The Chicago Project

Classroom Education

“Today (during class) we wrote out all the mean things people have been called, some of them sounded familiar because I had been called them. Its sad thinking about how much I hate it when I’m called a name, and then knowing African Americans were called much worse.”
Trish Styer, 2004 Participant

“I am disgusted that people could commit such an act (the murder of Emmett Till).”
Trish Styer, 2004 Participant

“It’s very sad that this kind of hatred still exists in the world we live in today (referring to lynching).”
Trish Styer, 2004 Participant

“I think it was disgusting how everyone acted (during a lynching) like there was nothing wrong with what they did. They were proud of it. It’s sick to know they would actually display the ears, toes, fingers, and even flesh in their stores as if it were a trophy. People back then were extremely sick-minded.”
Trish Styer, 2004 Participant

“I can’t believe that they got away scott free (referring to the murder of Emmett Till), it makes me sick to my stomach knowing that they are still out there, knowing that they did it once, no telling if, or how many others they did it to.”
~Shannon Watson, 2004 Participant

“I wonder why black people were targeted. I would like to know the main reason because we are no different than whites. What ever happened to the phrase it’s what’s inside that counts? It’s the new millennium, can’t we just get along?”
Tiara Walker, 2004 Participant

“That was the most horrible and disgusting sights I’ve ever seen (referring to lynching), not to mention that was real!”
~Tiara Walker, 2004 Participant

“All I keep thinking is ‘Oh my God.’” (about lynching in America)
~Erin Schoenfeld, 2004 Participant

“I have had such a short time in this class, and already I have learned so much. I never dreamed so much racism still existed in the U.S. today. The hatred is unreal. I thought slavery was over and done with, and everyone was equal. It is so wrong, but yet accepted by so many people. I am sure there are many people out there who have no idea what is going on, just as I did.”
~Charity Nestor, 2004 Participant

“That was one of the most horrible things I have ever seen (the murder of Emmett Till). The hatred was so strong. They didn’t just put the kid in his place, they tortured him. The whole town knew the men were guilty, yet they still set them free.”
~Charity Nestor, 2004 Participant

“I’ve learned that there is a lot of hate and meanness in this world and in myself and others. And even though I want to change it I feel like I can’t even change it in me. It’s so hard to change because I get mad and upset and do it without even thinking. I wonder where it all came from and where in the world did I along with others learn all this hate.”
~Heather Chandler, 2004 Participant

“It was wrong that these (lynch) mobs could even do such a thing to another human being- sometimes for no reason at all. Blacks were not seen as human like white people. They were seen as animals. But (white people) never stopped to look at the real picture- the they were the real animals.”
~Brandi Thomas, 2004 Participant

“Even in movie roles, there is a lot of racism going on, but to my point of view I didn’t notice it until someone points it out to me. I can notice it now, because of what you (Mr. Wilson) has shown us.”
Jessica Hanes, 2004 Participant

“I believe that there is still much to learn about the past, many things besides just slavery.”
~Elisha Deckard, 2004 Participant

“Looking at the lynchings, they gave me chills and made me sick to my stomach. I can’t believe how cruel people were. During this time of lynching my grandma and mammaw saw this kind of stuff, they had to grow up with it and actually maybe came face to face with it?”
~Samantha Brewer, 2004 Participant

Arriving in North Lawndale

“When we left the highway, I was very scared. I figured the bus would break down, or something of that nature. I was surprised to find that people were actually very nice. Now that we’re here, I’m not so scared anymore. I’m here, and there’s a whole lot of learning to get done.”
Trish Styer, 2004 Participant

“I expect trash, homeless people, poor people, “life in the ghetto.” I expect to see a whole new side of life that I’ve never seen before.”
Heather Chandler, 2004 Participant

“When people hear the word ‘ghetto’ they just freak out because of what is on T.V. and what they have heard. I expect to see just everyday people trying to live their life”
Tiara Walker, 2004 Participant

Tour of North Lawndale

“I think there wouldn’t have been so many riots if the city (Chicago) would have paid more attention to the communities and neighborhoods. The city should have started helping out earlier.”
~Heather Chandler, 2004 Participant

“I couldn’t believe how all the white people moved out just because of the blacks moving in.”
Heather Chandler, 2004 Participant

“There are tons of houses with boards that look like they are so old and dirty. Tons of buildings that are vacant and boarded up. There is trash laying everywhere.”
Shannon Watson, 2004 Participant

“I don’t think North Lawndale has completely lost hope. I know this because they are building new units and there are pretty nice places around the area. There’s hope deep inside, but it’s not visible because hope has disappeared for a long time.”
Tiara Walker, 2004 Participant

Poetry Slam

“The poetry slam was awesome. It was a place where you could voice your emotions (fear, love hate) in your own way without anyone making fun of you. It was cool to see so many different people all come together to do something wonderful.”
Heather Chandler, 2004 Participant

“The poetry slam was awesome. It was people expressing themselves in things like society, violence, family, love and just about everything else.”
Charity Nestor, 2004 Participant

Greater Open Door Community Baptist Church

“The church was very different from what I’m used to. It was so loud!”
Charity Nestor, 2004 Participant

“When Reverend Nelson talked about God or made some powerful statements I got touched, I felt chills all around my body.”
Shannon Watson, 2004 Participant

