>> CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

>> WE BELIEVE WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER AND THE FUTURE IS GREATER FOR ALL.

TOGETHER WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> 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 MANY BLACK WOMEN HAVE GONE MISSING AND KILLED IN CHICAGO.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND.

MUHAMMAD ALI.

FILM MAKER KEN BURNS JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEW DOCUMENTARY.

>> FROM THE SEED THEY COME UP TO REAL FLOWERS.

THAT'S WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THE PROCESS.

>> BUSINESS IS BLOOMING FOR AN ECOFRIENDLY FLORIST.

>> BEFORE WE GET STARTED WE HAVE A PROGRAMMING NOTE.

BEGINNING NEXT WEEKEND "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" WILL BE MOVING TO SATURDAY NIGHTS AT 6:30 IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES.

IF YOU CAN'T CATCH US THEN BOTH SHOWS WILL REAIR ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10 P.M. WE LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING YOU THEN.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, NATIONWIDE, BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AT RISK FOR BECAUSE, EXPLOITATION AND HOMICIDE.

IN THE CHICAGO AREA AN ALARMING WOMEN OF BLACK WOMEN HAVE BEEN KILLED AND EVEN MORE HAVE GONE MISSING.

OFFICIALS SAY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE NEWS MEDIA ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH.

THE COUNTY SHERIFF ANNOUNCED AN INITIATIVE ASSIGNING A NEW TEAM OF DETECTIVES TO WORK ON LONGTIME MISSING PERSONS CASES.

THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF THOSE MISSING WOMEN, VIOLA MARTIN, SPOKE ABOUT HER MOTHER.

>> MY MOM WENT MISSING IN 2009.

MY MOM DID HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM BUT SHE WAS CLEAN FOR FIVE YEARS.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY JUST A LITTLE RELAPSE, AND LIKE THREE DAYS SHE COMES BACK HOME.

SHE KEPT A JOB.

SHE WAS ALWAYS SELF SUFFICIENT, INDEPENDENT, ALL OF THAT.

IT'S JUST OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN MY SISTER AND I ANNETTE, SHE, WE JUST LEFT HER HOUSE FROM CHRISTMAS AND SHE WAS GOING TO MY SISTER HOUSE LATRINA TO TAKE HER A PLATE BECAUSE SHE JUST GOT OUT THE HOSPITAL.

AFTER THAT WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM MY MOM OR SEE MY MOTHER AGAIN.

SPOING JOINING US ARE REVEREND ROBIN HOOD FOUNDING MEMBER OF MOTHER OPPOSED TO VIOLENCE EVERYWHERE AND NIKKI PATTAN, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE CHICAGO ALLIANCE AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NIKKI, DO YOU THINK THIS ISSUE HAS GOTTEN ENOUGH ATTENTION FROM THE NEWS MEDIA?

>> OH GOD NO, NOT AT ALL, NOT AT ALL.

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

FOR ME, IT'S THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY WOMEN, I BELIEVE 75, THAT ARE MISSING AND MURDERED SINCE 2001, AND WE TEND TO THINK OF THEM AS ONE BIG GROUP WHICH MEANS WE DON'T SPECIFICALLY SAY FOLKS' NAMES OUT LOUD.

WHAT I FIND IRONIC IS THAT THE MEDIA WILL REPORT ON THE LACK OF MEDIA ATTENTION, BUT WE STILL ARE NOT GETTING THOSE INDIVIDUAL STORIES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS THAT HAVE GOT MINNESOTA -- THAT HAVE GONE MISSING AND MURDERED.

I THINK IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US FIGURE THAT OUT AND LET BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS KNOW THEY ARE LOVED AND PROTECTED AS EVERYONE ELSE.

>> WE JUST HEARD FROM THE FAMILY OF VIOLA MARTIN, ONE OF THE CASES THE SHERIFF IS HOPING TO GET MORE ATTENTION SO THEY CAN BE SOLVED.

HER DAUGHTER SAID SHE HAD A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS.

SOME OF THESE WOMEN GO INTO SEX WORKERS.

HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO HOW THIS CASE IS PERCEIVED?

>> I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A DOCUMENTARY ON MURDERED WOMEN IN CHICAGO.

IN THE BEGINNING OF THE DOCUMENTARY, THE FIRST FOUR FAMILIES THAT TALK ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES THAT COME UP DEAD WERE BUSINESS OWNERS, PROPERTY OWNERS, PROFESSIONALS.

