>> O'Connell: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": I'M SUE O'CONNELL, IN FOR JIM BRAUDE.

AS THE STATE GETS BACK TO NORMAL, DROPPING THE EMERGENCY ORDER, THE COMMAND CENTER, AND CLOSING DOWN MOST VACCINE SITES, HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS NEW STRAINS ARE STILL SPREADING AROUND THE WORLD.

COULD WE BE MOVING TOO FAST?

I'LL TALK TO BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. CASSANDRA PIERRE AND BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S E.R.

PHYSICIAN DR. JEREMY FAUST.

THEN, LATER: >> IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEACE, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HEALING, EVERYTHING MUST COME OUT.

WE MUST TELL THE WHOLE STORY, THE COMPLETE STORY.

>> O'Connell: I'M JOINED BY THE CREATOR OF A NEW, MULTI-PLATFORM INVESTIGATIVE REPORT CHRONICLING MORE THAN 150 CIVIL RIGHTS ERA COLD CASE MURDERS.

IT'S FROM "FRONTLINE" AND NORTHEASTERN'S CIVIL RIGHTS AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROJECT.

AND, FINALLY, REMEMBERING A FEW OF THE MANY WE'VE LOST TO COVID.

♪♪ >> O'Connell: AFTER 462 DAYS ON HIGH ALERT, TODAY GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER OFFICIALLY LIFTED THE STATE OF EMERGENCY HE DECLARED LAST MARCH AND BEGAN TO WRAP UP MUCH OF THE STATE'S COVID MITIGATION EFFORTS.

>> TODAY, AS WE MARK THE END OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, WE'RE ALSO ANNOUNCING WE ARE STEPPING DOWN THE COVID-19 COMMAND CENTER.

>> O'Connell: THIS COMES A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER BAKER LIFTED NEARLY ALL OF THE REMAINING CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING THE MASK MANDATE, THOUGH TODAY THE GOVERNOR ALSO STRESSED THE STATE WILL STILL MONITOR PUBLIC HEALTH DATA AND WILL WORK TO GET SHOTS TO THE 40 OR SO PERCENT OF RESIDENTS WHO AREN'T YET FULLY VACCINATED.

>> OUR TEAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL WAYS WE CAN ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED BECAUSE GETTING MORE OF OUR POPULATION VACCINATED IS CRITICAL TO SUSTAINING THE SUCCESS WE'VE HAD SO FAR.

>> O'Connell: THAT INCLUDES SOME SERIOUS INCENTIVES, WITH FIVE $1 MILLION CASH PRIZES ON THE LINE FOR PEOPLE 18 AND OLDER, AND FIVE $300,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR KIDS 12 TO 17.

AND ALREADY IN BARS, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, AND STADIUMS ACROSS THE STATE, LIFE IS ALREADY LOOKING A WHOLE LOT MORE LIKE WHAT WE'RE USED TO.

BUT WHILE COVID DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN DRAMATICALLY ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS AND THE U.S., PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING EVERY DAY, AND THE NATIONWIDE TOLL IS CREEPING UP TOWARDS 600,000 DEATHS.

AND OTHER HIGHLY VACCINATED COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.K., ARE HOLDING OFF THEIR REOPENING PLANS.

AND GLOBAL HEALTH EXPERTS ARE WARNING OF HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS STRAINS OF THE VIRUS, INCLUDING ONE KNOWN AS DELTA, WHICH HAS BEEN TWICE AS LIKELY AS OTHER STRAINS TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL.

TODAY THE C.D.C.

DECLARED IT A "VARIANT OF CONCERN."

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS ARE DR. CASSANDRA PIERRE, ASSOCIATE HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER AND AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT B.U.

'S SCHOOL OF MEDICINE; AND DR. JEREMY FAUST, AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AT BRINGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL AND INSTRUCTOR AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.

>> O'Connell: WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

I GUESS I WANT TO GET FIRST, DR. PIERRE, THE OPENING, TWO SOON?

WHAT'S YOUR GOLDIE LOCKS TAKE ON THE REOPENING?

>> I THINK WE ARE.

