AND I VICTORY IN THE COURT OF LAW.

>> YOU WERE ALWAYS TAUGHT AND BELIEVED TO TELL THE TRUTH AND BE HONEST AND THE SYSTEM WILL, IT WON'T WRONGFULLY CONVICT YOU WHICH IS WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING.

HOW DID YOU USE YOUR TIME IN PRISON?

>> I USED MY TIME BY READING.

THERE'S A LOT OF SOUL-SEARCHING.

MY AUNT JOSEPHINE I SPEAK ABOUT HER IN THE BOOK, "REDEEMING JUSTICE", SHE WAS ANY THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND CHICAGO TIMES AND I ASKED HER ONE DAY LISTEN, YOU'RE SPENDING SO MUCH FOR THESE SUBSCRIPTIONS, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?SHE SAID LISTEN, I AM DOING IT ON PURPOSE.

THEY MAY HAVE YOUR BODY CAN FIND BUT YOU CANNOT ALLOW THEM TO CONFINE YOUR MIND.

YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO READ AND GROW.

YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WRITE.

SO I DID THAT.

IT WAS THERAPEUTIC AND THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON WHY A WROTE THE BOOK.

I WANT KIDS SITTING ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND WEST SIDE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO BECOME THE REALITY OF OTHER PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS MEANING THAT WE ARE WORTH SAVING PEERED THE SYSTEM RIGHT IT'S NUMBERS, NOT JUST BY WHAT I SEE ANY DELAY SAYING SAYS HUNDRED 50,000+ YOUNG BLACK MEN IN PRISON, THERE ARE SOME THINGS NOT WORTH SAVING SO I WROTE THE BOOK, "REDEEMING JUSTICE" TO REMIND US ALL THAT WE ARE ALL WORTH SAVING.

ASK EVENTUALLY WE KNOW THAT YOUR CASE WAS OVERTURNED WHAT WAS THE LEGAL BASIS FOR OVERTURNING THE CASE?

>> IT WAS INEFFECTIVENESS OF COUNSEL ANY PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT WAS WITHHELD BY THE POLICE.

MY MOTHER COULD NOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY AND THAT REALLY CHANGED THE OUTCOME OF MY CASE.

I THINK ABOUT HOW SO MANY MOTHERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO CANNOT AFFORD REPRESENTATION.

THE PUBLIC SYSTEM IS BROKEN ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHERE WE HAVE THE LARGEST UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM.

IT'S NOT WOKEN BECAUSE THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS WHO SPENT TIRELESS HOURS IS BROKEN BECAUSE THE LACK OF RESOURCE AND KNOWLEDGE AND IT TAKES ADVANTAGE AND BULLIES THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO ACCUSED YOU AT THE TIME YOU NEVER USED HER NAME IN THE BOOK JUST REFER TO HER AS A YOUNG WOMAN.

TELL ME WHY.

>> I PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THAT I PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THE DIRECTION I WANTED TO GO IN THE BOOK AND I WANTED TO TAKE PEOPLE ON A JOURNEY WITH THE EFFECT IT HAD ON THE FAMILY AND UNITY.

MY CONVICTION WAS AND I HAD NO REASON TO STRIKE BACK AT MY ACCUSER BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY I REALLY BELIEVED AFTER LOOKING BACK THAT THE ADULT SHOULD'VE BEEN THERE.

THE LADY FELT EMBARRASSED AND THIS STARTED THE FALSE ALLEGATION WITH HER ROOMMATE BUT IT WAS AN ADULT, THE AUTHORITIES WHO DECIDED TO PUT ME AND MY FRIEND IN JESUS ORACLE DEPICTION OF BLACK BOYS BAD GANG MEMBERS, THEY HAD TO DO IT DESPITE EVIDENCE SAY THAT NO CRIME WAS COMMITTED AT ALL.

>> EVEN AFTER YOUR RELEASE WHAT BARRIERS DID YOU LATER DELAY STILL FACE LATER ON HE MET.

>> THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS.

WHERE I CAME FROM, AND CHICAGO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXONERATED OF RHYMES WE DON'T GET THE NORMAL HELP THAT YOU WOULD THINK.

RIGHT?

NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO GET CIVIL SUIT.

SOME PEOPLE COME HOME AND THEY DON'T HAVE A FAMILY AT ALL TO COME HOME TO.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO COME HOME TO MY MOM AND MY AUNTS WERE STILL ALIVE.

