[ laughter ] [ cheers and applause ] ♪ this is "nightline." tonight, making amends. black-american families who say their dreeps of prosperity their dreams were swept away by urban renewal, once vibrant communities replaced by highways and parking lots. >> i do believe the day of reckoning is coming. >> why some cities are committing to reparations. >> plus, the next picasso. the multi-million dollar digital revolution sweeping the art world, young trans virtuoso making millions by using a ipad. >> i saw it was a revolution. >> now everyone wants a piece of the action. from musicians, to athletes, to hollywood's biggest stars. >> "nightline" will be right

back. neutrogena® beach defense® the suncare brand used most by dermatologists and their families, neutrogena® for people with skin. when heartburn takes you by surprise. fight back fast, with new tums naturals. free from artificial flavors and dyes.

♪ good evening, thank you for joining us. beginning of the 1950s cities across the country moved out hundreds of thousands of families, most of them african-american all in the name of urban renewal. now as we examine what was lost and what is owed to those

communities the debate for reparations grow louder nationwide and cities like asheville, north carolina, are responding >> there's something about living in the mountains. >> it's a sense of serenity. >> almost feels like a post card. >> what doesn't come to mind when people think of ashfield. >> you don't think of black folk, african-americans being in asheville . >> i don't think people know of the rich, black history here. they don't know because pretty much the history has been erased. urban renewal forced my family along with others to move out. >> it was urban removal, the removal of black people from their land. >> reparation is owed.

my family has been here now six generations. this box has asheville 's black history, mainly the history of my community south side. a whole community filed away. in this box. rich history. filed away. closed until i decide to open it and talk about it. ♪ >> i grew up in the 60s, at the time i was growing up larger asheville was seg

we the cradle to the grave, black-owned homes and businesses, it gave me a sense of pride. i lived in the apartment where nine other people. ♪ >> just where that pole is is where i lived. so you had all of the homes that were up and down this street. ♪ >> and, hmm, as you can see, it's empty. ♪

>> urban renewal was implemented and so that forced us to have to move out. wwe relocated to we relocated to public housing. >> people were told this was all temporary. looking at four, five, six generations of people have living in it. >> this didn't come out of nowhere. this came out of explicit policy designed to confine the descendents of those who had been enslaved. >> we must make sure that every family in america lives in a home of dignity. >> the intent was meant to improve the living conditions of african-americans, the actual outcome of urban renewal was another story. with the city, county, state and federal government not keeping its word to rebuild neighborhoods. >> what's here? just the grass.

>> when urban renewal took place we saw the decline of living standards for african-americans, higher unemployment, poorer health and academic achievement. >> my grandparents house, vivian jesse smith at 13 velvet street. would have been in this area. behind us is the public works building, prior to being the public works building it was the backyard that we played in. so in 1984 this is the paperwork where my grand parents granted -- um -- um -- our land to the city. when i say granted because on this document it said grantor but i don't think my grandparents had a choice that's

the whole point of imimment domain. >> it wasn't just the loss of their home but the loss of what could have been generational wealth for our family. >> since world war ii the primary source of wealth for middle class american is wealth of your home. well, if your home is destroyed you lost a primary pillar for middle-class standing. >> it is enraging and i almost get a little bit of fuel from it as well. because i do believe that the day of reckoning is coming. >> say his name george floyd black lives matter! >> george floyd helped to can'talize a new civil rights movement not only you seen federal monuments come down but also reparations for black americans and our city zens

local -- citizens locally. >> the city apologized and looks to make amends to carry our urban renewal program. >> our black residents need to be made whole in so many areas. >> when you say you're signing for reparations we don't want to just see words on a paper. >> i hear people say that's something our forefathers did. that's not the point. forefathers may have done it but you in some cases reap the benefits. >> i know that the city of asheville knows that it cannot claim reparations with $2.1 million. that's just a drop in the bucket. i'm not sure where the number came from. i'm not sure who was at the table when the discussion was

being had. there's no transparency and there should be a lot of community in the room when those discussions are happening. >> we have seen reparations move from the margins to the center of the conversation because of the racial reckoning this country has under gone over the last year. so many things that were off the table or on the table. there's a way when it comes time to pay what they owe. my message to the people fighting for reparations keep fighting, we've been waiting 400 years. so we can wait a few more. ♪ >> growing up as a little girl, i had no sense that that would

one day all be gone, that i would walk in my neighborhood and see it completely gone. i have the memories. and that's part of why i tell my story to preserve that history. i'm preserving that pride. i will preserve it until i die. ♪ >> coming up, a multi-million dollar craze sweeping the art world. like many people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease, i was there. be right back. but my symptoms were keeping me from where i needed to be. so i talked to my doctor and learned humira is the #1 prescribed biologic for people with uc or crohn's disease. and humira helps people achieve remission that can last,

so you can experience few or no symptoms. humira can lower your ability to fight infections. serious and sometimes fatal infections, including tuberculosis, and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. be there for you and them. ask your gastroenterologist about humira. with humira, remission is possible. (vo) sensitive to cat allergens? join the thousands who've discovered a difference ask your gastroenterologist about humira. with pro plan liveclear. the only cat food to reduce allergens an average of 47%. save today at proplanliveclear.com.

