Humboldt Park

A twelve year old boy named Miguel was shot dead in the street by a stray bullet from some gang crap. It happened in broad daylight on our corner. We are forced to turn down that way each time we leave our house because of the arrangement of one-way streets. That day, we couldn't turn because of the several cop cars and screaming people that occupied the block.

We wondered what happened but pretty much went about our day unaffected because of the inherent desensitivity to such sights one inevitably acquires when living in the city. It wasn't until later that we learned what had really happened there; the terrible event made apparent by a makeshift memorial that had been erected by Miguel's family and friends at the tragic scene.

Aparently his father owns the small grocery store down the block and one of its brick walls is now dedicated to preserving the memory of Miguel and forcing onlookers to know what happened to him there. There are short yearbook-like blurbs and messages scrawled across it by other neighborhood kids saying things like "we'll always love our little papito." There is a little wooden table overflowing with candles and flowers below a huge picture of Miguel himself, alive and smiling, in football playing garb.

The day after Miguel was shot, the event made national news and was of course particularly emphasized here in Chicago. Everywhere we went people were talking about it. There was even a huge parade down our street of 'awareness raisers', mostly white people I had never seen before in my life.

Despite the attention people are attempting to give this tragedy, I almost resent the way some people are wearing it on their sleeve that they care. All I can think about is the people who knew and loved this boy for twelve years and have now lost him because of complete and utter stupidity, the likes of which I don't see ever coming to an end. Don't worry, I am not going to start talking about the semantics of poverty and gang activity here. I think that crap goes without saying at this point.

I consciously avoided walking up to the memorial for two days, not wanting to get in the way of the grieving family or deal with the cops who were constanly 'guarding' the scene. Finally, my friend Mark and I smoked a J on my front stoop and strolled around the corner in the middle of the night to pay our respects. We were all alone; it was really late. The cop on duty was asleep in his car. We stood there reading the countless dedications on the wall and just cried for a boy we had never met and who no one will ever meet again.

tim: 1st Jul 2002 - 16:03 GMT

i lived 3 - 4 blocks from where this event took place on the corner of rockwell and armitage. I was one of those "white people" that you have never seen, though a large group of us that were present that day are often out and about the neighborhood. As for the majority of the others who were there really did care because they most likely were members of the church(Armitage Baptist) that miguel's older brother, juan, is a member of. if you truly paid attention to the news I'm sure you heard his quotes. be careful how you judge people and there motives when you don't have a clue. I mentored miguel delarosa for 2 years and considered him a friend and my heart grieves today for his family. please think before you speak.

jennifer rodriguez: 30th Sep 2003 - 17:07 GMT

this really moves me, and my heart goes out to his family.i am a single mother who grew up in humbolt park. i am 27 years old now and moved me and my 3 kids to tennessee, where i currently reside because of tragedies like this. i do not want to raise in a dangerous place like this and i dont want to have to wake up every morning worrying if my children will be the next victim.it's sad because i miss home like crazy, but ignorant people who dont care about life are out there and they dont care who they might kill. all i'm saying is i'm sorry to hear about this unfortunate tragedy, i guess it's such a sad yet common way of life there in humboldt park. a way of life that forced me and my kida to move out...

Raul Rodriguez: 20th Feb 2004 - 16:10 GMT

I grew up in Humboldt Park. I found a dead body at 8 years of age. I witnessed a homicide at nine years of age.
My first friend was gunned down next to me when we were both eleven. He was eating a vanilla ice cream cone.
His hair was strewn with melting vanilla ice cream, brain matter and blood.
Desensitivity comingles with fatalism. Sometimes, this is all we know.
Welcome to Chicago...well, at least the bad part.

ANNETTE: 26th Feb 2004 - 21:03 GMT

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE HUMBOLT PARK AREA YEA IT WAS A LITTLE DANGEROUS BUT US PUERTO RICANS REALLY LOVE LIVING THERE WE BEEN THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES BUT LOOK AT IT NOW YUPIES TOOK OVER AND ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY OUR BEAUTIFUL PALCE AND FILL IT UP WITH CONDOMIMNIUMS WE WANT OUR PALCE TO STAY TEH WAY WE LIKE IT

asshole: 27th Feb 2004 - 15:02 GMT

i was born and raised to know better than to write comments in all caps!

Peter Eguia: 1st Mar 2004 - 20:41 GMT

shut up and stop crying like a big baby, if you don't like the area, then just move!!!!

Pebbles: 18th Mar 2004 - 03:40 GMT

I was also born and raised in Humboldt Park. Yo soy una Puertoriquena y Cubana. Grew up on North Avenue and Maplewood. Seen a bunch of things go on but everyone knows the one rule about HP "I aint see nothin' so I dunno nothin'" No matter what I'll always have love for the people there. Much love to everyone in HP.

I do remember what happened to the 8 year old boy called "Papito" (May God Bless his soul) who was shot and killed by my friend's house. I pray for his family and hope that his soul lives in peace and harmony with God. Que dios lo bendiga a la familia. I've lost cousins to gang violence and I believe everyone in this part of the 'hood has witnessed a homicide/murder/someone getting killed. Back in the day we just learned to expect it. Its never easy to lose someone from something like that and it never will be. There isn't much we could do except move..depending where you'd move to..pray and also look out for one another.

By the way, for those of you haters...pay attention...If you don't like the area MOVE THE HELL OUT!

Angel: 19th Apr 2004 - 14:33 GMT

I am puerto rican male who raised in Uptown. I am researching humboldt park for a group project. I don't understand why people are using this website to criticize each other. That is one of the reasons why we are constantly at each others throats. Our culture has this stigma of "not taking crap from anyone" that is one of the reasons why there is always aggresion. And for that girl pebbles talking about "much love" you need to let that ghetto mentality go, you to stop watching those music videos. Ignorant people like you make our culture look like gang bangers. We should be educating ourselves so that many doors can open for us. Not "stick to the game" forget the game all thats going to do is diminish your inner strengths and cause you to run off your emotions. Think, bendeha

Peter: 19th Apr 2004 - 17:08 GMT

Angel: so youre not criticizing anyone when you say "ignorant people like you...", etc?

I agree with what youre trying to say, for the most part, but I got a laugh out of the duality of you criticizing people for criticizing people. funny.

Do you have some photos of Humboldt Park you could share with us who have never seen it?

ColdChillin': 2nd May 2004 - 06:06 GMT

I'm reserching gangs for my school project and I read a book called My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King which took place mostly in Humboldt Park, Chicago. So I ran across this site and it's a damn shame what happens in this neighborhood and in a whole lot of other neighborhoods all around the country. I am from New York and has many neighborhoods with the same problums. My heart goes out to all the people who have become another statistic of gang violence.

Peace.

Peter: 3rd May 2004 - 15:33 GMT

I live in NYC. I rarely tro ever see gang-related drama. maybe im just lucky!

Pebbles: 4th May 2004 - 04:28 GMT

First off, I say "much luv" to EVERYONE in HP because we all grew up in the same area. Not everyone in HP are gangbangers so why in the hell would you think I am saying "much luv" to them? What they do is THEIR business not mine or yours so keep it that way. The only reason why people are at each other's throats is because of misunderstandings such as this one. You critize me and contradicted yourself by making assumptions. Also, learn how to spell nene...its 'Pendeja' not 'bendeha' You're being highly critical without knowing who I am. As for the education, I am well educated and enrolled in a University downtown so do not talk about my education. One such as yourself shouldn't critize a person without knowing the facts. Read the book before judging by its cover. As a matter of a fact, who gives a damn about what you think? I sure as hell don't. Who the hell are you to critize me? Especially since you were raised in Uptown and NOT in the Humboldt Park area. You do not know me and obviously misunderstood me. I appreciate the critizism though, because your contradiction doesn't phase me.

~creAtor~: 4th May 2004 - 17:38 GMT

i have no idea what humbolt park is. id love to see more flix of it tho.

corsakti: 4th May 2004 - 19:07 GMT

i have a million more pics but i kind of fell off from posting to this site for some reason. i moved away a long time ago and it wasn't because of the violence, it was becuase it was far away from where we liked toh ang, and also there were straight up too many kids constnatly invading our house/lives. we were friends with all the kids on our block but they would come over all the time and after a while we wanted space from kids. i know taht soudns weird but believe me. anyway after humboldt, i moved back to my old hood (ashland & chicago ave area) for a few years.

also, "peter eguia" if your comment was directed at me than you are retarded i wasn't crying like a big baby i was writing a story about an event that impacted me about my old hood so stfu.

in other news, i live in LA now and have tons of pics i should post here one of these days. i miss chicago though.

cor: 4th May 2004 - 19:10 GMT

anyway reading some more of these comments....i wans't trying to blanket dis all of humboldt park in any way, for the record.

geez, this is kind of funny, all the HPers representing as if they need to defend, or something. more power to you all, i wasn't a yuppie trying to steal shit from anyone i was trying to live in a cheap house its not like i never hung out there before i moved there anyway. its not like humboldt is all that far from any other hood i've lived in either. i used to ride my bike around the park with my dog all the damn time. everyone needs to chill. hehe

Peter: 4th May 2004 - 19:14 GMT

[i think the naysayers are dissing each other, not you...] :)

Lance Corporal Diaz: 17th Jul 2004 - 18:41 GMT

i sit here in iraq and a tear comes to my eye after reading some of the things people had to say. i was born and rasied in humboldt park and it taught me many things. i don't know why people are talkin about that park like they have to defend it. yes it was my home and it was great when things were peaceful. but the reality is that people here die. i lived on francisco and wabansia and i knew miguel because he was around just like i was. i saw the wall and i saw the people, but i saw the people mostly when the lights were flashing. why is it that we have to see people die before we can do something about it? all i ask is that someone can walk away with something from that event. i come back to chicago sometimes and the last time i walked by the wall was blank grey. i stood there looking at it and wondering if the people of humboldt park have forgot about this, because i can't.

karma: 19th Jul 2004 - 13:53 GMT

i liked this entry- i missed it the first time around somehow. what a sad place to live.

Peter: 19th Jul 2004 - 14:11 GMT

yeah, this post has elicited more profound comments than your average post on citynoise... it also gets alot of hits from people arriving from search engines... its real.

Papo: 23rd Nov 2004 - 01:48 GMT

Im mexican and puerto rican a.k.a poor oricans. I grew up in Humboldt Park, but Im most defenitely more proud of being mexican than rican. I mean c'mon lets get realistic here. All you ppl talking here saying u so proud and shit but c'mon u are all on welfare. If it wasnt thanks to my dad my mexican side we would be living in poverty with food stamps like all of you people on here. Sure mexicans work in landscaping and shit like that but we rolling on dubs and we got mad money, What do ricans have?? MIELDA!!!! You guys be rolling on lil guaguas!!! C'mon now thats a disgrace. Get a life. And if ur so proud be to be rican be something big then u can show off but if u aint shit than keep ur mouths shut!!!!!!! Im most defenitely not proud of being puerto rican. U guys are lames!!!!!! HOLLA!!!!!!!

englebert: 20th Dec 2004 - 16:53 GMT

this is what i love about citynoise. this discussion has lasted over a year and a half. amazing. props to corsakti

Peter: 21st Dec 2004 - 18:11 GMT

i get so many referrals to this article every day... alot of searches come into this site looking for "cabrini green" and "humboldt park", both past corsakti focii.

watcher: 2nd Jan 2005 - 02:00 GMT

O.k I know there is alot of killings in H.P but are you aware of the sex offenders that are living in your neighborhood?

Vanessa Pagan : 19th Jan 2005 - 20:44 GMT

when i was 12 i lived in humboldt park i lived on the streets of mozart and cortland my brother javi was killed at the age 16 turning 17 he was in the wrong place at the wrong time despite that he was conceving a child the following month it was a tragety cuz he was young and it was not his fault he was on his way to go get some food his girl friend was craving and he left and never came back now i am 17 and my brother would have been 21 its hard and i now have a boy friend and i pray every day nothing happens 2 him cuz it be hard to raise my kid dats now on the way....

yvonne: 21st Jan 2005 - 21:31 GMT

i injoy living in the humboldt park area it's not really quite

King Green Eyes: 24th Jan 2005 - 02:31 GMT

yo alls the fuck i gots to say is fuck anybody tryn to take over The Mother land the fuckn polacos that is and any one talkn shit about my peoples place Homboldt park is a place of turmoil but so what thats how we like fake a Flake False Flaga and any mutha fuckn Folk aight AMOR DE REY 360 degrees Long Live King Gino fuck a d DK AMOR DE REY

Chicago Dan: 24th Jan 2005 - 04:15 GMT

I was driving near Beach and Spalding on a hot summer day around late afternoon trying to score some flame Bud, Years back When I used to party and had 2 other white boys from the bubs with me. They had never been near the Park before. I told them it's ruff around here so be on look out for cops. When got near the spot and there was a gangbanger on a 10 speed bike with his hat turned to the left. When I passed bye the gangbanger was yelling some gang shit and thew up some gang signs at some car. The car went full speed at him and hit him of the bike and ran him over. The 2 guys that were with me started yelling holy shit did you see that guy just got ran over. I turned down the next street and scored some weed and could here sirens coming. I made a left off of beach on to Le moyne got to the corner and seen the guy dead and blood draing into the sewer. The guys I were with I think they both shit there pants being from the burbs and all. (True Story)

JOE: 28th Jan 2005 - 19:01 GMT

hEY PAPO YOU SHOUDNT TALK BROTHER FIRST OF ALL YOU MEXUCAN COME TO THIS COUNTRY IN TRUCKS AND LIVE LIKE BUNCH OF FUCKING DOGS TO BAD YOUR MOTHER HAD TO BREAK THE RACE BECAUSE IF YOU LIKE IT OR NOT YOUR DUMB AZZZ HAVE RICAN BLOOD FACE BITCH U STILL RICAN.You talk about the ricans then why your dad didnt marry a fucking mexican women
because he like that rican flavor sapoYea u mexicans be driving nice rides just like we do we have are nice rides and cribes at least my people didnt come in this country
living with 20 other mother fucking people
so eep your fucking mouth shut pendigo and remember u got that rican blood in ya and that is a shame that the blood is flooring in your dumbazzzzz.oH AND ONE THING YEA YOUR DRIVING IN NICE RIDES CAUSE YOU AZZZ IS LIVING IN HUMBOLDT PARK WHERE THE RENT IS CHEAP THATS WHY U DRIVING THEM CARS OR ARE U ONE OF THEM DUMB AZZ THAT RENT CARS FRON ENTERPRISE LOL DUMB FUCK.

Papo: 28th Jan 2005 - 19:37 GMT

hey joe, did your people come to this country to learn proper grammar and spelling? no? well, it sure shows in your comment, papi.

ElViejoDeArriba: 30th Jan 2005 - 04:12 GMT

"Papo: 28/01/2005 - 11:37 [top]
hey joe, did your people come to this country to learn proper grammar and spelling? no? well, it sure shows in your comment, papi."

nice. im not taking sides, but speaking of grammar and spelling...who here can spell correctly, in spanish or in english? as far as im concerned, aside from the language factor, you guys, for the most part, are americans. listen:

i'd like to begin by saying that this is not an attack on any of you, so dont give me shit for it, thanks. from what i've seen, few if any of you know spanish. judging from (i speak only objectively, NOT to poke fun at any of you) your SWEAR words even...my friend...señorsito Papo..."MIELDA?" what's mielda? mieRda? thats only an example of the point i will soon exhibit. "bendeha?"

anyway...its not only the language barrier that makes it so that you guys (some of you) are american. as far as im concerned, your high cheeck bones, darker hair and dark complexion do not make you a latino.

culture is the key. saggy pants, tilted hats, and spanglish do not make for a latino. theyre cultural, sociological, and ultimately stupid generalizations of YOUR race, or at least your genetics. for example, JOE's message is one an american would send-- mentality is part of a culture as well. and i recognize that all cultures have violence, but the verbal violence you exhibit is, i suppose, brought about by your upbringing in humboldt park. humbolt park, chicago, illinois, UNITED STATES-- pendigo! (??) what the fuck is pendigo?! humbolt park spanglish? well, its american too.

latino by genetics, not by culture. culture's the key.

isnt puerto rico in the united states?

whats wrong with being american?
well nothing...

KING CYCO: 2nd Feb 2005 - 16:14 GMT

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING AMERICAN BUT THEY CAN'T FUCK WITH THE LATINOS AND LATINAS. PLUS,THEY GET TOO COCKY!

ALMIGHTY LATIN KING AND QUEEN NATION

AMOR DE REY

KING CYCO: 2nd Feb 2005 - 16:21 GMT

AMERICANS THINK THAT THEY ARE THE SHIT. THEY ARE THE IGNORANT ONES, NOT US. THEY CAN'T FUCK WITH THE LATINOS AND LATINAS. FOR ALL MY LATINOS AND LATINAS OUT THERE KEEP YA HEAD UP AND JUST SAY FUCK WHAT THESE AMERICANS SAY. THEY AINT SHIT! WE WILL UNITE ONE DAY.........ONE DAY!

ALMIGHTY LATIN KING AND QUEEN NATION

AMOR DE REY

Critic: 2nd Feb 2005 - 16:35 GMT

wow, writing in all-caps sure is hard to read.

i dont buy this bullshit about americans or anyone else being ignorant. what about latino/a americans? hmm?

Marcella32: 2nd Feb 2005 - 16:46 GMT

This thread here on this post reminds me of this thread a wee bit. I suppose sometimes this sort of conflict is inevitable, aye?

ElViejoDeArriba: 2nd Feb 2005 - 23:12 GMT

kind king cyco,

me malentendiste. in another language, you misunderstood me. you can't generalize that americans are ignorant. it shows your ignorance.

secondly, you misunderstood me. yes, again. by what you say, you fall directly into the category of americans that i previously described. please re-read.
you, i suppose, are latino, but only by genetics. american by culture. you are a hybrid american by culture- i've never heard of a true latino, a TRUE latino by culture, say "almight latin kind and queen nation." and you say americans are ignorant. and you got too cocky.

no te quiero ofender, amigo, pero no podes atacar a la gente así. "seamos realistas, exijamos lo imposible." tratemos de entender. bien ahí, amigo.

- el viejo de arriba, q sabe vivir. no dejen q pinten tus cielos de gris.

BigDawg: 4th Feb 2005 - 00:45 GMT

Papo, stfu you mexican. At least we don't have to suck dick in order to get into this country. Green card having ass' bitch. Ain't no way your half rican, you wish you were thats all. *Laughs* Go eat a taco cracker.

lil trigger: 11th Feb 2005 - 01:00 GMT

king luv and fuck all you fucking puerto ricans viva mexico putos king love DRAKE 24
LATIN KINGS

king luv: 11th Feb 2005 - 22:42 GMT

well u just said it too and i bet you live in america. so what?

King Demon MPst.: 16th Feb 2005 - 21:51 GMT

Amor to all brothers and sisters of the almighty nation.Black,White,Hispanic or any other nationality...One love...A.L.K.Q.N

Flacko "D": 25th Feb 2005 - 17:58 GMT

Hey you guys take it easy with all the direspecting. One love to all my puerto ricans livin and breathing the same air as everyone else. Amor. MLDN

King Killer : 28th Feb 2005 - 10:42 GMT

King Killer ... I hope all of y'all DIE SLOW LIKE KING TONE ( NYC BITCHES AND Y"ALL ALKQN ) FUCK U ALL . Aight ! FUCK U MOTHER FUCKER >>> ALL OF Y'ALL . LET HAVE PEACE . NO GANGS > NO CRIMES ( WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE ) > AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF U IGNORANT PEOPLE OUT THERE > PEACE ! ~ oX ~
Represent GOD, PEACE, & LOVE

Peter: 28th Feb 2005 - 14:47 GMT

wait, so is it "die slow" and "fuck u" or "lets have peace" and "god bless"?

i am confused.

arizona king nation : 8th Mar 2005 - 19:36 GMT

wat up yall nuttin but king luv fuck anny body disrespecting da crown !

gangbuster: 19th Apr 2005 - 18:30 GMT

Re: Humboldt Park
I just put a down payment on my new huboldt park condo!! Just a matter of time before starbucks moves in. Ain't a bullet that can stop it.

Anonymous (d142-59-238-19.abhsia.telus.net): 30th Apr 2005 - 01:09 GMT

u guys r fucked

LoKa: 30th Apr 2005 - 23:29 GMT

I'am a puerto rican from the north side and i personally think its fucked up that know and days we cant fucken walk out side and trust the people that live around us I'm a queen and honstly i dont give two shits what the fuck you guys think about us, the meaning of the latin king has changed tremendesly and it doesnt mean what it used too but that doesnt mean all you dumn ass folks could talk shit, some of us still represent what the latin kings are we help the hispanic community though you might think we dont but if only you knew we help all you dumn fucks that just talk shit about us. Look I'm not writing here just to represent the latin kings am here to show my respects and to try to get some sence on the peoples head that just disrespect us dont get me wrong theirs a few kings and queens that gotissues but just look at it this way thiers also people taht arent in gangs that commit worst things in our community. What we have to do is stop talking shit and be proud of our heritage and if you dont like it then get of ur fucken lazy ass and do something about it.

boricuasoy: 2nd May 2005 - 00:19 GMT

instead of trying to brag about people gettin killed in hp lets focus on the good times we had and how rich our cultural is in hp.instead of us boricuas killin each other lets start workin against the white muther fuckers that are trying to take over

Peter: 2nd May 2005 - 14:19 GMT

whether boricua, black, white, whatever... do you think that "working against" anyone, as long as theyre people who respect the place, is good for humboldt park? exclusion is exclusion, whether its discrimination or reverse discrimination.

Shady Girl: 3rd May 2005 - 05:01 GMT

I'm a sixteen year old mexican that has lived all her life in Humbolt Park. I've seen and lived the violence of gangs and all that crap, but not everything in Humbolt Park is violence. Living here has really made me appreciate every moment I live and has maked ne dream of better things. I really don't find a point to gangs, but I don't judge people that are in it cuz most of the time their in there because everyone just judges with out knowing why the hell their in there. I fell in love with an MLD from RC and things weren't easy every night I prayed to God to keep him safe but that didn't make me give up on him. I remember how everyone use to tell me that he was a bad boy that had no good feelings in him bs that wasn't true he was just another misunderstood guy who seeked understanding in the wrong place. To bad no one else saw that. He's no longer with me but I learned a lot from him and I just pray to God that he keeps him safe and maybe some one else will see the same thing I saw.

