I came to write for Gay Chicago Magazine after running into the partner of someone I'd been involved in a political action with. He worked there, mentioned they were looking for columnists, and set me up. At first I was writing monthly editorials, then I was working with someone else and writing two columns a month. At times I wondered if it was the right publication for my work, but I was glad for the opportunity to offer something. My time writing for them was really good because it gave me an outlet for a kind of writing that I wasn't able to do elsewhere, but at times it was difficult because I sometimes felt tokenized and misunderstood. Still, I'm grateful for having had the opportunity because the writing I did was incredibly helpful for me and I hope to a couple folks out there.
As of recently, Gay Chicago has ceased to operate either in print or online. Good luck to you who are moving on from your time there. Thanks too for the experience.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
History Yet To Be Written
This essay now posted on Bilerico under the title "Standing with Queer 'Riff Raff'"
Once upon a time, a bunch of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual, and otherwise queer people liked to hang out in certain parts of town. The world looked down on them—and the most resentful of their presence were the respectable neighbors who lived nearby. Now "lewd and lascivious acts" (including gay sex) were against the law, but that didn’t stop people from frequenting cruising spots, gay clubs, and gay bars. Since they distrusted the police, they sometimes solved their disputes in less-than-healthy ways. They sometimes fought, often got drunk, took illegal drugs, had sex, and generally ran amuck in places where they made the neighbors feel uncomfortable, fearful, and even unsafe...
Be sure to read my other posts on this topic:
Working for Safety in Lakeview: 3 Suggestions
Safety Concerns Meet Racism in Lakeview?
“Hoodlums and Thugs” in Boystown
Once upon a time, a bunch of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual, and otherwise queer people liked to hang out in certain parts of town. The world looked down on them—and the most resentful of their presence were the respectable neighbors who lived nearby. Now "lewd and lascivious acts" (including gay sex) were against the law, but that didn’t stop people from frequenting cruising spots, gay clubs, and gay bars. Since they distrusted the police, they sometimes solved their disputes in less-than-healthy ways. They sometimes fought, often got drunk, took illegal drugs, had sex, and generally ran amuck in places where they made the neighbors feel uncomfortable, fearful, and even unsafe...
Be sure to read my other posts on this topic:
Working for Safety in Lakeview: 3 Suggestions
Safety Concerns Meet Racism in Lakeview?
“Hoodlums and Thugs” in Boystown
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Working for Safety in Lakeview
[Posted at Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-chu/working-for-safety-in-lak_1_b_890720.html]
Working for Safety in Lakeview
by Erica Chu
Right now, people in the historically gay neighborhood of Lakeview (AKA Boystown) are becoming more concerned about safety. Justifiably so—a series of violent incidents has underscored to many that the places they once felt safe don’t seem as safe anymore. At the same time, racial tensions are rising in this predominately white neighborhood.
The vast majority of Lakeview residents are happy to welcome people of every color to the neighborhood, but there is definitely a caveat: Make yourself at home—as long as you live up to middle-class standards—be polite, be fairly quiet, and don’t gather on sidewalks, in alleys, or on streets. Of course, inconsistencies exist. If you’re a middle-class person blocking the sidewalk, urinating in an alley, being loud, calling out to strangers, or lingering outside while en route to a Cubs game, your favorite bar, or a good brunch spot, all is well. Drunken, rude, and inconsiderate behavior is apparently tolerated as long as you’re supporting local businesses.
The youth of color who come to Lakeview can’t afford such entertainments and are definitely not middle-class. Like the poor homeless youth among the rioters at Stonewall Inn, young people have migrated to the part of town that is most accepting of queer identities. Each person has taken a good look at the danger and rejection they feel among the family and neighborhood they were raised in, and they come to Lakeview seeking refuge and the opportunity to meet others like themselves. Many have permanently left their families of origin. The lucky ones stay with friends, and many others wander the streets at night or try to sleep in some quiet place, braving all kinds of weather. Still others commute.
While few middle class whites feel hatred for youth of color, racism and classism are exhibited in much more subtle fashion. Annoyance and resentment over minor infractions by poor youth build up over time, and when opportunity strikes, the middle class turns with suspicion, fear, intolerance, and accusation.
