>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT...

IF YOU ARE BLACK IN CHICAGO YOU ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE SHUTOUT OF THE FORMAL LABOR MARKET.

WE'LL TALK TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE WORKING TO HELP BLACK WORKERS GET HIRED.

THREE MEMBERS OF THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED CIVILIAN COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TELL US HOW THEY HOPE TO REBUILD TRUST IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ON THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND, A LOOK BACK HOW THE LEGACY OF SLEEPING CARPORTERS CHANGED LABOR RIGHTS IN AMERICA.

>> IT'S BEEN MY DREAM AS AN ARTIST IS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH MUSIC.

>> AND TAYLOR BENNETT TALKS ABOUT HIS ALBUM COMING-OF-AGE AHEAD OF HIS NEXT CONCERT.

FIRST TONIGHT, IN A TIME WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE STOREFRONTS ARE AWASH IN HELP WANTED SIGNS, AND JOBLESS ARE OVERFLOWING IT MIGHT BE SURPRISING TO HEAR THAT ANYONE IS HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING A JOB.

BUT MANY BLACK AMERICANS ARE FINDING THEY ARE STILL SHUTOUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

NATIONWIDE UNEMPLOYMENTTH AUGUST STOOD AT 3.7% FOR BLACK AMERICANS THAT RATE WAS 6.4%, A GAP THAT HAS EXISTED FOR AS LONG AS THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS BEGAN REPORTING THAT DATA.

THE RACIAL UNEMPLOYMENT GAP IS STARKER.

THE OVERALL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR CHICAGO IS NEARLY 6% AND THE RATE FOR BLACKS IS NEARLY THREE TIMES THAT AN 14.3%.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS BEHIND THAT GAP ARE CLEOPHUS LEE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CBO COLLECTIVE AND RICHARD WALLACE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND TRANSFORMATION.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

CLEOPHUS LEE LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE, YOUR ORGANIZATION, THE CBO COLLECTIVE A GROUP OF 16 NONPROFITS THAT WORK TO HELP BLACK AND BROWN CHICAGOANS FIND EMPLOYMENT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT THAT YOU SEE WITH THE FOLKS YOU WORK WITH?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON TONIGHT.

SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT WE SEE FOR BLACK JOB SEEKERS IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A LACK OF DIVERSE HIRING PRACTICES.

IN THE LABOR MARKET TO GIVE SOME SPECIFICS, WE SEE POOR WORK HISTORY, WE SEE EDUCATION, A LACK OF EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS.

AND MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND JUST A LACK OF RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP TO POSITION THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR SUCCESS IN THE LABOR MARKET.

>> AND YOU'VE NAMED A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO COME BACK TO DURING THIS DISCUSSION.

RICHARD WALLACE YOU WORK WITH PEOPLE ENGAGING IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS AND WHY PEOPLE MIGHT BECOME PART OF IT?

>> BRANDIS THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

AGAIN, FOUNDER OF EQUITY AND TRANSFORMATIONAL AND WE ORGANIZE FOLKS IN THE INFORMAL MARKET IT'S THE GIG ECONOMY, DOCUMENTED AS LOCATION WHERE OUR FOLKS ENGAGE AND LABOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY HAVE NONE.

UNREGULATED BY THE STATE, SOMEBODY SELLING DVDs OR STOCKS AND THE BUCKET BOYS THOSE ARE INFORMAL WORKERS.

>> AND WHY MIGHT SOME FOLKS FIND THEMSELVES NEEDING THOSE JOBS?

>> YES, WE'VE LEARNED A NUMBER OF OUR MEMBERS PEOPLE THAT WE'VE ORGANIZED HAVE BEEN BOXED OUT OF FORMAL LABOR OPPORTUNITIES.

OF THE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES COME FROM FOLKS WHO HAVE CRIMINAL HISTORIES.

BEING MARKED WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD IN GENERAL THE CYCLE GOES, THEY APPLY FOR JOBS AND THEY ARE DENIED AND PRODUCE CAPITAL TO BUY FOOD IS CONSISTENT THOUGH THE EMPLOYMENT ISN'T.

AND SO A LOT OF FOLKS REENGAGE IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE IN ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

>> CLEOPHUS LEE HOW IS THE CBO COLLECTIVE HELPING CANDIDATES OVERCOME THE BARRIERS AND SUCCEED ONCE THEY ARE IN THE DOOR OF A MORE FORMAL JOB?