ON DA G !((7))!..../|\: 4th May 2005 - 04:38 GMT

AMOR DE GANGSTA IG'S WORLD HUMBOLT PARK AIGN NI66AS CUM GET SUM LKK MLDNK ISCK AHGNK AMOR TO ALL MY NI66AS KRANKKS DONT WANT DRAMA

PRPoet: 6th May 2005 - 14:43 GMT

It's funny to me that I've checked out this site for a while and a lot of peole overlook what this spot is about. I grew up in Humboldt Park and saw things that no one should have to or even want to. When a little kid dies its not an excuse to celebrate your heritage, it's not a reason to call out props to your boys or your set or your gang. All it should do is make you realize the dumb shit that goes on. I'm proud to be a PR and I fly my flag high; now I'm in the military and I fight para mi isla and my country. I come back to this site to remind me that I could have been a Miguel, King, Cobra whatever. But I didn't want to be a statistic or a victim. I come back here to remind me to be more because that's what Miguel deserves from all of us. If you read what was written obout that little boy and you dismiss it, any comment you write shows your own ignorance. Celebrate his life, mourn his death and keep it in your heart as a reminder why, if you truly love Humblodt Park, all the bullshit has to stop.

XklusivRicaNmAmi: 7th May 2005 - 19:30 GMT

This is a sad story nd mah luv goes 2 all mah ricans keep ya headz up high and go on with life as best you can. Unfortuantely things like this happen everday, but thats life. Nd I also wanted to mention 2 Papo: thats great that your proud to be mexican but you know theres no shame in puerto rican at all, its people like you that set examples of disgrace. Race has nothing to do with one's financial status.Your stereotyping your own nationality;>>" puerto ricans live off welfare" are you proud of that too?

2 lil trigger: 7th May 2005 - 19:39 GMT

King lUv right? read the fuking book My Bloody Life pendejo and maybe you'll see who the fuck started the King Nation! ~1~

Josuf an upcoming rapper that reports city misery: 10th May 2005 - 21:43 GMT

Hey whats up hey to go to a great loving place you must greatly love. Great love meaning to love even the worst people such as gangsters. Love gangsters but hate the sin they commit. Be perfect in behavior for God is perfect. Perfect meaning pure in heart.(no critisizing, be forgiving,be poor in spirit,love those who hate you) Do this and you will see the Kingdom of God. Do you know what Tupac's life meant? It is this- that to see God you must love even gangsters. Tupac wasn't a gangster he represented them to advertise the life of them. Read the Bible!

lalo: 11th May 2005 - 14:02 GMT

i lived my entire life in humboldt park. i'v been through tuff time and good time in the park. let me say this though, humboldt park isn't as bad as every1 says it is. i mean u could still get jump or killed for sum stupid shit, but its not as bad as before.

jo-jo: 12th May 2005 - 03:25 GMT

I think all this gang shit is so stupid.That shit to me is getting to old.I can't belive the women who even get on here to talk shit or gangbang there making a fool out of themself's.They should be rasing there kids in a better envi.Showing them this is not the way to be in life.But i guess they want to act hard. For what? For who?

Fei: 12th May 2005 - 21:31 GMT

True.. Really.. its stupid. If it wasnt for those who study and keep their heads up the world, it would be like a life in the ocean. the same shit everyday lives being taken and new ones rising only to survive but really.. for what? they should dedicate themselves to getting further in life. This gang shit is the same everyday. Just sittin out chillin doing nothing wasting time. Hell.. If people didnt study there wouldnt be important people out there such as doctors.. and then what? every mother fucker dies.

lalo: 13th May 2005 - 13:30 GMT

i don't know about all of you people but i didn't get anything this guy just sead.

RLK FOLKILLA: 15th May 2005 - 18:46 GMT

fkucK F.ear O.f L.atin k.in9z

AMOR DE REY MUTHA FUCKA5 5 ALIVE 6K DKIDK DKIE
IGK TSK GDK LCK VLK CVLK CK 13K 6K ALMIGHTY DKONT LIKE NOBODKY

AMOR DE REY KINGZ WURLDK!|!

MIGHTYRIKAN:: 18th May 2005 - 18:55 GMT

Bueno all i can sayy is daaaaaaaamm. i grew up in humboldt park right by the PR FLAGS yeah i saw a lot of shit that whent down, we all had goood and bad times there but that don't give the write for anyone to talk shit only GOD can guge. much love for my rican poeple that r trying to maintain and for the ones that haved moved on up keep doing yo thing,now for these mexican ass holes u guys talk a lot of shit us tedes tienen un cuntry enorme i'll give u that y nosotros tenemos un isla chikita pero lo que mas lo hode a ustedes es que nuestra isla chikita le da mucho mas que competancia a ustedes en todo la musica nuestro deportistas boxiadores Y nuestra mujeres pero lo que mas los hoden a us tedes is that we can come and go from puerto rico yall can't do that. i was reading an article in this page frome some asshole talking about viva kings and fuck all puerto ricans. know u can tell this is a dumb ass mexican who formed that latin kings (THE PUERTO RICAN'S) WERE WAS IT FORMED (IN A PUERTO RICAN BARIO) IN CHICAGO AND WATS THE BARRIOS NAME (HUMBOLDT PARK) SO FOR A'LL YA STUPID ASS MEXICANS DON'T TALK SHIT IF U DON'T KNOW SHIT, Y AUNQUE NUESTRA ISLA ES PEQUEN YA PERO ES GRANDE EN CORASON

ITCHY: 19th May 2005 - 22:02 GMT

FOLKZ STAY ON DEY BACK LIKE HOEZ KC LATIN KINGZ WORLDK HUMBOLDT PARK LATIN KINGZ

Otero_a_m: 21st May 2005 - 21:23 GMT

I would like to start off by saying that my Heart, Respect and Condolenses go out to the family. it's really unfortunate that the kids are usually the ones to pay for our mistakes.
"A wise man once said that smart men learn from their mistakes but Wise men learn from the mistakes of others."
i too grew up in Humboldt Park. I attended Lafayette elementary school and attended Roberto Clemente High School. I was shot, my mother was shot and my best friend was murdered at the age of 15. this all happened in a 3 block radius.
it's really bad for innocent people to get murdered but what's really a shock is that when we look at the big picture we are the ones doing the harm to our own.
Isn't it bad enough that others want us irradicated??? why do we do the favor for them???
my heart goes out to all that die at the hands of anyone for reasons that just don't make sence.
weather it's due to gangbanging, rivalry, revenge, position in rank, or just plain selfishness abd attention. there are so many ways we can put our creativity and positive tactics to use than wiping each other out.
that's all for now. much luv!!!

lalo: 31st May 2005 - 13:40 GMT

that shit was kinda funny, but i'll let that shit ride. it needed to be said, but for those of u wanting to make fun of puerto ricans and ur mexican, don't make me go there cuz i could say a lot of shit about mexicans. i gave u fare warning.

some white guy: 3rd Jun 2005 - 21:35 GMT

Why don't all you two-bit thugs get back on the block and make some money instead of wasting your time talking shit on the internet or if your such a hard ass, go pull a mission and go to County for your People(or Folks for that matter). That's the life you chose, so at least be good at it. Talkin' shit in a chat room is as wack as it gets. For those so-called "Latinos" who love to shit talk about fellow Hispanics, most white people can't tell the difference between a Mexicano and Boriquien. All they seem to care about is how much money you have(or don't have). If you think that white people push minorities out of neighborhoods because they're trying to destroy you, then stop selling your houses and land. The neighborhood isn't being taken over it's being sold to anyone who's willing to buy it. Hard working(Puerto Ricans,Mexicans,Polish,Ukranians and others)with families are sick of finding drug needles in the playground and so they move out. More people die in car related deaths than gun related deaths but it doesn't have as much shock value.

some white guy: 3rd Jun 2005 - 22:12 GMT

Humboldt Park used to be a white Lutheran/Jewish neighborhood. If you don't believe me go look at Roser's bakery and the statue of Lief Ericson with the inscription "Discovered America". Only a cocky white person would write that kind of nonsense. If gangs were stupid they would not survive. Gangs are a reality of city life. Some of the gangs in Humboldt have been around for fifty years. Thier leaders use young men and woman with no direction to gain power or money. It's a sub-culture with it's own police and politics. Anyone who lives in the suburbs and comes here to buy drugs is dumb-fuck. Buy some elotes instead.

......and finally anyone refering to Humboldt Park as HP should go back to watching the O.C.

Anonymous (c-67-175-7-154.hsd1.il.comcast.net): 7th Jun 2005 - 20:33 GMT

you all are probbibly born and raised in america and the only ignorant people are the gang bangers who cant defend them self and need there boys or weapons to back their asses up

Blackaricanmami_05: 12th Jun 2005 - 17:55 GMT

Humboldt park is a good azz neighboorhood i lived there all my life and i still live there .The puerto Rican Parade is coming up,I cant wait.I am puerto rican and black and i speak spanish and english.

dahumboldtmami: 12th Jun 2005 - 18:00 GMT

i've lived in humboldt park all my life and all i can say is dat i've been through good and bad times over here and that i've seen deaths and more. We need 2 end da violence cuz we want da kids 2 grow up and make this place a place where we can live withot being scared 2 walk outside

PRPoet: 13th Jun 2005 - 13:19 GMT

You want to talk about respecting each other and taking care of the nation; why don't you kick the gang shit to the curb?! Want to do some good? Be a role model to the shorties and teach them why being in a gang is bad. The problem with gangs is that it feeds on kids that don't know any better and are lost, for the most part. You want to do some good and follow the teachings of your literature? Then kick the drug shit and stop creating victims and prisoners in your own hood. I come from Humboldt Park and I've seen both sides of the story. I've seen kids that were lost and turned to gangs because they didn't have any other outlets, and guess what? There all dead, locked up or in jail. You want to make it seem like your nation is doing something good but all you do is enslave your own. People are prisoners in their own homes cause of the shit you all do. If you take the time to look around and see what's going on then maybe you'll realize that. And I'm not directing this at one gang specificaly, but to all gangs. Ya'll need to wise up for real. The shame about all of this is that all I'm gonna back is someone's supposed justification on why I'm wrong and the "nation" is really doing good for everyone. You all need to wake up!

king encendio 360: 14th Jun 2005 - 04:48 GMT

yo wats good im a latin king in new york city bronx i have never seen a king from chicago thoose are the ones that i think are the real kings 5 alive we dont die we multiply i knoe a lot of kings that dropped the flag and picked up a red or blue one fuk all of them 1 inca tribe peace in black in gold.

Nino: 14th Jun 2005 - 18:31 GMT

Reggaeton Mundial! keep the peace no sufrir ... Tego Calderon..

Not important: 15th Jun 2005 - 16:41 GMT

A house divided against itself, cannot stand.

CynLaLinda: 22nd Jun 2005 - 22:00 GMT

Soy Puertoriquena y Houndurena,I lived in humbolt park on and off all my life and even though things are bad i still miss it ive seen alot of shit and learned alot of shit from the hood and the people it's sad to hear when any innocent bystandard has been killed or a homie,let alone a loved one its always a sad story but even though we still have to go about our so called ordinary lives we still remember never for get those whom weve lost wether it was by gangs,terrorist,or a phsyco.As for ol girl that hates it so much being Puerto Rican let me leave you with this dont be hateful of your blood i see how you might raise your kids in being little hateful, prejudice, racist bastards your probably ugly as hell with no ass and if you do have an ass its thanks to your mother so dont be a pendeja you ungrateful female you should be happy that your momma kept you in her belly for 9 mnths even though your daddy is mexican.I bet you wont be talking all that smake in a RICANS face any way.The hood is where you get your street smarts from and that does go a long way in life no matter if you stay where you at or move away.I've moved to tulsa oklahoma and shit over here is weak but people know where i was brought up at and im BORIQUA so that right there lets them know im not one to be fucked with.Big ups to all The Folks on F/A AMOR MISS YALL....Every Puerto Rican Should Know Our Anthem...La tierra de Borinquén
Donde he nacido yo,
Es un jardín florido
de mágico fulgor
Un cielo siempre nítido
le sirve de dosel
y dan arrullos plácidos
las olas a sus pies.
Cuando sus playas llegó Colón;
Exclamó lleno de admiración;
"Oh!, oh!, oh!,
Esta es la linda
tierra que busco yo"
Es Borinquén la hija,
la hija del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol.

Fredrik-Sweden: 23rd Jun 2005 - 13:21 GMT

I´m from Sweden, i.e Scandinavia. When I read this I might be missing something, but all you guys claiming that Humboldt park is great and that you´re proud PR/gangstas etc, read this first: Humboldt belongs to sweden and germany, so shut the fuck up and pay attention to the REAL message upstairs, who can be proud of living in a neighbourhood where kids get killed and shoot randomly? The white people you fight against is us swedes taking back whats ours, take it or leave it, but I guess you´ll leave it... Duh! (Please, this can also be read as a joke, or...)

"By the annexation of Jefferson Township in 1889, all of Humboldt Park came into the city limits. Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, Germans and Scandinavians continued to settle in the area. By 1920, the neighborhood held some 65,000 people, of which twenty-eight percent were foreign-born, chiefly German and Norwegian."

Peter: 23rd Jun 2005 - 13:51 GMT

wow, thats certainly an interesting new perspective...

Fredrik-Sweden: 23rd Jun 2005 - 15:10 GMT

Haha, I guess there are certain points of views that must be strightened out, right!? Anyway, even over here in Sweden we have problems when it comes to gang rivalty (do you spell it like that?) and I´m so tired about people blaming it on some kind of cultural behaviour connected to where people are from. Im certain these people are americans, but as in Sweden, alienated inhabitants. Little Peurto Rico might be Humboldt park, what do I know?! I know for certain that I´ve been there, last september as I spend some nights in Chicago, sadly I have to say it´s like all other surburbs in the world but still I guess the people are proud of their neighbourhood! But, the message was, as I read it: Stop the random killing of children! and also: Stop for a second and remember those who are dead and left behind, I mean, how can we change the prespective and future for those young and lost kids still alive??? You cannot be serious about getting armed and starting some kind of civil war, thats a joke, and the whole gang culture is also a joke in some ways...

Peter: 23rd Jun 2005 - 15:13 GMT

i agree re: the gang culture.

one thing to remember is that many of the opinions stated in this thread are from random people who surfed in via google, and simply left their argumentative two-cents without really being aware of the points being made in the entry.

kinglight55@aol.com: 27th Jun 2005 - 01:46 GMT

AMOR DE REY:

My brothers and sisters i hope you all find yourself in good health when you read this... I am here to ask all of you to please try and help out as much as you can around your community, and reach out to the youth. the reason i am saying this, is because i see alot of kids out there who have there own idea of what the almighty latin king/queen nation is. and its all wrong. and as kings /queens it is our duty to bring these kids in to the light, and show them what we are really about. half these kids out there that have so called "Beef" with our nation feel like this toward us because they dont know what we are really about. if we just take time to talk to them you will see a diffrence. and it doesn't matter what group they belong to, crips, folk, blood,ect.. we are all human, we are all gods children, we are all one race "the human race"!!! the more we ignore them, the more they will never understand the struggle, OUR struggle. america is trying to split us up by tribalism. black, hispanic, asian,ect.. puting us in diffrent palces, sections, so we wont have the chance to get to know each other , learn from each other.. "UNITE".. we must all be one big nation, one big wave, and attack the real opprsssor. only by understanding each others cultures, and learning from one another is the only way we will see a change. we cannot make a change on our own, we must do it together, as a NATION!!! all united under one sun. this is what are nation is about. to relieve the pain that are people are going through, and to educate them on the truth. what is the truth? GOD!!! find him, and have faith in him and he shall lead you to the light, for he is the foundation of our nation... A latin king/queen should always be looking for a way to uplift our people, through education, writing, reading,ect... and by our people i mean everyone, we shall show no discrimination towards no one, we are all equal. and we have no enemies, instead we call them confused brothers and sisters who have not found the light. and yes we will try our best to lead them to that light. if they refuse they will soon find it!!!

SO i ask you my brothers and sisters for all of us to come together despite our diffrences in race, religion, and color. i tell you this is the only way we will defeat our oppressors...

amor de rey mi familia, your brother kinglight55@aol.com

Queen Sapphire: 28th Jun 2005 - 21:52 GMT

First off I want to say Amor De Reina to all my brothers & sisters no matter where you are from. There is so much ignorance plastered on this board that it is sad to read. I finally had to just scan through it. We are all latin no matter if you are from PR, Mexico, Cuba, etc. This corrupt gov't likes to refer to us as the minority when WE make up the majority. If we think small we will be small we must open up our minds. Embrace the ignorance learn to tolerate it for it will make us stronger. It will make us the Rey's & Reina's we are supposed to be. OOoooOOOooooOOO & for the "brother" using the book "MY BLOODY LIFE" as reference to our great and wonderful NATION.... I question that fact that you would use that book to refer to anything about the nation. Maybe you haven't read it all if you did you need to read it again. Just because someone WAS down for the cause for a little while does not make them a good bro.... for where are they now oooo thats right still getting fat pockets off of his trials and tribulations of the nation why don't you go pick up his other book THE UNMAKING OF A LATIN KING hmmm...... doesn't sound like someone I would ever use as a reference to MY GOLDEN LIFE..... AMOR DE REINA!

Stef: 29th Jun 2005 - 03:22 GMT

I Dont know why some people keep complaining about Hombouldt Park if you got a problem with it get up and stop complaining to us go to the vity of chicago and complain their half these cops dont do shit. Then to those who keep talking bad about the Almighty Latin King/Queen Nation got's problems we mean alot more than most people think go ask a true King or Queen what we truely mean you'll feel stupid for even douting us, but I do admit know and days shorties be doing the total oppisite of our true meaning.Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Columbian, ect we are all Latinos and have to stick 2gether before our fellow white man controls us. know to that stupid Sweden chick shut the fuck up.And to all my Almighty Latin Kings/Queens Amor my brothers and sisters 1-4-18.....

J: 1st Jul 2005 - 23:43 GMT

I was born and raised in Humbolt Park people need to stop complaining about the Gangs cause the cops (pigs) are as fucked up as we are if not worst and all my peeps repin Humbolt Park get yall spellin right yall make us look bad we need to step up and stop fightin each other open are eyes and see these PIGS are trying to get these rich suburb mother fuckas in Humbolt Park so they can be closer to their jobs in Down Town and as Puerto Ricans we need to make sure we keep those 2 Puerto Rican flags going across them streets and everybody know spanish & blacks together run Chi-town and for my peeps its HUMBOLT PARK we need to have the biggest Puerto Rican parades Chicago always been little Puerto Rico Fuck new york but we need to make them parades more peaceful

J : 2nd Jul 2005 - 01:04 GMT

I know yall heard about Kevin he was trying to change hes life and the cops killed him this is prof that these cops aint no different
they also plant drugs on people (Gangstas) So if some one wants to complain about getting gangs off the streets then complain about these dirty PIGS as well and if u got a thorn in ur eye dont try to take the thorn out some one elses gangs aint the only ones bring problems to the Chi the niggas I run wit only do what we have too and thats real if some one comes these way they get delt wit

sophia: 4th Jul 2005 - 02:48 GMT

I'm a white girl.I love my home and i appreciate the diversity of Humboldt Park. I understand wanting to preserve Puerto Rican heritage in Humboldt Park it's importance. Gang violance wherever it amy exsist causes a domino effect of pain and adversity for so many people. But his will make Latinos mad, but according to the US census you don't even have your own race latino or hispanic is not even considered a race but an ethnicity your are either a non-white hispanic or white hispanic

SadStateOfAffairs: 11th Jul 2005 - 17:18 GMT

Very sad but enlightening to read all of the threads. I too live in Humboldt Park and have seen the good and the bad. The first night in our new home, a girl got shot, once in the arm and once in the leg. It was at 3 a.m. - nothing good happens after 10:00 p.m.in the neighborhood. She is lucky to be alive. The funny thing was she was walking around the next day proud as a peacock. That sounds to me like time to reassess your life and thank God that somebody was a bad shot.

I read about the pride but I don't see it. I see violence, hatred and people who love to throw trash around. The park is beautiful but everyone is doing their best to see that fixing it up was a bad idea. There is garbage everywhere. Where is the pride in that?

The thing I don't understand is the Latino family structure being so strong and meeting folks from great families and then see a different child or father away from the family out gang banging like they didn't have a family that loved them or needed them. Very sad and sadder to know that the answers are long in coming. I realize the solidarity and the adrenaline rush from banging are hard to find in a 9 to 5 job but is it really worth it if you end it all at the age of 19? Life is hard, work is not fun, becoming an adult is a challeng, raising a family is hard but that is what living is.

The gangs are a substitute for family but....Everyone is so tired of the violence I guess the answer is just to put up flashing blue lights at every corner then everyone will be happy except the mayor who has to pay to monitor the cameras.

Call me naive but I know there is a better way than to put people in four buckets and go at it - (PR, Mexicanas, Blacks and Yuppies).

Education and hard work are the only ways out. The schools are failing in this part of the city schools and I realize studying is not really cool but that is the only way out that I see. Kudos to those who have made it out and are surviving. I have great respect for you and wonder how you made it. Good luck.

Anonymous (adsl-68-72-17-235.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net): 16th Jul 2005 - 22:32 GMT

i grew up in logan square with my mom and we had to go down to humbodlt park wen i was little to go get welfare checks for my mom now that i am older i do go to humboldt park to see my friends and hang out when i was about 12 my older brother was shot by those pussy ass IG...my father and i miss him very much...my dad grew up on beach and spaulding and he is known as a LATIN KING!!! AMOR DE REY!! well mu father and his friends went after the ig that killed my brother and they are still lookin for them at night i sometimes cry myself to sleep i miss my brother soo much....

L: 16th Jul 2005 - 22:47 GMT

i dont see a point to people that like gangs and that rep for gangs but i dont thinkt hat s its right when the cops find out that someone is in a gang and yells curses at them and treats them like shit how are those pussy ass white cops gonna be racist in an all latino community...i was like wtf when i heard this one cop scremaing n gettin all up in this teenage boys face he was punchin the livin shit out of him didnt kno wtf he was thinkin...i think that ppl like or get into gangs for protection if u live in the ghetto u can just go through any hood alone u cant just go sumwhere where no one knows you...also alot of ppl dont have a family they join a gang to feel loved and to have ppl care and provide for them...im not against gangs but for mi i dont think i would be involved...i kno how it is for them when i was around the age of 13 i fell in love or what i thout was love with a gang member for a while and i felt the pain that he was goin through his dad used to beat him he didnt have a mom ppl at climente would beat the shit out of him...to this day i dont like him any more but were still cool...n the reason these bitch ass white ppl complain that humbodlt park is bad then dont fuckin move there leave the latinos and bkacks the fuck alone u want a job in downtown take the fuckin train..i kno that these white bitches wouldnt want ppl that are not white movin into their palces soo dont move over there,,if i lived down in humbodlt park id blast these bitches...i feel fo yall...much love to all yall boricuas

mia: 18th Jul 2005 - 02:37 GMT

I don't understand why anyone thinks white people want to take over humboldt park it's the City Of Chicago. It has more to do with property value than anything the city and state want anyone you can pay high taxes on on an expensive home. So maybe all of you who are complaining and are obviously really racist towards white people should find a away to afford to live in Humbodlt Park. You live in the US there are so many opportunities for latinos now more than ever. So if your blaming white people your brain is the size of pea, and you wasting you time and energy for hating so much instead of bettering yourself.

