Classmate I'm thankful for.

The classmate I’m thankful is Carson. She’s not only a classmate to me but she’s also a great friend. In and out of class she knows how to make me laugh. When we are in a group for class we make sure to have fun while we’re doing our work but we know to keep each other in check and do it.

Carson is a really important person in my life, we may have only met last year, when she had her purple hair, but that’s what made me want to be her friend. She wasn’t afraid to be different and she’s very accepting of people. I remember last year when I needed someone Carson was always right there next to me, doing the best she could to fix what wasn’t even her own problem.  She was able to just listen to me and help me realize that I might not be as bad as a person as I thought I was.

She’s an amazing person and one of the best people I’ll ever meet. Carson and I are cross-country sisters and nothing is stronger than that bond we hold.  We’ve been there for one another through our ups and downs.
I’m very thankful for having Carson in my life.

Word count:210

Community Stories

"An Account of Experience with Discrimination"

Sojourner Truth’s idea of “old slaveholding spirit” relates with the idea of a community shaping a person and their beliefs by both being the foundations of molding a person’s character. In her letter she wrote how she was going to ride with her friend Laura S. Haviland but the conductor began to forcefully push her off because of the color of her skin. Then when Mrs.Haviland came to intervene telling him not to push her off his first thought was that Sojourner Truth belonged to Mrs. Haviland. The old thoughts that black people were inferior compared to whites and were only items to possess and/or abuse was ingrained into many generations of whites such as the bus conductor, leading to his attitude towards Truth.

Primary documents such as letters, journals, and diaries differ from a reporter or short story in the perspective that they give on a community because they’re a firsthand account, meaning they are clearer and provide the tone of the time.  A reporter or short stories don’t capture the true feelings behind a community, they try to make it exciting and appealing. For reporters it’s all about selling a story not providing accuracy.
Word Count: 196

Here Is New York


White begins by defining New York by what it isn’t because he wanted to show that New York is its own place; nothing can compare to it.  One thing that contributes to the city’s beauty is the Empire State Building. The contradiction that a traveler sees is that depressed people jump off that very same building that reached the highest point in the sky during the Depression.

Some problems in NYC are its hysteria, sitting in packed subways, crowded streets, and all types of noises like the trains, the cars and parties while they are trying to sleep. They get around these problems by not being claustrophobic, using witty humor during times of stress, and just by becoming use to what New York is.  The city contributes to their getting around by its subways and taxis, along with its many stores, laundry mats, and all other necessities.

White’s idea of the neighborhoods as being cities within the city is pretty accurate to me because he explained how every block/ every other block has its own grocery store, barber shop, laundry mat, newsstand and everything else a person would need to have a decent life in the city.  He also said that moving three blocks is like moving to a whole other city because New York is so crowed and big therefore, the neighborhoods are cities within the city. This is like my own Chicago experiences because the train stations separate the neighborhoods making them seem like mini-cities. Recently I moved from Brighton Park to Archer Heights and things are completely different. I’m still in Chicago but it makes me feel like I moved to another city since Brighton Park is really ghetto and Archer heights is a lot nicer. The two places are so different but yet they’re in the same city.
Word Count: 302

Response to The Crucible.

“The Crucible” is a really twisted story where everyone seems to go mad over one slight thing. Honestly I don’t like it because it’s really idiotic. How can one teenage girl who ends up being a prostitute have so much authority in Salem? How can everyone just believe what she says, when she’s a conniving little girl?

What good was it to hang men on forced confessions? Everyone in court was so eager and focused on what Abigail’s next accusation would be and not factual evidence that would provide justice for the town of Salem. Hale seemed to be the only one focused on doing the right thing and actually finding proof before executions.  But it took him a while to believe in himself that he would be capable of doing so. In the beginning he was very focused and excited on what the court would tell him to do. Then in the end of the play he had become tired of the court’s game and realized that they never really sought the truth but what they thought was right and wrong.  Hale then became reassured in his abilities and fought for justice.

Proctor was never really wrong to start with except for him committing adultery, but other than that he was innocent in the whole witch problem.  The fact that he refused to not speak of other people’s sins and only speak of his own is respectable. But he did wait too long to gather his courage and nerves to confess to the court, which if done earlier could’ve saved more people’s lives.

Abigail was the one who really caused all of this drama though.  She was just too selfish and probably insecure because she wanted what Elizabeth had with Proctor that she knew she would never have.

