Thursday, May 25, 2006

Cabrini Heat

On Tuesday evening NBC news here in Chicago reported on a new film called Cabrini Heat being produced in and about Chicago's much-maligned Cabrini-Green housing projects.

A trailer for the movie shows a harsh reality, as filmed by Cabrini residents, far removed from other more affluent parts of the city. What it does show, though, is a world that is all too real for many residents in inner cities still today.

An even better source for a view into this too often forgotten world is the highly recommended poignant story, called There Are No Children Here, of two boys growing up in other nearby Chicago Housing Authority public housing projects . This critically acclaimed book captures the essence of the community well.

I would encourage you to watch the clip showing a community I can't help but feel for as it is so deeply in need.

Caution: The linked clip shows graphic violence and extremely hostile and crude language. It is linked to offer a glimpse of a world often unseen. Compassion in our attitudes as we view is prerequisite.

4 comments:

lisa :) said...

I read There Are No Children Here a couple years ago and I agree with it as "highly recommended" - and I'll go even farther to say two thumbs up, one of the top ten non-fiction books I've ever read. And for those that don't read much but still want to catch the story, it was made into a TV movie in the 90's too (starred Oprah and Maya Angelou - didn't see it but heard good reviews).

Anonymous said...

it is the fault of people like yourself. you justify this poor behavior. how much can society force a person to act civilized? i dare you to leave your sheltered home. walk through the "jets" (projects for those of you far enough removed from reality). but than again, it is easier to play on the internet.

fyi.
public housing in chicago was meant to be temporary, not permanent. but i'm sure you learned that in the suburbs.

p.s. the main character in "there are no children here" was killed in a bad drug transaction years ago. (also the car oprah gave him was impounded)

be happy that you are safe and free from this garbage. but maybe the project people will move nextdoor to you, and YOU can help them AND SAVE THE WORLD!!!!!!!

Westy said...

it is the fault of people like yourself...how much can society force a person to act civilized? i dare you to leave your sheltered home. walk through the "jets"
I guess I'm a little confused. I have often been in the projects, including Cabrini. How am I at fault for the behavior exhibited in this video? Are you arguing it is justified? If so, by what?

public housing in chicago was meant to be temporary, not permanent. but i'm sure you learned that in the suburbs.
Really? I had not heard that. It was my understanding the housing itself was meant to be developments that provided a stable community for those without the means to have a home like that otherwise. That the projects radically failed are an indictment of the design type for sure, but was there a vision at that time that these buildings would be short-lived? I was not aware of that.
And as a city-dweller, how would I have learned that in the suburbs?

the main character in "there are no children here" was killed in a bad drug transaction years ago. (also the car oprah gave him was impounded)
Sad information. Where did you find this out? And which boy do you mean by the "main" character?

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