CHICAGO

When you see the word Chicago, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? For me I think of home! It's the city I was born in. I think Southside versus Westside, Cubs versus Sox, Lake Shore Drive, Barney's Pizza, Harold's Chicken, snowy winters, beautiful summers, Sears Tower, and the Taste! I think of that Frank Sinatra song (my kind of town, Chicago is!). I think gangsters too, but that was just a part of the lore that is Chitown. You knew crime was possible and that some areas were gentrified and segregated, but you loved it because it was home. Lately, the perception of Chicago has been mostly negative. Violence in Chicago has been an issue for years, particularly in the impoverished neighborhoods that the Black and Latino population people. What has changed is the public perception of the city. Even though the statistics indicate that the homicide rate in the city (save for an uptick last year) has steadily gone down over the last 20 years, many pundits are lamenting the "epidemic" that plaques the city and it's youth.

Chicago has gotten a new moniker recently, Chi-raq. The idea is that more citizens in Chicago have been murdered than all of our troops fighting the War on Terror in Iraq. And your point?! I agree that any homicides that occur are tragic, and the statistics supporting this are very telling, but why so much media outrage now? Where was all this outrage and angst in the 80's and 90's calling for the National Guard to come to the city? Where were the people screaming for martial law at when there were nearly double the homicides in the city in the 90's? This wouldn't have to do with a certain President in office that has Chicago ties could it? Now way! It can't possibly be heightened national media attention to Chicago because President Obama has lived in Chicago and his wife is from the Southside! I will admit that I am being cynical, but it frustrates me to see the perception of the city taking such a hit. People love to love to showcase the rampant violence in Chicago yet nary a peep is heard nationally regarding what happens in Philly, Atlanta, Oakland, D.C./Baltimore, Cleveland, or New York. In fact, people swear up and down that New York is among the safest cities in the world! Worse still, is how we glorify the violence and wear it like a badge of honor. But is all this outrage highlighting the problem, or masking the root cause of a lot of the violence? Let's not forget the drug epidemic that plaques communities across the country, the discursive hiring practices that limit minorities, the gentrification of neighborhoods that led to businesses fleeing the area, the food deserts that don't offer citizens in these neighborhoods quality options at affordable prices, and the numerous budget cuts that have stymied young minds from blossoming into our future politicians, scientists, musicians, and skilled workers. I could not imagine where I would have wound up if my mother had not encouraged me to participate in programs that foster growth and development. I certainly would not have gone to the University of Illinois and earned my Bachelor's degree.

Chicago, like many cities, is struggling in a complex economic downturn that has affected millions. Despite all of the negative publicity surrounding the city, it is still the third largest city in the United States. All of the talk about the Midwest population being in a precipitous decline contrary to the twelve million that still call Chicago home. The talk of out of control violence would cease if over 50 Chicago Public Schools had not closed their doors and had the necessary tools to nurture our youth. Chitown is still a great city with great amenities and even better people. The people are who can change how our home area is perceived. Let's stop calling it Chi-raq and call it by its proper name. We need to rep our city and our region with pride. LeBron James had the right idea when he wrote his letter explaining why he returned to Cleveland. In that spirit, I'll end with this: Chicago was were I was born, Country Club Hills is where I'm from, 708 all day! I'll always be proud to say that until I die!




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/29/bomani-jones-donald-sterling_n_5233565.html

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/May-2014/Chicago-crime-rates/