Why wasn't the epilogue included in our Literature book? It contained a lot of important information that could answer a couple of questions we had in the end. 

Word count: 327

Response to Act III of The Crucible

Why is it so hard for the court to believe that Mary Warren is telling the truth?

Cheever needs to calm down because every chance he gets he wants to note Proctor’s lack of religious activity. He doesn't seem to want justice; he just wants the blame to be put on someone.

I think Abigail’s plan for getting rid of Elizabeth is going to back fire on her. She can’t get away with all of the little tricks she has done because there are way too many. She’s going to have the biggest downfall of all and I think Hale is going to be the one to prove that she’s deceitful because he is the only one who seems to want to bring justice. Why are Mary’s words less proof than Abby’s acts? A shiver doesn't mean that someone is bewitching you; there are other factors for a shiver.

If Elizabeth knows that she’s innocent why does she has to look at someone else for confirmation? Why would she risk her life for her husband’s good name when he’s the one who committed adultery and basically started this whole mess? Proctor’s willingness to reveal his private life came too little, too late to end this madness.

What makes Hale want to bring justice to Salem unlike Cheever and Parris?

Word Count:219

Response to Act II of the Crucible

Why does Abigail have so much power over people? What made people trust her word when she doesn't even have factual evidence?  Abigail has internal issues that must have caused her to go to great lengths to prove everyone Elizabeth is a witch, yet she’s crazy enough to stab herself just to prove it.

I don’t understand how even though Elizabeth knows of Proctor’s affair she is still on his side. What is the real reason that Proctor doesn't want to testify against Abigail? Something had to happen between the two that made Proctor hold his tongue.

What gives Mary Warren the motivation to talk back to John Proctor? Why does Proctor allow her to speak against? I feel like Mary Warren is working against Abigail but not necessarily with the Proctors either. I think she has a plan that’s going to change the whole game.

Why does Hale follow the crowd, when he’s the expert and he has the ability to stand up for himself? I think Hale visits everyone who was accused in court because he feels that it’s his job to bring justice to the town.  

Word Count: 188

Note Cards

1. Between 1880 and 1890 the improvements of transportation allowed more of a variety of people to come and live in Brighton Park, including Polish people. The people of B.P were brought together by their churches, which were the foundation of the community. The Polish formed their own churches including Five Holy Martyrs in 1908 and Pancratius in 1924. (1)
2. In 1930 Brighton Park’s population was 46,555 and 37% of people were Polish. In 1990 74.1% of residents, the population being 32,207, were white and 37.4% were of Hispanic origin. In 2000 the population was 44,912 and 50.9% were white, 76.6% were Hispanic, and of that 76.6%, 69% were Mexican. (1)
3. Five Holy Martyrs Church is located at 43^rd (renamed John Paul II) and Richmond St. It is a national parish that Rev. Joseph H. Kruszka helped create. The Rev. originally held mass at Davis public school (3014 w. 39^th Pl.) and by May 1909 it had become a church/school. The central businesses relocated to Archer Ave. and the church wasn’t located in the central point anymore, so Rev. relocated the church to its current location on August 3, 1919. By 1920, 1,298 families belonged to the parish, which is a long way from 1909 when only 95 families belonged to it. (2)
4. On November 8, 1959 3,800 families belonged to Five Holy Martyrs Parish with Fr. Edward A. Mayday as their pastor.  Fr. Mayday had the church enlarged by March 1964. He soon resigned in July 1968 and Reverend Alfred L. Abramowicz became pastor on July 15, 1968. He continued remodeling the place and updating it to make it modern. (2)
5. Since there was a lot of Polish people in Brighton Park Bishop Abramowicz stressed the importance of keeping some Polish culture. Saturday school allowed the Polish language to be taught and customs were observed. This allowed Polish ethics to be kept. (2)
6. The Illinois and Michigan canal and the formation of railways are what brought “industry and working class residents” to Brighton Park. In 1979 Pope John Paul II held a huge mass ceremony at Five Holy Martyrs Church. The masses held there are split between English and Polish. (3)
7. The Polish community of Chicago developed after the Civil War. Polish Chicago was “shaped by at least three distinct immigration waves.” The first is called Za Chlebem and lasted from the 1850s to the early 1920s. The second, the smallest, happened during the postwar period of World War II. The third began in the 1980s and is known as the “Solidarity” immigration. (4)
8. Poles moved to Brighton Park and many other locations when they left Bridgeport and Back of the Yards. By 1980 the Polish were being replaced mainly by Hispanics. Not much changed in the churches except that the masses were given in other languages like Spanish and English.  Polish Chicago “remains a vital ethnic community” because of the Polish immigration and the over 150 years of Polish tradition. (4)
9. St. Pancratius Church’s location is 40^th Pl. and Sacramento Ave. it was created in March 1924 for the Polish residing in the Brighton Park community. It was created because Five Holy Martyrs had become crowded and children had to cross Archer Ave. (busy street) just to go to school. It is a member of the Archer-Brighton Council, along with Five Holy Martyrs. (5)
10.  Brighton Park is a mix of residential areas, commercial zones, industrial works and transportation facilities.  The European immigrants, mainly Polish, created their own businesses along the main street, Archer Avenue because of the attraction it would receive. There are two main railroads, The Corwith Intermodal freight facility and Brighton Park crossing, near Western Avenue and Archer Avenue, which had a big influence on B.p’s demographic because it allowed another way into the neighborhood.(6)

