I am so excited about leaving Chicago to start the next chapter of my life in the "Sunshine" state even though I will really miss the connections, friends and things that are truly unique to this beautiful city. But there are some things I will not miss about living in country's 3rd largest city. Since moving to the west side of Chi-Town in 1998 (16th & Hohman to be exact), I lived with my mother in law until I found a place...quickly BTW, I realized quickly this city is extremely segregated. The west side vs the south side which both sides are prominently black & both sides are against the north side which is prominently white.  Although I was born & raised in Detroit, another predominantly all black city, I have live all over the world living all over the world and I have never seen so much division between black people on different sides of a city or among black folks in general. I have never heard of people claiming "blocks" of a city that they don't or will never own till I moved here. So much hatred and disdain of successful & thriving black folks from those who don't want to more or to do more to help themselves like I have seen in this city. Now don't get me wrong, Detroit has a whole different set of problem, but this article is not about Detroit its about Chicago from my point of view! 

I moved from the Chi about 7 or 8 years ago because its sickening & the mind set a sore wound of this city. It ain't the murders, gangs or high crime rates that make this city have a bad taste in my mouth (hell that's everywhere nowadays) it is the hating ass mentality among the black folks! I see why Kanye, Common & countless black up & comers had to leave to go to a racially integrated city like NYC to get support of their gifts & become a success! Funny how once they left, the world recognize their talent and they received more love from their beloved city. This is a city in the north, right? Cause at times it sure didn't feel like it! It used to be a time in our black history when blacks migrated from the racially oppressed and segregated south to this city, now me & so many before me are leaving the Chi so that we can get the support of our dreams as well as have more stable and productive lives! And in my opinion...

"What's really jacked up is that the only people that are truly benefiting from the high ass city tax dollars that are paid in Chicago are the "white majority" neighborhoods of Downtown and the north side & "they" are slowly migrated past 35th street on the south side and Ogden on the west side with the police by their side. But black folks don't seems to care cause they are too busy claiming blocks they don't own, hating on whomever is really trying to get ahead & doing all they can to abort the dreams of their own brothas and sistas!"

I can't speak if there are issues within the Mexican, Chinese or White folks of Chicago because this city makes it a challenge to interact with them outside of working with or for them. So to my black people...it's time to stop the biggest racial in the country, black on black hate in Chicago! Time to unite as dream catchers not dream killers! Black folks in the Chi, ENOUGH! REAL TALK!

~Sunshine