Writer:

Sudhir Venkatesh is a former professor of sociologyan Indian American sociologist and urban ethnographer at Columbia University. As of September 2016, he has taken a position at Facebook.

Story:

A first-year graduate student Sudhir Venkatesh walked into an abandoned building in one of Chicago’s most notorious housing projects to find a few people willing to take a multiple-choice survey on urban poverty--and impress his professors with his boldness. He never imagined that as a result of this assignment he would befriend a gang leader named JT and spend the better part of a decade embedded inside the projects under JT’s protection. From a privileged position of unprecedented access, Venkatesh observed JT and the rest of his gang as they operated their crack-selling business, made peace with their neighbors, evaded the law, and rose up or fell within the ranks of the gang’s complex hierarchical structure. Examining the morally ambiguous, highly intricate, and often corrupt struggle to survive in an urban war zone, Gang Leader for a Day also tells the story of the complicated friendship that develops between Venkatesh and JT--two young and ambitious men a universe apart.

Highlights vs self- reflection:

1.p.246: I had the choice of ending my time in the projects;they did not. Long after I was finished studying poverty, they would most likely continue living as poor Americans.

2.p.263: on the ground, meanwhile, the lower-ranking members of society got pushed even lower, thanks to a stingy and neglectful city agency and the constant hustling of the few people in a position to help.

3.p.279: I stopped going to the doctor’s...One more test, one more drug,one more thing I got to pay for. And for what: To live here?”

4.p.283:”For all the ways in which I had become a rogue sociologist, breaking conventions and flouting the rules. Perhaps the most unconventional thing I ever did was embrace the idea that I could learn so much, absorb so many lessons, and gain so many experiences at the side of a man who was so far removed from my academic world.”

Golden Sentence:

1.”Just another day as an outsider looking at life form the inside.”

2.p.130:”..That’s your leadership style?Fear?”

Conclusion:

1.      To give us a wide view into a bitter and miserable world. And learn to have a more gentle heart to all the children of lesser God.

Gang Leader For A Day Summarized and organized by Faye Wang by on 10/18/2017:

After the book we had read last year, name “Evicted” by Matthew Desmond, we are again reading a book related with American’s ghetto’s community.  The name of the book is “Gang leader for a Day “by Sudhir Venkatesh.  Sudhir is a descendant of

Indian country, he took study of black community as his dissertation of graduate degree at The university of Chicago.  He started his research in 1989, his idea is to mingle with the Chicago’s gang group and trying to look inside the gang’s life as an outsider.   He then got involved with a group of gangs called Black King, short for BK.

At the first chapter, he wondered into a black community, while been question about his purpose of been there, he took out his clip board and ask those gangs his no.1 question of his predesigned questionnaire.  The question he first asked was :   How does it feel to be black and poor? Answers for the multiple choices was: (1) Very Bad, (2) Somewhat Bad (3) Neither Bad nor Good,(4)Good, (5) Somewhat Good or (6)Very Good.  Needless to say, black guys were very mad.  He was insulted and even been threatened with knife and gun by the gangs.  Fortunately, a guy named J.T. showed up; he happened to be the leader of B K.  J.T. eventually became Sudhir’s friend, and let him in and out of the community, so that he was able to learn about the poorest black community of Chicago.

At the second chapter, J.T. eventually bring him to the other housing project, which is well known in Chicago, called Robert Taylor Homes;  A 28 floors high rise on a 96 acres plot, contain 4400 apartments, and housing for 30,000 people, most of them are black.  For which a lot of thing happened here and provided Sudhir a great deal of opportunities to do his research.  First of all, 90% of people lived here are unemployed and receiving welfare, 2^nd Robert Taylor home is the hub of Chicago’s gang, 3^rd their underground economy was not only dealing with drugs but also dealing with gambling, prostitution, selling stolen properties and many other schemes.

At the chapter 3, Sudhir found out that there is a kind of system run through the whole communities.  How the gang dealer disciplines their members, how the dealer avoid their authority to be challenged, and how do they maintain their financial need. All sort of thing that feels like you are watching a God Father’s movie.

When come to the main theme of the book, which is Chapter 4, J.T. actually let Sudhir took his place of being a gang dealer.  He would plan for the day’s schedule, he would settle the fight between the gang members, he help to solve the problem that gang members had been accused of getting stealing or owing money to the store owner.  Sudhir thought it was not a easy job.

Then Sudhir was told that he ought to interview women gangsters, whatever they do is not the same as men.  This is going to happen at the Chapter 5, He then spent a lot of time with Ms Bailey; the 2^nd powerful person of the team.  She was good to play influence games with all sorts of people.   In order to have donation for food, for winter clothing, for blanket…..so forth, she would use all kind of strategies.  She would also discipline the girls to be clean and to behave.  Ms. Bailey is like a mother to the young gangs and is very important to the housing.

Sudhir was advised by the university professors that he needs to consult a lawyer. If he ever subpoenaed by the authority, he will have to participate and there is no such thing as academic research confidential source.  For example: a drive-by shooting, or a drug selling…..etc. He is obligated to tell the truth.  All this will be described in Chapter 6.

Chapter 7, The corruption of the policeman is also another serious problem, they can come to attack the gangs in order to have their share of profit. Which was stated at the chapter of Black and Blue, apparently the policeman worn black and blue color cloth when raid the gangs.

