Windy City

It is quite symbolic that such a windy city is undergoing many changes, and I thought Vancouver was bad. You see, change doesn't scare me or many other people and for those who like to harp on how gentrification is inevitable, well - that is just ignorant. Gentrification is a result of well thought out strategic plans set out by the City, the government, developers, law enforcement, court cases and a whole wack of POWER - and the people who may have money, but are stupid enough to fall for their 'charm' and are in fact lacking in charm themselves.

Chicago was on the map strictly for fun.

Before setting out it was recommmended by a friend to check out the south end of Chicago, later what I learned is called Bronzeville. I put on my walking shoes which are my converse, they are white and leather and I really like them a lot...and they are the only shoes I brought with me so I better like them.

I took 'The L' which is Chicagoan lingo for their subway system they have. Very cheap by the way compared to other cities. The train took me in that direction, then I got off and just started walking. The boulevards are gorgeous and huge and I have to admit I was pretty naive walking in awe of the beauty and craftsmanship that went in to each brick of the two story homes and the swift curve and sculptural essence of each stone house. Then a closer look revealed homes that are boarded up, and a double take showed how empty the streets were - I walked block after block and although I saw people, it was emptpy. The wind blew, I felt a chill.

Another revitalisation camp. (i like to make things up sometimes)

What is the theme here folks?

You got it, another black community in the midst of being displaced. Of course, you can destroy homes and businesses, but not the people. The three little pigs and the big bad wolf or rather a pack of wolves that were able to blow the bricks down too.

I stumbled upon this cute boutique that is black owned, met the designer and the owner. The owner who is male said that he grew up in this neighborhood when the projects were still around, he grew up in the projects. We all know why it's called the projects. Because they ARE projects to see how well people will live together stacked up on top of each other. The city and developers are the people in white lab coats mixing dangerous chemicals, but don't worry, they have thick rubber gloves to protect their dainty hands, it's only the black folk that are the guinea pigs.

So what happens when rats are forced to live in close quarters? First they have a lot of babies, then they end up killing each other - after chewing off their own tails. Since then, the boutique owners home him and his mother grew up in is gone, the projects were torn down to make way for mixed housing. The two mile stretch of social housing is gone too...

This isn't new though is it. This has been happening for decades.

Apparently in Bronzeville there were attempts in the 50's to change it by building a high rise to attract middle class whites, but within the same decade whites left and it became predominantly black. (power to the people) ...sorry

Chicago is known to be one of the most segregated cities. There will always be people for or against segregation. Just in the past decade there has been increases in property taxes, businesses bought out by privatised companies who get lower rates, condo development. Fortunately people do not run away from challenges and it didn't stop local residents from fighting to keep their neighborhood for themselves as they have worked so hard to do. After all, Bronzeville is Chicago's first prominent African American neighborhood. After much effort residents were able to get Bronzeville to become a historical district in 1996, but only protecting 9 heritage buildings at that.

Walking around I did get a chance to speak with some residents who were glad the projects and the violence were gone, even though those who were displaced did not have assistance in being re located. Some now have to travel farther to get to work and some or many I imagine still do not have homes yet.

It brings me back to a group of people I did some work with in Vancouver where we were memorialising Vancouver's first and only condensed black neighborhood that was displaced and scattered by a viaduct.

Sound familiar? I think most cities have this story.

Well, we got to interviewing a few former residents and they had mixed feelings about it too. Some say that the neighborhood was 'bad' and they were happy to leave it and be in a safer place, but others have fond memories of the area and wouldn't have changed it for anything. But ultimately what it comes down to is that people should have a choice to stay or to leave or change it the way they want it to. Not the developers, etc. I guess it does become some sort of catch 22 because there are some things people want to change about their neighborhoods, but there are some things they want to remain the same and the changes should benift those who already live there.

SHOULD is a powerful word.