    11. “Alderman Edward M. Burke’s  14th Ward has shifted from an Eastern European area to one mostly populated by Mexicans.” This and the recession have caused a struggle with ethnic tension and disinvestment but Alderman Burke seems to be handling it.  The long time Polish families call and complain that they don’t want to hear “Mexican music” and don’t like that the neighborhood has attracted Mexican people.  They want to remain as a Polish community and not deal with anyone else. (7)

    12. Brighton’s crime rate has gone up and many parents are unhappy with that fact and taken upon themselves to blame the alderman. Yet Alderman Burke keeps getting re-elected with 90% of the vote so no one has done anything and taken charge to show how upset they are. Burke has taken consideration of both the European families and Mexican families’ needs and has done the best he can. He hasn't let the pressure overcome him and have his ward move west where there are less Hispanics. (7)
    13. Due to the influx of Hispanic residents the community has seen a huge increase in the number of children and the average household size. Brighton Park has become “ethnically isolated” due to the fact that the Hispanics who have moved there only accept their values and their culture, which is the biggest impact on how they live their lives. As the number of Hispanic people grew and the number of Polish people decreased, the need for the languages spoken, primarily business, needed to change .Spanish had to become the main language because that's what many of the residents understood. (8)
    

    14. The people in Brighton Park mainly have “blue collar” jobs in manufacturing, construction, and maintenance. The lack of English is the reason for this because most residents aren't able to communicate if they had better jobs since English would be the spoken language. Brighton Park is an industrial, working class character and the people in the industrial work long hours and are paid a minimum wage salary. 35% of its employed labor force works in production, transportation, and materials moving. (8)

    
    

    15. The largest population increase of Hispanics was in Brighton Park in the 1990s with 5,888 persons. From 1990 to 2000 it had had Hispanic population change of 2,500 and over.  The growing Hispanic population called for changes in social, economic, and political changes. Terms for each area needed to be re-thought because of the cultural change; everything had to become suited to a Hispanic lifestyle.(9) 

    
    

    16. About a third of Polish immigrants live in Chicago.  In 1890, 25,726 Polish immigrants lived in metro Chicago, and then increased in 1920 to 151,260 Polish immigrants. Before the 1920s there was (nearly) open immigration to the U.S which was the cause of the increase of population. But in 1921 and 1924 federal legislation ended this “almost unlimited” immigration from Europe to America. This made European immigration (Polish included) reach a low population in 1980. (10)

    
    

    
    

    
    

    17. Starting in 1990 the U.S Congress created “diversity visas” which allowed the larger numbers of immigrants already in the U.S fill applications for their family back in their home-land to migrate to the U.S. The Polish were one of these groups that were able to do that, making themselves the largest number of legal immigrants residing in Illinois. Many Polish people arrived in America during the last decade before 2004. (10)

    
    

    
    

    
    

    18.  In 1990, the population of Polish immigrants residing in Brighton Park was 2,323, which then decreased in 2000 to 684 Polish immigrants. Learning English is the most beneficial factor for Polish natives living in Chicago because it opens more work opportunities for them. About 30% of Polish immigrants (in 2004) do not speak English well, but that’s low compared to the increasing numbers of those who do. Many schools offer classes for Polish children to learn English while still going to school. (10)
    
    

