The Cooper River Bridge has evolved. Yes, for those who have ever been to Chucktown, you know what that means. The picture above is a view of the recent demolition (and detonation) of the Pearman Bridge. In the back ground, you will notice the new bridges expanse as the smokes clouds hover. Seeing these photos of the bridge 'blowing up in the world' made me think about the progression and stagnation that has come to symbolize my hometown. Like any native, we all have a deep love for the pace that we truly call home. But just as true to life is the disdain we have about some things that never really sat well with us.
Like Boston, Chucktown has a long-serving incumbent mayor. And while he has done a lot of good, there always seem to be a lack of effort in my opinion for how Joseph Riley has impacted the Black community; much the same way people here in the Bean feel about Thomas Menino. Speaking of Menino, why am I heated that just a few hours ago I finally came up with a great, poignant question to ask him, but alas, I'm about two weks too late. Oh well...I'll have to pop it at some other inopportune and seemingly inappropriate time. But at least I finally have nailed down the single question that epitomizes all of my frustrations with this city's political process. But I've gone off on enough of a tangent with that one so I'll chill. Anyways...back to chuctown.
I think about the great strides that have been made to improve the city's standing. We are known the world-round as one of the firendliest places. As much as we curse, my family is living proof of that. I could't count on on abacus the number of people the have been adopted (or assimilated) over the years. There has been much to improve public education, the tourism industry, and the economic staturs of the region as a whole. But still...there alwas seems to be a disconnect. I can call up anyone and get a quick pulse of what's really going on in people's daily lives. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Hmmm....why does that sound familiar? So-and-so got locked up. Oh word. Sorry to hear that. Somebodys cousin got shot. Dam. My condolences.
And lastly, well not lastly, but for now I'l end it there; the political involvement of our people has neer been absent but deeply lacking in tangible impact. My man Kwadjo Campbell was a beacon of hope for a lot of people and did a helluva lotta good, but always seemed to be the bad guy in the media and mainstream Charleston's eyes. I helped in get elected back in the day and although he recently caught a serious, I wish him well, although he did fuq up my plans to come back home and run shT like Michael J Fox., but it's all good. I'll just have to find myself a new Manchurian Candidate. But yeah, I kinda felt like lamenting on the neutrality that the imager of that bridge coming down represents. I didn't go into the background of how people's homes (mostly Black and low-income) were steamrolled through eminent domain to make room for the new bridge. Or how economic development in the Black community is sparse (yet it does exist, just not very well balanced amongst classes). It's odd when you feel indebted to your hometown folks to come back and try to help make things better than they were when you came up, but find yourself wanting to be just as involved in the community where you now call home. I guess it's a win-in and lose-lose on both fronts. Stepping up is the first step. Stepping in and making my voice heard is the second. I'd be letting my chucktown people down by moving thousand miles away to sit back and relax and let life pass me by. Ma Dukes ain't raise no punk b!tch. So here's to a new day in Charleston and the promise of a better tomorrow for ALL its residents. Because if the current system does not step up and meet the needs of the people (and public school students), then we all fail; them and all the transplants who have gone on to make moves in life and let the status quo remain just that; the way it is. Word.
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