Residents of Chicago wake up to grave and disheartening news headlines every day. Either a violent robbery claimed the lives of innocent people across a neighborhood or scores of injured and missing people. As any other cycle of violence, the number dead people indicate the severity of the criminalities perpetrated. However, despite of the glaring danger, more people survive to see another precious day but must live with the paralyzing fear. ‘Renegade Dreams’ contains the stories of the survivors as they live in one of the most dangerous places in the world. This essay will closely discuss and review their stories.
At West side detention, inmates do not socialize with each other. For example, while walking during reactional periods, the inmates will focus on a new prisoner’s shoes, wondering the reason behind his capture. Benjamin Gregory spots old decent shoes unique only to him. He is a bible instructor and can characterize persona of the young inmates from observation (Ralph 56). Nevertheless, Mr. Gregory’s sentiments on the youths have some merit even though he shows bias. The gang renegades wear gyms shoes together with their prison attires.
The author establishes insincerity of the older generation through Benjamin Gregory. He calls the young men, ‘hip hoppers’ while associating their shoe fascination with prison. Yet, he fails to categorize the young man seated next to him as being part of the gang because he does not look the part (Ralph 58). Thus, Mr. Gregory’s assumptions are hypocritical, based on hate and a general observation that any individual can fall under.
In addition, gym shoes establish social hierarchy. Most of the times, only gang leaders wear gym shoes. They signify consciousness and represent an end of a criminal era after which a person would pursue lesser dreams such as grassroots projects (Ralph 56). Like any other transition, the young replace the old and pledge their loyalty to the elderly retired gang members. On the other hand, young men can wear trending sneakers, to signify status in the gang. New sneakers indicate the commencement of a long journey in crime for the young members. After some progress, the young member can acquire a vehicle and an apartment. These possessions imply success and readiness to proceed to the next level within the gang. Therefore, the writer creates social hierarchy through the shoes.
The institutionalization and normalizing of gangs indicates the frail hand of law enforcement. The gangs are able to run their activities and continue their reign of terror without any interference from law enforcement agencies, (Ralph, 65). For example, many storeowners cannot keep their insurance policies due to increase in the premium prices. The insecurity reduces reinvestment in the areas hard hit by crime syndicates. Thus, crime hinders meaningful development in areas rampant with crime. Secondly, government sidelines and migrates essential amenities from the areas, which in turn stimulates more crime due to the abject poverty.
In short, the criminal gangs of Chicago paralyzed normal way of life and subjected people to fearful thinking. More so, the gangs, kill, maim, and architect vicious cycles of crime. The law enforcer try to cut down the rate of crime by sentencing some members of the The law enforcer try to cut down the rate of crime by sentencing some members of the gangs to prison but it is not an effective way of dealing with the menace.
Work cited
Ralph, Laurence. Renegade dreams: Living through injury in gangland Chicago. University of Chicago Press, 2014.
