[Oe List ...] FW: Photos from Uptown in 1970s

[Marilyn Crocker]

Just realized this note only went to Shelley and thought it might be helpful
for others.  M

 

From: Marilyn Crocker [mailto:marilyncrocker at juno.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013 7:13 PM
To: 'Shelley Hahn'
Subject: RE: [Oe List ...] Photos from Uptown in 1970s

 

Shelley,

 

Thank you so much for sharing this "find."  It is a treasure to any of us
with roots, branches or twigs in Uptown.

 

In 1972 when we (OE) made "the turn" and  many of our Order moved to Kemper,
we perhaps wondered why the insurance giant would ever give up such a
wonderful facility.  These photos tell us some of the reasons, far beyond
the tax write-off.  The neighborhood had changed.  But at that time we cast
thankful eyes upon the immense bounty and ultimate possibility we
envisioned.  And I think that was good.

 

Having spent time at Kemper in the early 70s at priors' meetings and summer
assemblies, and then having lived there in the later '70s and early 80's, I
now realize how "insulated" I was - despite the fact that I was a permeator
who walked daily to and from the Wilson El stop and shopped at local stores
for family necessities.  JWM had taught us all well that "when you are in
Uptown (or 5th city) you walk with "street smart."  That meant not
meandering, but behaving as if you were utterly clear and " in charge" of
everything, and always travelling at minimum by twos.

 

I remember only too well the day Lyn Mathews was mugged, right in from of
our building - purse snatched away;  I remember the Friday afternoon I drove
home from my permeation job in Oak Brook and took a short cut threw Cabrini
Green (how stupid).  Stopped at a red light - my brief case on the seat
beside me - and was a victim of "smash and grab."  And it was David
Rebstock's car he had loaned me, and in my brief case was an airline ticket
for my Monday morning trip to Buffalo, NY.

 

Street smart became even more clear to me.

 

Soon after Joe and I returned from teaching the first HDTS in Maliwada, our
sons (at Stuart school, grade 2) made friends with "Caesar," the owner of
Autumn Leaves grocery, down Sheridan toward Wilson, opposite the Burger
King.  It seems one day they stopped in after school  and longingly looked
at the candy counter.  After introductions and conversation, Caesar Ramirez
(and his family) became their mentor and strong advocate for them to work
hard in school.  At the end of each term they would first stop at Autumn
Leaves to show Caesar their report cards and if his standards were met
(usually quite high) he would let each of them select a pint of ice cream to
take home. Then they would report to Joe and me.  Thereafter I think several
other of our Order children learned about Caesar and benefitted from his
encouragement to work hard and earn ice cream.

 

Another Uptown "saint" in my book was Rita Simo, founder the People's Music
School.  Like Caesar, she went out of her way to encourage the nascent gifts
of our "EG" - training them in vocal and instrumental music which, in the
case of our sons, (and others like Joan Avery,) made all the difference in
their young and later adult lives.

 

This is not, in any way to diminish the reality of impoverishment,
marginalization, degradation and sub human living conditions of men, women
and children that sadly co-existed with our (the OE) far more abundance
during the 70s.  

 

Rather it is to stand in radical gratitude that our own children (at least
some of them) were protected by community people beyond their parents and
the OE, who LOVED them.   And it is to acknowledge deep shame (mine in
particular) that somehow, so many of us - so busy with permeation
assignments in the Loop; or methods and spirit construct creation within the
safe confines of Kemper; or organizing and implementing our reaching out
across the globe (all worthy aspects of our understanding of "mission") -
didn't have eyes to see or ears to hear the innocent suffering at our
doorstep.

 

As I think about my relatively brief time living in Uptown, I remember Jack
Ballard as a sensitive and responsive voice on behalf of the community of
Uptown at a time when he immersed himself in serving the local geography and
came to know and love  its people. I'm sorry we didn't "listen" more closely
to his wisdom.   Also, I realize now the other totally untapped resource of
knowledge about the Uptown community was our own youth - like you, Shelly. I
am so sorry we didn't even acknowledge the utter "street savvy" and wisdom
you had to have gleaned in order to "survive" in school, work, college.

 

I just wanted to share this in appreciation for you and all of the other
folks in Uptown in the '70s I had missed out on knowing, appreciating and
thanking.

 

Grace, peace and love,

 

Marilyn Crocker

From: oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net
[mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Shelley Hahn
Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013 9:39 AM
To: Order Ecumenical Community
Subject: [Oe List ...] Photos from Uptown in 1970s

 

I thought some of you might be interested in a new book of photos from
Chicago's Uptown neighborhood in the the 1970s.  Take a look at this story
about it:

 

http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2013/11/20/taking-look-uptown-40-years-ago

 

It was eerie looking at these photos.  It reminds me of some photo essays
I've seen of poor neighborhoods in the 30s and 40s.  Looking at those older
photos I always think, "Wow! So people were really living like that!"  Then
I look at this essay and think, "Wow!  I was living smack dab in the middle
of all that!"  A very strange feeling.

 

This also reminds me of how I felt moving into the Kemper building when I
returned from England in the summer of 1972.  Everyone told me how dangerous
the neighborhood was.  All I could think was that it was nowhere near as
dangerous as Fifth City.  I was cautious in Uptown but I didn't live in
constant fear, as I had as a child in Fifth City. 

 

I just ordered the last hard copy of the book from Amazon, but they say
there are more on the way.

 

I wish everyone a joyful and meaningful holiday season!

 

Fondly,

Shelley

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