Reality: 20th Jul 2005 - 19:20 GMT

To everyone that believes white people are living in Humboldt Park for the fun of it, get real. It is not by choice. Why would anyone choose to put themselves in an area of random gunfire, fights, drugs, hypodermic needles, and hatred? If I had a choice I think it'd be a beach front property on Lake Michigan. It is because they don't have the money to live where they want to. Just like most of the people in the neighborhood. Economics is blind to prejudice, if you have a family and cannot afford to live in a nicer neighborhood then you do what you can and make the best of it.

Do you believe that white people find it fun to be called a white assed bitch and be told to get the f out of the neighborhood mfer. Boy that sounds like fun to me. If they are in Humboldt that is because they cannot afford to live elsewhere, just like many people in the neighborhood. Cancer doesn't discriminate nor does the economics of trying to support a family. Most folks in the area support each other regardless of race - those that don't usually live life angry and believe that something is owed to them. Life doesn't sit still nor will the neighborhood.

Do you think the city put all of that money into fixing up the park for fun? They put it into the park to make it liveable. This turns into tax dollars as Mia indicates. It is a clear formula. Make the city livable, raise property values, raise taxes = a thriving city of chicago revenue center. The city is run like a business and has been fairly successful in getting people to move back into the city.

Reality also sadly says that drugs and violence are a part of our culture and I don't see that going away anytime in my lifetime. So if you think your way of life is threatened don't worry. There will always be gangs and people looking for drugs. That is reality too.

You can no more stop the progression then when it happened long ago when the neighborhood started to go downhill and the drugs started to move in. The folks living in HP couldn't stop it from happening then just as you won't stop the neighborhood from improving. If you don't like a safer, cleaner, friendlier neighborhood then keep moving.

Juanted: 21st Jul 2005 - 04:15 GMT

I always thought when i shoot someone I would be for a very good reason.I thought I'm not going to let anybody cheat me,think there better than me, steal from me.hells no!
When my little brother and me was in the alley working on my car these bangers rolled up and put five bullets in alejandro two in me, i'm crippled but at least i'm fucking alive.
I now have a very differnt perspective now but it took many years to understand the damage i did. I would do anything to erase gangbanging from life.God forgive me. Forgive me Alex -Love you forever my Brother.Peace

cafeconleche: 22nd Jul 2005 - 06:04 GMT

This is in regards to Reality's take on what is happening in HP. People...its called regentrification. Its been happeingin since I was a student at Clemente...WHite people Do have a chioice! The rent in some areas are cheap but the reality is that nuestra comunidad was a goldmine all along and not until the artists began coming into the neighborhood iss the true potencial of what we have come to be....If you live between Kedzie and Ashland u got it made. Your close to transportation, you you've got all these specialty shops ctering to the anglo upper middle class. And the park?????????????!

Its social construction.....How many years was Humbolt Park rotting away? The st PR generation wasn't as proactive as some of the 2nd PR generation is --they didn't know who to complain and advocate for thier kids...as long as the field house had little league for the kids it was all good. But the blancos? They wouldn't step foot into HP the way it was 10 years ago! How many of you can remeber how shitty it was and how we accepted it because thats the way it was...
C'mon on Daly fixed that shit up because of the regentrification. Lets get all the white kids whose parents used to live in the city to come back...See the parents part took of something called "whit flight..." the PRs and the African Americans strted to move this way and the whitds moved futher North--now thier children are coming back...Property rate are on the rise and the only people that can afford to BUY the houses in the area are people who can pay a mortgage of 3 grand or so...
My family was the first PR family to buy a house o Spaulding and Division in 1968..back then it was a Polish neighborhood....The first thing that was commented by these people was"Here come the niggers!" Can you imagine that..now fast forward to 2000. The property taxes are so high my elderly mother who is now on SS and her pention cannot afford to pay the taxes of her house that she bought in 1968 for --get this $45,000!

Guys I've seen it all--I went to Lowell school--I ent to Clemente and things are changing--
What with the "Do you think that the white people want to be there--boo hoo pobrecitos them--REALITY CHECK ya'll ...YES they do! HP is the hotest place to be besides tha adjasent areas-Bucktown etc... The shit isyou should hear what they are saying about us and our community..I wa on some chicks web site with pix of the community and she was describing some ladies that ere stanind ig near her --talk'in 'bout how they look like prostitutes with the fake dyed hair---c'mon
Then she went on to describe how she can't understand how these children live in this kind of area---how do the parents do it---she then proceeded to describe the horrid conditions on that particular street...
I just can't stand how they are so presumtuous. HOw they come in withoug understanding the history of the area--I remeber during the beginning of the regentrification, one lady was trying to get the people from one sec. 8 housing facility on Norht and Damen ( it was called.The Victor )eveicted--not one apt. the whole damn place because it was bad for the neighborhood-so she was going areound with a petition--These people were not bad--they just were down on thier luck! I also remeber one facility for young people--Ithink it was before Barreto's was redone--people were calling the cops (white people) becuase the kids were gang bangers--What was happening was they didn't like the guys hanging outside after a workout session--What does this all mean to you ????? How many of your remeber the phrase"BORICA defiende lo tuyo!" Tht was the call guys we've forgotten that! I couldn't walk my dog in the park 15 years ago--now yuppies are jogging up at all hours...

Madre Sufrida: 22nd Jul 2005 - 06:17 GMT

To all the KIngs out there. I grew up in the hood'but I got my ass out of the hood--I recieved a college educatina & now I'm a teacher--my son--he's a King now--he's not well--he's mentally ill and you know what? The Kings take advantage of that --Please explain to me how being part of the KIng -dom is a benifit to my 12 year old? What are the Kings doing for him beside teaching him to be a criminal and taking advantage of his mental instability? If you all were down with the Nation and the future of nuestra gente atravez de los ninos y ninas you would push him to go to school instead he's hanging with people my age 30+ cappin' other gangs , taking coke , drinking ang wasting away--Please REYES explicame como es que ustedes estan ayudando a nuestros hijo e hijas mejorar nuestra raza, nuestro barrio y nuesro mundo cuando la unica cosa que veo de mi hijo es que se ha transformado en un criminal, droaga adicto. pillo...Ive read your prayer, I've researched the mighty nation--hell, I live right around the corner from the heart of the Kings growing up--My best friend were all Kings--- I gone on your web site to reasearch and learn I've seen the rules you live by--so what's with dealing of the drugs--that's not betterign our people--its only lining your pockets with blood money..PEPLE I don't get it...

cafeconleche: 23rd Jul 2005 - 15:37 GMT

It came too late for my mom and my childhood home....

cafeconleche: 23rd Jul 2005 - 15:51 GMT

As I was reading some of the stuff out there I noticed that one of the KINGS was talking about the F#@*! Polacos--okay you guys who are anti-white..I 'm with you , I can empathize.... but you all have to get it together and realize the polacos move out in the 70's when we(th PRs) moved in..The "Polacos" you're talking about are now called YUPPIes ..Young-Urban-Professionals...smf thier not polish their considered "Anglos"...If you all are gonna be against "the man" and los blancos-los guerros--how ever you wanna say it--- PLEASE for Pete's sake know who "the man" is 'cause then people don't take you seriously and you end up looking like a dork....

If the Kings are all about bettering the neighborhood and what not--get yourselves a college degree and do something besides recruit little kids like what happened with MADRE SUFRIDA and pay your elders (the Young Lords) some respect. ..The Young Lords, who are now in thier 40's and 50's, I'm sure are very dissillusioned with what has become of our people and the legacy they tried to create...the Kings distored it...By the way--the whole Madre Sufrida story is all too familiar--she's not the only one who's been hurt by what the Kings , the D's , the Cobras, and all the gangs as well as what they've have done--YOu haven't brought pride to Latinos guys --you just help perpetuate the stereotypical image of what people who are from outside of our community and our race understand us to be...Adding to that People/Folks--Hey!!!!!!!you all are killing off a generation--I'm just gald that there were some of us who escaped it and live to tell the tale....At least my kids know where they and thier momma came from and where they're going--it sure as hell ain't back tracking to the gang...

cafeconleche...: 23rd Jul 2005 - 16:18 GMT

Mia about your comment about finding a way to afford to live in Humbolt Park--that's comment is SO wrong on SO many Levels there are layers to my rebuttle...YOu know--I'm part of the middle class--and the fact is that I can't afford to live in Humbolt Park. I have a goddam Masters degree from De paul and I still don't make enough $ to own a house and maintain the lifestyle that I enjoy and want to continue to give my child....Mia , what do YOU do? How much do you make? Are u transpalnted from Ohio, NY, or maybe Conn. ? Do you know what it is like to live your whole life in a community only to see the community now torn apart because those people(yes los blanco YUPPIES) believe that they have a right to KICK--yes kick out--those who they belive are of a lower status than themselves. As messed up as HP might be there are roots that stem back generations and in a 10 year span its being wiped out. YOu have to understand in order to stay in HP you have to OWN not RENT. Its about class, race ;sociocultural sociopolitical and socioeconomic issues. The elderly who owned or even rented can no longer afford to do so on SSI...MIA do you have elderly parents? Is anyone in your family indigent. Have you expereinced being a second class citizen not because of the way you look(because I can pass for a variety of ethnicies) but because of your last name?

Yes , I 've been fortuante enought to take advantage of the opp. provided for me because of my latino last name--but opp. is not the only thing that is needed --you need a working knowledge of the system, and if the majority of my PR brothers and sisters have not had the opp. to have been exposed to "the system," did not have the opp. to have been mentored early on where do they begin at age 23, 25 or 35? HP is a young community and if that generation did not have the opp. for mentorship HOW on EARth can they do tht for thier childrn whoa re now pre-teens?

--becuase the truth is when I was growning up--the only opp. for us to get out were: teacher, nurse, social worker exectuive sec. or data programmer-- We were still being shoved into "servicing" we were not told --be the artist and gallary owner, be the doctor(rather than the nurse), be the owner(rather thatn middel management)..so its easy to look in form the outside--but please before forming those opinons understand that wee've walke in different shoes , taken different paths and were looking @ the same situation from 2 very distinct point of views--

you MIA are part of the dominant society--we (for this conversation's purpose Ill keep it to Puerto Ricans) still are second class citizens...Mia do you know what its like to be a 2nd class citizen, to grow up wearing clothing from the Salvation Army/ Did you ever stand in line for Regan cheese? Did you mom ever have to explain to the welfare lady why she is wearing a new gold chain this month and then proceed to scold mom for having spent her welfare check on that rather than shoes for her child....(the gold chain had been a gift to my mother from the church for having been named Mother of the Year w/in our congrgation)....yea mIa it is easy to say get a job that will allow you to pay the mort. when you don't factor in all these things my dear...

Seeking a Future: 24th Jul 2005 - 05:22 GMT

Hey everyone, I grew up in HP, left for several years and have returned. We are who we choose to be. The opportunities are there. I agree some of us Latin Americans do not have the knowledge but the only way to obtain the knowledge is by seeking something better. I have no regrets in life & I am Proud to be a Latina. My children now attend a Private school in the area because I can not afford the luxury to stay home & watch them after school. I chose to do that.. You can choose to better your life.. When did our people stop thriving for more for something better. Look back at how difficult it was for some of our parents to come from other countrys and the lousy jobs they held so we can move forward.. It all takes time.. generation after generation. recruiting future gang members to hold them back and continue to live the stereo type of being Latino is not the way to progress. If we would all stop screwing our own people and work together God knows we would be much further than what we have come. Welfare parents go to school while your children are in school, you can get the money for it and you obviously have the time.. USE THE SYSTEM If you think you don't know how to use it than damnit learn it.. by this time you have realized that A) nothing comes easy & B) No one is going to hand over fulfilled dreams to you. Educate yourselves learn to use the system. 20yrs ago it was predicted French would be the 2nd international language, all the educated Anglos learned it.. Now 20 yrs later their hiring us to translate because we are the future.. Don't let ignorance keep US down.. God Bless all of you & no I'm not a holy roller & yes I probably know 1/2 you people who say you live around HP..

Your Own Worst Enemy: 25th Jul 2005 - 15:46 GMT

Some know the system, some don't. A few systems that are known very well in HP - drugs - how to sell them - how to run them - how to avoid getting caught and then laughing about it. The other that I see as I am new to the neighborhood - Latinos taking advantage of other Latinos. I looked for a long time for a place to live in HP and do you know what I found. Many Latino families are paying $1,000 a month for a pest-infested, no warm water rental. Why? Because they don't speak English and their landlord does. As mentioned, many times Latinos prey on their own. Not good.

Say I am wrong but this is what I see. Take a look at the prices of food at the markets. They are very high for the quality of the food. Why? Because the owners know that many people cannot walk or can't take the bus for groceries so they raise the prices. When Walmart opens up I feel you will be surprised to see how much the quality of the products at the stores increases as well as seeing the price decrease. If they can't compete then they will be gone. I wish they were putting in a Super-Wal Mart so I could get groceries there too but this was stopped.

I feel for everyone who cannot afford to live in HP. But the sooner you realize that improved, safer neighborhoods cost money and that people are willing to pay for it then the better off you'll be. It will only get more pricey. You cannot stop change, it is happening all over the city. Just look at Pilsen or any other neighborhood that is close to the city. Fight it if you like, blame it on others but that is not going to do anything.

For those who wish to buy or try to buy there are programs. CHA has a Latino starter program and it is a pretty good start and a fair program. They make you take a course and then they help you qualify for a loan, help with closing costs, get you a low interest rate etc... You need to be a Latino to qualify.

I didn't realize the level of hate and hurt in the neighborhood. This site has opened my eyes. Be careful on making assumptions.

cafeconleche: 25th Jul 2005 - 17:10 GMT

To:
YOur own worst...and Seekinga future... and everyone else out there...

It's nice to see that there are some of us on the same page--I don't know if you'd call it hate,--we'll then again, yeah--there is a little hate and ALOT of hurt. I see it like this...How can you( the gangs...particularly the ALKN) talk about up lifting up la raza if you all can't even uplift yourselves out of the 'hood. I was down with dat way back--I could've easily gotten sucked in but I didn't and I got out--now I give back to my community--I'm not a 9 to 5 er: move up--move out --go back and work --then leave to my posh little house in the nice part of town...NO!

I work damn hard to make sure I set the example for my students, their bros. and sis. who really don't have any role model other than Beyonce talkin' 'bout her neeing a soldier , a man to have"street credibility if he wants to be with me.." or Fity Cent who still hasn't given up gang banging and can stand proud about having been shot at --what?.... like 1,000 times, and still livng to tell about it...

I work in the community, I shop in the community , I'm around so F!@%$ much the kids think I live in the 'hood--I don't but that's the thing--I haven't forgotten where I come from....I wan to be the example seeing You know I'm the real thing--my mom has a 2nd grade ed. and came here from P.R. in the dead of winter with her littl sun dress and her open toed chancletas in 1950 after my migrant farmer worker uncle paid airfare for 4 sibilings and 2 parents.I'm not gonna let that legacy go--they came her for a reason this was before they understood welfare and what exactly FDR's New Deal was all about...There was no welfare back then for them--only hard work and hope for the future--THe parents settle in HP and that became home for the rest of it--until los YUPPIES (YES YUPPIES for all you ignorant Bast#%*!--not POLACOs--know your enemy people--know your enemy)all of you in ALKN need to go and ask your granparents and your parents what was it like for them. What was it like to cut sugra cane in the fields in 110 degree weather? What was it like not eating meat because they couldn't afford it--how about your grandma having to feed her babaies "black water"( black coffee with either a spoonful of powered milk, no milk or very little cow/goats milk) because either there was no $ for milk or there was no $ to own a cow...Apparently you all are here in the U.S/Chgo/Humb. Park for a rason..I'm not republican and I have just as many issues with the country but damnit--you guys have SO MANY opportunites tak that brass ring hermanos y hermanas---get out then give back---don't let your parents' and grandparents'legacy go to waste..You all need to watch the movie with Julia Roberts' -ex---como se llama......oh yeah--Benjamin Bratt. La move se llama "Pinero"....good ass flick..Fuck the whole "Blood in Blood out/Colors/genera of film that stereotypes Latinos-- its about one of our own----its at Blockbuster! It has sex drugs and some violence--but it really happened....

cafeconleche: 25th Jul 2005 - 17:46 GMT

I keep going thru this site and I find so much BS I was just reading some old comment from Jan from EL viejo de arriba....Yo' viejo you need to stop brown nosing the USA and the GOP
We are not Americans--we are Latinos --(how ever you speak spanish is fine technically there is no "proper spanish or proper englsih" however the writers on this site want to spell the words that they speak let them---
--For your information ethnogaphers(social scientist) consider what we (the 2nd and 3rd generation of Asian. Latino[p.r. , mex, salvadorians...] African American; a subculture--the mixing of Englis with the native language(the native languge being the L1--1st Language..Englsih is the L2). This has nothing to do with ghettoness it has to do with creating your own culture and identity because 1) the dominant society does not accept your own home culture/language 2) you are mainting some tie to your native culture 3) its a naturall sociological phenomenon that there is seapage of the dominant culture in to the native culture...YOu need to pick up a book by John Ogbu or J. Cummins and read about whats really going on...

cafeconleche: 25th Jul 2005 - 17:51 GMT

I keep coming back here hoping to have some gangbanger express his/her opinions on the staements made regarding the 'hood, the gang , and thier mission---No rebuttles...huh, interesting.....

Peter: 25th Jul 2005 - 17:56 GMT

its because this thread has grown old and tired, and if youll notice, far from any pertinence to the original post...

Witness...: 27th Jul 2005 - 00:30 GMT

There will always be others- people who will in a perverted fashion misuse the fabrics & the dynamics of a society. The ills of a society will always look "attractive", "alluring", and "inviting" to those on the outside.

Those on the outside will feel compelled to touch it from the outside; will adopt the chemistry & the formula for thier own ego(s). These people are limited in nature and are compelled to use the self-destructive guise of a society as their own.

These same people will fail to see the light of the day and anyone who comes in speaking of their hypocritical nature will be condemned and banished from their "sect" of society.

These same people who perpetuate tragedy and confusion will fight to preserve their sickness.

There are people on this site who misuse juvinille deliquency, who misuse the concept of gangs.

These same people boast of their pride in reflecting control over others here who disagree with them.

These same people do not have the courage to embrace the ghetto. The instead perpetuate and exploit it's ills.

They hide behind their words here on this website. Someday door(s) will be opened. When those doors are opened, we will see the cowards standing in their bones, praying to know the meaning of soul.

Pray for peace, ask for justice to deliver its blindness.

Horse met Ass.

One a tyrant with trappings.
The other worn out with toils.

Horse was crossing his path.
Ass gave way, too slow.

"Whoa," Horse said,
"I'm only just reined back
from stamping hooves on you."

Shh. Ass kept hush.
And groaned as well,
the gods be my witness.

Horse soon broke down racing.
Wound up sent to the farm.
Ass saw him loaded with dung.

Mocked Horse, and here is the gist:
"What on earth has become of you?
Once, proud with trappings.
Now, come to the hell you scorned."

**All you lucky ones, who
despise your fellow man:
Always remember that margin of error.
You never do know what you'll become**

cafeconleche: 27th Jul 2005 - 04:49 GMT

Hey ....are we being censored??????I wrote up a comment yesterday and there were two other people with very articulte comments and now all of the comments aren't here...what's up with that?

jeeff: 27th Jul 2005 - 07:14 GMT

i dunno, personally i find a lot of the recent comments here really interesting.

seeking a future: 28th Jul 2005 - 03:12 GMT

My comments are gone as well.. Everyone is talking about how we should help each other well, several years ago I vowed to give back to my community, we purchased a building and rehabbed it and believe it or not did not raise the rents above $550. What happened--- you got it my OWN people screwed me.. Latinos need to learn alot.. We've come a long way but still have further to go. Instead of looking at people who are trying to help us as the enemy, we should allow them to help. NOT everyone trying to help the community is trying to KICK us OUT or TAKE OVER Maybe we should learn to maintain and grow, learn from others instead of believing the Yuppies are taking over lets show them that we can take care of our homes have nice lawns and stop the violence.. who in their right mind would not want those things??? I don't get it.. We complain they are taking over but the last time I past by Lemoyne and spaulding (Police Camera on Beach and all) there was still drug dealing going on.. I'm shocked some of these people will make a drop with their kid in tow.. That's disgusting.. Each Latino generation should excel and progress further than the previous, why do some of our people wish to STAY in the same rut.. I get so confused how some wouldn't want something better.. Don't tell me it's the system because the system isn't telling anyone to stand at Lemoyne and spaulding and sell drugs.. and by the way Who the Hell built those three nasty ass buildings on Lemoyne.. Their a damn eye sore aside from all the gang bangers and lack of greenery on that street.

seeking a future: 28th Jul 2005 - 03:12 GMT

seeking a future I agree with you: 28th Jul 2005 - 05:04 GMT

The thing is ---there are a lot of factor that can be attibuted to not moving up---Firstly the U.S createda system of dependency when FDR intorduce Operation Bootsrap which was ppart of the NEW Deal--in order to "revitalize" the economy FDR PAID farmers not to grow crops.Here is the beginningof dependency--the U.S. governmet would pay these famers --farmers who went back generation in agricultre --to stop woring the land that thier great-great grandparents had farmed--so what do these farmers do? Now they are idle(tha's where the whole shit of us being lazy comes from--thing is they paid us to sit on our assess--this like really putting it in layman's terms) This ment that major American Corp now had thea ll this land to use for their companies. Then the U.S. they tried to industrialize the island.... companies came in , rail roads were created for the military and for priviate industry--my abuelito worked building the railroad called la miliatr tha runs fromone end of the island to the other...The U.S came it took over and made us dependant--dependancy fosters ingorance...whe had no other way--I really believe tht the last genration to really understand what hard work is was my parent's generation those born during the depression--El que no trabajaba no comia--thais until the NEW DEAL--

okay so now they recruit all these P.R to go and fam landi in Hawaii, and a thru out the U.S --they bocome migratn workers and come here with the hopes of bettering thier live--they are soemthing like indentured servants--they come to farm and work infactories all over the U.S many face squalid conditions, some not so bad-- regardles-they worked their assess off...but by this time post industrial P.R was in the make.There was very little farming for substiance(feeding the family) now the u.s. owned the fincas and the stores, and the products that were bought, they controlled what came into the island and what countries itcame from becuase remeb. we were(and still are a colony( u know like America and and England-they didn't have a voice--taxation w/out representation etc...) well same with us but since they don't make us pay taxes we have very little representation (or voice in congress) but I'me getting ahead of myself---anyway to make this grueling stroy short---the U.s mad our people dependent and ignorant --we've been screwed fromthe beginning, we've known it so we are going to be the pit bulls --out to get what we need form whoever we BELIEVE is going to take advantage of use..P.R society (on the island) is more classist then racist. Los Yankees/guesros/balncoswhatever-ya'know whites represent the invaders-the bad guys--they had the money: money=power, power= control of the language of the belief system(whats import. in the culture etc..) there is alot of resentment towards the u.s. ...Those who want stae hood understand the benifits of being part of a wold paower etc. Those who want to be a free nation---we'll I'm not going there it gets too touchy....Yeah ---basically the u.s created a cultre of dependency and if gen. after gen. has fallen been raised with a welfare mentality --without the skills , knowledg , or experience to break the cycle its really difficult to escape it--Its not an exuce --by no means but really its like if a chid sees his/her mom (Puerto Rico) always beeing beaten up, taken advantage of and is raised to see this from birth ,a ndis fea a whole lot of BS about how the dominant onein the relationship--the mans (the U.S.) has a right to do whatever he wants with mom and this pattern is repeated thru out the gen. it si going to be very hard for that child to relearn a new pattern of living if it is isolated and not taught other wiase--I know the analogy is iffy but its the best way I can illustrate why we(p.Rs ) are the way we are....

