CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, A RISE IN SUICIDE RATE AMONG YOUNG BLACK AMERICANS.

WHAT APPROACHES CAN PREVENT THEM.

>>> A NEW TOP COP.

HERE ABOUT THE VISION OF LARRY SNELLING.

>>> CANCER CAN BE A TOUGH TALKING -- TOPIC.

>> THE SAME LOVE, CARE AND KINDNESS THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES GET.

>>> ADVOCATES FOR THE MAJOR TAYLOR BIKE TRAIL SAY IT IS KEPT THEM HEALTHY, AND NOW IT IS THE COMMUNITY START TO HELP THE TRAIL OUT.

>>> FOR STORY, A TROUBLING RISE IN SUICIDE RATES.

THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>>> WE BELIEVE WHEN THE VOICE -- DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD THERE IS GREATER BALANCE FOR ALL.

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> SUICIDE SHATTERS COMMUNITY ANY TIME IT HAPPENS.

IT COULD BE ESPECIALLY DEVASTATING WITH THE PERSON WHO HAS LOST THEIR LIFE IS YOUNG.

INCREASINGLY, BLACK COMMUNITIES ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF.

THE CDC SAYS SUICIDE RATES INCREASED BY 37% FOR BLACK PEOPLE 10 THROUGH 24 YEARS OLD, THE HIGHEST RISE OF ANY CATEGORY.

AND NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH STUDY FOUND AMONG THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN, AGES FIVE THROUGH 12, BLACK CHILDREN WERE TWO TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY SUICIDE THAN WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

BUT RESEARCH SUGGESTS EARLY INTERVENTION CAN HELP SAVE LIVES.

JOINING US NOW ARE JENELLE GOODWILL, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY CHICAGO, AND RUTLEDGE, DIRECTLY OF YOUTH AND CAMPUS PROGRAMS .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TOUGH TOPIC.

THE REPORTED RISE IN SUICIDE RATES ALARMING AMONG -- ALARMING PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU SAID IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE GROUP HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER, FIVE-YEAR-OLD TO 12-YEAR-OLD.

SUICIDE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS AND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG BLACK MALES IN PARTICULAR SINCE THE 1980S.

IN THE RECENT YEARS WE ARE GETTING MORE ATTENTION AROUND THIS ISSUE, PARTICULARLY WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NIH AND BY SOCIAL MEDIA AND FOR SUPPORT FROM CELEBRITIES.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

>> WIRE WE JUST NOW TURNING OUR ATTENTION?

>> THERE ARE A FEW REASONS.

I THINK THERE IS A GENERATIONAL SHIFT AND OPENNESS TO ADDRESSING THESE TOPICS PUBLICLY.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE SEEN SUICIDES AMONG MAJOR CELEBRITIES.

THAT ALWAYS GENERATES A LOT OF CONVERSATION.

I DO THINK THERE HAS BEEN INCREASED SUPPORT AND FUNDING FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION RESEARCH PROJECT FROM THE NIH.

THAT HAS ALSO BEEN A WAY TO IGNITE WERE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC.

>> YOU TAKE A FAITH-BASED APPROACH TOWARDS PREVENTING SUICIDE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING AND HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

WE ARE A CHRISTIAN-BASED ORGANIZATION.

OUR GOAL IS TO EQUIP FAITH LEADERS WITH THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY MINISTER TO INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR CONGREGATIONS WERE DEALING WITH SUICIDAL DESPERATION.

>> GO ONE.

>> I WAS GOING TO ADD THAT ONE OF OUR MAIN PHILOSOPHIES OR BELIEVES IS THAT, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION IS GREAT ABOUT SUICIDE, BUT SOME OF THE MAIN BARRIERS TO PREVENTING SUICIDE ARE MORE EMOTIONAL AND HAVE TO DO WITH STIGMA AND SHAME AND FEAR.

AND SO, WE AIM TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES WITHIN THE FAITH COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT KIND OF INTERVENTION DOES RESEARCH SHOW WORK FOR PREVENTING SUICIDE?

>> THAT IS A COMPLICATED QUESTION.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS, BUT ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES IS THAT, IN THOSE STUDIES, THERE HAVE BEEN FEW BLACK AMERICANS ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RESEARCH.

IF THERE ARE ONLY A FEW BLACK PEOPLE IN A RESEARCH STUDY, IT MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO DRAW ANY FIRM CONCLUSIONS A REPLICATIONS.

