Officie Work and the Crack Alternative among Puerto Ricans Drug Dealers in East Harlem

Thesis: The area of East Harlem or "El Barrio" is riddled with drugs and drug dealers. This primarily being because inhabitants are not able to find sufficient work and if they do, the often have difficulty with the people in charge.

The article "Office work and Crack Alternatives among Puerto Rican Drug Deals in East Harlem" by Phillip Bourgious is an account of what it is like to live in the poverished neighborhoods of "Spanish Harlem". He speaks about how the area in which he lives is a marketplace for all different types of drugs. " My tenements block was not atypical, and within a few hundred yards' radius I could obtain heroin, crack, powder cocaine, hypodermic needles, methadone, Valium, angel dust, marijuana,mescaline bootleg alcohol and tobacco". (Bourgois pg 203)Not only was this type of enviroment influential on the people that lived there. Bourgois also points out that as a child growing up where everywhere you look there are drugs being used or sold, that at some point in your development you are going to make a choice. He also illuminates the fact of going off to work in a poorly paid industry is almost overshadowed by the idea of selling drugs and making the same salary just in a shorter time.

Bourgois also speaks about the high incidences of children dropping out of school and finding work. According to Bourgois " for poor adolescences to drop out of school and become a marginal factory worker is attractive." Not only does it allow the teenager the opportunity to make money for the things they want, but often times these teens are using the money for things they need. This idea in the early teens is attractive, however once these teens become adults it become almost impossible to survive off the salary and even more impossible to get a better job with no education. " .....upon reaching their mid 20's they discovered themselves to be unemployed high school dropouts."

The article also speaks about respect, it compares and contrasts respect in the work place and respect in the street. For Primo who has experienced both he finds it easier to related to the guys on the street because they are both on the same level educationally. His response to the supervisor in the office has a negative connotation. "His direct supervisor is a receptionist", Bourgois' suggests that in some cases like Primos you have to know how to play the different roles.

Understanding this life in which these individuals live in and the conditions that they are subjected to goes beyond theory and stigma. It is real life for these individuals. My reaction to this piece is somber because not only do know individuals who live this life but I have been a witness to it. Its very difficult understanding this life and trying to explain it. Because its something that has to be lived.

How Urban Anthropology Counters Myths about the Poor-Judith Goode

Thesis: In this article Judith Goode is using ethnographic research to bring some humility back to the poor.

In this article Judith Goode explains that too often in a capitalist society are the poor forgotten. Not only are they forgotten they are also treated sometimes as less of a citizen. By constructing ethnographic research she is able to " rehumanize" poor people. Goode also challenges some other theories of poverty, thoes set forth by Lewis in his " Culture of Poverty." One of the main challenges that Judith Goode had with Oscar Lewis's "The Culture of Poverty" was his idea of people in poverty keep themselves in poverty, "by lacking a male presence, coming from broken homes, and flawed personalities". (Goode 187) She seems to disagree with the fact that poor people are poor because of their characters. It is her belief, that people are not poor because of their character but because of their "location and nature of local industries." (Goode 187)
She also attributes the status of being poor to the different levels of racism that exist in the industrial world.
She goes on to explain how the findings in the ethnographic reports done show many more contradicitons to Lewis' theory. For example, some ehtnographic research done on welfare shows some significant contradictions to the common ideology of the system. "People on welfare want to work and the average time on welfare is short." (Goode 194) This is a direct inverse to what society thinks of welfare recipents that they are lazy and do not want work. In short Judith Goode is associating poverty with circumstance rather than a flaw in character.

After reading both articles again for I am using quotations and ideas from both for my ethnography report. I think poverty is a combination of both the character of the individual and they way they perceive their circumstance. Im studying the effects of poverty on individuals and from my findings it is evident that individuals are able to overcome their circumstances and in some other individuals they fall victim to their environment.

The Culture of Poverty-Oscar Lewis

Thesis: Oscar Lewis' article is a description of the "Culture of Poverty" how other classes perceive the poor and what it means to have this class in society.

