What neighborhood are you from?

The neighborhood you are raised in can definitely influence you if you let it. It is easy to get influenced because many argue that their neighborhood is all they know, this could influence you in a negative or positive way. For me, I directed towards a positive manner. I grew up in the Fillmore District between the ages of six and twenty-one, so I witnessed how raw it was before it's gentrification occurred. If you were to walk on Divisadero and Grove Street today you would never guess all of the illegal activity that use to take place. I witnessed robberies, people getting jumped, drive bys in parking lots, and narcotics being sold daily. If you weren’t from the neighborhood and you walked through, you were going to get harassed about it. Now it looks like the club scene with people out wining and dining. There are so many police cars patrolling the area that make me feel like I'm the suspicious looking character in my own neighborhood. I believe the openings of new businesses, especially clubs, caused gentrification. The rent started to increase rapidly moving out all of my long time neighbors and even my own family. When the changes first started to take place it frustrated some residents and they reacted violently. Suddenly I started noticing flyers informing residents of the area that there have been vicious attacks and robberies taking place at night and to be aware. I knew that meant some long time residents were releasing all their frustration on the new, wealthier, residents. Even though gentrification isn’t fair to me, it appears as an example of life, sometimes you just have to accept it and move on. I believe I am who I am because of my neighborhood. The nature of my neighborhood taught me to move on my toes and always be aware of my surroundings.