Jersey Love - Essex County

Jersey has a different rep amongst different crowds. Unless you're in Atlantic City, Jersey is not really a tourist place. You might go to see the Devils at the Prudential Center and then hopping on the Path Train home. So what should one think of when they think of Jersey? Guidos and Italian food? Naughty by Nature and Fetty Wap? So many differences can make Jersey feel disconnected. One of the main stereotypes of Jersey is that it's dirty and industrial. South Jersey is much different from North Jersey. It's nearly like crossing the Mason Dixie line and going into a new state; Essex county, known for its urban arts, has a different vibe than Bergen County, the most expensive county in Jersey. How could a place so small be so divided?.. Well, why not?

I'm from East Orange, New Jersey, a city that doesn't stretch more than 3 miles that resides next to Bloomfield and Newark. Home to the Fugees, Whitney Houston (RIP) and Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts are known for their talented alumni. East Orange was once apart of the municipal of Orange, originally called "Newark Mountains". It got broken up into East Orange, West Orange, South Orange, and Orange. It is apart of Essex County, which I consider to be my Hometown. It borders Sussex and Middlesex county which are all in North Jersey. Since Jersey is a place of division a lot of us have “lone wolf” mentalities. We are the underdogs, being right next to New York City and Philadelphia we often have to go to neighboring metropolitan areas to pursue our goals. This gives us a push to work harder and adapt to whatever is necessary. The versatility of Jersey is one of its best features. From being on the Shore Points to the historical and growing neighborhoods in the metropolitan city Newark. Jersey is quickly becoming a place to arrive. However, it's not because of the architecture or the shops. It is the culture existing amongst creatives and artists. When you've been overlooked you can't help but move with loud consistency and that's what Jersey brings. I love my hometown of Essex County because it's taught me not to take anything lightly and to scream until I'm heard. I've been given the opportunity chance to see myself in the highest of forms and reminded of the harsh realities of young urban life.

I always wished people would chant Jerseys names like they do “Brooklyn! Brooklyn!” or write captions about Jersey like “To Live and Die in LA”, but I've realized the need for more is what makes us Jerseyans so unique. It is not the geographical location of Jersey that makes it special, it’s the mundane aspect because it causes us who want more to go and get it. Whether it's us wondering why construction takes so long, or why the state's biggest city(Newark) seems to be delayed in progress compared to other big cities. Regardless of these things you see resources like The Nork Project, PES, schools, and programs being built to inspire my hometown that we are worthy and it's an on-going motion. A Lot of these are local and non-profit based, it is the individual actions that are creating the glue to bring us together, and I suspect we'll soon understand what being a New Jerseyan really could mean.

So what should you think of when you think of Jersey? Think of that person that may have experienced the hustle and bustle of NYC but knows what it means to be from a small town, they might be soft-spoken and explode with expression when the right opportunity is presented. They might spend the majority of their time in Pennsylvania and say "Jawn' way more than they need to or they might live on a block in the southward of Newark and never leave. They might shoot photography and travel around the world and never come back to Jersey or be known for their revolutionary lyrics and beautiful singing voice. It's simple when you think of New Jersey think of everything and nothing at all.