Oscar Lewis is trying to understand poverty, he describes the poverished as being a "subculture". A subculture that is viewed differently by people of the society. Some view the poor in positively and some view them negatively. Despite the differences in views one thing that Lewis found is that poverty tends to be founded in enviroments " 1. cash economy, wage, labor and production for profit 2. a persistently high rate of unemployment and underemployment for unskilled labor 3. low wages 4. the failure to provide social, political and economic organization, either on a voluntary basis or by government imposition for the low income population. 5. the existence of a bilateral kinship system than a unilateral one and finally 6. the existence of a set of values in the dominant class that stresses the accumulation of wealth and property, the possibility of upward mobility and thrift and explains low economic status as the result of personal inadequacy or inferiority." It is Lewis' belief that if a society has these strict guidelines embedded into their way of life and daily runnings of their city poverty is inevitable. " the way of life which develops among some of the poor under these conditions is the culture of poverty.

Lewis believes that it is the standards of the culture that creates the low class "poor". These people that fall into this category clearly do not ask to be there. Even though some become content with their lives and create "their own rationale, and structure." Lewis also speaks about how the idea of poverty once in place is "perpetuated from generation to generation."

I honestly do agree with everything that Lewis is stating in this article "The Culture of Poverty." It is very important to understand this even in the economic times that we face. As we see the disappearance of the middle class and we see the rise in the working poor, we can relate to what Lewis is saying in his article. It is because of the mortgage crisis and the bank bailout that we are experiencing this economic downturn. I believe the overall idea of Lewis' article is to enlighten us on how the culture of poverty does not affect society but society affects it.

In Motion -Derek Pardue

Thesis: This article is a model for understanding urban live by way of transportation. It is a description of how people move around the city in respects to their social and economical class.

Summary: Derek Pardue's article opens up a new way of understanding life in the city of Sao Paulo. One way is understanding the differences between "centers" and "peripheries". Pardue states " this model dictates that there is a historic and commercially vibrant downtown. As one moves father away from the center basic services and social status significantly diminish........it is more accurate to discuss Sao Paulo as a complex network of centers and peripheries".

He then speaks to a young kid by the name of Robson whom works as a administrative assistant in a hospital. Robson comes from a middle to low class family. His father is their primary source of income and he has gaps in his employment. The significance that Robson story brings to the article is his personal preference to ride the bus rather than the train. he explains this by saying he likes to be able to experience the city. However, because of his economic class he had no other choice to get around the city. Another person that Pardue speaks to is a woman by the name of Edilaine. Her story is much different in comparission to Robson in that she is a professional. She explains how it was taking the train when she was in the beginning of her career. And how she wondered what life was for people who lived in exclusive neighborhoods like "Higienopolis". She was later able to buy an apartment in that neighborhood. She was also able to afford a private driver. However, she explains how she enjoyed taking the subway. Her reasons being it gave her a feel of "modernity." She enjoyed being in the midst of business people , she considered these people modern.

I believe that Pardue's essay was a hit and miss, I think his initial discussion of centers and peripheries somewhat lost focus towards the middle of the article. I do think he was successful in explaining the differences in his subjects perceptions of riding the bus and train. I cant necessarily relate to this because in New York City the subway system services everyone from low class to middle class. However, different neighborhoods exhibit differences in socieconomic class. For instance you will see an influx of businessmen of middle to upper class in the east side lines of the 4,5 and 6 trains. However in contrast on the same subway lines you will see a few homeless people who ride the trains as a means of shelter.

Urban Danger - Sally Engle Merry

"Urban Danger" by Sally Engle Merry

Thesis: The idea of living in a city atmosphere with a population of people whom are different in life style, views of society, background and economic status. Crime becomes a major factor in these areas. This article talks about the essence of fear, whom it affects and what it is.

