Part 3

Question 1

Know details regarding the Second Great Migration. How did the rural to urban population shift? What happened during 1985-1995? Why? How does this link to the rise of the ghetto?

Answer 1

The Second Great Migration, between 1940 and 1970, brought 5 million black Southerners North and West. By 1970, 47 percent of the nation’s African Americans lived outside the South, and more than 80 percent were urban.. 1985-1995 migrated to the South. There were jobs in the South. Those who remained in the North were living in what we now call “ghettos”.

Question 2

What are the three stages of race relations in America?

Answer 2

Preindustial (Slavery)
Plantation economy and racial-caste oppression.
Industrial (Jim Crow)
Industrial expansion, class conflict, and racial oppression.
Postindustrial (Underclass)
Progressive transition from racial inequalities to class inequalities.

Question 3

What does this phrase mean?: “For the first time in American history class issues can meaningfully compete with race issues in the way blacks develop or maintain a sense of group position.”

Answer 3

.

Question 4

Know the census statistical differences between the U.S. average and the Gang’s census tracts (focus on what stands out on “the environment” slide).

Answer 4

49. 3% (compared to US average of 24.8% ) do not have a high school diploma.
50. 7% (compared to US average of 20.3%) have a college degree.
51. 9% are immigrants (compared US average of 21.3%)

Question 5

Be able to compare the 1990 U.S. census statistics with the zip code at Robert Taylor Homes.

Answer 5

99.6% black compared to US average of 12%.

Question 6

What did Sudhir learn about his survey question?

Answer 6

That it is not an accurate way to gather information. JT says he should get to know people before asking them questions.

Question 7

Sudhir was detained in a stairway all night after trying to ask the gang his survey questions. Why?

Answer 7

They thought he was a mexican gang leader from a rival gang.

Question 8

What was J.T.’s reaction to the “culture of poverty” argument?

Answer 8

.

Question 9

Describe “outlaw capitalism.”

Answer 9

Horizontal Social Capital. Informal laws regulated by violence.

Question 10

According to Sudhir’s explanation, why was J.T. upset to see Sudhir spending time with C-Note and others in the community?

Answer 10

Because he was acting like he wasn’t “with him”. Either you are with J.T., or you are with someone else, and if you aren’t with him, he can’t help you get out of trouble.

Question 11

The art of minimizing violence by threatening peoples lives is referred to by Lenny as what?

Answer 11

Displanation. Constantly threaten people’s lives to maintain order.

Question 12

J.T. wanted Sudhir to see him as what kind of person?

Answer 12

Doesn’t want to be viewed as a bad guy. Community leader, helping people.

Question 13

According to Sudhir, what role did the religious leader and the police officer have in settling the gang dispute regarding the shooting of two rival gang members?

Answer 13

.

Question 14

Why did the price of renting a church for a gang meeting fluctuate?

Answer 14

.

Question 15

Sudhir began to question Ms. Bailey’s actions, thinking that some of her behavior was not the result of just hardship but what?

Answer 15

Everyone is in on the hustle for power.

Question 16

Why was Sudhir “angry at the entire field of social science”?

Answer 16

Out of touch with those people in poverty.

Question 17

How was Venkatesh a hustler?

Answer 17

.

Question 18

Why did mothers let their children urinate in the stairwell?

Answer 18

To keep away the hustlers and the prostitutes.

Question 19

What rationale did the women’s writing group use to explain why women get involved in prostitution?

Answer 19

They need to feed their children.

Question 20

After the shooting, why did Cherise drive Price to the hospital in Sudhir’s car?

Answer 20

Because a woman driving a regular car would be more accepted than a gang member driving a loud flashy car.

Question 21

What did T-bone view himself as, rather than a jailhouse “gangster”?

Answer 21

Didn’t identify with the gang. “Awkward”. Facilitating work for larger purpose.

Question 22

According to Charlie (one of the older men in the park), what are the two kinds of whites?

Answer 22

.

Question 23

Should a dealer pay a higher rate now for a discount later? Why?

Answer 23

No because you never know if that dealer will still be around or if they will be dead or in prison.

Question 24

Why was the gang involved in voter-registration drives?

Answer 24

Because they wanted people to vote for the candidates that they had ins with. Also J.T. wanted to help the community to become more powerful politically and voting is the first step.

Question 25

Why was everyone scared to talk about the cops?

Answer 25

Cops have the real power.

Question 26

What incident did Sudhir take part in that made him think he was getting too involved?

Answer 26

When he kicked the guy who had beat up one of the girls in the building trying to help C Note.

Question 27

Why doesn’t the ambulance come to Robert Taylor Homes?

Answer 27

Dangerous, also they never call because they don’t believe it will ever come.

Question 28

Why was Catrina’s death a shock?

Answer 28

She wasn’t hustling she was smart and really trying to get out.

Question 29

Why did Sudhir need to contact a lawyer?

Answer 29

.

Question 30

Why did the cops show up at the gang’s party?

Answer 30

They showed up raid for some profits.

Question 31

Why was Sudhir’s car broken into?

Answer 31

The cops broke in looking for his notes. They wanted to see what he was writing.

Question 32

Why did some gangsters move back to the ghetto from the suburbs?

Answer 32

They were lonely and they missed the community.

Question 33

What commonality did the group that Sudhir meets at the suburban house share?

Answer 33

.

Question 34

What was T-bone’s “catch 22”?

Answer 34

To get out, you need to stay in. To valued in the gang that he’ll die if he stays and die if he leaves.

Question 35

Was Robert Taylor Homes an enclave?

Answer 35

No! It is a community.

Question 36

What is the difference between vertical and horizontal social capital?

Answer 36

.

Question 37

Use a “street intersection with no traffic lights” as an analogy for how crime might be considered rational.

Answer 37

It looks irrational, you don’t know why it is the way it is. But in the situation it can be considered rational based on the environment.

Question 38

What is the difference between gangs of the past with gangs today?

Answer 38

Drugs let them actually make money.

Question 39

Foot-soldiers typically make under $2 an hour. Why is this rate is so low?

Answer 39

Most of its going to the leaders

Question 40

What are the 4 main conclusions from Gang Leader for a Day?

Answer 40

Gang life is complicated BUT not incomprehensible.
There is no neutral voice BUT we seldom have a diverse range of perspectives.
Basic measures and statistics can alert scholars, policymakers and politicians of an important social issue BUT only rich, in-depth research can help us understand why poverty persists and potentially how to address it.
Life at RT was not an example of enclave BUT it reminds us that social institutions matter for upward mobility.