A Cultural Experience
Tonight was the Lakeshore vs. Benton Harbor game. It is always an experience only because it’s an experience unlike I ever have, each time I go there. When I was dating Dan, he talked often about Benton Harbor, what the city was like, and just the cultural differences. Many say the river divides the cities/cultures, and that couldn’t be more true. I remember going to BH for SERVE and remembering we truly were the only white people on the block. That would still hold true today. You walk into the gym and it is divided by color. I never understood the capacity of the cultural differences til I moved down here.
When you enter BH high school, you walk through very old doors, through metal detectors, and walk through the gym doors that are reenforced with chainlink-fence metal. The BH pep band is ROCKIN’ IT out and the dancers – oh can they dance! The school is very run down, only because it’s very old. And the basketball team surely comes out with enthusiasm! We knew they had a good team and they did end up winning. I don’t know if you follow the NBA at all, but Wilson Chandler is from Benton Harbor actually and was the Mr. Basketball of Michigan in 2005. Benton Harbor surely produces their basketball players! One of the girls on their varsity girl’s team, tore her ACL so she couldn’t play, but she is currently a Division I prospect!
One interesting thing is that coming from St. Joseph and being a girl, there is always a little bit of fear. There have been some happenings that have occured awhile back after previous basketball games. For instance, a guy that used to go to our church (is Dan’s age), when he was in high school, he was hit across the head with the butt of a gun and was robbed. I’ve been told some other stories, so we all kind of stay together, like when we go to the bathroom, etc. The people of Benton Harbor are very friendly, welcoming, and kind. So just because I tell that story, doesn’t make the city bad. It’s just that the crime rate is significantly higher in Benton Harbor and you’d hate to be walking in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I have learned so much since moving down here. I am blessed to get to know some people from Benton Harbor because they come to the store, and they are awesome! We always enjoy going to the Benton Harbor games because they are good at basketball, the pep band is AMAZING, the experience is one of a kind! What a great night and another great experience again! The differences between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor are hard to put into words, so we just tell people they need to come down and visit and we will give them a tour and explain why. So, let us know if you ever want to come visit us (we love visitors) and we will give you the full experience!
