>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... MORMON MON VACCINE MORE MONKEYPOX VACCINES ARE SET TO >> AS THE CHICAGO TRIAL OF R. KELLY APPROACHES CLOSING ARGUMENTS A LOOK AT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASE.

>> MEET A LOCAL MOM WHOSE SEARCH FOR FUN SILLY BOOKS FOR HER KIDS INSPIRED HER TO WRITE ONE.

>> I'M ANGEL IDOWU AND COMING UP TONIGHT I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO A PROGRAM THAT IS TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PILOTS.

>> AND PURPLE RAIN.

WHEN DOVES CRY, RASPBERRY BERET, LITTLE RED CORVETTE.

WE IMMERSE OURSELVES IN THE LATE ARTIST'S LIFE AND LEGACY.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, THE WHITE HOUSE IS ANNOUNCING A PROGRAM TO DISTRIBUTE DAVID MOORE, MONKEYPOX VACCINES VACCINES FOR THOSE MOST AT RISK.

ACCORDING TO C.D.C.

DATA BLACK PEOPLE ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY 40% OF MONKEYPOX CASES IN THE U.S.

BUT RECEIVED ONLY 10% OF MONKEYPOX VACCINE DOSES.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE Dr. ANU HAZRA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT U CHICAGO MEDICINE.

AND JAGADISA-DEVASRI DACUS, RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR P FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PROFESSOR LET'S START WITH YOU.

WE SPOKE ABOUT THE NATIONAL DATA WHERE DO YOU THINK CHICAGO STANDS IN THE VACCINE ROLLOUT FOR MONKEYPOX?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

YOU KNOW, SO IN TERMS OF THE VACCINES HERE IN CHICAGO, THERE ARE PARALLELS WHAT IS HAPPENING NATIONALLY.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN WHAT WE CHARACTERIZE AS EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE TO THE COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS.

AND IT REPRESENTS THE ONGOING CHALLENGES OF THE MAKING SURE THAT THE MOST MARGINALIZED AND IMPACTED RECEIVE FIRST AND FOREMOST THE BENEFITS FROM THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE INTERVENTIONS.

>> Dr. ANU HAZRA MONKEYPOX DISPORTION PORTIONATELY AFFECTS MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN HOW DOES IT PLAY INTO THE ROLE IN ADDRESSING VACCINE DISPARITIES?

>> IT'S THE ENTIRE GAME HERE.

I THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS YOUING THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED THE MOST.

THINKING ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN QUEER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DOUBLY MARGINALIZED IN SOCIETY AND HARDER TO REACH WITH ANY INTERVENTIONS INCLUDING VACCINATIONS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANDS C.D.C.

ARE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING INTO COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND ABLE TO RELAY THE MR. SPEAKER IN THE RIGHT WAY.

>> PROFESSOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BARRIERS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF A MORE EQUITABLE VACCINE ROLLOUT?

>> WELL, I MEAN ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STIGMA.

MEMBERS OF THE POPULATIONS MOST SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE EXPERIENCE.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO AS Dr. HAZRA THE BARRIERS TO ACCESS.

I THINK THAT IS WHY WHEN WE SAW THE ROLLOUT NATIONALLY AND I THINK OF THE IMAGES OUT OF NEW YORK CITY WHERE IT WAS MOSTLY WHITE WHO WERE IN LINE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINES AND YOU SAW FEW PEOPLE OF COLOR INDIVIDUALS THERE.

AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WHITE FOLKS HAVE MORE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND EXPERIENCE FEWER BARRIERS AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE BASED ON THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH PERCEIVED ANTICIPATED AND ACTUAL DISCRIMINATION AND BIAS WHEN THEY 2345UD GNAWED.

>> HOW DO WE OVERCOME THE BARRIERS TO REACH THE MARTIALALIZED COMMUNITIES -- MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO?

>> TARGETING MESSAGING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO BRING THE VACCINES TO WHERE THE COMMUNITIES ARE AT.

WE CANNOT EXPECT THE FOLKS TO COME TO EVENTS IN BOYSTOWN WHEN WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE VACCINES IN THE COMMUNITIES.

COVID VACCINES WE HAD PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS FOCUSING ON INDEX ZIP CODES AND MAKING SURE WE HAD NOT ONLY VACCINATION EVENTS BUT INFORMATION EVENTS.

IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE INTERVENTION BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE THAT YOU TRUST IN THAT, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET TO THE POPULATIONS THAT NEED IT.

HAVING TOWN HALLS WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON, RECOGNIZE WHO IS AT RISK AND THEY FEEL EMPOWERED TAKING CARE OF THEIR HEALTH.

>> WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REACH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES?

>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT Dr. HAZRA SAID IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND HAVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE AND POSITIVELY PROMOTE THE BENEFITS OF THE SERVICES.

AND IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO RECEIVE VACCINE AND HAVING CHALLENGES AROUND PROVIDING ACCESS.

THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE ARE THE PROMOTERS WHO SAID TO THEIR MESSAGES AMONGST THE NETWORKS THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES AS INDIVIDUALS AND POSITIVELY PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Dr. HAZRA, DOES VACCINE HESITANCY EXIST FOR THE MONKEYPOX THE SAME WAY WITH THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

>> I THINK IT DEFINITELY PLAYS A ROLE.

I THINK THERE'S KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MONKEYPOX VACCINE AND THE COVID-19 VACCINE PARTICULARLY AROUND HOW LONG THE VACCINE HAS BEEN AROUND WHICH PLAYS INTO THE IMPACT OR THE DEGREE OF HESITANCY.

FOR THE MOST PART WE KNOW IN GENERAL IN THIS COUNTRY QUEER PEOPLE HAVE HAD HIGHER RATES OF UPTAKE THAN THE NON-QUEER COUNTERPARTS BUT WHEN YOU SEPARATE THAT WE SAW THE DIVIDES WE SAW IN THE GENERAL POPULATION PARTICULARLY AMONG BLACK AND BROWN QUEER AMERICANS HAVING ONGOING NEEDS FOR MORE EDUCATION AND TRUST IN THE VACCINES BEFORE THEY WOULD UPTAKE IT.

AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING HERE.

THE MESSAGING WE ARE GIVING AT HOWARD BROWN AND UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO THESE ARE NOT NEW VACCINES THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND WELL STUDIED WITH SAFETY DATA.

THIS IS NOT JUST DEVELOPED LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COVID VACCINE.

OVERCOMING THAT HESITANCY OR THE REASON HAS BEEN EASIER THAN WITH THE COVID-19 VACCINES.

>> Dr. HAZRA, IS THERE A DANGER IN TRYING TO GET THE VACCINE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS IT MOST, BUT COULD THAT SORT OF MAKE OTHER COMMUNITIES THINK WELL, THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM I DON'T HAVE TO GET THAT VACCINE?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IS A TOUGH NEEDLE A LOT OF US IN MEDICINE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO THREAD.

RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY AT RISK AND RECOGNIZING AND STATING THAT THAT IS NOT STIGMATIZING IT'S FACTUAL.

BUT WHEN WE IMPART THE MORAL FRAMEWORK IS CREATING SOCIAL DISTANCING MAVMENT RECOGNIZING WHO IS AT RISK IS IMPORTANT, WE CAN CREATE TARGETED INTERVENTIONS AND MESSAGING TO MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE A BLACK AND BROWN MALE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO RECOGNIZE YOUR RISK OF MONKEYPOX AND PROTECT YOURSELF.

OTHER FOLKS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT PLACE MORALITY ON TO THAT FACT AND THAT IS WHAT ENDS UPPER PETIATING STIGMA WHICH IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

IN GENERAL WE RECOGNIZE THAT MONKEYPOX HAS BEEN AROUND FOR HALF A CENTURY AND IT CAN IMPACT ANY COMMUNITY, ANY POPULATION ANYWHERE.

THE OUTBREAK IS CONCENTRATED IN THE SPECIFIC POPULATION BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE HALLMARK OF THIS INFECTION IT'S WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CURRENT OUTBREAK.

>> WHAT ARE ARE THE LESSONS WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM COVID-19 IN ADDRESSING CASE IN VACCINE DISPARITIES THAT WE CAN ALSO APPLY TO THE MONKEYPOX VACCINE?

>> SIMPLY, I THINK ABOUT THE SAME POPULATIONS ARE MOST AFFECTED BY COVID ARE MOST AFFECTED BY MONKEYPOX AND HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES.

