[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO WELL THISWTTW NEWS SPECIAL ON SEGREGATION.

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> FROM 1930 TO 2020 A LOOK AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF SEGREGATION IN CHICAGO AND WHY IT STILL PERSISTS.

>> I THINK ADDRESSING THE HISTORY AND ONGOING MANIFESTATIONS OF STRUCTURAL RACISM IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR FAIR HOUSING.

>> HOW RACIAL SEGREGATION IS HOUSING THAT WAS CREATED A TOXIC LEGACY IN MANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

>> THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN INVESTMENT AND CITY RESOURCES.

>> THE CREATOR OF THE FOLDED MAP PROJECT ON HER EFFORTS TO BRING PEOPLE FROM THE DIVERSE PARTS OF THE CITY TOGETHER.

>> I STARTED THINKING WHY IS THIS THAT MY COMMUNITY IS SO NEGLECTED?

>> TALKING WITH THE HEAD OF A CHICAGO ORGANIZATION SEEKING RACIAL HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION.

>> AND WHAT SEGREGATION LOOKS LIKE FOR ASIAN-AMERICAN CHICAGOANS AND THE COMPLICATED PATH FOR POLITICAL POWER.

WE'LL DIVE INTO THAT BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO IS ENDING ITS MASK AND PROOF OF VACCINE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESTAURANTS, FITNESS CENTERS AND BARS STARTING MONDAY.

THE CITY REACHED A LOWER COVID TRANSMISSION RATE ON SUNDAY ALLOWING OFFICIALS TO ACT IN CONCERT WITH THE STATE WHICH IS ALSO SCHEDULED TO LIFT ITS MASK MANDATE ON MONDAY.

>> CURRENTLY OUR METRICS CONTINUE TO TREND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THIS MOMENT FOR WHAT IT IS: A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN OUR EFFORT TO OVERCOME COVID-19.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION A FEW WEEKS AGO TO BE MAKING THIS KIND OF ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.

>> AND MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED ON PUBLIC TRANSIT AND HEALTHCARE SETTINGS AND OTHER CONGREGATE SPACES.

AND TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR A FULL BREAKDOWN WITH Dr. ALLISON ARWADY.

>> DESPITE THE ROLLBACK OF THE STATE AND CITY MASK MANDATES, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANNOUNCE IT IS WILL STILL REQUIRE UNIVERSAL MASKS.

THE DISTRICT SAID QUOTE... >> MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCES NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA AMID THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ORDERING TROOPS INTO TWO SEPARATIST ENCLAVES IN EASTERN UN R UKRAINE.

>> STARTING TOMORROW AND CONTINUING INTO THE DAYS AHEAD WE WILL IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA'S ELITES AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

THEY SHARE IN THE CORRUPT GAINS OF THE KREMLIN POLICIES AND SHOULD SHARE IN THE PAIN AS WELL.

AND BECAUSE OF RUSSIA'S ACTIONS WE WORKED WITH GERMANY TO INSURE THAT NORD STREAM 2 WILL NOT, AS I PROMISED, WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD >> THE SANCTIONS WILL TARGET TWO LARGE BANKS IN RUSSIA AND SOVEREIGN DEBT.

WE BEGIN OUR COVERAGE OF SEGREGATION IN CHICAGO WITH A LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN SEGREGATION IN THE CITY.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> HOW DID CHICAGO BECOME SO SEGREGATED?

THE SHORT ANSWER: BY INVENTING MODERN-DAY SEGREGATION ITSELF.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US TO EXPLAIN AND HELP KICKOFF OUR WTTW NEWS SPECIAL ON SEGREGATION.

HEATHER THIS IS A DEEPLY RESEARCHED ARTICLE THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN FOR OUR WEBSITE.

BUT IN PLAIN TERMS HOW DID CHICAGO INVENT MODERN-DAY SEGREGATION?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE START WITH WHAT SEGREGATION WAS DESIGNED TO DO.

AND IN THE SIMPLEST TERMS IT WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE A CHICAGO IN THE EARLY 1900'S THAT WAS A HAVEN FOR WHITE PEOPLE AT THE EXPENSE OF BLACK PEOPLE THAT WAS ENFORCED NOT ONLY BY THE WEIGHT OF LAW BUT THE FORCE OF VIOLENCE.

AND REALLY THE BEDROCK OF MODERN SEGREGATION IN CHICAGO IS THE USE OF RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE REAL ESTATE COVENANTS.

THAT WAS INVENTED BY A MEMBER OF THE CHICAGO PLANNING COMMISSION THAT LEGALLY PREVENTED BLACK PEOPLE FROM BUYING PROPERTY IN AREAS THAT WERE DEEMED OFF LIMITS TO THEM AND RESERVED FOR WHITE PEOPLE.

ONCE THAT WAS IN PLACE, THE REST FOLLOWED, WHICH INCLUDED CONTRACT BUYING, WHICH EXPLOITED BLACK PEOPLE DESPERATE TO BUY A HOME AND START BUILDING WEALTH.

AND THEN IT MORPHED AFTER THE GREAT DEPRESSION INTO THE USE OF FEDERALLY BACKED MORTGAGE LOANS WHERE YOU GET THE TERM REDLINING AND THAT SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT CHICAGO LOOKING RES LIKE NOW WITH POCKETS OF DEEP DISINVESTMENT ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE THAT YOU DON'T SEE ON THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST SIDE.

>> THE EFFECTS ARE SEEN TODAY THOSE PRACTICES HAVE BEEN OUTLAWED FOR A WHILE.

AND WTTW PARTNERED WITH SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY TO MAKE A MAP THAT SHOWS HOW THE POPULATION MORPHED BETWEEN 1930 AND 2020.

TELL US THE TAKEAWAY OF THIS MAP?

>> WHAT IS MOST STARTLING ABOUT THE MAP IS HOW MUCH DOESN'T CHANGE BETWEEN 1930 AND 2020.

THE FORCE OF THOSE BARRIERS THAT I JUST BRIEFLY DESCRIBED WERE SO DEEPLY ENTRENCHED IN CHICAGO THAT WHEN YOU GET TO 2020 TODAY, REALLY THAT MAP SHOWS WHERE THOSE LINES WERE DRAWN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY.

AND THAT THE IS WHAT WE'RE ALL GRAPPLING WITH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PERNICIOUS EFFECTS OF SEGREGATION IN CHICAGO.

>> AND THE GREEN CIRCLES POP-UP AFTER 1970 WHEN THE LATINO POPULATION COMES IN.

CHICAGO HAD LATINO AND ASIAN-AMERICAN POPULATION BEFORE THAT IS.

WHY IS THAT NOT REPRESENTED UNTIL 1970?

>> THIS MAP WAS BASED ON CENSUS DATA AND IT WAS UNTIL THE 1970s THAT CENSUS STARTED TRACKING THE ASIAN POPULATION IN CHICAGO AND 1990 THE LATINO POPULATION IN CHICAGO SHOWS UP IN THE CENSUS DATA.

WHICH TELLS YOU JUST HOW MUCH LESS ATTENTION WAS ON THE DATA THAN TODAY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS INFORMATION CLOSELY.