    19. In 2009, 45% of those living in Chicago were born in Mexico, while 8% were born in Poland. Also in 2009, 73% of those who said they were Hispanic said their “specific origin” was Mexico. One of the main communities that have a considerable amount of their population being Mexican is Brighton Park. More than one third of Chicago residents are bilingual; the other spoken languages are: Spanish (being at the top), followed by Polish. (11)
    
    

    20. In 1950 Chicago’s population was 85.9% white, then decreased to having a white population of 43.7% in 1980 and gaining an increase of 14.1% of a Latino population. Then in 1990 the white population decreased to 37.9% and (also decreasing in the years between them) decreased to 33.3% in 2009. The Hispanic population however, continued to increase in size, in 1990 it increased to 19.6% and also increased to 27.3% in 2009. (11)

    
    

    
    

    21. During the 1990s, the Hispanic population in Chicago, IL caused population growth because the number of births exceeded the number of deaths. Brighton Park is one of the areas that have had a steady population growth of 6% since 1990. From 1990-2005, the ages of 0-17 have had a large growth in B.P. (12)
    
    

    22.  Latina women in Chicago have a fertility rate nearly a third greater than African American women, so they have a much higher population. Chicago’s Hispanic growth continued from 2000-2004 by 5.6%, still being a predominant source of its population increase. Between 2000-2004 the city’s white population declined -3.5%. (12)

    
    
    

    23. Brighton Park now is a mainly low-income class neighborhood. The change of white to minority during the last 10 years is the cause of this. From 1990-2005 there has been a 235% increase in the number of minors living in poverty. These large increases of the poverty level still haven’t brought more programs to help these living situations.  (13)
    24. More jobs in the city will be taken over by Mexicans because of their population growth. Over the past 20 years the number of manufacturing jobs that Hispanics have, have doubled in time. This makes the number of bilingual supervisors increase because a lot of low-income classes are Hispanics who don’t speak English or they don’t speak it well. Brighton Park has had one of the greatest increases of Hispanic growth and White population decrease. (14)
    
    

    25. Many of the Hispanic immigrants migrate to the southwest side of Chicago (including Brighton Park). Chicago’s politicians take interest in the Hispanic growth because it gives them an insight of how they need to change their communities to adapt to its new needs. Therefore, many Latinos have been making a breakthrough in the political world since they have an even bigger insight on the Hispanic communities because they themselves know what’s best, being Hispanic themselves. (14)     
    
    

    26. In 1915 the opening of The Crane Manufacturing Company allowed more people to have jobs. The closing of Crane’s in 1977 hurt the economy and decreased Brighton Park’s population by one third between 1930 and 1980. People began looking for different jobs that would be reliable. Then in 2000 its population had increased and was 44,912, 69% being of Mexican origin because there were now more jobs were being provided again. (15)

    
    

    
    

    
    

    27. Protestant churches were the first to appear in Brighton Park for the Yankees who established the early firms. In 1848 the Brighton Park Baptist Church was created and in 1872 St. Agnes Church served the Irish Roman Catholics. It wasn’t until the early 1900s Italians, Poles, and Lithuanians created their own Catholic churches because there was so many of them who followed the same religion. (15)
    
    
    
    

    28. In 1889 Brighton was a “working-class neighborhood” that was populated by many different immigrants. It seemed to be the place to go for a new life, and was providing many jobs. The Santa Fe yards made Brighton Park accessible because it provided an easier way to migrate from around the world. (16)

    
    

    29. Many manufacturing business opening between 1905 and 1915 created jobs that immigrants who spoke little to no English could obtain.  Three of them being: The Central Manufacturing District (opened in 1905), the Crane Manufacturing Company (opened in 1915) and the Kenwood Manufacturing District (opened in 1915). Their different locations in the Brighton Park community were beneficial to the residential workers because it didn’t take long to travel to and from their jobs. (16)
    
    

    30. In 1928, Brighton Park had about 700-800 Mexicans living in the community. They worked at the Santa Fe railroad yards, the McCormick Works factory, and the Crane Manufacturing Company, all three only providing jobs for males. This factor made more Mexican males migrate then Mexican women because they had more of a chance of “survival” and making a life for themselves before bringing their families. (17)

    
    

    
    

    
    

    31. Thirty-eight street served as the “commercial center” for Brighton Park, being a main and accessible street. Many Mexican established businesses began to take over the Jewish and Polish businesses. There were at least three pool-rooms were Mexican males would relax and play pool. The businesses were family owned and everyone knew everyone; Brighton Park was becoming a home for Mexican immigrants. (17)