AND THINK ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT ELEVATING AND PRIORITIZING THOSE COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS MOST AT RISK WHEN IT COMES TO THESE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES.

WE TALK ABOUT LIKE BLACK AND BROWN SEXUAL MINORITY MEN WHO ARE FACING A MYRIAD OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH RELATED AND MENTAL EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES AROUND THEIR IDENTITIES.

AND SO I THINK WE'VE AS Dr. HAZRA SAID WE KNOW WHAT TO DO IT IS A MATTER OF PRIORITIZING THE POPULATIONS AND SAYING HEY, WE'VE GOT THE DATA IT MAKES SENSE.

AND WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE INFECTIONS IMPACT OUR LARGER POPULATIONS AND WHERE THEY SHOW UP THE MOST MOST FREQUENTLY.

REALLY MAKING THAT THE PRIORITY ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PRIORITIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERVENTIONS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THAT AND IT REQUIRES RESOURCES TO DO THIS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT STEPPED UP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IMPACT.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

Dr. ANU HAZRA AND PROFESSOR JAGADISA-DEVASRI DACUS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> JURY DELIBERATIONS IN THE CHICAGO TRIAL AGAINST R. KELLY ARE EXPECTED TO GET UNDERWAY NEXT WEEK.

THIS AFTER THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS RESTED OF THEIR CASES ON FRIDAY.

THE R&B SINGER IS CHARGED WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND THE ENTICE.

OF MINORS INTO CRIMINAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY.

THE CO-DEFENDANT AND FORMER BUSINESS MANAGER DERREL McDAVID TOOK THE STAND THREE DAYS THIS WEEK.

HE IS BEING QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN LAWSUITS MADE BY WOMEN ACCUSING KELLY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HIS WORK TO RECOVER TAPES THAT ALLEGEDLY SHOWS R. KELLY HAVE ILLICIT SEXUAL CONTACT WITH MINORS.

MILTON BROWN DID NOT TAKE THE WITNESS STAND.

OUR WTTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON IS COVERING THIS TRIAL.

YOU CAN CATCH UP ON HIS REPORTING ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

[♪♪♪] >> THE CHILDREN'S SECTION AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY IS PROBABLY OVERFLOWING WITH BOOKS FIGURES IN BLACK HISTORY AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA.

AND WHILE THOSE IMPORTANT DEPICTIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO SEE AND LEARN FROM THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS WELL, FUN.

THAT IS WHY THE AUTHOR OF THIS WEEK'S BLACK VOICES BOOK CLUB SELECT SON SET OUT TO WRITE A BOOK THAT IS FUN, IN "STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP" AND HER STUFFED HIPPO FRIEND ROGER THEY TRY TO MAKE THE SUN STAY UP ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT.

JOINING US IS THE AUTHOR CLOTHILDE EWING.

>> WITHOUT SPOILERS, TELL US WHY IS STELLA TRYING TO KEEP THE SUN UP?

>> SO, STELLA IS LIKE A LOT OF CHILDREN OR AT LEAST LIKE MY OWN CHILDREN.

I HAVE A SIX AND EIGHT-YEAR-OLD.

SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO BED AT NIGHT.

SHE HAS VISIONS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SHE AND HER FRIENDS GO TO BED AND SHE WANTS TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT AND GET IN ON THE FUN.

SO SHE TRIES TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT LONG.

>> DOESN'T EVERY PARENT KNOW ABOUT THE BEDTIME STRUGGLES.

>> SO REAL.

>> WHY DO YOU BELIEVE CHILDREN'S BOOKS WHERE THE MAIN CHARACTER IS BLACK BUT THE STORY IS A KID'S STORY IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING BLACK WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I LOVE WHEN YOU SETUP THE SEGMENT YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW BOOKS THAT TALK ABOUT OUR HISTORY, ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

AS A MOTHER TO TWO CHILDREN SIX AND EIGHT, TWO BLACK CHILDREN, I STRUGGLE TO FIND BOOKS THAT WERE FEATURED BLACK CHARACTERS BUT WERE ABOUT JOY, ABOUT IMAGINATION AND FUN.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE A REAL SENSE OF OUR HISTORY.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THEY SEE THEIR IMAGE REFLECTED IN JOYOUS STORIES AS WELL.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE MINE TO SEE A CHARACTER THAT THEY CAN RELATE TO THAT THEY WANT TO HANGOUT WITH.

