In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Africa portrayed as a terrible, violent place full of savages, a place where only the brave dare venture. Much of this description can also be used accurately to describe many parts of Chicago. Many neighborhoods are thought of as war zones, where no one is safe from the constant shooting among the "savage" black inhabitants. We are taught by our parents from an early age that these neighborhoods are not safe and we have to stay away.
A lot of the time, however, this is not an accurate description of these neighborhoods. They are inhabited by people just like us, where much of the time there is not shooting and, when there is, it is perpetrated by a few people, not by a majority. Like the Europeans in Heart of Darkness we focus on the differences between ourselves and the inhabitants of this foreign locale when focusing on the similarities would be more beneficial.
I agree. It seems that there are so many examples when the actions of a few people smear the view of everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It seems that there are so many examples when the actions of a few people smear the view of everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said here, Duncan. Many people fail to recognize that the people of these neighborhoods are just as human as other people. Just because there are crimes committed there does not mean that we should isolate ourselves from that area. Also, most of the people there are victims of crime anyways, not the ones who are committing the violent acts.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. It seems there is a great discrepancy between the reality of Chicago and the gentrified perception of the city. To a degree the economic and racial diversity of the city is exactly what makes it so special. The negative connotation that comes from living in Chicago is unfounded.
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