"We're All Racist Now" - Proviso West High School and Racial Change in the Western Suburbs (Oak Park: homes, to buy)

[Domebuddy]

as a 2010 graduate of proviso west, i can say the school now is predominately black and hispanic. But the school does not operate as poorly as this article says, perhaps 16 years was enough to change. I'm white, yet i do not feel open oppression from blacks, and the whites merge fairly well with the others, there is very little racism all together. The only open gang violence i see is from little scribbles on bathroom walls, and maybe hearing about a fight that took place in front of someones house. People need to look pass race, and that Paterson guy was not helping the problem.

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by Domebuddy

as a 2010 graduate of proviso west, i can say the school now is predominately black and hispanic. But the school does not operate as poorly as this article says, perhaps 16 years was enough to change. I'm white, yet i do not feel open oppression from blacks, and the whites merge fairly well with the others, there is very little racism all together. The only open gang violence i see is from little scribbles on bathroom walls, and maybe hearing about a fight that took place in front of someones house. People need to look pass race, and that Paterson guy was not helping the problem.

Thanks for this testimony. A reality check is a good thing every now and then. Without this forum I seriously doubt I would ever talk to any recent high school grad, let alone one that from Proviso. Good to hear that you can attend the school without any real difficulties.

[Dncr]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

There is no racial change in Chicago's suburbs or the city. It's just a place that is divided by race. Martin Luther King said that the worst racism that he saw was not in Mississippi, rest in peace Emmett Till (you didn't deserve that for whistling at a white woman), but Chicago. Remember the boy who swam into the white part of lake michigan and set off race riots? Chitown is all about race. Always has been, always will be.

I don't know if it's always about race, but it definitely does play a role the majority of the time. Usually, people tend to discriminate on the basis of income.

Anyway, about these schools. Proviso East/West seem to be seeing problems seen by a lot of other suburban schools. I can personally speak for the Niles West/North.

The white enrollment in these schools has been dropping steadily since the 1980's, and in the 2010-2011 school year, both schools will officially be minority-majority. Granted they don't face the problems seen by Proviso East/West, as they are both beautiful schools, they are "shunned" by white families.

The teacher seems racist, that's just my honest opinion. He didn't like the fact that the school was changing for what he considered the worst, and expressed his anger. He's human, and humans can be racist. They're idiots, but they're human.

[At1WithNature]

White enrollment means nothing as the Supreme Court has endorsed accepting students of color, or minority status, over more qualified white students.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

White enrollment means nothing as the Supreme Court has endorsed accepting students of color, or minority status, over more qualified white students.

You do realize we're talking about public high schools here without selective enrollment? If you live in the district, you can go. The issue is the reduction of white enrollment as minority enrollment increases. Parents get spooked, and pull their kids out in favor of private schools... Or move to another town all together.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

There is no racial change in Chicago's suburbs or the city.

What are you talking about? "Racial change" as discussed in this article has to do with the changing demographics of certain suburbs. Maywood and Bellwood used to have much larger white populations than they do today, but the demographics have changed due to an influx of minorities and "white flight". Thus, "racial change". It's a nicer way of saying "white flight" or "gentrification", and is frankly a more accurate description of what is occuring.

[Dncr]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

You do realize we're talking about public high schools here without selective enrollment? If you live in the district, you can go. The issue is the reduction of white enrollment as minority enrollment increases. Parents get spooked, and pull their kids out in favor of private schools... Or move to another town all together.

Exactly. A lot of schools see this "problem" that Proviso East/West are seeing. Maine East may have to be the worst example of northern suburban schools.

It's really sad, but I would be lying if I said even my parents didn't consider moving because the schools became less white. They're still great school, but people tend to underrate them. Maine East/West and Niles North/West have excellent teachers, but the language barrier is just a problem for many of the students. They don't do well on the standardized test which brings the overall average of the school down and then people use that as justification for not sending their children to that school.

The fact that 3/4 of them are minority-majority also doesn't role over well. Sorry if I am ranting about this haha, it just really pisses me off how people avoid certain school on the basis of race, despite the fact that they are great schools.

[At1WithNature]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

What are you talking about? "Racial change" as discussed in this article has to do with the changing demographics of certain suburbs. Maywood and Bellwood used to have much larger white populations than they do today, but the demographics have changed due to an influx of minorities and "white flight". Thus, "racial change". It's a nicer way of saying "white flight" or "gentrification", and is frankly a more accurate description of what is occuring.

I'm talking about now, not 40 or 50 years ago. Cal City used to be a great place to live too...

[At1WithNature]

I apologize. I currently attend a University in the city where I am a minority. I am a white male. Most of my classes are 80% black, with the rest hispanic. Maybe 1 or 2 white girls, tops. So I laugh at people who try to play the race thing in 2010, especially when the classes that I take are such things as "Racial and Ethnic History." We all know about "Timid Bigots" and "Reluctant Liberals." Times have changed! I apologize for my misunderstanding. I haven't posted for months, I'm a little rusty. My bad.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

I apologize. I currently attend a University in the city where I am a minority. I am a white male. Most of my classes are 80% black, with the rest hispanic. Maybe 1 or 2 white girls, tops. So I laugh at people who try to play the race thing in 2010, especially when the classes that I take are such things as "Racial and Ethnic History." We all know about "Timid Bigots" and "Reluctant Liberals." Times have changed! I apologize for my misunderstanding. I haven't posted for months, I'm a little rusty. My bad.

Yeah, I know what you mean..

Although I am very happy with the number of white girls at Prairie State College, actually.. lol. It's a helluva lot more than what I see around town.