>> AND YOU END YOUR REPORTING WITH A LOOK AT CHICAGO'S FUTURE AND THE PROSPECTS TO SORT OF GET RID OF THIS MONIKER AS THE MOST SEGREGATED CITY.

HOW DO THE PROSPECTS LOOK?

>> WELL, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE SCARS OF SEGREGATION ARE DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN CHICAGO'S FABRIC.

HOWEVER, THERE IS MAYBE A GLIMMER OF HOPE ON THE HORIZON.

IN THE 2019 MAYORAL ELECTION LORI LIGHTFOOT EXPLICITLY CAMPAIGNED WHILE CALLING OUT SEGREGATION AND VOWING TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITIES THAT IT HAS CREATED.

SO WHILE THERE'S CERTAINLY MUCH MORE TO BE DONE AT LEAST WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF CHICAGOANS ELECTED A MAYOR WHO CALLED OUT THE CITY'S OFFICIAL ROLE IN CREATING THOSE BARRIERS AND VOWED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

YOU CANNOT SOLVE WHAT YOU CAN'T DESCRIBE.

SO AT LEAST WE'RE STARTING TO DO THAT.

>> IT'S EXTRAORDINARY REPORTING THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S STORY BY VISITING WTTW.COM/FIRSTHAND >> AND BRANDIS WITH MORE ON WTTW'S NEWS SPECIAL ON SEGREGATION.

>> CHICAGO'S TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON IS USING PHOTOGRAPHY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT DISPARITY SHE HAS NOTICED IN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THE FOLDED MAP PROJECT USES SIDE-BY-SIDE PHOTOS OF TWO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE SAME ADDRESS ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF CHICAGO.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US ON A TOUR AROUND THE CITY TO SEE THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT FIRSTHAND.

>> TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON WANTS TO CHANGE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO.

SO SHE CREATED THE FOLDED MAP PROJECT.

>> FOLDED MAP IS A VISUAL INVESTIGATION OF DISPARITY AND INEQUITY IN CHICAGO USING ITS MAPPING SYSTEM.

SO I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED ADDRESSES THAT ARE SIMILAR ON THE SAME STREETS LIKE 6720 NORTH ASHLAND AND 6720 SOUTH ASHLAND AND COMPARE THEM.

WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THOSE THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SIDEWALKS THE LANDSCAPE AND SOMETIMES THE STREETS THEMSELVES.

AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDINGS.

>> JOHNSON'S PROJECT STARTED WITH JUST THAT.

PHOTOS.

SOON THOSE PHOTOS TURNED INTO CONVERSATIONS.

SHE BEGAN REACHING OUT TO WHAT SHE REFERS TO AS MAP TWINS.

>> THE FIRST ITERATION OF FOLDED MAP, JUST FOCUSED ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE SPECIFICALLY THE NEIGHBORHOODS IF YOU WERE TO FOLD CHICAGO'S MAP AT A ZERO POINT WOULD TOUCH ENGLEWOOD.

EVENING EXWAS THE SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IS SO LARGE IT'S LIKE THE THIRD LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN CHICAGO.

>> AND JUST LIKE THAT HER FIRST SET OF MAP TWINS WERE BORN.

CARMEN ARNOLD-STRATTON REALIZED THE CITY OFFERS MORE THAN HER NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN ROGER PARK RESIDENT BRIGHID O' SHAUGHNESSY WAS DESCRIBING HER HOME.

>> WHEN SHE SAID THAT HER NEIGHBORHOOD WAS A GLOBAL MECCA LIKE, OK.

I NEED TO VENTURE OUT MORE.

AND THAT HAD THAT STIGMA OF MY NEIGHBORS THAT I GREW UP WITH, WE'RE NOT GOING THERE.

>> THE PAIR SAY THEORY R THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAS GROWN SINCE MEETING.

>> WE HAVE TO SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER AND I FEEL LIKE YES, THERE WAS A FIRST MOMENT WHEN CARMEN AND I MET AND IT WAS A MEANINGFUL DAY.

TO ME IT'S LIKE HOW ELSE CAN I INVEST IN HER AS A PERSON?

BECAUSE I THINK THE MORE WE KNOW EACH OTHER, THE MORE WE CARE.

AND THE MORE WE CARE, THE MORE WE'RE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR EACH OTHER.

>> JOHNSON SAYS THIS DEVELOPED EMPATHY IS ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT.

THE FOLDED MAP PROJECT INCLUDES MORE THAN 10 SETS OF MAP AND ADDRESS TWINS DEPICTED THROUGH VIDEOS AND PHOTOS.

>> I HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH A SECOND ITERATION OF MAP TWINS.

THESE TWO FROM ARE THE CITY'S NORTH AND WEST SIDES.

JOHNSON SAYS THEY ARE THE FIRST PAIR TO REALLY TALK ABOUT GENTRIFICATION IN THE CITY.

>> I REALIZED WHEN SHE SAID GENTRIFICATION IS NOT THE ONLY PROCESS HERE THAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO LIVE SEPARATELY AND IN A SEGREGATED WAY BUT HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF ECONOMICS MORE THAN ANYTHING.

>> AFTER VISITING JOE BRISTOL'S HOME IN LOGAN SQUARE GARFIELD PARK RESIDENT QUE BILLAH SAID HE REALIZED HE HAD MORE CONTROL OVER THE CHANGES WITHIN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAN HE REALIZED.

>> IT MADE ME WANT TO LOOK MORE INTO REAL ESTATE AND INVESTIGATE AND SEE IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO DO.

AND YOU KNOW, CAN DO FINANCIALLY.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT LIKE BEING PUSHED OUT OR WHITE PEOPLE COMING TO TAKEOVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU GOT TO KIND OF TAKE INITIATIVE YOURSELF TO LEARN AND EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

AND THEN MAYBE IF YOU WANT A PIECE OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU CAN BUY IT.

>> AS JOHNSON CONTINUES TO PUBLICIZE THE FOLDED MAP PROJECT SHE SAYS SHE IS GRATEFUL FOR NOT ONLY THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED BUT THE NECESSARY CONVERSATIONS THEY'VE STARTED.

>> ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS COULD LOOK LIKE.

AND HOW ANSWERING SOME BASIC QUESTIONS HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY HOW TO CONNECT TO SOMEONE ELSE BUT REALLY PROVIDE YOU A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT OUR CITY AND HOW PEOPLE EXPERIENCE IT DIFFERENT BASED ON WHERE THEY LIVE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND SINCE WE MET TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON IN 2020, SHE HAS EXPANDED THE FOLDED MAP PROJECT ADDING WORKSHOPS A PLAY AND MOVIE.

ON TOP OF THAT SHE COLLABORATED WITH MARIA TO CREATE THE DON'T GO PROJECT A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH 30 PEOPLE WHO CONFRONTED AND EVENTUALLY COMBATED HARMFUL NARRATIVES ABOUT CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

NOW, JOINING US ARE THE PROJECT'S CREATOR AND PARTICIPANTS, ADRIANNE HAWTHORNE, WHO GREW UP IN WEST DUNDEE AND TOOK A WRONG EXIT VISITING HER GRANDPARENTS SHE IS BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN FOLKS AND THE SOUTH AND HER NORTH SIDE SHOP.