>> YES.

SO BASICALLY, WE'RE TAKING OUR COLLECTIVE RESOURCES AT 16 ORGANIZATIONS TO THE STREETS.

IN OTHER WORDS, GOING DIRECTLY TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE AFFECTED THE MOST.

AND WE'RE BRINGING A HOST OF OPPORTUNITIES.

AND SO WE DO THIS FIRST OF ALL BY HOSTING HIRING AND RESOURCE EVENTS WHERE WE BRING EMPLOYERS TOGETHER THAT HAVE A HOST OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'RE PARTNERING WITH EMPLOYERS TO HELP THEM TO ADDRESS INTERNAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES THAT PREVENT THIS POPULATION FROM ADVANCING ALONG WITH OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

ALSO, I WANT TO MENTION WHILE OUR GOAL IS TO SHRINK THE WEALTH GAP IN CHICAGO, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT SHRINKING THE WEALTH GAP IS ABOUT MORE THAN PUTTING PEOPLE IN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH J.P. MORGAN CHASE TO ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL PRACTICES AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT THIS POPULATION IS HAVING.

>> RICHARD, A MAP OF UNEMPLOYMENT OF CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS REVEALS HIGHER RATES IN PREDOMINANTLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS TEND TO EXPERIENCE HIGHER RATES OF VIOLENCE.

DO YOU SEE A CONNECTION HERE?

>> YES.

I THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

THERE DEFINITELY IS A CONNECTION.

IN 2021 EQUITY AND TRANSFORMATION WE RELEASED A REPORT.

AND IT WAS TALKING ABOUT INFORMAL LABOR FOCUSED ON WEST GARFIELD PARK.

AND WE FOUND 29% OF THE FOLKS WERE SURVEYED SAID THEY NEVER HAD A JOB THAT PROVIDED A REGULAR PAYCHECK.

48% REPORTED THAT TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

WHEN YOU READ STATISTICS LIKE THAT HE THE ENTIRE STATE SHOULD BE ALARMED BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT 48% OF WEST GARFIELD PARK RESIDENTS ARE DETACHED FROM THE SYSTEM BUILT FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.

YOU HAVE TO SELL YOUR LABOR TO MAKE MONEY AND USE THAT MONEY TO BUY THE THINGS YOU NEED TO SURVIVE.

AND IT BECOMES ALARMING WHEN YOU HEAR NUMBERS LIKE 48% ATTACHED FROM THE VERY SYSTEM THAT IT BUILT FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.

WHEN THEY CAN'T ENGAGE WITH THAT SYSTEM, WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY GET ENGAGED IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY WHICH IS UNPROTECTED BY THE STATE.

AND IT PUTS THEM AT RISK FOR REOFFENDING AND PUTS THEM AT RISK FOR A NUMBER OF HARMS.

AND UNEMPLOYMENT IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY, RIGHT, THAT OUR FOLKS ARE FACING.

>> CLEOPHUS LEE WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DO EMPLOYERS AND CORPORATIONS HAVE IN REDUCING THIS UNEMPLOYMENT GAP AND WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO GAIN BY DOING SO?

>> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE QUESTION.

SO WE BELIEVE THAT EMPLOYERS DEFINITELY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS EFFORT OF REDUCING THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

WE BELIEVE TO AID IN THIS EFFORT BUSINESSES FIRST MUST LOOK AT THEIR HIRING PRACTICES.

AND MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES THAT WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES TO SUCCESSFULLY ENTER INTO THE LABOR MARKET.

AND SECONDLY WE BELIEVE THAT BUSINESSES MUST PAY THESE INDIVIDUALS A LIVING WAGE.

PAY THEM SO THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES, CARE FOR THEIR FAMILY AS WAS JUST MENTIONED BY RICHARD THERE WAS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE VIOLENCE THAT IS TAKING PLACE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE ECONOMICS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

THERE ARE TOO MANY INDIVIDUALS OF THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE TAGGED AS THE WORKING POOR NOT EVEN BEING ABLE TO LIVE FROM PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

AND THIRDLY WE BELIEVE THAT BUSINESSES MUST CREATE PATHWAYS OF ADVANCEMENT WITHIN THESE COMPANIES SO WHEN INDIVIDUALS JOIN THEIR COMPANIES THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE UP AND NOT JUST REMAIN STUCK IN THE POSITION THEY STARTED IN.

>> RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYBODY.

THANKS TO CLEOPHUS LEE AND RICHARD WALLACE FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A LOOK AT CHICAGO'S FIRST CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

STAY WITH US.

[♪♪♪] >> THIS WEEK, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED THE SEVEN INTERIM COMMISSIONERS WHO WILL MAKEUP THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

CHICAGO KA FIRST CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

THEY ARE CHARGED WITH A TALL ORDER.

REBUILDING PUBLIC TRUST IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES EIGHT MONTHS BEHIND SCHEDULE WHICH MEANS IT WAS A LONG WAIT FOR SHORT-TERM BECAUSE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION MUST BE ELECTED THE COMMISSION HAS ONLY MONTHS UNTIL THE ELECTION FOR EACH OF THE CITIES 22 POLICE DISTRICTS IS HELD.

HERE IS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AT THE ANNOUNCE MANY.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE IN BRINGING LASTING PEACE AND SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITIES IS BY GETTING THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND ENGAGED AND FEELING LIKE THEY'VE GOT A STAKE.

THAT THEIR VOICES ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE IGNORED.

THAT THEY HAVE A ROLE IN SHAPING WHAT COMMUNITY SAFETY LOOKS LIKE.

NOT JUST POLICING, BUT WHAT COMMUNITY SAFETY LOOKS LIKE ON THEIR BLOCK AND IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR CITY.

>> JOINING US NOW ARE THREE OF THE INTERIM COMMISSIONERS.

CLIFF NELLIS, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN LEGAL CENTER.

ANTHONY DRIVER, JR. COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST AND REMEL TERRY SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO WEST SIDE N.A.A.C.P.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST I'M CURIOUS WHY YOU WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMISSION, REMEL TERRY I WILL START WITH YOU, PLEASE?

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS FOR HAVING US.

SO I AM A LIFELONG CHICAGOAN AS WELL AS A WEST SIDER.

AND MY LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT IN THIS ISSUE IS THAT AND I AM A BELIEVER IF YOU DO NOT INVOLVE TO EFFECT CHANGE THEN WHO WILL?

WE CAN'T SIT ON THE SIDELINES AND COMPLAIN.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT BIG LEAP FORWARD AND TAKE ACTION TO SEE THE CHANGE THAT WE DESIRE.

>> CLIFF NELLIS SAME QUESTION TO YOU?

>> YES, THANK YOU BRANDIS.

THIS IS PERSONAL FOR ME.

I MOVED INTO NORTH LAWNDALE 13 YEARS AGO.

AND STARTED THE LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN LEGAL CENTER WITH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY CHURCH.

FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS I'VE SPECIALIZED IN REPRESENTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW.

YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 25 YEARS OLD.

AND I'VE SEEN SOME GOOD POLICING AND NOT SO GOOD POLICING.

AND I THINK THIS COMMISSION THE IMPORTANCE OF IT AND WHY I WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY NEED TO PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN THE CITY.

AND COMMUNITY VOICE IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF A GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> ANTHONY DRIVER, JR., WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMISSION EVEN ON AN INTERIM BASIS?

>> IT'S SOMETHING PERSONAL TO ME AS A LIFELONG SOUTH SIDER I AM A PERSON DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE.

I'VE LOST 21 FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY AND SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AROUND AND THE CALL FOR CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE ASSASSINATION OF CHAIRMAN FRED HAMPTON IN THE DAYS OF MAYOR WASHINGTON.

FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS I'VE WORKED TO TRY TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE AND NOW TO BE BLESSED TO SERVE ON THE INTERIM COMMISSION.

>> 21 MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK CIVILIAN INPUT INTO POLICING WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS TIME?

>> I THINK CIVILIAN INPUT ALLOWS FOR THERE TO BE EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT THE WHOLE.

LIKE OFTENTIMES DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE IN A SILO BUT HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELEVATE COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND THEIR VOICES TO THE FOREFRONT.

ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE BUY IN TO THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE AND OFTENTIMES THEY ARE BEING DICTATED TO AND HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO HAVE POWER IN WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING DETERMINED AND EVERYTHING THAT IS OUT IN THE OPEN, IT'S TRANSPARENT.