I'M USUALLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, BUT I THINK WE ARE IN A GOOD SPOT AT THIS MOMENT.

IT IS THE SUMMER, AND PEOPLE ARE CONGREGATING OUTSIDE.

WE HAVE A LARGE PART OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED.

AND DESPITE HAVING A MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WHERE WE CLUSTERED INSIDE, GREATER THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES.

IN IN FACT, WE CONTINUE TO SEE A DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY.

SO I THINK THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD PLACE TO BE IN.

OF COURSE THAT COULD CHANGE, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE RIGHT MOVE AT THIS TIME.

>> O'Connell: DR. FAUST, DO YOU AGREE?

>> Doctor: I DO AGREE.

THE ONLY THING PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS IS NOT A ONE-WAY STREET.

WE COULD TURN THIS CAR AROUND IF WE DON'T DO IT RIGHT, AS THEY SAY.

THE WAY TO AVOID HAVING TO GO BACK TO SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS AND METGATION MITIGATION MEASURES IS TO KEEP THE VACCINATION NUMBERS GOING UP AND UP.

AS TIME GOES ON, WE CAN SEE LITTLE HOTSPOTS CROP UP.

I THINK WE'RE SO NUMB TO THE HUGE NUMBERS THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, I SOMETIMES GET WORRIED THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY, WE'RE ONLY HAVE 20, 30, 40 DEATHS A DAY, AND THAT'S NOT SO BAD COMPARED TO WHAT WE USED TO HAVE.

AND RIGHT NOW IT IS FIVE DEATHS IN THE STATE, BUT THE VARIANTS CAN CROP UP.

AND IF VACCINATION HESITANCY SLOWS US DOWN, IT COULD BE BENIGN TO MOST PEOPLE, BUT IN THE HOSPITALS, WE ACTUALLY SEE REAL DEATH AND SUFFERING.

SO WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS US SLAM THE DOOR SHUT.

>> O'Connell: IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO NORMALIZE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS WER WE'RE HAVING.

DR. PIERRE, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THESE VARIANTS.

I'M NOT AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST, YOU ARE, AND SO I'M WONDERING IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME WITH VIRUS?

ARE THERE ALWAYS VARIANTS?

AND HOW WORRIED SHOULD WE BE ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT OR SOME OTHER VARIANT THAT MAY SHOW UP LATER IN THE MONTH OR IN THE YEAR?

>> Doctor: VIRUSES ARE LIVING THINGS, SO THEY'RE SORT AND RESORT AND EVOLVING.

IT IS DUE TO MUTATIONS CHANGING THEIR CODES AND CAPACITIES FOR TRANSMISSION, AND CAUSING SEVERE DISEASE.

SO IT IS COMMON TO SEE THIS IN THE VIRUS WORLD.

IN FACT, THE SARS CO-V-2 FORMS OTHERS.

BUT THE DELTA CORONAVIRUS THAT WE'RE SEEING IS CERTAINLY CONCERNING.

IT HAS GRADUATED TO BEING A VARIANT OF CONCERN.

MEANING IT IS HIGHLY MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN THE CURRENT STRAIN, WHICH IS THE ALPHA, WHICH WAS ALREADY KNOWN TO BE HIGHLY MORE TRANSMISSIBLE.

AND IT ALSO CAUSES MORE SEVERE DISEASE IN THE FORM OF MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SO IT IS A SERIOUS VARIANT TO CONTEND WITH.

>> O'Connell: DR. FAUST, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU'RE STILL SEEING IN TREATING PATIENTS?

I THINK WE'VE ALL LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT MADE US SUSCEPTIBLE -- SOME OF US SUSCEPTIBLE TO GET SICKER THAN OTHERS.

SOME WE DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE GOT MORE -- UNFORTUNATELY, THE FATALITIES FROM IT OR WERE HOSPITALIZED FROM COVID.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'RE LEARNING OR SEEING NOW THAT IS NEW OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR SO?

>> Doctor: WELL, WHAT IS NEW, ACTUALLY, TO ME, IS THE DELTA VARIANT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE WITH HIGH RATES OF VACCINATION.

THE DELTA VARIANT TO ME IS CHANGING HOW I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE'S VACCINATION STATUSES.

