--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of people get Chicago wrong. I've…" description: "\"A lot of people get Chicago wrong. I've developed this protective feeling about how we're portrayed, and at the same time, I'm acutely aware of the iss..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/jamila-woods-11916_chicago_a-lot-of-people-get-chicago-wrong-i-ve-d_558436.jpg" --- # A lot of people get Chicago wrong. I've developed this… ![“A lot of people get Chicago wrong. I've developed this protective feeling about how we're portrayed, and at the same time, I'm acutely aware of the issues we face and the root causes of these issues.” quote by Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/jamila-woods-11916_chicago_a-lot-of-people-get-chicago-wrong-i-ve-d_558436.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/jamila-woods-11916_chicago_a-lot-of-people-get-chicago-wrong-i-ve-d_558436.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/jamila-woods-11916_chicago_a-lot-of-people-get-chicago-wrong-i-ve-d_558436.jpg) > “A lot of people get Chicago wrong. I've developed this protective feeling about how we're portrayed, and at the same time, I'm acutely aware of the issues we face and the root causes of these issues.” [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She expresses pride and protectiveness toward Chicago while acknowledging its challenges and systemic roots. **In simple terms:** Proud of Chicago, aware of its problems. Key Takeaway Recognize both love and critique of place. Themes identity city social justice self‑awareness Mood thoughtful determined empathetic Type essay social commentary When to use this quote - urban planning - community organizing - media representation - personal storytelling Key Concepts intersectionality community activism critical reflection Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to address Chicago’s root issues? - How does protective pride influence your activism? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on pride may overlook needed reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chicago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The thing about people from Chicago and the Northwest suburbs is that they're very cocky. I think that serves us well in the show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/the-thing-about-people-from-chicago-and-the-northwest-suburbs-is-that/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [I don't think the people of Chicago should be robbed of their birthright to be perennial losers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-don-t-think-the-people-of-chicago-should-be-robbed-of-their/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [People in Chicago are so cool! They are different; they're friendly and just genuinely happy. Everyone's so polite and sweet. They even look cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inbar-lavi/people-in-chicago-are-so-cool-they-are-different-they-re-friendly-and/) [Inbar Lavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inbar-lavi/) > [“One of the problems with people in Chicago, she remembered, was that they were never lonely at the same time. Their sadness occurred in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/one-of-the-problems-with-people-in-chicago-she-remembered-was-that/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [There are a lot of people in Chicago that I miss. I was there one year out of high school. So I basically grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/there-are-a-lot-of-people-in-chicago-that-i-miss-i-was-there-one-year/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [People who are from Chicago are just funnier than people who aren't from Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-evans/people-who-are-from-chicago-are-just-funnier-than-people-who-aren-t/) [Sean Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-evans/) > [I'm impressed with the people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk, Chicago is work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-m-impressed-with-the-people-from-chicago-hollywood-is-hype-new-york/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [Chicago is pretty much my favorite city to perform in. For some reason, people from the Chicago area have an amazing attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/chicago-is-pretty-much-my-favorite-city-to-perform-in-for-some-reason/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I tell people in Chicago to take care of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/i-tell-people-in-chicago-to-take-care-of-themselves/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [I collaborated with so many people from Chicago - so many Black people, young Black women organizations like BYP100 and Assata's Daughters. Just being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-mensa/i-collaborated-with-so-many-people-from-chicago-so-many-black-people/) [Vic Mensa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-mensa/) > [“As I look back on those days, most people in Chicago felt that way. Chicago was host to the world at that time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/as-i-look-back-on-those-days-most-people-in-chicago-felt-that-way/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [I don't think the people in Chicago really knew exactly who I was in the seven years I was there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kukoc/i-don-t-think-the-people-in-chicago-really-knew-exactly-who-i-was-in/) [Toni Kukoc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kukoc/) > [The people of Chicago are a proud people - and for good reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-byrne/the-people-of-chicago-are-a-proud-people-and-for-good-reason/) [Jane Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-byrne/) > [The lake was always my orienting point when my dad was teaching me how to not get lost. The lake is east, so you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/the-lake-was-always-my-orienting-point-when-my-dad-was-teaching-me/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [Me and my three younger siblings, we sang together in grandma's church, and I was in the Chicago Children's Choir in high school, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/me-and-my-three-younger-siblings-we-sang-together-in-grandma-s-church/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) ## More by Jamila Woods > [Me and my three younger siblings, we sang together in grandma's church, and I was in the Chicago Children's Choir in high school, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/me-and-my-three-younger-siblings-we-sang-together-in-grandma-s-church/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [My mentor made me say a poem over and over. 