Amethyst Davis
Took my picture at:
63rd going towards Ashland - vacant lot across from Checkers
There was a gentleman at 63rd and Ashland and he had a speaker box and microphone with several sheets that said pray. He was giving a sermon and playing gospel music. I also had a esire to plant myself in random places and capture snippets- like people eating donuts, especially catching people eating donuts together.
My mother used to take us to church all the time. After a while we didn't go as much but I grew up in a spiritual family. But on the south side there's a lot of churches and a lot of pain. When I walked past the music, there was a man giving sermon about paint and strength - that was resilience. He had been out there for a minute - it was like you were at church on the block (literally)
Christian clark
Took my picture at:
Multiple locations
Japanese Garden:
I took a picture here because a long time ago, when Anderson got shot, we were there and someone said stop walking on the ice. He fell into the water and his pants were frozen. It was hilarious. I like being over there, it's a chill place.
Metro:
I was with my cousin and one of her friends, we were up on the Metro on 57th and then we were talking and chilling. I was nodding off, I was pretty young. I fell asleep for a second, and the train flew past. I woke up, jumped and surprised. When I found out it was just the train, it was a pretty shocking experience for me because the whole platform was shaking.
Ellen Corey
Took my picture at:
Experimental Station
I took my pictures mainly with people and on workshops, the reason for this is because when I'm with others together it reminds me that we are a part of a larger community. We learn together, working towards a common purpose, and I think that is resilience.
Aric Jeremiah armstrong
Took my picture at:
My backyard - near to Experimental Station
I took a picture of my backyard. It has lots of stairs, and a house. I took this picture because my mom's friend said I could take a picture of whatever I want - I got the idea from the person who took the picture of the basketball hoop.
My backyard has room to play in It has a hose to play with and to throw water balloons.
andrea thompSon
Took my picture at:
Multiple locations
New Orleans on Bourbon Street:
I went to school down there - I was displaced to the University of Illinois after Katrina. I hadn't been back in 12 years but I wanted to show the resilience, I remember people not wanting to leave and being adamant about returning home. I tried to take it from an entrepreneurial point - businesses, break the preconceived notions Being a business owner when you come from poverty is resilience.
47th and Cottage Grove:
I made it from this area, and wearing my black lives matter shirt reminds me of my opportunities to be able to study aboard, mentor kids and overcome unfavorable odds
47th and Champlain:
I grew up in this area with some of my cousins, not too far from the wall of respect (site of oldest black owned barber shop). Some of my cousins have been beat, harassed, falsely charged and wrongfully arrested. They are super super strong - they would not want to be called victims, they are on the other end of that. Maybe survivors. They are still standing no matter who puts them down, and watching them makes me realize being a survivor is not always what it loos like. People look at them and assume they are thugs, but if you talk to them they are very aware of community and surroundings and contributing to community, like supporting kids. It's not always what it looks like.
Yanilda Gonzalez
Took my picture on:
71st and South Shore
I took pictures of the protests that happened on 71st street following the killing of Harith Augustus. This tragedy showed how the community comes together to express its pain, but also its resilience by uniting in solidarity and calling for justice. Sentiments of anger were very palpable on the streets, especially since the culture is one where there's strong emotional connections; there were lots of mentions about Harith's five year old daughter, and the difficulty she would face as a victim of this violence. My main focus for the pictures was in front of the alderman, because it shows that people are thinking strategically, and holding political powers accountable. The irony behind this case is that it happened on a historical road that shows race-based state violence, and there is a very real juxtaposition showing how people had resisted in the past and still show resilience now. All together, the four elements of anger, solidarity, holding politicians accountable, and the historic aspect really resonated with me as a case of our community's ongoing resilience.
LATANYA JENIFOR
Took my picture at:
Downtown
As I saw the fog rolling in I thought, look at how beautiful those buildings are. Still standing, no fog can diminish the strength, and beauty. "Unwavering, yeah that's me," is what I said. No matter how thick and fast the fog comes, I remain strong, unwavering, and resilient! My view may be obstructed until it passes, but I'm still standing when it lifts...
Nate Gilham
Took my picture at:
Englewood
My family is rather large but I'm the youngest of our 3 sibling group; Faye, Joe, and me. We've been close over the years, especially Joe and I. Rather abased or abound, my little brother is there for me through it all. We speak the same language from our native Englewood. Now I have my grand kids. Resilience comes in the support I receive from my family and love I pass on as an ancestor.
Mark Clements
Took my picture at:
Cook County State Attorney
Watching systematic acts of injustice is something in which we all do, however experiencing it is what Mark and others found themselves faced with not just for a week, a month, a year, but for periods of decades behind prison walls. Police torture was in breeded through racism and acts of genocide, to kill off the productivity of Black and Brown people, financially destroy their growth and in ALL cases psychologically wounded the men and women for life.
I had to fight daily writing letters and doing whatever it would require to win my freedom. My mother Virginia Clements was the rock of my strength, someone fighting her best against the criminal justice system that allowed police corruption to literally kidnap me off the streets of Chicago. [...] Who could do this to a kid was my daily struggle to understand my incarceration. I did nothing but I found myself in balls and chains, invisible weights of defeat I had to carry daily.
The darkness of torture remain to rain in my life and all torture survivors. I served 28 years, Stanley Wrice served 31 years, and Ronnie Kitchens and his co/defendant Marvin Reeves served 21 years. Not one police officer within the Chicago police department have ever been charged with torture, however Burge was charged with Obstruction of justice and perjury in 2008 and subsequently found guilty in 2010 and sentence to 4 and ahalf years in 2011 to federal prison. The crime victims all being black or brown people, the torture survivors, and the communities affected have never received the integrity of justice.
Winning my release in 2009 of August, I remain to fight for all that were affected as the result of police torture and wrongfully convicted. I stand firmly in my call for reforms within the criminal justice system as a whole.
Tarek Alhariri
Took my picture at:
Experimental Station
When I saw this picture, I couldn't help but think about how people will find a way to be happy and enjoy their time. It made me realize how much our community has the capacity for creativity to build solutions that everyone can enjoy. It ultimately reminded me that happiness is in the hands of our community.
All images and videos are © to the authors listed above.