In this gripping ethnographic memoir, sociologist Sudhir Venkatesh recounts his time embedded within a Chicago gang. Hoping to study urban poverty, he befriends a gang leader and gains unprecedented access to the daily operations of the Black Kings. What he finds is a complex underground economy and a surprising code of conduct. Venkatesh balances storytelling with sociological insight, humanizing gang members while exposing the systemic issues they face. Gang Leader for a Day is a powerful, eye-opening look at life in marginalized communities and how informal power and survival operate in America’s inner cities.
About Sudhir Venkatesh
Sudhir Venkatesh is a sociologist and professor known for his groundbreaking ethnographic research on urban poverty, gangs, and underground economies. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and rose to prominence with Gang Leader for a Day, a first-hand account of his time embedded with a Chicago gang. Venkatesh’s work bridges academia and journalism, and he has served as a consultant for law enforcement and public policy initiatives. His research highlights the human dimensions of marginalized communities, challenging stereotypes and offering nuanced insights into the social structures that govern life in America's inner cities.
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