I THINK AFTER ONE VACCINE DOSE FOR THE ALPHA STRAIN, AFTER ABOUT 20, 25 DAYS, YOU GET A LOT OF THE PROTECTION.

YOU DO NEED THE SECOND DOSE FOR MORE STRAINS, TO REALLY MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR MAXIMUM PROTECTION.

I THOUGHT ONE DOSE WAS PRETTY GOOD, AND THE SECOND DOOR WAS SLAMMING THE DOOR SHUT.

WITH THE DELTA VARIANT, I'M REALLY WORRIED THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SKIPPING THE SECOND DOSE ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE AND HOW TO LOOK AT THE PLAYING FIELD THAT WE FIND OURSELVES ON, I'M MUCH MORE OBSERVANT, AND I HAVE MY EYES ON THAT NUMBER OF FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE.

BEFORE I SAID, WELL, WE HAVE THE PARTIALLY VACCINATED, AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP SLOWLY, AND IT HAS BEEN TRAILING A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WAS LESS WORRIED THAN I AM TODAY.

THAT'S THE BIG THING I'M WATCHING, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE FULLY PROTECTED BECAUSE INFECTION DOESN'T MATTER SO MUCH.

WHAT MATTERS IS THE INFECTION IS SO BAD YOU'RE IN THE HOSPITAL.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT WITH PARTIALLY OR UNPROTECTED PEOPLE FROM DELTA.

>> O'Connell: DOCTOR, AND I SPOKE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR, AND WE TALKED ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY, AND THE CHALLENGES THAT SOME COMMUNITIES WERE HAVING, BOTH VALID DISTRUST OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND HISTORICAL CHALLENGES.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW WITH FOLKS WHO ARE NOT YET VACCINATED?

I KNOW WE HAVE THIS GREAT AND EXCITING VAX MILLIONS -- JULY 1stYOU HAVE TO ENTER, BUT IF YOU'RE VAX VACCINATED, YOU COULD ENTER FOR MONEY.

I KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS SETTING UP TO HAVE VACCINATION PARTIES, ALMOST.

WHAT IS THE HESITANCY RIGHT NOW?

>> Doctor: WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS HESITANCY OR LACK OF CONFIDENCE BUT THERE ARE STILL ACCESS ISSUES, AS HARD AS IT IS TO BELIEVE.

WE SEE IN POPULATIONS, I WANT TO GET VACCINATED, BUT I HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB, AND I HAVE KIDS TO PICK UP AND CARE FOR AND ELDERLY PARENTS TO CARE FOR, AND I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO.

SOMETIMES YOU SEE LOCAL STRATEGIC VACCINATIONS, HEY, I'M IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, LET'S GO TO THE LAUNDROMAT.

SO THERE CONTINUES TO BE ACCESS PROBLEMS, AS MUCH AS WE THINK WE'VE SATURATED ALL POTENTIAL AVENUES FORGIVING VACCINES.

IN TERMS OF THE HESITANCY, I THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL SAYING THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH TIME YET, AND I STILL WANT MORE INFORMATION.

AND SO TARGETED EDUCATION, ENSURING THERE IS AN OUTPUT NOT JUST BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, BUT BY PEOPLE TALKING TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES ABOUT THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES WITH VACCINES.

IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO BRIDGE THAT GAP.

I THINK THE EVENTUAL APPROVAL OF THE VACCINE, POTENTIALLY PFIZER OR ANY OF THE OTHER AVAILABLE OR APPROVED -- OR AUTHORIZED, RATHER -- VACCINES WILL ALSO HELP IN BRIDGING THAT GAP.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OVERALL AFFECT OF THE GRAND GESTURES ARE, THOSE MILLIONS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE'RE ALL ELIGIBLE FOR -- WHAT WILL THAT DO IN TERMS OF GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP?

I'M NOT SURE.

BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE RIGHT RESPONSE IS MOST LIKELY TO OFFER TARGETED RESPONSES WITH OUR EDUCATION OR OUTREACH TO THE POPULATIONS THAT REMAIN UNDERVACCINATED AND AT RISK FOR THE VARIANTS.

