Dearest Joliet,
I know it has been the cool thing for all these artist to come to you and make work nestled in your historic and textured landscape but I would like to remind you that I have seen your grungy beauty long before it was cool. I had my first kiss behind a truck on Richards street, I learned how to drive a (stick shift) car on all your one way streets that I frequently went the wrong way down to the horror of my passenger mother. I went to high school in the halls of Joliet Central and learned to appreciate diversity and activism because of the teachers that chose to work there ignoring the "reputation." I developed my first black and white photograph in a building made of the limestone from our own quarries. I frequently got ice cream at a place with bullet holes in the window and was told that you know you're getting good ice cream when you would shoot someone for it. I remained proud of you even when my friends make jokes about Joliet, pronouncing it like "toilet". I almost punched that bat faced girl in the eye when she said she knew who was going to Joliet on the train because they are as "trashy as all get out". I know sometimes we get a bad rap because our community struggles, but we are fighters. We know how lucky we are to cross the bridges over sunrise and see the whole city come alive. When everyone else is going to apple bees we go to the department, 158 north, or Chicago street. I may have a bone to pick with you about Larkin Street but we all have our problem spots, and I can over look it.You are beautiful darling, not just because of your dilapidated buildings that make photos look so 'neat', but because of your people, your history, and your heart. I went to Colorado for a week, and didn't see anyone of any different ethnicity then me. It was disheartening to see.
My dearest Joliet, you must know, no matter where I go, or whoever I will meet, I will carry your steel and stone city in my heart because it has made me a better me. Love,
Alicia
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