RESEARCH DOES SHOW THAT EARLY INTERVENTION, WHETHER SCHOOL-BASED, COMMUNITY-BASED, WHERE FAMILIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT EARLY ON, CAN BE FRUITFUL IN PREVENTING SUICIDE AND OTHER ADVERSE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, PARTICULARLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY?

>> WHAT WE KNOW FROM RESEARCH IS THAT THERE IS NO SINGLE CAUSE FOR SUICIDE.

WE KNOW THAT, OF ALL THE REASONS AND ALL THE CAUSES FOR SUICIDE, REALLY COMES DOWN TO TWO.

A LOSS OF HOPE AND A LOSS OF A SOCIAL CONNECTION.

CONNECTEDNESS TO PEOPLE.

WHAT WE DO IS TRY TO URGE FAITH LEADERS TO FOCUS ON HOW TO BUILD HOPE AND HELP PEOPLE FEEL CONNECTED AND COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS ONE OF THE GOALS WE HAVE AT SOUL SHOP.

THE REASONS ARE MULTIFACETED.

I LIKE TO CATEGORIZE THOSE RISK FACTORS INTO THREE.

IT IS AN EASY WAY FOR EVERYDAY AMERICANS TO UNDERSTAND , ESPECIALLY BLACK AMERICANS.

YOU LOOK FOR CHANGES IN MOOD, YOU LOOK FOR CHANGES IN WHAT PEOPLE SAY OR CHANGES IN THE WAY THEY TALK, YOU LOOK FOR CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR.

WHEN YOU LOOK FOR THOSE THINGS, AND YOU CAN GO TO A ASP.ORG TO LOOK FOR THOSE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, YOU SEE SOME OF THOSE, THAT CAN OR WHAT YOU TO THAT PERSON EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES.

>> HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE FAITH LEADERS TO SHIFT THEIR APPROACH A LITTLE BIT?

LET'S PRAY ABOUT THIS, BUT ALSO SEEK HELP.

>> YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY, USING THERAPY IS GOOD, PRAYER, AND IF YOU NEED, MEDICATION IS GOOD.

WHAT I THINK , AS A CHRISTIAN MYSELF, ANY PART OF A FAITH COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME, IS THAT I KNOW THAT THE FAITH COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO HELPING .

BUT I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, THE RIGHT THINGS TO SAY.

AND SO, WE ARE ATTEMPTING , SOUL SHOP IS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THAT.

WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO POWER AND ENCOURAGE FAITH LEADERS BY USING THE WORD OF GOD, THE BIBLICAL TEXT.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT SOUL SHOP IS THAT IT IS NOT A SECULAR TRAINING.

IT IS ROOTED IN THE WORD OF GOD.

WE TAKE FAITH LEADERS THROUGH THE BIBLE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO FIND WAYS, AND WE ACTUALLY GIVE THEM A PLAN TO IDENTIFY WAYS THAT THEY CAN INCORPORATE SUICIDE PREVENTION IN THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THEIR CHURCH.

>> WHAT IS YOUR RESEARCH SHOWING THAT CONTRIBUTES TO SUICIDALITY?

>> IT ALIGNS WITH WHAT WE ALREADY HEARD.

IN A STUDY I PUBLISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR, I COLLECTED RESPONSES FROM 18 THROUGH 30-YEAR-OLD BLACK ADULT IN THE U.S.

THE PRIMARY REASONS THEY REPORTED CONSIDERING SUICIDE IS FEELING HOPELESS ABOUT THE FUTURE AND FEELING LIKE THEY COULD NOT LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF FAITH AND RELIGIOSITY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE BENEFITS THAT RELIGION CAN PROVIDE IN PROMOTING HOPE AND A PURPOSE IN LIFE.

>> YOU ALSO SAID THE EXPERIENCES OF BLACK AMERICANS AND SUICIDALITY ARE UNDERSTUDIED.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET THAT SPECIFIC DATA?

>> WE ARE SEEING THESE INCREASES.

IF RESEARCHERS TAKE THE STEPS, IF THEY TOOK THE STEPS 20 OR 30 YEARS AGO, TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE RISK FACTORS ARE DIFFERENT FOR BLACK AMERICANS, RECAPS WE CAN ALL WE HAVE A SERIES OF TREATMENT AVAILABLE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LIVED EXPERIENCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SOME OF THE STRESSORS THAT BLACK AMERICANS FACE EVERY DAY.

THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A SERIOUS STRESSOR FOR MANY PEOPLE, BUT WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SERIOUS IMPACTS AND DIFFERENCES IN THE WAYS BLACK AMERICANS HAVE EXPERIENCED GRIEF AND LOSS DURING THIS TIME AS WELL.

THAT IS ONE OF MANY TOPICS WE CAN ADDRESS IN THINKING ABOUT THE RISK FACTORS FOR SUICIDE.

>> HOW CAN UNTRAINED PEOPLE HELP?

IF THEY ARE WORRIED SOMEBODY MIGHT BE CONSIDERED -- CONSIDERING SUICIDE?

>> WHAT ARE THE MESSAGES WE HAVE IS THAT EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING.

IT IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU CAN KNOW WHAT THE RISK FACTORS ARE, THE SIGNS.

JUST LIKE WE KNOW THE RISKS FOR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE CHOKING OR HAVING A HARD EMERGENCY, A CARDIAC EMERGENCY.

KNOWING THE SIGNS OF SOMEONE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS, AND KNOWING WHAT TO DO IN THAT MOMENT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A TRAINED PSYCHOLOGIST OR CRISIS COUNSELOR TO CHECK ON YOUR FRIENDS, TO ASK THEM IF THEY ARE OKAY, TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT, I HAVE NOTICED YOU HAVE BEEN DOWN WERE ANXIOUS.

ARE YOU OKAY?

DON'T BE AFRAID TO HAVE A HARD CONVERSATION.

AND THEN, KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THEY SAY YES, AND KNOW HOW TO CALL 988 , THE SUICIDE PREVENTION NUMBER.

OR VISIT THE WEBSITE, BLACK MALE FOR.ORG.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>> NEXT, WHAT CHICAGO'S NEW POLICE SUPERINTENDENT HAS A SAY ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNITY.

>>> TOP COP.

LARRY SNELLING WAS SWORN IN AS THE 64th POLICE SUPERINTENDENT THIS WEEK.

HE IS THE FOURTH PERSON TO LEAVE THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IN LESS THAN NINE MONTHS.

THE 54-YEAR-OLD IS IN ENGLEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S NATIVE AND I SPENT 30 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT, MOST RECENTLY AS CHIEF OF COUNTERTERRORISM.

>> WHEN I GO TO WORK OR JUST THROUGHOUT MY DAY TODAY, I JUST TRY TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

I FIND THAT THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

TRY TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT .

IN THIS ROLE, I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT .

HISTORY SHOWS THAT, WHEN YOU PUT THE POLICE OUT THERE TO HANDLE THESE PROBLEMS, IT DOESN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

WE NEED EVERYBODY INVOLVED .

I TOLD YOU, I AM WILLING TO TALK TO EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, AND I WILL.

WE WILL MEET.

WE WILL TALK.

BUT IN ORDER FOR THIS TO WORK, AS POLICE OFFICERS AND AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE TO BE A PART OF US .

WE HAVE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER .

WHEN IT COMES TO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MY OFFICERS, ANYBODY WILL TELL YOU THIS, I HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.

I WILL CALL THEM OUT.

IF WE HAVE BAD OFFICERS, I WILL CALL THEM OUT.

BUT WHEN OFFICERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, THEY HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FAIRLY.

OUR OFFICERS AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT THAT FAR APART IN BELIEFS.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO HOME SAFE.

EVERYBODY WANTS A GOOD EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE.

THEIR GRANDPARENTS TO BE SAFE .

FREE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING ROBBED , OR EVEN KILLED.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND FIGHT TO BUILD THE CITY SO THAT IT IS WHAT WE KNOW IT IS .

WE CAN SHOWCASE THIS TO EVERYBODY ELSE .

WE DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEIR CRITICISMS.

WE CAN HEAR THEM, BUT WE KNOW WHAT CHICAGO IS.

SO LET THE NAYSAYERS SAY, BUT WE WIN WHEN WE STICK TOGETHER IN THE CITY AND WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

>> FOR MORE ON LARRY SNELLING , VISIT OUR WEBSITE, TO BE TW.COM/NEWS.

>>> PROSTATE CANCER CAN BE A TOUCHY SUBJECT FOR MEN TO TALK ABOUT, BUT ESPECIALLY BLACK MEN.

TALKING TO IT ABOUT THE DOCTOR COULD BE A LIFESAVER.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, AMONG BLACK MEN, PROSTATE CANCER MAKES UP ABOUT 37% OF ALL CANCERS.

ABOUT 1 AND 6 BLACK MEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED IN THEIR LIVES AND BLACK MEN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM PROSTATE CANCER AS MEN OF OTHER RACES.

OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS THE DISEASE CAN ALSO TAKE A TOLL ON MENTAL HEALTH.

THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO TALK ABOUT THAT TOO.

JOINING US IS DR. CHARITY DEAN, MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, AND WILL PARKS, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER IN 2021.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WILL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

YOU RECEIVED YOUR DIAGNOSIS IN THE FALL OF 2021.

HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT IT?

>> ACTUALLY, IT WAS A PROCESS.

I WAS WITH MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN .

HE ORDERED A BUNCH OF TESTS.

YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR AND YOU CAN REQUEST CERTAIN TESTS.

ONE OF THE TESTS WAS A PSA SCREEN.

WE DID THE SCREENING, AND HE NOTICED THE NUMBERS WERE REALLY HIGH.

WHEN HE TOLD ME WHAT THE NUMBERS WERE, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED.

I KNEW THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS, IT WAS A CERTAIN NUMBER.

MY NUMBER WAS 31.

EXTREMELY HIGH.

WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT, I THOUGHT, OH MY GOSH, I AM IN TROUBLE.

I THOUGHT, OH MY GOSH, I PROBABLY HAVE A COUPLE MONTHS TO LIVE.

HE SENT ME TO A UROLOGIST.

HE SAID, DON'T WORRY, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN DO.

WE CAN TRY SOME MEDICATIONS.

WE TRIED SOME.

THE NUMBER WENT HALF.

IT DROPPED QUITE A BIT.

THIS WAS GREAT.

BUT IT STILL WAS GOING DOWN ENOUGH .

IT WAS STILL MUCH HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

SO HE ACTUALLY ASKED ME TO TAKE AN MRI .

SOMETHING I WASN'T CRAZY ABOUT DOING, BUT I DID DO THE MRI.

THEY NOTICED THERE WAS A SPOT.

THEY REQUESTED A BIOPSY.

THAT IS WHEN I CONTACTED THE CITY.

>> THEY WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM IT FOR YOU.

I AM SURE IT WAS A FRIGHTENING DIAGNOSIS TO RECEIVE.

DR. FARRINGTON, IS HIS EXPERIENCE TYPICAL FOR MEN FACING A PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS?

>> IT IS PRETTY TYPICAL.

WE OFTEN FIND THESE VERY EASY IS LEE WITH PSA SCREENING, A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST.

WE GET CONFIRMATION WITH A BIOPSY.

WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THAT, EVEN WITH HIGH NUMBERS, PROSTATE CANCER IS VERY DURABLE.

>> WILL MENTIONED IN READING, THE PSA READING WAS 31.

IT SCARED HIM.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THE NUMBER INDICATES.

>> PSA IS PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN .

IT IS A BLOOD TEST THAT IS A TUMOR MARKER.

IT GIVES US AN IDEA OF HOW MANY LIVING TUMORS THERE ARE IN YOUR SYSTEM.

NORMAL IS UP TO FOUR.

ABOVE 30 IS QUITE HIGH.

>> CRAZY.

>> WILL, DURING THE RECOVERY PROCESS, YOU SAID YOU ALSO FACED MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

WHAT HELPED YOU PUSH THROUGH THAT PERIOD?

>> A LOT OF IT WAS THE COMMUNITY HELPING.

A LOT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS .

I AM A CHRISTIAN, SO A LOT OF PRAYER.

SOME OF THE HELP WAS EDUCATION.

I HAVE A GODFATHER WHO HAD PROSTATE CANCER ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO.

HE GAVE ME A LOT OF RESOURCES TO HELP OUT.

I WAS EDUCATED.

I UNDERSTOOD MORE, INSTEAD OF JUST BEING OUT THERE -- I DENSELY SUGGEST THAT GUYS SHOULD LEARN AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AND GET THEIR SCREENING EARLY.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MOST BLACK OF PEOPLE CAN PROBABLY COUNT THE NUMBER OF MEN IN THEIR FAMILY WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER.

THERE WERE SEVERAL IN MY OWN.

DR. FARRINGTON, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO CARE FOR MEN WHEN THEY ARE FACING PROSTATE CANCER?

>> IT IS THAT IT IS TABOO.

MEN DON'T THINK TO TALK TO THEIR DOCTORS ABOUT GETTING THE PSA SCREENING.

ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK MEN, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE PROSTATE CANCER TENDS TO OCCUR AT A LOWER AGE AND IS MORE AGGRESSIVE.

IS A HIGHLY CURABLE CANCER.

