Ghetto 4 Life

Despite having the highest crime rate in New York City, some locals in The Bronx objected to Banksy's Ghetto 4 Life graffiti because it uses the word Ghetto.

A brave move on Banksy’s behalf with this graffiti. 153rd and Elton Avenue (known as The Bronx) has the highest crime rate in New York City and graffiti already rife in the area. The image features a very well presented boy dressed in what appears to be a typical private school uniform spray painting the words ‘Ghetto 4 Life’ perfectly neat style of graffiti. Next to the boy is his butler serving him the graffiti cans on a silver tray. Of course this image is suggesting that perhaps people aren’t as ‘Ghetto’ as they might try and portray themselves. However, what really wound the locals up is the word ghetto itself. Ghetto means a part of the city, especially a slum which is populated by a minority group - surely this isn’t the first time locals have heard The Bronx being referred to as a rough neighborhood? A metal shutter now hides this graffiti. Perhaps the meaning behind it was far too much for these bad boys to handle.