I HAD A FAMILY STRUCTURE THAT HELP SUPPORT ME IN THE NUMBER 1 THING THAT THEY TOLD ME WAS NECESSARY WAS MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

I THINK HIM SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THAT GUIDANCE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK JUST MYSELF CAN BENEFIT FROM IT, I THINK COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND COMMITTEES OF COLOR IN CHICAGO DON'T JUST SUFFER FROM POSTTRAUMATIC ANYTHING IT'S PERSISTENT TRAUMATIC STRESS WITH THE VIOLENCE, WITH THE CARNAGE AND WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PICKING PEOPLE UP AND SPITTING THEM RIGHT BACK INTO THE SAME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> JARRETT ADAMS, THE BOOK IS CALLED "REDEEMING JUSTICE", IS THE AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM REDEEMABLE?

>> I CALL THE BOOK REDEEMING JUSTICE BECAUSE WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGES I KNOW IT'S NECESSARY FOR MY JOURNEY BUT, I BELIEVE, I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT DO.

WE JUST ALL EXPECTED TO ATTACK THINGS LIKE WE ATTACKED THE PANDEMIC.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE ALL CAME TOGETHER AND STOPPED POLITICS FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD THINK SAFE AND BE SAFE IN THIS SOCIETY.

WHAT CAN WE DO THAT?

IS IT BECAUSE 70 PERCENT, 60 PERCENT ARE DOMINANTLY IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN?

THAT MIGHT BE THE ANSWER BUT THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO CONTINUE TO LOCK UP PEOPLE.

I HEARD EARLIER A WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, LORI LIGHTFOOT.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE WAR OF WORDS, I WANT TO SEE THE WAR ON POVERTY I WANT TO SEE THE WAR ON EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE IN THE SITE YOU REDEEM JUSTICE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US JARRETT ADAMS GOOD AGAIN THE BOOK IS CALLED PHIL PONCE TEEN .

>> UP NEXT A NEW INITIATIVE TO HELP UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES IN BASEBALL.

[MUSIC] IC] THE WHITE SOX ARE EMBARKING ON ANOTHER PLAYOFF RUN THIS WEEKEND AND THE ORGANIZATION IS HOPING THEY HAVE THREE LUCKY CHARMS IN THEIR BACK POCKET.

THE CLUBS, GAME CHANGERS, A SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS BEGAN FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES IN BASEBALL.

THIS YEAR THE TEAM SWITCHED IT UP.

THEY ASKED THREE CHICAGO ARTISTS TO CREATE MURALS INSPIRED BY THE WHITE SOX THAT CELEBRATE THE COLOR OF AMERICA'S PASTIME.

THERE IS A LOOK AT THE MURAL OF THE SOUTHSIDE, EDO WHO BROUGHT AN IMAGE OF THEIR MOST ELECTRIC PLAYER.

>> YOU HAVE THE FLAG ON THE KNEE, THE OVERRUNNING BASE ON THE ELBOW AND YOU HAVE THE WHITE SOX.ASK NO MATTER WHAT WARM IT TAKES IN THIS CASE A 10 FOOT SHORTSTOP FOR THE WHITE SOX, THERE'S NO MISTAKING THE WORK OF CHICAGO ARTISTS, EDO.

>> YOU THE BASEBALL, POP CORN, THE NUMBER 7, STREET PAVEMENT, AND THEN THE ARTIST NAMES, PAXTON AND PAYTON ABOVE THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BASEBALL MITT AND THERE'S THE BASEBALL DOWN THERE.

>> EDO'S WILDLY VIVID PAINTING WAS ONE OF THREE PAINTINGS COMMISSIONED BY THE WHITE SOX ARE THE SERIES SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

THE MURAL WAS REVEALED LAST JULY AND HAS BEEN REVEALED AROUND THE STADIUM SINCE THEN.

>> DIVERSITY IS PART OF THE WHITE SOX HISTORY.

THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF HAS BEEN CRUCIAL AND PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN A LOT OF IMPORTANT SOCIAL MILESTONES.

WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY WONDERFUL PLAYERS, LEADERS, WHO HAVE BROKEN THE COLOR BARRIER AND WE WANTED TO CREATE A SERIES, A WAY TO CELEBRATE VOICES AND CREATIVITY.

>> THE SOUTHSIDE ARTIST WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE SUBJECT OF HIS MURAL WOULD BE UNTIL HE SAW A FOOTAGE OF ANDERSON AT AN OUTREACH EVENT.

>> I SAW A VIDEO OF HIM TALKING TO THE YOUTH.

A THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT IT IS AND BEING OF SERVICE TO THE YOUTH AND THAT'S WHAT I AM AND THAT'S HOW WE CONNECTED AND HOW IT CAME TO BE AND THEN SEEING HIM, IN THIS COLOR DOING WHAT WE DO AND GOING AFTER WHAT WE LOVE WITH A NEXT LEVEL OF FIRE AND PASSION BEHIND IT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL RUB OFF ON THE YOUTH WHO SEE IT.

>> JUST LIKE ANDERSON'S EXUBERANT STYLE OF PLAY IN HIS BRIGHT BOISTEROUS SMILE, DRAWS PEOPLE IN.

>> WHETHER YOU ARE A KID OR A 63-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO JUST LOVES COLOR AND ART, I WANTED IT TO MEET ANYBODY IN BETWEEN.

NO MATTER WHAT AGE, RACE OR COLOR WANTED IT TO MEET THEM THERE AND WHEN THEY START FINDING IT IT BECOMES A PUZZLE.

IT'S A PUZZLE TO ME, TOO.

THAT IS SUPER WILL.

THAT IS WHEN IT IS FUN FOR ME.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON PAIRED.

>> THE WHITE SOX USE THE MURALS TO RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL NONPROFIT SUPPORTING THE GAME CHANGER MISSION AFTER THE SEASON INS.

YOU CAN GET A LOOK AT THE OTHER MURALS ON TONIGHT'S LATINO VOICES AND ON NEXT WEEK'S CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BEFORE WE LEAVE TONIGHT WE'VE REACHED A MILESTONE HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

THIS IS OUR 50TH SHOW SINCE OUR DEBUT LAST FALL.

HERE'S A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE MOMENT.

>> BECAUSE NO ONE, NO ONE CAN TELL YOUR STORY BETTER THAN YOU CAN.

>> THIS IS NOT JUST A CHOREOGRAPHED BASED DANCE, IT IS AN IMPROVISATIONAL DANCE.

>> WE ARE ALSO HERE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE CITY IS, WHAT THE CITY HAS IN AND WHAT WE HAVE BECOME.

>> OUTDOORS ARE FOR EVERYONE.

>> IS DOING THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY.

>> WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE THIS BILL WILL HAVE ON BLACK CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY?

>> I WANT LACK YOUTH TO NOTE THAT THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

>> TO UNLOCK PEACE.>> I THINK ABOUT THE GRIEF OF LOSING MILES DIRECTLY.

>> ATHLETES HAVE DRIVEN A GLOBAL DIALOGUE.

>> MOTHERS REACH OUT AND SEND ME VIDEOS OF THEIR DAUGHTERS READING THE POEM.

IT MAKES ME WELL UP.

>> THIS WAS A VERY BRAVE WOMAN WHO WAS WAY AHEAD OF HER TIME.

>> NOW YOU HAVE A TANGIBLE QUESTION THAT YOU CAN FIND AN ANSWER TO.

>> YOU HAVE THAT TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> PUTTING A LITTLE MORE LOVE INTO IT, YOU MIGHT LIKE IT.

BUT IT MAY WORK HERE IN EVERSON AND WE MAY CALL IT A HOUSING PROGRAM BUT IT'S NOT THE REPARATIONS.

>> IS ONLY POSSIBLE IN THE MOST EGREGIOUS AUDIO TAPE HIGHLY DOCUMENTED, HIGHLY PUBLICIZED CASES.

>> WE REALLY PRIDE OURSELVES IN FIGHTING THE BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX WHILE WERE IN THE BOX.

>> THAT IS NOT AMERICA WE DO NOT WANT TO UNITE WITH THAT THAT IS THE UNITY THAT JOE BIDEN SHOULD BE PRESCRIBING.

>> FAIR HOUSING IS NOT JUST A CITY ISSUE.

ASK WHERE WE ARE IS WHERE WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN AND THAT IS WHERE AMERICA NEEDS TO GROW UP, SILENTLY.

>> I WOULD TELL YOU WE HAD BETTER LEAVE BECAUSE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY IN THE FIRM.

>> YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL AND YES WE MUST.

>> WE WANT TO THANK YOU, THE VIEWER FOR BEING PART OF CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS CHECK OUT THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS INCLUDING DETAILS ON THE EIGHT ALIEN DOLLAR COOK COUNTY BUDGET.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES STARTING ON SUNDAYS AT 10 AM AND THEN JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ AND ME NEXT WEEK FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

GOOD NIGHT.