After the Projects

Michael Whitehead lived in Chicago's Ida B. Wells housing project for nearly 50 years. In 2008, the Chicago Housing Authority closed down Wells, as part of its "Plan for Transformation," a city-wide public housing rehabilitation effort. Whitehead moved to a new building in July 2008. Before he left, he photographed life around Wells.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• American
• RadioWorks
• Radio
• Works
• Chicago
• public
• housing
• Michael
• Whitehead
• projects
• CHA
• Madden
• Wells
• documentary

[abepilk76]

This video says it all. I'm glad to see that the project of "the Projects" is ending once and hopefully for all. The only down side is the several generations of lives that were destroyed by "the projects" by the huddling of criminals with good families. Too many children ended up being turned into criminals themselves by these projects, good riddance.

[Graciethemom]

When you don't rely on the government they can't tell you where you have to live. If you choose to do nothing with your life and sit around waiting for the government to hand you tax dollars stolen from your fellow citizens who work hard then you can't complain. You are going to be told where to live, what to eat, medical etc...every area of your life will be government controlled. If you take welfare then you are a slave to Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam is your massah and he is going to rule your life.

[friendlyskies27]

the projects up north was originally built for african americans who moved from the south to the north with very little money and it was for immigrants coming from a different country. it was low income housing for these people.

[free2drm]

@Graciethemom. So very true

[externalpower]

what was that? ahahaah no speaky speaky ahahahahha pffffffff. 

[externalpower]

fuck eminem. 

[CEugeneM]

Then came the suburbs where many white families started moving too with this new idea of space and land prompted so many suburbs across the US. Blacks were then allowed to move into the projects and yes they were pristine, but when blacks move in whites move out and now all of a sudden the whole neighborhood become extra affordable therefore allowing those with low income to live and desecrate their own homes.

[CEugeneM]

Everybody has to school themselves in the reason why projects were made. They were initially made for those who served in WWI or WWII. It was basically a subsidized home provided by the gov't for our soldiers.

[trusoldier2004]

I Think it's good to make videos like this. There is people that grew up in these projects and although it may have been bad, for those who lived there it was home and they made great memories out of something that may have been bad and for others it has pushed them to make something better out of themselves. For those who lived there they can watch this video and reminisce. So thank you for posting this so they can show others where they came from.

[FnFer]

@abepilk76 so when all the projects are destroyed then where will all the poor ppl live? stupid ass stfu