Growing up in the city, I came across shoes hanging from power lines a lot. Like many people, I’ve always wondered where they came from. Today I don’t see many shoes hanging from high voltage cables, but I’ve always been curious to see them. I bet most people in big cities have the same questions as me.
The city of Chicago keeps track of the pairs of shoes people hang on telephones or power lines. It’s a big problem; so much so that some residents are even asking municipal operators to remove the shoes hanging from the power lines. Shoes range from sneakers to cowboy boots and everything in between.
Why do people hang their shoes from power lines?
Hanging power lines are common in big cities, but finding the exact cause has proved a bit difficult. In an effort to understand this mystery, I’ve looked through several Reddit threads, read several articles, and even watched shoe-throwing documentaries. There are so many theories about shoes hanging from power lines. A few interviews with sociologists, community leaders and suspected gang members helped test some of the underlying theories.
Some of the theories you may come across are:
- Shoes are places where you can buy drugs
- Crews use shoes to mark their blocks
- The shoes commemorate the victims of gun violence
- Silly kids throw shoes into power lines when the victim loses a bet or when the perpetrators taunt their victims.
- Celebrate life’s milestones
Theories of shoes on power lines
A place to buy medicines
This is one of the more common theories when it comes to shoes hanging from power lines. According to the theory, the hanging shoes indicate the main drug dealer or crack house. The Chicago Police Department generally declines to comment, but you can get information from other members of the community.
In 2003, there was an extensive shoe removal process in East Los Angeles. The city had suffered greatly from vandalism: the throwing of tennis shoes tied to telephone wires and power lines. Residents feared that the shoes marked places where young people could buy drugs or worse, gang grass. Then-Mayor James Hahn spoke to residents and said they would no longer tolerate shoes hanging from power lines.
But not everyone thinks that hanging up your boots is drug-related. Some believe the shoes are hung in memory of someone who has died.
One social worker I dealt with argued that the drug-related shoe belief is an urban legend. Furthermore, she explained that she had thrown her shoes on power lines several times as a child, which explains why he was very skeptical of the drug theory. He also pointed out that no sane drug dealer would advertise that they sell drugs like this because he would get them arrested.
A lost bet
Another theory is that the shoes will be thrown over the power line if the bet loses. A friend of mine said he was a victim. When he lost, his friends grabbed his shoes and threw them into a power line. This theory appeals to many, as I’ve come across several articles where people claim that their friends have thrown their shoes away after losing a bet.
Another explanation is that children throw their friends’ shoes onto power lines to fool them. Sometimes shoes accidentally get caught in power lines. This explanation makes a lot of sense because we all know how stupid kids can be. They would do whatever they find fascinating in that moment.
You may have guessed that some shoes are common and the owners dispose of them by throwing them over power lines.
Crew or gang area
This theory touches on gang activity and violence. Several inmates at the state prison said they have thrown shoes at power lines in the past to tell other crews or groups that a particular crew was operating a lockout. In Kansas City in the 1990s, film crews used shoes to mark territory. The shoes were a message and a warning to others.
Memorial to the victims of gun violence
This theory is also very common. There is speculation that the shoes represented people who died as a result of gun violence. It didn’t matter if the person was a gang member or just someone who lived nearby. The hanging shoes are more or less figures of loved ones.
Celebrate life’s milestones
It’s not clear where the tradition came from, but some people throw their shoes on power lines when celebrating an achievement, such as a graduation. Even members of the military throw shoes on power lines after completing their training. They paint their army boots festive colors before throwing them away.
Others say young boys throw their shoes on power lines to symbolize the loss of their virginity.
A mystery from the past
Clearly, shoes hanging from power lines are a thing of the past. I hardly see any these days. A Chicago spokesperson recently revealed that the number of requests for shoes hanging from power lines has dropped significantly. Technicians who maintain power lines in Chicago’s back alleys have also reported fewer shoes hanging from power lines on the city’s north side than on the south side. The situation is similar on the east coast.
You may also have noticed that there are fewer shoes hanging from power lines in your area. This is a sign that belongs to the past.
Conclusion
Many people try to justify different theories behind shoes in power lines. However, I want to believe it’s a coming of age story for young people. Each area has its own characteristics, with or without violence, gangs or drugs.
The case of the shoes hanging from power lines is a mystery for now, but it’s certainly an endangered mystery. It is likely that in a few years we will no longer see shoes hanging from power lines.
