Posted: April 24th, 2022

Book Review “Gang Leader for a Day”

Book Review “Gang Leader for a Day”
Review of the book “Gang Leader for a Day” Name of the institution

“Gang Leader for a Day” is the subject of this book review.
Sudhir Venkatesh’s memoir Gang Leader for a Day, written while he was a sociology student at the University of Chicago, provides an in-depth look at his time as a gang leader in Chicago. He was on a mission to learn more about the lives of black people in the gang-infested neighborhood. Sudhir plunged himself straight in the center of the gang, in order to gain a better understanding of the events that took on on the streets behind closed doors. His research led him to the Robert Taylor Homes, one of the gangs’ hideouts where prostitutes, drug lords, and gang members could be found living together in peace. Sudhir formed a friendship with JT, one of the gang’s leaders, in order to become closer to the group and have a better understanding of its operations. Sudhir believed that it was time to discuss his dissertation with his professor, JT, after cultivating a relationship with him for more than three years. Sudhir was right. He attempted to draw attention to domestic violence, urban poverty, gun violence, and drug and substance misuse in the neighborhoods, as well as the consequences of these issues.
Overview
The gang’s name was the Black Kings, and it was one of the most well-known gangs in Chicago at the time. JT was a member of the leadership team. Sudhir received unprecedented access to the gang leader’s residence and met with as many gang members as possible as a result of his friendship with the boss, on the condition that he refrain from asking too many questions. After a thorough familiarization period, he was granted the honor of serving as the gang’s leader for a single day (Venkatesh, 2009). His research was not without its difficulties, as his life was threatened and his political beliefs were questioned during the course of his research. He gained an understanding of the tenacious aspects of operating the gang cycles and ensuring that everything is done in accordance with the gang regulations established by their leaders.
Primarily, he watched a slew of illicit activities take place throughout this time period, including officers Helping drug sales, prostitution, gang warfare, and drug transactions gone wrong, but most impressively, he witnessed how they rallied around one another in times of need. On his disguised assignment, the author discovered that not only were gang members important in the administration of the housing project, but that the housing complex’s manager, MS. Bailey, is also regarded as a significant figure in the community. She serves as the principal point of contact between the Chicago Housing Authority and the neighborhood (CHA). This was the city administration that was in charge of the housing project. Because the housing complex had less touch with the outside world, in the event of a broken amenity, repairs would take weeks before they were launched. However, by paying bribes to Ms. Bailey, who was in direct communication with CHA, she could speed up the process significantly. She also solicits bribes from gang members in order to conceal their criminal operations from law enforcement. She is working as part of a team with the gangs to complete the job (Venkatesh, 2009). She does, on the other hand, make a beneficial contribution to the community by ensuring that disadvantaged children are well-cared for. She also persuaded the local clinics to provide free medical checkups for the children, which they gladly accepted.
The Gang’s Organizational Structure and Structure
The gang’s leadership was hierarchical and vertically structured, as was the organization. The bottom of the pyramid was made up of squatters, who were followed by intern gangs, who were supervised by police officers who were known as lieutenants, and the top was made up of leaders known as the board of directors. During these meetings, the directors discussed crack inventory, financial matters, and the company’s potential plans to expand into and secure new territory outside of Chicago, among other things. The gang leaders had complete influence over the dealers and squatters at the Robert Taylor Homes, as well as the soldiers who were in charge of guarding the security perimeter (Venkatesh, 2009). Furthermore, they punished members who did not follow the rules, such as withholding drug money or prohibiting them from selling drugs for a period of time, often as long as a month, so preventing them from earning a living from their activities.
Interaction of the Gang with the Local Community
The general population that live in the Robert Taylor Homes public housing buildings are fighting to make ends meet on a daily basis. The majority of these individuals are unemployed and live in squalor, with no access to basic practical conveniences such as working heaters and refrigerators. Law enforcement had also turned a blind eye to their plight, and they did not have easy access to emergency services such as the 911 system. For example, when they asked for help from these emergency services, they received a slow response or no response. Despite these deplorable circumstances, which were exacerbated by extreme poverty, the locals had grown accustomed to coexisting with criminal gangs. It was a frequent practice among gangs, according to Venkatesh (2009), to settle their issues through physical confrontation rather than by contacting the authorities. The living conditions at the housing complex demonstrated racial inequity as a result of police carelessness and insufficient amenities.
Despite the fact that they were notorious for their horrible crimes, the gang members played an important role in the community. First and foremost, they ensured the safety of ladies when they went out, preventing them from being mugged. They ensure that members of the community are in the safest possible environment. When Sudhir watched an incident in which one of the residents had a shattered door, he knew that one of the gang members had been assigned to keep the family from being mugged (Venkatesh, 2009). This is quite useful in protecting vulnerable households. Second, they provide cash Helpance to tenants or apartment managers in order for them to purchase food and other essential necessities and then distribute them to the tenants and apartment residents. Third, they make it easier for children to receive an education. They work to keep students in school and take it upon themselves to penalize students who refuse to attend school. Nothing, however, is delivered on a sliver palter; all of this is done in exchange for maintaining silence regarding the gang’s activities.
But having gangs in the community brought with it its own set of difficulties. First and foremost, there was a high percentage of drug misuse; according to Venkatesh (2009), approximately 15 percent of the residents were drug addicts as a result of their high exposure to narcotics, with another 25 percent being occasional users. The prevalence of drug usage proved detrimental to the health of the community’s citizens. For the second time, the gangs were involved in money extortion. Those renters who did not pay their rent were devoured in order to contribute to the gang’s finances, with the exception of an elderly lady who made $20 selling candies. Third, the gang members were well-known for abusing women both physically and sexually without fear of punishment, owing to the fact that most people were afraid to come out and expose them. Finally, the fact that the housing project was a drug den meant that it had slowly deteriorated into a war zone as a result of the frequent turf conflicts, regular shootings, and other forms of incited violence. As a result, innocent lives have been lost as a result.
The Most Important Takeaways
Because he had worked closely with JT, the head of the Black Kings, Venkatesh had formed deep relationships with the occupants of the Robert Taylor residences over the course of nearly ten years of research. In his mind, he was worried that his investigation would get him into trouble with the authorities. In the event that he was compelled to testify in court in order to prosecute the gangs, his greatest concern was that he would be forced to violate the confidentially of his sources because he would have too much information. Sudhir, in his book, accuses the capitalist system of causing the suffering and crime that plagues the housing communities. He makes a reference to the capitalist culture that encouraged the unlawful and unethical ways of life that the residents of Robert Taylor residences had embraced in order to make a living.
Sudhir describes the nature and way of life of the impoverished and black people who live in Chicago during the course of the book. Additionally, he recalls the highs and lows they had while coping with drug addiction, prostitution, drug warfare, and police neglect. He holds the capitalist system responsible for the status of the world, claiming that they have failed to take responsibility for their actions. In addition, he dispelled the myth that gangs are constantly at war with one another, according to the media. It is unacceptable to live one’s life under the shadow of gangs and drug trafficking, but it does demonstrate the positive aspects of the group and their contribution to the community. This does not, however, excuse the criminal activity that is taking on at the Robert Taylor Homes complex. As a result of reading this book, I have gained a new perspective on life, as viewed through the eyes of Sudhir Venkatesh. It was an interesting and educational book to read.

Reference
S. A. Venkatesh’s Venkatesh, S. A. (2008). For a day, a renegade sociologist takes to the streets and assumes the role of gang leader. Penguin

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