>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES."

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, AFTER THE PANDEMIC PAUSE , STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS ARE DUE.

WHAT IS AHEAD FOR BORROWERS?

>> EVERYTHING IS LACED WITH FENTANYL.

>>> OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS, HEAR FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE FIGHTING THE ADDICTION.

>>> WE MEET THE NEW LEADER OF THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION.

>>> SUMMER IS NOT OVER, RIGHT?

WE HAVE ORGANIZERS OF THE AUBURN GRESHAM RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL.

>>> REMEMBERING CAPTAIN BILL PINKNEY.

ALL THAT COMING UP.

>>> FIRST, STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS ARE COMING BACK, WHAT BORROWERS CAN EXPECT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>> AT FIFTH THIRD BANK, WE BELIEVE WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD, COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES , TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> BORROWERS WERE SOON HAVE TO REPAY THEIR FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS AFTER A TUMULTUOUS COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE REPAYMENT PARTS WILL -- THE FORGIVENESS PROGRAM AND THEN THE SUPREME COURT DECISION NEGATING IT , NOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS BACK WITH A NEW STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PLAN CALLING SAVING ON A VALUABLE EDUCATION AND IT WANTS TO SHRINK PAYMENTS BASED ON INCOME AND ACCELERATED FORGIVENESS.

JOINING US ARE MAUREEN AMOS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID AT NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY .

IT WILL HOBART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BOTTOM-LINE CHICAGO.

REPAYMENT PLANS STARTING AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS WITH LOW DEBT AND WHAT SHOULD THEY CONSIDER?

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 30 MILLION PEOPLE WITH LOANS TO REPAY COME INSTITUTIONS AS A WHOLE HAVE BEEN TAKING IT IN SOUNDBITES.

ENCOURAGING THEM TO REACH OUT TO WHO THEIR SERVICER IS.

MANY WILL HAVE A NEW SERVICER.

MAKE SURE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION IS UPDATED.

IF THEY OFFER WEBINARS , MAILERS, 15 TO 20 MINUTE WORKSHOPS ON DIFFERENT TOPICS , SOUNDBITES , HOW DO I CONTACT MIKE SERVICER AND UPDATE MY INFORMATION ?

>> LITTLE BIT AT A TIME?

>> YES.

>> WILL HOBART, YOU TAKE THE DEBT MINIMIZING APPROACH WITH THE STUDENTS YOU ADVISED.

HOW ARE THE STUDENTS FEELING ON TAKING ON STUDENT LOAN DEBT?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

A HALLMARK OF OUR WORK WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO ATTEND COLLEGE IS HELPING THE FAMILIES UNDERSTAND COLLEGE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

AND MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE TO GO TO COLLEGE, THE BEST ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL FIT, BUT VALUE PRICING THEIR EDUCATION IN WAYS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE.

>> MAUREEN AMOS , WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRAM BY THE PRESIDENT, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> IT IS SET UP BASED ON YOUR GUIDELINES THRESHOLD , SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT PAY ANYTHING.

OTHERS, BASED ON YOUR INCOME, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, THE MAXIMUM REPAYMENT IS 35 YEARS , IF YOU ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS -- >> DO YOU SEE THAT AND HOW IT CUTS PAYMENTS BUT MAYBE ACCELERATES FORGIVENESS ?

>> WE BELIEVE THIS IS IMPORTANT.

IN HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE REPAYMENT IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY.

WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THINGS LIKE THESE.

IT MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS , WHO GET THEIR FIRST JOB AFTER COLLEGE , CAN FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT PATHWAY SOME ARCHES AND CAREER PATHS WHERE THEY ARE NOT MAKING SIX FIGURES OUT THE GATE.

THEY NEED A NUMBER THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND TERMINATING AFTER A CERTAIN TIME.

>> SAME QUESTION FOR YOU, MAUREEN, WHAT ABOUT TRIMMING FROM THE BOTTOM UP APPROACH?

>> PEOPLE ARE AFRAID.

YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE ANGRY.

SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO PAY BACK THEIR LOANS.

YOU GET THE VALUE ISSUE.

STUDENTS ASKING IF EDUCATION IS WORTH IT.

I DON'T WANT TO BORROW.