SO WHAT BETTER TIME THAN ANY FOR ALL OF THIS HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO CREATING THIS LEGISLATION TO HAPPEN NOW.

>> CLIFF NELLIS WHAT ARE THE TOP PRIORITIES, MAYBE JOB ONE FOR YOU AND YOUR FELLOW INTERIM COMMISSIONERS?

>> WELL, WE ARE JUST STARTING.

SO WE'VE AGREED THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT TO START TO TALK ABOUT ANY INITIATIVES OR POLICY RIGHT OUT THE GATE WITHOUT GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER FIRST AND HAVE SOME CONSENSUS ON OUR COMMISSION WITH THAT.

BUT I WILL SAY ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO PUT A PLUG IN IS THIS HYPER LOCAL APPROACH REQUIRES MASSIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

AND STEP ONE IS THESE DISTRICT COUNCILS THAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND RUN FOR THESE POSITIONS.

AS YOU MENTIONED THERE'S THREE PER PRECINCT THAT IS 66 TOTAL.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME CHICAGO HAS HAD SUCH A DEMOCRATIC HYPER LOCAL PROCESS TO GET COMMUNITY VOICES FROM EVERY COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST SOME COMMUNITIES BUT EVERY COMMUNITY BY HAVING THESE LOCAL DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

OUR FIRST, I THINK WE CAN SAY OUR FIRST GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE COUNCILS TO TRY TO RIGHT THE WRONGS IN THE PAST.

CHICAGO HAS A HISTORY FROM THE LIKES OF POLICE OFFICERS LIKE JOHN BURGE AND BEING ONE OF THE TORTURE CAPITALS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND IT HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BUT I HAVE FAITH IN THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AND THE FOLKS WHO WILL SERVE ON THE COUNCILS AS WELL AS MYSELF IN THE INTERIM COMMISSION TO DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO RIGHT THE WRONGS AND GET TO A MORE EQUITABLE PLACE.

>> TAKING THE THREE OF YOU AS A CROSS-SECTION OF THIS COMMISSION IT'S RACIALLY, AGE DIVERSE, PROFESSIONALLY DIVERSE.

REMEL TERRY DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES BY HAVING A DIVERSE COMMISSION NOW AND DOWN THE ROAD ONCE IT'S ELECTED?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK THERE WILL BE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

WE ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK, NONE OF US HAVE WORKED THAT CLOSELY TOGETHER.

I THINK MAYBE TWO OF US HAVE WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER.

SO I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DIVERSITY AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE ALL BRING DIFFERENT TALENTS TO THE TABLE AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS WHICH WILL ALLOW US WITH THAT COMMUNITY BUY IN TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

>> CLIFF, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED AS FAR AS RAISING AWARENESS.

HOW DO YOU INSURE THAT THE CORRUPTION OF POLITICS THAT CAN EXIST IN CHICAGO DOESN'T BREED INTO THE ELECTION SYSTEM AND AT THE SAME TIME BALANCE THAT AGAINST MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE 66 SEATS THAT ARE FILLED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THE JOB, VERSUS COMPARED TO THE EDUCATION THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS LSC'S THAT STRUGGLE TO GET PEOPLE TO RUN AND FILL POSITIONS?

>> THAT IS ONE OF OUR FIRST AND HIGHEST PRIORITIES IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE ALL OF US WAS SELECTED FOR THIS POSITION FOR BY MARTIAL WAS BECAUSE OF OUR DEEP CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY.

MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE MADE AWARE OF THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, THE VALUE IT CAN BRING TO THEIR FAMILY, TO THEIR BLOCK, TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEIR COMMUNITY AND TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND POLICING IN GENERAL.

I, TOO, THINK WE HAVE A GREAT COMMISSION.

I'M PLEASED WITH MY SEVEN COLLEAGUES AND I THINK WE'RE UP FOR THE TASK.

>> ANTHONY DRIVER, JR., WHAT DOES SUCCESS FOR THIS INTERIM COMMISSION LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

>> SUCCESS TO ME LOOKS LIKE AN EMPOWERED COMMUNITY.

A COMMUNITY THAT KNOWS WHEN THIS COMMISSION IS MEETING PUBLICLY.

