[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> DOES IT HELP WITH MEMORY FUNCTION?

MAYBE.

>> A CONTROVERSIAL NEW DRUG TO TREAT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE WINS CONDITIONAL APPROVAL BY A TORN FDA PANEL.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK THE COMMISSION DOES TO REFLECT A MAP THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

>> THE NEW HEAD OF THE LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM ON THE LEGENDARY PRESIDENT'S SIGNIFICANCE AND TELLING THE STORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

>> GO TO YOUR INTERVIEW AND GO TO WORK YOU ARE BRAVE.

>> AND THE ART OF HAIR BRAIDING AND WHY IT'S MORE THAN JUST A HAIR STYLE.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... FIRST.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS DEFENDING THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY AND MADE THE COMMENTS AT AN EVENT OPENING A GROCERY STORE TODAY.

SHE SAYS CRIME IS TRENDING DOWNWARD FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR EVEN AS CHICAGO IS REPORTED MORE HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS SO FAR IN 2021 COMPARED TO THIS POINT LAST YEAR.

>> MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING SHOT ARE BEING SHOT BY PEOPLE WHO LOOK JUST LIKE THEM SIMILAR AGE AND SO THIS WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH THAT WE'RE TAKING TO PUBLIC SAFETY TO FOCUS ON THE MOST DANGEROUS AREAS IN OUR CITY, THE 15 BEATS FOUR ZONES, A LOT OF THAT WORK IS FOCUSED AROUND SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE WE KNOW UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE THE DRIVERS OF A LOT OF THIS VIOLENCE.

>> 55 PEOPLE WERE SHOT OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND FIVE WERE KILLED.

>> ILLINOIS HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT MORE THAN 300 NEW CASES TODAY WITH 11 NEW DEATHS.

THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CORONAVIRUS CASES TO NEARLY 1.4 MILLION.

WITH 22,974 DEATHS STATE-WIDE SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

AND THE STATE SAYS 11.7 MILLION VACCINATIONS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED TO THIS POINT WITH A DAILY AVERAGE OF ABOUT 43,000 SHOTS.

>> A KEY CITY PANEL SUPPORTS OPENING A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT A POLICE ACADEMY UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE.

TODAY'S VOTE BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SENDS THE PROPOSAL TO CITY COUNCIL'S HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE WHICH WOULD ADVANCE IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL LATER THIS MONTH.

THE $95 MILLION ACADEMY HAS BEEN OPPOSED BY POLICE REFORM ADVOCATES WHO ARE CALLING FOR THE FUNDS TO INSTEAD BE INVESTED IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER CITY SERVICES.

THE NEW FACILITY IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE FALL OF 2022.

IT IS THE BIG NEWS IN THE MEDICAL WORLD ALZHEIMER'S HAS A NEW TREATMENT IN 18 YEARS.

THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION GRANTED CONDITIONAL APPROVAL TO A NEW DRUG THAT TREATS THE ROOST OF THE DISEASE BUT THE FDA'S CONDITIONAL APPROVAL HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL.

SO WIDE DID THE ASSY APPROVE IT AND DOES THE DRUG WORK?

HERE WITH MORE IS A NEUROLOGIST AND THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE AIMMEDIATE DA HEALTH INSTITUTE FOR MEMORY DISORDERS AND RAN THE STUDY FOR THE DRUG AND HAS NO FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE DRUG OR THE DRUG COMPANY.

AND Dr. MARSEL MESULAM, A PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND ALSO THE DIRECTOR FOR COGNITIVE NEUROLOGY AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> THANK YOU.

>> DOCTOR, SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE STUDY FOR 10 YEARS THIS IS THE FIRST NEW DRUG FOR ALZHEIMER'S IN TWO DECADES WHAT DOES IT DO?

>> WELL, IF WE BELIEVE IN THE HYPOTHESIS AND THE CASCADE HYPOTHESIS AS A CAUSE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, WHAT THIS DRUG DOES BINDS TO THE AMYLOID WHICH IS A PROTEIN THAT IS NOT WELL METABOLIZED AS WE AGE, PRECIPITATES IN-BETWEEN THE CELLS, FORMS PLAQUE, CAUSES A LOT OF DISRUPTION IN THE BRAIN TISSUE.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW TRIGGERS ANOTHER PROTEIN WHICH IS CALLED [INAUDIBLE] WHICH FORMS THE TANGLES AND THE TANGLES WILL PEEL BRAIN CELLS AND THE DEATH OF BRAIN CELLS ULTIMATELY CAUSES THE SYMPTOMS THAT WE SEE IN PATIENTS WHEN THEY COME TO OUR OFFICE WITH COGNITIVE DECLINE.

