Safe Haven in Comparison
Wow. Peoplestown. Maybe it was just the fact that it was a really good day and not many people were out, or maybe it was because prior to our visit, in previous years, the area was much poorer. Honestly, I thought the tour guide tried her best for being not so well-informed with other areas of real poverty. I say real poverty with absolutely experience of neighborhoods that are truly the slums of America. I say this with understanding and I say this with contempt towards the fact that Peoplestown is not the worst city I’ve seen. Peoplestown, is in fact, one of the better neighborhoods I’ve seen. It was a nice walk though. I didn’t fear for my life in any sense. I think it’s kind of ridiculous that our tour guide was under the impression that this place was one of the worst places to ever be and that she deserves an award for living in such a neighborhood and passing out bread “fearlessly” from the front porch. Nothing against her of course; it’s not her fault.
The paint jobs, for the most part, were fresh, which was a sign that only recently these houses were renovated to make the appearance slightly better. The roofs, for the most part, had also been redone within the last five years. These houses, this neighborhood, was lower middle class I would say compared to the things I’ve seen. In fact, I was a little skeptical when I found out we were planning on walking through one of the “most dangerous cities in Atlanta.” If it were that dangerous, we wouldn’t be walking through. Let’s get on Marta to Bankhead, then we’ll talk. Or, better yet, let’s go back to the real slums, also known as eastside Savannah. Let’s take a walk down memory lane, of my childhood, I’ll be the guide. Just don’t walk to far ahead, you’re bound to get jumped alone.
