[MUSIC] >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT ON THIS THANKSGIVING DAY.

PARIS AND BRANDIS HAVE THE EVENING OFF.

ON THE SHOW, A CALL FOR LAND-BASED REPARATIONS TO INDIGENOUS AMERICANS.FOOD INSECURITY REMAINS WELL ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

HOW INFLATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES ARE IMPACTING ACCESS TO FOOD.

>> THIS IS A BIRCHBARK CANOE.

>> Host: THE NORTHWESTERN INDIGENOUS ARTISANS PRACTICE THE LONG-LOST PART OF BIRCHBARK CANOE BUILDING.

AND MEET A LOCAL CARTOONIST WHO KEEPS ALIVE A MAD MAGAZINE TRADITION.

>>> FIRST TONIGHT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHOULD TURN OVER THE MAJORITY OF FEDERALLY OWNED LAND TO NATIVE AMERICANS.

THAT'S THE ARGUMENT IN A NEW OP-ED, WRITTEN BY A LOCAL LEGAL SCHOLAR.

HE SAID IT WOULD BOTH SERVE AS REPARATIONS TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND IMPROVE LAND MANAGEMENT ACROSS A BIG PART OF THE COUNTRY.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE IDEA ARE THE OP-EDS CO-AUTHOR UNIVERSITY CHICAGO LAW PROFESSOR TODD HENDERSON AND LES BEGAY OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES COALITION OF ILLINOIS.

GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT ON THIS THANKSGIVING DAY.

TODD HENDERSON, FEDERALLY OWNED LAND AS A FORM OF REPARATIONS TO NATIVE AMERICANS.

HOW MUCH LAND ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> Todd: THANKS FOR HAVING ME AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OWNS ABOUT 28 PERCENT OF ALL OF THE LAND IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS 2.3 BILLION ACRES OF LAND.

THOSE OF US EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI IT'S NOT A SUBSTANTIAL CHUNK.WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, A MAJORITY OF LAND IS OWNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SOME STATES LIKE UTAH IS 97 PERCENT OF THE LAND, IN TABATA.

BIG SWATHS OF WYOMING AND COLORADO.WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF THE LAND IN THE ENTIRE U.S.

OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE BARREL GOVERNMENT.

I SAY MANAGED.

I SHOULD SAY MISMANAGED.

I THINK IT IS A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL WELL FROM WHICH WE CAN DRAW TO MAKE AMENDS FOR HISTORICAL WRONGS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I THINK IMPROVE THINGS GOING FORWARD.

>> Host: MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOUR PROPOSAL WOULD NOT INCLUDE NATIONAL PARKS AND ALSO MILITARY BASES.

LES BEGAY, WE KNOW NATIVE AMERICANS ARE NOT MONOLITHIC, BUT FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR, CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW NATIVE AMERICANS VIEW LAND AND LAND OWNERSHIP?

>> Les: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

FIRST OF ALL, MANY PEOPLE THINK OF LAND AS LIFE.

NON-NATIVES THINK OF IT AS POWER AND MONEY.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE RIGHT THERE.

THE OTHER THING THEY THINK ABOUT IS THE CARETAKERS OF THE LAND ARE ONLY BORROWING IT FOR THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY POSSESS.

IT IS SOMETHING THEY PASS ON.

>> Host: WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE PROSPECT OF TRANSFERRING LEGAL OWNERSHIP BACK TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE?

>> Les: NATIONAL PARKS ALONE ARE 85 MILLION ACRES.

MOST OF THOSE OR ALL OF THOSE WERE TAKEN FROM NATIVE LANDS EITHER BY FORCE OR BY TREATY.

NATIVE PEOPLE HAVE WANTED THE LAND BACK AND SOME CASES ARE GETTING THE LAND BACK EITHER BUYING IT ON THEIR OWN ARE SOME CASES IT'S BEEN GIVEN BACK.

I AM IN FAVOR.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD START TO HONOR NATIVE PEOPLE.

>> Host: TODD HENDERSON, LET'S SAY THERE WERE THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO THIS.

HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT ALLOCATING ALL OF THESE MILLIONS OF ACRES TO ALL OF THE TRIBES THAT EXIST IN THIS COUNTRY AND MAKE IT A FAIR PROCESS?

HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT?

>> Todd: IT WOULDN'T BE EASY.

MANY THINGS WORTH DOING ARE NOT EASY.

I THINK WE WOULD LOOK TO SOME ANALOGUES WHERE GOVERNMENT HAS ADMINISTERED VERY COMPLEX ALLOCATION OF ASSETS.

