Renegade Dreams: Living Through Injury in Gangland Chicago

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses gang-related violence, drug abuse, police violence, and suicide.

Laurence Ralph’s study focuses on Eastwood, a West Side Chicago neighborhood. Ralph lived in the neighborhood from 2007 to 2010. His experiences and relationships in the neighborhood inspired him to return to Eastwood and write an ethnographic study about it. The book is based on the close bonds between Ralph and some of the neighborhood’s residents. Ralph shares his deep understanding of the dynamics within the neighborhood, as well as of the residents’ hopes and dreams for a better life. The book goes beyond academic theories, drawing on real stories from individuals like Justin, Mrs. Pearl, and others. Ralph admits that he found it challenging to accurately convey the African American Vernacular English, or AAVE, spoken by residents, as striking a balance between authenticity and readability proved difficult. The author explains in the Preface that he opted for combining narrative essays and ethnographic field notes to convey the social dynamics of Eastwood. The core of the book is the strong spirit of the residents, their continuous striving for better lives, and their ability to dream of a better future despite challenging circumstances.

Ralph presents the story of Justin Cone, a wheelchair­-bound survivor of gang violence. The story dates from 2008, a time when violence in Eastwood started to escalate, leading to 260 deaths until 2011. The setting of the chapter’s initial scene is a high school assembly on gang violence. The assembly involves ex-gang members, also disabled by gunshots, discussing the realities and consequences of gang life and emphasizing outcomes such as disability. Justin is one of the speakers at the assembly. Justin is drawn to this assembly because the speakers demonstrate the daily struggles of living with such injuries, bringing a new and uncomfortable awareness to their young audience. One speaker, Tony Akpan, reflects on his paralysis as a consequence of gang involvement, emphasizing an outcome rarely discussed: living in a wheelchair.

Ralph explores the unique perspective of disabled ex-gang members in Chicago, who bring into focus the real consequences of gang violence, which are rarely presented in the media or even in the Eastwood community. In addition, Ralph notes that these individuals offer insights into aspects of gang life often overlooked in academic studies.

Justin’s story is particularly impactful for Ralph. After working at a violence prevention agency and attending the assembly, Justin decided to learn public speaking and become an anti-violence activist. His plan is to use his experience to educate gang-affiliated youth, and he aims to start his own organization for violence prevention eventually. Ralph uses Justin’s story to explore various forms of injury in Eastwood, from physical disabilities to the more abstract injuries inflicted by societal forces such as redevelopment and the heroin trade.

Ralph explains that his goal is to provide a nuanced view of Eastwood beyond the general statistics and stereotypes. Some of the themes he introduces are injury, retribution, disease, authenticity, outside assistance, and dreams. Ralph focuses on personal stories and resilience in the Eastwood community, highlighting the interplay between violence and aspirations. He seeks to move beyond the typical portrayal of Eastwood as a neighborhood affected by gang violence. While he wants to portray Eastwood’s complex history as a neighborhood affected by structural urban poverty, gang violence, unemployment, and the negative effects of urban development,, he also wants to depict the Eastwood inhabitants’ pursuit of dreams and their continuous struggle to overcome impediments.

As outlined in the first field note of Renegade Dreams, titled “Late Death,” Ralph receives a call from a man called Eric announcing the death of a woman. Ralph initially wonders who the woman is and considers other women from Eastwood who could have died. Then, Eric states that he is talking about Mrs. Dickerson. Ralph expresses that, paradoxically, he is surprised that Mrs. Dickerson, a grandmother, died instead of other, younger women at risk. Ralph then reflects on a joyful memory of Mrs. Dickerson. He recalls her gold-toothed smile while singing along to rap music, which leads him to contemplate the relationship between grandmothers and grandchildren in gangs. He regrets not thanking Mrs. Dickerson for this insight.

Ralph describes the efforts of Eastwood residents to oppose a redevelopment plan in Eastwood. In February 2009, members of the Divine Knights Gang gathered outside the Chicago City Hall to protest a redevelopment plan that threatened to displace residents from homes that the government qualified as “unfit for living” (21). The older residents of Eastwood, many part of the influential Neighborhood Coalition, joined the Divine Knights Gang in protest. Inside the City Hall, government officials were set to debate the Eastwood Plan, which involved redeveloping 652 properties in the area.

The neighbors opposed the plan proposed by the Delivery Development Corporation, which built and restored housing in Eastwood. The Eastwood Community Church owned the corporation. Among the professional-looking men representing the corporation were people recovering from addiction from the Eastwood Community Church’s rehabilitation center. The corporation’s project and interests split the community into two groups. One of the participants, Eric Childs, noted that the grandparents are pitted against their grandchildren by the redevelopment plan.

Ralph turns to Tamara Anderson, a key member of the Neighborhood Coalition, who plans to build a museum celebrating Eastwood’s history. Tamara collaborates with Mr. Otis, a senior member of the Divine Knights, forming a partnership that transcends stereotypical gang narratives. Their efforts aim to reframe the image of Eastwood and resist the restructuring of the neighborhood.

Tamara’s collaboration with Mr. Otis exemplifies the fact that relationships within the community transcend social divisions. Gang members contribute to the community life in Eastwood. For example, Mr. Otis, a gang member, and his wife have kept an archive of the neighborhood and the gang’s history dating back over 50 years. By planning the museum together, Tamara and Mr. Otis hope to counter the negative portrayal of Eastwood as a violent, gang-infested area by highlighting its rich history and the gang’s roots in political activism.

However, there are also tensions within the neighborhood, and not all residents are supportive of the gang members. For example, Tamara Anderson’s niece, Patrice Anderson, criticizes her aunt Tamara’s collaboration with the Divine Knights, fearing that it glorifies gang culture and fails to address the underlying issues. Patrice faced harassment from the Bandits, a rival gang, while crossing their territory to reach her school. The harassment intensified over time, turning from light questioning to threats. Nevertheless, Tamara maintains her position and adopts a pragmatic approach toward dealing with gangs. She acknowledges that the gangs are not likely to disappear from the neighborhood and believes in engaging with them constructively. Her approach includes strategic alliances with certain gang members for the benefit of the community, as opposed to outright condemnation or avoidance. Tamara exercises her position as a leader in the community through negotiating with gang members, ensuring that they do not loiter near her store during business hours. This demonstrates her practical approach to coexisting with and influencing gang activities in Eastwood.

Eastwood is a poor neighborhood economically, but it is historically and architecturally rich. The neighborhood features unique greystone buildings, originally built between 1895 and 1920. However, the government has failed to restore these buildings, and the Eastwood community views any project of rehabilitation with suspicion. For example, the city launched the Greystone Project in 2004, with no benefit to the Eastwood community. The project is seen by residents as another potential displacement threat under the guise of rehabilitation. Some community members, wary of the local government’s decisions, are trying to take charge of the future of the community.

The Neighborhood Coalition and their allies employ strategic political maneuvers to contest redevelopment plans. For example, they photograph homes labeled as “unfit for living” to prove that they are, in fact, habitable (21). However, the Neighborhood Coalition struggles to oppose institutions like the Eastwood Community Church, which has significant influence in redevelopment plans and is led by Pastor Tim Montgomery, a white man from Colorado.

In the end, despite the efforts of the Neighborhood Coalition and the gang allies, the city council approved the Eastwood Plan, leaving many residents concerned about displacement.