I’ve heard over and over again, that those rallying for increased safety measures are not making any statements about race or class—they just want safety. I believe that they do want and should work to make Lakeview safer. I also believe that they have assumptions and biases about race and class which cause them to target black youth in unknowingly sinister ways.
Every summer, there is increased violence in Lakeview and across Chicago. Some violence is committed in an attempt to steal, and some in an attempt to gain respect. Both cases are unfortunate and, I believe, wrong. We should try to prevent such violence, and one method that has been adopted by the majority of those decrying the lack of safety is increased surveillance by the state, by police, and by citizens with access to the internet. For one, this method is often done in ways that focus on the infractions of blacks or the poor and not the same infractions committed by whites or the middle class. More importantly, I don’t think this is quite right or even the best route to ensuring safety, but I understand why many want to take it.
Another method of preventing violence that I believe is more effective is to attend to the root causes such as injustices that bring about the desperate need for resources and respect. Poverty is one of those injustices and has all sorts of ramifications—educational inequality, fewer employment options, even health risks and greater discrimination. Residents of Lakeview may find it daunting to address those injustices and prevent things like gang activity, but there are a few very tangible things that can be done more quickly to prevent some of the violence that has occurred.
First is to prioritize the issue of LGBTQ youth homelessness. In this era of “It gets better,” it’s a damn shame if we do nothing but say “Move on” to the youth who don’t even have a place to stay for the night. We need shelters specifically dedicated to LGBTQ youth, who face harassment and abuse in other shelters. We need these shelters to be open year-round and to have enough beds to house all who need them.
Secondly, we need to provide safe space for LGBTQ youth to express themselves and explore their present and future. We can do this by providing useful and affirming programming organized by compassionate staff who include the youth in planning. We also need to keep safe spaces open as long as possible. Closing doors to youth early in the day will not make them disperse sooner, it will encourage them to find other things to do and find other places to socialize. Some youth may choose the streets and sidewalks over youth centers and that is their right, but when we provide options for youth, we make them less vulnerable to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And most importantly, respect the youth. Respect their right to be in the neighborhood they call home. Be intolerant of violence, but be tolerant of ways of expression that may not be similar to your own. If the noise they make is disruptive, ask them to be quiet as you would ask any other group. If they are belligerent, warn them you will call the cops if they don’t quiet down or move. Some of these kids don’t always make wise decisions, but they are worthy of your respect. They are individuals with their own stories and reasons for making the choices they make.
Even if we do these three things perfectly, violence will not stop completely. Some matters are too big and would need cooperation and resources beyond what Lakeview has access to—but if we who are progressive claim to care about the LGBTQ community, we must care about this very vulnerable subset. And if safety really is our concern, we will find that when we do these three things, we will absolutely make this community and its streets much safer for all.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-chu/working-for-safety-in-lak_1_b_890720.html]
Working for Safety in Lakeview
by Erica Chu
Right now, people in the historically gay neighborhood of Lakeview (AKA Boystown) are becoming more concerned about safety. Justifiably so—a series of violent incidents has underscored to many that the places they once felt safe don’t seem as safe anymore. At the same time, racial tensions are rising in this predominately white neighborhood.
The vast majority of Lakeview residents are happy to welcome people of every color to the neighborhood, but there is definitely a caveat: Make yourself at home—as long as you live up to middle-class standards—be polite, be fairly quiet, and don’t gather on sidewalks, in alleys, or on streets. Of course, inconsistencies exist. If you’re a middle-class person blocking the sidewalk, urinating in an alley, being loud, calling out to strangers, or lingering outside while en route to a Cubs game, your favorite bar, or a good brunch spot, all is well. Drunken, rude, and inconsiderate behavior is apparently tolerated as long as you’re supporting local businesses.
