Is perception reality?
The first time I heard this was in graduate school at
Roosevelt University. The professor
basically stated that in our country, perception is our reality and how we view
history. What we perceive to be the
truth is what we consider fact.
Perception does not include all the facts, all viewpoints, the
antecedent, and the filters we have in our heads. We simply see something or experience
something, and create the storyline.
Eventually, it becomes reality.
I will come back to this later.
Brighton Park in the 1980’s for me growing up was the best
possible place a young man could live.
My extended family was blocks away, my elementary school and church,
when I attended mass, was nearby; my friends were close, and my first
employment experiences were right in the neighborhood. First my paper route on 41st
Street from California to Kedzie, then my next job, the Amoco station on Kedzie
and 39th Street or Pershing Road.
I knew everyone for blocks and blocks, and I could walk for blocks and
blocks without a worry.
 |
| 3440 W. Pershing Rd, my first home in Brighton Park. |
Back then, my friends and I would say that we owned the
neighborhood. Walking through different
streets starting from Francisco to Archer Avenue. Hanging out in front of Club Roma’s, at Jim
and Anne’s, at Duckie’s Arcade on 35th and Washtenaw. As far east as McKinley Park, as far south as
Archer Ave., as far west as the White Castle, and as far north as Burroughs
Elementary. Yeah, we were nomads, but we
had friends in all of those neighborhoods.
Friends from school, next-door neighbors, and family, too. It was Boom Time in Brighton Park!
 |
| My old paper route, 40th St. from California to Kedzie. |
My perception: I would live here forever, work here, and
thrive here!
In actuality, Brighton Park was on a decline. Actually, it started in the 70’s. Population decline, deindustrialization of
the area, the discussion of private school closings, drop in school enrollment,
especially in the private schools, residents were getting older, etc. Not necessarily a decaying community, but one
that was not on the rise. Thus the
demographics changed. The look…the
perception…
When I left Brighton
Park, in the early 90’s, there was a significant change already, and the change
would continue. As the rest of the
country experienced an influx of Latinos, so did Brighton Park. Housing boom, ditto in BP. Economic downturn, closing private schools - BP,
too.
And now, Brighton Park has one of the youngest populations
in Chicago. BP’s population is at a
record high-45,000 residents and counting.
About 85% Latino and still a high concentration of immigrants living,
owning, thriving…reality not perception.
Yes, graffiti, gangs, poverty all exist.
Maybe a little more than before, but the neighborhood economically has
changed. Educationally it has
changed. Resources are scarce. Especially with so many Catholic churches and
schools closing in the area. Once a
pillar in the community, now really just that-vacant bricks and mortar instead. Remember
how many Catholic parishes existed with their own schools? How many do you think are still around? That is a significant void for a community!
Reality right?
Brighton Park is filled with families from back in the day
still and new families. Some good and
some not so good. They exist now as they
did when we were growing up. We all
mingled together regardless of what was happening at home, at school, around
the corner or in our heads. We were a
community, right? Perception or reality?
Brighton Park is still a community now: reality. Is it struggling? Yes, but we made it when BP
was on a decline.
Our reality can be, well, their reality, too!
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