Chicago Speaks June 14th 2026

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chicago Speaks with your Host Daryl Dinard. This program is
designed to address issues that affect you.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Your opinions matter, toll.

Speaker 1 (00:08):
Free at eight three, three, five nine to one V
one oh three. The views and opinions expressed are not
necessarily those of the station, it's management, sponsors or iHeartMedia Ink.

Speaker 3 (00:19):
Hello and welcome to Chicago's Speaks, your Communications condor Wood
for speaking to the issues impacting our community. I'm your host,
Daryl Denard. It is Sunday, June fourteenth, twenty twenty six.
An early morning shower will be followed by cloudy skies
and cool temperatures with a high only in the low
seventies and currently at sixty eight degrees For Chicagoland, this

(00:40):
week will be a Juneteenth celebration like no other. In
addition to numerous holiday events, the eyes of the world
will focus on Jackson Park on Chicago's late Front for
the long awaited opening of the Obama Presidential Center. Yet
while there's excitement about the opening, there is also sobering
news concerning Chicago's lakefront. This past week, Grant Park was

(01:03):
the scene of a cross burning. Added to the angst
produced by that symbol of hatred. Many black people across
the nation are in an uproar over the guilty verdict
and sentencing in the Carmelo Anthony murder case. We'll take
your calls on these and other top news stories of
the week and our reporters roundtable. Plus we'll talk to
Richard Pryor's daughter about her book describing life with her

(01:26):
father and the End Word, and we'll tell you about
a summit designed to provide retail equality for all. So
as is the case every Sunday morning, there is a
lot to speak to, and we begin with Pullman's Juneteenth Celebration.
During this year's Juneteenth celebrations, many eyes will focus on
the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Hyde Park,

(01:48):
but given the growing popularity of the holiday, there are
numerous June Teeth activities taking place around Chicagoland. One is
the Pullman's June teenth Celebration, taking place on June twentieth.
And joining me this morning to discuss this festive occasion
is doctor David Peterson, President and Executive Director of the

(02:08):
National Aid Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum. David, always a
pleasure to talk to you.

Speaker 4 (02:14):
Absolutely, thank you so much for having me again on
the show. I hope things are well.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
It they are now. Many people are going to flood
Jackson Park during the Juneteenth weekend, but the Pullman neighborhood
on the south side is the site of a wonderful
celebration that's going to take place that includes a parade,
a Youth Olympics, and a whole lot more. Give me
the details of the celebration and where is it going

(02:39):
to take place.

Speaker 4 (02:40):
Absolutely well, this is our eleventh year celebrating Juneteenth and
the northern half of Pullman, and this is our third
year celebrating our Youth Olympics. So you know, it's really
great that we get again to keep this tradition going.
We were welcoming the fact that the Obama Presidential Center
is bringing so much time to not only the city

(03:01):
but the holiday itself. So we're very excited about that.
And you know the irony of that is our Youth
and Young Adult division of the museum is named after
Obama Museum forty four and Homan National Historical Park was
designated by Obama.

Speaker 3 (03:15):
The only National site that's in the city of Chicago, the.

Speaker 4 (03:19):
Only National park site that's in the city of Chicago.

Speaker 5 (03:22):
You know.

Speaker 4 (03:22):
So, so again this is just such a great tie in.
And then and then more importantly, the Holiday of Juneteenth,
you know, its history comes from the last regiment of
the Civil War, you know, the black all black regiment,
who were affectionately known as the Buffalo Soldiers, who were
the ones that actually rode into Galveston, Texas to let
all all those slaves know that, you know, slavery was
indeed over, and they were unofficially considered the first National

(03:46):
park Rangers.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
You know.

Speaker 4 (03:48):
So we have so many different tie ins on why
it's important that we do what we do what we
do in Pullman, and we kick off the day and
early in the morning, we start lining up at eight
am for our community recommitment.

Speaker 3 (04:00):
Community recommitment specifically, what are you recommitting to.

Speaker 4 (04:04):
Well, we're recommitting to the idea of community. You know,
we're putting the neighbor back in the neighborhood. You know,
people don't understand why it's important to engage community engagement,
getting involved in your community, being a part of the
process in terms of development and economic development and all
of these different things. And that's what this is about.

Speaker 3 (04:23):
For us.

Speaker 4 (04:23):
It's never just a party or a celebration. It's always
a call to action, always a reminder of why our history,
heritage and culture and preserving protecting that is so important.
So you know, that's another reason why we incorporated a
second line street parade. You know, my fiance is Families
from New Orleans.

Speaker 3 (04:39):
And she went to was going to take in the shop.

Speaker 4 (04:43):
Yeah, oh yeah. You know I went to her homecoming
the Xavier University and had a chance to experience that
for the first time, and I said, you know what, Wow,
this is actually what we do every year, minus the band.
So this year we've incorporated the internationally recognized Lived the
Spirit Residency Brass Band, and they're going to be, you know,
leading that second line with us, and you know, they're
going to bring that flavor that people really aren't used

(05:05):
to seeing here in Chicago. So we're really excited to
bring those routes and again another opportunity to preserve history,
Heritagian culture. We step off at ten am and we're
from there, yep, yep, so Gaateilee Stadium eight ten East
one hundred and third Street. Gailely Stadium is right off
one hundred and third in Cottage, so you know we
start there. We started lining up at eight am. We

(05:27):
take off at ten am and then from there we
come right back and then the community and then the
Olympic Village celebration starts at Gailely Stadium, so we go
all through the neighborhood and then we come right back
and then everything starts at twelve so you can come
be a part of the parade. You can come, drive
in it, walk in it, whatever you want to do.
Just come be a part of the process. Then we
kick off. All of the Olympic Games start at twelve pm.

(05:50):
So that means we have the bmoa track and field
event going on at the Doctor Conrad World Indoor Track
and Field Center. We have the basketball Championship, we have
one on one tournament, three on three tournament, and then
we have to actually have the team tournament as well
going on, and that's that's what our partner, shy Ball
Youth League. We have football championships going on the June

(06:14):
tenth Junie teenth Bowl that's going on simultaneously, and we
also have the baseball Championships going on. So that's what
the roseland Little League, and you know, we're really just
excited again about the opportunity to bring all these athletics
together and also have a conversation about life after athletics.
You know, a lot of times, you know, people think
that athletics is the final stop, and we're proud to

(06:36):
partner with Black McDonald's Operators Association to have that conversation
about what happens after athletics, because you know, a couple
of the McDonald's operators were previously athletes, a couple more
professional football players.

Speaker 3 (06:49):
One of the first members of the Owner Operators was
Cyril mcsweet. Cyril and Cyril was an Olympian believe it
was the nineteen fifty six Olympics in Melbourne, Australia in
terms of track and field.

Speaker 4 (07:04):
So that's why, again, why this is just so important
to tie all of these different things in. We know
it's a lot to you know kind of stuff into
one event, but that's that's the purpose.

Speaker 2 (07:13):
You know.

Speaker 4 (07:13):
June tenth is a big thing for us, especially because
we're celebrating the two hundred and fiftieth year of America.
How how fitting is it for us to be celebrating
Juneteenth prior to that, so that we can let people
know who built this country.