The youth of color who come to Lakeview can’t afford such entertainments and are definitely not middle-class. Like the poor homeless youth among the rioters at Stonewall Inn, young people have migrated to the part of town that is most accepting of queer identities. Each person has taken a good look at the danger and rejection they feel among the family and neighborhood they were raised in, and they come to Lakeview seeking refuge and the opportunity to meet others like themselves. Many have permanently left their families of origin. The lucky ones stay with friends, and many others wander the streets at night or try to sleep in some quiet place, braving all kinds of weather. Still others commute.
While few middle class whites feel hatred for youth of color, racism and classism are exhibited in much more subtle fashion. Annoyance and resentment over minor infractions by poor youth build up over time, and when opportunity strikes, the middle class turns with suspicion, fear, intolerance, and accusation.
I’ve heard over and over again, that those rallying for increased safety measures are not making any statements about race or class—they just want safety. I believe that they do want and should work to make Lakeview safer. I also believe that they have assumptions and biases about race and class which cause them to target black youth in unknowingly sinister ways.
Every summer, there is increased violence in Lakeview and across Chicago. Some violence is committed in an attempt to steal, and some in an attempt to gain respect. Both cases are unfortunate and, I believe, wrong. We should try to prevent such violence, and one method that has been adopted by the majority of those decrying the lack of safety is increased surveillance by the state, by police, and by citizens with access to the internet. For one, this method is often done in ways that focus on the infractions of blacks or the poor and not the same infractions committed by whites or the middle class. More importantly, I don’t think this is quite right or even the best route to ensuring safety, but I understand why many want to take it.
Another method of preventing violence that I believe is more effective is to attend to the root causes such as injustices that bring about the desperate need for resources and respect. Poverty is one of those injustices and has all sorts of ramifications—educational inequality, fewer employment options, even health risks and greater discrimination. Residents of Lakeview may find it daunting to address those injustices and prevent things like gang activity, but there are a few very tangible things that can be done more quickly to prevent some of the violence that has occurred.
First is to prioritize the issue of LGBTQ youth homelessness. In this era of “It gets better,” it’s a damn shame if we do nothing but say “Move on” to the youth who don’t even have a place to stay for the night. We need shelters specifically dedicated to LGBTQ youth, who face harassment and abuse in other shelters. We need these shelters to be open year-round and to have enough beds to house all who need them.
Secondly, we need to provide safe space for LGBTQ youth to express themselves and explore their present and future. We can do this by providing useful and affirming programming organized by compassionate staff who include the youth in planning. We also need to keep safe spaces open as long as possible. Closing doors to youth early in the day will not make them disperse sooner, it will encourage them to find other things to do and find other places to socialize. Some youth may choose the streets and sidewalks over youth centers and that is their right, but when we provide options for youth, we make them less vulnerable to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And most importantly, respect the youth. Respect their right to be in the neighborhood they call home. Be intolerant of violence, but be tolerant of ways of expression that may not be similar to your own. If the noise they make is disruptive, ask them to be quiet as you would ask any other group. If they are belligerent, warn them you will call the cops if they don’t quiet down or move. Some of these kids don’t always make wise decisions, but they are worthy of your respect. They are individuals with their own stories and reasons for making the choices they make.
Even if we do these three things perfectly, violence will not stop completely. Some matters are too big and would need cooperation and resources beyond what Lakeview has access to—but if we who are progressive claim to care about the LGBTQ community, we must care about this very vulnerable subset. And if safety really is our concern, we will find that when we do these three things, we will absolutely make this community and its streets much safer for all.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Safety Concerns Meet Racism in Lakeview?
It’s true there have been several incidents of violent crime in recent years. Two summers ago, a wave of violent muggings in the Lincoln Park area resulted in many people being injured and even more fearful for their safety. More recently, several subway thefts and “flash mob” robberies in the downtown area have involved many perpetrators and left some victims and bystanders injured. In Lakeview, robberies have even put some in the hospital. People are afraid, and you know what, they have a right to be. No one wants to be a victim of violence, and no one deserves to be treated in such a way. But here’s the thing: when people get afraid, sometimes bad things happen to innocent people.
Remember the two young men who killed Matthew Shepard in 1998 because, they claimed, he threatened their heterosexuality by making sexual advances? Remember the two Detroit auto workers who murdered Vincent Chin in 1982 because they blamed the Japanese for damaging the US auto industry? Remember the Germans who in the 1920s were experiencing such economic hardship that they lashed out at and eventually exterminated large populations of Jewish people, who they characterized as economic leeches?