Please , please don't censor my thoughts: 28th Jul 2005 - 05:06 GMT

I think its kinda poiniant....Peace out guys....
Oh yeah--I'm still waiting for a gangbanger's rebuttle about the staements made regarding the 'hood, the gang , and thier mission---

cafeconleche--just a little research to substaciate what I'm talkin' 'bout...: 28th Jul 2005 - 05:21 GMT

....Pedro Albizu Campos protested vigorously against the US Navy’s invasion of Vieques in 1941. In a series of articles published in a newspaper, Albizu accused the Navy of carrying out a policy of genocide against the Puerto Rican people in Vieques. In 1941, there were 10,362 inhabitants in Vieques. The Navy expropriated two thirds of the total land, including most of the land used for farming. The location of Vieques has made the island a sought after territory since the beginning of the colonization of Puerto Rico. The island of Vieques although colonized by the Spanish, was coveted by the French, Danish and British. All marshes, mangrove areas, dry lands and bodies of water adjacent to and belonging to Puerto Rico, situated on the east and southeast coasts of Puerto Rico were ceded to the Navy in a law approved by the Puerto Rican legislature in April of 1941. Thousands of people were forced off their land, and those without a legal title were given $20 or $30 for their houses and less than 48 hours to abandon the area. Even the Governor of Puerto Rico at the time, Luis Muñoz Marín was against the military installation in Vieques. In a letter to then President John F. Kennedy on December 28th, 1961 he wrote: "Obviously, the political and human dismemberment which the project involves will be a fundamental shock. We know of no truly comparable action in American history. I believe that it is the kind of action which arouses instinctive disapproval". It can be assumed that the letter to President Kennedy did not deter the US Navy from establishing a base in Vieques. In fact with the impending transfer of the Panama Canal to Panama, the U.S. Southern Army might possibly be relocating to Ft. Buchanan, near Bayamón, Puerto Rico. This can only worsen the "environmental disaster" that the Puerto Rican environmentalist Dr. Neftalí García, calls Vieques. Professor Jos¾ Seguinot Barbosa, Director of the Geography Department of the University of Puerto Rico also states that, "the eastern tip of the island (where the navy carries out its bombing practice) constitutes a region with more craters per kilometer than the moon." The Puerto Rican people, in a never ending struggle for human rights, have protested against the U.S. Navy occupancy of Vieques for decades. Most recently, after a civilian security guard was killed by an errant bomb in April. The Navy then suspended training on Vieques but has sought a way to resume it. Since then the people supporting the removal of the Navy from Vieques have gone from camping out on the bombing range, to holding demonstrations across the U.S. Even the governor of Puerto Rico Pedro Rosello, that is for the most part pro-statehood, called Clinton's plan to resume the military bombing for the next five years with "inert," or dummy, bombs on Vieques instead of the live ammunition that is part of advanced combat training, as "unacceptable for the people of Puerto Rico and the people of Vieques." He also stated that, "Personally I feel deceived with the position that's been taken because it doesn't faithfully reflect what we have been discussing with the president."

Politics, the economy, education, culture, labor, the environment and most of all the status of Puerto Rico, have been constant issues at war between Puerto Rico and its colonizers. The people of Puerto Rico have never been given a sincere chance to choose for themselves their islands destiny. The so called Plebiscites are only to prove that the people on the island are divided by fear, a fear that has been instilled in the people for more than 500 years. For what else can a people learn when they have been brainwashed into associating independence with poverty, ruled with a mixture of paternalism and neglect, with a self-righteousness and condescension, and into believing "they are unfit for self-government"?

SadStateOfAffairs: 28th Jul 2005 - 15:45 GMT

Those two buildings on LeMoyne are the ugliest fortresses I have ever seen. They are for sale and nobody wants to buy, I wonder why. The Blue Light is off for a few days because an 18 wheeler took it out.

To see a case study in how dependency doesn't work you just need to take a look at the state of the Native American Indians and their reservations. This dependency started well before the New Deal with the creation of the reservations - (to see Chicago's reservations look at the Taylor homes or Cabrini Green.) The average life span of an Indian is 53, alcoholism and diabetes are at epidemic proportions. My mother grew up on the Tuscarora Nation reservation and let me just say when you get government assistance and don't need to work you do three things - drink, eat and look for trouble. If you're a single mother then that is different. To seek an education/join the Navy as my mother did means you are no longer welcome back at home and it's gone forever, you've become like the white man. I see this with kids in the neighborhood. Education is not cool but it is the only way out. I realize the schools aren't the best but you have to do what you can and try to rely on others who are there to help.

The system was created to help but it has many side effects.

cafeconleche: 29th Jul 2005 - 03:29 GMT

Sad state...Historically this is exactlay how its been--it all about the traditional Eurocentric p.o.v : anything other than white is inferior, therefore let us "civilize the ignoran savage and enlighten and uplift him with with our culture..." That's how it was in ALL of Latin America, Africa,U.S. .. Sad ain't it...

Peter: 29th Jul 2005 - 13:49 GMT

cafeconleche: im glad youve chosen to become a regular contributor here. we hope you stay :)

cafeconleche....: 30th Jul 2005 - 09:52 GMT

My comments go to show that there are some of us who from H. P who don't fit the stereotype of welfare mom, and are educated. A couple of us actually made it out of H.P and the public, neighborhood schools(Lowell School, Von Humbolt, LaFeytte and Clemente Comm. Academy ...) with the ability to able to read write and think!

seeking a future: 31st Jul 2005 - 19:30 GMT

Cafeconleche,

There are many of us who made it out of H.P. Semi Educated, it's just unfortunate that most of the ones who did progress forgot where they came from.

benrox: 1st Aug 2005 - 08:31 GMT

Alright - I've read a good amount of these posts. Let me start off by saying that I am white. I've been living in "the hood" my whole life. I don't live in Humboldt Park, but near enough in Logan Square.

Growing up in the hood as a white boy made me see things from a perspective that most white people will never be able to comprehend. I've experienced prejeduce being that whites are now a minority inside of our beloved city. I have interacted with so many different people of different races, colors, religions etc... that for me to defend any one race would make me feel ignorant.

But at the same time, I think many people fail to understand that there are 2 different ways of thinking.

#1) People who have pride for their heritage, because they are proud of the struggles and sacrifices their decendants made to give they're people a better way of living at the cost of they're own happyness and somtimes they're own lives. ( educated pride )

If your descendants never fought, and made sacrifices in an effort to survive - then you wouldn't be here this very day.. It's that simple. Puerto Ricans... Mexicans... Jews... Every race has had they're own struggles, and yet somehow - are all still here. For you to be proud of your herritage - you must know your past. If you don't know your past - then what are you celebrating? which brings me to...

#2) Pride through wanting to belong to a part of something. (also the human ego ) I have no issues with ANY race. But every year when the puerto rican parade comes... Out of the thousands of people out celebrating - how many of them know WHAT IT IS to be puerto rican? How many puerto ricans know they're history?

Not many. Everyone is out celebrating because " its cool to be part of something ". It's like being in an exclusive members only club and you were givin your membership card by random chance at birth. You didn't choose your race. You didn't choose your parents. It was all chance. And yet they celebrate - so ignorant to their herritage.

Before you start typing up your fuck you white boy bullshit - I'm not saying that the puerto rican parade shouldn't take place. It should and I'm glad you have the chance to celebrate your herritage. However, America is supposed to be a country constructed of many races.

From all over the world - people come to America in hopes of a better life. A better place to raise they're children. A place where they will not be killed because they're personal beliefs and opinions differ from those they're leaders tell them they must inherit.

It is my belief that what we call America now - was stolen from the native americans... (indians) When we celebrate Thanksgiving - we are celebrating the genocide of a race. From what I know - Native Americans and Hispanics go hand in hand. Point being - even though I'm white - it pisses me off to hear white people say that this is OUR country... When in fact it isn't. We came from a place very VERY far away at that. We "stole" this land. It is not ours.

America is a country founded on immigration. Whites... Hispanics... Blacks... etc... - Everyone is in America for the soul fact that they wanted a better way of life than they previously had. (minus the slavery portion) As humans - we all shared a common goal. We wanted one thing in life...

Happyness.

What is wrong with this picture? Shouldn't a country that is basicly founded on immigration be able to understand each others struggles, and that we are all here because our ancestors wanted a better life for those that came ahead of them? Shouldn't our understanding of this force us to appreciate everyone elses struggles? Through this principle - we should all be able to coexist and be happy. WHY are we all fighting?

Pride? Ego? Territorialism? Hearing whites, blacks, hispanics etc... Argue over they're territory are no different than a pit bull taking a shit in the park and kicking up grass behind it. Humboldt Park is dominantly Puerto Rican. Thats fine. But why must they're be an argument about whos territory it is?

Animals and humans are the same with only one key difference. We both have instincts. We both have the will to survive. It is both our goal in living to reproduce.

What makes humans unique - is the ability to think... The ability to REASON. Not act on pure instinct. We can make decisions - just because X happens doesn't mean Y is the reaction. Our brains have evolved.

Yet so many of us live in this trap. We hate each other for no reason. We hate because of stories - not because of individual experiences. Why else do so many little kids know what the word nigger, beaner, cracker, porkchop, etc... mean? They weren't born with this knowledge. Ignorant parents teach they're children these things, and it becomes RIGHT. They cannot be convinced otherwise. Some of these parents can actually be the GREATEST providers and nurturers for they're children - yet that doesn't stop them from having that single shard of ignorance that is killing our FELLOW HUMAN RACE...

It doesn't matter if ur a fucking mexican... If ur a puerto rican... if ur white... The point is we are all still fucking human. The human race is the one TRUE race.

If you put a white kid and a black kid together who have no idea what racism is - they won't fight just because one is white and the other is black. They will have fun and play together. It's not until people put this negative bullshit into people's heads that racism becomes a problem. Racism is a plague. It has infected nearly everyone in this world. Your negative thinking, and racial comments are the vehicle in which this plague finds new hosts and still exists.

With the ability to think - why are people still acting on they're primal instinct to feel threatened by someone of a different color? I can understand why a lion would want to kill a hyena. It's survival of the species. The lion must eat. But what purpose does killing off our own species serve?

Instead of being proud of your background first - maybe you should first be proud to be human. We could have just as easily been put into this world as a blade of grass, an ant, an elephant - but we were all lucky enough to be HUMAN.

Unfortunately racism won't stop. People will continue they're racial bullshit and create problems for us, our children, our childrens children, and our childrens childrens children. It isn't until everyone realizes what potential we could have coming together as a human race - what advancements we could have achieved by now as a human race - that we will get anywhere. Humans are headed for extinction. It will be because of humans that life no longer exists. It is the hatred of mankind that will cause our inevitble demise.

When the world is covered with the debris of nuclear war and no human remains... It wasn't the tigers... It wasn't the lions... It wasn't the ants that ended it and fucked it up... It was the human ego... The fact that we can't let go of something as stupid as a color... A way of living...

Why can't we just coexist... Instead of asking what you can do for your fellow white person, black person, hispanic person - maybe you should ask how you can help a fellow human being. We are all one of the same.

So the next time you have a racist thought run through your head that makes one person feel less than you because they aren't of the same heritage or color - remember - its you're bullshit that > IS < going to lead to our extinction.

It's 3:30 a.m. and I know this is really long, but I had alot of shit on my mind. I put it together the best I could since I'm really really tired, but if you really read this and think about it, then maybe you can get on the same page. I have so much more on my head but if I kept typing - I'd be here 3 weeks later still goin at it. This is just a piece of knowledge that I hope makes you all think and discuss.

Gangs need to come to peace.
Stop killing our fellow humans.
Stop incarcerating the innocent.
Stop making our homes prisons.

Much love to > ALL < of yall
Benrox

SadStateOfAffairs: 1st Aug 2005 - 16:23 GMT

Racism has many forms. It can be religiously based, as in the current JIHAD against all non-Muslims. Or it can be economically based. I agree it's not based on skin alone. Problems occur when different social classes come into contact. Those that have tend to look down on those that don't, those that don't tend to hate the others for having. When you live in a gentrifying HP/Logan Square neighborhood, this type of situation will happen and it won't stop until the neighborhood is in balance one way or the other. This is a process that takes place over a 10-20 year period. It took 20 years 1960-1980 for the neighborhood to go down. You had abandoned greystones with homeless folks in them, crack houses etc...Then the neighborhood slowly started it's climb back up. Call it the Daley plan but it is more an ecosystem that is forever changing and right now it's on its way back up. The park is cleaner, there are 10 city employess cleaning it up every day, the pond is stocked with fish, kids are running around and major restarants like McDonalds are moving into the area etc... The park and the neighborhood may still be rough but that park is busy with kids and adults all day long. I imagine the gangs will be there for a very long time too.

cafeconleche: 4th Aug 2005 - 05:47 GMT

benrox--I appreciate your p.o.v. I can totally see eye to eye w/U on the whole reversed racism...I have a blond blue-eyed son. I have dark curly hair and medium skin tone--everyone always assumes I'm his nanny--you wuldn't believe the looks I get when he opens his mouth , calls me mama(in spanish) and proceeds to speak Spanish to me---But I digress....

Point is--class is a socially constructed heirarchy created to give power to some and keep ohters down--what we view as importatn is only importatn becuase some one set the standard for a particule view, belief etc..Now the question is Who set these standards? You? Me? Society? Well, basically if yu have power you have a voice. Who has power? YOU? me? I am but a lowly teacher --what's you're occupation? Hey--why am I even asking this? why is your occupation an importatn issue to people? Why is being a baseball player, singer, or movie star more ( exhibiting a gift of talent that you've been given) looked upon with great respect--with more respect than those of us who are in a classroom for 5 -7 hrs a day working with our most precious of natural resources--our children(I know--cliche--but valid)? Why is it so imortant to learn the classics( Shakespear)rather than say--how to build a bicycle from spare parts ? In some societies it is more importatn to be able to buid that damned bike rather than read....I beleive in validating all skills, abilities, and talents but society values some more than others...Why does it matter what your drive-wha t jeans your wear?
Who is to say that teaching is more noble thatn fixing computers? Who's to say that being a window washer is less important than working as a day laborer? Where I came from --if you or your relative held any of these occupation s you were as credible as the pope! Why would it be differnt there thatn here? Its all about the socially constructed system tht maintains the status quo as it is. Again I will ask...Who in our society has the power? THose who have money....Those who have been here for ages and ages and layed claim, took over , and created the social standard which govern our existance.
Example= America--consumer society..
concumer sociey=capitalism
capitlaism =making people believe they need certain things becuase if your don't have certain things then you are not part of mainstrem society.
The capitalist will target certain demographics because that's where the $ is. Unfortunatnly certain populations will hurt more tahtn other s because money is hard to comeby so when you do gt $ you have to have it and you spend it-=immediate gratification
immediate gratifiction= not alot of social mobility 'cause your 'aingt got money--U don't invest, you spend spen spend and and live for today...why? because of the staus that having those product creates.

Now getting back to the who "Can't we just get along" stuff.... ITs a noble thought, but the trth is that yes you may have expereinced racism sporatically in the hood here and thier 'cause of your color on the outside--I mean hey you grew up wioth the homes ans whatnot you may speak like them, and dress like them--but you DON"T look like them and that's the difference.. YOu can go anywhere in the city and be treated decently because once you leave the hood the society at large assumes that you "belong"-- your color says it all--When someone of color leaves the hood you NEVER forget that you are of color. YOu will always experience some type of racism. I'm not playing the victim--I'm just saying--you have your p.o.v. You speak from your experience -something that we can never devaluse. However you a speaking from your experience your experience will be very different becuase of the color of tyour skin and your last name...

This goes back to the hate...Well when those with power( the Anglos with $ who sake claim and take over---ehem..sound familiar?) scome into teritory that has beeen ther for generationa and then proceed to "clean up' the neighborhood by bringing in high end shops that raise revenue and prop rates--yeah thereis going to be a little anomosity--once again the status quo cont. The haves have ans will comtinue having--the don'ts? Well they never really had anything to begin with(if you rent you don't "have "--its not really yours) and contiune to have less....Its all socio policial ---AND COMPLICATED....but I hear what you're saying I wish it was as easy as your seee it--Honey --you cant imagin how much this stuff is researches and studied---read --Paolo Fiere--Pedagogy of the oppressed...

Not Important: 5th Aug 2005 - 19:54 GMT

I'm a 16 year old girl who has lived in the Humboldt Park area all my life. I lived down the corner when little Miguel died, I was 11 years old, that caused alot of drama in my neighborhood. Things like that is just life, u get used to it and grow out of it.. I still live in the HP area and I love it.. I just donr understand why all these white people moving in and are starting to change everything,,, we like HP just the way it is

To not important from cafeconleche: 6th Aug 2005 - 16:35 GMT

Mira nena ---got thru the articles here---that will give you an idea star arounf Feb and read tru..thenthing is many poniant comments are gone for some reason--wiped out---anyway --Happy reading!

M-Anita: 6th Aug 2005 - 18:52 GMT

I have lived in the area off and on since childhood. Then I moved to LA and for me there is no place like home. I am a Black Puertoriquena y Cuban and the unity we have for each is still strong. We just have to have faith in each other as a community. And let go of our racisim toward each other and only then we can move forward. We cant let them pull us apart...we are all we have. We must stick together.

Confused: 8th Aug 2005 - 15:34 GMT

What is wrong with white people moving into the neighborhood?? It sounds hypocritical to say I hate racism or the way white people treat me then say I hate white people moving into the neighborhood and treat white people in a racist way. Why are whites the enemy? Are they cleaning up the neighborhood too much? I understand the situation with rents increasing being bad but what are the other issues? Is it just change that is bad?

Maria Dora: 9th Aug 2005 - 19:04 GMT

all i can say is that violence is everywhere....whether you live in homboldt park or in the burbs...violence is even in your back yard as we speak...so all we can do is say a prayer and hope to God that he protects our families and our loved ones...peace

from cafe con leche to confused....: 13th Aug 2005 - 06:09 GMT

YO' confused reread my comment from Aug 4--

And change is not bad --its bad when it is not a natural evolution as it should be but rather an aggressive overnite, overhaul of what was once there(history) and a negation of what still stands(the P.R.s)

I swear it totlally reminds me of how in every other situation Eurocentric views cloud all else--YOu know the old saying : "If your white you're right , if you're b;ack stand back...
Confused--it just follows the patern of white people taking over territory that is meaningful to other people without understanding the impact of what they are doing---

I think if these Anglos could appreciatethe history that there is in the neighborhood and could respect it it wouldn't be so bad --but they are so presumtuous and are bornnof a culture of entitlement--its just fuckin' annoying how they look down at us--

Have any of you guys experienced this kind of elitism when los blancos are around the hood?

Confused: 13th Aug 2005 - 15:25 GMT

Admitted some white people have attitudes, but some blacks have attitudes, some Latinos have attitudes, etc....The blacks don't get along with the PR's, I see it every night and hear it. F You N, shut your black ass up - attitude, violence, drugs, fighting for territory and hatred. And please don't tell me they get along or should unite. Different colored skin, different territory, different ways of life - these different groups will never get along.

Cafe, let's take your argument that we should keep the history of Humboldt Park. I guess that history of Humboldt park is worth preserving. It sounds like violence is preferred to reverse-white flight and I do not understand it.

What is worse a white person with attitude or a fellow Latino trying to sell drugs to your 12 year old son? This is not Eurocentric, this is Chicago and it goes back to assuming you know about people based on the color of their skin.

If you value history so much let's just go back before the white flight happened and bring back the Norwegians who built the park in 1900. Von Humboldt. Why because the PRs are in it now does it all of a sudden belong to them. If you truly value history then it's not your neighborhood either. Hell let's go back to the Native Americans and give it back to them. Read the history of the neighborhood and you will see how this has happened since 1900.

How do you think the people felt when they had to leave the area when the drugs came in? They had to sell, take a loss on their homes and hope they found a better life elsewhere. They couldn't stop it. I have much less pity seeing the drugs and violence move out than for the folks who were here before it moved in.

If the violence can leave and the PRs and everyone else who wants to stay can do so then nobody should have issues. It is the violence that bothers most people. I don't think this type of nirvana is possible though. It is just not reality.


