Poverty in Chicago I

  In my research for poverty in Chicago, I found a documentary regarding various aspects of Chicago poverty and direct interviews with homeless individuals in the city. The documentary is called "Poverty in Chicago" and can be found at http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/poverty-in-chicago/. I highly recommend taking 45 minutes to watch the video if any readers have the opportunity. Brian Schodorf, the director of the documentary, investigated several issues regarding poverty in Chicago and drew on major conclusion among several contributing to the phenomenon. Chicago is the third highest ranking city for drug overdose in the United States. Chicago slums and projects account for the entire states heroin and crack cocaine supply hot spots. Though drugs may be the primary reason those in poverty remain oppressed in poverty, Schodorf also accounts for other aspects including mental health issues, former convicts and even explores the race barrier between the middle class and those suffering in poverty.
       The movie reveals that low income housing areas in Chicago quickly became diluted with high crime rates and drug trafficking. As a result, poor values, circulating drugs, and lack of education create a vicious cycle almost completely indestructible in which those living in those areas cannot escape poverty. Children are taught to sell drugs and partake in a life of crime in order to survive since upward mobility is almost completely unattainable. The downward spiraling financial situations for those living in the slums create little or no motivation to work towards financial success through societies mainstream standards such as education and work. As a result, the south side of Chicago, which accounts for 60% of the city has a 40% homeless rate and countless others suffering far below the poverty line. The documentary also showed that Chicago police obviously know about the high rates of drug trafficking, often see it but do very little about it. A social worker in the video implies that as part of city politics, the allowance of drug trafficking can be used to nullify a group of people and ultimately keep them oppressed.
       The documentary continued to show how poverty in American society is highly frowned upon and Chicago has ultimately gotten significantly better at ignoring the poor instead of providing any form of aid. The poor in Chicago continue to suffer and as time progresses, statistically, they are actually getting poorer. However, it is up to the American people to better understand this problem and stop turning a blind eye to those suffering so we can someday combat poverty and homelessness in Chicago.