
These two teenagers belonged to a street gang in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood during the 1970s. One is signifying; the other flashing his switchblade knife. They weren’t really threatening me when I took this shot; they were posing for the camera, trying to project tough-guy images for posterity. They succeeded. For me, gangs were the most troubling aspect of life in Uptown. Even though they never threatened me, being close to people who carried guns and knives made me hyper-vigilant. I’ve heard from two readers who told me that both of these individuals died at a young age. If someone knows otherwise, please contact me.