>> O'Connell: DR. FAUST, IT IS STILL A LITTLE CONFUSING, THE MASK MANDATE, IF YOU'RE ON MASS TRANSIT OR IF YOU'RE IN AN UBER.

BEFORE THE EMERGENCY WAS RESCINDED, I WAS IN AN ICE CREAM SHOP, AND I REALIZED I WAS SURROUNDED BY TEENS AND I WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE I WAS VACCINATED, BUT I WASN'T SURE WHAT THEIR VACCINE STATUS WAS.

WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THIS STAGE?

>> THERE IS THIS VERY CLEAR EXPECTATION IF YOU GET INTO A TAXI OR LYFT OR UBER, IT IS KIND OF HODGE-PODGE.

YOU GO INTO A RESTAURANT, AND YOU HAVE A MASK ON FOR FIVE SECONDS AND TAKE IT OFF WHEN YOU EAT, SO WHAT'S THE POINT?

BUT AT AN ICE CREAM PARLOR AND COFFEE SHOP, WHY NOT A MASK BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SITTING DOWN AND TAKING FOOD THERE.

I THINK THE OVERALL THING IS ENFORCEMENT.

THE ONE THING I THINK WAS UNFORTUNATE IS THERE WAS DISENTANGLED MASK-WEARING RESTRICTIONS.

ONE OF THE REASONS VACCINES WENT UP IS BECAUSE PEOPLE THOUGHT, IF I GET VACCINATED, I CAN TAKE OFF MY MASK?

SO THEY CHOSE TO DO SO.

BUT NOW THEY'RE LIKE NO ONE IS CHECKING, SO I CAN SKIP IT.

THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD FRAME IT GOING FORWARD.

IF AS A COUNTY, STATE, OR REGION, IF WE GET TO A CERTAIN PLACE IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, WE REVERSE COURSE.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THAT WE STILL CONTROL OUR DESTINY, AND INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

>> O'Connell: I KNOW THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT REGULAR VACCINATIONS, PEOPLE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THEM, AS WELL AS PEOPLE KEEPING THEIR WELL VISITS FOR THEIR CHRONIC ILLNESSES.

ARE YOU SEEING AN UPTAKE IN PEOPLE RETURNING TO THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED HEALTH CARE?

>> Doctor: IT IS INCREASING.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT, WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO IN WAITING ROOMS AND ELEVATORS.

I'M STARTING TO SEE MY OWN PATIENTS COME BACK, FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE.

BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE CONTINUING, BASED ON THEIR TRAUMA DURING THIS TIME, TO REMAIN WEARY OF COMING INTO OUR SITES.

I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT CONTINUING SOME OF THE WAYS WE EXTENDED MEDICAL CARE DURING THIS PANDEMIC IN THE FUTURE AS WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT COVID IS NOT GOING AWAY MAGICALLY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

>> O'Connell: THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE TRAUMA AND THE GRIEF THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH OVER THE PAST YEAR PLUS IS SOMETHING WE'LL ALL SOON HAVE TO ADDRESS.

I THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING ME.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT ON THE STREETS MASKLESS, BUT STILL AT A SAFE DIFFERENCE.

DR. CASSANDRA PIERRE AND DR. JEREMY FAUST, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> O'Connell: AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH, JOE BIDEN BECAME THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO VISIT TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE RACE MASSACRE THAT HAPPENED THERE 100 YEARS AGO.

THAT'S WHEN A WHITE LYNCH MOB KILLED AS MANY AS 300 BLACK RESIDENTS AND DESTROYED GREENWOOD, A THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWN AS "BLACK WALL STREET."

IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST INCIDENTS OF RACIAL VIOLENCE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, BUT YOU WON'T FIND A WORD ABOUT IT IN MOST HISTORY BOOKS.

AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY SUCH ATTACKS THAT HAVE LONG BEEN IGNORED IN THIS COUNTRY.

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN REEXAMINING CASES OF RACIST KILLINGS THROUGH THE EMMETT TILL UNSOLVED CIVIL RIGHTS CRIME ACT, CHAMPIONED BY THE LATE CIVIL RIGHTS ICON, CONGRESSMAN JOE LEWIS.