AFTER 9/11, THERE WAS A COMPENSATION FUND SET UP.

THERE WERE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HARMED IN SOME WAY.

SOME REMOTE AND SOME VERY ACUTE.

THERE WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS SET UP TO BALANCE THESE INTERESTS AND ALLOCATE ASSETS TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER EXAMPLES FROM NATURAL DISASTERS, AFTER THE FINANCIAL CRISIS A PROCESS OF DEALING WITH BANKS.

THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING SOMEBODY, A COMMISSION OR INDIVIDUAL, SOMEONE LIKE KEN FEINBERG WHO DID THOSE OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS TO RUN A PROCESS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT.

IT WOULD HAVE TO HEAR FROM VARIOUS CONSTITUENCIES.

OBVIOUSLY ALLOCATING THE LAND.

WE DON'T WANT TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN THEM.

AS LES POINTED OUT, THE CONNECTION TO PEOPLES TO INDIGENOUS LAND IS OFTEN PARTICULAR LAND, NOT JUST LAND IN GENERAL.

WE WOULD WANT TO GET THEM CONTINUOUS PARCELS CLOSE TO THEIR NATIVE LAND, SACRED LANDS WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT.

WE COULD EVEN TAKE SOME MONEY AND BUY BACK SACRED LANDS FROM PRIVATE OWNERS IS A POSSIBILITY.

WE WANT TO HAVE A PROCESS THAT DID ALL OF THESE THINGS AND BALANCE THEM OUT AND ASSIGN PEOPLE.

WE ALSO WANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT LAND HAS VARYING VALUES.

WHEN WE MOVED AND DISPLACED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND PUT THEM ON RESERVATIONS, TOOK THEM FROM GEORGIA AND SENT THEM TO OKLAHOMA, WE DID SO WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PLACE THEY WERE ENDING UP.

SOME TRIBES JUST BY CHANCE ENDED UP WITH OIL-RICH LAND AND SOME ENDED UP WITH LAND THAT WASN'T WORTH AS MUCH.

THAT IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING THEM.

WE WANT EQUILIBRIA THE VALUE OF LAND.

AS PART OF THE PROCESS, I WOULDN'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO JUST DIVIDE UP THE LAND IT OWNS AND PASS IT OUT AND THAT BE THE END OF IT.

I THINK ADDING A TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION PROCESS WHERE WE WOULD HAVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT LES TALKED ABOUT, FORCIBLE REMOVAL OF PEOPLE.

WE WOULD WANT TO HEAR FROM TRIBES AND THESE PEOPLE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES THEY HAVE HAD AND USE THE OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST TO PASS OUT GOODIES, BUT KIND OF HAVE A HEALING AS A PROCESS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE A FRESH START GOING FORWARD.

>> Host: LES BEGAY, YOUR REACTION TO THE NEED TO HAVE A TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION FOR EXAMPLE.

GOOD IDEA?

>> Les: GREAT IDEA.

AUSTRALIA HAS DONE THAT WITH THEIR ABORIGINES.

THEY HAVE NEVER ADMITTED TO THE GENOCIDE THEY HAVE COMMITTED HERE OR STEALING OF LAND.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD START.AS FAR AS THE PROFESSOR SAID, GIVING BACK FROM THE LAND.

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE TRADITIONAL LAND AND THE TREATIES AT THE TIME THAT WERE TAKEN.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD START.I ALSO THINK IF YOU LED TO THE GOVERNMENT ALONE ALLOCATE THIS LAND WE ARE HEADING IN FOR TROUBLE AS WE ALWAYS HAVE WITH GOVERNMENT AND NATIVE PEOPLE.

TRIBES HAVE TO GET INVOLVED.

THEY HAVE TO BE A BIG PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING ON HOW IT'S DISTRIBUTED AND WHO GETS IT.

>> Host: GENTLEMEN, THAT'S HOW WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS TO TODD HENDERSON, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND LES BEGAY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY COALITION.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

>>> UP NEXT, AND INDIGENOUS ARTIST DEMONSTRATES A TIME BERNARD CRAFT.

HONORED CRAFT.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

[MUSIC] >>> NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.WOMEN KEEPING A NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITION ALIVE.

EVAN GARCIA RECENTLY VISITED NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY TO LEARN ABOUT BIRCHBARK CANOE BUILDING.

[CHANTING] >> THEY HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN WHO WE ARE.