JERRY KAUFMAN WHOSE SEMINARY EDUCATION AND WORK IN SOCIAL JUSTICE HELPED HIM VENTURE IN HYDE PARK TO HANGING OUT IN ENGLEWOOD.

TIANA MORGAN AFTER HER FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE WHEN SHE WAS TOLD TO AVOID THE SOUTH SIDE.

AND THE ARTIST AND CREATOR BEHIND THE FOLDED MAP PROJECT AND THE DON'T GO PROJECT, TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TEE ANNA, YOU GREW UP IN ENGLEWOOD AND WENT TO COLLEGE ON THE SOUTH IDENTIFY AT IIT AND YOU BEGAN TO HEAR MESSAGING THAT WAS SAID FREQUENTLY TO A LOT OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THERE AND THAT WAS TO BE CAREFUL OR AVOID THE SOUTH SIDE.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THAT MESSAGING?

>> YEAH.

IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE I WAS THERE WITH MY MOM.

IT WAS DURING ORIENTATION.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND IT IS A VERY ETHNICLY DIVERSE THEY HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.

A LOT OF ASIANS, INDIANS, DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.

SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING TO THE SCHOOL THAT IS NOT FROM CHICAGO.

AND YOU'RE HEARING PRETTY MUCH DO NOT GO OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES OF IIT.

I WENT TO SCHOOL AT DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I WENT TO SCHOOL DOWN THE STREET.

AND IT WAS DISHEARTENING AND I HAD MY MOTHER WITH ME AND I COULD TELL SHE WAS UPSET ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL RESIDES ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

TO TELL PEOPLE NOT TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE -- YOU WOULD EXPECT A LITTLE BIT MORE COLLABORATION.

>> ADRIANNE HAWTHORNE YOU GOT LOST ON A DRIVE TO VISIT YOUR GRANDPARENTS IN BRIDGEPORT.

TELL US, YOU GOT OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AND YOU CALLED THEM.

WHAT WAS THEIR REACTION WHEN THEY LEARNED WHERE YOU WERE?

>> THEY WERE TERRIFIED.

ANGRY.

WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY.

I DEFINITELY SENSED I HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG IN THAT MOMENT.

SO I TOOK A MENTAL NOTE NOT TO GET OFF THAT EXIT EVER AGAIN.

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO HOW USING THAT EXPERIENCE TODAY.

JERRY KAUFMAN, YOU GREW UP IN DALTON AND MOVED OUT AS BLACK PEOPLE WERE MOVING INTO THE AREA WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER WITH YOUR FAMILY.

AND AMONG THE WORDS THAT YOU HEARD USED BY OTHER FAMILIES AT THE TIME IS THAT YOU ALL HAD QUOTE ESCAPED.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT TERM AT THE TIME?

AND HOW DO YOU LOOK BACK ON IT NOW?

>> WELL, AT THE TIME I WAS QUITE YOUNG.

AND SO SOME OF THAT DIDN'T REALLY CLICK AT THE TIME BUT AS I GOT OLDER I WOULD HEAR FROM PEOPLE ON GOT OUT AND OTHER FAMILIES AND THEY USED THIS LANGUAGE ABOUT GETTING OUT.

AND FOR ME TO BE HONEST AT THE TIME IT WASN'T STRANGE IT WAS WHAT I HEARD AND EVEN AT THE TIME FOR ME PERSONALLY HAD HEEDED MYSELF IT WAS NOT UNTIL LATER IN LIFE I HAD CHANGED THE WAY I WAS THINK BEING THINGS.

THAT MY OWN LANGUAGE HAD TO CHANGE.

AND ONCE I BEGAN TO HEAR PEOPLE USE THAT LANGUAGE ESPECIALLY AS I GOT OLDER AND NOW BEING ON THE SOUTH SIDE I AM A SOCIOLOGIST AND STUDIED HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IN HYDE PARK HEARING THAT LANGUAGE HIGHLIGHTS HOW PEOPLE VIEW LIVING HERE AND AROUND BLACK FOLKS AND WHAT THAT MEANS.

THE IDEA OF ESCAPING OR GETTING OUT IS TROUBLING.

BECAUSE IT SUGGESTS THAT FOLKS HAVE MADE IT OUT AND IT ALSO SUGGESTS THERE'S SOMETHING LEFT BEHIND AND THAT IS ALL BECAME TROUBLING AS I GOT OLDER AND BEGAN TO PROCESS IT.

>> AN ADULT LIVING IN HYDE PARK THAT YOU STARTED TO VENTURE OUT INTO ENGLEWOOD AND PUSHED THE BACK AGAINST THE DON'T GO NARRATIVES.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> MY FIRST TRIP OUT I HAD BEEN IN HYDE PARK FOR A FEW YEARS AS A GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

SIM THERE IS AN EXPLICIT NARRATIVE ABOUT NOT LEAVING THE SAFETY CONFINES OF HYDE PARK.

AND I AS SOMEONE STUDIED MY RESEARCH WAS ON RACE AND ETHNICITY AND SEGREGATION AND I JUST KNEW I WANTED TO VENTURE OUT AND PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS AND I MADE A BUS RIDE SOUTH DOWN COTTAGE GROVE WHERE I WAS THE ONLY WHITE PERSON ON THE BUS.

WHICH WAS FINE, I LIVE IN HYDE PARK IT WAS NOT EXTRAORDINARY BUT I GOT OUT AND STOPPED DOWN COTTAGE AND HAD A EXPERIENCE OF STANDING THERE WITH THIS WHITE GUY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WASN'T MINE.

THE BACKDROP OF THIS LARGER NARRATIVE DON'T GO TO THE SOUTH SIDE IT'S DANGEROUS, SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I STOOD ON THE INTERSECTION WITH MY LAPTOP AND FOLKS WERE HANGING OUT.

I HAD SOME REAL IN MY OWN HEAD IT HIS NARRATIVE WAS SURGING THROUGH MY HEAD ABOUT MY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING.

BUT AFTER THAT, I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS LIVING MY LIFE IN WAYS THAT COUNTERED THAT NARRATIVE.

>> AS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE YOU DID A FIRSTHAND TALK FOR WTTW WHICH CAN BE STREAMED AT WTTW.COM/FIRSTHAND.

>> I STARTED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1993.

I STARTED GOING TO LANE TECH HIGH SCHOOL.

15 MILES NORTH OF ENGLEWOOD.

A SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT HIGH SCHOOL THAT HAD A MULTIRACIAL STUDENT BODY OF 4,000 STUDENTS AND IN ORDER TO GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME BY 8:00 A.M., I WOULD HAVE TO BE AT THE BUS STOP ON 62nd BY 5:45AM.

>> THAT IS EARLY.

YOU HAD YOUR MOMENT IN THOSE HIGH SCHOOL DAYS WHEN YOU MET PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WHAT WAS IT THAT COMPELLED YOU TO CREATE THE FOLDED MAP PROJECT AND THEN THE DON'T GO PROJECT?

>> WELL, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THAT HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

I BUILT LONG-LASTING FRIENDSHIPS WITH PEOPLE OF MANY DIFFERENT RACES, NATIONALITIES.

AND I KNEW THE VALUE.

I HAD EXPERIENCED THE VALUE OF CHICAGO'S DIVERSITY.