I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT WHEN I GRADUATE.

IT PUTS THE ONUS ON THE INSTITUTIONS AS WELL TO HELP STUDENTS GET THE MOST FREE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AS POSSIBLE.

APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS IS KEY TO KEEP THEIR DEBT DOWN.

>> HOW IS YOUR ORGANIZATION IMPACTED ?

>> GREATLY, INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE RECEIVING THESE , WHETHER YOU DON'T LIKE HER PROGRAM , YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE WORKING, PEOPLE ARE FILING THESE CLAIMS.

>> THIS IS SAYING , I CANNOT PAY ?

I DON'T WANT TO PAY, I THINK MY LOAD SHOULD BE FORGIVEN BECAUSE I DID NOT GET A JOB IN MY FIELD OR MY SCHOOL TOLD ME THE COST WAS THIS.

BUT IT WAS THIS AND I ENDED UP BORROWING MORE.

SOME SCHOOLS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THESE , WORKING WITH SENIOR LEVEL ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS GOING TO THE PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> WILL , WHAT APPROACH WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE JOE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TAKE TO MAKE GOING TO COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE?

>> REALLY FOCUSING ON THE PELL GRANTS , MAKING SURE WE CAN INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PELL GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.

IN ILLINOIS, WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THIS ACCESS.

SO WE CAN ALLOW STUDENTS TO FIND MORE WAYS TO AFFORD COLLEGE.

ANYTHING THAT ADMINISTRATION CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF DEBT MAKES IT EASIER .

>> SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING MONTH AT THE VERY LEAST GOING FORWARD AS WE FIGURE THIS OUT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> THE UPWARD EPIDEMIC IN CHICAGO IS THAT A DEADLY NEW PEAK.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SET A RECORD 2000 COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS DIED OF OPIOID -RELATED OVERDOSES LAST YEAR , THAT NUMBER HAS CONSISTENTLY GONE UP.

LOOKED AT THIS TREND AND FOUND THAT DRUGS ARE MORE DIVERSE, MORE AVAILABLE , AND MORE LETHAL THAN EVER.

>> IT ROBS YOU OF EVERYTHING.

MENTALLY, SPIRITUALLY.

>> Reporter: THOMAS SAYS HE USED FENTANYL TO DEAL WITH GRIEF.

>> IT BLANKETS YOUR EMOTIONS.

IT COMFORTS THEM.

BUT IT JUST MASKS THEM.

REPORT THAT HE IS IN THERAPY AND LIVING AT THE HAYMARKET CENTER.

ONE OF THE LARGEST SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FACILITIES.

WE MET WITH THOMAS AND TWO OTHER RESIDENTS RECOVERING FROM OPIOID ADDICTION TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS DRIVING THE RECORD NUMBER OF OVERDOSES IN COOK COUNTY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FELICIA SAYS SHE HAS BEEN ADDICTED TO HEROIN FOR 25 YEARS.

HOMELESS MUCH OF THAT TIME.

>> I WAS SELLING DRUGS , PROSTITUTING , YOU DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO.

WHEN THE DRUG TESTS COME, YOU GO.

>> Reporter: JAMES WAS ADDICTED TO 35 YEARS AND CAME HERE BY WAY OF THE COOK COUNTY JAIL.

>> LIBERTY .

>> Reporter: IT IS TREATMENT OR ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH.

>> WE TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE CARE CONDITION.

THE LAST 46 YEARS , IF WE DON'T TREAT THAT , WE CAN HELP ANYBODY.

THAT IS THE CAUSE OF RELAPSE.

FOR THIS IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HAYMARKET , HE SAYS THEY TREAT 12,000 PATIENTS PER YEAR.

MOSTLY OF LOW INCOME AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION .

HE SAYS THE NATURE OF ADDICTION HAS NOT CHANGED BUT THE DRUGS HAVE.

>> OFTEN , THE HEROINE IS WITH FENTANYL.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT IN OUR 47 YEAR HISTORY.

>> Reporter: FENTANYL IS POWERFUL AND OFTEN USED FOR CANCER PATIENTS WHICH GRADUALLY HAS TAKEN OVER THE ILLICIT DRUG MARKET THE 103 OVERDOSE DEATHS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COOK COUNTY AND 2013 , AND 2020 IT WAS 1533 , AND LAST YEAR SET A RECORD OF 1825 DEATHS.