NOTHING TO DO WITH SEX WORK OR DRUGS.

DO THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

IT SHOULD NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THAT'S SOMEBODY'S MOTHER, SISTER, DAUGHTER, WIFE, COUSIN, NEIGHBOR, OR LOVED ONE.

TO SAY, WELL, THEY WERE SEX WORKERS AND THEY DIDN'T DESERVE TO LIVE IS SO INHUMANE, AND WE CARE MORE ABOUT ANIMALS, DOGS AND CATS THAN WE DO HUMAN BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK GIRLS.

AND IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE HOW THE ATTENTION IS NOT PUT ON THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR SOCIETY, AND THAT'S OUR BLACK WOMEN.

>> THE SHERIFF ALSO SPOKE WITH CHICAGO TONIGHT ABOUT HIS NEW MISSING PERSONS PROJECT INITIATIVE.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT WHY HE BELIEVES THIS INITIATIVE CAN HELP.

>> WE KNOW FACTUALLY THAT, A, A NEW SET OF EYES ALWAYS HELP.

B, TECHNOLOGY AND OUR WAY OF INVESTIGATING HAS EXPANDED DRAMATICALLY.

C, MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE HIGH TURNOVER, MAJOR BUDGET ISSUES.

THEY MAY HAVE HAD A DETECTIVE WORKING ON A CASE FOR QUITE SOME TIME WHO RETIRED AND NO ONE LOOBD AT IT AFTER THAT.

IT'S A METHOD OF TRYING TO PUT A GOOD PROCESS, LOGICAL APPROACH TO ANALYZING MISSING PERSONS TO HELP PEOPLE IS OUR GOAL,.

>> NIKKI, WHAT ARE THE SOME BUREAUCRATIC, PROCEDURAL ROADBLOCK THAT A FAMILY WHO WERE THE VICTIM OF VIOLENCE AND EXPLOITATION, THAT THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER WHEN THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE FIRST THING IS PEOPLE NOT BEING AWARE OF WHAT RIGHTS THEY DO HAVE AS VICTIMS OR FAMILY OF VICTIM.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT RIGHTS YOU HAVE, HOW COULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR THOSE RIGHTS?

THAT'S ONE THING.

ONE THING WE DO IN OUR WORK AT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, A MONTHLY SERIES CALLED TEACHING JUSTICE WHICH TEACHES PEOPLE WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE UNDER THE LAW VAIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

TOO OFTEN WE DON'T FIND OUT ABOUT THE PROCESS UNTIL WE'RE ALREADY IN CRISIS AND SOMETHING HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.

AND AT THAT POINT GOING TO GET A RAPE KIT OR DO A FORENSIC INTERVIEW, OFTENTIMES IT'S TOO LATE TO GATHER THE RIGHT KIND OF EVIDENCE IN ORDER TO GIVE THAT CASE THE BEST CHANCE OF SOMEONE BEING CHARGED AND CONVICTED.

I THINK THOSE PROCESSES ARE NOT CLEAR ENOUGH TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE OTHER PIECE TOO IS THAT ASIDE FROM BUREAUCRATIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE IS A VALUES ISSUE.

IT'S NOT REALLY ALWAYS A MATTER OF POLICY, IT'S A MATTER OF VALUE THAT YOU ARE A POLICE OFFICER AND YOU CAN SHOW UP TO A SITUATION THAT HAS A LITTLE BLACK GIRL AT THE CENTER, FOR EXAMPLE, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT HER AND SAY IT'S NOT WORTH MAKING AN ARREST OR INVESTIGATION.

I THINK THIS WAS CONSENSUAL.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS I HEARD THROUGHOUT MY TIME DOING THIS WORK.

THAT TO ME IS A VALUE PROBLEM.

I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS VALUES.

>> REVEREND HOOD, WE KNOW MANY OF THESE WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED WERE FOUND ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

WE ALSO HEAR THAT MANY COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN OVER-POLICED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HOW CAN LAW ENFORCEMENT PROVIDE BETTER PROTECTION AND SUPPORT ON SOLVING SOME OF THESE POTENTIAL CRIMES WITHOUT CONTRIBUTING TO THAT PERCEPTION OF OVER-POLICING?

>> FIRST LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO ANSWER, THE DETECTIVES THAT I ASSIGN TO THE CASES OF THE MISSING GIRLS AND WOMEN, THEY NEED TO ANSWER THE PHONE, FIRST OF ALL.

THAT'SED BEGINNING PROCESS OF IT.