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browse by city New York, NY (721) Toronto, ON (720) Brooklyn, NY (712) Montreal, QC (376) London, UK (286) complete city list popular articles Ditmas Park from: Peter Coast from: Peter Shad Crossing from: Peter South Philly May 4th: Art, Indicators, People, Etc. from: serlingrod Is America a Hotel from: joey what's hot this month? recent articles Destruction or Art from: Robert Emanuel Saturday Afternoon, Bushwick from: Peter Bushwick Houses from: Peter May 09 2008 Berlin from: hool FooMunda The Bridge from: JoeyD Bushwick Remembered Photo Collective from: upfromflames I Could'nt Think of a Title for This Because a Pictures Is Worth a Thousand Words. from: jack The Shady Lady of Notre - Dame St. West from: Montrealbunny Understanding the Mungiki from: mnguru Outta My FACE! from: JoeyD read all today's articles browse by author Peter (740) joey (262) EvilGentleman (261) hool (243) jack (218) complete author list hot topics graffiti Justo Gallego JA One graf trux parkour fuck neck face wheat paste nyc sane smith graf sixy hool harlem banksy brooklyn	Humboldt Park Chicago, IL - corsakti - Friday, April 12th, 2002 : goo [previous] :: [next] A twelve year old boy named Miguel was shot dead in the street by a stray bullet from some gang crap. It happened in broad daylight on our corner. We are forced to turn down that way each time we leave our house because of the arrangement of one-way streets. That day, we couldn't turn because of the several cop cars and screaming people that occupied the block. We wondered what happened but pretty much went about our day unaffected because of the inherent desensitivity to such sights one inevitably acquires when living in the city. It wasn't until later that we learned what had really happened there; the terrible event made apparent by a makeshift memorial that had been erected by Miguel's family and friends at the tragic scene. Aparently his father owns the small grocery store down the block and one of its brick walls is now dedicated to preserving the memory of Miguel and forcing onlookers to know what happened to him there. There are short yearbook-like blurbs and messages scrawled across it by other neighborhood kids saying things like "we'll always love our little papito." There is a little wooden table overflowing with candles and flowers below a huge picture of Miguel himself, alive and smiling, in football playing garb. The day after Miguel was shot, the event made national news and was of course particularly emphasized here in Chicago. Everywhere we went people were talking about it. There was even a huge parade down our street of 'awareness raisers', mostly white people I had never seen before in my life. Despite the attention people are attempting to give this tragedy, I almost resent the way some people are wearing it on their sleeve that they care. All I can think about is the people who knew and loved this boy for twelve years and have now lost him because of complete and utter stupidity, the likes of which I don't see ever coming to an end. Don't worry, I am not going to start talking about the semantics of poverty and gang activity here. I think that crap goes without saying at this point. I consciously avoided walking up to the memorial for two days, not wanting to get in the way of the grieving family or deal with the cops who were constanly 'guarding' the scene. Finally, my friend Mark and I smoked a J on my front stoop and strolled around the corner in the middle of the night to pay our respects. We were all alone; it was really late. The cop on duty was asleep in his car. We stood there reading the countless dedications on the wall and just cried for a boy we had never met and who no one will ever meet again. This article has been viewed 31989 times in the last 6 years peter: wow, what a story. tim: 1st Jul 2002 - 16:03 GMT i lived 3 - 4 blocks from where this event took place on the corner of rockwell and armitage. I was one of those "white people" that you have never seen, though a large group of us that were present that day are often out and about the neighborhood. As for the majority of the others who were there really did care because they most likely were members of the church(Armitage Baptist) that miguel's older brother, juan, is a member of. if you truly paid attention to the news I'm sure you heard his quotes. be careful how you judge people and there motives when you don't have a clue. I mentored miguel delarosa for 2 years and considered him a friend and my heart grieves today for his family. please think before you speak. jennifer rodriguez: 30th Sep 2003 - 17:07 GMT this really moves me, and my heart goes out to his family.i am a single mother who grew up in humbolt park. i am 27 years old now and moved me and my 3 kids to tennessee, where i currently reside because of tragedies like this. i do not want to raise in a dangerous place like this and i dont want to have to wake up every morning worrying if my children will be the next victim.it's sad because i miss home like crazy, but ignorant people who dont care about life are out there and they dont care who they might kill. all i'm saying is i'm sorry to hear about this unfortunate tragedy, i guess it's such a sad yet common way of life there in humboldt park. a way of life that forced me and my kida to move out... Peter: small world: i grew up in tennessee... Raul Rodriguez: 20th Feb 2004 - 16:10 GMT I grew up in Humboldt Park. I found a dead body at 8 years of age. I witnessed a homicide at nine years of age. My first friend was gunned down next to me when we were both eleven. He was eating a vanilla ice cream cone. His hair was strewn with melting vanilla ice cream, brain matter and blood. Desensitivity comingles with fatalism. Sometimes, this is all we know. Welcome to Chicago...well, at least the bad part. ANNETTE: 26th Feb 2004 - 21:03 GMT I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE HUMBOLT PARK AREA YEA IT WAS A LITTLE DANGEROUS BUT US PUERTO RICANS REALLY LOVE LIVING THERE WE BEEN THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES BUT LOOK AT IT NOW YUPIES TOOK OVER AND ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY OUR BEAUTIFUL PALCE AND FILL IT UP WITH CONDOMIMNIUMS WE WANT OUR PALCE TO STAY TEH WAY WE LIKE IT asshole: 27th Feb 2004 - 15:02 GMT i was born and raised to know better than to write comments in all caps! Peter Eguia: 1st Mar 2004 - 20:41 GMT shut up and stop crying like a big baby, if you don't like the area, then just move!!!! Peter: been there done that; it works! Pebbles: 18th Mar 2004 - 03:40 GMT I was also born and raised in Humboldt Park. Yo soy una Puertoriquena y Cubana. Grew up on North Avenue and Maplewood. Seen a bunch of things go on but everyone knows the one rule about HP "I aint see nothin' so I dunno nothin'" No matter what I'll always have love for the people there. Much love to everyone in HP. I do remember what happened to the 8 year old boy called "Papito" (May God Bless his soul) who was shot and killed by my friend's house. I pray for his family and hope that his soul lives in peace and harmony with God. Que dios lo bendiga a la familia. I've lost cousins to gang violence and I believe everyone in this part of the 'hood has witnessed a homicide/murder/someone getting killed. Back in the day we just learned to expect it. Its never easy to lose someone from something like that and it never will be. There isn't much we could do except move..depending where you'd move to..pray and also look out for one another. By the way, for those of you haters...pay attention...If you don't like the area MOVE THE HELL OUT! Angel: 19th Apr 2004 - 14:33 GMT I am puerto rican male who raised in Uptown. I am researching humboldt park for a group project. I don't understand why people are using this website to criticize each other. That is one of the reasons why we are constantly at each others throats. Our culture has this stigma of "not taking crap from anyone" that is one of the reasons why there is always aggresion. And for that girl pebbles talking about "much love" you need to let that ghetto mentality go, you to stop watching those music videos. Ignorant people like you make our culture look like gang bangers. We should be educating ourselves so that many doors can open for us. Not "stick to the game" forget the game all thats going to do is diminish your inner strengths and cause you to run off your emotions. Think, bendeha Peter: 19th Apr 2004 - 17:08 GMT Angel: so youre not criticizing anyone when you say "ignorant people like you...", etc? I agree with what youre trying to say, for the most part, but I got a laugh out of the duality of you criticizing people for criticizing people. funny. Do you have some photos of Humboldt Park you could share with us who have never seen it? ColdChillin': 2nd May 2004 - 06:06 GMT I'm reserching gangs for my school project and I read a book called My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King which took place mostly in Humboldt Park, Chicago. So I ran across this site and it's a damn shame what happens in this neighborhood and in a whole lot of other neighborhoods all around the country. I am from New York and has many neighborhoods with the same problums. My heart goes out to all the people who have become another statistic of gang violence. Peace. Peter: 3rd May 2004 - 15:33 GMT I live in NYC. I rarely tro ever see gang-related drama. maybe im just lucky! Pebbles: 4th May 2004 - 04:28 GMT First off, I say "much luv" to EVERYONE in HP because we all grew up in the same area. Not everyone in HP are gangbangers so why in the hell would you think I am saying "much luv" to them? What they do is THEIR business not mine or yours so keep it that way. The only reason why people are at each other's throats is because of misunderstandings such as this one. You critize me and contradicted yourself by making assumptions. Also, learn how to spell nene...its 'Pendeja' not 'bendeha' You're being highly critical without knowing who I am. As for the education, I am well educated and enrolled in a University downtown so do not talk about my education. One such as yourself shouldn't critize a person without knowing the facts. Read the book before judging by its cover. As a matter of a fact, who gives a damn about what you think? I sure as hell don't. Who the hell are you to critize me? Especially since you were raised in Uptown and NOT in the Humboldt Park area. You do not know me and obviously misunderstood me. I appreciate the critizism though, because your contradiction doesn't phase me. ~creAtor~: 4th May 2004 - 17:38 GMT i have no idea what humbolt park is. id love to see more flix of it tho. corsakti: 4th May 2004 - 19:07 GMT i have a million more pics but i kind of fell off from posting to this site for some reason. i moved away a long time ago and it wasn't because of the violence, it was becuase it was far away from where we liked toh ang, and also there were straight up too many kids constnatly invading our house/lives. we were friends with all the kids on our block but they would come over all the time and after a while we wanted space from kids. i know taht soudns weird but believe me. anyway after humboldt, i moved back to my old hood (ashland & chicago ave area) for a few years. also, "peter eguia" if your comment was directed at me than you are retarded i wasn't crying like a big baby i was writing a story about an event that impacted me about my old hood so stfu. in other news, i live in LA now and have tons of pics i should post here one of these days. i miss chicago though. cor: 4th May 2004 - 19:10 GMT anyway reading some more of these comments....i wans't trying to blanket dis all of humboldt park in any way, for the record. geez, this is kind of funny, all the HPers representing as if they need to defend, or something. more power to you all, i wasn't a yuppie trying to steal shit from anyone i was trying to live in a cheap house its not like i never hung out there before i moved there anyway. its not like humboldt is all that far from any other hood i've lived in either. i used to ride my bike around the park with my dog all the damn time. everyone needs to chill. hehe Peter: 4th May 2004 - 19:14 GMT [i think the naysayers are dissing each other, not you...] :) cor: oh. ok then. Lance Corporal Diaz: 17th Jul 2004 - 18:41 GMT i sit here in iraq and a tear comes to my eye after reading some of the things people had to say. i was born and rasied in humboldt park and it taught me many things. i don't know why people are talkin about that park like they have to defend it. yes it was my home and it was great when things were peaceful. but the reality is that people here die. i lived on francisco and wabansia and i knew miguel because he was around just like i was. i saw the wall and i saw the people, but i saw the people mostly when the lights were flashing. why is it that we have to see people die before we can do something about it? all i ask is that someone can walk away with something from that event. i come back to chicago sometimes and the last time i walked by the wall was blank grey. i stood there looking at it and wondering if the people of humboldt park have forgot about this, because i can't. karma: 19th Jul 2004 - 13:53 GMT i liked this entry- i missed it the first time around somehow. what a sad place to live. Peter: 19th Jul 2004 - 14:11 GMT yeah, this post has elicited more profound comments than your average post on citynoise... it also gets alot of hits from people arriving from search engines... its real. lilamor11: whatup humboldt park? Humboldt Park: whut whut! Papo: 23rd Nov 2004 - 01:48 GMT Im mexican and puerto rican a.k.a poor oricans. I grew up in Humboldt Park, but Im most defenitely more proud of being mexican than rican. I mean c'mon lets get realistic here. All you ppl talking here saying u so proud and shit but c'mon u are all on welfare. If it wasnt thanks to my dad my mexican side we would be living in poverty with food stamps like all of you people on here. Sure mexicans work in landscaping and shit like that but we rolling on dubs and we got mad money, What do ricans have?? MIELDA!!!! You guys be rolling on lil guaguas!!! C'mon now thats a disgrace. Get a life. And if ur so proud be to be rican be something big then u can show off but if u aint shit than keep ur mouths shut!!!!!!! Im most defenitely not proud of being puerto rican. U guys are lames!!!!!! HOLLA!!!!!!! JAMES: IT'S RAW englebert: 20th Dec 2004 - 16:53 GMT this is what i love about citynoise. this discussion has lasted over a year and a half. amazing. props to corsakti Peter: 21st Dec 2004 - 18:11 GMT i get so many referrals to this article every day... alot of searches come into this site looking for "cabrini green" and "humboldt park", both past corsakti focii. watcher: 2nd Jan 2005 - 02:00 GMT O.k I know there is alot of killings in H.P but are you aware of the sex offenders that are living in your neighborhood? Vanessa Pagan : 19th Jan 2005 - 20:44 GMT when i was 12 i lived in humboldt park i lived on the streets of mozart and cortland my brother javi was killed at the age 16 turning 17 he was in the wrong place at the wrong time despite that he was conceving a child the following month it was a tragety cuz he was young and it was not his fault he was on his way to go get some food his girl friend was craving and he left and never came back now i am 17 and my brother would have been 21 its hard and i now have a boy friend and i pray every day nothing happens 2 him cuz it be hard to raise my kid dats now on the way.... borutz: what a sad story :( yvonne: 21st Jan 2005 - 21:31 GMT i injoy living in the humboldt park area it's not really quite yvonne: anyways fuck ll u bitches King Green Eyes: 24th Jan 2005 - 02:31 GMT yo alls the fuck i gots to say is fuck anybody tryn to take over The Mother land the fuckn polacos that is and any one talkn shit about my peoples place Homboldt park is a place of turmoil but so what thats how we like fake a Flake False Flaga and any mutha fuckn Folk aight AMOR DE REY 360 degrees Long Live King Gino fuck a d DK AMOR DE REY Chicago Dan: 24th Jan 2005 - 04:15 GMT I was driving near Beach and Spalding on a hot summer day around late afternoon trying to score some flame Bud, Years back When I used to party and had 2 other white boys from the bubs with me. They had never been near the Park before. I told them it's ruff around here so be on look out for cops. When got near the spot and there was a gangbanger on a 10 speed bike with his hat turned to the left. When I passed bye the gangbanger was yelling some gang shit and thew up some gang signs at some car. The car went full speed at him and hit him of the bike and ran him over. The 2 guys that were with me started yelling holy shit did you see that guy just got ran over. I turned down the next street and scored some weed and could here sirens coming. I made a left off of beach on to Le moyne got to the corner and seen the guy dead and blood draing into the sewer. The guys I were with I think they both shit there pants being from the burbs and all. (True Story) JOE: 28th Jan 2005 - 19:01 GMT hEY PAPO YOU SHOUDNT TALK BROTHER FIRST OF ALL YOU MEXUCAN COME TO THIS COUNTRY IN TRUCKS AND LIVE LIKE BUNCH OF FUCKING DOGS TO BAD YOUR MOTHER HAD TO BREAK THE RACE BECAUSE IF YOU LIKE IT OR NOT YOUR DUMB AZZZ HAVE RICAN BLOOD FACE BITCH U STILL RICAN.You talk about the ricans then why your dad didnt marry a fucking mexican women because he like that rican flavor sapoYea u mexicans be driving nice rides just like we do we have are nice rides and cribes at least my people didnt come in this country living with 20 other mother fucking people so eep your fucking mouth shut pendigo and remember u got that rican blood in ya and that is a shame that the blood is flooring in your dumbazzzzz.oH AND ONE THING YEA YOUR DRIVING IN NICE RIDES CAUSE YOU AZZZ IS LIVING IN HUMBOLDT PARK WHERE THE RENT IS CHEAP THATS WHY U DRIVING THEM CARS OR ARE U ONE OF THEM DUMB AZZ THAT RENT CARS FRON ENTERPRISE LOL DUMB FUCK. Papo: 28th Jan 2005 - 19:37 GMT hey joe, did your people come to this country to learn proper grammar and spelling? no? well, it sure shows in your comment, papi. ElViejoDeArriba: 30th Jan 2005 - 04:12 GMT "Papo: 28/01/2005 - 11:37 [top] hey joe, did your people come to this country to learn proper grammar and spelling? no? well, it sure shows in your comment, papi." nice. im not taking sides, but speaking of grammar and spelling...who here can spell correctly, in spanish or in english? as far as im concerned, aside from the language factor, you guys, for the most part, are americans. listen: i'd like to begin by saying that this is not an attack on any of you, so dont give me shit for it, thanks. from what i've seen, few if any of you know spanish. judging from (i speak only objectively, NOT to poke fun at any of you) your SWEAR words even...my friend...señorsito Papo..."MIELDA?" what's mielda? mieRda? thats only an example of the point i will soon exhibit. "bendeha?" anyway...its not only the language barrier that makes it so that you guys (some of you) are american. as far as im concerned, your high cheeck bones, darker hair and dark complexion do not make you a latino. culture is the key. saggy pants, tilted hats, and spanglish do not make for a latino. theyre cultural, sociological, and ultimately stupid generalizations of YOUR race, or at least your genetics. for example, JOE's message is one an american would send-- mentality is part of a culture as well. and i recognize that all cultures have violence, but the verbal violence you exhibit is, i suppose, brought about by your upbringing in humboldt park. humbolt park, chicago, illinois, UNITED STATES-- pendigo! (??) what the fuck is pendigo?! humbolt park spanglish? well, its american too. latino by genetics, not by culture. culture's the key. isnt puerto rico in the united states? whats wrong with being american? well nothing... KING CYCO: 2nd Feb 2005 - 16:14 GMT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING AMERICAN BUT THEY CAN'T FUCK WITH THE LATINOS AND LATINAS. PLUS,THEY GET TOO COCKY! ALMIGHTY LATIN KING AND QUEEN NATION AMOR DE REY KING CYCO: 2nd Feb 2005 - 16:21 GMT AMERICANS THINK THAT THEY ARE THE SHIT. THEY ARE THE IGNORANT ONES, NOT US. THEY CAN'T FUCK WITH THE LATINOS AND LATINAS. FOR ALL MY LATINOS AND LATINAS OUT THERE KEEP YA HEAD UP AND JUST SAY FUCK WHAT THESE AMERICANS SAY. THEY AINT SHIT! WE WILL UNITE ONE DAY.........ONE DAY! ALMIGHTY LATIN KING AND QUEEN NATION AMOR DE REY Critic: 2nd Feb 2005 - 16:35 GMT wow, writing in all-caps sure is hard to read. i dont buy this bullshit about americans or anyone else being ignorant. what about latino/a americans? hmm? Marcella32: 2nd Feb 2005 - 16:46 GMT This thread here on this post reminds me of this thread a wee bit. I suppose sometimes this sort of conflict is inevitable, aye? ElViejoDeArriba: 2nd Feb 2005 - 23:12 GMT kind king cyco, me malentendiste. in another language, you misunderstood me. you can't generalize that americans are ignorant. it shows your ignorance. secondly, you misunderstood me. yes, again. by what you say, you fall directly into the category of americans that i previously described. please re-read. you, i suppose, are latino, but only by genetics. american by culture. you are a hybrid american by culture- i've never heard of a true latino, a TRUE latino by culture, say "almight latin kind and queen nation." and you say americans are ignorant. and you got too cocky. no te quiero ofender, amigo, pero no podes atacar a la gente así. "seamos realistas, exijamos lo imposible." tratemos de entender. bien ahí, amigo. - el viejo de arriba, q sabe vivir. no dejen q pinten tus cielos de gris. king luv: wat up ALKN BigDawg: 4th Feb 2005 - 00:45 GMT Papo, stfu you mexican. At least we don't have to suck dick in order to get into this country. Green card having ass' bitch. Ain't no way your half rican, you wish you were thats all. Laughs Go eat a taco cracker. lil trigger: 11th Feb 2005 - 01:00 GMT king luv and fuck all you fucking puerto ricans viva mexico putos king love DRAKE 24 LATIN KINGS Queen B: You say "viva mexico" yet u live in America. king luv: 11th Feb 2005 - 22:42 GMT well u just said it too and i bet you live in america. so what? Queen B: I did not just say it because i'm not Mexican. King Demon MPst.: 16th Feb 2005 - 21:51 GMT Amor to all brothers and sisters of the almighty nation.Black,White,Hispanic or any other nationality...One love...A.L.K.Q.N PuErTo-PlaTaNo-NY: just wow Flacko "D": 25th Feb 2005 - 17:58 GMT Hey you guys take it easy with all the direspecting. One love to all my puerto ricans livin and breathing the same air as everyone else. Amor. MLDN King Killer : King Killer !!! King Killer : 28th Feb 2005 - 10:42 GMT King Killer ... I hope all of y'all DIE SLOW LIKE KING TONE ( NYC BITCHES AND Y"ALL ALKQN ) FUCK U ALL . Aight ! FUCK U MOTHER FUCKER >>> ALL OF Y'ALL . LET HAVE PEACE . NO GANGS > NO CRIMES ( WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE ) > AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF U IGNORANT PEOPLE OUT THERE > PEACE ! ~ oX ~ Represent GOD, PEACE, & LOVE Peter: 28th Feb 2005 - 14:47 GMT wait, so is it "die slow" and "fuck u" or "lets have peace" and "god bless"? i am confused. arizona king nation : 8th Mar 2005 - 19:36 GMT wat up yall nuttin but king luv fuck anny body disrespecting da crown ! gangbuster: 19th Apr 2005 - 18:30 GMT Re: Humboldt Park I just put a down payment on my new huboldt park condo!! Just a matter of time before starbucks moves in. Ain't a bullet that can stop it. Anonymous (d142-59-238-19.abhsia.telus.net): 30th Apr 2005 - 01:09 GMT u guys r fucked LoKa: 30th Apr 2005 - 23:29 GMT I'am a puerto rican from the north side and i personally think its fucked up that know and days we cant fucken walk out side and trust the people that live around us I'm a queen and honstly i dont give two shits what the fuck you guys think about us, the meaning of the latin king has changed tremendesly and it doesnt mean what it used too but that doesnt mean all you dumn ass folks could talk shit, some of us still represent what the latin kings are we help the hispanic community though you might think we dont but if only you knew we help all you dumn fucks that just talk shit about us. Look I'm not writing here just to represent the latin kings am here to show my respects and to try to get some sence on the peoples head that just disrespect us dont get me wrong theirs a few kings and queens that gotissues but just look at it this way thiers also people taht arent in gangs that commit worst things in our community. What we have to do is stop talking shit and be proud of our heritage and if you dont like it then get of ur fucken lazy ass and do something about it. boricuasoy: 2nd May 2005 - 00:19 GMT instead of trying to brag about people gettin killed in hp lets focus on the good times we had and how rich our cultural is in hp.instead of us boricuas killin each other lets start workin against the white muther fuckers that are trying to take over Peter: 2nd May 2005 - 14:19 GMT whether boricua, black, white, whatever... do you think that "working against" anyone, as long as theyre people who respect the place, is good for humboldt park? exclusion is exclusion, whether its discrimination or reverse discrimination. Shady Girl: 3rd May 2005 - 05:01 GMT I'm a sixteen year old mexican that has lived all her life in Humbolt Park. I've seen and lived the violence of gangs and all that crap, but not everything in Humbolt Park is violence. Living here has really made me appreciate every moment I live and has maked ne dream of better things. I really don't find a point to gangs, but I don't judge people that are in it cuz most of the time their in there because everyone just judges with out knowing why the hell their in there. I fell in love with an MLD from RC and things weren't easy every night I prayed to God to keep him safe but that didn't make me give up on him. I remember how everyone use to tell me that he was a bad boy that had no good feelings in him bs that wasn't true he was just another misunderstood guy who seeked understanding in the wrong place. To bad no one else saw that. He's no longer with me but I learned a lot from him and I just pray to God that he keeps him safe and maybe some one else will see the same thing I saw. ON DA G !