IF WE BELIEVE IN THIS HYPOTHESIS WHAT THIS DRUG DOES REMOVES THE BETA AMYLOID FROM THE BRAIN, PREVENTS THE FORMATION OF PLAQUE, AND SHOULD HALT OR REDUCE THE CASCADE IN THE FORMATION IN THE FULL CELLS.

>> GIVEN THIS MARSEL MESULAM THE FDA WAS TORN ON THIS CONDITION AAPPROVAL.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE CONTROVERSY IT HERE?

>> THE DOCTOR SAID THE DRUG WAS DESIGNED TO REMOVE AMYLOIDS FROM THE BRAIN AND IN CLINICAL TRIAL IT IS DID THAT BEAUTIFULLY.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THE REASON WHY YOU WANT TO CLEAR AMYLOIDS FROM THE BRAIN IS SO THAT THERE WILL BE A CLINICAL EFFECT.

EITHER THERE'S GOING TO BE IMPROVEMENT CLINICALLY OR THAT THE CLINICAL WORSENING WILL BE SLOWED DOWN.

THAT PART IS WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES.

BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE THAT THE COMPANY PROVIDED IS JUST SIMPLY NOT CONVINCING.

SO WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT TO CLEAN YOUR BRAIN FROM AMYLOID IF IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT THAT THE PATIENT CAN EXPERIENCE.

>> SO, WHAT DID YOU FIND WHEN YOU DID THAT STUDY?

THAT DID YOU FIND SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN PATIENTS?

>> YES.

I HAVE PATIENTS ACTUALLY MY SITE WAS THE NUMBER ONE ENROLLER IN THE WORLD IN THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS.

THEY WERE RANDOMIZED TO THE DRUG 10 YEARS AGO.

MANY OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED THE REAL DRUG FOR NOW 10 YEARS.

AND IT IS TRUE THAT THE TRIAL WAS BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED LAST MARCH BECAUSE THE INITIAL STATISTICAL ANALYSIS DID NOT SHOW A STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

WHEN THE DATA WERE REEXAMINED AND THEY LOOKED AT THE MILD PATIENTS WHO WERE GIVEN THE HIGHEST DOSE OF THE DRUG WHICH IS 10 MILLIGRAMS PER KILOGRAM THEY FOUND SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN DECLINE.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WHICH IS PERSONAL IS NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IS THAT THOSE PATIENTS THAT I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR 10 YEARS THEY ARE STILL DOING WELL.

THEY ARE STILL SOME OF THEM ARE STILL DRIVING.

THEY ARE STILL DOING THEIR ACTIVITY OF DAILY LIVING AND I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE PATIENTS EVERY MONTH AND EVERY THREE MONTHS WITH TESTS.

>> Dr. MARSEL MESULAM IS THERE A DOWNSIDE FOR THIS CONDITIONAL APPROVAL GIVEN THERE'S DISAGREEMENT IN THE MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AND COULD IT HINDER FURTHER STUDIES FOR ALZHEIMER'S TREATMENTS?

>> WELL, IF THE EVIDENCE OR CLINICAL EFFICACY IS NOT BELIEVABLE, THEN OR AT LEAST LET ME SAY NOT YET CONVINCING ENOUGH THEN HOW CAN YOU ASK A PATIENT TO TAKE A DRUG THAT REQUIRES HOUR LONG INFUSIONS ONCE A MONTH AND COULD HAVE SIDE EFFECTS OF BLEEDS IN THE BRAIN AND SWELLING IN THE BRAIN AND THAT IS GOING TO BE COSTING A FORTUNE?

>> AND THAT COST WE WOULD PRESUME MOSTLY WOULD BE PICKED UP BY MEDICARE IT COULD BE PUBLIC MONEY BECAUSE IT WOULD AFFECT FOLKS ON MEDICARE.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS ABOUT THE COSTS?

>> I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST.

I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO POLITICS BUT I DON'T SHARE THE POLITICS THAT SOME COMPANIES GAIN AND WE PAY FOR THE BENEFIT.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE BLEEDS WERE ONLY MICRO BLEEDS.

MEANING MICRO SCOPIC.

THEY WERE MINIMAL THEY DID NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS.