AND IT WAS SO MANY POINTS IN MY LIFE ALSO BEING AN ARTIST IN THE ARTS COMMUNITY WHERE DIVERSITY DOES EXIST.

AND THE INTERACTIONS EXIST, I WANTED TO REPLICATE THAT.

I THOUGHT SO MANY TIMES LIKE MY FRIENDS HERE WOULD GET ALONG WITH MY FRIENDS THERE.

AND THEY COULD MEET EACH OTHER.

ALL OF THAT KIND OF SENN THINK SIZED INTO MY FOLDED MAP PROJECT WHERE I LITERALLY DID JUST THAT.

I BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER WHO HAD A COMMONALITY.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM MY HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE IS THAT WELL, IF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE GET ALONG WITH ME, AND WE HAVE THINGS IN COMMON, THEN CREATE SPACE FOR THEM TO ALSO MEET EACH OTHER.

>> TRULY THEY CAN GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER.

WHAT ABOUT FOR YOU, WHEN WAS IT YOU REALIZED HOW SEGREGATED THE CITY IS?

>> I THINK IT WAS AFTER MY COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.

SO I DID LIVE IN HYDE PARK AS WELL, JERRY.

AND JUST MOVING AROUND THE CITY AND REALIZING JUST HOW BROKEN UP THE CITY IS.

EVERYBODY HAD THEIR OWN AREAS AND YOU FIND VERY FEW COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE TOGETHER.

WHERE YOU HAVE DIFFERENT RACES LIVING TOGETHER IT'S VERY FEW IN CHICAGO.

AND I FOUND THAT VERY DIFFERENT COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT I'VE BEEN TO AFTER TRAVELING A LITTLE BIT MORE GETTING OUT OF CHICAGO, I'VE NOTICED THAT.

>> AND ADRIAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WERE BEING PROTECTIVE OF YOU ONCE YOU LEARNED YOU MADE THAT MISTAKE?

AND WHAT WAS IT YOU FELT THEY WERE PROTECTING YOU FROM?

>> I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE THEY WERE JUST BEING OVERPROTECTIVE BUT THEY ARE PART OF THEY ARE BUYING INTO THE LARGER NARRATIVE THAT THEY'VE BEEN TOLD AND IT WAS NEVER CLEAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU GOT OFF AT THE WRONG EXIT OR ON THE SOUTH SIDE I GOT THE IMPRESSION IT WAS DANGEROUS.

AND SOMETHING BAD WOULD HAPPEN.

AND TO JUST NOT TAKE THAT CHANCE.

>> AND SINCE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT, GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW YOU SORT OF PARTICIPATED IN CHANGING THE NARRATIVE?

>> SO SINCE THIS PROJECT I'VE GONE TO THE SOUTH SIDE A FEW TIMES AND SEEN FOR MYSELF THAT THE THINGS THAT DON'T GO TO THE SOUTH SIDE NARRATIVE IS NOT TRUE.

AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO UNLEARN THAT BEHAVIOR.

I'VE BEEN I HAVE A STOREFRONT HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE AND FOR A WHILE I WAS INVITING BLACK ARTISTS TO COME TO MY SHOP AND SHOW THEIR WORK AND SELL THEIR WORK SO THEY COULD SEE MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SO MY NEIGHBORS COULD MEET THEM AND START TO MAYBE FORM RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE.

AND BREAK UP THE SEGREGATION AND THE NARRATIVE THAT HAS BEEN SO PROMINENT IN THE CITY.

>> AND WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME BUT YOU HAVE BEEN ALL OVER CHICAGO COVERING WHAT SEGREGATION LOOKS LIKE.

THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE COIN.

WHITE FLIGHT VERSUS GENTRIFICATION AND WHAT HAPPENS?

>> OH, IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

IT'S WHO THE DOLLARS FOLLOW.

IT'S NOT THE PEOPLE WHO MOVE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S WHO PUTS THE AMENITIES THERE FOR THE SOON TO COME RESIDENTS.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF US TO UNITE AND HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.

BECAUSE INVESTMENT SHOULD NOT FOLLOW ONE POPULATION, WHICH IN CHICAGO IS GENERALLY YOUNG WHITE PROFESSIONALS.

AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT.

AND INSTEAD OF GETTING ANGRY AT THE GENTRIFIERS I WANT US TO GET ANGRY AT THE DEVELOPERS AND INVESTMENTS THAT HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF SEEING THE POPULATION SHIFT.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS TO TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON, TIANA MORGAN, ADRIANNE HAWTHORNE AND JERRY KAUFMAN.

>> UP NEXT, A CONVERSATION WITH THE LEADER OF A CHICAGO ORGANIZATION SEEKING RACIAL HEALING.

STAY WITH US.

>> EVERYTHING ABOUT ONE'S EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN CHICAGO CAN BE TRACED BACK TO SEGREGATION AND RACE.

THIS ACCORDING TO OUR NEXT GUEST.

AS PART OF WTTW'S FIRSTHAND INITIATIVE WE'VE PRODUCED A NUMBER OF FIR HAND TALKS EACH WITH A BIG IDEA FOR ADDRESSING SEGREGATION.

ONE OF THOSE TALKS IS DELIVERED BY COMMUNITY LEADER JOSE RICO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRUTH, RACIAL HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION CHICAGO.

HERE IS A BIT OF HIS TALK HOW THE CITY'S LONG HISTORY OF SEGREGATION HAS CONTRIBUTED TO NEIGHBORHOOD DISPARITIES AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.

>> AS A KID GROWING UP IN THE HOOD IT WAS ALWAYS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO GO DOWNTOWN AND WATCH A DOUBLE FEATURE AT THE WOODS THEATRE.

GO TO RODNEY'S STEAKHOUSE AND OFTEN LISTEN TO THE BLUES PERFORMANCE OUT IN THE STREETS.

AND WHEN WE WOULD 0 GO BACK I WOULD LIKE TO WAIT AT THE L PLATFORM AND SEE ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WHERE WE COULD ALL BE TOGETHER AT ONCE AND JUST BE.

I GOT PRETTY GOOD AT GUESSING WHO WAS GOING TO GET ON THE REDLINE AND ON THE BLUE LINE.

AND I ALWAYS KNEW WHO WAS GOING TO GET ON THE BROWN LINE.

WHEN I WOULD COME HOME I WOULD SEE THE HUGE DISPARITY FROM LOOKING AT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHERE THEY HAD BEAUTIFUL PARKS, CLEAN STREETS, AND PLACES FOR FAMILIES TO GO EVERYWHERE.

AND I STARTED THINKING, WHY IS THIS THAT MY COMMUNITY IS SO NEGLECTED?

>> AND JOINING US WITH MORE IS JOSE RICO DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION TRUTH, RACIAL HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO PICK UP ON THOSE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE THERE GROWING UP IN LITTLE VILLAGE AND GOING DOWN TO THE MOVIE HOUSES IN THE LOOP.

HOW DID THOSE EXPERIENCES HELP SHAPE YOUR VIEW WHAT CHICAGO WAS AND IS?

>> YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MY STORY OF BELONGING HERE IN CHICAGO FOR THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY AND THE LATINO COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AND AS I WAS GROWING UP AND WE WOULD GO DOWNTOWN WITH MY FRIENDS TO ACTUALLY SEE THE REST OF THE CITY WHERE WE SAW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY REALLY BE TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE AND ENJOY OUR COMPANY AND ENJOY AND SEE WHERE HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE SPOKE.

