How Coded Language Is Tearing Chicagoans Apart

Donald Trump Speaks and Points
John Locher / Associated Press
Donald Trump Speaks and Points
John Locher / Associated Press

How Coded Language Is Tearing Chicagoans Apart

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During Monday night’s presidential debate, Republican Donald Trump talked about the number of shootings and murders in Chicago, portraying our city as a blighted and dangerous. 

But how do you talk about a city or a neighborhood without painting it into a corner?

We speak with WBEZ South Side reporter Natalie Moore about the coded language that’s sometimes used to refer to neighborhoods on her beat, including words and phrases like “poverty-stricken”, “impoverished”, and “low-income”.