The Ghosts Of Life: Blood, Gentrification & Playin Chess in The Park By Emily Imani at Othello Park

 Positive Explorations from Emily Imani Rose Quartz

on Gentrification, Chess and Playing The Game of Life

Yesterday I went to Othello Park, where I used to take my kids and dogs and all my godchildren in the Southend when they were little. Even though I was alone yesterday and all the kids are big and the dogs of those days have since been put to sleep, I found myself drawn over to the steep steps and slide that grooves down a grassy slope. The kids LOVED that slide. As for now, It was a really pretty day.

I grew up in the Central District aka the C.D. which was gentrified a long time ago. The South End is next on my cities list to "pale face a hood" and wipe out the vibrancy of different ethnic groups in favour of buisiness and condos for ..white people. I'm not gonna argue here with anyone about the truth of gentrification because I have sat in meetings with developers, I have spoken to landlords who have been influenced and rewarded for turning certain tenants away..so if you want to argue as to whether gentrification has to do with race ? You can save that breath.

As I strolled around I thought of how many young people have been shot in Othello Park, the last shooting probaly less than a month ago. I guess blood  made the grass green and trees grow tall. I think of all the blunts smoked, bottles passed,  all the battles won and lost. I remember hearing from people who did grow up in the Southend..BBQs. Birthdays, Church picnics and Memorials all took place here. One friend tells the story of being a teen and having sex with a girl who was on her period one late night at Othello Park .

 "I did'nt know till I got home that she was on her period and saw blood all over my pants."  Nasty.. right !  But we can all look back and admit those are the rituals of life so dont act like you any better. Blood. Othello Park is quiet but I recall the days when the basketball courts were full.

A handfull of old school bros seated at a wooden picnic table call me over. They are playing chess. I must be getting older because on closer inspection despite missing teeth and pockmarked skin, these old schools are not really so old. Maybe just forties, but one too many forties back in the day has played a game with time and they seem, at least from a distance to be in their sixties. Joining them I sense prison time in their erect posture and the way they don't smile but there is a perceptable inner change in the energy as I , a woman, accept the invitation to join into their cirlce. For some reason I feel at home. For once just being me in my flesh and blood is enough.

One man wants to teach me chess, "It's a mathematical game, it's logic, like 8x8 equal 64."
 He explains something about the knight moving in an L- shape  as he points at the board. I'm bad at math, I can barely confirm that 8x8 equal 64 but the equation does sound familiar. I don't want to learn chess but I sit down and build for a minute cause  for a  long time I been getting  knowledge from the least likely characters who appear to have less than me. Looks will fool you, cause from the wise dome comes priceless jewels.

 "Its a gentlemans game" One of the men explains. Ahh I say so if you are losing no one is gonna get mad and flip the board or the table..?  I ask . I am thinking of a particular ex-boyfriend I knew  who did such things playing cards and dominoes.

"No people who play chess are more thoughtful,  but sometimes yeah, some people get mad if they think your cheating" say the oldest gentleman.

"People can cheat in chess?" I ask

"Well sometimes a person will get up and go to the bathroom or turn around and think someone moved the pieces, so it's more like someone getting mad cause they losing and then they think you are cheating"

 The other guy explains while shaking his head "See if your playing a better oponent your not spose to get mad cause he winning! You spose to sit back and learn something, but some cats get upset..."

This really stuck with me. I see and hear it ALL THE TIME. People hatin on others, swearing the other is cheating ( or doing something wrong) just because they are doing well or striving for success. Just cause someone is making moves does not mean they have done a single thing to mess you up. I leave my new associates, thinking how, as a people when we see someone with some talent, or success or trying really hard..we owe it to ourselves to play fair and support those or at least try to learn something instead of bad talking that individual. If someone really does rob, steal or betray you you will definatley know. But more often than not we exhibit a nasty bitterness towards others who are "just doin they own thang" and winning.

I promise to come back to Othello Park soon. It's a place I can learn a  little bit more about the game of chess and the game of life. Thoughts of gentrification settle into the equation. Gentrification involves hidden agendas, forced higher rents, denied bank loans and corporarate sabotage which eventually push people out. It's a game that is not played fair. In the mean time let's get out and occupy our parks in the hoods that we will live in.

There has never been better time to keep the blood  flowing.

Trees of Life, Strong Roots

Peace and Blessing From Emily Imani Rose Quartz
"Tears of Life"
"I'm just passing thru in love with you, and the way it was "

"Looking For The Future, Let's Stay Focused and Strong"

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PEACE AND BLESSINGS FROM ROSE QUARTZ