did you know that geico's whole 15 minutes thing... that came from me. really. my first idea was “in one quarter of an hour, your savings will tower... over you. figuratively speaking." but that's not catchy, is it? that's not going to swim about in your brain. so i thought, what about... 15 minutes. 15 percent. serendipity. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance.

another day, another chance. it could be the day you break the sales record, or the day there's appointments nonstop. with comcast business, you get the network that can deliver gig speeds to the most businesses, and you can get the advanced cybersecurity solutions you need with comcast business securityedge. every day in business is a big day. we'll keep you ready for what's next. get started with a great offer, and ask how you can add comcast business securityedge. plus, for a limited time,ask how to get a $500 prepaid card when you upgrade. call today.

♪ a technical revolution is taking over the art world, making some artists extremely rich. one is an 18-year-old who has made millions creating on an ipad. >> i like to start with eyes. big picture. big color. >> if i told you the next picasso drew on a ipad would you believe me. each stroke and blending all with an apple pencil, contrite and yet fluid all part of a bigger masterpiece. >> i try not to erase, you can see the layers, the hesitancy, you can see their confidence. >> soon as one goes online it has digital collectors offering fortunes for originals.

>> oh, my goodness, $550,000. i don't even know what to say. >> i've never seen anything like this. >> he's an 18-year-old digital artist living in seattle. in the past year victor turned 18, moved out, sold over 18 million dollars worth of his art, got his own solo auction and he came out. >> it's almost like your life kind of changed overnight. >> kind of, honestly the day after i sold my first nft it gave me that confidence and ever since has just kept growing. >> there's an art revolution going on and ferocious is at the center. >> the fact that everyone's talking about it that we're doing this, this is really surreal. >> the 18-year-old is making bank through issue his art as nf t 's a cryptocurrency-backed system that's one of the hottest trends of 2021. >> this is a very unique moment in time for art. >> in what initially seemed like

a niche market now everyone wants a piece, from musicians, to athletes, to hollywood's biggest stars. >> before we go any further you're probably wonder what an nft is. nft. nonfungible token. viral moments like disaster girm or charlie bit my paper, trading cards even jack dorsey's first tweet go for hundreds and thousands of dollars, even millions, everyone seems to be attacking about it, no one seems to know what it is. >> even the world's biggest auction house is getting in on it christie's breaking the largest sell for work that went for $69 million. >>what the heck season nft. >> great question. it's essentially just a really unique line of code. it's an indeadible and immutable creative moment in time. that you own and only you can own it. >> in essence the nft serves a

digital certificate for authenticity of something online, that makes it one-of-a-kind. >> explain the idea, because in theory i could take a screen shot of your image and share it. >> you definitely could but the thing is you don't have the exact token. so it's about owning the token. >> why should i value the token. >> i don't know, why do you value anything. >> artists like victor are able to receive royalties in perpetuity uity, earning a cut each time a piece is resold. now christie's is hosting victor as the youngest artist with a solo show. >> do you think having a show like this here validates it in a way. >> yeah. it does. absolutely. for some people. and for other people it antagonizes them. there's something about nft a.i. that are super polarizing that i can't compare to any other

movement in recent art history other than maybe street art. >> and he's not wasting time, using his debut to flip the script on the high-art world not just introduce the world to a whole new industry of nfts but also introducing the world as himself, as victor, stepping out behind the screen to speak candidly about his truth for the first time as an out transgender artist. >> just me growing up that i'm not sis but not knowing you can be trans agenda zbler for his show he chose to bridge the world of digital and physical art to show a bigger story, titled, hello i'm victor ferocious and this is my life. take as a look at a story of accept-acceptance that began with denial and a lot of pain. >> so this is year 15 when a child feels lost and it shows me in a panic that's the suicidal year.

that's the worse year of my life. >> growing up in las vegas, nevada, victorious who was raised as victoria says he had a traumatic childhood. >> so at 12 years old i went to my grand parents house, moved schools, moved everything, everything changed, my life changed. >> victor saw his creative outlook as an escape first printing t-shirts with his work for up to $100. not until he found out about nft's in 2021 that doors started opening. >> i thought he was trying to take the rights to my art and did all this research and saw it was legit that artists are getting royalties, it's a revolution. >> on the day of our interview, the show at christie's was announce the and he used the opportunity to come out as transgender. >> christie's is such an honor, also, even more than that, telling the world i'm trans, having a whole thing about being trans.