Speaker 3 (07:27):
Talk about the business component too, because there are also
going to be booths, I guess in terms of sponsors,
tables and businesses. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (07:36):
Absolutely, you know, so when these parents come in there,
they bring their kids, you know, we want to make
sure that we have something for them, and that's why
we have this Olympic Village. But this year we've incorporated
a career slash Resource Fair, so you know, people to
be able to come and have some mock interviews, you know,
get resources about training and trade programs and things of
that nature. And that's where we partner with our you know,
our partners Aclavists developing our youth, and we were able

(08:01):
to you know, incorporate their workforce development programs in order
to talk about these different issues and give these resources
to participants. You know, so we're we're excited about that.
We're excited about the people that are really setting if
this has happened, you know absolutely, First and foremost, the
Black McDonald's Operators Association, Acklabus Inc. Seventy six Gas Station,
wind Trust, Community Bank, you know, FA's Passion, uh Chase, JP,

(08:24):
Morgan Chase. You know, all of these different organizations they
help us put this together and we we partner with
some great organizations like you know, the Far South Chicago Coalition,
you know roseland Rosemore Community Association, again, the Roseland Baseball League,
you know Friends of Track and Field, you know Shyball
Youth League, and most importantly the Chicago June Team Planning

(08:47):
Coalition of which I happened to be one of the
founder board members of. And we're having our first uh
flag We're having our annual flag raising ceremony down at
Daily Plaza, you know, next next Tuesday, with the City
of Chicago Mayor's Office. So what's a lot going on?
And our main focus during what we call Black Culture Week,
Black Music Month, just just blackety, blackety, blackety make sure

(09:10):
that we preserve, protect and turn history here.

Speaker 5 (09:14):
That's right.

Speaker 4 (09:15):
But listen, listen Father's Day. You know, we're partnering with
with the Fire Department to do a Father's Day breakfast
before the before the parade kicks.

Speaker 6 (09:23):
Off, you know.

Speaker 4 (09:24):
And that's that's what the Firehouse over at over on
Dirty Road and the Roseland community. So you know, we're
we're really just excited again about this opportunity to bring
so much community together. And again you started off by
asking me, you know, what is community recommitment. Well, this
is community recommitment, making sure that we elaborate with all

(09:45):
of the people that are doing the work and give it,
you know, a floor for everyone to come and just
celebrate this history, heritage, culture. And again, if you can't
come to all of the athletic events, that's fine, Just
come to the parade in the morning and then go
spend the rest of your day at all the wonderful
events going on the city because there's so much going on.

Speaker 3 (10:02):
Yeah, it is an expanding celebration. And what is the
best way for people to find out more information about
the Pullman June teenth Celebration.

Speaker 4 (10:10):
Oh yeah, absolutely, As always, you can visit our museum
website and that's the Pullman Porters Museum dot org.

Speaker 3 (10:16):
Doctor David Peterson, we thank you so much.

Speaker 4 (10:19):
Well, we thank thank you for having us once again.
Have a great day.

Speaker 3 (10:23):
Coming up next, we'll talk to comic legend Richard Pryor's
daughter about life with her famous father and his decision
to stop using the N word.

Speaker 1 (10:33):
Please stay with us Chicago Speaks with Darryl Dinard. You
can voice your opinion right now toll free at eight three.

Speaker 2 (10:41):
Three, five nine to one V one.

Speaker 7 (10:43):
O three Live from the Northwestern Medicine V one O
three Studios A better way to start today?

Speaker 3 (10:51):
Our Iheartradios. Book, dude to leete that up.

Speaker 2 (10:55):
You need to be using polymarket, polymarket polymarket now.

Speaker 3 (10:58):
Professor book is described as a hybrid memoir as well
as history lesson. How would you categorize it in What
was its inspiration?

Speaker 2 (11:08):
Well, I think that's exactly right. I didn't plan on
writing a memoir, but as I got deeper into the
history of the N word, that's just what came out
of me. And I was inspired by an incident that
happened in my classroom. I was a new professor my
second semester teaching and I was teaching about the Fugitive
Slave Law and a student who wanted to connect with

(11:28):
me asked me a question. Did I see Blazing Saddles?
And I was like, Oh, she's going to tell everybody
my father's Richard Pryor. But in fact, what she was
trying to do was connect to the lecture by quoting
a line from the film. And that line had the
actual N word in it, And I have no doubt
that it was written by my father, because he co
wrote that movie and so it sent me on a journey.

(11:51):
My reaction surprised me. I froze, I kind of flipped out,
and I looked at the way the word worked in
my own life. I started to to reevaluate how I
taught it and what I needed to do to do that.
And in that process, I asked myself, do I even
know what this word means? And got deeper into the
research in the history.

Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yeah, I just want to ask you, and we'll talk
about your background, but have you ever been called the
N word?

Speaker 2 (12:18):
I most certainly have many times. Many of the times
are in the book, and many of the times aren't
even in the book. So I ended up kind of
tracing my own geography, my GPS of my life, if
you will, by my run ins with the N word.

Speaker 3 (12:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (12:37):
And the first incident is it kind of prompts the
first meaningful conversation I ever have with my father when
I'm about six or seven years old, and I tell
him when two boys call me the word on the
playground at school, Yeah.

Speaker 3 (12:52):
That had to be explain to me. You're biracial, your
mother is Jewish, and I'm just trying to understand the
dichotomy that exists with regard to America's fascination with it,
with even black folks fascination with it. But to be

(13:13):
called did and yet half of you is on when
they use it in a derogatory or deflammatory sense, as
you know white people may tend to do. How do
you deal with that conundrum of saying, well, you know
half of me is white, so so why are you

(13:33):
hating what? Wh Why are you why are you only
hating on one side of me?

Speaker 2 (13:38):
Well, I mean, to be honest, as a biracial woman
in the United States, I've never had that thought in
my life. I've always thought about myself as as black,
and I think that's just because of I mean, the
truth is, I guess biologically my you know, my mother
is white. But my social experience and you know, political

(13:59):
experiences and American is that I'm African American.

Speaker 3 (14:02):
Yeah, very much so. So here it is talk about
in terms of what you hope readers will we'll get
out of this. Let's start first in terms of just
your relationship with your father. You didn't meet your father
until I believe it was in a hotel room at
six years old in Jersey.

Speaker 2 (14:24):
That's right. My mother wrote him a letter and said,
how can I love a child so much? And you've
just not shown up at all? And the next thing
we knew, we were on a plane to New Jersey
watching him perform, and it's the first time I met
him and I was six years old. And from that
point forward, my father was committed to being part of

(14:47):
my life the best that he could. You know, he
wanted to be a great father. He did his best,
and he couldn't always do it, but he yeah, I mean,
you know, meeting him was Meeting him was amazing and
he was an amazing As soon as I met him,
I was head over heels in love and He's like,

(15:08):
I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Speaker 3 (15:10):
You talked about him being so handsome and did you
have some you know, kind of dual feelings and saying hey,
and I'm sure he probably called you beautiful and lovely also.
But at the same time, children have troubles sometimes dealing
with the fact that if you if you find me beautiful,

(15:33):
where have you been? Did you ever have to go
through that period?

Speaker 2 (15:37):
You know, with all her foibles, my mother did everything
she could to foster the relationship with my father, and
so she I think kind of held him up in
this way, and I just only ever saw him. I mean,
I think it was unfortunate because for my mom, because

(15:57):
any feelings that you describe of you know, mixed feelings
or resentment or it. On sureness, I kind of took
out all my mother and all like my dad was
all sparkle to me, so that he could do no wrong.

Speaker 3 (16:11):
Yeah, and I know that as most loving parents, they
just deal with it, the fact that that unbalanced type
of perception that children may have because they only want
the best for their children.

Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yeah, exactly, that's right.

Speaker 3 (16:26):
So in terms of your father, I grew up watching
him on TV, and then when I look back on
his famous skits and things of that nature, you know,
the N word played such a big, big part of
his comedy. And yet, and the thing about it is
that we'll talk about this, but talk about in terms

(16:49):
of his use of the end word definitely during the
earlier part, in the middle part of his career.

