Maquis Park By Sudhir Venkatesh

Off the Books Report In this book we see Sudhir Venkatesh as he dwells among the people of Maquis Park, a poor black neighborhood in the ghetto of Chicago. He comes to tell us about the black market economy that keeps this neighborhood alive; although mostly illegal, the mix of “licit and illicit” goods and services serves as a way of making a living for almost everyone in this neighborhood, ranging from prostitutes and drug-dealers to pastors and nannies. This economy is incredibly interesting to read about and observe through lens of Venkatesh. He could not stand idly by as a bystander as he took part in the community of these people and after years of being there he slowly became a person of interest in the neighborhood who was sought out

Venkatesh begins to tell the story of the time he spent in Maquis Park through stories of people that he met with throughout his five years there.
His first story begins after the death of Big Cat, a notorious gang leader in the neighborhood. Although many were relieved by his death they became aware that all of their incomes would take a hit as “They were forced to confront their own deep involvement in an outlaw economy.” (3). Big Cat`s gang members policed the streets, he gave money to the block club. He gave monthly donations to the local organizations and churches. He provided a safe space and influx of cars for the mechanic to work on off the books. He kept drugs away from the play grounds after the schools let out for the day. Materially, he did a lot of illicit good for the neighborhood on all fronts. Next he goes on to speak about the women that work in the neighborhood. From what Venkatesh found, there are clearly more female lead households than male. “Eunice`s street block, like other blocks nearby, has a disproportionate number of female heads of household. Of the twenty-one inhabited housing units on her [Eunice] block, in sixteen one can find

The pastors and clergy of Maquis Park rely on the giving of a very impoverished community. “Particularly for those churches that depend on the local, largely poor population for donations, the plates passed around are disappointing.” (215). Most pastors and clergymen must resort to other side jobs to supplement their income, whether this work is recorded or not. In the chapter “Home at Work” many women are looking for stabilized “homework” with higher class families so that they may gain an entrance of trust and good work so that they may be able to keep a stable job for several years at least and hopefully walk away with good reference for more work. For most of these women it is very hard to find these families without reference, this is where some of the pastors come in to play. “The clergy are important brokers of jobs for domestic workers. … A local pastor helps Marlene and other domestic workers find families to work for but he charges 10 percent for each successful placement. In Maquis Park alone, there are nineteen pastors who provide this service.” (27). Somehow the clergies in this area have access to the relationships and knowledge of upper-class families in the surrounding areas of Chicago. They search these families over and over, looking for anyone who needs a maid or nanny and is willing to pay them well. Once they find these families they connect them with