THEY ARE HAPPY TODAY THAT THIS BIRCHBARK IS GOING TO GO IN THAT LAKE.

>> Reporter: WAYNE IS A BIRCHBARK CANOE BUILDER.

HE'S A MASTER OF WHAT SOME MIGHT CALL A LOST ART.

>> THIS IS A BIRCHBARK CANOE.

THE STYLE OF BIRCHBARK CANOE COMES FROM WISCONSIN.

SOME PEOPLE CALL US CHIPPEWA.

THE CANOE WAS MADE OUT OF ALL NATURAL MATERIALS IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

>> Reporter: AS NORTHWESTERN'S ARTIST IN RESIDENT, HE BUILT THE 16 FOOT CANOE WITH STUDENTS IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

DIFFERENT WOOD WAS HARVESTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, FROM SPRUCE ROOTS DIG INTO THE CEDAR RIBS TO BIRCHBARK SIDES COVERED IN PINE PITCH.

>> I HAVE MY FINGERPRINT IN THERE.

>> Reporter: HE IS ONE OF ONLY SIX REMAINING BIRCHBARK CANOE BUILDERS AMONG THE PEOPLE.

>> WE HAVE A BENEFIT OF TWO BY FOURS.

BEING A CANOE BUILDER IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE BECAUSE YOU GET TO GO IN SO MANY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS.

OUR GRANDMOTHER IS THE EARTH.

SHE IS MUCH OLDER THAN MOTHER EARTH.

[CHANTING] >> Reporter: ON A STORMY MORNING AT NORTHWESTERN, THEY SET THE BIRCHBARK CANOE ON LAKE MICHIGAN, SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE FROM A CHICAGO AREA SHORE IN NEARLY 400 YEARS.

BY PRESERVING THE ART OF BIRCHBARK BUILDING, HE HOPES TO PASS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING THE EARTH.>> SO IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN HEALTHY FORESTS AND CLEAN WATER BECAUSE WITHOUT EITHER NOBODY IS GOING TO LIVE ON THIS PLANET.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM EVAN GARCIA.

>> Host: PART OF THE COLLECTIVE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE LIVING IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION.

WHEN HE IS NOT BUILDING BIRCHBARK CANOES, WAYNE IS A LANGUAGE AND CULTURE TEACHER IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

NORTHWESTERN INDIGENOUS ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM PART OF THE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS RESEARCH.YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE.

>>> FOOD INSECURITY REMAINS FAR ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

ADVOCATES SAY SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND INFLATION ARE MAKING THINGS WORSE.

HIGHER GROCERY BILLS MAKE IT HARDER FOR SOME PEOPLE TO AFFORD FOOD.

ALL OF THIS HAS FOOD PANTRIES WORK TO MEET THE INCREASING NEEDS OF FAMILIES THEY SERVE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS HOW HIGHER COSTS ARE IMPACTING FOOD INSECURITY IN CHICAGO, KATE MAEHR, DIRECTOR AND CEO FOR THE FOOD PANTRY.

ANTONIO SANTOS IS PART OF THE LATINX CONSUL THAT HOSTS A WEEKLY FOOD MARKET.

WELCOME ALL TO CHICAGO TONIGHT AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU.

AND KATE MAEHR, WHAT IMPACT DOES FOOD INSECURITY HAVE ON CHICAGOANS?

WHEN I HEAR THE ANSWER, IT ALWAYS COMES AS A BIT OF A SHOCK.

>> Kate: IT'S BEEN A SOBERING TWO YEARS.

AS YOU WELL KNOW, WHEN I WAS LAST HERE, I WAS TALKING ABOUT STAGGERING RATES OF FOOD INSECURITY.

THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT SO MANY PEOPLE CLOSER TO A CYCLE OF NEED.

EVEN THOUGH THINGS ARE BEGINNING TO GET BETTER IN TERMS OF BUSINESSES OPENING AND SCHOOLS REOPENING, THE SAD FACT IS WE STILL ARE AT LEVELS SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ARRIVED.

>> Host: ERIC CLARK, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE YOU ENCOUNTER AS FAR AS THE NEED OF FOOD RESOURCES, THE KIND THAT YOU PROVIDE?

>> Eric: HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND THE VIEWERS.

THAT NEED IS CONTINUING.

IT IS CONTINUING TO PERSIST IN THE ROSELAND AREA.

WE SERVE ALL OF COOK COUNTY.

ONE THING WE HAVE CONTINUED TO NOTICE IS WEEK AFTER WEEK WE CONTINUE TO HAVE NEW CLIENTS OR CLIENTS THAT HAVE NEVER VISITED A FOOD PANTRY BEFORE.

