--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing that people outside Chicago…" description: "\"One thing that people outside Chicago need to understand is that the city is not just one thing. It is one city, but it is huge and sprawling. And hist..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/w-kamau-bell-3541_america_one-thing-that-people-outside-chicago-ne_1233488.jpg" --- # One thing that people outside Chicago need to understand… ![“One thing that people outside Chicago need to understand is that the city is not just one thing. It is one city, but it is huge and sprawling. And historically, it has been one of America's most segregated cities.” quote by W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/w-kamau-bell-3541_america_one-thing-that-people-outside-chicago-ne_1233488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/w-kamau-bell-3541_america_one-thing-that-people-outside-chicago-ne_1233488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/w-kamau-bell-3541_america_one-thing-that-people-outside-chicago-ne_1233488.jpg) > “One thing that people outside Chicago need to understand is that the city is not just one thing. It is one city, but it is huge and sprawling. And historically, it has been one of America's most segregated cities.” [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chicago’s vastness and history of segregation shape its complex identity, requiring nuanced understanding beyond stereotypes. **In simple terms:** Chicago is big, diverse, and historically segregated. Key Takeaway Recognize city’s layered reality. Themes urban studies history diversity segregation Mood analytical thoughtful Type educational reflective When to use this quote - city planning - education - community dialogue - policy making Key Concepts sociology regional identity Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do you hold about Chicago? - How can you learn about its varied neighborhoods? A Different Perspective Simplifying a city can erase important nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Chicago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The size of the city and the nature of how independent the neighborhoods are means that not only do people who live outside Chicago…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/the-size-of-the-city-and-the-nature-of-how-independent-the/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [Chicago's one of the most segregated cities in America. Everybody lives in their own silos and vacuums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/chicago-s-one-of-the-most-segregated-cities-in-america-everybody/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [My choice was either Chicago or Milwaukee. Milwaukee is going with a young team and Chicago is in need of a big guy, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kukoc/my-choice-was-either-chicago-or-milwaukee-milwaukee-is-going-with-a/) [Toni Kukoc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kukoc/) > [“You can't understand a city without using its public transportation system.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erol-ozan/you-can-t-understand-a-city-without-using-its-public-transportation/) [Erol Ozan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erol-ozan/) > [I never thought my granny, somebody that was born down South, who witnessed America when it was segregated, would see, in her lifetime, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nipsey-hussle/i-never-thought-my-granny-somebody-that-was-born-down-south-who/) [Nipsey Hussle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nipsey-hussle/) > [“They have made me understand how the City can get under your skin, and never be sweated out. I mean, it’s still aesthetically traumatic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamila-shamsie/they-have-made-me-understand-how-the-city-can-get-under-your-skin-and/) [Kamila Shamsie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamila-shamsie/) > [We are now operating a school system in America that's more segregated than at any time since the death of Martin Luther King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/we-are-now-operating-a-school-system-in-america-that-s-more/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [When my husband and I were in our twenties, we thought it would be fun to take up cross-country skiing as a hobby. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) ## More by W. Kamau Bell > [As a black man, I actually had naturally sort of comedic curiosity about the Klan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/as-a-black-man-i-actually-had-naturally-sort-of-comedic-curiosity/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [The country should be more inclusive, not less inclusive, and over an infinite timeline, it becomes more inclusive. It doesn't always happen at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/the-country-should-be-more-inclusive-not-less-inclusive-and-over-an/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [We could do something set in the 21st century, where I travel around to lots of different places and we talk to different ethnicities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/we-could-do-something-set-in-the-21st-century-where-i-travel-around/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [I feel like, as a black guy, I can't not believe in God... I'd wake up in the morning, 'I'm black, and there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/i-feel-like-as-a-black-guy-i-can-t-not-believe-in-god-i-d-wake-up-in/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [For some people, the definition of who is and who isn't an American defies logic, historical accuracy, common sense, decency, good manners, the milk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/for-some-people-the-definition-of-who-is-and-who-isn-t-an-american/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [I'm happy that I know how to speak 'Southern.' I spent a lot of time in Alabama throughout my life. I even lived there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/i-m-happy-that-i-know-how-to-speak-southern-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-in/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [The downside to defining everything Chinese as different than American is that all things Chinese then become exotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/the-downside-to-defining-everything-chinese-as-different-than/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [Comedy can be very deep sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/comedy-can-be-very-deep-sometimes/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [I never wanted to be in the late-night talk show wars, and I think somehow with 'Totally Biased,' I got caught up in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/i-never-wanted-to-be-in-the-late-night-talk-show-wars-and-i-think/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [There's no religion in this country that is more misunderstood, mis-categorized, and misidentified than Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/there-s-no-religion-in-this-country-that-is-more-misunderstood-mis/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [As a black person in this country, I am always frustrated by the lack of attention my people's issues get. But at least the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/as-a-black-person-in-this-country-i-am-always-frustrated-by-the-lack/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [I'm just another non-native whose mom told him we were part-Cherokee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/i-m-just-another-non-native-whose-mom-told-him-we-were-part-cherokee/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [Whenever I tell people in Berkeley, Calif., where I live, that I'm headed to the beach in Alabama, they are shocked. Most people outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/whenever-i-tell-people-in-berkeley-calif-where-i-live-that-i-m-headed/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [Cops should not be separate from the black community or any community. Their salaries are paid for by the communities they police. They should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/cops-should-not-be-separate-from-the-black-community-or-any-community/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [In most major cities, you can find stores for urban homesteaders. They sell everything you need so that you won't need anything. Sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/in-most-major-cities-you-can-find-stores-for-urban-homesteaders-they/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) [Explore all 128 W. Kamau Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... 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The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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