'Stop! That's not your voice. Start again.' I was sobbing by the end, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/my-mentor-made-me-say-a-poem-over-and-over-stop-that-s-not-your-voice/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [Music is something that is supposed to connect people on a pure level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/music-is-something-that-is-supposed-to-connect-people-on-a-pure-level/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [The lake was always my orienting point when my dad was teaching me how to not get lost. The lake is east, so you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/the-lake-was-always-my-orienting-point-when-my-dad-was-teaching-me/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [They say Chicago is for haters. No one will just sweat each other and say, 'Oh, you're so good,' if you're not. Which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/they-say-chicago-is-for-haters-no-one-will-just-sweat-each-other-and/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [I read 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison in college, and it just blew my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/i-read-song-of-solomon-by-toni-morrison-in-college-and-it-just-blew/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [I really value what Closed Sessions is doing to build the Chicago music scene and am excited to partner with them for my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/i-really-value-what-closed-sessions-is-doing-to-build-the-chicago/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [In some ways, I value specificity. I think that there's power in, once you know who your fan base is, being able to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/in-some-ways-i-value-specificity-i-think-that-there-s-power-in-once/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [My mentors were very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/my-mentors-were-very-good/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [I think of music as creating a space. I like to put things in that are comforting to me and are nostalgic. To me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/i-think-of-music-as-creating-a-space-i-like-to-put-things-in-that-are/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [I don't know if it's because I grew up in Beverly or my friends, but I listened to a lot of alternative rock music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-because-i-grew-up-in-beverly-or-my-friends-but-i/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [My hope is that 'Blk Girl Soldier' is a freedom song for black women today who are fighting the macro- and microaggressions of daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/my-hope-is-that-blk-girl-soldier-is-a-freedom-song-for-black-women/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [I like to borrow forms and quotes and use a lot of allusions, in both poetry and music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/i-like-to-borrow-forms-and-quotes-and-use-a-lot-of-allusions-in-both/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [I started writing poems on a Xanga page. I always loved writing. I also had a Deviant Art page, actually, because my crush had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/i-started-writing-poems-on-a-xanga-page-i-always-loved-writing-i-also/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [The good things about Chicago save me on a daily basis, like getting to work with my students, seeing a beautiful part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/the-good-things-about-chicago-save-me-on-a-daily-basis-like-getting/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) [Explore all 57 Jamila Woods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) ## More Chicago quotes > [I'm proud to say I had a bet with a guy from Chicago who said Chicago is windier and colder than Wyoming. Wyoming dominated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/i-m-proud-to-say-i-had-a-bet-with-a-guy-from-chicago-who-said-chicago/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“Things are more like they are now...than they have EVER been before!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-arnie-mamath/things-are-more-like-they-are-now-than-they-have-ever-been-before/) Uncle Arnie Mamath > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whenever I was flying commercial, I would land in Chicago, and they would announce, 'Get your passports out.' It happened so often, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-khan/whenever-i-was-flying-commercial-i-would-land-in-chicago-and-they/) [Shahid Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-khan/) > [I loved 'Chicago Code;' I watched that a lot. It was great because it really captured the city - I'm from Chicago, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessy-schram/i-loved-chicago-code-i-watched-that-a-lot-it-was-great-because-it/) [Jessy Schram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessy-schram/) > [As much as I want to stay on the team -- I love Chicago, I love the Bulls -- at the same time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-much-as-i-want-to-stay-on-the-team-i-love-chicago-i-love-the-bulls/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I'm from Chicago. And I was an actor in high school and college, and I wanted to see if I could make a run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/i-m-from-chicago-and-i-was-an-actor-in-high-school-and-college-and-i/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [“I will have both of you," he said. "My Sentinel and my city. And the GP will learn exactly how stubborn we both can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/i-will-have-both-of-you-he-said-my-sentinel-and-my-city-and-the-gp/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [You'd never think of taking a cab if you had to walk a mile down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But in a bad city you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/you-d-never-think-of-taking-a-cab-if-you-had-to-walk-a-mile-down/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [Perhaps the most typically American place in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryce/perhaps-the-most-typically-american-place-in-america/) [James Bryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryce/) > [I feel there's a really raw quality in the Chicago theater community that's really special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/i-feel-there-s-a-really-raw-quality-in-the-chicago-theater-community/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) > [Chicago is unique. It is the only completely corrupt city in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edward-merriam/chicago-is-unique-it-is-the-only-completely-corrupt-city-in-america/) [Charles Edward Merriam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edward-merriam/) > [Chicago, to me, is the best wrestling crowd on the planet. They are the best. They are loud, they are ruthless, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldust/chicago-to-me-is-the-best-wrestling-crowd-on-the-planet-they-are-the/) [Goldust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldust/) [Browse all 1,655 Chicago quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A lot of people get Chicago wrong. 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