Gang Leader For a Day

At the beginning of the book, Venkatesh has recently moved to Chicago from California to start graduate school at the University of Chicago. A self-confessed “Deadhead”—or Grateful Dead fan—his hippy-ish clothes and long hair make him conspicuous in the poor black neighborhoods he explores. His Indian heritage and middle-class background leave him ill-prepared for dealing with life in the projects and he is repeatedly accused of being naive. He seems to have no sense of personal danger; in fact, his increasing entanglement with J.T. and the Black Kings arises in part because he enjoys the thrill of his work. Throughout the book he is confronted with uncomfortable questions about the ethics of his research—is he taking advantage of the residents of Robert Taylor? Is he exploiting their poverty for his own academic success? These questions are balanced by his genuine desire to make a difference, for his work to change how sociologists discuss and understand urban poverty. As the book—and his research—progresses and he becomes increasingly involved in the tenants’ lives, he begins to feel out of place and at risk in Robert Taylor Homes. He has been transformed from an idealistic grad student into a successful academic –he even has a briefcase—and it is time for him to leave the projects behind.