Product Description

While we hear much about the "culture of poverty" that keeps poor black men poor, we know little about how such men understand their social position and relationship to the American dream. Moving beyond stereotypes, this book examines how twenty-six poverty-stricken African American men from Chicago view their prospects for getting ahead. It documents their definitions of good jobs and the good life--and their beliefs about whether and how these can be attained. In its pages, we meet men who think seriously about work, family, and community and whose differing experiences shape their views of their social world.

Based on intensive interviews, the book reveals how these men have experienced varying degrees of exposure to more-privileged Americans--differences that ground their understandings of how racism and socioeconomic inequality determine their life chances. The poorest and most socially isolated are, perhaps surprisingly, most likely to believe that individuals can improve their own lot. By contrast, men who regularly leave their neighborhood tend to have a wider range of opportunities but also have met with more racism, hostility, and institutional obstacles--making them less likely to believe in the American Dream.

Demonstrating how these men interpret their social world, this book seeks to de-pathologize them without ignoring their experiences with chronic unemployment, prison, and substance abuse. It shows how the men draw upon such experiences as they make meaning of the complex circumstances in which they strive to succeed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #892596 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
This is a book that has stayed with me. It profoundly enriches the reader's understanding of the world inhabited by marginalized black men. Al Young succeeds in moving well beyond common assumptions about the underclass and the often-decried 'culture of poverty' argument to discover how young poor black men understand their social position, the determinants of social mobility (and immobility), and their relationship with the American dream.
(Michele Lamont, Harvard University, author of "The Dignity of Working Men" )

From the Inside Flap
"There are few studies written with such power of voice and ethnographic and theoretical verisimilitude. Young has captured the essence of these men. His elegant and erudite book will add immeasurably to the debate on urban poverty, race, representation, and the ethnography of so-called hard-to-reach populations."--Terry Williams, The New School

"This is a book that has stayed with me. It profoundly enriches the reader's understanding of the world inhabited by marginalized black men. Al Young succeeds in moving well beyond common assumptions about the underclass and the often-decried 'culture of poverty' argument to discover how young poor black men understand their social position, the determinants of social mobility (and immobility), and their relationship with the American dream."--Michèe Lamont, Harvard University, author of The Dignity of Working Men

From the Back Cover

"This is a book that has stayed with me. It profoundly enriches the reader's understanding of the world inhabited by marginalized black men. Al Young succeeds in moving well beyond common assumptions about the underclass and the often-decried 'culture of poverty' argument to discover how young poor black men understand their social position, the determinants of social mobility (and immobility), and their relationship with the American dream."--Michèle Lamont, Harvard University, author of The Dignity of Working Men

"There are few studies written with such power of voice and ethnographic and theoretical verisimilitude. Young has captured the essence of these men. His elegant and erudite book will add immeasurably to the debate on urban poverty, race, representation, and the ethnography of so-called hard-to-reach populations."--Terry Williams, The New School

Customer Reviews

nice study, disturbing findings
Lots of books have been written about poor, black males in Chicago. There is the personal ("Our America"), the journalistic ("There Are No Children Here"), and the academic ("Slim's Table"). In this book, the author tries to analyze how 26 young, poor black men think, and not just what they do or the choices they make. He has some very counterintuitive findings.

As great as a book this is, reading it can be depressing to the nth degree. The interview subjects are just clueless about how society is organized and how the marketplace is changing. They come off as so naive and uninformed! This could really help fortify racist fallacies about black mens' intelligence.

Further, the people in power who are most interested in hurting black men could have a field day with this book. The subjects almost never say racism is a big deal. They blame themselves entirely for what has happened in their lives. They believe that a positive attitude will change all their woes. This type of "pull yourself by the bootstraps" lets racism and classism in American institutions off the hook.

Further, this book may hurt people who believe in or benefit from affirmative action. The author observes that those who have had the most exposures across races and classes are the most cognizant of racism and classism in this country. Many people might read this and say, "Well then blacks would be less angry at others if they didn't observe us." or "If diversity makes blacks bitter, they should not be exposed to it." etc. Thank goodness the Supreme Court already stated that affirmative action is legal in Michigan where the author works.

Speaking of Michigan, I am surprised that the author did not complete his study there. Like Chicago, Detroit has problems with segregation, unemployment, and post-industrialization. Why keep making Chicago look bad when many urban areas are hard places in which to live for African-American men?

Despite my critiques, I enjoyed this book. I actually do recommend it for antiracist activists and other progressive thinkers.