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>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M BRANIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> THIS IS REALLY A BIG DEAL.

>> THE CTA AND THE CITY SAY THEY WANT TO PUT RESIDENCE AT THE FOREFRONT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS.

>>> 3 YEARS, THAT IS HOW LONG THE MacKENZIE EXPRESSWAY CONSTRUCTION WILL LAST, STARTING WEDNESDAY, FIND OUT HOW IT COULD AFFECT YOUR COMMUTE.

>>> AND POWERFUL WORK AT AN EXHIBITION FROM WAR IMPACTED ARTISTS.

>>> AND DIRECTIONS FOR THE CHICAGO STREET GRID, WTTW NEWS EXPLAINED HOW TO NAVIGATE THE CITY.

>>> COMMUNITY DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT CENTERED AROUND CTA STATIONS, THAT IS BEHIND A NEW PLAN TO REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS .

WHILE THE EXTENSION ISN'T A DONE DEAL, TRANSIT ADVOCATES ARE COVERED IN THE PROJECT MOVING FORWARD, WITH $350 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT IN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S LATEST BUDGET PROPOSAL.

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO WHAT THE CTA HOPES TO DO IN AREAS AROUND THOSE FUTURE STATIONS.

>> THAT 5.6 MILE EXTENSION OF THE REDLINE DOWN TO 130th STREET IS A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING, AS FAR BACK AS THE 1950s, IT HAS BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION.

IN RECENT YEARS, THE CTA HAS BEEN WORKING TO COME UP WITH CONCRETE PLANS FOR GETTING IT DONE AND TO DRUM UP SOME LOCAL AND FEDERAL FUNDING.

PART OF THAT PROCESS IS THINKING THROUGH NOT JUST THE STATIONS THEMSELVES BUT WHAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE HALF-MILE OR SO AROUND THOSE STATIONS.

ONE OF THE IDEAS ON THE LIST, IMPROVING THE LOCAL HOUSING STOCK BY REHABBING EXISTING PROPERTY AND BUILDING ON VACANT LAND, AS SHOWN HERE ON ORANGE .

THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING AT RETAIL AND MIXED-USE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVING PUBLIC SPACE.

IT'S AN IDEA CALLED EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, OR IN SIMPLER TERMS -- >> AFFORDABLE HOMES, GROCERY STORES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND MANY OTHER DESIRES DRIVEN BY THE COMMUNITY.

>> ELEVATED CHICAGO HELPED WITH THE PLAN, BRINGING TOGETHER RESIDENTS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AROUND FUTURE STATIONS.

YOU HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE, BECAUSE DEVELOPMENT AROUND TRANSIT HAS OFTEN FOCUSED ON WELL-OFF OR GENTRIFYING COMMUNITIES.

>> HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HAVE LEFT THE CITY OF CHICAGO, LET'S STOP THAT DISPLACEMENT, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTERS NEAR TRANSIT TO RETAIN OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION.

>> THIS KIND OF PLANNING HASN'T ALWAYS HAPPENED ON THE FRONT END OF THINGS.

MELVIN THOMPSON WAS ALSO PART OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND HIS GROUP HAS BEEN WORKING ON REVITALIZING THE AREA AROUND THE EXISTING 95th STREET TERMINAL WHICH HE HOPES CAN BE A MODEL.

>> RETAIL IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN THOSE SPACES ARE GOING TO LOOK VASTLY DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP, SO, TO SEE AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSES SURROUNDED BY THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, NEAR THOSE STATIONS , CREATES COMMUNITY BUY-IN.

AND THAT IS SUSTAINABLE.

>> IN ADDITION TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PLAN FOR THE ROSELAND COMMUNITY MEDICAL DISTRICT , THAT IS AIMED AT IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE AND HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR NEIGHBORS, BUT PLANNERS SAY JUST HAVING GOOD TRANSIT ACCESS WITH THE EXTENDED TRAIN LINE WOULD ALSO IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

>> THIS WILL REALLY CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO VISIT ONE ANOTHER MUCH MORE EASILY.

IT'LL ALLOW HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO TRAVEL TO DOWNTOWN FOR INTERNSHIPS, EVEN THE FESTIVALS AND THE FUN ACTIVITIES .