    
    

    
    

    32. The other side of thirty-eight street by the Santa Fe railroad tracks became where Mexican families would live in railroad boxcars. These were horrible living conditions because they contained no windows and were made of steel and iron which absorbed the sun’s heat during Chicago’s hot summers. It was just as horrible during the harsh winters, being too cold. But nonetheless, it was home and kids were in front of their houses playing soccer with their friends. (17)
    
    
    

    33. The Poles expansion to the Southwest side of Chicago was slow until after the First World War, then the expansion began to pick up speed. Then, McKinley Park and Brighton Park soon had Polish parishes. Soon more and more smaller parishes began forming in the southwest and the northwest because of the local industries and the Santa Fe railroad tracks. (18)
    
    
    

    34. In 2000, Brighton Park was the third largest Mexican community (in Chicago) of 17, 609, compared to South Lawndale with 42,422 and the lower West Side with 20,529. Many “major institutions’ by and for Mexicans include the Mexican Fine Arts Museum (location: 19^th and Ashland), and the Alivio Medical Facilities (locations: 21^st and Morgan and 24^th and Western).The increase in the Mexican population by reproduction is responsible for the large demographic shift. (19)
    
    
    

    35. Illinois’ Latino population between 1990 and 2000 was two thirds of the state’s increase in population.  Young Latino adults have low-income manufacturing jobs because many of them drop out of school and don’t have enough education for better jobs. The increase of the Mexican population in Brighton Park is bringing down the literacy rates and the children tend to follow in their parent’s footsteps by getting a job as soon as possible instead of finishing their education. (20)

    
    
    
    

Possible Subtopics

1. Change in culture.

2. Language change.

3. Transportation.

4. Religion.

5. Income.

6. Buisness establishments.

7. Real estate.

Response to The Crucible Act I

I find The Crucible to be a really twisted story but also very real in many aspects. From Act 1 I know that Salem has a theocratic government which makes everyone introduced so far seem very crazy to me because you’re punished if you don’t go to church every day when you’re supposed to. Right in the beginning when Rev. Parris is introduced along with Betty to me he seems like he’s not even worried about her, he’s worried about his reputation; what people are going to think of him when they find out his daughter was involved in witchcraft . That relates to how society is today too because people are so afraid of how others perceive them or their families and are too scared to protect who they love for the right reasons. People like Rev. Parris, Tituba, Abigail and those known so far all have their morals messed up. How you going to want to kill someone just because they fired you? People in this story don’t think about the greater good or what “God” really wants from them.

Personally this story is just upsetting me because the environment and the characters are really ignorant and too self-absorbed. They think they’re doing what’s best, but in reality they’re doing the total opposite and they can’t tolerate other people’s views. It’s not even the religious aspect that upsets me, it’s the way people just can’t accept how others express themselves or are into whatever they are into. Like how they dislike the Indians because they didn’t believe in God. That too just ties into how the world is today.  I just want to know why witchcraft is associated with the Devil. 

Word count:283

Sources. Bibliography

1)Chicago Fact Book Consortium, ed. Local Community Fact Book: Chicago Metropolitan Area, 1990. 1995. 
Hamzik, Joseph. “Brighton Park History.” Binders, 1952–1976. Brighton Park Public Library.
Hamzik, Joseph. “Gleanings of Archer Road.” December 1961. Brighton Park Public Library.

The history of the railroads and churches.

2)"Five Holy Martyrs History." Five Holy Martyrs History. Chicago Archdiocese, 2008. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. <http://www.fiveholymartyrs.org/en-us/parishhistory/fiveholymartyrshistory.aspx>.
The national parish for Polish people in Brighton Park.

3)Solomon, Alan. "Brighton Park, McKinley Park." Explore Chicago. N.p., 2010. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. <http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/neighborhoods/brighton_park___mckinley.html>.
Information on how Brighton Park is now.

4) Pacyga, Dominic A. Polish Immigrants and Industrial Chicago: Workers on the South Side, 1880–1922. 1991.
Parot, Joseph. Polish Catholics in Chicago. 1981.
Poles of Chicago, 1837–1937. 1937.

The history of the Polish community.

5)"St. Pancratius Church History." Polish Genealogical Society of America. Chicago Archdiocese, Feb. 2004. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. <http://www.pgsa.org/ArchChiPolPar/archchicago_descr.php?pageID=46>.

St. Pancratius Church served the Polish families in Brighton Park, that belonged to Five Holy Martyrs parish.

