Studs Terkel discusses gang life with Allan Evans and Henry Jordan, members of the Vice Lords, an urban street gang based in Chicago. Evans and Jordan were both born and grew up in Chicago.

The discussion of discrimination in metropolitan Chicago continues with Jan Hestor, Curtiss Brooks and Dr. Philip Hauser talking about bigotry, prejudices, open occupancy and education. Included in this part of the interview is an excerpt of 17 year-old Jimmy talking about how his grandmother would rather work than be on welfare.

Civil rights activist, lawyer, and professor Derrick Bell discusses his latest work and protest against Harvard University due to their lack of diverse hiring in academics. Bell is known for his work on the concept of critical race theory and his relentless pursuit of fair treatment for his colleagues.

Milton Mayer, journalist and educator, talks with Studs about Quakerism. They talk about how religion relates to society in the times of change. Mr Mayer describes an exchange with a gentleman who asked what is a Quaker. The man had been an SS officer who told Mr Mayer his story. The man had been touched by the anonymous generosity of the Quakers many years before. Mr Mayer speaks of A. J. Musty, clergyman and political activist as his mentor and friend, and the things he learned from him.

Jonathan Kozol discusses his book "Illiterate America." Includes an interview of a black teenager student named Jimmy.

Discussing UC Berkeley's Free Speech Movement with Richard "Skip" Richeimer. There is no free speech at UC Berkeley and the university is no longer concerned with the students and the faculty on this matter. Richeimer says the main problem is whether the administration of the university has the right to control the content of speech.