Chicago Comic Entertainment Expedition

On Sunday, April 26, I had the opportunity to attend the Chicago Comic Entertainment Expedition. It was amazing to be able to meet like minded people who came together to see what they love. The event itself serves as an outlet to show creativity and to be able to fully express one’s ideas. It was my first time attending the event, and I was able to get a distinct view and idea of identity. I have been mainly focusing on identity through the point of race and how it plays in with injustices and justice throughout the country and the world. However, in this case identity comes from those that enjoy reading comics and learning about superheroes. Ever since I was a child, I enjoyed watching superhero related content, and at one point had the desire to be one. However, identity mainly occurred to me when I realized that the people that I had idolized so much were White males. It has never occurred to me that when it came to justice, the only people created were White. It infuriates me a little, due to the fact that as a person of color, I would appreciate having a superhero that looks just like me. However, because of the long existing idea of stereotypes and racism, many of the villains that I’ve managed to stumble upon are African American or Latino. Where films and comics fail to depict a wide range of diversity in terms of superheroes and role models that kids can look up to, the audience succeeds. No matter what race or class you may identity with, everyone manages to get their “nerd” on by dressing up as the heroes they want to be. It was truly a diverse crowd and personally it feels good to unite with everyone and not have to worry about being racially profiled or judged by one’s race. It was amazing to be able to meet some of the actors and entertainers that I have known as a child, and I hope to see bigger strides taken by comic companies such as Marvel and DC in order to diversify their heroes and depict America for how it really is. Before long, statistics show how there will be a point where the majority of people living in the United States will be people of color, such as Asian, African American, Latino, etc. It’s good to know how they’ve taken several steps by making Captain America Black, as well as diversifying in gender by making heroes like Thor and Wolverine female.

Univision

On the morning of May 8, 2015, I had the unique privilege of being able to visit Univision studios in Chicago. It’s the premiere Spanish speaking television studios located downtown and I simply found it to be mind blowing. The day was divided into two parts. The first was a presentation by one of the representatives, who uses this presentation in board meetings and with other professional figures. The information I was able to get out of presentation itself was astonishing and didn’t really surprise me. In terms of identity, the major connection is with the Latino community. Demographics show in reality Latinos make up a big part of our country and simply in Chicago close or more than half of the people are Latino. It’s good to know this because at one point the Latino population will actually be more than other races and populations. It was something I could already tell because among the audience that was listening to the presentation was a diverse number and group of Latino/a individuals, from different countries and cultures. Moreover, I’m grateful for how Univision supplements and serve the needs of the spanish speaking community in order to inform them and educate them on the world and what’s going on in Chicago. Not only does it help the Latinos already living here in the US, but it makes it easier for immigrants to get a sense of what’s going on and how the country works, since the only language they speak is Spanish. I can say from a personal standpoint, since as I grew up I was exposed to Univision since my parents watched the news every night. What really makes me proud about the Latino identity and the idea of justice is how despite all the racial injustices that have existed in the world, such as racial profiling, racism, discrimination, segregation, inequity, etc., Latinos have risen to the occasion in order to break away from the norms and because successful individuals. This is seen because although a Spanish speaking station, it competes with the major news providers such as FOX, ABC, NBC, CNN, etc. Many of the people working at Univision are Latino/a, and it shows and motivates many people in the Latino community to become as successful as they are. The last part of the tour was more technological since we visited the set, with all the cameras and equipment they used in order to broadcast news everyday. This part was unreal for me because I managed to walk on sets of shows that I’ve seen since I was a kid, and it was truly amazing. Visiting Univision is an experience I’ll never forget.

An Issue of Blood

On Sunday, May 3, I decided to venture to the Victory Gardens theater in order to see a play called, “An Issue of Blood. The events of the play took place not during our time period, but better yet in 1600’s, during the time of slavery. It is about how the historical figure Negro Mary attempts to marry her son off to the daughter of a powerful White power as a sign of peace. However, conflicts arise between the two families, as well as a love triangle. However, a big tension that I was able to see throughout the play is racial tension. After being able to see it, I can say that it was immensely powerful in terms of not only speaking about identity, but also power dynamics. From watching it I also saw how it was probably made to send the message #BlackLivesMatter. This is a very important message because it brings to light numerous issues that plague our society today. There have been numerous cases regarding police brutality and how it means losing the life of an innocent African American individual. It is something horrible and something that should be considered an issue of blood, with lives such as Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, and Eric Garner being taken for no good reason. There are even cases of police brutality that haven’t made the media. It shows how racism is still something prevalent, which to me is absurd, since we are all equal and deserve the same opportunities. What has happened during our time period is also relatable to the play, due to the fact that at one point John, Negro Mary’s son, encounters a constable that treats him unfairly due to his race. It is wrong because John actually managed to get educated and now dresses fancy, as if he was in a higher class, but is wrongfully demeaned for his skin color. It serves as a reminder that White will do whatever it takes in order to stay in power and to show that they are powerful and won’t allow people of color to progress. This whole situation reminds me of today, with friends of mine that even though are wealthy, are still judged by their skin, which later turns to stereotypes. Not only did I enjoy the entire play and plot, but the music that was incorporated was also very moving and unique, since they were African American spirituals as well as field hollers. It was truly a magical experience.

