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El Barrio

1095 Words5 Pages

The original book “In search of respect by selling crack in El Barrio” (Philippe Bourgois (2003) was first published in1995 and the second edition in 2003. Bourgois, is its author. Generally, the book (second edition) describes the major dynamics which have affected life in various parts of East Harlem. Through this book, Philippe Bourgois narrates his experience in East Harlem, which is also known as El Barrio in Spanish and is located in northeastern side of Manhattan. He describes East Harlem as an area that is notorious for its high violent crime and jobless rate in comparison to the rest of New York City. Similarly, the book depicts the area as one that faces numerous social issues like drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, AIDs, early pregnancies …show more content…

By describing the exact physical location, the main people residing therein and the social issues not only creates a mental idea of the area to the readers but also makes one eager to know more about the area and the author’s experiences. Further, the author puts up the statistics which warranted him to know more about the people of Harlem. Accordingly, the statistics revealed very high poverty levels where many people live below the poverty line. This is however not the picture on the ground as the residents can still afford basic necessitates, which he later come to realize it was as a result of their underground businesses like drugs and crack selling. Understandably giving these facts allows the readers to see the contrast between the poverty levels reported through the statistical data and the actual living standards in the ground. Undoubtedly, this makes one to wonder if the area residents are really poor or if it is just a poverty perception. In a bid erase any possible confusion of the readers regarding the poverty levels of East Harlem residents, Philippe works hard enough to enough that he does give the poor people a bad name, and also ensure that he does not end up censoring the very reality of living in …show more content…

Initially, the residents thought he is an undercover cop hence refrained from being friends with him while the police those he is a drug dealer. This chapter shows how he works hard not to offend Ray by exposing his regrettable illiteracy and also he has to use generosity and violence in a balanced way so as to stay safe and keep friends as well.
Chapter 2; a street history of El Barrio
It entails description of how East Harlem residents think that they are the only ones responsible for their present condition, and not the institutional problems. It shows how there is concentration of poverty and the struggle that people attempting to live the vices and are stuck while children get introduced to the vices even subconsciously. This follows people concentration in the 1950s where old blocks were bulldozed forcing different families into the Housing Authority Projects.
Chapter 3; Crack-house management: addiction, discipline and

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