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¡Viva Pilsen!
Talking to the Pilsen community
BENJAMIN ANAYA, 46
How long have you lived in Pilsen?
A year and four months. But I’ve been visiting for more than a decade.How has the ’hood changed?
People here are really afraid of gentrification. I’m from a very multicultural city, Mexico City, and, honestly, it seems some of the immigrants who live here are afraid of multiculturalism. For instance, I love traditional music, but not the kind of corporate, misogynistic norteño stuff that you see on TV at a lot of the Mexican restaurants. I hate it. I’d rather go to Skylark to hear free jazz or Cafe Mestizo for hip-hop.You’re in an interesting predicament because you’re from Mexico, but many local Mexican immigrants probably see you as a gentrifier.
Exactly. I do art and books and music and photography, so allegedly I’m part of the problem.Pilsen gentrification | When gentrification works | Mexican candies | Pilsen’s best 18th Street spots | Beyond 18th Street | Tamale trek | Pilsen’s affordable art | Talking to the Pilsen community
Time Out Chicago / Issue 208 : Feb 19–25, 2009
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RIIGGHHTT!!!! dat probabley waz u and ur family dat u r talkin about. cum on now cum up wit sum real stuff. yall iz stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are u serious? how many people did u talk to, about 5. ya'll need to cum up wit sumthing wayyy beter dan dis.
Lady M, get a clue spanish harlem is a dump! Smelly? It was probably you and your starving artist boyfriend that stunk up the place! Who in there right mind would go from 18th St to 22nd? Duhh! Only starving artist that cant afford the already low rent in Pilsen, that the old white dude put out for all you!!! Get a clue and tell that bum you live with to put the Old Style down and get a real job! Better yet go back to New York!!!!
Perhaps this essay may provide some clarification: http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/voorheesctr/Publications/Gentrification%20before%20Gentrification.pdf
Since the late 1800s, Pilsen's population was actually dominated by Polish, Czech, and Lithuanian immigrants until the 1970s, FYI.
A person living in Pilsen for only a year and four months, would have NO IDEA of what type of changes the neighborhood has gone through. I was born in 1957 and lived their, so I guess I would know a bit more on how the neighborhood has changed over the years, let alone my dad, who is 90 going on 91, who has lived in the same house in Pilsen his entire life, being a Czech, which is what the neiborhood was named afer, a village in Eastern Europe, along with the same home being in he family.
When I was interviewed, I mentioned that I could be consider as a part of the problem, because I also talked about the cultural resistance and affirmation here in my barrio (and I am part of it), against the misogynistic contents of the dominant macho culture of the Mexican media. And I also mentioned that the people here are afraid because the prices will increase, and the cost of living will rise. Try please to add this blurb, because I don't think I said that I'm part of the problem.
I lived in pilsen for 4 years. I am white. It is a dump. garbage, smelly, loud music SLUMLORDS.they loves those illegals. The landlord can keep it grimy and who cares as long as he gets paid. I wanted multicultural ...I come from spanish harlem in nyc. Pilsen was like a backwoods retard village, illegal food carts with rancid mayo for your unclean corn, filthy laundry places. I lived @ ashland & the post office. GANGS all over..moved to cermak ave .more gangs. the mexicans HATE whites there
Pilsen was Ukrainian? She should be foreced to leave the neighborhood immediately.
Wow. Deep. What did you do talk to four people and call it a day? I had never realized Pilsen was Ukranian, that is new information. I never knew Wicker Park was a mall. I'll have to get up that way and check it out. Hip Hop beginnings, who knew? Thiis is so enlightening. I admit, I do enjoy someone speaking the truth about multi-cultural Mexico City and misogynistic Norteno. I share the loathing. Now if that record store over Laflin way would get the hint and turn that crap down. Call 311.
What's so misleading about this little blurb of yours is that you claim to be talking to the residents of Pilsen. But if you want an accurate representation of community residents you need more than one single life-long resident. And if you want a majority representation, try interverviewing a few blue collar first generation immigrant families.