I'm from Lake Forest, if that means anything to you (if not, it's a wealthy suburb of Chicago).
One year around Christmas, my dad took me to the west side (south side without the reputation) because we were donating a shitload of candy to a charity he had donated a lot of his time to. They were having a Christmas party for about 300 kids and my parents bought enough candy for them all to go home with about a pound (actually, they saved the candy and handed it out all year).
He told me about how bad the kids this charity helped had it. My dad was in the film business and helped them put together a video that helped them fundraise. As a result, he became invested in the cause.
He had filmed the kids telling their stories. Some talked about how, if they had a job, their drug addict parents/siblings would beat them up for the money so they could score crack. To be clear, a mother would beat up her 14 year old son for his $150 paycheck so she could buy crack. This is how some of these kids grew up.
My dad was the strongest man I ever knew, but I remember him talking about how we'd be the only white faces for miles, and how people would hate us or even want to kill us because we were white (and perceived to have money).
We rolled right up to the loading dock of the building and there were men waiting for us. They worked for the charity and were there to protect us. As we were unloading, I didn't see exactly what happened, but one of the guys started yelling at and getting aggressive with someone passing by. He shooed him away.
We went inside and it was like my local rec center, ping pong and pool tables, rooms to do homework, etc. But everything looked like it was from the 1950's and was beyond worn.
I also noticed some older kids coming in and giving the head guy their paychecks. My dad later explained that the charity would cash their checks and hand out an "allowance" of sorts. They'd come by every day and get $10 or $15 bucks so they could get through the day, but never had enough money to make them a target. Or, if they wanted, the money would go into a savings account for college.
I grew up in a wealthy white town 30 miles from where I was standing, but it was 2 different worlds.
I don't know how anyone gets out of that situation. That any of them made it to college was a huge accomplishment.
By the grace of the universe, I was born to a good family. I can't imagine growing up like those kids did.
If you want to scare your kids off hard drugs or a life of crime, visit the worst places in the inner city. You'll never forget.