Near North side of Chicago’s long and complex history exposes a frequent theme plaqueing the area: ostracization of individuals who do not contribute to opportunities for socio economic advancements within the community. Not coincidentally, the individuals who are ostracized are people of color, densely populated in the public housing. Against many odds, they must navigate their identity in relation to both themselves and the world around them in order to survive. Negative stigmas and lack of wealth led to the demolition of Cabrini-Green and reinforces racial politics and wealth that determines if certain individuals in society are dehumanized and viewed only as a problem.
Although originally with good intentions, the formation of Cabrini-Green was doomed from the start with poor quality building and a lack of resources necessary to create a functioning affordable living space. Not being provided an adequate opportunity led to high crime rates reinforcing the belief that the individuals were a problem. More detrimental, the internalization that occurred as a result of the rest of Near North side, specifically the Eastern side, posing the question: “how does it feel to be a problem” took away any chance of fighting the stigma (DuBois 1). This structure fostered hate and as a result ostracized anyone who came from this background. Although one could assume a correlation between poverty and crime rate, the mentality strongly contributes to actions and reactions of people. As Near North became more affluent, individuals within Cabrini-Green became “different from the others” and therefore automatically assumed with a negative connotation (DuBois 1).
The only way for individuals to combat the isolation and dehumanization is through having double consciousness. Many of the individuals within Cabrini-Green were able to recognize how the world viewed them which contributed to the determent of the demolition for numerous years. There had been plans since 1995 to tear down these buildings but “the community’s opposition” had drawn out the “deconstruction of the towers” (Reed). The ability to recognize the surrounding area’s intentions and how the area was viewed allowed the residents to stay for over ten more years. However, their inability to recognize the already instilled perceptions were being reinforced with the high crime rates and gang affiliation contributed to the demolition years later. In an interview of children in Cabrini-Green one young girl describes the situation saying “it is really dangerous, sometimes they be shootin and stuff”, proving that even the children are aware of the issue and would prefer for their home to not be taken away but rather given more resources for the community (Brooms).
Many of the residents within Cabrini-Green feared that the “promise to provide them with replacement housing” would not follow through (Reed). This questioning was called for as mixed housing is not taking care of the needs of former residents. Rather, the mixed housing enhances the perception of a well off area instead of low income area which was exactly what the Eastern side of Near North, Gold Coast, Streeterville, and Magnificent Mile, wanted. The mixed housing is “30 percent public housing, 20 percent affordable and 50 percent market rate” (Biasco). Having half of the housing become market rate drove out all of the people who lived there because there is no way for all of the residents of Cabrini Green to fit into the thirty percent of public housing. Having “the doors of Opportunity closed” in the residents faces rather than being recognized as a human being struggling and in need of a home, the planners of the redevelopment only cared about the outward appearance of the community, forcing that area to be wealthy (DuBois 2).
In addition, it is no surprise the prominent role racial politics played on the decision to create and destroy Cabrini Green. An “official segregation policy” led to Cabrini Green having almost only people of color residents. The modern state “distributes resources on a racial line” which clearly played a run in the rest of Near North’s lack of ability to allocate any resources necessary to keep the building running effectively (Winant 3). This became an “implicit excuse” that was given when no one gave anything necessary for the building or the people (Reed). As a result, the residents were told by this action that the rest of the world deemed them as unworthy of the resources they needed and that it would be easier for them to get rid of the building rather than taking care of the residents. Cabrini Green was an easy target as a result of its dense population of people of color within a small area, high crime rate, and poverty however Cabrini-Green was considered “home” for many people and will struggle to reform their identity after years of belittlement from the rest of the Near North area (Reed).
The differences between the Eastern side and Western side of Near North became too great and it was believed that a good way to take away this gap was through demolitioning Cabrini-Green. The communities within the Eastern side have been known to be the hub of Chicago, in addition to the loop, but many of these lavious hotels and shopping centers cater to tourists and individuals who wish to view parts of the city deemed superior. By not recognizing there is more to Chicago and specifically the Near North area such as Goose Island and Cabrini Green, individuals are not able to fully recognize or appreciate every aspect of the community and by doing so they are unable to work towards a better community that suits the needs of everyone.
Although the outward goal was to get rid of a building that had a large amount of violence, it is clear there were underlying factors that contributed to this demolition. As communities within Near North side have been ranked for being highly affluent locations, Cabrini-Green became a place that was viewed as a setback for the community however it provided a place to stay for the impoverished which is a goal itself. In addition, violence does not go away when the outlet for it is removed, the violence is merely displaced and not dealt with. If Cabrini-Green had been provided with the tools necessary for success such as: sturdier buildings, opportunities for children within the building, and an opportunity to learn the skills necessary to get a job, then that would have been dealing with the violence and crime. The failed attempt at increasing security does not prevent crime, it just provides more opportunity of getting caught which is a short term effect rather than the necessary long term.
Works Cited
Biasco, Paul. "Cabrini-Green Redevelopment Plan Includes Over 2,300 Homes." DNAinfo Chicago. N.p., 23 Apr. 2015. Web. 23 May 2016.
Brooms, Isaiah. "Cabrini Green What You Don't See." YouTube. YouTube, 10 Nov. 2012. Web. 23 May 2016.
DuBois, W.E.B. "The Souls of Black Folk." (1903): 1-4. Print.
Reed, Drew. "The 20 Year Battle to Demolish Chicago's Notorious Cabrini-Green Housing Project." CityMetric. N.p., 17 Nov. 2015. Web. 23 May 2016.
Winant, Howard. One Hundred Years of Racial Politics. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.