Degree of danger facing a white visitor to the Southside and Westside? (Chicago: live, legal)

[Just1Fan]

Originally Posted by Chicago_Josh

... nothing overtly threatening happened.

Speak for yourself. Those guys on the corner, wearing wife beaters, probably crapped their pants when they saw you.

[Chicago60614]

As others said it helps a ton if you just look like you know what you're doing and where you're going. My roommate of 5 years moved fresh from Iowa at the age of 22 as a pale white irish girl. We lived in Logan Square and she taught over near Madison and Central. She basically lived her entire day on the west side, went shopping at places there, went to the gas station there, her walgreens was there, she visited kids houses, etc. She basically walked into the area as if she'd been doing it every day of her life. Didn't give anything a second look, walked with purpose and was very casual. Over 1,500 days she did that and never had any issues going back and forth across the west side from garfield park throughout Austin.

Another friend who's a white girl works at a retirement home in Englewood and is down there every day going around running errands and doing things for work. People might look at her with curiosity, but once you carry yourself with that distinction that you know what you're doing and you are suppose to be in that neighborhood, people's interest is gone pretty quick.

A vast majority of people in "the ghetto" are doing exactly what everyone else on earth does every day. Going about their business with no thought or desire of hurting someone else.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by Chicago_Josh

Is that because neighborhoods where whites reside are safer?

Or do white people tend to avoid dangerous neighborhoods?

Gang members tend to shoot rival gang members or people they believe could potentially be rival gang members. White people are not likely to be mistaken as such. Not only that, but a dead white person tends to bring way more media and police attention to an area, which no gang member wants.

[jonnynonos]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

The statistics plainly show that there is almost zero chance of you being murdered by a stranger as a white person in Chicago, regardless of the neighborhood. You will likely be viewed as an out-of-place curiosity, and therefore stared at. Police may assume you're there to buy drugs because, sadly, that's often seen as the only reason for a white person to be in a poor black neighborhood.

Get real. What this guy is talking about is statistically speaking a total anomaly. It is flat out something that is not done.

Put your money where your mouth is and take a stroll tonight and report back in the morning how it goes.

Seriously. Go for it. Head on down to Englewood and walk around for a few hours just gazing at the scenery.

Do I think anything would happen?

Probably not.

Do I think you'll do it?

Definitely not.

[Just1Fan]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

Gang members tend to shoot rival gang members or people they believe could potentially be rival gang members. White people are not likely to be mistaken as such. Not only that, but a dead white person tends to bring way more media and police attention to an area, which no gang member wants.

It's called hood politics. Some people just don't understand.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by Just1Fan

It's called hood politics. Some people just don't understand.

Lol, hood politics. We need more posters who use terms like that..

[Just1Fan]

Originally Posted by urza216

Lol, hood politics. We need more posters who use terms like that..

You've been in the hood, urza, so I know you can relate. :chuckles:

[TBideon]

Hood unions - now that would be something else.

Frankly this conversation is beyond bizarre. I'm sure a large number of gangbangers are indifferent to dead white people as much as they are indifferent to dead black or Hispanic people. Why, because they live in a different mental universe where it's acceptable to murder people for any number of reasons - perceived slights, someone wearing the wrong colors, initiation rituals, boredom, etc. These are NOT rational individuals, and to claim that whites are somehow protected because of their skin color is ludicrous.

We like to say that gangbangers only shoot at each other, but it isn't hard to find police reports of gangbangers mugging and assaulting people who clearly are not rivals. Pick a neighborhood, any neighborhood, any nice or wealthy or middle class or mixed neighborhood where there is an assault, and it's pretty clear who is doing the mugging. For example I doubt many bangers live in Lakeview, and the redliners (or whatever the name is) who have been beating up the boys in Boystown the last few years know this. Being a young white guy walking in Austin or Englewood means you have a giant target on your head as someone who does not belong, is not wanted, and is likely lost and has goods ripe for the taking.

[mas23]

The worst thing that might happen to a foreign white guy walking in these neighborhoods is robbery. But even sometimes that can lead to death if you resist too much. But if you're going in the daytime in a car, then you'll be AyOK.

[TBideon]

What if it were a foreign white girl?