The untold story of the other boss of Chicago, the King of Policy Kings, a man who held too much power and wealth during | dG1fekxaS2Y3NjhpNGs
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00:00My father, Edward Jones, he was a gentleman.
00:06He was just a good person.
00:08He took a nickel and dime operation and he built an empire.
00:12They made about $110, $115 million, which was equivalent to about a billion dollars
00:17then.
00:18I would have to call them the Robin Hoods of Chicago during the Depression because they
00:26took care of their people.
00:30Seeing the success of people like Ed Jones, we were inspired.
00:35The door was going to be open, be ready to walk in.
00:40Black people were not admitted to the Cotton Club, but my father was well known at that
00:45moment and so they let him in.
00:49My mother was part of the chorus.
00:53She was a roommate with Josephine Baker.
00:57People admired her so much in France and in the States, she was just another black person.
01:08This is the first policy station owned by the Jones Brothers.
01:13In the back is policy action.
01:17Policy was an economic arm of the black community.
01:21When the Feds went after the Jones Brothers, it really didn't have anything to do with
01:28gambling.
01:29Ed Jones had a lot to do with the shift from Republican to Democrat.
01:32This was really a move by the government designed to get this black man out of power and out
01:38of influence.
01:39The poll used the gun to get what he wanted.
01:57Ed Jones used the gun to protect what he had.
01:59My father was never a gangster.
02:02I said, but baby, he's a gangster.
02:18That's what I imagine Sam Jean kind of said to your grandfather, you've lost Chicago privileges.
02:22You can continue to live and you can go out and you can take the money that you've made,
02:25but from now on this is my business.
02:27This takeover probably couldn't happen without political blessing.
02:34It's just so important to understand your history, because if you know where you come
02:45from, that helps you get where you're going.