>> MR. SPEAKER, THE TIME HAS COME.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MAYBE EVEN THOUSANDS, OF THESE CRIMES THAT WERE NEVER BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

THERE ARE MURDERERS WHO HAVE WALKED FREE FOR DECADES, WHILE THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS CRY OUT FOR JUSTICE.

>> O'Connell: NOW, A NEW, MULTI-PLATFORM INVESTIGATIVE REPORT IS TELLING THOSE STORIES.

IT'S CALLED "UNRESOLVED," AND IT'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN "FRONTLINE" AND NORTHEASTERN'S CIVIL RIGHTS AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROJECT.

I'M JOINED NOW BY THE ARCHITECT OF IT ALL, DIRECTOR AND NEW MEDIA ARTIST TAMARA SHOGAOLU.

>> O'Connell: WELCOME SO MUCH, TAMARA.

IT IS SO GREAT TO MEET YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS PROJECT.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> O'Connell: I WANT TO TALK FIRST ABOUT THE HORRIFIC STORIES THAT WE'RE EXAMINING HERE.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THESE DEATHS DIDN'T GET INVESTIGATED.

AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE THINKING THESE ARE DEATHS FROM, LIKE, 100 YEARS AGO, BUT SOME ARE WELL WITHIN OUR LIFETIMES.

TALK ABOUT THAT FOR ME.

>> UM, WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU -- THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS ABOUT, LOOKING INTO SPECIFICS AND REASONS ON WHY SOME OF THESE CASES WEREN'T SOLVED.

AND THERE IS A VARIETY OF REASONS.

WHERE SOMETIMES THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS SOME CASES IN WHICH THE POLICE COLLABORATED WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE ACCUSED OF THESE CRIMES AND LET THEM GO.

OR THERE WAS A LACK OF EVIDENCE, THEY WOULD SAY.

OR SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THE PERPETRATORS, OR ACCUSED PERPETRATORS, DIED.

AND THERE ARE 151 CASES ON THIS LIST THAT WERE REOPENED TO BE INVESTIGATED.

AND PART OF THE GOAL OF THIS INVESTIGATION WAS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED IN PARTICULAR WITH THESE CASES.

>> O'Connell: AND THE LENS OF IT IS THROUGH THAT OF EMMETT TILL, WHICH I'M SURE MOST OF OUR VIEWERS ARE AWARE OF THE HORRENDOUS STORY OF EMMETT TILL'S DEATH AND HOW HIS MURDERERS WERE NOT CONVICTED.

BUT ALSO THROUGH THE EMMETT TILL ACT THAT TRIES TO BRING JUSTICE AND INVESTIGATIONS TO THESE MURDERS.

BUT YOU START THE PODCAST SERIES WITH THE STORY OF EMMETT TILL, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

I DESIGNED -- I WAS THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR ON THE PROJECT.

I DESIGNED THE VISUALS AND THE WEB INTERACTIVE, AND INSTALLATION IN PARTICULAR, AS WELL, AS WELL AS ART DIRECTION FOR THE OVERALL SERIES.

AND THE PODCAST TEAM WASED LED BYWASLED BY A DIFFERENT TEAM OF REPORTERS, AND GOES THROUGH HOW THEY WERE PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY EMMETT TILL, AND FURTHER INTO LOOKING INTO AND INVESTIGATING DIFFERENT CASES.

>> O'Connell: TELL ME HOW THIS IS SET UP.

BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPERIENCE.

SAYING YOU'RE AN ARCHITECT IS KIND OF UNDERSELLING IT.

OF ALL OF THE PARTS YOU PUT TOGETHER, THE MULTI-PLATFORM, THE WEB, THE PODCAST, THERE WILL BE A NATIONAL TOUR -- TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU DESIGNED THIS EXPERIENCE.

>> YEAH.

IT'S -- YEAH, IT'S A MULTI-PLATFORM EXPERIENCE.

IT IS COMPOSED OF A PODCAST, A WEB INTERACTIVE, TWO INSTALLATIONS, AND A FILM THAT WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE FALL.

