I've just about finished reading 'Gang Leader For a Day : a Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets" by Sudhir Venkatesh. It's a very compelling look at how sociologists and 'middle-class folk' research, study, and understand life in the hood - the projects, the ghetto, or whatever else the worst innercity -- primarily minority (read: non-white) -- neighborhoods might be called.
Sudhir spends the several years of his graduate years (otherwise at the University of Chicago) in the Robert Taylor Projects, primarily following and 'studying' two figures: "JT" and "Ms Bailey".
JT is a mid-manager for a local organization -- he's a street boss in the crack dealings of the Black Kings gang. He lets Sudhir spend time around the gang and himself, even so far as letting him become 'Gang Leader For a Day'.
But it's when Sudhir focuses on Ms Bailey, a tenant leader and, offically "building president of the Local Advisory Council" that Sudhir (and we) see how the community really works. Ms Bailey has a ridiculous amount of power, power that she's developed and maintained through her personailty, her ability to get things done, and creative financing. By which I don't exactly mean bribery, but deal making. One anecdote shows Ms Bailey getting a bunch of free liquor from a liquor store in order to make that store the sole shopping point for the building's tenants. But then, she trades most of the liquor for winter coats, blankets, heaters, and food for her tenants.
So Sudhir is never exactly comfortable with the way ghetto life works -- why are there no police?, no ambulances?, and such a non-traditional method of getting the CHA (Chicago Housing Authority) to get things done? Well, the CHA doesn't get much done... J.T. and Ms. Bailey are the two biggest movers and shakers on their block. Sudhir gets so involved in their circles, that J.T. actually orders all the pimps, prostitutes, thieves and other hustlers to give Sudhir the research information he wants.
He realizes that not only do J.T. and Ms. Bailey act as the primary employers of the locals, they act as a kind of 'local IRS' for those that have their own business activities...
It's a very interesting story told by an academic but without a hint of academic detachment. Sudhir feels empathy, anger, resentment, and love for the people he describes. "Gang Leader for a Day" won't change your impression of the ghetto as a rough place to live, but it will give you new understanding and maybe even a little respect for the hard work and harder lives that the residents of projects have to survive through...
Sudhir spends the several years of his graduate years (otherwise at the University of Chicago) in the Robert Taylor Projects, primarily following and 'studying' two figures: "JT" and "Ms Bailey".
JT is a mid-manager for a local organization -- he's a street boss in the crack dealings of the Black Kings gang. He lets Sudhir spend time around the gang and himself, even so far as letting him become 'Gang Leader For a Day'.
But it's when Sudhir focuses on Ms Bailey, a tenant leader and, offically "building president of the Local Advisory Council" that Sudhir (and we) see how the community really works. Ms Bailey has a ridiculous amount of power, power that she's developed and maintained through her personailty, her ability to get things done, and creative financing. By which I don't exactly mean bribery, but deal making. One anecdote shows Ms Bailey getting a bunch of free liquor from a liquor store in order to make that store the sole shopping point for the building's tenants. But then, she trades most of the liquor for winter coats, blankets, heaters, and food for her tenants.
So Sudhir is never exactly comfortable with the way ghetto life works -- why are there no police?, no ambulances?, and such a non-traditional method of getting the CHA (Chicago Housing Authority) to get things done? Well, the CHA doesn't get much done... J.T. and Ms. Bailey are the two biggest movers and shakers on their block. Sudhir gets so involved in their circles, that J.T. actually orders all the pimps, prostitutes, thieves and other hustlers to give Sudhir the research information he wants.
He realizes that not only do J.T. and Ms. Bailey act as the primary employers of the locals, they act as a kind of 'local IRS' for those that have their own business activities...
It's a very interesting story told by an academic but without a hint of academic detachment. Sudhir feels empathy, anger, resentment, and love for the people he describes. "Gang Leader for a Day" won't change your impression of the ghetto as a rough place to live, but it will give you new understanding and maybe even a little respect for the hard work and harder lives that the residents of projects have to survive through...
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