>> IT IS KEY TO FILL VACANT LAND AND ATTRACT RESIDENTS TO COMBAT POPULATION LOSS WITHOUT CREATING UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

>> WE ARE DOING THE WORK TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO COME BACK TO THE SOUTH SIDE.

AND ALSO , MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE WORK TO SUPPORT POLICIES THAT DON'T ENCOURAGE THAT TYPE OF DISPLACEMENT THAT OTHER RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY ARE FEARING.

>> THE CTA HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO PRESENT AT THIS WEEK'S MEETING OF THE CHICAGO PLAN COMMISSION, THAT ENDED UP GETTING DEFERRED.

A SPOKESPERSON SAID THEY DON'T HAVE A MAKEUP DATE .

AS FOR THE REDLINE EXTENSION ITSELF, CONGRESS HAS TO APPROVE THAT $350 MILLION FUNDING IN PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PROPOSED BUDGET, AND THAT STILL LEAVES PLENTY LEFT UNFUNDED AND LEADERS ARE WORKING HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT IS GOING TO COME FROM.

THANK YOU.

>>> NOW TO SOME MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

DRIVERS ON LAKESHORE DRIVE ARE BEING REROUTED DUE TO THE DRIVE BEING CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION TWEETED THE CLOSURE ABOUT ONE HOUR AGO DUE TO POLICE ACTIVITY IN THE AREA.

THE OFFICE CONFIRMED IT IS INVESTIGATING AN OFFERS INVOLVED SHOOTING NEAR ROOSEVELT ROAD.

SEVERAL NEWS OUTLETS REPORT THAT BOTH CHICAGO FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT SAY NOBODY WAS SHOT BUT CHICAGO POLICE CONFIRMED THAT AN OFFICER WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE AND INJURED.

>>> IN THE LATEST ROUND OF ENDORSEMENTS FOR CHICAGO MAYOR, JESUS GARCIA MAINTAINED HIS PICK FOR THE APRIL 4 RUNOFF ELECTION.

>> CHICAGO IS A CITY OF STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROGRESSIVE VALUES.

IT IS THROUGH THIS LENS THAT I SEE BRANDON JOHNSON AS THE RIGHT CHOICE AND WHY I'M ENDORSING HIM FOR MAYOR THIS MORNING.

>> WHILE MAKING THE ENDORSEMENT, HE URGED CHICAGO PROGRESSIVES TO UNITE BEHIND BRANDON JOHNSON.

MEANWHILE TODAY, PAUL VALLAS CRITICIZED HIS APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY, SAYING HE WANTS TO CUT THE POLICE BUDGET.

EARLY VOTING STARTS AGAIN ON MONDAY.

THEY WILL START HITTING MAILBOXES NEXT WEEK.

>>> MORE STUDENTS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN ILLINOIS UNDER GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S PROPOSED BUDGET PLAN.

>> THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING IS HELPING MAKE SURE COMMUNITY COLLEGES CONTINUES OUR MISSION.

THIS INVESTMENT IS ALLOWING US TO HOLD THE LINE ON TUITION .

SO WE ARE NOT INCREASING TUITION, THAT WE HAVEN'T INCREASED TUITION SINCE 2016.

>> THE GOVERNOR VISITED COMMUNITY COLLEGES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, STOPPING AT THE MALCOLM X COLLEGE, THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR THE LARGEST INCREASE FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN OVER TWO DECADES, MAKING WORKING-CLASS RESIDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR A TUITION FREE DEGREE.

IT ALSO CALLS FOR A $100 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE GRANT, MAKING IT THE HIGHEST IN-STATE HISTORY.

>>> NEXT TIME YOU ARE WATCHING A MOVIE OR TV SERIES, KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR FAMILIAR PLACES IN ILLINOIS, THE STATE'S FILM INDUSTRY HAD A RECORD PRODUCTION YEAR , CREATING MORE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

A FEW PRODUCTIONS YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE OUR HBO'S , SOMEBODY , SOMEWHERE.

AND THE HIT SHOW , CHICAGO MED, CHICAGO FIRE AND THE CHICAGO PD SERIES CONTINUES TO RETURN TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO .

AND THAT IS JUST A FEW.

THE STATE GENERATED AN ESTIMATED OF $300 MILLION IN WAGES.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, A MULTIYEAR CONSTRUCTION PLAN IS SET TO HIT ASKED WEEK, ITS IMPACT ON YOUR COMMUTE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLY IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION , AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> IF YOU DRIVE THE KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY, GET READY TO HIT THE BRAKES.