((7))!..../\|\: 4th May 2005 - 04:38 GMT AMOR DE GANGSTA IG'S WORLD HUMBOLT PARK AIGN NI66AS CUM GET SUM LKK MLDNK ISCK AHGNK AMOR TO ALL MY NI66AS KRANKKS DONT WANT DRAMA PRPoet: 6th May 2005 - 14:43 GMT It's funny to me that I've checked out this site for a while and a lot of peole overlook what this spot is about. I grew up in Humboldt Park and saw things that no one should have to or even want to. When a little kid dies its not an excuse to celebrate your heritage, it's not a reason to call out props to your boys or your set or your gang. All it should do is make you realize the dumb shit that goes on. I'm proud to be a PR and I fly my flag high; now I'm in the military and I fight para mi isla and my country. I come back to this site to remind me that I could have been a Miguel, King, Cobra whatever. But I didn't want to be a statistic or a victim. I come back here to remind me to be more because that's what Miguel deserves from all of us. If you read what was written obout that little boy and you dismiss it, any comment you write shows your own ignorance. Celebrate his life, mourn his death and keep it in your heart as a reminder why, if you truly love Humblodt Park, all the bullshit has to stop. Peter: how perfectly put, PRPoet. i couldnt agree more. XklusivRicaNmAmi: 7th May 2005 - 19:30 GMT This is a sad story nd mah luv goes 2 all mah ricans keep ya headz up high and go on with life as best you can. Unfortuantely things like this happen everday, but thats life. Nd I also wanted to mention 2 Papo: thats great that your proud to be mexican but you know theres no shame in puerto rican at all, its people like you that set examples of disgrace. Race has nothing to do with one's financial status.Your stereotyping your own nationality;>>" puerto ricans live off welfare" are you proud of that too? 2 lil trigger: 7th May 2005 - 19:39 GMT King lUv right? read the fuking book My Bloody Life pendejo and maybe you'll see who the fuck started the King Nation! ~1~ Josuf an upcoming rapper that reports city misery: 10th May 2005 - 21:43 GMT Hey whats up hey to go to a great loving place you must greatly love. Great love meaning to love even the worst people such as gangsters. Love gangsters but hate the sin they commit. Be perfect in behavior for God is perfect. Perfect meaning pure in heart.(no critisizing, be forgiving,be poor in spirit,love those who hate you) Do this and you will see the Kingdom of God. Do you know what Tupac's life meant? It is this- that to see God you must love even gangsters. Tupac wasn't a gangster he represented them to advertise the life of them. Read the Bible! lalo: 11th May 2005 - 14:02 GMT i lived my entire life in humboldt park. i'v been through tuff time and good time in the park. let me say this though, humboldt park isn't as bad as every1 says it is. i mean u could still get jump or killed for sum stupid shit, but its not as bad as before. jo-jo: 12th May 2005 - 03:25 GMT I think all this gang shit is so stupid.That shit to me is getting to old.I can't belive the women who even get on here to talk shit or gangbang there making a fool out of themself's.They should be rasing there kids in a better envi.Showing them this is not the way to be in life.But i guess they want to act hard. For what? For who? Fei: 12th May 2005 - 21:31 GMT True.. Really.. its stupid. If it wasnt for those who study and keep their heads up the world, it would be like a life in the ocean. the same shit everyday lives being taken and new ones rising only to survive but really.. for what? they should dedicate themselves to getting further in life. This gang shit is the same everyday. Just sittin out chillin doing nothing wasting time. Hell.. If people didnt study there wouldnt be important people out there such as doctors.. and then what? every mother fucker dies. lalo: 13th May 2005 - 13:30 GMT i don't know about all of you people but i didn't get anything this guy just sead. RLK FOLKILLA: 15th May 2005 - 18:46 GMT fkucK F.ear O.f L.atin k.in9z AMOR DE REY MUTHA FUCKA5 5 ALIVE 6K DKIDK DKIE IGK TSK GDK LCK VLK CVLK CK 13K 6K ALMIGHTY DKONT LIKE NOBODKY AMOR DE REY KINGZ WURLDK!\|! MIGHTYRIKAN:: 18th May 2005 - 18:55 GMT Bueno all i can sayy is daaaaaaaamm. i grew up in humboldt park right by the PR FLAGS yeah i saw a lot of shit that whent down, we all had goood and bad times there but that don't give the write for anyone to talk shit only GOD can guge. much love for my rican poeple that r trying to maintain and for the ones that haved moved on up keep doing yo thing,now for these mexican ass holes u guys talk a lot of shit us tedes tienen un cuntry enorme i'll give u that y nosotros tenemos un isla chikita pero lo que mas lo hode a ustedes es que nuestra isla chikita le da mucho mas que competancia a ustedes en todo la musica nuestro deportistas boxiadores Y nuestra mujeres pero lo que mas los hoden a us tedes is that we can come and go from puerto rico yall can't do that. i was reading an article in this page frome some asshole talking about viva kings and fuck all puerto ricans. know u can tell this is a dumb ass mexican who formed that latin kings (THE PUERTO RICAN'S) WERE WAS IT FORMED (IN A PUERTO RICAN BARIO) IN CHICAGO AND WATS THE BARRIOS NAME (HUMBOLDT PARK) SO FOR A'LL YA STUPID ASS MEXICANS DON'T TALK SHIT IF U DON'T KNOW SHIT, Y AUNQUE NUESTRA ISLA ES PEQUEN YA PERO ES GRANDE EN CORASON ITCHY: 19th May 2005 - 22:02 GMT FOLKZ STAY ON DEY BACK LIKE HOEZ KC LATIN KINGZ WORLDK HUMBOLDT PARK LATIN KINGZ Otero_a_m: 21st May 2005 - 21:23 GMT I would like to start off by saying that my Heart, Respect and Condolenses go out to the family. it's really unfortunate that the kids are usually the ones to pay for our mistakes. "A wise man once said that smart men learn from their mistakes but Wise men learn from the mistakes of others." i too grew up in Humboldt Park. I attended Lafayette elementary school and attended Roberto Clemente High School. I was shot, my mother was shot and my best friend was murdered at the age of 15. this all happened in a 3 block radius. it's really bad for innocent people to get murdered but what's really a shock is that when we look at the big picture we are the ones doing the harm to our own. Isn't it bad enough that others want us irradicated??? why do we do the favor for them??? my heart goes out to all that die at the hands of anyone for reasons that just don't make sence. weather it's due to gangbanging, rivalry, revenge, position in rank, or just plain selfishness abd attention. there are so many ways we can put our creativity and positive tactics to use than wiping each other out. that's all for now. much luv!!! lalo: 31st May 2005 - 13:40 GMT that shit was kinda funny, but i'll let that shit ride. it needed to be said, but for those of u wanting to make fun of puerto ricans and ur mexican, don't make me go there cuz i could say a lot of shit about mexicans. i gave u fare warning. some white guy: 3rd Jun 2005 - 21:35 GMT Why don't all you two-bit thugs get back on the block and make some money instead of wasting your time talking shit on the internet or if your such a hard ass, go pull a mission and go to County for your People(or Folks for that matter). That's the life you chose, so at least be good at it. Talkin' shit in a chat room is as wack as it gets. For those so-called "Latinos" who love to shit talk about fellow Hispanics, most white people can't tell the difference between a Mexicano and Boriquien. All they seem to care about is how much money you have(or don't have). If you think that white people push minorities out of neighborhoods because they're trying to destroy you, then stop selling your houses and land. The neighborhood isn't being taken over it's being sold to anyone who's willing to buy it. Hard working(Puerto Ricans,Mexicans,Polish,Ukranians and others)with families are sick of finding drug needles in the playground and so they move out. More people die in car related deaths than gun related deaths but it doesn't have as much shock value. some white guy: 3rd Jun 2005 - 22:12 GMT Humboldt Park used to be a white Lutheran/Jewish neighborhood. If you don't believe me go look at Roser's bakery and the statue of Lief Ericson with the inscription "Discovered America". Only a cocky white person would write that kind of nonsense. If gangs were stupid they would not survive. Gangs are a reality of city life. Some of the gangs in Humboldt have been around for fifty years. Thier leaders use young men and woman with no direction to gain power or money. It's a sub-culture with it's own police and politics. Anyone who lives in the suburbs and comes here to buy drugs is dumb-fuck. Buy some elotes instead. ......and finally anyone refering to Humboldt Park as HP should go back to watching the O.C. Anonymous (c-67-175-7-154.hsd1.il.comcast.net): 7th Jun 2005 - 20:33 GMT you all are probbibly born and raised in america and the only ignorant people are the gang bangers who cant defend them self and need there boys or weapons to back their asses up lalo: the white guy is right, thats a smart guy. Blackaricanmami_05: 12th Jun 2005 - 17:55 GMT Humboldt park is a good azz neighboorhood i lived there all my life and i still live there .The puerto Rican Parade is coming up,I cant wait.I am puerto rican and black and i speak spanish and english. dahumboldtmami: 12th Jun 2005 - 18:00 GMT i've lived in humboldt park all my life and all i can say is dat i've been through good and bad times over here and that i've seen deaths and more. We need 2 end da violence cuz we want da kids 2 grow up and make this place a place where we can live withot being scared 2 walk outside PRPoet: 13th Jun 2005 - 13:19 GMT You want to talk about respecting each other and taking care of the nation; why don't you kick the gang shit to the curb?! Want to do some good? Be a role model to the shorties and teach them why being in a gang is bad. The problem with gangs is that it feeds on kids that don't know any better and are lost, for the most part. You want to do some good and follow the teachings of your literature? Then kick the drug shit and stop creating victims and prisoners in your own hood. I come from Humboldt Park and I've seen both sides of the story. I've seen kids that were lost and turned to gangs because they didn't have any other outlets, and guess what? There all dead, locked up or in jail. You want to make it seem like your nation is doing something good but all you do is enslave your own. People are prisoners in their own homes cause of the shit you all do. If you take the time to look around and see what's going on then maybe you'll realize that. And I'm not directing this at one gang specificaly, but to all gangs. Ya'll need to wise up for real. The shame about all of this is that all I'm gonna back is someone's supposed justification on why I'm wrong and the "nation" is really doing good for everyone. You all need to wake up! king encendio 360: 14th Jun 2005 - 04:48 GMT yo wats good im a latin king in new york city bronx i have never seen a king from chicago thoose are the ones that i think are the real kings 5 alive we dont die we multiply i knoe a lot of kings that dropped the flag and picked up a red or blue one fuk all of them 1 inca tribe peace in black in gold. Nino: 14th Jun 2005 - 18:31 GMT Reggaeton Mundial! keep the peace no sufrir ... Tego Calderon.. Not important: 15th Jun 2005 - 16:41 GMT A house divided against itself, cannot stand. CynLaLinda: 22nd Jun 2005 - 22:00 GMT Soy Puertoriquena y Houndurena,I lived in humbolt park on and off all my life and even though things are bad i still miss it ive seen alot of shit and learned alot of shit from the hood and the people it's sad to hear when any innocent bystandard has been killed or a homie,let alone a loved one its always a sad story but even though we still have to go about our so called ordinary lives we still remember never for get those whom weve lost wether it was by gangs,terrorist,or a phsyco.As for ol girl that hates it so much being Puerto Rican let me leave you with this dont be hateful of your blood i see how you might raise your kids in being little hateful, prejudice, racist bastards your probably ugly as hell with no ass and if you do have an ass its thanks to your mother so dont be a pendeja you ungrateful female you should be happy that your momma kept you in her belly for 9 mnths even though your daddy is mexican.I bet you wont be talking all that smake in a RICANS face any way.The hood is where you get your street smarts from and that does go a long way in life no matter if you stay where you at or move away.I've moved to tulsa oklahoma and shit over here is weak but people know where i was brought up at and im BORIQUA so that right there lets them know im not one to be fucked with.Big ups to all The Folks on F/A AMOR MISS YALL....Every Puerto Rican Should Know Our Anthem...La tierra de Borinquén Donde he nacido yo, Es un jardín florido de mágico fulgor Un cielo siempre nítido le sirve de dosel y dan arrullos plácidos las olas a sus pies. Cuando sus playas llegó Colón; Exclamó lleno de admiración; "Oh!, oh!, oh!, Esta es la linda tierra que busco yo" Es Borinquén la hija, la hija del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol. Fredrik-Sweden: 23rd Jun 2005 - 13:21 GMT I´m from Sweden, i.e Scandinavia. When I read this I might be missing something, but all you guys claiming that Humboldt park is great and that you´re proud PR/gangstas etc, read this first: Humboldt belongs to sweden and germany, so shut the fuck up and pay attention to the REAL message upstairs, who can be proud of living in a neighbourhood where kids get killed and shoot randomly? The white people you fight against is us swedes taking back whats ours, take it or leave it, but I guess you´ll leave it... Duh! (Please, this can also be read as a joke, or...) "By the annexation of Jefferson Township in 1889, all of Humboldt Park came into the city limits. Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, Germans and Scandinavians continued to settle in the area. By 1920, the neighborhood held some 65,000 people, of which twenty-eight percent were foreign-born, chiefly German and Norwegian." Peter: 23rd Jun 2005 - 13:51 GMT wow, thats certainly an interesting new perspective... elaine: or ##old## prespective... Peter: heh, good point... Fredrik-Sweden: 23rd Jun 2005 - 15:10 GMT Haha, I guess there are certain points of views that must be strightened out, right!? Anyway, even over here in Sweden we have problems when it comes to gang rivalty (do you spell it like that?) and I´m so tired about people blaming it on some kind of cultural behaviour connected to where people are from. Im certain these people are americans, but as in Sweden, alienated inhabitants. Little Peurto Rico might be Humboldt park, what do I know?! I know for certain that I´ve been there, last september as I spend some nights in Chicago, sadly I have to say it´s like all other surburbs in the world but still I guess the people are proud of their neighbourhood! But, the message was, as I read it: Stop the random killing of children! and also: Stop for a second and remember those who are dead and left behind, I mean, how can we change the prespective and future for those young and lost kids still alive??? You cannot be serious about getting armed and starting some kind of civil war, thats a joke, and the whole gang culture is also a joke in some ways... Peter: 23rd Jun 2005 - 15:13 GMT i agree re: the gang culture. one thing to remember is that many of the opinions stated in this thread are from random people who surfed in via google, and simply left their argumentative two-cents without really being aware of the points being made in the entry. kinglight55@aol.com: 27th Jun 2005 - 01:46 GMT AMOR DE REY: My brothers and sisters i hope you all find yourself in good health when you read this... I am here to ask all of you to please try and help out as much as you can around your community, and reach out to the youth. the reason i am saying this, is because i see alot of kids out there who have there own idea of what the almighty latin king/queen nation is. and its all wrong. and as kings /queens it is our duty to bring these kids in to the light, and show them what we are really about. half these kids out there that have so called "Beef" with our nation feel like this toward us because they dont know what we are really about. if we just take time to talk to them you will see a diffrence. and it doesn't matter what group they belong to, crips, folk, blood,ect.. we are all human, we are all gods children, we are all one race "the human race"!!! the more we ignore them, the more they will never understand the struggle, OUR struggle. america is trying to split us up by tribalism. black, hispanic, asian,ect.. puting us in diffrent palces, sections, so we wont have the chance to get to know each other , learn from each other.. "UNITE".. we must all be one big nation, one big wave, and attack the real opprsssor. only by understanding each others cultures, and learning from one another is the only way we will see a change. we cannot make a change on our own, we must do it together, as a NATION!!! all united under one sun. this is what are nation is about. to relieve the pain that are people are going through, and to educate them on the truth. what is the truth? GOD!!! find him, and have faith in him and he shall lead you to the light, for he is the foundation of our nation... A latin king/queen should always be looking for a way to uplift our people, through education, writing, reading,ect... and by our people i mean everyone, we shall show no discrimination towards no one, we are all equal. and we have no enemies, instead we call them confused brothers and sisters who have not found the light. and yes we will try our best to lead them to that light. if they refuse they will soon find it!!! SO i ask you my brothers and sisters for all of us to come together despite our diffrences in race, religion, and color. i tell you this is the only way we will defeat our oppressors... amor de rey mi familia, your brother kinglight55@aol.com Queen Sapphire: 28th Jun 2005 - 21:52 GMT First off I want to say Amor De Reina to all my brothers & sisters no matter where you are from. There is so much ignorance plastered on this board that it is sad to read. I finally had to just scan through it. We are all latin no matter if you are from PR, Mexico, Cuba, etc. This corrupt gov't likes to refer to us as the minority when WE make up the majority. If we think small we will be small we must open up our minds. Embrace the ignorance learn to tolerate it for it will make us stronger. It will make us the Rey's & Reina's we are supposed to be. OOoooOOOooooOOO & for the "brother" using the book "MY BLOODY LIFE" as reference to our great and wonderful NATION.... I question that fact that you would use that book to refer to anything about the nation. Maybe you haven't read it all if you did you need to read it again. Just because someone WAS down for the cause for a little while does not make them a good bro.... for where are they now oooo thats right still getting fat pockets off of his trials and tribulations of the nation why don't you go pick up his other book THE UNMAKING OF A LATIN KING hmmm...... doesn't sound like someone I would ever use as a reference to MY GOLDEN LIFE..... AMOR DE REINA! Stef: 29th Jun 2005 - 03:22 GMT I Dont know why some people keep complaining about Hombouldt Park if you got a problem with it get up and stop complaining to us go to the vity of chicago and complain their half these cops dont do shit. Then to those who keep talking bad about the Almighty Latin King/Queen Nation got's problems we mean alot more than most people think go ask a true King or Queen what we truely mean you'll feel stupid for even douting us, but I do admit know and days shorties be doing the total oppisite of our true meaning.Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Columbian, ect we are all Latinos and have to stick 2gether before our fellow white man controls us. know to that stupid Sweden chick shut the fuck up.And to all my Almighty Latin Kings/Queens Amor my brothers and sisters 1-4-18..... J: 1st Jul 2005 - 23:43 GMT I was born and raised in Humbolt Park people need to stop complaining about the Gangs cause the cops (pigs) are as fucked up as we are if not worst and all my peeps repin Humbolt Park get yall spellin right yall make us look bad we need to step up and stop fightin each other open are eyes and see these PIGS are trying to get these rich suburb mother fuckas in Humbolt Park so they can be closer to their jobs in Down Town and as Puerto Ricans we need to make sure we keep those 2 Puerto Rican flags going across them streets and everybody know spanish & blacks together run Chi-town and for my peeps its HUMBOLT PARK we need to have the biggest Puerto Rican parades Chicago always been little Puerto Rico Fuck new york but we need to make them parades more peaceful J : 2nd Jul 2005 - 01:04 GMT I know yall heard about Kevin he was trying to change hes life and the cops killed him this is prof that these cops aint no different they also plant drugs on people (Gangstas) So if some one wants to complain about getting gangs off the streets then complain about these dirty PIGS as well and if u got a thorn in ur eye dont try to take the thorn out some one elses gangs aint the only ones bring problems to the Chi the niggas I run wit only do what we have too and thats real if some one comes these way they get delt wit sophia: 4th Jul 2005 - 02:48 GMT I'm a white girl.I love my home and i appreciate the diversity of Humboldt Park. I understand wanting to preserve Puerto Rican heritage in Humboldt Park it's importance. Gang violance wherever it amy exsist causes a domino effect of pain and adversity for so many people. But his will make Latinos mad, but according to the US census you don't even have your own race latino or hispanic is not even considered a race but an ethnicity your are either a non-white hispanic or white hispanic SadStateOfAffairs: 11th Jul 2005 - 17:18 GMT Very sad but enlightening to read all of the threads. I too live in Humboldt Park and have seen the good and the bad. The first night in our new home, a girl got shot, once in the arm and once in the leg. It was at 3 a.m. - nothing good happens after 10:00 p.m.in the neighborhood. She is lucky to be alive. The funny thing was she was walking around the next day proud as a peacock. That sounds to me like time to reassess your life and thank God that somebody was a bad shot. I read about the pride but I don't see it. I see violence, hatred and people who love to throw trash around. The park is beautiful but everyone is doing their best to see that fixing it up was a bad idea. There is garbage everywhere. Where is the pride in that? The thing I don't understand is the Latino family structure being so strong and meeting folks from great families and then see a different child or father away from the family out gang banging like they didn't have a family that loved them or needed them. Very sad and sadder to know that the answers are long in coming. I realize the solidarity and the adrenaline rush from banging are hard to find in a 9 to 5 job but is it really worth it if you end it all at the age of 19? Life is hard, work is not fun, becoming an adult is a challeng, raising a family is hard but that is what living is. The gangs are a substitute for family but....Everyone is so tired of the violence I guess the answer is just to put up flashing blue lights at every corner then everyone will be happy except the mayor who has to pay to monitor the cameras. Call me naive but I know there is a better way than to put people in four buckets and go at it - (PR, Mexicanas, Blacks and Yuppies). Education and hard work are the only ways out. The schools are failing in this part of the city schools and I realize studying is not really cool but that is the only way out that I see. Kudos to those who have made it out and are surviving. I have great respect for you and wonder how you made it. Good luck. Anonymous (adsl-68-72-17-235.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net): 16th Jul 2005 - 22:32 GMT i grew up in logan square with my mom and we had to go down to humbodlt park wen i was little to go get welfare checks for my mom now that i am older i do go to humboldt park to see my friends and hang out when i was about 12 my older brother was shot by those pussy ass IG...my father and i miss him very much...my dad grew up on beach and spaulding and he is known as a LATIN KING!!! AMOR DE REY!! well mu father and his friends went after the ig that killed my brother and they are still lookin for them at night i sometimes cry myself to sleep i miss my brother soo much.... L: 16th Jul 2005 - 22:47 GMT i dont see a point to people that like gangs and that rep for gangs but i dont thinkt hat s its right when the cops find out that someone is in a gang and yells curses at them and treats them like shit how are those pussy ass white cops gonna be racist in an all latino community...i was like wtf when i heard this one cop scremaing n gettin all up in this teenage boys face he was punchin the livin shit out of him didnt kno wtf he was thinkin...i think that ppl like or get into gangs for protection if u live in the ghetto u can just go through any hood alone u cant just go sumwhere where no one knows you...also alot of ppl dont have a family they join a gang to feel loved and to have ppl care and provide for them...im not against gangs but for mi i dont think i would be involved...i kno how it is for them when i was around the age of 13 i fell in love or what i thout was love with a gang member for a while and i felt the pain that he was goin through his dad used to beat him he didnt have a mom ppl at climente would beat the shit out of him...to this day i dont like him any more but were still cool...n the reason these bitch ass white ppl complain that humbodlt park is bad then dont fuckin move there leave the latinos and bkacks the fuck alone u want a job in downtown take the fuckin train..i kno that these white bitches wouldnt want ppl that are not white movin into their palces soo dont move over there,,if i lived down in humbodlt park id blast these bitches...i feel fo yall...much love to all yall boricuas mia: 18th Jul 2005 - 02:37 GMT I don't understand why anyone thinks white people want to take over humboldt park it's the City Of Chicago. It has more to do with property value than anything the city and state want anyone you can pay high taxes on on an expensive home. So maybe all of you who are complaining and are obviously really racist towards white people should find a away to afford to live in Humbodlt Park. You live in the US there are so many opportunities for latinos now more than ever. So if your blaming white people your brain is the size of pea, and you wasting you time and energy for hating so much instead of bettering yourself. Reality: 20th Jul 2005 - 19:20 GMT To everyone that believes white people are living in Humboldt Park for the fun of it, get real. It is not by choice. Why would anyone choose to put themselves in an area of random gunfire, fights, drugs, hypodermic needles, and hatred? If I had a choice I think it'd be a beach front property on Lake Michigan. It is because they don't have the money to live where they want to. Just like most of the people in the neighborhood. Economics is blind to prejudice, if you have a family and cannot afford to live in a nicer neighborhood then you do what you can and make the best of it. Do you believe that white people find it fun to be called a white assed bitch and be told to get the f out of the neighborhood mfer. Boy that sounds like fun to me. If they are in Humboldt that is because they cannot afford to live elsewhere, just like many people in the neighborhood. Cancer doesn't discriminate nor does the economics of trying to support a family. Most folks in the area support each other regardless of race - those that don't usually live life angry and believe that something is owed to them. Life doesn't sit still nor will the neighborhood. Do you think the city put all of that money into fixing up the park for fun? They put it into the park to make it liveable. This turns into tax dollars as Mia indicates. It is a clear formula. Make the city livable, raise property values, raise taxes = a thriving city of chicago revenue center. The city is run