Desmond’s use of narratives in his discussion of eviction, allows him to be comprehensive in his presentation of the issue, while also making his discussion accessible to the masses. The story of Arleen and her children is one that many of us can resonate with. Her children’s mischief (throwing snowballs at cars) is not something that is exclusive to those who are low-income or in poverty-- the consequences of said mischief (stranger breaking down their door, which led to an eviction), however, are. For me, this story accomplished two tasks. Foremost, it supports the narrative that those in disadvantaged groups (namely, those who are low-income) face worse consequences for behavior that is similar to their wealthier counterparts. For example-- …show more content…
By using narratives, and making the stories of those who have been impacted by eviction accessible, Desmond helps to foster an empathy that can be used to spur community and political action. This also supports a narrative that we were exposed to recently, in the documentary “Up River.” Towards the end of “Up River”, members of the “Newark Think Tank” told their stories to an Ohio legislator in order to foster support for “ban the box” legislation. After their meeting with the legislator (who was convinced to vote in favor of the bill), the legislator noted that their stories added a “touch of reality” to an issue that was seemingly “abstract”. For those who have never experienced eviction, the arguments, empirics, and policy recommendations that Desmond and other scholars provide could be perceived as “abstract” in nature. In contrast, documenting the narratives and stories of individuals that have been affected by eviction can add a “touch of reality” to the issue, thereby fostering more support-- and making political action all the more likely. In a political environment that is dominated by discussion of the middle class, issues that primarily impact low-income individuals must be framed in a manner that the middle class can resonate