THAT'S BEEN THE PROBLEM THAT I FOUND OUT OVER THE YEARS.

THEY DON'T GET BACK TO THE FAMILY OF VICTIMS IN A TIMELY FASHION.

BUT IF YOU ARE WHITE, THEY INVESTIGATE THOSE MURDERS.

BLACK FAMILIES HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DON'T FIND THIS AT THE TOP OF THEIR, OF THE FOOD CHAIN, SO TO SPEAK.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEY GOT 2,000 GIRLS OFF THE STREET, BUT FAMILIES SAY WHAT ABOUT MY MOTHER THAT'S BEEN MISSING FOR TWO YEARS OR MY SISTER THAT COME UP DEAD?

SO IT NEEDS TO BE DISTINGUISHED THAT THE DETECTIVES, NOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE F.B.I., MAYBE THERE'S SOME COHESIVENESS THAT CAN HELP.

BUT AT THIS POINT NOW, JUST LIKE NIKKI SAID, THEY TALK ABOUT 51 WOMEN, WE BELIEVE IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 75 TO 80 WOMEN THAT'S DEAD THROUGH THIS.

>> YOU BELIEVE 75 TO 80 WOMEN HAVE BEEN MURDERED, LET ALONE THOSE WHO ARE MISSING.

NIKKI, 45 SECONDS LEFT.

WHENEVER A COALITION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IS CALLED CALLED PROTECT BLACK GIRLS.

YOUR ORGANIZATION IS ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS.

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO CREATE THIS COALITION?

>> I HAVE TO GIVE THE CREDIT TO BRENDA, A SURVIVOR AND WAS DOING AN INTERVIEW IN CHICAGO ABOUT THE CASE OF AN 11-YEAR-OLD BLACK GIRL WHOSE CASE HAS BEEN TERRIBLY MISHANDLED AND BRENDA BROUGHT THIS COALITION TOGETHER ALONG WITH US, PASTOR HOOD, LIFE SPAN, NOT TO MENTION INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS AND ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZERS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WE'RE UP HERE DOING THIS WORK BECAUSE THE PERCEPTION IS THAT NOBODY CARES AND THERE'S A BIG GROUP OF US WHO CARE ABOUT THIS AND HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A PART OF THIS COALITION SINCE MARCH.

>> THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

NIKKI PATTAN AND REVEREND ROBINHOOD.

UP NEXT, THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MUHAMMAD ALI IN A NEW DOCUMENTARY BY FILM MAKER KEN BURNS.

MIEWMED MUHAMMAD ALI WAS AN ICON OF THE 20th CENTURY.

HE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS THE GREATEST AND BACKED UP HIS WORD.

TONIGHT PBS AIRS PART ONE OF A SWEEPING NEW FOUR PART DOCUMENTARY, THE LIFE AND CULTURAL IMPACT OF ALI.

HERE'S A SHORT CLIP FROM THE FILM OF ALI HEARING ABOUT A SUPREME COURT DECISION ON HIS CRIMINAL CONVICTION.

>> THE COURT UNANIMOUSLY THREW OUT THE CONVICTION OF MUHAMMAD ALI -- >> ON JUNE 28, 1971, AS ALI WAS LEAVING A CORNER STORE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO, THE SHOPKEEPER HEARD THE NEWS AND RAN AFTER HIM TO LET HIM KNOW.

>> ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN A GROCERY STORE.

SOMEONE CAME OUT AND GRABBED ME, A LITTLE BLACK FELLOW AND TELD ME THAT YOU'VE JUST BEEN VINDICATED.

>> JOINING US ARE DONALD LUCER, FOR YEARS PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE MUHAMMAD CENTER IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AND FILM MAKER KEN BURNS WHO CODIRECTED THIS FILM.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DONALD, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

MUHAMMAD ALI WAS FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, BUT CHICAGO WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM AND HIS LIFE.

WHAT DID CHICAGO MEAN TO HIM?

>> CHICAGO MEANT A LOT TO HIM.

HE STARTED HIS FAMILY HERE IN CHICAGO.

AS YOU, AS THE NEWS CLIP SAID, THE MOVIE CLIP SAID, HE FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS BEING SET FREE, IF YOU WILL, BY THE SUPREME COURT HERE IN CHICAGO.

HE ACTUALLY ENDED UP LIVING LESS THAN A HUNDRED MILES FROM CHICAGO IN MICHIGAN.

SO HE HAD A GREAT AFFINITY FOR THE CITY.