THE ADEM MA, THE EDEMA WAS 50% OF THE PATIENTS.

IT RESULTED WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT SIDE EFFECT.

BUT THE STUDY WAS CONTROLLED.

WE FOLLOWED THOSE PATIENTS VERY CLOSELY.

SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THIS DRUG IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC?

>> I HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE COST.

>> Dr. MARSEL MESULAM SHOULD THE PUBLIC HAVE SKEPTICISM WITH THE FDA GIVEN THEY DID APPROVE THIS DESPITE THEIR ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDING AGAINST IT AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DRUG MANUFACTURER BIOGEN STANDS TO MAKE LOTS OF MONEY FOR ITSELF AND SHAREHOLDERS GIVEN THIS APPROVAL?

>> IT IS A CONDITIONAL APPROVAL AND IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO A LARGE POST APPROVAL TRIAL WHICH HOPEFULLY IS GOING TO BRING THE NECESSARY RIGOR TO THE CLINICAL HE HAVE CASUALTY AND FROM THEN ON EFFICACY.

AND FROM THEN ON EVERYBODY WILL BE A WINNER.

IF THAT IS NOT THE CASE THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INDEFINITELY ON HOUR LONG INFUSIONS THAT HAVE NO CLINICAL BENEFIT AND THAT WOULD BE A BIG PROBLEM.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS, QUICKLY, WHO DO YOU RECOMMEND THIS FOR?

WHAT STAGE OF THE DISEASE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL I SHARE THE DOCTOR'S CONCERNS.

I WOULD RECOMMEND IT ONLY TO PATIENTS IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES OF DEMENTIA AND WHO ARE VERY HEALTHY WHO DON'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

>> WE HAVE TO KEEP FOLLOWING THIS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT THE LATEST ON A MAP FOR CHICAGO'S WARDS.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS, SO CHICAGO IS NEXT AND A NEW COMMISSION SAYS IT WANTS TO REDRAW THE 50 WARDS TO BETTER REFLECT THE CITY'S DIVERSITY.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ONBOARD.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

ALL RIGHT, A NEW COMMISSION TO REDRAW CHICAGO'S WARDS.

WHAT IS THEIR GOAL?

>> WELL, THIS IS THE COMMISSION PUT TOGETHER BY A COALITION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO WANTED AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO DRAW THIS NEXT MAP FOR THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL.

AFTER IT BECAME CLEAR THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND THE CITY COUNCIL WEREN'T INTERESTED IN GIVING UP THAT POWER THEY DECIDED TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS AND NOW THE COMMISSION IS UP AND RUNNING AND THEY ARE STARTING THEIR WORK.

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT LIKE GOVERNOR PRITZKER DID TALK ABOUT WANTING FAIR MAPS.

WHY IS SHE NOT ONBOARD WITH THIS?

>> WELL THERE'S PUSHBACK FROM THE LATINO CAUCUS AND THE BLACK CAUSE CONCERNED THAT AN -- CAUCUS THAT AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION WOULD DILUTE THEIR POWER ON THE COUNCIL.

THE REMAP WILL BE VERY, VERY FRAUGHT AS WE'VE SEEN CHICAGO'S BLACK POPULATION DECREASE WE HAVE SEEN THE LATINO POPULATION INCREASE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE JOCKEYING FOR POWER ON THE CITY COUNCIL GOING FORWARD.

>> AND WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE COMMISSION?

>> WELL, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR CENSUS DATA.

WE TYPICALLY HAVE THAT BY NOW SO THAT EVERYBODY COULD GET TO WORK.

AND THE QUESTION IS LIKE AT THE STATE LEVEL: WILL THE CITY COUNCIL USE PRELIMINARY DATA AND ESTIMATES TO START DRAWING THE MAPS?

OR WILL THEY WAIT?

THE DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 1 WHETHER TO SEE THERE COULD BE ENOUGH VOTES TO SEND IT TO REFERENDUM.

>> THE REMAP FIGHTS I REMEMBER 10 YEARS AGO THE BACK ROOM DEAL AND ONE OF THE TOP CRITERIA WAS TO END THE CAREERS OF TWO ALDERMEN THAT THE REST DID NOT LIKE MUCH.

ALWAYS INTERESTING.

HEATHER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE AND THE NEW LEADER OF AN INSTITUTION CELEBRATING ONE OF AMERICA'S PRESIDENTS.

PHIL?