At the end ,which is chapter 8, finally, The Robert Taylor Housing was ordered by CHA to demolish, which means all tenant should be out and all activities has to stop.  J.T. eventually changed his life style and got a real kind of job.

Following the summary, next will be my questions, would you please share your thought.

(1)     The author of the book Sudhir Vekadesh thought that J.T. is a charismatic man, do you agree with it?

He is really a problem-solver social worker. Really admire his wisdom and courage.

(2)     What make the gangs stay together and willing to abide the gang dealer’s law?

1.p.183”Life in the projects wasn’t like my life in the suburbs. Not only was it harder, but is was utterly unpredictable, which necessitated a different set of rules for getting by. ..It may have cost a little more to get what you needed, but at least you had a chance.” They set up different rules to protect themselves.

2.p.41”…we don’t just fight each others.. We have basketball tournaments, softball tournaments, card games…Sometimes it’s just people in the organization who play , but sometimes we find the best people in the building..”They have their own entertainment.

(3)    Do you think that J.T. and Ms Bailey are the persons with dignity?

1.p.88”When you got a problem, I bet you call the police…But you could call the police..if you are in the building hustling.. there’s no police officer who’s going to do what T-Bone does for us.” P.84”strangely , while most people think of a gang as a threat, for me, an uninitiated person in the projects –the gang represented security.” From this unfair setting, they are the best justice for them.

(4)    What American should do to help these black people to live a better life?

This is not American’s problem, it’s a global issue. And most important is to help themselves first. Allies are the best accomplices.

1.p.195”…nearly all of them tried to hide any legitimate income from the CHA, lest they lose their lease of other welfare benefits.” To set up a better welfares for the black

2.p.210”…I’d try to broaden this idea by starting a writing workshop for young women in the building who were interested in going back to school….”Set up some learning workshop(writing,basketball…) for them is a good start.” No Child Left Behind Act”P.211”…I had the least experience spending time with young women , particularly single mothers..” It’s a way to teach them and to understand them.

(5)    The book was publish in 2008, yet the author’s research project was happened since 1989,meaning over a period of 20 years, a lot of things must have changed.

Do you think the book is still worthwhile to read?

It means the problem already dangles for 20 years. The answer still is in the wind.

The race discrimination has existed for 80 years. Roses are red, violet are blue, nigger is black, but their blood is red,too.

(6)    On page 28, paragraph 2, when talked about “culture of poverty”, the opinion is such—poor black didn’t work, because they did not value employment as highly as other ethnic groups did, and they transmitted the attitude across generations.

Is it true so? Please let us hear your comment about the issues.

It seems to me that we didn’t put ourselves into others’ shoes and found out a good excuse for ourselves. ”Scapegoats are hunted to burden the blame. Why not take some steps back for a proper perspective. Analyse the situation, being more reflective. A considerate man doesn’t care how much they own the power, but how they use the power.

(7)    BK leader J.T. mentioned so many time that Professor Sudhir is going to write a book about his life, what is the motivation behind it?

“Gang observer for a day” depict a feeling of helper’s helplessness.

Consultant Clive’s opinion:

Today was a great meeting led by Faye who provided us with insights, ideas and observations.  Faye worked hard to unravel and explore a complex, intertwined system of political and economic relationships that made the housing project in Chicago a nightmare and also explore the African American urban experience.  The police and ambulance crews, in particular, regarded Robert Taylor as a no-go area, and in place of services and safety, local gangsters stepped in.  People like J. T. and corrupt figures like the fearsome Ms. Bailey, a building president who manipulates her connections and residents, hold sway. They take, brutalize and dispense favors. They mediate disputes and make lives miserable. Ms. Bailey, both ally and rival to J. T., acts as a go-between with city agencies and the police.

No one gets rich, and no one gets better.  It is a sad journey and Faye worked hard to explore all the parts of the book.   She shared with us how J. T. loomed throughout the book as a towering, problematic figure. Violent, paranoid and manipulative, he offers a fascinating study in criminal leadership.

Although riveting, Mr. Venkatesh’s venture into rogue sociology counts as something of a period piece. The City of Chicago began demolishing the Robert Taylor Homes soon after he completed his research, dispersing the Black Kings and depriving J. T. of a big future in crime as the city’s crack economy shrank.  His management skills did not transfer to the dry cleaning business, his next stop.

Mr. Venkatesh, in a sentimental afterword, bids him a fond farewell. Good riddance is more like it.  We really want to express appreciation to everyone who came today and especially do Lydia who was very sick and had no voice.  

Related Reading:

1.Blame poem: http://forums.familyfriendpoems.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28499

2.nigger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger

3.nigger poem: https://hellopoetry.com/words/nigger/

4.Blacks set out to have a better life: http://www.manythings.org/voa/history/171.html

5. This is what America can do to help: https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/06/this-is-what-white-people-can-do-to-support-blacklivesmatter/?utm_term=.c5ce713bcf2b

6.No child left behind Act: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind_Act

7.Sudhir Venkatesh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudhir_Venkatesh

8.Gang leader for a day review: https://www.amazon.com/Gang-Leader-Day-Sociologist-Streets/dp/014311493X

9.Gorgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(U.S._state)

10.Southe Caroina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina

11.Tennesse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee

12.Indiana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana

13.America with 50 states: http://www.wallpaperama.com/forums/list-of-all-the-50-states-that-make-up-the-united-states-of-america-t390.html

14.Great Migration: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/great-migration