New book seeks to explain why some Chicagoans afraid to go to South, West sides

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
New book seeks to explain why some afraid to go to parts of Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago is a big city with so much to offer. But many people who have lived in the area for years still avoid going to certain parts of the city.

A new book seeks to explain why some Chicagoans say they are afraid to go to the South and West sides.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

"Don't Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It" is a collaboration between Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan.

SEE ALSO: 70 years after Brown v. Board of Education: 'No kid should ever be left behind'

They joined ABC7 Chicago Monday night to talk more about it.

They talked about why they wrote the book and what they learned while working on it. They also talked about stories they heard from people about being told not to go to certain neighborhoods.

And they discussed the change they hope to see in the future.

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.