THAT SCHEMES IN THE SAME WAYS THAT THEY DO.

>> AND YOU WERE SORT OF INSPIRED BY AN ARTICLE OF SORT OF A SIMILAR TOPIC.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT?

>> YES.

SO I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE ONE SUNDAY BACK IN MARCH 2018, AND THE PRINT VERSION OF THE ARTICLE WAS CALLED SHE WANTS MORE THAN MLK AT BEDTIME.

AND I READ THE ARTICLE FROM BEGINNING TO END IT WAS WRITTEN BY MY NOW EDITOR.

AND IT GAVE VOICE TO WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED WHEN I LOOKED TO BUILD MY OWN CHILDREN'S LIBRARIES.

I FOUND A LOT OF BOOKS THAT WERE ABOUT OUR HISTORY, THAT WERE ABOUT EXCELLENCE.

BUT THERE WEREN'T AS MANY BOOKS AS I HOPED TO FIND ABOUT BLACK KIDS JUST HAVING FUN.

AND IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BUILD A LIBRARY THAT REFLECTED THE COMMUNITY THAT MY KIDS LIVE IN AND THEIR FAMILY AS WELL.

SO WHEN I READ THAT ARTICLE SOMETHING JUST AWOKE ENDED ME.

I PUT IT ON MY VISION BOARD.

AND SOON I DECIDED TO TRY AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

INTO AND HERE WE ARE.

THE STORY IS TOLD IN FIRST PERSON AND YOU MADE THAT CHOICE INTENTIONALLY TELL ME WHY?

>> I DID.

I THINK THAT KIDS HAVE A LOT OF AGENCY.

THEY HAVE A LOT TO SAY.

THEY HAVE VOICES.

THEY HAVE PERSONALITIES.

AND I WANTED TO PUT IT IN THEIR OWN VOICE BECAUSE I FELT LIKE STELLA HAD A PLAN.

SHE WANTED TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT.

LET HER TELL HER STORY VERSUS A NARRATOR TELL THE STORY.

WITH MY CHILDREN I TRY TO GET THEM TO OWN THEIR VOICE AND AGENCY.

THAT HELPS BY THE FACT THEY GO TO A GREAT MONTESSORI SCHOOL AND THEY SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.

I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TRY AND HAVE STELLA TELL THE STORY RATHER THAN ME OR ANOTHER ADULT TELL IT.

>> STELLA IS BASED ON KIDS THAT YOU KNOW WELL, TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> THEY ARE BASED ON AND I DEFINITELY NEED TO SAY THIS FOR THE RECORD THEY ARE BASED ON MY TWO CHILDREN.

MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER STELLA AND MY SIX-YEAR-OLD SON JACKSON.

AT THE TIME WHEN I STARTED THIS JOURNEY THEY WERE FOUR AND TWO.

BUT AS YOU SAID EARLIER, THE BEDTIME STRUGGLE IS REAL.

AND MOST HOMES AND IT'S REAL IN OUR HOME AS WELL.

AND SO WHEN I SET ON THE JOURNEY OF THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO WRITE A BOOK AND GOING THROUGH DIVOTRATIONS AND TOPICS AND LAND ON SOMETHING THAT FELT AUTHENTIC, THE BEDTIME STRUGGLE DID FEEL AUTHENTIC BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE STILL ARE CHALLENGED WITH FROM TIME TO TIME.

>> UNTIL THEY GO TO COLLEGE.

YOU SAY THAT -- YOU SAY THE ILLUSTRATOR HAD A LOT OF CREATIVE LICENSE WHEN CREATING THE I WILL STATION ADMINISTRATIONS OF STELLA.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH HER AND WHEN YOU SAW YOUR BOOK COME TO LIFE IN WHAT SHE DREW?

>> IT WAS A PINCH ME MOMENT.

IT REALLY WAS.

LYNN GAINS DID A MASTERFUL JOB WITH THE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR "STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP" AND SHE WILL BE THE ILLUSTRATOR FOR THE REST OF THE SERIES WHICH IS EXCITING.

IN MY MIND, I HAD A VISION OF WHAT STELLA WOULD LOOK LIKE BUT I DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE.

AND THEN ONCE I SAW THAT PICTURE, I THOUGHT WOW, I ALMOST CRIED AND I'M NOT A CRYER.

