So I absolutely loved the discussion we had in the cofeeshop, but then came then came the next hour and a half. For the past couple of weeks in Reel to Real, an English class I'm taking, we've been talking about slum tourism, mostly in the context of third world countries. Now, Uptown is nowhere near a slum, but that doesn't make it any more right or justified that a bunch of well dressed white kids should parade through a lower income neighborhood. It felt that both sides were being objectified. We objectified the people of Uptown by walking around and staring at dilapidated buildings and homeless people on street corners, and I felt objectified as an outsider rich kid who came to gawk. If we had just had the conversation, I would have considered our fieldwork day the most interesting and engaging of my time in Highschool, but instead I'm left with a stale taste in my mouth, and a sickness in my belly.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
An Interesting Conversation, and a Dissapointing Walk
Uptown is a neighborhood very near and dear to my heart. My mom is the State representative for the area, and I've always been intrigued by its diversity and character. Anton, our guide, did an amazing job giving a history of Chicago and Uptown, and framing his history as a fight for affordable housing. Before our discussion in the coffeeshop in Uptown, I'd always thought of gentrification as an inevitable part of the ebb and flow of a city. Anton, on the other hand, sees it as a harmful force to neighborhoods which give lower income families a chance to build a stable community. His view was well voiced and convincing. It made me understand peoples anger towards development, and infrastructure investment aimed towards the upper class. Hearing about the arson that happened in his neighborhood for insurance money, and the fights to stop affordable housing being teared down gave me an appreciation for what its like to love a neighborhood and watch it change. It's proximity to my house also really resonated with me. Maybe its shallow, but its a lot easier to process things going on in a neighborhood that I pass every day on the red line home. I know how badly the wilson and lawrence stops need renovation, and Anton's struggle feels a little like mine.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Sam, applying the frame of slum tourism is understandable -- this is an important dynamic to be aware of, and I agree that it could come into play if approached that way. You weren't visiting Uptown as tourists or to parade, though, but as students, to learn. Yes, you carry your whiteness with you and, in the large group you were in, can feel like an imposition on the neighborhood. I appreciate that you are aware of that and asking questions; there are plenty of questions to ask about how race is mapped in Chicago and how those maps can be challenged and changed.
ReplyDeleteSlum tourism vs. education is an extremely tricky distinction to consider, primarily due to the fact that which of the two categories (I know there are subcategories; I’m just simplifying) a given instance of sightseeing (for lack of a better word) falls into is determined purely by the subjective perceptions of both the viewer (the individual/s who is/are in a place that is foreign to them, and usually of lesser means) and the viewed. This means that there are only two parties which can ascertain the category, and each party can only – and therefore, must – be taken at their word. Not only that, but unless both parties view the instance of sightseeing as, cumulatively, educational, then the sightseeing must be considered slum tourism. The inherent subjectivity of this distinction would, I imagine, make the process of creating ethical guidelines for the sightseeing of foreign places of lesser means extraordinarily difficult, nigh impossible. Any insights?
ReplyDeleteSam, awesome Blog. It's great that you had an educational and interesting experience that you felt you could connect with especially with your mom being so involved in the community. I understand where you are coming from feeling like a tourist but it seems that you learned and observed a lot too.
ReplyDeleteThough it is an unproductive phenomenon, I am glad Parker has allowed me to be on the other side of slum tourism. Gawking is fun. Our trips are valuable in sparking critical thinking. I agree with many of the points you make and I too feel the same way as we observe the people of different neighborhoods.
ReplyDelete