6) "Brighton Park, Chicago." Information, Videos, Pictures and News. RTBOT, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. <http://www.rtbot.net/Brighton_Park,_Chicago> 
The formation of B.p.

7) Dumke, Mick. "Old-School Politician Thrives in a Changed Ward." New York Times [Chicago] 18 12 2010, n. pag. Print.<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/us/19cncbrightonpark.html?_r=0>.

The political aspects on the demographic shift.

8) Benefield, Nathan, and Ang Ling Ling. "Bright on Park Community Study 2004." Center for Urban Research and Learning Loyola University Chicago . (2004): 2-24. Print.
Explores the demographic shifts and how it affected business and many other things.

9)Paral, Rob, Timothy Ready, Sung Chun, and Wei Sun. "Latino Demographic Growth in Metropolitan Chicago." Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame. 2004.2 (2004): 15-21. Print. http://latinostudies.nd.edu/publications/pubs/paral.pdf.


Statistics of the population change through 1990-2000.

10) Paral, Rob. "The Polish Community in Metro Chicago." Polish American Association. (2004): 1-17. Print. http://www.robparal.com/downloads/Polish Community in Chicago.pdf.

The needs of Polish immigrants that were formed when they came to Chicago.

11) "Demographics." ChicagoHealth77. Northwestern University, 2011. Web. 11 Oct 2012. <http://chicagohealth77.org/characteristics/demographics/>.
Statistics of race, ethnicity, and primary language. 

12)Goerge, Robert, John Dilts, Duck-Hye Yang, Miriam Wasserman, and Anne Clary. "Chicago Children and Youth 1990-2010." Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago. (2007): 8-11. Print. <http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/old_reports/332.pdf>.
The racial demographic change among children during 1990-2010.

13."About Us." Brighton Park Neighborhood Council. Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, 2011. Web. 11 Oct 2012. <http://www.bpncchicago.org/aboutus/>.
Brighton Park's neighborhood council  and its statistics. 

14. Farr, Marcia. Latino Language and Literacy in Ethnolinguistic Chicago. 279. eBook. <hbooks.google.com/books?isbn=0805843477>.
Brighton's employment changes.

15. Durkin Keating, Anne. Chicago Neighborhoods and Suburbs: A Historical Guide. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008. 116. eBook.
Its ethnic character and the creation of jobs. 


16.Lewis, Robert. Manufacturing Suburbs: Building Work and Home on the Metropolitan Fringe. Temple University Press, 2004. 58-60. eBook.
The impact of railways. 

17. Arrendondo, Gabriela. Mexican Chicago: Race, identity and Nation. University of Illinois Press, 2008. 44-51. eBook.
The Mexican settlement expansion. 

18. Kantowicz, Edward. Polish-American Politics in Chicago. University of Chicago Press, 1975. 25-27. eBook.
Chicago Poles.


19. Koval, John, Larry Bennett, Michael Bennett, Fassil Demissie, Roberta Garner, and Kiljoong Kim. The New Chicago: A Social and Cultural Analysis. Temple University Press, 2006. 105-108. eBook.
The culture and demographic history of Mexicans. 

20.Carger, Chris. Dreams Deferred: Dropping Out and Struggling Forward. IAP, 2009. 50-51. eBook.
The hope for Mexican immigrants migrating to Chicago (Brighton Park).

Post 2: Community Post

The three communities I belong to are: my family, the cross country team, and animal’s rights group.

The cross country team spends a lot of their time at practice or at meets. Our practices are at Skinner Park which is right across the street from Whitney M. Young High School. We run laps around the football field all the way to the playground where Skinner school is at.  Our meets are held at many places, but they all are very similar. They’re very spacious, have a lot of trees and have smooth paths. Throughout the season we see outside so much, breath in a lot of fresh air, and watch the seasons change.

Our coaches set very high but achievable expectations of us.  They’re three different teams: FroshSoph, Junior varsity, and Varsity.  Junior varsity and Varsity run one more mile at the meets than FroshSoph because they’ve had more preparation and stamina for it. For me to be a member of cross country I had to be willing to sacrifice more of my personal time and become dedicated to running.  All of us are expected to do our best everyday no matter what; we push ourselves to become better than what we already are.