Sally Engle Merry address the elements of fear and how it affects people who live in high crime areas. She chooses the Dover Square project wyhere there is a mixture of people. Some being black, white, chinese or hispanic. "

Each ethnic group is scattered throughout the development, yet residents mainatain virtually all of their close social relationships with neighbors of the same ethnicity. Consequently, neighbors who belong to different ethnic groups often remain strangers."

Merry goes on to explain how the different ethnic groups respond to their enviroment, she speaks of a young chinese woman who comes home at night by car alerting her parents to her arrival. A middle age black woman who does her errands before the youth populate the streets and then the chinese man whom is fluent in martial arts walks about freely. All of these people have the same fears and concerns but yet they respond to them differently.

Merry answers this by explaing that "interpretation of the surrounding enviroment" is what creates the fear in the individual. And because we all have different ways of perceiving our world then we all have different views on how fearful it is. "Fear refers to the inner emotional state and individual experiences as he or she contemplates the danger he or she beleives to exist." (Merry 125) Understanding this fact will allow one to understand how people perceive dangerous situations. Merry explains that each individual perceives fear differently whether be loss of property,personal harm and or humuliation by social figures. This perception is what ignites the emotional state of fear.

I conceptualize fear as being harmed physically, because it can potentially lead to death or severe health or emotional problems. With that personal conception of fear I often do not travel alone at night or in dangerous areas that I am not familiar with. My own conception of fear may differ from someone elses in that someone else may be afraid to lose property or be degraded in some way.Therefore, I agree with Merry that fear is a personal experience rather than a social one. Because each individual is different. And although we may all view life in similar ways our experiences and personal perceptions of our world is what ultimately creates the fear factor.

Gangs Poverty and the Future

"Gangs,Poverty,and the Future" James Diego Vigil

Thesis: Individuals whom live in poverty tend to become very easily influenced by drugs, gangs and crime.

The article written by Vigil discusses how individuals living in povertyin Los Angeles are easily influenced to fall into the gangs that control the streets. Vigil talks about the social dichotomy of the fortunate and the less fortunate. He makes a reference to the "theory of strain". This theory states that the "status goals established by the dominant society, and the inadequate means of the low income people to reach these goals." This applies to low income people because it is difficult to acheive the goals set forth by society ("the wealthy") due to limited means. And the unfortunate use different methods of acheiving some type of success for example selling drugs.
Another poin that Vigil makes is the loss of social control leading to the development of gangs. "Institutions such as family, schools,and police are expected to proovide this control, however where these institutions have broken down, the situation is ripe for the rise of and perpetuation of street level gangs."( Vigil pg 234) Not having guidance or anytype of positive social structure to rely on individuals tend to bond together in order to recreate this feeling thats what "the gang" is. The article explains how society views only the negative aspect of gangs that being t"the drive bys, random shootings, and criminal lifestyles."(Vigil 235) And the somewhat positive aspects of gang life is ignored. The whole idea of protection offered by a gang is overlooked. One teen speaks about his struggles to perform everyday tasks due to violence in his neighborhood. He goes on to explain that once he was apart of the gang "Cuarto Flats" he never feared walking home from school again. Its situations like this that help su understand why exactly people join gangs. Because "social instiutions.....law enforcement" have broken down residents seek other means of protection.
Being in a gang is a means of protection, and although their are negativites that are associated with the "gang" to thoes involve it is a family. The article explains that usually gangs are found in areas where residents are poverty, lack unemployment ,education and the family dynamic. This is a perfect example as to why people become part of gangs not only for protection but for a sense of belonging to something bigger other than themselves.

The Edge and The Center-Setha Low

"The Edge and the Center" Gated Communities and the Discourse of Urban Fear

Thesis: Due to violence and crime gated communities have become a new phenomena in the urban structure.