HE WAS CHERISHED HERE BY MANY OF THE RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.

I JUST THINK THAT HE SHOULD BE VIEWED AS HONORARY CHICAGOAN.

>> I'M SURE CHICAGO WOULD BE WILLING TO BESTOW THAT HONOR.

KEN BURNS, THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF STORIES TOLD ABOUT MUHAMMAD ALI AND HIS LIFE OVER THE YEARS.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL WAS LEFT OUT THAT YOUR NEW SERIES COVERS?

>> LET'S NOT MAKE THE OTHER FILMS WRONG.

THERE'S SOME REALLY, REALLY GREAT DOCUMENTARIES ON MUHAMMAD ALI AMONG MANY, MANY DOCUMENTARIES, AND SOME OF THEM JUST FOCUS ON A SINGLE FIGHT OR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

OUR INTENTION WAS TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS COMPREHENSIVE FROM HIS DEATH -- HIS BIRTH IN LOUISVILLE TO HIS DEATH.

WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, THE CLIP YOU JUST SHOWED, ONE OF MY MOMENT FAVORITE MOMENT, HERE IS A MAN WHO HAS JUST BEEN VINDICATED, LOST THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER, HE COULD HAVE BEEN ANGRY, CELEBRATORY, COULD HAVE WRITTEN A POEM, COULD HAVE SAID I TOLD YOU SO, I'M THE GREATEST.

ALL THE SCHTICK HE DID, WHEN A REPORTER SHOVED A MICROPHONE IN HIS FACE AND SAID WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SYSTEM, HE SAID I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE ASSASSINATED TONIGHT, I DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE ENSLAVED OR DENIED QUALITY.

HE LOOKED AT THE HISTORY OF BLACK PEOPLE, EMMETT TILL WHOSE OPEN CASKET HE SAW AND DEEPLY AFFECTED HIM AS A YOUNG BOY AND HE LOOKED AHEAD TO FUTURE NAMES THAT WOULD BE INSCRIBED IN THE HALL OF SHAME, TRAYVON MARTIN AND TAMIR RICE AND GEORGE FLOYD AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE.

RATHER THAN TAKE A VICTORY LAP, HE SAID THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING, BUT HE ALWAYS REPRESENTED HIS OWN PEOPLE.

THAT WAS WHAT HE WAS ABOUT.

HE WAS GAINING FREEDOM FOR HIMSELF.

HE WASN'T GOING TO FORGET WHERE HE CAME FROM AND WHERE HE WAS GOING AND HE WAS GOING TO BRING AS MANY PEOPLE ALONG AND FORCE US AS AMERICANS TO LOOK AT OUR RACIAL PAST AND OUR PRESENT AND OUR FUTURE WITH CLEAR AND UNSENT MENTALLAL EYES.

AND I ADMIRE HIM FOR THAT.

OUR FILM IS FOUR EPISODES AND EIGHT HOURS, TO DIVE DEEP INTO THAT MUHAMMAD ALI AND NOT JUST THE LOUD GREGARIOUS ONE, THE SIGH LENED PARKINSON'S ONE -- THE SILENCED PARKINSON'S ONE.

WE ARE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AT THE HEART.

CHICAGO IS CENTRAL BECAUSE THAT'S THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATION OF ISLAM WHICH IS THE RELIGIOUS SECT THAT WILL GIVE HIM HIS SORT OF BACKBONE AND PHILOSOPHICAL SPINE, ALLOW HIM TO EXHIBIT THE COURAGE THAT HE DID.

CHICAGO IS CENTRAL TO THIS STORY.

>> I DO WANT TO COME BACK TO THE NATION OF ISLAM AND HIS RELATIONSHIP THERE AS WELL.

DONALD, HE GREW UP IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, DURING THE JIM CROW ERA.

WE JUST HEARD KEN MENTION THE DEATH OF EMMETT TILL WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

THE FILM TAKES US THROUGH HIM BEING CASSIUS CLAY INTO BECOMING MUHAMMAD ALI.

BUT HOW DID GROWING UP WHERE HE DID WHEN HE DID, DONALD, HOW DID THAT SHAPE HIS VIEW OF THE WORLD?

>> LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, WAS AND STILL MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND HE GREW UP IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

PEOPLE FROM WEST LOUISVILLE DID NOT VENTURE OUT PAST A CERTAIN STREET.

THERE IS A STREET DIVIDE IN LOUISVILLE.

