In Part One, we dove into the tragic story of Ruthie Mae McCoy, whose death exposed the harsh realities of life in Chicago's ABLA housing projects and inspired the urban legend of Candyman. We talked about the myth, its real-life origins, and how systemic neglect allowed horrors to happen within these communities. We covered how Ruthie Mae's call to 911 about someone breaking in through her bathroom mirror eerily mirrored the Candyman story. And it wasn't just about ghosts—it was about real, tangible fear and danger that residents had to live with every day.
In Part Two, we explore how the systemic issues within the ABLA projects—rampant drug trade, violence, and neglect—created an environment where Ruthie Mae’s tragic story wasn’t just a one-off incident. We’re also going to look at how Ruthie Mae herself fought to survive in this environment, trying to find a way out while battling her own mental health challenges. It’s not just about one person’s fear; it’s about an entire community struggling against conditions that seem insurmountable. We’re going to read more about what life was like in ABLA, and how, despite her best efforts, Ruthie Mae was let down by every system that was supposed to protect her. This part of the story shows just how deeply rooted the problems were—and how the system failed to address them.
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