I WOULD ENCOURAGEMENT TO TALK TO THEIR DOCTOR ABOUT PSA SCREENING, GENERALLY STARTING AT THE AGE OF 40.

>> WILL, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR MEN WHO HAVE RECEIVED A DIAGNOSIS?

>> -- I THINK YOU ARE FROZEN.

ARE YOU THERE?

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR MEN WHO HAVE RECEIVED A DIAGNOSIS?

>> NOT TO BE TOO AFRAID .

IT IS KIND OF HARD TO SAY, BECAUSE YOU GET THE DIAGNOSIS , IMMEDIATELY THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU.

YOU FEEL LIKE, OH MY GOSH, YOU FEEL OVERWHELMED AND DESPONDENT.

BUT TRYING TO REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY AND STAY CLOSE TO A DOCTOR.

I REALLY APPRECIATE DR. FARRINGTON.

SHE WAS REALLY HELPFUL DURING THIS JOURNEY.

SHE MADE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE AND ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS .

THAT DOES HELP OUT A LOT.

I WOULD SAY TO REACH OUT TO YOUR FAMILY.

A LOT OF FAMILY WAS PRAYING FOR ME AND PUSHING FOR ME.

THEY WERE TELLING ME, YOU ARE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT.

>> REACH OUT.

DR. FARRINGTON, HOW IS SCREENING FOR PROSTATE CANCER CHANGING?

WHAT DO MEN NEED TO KNOW?

>> THE NICE THING ABOUT SCREENING FOR PROSTATE CANCER NOW IS THAT WE NO LONGER USE DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMS FOR SCREENING.

MOST MEN APPRECIATE THAT.

PREVIOUSLY, WE WOULD USE, YOU KNOW, A PSA EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

NOW IT IS RECOMMENDED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT HOW OFTEN AND WHEN WE SHOULD BE SCREENED.

BUT LIKE I SAID, CONSIDERING SCREENINGS EVERY YEAR STARTING AT THE AGE OF 40 IS WHAT IS RECOMMENDED.

>> IDENTICALLY GOT TO THIS, WHY ARE AFRICAN AMERICANS AT A HIGHER RISK?

>> PART OF IT IS PROBABLY GENETICS.

THERE DO SEEM TO BE DIFFERENT GENETIC CHANGES IN BLACK MEN , THEIR TUMORS.

THEY DO TEND TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND START AT A YOUNGER AGE.

BUT THE OTHER PART IS ACCESS TO CARE.

SIMPLY THAT MOST BLACK MEN DON'T WANT TO GO TO THEIR DOCTORS AND SEEK OUT THE SCREENING.

AND SO, I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT TOO, JUST THE ACCESS TO CARE.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> WELL, WHY DO YOU THINK PROSTATE CANCER IS SO HARD FOR MEN TO TALK ABOUT?

>> LIKE SHE SAID, WE THINK ABOUT THE DIGITAL RECTAL EXAM.

THAT IS NOT TOO THRILLING FOR GUYS.

AND THEN, WE REALLY DON'T TALK ABOUT HEALTH THAT MUCH IN THE AFRICAN AMERICA COMMUNITY.

THAT WAS ONE THING MY GODFATHER TALKED ABOUT A LOT.

HE WAS LIKE, MEN SHOULD DISCUSS THESE ISSUES.

AND THEY DON'T.

MENTIONED OPEN UP.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH.

WILL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, SOME BLACK CYCLISTS SAY THEIR FAVORITE SPOT TO RIDE DESERVES MORE ATTENTION.

>>> SEEN SOME OF THE RAIL LINES THAT CRISSCROSS THE CITY CONVERTED INTO BIKE TRAILS.

BUT NOT ALL OF THOSE TRAILS WERE CREATED EQUAL.

ON THE SOUTHSIDE, CHAMPIONS OF THE MAJOR TAYLOR TRAIL SAY IT HAS HELPED THEM GET ON THE ROAD TO WELLNESS.

NOW THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY AND COMMUNITIES TO KICK IT INTO HIGH GEAR AND GET THE TRAIL THE AMENITIES THEY SAY IT DESERVES.

>> Reporter: -- >> IT ALWAYS MAKES IT FEEL LIKE A KID WHEN I GET ON MY BIKE.

I HAVE THE WIND IN MY HAIR, THE SITES, THE SOUNDS, THE SMELLS OF JUST BEING OUTSIDE.

IT MAKES ME FEEL REALLY YOUNG AND FREE.