THAT ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 90% OF ALL OPIOID -RELATED DEATHS IN COOK COUNTY.

>> LOCALLY AND NATIONAL, A COMPLETE TURNOVER OF OPIOIDS AND OTHER DRUGS FROM ORGANIC .

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA , A FEDERAL TASK FORCE THAT ASSISTS LAW ENFORCEMENT IN FIGHTING DRUG TRAFFICKING.

HE SAYS CARTELS HAVE STOPPED GROWING DRUGS AND MAKING THEM IN LABS INSTEAD OF FOUR DISTRIBUTED TO GANG MEMBERS ON THE STREETS.

>> IT IS MORE EFFICIENT .

THEIR PROFIT MARGIN IS TENFOLD.

REPORTED SYNTHETICS EARN MORE THAN 99% OF ALL ILLICIT OPIOIDS ON THE MARKET AND NOT JUST FENTANYL , THERE ARE VARIATIONS OF THE DRUG HE SAYS ARE 100 TIMES MORE POTENT.

AND AN ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER, IT IS NOW ONE OF THE DEADLIEST DRUGS.

THE USE TO BE CUT INTO HER WITH BUT NOW THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

>> IT IS VERY UNLIKELY YOU WILL PURCHASE A REAL OXYCODONE PILL OR XANAX PILL, MOST ON THE STREET WILL BE FENTANYL.

>> COCAINE , CRACK , NO DRUGS ANYMORE THAT ARE PURE DRUGS.

>> THAT MAKES TREATMENT MORE DIFFICULT FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

THIS IS THE HEAD OF TOXICOLOGY AT COOK COUNTY HEALTH.

>> HARD TO TELL WHICH IS OPIOID AND THE OTHER THINGS, OPIOID NEEDS TREATED WITH NALOXONE , THE OTHER STUFF , THE LESS EFFECTIVE IS NALOXONE.

>> Reporter: THE MAJORITY OF THE ILLICIT DRUG TRADE STILL HAPPENS ON THE WEST SIDE.

ON A RECENT WEEKDAY, WE RAN INTO THE WEST SIDE OPIOID PREVENTION TASK FORCE HANDING OUT NALOXONE OR NARCAN , WHICH CAN REVERSE AND OPIOID OVERDOSE.

>> WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS EDUCATE THE PEOPLE ON HOW TO USE NARCAN.

PREACHED TO THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT USING IT ALONE, HAVING SOMEONE WITH THEM, SO THAT PERSON WITH THEM CAN POSSIBLY SAVE YOUR LIFE.

>> Reporter: HE BELIEVES NATIONAL DRUG POLICY WILL HAVE TO CHANGE BEFORE THERE IS ANY HOPE OF CURTAILING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

>> MORE SPOTS IN PRISON THAN TREATMENT CENTERS, AS LONG AS YOU CRIMINALIZE A MEDICAL DISORDER, YOU WILL HAVE OVERDOSES .

NO MATTER WHAT WE DO.

>> Reporter: SHE WAS IN AND OUT OF PRISON BEFORE BEING DIVERTED TO TREATMENT AND SAID SHE HAS BEEN CLEAN FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

>> I AM JUST FINDING OUT WHO I AM AS A PERSON.

I LEARNED HOW TO LOVE MYSELF.

BY BEING HERE AND SURROUNDING PEOPLE THAT CARE .

FOR FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES , THIS IS TREND THREE.

>> LAST YEAR, 56% OF THE OPIOID DEATHS WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESIDENTS , OVER-THE-COUNTER NARCAN WILL HIT THE SHELVES THIS MONTH AND LEGISLATION CURRENTLY IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE WOULD ALLOW PHARMACISTS TO SELL DIGITAL TEST STRIPS OVER-THE-COUNTER.

>>> NEXT, MEET THE NEW LEADER OF THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION.

♪ >>> THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION HAS ITS FIRST NEW PRESIDENT IN FIVE DECADES.

THEY RECENTLY WELCOMED REVEREND FREDERICK HAYNES III.

