Rethinking Poverty: Gangsta City
Please note that the videos below are not for the faint of heart as some may find many of the images and languages disturbing; I did.
Adding to this thread of rethinking the way that we see poverty in America I’ve included the trailer to a documentary entitled Gangsta City. This documentary captures daily life at what was the Cabrini Green Housing Projects in Chicago. The video was produced by Cabrini Mob Entertainment. Both of these videos are trailers to Gangsta City.
After watching these videos think about what you saw. How do those who lived at Cabrini Green impact you? If they do impact you then how? If they do not impact you then why not?
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Categories: Rethinking Poverty
This post reminded me of an episode of the West Wing titled “Isaac and Ishmael”, in which one of the characters, Charlie Young, played by Dule Hill, comments on the endurable nature of gangs.
The quote is:
Gangs. Gangs give you a sense of belonging, and usually, an income. But mostly, they
give you a sense of dignity. Men are men, and men’ll seek pride. Everybody here’s got
a badge to wear. You think bangers are walking around with their heads down, saying, “Oh man, I didn’t make anything out of my life. I’m in a gang.” No, man! They’re walking around saying, “Man, I’m in a gang. I’m with them.”
The image that most disturbed me in these videos is the young age at which bangers are introduced to the lifestyle (at birth it seems). By the time they have “grown up”, they know no better or of a separate life away from guns, drugs, and death. The slogan “live or die”, spray painted on walls throughout Cabrini, are the clearest words of wisdom presented to them in their daily life. It is no wonder the ease at which each individual succumbs to gang initiation.
In a song produced after B.I.G and Tupac Shakur’s deaths, the chorus announces:
“Why am I fighting to live, if I’m just living to fight
Why am I trying to see, when there aint nothing in sight
Why I am I trying to give, when no one gives me a try
Why am I dying to live, if I’m just living to die”
Both men fought to live and eventually they both died trying to realize an end to the violence, not just for themselves, but for the audience to whom they spoke to. Their deaths only further exacerbated the problem.
The perpetual cycle of the gang life leaves me pessimistic to any real end in sight. I hope that a few lucky individuals will make it through the darkness with the help of those working in the community, the support of family members who want more for their children, brothers and sisters, and of the teachers who fight a greater war every day simply trying to connect with the disaffected youth. And someday, maybe the cycle will slow just enough to give room for all to break free.
My son made these videos. He is a very smart and very white young man. I moved with my children to Chicago from a small town in Indiana when my son was ready to start high school. That school pulled from Cabrini Green. It was there he met these kids from Cabrini and became interested in their lives. Something about them made him want to tell their story. He brought them into my life, and together they broke my heart wide open. I know that these men are easy to be scared of, but they’re just as easy to love.