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Through Her Eyes |
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By Galena Mosovich Christina Peterson is not an average 12 year old. She is a child growing up in North Philadelphia, an area that can be described at first glance as deteriorating. But take a closer look and you will find that children like Christina Peterson are thriving. With abandoned rowhomes lining the streets and trash covering the sidewalks, it is surprising that her neighborhood is part of a modern American city. Most blocks only have several buildings still standing, leaving the rest of the geography to resemble a war zone. In 1991, a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter on the narcotics beat began exploring sections of North Philadelphia that are now referred to as “The Badlands.” Before David Zucchino’s front-page story ran on April 3, 1991, only federal agents and city narcotics officers were privy to this nickname. According to the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, who now writes for the Los Angeles Times, the derogatory nickname stirred some controversy after he put it in print. “After that original story ran referring to the Badlands, some residents of the area complained, saying that it reflected poorly on all the residents who were not involved in drugs, crime or violence,” Zucchino said. “They were right, but it doesn’t change the fact that police officers working there had come up with a name for the area, albeit a pejorative one.” Zucchino attempted to find the origin of the nickname, but the officers did not know where it came from and told him that they had just heard other officers use the term. He believes that the name derives from the Badlands of southwestern South Dakota, a barren, desolate region. “From time to time, I also heard a few officers refer to the area as ‘Oz,’ as in the Land of Oz. But the Badlands seemed to be the most common term,” Zucchino said. It is easy to make assumptions about what life in North Philadelphia might be like for a child like Christina Peterson, but these preconceived notions are not always accurate. Justine Peterson, Christina’s mother, owns one of the newest homes on their street, which is a couple blocks west of Broad Street on Cecil B. Moore Avenue. During a renovation of their home that was completed about a year ago, three separate properties were transformed into the Peterson’s single-family residence. “Normally, if you tell people you live in North Philadelphia, the first thing they think is that you’re from a poorer neighborhood, or you don’t have the same advantages as other kids or other people, or your neighborhood or house is falling down… and that’s just not true,” Peterson’s mother said. While this may apply to her family’s fortunate status, there is no way to ignore the dismal backdrop of North Philadelphia or the crumbling rowhome that sits three houses away from where they reside. Peterson acknowledges the condition of her neighborhood, but it does not seem to faze her. This is due to her involvement in the after-school care program at the R.W. Brown Community Center on Eighth Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. It has made a significant impact on Peterson’s life. Every day after school, she has the opportunity to participate in homework help, tutoring, computer education, music appreciation, theater, swimming lessons, and other enriching activities. R.W. Brown’s Youth Leadership Coordinator Kevin Fenning works with Peterson several days a week for the program’s seasonal play, “Anansi The African Spider.” Fenning firmly believes in teaching the arts to the children of North Philadelphia. The wide range of programs at the community center place an emphasis on positive alternatives to the negativity that can be so prevalent in North Philadelphia. The children enrolled in these programs learn to solve problems through creative outlets instead of through violence or delinquent behavior. “Drama actually teaches children poise and teaches them to explore themselves and their emotions,” Fenning said. “It gives them an opportunity to do something they wouldn’t have in their normal academic, rigorous life.” Through their participation in the after-school program and a positive home life, Peterson and her peers are learning to value the things in life that will ultimately lead to success. Her neighborhood may be neglected, but she will not let that hold her back. |
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