Each of these acts of extreme violence was committed because resentment became fueled by fear.
Though seemingly not as severe, such resentment and fear is building up in Lakeview. I’ve heard stereotypes invoked and discriminatory statements made by people I know, and I’ve seen racist and classist statements written all over social media sites, most predominately on the Facebook group “Take Back Boystown.” The concern is safety, but the result is bias and resentment against youth of color.
Who are the suspects of committing the recent wave of violent crimes? Most often, the description is of young black men. The logic of some therefore leads to suspecting all young black men of being criminals—especially the sketchy ones. And what constitutes “sketchy”? Well, people who don’t look respectable. And respectable, of course, means dressing the way you think is normal, talking the way you think is normal, and treating you, the middle-class observer, the way you think is normal. Now, what separates “the normal way” from the “sketchy”? Well, you just know, right? Well, that internal feeling of knowing what way is the normal way to do things is actually rather subjective and is based on your experience, your identity, and your desires. Trying to force one’s ambiguous expectations about normal behavior on others often takes the form of racism, classism, heterosexism, cissexism, ableism, and a whole lot of things that are not good.
Take for instance what happens when a person of East Asian descent has a role on a television show with a predominately white cast. This person does not look like the “normal” characters and so she’s not so much known as “Tina” but as “the Asian girl.” And if we were watching Glee, and someone suddenly said “An Asian person just robbed a store” the audience immediately thinks “the Asian girl” did it, and if not her, it was one of her relatives or friends.
Glee has trained us to be discriminatory toward Asians (what with “Asian kisses,” “Asian Camp,” and “Other Asian,” come on.). The fear and bias of history, written from the perspective of white elites, has trained us to accept stereotypes about youth of color. This being said, we are each responsible for what we do with the discriminatory skills we’ve unwittingly learned.
Of course we need to take action to keep ourselves and our neighborhoods safe. Walk in groups at night and when possible in the day, keep your expensive items hidden away in public so as not to cause unwanted attention, be aware of your surroundings, and if put in any position of danger, it’s better to lose an iPhone than risk a bruised rib. Is it fair that you have to take such precautions? No. But it’s not the fault of every young black man you see in the neighborhood.
At one time gays were seen as trash bringing all sorts of unwanted behavior into the neighborhood. We know those who judged were wrong, so don’t give into being wrong this time. Black youth should be as welcome in Lakeview as anyone else is. If they aren’t, racism—not safety—reigns.
I’m not saying colorblindness is a realistic or even positive way of seeing the world, but when we give into our tendencies to see race, class, age, and style of dress instead of individuals each with their own story and their own journey in this world, we give in to prejudice. Perhaps our racism and classism don’t come in the form of hatred, but disapproval, suspicion, and support for stereotypes are nearly as bad.
In predominately white, middle-class neighborhoods like Streeterville, Lincoln Park, Lakview, Edgewater, Andersonville, and parts of Rogers Park, long-time residents have grown accustomed to seeing mostly white, middle-class people. Some meet the neighborhood’s standards of behavior and some don’t, but when poor youth of color don’t meet their standards, tolerance quickly runs out.
Poor youth in Lakeview are making efforts to figure out their identities and their lives. Many deal with homelessness, family difficulties related to their sexual and gender identities, economic hardships, difficulty attending school and finding work, and harassment and even abuse from people who should be protecting them. Whatever your race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, or other identities or characteristics, you are susceptible to falling into prejudicial thinking. If a black man of a certain age and style of dress robs a store, all other people that seem or look like him are not also likely to rob a store. There is no need to fear black men or any people group. Violence is to be feared.
In our quest to prevent violence, let’s all be aware of the possibility of our fearful and prejudicial thinking and work tirelessly to make our neighborhoods safe for all—especially those who are most vulnerable.
See also my post from yesterday: "Hoodlums and Thugs" in Boystown
Correction (updated 7/2): The above post alludes to robberies in Lakeview that resulted in hospitalization. In fact, the incident referred to does not appear to have been a robbery. More information here.
