Answers to "Gang Leader for a Day" Questions

Below are the answers that I thought were the best to the three questions I posed about "Gang Leader for a Day." It was not easy making my selections, and as you will note I accepted more than one for each question and I did some editing. I would say, overall, the YELLOW FAMILY did the best job. Remember that I (or the families) may make up final exam questions from these answers, so print out or copy these answers and keep them with your other notes.

1. What did you find was the MOST SURPRISING FACT OR OBSERVATION, AND WHY?

YELLOW FAMILY: One of the most surprising things that we found in "Gang Leader for a Day" was the fact that there is a huge difference between what sociologists think goes on and what is actually happening. Even though gangs and poor communities have been studied for decades, their culture is still not well understood. It was interesting to see how the community worked together in ways similar to other social structures. Venkatesh describes the Black Kings as "the de facto administration of Robert Taylor." Though the gang did participate in illegal activities, it also helped protect and provide for people in their buildings. Most sociological literature tends to portray gangs as "a nuisance at best, and more typically a major menace." This book shows that there is more than one side to the story. Yes, gangs do interact with drugs, prostitution, and violence, but that is not all that they do.

GREEN FAMILY: Following up on the Yellow family's answer above -- "...how accepting the commmunity was of the gang. Because the community could not depend on the government or the police for protection and for what they needed, they turned to the gang instead. Why? Because they have money and are able to do what needs to be done....The gang gave the community a sense of security and protection. They were an accepted part of the community.
"...people in the community not only socialized with the gang members but also became close acquaintances....They even got together for birthday parties, barbecues, and basketball touranments."

BLACK FAMILY: We were surprised by how organized and business-like the gang was. The fact that there was an implicit hierarchy and each member of the various hierarchies had different responsibilities and even different salaries was surprising.

RED FAMILY: We also found it surprising that the gang members really adhered to values, despite all of their criminal activity. Respect, loyalty, and honesty among members were incredibly important, and the sense of community was strong. JT always obeyed his mother; she had authority over him.


2. What do you believe is the MOST INSIGHTFUL PASSAGE IN THE BOOK (no more than a paragraph long), AND WHY?

YELLOW FAMILY: "We live in a community, understand? Not the projects -- I hate that word. We live in a community. We need a helping hand now and then, but who doesn't? Everyone in this building helps as much as they can. We share our food, just like I'm doing with you. My son says you're writing about his life -- well, you may want to write about this community, and how we help each other. And when I come over to your house, you'll share with me. You'll cook for me if I'm hungry. But when you're here, you're in my home and my community. And we'll take care of you." (p. 43)

Ms. Mae's quote is, arguably, one of the most insightful passages in the book. It shows how the resident of the Robert Taylor Homes collectively struggled to survive and "get by" with a marginalized, disadvantaged, and largely misrepresented status. Perhaps more significantly, it remarks on the disconnect that exists between this impoverished African-American community that is residentially, economically, and socially sepregated and isolated and mainstream society. We often think of ourselves as "normal" and essentially different from the poor, and this quote shows how these individuals are merely living under different, demanding, and often degrading conditions rather than distinctly separate lives.

I am also awarding the BLUE FAMILY a bonus point for basically the same quote and analysis. I just thought the YELLOW FAMILY expressed it better.

BLACK FAMILY: "For all the ways in which I had become a rogue sociologist, breaking conventions and flouting the rules, perhaps the most unconventional thing I ever did was embrace the idea that I could learn so much, absorb so many lessons, and gain so many experiences at the side of a man who was so far removed from my academic world." (p. 283)

This shows us that we can learn a lot from people who are outside of our own little "worlds." Even if we believe that we can't learn from someone, we need to take the time, like Venkatesh, to get to know that person or group because in the end they really could change our lives and teach us lessons about their way of life. J.T. really did teach Venkatesh a lot that he would never have learned without that personal contact.


3. What do you believe is the MOST IMPORTANT LESSON to be drawn from the book in terms of understanding and dealing with gangs?

YELLOW FAMILY: The most important lesson we gleaned from the book was about the general complexity of the gangs and the symbiotic relationship between them and impoverished communites like the Robert Taylor Homes. Gangs are more than simply violent organizations; they are related to drug use and abuse in inner cities, and to issues springing from poor housing and neighborhoods. Any attempt to prevent or stop gang violence has to encompass a multifaceted approach to all levels of life in these poor communities: education, job opportunities, drug dependency, the important role of informal social networks, etc. Thus, Venkatesh's work goes deeper, beyond explanations relying on stereotypes of gang life, to examine the related problems of poverty and gang violence.

RED FAMILY: The most important leasson from this book is not to judge a book by its cover. Most people associate gangs and their members with violence, a lack of education, drugs, danger, and a disregrad for anyone else. Venkatesh shows us that these stereotypes aren't necessarily true: J.T. was a college graduate, many members were taking college courses, they bought school supplies for the neighborhood kids, gave money to people in the community, and protected people and businesses. Rival gangs even showed each other espect by going to each other's basketball tournaments.

GREEN FAMILY: The most important lesson of the book is that one cannot discern anything of real value that will lead to a deeper understanding by asking simplisitic questions and evaluating dry data. Although we shouldn't all resort to the exact methods of Sudhir Venkatesh, actual interviews should be conducted and sociologists should keep the following in the front of their minds at all times: the subjects that they are evaluating are human beings, not statistics.

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So, here is what each family earned for this exercise:

YELLOW FAMILY: (Frances, Patrick, Cynthia, Anna) 7 points + 3 bonus points.

GREEN FAMILY: (Michaela, Sarah, Lauren A., David) 7 points + 2 bonus points.

BLACK FAMILY: (Allie, Katie, Alex, Sterling, Meggan) 7 points + 2 bonus points.

RED FAMILY: (Sami, Taylor, Kirsten) 7 points + 2 bonus point

BLUE FAMILY: (Lauren W., Hannah, Caroline) 7 points + 1 bonus point.