Community Cookout

“There was one little boy I couldn’t get enough of- his name was “JJ”. When the game started I gave him a high-five. He jumped up and smacked my hand, then followed with a bear hug.”
Charity Nestor, 2004 Participant

“It also inspired me to maybe one day get a community center for kids!”
Shannon Watson, 2004 Participant

Sears Tower

“I saw that the lights kept going except for in one area, which was the ghetto (North Lawndale). There were no lights there what so ever.”
Ronin Reynolds, 2004 Participant

“Up at the Sears Tower, everything looked beautiful. You would never think that there was a “ghetto” or “ghettos” in Chicago or that people were struggling to live and get through each day.”
Heather Chandler, 2004 Participant

“Sears Tower was beautiful. You could see everything! There is so much money down there with all the buildings and the lake. The lights were beautiful, except for the fact that they stopped in the ghetto area. It shows how society today is still showing so much prejudice.”
Charity Nestor, 2004 Participant

“You could see Lawndale, it looked like a dead spot in Chicago because over looking the city, all of it was lit up with lights except Lawndale and the other hoods or projects around. So sad….”
Stephanie Miles, 2004 Participant

Cook County Jail

“It’s sad to see that the most of the jail population is black. Being black, I think, is the #1 challenge in ghettoized communities.”
Tiara Walker, 2004 Participant

“It’s there, that’s almost why people are afraid to go to ghettos. The corruption and abuse are everywhere in the ghetto.”
Stephanie Miles, 2004 Participant

“That was one of the most craziest things I have experienced , I mean, wow. How could anyone live in that type of environment? I mean, people get out and get put back in a day, week, month, or so after they get out and they’re back in. It was definitely a eye opener.”
Stephanie Miles, 2004 Participant

“I am NEVER going to jail.”
Charity Nestor, 2004 Participant

Marshall High School (Attitudes Before Going)

“From Save the Last Dance and on television I was expecting a lot of ‘thugs’ or gangs. Fights breaking out. People yelling rude things.”
Stephanie Miles, 2004 Participant

“There will probably be more shootings or drug deals.”
Melissa Neece, 2004 Participant

“I was really scared when we walked in. All of the guys were standing at the doors as we walked by.”
Shannon Watson, 2004 Participant

“I was expecting to see a few fights. I know the females are going to have an attitude that’s off the wall because we are all girls coming to this school and they will be intimidated because of the fact that they may feel like we are a threat.”
Stephanie Miles, 2004 Participant

“I was afraid that all I would do was sit there not saying anything. And that me and my person would not talk and would have nothing in common.”
Heather Chandler, 2004 Participant

Marshall High School (Attitudes After Going)

“My experience was nothing like I expected. It was so much fun. At the end of the day everyone exchanged hugs and said goodbye.”
Charity Nestor, 2004 Participant

“I’m scared to go to Marshall. I expect a lot of gangs and fights. I don’t think they will like a bunch of white people in their school.”
Charity Nestor, 2004 Participant

“I anticipated that the students may not be very accepting of the white students. I thought that the girls would be kind of rude. I was also expecting to see more of thug mentality from the boys.”
Elisha Deckard, 2004 Participant

“I figured that there would be a lot of fights and guns! I thought that girls would be rude and say things to us. I found it to be the complete opposite.”
Jenna Combs, 2004 Participant

“When I walked in I thought, “Oh God! I don’t want to be here.” But when my partner came in (Lonzo) he was really nice and funny!”
Jenna Combs, 2004 Participant

“When I first got there I felt left out. But when I went to the first class with my partner, they were all very talkative and very respectful. They were also very interested in our work as we were theirs. The students said that I would fit right in with everyone else because of my attitude.”
Ronin Reynolds, 2004 Participant

“(Before going into Marshall High School) I was seriously expecting to get in a fight or get shot. (Once we got there) They stared at first, but in the end it was cool. It’s amazing that the media can make inner city schools look so violent.”
Trish Styer, 2004 Participant

“I think that school is cool, I would love to go back. Everyone was nice to me, males and females. I didn’t get any attitude or any eyes rolled at me.”
Stephanie Miles, 2004 Participant

Other Quotes

“Freedom is hard to achieve, but we can do it. With the strength, courage, and determination of every one of, we can overcome this. Together we will bring justice to our nation.”
Trish Styer, 2004 Participant

“I have learned since the beginning of the Chicago Project how mean people can really be to other people about their race, religion, and so on.”
~Shannon Watson, 2004 Participant

“Color doesn’t mean anything. God made us all the same, no matter what we look like.”
Shannon Watson, 2004 Participant

“Somewhere in the beginning Ira asked me not to view him as a black man, but as a person. This really made me think because I was just viewing him as a person. The fact that he was black didn’t even hit me until he said that. It was at that moment that I realized how much the Project really had changed my views on people and life because before this class that would’ve been the first thing I noticed, not the last.”
Trish Styer, 2004 Participant

“I really did not believe that it really did happen a lot (police corruption) but I learned differently today. I believe it makes the community stand and fight together and make them fear or hate the police, they will teach their children to hate or fear the police.”
Heather Chandler, 2004 Participant

“I learned that diversity is at its peak. In this world, that is basically how people are classified either as “BLACK” or “WHITE”. When you are filling out an application (it doesn’t matter if it’s for a prize drawing or for a college scholarship) it always asks for your race. We need to stop this madness before we kill each other off the planet.”
Tiara Walker, 2004 Participant