Mitchell Duneier Sidewalk Summary
Mitchell Duneier is an American sociologist who earned his doctorate from the University of Chicago. Since graduating from the University of Chicago he has published books such as Sidewalk and more recently Ghetto: The Invention of a Place, the History of an Idea. He has won awards for his contributions to the field of sociology. He currently teaches Sociology at Princeton University. Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier describes the underground street vendor world on 6th Avenue in New York City. In order for Mitchell Duneier to fully grasp and understand the lives of the people who earn a living from street vending he must become one. With the help of Hakim Hasan, who had previously worked in a corporate environment and had a college education,
…show more content…
The broken window was a theory proposed by James Wilson and George Kelling in 1982. The theory said that if there is a broken car window then it gives a sense that “no one cares”. So if no one cares about vandalism/graffiti in a neighborhood then the neighborhood goes downhill and more crime will occur (Duneier, 158). Mitchell Duneier believes that there is a difference between something being physically broken and a person being “broken”. In Sidewalk Duneier proposes the “fixed windows” theory where the government will help the people get jobs and homes when they get out of prison (Duneier,315). Duneier believes that the street vendors are trying to better their lives. Marvin was a veteran and when he returned from war he became addicted to crack. He was able to change his ways and better his life by selling magazines with his partner, Ron. Marvin also has the responsibility of looking after Ron because Ron is an alcoholic. Mitchell Duneier narrates Sidewalk and he is appropriate and effective. In the introduction Mitchell Duneier stated that “...what appears between quotation marks is a reasonably reliable record of what was said.” (Duneier,13). This shows that Mitchell Duneier is giving a reliable record of what happened and what he experienced. In his narration he expresses his opinion on the different people he encounters and what he was thinking
The broken window was a theory proposed by James Wilson and George Kelling in 1982. The theory said that if there is a broken car window then it gives a sense that “no one cares”. So if no one cares about vandalism/graffiti in a neighborhood then the neighborhood goes downhill and more crime will occur (Duneier, 158). Mitchell Duneier believes that there is a difference between something being physically broken and a person being “broken”. In Sidewalk Duneier proposes the “fixed windows” theory where the government will help the people get jobs and homes when they get out of prison (Duneier,315). Duneier believes that the street vendors are trying to better their lives. Marvin was a veteran and when he returned from war he became addicted to crack. He was able to change his ways and better his life by selling magazines with his partner, Ron. Marvin also has the responsibility of looking after Ron because Ron is an alcoholic. Mitchell Duneier narrates Sidewalk and he is appropriate and effective. In the introduction Mitchell Duneier stated that “...what appears between quotation marks is a reasonably reliable record of what was said.” (Duneier,13). This shows that Mitchell Duneier is giving a reliable record of what happened and what he experienced. In his narration he expresses his opinion on the different people he encounters and what he was thinking