Mark Chicago News Today

And i wouldnt even say chicago. im thinking parts of chicago. the term hypersegregation was coined because of how segregated chicago as a major city is, which is somewhat different than a lot of other major cities. >> hypersegregation? >> yeah. >> what is that? i lived here. i think i get what that means. >> we think of major cities are somehow more progressive, somehow further along in the intellectual thought process of inclusiveness and diversity. chicago reminds us that is not always the cas...

Chicago, the south side and the west side? >> not really. >> so, why do you think those neighborhoods are so much worse? >> lower income, lower development, no jobs. >> yeah, and those seem to be the black neighborhoods. >> theyre not the white neighborhoods. i actually used to work over there. police would stop, id catch the bus. the police would stop and ask me if i needed a ride because i was in the wrong neighborhood. >> really? i dont think i would surprise you by saying no police officers ...

Music is always the voice for the street. and for some, its a path out of those streets. so my last stop is a legendary blues club in chicago where malik accomplished something that was once thought to be impossible. hes gathered two generations of gang members, old-school do or die crew and new school artists like jay-z protege. if youre just tuning in, im dr. cornell west. do these guys all know each other? >> not really. >> they all know you? >> yeah. >> but dont know each other? >> not reall...

Dont know they are cool with each other? >> nah, nah. >> not only have they not met each other, it becomes instantly apparent to me they have no idea who the hell i am. this room felt like the tension, and i was cast in the role of the uncool vice principal. >> i live in california now and when i tell people i was coming out to chicago, everybody was like -- theres this weird thing. uh-oh. >> get shot. >> yeah, youre going to get shot. you have to join a gang and this nonsense. >> when i hear pe...

Martin in 2012, three activists started a hashtag, black lives matter. they had this crazy idea that, i dont know, maybe it shouldnt be cool to kill black people for no reason. their hashtag has turned into a movement has sparked a necessary but for some reason polarizing debate. polarizing for some people because for them, shouldnt it be all lives matter? have you heard the phrase black lives matter? >> yeah. >> what do you think about it? >> i dont know if its a color thing, but i think every ...

Now. to many people -- because all lives dont really matter in the same way. and then all lives matter is like an aspirational goal. white people, learn from her. >> i love the black lives matter movement. i think its important. and i think -- i wish there was more a focus on education. >> well, lady who was such a big fan of the show she pulled her car over so she can talk, ask, and you shall receive. because my next stop is meeting with one of the leaders of black lives matter chicago, kofi. h...

He is a former convict, addict and gang member. she inspires with her story of salvation, not just spiritually, but personally. >> so, thank you for letting us come into your church. >> im delighted that you would come here. >> you grew up in these neighborhoods, lived the life of these neighborhoods, and now you have a church. so, can you tell me a little bit about how that all came to be? >> yeah, you know, the violence that have hit our city of chicago, its perplexing. even somebody like me w...

Hands which is something you became accustomed to for years being involved in street organizations. you look up to the dude saying stone love each other. i would do everything to hear stone love. go beat shorty up, im going to do that so they can say stone love, shorty. that meant everything. i still feel it right now. >> i can tell, yeah. >> love is really -- to be accepted in a group, man, thats human, man. thats any -- >> everybody wants that. >> everybody wants that. >> i know somebody loves...

Cut $200 million from the public school budget. this resulted in 1,400 staff layoffs. where were most of the layoffs? bridgeport? lincoln park? nope, the south side and west side where the black people live. thats like a really odd coincidence. >> why do black and brown parents, educators, students, why do we always have to fight so hard for what should be given to us? >> and we want to talk about violence in our communities, we have to talk about the support systems we have. teachers are our su...

Die. they pave the way for us to do what we are doing in chicago. these men are real chicago legends and pioneers of the craft. thank yall for being here, man. >> we aint that old. >> that conversation was great. and just when we were wrapping up, something happened that i never saw coming. >> before we leave, why dont we all pray, please. can we do that? if its okay with you? ♪ >> our father which art in heaven. >> as we bow our heads in prayer, i cant help but reflect on everything i have se...