Speaker 2 (16:56):
Well, you know, a lot of listeners may not know
who Richard Pryor is. He's a groundbreaking comedian, Black comedian
from the nineteen seventies who really changed the face of
stand up comedy by showing authenticity on stage and being
honest and vulnerable and making that universal one funny. And
part of that for him was kind of revealing the

(17:19):
black community that he grew up in, and that black
community used the N word in these multiple ways. And
he didn't shy away from, you know, putting that on stage.
And it was it was a subversion of the white
races version. Right, This was a kind of protest, it
was a resistance. It was a way of kind of

(17:40):
emphasizing the community that people shared. And so he started
using that word on stage, put it on put it
on the cover of two of his Grammy Award winning.

Speaker 3 (17:51):
Albums, I don't we can't use the title in terms
of those.

Speaker 2 (17:57):
Albums, but right and he and it was his way
of making Americans reckon with their own racism. He was like, yeah,
I'm calling myself this and what of it? And he
really flipped the script. And then at the end of
the decade, he went to Africa. He kind of joined

(18:20):
a lot of African Americans on this Roots Alex Haley
Inspire journey back to Africa, and when he was there,
at the end of the trip, he said he had
an epiphany that black people were doing all kinds of
things there and in the absence of you know, basically
white surveillance. The end, he didn't see any nd words,

(18:46):
you know, without that gaze. He didn't need to see it.
And he realized he had not only not said the word,
but hadn't even thought about the word.

Speaker 3 (18:56):
Yeah. And you described that epiphany experience in terms of
his trip to Kenya there, and I just thought about
it as you were speaking about it, is that it
parallels in many respects. I think Malcolm X's experience when
he went to Africa in terms of having a different
view in terms of his experiences as a Black American

(19:20):
as opposed to a black world resident.

Speaker 2 (19:24):
I mean, I think that's right. Like getting to I
kind of think about it as a diasporic epiphany that
he has. He gets to be have a whole new
perspective on his life in the United States and realizes
like that a lot of the ways that he was
using this word as protests don't exist in a world

(19:45):
where you don't have to protest against that thing. You know,
you don't have to you don't have to be speaking
out against racism when race isn't the kind of prevailing issue.

Speaker 3 (19:55):
As your father made a commitment to never use in
word again, how are you able to write about it,
teach courses about it in terms of using or describing
and teaching on it, but not using the word.

Speaker 2 (20:11):
I love not using the word. I think the phrase
the N word is wonderful, a wonderful intervention into the
conversation because I think what it does is requires everybody
around it to give pause. Why does this particular word
deserve its own surrogate phrase? Like why are we coordinating
it off? But not so many other words? And so

(20:32):
I think it does really good work, better than even
saying the word, because it just makes us take a pause.
And that's what I do. I have my students say
the phrase the N word and not use the actual
word at all, and it works really well. I've been
doing it for about fifteen sixteen years now and it's

(20:54):
worked great.

Speaker 3 (20:56):
What do you think should be Black Americas association with
the use of the word.

Speaker 2 (21:03):
What do you mean?

Speaker 3 (21:04):
Well, what I mean is that it's embedded in our culture.
The reality is is that still today we hear songs
created about it, we use it in our everyday language.
And so when you say that we should substitute it
for the N word as opposed to saying the other word.

(21:28):
How do you anticipate or expect people to adopt it
when it's still being used so many times in today's
black culture.

Speaker 2 (21:39):
Well, to be fair, I was talking about using the
phrase the N word in the classroom, and that's in
mixed race environments and when you're trying to have a
conversation about you know, its history, the way it impacts people,
and what's underneath it. But for me, the real question
is why does the N word, the actual word, resonate

(22:02):
for African Americans? And if that word is still resonating
for African Americans, to me, it means that there's a
lot of systems in place that make it have meaning.
And if we solve the problem of those systems of
inequality and social injustice, the word's not going to have
any meaning anyway. There will be no hip hop songs

(22:25):
with the N word if there you know, there's you know,
equal justice for for all.

Speaker 3 (22:31):
You know, you have an impressive education background, having earned
of course, your bachelor's master's in PhD. What is it
about history, particularly Black American history, that fascinates and compels
you to do what you do.

Speaker 2 (22:45):
I mean, I think history is the most important, especially
because you know, very often in nations like our own,
it can be under assault, right, so people want to
go back and change what we're going to look at
and you know, redefine the meanings of what happened, and
so history historians are a really important part of making

(23:09):
sure not only that people don't forget, but that people
understand why things happen the way they did. Archivists are
important to this mission, and so for me, it's ever
fascinating not just what you find, like the particular documents,
but how they are interpreted and understood in our society.

(23:31):
And I think that's what will always keep me fascinated
about the study of history.

Speaker 3 (23:36):
Yeah, you've written so much about the history of the
Civil War and the emancipation societies, and of course and word,
I am a lover of history, and I just wish
that we could compel our children and grandchildren for that matter,
and even our contemporaries to be an adopter of of

(24:00):
this fascination with history, because it teaches us lessons, hopefully
that the good parts will repeat and the bad parts
we won't.

Speaker 2 (24:11):
I mean, I agree, and that's part of why I
want people to read my book, and I think what
my book can can bring to people, which is like,
it's about a real relationship between me and my father,
and so it's got that kind of draw and you know,
compelling element to it. But at the same time, it
does dig deeply into the history of the N word

(24:32):
and shows how those things aren't separate but are intertwined.
And I think a book like mine will give people
who might take pause about reading a straight up history.
I think they'll find it exciting and engaging, and that's
what I hope, and I hope too that it will
be a kind of a jumping off place for people
to have difficult conversations because I use my own story

(24:56):
around the N word as kind of like a kind
of like a meta story so that people can understand
that the ND word isn't just part of a national trauma,
but it's part of a really personal and intimate one,
as it was with me.

Speaker 3 (25:11):
You know, I have to say you were rather prescient
because you wrote an article in terms of colored travelers
mobility and fight for citizenship before the Civil War. But
yet you know, you go almost one hundred years later
and you had the green book that gains an Academy Award,

(25:32):
But yet you were writing about black travel that took
place one hundred years before that.

Speaker 2 (25:38):
I mean, it was fascinating to me. I was studying
black people. I was really interested in black people activists
and abolitionists who went to like London and England. And
I was like, how did they get there? And then
my history advisor was like, did they get passports? And
I started asking myself these questions and I realized nobody
had really written about it before. And so that's so
I said, Oh, I guess it's going to be me.

(25:59):
That's so, I dug in, and it was, you know,
you just see that transportation is a really powerful element
of civil rights and social rights, because if you don't
have access to transportation, you know, you can't do networks,
you can't do politics, you can't do organizing, you can't
do I mean, on and on and on and so yeah,
it was really they knew that back in the eighteen

(26:19):
thirties and forties.

Speaker 3 (26:21):
Now we want people, of course, to go out and
buy the book wherever it's sold, to get the audiobook.
I hope there's an audiobook on it.

Speaker 2 (26:28):
Oh yeah, And I do the audiobook.

Speaker 3 (26:30):
Excellent, think you sound great? Something we said, Richard Pryor,
A Notorious word in Me. Just how cathartic has this
been for you? In terms of writing this book.

Speaker 2 (26:44):
I mean, it's been the most healing thing I could
ever imagine, because I feel so close to my father,
even an interview like yours in mind, I feel closer
to him now than I did ten minutes ago. So
it's been incredible.

Speaker 3 (26:57):
And what do you hope is that major takeaway when
people end up reading this.

Speaker 2 (27:04):
That racism hurts and we should talk about it.

Speaker 3 (27:08):
Yeah, well, we appreciate you not only talking about it,
but also writing about it, offering Ted talks about it,
and also living it. I would encourage everybody to pick
up the book Something we Said, Richard Pryor, A Notorious
Word in Me, written by Professor Doctor Professor Elizabeth stort

(27:29):
Or Pryor. It has been a distinct pleasure and honor
to speak to you this morning.

