UL Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Urban Danger: Life in a Neighborhood of Strangers

Thesis Statement:

            Individuals of a housing development act on fear for where the live, are prejudiced against certain ethnicities and don’t keep social contact with neighbors or other residents.

Summary:

            On page 122-123 it explains how people who reside in the same building don’t converse or even recognize who their neighbors are. People of different ethnic groups usually stick together rather than with other people of a different race. It also explains why it’s dangerous to not recognize or identify who your neighbors are because it increases the chance of burglary at a place where residents are supposed to feel safe.

            People did things at certain times of the day because they feared that they would be mugged whether they were returning home at dark, loading a car or leaving their home unoccupied. People feared the development and also interpreted fear in different ways from humiliation, to being harassed by social workers. Danger was also defined by different characteristics of different ethnicities or backgrounds. Page 25 explains that in American cities there are understandings of people who are believed to be violent and immoral that are considered to be dangerous.

Personal Reflection:

            This chapter definitely had a lot of prejudice because of how some people were identified as dangerous. I have personal experience from almost everything this chapter was about. I personally think I’m also prejudice against certain people of a certain age and how some people look. Possible rumors I’ve heard before about someone at my housing development that I’ve looked at as dangerous and that could possibly bring harm to me. There’s teenagers that hang out in the main yard until late hours and disturb other residents. There are also random people that lurk around the building which sometimes makes me scared to come out alone or get home at a late hour. Page 127 on paragraph 3 explains that some people avoid going out at night because of the crimes and not keeping social contact with anyone except family and friends.