"The Edge and the Center" is an article that speaks about how some city dwellers are now enclosing themselves in a community that restricts access to the uninvited due to fear. Seth Low compares and contrast two gated communities in San Antonio,Texas and Queens, New York. He explains how the diversity in these towns has caused fear in some residents. Therefore they move into this specialized communities that are "enclosed by five to six foot masonry walls broken only by the entry gates and monitored in person (New York) or by video camera from a central guard house (San Antonio)." (Low pg.134)

The question is why are people moving to the city and then into these gated communities. According to Low the people who are moving into these gated communites are " upper-middle class" The people are moving to these communities because the seek "sameness" and they are concerned about conflict in their neighborhoods they are moving out of. " I first gained entrance to a number of homes located within a locked, gated and walled community on the outskirts of the city and found young, white, middle class teenagers discussing their fear of "Mexicans" who live nearby." (Low 133) The article goes on to examine each of the communities one in New York and the other in San Antonio. He explains how difficult it was to gain access to the communities and even harder to reach the residents. When Setha Low was able to interview residents some of their main reasons for moving into gated communities was that they were trying to escape crime, and the changes in the community.

I think that the whole idea of gated communites is a way to isolate thoes with money from those without money. Living in a society where having money can create a divison between people it is no surprise that the wealthy are seeking to isolate themselves from the rest of the group. And although crime does exist in the city, I dont think that it is a reason to put yourself in such a secluded situation. Some of these communities have ameneities that will create a situation where the residents never leave the community. And in my opinnion if crime was to happen it could also happene inside a gated community because acts of crime are not only comitted by the less fortunate but for other reasons as well.

Student Fieldworkers in Village and City

"Student Fieldworkers in Village and City" by George Gmelch and Sharon Bohn Gmelch

Thesis: " In all field research, no matter where it takes place, anthropologists must draw on their social and interpersonal skills to gain the cooperation of the local people." (Gmelch pg.86)

This article effectively compares and contrasts the differences of doing fieldwork in the city vs the country. It talks about the obstacles that the students who were placed in Tasmania faced. Some of these obstacles were "tracking down potential research subject", and their inability to connect with the residents of the city. The students that were placed in Hobart focused their research on subcultures. While the students that were placed in the villages of Barbados were able to engage in a different approach to their research, some of these included "participant-observation research. The students that were placed in the village were able to have a more personal experience with the villagers. Instead of conducting interviews they were able to collect their information by simply hanging out with the inhabitants.

Moreover, the students that were placed in Barbados had extensive field notes and journal entries,while students that were placed in Hobart had difficulty producing these documents. Some of the advantages to being placed in the city was the exposure that the students were subjected to. Students placed in the city were able to experience the culture by way of museums and theaters. Therefore the students in the city in contrast to the students in the village was the lack of downtime. And although this prevented the students from collecting field notes and other documents they were able to experience the culture rather than report about it. In this way the research was more of a first hand account rather than a second hand account.

The article also speaks about how each setting affects the students lives. While living in a rural setting was benefical for ethnographic research and the city proved to be difficult. Both settings equally came with reservations. Students had to adjust to living in a new setting and be able to complete their research.

"Student Fieldworkers in Village and City" is my favorite article by far, because it displays the obstacles of doing fieldwork in the village as well as the city. It also shows obstacles of conducting research in a foriegn country. Another,point that arises in the article is the differences of Urban and Rural research. Defining research terms based upon the setting is beneficial to learning to conduct ethnographic research. By understanding the research parameters I am able to plan my approach to my research project.

Anthropological Fieldwork in Cities

“Anthropological Fieldwork in Cities.” George M. Foster and Robert V.Kemper.

Thesis Statement: Traditional Anthropology studies people in their natural habitat and that natural habitat were those of native indians and peasants. By forming close relationships with their subjects Anthropologist were able to study the culture and ways of life. However, Urban Anthropology uses the same method of forming close relationships, now it is just being done in a different habitat, that being the city.