SO MUHAMMAD, WHEN HE CAME BACK FROM THE OLYMPICS AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD MAN, WENT TO A STREET WHICH WAS FREQUENTED BY MOSTLY WHITE PEOPLE AND TRIED TO ORDER FOOD.

AND HE WAS TOLD WE DON'T SERVE YOUR KIND IN HERE.

AND SO THINKING ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE'S 18 AT THE TIME AND HE'S BEEN ON THE OLYMPIC STAGE, HE'S BEEN A HERO HERE IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT HE CAN'T GET SERVED IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SO THAT REALLY DID HAVE AN IMPACT ON HIM AS A YOUNG MAN.

AND SOMETHING THAT THE FILM REALLY DOES SHOW, AND I SORT OF BRING OUT, IS THAT HE WAS VERY, VERY YOUNG, IN HIS EARLY 20'S, MID 20'S WHEN HE WAS THRUST UPON THE WORLD STAGE NOT AS A HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION BUT AS A VOICE FOR PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO, YEAH, LOUISVILLE HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON HIM AND SHOWED HIM THAT THE WORLD WAS NEVER GOING TO BE FAIR TO HIM AND TO OTHER BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> WE KNOW HIM TODAY AS THIS BELOVED FIGURE, BUT HE WASN'T ALWAYS LOVED.

EARLY ON HE TALKED BIG TALK, HE OPPOSED THE WAR IN VIETNAM.

P JOINING THE NATION OF SWLAIM, NOT EVERYBODY -- JOINING THE NATION OF ISLAM, NOT EVERYBODY VIEWED THAT FAVORABLY.

WHAT DID PEOPLE THINK OF HIM AT THE TIME AND WHAT CHANGED?

>> AT THE TIME HE JOAND THE -- F ISLAM, MANY PEOPLE CONSIDERED THAT TO BE A RADICAL NATION.

THAT WAS THE NARRATIVE.

WHEN I WAS AROUND FOLKS FROM THE NATION OF ISLAM, I FELT SAFE.

SO THAT COULD HAVE BEEN APPEALING TO A YOUNG CASSIUS CLAY, A.K.A.

MUHAMMAD ALI.

WHAT REALLY CHANGED IS THE VIEW OF THE VIETNAM WAR ITSELF CHANGED IN THIS COUNTRY.

MUHAMMAD REALLY TURNED OUT TO BE RIGHT.

GROWING UP, I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO VIETNAM.

YOU KNOW, I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE DRAFT, THEN I WOULD WOULD NOT HAVE GONE HAD THAT WAR CONTINUE BECAUSE THE POSITION I HAD HEARD COMING FROM MUHAMMAD ALI, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW HE FELT THIS WAY ABOUT THE VIETNAM WAR AND DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL LATER IN LIFE THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF HUMID ALI.

IN THE -- BECAUSE OF MUHAMMAD ALI.

IN THE END HE TURNED OUT TO BE A MEARG -- MESSENGER OF LOVE, MESSENGER OF PEACE.

THAT'S WHAT HE REPRESENTED TO BILLION OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

>> I KNOW YOU HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM.

WE'LL HAVE TO HEAR THOSE STORIES NEXT TIME.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

DONALD LUCERE AND KEN BURNS.

PART ONE OF THE DOCUMENTARY MUHAMMAD ALI AIRS ON WTTW TONIGHT AT 7.

WE HAVE MORE ABOUT ALI'S LIFE ON OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/ALI.

MORE TO HEAR ON BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> A FRESH FLORAL ARRANGEMENT IS A GOOD WAY TO BRIGHTEN A ROOM BUT THOSE BUDS LIKELY CAME FROM FARMS HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY.

A LOCAL ORGANIZATION WANTS CHICAGO'S FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS AND YOU TO BLOOM WHERE THEY'RE PLANTED, ON THE CITY'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

>> THAT MADE ME LOOK AT THE PLANT AND FLOWERS DIFFERENT.

I TAKE MORE CARE OF THEM.

>> YOUNG ENGLEWOOD RESIDENT ERIC SANDERS SPENT THE SUMMER AT LOCAL FLOWER FARMS NURTURING SEED.

IT'S WORK THAT HAS GIVEN HIM A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON FLOWERS.

>> WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I WOULD PULL THEM.

NOW I WORK WITH FLOWERS SO I'M NOT.

>> HE AND FELLOW WORKERS ARE AT SOUTH SIDE BLOOM.

