Inside The Hood: A Review of Gang Leader For A Day

  This shocking book written by Sudhir Venkatesh, opens the door to a part of America that many people have only seen from the perspective of the news and media. As a graduate student at the University of Chicago studying sociology, Venkatesh born in India and raised in Southern California, wanted to get his own look into the Chicago's inner city.

Ready to ask his survey question “how does it feel to be poor and black?” Venkatesh foolhardily set out to the projects. He stumbled upon the Robert Taylor Homes run by the drug dealing gang the Black Kings. Venkatesh begins surveying residents before ending up held hostage by the Black Kings in a stairwell of the Robert Taylor Homes for twenty four hours. Serves him right for being so naïve. After the Black Kings finally come to the conclusion that Venkatesh is not a Mexican gang member they let him go, but not before he is able to kindle a relationship with the leader of the Black Kings.

Venkatesh begins hanging out with the gang leader, J.T. As Venkatesh begins to shadow J.T. and learn more about him, they develop a complicated relationship and J.T. unlocks more and more secrets into their life. J.T. soon reveals to Venkatesh that he is a college graduate himself and quit his job to lead the Black Kings. He’s a smart, charismatic, leader that has much in common with Venkatesh, but due to his different life situation he must live entirely different, yet they grow and mature together. J.T. learns from Venkatesh and Venkatesh from J.T.

After most of a decade at the Robert Taylor House Sudhir Venkatesh uncovered many workings of that world unknown to many. The gang helps protect and support the residence with it’s rich profits off selling crack cocaine and in return the residence pay a fee to the gang. He developed relationships with the gang members, landlords, and residence. This allowed Vankatesh to compile a wealth of information, even a thorough report on the economy of the Robert Taylor Homes. Vankatesh begins to perhaps feed off the adrenaline rush off this second life he is living as he begins to take part in gang activity. He assists wounded residence after a drive by shooting, goes to parties at huge drug lords houses, and even gets a kick in on a man who is being handled by the gang for abusing a girl. He also interviewed hundreds of different people from all different walks of life during his time there.

This book is a great read because it helps to put life into perspective, and is an eye opener to how horrific some people are living in America. We are so focused on helping people in need in other countries when we have such sick problems in our own country. The people living at the Robert Taylor Homes could not even rely on the government to help them, they instead payed a 150 person gang to supply them things necessary for them to live.

I was impacted by the strong family values that the residence showed. It illustrates humans survival nature when they’re down and out and humanized the hustler and the dope fiend. Elderly stateswomen living in the Taylor House would not allow any child to go unfed or uncared for. The gang played a huge role in caring for the residence too. If someone needed some money to put food in their stomaches, or was being harassed and mistreated by a boy friend the gang would take care of it. Government officials including police would not step foot near the Robert Taylor Homes so it was up to J.T. and the Black Kings to keep order in the projects.

If you ever wondered about the taboo lifestyle of poor African Americans in the inner city now is your chance. This book is sure to open your mind up about the hardships of America and even question your country and the government. You cling to your seat on every chapter as Venkatesh risks his life, and is even allowed by J.T. to be gang leader for a day.