IT CONTINUES TO SPEAK VOLUMES AS TO ONGOING MEANS OF THE RESIDENTS OF COOK COUNTY AND ESPECIALLY THE ROSELAND NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Host: ANTONIO SANTOS, IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PANTRIES, AND REGULAR STORES, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THE RISING COST OF FOOD?

>> Antonio: MANY OF THE FAMILIES THAT COME TO OUR PANTRY GET SUPPLEMENTARY FOOD.

THEY ARE STILL GOING OUT AND DOING THEIR GROCERY SHOPPING.

WITH THEIR LEARNING IS THERE DOLLAR DOESN'T GO AS FAR AS IT ONCE WAS.

THEY ARE ABLE TO GET LESS FOOD OR LESSER QUALITY FOOD.

WE ARE WILLING TO STEP UP OUR GAME AND BRIDGING THE GAP FOR THEM.

>> Host: KATE MAEHR, AGE OF SUPPLY CHAIN IS VERY MUCH IN THE NEWS.

SUPPLY CHAIN COMBINED WITH RISING FOOD PRICES AT REGULAR FOOD SOURCES.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS FAR AS HOW THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES ARE IMPACTING YOUR ABILITY TO SERVE PEOPLE?

>> Kate: SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES HAVE REALLY BEEN THE SECOND PUNCH IN THE ONE-TWO PUNCH.

WE HAD ALL OF THESE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FALL INTO NEED, AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER WE HAD CONSTRICTIONS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN AT A TIME WE ARE ABLE TO SOURCE MORE FOOD THAN EVER BEFORE, AND FOR FAMILIES THIS MEANS MORE OF THEIR PAYCHECK IS HAVING TO GO TO PURCHASING FOOD AND PUTTING MORE DEMANDS ON THE HOUSEHOLDS.

IT'S A TOUGH TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

>> Host: ANTONIO SANTOS, PART OF THE MISSION FOR ALL OF YOU IS EXTENDING RESPECT AND DIGNITY TO THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE.

CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD PLAYS A ROLE IN CREATING THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.

THE ABILITY THAT YOU ARE HAVING TO PROVIDE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH TORTILLAS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> Antonio: ABSOLUTELY.

OUR ORGANIZATION IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE THE CULTURALLY REFLECTIVE FOODS MAKING SURE WE ARE CONNECTING FOLKS WITH FOODS THAT THEY WANT AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ENJOY.

THAT HAS BEEN HARDER AND HARDER.

WE HAVE SEEN SHORTAGES AND LIMITATIONS ON TORTILLAS AND OTHER FRESH PRODUCE CAUGHT UP IN SUPPLY CHAIN DEMAND AS WELL.

>> Host: ERIC CLARK, IS THAT AN ISSUE YOU ARE FACING, GETTING THE RIGHT KIND OF FOOD?

>> Eric: YES IT IS.

WITH THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY, WILL GO TO DIFFERENT GROCERY STORES AND PICK UP FOOD THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SELL.

BECAUSE OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND INABILITY FOR STORES TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR SHELVES, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PICK UP AS MUCH FOOD AS WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.

USUALLY THE STORES WILL DONATE ENOUGH FOOD, BUT AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE ONLY GIVING US NOT EVEN HALF OF WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING US IN THE PAST.

IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US RIGHT NOW.

>> Host: HAVE ANY OF YOU HEADED THE EXPERIENCE -- I THINK THIS QUESTION GOES BEST TO ANTONIO SANTOS OR ERIC CLARK.

HAVE YOU HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF RUNNING OUT OF FOOD OR HAVING TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY?

>> Eric: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S PART OF THE WORK THAT'S THE HARDEST WHEN YOU HAVE TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY.

OUR PANTRY IS RUN AT A GRASSROOTS LEVEL AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO PARTNER WITH THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY YET THOUGH I HEAR KATE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON THAT MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED THAT AND IT'S A HEART-WRENCHING THING TO HAVE TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY AFTER THEY HAVE WAITED IN LINE FOR FOOD.

>> Host: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM IF THAT HAPPENS, ANTONIO?

WE KNOW THE PEOPLE WE SERVE ON A FIRST-HAND BASIS.

A LOT OF TIMES WE WILL TAKE DOWN THEIR INFORMATION AND CONNECT THEM WITH OTHER PANTRIES.

CALL AROUND AND SEE IF WE CAN DELIVER SOMETHING AT A LATER DATE.

