I have a dream

I've had a heck of a time choosing what I was going to do my webquest on. I had no idea where I was going to come from and or come up with for my assignment. Little did I realize that I had all the resources that I need right in my face. For the last month and some change we've all heard and or seen a story or 1,000 of them in the media about Derrion Albert, Fenger h.s., and the Roseland community of Chicago. Well I live in this neighborhood and know lots of students from Fenger h.s. personally. Fenger is my school's neighborhood school. What's sad about this whole situation is that Fenger is used as a drop off for students with the lowest test score of their grammar school who couldn't get accept anywhere else. The majority of students who attend school at Fenger h.s. do just that. They attend school and stay out of trouble. However, in my opinion I would say 20% of the students at Fenger are the "hardcore gangbangers" that are keeping this mayhem up. I attended Morgan Park and some of my friends attended Julian, Corliss, and CHAS. However NO ONE wanted to go to Fenger because in the 1980's the good teachers left when they saw the area going down and student population changing. The Roseland neighborhood does have a gang and drug problem but it's not every single block. I'd say 40% of it is horrible the other 60% is perfectly fine. The gangs within the neighborhood all know each other, fight and kill each other but if outsiders, like the students from Altgeld Gardens come in trying to take over it's a problem. That's what happened up at Fenger. Students from the Gardens flexed their muscle on the various neighborhood gangs in an attempt to "show them who's boss." However the neighborhood gangs came together to get rid of the students from the Gardens. This situation was flaring up for years and nothing was done until someone died. Shame on them! Shame on the students! Shame on the principal! Shame on the Alderman-Carrie Austin! Shame on the police! Everyone knew but no one did anything. Now I see my neighborhood all over the media like its the worst place in the city! Well it isn't, there are plenty of law abiding hard working citizens in this community. Arne Duncan holds an emergency meeting and chooses to throw 500k at the situation for more programs. Okay................. They need gang awareness programs, jobs, work study and better academic/technology based programs for students also. There aren't any local opportunities for students to take advantage of. I decided that my webquest will be about if Dr. King's dream is still alive today and look at what he attempted to accomplish and where African Americans stand today.











This was in the paper today:

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/boxing/1843769,CST-NWS-terrell25.article


I'm sorry but I walk in my neighborhood everyday and I feel safe. No one will mess with you if you aren't messing with them or gang banging. I do not walk in fear, I make eye contact with people and I speak to them. I hope you visit the area and see for yourself that it isn't what the media is making it out the be.