On Monday a friend emailed me an article with the subject, “Bronzeville Dubbed 2nd Most Dangerous Neighborhood.” A few minutes later a similarly ominous article was waiting in my Google News headlines. Given the increasing amount of time I’ve spent in Bronzeville working on the New Community church plant, both of these articles were hard to believe. However, a quick internet search revealed more of the same. In fact, according to the study that produced the statistics, “Chicago is home to 4 of the top 25 most dangerous neighborhoods in the country.”
Given that all 4 our city’s most dangerous neighborhoods are on the South Side, there are at least two ways many folks will interpret these headlines. For many- particularly those who don’t live on the South Side- this study will only reinforce the perception of these neighborhoods. Of course, this isn’t just a matter of geography; because much of the South Side is predominantly African American, these types of studies reinforce racial stereotypes and fears among those unfamiliar with this area of the city.
Maggie and I are considering moving to Bronzeville or one of the surrounding neighborhoods and are beginning to encounter these types of stereotypes and fears. The primary question I’ve been asked by white folks, often in a lowered voice, is, “Will you be safe?” Because this question has been asked by those with only a rudimentary knowledge of the South Side, it has become clear that the question of safety is tied up with less noble concerns.
This study reminds that ongoing prejudices and gross generalizations are not limited to individuals. While most news outlets were happy to simply report the dramatic statistics of the study (“1 in 4 chances of becoming a victim of a crime!”), only a few actually looked into the its origins. After visiting the Bronzeville neighborhood in question, CBS 2 found that, “There’s not a lot standing at the center of the area deemed the second most dangerous neighborhood in the U.S. The area is only four blocks long by four blocks wide. CBS 2 counted four small apartment buildings in that region, and less than a dozen homes that were occupied.” Some additional research revealed even more.
CBS 2 did a little homework of our own on the company that came up with the list of the most dangerous neighborhoods. It seems to be a real estate company that sells information about crime in neighborhoods around the country… For example, when we tried get the breakdown of the crime stats in Bronzeville we were directed to a Web site that asked for $29.99 for a one-month subscription.
Why is it that so few news outlets were willing to do this type of research? Could it be that, like the individuals who’ve wondered about our decision to move to the South Side, existing biases are only confirmed by these types of dramatic headlines? If the study had reported that one of Chicago’s mostly white, affluent suburbs had made the list of most dangerous neighborhoods, it seems likely the claim would have been examined much more carefully. Instead, because many simply assume the South Side is dangerous, the dubious research was taken at face value and only furthered destructive and racist stereotypes.
I mentioned that there are at least two ways folks will interpret this study. While some simply accept the headlines as reality, others will be saddened that once again their neighborhoods have been so quickly written off. A friend who worked for a local network news affiliate once told me how difficult it was to watch the producers make quick decisions about what news to air, decisions that uncritically furthered negative assumptions about her native South Side. The realities of prejudice and racism manifest themselves in both hushed questions by concerned friends and attention-grabbing headlines by supposed experts.
There are a handful of questions this episode has raised for me, but the simplest is this: How does a follower of Jesus respond? Assuming we cannot be content with the status quo, what means of protest and engagement are appropriate for those convinced of the reconciling nature of the Gospel?
David W. Swanson 
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