LISTEN TO MUSIC.

AND THEN ON THE WAY BACK HOME ON THE TRAIN, IS WHEN YOU START REALIZING WHEN I STARTED REALIZING HOW DIFFERENT MY COMMUNITY COMPARED TO COMMUNITIES ON THE TRAIN RIDE BACK.

IT WAS FOR ME AN OPENING TO SEE NOT ONLY HOW MY COMMUNITY WAS LAID OUT AND DESIGNED BUT ALSO THE AMENITIES AND THE RESOURCES THAT NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE LOOP AND IN THE NORTH SIDE HAD AS COMPARED TO MY COMMUNITY IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> AND I THINK WE HAVE A MAP HOW SEPARATED SOME CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS ARE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID IN YOUR TALK WAS THAT GROWING NEWSPAPER LITTLE VILLAGE, YOU KNEW WHERE TO GET A GUN BEFORE YOU KNEW WHERE TO GET A JOB.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> PART OF IT IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE INEQUITY THAT EXISTS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THROUGH HARVARD RESEARCH THAT SAYS THAT CHICAGO IS THE METROPOLITAN AREA WITH THE LARGEST INEQUITY OF ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IF YOU LIVE IN ENGLEWOOD AND LITTLE VILLAGE AND BACK OF THE YARDS YOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY IS LOWER, YOUR EARNING POWER IS LOWER AND YOUR ABILITY FOR YOUR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT IS LOWER BECAUSE OF THE ZIP CODE THAT YOU LIVE IN.

FOR ME, GROWING UP AS A TEENAGER ON THE STREET, BEING ABLE TO SEE GUNS AND ACCESS TO DRUGS AND BEING HARASSED BY THE POLICE THAT WAS VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE.

I DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW HOW DO I GET AN INTERNSHIP IN ONE OF THE MUSEUMS?

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A JOB DOWNTOWN?

OR HOW IS IT THAT I'M ABLE TO GO AND TAKE PART OF ONE OF THE MANY GREAT RESOURCES OUR CITY HAD BECAUSE OF SEGREGATION AND HOW SEPARATE MY COMMUNITY WAS FROM EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER.

>> AND ONE OF THE POINTS YOU WANT THE AUDIENCE TO KNOW YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS SEGREGATION INEQUITIES ARE BY DESIGN.

IT'S NOT ACCIDENTAL THAT THIS HAPPENED IT WAS INTENTIONAL.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> IT'S VERY CLEAR.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LATEST REPORT BY THE CHICAGO FEDERAL RESERVE, WHERE THEY RELEASED A STUDY A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT SHOWED THAT $3 BILLION OF WEALTH FROM BLACK FAMILIES IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES WERE TAKEN BY THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY, DEVELOPERS AND BANKS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT MONEY FROM BLACK FAMILIES AND GO INTO THOSE INSTITUTIONS TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON DOCUMENTS THAT IN HER PRESENTATION.

THAT IS BY DESIGN.

HAVING SCHOOLS THAT ARE UNDER RESOURCED WHERE WE SEE THE LOW NUMBER OF RESOURCES AND BUDGETS IN SCHOOLS FOR PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME.

THAT IS BY DESIGN.

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE IN POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY OUR GOVERNMENT, BY OUR BUSINESSES, DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BEING ABLE TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO TAKE AWAY THE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY HAS, THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AREAS FOR GDP IN THE WORLD, YET, AGAIN, WE SEE THAT THE DEATH RATES AND THE POVERTY RATES ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT IS BY DESIGN THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT WE COULD POINT TO WHY THAT IS THE CASE.

>> AND YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC IN YOUR TALK THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS SYSTEM CAN CHANGE IN CHICAGO TO BENEFIT ALL COMMUNITIES.

HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CAN HAPPEN?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW WITH TRUTH THAT IS A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK THAT Dr. CHRISTOPHER DEVELOPED OVER 30 YEARS OF RESEARCH AND SHE DEVELOPED THIS FRAMEWORK BASED ON THE WORK THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE TAKEN TO CONFRONT RACISM IN THEIR SOCIETIES.

AND WE KNOW THAT RACISM IS A CONSTRUCT IT'S SOMETHING WE MADE UP.

RACE IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT AND WE ALL BELONG TO ONE HUMAN FAMILY AND IN ORDER FOR US TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THIS INEQUITY IS NOT GOING TO BE DONE BY PROGRAMS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DONE BY INITIATIVES IT WILL BE DONE BY US ALL OF US REALLY COMING IN TO A PROCESS TO UNDERSTAND HOW RACE PERMEATES EVERYTHING AND THEN DECIDING HOW ARE WE GOING TO COCREATE A CITY WHERE RACE AND RACISM AND POLICIES ARE A THING OF THE PAST AND WHERE MY WELLNESS IS NOT DEPENDENT ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S LACK OF RESOURCES.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DESIGN AND WORK TOWARDS.

BUT IT INVOLVES ALL OF US.

IT INVOLVES PEOPLE FROM THE NORTH SIDE AND THE SOUTH SIDE, IT INVOLVES CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO REALLY CONFRONT THIS TOGETHER.

BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY CHANCE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS INEQUITY THAT ALL OF US ARE SUFFERING FROM.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE JOSE'S FIRSTHAND TALK AS WELL AS FIVE OTHERS BY VISITING WTTW.COM/FIRSTHAND.

OUR THANKS TO JOSE RICO FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TOXIC LEGACY OF RACIALLY SEGREGATED HOUSING AND DISCRIMINATION IN CHICAGO.

>> PLUS HOW SEGREGATION AFFECTS ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO AND THE FIGHT FOR POLITICAL REPRESENTATION.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE FAMILY OF A WOMAN WHO DIED AFTER HANGING HERSELF INSIDE A CHICAGO POLICE STATION LAST YEAR IS SUING THE CITY AND A DOZEN POLICE OFFICERS.

ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINT, IRENE CHAVEZ WAS A MILITARY VETERAN WHO SUFFERED FROM PTSD.

ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE FAMILY CLAIM THE OFFICERS IGNORED CHAVEZ'S MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

>> THEY COULD HAVE ACCOMMODATED HER DISABILITY BY TAKING HER TO A HOSPITAL.

ONCE SHE ARRIVED AT DISTRICT 3 IN DISTRESS, THEY COULD HAVE SECURED HER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, GOTTEN HER COUNSELING AND AGAIN TRANSPORTED HER TO THE HOSPITAL.

THEY COULD HAVE PLACED HER IN A CELL THAT DID NOT HAVE SUICIDE HAZARDS.

THEY DID NONE OF THESE THINGS.

>> AND THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO CHAVEZ'S DEATH WHICH REMAINS ONGOING.

>> THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY IS AIMING TO GO ALL ELECTRIC FOR THE BUS SYSTEM BY 2040.

THE CTA HAS 11 ELECTRIC BUSES AND SAYS IT EXPECTS TO HAVE 14 MORE RUNNING BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE REST OF ITS FLEET OF MORE THAN 1800 RUNS ON DIESEL.

