America's Fortgotten Tragedy

While on my normal routine here at work I was taught a little bit about my Chicago history by one of my older customers. She is a very interesting lady, Esther is her name. I don't forget it because that was what my mother was going to name me when I was born but her and my father agreed to my name now "chicagloe" ha ha Im kidding, but yeah it was supposed to be my name because one of my older sister's name is Ruth. Hence,Ruth and Esther for those of you who know the books. Anyway, Im never too cool for school so I let my friend/customer go off on a tangent of the Chicago River tragedy or what is called The Eastland Tragedy. It is one of the most down played and overlooked tragedies in American History. It happened on the Chicago River while the boat had not yet left the dock. There were a couple thousand passengers on board on their way to go to a company picnic. There were families and employees of Western Electric on board. The boat was headed to Michigan City Indiana to where the annual company picnic was being held. Many of these employees were immigrant workers. And to this day it is hardly remembered or spoken of. I am surprised that our homegirl Oprah has never made a show of this because these bodies were all lined up for identification around what is now the Harpo Studios. I never knew about this and I was a bit perplexed. Thanks to Esther now I do.I have yet to really dig into more information on this subject but it is definitely something I never knew about. The Titanic had happened three years prior and this tragedy was the biggest in America up until 9/11. Next time Im on the Clark street bridge I will try to remember, July 24, 1915.

Pizza, Ketchup and Brick Roads

Ever since I could remember I've loved brick roads. I've had the brick road fascination since I was a little girl visiting the museum. I don't remember quite well what exhibit I saw, it had to have been 20's or 30's based. I remember jumping on one of the old school rides you see in old gangster flicks. my child hood memories are vague. I managed to re-collect those things that interest me. Some things I like but can't remember how I got to liking. There's a story behind everything but there are times where things don't seem to have any kind of attachment. Its like ketchup and pizza. I mean not everyone likes it but how did it come to be? I just so happen to like that crap? I started liking it at some point. I remember walking through the barrio down the alleys to catch the little sights of brick roads left in the city. For a young lady to walk home through alley ways was not the smartest thing to do in the mid-nineties. Even now it's dangerous. As kids we don't realize the danger in things but then again I guess it all has to do with the way we grew up. I was scared when I heard the loud pops of bullets from a chamber or pistol. In the neighborhood where I grew up they echo pretty loud. There were only a few instances where as a kid I had to dodge bullets while playing soccer, jumping rope or simply just hanging out on the front steps of the house. How can you be scared of anything in the world if the scariest things are as close as your doorstep? I was never really scared of anything and have always loved adventure. My inner-city kid adventures weren't the smartest I guess. I'ts funny how the brain works I have all these thoughts and memories when something as simple as brick roads comes to mind. As I got older I discovered a bigger world outside the Little Village entrapment that can sometimes leave a first generation child clueless of what the world really is. I started riding trains and buses. Started getting home extremely late just because I was in the safer parts of town or running away to a different town, in bright lit areas. Society leads us to think that because there is a lot of light, we are safer. That the police lights gleaming from the top of the cameras assure us how safe we really are? A little less than half of the incidents I've seen as close as two feet away from those cameras are enough to put those idiots with the street camera idea to shame. Bring back the brick streets Chicago.

Fun Times!

Here was my attempt to execute the battle's word and theme. Estria traveled to Chicago as well as other cities around the U.S. the winner of each city will be flown out to finalize its competition in Oakland. The word and theme was EARTH. I sawaw some neat ideas and pieces. Celebrated my anniversary later that night with all our close friends and family! Good times.