And that surprised him? What the heck was he thinking?

And afterwards he calls it a "Potential trouble spot"?

I've been in border towns in Guatemala that have less potential for trouble than East St. Louis.

I was NOT that naive when I was young, and the common notion that things were all "June and Ward Cleaver" everywhere back in the `60s and `70s is ridiculous.

You don't just need backpacking skills, you need street smarts to make a trip like this. When you go through a place like East St. Louis if you're not ready to give up all your stuff you'd better be ready to fight, and if you're smart, and you want to keep your stuff and your skin, you'll have a few bucks cash, a bottle of Crown, and a couple spliffs on hand to share. You'll get a lot further with those than a petrified look on your face. Shoot, you'll get invited to stay a few days and party and an entourage to escort you safely to the edge of town if you play those cards right.

If you don't play your cards right you'll be lucky to get to the edge of town.