Remember the two young men who killed Matthew Shepard in 1998 because, they claimed, he threatened their heterosexuality by making sexual advances? Remember the two Detroit auto workers who murdered Vincent Chin in 1982 because they blamed the Japanese for damaging the US auto industry? Remember the Germans who in the 1920s were experiencing such economic hardship that they lashed out at and eventually exterminated large populations of Jewish people, who they characterized as economic leeches?
Each of these acts of extreme violence was committed because resentment became fueled by fear.
Though seemingly not as severe, such resentment and fear is building up in Lakeview. I’ve heard stereotypes invoked and discriminatory statements made by people I know, and I’ve seen racist and classist statements written all over social media sites, most predominately on the Facebook group “Take Back Boystown.” The concern is safety, but the result is bias and resentment against youth of color.
Who are the suspects of committing the recent wave of violent crimes? Most often, the description is of young black men. The logic of some therefore leads to suspecting all young black men of being criminals—especially the sketchy ones. And what constitutes “sketchy”? Well, people who don’t look respectable. And respectable, of course, means dressing the way you think is normal, talking the way you think is normal, and treating you, the middle-class observer, the way you think is normal. Now, what separates “the normal way” from the “sketchy”? Well, you just know, right? Well, that internal feeling of knowing what way is the normal way to do things is actually rather subjective and is based on your experience, your identity, and your desires. Trying to force one’s ambiguous expectations about normal behavior on others often takes the form of racism, classism, heterosexism, cissexism, ableism, and a whole lot of things that are not good.
Take for instance what happens when a person of East Asian descent has a role on a television show with a predominately white cast. This person does not look like the “normal” characters and so she’s not so much known as “Tina” but as “the Asian girl.” And if we were watching Glee, and someone suddenly said “An Asian person just robbed a store” the audience immediately thinks “the Asian girl” did it, and if not her, it was one of her relatives or friends.
Glee has trained us to be discriminatory toward Asians (what with “Asian kisses,” “Asian Camp,” and “Other Asian,” come on.). The fear and bias of history, written from the perspective of white elites, has trained us to accept stereotypes about youth of color. This being said, we are each responsible for what we do with the discriminatory skills we’ve unwittingly learned.
Of course we need to take action to keep ourselves and our neighborhoods safe. Walk in groups at night and when possible in the day, keep your expensive items hidden away in public so as not to cause unwanted attention, be aware of your surroundings, and if put in any position of danger, it’s better to lose an iPhone than risk a bruised rib. Is it fair that you have to take such precautions? No. But it’s not the fault of every young black man you see in the neighborhood.
At one time gays were seen as trash bringing all sorts of unwanted behavior into the neighborhood. We know those who judged were wrong, so don’t give into being wrong this time. Black youth should be as welcome in Lakeview as anyone else is. If they aren’t, racism—not safety—reigns.
I’m not saying colorblindness is a realistic or even positive way of seeing the world, but when we give into our tendencies to see race, class, age, and style of dress instead of individuals each with their own story and their own journey in this world, we give in to prejudice. Perhaps our racism and classism don’t come in the form of hatred, but disapproval, suspicion, and support for stereotypes are nearly as bad.
In predominately white, middle-class neighborhoods like Streeterville, Lincoln Park, Lakview, Edgewater, Andersonville, and parts of Rogers Park, long-time residents have grown accustomed to seeing mostly white, middle-class people. Some meet the neighborhood’s standards of behavior and some don’t, but when poor youth of color don’t meet their standards, tolerance quickly runs out.
Poor youth in Lakeview are making efforts to figure out their identities and their lives. Many deal with homelessness, family difficulties related to their sexual and gender identities, economic hardships, difficulty attending school and finding work, and harassment and even abuse from people who should be protecting them. Whatever your race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, or other identities or characteristics, you are susceptible to falling into prejudicial thinking. If a black man of a certain age and style of dress robs a store, all other people that seem or look like him are not also likely to rob a store. There is no need to fear black men or any people group. Violence is to be feared.
