'Gringos get out of Pilsen'
Do the evolution
Jonathon Berryhill
Issue date: 2/24/04 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
Walking back from class last week, I noticed a sticker stuck to one of the construction signs posted along the perimeter of the University Hall renovation project. It simply read, "Gringos get out of Pilsen."
I was hoping whatever group responsible for this would leave behind their mark, so students reading this message could know who to give credit for such a fatheaded remark. Although, of course, that would be incredibly witless for a group to claim responsibility for their own graffiti, but I'm willing to safely bet the real reason for remaining unidentifiable is due to the lack of intellect to back up their asinine comment.
Why exactly would some members of the Pilsen area like to rid their community of the dreaded gringos? This question was stirring the embers in the back of my head for the entire L ride home, and the whole time irony was the reoccurring theme.
The racial term gringo is used toward a non-Hispanic person who is considered a stranger within the confines of Spain or Latin America. So I'm guessing it's safe to say that the group responsible for this is of a Spanish or Latin American descent. Pilsen also has one of the largest Hispanic communities in the United States.
But wait un momento! I live within the confines of Chicago, not the confines of Mexico City. My president is George Bush, not Vicente Fox (I never thought I'd brag about that). So the "gringos get out of Pilsen" sticker is being used incorrectly. But this is just petty semantics and one of the many ironies with this cheap little sticker.
Could Pilsen be overcrowded with non-Hispanic University of Illinois at Chicago students? Perhaps this mystery group isn't that accepting of a really simple business equation that goes hand-in-hand with college kids.
College kids need places to live plus available apartment space equals paid rent from college kids, thus stimulating the Pilsen economy.
Ah, the beauty of it. And looking at the crime statistics for the Pilsen area, maybe this mystery group is having a hard time adjusting to this strange new way of making money. And it's all legal!
Maybe it has to deal with racism. Is this anti-gringo group racist? Clearly by the statement on the sticker, I would have to say so. Nothing gets a group to be taken more seriously than when they start spitting off the racist comments (I say that sarcastically). I'd love to believe that a group so bold as to declare Pilsen free of gringos is above the racial profiling factor.
Could the bitterness of struggling to find political representation still be leaving an awful aftertaste? Pilsen has it now with Congressmen Luis Gutierrez, and on all state levels.
That's the beauty of this country. Immigrants from all descents can come to America and achieve great things. New Mexico and Arizona have large immigrant populations and are huge players in this country's politics.
I'm pretty sure Luis Gutierrez didn't win office by slinging the term gringo around during debates. I'm sure that educational reform in the Pilsen community won't be successful when racist stickers are everywhere to be seen.
There are other ways to get your message across without throwing around racist terms. When you resort to racism you throw all credibility out the window. Your true, pathetic colors really shine bright.
Hopefully, in the future, this group will come forward and articulate intelligently as to why the gringos must get out of Pilsen.
Staff writer Jonathan Berryhill can be reached at chicagoflame@chicagoflame.com
I was hoping whatever group responsible for this would leave behind their mark, so students reading this message could know who to give credit for such a fatheaded remark. Although, of course, that would be incredibly witless for a group to claim responsibility for their own graffiti, but I'm willing to safely bet the real reason for remaining unidentifiable is due to the lack of intellect to back up their asinine comment.
Why exactly would some members of the Pilsen area like to rid their community of the dreaded gringos? This question was stirring the embers in the back of my head for the entire L ride home, and the whole time irony was the reoccurring theme.
The racial term gringo is used toward a non-Hispanic person who is considered a stranger within the confines of Spain or Latin America. So I'm guessing it's safe to say that the group responsible for this is of a Spanish or Latin American descent. Pilsen also has one of the largest Hispanic communities in the United States.
But wait un momento! I live within the confines of Chicago, not the confines of Mexico City. My president is George Bush, not Vicente Fox (I never thought I'd brag about that). So the "gringos get out of Pilsen" sticker is being used incorrectly. But this is just petty semantics and one of the many ironies with this cheap little sticker.
Could Pilsen be overcrowded with non-Hispanic University of Illinois at Chicago students? Perhaps this mystery group isn't that accepting of a really simple business equation that goes hand-in-hand with college kids.
College kids need places to live plus available apartment space equals paid rent from college kids, thus stimulating the Pilsen economy.
Ah, the beauty of it. And looking at the crime statistics for the Pilsen area, maybe this mystery group is having a hard time adjusting to this strange new way of making money. And it's all legal!
Maybe it has to deal with racism. Is this anti-gringo group racist? Clearly by the statement on the sticker, I would have to say so. Nothing gets a group to be taken more seriously than when they start spitting off the racist comments (I say that sarcastically). I'd love to believe that a group so bold as to declare Pilsen free of gringos is above the racial profiling factor.
Could the bitterness of struggling to find political representation still be leaving an awful aftertaste? Pilsen has it now with Congressmen Luis Gutierrez, and on all state levels.
That's the beauty of this country. Immigrants from all descents can come to America and achieve great things. New Mexico and Arizona have large immigrant populations and are huge players in this country's politics.
I'm pretty sure Luis Gutierrez didn't win office by slinging the term gringo around during debates. I'm sure that educational reform in the Pilsen community won't be successful when racist stickers are everywhere to be seen.
There are other ways to get your message across without throwing around racist terms. When you resort to racism you throw all credibility out the window. Your true, pathetic colors really shine bright.
Hopefully, in the future, this group will come forward and articulate intelligently as to why the gringos must get out of Pilsen.
Staff writer Jonathan Berryhill can be reached at chicagoflame@chicagoflame.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
alexpisces
alexpisces
posted 7/23/04 @ 1:38 PM CST
Mr. Berryhill, It is quite a shame that as a writer you do not do some background investigating before you submit such articles. Are you not informed of the gentrification that exists in Chicago? First, I would like to clarify for you the struggle that the Mexican (and most minorities) people have had to endure in maintaining a homebase in Chicago. (Continued…)
neo7288
neo7288
posted 11/07/04 @ 8:31 PM CST
MR. Berryhill
I don't believe that you are grasping the ideology and the reason behind the so called "incorrect" sticker/statement. I am of Hispanic origin and id have to say that although used incorrectly the term "gringo" is well in context on this sticker. (Continued…)
neo7288
neo7288
posted 11/07/04 @ 8:32 PM CST
MR. Berryhill
I don't believe that you are grasping the ideology and the reason behind the so called "incorrect" sticker/statement. I am of Hispanic origin and id have to say that although used incorrectly the term "gringo" is well in context on this sticker. (Continued…)
aosdana
aosdana
posted 5/23/05 @ 3:39 PM CST
Wait hold on here. You live in the confines of Chicago. Which is made up of many nations segregated by neighborhoods. Its been that way since the "gringo" came across in a boat I say the original wet backs and made his cities and divided it by cultures. (Continued…)
robertoalmazan
robertoalmazan
posted 8/03/05 @ 1:03 AM CST
Johnathan, i live in pilsen and I think that was an ignorant sticker. I am not going to try to justify a commment like that. I think if i were in your neighborhood and I seen a stiker saying something regarding my race i too would be offended. (Continued…)
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