CTA SECURED MORE THAN 130 MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT AND SAYS IT'S HOPING TO COMPETE FOR MORE.

>> AND UP NEXT WE CONTINUE OUR WTTW NEWS SPECIAL ON SEGREGATION WITH A LOOK AT HOUSING IN CHICAGO.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

SEGREGATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT PEOPLE CHOOSING TO LIVE IN DIFFERENT SPACES IT'S ABOUT HOW RESOURCES ARE DELIVERED.

>> IT IS IT WAS VERY MEXICAN.

THERE'S SOME PUERTO RICANS BUT NO BLACK PEOPLE.

>> WE ARE PUSHED OUT OF CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> DON'T GO PAST 47 STREET.

THEY WERE SAYING DON'T CROSS THE STREET BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE BLACK PEOPLE LIVE.

>> EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD REFLECT WHAT OUR CITY IS ABOUT AND IT'S ABOUT EVERYBODY.

>> HOW DO WE FIGURE THIS OUT TO BECOME MORE PARTICIPATORY IN THE WEALTH GENERATED IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS?

>> WE NEED TO START BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS BETWEEN CULTURAL GROUPS.

>> WHAT A GREAT SIGHT PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY WOULD BE HANGING OUT COMING TOGETHER.

>> GOING INTO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND BREAK BREAD AND TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS HOW WE HEAL.

>> FOR MY FAMILY, I WANT THEM TO LOOK AT CHICAGO AND SEE ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES.

>> CHICAGO'S LONG HISTORY OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IS JUST ONE OF THE FACTORS MAKING THE CITY AMONG THE MOST SEGREGATED IN THE COUNTRY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HOW RACISM AND SEGREGATION IN HOUSING HAVE IMPACTED THEIR LIVES ARE KAREN FREEMAN-WILSON, FORMER MAYOR OF GARY, INDIANA WHO IS NOW THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE.

TED RICHARDS ORIGINALLY FROM ROCHESTER NEW YORK WHO LIVED WITH HIS FAMILY IN JACKSON PARK HIGHLANDS NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWN AS SOUTH SHORE.

>> AND TIA BROWN WHO LIVES WITH HER FAMILY ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TIA BROWN YOU GREW UP ON THE WEST SIDE AND WORK ON THE WEST SIDE AND HAVE DEEP CONNECTIONS TO THAT COMMUNITY.

YOU WANTED TO BUY A HOME ON THE WEST SIDE.

BUT IT PROVED DIFFICULT FOR YOU.

WHAT WAS THE MAIN REASON YOU WERE UNABLE TO DO THAT?

>> WELL, INITIALLY IT WAS TRYING TO LOCATE A HOME THAT WAS AFFORDABLE FOR US.

A LOST OF THE HOMES DURING THAT TIME GENTRIFICATION WAS JUST STARTING IN THAT AREA IN THE AUSTIN AREA.

A LOT OF THE HOMES WERE REALLY WORN DOWN THEY NEEDED A LOT OF WORK AND THEY STILL WANTED $200,000, $250,000 FOR THEM.

SO THAT WAS AN ISSUE FOR US BECAUSE WE WERE APPROVED FOR $250,000 TO BUY A HOME THAT IS ALREADY $200 AND KNOWING WE HAVE TO PUT MORE INTO IT, THAT KIND OF DETERRED US AND MADE US HAVE TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

>> IN THE SERIES YOU TALK ABOUT ONE INSTANCE AN OWNER REFUSED TO SHOW YOU A HOME BECAUSE YOU ARE BLACK AND WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE IN SEARCHING FOR HOUSING ON THE SOUTH SIDE?

>> WELL, INITIALLY IT WAS GOING OK. THAT WAS THAT KIND OF I THINK THAT OPENED OUR EYES TO A LOT OF INJUSTICES AND THINGS THAT WE WERE HAPPILY GOING ABOUT THE HOME BUYING PROCESS WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE, IT WAS GOING GOOD.

WHEN WE WENT TO THE HOME, HE INITIALLY WAS TALKING TO OUR REALTOR WHO WAS HISPANIC.

AND I DON'T THINK HE KNEW THAT WE WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

ONCE WE ARRIVED TO THE HOME, TRIED TO GET IN HE WOULDN'T GIVE US THE LOCK CODE.

ONCE I SPOKE TO HIM LATER ON HE SPOKE TO HE WAS OUR LANDLORD OUR REALTOR AND TOLD THEM HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS A GOOD FIT FOR US.

HE WASN'T LOOKING FOR AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY TO BE IN THE HOME.

AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WE SPOKE WITH CHICAGO'S HOUSING COMMISSIONER AND ASKED HER ABOUT HOW THE CITY'S BLUEPRINT FOR FAIR HOUSING COULD ADDRESS THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAD.

HERE IS A BIT OF WHAT SHE SAID.

>> WE DO HAVE A MEASURE IN THE BLUEPRINT FOR FAIR HOUSING THAT LAYS OUT SOME STEPS THAT THE COMMISSION WILL TAKE TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR NONPROFITS TO DO THE TESTING AND ENFORCEMENT THAT IF SAY THIS COUPLE REACHED OUT AND SAID I THINK WE WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, I THINK THIS OWNER OR REALTOR DID NOT SHOW US THE HOUSE WE WANTED TO SEE BECAUSE OF OUR RACE, THEN THEY ARE THEN PAID TO GO OUT AND DO AN INVESTIGATION ON THAT.

>> TIA BROWN DOES THAT RESPONSE GIVE YOU HOPE THAT THE CITY IS WORKING TO ADDRESS ITS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING LIKE WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED?

>> HOPE?

, YES, I LOVE THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF INITIATIVE IN PLACE.

BUT HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL DETER ANY HOMEOWNERS FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST PEOPLE KNOWING SOMEONE MAY EVENTUALLY COME OUT AND INVESTIGATE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE WHEN THE HOMEOWNERS DO HAVE THE CHOICE WHO THEY WANT TO SELL TO.

BUT I APPRECIATE THEY WILL HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE TO HELP US ADDRESS IT.

>> TED RICHARDS YOU ARE WHITE FROM ROCHESTER NEW YORK AND YOUR WIFE IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN BORN AND RAISED ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

YOU'RE LIVING IN THE JACKSON PARK HIGHLANDS AREA OF SOUTH SHORE.

BUT YOU ARE THINKING OF MOVING.

TELL US WHY YOU ARE THINKING OF MOVING AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAY ON THE SOUTH SIDE?

>> WE ARE MOST FAMILIAR WITH THE SOUTH SIDE.

MY WIFE IS BORN AND RAISED ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

I ORIGINALLY CAME TO CHICAGO AS A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

SO THAT WAS MY AREA I WAS MOST FAMILIAR WITH.

AND FOR US, I THINK LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE RAISED IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND AROUND THEIR CULTURE.

AND TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE SAFE.

SO WE DEAL WITH VIOLENCE IN A FEW WAYS.

WE DEAL WITH THE VIOLENCE OF A NOON THAT IS DISINVESTED IN SOUTH SHORE THERE'S LITTLE IN TERMS OF JOBS OR AMENITIES.

BUT MOVING OUR CHILDREN TO A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SPACE IS NOT AN OPTION FOR US BECAUSE THERE'S VIOLENCE IN THAT FOR THEM.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THAT RIGHT FIT FOR US.