IT'S WHEN WE'RE HAVING THE MEETINGS AND THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOWS UP EN MASS AND THEY HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE TO BALANCE, STRONG MAYOR, WEAK COUNCIL, NOW THE RESIDENTS HAVE A DIRECT VOICE IN HOW THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE POLICED.

FROM COPA TO THE POLICE DUPT TO THE CAPS PROGRAM.

YOU NOW HAVE A VOICE AND A ROLE IN THE PROCESS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE NAMED AND THE POLICE BOARD.

SUCCESS FOR ME, IS WHEN THE EVERYDAY RESIDENTS NOT JUST THE PRIVILEGED FEW, KNOW THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THE PROCESS AND THEY FEEL HEARD AND SEEN AND EMPOWERED.

>> CONGRATS AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

REMEL TERRY, CLIFF NELLIS AND ANTHONY DRIVER, JR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A LOOK BACK AT THE LEGACY OF THE BROTHERHOOD OF SLEEPING CARPORTERS.

THE FAMED PULLMAN PORTERS HELD A PLACE OF PRIDE IN BLACK COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES.

THE ALL BLACK ALL MALE PORTERS PROVIDED SERVICE ON THE LUXURY RAILROAD BUT THEY PERFORMED THAT LABOR UNDER ABOMINABLE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR SUBPAR WAGES IN 1925 THEY FOUNDED THE BROTHERHOOD OF SLEEPING CARPORTERS TO FORCE THE PULLMAN COMPANY TO THE TABLE.

THIS IS A 2001 OF CHICAGO STORIES, JOHN CALLAWAY DESCRIBES THE BROTHERHOOD'S TRIUMPH UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF UNION PRESIDENT A PHILLIP RANDOLPH.

>> IN 1934 AS PART OF THE NEW DEAL, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SIGNED PRO LABOR LEGISLATION OUTLAWING COMPANY RUN UNIONS AND GIVING THE WORKERS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN REPRESENTATION.

THE MEMBERSHIP DECLINED THE UNION WAS VERY MUCH ALIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THE PORTERS.

ROOSEVELT'S ACTION GAVE THEM THE MEANS TO RISE AGAIN.

THREE QUARTERS OF ALL THE PORTERS VOTED AGAINST THE COMPANY UNION IN FAVOR OF THE BROTHERHOOD TO REPRESENT THEM.

THE COMPANY WAS ALARMED.

STILL IT WOULD NOT GIVE IN EASILY.

COMPANY OFFICIALS RESPONDED BY SENDING RANDOLPH A BLANK CHECK SAYING HE COULD FILL IT IN FOR ANY AMOUNT UP TO $1 MILLION IF HE WOULD STOP THE EFFORTS OF THE UNION.

>> Mr. RANDOLPH SENT THE CHECK BACK AND SAID HE WAS NOT FOR SALE.

I BELIEVE THINGS LIKE THAT HAD A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH THE GROUND SWELL OF RESPECT THAT OCCURRED FOR Mr. RANDOLPH AND THE BROTHERHOOD.

BECAUSE THEY STOOD FOR SOMETHING.

THEY HAD STANDARDS.

THEY HAD RESPECT.

AND THEY WOULD NOT BE BOUGHT.

>> THE PULLMAN COMPANY COULD NO LONGER IGNORE THE BROTHERHOOD.

ON JULY 29, 1935, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY, A BLACK LABOR UNION FORCED ITS EMPLOYER TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

>> THE EXCITEMENT THAT THEY MUST HAVE -- THEY PROBABLY COULDN'T CONTAIN THEMSELVES.

SO IT'S PROBABLY SUCH PRIDE, SUCH PRIDE AND SUCH JOY, THIS BELIEF AS WELL.

>> CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS LASTED TWO YEARS.

FINALLY, ON AUGUST 25, 1937, EXACTLY 12 YEARS TO THE DAY AFTER THE BROTHERHOOD STARTED, THE UNION REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PULLMAN COMPANY.

THE CONTRACT INCLUDED A SIGNIFICANT PAY RAISE, A REDUCTION IN HOURS AND JOB SECURITY.