Summary:

The article written by George M. Foster and Robert V. Kemper is a historical analysis of the study of Anthropology. It discusses the evolution of Anthropology as it relates to the methods used and the types of people that were analyzed. In the past Anthropologist studied people in a rural setting. “ anthropologist relied upon the descriptions of native life published by missionaries, colonial administrators and travelers.”( Foster and Kemper 6) As the study of Anthropology evolved different techniques of collecting data on the subjects began to change. The article explains how anthropologist began to use different methods of collecting data. Although this collection of data was somewhat “primitive” the practice of relying on second hand accounts changed to just including a small number of people. Anthropologist shifted their focus from second hand account of missionaries and travelers to the distant memories of the cultures oldest inhabitants.

The ideology of Malinowski changed the way Anthropologist collected data in their field work. His theory was simple “ live with the people, learn their language, observe their activities, question, speculate, theorize.” (Foster and Kemper pg.8) This way of collecting data impacted the science of Anthropology. It was not until after the war that the United States cultivated this way of researching. While the methods of collecting data evolved so did the resources available to anthropologist. The advancement in technology and travel aided researchers in their efforts to study people. In the past researches were subjected to a smaller area and for short periods of time. Advancements in technology such as air travel and the development of antibiotics allowed researches to travel to different areas of the country, It was at this time in the United States that researchers turned away from a diminishing Indian population to peasants of Latina America, Asia and Africa. The study of peasants would also evolve, as peasants who inhabited rural areas began to migrate to budding civic areas, thus creating the birth of Urban Anthropology.

With the birth of Urban Anthropology came some more changes in the way researches study a give group of people. Because cities are so vast Anthropologist began to shy away from traditional ways of collecting data. Instead of living with the people and investigating individuals the idea of grouping people with a common lifestyle became more sufficient.

It is my belief that grouping people based on their common way of life is a better way of studying people that live in a civic area. This is primarily because more individuals of the same race inhabit cities. However, their location,religion or common beliefs is what tends to group people when the live in cities not their nationality. For example African Americans are all

of Africa however differences in social class or employment can change their behavior and outlook on life.

"Networks,Neighborhoods,and Markets" Thedore Bestor

“Networks, Neighborhoods and Markets” Theodore Bestor

Thesis: The idea of studying a particular neighborhood according to Bestor is to first be inquistive and then become an observer.

Summary: “Networks, Neighborhoods and Markets by Theodore Bestor is a vivid description of his studies in Tokyo, Japan. Bestor explains his theory in fieldwork “inquisitive to observer.” (Bestor 21). Throughout the article Bestor remains true to this method of conducting ethnographic research. When he first arrives in Japan he has an idea of how he would study the culture of Miyamoto-cho. First examining the culture of the people and then moving on to the neighborhood as a whole, “ the subculture and lifestyle by which Tokyoites distinguish themselves.” (Bestor 21). When he first arrived Bestor focused in on how “old middle class families the proprietors of small, family run buisnesses participated in creating or maintaining local community life...and sustain themselves in a highly urbanized environment.” (Bestor 22). He does this by connecting with people on a personal level. Bestor states “ I meet people through introductions from people I know myself, through causal local interactions as well as through actively participating in any event i can legitimately get access.” (pg 24.) This technique is found through out the article.

Later when he goes on to study the Tsukiji marketplace Bestor uses this same technique as a guideline to learn the inner workings of the largest seafood market in Tokyo, he also uses the technique known as “parachuting”, or dropping in from multiple entry points. He uses a connection that he has in New York to ultimately set him up with one of the senior administrators Mr. Shimizu. Mr. Shimizu introduces Bestor to many of the higher officials in the seafood marketplace.He also uses connections that he had from previous research projects. Through doing this he is able to experience the Market for what it is. He is able to learn the people by making connections and by looking at every aspect of their culture, their dress, their speech and their overall way of life.

I simply admire Bestor for his approach to his research, because it is very important for one to understand that when you are studying humans you have to remember that they are not subjects. You have to be able to understand a culture as if you were living in it before you can research a problem or give a solution. Bestor sums this idea up perfectly in his article.