Speaker 2 (27:34):
Thank you.

Speaker 3 (27:35):
Coming up next, we'll take your calls as the city
gets ready for the opening of the Obama Presidential Senator
and Jackson Park. But last week just north of this
site was a crossburning and many are protesting the verdict
and the Carmelo Anthony murder trial. Call us now with
your questions or comments on these top news stories of
the week and our reporters roundtable. Please stay with us.

Speaker 1 (27:58):
Chicago Speak with Darryl Dinard. You can voice your opinion
right now, toll free at eight three three, five nine
to one v one oh three.

Speaker 8 (28:08):
Chicago Wakes Up with you.

Speaker 9 (28:10):
Download the up now at fair dot Co.

Speaker 1 (28:12):
Oppresents Chicago Speaks with your host, Darryl Dennard. This program
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toll free at eight three three five nine one v
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Speaker 3 (28:31):
And welcome back. Time check for you right now. It
is six forty eight, and it is that time of
the morning to provide you, our listeners, with the opportunity
to speak about the important news stories of the day.
Two of the top news stories deserving our attention this
morning are the opening of the Obama Presidential Center and
the reality of race and racism in our legal system,

(28:52):
as well as fear mongering. I'm speaking specifically about the
burning of a cross in Grant Park last week, and
the murder berg and the Carmelo Anthony murder trial in Texas.
Joining us this morning to discuss these and other top
news stories of the week in our Reporters Round Table
are Jim Daily, state investigations editor for the Better Government
Associations of Llinori Awareness Project, Jamie Nesbig, Golden Award winning

(29:16):
journalists with Black Club Chicago covering Bronzeville, doctor Gerald McNair,
a school administrator and columnists for the Chicago Tribune and
Chicago Sun Times. And personal injury and trial attorney and
former president of the Cook County Bar Association, Canon Lambert. Canon.
In addition to being a personal injury attorney, you also
represented Sandra Bland and her family in her wrongful depth

(29:40):
suit in a Texas because of her death in a
Texas jail back in July twenty fifteen. Now once again
the eyes of the world are focused on a Texas
court room, this time in Colin, Texas, as a racially
diverse community saw an all white jury convict a now
nineteen your old Carmelo Anthony and the fatal stabbing of

(30:03):
seventeen year old Austin metcalf, give us just the issues
surrounding this case and why it's so important for us
to pay attention to it.

Speaker 10 (30:15):
Well, I think you sort of put it right squarely
in front of us. The reality of what we're facing
is is that race is still a significant issue in
this country. The fact is that people have different perspectives
that are built out of their cultural experiences. And where

(30:36):
you have an all white jury and a location where
frankly historically there is a racial background, there's the concern
that jury did not necessarily take into account of things
that otherwise might have been thought of by a broader community.

(30:58):
So I that's and foremost, And then you've got other
sort of structural things in the country. I mean in
the state that we're at work, like, for example, Texas
does not have second degree murder. They have first degree
murder versus manslaughter versus criminally negligent homicide. So you know,

(31:23):
there there there are functions of the structure of the
state that they sort of created hurdles for the defense.

Speaker 3 (31:34):
You know, I wonder why wasn't he charged with manslaughter
because when I when I first found out about the case,
uh and and I really wasn't even aware of the
fact that it was an all white jury at that time.
But I said, this was a scuffle at a track meet.
I'm almost sure this young man didn't go to the

(31:56):
boy actually teenage boy go to attract meet with the
intent on killing somebody of federally stabbing somebody.

Speaker 10 (32:05):
Again, your figure right on the pulse. The question of
what he was charged with is going to It was
centered around what his intent was. In Texas, if you
are charged with murder, the prosecution has to show that
the defendant knowingly and willfully caused the death. And that's

(32:27):
different from manslaughter, where you have to show that the
death was recklessly caused, meaning that rather than knowing than
wilfully that you did something not necessarily annoying and understanding
that it could potentially result in death. So it's a
difficult thing for many of us to understand why that

(32:52):
was not contemplated as a charge as opposed to murder.

Speaker 3 (32:56):
The other reality here is that Collins Collin County is
one of the fastest growing counties, not only in Texas
but the United States. It's extremely diverse. Understand that the
judge in the case dismissed three black jurors that really

(33:17):
were going to sittle in the trial on the trial
resulting in the fact that it was an all white jury.

Speaker 9 (33:25):
And there's this issue with regard to.

Speaker 3 (33:27):
The Bastion case described the complexity there.

Speaker 10 (33:32):
So Batson is a case that addressed and dealt with
the idea that jurors could not be removed from a
veneer based on their race. And there were several bats
and challenges that as at least that there was at
least one bats and challenges the defendants made suggesting that

(33:55):
there was a concern that the prosecution was using race
as a credit for why they were getting rid of jurors.
That is prohibited, and that is I think one of
the potential arms for why an appeal can be thought of.
But we also have to think about see McKinney, Texas,

(34:17):
where this happened. As I understand it, it's made up
of about two hundred and forty thousand people or so,
and to your point, it's relatively diverse. Fifty five percent
of the makeup is white. I think twelve percent is black,
and seventeen eighteen percent or so Hispanic. And so when
you see a diverse community, you sort of wonder why

(34:41):
it is that that's not reflected more in a jury.
But it's true that many times juries are made up
of those who vote or those who have driver's license
and all of that. But across the racial slop, you
would expect to see all of those things pretty consistent throughout,
you know, whether you were talking about Asian community, Black communities,
white communities, and Hispanics. And that's why you would expect

(35:03):
to see a little bit broader and nearer than you
often do.

Speaker 3 (35:08):
Jim, you are an investigative journalist. One thing that especially
with regard to the trial, but the aptomat in terms
of the verdict is just this horrible use of AI
on both sides.

Speaker 5 (35:27):
So, yes, AI is something that's become a bit of
a problem in the legal profession, and you know, more
more widely, but there has been a growing number of
incidents where attorneys have been sanctioned by judges for using
AI to write briefs and things of this nature. I'm
not actually familiar with how the AI was used in

(35:48):
this particular trial.

Speaker 3 (35:50):
Yeah, I'm saying in terms of the images, in terms
of recreating recreating the stabbing, recreating the incident, recreating the
back ground of the individuals it's scar.

Speaker 5 (36:04):
That is scary. It's scary that people are able to
do that, and you know, it's it sort of speaks
to the kind of misinformation environment that we exist in
where bad actors can use these generative AI tools to
create all sorts of images, and often they're done in
a way that is provocative and intended to whip up,
you know, ill sentiment towards one another. So you know,

(36:26):
I'm not personally a fan of of of AI. I
think we should be very careful with how we use it,
and and we're currently not being careful as a as
a you know, society and economy, what have you. And
it is the sort of thing that I think, really
it makes our jobs as journalists all that more important
to make sure that we're spreading, you know, the truth

(36:48):
in light of the fact that this kind of vicious
misinformation gets out there so easily.

Speaker 3 (36:53):
The thing that I find is that this course, this
brings up Jamie images of Trayvon.

Speaker 10 (36:59):
Martin Hispanics, and that's why you can expect to see
a little bit broader nearer than you often do.

Speaker 3 (37:06):
Jim, You're an investigative journalist. One thing that especially with
regard to the trial, but the aftermath in terms of
the verdict is just this horrible use of AI on
both sides.

Speaker 5 (37:25):
So, yes, AI is something that's become a bit of
a problem in the legal profession, and you know, more
more widely, but there has been a growing number of
incidents where attorneys have been sanctioned by judges for using
AI to write briefs and things of this nature. I'm
not actually familiar with how the AI was used in

(37:46):
this particular trial.

