The Polite War by CoreyBlack
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Description
"Look who's winning, and look who's won.
--Kurt Vonnegut/God Bless You, Mister Rosewater
When I made this shot a few years ago, it initially reminded me of TV news coverage of the war in Bosnia. In fact, it's part of the much more polite war of gentrification: a war in which working poor and working class people are forced out of neighborhoods they've built and lived in for years by an influx of the affluent who invade entire areas like a conquering army. It is a war of greed fought not with bombs or bullets but politely-worded eviction notices and friendly missives announcing draconian increases in rent, property taxes, or both. It is a war of financial ethnic cleansing in which rich (mostly American-White) people remove anyone who isn't like themselves. This savage form of capitalism has skewed demographics, changed entire cities, and pushed the working class to the margins and the working poor even closer to homelessness.
A case in point is this building which was on the same block as an apartment my sister lived in back in the 1990s. In 1998, the rent for a one bedroom in the area was $600 per month. When the rehab of this building was completed (ten years later) the condominiums fetched a cool $350,000 each.
This picture was made on North Damen Avenue in the Ravenswood area of Chicago on August 2, 2007
Comments (16)
TwoPynts
Powerful shot and good commentary.
MagikUnicorn
Yes good commentary...and big money project :)
zoren
there is a case to be said for progress and renewal.... when the worn and the trodden, the so called 'old ways', now represent a new frontier, to be reclaimed and made anew, by the stronger and more adept... such, as it has been, with entire civilizations since the dawn of mankind. A neighborhood is but a small representation of such ills of mankind. should the needs of one, supercede all others? is this all about fairness? greed? hegemony? it is a lovely architecture, well photographed...
brigadier
A very good shot, well composed. Spot on with the commentary too. Been seeing this sort of thing all over our area too.
OrphanedSoul
It is as with all war unfair....
beachzz
Your narrative is so powerful, it takes my breath away. Happens all over the place, and it's beyond bad. It IS a form of war. Big stuff, Corey and you capture it brilliantly!!
watapki66
Wonderful shot, it certainly could pass as a war scene!
MrsLubner
Time consumes all things...and alters life by the moment. I've worked in the housing industry for over 25 years... sometimes I have a hard time supporting progress and other times I see it is a salvation for those who need a place to call home. This is a fabulous shot. Really one that brings much thought into play.
durleybeachbum
Superb, Corey. We have a rule about new-builds including a percentage of affordable housing. It is not perfect but it is a start. The problem is particularly acute in the countryside, pushing farmworkers out of villages for second homes. In some fishing villages the fishermen can only afford to live in towns nearby and pass wealthy businessmen as they commute in opposite directions each day. Excellent pic..tremendous lack of light in some of those rooms..I couldn't bear that.
jclP
very good shot, and compo.
lederhox
A masterpiece; completely compelling photo and narrative, thank you for this!!
danob
Great image and great prose regarding this underhanded war.. 2nd and 3rd homes in non urban areas is also a major problem where the rich can take advantage of less prosperous area's
Chipka
I am glad you finally posted this. I remember seeing it long ago...well...not that long ago, but still, I remember being impressed with it. I love the dust and destruction, the deep, gaping urban would and the whole look of warfare. There's no mistaking the similarities between "progress" and destruction; I rather like progress, when it's progressive and not just busy work intended to benefit only a few. The narrative contained within this photo is quite powerful, and your own written words add so much to it. What I find particularly telling about this whole thing is the way in which Chicago is alienating and screwing over the very people who support much of this city's infrastructure and economy. The neo-riche yuppie types are all concentrated in a few (very limited) job fields, but the people these yuppie-types buy their food from, or who provide all sorts of other essential services (yes, including Starbucks Baristas) are unable to afford to live next door to the yuppies they sell stuff to. Oh well...Chicago goes through periods like this often, and always, when the city emerges from it, no one ever admits to ever having been a yuppie...funny how that goes. This is a great, provocative shot.
auntietk
It happens everywhere, doesn't it? This is a great visual example of the process. City living has more than its share of perils!
helanker
OH Yes, I have seen this happen in Copenhagen too. But the buildings, I am talking about, were so misserable, that they didnt even have a toilet in the house, but only in the yard....If you could call a rusty bucket a toilet. My brother once in a short time lived such a place. I should say, nobody should live like that, but it should be possible to renew apartements so it doesnt cost so much, as people with lower income could afford to live there. But that is what happens every time. They cant. Anyway Corey, I really like this shot alot.
sawade
Hi, thank you for the pic and your comment. I wanna fav this photo. All the best Bernd