>> it feels like i'm alive for the first time. it's weird. it's kind of scary because i feel like i missed out on all these years of just like being some little kid. >> what would you tell 12-year-old you. >> all of your dreams are coming true. they came true. and speak for people who don't - really feel heard. and you will speak for yourself when you don't even feel heard. and you will find this crazy art revolution and your mind will be blown but you are so strong and you are so beautiful and you're name is victor. and don't hide any more because who you are is so beautiful and it's beautiful to be alive. so beautiful. >> how do you feel right now. >> i can't believe this is happening. and i can't believe today telling the world who i am. and it made me really sad that i didn't have that family i could call.

and i didn't have that someone i could go for a hug, congratulatory hug. >> can i give you a hug right now. >> yeah. ha ha. >> in new york just days before the auction started. >> i think this is really setting in that that is real. >> and that raw emotion keeps overcoming the young artist. >> all of the time iefz been told that i'm wrong and that i'm a failure or that i'm a monster for just being this kid in a room making art. finally i get that validation of saying it's cool to do that. it is celebrated to do that. it's celebrated to be you. authentically you. ♪ >> our thanks to our guest. coming up, the make up workshop focussing on interview. inner you.

when heartburn takes you by surprise. fight back fast, with new tums naturals. free from artificial flavors and dyes. i don't just play someone brainy on tv - i'm an actual neuroscientist. and i love the science behind neuriva plus. unlike ordinary memory supplements, neuriva plus fuels six key indicators of brain performance. more brain performance? yes, please! neuriva. think bigger. people everywhere living with type 2 diabetes are waking up to what's possible with rybelsus®. ♪ you are my sunshine ♪ ♪ my only sunshine... ♪ rybelsus® works differently than any other diabetes pill to lower blood sugar in all 3 of these ways... increases insulin... decreases sugar... and slows food. the majority of people taking rybelsus® lowered their blood sugar and reached an a1c of less than 7. people taking rybelsus® lost up to 8 pounds. rybelsus® isn't for people

with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. don't take rybelsus® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking rybelsus® with a sulfonylurea or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration which may worsen kidney problems. wake up to what's possible with rybelsus®. ♪ please don't take my sunshine away ♪ you may pay as little as $10 per prescription. ask your healthcare provider about rybelsus® today.

i'm morgan, and there's more to me than hiv. more love, more adventure, more community. but with my hiv treatment, there's not more medicines in my pill. i talked to my doctor and switched to fewer medicines with dovato. dovato is for some adults who are starting hiv-1 treatment or replacing their current hiv-1 regimen. with just 2 medicines in 1 pill, dovato is as effective as a 3-drug regimen... to help you reach and stay undetectable.

research shows people who take hiv treatment as prescribed and get to and stay undetectable can no longer transmit hiv through sex. don't take dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or if you take dofetilide. taking dovato with dofetilide can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. hepatitis b can become harder to treat while on dovato. don't stop dovato without talking to your doctor, as your hepatitis b may worsen or become life-threatening. serious or life-threatening side effects can occur, including allergic reactions, lactic acid buildup, and liver problems. if you have a rash and other symptoms of an allergic reaction, stop dovato and get medical help right away. tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, or if you are, may be, or plan to be pregnant. dovato may harm your unborn baby. use effective birth control while on dovato. do not breastfeed while taking dovato. most common side effects are headache, nausea, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, tiredness, and anxiety. so much goes into who i am. hiv medicine is one part of it.

ask your doctor about dovato-i did. ♪ ♪ and finally tonight, the founder of the los angeles area non-profit

runw the art of the runway is in the business of making people look and feel their best. a team of volunteers help young people with down syndrome and other challenges to discover their beauty. >> you look so pretty, lori. >> i think of. >> wiggins says the experience helps the girls build confidence and self- esteem. she said when you look beautiful you feel beautiful. amen. that's "nightline" this evening. catch full episodes on right now, she's not thinking about her work or her schedule. hi baby. -hey ma, how are you doing? i'm doing good, how are you? good. we are just on our way back from the beach. she's not thinking about her next appearance or even her book tour. no, she's thinking about something more important. and thankfully so is her automobile. the safest, most technologically advanced car we have ever introduced.