Keeping Chicago's Culture Alive

By: Brooke Akins and Eric Schmidt

Over the past the few decades, Chicago's rich cultural heritage has been diminishing due to gentrifying forces. On one part of town, residents of Humboldt Park have unified in their struggle to preserve their neighborhood and its history. In a different part of town, the expanision of a major university on the southwest side has destroyed what was once considered the blues mecca of Chicago. These are two examples of neighborhoods that are being wiped out by gentrification. If we do not preserve these cultural artifacts, then our city's history will be demolished and turned into luxury condos.