South Side

Where to start? As a white south-sider in an interracial marriage living in the Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood this book really hit close to home. I'm not nieve about racism in our neighborhood or the city at large, but the continuing institutional racism described just wears on you.Moore does a great job of mixing autobiographical info with broader neighborhood data to really give you a feel of the city. Hearing about her struggles in Bronzeville was a bit heartbreaking. I haven't spent much time in the neighborhood and feel a bit guilty for neglecting it. I was heartened to hear about her reception in Bridgeport, I've experienced much the same in my time there. I don't drink but can vouch for Maria's.All in all a must read for any Chicagoan from the north, west, or south sides. My only real criticism is that it really could have used more content on the Hispanic population of our side of town. Moore acknowledges this, so no stars off, but in mentioning the decline of black political power from the Washington administration this is a key point. That chapter was phenomenal in any case.This review has meandered enough. Read the book.

Reading this book reminds me of my childhood growing up in Avalon Park. Beauty and pain all mixed together.

Natalie Moore grew up on the South Side of Chicago and after going away to school, came back to live, work as a radio journalist, and write about it with fondness, concern, and hope. With sociological research complimenting her own experiences and those of other residents and activists, Moore dives into how segregation impacts so much more than housing patterns: education, business development, nutrition, violence and police/community relations, and politics. Moore’s historical research paints a picture of clear intentional, municipal policies and economic forces that created Chicago Black Belt the during the Great Migration, allowed segregation to be extended even as courts ruled against unfair housing practices, and continues to maintain segregation by reducing essential services, especially education, today.Moore’s own choices as an adult, informed by the example and persistence of her parents, have been driven by hope. Her optimistic perspective, drawn from numerous examples of community-based efforts to affect change, make The South Side, a book to read.

Just started reading this book, and since I am a Chicago native, born and raised on the South side,(my parents moved us out of state in 1970) so far many things have hit close to home for me. The author and I share similar interests in music, food and just every day life.I still get emotional when I think of my childhood and the simple things I enjoyed.Pity, the song Ball of Confusion still rings true with me. "People movin' out, people movin' in, why? because of the color of their skin...., sickening. I miss Chicago, I miss the innocence, and a great pizza.

I bought this book for my society class and it’s wonderful! It depicts Chicago in the past to now very well. It’s well written and a great book to read for class or if you just want to read something.

This book helped me to see integration not only as a "mind and heart" issue but as an economic issue that involves the sharing of resources for the good of the community as a whole. Natalie Moore suggests ways to achieve integration without the loss of self-determination or ethnic identity. I grew up on the south side (in Chatham) and learned much about my former city that I didn't know. The book was informative, well-written, and well worth the read.

This book gave me a chance to look at these subjects from the other side. I am a white male who grew up in Marquette Park and then Englewood. I attended Gage Park High School from 1969 to 1973. Look it up. I would have found it more informative to hear both sides of that failed experiment. Changing school boundaries to force integration in that case created fear, distrust, fights, riots (riots was used in the newsrags). All theses decisions by well intended adults ruined High School for many students, black and white. I left in my senior year. I found it just a place to go fight and get in trouble. I blame the adults. Good book, a little one sided.

The book is interesting in parts, but I feel like Ms. Moore relies too much on personal anecdotes rather than detailed research to describe the history of the South Side. By picking a story from her mother or a neighbor to make a point, without supporting evidence from first party sources, it feels too much like she is picking information as it suits her personal opinion, rather than making arguments based on a rigorous analysis of the available evidence. I don't think her positions are off-base, but I think she could have done a much better job supporting them and, in the process, given the readers a richer picture of the history of the neighborhood.

I was expecting a guide to the South Side and its neighbourhoods, but this was basically just a long and extremely boring comparison of housing prices.

if you want to know how chicago became what it is today, read it! I love this book