STARTING MONDAY, A NEW MULTIYEAR RENOVATION PROJECT IS SET TO MESS WITH YOUR DRIVE TIMES, AND EVENTUALLY MOVE THINGS OUT.

JOINING US IS JOHN SHOEMAKER, DISTRICT 1 , THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS $150 MILLION PROJECT EXPECTED OVER THREE CONSTRUCTION SEASONS, MOST CHICAGOANS ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT CONSTRUCTION SEASON IS.

THEY WILL BE REHABBING 36 BRIDGE STRUCTURES.

>> MOTORISTS TRAVELING OVER THE BRIDGES CAN EXPECT CURRENT CONDITIONS OF A LOT OF POTHOLES, SO THE REPAIRS WILL INVOLVE TAKING A WATER BLASTER OVER THE TOP OF THE DECK AND IT'S GOING TO BLASTOFF ALL OF THE LOOSE CONCRETE .

AND THEN WE DO SOME PATCHING TO MAKE SURE WE FIX ALL THE PARTS OF THE DECK THAT NEED TO BE FIXED.

THEN WE WILL END UP DOING A LATEX OVERLAY OVER THE TOP , IT IS GOING TO PROVIDE A NICE SMOOTH SURFACE, IT'LL ALSO ACT AS A WATER BARRIER TO PREVENT WALT AND SALT FROM PENETRATING INTO THE DECK .

>> HOW MIGHT THIS AFFECT LANES AND DELAYS?

WHAT KIND OF CLOSURES CAN THEY EXPECT?

>> YOU MENTIONED IT IS A THREE-YEAR PROJECT, SO PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN 2023.

THAT IS GOING TO BE PRIMARILY INBOUND , ON THE INBOUND KENNEDY STARTING MONDAY NIGHT.

THE PUBLIC WILL SEE THE FIRST REAL IMPACT TUESDAY MORNING.

WE WILL START AT THE NORTH END BY THE END OF THE JUNCTION, IT IS GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH HUBBARD'S CAVE, IT'LL TAKE APPROXIMATELY FIVE NIGHTS, BUT ONCE IT IS FULLY STAGED, THEY WILL HAVE THE TWO RIGHT LANES STILL AVAILABLE ON THE KENNEDY ITSELF, AND THE REVERSIBLE LANES ARE GOING TO BE SET FOR THE INBOUND CONTINUATION, SO WE WILL BE MAINTAINING FOUR LANES THROUGHOUT.

GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO REITERATE SOMETHING THAT YOU MENTIONED, BECAUSE YOU BROKE UP A LITTLE BIT, INBOUND, TWO LEFT LANES FROM THE JUNCTION ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HUBBARD CAVE TO BEGIN.

YOU ARE ALSO PLANNING WORK ON THE REVERSIBLE LANE ACCESS CONTROL, AS MOST OF US KNOW THAT IS THE EXPRESS LANE.

WHAT IS THE WORK DONE THERE?

>> THAT IS THE SECOND PART OF THIS FIRST PROJECT, WE WILL BE DOING THE DECK AS WELL.

AND WE WILL ALSO BE REPLACING THE ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH ARE ALL OF THE RAMPS AND ENTRANCES AND EXITS, AND THE REVERSIBLE LANES THAT CONTROL TRAFFIC AND DICTATE WHICH WAY THEY ARE FLOWING.

THOSE WERE CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1970S, AND THEY ARE USING THE SAME TECHNOLOGY TODAY.

SO, HOPEFULLY IT'LL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT AND MUCH EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT WAY TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THEM.

>> AND YOU SAID 1970S FOR THE EXPRESS LANE, THE REVERSIBLE'S , WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER BRIDGES YOU ARE WORKING ON?

>> THE BRIDGES THEMSELVES ARE OVER 50 YEARS OLD AND THE LAST MAJOR REHABILITATION WAS IN THE EARLY 90s.

WE ARE GOING ON 31 YEARS SINCE THE LAST MAJOR REHABILITATION .

THE BRIDGE DECKS HAVE PERFORMED WELL, JUST IN TIME FOR THE NEXT MAJOR REHABILITATION.

>> WHAT KIND OF UPDATES ARE YOU MAKING?

THERE'S SOME PAINTING AND LIGHTING DONE AS WELL?