like a business and has been fairly successful in getting people to move back into the city. Reality also sadly says that drugs and violence are a part of our culture and I don't see that going away anytime in my lifetime. So if you think your way of life is threatened don't worry. There will always be gangs and people looking for drugs. That is reality too. You can no more stop the progression then when it happened long ago when the neighborhood started to go downhill and the drugs started to move in. The folks living in HP couldn't stop it from happening then just as you won't stop the neighborhood from improving. If you don't like a safer, cleaner, friendlier neighborhood then keep moving. Juanted: 21st Jul 2005 - 04:15 GMT I always thought when i shoot someone I would be for a very good reason.I thought I'm not going to let anybody cheat me,think there better than me, steal from me.hells no! When my little brother and me was in the alley working on my car these bangers rolled up and put five bullets in alejandro two in me, i'm crippled but at least i'm fucking alive. I now have a very differnt perspective now but it took many years to understand the damage i did. I would do anything to erase gangbanging from life.God forgive me. Forgive me Alex -Love you forever my Brother.Peace cafeconleche: 22nd Jul 2005 - 06:04 GMT This is in regards to Reality's take on what is happening in HP. People...its called regentrification. Its been happeingin since I was a student at Clemente...WHite people Do have a chioice! The rent in some areas are cheap but the reality is that nuestra comunidad was a goldmine all along and not until the artists began coming into the neighborhood iss the true potencial of what we have come to be....If you live between Kedzie and Ashland u got it made. Your close to transportation, you you've got all these specialty shops ctering to the anglo upper middle class. And the park?????????????! Its social construction.....How many years was Humbolt Park rotting away? The st PR generation wasn't as proactive as some of the 2nd PR generation is --they didn't know who to complain and advocate for thier kids...as long as the field house had little league for the kids it was all good. But the blancos? They wouldn't step foot into HP the way it was 10 years ago! How many of you can remeber how shitty it was and how we accepted it because thats the way it was... C'mon on Daly fixed that shit up because of the regentrification. Lets get all the white kids whose parents used to live in the city to come back...See the parents part took of something called "whit flight..." the PRs and the African Americans strted to move this way and the whitds moved futher North--now thier children are coming back...Property rate are on the rise and the only people that can afford to BUY the houses in the area are people who can pay a mortgage of 3 grand or so... My family was the first PR family to buy a house o Spaulding and Division in 1968..back then it was a Polish neighborhood....The first thing that was commented by these people was"Here come the niggers!" Can you imagine that..now fast forward to 2000. The property taxes are so high my elderly mother who is now on SS and her pention cannot afford to pay the taxes of her house that she bought in 1968 for --get this $45,000! Guys I've seen it all--I went to Lowell school--I ent to Clemente and things are changing-- What with the "Do you think that the white people want to be there--boo hoo pobrecitos them--REALITY CHECK ya'll ...YES they do! HP is the hotest place to be besides tha adjasent areas-Bucktown etc... The shit isyou should hear what they are saying about us and our community..I wa on some chicks web site with pix of the community and she was describing some ladies that ere stanind ig near her --talk'in 'bout how they look like prostitutes with the fake dyed hair---c'mon Then she went on to describe how she can't understand how these children live in this kind of area---how do the parents do it---she then proceeded to describe the horrid conditions on that particular street... I just can't stand how they are so presumtuous. HOw they come in withoug understanding the history of the area--I remeber during the beginning of the regentrification, one lady was trying to get the people from one sec. 8 housing facility on Norht and Damen ( it was called.The Victor )eveicted--not one apt. the whole damn place because it was bad for the neighborhood-so she was going areound with a petition--These people were not bad--they just were down on thier luck! I also remeber one facility for young people--Ithink it was before Barreto's was redone--people were calling the cops (white people) becuase the kids were gang bangers--What was happening was they didn't like the guys hanging outside after a workout session--What does this all mean to you ????? How many of your remeber the phrase"BORICA defiende lo tuyo!" Tht was the call guys we've forgotten that! I couldn't walk my dog in the park 15 years ago--now yuppies are jogging up at all hours... Madre Sufrida: 22nd Jul 2005 - 06:17 GMT To all the KIngs out there. I grew up in the hood'but I got my ass out of the hood--I recieved a college educatina & now I'm a teacher--my son--he's a King now--he's not well--he's mentally ill and you know what? The Kings take advantage of that --Please explain to me how being part of the KIng -dom is a benifit to my 12 year old? What are the Kings doing for him beside teaching him to be a criminal and taking advantage of his mental instability? If you all were down with the Nation and the future of nuestra gente atravez de los ninos y ninas you would push him to go to school instead he's hanging with people my age 30+ cappin' other gangs , taking coke , drinking ang wasting away--Please REYES explicame como es que ustedes estan ayudando a nuestros hijo e hijas mejorar nuestra raza, nuestro barrio y nuesro mundo cuando la unica cosa que veo de mi hijo es que se ha transformado en un criminal, droaga adicto. pillo...Ive read your prayer, I've researched the mighty nation--hell, I live right around the corner from the heart of the Kings growing up--My best friend were all Kings--- I gone on your web site to reasearch and learn I've seen the rules you live by--so what's with dealing of the drugs--that's not betterign our people--its only lining your pockets with blood money..PEPLE I don't get it... cafeconleche: 23rd Jul 2005 - 15:37 GMT It came too late for my mom and my childhood home.... cafeconleche: 23rd Jul 2005 - 15:51 GMT As I was reading some of the stuff out there I noticed that one of the KINGS was talking about the F#@! Polacos--okay you guys who are anti-white..I 'm with you , I can empathize.... but you all have to get it together and realize the polacos move out in the 70's when we(th PRs) moved in..The "Polacos" you're talking about are now called YUPPIes ..Young-Urban-Professionals...smf thier not polish their considered "Anglos"...If you all are gonna be against "the man" and los blancos-los guerros--how ever you wanna say it--- PLEASE for Pete's sake know who "the man" is 'cause then people don't take you seriously and you end up looking like a dork.... If the Kings are all about bettering the neighborhood and what not--get yourselves a college degree and do something besides recruit little kids like what happened with MADRE SUFRIDA and pay your elders (the Young Lords) some respect. ..The Young Lords, who are now in thier 40's and 50's, I'm sure are very dissillusioned with what has become of our people and the legacy they tried to create...the Kings distored it...By the way--the whole Madre Sufrida story is all too familiar--she's not the only one who's been hurt by what the Kings , the D's , the Cobras, and all the gangs as well as what they've have done--YOu haven't brought pride to Latinos guys --you just help perpetuate the stereotypical image of what people who are from outside of our community and our race understand us to be...Adding to that People/Folks--Hey!!!!!!!you all are killing off a generation--I'm just gald that there were some of us who escaped it and live to tell the tale....At least my kids know where they and thier momma came from and where they're going--it sure as hell ain't back tracking to the gang... cafeconleche...: 23rd Jul 2005 - 16:18 GMT Mia about your comment about finding a way to afford to live in Humbolt Park--that's comment is SO wrong on SO many Levels there are layers to my rebuttle...YOu know--I'm part of the middle class--and the fact is that I can't afford to live in Humbolt Park. I have a goddam Masters degree from De paul and I still don't make enough $ to own a house and maintain the lifestyle that I enjoy and want to continue to give my child....Mia , what do YOU do? How much do you make? Are u transpalnted from Ohio, NY, or maybe Conn. ? Do you know what it is like to live your whole life in a community only to see the community now torn apart because those people(yes los blanco YUPPIES) believe that they have a right to KICK--yes kick out--those who they belive are of a lower status than themselves. As messed up as HP might be there are roots that stem back generations and in a 10 year span its being wiped out. YOu have to understand in order to stay in HP you have to OWN not RENT. Its about class, race ;sociocultural sociopolitical and socioeconomic issues. The elderly who owned or even rented can no longer afford to do so on SSI...MIA do you have elderly parents? Is anyone in your family indigent. Have you expereinced being a second class citizen not because of the way you look(because I can pass for a variety of ethnicies) but because of your last name? Yes , I 've been fortuante enought to take advantage of the opp. provided for me because of my latino last name--but opp. is not the only thing that is needed --you need a working knowledge of the system, and if the majority of my PR brothers and sisters have not had the opp. to have been exposed to "the system," did not have the opp. to have been mentored early on where do they begin at age 23, 25 or 35? HP is a young community and if that generation did not have the opp. for mentorship HOW on EARth can they do tht for thier childrn whoa re now pre-teens? --becuase the truth is when I was growning up--the only opp. for us to get out were: teacher, nurse, social worker exectuive sec. or data programmer-- We were still being shoved into "servicing" we were not told --be the artist and gallary owner, be the doctor(rather than the nurse), be the owner(rather thatn middel management)..so its easy to look in form the outside--but please before forming those opinons understand that wee've walke in different shoes , taken different paths and were looking @ the same situation from 2 very distinct point of views-- you MIA are part of the dominant society--we (for this conversation's purpose Ill keep it to Puerto Ricans) still are second class citizens...Mia do you know what its like to be a 2nd class citizen, to grow up wearing clothing from the Salvation Army/ Did you ever stand in line for Regan cheese? Did you mom ever have to explain to the welfare lady why she is wearing a new gold chain this month and then proceed to scold mom for having spent her welfare check on that rather than shoes for her child....(the gold chain had been a gift to my mother from the church for having been named Mother of the Year w/in our congrgation)....yea mIa it is easy to say get a job that will allow you to pay the mort. when you don't factor in all these things my dear... Seeking a Future: 24th Jul 2005 - 05:22 GMT Hey everyone, I grew up in HP, left for several years and have returned. We are who we choose to be. The opportunities are there. I agree some of us Latin Americans do not have the knowledge but the only way to obtain the knowledge is by seeking something better. I have no regrets in life & I am Proud to be a Latina. My children now attend a Private school in the area because I can not afford the luxury to stay home & watch them after school. I chose to do that.. You can choose to better your life.. When did our people stop thriving for more for something better. Look back at how difficult it was for some of our parents to come from other countrys and the lousy jobs they held so we can move forward.. It all takes time.. generation after generation. recruiting future gang members to hold them back and continue to live the stereo type of being Latino is not the way to progress. If we would all stop screwing our own people and work together God knows we would be much further than what we have come. Welfare parents go to school while your children are in school, you can get the money for it and you obviously have the time.. USE THE SYSTEM If you think you don't know how to use it than damnit learn it.. by this time you have realized that A) nothing comes easy & B) No one is going to hand over fulfilled dreams to you. Educate yourselves learn to use the system. 20yrs ago it was predicted French would be the 2nd international language, all the educated Anglos learned it.. Now 20 yrs later their hiring us to translate because we are the future.. Don't let ignorance keep US down.. God Bless all of you & no I'm not a holy roller & yes I probably know 1/2 you people who say you live around HP.. Your Own Worst Enemy: 25th Jul 2005 - 15:46 GMT Some know the system, some don't. A few systems that are known very well in HP - drugs - how to sell them - how to run them - how to avoid getting caught and then laughing about it. The other that I see as I am new to the neighborhood - Latinos taking advantage of other Latinos. I looked for a long time for a place to live in HP and do you know what I found. Many Latino families are paying $1,000 a month for a pest-infested, no warm water rental. Why? Because they don't speak English and their landlord does. As mentioned, many times Latinos prey on their own. Not good. Say I am wrong but this is what I see. Take a look at the prices of food at the markets. They are very high for the quality of the food. Why? Because the owners know that many people cannot walk or can't take the bus for groceries so they raise the prices. When Walmart opens up I feel you will be surprised to see how much the quality of the products at the stores increases as well as seeing the price decrease. If they can't compete then they will be gone. I wish they were putting in a Super-Wal Mart so I could get groceries there too but this was stopped. I feel for everyone who cannot afford to live in HP. But the sooner you realize that improved, safer neighborhoods cost money and that people are willing to pay for it then the better off you'll be. It will only get more pricey. You cannot stop change, it is happening all over the city. Just look at Pilsen or any other neighborhood that is close to the city. Fight it if you like, blame it on others but that is not going to do anything. For those who wish to buy or try to buy there are programs. CHA has a Latino starter program and it is a pretty good start and a fair program. They make you take a course and then they help you qualify for a loan, help with closing costs, get you a low interest rate etc... You need to be a Latino to qualify. I didn't realize the level of hate and hurt in the neighborhood. This site has opened my eyes. Be careful on making assumptions. cafeconleche: 25th Jul 2005 - 17:10 GMT To: YOur own worst...and Seekinga future... and everyone else out there... It's nice to see that there are some of us on the same page--I don't know if you'd call it hate,--we'll then again, yeah--there is a little hate and ALOT of hurt. I see it like this...How can you( the gangs...particularly the ALKN) talk about up lifting up la raza if you all can't even uplift yourselves out of the 'hood. I was down with dat way back--I could've easily gotten sucked in but I didn't and I got out--now I give back to my community--I'm not a 9 to 5 er: move up--move out --go back and work --then leave to my posh little house in the nice part of town...NO! I work damn hard to make sure I set the example for my students, their bros. and sis. who really don't have any role model other than Beyonce talkin' 'bout her neeing a soldier , a man to have"street credibility if he wants to be with me.." or Fity Cent who still hasn't given up gang banging and can stand proud about having been shot at --what?.... like 1,000 times, and still livng to tell about it... I work in the community, I shop in the community , I'm around so F!@%$ much the kids think I live in the 'hood--I don't but that's the thing--I haven't forgotten where I come from....I wan to be the example seeing You know I'm the real thing--my mom has a 2nd grade ed. and came here from P.R. in the dead of winter with her littl sun dress and her open toed chancletas in 1950 after my migrant farmer worker uncle paid airfare for 4 sibilings and 2 parents.I'm not gonna let that legacy go--they came her for a reason this was before they understood welfare and what exactly FDR's New Deal was all about...There was no welfare back then for them--only hard work and hope for the future--THe parents settle in HP and that became home for the rest of it--until los YUPPIES (YES YUPPIES for all you ignorant Bast#%!--not POLACOs--know your enemy people--know your enemy)all of you in ALKN need to go and ask your granparents and your parents what was it like for them. What was it like to cut sugra cane in the fields in 110 degree weather? What was it like not eating meat because they couldn't afford it--how about your grandma having to feed her babaies "black water"( black coffee with either a spoonful of powered milk, no milk or very little cow/goats milk) because either there was no $ for milk or there was no $ to own a cow...Apparently you all are here in the U.S/Chgo/Humb. Park for a rason..I'm not republican and I have just as many issues with the country but damnit--you guys have SO MANY opportunites tak that brass ring hermanos y hermanas---get out then give back---don't let your parents' and grandparents'legacy go to waste..You all need to watch the movie with Julia Roberts' -ex---como se llama......oh yeah--Benjamin Bratt. La move se llama "Pinero"....good ass flick..Fuck the whole "Blood in Blood out/Colors/genera of film that stereotypes Latinos-- its about one of our own----its at Blockbuster! It has sex drugs and some violence--but it really happened.... cafeconleche: 25th Jul 2005 - 17:46 GMT I keep going thru this site and I find so much BS I was just reading some old comment from Jan from EL viejo de arriba....Yo' viejo you need to stop brown nosing the USA and the GOP We are not Americans--we are Latinos --(how ever you speak spanish is fine technically there is no "proper spanish or proper englsih" however the writers on this site want to spell the words that they speak let them--- --For your information ethnogaphers(social scientist) consider what we (the 2nd and 3rd generation of Asian. Latino[p.r. , mex, salvadorians...] African American; a subculture--the mixing of Englis with the native language(the native languge being the L1--1st Language..Englsih is the L2). This has nothing to do with ghettoness it has to do with creating your own culture and identity because 1) the dominant society does not accept your own home culture/language 2) you are mainting some tie to your native culture 3) its a naturall sociological phenomenon that there is seapage of the dominant culture in to the native culture...YOu need to pick up a book by John Ogbu or J. Cummins and read about whats really going on... cafeconleche: 25th Jul 2005 - 17:51 GMT I keep coming back here hoping to have some gangbanger express his/her opinions on the staements made regarding the 'hood, the gang , and thier mission---No rebuttles...huh, interesting..... Peter: 25th Jul 2005 - 17:56 GMT its because this thread has grown old and tired, and if youll notice, far from any pertinence to the original post... Witness...: 27th Jul 2005 - 00:30 GMT There will always be others- people who will in a perverted fashion misuse the fabrics & the dynamics of a society. The ills of a society will always look "attractive", "alluring", and "inviting" to those on the outside. Those on the outside will feel compelled to touch it from the outside; will adopt the chemistry & the formula for thier own ego(s). These people are limited in nature and are compelled to use the self-destructive guise of a society as their own. These same people will fail to see the light of the day and anyone who comes in speaking of their hypocritical nature will be condemned and banished from their "sect" of society. These same people who perpetuate tragedy and confusion will fight to preserve their sickness. There are people on this site who misuse juvinille deliquency, who misuse the concept of gangs. These same people boast of their pride in reflecting control over others here who disagree with them. These same people do not have the courage to embrace the ghetto. The instead perpetuate and exploit it's ills. They hide behind their words here on this website. Someday door(s) will be opened. When those doors are opened, we will see the cowards standing in their bones, praying to know the meaning of soul. Pray for peace, ask for justice to deliver its blindness. Horse met Ass. One a tyrant with trappings. The other worn out with toils. Horse was crossing his path. Ass gave way, too slow. "Whoa," Horse said, "I'm only just reined back from stamping hooves on you." Shh. Ass kept hush. And groaned as well, the gods be my witness. Horse soon broke down racing. Wound up sent to the farm. Ass saw him loaded with dung. Mocked Horse, and here is the gist: "What on earth has become of you? Once, proud with trappings. Now, come to the hell you scorned." All you lucky ones, who despise your fellow man: Always remember that margin of error. You never do know what you'll become cafeconleche: 27th Jul 2005 - 04:49 GMT Hey ....are we being censored??????I wrote up a comment yesterday and there were two other people with very articulte comments and now all of the comments aren't here...what's up with that? jeeff: 27th Jul 2005 - 07:14 GMT i dunno, personally i find a lot of the recent comments here really interesting. seeking a future: 28th Jul 2005 - 03:12 GMT My comments are gone as well.. Everyone is talking about how we should help each other well, several years ago I vowed to give back to my community, we purchased a building and rehabbed it and believe it or not did not raise the rents above $550. What happened--- you got it my OWN people screwed me.. Latinos need to learn alot.. We've come a long way but still have further to go. Instead of looking at people who are trying to help us as the enemy, we should allow them to help. NOT everyone trying to help the community is trying to KICK us OUT or TAKE OVER Maybe we should learn to maintain and grow, learn from others instead of believing the Yuppies are taking over lets show them that we can take care of our homes have nice lawns and stop the violence.. who in their right mind would not want those things??? I don't get it.. We complain they are taking over but the last time I past by Lemoyne and spaulding (Police Camera on Beach and all) there was still drug dealing going on.. I'm shocked some of these people will make a drop with their kid in tow.. That's disgusting.. Each Latino generation should excel and progress further than the previous, why do some of our people wish to STAY in the same rut.. I get so confused how some wouldn't want something better.. Don't tell me it's the system because the system isn't telling anyone to stand at Lemoyne and spaulding and sell drugs.. and by the way Who the Hell built those three nasty ass buildings on Lemoyne.. Their a damn eye sore aside from all the gang bangers and lack of greenery on that street. seeking a future: 28th Jul 2005 - 03:12 GMT My comments are gone as well.. Everyone is talking about how we should help each other well, several years ago I vowed to give back to my community, we purchased a building and rehabbed it and believe it or not did not raise the rents above $550. What happened--- you got it my OWN people screwed me.. Latinos need to learn alot.. We've come a long way but still have further to go. Instead of looking at people who are trying to help us as the enemy, we should allow them to help. NOT everyone trying to help the community is trying to KICK us OUT or TAKE OVER Maybe we should learn to maintain and grow, learn from others instead of believing the Yuppies are taking over lets show them that we can take care of our homes have nice lawns and stop the violence.. who in their right mind would not want those things??? I don't get it.. We complain they are taking over but the last time I past by Lemoyne and spaulding (Police Camera on Beach and all) there was still drug dealing going on.. I'm shocked some of these people will make a drop with their kid in tow.. That's disgusting.. Each Latino generation should excel and progress further than the previous, why do some of our people wish to STAY in the same rut.. I get so confused how some wouldn't want something better.. Don't tell me it's the system because the system isn't telling anyone to stand at Lemoyne and spaulding and sell drugs.. and by the way Who the Hell built those three nasty ass buildings on Lemoyne.. Their a damn eye sore aside from all the gang bangers and lack of greenery on that street. seeking a future I agree with you: 28th Jul 2005 - 05:04 GMT The thing is ---there are a lot of factor that can be attibuted to not moving up---Firstly the U.S createda system of dependency when FDR intorduce Operation Bootsrap which was ppart of the NEW Deal--in order to "revitalize" the economy FDR PAID farmers not to grow crops.Here is the beginningof dependency--the U.S. governmet would pay these famers --farmers who went back generation in agricultre --to stop woring the land that thier great-great grandparents had farmed--so what do these farmers do? Now they are idle(tha's where the whole shit of us being lazy comes from--thing is they paid us to sit on our assess--this like really putting it in layman's terms) This ment that major American Corp now had thea ll this land to use for their companies. Then the U.S. they tried to industrialize the island.... companies came in , rail roads were created for the military and for priviate industry--my abuelito worked building the railroad called la miliatr tha runs fromone end of the island to the other...The U.S came it took over and made us dependant--dependancy fosters ingorance...whe had no other way--I really believe tht the last genration to really understand what hard work is was my parent's generation those born during the depression--El que no trabajaba no comia--thais until the NEW DEAL-- okay so now they recruit all these P.R to go and fam landi in Hawaii, and a thru out the U.S --they bocome migratn workers and come here with the hopes of bettering thier live--they are soemthing like indentured servants--they come to farm and work infactories all over the U.S many face squalid conditions, some not so bad-- regardles-they worked their assess off...but by this time post industrial P.R was in the make.There was very little farming for substiance(feeding the family) now the u.s. owned the fincas and the stores, and the products that were bought, they controlled what came into the island and what countries itcame from becuase remeb. we were(and