>> PARIS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE-AND-A-HALF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM HAS WORKED TO TELL THE STORY OF NATION'S 16TH PRESIDENT IT IS A RESEARCH LIBRARY FOR SCHOLARS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

YEARS HAVE BEEN BUMPY WITH DEBATES OVER THE AUTHENTICITY OF A HIGH PROFILE ARTIFACT, A STOVE PIPE HAT.

TODAY MARKS THE NEW ERA FOR THE INSTITUTION THE FIRST DAY ON THE JOB FOR THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

JOINING US IS THAT NEW LEADER, CHRISTINA SHUTT, SHE IS A MISSOURI NATIVE AND WAS DIRECTOR OF MOSAIC CENTER IN LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS WHICH CELEBRATES AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

WELCOME TO ILLINOIS.

HOW WAS YOUR FIRST DAY AT WORK?

>> IT WAS EXCELLENT.

I GOT TO MEET WITH THE STAFF TODAY AS WELL AS WELCOMED BUS LOADS OF VISITORS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN WE'VE HAD VISITING US.

IT WAS A GREAT FIRST DAY.

>> YOU GREW UP IN A FAMILY THAT VALUED LEARNING DEEPLY.

TELL US ABOUT THAT FAMILY CULTURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR FAMILY EDUCATION WAS AND IS THE WAY IN WHICH WE'VE NOT ONLY BETTERED OURSELVES BUT HELPED BETTER OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT WELL WAS MY GRANDMOTHER WHO INTEGRATED HER UNIVERSITY.

AND SHE DID THAT BECAUSE, AGAIN, SHE WANTED THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HERSELF AND FOR HER COMMUNITY AND ULTIMATELY FOR HER FAMILY THAT WOULD COME ALONG LATER.

>> IT'S INTERESTING AS AN HISTORIAN I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD A TEACHER ONCE WHO TOLD YOU TO FORGET ABOUT THE TEXTBOOK AND WRITE YOUR OB HISTORY BOOK.

WHAT IMPACT DID THAT HAVE ON YOU?

>> IT HAD A HUGE IMPACT IT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT HISTORY IS NOT A FAR AWAY FOREIGN PLACE THAT WE VISIT.

BUT HISTORY IS ALIVE THE HISTORY IS SOMETHING WE CAN BE ENGAGED IN AND UNDERSTANDING OUR HISTORY HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE IN NOW AND HELP US TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT THE WORLD WE WANT TO LIVE IN.

SO HAVING THAT KIND OF HANDS ON HISTORY IS SOMETHING THAT I AM PERSONALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE BUT TO GROW HERE AT THE MUSEUM.

>> AND WHAT ATTRACTED YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE TO THE LINCOLN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU DON'T GET MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TO TALK ABOUT, TO REIMAGINE, TO RETHINK SOMEONE WHO I THINK OVER 15,000 BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT LINCOLN.

SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT HIM IN THE FRESH NEW WAY IN A RELEVANT WAY FOR OUR PUBLIC IS JUST HUGELY EXCITING.

SO WHEN I GOT THE CALL I IMMEDIATELY SAID YES AT THIS CHANCE.

>> AND WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE INSTITUTION?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

>> YEAH, I THINK CORE AND CENTRAL TO MY VISION IS ABOUT WELCOMING THE COMMUNITY, HELPING TO CENTER LINCOLN IN THE CONTEXT OF NOT JUST WHO HE WAS AT THE TIME BUT WHO IS HE FOR US TODAY.

WHAT DO LINCOLN'S WORDS MEAN TO US TODAY?

HOW HAVE WE TRIED TO EMBODY THINGS LIKE UNDERSTANDING OUR BETTER ANGELS.

HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT LINCOLN AND HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT HE HAD?

AND ALSO THE IMPACT THAT THOSE IN HIS CIRCLE HAD ON HIM AND AGAIN, THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE IN TODAY.

>> AS WE MENTIONED THERE HAVE BEEN UPS AND DOWNS IN THE MUSEUM'S HISTORY.

IN TERMS OF BRINGING STABILITY TO THE INSTITUTION, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> YEAH, WELL, ALL I CAN DO IS SPEAK FROM MY EXPERIENCE.

MOSAIC CULTURAL CENTER I WAS THE FIFTH DIRECTOR AND THE 14TH CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP.

I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN MOVING TOWARDS WITH THAT PATH.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE STAFF HAS SHOWN OVER PARTICULARLY OVER THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR IS THEIR WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHER THEIR EXCITEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD.

EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC THEY WERE CREATING EXHIBITS.

WE JUST RECENTLY OPENED STATE OF SOUND AND IT IS A FANTASTIC EXHIBIT WHICH THEY DID IN THE MIDST OF A TRYING AND DIFFICULT SEASON.

NOT HAVING A DIRECTOR AND IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.

SO I THINK WE'RE ALL READY REALLY TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AND TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THIS MUSEUM AND WHAT CAN THE MUSEUM MEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND ALSO FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND FOR THE NATION AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR 16TH PRESIDENT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE MENTIONED WAS THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE STOVE PIPE HAT.

GIVE US AN UPDATE WHAT IS THE LATEST?

WAS IT OR WAS IT NOT LINCOLN'S STOVE PIPE HAT THAT YOU HAVE?

>> WELL, THERE WAS A REPORT THAT WAS DONE.

AGAIN IT'S MY FIRST DAY SO I'M GETTING TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE OF THAT STUFF.

I KNOW IT IS A A COMMITTEE THAT IS WORKING ON THAT.

BUT AS ALWAYS WE'LL KEEP THE PUBLIC UPDATED AS THAT INFORMATION COMES TO LIGHT AND WE LEARN THAT FROM TEXTILE EXPERTS AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> A BIG ITEM GOING ON DISPLAY IS THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, I'M SO EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE DISPLAYING ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SUPER RARE COPY OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

AS YOU KNOW WELL, IT WAS A DOCUMENT THAT LINCOLN SIGN THAT FREED ENSLAVED PEOPLE AND STATES IN REBELLION AGAINST THE UNION.

SO THAT WAS HUGELY IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO THE CIVIL WAR AND THE WAR EFFORT WE WILL BE DISPLAYING THAT AND ALSO WE HAVE GREAT PROGRAMMING LINED UP THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS TO FIND OUT SPECIFICS.

AGAIN, HELPING TO INTERPRET THAT AND TALK ABOUT THAT AND TALK ABOUT THE RELEVANCE FOR PEOPLE TODAY.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT OUR UNDERGROUND RAILROAD PROGRAM COMING UP AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.

>> AND YOU ARE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERSON TO HEAD THE INSTITUTION DOES THAT INFORM HOW YOU ARE GOING TO APPROACH THE JOB IN ANYWAY?

>> SURE.

WELL, I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN I COME TO WORK, I BRING ALL MY IDENTITIES WITH ME.

I BRING MY WOMANNESS, MY BLACKNESS, MY DEGREES, I BRING ALL THE ANCESTORS IN THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM COMMUNITY.

WHEN I COME TO WORK.

FOR ME, I THINK, GROWING UP IN A SITUATION WHERE I DIDN'T SEE MYSELF REPRESENTED IN MUSEUMS I DIDN'T SEE PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS ENCOURAGED ME AND INSPIRED ME TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHAT STORIES ARE NOT BEING HOLD?

WHAT HISTORY HAS NOT BEEN SHARED AND HOW CAN WE BRING THAT INTO OUR INSTITUTIONS AND BRING THAT COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE MUSEUM AND PART OF THE STORIES WE'RE TELLING ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

IT IS NOT JUST AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY OR LATINX HISTORY OR INDIGENOUS HISTORY.

>> IT IS AMERICAN HISTORY.

SO HOW CAN WE TELL THAT IN A BOLD AND NEW WAY.

>> CHRISTINA SHUTT THANK YOU FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR FIRST DAY WITH US.

CONGRATULATIONS AND ALL THE BEST TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND UP NEXT THE ART OF HAIR BRAIDING AND WHY IT'S MORE THAN JUST A HAIR STYLE.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> A HAIR STYLE THAT WAS AT ONE POINT USED TO DIFFERENTIATE AFTER FANEUIL HALL TRIBES HAS GROWN INTO AN ART FORM.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU INTRODUCES US TO MOG AND HOW SHE IS USING BRAIDS TO PUSH AGAINST CULTURAL BIASES THAT CONSIDER THE LOOK UNPROFESSIONAL.

>> FOR DECADES, BLACK WOMEN HAVE BEEN TOLD THEIR HAIR IS ONLY ACCEPTABLE WHEN FOLLOWING EURO CENTRIC IDEAS AND STRAIGHTENING IT.

