Reddit Reddit reviews There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in The Other America

We found 10 Reddit comments about There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in The Other America. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in The Other America
Anchor Books
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10 Reddit comments about There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in The Other America:

u/kodt · 13 pointsr/chicago

There are no Children Here

Gang Leader for a Day

Hoop Dreams - Also a very good documentary film.

u/[deleted] · 8 pointsr/chicago

Cabrini-Green

>It was bordered by Evergreen Avenue on the north, Orleans Street on the east, Chicago Avenue on the south, and Halsted Street on the west.

There Are No Children Here

Really Good Book.

There Are No Children Here, the true story of brothers Lafeyette and Pharoah Rivers, ages 11 and 9 at the start, brings home the horror of trying to make it in a violence-ridden public housing project. The boys live in a gang-plagued war zone on Chicago's West Side, literally learning how to dodge bullets the way kids in the suburbs learn to chase baseballs. "If I grow up, I'd like to be a bus driver," says Lafeyette at one point. That's if, not when--spoken with the complete innocence of a child. The book's title comes from a comment made by the brothers' mother as she and author Alex Kotlowitz contemplate the challenges of living in such a hostile environment: "There are no children here," she says. "They've seen too much to be children." This book humanizes the problem of inner-city pathology, makes readers care about Lafeyette and Pharoah more than they may expect to, and offers a sliver of hope buried deep within a world of chaos.

u/retrovaporizer · 6 pointsr/chicago
u/Bobibouche · 4 pointsr/funny

You should read up on these topics rather than arguing your “feelings”.
Because you’re wrong and reveal your ignorance, my dude
https://www.amazon.com/There-Are-No-Children-Here/dp/0385265565

u/DavidBenAkiva · 3 pointsr/chicago

You are correct about the Dan Ryan being on old rail lines.

I must have been thinking of the location of housing projects. The author and journalist Alex Kotlowitz wrote about the role that Alderman played in locating federal housing projects such as Cabrini Green, Robert Taylor Homes, and others in his book There Are No Children Here.

u/Variable303 · 3 pointsr/booksuggestions

Regarding some of the other suggestions so far: Reading Payne's book is fine, but keep in mind that her work is quite controversial. Moreover, much her work is self-published. There are many who feel her research lacks the academic rigor typically found in a field where research is peer-reviewed/published. Plus, there's also the profit motive, since she sets up workshops around the country and does quite well for herself. I'm not saying this is inherently wrong, but just to keep this in mind.

"The Invisible Thread" was an enjoyable read, although I found it to be a bit contrived. It's a feel good story, but I don't think you'll learn all that much from it.

Here are some additional suggestions going from more academic to less. Honestly though, to truly understand poverty from a big picture standpoint, it's best to draw from a wide range of topics and scholars.

The Origins of the Urban Crisis, by Thomas Sugrue. Pretty much required reading for those studying the roots of poverty in America. You'll learn about various factors like segregation, redlining, and other urban policies have formed the historical foundation for the cycle of intergenerational poverty that reverberates to this day. It's academic, but not nearly as bad as a lot of journals.

More Than Just Race, by William Julius Wilson. He actually has numerous books in this field that are great. As an African American and Harvard sociology professor, he has quite a bit of credibility in this field. That said, he does face some criticism, as his approach leans heavily toward structural factors and is said to be overly deterministic. Note, however, that just about every scholar has critics.

Chutes and Ladders: Navigating the Low-Wage Labor Market, by Katherine Newman. This is a bit more accessible and personal, as she uses ethnographic portraits to complement facts and figures, giving the narrative a more personal feel, and offering readers real people they can empathize with.

There Are No Children Here, by Alex Kotlowitz. This is a non-fiction book by an investigative journalist that is meant to be read by the masses, making it far more accessible. Great stuff.

The Other Wes Moore, by Wes Moore. An accessible autobiographical account of two boys name Wes Moore, both of whom grew up minutes away from each other, but ended up taking very different life paths.

By the way, where in the midwest are you? I just moved to Iowa City a week ago. The weather here is...weird. Everyone is warning me of the winters here.

u/awkwardlittleturtle · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

Thank you! I'm now a single mama to three little ones, and run my own small handmade/ecofriendly business, so while a different path, still a lovely one just the same. However, the medical field is definitely a passion of mine, so very excited to pursue that dream when the time is right. :)

I have that book, but haven't read it yet. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though! I'm almost finished with There Are No Children Here, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Very insightful, both on an emotional level as well as an informative one (lots of statistics and historical facts).

u/octopushug · 1 pointr/WTF

I think you also underestimate the extent of just how bad those environments can be. Sure, there are a lucky few who are able to find an opportunity and rise above it.

I advise you to read There Are No Children Here, written about two young boys living in the Henry Horner Homes on west side Chicago. One of my high school friends managed to survive multiple stabbings after a group who often ridiculed him for "being too white" jumped him on his way home from school. It was an environment that breeded--perhaps even brainwashed--young children to espouse similar ideals. There were few good role models and there was peer pressure to conform. I grew up on the south side of the city relatively close to the Robert Taylor Homes, which used to be considered a no-mans land prior to demolition in recent years. Back then, everyone just knew not to stray too far into that area for your personal safety, and some of the violence occasionally bled to surrounding neighborhoods. It's almost unfathomable to some individuals that others might not be allowed the same level of opportunity across the board solely based on environment, but you just have to take a closer look at all the combined influences, whether it be street-culture, available education (because only the best teachers volunteer for inner-city schools at their own risk /s), economic situations, family structure, whatever else. It could have been you. Do you really believe you would have been one of the lucky ones?

u/Chi847 · 1 pointr/ProRevenge

This is a complicated question with many factors in play. Let me take a stab at it. The policies of Daley's father. I would suggest reading this. https://www.amazon.com/Boss-Richard-J-Daley-Chicago/dp/0452261678

Decades ago, Blacks and other minorities attempted to move into those areas facing great resistance. Whites fled, businesses fled with them. Riots happened after King's death. Flood of cheap drugs in the 80's. The building of giant public housing complexes. Horner/Stateway/Rockwell Gardens. The power of gangs in those areas. Things are slowly changing. Back in the late 80's you wouldn't dream of going near Chicago Stadium, now the United Center. Now it's different. Humbolt Park out West used to known as a really bad area..now it's improving in increments

I'd also suggest reading this. https://www.amazon.com/There-Are-No-Children-Here/dp/0385265565