WE DON'T LIKE TO JUST TURN PEOPLE AWAY WITH NOWHERE TO GO.

THAT'S WHEN IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A CITYWIDE NETWORK OF PEOPLE DOING THIS WORK LIKE ERIC AND KATE.

>> Host: ERIC, HAVE YOU HAD TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY?

>> Eric: WE HAVE NOT.

WITH THE HELP OF THE FOOD DEPOSITORY, THIS PAST WEEK, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE OUT 300 TURKEYS ALONG WITH ALL OF THE SIDE ITEMS THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE FOR A THANKSGIVING MEAL.

WITH THE DEPOSITORY ITSELF, WE WERE ABLE TO HAND OUT THOSE TURKEYS.

WE ARE A PANTRY THAT OPENS TWICE FOR THREE DIFFERENT SESSIONS IT HAS COME TO A CHALLENGE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE.

OUR PANTRY WE KIND OF BALANCE ALONG WITH WHAT WE GET DIRECTLY FROM THE DEPOSITORY AND FROM THOSE STORES.

THERE IS A GOOD BALANCE THERE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHETHER YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON IN LINE OR LAST PERSON IN LINE YOU SHOULD WALK OUT WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF FOOD.

>> Host: WE ARE GOING TO PUT UP SOME STATISTICS BY NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY ECONOMIST.

AN ANALYSIS BY NORTHWESTERN ESTIMATES THE PREVALENCE OF FOOD INSECURITY AMONG HOSPITALS WITH CHILDREN COMES AT ABOUT 36 PERCENT OF LACK HOUSEHOLDS AND NEARLY 20 PERCENT OF LATINO HOUSEHOLDS FACE INSECURITY AS COMPARED TO 17 PERCENT OF WHITE HOUSEHOLDS.

BIG PICTURE.

HOW IS THE FOOD DEPOSITORY WORKING TO ADDRESS THOSE DISPARITIES IN THOSE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES?

>> Kate: FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR LIFTING THAT UP.

I THINK IT IS TEMPTING SOMETIMES TO JUST SEE THE NUMBERS AND THE LONG LINES.

THERE'S A STORY.

I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE SEE THAT IN THOSE NUMBERS AND THAT IS WHAT THE NORTHWESTERN STUDY REVEALS.

HUNGER HAS NOT FALLEN ON THE SHOULDERS OF EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY EQUALLY.

IF YOU ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR LATINO, IF YOU ARE A HOUSEHOLD WITH CHILDREN, YOU ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY HUNGER BECAUSE HUNGER IS A SYMPTOM OF POVERTY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING HUNGER.

OFTEN FAMILIES THAT HAVE JOBS.

THIS IS A BROADER STRUCTURAL CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE.

THE ANSWER IS IN MAKING SURE ON A DAY LIKE TODAY WHAT WE ARE ALL SITTING DOWN AT THE THANKSGIVING TABLE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE FOOD EVEN AS WE WORK FOR THE TYPE OF CHANGE THAT WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR FAMILIES TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES.

>> Host: THAT'S WHERE WE WILL LEAVE IT.

CLOSING THOUGHTS ABOUT GRATITUDE COME TO MIND WHEN KATE MAEHR WERE SPEAKING.

THANK YOU TO KATE MAEHR, ANTONIO SANTOS, AND ERIC CLARK.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> UP NEXT, LOCAL CARTOONIST KEEPS ALIVE A MAD MAGAZINE TRADITION.

>>> LATINO VOICES AT SIX AND LACK VOICES AT 6:30.

SEE YOU ON SATURDAY.

[MUSIC] >>> DON'T EVER MISS CHICAGO TONIGHT.

GET A DAILY DOWNLOAD OF OUR SHOW DELIVERED TO YOUR DESKTOP OR MOBILE DEVICE.

GO TO WTTW.com/CHICAGO TONIGHT PODCAST AND SUBSCRIBE.

>>> MAD MAGAZINE WAS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SOURCES OF SATIRE OF THE 20TH-CENTURY.

HARD TO IMAGINE THE SIMPSONS OR SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE WITHOUT THE EARLIER IRREVERENCE OF MAD.

IT'S HEYDAY IN THE 1970S.

MAD HATTER READERSHIP IN THE MILLIONS.

THE INFLUENCES HAVE FADED, BUT IT STILL HAS A PULSE.

CONTRIBUTORS TO THE MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS THE USUAL GANG OF IDIOTS.