Speaker 3 (37:48):
Yeah, I'm saying in terms of the images, in terms
of recreating recreating the stabbing, recreating the incident, recreating the
background of the individuals, it's scar.

Speaker 5 (38:02):
That is scary. It's scary that people are able to
do that, and you know, it's it sort of speaks
to the kind of misinformation environment that we exist in
where bad actors can use these generative AI tools to
create all sorts of images, and often they're done in
a way that is provocative and intended to whip up,
you know, ill sentiment towards one another. So, you know,

(38:25):
I'm not personally a fan of of of AI. I
think we should be very careful with how we use it,
and and we're currently not being careful as a as
a you know, society and economy, what have you. And
it is the sort of thing that I think, really
it makes our jobs as journalists all that more important
to make sure that we're spreading, you know, the truth

(38:46):
in light of the fact that this kind of vicious
misinformation gets out there so easily.

Speaker 3 (38:51):
The thing that I find is that this course, this
brings up Jamie images of trayvon Martin, as well as
numerous other cases. But there was something that really struck
home for me in terms of the reality of racism
and why, you know, why does it have to exist?
And that is the incident that took place right on

(39:13):
Lake Shore Drive in Grant Bond here in terms of
a crossburning. This is twenty twenty six.

Speaker 8 (39:22):
Yeah, yeah, I had the misfortune of covering that earlier
this week.

Speaker 3 (39:30):
I suppose to be with that and what is you
know that as a suspective and a rective, what's do.

Speaker 8 (39:36):
I envy one of the so I envy one of
the young woman who was with her family when they
saw this cross burning. As far as I know, they're
still looking for the suspect. There have been photos of
him that has been released. Father Flagger from Saint Sabina

(39:58):
has offered a reward to find the gentleman who might
be responsible for this. But yes, earlier this week Tuesday afternoon,
someone lit across right off of Balbo and Lake Shore
Drives and was able to get away.

Speaker 11 (40:20):
Yeah, and you.

Speaker 3 (40:22):
All these how do you set a fire? You know,
in terms of they'll clock you if if you're speeding
over the limit.

Speaker 8 (40:29):
Of making me But I mean no, no, but but
I think you know, I think you know the braveness
of it. Clearly this person had thought this out and
knew exactly where to go and and commit this act,
so hopefully he will be caught. But it did, you know,
strike a lot of fear and a lot of folks,

(40:51):
you know. And again with this particular you know, a
person who was in the car with her mother in
law and young child. You now have to have this
conver with her kid about burning cross in the middle
of downtown Chicago. I had had that same conversation with
my son later on as I'm covering it. And I
don't know if people realize, Yes, while you're supposed to

(41:12):
be this level of objectivity that you're supposed to have
when you're you know, doing this work, it's really hard
to separate it because again, this is what my grandmother saw,
this is what my mother saw, this is this is
what our ancestors had to deal with. And it's really
hard to separate that. And but again, the whole point

(41:35):
of this is to provoke. So it's you know, it's
it's it's I mean, like again, it's times to have
these tough, hard conversations with folks.

Speaker 3 (41:47):
Joe, where are we and what is our reticence about
feeling head on with this issue, this lingering issue of
race in America.

Speaker 6 (41:59):
I mean, it's it's complicated and I and good morning,
mister Nard, and certainly to your your wonderful panel, and
of course you're listening audience. Let me go back a
little bit to the Carmelo anthony and the Metcalf case.
You know, the fact that I mean it is, you know,

(42:20):
as lambertso eloquently pointed out, race does matter. But I
want to separate the act from what happened with the
jury selection. The latter obviously was met with so many issues,
and we see some of the how you know, the
race has that existed, but the Act in it itself,
I think we all have to condemn that.

Speaker 12 (42:41):
I have the good.

Speaker 6 (42:42):
Fortune of being in education for twenty five to thirty
some years and working with you all the time. What
Carmelo that he did was unequivocally wrong, And I think, why.

Speaker 3 (42:53):
Would you feel that he would have to bring a
knife to attract me? I ran track competitive tracking, have
felt the need, you know. But plus I'm old school.
You know nobody really carried knives and guns and you know.

Speaker 12 (43:08):
Absolutely. And there's gonna be a case where some people
are going to say, well, when we live in search communities,
you always feel that tempt to defend yourself blah blah
blah blah. But I think we have to be We
have to We're speaking to you, and we have fourteen
to fifteen year olds watching what growing ups are doing
and what we're saying. I don't hear enough objection.

Speaker 6 (43:25):
Of the act. And if we can send that message
to our youth who are going to go to parties
and they're going to be a different kind of events,
we don't want them.

Speaker 10 (43:34):
To be confused.

Speaker 12 (43:36):
When you take a nine to a possible sense fight,
this is what can happen.

Speaker 6 (43:41):
We have to think about our actions.

Speaker 11 (43:43):
And we have to make sure that we send that
message to our.

Speaker 12 (43:45):
Youth as we condemn the legal system for how it
took forth in terms of the juryflection.

Speaker 11 (43:50):
We have to be clear as a nation.

Speaker 6 (43:52):
And as a black community that we cannot have our
black youth behave in this way.

Speaker 9 (43:57):
Five point six.

Speaker 6 (43:58):
Times a black youth occupy a juvenile facility more than whites.
There are almost four times so are likely to be
suspended from school. One four black male youth twenty five
and under have a police record. Now, partly it is
because of some of these acts. We talk about team takeovers, misters,
and we talk about that, we see what's happening in
cities across the nation. We have to tell our young blackmail.

(44:20):
You think before you.

Speaker 12 (44:22):
Act, let's all come, let's all denounce that act, and dan.

Speaker 6 (44:26):
Deal with the legal piece.

Speaker 11 (44:28):
And sometimes I think.

Speaker 6 (44:29):
In our in our in our in our in our
desire to make sure we put out racism, sometimes those
things can be glossed over and our black male youth
are listening to this.

Speaker 11 (44:42):
And so.

Speaker 3 (44:44):
The flip side of that too, yeah no, no you did.
But there's also the flip side in terms of the
reality surrounding this. I definitely don't agree with him having
taken a knife, a pocket knife. I was a boy scout.
I had to get you know, what was called the
permit where I would when I went to the sporting

(45:06):
goods store here at twelve years old. It said, oh,
I already passed my test as a boy scout to
get a pocket knife. I had a combination pocket knife
all my life, so I know how to cut and
cut away from myself and all the rest, as well
as sharpen the knife. But the reality is is that
I kind of intimated this a little bit. When I
asked Cannon Lambert, I said, you know, I can't see

(45:28):
this seventeen year old. There were two outstanding situations. One is,
there was an act of futility, all right, that happened
in terms of them getting into an altercation. He pulls
out the knife. Okay. The defense claimed it was self defense.

(45:48):
The prosecution claimed that it was murder. I said, of course,
why to me, this is much more like manslaughter at
the very most second degree murder, which isn't available in
that particular county, Texas. But the other reality is is
that why wasn't he tried as a juvenile? This guy
had an impeccable record of three point seven great point average.

(46:11):
You know, I usually don't think of violence in terms
of track stars. You know, Oh yo, man, who's that
gangster brother? You know? Even though my New York Knicks won.
But the reality is, you know, you don't, you don't
associate what I feel.

Speaker 8 (46:28):
I do want to also point out that, like like
the Carmelo had been bullied this point in particular, had
been harassing him for who knows how long, and I'm
pretty sure that he went to you know, adult to
help and didn't get the help, didn't get anybody to
stand up for him. So again we keep putting the

(46:51):
onus on the kids who's fronts the load from for
he developed yet and I'm not saying what he did
was right. I think I think he understands that what
he did but absolutely not right. But how many of
these stories have we heard where a kid's being bullied
and it goes to the administration, it goes to their teachers,
they goes to the grown up.