>> GOING BACK TO SLAVERY IT USED TO BE ILLEGAL FOR THE SLAVE TO SHOW THEIR HAIR IT WAS A MEANS TO KEEP US DOWN AND KEEP US LOOKING BAD PER SE EVEN THOUGH YOUR AFRO IS JUST AS CUTE BUT IT TAKES TIME TO MAINTAIN ANY TYPE OF BLACK HAIR.

I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY DEEMED IT UNPROFESSIONAL.

>> THAT'S WHY PROFESSIONAL HAIR BRAIDER, MOG IS ON A MIG R MISSION TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE BEAUTY OF THEIR NATURAL HAIR.

>> PEOPLE WILL CANCEL THEIR BRAID APPOINTMENT IF THEY HAD AN INTERVIEW.

AND I WILL SAY IF YOU CAN'T WEAR BRAIDS THAT IS NOT THE JOB YOU WANT.

GO TO YOUR INTERVIEW WITH YOUR BRAIDS, GO TO WORK IN YOUR BRAIDS IT'S OK. >> FROM AFTER TROS TO LOCS THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS BLACK WOMEN CAN WEAR THEIR HAIR WITHOUT STRAIGHTENING IT TO PREVENT DAMAGE.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE WAS ASKED TO BE IN AN ART SHOW THAT MOG REALIZED THE PATTERNS AND DETAILS WERE MORE THAN JUST A PROTECTED STYLE.

>> I HAD THE BRAIDS ON THE WALL AND SIERRA WAS LIKE THIS IS ART CAN I DISPLAY THIS AND I WAS LIKE DISPLAY WHAT?

WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ME TO DO AND SHE IS LIKE THIS IS ART AND I'M NO THIS IS MY HAIR THAT I TOOK DOWN.

AND THAT IS WHEN I LIKE, REALIZED AND APPRECIATED IT AS AN ART FORM.

BECAUSE JUST GROWING UP IN A COMMUNITY IT WASN'T SEEN AS SUCH.

IT WAS JUST LIKE A TRADE.

>> BUT IT'S THE ART FORM WITHIN THE TRADE THAT NONPROFIT URBAN GATEWAYS USES AS A CONNECTOR TO BIGGER ISSUES IN THE OCTOBER CONVERSATION SERIES -- ONGOING CONVERSATION SERIES ART AND WHICH MO G. WAS PART OF IT.

>> IT EMBODIED THAT THAT YOU CAN FIND ART ANYWHERE AS LONG AS YOU'RE WILLING TO LOOK.

WE SEE HOW THE ARTS ALWAYS PLAYED A ROLE IN THINKING ABOUT HOW WE PUSH NEW WAYS OF THOUGHTS HOW DO WE USE THE ARTS TO CONVEY A SENSE OF INCLUSION AND JUSTICE.

SOMETHING THAT IS ALWAYS EMBEDDED IN THE ARTS AND ARTISTS CAN TELL YOU THAT.

HOW DO WE SHINE A LIGHT ON THAT AND ALL THINK ABOUT THE ROLE WE PLAY.

>> AS AN ARTIST, THAT ROLE FOR MO G. WILL BE GEARED TOWARDS PUSHING AGAINST CULTURAL BIASES TO CHAMPION BLACK WOMEN.

>> WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE DAYS AND TIMES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN TEND TO OURSELVES.

BLACK WOMEN ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP A HAPPY FACE AND ALWAYS HAVE TO BE STRONG WE ALWAYS HAVE TO GIVE THROUGH EVERYTHING AND THE ONLY TIME YOU GET TO SIT DOWN AND GET PAMPERED IS WHEN YOU GET YOUR HAIR DONE.

SO I LIKE GIVING THAT MOM OR THAT SISTER OR YOU KNOW, THAT CHILD THAT STUDENT THIS OPPORTUNITY WHERE YOU SIT DOWN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OBLIGATIONS BUT TO SIT HERE AND GET PRETTY.

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

>> AND NEXT UP URBAN GATEWAYS CONVERSATION SERIES ART AND RESISTANCE TOMORROW EVENING.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE ART OF HAIR BRAIDING WE HAVE A TUTORIAL ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

ABBREVIATED TO BRING YOU PLEDGE PROGRAMMING.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO ARE SET TO REOPEN FRIDAY.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM TALKS ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT.

AND FINDING HOUSING IS HARD ENOUGH WITHOUT A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND HOW UNIQUE COOK COUNTY PROGRAM IS HELPING RECOVERING DRUG ADDICTS WITH THE SEARCH.

AND FOR ALL OF US HERE A "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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