Dear Chicago, am I still in the U.S.?

[kkrxo 2]

We recently moved to Chicago, IL from Virginia..... so I didn't just recently move to america, but I feel like I'm in a whole different world moving to Chicago. I am not racist what so ever (I have biracial children so definitely not) but why is it that latinos think they rule this city and infest the streets with gangs? Why are you in america just to start trouble and hurt innocent people?

My husband and I were walking to the store today (in what I thought was a safe neighborhood) and a group of 'Latin Kings' ran up on us, speaking spanish (which we don't speak a lick of) screaming at us, telling my husband to "DO LIKE THIS" and threw up some kind of gang sign... mind you, my husband is african american and was wearing a baseball cap "the wrong way" I guess, and so I think they probably thought he was a rival gang member... But I don't understand this. And to make things worst, we were right next to a stop light, and people in cars didn't do ANYTHING about it and just watched it happen!

I don't want to be judgmental and offend anybody but I have a pretty good idea that most of these latinos are 'undocumented' because they don't have jobs, and run the streets all day... (the only reason why I'm assuming this is because I would think that if you worked hard to come to america legally, you would have a legit job) And it's not just latinos, I know all different races are in gangs but a MAJORITY are latinos and african americans here in Chicago.... it's getting so bad here that the national guard has had to go to southside Chicago to get things in order.

I just seriously wish that there was a way I could report all of these people to ICE and maybe I'd feel a little bit safer just living in my own community. I obviously can't just call the cops and report them because then I'd definitely have a target on my back and probably be dead by the next day.

Another thing I have trouble with here, is the language thing. People don't want to hire you if you don't speak spanish! WHY does my husband have to know how to speak spanish to work in his own country???? He has to drive 25 miles every day to work in the suburbs!

And last but not least... the thing that bothers me the most is... my son's school sends ALL of the letters/notices home in spanish after I've told them over and over again that we only understand english.... I can say that I have pretty strong genes because you wouldn't know my children were half african american unless you saw my husband (then you can see the resemblance). Both of my kids have tan skin like me and have a lot of filipino features so the school must automatically assume that since my son has tan skin, that he's latino! So they just send everything in spanish. I really can't stand this.

Really considering moving to the suburbs sometime in the next few months

[Markieboy 104]

Damn...southside Chicago? Definitely a rough neighborhood.

I sympathize with your kids. I'm also a product of mixed ethnicity. I grew up in California. Everyone thought we were Latinos and spoke Spanish to us. Hehehe.

I would move to the suburbs if I was in your situation, too. I do hope everything works out!

[Used to be broken 147]

We recently moved to Chicago, IL from Virginia..... so I didn't just recently move to america, but I feel like I'm in a whole different world moving to Chicago. I am not racist what so ever (I have biracial children so definitely not) but why is it that latinos think they rule this city and infest the streets with gangs? Why are you in america just to start trouble and hurt innocent people?

My husband and I were walking to the store today (in what I thought was a safe neighborhood) and a group of 'Latin Kings' ran up on us, speaking spanish (which we don't speak a lick of) screaming at us, telling my husband to "DO LIKE THIS" and threw up some kind of gang sign... mind you, my husband is african american and was wearing a baseball cap "the wrong way" I guess, and so I think they probably thought he was a rival gang member... But I don't understand this. And to make things worst, we were right next to a stop light, and people in cars didn't do ANYTHING about it and just watched it happen!

I don't want to be judgmental and offend anybody but I have a pretty good idea that most of these latinos are 'undocumented' because they don't have jobs, and run the streets all day... (the only reason why I'm assuming this is because I would think that if you worked hard to come to america legally, you would have a legit job) And it's not just latinos, I know all different races are in gangs but a MAJORITY are latinos and african americans here in Chicago.... it's getting so bad here that the national guard has had to go to southside Chicago to get things in order.

I just seriously wish that there was a way I could report all of these people to ICE and maybe I'd feel a little bit safer just living in my own community. I obviously can't just call the cops and report them because then I'd definitely have a target on my back and probably be dead by the next day.

Another thing I have trouble with here, is the language thing. People don't want to hire you if you don't speak spanish! WHY does my husband have to know how to speak spanish to work in his own country???? He has to drive 25 miles every day to work in the suburbs!

And last but not least... the thing that bothers me the most is... my son's school sends ALL of the letters/notices home in spanish after I've told them over and over again that we only understand english.... I can say that I have pretty strong genes because you wouldn't know my children were half african american unless you saw my husband (then you can see the resemblance). Both of my kids have tan skin like me and have a lot of filipino features so the school must automatically assume that since my son has tan skin, that he's latino! So they just send everything in spanish. I really can't stand this.

Really considering moving to the suburbs sometime in the next few months

If you move out to the suburbs you will just have to learn to speak Polish

[kkrxo 2]

If you move out to the suburbs you will just have to learn to speak Polish

lol I've actually made a lot of polish friends in the area, and they speak english fine my neighbor is polish!

Did I mention the community I live in is called "boy's town"..... if you could only imagine.....

[kkrxo 2]

Damn...southside Chicago? Definitely a rough neighborhood.

I sympathize with your kids. I'm also a product of mixed ethnicity. I grew up in California. Everyone thought we were Latinos and spoke Spanish to us. Hehehe.

I would move to the suburbs if I was in your situation, too. I do hope everything works out!