WE'RE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY THAT SOUTH SHORE WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD IN MANY WAYS BUT HAS NOT SEEN ANY INVESTMENT AT ALL SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE, ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AND WE'VE SEEN LITTLE INVESTMENT WE ARE COMMITTING TO LIVING ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR FRUSTRATION AT THE LACK OF INVESTMENT THAT YOU SEE, HOW DO YOU SEE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND HOUSING SEGREGATION PLAYING INTO THAT LACK OF INVESTMENT YOU SEE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN HERE, I FIRST CAME HERE IN THE 90s.

AND WAS PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAD AN EXTREMELY -- UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HAD A VERY ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.

I WAS TOLD MY FRESHMAN ORIENTATION CLEARLY WHICH STREETS NOT TO GO PAST AND THEY DID NOT SAY IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS BLACK PEOPLE THERE.

THAT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME.

I KNEW THAT MUCH AT 18.

AND YOU KNOW, SO I'VE WATCHED -- WE'VE WATCHED AS THE UNIVERSITY HAS EXPANDED ITS AREA AND YOU SEE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OR AS WAS MENTIONED IN OTHER SEGMENTS SORT OF LIKE YOUNG WHITE PROFESSIONALS MOVING IN TO CERTAIN AREAS AND THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY GOES.

AND NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE SOUTH SHORE YOU DON'T SEE ANY OF THAT INVESTMENT.

MORE BOARDED UP STOREFRONTS THAN WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE.

>> I WANT TO GET KAREN FREEMAN-WILSON IN HERE.

IF YOU COULD, HELP OUR VIEWERS UNDERSTAND WHY SEGREGATION IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST PEOPLE LIVING SEPARATELY AND A BIT TO TED'S POINT ABOUT HOW SEGREGATION UNDERMINES THE ECONOMICS FOR MANY BLACK COMMUNITIES?

>> SEGREGATION ABSOLUTELY UNDERMINES THE ECONOMICS AND IT DOES THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT TED HAS TALKED ABOUT.

WHICH IS THE DISINVESTMENT.

YOU SEE DEVELOPERS MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON WHERE THEY THINK THEY CAN MAKE THE MOST MONEY.

AND IT'S ALMOST A CIRCULAR IMPACT.

BECAUSE OF HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND DECADES OF DISCRIMINATION, WE NOW KNOW THAT DEVELOPERS DON'T SEE THE SOUTH SIDE AND CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE WEST SIDE AS A GOOD INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I THINK THE CITY WAS TRYING TO DO THROUGH INVEST SOUTHWEST IN MANY WAYS INCENTIVIZE BUT ALSO SAY TO DEVELOPERS WE'RE GOING TO DO BUSINESS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE'RE GOING TO OFFER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON A DIFFERENT RUE BRICK.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT YOU HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY COMBAT THE DECADES OF DISCRIMINATION.

THAT'S WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S JUSTICE 40 INITIATIVE IS.

BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT THE PROFESSIONALS WHO IMPACT DEMAND, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE REALTORS THE APPRAISERS, THE LENDERS, THE URBAN PLANNERS, ALL OF THOSE PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE CREATED THIS REALLY INSTITUTIONAL RACISM THAT WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO SAY MY MONEY IS BETTER SPENT HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE THAN IT IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THEY HAVE TO EITHER BE FORCED THROUGH THE FAIR HOUSING LAW AND TIA THERE IS A REMEDY FOR YOU THAT WILL CAUSE THEM TO PAY.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAVE TO BE BE MADE TO PAY.

THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IMPACTS CERTAIN PEOPLE.

IF THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR IGNORANCE THEY WILL LEARN TO DO BETTER IF THEIR HEART DOESN'T CHANGE.

IT.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU SHOULD CONNECT TO LET HER KNOW HOW SHE CAN GET TO THAT.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ONE LAST QUESTION HOW DOES SEGREGATION IMPACT THE ABILITY OF BLACK FAMILIES TO GROW WEALTH?

>> WELL, IF YOUR VALUE OF YOUR HOME IS DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF SEGREGATION, THEN YOU CAN'T GET A HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE TYPICALLY ARE ABLE TO DO BY BORROWING ON THEIR HOME EQUITY.

IT IMPACTS THE EQUITY OF YOUR HOME SO YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO EDUCATE YOUR KIDS, START A BUSINESS, DO ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN DO WITH HOME EQUITY.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS TO KAREN FREEMAN-WILSON, TED RICHARDS AND TIA BROWN FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND REMEMBER YOU CAN WATCH DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT OUR GUESTS AT WTTW.COM/FIRSTHAND.

>> UP NEXT HOW CHICAGO'S ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES BALANCE SEGREGATION CONCERNS AND THE FIGHT FOR POLITICAL POWER.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> THERE'S BEEN A RISING TIDE OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES SWEEPING THE COUNTRY MUCH OF THAT CORRESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THIS RECENT SPIKE LED SOME COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS TO LOOK AT CHINATOWN THROUGH A LENS OF SEGREGATION.

WHILE MANY ACKNOWLEDGE THE TIGHT-KNIT NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY AND CULTURE IS IMPORTANT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BUILD BRIDGES WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES.

AND JOINING US WITH MORE ARE DAVID WU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER AND BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE COALITION FOR A BETTER CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

AND CHRIS JAVIER A DEACON AT CHINESE CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH FEATURED IN ONE OF THE FIRSTHAND DOCUMENTARIES STREAMING ON WTTW.COM/FIRSTHAND.

COUNTRIES COUNTRY I WANT TO -- CHRIS JAVIER IN YOUR DOCUMENTARY YOU TALK ABOUT THAT SEGREGATION IS BAD BUT HAVING A CULTURAL HUB LIKE CHINATOWN IS POSITIVE FOR THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

EXPLAIN THE DISTINCTION.

>> YEAH, FIRST THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I WILL START WITH THIS.

I THINK IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO BE THE ONLY ONE IN A GROUP THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE DEALT WITH MY ENTIRE LIFE.

SO GROWING UP IN THE SUBURBS, SOMETIMES YOU ARE THE ONLY ASIAN IN THE CLASSROOM.

I WENT FROM BEING IN THAT CLASSROOM TO TEACHING THAT CLASSROOM.

I AM A TEACHER ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE.

AND OFTENTIMES IN THE CLASSROOM THE ASIAN TEACHER I'M STILL THE ONLY ONE, THE WAY THAT THAT CAN BECOME TIRING IS THE ONUS IS ON YOU TO BUILD THE BRIDGES WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE AROUND TO CONNECT WITH THEM.

BECAUSE THE DEFAULT IS THAT YOU DON'T BELONG.

THE DEFAULT IS THAT YOU ARE THE OTHER.

SO UNLESS YOU'RE DOING THE WORK TO CONNECT, YOU STAY IN THAT SPOT AND THAT IS A DISADD VEIN TEENAGE JUST SPOT.

THE BENEFIT OUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY HAS IS THAT YOU TAKE THAT WEIGHT OFF OF THEM.

YOU TAKE THAT WEIGHT OFF OF THEM AND SOME OF OUR PEOPLE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITIES THEY ARE DEALING WITH THAT IN DIFFERENT SPACES.

