Chicago tonight | aug. 3, 2023 - full show | season 2023

>>> HELLO, THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT. I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN. HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. YOU MIGHT HAVE A HIGHER GAS BILL NEXT YEAR , AS UTILITY COMPANIES ARE

ASKING FOR A RATE HIKE. >>> AS THE CITY WELCOMES A BUS FULL OF MIGRANTS EVERY DAY, WE WILL BE ONE ON ONE OVER IMMIGRANT RIGHTS. >>> A TIKTOK HISTORIAN AND HOW HE SAYS BLACK

HISTORY SAVED HIS LIFE. >>> LOLLAPALOOZA KICKS OFF TODAY. MEET TWO LOCAL ACTS MAKING THEIR DEBUT. >>> FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN A WASHINGTON, D.C.

COURTHOUSE OVER HIS ALLEGED EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. TRUMP WAS INDICTED TUESDAY ON FOUR FELONY CHARGES OVER HIS ALLEGED EFFORTS TO SUBVERT THE ELECTION. THE

ALLEGATIONS SAY THAT TRUMP ENGAGED IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES BY USING, QUOTE, DISHONESTY, AND DECEIT. THE REPORT SAYS THAT HE TRIED TO IMPEDE THE ELECTION RESULTS. [ CRYING

] HAS CLAIMED TO BE THE VICTIM OF POLITICAL PERSECUTION. >> THIS IS A PERSECUTION OF A POLITICAL OPPONENT. THIS WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN AMERICA. THIS IS THE PERSECUTION OF A

PERSON REPUBLICAN , LEADING BY SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS. IF YOU CANNOT DEFEAT HIM, YOU PERSECUTE OR YOU PROSECUTE HIM. >> THE FIRST HEARING IN THE CASE IS SET FOR AUGUST 28th. >>>

A RALLY OUTSIDE LORETTA HOSPITAL, IT IS PUSHING FOR IMPROVED STAFFING LEVELS. >> THIS IS OUR FOURTH MESSAGE A DAY, IN A ROW, ASKING FOR RESPECT AND TO PAY THE STAFF. >> ACCORDING

TO THE UNION REPRESENTING THE WORKERS, THE HOSPITAL HAS A 50% ANNUAL STAFF TURNOVER RATE. THEY SAY THAT PAY FOR THE HOSPITAL LACKS BEHIND OTHERS. THE UNION DEMAND EXCEEDS CURRENT ECONOMIC

REALITIES, THEY SAY. >>> RULES FOR POLICE OFFICERS REPORTING MISCONDUCT HAS BEEN MISLEADING. THAT IS THE REPORT BY WATCHDOG GROUP, ACCORDING TO THE NEW REPORT. THEY CURRENTLY

OPERATE UNDER TWO CURRENT LEE , REQUIRING POLICE TO REPORT CRIME OR RULE VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY FELLOW OFFICERS. THERE IS MORE ON OUR WEBSITE. >>> CHICAGO'S PREMIER INVESTMENT

LOLLAPALOOZA KICKS OFF TODAY. THOUSANDS POURED IN AS THE FOUR-DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL GOT UNDERWAY. HEADLINERS INCLUDE BILLIE EILISH AND THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. OUR CORRESPONDENCE WILL

INTRODUCE US TO TWO LOCAL ACTS MAKING THEIR DEBUT LATER. >>> UP NEXT, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR GAS BILL, AFTER THIS. >>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE

POLK BROS. FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS. >>> YOUR GAS BILL COULD BE ABOUT $12 HIGHER PER MONTH NEXT YEAR. THAT IS THE AVERAGE INCREASE IF THEY SUCCEED IN RAISING

RATES. IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN NINE YEARS THAT THE UTILITY COMPANY HAS ASKED FOR A RATE HIKE. THEY WILL HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE IT. HERE TO BREAK DOWN WHAT

THAT MIGHT MEAN IS SARAH MOSCOWITZ, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UTILITIES BOARD. LET'S START WITH YOU , IT HAS BEEN NINE YEARS SINCE THE LAST RATE HIKE, WHY DO WE NEED THIS NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS IN OUR ENERGY DELIVERY NETWORK. THE LATEST ADJUSTMENT TO OUR BASE RATE IS IMPORTANT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER

ENVIRONMENTALLY-SUSTAINABLE ENERGY THAT CHICAGOANS HAVE COME TO DEPEND ON, PARTICULARLY IN THE WINTER. >> SARAH MOSCOWITZ, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE RATE HIKE IS JUSTIFIED? BY THAT

AMOUNT, WHY DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE SLASHED? >> THERE ASKING FOR A $432 MILLION RATE INCREASE. THIS WILL BE THE HIGHEST GAS RATE INCREASE IN ILLINOIS HISTORY. SO , WITH THIS INCREASE

YOU WILL SEE MONTHLY BILLS GOING UP BY ALMOST $12 PER MONTH. THAT IS COMING OFF OF SIX YEARS OF RECORD PROFITS. AND CHICAGO UTILITY CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH A MISMANAGED GAS LINE

PIPE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. WE ARE CALLING ON CONGRESS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE , AND REINING IN THEIR SPENDING. THIS IS AN UNJUSTIFIED RATE HIKE. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND? >>

ABSOLUTELY. THERE IS A DELIVERY CHARGE, A CUSTOMER CHARGE, AND THERE IS THE GAS CHARGE, AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER CHARGES. OUR BASE RATE ADJUSTMENT, ROUGHLY $12 IS ON THE DELIVERY CHARGE. THE

GAS CHARGE , EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SEEKING A RATE ADJUSTMENT TO THE DELIVERY CHARGE, WE ARE EXPECTING THROUGHOUT .24, OUR CUSTOMERS' BILL TO REMAIN FLAT AS COMPARED TO 2023. >> IN

MAY, 2023, ABOUT 28% OF CUSTOMERS WERE HIT WITH LATE PAYMENT FEES AND SURCHARGES. HOW WAS THE COMPANY ADDRESSING , DURING THE AGE OF INFLATION, CUSTOMER CONCERNS? >> IT IS AN IMPORTANT

TOPIC FOR US. WHICH IS WHY -- IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE NOT MADE A BASE RATE ADJUSTMENT FOR MORE THAN NINE YEARS. THAT IS IMPORTANT. WHAT WE WANT TO DO, ANY CUSTOMER THAT IS

STRUGGLING TO PAY, ESPECIALLY WITH LOW INCOME, THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY ALL OF THEIR BILLS. WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO CALL US, LET US WORK WITH THEM AND SEE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR A PROGRAM. WE

HAVE RECENTLY CONTRIBUTED $5 MILLION , OF CORPORATE DOLLARS, TO HELP IN ENERGY ASSISTANCE . WE CAN ALSO PUT THEM ON A PAYMENT PLAN. DISCONNECTION IS THE LAST RESORT. WE DO NOT WANT TO SHUT

OFF OUR CUSTOMERS. >> THERE WAS A HEARING ABOUT THIS ON TUESDAY. WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM CONSUMERS ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT IMPACT THEM? >> IT IS INTERESTING THAT ONE OF THE GAS

COMPANIES MAIN TALKING POINT IS THAT PRICES WILL STAY THE SAME. NATURAL GAS IS ONE OF THE MOST VOLATILE FOSSIL FUELS. THERE IS NO CRYSTAL BALL SAYING WHAT THE PRICES WILL DO. SECOND OF ALL,

THE RATE HE IS TALKING ABOUT, HAVING NOT COME IN FOR A RATE INCREASE IN NINE YEARS, THE DELIVERY RATES HAVE BEEN INCREASING. THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALLOWED THEM TO ADD MORE TO OUR

BILL. IN 2013, WE WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE HIGHEST COSTS FOR UTILITY CUSTOMERS IN THE COUNTRY. YOU GO TO OTHER STATES, AND PEOPLE ARE PAYING BETWEEN $40 AND $50 A MONTH ON THEIR BILL. THAT

IS THE REALITY THAT WE ARE FACING. LAST MONTH, DISCONNECT MOMENTS WENT OUT TO 5% OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. GAS BILLS ARE UNAFFORDABLE. NOW THEY ARE COMING IN, HAVING ENJOYED SIX YEARS OF RECORD

PROFITS, ASKING FOR A RECORD RATE HIKE. >> SARAH EARLIER MENTIONED THE PIPELINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. THE FEES ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUNSET IT THIS YEAR. >> THAT IS A CRITICAL PART

OF THE DECISION. HERE ARE THE FACTS. WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1850. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL TO OPERATING OUR NETWORK IS BECAUSE WE HAVE PIPES IN THE GROUND THAT WERE

INSTALLED IN THE 1800s BEFORE ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS EVEN NOMINATED TO BE PRESIDENT , BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR. IF YOU COMPARE OUR RATES TO OTHER MAJOR URBAN CITIES, WE HAVE HAD PIPES IN THE GROUND

LONGER THAN CHICAGO, NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, BOSTON. OUR PRICES REMAIN 28% BELOW AVERAGE. AND WE ARE OPERATING AN ANTIQUATED SYSTEM. AND IN INDEPENDENT FIRM HAS INDICATED AS SUCH. 80% OF

THE REMAINING IRON PIPES, THEY HAVE LESS THAN A 15-YEAR USEFUL LIFE. THAT STUDY WAS PUBLISHED IN 2020. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY AND FOR THE RELIABLE ENERGY THAT WE DEPEND ON, TO REPLACE

THESE ANTIQUATED PIPES. >> SORRY, YOUR GROUP HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR ALTERNATIVES. WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES LOOK LIKE, RATHER THAN INVESTING FURTHER IN THIS SYSTEM? >> THIS IS A

KEY POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. IS NOW REALLY THE TIME TO BE POURING MORE AND MORE MONEY INTO THIS MISMANAGED REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH HAS GONE OVER BUDGET BY BILLIONS, IT WAS NOW

ESTIMATED TO BE UPWARDS OF $11 BILLION, LEAVING US INCAPABLE OF PAYING OUR BILLS AND NOT ABLE TO HEAT OUR HOMES. IT IS A NECESSARY SERVICE. NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO SNEAK MORE COSTS INTO A

SYSTEM THAT IS UNHEALTHY. AND IF, BEFORE THE DECADE IS OUT, IT MAY BECOME OBSOLETE. >> VIRTUALLY EVERY MAJOR GAS AND UTILITY COMPANY COMES IN ASKING FOR RATE HIKES, PENDING APPROVAL

FROM THE ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION. WHAT DOES IT SAY TO YOU THAT ALMOST ALL OF UTILITY COMPANIES ARE ASKING FOR A SIMILAR RATE HIKE ? >> INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE IS

IMPORTANT. WHETHER YOU LOOK AT THE GAS MAINS, THE ELECTRICAL GRID, THE WATER MAINS , WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THOSE SYSTEMS ARE SAFE AND RELIABLE. I WELCOME THE DISCUSSION,

FOR WHAT SARAH POINTED OUT, IN TERMS OF EXPECTATIONS. WHAT I'VE SEEN WITH PILOT PROGRAMS, IT COULD COST $75,000 TO CONVERT A HEATING SYSTEM OVER TO ALL ELECTRIC. NOW, THAT IS THE KIND

OF INVESTMENT THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED ON THE GRID FOR THE GRID TO HANDLE THAT AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL LOAD. THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR COSTS? I WELCOME A BROADER DISCUSSION ON WHAT THE FUTURE

HOLDS. >> I WELCOME TO HAVING A BROADER DISCUSSION. BUT WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT FOR THEY ARE. THANK YOU BOTH. >> THANK YOU. >>> UP NEXT, THE PLAN ON ADDRESSING THE

MIGRANT CRISIS. STAY WITH US. >>> CHICAGO OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE CITY HAS WELCOMED A BUS FULL OF MIGRANTS EVERY DAY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JULY, ADDING UP TO ALMOST 12,000 PEOPLE,

MOSTLY FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND OFFICIALS ARE WORKING TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS ALL WHILE FINDING PERMANENT HOUSING. WE SPOKE TONIGHT ON CHICAGO TONIGHT:

LATINO VOICES WITH BEATRIZ PONCE de LEON, DEPUTY MAYOR OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS. HERE IS A SNEAK PEEK OF OUR CONVERSATION. >> WE HAVE BEEN COVERING MIGRANTS RELOCATED FROM THE

BROADWAY ARMORY IN EDGEWATER, FOLLOWING PROTESTS, WHAT TIMELINE DOES THE CITY HAVE IN MOVING THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL SLEEPING AT POLICE SHELTERS INTO MORE PERMANENT HOUSING? >> WE

ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO EXPAND OUR SHELTERS, LOOKING FIRST AND FOREMOST AT CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES. WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES. WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE

TEMPORARY PLACES. THE BEST MOVE , WHEN YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS AT SHELTERS , WE NEED TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND RESOURCES. IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK. EVERY DAY, WE ARE TRYING TO HELP MOVE PEOPLE

INTO SHELTERS. >> SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE STILL SLEEPING IN POLICE STATIONS. OBVIOUSLY, SOME ARE BEING MOVED NOW. WHAT CHALLENGES IS YOUR OFFICE UP AGAINST? WHAT IS IN THE WAY ?

>> THE CHALLENGES ARE TREMENDOUS. THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. WE ARE COMING UP TO THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN THE FIRST BUSES ARRIVED HERE. THEY ARE BEING SENT BY THE GOVERNOR

OF TEXAS. WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE BUSES ARRIVING AT CHICAGO DOORSTEP. WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO WELCOME OUR NEW NEIGHBORS AND TREAT PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND PUT THEM ON A PATH WHERE THEY

CAN LIVE HERE IN THE CITY. >> ASIDE FROM RECEIVING ASYLUM SEEKERS, WHAT ARE THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ADDRESS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE RIGHTS, AS PART

OF YOUR CONDITION? >> I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVOCATE FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. WE ARE LOOKING AT AUTHORIZATIONS ON THIS BACKLOG OF

IMMIGRATION PROCESSES, WORKING NATIONALLY AS WELL. LOOKING AT OTHER NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS GOAL FOR THIS OFFICE TO TAKE AN

EFFECTIVE APPROACH FOR ADVOCACY FOR IMMIGRANTS. >> YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES. >>> UP NEXT, WE WILL HEAR FROM SOME NEW ACTS

PERFORMING AT ONE OF CHICAGO'S LARGEST MUSIC FESTIVALS. >>> WHERE HAVE WE BEEN, WHERE ARE WE AT, WHERE ARE WE GOING? >> WE NEED EVERYONE AND ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY,

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE TO BE THERE. >> THIS IS THE FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >>> THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE DESCENDING UPON GRANT PARK AS

LOLLAPALOOZA KICKS OFF TODAY. THE FOUR-THEY TESTABLE IS AN ANNUAL SELECTION OF MUSIC FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE. WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE INTRODUCED TO TWO LOCAL ACTS, TAKING ON THE LOLLAPALOOZA

STAGES FOR THE FIRST TIME. >> Reporter: FROM WINTER PARK FEST TO THE TASTE OF CHICAGO, THEY HAVE TOURED SOME OF THE CITIES MOST POPULAR FESTIVALS. THE BAND IS PREPARING FOR ITS BIGGEST

ONE TO DATE, LOLLAPALOOZA. IT IS THE DEBUT THAT THEIR BASEST SAID HE KNEW WOULD HAPPEN. >> WE ARE SUCH A HARD WORKING GROUP OF PEOPLE. AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE STEPPED INTO A REHEARSAL

SPACE. WE KNOW THAT WHAT WE HAD TOGETHER WAS PURELY MAGICAL. >> Reporter: EVERYONE, PICK ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND . >> EVER-CHANGING. >> GOOD. >> EXPLORED IT.

>> NICE. >> I REMEMBER WHEN DREW AND I WERE RECORDING SONGS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY. AND THOSE ARE THE MOMENTS OF BELIEF THAT LET THEM DEFINE YOU . AND

THAT JUST IS WHAT YOU FEEL ALONG THE WAY. >> Reporter: AT THE MAIN STAGE, LOCAL ARTISTS WILL SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT. >> THIS IS MY FIRST TIME PERFORMING AT LOLLAPALOOZA. I AM

DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I AM GOING TO USE BACKUP SINGERS AND, LIKE, I AM GOING TO HAVE SOME DANCERS INVOLVED. >> Reporter: DESPITE OBTAINING HER

LAW DEGREE AND PASSING THE BAR, SHE SAYS IT WAS ALWAYS IN HER PLANS TO PURSUE MORE THAN ONE CAREER. >> IT WAS LIKE, I PLANNED THIS. MY PARENTS REALLY WANTED ME TO GO TO SCHOOL. THEY

REALLY WANTED ME TO FINISH. LET ME SAY, I NEVER STOPPED RECORDING. IT WAS LIKE, OKAY, I WILL DO THIS AND I WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS. NOW I AM GOING TO DO WHAT MY HEART NEEDS. >> I AND IN

MY OWN LANE AT THE SAME TIME. BUT I HAVE SO MUCH SOUL IN MY MUSIC. ALL MY LIFE, I HAVE LOVED LAUREN HILL. IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF SOUL , A LITTLE BIT OF AFRO BEAT , IT IS JUST LIKE, I CALL IT

AFRO SOUL. >> Reporter: AFTER RELEASING HER SECOND EP THIS YEAR, SHE SAID SHE GIVES PEOPLE A SENSE OF HEALING. >> PEOPLE NEED THIS. THEY NEED TO FEEL GOOD. >> Reporter: FOR

CHICAGO TONIGHT , I AM ANGEL IDOWU. >>> THAT WILL BE A GOOD SHOW. LOLLAPALOOZA KICKS OFF TODAY IN GRANT PARK AND IT RUNS THROUGH AUGUST 6th. YOU CAN CATCH TITLE CLUB ON SATURDAY,

AND NOAH ON SUNDAY. FIRST , UP NEXT, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER. >>> IN RECENT YEARS, LEADERS AND EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN RE-EXAMINING THE WAY CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT BLACK HISTORY AND RECKONING

WITH THE WAYS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN STIFLING THAT HISTORY IN SCHOOLS. ONE TIKTOK CREATOR SAYS THAT EXPLORING LIKE HISTORY CONTENT HAS BECOME MORE THAN AN INTELLECTUAL PURSUIT, IT HAS HELPED

HIM DEAL WITH ENCOUNTERING RACES ON IN HIS OWN LIFE. >> HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT STEPPING IS? THAT WAS FOUNDED . I AM COMING IN HIGH ENERGY. I AM TELLING THE STORY. THERE WAS A PERIOD

IN TIME WHEN DRUMS WERE MADE ILLEGAL. >> Reporter: IN HIS 12 YEARS I AS A HISTORY TEACHER , HE HAS BEEN TEACHING BLACK HISTORY TO HIS STUDENTS. HE SAYS THAT LEARNING BLACK HISTORY

SAVED HIS LIFE. ANTI- RACISM WORKSHOPS AND TIKTOK, HE IS LOOKING TO DO THAT FOR OTHERS. >> I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN CHICAGO AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO TAKE A

BLACK HISTORY COURSE, AND I WAS LEARNING SO MUCH, IT WAS LIKE SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE ISSUES IN CHICAGO FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY. WHEN WE WERE FORCED OVER HERE, THERE WAS A PERIOD OF

ENSLAVEMENT, THAT IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I CAN USE TO MOVE . WHAT IF I WAS ABLE TO GIVE INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE OF MY COMMUNITY ? IT WAS A THING THAT WOULD BE USED FOR KIDS OF ALL

GENERATIONS. >> Reporter: ERNEST CRIM'S PATH TO BECOMING A CONTENT CREATOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA WAS DUE IN PART TO AN INCIDENT WHEN HIS WIFE AND HE WERE ATTACKED BY A WHITE VIEWER AT A

FESTIVAL. ERNEST CRIM POSTED IMAGES OF THE ASSAULT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE MAN WAS LATER CONVICTED OF ASSAULT AND BATTERY. >> I DECIDED TO MAKE A TIKTOK BECAUSE I KNEW THAT WAS WHERE ALL

MY KIDS WERE. ALL OF MY STUDENTS ARE ON THERE. AND IT TOOK OFF. >> Reporter: ERNEST CRIM 'S TIKTOK ENTRIES CONTEXTUALIZE CURRENT EVENTS. >> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, DO NOT

FORGET TO MENTION THAT BUFFALO WAS AN EPICENTER THAT >> Reporter: JUDGING BY HIS MORE THAN 375,000 FOLLOWERS, THE CONTENT IS STRIKING A CHORD. ERNEST CRIM REFLECTS ON THE IMPORTANCE

OF SEEING BLACK STORIES PROMINENTLY DEPICTED IN AMERICAN HISTORY. >> THIS IS WHERE MY FAMILY STORY STARTS IN RECENT HISTORY. MY FAMILY CAME TO CHICAGO ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN THE 1950s.

>> Reporter: BY MAKING BLACK HISTORY MORE VISIBLE TO ALL, ERNEST CRIM SAID HE IS DOING HIS PART TO CORRECT THE AMERICAN RECORD. >> I WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT EDUCATION

STARTS HERE, FIRST AND FOREMOST. LISTEN, WE UNDERSTAND WHEN WE SAFE U.S. OR AMERICAN, WE ARE STARTING FROM A EURO -CENTRIC NARRATIVE. AS OPPOSED TO BE IN TAUGHT IN CONJUNCTION, BECAUSE WE

WERE HERE BEFORE THIS COUNTRY WAS EVEN A NATION. WE WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND OUR HISTORY. >> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT , THIS IS ERICA HENDERSON. >>> DO NOT FORGET TO SIGN

UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFINGS . YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON OUR WEBSITE , WTTW.COM/NEWS. YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW AS A PODCAST OR ON THE CHICAGO PBS APP. JOIN US FOR CHICAGO

TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, ALSO FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW, AND FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES. FOR ALL OF US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN. STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE. THANK YOU FOR

WATCHING. >>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A