>> CORRECT, SINCE WE HAVE THE LANES CLOSED, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING ALL THE WORK DONE AT THE SAME TIME.

SO WE WILL ALSO BE DOING SOME PAVEMENT PATCHING .

AND WE WILL ALSO BE REPLACING THE SIGNING STRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR, UPDATING THE LIGHTING TO NEW L.E.D.

LIGHTS, AND ALSO PAINTING THE STRUCTURAL STEEL THAT MAKES UP HUBBARD CAVE.

>> AND WHEN DOES THE OUTBOUND WORK START?

>> THAT IS GOING TO BE THE THIRD YEAR, 2025, THAT WILL BE A VERY SIMILAR TIMEFRAME , AS WHERE WE HAD FOR 2023, WE WILL START THE LEFT LANES FIRST, THEN APPROXIMATELY LATE JULY WE WILL SWITCH TRAFFIC AND CLOSE THE RIGHT OUTSIDE LANES IN 2025.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO DRIVERS TACKLING THIS NEW COMMUTE?

>> WE ARE ASKING DRIVERS TO HONESTLY JUST BE PATIENT AND FLEXIBLE.

AS ONE CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME VERY SUBSTANTIAL TRAVEL IMPACTS.

WHETHER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE, THAT WOULD BE A NICE ALTERNATIVE, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NOT A ROADWAY ALTERNATIVE THAT WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO TAKE.

COMMUTERS CAN ALSO TRAVEL ON THE EISENHOWER, ALSO IN ADDITION TO POTENTIAL ALTERNATE ROUTES OR MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, WE ARE RECOMMENDING PEOPLE LOOK INTO PERHAPS CHANGING THEIR WORK HOURS, IF THEY CAN COME IN A COUPLE HOURS EARLIER OR LATER, THAT ALSO MIGHT HELP MINIMIZE THE TRAVEL IMPACTS.

ALSO, REMOTE OPTIONS FOR WORK THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE.

ALL OF THESE OPTIONS WILL HELP MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF TRAFFIC ON THE PUBLIC.

>> ANY ANTICIPATED SETBACKS?

ARE YOU WEARY THAT IT MIGHT TAKE LONGER AND COST A LOT MORE?

ANY CHALLENGES THAT YOU MIGHT FORESEE?

>> WITH THIS TYPE OF PROJECT, BECAUSE IT IS A REHABILITATION PROJECT, THE UNKNOWNS ARE A LITTLE MORE CERTAIN, WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE GETTING OURSELVES INTO.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK BACK TO OTHER PROJECTS AND HOW IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED .

THIS IS A RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT WHERE YOU ARE DIGGING INTO THE GROUND.

THERE ARE CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT BE WORSE THAN YOU ANTICIPATED , BUT WITH REHABILITATION PROJECTS, THE SCOPE IS MUCH MORE NARROW SO THERE'S NOT AS MANY UNKNOWNS, SO WE ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT IN THE THREE-YEAR TIME FRAME.

>> OKAY, 3 YEARS DRIVERS ON THE NORTH SIDE, GET READY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>> UP NEXT, THIS WEEK IN NATURE.

STAY WITH US.

>> IT IS A BIG WIN FOR SOME NEIGHBORS, TWO FESTIVALS WILL BE MOVING LOCATIONS, AND THE GREENISH CHICAGO RIVER IS NOT TO BLAME, I WANT TO BE CLEAR .

PATTY JOINS US WITH MORE ON THOSE STORIES, AS A PART OF HER THIS WEEK IN NATURE COLUMN.

WELCOME BACK, PATTY.

CATCH US UP TO SPEED FOR THE SITUATION.

>> THERE WERE THREE MAJOR MUSIC FESTIVALS LAST SUMMER AND NEIGHBORS SAY IT HAS CREATED SO MUCH CHAOS, THEY LOSE ACCESS TO THEIR COMMUNITY SPACE FOR ALMOST HALF OF THE SUMMER.

THEY ARE WORRIED THAT AMBULANCES CAN'T GET TO THE HOSPITALS, THEY COMPLAINED SO PERSISTENTLY TO THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT 4, THAT THE BOARD AMENDED CODE SO IT WOULD REQUIRE COMMISSIONERS APPROVAL.

A COUPLE OF FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS IN THIS GAME OF CHICKEN , THEY MOVED.