In our quest to prevent violence, let’s all be aware of the possibility of our fearful and prejudicial thinking and work tirelessly to make our neighborhoods safe for all—especially those who are most vulnerable.
See also my post from yesterday: "Hoodlums and Thugs" in Boystown
Correction (updated 7/2): The above post alludes to robberies in Lakeview that resulted in hospitalization. In fact, the incident referred to does not appear to have been a robbery. More information here.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
“Hoodlums and Thugs” in Boystown
Keeping It Queer
By Erica Chu
“Hoodlums and Thugs” in Boystown
“OMG, did you hear about the mob violence during Pride? Some fucking thugs got all ghetto on some people at Pride, and I hear a police officer was hurt. Those people need to take their ignorant asses out of Boystown till they can act right. This neighborhood sure has gone to shit.”
I got on Facebook and saw a picture posted of several (mostly black) people crowded around a scuffle. The comments were flooded with sentiments similar to those represented above.
I was outraged. I was horrified. And I felt incredibly sad. When crowds and alcohol mix, results are often ugly, but the public rhetoric surrounding that picture is focused completely on race, class, and a very limited vision of who is allowed to be in Boystown and a part of Pride.
Who are the “hoodlums”? Well, poor youth of color of course. Everyone knows that the South and West sides are full of them (and even up north in Uptown). That’s why all the peace-loving folks who can afford it move to places like East Lakeview, where they can eat brunch, party, and shop in a place where they feel comfortable. When other people start occupying the same space and make these respectable people feel uncomfortable, well “Uh-uh! Get these hoodlums and thugs out of our neighborhood!”
These are the times when overt racism and classism bubble up and reveal how prejudiced the community really is.
“Now wait a second, there are lots of people of color in East Lakeview who are welcomed and accepted and who are as mad about the hoodlums as whites.” That is certainly true, but take a moment to paint a mental picture of the people of color who are welcomed in East Lakeview and then compare that picture to the mental picture of people of color who are labeled hoodlums. Does the way they dress, speak, or act have anything to do with it? Yes, and that’s why we’ve got a problem. Whether it’s middle-class folks (white, black, or otherwise) who look down on “white trash” or “ghetto trash,” we’ve got a major problem with prejudice in the form of classism and racism.
We often unfairly turn to blame the people we are otherwise made uncomfortable by.
The people loitering on your favorite corner are no longer middle-class people (mostly whites) in their late twenties to mid-forties sipping Starbucks and greeting you when you walk by. Now there are poor youths (mostly of color) who are hanging around, and they not only fail to smile—they seem actually to resent you. Why do they make you feel so uncomfortable?
Because they are loud? Because they aren’t friendly? Because they resent you? Because they remind you that you are privileged? Because they aren’t as respectable as you?
Here are a few truths to help deal with the answers to those questions:
• Middle-class people tend to tolerate the noise when other middle-class people are the ones making it.
• Poor youth don’t tend to warm up to people who think they shouldn’t be around.
• Middle-class people tend to take pride in the fact they aren’t rich, and they resent the fact that much of what they have and do is considered an extravagance by others.
• People—including poor youth—need space to freely explore their gender and sexuality.
• Middle-class people tend to believe in stereotypes about poor people.
• LGBTQ people have always been criticized for not being respectable.
• Respectability is overrated.
The bottom line: Be critical of your own discomfort.
No one likes being called out for racism or classism, but denying the possibility that you could be demonstrating prejudice only confirms the fact that you probably are. This article could very well contain elements of my prejudice, and I want to be open about that possibility and willing to confront and if possible correct it. I hope the rest of the LGBTQ community can be similarly willing to explore how we need to be more critical, respectful, and diligent in pursuing a safe and just world.
I have much more to say about the “hoodlum problem” in East Lakeview, but it will have to wait until next time. Until then, let me just say violence committed by poor youth of color is a shame, but a bigger shame is the rhetorical and political violence committed against poor youth of color by a community that should seek to welcome all who wish to claim it.
Be sure to read my other posts on this topic:
Working for Safety in Lakeview: 3 Suggestions
Safety Concerns Meet Racism in Lakeview?