THE INSTALLATIONS -- ONE OF THE INSTALLATIONS IS CURRENTLY EXHIBITING IN NEW YORK AS PARTS OF THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL IN BATTERY PARK.

AND THE IDEA BEHIND IT, IT IS A LIVING QUILT THAT THE AUDIENCE CAN EXPERIENCE THROUGH THEIR PHONES.

AND YOU CAN SAY THE NAME OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THEN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR CASE, WHAT WAS DONE, WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OR THE F.B.I.

DID TO LOOK INTO THESE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU GET TO HEAR FROM THE SURVIVING NEXT OF KIN OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ON THE LIST.

AND IN A WAY, IT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE LIVES THAT WERE SO TRAGICALLY LOST.

>> O'Connell: YES.

I WAS STRUCK BY IT WAS NOT A PATH OF EXPERIENCE.

YOU'RE INVITED AND ENCOURAGED AND COMPELLED TO SAY THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS AND TO NOT, AGAIN, JUST FOCUS ON THEIR DEATHS BUT ALSO THEIR LIVES.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

AND FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE INSTALLATION, YOU'RE ABLE TO EXPLORE FROM HOME AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF CASES.

SO THERE ARE CASES WHERE THE ACCUSED PERSON -- OR ACCUSED MURDERER IS STILL ALIVE, OR IN SOME OTHER CASES THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED, SOME THAT WERE DEEMED A SUCCESS, AND SOME CASES THAT ARE STILL OPEN.

AND KIND OF USING THOSE AS CASE STUDIES TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

SO WE INVITE PEOPLE AT HOME TO ALSO BE ABLE TO PARTAKE IN THAT.

AND IN ADDITION TO THE INSTALLATION CURRENTLY IN NEW YORK, THERE IS OTHER ONE AT THE ROSA PARKS MUSEUM IN ALABAMA, WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO VISIT AND EXPLORE.

>> O'Connell: I KNOW THAT MOST FOLKS MAY KNOW THIS, AND SOME MAY NOT, BUT CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT AUGMENTED REALITY?

IT IS WHEN YOU'RE USING YOUR PHONE AND IT DOES WHAT?

>> IN THIS CASE, YOUR PHONE IS KIND OF A VIEW-FINDER, A TOOL TO SEE THINGS THAT MAYBE THE NAKED EYE CAN'T SEE.

SO IN THIS CASE, THE AUGMENTED REALITY CONNECTS YOU TO A NARRATOR, THAT THEN GUIDES YOU THROUGH THIS LIVING QUILT.

YOU'LL SEE A LIST OF DIFFERENT NAMES THAT ARE ETCHED ON TO THE QUILTS THEMSELVES.

AND THEN YOU SAY THE NAME OF THE PERSON.

YOU ENTER A SORT OF CASE CARD THAT GIVES YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CASE, ALLOWS YOU TO HEAR THE NEXT OF KIN.

AND WITHIN THIS QUILT, IT ALLOWS YOU TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION, SO YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY THE TILL ACT WAS SET UP, AND THE SYMBOLISM THAT WAS HIDDEN IN THIS QUILT, AND YOU'LL GET TO LEARN ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC FIGURES ON THE LIST AS WELL.

>> O'Connell: AS YOU'RE DESIGNING THIS, YOU'VE GOT A NUMBER OF THINGS YOU HAVE IS TO BALANCE.

YOU'VE GOT THE HISTORY, THE HISTORIC NATURE OF IT, WHICH IS TRAGIC, AND YOU'VE GOT THE STORIES OF THE VICTIMS YOU WANT TO TELL AND DO SO WITH RESPECT AND REVERENCE.

AND YET YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT ENGAGING, WHERE YOU'RE STORY-TELLING AND PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR MORE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS WILD ABILITY TO TAKE ACCESS TO USE ALL OF THESE GREAT NEW TOOLS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE AS RECENTLY AS 10 YEARS AGO.

HOW DID YOU WRAP YOUR MIND ALL AROUND THIS?

>> I THINK THIS IS PART OF A HUGE TEAM EFFORT.

AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET TO COLLABORATE WITH SOME REALLY AMAZING JOURNALISTS AT "FRONTLINE" WHO SPENT TIME INVESTIGATING THESE CASES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO DESIGN IT AND CRAFT A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO EXPLORE ALL OF THIS.

SO TAKING IT FROM THERE, THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SELL OUR ART AND TECHNOLOGY AND JOURNALISM, TO KIND OF COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A NEW WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS MATERIAL AND BRING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT.

PEOPLE OFTEN THINK CIVIL RIGHTS CASES ARE SOMETHING OF THE PAST, BUT AS YOU START EXPLORING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SERIES, YOU START REALIZING HOW MUCH ALIVE THESE STORIES STILL ARE TODAY.

>> O'Connell: I KNOW I DIDN'T LEARN ABOUT EMMETT TILL UNTIL I WAS AN ADULT, AND I WENT TO COLLEGE AND WAS FULLY INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF AREAS.

IS IT A BURDEN, A CHALLENGE, AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BRING THESE STORIES TO PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TAUGHT?

AND ARE YOU HOPING -- I KNOW THERE IS GOING TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL ASPECT OF THIS THAT GOES ON THE ROAD -- ARE YOU HOPING THAT THIS BECOMES PART OF THE REGULAR CURRICULUM FOR ALL SCHOOLS?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IF IT BECAME PART OF SCHOOL AND ALLOWED STUDENTS A DIFFERENT WAY TO ACCESS THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION.

AND I THINK -- I HOPE THAT ULTIMATELY IT ALSO SERVES AS A MEMORIAL, IN A WAY, FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.

SOME OF THE NEXT OF KIN CAME TO VISIT THE INSTALLATION AND GOT TO EXPERIENCE IT.

AND I REALIZED IN MANY CASES FOR THEM JUSTICE ISN'T JUST GETTING SOMEBODY TO PAY FOR THE CRIME, IT IS SORT OF AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THEIR NEXT OF KIN, OR THEIR RELATIVE THAT THEY LOST, LIVED OR THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THEM.

I HOPE IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SOME SORT OF HEALING IN THAT WAY, OF GETTING ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THEY LIVED.

>> O'Connell: INDEED.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT NEXT?

WHAT ARE SOME TECHNOLOGIES OR TOOLS, TOYS, THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YET THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AS WAYS TO TELL STORIES?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I DEFINITELY SEE TECHNOLOGY BEING USED AS TOOLS TO SUPPORT THE STORY-TELLING.

I'M WORKING ON A STORY THAT IS DRIVEN BY BLACK GIRL MAGIC AND ALLOWS USERS TO ENTER A SPACE AND INTERACT WITH VOICE AND MOVEMENT TO HELP MOVE THE STORY FORWARD.

AND AT MY STUDIO, WE GENERATE NEW WAYS OF UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT THE STORY.

AND USUALLY LET THE STORY DRIVE THE SHAPE AND FORM OF THE WORK.

SO I'M EXCITED TO DIVE INTO THAT NEXT.

>> O'Connell: WE'VE GONE A LONG TIME WITHOUT CENTERING THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE WHO THE STORIES ARE ABOUT.

I FEEL WE MAY BE AT A TIPPING POINT IN OUR NEEDED RECKONING TO FINALLY DO THAT.

ARE YOU SEEING MORE PEOPLE OF ALL COMMUNITIES BEING ABLE TO TELL THE STORIES OF THEIR COMMUNITIES?

IS IT A TIME TOR HOPE FOR HOPE WHEN IT COMES TO CENTERING THOSE VOICES?

>> YEAH.

I'M DEFINITELY SEEING A GROWTH.

PARTICULAR IN THE FIELD OF UNIVERSAL MEDIA, I THINK THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEADING STORY-TELLING, BUT I THINK THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR GROWTH IN TERMS OF WHO GETS THE OPPORTUNITIES OR WHO GETS THE INVESTMENTS.

THE NEW TECHNOLOGY IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THE INVESTMENT ISN'T EVENLY SPREAD OUT YET, BUT ITHOPE THAT CONTINUES TO CHANGE.