BUT THEY CAN COME BACK TO A PLACE WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHO THEY ARE AND DO THAT EXTRA WORK TO CONNECT.

AND THAT IS A HUGE BLESSING FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND DAVID WU THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY CHICAGO'S CHINATOWN HAS BEEN GROWING IN POPULATION.

OTHER CITIES CHINATOWN HAS BECOME MORE OF A TOURIST ATTRACTION AND THE ASIAN-AMERICAN POPULATION DISPERSES NOT SO MUCH.

WHAT MAKES CHINATOWN SO DIFFERENT?

>> THE OTHERS IN NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, BOSTON THOSE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF GENTRIFICATION PRESSURES.

CHICAGO'S CHINATOWN WAS KICKED OUT OF ITS ORIGINAL SPOT AROUND 1912 AND MOVED TO THE SQUARE WHERE WE ARE LOCATED WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

AND IT IS MORE OF A TYPICAL CHICAGO COMMUNITY.

TWO FLATS THREE FLATS SO THERE IS NOT THAT GENTRIFICATION AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY IN ONE PLACE FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

>> AND CHRIS JAVIER BACK TO WHAT WERE YOU SAYING THE FACT THAT HAVING CHINATOWN IS A BLESSING FOR ASIAN-AMERICANS BUT IS IT CLOSED OFF FROM OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES OTHER BACKGROUNDS?

>> I THINK IN A CERTAIN SENSE, NO.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT THAT IS A BIG PART OF CHINATOWN A BIG DRAW TO THE WAY PEOPLE DO LIFE.

WE'VE MADE OUR CHINATOWN A PLACE WHERE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE IN TO EXPERIENCE OUR CULTURE, TO TASTE OUR FOOD AND SEE THE SITES.

SO IN MY SEGMENT YOU GET TO SEE WHAT THAT IS WHEN YOU TURN ON TO WENTWORTH YOU ARE TRANSPORTED TO A DIFFERENT PLACE.

AND THERE IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO OUR PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT CULTURAL INTEGRITY.

YOU CAN INVITE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND EXPERIENCE THAT.

IN TERMS OF IT BEING CLOSED OFF, I WOULD SAY THIS...

I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT OF THINGS THAT OUR CHINATOWN IS TRYING TO WRESTLE WITH IN TERMS HOW WE REPRESENT OURSELVES AND HOW WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE EACH OF ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK BEFORE -- IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO BUILD BRIDGES AND TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT I THINK THE SENN TRALT AND THE UNITY OF CHINATOWN DOES NEED TO BE FOCUSED INWARDLY ON SOME OF THE HUGE ISSUES THAT ARE PRESSING US AND A LOT IS CRIME.

WE TRIED TO ADDRESS THAT AS A CHURCH AS WE WENT AROUND POST PANDEMIC THE NEEDS DURING THE PANDEMIC WERE ECONOMIC IT WAS FOOD, AND IT WAS JUST BASIC NECESSITIES.

PPE, SAFETY.

PPE.

AS WE MOVED ON AS A PANDEMIC WORE ON WE SAW THERE WAS A GROWING NEED AND CONCERN FOR SAFETY.

AND SADLY DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS THIS PAST YEAR OUR BEAT, BEAT 1914 WAS THE HIGHEST IN THE CITY FOR ROBBERIES.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF LOOKING OUT AND BUILDING THE BRIDGES.

BUT A LOT OF OUR RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE DEDICATED TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

>> DAVID WU FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT WHAT IS US CONTACT THE SPIKE IN CRIME IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD?

IS IT CONNECTED TO THE RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES THAT WE SEE?

>> YES, AS A COMMUNITY WE TRY NOT TO SAY IT'S RACIALLY MOTIVATED BUT THERE'S CRIME ALL OVER THE CITY.

BUT THE COMMUNITY DOES FEEL TARGETED JUST DURING THIS TIME.

WE TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE VIGILANT, THERE'S COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE [INAUDIBLE] CHINATOWN IS MORE THAN JUST SURMAC AND WENTWORTH WHEN PEOPLE THINK WHEN THEY COME INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE GROWING INTO BRIDGEPORT AND THE COMMUNITY PARK AND BEYOND.

THERE'S ACTUALLY A CHINATOWN THAT IS A COMMERCIAL TOURIST AREA BUT ALSO A RESIDENTIAL AREA WHERE CHINESE AMERICANS ARE LIVING: OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES IT'S GROWN FROM 11,000 TO 28,000 AND MORE.

ENOUGH THAT WE'RE -- THERE'S DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FIRST MAJORITY ASIAN WARD IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT.

THERE'S CONSENSUS THAT THE 11TH WARD OR WHATEVER WARD GETS DRAWN WILL BE A MAJORITY ASIAN-AMERICAN EVEN THOUGH THERE'S LITTLE CONSENSUS ON ANYTHING ELSE IN THE MAPS PROPOSED.

CHRIS JAVIER HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF REPRESENTATION IN CITY COUNCIL?

>> IT'S HUGE.

I THINK NOT ONLY FOR OUR CHINESE COMMUNITY HERE IN CHICAGO BUT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO THEY WILL PAY ATTENTION TO IT NATIONWIDE.

FOR A LONGTIME ASIAN-AMERICANS JUST ACROSS OUR NATION HAVE FELT DISENFRANCHISED AND VOICELESS THAT NOBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO US.

OFTENTIMES WE'RE A FOOTNOTE IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S STORY OR NARRATIVE.

AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO STEP IN AND BE ABLE TO CALL SOME SHOTS AND TO VOICE OUR OWN CONCERNS AND I THINK ANOTHER DYNAMIC, THOUGH, IS EVEN IF IT'S A MAJORITY ASIAN WARD, YOU GET LIKE 50, 51%, THAT IS GOING TO BE A DIVERSE WARD.

HOWEVER THEY CUT IT IT WILL BE VERY, VERY DIVERSE.

MY FEELING IS THAT THE BEST WAY IF WE WERE TO GET ASIAN REPRESENTATION IN LEADERSHIP, THE BEST WAY TO REPRESENT ASIAN-AMERICANS WELL WOULD BE FOR A LEADER TO COME IN AND TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY IN THE WARD WELL AND THAT DRIVES TO THE UNITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.

WHERE WE DO WANT TO VOICE THE CONCERNS AND LIFT UP THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE WHO FELT MARTIAL R MARGINALIZED AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS FELT THAT.

BUT WE NEED TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T DOWN-PLAY THE NEEDS OF OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT REMAP EFFORT ENDS UP.

AND REMEMBER YOU WITH CATCH A DOCUMENTARY WERE CHRIS AT WTTW.COM/FIRSTHAND AND THANKS TO DAVID WU AND CHRIS JAVIER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> THAT'S IT FOR OUR WTTW NEWS SPECIAL THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING SIGN.

AND CAN YOU STREAM US ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. CHICAGO'S TOP DOC ON THE CITY'S PLAN TO DROP THE MASK AND VACCINE MANDATE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

>> AND A FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT MASTERPIECE SETS THE STAGE FOR DANCERS IN ARCHITECTURE, MUSIC OF MUSIC AND CHOREOGRAPHY.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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