I ALMOST CRIED WHEN I SAW IT.

THE FACT THAT SHE HAD THOSE BEAUTIFUL AFRO PUFFS AND THE TUTU AND THE SOCKS AND THE BALLET SLIPPERS IT WAS PERFECT WHY DOES STELLA NEED TO CHOOSE?

IF WE WANTS TO CARE BASKETBALL SOCKS AND TUTU THEN GO FOR IT.

SHE DID A WONDERFUL JOB.

AND THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL BLACK GIRL WHO CAUSE EXUDES JOY.

>> YOU BE YOU STELLA.

>> YOU MENTIONED FOR THE REST OF THE SERIES.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR STELLA?

>> I HAVE A SECOND BOOK THAT WAS CALLED STELLA AND THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING TOOTH THAT WILL BE OUT IN MARCH 2023.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY, A BOOK A YEAR AFTER THAT.

SO FAR I'VE SIGNED ON FOR FOUR BOOKS THAT ARE ALL PART OF THE STELLA SERIES AND SOON I WILL BE WORKING ON A JACKSON SERIES BUT HE DESERVES HIS NAME IN THE LIGHTS AS WELL.

NO NEWS ON THAT FRONT YET.

>> EXCITING WE LOOK FORWARD TO READING ALL OF THOSE WHEN THE TIME COMES.

AND THIS IS NOT YOUR DAY JOB YOU HAVE ONE AS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

CONGRATS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US CLOTHILDE EWING.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED "STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP".

AND UP NEXT, WE IMMERSE OURSELVES IN PURPLE RAIN.

[♪♪♪] >> THE PRINCE ESTATE IS PAINTING CHICAGO PURPLE.

THE LATE SINGER'S ESTATE IS PARTNERING WITH BRAND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY SUPER FLY TO BRING THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH INSTRUMENTS, AND PROPS AND MEMORABILIA.

SUPER FLY C.E.O.

SAYS THEY WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THE EXPERIENCE GAVE NEW INSIDE INTO THE MINNESOTA NATIVE'S LIFE AND LEGACY.

>> THIS IS AN INTRODUCTION TO PRINCE AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT PRINCE IS.

AND THERE IS A PART OF THE EXPERIENCE NOT TO GET TOO SPECIFIC WHERE ALL OF HIS OFFICIAL ALBUMS ARE ON A WALL.

AND THEN IT TURNS A CORNER AND THERE IS ANOTHER WALL.

AND IT TURNS THE CORNER AND THERE IS ANOTHER WALL.

AND EVERYONE KNEW THEIR ERA, WAIT HE DID THIS MUCH MUSIC AFTER 2000 AND WAIT HE DID THIS MUCH MUSIC BEFORE 2000 AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE DISCOVER THINGS.

AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE WE TRIED TO DO JUSTICE TO THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF PRINCE.

IT IS NOT JUST HERE IS ALL THE MUSIC HE HAD, BUT COSTUMES AND SOME OF HIS GEAR THAT HE WORE.

HE WAS A FASHION ICON.

THERE IS A STUDIO WHERE PEOPLE COULD PLAY WITH THE STEMS FROM LET'S GO CRAZY.

AND I CAN PLAY PRODUCER FOR A DAY.

THERE WERE THE PARTS OF PRINCE BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH A MULTITALENTED GENIUS.

SO MANY DIMENSIONS WHEN YOU EXPLORE ALL OF THEM, EVERYONE NO MATTER HOW BIG A FAN THEY WERE OR NEW AND CAME BECAUSE THEY HEARD IT WAS A COOL EXPERIENCE EVERYONE GOT TO DISCOVER SOMETHING.

COME AND EXPERIENCE IT AND STEP ON THE SET.

COME IN AND SIT ON THE BIKE AND LISTEN TO THE MUSIC.

AND COME IN AND SEE PRINCE IN HIS OWN WORDS IN THE VIDEO TALK ABOUT ARTISTS' RIGHTS AND EXPLORE THAT JOURNEY.

AND TELL HIS STORY WHY I CHANGED MY NAME TO A SYMBOL AND THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

WHAT WE HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY IS ALL THE DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF PRINCE.

>> AND THE PRINCE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE IS DOWNTOWN ON NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE UNTIL OCTOBER 9TH.

>> THE FUTURE OF FLIGHT.

