In this sentence, Carl Sandburg demonstrates the theme of having a sense of pride in where one lives. Sandburg tells us that his hometown is Chicago. He tells us of Chicago's problems. The city is "crooked" because of its criminality and its justice system. He also tells us that it is brutal, as inequality is rampant. However, he tells us that despite these problems, people from Chicago are extremely resilient and strong, and this fills him with a sense of pride.
