4 ms·
Here's a few anecdotes: My wife and I on multiple occasions on the red line, or in the South Loop, River North, or museum campus, during the daytime no less, h
by assblaster 8y ago
Here's a few anecdotes:
My wife and I on multiple occasions on the red line, or in the South Loop, River North, or museum campus, during the daytime no less, have suffered probably two dozen verbal attacks purely on the basis of race. My most memorable attack was: "die, you white ass cracka ass mf* piece of s*!"
I've been everywhere between Hyde Park and Wilmette, and lakefront to Oak Park, and the racial tension is real. Viewing Chicago through blue colored glasses does a great disservice to a city that has struggled with unbelievable racism for the last 70 years.
- tptacek 8y agoI do not believe you, like, at all.
- wglb 8y agoI won't argue about the structure of segregation in Chicago. But in terms of the travel, I live in Bridgeport, which is on the south side, and take the Red Line downtown. I have never once heard a bad word from anyone on the crowded train, and I am often the only painfully white person in the car. I have no hesitation about walking around the neighborhood, or anywhere downtown. My experience is vastly different from yours. I have lived in the Chicago area for many decades, and two years here in Bridgeport (not far from Sox Park).
- assblaster 8y agoI think in predominantly white neighborhoods like Bridgeport, you'll see fewer issues especially with its large police presence on duty and off duty. I take it you've never been a victim of a "wilding" in River North like I've had. Nothing like getting targeted and getting swarmed while eating at an outdoor patio at State and Ontario or later that exact same night waiting at the Grand red line stop.
- dtornabene 8y agoso, its actually a combination of racist and trolling. solid, good to know.
- tropdrop 8y agoI've had exactly one negative experience on the Green line, as I was coming home to my apartment 62nd street - a group of young men surrounded me and tried to intimidate me, clearly a casual pastime for them. I stood my ground, acted like an adult, and they left me alone. Yes, I lived on the South Side, and yes, I am white. Chicago has a storied history with racism, with many ongoing issues. But there are people constantly, constantly working on those issues - wonderful people of all races who really, really care. And things are improving. Even the University has stopped its (abhorrent) previous practice of parachute research. They've started to realize that if they'd like to keep that shiny ranking of theirs, they need to really invest in uplifting their surrounding community. Van Dyke was convicted of murder - that would have never happened in Chicago of old! As for your most memorable attack, I have a counter, but from San Francisco. A (white) homeless man lunged from his spot on the sidewalk, got within a millimeter of my skull (I could feel his hot breath in my hair) and yelled "F*CK YOU!!" over and over again. It was a busy street and no one stepped in to this man towering over me. No one here cares. The homeless throw feces at tourists (I've seen it) and attempt to punch passerby (sometimes with success). No one cares. You want to talk about deplorable behavior bred out of poverty? Come to San Francisco and walk down Golden Gate and Market. I've never seen anything like this in Chicago.