Gang Leader for a Day

I went into this book skeptical. I really thought it was going to be one of those corny “analyses” of “urban culture”, that ended up falling into a definite “side” and parroting a specific angle of the political spectrum. But no, this book is nuanced, comprehensive, and profound. It gives shocking insight into impoverished and marginalized communities, giving them dignity, but not papering over or excusing anything. Every person should read this book to get a better idea of how such communities live and persist. All sides of the political spectrum will find food for thought and challenges to their notions. If you work in or near a city, or have strong opinions about “those people” (whoever they might be for you), then this is a book for you to read and be better informed, even though there exists few answers or proposals in these pages, it is a first step to see the problems and gifts of these communities in stark relief and to wrestle with their history and implications.