Erica Chu is a student at Loyola University Chicago and is seeking a PhD in English with a concentration in Women Studies and Gender Studies. They manage the blog keepingitqueer.blogspot.com and can be reached at ericachu@msn.com.
By Erica Chu
“Hoodlums and Thugs” in Boystown
“OMG, did you hear about the mob violence during Pride? Some fucking thugs got all ghetto on some people at Pride, and I hear a police officer was hurt. Those people need to take their ignorant asses out of Boystown till they can act right. This neighborhood sure has gone to shit.”
I got on Facebook and saw a picture posted of several (mostly black) people crowded around a scuffle. The comments were flooded with sentiments similar to those represented above.
I was outraged. I was horrified. And I felt incredibly sad. When crowds and alcohol mix, results are often ugly, but the public rhetoric surrounding that picture is focused completely on race, class, and a very limited vision of who is allowed to be in Boystown and a part of Pride.
Who are the “hoodlums”? Well, poor youth of color of course. Everyone knows that the South and West sides are full of them (and even up north in Uptown). That’s why all the peace-loving folks who can afford it move to places like East Lakeview, where they can eat brunch, party, and shop in a place where they feel comfortable. When other people start occupying the same space and make these respectable people feel uncomfortable, well “Uh-uh! Get these hoodlums and thugs out of our neighborhood!”
These are the times when overt racism and classism bubble up and reveal how prejudiced the community really is.
“Now wait a second, there are lots of people of color in East Lakeview who are welcomed and accepted and who are as mad about the hoodlums as whites.” That is certainly true, but take a moment to paint a mental picture of the people of color who are welcomed in East Lakeview and then compare that picture to the mental picture of people of color who are labeled hoodlums. Does the way they dress, speak, or act have anything to do with it? Yes, and that’s why we’ve got a problem. Whether it’s middle-class folks (white, black, or otherwise) who look down on “white trash” or “ghetto trash,” we’ve got a major problem with prejudice in the form of classism and racism.
We often unfairly turn to blame the people we are otherwise made uncomfortable by.
The people loitering on your favorite corner are no longer middle-class people (mostly whites) in their late twenties to mid-forties sipping Starbucks and greeting you when you walk by. Now there are poor youths (mostly of color) who are hanging around, and they not only fail to smile—they seem actually to resent you. Why do they make you feel so uncomfortable?
Because they are loud? Because they aren’t friendly? Because they resent you? Because they remind you that you are privileged? Because they aren’t as respectable as you?
Here are a few truths to help deal with the answers to those questions:
• Middle-class people tend to tolerate the noise when other middle-class people are the ones making it.
• Poor youth don’t tend to warm up to people who think they shouldn’t be around.
• Middle-class people tend to take pride in the fact they aren’t rich, and they resent the fact that much of what they have and do is considered an extravagance by others.
• People—including poor youth—need space to freely explore their gender and sexuality.
• Middle-class people tend to believe in stereotypes about poor people.
• LGBTQ people have always been criticized for not being respectable.
• Respectability is overrated.
The bottom line: Be critical of your own discomfort.
No one likes being called out for racism or classism, but denying the possibility that you could be demonstrating prejudice only confirms the fact that you probably are. This article could very well contain elements of my prejudice, and I want to be open about that possibility and willing to confront and if possible correct it. I hope the rest of the LGBTQ community can be similarly willing to explore how we need to be more critical, respectful, and diligent in pursuing a safe and just world.
I have much more to say about the “hoodlum problem” in East Lakeview, but it will have to wait until next time. Until then, let me just say violence committed by poor youth of color is a shame, but a bigger shame is the rhetorical and political violence committed against poor youth of color by a community that should seek to welcome all who wish to claim it.
Be sure to read my other posts on this topic:
Working for Safety in Lakeview: 3 Suggestions
Safety Concerns Meet Racism in Lakeview?
Erica Chu is a student at Loyola University Chicago and is seeking a PhD in English with a concentration in Women Studies and Gender Studies. They manage the blog keepingitqueer.blogspot.com and can be reached at ericachu@msn.com.
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