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CABRINI GREEN
by Lorien House 1977 Note: Cabrini Green was a housing project on the Near North side of Chicago. In the 1970s, it housed more than 15,000 people, and was considered one of the most dangerous places to live in the city. "You might want to duck.” "I might want to what?” "Get down. Below the window.” "What are you talking about?” "Cabrini Green.” "I know, I been past it a million times.” "Well, we're going in it, to pick up Sedgewick.” "He lives in Cabrini?” "Yeah, your little crush lives in Cabrini.” "Oh. Wow. "What, you thought he was some Bougie-black?” "No. I don't know. I'm white.” "No shit. That's why you should duck.” "Because I'm white?” "Because you're white. People see a white face in Cabrini, they be tempted to shoot at it.” "Oh come on.” "Just get down. You're not in suburbia anymore, Lacie. Kennelwack or Fox Trot or whatever that place is called.” "Palatine.” "Yeah. Well you ain't there anymore.” "Oh come on.” "Just GET DOWN.” "Jeez, Louise. All right. Damn, do you ever clean this frikkin car?” "You want you can clean it anytime.” "I'll pass. (pause) You see Sedgy?” "No. But I see some folks I'd rather not deal with right now.” "Can I come up?” "No! (pause). Shit.” "What? What? I can't see. I'm coming up.” "No! Jesus. It's a bunch of folks coming towards the car. Ima get going.” "What about Sedgy?” "It's his hood. He can deal with these gang bangers better than me, especially when I've got a white suburban princess in my damn car.” "Oh it's my fault. They didn't even see me.” "Ima turn here, get out of Cabrini, circle around, come back through another way.” "You know where you're going?” "Hell no, I never been here in my life, and wouldn't set foot either if I wasn't in a car.” "Who's Bougie now?” "I'm not Bougie, just smart and I value my life. This ain't fun and games out here. Not like Palestine.” "Palatine.” "Whatever. White people and picket fences.” "Palatine's mostly apartments.” "Thats worse! White people stacked one on top of the other, blasting “Sweet Home Alabama” and hanging confederate flags out the window.” "Oh come on. We're not like that.” "You can come up. We're on Rush Street so now I actually need a white face next to me.” "JeeZUS. (gets up). I said, my family's not racist.” "Whatever.” "They're not.” "Have you ever introduced me to them? Or Wanda? Or Sedgie for that matter?” "No because they never come into town.” "And I've known you how long? Close to a year. I rest my case.” "Right. All white people in Illinois are racist. La la la la, on and on.” "Uh huh. And I wouldn't even say Illinois. I'd say the entire USA. It's in the blood.” "Jeez Louise. Paranoid.” "No, it is. Hold on, we're going back into Cabrini.” "So I guess I'd better get back down.” "Yeah. Or put on a hat. It's the blonde hair. Drives these black men crazy.” "Will you stop with the race shit?” "I do not want to be responsible for dragging Miss Palestine into interracial peril.” "Palatine! Interracial peril? JeeZUS. Listen to you.” "Just duck. Oh there's Sedgewick, looking at his watch and tapping his foot, like he has any call to complain.” Don opened the door. “Get your black ass in here. Making us hang around this wolf pit.” "Hey Don, hey Lacie. You took your sweet time. Lacie, why you on the floor?” "Don thinks my white face will attract either bullets or rape. He can't make up his mind which.” Sedgewick closed the door, hunched over the front seat. “Rape, more likely,” he said. "You see?” said Don. "Oh come on. Christ.” Lacie sat up. "Put on a hat,” said Don. |