HE IS JOINING US NOW.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> IT IS OFFICIAL , LET'S START WITH WHAT IS IT LIKE TO FOLLOW SOMEBODY LIKE REVEREND JACKSON ?

>> IT IS AWE-INSPIRING.

IN SOME WAYS, INTIMIDATING , WE ALL KNOW THAT HE IS A LIVING LEGEND , AN ICON WHO IS HEROIC.

HE HAS LITERALLY CHANGE THE WORLD.

OUR NATION, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND AN AREA OF LIFE THAT HAS NOT BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS BRILLIANT MAN, JUSTICE GENERAL , THAT IS ENOUGH TO BE INTIMIDATING.

THE FACT THAT HE IS JESSE JACKSON IS INSPIRING AND I RECOGNIZE THERE IS NO WAY I COULD FILL HIS SHOES.

I WILL DO ALL I CAN TO STAND ON HIS STRONG SHOULDERS.

>> WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THIS POSITION THAT INTRIGUE YOU?

>> I HAVE ALWAYS FELT A STRONG CALLING TO THE MOVEMENT FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.

MY MINISTRY HAS REFLECTED THAT.

I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A PROT÷G÷ OF REVEREND JACKSON .

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH HIM AND LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HIM.

I UNAPOLOGETIC IN SAYING , I HAVE A DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF JESSE JACKSON .

I DID NOT THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

WHEN HE APPROACHED ME ABOUT IT, I HAD TO BE PRAYERFUL AND REFLECTIVE , AND EVENTUALLY I FELT IT WAS SOMETHING IN KEEPING WITH WHAT I FEEL CALLED TO DO.

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF JESSE JACKSON HAS HAD A NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

YOU MENTIONED THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE.

TELL US ABOUT THAT AND HOW WILL THIS APPLY TO THE NEW ROLE?

>> REVEREND JACKSON HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN FOR HIS PURSUIT OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

IN OUR OWN WORK, WE HAVE STOOD AGAINST ECONOMIC PREDATORS THAT HAVE TARGETED COMMUNITIES THAT WERE ALREADY SUFFERING.

WE HAVE TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS IN THAT REGARD .

REVEREND JACKSON HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN FOR HIS MASSIVE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES .

WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, IN DALLAS , IN A SPECIFIC WAY, TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WITH THE VOTER REGISTRATION WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH VOTER EDUCATION AND MOTIVATION , GETTING OUT THE VOTE.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH.

I COULD GO ON AND ON.

EDUCATION.

HAVING STUDIED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF JESSE JACKSON, SO MUCH OF HIS INFLUENCE HAS FORMED AND SHAPED MY MINISTRY .

>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR TOP PRIORITIES FOR RAINBOW PUSH.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO GET DONE IMMEDIATELY?

>> THE BEAUTIFUL THING IS REVEREND JACKSON HAS GIFTED US WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION.

A BLUEPRINT GOING FORWARD.

ON THE ONE HAND, WE WILL BE ENGAGED IN RESPONDING TO THOSE INJUSTICE EMERGENCIES THAT POP UP.

REVEREND JACKSON HAS A TRACK RECORD OF LENDING HIS MORAL AUTHORITY TO SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE AND HEALING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY INJUSTICE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, CONFRONTING AND CHALLENGING THE PERPETRATORS OF INJUSTICE.

THAT WILL BE A CONSTANT IN OUR FIGHT.

WHEN INJUSTICE IS ANYWHERE , WE WILL FIND OURSELVES THERE.

AT THE SAME TIME , RAINBOW PUSH HAS A WONDERFUL TRACK RECORD IN FIGHTING FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE , FIGHTING AGAINST ECONOMIC INJUSTICE AND ALL OF ITS FORMS.

I WILL CONTINUE THAT.

THIS MANIFESTS ITSELF IN , AS BREADBASKET BEGIN ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, 50 YEARS AGO, TO MAKE SURE THAT CORPORATIONS TREAT OUR COMMUNITY AND BUSINESSES CORRECTLY.

THIS IS SOMETHING REFLECTIVE OF THE POPULATION.

REVEREND JACKSON HAS ALREADY MENTIONED HE WILL BE ON THE CASE IN TULSA WHERE A JUDGE IGNORED THE PLIGHT OF THOSE SURVIVORS OF TRAUMA AND TERROR AT BLACK WALL STREET IN 1921.