>> O'Connell: WHAT DO YOU WANT THE MESSAGE OF "UNRESOLVED" BE WHEN THEY EXPERIENCE IT?

>> I HOPE THAT PEOPLE LEAVE WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PARTAKE AND MAKE A CHANGE.

ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO MAKE A CHANGE.

A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THESE INDIVIDUALS DIED FOR VOTING OR REGISTERING TO VOTE.

AND I THINK AS WE SEE THAT VOTING RIGHTS IN THE COUNTRY ARE BEING RESTRICTED, I FEAR THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD COME AGAIN.

AND REALLY, I HOPE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO REFLECT ON THE CYCLE OF HOW HISTORY KEEPS REPEATING ITSELF, AND MAYBE WE CAN STOP IT FROM REPEATING ITSELF ONCE MORE.

>> O'Connell: WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU LEARNED THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHILE YOU WERE WORKING ON IT?

>> YEAH.

THERE IS ONE CASE IN PARTICULAR THAT REALLY MARKED ME.

THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL BY THE NAME OF JIMMIE LEE JACKSON, WHO IS ONE OF THE CASES THAT IS DEEMED A SUCCESS IN THE TILL ACT.

HIS DEATH LED TO THE SELMA PROTEST, WHICH I HAD NO IDEA.

AND I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS READING THROUGH IT, HOW SIMILAR IT WAS TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING LAST SUMMER WITH THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.

AND THERE WAS THESE ECHOES OF THE PRESENT AND THE PAST.

I THINK WE NEED TO START RECALLING THESE NAMES FROM THE PAST AND HOW THEY'RE BEING PRESENTED TODAY AND SEE HOW WE CAN CHANGE THINGS.

>> O'Connell: TAMARA, IT IS GREAT TO MEET YOU.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FULL "UNRESOLVED."

I HOPE WE TALK AGAIN SOON.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> O'Connell: THE PROJECT, AGAIN, IS CALLED "UNRESOLVED."

YOU CAN FIND THE PODCAST AND THE INTERACTIVE WEB PAGE, PLUS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FILM AND THE IN-PERSON EXHIBIT, ONLINE AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

>>> AND, FINALLY TONIGHT, REMEMBERING A FEW OF THE LIVES BEHIND THE CORONAVIRUS DEATH TOLL WITH THE HELP OF THE "FACES OF COVID" TWITTER ACCOUNT.

LIKE 44-YEAR-OLD FELICITY LINGLE OF BOSTON, WHO ATTENDED BOSTON CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, ADVOCATED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, BEING A LATE-DEAFENED PERSON DIAGNOSED WITH NEUROFIBROMATOSIS TYPE 2.

OR 78-YEAR-OLD FLORCIE YVES CHAVANNES VERSAILLES OF BOSTON, WHOSE FAMILY SAID SHE VISITED THE CITY ON VACATION IN 1978 AND "FELL IN LOVE WITH IT."

HER FAMILY WROTE: "MY MOTHER WAS A FORCE OF NATURE.

MY MOTHER HAD A HUGE HEART.

MY MOTHER BROUGHT A LOT OF HER FAMILY TO THE UNITED STATES FROM HAITI BECAUSE SHE LOVED THIS COUNTRY."

SHE WAS ALSO A POWERFUL ACTIVIST IN BOSTON.

SHE WAS INSTRUMENT IN PROTESTS FOR THE TENT CITY APARTMENTS HOUSING COMPLEX.

SHE VOLUNTEERED AT ROSIE'S PLACE AND WOMEN'S LUNCH PLACE FOR OVER 20 YEARS, IN MANY CAPACITIES, HELPING WOMEN WHO WERE ENTIRE SITUATIONS.

AND, LASTLY, 69-YEAR-OLD RUTH RICHARDSON OF KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SHE WAS A RETIRED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT NURSE, AND HER FAMILY SAID: "YOU COULD ALWAYS FIND HER IN A BEACH CHAIR, WITH A FLOPPY SUN HAT ON, AND A GOOD BOOK OR MAGAZINE IN HER HANDS."

IF YOU LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO THE PANDEMIC AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEIR STORY, PLEASE VISIT www.twitter.com/faces of Covid.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org