International Food Fest

On Friday May, 8, I had the opportunity to really experience culture and identity like no other. I attended the 11th annual International Food Fest with peers and had the privilege of meeting numerous AFS students with distinct backgrounds. It was an opportunity to try food of numerous cultures and really connect with students, parents, and alumni of the school. Looking at the diverse community that attended the event reminds me of the diverse people that make up Chicago. Although it’s a segregated city, it’s made up of unique people, whether they are Latino, Asian, Caucasian, African American, etc., and from countries in Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and even more. I was able to learn even more about the culture of the AFS students, whose home ranges from Pakistan, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, and Paraguay. As a Latino living in the United States, it was amazing to have known other people from Latin America, since we all share the passion of learning about our history and culture. It was also interesting to see how their identity has been changed because of the experience of visiting the United States. Having gone through this experience has helped me realize the relationship between identity and justice not only on a local level, but on a global scale. There are injustices that go on throughout the world that many people may not know about. For instance, one that resonates with me is the inequity that occurs in Mexico. 43 innocent students disappeared without a trace and the only people to blame are the corrupt government. Nothing was done for them and so the families did the obvious and fought for justice. Even though it meant causing riots, it was vital for the people to unite and bring justice for their loved ones. I was able to learn about these injustices from the students in their home countries. One that really stuck out to me was from the AFS student from Brazil. During the 2014 World Cup, there were protests against building stadiums  and wasting an immense amount of money knowing how people’s homes were being destroyed and impoverished neighborhoods that needed the money. One could ask at what cost was this risk taken? There were also innocent workers that ended up dying because of the construction of the stadiums. As bad as things are in the world, there are also good things. I managed to speak with the Francis W Parker AFS student Arami. This was amazing because I was able to learn about her culture and how Paraguay is considered to be the happiest place on earth. It makes me wish that Parker continues to bring more students from Latin America through the AFS program in order to see the diverse and unique group of people that live there. Overall, I had a wonderful time and really got to see how identity plays a role in our world. The question I’d like to ask was what’s the difference between living in the US as opposed to one’s home country? And what are the notions of the US that each AFS student comes with prior to visiting the US? If you need proof that I attended this event, ask Ms. Pritikin, she has the proof that I attended.

An Evening With Sister Helen Prejean

On Monday, April 27, I received the privilege to go and hear Sister Helen Prejean speak at Depaul University. She is internationally known as an advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. Her work in this area has inspired conversation, conversion, and change, drawing attention to the immorality of capital punishment and the way in which individuals, the state, and the culture at large relate to those we have imprisoned and sentenced to death. As I entered the building I was immediately introduced to some of the artwork created in relationship to this lecture. There were numerous pieces that instantly caught my attention due to how intriguing it was and the clear message it gave. To Sister Helen Prejean, condemning someone to death is the worst we as human beings can do to one another. She speaks of how she has worked together with numerous individuals that were on death row and eventually got wrongfully executed. While she spoke of the first hand experience, she spoke of some shocking statistics. There are 2.4 million in prison currently, and many of them happen to be wrongfully convicted. The person she’s currently working with right now is called Manuel Ortiz and he is currently on death row. She immensely works hard in order to have him released. As inspiring as her work was, there was also a hint of sadness at the reality that must be faced. This lecture touches upon a major conflict that poisons our nation and something I learned in my US History class, known as the New Jim Crow. It also happens to be a book written by Michelle Alexander, which shows how the New Jim Crow happens to be mass incarceration, specifically within the people of color population. With this notion to exist, it allows for an immense amount of racial profiling and police brutality to exist. A sad fact I came to see in a documentary is how police officers visit the schools in impoverished neighborhoods in order to guess which of the students of color will end up being felons, convicted, and executed. Rather than turn our attention towards other countries, the United States should worry about the conflicts that occur in its very backyard. There have already been murders such as with Eric Garner, Mike Brown, and Trayvon Martin, not to mention the countless others that haven’t been publicized in media not only for African Americans, but for Latinos as well. With the mass protests going on that go against this inequity, I only hope that it continues to increase until it gets the attention of everyone in power so something could be done. There needs to be justice for the voiceless that have suffered for too long.

12 Years a Slave

For my first blog of the second semester, I went to a public screening of "12 Years a Slave" at the Edgewater Library on February 5, 2015. It's an adaptation of the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup and it was the first time I had ever seen the film. Although the screening was taking place in a small intimate area, by the time I arrived it was packed. The audience ranged from adolescents like myself to the elderly. The film is about how during the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Northup worked on plantations in the state of Louisiana for 12 years before his release. However, the time in which he was a slave was one filled with cruelties and hardships, where he not only suffered but he had to watch as those around him suffered the same fate. From watching the film, my impression was that it was impactful, powerful, and amazing. As I joined the identity group, the question that lingered in my head was "what is the relationship between identity and justice in America." Instantly I can think of the evolution of injustice from the past until now. The film clearly shows the inequalities that were prevalent such as slavery and the immense amount of deaths in the African American community. Although we as a country have made progress in terms of abolishing slavery and attempting to give other groups of people equal rights, there is still an immense amount of work to be done. Today, there is still conflicts regarding police brutality and the fact that racism and discrimination is still present. You clearly see that in a city like Chicago, since it’s one of the most segregated cities. With each neighborhood you pass by, there is a clear distinction when it comes to race, skin, and socioeconomic class. Minorities still have to fight in order to obtain the same rights that White people were granted with. However, when it all comes down to it I intend on fighting for those people and ensuring that their voices are heard. Like in the film, good should always prevail and the only way that this is possible is by fighting against the evilness spread out and uniting together to protest. I was glad I got to explore the Edgewater neighborhood and finally see such a good film. Like they say, better late than never!