I feel comfortable in this community because it’s my second family.  We are more than a team; we’ve made bonds with one another that no one can ever break.  All of us have grown with one another and have dealt with our issues together. I know that I can trust anyone in this family that I’ve made and no one will ever judge me.  Going to the practices and meets and seeing my teammates faces when we accomplish our new goal (like running faster) is priceless. We’re all sisters and we have a dedication to each other. 

Word count:301

Community Song Post

The Corner by Common

Memories on corners with the fo’s & the mo’s
Walk to the store for the rose talking straightforward to
Got uncles that smoke it some put blow up they nose
To cope with they lows the wind is cold & it blows
In they socks & they souls holding they rolls
Corners leave souls opened & closed hoping for more
With nowhere to go rolling in droves
They shoot the wrong way cause they ain't knowing they goal
The streets ain't safe cause they ain't knowing the code
By the fours I was told either focus or fold
Got cousins with flows hope they open some doors
So we can cop clothes & roll in a Rolls
Now I roll in a "Olds" with windows that don't roll
Down the roads where cars get broke in & stole
These are the stories told by Stony & Cottage Grove
The world is cold the block is hot as a stove
On the corners

I wish I could give ya this feeling
I wish I could give ya this feeling
On the corners, robbing, killing, dying
Just to make a living 

We underrated, we educated
The corner was our time when times stood still
And gators and snakes gangs and yellow and pink
And colored blue profiles glorifying that

Streetlights & deep nights cats trying to eat right
Riding no seat bikes with work to feed hypes
So they can keep sweet Nikes they head & they feet right
Desires of street life cars & weed types
It's hard to breath nights days are thief like
The beast roam the streets the police is Greek like
Game at it's peak we speak & believe hype
Bang in the streets hats cocked left or deep right
Its steep life coming up where sheep like
Rappers & hoopers we strive to be like
G's with 3 stripes seeds that need light
Cheese & weaves tight needs & thieves strike
The corner where struggle & greed fight
We write songs about wrong cause it's hard to see right
Look to the sky hoping it will bleed light
Reality's and I heard that she bites
The corner

I wish I could give ya this feeling
I wish I could give ya this feeling
On the corners, robbing, killing, dying
Just to make a living 

The corner was our magic, our music, our politics
Fires raised as tribal dancers and
war cries that broke out on different corners
Power to the people, black power, black is beautiful

Black church services, murderers, Arabs serving burger its
Cats with gold permanents move they bags as herbalist
The dirt isn't just fertile its people working & earning this
The curb-getters go where the cash flow & the current is
It's so hot that burn to live the furnace is
Where the money move & the determined live
We talk play lotto & buy german beers
It's so black packed with action that's affirmative
The corners

I wish I could give ya this feeling
I wish I could give ya this feeling
On the corners, robbing, killing, dying
Just to make a living 

The corner was our Rock of Gibraltar, our Stonehenge
Our Taj Mahal, our monument,
Our testimonial to freedom, to peace and to love
Down on the corner...


Analysis

Common’s song The Corner is about where he grew up in Chicago. His approach to his community showed that everyone there was struggling and making wrong decisions because no one ever showed them that there was more to the world. People’s minds were taken over by greed and no one even knew what they truly wanted. All were united by their corner. The Last Poets say “the corner was our magic, our music, our politics,” after the second verse, describing how the corner meant hope, and differences. Every group had their own stories behind their corner, but the wars that were fought there were all the same. 

The aura of it was fearful, loud, lost and tired, but yet hopeful.  The song describes the streets, the poorness of it, how a lot of police are outside, it’s cold and dark out, people are being killed and robbed, basically it’s a dangerous place. Common wanted those who listened to this song to know that he’s from this place and that he got out of it, but it shaped him into who he is today. 

Word Count:183

Response to Crevecoeur 

Crevecoeur saw America as a promise land and a place for equality. I admire his mindset of hope and freedom because the way he saw America was perfect. The way it is now is close to how he described it but it’s not there yet and it’s something we need to work on. Equality is still not present, people are judged by their race, and we take for granted of the things we have and want more. But when looking at what Crevecoeur wrote it made me realize that America is so much more than we give it credit for.

When people came here it was almost so surreal to them that such a place existed and they were grateful for it, now in days on the other hand we overlook a lot of the freedom that we do have.  He explained how all nationalities were put together and created a new race, how it didn’t matter where you came from, you were still accepted no matter what and this was the start of a new beginning.  We forget that yes there still is racism but with time it has decreased and we have made a better living for people. America’s promise has been the same way since then and has held up to it.

Word count: 215