Wolf

The title of the book I selected is “Gang Leader for a Day”. In this story, Sudhir Venkatesh decides to pay a visit to a low poverty-stricken project in hopes of getting people to complete a survey poll on urban poverty. Venkatesh portrays himself in the book as an inexperienced and unaware graduate student looking to gain inside information on living life in the projects of Chicago. Sudhir Venkatesh was determine to gather information that would explain what life was like for people living in these types of communities and what they had endure for survival.
Sudhir Venkatesh’s was then held captive by the Black King gang due to them believing that he was Mexican and posing as a spy for a local rival gang that was planning a drive by shooting on their hood. During his time of captive, he befriends a local gang leader by the name J.T. who provides him access to the Robert Taylor Projects. Sudhir was under the protection and guidance of J.T. during his research on the frugality of the project. The gang leader J.T allowed Sudhir Venkatsh the opportunity to live inside their world for many years to document everything that went on inside the projects. As the years, continued to pass Venkatesh became familiar with the drug dealers, crack heads, prostitutes and cops in the hood.
Sudhir Venkatesh objective was to find out how gangs interrelate within the community that surrounded them and how they survived on a daily basis. During Sudhir Venkatesh investigation, he was able to experience the transactions first hand. He explains how the community relied on the street gangs for money to help aid them in their daily survival. He provided information on the primitive capitalist accumulation that was being presented throughout the community. In addition, Venkatesh explains the lack of opportunities presented to these individuals while living in the projects.
Many ethical issues came to the forefront during this story. I found it revolting how the gangs controlled the people living in this project; the sad part is that they are stuck and their only source of assistance is being at the mercy of the gang members. I think this book provides real awareness on the life of families living inside poverty-stricken neighborhoods. Most people would find this story unbelievable at first, but this is real life situations for some minorities and their family members.
I think provided supporting information to support his argument in the story. I find it a little bizarre that an average sociology graduate student would place himself in harm’s way to investigate a poverty-stricken dangerous neighborhood of this status, but I am glad he did. I think this book is comparable with other criminal justice books because it illustrates the significance of sociology. It captures the atrocities and transgressions that people living in poor areas must endure.
As for the overall organization of the book, I found it very easy to follow. I found the reading of this book very interesting and the author kept me wanting to read more. I think most people may question something’s in the book or ask many questions of why? Overall, I believe the author did a great job at enlightening the readers. It was a true story told by a very courageous man that took many risks. I think he was clear and concise by explaining every detail of what and how things happened in the projects. In addition, he gave the reader profound information on how gathered his information.
This book clarify’s how hard it is for underprivileged families struggling to keep their heads above water. The survival of living in poverty requires an extreme amount of determination, resourcefulness, and social skills. The author did a great job at describing the hardships and economics issues of living life in the projects. Yes, I would definitely recommend this book to other classes. I believe this book is a great representation of life and human interaction in metropolitan areas and gives exposure to all individuals.

Reference
Venkatesh, S. A. (2008). Gang leader for a day, a rogue sociologist takes to the streets. New York, NY: Penguin Books