>> IF YOU WANT TO GET A CLOSER LOOK THE NATIONAL A PHILLIP RANDOLPH PULLMAN MUSEUM HAS ACTIVITIES THIS LABOR DAY.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> A LOCAL MUSIC ARTIST IS WORKING TO ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION WITH AN ALL BUMP COMMITTED TO SELF GROWTH NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE.

ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US TO THE STUDIOS TO TALK TO TAYLOR BENNETT ABOUT HIS ALBUM COMING-OF-AGE.

[♪♪♪] >> IT'S AN ALBUM WITH A SOUND UNLIKE ANY OTHER [♪♪♪] >> THAT'S HOW 26-YEAR-OLD TAYLOR BENNETT DESCRIBES COMING YOU HAVE AGE A NEW PROJECT NOT EXCLUSIVE TO ONE GENRE.

>> IT'S ROCK, HIP-HOP, THERE'S NO SAMPLES.

IT'S ALL LIVE INSTRUMENTATION.

I HAVE NOT DONE A SAMPLE SINCE 2014.

IT IS A BIG BALL OF ENERGY AND I WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT PUSHED THAT ENERGY BACK OUT THERE.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WE MIGHT BE TOO GROWN FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVITY.

>> HIS UP COMING SHOW AT LINCOLN HALLMARKS THE END OF HIS BE YOURSELF TOUR A PHRASE HE REGULARLY HEARD FROM HIS MOM.

ONE MIGHT THINK THAT PHRASE WAS EXCLUSIVE TO ACKNOWLEDGING HIS SEXUAL AFTER COMING OUT AS BISEXUAL, THE ARTIST SAYS IT'S ABOUT MUCH MORE >> AFTER I DECIDED I NEEDED TO BE TRUE TO MYSELF, I STARTED LEARNING ABOUT MYSELF AND BUILD ON THE CHARACTER OF WHO I AM.

>> WHEN ASKED HOW HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THIS UNAPOLOGETIC POINT OF SELF LOVE BENNETT CREDITS HIS DAD WHO SERVED AS THE ALBUM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER >> IT WAS NEVER SOMETHING WHERE HE WAS DIRECTING ME OR PUSHING ME IN A DIRECTION TO DO SOMETHING.

IF I WAS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING HE WOULD HELP ME OR SHOW ME IS A METHOD OF PROCESS.

>> COMING FROM GOVERNMENT AND DOING THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE THERE, AS WELL AS IN BUSINESS, I UNDERSTAND STRUCTURE AND PROCESSES.

WHAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WAS THIS BUSINESS.

IT WAS TAYLOR WHO REALLY PULLED ME IN AND SAID DAD, I WANT TO TO UNDERSTAND THIS PART OF THE BUSINESS.

TAYLOR HAS CHANGED MY LIFE ON THAT.

I'LL TELL YOU I'M PRETTY GOOD NOW.

I HAD A GOOD TEACHER.

[♪♪♪] >> BENNETT'S TEACHING GOES BEYOND THE WORK HE DOES WITH HIS DAD >> HE'S FOCUSED >> HE WAS SUPERMAN.

>> NOT ONLY IS HE DOING HIS OWN CAREER AS AN ARTIST BUT HE AS OTHER ARTISTS THAT HE REPRESENTS THAT ARE PART OF HIS LABEL AND HIS BUSINESS.

BUT HE ALSO MANAGES HIS BROTHER'S BUSINESS >> WITH THE HELP AND THE SUPPORT THAT BENNETT HELPS HIS LATER ALBUM WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXPLORE AND CELEBRATE ALL VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES >> THAT'S BEEN MY DREAM.

AS AN ARTIST IS BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH MUSIC.

THE THINGS ABOUT SHOWS AND CONCERTS AND THAT IS WHY I LIKE IT A LOT IT HAS THE POWER TO BRING AND INTRODUCE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF A LEVEL OF SOMETHING THEY SHARE.

[♪♪♪] >> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU [♪♪♪] >> AND OF COURSE, MUSIC RUNS IN THE BENNETT FAMILY.

TAYLOR'S BROTHER IS CHANCE THE RAPPER.

CAN YOU CATCH TAYLOR BENNETT'S NEXT PERFORMANCE SEPTEMBER 10TH IN THE WEST LOOP.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

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

AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAY'S BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. AND JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 P.M. ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH MORE MUSIC FROM MUSICIAN TAYLOR BENNETT.

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

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHTY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]