>> HOW THE FLOWERS GROW, LEARNING HOW TO PLANT THEM, FROM THE SEED AND THEN THEY COME UP TO REAL FLOWERS.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE PROCESS.

>> MOST FLOWERS HAVE A LONG WAY TO TRAVEL BEFORE THEY MAKE IT INTO A BOUQUET.

THESE FLOWERS GET THEIR START IN THE MEDAL OF THE CITY.

>> 80% OF FLOATS COME FROM OVERSEAS.

WHEN WE'RE GROWING FLOWERS RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE BUYING IT, WE'RE CUTTING OFF A LOT OF LENGTHY TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS.

YOU BUY LOCAL, YOU BUY FROM A LOCAL FARMER.

YOU'RE HELPING TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND TAKE A BIG CHUNK OUT OF WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE SUSTAINING A PRETTY DIRTY INDUSTRY OVERALL.

>> SOUTH SIDE BLOOMS PLANTS FLOWER FARMS IN FORMERLY VACANT LOTS, A PRACTICE THAT THIS FARM MANAGER IS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR ECOLOGICAL MISSION.

SPOIF WE -- >> WE HAVE FOUR VIF FARMS, ONE IN ENGLEWOOD, BRONZEVILLE, WOODLAWN AND WEST GARFIELD PARK.

THE PROCESS WE TAKE, WE HAVE A FOCUS ON REJUVENATING THE SOIL.

WE GET COMPOST FROM THE CITY.

ON THE GRASS, ON THE PATHWAYS WE GENERALLY HAVE CLOVER OR GRASS.

IT HELPS REJUVENATE NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL.

WE DON'T USE PESTICIDES OR HERBICIDES.

BY NATURE, DOING THAT WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF NATURAL LOCAL PLANTS HERE, SO WE GET A LOT OF BIODIVERSITY INSECT LIFE.

ALL SORTS OF OF BUTTERFLIES AND BEES.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THE SOIL THEY'RE FEEDING.

THEY ARE ALSO HELPING LOCAL YOUTH GROW JOB SKILLS WITH PAID WORK, FROM WORKING IN THE FARM TO CREATING AND DELIVERING BOUQUETS TO CUSTOMERS.

>> SKILLS HOW TO SHOW UP ON TIME, HANDLE CONFLICT RESOLUTION, PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT.

THEY ALSO LEARN HARD SKILLS SUCH AS HOW TO BE A FLORIST, HOW TO BE A FARMER.

>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF THEM EXPECTED TO BE MAKING BOUQUETS.

WHEN THEY SEE THEY HAVE A KNACK FOR IT, THEY'LL BE CONSIDERING MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE A FLORIST.

AND THAT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PURSUE.

IT'S REALLY COOL TO WATCH, TO SEE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE SKILLS TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THESE GUYS ARE BEING PAID FOR THEIR WORK.

IT'S ABOUT ADDING VALUE.

OUR GUYS DO HAVE A LOT TO ADD.

THEY HAVE A LOT TO CONTRIBUTE.

>> SOUTH SIDE BLOOMS CAN HELP GROW A BETTER FUTURE FOR CHICAGO BY ADDING VALUE TO ITS NEIGHBORHOOD LITERALLY.

>> THE FLORIST INDUSTRY, IMAGINE IF 80% OF THAT MONEY THAT IS GOING OVERSEAS STAYED HERE IN PLACES LIKE ENGLEWOOD AND WOODLAWN AND THE DIFFERENCES THAT WOULD MAKE FOR EVERYBODY NOT JUST HERE IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE BUT ACROSS THE CITY.

>> FOR ERIC SANDERS IT'S A WAY TO CULTIVATE HIS OWN BLOSSOMING FUTURE.

>> IF YOU HAVE A GARDEN IN THE BACK OF YOUR YARD, YOU SHOULD TRY TO DO A LITTLE MORE FOR IT AND PUT A LITTLE MORE LOVE INTO IT.

YOU MIGHT LIKE IT AND HOW IT GROW.

IT'S GOOD SEEING SOMETHING PROGRESS.

>> GOOD ADVICE.

SOUTH SIDE BLOOMS OFFERS FLOWERS FOR EVENTS AS WELL AS SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR MONTHLY BOUQUET DELIVERY.

YOU CAN FIND MORE ABOUT THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

JOIN ME THIS WEEK AT 7 ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

DON'T FORGET TO CATCH "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" ON OUR NEW DAY AND TIME, 6:30 ON SATURDAYS STARTING NEXT WEEKEND.

FOR ALL OF US HERE, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.