>> Reporter: FOR MEMBERS OF THE MAJOR TAYLOR CYCLING CLUB, RIDING ALONG THE MAJOR TAYLOR TRAIL IS A MAJOR PART OF STAYING HEALTHY IN MIND AND BODY.

>> IT GIVES ME PEACE OF MIND.

IT IS VERY RELAXING.

I DON'T LISTEN TO HEADPHONES OR ANYTHING, BECAUSE NATURE IS MY SOUND SYSTEM THAT I AM ENJOYING.

>> MY DOCTORS TOLD ME, THEY DIAGNOSED ME WITH COPD AND TYPE 2 DIABETES.

IF I WAS NOT RIDING, I MIGHT NOT BE HERE TODAY.

THIS KEEPS ME GOING.

>> RIDING ALLOWS ME TO SEE THINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I NORMALLY WOULD NOT SEE.

IT WAS MENTAL HEALTH FOR ME.

COMING THROUGH HERE, BEING ABLE TO TALK TO MY GIRLFRIENDS , YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO COME UP HERE AND SEE THE GREENERY .

>> Reporter: THE TRAIL HONORS BLACK CYCLING CHAMPION MARSHALL MAJOR TAYLOR.

THE FOUNDER OF THE MAJOR TAYLOR CYCLING ALLIANCE CREDITS THE NAMESAKE WITH GETTING HIM ON A BIKE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> WHEN I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT HIM AND FOUND OUT HE HAD ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MY THOUGHT, ANYBODY THAT WAS AFRICAN AMERICAN SHOULD BE RIDING A BIKE AND CHEERING ON MAJOR TAYLOR.

>> Reporter: GIVEN ALL THE TRAIL HAS DONE FOR COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, THE MAJOR TAYLOR CYCLING CLUB SAYS IT IS TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE SOME OF THAT LOVE BACK.

THE TRAIL WAS COMPLETED IN 2006, BUT AS AN EARLY PROJECT, THE CLUB SECRETARY SAYS IT WAS PRETTY BARE-BONES.

SINCE THEN, THE CLUB SAYS THE TRAIL NEEDS MORE AND BETTER AMENITIES TO BRING IT UP TO THE STANDARDS OTHER LOCAL TRAILS ENJOY.

>> PORTA POTTIES, REST STOPS, CHAIRS, GARBAGE CONTAINERS, BETTER LIGHTING.

>> OVER 80% OF THE TRAIL ACTUALLY GOES THROUGH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THE TRAIL STARTS AT DAN RYAN AND RUNS ALL THE WAY TO WHISTLER WAS.

IT IS AN 80 MILE TRAIL THAT RUNS LITERALLY, I'M NOT KIDDING YOU, THROUGH THE HEART OF THE SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO.

BUT IN THE 90s, WHEN THE CITY WAS PLANNING THE RAILS TO TRAILS PROJECT, THEY WEREN'T AS SOPHISTICATED AS THEY ARE NOW WITH THE 606 TRAIL WITH ALL THE BEAUTIFUL AMENITIES.

FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE TRAIL WAS NEVER COMPLETED.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING THAT ALL THE OTHER TRAILS ARE GETTING TODAY.

I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS TRAIL UNTIL IT IS UP TO STANDARD LIKE EVERY OTHER TRAIL BEING PLANNED TODAY.

>> PEOPLE HAVE JOINED WITH HEALTH CHALLENGES.

WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO, THOSE CHALLENGES HAVE DISAPPEARED.

IT HAS SAVED LIVES.

THIS TRAIL, GIVEN ALL IT HAS DONE, ALL WE NEED IS THE SAME CARE ON THE STREET LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, IT WILL SAVE LIVES.

>>> THE TRAIL SUPPORTIVE HAVE BEGUN RAISING $100,000 TO GET A STATUE OF MAJOR TAYLOR HIMSELF ALONG THE TRAIL, AS WELL AS CALLING UPON CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS TO MAKE TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS.

THERE ALSO LOOKING TO PARTNER UP WITH RUNNING AND WALKING CLUBS TO GET SOME MAJOR ACTIVITY GOING ON THE TRAIL.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON ALL OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THAT IS A SHOW TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VARIOUS LATEST .

ON A PROGRAMMING NOTE, BEGINNING NEXT WEEK, CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES WILL BE ON AT 5:30 PM AND 10:00 WEDNESDAY EVENINGS.

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS EVERYBODY.

STREAMING ANY TYPE OF FOR ALL OF US HERE, I , STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> POSSIBLE BY