THE HEAT WAVE MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL BE MOVING, THE SUMMER SMASH IS MOVING IN BRIDGEVIEW.

SO, DOUGLAS PARK COULD BE A FESTIVAL FREE SUMMER WHICH IS GREAT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS .

BUT, IT'S NOT JUST RESIDENCE AROUND DOUGLAS PARK THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS.

YOU HAVE THE FOLKS WHO LIVE AROUND GRANT PARK AND THERE ARE NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND GRANT PARK AND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH LOLLAPALOOZA , NOW YOU HAVE THE NASCAR RACE COMING.

JUST THESE EVENTS, THEY ARE SOMETIMES MULTI-WEEK LONG SETUPS.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE NEXT MAYOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THESE MAJOR EVENTS?

>> SO, A LITTLE BIT OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY FUN.

A GREEN SPACE.

WHY IS THE FISH GREEN, PATTY?

>> BECAUSE IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR FOR THE MALES AND FEMALES TO GET TOGETHER, AND THE MALE FISH WHICH ARE NATIVE TO THE GREAT LAKES AREA, THEY HAVE GREEN FINS WHEN IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO DO THEIR JOB WITH THE LADY FISH.

SO, JUST A LITTLE FUN FACT FOR THE IRISH TODAY.

THEY ARE TRYING TO CATCH THE LADIES EYES.

>>> YOU CAN READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW .COM /NEWS.

UP NEXT, POWERFUL WORK BY ARTISTS IMPACTED BY WAR.

>>> THIS MONTH MARKS THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE US-LED INVASION OF IRAQ.

NOW THE VETERAN ART MOVEMENT IS PARTNERING WITH THREE ART INSTITUTIONS TO BRING VETERANS TOGETHER, TO REFLECT ON THIS ANNIVERSARY WITH WORK BY WAR IMPACTED ARTISTS.

>> VETERANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GATHERING TO EXPERIENCE ART BY WAR IMPACTED ARTISTS AND SHARE STORIES FROM THEIR TIME SERVING.

>> DIGITAL ART, FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN A LIFESAVER.

IT HAS GIVEN ME THIS OUTLET, IT HAS CONNECTED ME TO THIS COMMUNITY WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM AND CONNECT TO AND RELATE TO.

>> ERIC PEREZ SERVED IN THE EARLY 2000'S, HIS WORK FEATURES PORTRAITS HE TOOK OF VETERANS THAT HE SERVED WITH.

>> PORTRAITS ARE CUT OUT IN VISUAL PATTERNS, THE FIRST LAYER IS THE LAYER CLOSEST TO THE WALL, IT IS COMPOSED OF PHOTOGRAPHS I TOOK DURING THE WAR.

THE SECOND LAYER IS A LAYER OF IMAGES OF THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM THE THINGS THAT KEEP THEM RESILIENT, THINGS THAT KEEP THEM GOING AND SURVIVING.

THE TOP LAYER IS A NEW PORTRAIT I TOOK OF THEM IN THE LAST YEAR FOR THIS PROJECT.

FOR ME, VISUAL ART CAN SAY SOMETHING IN ONE FRAME THAT PEOPLE TAKE ENTIRE BOOKS TO WRITE.

>> AT THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER, THIS BLACK VETERAN EXPERIENCE HONORS THE THIRD AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO GRADUATE FROM WEST POINT.

>> HE WAS ALLOWED TO GO INTO WEST POINT WHERE HE EXPERIENCED QUITE A BIT OF RACISM WHILE HE WAS THERE.

BUT, IN SPITE OF THAT, HE SURVIVED AND HE CAME OUT AND HE BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN COLONEL IN THE COUNTRY , AND LAST YEAR OF 2022, THEY FINALLY PROMOTED HIM FROM KERNEL TO GENERAL, EVEN THOUGH HE PASSED IN 1922.

>> IT WAS CREATED BY SOCIAL JUSTICE ARTIST , SUSAN BERG.

>> I HAVE BEEN USING MY TOOL TO CREATE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, AND TO GET PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING US.

MY OLDEST BROTHER WAS IN VIETNAM AND EXPERIENCED QUITE A BIT OF RACISM WHILE HE WAS IN VIETNAM.

THE SECOND BROTHER WAS IN GERMANY, AND THE THIRD BROTHER SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES.

ALL THREE OF THEM HAD VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, TO HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES

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