THAT IS HOW A CHICAGOLAND NONPROFIT DESCRIBES ITS PROGRAM AND PASSION FOR AVIATION.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU JETS OVER TO WEST CHICAGO FOR FLIGHT LESSONS WITH TUSKEGEE NEXT AND HOW THEY ARE HELPING BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS SOAR.

>> TUSKEGEE WAS BORN OUT OF A PASSION FOR AVIATION.

>> SINCE 2015, TUSKEGEE NEXT HAS WORKED WITH STUDENTS AGES 18-20 TO HELP THEM EXPLORE CAREER PATHS WITHIN AVIATION.

THE PROGRAM WAS ALSO BORN OUT OF A NEED.

THERE'S A MANDATORY RETIREMENT FOR PILOTS AT AGE 65.

AND IN ADDITION TO THEIR BEING SUCH A HIGH COST TO EVEN OBTAIN A LICENSE.

>> WHEN WE BEGAN OUR PROGRAM, WE WERE BLESSED BY THE PRESENCE OF SIX ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WHO WHO HELPED US DUB THIS ORGANIZATION AS THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.

THAT IS HOW WE GOT OUR NAME.

>> THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WERE THE FIRST BLACK AVIATORS IN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES.

FOUNDED IN 1941, THE SQUADRON FACED RACISM AND SEGREGATION LIMITING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT.

>> WE ASKED THEM QUESTIONS HOW WE SHOULD OPERATE TO HONOR THEIR LEGACY.

>> WHILE IT TAKES THE AVERAGE PERSON INTERESTED IN AVIATION NINE TO 12 MONTHS TO EARN THE PILOTS LICENSE THEY INSURE THEIR CADETS GET IT DONE IN EIGHT WEEKS WITH A $30,000 INVESTMENT IN EACH STUDENT.

IT COVERS HOUSING, FOOD AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS OCCURRING THEIR ON CAMPUS STAY.

>> TRAINING MONDAY-FRIDAY FOR AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS.

AFTER THE TRAINING THEY HAVE ONE TO TWO HOURS OF STUDY HALL DEPENDING ON THE DAY.

RESUME WRITING WORKSHOPS.

CORPORATE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THEY GIVE BACK TO.

OUR AVIATION DAYS WHERE THEY RUN STEM STATIONS AND TEACH YOUNGER STUDENTS ABOUT AVIATION AND AEROSPACE.

>> TO SEE THEM GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES AND PILOTS TO GROW IT'S EXCITING FOR ME.

AND MARCEL IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

HIS STORY IS FIR CIRCLE.

>> I WITNESSED SOME OF THOSE HOURS MARCEL PUT IN FIRSTHAND 3,000 FEET IN THE AIR.

WITH THE FATHER IN AVIATION IT IS A DREAM FREEMAN HAS HAD 6 SINCE HE WAS SIX.

NOW AT 25 HE IS FLYING CORPORATE JETS.

>> IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULDN'T KNOW THIS IS A POSSIBILITY.

THEY REALIZE THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND BEING A FRY COOK FOR MCDONALD'S OR GOING OFF AND MAYBE BEING A CHEF.

IT IS A GREAT JOB.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET PAID TO FLY?

WHEN I FLY FOR A LIVING I'VE ONLY MET THREE OR FOUR BLACK PILOTS.

I CAN COUNT ON BOTH HANDS THE AMOUNT OF BLACK PILOTS THAT ARE IN MY POSITION.

THE ONES MY AGE, FEWER.

>> WHEN HE IS NOT SERVING AS SECOND IN COMMAND HE IS MENTORING CADETS, A POSITION HE DOES NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED.

>> BEING ABLE TO RELATE TO THOSE CADETS AND GO HEY I'VE BEEN THROUGH WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.

TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN IMAGE WHERE THEY CAN BE.

NOW YOU ARE A CADET AND YOU CAN TEACH LIKE I'M TEACHING YOU.

THAT IS MY GOAL.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND TUSKEGEE NEXT IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF CADETS.

THAT APPLICATION CLOSES DECEMBER 31.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

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

WHILE YOU ARE THERE CHECK OUT OUR FALL FESTIVAL GUIDE.

AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW YOU CAN ALSO CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH MORE OF ANGEL IDOWU FLIGHT LESSON WITH TUSKEGEE NEXT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]