Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets is a memoir written by Sudhir Venkatesh.[1] The book chronicles the life of the urban poor and explores Venkatesh's views on poverty, money, gangs, drugs, and life in Chicago.[2][3] In 2017, it was reported that AMC Networks would be developing a drama series adapted from the book.[4]
Now a professor of sociology at Columbia University, Venkatesh ventured into Chicago's Robert Taylor Homes housing project in the 1990s to do research for his doctorate. He befriended the leader of the Black Kings, one of the country's largest and most violent crack-dealing gangs, and led the group for a day. Venkatesh's new book, Gang Leader for a Day, captures his years inside the projects and how residents and gang members interacted, coexisted and raised families.
The Gangs Of Chicago Book Summaryl
As mentioned above, the book can be compared to other works and studies. In this review, the book by Venkatesh (2008) will be compared with an acclaimed research project carried out by Sanchez-Jankowski. Islands in the street: Gangs and American urban society (1991) is a description of the research that involved several gangs. The author observed the life of gang members, had interviews with different stakeholders, used statistics, and analyzed existing evidence. Just like Venkatesh, Sanchez-Jankowski had to become a certain kind of member of the groups he explored. Both authors had to face a plethora of ethical issues as they witnessed different crimes but did not go to the police. In a way, they became accessories to some crimes and participated in certain violent acts, such as fights. For instance, Sanchez-Jankowski was checked and tested before any information was shared. 2ff7e9595c
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