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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 - 10:33 PM
Spelling out the inspiration for this column: WHY is our City like this?
By Simone Monet-Williams
Spending six weeks out of the country forced me to reevaluate the current state of my life. Obviously, the circumstances and details of my life are unique to me, but I share a common denominator with many people roaming the streets of this city: I was born and raised in Cincinnati. Nearly all of my development has occurred in this city.
I spent my entire academic career, with the exception of college, in the same school district: Summit Country Day (Hyde Park). Yes, I’m a homegrown girl, but I now know I do not want this to be my home forever. This became more evident during my six weeks in Mexico.
The first week in Mexico I was in a culturally shell-shocked state. Walking down foreign streets surrounded by a population not speaking my native tongue was initially overwhelming for me. I was surprised at how many men licentiously peered over their shoulders instead of letting a lady pass unnoticed. While I initially had problems adjusting to their culture, they eventually subsided and I became a fan.
Then came the emotional hangover; as my trip to Mexico drew to a close, I started dreading my return to my Hyde Park apartment. Mexico had rippled my sense of reality and I could only imagine how its wake would affect my return to a place where one can predict the cycle of Cincinnati life better than the weatherman can predict snow.
Back in Cincy, as I opened the door to my apartment, I felt disenchanted with returning to my life. At a time when I should be swimming in the noxious existence of our fast food nation and ecstatic at the notion of driving a car again, I thought it best to hide myself from the drab world existing just outside of my front door.
Like some old, deranged woman peering through the blinds of her window, I stagnantly stood watch as excessively weight-conscious women ran past my window. The sight of homogenous parents tending to the needs of their children suddenly became very nauseating.
While I too exercise and aspire to have a family of my own, I was hoping for something more than everyday Cincinnati. I was hoping for a glimpse of culture to come jogging by. I was hoping to find culture outside my front door instead of just in my bathroom mirror.
When I did finally venture out of my house, my search for ethnic diversity became increasingly frustrating. It was as if I was playing a life-size game of “Where’s Waldo?” Finding a person who was anything besides white became almost a joyous occasion. You may say that Hyde Park isn’t the best place to look for cultural variety.
Still, I just don’t understand why I, an African-American woman, can’t co-exist in a neighborhood where one can experience the serenity of a warm summer night while driving down beautiful Observatory Avenue. Why is it that only the token African-American is able to enjoy the musing sounds of a symphony of crickets as a cool breeze flutters the greenest of leaves under a vast, starry sky?
I am shocked to have my eyes reopened to the fact that this city is not culturally blended. The cultures are here, you can find them, but they remain in their own roped off areas like an exhibit. I happen to be living in the wrong exhibit, like the strange albino monkey the zookeepers tried to pass off to the others as one of their own.
My question is why is our city like this? Many people have explanations and theories, but I don’t buy any of them. Solutions are easily found by people who are driven by their own agendas. Unfortunately, it is those of us who care who end up losing valuable time because of their ineffective solutions.
When it comes down to it, the majority of Cincinnatians do not take full responsibility for their actions. This lack of responsibility and ownership for our plaguing, rigid divisions is exhibited in all walks of Cincinnati life and bureaucracy including our law makers, developers, realtors, the sweet house wife who doesn’t let her children ride their bikes farther than the Doherty Seven Hills, and the black people of the city who never venture into places like Hyde Park. You and I aren’t without blame either. However, as Americans and Cincinnatians, we need to remember we are a diverse people. Our country comprises gay people, Africans, Chinese, Native Americans and more.
Perhaps we’ve forgotten what the term melting pot means. It wasn’t so long ago that people of all shapes and sizes shared the small space of cities, including our own. However, as we’ve moved away from the city, our blend of culture has become a bitter fondue that just won’t mix. Instead of merging into an amalgamation of warm, rich flavors, the fondue has become a weird concoction of cheese, wine, oils and spices that curd and leave a nauseating feeling in the stomachs of those who choose to share it.
We just can’t seem to get the recipe right. Nevertheless, as Americans we recognize and support those different from us all the time.
The recent Olympic events in Athens, Greece were the perfect example of Americans rallying together to support each other. During the games, culturally diverse teams worked together towards a common goal. As we Americans gathered around our televisions to watch the games, we didn’t cheer for just the white people, the black people, the skinny woman or the straight men. When we cheered, we cheered for our fellow Americans, right?
So, why can’t we, as Americans and Cincinnatians, come to some sort of agreement about embracing cultural differences instead of repelling them? Why can’t we identify the culturally mixed neighborhoods with ease? It’s only when we start asking ourselves these questions and caring about the answers that we will see a peaceful, diverse city. Only when we start genuinely looking for the answers to Cincinnati’s problems will we be able to co-exist and become the great city we were always meant to be.
Until then… I’m moving.
Michael Kellerman and Simone Monet-Williams write “Search for Culture in Cincinnati” in each edition of QCF Magazine. The column is honest and raw, geared to the young, vital exploration of the drinks, dining, people, sexual orientation, and arts in the city---to name a few things.
Links
· Cultural Diversity
· CityBeat – Cathy Y. Wilson “Your Negro Tour Guide” Archives
· Cincinnatiusa.org --- Family Events/ Arts and Culture
· Historic streetcar paths in Cincinnati: where they used to be
· Cincinnati Enjoy the Arts --- “20 Days and 20 Nights of Arts & Culture”
· Cincinnati Online Events Calendar
Contact Information
· michaelk@queencityforum.com
· simonemw@queencityforum.com
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