Speaker 3 (47:09):
That's just a contract. We need conflict resolution, We need
conflict resolution.

Speaker 10 (47:15):
There is this, though, there is this. I mean, I mean,
first of all, as I understand that the Knight that
was used was a pocket knife, like one of those
that's what.

Speaker 3 (47:23):
I saw in Cocket. We called it called the combination knife.
You know. Now they called them Swiss army knives, but
back in the day was a combination knife.

Speaker 10 (47:31):
There's nothing illegal, and there's nothing wrong with having a
Swiss pocket knife that's got a three and a half
inch blade. That that's not in itself something that I
think that should that makes me say to myself that
this is a person who is a self contemplated violence
number one. Number two, Let's remember where we are. We're
talking about Nick Kinley, and this is the same situation where,

(47:52):
for example, there was there was a young lady who's
about fifteen years old. She was at a swimming party
in the police came and grabbed her up and through
to the ground like this is not I understand the
sort of the notion that we have to be mindful
of how we are dealing with things, and that there
is a such thing as quote right and wrong to

(48:12):
some degree, but I think that we have to realize
where we are and we have the right to defend
ourselves too. And I'm sort of uncomfortable with the idea
that we are always the ones that have to sort
of point to what is things happen to us that
don't happen to other people. We have to be honest

(48:34):
about that. Okay, we have to be honest about that,
and we have to at some point say it is
okay for us to protect ourselves. We die in our houses,
I mean, and it's not just you know, and and
they do things to us like burning crosses that we
don't do. We simply don't do. The environment that is
in existence right now is not one that we have created.

(48:55):
It's one we have to respond to. And as a
consequence of that, there is sort of it. You know,
do you stab somebody that's pushing you? I would say
no to that. But is there more to this situation
than him just being pushed and then stabbing me? I
would say probably. So it's just how it gets.

Speaker 3 (49:15):
Was there tent was was there? Was there kind of
being goaded into doing something and acting irrationally. I want
to go to the phone line and begin first with Melba.
Melba is calling from the great City of Chicago. Melba,
you're on Chicago Speaks. You're a comment to question this morning.

Speaker 13 (49:33):
Yeah, good morning everyone. My comment is he said My
question is what are we going to do.

Speaker 14 (49:44):
We're going to keep on talking about it or are
we going to take action?

Speaker 13 (49:49):
It don't make no sense.

Speaker 14 (49:51):
With these even with the team takeover. How many African
Americans out there, we out there with literature, get together
with minterature, telling the teams huh, passing the stuff out.
They're taking everywhere everything awake from us everything. I mean,
they are learning English. Our children should be learning Spanish.

Speaker 11 (50:15):
That's what we need to.

Speaker 14 (50:16):
Be talking about. We need to be talking about teaching
our children like building our stores. I mean a blind
man can see what happened, and the only thing you
hear us doing is talking about it. These teenagers can't
do what grown folks can do. We got African Americans

(50:37):
out here with money, I mean, we could buy lots,
We can do a lots. The only thing we're doing
is talking about it, talking about it, and they don't make.

Speaker 2 (50:48):
No spenp.

Speaker 11 (50:50):
Well that's well, that's.

Speaker 3 (50:51):
Where well no, but I will say this and I
thank you for your comments there and as we head
in to break that's where leadership, leaders particularly at the
national level, needs to occur. I remember back I believe
it was one of the first things that President Obama
did back in twenty oh nine was address or try

(51:13):
to address the issue of race in America. Here we
are getting ready to have his presidential center open, and
we still are not fully willing as a nation to
fully address the issue of race. If anything, there's been
a dimunation, a diminution in terms of dealing with race

(51:37):
and also not addressing it. The consequences of not addressing
it coming up on the other side of the break,
working to take your calls, Hank, Albert Hope as well
as others who are trying to call in. Pall us
Nowadaight three three five nine one D one O three.
Please stay with us.

Speaker 1 (51:58):
Chicago Speaks with Daryl Dinard. You can voice your opinion
right now toll free at eight three three five nine
one V one oh three.

Speaker 7 (52:08):
Fly to the Northwestern Medicine V one O three studios.
A better way to start to day, all right.

Speaker 3 (52:30):
H.

Speaker 11 (52:46):
M hm.

Speaker 3 (52:55):
First with Marquette Marqutta, you're calling it from Chicago. You're
coming to question this morning, and thanks for being the
first time callers.

Speaker 15 (53:04):
Yes, thank you so much for having me this morning.
So just from the last caller started my three minutes
she stated something like what are we doing? We're just
talking about it, and I wonder doing the call why
she's not doing anything. And then it goes to my

(53:25):
comments and concern about racism because I'm at my thirties
and I'm done with dealt with a little bit of racism.
And I also think about email, okay, and integration and
why we haven't.

Speaker 8 (53:40):
Tested that theory out.

Speaker 15 (53:42):
Now, I know we get shut down each and every time,
like they just shut us out, and that's a problem.

Speaker 8 (53:52):
So yeah, next is our.

Speaker 15 (53:54):
Leaders between Willie Wilson, Mark the Flavor and I see
all men. That's all I see is man leaders. But
we gotta start with the women because we're the ones
with the babies and stuff. Okay, But Willie will given
out gifts, yes, sir, he's given off cards grocery start,

(54:19):
but Willie Wilson should have a grocery store, if not
one for five. That's what I would do if I
was Willie Wilson. And I'm not just putting it all
on him, but I respect Willy Wilson and I don't
think he's on the right path. And I'm sorry because
I listen to y'all every Sunday morning this.

Speaker 3 (54:40):
Is turned up. I appreciate you listening, and I want
you to continue to listen. You know I can I
can hear your pain.

Speaker 11 (54:49):
The reality is.

Speaker 3 (54:52):
To put the onus on a lot of women. But
I'm going to tell you this is that there are
some extraordinary women leaders out here.

Speaker 15 (55:00):
Uh you know that when I've never see them on
the TV, sir, That's what I'm saying that like when
everything that happened in the Chicago, I only see the
man leaders. I never see the woman step up. But
it starts with us as a lady. It naturally starts
with the woman. And that's what.

Speaker 3 (55:18):
I'm the lieutenant governor. You have the county board president.
This is just on the political sphere.

Speaker 15 (55:25):
You know you have no I watched w G News
and I'm talking about when I only see the street
passes and stuff, I never see the woman step forward. Okay,
with the team takeovers, it gotta start with the mothers
because then they.

Speaker 3 (55:43):
I understand your frustration there. I'm going to have a
quick comment.

Speaker 9 (55:48):
Excuse me from my mother, and that is.

Speaker 3 (55:50):
Jamie big Golden. That's cool. I believe for some I'm
still a teenager and so trying to address is frustration.

Speaker 15 (56:00):
So no, I think, uh huh, no.

Speaker 8 (56:06):
I mean, and I totally get that, I totally understand.
I will say this, I think this is the case.
This is really really just a case of who gets
the spotlight right on. I know many women who are
you know, on the front lines every day in some
capacity trying to make this city better. But it's it's

(56:28):
always the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes it's the
loudest voice in the room that gets that attention and will
working behind exactly like so there, I mean, there are
there are plenty of us doing that work. There are
plenty of us, you know, like hosting. One of my
closest friends is a is one of the few black

(56:49):
rabbis in the country. She feeds like kids in her
block five days.

Speaker 15 (56:55):
A week, year round.

Speaker 8 (56:58):
And again she's not going to be on the talking
about it. He's not He's not going to be, you know,
doing interviews every day about it. But I mean, these
are the folks that are again doing the work without
the recognition. And Okay, but I'm.

Speaker 15 (57:10):
Saying I grew up when there I don't care about
all of that because I stayed on the good side
of Chicago and when I was just out there employment.

