NCJ Number
149158
Date Published
1990
Length
285 pages
Annotation
The author conducted fieldwork in two urban communities, one black and low-income and the other racially mixed but middle to upper income, to assess local street life, cultural influences on behavior, and group relationships.
Abstract
Residents of the racially mixed community had traditional values associated with western culture. Compared with their black neighbors, they appeared to be highly privileged. Some had money and many were well-educated, while others came from working class families and had connections to their old ethnic neighborhoods. The manufacturing economy of the two communities provided high- paying jobs and could provide training for people with minimal education and no entry level skills. Nonetheless, economic changes were occurring as service industries began to replace manufacturing, and some community residents were not able to adjust to the economic changes. The loss of industries tended to undermine traditional community leadership, community, the work ethic, and family life for marginally employed men. Poverty and lack of community leadership had adverse economic and social effects on the communities. Consequently, many young men became involved in gangs and drugs. The author found that blacks and whites shared many community attitudes, especially concerning public safety. He discusses police-community relations, the impact of drugs in urban areas, and the socioeconomic position of black males in inner cities. Information on characteristics of the study communities is appended. 192 references and 2 tables