still are a colony( u know like America and and England-they didn't have a voice--taxation w/out representation etc...) well same with us but since they don't make us pay taxes we have very little representation (or voice in congress) but I'me getting ahead of myself---anyway to make this grueling stroy short---the U.s mad our people dependent and ignorant --we've been screwed fromthe beginning, we've known it so we are going to be the pit bulls --out to get what we need form whoever we BELIEVE is going to take advantage of use..P.R society (on the island) is more classist then racist. Los Yankees/guesros/balncoswhatever-ya'know whites represent the invaders-the bad guys--they had the money: money=power, power= control of the language of the belief system(whats import. in the culture etc..) there is alot of resentment towards the u.s. ...Those who want stae hood understand the benifits of being part of a wold paower etc. Those who want to be a free nation---we'll I'm not going there it gets too touchy....Yeah ---basically the u.s created a cultre of dependency and if gen. after gen. has fallen been raised with a welfare mentality --without the skills , knowledg , or experience to break the cycle its really difficult to escape it--Its not an exuce --by no means but really its like if a chid sees his/her mom (Puerto Rico) always beeing beaten up, taken advantage of and is raised to see this from birth ,a ndis fea a whole lot of BS about how the dominant onein the relationship--the mans (the U.S.) has a right to do whatever he wants with mom and this pattern is repeated thru out the gen. it si going to be very hard for that child to relearn a new pattern of living if it is isolated and not taught other wiase--I know the analogy is iffy but its the best way I can illustrate why we(p.Rs ) are the way we are.... Please , please don't censor my thoughts: 28th Jul 2005 - 05:06 GMT I think its kinda poiniant....Peace out guys.... Oh yeah--I'm still waiting for a gangbanger's rebuttle about the staements made regarding the 'hood, the gang , and thier mission--- cafeconleche--just a little research to substaciate what I'm talkin' 'bout...: 28th Jul 2005 - 05:21 GMT ....Pedro Albizu Campos protested vigorously against the US Navy’s invasion of Vieques in 1941. In a series of articles published in a newspaper, Albizu accused the Navy of carrying out a policy of genocide against the Puerto Rican people in Vieques. In 1941, there were 10,362 inhabitants in Vieques. The Navy expropriated two thirds of the total land, including most of the land used for farming. The location of Vieques has made the island a sought after territory since the beginning of the colonization of Puerto Rico. The island of Vieques although colonized by the Spanish, was coveted by the French, Danish and British. All marshes, mangrove areas, dry lands and bodies of water adjacent to and belonging to Puerto Rico, situated on the east and southeast coasts of Puerto Rico were ceded to the Navy in a law approved by the Puerto Rican legislature in April of 1941. Thousands of people were forced off their land, and those without a legal title were given $20 or $30 for their houses and less than 48 hours to abandon the area. Even the Governor of Puerto Rico at the time, Luis Muñoz Marín was against the military installation in Vieques. In a letter to then President John F. Kennedy on December 28th, 1961 he wrote: "Obviously, the political and human dismemberment which the project involves will be a fundamental shock. We know of no truly comparable action in American history. I believe that it is the kind of action which arouses instinctive disapproval". It can be assumed that the letter to President Kennedy did not deter the US Navy from establishing a base in Vieques. In fact with the impending transfer of the Panama Canal to Panama, the U.S. Southern Army might possibly be relocating to Ft. Buchanan, near Bayamón, Puerto Rico. This can only worsen the "environmental disaster" that the Puerto Rican environmentalist Dr. Neftalí García, calls Vieques. Professor Jos¾ Seguinot Barbosa, Director of the Geography Department of the University of Puerto Rico also states that, "the eastern tip of the island (where the navy carries out its bombing practice) constitutes a region with more craters per kilometer than the moon." The Puerto Rican people, in a never ending struggle for human rights, have protested against the U.S. Navy occupancy of Vieques for decades. Most recently, after a civilian security guard was killed by an errant bomb in April. The Navy then suspended training on Vieques but has sought a way to resume it. Since then the people supporting the removal of the Navy from Vieques have gone from camping out on the bombing range, to holding demonstrations across the U.S. Even the governor of Puerto Rico Pedro Rosello, that is for the most part pro-statehood, called Clinton's plan to resume the military bombing for the next five years with "inert," or dummy, bombs on Vieques instead of the live ammunition that is part of advanced combat training, as "unacceptable for the people of Puerto Rico and the people of Vieques." He also stated that, "Personally I feel deceived with the position that's been taken because it doesn't faithfully reflect what we have been discussing with the president." Politics, the economy, education, culture, labor, the environment and most of all the status of Puerto Rico, have been constant issues at war between Puerto Rico and its colonizers. The people of Puerto Rico have never been given a sincere chance to choose for themselves their islands destiny. The so called Plebiscites are only to prove that the people on the island are divided by fear, a fear that has been instilled in the people for more than 500 years. For what else can a people learn when they have been brainwashed into associating independence with poverty, ruled with a mixture of paternalism and neglect, with a self-righteousness and condescension, and into believing "they are unfit for self-government"? SadStateOfAffairs: 28th Jul 2005 - 15:45 GMT Those two buildings on LeMoyne are the ugliest fortresses I have ever seen. They are for sale and nobody wants to buy, I wonder why. The Blue Light is off for a few days because an 18 wheeler took it out. To see a case study in how dependency doesn't work you just need to take a look at the state of the Native American Indians and their reservations. This dependency started well before the New Deal with the creation of the reservations - (to see Chicago's reservations look at the Taylor homes or Cabrini Green.) The average life span of an Indian is 53, alcoholism and diabetes are at epidemic proportions. My mother grew up on the Tuscarora Nation reservation and let me just say when you get government assistance and don't need to work you do three things - drink, eat and look for trouble. If you're a single mother then that is different. To seek an education/join the Navy as my mother did means you are no longer welcome back at home and it's gone forever, you've become like the white man. I see this with kids in the neighborhood. Education is not cool but it is the only way out. I realize the schools aren't the best but you have to do what you can and try to rely on others who are there to help. The system was created to help but it has many side effects. cafeconleche: 29th Jul 2005 - 03:29 GMT Sad state...Historically this is exactlay how its been--it all about the traditional Eurocentric p.o.v : anything other than white is inferior, therefore let us "civilize the ignoran savage and enlighten and uplift him with with our culture..." That's how it was in ALL of Latin America, Africa,U.S. .. Sad ain't it... Peter: 29th Jul 2005 - 13:49 GMT cafeconleche: im glad youve chosen to become a regular contributor here. we hope you stay :) cafeconleche: Gracias! :) cafeconleche....: 30th Jul 2005 - 09:52 GMT My comments go to show that there are some of us who from H. P who don't fit the stereotype of welfare mom, and are educated. A couple of us actually made it out of H.P and the public, neighborhood schools(Lowell School, Von Humbolt, LaFeytte and Clemente Comm. Academy ...) with the ability to able to read write and think! seeking a future: 31st Jul 2005 - 19:30 GMT Cafeconleche, There are many of us who made it out of H.P. Semi Educated, it's just unfortunate that most of the ones who did progress forgot where they came from. cafeconL.: Es triste......... benrox: 1st Aug 2005 - 08:31 GMT Alright - I've read a good amount of these posts. Let me start off by saying that I am white. I've been living in "the hood" my whole life. I don't live in Humboldt Park, but near enough in Logan Square. Growing up in the hood as a white boy made me see things from a perspective that most white people will never be able to comprehend. I've experienced prejeduce being that whites are now a minority inside of our beloved city. I have interacted with so many different people of different races, colors, religions etc... that for me to defend any one race would make me feel ignorant. But at the same time, I think many people fail to understand that there are 2 different ways of thinking. #1) People who have pride for their heritage, because they are proud of the struggles and sacrifices their decendants made to give they're people a better way of living at the cost of they're own happyness and somtimes they're own lives. ( educated pride ) If your descendants never fought, and made sacrifices in an effort to survive - then you wouldn't be here this very day.. It's that simple. Puerto Ricans... Mexicans... Jews... Every race has had they're own struggles, and yet somehow - are all still here. For you to be proud of your herritage - you must know your past. If you don't know your past - then what are you celebrating? which brings me to... #2) Pride through wanting to belong to a part of something. (also the human ego ) I have no issues with ANY race. But every year when the puerto rican parade comes... Out of the thousands of people out celebrating - how many of them know WHAT IT IS to be puerto rican? How many puerto ricans know they're history? Not many. Everyone is out celebrating because " its cool to be part of something ". It's like being in an exclusive members only club and you were givin your membership card by random chance at birth. You didn't choose your race. You didn't choose your parents. It was all chance. And yet they celebrate - so ignorant to their herritage. Before you start typing up your fuck you white boy bullshit - I'm not saying that the puerto rican parade shouldn't take place. It should and I'm glad you have the chance to celebrate your herritage. However, America is supposed to be a country constructed of many races. From all over the world - people come to America in hopes of a better life. A better place to raise they're children. A place where they will not be killed because they're personal beliefs and opinions differ from those they're leaders tell them they must inherit. It is my belief that what we call America now - was stolen from the native americans... (indians) When we celebrate Thanksgiving - we are celebrating the genocide of a race. From what I know - Native Americans and Hispanics go hand in hand. Point being - even though I'm white - it pisses me off to hear white people say that this is OUR country... When in fact it isn't. We came from a place very VERY far away at that. We "stole" this land. It is not ours. America is a country founded on immigration. Whites... Hispanics... Blacks... etc... - Everyone is in America for the soul fact that they wanted a better way of life than they previously had. (minus the slavery portion) As humans - we all shared a common goal. We wanted one thing in life... Happyness. What is wrong with this picture? Shouldn't a country that is basicly founded on immigration be able to understand each others struggles, and that we are all here because our ancestors wanted a better life for those that came ahead of them? Shouldn't our understanding of this force us to appreciate everyone elses struggles? Through this principle - we should all be able to coexist and be happy. WHY are we all fighting? Pride? Ego? Territorialism? Hearing whites, blacks, hispanics etc... Argue over they're territory are no different than a pit bull taking a shit in the park and kicking up grass behind it. Humboldt Park is dominantly Puerto Rican. Thats fine. But why must they're be an argument about whos territory it is? Animals and humans are the same with only one key difference. We both have instincts. We both have the will to survive. It is both our goal in living to reproduce. What makes humans unique - is the ability to think... The ability to REASON. Not act on pure instinct. We can make decisions - just because X happens doesn't mean Y is the reaction. Our brains have evolved. Yet so many of us live in this trap. We hate each other for no reason. We hate because of stories - not because of individual experiences. Why else do so many little kids know what the word nigger, beaner, cracker, porkchop, etc... mean? They weren't born with this knowledge. Ignorant parents teach they're children these things, and it becomes RIGHT. They cannot be convinced otherwise. Some of these parents can actually be the GREATEST providers and nurturers for they're children - yet that doesn't stop them from having that single shard of ignorance that is killing our FELLOW HUMAN RACE... It doesn't matter if ur a fucking mexican... If ur a puerto rican... if ur white... The point is we are all still fucking human. The human race is the one TRUE race. If you put a white kid and a black kid together who have no idea what racism is - they won't fight just because one is white and the other is black. They will have fun and play together. It's not until people put this negative bullshit into people's heads that racism becomes a problem. Racism is a plague. It has infected nearly everyone in this world. Your negative thinking, and racial comments are the vehicle in which this plague finds new hosts and still exists. With the ability to think - why are people still acting on they're primal instinct to feel threatened by someone of a different color? I can understand why a lion would want to kill a hyena. It's survival of the species. The lion must eat. But what purpose does killing off our own species serve? Instead of being proud of your background first - maybe you should first be proud to be human. We could have just as easily been put into this world as a blade of grass, an ant, an elephant - but we were all lucky enough to be HUMAN. Unfortunately racism won't stop. People will continue they're racial bullshit and create problems for us, our children, our childrens children, and our childrens childrens children. It isn't until everyone realizes what potential we could have coming together as a human race - what advancements we could have achieved by now as a human race - that we will get anywhere. Humans are headed for extinction. It will be because of humans that life no longer exists. It is the hatred of mankind that will cause our inevitble demise. When the world is covered with the debris of nuclear war and no human remains... It wasn't the tigers... It wasn't the lions... It wasn't the ants that ended it and fucked it up... It was the human ego... The fact that we can't let go of something as stupid as a color... A way of living... Why can't we just coexist... Instead of asking what you can do for your fellow white person, black person, hispanic person - maybe you should ask how you can help a fellow human being. We are all one of the same. So the next time you have a racist thought run through your head that makes one person feel less than you because they aren't of the same heritage or color - remember - its you're bullshit that > IS < going to lead to our extinction. It's 3:30 a.m. and I know this is really long, but I had alot of shit on my mind. I put it together the best I could since I'm really really tired, but if you really read this and think about it, then maybe you can get on the same page. I have so much more on my head but if I kept typing - I'd be here 3 weeks later still goin at it. This is just a piece of knowledge that I hope makes you all think and discuss. Gangs need to come to peace. Stop killing our fellow humans. Stop incarcerating the innocent. Stop making our homes prisons. Much love to > ALL < of yall Benrox Peter: now ##thats## a comment. thanks, man. SadStateOfAffairs: 1st Aug 2005 - 16:23 GMT Racism has many forms. It can be religiously based, as in the current JIHAD against all non-Muslims. Or it can be economically based. I agree it's not based on skin alone. Problems occur when different social classes come into contact. Those that have tend to look down on those that don't, those that don't tend to hate the others for having. When you live in a gentrifying HP/Logan Square neighborhood, this type of situation will happen and it won't stop until the neighborhood is in balance one way or the other. This is a process that takes place over a 10-20 year period. It took 20 years 1960-1980 for the neighborhood to go down. You had abandoned greystones with homeless folks in them, crack houses etc...Then the neighborhood slowly started it's climb back up. Call it the Daley plan but it is more an ecosystem that is forever changing and right now it's on its way back up. The park is cleaner, there are 10 city employess cleaning it up every day, the pond is stocked with fish, kids are running around and major restarants like McDonalds are moving into the area etc... The park and the neighborhood may still be rough but that park is busy with kids and adults all day long. I imagine the gangs will be there for a very long time too. cafeconleche: 4th Aug 2005 - 05:47 GMT benrox--I appreciate your p.o.v. I can totally see eye to eye w/U on the whole reversed racism...I have a blond blue-eyed son. I have dark curly hair and medium skin tone--everyone always assumes I'm his nanny--you wuldn't believe the looks I get when he opens his mouth , calls me mama(in spanish) and proceeds to speak Spanish to me---But I digress.... Point is--class is a socially constructed heirarchy created to give power to some and keep ohters down--what we view as importatn is only importatn becuase some one set the standard for a particule view, belief etc..Now the question is Who set these standards? You? Me? Society? Well, basically if yu have power you have a voice. Who has power? YOU? me? I am but a lowly teacher --what's you're occupation? Hey--why am I even asking this? why is your occupation an importatn issue to people? Why is being a baseball player, singer, or movie star more ( exhibiting a gift of talent that you've been given) looked upon with great respect--with more respect than those of us who are in a classroom for 5 -7 hrs a day working with our most precious of natural resources--our children(I know--cliche--but valid)? Why is it so imortant to learn the classics( Shakespear)rather than say--how to build a bicycle from spare parts ? In some societies it is more importatn to be able to buid that damned bike rather than read....I beleive in validating all skills, abilities, and talents but society values some more than others...Why does it matter what your drive-wha t jeans your wear? Who is to say that teaching is more noble thatn fixing computers? Who's to say that being a window washer is less important than working as a day laborer? Where I came from --if you or your relative held any of these occupation s you were as credible as the pope! Why would it be differnt there thatn here? Its all about the socially constructed system tht maintains the status quo as it is. Again I will ask...Who in our society has the power? THose who have money....Those who have been here for ages and ages and layed claim, took over , and created the social standard which govern our existance. Example= America--consumer society.. concumer sociey=capitalism capitlaism =making people believe they need certain things becuase if your don't have certain things then you are not part of mainstrem society. The capitalist will target certain demographics because that's where the $ is. Unfortunatnly certain populations will hurt more tahtn other s because money is hard to comeby so when you do gt $ you have to have it and you spend it-=immediate gratification immediate gratifiction= not alot of social mobility 'cause your 'aingt got money--U don't invest, you spend spen spend and and live for today...why? because of the staus that having those product creates. Now getting back to the who "Can't we just get along" stuff.... ITs a noble thought, but the trth is that yes you may have expereinced racism sporatically in the hood here and thier 'cause of your color on the outside--I mean hey you grew up wioth the homes ans whatnot you may speak like them, and dress like them--but you DON"T look like them and that's the difference.. YOu can go anywhere in the city and be treated decently because once you leave the hood the society at large assumes that you "belong"-- your color says it all--When someone of color leaves the hood you NEVER forget that you are of color. YOu will always experience some type of racism. I'm not playing the victim--I'm just saying--you have your p.o.v. You speak from your experience -something that we can never devaluse. However you a speaking from your experience your experience will be very different becuase of the color of tyour skin and your last name... This goes back to the hate...Well when those with power( the Anglos with $ who sake claim and take over---ehem..sound familiar?) scome into teritory that has beeen ther for generationa and then proceed to "clean up' the neighborhood by bringing in high end shops that raise revenue and prop rates--yeah thereis going to be a little anomosity--once again the status quo cont. The haves have ans will comtinue having--the don'ts? Well they never really had anything to begin with(if you rent you don't "have "--its not really yours) and contiune to have less....Its all socio policial ---AND COMPLICATED....but I hear what you're saying I wish it was as easy as your seee it--Honey --you cant imagin how much this stuff is researches and studied---read --Paolo Fiere--Pedagogy of the oppressed... Not Important: 5th Aug 2005 - 19:54 GMT I'm a 16 year old girl who has lived in the Humboldt Park area all my life. I lived down the corner when little Miguel died, I was 11 years old, that caused alot of drama in my neighborhood. Things like that is just life, u get used to it and grow out of it.. I still live in the HP area and I love it.. I just donr understand why all these white people moving in and are starting to change everything,,, we like HP just the way it is To not important from cafeconleche: 6th Aug 2005 - 16:35 GMT Mira nena ---got thru the articles here---that will give you an idea star arounf Feb and read tru..thenthing is many poniant comments are gone for some reason--wiped out---anyway --Happy reading! M-Anita: 6th Aug 2005 - 18:52 GMT I have lived in the area off and on since childhood. Then I moved to LA and for me there is no place like home. I am a Black Puertoriquena y Cuban and the unity we have for each is still strong. We just have to have faith in each other as a community. And let go of our racisim toward each other and only then we can move forward. We cant let them pull us apart...we are all we have. We must stick together. Confused: 8th Aug 2005 - 15:34 GMT What is wrong with white people moving into the neighborhood?? It sounds hypocritical to say I hate racism or the way white people treat me then say I hate white people moving into the neighborhood and treat white people in a racist way. Why are whites the enemy? Are they cleaning up the neighborhood too much? I understand the situation with rents increasing being bad but what are the other issues? Is it just change that is bad? Maria Dora: 9th Aug 2005 - 19:04 GMT all i can say is that violence is everywhere....whether you live in homboldt park or in the burbs...violence is even in your back yard as we speak...so all we can do is say a prayer and hope to God that he protects our families and our loved ones...peace from cafe con leche to confused....: 13th Aug 2005 - 06:09 GMT YO' confused reread my comment from Aug 4-- And change is not bad --its bad when it is not a natural evolution as it should be but rather an aggressive overnite, overhaul of what was once there(history) and a negation of what still stands(the P.R.s) I swear it totlally reminds me of how in every other situation Eurocentric views cloud all else--YOu know the old saying : "If your white you're right , if you're b;ack stand back... Confused--it just follows the patern of white people taking over territory that is meaningful to other people without understanding the impact of what they are doing--- I think if these Anglos could appreciatethe history that there is in the neighborhood and could respect it it wouldn't be so bad --but they are so presumtuous and are bornnof a culture of entitlement--its just fuckin' annoying how they look down at us-- Have any of you guys experienced this kind of elitism when los blancos are around the hood? Confused: 13th Aug 2005 - 15:25 GMT Admitted some white people have attitudes, but some blacks have attitudes, some Latinos have attitudes, etc....The blacks don't get along with the PR's, I see it every night and hear it. F You N, shut your black ass up - attitude, violence, drugs, fighting for territory and hatred. And please don't tell me they get along or should unite. Different colored skin, different territory, different ways of life - these different groups will never get along. Cafe, let's take your argument that we should keep the history of Humboldt Park. I guess that history of Humboldt park is worth preserving. It sounds like violence is preferred to reverse-white flight and I do not understand it. What is worse a white person with attitude or a fellow Latino trying to sell drugs to your 12 year old son? This is not Eurocentric, this is Chicago and it goes back to assuming you know about people based on the color of their skin. If you value history so much let's just go back before the white flight happened and bring back the Norwegians who built the park in 1900. Von Humboldt. Why because the PRs are in it now does it all of a sudden belong to them. If you truly value history then it's not your neighborhood either. Hell let's go back to the Native Americans and give it back to them. Read the history of the neighborhood and you will see how this has happened since 1900. How do you think the people felt when they had to leave the area when the drugs came in? They had to sell, take a loss on their homes and hope they found a better life elsewhere. They couldn't stop it. I have much less pity seeing the drugs and violence move out than for the folks who were here before it moved in. If the violence can leave and the PRs and everyone else who wants to stay can do so then nobody should have issues. It is the violence that bothers most people. I don't think this type of nirvana is possible though. It is just not reality. NIKKI: 19th Aug 2005 - 19:47 GMT ok - i'm moving to cortland and drake in a couple of weeks - is it really that bad? i was excited to move there until i came across this website... should i be worried? :)

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