Southside and African-Americans (Chicago, Orland Park, Tinley Park: fit in, apartment, high crime)

[mlogan0301]

My question is: If you are African-American and already used to living in a "urban" area and grew up in the "ghetto/hood." Will Southside really be out of the ordinary for you? Or will you find that you fit in just fine? Especially with the amount of African-American people there and the "diversity" in that area?

[Chicagoland60426]

Well, I don't actually live in the city; I live in Harvey, IL(which is directly south of Chicago). I think I would fit in alright, but if I want to live on the southside, I would choose the Hyde Park/Kenwood neighborhood rather than anything else, because its a nice neighborhood and racially diverse.

[mlogan0301]

Thank you Bluchidog,
Good tips. What is Harvey, IL like? Is that considered a suburb too?

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by mlogan0301

Thank you Bluchidog,
Good tips. What is Harvey, IL like? Is that considered a suburb too?

Harvey, IL is one of those suburbs that have high crime and you can say its a suburban ghetto and is mainly black and latino, with a few Indian/Palestine and whites. And yes its a suburb, but don't have the big box retail and good schools as a typical suburb like Orland Park & Tinley Park(which is southwest suburb)

If you are looking for a home/apartment in Chicago southside and south suburbs, I would advise you to move to Hyde Park/Kenwood, and Beverly neighborhood( these neighborhoods are nice and racialy diverse). And for the South/southwest suburbs, you should move to Homewood, orland Park, Tinley park, Flossmoor, and Olympia Fields. Olympia Fields is list as one of the wealthiest majority black suburb in the country and R.Kelly lives there. Olympia Fields & Flossmoor,IL median income is $100,000.

[Ron.]

Do you really know what a ghetto is?

The black ghettos( FYI- the original ghettos in the USA were populated by the Irish immigrant community) did not always contain dilapidated houses and deteriorating projects, nor were all of its residents poverty-stricken.

The term ghetto is widely misused and misunderstood by mainstream America( whites and uninformed blacks, other).

Ghetto was actually a phrase the blacks used to signify "home" and a feeling, passion, or emotion derived from the rising above the struggle and suffering of being black in America, it was used in a positive sense.

Ghetto was never used by blacks to describe the "hood", as you seem to be doing. Unfortunately many blacks are just as ignorant about their own history as whites are about the history of blacks in this country.

I guess you feel the need to use those terms(incorrectly) when seeking out info from blacks because you obviously do not interact with blacks enough to realize, if you want to ask a question all you have to do is ask it. No need to try and "pimp" your question out with slang and inappropriate use of words.

cr

Originally Posted by mlogan0301

My question is: If you are African-American and already used to living in a "urban" area and grew up in the "ghetto/hood." Will Southside really be out of the ordinary for you? Or will you find that you fit in just fine? Especially with the amount of African-American people there and the "diversity" in that area?

[mlogan0301]

First, let me apologize for offending you or anyone else for that matter. However, I am African-American and do not like the term "ghetto" or "hood" either, hence the reason why I put it in parathenses to show that, there are alot of people on this forum using it so frequently, so I wanted to know what the deal was, with the misuse of the word. As well, as why many people on this forum only use those words/derogatory comments, when referencing black people. I interact with plenty of black people to know the misuse of the word, as well as what it means to black people in their hearts when they refer to their own past homelife as such. The "ghetto" or "hood." So please, don't think by any means, I am uneducated on the matter. I have lived in these so-called areas, both in Philadelphia (one of the worse cities for crime currently) as well as in Wilmington, Delaware and always have to correct people when they attempt to classify black people in just one setting or area. It is like saying all Africans walk around naked and that is far from the truth, as I have visited both South Africa and Zimbabwe and they are definitely booming cities with plenty of African-Americans doing well and succeding.

[Ron.]

No offense taken. I just wanted to ensure people have a clear understanding of the word and not to equate Ghetto with black.

But to answer you question. If you are black and you are not afraid of blacks( some are) you will not feel "out of place" on the southside. At least I don't. For the record I never grow up in any poor neighborhood but I go in the roughest neighborhoods ( Englewood,Austin) daily. I never feel out of place or that i don't fit in. But I would not move to those areas.


Carry on............

cr

Originally Posted by mlogan0301

First, let me apologize for offending you or anyone else for that matter. However, I am African-American and do not like the term "ghetto" or "hood" either, hence the reason why I put it in parathenses to show that, there are alot of people on this forum using it so frequently, so I wanted to know what the deal was, with the misuse of the word. As well, as why many people on this forum only use those words/derogatory comments, when referencing black people. I interact with plenty of black people to know the misuse of the word, as well as what it means to black people in their hearts when they refer to their own past homelife as such. The "ghetto" or "hood." So please, don't think by any means, I am uneducated on the matter. I have lived in these so-called areas, both in Philadelphia (one of the worse cities for crime currently) as well as in Wilmington, Delaware and always have to correct people when they attempt to classify black people in just one setting or area. It is like saying all Africans walk around naked and that is far from the truth, as I have visited both South Africa and Zimbabwe and they are definitely booming cities with plenty of African-Americans doing well and succeding.

[mlogan0301]

I wholeheartedly agree! Question, do you know anything about the Auburn Gresham area? I haven't received any replies to that post and was wondering what the area was like? I understand Scott Joplin is school is very close.

Thanks

[Attrill]

You can find crime stats for Chicago here and school report cards here.

[mlogan0301]

thank you