We have all seen the discourse on places like reddit or whatever, where even the positive comments about rough neighborhoods is like "just keep your head up, don't use headphones, pay attention and you will be fine"
Like how much of this is just white people playing out fantasy scenarios in their cop brains? I feel like most of "bad neighborhood" discourse just comes down to 
Like sure there are places where you are more likely to get your place broken into or whatever and systemic racism tends to result in certain outcomes but I feel like most places like this are in the minority, and in fact this must be the case or gentrification wouldn't happen 
Never lived in one, but I've been to them on occasion doing party outreach. People there are definitely suffering, lots of beggars wanting money for food or booze or cigarettes, but I've never been threatened or attacked. For the most part, people there are like people anywhere else - they're busy living their lives and aren't out looking to start fights with strangers and will treat you with respect if you grant them the same. Situational awareness is good to have, of course, but that applies anytime you're out in public.