explain how southside chicago mirrors despair

The Southside of Chicago in the 1950's (setting for the novel) was predominantly black and poverty ridden. The community lived in what today would be considered public housing and entire families cramped themselves into what were extremely tiny places. Harder than living there was the knowledge it would be almost impossible to get out. Crime and abortion were prevalent...... hopelessness was a given. There were those who got their educations and moved on..... there were also those who never left.