Page 7 - Mark Chicago News Today

>> look, all teachers matter, all right? >> all right, all right. there is a real reason there is so much focus on the youth here. out of the 762 deaths in 2016, 75% were black. but 51% of those were people under the age of 25. hi. >> hi. >> if there is someone i absolutely need to talk to about this problem, its diane latiker, a woman doing everything she can to put names to these horrific numbers. first, tell me where were at right now. >> were in the memorial tribute to young people killed by...

Starting tech startups and being accountants and lawyers. we got to tell them that ascending in society is dope. >> im real happy right now. this is a start, bro. i havent seen this until today. the old heads and young heads have never really sat down in this manner where we really chopping it up. the cameras are here but i believe in my heart each and one of us can reach somebody and teach somebody and save somebody. you feel what im saying? this is that moment. the impossible is possible. >> o...

Theyre doing the opposite. so, thats how we know oppression is real. thats how we know we are still colonized because were not getting the same access to resources as other communities. happening right now in this country. >> when black lives matter shows up for the teachers union, are you just supporting the black teachers? [ laughter ] >> look, all teachers matter, all right? [ laughter ] >> all right, all right. there is a real reason there is so much focus on the youth here. out of the 762 d...

Pointed at -- >> yes. >> i cant even reach out to you straight. 45 straight there. >> what do you think people need know about what is going on on the south side of chicago? >> its a lot going on. we just talk to about 7 or 8 youngsters now and it came across to me, as well to others that were with me, that were reaching out, but the younger generation is not reaching back out to us. theyre stuck into what theyre doing. somewhere we failed them. >> we failing -- that one that i failed, that be t...

She died a short time later at the hospital. instead of ying, maam, you know, get out of the way, get off the block, this and that, this is fixing to go down. you just shoot? you wonder, what were you thinking? >> these two offenders are the prime example of the challenge we face here in chicago with repeat gun offenders that dont care who they shoot, dont care whose life they take, and clearly, clearly dont feel the consequences of their actions. >> youre dwayne wades mother. they used that to ...

>> we aint that old, though. [ laughter ] >>. that conversation was great. and just when we were wrapping up, something happened that i never saw coming. >> before we believe, you know, can we all pray, please? can we do this everybody? >> our father, which our -- >> as we bow our heads in prayer, i cant help but reflect on everything ive seen and heard this week. chicagos violence is hardly a new phenomenon. whether you want to call it vestments or reconciliation, more reparations, its clear ...

Street organizations? im meeting with somebody who grew up in this life and has worked hard to make a better life for himself and others. malik yusef, a grammy award winner who has worked with kanye west which means he earned that grammy. you grew up here. >> yeah, man, right down the street, about three blocks. >> outside of chicago people talk about gangs. they dont know who they are, what the names are, how many there are. >> yeah, youve definitelyot the stones from right here, the gds, the v...

>> but a lot of this, from what i understand, people think is back to how black men in this city feel like they have to express their masculinity in a lot of media in a lot of our role models, all about be a man. >> we have to allow for multiple types of masculinities to exist. partly in were speaking about black folks, black masculinity. there is no stereo typical or one monolithic way of being a black man, right. you can be as black as steve erkel or black as dmx. thats a range. >> thats a ran...

>> hyper segregation. >> yeah. >> what is that -- i lived here. i think i get what that means. >> some cities are more progressive, somehow further along in the intellectual thought process of inclusiveness and diversity. chicago reminds us that is not the case. >> in chicago is it a sense its happening, not a reason its happening? put on people, theyre just sort of violent. >> right. one of the things i try to talk to people about is the historical reasons how some of these things came to be. c...

After a day of visiting one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in chicago, its time to do one of my favorite things, hanging out with people who make me feel stupid. im meeting with dr. javon johnson at the sweet cafe. he is a poet, author and professor of race and gender studies. his most recent book is a collection of writings on kids from the south side of chicago llg their own stories. the doctor agreed to school me on the current situation. talk to me a little about the term chiraq. for mo...