Speaker 8 (57:21):
I've seen the.

Speaker 15 (57:21):
Buildings in the foundation, okay, and I see the disimproplishment.

Speaker 8 (57:26):
I went to college and I learnt about all of that.

Speaker 15 (57:29):
Okay, So it hurts me from a different standpoint. And
if I was a leader, which I naturally came, because
I'm afraid they might shoot me dead in the street,
because that's what they do to our great leaders.

Speaker 3 (57:43):
Okay, and m we have to start there, Mater, Marktter, Marketta,
Mark Marquetta, Marquetta. I want you and not lose fate.
Don't be There's a wonderful scripture that says, don't be. Listen,

(58:04):
don't be weary and well doing. Do you understand me?
Because you can't think, you can't think. Continue to do
the right thing and rest assured. The wonderful thing about
doing the right thing is that you never have to
end up questioning yourself because in the end, right is
always going to succeed over wrong.

Speaker 15 (58:24):
Okay, Yeah, it hurts me, but we don't have to
continue to live with it.

Speaker 14 (58:32):
We should be.

Speaker 15 (58:34):
Marching, like okay, just to stop racism.

Speaker 3 (58:42):
There has to be urgency, I agree, but exactly as
trying to call right now.

Speaker 15 (58:52):
The last thing, mister Darrel Denark, go ahead, thank you
so much. My only theory is why racism still exists
because they don't know us. The Martin Luther King theory
wanted to integrate the communities. If you live among us,
you know us, and we're not those type of people.
And with the N word, it's a naturally meg us easy.

Speaker 3 (59:17):
I think that it was a good word.

Speaker 6 (59:19):
It was never a bad word.

Speaker 15 (59:21):
And we as people have to stop that and know
who we are. We are supported high support is suppert
and it's not a bad word. The last made that,
but we shall be screaming it out, say me, yeah.

Speaker 3 (59:39):
But we appreciate that. And uh, moving on right now,
we're going to hear that there's a lot to uncompact there,
and uh, we're going to move on to Albert. Albert
is calling from Chicago. Albert, you're on Chicago Speaks. You're
comment to question this morning.

Speaker 11 (59:58):
Uh, everybody hear me to make sure.

Speaker 9 (01:00:01):
Yeah, go ahead, Uh huh okay. So I'll be fifty
next year. I grew up in the nineties, right, so
in the nineties, my parents would always tell me, you know,
you have two strikes. You're black, you're a man, so
if you give them a third reason to do anything
to you, that is what they will do. And it's

(01:00:21):
hard to see some of the young men like Carmelo
Anthony and then the other young man who's shot by
the store owned in the back, to see them go
through this stuff and they not know that if you
go someplace to do something anything really just not being
in that place, they will find a reason to lock
you up.

Speaker 11 (01:00:38):
It's almost like young black men have a target on
their backs. So as soon as they get your handcuffs,
they put you in a sale, soon as they put
you in the cell, they put you in front of
a judge, and then they have almost like they own you.
But that whole typeline of prison stuff that they talked
about when I was growing up in the nineties, they
just went bypass that and give a lot of younger
kids in elementary school and high school strikes on their

(01:01:00):
records because they're doing the team take over things. They're
carrying guns, they're stealing cars. It's almost like we really
have to double down on an effort to educate young
black men to understand you are in jeopardy. Your life
is in jeopardy. Anything you do or don't do could
land you in a situation that one of these two
young men. And it's really sad. I have two daughters,

(01:01:22):
and it's sad to say I'm kind of fortunate that
I don't have a son, because if I had a son,
I would be having a different conversation with you right now.

Speaker 3 (01:01:31):
I had Canon. I think you wanted to say, either
Canon or Gerald, that you wanted to comment on on
what Albert just said.

Speaker 10 (01:01:41):
Well, I think he's right to point out ultimately that
raises will. The dynamics in terms of the structures in
our society are designed in a way that are not
favorable to us. You know, we cannot pretend that that's
the case. We know it's not. It hasn't historically been,

(01:02:03):
and we've been made to learn nuances and find ways
to in spite of get past some of the barriers.
That said, to your point, Darryl, I don't think. I
don't think we ever give up. I think if you
look at our success in this country as a community,
we have succeeded this the unity against the culture. The

(01:02:28):
culture of this country is black culture. Music has borrowed
from US, food is borrowed from US, Clothes brought borrow
from us. Science has borrow from us, map borrow from us.

Speaker 11 (01:02:39):
Every we create this culture.

Speaker 10 (01:02:43):
This culture is black culture. American culture is black culture.

Speaker 3 (01:02:47):
We need people comfort.

Speaker 6 (01:02:50):
We have to be comfortable in speaking to that.

Speaker 10 (01:02:54):
Reality, to that truth.

Speaker 11 (01:02:57):
And I.

Speaker 12 (01:03:00):
And I and I do agree with that. Let me
let me and I know we were a point. But
acap was white, was not white, and he was black.
Where will we be? We want to make sure that
we talk about the act and it's become racialized because
of the core proceedings, but the act in of itself,

(01:03:23):
and so there's a lot of our youth that are
going through this every day. They're at parties, they're at outings.

Speaker 6 (01:03:28):
How would they behave and facet of that situation. We
have to make sure we denounce that act because we
don't want our young brothers to be a statistic.

Speaker 3 (01:03:36):
Yes, hey, Albert, I appreciate you calling. Man, trying to
get to as many calls as I can't.

Speaker 9 (01:03:41):
Okay, all right, man, take you easy, all right, all right.

Speaker 3 (01:03:44):
Next we're going to hear from miss Rosenberg. She's calling
from Oswego. Miss Rosenberg, you're on in Chicago, speaks. You're
commented question this morning.

Speaker 16 (01:03:54):
Yes, good morning. I have a comment about the falls burning. Yes,
probably why it's so freely used our administration today, they've
been bolding people to do that, so they're just bolding
out there.

Speaker 5 (01:04:12):
That's right.

Speaker 16 (01:04:13):
They can basically do anything rightist that they want to
because our leader actually embolded them. So nobody has to
hide that anymore, because usually if they don't that way,
they would actually just hide it. But now they don't
have to.

Speaker 3 (01:04:29):
And the thing that I find most blatant about this
is that normally, you know, cross burnings were done in
the cover of night.

Speaker 13 (01:04:38):
This was done in.

Speaker 2 (01:04:39):
Broad daylight, what h.

Speaker 15 (01:04:44):
And a very prominent place, you know, well.

Speaker 3 (01:04:47):
It was a place that it knew it was going
to garner attention.

Speaker 11 (01:04:51):
It's exactly.

Speaker 16 (01:04:54):
Exactly.

Speaker 3 (01:04:54):
It's quite realistic about that. But what we have to
do is that, you know, an order, you know, I
think it was doctor Martin Luther King who's at this
in order for evil to prevail, And I may be
wrong in my quote here, but in order for evil,
it might have even been Thomas Jefferson. But in order
for evil to prevail, than just people will do nothing.

(01:05:19):
In order for evil to prevail. It's when people who
are just people who are righteous have the opportunity to
speak out and do nothing, then evil will prevail. And
so I do believe in terms of that arc of
the universe that it does bend forward equality and morality,

(01:05:40):
and we just got to continue to be diligent in
terms of fighting the good fight. Appreciate you for calling
right now, Okay, and there's still more people that we
have to get to. Next is going to be trying
to fit this in. I guess it's going to be Mesha. Mesha,
I believe is a first time caller and she's calling

(01:06:02):
from the south side. Misha. We're going to go directly
to Misha Candace in terms of hearing what she has
to say, because I believe she's probably a first time calling. Hey, Misha,
you're on the line right now. Are you a first
min Good morning?

