Pilsen is a community based on family and culture. The culture of the area is very prominent, the greatest example of this is the Spanish History Museum. The museum shows not only the history of the Mexican people but what they do for Dia Day Los Muertos. There were people creating handbags and sugar skulls from scratch and decorating them as anyone would like them.
The family owned shops and the small restaurants further exemplify this fact, by providing a little taste of home so to speak. So why has this little community flourished over the years and become what it is today? It is because of the constant flow of family and immigrants contributing to the community. This has happened more than once in our history of the United States. Another example is the neighborhood of Little Italy in both New York and Chicago.
The reason I mention this is because I had family that took roots in both these communities over the years when my family first immigrated to the states from Italy. The communities of Little Italy still flourish today, not as well as Pilsen has but they have helped the surrounding communities through the years. But Pilsen is a special case. It was not always a Mexican neighborhood. We mentioned it being Polish before the current residents. So my question is how can such a transformation take place. From one culture to another that is vastly different than the one before hand. Can anyone think of other communities that have undergone such a change?
Pilsen is built upon community and culture. Is this a good way to build a new community? Is Naperville a community built on culture? How about out communities we are doing our research on for Corsino’s class?
Good questions John. In my view, Naperville is not a community built on a culture so much as one that is constructed around the property values and the quality of the schools. People settle here because they want and can afford an expensive home and want to send their children to Naperville's top notch public schools. That said, if Naperville has a culture it might be the culture of "whiteness" and "white privilege" and all that that implies. But I actually would like to hear what other students in the class say in response to your questions...
ReplyDeleteJohn, I definitely agree with Professor Macek. We do not see Naperville to built on culture ... however, Naperville does have cultur in my opinion. Like Professor Macek mentions, Napervile has a cultur and is it the culture of "whiteness" and "white privilege." Naperville includes a majority of white middle to upper class families and the norms and values associated with white middle to upper class families are perpetuated throughout Naperville. The fancy restaurants, the shops, the homes, and etc.
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