PRODUCER MARK RECENTLY MET ONE OF THE PRODUCERS OF THAT GANG.

HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK.

[MUSIC] >> Reporter: SINCE 1964, SIGNATURE FEATURE OF MAD MAGAZINE HAS BEEN A CARTOON RIDDLE SOLVED WHEN THE PICTURE IS FOLDED.

THESE DAYS THE FOLD IS CONCEIVED, WRITTEN AND SKETCHED BY CARTOONIST JOHNNY SAMPSON.

>> Johnny: IT'S A DREAM JOB.

IT'S BIG FOR ME.

HONESTLY, BIGGEST THING WAS GETTING A LETTER FROM AL SAYING, YOU CAN DO THIS.

>> Reporter: THE LEGENDARY MAD CARTOONIST WHO MADE IT UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 2020 AT AGE 99.

JOHNNY SAMSON CREATED THIS BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO AL JAFFE BEFORE HE RETIRED AND NOW CARRIES ON THE MAD TRADITION.

>> Johnny: I HAVE TRIED TO STAY FAITHFUL TO AL'S METHODS.

A LITTLE CUT AND PASTE.

I PREFER ANALOG.

START WITH PENCIL AND PAPER.

THAT'S HOW IT STARTS AND THAT IS WHERE I START WITH THE IDEA.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE FOLDING.

FROM THERE, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK OR WILL THIS WORK.

>> Reporter: BEFORE HE WORKED FOR MAD, SAMSON MADE WHAT HE CALLED A RIP OFF OLD FOR PITCHFORK.

THE RIDDLE RESOLVED BY SHOWING AL JAFFE ANSWERING NATURES CALL.

THAT WAS HIS FIRST ATTEMPT.

>> Johnny: MY FIRST FOLD IN WAS A COMIC STRIP FOR THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER.

IT WAS A DUMB COMIC, BUT WHEN YOU FOLDED IT IT SAID, EVERYBODY IS SO FOOLISH.

I GOT IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION FOR IT.

[MUSIC] >> Reporter: SAMSON DOES GIG POSTERS FOR LOCAL EVENTS.

HE'S MADE RAPPER ART.

HE CONTRIBUTES TO KID FRIENDLY PUBLICATIONS AS WELL.

>> IT'S WEIRD, ESPECIALLY AS A FREELANCER.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM NEXT.

YOU CAN KNOCK ON DOORS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

THEY WILL USUALLY CALL YOU.

YOU DON'T CALL THEM.

THEY DO CALL AND IT'S NICE.

IT'S NICE TO BE CALLED.

PLEASE CALL ME.

[LAUGHS] >> Reporter: THE PUBLICATION ONLY HAS TWO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW AND HANDFUL OF CONTRIBUTORS LIKE SAMSON.

CONTENT IS MOSTLY RECYCLED MATERIAL FROM THE ARCHIVES.

THE MAGAZINE'S FUTURE WAS IN QUESTION EVEN BEFORE WAS A HIRED BY AT&T.

>> Johnny: NOW, AT&T HAS UNLOADED TIME WARNER MEDIA, PARENT COMPANY OF D.C. AND MAD, TO MERGE WITH DISCOVERY MEDIA.

THIS DEALS IN THE WORKS AND MAY NOT BE COMPLETE UNTIL ONE YEAR OR TWO YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW.

THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING AFTER THAT.

WE ARE HOLDING ON TO HOPE.

>> Reporter: BEING ONE OF THE LAST KEEPERS OF THE FLAME IS A BITTERSWEET BURDEN.

>> Johnny: FOR ME IT'S PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE HONOR OF DOING THE FOLDING.

IT'S HEAVY.

YEAH.

IT'S REALLY SAD.

NOW IT'S JUST REPRINTS.

IT STILL MEANS A LOT, BUT IT ALSO KIND OF HAS AN ASTERISK NEXT TO IT.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> Host: MAD MAGAZINE IS STILL AVAILABLE AT COMIC BOOK STORES AND THROUGH PRESCRIPTION.

AL JAFFE TURNED 100 YEARS OLD IN MARCH.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CARTOONIST JOHNNY SAMPSON ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[MUSIC] >>> CHICAGO TONIGHT MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS, JIM AND KAY MAY BE FAMILY, THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

[MUSIC] >>>.

>> Host: THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THANKSGIVING NIGHT.

PLEASE JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ TOMORROW.

FOR ALL OF US AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM PHIL PONCE.

GOOD NIGHT AND HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT THANKSGIVING.

[MUSIC] [CHANTING] >>> REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY