Chicago Speaks August 9th 2026

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
V one O three presents Chicago Speaks with your Host
Darryl Dinard. This program is designed to address issues that
affect you. Your opinions matter, toll free at eight three
three five nine one V one O three. The views
and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the station,
it's management, sponsors, or iHeartMedia in.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hello and welcome to Chicago Speaks. Your communications Condywood for
speaking to the issues impacting our community. I'm your host,
Daryl Denard. It is Sunday, August ninth, twenty twenty six,
mostly cloudy with afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

Speaker 3 (00:32):
Are high in the mid eighties.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Currently it's sixty seven degrees. Chicago is home to many
national and international treasures. This morning will introduce you to
one such individual, Homer Bryant. Here's Chicago Multicultural Dance Center
has trained generations of black dance professionals. And we'll take
your calls on the top news stories of the week,

(00:55):
including the ever expanding pool of candidates hoping to become
Chicago's next to mayor. And we'll close out our talks
learning about how HBCUs are owed hundreds of millions of
dollars in education funding. So, as is the case every
Sunday morning, there is a lot to speak to and
we begin with stories of segregation. Chicago has the dubious

(01:17):
distinction of being considered one of the most segregated cities
in the United States. In fact, it was the University
of Chicago's sociologists that point the phrase hyper segregation. Well,
there is a wonderful book out called Don't Go, Stories
of Segregation and How to Disrupt It. And here is

(01:37):
our intern with Northwestern University, Cash Coal, with more about it.

Speaker 4 (01:42):
This is Cash's Coal reporting for Chicago's Speaks in Chicago Insight.
When talking about exploring the culturally rich city of Chicago,
don't go are two words that often precede conversations around
the city's South and West sides. This phrase has become
so prevalent that many fail to take a step back
and ask why Chicago has a long history with segregation.

(02:04):
After the Great Migration, racially restrictive covenants and real estate
prevented the sale to or occupation of certain peoples, usually
African Americans, in different areas of the city. These segregation
is real estate practices and the racism that has long
existed in American society have led to non Chicagoans and
even some Chicagoans who are white or otherwise unfamiliar with

(02:25):
the South and West Sides to develop negative perceptions of
the areas. When one takes a deeper look into the
history of the South and West Sides and the stories
of the people living there today, they'll find that the
words don't Go have prevented them from connecting with parts
of Chicago that are alive with diverse and rich culture
that deserves to be explored.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Thank you, Cash, and joining us this morning are to
Nika Lewis Johnson and doctor Maria Kresen, and they are
the authors of the book as well as Cash Cole
joining us, I want to first begin with you, Taniko,
what was the inspiration behind creating this book Don't Go
Stories of segregation and how to disrupt it?

Speaker 5 (03:06):
Well, funny enough, you mentioned Cash went to Northwestern, and
that is you know, the ultimate inspiration to creating this
book is because I was presenting about my artistic projects
to a group of Northwestern freshmen. In this particular class,

(03:29):
the freshmen were mostly white, majority of them were not
from Chicago, from other Midwestern cities, and I asked them
the question, have you been told to not go to
the South Side of Chicago or that it's dangerous? And
the entire class raised their hand And I had that

(03:50):
session recorded and shared it on my social media. But
the reason that I did is because it really bothered
and hurt me to know that these kids, who were
really just a couple of years older than my children
at the time, that they were being given this advice,
not knowing that it's racist, and they're thinking that it's

(04:12):
just because of safety, and clearly these are smart kids,
and I just really wondered how long would it be
before they challenged that advice.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
The thing I find, Maria so alarming about Chicago is
that there is very little interaction between the ethnic and
racial communities.

Speaker 6 (04:38):
That's what segregation does, right.

Speaker 3 (04:40):
I grew up around little Italy.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
I grew up around Broadway and Alphabet City and things
of that nature. So it was almost forced based on
proximity that you had to learn about various cultures and
dispel myths associated with those cultures.

Speaker 6 (04:56):
So what's different about Chicago?

Speaker 7 (04:58):
I mean, I think density is the big is one
the big sort of initial reactions I have. New York
is also very segregated. But like you said, it's a
couple of stuff subway stops away and you're in a
completely different space.

Speaker 6 (05:09):
I've always thought.

Speaker 7 (05:10):
New York is a different is in kind of a
different category in Chicago is more like a lot of
other cities around the country that are also similar segregated.

Speaker 5 (05:20):
Yes, totally, New York is in a league.

Speaker 6 (05:24):
And category all of it.

Speaker 5 (05:25):
So Chicago is the major city that reflects how a
lot of other cities across the country are segregated in look,
especially in the Midwest, which is why this issue resonates
a lot to people from Detroit, Ohio cities down south. So, yeah,

(05:49):
it is very different than New York.

Speaker 2 (05:51):
What do we say to Nika about the argument, Oh,
where we had so much going on during segregation, When
we look at Bronzeville and thriving neighborhoods and the Huntreds
and things of that sort, we had doctors and lawyers
and businesses there. That really wasn't always the case.

Speaker 5 (06:11):
No, Well, the success of those amazing economically thriving, artistic
neighborhoods towns.

Speaker 6 (06:23):
Not just in Chicago but across the country.

Speaker 5 (06:25):
The unfortunate demise of those towns was because of hate.
And this book is attempting to address the byproduct of
decades of racism and hate, which is fear. You need
fear in order to encourage that kind of hate, and

(06:47):
so this book is addressing the fear. Because you can
educate people out of fear, you can't educate people out
of hate. And so there is kind of a false
reality of you know, how we fantasize about the way
in which black people were thriving during segregation. They were

(07:11):
struggling and fighting against hate, and even though they were successful,
ultimately hate was the demise of all of those places.

Speaker 8 (07:19):
So it's not.

Speaker 5 (07:20):
Something that we should just act like, was you know,
an amazing period in our history. It showed us the possibility,
but it wasn't able to maintain because of hate.

Speaker 6 (07:33):
And that's what we want to address.

Speaker 5 (07:35):
How people can prevent the byproduct of hate, which is fear.

Speaker 3 (07:39):
How do we do that, Maria?

Speaker 7 (07:41):
So, I mean, I'm going to step back a little
bit and sort of just say, you know, as a researcher,
I've spent decades crunching numbers and creating reports that land
on things like the hyper segregated nature of our city,
and I think that our book, I'll just say so.
The short answer is we start by people reading our book.

(08:01):
And why I think our book is valuable is because
while those data and everything are important in the history
and the scholarship that shows us the causes and consequences
of segregation, this book is full of stories of people
who are confronting that fear and doing something to overcome it.

Speaker 6 (08:23):
So they're examples.

Speaker 7 (08:24):
Right, It's hard to see yourself in a statistic, but
in this book we have stories of everyday people. These
are not famous people. They're wonderful human beings, but they're
not you know, activists and organizers.

Speaker 6 (08:38):
And all that.

Speaker 7 (08:38):
And they're telling stories of, Yes, this is the fear
that I had, and in the case of white people,
it's the fear that white people.

Speaker 6 (08:46):
Had of going into black neighborhoods.

Speaker 7 (08:48):
And I'm willing to admit that, I'm willing to admit
I was racist. I'm willing to admit I was afraid.
I'm willing to admit I was going to be embarrassed.
And people reading those stories can see themselves in that story.

Speaker 6 (09:00):
They can say, oh, I used to think that.

Speaker 7 (09:01):
Or I did think that, or I do think that,
and then it's a story that shows how someone said
I was afraid, and I figured out a way to
overcome it. I went where I wasn't supposed to go,
and I realized an amazing experience or with a nothing.

Speaker 6 (09:17):
It was just like it. Nothing happened, like none of
the things I thought were going to happen to me.

Speaker 3 (09:21):
Happy, Oh together.

Speaker 2 (09:22):
I want to thank our guests this morning for joining
us and nothing but the best for you.

Speaker 6 (09:26):
And also, how can we get the book online?

Speaker 5 (09:29):
You can go to Barnes and Noble. You can also
go to Amazon, but anywhere the books are sold online.
And you can also check in with our publisher Poality Press.

Speaker 9 (09:42):
That is doctor Maria Crison, as well as Tanika Lewis Johnson,
authors of the book Don't Go Stories of Segregation and
how to Disrupt it, as well as our good researcher
Cash Cole.

Speaker 3 (09:56):
Thank you so much for joining us this morning.

Speaker 10 (09:57):
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Speaker 11 (09:59):
Mab.

Speaker 2 (10:00):
Coming up, we'll introduce you to the Chicago Dance treasure
that is Homer Bryant.

Speaker 3 (10:05):
Please stay with us.

Speaker 1 (10:07):
Chicago Speaks with Daryl Donard. You can voice your opinion
right now toll free at eight three three five nine
to one V one o three Live from the Northwestern
Medicine V one O three Studios. A better way to
start today. Now back to Chicago Speaks with Daryl Denard
share what's on your mind? Toll free at eight three, three,

(10:28):
five nine one V one oh three.

Speaker 3 (10:33):
Welcome back.

Speaker 2 (10:33):
It's Sunday, August ninth and sixty seven degrees and you're
listening to Chicago Speaks. Chicago is a world class city,
not just for its architecture, arts, sports, commerce, and politicians,
but also the individuals who make up the fabric that
is the Windy City. Joining me this morning is a
true Chicago treasure who has enriched the city's already formidable

(10:56):
dance scene for decades. Here's our intern with Northwest University,
Evan Blake, with more.

Speaker 12 (11:02):
Evan Blake reporting for Chicago Speaks and Chicago Insight. Dance
has long been a tool for expression, but in the
right hand, it becomes a tool for opportunity. A Chicago
dance center is training the next generation of black dancers,
creating pre professional pathways designed around each student's potential. This
is Evan Blake reporting.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
Thanks Evan, and joining us this morning is Homer Briant.
Founder of the Chicago Multicultural Dance Center and creator of
the international dance sensation known as hip Lay, which has
been viewed by the world on America's Got Talent.

Speaker 6 (11:35):
Homer.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
Always a pleasure to talk to you, my friend. How
are you doing, sir?

Speaker 13 (11:39):
Good morning, my friend, and thank you for having me.
All is well on this end? How about yourself?

Speaker 2 (11:44):
I am doing well and even better now that I'm
talking to you. Because we have to give people their
flowers while they can still smell them, and you are
truly a treasure my friend. And I have to, by
way of personal disclosure, say that we have relationship that
goes back professionally and personally for decades. In fact, when

(12:05):
I first arrived in Chicago back in the late eighties,
I had a young daughter who was seven eight years
old at the time, and we wanted to give her
as much exposure to the Chicago cultural scene. And we
heard about this wonderful little studio that existed right off

(12:26):
Plymouth Court there in near Printer's Row, and everybody was
talking about, yeah, you got to you gotta put your
daughter in Bryant Ballet. Bryant Ballet. So take us back
in terms of how Bryant Ballet got started. But even
before that, how did you, as this international sensation in

(12:48):
terms of dance, get exposed to this career that you
love so dearly Back in Saint Thomas of the Virgin Islands.

Speaker 13 (12:59):
Back in I was always running around watching black and
white tea because that's all we had. Looking at her
to stay and Sammy Davis Junior Ginger Rogers dancing and
I would jumping on my mama's furniture, knocking things down,
and she realized I really did have a talent. My
buddy and I were pass by a ballet school and
watch the kids in the window. They were all like

(13:21):
really good, and I said, live, maybe I should be
doing that. And after the teacher says the third time,
you keep watching in the window and call the police,
I said, I really want to dance. So she arranged
for me to have a scholarship. Years later she arranged
again for me to come from Saint Thomas to go
to Jacobs Pillow in New York. This was nineteen sixty
eight that the team was assassinated. Artur Mitchell in nineteen

(13:42):
sixty nine decided to start the dance bit of Harlem.
Somebody says Arthur Mitchell is starting a company. You need
to go to Harlem. Luckily, I was living with my
cousins in Brooklyn, New York, went up to Harlem, met
mister Mitchell, and the rest is history. I danced with
dancing problem and traveled the world. I am on the
shoulders of Arthur Mitchell and Carl Shaw and Jeffrey Hold

(14:03):
and Carmen de lah Blah and Lois Johnson, of all
these great African American people that really decided that dance
was for everyone. The black person, we can do anything,
and you can.

Speaker 2 (14:15):
Because the wonderful thing about Mitchell is that he broke
down so many barriers in terms of saying that black
men and women can perform at the same level as
their white counterparts. And this very rigidly structured classical ballet.

Speaker 13 (14:35):
Mister Mitchell had a way of putting the technique on
the different body types. Dance was for everyone back then,
it still is more so now than ever. He had
this chemistry and this really gift of putting classical ballet
and black bodies. I was very fortunate.

Speaker 2 (14:54):
People cannot see this man. All right, I'm not going
to disclose this age and stuff like that, but Homer
is ageless. No, I'm be realistic. You know. Fortunately I'm slim,
you're slim, and you have the same body. Man. When
when I look at those pictures, those black and white
pictures of you in performance, man, I'm like, you look
like you could still go out there do some Plias

(15:16):
and all the Arabesque and all the rest of the
movies associated with classical dads.

Speaker 13 (15:22):
And I do because I teach every day. But your
body becomes your instrument. And if you don't care, it
is the house that you're living. If you don't take
care of it, where you're going to live. So I
watch what I eat. I watch better drink, you know,
and I try to encourage the kids to do the
same thing. I'm always drinking chlorophyling and weak grat and
stuff like. That's that's what I like to do.

Speaker 2 (15:39):
It's like what you like to do. But so let's
continue this look in terms of your timeline. When will
you hit by the bug in terms of instruction of
course with Arthur Mitchell, but then also migrating to Chicago.

Speaker 13 (15:56):
So here's the thing I left dance there of Harlem
and to do with movie with Michael Jackson down a rocks.
I think it residual. This was back in seventy eight, okay.
And after that I joined Earth a Kid in Timbuctoo
on Broadway. Isn't that amazing? Yes, Trap Country ended up
at the Pantagious Theater in la and then from there

(16:19):
I came this towards Chicago with a show called Evolution
of the Blues. It was in the theater in a
round at the Jury Lane down on Michay. Was a choreographer.
One thing led to another. I ended up joining Maria
tlchief heir in Chicago at the Chicago City Ballet. That's
what him for many years. And when that company folded,
Miss Tallchie said, I know you're going to have a

(16:39):
school one day. Take the mirrors, take the bar, take
the marley floor. That's what I did. And we came
over here to forty seven West Polk in Printer's Rope.
We've been here for thirty thirty eight years.

Speaker 3 (16:50):
Just about.

Speaker 2 (16:51):
I remember that in terms of going into the studio
and seeing, you know, all of these young girls and
then you opened it up to a few boys. But
you know, that's just the way ballet is. You know,
girls are much more attracted to doing it, but it
was just an extraordinary experience to go back all of
these years and I had the wonderful opportunity to document

(17:15):
some of that, and we'll talk about that later. But
I want to bring Evan into the conversation because she
also in terms of her family, has a personal connection
to you and also her love of dance.

Speaker 14 (17:29):
Heavan, yes, So I know that it's really important for
you to have a pre professional program for your students
at the school. And I was also put into a
pre professional dance program when I started. So why should
people know? Why is it important to have these pre
professional programs for young black dancers within their training.

Speaker 13 (17:53):
They have to know how really how it is. They
have to know how difficult to how we work and
how intensive it is in a professional environment. So you
put them in a pre professional environment like we do
here now and we have like tour prep work with
an artist press. One of my hippo ballerinas tours with
missy Elliot, Miss the Eliot. She comes back and she

(18:15):
gives back. One of my guys is that performed with
Lady Gaga. He comes back and he gives back, and
he said, this is how it is to be on tour.
This is important if you're really going to arrive to
that professional status. There are certain rules, there are certain
things you have to remember to do, or certain things
that you don't do. Focused in concentration. I tell the kids,

(18:37):
we are our our cnstors wildest dreams. We are our
ancestors wildest dreams. Imagine your ancestors never thinks that you
could be doing this at this time in your life.
So being African American and doing what we're doing is
absolutely amazing. But these and these kids have to realize
that in this professional environment, here is your pre professional

(18:59):
track that's going to get you to the next level.
That's what it's all about.

Speaker 2 (19:04):
Homer, take us in terms of a progression from how
did it change from Briant Ballet to the Chicago Multicultural
Dance Center.

Speaker 13 (19:14):
I changed it from the Very Ballet to the Chicago
Multicultural Dance Center because I had so much diversity coming
in black kids, white kids, mixed kids. You know, it
was absolutely unbelievable. So and then I have to change
the name and an I got a black from Richard
Daily mayor Daily at that time, from Bryant Ballet to
this is now the Chicago multicultural dancet because the multiculturalism

(19:38):
that was coming in through the doors, reflected through the
diversity of the children was absolutely amazing. To this day,
it's still is. And the wonderful things too is I
have a lot of white parents that have adopted black
kids over the years, and they keep coming, they keep coming,
They keep coming because they said, this child needs to
know about the culture and they need to learn it
from a black person. So we have mixed teachers here,

(19:59):
mostly black li lots of females, lots of strong males.
But is the multicultural thing that's really important to me?

Speaker 2 (20:05):
And also passing on in terms of that father instinct
that is inside of you, passing on this two children
through adulthood. And I say that because ballet is one
of those particular activities when you really have to train
a child at a young age.

Speaker 13 (20:25):
Absolutely, Daryl, and you probably know, my daughter was born
with ceibral palsy. Alma never walked, talked to krawl. I
would bring her into classes in her little wheelchair. The
music would go on, the kids would be dancing, and
you would see her little fingers moving all the time.

Speaker 2 (20:40):
I remember, Man, I remember that film. I remember filming
you and your daughter on the floor out of the wheelchair,
and you would just you know, caress her and hold her,
and you could see it in a face that she
was saying, yeah, Dad, I love you.

Speaker 13 (20:55):
She was she was into it, that she was into
dancing and movement through her little fingers. So I would
tell the kids, don't ever tell me anything hurts. You've
got to say it's slightly uncomfortable, because life will be
slightly uncomfortable. That was my therapy. So I am giving
back to all these kids with all this physical ability
and all this movement, and every time I train one

(21:15):
of them or look at one of them, I see
the potential that my daughter would arrived to and they
must tell me it doesn't hurt, it's slightly uncomfortable because
life will be slightly uncomfortable. So they are on this
journey and you'd never know where it's going to end up.
But through the discipline of dan, through the focus and
the concentration and being intentional about what you're going to do,

(21:37):
you'll get there.

Speaker 2 (21:38):
Dance is tough. It's like it's like football in a sense.
You have to really get down to the nitty gritty
and go inside and develop an inner strength as well
as an outer strength.

Speaker 13 (21:51):
And I tell the kids, yes, if you okay, some
some kids said, well, I don't want to do this anymore.
I said, we'll fine. You go to football, it's going
to be the same discipline you go to basketball. It's
going to be the coaches are going to be just
as tough as I am because they're trying to get
you to be the best that you can be. And
I always tell them, okay, be better than yourself. Who's
your favorite artist? Oh? I like beyonest, I like so

(22:13):
so well. When you're in class, pretend you're that person
because they're better than you in their head.

Speaker 3 (22:17):
You know.

Speaker 2 (22:18):
Indeed, Evan, I know you have another question.

Speaker 14 (22:21):
Yes, I was wondering, since we do have that connection
with Saint Thomas and the Virgin Islands, what's one thing
that you like to bring as a reminder back from
home into your everyday life or here in Chicago, or
in your teaching how you dance.

Speaker 13 (22:38):
I'm a product of my grandfather, so that never leaves.
I always say what would Grandpa do?

Speaker 2 (22:44):
Oh?

Speaker 13 (22:44):
I always say what would mister Mitchell do? My grandfather
was a carpenter in Saint Thomas, so he would do
a lot of stuff in his hands. I have a
creation of a points to shape air rings and breaklets
and necklaces that I've done and I'm trying to get
to market right now. That's my grandfather and me. When
it comes to choreography and teaching and doing stuff as

(23:05):
far as the dancers are going, that's the art of
Mitchell and me. So I build and put the bars
up and I put the dance floor down. That's my grandfather.
When I'm choreographing and teaching ballet, that's Arthur Mitchell. When
I get mad at the kids, my West Indian comes out.
So Saint Thomas has always with me. We went down
to Saint Croix for the uh uh centennial. Oh really yes,

(23:29):
and we performed the Saint Croix. We were there for
a week. We had such a wonderful time. As much
like I'm in touch with a lady named Carol Burke
right now. We're trying to get back there. You know,
we went to Saint Thomas. We've been to Saint Thomas
doing Hipley several times. Actually, the two hurricanes passed through.
You know, the Rifle Center is a mess right now.

Speaker 2 (23:47):
But yeah, yeah, so let's speak specifically of hip lay
and what was the inspiration because it became an international
sensation and doing part to the company's exposure on America's
Got Talent.

Speaker 13 (24:05):
Yes, but you know, back in the day, Daryl, remember
I had the Yes through Urban Gatesbays doing the rap
ballet and then don't forget, rap changed to hip hop.
So this idea came to me. Since rap changed the
hip hop, I cannot go around saying I'm the guru
of the rap bellt anymore. I thought it's ballet hip
hop hip lay. So smartly enough, we went out and

(24:28):
we got a trademark on the word hip lay. I
don't know if you remember Jada Russell, she was a
pr lady that back then. She since passed away, but
she took us to Germany. We did a me Cities
Benz commercial and stood guard in the Mississis ben Museum.
We went to Paris Fashion Week, we went to La
Fashion Week in New York Fashion Week. She said, this

(24:50):
is about the blow. Next thing, you know, we won
Good Morning in America and then America's Got Talent, you know,
and as Simon didn't like us, but we we got
to the next around and then COVID hit, you know. So,
but then we were we were doing lots of performances
and some commercials. Now there's stuff we're trying to get
back to. We're looking for sponsors, We're looking for investors,
We're looking I mean, the school is thirty eight years old,

(25:13):
just about. We're still here in the basement of the
Dearborn Street station, you know. But we're changing lives through
the discipline of dance. We are changing lives. So and
I tell people all the time, we're not only creating
good dancers or great dancers all around, we're creating better
human beings.

Speaker 3 (25:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 13 (25:31):
The wonderful thing the ultimate team takeover is to see
thirty forty kids in the dance class down in this
station in the basement. That is the ultimate team takeover.

Speaker 2 (25:41):
It truly is. So what can our listeners do, not
only to of course hopefully bring their children there, but
to support the effort. What's the best thing to find
out if.

Speaker 13 (25:53):
You don't have kids. Invest in a kid. It takes
about six thousand dollars a year for a kid to
go through the program all year round. Invest in a
sponsor a kid, sponsor two three kids. I'd love for
some corporation to come in and say, you know what,
We're going to sponsor twenty five for your kids. Let's
put them on a full scholarship because right now, sometimes

(26:14):
kids come here for free because I'm like, okay, I'm
not going to take a salary this month. This month,
let this kid go through some dance classes and then
they ended up loving it and staying and the parents
can't afford it. So we have a lot of kids here.
Sometimes I say, okay, what can we do. If I'm
teaching the kids, then I don't need to touch up
because like then money for classes. You know, I'm a salary.
I'm the one that's teaching the kids. But we have

(26:34):
some incredible teachers here in every discipline afrobeach, classical ballet,
hip hop, Latin past jazz, you know, hip hop, hip lay.
And we start kids at three. As a matter of fact,
this is the last week of our summer program and
then we start back Saturday, September twelfth. We have four

(26:56):
students here in the basement at nine o'clock on a
Saturday morning. You got the three and four year olds
in one studio, the five and six year olds in another,
and then it goes on and on and on until
five o'clock in the afternoon. The younger the kids, the
earlier they come, the older kids, the later they come.

Speaker 2 (27:09):
We go back generations because my granddaughter, in terms of
my low she went through the program and in addition.

Speaker 3 (27:18):
To Autumn's I remember her.

Speaker 2 (27:22):
Wow, and so what more can we expect in terms
of matter of fact even before that, Yeah, what more
can we expect from the Chicago Multi Cultural Dance Center?

Speaker 13 (27:34):
You know what, We would like to get out of
this basement and have our own home. We really would
And I would like to stay relatively downtown because that's
what you know saying, you have to bring kids out
of their environment and let them experience something that's new
and professional. The Jeffrey valllets down the street. You know
what I'm saying. Kids come from all over to them. Yeah,
but they have the money, they have the influence, they

(27:55):
have the connection. I would like to grow my board
of directors, get things better, head, get find a new way,
be able to pay my teachers more, be able to
pay my executive directed period. You know, is very challenging
being an African American owned organization, and trust me, the
equity and diversity thing from this administration has cost us

(28:17):
a lots of money. We're not getting the grants that
we used to. You know, it's just everybody's feeling this
this pressure and this pain, this crush. So it Yeah,
any way that people can help out there would be grateful.

Speaker 2 (28:30):
And what is the best website to go to? What
is the website to go to for more information?

Speaker 13 (28:34):
And or www dot c m dcschool dot org. And
you could also go to the Hipleotballerinas dot com and
donate and we have company is here to stay. And
then you know, we need to hire some new African
American hiplet ballerinas. That's not easy because the establishment out there.

(28:55):
There are still people that turn their nose at what
I'm doing with these girls on points your ballet peurists.
Some of them don't like Hickley. But then people are
copying us my stuff off from all over the world
right now.

Speaker 2 (29:05):
And we need another Mystic Copeland unless she's retired.

Speaker 13 (29:09):
Absolutely, absolutely, yeah.

Speaker 2 (29:11):
We got to get some black men in there in
terms of yeah, even though I know there are a
number of them in terms of doing extraordinary things, but
to reach international status.

Speaker 13 (29:22):
But I'll hear you too, I mean, listen and listen.
If they are black organizations and corporations out there that
are willing to help us and sponsor us and be
a part of what we're doing, I invite them to
come and give us a call. You know, some corporation
that you can sponsor fifty sixty kids that would be
wonderful light children.

Speaker 2 (29:40):
We definitely do. You have done an extraordinary job at
saving and also inspiring them to be the best that
they can be. We want to thank Homer Bryant as
well as Evan Blake for joining us this morning.

Speaker 13 (29:52):
Thank you so much. Remember Dance changes lives.

Speaker 15 (29:55):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (29:56):
Coming up next, we'll take your calls on the top
news stories of from the continuing war in Iran to
the ever growing pool of individuals sinking to become the
next mayor of Chicago, who you feel has the biggest
chance of winning. Call us right now with your thoughts
and comments at eight three three five nine one V
one oh three. Please stay with us.

Speaker 1 (30:18):
Chicago Speaks with Darryl Dinard. You can voice your opinion
right now toll free at eight three three five nine
to one V one oh three V one O three
presents Chicago Speaks with your host, Darryl Dennard. This program
is designed to address issues that affect you. Your opinions matter,
toll free at eight three three five nine one V

(30:41):
one O three. The views and opinions expressed are not
necessarily those of the station, it's management, sponsors or iHeartMedia in.

Speaker 3 (30:48):
And welcome back.

Speaker 2 (30:48):
Time check for you.

Speaker 3 (30:49):
Right now it is six point fifty.

Speaker 2 (30:51):
We are broadcasting live from our downtown Chicago studios throughout
Chicago Land as well as the world on our iHeartRadio
app and in also hitting us at V one oh
three dot com. It is that time of the morning
for you to speak to the issues impacting our community,
and we do so with our reporters Roundtable. Joining us

(31:12):
in the roundtable this morning our Jim Daily he is
the Better Government Associations Illinois Awareness Project Editor, as well
as Hermine Hartman, publisher of Indigo and host of Indigo Studio,
and Charles Whittaker, Professor and Dean of.

Speaker 3 (31:27):
The Middill School of Journalism.

Speaker 2 (31:29):
It is a pleasure to have all of you dedicate
to you Sunday morning, to your responsibilities to the Fourth Estate.
I guess I want to begin first with Jim. Jim,
we haven't heard your voice. Welcome back, my friend. As always,
we'd like to recount what are the top three news
stories of the week, So we trust that you have

(31:49):
a good list for.

Speaker 3 (31:50):
Us this morning.

Speaker 2 (31:51):
Take it away.

Speaker 16 (31:53):
Certainly, so locally, I think the declaration of Alexi Jennulius
jumping into the mayor's race is a big story. He's
got a huge campaign war chest and he's going to
be a serious challenge for the mayor if the mayor
decides to run again. He has not yet announced. Nationally,
I think I've been paying a lot of attention to

(32:16):
the announcement of discovery of Natasha Fortune in Mississippi. She
was found hanging in a from a tree, and it
raises a lot of questions. This is not the first
time we've we've seen this in recent years, and these
sorts of these sorts of discoveries are always very troubling
and raise a lot of questions. And then internationally, of course,

(32:38):
the the ongoing Shambalic war with Iran continues. You know,
the president seems to have no way out of that,
and that just continues to be a drag on our
on our international policy. So those are my top three stories.

Speaker 3 (32:54):
Yeahs.

Speaker 2 (32:54):
Matter of fact, we are going to elaborate, particularly on
your second pick there in terms of this young woman
that was found I believe, hanging in Mississippi.

Speaker 16 (33:04):
Yes, yes, yeah, well we'll bee tree behind an abandoned
house too.

Speaker 17 (33:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (33:10):
Incredible.

Speaker 2 (33:11):
Well we'll get you know, further details on that after
we hear from are the two colleagues this morning. In
terms of beginning first with her being Hartman hermin your top.

Speaker 13 (33:20):
Three, I hadn't.

Speaker 8 (33:22):
I hadn't heard of the hanging in Mississippi, but my
top three would be nationally, the court stopped the building
of the White House ballroom. I thought that was quite significant.
Somebody stopped the building of that. So Trump has been stopped,

(33:43):
which I think is quite significant. She is they have
revisited the case of the lady. I'm sorry, I can't.
I don't know her name from the Federal Reserve where
they're trying to take her out again. Trump is trying
to take her out again, and it's pure racism. And
I don't know why we won't say that, but it's

(34:04):
purely one hundred percent racism because she's a black woman.
And thirdly, I agree with the politicalness in Chicago with
Jim in Chicago. With the announcement of Jimulius for mayor
of the city in Chicago, we wait abated breath to
see whether Brandon Johnson will run again.

Speaker 11 (34:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (34:29):
Interesting, Charles, you have three picks.

Speaker 11 (34:33):
Good morning, Daryl, Jim, hermine everyone and be on the panel.
Let's see my three picks. Yeah, the mayor's race. It's
hard not to make that one of your top picks.
Julius certainly makes it more interesting the fact that the
mayor has not declared his intentions while at the same
time having lost many key members of his administration, the

(34:56):
Superintendent of Police, budget direct It's a critical time for
the mayor's office, and so everyone will be focused on
what happens in that race going forward. The confirmation of
Todd Blanche as Attorney General would be my national story.

(35:17):
I think that is going to have tremendous implications for
the country. He had a slip of the tongue during
his confirmation hearing in which he called himself the President's
attorney and not the country's attorney, which is what the
US attorney is supposed to be. I think that is
the way Todd Blanche has behaved as the President's attorney

(35:38):
and has weaponized US Attorney's office, and that will continue
her meanings. Example of the continued prosecution of the General
Reserve Officer as well as Jim Comey is an indication
of the word don Lemon.

Speaker 2 (36:00):
Lemon whose attorneys went to court thank you near the
end of the week to say, you know, it's vindictive persecution.

Speaker 11 (36:08):
Yeah, yeah, So that will Todd blanches confirmation is really
key and we'll have great implications for the country going forward.
And then back to local news. Just looking at the
finances of Chicago Public.

Speaker 10 (36:28):
Schools in the midst of an impending school board election,
the schools are.

Speaker 11 (36:37):
Seven hundred and thirty million dollars in debt. There's no
clear way out of that without raising taxes for cutting jobs.
Chicago Teachers Union is mobilizing to prevent more job cuts.
But it's a messy and difficult situation, and so it'll
be very curious to see how we wind our way

(36:59):
out of them. Around that is the budget deficits of
Chicago Public Schools.

Speaker 2 (37:05):
I would say I have two that weren't mentioned. One
would be the war in Iran, even though Jim did
allude to it, but literally was yesterday or the day before,
Vice President Vance was on where he made an astonishing

(37:25):
announcement with regard to the status of the war, and
he said, and I'm paraphrasing here, he said, we're in
the middle of this thing right now with regard to negotiations,
not that we're at the end, but we're in the middle.

Speaker 3 (37:40):
And I found that.

Speaker 2 (37:41):
Extraordinary, particularly in light of the hubrist that's been displayed
over the last couple of days by Iran in terms
of them saying, hey, unless these demands are met, which
include reparations for damages as well as paying back all
of the moneies that are being held in a veyance
as a result of sanctions, I found that to be

(38:03):
extraordinary there. And they said that we're going to negotiate
the opening of the Strait of Home Rus from a
position of power, and they do have the power because
of the layout of the land there. So one there
is Iran and the other one is what I considered
to be icy daja vu for a new segment of

(38:28):
our migrant and immigrant population, and that is people who
are living in fear right now, particularly with regard to
the Haitian community in terms of TSP protections and you know,
it's it's extraordinary because if you go to communities where
our Haitian brothers and sisters.

Speaker 3 (38:49):
Reside, they're living in fear.

Speaker 2 (38:53):
And this not only applies here in Chicago, but it
applies across the country. In Florida right now is a
ghost town because of TPS. And it's something that I
find extraordinary because here you have a Republican governor in

(39:15):
Ohio and he said that this particular population was a
major contributor to the state of Ohio and that they
were a stellar in terms of being outstanding residents and
many of them citizens, And it just it puts people

(39:37):
and I really want to hear from our public this
morning about that in terms of you have to have
empathy because everybody is the same, whether we want to
admit it or not.

Speaker 3 (39:52):
And you know, for people to all they.

Speaker 2 (39:54):
Want to do is literally seek a better life. And
if you don't think things are bad in Haiti, you
just not are dealing with reality. Haiti is in our
western hemisphere, literally right there in the Caribbean and so
close to us, but yet we just.

Speaker 3 (40:16):
Tend to not only.

Speaker 11 (40:17):
And we'll have great implications for the country going forward
and then back to local news just looking at the
finances of Chicago Public.

Speaker 10 (40:29):
Schools in the midst of an.

Speaker 11 (40:33):
Impending school board election. The schools are seven hundred and
thirty million dollars in debt. There's no clear way out
of that without raising taxes, cutting jobs. Chicago Teachers Union
is mobilizing to prevent more job cuts. But it's a

(40:54):
messy and difficult situation, and so it'll be very curious
to see how we wind our way. Of them are
asked that is the budget deficits at Chicago.

Speaker 2 (41:03):
Public schools, I would say I have two that weren't mentioned.
One would be the war in Iran, even though Jim
did allude to it, but literally was yesterday or the
day before. Vice President Vance was on where he made

(41:23):
an astonishing announcement with regard to the status of the war,
and he said, and I'm paraphrasing here, he said, we're
in the middle of this thing right now with regard
to negotiations, not that we're at the end, but we're
in the middle. And I found that extraordinary, particularly in
light of the hubrist that's been displayed over the last

(41:47):
couple of days by Iran in terms of them saying, hey,
unless these demands are met, which include reparations for damages
as well as paying back all of the moneies that
are being held in abeyance as a result of sanctions.
I found that to be extraordinary there, and they said
that we're going to negotiate the opening of the strait

(42:10):
of home us from a position of power, and they
do have the power because of the layout of the
land there. So one there is Iran and the other
one is what I considered to be icy daja vu
for a new segment of our migrant and immigrant population,

(42:30):
and that is people who are living in fear right now,
particularly with regard to the Haitian community in terms of
TSP protections. And you know, it's it's extraordinary because if
you go to communities where our Haitian brothers and sisters reside,

(42:51):
they're living in fear. And this not only applies here
in Chicago, but it applies across the country. Litl Haiti
in Florida right now is a ghost town because of TPS.
And it's something that I find extraordinary because here you

(43:14):
have a Republican governor in Ohio and he said that
this particular population was a major contributor to the state
of Ohio and that they were a stellar in terms
of being outstanding residents and many of them citizens, and

(43:36):
it just it puts people. And I really want to
hear from our public this morning about that in terms
of you have to have empathy because everybody is the same,
whether we want to admit it or not. And you know,
for people to all they want to do is literally

(43:57):
seek a better life. And if you don't think things
are bad and Haiti, you just not are dealing with reality.
Haiti is in our western hemisphere, literally right there in
the Caribbean and so close to us, but yet we
just tend to not only ostracize it, but ignore it.

(44:20):
And these are people that are fleeing just horrific political
persecution and more importantly a ravaging of the infrastructure due
to hurricanes and earthquakes, and we have to say, where
is our compassion on this front. I want to begin
first and get your thoughts. We'll begin with her mean

(44:43):
in terms of just Haiti, and then I want to
get into that story that Jim talked about with regard
to the woman found hanging from a tree in Mississippi.
But mean, are we doing enough in terms of dealing
with the plight of our hate in residents.

Speaker 8 (45:01):
No, we're not We're not doing enough. And I dare say, Darryl,
it's racist. The Haitians, of course, are black, and I think,
you know, good old American racism is alive and well,
and the Haitians are being dismissed, ignored, and it has

(45:21):
a lot to do with the color of their skin.
That's the new America, that's where America is right now.

Speaker 3 (45:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (45:29):
I go back to World War Two though, Yeah, I
go back to World War two when you had the
US airlifts over Europe, and also just how American gis
opened up their compassion to people that were in Japan.

Speaker 3 (45:47):
So it's you know, it's sad.

Speaker 2 (45:49):
It's a sad reality and a sad slip in terms
of you know, falling into that category of the ugly
American exactly.

Speaker 8 (46:01):
You delineated it very well.

Speaker 3 (46:05):
Yeah, Jim.

Speaker 2 (46:06):
In terms of where are we right now, I know
that you have your finger on the pulse of local
stories and in terms of this TPS situation with regard
to Haitian residents here, not only here in Chicago, but
across the country.

Speaker 16 (46:23):
Yeah, stays here in Chicago, and you know, across the country,
and as hermine said, it's nothing other than pure unadulterated
racism from the administration that hates Haitians a first of all,
because they're black people. And second of all, you know,

(46:44):
white supremacists have always hated Haiti because it's the first
successful slave rebellion that liberated that country, and white supremacists
have been trying to make him pay for that ever since.
And it's part of the reason that Haiti does not
get the support that it needs when it's hit with
natural disasters. And it certainly informs the policy here where
they're rescinding temporary protective status from folks who are absolutely

(47:08):
refugees from a political situation and an environmental disaster that
we owe you know, service to as our brothers and
sisters on the planet and also in the chemisphere that
we have a responsibility towards. And as you said, they
of course have been productive members of American society, and
that of course has nothing to do with the decision

(47:29):
because you know, as we said, it's purely racist.

Speaker 11 (47:34):
Yeah, as you said, Daryld, these are three hundred and
fifty thousand people who've been living here legally. I mean
they were here with legal status, who by all accounts,
were productive members of all of the societies, all of
the communities that they belonged to, and with the stroke
of an executive order, they were made criminals. And now,

(47:57):
as you said, they are at hiding, they're unable to
work again. People who were contributing to the society now
are no longer longer able to do so, and that
is unconscionable.

Speaker 2 (48:12):
Do you think we as a black community in Haitians
of course are enveloped in that community that I speak of,
But do you think that indigenous when I say indigenous
people that are US citizens, Black US citizens, do you
think that we're doing enough? Do you think that we're
opening up our hearts enough here?

Speaker 11 (48:34):
I don't think it's not enough people's radar. I don't
think it's not enough people's radar. I think this is
a story that has not been trumpeted enough. I don't
think we've talked about the consequences of it. And even
as you said, you know the governor of Ohio who
gave his endorsement of the Haitians who've been living there,

(48:57):
there's been no pushback. There's certainly been no public can
push back on this policy, even though he said that
you know, these have been productive members of Springfield, Ohio
in particular, which Trump advance said, where Trump advanced diad
the Haitians were eating the dogs and cats. So we
haven't allowed that story to really resonate, I think the

(49:20):
way it should. We aren't at the moment seeing Haitians
being dragged off the streets. But we also have a
moment in the ice enforcement where Mark Wayne Mullen is
operating a lot more quietly than Christinome. And so even
though lots of the deportations and detentions have ramped up

(49:42):
to the tune of two thousand a day, we aren't
seeing it. They are doing it much more quietly than
Greg Bovino and Christinome did. So we're not seeing the
same level. We're not hearing about the same level of
care that's being wracked throughout communities.

Speaker 16 (50:00):
Yeah, I want to jump in and say.

Speaker 3 (50:03):
Go ahead, Jim, of course we want to.

Speaker 16 (50:04):
I just wanted to say, you know, we do have
a Haitian community in Chicago, and we can wrap our
arms around them. There's a number of really good Haitian
restaurants on the North Side. I know on the south
side of one hundred and fifth in Halstead, there's lee
Ores Castes.

Speaker 11 (50:17):
Excellent.

Speaker 16 (50:17):
We'll go there, spend our money and have have a
wonderful meal too.

Speaker 2 (50:23):
Yeah, you're right, and it's so important because the thing
that hurts me most is is just the forced, self
imposed isolation that this creates. People are scared to walk
out on the street. So how do you get to
work when you're afraid that if you go to work

(50:45):
that somebody will pull up an ice car or ice
vehicle and snatch you.

Speaker 3 (50:52):
And here it is.

Speaker 2 (50:53):
You've been here for years, have roots many times, have
children that were born here, and you are afraid of
being uprooted there. I just want people to have a
sense of compassion. Let's hear from Pam right now. Pam
is calling from Chicago. Hey, Pam, we appreciate you calling
and joining this discussion right now, just waiting.

Speaker 3 (51:16):
For you to get into the queue. Yeah, Pam, you're
on Chicago Speaks.

Speaker 15 (51:20):
Yeah, good morning. I agree with all of the guests
and those top stories. There are so many going on.
But I'd like to think also that the top story
is that when the stock market crashes, it becomes a
major story in the media and is reported on. Where
the life of everyday citizens is crashing.

Speaker 11 (51:41):
Darryl.

Speaker 15 (51:43):
That benefits cut people are not eating, people can't afford healthcare.
That ought to be a major story that is on
everybody's radar, but it doesn't get reported on enough. And
so we have a person in the White House who
is a sociopath who looks at compassion and benevolence as

(52:04):
a weakness. He said that the Haesan people were eating
cats and dogs, and he said this at a public debate,
and still seventy seven or seventy eight million people voted
for that. So we're in major trouble. We all have
to buckle down and be concerned and do all that

(52:25):
we can. And now the DOJ is going to be
even more corrupt. Lastly, I want to leave you with
please leave on the radar that the Epstein Transparency Act.
There are people who are filing lawsuits. Katie Fang is
one of them. Many others are filing lawsuits and they
are winning. We are in a country that we know

(52:47):
about major wealthy people, sex trafficking, children raising children. There
are credible allegations against the person in the White House,
but we can't get those out allegations investigated because you
have a corrupt Republican It's not even a party anymore.
For me, it's just a fashion tea group. And these

(53:08):
are my words, not anybody else's, because I don't want
you all to have to answer to that. But we're
in some very turbulent times. The war is ciphering all
of our money. They say that our weapons are depleted.

Speaker 8 (53:26):
I mean, he is.

Speaker 15 (53:27):
Trying to destroy this country, and we have to call
it what it is, Daryl, And I'd just like to
hear the comments from your guests. Thank you.

Speaker 2 (53:35):
Yeah, you're very welcome there, Pam. In terms of Charles,
what Pam had to say with regard to I don't
think we're truly comprehending the impact financially as well as
from a logistics standpoint of this current war in Iran.

(53:56):
Our defensive missiles, which are you know, billion dollars in costs,
have been the stockpile has been decimated.

Speaker 11 (54:06):
Yeah, there are. There have been stories actually written about that.
The problem with covering the Trump administration is that they
blood the zone. With so many outrageous things happening at once,
it is hard to actually to zero in on one

(54:26):
and make that you know, issue a clarion call for
this particular outrage that has happened on any given day.
And with a media ecosystem that is somewhat depleted anyway,
it is very difficult for us to you know, cover

(54:48):
the water front and keep everyone's attention focused on all
of the things that are happening to us on a
daily basis. Pam mentioned another really important story, and that's
the loss of snap benef fits. We're going to see
the full effect of that going into coming into play
this ball. We're already seeing it, but we will see

(55:10):
even more. And so millions of families are going to
be food insecure, are and will continue to be food
insecure as a result of the kind of draconian policies
that have been implemented to make it so much harder
for people to even qualify. But the tremendous cuts that

(55:31):
happen to those benefits as well. And again that story's
fallen way down on the list because we're looking at
the war in Iran and in the Middle East, we
are looking at again looking at the water crisis in
terms of our water supply. It's like them TVs for
Haitians that can continued ice rates so much the ballroom,

(55:56):
so much is happening.

Speaker 2 (56:00):
Change, Yeah, exactly, But we are going to be focused
like a laser on two stories in particular on the
other side of the break. They include the hanging of
a young black woman from a tree in Mississippi, and
the other is the mayor's race to become the next
mayor of Chicago.

Speaker 3 (56:19):
You're listening to Chicago Speaks.

Speaker 2 (56:20):
Call us right now at eight three three five nine
to one V one oh three.

Speaker 3 (56:24):
We'll be right back.

Speaker 1 (56:27):
Chicago Speaks with Darryl Dinard. You can voice your opinion
right now toll free at eight three three five nine to.

Speaker 18 (56:34):
One V one o three.

Speaker 1 (56:36):
Now back to Chicago Speaks with Daryl Dinard. Share what's
on your mind toll free at eight three three five
nine one V one oh three.

Speaker 3 (56:46):
And welcome back. Time check for you. Right now it
is seven twenty one.

Speaker 2 (56:49):
We are talking about the top news stories of the week.
One of them was presented to us from our good
friend Jim Daily, and it was that of the mysterious
death of twenty nine year old Tastes of Fortune. She
was a woman who was found hanging in a tree
or from a tree behind a vacant home in Jackson, Mississippi,

(57:11):
on Monday. Now, this follows another mysterious death in Mississippi,
that of eighteen year old Nolan Wells that happened on
the fourth of July. Jim fill us in on what's
happening here.

Speaker 16 (57:25):
So it's still very preliminary. But the tragedy here is
that this young woman, she was twenty nine years old.
I've seen her name variously reported as Tasha Fortune. No,
I'm sorry as Tasha Fortune, and yeah, she was. She
was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned house

(57:48):
in Remembrance, Mississippi. So there have been calls for federal
investigators to probe this as a potential hate time. The
family has a go fund me to pay for her
internment and burial. And you know, this is just the latest,

(58:11):
as you said, in a very troubling you know string
that that spans years. But it's still a pattern of
young black people being missing and murdered in the South,
and so there's many questions that remain. And and yeah,
that's about where we're at.

Speaker 2 (58:29):
And we need to keep our really ears and eyes
fixed on developments of that story before we get to
the marriage race we're going to hear from Alfred. Alfred
is calling from the great city of Chicago, and Alfred,
you're coming with the question this morning.

Speaker 17 (58:47):
Yeah about weapons that stock power is low. Americans apply
in Ukraine with weapons.

Speaker 2 (58:57):
You gotta war.

Speaker 11 (58:58):
Mark is involved in war.

Speaker 17 (59:00):
Let's get this craz and with the hate in this
came into America. It was temporary, temporary, that's not telligenship
was temporary.

Speaker 6 (59:13):
When you use the word temper.

Speaker 17 (59:14):
Red, I mean that permitive.

Speaker 2 (59:17):
Well, you know, I think that Alfred, you're mixing what
is the intent of the legislation. The legislation is designed
and Charles, you can help me here. It's temporary protective status,
meaning that until things now you're going to tell me,

(59:38):
with regard to your analogy that you're using right now,
that things have gotten better in Haiti since they've been
here in America. I don't in Haiti, I wouldn't know, Okay,
all right, all right, Well I can tell you that
based on but you know what I do believe in journalists,
journalists that covered the story in Haiti, and Haiti actually

(01:00:02):
is still as bad as what it was when these
individuals left. Charles, this is you know, I'm trying to
understand here, and Alfred, I appreciate your thoughts. Man, I'm
not doing this to try to signal you out, but
we mix understandings of the intent of the law in
terms of what it was designed to do, and then

(01:00:25):
we end up castigating a whole community.

Speaker 11 (01:00:32):
Yeah, I mean, Haiti, as you suggested, is essentially a
failed state. There has not been a functioning government in
Haiti since the assassination of the last president, and armed
armed guards have been taking over Haiti. They are essentially
roaming the country with abandoned The airport is almost you're

(01:00:56):
sending Haitians back to Haiti. The airport is almost non functioning.
And it's just said, the infrastructure has been devastated by
natural disasters like hurricanes, and so it is not a
state that is safe for anyone to return to. And
while as the caller in the Alfred indicates, the status

(01:01:20):
is deemed temporary protection status, these are it is impossible
for these people to return, for these people who we
have embraced compassionately to return to that state and for
the foreseeable future. Now, unless the US government, which is

(01:01:40):
complicit in sort of the decades and decades of atrocities
that have happened in Haiti under the de Valiers and
then moving particularly plans exactly unless the international community is
going to come forward and try to stabilize, Hey, there
really is no place for these individuals to go.

Speaker 2 (01:02:04):
Yeah, and that's it's it's temporary because it's designed to say, hey,
you stay here until things can get better in your country.
I think that's the intent of the law. Why would
it why would it exist if it if it didn't
suggest that because people don't realize. But many people that

(01:02:27):
come from people or places outside of the United States,
they long to be back in their homeland. But sometimes
the conditions are intolerable. But let's shift gears right now.
And Alfred, I appreciate you calling my friend in terms
of your thoughts there.

Speaker 3 (01:02:43):
I want to.

Speaker 2 (01:02:43):
Shift gears and look at the ever expanding pool of
individuals who are hoping to occupy the fifth floor of
City Hall in Chicago. And as you guys were mentioning
this week, it really grew by two. I just want
to give our listeners an understanding of the nine people

(01:03:04):
that have officially declared a run for becoming the next
mayor of Chicago. They include doctor Lisa Nie she's a cardiologist.
Joel Hoilberg who is an entrepreneur. We also have Liam Stanton,
he's an entrepreneur. We have matt Throw Matthew Brewer who
is a business person and he's a former CHA board chair.

(01:03:26):
George Cardanis who is the Cook County Board of Review commissioner,
and former alderman. Mike Quigley who is a current US representative.
We also have Susanna Mendoza who is the current controller.
Willie Wilson, who is somebody that's run in the last
three or four mayoral elections, who's an outstanding businessman, in

(01:03:49):
philanthropists and at least many consider to be at the
top of the list because of his overwhelming war chess.
And that is the current secretor Area State, Alexi Janulius.
So hemim, you've covered Chicago politics dating back to the
trailblazing run of Harold Washington to become the first black

(01:04:13):
mayor of the City of Chicago.

Speaker 3 (01:04:15):
How do things look for you?

Speaker 8 (01:04:18):
So you forgot one of the candidates, and that's Maria Pappis.

Speaker 2 (01:04:24):
That's right, No, but she hasn't declared. She hasn't officially declared.

Speaker 13 (01:04:27):
Oh, oh okay, but she said that.

Speaker 3 (01:04:29):
She's going to run.

Speaker 2 (01:04:30):
But no, these are people that have actually filled out
the paperwork. That's why I didn't mention, nor did I mention,
of course, the current incumbent in terms of Mayor Johnson.

Speaker 8 (01:04:42):
So it's a lot of people running, too many, so
it's up for grabs. You have some new political faces,
people who have not ever been in politics before, and
then you've got some change faces, people who are trying
to cross over into the mayor orial office. So at

(01:05:02):
this point, I think it's a wild race. I think
it's up for grabs. And of course, if Mayor Brandon
Johnson decides to run, the race becomes another factor, absolutely
another factor. Genolius came out with a bang and with
a splash. He's got over twenty million dollars in his

(01:05:23):
coffers and so at this point he looks like the
one Willie is a spoiler of the office. But he
is a candidate, and if he is as a candidate,
he pulls from the main of Brendan Johnson with black folk.

(01:05:43):
I think it's up for grabs at this point. That
would be my analysis at this time.

Speaker 19 (01:05:49):
Jim, your reflections here, I think you know the race
obviously largely depends on whether the incumbent mayor decides to
run for reelection.

Speaker 16 (01:06:02):
I think that looking just at fundraising so far, you know,
the top three are, of course Jenulius, as Hermin said,
he's got over twenty million, Mendoza has somewhere around in
the neighborhood of like one point six one point seven
million in campaign funds according to the latest filings. And

(01:06:22):
then of course Mayor Johnson has his campaign has about
a half I think it's around six hundred million dollars
according to the latest campaign filings.

Speaker 3 (01:06:30):
Now Mayor john silli to.

Speaker 16 (01:06:33):
Sorry exactly, so he could buy the mayor.

Speaker 11 (01:06:43):
Right.

Speaker 16 (01:06:44):
So at the same time, though the mayor can has
in the past, you know, in his initial election, he
got a lot of support from Chicago Teachers Union Working
Families Party, and so that money might also help him here.
Although CTU is spending a lot in the Chicago school
board races too, So it's it remains to be seen

(01:07:04):
how deep their pockets are for this political cycle. But
that said, you know, we have the runoff system in Chicago,
and so it's very difficult to prognosticate who's even going
to be in the runoff if someone if no one
gets the majority vote in a field that's this big,
But I think it's most likely going to be Jenulius.

(01:07:26):
If Johnson declares, I think he will probably also be
in the runoff. There's a chance mendos and might get
in as well, but most likely it's going to be
Janulius in Johnson, and of course Wilson's going to draw
some votes from Johnson's base. There's a chance that mister Brewer,
the CHA former CCHA head might as well. But yeah,
it'll be a very interesting race if and when the

(01:07:48):
mayor decides to jump in. If he doesn't, that entire
calculus changes, and I think it's much more likely that
Jenulius would win in that case.

Speaker 2 (01:07:55):
What do you think about the current list of candidates
that we have, including the who that haven't announced yet.
With regard to Maria Pappus and Brandon Johnson, Charles, I
would say.

Speaker 11 (01:08:10):
Most of the people on that list are not serious contenders.
I would agree with my fellow candidates that the people
with the name recognition and the fundraising and who already
has substantial funding beneath them are probably the front runners.
My fellow panelist didn't mention Mike quickly. I wouldn't count
him out of the race just yet. I think, again,

(01:08:33):
name recognition, do you build the Democratic A long time
congressman sitting congressman also could pull some votes as well.
But again, I think a lot of those folks are
I don't know their motivation, I don't know how serious
they are about mounting these campaigns, but I would not

(01:08:56):
at the moment. I don't see anyone rising out of
nowhere to challenge the four or so people who we
four or five people we've talked about who really are
at the top of that list, and at Maria Pappas
if she does decide to throw her hat.

Speaker 13 (01:09:12):
In the ring.

Speaker 2 (01:09:14):
The one person I find interesting is Matthew Brewer. He's
an attorney, a pretty established businessman. According to some published reports,
I believe that he's one of the co owners of
the Wiener Circle and excellent place for Chicago dogs. I'm
just in the fries of fantastic. I'm not trying to

(01:09:34):
endorse anything. This is not an endorsement of it. And
he's also the former c HA board chairman, and there
was some animists there in terms of his run as
board chair between him and Johnson.

Speaker 3 (01:09:48):
If I'm not mistaken, that.

Speaker 8 (01:09:50):
Seems to be a get back at you run. That
seems to be a revengeful run in that they had
they had some problems amongst themselves, and it's like, okay, fine,
I will now challenge you for the mayor's seat. Like
you said, some of these people, you wonder why are

(01:10:10):
you running because they don't even appear to be serious candidates.

Speaker 2 (01:10:16):
Yeah, But what I also am trying to get my
head around is why do you think Mayor Johnson has
decided not to declare his candidacy so far if he's
going to run, Jim.

Speaker 16 (01:10:33):
You know, it's a good question. I think that there's
a perhaps a degree to which, as the incumbent, he
doesn't have as much pressure to declare as early as
others might. You know, it behooves other candidates to make
sure that they get their name out there early so
that people start talking about them and are at least
on their radar, you know, many months ahead of the election,

(01:10:58):
whereas the mayor has he enjoys the advantage of being
in the news almost every day every day, and so
most definitely, most definitely, and you know, the American work
on getting his message out before he puts a you know,
a target directly.

Speaker 11 (01:11:16):
On his back.

Speaker 16 (01:11:17):
But that's not to say that the other candidates are
not already taking pot shots at him, you know, as
much as they can. I mean, Janulius was trashing the
mayor's administration in France Neelman's column last week when he
was declaring, so you know, the mayor is going to
be a target. I think it would probably if he
is going to.

Speaker 13 (01:11:34):
Win a run.

Speaker 16 (01:11:34):
Rather, it would probably be a good idea to declare
soon so that he can he can start gathering support,
you know, because right now his supporters throughout the neighborhoods
are kind of in limbo seeing what's going to happen
and whether they can stick with him or choose someone else. So,
you know, it's it's interesting. I think, you know, it
probably goes without saying that the incumbent would run for reelection.

(01:11:56):
It would be surprising, and I think I'm precedented, at
least in my lifetime for an incumbent not to seek reelection.
You know, I think maybe Gene Sawyer didn't run for reelection,
but but that was mainly the only incumbent in my life.

Speaker 11 (01:12:08):
Ro Sommanuel didn't run.

Speaker 3 (01:12:13):
He did run.

Speaker 2 (01:12:13):
He DIDs right, No, he had to.

Speaker 3 (01:12:15):
He had two terms, but he did run.

Speaker 11 (01:12:17):
But he did. He could run in perpetuity, he did,
but he didn't forever. Well, he could at.

Speaker 9 (01:12:25):
Least for he didn't run for at least for initial
at least for initial re election.

Speaker 11 (01:12:29):
He didn't run for at least two terms.

Speaker 2 (01:12:33):
Yeah, and of course we know what happened there. But
now he's also considered to be a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for president.

Speaker 3 (01:12:41):
So that's interesting. I want to close.

Speaker 2 (01:12:45):
I want to close out in terms of really getting
your thoughts on the tertiary impact in terms of these
cutbacks with regard to SNAP benefits, because we're really looking
at crisis in terms of deserts have become even more parts.
Food deserts have become even more parch. In terms of

(01:13:08):
the devastating cuts to SNAP, you had the Save a Lot.

Speaker 3 (01:13:13):
Seven Save a.

Speaker 2 (01:13:14):
Lot stores closed their doors that were located in areas
that depended heavily on people spending their SNAP benefits to
purchase food. There you have corner stores. And also because
of these smashing grabs, people don't realize it, but in

(01:13:34):
many food deserts there also exists the reality of people
trying to purchase food from gas stations they're closing, and
how long are they going to be around given the
price of gas, and also the fact that they depended
on people using snap benefits. I just think that this

(01:13:54):
is kind of like a rolling snowball.

Speaker 8 (01:13:57):
I mean, well, you know, we usually think, or in
the past, we have thought about the government as your friend.
The government has become the enemy of the people, and
we no longer have a friendly government to assist. We
have the government as the enemy. And this administration, federal administration,

(01:14:20):
has been so destructive and it just looks like a
pinpoints negativity. How can we be harmful? How can we hurt?
Trump has taken the government and made it his personal
business from being angry at people. What I looked at
some of the hearings, I couldn't get through all of

(01:14:40):
them with doctor Fosse just absolutely horrendous. You look at
what Bobby Kennedy is doing and eliminating some of the
vaccines for ailments that have been absolutely cured one hundred percent,
like the measles. And now you look at the rise
of the meetings at the easels.

Speaker 13 (01:15:00):
We look at food.

Speaker 8 (01:15:02):
When could you not eat a salad. When could you
not have lettuce in your salad? That's wrong. Water supply.
A couple of weeks ago, we saw the not the
Trump had anything to do with it, but it was
still the negative effect. You saw the fires of Canada,
of get over to Chicago, and it was it was

(01:15:26):
presented breathing problems for many people. I mean, we're just
seeing negativity, negativity. It is with our food, it's with
our water, it's with our schools, and it just goes
The list goes on and on. People who are productive,
like the Haitians who are in this country, they send
them back. I mean, were getting to get kind of

(01:15:47):
ludicrous looking at a war that's not a war to
wars not one. Before one of your callers pointed out,
we're just looking at this seat of negativity that is
being produced by the government. All of that to say,
if we do not vote, and if we do not
win these midterms, if the Democrats do not win these midterms,

(01:16:09):
where maybe a new government and government as we've known
it can come back into play. My goodness, where are
we going?

Speaker 3 (01:16:18):
Yeah, well, that's going to be the final statement on that.

Speaker 2 (01:16:22):
I want to thank Hermine Hartman as well as Charles
Whittaker and Jim Day for joining us this morning. And
I also just want to leave you with this thought. Listeners,
if you get an opportunity. I know Hermion talked about
Bobby Kennedy and his famous campaign in nineteen sixty eight,
but there is a speech I think that everybody should

(01:16:42):
listen to, and it was President Lyndon Johnson's speech at
Howard University when he talked about meeting the opportunity of
the ravages of slavery on the black population.

Speaker 3 (01:16:57):
The speech is called to fulfill these rights.

Speaker 2 (01:17:00):
Please make sure that you take time to do that,
and I think that you'll be astonished in terms of
just the extraordinary politician that Lyndon Johnson was. I want
to thank her Mien as well as Jim and Charles
for joining us this morning. Nothing but the best for
all of you, and you know.

Speaker 3 (01:17:19):
Figure you're very welcome.

Speaker 2 (01:17:21):
Coming up, we're going to talk about hundreds of millions
of dollars that are owed to HBCUs.

Speaker 3 (01:17:28):
Please stay with us.

Speaker 1 (01:17:30):
Chicago Speaks with Daryl Dinard. You can voice your opinion
right now toll free at eight three, three, five nine
to one V one O three now back to Chicago
Speaks with Darryl Denard share What's on your Mind toll
free at eight three, three, five nine one V one
O three.

Speaker 2 (01:17:51):
The facts supporting the effectiveness of historically black Colleges and
Universities or HBCUs are impressive and unquestionable. HBCUs make up
only three percent of American colleges, but they produce twenty
five percent of all bachelor degrees earned by black students
in science, technology, engineering, and math fields known as STEM.

(01:18:13):
They provide quality education to low income students, rolling nearly
seventy percent of students who receive federal pell grants, and
the cost of education is twenty six percent lower than
other four year nonprofit colleges. And they do this while
maintaining the same educational standard. Yet, despite these impressive facts,

(01:18:36):
many HBCUs struggle to keep their doors open because of
rising costs and lack of federal and local education funding.
My next guest is doctor Glinda Glover. She is a
former president of Tennessee State University and author of the
book how Dare You An HBCU President's fight for half
a billion dollars owed and the state's actions to avoid payment.

(01:19:00):
Doctor Glover, Welcome to the program.

Speaker 20 (01:19:02):
Thank you, Thank you for inviting me.

Speaker 2 (01:19:05):
You are the first and only female president of Tennessee
State University. You held the position for a decade. What
was your motivation for writing the book? How Dare You?

Speaker 20 (01:19:16):
I wrote the book because I wanted the public to
know that there was another side to the story of
what's happened at Tennessee State. I want to ensure that
the truth is a part of the public record.

Speaker 18 (01:19:31):
Because I know the truth passed on no inspiration date,
and I.

Speaker 20 (01:19:34):
Want a future generation to understand what happened to TSU
and why to not be swept under the rug again
that the State of Tennessee for decades avoided paying the
understunding of Tennessee State University and amount documented by the
state to be over five forty forty four million dollars
half of billion dollars.

Speaker 18 (01:19:55):
It didn't that number didn't come from Tennessee State.

Speaker 20 (01:19:58):
It came from the legislative committee commissioned by the state itself.
And so that's what's.

Speaker 18 (01:20:03):
So important about this book.

Speaker 20 (01:20:05):
Is that the state itself determined how much was old
to TSU, and it was shared by Repid Harold Loves
especially thanks to him because his father raised his.

Speaker 18 (01:20:14):
Same issue back in the nineteen seventies.

Speaker 20 (01:20:17):
And so I wanted the public to know that when
confined with the truth, the state would not respond with
let's get a payment plan. They had a series of
shifting narratives.

Speaker 18 (01:20:28):
Or design to justify why they had.

Speaker 20 (01:20:30):
Not paid and why they're not paying it now.

Speaker 18 (01:20:32):
So that's why the book was so important, so the
republic could know what.

Speaker 20 (01:20:36):
Was actually happening with the funding. Old the TSU tell.

Speaker 2 (01:20:40):
Us how this particular story is outlined in the book.

Speaker 20 (01:20:43):
In the book the way it's outlined, I go through
and let them know how we came about from being
a landgrand institution in eighteen ninety they called eighteen nine institution.

Speaker 18 (01:20:55):
And then how we present the.

Speaker 20 (01:20:58):
Main character who was to come for himself, who commissioned
several artists to in fact, the audists became weaponized against.

Speaker 18 (01:21:06):
Tennessee State University to keep from paying the funding.

Speaker 20 (01:21:10):
That's how we interpreted we have that many artists in
a short period of time, artists that came from nowhere
that no other institution had. The audists. We have six
public institutions in one system, the University of Tennessee, but
had four institutions and four or five school itself in
another system were.

Speaker 18 (01:21:28):
Then the state of Tennessee, and none of those had
these same artists. It's just Tennessee State University.

Speaker 20 (01:21:32):
So we went through it and as I outlined it,
how the committee came about to that discovery that not
discovery determined.

Speaker 18 (01:21:40):
How much was old to TSU.

Speaker 20 (01:21:41):
Then we had our say in court and I went
through other artists and how it got to the point
it was so many that I created a term called
malicious compliance because artists are supposed to comply, I mean
about compliance.

Speaker 18 (01:21:53):
But it got to the point it was militias. And
then they did a forensic artist.

Speaker 20 (01:21:57):
I went there that kind of book and played out
to go through just what the state did to keep
from paying TSU. And the DAD is still old.

Speaker 8 (01:22:06):
That's where we are with it, and what do you.

Speaker 2 (01:22:08):
Hope this particular book will inspire its readers.

Speaker 20 (01:22:13):
To do to band together and demand the funding old
to TSU. Not just to TSU, but the hpcus in general.
The federal study that was commissioned that I think about
three years ago, that study showed that there were nineteen hpcus.
There are nineteen hpcus that are land grad universities. And

(01:22:36):
of those that were sixteen that the study showed ohe
the normal sums of money the normal sums, and of
those sixteen, three were at the.

Speaker 18 (01:22:51):
Top of the list with over two billion dollars.

Speaker 20 (01:22:53):
Tennessee State, University of North Carolina, A and T University
and thamb You all old two billion dollars by their
respective states, which is unconsonable and.

Speaker 2 (01:23:04):
In many respects of this is legal reparations in terms
of this is money that was codified in the law.

Speaker 20 (01:23:12):
Absolutely, and that is why I covered a whole chapter
on the on the more Acts, so we could see
how we got here, how this came about. Because in
nineteen nineteen fifty eight TSU was designated as a as
a land grant institution. Because in eighteen sixty two, when

(01:23:35):
slave was about to end, and I think there was
a realization that we don't know what we're doing. Now
these slaves have built this economy. We need to put
together processes to ensure that we can survive. Let's get
together institutions that make some land grant institutions grant them
land and show they can teach people how to do

(01:23:58):
certain things. And we're about to lose. Who's the biggest
boost that we had, I come, that's the slaves. So
and then that happened in eighteen eighteen sixty two. From
there unto eighteen ninety, there was there were conversations because
all the money in land went to white institutions and
there were no black schools involved. And so in eighteen

(01:24:18):
ninety there were black schools that brought into it. And
but the rule was you could not discriminate. The law
said you have to in prohibit discriminations in any these
schools receiving nfederal funds, that you have to muster them,
and you must provide ethy for funding, no discrimination and
effa for funding. But I give you a way out.

(01:24:38):
You could if you refuse to integrate your land grant institutions,
you to be fair about it, fair with importation marks.
You could establish a separate institution of like character for
black students. So most of the schools, most of the states,
they're not all chose to establish a second institution and
make that the land grant institute. That's how tears you

(01:25:00):
became a land grant because this about this is eighteen ninety.
We were separate, but equal was the law as you know,
plastic versus Ferguson didn't come about eighteen ninety six, so
we're still under the severe but equal rules. So that
was the prevailing theory.

Speaker 8 (01:25:17):
Of the day.

Speaker 2 (01:25:19):
You know, they say that the devil is in the details,
and hear you chronologically, in very detailed fashion, talk about
this underfunding of these institutions that have done extraordinary things.
What do you hope will be the action that readers
of this book will partake in.

Speaker 20 (01:25:40):
I hope the readers of the book will understand the
plight of HPC used when it comes to state funding.
Most of these are land grant Most states have underfunded.

Speaker 18 (01:25:51):
The land grant institution.

Speaker 20 (01:25:53):
The other HPC user also deserve funding to Tennessee's credit.
On the other hand, we do have an HPCU officer
who deals with this funding HBCUs and helping HBCUs. But
on the other hand, the landgrad institutions across the country
are not receiving the fonds they're own, so we want

(01:26:14):
them to. So here's to band together and work through
as a team. Because one school can't do a TSUS
is going to be the model of how we do things.
But it takes all of the working again, We've never
got anything by sitting back and hoping that things happen.
But hope is not a strategy. And so growing up
in a civil rights home, I understand at a very

(01:26:34):
high level what needs to be done. I understand the Martians,
I understand what has to be done in the boardroom
has been done outside the boardroom to get things to happen.
So I'm hoping that when people read the book, they'll
get excited and understand that we must fight for what's
saying for HBCUs.

Speaker 2 (01:26:52):
Well, that is doctor Glinter Glover, former president of Tennessee
State University and the author of the book how Dare
You an HBCU President's fight for a half billion dollars
ode and the state's actions to avoid payment. It is
available at all purchasing platforms. Doctor Glover, We thank you
so much for joining us this.

Speaker 20 (01:27:13):
Morning, and thank you very much.

Speaker 13 (01:27:16):
Well.

Speaker 2 (01:27:16):
That wraps up this edition of Chicago Speaks. As always,
I want to thank my guests, but most importantly you
the listeners and callers into this program. If you desire
news on a twenty four to seven basis, it's always
available with our assister station with the Black Information Network
at am six forty right now, and get ready to
get your praise on WHAT'SNYA Blaky? I'm Daryl Denart. We'll
see you back here next Sunday for another edition of

(01:27:38):
Chicago Speaks. Please be sure to take care of yourself.