Thanks! Actually we live in the Northside. I've never been to southside and really not planning to ever go! I just hear about it on the news. My husband works in Schaumburg so we're looking for places in that area

[SupastarsaM 7]

you should just look for a place and move to the suburbs.

[mrsean 4]

they are a disgrace like moon crickets,if they were in south philly, genos steak wouldnt even serve them unles they speak english!!! move out of there and hope the place burns

[Saddle Bronc 124]

If you move out to the suburbs you will just have to learn to speak Polish

Not if the suburb is Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates or Barrington--IIT English will get you by nicely in those.

[TBoneTX 45,287]

IIT English will get you by nicely in those.

Off the topic, but I once served as graduate coordinator for a U.S. university department. I got individual requests for graduate packets from EVERYONE who lived on the second floor of the Saraswathi Hostel at IIT-Madras. I still remember that the postal code is 600036, si man.

[kkrxo 2]

Not if the suburb is Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates or Barrington--IIT English will get you by nicely in those.

haha yea I noticed there are lots of Latinos in Arlington Heights too. I heard on the news that they are seeing a gang trend in Arlington Heights and Rolling Meadows... I don't really spend too much time in that area though.

My prenatal clinic is in Hoffman Estates and they seem to have lots of indians there which I don't mind because they act pretty civil in public. We are planning on moving to Schaumburg though when our lease ends, and I definitely cannot wait

Do you live in the area?

[ptgarner1 8]

Okay...unlike many people posting on this..I actually spent what seemed forever in this city. In fact it was only 3 1/2 months...living/surviving in the Cicero Stickney area. Chicago is the armpit of the world. I decided that if these people are this mean at Christmas time, I would hate to see them the rest of the year.

Im sorry about your troubles..but your only options are to either get use to it or leave.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

We are planning on moving to Schaumburg though when our lease ends, and I definitely cannot wait

Do you live in the area?

We live in a sleepy Northwestern suburban village of Algonquin, just past Hoffman Estates/Barrington Hills area.

Schaumburg is nice but congested & expensive still, you might want to think about coming out just past Schaumburg (we're only 20 minutes west of Woodfield Mall).

BTW, PM my wife (he profile is in my signature), she's always looking for fellow kabayans in the area....

[Saddle Bronc 124]

haha yea I noticed there are lots of Latinos in Arlington Heights too. I heard on the news that they are seeing a gang trend in Arlington Heights and Rolling Meadows... I don't really spend too much time in that area though.

My prenatal clinic is in Hoffman Estates and they seem to have lots of indians there which I don't mind because they act pretty civil in public. We are planning on moving to Schaumburg though when our lease ends, and I definitely cannot wait

Do you live in the area?

No, but I have a relative who lives in Hoffman Estates/Barrington (I'm guessing they had a desi draw the city/township boundaries there) who earlier lived in Schaumburg.

[Nystu 2]

No, but I have a relative who lives in Hoffman Estates/Barrington (I'm guessing they had a desi draw the city/township boundaries there) who earlier lived in Schaumburg.

This is NOT a Chicago problem, this is a problem that exists in every single city in the US. It isn't a Latino problem either, it is a social issue that covers every single race. I lived in Chicago for 14 years and never had a problem, now I live in NY and haven't had a problem either (knock on wood!).

[rheanick 42]

We recently moved to Chicago, IL from Virginia..... so I didn't just recently move to america, but I feel like I'm in a whole different world moving to Chicago. I am not racist what so ever (I have biracial children so definitely not) but why is it that latinos think they rule this city and infest the streets with gangs? Why are you in america just to start trouble and hurt innocent people?

My husband and I were walking to the store today (in what I thought was a safe neighborhood) and a group of 'Latin Kings' ran up on us, speaking spanish (which we don't speak a lick of) screaming at us, telling my husband to "DO LIKE THIS" and threw up some kind of gang sign... mind you, my husband is african american and was wearing a baseball cap "the wrong way" I guess, and so I think they probably thought he was a rival gang member... But I don't understand this. And to make things worst, we were right next to a stop light, and people in cars didn't do ANYTHING about it and just watched it happen!

I don't want to be judgmental and offend anybody but I have a pretty good idea that most of these latinos are 'undocumented' because they don't have jobs, and run the streets all day... (the only reason why I'm assuming this is because I would think that if you worked hard to come to america legally, you would have a legit job) And it's not just latinos, I know all different races are in gangs but a MAJORITY are latinos and african americans here in Chicago.... it's getting so bad here that the national guard has had to go to southside Chicago to get things in order.

I just seriously wish that there was a way I could report all of these people to ICE and maybe I'd feel a little bit safer just living in my own community. I obviously can't just call the cops and report them because then I'd definitely have a target on my back and probably be dead by the next day.

Another thing I have trouble with here, is the language thing. People don't want to hire you if you don't speak spanish! WHY does my husband have to know how to speak spanish to work in his own country???? He has to drive 25 miles every day to work in the suburbs!

And last but not least... the thing that bothers me the most is... my son's school sends ALL of the letters/notices home in spanish after I've told them over and over again that we only understand english.... I can say that I have pretty strong genes because you wouldn't know my children were half african american unless you saw my husband (then you can see the resemblance). Both of my kids have tan skin like me and have a lot of filipino features so the school must automatically assume that since my son has tan skin, that he's latino! So they just send everything in spanish. I really can't stand this.

Really considering moving to the suburbs sometime in the next few months

I guess, you have to transfer to a better neighbourhood or another state.