Cabrini Is Changing

On a brisk Saturday afternoon I set out out with photographers Ryan Flynn and Melissa Hayes to document the demolition or as some would say who see the glass as being half full instead of being half empty we set out to preserve memories of Cabrini Green. As a former resident of Cabrini Green I needed to see Cabrini Green one more time before its name is changed. The building my family lived in for 13 years of my life which is 365 W. Oak, a 7 story red brick building with security inside is one of the last buildings that is still standing. The other one that is standing is directly across from it is 354 W. Oak. Our first subject was 1230 Burling because I have relatives who live in the building. As we made our first stop into 1230 Burling which is one of the 'white' projects left standing we were greeted by guards and plain clothes police who informed us there had been a shooting and stabbing the night before. They told us that the 10th floor was on lock down and that we could not go up there. Nevertheless, undaunted the three of us were on a mission and nothing could stop us plus our destination was on the 7th floor. We submitted our ID and gained entry into the building. In bone chilling temperatures on our way up we met a man who shared with us his memories of days gone by in Cabrini. Ryan's face was beet red as he listened intently to the man's life story. Melissa's hands shivered as she tried desperately to hold her camera steady and capture the moment. Afterwords we entered the welcoming and the warmth of my cousin Roberta Rendles apartment. Ryan who is a resident of the newly built homes in the Cabrini and has lived in the area since the late 90's recognized some of my family members who also live in the new housing a few doors down from him. My cousin Jamesetta Dixon remembered him from the block party the year before. As we reminisced and the cameras lights flashed and everyone was laughing and smiling, I must admit that I was sad inside after seeing so much of Cabrini gone. Yes, I knew that it was coming but to see it up close is something else. No one will ever understand the way I feel. 365 W. Oak is the address that is written on my original birth certificate. Cabrini was there for me when I fell in love with poetry. Though I love my memories I am honest about them and I don't sugar coat them. I remember the day in 1982 when I went to my mother and told her I wish we could move because something inside me had broke. Two classmates were killed in previous years and I felt gloomy. My mother looked at me and said, 'we are going to move soon.' Sometimes when I think about the casualties of Cabrini like Derrick Savage, Glenn Hairston, Dantrell Davis and Curtis Cooper, I say good riddance Cabrini. But when I think about my mother holding my hand every morning and taking me to St. Mathews pre school I say, thank God Cabrini. So I guess you can say that I have dueling memories. But one things for sure if there are a thousand more Ryan's and Melissa's inhabiting the neighborhood then I will continue to say thank God. To view the photos that were taken by Melissa Hayes please visit her site at http://melissahphoto.blogspot.com/2010/01/cabrini-green.html. To view Ryan Flynn's web site where I am a frequent guest please visit cabrini-green.com.