IGNORED THE JUSTICE FOR REPARATIONS , BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN REPARATIONS , ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SURVIVED SUCH A TERROR AND TRAUMA.

AND GETTING OUT THE VOTE.

>> BEFORE WE ARE OUT OF TIME, WE HAVE 20 SECONDS, YOU ARE NOT PLANNING TO MOVE TO CHICAGO.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO SPLIT YOUR TIME BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION?

>> DALLAS WILL BE A HUB WHILE CHICAGO WILL REMAIN THE HEADQUARTERS .

I WILL BE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN DALLAS AND CHICAGO.

REVEREND JACKSON SAYS I AM FOR JUSTICE , THAT IS IN THE SOUTH IN A STATE LIKE TEXAS.

>> A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION , WHICH MEANS WE WILL BE SEEING MORE IN YOU -- OF YOU IN CHICAGO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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

♪ >>> NEXT WEEKEND, THE 18th ANNUAL 79th STREET RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD, AND IT IS A SHOWCASE FOR EVERYBODY TO LOVE THE COMMUNITY THEY CALL HOME.

>> THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL , YOU CAN EXPECT A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

WE HAVE A 50 FOOT FERRIS WHEEL WHICH STANDS SIX STORIES TALL.

OTHER CARNIVAL RIDES.

THE KITTY CORNER , IT IS MIRACULOUS TO SEE THAT MANY FAMILIES DROP THEIR KIDS OFF AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING AND LET THEM HAVE THIS HUGE EVENT.

THE PETTING ZOO , THE CARNIVAL RIDES , HORSE RIDES , NEARLY 100 VENDORS PROVIDING ALL TYPES OF GOODS AND SERVICES.

WE ALSO HAVE A TEEN CORNER.

DJs.

THE KING OF HOUSE MUSIC.

DAMIEN WILLIAMS.

ANTHONY HAMILTON AND THE HAMILTONES.

SOMETHING FOR GOSPEL LOVERS .

WE WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO DJ CASPER.

>> YOU WILL BE ENTERTAINED.

YOU WILL BENEFIT FROM THE WEALTH OF RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

AND MEET OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO BRINGS ALL SORTS OF RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND INVESTORS .

>> YOU THINK ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE UP OUR GREAT COMMUNITY, THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE REPRESENTED IN THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL.

>> YOU HEARD CARLOS NELSON MENTIONED DJ CASPER.

THEY WILL ATTEMPT THE WORLD'S LARGEST CHA CHA SLIDE TO HONOR HIM.

>>> BILL PINKNEY DIED THIS WEEK AT 87, THOUGH HE HAD A LONG CAREER AS A COSMETICS EXECUTIVE, HE WAS BEST KNOWN AS A PIONEERING SAILOR .

IN 1992 HE TOOK THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN SAILING AROUND THE WORLD VIA THE SOUTHERN CAPE.

HE WAS THE FIRST CAPTAIN OF THE REPLICA OF A SHIP.

HE HERE TOLD THE STORY OF THE AMISTAD DURING AN EVENT AT THE PIER.

>> A SHIP TO TAKE THEM FROM HAVANA , THEY TOOK OVER THE SHIP , TRY TO SEND IT BACK TO WEST AFRICA, ENDED UP IN THE LONG ISLAND SOUND BECAUSE THE SPANIARDS TOOK A DIFFERENT COURSE AT NIGHT.

AS A RESULT, ABOLITIONISTS , BLACK AND WHITE, CAME TOGETHER TO FORM THE AMISTAD COMMITTEE TO DEFEND THEM.

AT EACH TURN, WHEN THEY WON, THEY WERE CHALLENGED BY THE PROSECUTOR'S WHO WERE EGGED ON BY THE PRESIDENT , MARTIN VAN BUREN.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS TOOK THE CASE, WINS THE CASE.

THE CABINETS ARE FREE.

>> IT WAS THE FIRST CIVIL RIGHTS CASE IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS , FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, STAY HEALTHY AND STAY SAFE .

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FROM THAT IS PROUD TO BE MULTILINGUAL LAW