Speaker 13 (01:06:16):
Yes, I am God bless you, good morning. I am
a first time caller.

Speaker 3 (01:06:21):
Yeah. Comment to question, comment, Yes, I have no questions.

Speaker 13 (01:06:27):
I love your show. I've been listening to it. I've
been in Chicago three years from Oakland, California. I've been
coming here since I was a little girl. My grandmother's
ninety four years old. She's a pillar of the South
Side community. He's been on the same block for seventy
three years, so I've seen a lot of redentification. As
of the twenty second of this month, I'll be fifty four,

(01:06:48):
so I've seen a modulation at the end of the
eighties and the beginning of the nineties. Unfortunately, this is
going on not just here in this democratic state, but
also in California. I'm from Oakland, which we're very political
and have been dealing with Chicago the whole time, and my.

Speaker 3 (01:07:05):
Grandmother, Ronald Dullham's.

Speaker 13 (01:07:10):
We're going through a lot of the same exact things.
Chicago and Oakland is so much like. We even have
the same streets. My place of business is on Lake Shore,
So you know, I want to just say right now
to everyone, First of all, we have to come together.
The thing my grandmother says is that the reason we
don't get things done in Chicago, California, or anything anymore

(01:07:31):
as a people is because we don't go out. We
don't help, we don't march, we don't do the things
that help the community to come together. We don't feed
the children like we should. We don't the churches and
the communities here, they're so big and bold, But what
are we doing for the community. What are we doing
for the children? The children and the parents are hurting
these That young lady touch me. I'm calling because of her.

(01:07:54):
She was trying to say that we need to stop
the stigmatism of like just when you move to the suburbs,
you're still part of the South Side. When you move
to the from the west to the south, you're still
part of Chicago.

Speaker 3 (01:08:08):
We need to be community with Can a leopard change
its spots?

Speaker 8 (01:08:13):
You know, a.

Speaker 13 (01:08:14):
Leopard can change the spots. You know why because God
created each leopard differently. There's not one leopard with the
same spot. There's not one person with the same situation
going on. Well, we're dealing with with these youth and
I deal with it every day. I try to help
here and I'm trying to open a system. We need
a systematic thing in place for not just the children,
but the elderly. We forget about the elderly. The elderly

(01:08:36):
here are just lost.

Speaker 8 (01:08:37):
The killers of the community are no.

Speaker 3 (01:08:40):
No, you know we re plus to and nurturing of
your ninety four year old grandmother.

Speaker 13 (01:08:47):
Yes, we have to come from California because the family
here are not putting their own children first, and they
definitely don't have time to put the elderly first. So
we have to start with stealth. If everyone wakes up
and looks in the mirror and says, hey, let me
start with me. If everyone reached out and touched somebody
or bless somebody every day, I don't care if it's
one little thing like, oh, you're fifty cents short in

(01:09:08):
a store, help us a store brother out that simple
action can create a creation that God wants us to
have in the universe. He wants us to put love
peace out there. It can't just be about Jesus. Jesus
did love things, but he also was the son of God.
We need to remember that we are God in our
own selves to put forth effort to help our people.

(01:09:29):
Like right now, the young brother Chance the rapper, I
give him much grace. He is out here, he's he's soldiering.
He went out there Friday, the last two Fridays, and
he's created something that nobody's talking about. He's he started
something that can help the community, to help each other,
to help the parents, to get a hold.

Speaker 3 (01:09:47):
Of these things.

Speaker 13 (01:09:49):
Organization that we.

Speaker 3 (01:09:53):
Were and we appreciate you, and we appreciate the act
that Are you still currently residing in Oakland? Are you
back here in Chicago?

Speaker 13 (01:10:05):
I still have I'm in a suburb of Oakland, California,
thirty minutes from everywhere, Sacramento, all of the stuff that's.

Speaker 16 (01:10:10):
Going on out there.

Speaker 3 (01:10:12):
I appreciate you calling from Oakland. It's early in the morning.

Speaker 13 (01:10:16):
No, No, I'm calling from Chicago. I'm here in Chicago
for the lafter years taking care of Yeah. I love Chicago.
Chicago's my second city, and Chicago, to me is losing it.
We had to start pulling it together. Like Oakland, we
have to do it too. Our homeless situation. All I'm
saying is people playing it forward. If everybody paid it
for it one time in life, we all can get back.

Speaker 3 (01:10:38):
Reminded of a best selling book that happened. I think
it was decades ago, and it was called Simple Acts
of Kindness. Everybody is obligated to perform. Everybody is obligated
to perform a simple act of kindness. As a boy scout,
I try to do a good deed daily. It sounds corny,

(01:10:59):
but that's what I try to do. And I appreciate
you doing the first time calling please your last yes. Well,
more than what we think.

Speaker 13 (01:11:08):
From listening to the people, from listening, I appreciate. That's
what that mother who was talking, she's hurting, you know
what she's hurting because nobody's hearing her. Nobody's listening to what.

Speaker 3 (01:11:17):
She was heard today by the world. She was hurt
today by the world that she was And.

Speaker 11 (01:11:23):
I'm appreciate you.

Speaker 13 (01:11:24):
Sometimes the little small speaks, the little small things matter
more than the big things. Like we all got to
get old one day. Let's take care of each other.

Speaker 11 (01:11:32):
One day.

Speaker 13 (01:11:33):
You may be in a situation where you need to.
I appreciate you know you have a good day. Bye bye.

Speaker 3 (01:11:42):
I want to thank can Elaborate, Jim Daily, Jamie Nunsby
Golden and doctor Gerald McNair for joining us this morning.
Nothing but the best to all of you in Happy Juneteenth.
Coming up next, we're going to tell you about a
summit designed to promote retail and food equity. You listen
to Chicago Speaks.

Speaker 1 (01:12:02):
Chicago Speaks with Daryl Dinard. You can voice your opinion
right now toll free at eight three, three five nine
one V one O three.

Speaker 8 (01:12:12):
Chicago wakes up with.

Speaker 2 (01:12:14):
This Steve Harvey Morning Show.

Speaker 3 (01:12:15):
Of course you would want to do what would make
your mate feel better.

Speaker 17 (01:12:19):
Talking to each other and having coffee there so that
they're walking around people. I'm not going to say you
can eliminate that, but you make it harder when Big
Mama's walking down the aisle on a regular basis, because
Big Mama says, this is my store, and I want
to help.

Speaker 3 (01:12:34):
Liz keep this store open. The website.

Speaker 17 (01:12:36):
The website is Fsfinstitute dot net.

Speaker 3 (01:12:40):
It's going to be at the Isidor and Sadie Doorham
Forum right at seven twenty five West Roosevelt Road. Ambassador
Earth Uncomors. We definitely appreciate you and all of the
work that you do.

Speaker 17 (01:12:52):
I'm just a servant and I'm here to make sure
that no child goes to bed hunger and every mother
has a store in her neighborhood she can shop.

Speaker 3 (01:13:01):
Well, 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 sister station with the Black Information Network
at AM six forty right now and get ready to
get your praise on What's onya Blaky? I'm Darryl Denard.
We'll see you back here next Sunday, beginning at six

(01:13:23):
am for another edition of Chicago Speaks. Please be sure
to take care of yourself and Happy Juneteenth.

Speaker 18 (01:13:29):
Everyone, wvaz oh Park, Chicago.

Speaker 2 (01:13:34):
This Sunday morning to you.

Speaker 18 (01:13:35):
If you're on your way to church, We're preparing you
with Get your Praise on Inspiration and Gospel in one show.
Get your Praise on right now, Right now on V
one oh three.

Speaker 7 (01:13:48):
Slide from the Northwestern Medicine V one o three Studios,
A better way to start today.

Speaker 3 (01:13:56):
I like the YA as well as numerous other cases.